Girl Who Loves to Run
Author Brianna K. Grant's thoughts on running and life-balance related experiences.
2 - Gal to Gal Virtual Walk - Part 2
3 - Gal to Gal Virtual Walk
4 - Trials & Achievements - How is it October already?
5 - Starting with a Thankful Heart (and tired body!)
6 - Lost in the Pages: Review of Hope for the Flowers
7 - Starting with a Thankful Heart: Monday is Looking Sunny
8 - Anything Goes: My Son's First Rock Poster
9 - Thoughts While Running . . .
10 - Starting with a Thankful Heart Again!
11 - Photo Fun
12 - Starting with a Thankful Heart
13 - Anything Goes - A quickie
14 - Lost in the Pages: Book Review: The Treasure of Health & Happiness
15 - Back to School CELEBRATION - a book GIVEAWAY!
16 - Monday: Starting With a Thankful Heart (School, that is!)
17 - Saturday: Anything Goes!
18 - Reflecting
19 - Wednesday: Lost in the Pages . . . quite literally
20 - Monday:Starting With a Thankful Heart
21 - Sunday: Gearing up for the Week (School Open House!)
22 - Thursday - Hanging in There (And swinging wildly!)
23 - Tuesday - Trials & Achievements (A healthy mix of both)
24 - Monday - Here We Go! becomes Starting with a Thankful Heart!
25 - Wednesday - Lost in the Pages: Book Review of Carol Goodrow's Kids Running
 Here we are at Monday again. While not everything is falling into place as I'd like, I can't seem to accomplish my tasks as quickly in reality as I do in my brain, and our home has been plagued with the first round of colds this season (and we're out of tissue!), there are STILL many things for which I am thankful. Here are my top 5, in no particular order:
1. Cooler weather means I can pull out my sweaters and my Keens/Dr. Martins. I love my chunky shoes. Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em. 2. Morning naps (Little Sister's, not mine - I would enjoy a daily morning nap I'm sure, but I'd be frustrated that I wouldn't be accomplishing tasks). I'm enjoying these while they last. Something tells me the days with naps are numbered. 3. The Seattle Symphony Tiny Tots series. We're headed for the first concert of the year on Friday, this time with some friends! Can't wait! 4. The magic of the Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Raising Sand concert last Wednesday. It was a LATE night for us, but it was absolutely amazing. Led Zeppelin fans have every right to be sad that Plant won't be reuniting with is former band members . . . but they should seriously consider checking out his new projects. I can't believe how T-Bone Burnett transformed some old classics to be hauntingly wonderful new pieces using bluegrass instruments and the voice talents of Plant & Krauss. I could just go on & on & on & on . . . it was simply one of the best concerts I've attended - and I've seen some good ones! 5. I'll be signing books my birthday weekend in November at the REF runs for Riverview Turkey Trot (which was the topic of my first post , which was just 147 short posts ago - woah!). Somehow the event had slipped my mind (not my calender, though!) . . . until I read my name in the paper as one of the attractions for the Expo! Things have been a bit slower than I like with the book, so it is great to know that my "name" can help promote a wonderful event that will benefit the health and wellness programs for a school district. And, it will motivate me to get some longer runs in over the next few weeks so I can take part in their inagural 10K race! And YOU, kind reader, what is something for which you are thankful this fine Monday?
 Two posts in one day - unheard of for this blogger!
But, as I was posting about the Gal to Gal Virtual Walk on BookieBoo, I realized what a great educational tie-in the route of the walk is. Here's something to consider as you sign-up to participate in the virtual walk with your family: The site is also a great place to visit over the course of the month with your children. The avatars are walking from Boston, MA (they started there on the 1st of October) and will work their way across the United States to end in San Fransisco, CA at the end of the month (they do journey up to Seattle before going south to CA - hooray!). You can turn the walk into a fun geography lesson for your family as you watch your avatars make the trek! Fodor's (the renowned travel book publisher) also provides city trivia for the "City of the Day" with links to more information about that destination. Some questions to consider with your kids: 1) Which city on the walk is closest to where we live? 2) Do we know anyone who lives in the "City of the Day"? 3) What important historical events took place int he "City of the Day"? 4) How far did our avatar travel yesterday? 5) Get a pedometer for your family and take turns wearing it - who took the most steps this week? Did your avatar walk further, or did the family? 6) How many miles has the avatar traveled in all? I'm sure you could come up with MANY additional questions for your kids to answer and research with you (and they can be adapted for age appropriate skills!). Let me know what questions you would explore with your family on an adventure like this one! Oh, after you leave your comment head on over to the Gal to Gal Virtual Walk join my Balanced Steps team! Can't wait to see you there!
Yesterday, October 1, was the start of the Gal to Gal Virtual Walk to raise $250,000 for patients and families battling stage IV breast cancer.
All it takes is $5 to join and you can make a difference! You get to make your own nifty avatar and join the fun virtual walk. As for me . . . I'll be walking/running at home during the month-long event, too - my sporty avatar isn't the only one who gets to be active!
Click here to see the celebrity video on YouTube about the event (I'm not yet savvy enough to know how to embed it here, or I would!).
Join my team - Balanced Steps - to help make a difference! You'll find companies such as Epson & Franklin Covey are supporting the Gal to Gal walk, as well as a long list of celebrities.
Check back here for an update - I'll post my avatar here (once I figure it out!), as well as some celeb avatars. My goal is to get 20 folks on the Balanced Steps team. Won't you help me?!!!
I'm heading to the Robert Plant & Alison Krauss concert tonight (and to dinner beforehand with my husband!), so my time here will be zippy.
