The Fit Wife – A Lovable Lifestyle

December 22, 2012

My Very Last Minute, Christmas Crunch

Well. This WONDERFUL year is rapidly coming to an end and with it, comes family, friends, food and presents 😉

Shopping for the holidays is usually my favorite. I love figuring out fun gifts for people and fretting over the perfect gift for those more difficult ones (i.e., the hubs). The past two years have been VERY different. In fact, Hector and I just made a mad dash to two stores last night to buy some gifts for little people who won’t want a printed receipt of the last minute gift I ordered online 😉 = Last year I was plagued with AWFUL morning sickness, this year my time is spent at work, attempting to fit in fitness and as much cuddle time with Evan as I can get in.

So today will be a dodge the crowds at a yet-to-be-decided mall. Things I’m looking for? Not sure just yet, I want to get some good deals if possible. This year we are going light on the adults range due to the fact Hector and I are buying a house, and prepping for a slight lifestyle change.

I know some EXCELLENT GIFTS for the exercise fans in the house and I thought I’d share in case you need some last minute ideas.

For her:

The Yogi

1. Kick a$$ yoga mat: Manduka

You can get this online or stop at a local lululemon (their mats aren’t too shabby either!). Not sure which one will work best? Check out their fun chart here.

2. A great BPA free water bottle. My favorite is lifefactory for yoga classes.

You can get them online at their site, or amazon or even Whole Foods. Have a new baby in the family? Evan currently LOVES their teethers, here. Water is so important and these great bottles are a great way to get hydrated and save a few plastic water bottles, PLUS they come in fun colors so you can coordinate with your yoga matt 😉 I have a pearl white one so I’m versatile.

[Sorry, I’m still baby-obsessed!]

3. Yoga gear OF COURSE. Cool racer backs or the yogi staple a pair of grove pants from lulu isn’t a bad way to go:

For the runner/Cardio enthusiast:

1. Garmin Forerunner GPS Watch or Polar FT60 Heart rate Monitor:

I hear whispers of a new sports bra by lululemon that comes with a built in chest-strap for the Polar watch 😉 – The Garmin above is crazy small for a GPS watch…

2. Underarmor warmgear – Love love love. Pretty simple.

3. Foam Roller for those tight IT bands 😉

Also a great idea? DVDs I know on my list are some Pilates DVDs because I need to strengthen my core after baby and my best friend would agree Pilates is all about strong cores. My sister is a fan of Zumba (great for all fitness levels) and Insanity (must be fit BEFORE starting, not for beginners).

Gift cards to studios!! There is nothing that would be more welcoming then a giftcard to a heated yoga class CorePower or a Bikram class sound amaze with the cold. Any yogi would love a free class for Christmas 😉

For him:

Unfortunately Mr. Fit Wife isn’t really a fitness freak so I like to daydream about things he MIGHT like if he was into fitness, some things include:

Man with a yoga mat? I swoon. (he will get there, someday Mr. Fit Wife still makes me swoon) above is lululemon’s studio pant.

2. A little bit of an investment but TRX is something I’m so excited about and I’d really love this for myself, actually. Lots of studios offer classes which I’d try out before making the investment but still TRX=awesome gift idea for the home without buying bulky machines.

3. An introduction to Crossfit. This is also something you can give to girls ❤ But heavy lifting and crazy workouts are great for a guy in your life too.

Gifting entries to races is also a fun idea! My sister bought me entry to the hot chocolate this year for my birthday, and I was VERY EXCITED about it, to say the least 😉

Any fitness things you want to see under the tree this year? Wish us luck on our shopping endeavors 🙂

December 16, 2012

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Ideal

Well my handsome hubby and I have a jam packed day today; but, it hasn’t started yet. My sweet little boy is taking his morning nap, so I thought I’d sneak in a picture blog.

Yesterday was an ideal day, spent with my sweet baby in my arms, all day. I even wrapped him in the Moby so he could stay close to me, I’m still having a hard time with Friday’s events. I realized yesterday I haven’t been as on the ball with Evan pictures as I usually was so I sat him down in front of the Christmas tree with some lights and snapped away like the true paparazzi I am:

This little boy has changed my life in so many ways. I love him more then words can ever do justice. The ONE THING that must be completed today is seeing Santa. So I’m sure I’ll be bombarding the internet with more Christmasy pictures of Mr. EJV

Happy Sunday ❤

December 16, 2012

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Tears and Fears

I woke up yesterday with a chip on my shoulder, don’t ask why I just did. I found myself being blue about a few things and then I heard the awful horrible news about the massacre in CT.

