working out for Disney

[Songbird76]

Yes, he was able to fly direct, thankfully. I was shocked that his return flight was just over 8 hours. That seems long for that route.

I struggle with the west to east jet lag, too. It just wrecks me for a few days afterwards.

That sounds like a really long day for you all. A nine hour layover? What did you guys do for nine hours? That's when I start looking at adjacent hotels with shuttle service to take a nap, swim, etc. I have really grown to dread air travel, especially international flights.

How was your trip otherwise?

We just hung out in the airport....we didn't want to have to worry about going through security yet again. We just wanted to get through and be done with it. But Atlanta is a MASSIVE airport, so it takes some time to get anywhere anyway, so we looked up a McDonalds for A because he was starving. So we did that, and then just hung out there.

Our trip was....eventful. I'm going to write up a trip report. There were ups and downs. It was really good to see everyone though.

 

[Sans Souci]

We just hung out in the airport....we didn't want to have to worry about going through security yet again. We just wanted to get through and be done with it. But Atlanta is a MASSIVE airport, so it takes some time to get anywhere anyway, so we looked up a McDonalds for A because he was starving. So we did that, and then just hung out there.

Our trip was....eventful. I'm going to write up a trip report. There were ups and downs. It was really good to see everyone though.

Yeah. I don't blame you. Airports have gotten better about things to occupy your time during layovers. They have little displays of art, history about the city, play areas for kids, etc. Security is always the worst part of flying for me. I get so anxious about going through it. I must look shifty, because I get selected for 'enhanced screening' a lot. But I feel so much better once I am though.

I am looking forward to reading your TR.

 

[Sans Souci]

Hello-

I am checking in with a shoulders, chest and triceps workout. I prefer lower body workouts, but this was decent for an upper body workout. There were a looooooot of push ups, but eventually, I had to do them on my knees. I think push ups are the most difficult exercise for me.

I've been kind of planning which theme parks to go to on which day. So far, I have only 2 days booked. I feel like just waiting until the night before to select which park to enter the next day. The week were are going seems like low crowds. I think the highest day is 5/10. I am starting to put my Halloween costume together. It is one I put together for the last Halloween cruise I went on in 2019. I am just reconfiguring it a striped tank top and shorts to be more comfortable in warmer weather.

 

[Songbird76]

Yeah. I don't blame you. Airports have gotten better about things to occupy your time during layovers. They have little displays of art, history about the city, play areas for kids, etc. Security is always the worst part of flying for me. I get so anxious about going through it. I must look shifty, because I get selected for 'enhanced screening' a lot. But I feel so much better once I am though.

I am looking forward to reading your TR.

I HATE going through security. It's always so chaotic! You have to take off your shoes, take electronics out of the bags, take off your belt, take everything out of your pockets, and there never seem to be enough of those bins. We've got 4 of us, all of us have laptops, I have the kindle, my son has a nintendo switch, thank goodness my husband didn't bring the ipad this time. And our bags always seem to get held back and we have to deal with that while we're trying to get our shoes back on, belts and sweatshirts, etc. Stroopwaffels apparently look like bombs to the security people, and we always have to bring a TON of those for all the friends and family because everyone loves them. But they add so much weight to the luggage, and we don't want them to get lost, so we put them in the carry-ons. Coming back wasn't as bad...the only thing that got held back was when I forgot to take a pot of salve out of the carry-on and put it in checked luggage, so it got confiscated, but that was the only thing.

 

[Sans Souci]

I HATE going through security. It's always so chaotic! You have to take off your shoes, take electronics out of the bags, take off your belt, take everything out of your pockets, and there never seem to be enough of those bins. We've got 4 of us, all of us have laptops, I have the kindle, my son has a nintendo switch, thank goodness my husband didn't bring the ipad this time. And our bags always seem to get held back and we have to deal with that while we're trying to get our shoes back on, belts and sweatshirts, etc. Stroopwaffels apparently look like bombs to the security people, and we always have to bring a TON of those for all the friends and family because everyone loves them. But they add so much weight to the luggage, and we don't want them to get lost, so we put them in the carry-ons. Coming back wasn't as bad...the only thing that got held back was when I forgot to take a pot of salve out of the carry-on and put it in checked luggage, so it got confiscated, but that was the only thing.

