Hot Yoga For Moms is Always a Good Idea

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So, I’m still not flexible. Never have been. But that’s not what yoga is. It has nothing to do with flexibility and everything to do with “real life.” Before I had kids, I loved taking first dates to a hot yoga class or my spin class. My reason was that I spend most of my days and time in workout gear so that’s the “real me.” The showered, makeup, cute shoes version of me is like a limited edition. Funny how things change. I still do my hot yoga and spin classes but don’t usually take dates there. I’m hustling to the gym with my three little people in tow. I’m a single mom of three little kids and have very little time to frolic around with someone else’s schedule. I don’t do hot yoga because I want to or feel like it. I NEVER FEEL LIKE DOING HOT YOGA. I do hot yoga because it makes me a better mom and  person. Hot yoga is like church to me. It makes me a better woman, person, sister, daughter, neighbor, friend and flight attendant. Plus it makes my body purr. Here are a couple of my favorite yoga teachers.IMG_7881Striking a pose with the amazing Roger Yoga Teacher. IMG_7873My girl Isabel killing it with her Genuine “Pony” songs and HUMBLE. Yep, One of the many reasons I love her. 

If you’ve been “thinking” about trying yoga (hot or not) DO IT! Do it for yourself and your family. Everyone benefits when mom gets her hot yoga in!

It Takes A Village

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I remember hearing the saying “It takes a village” growing up but had no idea. No idea what it meant or how true it was. I feel like the bigger your tribe the more you need your village. I’m really lucky because I have a big, little tribe and an awesome village. I can honestly appreciate the familial concept of Big Love, and Sister Wives now that I have three, little humans. I loved the shows because the concept seemed so bizarre to me but somehow it seemed to work and very well?! The idea of all that maternal help and support right next door sounds AMAZING now. Sure a new bed, and new wife every night is still very creepy to me. I have no idea how Kody really sleeps with 4 wives and has all those kids. So many kids…

I could never do the sister wives thing but think the daily, maternal support (right next door) sounds awesome. Haha! For now, I’ll keep on keepin’ on with my happy, little tribe and awesome village. IMG_6704The village makes dinner out so much fun!IMG_3989The village makes pool days awesome!IMG_2982My little tribe biking in all their glory

Respect The Hustle

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Sure, not everyone is a mom but most people hustle. So, why not talk about it, laugh about it and share it? I’ve always been a passionate person with a lot of hustle. Whether it was teaching spin classes, running marathons or traveling. Hustling and squeezing it all in has always been my game. Little did I know, that there ain’t nothing like the “mom hustle.” Growing up my mom made it look so easy and pretty! Haha! Still not sure how she did all the wonderful things she did while wearing full makeup no less. But she did and did it well-fancy dinners and all. Well, I’ve got my own little hustle game that includes the usual housework, laundry and everyday adventures. Fancy dinners, not so much. Outdoor and daily adventures, yes please!IMG_0770Love and SOOO much of it. Pepper is grabbing my face for her favorite “true love” kiss.IMG_5418Me, snuggling all 3 littles almost 4 years ago. This would be my inside “mom hustle.”IMG_7847Me, tossing the mom hustle at Back to School night. IMG_6937Just a little family grocery shopping in the pearl. There’s nothing like grocery shopping with 3 little kids in tow. Haha!

Feast or Famine is How I get My Yoga

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Yoga is what I need, not usually what I want. Don’t get me wrong, I love the yoga buzz and the after glow that follows every yoga class. Sometimes, I don’t feel like going to yoga but I know that I need it. I’ve been a cardio queen for as long as I can remember. Jazzercise, tap dance and step aerobics is how I grew up. That early dance momentum turned into running, spinning and eventually yoga love as an adult. I still love my cardio but have completely shifted my workouts lately. These days, I’m focusing on strength and length. As the noise increases so does my self care. IMG_7883.jpgStriking a pose with the amazing Roger before his yoga class.

Feast or Famine is how my yoga used to play out. I used to squeeze in my yoga after a run or spin class. It was always the underdog and only “after” my workout. Yoga would go in bits and spurts, and was always the first to go when I fell short on time. Yoga was sometimes once a week or once a month for me. Not anymore…Feasting on yoga this Fall and it feels so good!

 

 

 

Teaching Moderation To Kids

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IMG_7185Family selfie in the Pearl, this is love!

I believe that moderation can be taught and as many talks as we have at our house about being a good person and doing the right thing, moderation comes up a lot.  I try to lead by example first and foremost because we all know our littles are watching our every move especially at these developmental ages of 4-7 year olds. After that, comes the good old fashioned creative questions that range from what if’s to look it up on your phone mom. Recently, my 7 year old cut himself off from treats stating “two is the limit.” And too much of anything isn’t good for you. My inner mom glow lit up like fireworks on the 4th of July! YES, you my love just limited yourself by yourself. This my love is a skill that many adults don’t have. This made me so happy. We talk a lot about health and how important moderation is. When one of our conversations sticks so that it plays back to me in this fashion, for me it’s called Mom Joy! IMG_7445Kai’s first day of second grade!

