Empowering Myself

Today I FINALLY decided to empower myself.  Actually, I can’t even take the credit because Julie made me do it.  I’ve had my bike since 2006 and I’ve not once done any of the “work” on it.  I’ve never pumped a tire, changed a tire, cleaned it… Do you get it?  NOTH-ING! 

I’m ashamed to admit that I was pretty much helpless when it came to anything going mechanically wrong with my bike.  That all changed tonight when Julie and I went to a bicycle maintenance class at the Bicycle Sport Shop.

I have always meant to go to a class, but it is just one of those things I never got around to doing.  I’ve heard people say before, if you can’t change your own tire you have no business being on a bike.  I always knew in the back of my mind that was kind of true.  If you ride long enough, eventually you WILL get a flat tire and you better learn how to change it or hope a your cab driver has a bike rack. 

Everyone meet Al.  He lead the group of the clueless people four ladies and two “older” gentlemen. 

I couldn’t possibly go over everything that he went through in the class, nor would you want me to.  I would have to refer to things as this thingy-ma-bob and that thingy-ma-jig.  If you’d like a detailed PDF of the class click here for the link. 

Even if I don’t know the names of everything, I definitely learned some things along the way.

I can now successfully remove my front tire:

Remove my back tire (that’s harder… just so you know):

Pump up my tires : 

I can’t do this

This is REAL-LY hard

Put some legs into it

Now I got it

Clean my bike:

Clean my chain: 

I can do these things ALL BY MYSELF!  I feel like such a big girl now!  Go girl power! 

I still need to get the proper tool to remove the tire from the rim.  Stay tuned as I’ll let you know when I do that.  It should be good for a few more laughs.  I just wanted to do what I could now, while it was still fresh in my mind.  I even taught George a thing or too! 

I encourage everyone to look into their local bicycle store and see if there are any free bike maintenance classes.  Heck, even if you have to pay, it’s totally worth it.   I feel so empowered. 

I’d also like to encourage everyone to KEEP VOTING for me for Top 25 Health and Fitness Mom Blogs at Circle of Moms.  (Click here to vote).  The voting ends tomorrow at 5 pm PST.  I’ve been fighting for 3rd place all day, begging for boats here, there and everywhere.  Now I think with YOUR help I could maybe finish 2nd.  What do you say?  Click, click, click to vote. 

How-to TuTu

As you all know, I registered for the Flamingo 5k coming up on June 4th.  It’s a race I intend to run with Nicholas.  Julie is going to be running with her son too.  She and I thought, since this is a race supporting women’s health, it would be fun to wear tutus and go girlie at it. 

I thought they’d be easy enough to make.  Well, I’m not sure if this is going to be a how-to or a how-NOT-to make a tutu.  Maybe I just don’t like myself in a tutu.  I feel like a heifer not a ballerina, but I digress. 

How to Make a No-Sew Tutu

Here is what you will need:

• About 8 yards of tulle
• 3 yards of satin ribbon
• Scissors
• Yardstick 

First cut your tulle into sections of one yard each

Now roll your fabric being sure you’re rolling with the “fold” on the right or left side.  In other words, don’t roll beginning or end with the folded edge as you want to separate the fabric (next step). 

Cut off the edges of both ends (to even and separate layers of tulle). 

Next measure and cut 3 inch sections (repeat this process for ALL 8 yards). 

Next get your satin ribbon and measure your waist.  Tie a not to mark the beginning and end leaving all excess hanging to the sides.  (I tied a knot at 1 yard and 2 yards and adjusted as necessary). 

Unroll your fabric and take one piece at a time.  Fold in half, making a loop at the top. 

Pull loose ends through the loop while securing to the satin ribbon. 

Pull until tight. 

Repeat this process until you’ve filled the area between the two knots (your waist measurement). 

The end result will be VERY full and “poofy”.  It will also be long.

