"Thrilling" Halloween

It's Halloween! I not a big fan. In fact, I'm a bit of a Halloween hater. A few of my Zumba classes had introduced some seasonal songs into the playlists. "Thriller" being one of course. I was able to hit a Friday class, and we were encouraged to dress up. I did! I surprised myself a bit, because I usually don't go to that much effort.

The costumes and songs did add a fun energy to class!

Here's a peek at that class Thriller here ...

We also did Thriller on Wednesday at MZL, and Saturday at Thryve. Thursday, Melanie came and did quite a few Halloweenish songs (Ghostbusters, I Want Candy, Monster Mash and more) but no Thriller. My friend Christa and I taught the Southziders class this morning, as Nina and Cassie had kids in parades at the school. I didn't put in the effort to attempt to learn to lead one of these at the last minute though, so today ON Halloween, we were pretty standard. 

At our elementary, it's tradition to have the 6th graders perform Thriller. Last year, my #4 was taking part ... reluctantly. The dance was right after the parade, and I honestly wasn't expecting much. It was pretty entertaining though, and I'd positioned myself perfectly, right in front of my kidlet. 

 He looked "thrilled" but I loved it!

Happy Halloween!

Weekly Weigh-In #170

Straight to the NUMBERS this week: Official weigh-in was up .4. Average up 1.56 (173.69). Ironically there was supposedly a deficit (-1655) with my average intake of 2343 and average burn of 2818.  Step average was 21416. 30min with weights, 806 cardio minutes, 78.42 exercise miles. FOOD: Only under goal one day this week. Candy corn ... I eat it by the handful this time of year (as I have a glass pumpkin full of the stuff). Surprise salted caramels were a temptation too. FITNESS: Over 3000 burn four days, just one 30k day. Six days with at least an hour of elliptical, five Zumba classes, one time each with the bike, treadmill and weights.

Daily recap:

• Friday (1021): Intake 2500. Burn 2810.  No school because of Fall Break. I was able to hit a Zumba class though, in addition to my 80minElliptical.
• Saturday (1022): Intake 2300. Burn 2361. Managed to get in an hour of elliptical. #5 had a basketball game, they won in OT. 
• Sunday (1023): Intake 2400. Burn 2062. Big breakfast and bigger dinner. My measly 20min elliptical was not nearly enough to counteract calories, but Sunday is my rest day.
• Monday (1024): Intake 2500. Burn 3291. Early morning driver's ed has ended, but I still got up at 6:00, and got in an extra elliptical, for 90min total today. Zumba with Southziders, and some treadmill time too. Under burn, but still over on eating ...
• Tuesday (1025): Intake 1900. Burn 3093. Zumba with Marian, with a walk to/from class. 80minElliptical, a session on the bike, and weights. Also kept calories in check ... unless I forgot to log something, which unfortunately is likely!
• Wednesday (1026): Intake 2500. Burn 3039. Have a son sick today. He's no trouble, but I just didn't get much done. Still hit Zumba with MZL and managed my 80minElliptical.
• Thursday (1027): Intake 2300. Burn 3068. Son still sick and home from school. Zumba with MountainView and my 80minElliptical.

Five Featured Photos (This week in Pictures):

Sweets from my sweet ... this hasn't helped with calorie control.

 Fall leaves on my Tuesday walk to Zumba (a little PokemonGo too!)

On the PokemonGo topic, they had a Halloween update, making certain (scary) Pokemon much more common for this week before the holiday. Gastly, Haunter and Gengar! Cubone, Zoobat ... plus more "candy" with each catch. Unfortunately #4 has been sick Wed/Thurs and not able to take full advantage (although he did catch his first Gengar at the doctor's office). I'm getting pretty good at catching Pokemon now too, and I'll do it while I'm out and about (and he's in school) and pickup multiple Pokestops at all my Zumba classes. Data usage has become a problem though ... we went over last month.

Pumpkin prep ... an appropriate carving for our basketball family!

Hubs has been busy with derbies!

Tues/Wed/Thursday this week.

Required Reading & Lexile Levels

I'm an avid reader ... my boys have NOT inherited this habit from me. Pretty much the only reading they do, is required reading. Silly boys! Books are AWESOME! While I keep myself pretty busy with the 500+ books waiting in my Kindle Cloud, and my mile-long library list, I'll often try to keep up with any assigned books the boys are reading for school. 

