Novel Writing, Halloween Candy, and Road Racing

Updates, updates, updates

I am off to a big start with my venture into National Novel Writing Month. As a freelance writer, I have to churn out hundreds of words in a matter of minutes, which I think has really helped me to be able to write quickly (though I'm not sure how well).

"The night was sultry."

I may put some portions of my project up here so that others can read my NaNoWriMo effort. I think the feedback would help me a great deal, but I'm not sure that I'll have the time or will to do anything about any suggestions offered to me. Just getting through the words is a feat in and of itself.

In other news, I am thrilled to say that I have (mostly) stayed out of the kids' Halloween candy. Being told I must avoid sugar is a big help to keeping me from raiding the trick-or-treat buckets each day. When there is chocolate in the next room, and lots of it, the temptation is pretty strong. My will is stronger though - even stronger than fun sized Snickers bars. I did, however, pull out everything that was sugar-free. I never knew a Werther's Original could taste so good.

Because I fell off the blogging wagon, my hand full of readers don't know that I did run in the Waddell & Reed Kansas City Marathon on October 20. I finished the 1/2, which seems like such a short run until I ran about eight miles. Then it seemed like a crazy, stupid idea. By 10 miles, I was ready to give up. In fact, I told one of the pacers that I wanted to turn around and go back. She didn't think it was as funny as I did. I enjoyed the scenery, but the race itself was not that fun. First of all, I was ill-prepared for the hills. I knew it was a hilly course. I didn't know it was a HILLY course. My mostly indoor training left me aching for three days after the run. Second, I think that the still (at that time) untreated Hashimoto's was a big culprit in my energy levels. By the time I reached that 8 or 9 mile mark, I could feel my body shutting down. Energy went from and eight to a negative three.

I am tentatively planning on running in the Eisenhower Marathon next April. But before I can do that, I need to buy a new pair of running shoes. I threw mine away as soon as I got home from the race and haven't gone for a run since. This weekend is Operation Adidas (because I know I won't spend the $$ on those Newtons I covet so).

NaNoWriMo

With November comes National Novel Writing Month and this year I have decided to take part in the challenge. 

I am a writer, but I am decidedly not a fiction writer. Years ago I tried to write fiction. I even completed a novel length manuscript at one point, but it took most of a year and was, to put it mildly, not good. I shopped it around with a few publishers and was widely rejected with great fervor. The only press that was willing to publish my novel was a vanity press that asked for an investment in exchange for the novel's production. I had neither the will nor the funds to follow through with this. Thus ended my aspirations of becoming a published novelists.

There were a couple of times in the past when I tried NaNoWriMo. I had what I thought was a pretty good idea about a group of lovable losers who worked for an underground organization to try to overthrow the government or something. I don't know. It's been a while. Another time, I had a great idea for a book title, but no substance to back it up.

I have not tried to write fiction in years. Now, because I think this will be a great way to relate with my dear, sweet son who loves to write, I am going to give it a shot. Who knows? It could end up being a lot of fun and it could improve my day-to-day work exponentially.

On the other hand, where am I going to find time to churn out 50,000 words? 

What is Hashimoto's Disease?

After several months of symptoms and several weeks of blood tests and (im)patient waiting, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease. But what is Hashimoto's? How does one get it? And how is it treated once it's diagnosed?

Symptoms of Hashimoto's Disease

I had never heard of Hashimoto's before my visit to the Endocrinologist. In fact, I had thought my problems were due either to aging or peri-menopause, both things I could do nothing about. I was getting increasingly tired and irritable. I was unable to lose weight around my mid-section. Worst of all, for me, I was having hot flashes that left me in misery throughout the day and night. None of these symptoms are life-threatening. None are even serious enough to warrant a trip to the doctor, especially when the expectation is that she will simply say that these are things that happen when women get older. However, when I started getting so thirsty, constantly, I started to fear Diabetes, which runs in my family.

I visited the doctor and told her about my symptoms. She immediately thought Diabetes was to blame as well, but also suggested I have my thyroid checked. Fasting blood glucose levels were normal, but TSH levels came back high. I was referred to an Endocrinologist. 

At the Endocrinologist I learned of more symptoms that I previously had thought were unrelated. My fingernails, which where once hard and tough, had become brittle. Migraines, which had plagued me for years, were growing stronger. I seemed to be hungry all the time and I was continually constipated. All signs of Hashimoto's Disease. 

Another clear sign was the size and texture of my thyroid. Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid, giving it an enlarged, rough texture. I have no idea how a normal person could tell if their thyroid is enlarged or bumpier than it should be, but the Endo felt it immediately, as did the consulting physician. Three blood tests later and the diagnosis was confirmed. Because it is an autoimmune disorder, the blood tests are necessary for a true diagnosis.

Causes and Cures

There is no confirmed cause of Hashimoto's. Some theories are that it is related to hormonal imbalances, maybe caused by pregnancy or the use of infertility treatments. The Endo I visited said that it is often hereditary.

Hashimoto's is combated through medication. Levothyroxine is used to keep the symptoms at bay and to keep the thyroid from deteriorating any further. This little pill is taken once each day for the remainder of the patient's life. Yes, I am now the person who is medicated daily. Added sugars should be removed from the diet and Hashimoto's patients benefit greatly from low-gluten diets as well. Many Hashimoto's patients also have Celiac Disease, which requires a completely gluten-free lifestyle.

If left untreated, Hashimoto's can lead to heart disease, thyroid cancer, and clinical depression. Hashimoto's is very common, but is often left untreated because many people, like me, think their symptoms are signs of aging rather than an underlying, and fixable, problem.

Why I Am Voting for Mitt Romney

This is not a political blog. As such, this will be the one and only post on the topic.

I do my best to stay abreast of current affairs. I follow politics very closely, especially during major elections. I am an informed voter and I have chosen to vote for Mitt Romney.

But I still don't think this is okay.

First of all, I am not a Republican. There was a time, long ago, when I called myself a Republican. However, as I have grown and changed I have become increasingly moderate. It is not that I agree with both sides of issues, on some issues I do, but mostly it is because I deeply agree and disagree with both parties on certain issues. I agree with the Republican platform insomuch as I think local governments are better suited to oversee their citizens. The state of Missouri, where I live, should not be governed in the same way as Alaska or Florida or Maine. I believe in a strong military. I believe in individual responsibility. I agree with the Democratic platform insomuch as I don't view taxes as an unnecessary evil (though I do, in breaking with my left-thinking counterparts, think that all people should be taxed equally). I believe that gay couples should be allowed to marry. I have no problem with immigrants - we are a nation of immigrants after all. I do think that we should take care of those who are less fortunate, but I don't think we should be mandated to do so. I dislike guns and unions, though in different ways. I think there are great big problems and wonderful people who can solve them, and I think these people exist in both parties, in third parties, and in no parties at all.

