A vacation alone

Have you ever taken a vacation alone?

Over the years, my answer to this question has changed. As a kid - no way. As a teenager and college student - hell yes. As a wife and mother - why would I?

Last year, I took a vacation alone. I went surfing for a week in Costa Rica. When I decided to go, I didn't really think much about the fact that I would be traveling by myself. I craved the time alone but I was returning to a familiar place with familiar faces. I was returning to surf camp. En route to Costa Rica, it dawned on me that this was my first solo vacation. I assumed that I must have traveled alone in my college or post-college days but I never did.

I needed the time away from home and for myself. I have learned that I definitely have to carve out "me" time in order to recharge, and I fiercely protect this time. There are so many demands on my time and attention and so many people that I want to care for and support that it can become overwhelming. I am the first to admit that sometimes I need a break from parenthood, work and life. Having this time alone to take care of myself lets me regroup and reset so that I can (hopefully) be a better wife/mom/friend. 

So have you or would you take a vacation by yourself?

{Linking up with Pour Your Heart Out at Things I Can't Say}

Scenes from my weekend - Birthday

View from Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park

Yoga (1991) by Mark di Suvero

Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture

I've never really been a big birthday person. Maybe it's because my birthday is in the summer and, with most friends away or at camp during the summer, I never really had big birthday celebrations (I don't think?). So, it suited me just fine that my birthday on Saturday was like any other day - swim and gym class with one son and a day at the park with the family. We headed over to Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park - the gorgeous park that starts at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge and wraps it's way around the Brooklyn waterfront. The sculpture in the picture above is by Mark di Suvero and is a 30-foot tall kinetic sculpture installed in partnership with Storm King Art Center. The large I-bean, which is bent into a U-shape, rocks and pivots along the pole and create different shadows and perspectives depending on its position.

On Sunday, we took a drive up to Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture near Tarrytown, about 45 minutes outside of the city. It's a nonprofit farm and education center and operates a 80-acre four-season farm. It runs a number of education programs for children and families but also trains farmers (particularly young farmers) in resilient farming techniques. We've visited with the kids a few times before but I think that this is the first time that they were truly interested in seeing how the farm actually works. We explored the vegetable gardens and greenhouses, visited with the chickens, pigs, sheep, cows and turkeys, and had a picnic in the grass. It's a pretty cool place and I really admire the work that they are doing on broader initiatives to create a healthy and sustainable food system.

The Weekly Chase
Last week, I joined my friend Melissa from Live, Love, & Run in The Weekly Chase - a new project that Melissa is starting to connect bloggers with other bloggers to support each other up as we chase down goals that we want to accomplish for the week. It's super simple to join up. Just head over to Melissa's blog, grab a badge and declare your goals!



I accomplished 2 of my 3 goals for last week.
1. Green Smoothie Challenge: I completed the green smoothie challenge. I'll have more on green smoothies later this week. Thanks Amanda for putting me up to the challenge. I think that I've found a new love.
2. Swim once during the week: This almost didn't happen. For me, one of the hardest things about swimming is actually getting to the pool during lap swim hours which are typically early in the morning or in the evening. I committed to swimming early Thursday morning, but when I arrived at the pool, the pool was closed because the chlorine levels were too high. WHAT??!
What a little extra chlorine?? Luckily, the NYC public pools opened this week and we planned on taking the boys after camp on Friday. So, Ed was kind enough to hang out with the boys while I swam laps. I only swam half an hour and didn't feel great. A combination of being tired, dehydrated and out of swimming shape. But it was good to be back in the pool. 
3. Physical Therapy exercises: I did my exercises 4 out of 7 days - far from every day, which is what I was aiming for. Not good. Frankly, I forget about them. But, I know that I need to keep doing them. As my doctor said to me last week, I still have a long way to go in order to get back to where I started from.
My goals for this week are pretty similar to last week.

1. Swim 1-2 times this week.
2. Go to bed before midnight.
3. Cook a real dinner at least 2 nights this week.
4. Do physical therapy exercises every.single.day + plank

Did you accomplish your goals last week? What are your goals for the week? How do you celebrate your birthday? Did you have a good weekend?

Fitness Daydreams

I admit. I've been daydreaming again. I think for two reasons. First, I'm ridiculously swamped with work and really would rather do anything except analyze metrics or write/edit documents. Second, I reallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreally want to run-surf-spin-workout-doanything and just MOVE!! Sorry about that. 