Here are some recent trials I'm working to overcome (mostly life balance related!): 1. A bit of a break from doing work things has been refreshing and has allowed me to do more things on the homefront, but now work-related projects are creeping up on me and I'm not sure how to work them back into my life! 2. I'm struggling with how to strike a balance between how our family is used to living and being more environmentally aware. Being green isn't always a cheap way to go, but it is definitely smarter and has a positive long-lasting impression. More on this to come, for sure. Some recent achievements I'm excited about: 1. Next week we're taking our first step toward carpooling for pre-school. Since the kids are young (3 & 4), the other mother and I are taking it slowly so that it is as easy as possible on the kids. We'll have a bit of a playdate one afternoon and then each do one pick-up from school later in the week. Wish us luck - this will be FABULOUS for time and gas savings if the kids roll well with it (11 miles each way)!!!  2. Little Sister's room is painted. Turns out the walls never really were painted before (or maybe just once in 10 years, we're guessing) - so they soaked up TONS of paint. It took nearly 2 full gallons to cover 4 relatively small walls. But, it is done and looks fresh and happy. 3. My wonderful readers are reaching out to their local bookstores to ask them to carry We Are Girls Who Love to Run! We're starting to get requests from bookstores that order through a different distributor than the 3 we use to order directly from us. Very few things are more satisfying to an author than to hear that her books are in demand! 4. I tagged over 100 items to sell at a big children's and maternity consignment sale this weekend in Seattle. I'll haul them all to the event Friday afternoon and hope that most of them will sell on Saturday & Sunday! If it goes well, I'll be even more thorough in getting things ready for the spring sale (I didn't go through accessories and such this time around, just clothing). The great thing about the sale is I had a choice to donate what doesn't sell to a local charity or have them set it aside for me to pick-up. Everybody wins at these events!!! Off to pack the kids for their overnight at my parents' and then get myself out of my mom duds and into some fancy concert-going attire. Think I'll remember how to put on make-up? What are your recent trials? Have an achievement you'd love to celebrate with us? Be sure to leave a comment!
I'm not sure how I made it from last Wednesday to today without posting. I guess I was eyeball deep in taking care of the kids, my parents' two dogs, picking up their mail, comforting a non-sleeping Little Sister, etc., etc. Oh, and we've had a marvelous bout of weather, so we've been busy in the yard, going to the park, and I've been painting Little Sister's bedroom (the yellow I mentioned a few weeks ago has finally made it out of the can and onto the walls!). Hmmmm . . . I guess I HAVE been busy! Today I am thankful for: 1. the return of my parents from their 2 week road trip to help family in South Dakota 2. the much-needed hike this afternoon with a few other moms and their kids from Mr. Music's school (great for the kids AND moms) 3. that both kids fell asleep before we could even get their jammies on . . . they were OUT totally unprompted by 7:30, folks. UNHEARD of at our house!!!  4. the pan of lasagna from The Grit Restaurant cookbook I made today that not only fed 6 people for dinner, but will also take care of four lunches - yum, yum! 5. the anticipation for the Robert Plant & Alison Kraus concert we'll be attending on Wednesday night - I can't wait!!! Mr. Music's love of music came honestly. If I can swing it (the house does need a bit of cleaning before we host a playgroup tomorrow afternoon) I'll be sneaking in a run with Little Sister in the jogger tomorrow morning. The hike was great today, but my body and mind are CRAVING a morning run. And tomorrow still promises to be a pretty day . . . though I can't say the same for the days that will follow. We need to take full advantage of the beauty of the sun while we can! Happy running, happy reading, happy week!
Hope for the Flowers, by Trina Paulus (copyright 1972, in case you're wondering), is one of those books that you read once and it sticks with you and is always great for a reread. I was first introduced to it when I was in high school (back in the early 1990s, folks) on a church retreat. One of the leaders read part of it to us before giving a moving talk about "letting go" to enable change in our lives. A number of years later (post-college and after I was married) I was browsing a local bookstore searching for another title from those retreat years (The Way of the Wolf by Martin Bell) when I stumbled upon Hope for the Flowers. I confess that I sat down right in the middle of the book aisle and read it from cover to cover (thanfully it is a quick read, as the floor isn't always the best place to enjoy a book). I did purchase it (I'm not one of THOSE people who reads a book at the store and walks away - that's what libraries are for!) and have even purchased a few additional copies to share with friends since then. The cover note summarizes the book fairly well: "a tale - partly about life, partly about revolution, and lots about hope for adults and others (including caterpillars who can read)" The book chronicles the lives of two caterpillars who are seeking their place in the world and trying to find their life's purpose. They find comfort in one another's companionship, yet struggle to understand if they are missing out on something important by not joining their fellow caterpillars in climbing a caterpillar pillar up to the sky (thinking perhaps the meaning to life is revealed at the top of the heap). Yellow, the girl caterpillar, decides climbing the pillar is not the path she wants to take, but Stripe, the boy caterpillar, can't resist the urge to reach the top and so leaves his friend to test his fortitude. Stripe quickly learns that his choice was not an easy one. He must face numerous challenges (read it to see what they are!), finds himself wallowing in dispair, and realizes that he misses his dear friend Yellow. At his lowest point, a beautiful yellow butterfly visits him and silently guides him down the pillar to safety. With his newfound knowledge (again, I don't want to spoil things, so I won't tell you what they are!) and help from the kind butterfly, Stripe lets go of his fears and his urges to follow the pack of caterpillars. He finds that following the masses took him away from his life's purpose and that refocusing and looking at his life from another perspective brought him to a place where he could start life anew. This new life is filled with hope and friendship. If you know anything at all about caterpillars, you can probably guess what happens to Stripe at the end . . . but you'll have to read the book to really get a feel for how great his change truly is. The book is a treasured favorite of mine for these fabulous reasons: 1. It is an illustrated tale that is great for adults and for adults to share with children 2. The illustrations are simple, but lovely - black/white/yellow (and if you know me, I love yellow) 3. It is a story of friendship, forgiveness, and self-discovery 4. It is a story of hope, understanding, and kindness 5. It illustrates how marvelous it is that you can change your path midstream 6. Though the characters are caterpillars, I find that I "get them" and they totally "get me" This is a great one to get for yourself, for a friend who is facing a challenge, for high school students heading off to college, for college kids getting ready to face the "real world". It is a good one, I promise. My next Lost in the Pages installation will be a special treat. I had the honor of receiving a preview copy of The Emerald Tablet: The Forgotten Worlds Book 1 by P.J. Hoover, which won't be in book stores until October! I'm just about finished reading this science fiction novel for middle school and young adult readers and can't wait to tell you about it. What are YOU reading? What are your KIDS reading? Be sure to leave a note and let me know! Who knows, I might invite you to share a review . . . or your suggestion might end up on my night stand and I'll review it myself! Remember - I'm always looking for great books to review.
