The last time I saw her she was about a week or two away from delivering her second baby and was feeling a little camera shy. But today I got to meet her new addition! A little boy named Coltan! He’s only 4 weeks old. What a cutie! And what an angel he was. Nursed and slept. Nursed and slept. Repeat. Her daughter, Ashley, was the same way. Skylar? Not so much. She’s the queen of going to bed at 2am, up at 8am. Always was. Chip off the ole block, I guess! Doesn’t Jenny look like she could be Skylar’s mom? She is super blond but her daughter has red hair and Skylar’s blond locks fit right in. Self-portrait outside by her pool while Jenny was tending to Coltan It was great seeing Jenny and meeting her son! Better her than me to have 2 kids under 3 years old…haha! Love you girl and can’t wait to see you next week! Recently America’s Nutrition sent me a few exercise balls. A 12 Pound Valeo Medicine Ball And a Pur-Athletics Weighted Shift Ball I am so happy to add these balls to my Home Gym & Bowflex set up! From Yesterday… Thanks for your empathy about my Car Trouble and for sharing some of your scary road stories you’ve had with car problems. Not fun to talk about or live through but at least we’re here to tell the tale! With my car repair, I have a loaner, ironically the same exact make and model that my own car is, and it’s going to be at the dealership for awhile being fixed. The bad news. It’s a broken front axle rod (whatever that means) and we’re looking at over 4 Grand to fix it. $4000. Yes. It’s a high end leased vehicle, a 2009 with 16,000 miles on it. Why should we be responsible for fixing it? This screams warranty issue! There was no wreck, I did not hit anything, there is no body damage, nothing happened. Well, obviously something did happen, the axle rod broke which means the wheels were not even “connected” to the steering mechanism which is why it was shaking and un-drive-able yesterday. Whatever caused this to happen is anyone’s guess. If it just “happened” though, that it was some sort of fluke, that would indicate that it should be covered under warranty if one is using common sense. No. The dealership told us to get our insurance adjuster out there because we will have to file a claim, pay our deductible, and have our rates go up. That is not right! This is why one leases car or rents houses: when the roof leaks, you call someone. When the axle rod breaks on a high end very new vehicle, you take it back. This is why you make monthly payments, forever, and never own the vehicle and instead lease it so when crap like this happens, you’re not stuck. Trust me, this one will not go down without a fight. 4 Grand. Filing an insurance claim, dealing with the ensuing repair and fighting with the dealership and the insurance company. Oh the joy. Did I mention it may be a good day to start drinking? haha! Also from yesterday, I asked you what you favorite chips or crackers are Lots of you said you like Terra Chips and Mary’s Crackers. Seems like we have lots in common. Me too! And as for mixing salad dressings, most of you aren’t really into that. Dessert/Snacks: No-Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Coconut Oil Protein Bars (exact same as This Recipe, except I added 1/4 c coconut oil. The addition of the coconut oil makes them solidify and hold together just a little better but if you don’t have it, not an essential component.) I think I should make some Vegan Bananas Foster. Some rum may help this day. Gym & Weights Workout Today From This Tab: Legs & Abs Tip of the Day: LAST CALL-WINNER ANNOUNCED WED 8/4! Questions 1. Do you like to use an exercise ball for anything? If so, what are your favorite moves? I like to hold my medicine ball over my head and do crunches on the ball. I crunch straight up and down, and also add some twisting-as-I’m-going-up movements which I think helps my obliques pop a bit, too. There are so many ways to use balls from seated floor exercises like V-Up’s with your legs extended out in a V and brining the medicine ball up to your feet as you crunch up to Roman Twists to you name it. Do you like Exercise Balls? Tell me your fave moves! 2. Have you ever had to pay for a car repair? Did your insurance cover it? Was it a total fight and PITA or not too bad to get it all handled? I have never been in a major accident in a car I owned. I was hit once, years ago, by a semi truck while driving a company car with a sales job I had, but I didn’t have to handle that repair, the company I was working for handled it all. And I‘ve been rear-ended and had some minor fender benders and dings from living in urban areas that I’ve had fixed, but nothing like this. Ugh. 3. Favorite Stress Busters? Mine: Breathing, meditation, yoga, walking, talking to a friend, calling Scott, a hug, chewing gum, running, exercise, reading mindless emails or watching DVR’ed shows like the Real Housewives, and doing shots. Not that I resort to them or anything, but they do bust stress, that’s for sure! 4. I think most people in the working world start their week off strong and are gangbusters on Mondays. By the end of the week, it seems that everyone has lost their mojo and puts it on coast mode in advance of the weekend. Do you find this to be true? Are you more productive at the beginning of the week than you are at the end? I mean, let’s face it, by Friday most people do as little as possible to get through the day. We all just want the weekend, right?! Stay Tuned For The TofuXpress Give Away Winner Announcement…