I’m sure everyone who has watched the news, read articles or is directly connected to this absolutely unbelievable act of violence are just beside themselves, I know I am. Walking into our kitchen at work and seeing the headline on the TV stopped me dead in my tracks and I gasped for air as I read what had happened. My mind still cannot escape the loss of lives, of little innocent children who should be spending today, a Saturday, at home with their parents too excited that Santa is coming to visit in such a short time.

My mom and I discussed how some parents were probably running around finishing up shopping, or wrapping gifts and hiding them, and to get that call or hear it on the news. My eyes fill with tears at just the thought. These parents who still cannot hold their children 20 families who have lost someone so young so innocent and six more who have lost a loved one in such a tragic way. I heard the principal who passed had five children. Five children, who do not have a mom.

As I held Evan last night and this morning I just cannot imagine the pain. In fact, I loose breath at just the thought. My prayers, deepest condolences and thoughts go out to the families, friends and community in Newtown, CT. God bless.

December 10, 2012

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Starting the week off right [well sort of]

Happy Monday!

I’m sitting here, sipping coffee from my favorite mug:

Catching up on a little bit of news and proud of what I got accomplished this weekend. Sure I didn’t get ALL of the halls decked but a certain “must have” was completed:

Tree 2012

[My phone takes increasingly awful pictures and the battery isn’t really staying alive these days – guess I need to invest in a new one.]

Who am I kidding, if it wasn’t for my wonderful parents – this wouldn’t have gotten completed. Haha. Mom and dad came and conquered. Ok ok, I did decorate it but they did the hard work:

I also spent a great deal of time with someone who is just the love.of.my.life:

We cuddled, played and smiled all weekend long.

It was perfection. I tried to take pictures of my other best, Oso but he really just blends in with the background and looks like a huge black shadow. So he spent a lot of time with us but it went undocumented, he is a ninja. With a wild work week last week – I’m looking forward to getting things accomplished, maybe doing a bit-o LIGHT Christmas shopping and hopefully some quality time with that dear husband of mine. I’m of course going to fit in some time for fitness, I usually go into phases with things and this time of year I REALLY REALLY love me some heated yoga, so I’m going to definitely hit the mat. Something kind of lacking from my life right now? Running. Not sure why, just not feeling it.

What else is on the agenda this week?

Meal plan Monday
Quality time with itunes (need a new playlist, or two)
yoga
Shopping
Cardio, maybe some Zumba?
Christmas pictures with Santa (MUST be done!)

I’m off to finish getting ready for work.

December 8, 2012

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Tis the Holiday Season

Halloween came around this year and I thought “Whoa, my clock is all mixed up” – you see it still felt like summer time, not fall. Now I look at the calendar and cannot believe that Christmas is in less than twenty days! What have I done?

Nada.

Usually we deck the halls:

Sweet crooked star right?

We always buy real trees and our house smells like a cozy Christmas scene. [Well with the help of Christmas candles too.] This year my mom gave us an artificial tree because she thought it would be easier for us to maintain with our crazy schedules and new baby – Well:

This year, I have been so busy that NOTHING has been unpacked and only some fun holiday scents have been purchased (but not lit!). Not one Christmas gift has been purchased (because we are tight on cash after my maternity leave and we can’t touch any savings because we are buying a house), and Oso hasn’t gotten any crazy Christmas outfits to wear (yes we are that family).

This weekend is another busy busy weekend filled with too much to do an not enough time.. BUT we are going to make the most out of it ❤

On the agenda? Workout, Christmas decorating (it will WILL happen), hanging with my main little man and some time with the pup – oh and dinner with friends.

What are your fitness plans? I’m going to get to a C2 yoga class, maybe go for a run and hit the weights like a champ 😉

November 30, 2012

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Friday Fitness

Hello all!

It is a day that usually gives me a little extra pep in my step. Most people how know me are thinking, how is that possible? I’m usually an energy master, everyday. However Fridays I find myself with an extra ump in my day – I want to make sure to end my weeks on a good note!

So today I’m going to a class, and hoping that I won’t smash my face into my mat too much. 😉 You see whenever I work on inversions I always tell myself – you won’t face plant and I feel so good about this until one second as I’m lifting a leg off the wall and an actual handstand for a few seconds I get so excited that that leaves my mind and it is like “BAM! Helloooo yoga mat, I just wanted to be closer to you ;-)”

Anti-Gravity Yoga

I think I need some Anti-gravity Yoga in my life 😉

What are your Friday Fitness Plans?!

November 29, 2012

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Keep it Simple

Just sending positive reminders to everyone.

LOVING some little [huge major major huge important] things:

– Friends who understand me. How did I get so lucky?

