Monday, June 24, 2024

what constitutes swimwear

And why show ALL the skin? I was purchasing a swimsuit for my son and looking for a long-sleeved rashguard or onesie. It hit me that I should be purchasing a long-sleeved suit for myself, too. I'm tired of putting so much sunscreen on and possibly missing a spot in the middle of my back that I can't reach or forgetting to do my chest and getting severely burned, hence accumulating new skin damage.

Mother and child at the swimming pool

At my Fit4Mom workout, we discussed what swimsuits typically look like and how impractical they are for motherhood. I was feeling really good about wearing whatever I would wear to a workout (yoga shorts and a sports bra), but then I came across an infographic that said you can't wear non-swimwear to a public pool. Luckily, we usually go to the beach and to the private pool in our condo complex, so there are no lifeguards telling us what is acceptable and what is not.


Here are some of the recent purchases I've made that make me happy.


Adult Rash Guard Swim Suit with shorts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNPWXQJX
The Heartbeat Powder, Magenta Purple, Light Grayish Blue, Black

High Waisted Full Coverage Swim Bottom https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XFLZ66N/


Hot Mom Summer!
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Thursday, June 6, 2024

Disneyland and family reunion debrief

The second half of May was epic and fantastic. I've barely had time to process or recover but I do feel like I need to post this debrief to try and capture some of the magic 🪄 ✨ before it totally evaporates like the June Gloom.


Friday, May 17 
7:30am Kayla took Albert to Daycare 
11:20am Kayla picked up Albert from Daycare, drove to airport
Steph arrived BUR 12:45pm
Food Truck Friday on Chatsworth St

We got to road test the Mountain buggy double stroller.

Saturday, May 18 - 
9-11am month of Mama celebration class
4-6pm Reseda Art Walk  

Another opportunity to road test the stroller.

Sunday, May 19 - Kayla 3 mile training run 
Holleigh Bernson Memorial Park Pick up Fitlicious
Packing for Disney 
Zoom call with grandparents




Monday, May 20 (Disneyland) - Rope drop Jungle Cruise

Tuesday, May 21 (DCA) - Rope drop Little Mermaid

Wednesday, May 22 (Disneyland) Rope drop Pirates of the Caribbean

Thursday, May 23rd - 
7-9am Campus walk 
Disney unpacking 
2-3pm pool
Family dinner with Anne
Galactic Grill Salads 

This day Albert tossed my phone in the pool.

Friday, May 24th
8am Yoga
9-11am campus walk 
Goddess Salad lunch 
Group nap
3-4pm pool time 
Family dinner - Chicken fried rice stir fry

Saturday, May 25th 
7am strength training 
8:00am Kayla apply for unemployment
IKEA and it's a wrap day
Family dinner - Tacos
Too good to go - Leo's Superfood Vegan Cafe

Sunday, May 26th -
3 mile run / Northridge park 
Pym test kitchen bread pud
Pick up Fitlicious
Beach day in Ventura
Too good to go Fish Grill lunch
Pedicures (tarball removal)
Family dinner - pasta
 
Monday, May 27th - **MEMORIAL DAY**
Major cooking day 
Family dinner - baked potato
Bengal BBQ 🥓
Troubadour tavern 🥔

Our cousin Joey came over and got to spend some time with us and the little ones.

Tuesday, May 28th -
Cinnamon rolls 
LA County Arboretum 
Galactic Grill Salads
Steph packs suitcase

Found out that if you have a membership for two adults, only one of the adults needs to be named on the membership. So we all got in for free. And we arrived around 8am to beat the heat and take advantage of early hours for members only.
 
Wednesday, May 29 (Departure 1:30pm) Steph’s date of departure
Red rose 🌹 Grey stuff 
11:30am Drive to the airport
SWA 6017 Steph departs BUR at 1:20pm, arrives 7:55pm OMA

Non-Disney Day Ideas that we didn't do 

Wi spa (kid-friendly) https://wispausa.com/  
Open 24h
$30 regular daily admission fee
2700 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90057 (drivetime 35 - 80 minutes)

Open 24h
$30 general admission
2999 W. 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90020 (drivetime 35 - 80 minutes)

LA Zoo / Griffith Park / Traveltown 12 month membership started on May 24, 2023
$22 for adults, $17 for kids over 23 months
5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (drivetime 35-55 minutes)