Gov. Jay Nixon got my vote in '08 and he'll get it again in '12

Way back in 1996, when I still considered myself a Republican, I voted for Bob Dole. This was the first presidential election I was able to vote in and it was pretty exciting. I knew Dole wouldn't win but I enjoyed casting my ballot anyway. As Pres. Clinton's second term drew on, I found myself increasingly discouraged with him as a person and with the Republican response to his behavior. By the time the next election came around, I was completely flummoxed by both parties. How could the Republicans choose George W. Bush when they had John McCain? And of course Al Gore was the obvious nominee, though not necessarily the best. I pinched my nose and voted for Gore, largely because I felt that Bush didn't have enough experience and I really, really liked Joe Lieberman. I did vote for Pres. Bush in '04, but when his only competition was John Kerry, how could you blame me?

Forever known as the guy who the nation thought was the poorer alternative to George W. Bush

In 2008, I was very passionate about my vote. Finally, we had a candidate for president who was a moderate. Here was someone who was a true hero, someone who had faced horrific tragedies and come out stronger than ever. The candidate had proven that he was able to work with both parties and had a long track record of doing so. His competition, however, could speak really, really well. You all know how that turned out. I expected the worst and hoped for the best. What I got, what we all got, was something in the middle. President Obama has been adequate. However, the times call for more than adequacy.

The economy is a concern. No. The economy is the concern. Our country will cease to function as we know it if we do not resolve the trillion dollar deficit, if we don't do something to manage the $16 trillion debt. Did Pres. Obama inherit a terrible economy? Of course he did, but instead of resolving the problems he has, in my opinion, made them worse. Furthermore, he has intentionally created more divisiveness in order to gather as many votes in his second term as possible. The President put together the Simpson-Bowles commission in order to find a solution to the economic woes facing our country, then did exactly nothing about it. This was not because, as Paul Ryan said, the plan did not go far enough. It was because, in Obama's estimation, it did too much. Our president's plans include raising taxes on a small percentage of the country and doing precisely nothing else to resolve the national debt. He repeats ad nauseum that Gov. Romney's math "doesn't add up" when his own math doesn't even come close. Meanwhile, Pres. Obama is campaigning on the things he will do if he is elected. Isn't he president right now? I said from the beginning that he could earn my vote if he had just one ad and that ad said, "I'm busy being president. No time to campaign. I approve this message."

Not exactly what I had in mind.

I have no proof that Gov. Romney will do better in office than President Obama has done. However, I do know that Romney is much more moderate than President Obama. He has a history of working with Republicans and Democrats, which President Obama does not. He has placed the economy in the forefront of his candidacy. He named Paul Ryan, the Chairman of the Budget Committee, as his candidate for Vice President. I believe he is honest, for a politician, and moral, for a politician. He is a business man and a money guy. If there were ever anyone who could balance a budget, it is a man who has spent three decades doing just that.

There are plenty of people who do not trust Mitt Romney or the Republican party in general. I am very happy to live in a country where we all have our own voices and our own votes. My vote may well be canceled out by my husband and I am deeply okay with that. I simply feel honored to have my say, even if I don't live in Ohio.

First Week Gluten Free

Gluten-free has replaced no-carb diets as the go-to fad for those seeking a simple and easy fix to all of the problems that ail them. It seems like everywhere I have turned for the last couple of years someone had diagnosed themselves or a loved one with gluten intolerance or sensitivity. Heck, I've even done it myself. This summer, I found myself telling my husband that I thought he had a gluten sensitivity and realized immediately how pervasive the group-think of the modern world really is.

Two things that I have learned in the last week: Gluten sensitivity is a real issue and going gluten-free is neither easy nor simple. 

A visit to an Endocrinologist a few weeks ago introduced me to Hashimoto's Disease, an autoimmune disorder that I had never heard of before. It took the Endo all of 10 minutes to suggest this was my problem. When she brought in another doctor for a consult, he readily agreed. A number of tests needed to be ordered to verify the diagnosis. Meanwhile, I was left with nothing but still-increasing symptoms and the Internet to occupy my time while I waited.

One of the first questions I had asked the Endocrinologist was if diet or other lifestyle changes could "heal" Hashimoto's Disease. She immediately said no, only medication. However, I found a number of books and websites devoted to the "Thyroid Diet," which is said to make the problems associated with certain disorders, including Hashimoto's Disease, all but disappear. Largely, these diets consist of clean eating, gluten-free foods, and no sugar. I prepared myself mentally for making these changes if the diagnosis for Hashimoto's was positive. I asked a friend for the name of her homeopathic doctor and waited.

Once the Endo called to confirm that indeed I do have Hashimoto's, I asked her again about lifestyle changes. Her tone changed to some extent. She said that I would still need to take the little pill, but that changing my diet would help greatly as well. She said that I also show signs of Celiac Disease, which can only be truly diagnosed with a biopsy of the small intestine. At the very least, she believes I have a gluten sensitivity. She also said that I would need to avoid sugar to feel healthier faster. Indeed, she basically reiterated all that I had read online. "Closely watch what you eat," she said, "and you will feel much better." Well, duh.

It has been almost a full week that I have been gluten-free. Do I feel better? No, not really. The Hashimoto's symptoms are slowly starting to abate, but I attribute that to my new medication and not to lack of gluten. But with all things, this takes time. I'm in it for the long haul regardless of the short-term outcome.

No More Gluten

I am re-opening this blog again after a long absence. Yes, I've said it before. This time I really mean it. For real.

Actually, I have a really good reason to start blogging about my dietary habits again. I am now, under doctor's orders, on a strict sugar-free, gluten-free diet. Gluten-free is the latest fad in cure-all diet changes. It's the low-carb lifestyle of the 2010's. However, when the doctor says I will feel better, live longer, and be generally healthier, I have to listen. She said to go completely gluten-free for two weeks, starting yesterday, then assess how I feel. If I feel no discernible difference, we can assume I can have a "low gluten" diet. If I feel a true difference, then I go gluten-free forever.

Luckily, it won't be that difficult to go gluten-free. It is the current trend after all. Gluten free food is everywhere and many of my friends already have adopted the lifestyle. Sticking with it is the hard part, I presume, but since I can no longer have sugar, most of the glutenny yummies are off limits anyway.

Thus, the blog is back. New recipes will be posted here as well as my new journey.

Lactation Consultant in Southern Missouri

Nothing is healthier for a baby than breast milk. Even makers of formula, who profit from mothers not nursing their children, state firmly in their ads that breast milk is best. Why, then, would someone choose not to breastfeed?

Often, the reason for this is that the nursing mother encounters obstacles and has nowhere to turn. Breastfeeding, which is one of the most natural things a woman can do, can be hard. This is why it is important to find a good lactation consultant.

