New Title: “Stay-at-home-working-Mommy.”

When I told Hollie I wanted to blog about working from home I really had no idea what direction this post would lead me!  See, I’d hardly call what I do “work” – – working with others & helping them to lead healthy lifestyles is truly my passion.  When I found out that I could make this my “job” – you can’t imagine how happy that made me!  Before kids I was a marketing executive for an entertainment licensing firm here in Indy.  I worked there for over 10 years & once Parker was born, I went strictly to “trying” to work from home.  This “go” at working from home lasted until Parker became mobile & I could no longer sit & really concentrate in front of my computer enough to get my job done well.  Not to mention, no longer was I passionate about what I was doing – – my passion was being a good Mommy to my kids (priorities, right?)  Fast forward to a time in our lives (Parker was about 3) when I so desperately NEEDED to find something to do that brought some extra income in for our family (having a husband in sales can be tough, especially on a family of 4!).  I had just joined our local YMCA because 1.  The gym where I had been going was just too expensive.  2.  I had discovered an incredible instructor at the Y & couldn’t imagine NOT taking her classes weekly.  At one point in my life I would have NEVER considered the Y for a gym….you know, back in the days when I was working, finances were stable and we were kid-free – – it’s funny how God moves you in one direction later in life that is seemingly perfect for your current situation!  No sooner did I dive head on into the GREAT group fitness classes at the Y that I started to become aware of just WHAT I could possibly “do” with my love of health and fitness.  Who knew that the charismatic, SUPER talented favorite instructor which had caused me to join the Y was also going to, in turn, change my life?  SHE didn’t know the problems we were facing financially, nor did many people to be honest.  She just saw my enthusiasm for health and fitness & promptly asked me to “join her team!”  By joining her “team” – I became a Beachbody Coach & have been “working” from home SERVING other people for over 1 year now.  I simply HELP others become healthy – – fitness + nutrition, it goes hand in hand.  This “work” has fueled my passion for what I’ve always known I’ve wanted to do in life – work in the health and fitness industry.  Now I get to do this FROM HOME where I never feel like I am missing a single step with my kiddies!  “How?” you may ask when I say I do this from home (and actually make a pretty steady income – bonus!) AND it doesn’t disrupt my “family life.”  Well, I simply MAKE the time I need to work & do it when the kids aren’t around.  For me that means waking up at 5am EVERY morning and “working,” which I honestly look forward to – – it’s quiet, I can enjoy my coffee in peace & remember, I love what I do, so I’m anxious to wake up & “check in” every morning!  I run various fitness support and accountability groups online & the rush I get when these groups are really clicking and working hard is indescribable!  Because I’m an “early bird” – that is my 1.5 hour POWER time to get things squared away & in place for the rest of the day.  And, the rest of the day is really just maintenance after that – – I can check in with my groups here and there, but I never feel like I have to STOP what I’m doing with my family to “work.”  Sure there are times when I sit up after the kids have gone to bed, but since I wake up so early, it’s usually only until 9:30 or so!  There’s really no “secret” to what I do – – for me it’s been about finding something I am passionate about doing & then making that “work” for my family.  I am forever changed thanks to a dear friend dragging me to the Y for that very first Turbokick class & for that, I will be forever grateful!  I’m super proud to say I am a “stay-at-home WORKING Mommy!”

I’m curious….do YOU work from home?

How do you make it “work” for your family?

5 Thoughts on having a 5-Day-Old Munchkin

An Update:

We are home and with a 5-day-old!  We were released front the hospital early Friday morning and were able to pick Claire up on Friday.  Josh and I both go stir crazy in the hospital and with both of our munchkins we have asked to leave early.  We are so thankful for a healthy baby and doctors that understand us: they agreed to letting us leave as long as we came back the next day for Max’s newborn screen (it has to be done after the 48-hour mark).