Kidspace Museum in Pasadena / Rose Bowl 
Open 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday)
480 N Arroyo Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91103 (drivetime 35-65 minutes)

Discovery Cube LA
$18 for adults, $16 for kids, Children ages 2 and under are free. $17 for seniors (age 62+)
11800 Foothill Blvd, Sylmar, CA 91342 (drivetime 22-40 minutes)

Ventura / Underwood Farms / Beach* https://underwoodfamilyfarms.com/somis/ 
Open 9:00am - 6:00pm
Admission to enter the fields and pick is $3.00/person. Under 2 free.
5696 E Los Angeles Ave, Somis, CA (drivetime 45 - 70 min)

Aquarium of the Pacific / Beach / Huntington Dog Beach* parking $8
$44.95 adult, $41.95 senior (age 62+), $29.95 child (age 3+)
100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802 (drivetime 55 min - 120 min)

Malibu / Zuma Beach*

Venice Beach

CA Science Center (free tickets via library) / Blue Line / Metrolink
La Brea Tar Pits (free tickets via library) / Miracle Mile https://www.lapl.org/explorela 

Downtown LA / Grove / Beverly Hills Public Library (storytime, free)
Universal Citywalk / Bus
Totally Toddlers / My Gym / Local*

Bike Ride / Orange Line Bike Path*

LA Dodgers game - a friend has season tickets! Children 3 and under can enter the stadium free, provided they sit on a parent's or guardian's lap. Should the parent or guardian want a child aged 3 and under to have their own seat, a ticket must be purchased.

Honestly, I would not have changed a thing about the experience. We had a lot of May Gray. Nobody got sick except Mike. The LoveSac couch made a nice bed in our living room. It was a good decision to clear out the downstairs closet for our guests. I think it made it much easier for them to see their clothes Inventory and know what was clear and dirty. We did laundry almost every day. We ran the dishwasher more than once per day. I showed them the bunk beds so they know they have options for future visits.

Our landlord showed us the empty unit that will be up for sale soon. It seems small but maybe that's just because it was empty. It would be wild to be homeowners. And wild to vacate this unit after we have made so many memories here.
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CdM Scenic 5k 2024 Race Report

The Corona del Mar Scenic 5k is a fun event in Orange County, Southern California. We originally started running it with my sister-in-law because the event is sponsored by Hoag Hospital, and she worked there.

3.1 miles. Lots of turns. Well-marked course. Right along the ocean. 60 deg F at the start, 64 deg F by the end. There was a marine layer, a calm and cloudy morning, which we call the "June Gloom." Very humid, even a bit of drizzle.

There were maybe less than 2000 participants. There were dozens of port-a-potties. There was a fun aerobic warmup and balloon arch start line. It was fun to let the men go first, then women second, and walkers third. 

I had forgotten that there were a lot of loops in the course where slower runners could catch a glimpse or wave to faster runners. So, it was fun for families and spectators.

Followed a Fit4Mom 10k training plan. Three days per week of runs and two days per week of strength training. One day of active recovery and one rest day. Not in that order.

Started off wearing a visor to keep the sprinkles off my glasses. Ended up swapping it for my sunglasses, which was the original outfit I had planned. Retiring my Brooks Ariels after this event.

I ate a cinnamon roll 3+ hours before the race, 4 egg whites ~2 hours before the race, and a Prime sleeve in 500mL of water. 

I got a bit psyched out in the first quarter mile because I think I started too far forward in the corrals, and almost everyone passed me. But then I put on my training playlist, and it really helped me calm down mentally. I had trained to it for most of my two-mile Tuesday morning runs, so I knew I was going at the right pace for me.

It was so heartwarming to run by my kiddo and husband who were spectating. The BOB jogging stroller was my aid station and SAG wagon. I swapped out my visor for a pair of sunglasses and immediately felt cooler (temperature-wise).

We walked the course the day before very slowly. It was good to program my brain with all the landmarks, and it was fabulous to see all the homes and gardens at a snail's pace. An unforeseen benefit is that I felt like I was flying on race day because I was going so much faster than the day before, and I had no anxiety about going the wrong way.

