Aquileo | DAT's so Cute

Aquileo | Shadow Box Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 12:21:00 +0000

Most memory boxes that I have seen on the internet are exactly that, boxes. I wanted a box that I could see all of the items I have saved over the years to remind me of those memories. What's the point of saving items if you are going to just throw it in a box and never look at it again?

I purchased a shadow box from Michaels with a glass front and figured it would be a great way to see my memories every time I walk past it. When we all were forced to work and be home, I took time every day cleaning different places around the house. I found a box of tickets and stubs that I was going to scrapbook, but never did and was excited to place them in my living room for all to see.

I have years and years worth of items that I have saved. Each ticket puts a smile on my face and warms my heart. Just looking at each one takes me back to that time in our family history.

I used my handy dandy Cricut to cut some vinyl to place on the glass of the shadow box, with the saying, Oh the places we've been...the things we've seen...

I placed the items in the box in no particular order, but trying to put the smaller items in the front and larger in the back. Every single ticket, or stub, may not be seen, but at least they aren't sitting in a closet where they are forgotten about. Now every time I walk into my living room I get to be reminded of all of the fun things we have done over the years, and even spark conversations with the kids and friends that come over and see the box. The great thing about these shadowboxes is that they come in all different sizes and they are a great width to places several items in. Boxes don't have to just be stubs and tickets; shirts, shot glasses, anything you pick up while on your travels could possibly be put in. I hope that you enjoy this item and try it out as well. Happy Memories!

Aquileo | Kid Approved Tasty Snack

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 12:45:00 +0000

I love when I come across recipes that are simple, delicious, good for you, and especially kid approved! I go through phases where I eat super healthy, and then eat whatever I feel like. When I decide to eat healthy, I bring the entire family along for the ride as well. Sometimes the kids try to put up a fight, but once they've tried whatever I've made they love it!

My kids will tell me they hate something I make, even if they haven't tried it. They will be grossed out by one ingredient, and assume that the entire dish is disgusting. When they were little they would eat everything and anything before they had an opinion, wow, I miss those days.

One day I was looking around for a healthy snack that would be simple enough for the kids could make, healthy enough for us all to eat, and delicious enough for us all to enjoy. I came across an oatmeal ball that only had 5 ingredients, all of which I already had in the house. Win win!! The great part of this recipe is that it has simple, yet good for you ingredients, and as long as nobody has any allergies, you have a healthy snack!

What you'll need:

2 cups Oats

1 cup Peanut Butter

1/2 cup Honey

1 tsp. vanilla

pinch of salt

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (you could substitute other treats such as M&M's, Heath, the sky's the limit)

My little guy wanted to make them all by himself this time, so I let him have at it. I feel that a child that has say and participation in the things they do, they are more likely to enjoy what they are doing.

Once all of the ingredients are mixed together well with a spoon, he used a cookie baller and placed them on a sheet of wax paper so that they don't stick. After they are all rolled, place in the refrigerator to set for about 20 minutes, then enjoy.

You can keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, but ours never make it that long. These are a great healthy treat to take on car rides as well. If you have any quick and easy healthy treats, I would love for you to share them with me.

Enjoy!

Aquileo | Fiesta Friday- Teremana Tequila

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 18:04:00 +0000

Do you enjoy tequila? Do you have one you like, but not love? Have you tried several different ones? That's me, I try different liquors, and sometimes I'm like, yum, we'll be buying more, and other times I'm like, damn, I wasted my money on that. Nonetheless I am one of those people that hates to waste anything, so I suffer through the rest of the bottle ready for it to be gone.

With all of the Covid crazy, I was at the liquor store and happened to find a bottle of Teremana on the shelf. I usually don't purchase anything that a celebrity has their name on, but it's The Rock, so I figured what the heck. The very first shot I took was chilled and to be honest, it burnt all the way down. I did not enjoy it, and thought oh no, here we go again. After letting it sit on the shelf for a couple weeks a friend of mine came over and I decided to give it a try again, this time it was not chilled. WOW! That was the smoothest tequila shot ever!! I've always been a Patron fan, but it's always been one of those bottles we purchase when we have a little play money. After trying the Teramana, I don't know that I will ever go back to Patron.

Once we finished the bottle of the Blanco Teremana, we searched and searched for the Reposado. It was nowhere to be found. It took months to finally find a bottle of the Teremana Reposado. Now, after trying both, it is truly hard to say which one I like better. Both tequila go down smooth, they both have a nice taste to them, and neither of them leave you with that cheap tequila after taste. So I would have to say, good job Dwayne Johnson this is a fine tequila, and my new favorite! If you get the chance, try it and enjoy! Cheers!

Aquileo | Vintage cart makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 18:03:00 +0000

I am a sucker for old furniture and vintage pieces. I love going to an antique mall or flea market and finding an amazing piece that can be used for something other than it's intended purpose. Most of the time I have to have something in mind before I am going to just go out and buy an old piece. Before Covid struck, my husband and I had been talking about purchasing a cart to store liquor on. We looked and looked, but nothing really tickled our fancy, plus we wanted something that would look great in our kitchen with our vintage table.

We were so excited when North Carolina began letting small businesses open. After watching Facebook for weeks, the antique mall that we wanted to check out was finally open. To limit our exposure to others, we went right when they opened and wore our masks. This particular antique mall is huge! It takes hours to get through and has just about everything an antique lover would want. After spending an hour searching for a piece that would work, we found it, tucked under a bunch of knick knacks. We looked around a little longer, but went back for the cart that would become our liquor cart.

We got it home, looked it over, and began the stripping process. I honestly don't understand why people paint beautiful pieces instead of just cleaning them up to their original glory. As they say though, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. I always get really excited when I begin these projects. I can see what I want even through all of the layers of paint. Here is the cart at the beginning of it's transformation.