I have that issue with bringing baked goods and having my bag held back. I usually bake a cake for my grandmother when I go to visit and I only bring a carry on when I visit her. The last time I went, my bag got held back and I told the TSA agent it's probably the cake in my carry on, since that always gets my bag pulled. He said, "What is the definition of insanity? Take the cake out of the bag, put it on the belt and we won't pull your bag." I think I just get so agitated about going through security, I don't think straight. I once got selected for a pat down or whatever and TSA agent asked me to pull my shirt up to just under my bra right there. I asked for somewhere more private and she acted like it was the biggest inconvenience. Sorry. I'm not lifting my shirt and letting you pat me down in public. You randomly selected me. I didn't set anything off or have anything dodgy in my bags. She was so nasty to me when she took me to the private room to do it, too. Now I am so anxious when I go through security at Philly.

 

[Sans Souci]

Hello-

I am at my husband's apartment until tomorrow. So, I did a "posterior chain" strength training workout in the apartment gym. It was just a lot exercises targeted at the muscles on the back of the body. It was pretty good.

I might walk over to Liberty State Park, the weather says storms, but it's very sunny outside. I don't mind getting rained on, but I won't walk in a storm. Three people were killed when lightening struck them under a tree in DC last week. I don't mess around with storms.

 

[Songbird76]

I have that issue with bringing baked goods and having my bag held back. I usually bake a cake for my grandmother when I go to visit and I only bring a carry on when I visit her. The last time I went, my bag got held back and I told the TSA agent it's probably the cake in my carry on, since that always gets my bag pulled. He said, "What is the definition of insanity? Take the cake out of the bag, put it on the belt and we won't pull your bag." I think I just get so agitated about going through security, I don't think straight. I once got selected for a pat down or whatever and TSA agent asked me to pull my shirt up to just under my bra right there. I asked for somewhere more private and she acted like it was the biggest inconvenience. Sorry. I'm not lifting my shirt and letting you pat me down in public. You randomly selected me. I didn't set anything off or have anything dodgy in my bags. She was so nasty to me when she took me to the private room to do it, too. Now I am so anxious when I go through security at Philly.

Isn't that a thing? Like....I'm sure I read that you have the right to ask for a private area and to ask for a female to do the patdown if that makes you more comfortable. Maybe this woman never experienced assault or sexual harassment or something, but I wouldn't feel comfortable with that either! I can't believe she would be upset about that.

I guess I never thought about that being a possibility, to take the cake out of the bag. I mean, it makes sense, but they tell you to take electronics out, and the little bag of toiletries, but that's it. So why would anyone think to take the cake out?

 

[Sans Souci]

Isn't that a thing? Like....I'm sure I read that you have the right to ask for a private area and to ask for a female to do the patdown if that makes you more comfortable. Maybe this woman never experienced assault or sexual harassment or something, but I wouldn't feel comfortable with that either! I can't believe she would be upset about that.

I guess I never thought about that being a possibility, to take the cake out of the bag. I mean, it makes sense, but they tell you to take electronics out, and the little bag of toiletries, but that's it. So why would anyone think to take the cake out?

I also think part of the reason I don't think to take it out of the bag is I have TSA Pre-Check, so I don't have to take those things out of the bags or take my shoes off, etc--and I still get anxious going through. I also worry about losing something, too. On my last cruise, I bought a rum cake and I went to collect my luggage when I got home. I put the bag with the cake in it down to pick my bag up off of the belt and I left. I got out the door, when I realized I was missing my cake. It was gone in 30 sec. I was not happy. Then I found out I could order the same cake on Amazon, then I finally started making my own rum cakes--so I guess there is a silver lining in that story.

 

[Sans Souci]

Happy Friday.