Of course, some days aren’t like this and talking sense or fairness is a struggle. So, I’m going to celebrate and focus on the days where it just flows and our family values are represented. To all the moms out there that answer the questions, read the favorite book 10 times in a row, and are trying your best, you are my hero!

Mom Life Rocks

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Moms unite! My entire life, I’ve always wanted to “be a mom.” Dreams do come true! Taking care of my 3 little people in the pearl and enjoying this awesome community is full of fun adventures. IMG_7288Walking home from lunch and wearing trucker hats. Portland style!IMG_7359Getting our swim on. Family photo with 3 littles-Kai in the background and the back of Pepper’s head. Not bad for a pool selfie with 3 littles.IMG_6889Just a Starbucks potty break and scoring stickers from the pearl police.IMG_7203Powells Book Store. Blaize is stepping on the new books while Pepper pops out the paper dolls before we buy anything. Humbling public mom moments everyday-haha!

Calling all moms, single, married, dog moms and even moms of cats.  There is so much funny to share while being a mom. Before I had kids, I had a really strong vision of what kind of mom I would be. It’s a bit of a blend of how I think I turned out as a mom and always evolving.

One of my favorite parts of being a mom is connecting with other moms. Like all other people, moms are their own breed and it’s fun to find “our kind of moms.” The real moms, the ones that are funny and honest and get the wild juggling act of being a mom. It is a new adventure every.single.day.

From the questions, to the snuggles to the daily adventures being a mom to Kai, Blaize and Pepper is the best thing I’ve ever done!

Here’s to all the mom’s out there and all that we do to play with and take care of our little people!

 

Kids Club At the Gym Is A Family Favorite

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I hear a lot from other parents how their kids won’t go to kids club at the gym. I’m lucky because I have 3 little kids who love going to kids club at the gym. I’ve been a gym rat for as long as I can remember. When I was pregnant, I thought “wow I don’t know if I’ll feel comfortable bringing baby Kai to kids club as a 6month old baby? Who would hold him? Would they love him and hold him if he started crying? What if he pooped while I was teaching?

I was a spin instructor for 16 years and even taught while I was pregnant with Kai. Much like everything else, your ideas change once you actually have a baby. I remember counting down the days until I could bring baby Kai with me (must be 6 months old) to kids club while I taught spin classes. I jumped on that spin bike 2 weeks after my c-section with Kai. I started teaching spin classes 30 days after he was born. And it was not too soon for me. 🙂 By the time baby Kai was 6 months old, I was knocking down the door at kids club. Sure, I had to power feed him right before class to keep him happy. And had to eat a balance bar during class to keep my energy high to make it through but I did it.

teaching spin while breast feeding

Happy Mama! Posing post spin class before I raced downstairs to pickup 6 month old baby Kai from kids club.

IMG_5395Fast forward 6 years later and I have 3 little people who wiggle down to the gym with me all the time. Blaize and Pepper have been saying since they were 3 years old, “mommy needs to workout so she can be healthy.” Mimi (my mom) taught my kids that mantra with lots of pep talks. Mimi talked about the importance of going to the kids club so moms can be healthy and strong. Thanks to mimi for being an inspiration and helping me teach my kids that kids club is awesome!

Me and baby Kai

Bottom line, getting to the gym everyday with 3 little kids in tow can feel like so much work! Do I feel like going to the gym to workout? No, not usually. Do I feel like going to the gym to workout with 3 little people that ask 10 questions a minute? No, not really. But, like Mimi always said it will feel so good after you’re done and be worth it. And it is, every single time!IMG_3100Sometimes you get really lucky and adorable identical twin caretakers are at kids club! I told Blaize and Pepper that you guys will be best friends when you’re 21 like these identical twin girls.

 

 

Mamas, keep rocking the kids club so the mother ship can stay strong!

Finding the Clean Air on the Airplane

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Recently, I was working a flight and another flight attendant ran to first class to “breathe.” I had finished my first class service and was sitting on the jumpseat as he bombarded me. He said it’s “fartsville” in the back and it keeps on coming…I almost fell off the jump seat laughing because I’ve been there. I gave him my best shocked, stressed out emoji face and said “omg, that’s so gross.”

He went on to describe in great detail the wafts of smells that ranged from food to farts. His description was so good, I had to stop him because it went from funny to suffering for me. lol. I’m sure the people sitting in first class can let it go at their seat too but it’s rare. Probably just a numbers game, less people up front so less likely?IMG_1630One of many reasons I’d rather work the flight over being a passenger. You can leave main cabin to find the clean air if you need to. I’m sure we’ve all been there, innocently sitting in your seat on a full airplane when you get broadsided by a neighbor letting it rip. I always assume the best in people and hope that it accidentally slipped out.IMG_5499Best advice I have for finding clean air on the airplane is to secure your first class seat! Otherwise, best of luck and hope that you get some clean, nice smelling neighbors.

Happy flying