Creating a Workout Space

Most days I wake up feeling like this. Perhaps it is because I went to bed too late the night before due to my little ones trying to fight bed time and the need to spend some precious undivided hours with my husband. Or it could be because Stella wakes up at 1:30am, 3:30am, and is ready to rock and roll at 5:30am!!!!! And I do have to be up by 6:00am for work...
Another reason I feel like this in the morning is because all of my waking hours are just so packed with "to-dos." Work starts by 7:30am and is non-stop until 3:30 (teenagers have a lot of energy!). As I have said before, I am in the process of training for a half marathon right now. So usually by 3:30pm the girls and I are out on our run, which goes until about 4:15 or 4:30 on a super good day. Truth be told, my coworkers that are running with me are the reason I actually get out and do it! My run is then followed by the drive home, and once I am in the door it is mom and wife time! Snuggles first, then dinner for the hungry bunch, and bath time! Stories before bed, and once they are all tucked in, there is Keton waiting to have some time with me as well. Time with hubby= staying up late and barely getting any sleep during the night.
And then when the alarm goes off (or Stella screams) the day repeats itself.
I know it sounds like I am complaining, but I am not! I LOVE my life, and my family, and I actually really like my job. Overall, we are beyond blessed and I am grateful. But I have just found some things challenging. How can I do it all?
Back in December, this daily grind was making me feel like this:

This was when I figured it was a good time to revamp my eating and workout routines. Since December, I have been running an average of 4 days per week, and I began to add in some circuit training two days per week. This is where I get to the title of my blog. The change in exercise has been beneficial, and it has helped with my stress management. I recommend it for all of you moms out there that have low energy, or high stress (or in my case both!). Keton and I have decided to create a "Home Gym" within our little home. I read an article in the latest "Shape" magazine that detailed the construction of home gyms at every budget. The funny thing is, we have most of what we need. Free weights of different size, a small space to construct, workout dvds, an old, yet efficient workout bike, music, etc. Now we are just putting our heads together trying to figure out what to use to construct it, and what additions would be necessary. A resistance band for example, would a cheap but necessary addition that would work for both of us. We are incorporating things we already have like a shoe rack for the weights, a basket for the resistance band or core weight ball, etc. We are setting this up in our living room, which has a the TV for the videos, a fridge close at hand for water, and soon we will hunt down a mirror to hang on the wall so we can keep an eye on our lifting.

We have decided that there are three big reasons for this latest project:

1. The "fitness space" is out in the open and visible, so we are more likely to use it when we see it constantly!
2. The materials are easily accessible, which means we can grab some weights or a dvd and squeeze in some workout time quickly.
3. Creating this space is a great example to our girls. We want fitness to be something they are raised with, and we hope that they will enjoy it and see the value in it as they get older.

As for the eating part of this project. We are doing well for the most part; shopping at fresh markets, buying produce, cooking veggies and whole grains, etc. However, the recent sale of Girl Scout cookies might have set the family back this weekend:) We have found that the best way to eat well as a family is to "eat in". We try to eat at home most days and nights, and have made going out to eat a true treat. And even when dining out, we chose wisely and try to teach Gracie how to do the same. But the occasional treat keeps us from losing motivation and quitting it all!
My race is May 2nd. Fast approaching! And it is about time to get my shoes on and hit the road for a run...
We hope our families' new health project will inspire your families as well! In no time you will find yourself feeling more like this:


Carpe Diem! And go buy some veggies too....

Gracie Turns 4!

Here we are, another birthday for Gracie. It is hard for us to believe it is her 4th. She has grown into a little girl, and apparently we had our backs turned. I try to watch both of them so closely so that I don't miss a minute of their lives. But they still grow overnight when I am sleeping. Amazing how that happens. We made a cake, bought presents, and sang her a very Happy Birthday song. She was a princess for a day! Oh, who are we kidding? She thinks she is a princess full time. There is never a dull moment when raising little ones, even though you will find yourself praying for one! I find it so odd when I hear my student's at work comment on how "boring" life is. It is almost as though I do not even know the meaning of the word! You know it is pretty bad when you are out and about, ALONE, and when you hear the cry of another woman's child you feel the urge to go and take care of them too. I have to actually force myself to sit for any lengthy period of time, and forget about "doing nothing". Before I even knew what happened, I turned into this super productivity obsessed person. However, Gracie teaches me to look at all kinds of things in life in a different way. With each year, she grows more sweet and vibrant. She is a true ray of sunshine and burst of freshness! Everyone knows when she is in the room:) It is true that children depend on their parents, and I know that Gracie depends on us. But in reality, it is more that we depend on her. On her birthday this year we told her the story of her birth, and how she took forever to come into this world. She had her own timing from the beginning! She loves to hear her birth story and loves to know that she is cared for and appreciated. Truth be told, we have no idea where we would be without her. She made me a mom, and she changed our lives forever. It is amazing how "big" little one's birthdays can be for the grown ups! It is difficult to explain why we had tears as we sang the Happy Birthday song, although I am sure that you parents out there know what I mean.

Another year older, another phase finished....
And yet, another year has begun and another phase has started! I have to admit, I am really loving the little girl she has become! What a blessing! (Ok so at night when she is fighting sleep, we might not feel so warm and fuzzy towards her; it is a good thing God made her adorable!).

Happy Birthday Little Gracie...

A Moment to Remember

I don't usually blog this close together, but I could not miss the opportunity to share this story...

The Crime: A bitten nose.

The Victim: Gracie Annalyn Quigley

The Suspect: Stella Kay Kiyono Quigley
The Story:
The girls were in their room "napping", and things were going well. By going well, I mean that they of course were not sleeping like they were supposed to be but they were giggling and talking. Two sweet little sisters just having a grand time playing together. Keton and I were taking the moment of free time to workout together. In the middle of our weight session, I heard a loud scream! I go running into their room to find Gracie crawling out of Stella's crib, crying as loud as she could possibly cry. Stella is just sitting with a smile painted sweetly across her chubby little face. Gracie blubbered out that Stella bit her on the nose! And hard! I was about to tell her to toughen up when I saw the damage. Stella got her pretty good! Right across her little nose...
So to the bathroom we went (after a reprimand to Stella, which of course resulted in Stella being in tears over upsetting mommy...girls are such drama!). We cleaned out Gracie's "wound", gave her kisses, and reminded her that perhaps she should stay out of Stella's crib and out of her face. We never did get the reason WHY Stella bit her...
Case closed.

The VERDICT: Stella is guilty, and unfortunately she is verbally unable to defend herself. Therefore Gracie appears innocent (but we are not easily fooled!) and Stella is the little booger. For now anyway....
I am sure the tables will turn before the night is over!

Life in our little world...

This is a picture that Gracie took recently (she has started an interest in photography!). I was going through our pictures and when I came across this one I had to laugh. To her, Woody and Buzz are her friends, her companions. Both Gracie and Stella carry them all over, and talk to them about life. With Stella it is more jibberish talk, and with Gracie it is more "mother hen" bossy talk. Woody and Buzz are pretty lucky to have such loyal companions who truly care for their welfare. Isn't it funny how toys and stuffed animals become part of your "family" when your children care about them? I almost feel as though I have actually given birth to Gracie's bear Lovie, for he has become a valued family member over the years. Stella's bear Bella is making her mark in the family as well, for Stella has fallen in love with the little stuffed bundle. I believe God instilled in us a desire to not only love our children, but to love what they love as well. It is a lovely, rainy, Saturday morning here in our home town and I could not be happier to spend it snuggling my family in my pjs. Our lives can be quite busy, and it is a joy to relish in the moments where we have time to snuggle or take pictures of Woody and Buzz. I know all of you reading this completely understand what I mean! (Even if you don't spend time taking pictures of animated movie stars!).
I was reviewing our family's most recent photos and thinking about how much I love our little world! Which is where my inspiration for the title of this blog came from. See below!

The girls at Fashion Island on Christmas Eve!

Gracie's picture of us! Keton likes when she takes the pictures because he looks taller:)
Stella with her famous bedhead!
Gracie on her first big girl bike that she got for Christmas!
The girls love to jump and wrestle on the couch without the pillows...cheap entertainment for us!

Gracie getting to be such a big girl (she will be 4 next week!!!!!!!!)!
Our adorable little Stella at Christmas time...already 18 months and counting! Such a joy!

We are at the stage in life where we are afraid to let any moments pass without recognition. Time is flying and we are trying to cherish all of it...
Ah, the sun is coming out, and I am off to get my daily run in! (The working out is going really well, more on that to come!).
Love to all!