My no good very bad terrible horrible long winter

You guys. I am so sorry that I haven't blogged in MONTHS. I need to catch all of you that are not my fb or instagram friends up on what my February and March looked like.

It looked like this. 

So when we left off I was happily training for my very first princess half marathon at the beautiful Walt Disney World Resort.  The very next week after my last post I took my daughter to a basketball tournament in SC. We stayed in the dorms and I was " lucky" enough to get a top bunk. So on the Thursday night we were there, I decided to jump off the top bunk to go to the restroom.



and broke my heel.


Ya'll.



I BROKE my HEEL.


5 weeks before my first half marathon.



The one I have been training for since LAST JUNE.

I took it very well. (sarcasm)

Not only did it keep me from running at Disney World ( my favorite place in the world) it also kept me from running of any type.

And when I don't run. Things get kinda ugly.

So I am gonna be honest. February was kinda a drag. I really do need to workout in order to be sane. 

 I did swim and bike some, but it is not the same as runners high.  I also baked. 

a lot.

 and sat on my butt and watched Sherlock and Parenthood and the Blacklist and Downton Abbey and.... well, I sat on my butt a lot too. 

The weekend of the race was really hard for me because I had so many online friends running in it, but I liked all their pictures and cheered them on from home and my sweet in laws told me that they would still treat us to a WDW weekend, so I began to plan one for April and then March came along and I started working out a little more on the elliptical and then...

Finally! This first run back was on the treadmill at the Y and not a road run (although I have logged about 15 miles on the road again since my injury). We are leaving for Walt Disney World next week (!!!!) so  I have decided to take it easy and not run this week. I just can't take the risk of hurting it again or even soreness since it is feeling so much better right now and I will be walking a ton in the parks.

Once I get back from Florida though, Greg and I are starting a 12 week program called Body for Life.

It is an older program...I think the book was published in 1999, but the methods still hold true. It is VERY similar to a Paleo diet and focusing a lot on fitness. The man who wrote the book , Bill Phillips was a body builder so weight lifting is a big part of it. You also do cardio three days a week and that is where my running training will come in. I am going to be running the Hokie Half at Virginia Tech in October so this 12 weeks ( April 21- July7) will be great pre training before I begin the serious half marathon training again. It will hopefully allow me to lose the 10 pounds and soft spots that the February and March fitness "rest" added to my body.

So follow along and check out our progress. :)

Under Armour Ambassador

Not sure if you guys have noticed the UA links on the side of my blog but I am an official Under Armour Ambassador now! You can use the links to check out all the latest UA gear and also the sales they are having. I will also be doing some reviews on new products from time to time.

My very first pair of serious running shoes were Under Armour and they are still in use! I also LOVE my new UA cold gear running top that Greg gave me for Christmas. It is perfect for running outside this time of year.

So if you are looking for some new athletic gear, clink on the link and check out what UA has to offer. I don't think you will disappointed. They make quality gear that will last a long time and serve you well while you train. 

Weekly Fitness Recap Jan 19th

Here is my Weekly Fitness Recap. It was a good week! I even braved a new activity...swimming! Now, I know how to swim and have swam for years, but never in a lap pool where I am counting meters. It was a good workout and I was surprised to find that I was out of breath by 3 laps.

Monday: Run 6 miles
Tuesday: Upper body weight training
Wednesday: Run 4 miles
Thursday: 1 hour on the elliptical
Friday: Jillian's Shred
Saturday: Off
Sunday: Swim 600 meters

So I was able to get my 10 miles in and also was able to take a needed day off. I am hoping to swim again this coming week or even take a yoga class. :)

I am planning on a really long run this week because The Princess Half is one month away from this Thursday! Eeeeeeek! I am soooooo excited!

QOTD:

Would you rather swim or run for cardio?

Favorite Fitness Apps

Hey guys! I wanted to share with you a couple of my favorite apps that I use everyday. If you have an iPhone and go to the app store to look at fitness apps, it is easy to get overwhelmed..there are a ton of them! Here are my favorite 2.

Map my run. 

I love it because it uses my GPS as I run to track where I am and the distance I go. It also records my splits per mile, over all pace and calories. I use the free version. The paid version is a monthly fee and will give you more bells and whistles, but I have found the free version to be just fine for me.
You can share your workout via email, twitter or Facebook when you are finished. It will even store your workouts for you. I also get a weekly and monthly email telling me my workouts in review.  My dad and I like to compare who has ran the most each month. ;)

They also will send fun emails like this was your 100th workout or 100th mile ran.... just little encouragements. Great app and probably the only reason I haven't broke down and bought a runners watch. (Even though I am DYING for this one!)



My Fitness Pal.

My fitness pal allows you to plug in your weight and desired weight and then how quickly you want to lose pounds and lets you know how many calories you should consume each day. It will also let you log in your cardio and strength training and will add those calories to your daily intake. You have "friends" that can see your progress ( as much or little as you want them to see) and encourage you. It is nice to read others diary's and see what food choices they are making to get ideas on meals and snacks. At the end of the day you finish logging and it will tell you how much you would weigh in 5 weeks if every day was like that day. I also like that there is a warning if you are eating to few calories. Gotta fuel that body in order to burn fat!