While I was all happy and hopeful a month ago about how my knee was recovering, my doctor seems to have other plans for me. While my physical and therapist and I were getting ready for me to try running at 8-weeks post-surgery, my doctor wants me to hold off until 5 months post-surgery. 5 MONTHS = END OF AUGUST!! 

I know that this is probably the smartest thing for me to do, especially since my surgery was a revision of a previous reconstruction which means that it often takes longer to heal and regain strength and function. But it doesn't necessarily mean that I like the idea.

Yes, I'm annoyed but I'm trying not to think about it (so much). I'm trying to focus on other things that I can do to be active (which I haven't been so successful at lately - see Reason 1 above). That leaves daydreaming. While I've never had a bucket list before, I started creating a Fitness Bucket List pinboard on Pinterest. At first, I had a hard time coming up with things that I wanted to do, aside from getting barreled on a wave and running a sub-2 hour half marathon. 

But then I started thinking a little harder. There are so many things that I still want to be able to experience. Yes, I want to conquer side crane pose and handstands in yoga. Yes, I want to try stand-up paddleboarding, Crossfit and heli-skiing. I even started imagining things like completing yoga teacher training and meeting and watching...er...swimming with Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. (It's a bucket list people!)

It's been a great distraction but most importantly, it's reminded me to dream. I realize that it's going to be a long road back, longer than I bargained for. But, I also know that there's a lot left that I want to conquer. I'm not ready to pack up my gym clothes just yet.

Do you have a fitness bucket list? What are some of the things that you dream of doing but haven't gotten around to yet? If you have a fitness bucket list pinboard on Pinterest, please link it up below! I'd love to see it. And come check out the rest of my fitness bucket list!

One Lovely Blog Award

One of the things that has continued to amaze me is the incredible people that I have had the opportunity to get to know through blogging and how supportive the blogging community truly is. I had heard "things" about the blogging community and how people come together and support each other but I didn't believe it. Well, the past six months or so has proved me wrong.

Last week, I found out that Lisa at Run Wiki passed on to me the One Lovely Blog award. This also reminded me that Michelle at Rage Your Way Thin passed on the Liebster Award to me way back in April! I can't believe that it's taken me so long to pay it forward! I'm honored. I hope it's OK with you but I'm cheating a little and combining the two awards. Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who awarded the award and link back to their blogs: Thank you Lisa and Michelle!

2. Tell 5-7 random things about yourself that no one knows.

3. Pass on the award to up to 15 blogs you follow and like/admire/wish they were yours (One Lovely Blog Award) or 5 up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers to award the Liebster to.

4. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blog/tweet so they know about the award.

So, in addition to my 11 random things and my 10 summer memories, here are 5 more random things about me. Geez, I think that you guys know just about everything at this point!

• I speak and understand enough Chinese, Spanish, Italian and Polish to get by in a pinch when traveling in those countries.
• Despite having braces twice (Yes, twice) I still have crooked teeth. Don't get my Mom started on that one.
• I had a perm when I was about 8 years old. I looked like an old Chinese lady.
• I'm quite sentimental and, as a result, tend to be a pack rat. I have a hard time parting with clothes, books, knick knacks, etc. I have a box of old letters and journals that really just should be thrown away or burned.
• As we were leaving for our honeymoon, my husband got a call informing us that the bed & breakfast we planned on staying in had burned down. Luckily, at least we weren't planning on staying there until about 3-4 days into our trip. 

I'd like to pass the award on to these lovely blogs but there are so many blogs out there that I really enjoy reading. Go check them out! I promise you won't be disappointed.

The Preppy Girl in Pink

Determined. To Be...

EatDrinkBreatheSweat

The Fierce Diva Guide to Life

Happy Fit Mama

Oatmeal in my Bowl

Live Run Love Yoga

Summer Memories

How is it June already? I don't really know where the year has gone. I feel like I say this every year but every year, I seem to find myself thinking the same thing - it's summer already?!?!

I think that I feel most like a parent when it comes to summertime. It's funny to think back on my memories of summer and to see the shift from enjoying carefree summer days to being responsible for planning those carefree summer days for my little people.

Summer is definitely on my mind and I wanted to share some of my favorite memories.

1. Summers = pool. Growing up, we had a pool in the backyard and I pretty much spent every day swimming in the pool with my brother and sister. That Wonder Woman bathing suit? I LOVED it. That bowl cut? Not so much. The funny thing is that every summer I would "forget" how to swim and my Dad would have to teach me all over again.

