New Year - New workout regimen and fitness goals!

With the new year of course comes new year's resolutions. In the past those last through about January, maybe February then fade to the wayside. This year, one of my resolutions is to actually follow through with my resolutions! We'll see how that works out huh?



For Christmas my parents got me the Jillian Michaels book Making the Cut. I love it! Since my middle school days I have always been interested in fitness and diet and exercise. I have gone through all kinds of phases and diets. Competitive sports, step aerobics - Kathy Smith's videos were a daily event! kick boxing, gym memberships and classes, running, swimming... You name it, with the exception of yoga and spinning, I have pretty much tried it. I truly enjoy exercising and the way it makes me feel. The only problem I have is trying to make time for it. When you work 5 days a week and are gone 12-13 hours per day, then come home, make dinner, clean etc. Time slips away before you know it...not too mention energy! But this year I have vowed to take the time I need to make exercise a regular part of my week. My goal is to work out 4-5 times per week. That is not unrealistic by any means.

I started last week and so far so good. Along with my book my parents got me the Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred DVD. This too, I love! In case you can't tell I am a big fan of Jillian and her workouts on the Biggest Loser. I love the 30-Day Shred program for two reasons:

1. It's a total body workout for sure. You feel it EVERYWHERE! You do both strength and cardio so it's very effective.
2. It's 20 minutes per day. That's it. 20 minutes and you are done and feel like you had a 45-60 minute workout. It's awesome!

I have started doing level one of the DVD and then combining it with 20 minutes on the treadmill. You do cardio during the DVD but I feel like I need to do more to burn extra calories, so this is a good supplement. But on days that I do not have time for the treadmill, one 20 minute segment still makes me feel good. There are three levels on the disc. So far I have only attempted level one, but plan to try out level two sometime this week.
So that is one of my resolutions for 2009. Making time for exercise 4-5 times per week. In addition to that though, here are a couple more that go along with that...

• Lose 20 lbs.
• Run 4 miles without walking.
• Participate in a sprint tri-athalon. 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike and 5k run...(This was a goal of mine last year, but I did not decide that until later in the year. Along with being unsure of where to sign up etc., I was nervous about being able to complete the whole thing so it got pushed to this year.)

2009 is just beginning, but so far so good. Let's hope I continue to be successful in achieving my goals! Wish me luck!

~B

Time goes by...

Here it is a new year already. Doesn't it seem like we just rang in 2008? It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time goes by. It seems that the days tend to go by slowly, but weeks and months are gone in a bat of an eye.

I thought it would be kind of fun to re-cap 2008 events and happenings so, here it goes...

January -
1/22 - We welcome the new addition to our family, Gavigan Scott Walraven.

February -
2/14 - Luke and I celebrate our first Valentine's Day together, a really cute delivery guy brought me beautiful tulips to my office...

March -
3/17 - I headed to Louisville for St. Patrick's Day with the crew. Also purchased my derby hat & my dress during that trip! Not too mention acquired a taste for pomegrante martinis - YUM!
3/18 - While I was away Luke was working on remodeling our upstairs bathroom! What a nice surprise to come home to. I still owe pics on that one...

April -
4/1 - celebrated the first time Luke and I met a year ago April fools day. (Technically we met on 3/31 late in the evening)
4/12 - late anniversary dinner at Volare in Wixom.
4/26 (I think this was the date) - we had John's 5th birthday party at Castaway Cafe in Howell. We bought him his first stock - boy what a year to decide to get into the market huh? Oh well, let's hope CAT makes a big comeback in the next 13 years!

May -
5/2-5/4 - Derby weekend! Luke gets to experience his first Kentucky Derby. What an experience it was. History was made, a good time was had by all and of course memories from the good ole' Smryna Inn :)
5/15 - Katie and I start our golf league at Hawk Meadows. Well sort of a league...long story!
5/16 - Luke goes fishing with the boys.
5/17 - Rachel celebrates her 27th b-day. We went to Mitchell's Fish Market for dinner with the girls...Luke surprised me and comes home from fishing with the boys early. The girls got him the shark fin ice cream pie for dessert!
5/24-5/26 - Visit to the farm for Memorial Day weekend.
5/26-5/31 - I took my first ever vacation time in May. I had a week to burn so I wanted to use it. I spent the time putting in the flower beds at the house. It was a nice week at home!
5/30 - Anderson turns 1!

