Visiting Santa Claus 2012, Seeing Christmas Lights and a HUGE Meltdown

This week I wanted to focus on some of those Christmas traditions that needed to get done.  First on the list . . . visiting Santa Claus.

Last year we went to Bass Pro Shop for their Winter Wonderland.  Bass Pro does a great job of not only having Santa Claus there but also a carousel and a few games to play.  Unfortunately, the one down-side to going to Bass Pro is because it is absolutely free (even the picture), they really don't take a lot of care in getting a good, mom-approved picture.  Thank Goodness I always have a camera handy. . .

 

Of all the Santa pictures he's taken, I think this one may be one of my favorites.  I think it is for sentimental reasons as I do believe that this may be one of the last years that Kanin believes

  
After playing in the Winter Wonderland, we decided to go look at the big fish aquarium.  Apparently, this was NOT something that Gracie wanted to do because one of the biggest tantrums that I have ever witnessed followed.  This child cried screamed her ever-loving head off the from the time we got into the store until we got home.

Finally, after locking making her go to her room and the rest of us having dinner, we thought we might TRY to go look at the Christmas lights in one of the local parks.  All of the kids had on their pajamas, I made everyone hot chocolate, and Gaga loaded up our favorite Christmas songs on the iPod.  

As we got close to the park we noticed a lot of people walking toward the direction of the park.  I really didn't think anything about it until we got closer and closer.  There were people everywhere.  Cars were parked all along the streets and hundreds of bundled up people were walking toward the park.  When we finally got up to the entrance and found out that it was WALKERS' NIGHT.  Are you kidding me?!?!?  You can imagine what happened next (see above picture).  

By this time, my Christmas spirit had been thrown out the window and all I wanted to do was go home and drink away the headache.  Luckily, though, we did hit a couple of good subdivisions with great lights that somewhat appeased the kids.

All Kanin kept saying was,  "Now, what are the odds that the night we pick to go look at the night is the night they only let walkers in."   After the evening we had, I'd say they were pretty high at that point.

Finally, last night we loaded everyone up in the car again sans the pajamas and the hot chocolate (we used it all the night before) and we were able to enjoy the lights.

 I hope your holiday season is just as chaotic as mine has been and I hope that we are all able to look back on the chaos one day and appreciate it.
    

CrossFit and Me

I have held off writing this post for 6 months.  I did this for several reasons.  First, I didn't want to sound "preachy" about working out.  I also didn't want to show pictures of myself.  If you look back through my blog, and at my Fitness page at the top, you'll know that I have fallen in love with several fitness/diet plans.  I still stand by that but those loves were like puppy love and CrossFit is like that one, true love.  The one that when you meet them you just know that you are going to spend the rest of your life with them.

That is CrossFit.  My one true love.  My soul mate.  The one I'm meant to be with.  Am I being dramatic?  Yes.  Am I being honest?  Yes.  It is hard to put into words what CrossFit has done for me.  

Over the past few years my body has changed A LOT with the continual beating of pregnancies, deliveries, unhealthy eating, yo-yo dieting, etc.  In my mind and heart, I was always still that same young, lean, muscled girl that I was 20 years ago.  In reality, I was a little overweight and definitely soft in the middle.  

I started CrossFit on July 7, 2012.  After the first day, it became an obsession.  Then, it became a habit. Now it has become a normal part of life.

Here's how I started on July 7, 2012

To be honest, I never thought that I looked like this.  It isn't until you see it in a picture that you can't really argue.  At this point in my quest to get back to my hot body self, I actually thought I looked good!  These pictures were AFTER completing JM's 30 Day Shred and AFTER completing Shaun T's INSANITY.  I remember looking at these pictures on July 7 and crying.

Here I am on August 8, 2012.  Only 1 month later.

October 7, 2012

I don't have a November 7 picture but here are a couple pics of me from November 29, 2012.

CrossFit has completely changed my life. It has given me the confidence that I once had.  I feel like I am healthier now than I have been in years and I know that I look better than I have in at least 9 years (before the first pregnancy).  For the first time in 3 years, I don't step on the scale every day.  I used to weigh myself 2, 3, 4, 5 times a day.  I can't tell you the last time I stepped on a scale but yet I know that every time I go workout, I am changing my body.

CrossFit has renewed my marriage.  I know it sounds silly but it honestly has.  As most of you women know, when you don't feel good about yourself then you really don't understand why your husband would either.  I finally feel sexy again.  I flirt more with him.  I want to go on dates with him.  I want to hold hands again.  For the past several years, I just couldn't understand why I would even be attractive to him but I finally feel like I am getting back to the person that he first met. 

CrossFit has introduced me to new people.  The group of people that I work out with are the best.  They are encouraging and supportive.  They will ride you and kick your butt when they know you are slacking and they will come lift you up when they know that you have given it your all.  I have never in my life been in an environment in which every, single person in the building wants me to be the best that I can possibly be with no jealousy, no jeers, no snickers.  All that is ever asked of anyone is to never quit and to constantly give it your best.

Like I said, I have been hesitant in writing this post because I know that there will be those people who have no confidence in the program, people who say that their workout is better, people who want to talk about the financial aspects, people who will say that girls "bulk up" with all of the weight-lifting, etc.  I understand.  I was once there, too.  All I can say is this . . . 

For me, CrossFit is absolutely the best fitness program that I have ever been a part of.  Better than Army physical training.  Better than having a personal trainer at the gym.  Better than my workout videos at home.  I see results every, single time I go and when I leave, I KNOW that I have improved myself.  There has never been one day of "cashing it in".   Eight months ago, I would never have been able to dead lift 80lbs and here I am lifting 175lbs.