I find myself looking forward to Mondays so I can do my thankful post. My plan worked - Mondays now have a bit of sparkle to them, so they don't seem so bad! I think I'm actually posting more on Mondays now than any other day . . . though I should be working harder to get some Wednesday Lost in the Pages posts going (and there are a few good ones coming your way - including some review previews of BRAND NEW books that are being released this fall!!!).
So . . . after a dreadfully long week last week, I'm happy to kick off this work/school week with some sunshine (which is remarkably how our weather is today, too - sunny after a week of rain). Today I'm thankful for:
1. The combined powers of kind doctors/x-ray machines/mineral oil/Miralax/prune juice and one fabulous little pediatric suppository that got Little Sister back to her little self again (I told you it was a long week!!!!)
2. The restorative powers of Sunday football for a husband's psyche and spirit (even with the Steelers' loss, the time was well spent)
3. Neighbors that look out for one another
4. The rope swing that entertains our son for HOURS at a time on our Cedar in the back yard
5. The carpet cleaner that takes care of plenty of "oops" scenarios - ranging from dogs who eat what they shouldn't to little girls who rip off their diapers and then yell "Pee!" while showing you the dry diaper and the wet spot on the carpet.
Yes, we're still in the early stages of potty training, but I think the pace is picking up quickly - we've just put 2 and 2 together to create an amazingly bright lightbulb idea for why our daughter has been waking up multiple times every night for the past week or so: We THINK (and will check tonight) that she's feeling herself wet her diaper at night. In my mommy fog at 2AM and 4AM, I don't think to check, I just redirect her to her bed, cover her up and smile when she falls immediately back to sleep (hoping I can do the same for myself!). I'm hanging onto my yellow hat as best I can - potty training is an adventure that I'm looking forward to completing.
Have a wonderful week, everyone.
 We just hung up Mr. Music's first "rock" poster yesterday. It's a Justin Roberts poster from his album Meltdown - with a personal note, drawing of a yellow bus, and his signature. This is a PRIZED posession at our place!! After we saw Justin Roberts in concert last fall (which had the parents up and dancing, too - WAY fun!), Mr. Music sat down and dictated (hey, he was just 3 afterall) a note to Mr. Roberts about how in a few years when he's older he'd like to join the tour as the drummer. Mr. Music also colored in the cover of the downloadable music book for the album Yellow Bus, and had us include that with his letter.
Imagine our surprise when the signed poster arrived! It was an exciting day at the Grant house. Unfortunately, it was also a busy day, so the poster was carefully placed in the piano bench so it wouldn't get lost before we could properly frame it. Fast forward 10 months . . . (yes, I said 10, not 1 . . . sometimes things get lost by the wayside) I discovered it in the piano bench yesterday, so when we went on our adventure to check out the YMCA in the next town over, we stopped by the Ben Franklin on our way home to pick up a frame. I don't think my husband was in the door longer than 2 seconds before Mr. Music pounced and asked if they could hang it up. The anticipation was apparently quite heavy in the air, so while he might ordinarily have put off the task for at least 10 minutes so he could say hello to everyone and check the mail, my husband got right to it and put Justin Roberts in the designated place of honor right as you walk in the room and by Mr. Music's bed. Sort of reminds me of my giant Tori Amos poster hanging over my bed in college . . . *sigh* That was a good bit ago . . . It also leaves me wondering (after watching our old favorite That 70's Show nearly nightly as we wait for our favorite season premiers and seeing all of the posters in the background of Eric's basement and Donna's bedroom) what posters may replace Justin Roberts in the future. Only time will tell what musical adventures await us, but really, there's no rush to find out. I'm going to enjoy this little guy one day at a time.
I just got back from a 20 minute run with Albus. I had planned on a longer run, as the kids are off for a playdate, but it is HOT out there - nearly 80 and humid. This gal isn't used to such conditions! So, I kept it light and fun and healthy for us both (important to remember that Albus is a black lab mix - if I'm hot, he's even hotter!).
A few things that crossed my mind:
- Woah! Why am I running up hill at a 7:15 pace? Have I ever run at a 7:15 pace? Go me!
- Wait a minute, is Garmin working right?! Maybe I miss read the digits . . . nope, I didn't!
- Why are the high school cross country runners running with traffic instead of against traffic?
- High schoolers are looking younger and younger every day!
- The blackberry bushes are looking pretty picked-over - good thing the kids aren't along, they'd be sad.
- Is the Garmin battery going to last the whole run? (I forgot to recharge it after my last run)
- Will the laundry be ready to change around when I get home so I can get another load done before picking up the kids?
- When is the last time we ate spaghetti? Is it too soon to eat it tonight?
- The senior I mentored today (she's writing a children's book for her senior project) is the same age as the first group of students I taught when they were in 4th grade - all my "kids" will be graduating. To quote the loveable Scooby Doo, "Zoinks!"
- What a great day this has been.
And, so, fellow runners, readers and life participants . . . I shall now take leave of you to get a shower and get some more chores done before retrieving my children - have a wonderful remainder of your week!
With our latest bout of sunshine, I've spent a good deal of time away from the computer (that's as it should be, right?). While I had some interesting thoughts and reflections to share, alas, they shall forever remain trapped in my brain - at least until they're prompted out sometime in the future when I'm near the keyboard and I don't have children climbing on me!