In Southern Missouri, lactation consultants can be hard to find. Even harder is finding traveling lactation consultants. My sister, Jill Kremer, offers breastfeeding help to mothers in Lebanon, Springfield, and the surrounding areas. I'm plugging her services because she is my sister, of course, but also because I know, as a mom, how hard it can be to find a lactation consultant in Missouri who travels to you.

When I was a new mom, I developed a yeast infection that caused extreme burning and pain every time I tried to nurse. My son developed the same condition and we passed it back and forth to each other for a month before we visited a lactation consultant who gave us the answers we needed. I've known many more moms who have given up on breastfeeding altogether because they don't have the help or support they want and need. We all know that breastfed babies are healthier, but women who have breastfed are healthier as well. This is why it is vital to get the support you deserve. If you are in Southern Missouri, breastfeeding help is close by and will come to you. Visit Jill's web site for more information about the services she offers.

Half-Marathon Training Update

I had every intention of writing out my training plans and training reports every week. Really, I did. As I said in yesterday's post, I have been too busy with real-life stuff to blog it up over here.

The half-marathon training isn't going as well as I would like it. Illness, injury, and other commitments has shortened my training, but hasn't stopped it in its tracks. I have high hopes of a PR, but the more I have learned about this half marathon, I realize that it is very hilly and difficult. I may not reach my goal of 2:30, but I at least plan on breaking my last time.

I am able to run on Tuesdays and Thursdays for longer periods of time. Getting in five or six miles is no problem. Weekends are harder and I'm not able to stick with the training schedule precisely, but I can generally get in what I need. This week is a renewed effort on my part, mostly because I realize the half is only six weeks away! Still, that's plenty of time and I'm still very excited about it.

My gym has started offering early morning classes as well. Today, I took my first Body Combat course. It was good. A lot of people I know do Combat and love it, are even obsessed with it. I enjoyed it but I didn't find it overly difficult, either to follow the routines or to get through it. It was funny because I was talking to a group of ladies about it yesterday and they suggested that I might make it through 15 minutes before I'd have to leave. I wasn't insulted, I believed them. But no, it was actually pretty easy. The hardest part was understanding the instructor through the headset mic. Still, I got a great workout and a heavy sweat first thing in the morning. I had to forego work, but it was worth it. I also think it will help greatly with my marathon training. Cross training is always a good thing.

Update: A Month Later

This blog has been dead for almost a month. I miss writing on it and I think about it often, but time is the biggest issue. I've said it a few times, but it's gotten more and more difficult to keep up with the blog. The biggest culprit is the number of assignments I have. I am regularly getting requests for work, which is awesome, but leaves precious little free time for fun things. Like this blog.

What's Going On?

The gardening project is all but defunct. The brutal summer made daily, sometimes twice daily, watering a necessity. After our trip to Florida, during which I obviously could not be as conscientious about organic pest removal, the squash plants were decimated by squash bugs. I finally yanked them all and planted broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts in their place. A week of extreme sickness during the first week of the school year meant that I did not tend to the garden as I should have. In one week, while temperatures were still extreme, the little plants all died. All of them. Now, I have okra plants still growing and a very small number of carrots are popping up. Everything else, even the kale that looked so good as it was sprouting, has died. The fall garden is a non-garden, so I'm planning on turning over all of the soil and anxiously awaiting next spring. Still, I may try to put out more seeds in the meantime. Time is the number one concern.

I am having a little more difficulty eating an entirely clean diet, but only a very little. Clean eating has become such a way of life that I automatically reach for healthier foods. However, there are many days that I need a quick meal instead of a healthy one. On those days, I have a pre-packaged, frozen dinner ready. I'm trying to have less of those so that I force myself to make something clean and healthy, but I've since found that if it's not fast, it just doesn't happen. Several days last week, I barely ate at all. As I age, that is having an opposite effect on my body. I actually put on weight when I'm eating very little. I don't know how that is possible!

Exercise is going as well as possible. Now that my husband is back at work, I can only get to the gym two or three days per week. It's hard, but it's working. I'm concerned about the 1/2 marathon in October, but I'm still confident that it will go well.

I also built a web site for my sister who is a lactation consultant in Southern Missouri. Breastfeeding is the healthiest choice for babies and their mothers. In Southern Missouri, lactation consultants are pretty hard to find. My sister, Jill, is a traveling lactation consultant. This means that she will provide breastfeeding help in Lebanon, Missouri, she'll travel to Springfield, MO for breastfeeding classes, or she'll go throughout that part of the state. When I was nursing #1, I would have loved to have a lactation consultant come to my home, so I think it's really a great thing that she is doing. Check out her website at  https://sites.google.com/site/missourilactationconsultant/. Let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions about the site itself.

Also, the election is consuming me. Don't be surprised if you find a few political posts here. Though this isn't a political blog, I'm all over this election. No stone left unturned in my quest for the best possible choice for our nation's president.

I'll try to update more often, but I make no promises. These days, time is not on my side.

How to Kill Squash Bugs

My tiny garden has actually been quite prolific this year despite the extremely hot weather and my decidedly not green thumb. The secret has been a lot of research and constant care. This revelation brought to you by the School of Duh. 

The latest issue my garden has faced is the dreaded squash bug. I am not kidding you when I say that there are a millionty billion in my garden all of a sudden and they simply will not die. I have checked out books from the library, I have read from countless agricultural-educational institutes. I have looked at random blog posts and forums. The ways to get rid of squash bugs are painstaking and enormous.

Yuck.

Neem Oil

Some sources suggest that spraying neem oil will rid your garden of squash bugs. The secret is to spray regularly, about every two days, and to make sure that it's the undersides of leaves that are treated, since this is where the nasties lay their eggs.

Soapy Water

The go-to solution for organic gardeners seems to be a soapy water solution. All that's required is a bucket, some water, some soap, and a lot more time than a normal person will ever, ever have. Basically, you pick each squash bug off of each leaf and throw it in the bucket. Repeat 9 billion times and you'll have fewer squash bugs.

Isopropyl Alcohol

A solution of rubbing alcohol and water is supposedly a great option for those wanting to kill squash bugs organically. Unfortunately, if you use too much alcohol, you can also kill your plants, or so I've read. A capful of alcohol to a gallon of water is the general consensus. If you feel like experimenting, I'd love to hear your results. I'm not ready to try it myself.

Peppermint

I planted peppermint with my squash this year to keep the squash bugs away. I learned a very valuable lesson: you have to plant a LOT of peppermint for this to work. I do believe that the squash bugs would have stayed away had I planted peppermint throughout my squash plants. Instead, I planted it along the front border, which were the only plants that were unaffected.

Of course, there are a number of chemical sprays that are suggested for the treatment of squash bugs, both organic and deadly poison. I am choosing to not mention these because they have variously been accused of being ineffective and irritating to the skin. I would not recommend anyone use something on their food that is actually harmful to their bodies. 