June -
6/1 - Anderson's first b-day party at Jess and Paul's.
6/14 - Max (Laura and Dave's son - my Godson) turns 2!!! Hard to believe he is already two years old!!!
6/21 - We celebrate Ashli's 21st birthday at the rec area.

July -
7/4 - Sean turns the big 4-0!
7/4-7/6 - Visit to the farm for 4th of July. Volleyball and fireworks across the street at Pete and Jean's. Miss barrel rolls out of a gator for the first time - OUCH! She was fine though...
7/12 - Gavigan's baptism. Yep, I am his Godmother :)
7/18 - Our first big shindig at the house. Sean and Colleen and the kids came in for the weekend and we threw Sean a birthday party. LOTS of food, LOTS of people (over 50+ invited), a porta potty :) and a really good time. 5:30AM turned in for the night...eesh. Oh and how can I forget, the dildo taped to Eric's hitch on his truck!
7/19 - Quake on the lake in Pontiac. Drew's surprise visit to our house for a party - except it was the night before! Late night boat ride in the rain, random party with a band on a front lawn...good time!
7/20 - Berto and Kelly's for a bon voyage for the Diamond family...
7/21 - First taste of Lim Star chinese at Jack and Mary's.
Near the end of July we find out Ashli is pregnant with Cheryl's first GREAT grandchild! Luke is going to be a GREAT Uncle!

August -
8/5 - Allison turns 21! I'd like to say we took her out, got her hammered, and then held her hair except this has YET to happen since she has been legally old enough to drink. Her time is coming though, guaranteed. And I'll let Mike hold her hair :)
8/14 - Last night of golf and my partner was travelling for work :(
8/17 - Kenny Chesney concert! Floor seats!!!
8/23 - Took Luke to Andiamo for his b-day dinner. YUM!
8/24 - Birthday party at our house for Luke! Most of the fam' was in attendance, along with good friends and a few neighbors. We even had the bouncy house for the kids. Mom thought I rented it! Um, no. Thankfully it's a Liedel family toy...
8/26 - Luke turns 25!

September -
9/4-9/7 - trip to the farm for Labor Day weekend.
9/22 - Luke starts a new job!

October -
10/25-10/30 - we took our first vacation together alone! A cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. What a great time! Looking forward to our next get away already!
10/28 - I turn the big 3-0...

November -
11/1 - Luke threw me a surprise b-day party with the help of both Katie and Rachel. What a night! Dinner at Coach Insignia, then the party including a limo for the evening! Could not have been a better time!!!
11/27 - Thanksgiving with the family at mom and dad's house.
11/28 - head to the farm for the Liedel family Thanksgiving.

December -
12/12 - Luke's new wood boiler is delivered. YES this is a big event, b/c it means the house is now kept ay 72 degrees! What a difference 10 degrees makes!
12/18 - Luke's first Christmas party for work
12/19 - The one year anniversary of Cathy's passing. Miss you!!
12/20 - A memorial dinner for Cathy at Richard's.
12/24 - crab leg and steak dinner at home for Christmas Eve.
12/25 - wake up at home for Christmas morning. Then head to mom and dad's for Christmas day with the family.
12/27 - head out to NY to visit with Sean and Colleen. Spend 12/27 in the city shopping, bar hopping, just enjoying our time. Then out to Dover for the rest of the time...hiked, ate, visited, etc. Then flew home 12/31.
12/31 - turned in by 10:00PM...Did I mention I turned 30 this year :)

So that is 2008 in a very small nutshell...there is so much more, but I was going by memory! Now it's on to a fresh new year. Who knows what 2009 has in store. I hope it is filled with lots of happiness, love, laughter and even more good times...

Happy New Year!!!

~Blondie