So here we are back to Monday already. Whew! Here's what I'm thankful for today: 1. Hours and hours and hours and hours of backyard and park play while the sun graces us with its energy and light (we're soaking it all in before the sun starts setting at 5PM!) 2. The return to our "normal" schedule with pre-school in full swing for Mr. Music and music class for Little Sister 3. A regular flow of orders for We Are Girls Who Love to Run with relatively little advertising (see this post to see how you can get YOUR own copy & have US send a copy to the school of your choice!) 4. The flexibility of my parents' schedules to help out seriously ill family members - and our close proximity that enables us to help out by watching their dogs/house/mail, etc. while they travel to be with family. 5. The magic of chapter books for young readers that have my son clamering for more and practicing his own phonics books so he can read them on his own one day in the not-so-distant future!  Have a wonderful week!
 I mentioned a post or so ago that we had some photos taken for Balanced Steps. While we had a photographer around we also had some pictures taken of the kids, too. Here are some of my favs, and you can visit the photographer's Flickr site ( Jennifer Tai Photo Artistry is the official site, but the photos aren't there yet) for some more of the cream of the crop.
Here's a great shot of my mom and me - that's my happy new hat (not yellow, but come on, you have to admit it is kickin'!)
 I've working on updating our website with some of the head shots, so be sure to check there in the next day or so to see what you think of the site with the added punch of photos! I'm also reworking some of the pages, so over the next month or so it will seem like a whole new site - that's the hope anyhow!
I love the look captured here as I caught Mr. Music in a "I love you and as your mother I'm asking you to please STOP running around the house so we can get just TWO more photos before Ms. Jennifer leaves!" kiss.
I think this one will be my new official author photo. Look for it places (like The Runner's Lounge, but you won't find it there yet, I'll update it tomorrow) - I'll be testing it out. Mr. Music - doing what else, but playing his guitar! Sweet Little Sister actually kept her hair up for the entire photo shoot - AMAZING!
What'd you expect?
 I'm keeping it simple today, folks. I'm thankful for:
5. The smiles induced by a furry dog who decides to take a nap on a freshly-mopped floor (ie, still wet - the floor, not the dog) 4. Breathtaking pink and purple hued sunsets 5 nights in a row that make you forget the fog-filled mornings 3. Two kids to bed on time without complaints because they played hard all day (and didn't really nap). 2. The baby jogger/hill combo that provides a much needed mental and physical challenge and reminds me why I love running so 1. The calming of my mind when I came to the realization that I don't HAVE to run the Seattle Half Marathon this year - letting go of that goal for now will bring a balance back to my life that my family needs AND puts the fun back into running. I won't shelve it forever, just put it on hold until it can be a healthy part of my life balance instead of a stressful one. I bet my running frequency will even improve now. Funny how that works! What are YOU thankful for today?
I was pleased to get in a 3 miler with Little Sister in the jogger on Thursday morning while Mr. Music was enjoying his time at pre-school. They start school off slowly with just 1.5 hours the first week, 2 hours the second week and then the full 3 hours the third week. While this leaves the "experienced" students a bit sad (they're ready to go!), it is a great way to ease in the newbies. After a few gloomy weeks the kids were treated to a sunny start and I was able to enjoy a well-lit and uplifting run - we even had to dodge a sprinkler, which totally had Little Sister captivated!
If we get back from pizza at my parents' house tonight in time (boy, the sun is setting earlier and earlier!) I'm going to see about squeezing in a run. We went for bagels this morning and then ran errands until about lunch time. I'm enjoying a low-key afternoon of some sewing (the quilt just doesn't want to finish itself!) while my husband works on getting the new bubbler bucket ready for hydroponic tomatoes and the kids nap. True, this would have been a great opportunity to run . . . but there's something to be said for working on OTHER goals, too. I just love the steady whirrrrrr of my sewing machine - and the immediate results of seeing the progress!
We had some photos taken yesterday - some new headshots for our Balanced Steps website and a great bunch of photos of the kids (and of the kids with me). When I get them back I'll be sure to post a few of my favorites. I'm getting antsy waiting to see how they look, even though it has only been a day and a half. I've seen the photos my friends had taken by the photographer and they are amazing, which is probably why I'm so impatient!
So, the quilt calls . . . I'm off to get another block quilted before the kids wake up and we're out chasing them in the yard.
Happy weekend, happy running and happy times!
 Carol Goodrow, the author of The Treasure of Health & Happiness, reports that of her three books this is her FAVORITE! Though it isn't her best selling (that honor is held for her 2004 title Happy Feet, Healthy Food: Your Child's First Journal of Exercise and Healthy Eating), is is also the favorite of children she shares it with. Treasure follows the journey of a young, inactive girl, Hannah, as she struggles to discover her confidence and her "inner athlete" (my term, not hers). I immediately related to Hannah - she felt strongest and most loveable when she was around her best friend. When her best friend moved, Hannah's sense of security vanished and she had to work extra hard to re-establish her sense of self. As an Air Force brat I was often on the moving end of friendships, but could identify with Hannah's predicament. With today's mobile society, I'm sure many youngsters will find a kinship with this kind-hearted and timid girl. Hannah also felt that her school's annual Chipmunk Chase fun run was out of her reach, something she surely couldn't even attempt, let alone complete. Running scared me throughout my youth, too. I'm sure I would have taken Hannah's initial position and avoided the event. I'm thrilled that she finds the strength and excitement to give it a shot (involving her parents in the training, no less!) - and secretly wish that I had been as strong and tenacious as young Hannah (it took me 23 years to build up the courage to run!)! If readers can relate with her in the beginning, then I'm sure they'll cheer as I did as Hannah faces her fears and discovers the excitement in trying new things: she gets a dog and faces the trials and pleasures of training him, finds satisfaction in tending a garden and eating its fruits, puts aside her fears and rides a two-wheel bicycle, and (this is my favorite because it is SO like my own running story) ultimately unlocks discovers the joy of running!  As an educator, I found my brain making dozens of connections for how teachers can use Treasure in their classrooms. Not only is it a great motivational book to share some simple and fun lessons in making healthy food choices (without being preachy) and making exercise fun and approachable for people at all fitness levels, but it makes great cross-curricular connections, perfect for use in a health unit in the lower elementary years. As Hannah gleans a treasure of health and happiness in her dream world (a great read-aloud!), classes can track their own progress and interests in eating and fitness with tables/graphs/charts. Heck, they could use Happy Feet, Healthy Food as personal journals throughout the unit . . . and on into the school year and beyond - is Carol smart, or what?!!
