I’m afraid I’m going to have to bore you for a few more weeks with more snow pictures as we have decided to stay in Colorado until mid April. The original was plan to leave March 1 but Colorado is much too beautiful and snowboarding is much too fun to leave quite yet.

Here are some highlights of last week.

Getting some vitamin D.

It was warmer than it looks.

My skin has been covered for months and it felt so good to get some sun exposure and “breathe” on our hike. I almost blend in with the snow. I’ll be this white come July too.

Nico loves to hike as well and holds her own. Nigel, our other pug, is getting too old to walk for much more than 20 minutes so he usually stays home unless we are just going around the block.

I surprised Brent with Nico as a Valentine’s Day gift 9 years ago. They had a rough start, i.e. she chewed up the sprinkler system he installed, but they’ve become buddies over the years.

Speaking of Valentine’s Day we don’t really celebrate it. Never have. I don’t have negative feelings towards it but I don’t care about it either. This year we went to bed early and watched Amelia.

Today, however, is a very special day because it was 14 years ago today our crazy love story began.

The snow got pretty deep in some places.

Other highlights were hitting the slopes with these guys for “P.E.”. (I can’t believe how tall Thing One is getting. It’s sort of freaking me out.)

We had a powder day last Friday. It was cold but sooooo worth it. A real magic carpet ride.

I also had my first scary fall the other day. It was snowing so hard that I couldn’t see very well. I was going faster than I should have been going and didn’t see I was approaching a hill on the rolling terrain. By the time I realized I was going up the hill it launched me in the air and I landed where my neck meets my shoulders. The fall scared me more than it hurt. I may or may not have started sobbing.

My workouts went pretty much as planned for the second week in a row.

Monday – Strength Training
Tuesday – Snowboarding
Wednesday -Strength Training
Thursday – Snowboarding
Friday – Snowboarding
Saturday – Strength Training
Sunday – Chill

I also walked every day as well. My step count ranged from 6,975 to 15,518 per day.

On days we go to the mountain I don’t typically snowboard all day. The nice thing about living a few minutes away from the lifts with a season pass is that I can head over for an hour or two and not feel bad about not using my pass.

I haven’t made it back to yoga. I would love to but to be honest I don’t like “stuffing” my days with activity. I get overwhelmed too easily. I do hope to make it back to a few classes but as of now I haven’t.

How were your workouts this week? How do you get Vitamin D in the winter?

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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Journey with our family on the road at Newschool Nomads as we travel fulltime in RV through the United States!

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When we decided to spent the winter in the mountains of Colorado I knew I needed some new cold weather gear.

I especially knew I needed some warm winter boots since I’m trying to walk 3,000,000 steps this year.

So I began a search for cute winter boots…errr….I mean the best winter boots.

Because when it’s -7° function trumps fashion.

Then I came across the Teva Jordanelle.

I’ll get to the point.

Best Winter Boots. Ever.

Seriously.

National Geographic included the Teva Jordanelle boots as part of their “Gear of the Year”.

(You can also read the 5 star reviews on Teva)

Having grown up with the puffy moon boots of yesteryear I didn’t know cute winter boots existed.

Much less cute WARM winter boots.

When you are facing near or below freezing temperatures everyday then good gear can make all the difference between being comfortable or miserable.

Over the past month, I have put my Teva Jordanelle boots through the test.

Shovel snow at near 0° weather for over an hour and still have warm dry feet?

Check.

I really did shovel snow one in the dark and below freezing  for over an hour. Not only did my feet stay warm and dry in my Teva Jordanelle boots I got in a great workout. 

Hike up snowy slick terrain and not lose footing?

Check.

I’ve put them to test on The Colorado Trail which is within walking distance of our campground.
How awesome is that!!

Leap like a gazelle more than 10x for photos because you still think you are 12 and not slip once?

Check.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Or one. Weirdo.

The cutest winter boots around?

Check.

You have to decide that for yourself but I love kicking around town in my Teva Jordanelle boots.

Multifunctional?

Check.

The liner slips out to make warm booties for hanging out around the house.

Compact for travel?

Check.

The upper part of the Teva Jordanelle boot folds down making it the size of an ordinary shoe and the Jordanelle is light making it great for travel (and hiking).

Not only have the Teva Jordanelle boots passed my “best winter boot” test but they come in 3 cute colors.

Here is the best part!!!

I loved these boots so much that I asked Teva if they would giveaway a pair to one of you guys and they said YES!

Did you hear that!