My sophomore's Language Arts class was reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" ... it's one I have read before, but it had been a while. My 15-year old asked me to re-read it, so we could discuss it before class. Okay! We had two copies, but I'm a digital gal. Luckily I was able to download it from the library (I would have purchased it if needed, but love the library loan). We'd read a couple chapters, as assigned by the class. He and I would discuss what happened, and which words needed further definition.  For example ... After reading chapter 11, we had a list of words.  Wrathful, apoplectic, philippic, umbrage, interdict, tirade, cantankerous. After going over the definitions, my son said "well that was an ANGRY chapter, wasn't it?!" 

My son would bring home his quizzes and show them to me. He ended up doing quite well, better than he expected. I enjoyed our book discussion times too. I'll admit, I got a little teary talking about some of the events there at the end.

I'd tried to read along with "The Scarlet Letter" last year with my #2, a junior. That book didn't quite keep my interest, and that child didn't engage in book conversations with me either, so I gave up on "helping" out. My 7th grader is starting up "Frankenstein" so I guess that will be on my list soon.

  

For the first reading assignment however, my 7th grader got to choose his own story, with the requirement that it be on their lexile level. Are you familiar with "lexile" levels? I'd heard them mentioned here and there along with the SRI testing. So my son and I spent a bit of time looking up books on lexile.com.

My son tested at 916 ...  

He was supposed to select a book within a close range (850-950). 

My guessing had been a bit off. 

Longer, complex novels (in my thought, thinking of my 12-year old reading them, i.e. "Ender's Game" at 780, "Gregor the Overlander" at 630, "The Maze Runner" at 770) are too low. I was surprised by "Hatchet" (1020) and "Island of the Blue Dolphins" (1000)... two I really enjoyed but ones I don't think are over his ability at all.  "To Kill a Mockingbird" as mentioned above, required reading for my sophomore, came in at 870. Just to make it MORE confusing ... "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" is listed as 950??? I do NOT understand this ranking system!

He ended up going with "The Great Brain" (840) ... it's a book I loved when I was young. I went ahead and reread it so I could discuss it as well. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it in Kindle edition and had to read hard copy. Oh, the agony of a real book ... It was bulky and heavy(ish). I had to turn pages. Highlighting words required an actual marker. I had to turn on a lamp in the dark. Luckily, I made it through, and he made it through. Book report is done and turned in.   

Ah ... school assignments. Required reading. I loved it back in the day!

Musical Monday - Car Crash

It's been interesting listening to music in the car again. I have SO many songs in my Itunes library. I just put the playlist on random and see what comes up next. Music from my teenage times, musicals, obscure soundtracks, and Top10 from recent years have all spouted from my speakers.

Several times in the past couple weeks, my 13-year old has turned to me and asked "WHAT IS THIS?". Silly boy hasn't been properly exposed to Billy Joel and some of the other 80s greats!

When familiar songs come on ... it's another issue. In our little morning carpool, a couple of our carpooletts start singing along. Loudly. The slightly off-key crooning is driving my son to distraction. Seriously stressing him out (anxiety issues). I may need to create a "carpool playlist" of only songs I'm sure the kids do NOT know to appease my son (or he's taken to wearing headphones with his own music blaring to drown out any annoyances .. like everyday conversations).  

Do you sing along with songs in the car?

While I was driving with my 16-year old son (HE was driving, gotta get those practice hours in) the music was playing as usual. I wasn't paying particular attention until my son muttered "that song really isn't appropriate you know!"  No - it wasn't some explicit version with foul language, it was "Car Crash" by Matt Nathanson. I had to laugh a little ... as I skipped the song. 

I can't help but notice the beat on this song ... it was on my "running" playlist, one that I could jog to. Those rare times I jog to music, my footfall MUST MATCH the beat exactly. This one is actually a bit on the fast side for me (since I'm sllloooooowww). I looked it up at Jog.fm to catch the BPM ...

I'm more of a 5mph gal (12 minute mile) myself, but for those times I need a challenge and inspiration, I'll have to give this one a try, and continue to make sure it doesn't appear on the playlist when my student-driver is at the wheel. *Ü*

Weekly Weigh-In #169

Weight was up and down all over this week. Very little rhyme or reason. With this being Weigh-In #169, I was hoping to have a 169 on the scale (not that 169 is where I want to be, but I thought it was doable this week). Official weigh-in was about where I was at least week. After a bit of a drop after Mon/Tues I thought the scale might record a loss, but then it slipped up again after Wed/Thurs. NUMBERS: Officially down .1, average dropped to 172.13 (-1.9). Average Intake was 2143. Average Burn was 2722. Crunching numbers, there was a deficit for the week (-1943). Step average was 19164. 30minWeights, 753CardioMinutes, 65.83 exercise miles. FOOD: Only managed to keep calories under 2000 one day this week, but didn't have any days over 3000. Big meals on Sunday, donuts on Thursday ... candy corn every day in-between.  FITNESS: Only got in my hour of elliptical four days this week. Zumba also four for seven. No treadmill, but did do tennis! Bike once, weights once. 