Parents/Educators who are looking for uplifting and encouraging chapter book reading experiences for their kindergarten-third grade students will find The Treasure of Health & Happiness to be a great read for adults and kids share together. It not only serves as a positive example of making life-style choices and the importance of making choices as a family or classroom, but it is certain to fuel conversations about WHY and HOW to make healthier choices (without being obsessive!). I'd also like to direct your attention to Carol's KidsRunning.com site (a micro site of Runner's World). KidsRunning is hosting a fun contest for new running games. Be sure to check it out, test out some new twists on old running game favorites with your friends/kids/students, and then send in the game. If your game is chosen to highlight on KidsRunning, you'll get a Runner's World t-shirt! Now get out there and get those creative juices flowing - there's nothing like a good read or a good run to kick-start that ol' imagination!  Next book on my list is an old favorite from my high school days (but a great inspirational read for any age): Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus. Never heard of it? Perfect! Stay tuned, and you'll be ready to get your hands on a copy. *Yes, go to Amazon.com and you can "Look inside!" Oh, and keep sending ME your ideas for book reviews. I have two brand spankin' new titles headed my way for review, but I'm still looking for more!
 In honor of my son's first day back at pre-school, I'm inviting you to join me in celebrating the fresh start of the school year and the promise of a year filled with the wonder of learning!
My company, Balanced Steps, will donate a copy of We Are Girls Who Love to Run to the school of your choice (you must be one of the first 100 replies to this post!). *see details below!
Before embarking on this amazing trip called motherhood I was an elementary school teacher. I remember those first precious days of the school year as the students (3rd & 4th graders) and I got to know one another and we laid out our goals and expectations for the year. Those were days filled with excitement, a bit of nervousness (for both teacher and kids!), uncertainty and promise. This last one was the most important - promise that I would be there to help guide the kids and help them discover new ideas, develop new friendships, read new books, and pull them through their struggles. For them there was the promise of meeting the expectations of being a learner in my classroom, a good listener and classmate for their peers, and for letting me know HOW I could assist them in making the year a good one. BIG expectations - you bet! BIG results - absolutely!
It is those great promises that I celebrate in my bilingual book We Are Girls Who Love to Run (Somos Chicas y A Nosotras Nos Encanta Correr). The book is filled with hope and joy for girls who are discovering their inner strengths and passions and learing to share them with the world. True, the book's underlying theme is running, but the text reaches out to girls of all ages, interests and abilities. Seriously, I've signed some books for women to give to their best friends. The book reaches all.
So . . . how can you help me celebrate? I'm glad you asked! Here are those fun details:
* Buy a copy of We Are Girls Who Love to Run to keep or give as a gift and we'll ship a FREE copy to the school of your choice (and include a note letting the school know you chose them to receive the book)!
In your order please be sure to include:
1) your name & address
2) your chosen school's name & address
3) check or money order for $26.20 made out to Balanced Steps, LLC (this covers your book + shipping/handling for both books) *WA residents please add your local sales tax for the $17.99 value of your copy of the book.
Mail your order to:
Orders
Balanced Steps, LLC
PO Box 1179
Duvall, WA 98019
Please allow 4-6 weeks to receive your order (it will likely take less time, but we don't want you to worry if you don't get it immediately - we are a small company and will have 200 books going out to 200 destinations!). This offer is not available through the Balanced Steps website. It is a special through the Girl Who Loves to Run blog ONLY (orders placed through Amazon.com are not eligible for this offer)!
Feel free to spread the word about this Back to School CELEBRATION! Remember the first 100 folks that leave a comment here and place their order will get a FREE copy sent to the school of their choice!
Here we are in September. It hardly seems possible that we've made it so far into the year already. I feel like just yesterday we were celebrating holding the book in our hands for the first time - and that was WAY back in January, a full 8 months ago.
Last week was one of the most difficult ones I've had in quite a long while. I'm glad to put it behind me and move forward into many fresh starts:
- new week
- new month
- new school year
Bring it on! I couldn't be more ready.
Today ended up being a fairly nice weather day, though it started around 45 degrees when we woke up - brrrrrr! Once the sun decided to greet us, the temps warmed considerably and it seems everyone was out working in their yards. We completely filled our yard waste bin (and then some!). Starting September with a well-groomed lawn is a nice way to go, too.
So, here are my 5 things I'm thankful for today:
- fresh starts
- the talents and positive energy of educators (especially pre-school teachers!)
- the hope and optimism of small children
- the dishwasher is humming and the kitchen is clean
- neighbor friends for my children (even Mr. Music added this one into his prayers tonight - super sweet!)
Have a wonderful week, everyone. Best wishes if you start school this week like we do!
 I was so glad to see that my theme for today is Anything Goes. I can leave the thinking behind for today and plow through with some easy updates. It also gives me an opportunity to show my son with the 100 piece Melissa & Doug puzzle we completed the other day. He was SO proud of the accomplishment! And, yes, that is a mini piano in the background - and yes, it DOES get played daily.