Pretty ugly isn't it? After hours and hours of using paint stripper, the red paint still wasn't coming up. We had to break out the grinder to get off the stubborn red paint that did not want to be stripped off. We used chrome polish and a lot of elbow grease. After about three days of working on this red painted, vintage cart, the finished product in my opinion is beautiful! It looks amazing in our kitchen, and does a great job accenting my grandma's table. I may not always like doing the work, but I always love the end product.

Aquileo | Virtual Learning/ Homeschool

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 12:47:00 +0000

I am so thankful that this year's virtual learning is OVER! That had to be the longest 3+ months ever. My day job is a math teacher. I would say that so much has changed since I began teaching many, many years ago. Not just the technology part, but the way parents and students treat you as a professional, but that is an entirely separate post.

Everyday beginning March 16th, teaching took on another whole meaning. I love my children with all of my heart, but I was not meant to be a homeschool teacher!! Trying to teach my own children was the pits!! We turned our living room into a classroom for the four of us.

We decided that even though we were going to be home daily, we were going to stick to a schedule, and continue to make it a normal school day. The boys woke up, ate breakfast and began their schoolwork at 8am daily. The oldest would get frustrated because most of his teachers didn't put his work up until almost 11am. It also frustrated me because on a normal day school didn't start that late, so why shouldn't work be online by normal school hours? Somedays this was a good thing because I would be finished with work, so I was able to see what he was doing.

The middle child was the best! He loves school, his teacher and even doing schoolwork. He would work quickly and quietly daily. Most days he would have zoom meetings with his teacher and classmates which made it good for him to see someone other than his brothers. He would occasionally ask me to look over his math or what he had written because he wanted to double check that it was all correct. This is my child that wants to be a surgeon, he is very meticulous,

Then there is Mean Machine! We nicknamed him that many years ago, and he often reminds us why we call him that still today! He and I would battle daily!! He would scream and cry he hated reading, or writing, and I didn't know what I was talking about in math. Seriously? It's second grade work and I'm a teacher. I'm pretty sure I can handle helping with second grade. For the first two weeks I wanted to rip my hair out of my head. I FaceTimed his sweet teacher one day and asked if that was how he behaved for her. She was shocked! She informed me that he never once cried or threw himself on the floor in frustration over work, and that he did it without much help or guidance at all. I'm glad he has never showed out in class, but it made me crazy daily doing it at home. After two weeks of his nonsense, I finally expelled him from "my classroom" and made him sit with his dad. From that day forward I didn't hear a peep out of him during "school." Really??

For years my two oldest would ask to be homeschooled. After this virtual learning experience, we all realized that homeschooling wasn't for us! I can't imagine if this continues into next school year. I love my own kids, but teaching at school in front of other peoples' children is so much easier! I do think that this experience has shown a lot of people that teaching isn't as easy as some believe. It has shown many that virtual learning takes time, patience and true self determination to understand the new way of learning and to get it completed.

I would say that many great things did come out of this mess we call Covid-19. We were able to teach our children outside of the box. Field trips were learning opportunities that we experienced with them, teaching them the importance of each trip, moment and practice. I am thankful we have been able to spend this time together, but all of this needs to clear up so we can all go back to school! If not, there will be more posts that hopefully help us all get through this together!

Aquileo | U-pick farms

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 12:39:00 +0000

Have you ever been to a u-pick farm? I don't think there is anything more tasty than using fresh from a garden, sea or farm products. I know that might sound crazy. How does it taste any different than from the store? I feel that when it's fresh, the true taste of it comes out.

With Covid-19 everywhere, going to a grocery store the past few months has been nerve racking. We decided to get the boys out of the house at the end of May and take them to one of our local u-pick farms.

We love fresh strawberries, they are juicy, and beautiful! I love that we can get as much as we want knowing they are all the perfect berry! Nothing is more frustrating than going to the store and purchasing a pint of fresh berries then going to use them the next day, and there are a few already bad. When picking your own, you can't blame anyone but yourself for the ripeness of each berry.

When we take the boys to a u-pick farm, we tell them what to look for when picking a particular item. For example, we tell them to not pick the strawberry that has a green top because they aren't quite ready to pick, check for rotten spots, an occasional taste test is ok, but don't eat them all, we have to pay for them.

With a u-pick farm, nobody is touching that fruit or vegetable but yourself. We still wash them thoroughly, but I feel there is less chance of any type of contamination. When we were there, there was hardly anyone in the field, and we were all spaced more than 6 feet apart.

Wherever we move to, one of the first things I look for are the local u-pick farms. There is a great website that you can go to and it pulls up any state's farms, you can check it out here.

I love the fact we are supporting local farmers. We are spending time as a family outside, and we are teaching our children about the environment and sustainability. I hope that you find a farm near you and enjoy the freshness of a delicious picked item.

Aquileo | Kings Mountain State Park, South Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 12:21:00 +0000

Thank goodness it's camping season again! After being stuck in the house for the past three months, working, helping the kids with their school work, non-stop cleaning and wearing masks to the grocery store, I needed a break!! We booked Kings Mountain State park in South Carolina for a quick, peaceful trip, and that it was.

Kings Mountain sits in the beautiful Piedmont region of South Carolina. It is located 40 miles southwest of Charlotte in York County, and is a great campground if you want peace and quiet.

Like most state parks, there is only 30 amp hook-up, which usually isn't a problem if you don't need to run two air conditioners. All sites are packed gravel, with no concrete pads available. They do not have full hook-ups, but sites include water and electric with two dump stations on your way out. The campground has several bathhouses, all of which seemed to be kept clean. The sign on the door read only 3 people in at a time, but typically I was the only one in the one closest to our site.