2. Snake. One time, I remember running up from the pool to find my Mom because my swimmies/arm floats needed some air. As I got to the deck, she was coming out of the sliding door with a bowl of watermelon. As she stepped on the door mat, a snake slithered out from underneath. I turned right around and ran back to the pool.

3. Watermelon. Summer was all about watermelon. It still is. I've been known to hoard watermelon. Now, I have to share since my oldest son also loves it too.

4. Summer in Montana. I spent a month during the summer after Junior year in high school building a playground on the Northern Cheyenne reservation. It was also the first time I went backpacking, spending three days in the Bighorn National Forest. I formed some amazing friendships that summer.

5. Day trip to the Grand Canyon. Sometime during my freshman year in college, I became obsessed with the idea of visiting the Grand Canyon. That summer, I took a rode trip with two of my friends. We drove straight through from the Bay Area. We spent the night, hiked the next morning and then drove home.

6. Summer in Paraguay. I spent a summer in college working on a public health project in rural Paraguay. I credit that summer for changing my mind about going to Med School. However, the hardest part was that I was vegetarian at the time and in Paraguay, beef is a staple. There was meat at every meal, culminating in a huge asado dinner every Sunday.

7. Summer before graduate school. Ed and I traveled in Europe for three weeks and visited his family in Poland where I was forced to drink more vodka than I thought was humanly possible, all starting at 10am.

8. Running through Europe.  That same summer, Ed and I were training for our first marathon - the Chicago Marathon. We ran our way through Warsaw, Krakow, Vienna, Venice, and Florence. It was an incredible way to see the different cities, early in the morning and away from all the tourists.

9. Cousins. I have a lot of cousins. Growing up, I spent a lot of time with them. I feel badly that my kids don't get to spend as much time with their cousins since most of them live in California. However, last summer, for my Mom's 70th birthday, we all went on a cruise together. While it was mass chaos for a week, the kids had such a great time hanging out together and playing. I can't wait to watch their relationships continue to grow as they do.

10. Summer with the boys. Since the boys were born, our summers have focused on spending quality time together as a family. We try to spend a week or two outside of NYC so that the boys have a chance to run around in the woods and breath fresh air.

Tell me, what do you associate summer with? What are some of your favorite summer memories? Do you hoard watermelon like I do?

{Linking up with Stasha and Monday Listicles}

Why I should write for YOUR magazine

As you know, I've been recently named a Fitfluential Ambassador. Fitfluential is starting to partner with some healthy living and fitness publications and I have the opportunity to "audition" to write or do video posts for these digital publications. While I can't share any names yet, they'd like to see what I'm all about and if their readers would like to read what I have to say. 

I love writing and I love sharing my passion for healthy living and fitness. The opportunity to be a contributing writer for such a magazine would be a dream. Healthy living magazines have been my constant companion for well over 20 years and have played a huge role in nurturing my love for all things health and fitness and also in encouraging me to try new things.

While I've been active my whole life and grew up playing sports, I never have considered myself an athlete and I would have never imagined that health and fitness would play such a prominent role in my life. I was not the fastest runner or highest scorer but I was a dependable team player. Sports were something that I was required to do in high school but never something I was passionate about. 

Once I entered college, I started going to the gym by myself, mainly sticking with cardio machines like the stair master or treadmill because I wanted to stay active but more likely because I was dealing with a bout of disordered eating. That's when I first started subscribing to fitness magazines. I was drawn to the healthy eating and strength training tips as well as the stories about real women and how fitness transformed their lives. Through reading these magazines, I learned to appreciate and respect my body and arm myself with the tools I needed to take better care of myself physically, mentally and emotionally.

Looking at myself and my life today, I do consider myself an athlete. Health and fitness are a core part of who I am as a woman, wife and mother. I run, swim, ski, spin, and yoga. I've run 3 marathons and completed an olympic triathlon. I developed a love for TRX and am longing to try new activities such as CrossFit and Kettlebells. Being fit keeps me healthy and sane. Being fit not only helps me build physical strength but also mental strength to handle whatever challenges life throws at me.