I have also linked my fitbit to the app and they will sync with each other. That isn't a really needed feature, but kinda cool.

So there ya go! My two favorite free fitness apps.

Jackie

QOTD :
( Question of the Day)
What are your favorite fitness apps to use?

Weekly Workout Recap Jan 12

As I train for the Princess Half I am going to post a weekly workout recap on here. Mainly so I can see my progress and also it will keep me accountable. ;)

Monday:  Jillian Michael's Shred with Weights...I didn't get it in until 7:30pm BUT I did do it. :)

Tuesday: off day. Not really my planned off day, but it was 2 degrees with a high of 11. I didn't want to move much less run or go to the Y therefore I deemed it my "off day". Props to you athletes that deal with those temps all winter. brrr.

Wednesday: 3 miles on the 'mill at the YMCA while Nate got his braces on! The Y is crazy busy this time of year, but I was able to snag a treadmill and get in the three miles I needed to. Treadmills are so boring to me, but I am thankful for them when the weather is cold and rainy.

Thursday: Shred at 7:30am then the flu hit our house and I spent the remainder  of the day with a 3 year olds feverish body attached to me. :(

Friday: YMCA 60 minutes on the elliptical . I am reading Insurgent right now and trying to save it for the elliptical because it is SO good it makes an hour go by super fast. Someone asked me the other day what levels I train on. I usually do a 12 incline and a 14 resistance.

Saturday : run OUTSIDE. It was cloudy, stormy, but super warm, so  I checked the radar map, saw some clearing and took off.  I made it 4 miles before the rain caught me, but it was a lovely run.

Sunday: 3 mile run/walk  My goal was 10 miles this week so I decided to just do an easy three this afternoon. Nothing fast or amazing, but goal for the week is complete and that makes me happy.

My New Favorite Snack

I wanted to share with you all my new favorite snack! I read this article in Runner's World magazine about how sweet potatoes can help runners. Well, I am all about sweet potatoes...(especially in the form of fries)  :)

  So I started looking for ways to incorporate them with another new favorite super food,  Coconut Oil. (I buy mine at Trader Joes)

I am sure there are lots of recipes out there that are more technical, but here is what I do to make a super healthy yummy snack with just these two super healthy ingredients.

Peel one sweet potato and cube it into small bites.

Melt one teaspoon of coconut oil in a small cast iron skillet in a 400 degree oven. When oil is melted, take pan out of the oven ( be careful, it will be super hot!) , toss in the sweet potatoes and cook for about 25 min.

*Don't worry if they are a little soggy. They will crisp up a little more as they cool.

*Sprinkle with a little sea salt for some major sweet and salty yumminess .

A Fitness Blog

Have I mentioned that I am signed up to run in the Disney Princess Half Marathon next month? If you are friends with me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram ( and if we are not friends,  please click the handy dandy links over on the right side of the page and lets BE friends... K?) then you have watched my training process since June when I signed up for it.

I can run a 9 min mile ( just one... then I slow down to more of an 11 min. mile)  and I am averaging around 12 miles a week right now. Not the 13.1 in three hours that I will tackle in 43 days, but I am getting there.

I had thought about creating a fitness blog separate from this one, but honestly I can't see the need to. The whole reason I started blogging was:

 1. For grandparents to see what was happening with the kids  (and they are all hip enough to be on Facebook so they get to see plenty of kid updates and pictures)

2. To record and share home school lessons ( and my kids are now old. Algebra and Ancient History are not nearly as fun to capture in bloggy-world as say, a unit study on chocolate. )

3. To think and share deep thoughts. Well, I have 5 kids, homeschool and am training to run a half marathon. My thought are unfortunately not that deep right now. ( and if you need a blog with deep thoughts there are thousands out there, message me and I can recommend a couple.)

Soooooo I have decided to use my blog for all of the above if and when the notion strikes and also to record my training,  tips I am picking up along the way, must have workout items ( because you know there has to be some shopping involved) and recipes I am trying in order to fuel my body before I abuse it.  ;)

I will also do a trip report when I get back from Disney and detail every sweaty moment for you...exciting, huh?:)

So follow along if you would like to..the more the merrier.

Jackie

Races ( pine car and 5Ks), Musicals and Dinner out too

A fun full week for the Mullis Life this week.. Especially the Mullis Mom! Wednesday night we had our Pine Car Derby at church. The kids have been working on the cars during their craft time at Pioneer Clubs and were all so excited to race them. Mr. Steve had the track all set up in the family life center and brackets ready for the racers. 

Essie Hope with her car. 

So Sarah Faith and I apparently have the same" Lets race a car" face. 

Sarah won for the preschool class! Her little purple car was undefeated! 

