Freebie Friday - Link Up #contests and prizes every Friday

Are you hosting a #contest? Great! Post it here on Freebie Friday. What better time to search and enter contests than on the weekend? Sign in so that others can find your giveaway. I will be hosting Freebie Friday each week from now on so be sure to drop back by. Now go grab your tasty beverage, sit back and relax and contest hop with me! Don't forget to check out these hosted contest links too.




Click on those "Like" and "Retweet" buttons to share with the online community. For current events see the side bars and click on the "Add Me" tab above to connect with me using other social media services.

#WordlessWednesday - Firehouse Subs

We finally took the time to discover our local Firehouse Subs restaurant. The kids got these fun hats with their meal. They were really excited to get them! You might be able to tell by the photo but trust me they loved the hats.




For more WW participants head to:


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E100 Challenge

Our church is throwing out a challenge that I would like to share with each of you. Grab your Bible and get ready to spend 20 minutes a day reading. Here is our schedule. Feel free to jump in! I'm way behind in my readings so I'm going to have to double up but I'm not worried. For further information please click this link to the E100 Challenge.

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#Mamavation Monday - Another One Bites The Dust!

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Please be sure to continue encouraging these Mamavation  #bookieboo #burpee Challengers it's Day57!
@beeacutie2
@rachhabs
@5minutes4mommy  
@MamaSarahJane
@Aries_Mommy
@notimeMom
@ResaMichelle
@lorisica 
 For an update please click here--> #100DayBurpeeChallenge.

The Beach Palooza 5K with obstacles.

Question: Where are you planning for your feet to take you before 2011 ends? Any races or training plans?

I have at least 3 more 5Ks to run this year to meet my goal of 1 5k per month. I'm really excited. I might do one more obstacle course run before the end of the year. I'm also going to do a bridge run before the year is up. Not sure which one yet, either Galveston or LaPorte. There is still plenty to do! Oh and I'm going to finish out this burpee challenge.

By the way the video selection this week is awesome! Some people have a very clear talent, this is one of them.


Eating out:
Star Bucks - Whoopie Pie (1) and many caramel macchiatos, many more...
Mambos 9/10
Chick-fil-a  9/16, 9/21
Firehouse Subs 9/18
Subway 9/25, 9/23,  9/22
Jimmy Changas 9/24



My Work Outs this past week-
9/19 Monday -  #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/20 Tuesday - Crossfit, #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/21 Wednesday - 1 mile run, Crossfit, #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/22 Thursday - 2 mile run, Crossfit, #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/23 Friday -  1 mile walk, #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/24 Saturday - 3.1 miles Beach Palooza Race
9/25 Sunday - #100DayBurpeeChallenge * 2

Scale Reading -4 pound gain! Whoo Hoo

Stress Level -I'm thinking it's all that eating out I did all week. Whoa!

The UP side- My family is coming home today so it's back in the kitchen I go! No more eating out.

A bit of inspiration for you ladies!
Remember - YOU are a role model.

Need for fitness support? Join the "Sistahood". More great resources: The Y, Crossfit Training, Vitamins for your age group, RealAge.com

• The long term goal 45 pounds by the end of the year.
• The short term goal lose 3 lbs. per month. 
• January 179 - 180 = 1 pound gain
• February 180 - 177 = 3 pound loss
• March 177 - 176 = 1 pound loss
• April 176 - 174 = 2 pound loss
• May 173 -173 = 0 pounds lost
• June176 - 170 = 6 pound loss
• July 170 -172 = 2 pound gain
• August 173 - 172 = 1 pound loss
• September 173 -171 = 2 pound loss
• October 171
• November
• December

Secure Your Success
Charting your progress gets you there faster. Try these tools:

 Track my weight loss.

 
Watch my waist get smaller.

Track my walking.  
Click on those "Like" and "Retweet" buttons to share with the online community. For current events see the side bars and click on the "Add Me" tab above to connect with me using other social media services.

Freebie Friday - Link Up #contests and prizes every Friday

Are you hosting a #contest? Great! Post it here on Freebie Friday. What better time to search and enter contests than on the weekend? Sign in so that others can find your giveaway. I will be hosting Freebie Friday each week from now on so be sure to drop back by. Now go grab your tasty beverage, sit back and relax and contest hop with me! Don't forget to check out these hosted contest links too.




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#WordlessWednesday - All Aboard!

We hit Jelly Stone park this past weekend and this is their super cool water slide. I didn't get to go on it this year but my husband did. I had to capture his turn. He started all the way up there! Looks like a lot of fun by that big smile on his face. Not a bad capture if I do say so myself.









For more WW participants head to:






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#Mamavation Monday - The Halfway Mark!

Please be sure to encourage these Mamavation  #bookieboo #burpee Challengers it's Day50! @beeacutie2 @rachhabs @5minutes4mommy @minski39 @MamaSarahJane @Aries_Mommy @notimeMom @ResaMichelle @lorisica

50 consecutive burpees is a BIG deal. It's really hard and some times very slow. Keep these tweeps in your thoughts as we work our way up to 100 burpees. I know how daunting it can be from day to day because I'm right there doing it with them! As each day passes it gets a little easier in the beginning but harder to finish in the end. It's a marathon, and we just have to keep going one burpee at a time to get this challenge done. These ladies are inspiring! They do need encouragement because 1-50 was hard but 50 - 100 that needs serious cheering! 

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It's Day 50 for the #100DayBurpeeChallenge.


Eating out:
Star Bucks - Whoopie Pie (1) and many caramel macchiatos, many more...
Mambos 9/10
Chick-fil-a  9/16
Firehouse Subs 9/18



My Work Outs this past week-
9/12 Monday - #100DayBurpeeChallenge, Crossfit
9/13 Tuesday - Crossfit, #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/14 Wednesday - Crossfit, #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/15 Thursday - Crossfit, #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/16 Friday -  #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/17 Saturday - 2.5 miles, #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/18 Sunday - 1 mile walk, #100DayBurpeeChallenge

Scale Reading - I have no idea. I didn't take on the scale this morning.

Stress Level - It should be good but it was a stressful yet fun vacation topped with an incomplete interior home pain job. That's a whole different story.

The UP side-  The Beach Palooza is this Saturday!!!!! I can't wait see the video promo below.

A bit of inspiration for you ladies!
Remember - YOU are a role model.

Need for fitness support? Join the "Sistahood". More great resources: The Y, Crossfit Training, Vitamins for your age group, RealAge.com

• The long term goal 45 pounds by the end of the year.
• The short term goal lose 3 lbs. per month. 
• January 179 - 180 = 1 pound gain
• February 180 - 177 = 3 pound loss
• March 177 - 176 = 1 pound loss
• April 176 - 174 = 2 pound loss
• May 173 -173 = 0 pounds lost
• June176 - 170 = 6 pound loss
• July 170 -172 = 2 pound gain
• August 173 - 172 = 1 pound loss
• September 173 -
• October
• November
• December

Secure Your Success
Charting your progress gets you there faster. Try these tools:

Track my weight loss. 
Watch my waist get smaller.

Track my walking.  
Click on those "Like" and "Retweet" buttons to share with the online community. For current events see the side bars and click on the "Add Me" tab above to connect with me using other social media services.

5 Fingers of Thanks

 

1.) Thankful to have had a great weekend vacation but glad to be home.

2.) Thankful to be almost half way done with the burpee challenge.

3.) Thankful that I have 3 more 5Ks to run this year and I will have completed my New Year's resolution.

4.) Thankful that the inside of our home is nearly all painted.

5.) Thankful that the Beach Palooza is Saturday! I hope it's a good time.

Click on those "Like" and "Retweet" buttons to share with the online community. For current events see the side bars and click on the "Add Me" tab above to connect with me using other social media services.

Freebie Friday - Link Up #contests and prizes every Friday

Are you hosting a #contest? Great! Post it here on Freebie Friday. What better time to search and enter contests than on the weekend? Sign in so that others can find your giveaway. I will be hosting Freebie Friday each week from now on so be sure to drop back by. Now go grab your tasty beverage, sit back and relax and contest hop with me! Don't forget to check out these hosted contest links too.




Click on those "Like" and "Retweet" buttons to share with the online community. For current events see the side bars and click on the "Add Me" tab above to connect with me using other social media services.

#WordlessWednesday - Shoe Shining

The art form of shoe shining is alive and well in our house.

For more WW participants head to:




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#Mamavation Monday - Numbers Game

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What a week! The pressure was crazy and if you want you can read about the downward spiral of my health you can read that over here. By far the most unhealthy week I have had in about a year. It made me pretty nervous to see what would happen on the scale. My saving grace this week? Crossfit and sticking with the burpee challenge. This week's video is a little sing a long for you!!! Enjoy.

The question this week is about shoes! I buy the shoes for the work outs! If I do Taebo then I get cross training shoes, if I run then I buy running shoes. You have to get the shoes that fits your work out.

It's Day 43 for the #100DayBurpeeChallenge.


Eating out:
Star Bucks - Whoopie Pie (1) and many caramel macchiatos, many more...
Mambos 9/10



My Work Outs this past week-
9/5 Monday - #100DayBurpeeChallenge, Crossfit
9/6 Tuesday - Crossfit, #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/7 Wednesday - Crossfit, #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/8 Thursday - Crossfit, #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/9 Friday -  #100DayBurpeeChallenge,Crossfit,
9/10 Saturday - 4 miles, #100DayBurpeeChallenge
9/11 Sunday - #100DayBurpeeChallenge, Crossfit

Scale Reading - Tuesday 173...Saturday before running 173 after running & burpees 170..Sunday morning 171...this morning 174! Yesterday I lost a lot of water because I kept drinking glass after glass last night. I think this gain is water. Look how the numbers bounce around!

Stress Level - All time high!

The UP side-  I'm still training for the Beach Palooza.

A bit of inspiration for you ladies!
Remember - YOU are a role model.

Need for fitness support? Join the "Sistahood". More great resources: The Y, Crossfit Training, Vitamins for your age group, RealAge.com

• The long term goal 45 pounds by the end of the year.
• The short term goal lose 3 lbs. per month. 
• January 179 - 180 = 1 pound gain
• February 180 - 177 = 3 pound loss
• March 177 - 176 = 1 pound loss
• April 176 - 174 = 2 pound loss
• May 173 -173 = 0 pounds lost
• June176 - 170 = 6 pound loss
• July 170 -172 = 2 pound gain
• August 173 - 172 = 1 pound loss
• September 173 -
• October
• November
• December

Secure Your Success
Charting your progress gets you there faster. Try these tools:

Track my weight loss. 
Watch my waist get smaller.

Track my walking.  
Click on those "Like" and "Retweet" buttons to share with the online community. For current events see the side bars and click on the "Add Me" tab above to connect with me using other social media services.

5 Fingers of Thanks

 

1.) Thankful that our church did that really cool 20 minute sketch of the Old Testament. That was a lot of fun to see.

2.) Thankful I survived the 9/11 WOD at Crossfit.

3.) Thankful that I finally got to run the Kemah bridge. That has been a goal of mine for months! Thanks for helping make that happen Schreiter.

4.) Thankful for another successful Parent's Night Out! Nothing like getting together with fellow parents.

5.) Thankful that tomorrow is the last birthday party I have to plan for the rest of the year. Our eldest boy turns 11. He's so excited. I hope I meet his expectations.

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Remembrance of 9/11

Today is a day that no one will ever forget no matter how many years pass. Where were you on this day 10 years ago? That's the big question all over the news today. I was asleep that morning and my phone kept ringing. Whoever it was kept calling until I answered the phone and tuned in to my local news station. I turned it on just in time to see the second plane hit. We all know the rest of the story.

Everyone has a different way of honoring those today but in the world of Crossfit we remember this day with a 9/11 WOD.

100 Dead Lifts (115 lbs. *for women)

100 Power Cleans (65 lbs. *for women)

100 Floor to Overhead (35 lbs. *for women)

43 burpees

The point is to finish. When I wanted to give up I kept reminding myself what this work out of the day meant. I kept remembering the people that it represents. When you put it in that frame of reference, then you CAN finish and I did. So rather than ask you where were you on this day when you heard the news 10 years ago, I will ask you...How did you pay tribute today?

