Friday Favorites

/ Leave a comment

Happy Fri-Yay friends!! Cheers!

We made it! (Not that the weekends look much different than a Monday, but hey!) Shout out to my girl Rachel who made me these fantastic cups for our business.  She’s amazing–check her out here: Simply Mama Boutique

We had a busy week and were kept on our toes, that’s for sure.  I thought I’d share some of my favorites from this week, including a new book, a few recipes and the kiddos last week of school!

One.   We are still working hard at finding more sellers for our eager buyers! We are spending most of our days, calling, e-mailing, texting, aka contacting people who may be looking to sell their homes.   We have had quite a few people looking to leave NY all together, some are tired of being landlords, and some have not owned the house very long, that if they did list it and sell it with a realtor, they’d have to pay at closing.  In every situation, we can work directly with the seller and we pay their closing costs and can offer top dollar for their homes.

Two.  I have 2 recipes for you! I love cooking and I’m trying to be better about sharing the “recipe” or simply how I cook it all up!  I love Instagram Stories for sharing, but I thought it’d be nice to have them here too.

4f65cfc2-47b1-453d-bf0f-9c19a2f6bac9

Three.  My baby boy graduated from Pre-school!  We did a small outside celebration and it was perfect.  While it was not like his sister’s, we still were so proud of what a great job he did the two years he attended.  We are going to miss this beautiful little school so much! For four years we have attended classes both threes and fours, helped out, gone on field trips and I served as the Newsletter writer.  It’s going to be very strange to not see these amazing teachers on a weekly basis ever again.

img_0091

My boys!

img_0081

Four And my sweet little soon to be SECOND grader!! I cannot believe how big she is.  I just had to order her new shoes!

She wanted her “Last Day” photo taken by this tree because of its pretty flowers. She doesn’t look so little here…

img_0090

Five. I snagged this brand new Emily Giffin book–one of my favorite Chic Lit authors!  It did not disappoint. If you like a little bit of cheese, sappy romantic books that seem a tad far fetched, but you love love so you listen/read anyway–this is for you!  It takes place during 9/11…if that helps paint that picture a little better. I give it a 3.75 out of 5.

Week in Workouts

/ Leave a comment

 

I have still been doing my workouts pretty consistently!! I didn’t post last week #life and so I thought I’d still share the past two weeks here today.  My goal is to constantly share my struggles, triumphs and thoughts so that others can be empowered, inspired or and know that it’s never too late to start! Moving my body and caring for it has always been a bit of a struggle/passion of mine.  I’ve had moments where I’m in teh best shape of my life physically, but emotionally was a bit of a wreck.  I also am someone who tends to eat all the things when she’s happy, or when I just don’t care.  When I’m upset, I tend to not eat, and that’s never healthy either.

The whole Coronavirus has been a roller coaster and if it’s one thing I keep reminding myself it’s that I must give myself grace as we now live our lives differently.  I also am working on fueling my body with foods that it needs to function at its highest capacity.  Gluten really bothers me but I also feel sluggish when I eat processed carbs that happen to be GF.  It’s never a straight-line and I refuse to deny myself foods or drinks IF I really want something.  (Case in point, I enjoyed a popsicle the other night when it was super hot out and if you know me, I love my Rosé bubbles.  Moderation is key.

OK, onto the workouts!

Week of 5/25-5/31

Monday- Booty Workout+ 20 minute spin Peleton App

Tuesday- Arms/Shoulders + 20 minute spin Peleton App

Wednesday- 20 minute spin Peleton App + Booty

Thursday- 20 minute spin Peleton App

Friday- 20 minute spin Peleton App (5 minute arms)

Saturday- 20 minute spin Peleton App + arms

Sunday- Active Rest Day – just walk

Week of 6/1-6/7

Monday-

Tuesday- Active Rest Day (walked with my neighbor)

Wednesday- 30 minute Spin Peleton App

Thursday- Legs/booty workouts + 10 minute spin Peleton App

Friday- Active Rest Day Family walk/dogs

Saturday- 30 minutes weights: Bis/tris/shoulders

Sunday- Yoga/spin

 

I feel like I am getting better at SHOWING UP consistently, and also how I am moving my body.  I am treating walks as extra (other than rest days if I feel that I need them.) I think  I am ready to start making a plan each week and sticking to it. I do struggle a bit because I want to workout first thing in the morning, but sometimes I feel like I will throw up because I have not eaten.  I much prefer getting a little something in my belly and working out at around 10 or so, but that’s not exactly working well when Joe and I running a business. I will figure it out. This whole ‘new normal’ for us.  I know some people hate hearing that, but for us, this is a totally new normal!!

 

What did you do to move your body this week? Did you try anything new?

Friday Favorites (May Favorites)

/ Leave a comment

I thought I’d just wrap May up in a big bow, since I barely blogged at all– oy! It’s all good. May started off with snow and cold, but here we are enjoying 90 degree days the last few!  So many great things happening around here, and as always I choose to focus on the bright spots.  Life is too short to only see the bad…so here are my favorites from the month! (Totally random by the way…)

I enjoyed this cute chick lit read!  It was my favorite from this author duo, but I still finished it and walked away fairly pleased.