Kings Mountain Campground has: 115 standard sites for RV's and tents

10 tent only sites

15 equestrian campsites

30 miles of equestrian trails

20+ miles of hiking trails

There is a little pond for fishing, but if you ask my kids, there weren't any fish in it because they didn't catch anything. Be sure to bring your bug spray if you decide to fish as there are a lot of mosquitoes!

Located near the campground is Kings Mountain National Military Park, a Revolutionary War battle site. Throughout the year you may be able to see reenactments. The trail throughout the park is paved, and you can complete a self guided tour with highlights of battle events throughout.

When we went, the hiking trails were closed due to debris from a storm. This didn't keep us from hiking. Crowders Mountain is a short drive from the campground with great hiking and breathtaking views. After downloading the All Trails app, and researching our options, we decided to attempt the Rocktop trail. This trail was 6 miles and three hours long.

There were some steep spots, and rocky terrain, but when you get to the overlook at the summit, it was completely worth it!! Be sure to bring plenty of water. I saw several people without any and they were sitting down complaining of cramping of legs and very dehydrated.

If you enjoy camping, and are ready for a trip outside of your house, this is a great place to go. You will be able to sit back, relax and simply enjoy nature.

Aquileo | Motivation Monday- Home workouts that work!

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 15:04:00 +0000

Good Monday morning all! I hope everyone had a wonderfully relaxing weekend!

A little background about myself. I am a mom of three very active boys, a wife, a middle school teacher and a coach. Needless to say, I don't stop. There were a few years that I spent all of my time taking care of my boys and put myself on the back burner. It was a choice I made that I look back on and wish I would have taken a small amount of time taking care of myself not only physically, but mentally. I think we all make excuses as to why we don't have time to workout or do the things that we love to do.

Back in 2013, my husband and I worked out to Tony Horton's P90X3. It is a 30 minute full body workout. Once we put the kids to bed, we spent time together getting in the best shapes of our lives. I used to think there was no way working out at home to a video would work, but it did, and not only did we look pretty good, we felt amazing.

Jump ahead to present day. I have tried other things in the past few years. I've gone to Burn Bootcamp, spin classes at various places, gyms, and nothing quite has been the same. I think that I have just not been in the right mindset to get back to the body that I love, or that feeling of I can do it, until about 3 weeks ago. My sister called me and said, "ok, enough is enough you are going to join Beachbody as a Coach, and we are going to do this together. You are going to be accountable for not only yourself but others too. We've got this." I love my sister! I had been watching her transform her body though Beachbody and have been amazed at her transformation. She has always been a tiny thing, but she is now packing visible muscle.

So here I am. I started Liift 4, and three weeks later, I feel stronger. I have upped my weights, I'm starting to see changes and I feel better. I haven't quite talked my husband into joining me again yet, but it's coming, he just doesn't know it. (hehe)

I want to challenge my readers that haven't tried Beachbody yet. I would love for you to join me. To stop making excuses like we all do, and to get into the best shape of our lives together. You don't need to spend $70 a month at a gym to get fit. You can workout in the comfort of your own home without feeling judged and at anytime of day that works for you. You just have to decide that you are ready and you would like to join me. If you are interested or have questions, please feel free to email me here.

Aquileo | Motivation Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 11:30:00 +0000

Monday, the day we start fresh from all the junk we eat over the weekend. Why do we do this to ourselves? We have a great week eating, working out and staying on track, then the weekend comes around and your out and about, off your schedule and BAM! Bad food choices, no healthy snacks, and not enough water.

I always start my Saturday out with a good breakfast, then it goes downhill from there. I wouldn't say that I eat bad food, I think I just over eat the food I have. For example, I get hungry and pop some nuts in my mouth, which in all honesty is a pretty good choice, until I go back and have another handful or two. Or I have a little more than a bowl full of fruit. Like I said, seemingly good choices, but the fat in the nuts or the sugar in the fruit becomes a bit to much. I try to remember this saying.

Weekends are also a horrible time for myself to not get enough water in . I pour myself water, and that cup lasts me half the day, where during the week my first cup of water is down by 10 am and I refill it throughout the day. My husband made me the most amazing water bottle this weekend that I will be sharing soon.

With all of this being said I'm going to do better at keeping track this week. I bought an adorable fitness tracker by Create 365, and I am going to stay on top of it. When I lost my weight back in 2013 and was in the best shape of my life, I kept track of everything in a small fitness tracker. I find that if I write it down I am more accountable with my food and exercise. There are some nice apps out there, but I want to be able to flip back through my journal and see what I did right, and where I went wrong. Also, if it's written down, I can go back in the future and remember what worked.

With all of this being said. I hope you have a great week. Drink 1/2 your body weight in water a day, exercise daily, eat healthy, be happy and work hard.

Pics from Gymquotes.com and google

Aquileo | Childhood Cancer and how life changes

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 11:32:00 +0000

Where to begin? Life has been crazy to say the least since the last time I wrote. It only takes one moment to realize that life is short and can change in a blink of an eye. On June 7th, 2015 our world stopped for a brief moment and has been forever changed. Here is the story.

Casonʼs initial ear pair started in March of 2015. He would complain that if it got hit, it hurt. Of course, being that it only hurt when it got hit, we didnʼt think much about it. Heʼs a boys boy, and is always rough housing with his brothers.

In May, on his face next to his left ear, he began to show signs of swelling. I called the pediatrician, and he said that is typically an inner ear infection. After 7 days on an antibiotic and no change in the swelling, I called an ENT. I couldnʼt get him in on the Friday I called, so they called in a stronger antibiotic, and said theyʼd call back on Monday. When Monday rolled around, the swelling was worse, and was now closer to his eye. They got him in the next day to see what was going on.