My pre-race A goal was to run continuously, and I achieved that. My B goal was to cross the finish line, and I achieved that. I didn't have a time goal, but I finished in under 45 minutes, and my pace was under 13 minute miles. I showed improvement over my last 5k race. 

I didn't have a lot of feels crossing the finish line, until I saw the other gals that were with me for most of the race hugging their family members. I said congrats and good job, and it was nice to run with you. Hearing how happy they were to complete their 1st organized 5k event brought tears to my eyes because I know how empowering it is to undertake your first 5k and what a significant accomplishment it is. Yes. People do much longer races, but for a new runner to be born is a thing of beauty.

Restaurant Row did not disappoint. There were three types of burritos, doughnuts, creme brulee, banana, and pasta—truly a feast. There was plenty to share with my husband and son. We didn't do the dolphin dash this year, but we might in the future.

Overall, I love this race and would completely do it again. This was my sixth time running it. I keep going back because it’s that awesome. Not only is the restaurant row at the finish line unique, but having the women's start staggered from the men's is also.

I saw many Disney runners sporting their long-sleeved shirts from the long-awaited return of the Disneyland race in January 2024, so it was fun to say, "I was there, too." The CdM Scenic 5k event is so fun. I highly recommend it. This was their 42nd year.

This was my sixth time running this course, and I am happy with my time.

2024     40:15     13.0 min/mi
2014     40:29     13.0 min/mi
2013     39:00     12.7 min/mi
2012     40:00     13.0 min/mi
2011     35:30     11.5 min/mi
2009     44:00     14.0 min/mi


On the left, I was a newlywed, still in the honeymoon phase of marriage. Still in the honeymoon phase of graduate school. Still in the honeymoon phase of my fitness journey. These were the good times. 2010 is where things started to go off the rails.

I've been through so much since then. I finished my PhD in chemistry in 2012. I chose to live a sober life in 2013. After a barrage of fertility treatments, I got promoted to mommy in 2020. I advanced to Senior Lecturer (rank C) in 2022, which is equivalent to a promotion from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor for a non-tenure track faculty member. These accomplishments are the promises come true.

If I could say anything to my 15-year-old self, it would be, "You've got this, sweetie." You're going to be challenged beyond what you think you can handle, but you CAN handle it. You will survive, and you will eventually find yourself in a happy, joyous, and free life!

The dark years (January, January and May 2010)

In January 2010, my husband moved to San Diego without me. I could visit on the weekends, but only every other weekend. It was soul-crushing because I wanted to be with him, I didn't know how much longer I would have to work on my PhD, and we were so tight on money because we had to maintain two separate living situations. Also, I had always wanted to live in San Diego, and it felt so unfair that I only got to be a part-time resident. My body was screaming that it was time to have a child, but my boss told me that it would be a deal-breaker. And if I got pregnant, then I just shouldn't return to work.

Running was something that allowed me to escape my reality. I was really running away from my problems instead of facing them. I did eventually start seeing a therapist, but I felt that he was more amused by me and not actually able to help me wrap my mind around accepting reality and getting me to a point where I could have a healthy perspective on my life. If I had realized that the time frame of the PhD would be 5.5 years and no longer and that I could have been happy and enjoyed it instead of striving for perfection and always falling short, I might have been able to keep my head on straight.

I will say also that even though I took these photos of myself to document my weight loss achievement, I was crumbling inside. I was so unhappy. It was bittersweet to reach a goal weight, goal time, or other milestone (to be faster than anyone on a bike) but to feel so worthless, useless, and wanting to die rather than to keep living. I can say that those were the dark years of graduate school after year 3. It was a continuous stream of experiments, failures, showing up to work and feeling undervalued, disempowered, and abused by coworkers. I felt more like roadkill than the badass I was. 

When I look back at this blog and the posts I wrote in 2009, 2010, and 2011, I realize I wasn't completely honest with you, dear reader. I wasn't able to be honest with myself about the amount of pain that I was in. I couldn't be honest with my boss about my strong feelings regarding family and my desire to have children. Now, it's too late. I'm happy to be "one and done," and I feel grateful that I could become a mother. But it still stings when people ask if we will have another kid. I'm turning 44 soon, so people should be able to see my age and know that this is not possible. Although a friend told me I don't look or act my age, so I should learn to forgive people for this question.
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