I actually managed to keep the squash bugs away by being very meticulous about applying peppermint to plants every few days. This kept aphids away as well. One week of vacation was all the bugs needed, though, to show up and basically decimate everything. I did read that if your plants are already healthy, the bugs shouldn't cause too much damage. I actually found this to be partially true. Despite the hundreds (at least) bugs on the plants, mine still produced more squash than my family can eat. I kept the plants around for a while, then picked the rest of the squash, and yesterday, I dug the plants up and covered the squash bug infested area in chili pepper. I plan on digging up the spot, adding a lot of compost and chili pepper, and using the former squash bed for my fall garden crops. 

Half-Marathon Training: Week Three

The past two weeks have been really crazy. I had a HUGE assignment with a big, new client that took up almost every second of my day. I'm sorry to say that the first thing that gets pushed to the side when I have lots to do is this blog. It's not a money-maker and it doesn't educate my children in anyway, therefore it is the least important. I am sorry. But, though I do have several assignments in the works right now, I have a bit more time and I plan on getting back to regular, daily updates, starting today. This week's training plan:


Week Three Training Plan:
Monday: Run 3 miles
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Run 4 miles
Thursday: Run 3 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Run 6 miles
Sunday: Rest

Week Two Training Report:
Monday (3 miles): Ran three miles and improved my time. I ran an average of about 11:30 per mile, which is a significant improvement on last week's 12 mm. I felt like I could have gone faster, but more importantly, I felt like I could have fun longer. After this run, I feel like I don't need to work on speed as much as longevity because I am definitely satisfied with an 11:30 pace if it is sustainable.

Tuesday (rest): No problem resting. With a sick child and a seriously large deadline looming, taking the day off was super easy.

Wednesday (4 miles): The three miles didn't happen. I simply couldn't get out of the house fast enough so I ran three miles as fast as I could (about 34 minutes) and vowed to get out of the house earlier on Thursday for a four miler. Starting to get concerned about Saturday's five miles because we are going out of town. I may try to do the five miles on Friday instead, which means three runs in three days.

Thursday (3 miles): Didn't get out of the house sooner. In fact, didn't get out of the house at all. One day left until deadline and every second had to be used for work. I admonished myself for not running, this is a commitment I have made to myself, but at this point even an hour was too much to spare with over a dozen travel articles due in one day.

Friday (rest): I planned on hitting Wednesday's four miles on Thursday, then again on Friday. Nope. I worked on Thursday until 1 A.M., then got up at 4 A.M. on Friday and worked until 4 P.M. Mind you, that includes being interrupted roughly every 15 minutes to break up fights with the kids, yell at the kids, feed the kids, hug the kids, read to the kids, and drink lots and lots of coffee.

Saturday (5 miles): Despite the fact that we had a planned weekend of rest and relaxation, I couldn't blow off another training run. I got up in the morning and I ran my five miles in less than an hour. At four miles I seriously bruised my ankle and thought about stopping. I then thought about what I would want my six-year-old to see if he were there with me. Would I want him to see a mom who gets injured and quits or a mom who gets injured and battles through? So I finished my five miles in under an hour and limped home.

Sunday (rest): Spent the day in St. Louis at the zoo, the mall, and the Science Center. I didn't run of course, but I walked a lot. And I also ate ice cream. And french fries. Healthy eating begins again on Monday!

Half-Marathon Training: Week Two

Week Two Training Plan:
Monday: Run 3 miles
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Run 4 miles
Thursday: Run 3 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Run 5 miles
Sunday: Rest


Week One Recap:
I have been keeping track of my training each day and will hopefully be able to continue to do so. Last week's training, the first full week, went extremely well. I have great hopes for the future!

Monday (3 miles): I made the three mile run in 36 minutes. I want to say that is slow, even for me, but a 12 minute mile is actually not that bad. If I were able to keep up a 12 minute pace throughout a 13.1 mile distance, I would PR at about 2:37. I did try to increase my speed to a 10 minute mile but my right knee started screaming. I need to remember to stretch!


Tuesday (rest): I subscribe to Runner's World, though I don't read my issues regularly. I keep a stack of them under my desk and carry them with me to the gym when I remember. I usually prefer to read Oxygen, but in all honesty, I most often end up watching America's Next Top Model while I'm on the treadmill or elliptical. I like to watch the pretty girls get their pictures taken. It's my guilty pleasure. Anyway, I did end up reading an issue of Runner's World that had a plan for breaking 30 minutes on a 5k. I'm not planning on running a 5k, but I am planning on implementing some of the advice offered for increasing my speed. I managed one mile of alternating speedwork before I realized I have to start wearing socks to run. I hate socks, but I hate blisters more.


Wednesday (3 miles): I had three miles scheduled, but I ran four. I kept an easy, comfortable pace and paid no attention to my actual time until I was finished, then realized that I was running exactly at a 12mm. I want to hit 2:30 on my half, so I need to increase speed by a full 30 seconds per mile. Also, I talked over with the family what they would like to do, and we have settled on the Kansas City Marathon. However, I may have difficulty finding a hotel this late in the year. I've already run across a number of rooms that are unavailable. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. There are plenty of other races.


Thursday (3 miles): Just the opposite of Wednesday. I had three miles scheduled and ran two. I could have run three, but unfortunately ran out of time. Friday is a rest day, so I intend on running the three miles on Friday to make up for it. Also, I registered for the Kansas City Marathon. I called the Sheraton to see if they had any rooms left, to which her response was that they have two. Two rooms. I booked it right then and then registered for the race. Happy birthday to me!

Friday (rest): I ran my three miles from Thursday and another mile just because I felt like it. I came in at just under 12 minutes per mile. As long as I can devote one run per week to speed work, I am hopeful that I can improve my time even more. Four miles scheduled for Saturday should be a piece of cake!


Saturday (4 miles): I did not run four miles today. Instead, I ran five miles. I am a full week ahead on my training, plus I realized that I am on a 10 week half-marathon training schedule with 12 weeks to go until the half. Instead of waiting to train for a couple of weeks, I've decided that I will repeat weeks that are hard for me and/or focus on speedwork. I did manage to go under my 12mm by about 10 seconds per mile. Not bad. For me.


Sunday (rest): It was nice to have a rest day but I'm ready to run again. Running is definitely addictive!

Too Hot to Garden?

Most of the country has been affected by this summer's drought conditions. Heat has been unbearable and rain has been almost nonexistent. Here in mid-Missouri, temperatures have reached record breaking highs, with the first three digit temps in June since 1988.

Every county in Missouri has been declared a disaster. Farmers are already applying for relief and news reports abound regarding the increasing cost of food.

The hobbyist gardener has likely seen the effects of the drought in their own backyard. Gardens that normally require watering once every two to three days have needed watering every day, sometimes twice each day, since early June. Some fruits and vegetables suffer from sun scorch. Plants stop blooming and existing blooms wilt and die. Even the most careful hobbyist gardener can lose a multitude of crops simply because the temperatures are too high.