Then Thursday night my BFF, Amy and I went with a few other friends to the Wake Forest production of Hairspray. I'm gonna go ahead and confess that I totally went for the dinner before hand ( BEST chicken pot pie ever) and to hang out with some girls for the night. BUT, I loved the musical! The students did such a good job on the songs and it was funny and totally kept my attention the whole 2 hours and 15 minute. I didn't sneak and check Facebook or snapchat one single time. 

I kinda feel like I might have missed my calling as a reviewer of theatrical performances, don't you?

Me and Amy. Love her. My BFF since forever. 

Then, on Saturday the big kids were off to a football game most of the day, but were home in time for us to switch off on toddler duty ( Have I ever said how much I love having teenagers and a little one at the same time?) so Greg and I could go on a date. 

We had talked about where we could go earlier in the week and I mentioned I would really like to run a 5k at Tanglewood Park under the Christmas lights Saturday night. 

So this handsome man took me to the park and waited around while I ran my 5k (In 33 min and 15 sec) and then we chowed down on the finish line buffet so much that he didn't even hafta take me to dinner. Cheap date, I am. 

By the way...it was really fun to run under the lights. I think though if I do it next year, I might walk it because I was kinda sad to blow past ( well lets be honest, JOG past) all the displays without stopping to really enjoy them. 

Staying warm before the race

Tanglewood Festival of Lights

Ready to Race! 

Then Sunday evening,  Amy and I had a much needed dinner with our friend Teresa who is baking baby Carolina Grace at the moment. We missed her baby shower because it was the same day as trunk or treat and I still have not found a way to clone myself or I would have totally been there! Anyway, we had our own shower, just the 3 and 1/2 of us at PF Changs. Yum! 

They played a game at the shower where T had to guess who brought all the onsies. And everyone brought one that best described them. Mine said, Keep Calm and Drink Coffee. :)

It was so good to catch up and to know the next time we hang out,  TT will be a mama!

So blessed to have these girls in my life. 

So that is my week in review!

What you been doin??

October ( week 3)

I was able to run in the Salem Greenway 5K with my friend, Elizabeth. I have never really liked the thought of running with someone, but she sure did keep me going that day! I had taken a 2 week break because of being in Florida and a couple rainy days when I was suppose to run. I was a little nervous trying to pull a decent time, but Elizabeth  was good motivation for me to keep running. She just had a baby in August so I am thinking if she can run the three miles, so can I! It was a cool rainy morning, but we had a good trail and there were around 180 runners so not to crowded. We finished in 33 min,  I had not eaten anything for breakfast ( new runner mistake) and so I was sugar crashing after the race so the best part for me was there were chick fil a biscuits at the finish line. :) 

I have caught the race bug though! As soon as I came home I started researching local 5k's so we can run another one soon. 

Here we are with our medal. 

Essie had some exciting things happen in her new modeling career this week. She was in the Hamricks sales flyer's. Her first gig! Here are a couple of the ads.

She is the one in the red and black dress

Love the sweater!

She also got her first paycheck! :) It is not a lot,  but hey.. She is my only child where her hobby is making money , not costing me money! 

 And then Miss Sarah Faith turned 3!!!  I am having a little bit of mommy guilt about the way we celebrated her birthday...but I am trying it let it go.  She is NOT a people person and does not like attention on her. In fact just opening gifts with people watching her can freak her out. So a birthday party is not something she would enjoy. We decided to keep it very low key. The big kids had their Monday classes, so we dropped them off and went to her favorite spot, chick fil a and had lunch together. Then we went to Target ( another place she likes to ride around in the buggy, but she hates walmart...maybe too big and noisy?) and then home for the afternoon. I baked her a cake and we had cake with her that evening. It was not very big, but it was a special day for her I hope.

Lunch with mommy

Birthday cake


At three Sarah Faith loves her Leap Pad Explorer, the Backyardigans, Mickey Mouse, Teddy Grahams and Little People. She is sleeping in a big girl bed, is potty training ( still!) and feeds herself. Her favorite book is Good night Moon and The Mitten and she loves to go outside and play and jump.

Happy Birthday Sarah Faith Mullis! Mommy loves you!!! 

Our Week in Review

 We had one busy first week of summer! Abigail had volleyball camp at Piedmont International, Micah had soccer camp, Essie had Pioneer camp and Nate had 5 days of swim practices and meets! Sarah Faith and I hung out at the YMCA and swam while Nate was in his swim practices. We were busy and drove around a lot but everyone had a great time!
Yesterday, my 4 big kids flew to Florida to visit grandparents for 10 days!! It is just gonna be me, Greg and Sarah Faith here! What a switch for us! I know they will have a great time in FL, but I sure am gonna miss them!

Abby and the campers and coaches at PIU

Essie and Ms. Kim

Micah with his coach from the UK elite soccer camp, Steven.

Hanging at the pool after Nates swim practices

Sarah Faith is chilling out on mommy at the pool.