I recommend putting ON the tutu and cutting it to your desired length.  I think it is better to start with it long and adjust the length as needed.  You can always go shorter but you can’t make it longer if you’ve gone too short to begin with.  Also, you’ll want the back to be a little longer because if it is the same length all around it appears shorter in the back because of your derriere. 

Here’s my end result.  I’m not overly thrilled, but I think it turned out okay considering this is a no-sew project and I’m a no-sew kind of gal. 

So there you have it.  Either how-to or how-NOT-to make a tutu.  You decide. 

I do know what you SHOULD be doing and that’s voting for me for Top 25 Health and Fitness Mom Blogs at Circle of Moms.  Voting closes June 1st at a time I can’t remember and am too lazy to look up.  Point is, vote now!  Click here and then the thumbs up!  Thanks so much everyone.  I NEED your votes to finish in third place! 

What do you think?  Will I embarrass myself if I wear my homemade tutu or would you go for it? 

Something Going Around

Be careful, there is something going around… it’s some kind of bug… or maybe a fever.  It’s the Circle of Moms thing.  It has bitten me and taken hold and I can’t stop blogging, facebooking, tweeting, etc. for votes.  I know you’re all sick of it (as am I), but there is only 1 day left and there is no sense in giving up now.  I’ve held third place for so long and I want to finish there. 

So PLEASE if you read my blog and I’ve helped you giggle a time or two or you’ve enjoyed my wardrobe malfunctions and my make-you-reel-better-about-yourself posts Click here and then the thumbs up next to my blog name.  If I can get all my readers to vote I will surely take 2nd and maybe even first today.

You get one vote per 24 hours per IP address.  So feel free to vote from your phone, computer, iPad, iTouch… you get the picture.

Each one of my readers, and your votes, is greatly appreciated. 

494 to Go

It’s our tradition, and you know how I am about tradition, to go the the zoo every memorial day.  Granted this has only been the tradition for the past two years, but it has been a great one and one we (as in the kids and I) would like to keep up. 

Look how cute they are in their red, white and blue.  All American cuties.  Yet tomorrow there will be no zoo for the Tirch children as their father thinks it will be too hot. 

So much for the flag shirts and red and white wide brim hat for Ella.  No lions, no tigers, no bears… oh and no elephants either. 

Ok, ok I’m just giving him a hard time.  Truth be told, I am REALLY sad about ruining our tradition, but no part of me wants to walk around smelling stinky animals in 100 degree heat.  I’m thinking that the annual zoo trip is going to have to be on St. Patrick’s day now that we live in Texas.

Other things that may need to change are either running wardrobe or running time of day.  I met Julie this morning at nine to tackle the six miles on our training plan.  By mile two I was stripping down to just my sports bra.  Julie told me I had to leave on my capri tights.  Hmph!  Anyway, it was hot and poor Julie struggled to finish.  I hope that she was glad I was there to push her along.  We did it though, six miles towards marathon training are complete. 

494 miles left to go.  Yes I added it up.  That’s roughly 85 hours of running over the next five and a half months.  Don’t you worry because I’ll document ever hour here for you.  You’re welcome. 

So what do you think should be our new Memorial Day tradition? 

By now you’re daily vote is probably tradition, but I’m here to remind you to vote for me for Top 25 Health and Fitness Mom Blogs at Circle of Moms.  Click here and then click the thumbs up next to Mom Swim Bike Run.  Don’t forget you can vote once per IP address every 24 hours until June 1st. 

Lie on the Boat Stuffing Your Face

We spent the day at Belton Lake with Julie and her family… AGAIN.

I know, it’s a rough life, but someone’s got to do it.  If I made a post of the days events it would read something like this, which is the same as last week, and who wants to read that again?  Instead you get the two pictures that were taken. 

Anyway being out on the water makes me want a boat very badly.  George and I have wanted a boat since we lived in Maryland and spent time out on the water in Annapolis.  Living up north, it hardly seemed reasonable to have a boat to use 3 months out of the year.  Now that we’re living in Texas we’re considering a boat again.  I’ve got my eye on this baby. 

