September Blog Challenge: My Favorite Book

I always have a hard time choosing my favorite book. There are so many I love....but, I will say I remember the one book that made me excited to read, I couldn't get enough and had to then get every single book I could by this author....

Find it on Amazon

This book had been given to me by an older girl I worked with at the YMCA. At the time I was just a "volunteer" learning how to become a counselor. I followed this girl around and was her "assistant". I was 14 at the time and she was 16, we were going to be going to the same high school so she had sort of taken me under her wing, like a little sister. She said I had to read it, when I came home with it my mom was so excited for me to read it because it was one she had read and liked at one point as well. For me at the time I couldn't believe my mom was letting me read it because some of the content is quite scandalous, but it really opened up my world of reading. I had no idea books could be so engaging and didn't have to have surfing, bikinis, and a beach to be interesting! I literally gobbled up anything else by VC Andrews after that, sadly her books aren't what they used to be once a ghost writer took over after her death, but I will cherish the older books written by her and can't wait to introduce them to my own daughter once I feel she is old enough.

As a little side note, there is a website called Forever Young Adult. They have all kinds of hysterical articles on Young Adult Fiction, sometimes going a few chapters at a time through certain books and posting all kinds of hysterical content such as drinking games and whatnot. Go check it out, it is so funny!

What is your favorite book and why? 

What I Ate Wednesday's/WOD's #15

Whew! This has been one busy week in my world! Between having company in town, getting ready for back to school, and doing a blogging challenge I've really been hopping!

But, for the good stuff...I'm super proud of what I accomplished this week in fitness. We had family come into town, but I didn't let that get me off track...I kept on truckin'! It was my last week of Alpha Round of T25 so this is what it looked like....

Wednesday: Total Body Circuit
Thursday: Ab intervals
Friday: Total body circuit, lower focus; lots of walking in the evening with the hubby to find a new restaurant to try
Saturday: Active rest; walked, and walked, and walked with family that came into town. I'm pretty confident we walked at least 9 miles.
Sunday: Cardio; again lots of walking.
Monday: Active rest again, quite a bit of walking
Tuesday: Was supposed to be total body, but since I injured myself during that one once I don't really enjoy it so I did Speed 1.0
Wednesday: Start T25 Beta-Core Cardio

Goals for the upcoming week: Use my pear heart rate monitor when doing all workouts; participate each day in a fitness challenge, and remember to drink my protein shake and get in one salad a day!

Now for the other fun stuff....

I should mention...these are in no particular order lol....

Monday's Breakfast at the Elbow Room

Sunday's breakfast at Urban Fare..just egg whites and a delicious multi-grain bagel

Last Saturday's Dinner...Korean BBQ 

Tuesday's Lunch...Pho...I'd never had it before so stepped out of my comfort zone. I loved it with this delicious sweet almost teriyaki type sauce and a little siracha. This was at Lemongrass Cafe in Richmond, BC. 

Lunch at Cora's in Richomond, BC last Friday when taking the kiddo to a sleepover. It was potatoes, all kinds of veggies, two over easy eggs, and fresh fruit!

The Stanley Park salad, from this little bistro in Stanley Park. It was delicious. It had raw hazlenuts and dried blueberries along with goat cheese and a maple vinegarette!

So, that is the highlights of my week in food in fitness....how was your week?

September Blogging Challenge: My favorite post

So, today I am supposed to tell you what my favorite post is that I've done so far. Hmmmmmm....

I think, if I have to choose I can just narrow it down to two:

1. My Pear Heart Rate Monitor Review

I think I loved this one so much because when I wrote it I emailed it to Pear and they actually responded! I wrote it because I love the product and really believed in it and wanted to let people know, I also wanted them to know how much I loved their product. It made me feel good that they liked my review and were happy that I loved their product as well.

2. My Purse Organization Post

I think I love this one so much because it is one of my most pinned posts! People seemed to read it a lot and refer to it. I also feel like I had something to tell the world that a lot of people don't really have on their blogs, so I guess I feel like it's one of my few more "original" pieces, even if it was inspired by a challenge on another blog ;) hehehe

Go check those ones out though, they have lots of good info in them! ;) If you blog in the comments leave me  a link to one of your favorite blog posts you've written so I can go and check it out! :)

September Blogging Challenge: Why I Started.

Why did I start blogging? Well, there are many reasons I started blogging. One is we move-a lot! Like, think about this if you think you move a lot you probably do, but be comforted by the fact that I probably move more. We don't just move houses in one little city, we usually make it a good move, like, across the country, well, at least halfway each time, anyway. I grew up in Jacksonville, FL, lived there my entire life. Then at 18 married my hubby and we moved to Lompoc, CA, then to Denver, CO, then to Satellite Beach, FL, then to Orlando, FL, then to Topeka, KS, then back to Jacksonville, then Austin, TX, Santa Monica, CA, now to Vancouver, BC, Canada. We still have more moves in store I'm sure in the future, but this is why I started blogging. Moving as much as I do it is very difficult to constantly find new friends. So, I figured while I am making new friends I would take this opportunity to share my projects and passions with the rest of the world! 

So, that is why I blog, to share the things I love with anyone who cares to read! 

Menu Plan Monday #21

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Today I know is a holiday in the US & Canada, so happy Labor Day, Folks! Sadly, that doesn't mean we can take a break from housework. Well, we could, but I'd hate to see what the destruction would be! :-/ We have had family visiting us all the way from Georgia and I have a fabulous weekend wrap up coming once they have left. I have lots great restaurants to share! But, with school starting back tomorrow I thought I would share my daughters daily routine in the even anyone needs some inspiration for keeping their kids on track and productive...

