vacation

Summer Vacation

Posted on by keepingupwithkate91

Remember when you were younger and you went back to school in September you had to write about your summer vacation.  I’m not back in school and it isn’t September but thought I’d share with you some of my summer vacation highlights.

For the past 5 years I’ve been going to Ocean City, NJ for 2 weeks.  We stay on the south end of the island.  This year I really tried to check-out from work, social media and blogging – I did really good checking out on all 3 – blogging wins the prize.

Here are some of the highlights from the vacation – in no particular order:

  • Spending time with family, extended family and one of my college friends
  • Beach Yoga – including having my college friend join me the first week
  • Getting out on my road bike
  • Girls vs. Boys Wiffle ball game (with my Uncle as the official pitcher) – Girls lost – bummer!
  • Impressing my nephew that I have a blog!  I earned some street cred with him.  🙂
  • Mr. Muscles (one of our neighbors – my Aunts’ named him) 🙂
  • Trying a  recipe from Pinterest (thanks LDK – it was yummy!)
  • Cabana Boy – My Uncle is a great sport – he takes all the beach stuff down and sets up.
  • Chillaxin’ on the beach
  • Coffee on the porch early in the morning
  • My Aunt’s homemade gravy (aka spaghetti sauce)
  • Surviving Hurricane Arthur – he wasn’t much of one – and he moved through quickly – watching the surfers post Arthur
  • Enjoyed some of my favorite places to eat – (I’m doing another post on favorite spaces and places)
  • Shriver’s – seeing them make vanilla salt water taffy and bonus got to sample it!
  • Making Vanilla Salt Water Taffy

    Making Vanilla Salt Water Taffy

     

  • Watching the World Cup – cheering on the US and Argentina!
  • Mummer’s – Avalon String Band on the Boarwalk
  • Avalon String Band in the OCNJ Boardwalk

    Avalon String Band in the OCNJ Boardwalk

     

  • Watching fireworks from the beach
  • Walking the beach
  • Beating my brother in FitBit on week 2 of my vacation (he went back to work)!  🙂
  • Sitting on the beach watching and listening to the waves crashing on the beach
  • And many more!!

As you can see I had a great summer vacation!  What did you do on your summer vacation? Hope you had a great time.  Cherish the memories – I know I will and do.

I’m Back…

Posted on by keepingupwithkate91

I’m back from my 2 week summer vacation. One of the perks of being with a company for 20 years – I have lots of vacation. I’m a big fan of the 2 week vacation. I highly recommend it!

A one week vacation you are just getting into the groove of everything and it is time to go home.  My Mom and I both mentioned that on our Anna Maria Island over Spring Break – we were just figuring out where to go and what to do and it was time to go home.

I’ve done the two weeks in a row and the two weeks in the same month – both are good.  But I’m partial to the 2 weeks in a row.  For the past 3 summers my Mom and I have been renting a house in Ocean City, NJ (OCNJ) on the odd side of Asbury Avenue.  If you don’t have beach from on Central – the odd side of Asbury is the next best thing – a quick walk back and forth from the beach!

We had a great time (as always) – weather could’ve been a little better and the ocean could’ve been a lot warmer.   The water was 55 degrees due to what they call upwelling – current/wind from the SW moving the warm water out into the ocean replacing with colder water from the bottom (see you even learned something while reading this blog today).  That current is gone now so it is much warmer now so those down this week can get in the ocean to get out of this crazy heatwave.

I have lots of things I plan on sharing about my vacation – just need to get my act together!

Stay cool!

My New Favorite – HIIT Workout

Posted on by keepingupwithkate91

July is a very busy month with vacation and travel so I won’t be attending my normal bootcamp. Two days this week while on vacation I re-discovered HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts.  I’ve known about them for since the first BodyProject Transformation, but I’ll be honest I never really embraced them.  I dislike cardio – all kinds – it is just not enjoyable to me – never has been.

The mantra for HIIT is “no long cardio” – and this is not a long cardio at all.  The gym I joined while on vacation has a 30 minute time limit for the treadmill and elliptical machines.  I select the elliptical and have gotten 23 and 24 minutes of HIIT workouts for the past two days with 7 and 6 minute warm-up/cool-down.  This hits the mark for me!  I love the sense of accomplishment!

Here is the work-out I did today (I did the 10 rounds x 2):

  1. Work Hard – 15 seconds; Rest:  45 seconds
  2. Work Hard – 15 seconds; Rest:  45 seconds
  3. Work Hard – 30 seconds; Rest:  60 seconds
  4. Work Hard – 30 seconds; Rest:  60 seconds
  5. Work Hard – 15 seconds; Rest:  30 seconds
  6. Work Hard – 15 seconds; Rest:  30 seconds
  7. Work Hard – 30 seconds; Rest:  60 seconds
  8. Work Hard – 30 seconds; Rest:  60 seconds
  9. Work Hard – 15 seconds; Rest:  45 seconds
  10. Work Hard – 15 seconds; Rest:  45 seconds

For more information about HIIT workouts check out this link:  http://tiny.cc/5zv0gw

Here was the rest of my workout this morning:

5 Times x 5 Rounds

  1. Overhead Press – 8 lbs
  2. Bicep Curls – 10 lbs
  3. Tricep Kickbacks – 8 lbs
  4. Chest Flye – 8 lbs
  5. Back Row – 10 lbs

And lastly 4 30 second low planks and finally a nice stretch.  I’m ready to start the day.  Have a fantastic Friday!!

PS:  This will be my go to workout when I’m traveling for work next week! 🙂