    
I am definitely not where I want to be but I'm also not where I used to be.  To me, that's progress. 
  

Travel Review: Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Off-Shore Island

Last week I had the opportunity to head down to Nassau, Bahamas to attend the STAR Awards for Sandals resorts.  The event took place at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Off-Shore Island.
  In the past year, I have been able to learn a little about the Sandals properties and their philosophy on all-inclusive, luxury travel but this was my first opportunity to visit and stay at a Sandals.  It was also my first trip to the Bahamas so I was doubly excited.   

Sandals Royal Bahamian is located about 10 minutes from the airport so the transfer was very quick.  We were greeted by cool towels.  Because I was there for a travel function, we had our own reception with appetizers and cocktails but I am sure that new guests are met with cocktails, as well.

The first thing I noticed about the resort is the decor.  This property is decorated in bright, opulent colors with a British flair.  We were very lucky in that the resort was also decorated for Christmas.  They really did a great job with their Christmas trees and poinsettas.

   
Upon check-in we were initially put into the new Balmoral Tower in a Cat Island Premium Room.  This room had a beautiful bathroom, stocked mini-bar, Red Lane Spa lotions, a huge walk-in  closet, and a beautiful 4 poster bed.

While this room was beautiful, there were some down-sides to it.  First and foremost, there was no patio or balcony and that was disappointing.  Even though we weren't facing the ocean, it still would have been nice to be able to sit outside and drink coffee early in the morning or to open up a patio door for some fresh air.  Without that aspect, it just felt confining and almost hotel-like.

Another con (if you can call it that) is that I felt that there was a lot of wasted space.  The walk-in closet was too much and the "foyer" area right when you walked in the room was wasted space, as well.

We stayed in this room for one night and then asked to be moved.  The ultimate reason to be moved was definitely the lack of outdoor space.

On the second day we got moved to Royal Windsor Tower to a Cable Beach Honeymoon Grande Luxe Mega Suite.  Even though the bathroom was a downgrade, I actually liked this room better.  I felt like it was a better use of space and it provided a little more privacy than the first room.

Sandals Royal Bahamian has 2 main pools, an active pool and a quiet pool.  Both of the pools have a swim-up bar and plenty of lounge chairs.

 Active Pool

 Active Pool

Quiet Pool

Overall, I thought the food was good.  To be fair, and honest, all of our dinners were planned meals so we didn't really get to experience the dinner menus or all of the restaurants that the regular guests did.  We did eat at Kimono's (Teppanyaki) and it was really good.  

One con on the food, though, was definitely the breakfasts.  I had breakfast in both Spice and Cassanova and in both instances, I felt that the selection was lacking.  The food was cold and there just was not a good variety.  

Another con on the food is the Royal Cafe.  This restaurant serves burgers, chicken sandwiches, nachos, etc.  What I really wanted, though, was a salad.  They had a salad bar out but . . . birds kept flying in and eating off of it.  Ugh.  A pro about the Royal Cafe, though, was their specialty Conch Soup.  This soup was over-the-top FANTASTIC and I seriously could have licked the bowl clean.

Another highlight in the food department was the Bella Napoli Pizzeria.  This made-to-order oven-brick pizzeria is right on the boardwalk so you can hop out of the pool, walk over and grab a seat, and chow down on a pizza.  There were several to choose from but I ended up ordering the Greek Pizza with Lobster (yum) and liked it so much that later on in the weekend I ordered it again with chicken.  The con for the pizzeria, though, is that they only served pizza--no salads, breadsticks, etc.  Just pizza.

     

The beach at the Royal Bahamian was a nice beach with plenty of chairs.  I had a great time watching the cruise ships come in to port in Nassau while laying on the beach.

Water sports including scuba diving, snorkeling, parasailing, and tons of other activities are included in the overall price.

I loved these fire pits located close to the beach.

  

The service was great at this resort.  I have visited others where the workers were nonchalant and almost made me seem as if I were being a bother, not here.  The staff were all so welcoming and friendly and tried to make every guest feel special.

One of the BEST aspect of this resort was the night life.  There were 2 places to hang out after dinner-Cricketer's Pub and the Piano Bar.  I LOVED Cricketer's Pub.  The bartenders were outgoing and funny and really interactive.  I liked the fact that the Pub served "bar food" late in to the night so you could get a burger, wings, etc.  They also have TV's so we were able to watch Sunday Night Football!   

Finally, I cannot review the off-shore island.  The weather was not that great last week down in the Bahamas and it was so windy that the shuttle out to the off-shore island only ran 1 out of the 4 days that I was there so I wasn't able to experience any part of the off-shore island.

I also did not participate in any of the included water sports activities but I met a man from the UK who went scuba diving every, single day of his 2 week stay and said that the diving was amazing and that he saw so many sea creatures including swimming with 14 sharks one day!
  
Overall, I enjoyed this resort.  There were some things that need to be changed:
-It definitely needs a good power wash and painting as it is starting to show signs of wear and tear.
-The active pool is the only heated pool and for those guests who don't really want to hear the thumping of the music and stay at the quiet pool, it was way too cold this time of year to get in.
-Salads, Salads, Salads.  I was craving a salad so badly the entire weekend and wish that there would have been a place to get one without the fear that birds had just landed on the lettuce.
-The theater desperately needs to be re-carpeted.

As I said in the beginning, I'm not sure that this can be a 100% fair and accurate review as I did not travel as a normal paying guest.

I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about this or any other resort.  Just leave me a comment.