I did a strength training circuit workout this AM. I didn't feel so great yesterday. I woke up with a fullness in one of my ears, post-nasal drop and just felt blah. So, I just took it easy and tidied up my husband's apartment. I took an allergy pill when I got home last night and I woke up feeling 100% better.

I've got nothing exciting going this weekend. Just some grocery shopping and probably some deep cleaning in advance of my MIL's arrival.

 

[Sans Souci]

Hello-

Phew. Checking in with bodyweight/dumbbell interval workout that was pretty intense. What a slog. On the upset, I have completed 2 weeks of this 6 week program. I am missing my kettle bells a bit, but I am going to challenge myself to complete a program for once. Plus, the day I finish this program is the day we travel to Orlando. So, that will be a nice week off. The Swan Reserve has a decent gym, so I might use it while I am there.

I am thinking of starting my light box sessions again. I can tell the reduction in sunlight is starting to affect me with low energy/mood and cravings for simple carbs and sugar. I think I am going to have to get a new light box if I am going up with my husband to Jersey City. I do a fair bit of traveling in the fall with the holidays and I wouldn't have to skip sessions when I visit my family. You have to use it for a week or so before it's effective and then you have to maintain usage to keep it working. They are so small now. They are like iPads. Mine is 10 years old and is pretty boxy and not terribly portable. The new ones can be carried in a purse.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Happy Saturday!

We hit the gym today for the first time since June. I took the older one and one of her friends since they are doing off-season conditioning for school ball. I forgot my sweat towel and headphones, but I survived I started with a little over 20 minutes on the elliptical, did a five machine upper body workout plus back and abs…even boosted my number of sets, and then 10 minutes on the treadmill. It was supposed to be a cooldown, but I started having some leg pain. Increasing the incline often helps, so I put it all the way up to 15% around the 7 minute mark. Only problem…it got stuck! So I was really huffing and puffing through my so-called cool down.

I’m also trying not to lose my mind with kid injuries. Very first day of volleyball and Sam hurt her hand.The X-rays did not show a break, but they saw something a little questionable, so they decided to put her in a cast for 2 weeks. After her allergic reaction last year. I insisted on some other than the traditional. We’re praying she’s cleared in 2 weeks because we’re all super excited about her new softball team.



In other news, I made a piñata cake for K’s bday. Not quite how I envisioned this, but I couldn’t find my piping gun tips and had to improvise. It’s an earl grey tea cake with honey lemon buttercream. The piñata filling are two kinds of M&Ms and large size blue pearl sixlets. I hope it works as planned when cut.

 

[Songbird76]

Hello-

Phew. Checking in with bodyweight/dumbbell interval workout that was pretty intense. What a slog. On the upset, I have completed 2 weeks of this 6 week program. I am missing my kettle bells a bit, but I am going to challenge myself to complete a program for once. Plus, the day I finish this program is the day we travel to Orlando. So, that will be a nice week off. The Swan Reserve has a decent gym, so I might use it while I am there.

I am thinking of starting my light box sessions again. I can tell the reduction in sunlight is starting to affect me with low energy/mood and cravings for simple carbs and sugar. I think I am going to have to get a new light box if I am going up with my husband to Jersey City. I do a fair bit of traveling in the fall with the holidays and I wouldn't have to skip sessions when I visit my family. You have to use it for a week or so before it's effective and then you have to maintain usage to keep it working. They are so small now. They are like iPads. Mine is 10 years old and is pretty boxy and not terribly portable. The new ones can be carried in a purse.

Is there already such a big reduction in sunlight? We've had nothing but sunshine here and I'm ready for some rain and cooler temps!! My body just doesn't handle this heat well at all! I really wish we had AC because the fan doesn't cut it. It hasn't been TOO bad for the last few days, but I think it's supposed to heat up again and my husband just bought himself a new toy....he's building his own computer, and it's really really expensive. I've been keeping the back door open at night to cool the house down, since our back yard is enclosed, but now that he got his computer stuff set up yesterday, he doesn't want that door left open. But when it's 90 degrees in the house, I can't function. My head aches, I get nauseated, I have ZERO energy....we ordered out for dinner every day in the first few days we were home because it was too hot to be standing over a stove and the house was already too hot to turn on the oven. So we just ordered food in. But that gets expensive and you can't do that long term, but school starts tomorrow, and I'm also working in the evenings. It's going to be miserable having to cook before I go to work if it's so hot in the house, and if I can't cool it down at all at night, it's going to get even hotter during the day.