We enjoyed a relaxing Friday at home which included a quick visit from Josh’s parents.  My only request for Friday night was, “a beer”, and not the Miller Light we had in the refrigerator (it is clear I had been pregnant as I am the beer snob in the house)- Josh headed to the store for some Octoberfest upon my request.

My mom came on Saturday to help for the rest of the weekend.  She cooked a delicious dinner on Saturday and helped around the house on Sunday.  We took a walk to the park and played for awhile.  It was great for Claire to have her Grammy here to give her some extra attention.

Claire is doing well with Max and loves to look at him and give him kisses on the head.  She gets most mad when we will not let her hold him and walk with him around the house.  When I am nursing Max she likes to put her babies up her shirt and pretend she is doing the same thing- quit hysterical.

Overall, we are adjusting well    There care some things I forgot, some that are harder and some that are easier.  For the most part the saying, “it gets easier with each kid,” I agree with… for right now!

My 5 thoughts:

1. Holy hunger- I completely forgot about this one!  Actually, I am pretty sure I was hungry with Claire, but never this hungry.  So hungry I feel like I can’t make it through the night, and I can’t.  In fact, I have gotten up and gone downstairs for a snack after a night time feeding.  I wake up in the morning and I can’t get downstairs fast enough to eat breakfast.  Usually a piece of fruit holds me over between breakfast and lunch- not anymore.  Eggs are becoming my best friend for those “snacks” in between meals and night time feedings.  On today’s agenda: boil a dozen eggs.

2. The first night home- Let me just say that we woke up Saturday morning wanting to jump for joy!  The first night home with Claire was abysmal: neither of us got more than an hour of sleep at a time.  Let’s just say this was not the case this time.  Last night was our third night home and I woke up feeling great.  I am a little apprehensive to give you all the details as I don’t want to jinx myself- I’ll share if it continues.

3. Just MOVE- Being able to live by my “just move” philosophy has been so much easier this time.  It has been much easier to go out for a long walk, go up and down the stairs, and just move in general.  The difference is really night and day.

4. Nursing– Another thing that is really a night and day difference this time.  Claire nursed forever; Max is quick and efficient.  I attribute this to me being much more relaxed this time and actually knowing what I am doing.  This is probably another reason I don’t feel exhausted right now.  When I do get up in the middle of the night, I am not nursing for over an hour.

5. Sleep when baby sleeps- This is one of those things that I feel like telling people, “yah, right.”  I was able to do this when I had Claire, but not this time.  Although Josh is still home right now and I could, I feel like if Max is sleeping, I need to be giving Claire attention.  I have taken naps when both babies are sleeping, and hope I can continue to have luck and have that time to nap if I need it- today I don’t.

Your turn, tell us!
What parenting advice do you have for me?
What was difficult or easy for you when you added another munchkin to your mix?

 

Friday Favorite: Jamie’s Not-So-Secret Weapon(s) for Perfect Wavy Hair

Changing things up a little on this lovely Friday & highlighting two of my (not-so-secret) weapons for HAIR!  I get asked (often) how I curl my hair & I will tell you that’s been quite a learning process, but now I have it down to a science (when I do take the time to curl it)!!!  I think I first asked my hair stylist HOW THE HECK I could create those beachy, beautiful waves I had been seeing (I had tried unsuccessfully for months!) & she amazed me by giving me the 1 tip I needed to get going – – “Curl away from your face!”  Duh!  I was doing it totally wrong!  After that appointment I did what any normal female in search of advice would do – – started searching Pinterest for tutorials!  I found ONE that I love & really taught me all of the tricks I use now – – get ready to be amazed b/c it really is just THIS simple!  You’ll need two of my secret weapons:  1.  A Hot Tools curling iron (1.5 inch barrel) and 2.  Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Harder hairspray:

Now that you have these two VERY important items – – check out the tutorial I found over at Cupcakes and Cashmere as it really was my saving grace!  Prepare to spend a few hours in the bathroom “practicing” this process, but I promise once you get it figured out – – you’re golden!  That’s all there is to it!

