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Showing posts from March 30, 2017

Cubed.

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^^After school snuggles! M and I went to Sweethaus to pick up some buttercream frosting for our trip. You’ll have to wait and see what it’s for! I mentioned packing cubes in my lunch post and got a few “what are packing cubes?” comments. Again these are the ones I got , and they arrived just in time for my trip! The set came with three cubes and 3 pouches for laundry or smaller items like underwear. Here is the contents of my carry-on suitcase. I am a huge overpacker, so this is only 3 night’s worth, but I have to fit in all the categories: daytime clothes, dressy clothes and shoes, layers if it’s cold, workout clothes (the WORST to pack with the shoes included), sleepwear, underwear, toiletries. Here was my first attempt to pack them in: Haha – look at how many didn’t make it! #fail Attempt two went stacked instead of sideways, and I made lots of progress: And then I realized I could go above the zipper because my suitcase expands. Success! My suitcase is Jessica Simps...

Lunch Bunch

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I’m back!! This is fun!! Haha. Is this giving you guys deja vu?! After breakfast, we bike/walked to school. I love this 20 minute walk I do most mornings. We walk everyday unless it’s raining, and we braved the winter cold all season. It’s great to get in some movement before I start my day even if it’s not an official workout. Mazen loves dandelions so much! He’s so excited they are popping up all over. But that does mean we have to stop ever 10 feet to blow them Also that Spiderman jacket from ThredUP is our fashion MVP for this year. He wants to wear it everyday! I split my time this morning packing for a trip we are taking this weekend (!!) and working on KERF and DTF. I am obsessed with packing cubes and lost one of mine in St. Lucia, so I just ordered this inexpensive set from Amazon to get a few more. They make packing so much more fun! I also bought this  Sophia Joy cosmetic bag  (seen on the right below) because it’s kind of shaped like a packing cube and ...

The Plight of the Modern Foot: Conditions that Plague Us—and How to Avoid Them

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For all the focus on hearts and arteries, brain tissue and muscle mass, we tend to neglect one critical part of the body with dramatic influence over how we fare in later decades. It’s little surprise really. Feet don’t exactly garner much attention, let alone media time. Yet, the stakes are big. For example, research shows that foot conditions like hallux vagus (HV, a common forefoot deformity in older people commonly referred to as “bunions”) was directly associated with marked decreases in quality of life. Foot pain, reduced foot function, lowered social capacity, and even degraded general health. That sort of thing. But that’s just one foot condition, right? Yes…and no. The picture of averages looks rather bleak. A clinical assessment of 166 Hong Kong hospital outpatients over the age of 65 found that 70% of those patients had some sort of foot condition. In the U.S., things aren’t much better. While  surveys  have shown extensive variability in reports of foot proble...

Old Skool KERF

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Surprise! I figured I’d throw back to the old days and do a series of live blogs today! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner – hold on to your hats! Haha. Mazen woke me up at 7, as he usually does, with snuggles in my bed. His latest thing is running across a room and saying “HUGGIE!” and today he did that and dove under the covers with me. It’s the best way to wake up! (Actually I was already awake and checking emails on my phone, but still : ) ) We were not alone though, because Thomas and Gus have moved in with us! After a long time of going back and forth, we decided to consolidate our lives here, and we are so happy <3 He is renting his house (which he owns and renovated), so that’s been a great financial bonus for him too. Good morning Gussie! Thomas’s full pot of delicious regular coffee has definitely had an impact on my caffeine adventures ; ) Full mug of regular – no more, no less – today. I made banana pancakes for breakfast per Anne’s recipe : We had mango on th...

Why Every Rep In Training Should Be the Same

Written By: Kevin Cann One of the things that has been ingrained into me since day 1 of my brief powerlifting career is that every rep should look the same. That means that when I squat with 50% of my 1RM it should be executed at the same speed as 100% of my 1RM. This can run counterintuitive to the old adage that you should “move light weights as if they are heavy and heavy weights as if they are light.” The idea behind this saying is to encourage you to move fast with lighter weights because that is your intention with heavier weights, to move fast. Moving fast with lighter weights has been shown to develop favorable motor unit recruitment, and also muscle fiber development for lifting heavy weights. This is why speed work is so popular in Westside Barbell templates. This is also why you see lighter and more explosive lifts in programs written for field and court athletes. Exercises like the Olympic lifts and medicine ball work are used to develop these qualities. I am not sayin...

What I’m Loving Lately 82

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Hi, friends! Happy THURSDAY to you! I’m publishing my usual What I’m Loving Lately  post a day early because… well, I’m all messed up, time-wise. That red-eye really screwed me up. Haha! San Diego seems like ages ago, but I feel like I JUST got home. I have no idea what happened between Monday morning and today?! Anyway, it’s time for the next edition of  What I’m Loving Lately ! Champion Women’s Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie ($22) – I’ve worn this hoodie non-stop since I bought it. It’s cozy, casual, and goes with just about anything. I’m always throwing it on over a tank or t-shirt after a workout or running errands around town. Love! FYI: It comes in 9 different colors! And I’m loving these  Champion French Terry Jogger Pants  ($14.99). They are truly the most comfortable EVER and priced right! Related: These Champion Joggers are pretty amazing too! I’m also loving my new top-siders x 2 ! The saga continues! Haha! Ok, so remember my gray...