Lost Maples and Missing Towels

Today, we headed out on a sixty toe adventure ... destination:  Lost Maples State Natural Area!  If you're interested in where that is or what it is about, here is a link.  We had been there before, but never in the summer.

The weather was quite warm, and we felt certain there was a path at the park that would lead down to the river.  In anticipation of a wet dip, I assembled a nice gym bag and handy pile of towels.  Little did I know (until too late) that the bag and towels never made it into the van.  Ooops ... oh well, we improvise. Such is life.

We enjoyed a nice nature walk and picnic at Lost Maples.  The views were beautiful and the sky was amazing.  I took a lot of photos.  Should you be interested, the album is here.

Access to the river, however, was nowhere to be found.  The places where we did find water was not suitable for the kids to splash about in ... so we just enjoyed walking, the views, a picnic, etc.   On the way back home, we felt certain there would be another opportunity to frolic in a river ... and we were correct.

Right near Bandera, we stopped at a picnic area that had tables and a few places where folks could climb down into the water.  It was splendid.  There were a lot of bugs, but the kids did not mind.  I did not exactly enjoy sitting in ants, but I survived.  Meanwhile; The boys instantly made a friend with a little kid who was already there.  However; we were disappointed that there were not any towels to dry off after said excursion, as I mentioned before, they were somehow omitted from the packing of the vehicle.  But alas, we did not care ... we stopped at the Dairy Queen drive-thru and got some blizzards for the child folk and made our way home.

Immediately upon arrival at our humble abode ... BATH TIME!  Messy van can wait.

So what new adventure did you embark on today?  I'd love to know all about your journeys.

As always, make champion choices,
Debra

NSV If You Please...

Happiness is ... being able to wrap a regular size bath towel around myself and properly cover up those girly treasures.  Long gone are the days of requiring a BEACH towel for such a purpose.  We have a foreign exchange student from Spain staying with us for the next few weeks; and it is nice to be able to wrap myself up in a normal towel should one of my carless children burst into my room or leave my door open in a flurry.

And speaking of NSV's (Non-scale victories) ... it is also nice to haul all of the young people downtown, and explore a new area or investigate a new coffee shop and book store ... without worry about fatigue and exhaustion.

I love my city.  San Antonio boasts all sorts of interesting urban areas, natural areas, free fitness classes, a beautiful Riverwalk, family fitness events and all sorts of amazing adventures that you and your family can enjoy.  Lord knows me and my 60 toe crew often do.

For those folks anywhere near me, here is a link to all of the fun free fitness classes offered by the city of San Antonio (various locations).  This link is for the month of June, and the July schedule will be out soon.  Click Here for Class Schedule.  It will open in a new window.

As for as my endeavors to try new things ... whether it be food or activity or whatever ... I did try a new raspberry lemonade yesterday at the pool.  That was amazing.  The entire family loved it, like totally loved the thing.  Now I need to figure out how to make it at home.

I also discovered a new bookstore today, and purchased a fabulous hard cover called 'The Adventurous Boy's Handbook'.  In my world, it is perfect.   And just prior to spending too much money at the bookstore, I tried a new dark chocolate kind of cookie, and I think it had some bit of coffee in the mix.  Verdict?  I did not really care for this concoction.  I asked the boys to take bites, they did, and they did not care for it either.  Most of that cookie ended up in the trash, but alas, we did try it, nonetheless.

So do tell, what NSV have you enjoyed lately?  What new thing, food, adventure or territory have you experienced lately?  Inspire me with your endeavors!

As always, make champion choices,
Debra

Get Your Swim On!

Do you like to swim?  I do. I absolutely love it.  I crave it.  I won't join a gym unless there is a pool available.  Summer time, especially, provides  perfect opportunities for you to de-stress yourself by giving your body a chance to release stress ... you can do this by swimming and socializing with other people.

Did you know that swimming:

• Improves flexibility and strength 
• Builds up endurance 
• Increases muscular flexibility 
• Muscular balance 
• Heart muscle becomes stronger 
• Improves the physique 
• Increases circulation 
• Rehabilitates muscles 
• Improved ability to control and maintain healthy weight 
• Releases stress and tension 
• Renews energy

So, add the element of socializing - and this ultimately helps you develop a positive attitude, contributes to a sense of well-being, teaches patience, overflows in fun, is enjoyable and you get to fellowship with others.  Or go alone and enjoy some private time of peace and focused exercise.  Either way, it does a body good.

Sometimes I will go to the gym and leave my kids in the child care area FIRST, so I can swim alone and do intentional exercise, and then go get them, and have fun family time playing with them in the water.

Aqua exercise can be a lifesaver, literally ... especially when I weighed over 300 pounds ... it was about the only exercise I could accomplish due to the amazing anti-gravity feature :)

So do tell ... how do you like to get your swim on?  In a pool, in a lake, in a river, in an ocean, in a hot tub? :)  Let me hear from you!

This photo is of me, today, at Lifetime Fitness.

As always, make champion choices,

Debra