What’s Up This Week

Do you feel like life moves so fast sometimes that it’s hard to even remember what you did this week? I don’t know what the hell I did this week. I was busy, but looking around this place it doesn’t look like I got anything done! Now it’s Friday morning and I’m so grateful the weekend is almost here.

But I’m also thinking about what I have been up to, what’s been going well and not so well. The weekend is a great time to regroup, catch up on things, and plan for the week ahead. I’m a big believer in planning and preparation, if not a big follower of it! (It’s on my list of resolutions, I swear.) While I start thinking about next week, here’s what’s been happening the last month or so…

Body Stuff

• I finished my last workout program (Liift4) with a lackluster finish. Because of my hip, I had to modify a lot and skip some HIIT days so I feel like it doesn’t really count 🙁
• My hip is still swollen and sore, but I did go to the doctor. He said it is probably bursitis and probably some inflammation of my IT band. I got a cortisone shot- it was not the miracle I was hoping for. The doctor did say I could exercise, though, so that’s my plan!
• This week I started the 21 Day Fix with a few of my long time exercise buddies. It is so much fun going back to these workouts and I love that there’s a bunch of us doing it. You can feel the energy and camaraderie in our group and I love those women. I still think the 21 Day Fix is one of the best programs out there- the nutrition part is amazing and I feel like everyone could benefit from it. And the workouts are awesome and only 30 minutes 🙂
• I am so sore from my workouts and I love it. Might hate it when I have to pick something up off the floor, but I love it.
• I’m very excited for a new program coming out from Shaun T! I love him. It was Insanity that changed my life and I have a special place in my heart for Shaun T.
• Yoga hadn’t felt great for my hip so I was avoiding it. Still scoping out my yoga options though!

Mind Stuff

• I finished my gratitude journal! It was satisfying to finish the 31 days and I kept right on going in a new notebook the next day. Haven’t missed a day since the retreat!
• Oh my goodness, I went for my first ever Reiki session. It was amazing! If you’re not familiar with Reiki, it is a healing practice using energy. I’m working on a post about it and will share more- as I learn more! I don’t really know all that much about it, but a woman I met at the retreat is a Reiki master. (You can check out her website here.) She offered me a free 15-minute session. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but the session itself was very relaxing and I slept that night like I haven’t slept in years. The next day I woke up feeling so refreshed and energized. I’m going for a longer session and will keep you posted on the whole Reiki thing!
• I started reading Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis and so far I love it! I’m almost done and will write a review when I finish. I’ve also been making the time to read this personal development book each day. Something I had been slacking on.

Nutrition Stuff

• I am slowly becoming less of a hot mess in the nutrition department. I eat wonderfully healthy the first part of the day (think spinach and chia) and all hell breaks loose around 3 or 4:00. Things have improved slightly and I’m not going overboard to the extent that I was a couple weeks ago, so there is a light at the end of this bad-carb tunnel. Yesterday I didn’t eat any junk and I am counting that as a victory.
• My latest favorite concoction: 1/2-3/4 cup greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon sunbutter, 1 cup blueberries, cinnamon, chia, pumpkin seeds. It’s delicious!!
• I haven’t tried any new recipes and feel like I am in a huge dinner rut. I don’t want to cook ever again. Hoping to snap out of it and try a new recipe to share with you!

Mom Stuff

• Maybe it’s the gratitude practice, but I am feeling so thankful for my kids. I just think they’re awesome. The Christmas season brings so many opportunities for cuteness.
• Our elf, Pip, arrived. I’m not a big Elf on the Shelf fan, but it’s hard not to love Pip when I see how excited my two younger ones are in the morning when they wake up and look for him. They usually don’t have to look too hard because, well, Pip is a little lazy. Mellow might be a kinder word. He’s not up for lots of antics- no making snow angels on the counter or making a mess in the bathroom. He just does his thing and moves spot to spot. (Most nights)
• One of the hardest parts of being a mom is making sure your stuff doesn’t mess up their stuff. The holidays can be a bittersweet time of year as you get older. I’m trying not to let that creep into our holly jolly attitude over here.

Miscellaneous Stuff

• The eye makeup remover I mentioned last time isn’t quite life-changing. Very good, but not life-changing. I think the first time I used it I was so desperate to get the makeup from the night before off of my eyes that this stuff seemed like a magic potion. (It was the day after a wedding where I maybe had some vodka, slept over my sister-in-law’s house, didn’t pack makeup remover, went to bed with full liquid eyeliner and waterproof mascara, and had bad-mom guilt at 7:00 am when I couldn’t sleep any longer because I’m old and I just wake up early all the time now. It felt like the evidence of my debauchery was plastered on my eyes). You can find it on Amazon here.
• I finally finished the last Game of Thrones book. Hooray!! 959 pages in the 5th book alone. It was like carrying a much-loved but very heavy piece of furniture across a desert. And now I’m free.
• I’m now reading The Fault in Our Stars which might be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. Rounding the corner to the end of the book and know I will need some light-hearted book recommendations when I recover from this one- so please let me know if you have any suggestions!
• Christmas is now 11 days away and guess who hasn’t done any shopping. Every year I say I’m going to start early and every year I’m in the same last-minute boat I’m in now…

It’s been almost a month since my last update post like this. When I wrote last time I was still riding the high from the retreat I went on in early November. That high has worn off a little bit, there have been some new things to worry about and some tough days. It reminds me how important it is to stick with the good habits that can keep you going.

Bad days and especially bad weeks can have you feeling like, “why bother?” Doubt creeps in. Worry creeps in. You need to have practices in place that will get you through the bad days and keep you from throwing in the towel. Exercise, reading personal development books, connecting with positive people.

Quote I’m loving this week:

So while I’m over here plugging along and trying to enjoy each day and be grateful I hope you are doing the same.

Do you have any book ideas? New, life-changing product you’ve stumbled across? I’d love to hear from you!

 

 

 

 

 

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