Teva has offered to giveaway ONE PAIR of  JORDANELLE boots to a Girl Heroes reader.

I’m stoked!!!

You have a number of ways to win! To enter fill out the form below.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveway open to US and Canadian residents 18 and older only.l

*If you are on your phone it may take a few moments for the form to load or if you received this post through email you may need to click through to see the form.

How are you staying warm this winter? 

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

Keep up with my kettlebell workouts, real food recipes, and more in one of three ways! 1. Sign up to have posts emailed to your inbox. 2. Subscribe to the RSS Feed or 3. “like” Girl Heroes on Facebook. Simple dimple!

Journey with our family on the road at Newschool Nomads as we travel fulltime in RV through the United States!

Disclosure: I was provided a pair of Teva Jordanelle boots  for the purpose of this review.  All opinions are my own.

The post Best Winter Boots Ever: Teva Jordanelle Review (and giveaway!!!) appeared first on Girl Heroes.

I’ve been feeling a little down and decided I needed a little fun.

And a little exercise.

And a new little workout partner.

You’ll never take me seriously again. Not that you ever did.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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Check out our family’s adventures at New School Nomads as we take a year long RV road trip through the United States!

The post Workout Partner (Me and the Mini-Mule) appeared first on Girl Heroes.

Breakfast in bed?

Nope.

Flowers?

Nope.

Candy?

Nope.

Cuddling, kisses, love letters, a hike and my FIRST pair Lululemon pants?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.

Oh and a steak, grilled artichokes, and my favorite salad for dinner prepared by none other than Grill Hero himself.

YES! Man, I love that guy.

The morning started out with cuddling and cards.  If you know me well, then you know I’m sort of touchy feely I LOVE to cuddle.  It’s pretty much my idea of perfect.  Put it together with sweet love letters from my kids and I’m good for life.

Thing 2’s “love letter”.  It says, “you’re just the right mom for just the right kid”.  He tells me that he came up with that himself.

Thing 1’s “love letter”.  It made me laugh and cry.  Here is an excerpt, “Thank you for sacrificing your time to homeschool us and entertaining us with your horn sounds and actions.”  Ummmm…I’ll leave my “horn sounds and actions” to your imagination.

After breakfast we went to church and then to Santa Barbara for… “the pants”.  Before coming home we went on a lovely hike on Cold Springs Trail.

Now about “the pants”.

This was my first pilgrimage visit to a Lululemon store.  While people have been raving about Lululemon for years, I’m not one to buy into hype and I have NEVER EVER spent over $50 on a pair of jeans.  My favorites are a pair of Levis I got on sale for $23.  True.

Most of my workout clothes are old t-shirts that are now too ratty for every day wear, from discount stores like Marshall’s or Ross, and I’ve even been known to buy workout clothes from thrift stores.  Don’t judge.

I’m just cheap really frugal and have a have hard time spending money on luxuries with so many people in the world lacking necessities.  But since my training business, Iron Vigor, is continuing to grow and I’ll speaking about kettlebells with Lisa From Workout Mommy at Fitbloggin’ in a few weeks, I felt like I could justify “needed” a pair of nice pants.

But to make parting with my hard earned cash easier…

…I ran into my friend, Martha, at the store!  Anyway, what are the odds that she and I would both decide to drive up to Santa Barbara to go to Lululemon for the first time on Mother’s Day!?!?!  It turned out to be a huge blessing because not only was I having a hard time spending the $$$ on a pair of pants she helped me to pick out the best pair.  I originally thought I would get the Run Inspire crops but ended up, after getting honest feedback from Martha and the girls working there, (Me? High maintenance?  Noooo….) getting the Wander Under Reversible Crops.

I’ve only been wearing them a few hours but so far?  Love. Them. They are so soft, stretchy, and much more flattering than the cheap tights I’ve been wearing for years. If they are really able to “withstand 5 years of physical athletic abuse” as the tag states, heck, if they look/feel half as good in half that time I’ll be a convert for sure.

Speaking of recent well loved workout gear. The winner of the New Balance Trail Minimus was Rebecca.

Thank you to all you entered!!  I wish I could give you all a pair of shoes.  Really I do!!  There is still time to enter the $100 Spa Finder Gift Card Giveaway.  Check out my Olay Total Effects Line and Dark Circle  Minimizing Brush review to enter to win!

What did you do on Mother’s Day?  Do you have any Lululemon items?  If so what’s your favorite?  Is it difficult for you spend to money on nice things? Anyone else going to Fitbloggin’?

