Simple At-Home Cardio Routine #1

Over the last week, our area has been hit with some of the densest and eerily permeating fog I have ever seen. While I'm loving pretending we live in a haunted seaside town, my cardio intentions have fallen by the wayside as a result. Time for some simple, at-home cardio circuits that are modified to be effective and doable with toddlers in the vicinity. 

:::Drumroll:::

Cardio Routine #1

This routine can be broken into three 15-minute circuits. On an individual level, you can mix-and-match which circuits you want to use for a customizable workout. 

Circuit #1 - Easy Level

Jog in Place - 300 seconds

High Knees - 150 seconds

Jog in Place - 300 seconds

Punches - 150 seconds

Circuit #2 - Medium Level

Jog in Place - 300 seconds

Jumping Jacks - 150 seconds

Jog in Place - 300 seconds

Jump Rope - 150 seconds

Circuit #1 - Hard Level

Jog in Place - 300 seconds

Mountain Climbers - 150 seconds

Jog in Place - 300 seconds

Burpees - 150 seconds

Yesterday I completed Circuit #1 and Circuit #2 with my girls and this morning my calves are happily aching away as I go about my morning routine. As female at 130 pounds, just the two circuits burned 200 calories!

As a note of point, you don't have to use an actual jump rope in Circuit #2, you can go through the motions and still be just as effective!

Give it a go and let me know what you think!

Workout Challenge - October Calendar

As promised, I present to you my October Workout Challenge as part of the 90 Day Fitness Challenge I am partaking in with friends. You can get a downloadable copy here for printing and participating. 

While I can't guarantee that you will look like a top model with this workout plan, I can tell you from personal experience (short and sweet in it's sporadicness) that these exercises will help with improving toning to the targeted areas when used in conjunction with a healthy diet. The interspersed cardio burns stored fat and the target days help increase muscle mass thereby increasing caloric burn. 

I am choosing to step it up in my life and improve my figure as I improve my overall health! Little steps each day make a lasting difference in the quality of life you will lead. 

Gingersnaps and Snickerdoodles

Voila! 

 New "acceptable" blog name,

"Gingersnaps and Snickerdoodles: Missives of a Redheaded Momma."

 Doesn't have quite the flair of remembrance as "Hooker Shoes and Sticky Fingers," but I shall take it and make it mine just the same. Granted, Miss A is adamantly trying to take over as I try to type this so we will have to see who wins. She seems to be going through the must-be-touching-mommy-at-all-times phase of turning one. Hello Separation Anxiety!

Blog Name Change In the Works

With all the time I spent coming up with a fun and catchy blog name, I'm sad to announce that I will be changing the name shortly. Hooker Shoes and Sticky Fingers is a quirky mention to being a wife and a mom, sadly, it is being looked upon in a negative fashion from some of those who have viewed my blog. 

Oh, and all those creepy people checking this blog out from search engines. You wouldn't believe some of the key words that have sent traffic this way! 

Don't despair (I kid), I am fervently traipsing through my wit in search of another awesomely fantastic title. Loves and hugs 

*muah*

Book Review: I'm a Dog, You're a Cat

First, I want to say thank you to MPressive Results Inc and NetGallery for giving me the opportunity to review the ebook version of "I'm a Dog, You're a Cat: Love Lessons from Our Furry Friends."

Second, while I've provided small reviews on Goodreads, this is my first book review on my blog so be a mite but understanding. I promise to improve as I continue to provide reviews here!

That being said, what a fun read this book was! Cattitude vs Dogsense really hit home relating to personal interactions in my life.

I am a cat, hands down. While I may have some excitable moments and enjoy interaction with others, it needs to be on my terms. Hubby is a such a dog. He wants attention and love all the time, which, truth be told, I had found annoying before reading this book. Sitting in my bathtub last night reading about dogese (language and communication style of dog-people), I realized that all it takes is a little extra effort on my part to satisfy what he needs from me. Compliments, compliments, compliments!

At only 52 pages (including pictures!), I'm a Dog, You're a Cat, was a cute and quick read. Pretty sure I'm going to have Hubby read it so that he can understand my catness better. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who wants a fun, simple approach on human interactions. The lessons learned can be applied to more than just your spouse or partner, they can be applied to children, neighbors, friends, and coworkers.

You can find my further review on Goodreads. Over and out from this cool cat!

Funny of the Day

I've been procrastinating creating a new post because I want it to be perfect. If I can't make it perfect then I should wait until I have time to do so. As you can see, that method is not very effective so I'm trying a new approach. If I think about posting it then I have to do so. Even if it's not all unicorns and rainbows!

With that being said, a quick funny for today is in order. Preceded by a small backstory of course. 

Dear Hubby called me on his lunch break while Baby A and I were grocery shopping. (Although now Baby A is Miss A! She crossed that 12 month threshold almost a month ago... eep!) Miss A's favorite thing to do is scream, "HI!" into the phone. Repeatedly. Used to be cute, not so much now a month later. 

Not long after, he posts this following picture to my Facebook page. Ignore the incorrect spelling, he was sharing the post off another page. 

Feeling very self satisfied, I posted the following in response:

I love flirting with my husband. I also have a feeling that I will be abusing this ecard thing now that I've created an account. 

More fun to come!

Staring Ugly in the Face

Originally, today's post was going to be about the awesomeness of Miss K, our eldest daughter, losing her first tooth. With both kids tucked into bed and Hubby tucked safely away into the garage, I had just sat down to begin writing.

In the blink of an eye, today's topic changed from the wonderful happenings of children growing up and lamenting of the time already passed to musing about how being a parent forces one to either endure and become better or to break and give up.

Thrice tonight my darling girl has woken up restless teething Baby A while she was supposed to be going to sleep so the tooth fairy could come. First by jumping around in her loft bed, under which Baby A's crib resides. Second, by bawling about losing her tooth out of her tooth fairy pillow. (And Hubby wonders why I queried him on making sure she knew not to play with the pillow. Silly Hubby). And most recently, by peeing on the floor.

Yep, you read that right: Peeing on the floor! Climbing down from her loft bed over an hour past going to bed and she manages to soak the ladder, floor, toys and clothing underneath. She's yelling for me down the hall, Baby A is screaming and all I can do is resign myself to the situation.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore my kids. At least up until the age of 4 1/2 when all hell breaks loose and the emotional catastrophe strikes. Constantly. I'm waiting for 6. Six years old has to be better, right?

After throwing everything into the hamper (toys included), changing Miss K, and wiping down what I could, all while holding and soothing Baby A, I came to a startling and wonderful revelation  I'm not mad. Not in the least. Where a month ago I would be snarking at Miss K over the whole situation, I find myself chuckling thinking about how the greatest adventure in life is to be a parent.

There is no great adrenaline rush packed, exciting, heartbreaking and physical endurance testing thing in life. No other way you could learn so much about yourself as a person, inside and out, good and bad, than to try and raise a child. They make you stare the ugly right in the face and never back down.