While you may not see workout plans or recipes on this blog, you will witness my adventures through life. My readers come back to my blog for the stories that I share, my experiences as a mom of two young boys who is trying to balance working at home, fitness, family and healthy living, and the lessons that I've learned through these experiences. I share the challenges I encounter, my successes and setback as well as how I choose to handle these situations in a real and honest way. In this past year, I've taken several leaps of faith and have made a commitment to live more intentionally and gratefully.

More specifically, readers come to read about my quest to learn to surf. After learning to surf last year and falling head over heels in love with the sport, I couldn't find many surf-related resources online that I could relate to. Most of the information out there assumed a certain level of knowledge and/or experience and didn't address the basic questions or trials and tribulations of a beginner surfer. Surfing is growing in popularity and there are more and more beginners out there thirsty for information.

I've discovered that I have the ability to connect with, support and encourage others in their journey. Over the past three months alone, the number of visitors to my blog has tripled, my page views have nearly tripled and my Twitter followers have increased five-fold. That shows me that the stories I share resonate with a growing audience. I would love nothing more than to be able to empower others in their healthy living journey.

Tell me, why do you like reading my blog? What do you think I'd be good at? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!!

Almost What Not to Wear

I don't know about you, but I have a closet full of clothes I don't wear. I've fallen into the "Mommy wardrobe" trap. The one where you only where yoga pants and other comfy clothes with elastic waistbands? Yeah, that. I don't necessarily want to wear nice clothes when I run after my kids or am playing with them on the floor. Plus, I work from home, leaving me with even less incentive to dress nicely.

I've always kind of wanted to go on the show What Not to Wear not only to meet Stacy and Clinton and leave with a smashing wardrobe, but to learn tips and tricks on how to make the most of the clothes that I have. Earlier this week, I had the chance to do that...sort of.

While I didn't get to learn from Stacy and Clinton in person, I got as close as I could get. I participated in a Style for Hire seminar. Style for Hire is a new company founded by Stacy London. The premise is that stylists should be accessible to more people, not just celebrities or the wealthy. It's a network of personal stylists across the country who are hand-picked by Stacy and can help you purge your closet, figure out new looks that flatter your frame and figure, and go on a personal shopping trek to help you fill in the gaps in your wardrobe.

For the seminar, I was a volunteer "client," meaning that I dragged my wardrobe (most of it) to a hotel in Manhattan to let a group of stylists pick through it, help me figure out what works and what doesn't, and help me shop my own closet to find new ways to put together outfits. Yes, in case you were wondering, I did leave my workout and shlubby clothes at home.

I know that it still sounds fairly frivolous - the whole notion of personal stylists. But what I admire about the company is that it's trying to help clients (primarily women) learn to embrace and love their bodies no matter what shape or size. So much of our self-esteem is caught up in our own image of our bodies and is often reflected in how we dress. By showing folks how to dress, what works and how you can create new combinations from clothes you already own, it's empowering.

I had a ton of fun and walked out with some great ideas and tips. While I may still be wearing yoga pants as I write this (come on! I just had physical therapy!!), I feel like I have a lot more options when I look at my closet in the morning.

Under Armour Women - What's Beautiful

Recently, Under Armour Women launched What's Beautiful - a competition to redefine the female athlete and, in the process, find new faces to represent Under Armour Women. When I first saw this competition, I loved it and the premise behind it. Declare a goal, prove how badly you want it and show how it's done by completing 19 challenges. Along the way, rework the traditional conceptions of beauty.

I hemmed and hawed about entering the competition mainly because I wasn't sure what concrete goal I could declare for myself given my knee. Honestly, I don't know where I will be in my recovery 2 months from now. I want to be smart about healing. I don't want to be irresponsible and risk further injury.

But the main reason that I hesitated was that it scares the shit out of me to put so much of myself personally out there as part of this competition and potentially risk failing. What if all the challenges are physical and I can't complete them? What if I just look silly in the process?

As I was thinking about this, my husband reminded me that I said I was going to stop making excuses and that I'll never get anything if I don't try. With that, I shot a video and entered the competition. In my mind, I've already accomplished a huge goal just by stepping way out of my comfort zone and throwing my hat into the ring.

Over the course of the next 8 weeks, I'll be completing 19 Under Armour Challenges to demonstrate that I have what it takes to crush my goal. The first challenge was to shoot a video of yourself announcing your goal to the world. What is my goal? Take a look at the video that I created! (PS: This is my first attempt at a vlog so please be kind!!)

