With the help of random.org, a winner has been selected!
Congratulations to FiddleDeeDee! As the winner, she can choose a new pair of Crocs up to $50 in value! And after her recent spill in her heeled Crocs, she might be looking for a more flat, sneaker-like pair, such as the Torrey.
Thanks for everyone who participated in this giveaway! Stay tuned for giveaways this fall! 
I’m proud mama this week. My 7 y.o. started second grade at a new school and my 4 y.o. began her first week at preschool. Both girls had a wonderful week and I couldn’t be happier. It’s going to be a great year!
I have always loved Colors by Kira Willey. Its simple melody and Kira’s soothing voice comforts like a favorite blanket or a warm hug, but after last week, this song has a new meaning for me.
While driving my little one to her first day of preschool last week, we were listening to the Kenny Curtis and The Animal Farm on Kids Place Live on XM. A mom requested the song Colors and dedicated it to her daughter who was starting her first day of preschool. As we listened to the song, a lump formed in my throat and the waterworks began, but the tears soon turned to tears of joy as I listened to my little preschooler singing along to the song. I began chuckling as I listened to her sweet little voice singing the words. All the colors of the rainbow really are in my little one every day.
She is green and chirps with joy like a cricket song.
She is loud and messy like orange finger paint on the wall.
She is red, hopping mad like a playground ball.
She is purple, bright and happy like a butterfly in the air.
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My runs this week have felt like a bad Disney movie.
Last Saturday, Tiffany and I rejoined the Striders at the park after a long 3 week absence due to my injury. We ran 6 miles and although it was a struggle, it felt good to run a longer distance again.
As we ran the trail, we spotted several animals searching for their early morning nibbles. A small bunny hopped through the tall grass and a young deer trotted across the trail.
Just a few feet short of 3 miles, a horse fly started harassing us, however, we were prepared for any attacks. For our trail runs, we now carry a washcloth or a small gym towel to swat at those pesky pests. Knowing that there are more to come after our last horse fly encounter, we decided to turn around and head back to the start.
David, the Striders Organizer, paced with Tiffany and I on our return trip and we caught a glimpse of a rainbow stretched across the sky which led us the way home. It was magically delicious!
Distance 6 miles
Time 1:10:11
Ave Pace 11:42
With the kids starting school this week, I’ve had to get back in the routine of waking up before my family to squeeze in my early morning runs. But the sun is rising later, so the mornings are really dark again. I became spoiled this summer running in the morning sun. Now, I’m running scared in the dark, like Snow White running through the dark forest trying to escape the death sentence of an Evil Queen. With scary sewers clown and stalkers looming in the dark corners, I don’t enjoy running in the dark. I can’t wait until the weather cools and I can run in the morning sun again after dropping both kids off at school.
As a habit, I always brush my teeth before bolting out the door for my morning run. I know that there are runners that can barely remember to dress themselves in the morning, let along brush their teeth, however, I never know which neighbor I will run into and I prefer a minty fresh breath for those encounters. But when I saw my stalker, I wished I had forgotten to polish my pearly whites. Perhaps some nasty, funky morning dragonbreath will keep him away.
On my way back home, I noticed a friend’s daughter running to catch the bus without breaking a sweat and at a much faster pace than me. (Her dad can run marathons in 3 hours flat, so speed is in the blood.) As I hollered a hello, I was glad I remembered to brush my teeth. Too bad I called her by the wrong name! I didn’t call her by her sister’s name (Emelina) or her mom’s name (Sarah). I selected some random name: Emily. Then, when I thought about it, it’s actually a combination of both the sisters’ names (Emelina + Izzy = Emily), which is quite clever. Sure, it is. I blame calling out the wrong name on my confused, dehydrated, over-heated state of mind while running in the dark.
It’s a sad day when the mind begins to go.
Tuesday 8/25
Distance 3 miles
Time 30:04
Ave Pace 10:01
Wednesday 8/26
Distance 3.35
Time 33:11
Ave Pace 9:54
When I dropped Emmalynn off for her first day of preschool, I knew she was in good hands with her teachers, especially since I provided a peace offering. But honestly, this preschool just feels like a second-home. 
I walked her to her new classroom and her best friend, Sarah, rushed over to greet her.
I played the typical helicopter mom, hovering and circling over my child as I snapped about two dozen snapshots of Emmalynn and her friends.
Then, Emmalynn hinted that it was time to go. “Mommy, shouldn’t you be leaving now?”
After my cue to leave the room, I felt a pang in my heart as I closed the classroom door. Tears filled my eyes. I just left my baby. She’s a big girl now.
Although Mommy wasn’t ready to let go today, Emmalynn has been ready for this day for some time now and as to be expected, she had a wonderful first day.
At pick up time, she proudly showed me her Apple Jacks Apple necklace which she cut and laced all by herself. Thankfully, I snapped a few photo before she demolished it. Pride and independence tastes so yummy…even for Mommy.