Is it really too hot to garden or can certain measures be taken to insure crops against the heat? This all depends upon the types of items that are being grown and the location of the garden itself. My little garden is located in a sunny patch in the backyard. This is an ideal spot for most summers as plants receive long hours of sunlight and no direct shade. This year, certain plants continue to thrive while others are not able to withstand the extreme heat.

Disclaimer: This is not a scientific study. This year marks my first successful garden and everything that I've found could be a fluke. Still.


Cucumbers continue to thrive despite the high temperatures. However, I have to remember to water the cucumbers twice each day. Otherwise, most of the blooms (male and female) wilt and drop. I've lost a number of female blooms on those days after I chose to water only in the afternoon. Even so, I have more cucumbers than I can possibly use, despite my recent exploration into the world of pickle-making.

Peppers and Tomatoes do not like extreme heat. While both types of plants like sunny spots, the extreme heat causes the plants to go into hibernation mode. This means that while they're trying to survive, fruit is not produced. You can have big, green, leafy plants in extreme heat if you keep them well watered. I haven't yet found a way to make them produce. However, my experience is that as soon as the temps drop, an abundance of tomatoes and peppers appear. I have read that you should try to shade your plants in high temperatures. I've done that with some of mine, but it really hasn't helped at all.

Cold weather loving plants like lettuce, spinach, and brassicas may not grow at all in the heat, or they may bolt immediately. This means that instead of getting large, beautiful, and tasty, they begin flowering far too soon. If you can't shade or find other ways to cool these plants, you may simply be out of luck. Except for lettuce, this is not personal experience. I have chosen to start these cold loving plants, along with some others, from seed beginning now in the extreme temps. Your best bet may just be to start over.

Squash plants can handle more heat than some of the others as they have a natural barrier against extreme sunlight. Like cucumbers, their large leaves protect them from the harsh light of day. However, I have also found that the pests that are attracted to squash plants, particularly squash bugs, are much more difficult to control in the heat. During cooler days, I was able to keep them at bay with peppermint. Now, I have had to resort to drastic measures, including uprooting a couple of badly infested plants and trimming leaves that were covered in eggs. This may just be a coincidence, though.

One plant that I have found that loves the heat is okra. It has taken me a while to figure out exactly how to grow and harvest okra, but now that I have, I have more than enough with just the four plants left that the rabbits/dog didn't destroy. If you live in a very hot climate, okra seems to be an excellent crop to grow.

The plants that I have that have not done well at all in the heat are the green beans and watermelon. I had great plans for my watermelon, but even with twice daily watering, the little green balls have completely stopped growing. The green beans became such a lost cause that I uprooted them and planted radishes and chard in their place.

Again, this is not a be-all end-all guide for growing in the heat. This is my first foray and just what I have learned. I hope it may help someone along the way. Happy gardening!

Disney World Money Saving Tips

I have researched Disney World extensively, both for my writing and for my family's personal excursions. During my research, I have found that there are precisely 90 gajillion web sites devoted to saving time and money while enjoying a Disney trip. Below are my own tips to saving as much money as possible at Disney. The tips are simple, brief, and will most definitely save.

Which Disney Theme Park to Visit?
Many people swear that you need to spend multiple days at each theme park to get the full Disney experience. I say not so. If it is your first Disney visit, and you have the time, I do suggest that you spend one day at each of the parks just to be able to say you did so. If you are planning a shorter trip, or would rather spend some of your days elsewhere, the truth is, you don't need a full day at any of the parks. You can easily get away with a two-day Disney trip and a couple of Park Hopper passes, which allow you to go back and forth from theme park to theme park. But how do you know which Disney park to visit?

• The Magic Kingdom is a good choice for families with young children. Most, though not all, rides are geared toward little ones, but older kids and adults can enjoy them as well. 
• Animal Kingdom is another family friendly theme park. While the Magic Kingdom really focuses on classic Disney characters and rides, Animal Kingdom is much more zoo-like with its animal exhibits and numerous attractions. 
• Hollywood Studios is a must-see for those who have older children. This theme park has more thrilling rides and much longer lines than any of the other parks. 
• Epcot has a number of attractions for kids of all ages, but the "World Showcase" is honestly more geared to adults.

Where to Stay When Visiting Disney
Should you stay onsite, off-site, or way off-site? How much is it worth to have the convenience of staying at a Disney property vs. a chain hotel that is off Disney premises? For us, that question has been answered in spades.

We stayed onsite at one of Disney's "moderate" resorts last year.
Pros: Beautiful grounds, convenience, and extra magic hours that allow guests to arrive early and/or stay late at theme parks.
Cons: Small rooms, high prices.

This year, we opted to stay at the Royal Plaza. It's about a 10 minute walk from Downtown Disney, with regular shuttles to all of the theme parks. The price, including resort fees and taxes, was about $100 less per night. We didn't have extra magic hours, but as it turns out, didn't need them. The shuttles ran just as well as Disney's own shuttles and the room was significantly larger. The only downside is that the grounds are not as immense, but with such easy access to Downtown Disney, we spent our evenings there instead of at the hotel.


What to Eat
Everyone who asks me about Disney eventually asks my thoughts on the Disney Dining Plan. What I have learned is that you can save a great deal of money on it, if you actually use the food on the plan. Most families don't eat that much, though, and end up wasting most of what they have spent. Instead, research menus so you are not caught off-guard by the sticker shock of some of the local dining establishments. If it's feasible, pack your own snacks or even your own breakfast or lunch foods. Dining in and around Orlando is very expensive and if you eat out at every meal, a family of four could easily find themselves spending and extra $100-$150 per day. Visit AllEars.Net for an extensive list of menu items and prices.

On the other hand, though prices are large, so are servings. It only took one meal for me to learn that I could order a single dish for the kids and they could easily split it and still have leftovers. Ask your server about portion sizes. Most are happy to supply a separate plate for one meal.

I also highly recommend taking part in a character meal. These are crazy expensive, but they are also a lot of fun and create memories that your kids will take with them forever.


Transportation Costs
We flew to Orlando, which is definitely pricey, but also way more convenient than the two day drive it would take to get there. Once we arrived, we rented a car because we spent a few days at the beach before heading back and doing the whole Disney thing. At that point, my husband returned the car because we simply didn't need it anymore. He finished his work responsibilities and was able to avoid driving until we arrived back at the airport. Nearly all of the transportation at that point was gratis, though getting back to the airport was about a $50 venture. My husband checked out the costs of shuttles vs. taxis and found that hiring a private car was the best and cheapest option. When you stay onsite at Disney, the cost of your airport transportation is included.


