Hawks Win! Hawks Win! Hawks Win!

The last couple of weeks, I would say that I (Coach) have been in a pretty serious funk. The last eight weeks or so of no running is starting to get to me. The trainer doesn't seem to be enough, and to boot, the Seahawks had seemed to be in the habit of taking it in the rear playing poorly.

I don't want to blame my entire funk on the Hawks, but correlation sometimes can mean causation. The Hawks were down and they brought me right down with them.

That's not me... but it's it's just ridiculous enough to be cool.

But a new day has dawned, the Hawks have won, and this week is looking up. The beat down of Arizona has inspired me to kick some butt myself this week. I have decided I'm going to try to run this week, hopefully my knee will decide that it wants me to run as well. I'm also going to get serious about getting down to racing weight, the extra 15 pounds seems to be the reason some of my injuries persist.

So here we go, a new week... a Hawks win... let's get it goin'.

Don't forget to enter our great giveaway for a Chicks 9 tee HERE! Only a few days left.

A Giveaway, just as promised!

Ok, I am really excited about today's review and giveaway because I think these products are just so cute and unique! Curious? Have I peaked your interest? Good! As I was browsing Etsy one night, I came across a site that sold sports themed clothing for girls. Finally, something that didn't say Hannah Montana on it! I had to know more, so I clicked on it and found the wonderful world of Chick 9 Clothing!

Right off the bat I saw tons of adorable shirts with my favorite sports all over them. I don't have a daughter yet, but I plan on getting one, and this is exactly the type of clothing that stores are missing. Not all girls want to be cheerleaders! As I browsed, I was super excited to find that she makes all the same shirts for women, too, up to a size XL. That means babies to mommies can be rocking these shirts!

Some of my faves!

Chick 9 was founded after Krista couldn't find anything sports related for her friend's little girls. She decided the solution was to start making them herself. Luckily she knew what she was talking about, because Krista was and is an avid athlete. I love that the brand is named after Title IX, which opened the door for women in sports. I definitely think girls need sports, and great clothes! So, Krista was kind enough to send me a shirt to try as well as one for my niece (my little model). I had a hard time picking, but decided to go with my latest passion, running, and got this one...

and I knew exactly which one I wanted for my niece...

It says, Athlete Not just a pretty face (we'll see if that proves true!)

They got here quickly and I immediately loved how soft they were. She warned me to go up a size, because the women's can run small and it worked out perfectly. I like my shirts to be a little longer and it was just right! I have since washed it and it still fits perfectly. You can see we look great in our shirts, but I know Madison is cuter!

And they are kid proof too!

For some reason as soon as I went to get my picture taken, the boys got very clingy!

I got hers a size up so she could wear it for a long time!

Of course, it gets better, although it's hard to beat seeing me in yet another picture wearing something you want. Krista has offered to let one of my followers get a tee of their own, or for a wife, daughter, etc. Actually, the winner can pick one regular priced item, or two sale items! Yipee! She does have great stuff on sale, so even those on the tightest budget can get some, and they would make awesome Christmas gifts and are also a hit at baby showers and birthdays (who really needs more toys?) And if you don't see the sport you want, let her know, she loves a challenge!

How do you enter to win, just follow the easy steps below. Leave a separate comment for each!  The giveaway will run till Wednesday the 17th at 9 pm PST!

Mandatory- Be a follower of our blog!

Mandatory- Visit Chick 9 HERE and tell me what you would want if you won!

Optional-

~Like us on FB HERE (yes, this is new!)

~Add us to your blogroll

~Follow Krista's Chick 9 blog HERE

~Make a purchase you won't regret from Chick 9 (worth 5 entries)

~Tweet, fb, or blog about the giveaway (1 comment for each)

Ok get to entering, buying, and spreading the word!

I saw the Witch Doctor...

Ok, he wasn't really a witch doctor, but for some reason I couldn't get that song out of my head. Actually, he was a really great doctor. It was my first visit with him and I was pretty nervous. I still think of myself as a 12 yr old and have trouble talking to "adults", so to make sure everything got said that needed to, I brought an advocate with me, my mommy. Yes, as a 25 yr old with 2 kids, I had to bring my mommy to the doctors with me, and no she didn't hold my hand! It's ok you can make fun, it's pretty pathetic, I just get so shy and nervous. Anyways, Mother by my side, we told the doctor everything that has been bugging me for years and more recently. He asked lots of questions and seemed very knowledgeable, especially in the area of lyme disease, which is why I went to see him. By the end, he had concluded that something was very wrong and wanted to test for several different things, including lyme. After taking lots of blood, they let us know it would be about a week or so until the results were in. Now we are back to the waiting game, but I am definitely sidelined until then. Not a super informative visit, no great mystery solved, but I finally feel like we are getting closer.