When Emmalynn and I met her preschool teacher the other day, we presented Miss Sharon a gift: a bottle of Mad Housewife Chardonnay. With the wine, I warned Miss Sharon that Emmalynn is nothing like Allana (who she taught 3 years ago). I also explained to her that I would happily provide weekly peace offerings to help soothe the woes away after a week with my wild child. Miss Sharon didn’t seem too worried…but I am.
As a former teacher, I had grave concerns about some of the policies at my oldest daughter’s school.
Despite what is outlined on the school district’s website regarding continuous progress, some schools in the district seem to be moving away from a “continuity of caring”. Such was the case at my daughter’s school. Each year, the principal moved the teachers around, which destroys any hopes of team building among the staff and a continuity of caring for the students.
Every moment of an already jammed packed day was full of instruction, even recess. The kids had little time to be kids. Due to the governor’s newest policies, there was no room for good old fashioned tag and other recess favorites. Gone were the days of chalk drawings and hopscotch. It was replaced with mandatory teacher led P.E. instruction. In the couch potato society we live in, there is a dire need for more physical activity in a student’s day, but there is a lot to be said about the benefits of down time and a break from instruction.
At this school, parents were not viewed as an asset but rather a burden and a nuisance. The school said it encouraged parent involvement, but yet their policies sent a very different message. On numerous occasions, I offered my services to assist with enrichment for advanced learners or remediation for struggling students. My efforts were politely shunned and discouraged.
The overall climate of this neighborhood school lacked a warm and fuzzy environment, which is essential at the elementary level. The school felt cold and the staff rarely smiled. In addition, this school focused heavily on instruction and forgot how to have fun while learning. In the early years, it is crucial to develop life-long learners and a love for learning. This particular school missed the mark. If a school cannot foster a fun learning environment, then the results create boredom and ultimately kill any hopes of future learning.
But most importantly, I believe my daughter was one of the kids lost in the humdrum routine. She rarely raised her hand to participate although she always knew the answer. This bright star craved a teacher to help her shine by making her feel welcome and reassuring her that her contribution was important.
For her entire first grade, Allana stagnated. At the end of last year, I felt frustrated with this school and considered homeschooling. I knew the type of teacher Allana needed and I knew I could be that teacher.
As I searched for options, I turned to a local charter school. I had met with the principal earlier in the year and was very impressed with the philosophy of the school and its positive atmosphere. Last May, I added her name to the waitlist but she sat at number thirty on the list. Although I had hoped she would get accepted into the school, our chances seemed very slim.
Two weeks before school started, we received a phone call from the charter school. Allana had been accepted. The next day, I filled out the paperwork and made the switch to the new school without hesitation. Of course, Allana was nervous about the change and a little sad to leave her former school, but she agreed to give the new school a try for at least the first nine weeks (first quarter).
On the first day of school, I knew we had made the right choice for Allana. The staff smiled and greeted every person that walked on campus. Even the principal smiled as he welcomed back students and shook the hands of several parents. Her new teacher happily greeted each student and parent that walked through the door and didn’t seem to bat an eye that several parents stayed for a few minutes to help settle their kids into the class.
But when I picked up Allana from school that afternoon, I definitely knew we made the right choice. As soon as she hopped into the car, Allana shouted, “This was the best school day EVER!” She proceeded to tell me every detail about her day, which included real recess, a new best friend and “getting to know you necklace” that she made in Math.
I couldn’t be happier. I know Allana certainly is excited about school again.
The summer has just flown by! My 7 y.o. starts second grade at a new school today and my 4 y.o. starts her first day of preschool on Wednesday. Although I am very nervous about all the big changes happening at once, I anticipate that this year will be a good year for both of them.
This first week back to school is always the hardest. After a long break, it’s difficult getting back into routine, but it’s going to be particularly hard on me. I am going to miss my girls! As I packed Allana’s backpack last night, I packed my camera and some tissues in my purse just to be prepared for the waterworks from mom.
To shake my melancholy mood away and get us moving and grooving again, I thought the Jackson 5’s ABC would help lift my spirits and my children out of bed to get ready to go back to school this morning.
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We own several pairs for the simple fact that Crocs are extremely comfortable and very suitable footwear for active families like us.
Living in Florida, flip flops are not just a trend, but a lifestyle. Floridians wear flip flops almost all year long and I have walked many happy miles in my Capri Crocs. If I’m not wearing 
running shoes, then you can guarantee I’m wearing my Crocs. Because these shoes are so unbelievably comfortable, they have ruined me for any other flip flops. No other will do. Most other flip-flops feel like cardboard after living in my cushy Crocs.
Since I love my Crocs so much I decided to splurge and treat myself to a pair of Cayman Clog Crocs. These shoes quickly became another favorite since they offer all the same cushy support of my flip flops. But, I discovered the real benefit of these shoes at our last camping trip. When crawling out of the tent in the middle of the night for a quick potty break, I slipped on these shoes while slipping off to the loo. Like my feet, my kidneys and bladder became big Crocs fans that night, too!
