Summer Slim Down Final Results

So who plans a girls getaway trip to Vegas for two days at the very end of my Summer Slim Down??? Yup, that would be me. Holly and I spent Sunday and Monday in Vegas. We went with our kickboxing instructor Michelle though if that counts for anything. We had a great time! We sat by the pool at Planet Hollywood, had dinner at a Japanese place, and danced until 1:30am! The strip has changed so much. In case you are wondering, the odd man that stuck his face in the picture is Chris, Michelle's husband,  who leaned in at the last minute, but Holly and I like the picture of us so much so I had to post it. Chris and Michelle are wonderful people and they did a great job of planning a trip with 40 something people on a bus to Vegas. We had fun guys! I told you I would put you on the blog Chris! That's what you get for leaning in : ) 

  The morning that we left Holly and I walked to some other hotels and we asked a stranger to take our picture. My eyes are closed....but oh well. 

SUMMER SLIM DOWN

So for those of you that know, I started a 5 week program of circuit training  with a trainer named Travis. He taught me a lot as far as weights and resistance is concerned. I would like to take the exercises that he did with us and use them but it is always easier when you have somebody telling you and correcting your form. That is probably what I like about kickboxing....Michelle yells at me and pushes me. So much easier to push on when somebody is in your face! A lot of you have been asking me about kickboxing and I want to say that Michelle just started the INSANITY program at home with her husband. Have you seen the infomercial???? Well, she is three weeks in and she is incorporating so much of that program into kickboxing. It is INSANE. Last night was the worst. Very hard movements and I was dripping just like the people do on the commercial. Ok, on to business. I will say that I was hoping for a little more but here it goes.

Starting Weight =   146.2      Ending Weight= 142.6             Total Loss = -3.6 pounds

Waist = 32 inches to 31.5 inches                                               Waist Down .5 inch

Hips =   38.5 inches to 37.75 inches                                          Hips Down .75 inch

Thighs = 22 inches to 20.75 inches                                            Thighs Down 1.25 inches

Biceps = 11 inches to 11.25 inches                                            Biceps Up .25 inch

I will say, I feel much stronger and more importantly, it was fun to workout with Holly and try something new. I had a feeling the arms would go up because of the weights but that is a good thing because it means more definition. I wish I could go for another session but I told Travis he is a little out of my price range!

The kids...oh yes...my darlings. No pictures of them this week. Tennis classes are going great. They start the next session of tennis next week and then the week after they begin two weeks of swim lessons. Busy busy!

Busy Week and a Day of Fun with the Fam

This week was a busy week that was filled with activities, appointments, friends, and of course working out. So let's just get the weigh in out of the way. I lost 2.6 this week. Total, I am down three pounds since taking my measurements and starting the summer slim down. Really slow process, although I actually feel pretty good. I think maybe, just maybe, my measurements will be good. I will be finishing my 5 week session and will post a total review with measurements next Friday.

On to better things. I made some sliders this week that were yummo! The Chicken Delight Sliders were marinated in a mustard sauce and grilled. They were topped with a cabbage and pepper slaw that also had a honey mustard dressing. I tried Rachel Ray's Popper Sliders as well that were made with ground beef and topped with a cream cheese infused with cilantro and spices, and grilled jalapenos. Spicy!!! I was a little surprised that Rachel made the beef patties plain, nothing in them. So, I added garlic and like 5 different spices, some breadcrumbs and 1 egg to moisten them up. Both were really good and are pictured below. I was not taking great pictures that night and I'm not sure what was up with my flash so they don't really do the food justice!

 On Friday I took my husband on a date! We hired a babysitter and went to dinner and a movie. I am very proud of him. He is trying to lose weight as well. He hurt his back at work and is starting to realize that taking off some weight will help. The doctor told him that this is going to keep happening to his back. I swear, men have it easy. I count calories and work out intensely like a mad women and lose three pounds in a month. He lost 9 pound the first 5 days by watching his food and walking. I am super proud of him. He tracks what he eats and logs his exercise on his phone. Some new app I guess.

Today, we decided to make it a Super Saturday of family fun. After working out, dance class for Carmen, hair cuts for the boys, cleaning out the cars, and cleaning the new fish tank, we hopped in the car and told the kids we were taking them some place as a surprise. We pulled up to the Arizona Science Center and Gianni's eyes lit up. He had been once on a school field trip but he walked in as he was so excited as if it were the first time. He started talking and didn't stop. He got in there and his heart was racing and he was speaking a mile a minute and I finally looked at him and said, "Gianni, we can stay all day until the place closes if you want! Don't worry, we will see and do it all. Relax dude, we won't skip a thing." Carmen and Abel had never been so we went all out and did it all including a show in the planetarium.  

 His favorite section was the area on brains. He had to use his brain and concentrate to get this ball to move. He played against dad. He struggled at first and then I told him it was like using the force like in Star Wars and it made it a little easier. Daddy still won!

 Miss Carmen was not excited about the science center at first. When we pulled up she cried.
"I thought the special place you were taking us to was Chucky Cheese!" She warmed up eventually. The problem with the two of them is that she does something for like a minute and is ready to move on where as Gianni stays until it is mastered. Once she saw that it was learning activities with hands on fun, she opened up to it and forgot all about Chucky Cheese. 

 Gianni and Abel both climbed on to the bed of nails. You actually are on a flat surface and then the bed of nails lifts you up. Pretty cool!

 In the middle of our visit we went to the planetarium for a show on black holes. Carmen was scared at parts. They both had a million questions and I had to keep shhhhshing them. We ended the day at the water play area outside. 

 By this time the place was about to close. We had planned on eating at home tonight but everybody was hungry and starving and it was now 5 o'clock. We walked with the kids over to the Arizona Center which is such a pretty area and I am actually thinking about doing my family pictures there this year. It was cool to point things out to them in such a big city. We grabbed a bite to eat and walked through the little garden and fountains. It was the end to a very perfect family day. 

Happy 7th Birthday Gianni

For some reason he looks so much older today. I know that sounds silly but he was like a little man today! We started the morning with a scavenger hunt. He had to read 5 clues and after each clue he had to find a present. The presents were little things to put in his brand new fish tank! He has been asking for fish for a while. He was so excited as he found presents around the house, but at the same time you could tell by the look on his face that he was confused. He wasn't quite sure why we would give him a pirate ship and plastic plants in a bag. 

Finally the big moment...the TANK. We spent the morning preparing the water, checking the temperature, running the filter, and making sure that everything was quite right before we went to purchase our fish. 

In the afternoon we went to Gianni's bowling birthday party. We had soda, popcorn, and cake. The kids bowled for two hours with a break to open presents and receive their thank you goodie bags. 

Shot a little bit of video of hte boys getting crazy! Who knew that there would be dancing at this party!

Video Links Below:

http://youtu.be/-APUCVpptGg

http://youtu.be/y-6taXtD9ls

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Kyan, Gianni, and Jonah snuggle in for a cute pic!

 The girl lane consisted of Jordyn, Sydney, Lola, Sophia, and Carmen

After the party we went to the pet store to pick up our three new Glofish. They are tropical community fish and if we can keep these 3 alive, there is plenty of room in the tank for more. Gianni named them very scientifically based on his observations. Tiny, Yellow, and Smooth are now swimming around their new home in Gianni's room. 

Tonight he came out of his room twice after he had been tucked in to tell me how happy he was with his day. He actually said, "I can't sleep because I am just still so happy. This was a great birthday. Thanks mom!" Man I love this kid! Happy Birthday Gianni.