You can follow the competition and check out my page here. Over the next few weeks, I may ask for your votes or comments and I would be so forever grateful for your support. On On June 26th, 10 finalists will be announced. Three women will ultimately be declared the new faces of Under Armour, two will be selected by Under Armour and one will be chosen by public vote.

For all the women out there, I encourage you to enter too! If you do enter or already have entered, please leave me a comment so that I can follow you!

Scenes from my weekend - Las Vegas

Quick tabata circuit

The Space Shuttle Enterprise arrived in NYC on Friday and is hanging out in a hangar at JFK

A quick 36 hour trip to Las Vegas for much needed girls' weekend with my sister, cousin and good friend. The other reason we traveled to Vegas - to see Jon Bon Jovi play Tiger Jams, a benefit for the Tiger Woods Foundation.

We arrived Saturday morning. The sun was warm and skies blue. We lunched by the pool and had a massage. We watched movies in our room and chatted, catching up on life. My sister insisted on working out so we came up with a quick tabata circuit to spike her heart rate. It was kind of fun sitting on the couch yelling out the time intervals while she sweated her way through the exercises.

I have mentioned before that I have been a Bon Jovi fan for pretty much my entire life. His music and songs bring back memories of fifth grade field trips and dances in the school cafeteria when Slippery When Wet topped the charts. His music appears again in my life's soundtrack during high school and a summer spent doing a community service project far from home. While the concert wasn't a typical Bon Jovi show (it was just Jon and a back-up band), it was great fun to rock out and watch Jon dance around on stage and do what he does best.

No, we didn't leave the hotel during the 36 hours that we were there. There was no gambling or over-indulging in food and drink. There really wasn't any reason too. It was perfect just to spend time in the company of these women in my life.

Change the Conversation - Kook

I wrote a post a couple of weeks ago about the lessons that I've learned from surfing. I received incredible support here on this blog and elsewhere. However, the post was also shared by a kind reader on a local surfing forum where it wasn't so well received by those who consider themselves "hard core" surfers. After all, I'm a kook - a new surfer.

But, kook is a pejorative term. It's is often used to describe new surfers who are clueless and have no regard or respect for surfing etiquette, thereby endangering themselves and/or others out in the water. In their eyes, I was an overexcited kook who didn't have the right to be out in the water.

Source: John Robison. Surfing Illustrated: A Visual Guide to Wave Riding

At first, as I read through their responses, I was hurt. I felt attacked. I didn't feel safe in my blogging space anymore. But as I read some more, I realized something. They were attacking the image of a kook that they held in their mind and everything that label encompasses - arrogant, privileged, inexperienced, disrespectful, dumb. But that wasn't me or my story. I'm more than that label.

I am a new surfer who is trying to learn to surf the right way by learning technique and water skills; understanding the ocean, waves and currents; and learning and respecting my own limitations.

I am a new surfer who is so well aware of the unique history and culture that surrounds the sport - a mostly male-dominated culture where women often aren't treated on an equal level.

I'm a new surfer who knows that you have to earn your place in the line-up as well as respect others out in the water.

I am a new surfer who has a long way to go but I am committed to putting in the time to improve and to learn both in and out of the water.

I am also a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend and athlete. I'm a runner, swimmer, yogi, spinner, writer, artist, and the tickle police for my kids.

When I was younger, I hated being a newbie whether it was a new school or sport or instrument. There is truth to the myth of the Tiger Mom and the notion that nothing's fun until you're good at it. I wanted to excel at everything that I did, often barreling my way through and pretending that I didn't need help.

Now, I've learned to embrace my newbie-ness whether in surfing or blogging or any other new experience that crosses my path. I'm not afraid of it anymore - not afraid to ask questions, admit that I'm wrong and just learn. To me, being new isn't about fear or failure. It's about excitement and opportunity. After all, we ALL started off new at some point. 

Labels are everywhere. They help our brains organize and sort information. For a type-A person like me, that's really helpful. We all have labels that we attach to ourselves and others. But labels are not what solely defines us. So let's change the conversation and stop judging based on labels. The conversation NEEDS to be changed.

What are your labels and who are you beyond that? How do you handle being a "newbie"? 

{Linking up with Just.Be.Enough to change the conversation}

Fitfluential

Last fall, I reluctantly joined Twitter. The reason - the whole Missoni for Target debacle. Following Target on Twitter was one of the few ways to get any information about what was going on with sales and online orders. In between trying to find out the status of my orders that were in limbo, I started poking around Twitter.