As far as the rest of my plan, it hasn't been fully played out yet due to further complications with my body, but I'll have more on that later. I need to be better about trying to do whatever I can, namely the stretching. So, that is the update. Stay tuned, I sense a cheer me up giveaway coming tomorrow!

Santa's Workshop & Our Winners!

So I won't even be mean this time and make you wait! Out of 91 entries our winners were #8 and #9 

 Meredith said...

You on my blogroll!

Kim said...

You are on my blogroll already!

 I guess having me on your blogroll is good luck! Meredith from Therapeutic Runnings of a Mom is our #1 winner. So pick your fave and then Kim from (Just) Trying is For Little Girls you'll get the other one! Here is what you are choosing from again.

Congrats ladies! Shoot me an email at tressaabe11 [at] hotmail [dot] com with your pick and addresses! As for what I have been up to this weekend, well I am hard at work in Santa's Workshop (aka my Dad's house.) I have been painting and decorating. About 10 years ago, my dad started making wooden figures to decorate his yard with, and it has since blown up and his yard is full of them. We all have fun coming up with new concepts, painting, and then proudly displaying them. Since a few of my sisters and I finally have our own places, we got to make our own this year. It felt like such a rite of passage. I will show you what work we have done so far, but it takes weeks to decorate my parents house, so we aren't even close to being done! I'll make sure to show you what it looks like when it's all done!

Coach really rocked that short and boots look!

Peyton walking past Charlie Brown, with the sledding hill on the other side and the manger scene in the background.

Probably my favorite, the Island of Misfit Toys!

The painting I am working on for my house!

My 'er get it done plan!

Yes, I realize what I did there! First I have to say a huge thanks to everyone that commented yesterday. You all have no idea how much your words lifted me and (if your Kovas especially) made me laugh! It is just what I needed to hear to not all keep going, but also to remind myself exactly what I love about this bloggy world and all my digital friends. With the exception of my Mom, love you too Mom, I don't truly know any of you and only met you through this virtual world, yet you are the ones to offer me words of comfort. And not just empty words, but the right words. So thank you again!

Now onto my stellar plan! What I am finding most frustrating, is my lack of knowledge about my "injuries". I don't even know that they are injuries. My shoulder started hurting suddenly back in highschool, with no significant event to spur on the pain. After lots of doctors and a surgery, it was determined I had a bad shoulder and needed to rest it for 2 years for the pain to cease. Helpful. How do you stop using your shoulder for two years? It did cause me to cut back to 2 sports a year instead of 3, otherwise the pain was too overwhelming. Often my knees would also hurt, especially while bending in lifts and such, but same thing, no real problem could be found. When I started running this summer, my shoulders were the first thing to hurt, followed quickly by my hips, especially when I added in swimming. It was actually when taking a break to rest my hips that my knees started to hurt, and they have killed ever since. Depending on the day, one may hurt worse than the other and it can switch. If I totally rest (stay off my feet and ice all day) they will feel better, but as soon as I move again it comes back. So I haven't ran in two weeks and haven't biked in almost a week, trying to give them a bigger break. This is where the possibility for Lyme disease has come up. It affects the joints severely and worsens with time. It also causes fatigue, headaches, numbing in the hands and feet, and other symptoms I have been dealing with since highschool. I don't know that I have Lyme disease, I am just hoping so that I can finally figure out what is wrong with me.

With my lack of info I want to be careful, at least till I talk to the doc. I also know if I push things too far, my joints tend to just give out. So my plan is...

• Stretching- At least 10-15 min a night. I can't do yoga, bc of the pressure it puts on my knees but I can do some of the stretches. I can at least come out of this one limber chick!
• Hip Strengthening- Just in case my hip pain is unrelated, I want to strengthen that sucker up to prevent future injury. Runners world had a good exercise for strengthening the muscle. Do this every night.
• Abs- 3 days a week. There a few ab moves that don't hurt anything else, so I will focus on these, and do them till they burn! I definitely need a stronger core.
• Arms- 3 nights a week. I may be able to find a few moves where my shoulder stays stable. I will do these with light weights or a band.
• Keep dreaming- I want to come up with my race schedule for late spring and summer. I hope that will help me stay focused on all the great things ahead, even if I am missing out on some things now!