This month has been a HUGE growth (mindset) for me.  It’s so true, if you feel like quitting, DON’T!!! Just keep going.  You are probably closer to where you want to be than you realize! I know it’s a crazy time right now, but NOW is the time you must take massive action and not rest (too much.) So many people are sleeping through life and missing out on making dreams come true.  Don’t let that happen to you!

Joe and I have still been doing our weekly lives on our Facebook & Instagram 585 Rent to Own pages.  Yesterday’s was SO much fun.  We shared our top 3 pieces of advice if you want to stop renting and start owning!  We are going to start going live on our Buying page next week as well.  We need to help as many folks as we can!

img_9736

This happened. Cue. The. Tears.  Bradley’s Pre-K teacher came to snap a few photos of him and the grad cap/gown.  Usually the kids get their photos done professionally but since the virus happened, photos did not.  I did not get to see Brooke in hers in real life, only in the photos so my mama heart had a small moment of sadness and also excitement! What a ride motherhood is!

The weather started getting nice and warm FINALLY!!   The fort thing never gets old.

This was a “Scavenger Hunt” activity.  Brooke’s teacher posted it as an assignment, so I need to make more of these!

Super simple: 

Find an object to put on your head.

Find something green.

Find a photo of your family.

Find your favorite thing.

My Sunny Bike came and I have ridden it the past 10 days!! Woot!

I’m still juicing my celery; not every day because I just can’t keep going to the store so much, but I’m on an every other day deal.  It has helped my gut SO much.

Haircuts happened for the boys!

I’ve gotta say the hot weather has been the BEST thing about May!! We can finally go outside and not only not freeze, but actually be nice and warm!  The kiddos are still adjusting but the ice pops always help! 

We took a little drive and walked around by High Falls one warm day and little man decided to wear daddy’s old button up shirt. He tried it on for his Pre-K graduation (we may be gathering in a parking lot to at least clap for every kid, we’re not sure) but he is so cute when he’s wearing it!

Warm weather = lots of grilling meals!  We just set up shop outside and eat around the grill, it’s the best! Grass fed beef with a slice of Swiss on lettuce for me!  Don’t forget the ketchup, mustard, pickle!

I also shared an easy family favorite on IGTV as well! I made Everything But the Bagel Green Beans &   Giada’s Turkey Meatlaof .  I thought it’d be fun to share more on Instagram so feel free to follow along! Jenn’s Instagram

I had extra hot dog buns so I did butter them and added Garlic Garlic Tastefully Simple seasoning and broiled for Joe & kids.

A side of Rice

My dinner! I did enjoy some Yogurt Blue Cheese Dressing.

Be sure to check out my video for a few swaps!

And this just made me chuckle. I was such a Sesame Street kid growing up, this just seems so fitting for this crazy year that is, 2020.

img_9602

Top 3

/ Leave a comment
The other day Danielle from Sparkles & Lattes posted about her Top 3s.   I thought it was super simple & fun, so I am jumping on the bandwagon!
These are my Top 3…
Three things I like about January:
I met my now husband in January 2008!
Brooke was Born.
Bradley was born.
Three things I like about February:
Valentine’s Day.
Cozy fires.
Days are getting longer!
Three vegetables I eat the most:
Spinach
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Three grocery items I buy every week:
Eggs
Unsweetened Almond Milk
Salad
Three things we go through like crazy in my house:
Bread
Carrots & hummus
Extra Cheesy Gold Fish–Bradley
Three things I always have time for:
Joe, the kids & the dogs.
Green Tea Lattes.
Cooking.
Three things I never have time for:
I don’t *make enough time for:
Reading
Writing
Dancing

My Babies

/ Leave a comment

I’ve had this sitting in my “drafts” section of my posts and just wanted to spread some love on this Thursday.  Those two cartoon graphics may symbolize the party we threw for my little monkeys earlier this month.  I snapped a few photos of them on a warmer day here in the ROC back during Winter break.  I believe it was right before the new year and it was by no means hot — we are talking 45 degrees being “warm” for our Winter.

I just loved seeing them climb and play since it’s mostly a frozen tundra and quite honestly I do not love the cold…but I do do try so hard to get us out and about when we can!

They can both climb high now, barely needing me for much other than knowing I’m there if they think they may fall.  Letting go and watching them grow is so much harder than I thought it would be!

And yet at the same time, seeing them turn into such beautiful human beings is even more rewarding than I ever could have dreamed.  It is a true joy to be their mother and I could not think of a better place to be, when I am with them.

I’m so grateful for healthy, happy and thriving children.  I could not ask for more than that.  They are amazing, and as their mom I know that may sound like bragging, but really I feel so blessed.  They have their sibling moments, but more often than not, they are truly best friends.  My favorite is seeing them cuddled together on the couch or quietly playing a game.  I’ve said before how Joe didn’t have a sister and I didn’t have a brother growing up, so this brother/sister bond just stops us in our tracks as we watch our babies grow.

We will keep teaching them to reach for the stars, to go after their dreams and that anything and everything is possible.  You just can’t quit.

Forever my babies they’ll be.