Everything Else
We save money in a lot of sneaky ways. For instance, I bought some souvenirs at home, at Walmart, for $1. They were Disney themed and the kids were just as happy with them when I presented them in their wrapped packages. Another way to save is to avoid baggage fees. If you can't avoid airlines that charge for your luggage, try instead packing as much onto carry on as you can and only checking one bag. Pack half the clothes you'll need for your trip, then pay $5 to wash them all in your hotel's coin-op laundry facility. They all have them.

There are a number of fees that you will likely encounter during your trip. If you stay near Disney, expect to pay a resort fee of about $17 per night. If you drive your own car, you'll be charged a parking fee. You will also find that servers expect larger tips here than they may on your home planet. And if you have young children that love to drink milk? You'll need to budget about $10 per day, per child.

For me, one of the best purchases during both trips was stroller rental. For less than $50 total, I had a stroller that we could use throughout the Disney parks, Downtown Disney, and around the hotel. I rented a double, because the six-year old got tired of walking quickly and needed a place to sit. I used Magic Strollers, because it was recommended through MouseSavers.

Speaking of MouseSavers, this site is the number one choice of all of the Disney savings web sites out there. It is thorough, gives its readers access to great deals, and is generally the best place to find all of the information you need for your upcoming Disney trip. So stop reading my blog and head over to MouseSavers. Then come back here and let me know how you have managed to save on your vacation.

Credit for Online Magazines

I’d like to tell you about Zinio, a great service that allows you to get all your favorite magazines in digital format, at fantastic prices. You can read them on your PC, smartphone or iPad. If you sign up today, you’ll get a $5 credit to use on a magazine of your choice. Here is how to get started:

Follow this link: http://zinio.extole.com/a/clk/5cdJSr
Pick a magazine
And go!

You also get $5 in credit for each friend you refer. It's a great deal!

Half-Marathon Training: Week One

Most people don't just jump into training for a half-marathon. A distance of 13.1 miles is considerably longer than the casual runner's normal course. Generally, people start with training for a 5k or a 10k, then work their way up. Not I.

I have run several 5ks over the last few years and have even placed in my age group in a couple of them. I have found that I do not really enjoy them. Running fast is not fun for me. I don't have that happy, excited, elated feeling after a short, fast run like I do after keeping a long, steady pace. When I was marathon training three years ago, I learned that my favorite run was about 10 miles, which I could do at an easy pace in about two hours. As I've said before and will say again, I am slow.

Today I begin training for a half-marathon in earnest. If you are interested in half-marathon training, follow along with me. I'll be posting my schedule every Monday and will update the week's efforts each Sunday.

Half-Marathon Training Schedule: Week One


Monday: Run 3 Miles
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Run 3 Miles
Thursday: Run 3 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Run 4 miles
Sunday: Rest

Of course, there is more to training for a race than simply running. You have to make sure that you get adequate amounts of sleep, eat the right foods, and stretch well before and after your runs. Also, rest days do not mean that you do nothing. On those days, you cross-train. Go swimming, lift weights, etc. I have run a couple of half-marathons and one full. I am no expert.

Now, the question that I am left with is which race do I run? I honestly feel a little silly training for a half without having an actual race in mind. Therefore, last night I talked over with my husband when and where we should travel for a race. I live in Columbia, Missouri, which is smack dab in the middle of the state. My training schedule preps me for an early October race. Unfortunately, my husband also has plans to travel to Montana, which leaves me without someone to watch the kids. Therefore, I have looked over my training plans and have found that I can be prepared, without risking injury, for a half-marathon that falls on September 29.

I have two choices: The Moonshine Half Marathon or the Rock Bridge Revenge, which is actually a slightly longer race at 25k. The upside of the Moonshine Half is that it is near to my hometown in an area that has lots to do for the family while I'm running. The upside to the Rock Bridge Revenge is that it is right here in Columbia, which means zero travel. I am heavily leaning toward the Moonshine Half because, in all honesty, I'm not sure I'll be able to run a 15 mile trail race in 10 weeks.

I'm going to decide at the end of the week, at which time I will register for the race and, if need be, reserve a hotel. If you decide to follow along, let me know how your training goes.

Vacation Return and Much More

It's been well over a week since my last post. My family returned from a wonderful vacation and I have spent the last few days returning to life. It's funny how even a short vacation can turn your life upside down.

I have also been busily working on securing a new client, which has taken up almost all of my writing time. Therefore, I must apologize to all of those who regularly visit this blog. Rest assured, the updates will commence this week. I have a lot to update on!

Clean Eating: I have found some new, delicious recipes that I am very excited to share. I have been making pickles out of the numerous garden cucumbers and have tried several creative ways to incorporate squash into our meals. I have also tried some new products that are super, duper gross. I can't wait to slam them publicly so that no one else has to suffer through this nightmare. It's been days and I still can't get the nasty taste out of my mouth.

Gardening: There is much to update on the garden front. As it turns out, small gardens can be huge, huge producers if given the right amount of care. I have learned much about year-round gardening and will excitedly share that information as well.

Exercise and Weight Loss: The weight loss competition is coming to an end soon. I am quite sad to report that I have not lost nearly the amount of weight that I had planned and hoped to lose. On the other hand, I am a size smaller and I feel pretty good about my weight and health, even though the scale number isn't as exciting as I like. Exercise is going well and my half-marathon training begins in earnest TOMORROW!

Family Activities: I certainly learned a lot about Disney World during this vacation. This was our second trip, but I have done much research on Disney for travel writing, which helped our trip immensely. I will definitely be sharing those tips and tricks with you.

I hope those of you who follow this blog look forward to some of the items I plan on sharing soon. I certainly look forward to sharing them!

How to Ripen Tomatoes

Knowing when to pick and how to ripen tomatoes should be an easy task. For the novice gardener, like me, checking out a book from the library or doing a quick Internet search should give me the information I need to know regarding what to look for when harvesting these delicious fruits. Unfortunately, there is a long-standing and quite heated debate among gardeners about when to pick tomatoes.

Some say that you should pick your tomatoes at the first signs of light color. Bring them indoors and ripen them in a metal bowl for about 10 days before eating or canning. Others say to wait until the tomatoes are reddish, then pick and allow them to ripen in the window sill. Still others say that you should not pick the tomatoes until they are almost completely red. Of course, there is a very loud voice out there that swears by waiting until the tomatoes are completely ripe on the vine for the best flavor.

Tomatoes all picked while lightly
orange. The smaller ones
ripened in about two days.

What is the right answer? Who knows? And I don't think I could even experiment to tell you. I seriously doubt I could tell the difference between a vine-ripened, bowl-ripened, or window-sill-ripened tomato. My palate is simply not that sophisticated. However, I do know that the benefits to harvesting tomatoes off the vine far outweigh the benefits of leaving them on the plant.