When searching for a comfortable heel for a NYC trip with my husband, I stumbled upon the Cyprus Crocs at a local mall kiosk. I loved the chic look of the shoe and of course, it had all the Crocs comfort that I have grown to love.
For SAHMs, heels are just not practical for playdates, but on occasion, we like to dress up and I found the Cyprus Crocs heels to be great shoes for hip moms on the go. Just like their Crocs predecessors, you can walk for days in these shoes all the while forgetting you are wearing heels.
Incidentally, I also packed a pair of black Nadia Boots for that same NYC trip. The weather called for rain and cooler weather. I wanted a shoe that would keep my feet dry without wearing goulashes or a snow boot. The Nadia Crocs were a perfect choice for pounding the pavement all over the city.
As for my kids, they love their fushia and purple Mickey Mouse Cayman Crocs. They are loved and worn so much that all that love is evident
all over the shoes. When the dirt and grime becomes too much, I throw them in the wash and leave them to air dry. In a about an hour, they look as good as new!
My DH is also a huge fan of Crocs. He lives in his Crete Crocs Flip Flops but he has his eye on a pair of Tideline Leather Slip-Ons.
So, what pair of Crocs do you have your eye on?
Crocs are offering the chance for one lucky Run DMT reader to pick a pair of Crocs (up to $50 value). To win a pair of Crocs, simply visit Crocs and view all the new fall styles. Then, come back here and add a comment stating the styles you like and which pair would like to win. One lucky winner will be randomly selected on Sunday, August 30.
For additional entries to win a pair of Crocs:
After reading and loving the book, The Time Traveler’s Wife, I couldn’t wait to see the movie. But would the cinematic version of a fantastic novel convert well to the big screen?
Many people like me, loved the novel. Others were confused by the constant switching between characters and places in time. Admittedly, I was one of those people at first, but as I read further into the novel, I became less confused. The author, Audrey Niffenegger, intends to confuse readers since Henry lives in a state of confusion for so long. As he matures and understands his gift/curse/purpose/destiny, he comes to terms with his condition and therefore, less confused by it all. The novel reflects this progression.
The film version, on the hand, is much simpler and less confusing, but by being less complicated, it loses the complexity of the characters and the plot. The film shares Henry and Claire’s love story and struggles with his genetic anomaly of time traveling, but barely touches the surface of the much deeper themes in the novel.
Obviously, the love story theme translates well to the big screen, but so much of that love story has been omitted during the process. The film clings to the love story and some of the tearful moments in the novel, but it’s far more than a boy meets girl love story or in this case, old Henry meets young Claire and they fall in love. There’s pubescent love. There’s betrayal and hurt. There’s jealousy and pain. There’s loss time and time again as well as time lost. The film only touches the surface of these plot elements.
If the movie is your first experience with The Time Traveler’s Wife, then you may love it. I found myself crying at all the scenes I expected I would after reading the novel. I enjoyed seeing Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana bringing the characters to life. Despite shedding some tears, I still longed for more, which can only be found within the pages of the novel.
After finishing the novel, I mourned for days and I went into the film expecting that same impact. However, once leaving the theater, my emotions were left behind like an empty tub of popcorn. I simply did not connect with the characters as deeply as I did with the novel. Perhaps it was the time invested in the novel which facilitated that connection, but there have been plenty of films that I connected emotionally with the characters and that emotion impacts me for days. This was not the case with The Time Traveler’s Wife although I had high hopes that it would. The only emotion present days after viewing the film is disappointment.
My advice: Read the novel and wait for the film to be released on DVD.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve done a lot of sitting. Although I’m finally back on my feet and running again, I’ve retained a lovely leftover spread on my backside from all the sitting.
It’s such a great spread. It should have “Land O’Lakes” written all over.
*Insert rim shot*
But, sitting upright and staring at the computer seemed to be the only position that caused little pain.
Being a SAHM on the run, (like so many other moms) I rarely have time to sit, but my recent injury forced me to sit on my ass A LOT. Even back in my teaching days, I rarely sat. I constantly moved around the classroom to assist my students. I don’t know how my DH and other poor saps in Cooperate America sits and stares at a computer all day. Just thinking about it numbs my badunkadunk again.
This week, I’ve gradually started running again starting with slow and short distances, but from all that sitting, my muscles feel flabby and mushy from a lack of any physical activity. I need to recondition them again. Which made me wonder…Are there any sitting exercises to help tone and shape muscles?
Well, of course there are!
This work-out video would have been very useful a few weeks ago when I felt so antsy and wished to work-out again. The leg lifts would have helped conditioned my muscles, however, I might have skipped the triceps dips depending on how badly they impacted my ribs and torso.
So, sit up and get ready to make it burn from the comfort of your own computer chair for this week’s Five Minutes for Fitness.