The ENT at Nationwide Childrenʼs in Columbus ran test after test. They scoped his nose, checked his ears, and found nothing. They decided to do an ultrasound, they called the next day because they saw something, but werenʼt sure what. They scheduled a CT scan for Friday June, 5. The doctor said pack a bag for a couple of nights, itʼs probably a cyst that will need drained, and heʼd have to be monitored.

We went for his CT at 7am. They took us to the CT room where they had to put an IV in him while he was awake. He had to lay still while they ran the test, which he did pretty well considering! When the test was all done, we went straight up to the clinic for the results. When the ENT came in, it wasnʼt our usual doctor, he had called in sick. He then proceeded to ask if I had ever seen a CT, which I hadnʼt. As soon as he pulled up the first picture, my heart dropped to my stomach, and I felt like passing out. We have all seen enough pictures on hospital shows that we know what we are looking at. I looked at him and asked, “ is it.....?” knowing what I was talking about, he said we wonʼt know until we get in there and take it out. The pain he was having in his ear, was because the tumor had deteriorated the bone and was touching his dura. He explained that it was going to be a long day, and we can only do one step at a time. He wanted to admit him, do an MRI, then do the biopsy. He made phone calls to the head of Cardio, Neuro, Oncology and a friend at The James, which is an amazing cancer hospital in Columbus, so that they were all aware and were on standby if he needed them.

I knew I couldnʼt cry in front of Cason, I had to be strong. It was the hardest thing I had ever done. I walked into the hallway to make phone calls to my husband, and the most religious people I knew. If anything, I knew he would need all the prayers he could get. Everything else the doctor said that day was a blur! I did find out while waiting for the MRI, that his doctor was the chief ENT. It was like a blessing in disguise. After the biopsy, he told me that he had Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. It would have to be confirmed by the pathologist, but he was 99.9% sure thatʼs what it was.

A few days later he called and confirmed it was LCH. He referred us to an Oncologist at Childrenʼs that specialized in the field. After days and days of research I was more confused than anything. Some doctors say itʼs cancer, where others say itʼs not.

Regardless, Cason was going to be treated as a cancer patient, and his disease is considered a rare disease that 4 out of a million get.

Once visiting the Oncologist, he told us that he wanted a port placed in his chest so that he didnʼt have to be stuck every time he came in, and that he would go through 12 months of treatment. While researching, I found that the leading hospital and doctors were in Texas, and the other in Cincinnati. We decided that a second opinion would be a good idea. While waiting to get in down in Cincinnati, the ENT called and was concerned that this tumor was rapidly growing, and we needed to take care of it now. We saw the doctor in Cincinnati and he confirmed everything the doctor in Columbus had said. Since Nationwide was closer, we decided to just stay there and have everything started. I called and they got him in the next day to have his port placed.

The doctor said the port would be placed in the center of his chest. I proceeded to tell Cason he was going to be the real Ironman. That seemed to settle his fears, and has ever since made him realize he is stronger than he thinks.

Chemo started one week later. He had to go every Tuesday for 6 weeks straight, and had to take 28 days of steroids. On the sixth week, they did an MRI to see if it was working, and amazingly it had shrunk significantly. He nows goes to chemo every 3 weeks, and has 5 days worth of steroids. Cason has changed from the medicines he has been getting. He has gained 15 pounds and has a temper I never saw before all of this. Most days, youʼll see he is a normal 5 year old. He has not let the tumor or this disease slow him down, not even for a second.

Cason now, 4 years later is Cancer free. He has lost all of the weight from chemo, and is active as all kids his age. We take him to get blood work every six months, and scans once a year to make sure the cancer hasn't returned. We hold our breaths and pray that everything is clear, but the fear of hearing those words again are still there. You realize life is short. Love and hug on your babies, go on adventures, and live every day to it's fullest because you never know what might happen tomorrow.

Aquileo | Coming Soon...

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:39:00 +0000

Guess who's back, back again. (I know you just sang it in your head) Long time no see!! I've missed you all. Things have changed so much since I last spoke with you. I can't wait to share what all has been going on. You'll be hearing about my middle man and his fight with cancer,
our camping adventures, and some teaching stories. If you have anything in particular you'd like to hear about, please leave a comment or email me at datssocute@gmail.com. I look forward to writing again, I've missed it! See you soon!

Aquileo | Hiking and Camping must haves _Review

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 10:00:00 +0000

I had the amazing opportunity to get to try a few products from Mountain Warehouse. Just a little back ground information about them, via their website.

Mountain Warehouse has been offering quality outdoor clothing and equipment at the lowest prices since 1997. From hiking clothing and camping equipment to ski wear and running gear we stock everything you need for your outdoor activities.

Most of the products we sell are exclusive to Mountain Warehouse, unlike other outdoor clothing shops. By cutting out the middleman we can produce the best quality products at the best prices. We pride ourselves on providing great value outdoor gear and at Mountain Warehouse you can be sure to receive honest advice from our knowledgeable staff.

The products that I tried exceeded my expectations. Each one being more than I thought it would be.

First The Bolt 18L Backpack

This backpack is lightweight and so comfortable. I like that even after hours of having it on, it still felt lightweight and didn't cause my shoulders or back to hurt. It has a lot of room in it, and has a hole at the top for a water bladder if you want to add one. I chose to bring bottled water on our hike to share, and it wasn't heavy at all!

The Bolt also has two straps to help distribute heavier loads, one of which goes across your chest and the other around your waist. For our hike the waist strap was not needed and I liked where the chest strap laid. Other backpacks lay too low, and make it very uncomfortable, where this one was just right.