A Day in the Life of the Teen
Morning(wake up time to her own alarm: 6:30 am, 2 hours prior to departure)
Make bed
Get dressed
Pick up floor of room
Have breakfast & 12 oz of water (this is NOT optional)
Grooming (brush teeth, hair, makeup, etc)
Do morning bathroom chores
Gather lunch together, check for Key Fob, Leave for school

After School
Come straight home, unless staying for a pre approved after school programme)
Snack & 12 oz of water (again, not optional)
Talk with Mom about the day, have Mom sign any papers or permission forms
Homework in room at desk where it is nice and quiet
15 minutes of reading
Pack backpack for next day, put on hook in laundry room (which is next to the front door)
Check the next day's schedule to make sure nothing unusual is needed, or no money is needed
Pick up desk and make sure it is ready for the next day's homework
Do any chores that are needed

Evening/Before Bed
Make sure everything is prepped and ready for lunch the next day (if school day)
Take shower
Grooming (wash face, take off makeup, nails, etc)
Do evening bathroom chores
15 min of reading before bed

That is the teenagers routine on a normal school day. It seems like a lot, but the little routines that are set within this routine really help keep her organized, her room and bathroom are never really dirty, and she always has her work turned in on time and homework done early.

Now, onto other things that will help this first busy week back to school....

So, today is yet again, Menu Plan Monday! I know getting into a routine of this is difficult, but even just jumping in and having some sort of general plan can really, really help make the week run smooth and help save you money in the long run! So, without further ado....

Linking up at: Org Junkie

Breakfast

Monday: Elbow Room

Tuesday: Leftover's from Monday's breakfast turned into something cute and fun for back to school

Wednesday: Any leftovers/cereal

Thursday: Toasted granola cereal with bananas and almond milk

Friday: Fruit salad, with granola and yogurt

Saturday: Breka/Farmer's market fare

Sunday: Egg sandwiches with mixed fruit and veggies

Lunch

Monday: Leftovers

Tuesday: Leftovers/cherries/lunch out with family

Wednesday: Grilled cheese/cherries/cucumber

Thursday: Quinoa-veggie bowls

Friday: Lunch out

Saturday: Farmer's market salad

Sunday: Brunch (see breakfast above)

Dinner

Monday: Joe Fortes

Tuesday: Stir fry meat, rice, veggies

Wednesday: Pulled BBQ Chicken/Pulled BBQ Mushrooms, squash, mixed veggies, and corn

Thursday: Pork chops/chick pea patties, fruit salad, cucumber slices, leftover squash & corn

Friday: New Restaurant Friday

Saturday: Traditional spaghetti, vegan spaghetti squash, salad

Sunday: Surf n turf: Local rib-eye, lobster or crab, cheese fries/veggies

Snacks

Granola bars, fruit, leftovers, protein balls/shakes

Dessert

Chocolate chip cookies, figs and goat cheese, frozen grapes

This is our menu for the first week back at school. Mine is going up a little bit late, but better late than never! :)

What are you having this week? Also, do your kids have a daily routine or will you begin implementing one soon?

September Blogging Challenge: What is your favorite season?

This one is difficult for me to answer. There are so many things I love about all the seasons! We are entering fall and I love it because of the leaves changing (now that I live somewhere where the leaves actually do that), it's the season of mine, hubby's, and the kiddo's birthdays. Plus, there are a few holidays. I love winter because there is Christmas-DUH! I love spring because everything is coming into bloom and turning back to gorgeous. It's just life. But, I have to say my favourite season of all time always has been and always will be....

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I love to be warm, have the sun beating on my skin. Hubby says I am a lizard. I love going to the beach, hanging out at the pool, spending time on a lake, in a boat, surfing. I love being able to do yoga outside, hike trails, and just see sun every single day. I love being able to take vacation with my family and spend the long days with my daughter who is home from school. Here are some highlights of our summer vaca....

Kayaking and taking goofy pictures!

Finding tons of turtle nests and seeing a mama turtle lay her eggs

Watching the Sunrise with my brother

Taking crazy amazing cheer photos of my daughter in the sun.

Going back to visit my old high school stompin' grounds at Jax beach!

Visiting with my parents

Making s'mores with GIANT marshmallows!

So.......... that is my favourite season...which is yours?

Sunday Social #6-Summer review

Hello Sunday! I love Sunday's. I get to do Yoga at my local Lulu Lemon. Get my final workout of the week in, and just spend time with my hubby and the kiddo. This is our last one before going back to school so really looking forward to just relaxing and enjoying it.

This week's questions were super fun. I especially loved them because our weather has been rather dismal lately, more like fall, so it was nice to think about the warm, dry days once more!

1. What was your favorite trip/vacation/activity this summer?

I have two:

1. Seeing a sea turtle lay her eggs on the beach on a late night walk with my brother.

2. Taking my daughter kayaking and getting to see porpoises (or dolphins, not quite sure which they were lol).

2. What was your favorite outfit look/clothing item of the summer?

Please excuse the terrible "selfie"! But this was by far my favorite outfit! I loved the loosness of the shirt, it just sort of flowed...not to mention the color was gorgeous!! I also loved those white shorts. When I bought them they just felt like a pair you'd worn a million times and just just relax in them!

This was my second favorite thing:

3. What is one thing you wish you'd gotten to do this summer?
We actually got to do quite a bit. I wish we'd gotten in the one big hike, Grouse Grind like I had wanted to....but, those things happen. We still may have a little time yet, but we will see.

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4. What was your favorite song of the summer?


5. What was your favorite movie/tv show of the summer?
Favorite Movie: Man of Steel


TV Show: Newsroom


So, that's it. My summer in review! What was your favorite part of summer? Are you starting to see signs of fall like we are?