I have been most inspired by other writers that simply keep it real. They don’t try to color their lives as perfect parents with perfect children, filled with craft-a-days (although I do love some crafting, if I could ever find the time) and giveaways.( Don’t get me wrong, I also love a good giveaway and if the opportunity presents itself and the fit is right, I will share.) However, I don’t have the time to solicit to every company out there that has caught on to the blog marketing trend and try to sell myself as their demographic.  In fact, I have found I rarely read those blogs anymore.

I don’t find myself inspired by the pictures of perfection but more by the revelations of imperfections and the assurance I am not alone in my daily struggle to fix mistakes and be a better person. (Hmmmmmm, maybe this is why reality TV is so popular and I find myself slightly obsessed with The “Real Housewives” franchise? Hello crazies!)

In the Spirit of Keeping It Real: The water table that I got my kiddos thinking it was such a grand idea for the spring/summmer...until I told my two-year-old he couldn't swim in it.

I am more intrigued by the moms who share their experience with embarrassing toddler tantrums and neck cheese (read the link if you don’t know what I I‘m talking about – so worth it). I aspire to use my love of writing to be real. I think that’s how I started and I hope to pick back up there again.

So there you have it, this is the re-beginning, if you will. I am thankful you are here and encourage your honesty, suggestions, and critique.  Keep it real, right?

Since Mama On the Run’s conception, I also welcomed Baby Girl #2 into the world (she was my little training surprise during that first half-marathon) and her first birthday is right around the corner {holding back tears}.  Shortly after her birth, I was inspired to open a Baby Boot Camp franchise in my area (more on that in posts to come), and was hired on as a celebrity blogger for Skinny Mom (such a fun gig).  I am still holding down my career as a college instructor teaching between 3-5  courses at a time online for several universities. Yes, I have always been accused of being a person with too much on her plate, but the truth is I thrive on staying busy and always defining and striving for new goals.  MOST important, I am able to do all of this while being at home and the primary caregiver to my children.  Don’t get me wrong – it’s NOT easy (the balance is actually hard as heck, sometimes overwhelming, and I think my husband may have me on the wait list for the local psychiatric hospital, at times).  This paragraph is not to toot my horn about what I am doing –  it is simply way for me to give as many excuses as I can a little justification as to why I put Mama On The Run on hold for a bit.

With that, I am now ready to jump back in and get my bloggy shoes wet again. I have some specific goals for this blog, but more on that later (I am getting a bit long-winded here already). Stay tuned!

If this post is still showing up in your newsfeed, google reader, or other blog alert – Bless you! I know it has been a while (okay, approximately 13 months to be exact) and I am very excited to announce that Mama On The Run is coming back and I have so much to share, confess, offer, and catch up on (like what have you been up to??) Look for new posts beginning in February and in the meantime, follow my guilty pleasure blog posts over at skinnymom.com! Can’t wait to catch up with all my mamas!

Less than 40 hours to go and I can hardly stand it! Boy or Girl? Is my prediction right? Hurry up, Christmas!

I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas and ironically I am a mother waiting to see the gender of her kid! Hmmmmmm. I am ready to tear this envelope open and let the planning process begin. I need strength!

Congratulations to Claire! She is the winner of the Sparkling Herbal Water Sampler pack according to the selection from random.org.

For everyone else who still wants to try the New Sparkling Herbal Water, I have a great special offer to share with you. Now through January 3, 2011 you can receive $12 off for every three cases of Herbal Water you purchase (one case just needs to be Sparkling Herbal Water). Simply use the coupon code HOLIDAY2010 at checkout. Also, check out these great cocktail recipes (zero-calorie cocktail mixers) that Prevention Magazine featured. What a great guilt-free way to indulge in a fun cocktail and unwind from the recent holiday hustle. Enjoy!

Please stay tuned for upcoming giveaways!

We came to a reasonable (and much more realistic compromise). My doctor will find out on Thursday if I get to utilize all of the blue I already have and curse my second child to a life of hand-me-downs or go completely bankrupt purchasing frilly tutus and hair bows (many of which I have been so tempted over the last year to make the little monkey try on just because they are so darn darling).  We will have the doctor write down the gender in a sealed envelope and then open it up together as a family on Christmas morning.

Now, the tough part – maintaining self-control for an entire 48 hours and not tearing into that envelope. Or worse, holding the envelope under steam and carefully lifting the seal, sneaking a peek, and then closing it back up and poker-facing my excitement after I secretly learn what I will call the little “bean” in my belly moving forward (don’t think I have thought much about this, do you?).

