Hi there.

Coronado Beach sunset

Well, howdy. It's been a hot minute.

I've missed this. I miss the writing, the community, and getting on my soapbox from time to time (ha!). As spring slowly thaws out Pittsburgh, my writing muscles are thawing out, too.

I have things I want to share with you. Adventures I'm having, projects I'm starting, dreams I'm scheming, challenges I'm facing. The desire to share has been brewing for weeks now, but I had to work out some kinks in my head. Sometimes I get too wrapped up analyzing this and that, worrying that my ramblings are of little to no interest to anyone. I know my fellow writers can relate... I also know that we throw in the towel at some point and jump right in anyway!

So, here I am. Feeling a little rusty. Feeling a little shy.

Here's a sneak preview of what I'll probably chit-chat about in the coming weeks:

* I'm teaching weekly fitness classes to seniors at a local senior facility. They're a kick in the pants!

* I finally went swing dancing after living in Pittsburgh for a year and a half. A year and a half too long, yo.

* I visited San Diego last month. Love.

* I registered for Zumba training and certification at long last.

* Rheumatoid arthritis is no joke. Two years post-diagnosis, I have much to rant about.

I think that's a good start.

It's nice to be back.

xoxo

Life lately: August shenanigans

Howdy amigos!! Another installment of the one and only Life Lately Linkup, a la Blair @ Wild & Precious. My shenanigans as of late...

Anniversary!

It was our one-year anniversary on the 12th, woot woot! We survived our first year, ladies and gents! Now it's smooth sailing from here on out. I kid, I kid... but seriously, I do feel that if we were able to make it through that crazy first year (and crazy it was) and still like each other, we're going to be alright. Love that man.

Vacation in DC

In celebration of our anniversary, we finally escaped the 'Burgh and headed to Washington, DC. It was wonderful! Beautiful architecture, monuments, museums... delicious cupcakes and crabcakes... naps and pool time and cuddles and more naps... It was the perfect balance of play and rest, which is just what we needed. I came back feeling legitimately rested and ready to jump into fall projects and adventures.

International Spy Museum = coolest. ever.

Another anniversary

The day after our anniversary marked one year of living in Pittsburgh. This is a bittersweet one, as some of you may know. I won't get into too much detail here, but I will say this: I still miss Colorado like crazy, I don't hate Pittsburgh like I did last fall/winter/spring, and I've decided to stop being apologetic that I'm not in love with this city. Just like the boys before the hubs, we're just not meant to be. And that's a-okay.

Pinterest

 

Sore flub muscles

Back to life in the 'Burgh means back to training! And back to training after a few weeks of not training means soreness galore. My flub muscles? My flubs are what I call my inner thighs. You know, the part that touches, the part that I'm perpetually obsessing over and trying to firm up. Lunges, zumba, squats, cardio kickboxing, and good ol' fashioned floor barre were on the menu this week. Must do the work, amigos--I can't be teaching my own classes without strong flubs!

This is one of the routines I do at home to work the flubs--check it out!

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Whew, so much going on and so much on the horizon for fall! I'm excited for what's to come--squirming in my chair excited--and I will fill you in next time... But first! What have you been up to lately?? 

xoxo

J

Life Lately + a Birthday!

Hello hello!

Well. That break did me good, real good. It allowed much needed space and time to fill the well back up. Weary is not a place from which to create.

Nothing like a little link up, a la the lovely Blair over at Wild and Precious, to inspire a post-break post to fill you in on life lately...

Mind
As indicated a month ago, I've been striving to find and hit the refresh button. It was a little elusive, but I'm figuring things out with a little help from my friends. I picked up an ebook written and published by the wise Jessi and Hayley, appropriately called Refresh. It was a 55-page gem and just what I needed to take the first baby steps to re-establishing balance. Basically, it reminded me that employing even small things can make a huge difference, and putting the right priorities first in the schedule makes me less spazzy overall: daily quiet time; daily exercise; cooking and eating whole food; reading a book; painting my nails. It's daily/weekly battle, but I will win.

A big kid in the kids' garden at Phipps Conservatory

Spirit
I created and launched a new blog! It's basically a journal logging my daily Bible reading and subsequent thoughts. If you're into that kind of thing (even if you're not but you're curious what this is all about), check it out: www.thevirtualvine.net. It's still a work in progress, just like my life, but I'm proud of this little baby.

Beautiful logo designed by Canvas & Slate

Body
I'm a few days out from finishing a 10-day fitness challenge hosted by Considering You and created by Bobby over at Your Whole Fitness. Following a bout of lingering pain and inflammation in my left shoulder this spring, I took a step back from certain activities so it could heal... but I also got a bit, ahem, lazy, and then out of shape. Enter the challenge, which included a plethora of burpees and pushups. Burpees are the devil, yo, but so awesome at the same time. I will get my guns and my ninja status back.

Pinterest

Another side effect to the challenge: I've been tossing around the idea of teaching dance and fitness once again. I miss it! A huge obstacle holding me back, however, is feeling very unqualified to stand up in front of a class. How can I ask students to hold a plank or do tendus en croix if I'm not able to do them well myself? A teacher should be on her game and then some. I've been unsure where to start because the task just felt so big. It still feels big, but the fitness challenge definitely gave me that important initial shove over the starting hump. Starting is always the hardest part.

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Oh! This is little blog is officially 5! Time flies when having too much fun... Happy Birthday, Better Late than Never!

Your turn... I miss you! What's been up in your life lately?

 xoxo

J

Mind games

Last week, while lunging, planking and squatting (and not too happy about it), I had an epiphany. Now, I'm one of those weirdo people who gets really jazzed by a hard workout, one that simply kicks my butt. I don't feel it's worth my time otherwise. Another confession? I really love the gym.

So if I love the gym so much and love getting schooled, then why the above stated unhappiness? I felt weak and more fatigued than usual and I really don't like feeling that way. Frankly, that's lamesauce in my book. My epiphany: I am not in shape and this is not okay. If I'm to call myself a dancer and an athlete, I need to act like one. Which means getting my sweat on even when I don't feel like it.

Therein lies the true battle. We all know how this goes. Whether elite athlete or recreational gym rat, each one of us has a bag of excuses which we reach into when faced with the choice to exercise or not. The truth? Not one of those excuses are legit*. It's our own brain playing tricks.

So how do we beat ourselves at our own mind games? Throw some game right back! It doesn't have to be complicated. Here are some tried and true tricks I use on myself.

• Pack your workout bag and carry it along with your briefcase or backpack. When it's t-minus an hour until gym time and your excuses begin to surface, tell yourself you didn't carry around that extra bag all day for nothing.
• Make a gym date with a friend. You don't want to be that person who stands up your friend, do you? The power of accountability is amazing!
• Sign up for a race or any other kind competition. Setting a tangible goal (and paying registration fees!) is solid motivation.
• Take pics of yourself in your underwear. Yes, completely awkward and will make you squirm. But worth it! This is one of the best motivators to don't think, DO. (But keep it classy, folks. Those pics are just for you, not the interwebs at large.)

Images via Pinterest

What are your fool-proof tricks to getting yourself to that class, on that trail or popping in that workout video? Dish! I have a feeling we all could use a few more defenses in our arsenal.

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

J

*Disclaimer: being ill or injured are legit reasons to pause. I am not encouraging exercise while on the sidelines. Be smart. Always check with your doctor if uncertain!