Here we go!

This is it, folks! It’s a “make it or break it” kind of week – Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska. What better way to ease my jitters than to check in with all the awesome moms out there? Anything to get my mind off of the pressure and nerves is 100% welcome (don’t you worry – I’m still focused as ever – simply channeling my high energy elsewhere!). The competition is high and I’m feeling more ready than ever. Here is to hoping for a fast, impressive performance. But, enough about the meet!

Getting a chance to leave the house for any kind of trip is always an adventure with my two boys – it comes along with some good, bad, stress and most importantly, fun! While this week is not a typical trip for the family, it still involved running too close to our departure times and searching around the house to grab those last-minute, forgotten items (only to find that youactually did stuff them in your suitcase). Not to mention, this trip did not have days of relaxation to follow the hectic day of traveling! 

I’ll tell you what the rushed packing did give me, though: an even bigger appreciation for my Maytag washer and dryer. I realized before leaving for the airport that a load of laundry was sitting, still untouched and dirty, in the washer. Yes, like most of you have often done, I forgot to press the “start” button! Thank goodness those machines run so quickly and efficiently. My clothes were washed and dried in no time! For any moms out there searching the market for a new set, I highly suggest any Maytag appliances – they proved to be a lifesaver this week. 

I want to hear about all of your traveling experiences with your family – the good and the bad. How do you maintain your sanity when you’re running late to catch the flight or a suitcase goes missing? Share your stories with me!

Trials Time

I can’t believe Olympic Trials are less than two weeks away! Years of training and it's almost here!!!

Currently I’m tapering (for those of you who might not know - tapering is when you cut back on exercise to let your body recouperate before a big meet) so I still have practices but not twice daily like usual and being honest, the extra time has been really nice.

As a mom and wife it gives me more time to keep my home life organized, spend time with my family and have a little “me” time (so rare!).  I wake up, train, come home, have breakfast with my boys, do chores around the house like dishes and laundry (I feel like I’m constantly cleaning my swimsuits – seriously thank goodness for my Maytag washer and dryer – I think I've used them more in three months than most people would in three years!) and then the rest of the day is open for Blaise’s swim lessons and my business meetings.

If I make the team at trials I’ll be away at camp and then off to London so I'm really happy to hang out with my boys as much as I can right now. The time leading up to trials is always a bit like a roller coaster – I love it and just roll with it but some phases are easier than others. Being away from your child, your husband and your life for extended periods is never easy no matter what the circumstances are.

I’d love to hear how other moms do it!

Speed & Efficiency

As a mom, wife and professional athlete my days consist of managing all kinds of activities. My schedule really demands organization and efficiency and the last thing I need or want to spend extra time on is my laundry. Luckily one of my sponsors, Maytag, was kind enough to send me a new Bravos XL high efficiency washer and dryer and let me say this … WA-WA-WEE-WA! After doing one load I couldn’t help but think about the many hours wasted using old equipment from a substandard brand. I used to constantly wash my son Blaise’s clothes over and over and apply all kinds of stain removers because spots and dirt (and unidentifiable stuff) just wouldn’t come out; My dryer never got hot enough to get the job done in one round so typically I’d try to multi-task around the house for hours waiting for everything to dry. Now, everything comes out clean and dry in a single cycle! (If I weren’t already married, I’d consider being the first to wed an appliance.)

Cleanliness aside, I think one of the most important features of the Bravos XL washer is that it gives me the option to use a cold wash cycle while providing the same cleaning performance as a warm wash cycle. It uses less energy and far less water. Win-win for the environment and me!

While my husband Sacha appreciates having clean clothes and being green, he’s much happier with the new washer and dryer because they are really, really ridiculously quiet. His office is situated right next to the laundry room and while it used to sound like knights jousting, he now hears nothing when I run a load or two. (He wants me to add that their sports-car-like appearance doesn’t hurt and almost makes him want to do the laundry … Maytag, I think you’re on to something here.)