Birds, bugs, and other critters are strongly attracted to ripe tomatoes. By bringing the tomatoes indoors, you lower the risk of losing them completely. They are also less prone to diseases and developing bad spots that can keep the squeamish gardener from enjoying the fruits of his or her labor.

"Green Shoulders" is a term I've seen a lot while researching how to ripen tomatoes. See the tomatoes in the picture above? See the green on top? Apparently, that can happen when you leave a tomato on the vine to ripen in less than ideal circumstances. The green shoulders will stay green, leaving you with a partially inedible tomato. This is an argument for ripening indoors, as the green shoulders should eventually turn into a delicious red.

Two of the green tomatoes that were
"picked" by the dog.

But what about ripening green tomatoes? The dog recently went on another rampage through the garden, during which he so lovingly knocked over a couple of tomato plants. Yes, I have put up fencing and other barriers, but he somehow manages to not care when the neighbor dog is on the other side. I was angry at first, but the tomato plants are hanging in there and I only lost a couple of tomatoes. It also afforded me the opportunity to learn how to ripen tomatoes that are completely green.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of resources on how to ripen green tomatoes. Unfortunately, these resources are as varied as when to pick ripe tomatoes from the vine. Most sources suggest wrapping green tomatoes in newspaper and placing in a box or paper bag with a slice of apple or banana. Unwrap each tomato each day, throw out the ones that have rotted, then re-wrap until they have ripened. This process can take weeks. However, I have learned that green tomatoes placed in the window sill should eventually ripen, though it may take a bit longer.

The last piece of contention is where to ripen these tomatoes. Some say a window sill, because it is often the warmest place in the house. Others say that tomatoes should be ripened on a counter top, away from the harsh sunlight. Some also say to keep tomatoes completely in the dark. I figure that my tomatoes are outside anyway, so I'm using the windowsill. It's an area that is mostly shaded as you can tell by the photos that were taken well after sunrise. So far, the ripening process has been successful, and it has only been a couple of days.

Training on the Elliptical

Though "official" training doesn't start for two more weeks, I woke up yesterday morning refreshed and ready to run. I put in a four mile run on the elliptical. It took me 43 minutes. I am slow.

I love running outdoors, but sometimes it simply isn't practical. When I awake in the morning, I get to work almost immediately and work until the children wake up - sometimes even after. The gym gives me the opportunity to run while the children are cared for in a safe environment. I can feel like they are having fun (although the six-year-old is increasingly reluctant) while I get a workout in.

Training on the treadmill is one way to get in training runs, but I prefer the elliptical. I find it is easier to change my pace, which gives me a more "real world" run. Indeed, last year I PR'ed at the St. Louis Rock-N-Roll marathon having trained entirely on the elliptical for all but two runs.

I have done a great deal of research on training on the elliptical vs. the treadmill. What I've found are pros and cons to both. As I said, the elliptical makes changing pace much easier, which is great for people like me who are not good with consistency. It is also easier on knees and other joints than a treadmill. On the other hand, a treadmill does bring consistency, which is something we should all work on. It has also been said that while on an elliptical, the runner can let the machine do most of the work. 

Ideally, each run would be outdoors, but barring that, the elliptical is my weapon of choice. What's yours?

I'm Going to Run a Marathon

I have decided that I am going to run another marathon. I've been saying that since the last one, which was almost three years ago. Now, I am ready. I have the time and the desire to train. Let's get started!

I promised my husband that I would take it slowly. This means that I have to start with a half marathon and work my way up to a full. I can start training as soon as we return from our vacation, which means my first training run will be on July 23. A typical training schedule for a half marathon is about 10 weeks long. That means my half will be on the weekend of my birthday. Quite the coincidence.

Half Marathon Training Calendar from MarathonRookie

Luckily, there are several half marathons in the state that weekend and the following. No, I have not yet registered and I don't have one particular race that I am passionate about. In fact, I have completed a couple of half marathons in the past and they simply don't do it for me. I'm much more excited about the full.

Speaking of which, I do have a plan for the marathon. The Run for the Ranch marathon is held in Springfield, Missouri each winter. This year, it is on December 30. It will be cold, it may be miserable, but this is what I plan to do. Getting my husband to agree to spend New Year's Eve eve waiting for me to finish a multi-hour race is another issue entirely. Indeed, if he doesn't go along with this plan I may need to wait until spring to run a marathon, but that will just get me even more amped.

I'm very excited about beginning training for realsies. Of course, my ultimate goal is an ultra, but that training will definitely have to wait a while. A long, long while.

Cheap Vegetable Seeds

If you are reading this blog, you know that one of my main goals in life is to be healthy and to lead by example for my children. Another goal in my life is to spend as little money as possible. This is where you, dear reader, can benefit from my stinginess. I have done all of the research and I am passing all of my knowledge onto you for the not so low price of your oh so valuable time.

Plan Your Purchase

Only buy seeds you intend to grow and only grow foods you intend to eat. If everyone in your family hates turnips, as they should because turnips are disgusting, why buy turnip seeds? If you have never actually tasted kohlrabi, don't invest money and time into planting a crop that you don't want and can't use. Instead, make a plan for your garden then seek out the seeds.

Know Your Zone

Guess what? Not everything grows everywhere. If you live in Casper, Wyoming, you will have a shorter season for summer crops than if you live in Mobile, Alabama. Keep this in mind when deciding when and if to plant long-season crops like watermelon. Also, if you have a garden that is mostly shaded, some plants that like full sun won't be wise financial choices for you.

Look for Discounts, but Shop Wisely

When you buy the most inexpensive seeds, you can save a lot of money. I have purchased seed packets at four for one dollar at the local dollar store. However, once I arrived home, I found that one of the packets had no seeds in it at all. I have also purchased some very inexpensive seed packets that never sprouted. I usually assume this is my fault, but it could also be the fault of poorly sealed, stored, and old seeds.

Collect Your Own

Now this is where we really get into the cheap of the cheap. I have actually never done this before, but I intend to try it out this year. I have already collected seed heads from my chives and I will certainly do the same for many of my flowers. The vegetables, however, I'm a little iffy on. If you really want to give collecting your own seeds a shot, I suggest you read through this guide at Mother Earth News. Note that if your currently growing crops are hybrids, they may not grow true to type or may not grow at all from the seeds that you collect.

Buy at the End of the Season

I admit that I already have two envelopes filled with seeds for next year's garden. Many stores that carry seeds discount their packets significantly during this time of year. Most gardeners are not interested in seeds in July and do not realize that seeds can stay in sealed packages for an extended period of time and still yield hearty crops. Indeed, the carrots I had last year were one of my only crops to actually grow and the seed packet I used was about five years old at the time. Purchase your seeds on discount, then store them in a cool, dry place.

Buy in Bulk

Generally speaking, you can save money when buying anything in large quantities. Though you may not have the need for 1,000 zucchini seeds, you can find friends and neighbors who are willing to share the seeds and the expense. You can also host a seed swapping party. Have your like-minded gardening friends bring all of their unused and unneeded seeds to share and exchange with others.

