fit-ish ~ part 2

The gym has been good to me so far! The kids like the kids club, the times that I go are not too crowded, I need to go to a class regularly, but this is a slow moving process for me. In order to keep me going and motivated, I've come up with some fun things to add to the whole gym experience! And yes clothes are part of it. Let's face it, you don't feel so great strolling in while wearing a paint stained, collar cut up t-shirt from college. You're going there to make yourself better, not fixing the plumbing in order for the house to work right so sewage doesn't leak everywhere!

I have put together some great playlist on I Heart Radio that mix it up to keep me going! Music is a huge part of getting motivated for me, it sets the mood, and when I have time along to listen to what I want to rock out to (sorry Raffi, I can only take so much of Baby Beluga) I need my favorites from all genres! And I bought some colorful earbuds and armband to match {i love colorful things}!

I find myself more interested in podcasts now then I ever have before. I never put on radio talk shows so it's really funny that a podcast while on the treadmill is my new favorite thing! There are some really great episodes from interesting and informative people that I now follow on Instagram and their blogs. A few of my favorites are The Mom Hour, Rock Paper Podcast, The Lively Show, CBS This Morning, Spawned, Creative Lounge, Ted Talks, Pop Culture Happy Hour, all on this handy little app called Player FM. If there is a better way to listen to all these podcast, someone let me know, so far no difference in phone battery life or anything like that.

My work out gear is nothing fancy, I have a couple good shoes but I have no idea if they are the "correct" shoes for working out or for on the treadmill! I like them, they fit, I found a good deal, that is basically my criteria. Under Armour is great and I like their Tech tee (at eh Outlet mall), but I have found similar tees at JC Penney and Target. Same with capris, lucy Active wear is comfortable and I found a great deal, plus I like their colorful patterns, but Target and Old Navy have some great active wear too. My closet is just a mix! As far as sports bras go, Academy Sports has a brand that fits perfect and at a great price! I've tried Old Navy, Target, Walmart, JC Penney, a few name brand styles, and nothing has been fabulously comfortable. There is a new Academy Sports near by and I though I would give it a try before I gave up on my search for the perfect sports bra. Thank goodness I did, I hit the jackpot!

Lastly, and most importantly I found this awesome site, a community of gym goers that challenge each other and pay you for your hard work! Talk about great motivation! DietBet is a site where people who want to loose weight, keep motivated, and win money (cash money honey!) sign up and choose the game they want to be part of! Regular people to fitness pros are all part of this and create games, some with prizes and giveaways, for people to be part of and reach their goal, bets vary by game $20-$35 and all you do is take a picture of your starting weight self, loose 4% of that, and win money {i could use some extra cash!}. The game board is a place to post your victories and downfalls, ask for tips and share, and the game host usually posts inspiring things or their giveaways. I love this and I just won my first challenge a few days ago, so the motivation is awesome!

I think a key part to working out is motivation, and whatever motivates you to get up and get moving and thinking about what you eat each day, then keep do it!

GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO SWEAT

xo

self care for the alternative girl

Self care is a huge catch phrase this year, I feel! Does anyone else think this? Maybe more so in the parenting universe? I don't know, but everywhere I turn that's what I'm hearing about. And most of these self care practices don't really vibe with me.
My take on self care is an activity or practice that can be integrated into your life, not just a one time thing. Yes, splurge on a massage or mani/pedi, I'll be the first to tell you that for sure! But I also feel there are some things that most popular articles are leaving out, so here are my ideas on self care!
{side note} Some of these ideas involve multi-tasking. Why? ... because that's just how I roll these days!

~Chiropractor/Acupuncture. I highly recommend either of these two options for self care! Keep your whole body working the way it should with an adjustment, not just when you have a backache. Feel a cold coming on? Chiropractor! Not sleeping all that great? Acupuncture! So many reasons you should find one of these doctors, look up the benefits now and make an appointment soon!

~Float/ Salt Cave. I have been so excited to try these two therapies for awhile now. I loved going over to my Gramma's house in the summer back in California and being the only one in the pool and just floating around. It was so relaxing! I knew where I was and that I was safe but so weightless and so unplugged from everything and everybody, just peaceful! As for salt caves, my allergies have been getting worse each year and this would be a wonderful addition to my regime, the science behind it is so interesting, it would be worth my time!

~Create. Even if it is a small project with my kids, everyone is focused and being creative and enjoying themselves! Coloring some pages is our go to, but play dough is my son's favorite right now! I have a few larger projects of my own going on and get to them little by little, but that's ok because I'm creating and that's all that matters!

~Puzzle. Yes, old school, clear off the dining room table, let's do a puzzle! Nothing more than a couple hundred pieces for me, I like turning on some music or listening to a podcast too. Simple and rewarding!

~Read. Plain and simple. There are so many amazing books out there, how could you not want to try and read, in it's entirety, one book this year?! I have gone through periods of not reading anything and I feel so out of sorts when that happens, so this year I picked up a couple titles (used, of course!) so I can have a few if I get bogged down by one and need to lighten things up.

~Soak. Along with reading, soak in the tub. I like a comfy, relaxing soak with Epson salt and essential oils, both ingredients prove wonders for the body. No time to soak, a nice hot, uninterrupted, shower and shave is my alternative. I stress uninterrupted because everyone needs some alone time during the day, even just for 10 minutes.

~Face mask. Another duo with your reading in a cozy bed at the end of the day to de-stress from the world that is! As frivolous as it sounds, there are some great sheet masks and eye masks out there there feel great and rejuvenate, I have found a couple brands at Target and Sephora that won't break the bank. You can also look up at home mask recipes with honey, oatmeal, avocado, etc.

~Wander. Not far off places for me, our parks and museums here in St. Louis are pretty great places to loose yourself for a couple hours, walking, observing, exploring! Grab some friends who are in the same mind set and just get moving. And then go snag a good meal, food is fuel!

~Yoga. My good ol' standby! If I'm not doing a routine, stretching in some way, shape, or form is better than nothing. Try to clear your mind, make a quiet space, nothing fancy, just you and your breath.

It is tough to make time for yourself, some days it's too much to wash your face and brush your teeth before you collapse on your bed, regardless if you're a parent, have a fast-paced career, or a college student!
Nothing new and impressive? All of this self-care stuff you have read about before? Oh well, this is my blog and this is what I wanted to write.

LEARN TO REST

xo

i haven't changed

Over the last two years it has been a bit difficult to keep up with everything, and a lot of what "everything" boils down to is, relationships. Whether it is between families, partner, or friends, once a kid is in the picture, things change.

But is it really you that changes? No, I don't think so!
I haven't lost touch with friends, nobody calls me and thinks I'm busy all the time! Yes, life is hectic and I can't really chat but still reach out with a text! When we finally do go out with friends so much of what I hear is "oh we don't see you anymore!" "you're leaving so soon?" "can't you just find a babysitter?!", to which I answer, yeah I know, yeah we are, and no, no we can't! My all time {favorite} thing I hear out of non-parental mouths is "you guys have changed so much!" Uh ... excuse me!? No, we as individual people with interests, likes, and hobbies have not! What has changed is the time (and money) spent on such things! Seriously, our life is a pie chart that had the wedges shifted around, that's all! 
I really don't understand how someone can say such a thing and not see the entire big picture of what is going on. I don't mean knowing all the details of what happens in our day to day, but you can not be so utterly blind to the fact that adding a little human to the mix, shifts priorities! Family sees it and understands it and works around it, our relationship together has it's ups and downs and not so fabulous sides that have shifted from our dating days, but for some reason most friends just don't get it!

Even when I was single and older friends started having kids, I accommodated and came over with wine or planned an event with time constants in mind for them, and never said "why don't you want to do shots, what happened to my fun drinking buddy!" because even though I missed those good old days with them, that right there, sounds stupid and rude!

So, let's take a look at this pie chart, shall we. Daydreams of little babies and decorating the nursery and lists of names has a tiny sliver that took up my time way back when. This was also a time of apartment living and spending days off work at the pool, so no real household responsibilities. Nights were spent out at bars with these friends or at the movies and late night dinners, time to myself and focus on work projects was abundant! Holidays were a bit more extravagant and surprising my husband with some pretty cool birthday gifts was a project to work on for a couple weeks. Now a days, not so much on any of the above mentioned ... and I can only imagine that once both kids are in school and find their own interests and hobbies, more shifting will occur! I know that this is me, but I would think there are others out there that have these self-centered friends who just need to be shaken awake and take a look at this chart.

Sad to say, some of these friends have lost touch, but others we try to make an effort with. When you shift and friends can't get with the flow, it's a disheartening moment. I wish the best for them and keep open to invites but have stepped back from reaching out to them, I just don't have the energy for it anymore. But those who remember us and make an effort will always be friends ... they just have to post an invite a month ahead of time so I can find a babysitter!

I'D RATHER HAVE 4 QUARTERS THAN 100 PENNIES

xo