Yet another day has just whizzed right on by in a whirlwind. I guess that happens when you hit the ground running every day. I woke up around 6 am as usual to have a bit of time to myself before the kids awoke. I got them all fed, cared for, and loved on before nabbing a quick snack for myself as I headed out the door to the gym.

I usually do my own weights routine on Thursday mornings, but today I wasn’t feeling it. I still wanted a challenging workout, but without having to think. Group Power class stepped in for me nicely.

Group Power is basically the same thing as Bodypump, but under a different training program. It goes through different music tracks that work each body part for a few minutes each in an endurance style weight lifting program.

After not visiting the class for months, the endurance style lifting came as quite a shock to the body. I’m used to doing 10-15 reps and moving to another exercise. Five minutes straight each of squats, shoulder exercises, push-ups, and bicep curls will get you good. I left with my upper body feeling like jelly! I always forget the challenge the class can give me. A great way to add a little variety and to take a break from my own plans.

Later in the day I excitedly met Peter for a mid-week lunch and play date.

Every Thursday Peter’s work provides a different lunch available to workers and their visitors. When Peter asked if I wanted to join him for the sandwiches and wraps on the menu today I looked at him like he had five heads. Does he not know me and my obsession with sandwiches and wraps? Sigh.  

Obviously I said yes so he got a couple plates to go for us to make a family date of it at a park just a few minutes from where he works. The weather was perfect to sit in the shade for our lunch and then to spend some time playing.

I had one half of a turkey, tomato, and lettuce spinach wrap as well as a half of a chicken salad and spinach sun-dried tomato wrap. With some Garden Salsa flavored Sun Chips – best flavor of them all! I also delighted in a bit of post-lunch dessert.

The brownie ended up being dry so I only ate the cookie. The heavenly, ooey-gooey cookie. All before hitting the playground for some fun!

I think this may have to become a new weekly tradition! We had such a great time and it was the perfect way to break up the week a bit.  

I got right back down to business when I got home and put the kids down for their naps. Then those two hours somehow passed in the blink of an eye. Yeesh. Story of my life these days. Blink. Blink. Blink. Oh…its 2189. What it feels like at least.

Now, I have to clean up dinner dishes before settling in for the night. Only to welcome the non-stop hectic again tomorrow! Good thing I thrive in that environment…and have God to help me through. But before I go – the Love Grown giveaway winner!

Carissa – Please email me with your full name and shipping information before Sunday at 6 PM EST to claim the prize pack! Congrats!  

• How do you like to break up the work week in a fun or relaxing way?
• If you didn’t win the Love Grown giveaway – stay tuned for more giveaway fun on the blog tomorrow!

Greetings my granola loving friends. You sure all want to nab yourself that Love Grown Foods prize pack in my giveaway this morning! And thank you for the birthday wishes!! You all sure know how to make a gal feel the love.

You know what I find funny? When you’re a little girl, birthday time means getting to be a princess for the day…

And then you grow up and want to annihilate your body with challenging workouts to celebrate your birthday. What? Just me? Oh well.

I briefly mentioned hitting up spin class last night. I think I was still in shock when I wrote that because I didn’t tell you just how awesome the class was. Let me tell you. It. Was. Awesome! Thanks to a busy schedule, it has been almost a month since I have made it to spin. How did that happen?! I had withdrawals and didn’t want to enter my birthday without in my life another day.

I look like I did a swimming workout and not a cycling workout! Something about spin classes really challenges me. I have taken them for over 7 years (wow!) but still want to lay down and die after almost every class. After a month off? It wasn’t too pretty, but it sure felt good. Even with my legs burning and my heart about to beat out of my chest. The class coupled a lot of speed work with increasing resistance on the bike. I didn’t know whether to slap or kiss my instructor with every turn.

To add more pain fun to the experience, I did a little weight lifting action at the gym this morning. I broke my usual circuit down into a bunch of supersets. Here are the deets…

It looks like a lot but it went by quickly with going between each superset back to back. I would do a squat then dumbbell row, squat then dumbbell row, squat then dumbbell row to get three sets of each and then move immediately into the pull-ups with lat pulldown and so on. I may look a little crazy jumping from move to move, but it works for me. In. Out. On with that little thing called life.

I have a feeling I will feel sore by the end of the day. Not a bad thing. It is my birthday after all…so I can hopefully score a free massage from the husband.  

• What workout never gets easier no matter how long you do it?
• What is one way you love to celebrate your birthday?