On the kid front: Tuesday is the 1st day of school for Mr. Music - look for a fun event here on that day to celebrate the start of the school year (and get ready to tell your friends - because this is BIG)! Unfortunately Little Sister is a bit off kilter with a snotty nose and a bit of a cough, but maybe this low-key weekend will get her back on track.  On the home front: I'm feeling inspired to get back to work on Little Sister's big girl quilt. Here are photos of it, as I've been promising. I'm not sure if you can tell, but half of it is quilted, the other half of what is there needs quilting - and then another big row will be added. The quilt is reversible, with 60+ fabrics making up the scrappy front and 7 composing the back.  On the work front: More balance is needed here. We're working on it! On the running front: More balance is needed here, too. I'm working on that, too. Something tells me that if I can get THIS in order, other things will fall into place, too. Baby steps. I know I didn't keep up with my promise for the book review on Thursday or Friday . . . so it will have to wait until this next Wednesday. I'm frustrated with myself for letting this ball drop, but I don't like to do important things like book reviews in a hurried fashion - and everything this week seemed to be done in a hurried and stressful fashion. That wouldn't be fair to the book, its author, OR its readers. Important things deserve true focus and concentration. Well, the sun is shining and the weeds are calling. Have a great Labor Day weekend, everyone! Wishing you a happy balance in your life (I'm wishing that for myself, too, today)!
After one heck of a long week, and an even tougher day today, I find myself reflecting on the optimism and positive energy of my first blog post. You can find it here:
http://balancedsteps.blogspot.com/2007/12/ref-turkey-trot.html
One three-hour block of time each week I'm treated to kid-free time. This is achieved by taking on my friend's two girls for a different three-hour chunk in the week so she can have some kid-free time, too. I usually reserve this time for one or more of the following:
1. A business meeting with my mom (top priority)
2. A run (if it weren't for the importance of #1, this would get top billing)
3. Finding my kitchen
4. Running errands
5. Pulling the too-small clothes out of my children's closets when they aren't there to object
Today took on a bit of a twist because I headed with my dad (a piano technician who runs his own business) to a marketing writing meeting about an hour from here. So, it was sort of like a business meeting with my mom . . . except my mom wasn't there (she was quilting, lucky gal!). And, it was sort of like running . . . except I was in my "fancy" jeans (ie - no kid spit, food, snot, etc. on them) and nice tops and the distance was covered by my car rather than my feet.
It was a great experience, despite the fact that I didn't get to do my usual kid-free stuff. We figured out a catchy headline to use for upcoming marketing stuff (that goes to print in the next 2 weeks - clock's a tickin'!) and got a few other things figured out. It also helps that I sold and signed 2 books at the interactive lecture, too.
So, you are expecting a review of Carol Goodrow's Treasure book. And you shall have it - tomorrow! I've read and digested the book and shall be prepared to report to you in tomorrow's installment of my TRUE Wednesday: Lost in the Pages . . . despite the fact that it is Thursday. I can do that because this is my blog (I say this with a mix of authority and apology!). And, this is a remarkably accurate reflection of how life has been rolling as of late - a true peek into the life of an author on a shoestring budget!
For now, I'm lost in the pages of the notes I took, those darn press releases, and another newspaper article. I can totally see why there copy writers and ad agencies that you can hire to handle these things!!! If only I had the moolah to pass on this more tricky and precise writing so I can be left to the creative end of writing - you know, the FUN stuff: special interest newspaper pieces, another book, emails to long-lost friends . . . . *sigh*
Before my brain shuts down completely for the night, I'd like to remind you that I'm looking for books and book reviewers to spotlight/do a guest review (I originally set the deadline for August 31st, but since this is the start of the school year and tends to be a chaotic time of year, I'll extend the offer to September 15th). Send your suggestions my way, folks! I'm all ears and can't wait to get my hands on the books you share!
Ah, Monday. The kind of day when you walk a half mile up a hill with two small children with the promise of going to the park . . . and then the rain comes down. And then, when you get home, the rain stops. The sun comes out. And you consider starting the journey again, because, well, the kids could really use the excursion. And, let's face it - so can you. But then the clouds return. And the rain starts. And so you decide that lining up toy animals while making their sounds and spouting random pirate-isms sounds pretty darn good. True story. Today's story, actually! Today I am thankful for: - the bouts of sunshine between rainshowers - my son's adoration of chapter books (current read: Stuart Little) - the new Japanese Maple we planted in our front yard on Saturday (and all the free water it has received since!) - the fresh start of half-marathon training - sweet toddler snuggles at bedtime Have a wonderful week! Best wishes to all of you who sent your children off to school today for the exciting First Day of School!
First, I'm happy to report that I DID get out for a run on Thursday afternoon, which made both Albus (my faithful dog) and me happy. It was just a 20 minute number, but it was just what we needed and it fit perfectly into the afternoon before I had to pick up the kids and get going with dinner stuff.
I started today with a run. That really is one of my favorite ways to start a day. I should do it more often - Albus thinks so, too. Another short one, at 23 minutes, but it was nice.
This is the last week of vacation - holy moly! And, even though this week marks the end of one chunk of the year and the end of our "lazy days", it is one my son has been looking forward to for a few weeks: his pre-school Open House is on Tuesday! He's anxious to see his teachers again, see familiar faces that will be in his class again and maybe even visit for a few minutes with some of the kiddos who are moving up to the big Kindergarten class.
I'm confident that the year will be another good one for us. Mr. Music (for those of you who are "new" readers, that's what I call my son) attends a Montessori School, so he'll have the same pair of teachers this year as he did last year. His class is a multi-age pre-school group with kids ages 2.75 - 5. It'll be a great mix of kids from last year and younger kids entering school for the first time. The start of the year is always exciting - and I'm happy to see my son's confidence and independence blossom as he builds a solid foundation at pre-school.
 His teachers are FANTASTIC and do a great job of introducing the kids to a balance of learning experiences - and quite thoroughly, too. After their tree unit in the spring, Mr. Music could clearly identify which trees are coniferous and which are deciduous - using those terms! (Coniferous Photo Credit. Deciduous Photo Credit.)
