On Election Night: Yoga and Muffins

Tonight, like most of America, I'm on the edge of my seat hoping my chosen candidate and party wins.

Dan, Ingrid, Harper and I walked to the polls first thing this morning where I voted and Dan stood outside corralling the toddler and dog as they waited patiently roamed around aimlessly.

With a hectic workload, I didn't think much about the election until I hit the yoga mat after work and started to have anxious thoughts.

The rest of the class must have felt the same because we were unbalanced, unfocused and a little nuts. About halfway through, the instructor had us pause with namaste hands and let out a sigh.

Instead of an appropriate, normal exhale, all of us let out a dramatic, audible "AHHHHHHH." In response, the instructor and students laughed. And not a little "class laugh" - no, this was a full-on real laugh, that finally broke the tension. From then on, we were able to concentrate, breathe and as cliche as it sounds, get centered.

On the drive home I turned off the radio in hope to continue some version of peace throughout the night. Even if things don't turn out how I'd like - the back-to-back ads, emails and not-stop speculation will all be done tomorrow. I hope the banter on social media doesn't get out control and everyone embraces a sense of civility and humanity with each other.

If that's too much to ask - feel free to whip up a batch of these Cinnamon Donut Muffins.

They'll be sweet in victory or defeat!

After Bedtime

The sweet sound of a quiet house at night. Even sweeter, a house all to myself.

Ingrid is in bed. Harper is sleeping. Dan is at school. A quiet house is oh-so sweet.

Here's what I like to do after the kids go to bed. Or, simply put - here's a list of 21 things you can do when you're board:

1. Mix cocktail. Read magazine. Better yet, change into jammies. 
2. Make tea. Read book. In jammies (similar yet very different from #1). 
3. Watch Boardwalk Empire. Watch Bravo to get over the disturbing scene involving Jimmy's mother. 
4. Work out in your living room. Don't worry, you can do this for about 15 minutes and feel some sense of accomplishment. 
5. Write your mom a card. 
6. Or phone it in and send your mom an e-card.
7. Reserve books at the library.   
8. Paint your nails. 
9. Promise to go to bed earlier, tomorrow. 
10. Google Chat with friends. The best way to catch up! 
11. Wonder how you didn't know about The Land of Nod sooner. 
12. Think of ways to replicate The Land of Nod holiday decor in your living room. 
13. Wonder if anyone else thinks The New Girl is seriously funny. 
14. Make a Cupcake Costume for Ingrid. 
15. Check out The Everygirl.
16. Read The Happiness Project. Nah, just watch Fashion Police instead. 
17. Pin a wonderful recipes like these lovely Doughnut Muffins
18. Learn modern calligraphy.
19. Debate the cost-per-wear of this J.Crew Keeper Chambray shirt. 
20. The cost-per-wear will be low. Order it.  
21. Look at these pictures of Ingrid and marvel over how much she has grown: 

Lesson Learned

Dan and I were both out of the house last week for work and had, max, a few hours to discuss our upcoming camping trip to Wildcat Mountain State Park. Dan etched a veteran's memorial near the park and booked the site last year. Over the phone and by email, we discussed gear, food and drink, but never really talked about our expectations for the weekend. 

After a long four hour drive, we unloaded the gear, set up camp and soon discovered that camping with a one-year-old isn't like camping with a 3 month old. Sure, there were a few sweet moments, like when Ingrid and I watched four caterpillars shuffle around the picnic table. But, as we avoided the windy, chilly weather in our tent and Ingrid became increasingly tired and fussy, it became clear that the weekend would be tolerable at best. 

After four hours at the campsite, we decided to pack it up and head on home, tail between our legs. It was a bummer - we were defeated. 

Maybe if the weather was better, it would have been fine. We both felt like idiots - but lesson learned, camping with a one-year-old isn't fun for anyone.  

As if you need evidence, here I am during a high-point, Ingrid had just fallen asleep and I was "happily" reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Can't you just feel the joy in the air?  