– The steam room at my gym, I daydream about it during cardio [which means I should kick it up a notch like when I do weights… all I can think about is “breathe, breathe” ahhh my happy place]

– Coconut oil = my secret weapon

– Some easy flows on the yoga mat

– My husband

-Cuddle time, of course.

– itunes.

– my sweaty time. love. my. sweaty. time.

Off to finish up prepping for my day. What is on everyone’s menu for lunch? I need to remember my spinach for my spinach, avocado and hummus wrap – I also am going to try to get the hubs to make me a breakfast smoothie: protein, almond milk, handful spinach, banana and maybe a bit o’almond butter. wish. me. luck.

xoxo

November 24, 2012

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4 Months [More and More in Love]

Well father time has left me blindsided once again because just like that another month gone and my little dude just continues to grow:

We have had so much fun this month. Even though you aren’t my itty bitty baby anymore you are just so unbelievably amazing.

You still love your blankets, they are becoming a security thing and luckily they are breathable because you pull them right up to your face. This week you also started playing in your excersaucers and you really enjoy them. It is amazing how quickly you went from not being ready to being ready for them. I wish time would slow down a little because you change so much daily – I want to soak it all in.

What are you loving this month? Your hands, they are always in your mouth. You are also a rockstar at grabbing items and putting them in your mouth. This past month you GIGGLED! I almost died, it was so cute! You don’t do it often, you still enjoy your what I lovingly call “laugh scream” 😉 – The toys you are loving are the winkle matthaten toy, your baby Eisenstein piano and a few organic toys I picked up for you from a local green store: Green Home Experts [today is small business day, if you are going out stop by and give some love!].

Dear Evan:

You continue to teach me so much, you are simply so amazing, I know i keep saying it but you are. My favorite moments these days happen in the morning when you wake up and I cuddle with you – I never thought in a million years I could feel so strongly for anyone, but when I look at you I am overwhelmed with emotion and love. You will never understand the depth of my love for you, but I will continue to hug and kiss you daily and remind you.

I remember being pregnant and telling your daddy that we wouldn’t have time to watch tv, or cuddle – I felt sad at the thought I wouldn’t be able to spend so much time at the gym… I remember thinking they would all become sacrifices but now that you are here I don’t want to watch tv, and I definitely don’t just want to waste time at the gym I want to get in – sweat – and get out. I want to spend as much time with you as I possibly can and it does not at all feel like I’m sacrificing anything it is exactly where I want to be. I have never felt so complete and happy in my life. You make daddy, Oso and I so happy <3.

You are such a healthy little nugget and I thank God every day for that. You are also just so amazingly happy all.the.time. You have your exhausted red eyed angry moments (your eyes get red when your tired, a clear indicator that you need some sleep) but they are easily pacified by loving arms, your swing or momma’s horrible voice singing “twinkle twinkle little star” you LOVE this, and I have no idea why, because my ears want to bleed when I’m listening to myself sing it (there is no X-Factor in your momma’s future).

You LOVE music, absolutely love it, Pandora calms you when you do something you currently really dislike – nighttime car rides. *sigh* the hardest part of my days lately are the rides home from work with you. You really do not like that nighttime drive home, and it breaks my heart. But taking you upstairs and cuddling you makes me so happy, as soon as you see my face it is an instant pacifier ❤ You know the way to a girl’s heart.

I’m enjoying every.single.second with you. My awesome little.love.

Love you!!!

Momma

November 23, 2012

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Baby’s First Thanksgiving

Yesterday was awesome. It was another year spent with loved ones – we all sat around another beautifully decorated table:

Lots of laughter and love:

Some awesome food that SOMEHOW didn’t get photographed… I have approximately 150 photos from yesterday and I only have ONE picture of ONE of the many food items but it included an awesome turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans, twice baked potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and these beauties:

Usually the food is the main attraction but this year I think this one stole the show:

It was, after all, his first Thanksgiving:

[awesome turkey on the butt 😉 — Only a baby can pull that off ❤ ]

Very simply put. It was the most amazing day. I hope everyone got in something special – for me it was all about hugging these people close and reminding them I am thankful for them each and every day:

November 23, 2012

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Giving Thanks

Even though it is the day after Thanksgiving – I still need to count my blessings. I try to live each day with gratitude because there is so much in my life I’m thankful for.

[It sort of goes without saying, but I’ll put it in plain English anyway – these are in NO PARTICULAR ORDER]

1. So Thankful for Family. This year my family has been so amazingly supportive. I’m a lucky girl:

God really has blessed me with family, I’ll never ever be able to justify in words how much they mean to me.

My sister, Nicole: You are AMAZING. So strong. So beautiful.

My brother, Joey: You are capable of great things, I’m holding you to that standard. Lets get at it.