It’s a…

BOY!!!!!  

We’re on “bump watch” no more!  I’m SO excited to announce that we have a new “munchkin” in the house – – Hollie gave birth to a perfect baby boy yesterday evening!  Maxwell David is HERE weighing in at 8lbs 1 oz!  All of Hollie’s hard work in the gym (and on the pavement) certainly paid off as her delivery was quick and easy!  CONGRATULATIONS to Hollie and her cute family!

 

Workout of the Week #7

Let’s be honest here: at 40 weeks and now 5 days pregnant, my workouts have mostly consisted of all exercises that help get this  labor started.  I have been walking, running, squatting, lunging and bouncing on an exercise ball.  In fact, I have been running about every other day and somehow at a sub 10-minute mile pace.  After each workout I say to myself, “If that doesn’t kickstart labor, I don’t know what will,” and then nothing happens.

Writing (and completing) this workout on Monday was a breath of fresh air and forced me to do some upper-body.  (Hello, push-ups… and yes, I can still do some on my toes!)  I am usually all-about upper body, but lower body exercises seem to be more labor-inducing lately- it was nice to take my mind off of that for a while.

Set your timer for 15- minutes and see how many rounds of this workout you can get done.  This is a good workout to come back to as well, trying to improve the number of rounds each time.

 What is your goal for this workout?  
Let us know how you did!

ADHD & Fitness

I recently came across this article on Exercise & ADHD.  As a former teacher I have very strong opinions on this.  I have taught in various settings: special education, intermediate general education, Pre-Kindergarten, and have spent time in Kindergarten through fifth grade as a literacy coach.  I am by no means an expert and I understand that there are a variety of studies out there.  I also know that some children do need medication.

As a parent, I believe in medication as a last resort after all other options have been tried.  As a teacher, I have had success with exercise in the classroom for those children that are not medicated and with those children who are not diagnosed, but struggle with concentration.  I am also a strong believer that we all have trouble concentrating when we don’t move and expend energy.  Have you ever tried to sit still for 90-minutes of reading?

Here are some ideas to help with your child with concentration both at school and at home: 

1. Before school- Just fifteen minutes of movement before school can help set up your child up for a successful day at school.  Yes, this will require getting up earlier and making sure you are prepared in the morning.  Jumping jacks, squats, windmills, and inchworms are all things your children can do at home.  You could also put on some music and have them dance.  If it is warm outside, head to the bus stop 15-20 minutes early and jog, walk, or do an obstacle course.

2. Brain breaks- Break breaks are for both parents and teachers.  If you are a parent, brain breaks are a great way to help with that lack of concentration during homework time and teachers can use them in the classroom throughout the day.  When I taught I had a jar of popsicle sticks with different exercises written on each stick.  Throughout the day we would draw a few popsicle sticks and complete the exercise or movement on the stick.  This would last anywhere from two to four minutes.  Some school administrators would say if you do this five times per day, that is a loss of 20 instructional minutes.  I feel that I gained more instructional time because my students were focused for the majority of the day because of these.

3. Incorporating movement in instruction- Whether it is at home or in school, make your child move as they learn.  Let them stand while doing homework or bounce on an exercise ball.  For teachers, step out of the box and post your questions or math problems around the room having students move after answering each question or problem.  Let students stand up, take a step forward, or do three jumping jacks when they have a correct answer.  I know this may seem like it is creating a chaotic classroom, but for me, it was less chaotic than having several students off task and not concentrating.

4. After school activity- I know many parents have their children do homework as soon as they get home and walk in the door.  Do you get home from work at night and immediately log back on and work?  Just like adults, kids need time to decompress.  Use the same approach as you do in the morning and let them burn some energy before tackling their homework.  Screen time is not burning off energy and will not help with concentration.  Make sure they are moving and increasing their heart rate during the time.