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Don't Forget the Children! - Step 6 #TheDigitalMomHandbook

While designing an online class and trying to meet a deadline I watched myself fall into a downward spiral. The entire process only took about 7 days. It started out small enough, staying up a little later than usual, not getting up to get my morning mile in and a lot more online activity. While researching for the class I found more and more unanswered questions and more and more material to cover.

I had to meet a deadline! I was grabbing whatever I could to eat, if I got hungry! No food journals updated, I stopped taking all of my vitamins and Star Bucks became my new BFF. The caffeine was flowing heavily and it cost me $5 every time I went to get a coffee. Some days I hit that place twice! What's the big deal? I'm pretty sure I went through $50 in less than 7 days on coffee alone. All of this is so OUT of character for me. When I came across Step 6 of this book I thought to myself, Dont' Forget the Children! Seriously? YES!!!!!! My poor babies were put off time after time. "Mom, come see this!" my reply, "Give me 5 more minutes I have to finish this thought..I have to finish reading this one paragraph...I have to finish typing this phrase....I'm trying to get this syllabus done!" I would snap. Oh geez. I would work and work on this project running late nearly every where I went. It was my biggest fear that I would leave one of the kids somewhere and forget to pick one of them up or something. Thankfully that didn't happen.

There wasn't any help either because my family was out of town, my husband was out of town and my close friends were having issues of their own. Each day I would get a little less sleep, a little more snappy, and the only thing that kept me even close to any type of normalcy was Crossfit. But eventually I was talking myself into hitting the gym! WHOA!!!! What was happening to me? Who was I turning into and is it worth it? On the one hand my brain was getting fed. I felt fantastic to be back in my intellectual element but at the same time my health was drowning. My house was a mess, the laundry was not getting done and I was invisibly chained to this computer. There was no balance.

That is what Step 6 is about, finding your balance. I finished my project right in the nick of time, about 1:30am this morning to be exactly. I woke up four hours later and ran 4 miles up and down a bridge, went to a funeral and then went to dinner with friends. It feels good to be done with the project and now I sit and wait to see what happens. In the meantime I'm recapturing my health! I'm getting back on track and if I do get the job I need to find balance. I'm not eager for this last week to become my life. I don't want to be that kind of Mom this I know for sure.


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Lessons Learned About Protesting

It took me about two years before I started blogging about my religion. It took me four years to blog about my politics. What is that old saying...don't talk about money, politics or religion? Normally I stay very neutral and in fact I am a peace maker, mediator and often counselor. Getting to know William and Jim through our church NOT as the "two gay men" but as "Fleven Seven" a FAMILY of two fathers with five children has been eye opening. They are loving to their friends and children and both incredibly intelligent. We have great discussions about parenting in faith during Sunday school class. 

I have seen protests before and watched on the sidelines as folks ask for changes in the cause that they are fighting for. Nothing has moved me enough to get involved until now. When William did ask for support via Facebook, the people that came and supported him were there as his extended family and friends.We were there as parents too. And this is how the protest went down!

1.) A super cool person takes on the task of organizing the time and place. Then create an event and post it on Facebook and invite your friends.

2.) You need something that will stand out and get you noticed. Flowers! Yea, flowers that's it. Then you need someone to get flowers and a business that will give you that many flowers. Then you need another super cool person to be in charge of them and pass them out when it's time. That super cool person gets creative and prints the family photo and ties them to each flower.
- What did we miss? We should have printed a url that had the story and a url to sign the petition on the back of the picture. We had lots of people stop and ask what it was about. We could have asked them to take a flower and it would have had the information to look up and spread the word to friends.

3.) You need some really cool poster board signs! What do you put on the sign? It has to catch people's attention. Oh I know! How about "Republicans Love All Families!" Well that worked because you had some very snippy Republicans asking about that sign. ROFL!

4.) You need your friends to email local news stations. Those who can't be there physically to protest can turn to the virtual community and share the story using social media.

5.) You have to have that person that is willing to challenge your thoughts creatively. Personally I love the shirt. When I read it I thought, Joseph and God! That was it. There is power in numbers. There was extra security in the courtroom. Full dressed SWAT team just to be sure all these flower folks didn't get out of hand.