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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The post A Mother’s Day Pilgrimage – Hiking Cold Springs Trail and the Santa Barabara Lululemon appeared first on Girl Heroes.

Another weekend filled to the brim and spilling over with a crazy hodgepodge of activities.

A taekwondo tournament.

A sudden urge to pull off the freeway when we saw a sign that said
“Lake Elsinore Historic Downtown”.

A wonderful little Italian restaurant with a character of an owner.

A long talk in the car with Brent.

A long snuggle and with two boys “who snuggling with their mama” days are more limited than she is willing to admit.

“Bee sting pinches” in between snuggles.

Time to try to curl my hair before church.
(Still haven’t learned that one)

A hike.

Homemade soup.

I’m really working on my “new decade resolution” and trying to soak up each day filling each cell of my body with life so full they almost burst.

Which means some memories will be pixalated others not so much…

The Tournament

Crash!

You can’t tell but I have lovely matching red toe nails.

I promise to never kick anyone without pretty toes.
(My fingers were just crossed.)

In case you’re wondering, I got first in forms and second in sparring.

The hike

Thing 2.

Thing 1

Watching a Nerf war.

This is what you do after a long hike.

and

Coconut Chicken Soup

I promise it tastes a lot better than it looks.
(My fingers WEREN’T crossed.)

Two more things

1. I rewrote my about page.  I’d be so grateful if someone would take a moment to  read it and email me if you catch any errors.
(I’m sure there are plenty.)
jenn(at)girl-heroes(dot)com

2. Tomorrow, I’m posting a new Girl Hero interview.  Come back to meet her!  Pretty please with honey on top!

Anyone have any hints on how to photograph soup?
What about “how to” curling iron tips?
How was your weekend?

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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The post What a weekend! appeared first on Girl Heroes.

I almost always exercise when I travel.  However, what I do depends on where I am, who I’m with, and what equipment (if any) is available.   On road trips I’ve been known to take my kettlebells for rest stop workouts but with the limited airline baggage allowances my kettlebells had to stay at home while I’m visiting my family in Indiana.  Lucky for me, my parents have a sweet little gym set up.  My mom even has a 15lb kettlebell which I’ve been using for high rep work and bottoms up presses.  It’s been good change of pace and a chance to practice  form.  The best exercise, though, has been the exercise I’ve been getting while having fun with my family.  Playing with my nieces and nephews, hiking with my husband to see a beaver dam, and bike riding with my brother are not only good for the body but good for the soul.

In front of the beaver dam acting like a weirdo with my beaver teeth….

…and beaver tail.

There was a really cool spot near the creek where the beavers had chewed the trees down.  The stumps were sticking out of the ground like perfectly sharpened pencils.  I noticed there were a few trees that the beavers left because they must have gotten stuck after they chewed them so I decided to help by pulling the trees out of the tangled overgrowth.  Nothing like helping beavers build their dam for functional fitness. My heart thanks me now but the beavers can thank me later.

Have I ever told you I’m afraid of snakes, spiders, sharks, blowing drying my hair without earplugs riding bikes on  roads with cars?  I am. When I was in high school the side view mirror of a car hit my left forearm when it drove up from behind me  knocking me off the side of the road.  I only got a minor cut but I’ve been scared to ride on roads with cars (which is pretty much all roads) ever since.  Thankfully there is now a bike path in my town.

I love the fields,  old barns, and grain mills of the midwest.

Before I wrap it up…

Thank you for all the kind comments regarding last Friday’s post.  I was a bit nervous posting those pictures as I didn’t want to give the wrong impression.  Your comments felt really good.  Thank you for the support.   

Don’t forget to enter the V8 V-Fushion +Tea Review and Giveaway.  BlogHer is giving away one $100 Visa card to a Girl Hero reader.  All ya gotta do is leave a comment.

Oh yeah one last thing, I wanted to let you know that the alien vegetable  that I totally spaced and forgot about until just now  in last week’s CSA box was a kohlrabi.  I know you’ve been been losing sleep over it. 

Hope you are having a great week!!!

How do you get in exercise when you travel?  Anyone else afraid of riding bikes on roads with cars?  What do you think about beavers?  I would have done just about anything to see them at work building the dam.  Anything except sit around in the cold for hours. What is the silliest title for  post you’ve ever written?

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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The post Beaver Dam Workout appeared first on Girl Heroes.