5. Nutrition, Nutrition, Nutrition- Nutrition seems so simple, but can be so difficult.  Is what you are feeding your child playing a role in his/ her ability to concentrate?  When we think of nutrition and concentration, we automatically think of sugar.  Sugar does play a big role.  However, the lack of nutrients found in fruits and vegetables can also play a role in a child’s (and any human, really) ability or inability to concentration.

 What has worked for you to decrease a child’s hyperactivity?
What are some success you have had to increase a child’s focus?

Hollie’s 40 Week “Bumpdate”

Here I am, 40 weeks + 1 day pregnant!  My whole pregnancy people said to me, “oh you won’t go a full 40-weeks, most people never do with their second one.”  Note to self, “Don’t believe everything you hear when pregnant.”  I am not sure why I didn’t learn this the first time around.

I am trying very hard not to get frustrated.  I feel like I have tried every old wives (besides the castor oil) tale there is about inducing labor at home- no success.  I have contractions daily, but never strong enough or close enough together. Thursday night I was up for 4 hours having contractions about every 10-20 minutes and then of course woke up today feeling fine.  Last night I finally was able to get a really good night’s rest.

I keep reminding myself to count my blessings: God has given me this child to carry and not every woman has that capability.  I am also reminded of the women who have a hard time carry a baby full term and I quickly turn my frustration into appreciation. From now until I have this baby I will be reciting this verse I read in yesterday’s devotion, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)  I am trying to put my troubled, anxious heart aside and remember what a blessing it is to carry this child for 40 full weeks.

Here is a little update:

Weight Gain- I have not gained any weight in the last 3 weeks.   Overall, I have gained more weight than I did with Claire, but at every appointment (besides the last 3) the actual number has been the same as it was with Claire.  I feel like there is a “magic” number for my body to grow a baby (just my theory).

Workouts– I miss the gym!  I stopped teaching last week “just in case” and I miss my gym family.  I am still working out though.  This week I took it a little easier than normal: walking, a little running, lunges, push-ups, dips, and squats. Last week I ran over 3 miles in one day and 1.5 miles without putting a walking interval in the mix.  This was the longest stretch of running I have done in a long time.

Food Aversions- none and I have had none this whole pregnancy

Cravings- This whole pregnancy I have never had one of those, “I have to have this now, go to the store right now,” moments.  I have eaten an abnormal amount of ice cream, but it hasn’t been a severe craving.  With the cooler temperatures this week I have wanted to eat all things pumpkin and this morning I gave into a pumpkin donut from Dunkin’ Donuts, and then immediately regretted it when I was starving at 11:30 am for lunch.  I attribute this to anticipation of fall and not to pregnancy.

Sleep- Last night was a great night of sleep, but overall, I am not sleeping well, especially when I am up having contractions or being anxious about when this is all going to happen. (Again, why I need to be repeating John 14:27.)

Looking Ahead- I have another doctor’s appointment on Tuesday to see how I am doing.  Right now there is no progress and I am not dilated at all.  Apparently I have a cervix of steel and quite the cozy uterus- my babies like to stay where they are.  I delivered Claire at 40 weeks and 4 days.

I am hoping with patience and time this baby will come on his/ her own.  In the meantime, we are enjoying what will most likely be our last weekend as a family of 3.  Last night we enjoyed dinner at the local Mexican restaurant and picking some mums.  This morning we will head out for run for the hubby and a walk/ run for me- I am sure Claire will choose the faster one to push her in the stroller.  And then we will devote the rest of the day for college football course (especially cheering on the Irish tonight).

Jamie is looking forward to that blog post when she gets to announce whether or not Muscles & Munchkins is welcoming a new  boy or girl munchkin…. Until then, enjoy your day!

If you are a Mom, did you go late or early with your munchkins?
What do you have planned for your weekend?  

(Don’t forget, every time you comment in September you are entered in a drawing for our free giveaway!)

