Here’s a quick clip from a favorite of mine. if you’re someone who gets stuck in fear and won’t allow yourself to move forward in life because of what you believe others may think of you, try this!
Happy Sunday.
5 on Friday
1. This week mostly flew by! What started off on such a sad note, {The passing of Kobe Bryant & his daughter} really propelled me into being super productive and not just busy. I was able to finish cleaning/semi-staging our East Irondequoit house and we’ve been showing it. It is such an adorable home, it won’t be empty long! I had so much fun designing it, I cannot wait to do more! I love the way this kitchen turned out. I didn’t love cleaning the toilet, but hey, as Grant Cardone said in one of his videos, some days you just have to eat sh*t. It’s not all sunshine and roses all the time. In this case, it was sticking my arms in a toilet that I don’t think has ever been cleaned, but it’s sparkling now! Quite humbling. It’s funny how most people watch these HGTV shows and think flipping homes is a “glamorous job” but I can assure you, that is not an adjective I would use to describe!
2. I’ve been using my Rachel Hollis Priority Planner every day/week and I am loving it. I may do a whole post on it, but I wanted to use it a bit longer to really give some great feedback. However, I had to share that sis has it going on with some of her ideas! She has us pick a “motivating song of the week” each week to help pump us up and achieve our goals. I stumbled upon this song and it’s been so empowering when I have to go do something I may not want to do, but I know that I need to so that I can get to that next level! Plus it’s a super fun dance beat. The only bad thing is she is married to Russel Wilson and, well, that’s not cool when you’re a 49ers fan.
3. I have been making efforts daily to move my body for 30 minutes–no matter what! I hurt my foot wearing crappy shoes cleaning the property on Monday, so it was painful to even walk. Luckily I tried out this contraption and found that not only did I burn calories and work up a sweat, I also was able to work on our social media accounts much easier than when I’m walking on a treadmill! My gym membership is up at the end of February and I’ll be doing more at home workouts, but for now I still try to sneak in when I can. I did a lot of cardio this week.
Monday -Ran on the treadmill. Tuesday-This bike thing. Wednesday- bike thing. Thursday-Yoga (my arms and core are sore!) Friday- I’m hoping to walk the dogs.
4. My acupuncturist has a farm and gifted us the most amazing eggs! How pretty are they?! They taste even better. She is just the sweetest and honestly helps make so many people feel better by doing what she does. The eggs are such an added bonus. Thank you T, we love them! I’ve been really watching what I eat, mostly following Dr. Aviv’s Acid Watcher Diet, since my GERD is really acting up. It’s basically eating real whole foods, lots of fruits, veggies, low acid, no spicy trigger foods etc. I think it’s helping, but it’s not easy! I love carbs but they truly don’t love me. I find that when I eat white starchy (absolutely delicious foods) I feel the burn and am super uncomfortable. I want and need to feel my absolute best, so I am finding it imperative to get my eating in check. Small frequent meals seem to also do best with my gut. I have an endoscopy scheduled next week to check and see what my esophagus/stomach looks like and my GI Dr said we’ll go from there with what meds may help. I miss the sunshine and warm weather, and really feel like Vitamin D helps solve all the problems! Summer please hurry.
5. It’s been cold, as in the teens–high of 25 degrees, so we’ve been a bit more housebound than I like. These two are the best of buds and though they (mostly the dog) drive me crazy, moments like this stop me in my tracks. It’s a bit tricky working from home and still managing the house plus having Bradley home most of the time. I really try to limit technology, but when we are stuck inside a lot, he gets a little extra time to snuggle with Bailey and play his games. Bailey just turned 2 so she’s still a puppy, but oh man she’s still a handful! Right after this sweet and innocent photo, she ran up to our bathroom and started eating the garbage. Fun times!
Other than our boys playing in the Super Bowl— GO NINERS!– we don’t have much planned, which is nice. It’s been 7 years since the 49ers played in the Super Bowl and 25 years since they’ve won it! We are all a little excited over here as game day approaches. I’m trying to figure out what food to cook for Game Day! Any suggestions?