I have used this backpack on several occasions other than hiking. It is great loaded with everything you might need for hiking, to adventures out with the kids. There are no drawbacks to owning the Bolt 18L backpack it is amazing and will be used for several years to come.

The next item we were privileged to try was a flint starter. This is a handy, light weight item that provides piece of mind when hiking or camping. It also makes an excellent addition to any survival kit and stores very nicely in the Bolt 18L backpack. You don't have to worry about matches getting wet, or a lighter not working. One thing I can say for sure is that this starter put out more sparks than any other starter I've ever seen. Starting a fire is quick and easy as seen in the photos below. Just gather some dry material together, make a little tinder bundle and while applying medium pressure, just slide the striker down the flint stick and watch the sparks fly.

Lastly, my favorite new hoodie, the Kittwake Womens Hoodie.

It is so soft, and comfortable, that I would seriously wear it everyday! There is just something about how it fits and the softness of it, that my other sweatshirts don't compare!

The sizing chart is different than a US chart, our sweatshirts are S,M,L, but they have made it easy with this chart.

UK	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22
Euro	34	36	38	40	42	44	46	48	50
German	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	46	48
Italian	38	40	42	44	46	48	50	52	54
USA	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18
Australian	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22
		S		M		L

	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch
Bust/Chest	80 / 31.5	84 / 33	88 / 34.5	93 / 36.5	98 / 38.5	104 / 41	110 / 43.5	116 / 45.5	123 / 48.5
Waist	63 / 25	68 / 26.5	71 / 28	76 / 30	81 / 32	87 / 34.5	93 / 36.5	99 / 39	106 / 41.5
Hips	88 / 34.5	92 / 36	96 / 38	101 / 40	106 / 41.5	112 / 44	118 / 46.5	124 / 48.5	131 / 51.5
Legs / Regular	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31
Legs / Short	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29
Legs / Ski	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31

Womens Footwear

avg. insole length (cm)	24.3		25.1		25.8		26.6		27.5
UK	4	4.5	5	5.5	6	6.5	7	7.5	8
EU	37	37.5	38	38.5	39	39.5	40	40.5	41
US/CAN	6	6.5	7	7.5	8	8.5	9	9.5	10
AUS	5	5.5	6	6.5	7	7.5	8	8.5	9
Slippers	S-M					M-L

I want to apologize for taking so long to write this review. I received these products right after returning from a camping and hiking trip and didn't get the opportunity until last weekend to use the products out in nature. The items were given to me, but all opinions are honest and my own.

Aquileo | The Fitness Games_Review

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:47:00 +0000

Thanks to Sweat Pink and The Fitness Games for giving me the opportunity to try out the new app, The Fitness Games.

This app gives you the opportunity to challenge your fitness friends, other fitness minded folks or even just yourself. There are four main challenge groups. Strength, Cardiovascular, Full Body and Cross Training. I have figured out, if you don't have an extensive home gym or a gym membership, some of these are hard to do.

Over all, it's a pretty cool app, at least the idea of it is. If you take sweaty selfies of yourself, you aren't the only one, and people aren't rolling their eyes at yours, because your other challengers/friends are doing it too.

I did get the Platinum version, so 16 more challenges than the basic. They were really great workouts! Well, the ones I tried.

My biggest complaint about the app is challenging others. I challenged a few people, and after weeks, either they don't know that I challenged them, or they just don't want to accept it. So in all the workouts I've done, I have only won 1. Not that I am that worried about winning or losing, but I think the point of the app is to make yourself better, and sometimes it's more fun to have the challenge of using your friends than challenging yourself.

I would recommend this app, especially if you have several friends that like a little friendly competition. It is available for iPhone and Android use. Thank you to Fit Approach and The Fitness Games!

This post was sponsored by The Fitness Games through my partnership with Fit Approach as a Sweat Pink Ambassador. I was not compensated monetarily, but was provided the Platinum Version of the application for review. As always, all opinions are my own.

Aquileo | Fleurty Bands- Review

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 13:03:00 +0000

I am so thankful to Jasmine Wood, the owner of Fleurty Bands for the opportunity to try and review the BEST headband I've ever used! I'm not just saying that because I got to try it free, it really is hands down, the best one. It didn't move, not even once!

Before

After

(sorry for the sweaty selfie)

I have the worst time while working out keeping headbands on my head. I thought maybe it was just my head. I have bought different bands, made of different materials, but all of them slid out of place. The worst is when you are running a race and you are continually having to fix it, or you lose it, because it falls out and you just don't have time for that nonsense!

Fleurty Bands are unique to any bands I've tried. I don't know if it's the material she uses for the inside, but it stays where you put it.

Besides being handmade with love, they have beautiful craftsmanship, you can pick from different colors and designs, and she has really cute ones!! If you are looking for a headband that stays in place, and are adorable, head on over to her shop and grab one or a few! Now that I'm a believer and know that they don't move, I'll be buying a few!

Thank you Jasmine and Fleurty Bands for being the Headband that doesn't move, so I can!

