This week has been challenging. I started a new full time job. I believed that it is what going to be a 9 to 5 job, but actually I have been working for 12 hours a day. I think that I need to organize my schedule to try to see how exercise fits into my day.

I have been wearing my pedometer everyday and I have 12000 plus steps every day however I have not been able to really workout. I guess I could wake up really early, but I am pretty tired. Yes, I know I am using a excuse, but I think I need to adapt to the new schedule.  I hope that with time my hours will be less each day, but right now, I am trying to learn the office and I need to put all those hours with the hope that later I can have an easier schedule.

I guess the good news I did not gain weight and the bad news I have not lost any weight. I wish I had some weight lost, but at least I have not seen the scale going up.

I do not want to feel down, so I am keeping a positive attitude. I am a tired but optimistic that I can organize my time better.

Summer swimming fun!

This week was challenging. I was sick. Probably a combination of a mild cold with strep. I had fever, sore throat and all my muscles were in pain. I just wanted to stay in bed and no move at all. I have to say that I did not moved as much as I should, but I did found strength to move, just to walk for a few miles and ride the bike for 30 minutes.

However I did not use the elliptical or work on the abs. I did not feel good about it, but I really needed to take a little break to make sure I was rested and ready to start my full time job this week.

Weight lost this week 1 pound

Total weight lost so far 6 pounds

Talking about the upcoming week, now that presents itself with another challenge. I will be working full time, and because of the training, long hours. I am working on my schedule to make sure that either early in the morning or late at night I am able to squeeze some exercise. I guess that there is not perfect time for the topic of this week blogging carnival. What qualities do you look for in a healthy breakfast? Any go-to breakfast recommendations for a busy mom?

This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Quaker Oats. And since I will be starting to work very early in the morning, I have to think about something that will be easy to prepare, good taste and not too heavy to eat at 5 am in the morning. While browsing the Quaker Oats website I found the different options for my breakfast and I went to the store to buy products so I can assure that I will start the week with a healthy breakfast.

I bought the Quaker Weight Control Instant Oatmeal - Maple & Brown Sugar it does not only look good but the fact that it is already designed to help with weight control, called my attention

I also got the cereal Oatmeal Squares - Brown Sugar  Last week I got a container that is designed to carry the milk and keep it cold and carry the cereal. I think that the cereal would be great to take and eat while I am in the office if I did not have time to eat at home. I need to be sure I will not be skipping breakfast and I did on the past.

I was not aware that they had some snacks as well. From what I knew about Quaker Oats in Colombia it was about the oatmeal, so it was a nice surprise to see the snacks and I got the Quaker Rice Cakes - Caramel Corn Oh my, I had some after I got back from the store, and they are great.

I think that the great options that Quaker Oats offers are great for busy moms. I will not have an excuse now for not having breakfast. I have healthy and yummy options. I will try the other cereals and flavors or rice cakes as well.

This post is sponsored by Quaker Oats and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation and sponsored by Quaker Oats

According to their website Shellac™, is a UV cured ‘hybrid’ nail color that brushes on like polish but holds up like a gel—so its natural, glossy ‘wet look’ finish can last up to 2 weeks without smudging or chipping (and doesn’t require power tools for removal). It’s perfect pre-vacation, pre-honeymoon, or pre-anything. Your dazzling, durable digits will leave you ‘shellac’-shocked!

I heard about shellac the first time from the amazing blogger @RobynsWorld and I got interested about the concept of a manicure that was going to last for 2 weeks without chipping.

I love having manicures and pedicures done. It is the treat I give myself every two weeks, however the color on my manicure always gets chipped two days after and I have to apply a clear polish at home until it is time to go again, or stop just for a color change which increases the cost quite a bit.

I found some local places that offered the service and I decided to try it out. I had a normal pedicure, which felt great as usual, however the process for the manicure was different to what I am used to.

The initial process was the same, soaking hands on warm water, excess of cuticle removal, hand massage, oil warm towel and nail buffering. What happened next was different.