I started off following the usual suspects - some athletes and celebrities, news outlets and a couple of local people. Then, I started following some runners and other fitness folks. I started reading their blogs. Before I knew it, my Google Reader was full and I was engrossed in the trials and tribulations of ordinary folks training for races or trying to lead a healthy lifestyle.

They were sharing stories of the challenges they have overcome and their drive, commitment and passion for fitting fitness into their lives and maintaining a healthy balance. They were encouraging regardless of whether you were just starting out or were an ultramarathoner. It didn't matter. These people were part of a community that I was instantly drawn into. Frankly, these blogs encouraged me to get back into running and to think more purposefully about living an active life.

I noticed one other thing about all these engaging and inspiring folks. They were all Fitfluential Ambassadors. Fitfluential is a nationwide network of fitness enthusiasts who are sharing their journey online and offline through multiple social media platforms. As I learned more about Fitfluential and experienced the incredible community that they cultivated, I knew that I wanted to be a part of it.

This week, I learned that I was accepted as a Fitfluential Ambassador. I can't tell you how excited and humbled I am to be a part of this group. I wasn't the best athlete growing up but I worked hard. There's a bit part of me that feels like I just made Varsity.

A Case of the Swirly-Whirlys

I was planning on writing a different post today but I can't seem to quiet my mind enough to focus. I've been feeling very scattered lately. Busy with work and head deep in a project that frankly, I'm not that excited about. Don't get me wrong. I'm thankful for the work but I just can't seem to motivate myself to sit and actually do it. I spend most of the day with a genuine intention to work 4-5 solid hours before the boys come home from school but I am inevitably distracted by Twitter, Facebook, blogs, physical therapy exercises...you name it. I guess one of the downsides of working from home and for yourself is that you are ultimately accountable to yourself. Just. Can't. Do. It.

(By the way, I totally suffer from an involuntary Twitter twitch. Before I'm even conscious of doing it, I'm moving my hand to click and check my Twitter feed...every few minutes.)

Normally, I like having a lot on my plate. I like when my days are packed. It forces me to get organized, pull my shit together and just do it. However, my normal bag of tricks do not seem to be working for me. Part of me wonders if my lethargy and lack of motivation is tied to the fact that I can't workout. Exercise is a huge outlet for me and helps to set my mind straight.

I know that I promised that I was going to stop making excuses and to take things one step at a time. However, lately, my mind feels like it's racing a million miles a minute and I can't even slow down. I feel like my son in these pictures, drawn into the bright swirly lines and compelled to spin on and on until he finally falls down.


How do you manage the case of swirly whirlys?

{Linking up with Pour Your Heart Out at Things I Can't Say}

5 Life Lessons I Learned From Surfing

Photo: Oriana Fowler/Surf Simply

A year ago, I was on a beach in Costa Rica doing something I never dreamed of doing - learning to surf. I'm not exaggerating when I say that surfing changed my life. I never would have thought that I would own two surfboards, surf in NYC, religiously check the surf forecast and obsess about anything and everything surf.

For me, surfing felt like I was coming home. Don't get me wrong. I was terrified and it was hard but there was something about being out on the water, the camaraderie, and yes, the hard work that just fit. When I read this post by MizFit, it all made sense to me.

"I am often surprised at how often the things we don't think we'd ever want to do ignite new passion in us when we simply try them with an open heart and open mind."

Photo: Oriana Fowler/Surf Simply

Though the process, I've learned some important lessons that go beyond the water.

1) Check Your Expectations
I am normally not a braggy braggy person. I believe in the idea of hard work and that if you work hard, you will make progress. At the same time, I do have high expectations for myself. I felt like I should "get" surfing and be good at it. I understood what I needed to do technically but I couldn't manage it. I was extremely frustrated. Only when I adjusted my expectations did I start having fun and, consequently, start surfing better. I learned how to be more forgiving of myself.

2) Slow Down
Learning to surf seemed so overwhelming at first. How was I supposed to paddle, catch a wave, stand up on the board and ride the wave at the same time? There were so many things to think about. My surf coach started from the basics and slowly added one new step at a time. He made learning to surf feel manageable and I learned to slow down. For me, this was such an important lesson. I have a tendency to rush through things in life or become overwhelmed when things start piling up (work, family, etc.). Now, instead of being overwhelmed by the big picture, I try to focus on one thing at a time and breathe.