My mother: Clearly, I wouldn’t be where I am today without your love and support. We’ve discussed this, but simply you are amazing in every.way.

My father: Your warmth and love knows no bounds. I love you.

2. My son. Evan. He is my world. My little bundle of joy that I just can’t get enough of – he is perfection in a tiny package. My little love who just melts.my.heart:

3. I’m also grateful for the little things in life: Light traffic days, smiles at work and kind words on rough days.

4. My morning coffee:

I need to make a point to enjoy it a bit more each day.

4. My wonderful puppy, Oso – with the new baby and getting adjusted to our new family member – he has been amazing. He is still the biggest love bug and gets so excited for love sometimes he cries kind of like “please don’t stop petting me.” I can’t wait until we get the new house and can take him on more walks because he is just a blast still.

5. Speaking of dogs, Mr. Gandalf – a golden retriever that I can’t imagine life without:

He is 11 years old, and just the sweetest dog I have ever met. He is so gentle and loving ❤

6. Food! I have to be thankful that I have the knowledge and passion for healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle. I also have to be thankful that I can afford fresh fruits, veggies and all that good stuff that helps me and my little family stay healthy.

7. A home. I am thankful everyday that I have a roof over my head, walls that keep my baby warm.

8. My laptop – so I can blog, surf the web and spend way too much time comparison shopping 😉

9. My FRIENDS. Again, this year really has been a great one and my friends have never been more supportive and wonderful. I simply can’t imagine my life without them. In fact, they are family to me. I’m so excited to share all the memories we build together. I have a beautiful nephew that is going to teach my son how cool cars are and how to play angry birds. I have a friend who is kicking butt on a Pilates mat that inspires me to further my fitness (she is my other fitness half 😉 ) – I also have another friend who reminds me that school was worth it – if I wouldn’t have been working towards my degree I would have never met her, and she is just the most wonderful person. I’m so excited for all of our futures together and organizing a wine and book night.

10. itunes: When I was first pregnant (this time last year) I was so sick that I couldn’t even listen to music. I remember feeling SICK when music would play I have no idea what caused this but it was like ALL of my favorite things were taken away: coffee, music, veggies… But that part of pregnancy made me appreciate how much I love them again and that I have to cherish it. I love my music library and ipods so I’m super grateful for that.

11. Being employed.

12. Evan’s swing. He loves this thing. I love that it can comfort him.

13. My Gym and everything FITNESS related I’m so blessed to be able to go to the gym, work out my muscles and hit the yoga mat. As Evan gets a bit older, I push it a little harder. My cuddle time with him is everything to me – but keeping myself strong and healthy for him is also something I’m immeasurably thankful for.

14. Nursing goodies – medela and lansinoh keep my baby happy and healthy. Sure I’m not always excited to spend the 15 minutes hooked up to a machine but it allows me to give my baby the best nourishment I can – and for that – I’m beyond beyond beyond far beyond grateful.

15. My Camera – how could I capture as much as I can without it?

16. My kindle – with the click of a button I can borrow a book (thanks Amazon Prime! I love you too!) or buy a new hit without leaving the comfort of my bed or disturbing a sweet sleeping baby in my arms.

17. Girly things like nail polish, awesome smelling candles and undying love for the special people in my life 😉

18. My First Time Mom’s group on facebook – there is something so special about sharing my new mom journey with them. I’m totally grateful for the wonderful ladies I have met on that site. ❤

19. My yoga mat(s) – LOTS and LOTS of stress is released here. As well as some serious strengthening. On my Christmas list this year is a Manduka Pro 😉 it will likely be a gift to myself.

20. Fresh flowers and beautiful weather. Falling leaves, the smell of burning wood and sounds of people leading their daily lives on my runs (i.e. skateboards, kids screaming at each other and people chit chatting with neighbors). I LOVE taking in the sights & sounds when I’m on a run ❤

21. Friendly hugs any day 😉

22. Aden & Anais blankets [Especially the Bamboo ones] – These almost instantly sooth my sweet baby and he has been wrapped up in one (or two) of these every day since his first day of life:

23. My Husband. There are days when I totally take him for granted. He is absolutely amazing though and this year has been a huge year. I mean we got married, had a baby and bought a house [under contract as we speak, fingers crossed it works out ;-)] in ONE year. Also in that year he had supported my fitness efforts, carrying our beautiful baby, dealt with my SUPER emotional days (both the good days and bad) and he has always stuck by my side. He is my best friend and soulmate and I’m SO PROUD to be his wife and I’m SO PROUD of all he does every day. He is absolutely amazing with our son and I look forward to every second they spend together. I truly cherish you my husband: