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I want time off

February 6th, 2013 | Posted by Sara in Iron Mum Training | Life - (10 Comments)

I try my best to keep my blog a happy place. I try to keep the level of whinging, and whining here to a minimum. This is partially the reason for the lack of organic posts over the past month. I have been very lucky to be able to offer you a couple of giveaways, and sponsored content; however I am very aware that you don’t come here for that.

The past month has been a struggle for me.

My hubby has started a great job, however it does mean that he is frequently away from home, resulting in me playing the continual juggling act of full time work, solo parenting & training.

My IronMum training is progressing reasonably well, I’m now working with Jen at Sparta PT and I love the personalised contact that she gives her clients.

I’m also working with Jo at Jo Grobbelaar Health Coach. Jo is helping me prioritise my goals, balance my health and keep my nutrition on track. She also has many wise words of wisdom about all aspects of life. I have never seen a therapist, but I imagine that my sessions with Jo are similar to what that would be like.

I’ve been working very closely with my Physio Chris – he is helping to keep my body together.

 I have surrounded myself with this fantastic team of people, yet I’m still battling to keep on top of everything. I’m currently feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

I hurt my foot when I completed the half marathon back in September last year. I hoped that the pain was just in my head, and diligently have completed all the strengthing exercises that my physio has prescribed. However the pain persists. It is a funny kind of pain, in that when I start running it is there, however as I continue on, and blood flows through the tendons the pain goes away. So for this reason up until about a month ago I was running through the pain, thinking I wasn’t doing anything wrong as the pain wasn’t lasting long anyway. An ultrasound found that it wasn’t in my head at all….. I’m not sure of the technical lingo but in short I’ve damaged the connection between the tendon & the bone, so that my body has decided to grow a new bone around the connection. This bone is irritating the tendon causing the pain whilst running.

This is particularly frustrating as I was having a great time with my running at the end of last year & beginning of this year. I had completed a 17km training run, and also a PB for my 5km, so it looked like I was getting some real gains in this discipline. Having to stop cold turkey really got too me. Initially the break was supposed to be for 2 weeks only, but then the ultrasound results came back & the break was extended, the supportive tape around my foot was increased and my spirits started to drop.

I took advantage of the running break to really focus on riding, and the Tour of Sufferlandria was very well timed in this respect. 9 days, 11 hours, 12 stages of indoor cycling. The Sufferfest videos are an intense training method designed to help you get the most out of your indoor wind trainer sessions. The indoor trainer workouts are notoriously boring, and it is hard to push to the max through them day after day. The Sufferfest makes it interesting (not easy – interesting).

When we moved to Rockhampton in August last year I made a deal with myself – I was going to do my best at making friends, and building a support network around myself. Living so far from family, I really miss that network, I miss having someone to give me a break, to let me just be. I don’t know why I miss it – since having Worm I’ve never really had that kind of network, since I was about 20 I have always lived far from home, and although I know my mum is only a phone call away it hurts.

With the above goal in mind I joined the local running club, tagged along with the local social cycling group and generally tried to say ‘yes’ as often as possible to invitations. So when I was approached to work with someone to form a women’s specific cycling group of course I agreed to help. I thought the concept was fabulous, and together we came up with a name and set a date for our first casual event.

This first ride was epic – we were hoping for maybe 10 women to come, we had 42! Thankfully some of the regular riders from the social group were on hand to help us out. The ride was fabulous and the feedback from the group wonderful.

So everything was going smoothly or so I thought. As I penned an email to my team mate this morning with a bunch of ideas I wanted to run past her (I have always tried to defer to her for decision making in regard to the group as it is her original baby) I wasn’t expecting the reply – especially when it came via text message

“I don’t want anything done or organised without taking to me….nothing… in person”

“You will find me really cranky and I will not talk to you again…. I don’t think we get on at all.”

Now anyone who knows me would understand that I don’t cope overly well with conflict, especially when I don’t see it coming.

Maybe I should have seen it coming, it’s not the first time I’ve received text messages from her saying she was “cranky” with me or that she hadn’t “approved” something that I had said or done, but I thought we had worked through that.