3) Commitment
One of the most important lessons I learned was about commitment. When you paddle out in the ocean, you have to be committed to make it past the breaking waves. If you're not, you will be continually battered and pushed back to shore, exhausted. When you paddle for a wave, you have to be committed to catching the wave.  If you are wishy-washy, you can get into trouble and potentially hurt yourself or another surfer. Surfing taught me to trust my judgement and instincts and to stop second guessing myself.

Photo: Oriana Fowler/Surf Simply

4) Patience
There's a lot of waiting involved in surfing - waiting for the ocean to calm down so that you can paddle out, waiting for a set of waves to approach, waiting for the right wave. I learned to sit on my board and to appreciate the amazing gift it was to be in the ocean.

5) Learn something new
It was an incredible experience to learn something completely new in my mid-30s. How many opportunities do you have to do that? I was so far out of my comfort zone but I think that was why this experience was so rewarding. Yes, I pushed myself physically and mentally. Yes, I fell countless times, got water up my nose and earned new bruises. But, there's something about learning a new sport that made me feel incredibly alive. It made me happy. This experience has made me more open to try new things and to be uncomfortable because the reward is often so great.

Source: fromupnorth.com via Christine on Pinterest

No More Making Excuses

On my way home from my doctor's appointment. No, I'm not putting weight on my right leg. It just looks that way because my knee brace has my leg locked in a straight-leg position so there's no much clearance between my foot and the ground. PS: I love my hot pink sneakers!

Lately, I've been reading a lot about the need to get out of our comfort zones - to abandon the tried and true, to be afraid and to experience something new - and how in doing so, you learn, grow, and become stronger. I've been seeing tweets about someone's latest race and/or PR or describing a great run or spin class or otherwise proving how they are getting out there and going after their goals. As I read these, I have automatically thought, "I would totally do that but I'm injured."

I believe in the importance of being uncomfortable. For me, when I think about challenging myself, I usually think about physical tests - a new workout, a hard interval or strength training session, a race, a new sport. But there are so many other ways that I can challenge myself that do not involve being mobile or active.

I've realized that since my surgery, I've been using my recovery as an excuse. While my injury may hold me back from some of the physical challenges and amazing fitness workouts that I want to do, it doesn't and shouldn't hold me back from stepping outside of my comfort zone. Yes, I do know that I have to give my body time to rest and recover and that it's not the ideal time to test my limits. But I'm not saying that. I just think that I've been cocooning myself in the safety of my recovery, which has enabled me to be content with just feeling meh and being a blob on the couch.

Earlier this year, I said that I was going to make it count. So, I'm going to stop using my injury as an excuse. However, I promise I will still ask for help when I can't reach something.

Professionally, I am working hard to build my consulting business and expand the type of work that I do even though it's hard and scary...and hard and scary.

Personally, I'm trying to let go and embrace change, which is somewhat difficult for this Type-A, micro-manager. But this month is going to be a whirlwind. It's going to be messy but we'll make it through OK, just one day at a time.

And, this blog is definitely moving me beyond my comfort zone. Putting my thoughts, experiences and emotions out there to have them embraced (or not) by readers I don't know is definitely forcing this introvert to be a bit more extroverted.

So tell me, what are you doing to move beyond your comfort zone?

Guilty Pleasures

I slept in on Sunday morning which for me means 8:30am. 8:30am!! I don't think that I've woken up that late in a long time. I could hear Ed and the boys playing outside of our bedroom door but I kind of lingered in a bed a little bit (partially because it takes me a little while to physically get out of bed these days). But, to tell you the truth, I felt a bit guilty about it - for getting extra sleep when Ed's been up with the boys for 2 hours, for savoring a little extra quiet time, and for feeling like I was choosing me over the boys. Definitely a guilty pleasure.

So I'm confessing to you some of my other guilty pleasures. If I confess, I'll feel less guilty right?

1. Cheesy cheesy dance movies like Center Stage, Step Up, and Bring It On. OK, Bring It On isn't technically a dance movie but it's about cheerleading which is like dancing and gymnastics combined, right. I adore these movies. I will watch them over and over again. I don't even need to watch them really. Just have one on in the background.

Source: imdb.com via Alicia on Pinterest

2. Magazines, especially surfing, fitness and celebrity magazines. My husband finally got sick of me buying US Weekly every week and made me get a subscription but I kind of love going to the newsstand/drugstore/bookstore to buy an issue. I can't read magazines on my iPad. I need to feel the paper between my fingers.