“Someday” isn’t Coming
It’s just absolutely crazy that I was sitting there meal planning in front of the fire with my little family around me, and I just happened to grab my phone to look up some recipes and I saw a friend post about Kobe Bryant. What was a peaceful and normal Sunday suddenly turned our minds into grief, worry, frustration and determination. I will be honest and say that I did not follow Basketball, nor did I know much about Kobe and his life. I didn’t know he had four beautiful daughters and was still married to his stunning wife. I knew he was a ball player, but I didn’t realize the dedication and determination he put forth to become the best. Of course I know that pro athletes are a special breed and in order to achieve that level of success, well you must sacrifice a lot. I also did not realize how much my husband looked up to a man such as Kobe Bryant. To say that it was a somber evening is putting it lightly. I’m not sure how anyone could have a dry eye after thinking about that horrific crash, with those 9 people and especially him sitting there with his daughter. I don’t recall which reporter said it best, but heroes aren’t supposed to die. We are supposed to be able to watch them grow old and live out their lives. In a sense he just started this next chapter of his life it seems…after retiring from playing basketball he was working with his daughter to help her live out her dreams. He just had a baby last year. It all just makes no sense; when I hear this news it just stops me in my tracks because we are not promised tomorrow. So after the tears dry and the day to day routine sinks back in, we are asking ourselves what is that we are going to do? Nothing changes if nothing changes.
If you wrote out your goals for 2020, do you look at them? Have you written down action steps to achieve any of them? Are you pushing yourself a little further than you would in 2019?
What is your why? What purpose do you have to get up, get out of bed and fight for your day to be better than before?
I know that Joe and I have been hugging the kiddos extra tighter, saying I love you a little more, and though we never take our time for granted, it just seems to hit you a little more when a tragedy like this strikes. Be in the moment. Yes, BE IN THE MOMENT. Enjoy the kiss goodbye. Look your child in the eyes as you hug her. Call your mom! Have the coffee date with the friend you keep meaning to see. Share and spread your love and don’t think twice about it. Show everyone how much they matter to you, how much you care.
Even something as simple as getting up earlier has been impacted by Kobe. My alarm goes off and I don’t want to get up out of my warm cozy bed and tip toe down the stairs and feel the cold tile floor on my feet. But I get to hear my alarm. I get a whole new day in front of me. I feel like you can either sit around and complain about how awful life is, how unfair things can be and how miserable you are (aka be a victim) or you can show some respect, grab life by the balls and go after all that you desire. #sorrynotsorry
If your eyes opened today, you get to choose. We are not promised tomorrow and we have no idea when our time is up, so instead of worrying about dumb petty stuff (which at the time will not seem dumb or petty) and focus on the bigger picture. Dream your dream and then lay out your plans and just start. Do something. Do it badly. Don’t worry about being perfect or what you may look like doing it, just go freaking do it.
The time is now.
Rachel Hollis Instagram
Last Month of 2019
We are in the final few weeks of December, the last few weeks of the year and decade!! What will you be doing for yourself, for others and how will you live into your best self? I am all about self-development and goal setting, goal crushing and making magic happen. I feel like so many of us are pushing extra hard right now knowing it will soon be time to rest and relax with friends and family. We will be ringing in the new year and all sorts of exciting plans will unfold into 2020.
I used to get that pit in my stomach feeling on Sunday nights when I taught. I know, it was a “dream job” of mine, but I dreaded the long commute, the long hours away from Joe and a lot of the stresses that came with my said dream job. I know not everyone has the ability to stay home and raise their babies, but we all have choices. We are not trees, deeply rooted and planted in the ground. We can evolve, change, grow, heck we can even literally move!! Hate where you live? Pack it on up and try some place new.
So many people are unhappy simply because they don’t even know what it is they want. We are so bombarded with media that we never allow ourselves time to think, breathe, be. If you’re feeling super overwhelmed, flustered and like everything is out of your control, the best thing I find myself doing is getting quiet. Take out that journal (thank you again to my Life Coach Lindsay Preston) and write it out.
You will not live a life you love, if you don’t even know what it is you want from life.
Last week Bradley got sick–out of no where, poor thing was down and out—and then as he got better, I started to crash. My “To-Do List” was super long and I had this extreme urge to get out of the house because I felt trapped, but my body said NOPE. If we don’t get quiet and allow ourselves time to rest, our bodies will decide for us.
It was not easy to lay back down in my bed. To not leave the house. To not pop the Advil and just go about the day, but I knew if I just gave myself some time to heal, maybe it wouldn’t get so bad…
But the point is, if we don’t allow ourselves the time, we will never be able to achieve all that we are capable of doing. So even amongst the chaos, I challenge you to wake up a little early, or sneak away during lunch, or hide in the bathroom for an extra 5 minutes and truly think about what it is you want out of life.