Shop Online

For the most part, online seed sellers are less expensive than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Many companies offer free or inexpensive shipping. I have ordered from Dirt Cheap Seeds a number of times and have always had a very positive experience. Listed below are a number of other seed sites that offer inexpensive options for the home gardener. Please note: I have not purchased from all of these places, therefore I can't attest to their quality or ship times. 

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Bountiful Gardens

Generic Seeds

You can also find great deals through Amazon. A number of people swear by purchasing their seeds through eBay, though I have also heard mixed messages about the quality of the seeds.

Garden Experiment Updates

I have several ongoing experiments in and around the garden. They are each seeing varying degrees of success and failure. Following is an update to each of them.

The Healthy Tomato Plant Experiment

The garden is so overgrown you can scarcely see how
awesome Esther Epsom looks.

The experiment with my tomatoes was a noble one. I chose four different tomato plants and side-dressed one with epsom salt, one with coffee grounds, one with egg shells, and one was left to accept its nutrients from the soil. The dog immediately ate the plant that was treated with egg shells. The day after I updated the experiment, the dog also demolished the plant that was treated with coffee grounds. The experiment was no more. However, I did continue giving epsom salt to one plant and nothing to the other to see what would happen. The tomato plant with the epsom salt treatments grew fast and strong and was the first to bear fruit. It has many more little green tomatoes than the other one, though the other one is looking quite healthy now as well. Still, I'm more than ever sold on the merits of epsom salt on tomatoes.


The Power of Epsom Salts
I have heard and read that epsom salt is an amazing choice for gardens. Supposedly, it makes leaves greener, vegetables brighter, and the soil healthier. I have used epsom salt throughout the garden, both on inground plants and in containers. I have learned that epsom salt is excellent on tomatoes, peppers, and flowers. It definitely had the opposite effect on the cucumbers. While the vegetables themselves are still going strong, the leaves are very unhappy.

Brown cucumber leaves due to a direct
application of epsom salt.

Natural Pest Repellents
I have used no chemicals on my garden this year to repel bugs, a trend that I plan to continue. I tried several methods and found the ones that work and don't work:

• Peppermint rubbed on the undersides of leaves repelled nearly all pests from squash and okra. The okra plants were covered in aphids until a quick treatment with peppermint.
• Ground chili pepper around the perimeter of the garden kept rabbits away. This had to be replaced after rain, but after a while they just stopped coming around.
• Coffee grounds keeps slugs away. However, the coffee grounds must stay on the soil and can't actually touch leaves, especially lettuce. 
• Lemon balm and garlic were ineffective in combating pests.

Gardening in Shade vs. Full Sun

A number of plants were given to me and I conducted an experiment with them, putting some in an area that is shaded for the majority of the day and the rest in a spot that receives full sun all day long. The results were a bit surprising to me. They do not receive the same amount of water - I have been watering the sun-plants every day and the shade-plants every other day. They are in various sizes of containers and some of the shaded plants are in the ground.

Sunlight is a foe when temperatures are 105.

I expected the shade garden plants to die quickly. Quite the opposite is true. All but one of the sun plants are dead. The high temperatures and extreme sunlight has destroyed them almost completely. On the other hand, the shade garden plants look okay. They are certainly not dying, but they are not growing either. In fact, they look pretty much the same now as they did when I first planted them almost a month ago.  

Shade Garden: June 17

Shade Garden: July 5

Tomato Plant in Shade Garden: July 5

Planting the Fall Garden
My 6-year-old and I are planning the fall garden and we decided to start our plants as suggested. We had to place the seed tray outside due to lack of adequate sunny spots in the house. We chose the filtered sun of the shade garden for the location of the seed pots. I'm happy to report that, after only three days, seedlings are already emerging. In fact, all of the varieties have sprouted and only three out of fourteen seed pots do not have signs of life yet. Now the question is, can we keep the momentum going until it is time to plant these little guys in the ground?

Seed Pots: July 5

Planting a Kids' Garden
I let Gus decide what he wanted to plant, when to water, where the seeds would go, and basically gave him complete control over the destiny of the kids' garden. He placed a variety of vegetables and herbs through the garden in an assortment of containers. I am pleased to report that the pumpkin, green beans, and cucumbers are growing very well. In fact, we are ready to begin pruning back some of the growth. The rest of the plants have not yet grown and it looks unlikely that they will at this point. I have mostly found that giving the kids their own garden helps them to be excited about the entire process.  I consider the kids' garden to be a huge success.

Kids' Garden Container Pumpkins: July 5

Abs in 7 Days

I am leaving for a trip to the beach in seven days. Unfortunately, I am seriously not bikini ready. I am laughably not bikini ready. In fact, this is how I look:

This is a big deal.

One of my best friends in the entire world has given me some amazing advice on how to turn this:

Into this:

In only seven days.

My friend, who you may know by the name of Google, had several pretty astounding ideas on how to get beach ready abs in seven days. I have tried a couple of Oxygen routines that have definitely helped me to tone and firm, but they have not delivered results even close to those that will get me to uncover my mid-section in public. So instead of continuing with the trusted advice from the experts at Oxygen, I have decided to put my abdominal fate in the hands of random bloggers and paid SEO content providers who obviously know what they are talking about.

Random Google Ab Tip #1: Eat less food. 
It's pretty amazing when you think about it. All of the sites I visited that told me how to get killer abs in seven days suggested that I put down the Twinkies. Of course, I don't eat Twinkies, but I do love food. Even with a whole foods diet, I sometimes find myself over-indulging. This is a big no-no for abs.

Random Google Ab Tip #2: Exercise more.
Another jaw-dropper. Sites say that working out can help you to get six pack abs. Who knew? Of course, the variance is on what kind of exercises are required as well as the amount of time dedicated and the frequency.  One super-helpful article said that I should perform cardio to lose weight and do sit-ups to tone. Who would have ever guessed it?

Random Google Ab Tip #3: Take Supplements
You probably couldn't have guessed, but a number of web sites suggest that taking pills are the way to go to burn mid-section fat and to release the inner gods and goddesses that are lurking underneath all of those pancakes. Mmmmm. Pancakes.

These tips are dripping in delicious sarcasm.

Of course, Google didn't tell me anything I didn't already know and didn't tell me anything I'm not already doing. The problem with me is the frequency that I am doing these things. As summer hit, I have decreased my workouts rather than increased them. No more! For the next seven days, I am going to work my core, work my cardio, and work my weights. I may not be able to spot-reduce the fat around my mid-section, but I can share my research with the world so that I too can join the esteemed ranks of Google's most powerful links. Someday, someone searching for abs in seven days may find this blog and they too will be inspired to eat less and workout. Because they probably never heard that before ever. Ever.