 

Friday Fave: Jamie’s Favorite Gym Shoes

A quickie Friday Favorite on this BUSY Friday at our house!  I know favorite workout shoes vary from person to person & what may work for someone may totally NOT work for someone else……I get that.  All that said, however, I have sworn by my Nike Free TR Fit’s for the past 2 years.  Once a Nike Lunarglide-lover, now I can only consider these lovely training shoes for all of my various activities because they have been PERFECT for every group fitness class that I currently take:  Turbokick, Insanity (well….I’ve fallen off that boat, but they WERE great for that format), Boot Camp-style classes, strength classes, TRX, Body Pump and I’ve even worn these for quick :30 minute PiYo sessions after a cardio class.  I’ll even sport these when doing an at home workout like Focus T25 & I’m not on carpeting (Shaun T. even does his T25 barefoot on carpeting!)  Since they’re Nike, too, you know that you’re going to be treated to some awesome colors and patterns!  I’m on my 3rd pair of these now & I admit that I check Nordstrom almost weekly to see if they have any great sales on different colors!

What’s YOUR favorite workout shoe?

Anyone else a Nike-lover?

Hey YOU – – Don’t Skip Breakfast!

Confessions of an ex-breakfast skipper here!  Admittedly breakfast is NOT one of my most favorite meals of the day and because of that I have a looooong history of doing whatever I could to avoid eating a GOOD breakfast and trying to get through the rest of my day (running on fumes).  This ALL changed over a year ago when I discovered MY perfect breakfast after struggling to get through some pretty intense group fitness classes that I had been taking (and loving).  Who likes to hear their stomach growl halfway through a class or even feel dizzy, un-focused and flat out TIRED when you are trying to concentrate and CHANGE your body?  Little did I know I wasn’t helping to change my body….I was actually harming my body by doing this.  WHY is eating breakfast so important?   Your brain & central nervous system runs on glucose (that’s the fuel you need to walk, talk, think….etc.)…..sooo, if you’ve not eaten since the day/night before, your brain is surely deprived the next day (going 10-14 hours without), making it harder for your body to break down any carbohydrates and/or turn fats / proteins into a usable form for your brain to function!  Eating breakfast has been proven to improve concentration, problem-solving ability, mental performance, memory & mood.  FUELING your body first thing is KEY.  No wonder I had a hard time figuring out choreography or staying focused enough to memorize those “important” Turbos in class – – my brain just wasn’t functioning at full capacity.  IT WAS HUNGRY!

Many people also feel like if they skip breakfast they’ll lose weight…..WRONG!  Skipping breakfast actually leads to overeating later in the day.  Becoming over-hungry leads to a feeling of lack of control (hello, who hasn’t been HANGRY before?) and distorted satiety signals (meaning it’s harder to determine when you are actually full).  This can resort in taking in MORE calories than if one had eaten a appropriate breakfast.  In fact, it’s easier to control weight by eating frequent SMALL meals and snacks (healthy of course).

I know, if you’re a fellow busy mom out there or busy professional rushing out the door daily to get to work, breakfast can be tricky!  Don’t let time constraints be your excuse – – plan ahead & choose breakfast wisely.  For me, personally, time wasn’t a big factor in my “non eating breakfast days” – it was more I was convinced I didn’t like breakfast food & I wasn’t trying to eat the RIGHT things to fuel my body for optimal performance.  My own “perfect breakfast” actually turned out to be something I had heard about for months….something I had fought hard about NOT trying or believing in…..yep, the answer was right there compliments of my favorite fitness instructor who SWORE by her “daily dose of dense nutrition” – – Shakeology!   At first I hated the idea of a shake – could it REALLY fill me up, not bloat my stomach (yep, all other “protein” shakes had done this in the past) and get me through her TOUGH group fitness classes?   After just 4 days of “shake-testing”, I was sold.  Now, for me – – my go to, EVERY morning breakfast is a large glass of Shakeology.  Simply, it makes me feel amazing…..I crush fitness classes, am satisfied for hours, I can avoid over-eating later, I snack less & let’s be honest, it’s true “Mommy Fuel.”

Of course I realize that this is not the answer for everyone….some people actually like to EAT breakfast, they just don’t do it efficiently.   Let’s talk about a few wholesome & healthy breakfast options….

1.  Steel cut oats with fruit and nuts – check out this Overnight Oatmeal with Blueberries and Almonds or in honor of fall quickly approaching, how about Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal?

2.  Breakfast sandwiches or wraps (I make these often for my kiddies):  A whole wheat English muffin, scrambled egg, turkey sausage, a slice of cheese (if that’s your thing) & voila!  I also like this idea (but hate the name:  The Low Calorie Breakfast Sandwich 0r this one Western Omelet Breakfast Sandwich.  You could easily mix and match these types of ingredients, do gluten-free breads & play around with the cheeses, etc.

3.  Eggs!  The perfect protein!  Check out:  Mini Egg White Fritatta’s  (awesome for on the go), Baked Eggs in Avocados (who doesn’t LOVE avocados?), or if you’re a kale-lover, Sweet Potato & Kale Baked Eggs.

4.  HEALTHY muffins (yes, they exist – – so steer clear of the ones that are calling your name from behind the glass at Starbucks – you know they are FILLED with sugar, fat and junk):  Pumpkin Protein Muffins, Antioxidant Power Muffins, or for a eggy option in the muffin category Egg and Spinach Fritatta Muffins.

Lastly……

5.  Pancakes & Waffles (yep, something that can also be made HEALTHY):  Wonderful Waffles, Orange Vanilla Greek Yogurt Pancakes (yum!), and Blueberry Oatmeal Waffles.

Are YOU an everyday breakfast-eater?

What’s your favorite breakfast?

Share away!

A Munchkin’s Birthday & A Workout

We officially have a 2- year old in our house! Happy 2nd Birthday to my sweet, independent and often times bossy, Claire!  

Being a mom to a little girl has really change me and my views.  As a female, it is extremely important for me to take care of myself, to love myself, and to respect my body so that she does the same to hers- this is what has driven my increased passion for health & fitness over the past couple of years.  For me, it is more about the muscles I gain, the weight I am able to lose, and the pants I can fit into:  it is about the confidence and emotional peace I get from a sweaty workout and fueling my body with healthy fuel.  As a teenager and into my college years, I had extremely low self confidence- I don’t want her to ever feel like this.  It is part of my job as her mother to do whatever I can to make sure my daughter feels good about herself on the inside and out– not just today as she turns 2, but forever.

In our house, I like to make birthdays extra special- so that is what we will do today!  Claire already had a “Splash Bash” at the neighborhood pool with her friends.  We did this early “just in case” her new brother or sister decided to make an early arrival. (Who was I fooling?)  So today, we will make the day “all about Claire”: pancakes, the apple orchard, the park and pizza for dinner.

My husband and I bought an old, handmade wooden play kitchen off of a virtual garage sale site for her birthday gift.  We spent a weekend refinishing it for her.  She will also get two special books.  The books come from a list of picture books that show strong, confident girls as characters and in the message.  I started this for her first birthday and is something I plan to continue each year.  We also bought her a new pair of “fast shoes” for her birthday.

Happy Birthday to my favorite little 2 year old munchkin… you know how to bring a smile to your Mommy’s face! 

It may be all about birthdays this morning, but we can’t get away without a “Workout of the Week”.  This workout I dug out of my fitness journal from right after I had Claire.  I remember struggling through this workout just 15 days after I had her.  I had written in my journal that I couldn’t do a lot of the exercises for the given amount of time.  This just shows that with persistence and hard work, you can reach your fitness goals.  No matter where you are in your fitness journey- try to do as much as you can.

 What special things do you do for your munchkins on their birthdays?
What did you think of the WOW?  How will you incorporate it into your week?

(Don’t forget: commenting on a blog post will enter you into the drawing for our very first giveaway at the end of the month!)