Old Loves, New Loves, and an Inspiration!

Memorial Day was nothing but love and inspiration. It couldn't have been better!

It started with one of my old loves; biking! There's something about geting on a bicycle that brings out the carefree, not a worry in the world, kid in me. It had been way too long since I dusted off my bike and took it for a ride, but that just made my love for the ride even better!

However, biking with my two favorite loves is a new love! I surprised Scott with an early Father's Day present of a new bicycle. Then I got my bike tuned up, and a baby seat installed just in time for a Memorial Day destination to Austin. 

I'll interrupt my Memorial Day love story for a little side story that deserves remembrance... Although I started out really nervous to ride my bike with my baby's safety completely in my hands, my nervousness gradually faded away as the day went on with no mishaps. Towards the end of our ride, I received a humbling reminder about my initial nervousness. We were coming to a really slow stop trying to decide where to go next and I lost my balance. The next thing I know I was awkwardly hopping around, completely off balance, and trying to catch the bike one, two, and three times all the while Boston's head is about two inches from the ground. Thanks to some major MOM-DRENALINE, I managed to recruit some herculean strength I didn't know I had and somehow keep the bike and myself from falling. Mom-drenaline is an awesome thing. I'll make sure to remain slightly nervous from here on out because sometimes that's the best safety net. No more slow stops for me. 

Here's a picture of one of other my new loves discovered on Memorial Day; Zilker Park in Austin! It was a fitness paradise. There were trees, trails, runners, bikers, dog walkers, swimmers, kayakers, playgrounds, volleyball, and boot camps everywhere! I want to move to Austin now. An hour and a half commute isn't too bad right? 

Here's where the inspiration comes in. There happened to be a triathlon going on in Austin at Zilker Park on Memorial Day. I've never actually seen a triathlon in person, just in pictures and TV. Seeing one in person was so inspiring, and made my goal of someday wanting to do one that much more real. Before yesterday I had been saying that I wanted to do a triathlon in the future, but it was a wishy-washy goal full of excuses. To name a few; Road bikes are too expensive, I don't know how to swim, there's too much gear and money that goes in to a triathlon. Blah, blah, blah. I realized that my excuses meant I didn't really want to do it, I just kinda sorta wished to do it. Once my wish turned in to a want, the excuses melted away. I can learn how to swim, I can borrow a bike, I don't have to have top of the line gear just to finish a triathlon. I love having goals to work towards, and thanks to the inspiration of all those triathletes in Austin, I have a new one! 

Lastly, this new love was just too good not to mention; The macadamia encrusted mahi-mahi at one of the best restaurants in the world, Hula Hut. If you're ever in Austin you must eat there! The food is beyond delicious, and it's right on the river. Scott brought to my attention that his former fish-hater wife has ordered fish the past 5 times we've gone out to eat. I think I've accomplished my goal of learning to like fish! However, I'm still really picky about which fish I'll eat. It has to have zero percent fishy taste, but maybe someday I'll learn to branch out to a little more variety. 

After we got home form our excursion to Austin, I spent the rest of the day procrastinating day 18 of the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. Somehow I just kept finding more and more cleaning and laundry to do. I really must have not wanted to do it if that's what I was distracting myself with. Finally at 8:00 p.m. I set and alarm for 40 minutes so I could lay down and read. When that alram went off, I had to do it. I don't think I've ever used that tactic before, but it worked. I did day 18, and it was great. I've  learned that the days I'm least in the mood to do it are the days that I feel the best after I do it. That's true for me with any form of exercise. Only 2 more days until I have to do Level 3!

What's a food you used to hate, and now you love?

I used to hate salad back in the day, which is baffling to me because it is seriously one of my favorite foods now. It's funny how our tastes change. Actually, for me I think it's more a matter of my attitude towards the food that changes than my taste. For example, avocados used to be green, slimy, and a waste of calories to me. Now they're creamy, delicious, and nutritious! :)

What was your favorite thing you did on Memorial Day?