Thanks again for your words and blogs. They keep me going, I promise my sarcasm and whit and love are here to stay! And if you have any suggestions, please feel free to pass them on!

Don't forget, I am spreading the love right now with the CamBand giveaway! Today is the last day to enter! You have until 9pm PST! Clickity HERE to enter away!

Conflicted

I am not the me I was a few months ago and it is killing me. It is not easy for any athlete to be injured, the sidelines is not where we like to play. I am finding it particularly frustrating because I feel like the running and biking was really helping me to get a handle on my depression. For the first time in years, the old me was able to surface and breath. All those endorphins helped to set her free. Now, she is feeling trapped again. Luckily, the Holidays are here and I am like a giddy kid. Nothing can distract me like Christmas. I have been shopping the last three days, and have already started decorating. There is plenty to keep my mind and hands busy with all the chocolate making, present wrapping, decorating, family visiting, but at night, though I am exhausted, I still feel incomplete. My computer sits in the corner untouched. No data to enter. No quippy posts to do. I feel like a fraud. How can I be a part of this world when I am contributing nothing. Not a real drop of sweat has been shed and my workouts consist of cornmazes and light hanging.

Of course here is a guy who should be
 sitting on the bench! Sorry, Favre lovers!

Who wants to be my friend now? Listening to someone talk about mystery injuries is only interesting never for so long. I mean I can only bribe you guys with giveaways for so long (which luckily I still have quite a few more!) but even money and gifts can't buy love right? I wish I had a plan. The only plan right now, don't do anything till I meet with the doc on Tuesday for fear of causing irreveresible damage to my joints which happens a lot with long term lyme patients. But I am tired of letting the rest of me deterioate like last weeks pumpkins. I am going to be old, and shrively and moldy in no time! What do I do? Dissapear into the night like a great dream, only a memory for now, maybe to return someday? Let Coach takeover, though he is notoriously bad about posting? I hate feeling like I can't be with you guys right now. So my new plan is to make a plan. I am going to set some goals that my current crap bod can handle. Then I will post them, and hopefully you all can help me stick to them. They will be small and seem like nothing I'm sure, but I have to do something! That way, when I finally get off the pine pony I will be that much more prepared. Let's just hope I don't have too many splinters!

That Counts Right!

When you're injured, you may find yourself rationalizing the everyday tasks into workouts! It's hard to not be able to do what you really want, and it's even harder to admit to yourself that walking, is suddenly stressful to your body. That is how Coach and I got into a discussion about whether or not our Saturday night trip to the Corn Maze could be considered a true workout for a couple of gimps like us! You can decide for yourself!

The Facts

• We did 3 Mazes total.
• The first 2 Mazes (if done correctly) would total 4 miles.
• We definitely did not do it correctly, I would say more like 5 miles (some awesome kids tore down the map at checkpoint 2 and Raya and I may have failed getting us to checkpoint 5 with the 10 sec look @ the map rule!)
• At some points we tried to skip to vary the mood, throwing in some plyos
• We climbed at least 3 bridges!
• Screaming uses muscles right?
• Eating Ice Cream also burns calories right?
Well, here is the photographic evidence of our night!



About to enter the labyrinth of corn, and stupid teenagers!





Our First Checkpoint!



We got pretty good at the self portrait!



Yay, we made it through the first maze!



And here is Jesse about to exit the second one!



Coach and I, before doing the Haunted one! (Not that spooky, but we did get one of the spookers to answer the following question correctly, "Which bear is best?" do you know?)



Raya and Nathan (Jesse's brother)



Mmm, Ice Cream!



We're creepy!

 Of course, after our Ice Cream, we were feeling gutsy and made the mistake of saying "Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!" Don't try it at home! Look what happened...

he is pretty dreamy in person though! It was a fun night, and despite my knee really hurting the next day, it was great to take my mind off the fact that I can't do anything! The Holidays are great for that!

So are giveaways! Don't forget to enter our giveaway for CamBands! And if you are feeling like stocking (hint hint stocking stuffers) up now, you get 5 extra entries. Just click HERE to enter, 2 winners, Yahoo!