Now, the countdown begins. Oh, and my prediction – another boy. Of course, either way I will be no less happy and continue to count my blessings that our family continues to grow and I continue to learn and appreciate the true meaning of my life.

I’ll keep you posted!

If you followed my last blog, then you know I am a huge fan of Herbal Water. The refreshing, all-natural, flavor infused waters are an excellent healthy alternative to sugary juices and plain, bland water. In my half-marathon training water was my staple beverage and finding Herbal Water was a huge treat without being a cheat. With zero artificial sweeteners. zero preservatives, and no additives – Herbal Water can tout (and I agree) that ‘Zero is good.”

And now the folks at Herbal Water have done it again. In my time of need they have introduced a refreshing new beverage to their product line – Sparkling Herbal Water.  Having a one-year-old who I nursed for six months and then becoming pregnant with my second little bean when he was only 10 months old, I can safely say I have missed a certain sparkly beverage often used to celebrate memorable occasions for quite a while now. For that reason, I have been indulging in the sparkling juice beverages you find at your local supermarket in the juice aisle as my substitute. I also turned to this sparkly juice for a soda alternative when I needed a bubbly kick.  Let’s face it though - these sparkling juices are packed with sugar and not a guilt-free indulgence. Well, guilt be gone! Sparkling Herbal Water came to the rescue and I knew the moment the beautiful frosted bottles appeared on my doorstep I had found a new uplifting beverage of choice. After I chilled the bottles and had the opportunity to taste each of the three, I was not disappointed. They have the same naturally infused flavors of the original Herbal Waters with an effervescence refreshing appeal that easily wiped away my cravings for soda and cocktail alternatives. Lemongrass Mint Vanilla was hands-down my favorite. I need a glass of this every night (seriously). The mint vanilla taste is light and flavorful in your mouth and leaves just a hint of the citrus essence on your pallet. A genius combination!  Sparkling Herbal Water is also a great idea for your holiday parties.  After all, you don’t forget to take care of the non-alcoholic preggos like me and all the responsible drivers out there (big smile).

The great individuals at Herbal Water are also offering YOU an opportunity to win a 3-bottle 25 oz. (full-size) sampler pack of Sparkling Herbal Water. Here’s how to win:

Check out the Herbal Water website and leave me a comment here letting me know which flavor of Sparkling Herbal Water you think you would like best.

For additional entries, you can do the following (just leave a separate comment for each). If you post a comment as anonymous, don’t forget to leave your email address:

1. Become a follower of Mama On The Run (or leave a comment if you already are).

2. ”Like” Mama On The Run on Facebook.

3. “Follow” Mama On The Run on Twitter.

4. Tweet or status update on Facebook this giveaway link (don’t forget to leave link in your comment).

Winner will be announced one week from now on Thursday, December 23 (what a nice Christmas present!).

Good Luck!

The Fine Print: Contest is open to those in the lower 48 states with a valid shipping address. No PO Boxes or APOS. I was provided with a 3-bottle sampler pack of Sparkling Herbal Water for sampling and review but my opinions are my own. Winner will be chosen at random in one week and contacted via email.

This year I have a growing number of little ones on my list to buy for, including my own little man. I am at that stage in life where many friends (and family, for that matter) have little tikes that I always want to get a little something for this time of year. Not to mention, my own little guy. At 13 months, I know he could really care less about how many presents are under the tree. He also certainly does not lack any toys or necessities. It’s not him I’m buying for, it’s me. I can’t stand the thought of not having a few things wrapped up from Santa for his second Christmas. (Now, he was six weeks old last Christmas and in my post-partum new mommy fog, I had NO problem having a lack of presents then. This year is different.) After some perusing of good old cyber space I decided to list with some great finds for the little ones in your life….all under $20 (and note: there are no stuffed animals on this list {smile}).

FOR THE NEWBIES: 

Polka Dot Kitty Co.

Matching Personalized Bib and Burp Cloth $18

I recently used Polka Dot Kitty to purchase a similar personalized bib and burp cloth for a friend of ours who welcomed a baby boy. They visited just last week and she was using the cloth during their visit. I love giving (and getting) personalized gifts and this set is affordable and adorable for only $18.

