Favorite exercise songs!

What's your favorite song to exercise to?

For years now, I've always had Move Along by All-American Rejects on my playlist. It's fast, has a great beat, and the song is awesome!



More recently, I have Good Life by One Republic on my playlist. I first heard it in a movie theater and I've been hooked ever since!



Please, share your favorite exercise song! I need to build up my playlist :)

Peanut butter squares, anyone?

I fell asleep trying to think of a topic for tonight's blog. I don't think that's a good sign!

It's been a long week and it's FINALLY FRIDAY! What better way to celebrate than with CHOCOLATE and PEANUT BUTTER!!!

One of my all-time favorites. Super simple and tastes just like Reese's. This is for you, Tiffanie!

2 sticks butter, softened
2 c peanut butter
1 lb powdered sugar
1 package graham crackers (one of the wrapped inner packages, not the whole box)
12 oz milk chocolate chips

Mix together the first 4 ingredients and spread evenly on a cookie sheet.

Melt the chocolate and spread over mixture.

Cut the squares while the chocolate is still melted (very important!) and refrigerate.

Now, if I only had any peanut butter...

Phoenix Children's Hospital Give-a-thon!

I had the pleasure of volunteering to take pledges for the Phoenix Children's Hospital tonight for their annual Give-a-thon. I can sum up my experience with one word:

AMAZING!


Before we set foot in the hospital, we came across a man and his son who had been going to the hospital for 4 years because of his daughter's illness. On the way in, he passed a nurse who knew him by name and I heard him say they're back because his daughter had another seizure. So sad :(


I wish I had a video of the TV broadcast, but I don't think they share them. I did take a few pics, though!

View from the phones of the camera

View when the lights and camera were on

Annmarie cleaning up when we finished

Last year, the TV anchor Mark Curtis said if a pledge came in for $12,000 he'd shave off his life-long mustache. Lo and behold, a call came in, and he did it! They tried to do it again this year, but I don't think anyone called in with the full amount. Here's the volunteer's spoof of the mustache prank :)

I'm so glad I went to this event! It was nice to get away from my troubles and take time to give back to people who truly make difference. I'll definitely be going back next year! Maybe even before.

Total raised: $210,000!

Final 6!

Welcome back to another week of American Idol judged by a girl who has absolutely no credibility or really even cares, but nothing better is on TV :)

Here we go! Shania Twain! I love her!

Lee -- Ohmygoodnessgracioushe'ssogoodlooking!!! Whoa. Focus. Ouch. Very out of tune. Come on Lee! Energy-8/10, vocals 2/10, looks (duh) 12.3/10, total: 6. Hopefully it's not his last performance. Sorely disappointed :(

Mike -- Ever notice how he sings only soul songs? Sure, that's his style, but it's getting horribly boring. I stopped listening halfway through to stare at Beesley gnawing on his rawhide. It was slightly more entertaining than Mike's performance. Sorry. Next!

Casey -- Amazing. Slow, which I usually don't like, but he was actually in tune the whole time! I could fall asleep his singing this song to me--in a good way! Would definitely like to see him back next week.

Crystal -- One of my favorite Shania songs! I love the personal connection she shared before she started :) I bet he proposes when she's done...
A bit too folky for me. A little too slow, too. It's an upbeat song, no? Hey, at least she was in tune!

Aaron -- Meh. He's so young!! He was horribly out of tune tonight (what's new...) but the chorus was good, once it got faster paced. I predict he's a gonner tomorrow.

Shioban -- Another one of my favorite Shania songs :) The first half was great, but I think she kind of tuckered out for the rest. It was out of tune, lagged, and was just...odd. 6/10.

Stay tuned next week when we take on the top 5! As long as I get to see sexy Lee, I'm fine :)

P.S. If you're in Arizona, make sure you watch channel 12 (KPNX, NBC) tomorrow night at 10. I'm going to be on the news! I'm taking pledges for the Phoenix Children's Hospital and the news is being broadcast live there. Whooohoo!

Day one. Sort of.

I almost died tonight.

My friend gave me his used manual treadmill about a year ago. Of course I've never used it. Since I'm interested in the Couch to 5K program and am dreading the coming 100+ degree days here, I brought it out for a little test drive.

A big girl and a small manual treadmill do not mix. It's a good thing I was holding on to the side bars when I stepped on it. The fixed incline is so high I immediately slipped. Stupidly, I broke out into a run right when it first moved, and next thing I know, I'm running 10 MPH on an unstable piece of cheap plastic.

Needless to say, if I'm truly going to succeed on this ever-so-enticing journey, I'm going to need better equipment.

I'm not quite ready for humanity to see me run, so for the first few weeks, at least, I'm keeping the exercise to the inside of my home. It's better for everyone. Trust me ;)

Thanks for all your immense support! Anaise, I'm counting on you to keep me updated on your own progress!

I see the girl I want to be, riding bareback, carefree along the shore

A few years ago, Katee introduced me to a song by Natasha Bedingfield called "Wild Horses". In that song, there is a line:
I see the girl I wanna be
Riding bareback, carefree along the shore
If only that someone was me
Jumpin' head first headlong without a fall
To act and damn the consequence
How I wish it could be that easy
But fear surrounds me like a fence
I wanna break free



On that note, I'm introducing my next journey! The couch to 5k program.

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Can I do it? Of course I can.

How? That's where you come in.

All motivation and good intentions aside, can I really do it? Being that I'm not in any shape to be a runner and I live in the hottest state in the US, is it feasable?

I'm sick of sitting by and watching my life pass me by. I want to be that runner that I envision myself as nearly every single day. Just as the song says, I want to break free. It's time to push myself out of my comfort zone and make real, tangible progress.

What are your thoughts?

Sometimes, you just need a little pick-me-up :)

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

What's your favorite motivational song?