Aquileo | Monday Motivation- What you eat

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 12:38:00 +0000

I hate when I have those days that I'm stressed out, or lazy when it comes to food. I think, what is one hamburger really going to do, or I'm going to eat that piece of cake and I'll be ok. When I know better. I get so mad at myself, and truly feel like crap when I have those days. When I think, I work too hard and my body still doesn't look like I want it to, so what should I care? A treat is one thing, once in a while, but when you decide you don't care, day after day, it does matter. That's where we began, where we looked like our old selves. Those were the days we didn't care about our bodies and ate what we wanted when we wanted because it tasted good, not because it fueled our body. We might think, we are going to have one tiny slice of our kids birthday cakes, then when everyone left, we finished that cake. I'm guilty! I have a few weaknesses, and it really takes everything in me to not touch certain things, where other things I could care less about. I have to remind myself...

via

Eating Clean really makes a difference! I have found this awesome shopping list that makes eating clean much easier! They say that your body transforms from only 20% in the gym, the other 80% is what you put into it! When I eat clean, at least to the best of my willpower, I not only feel better, but I also start to see the changes in the definition in the body parts I work so hard to see. I need constant reminders of why that slice of cake isn't helping the cause, or the Italian bread from back home that I can't eat just eat one slice.

Having my fit fam, really helps too. I know that a lot of people hate seeing pics of peoples' meals or their sweaty selfies, but for a lot of us, that's motivation. Those are the pics that help us put down that donut and grab something not so terrible, to get up off the couch and do our workout video, or whatever it may be. Some may think it's silly, but I like it, that's why I follow the people I do. They are the ones that help me stay motivated. If you have an instagram and post pics of your workouts or yummy food, leave a comment below so that we may follow you too!

I hope you all have a fabulous Monday! Make healthy choices and get moving! xoxo BJ

Aquileo | A big Congratulations!!

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 13:00:00 +0000

I am so happy and excited for my little sister today!! Today in the beautiful country of Grenada, she marries her best friend!

It saddens me that I won't be there to help her put her dress on, or make sure her foot bling is tightened so that it doesn't fall off, or stand there and cry at how beautiful I know she is going to be. I just hope she knows that I will be thinking about her every second of today. Every hour looking at the clock thinking of what she'll be doing to get ready for the biggest day of her life.

I am so happy and proud of her and her new husband. They have spent the past 10 years preparing for today. Growing their love with all the ups and downs that goes with a relationship. All of us old married folks knows that no relationship is perfect. That a great marriage is built on trust, compromise, and a lot of love. I wish them both many, many years of a happy, healthy marriage. I might not be there in body, but I am there is spirit.

I love you Brooke and John! I am so proud and happy for your both!

Congratulations!!!

Aquileo | Wordless Wednesday- Boys and their toys

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 12:14:00 +0000

Aquileo | Camping Watkins Glen KOA

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 13:23:00 +0000

Staying at just any campground, is like saying it doesn't matter what hotel you chose when you go on vacation. Like hotels, campgrounds aren't all the same. I wouldn't just say hey, I'm going to New York City and pick the cheapest hotel I can find, you never truly know what you're going to get until you walk through the door, and by then, it's to late to find a hotel that might be more to your liking.

When we choose a campground, we take several things into consideration. First and for most we have to have full hook-up, meaning we have to have water, sewer and electric. We may not use all of those things while we are there, but I like the thought of being able to use the bathroom in the middle of the night without having to go to the shower house or have to dump it when leaving. Call me spoiled or a diva, but I'm not going full roughing it, that's just not me.

My preferred campgrounds are KOA's when we try new places, if there is one in the area. For the most part, they are super clean, very family friendly, and have fun things for the kids to do. It's always important for the kids to be entertained, and it's nice when I don't have to always come up with the ideas.

There are three different types of KOA's.

KOA Journey campgrounds are conveniently located near the highways and byways of North America and are waiting for you after a long day on the road. KOA Journeys offer long pull-through sites that help make setup fast and easy, have well-lit after-hour check-in service, and offer a robust line of RV supplies. They are great places to unwind and relax before the next leg of your journey.

Whether you're looking for a base camp for exploring the area or a fun place to stay with lots of activities, you'll love our KOA Holiday campgrounds. There's plenty to do at these KOAs, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable, whether it's overnight or for a longer stay. Each KOA Holiday features full service RV sites and KOA Deluxe Cabins with bathrooms. Take a hike, see the locale attractions or enjoy a campfire. It's your holiday!

KOA Resort campgrounds offer a carefree vacation in the great outdoors with plenty of patio RV sites and Deluxe Cabins with linen service. KOA Resorts also have an abundance of activities led by dedicated recreation staff, on-site food service, group meeting space, and so much more. KOA Resorts are all you could want in a vacation destination - all in one place.

While staying in Watkins Glen at the KOA, we had a great time not only exploring the State Park, but also spending time at the campground. There was plenty of fun things to do and occupy the kids time.

The kids big and small had so much fun on the jumping pillow, giant waterside, the indoor pool with hot tub, and of course the zipline! They also had two playgrounds a miniature golf course and fun activities lead by the employees. We had a blast playing kickball with the kids and they love their new tie dyed shirts. They even have Happy Hour in the store for the ice cream!!

My complaints would be the size of the spots, I like the kids to have room to play in the grass, and there wasn't room for that. The larger spots were the end spots next to the road. The bathrooms weren't always clean, now I don't think that was completely the staff's fault, with a variety of people staying there, and quite a few cabins, I don't know that the non campers know the proper etiquette of a campground. Another example of this, was people walking through occupied campsites to their cabins. I stopped 6 people total from walking though mine while I was sitting there. (Nicely of course) This bothered me! My two year old knows not to walk through someone else camping spot. I know that everyone might not know not to do this, but you have to think, do you walk through some neighbors yard when you are home? Probably not, it's considered trespassing! So don't do it in a campground, please! My other problem with the bathhouses were the size of the showers. Can we say tiny? These were the smallest showers I've ever seen at a campground. I couldn't shave my legs while the water was on.

Overall I would give this campground a 3 out of 5 stars. If you need a campground to stay in Watkins Glen, it's a good choice, just be ready for the things I mentioned. This review is my opinion, thoughts and in no way was I asked to do this. I feel if I'm going to share my thoughts on the campgrounds we chose and pay for, other campers would benefit from hearing a completely honest review.

