Arroyo Grande Harvest Festival & Paws of Thunder

You can't tell me these little wieners don't make you melt... Marley & Shelby, our friend's dachshunds

There's not much in life that would make me happier than being swarmed by a hoard of dachshunds. So many of them that I could lay on the ground making snow angels and having more than my arms could hold at once. It would be heaven! Until then, I hunt down wiener dog events so that I can be as close to those dreams as possible. When I came across a wiener dog race in Arroyo Grande (found via stalking the Foxy Doxy Dachshund Rescue Facebook page), I quickly linked it to Matt and made plans for a trip to San Luis Obispo. 

My friend Kristi opened her home for us to stay overnight, we made dinner plans with our friends Steve & Jessica for Black Sheep Bar & Grill (where I eat their Mac N Cheese every chance I get), and we invited everyone to come view Hunter speed down the track as fast as his 3-inch legs of glory could carry him. 

We arrived at the event, covered in sunscreen, loaded down with toys and treats to entice our dog to first place, and checked him in. The sun was shining, there were doxies galore, and we got in a few practice runs- things were looking good! Of course, I also tried my best for Matt to let us adopt one of the Foxy Doxy dogs, but was swiftly denied. Oh well. I'm happy to say that many were adopted by other families though! 

It was finally time for Hunter's heat. We lined up, I held on tight to our squirming and wild-with-excitement, supposed-to-be-minature 17.9 lb wiener dog, Matt waited at the other end with a big, colorful beach ball, the countdown sounded, and Hunter was OFF! (we are in the farthest left lane and Hunter has a red bandana on)

As you can see, we quickly secured first place of our heat and waited to move on to the semi-finals! We knew we had a blue ribbon in the bag. Our dog had determination, speed, and joy feeling the wind flop his long ears all about as he ran. We lined up for the second round and Hunter was focused on Matt holding the coveted beach ball. That is, right up until a second before the countdown sounded. Then, to my HORROR, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a woman playing with something that looked like this:

Hunter has a weakness for furry creatures, and as soon as he saw it, I knew we were doomed. There was no way I could tell the lady to stop playing with her dog toys right by the starting line, get Hunter focused back on Matt, and get him down the track in time. So the countdown started and Hunter ran FAST...right for the dog toy on the other side of the fence, and then finally made his way down the track. Meanwhile, the lady looks at me, "Oh man, sorry!" Yeah, I wanted to take her sorry and her dog toy and hit her upside her noggin with both of them! Sometimes people just don't think! (we are in the lane farthest to the right and Hunter still has on a red bandana)

Perhaps I got a little competitive and overly involved in a silly wiener dog race, but Hunter LOVES to run and we knew he was one of the fastest dogs there. I would have rather he lost fair and square than due to a woman's oblivious actions on the sidelines. Oh well, live and learn. Next time look for all possible distractions beforehand. So while we didn't win a blue ribbon and awesome gift basket, we did get a bag full of schwag, had lots of fun with friends, and have a very worn out wiener dog. He's currently sleeping next to me, dreaming of racing I'm sure. And I'll be headed to bed tonight dreaming of hoards of doxies!

Snippets & Summaries

I've been getting quite a few questions about this new step in my life becoming a Team Beachbody Coach: What is it? What am I doing? How does it work? Etc. I love hearing these questions and knowing that you all care about what's going on in our lives! :)

To help you out, I wanted to link just a few things that could answer those questions in a short amount of time. I'm still new at all of this so I think this little video will explain things much clearer and quicker than I can yet! I know you're all super busy so I chose one of the shortest ones- it's only 6 minutes and 30 seconds.  





The video mentions a membership you can join and receive a 10% discount, however, I want to make sure everyone knows that you can join for free and still receive the schedules and support! For some people, that's all they need to reach their goals!


Here are the links to my sites if you want to browse around or have more questions!

http://www.beachbodycoach.com/CoachScott12

http://myshakeology.com/CoachScott12

http://myultimatereset.com/CoachScott12

"Eat More Veggies, Have Less Wedgies"

You have to admit that's an awesome slogan.

Okay, let's talk about the dreaded "F" word... yes, Fitness. Many people have a preconceived notion of fitness that can scare them out of getting into a new routine. Maybe it looks like this...

(torture device included)

Or this....

(shudder)

Or this....

(no one should ever have to see this much spandex in a room at once)

No wonder no one wants to workout! They also may think everyone will laugh at them if they enter a gym or exercise class. They won't know what to do. Won't be able to make themselves reach their goals, or even create goals! They think there's no way they can motivate themselves to keep up with a workout plan. Or maybe they have no idea where to begin. All of these are totally valid reasons, but also all reasons that can be overcome. 

