Author Archives: amandamichellemoon

Product Review: Ageless Pilates

As a Pilates Method Alliance Certified Pilates Instructor, I’ve literally spent hours learning about how amazing the Pilates system is as we grow older. I have worked with clients ranging in age from 9 to 70 and have seen improvements in bone density, injuries healed and prevented, and movement patterns corrected. Unfortunately, I’ve also seen what happens when Pilates is used without knowledge or care, either by someone trying to follow along a video that is too advanced for her or learn from a book that does not adequately explain the exercises.

Neither of these are concerns with Ageless Pilates. The book is structured in a serious of “lessons” and “workouts.” Exercises are explained clearly and completely, with Anchor Points, Body Geometry and Comfort Options for each series. The introduction clearly and concisely covers what Pilates is, who it’s good for and why, and where in the book to find information for issues such as Arthritis, Low Back Pain and Osteopenia.
The name “Ageless Pilates” immediately makes me think of the older crowd, who this book would be amazing for, but it is really good for anyone wanting to really learn the basics of Pilates, regardless of age (hence “ageless”). Personally, I will be giving a copy of this book to my mother, who so badly wants to learn Pilates but keeps injuring her back trying to keep up with videos. She lives too far away for me to teach her, I’m excited there is finally an option I feel confident in giving her.

Creatively Fit Marathon Mile 2

My bodiless head grew a body when I had left over paint. It reminds me very much of a collage I made in 10th grade with scraps of paper that we died in art class.

I’m really happy with how these are turning out so far. I’ve decided that I’m going to “design” each letter in my kids’ names for their wall. Haven’t decided yet if I’m going to paint or use my oil crayons.
One of the amazing perks my company offers is Flexible Fridays during the summer- basically, we have to check our email and voicemail twice a day, but all non-emergancies can wait until Monday. So I get to spend all day tomorrow with the kids! I’m excited, it’s been a long week.
I have a brick workout in the morning, bike ride and a run. Hoping to get up and get it done before the kids are fully up and going, but I haven’t been sleeping all that well, so we’ll see what time I fall asleep. We get Mile 3 sometime tomorrow to paint, I got finger paints for the kids and really hoping that we can all paint together. If you know of any good edible finger paint recipes please let me know!


Product Review: DVD Read and Share Bible: Life and Miracles

2 Stars

The pro: it kept my 2 year old’s attention for most of the video; nothing offensive/contentious, all denominations should be fine with it.

The cons: I was checking my watch less than 10 minutes in. It wasn’t cohesive- it jumped around a lot. I get that they wanted to fit a lot of information (Jesus’ entire life) into a short amount of time, but perhaps that was just too tall an order. There may be a reason why most cartoons break up His life into segments and you have to watch several to get the whole story. Probably won’t be watching it again in my house.

Product Review: Jennifer Gianni’s Fusion Pilates Four DVD Pregnancy Series

Check out my review of Jennifer Gianni’s Pregnancy Series on my examiner site– and go pick up a copy for anyone you know who is or is thinking about getting pregnant!

Organization Day!

I had two big organization projects today:


1) I hung all of my earrings on this window screen.

2) I went to Home Depot, bought some pegboard, and got all of my necklaces hung up.

Now my hallway looks like an accessory store…which may encourage me to “shop” at home more often!

BONUS: I finally updated my iPhone and found out that even my “old” 3G will support the App Folders! I got my phone all organized too!

Art Journaling

Have you heard of “Art Journaling?” I’ve heard of it on and off over the years and always dismissed it as glorified collaging. But this podcast has me intrigued…and wanting to rush to the craft store and buy some pretty paper, markers, and fun scissors. The photo is from one of Hope Wallace Karney’s Ringed Journals. Who doesn’t want to make something that incredible?

Do you do any art journaling? What do you draw/write? What are your favorite supplies?


Creatively Fit Marathon: Mile One

Remember when I signed up for the marathon? Well, the race has begun. Mile one is under my belt. It’s more Picasso than Monet, but as someone who tends to paint unintentionally dark paintings, I’m pretty happy with the Sunset in the Enchanted Forest.

Chris is doing it with me (starting out anyway). He’s sleeping right now so I can’t ask permission to post his painting. It was much better quality time than sitting and watching endless episodes of Arrested Development though. We each had a glass of wine and an hour later we had paintings. Tomorrow, or sometime this week, we will paint a new picture over top. I’ll keep you posted.

Flat tires

Flat tires flat tires are no fun
Flat tires flat tires can hurt someone

Luckily, nothing was hurt but my pride. Up at 5:15, rode out for what was to be a 18-20 mile ride. 5 miles in, I couldn’t figure out why it was so hard to go downhill. Then I started the big climb.
Then I heard the terrible noise. I stopped, looked all over the bike for the piece of plastic that was preventing my tire from turning and couldn’t find anything. So I started to get back on to go again, and as I looked down to clip my foot in I saw it. My front tire. Completely flat.

Not sure what I hit or how it happened, but my 90 minute ride was cut short by 60 minutes, and Chris and the kids had to pick me up.

Oh well…I’ll try again on Sunday. Or maybe tomorrow. Or tonight if I get my tire fixed…

Had I made it up the hill, this is what I would have seen:

Photo by Robin S. from here

New Lunch Break Routine

On my lunch break today I went did yoga. This was the beautiful place where I unrolled my mat:

Somehow, I never knew this park was here, despite the fact that on the other side of the lake, and the other side of the dam, I routinely have taken walks, and even did my little brother’s graduation pictures there! I used to do Pilates and Yoga in the conference room at my office, but the room is now much more used and I like to get out of the building. I’m so excited to go back, it’s so pretty I didn’t even mind the fact that it was 100 degrees! Hot yoga right?

The deer watched me run

I have been feeling a bit blah today. I wasn’t happy with my morning run, I was later to work than I wanted to be, the day seemed to drag on and on and on.

But I am sitting outside now, in my backyard that I love, listening to the crickets and the neighborhood dogs and children. My own kids are singing to each other and I can hear them on the baby monitor. I am having my time and it’s beautiful.

And just taking a moment to give thanks for how beautiful and peaceful it is out here I remembered what I saw while running this morning- before I got distracted and ornery about running- I saw two deer. They were eating in the field just outside of the neighborhood, and they both paused to watch me. Their beautiful, humongous eyes said, “Good morning! It’s good to see you up so early!”

I haven’t seen many deer in the last few months and I’ve been missing them. It was good to see them this morning, I’m thankful I got up and had the opportunity.