I also like how calm and respectful the Montessori environment is. Conflicts are resolved with conversation and kids discussing how they feel about what happened - and after just a few weeks of modeling by the teachers and older students, these little folks really do put the problem-solving and conflict resolution techinques to work on their own. I'm hoping those lessons work their way into solving sibling conflicts at home soon, too! One step at a time, right?!
 This week also kicks-off my Half Marathon Training Plan for the Seattle Half Marathon! I've opted to go with the running plan from Marathoning for Mortals. I followed the run-walk full marathon plan from that book in 2003 when I ran the SunTrust Marathon in Virginia and I found it to mesh nicely with my chaotic teaching/graduate student/wife life. I found a few other plans in Runner's World and on-line, but I do find some comfort in sticking with the "known". And so - tomorrow I'll get it going. I'm REALLY doing this! (Photo credit) And, yes, for those of you who are sticklers for details, I KNOW that marathons don't have runers start in starting blocks!! I just though the image was an appropriate one for the start of something BIG in my life -and running-related, if not a perfect match.
 So, I mentioned the other day that I have some things developing for my book. Today one of those things came to life - hooray!
So, it isn't there today . . . but it will be up soon. If you know anyone who is pondering participating in the race, let them know they can order my book through The Seattle Marathon, too! It will be available with 2 other children's book titles: Pellie Runs a Marathon and Coco Loves to Tri, both of which have been reviewed by Carol Goodrow on KidsRunning.com. Check them out and then order the trio to share with your favorite budding runners! On the running front, I'm determined to get in a run this afternoon. With the chaos before our trip to CA, the adventures there and the chaos post-trip of getting the kids back on schedule, I haven't been running. AGH! And, that's not good with the Half coming up! So, after a bit of work while the kids play with friends, I'm lacing up those shoes and heading out. I'll probably leave the Garmin behind because I just want to go and enjoy being back on the road without worrying about what this lull in running has done to my speed. I hope your week is going well. Happy running - and hooray - tomorrow's Friday!
I'm pretty sure I've never posted at 6PM before, though I'm now 125 posts into this little blogging experience (how'd THAT happen?!), so maybe one or two of them were post-dinner ramblings. I'm writing now because my husband and dad took the kids to Lowe's so I could have some time to myself. I even passed up the opportunity to join my mom and her sister for a trip to Ben Franklin to look at quilt fabric and then a viewing of Mama Mia. Yup, sometimes it is just nice to be able to sit back and breathe once and awhile.
Can you hear that? What, you don't hear anything? Me neither!!!! That's because there is nothing to hear but the sound of the click-clacking of the keys as I type. I can even take a break from this to make myself a cappuchino because I'm not trying to get it all in while one kid is napping and the other is listening to the shortest book on tape in the world! This is me leaving to make myself that yummy coffee treat (I'll of course follow it up with a tall glass of water, because if I play my cards right, I'll get a run in this evening after the kids go to bed - could happen!). And there's no danger of little fingers typing their own little message while I'm gone!  OK, the machine is warming up. I love our espresso machine - and to think I thought my husband was crazy for wanting something a bit more "splurgy" (if that isn't already a word, it is now) like our Magnifica! So, here are my current trials:  - There's a business event I SHOULD go to on Thursday night (and I want to go, too). BUT, that same night would also be great to get back to yoga or even attend a Design Your Own Annabelle Handbag Party (here's a sample from the Spring line. The fall fabrics aren't on the site yet - they're being unveiled on Thursday!). Know how I can be in three places at once? Me neither. POM - I see how you feel with wanting to ditch the "special stuff" to just have down time! - summer is nearly over and I'm trying to cram the remaining items of our "Summer Wish List" into these last 2 weeks, which seems silly because . . . the onset of school doesn't mean that we can't have adventures and, as recorded history shows us - summer shall return! - I have 2 newspaper articles to write in the next few weeks (I'd never make it as a staff writer, it just takes me too long to get things the way I want them) - a stack of press releases need my attention if I'm going to keep book sales going like they are (and they're going well!) without forking out too much of our budget on advertising - I've verbally committed myself to run the Seattle Half Marathon the weekend of Thanksgiving (sort of a 2 week late 30th birthday gift to myself) but haven't picked a plan - I'm not sure that there are any training plans that allow you to run while sleeping - know of one? - My daughter's quilt sits half finished. If I can get it done in the next 2 weeks it can go in our town's annual quilt show. That being said, there ARE some achievements to celebrate: - the laundry from our CA trip is DONE! - After a week of eating out and simple oven-warmed dinners, I made a lasagna from scratch tonight - and the dishes are already in the dishwasher! - My newspaper article about our quilt shop, The Quilter's Garden, will be in tomorrow's paper - I have some promising nibbles on some big opportunities for the book But, enough about me . . . what about YOU? Anything pressing going on this week? Anything you feel like celebrating? I'm off to find a spoon to get the last of the foam from the bottom of my cup. Yum!
 We took our first vacation in ages last weekend - 4 full days in Palo Alto, CA with my husband's brother's family. It was a fantastic, sunny adventure filled with trips to multiple parks, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and lots of walks through the streets of Palo Alto - just lovely. The beach photo is from our stop at the beach before finding lunch and rides on the boardwalk.
 As you can see from the photo of my daughter (dressed in her big brother's shorts over the top of her own - oh, and those are his shoes, too), we had a great time and everything was fun and smiles! I just had to include this photo - it cracks me up because it captures her personality so well. She's a ham!
We returned home late last night to find that we missed a heat wave in Seattle - 3 days in the 90s. Today is cool and rainy, which is fine by me. We're getting unpacked, doing laundry, and falling back into our normal routine. No worries about the outdoors calling to us to come and play. I can just dig in and get things off that pesky to-do list!
In all of my organization for my new blog daily topics, it didn't dawn on me that my Sunday and Monday plans were quite similar. SO, I've decided to change Mondays from "Here We Go!" to "Starting with a Thankful Heart!" Mondays can get bogged down with negativity as people leave the carefree fun of weekends behind to return to work and obligations (like that post-vacation to-do list!). Maybe if we can start Monday with a sunny outlook (there's my yellow hat again!), Monday won't seem so blah.