 

[Songbird76]

Happy Saturday!

We hit the gym today for the first time since June. I took the older one and one of her friends since they are doing off-season conditioning for school ball. I forgot my sweat towel and headphones, but I survived I started with a little over 20 minutes on the elliptical, did a five machine upper body workout plus back and abs…even boosted my number of sets, and then 10 minutes on the treadmill. It was supposed to be a cooldown, but I started having some leg pain. Increasing the incline often helps, so I put it all the way up to 15% around the 7 minute mark. Only problem…it got stuck! So I was really huffing and puffing through my so-called cool down.

I’m also trying not to lose my mind with kid injuries. Very first day of volleyball and Sam hurt her hand.The X-rays did not show a break, but they saw something a little questionable, so they decided to put her in a cast for 2 weeks. After her allergic reaction last year. I insisted on some other than the traditional. We’re praying she’s cleared in 2 weeks because we’re all super excited about her new softball team.

View attachment 661833

In other news, I made a piñata cake for K’s bday. Not quite how I envisioned this, but I couldn’t find my piping gun tips and had to improvise. It’s an earl grey tea cake with honey lemon buttercream. The piñata filling are two kinds of M&Ms and large size blue pearl sixlets. I hope it works as planned when cut.

View attachment 661834

It looks very festive! How do you get the filling in? Do you just cut a big chunk of cake out and put the m&ms in before decorating it? I can't imagine you could just bake the stuff inside.

Sorry about the arm! Poor kid can't catch a break! Hopefully it's healed up in time for softball!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

It looks very festive! How do you get the filling in? Do you just cut a big chunk of cake out and put the m&ms in before decorating it? I can't imagine you could just bake the stuff inside.

Sorry about the arm! Poor kid can't catch a break! Hopefully it's healed up in time for softball!

I used a round cookie cutter to cut a uniform sized hole in three of the four layers after baking. You use the layer cut first as a guide so that the hole is aligned for each cut layer. You stack and fill the cut layers before adding in candy for the piñata and placing the top uncut layer.



Then crumb coat and decorating.

Yea, the injuries are maddening. I think we’ve figured out some of it. Part was her…we didn’t realize she’d intentionally cut her milk consumption. The other is the school coaches. They do absolutely nothing to teach proper form and techniques. While injuries can happen even if you do everything right, it’s worse when you’re just winging it. She had a friend blow out her knee a couple of days later and Sam had multiple pulled muscle issues last year because of the lack of guidance and insufficient warmups. I think she’s just going to use school Athletics this year for conditioning and just skip the team stuff.

 

[MinnieM123]

I used a round cookie cutter to cut a uniform sized hole in three of the four layers after baking. You use the layer cut first as a guide so that the hole is aligned for each cut layer. You stack and fill the cut layers before adding in candy for the piñata and placing the top uncut layer.

View attachment 661917

Then crumb coat and decorating.

Yea, the injuries are maddening. I think we’ve figured out some of it. Part was her…we didn’t realize she’d intentionally cut her milk consumption. The other is the school coaches. They do absolutely nothing to teach proper form and techniques. While injuries can happen even if you do everything right, it’s worse when you’re just winging it. She had a friend blow out her knee a couple of days later and Sam had multiple pulled muscle issues last year because of the lack of guidance and insufficient warmups. I think she’s just going to use school Athletics this year for conditioning and just skip the team stuff.

That's a beautifully decorated cake!!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Love the cake @HouCuseChickie !

 

[Ricky Spanish]

Nice cake.
Did something similar 22 years ago for my nephew’s 9th birthday.
9 layer cake with the center hollowed out and filled with candy.
His mother was not happy.
She stopped asking me to make his cakes after that.
Wish I still had the pics.