Happy Camping!

Aquileo | Motivation Monday- The Friends you chose

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 16:22:00 +0000

When we are kids, our parents say, "you are known by the company you keep." As we grow older, it begins to makes sense when we get in trouble with them or get praised with them depending on our actions.

Things really don't change when we become adults, our associations might change, and the way we behave around our friends might change, but we still choose friends that for the most part are like minded with ourselves. We learn that our friends make us happy, they like the same things we do and we can relate to them. If for some reason these things don't happen, we go our separate ways and find friends that motivate us in our choices and make us feel great in our accomplishments or bring us up when we are down. Friends that talk about you or aren't there to motivate us, are they really friends? People who only speak to us when they want something, are they friends?

I have met some amazing friends on the internet. I may have not physically met them in person, well, not all of them, but they are amazing. When I'm having a bad day, they are there to bring me up, and remind me that we all have been through it, and it will be better. When I'm not in the mood to workout, they motivate me to get off my booty and get stuff done! Some days, all I have to do is check out Instagram and see their photos of their badass selves working out, or running or their amazing meals, or whatever they may have done for the day. That is usually enough for me to do something that would make myself proud. The amazing part about these ladies is they are always there for me, and I try my best to be there for them.

Yesterday I had the privilege to meet one of my long time internet buddies. We met years ago when I began blogging, then started following each other on twitter, Instagram and myfitnesspal. She is an amazing lady and has been working her booty off on her weight loss journey. Kandy you are amazing! Thank you so much for all your hard work, and motivation! I am honored to have met you and call you my friend!

If you are in need of some amazing fitness minded friends, these are my ladies! My fitness sisters, my #superwomanfitfamclub ladies, the women that motivate me, bring me up when I'm down, and are just amazing women in general! I love each and every one of them! Check them out!!

Brooke Vanessa Kandy Ashley Dana

Erica Natalie

Don't forget to follow me @DATssocute on Twitter, @Datssocute on Instagram

Remember.....

Surrond yourself

around fitness

minded people.

Positivity can be so

Contagious!!

Aquileo | Watkins Glen State Park

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 12:53:00 +0000

Sorry about not posting last week, but I spent an amazing week with my family, best friend, and her family exploring Watkins Glen, New York. If you've never been, you have to go at least once! There was so much to do, not only for the adults, but for the kiddos too! I'm going to write about our camping fun later in the week, but today, it's all about Watkins Glen State Park.

If you are into hiking, walking, fitness or just beauty in nature in general, this place is amazing! I could make this a very image heavy post, but I'm just going to show you a few, because it was stunning, and the pictures really don't do it justice.

If you've never heard of Watkins Glen, NY, it is located here:

There is tons to do, not only in Watkins Glen, but in neighboring cities like Corning

The great thing about the State Park is people of all different ages can walk it's many trails. You can start at different locations and choose the difficulty you want. We started at the bottom and worked our way to the top. Once at the top, you can walk down a path with no stairs, walk back the way you came, or check out the snack bar at the top and ride an air-conditioned van back to the bottom parking lot.

The falls were breathtaking! There were so many of them, and each one was different. You could see the way the water wore away the rock to form pure beauty in nature.

There were several falls you walked behind, so be prepared to get a little wet.

We went the day after some rain, so there were several puddles that we carefully walked around. I wore a pair of new sneakers and they only got a little dirty. Sneakers or hiking shoes would be your best bet. We climbed 832 stairs, so wear comfy shoes and depending on the weather, layer your clothes. It was cool to begin with, but got warm with the walking quickly!

One of the many views from above.

I would highly recommend visiting this beautiful state park! My best friend that grew up in Corning, had never been until we went together, and said she'd be going back! Isn't it funny, each of us has beautiful spots close to us, but don't go to see them? I am going to start taking the kids on more adventures right around us on those weekends we have nothing to do, so that I can say, we haven't left Ohio unexplored.

If you have any beautiful spots that you would highly recommend, please leave them in a comment or share on twitter!

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.

E.E. Cummings

Aquileo | Motivation Monday- Holiday week

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 12:24:00 +0000

I think this says it best! With the Fourth of July only 4 days away, I need to remind myself, even if it's the Fourth, and I really can eat what I want, do I want to fall into old habits and feel the way I use to? Holidays were a time of eating everything that was made then feeling like crap afterwards. At what point do we say to ourselves, enough is enough? We choose what we put into our bodies. We choose to eat the food that fuels or food that tastes good as it goes down, then our bodies say, "what the hell is this crap, I'll make you feel like crap for putting it in yourself dummy." Holidays and birthdays are the worst usually, we go to picnics, or parties that usually the crap food is served. Hot dogs, hamburgers, pasta salad, chips, and so on. I will be having a burger, but I'm going out and buying myself a chicken burger, will be passing on the bun and having plenty of fruit and veggies to fill me up. I choosing to feel good about my holiday choices.

I read once in a magazine, eat at home before going to a party or activity. This fills you up and you usually won't want any of the high calorie foods. If you do get hungry, or need a snack, grab some fruit or veggie, most parties have those trays.

My biggest problem doesn't lie in the food. I have a sweet tooth, that I usually choose poorly, then feel horrible afterwards, even knowing the end result. A great example would be yesterday when I attended a kids birthday party. Most of the time I can refrain from cake, unless it's from one of the bakeries back home! I seriously, cannot walk away from a slice of cake or a cupcake from one of my hometown bakeries. I swear not even 10 mins after I ate half of the cupcake, my stomach hurt and I wanted to throw up from how sweet it was! Oh the torture I choose, haha. Anyway, I'm hoping since while we're camping for the Fourth I don't have any bad foods, I'll be good to go. Plan, plan, plan, is my best way of choosing wisely!