This new topic makes me think back to my elementary days when I was going through a negative patch. My mom was fed up with my black hat and wanted to help me discover the good things in my life (of which there were many). Before bed I had to write a list of 10 good things that happened that day. Some nights I would have much prefered just going to bed (which is crazy for a kid, right?!), but I made my way through the negativity and cranked out 10 good things. And really it wasn't too long before I found it easy to stretch the list beyond the mandatory 10 things - sometimes even making it to 20.
I'll keep things simple and list out 5 things I'm thankful for on my Mondays. In your comment (PLEASE COMMENT!!!), you can feel free to list anything you'd like to share - big or small, simple or complex.
Today my heart is thankful for:
5. A safe trip back and forth from California
4. The warm greeting from our dog, Albus, upon our return (dogs are great, aren't they?!)
3. The kindness of my parents for the taxi service to and from the airport and for letting Albus bunk at their place for 4 days
2. The plethora of public parks (and that my kids' fabulous Aunt & Uncle knew how to find the best ones!) available to kids in the Palo Alto area (and one kickin' water play park in Redwood, CA)
1. The partnerships and friendships that develop between fellow authors/small publishers
BONUS gratitude for the readers of the 75 books ordered today!!! I'm feeling sunny already (despite the rain, which really does feel nice). How about you? What makes you thankful today?
This is a guest post by Sheila Schencke, the other half of Balanced Steps (she also happens to be my mom!). Sheila is an award-winning administrator, educator (K - graduate) and business woman. After years of classroom experience, she started the STARBASE Robins program at Robins AFB in Georgia and then put her experience to good use to start the STARBASE Louisiana program at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. These two programs were her "babies" - until Brianna's two kids came along. After Brianna's son turned one, she knew she couldn't stay away, so she and her husband, Marty (retired US Air Force Officer) relocated to Duvall, WA where they are within walking distance of those treasured grandchildren (oh, and Brianna and her husband, too).  Carol Goodrow’s Kids Running book has the perfect subtitle: Have Fun, Get Faster & Go Farther. Note the first premise, Have Fun! She keeps that emphasis throughout the book and that’s why it is a winner in my eyes, and in my heart. The illustrations are colorful and cheerful, with childlike simplicity that pulls you into the book. This book is chock-full of information and ideas. Carol is a teacher, a late-blooming runner and the founding editor of http://www.kidsrunning.com/, a Runner’s World site. Carol speaks to the “everykid”, with lots of enthusiasm and encouragement to get running in a healthy lifestyle. Many of us are enjoying the Olympics, but from the couch. Do the athletes make sports look impossible to you? To me, learning to run can be like trying to eat an elephant, way too much to even consider. However, Carol breaks the huge mental, physical and emotional tasks into small bites. She takes the intimidation out of learning how to run. Kids Running incorporates all you need to know about running: getting started, cardio, ways to have fun running, healthy snacks, cross-training, goal-setting, journaling and more good books. Carol sets us up for success. She starts with choosing the right sneakers for the job, and adds little hints, like “Double tie your laces so you don’t fall on your faces.” Carol coaches with humor and passion that jumps off the page, and finds ways to eliminate all your excuses not to join in the run. Often, the children in the book share the information in a dialog, which keeps the learning upbeat and counters any “know-it-all” jock attitudes. I love that they model great group dynamics, noting different ways to achieve their fitness goals. Everyone can be a winner without going the fastest. Carol explains terms like cardio fitness and why it is important to healthy living. She also has the children talk about their progress during the book, like, “Remember when I used to gasp for breath?” “Your heart and lungs weren’t strong enough to run far.” “Now I can.” “I can even run a mile IF I pace myself.” We all learn right along with the kids in the book, celebrating different kinds of success. It’s easy, and taking it one step at a time it is not intimidating. I know about being intimidated about sports, as I’m not an athlete like my siblings, two of whom are PE teachers. I was a skinny little kid, usually one of the last chosen for teams. I played outside a lot as a kid, but never set goals for sport. I did race on a swim team, more as something to do with my older sister than something to achieve. I was even a cheerleader, and a life guard, more as someone to be, to take the edge off my nerdiness. (That was before Title 9, and the only sport for girls at our school besides bowling. Our high school didn’t even have PE classes!) As a teacher, I love that Carol puts learning into action with this book. Healthy bodies build strong minds. She integrates important learning into fun activities. It’s so much more fun to practice counting by 2s, 4s or 10s while you’re running. It also keeps spelling practice from becoming boring. And your brain remembers it more easily, too because you have more senses involved in the experience. A plain journaling assignment becomes inspiring when it centers around your own personal running experience. And powers of analysis come alive when you compare how far you’ve come with where you started. This book has more power, a list of children’s running books and websites. You can even read her reviews of other running books there (including Brianna’s We Are Girls Who Love to Run). Love to run? I never even considered running, as a child or an adult. I never imagined I’d try it as a grandmother! Yet, I did this year when I trained and participated in my first 5K in our hometown’s Duvall Days in June. OK, it was part run, part walk, but I did it! My race goal was to finish, and in the cold pouring rain, that was a big accomplishment. To my amazement, I even won a ribbon for 3rd fastest in my age category. My new goal is in Carol’s subtitle, Go Farther. I just joined a group to do the Seattle half-marathon at the end of November. Notice I joined a group, like the kids, so I can have fun. We are going to train together beginning in September. Dr. Scott Lynch has the whole training planned out for our group. He is leading us through the process one step at a time. We will practice on the Snoqualmie Trail between Duvall and Carnation. Take the step to move Kids Running to the top of your reading list and share it with the kids you love! It was written just for kids, but speaks to the kid in all of us.  Next book review (by Brianna): Carol's lesser-known, but "treasure" of a book: The Treasure of Health and Happiness
Subscribe via RSS or visit my blog
|