As someone who wanted to workout, but didn't know where to begin with my new health restrictions, and didn't want to pay a monthly gym membership, I can speak to almost all of these reasons. I contacted my friend Kristi and asked her to tell me more about Team Beachbody. I knew they created and sold popular fitness programs, like Insanity and P90X, but did they have anything that could work for me??? 

Kristi explained how I could explore all of the 20 different programs offered, order online, have it shipped to my house, workout in my own home (where I didn't have to worry about snickers if I couldn't keep up or messed up a move), and could make up my own schedule or follow along to one provided online. Team Beachbody could create a whole meal plan and shopping list for me. I could connect with other people doing the same program to hold each other accountable, get tips, share success, and encourage one another. I could also purchase supplements to help me reach my goals. It's become a system I've fallen in love with! 

I find it so much easier to fit in a workout when all I need to do is close a door instead of commuting to the gym. I love paying one time for a program that works instead of paying every month to wait for machines and be inspected by every person in the building. And I LOVE the Team Beachbody website. You see, every time you log your workout online (which is so easy to do), you automatically get entered into a daily drawing for $500 and you'll never guess who woke up one day to find out she won...that's right, ME!!! Talk about motivation! 

So after finding something that felt like such a fit for me, I headed back to Kristi to ask her about getting more involved. I found out that you can become a coach, where you help other people find and reach their fitness goals too, and can make a paycheck while doing it! After doing some more research, thinking, and talking to Matt, we decided I would take that next step. As of last week, I am a Team Beachbody Coach and I can't wait to help people feel better inside and out! 

I'll be keeping my nanny job for now as this is a job I plan to financially work up to, and I love the family I've with now besides. Someday I hope to be a stay-at-home mom and our goal is that this will help supplement our family's income while still allowing me to keep my fitness and health goals. It's also our goal for Matt and I to try a program together, so we'll be starting P90X soon! 

Please feel free to email or Facebook me at any time if you have questions, want to find out more, or think you'd like to purchase a program. This is not something I want to be "selling" to anyone, but more something that I'd love to connect people with if they're looking for somewhere to get started or want to expand whatever they're currently doing. For me, there's nothing that feels better than helping someone else, especially if it's about something as serious and important as their health! 

For the Girls

Ladies, prepare yourself. No, seriously. Prepare yourself.


Now go grab all your scarves.


Did you find them all? Okay, good. I hope you have multiples. You're going to need them.


Now take a scarf and use it to tie up anything that will distract you for the next 4 and a half minutes. Children, husband, boyfriend, pets...they all need to be tied up. Niiicceee and tight. Great, I think you're ready....


Now take the rest of your scarves and take in this short flick which will blow your mind: 25 different ways to style a scarf. I know. Earth shaking, right? Fall is coming and you know I have your back...err your neck?....you know what I mean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LYAEz777AU


Now go on and get sassy with your scarves! You can post pictures to thank me later.


Oh, and you might want to untie those distractions now. Except your husband. (I think he liked it. Shhhh) Just kidding!


Enjoy!

Tasty Tuesday

It's that time again and you find yourself standing in front of the open fridge, cold air rushing out at you, eyes wandering the contents within, and somewhere in your mind you hear, "Close the fridge door! We're not cooling the whole house!" Okay maybe that's just my mind that repeats my parent's famous words. Still, you know it's only a matter of time before someone asks the dreaded question, "What's for dinner?????" You might want to reply, "I don't know. What are you cooking?" But most likely you know it's up to you. Well worry no more! I'm here to save the day! Or maybe just one day this week...

I've decided to try something new, so now every Tuesday I'd like to share a favorite recipe or product with you. Cooking and baking are some of my greatest hobbies. I find it therapeutic to mix the ingredients, smell it cooking, and try the outcome. Most of my joy comes in sharing the food with others though! So I hope you try some of these things and let me know what you think. Please also let me know if you follow along, or find yourself looking forward to another Tasty Tuesday revealing, so I'll know to keep it up and continue posting. Here goes!

Summer Salad

This weekend may be the last weekend of summer but avocados are often on sale this time of year. This is a salad I make at work at least once a week and it's a favorite with the kids and adults alike. It can be a great main course or side dish, and it's super fresh and easy to throw together.

