Random musings and our giveaway winner

For the first time in a long while, I'm actually really glad I decided not to run last night. Because my 7 year old came in and threw up all over the floor at 1am.  With my luck, a run would have dipped my immunity just enough to catch whatever he has.  Because yeah, ain't nobody got time for THAT :-)

I had a morning run planned at 5am, but obviously that didn't happen since I spent the wee hours of the night cleaning up vomit.  Being a mother is not for the light of heart or the weak of stomach.  Oh well, they are still worth it.   I'm just glad its Friday.  I'm glad because school has been a challenge this week, and I haven't been on the ball as much as I could have been.  I'm glad because the anniversary of 9/11 is always a somber affair.  I'm glad because this weekend I have the Bonus Round of the Mack Cycle Triathlon Trilogy. I'm glad because (assuming Garrett stops puking on things) my awesome friend Jess is watching my kids this weekend so that Brad and I can get up at 3am and go swim, bike, and run.  Because that's how we roll.    We haven't gotten enough "alone" time lately so I'm ready for that.  And to see if I can catch hubs on the course.  Highly unlikely since I start a good 10 minutes after him, but a girl can dream.  I'm excited because I got the Tough Chik Zoom Zoom Tri Top.   Its been awhile since I've had a new top to race in, so looking forward to styling this.  And hoping to blow last month's time out of the water.

This will be my first race since finding out I was chosen as a Team Tough Chik ambassador.  I'm pretty stoked about that . . . this week we put together a recruiting video for TTC, and it SO embodies the spirit of this awesome group of women.  Be sure to check out the video at the end of this post.   I've had THE HARDEST TIME really putting in to words what this team is all about, and the video manages what words can not.  Registration for TTC 2014 opens October 1st.  I'm so glad TooTallFritz sucked me in a year and a half ago, best decision I've ever made.

And along those lines, I was digging through old pictures yesterday . . . it WAS throw back Thursday after all and I thought it would be fun to post a picture of me pregnant with my daughter since her 5th birthday is coming up.  HOLY CRAP I was blown away when I saw how big I was. Its been a long time since I dug through those pictures.  I cried a little. (OK, a lot), because it was shocking to see after not looking at them for a while.   I decided to put a collage together, because I need to own that story.  I finally feel like I am in a place where I can and not be ashamed . . .It has taken FIVE YEARS to be comfortable with myself.  Five years to undo two and half decades if insecurity.  My one true wish is to spare my kids from a similar struggle. Which is probably why that Tough Chik video at the bottom of this post STILL makes me cry. 

Okay, enough musings.  I'm happy to announce that Xanthe is our giveaway winner, congrats Xanthe!  Here is what Xanthe was celebrating this week:
"Celebrating the start if the Biggest Loser Challenge at work this week. I have a team of three people and a coach. I was able to get up THREE TIMES this week to make it to the 0530 swim class, getting up at 0320 is a challenge (we live an hour away)."

Its sort of ironic that Xanthe won because she was the tough chik who posted the link to the bracelet in the first place.   Don't worry though, the coupon code LIFEBEYOND2259 is still good for 20% off to Life Beyond the Chaos readers at Michelle V's Etsy Store.   She currently does not have any bracelets like the one pictured above listed, but you can message her and I am sure she will accommodate you.

Have a great weekend.  Enjoy every moment of it. Make it amazing.