Tag Archives: thisislove

Getting Started Is The Hardest Part

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I’ve never considered myself an underdog. Ever. Although some may have seen it or thought it, I never did. These days, I consider myself highly outnumbered as a single mama to 3 little humans. I remember waterskiing as a kid and my parents telling me that the newest, nicest ski boat or equipment doesn’t always make the best skier. Growing up, we always had everything we needed and skied our butts off early into Springtime and deep into Fall. Not to mention our annual January 1st polar bear waterski event in Oregon every year. Burr. Yes, my parents still chase the fun and adventures like crazy!  If anything it made me stronger. Sometimes stronger than I feel like being. Just sayin. #truth
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1997, lake days were the best!
On those days where I’m yearning to thrive  and I’m not in the mood, I get going. Because half the battle is getting to the gym. Or getting to the yoga class or starting that run. As I recommit to being the best version I can for myself, my kids, my family, my friends and my community, I focus on the going. Push that start button…
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Pepper, Blaize and me cruising the waterfront this summer
I definitely have my days where it feels like I’m a salmon swimming upstream with Black Bears everywhere. Crap! This mom life stuff is a lot of work. Yep, it definitely is. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. Sometimes, it doesn’t look pretty with red lipstick. Often, it looks like mom is wearing her jammie’s all day.  That’s what Blaize and Pepper said to me this morning on the walk to school. “Mom, why are you still wearing your jammie’s?!” Haha! Well, school mornings come hard and fast for your mom. Awake by 6:40am, 7:30am bus pickup with an 8am speech therapy lesson in tow. I don’t always have time to get dressed. But, I always have time to give you princess braids. #momlife
Setting aside the jokes, I’m lucky to grow up with solid parents who taught us even stronger values. Learning at a young age that it’s not for free and the show must go on-one of my mom’s favorite of many quotes! And how right she was. After a good chat with my mom friend in my half jammie outfit this morning, I focused on the “get going” part.” And here I am at the gym, sweating (thriving) like a dog and living the dream.
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Yep. That’s my parents, always chasing the fun! Mimi and Grandpa Mike wheelbarrow racing with Pepper and Blaize. 🙂
May you remember the “get going” part my friends even when you’re busy and it’s hard to get out of those jammie’s.

Thrive, It’s My New Normal

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Talking to one of my besties on the phone this morning about life and she said to me at the end of the call “you’ll be fine.” She’s very empathetic, very pregnant and never dismissive of my feelings. Rarely do I hear those three words from her. But, I heard them today and I’m running with it. I will be fine. I know this. But I want to be fine and much more than that. I want to thrive physically, mentally and with my three little ducks in tow.IMG_7935.JPGMy mini me’s and me striking a pose.

I’ve always wanted more than fine or average. I’ve always sucked the passion out of everything I was interested in. Whether it was spinning. I love spin classes!-I’ll teach them for 17 years. DONE. Whether it was running. I love running and will run 6 marathons including Boston. DONE. Buy a house before I turn 30 regardless if I have a partner. DONE. Have kids and breastfeed those little monsters until they want to quit. DONE. DONE and DONE. Now, as my three little munchkins are 4, 4 and 7 years old, I’m seeking the next level as a mom and a person. I want to thrive. And I want to thrive with my kids in our family and our life.

First, I’m seeking more balance. More self care. More individual and ground quality time with my kids. I’m seeking more fulfilling workouts instead of just putting in the daily 45 minutes. Now, I want some quality and I started a new fitness routine that focuses on “strength and length.” Cardio is still what I crave but like I teach my kids moderation is key.IMG_8488.jpgChilling at pdx playdate in the pearl while my kids get their romp on. 

As I enter the weekend, I’m focusing on thriving. If you’ve been thinking about switching it up for one reason or another, I hope you’ll join me. Let’s do something different this season and see how far we can go. Aloha Friday my friends:)

 

 

 

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

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!