On top of my kettlebell workouts we also hiked a lot.  I averaged 15,000 steps a day.  It felt amazing.  The more I walk the more I am CONVINCED it is actually exercise.  I never thought I would say that but my body has never felt better.  Truly.  Combine walking with a quality kettlebell program and you have a killer combination of strength and cardiovascular with practically 0 stress/impact on your joints.

One of my favorite hikes was up a river filled with boulders.  We went there twice.  Once with the kiddos and once alone.

I don’t normally hike in a bikini.  That would be weird (for me) but since we were in a mountain stream and no one was around I felt comfortable.

For some reason this picture cracks me up with the flower in the foreground.

Brent loves to get in mountain streams.  He calls it “refreshing”.  I call it CRAZY.

But after some coaxing….

….he convinced me that I should get in.

I don’t think cold was the right word.  How about PAINFUL.  I will admit after I got out I did feel refreshed.  Maybe hydrotherapy will grow on me.

Can’t go under it.  Can’t go around it.  Gotta go across it.  This tree was enormous.  Bigger than it looks in the picture.

Nowadays this is about as thrill seeker as I get.  Hope I don’t fall off.  That would be bad.

Whew we made it.

Not only did I get some quality time with Brent.  Thing 2 and I got some cuddle time.  He likes to call me “Cuddle Butt”.  I love it.

When Weewa, aka my mom, is around I don’t get much cuddles from Thing 1.

Brent works from home so one day hiked up to the top of a hill to set up “an office”.

That about sums up our trip unless you want to see the pictures of Snow White Gone Bad.

Don’t worry I put him right back and it’s a myth that mother ducks abandone their ducklings after being touched by a human.  You should have seen Mama Duck.  I’m just lucky I kept my fingers.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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The post Hiking Does a Body (and a soul) Good appeared first on Girl Heroes.

First I want to thank all of your for your kind comments on Friday’s post.   I didn’t sit down to write about my past mental illness.  I had planned to just post the playlist and (as usual) I got carried away.  I was very nervous about letting that skeleton out of the closet free to roam cyberspace but I decided I wanted to share my story of hope for anyone who stumbles across my little corner of the internet.  Thank you again for the kind words.

It’s March first so I thought I’d do  a quick little  update on my News Year’s (Life) Resolutions.

Eat only whole foods until July.  Here are my slip ups.
1. Corn chips at a Mexian restuarant. (We won’t talk about it.  Let’s just say I had enough to feed a small village.)
2. Pizza this weekend.
3. A cheetoh.  Yes A Cheetoh. Someone was eating them I grabbed one and inhaled it before anyone could even see it, so it doesn’t count.

I’m okay with this.  In fact, in some ways I’m happier about my consistency rather than perfection because when I’m trying to be perfect I’m also quite a pain in the azz.  Not too mention, I’m too hard on myself.  Saturday night, went out for pizza to celebrate our taekwondo tests.

Originally, I had thought I could just order a salad but….   The good news is that I ate until I was full (2 pieces) then stopped.  Of course, I had to sit on my hands but I STOPPED!!!!  Friends, if you know me this is nothing short of a MIRACLE.

The pizza was not as big as it looks in this picture!

Later that night, Brent made homemade coconut ice cream.  I only had one bowl!  Score again!  (Although I decided to have a bowl for breakfast but we won’t talk about that.)

Train for the RKC

This is going well. I still haven’t registered because I’m a little nervous.  They only have a 70% pass rate.   I got thrown off my Enter the Kettlebell workout schedule last week but I reminded myself that it’s a flexible schedule and I did get all my workouts in.  Saturday, was supposed to be moderate intensity day but I think I pushed a little too hard as I’m still sore today.  I used to train to failure every time but since I’ve been reading up and practicing kettlebells under Doug Nepodal’s direction my position on this has changed.

Daily reflection and prayer.

I’m about 50/50 on this. This morning I started off the day with my Bible reading.  I would like to read the entire Bible this year and I’m already behind. I did it once about 5 years ago and learned so much.  Even if you don’t believe the Bible is “God’s word” it’s still an amazing piece of literature and worth reading.

Learn to use a curling iron.

I think I’ve curled my hair once since January and it didn’t turn out so hot.  Except my fingers.  I burnt them.

Sunday, we went on a hike.  I was sore from my Enter the Kettlebell workout so I considered it an active rest and with 3 boys under the age of 10 on a muddy trail believe  me it was ACTIVE.

I ended the weekend by making myself motion sick by dancing like a typhoon to Arcade Fire in my kitchen.  It’s a good life.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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