Monday Morning Dance Party

Oh boy, what a Christmas weekend! A wonderful Christmas Eve service followed by our new tradition of going out to pizza at a local pizzaria...

...ended with Steve and I watching The Hangover 2 while waiting for the kiddos to fall asleep. With a 2:30am wake up call from Mai who discovered that Santa had indeed made it to our house in the wee hours, we eventually fell back to sleep and arose at a more decent hour of 7 something a.m. to open presents before heading over to the in-laws, where we had to EARN our presents this year. From wall sits... to caroling... to answering Christmas trivia, a good time was had by all.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Well...maybe not by Mai, who in attempts to befriend a squirrel, was bitten quite good on her finger. She'll survive, but she's plenty pi$$ed at a certain peanut flesh eating critter. Although it appeared to me to be a good haul under that holiday tree..She said it was the worst Christmas ever...


So to you other kids all across the land
Take it from me...
Parents just don't understand

Sign Wars

I think that I'm going to be in a documentary soon...a reality show maybe...about crazy people who start fights over signage. First, let me backtrack to November when I needed to get the word out about my Holiday Bootie Buster Boot Camp. I had a limited budget (that means 45 bucks) and I needed as many signs as possible. I managed to get three 18x24" signs with posts and used up all my budget, plus I had to throw a few extra pennies in from the kids' piggy banks. Remember these?

So...fast forward 4 weeks and I decide to make the boot camp permanent, so I need permanent signs right? I head straight back to the sign maker with enough money for 15 signs this time!! GO ME! Only this time, they try to charge me $477!!! That's FOUR HUNDRED and Seventy Seven green backs, gold coins,  pure gravy... BUCKS! I couldn't figure it out. They couldn't figure it out. Shouldn't I be paying LESS for ordering MORE? Eventually they looked my last order up on their handy computer and discovered they only charged me for one sign the first time...and three sign holders :-) Oh Bother! I wiggled and waggled my way through two customer service reps, two different locations and finally my man, Richard, came through for me. He got my signs with posts down to just over $15 each. I wanted to kiss him! Instead I just promised him my everliving committment to return to him for all future sign needs. I had my toes crossed though, ...so if anyone knows of a way to get cheaper signs, let me know.

So the Sign Wars all started about 5 weeks ago. I mean...these babies are... well...they are my babies!! Cheap they are not. I must guard them like they are diamond encrusted. One of my three holiday signs was in a prime location at a 3 way stop in my neighborhood. One day I drove by and lovingly gazed at my sign as I dropped the kids off at school. A few minutes later I drove by to find my sign GONE...and in it's place is a PTA Christmas Bazaar sign. Not only did those b!@tches PTA members put their sign in my spot, they completely removed MY sign! A week or two later my husband found it flung into a field across the street. We had plans to "communicate our unhappiness" to the PTA, but eventually decided that blood might be shed and we just dropped it.

Two weeks ago, as my Dad and I were driving down the road, I excitedly showed him the location of one of my newest signs...

...only to discover it was mostly hidden by a much bigger Christmas Trees For Sale sign that someone had put in front of it. Grrrr....

I dropped Dad off at home, headed out for a run and as I went by I plucked that baby out of the ground and tried to move it over...unsuccessfully. The ground was frozen and wasn't budging for me. I propped it up and being the bigger person, came back later with a hammer and in a more appropriate spot RIGHT next to my sign instead of in front of it, I hammered it in safe and sound. Several days later I drove by to find that this time they had uprooted their sign and again moved it in front of mine - this time completely covering mine. *#*%@*##*!!&*#. So with two little confused girls in tow, I removed their sign and drove it to their house. I really didn't want to have words with anyone and the sign at their door said they were on a break. Not wanting to scare the teenager sitting inside wondering why some crazy woman was peering through his front window with a tree sign held up high over her head, I gently placed it on their front porch (where it remains to this day :-)

I know I've lost it. I'm a mad woman. And yesterday was the last straw. Again, after passing one of my signs and returning within minutes from the other direction to see it was gone, I was just stumped. Where in the world could it be? What makes people think they can just destroy or get rid of someone else's stuff? At Christmas no less. Nowwwww, I will admit that this particular sign is on someone's private property. Someone I don't know. Someone who I did not ask permission of...But I placed the sign in a place kind of "off' their property...that they can't even see from their house...but that is prime sign location. I kind of wondered why there were no other signs there, but the thought was brief. I think it shouldn't have been such a fleeting thought, though. I mean...I see the owner of this house out vacumming his garage floors and waxing them and stuff. He's no slacker in the yard/home maintenance department. However, my sign was there for a good three weeks with no issues, so I had been quite pleased with my trespassing skills.

