Maja + Fall = LURVE

I love fall. Absolutely love it.

I love fall like a fat kid loves cake. BOOM! That's a whole lotta love ;)

Two weekends ago I was going through some of our crap er....stuff and was weeding through our holiday decorations. Yes, I realize that I am already turning into my mother since I like to decorate not only for holidays, but seasons. Yes, I am a mini Mims in the making. You're welcome mom. It was then that I drug our step stool, push pins and my fall leaf garland to the front porch only to be stopped by my husband. Dang it. I am not steathly enough....I asked him what I should put the pins in, the door frame or the siding. He asked "why, what are you doing?" I showed him my leaf garland and his response was, "Babe...it's not even fall yet. It's still 80 degrees out." Break a girl's heart why don't you.

I cried. Okaynotreally. BUT I did put up my scarecrows-ha ha hubs! Gotcha on that one!

I have always loved this  season for many reason. September is my favorite month. Crazy, huh? Not really. But I have always liked September, for a lot of the reasons I like fall. If it were up to me and we didn't live in a college town bordered by another college town where all the hotels sell out during football season, WAM would have been married in September.

Here are some of the reasons why I love fall.....

School supplies!!!

A new school year. This is my first day of school photo for my last year of school....EVER!

Scarves...I only own about fifteen....I need more!

 Rain boots...I could wear these everyday.

Gotta love the hawks!!

I especially love watching the hawks with this hottie :)

Cougar football! Future Cougar, Kinsey Brustuen

Leaves changing.

Fall colors.

Soccer season. This is my sweatshirt from almost 20 years ago!

This year I get to see my all-star soccer stud nephew, Austin, play soccer.

Leopard snuggies! Cozy blankets. Curling up on the couch. :)

Fall decorations! I told you, I am turning into my mother. 

Pumpkin ANYTHING!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

Funny family photo Thanksgiving 2010 :)

WAM being WAM Thanksgiving 2012

Wahoo fall, you're officially here and I will embrace you with my whole heart :)

It's Good to be Alive!

Working out is starting to really work out. And I love it.

Last week was rough. STRUGGGLE FREAKING BUS kind of week. Ouch. Big time. 

My friend Kelly asked if I was going to the gym. It's weird, but yes, when you have someone to workout with it makes it 100 times easier and you're more likely to go. So, Will and I met her at the gym. We started with a class called Vibe...similar to Zumba, but crazy fast, salsa and Latin inspired and my "I think I have rhythm even though I really don't" self could barely get my feet to move as fast as theirs. Yikes. Still, we did the class, we sweat, we laughed, we got a burn.

Then, I had a pivotal moment.

My hubs (who surprised me by being an awesome runner...he makes it look so easy too!) was running on the treadmill. Now, the treadmill is one of my BFs. Me and the treadmill love to spend time together. HOWEVER,  after a vacation from running, no matter how long the vacation, the last thing I want to do is run. Who wants to see this 29 year old's wobbly bits bouncing up and down and feel her copious amount of sweat fly off of her and land on their bodies?!?! Yeah, that's what I thought. No one. I hate when I start thinking like this. I have to remember why I am at the gym and why everyone else at the gym is there = to get in shape! Le DUH. So I snap out of it. I had a sweet playlist ready to go. I took off and ran! Yipee skippy!!!!! I CAN do it.

And it feels so damn good.

I am continuously amazed at how much I love the feeling of working out. For the hour (give or take), I push myself, I sweat like a mother, I hate life, I want to quit, sometimes I want to puke (thank you RIPPED and Ashley for this!), I feel like there is no point....then it hits me....THE ZONE. Once I get in the zone, there is no stopping me. Now, I don't always get to the zone, but when I do.......hot damn it feels good. It's like a mental 180! I get this burst of confidence and determination. It's pure awesomeness.

I have personal fitness/health/wellness goals that I will maybe share another time. Can I achieve them? If I keep in the right mind set and have support of my workout companions and just have faith in myself, then hecks ya I can achieve them! Bring it!

Today I got up "early" on my day off and went for a run. Now, I am not training for a marathon or even a half marathon, but we live right by the trail...how can we not take advantage of this perfect running path?!?! I ran two miles today and loved  it.

My view this morning.....

I am considering doing two a days a few days a week. We'll see how it turns out. My sister Marin, an amazing athlete, did two a days for awhile. I think she liked them. She did a mix of workouts, so I won't be running in the morning and at night, but mixing it up. Maybe this will help me sleep better.....

This song is one of my new faves. Luuuuuurve it.  This is the song that we cool down and stretch to after RIPPED. Powerful. Motivating. Pure greatness. Enjoy!

Health & Wellness Round 3

We have made it through two cycles of focuses and goals. Two freaking cycles?!?! How did that happen and where did 2013 go?! Needless to say, we are back to mine and Lexi's favorite focus: Health and Wellness! Wahoooooo...wooooookie!

I usually have an easy time figuring out a goal for this focus, but I am kind of struggle-busing it. That's our trademark term ;) Perfect to describe my feelings about this month. Pure unmotivated-can't-think-of-anything -struggle-bus. I think I know the answer to why I am struggling. Leading up to the wedding, we were working out very regularly and eating right. We felt and looked good (at least we thought!) at the wedding. After that, life got busy again. We were well into the sweet swing of summer.....dun dun dun. ....

We got out of shape.

I did more so than Will. Damn you stupid women's metabolism and ability to easy gain weight (excuse, I know. I am good at them)! Ahhh why is it so easy to get out of shape and unhealthy, but sooooooo freaking hard to get into shape and be healthy?! Well, it's time I take this focus seriously and make a change.

When I was young, in my soccer days in high school, I was in the best shape of my life. Oh life was good. Soccer six days a week and two a days. Life was good. I felt awesome. I had a rocking metabolism which was apparent because I ate like crap. Sad day. Disgusting to look back on! yuck!

Back on track....yes, I was in good shape and now I am not. We even started 2013 off really good....I just had to tell my friend Rose that I am too out of shape to do the Columbia Gorge Half Marathon this year. Balls! I had a blast doing that last fall. So fun!

Columbia Gorge Half Marathon Relay, October 2012

Snake River Half Marathon, March 2012

Then it hit us...er hit Will, not me. If he has something to work towards, it motivates him and pushes him. Good for you Will! I think we will try to do the Snake River half marathon again this spring. That will motivate me. I also want to be able to skate like a maniac in hockey this year! I was in good shape for hockey last year.  Next summer you better bet your bottom dollar that I will be in a bikini. Oh yes, this girl will be working it....looking like this possibly:

PS I love Jillian. Like more than a fat kid loves cake. That's a lot. Her videos are AWESOME. She is a tough cookie and great trainer on Biggest Loser. She just freaking rocks and motivates me. I could never really look like that because she is about 5' and I am so not 5', but you get the idea :)

So, here are my September Health & Wellness goals: 

work out four times a week 

eat more fruits and veggies

 I think that's good, right? Oh and drink more water on weekends. 

I have no problem drinking water throughout the work/school week, but weekends it's like it doesn't exist. I drink maybe a bottle and a half compared to my five during the week. 

So there you have it. Even as I look at my goals I think, dang, the last thing I want to do today after a night of restless sleep and insomnia is workout.....BUT I know it will give me energy and hopefully get me energized to get some stuff done tonight. Here's hoping!

Oh I tried this "clean" banana bread recipe. I added some nutmeg and cinnamon (just a bit) and it was awesome! Check it out: Clean Banana Bread