Teething Bling

Let’s face it, when we give gifts to the itty-bitty ones in our life, we are actually giving a gift to the mamas too. I have this turquoise donut necklace from Teething Bling, Smart Mom Jewelry,and both me and the little monkey are big fans. It’s made from completely safe materials and my little guy loves gnawing on the rubbery texture. I had it hanging on my bedroom door the other day and caught him standing at the door just a chewin’ away. There are many colors to choose from (some on sale right now) and matching bangles are also available. The team that thought up this seriously are some smart moms!

Tweet Baby Designs

Fabric and Wood Chomping Necklace $15.00

 Chances are, if you are a mom then you have discovered the fanciful world of Etsy. With handcrafted goodies, unique trinkets, and personalized textiles galore – how can you resist this magical land of discovery? It’s like visiting the biggest and MOST talented craft fair you have ever imagined. I LOVE this Fabric and Wood chomping necklace. It is so not obviously a teething necklace, but rather a chic piece of jewelry with double-duty purpose.  Check out all of the design options Tweet Baby Designs offers for this one-of-a-kind find!

 

 

 

FOR THE PLAYFUL

Genius Babies

Jester Jack In The Box $16.95

I can just picture the glee on my little guy’s face with playing with this classic vintage-style jester jack-in-the box from Genius Babies. Although it is one of those toys I see winding up and popping over and over – it also seems to be one that worth the smiles. Genius Babies has an entire category of gifts under $20 – be sure to check them all out here. There are some great finds!

Chloe’s Couture

Shabby Chic Wooden Personalized Blocks $3.50 each

I just adore the idea of giving these shabby chic personalized wooden blocks to someone as gift. They are another Etsy artist find and they couldn’t be more darling. Each block is carefully sanded with no sharp edges. They would also make precious shelf decor when not in use. Each block is $3.50 so depending on the length of the child’s name, you could easily come in under $20. Think ”Gavin” would be  $17.50. Chloe’s Couture also makes various other styles appropriate for girls and boys too – like Vintage Cowboy. Love it!

Amazon 

Baby's First Photo Album for Family & Friends $14.95

This is a must-do on my list this year. I have been planning to get some get some type of family album together for my little g y and I love this one.It’s never too early to start familiarizing them with the faces of special friends and family…and soon it will be time to learn names. I have this fantasy of my little guy surprising his grandmother that doesn’t live nearby by surprising her during a visit one day and blurting out “Nana!” I think it’s great gift idea for any family member to get started for a little one in their life and then leave a few pages open for the parents to fill.

 

FOR THE CREATIVE-MINDED

What older toddler doesn’t love to color? Simply giving a child a basic box of crayons can be a mundane gift. However, pair the following gifts from unique Etsy sellers up with a few coloring books or a pad of colorful paper and you have a fabulous unique gift for the future Picasso in your life.

Cio Prints

Personalized Crayon Box $3.50

From superhero to princess – Cio Prints offers a variety of ways to customize your own personalized crayon boxto perfectly fit the personality of the little artist on your list. You can choose the color, font, and theme and even the crayon wrappers will sport the  same theme! Pair this with a couple of coordinated themed coloring books and I think you might have a delighted little tot on your hands.

 ZeeBree

Name in Recyled Crayons (7 Letters) $6.00

Personalized and eco-friendly, ZeeBree has made fulfilling each of these traits a conch. These  recycled crayon letters are a great way to practice the alphabet and spelling their name. Best of all they are completely functional crayons. I think this gift could easily be wrapped in tissue paper or cellophane with  some pretty ribbon to be given alone if you just need a little trinket for a neighbor friend or your postman’s little one. You can also customize the number of letters to be more or less (each letter is .75)

Iguesssew

2D Zoo Crayon Roll

I love the bold colors and modern designs that Etsy seller, Iguesssew, uses in her patters for these adorable and functional crayon wraps. This wrap holds sixteen crayons and has a coordinating ribbon tie that allows the roll to securely wrap and be thrown in a diaper bag or backpack.  Pair this with some colorful art paper and I think it’s a terrific quick-and-easy gift or stocking stuffer.

And there you have it! My picks for tots under $20. Hope this helps shave a little time off your shopping trips and spurs some creative ideas for the little tikes on your list this year. Each gift would also be a splendid birthday, shower, or just because present for future gift-giving needs.

 

 

The Fine Print: I have not been compensated or persuaded in any way by any of the above manufacturers, sellers, or brands. These all just happen to be products I have used and like or products I would like to use (smile).

