I just ran across (pun intended) a really cool jogging website! Jog Fm is a great site that allows you to put in your jogging (or running) mile time and it will pick songs to match your jogging cadence! What a cool way to run! I really like this site. It gives you the option to buy the playlist or you can keep your list if you already have the songs. Here’s my list for 10:00 mile:

2 x

77

BPM

good for a

9:36

mile

P!nk

F**kin’ Perfect

148

BPM

best for a

10:12

mile

Neon Trees

Animal

150

BPM

best for a

10:00

mile

Avril Lavigne

What the Hell

150

BPM

best for a

10:00

mile

Katy Perry

E.T. (feat. Kanye West)

150

BPM

best for a

10:00

mile

Maroon 5

Harder to Breathe

2 x

77

BPM

good for a

9:36

mile

ADELE

Someone Like You

152

BPM

best for a

9:48

mile

Queen

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

2 x

75

BPM

good for a

10:00

mile

Weezer

Say It Ain’t So

152

BPM

best for a

9:48

mile

Fatboy Slim

The Rockafeller Skank

Image via Wikipedia

This is a call to arms for civilians. I will start out by saying, I have been the person that I am going to write about and I know better. I was a military wife and my husband got out of the military after 8 years of service to pursue college and a career. After he got out, I forgot what the life was like and to my military wife friends, I am truly sorry, this has been on my heart and I have felt the need to say it.

We support the troops. This is very easy to say, to put a yellow ribbon on our cars and put on our Facebook profiles, but what are we really doing to support our troops? Now, first off, let me note that I say support the troops, I am not suggesting to those who oppose the war that they forget that, I am talking about the troops. The men and women who put their lives on the line to make sure that we have the freedom to live, to celebrate our faith, and etc. What are we doing about those left back at home? Are we taking care of the wives and husbands and children? Are we talking the talk, but not walking the walk? This shouldn’t happen.

I am a former Navy/Marine and Army wife (I’ve only been married once, he was a Navy corpsman, joined an elite group of Marines and then during college joined the Army Reserves). My story is this, I went from a Greenpeace card carrying member and someone who peacefully protested injustices to me now. Deep down, I still wish that there were ways to peaceable handle things, however I know that sometimes force is what it takes. I support the troops, if I like what the war or whatever is going on, that doesn’t matter, I support the TROOPS.

I looked the other day and saw that if my husband went back into the military life, we would loose have of what he makes now as a civilian. Is this right? Why are military families having to qualify for WIC (women, infant and children assistance) to help pay for their groceries? It hardly seems fair.

So I challenge you to go out of your way and your comfort zone to do something nice for a soldier or for their family! Send a care package, have your children draw them a picture or anything. Something nice to thank the soldier for putting their lives on the line for us everyday. For more information, please check out the USO .

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

So over the years, we (Americans) have ripped off a good chunk of BBC shows. While some of them are good, some should not have been remade for the US. Here are my thoughts on some of the shows.

Being Human: I will start right off and say that this one is a toss up. While I like the BBC version, I have to say that I am liking the US version just a little bit more. I think the characters are played better in the US version. But time will tell what the verdict is on this one, as it’s so new!

Life on Mars: BBC wins this one. The acting and the characters were better served in the BBC version. I think the fact that the BBC version had more seasons than the US version also answers this question.

American Idol (Pop Idol BBC): Thank you BBC for inspiring this insipid show! Big thanks on that one! Hate them both!

Dancing with the Stars (Strictly Come Dancing BBC): Again, thanks BBC! Hate these too!

Top Gear: My opinion has been clearly stated about this one in a few blogs posts, but here is goes again. Love the BBC version, hate the US version!

So, I’m starting to wonder whether Americans have any creativity left? We seem to just be ripping off the Brits, but then we make fun of them as a country. Other than Strictly Come Dancing and Pop Idol, their versions of the shows (which were first, by the way) seem to be better overall. Why don’t we just air their shows instead of wasting the money to redo them? Any thoughts???

Image via Wikipedia

Okay, totally not kidding about this and it is legitimate! Enter to win a free 2 year lease on the BMW X3! Not bad, huh? Being that I love German engineering, I knew that I had to try for this one! Plus on the enter screen, you get to customize what you like! Hello!!! This is amazing!

I would have to say that if I won this car, I would have a heyday in it! If you would like more info, on the BMW x3 make sure to check out the Top Gear review of it below!

After watching the Raising Sextuplets episode from two weeks ago, I felt inspired. If Jenny Masche, mom to sextuplets could do a half-marathon in the Surf City USA Marathon, then why couldn’t I, mother of two, complete a full marathon? So, after watching the episode, I went for a quick run and felt empowered. I got done with my run and announced that I was going to enter the Portland Marathon. It seems like I am always training for something and then it falls through. I admit that I tend to quit things. Well, now, I am determined to see this thing through. I have twelve weeks until the race and I think I can make it. I am planning to do a low-key pace during the marathon, infact, I think that I will end of walking most of it, but I really want the finisher’s medal and that’s what matters to me. (Cut me a little bit of slack, I just had a baby two months ago!) Next year, it’s running time!

So, this begins the countdown, Week One. I have a lot to get going on. I plan on hitting the gym for a three mile run on the treadmill. I would prefer to be outside in the beautiful weather, however Sophia‘s jog stroller went to jog stroller heaven (after literally being used for thousands of miles!) and she whines the whole way if we walk for more than a mile. (She’s only four.) With Sarah only being a couple of months old and not totally able to hold up her head by herself, I can’t put them both in the bike cart, besides I need the conversion wheel and handlebar parts for our bike cart anyway! So, off to the gym where the kids can play and I can run without abandon.

My goals for the week:

1. Eat healthy and follow my Weight Watchers
2. Run 3 miles, 3x this week
3. keep breathing and try to enjoy the process!

- Krisy