i heart running

A few years back, I placed "Run a 5K Marathon" on my bucket list. I'm happy to say that I have checked that off my list...twice actually. A couple of weeks ago, I completed my second 5K run in Napa Valley and it was a successful one! Comparing to my first run, I was able to shave 7 minutes off my time. Yay! Of course, it isn't the ultimate goal of mine but I was still very happy with it. 

My goal when I started running was just to get it off my bucket list. But since then, I have found an extreme love for it. Running is now a part of my lifestyle and it's something that I need to do every week. I've tried different work out routines from Yoga to Pilates to TaeBo, but I've fallen in love with running. The feeling I get from it is like no other. 

Last night, I was in a little funk and feeling extremely tired. I had two choices - sleep it off or go for a run. It was past 10pm and I should have gone to bed, but I knew that wouldn't help so I went for a run at the gym. Afterwards, I felt so much better and my mood had changed. Writing has always been my therapy and now running is right there next to it.

do you really need that?

They say kids say the darnest things. And it's true...they really do.

I was lucky enough to have the day off on Monday and of course, I spent it with my little man. He was excited to have some QT time with mommy as was I with him. After spending some time at Chuck E Cheese and having lunch, we decided to head over to the Dollar Store since I needed to pick up some essentials...

My son's new thing is throwing unnecessary items into the basket or cart when we're shopping. So he was up to his usual behavior as soon as we walked into the store.

"Don't just throw things into the basket, Dylan."

He still continues to put random items in the basket so I finally say, "Okay, these are things that we don't need so let's not put things that we don't need into the basket."

This is something that we are trying to teach him when we go shopping - our needs vs. wants.

He puts what he was holding back down, looks at me {with a little smirk on his face} and says, "But Mommy, you put chips in there. Do you NEED chips???"

I swear, this kid is too smart for his own good.

wordless wednesday

:)

the sweetest boy

Over the weekend we moved into a new place so you can imagine how hectic and messy it was. The three of us were so pooped that we were lying in bed at 8pm and my son and boyfriend eventually fell asleep 30 minutes later. I thought, "Yay, I get to sleep early tonight for once, too!" I must have jinxed myself because I didn't sleep early at all. In fact, I laid there in bed for 3 hours trying to get myself to sleep.

I tossed.
I turned.
I went to the bathroom several times.

It was going to be one of those nights and I was already dreading the next day.

I woke up around 6am this morning to make breakfast and was not in a good mood since I ended up falling asleep around 1am. After feeding my son his breakfast, I quickly got dressed and went into the kitchen to eat my food when I heard, "Mommy you look so pretty."

Immediately I looked at him and felt so much better. I walked over to him, gave him a big huge hug and said, "You are the sweetest boy ever. You make sure to always tell girls how pretty they are...they will melt in your hands."

My little man just smiled. I love him to pieces.

wordless wednesday

{someone is ready for Halloween!}

fashion forward friday

Outdoor Comedy Show by lindsay-advincula featuring crossbody handbags

Cross shirt / Madewell jean jacket / Vero Moda hot shorts, $23 / Bamboo braided sandals / Marc by Marc Jacobs crossbody handbag / Carolina Bucci gold earrings, $1,685

I am officially obsessed with Polyvore! I'm very excited because tomorow night I'm going to an outdoor show called The Comedy Jam. As always, I'm stressing about what to wear so I took to Polyvore to get some ideas. I am definitely loving this outfit! It's casual and comfortable, which is what I'm looking for since we have lawn seats. Since it will probably get a little chilly at night, I've added the jean jacket. Super cute!

   

Won't Back Down

When I finished high school ten years ago, about half of my class graduated. Half! My high school was on its way to failing and it was only getting worse. Ten years later, my high school is gone and has been replaced with a middle school. I'm not sure exactly what happened or if anyone tried to do anything about it. But if you ask me about it, it breaks my heart and it's very saddening. If this was happening to a high school in my city, what's to say it won't happen to the rest of the schools?

When I had my son I knew how I wanted to raise him, what foods I wanted to feed him and what not to feed him and what kind of bottles and diapers I was going to use. The one thing I didn't know was where we were going to put him in school. I knew for sure that it wasn't going to be in my hometown and that was one of the main reasons why we moved out of there. My son is almost 4 years old and elementary school is just around the corner and the thought of where to start his educational path scares me.

Where are the best teachers?
Where is the best eduation?
How far will I go to get him the best education he needs??

I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a screening of Won't Back Down the other night in San Francisco thanks to Circle of Moms. Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, and Holly Hunter, the movie is about two mothers who decide to drastically change their children's failing inner-city school. The task itself isn't easy and throughout the movie you see how they are tested but continue to strive to make a difference in not only their children's lives, but the whole community.

I hadn't heard of the movie before the screening but I'm so glad I was introduced to it. When I saw the preview I knew it was going to be a powerful movie! And it was. It wasn't only powerful, but it was one of the most touching and heartwarming movies I've seen in a long time. Any movie that can make me cry gets two thumbs up in my book. Seeing the struggle and frustration Maggie Gyllenhaal's character Jamie had with her daughter's school was a reminder that you can't just put your kids in any school and expect them to have the best education.

Being a mother myself, I couldn't help but feel every emotion that the two mothers went through. Their pain, their dedication, their tears, their fight, and their joy. It was all there and it was for their children! I don't think I've ever felt this much admiration for two characters in a movie before. They did what they could and sacrficied everything to give their children the best. And isn't that what motherhood is all about, sacrifice?

Won't Back Down is a reality check that our children only have one life to live and that we shouldn't back down when it comes their future. Maggie Gyllenhall and Viola Davis delivered an outstanding performance. This movie give mothers everywhere hope and it is truly inspiring from beginning to end!

FTC DISCLOSURE: A Mommy's Lifestyle aims to provide unbiased editorials. However, I wish to disclose that from time to time I may receive free products or other compensation from companies for blogger reviews.