Alright, now for the confession. Between my monkey’s first birthday, the half-marathon, Thanksgiving, and preparing for some holiday time off of work – I have not yet sent out (okay, even ordered) Christmas cards. Last year I was fortunate enough to utilize a professional photographer who had just taken  baby boy’s newborn photos, but this year I realizedthat I can do this myself. That realization came when I received this beautiful Christmas card from a dear friend of mine (and fellow mommy-to-be of two. Isn’t she radiant?) who used Shutterfly to design her lovely cards.

(I might also add that she is always on time and ahead of schedule, and was among the first batch of holiday cards in my mailbox yesterday reminding me of my slacker status.) Being there are twenty days left until the holiday, I suppose it is time to hop on the holiday card bandwagon and get this project done. Thank goodness for Shutterfly! They have offered a number of pre-selected bloggers 50 free photo cards. Amen! I have been a big fan of Shutterfly for gifts and photo printing for some time now. I designed this collage photo paster for monkey’s first birthday last month using Shutterfly. I framed it for the party and used it as decor and am now storing it as a keepsake. (His name was at the bottom, hence, the white out {smile}.)  I also have a goal for 2011 to take LOTS of pictures at family events throughout the year and design individualized photo calendars for family to give as Christmas gifts next year (I actually had this goal this year, but…).

Now, the difficult part – choosing which style. I am crazy about the chic square stationary cards and loving some of the toile designs offered. For the last few years I have steered away from the traditional red and green in my Christmas decor and instead used silver and turquoises.  For this reason I was thrilled to see that Shutterfly has some fantastic modern design options . You can even search the options by color (love that!). Alright, that’s it – I’m motivated to get this project cracking. I’ll keep you posted on the final decision.

Have you already sent out your holiday cards? (Don’t make me feel too bad.)

I couldn’t think of a better way to start this new blog site than to post a summary of my final goal that I started some 200 days ago (and the inspiration for MamaOnTheRun.com) Wow, what can happen in 200 days is amazing – but more on that later. Let’s talk race day!

I headed down to St. Petersburg for the half-marathon a day before the race and while it was quite a challenging day (think 7 hours in the car with a one-year-old) full of nerves, doubt, and excitement, I felt the adrenaline beginning to build just as soon as we turned the corner into our hotel parking lot. The entire area was sprinkled with groups of women wandering the streets between the expo, which was just a few blocks away, and the neighboring hotels. Some of the women sported shirts donning their race intentions, but even those women in regular street clothes were easily exposed as race day participants simply by the pride in their face. There were groups of friends, mother-daughter pairs, and women surrounded by their families. It was truly such a moving moment seeing all of these strong women surrounded by support and encouragement.

Speaking of pride and encouragement, the next morning I woke up obnoxiously early and wandered out alone, letting the Hubs and the little monkey sleep in a bit, in order to be sure I could find myself a plentiful breakfast. We all know a runner needs fuel, and being a pregnant woman on top of this I was convinced I needed a breakfast buffet to adequately prepare. I settled for some oatmeal w/nuts, sliced fruit, and 1/2 a bagel from Starbucks. (Turns out no local buffets are open at 5 AM.) Much to my surprise, when I returned to our room I found my husband and son wearing matching MamaOnTheRun.com t-shirts that my sweet hubs secretly had made in support of my big day. Yes, insert a choked up moment here. Hey, consider my nerves and hormones at this particular point in time. Feel me?

The time came to head down to the start line and me and my crew followed the swarms of women with the same intent. By this time, I struggled to decipher if my sudden onset of nausea was due to the routine morning sickness I was still dealing with at fifteen weeks pregnant or overwhelming nerves at the recurring thought of being carried off the race route on a stretcher with an oxygen mask after an embarrassing mama splat! It was still dark outside when we were all corralled into our starting positions (think 6,000+ runners). There was a morning chill in the air and while it excelled my already chattering teeth, I was grateful for the cool start. I kissed my support team good-bye and began to truly focus on the individual goal at hand. I knew that I had discussed with the doctor walking if I needed too and I had come to terms that my last month and a half of training had died a slow death due to my overwhelming sickness brought on by the surprise pregnancy, but I found myself wanting to run the entire race now, more than ever. To be surrounded by so many strong women of all shapes, sizes, and levels of health (there was nothing more moving than seeing the women who had obviously just overcome, or were in the midst of, chemotherapy preparing to take on 13.1 miles) was more motivating than anything I have encountered during my journey to this destination.

And there it was, the shotgun start. The cattle drive began to move forward and just as I crossed the start line I began my slow trot which was the beginning of this final chapter in my beautiful adventure. My pace was not fast and certainly slower than the original pace goals I had set many months ago, but it was comfortable and enjoyable. I just kept giving thanks for the opportunity to be in this very moment. The St. Pete scenery was refreshing. During the first mile alone we ran along the bay front and enjoyed the sunrise. Mile 1 felt like a breeze. Yes, there were plenty of people passing me and providing an extra breeze, but I felt good internally and my nerves were beginning to quickly fade. It was during Mile 2 that I felt a tap on my shoulder and had one of the sweetest encounters of the race. As I pulled out my blaring ear buds and we continued to trot, Lauren introduced herself (Hi Lauren!) and told me she had been following my blog. She saw my t-shirt and I was so excited that she took the time to introduce herself and say hello. She shared some relatable running experiences and we chatted for a few minutes as we ran.

I ended up bypassing the first drink stop because I know from my previous 5ks that I am simply not coordinated enough to swig my water, keep running, and toss the cup like I often enviously see other athletes do without stumbling, and therefore, increasing my chances of making that stretcher fear a reality. However, at mile 3.5 I decided I need not press my luck of becoming the dehydrated preggo (again, insert stretcher fear here) so I slowed to a fast walk and chugged some water before quickly resuming my trot.  I have to say that miles 4-6 went by rather quickly. I was, of course, encouraged by my friends Madonna, Fergie, Lenny, Justin, N.E.R.D, and others who were chanting in my ear, but I was also entertained by the live bands randomly sprinkled on corners throughout the race course. I always took out my ear buds and listened as I ran past them thinking to myself, ‘Take in every moment. Savor every moment.’

Mile 7 and 8 took me on the pier in St.Pete and around their aquarium located on the end of the pier. This was also my first generous walk break where I probably walked for about 1/2 a mile. It was actually unintentional. I honestly wasn’t thinking about stopping, but suddenly my body just did. So I listened and simply breathed in the crisp air, again taking the opportunity to savor the moment and regain some strength before begnning to resume my (slow) trot. Mile 8 was also where I tried my first energy gel. Blech! Not for me. Pass me the energy jelly beans, please. I had stashed a granola bar in my ifitness belt and I scarfed half of it down at this point.

Everything still felt pretty good until approximately mile 10. This is where I believe my body came to the realization that it was about to tackle more miles than ever before and it questioned my sanity and threatened my intentions. When I saw the timer at mile 10 I realized that I could potentially come in under three hours if I continued to run and didn’t take any more walk breaks. I considered the opportunity. Then, I saw a reminder to listen to my body and realize this was not the same race I was training for a few months before. That reminder came in the form of a young lady stretched out on the sidewalk with an IV fluid drip being held up by a local paramedic and surrounded by fellow runners obviously extremely concerned about her well being. I was glad she was being taken care of but also reminded that I was responsible for another being’s health and I remembered that my main goal was simply to finish. I continued to jog, until Mille 11 when we entered the local baseball stadium to run a lap inside. There was something about being indoors that told my body to take another break. I listened and walked  inside the stadium (except for when I saw the photographer sitting to the side taking pics as we passed by. I picked up the pace and flashed a smile momentarily before finishing out my break).

I resumed my jog for the last couple of miles fueled by the excitement that I was so close to finishing (and in a bit of numbing shock that I knew I actually was going to cross that finish line). I listened to no music during these last couple of miles and simply took it all in. There was so much sideline support from people cheering on loved ones. They were all generous with their support too, throwing out “Go, Andrea” and “Your almost there, Andrea” chants thanks to the personalized race bibs we wore. I was moved by the signs that I saw sweet kiddos holding high that read things like, “Go, Mommy” and “We have the strongest mom ever.” The finish line became visible and I felt no pain and no struggle. My body was simply moving and my mind was slowly filling with jubilation and pride. It was just as I was about to cross the finish line and saw the Hubs and my baby boy standing there that the tears began to well up and I felt an overwhelming sense of emotions. In that moment, I was reminded why I was doing this. I thought about how one year ago that little face served as my inspration to take on this challenge. I thought about the challenges over the last year. The obstacles, the blessings, the lessons. It all flooded my brain. Above all, I was filled with joy. I was undoubtedly blessed. I finished. (Time was 3:02:44, in case you are wondering.)

 ”The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” -John Bingham