6.) And then your efforts could result in this -




My understanding is that the ex-wife did not ask for all of this but rather Judge Prine took it upon himself to make the rules. What's the next step? Appeal. Here is the kicker!!!! As much as I want to think, you know this really is crazy because you can't leave them with a man or a woman not related by blood or adoption, what a parenting nightmare! It's not - as I sit here not wanting to focus on the "gay" part, it's true, like the giant elephant standing in the room. Maybe the judge put the women part in after the fact because he thought they would leave the children with a bunch of gay women? I mean really doesn't this hit at the heart of William's judgement? Judge Prine is putting his own values in this ruling. That really makes me sad. Am I for gay marriage? Do I believe in it?

Here is what I do know - they are loving men, with loving hearts and they are good fathers to all of their children. That is what I have seen with my own eyes. That is what I know in my heart. It would be nice if any of the jurors would speak up in this case. I wonder if they even know what has happened.

And to top it all off there was this man (a bum?) who was asking all of us for money. I didn't give him any because I just spent $7 in parking! We gave him a flower and he took it and put it in his hat. I watched him from the corner of my eye and there he was counting his change. He had one dollar, a few pennies, one nickel and one dime. He was talking to himself and he collected his things and moved on. As I was leaving to my car I saw him with a coke and some chicken. In my head I had this conversation....
Give him some money.
No, I only have $40 in my purse. I'm suppose to buy clothes with that.
You have enough. He bought food and who are you to judge what he does with the money?
Are you really going to give this guy $20?
Yes!
Why?
I don't know but it's in my heart to do it so I have to go with that.
He sits on the bus bench with his coke and chicken and he reaches out his hand as I say good afternoon. I place the money folded in his hand. He looks at me and says something unaudible. I just say have a good day, take care of yourself and walk away.
I'm including this story because I don't know what happened. Maybe I just needed some good to come out of that moment. We couldn't make the judge change his mind which is a helpless feeling I might add. The only good I could control came out of that very moment with this man sitting on the bench. Amen.


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Freebie Friday - Link Up #contests and prizes every Friday

Are you hosting a #contest? Great! Post it here on Freebie Friday. What better time to search and enter contests than on the weekend? Sign in so that others can find your giveaway. I will be hosting Freebie Friday each week from now on so be sure to drop back by. Now go grab your tasty beverage, sit back and relax and contest hop with me! Don't forget to check out these hosted contest links too.




Click on those "Like" and "Retweet" buttons to share with the online community. For current events see the side bars and click on the "Add Me" tab above to connect with me using other social media services.

It's My Blogoversary! $100 #Giveaway

Happy Blogoversary to me.....Happy Blogoversary to me.....Happy Blogoversary Dear Pam aka A Renaissance Woman!!!!!! Happy Blogoversary to me.....And MANY MORE!!!

In my own party style I have to share this really cool music video with you. 

Go ahead and get your groove on, I'll wait.

Can you believe it's been four years? That is a lot of posting, photos, contests, reviews and updates about a flurry of topics. Thank you for sticking with me and if your new then WELCOME. Now to share in the fun! Come leave me some warm Blogoversary wishes, Like my fan page, add me to your circle or Tweet me some LUV like this! "Happy 4th Blogoversary @PamelaMKramer" Maybe you have a completely different idea up your sleeve. Party with me and let me know what you did in the comment section.

Tomorrow I will pick one random winner from the comments and send $100 via PayPal! What? Heck yes! It's just in my nature to give. What can I say? Unless you rather have a $100 to Amazon.com? Either way let's get on with the celebrating!!!!

Mmmmmm virtual party cake and ice cream. Zero calories baby!

I raise my StarBucks to you! Cheers...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

15	

Timestamp: 2011-09-09 01:55:50 UTC

Mozi Esmé on September 8, 2011 8:20 AM said...

Happy 4th! I've been drooling over the virtual cake & ice cream...

Congratulations! You just scored $100. Whoo Hoo!!!!!

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#Wordless Wednesday - The Conversation Prism

While researching for a class I came across this really awesome prism. It's too cool NOT to share. Make sure you click on the picture so you can get the full effect of it.







For more WW participants head to:








Click on those "Like" and "Retweet" buttons to share with the online community. For current events see the side bars and click on the "Add Me" tab above to connect with me using other social media services.