In case you are out of the loop (which I was before I started this), C25K stands for “Couch to 5K.”  It’s a running program I recently started 4  weeks ago to help me with my weight loss & staying healthy goals.  I hate to run, in fact, it’s one of the main reasons I didn’t make the cut for the high school soccer team.  And this running has been brutal.  My legs feel like they have Hulk Hands on them as I’m running, my run is slower than some people’s walk, and my muscles ache for days afterwards.  I finally hit a huge accomplishment for me: running 5 minutes straight.  I have never ever done anything close to this before, but I felt so great after I did.  It was just me and Miley Cyrus during those 5 minutes.  I think I recall telling myself, “You can’t stop, you can’t stop, you can’t stop” over and over again like the little engine that could.  But, it worked!  I have to do it again tomorrow.  Here’s hoping…

This photo shows the C25K app I downloaded for my iPhone.  It’s so great because it runs using your own music library – you choose the songs – and there are little reminders during the program, such as:  run now, walk now, you’re half way done, last run coming up, cool down.  I LOVE it!  You can go get it here.

There, I said it!  And I’ll say it again, “Counting calories sucks!”  However, everything that is good for us doesn’t necessarily feel good for us at the time.  Like going to Zumba last night didn’t feel good, but it was good.  I’ve been wondering, with much naïveté, why I wasn’t losing any pounds when I was working out.  Well, now that I’m counting my calories, I know why!  I am simply maintaining my weight.  I put in so many calories that the workout only cancels out the extra calories that I am consuming.  What I should be doing is consuming less calories AND exercising.  I know that most of you bright people out there have already figured this phenomenon out, it just took me a little longer.  So, with the help of my LiveStrong.com app, I’ve been counting those stupid little calories AND trying to exercise.  The LiveStrong app is cool because you tell it how much you weigh, how much you want to weigh, and when you want to get to your goal.  Then it calculates the amount of calories you should take in per day to reach your goal.  And when you add exercise to that, you should, in theory, lose more quickly – but do it safely!

Now why do I want to lose weight?  Yes, to look nice.  But mainly because I want to live a healthy life & be around to see my children grow.  I also want to instill in them what it means to be healthy.  Not that it’s necessarily looking a certain way, but it’s feeling good in your skin, feeling comfortable, and having a healthy, properly functioning body.  So, as I embark on the last year in my 20s, I feel now is the time to do this.  This is one of my “New You” goals.  I feel it will help with stress, aches, pains, headaches, body aches, sickness, and overall health.  Wish me luck, because I’m a total food addict & I hate exercising!  If you wanna join me, I’ll be at Big Vanilla, in my basement on Wii Active, or running even when no one is chasing me.

Photos: Ansel Adams….ahhh!

This post seems kinda “all about me!”  But, I gotta show off my husband’s hard work…I mean, he made me an iPhone App out of love, and who doesn’t want to brag about that?  So, I’m giving away 10 free copies of my iPhone App “Live Click Capture.”  The FIRST 10 people to comment (that have iPhones) will be e-mailed an access code to download my app for FREE!  Now, I know, 99 cents isn’t a lot of money, but that’s like almost an entire large Sweet Tea at McDonald’s!  And to help get the word out about my app, I’m giving these away in the hopes that you’ll download it, like it, give positive and/or creative feedback, and tell your friends!  Thanks for participating!

Oh, and this app isn’t meant ONLY for photographers….Josh & I designed it with anyone in mind.  Anyone with a camera who is looking for ideas when they are shooting.  You don’t have to be a “professional” to use it.  Now go get it!

Yeah, yeah…it’s a cheesy title.  It’s late – give me some slack.  Anyways, my husband and I came up with this idea around the Fall of last year to make an iPhone app for me.  I am constantly looking for posing inspiration before shooting a wedding, or a portrait session, or a newborn session.  I used to print out ideas & glue them into a mini spiral notebook so I could look to them when I had a brain freeze during a session.  So Josh & I decided why not put these ideas on my iPhone since I already had it with me?  That’s when “Live Click Capture” was born.  It’s basically a “look book” for the iPhone.  If you’re an amateur, a mom with a camera, a professional, or whomever, this app is for you.  It’s just a collection of my favorite poses that I’ve captured over the years that I’m sharing with whoever wants some inspiration.

So, once it’s downloaded, you have the loading screen, and then this screen comes up next….

Each cutesy little icon is a button.  Click on a button for the category you are looking for and it will bring you to the following screen…..

This is the newborn album.  The bottom row are  thumbnails that you can slide left and right.  Once you see a pose you like, simply click on it & the larger version of the photo will appear.  Voila!  It’s that easy.  Here are a few more shots:

I’ll be giving out 10 codes to download the app for free in the next few days.  So check back to see how you can win one.  Or, you can support my husband’s growing app business & go buy one for two bucks!  And, if there are any poses you don’t see that you’d like to see, let me know & I’ll work on them.  I’ll update the app with new, fresh ideas every few months.  I kinda feel famous now, with my own app and all.  Don’t worry though, I won’t let it go to my head.  I really like showcasing Josh’s immense talent in this area.  He’s the man who made it all happen!

Okay, I’m taking a really quick few moments to blog while my dog is happy with her chew toy, my oldest is watching Pooh Bear, and my youngest is still being a sleepy head in her big girl bed…whew!

I cannot express in words my immense & overwhelming pride in my husband Josh.  Not only is he a super great husband, father, & best friend….he has also started to gain some much-deserved recognition for his hard work with iPhone Applications.

Josh has been making iPhone Apps for a little less than a year.  Now when he first told me he wanted to invest his precious time and his hard-earned money in this, I have to admit I was a little skeptical.  The selfish wife in me thought, “Now where’s the money in that???”  But, God smacked me around a bit (not literally) and helped turn my thought process into, “Hey, that’s great.  I’d love for you to have a hobby you enjoy.  I support you.”  Okay, it may not have come out that way, but it’s how I feel.  To see Josh’s excitement when he gets an idea for a new app makes me so proud.  And to see the hard work & troubleshooting he puts in to is even better.  What a great example he is to our girls about hardwork & chasing your dreams.  Anyways….I digress (& I like trying out big words for future speed Scrabble games)….

So Josh has created six apps that are in the iTunes Store.  His latest one, however, has gotten some attention of people other than me.  Josh has partnered with a great guy (whom I’ve never met) Oscar Santana to market & sell these apps to local businesses.  Well, Oscar had a connection to Chris Cooley of the Washington Redskins & talked him in to getting his own iPhone App.  The finished product is here!

This is the “loading screen” as you open the App, and the following are a few screen shots…

I am just so proud of you Josh!  You have done an amazing job on all your apps & I’m so thrilled for the positive feedback you’re getting on this one.  Maybe one day you’ll design an app for me!  Also, I would be a bad blogger & wife if I didn’t thank the other great guys who’ve helped Josh along the way: Oscar Santana (marketing & sales), James Flowers (some great programming) & Brian Crane (thanks for the super cool logo in the photo below).  Oh, yes, and thanks to Jill, my former client, who gave her idea of “Renegade Apps” when I put the question out on Facebook – you rock!