And here's Ingrid after she woke up from her too-short nap. She couldn't stop crawling all over me. She was sort-of happy, sort-of hungry and completely insane. 

On the ride home, we decided to numb our pain with doughnuts and coffee. After missing the exit for Dunkin' Donuts and nearly missing one of the last Kwik Trip exits, Dan sighed "It's just that kind of day." And thankfully, we took it in stride. No one was laughing, but no one was placing blame or bitching (ok, we bitched for about three minutes). 

On Saturday, I woke up to Dan questioning, "Did yesterday even happen?" 

It did and I was over talking about it before the subject even cam up. So I ran, grabbed a kiddie pool at Target and packed a bag for a little picnic and walk around Doctor's Park. 

At least we got some use out of this backpack hiker. 

Ingrid was in love. She stood on the beach and yelled at the waves. She couldn't believe what she was seeing and didn't mind that the water was a little on the cold side. 

However ideal our camping situation could have been, it didn't make sense for Ingrid. Any lingering doubts were washed away as she cautiously wobbled around the beach, mouth open in complete joy. 

She sat here for about two minutes (equal to 30 minutes in adult minutes) gazing out at the waves.

We arrived home to a pseudo-warm kiddie pool and a cooler of mixers. Camping smamping, we had swimsuits, access to ice, iPod speakers and a happy Ingrid. 

I completely understand that camping with a one-year-old sounds insane and dumb. A year ago, it made sense, to us both, to camp with Ingrid. We love the outdoors and wanted to share this experience. Dan wanted to start a family tradition and visit the memorial he created. A year ago, we had no idea what life with a one-year old would look like, feel like or be like. She's in a constant state of transition and exploration. Camping made sense when she was little and unaware. Now, she's aware enough to enjoy crawling caterpillars but not aware enough to understand that we're sleeping together in a tent. Or even to comprehend what a tent is. 

I'm thankful we had two days to turn the weekend around and the time to create new traditions that work with our family, right now. I know there will be plenty of weekends to camp, (and years when Ingrid will think camping is the lamest thing ever) and there will be plenty of visits to the beach - but there's only one first visit to the beach. And that visit was met with screams of delight and wonder, and it was pretty great.  

Accountable.

These mantras make me smirk and I'd like to think they help to give me the motivation to run. The only real mantra that's ever worked for me has been: 

Just Put On Your Shoes and Get Out the Door. 

At 5 (err...6) in the morning, running doesn't sound like fun to me. Sleeping, coffee and donuts sound like fun. But can I just put on shoes and get out the door? Sure. And by the time this happens, running sounds fine and donuts have lost there appeal. And by the time I'm back from a run, donuts sound...ok, donuts still sound good. So what. 

For months, I've struggled with getting into a solid routine and have been putzy with my runs. Why is it so hard to remember that "post workout buzz" when you muster up the mental energy to decide to workout? Why does Storage Wars always win (ugh, I'm so ready for them to replace Dave! Anyone?). 

These sporadic workouts - and the recent discovery of donuts - are making my stack of too-tight jeans start to accumulate dust. I'm so over it.  

Then, a few weeks ago Dan started to run. Granted, we can't run together, but we have a nice little schedule worked out and it's nice to know that for two mornings a week, I'm running. And two mornings a week, he's running. And on the weekends we're running. We don't have to juggle a schedule or talk about Ingrid's naps - we just get up and go. 

This seemingly simple schedule has helped me tremendously and I'm now able to focus and feel somewhat accountable - even though during my runs Dan's sleeping or taking care of Happy Morning Baby Ingrid. Which, if you're wondering, looks like this: 

We even signed up for a race later this month with some friends. I'm sure I'll come in dead last in the group, but I don't care, because I already have more energy and more willpower against donuts, party coffee and late night frozen yogurts. 

What about you - how do you stay consistent in your workout routine?