I honestly thought we were working reasonably well together, of course we have differences of opinion but that’s what being a team is all about, it would be boring if we were all the same all the time. So now I am in a quandary. Obviously this lady is struggling with me, however I really want this group to succeed and have become quite passionate about the original concept too.

I need to reflect and decide at what point I simply walk away from the concept, just admit that perhaps I’m not meant to be involved with this group, and hope that she finds some one who will take her rudeness (I’m sure she isn’t intentionally rude, I think she is just used to getting things done her way or not done at all).

Nathalie (@easypeasykids) said on Twitter yesterday that

“Parenting isn’t a job, you live it 24/7. If it was a job you’d have time off”

This really stuck a chord with me. Nathalie’s line mightn’t make sense in regard to the story above about my cycling group – but it does link in ….. I just want life to be easy for a few moments

.….. I want time off.

What do you do when you want time off? Please let me know via twitter, Facebook or the comments section

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Holiday Dreaming

February 3rd, 2013 | Posted by Sara in Sponsored Post - (5 Comments)

Do you ever lay in bed wishing for a holiday? As a mum to a very busy 18 month old, I know that sometimes I dream of just getting away for a weekend escape.

Sometimes to fuel the day dream I spend a few minutes (hours whatever) searching the internet for places to go & hotels to stay in.
There are some AMAZING places to dream about:

Le Meridien Bora Bora

Source: homedsgn.com via Jerome on Pinterest

5 Star Conrad Maldives Rangali Resort Island

Source: petasos.gr via Elle on Pinterest

Petasos Beach Mykonos

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Amanpulo Resort Philippines

Source: homedsgn.com via eda on Pinterest

Shangri Las Villingili Resort

Source: homedsgn.com via Jerica on Pinterest

Viceroy Bali Resort

Where do you dream of going?  Please let me know via twitter, Facebook or the comments section

 

 

 

This is a sponsored post from Accor Hotels

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{WINNER!!} Stuck on You

February 1st, 2013 | Posted by Sara in Product Review | Sponsored Post - (Comments Off)

WOW I thought all the great back to school tips were brilliant. You can read them all at the bottom of the original post, however for me the winner was Natalie Blanch.

I loved her suggestion of creating ‘Social Stories’ Its something that I’m going to start with Worm, not just for back to school but perhaps to prepare her for visitors, or any significant changes to her routine.

“Aside from the organisation of books, clothes and food, I think creating ‘social stories’ helps young children internalise what the back to school routine will involve. Things like “Next week, it will be school-time. Each week day morning, we’ll wake up by x time, get dressed in your uniform, eat breakfast, brush your teeth, do your hair, put your lunch box in your bag and your shoes on and head off to school”, and “At school, you’ll sit at your desk and listen to your teacher. At lunch time, you eat your food, then play with your hat on. After school, I’ll be waiting to pick you up, looking to see your beautiful face!”. I love social stories, as they can prepare children for so many different events, and when they’re repeated over and over, children know what to expect, and situations become familiar before they’ve even occurred. Visual learners may love a corresponding chart to match up with what they’re hearing. It makes it so much easier to just say “So after we have breakfast, what are we going to do?”, and have your child respond with “teeth, hair, bag and shoes!”, with them feeling like they’re leading the way and in control of their preparation.”

Well done Natalie – Stuck on You will be in touch shortly to arrange your voucher. Happy shopping!

 

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{Sponsored} – Back to Work-Thanks to Target Part 2

January 30th, 2013 | Posted by Sara in Sponsored Post - (Comments Off)

I mentioned in Monday’s post that I am not a fashion blogger – nor am I particularly good at cleaning mirrors, or taking self portirates in said dirty mirrors – but regardless of that here is part 2 of my Back to Work with Target post.

This time I was aiming for a more ‘corporate’ look – proving that you don’t need an expensive label to look professional in the workplace. However I do believe that a splash of colour can add vibrance and youthfulness to the corporate environment as well. Again with these outfits I believe you can mix & match, perhaps you could use the belt from the pants on the dress for example, or the shoes can be easily interchanged to dress up or down any outfit with ease.