Here's a day by day recap...

• Friday (1014): Intake 2100. Burn 2705. Bit of a down day. Managed 80minElliptical.
• Saturday (1015): Intake 2200. Burn 2355. Got in 20minElliptical and some tennis with #4 in the morning. #5 had FOUR back to back basketball games in the evening. Whew!
• Sunday (1016): Intake 2500. Burn 2042. Slow Sunday (20minElliptical), big breakfast and bigger dinner!
• Monday (1017): Intake 1700. Burn 3100. Great day! 80minElliptical, Zumba with Southziders and a session on the bike. Kept calories in check too. I always seem to do better with the return to routine after the wicked weekend.
• Tuesday (1018): Intake 2050. Burn 3138. Pretty good day.  Zumba with Marian is early and close. 90minElliptical today, and I did weights. 
• Wednesday (1019): Intake 2100. Burn 3035. Four 20min sessions on the elliptical, Zumba with MZL. Shopping steps and lawn mow. 
• Thursday (1020): Intake 2350. Burn 2680. Fall Recess. Still hit Zumba (with MountainView) but only managed two 20min elliptical sessions. A bit of house cleanup, as we had company in the evening. Donut day pushed calories over.

Five Featured Photos ... 

 Tried tennis with this kid (#4)

 Zumba Photobomb

Finally gave in and allowed the update ...

(I don't like change!)

Mowing the lawn ... love the smell and the sun!

#5 - quite the bottle flip feature!

... and a quick video clip bonus,
 deep-3 buzzer beater from #5!

... a little snippet from Saturday ( one of FOUR games for Colton). @basketball_colt10

A video posted by BlackhamBall (@blackhamball) on Oct 16, 2016 at 8:34pm PDT

Tasty Tuesday - Brazilian Cheese Rolls

I know many of the health/fitness blogs out there have a  food focus ... featuring recipes of good-for-you food. Me? I have not excelled at the eating side of this journey at all. But I figured I could still share a recipe or feature a food here and there. Don't expect anything too healthy though!

I made Brazilian Cheese Rolls this past Sunday. Also known as Pao de Queijo (my brother spent a couple years living in Brazil, so they call them by their real name). Bread of cheese ... yum! They have become a family favorite, and a go-to dinner bread, especially when we need something last minute. They are so quick and easy. They are also gluten-free, always requested at family parties (as my dad, brother and sister all suffer with Celiacs).

I first discovered them at one of the Brazilian restaurants. Then my son needed to make a South-American recipe for his Spanish class. I picked up (and pinned) the recipe from Our Best Bites. There are many others out there, but we LOVE this one, so I haven't gone on to try any of the others.

The Tapioca Flour is the only tricky ingredient to find. I've found it in the bulk section at Winco, but Hubs recently brought me home a 25 pound bag he found at a local kitchen supply store ... much easier than attempting the bulk buy in plastic bags, when I know I want a lot. 

You need a blender and a mini-muffin pan ... I once tried making them in a regular size muffin tin, and they were okay (a little more eggy in the middle).  I love the smaller bite-size. I only have one mini-muffin tin, but I've found I can empty it, and immediately refill the batter for a second batch. It doesn't even require a second coat of cooking spray, and often the second batch comes out better than the first, and people are happy to have an opportunity to have them hot out of the oven again.

I love how puffy they are ... often almost popping right out of the tin. Unfortunately, they do collapse quickly most of the time. They still taste good, but they don't look nearly as pretty. I've searched for solutions to this problem, but so far is seem to just be par for the coarse, similar to a souffle.

Unfortunately, with the oil, egg and cheese ... they aren't "healthy" or low calorie. I always top them with Parmesan cheese and some kosher salt too. At least I don't add butter as I do with traditional bread/rolls.

There were several entries already in the MFP food bank ... I don't know how accurate this is, but looking at it I'd assume it's fairly on target. I have a hard time limiting myself to three though. They are so easy to eat!

That's it for this first edition of Tasty Tuesday! 

Have you tried Brazilian Cheese Rolls?