The manicurist paid close and crucial attention to my cuticles for this manicure removing any excess with cuticle eraser, and she gently removed my cuticles and got each finger as clean and neat as could be.  Apparently prepping the nails is essential in the process. Then she applied a Shellac base coat and asked me to put the hands under a UV light to cure the polish. Each hand goes under the lamp for45 seconds. Then she applied the Shellac UV color. I choose the French manicure. She applied the pink shade, hands under the lamp, then white tips, hands under the lamp, and then another coat of pink and hands under the lamp. The final step is application of top coat and hands under the lamp. Then what happens is unbelievable:  the manicurist gets a cotton ball with alcohol to remove the top film and polish the nails to a mirror shine. I could not believe she was going to touch my just painted nails with cotton ball, but the polish stayed and my hands were completely DRY!!

Yes, dry! You can take money out of your wallet to pay, and get in your car and drive away... No chips, no dings, nada.

I usually chip my manicure while getting in the car, and I never get a French manicure because I know that when I do dishes that night the polish is going to get peeled, but I am really happy. I have been shopping, playing, cleaning, doing dishes and my nails are perfect.

The Shellac manicure looks and feels just like regular nail polish, not thick and heavy like gels or acrylics

The procedure costs about $30 to 45 in my area (Ventura, CA) -not so much more than a nice manicure!

There are still a limited number of colors Shellac; however the shellac color doesn’t stop at just the color you see on the bottle. Layering makes ALL the difference and you can create more colors.

For removal they recommend the Shellac nail polish remover wraps that help you remove the color yourself with their special nail wraps and 99% acetone – but according to the manicurist Shellac SHOULD be removed by a nail professional in a salon for the best results.

I will write a blog update in two weeks to let you know how long it lasted and about the removal process.

This week was stressful. I was on the road for long hours just to attend some meeting in San Diego and Santa Monica. Driving in Los Angeles area can be crazy. In the past while on the freeway I used to have soda and comforts food to help me “calm down”

So, the challenge for this week was to find something that was good, easy to eat and still help me with the stress of being on the road but that it was a healthier option. I went for sunflower seeds. I had never had them, so I can say they were good. The best part is that it took me a  lot of time to crack them open, so I ended up not eating a lot, while I still was entertained with them

The other challenge was eating outside the house. Options are not the best, I had subway, and water. This just put me on planning mode for the next couple of weeks. I might start working full time again soon (I hope) and I need to think about lunches outside home. Need to be prepared to avoid temptations.

As for the weight, I have lost 5 pounds total, started at 180 and now I am at 175

Weight lost for the week: 0.5 Lbs

I guess it is slow but steady. I was not able to work-out on two days, and only had a walk, so that might be the reason for the low steady phase.

My DH got me the insanity workouts. Oh my, I am tired. I am going to be alternating with the bike and elliptical, because until I am in better shape, I do not think I can complete the entire Agility and Speed workout.

This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Omron Fitness.

The question for this week is What are your current technology tactics in your healthy living journey?

I think that I am trying to catch up with technology, I am using applications on my phone to keep track of calories and activity. I am also using the wii for the amazing EA Sports Active 2 game. The part that I am very excited about this week giveaway is that I am in the look for a pedometer, I have seen the post and updates of everyone and I think that that is one of the tools I am lacking. Omron Fitness has amazing pedometers and it would be nice to get one.

But the best technology tactic I am using, it is the virtual support with Mamavation.

 This post is sponsored by Omron Fitness and I’m writing this to be entered into an Omron Fitness pedometer giveaway hosted by Mamavation .

 

Our visit to The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.

I was lucky enough to win a family pass to The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, located in Balboa Park in San Diego

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is a hands on activities science center that allow kids to learn something while having some fun.

Located in Balboa Park, a place where other museums and attractions are located in San Diego, what makes it a very good place to go, because you can choose to just walk around or enter another place if you have some extra time.

The hands-on exhibits really bring all of the science into perspective with real world examples. My son had a blast experimenting and learning about different topics.

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center has an IMAX theater, and we saw the movie Born to be Wild. Really good and educational about animals. My son is an animal lover, so the movie was just perfect to start our visit.

Then we went to touch and explore each one of the stations. There is a little bit of confusion in the layout and the entire science center is quite small, however my son had a blast.

If you are visiting San Diego and want a nice place to spend some hours letting your kids imagination play this is a great place to visit.