Before I moved to Queensland I only wore pants to work. Put simply pants help prevent any accidental falling over flashing your undies experiences!! However since living in the humidity & heat up here I have learned that dresses are my friend. Now at work I interchange between them both depending on my mood.

This first outfit is what I would call my classic work wear, easy to wear & clean pants with a splash of colour in the shoes & blouse. Of course if colourful shoes are not your cup of tea the Mykr3 Close Toe Wedge is a sensible option. The pants here are the Hot Options Woven Birdseye pant, the blouses are both Hot Options, the beautiful pink one can be found here and I have combined it with the colourful Infinity Enamal Bangle Unfortunantely I couldn’t find the fish patterned blouse, the pants or the super comfy Piping Hot shoes on the website, however I’m sure if you go to your local Target store you could find something similar.

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The second outfit goes back to the dresses-  This is the  City Dressing Birdseye Dress with belt, accompanied with the Infinity Enamal Bangle for a splash of colour and the Mykr3 Close Toe Wedge shoes. Of course for more colour add one of the MANY colourful flats that are available for about $15-$25 a pair.

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So many colours to choose from!

So many colours to choose from!

So I’ve put together 4 outfits for under $100 each.

Where do you do your ‘Back to Work” shopping? Please let me know via twitter, Facebook or the comments section

 

I was given gift vouchers to have a shopping spree at Target, however my opinions are my own and can not be brought.

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{Sponsored} Back to Work – Thanks to Target

January 29th, 2013 | Posted by Sara in Being a mum | Sponsored Post - (1 Comments)

When I think of corporate wear or Back to work fashion my thoughts immediately lead to brand names such as Table Eight, Cue, or any other similar brand with big price tags. My wardrobe selection for work is rather limited, I prefer to purchase new joggers over a pair of stilettos, and new jeans over tailored pants. After having Worm 18months ago, losing 10 kgs, and returning to work I found that my limited wardrobe was even more meager than I remembered.

I was given an amazing opportunity recently to go on a Back to Work shopping spree thanks to Target. I approached the challenge with some level of trepidation –after all as a busy working mum I like so many others don’t have lots of time to browse the stores. I am so pleased to say that my concerns were unnecessary my trip to Target was very enjoyable.

I raced over during my lunch break with a girlfriend. We quickly grabbed a handful of things each and darted into the change rooms. I was aiming to put together an outfit suitable for work for under $100 from head to toe… a tall order in other stores, but in Target it was easy! I walked out of the store having spent my budget including purchasing shoes & accessories. I was amazed –  instead of putting together 2 outfits I had enough in my hands to dress myself for a week! I could NEVER had done this in smaller boutique type stores.

Lots of options!

Lots of options!

The items I grabbed were ‘mix & matchable’, would easily take me from ‘work to dinner’ AND could even be worn on the weekend to a BBQ or party. This is the first of 2 posts brought to you by Target

I think this first outfit is rather relaxed, but still a suitable dress for work, I put a little black cardigan over it when the air conditioning got a little cool in the office. This dress is so versatile that I have worn it to meetings at Worms child care, out to a BBQ & of course its become a regular part of my work ware. This is the Geometric Print Dress, accompanied by Patent Stilettos - although I did also purchase a more sensible Closed Toe Wedge for everyday workwear.

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The second outfit for today is much more fun, perfect for moving from work to evening simply slip off the sensible work shoes & put on a pair of patent stilettos! If you’re worried about the silver belt, perhaps take it off & replace it with a black patent belt for during the day & slip it back on for the evenings. This dress is the Hot Options Belted Tulip Dress and I have again put it with the Patent Stilettos.

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Both of the above outfits I paired with a simple silver cuff. What I particularly liked about this bracelet is that I could squeeze it so that it fitted properly- too often I can’t wear cuffs as they slide right off!
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So I know I am not a fashion blogger, nor am I a very good ‘self portrait’ taker – but what do you think? Have I come up with a couple of affordable options?

Keep an eye out for part 2 of this Back to Work Thanks to Target Series.

Please let me know via twitter, Facebook or the comments section

 

I was given gift vouchers to have a shopping spree at Target, however my opinions are my own and can not be brought (unlike that beautiful dress above!)

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