It directly occurred to me when Mai and I could not find the sign in the bushes anywhere, that these home owners had definitely removed it. I wanted it back. Badly. With cute dog and even cuter little girl by my side, I rang their bell. A woman answered. I kindly told her that I illegally placed a sign on her property and was hoping that rather than vandals having destroyed my "very expensive" sign, that perhaps someone in her home had rightly removed it and could I possibly have it returned to me. She said she was so very sorry about my sign but she had no idea what in the world I was talking about. Then about that time she turned a bit surly and expressed some pretty deep anger about people who put garage sale or missing pet flyers on the telephone pole out there in their side yard and I IMMEDIATELY KNEW she had my sign. However, she wouldn't break. I was sweet and kept it all under my hood. You're not getting me riled at Christmas time, lady...I'm walking away with my Christmas spirit high and just happy to know it wasn't punk vandals but actually someone who had a right to remove my sign. I can deal.

As Mai and I sang out our Merry Christmas to her and wandered back to our dog walk, not 30 seconds passed before I got a blocked call...which I didn't answer. A few minutes later...a second blocked call...which I did answer. It was her. I knew it would be. She couldn't handle the guilt...not this close to Christmas. She said she had my sign. She tried to put the blame on her husband, but either way, I knew it...she just couldn't stand the lies :-)

I immediately went back to her house and she returned my sign...postless. When I asked about the post she actually said "I think you are pushing your luck". I reminded her that although the posts aren't "that" expensive, every little bit counts at Christmas time. She said she had put it aside to use as a tomato ladder in her garden next Spring and so after a little scuffling around behind her door, she returned my post to me, too :-)

So whadaya think? Should cameras be following me around OR WHAT??

Monday Evening Dance Party

Some days you just need a nap...and then you wake up and you're still not feeling "it" and then the mail comes and you get three "pick me up" packages and all is well again :-)

First opened was a card with these gorgeous pictures of Baby Katelyn. Remember this little preemie?

...now she's all grown up and 9 months old!!!

Then I opened my present from my Secret Santa through Run With Jill's bloggy present exchange...
new socks...WOOT!!! My secret pal is still a secret, though! Come out and identify yourself!! Thanks for the socks. I desperately needed them! How did you know??

My final package was a sweet smelling treat that I won a few weeks ago from Adena's giveaway at she said I need a goal. My sad dry winter skin is in for a treat with these lotions from Sheebody. Of the four scrumptious scents: Vanilla Pear, Beach House, Apple Spice, and Sweetie Bit...Sweetie Bit is my favorite. Mai loves the Vanilla Pear. Thank you Adena and Sheelagh!!

Whoops! Two weeks in a row with no MMDP. Please immediately dance now instead...
Def Leppard was my first concert and I will forever remember this particular song and my Aunt Cindy yelling at a rather enthusiastic couple on the floor at a dance club to "go get a room!". HA!
Only dance to this song with the one you love...it's dangerous :p

Pounding Pavement

I can't believe 6 weeks later, I'm out pounding the pavement again with my little boot camp flyers and a roll of tape. The best part is that this time people have their Christmas decorations up and it's fun to see all the different neighborhoods and their holiday cheer. By far my favorite house today was this one!!

ISN'T THIS SO COOL!!!!!!!!

I can't believe how quickly things have just taken off. 13 years ago we started our business and for a few years there things were pretty crazy - new business, multiple jobs while we were starting up our business, new house, new babies, new car- things were busy. Then we kind of mellowed it all out and we've really only worked part time for these last couple of years. It's funny how busy you think you are until you REALLY get busy.
And that has happened! I even bought a freaking planner because my mind is spinning on all the different places I need to be...

So the new schedule includes the old business...
and then all the new stuff... a 6am and 7am bootcamp (with an 8:30am class in the works). I've also agreed to a "Baby Steps Boot Camp" two days a week at the same bouncy house facility. The owner wants to offer it as kind of a public service for the moms who are willing to pay for their kids to come in to play, but can't really afford the money or time to work out. While their kids are playing, they will boot camp with me at no charge to them.

As of January, I've taken on 3 floor shifts at the club that just hired me and I'm also doing two fit camps there every week. For now I'm sticking with "boot camp" style camps but I received my TRX certification this week...

so plan on doing a TRX fit camp within the next couple of months. I've also heard rumors that I'll be heading up a "Biggest Loser" contest in January as well. So when will I fit in personal training clients? I have not a clue. I'm just rolling with it for now.

I've made sure to keep my Wednesday nights clear so I can hang with the church ladies and still be able to play stupid Christmas games with them, like try to unwrap the present while wearing kitchen mittens after drinking red wine and stuffing yourself silly on yummy food :p

And church pajama parties...