Weekly Weigh-In #168

I'll admit. I was completely discouraged last week and gave up a little. What's the point perspective. This week wasn't bad considering. I still exercise ... because I actually enjoy the activity. Even eating didn't get too out of hand. NUMBERS: Official weight down 2.3 pounds (but still up over two pounds from the week before). Average weight way up (+2.74 to 174.03). Intake average for the week was 2171. Burn average was 2813. Step average was 21044. 40minWeights, 854 cardio minutes and 74.63 exercise miles. FOOD: Actually had two days under 2000, no days over 3000. FITNESS: Actually hit my hour of elliptical every day! 7 days! Four Zumba classes, one session on the bike and one workout with weights. 

Here's a day to day recap ...

• Friday (1007): Calories in 1900. Daily Burn 2607. Four 20min sessions on the elliptical. Afternoon was spent making cookies (I'd been asked to bring some in to a funeral). 
• Saturday (1008): Calories in 2400. Daily Burn 2429. An hour on the elliptical. Basketball conflicts today. #5 had three games, was able to play in two, I only attended one.
• Sunday (1009): Calories in 2700. Daily Burn 2178. Family breakfast and then a ton of treats pushed my over today, even with an hour of elliptical.
• Monday (1010): Calories in 2100. Daily Burn 3135. Got in 80min on the elliptical and Zumba with Southziders. Some shopping and cleaning and welcome home Hubs!
• Tuesday (1010): Calories in 1700. Daily Burn 3119. An hour on the elliptical, Zumba with Marian, with a walk to/from the church, also a session on the bike and WEIGHTS. Calories under control too. Good day!
• Wednesday (1012): Calories in 2200. Daily Burn 3201. Feeling hungry today, had to work to keep calories in check. Four 20min sessions on the elliptical, Zumba with MZL, mowed the lawn and did a walk along the canal.
• Thursday (1013): Calories in 2200. Daily Burn 3020. Four 20min sessions on the elliptical and Zumba with MountainView. Feeling down today, but didn't completely let calories run amok. 

 Five Featured Photos ...

Hubs Experiencing the Food in Seattle with Siblings

Studly Son in his new Suit

... the chairs were left up ... again.

#mondaymorningZumbaproblems

Kitty "helping" me make the bed.

Quite the crowd at Wednesday Zumba with MZL!

Musical Musings

I love music. When I first started my exercise routine over 10 years ago, I had dozens of different playlists ... one for every mood. I collected songs with a 5mph beat, to pace me when I'd attempt jogging. I'd put music on while I'd clean up the kitchen or drive in the car ...

Over a year ago I did a "Music vs Silence" post ... I had some forced silence (broken radio) during drives, and I was drawn to it. I liked the quiet. As I chauffeured the kids, it prompted some great conversations.

At home, I converted to audiobooks while I worked around the house, or killed time between basketball games (even if there was a track, when previously I might have jogged or walked to music).

But I've missed music ...

With child #4 in middle school, and a school carpool in place ... the silence was a little uncomfortable. So I spent some time in Itunes, prepping a playlist, adding songs I haven't listened to in forever.  I have so much forgotten music! Songs I haven't listened to in years. Sometimes I hear one of my old "jogging" songs, and I feel that urge to try it on the track (although I have resisted said urge, my few treadmill times have still been to the television). 

Of course, with my Zumba Mon-Thursday, I still got in a lot of music this past year. Some songs stay in that "Zumba" zone, but others cross over into my everyday. I'll often stop quickly to Shazam and/or ask the instructor about a song that hits grabs me. One piece, introduced during the cool down/stretching really hit me hard ... It was created to promote a movie/movement really highlighted here in Utah. Operation Underground, "The Abolitionists". I never got around to seeing the movie, but I HAD to look up the song. It's sad and haunting and beautiful ...

... I figured, as I rediscovered some of my music, I'd do some "Musical Monday" posts and share some favorites, old and new, with you too. Play on ...

Weekly Weigh-In #167

WHAT? Whereas last week I had an unexpected, and undeserved loss ... this week, completely unexpected and undeserved gain. I was GOOD this week! I was really trying, keeping calories in check. Made it through the weekend without a big scale shift, then up, Up, UP.  Not fair. Even if last week's weigh-in was a fluke, and shouldn't have been as low as it was, I can't for the life of my figure out what went so wrong this week. It wasn't the numbers (other than that one on the scale!) ...

NUMBERS: Heavens ... up 4.9??? The average was down a smidge (-.64 to 171.29, it didn't include this week's weigh-in though, as I calculate it Fri through Thurs). Average intake was 2029, average daily burn was 2883. Crunching numbers, I calculated a weekly deficit. -3729. Where is my one pound loss?  Average steps 22229. 35minWeights, 855minCardio, 90.41 exercise Miles. FOOD: I actually stayed under goal (2000) four days this week! I didn't have any over 3000 days. FITNESS: I did have 3000+ days for burn four days this week, although I didn't hi any 30k days. Got in my hour of elliptical six days, Zumba five days, three sessions on the bike, one on the treadmill, and just one with weights.  