Then make a plan. Talk it through with your besties, your spouse, your sister, whomever your tribe is, and just go for it. Feel the fear, feel the nerves and just press start.
If you’re hating on your Monday, that’s no way to live Sis. Life isn’t always easy, but you should wake up with a full heart and spend your time doing what mostly makes you happy. (Like dishes, I’m grateful for clean plates and food to eat, but I don’t love them dishes!!)
Share some of your goals with me! I write them in my Start Today Journal every stinking day. I write them as if they’ve already happened. Some are big and scary and some are just out of my reach, but I still write them down and each morning think about how I can come closer to achieving them. (I’ve been doing this since October 1st!!)
These are just a few of mine!
I live in my dream house.
I am an exceptional wife and mama.
I travel & vacation yearly.
By taking 5-60 minutes a day for myself, I have seen such a BIG difference in my ability to be the best wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, investor, whatever! I fill my cup (literally with water and tea/Energize) write in my journal, read a bit from a devotional, journal, sometimes workout, sometimes just stretch. Sometimes, to be honest, I sit and stare. It’s quiet. It’s just me time. And often, that’s the only time that I get for myself.
E-mail me or comment below ONE goal for yourself. Let’s do this together!! You don’t need Rachel Hollis’ fun journal, you can use a $1 store notebook. Let’s go!
Weekending
I figured I would back it up to last week–holidays make me get my days ALL confused! Joe was super busy working and I was super busy working, so we were SUPER excited to get out on an impromptu date night Wednesday night. I brought the kids to my dad and step-mom’s, and thought Joe would have to work late, but we were pleasantly surprised when he was finished in time for a dinner date! We went to a local restaurant and dined on delicious fish meals, shared oysters & bacon wrapped shrimp.
Thursday we were going to go hunting, I had all my clothes ready to go washed in the “dirt soap”! However, mother nature was not playing. It was really windy and pouring at 5am when we would be gettin ready to go. So we had a rather chill morning. I had time to do hair and makeup uninterrupted! I even had the Macy’s Day Parade on…it was nice to not have to rush and get everyone ready and take my time.
We drove to my dad’s and were more than ready to see everyone!
The turkey was on point! They brined it over night and it was just perfect. I think it rang in around 19/20 lbs?!
We enjoyed all the sides, pies, drinks and things. We were all in bed by 9 pm, which seems to be fairly normal around here. #IamOld.
Friday I checked in here and there on some Black Friday deals, but I had ZERO desire to go out and fight crowds. I did however have this insane urge to clean and purge all the things!! It would start in one room and then take me to another–I have bags and boxes to donate (toys from when they were wee babes!) and the play room is cleaned for our upcoming cookie party. The kids also helped vacuum and wash the windows. They wanted to to decorate but I wouldn’t let us until we cleaned and took care of our current situation.
Saturday we cleaned some more! Laundry, tidying and organizing, along with a huge grocery shop, by the afternoon we were ready to hang up some holiday decor. For dinner I made Chicken French for the very first time! (It’s one of my favorite meals!) I have been intimidated by it, not sure why, but our sitter Keegan made this before for us after returning home from a trip. Her recipe was simple and not complex whatsoever. It was delish! I even did some artichoke hearts as well. Kids love their butter noodles.
Sunday Joe’s alarm went off at 4:30 to go hunting. I decided to stay up after making him breakfast and work on the blog.
After hunting, we shopped for our tree!
The weather was ice/rain/snow and we were grateful to grab a tree and go!
Getting a tree has always been one of my favorite traditions, even when I was a kid. If it snowed on the day we were getting our tree, I always loved it just a little more! It was a perfect day for it.
After watching the 49ers vs the Ravens Game (still not talking about it) I decided to start some holiday baking!
Joe wanted to make his famous Roast Beef (I call it that, not him haha!) and who am I to deny my man to cook for me? It came out just delicious and we had that with some steamed broccoli and I threw some biscuits in for the kids & Joe.
Somehow we still managed to decorate the entire tree before 8pm. The kids really had fun (mostly Brooke) hanging the ornaments. Bradley loves just staring at it and dancing/running around of course.
And that takes us to Sunday night where I’m currently sitting by the fire, typing this here blog post. I am excited for a busy and fun week ahead!
How was your weekend?