I might be changing the name of the blog to Mom Swim Bike Run Lieontheboatstuffingyourface.   It has a nice ring to it no?  Anyway, I don’t know if the boat is in the NEAR future, but something I plan on researching and seeing if it’s right for us. 

In other news, tomorrow begins marathon training.  Can you believe it?  Well you better believe it because for the next 24 weeks I’ll be boring you with stories of my training woes (rarely are there victories, but if there are I’ll let you know of those too).  If I look to my marathon training plan, I see I have 6 miles on my schedule.  Since all I’ve been doing is working on my tan, I’m a little worried.  Wish me luck!

I also need a little luck (and a few votes) to keep in the Top 25 Health and Fitness Mom Blogs at Circle of Moms.  Click here to vote, then click the thumbs up next to Mom Swim Bike Run.  There are only 3 days of voting left.  Please help me hold on to the number three spot!  Thanks everyone!  Your votes mean a lot! 

All Dressed up and Someplace to Go

Looooooooooooooong ago, back BK (before kids), going to the movies was something George and I did 2 or 3 times a month.  It’s honestly the ONE thing I miss about our pre-kid days.  The last “adult” movie George and I saw in the theater together was Hitch.  Yes, Hitch and that was in 2005. 

To be honest, George and I rarely get out. The two times we’ve gone out without the kids (during our EIGHT MONTHS in Texas) were for the Tough Mudder and for Julie’s birthday.  If we do venture out for an adult evening it’s usually for a party or event, not time for just the two of us. 

So tonight we escaped sadly left the children to go see The Hangover II.  It was a narrow escape, as Ella was dressed and ready to go with us. 

Even though I would have loved to take her to The Hangover (like other parents did with their children… Who does that?), it was nice to have the time alone together.

It made me think of the times BK and although I would NEVER change things, it was kind of nice way of remembering way back when.  Maybe this should be more than a once every six year tradition.  Whatadya say George?  Do you want a second date?  

Speaking of dates, you have until June 1st to vote for me for Top 25 Health and Fitness Mom Blogs on Circle of Moms.  Click here and then click the thumbs up next to Mom Swim Bike Run.  Thanks to all those who have been voting and if you haven’t clicked yet PLEASE do! 

Nobody’s Perfect

I’m sure if you read my blog and don’t know me in real life, or maybe even if you do, you have a certain perception of me.  I’ll be the first to admit that I put on the blog what I want.  I usually share the good and leave out the bad and the ugly (except when it comes to workouts).  So from the outside looking in, maybe it seems like all roses and butterflies.  It’s not. 

When you have three kids, spend time volunteering, workout, and run a household, something has got to give.  For me, that something is my house.  So here it is.  Not the good, but the BAD and the UGLY.

I have a messy disastrous laundry room. 

My son is a piggy.

You could feed a small family with the food on my floor [also my car (not pictured)].

Even when the laundry gets done, it doesn’t seem to put itself away. 

I baked chocolate chip cookies from a mix and didn’t even cut out the box top.  *Gasp*

You can write in the dust on my entry table.

You can’t really see it in the picture but I swear I wrote dust me in the dust

So yeah, I rather have fun with my family or run a marathon than have a perfect house.  You can’t have it all and I’m ok with that. 

Hurry up and stop over today because I took off the morning from workouts, school functions, and any other activity, and for today only we’re offering.. .

A clean laundry room:

Homemade Fresh baked cookies. 

Clothes that are put away.

And clean bathrooms. 

Who knows maybe you’ll even get a home cooked meal.  Who am I kidding?  I’ve worked so hard today, I’m ordering take-out.  What?  Nobody’s perfect. 

Please don’t forget your vote for Top Health and Fitness Mom Blogs at Circle of Moms.  Click this link and then the thumbs up next to my blog name.  Only six more days of voting.  Thanks for your help!