SO completely discouraged this week. I'll admit to feeling down almost all week. Friday, with last week's weigh-in, I was pretty optimistic and motivated. I really wanted to keep that scale shift, and stay in the 160s. Even after a good day on Friday, it bumped up. Saturday wasn't great for eating or exercise, but Sunday I kept calories in check and even got some exercise in, even though it was a down day. I've been unable to shake the sadness this week. Monday was more of the minimum for fitness, but food was in check. Tuesday ... eating and exercise were good, if not great ... yet, the scale. An up? And then up again? I'll admit on Thursday, I was in a little bit of a "what does it even matter" mood, but I still got in my activity and kept eating in control.

Almost FIVE pounds? One week?  A "good" week?

Here's a day by day recap ...

• Friday (0930): Calories in 1900. Daily Burn 3125. Feeling motivated after the weigh-in. Got in 80minElliptical, Zumba-ed on my own for an hour, got in a session on the bike, and did weights. I did make Swig Sugar Cookies ... they'll be tempting me this week.
• Saturday (1001): Calories in 2750. Daily Burn 2523. Those cookies be calling ... just an hour of elliptical today for exercise, although I did mow the lawn. Videoed #5 in a couple basketball games. Homecoming for #2, all day at a wedding for Hubs.
• Sunday (1002): Calories in 2000. Daily Burn 2116. Down day ... had to get in some exercise endorphins. 20minElliptical and a session on the bike. 
• Monday (1003): Calories in 1700. Daily Burn 2907. Four 20min sessions on the elliptical, Zumba with Southziders ... I had to push through a bit. Just dragging.
• Tuesday (1004): Calories in 1850. Daily Burn 3327. 80minElliptical, Zumba with Marian, Bike and Treadmill. Should have done weights though, so even though I kept calories in check, it just felt like an okay day. 
• Wednesday (1005): Calories in 1900. Daily Burn 3129. Back to just an hour of elliptical. Zumba with MZL. Shopping steps, plus lawn mowing and a walk.
• Thursday (1006): Calories in 2100. Daily Burn 3052. Hour of elliptical and Zumba with MountainView. Discouraged day with weight up, but really tried to still keep things in control.

 I didn't take many pictures this week ... but it was Homecoming for my Senior. I missed the photo session (same time as my munchkin's basketball game) but was able to snag pictures from #2's phone and from other parents ...

 The guys at the game Friday night ...

 The guys ... ready to pummel their dates

 Hey, my boy happened to be with the Homecoming Queen! The photographer part of me really wants to shift them over to another background, free of empty water bottles and such. 

Silly socks!

The boys all got matching socks ... they matched each other, and nothing else!

PokeGo-Zumba?

A few months ago, I did a little write up about PokemonGo ... and it's still going here at our house. It's been amazing motivation for my mini-me homebody boy. If Daddy or I are running errands, he wants to come with, to check in a poke-stops and catch wild pokemon. During the summer, and now after school, he roams the neighborhood, clocking kilometers to hatch his eggs.

He (just turned 13 years old) doesn't have his own phone, but we have a family cell-phone that he has been using for this game. He doesn't take it to school ... so I had the bright idea that I could bring it to Zumba. All my Zumba classes are held in local churches, and all churches seem to be either a gym or a poke-stop. Happily for him, MY Zumba churches have all been pokestops. 

At first, I figured I'd just check in a couple times, once before class and once after. But in three of my classes, while I'm standing/dancing in the church gym, I'm in position to hit the poke-stop after it resets ... which happens about every five minutes.

So ... in between songs, as I go grab a drink, I reach down to the open iphone and give the stop a little spin, wracking up pokeballs, potions, razzberries and even an egg here and there. #4 has been pretty happy with my help.

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My little nephew is also big into this PokemonGo business. His dad just caught him a Charizard close to where he works downtown. I am NOT that cool. I've tried a time or two to catch a critter as they appeared when I've had the phone in hand. I've watched my munchkin do it dozens of times ... yet I was never successful.

Until today. 

I caught a Pikachu. It was after Zumba, and I'd stopped at a store to grab a few groceries on the way home.

I'm certainly no Pokemon Master, but I'm not too bad as a Pokemon Mom. Especially as I go to Zumba at least four times a week, and can usually hit up the poke-stop ten or so times each class. 

What can I say, I like to multi-task. 

Zumba ... and Pokemon Go!