3. Watching episodes of What Not To Wear. I kind of love Clinton and Stacy. While I know the styling lessons they are going to dispense each week, I still love watching it. In fact, it's on right now.

4. Sneaking ice cream and other treats when the kids are asleep. I'm generally a healthy eater and we feed the kids good, healthy food. While they do get treats, sometimes, Mommy needs more treats. So, that means that sometimes I sneak some ice cream at night after they've gone to bed in order to avoid the battle about why Mommy gets to eat ice cream and they don't. We do teach them that ice cream, cookies, and cake are treats and should be eaten in moderation but this my way of avoiding conflict at the end of the day.

5. Milkshakes from Gott's. Every time we visit San Francisco, one of my favorite things to do is get a black and white milkshake from Gott's at the Ferry Building. Divine. Yes, I let the kids have milkshakes here.

6. Avocados. Avocados are one of my favorite foods but they've been out of my life for the past five year. You see, when Jasper was 5 months old, we fed him avocado as one of his first foods. Guess what? Turns out he's allergic to avocados. As a result, avocados are no longer welcome in our household (the shame!!). So now, whenever we eat out or we are away from the kids, I eat avocados.

7. Espresso Brownies with Dulce de Leche from Whimsy & Spice. Deliciousness in a bar.

8. The feeling of exhilaration and accomplishment after a really good workout. This should not be a guilty pleasure...

9. Bon Jovi. Love Bon Jovi. Always have and always will. 

10. Hiding in the bathroom to read email/FB/Twitter while supposedly showering. OK, this is along the lines of the staying in bed for a few extra...er...30 extra minutes. Ed totally knows that I do this which is what makes me feel guilty but sometimes I just need a few extra minutes of quiet.


So tell me, what are your guilty pleasures? Do you hide in the bathroom too?

{I'm linking up with Stasha at Northwest Mommy. This week's Monday Listicles come from Miss Marina Star.}

Bye Bye ACL. It's been nice knowing you.

Well ACL #2, we've had a good 15 year run together. You stepped in when ACL #1 gave way on the ski slopes in the Alps. You restored me to full mobility and activity within a few short months and I felt as good as new. We've completed an Olympic distance triathlon and run three marathons together, two half marathons and countless shorter races as well as chased after two little boys. You stuck by me as I learned to cross-country and telemark ski and to surf.

But, now it's come time to part ways. Today, you will be replaced by ACL #3. I can only hope that it will be as good to me as you have been. To be fair, I actually hope that it is better than you because I really don't want to have to go through this again. I'm not sure I could handle a 4th ACL in my life. So, if you get a chance in the OR, can you please just have a little chat with ACL #3? I'd appreciate it.

Also, to remember today and one of the main reasons why I am having surgery, I'm linking up one of my favorite posts of all time - riding my first wave on a surfboard - to celebrate Alison's and Ado's 1st Blogoversary Blog Bash! Come check it out and you can join in too!

Scenes From My Weekend - Friends

Detail from the Patti Cadby Birch Court, constructed by craftsmen from Fez and is based on Moroccan late medieval design.

Making zucchini muffins

Over the weekend, one of my best friends came to visit. Erin and I have known each other since we were 15 years old. We spent the better part of Saturday afternoon wandering around the Islamic Art Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which reopened in November 2011 after 8 years of renovation, and the Asian Art Wing. Sunday morning was spent in DUMBO playing with the kids, throwing rocks into the river and riding the carousel. Sunday night, Erin and I met some other friends for dinner in Manhattan to celebrate a birthday and to see The Head & The Heart, a pretty cool band from Seattle that's kind of Americana and kind of not, but a whole lot of great music. All in all, it was a weekend filled with much needed time with friends.

I've been thinking a lot about friendships lately and how those relationships are sustained and maintained even after you move away and/or apart and are not a constant in each other's lives. With some people, it's a struggle but with others it comes so naturally and easily. While Erin and I don't talk or see each other all the time, we have consistently been in each other's lives since the day we met. When we do see each other or talk, we are able to pick up where we left off. There is a level of comfort and ease that I've come to value so much. There's no need for explanations. Through all the personal and life changes that we each have experienced over the last 20 years, it hasn't changed our relationship. For that, I am forever thankful.