Fitness progress update

My workouts are improving. My running is improving. Yesterday I did a solid 30 minutes of running! My thighs today are on fire from doing weighted squats with 10 lbs! Yay progress. I believe I have about 6.5 lbs to lose and lots of tone to gain! I'll get there.

1st treadmill day in Korea

Yesterday was day number 1 on my treadmill in Korea. I am beyond happy to have this treadmill time back. With 2 or 3 kids home running at a gym or outside is not an option.

This PCS has given me 10 pounds. 10 pounds. Being a couple months without any means of consistent running or any weight lifting at all and at most times without ways of healthy meal planning. Plus the stress and lack of sleep this life change causes for weeks on end. I'm at my happiest at a lean, tone, strong 118 ish pounds. Yesterday I weighed in at 126.2. Ouch. It may not be much to some bit for me this is a huge huge deal. This is me at my worst in the past 5 years besides during pregnancy. But, no worries! I'll get it back! 

This is my new workout room here in Korea. My treadmill corner. 

The treadmill faces the kids' couch and the balcony on 2nd floor. So it's a nice bright view which I need for good running.

TV stand in front of couch for kids, or for workouts or music. 

The view down our street from the balcony. There's a rice field at the end of the street.

My old self, lean legs, tone belly and my long hair I miss! In January I chopped my hair. Was tired

Of the bun and pony tails...now I want it back! 

My lean, strong tone self rant I didn't realize how in shape I really was! You don't know what you have till it's gone sometimes!!! 

And me as of today. But not for long. I'm miserable at this weight/shape. I have 1 pair of jeans that fit me! 8 pounds be gone! 

I expected my first run to go awful. I expected to be mad at myself with how awful I was going to do. I only did a mile. Didn't want to push myself. Bit it was easy! 

Today I did 1.5 miles. Again easy. Not my best by any means at all but not my worst either! 

Kayla meets her class, first Korean taxi ride

Last week before Kayla's first official day of school, she got to go to school in the afternoon before class was over and join. This way she could meet the teacher, classmates and see the class room. Dad was with her as siblings couldn't join and disrupt class. So dad dropped myself Nd little kids off at the bx to hang out and wait. They got a snack of fries, and then we shared a frozen yogurt. Then they played at the indoor play area inside the food court. The bx here is nice. It's small, bit they try to make it kid friendly. 

We have captain D's, Pizza Hut, subway, Taco Bell, Manchu wok, baskin robins and Krispy Kreme as well as Starbucks. Not bad. 

Here's Kayla sitting in class at the end of the day.

After this, dad dropped her off with us at the bx for a snack and playtime. 

And then the kiddos and I took a base taxi home. We live about a mile and half from the bx and it was 4,500 won total from base to home. Less than $4.50. I gave the driver a 5000 won so it was about $4.50. Not bad. I was so afraid the driver wouldn't understand where we needed to go. But he knew exactly where our street was!  

We planted a garden!

Last week, hubby took us down to a little

Market area not far and we picked out some plants to garden with. The people who lived in our house prior left a great garden bed along side if the house. May as we'll take advantage if it! 

We followed our neighbor there. He had gotten some plants at the same place earlier in the day and they were SUPER cheap! 

We ended up with 2 green pepper plants, 1 strawberry plant, 5 lettuce plants, 2 cherry tomato plants and 1 cucumber plant, all for 4,500 won. Less than $5 for all. 

Hoping we get to grow our own salad bar! 

The kids are having fun watching me water them daily and are very excited to start picking them!

First base thrift store day

So, today's adventures for Mama, Carly and Caden were fun. We hitched a ride with our neighbor across the street to base. She dropped us off at the base thrift store. We shopped for 30 minutes. Each kiddo picked out a toy with their own earned money. I filled my shopping bag with hangers, 5 shirts, 3 pairs of snow boots for Mama, Carly and Caden. The boots were only 50 cents today. Winter shirts were only 25 cents each buy one get one free but I didn't find any. They must have sold fast, as we were only there 10 minutes after opening but the place was flooded with customers. 

After that I planned on taking a taxi to the bx but we ran into our next door nieghbor there who volunteers at the base thrift store. We gave us a ride to the bx. 

Walking through the bx was a hassle with a heavy back pack and heavy shopping bag and a 2 year old in my hip. I checked the thrift store for a spare stroller with no luck so we spent the $15 on a new one. 

Mom picked up some diapers, and pair of $15 pants on clearance for only $3 and change, a door organizer for the kids bathroom and some sticky hooks for the walls since our household goods will be here Thursday. I'd like to get stuff hung on walls quickly to start making this place more like home. 

After the bx we hit the food court so the kids could play. Carly didn't last long...we soon had to go home for her nap but stopped at the post office to purchase stamps (Caden chose batman stamps!) and mail out our post cards. 18 all together. 

We took a taxi from the bx to home for 4,800 won. About $4 American money. 

Kayla meets her class, first Korean taxi ride

Last week before Kayla's first official day of school, she got to go to school in the afternoon before class was over and join. This way she could meet the teacher, classmates and see the class room. Dad was with her as siblings couldn't join and disrupt class. So dad dropped myself Nd little kids off at the bx to hang out and wait. They got a snack of fries, and then we shared a frozen yogurt. Then they played at the indoor play area inside the food court. The bx here is nice. It's small, bit they try to make it kid friendly. 

We have captain D's, Pizza Hut, subway, Taco Bell, Manchu wok, baskin robins and Krispy Kreme as well as Starbucks. Not bad. 

Here's Kayla sitting in class at the end of the day.

After this, dad dropped her off with us at the bx for a snack and playtime. 

And then the kiddos and I took a base taxi home. We live about a mile and half from the bx and it was 4,500 won total from base to home. Less than $4.50. I gave the driver a 5000 won so it was about $4.50. Not bad. I was so afraid the driver wouldn't understand where we needed to go. But he knew exactly where our street was!  

Trip to Korean Costco!

Our 2nd outting in Korea last Saturday was of all places to Costco! We live costco! Wanted to see what it's like here and it's pretty much the same. They call it a little America in Korea. All the same Kirkland products plus tons of Korean products. All set up the same way. All the same deli bar food except no churros and with addition of mushroom soup which was fantastic. We had tons of fun taste testin some Korean items. We didn't get much because we arrived right at opening time so most sample vendors weren't ready. 

You park in a parking garage, and then go through doors, to escalator going down. 

Prices were very similar to USA prices. 

Pizza was the same! Great as usual.

The different part was good was served on plastic plates, and there was actual silverware instead of plastic. Koreans are HUGE on limiting waste. 

Kayla picked out a pack of sushi rolls. I found these to be much better than the ones in USA at Costco. They were amazing and same price for double the amount of rolls. This pack lasted Kayla and I 3 days! 

Same bakery! 

Costco here was awesome. It was worth every second of the 45 minute drive.