I don't diet, diets are fads that we do to lose weight. Eating healthy, choosing wisely, is a way of life. I got rid of my fat clothes, because I have no intentions of gaining that weight back, ever! Staying focused and choosing foods that help me to stay healthy and fit, is what I choose.

I hope you all have a fantastic Monday, set your goals, stay focused, and crush it!

Aquileo | Throwback Thursday 4th of July style

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 22:20:00 +0000

With the 4th of July a week away, I thought I would share some pictures from years past.

Looking at these boys, just melts my heart, and I wish I could save them in a bottle so they never grow big. Thankfully they have grown up loving the camera, as much as I take pictures. Since they won't stay little forever, at least I have the pictures to look back on!

Aquileo | Camping 101

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 12:43:00 +0000

Good Thursday Morning all! It has been a while since posting, and I have missed you all. Life has been busy, summer is in full swing and fun lies everywhere.

If you didn't already know, we are a camping family. I grew up going camping with my parents, from towing our little 21' Prowler, to parking our 34 1/2 Coachman at Big Bear Lake in West Virginia. I have always loved it, and think it is one of the best ways to spend quality time as a family. Camping is also a great way to teach your children many life lessons.

When we started camping as a family D was 6 1/2 months old. We have gone every year since then to Myrtle Beach with my in-laws. For the first 5 years we were lucky enough to be able to share their space in their RV.

We spent many years loving the space we were able to share as a family. It was a great way for us to become close, learn new things about each other, and my boys became close with their grandparents. When we had little man, we grew too big to fit on the couch in the RV, and finally decided to purchase a camper of our own. It was one of the best purchases we have made since being together. We still go camping with the in-laws every summer, we just don't invade their space any more.

Choosing a campground has been pretty easy for us. We try new campgrounds every season, and learn what we like and don't like, which is a really great way to decide if we will be going back.

A must for choosing a spot is full hook up. Call me a diva, or what you will, but I have to have full hook up. For new campers, that is where a campground has, water, electric and sewage. I like to be able to go to the bathroom in my own space, take a shower in my own shower, and run the air conditioner so that I don't have to sweat to death, especially in South Carolina in August! Not every campground has all three. Some people don't need all those things, it's just a matter of what you can and can't live without. Many campground have very nice bath houses which many people use instead of their campers, other bath houses, aren't so great. My favorite bathhouse is at the beach, and I enjoy extra long showers! (the best showers I take all year long)

If you can't afford a camper, there is the option to camp in a tent, or many campgrounds have cabins. Campers come in many different sizes, shapes and price ranges. We are starting out with one that works for us now. When the boys get older, the size of our camper will probably have to grow with them. We don't need some enormous, lavish camper, with all the bells and whistles. We need a place to keep us dry when it rains, warm in the cool spring and fall air, and cold in the summer months. It carries the things we need and so far has been a great little home when we aren't in our Ohio home. Don't think that the option to buy is out, you might be surprised!

This post is just going to be the first of many camping posts. I'm going to write about the different campgrounds that we have stayed, what I like and don't like about each. Tips and tricks for camping with kids. The things I can't live without while we are in our home away from home. Items we have made or adjusted to make camping and/or towing easier.

I'm really excited to start writing again. There will be recipe and workout posts also. I have missed you all, and can't wait to hear from you soon!

Have a beautiful day! BJ

Aquileo | Central Ohioans Fight Alzheimer's, Summer Solstice Fundraising Celebration

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 15:24:00 +0000

MEDIA ALERT: Central Ohioans Fight Alzheimer’s from Sunrise to Sunset
WHO:
The Alzheimer’s Association Central Ohio Chapter and Participants.

WHAT:
On The Longest Day, which takes place on the summer solstice, volunteers in Central Ohio and around the world come together to honor the strength, passion and endurance of those facing Alzheimer's with 16 hours of activity and fundraising. Held on the summer solstice, June 21, 2014, this event calls on participants to enjoy an activity of their choice, from sunup to sundown, to raise funds and awareness to advance the efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.

The event takes place on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, to give participants a sense of what 24/7 caregivers experience each day. Participants will take part in more than 16 consecutive hours of an activity of their choice and raise $100 per hour, for a total of $1600 over the course of the day, to show their compassion and support for those living with Alzheimer’s, along with their respect and admiration to the more than 15 million caregiver who provide committed, around-the-clock assistance to those suffering with the disease. Activities can include but are not limited to: bowling, boating, playing cards, walking, playing sports, baking, dancing, hiking, crafting, etc. Individuals and groups can organize activities and rally friends and family to partake and raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association.

To participate, individuals and groups can visit http://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=5860&pg=entry

WHEN:
Saturday, June 21, 2014

WHERE:Central Ohio, National, International

MEDIA CONTACT:For additional information and to interview or to be put in touch with families and groups in Central Ohio who are participating, please contact Heather DeSantisDeSantis@rmdadvertising or (614) 794.2008.

Aquileo | Fit tip Friday, snacks, snacks, snacks.

noreply@blogger.com (Datssocute) — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 21:36:00 +0000

My suggestion this week, if you don't already do it. Throw a few healthy snacks in your bag, your car, your diaper bag, heck your coat pocket. It's always a lot safer to have a protein bar in your bag while your out shopping than to stop and head over to McDonalds to grab a quick bite. That protein bar has more nutritional value in it than an entire meal from a fast food joint! Also be sure to carry your water with you!

I hope you all are having a great holiday season! Stay healthy and eat less crap!