I started the day off in a bit of a funk, but things quickly began looking up. Little by little, the different enjoyable parts of my day brightened my mood. Love when that happens!

I started the day with a full body weights workout. 

Splitting up my weights and runs (so I can run outdoors) really works well for me during the week. I was able to finish the above workout quickly, then come home for a tasty egg breakfast.

Two dippy eggs – 1 atop a slice of toast spread with a Blue Cheese Laughing Cow wedge and 1 atop a slice of toast slathered with TJs Cranberry Apple Butter. Along with the obligatory Pink Lady apple. Can you tell I got hungry before picture time?

After filling my belly, I had plenty of time to play with the kids and take them on a slow, leisurely 15 minute walk around the neighborhood. Then, I kept things fairly low-key the remainder of the day. I enjoyed an easy, tasty meal of leftovers for lunch.

A polenta enchilada bake that included cornmeal, pinto beans, olives, corn, salsa, and cilantro. With the tastiest mango I’ve had outside of the Dominican on the side.

Things really started turning around during the naptime I got out of the kids. I managed to relax with my first iced coffee of the season while Google chatting with Peter. I love iced coffee. It tastes better for some reason.

I love having weather that calls for iced coffee again. We reached 80 here today! That made for a hot run this afternoon.

A hot, sweaty, successful run. PDR of 4 miles!!! It must have been my cute, new 4all by jofit skirt. 😉

• Mile 1 = 9:32
• Mile 2 = 9:23
• Mile 3 = 9:17
• Mile 4 = 9:17
• Average = 9:22

I honestly could have kept going, but want to play it safe with my mileage increases. I also had some things to sweat out again. Last night I reached a peak with a friend issue. I really debated writing about it here, but I have to.

I have a friend who only ever contacts me when she needs something. In fact, my mother’s diagnosis happened about a month ago. I immediately texted her (because she was at work) when I found out about my mom’s MS. Then, I called frequently in the week following. Not once did she return a text, call, email, or anything to show any sympathy or support with my mom. In a month. In fact, she called last night to be sure I could still make it to a party she is having this weekend. I told her I would be visiting my mom instead, to which she promptly started giving me defensive excuses on why she hasn’t contacted me about the news.

I have battled with feelings of this friendship not satisfying me for awhile. I feel like there is only give on my part and take on hers. Our conversations are always about either her life  or her body/weight. <--Not exaggerating. I haven’t looked forward to the times we see each other in a long time because it always leaves me with such a negative energy.

I want to “break-up” with this friend. I don’t feel anything badly about her. I simply no longer feel the need to remain in any sort of relationship that does not fulfill me. I debated whether or not to talk to her about it, but I know it would lead to her getting defensive and turning it into a fight. I would be there for her if needed, but I honestly am at a point where I want to minimize our interactions and move on. We already don’t talk or see each other often. I would always be there in a time of need, but I also know I can no longer put myself in a place of such hurt because of a supposed “friendship”. How’s that for some serious thought on a Tuesday night? Just what you were looking for, no? 😉

Questions of the Day:

• Have you ever faced a similar situation with a friend? What did you do?
• Which do you prefer – hot or iced coffee?

This week I have started trying something new with my workout schedule. I quickly learned how much I prefer running outdoors. Problem? I need someone to watch the kiddos for that to happen. Solution? Going in the afternoon. You may recall how much I hated afternoon workouts before because I felt I lost the entire evening. Luckily, I have found a way to make it work with running.

Now, I go to the gym in the morning for my weights workout, then go out for a quick 30 minute run in the afternoon. It works out quite nicely because I get to run outside and still have time for la familia in the afternoon. Win-win-win. I used this method on Tuesday to head to the gym for a quick full body weights workout in the morning:

In-out-done in under 40 minutes, including a quick warm-up/cool-down on the elliptical. And I still felt great for my run that afternoon.

Today, I got my weights done in the morning again. This time, I resorted to an old favorite from the past year. Group Power! (<---my gym’s version of Bodypump) I normally like doing my own thing for weights, but it was nice to mix it up with the class.

After class, I came home craving a simple breakfast. Plain old cereal sounded perfect this morning. I nabbed some Cheerios and then spruced them up with chopped up Cinnamon Roasted Almonds and blueberries.

Who says you need to spend money on overpriced and oversugared fruit and nut cluster cereals? Fruit, nuts, and Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze are all you need to make plain cereal taste special.

The rest of the day went along as normal (thank goodness!) and before I knew it, it was time to head out for my run. I especially looked forward to my run today. Why? Well, two reasons. A – fine company to come out with me.

Even though they weren’t with me while I ran, I still loved having my family there because we could walk and just enjoy the outdoors together before and after my run. It ended up being a nice little afternoon.

And the second reason I looked forward to the run? I had some thinking to do. What better time to relieve some stress and sort through my thoughts than during a run?

The past couple of weeks have presented some motherhood challenges. Nothing major, but I have found myself questioning whether or not I’m a good mother on practically a daily basis. It all stems from Makenzie suddenly acting out a lot more and many times I feel like the one to blame. For not giving her enough attention. For not having enough patience. For not catering to her and doing whatever I can to make every day something exciting and fun for her.

Lately I get this feeling that Makenzie doesn’t feel the same devotion that she used to from me and I feel guilty. I feel like I constantly try to find ways to do more for my family and less for myself. Then I feel guilty when it reaches a point that I refuse to give up some parts of myself – like working out or writing this blog. I had to think all this through on my run today. Basically, I needed to sweat away the emotions to see the reality.

It’s okay to still have passions and care for myself because I DO balance them and keep my family first. I spend on average an hour a day working out, which is not going to make my family fall apart. And I include my family if at all possible. I save any and all blogging for naptime and, over the past couple of months, have really cut back on putting so much time and energy into the blog. 

I am a good mom. I work hard to balance my life, yet always put them first. It’s likely why some days I end up feeling so run down after living so fully for someone else. Actually, make that THREE someone elses. Makenzie is not acting out more because I don’t show I love her.She is acting out because now I have two children to love so fully and she is having to adjust. Sure, I have my rough days where I could have a bit more compassion, but she still knows I love her. This all will pass with time. Until then, I will get through it. With some outdoor runs to help along the way. 😉

Question of the Day – Where do you find the hardest time finding balance?