Ingredients:

3 large Avocados (cut about equal pieces)

2 Yellow or White Corn on the Cob (or both; raw)

1 package Cherry or Grape Tomatoes (cut in half)

1/2 large Cucumber (cut into pieces equal to avocado pieces)

1/2 Purple Onion (diced)

1 Lime 

Pepper

Garlic Salt

(Makes about 5 large servings)

Directions:

Cut up all avocado, corn off the cob, tomatoes, cucumber, and onion, and put them in a bowl together. Squeeze fresh lime juice on them and sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper. Using a spoon, gently mix everything together and then serve. 

What's so great about this salad is that you can make it however you like. Personally, I don't like onions so I never add them, but for those that do you can add in as much as you like. Don't have a cucumber? No problem, just leave it out! Have a cucumber but no corn? Skip the corn and go with the cucumber instead! See? Super easy. As I'm sure you can imagine, this salad doesn't keep, so only cut up what you think you'll eat. If it's a side dish, or for less people, then you'll need to cut up less. 

I hope you enjoy!

(Original inspirational recipe can be found at: http://authenticsuburbangourmet.blogspot.com/2011/05/avocado-and-grilled-corn-salad-with.html)

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like...Fall?

It may still be in the 80's and feeling like summer but I decided that with September and the kids all back in school it was time to change our house over to Fall. Out came the pumpkin and cinnamon scented candles. Burnt orange, red, and brown colors. Fall leaf-shaped candle holders and wall hanging decorations. I have to say, I think it's working! I'm starting to feel ready for the change in seasons, cooler days, and snuggling with blankets. And yes, I do have three Rubbermaid bins full of decorations I switch out for Fall, Winter, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Spring, and Summer. I try to stock up during clearance sales and frequent the bargain bins. So when my local Michael's ad told me they were having a 50% off sale, you know I headed right over with my extra coupons! I was so pleased to find a few things to spruce up my decor such as ribbon, a leaf garland, and candle vase fillers! And I'm doubly happy that my ribbon can be used for Christmas and Winter too! Here's a few pictures of our new additions:

Red ribbon around cream candles in candleholders filled with light orange vase gems

Red ribbon around cream candle with leaf garland around its base

Just a little pop of Fall on the dining table.

Cayman Islands Family Vacation

Saying yes to Matt's proposal was one of the easiest things I've ever done, but moving so far away from my family was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I can't tell you how many times tears crept into my eyes as I prepared for my nuptials and pondered saying goodbye- especially to my two little miracle nephews. The sloppy kisses and too tight squeezes, the pitter patter of little feet, the silly things they say and the accomplishments they make. I was going to miss so much, and I decided to make the most of every chance we had to be together in the future. So of course I was beyond excited when my parents asked us what we thought about taking a family vacation all together.

We decided on renting a villa on Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, the place we had our first family vacation the summer of 1998. My parents researched, documented, and presented us with several villas to vote on and we decided on Kai Conut, a North Side 5-bedroom home with private pool and dock. We planned menus, shopping lists, packing lists, and submitted our payments. Finally it was time to board our planes and arrive at our vacation destination.

Matt and I flew from San Jose to Houston, where we met up in the airport with my sister's family who had flown in from Los Angeles, and together boarded the flight to Grand Cayman. After landing and clearing customs, the six of us met my parents in the balmy and not-so-air-conditioned airport, and walked across the street to climb into our three rental cars. Ours was a top-of-the-line Corolla that came equipped with all the bells and whistles, like a tape deck and a trunk that turned into a pool with every rain storm, and looked like a herd of crabs had attacked it. It was perfect for island driving and provided us with several good laughs!

The eight of us spent the week swimming, floating, snorkeling, eating, feeding stingrays, relaxing, laughing, and enjoying spending family time together. My heart was content snuggling my nephews to sleep at night, hearing their giggles in the morning, talking about everything and nothing with my sister, going on crab hunts late at night with Matt and Bryan, and spending time with my parents- finally not feeling rushed to cram in a 24-48 hour visit. There are a number of pictures to share with you, but there are a number more memories tucked away in my heart.

(Click on any of the following photos for a larger view)

Cayman Turtle Farm

Pirates Caves, Bat Caves, and Wildlife Rescue Zoo

Rum Pointe & Stingray City

Pool Time

The Views

Our private dock at sunset

Views from lunch on the beach

Our private dock. A school of brightly colored fish lived underneath, accompanied by many crabs and several jellyfish.

Our backyard at the villa

Sunset on our private beach

Family

Ben took this picture of us for my mom's birthday dinner