And I need to pencil in the dog somewhere for her walk...

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

...and the kids are INKED in several times during the day.

I'm trying to remember to work out, but my running fell by the wayside this week. I just realized today I didn't run at all this week. I am walking MILES and MILES and MILES putting up fliers, though....does that count?

AND......I'm so so so excited for Christmas - particularly Christmas Eve church service that I think is going to be a lot of fun. We started a new tradition last year of hitting up the pizza place after church on Christmas Eve, so that's the plan again this year. The presents are almost all picked out and wrapped and I feel like this next week is going to be mellow...the calm before a great and fun storm.

So what's new with you? What are you MOST looking forward to this next week?

and...I'll throw out a question I drew from the anonymous bowl at study on Wednesday night: Would you ever die for someone? Who?

Crazy Busy...

Crazy busy, but it's all good. My husband, Steve...

has done a phenomenal job on my boot camp website...


and on my new flyers...

and these signs...

and with the kids...

and I could NOT have done all this without him. Please leave a comment telling him WHAT A STUD HE IS!!!!

My favorite quote from boot camper, Antonio, today on FB: 

If anyone is looking to fight the holiday madness and stay in shape..or hell,  get in shape....go check out DRENCHED Boot Camp @ JJ Jump in Clackamas. It's run by a friend, and I guarantee she'll kick your ass.

 I know what you're thinking..."JJ Jump...the kids place..really Tone?". Yeah..like I said...you'll get worked. I just about barfed this morning. It's a great way to kick-start the day. Or you could stuff your face w/ donuts and surf the net...your call.

Monday Morning Dance Party

Today's Dance Party is dedicated to the child who didn't keep me up all night!

Poor wee girl was up tossing her cookies all.night.long. This mama is heading into today with about 2 hours of sleep or less under her belt. It's not a pretty sight!...but this song makes it better...



Don't forget to read Saturday's post and keep giving me your stories. I've loved them all and would love to hear more!

Getting Our Feet Wet

What happens when women start bible study bonding and boot camping together? Well...we went from Superman/Bananas and Supergirl Planks in the early a.m. to Super Church Lady Disaster Controllers by night. One of our lovely ladies got her car stuck in a huge mud pit in "the parking lot" (it's really the large front yard of a house) Wednesday night and all during the study I could see her worrying about it as I was trying to figure out if I could give her a ride to her place and still make it home in time to tuck the kids in as promised.

Eventually our time together was over and after our final prayer I heard our leader say, "So let's go try to get that car moved". Whhhhaaatt? Wait a minute, what did she say? I don't have any galoshes or a change of clothes with me, but hey! (after a second of contemplation) I'm up for it. I wasn't sure about everyone else though. Would anyone be too concerned about ruining their shoes or not have faith we could get the job done? We had just finished talking about "getting our feet wet" during bible study...but muddy can be a different story... and I wondered who would participate and who might stand back and watch this muddy mayhem.

I was amazed as I saw everyone head on out, not a worry about shoes in their minds, and stomp right into that mud puddle and start pushing...and pushing...and pushing. With tires spinning and mud flying, women grunting with scrunched up faces and then laughing at the fun of being a bunch of dirty church girls (with new boot camping muscles), we got that stranded car right on out of that puddle. OK, fine...Pastor Brad jumped in at the last minute and helped us a bit. But what I took away from this tiny moment in time is something that I think I will be reflecting on for some days to come. My initial reaction was - I'm going to ruin my shoes...and I wonder about that. How many times in the past have I had a reaction (often my first instinct is to say "no") and chose to not participate in something, not say a nice word to a stranger, not help because I have places to be and then missed out on not only a fun memory, but being a blessing to someone else.

My shoes did get soaked through and through with mud, I did miss putting the kids to bed, and I keep finding remnants of my muddy escapades all through my house. Every time I see a smear of mud on a light switch or dirty brown droplets on the floor, I smile...because those 5 minutes were over way too fast. It was one of the highlights of my week. Women, new friends really, working together in a mud pit and giggling and having fun over something that started out as a dread. We turned it around.

That's the lesson I learned this week. Don't let fear make your first instinct be no. Don't let dread keep you from opportunities to help others. Don't be afraid... step out into the water and get your feet wet - and then watch the amazing things that can happen.

I know I've missed out on probably millions of opportunities to turn a single moment into something better.
How about you? Have you had a moment recently where you decided to offer the compliment to a stranger even though you felt silly doing so? Helped in a situation when you really didn't have time to help and really didn't feel like doing it?...Or have you done something nice without letting anyone know it was you who did it?

I love to hear these kinds of stories. Share with me! How did it turn out?