 

[Sans Souci]

Happy Saturday!

We hit the gym today for the first time since June. I took the older one and one of her friends since they are doing off-season conditioning for school ball. I forgot my sweat towel and headphones, but I survived I started with a little over 20 minutes on the elliptical, did a five machine upper body workout plus back and abs…even boosted my number of sets, and then 10 minutes on the treadmill. It was supposed to be a cooldown, but I started having some leg pain. Increasing the incline often helps, so I put it all the way up to 15% around the 7 minute mark. Only problem…it got stuck! So I was really huffing and puffing through my so-called cool down.

I’m also trying not to lose my mind with kid injuries. Very first day of volleyball and Sam hurt her hand.The X-rays did not show a break, but they saw something a little questionable, so they decided to put her in a cast for 2 weeks. After her allergic reaction last year. I insisted on some other than the traditional. We’re praying she’s cleared in 2 weeks because we’re all super excited about her new softball team.

View attachment 661833

In other news, I made a piñata cake for K’s bday. Not quite how I envisioned this, but I couldn’t find my piping gun tips and had to improvise. It’s an earl grey tea cake with honey lemon buttercream. The piñata filling are two kinds of M&Ms and large size blue pearl sixlets. I hope it works as planned when cut.

View attachment 661834

This is a beautiful cake. I like the colors, very piñata-like. My husband loves Reeses' Peanut Butter cups, so I made one with mini peanut butter cups from Trader Joe's inside for his birthday a few years ago. I bet it was delicious with the Earl Grey + honey-lemon buttercream.

Wow. I am sorry about Sam and her injury? Is this the same hand she had surgery on this year?

 

[Sans Souci]

Is there already such a big reduction in sunlight? We've had nothing but sunshine here and I'm ready for some rain and cooler temps!! My body just doesn't handle this heat well at all! I really wish we had AC because the fan doesn't cut it. It hasn't been TOO bad for the last few days, but I think it's supposed to heat up again and my husband just bought himself a new toy....he's building his own computer, and it's really really expensive. I've been keeping the back door open at night to cool the house down, since our back yard is enclosed, but now that he got his computer stuff set up yesterday, he doesn't want that door left open. But when it's 90 degrees in the house, I can't function. My head aches, I get nauseated, I have ZERO energy....we ordered out for dinner every day in the first few days we were home because it was too hot to be standing over a stove and the house was already too hot to turn on the oven. So we just ordered food in. But that gets expensive and you can't do that long term, but school starts tomorrow, and I'm also working in the evenings. It's going to be miserable having to cook before I go to work if it's so hot in the house, and if I can't cool it down at all at night, it's going to get even hotter during the day.

Yeah. I can feel it. It's no longer sunny when I get up and it is setting sooner. I am exhausted throughout the day for no good reason and I just have this intense carbohydrate craving.

I don't blame you for ordering take out when it's so hot and you don't have A/C. I remember how uncomfortable it can get without a/c when I lived in England. There were no screens and we lived on the bottom floor of the apartment building. I didn't want to open my windows at night because I'd once caught someone trying to break into the unit upstairs (at 2 PM!), so I wanted the windows closed at night. Plus, you get all sorts of nasty, stinging, flying things entering your house.

 

[Sans Souci]

Good morning.

Checking in with a leg workout. It was good. It went by rather quickly, which is always a good thing for me.

I started using my new light box today. I think I need to mess around with it. There is a setting where you can choose the shade of white that is most comfortable for your eyes. I'm still messing around with that setting--also the timer. I thought I had set it for 20 min and I looked at my phone and saw that 30 minutes had passed by. Oops.

I finished cutting out my felt "toast" for my MNSSHP costume, I just need to glue it together. I am just going to safety pin it to my top. I am also staying home this week and not going up to JC. It's taking me longer than I had anticipated to deep clean my house before my MIL arrives, so I want to get to a point where I feel I've made serious progress.