weekends – The Fit Wife – A Lovable Lifestyle

Loving Weekends, per usual

August 10, 2014August 10, 2014 JenLeave a comment

I don’t know what makes life go faster. A two year old, or a rapidly approaching newborn. Any ideas?

I’m expanding like no other, or so it feels. It felt good yesterday that my overly honest, no filter bro said, “you don’t even look pregnant, it is hard to believe the baby will be here soon.” But I may have a stretch mark forming which is totally weird because 1) never got them before, 2) I haven’t itched for a second and 3) it is like a light pink scratch looking thing. I’m hoping it is paranoia but only time will tell and needless to say I’ve upped water intake and lathering up on my belly butter. I’m trying not to stress about it, but I’ve accepted anything body related I stress about.

Here is a breakdown of yesterday:

Woke up, cuddled with my two year old. Ran out of the house for a glucose test. What a fun thing to do as a prego. Make me drink this pretty gross orange drink first think in the am, and sit around for an hour. Luckily I had good company, my momma & my number one little dude right now. We stopped for brunch after:

Afterwards, a quick run to Costco for some staples, Penguin came with:

We came home and BOTH napped. Clearly the blood drawing took a lot out of us 😉

After our nap, we took a quick walk to EP’s taste. The weather was INCREDIBLE. The atmosphere was awesome, way better than previous years – we enjoyed live bands, a few bites of food I don’t normally touch and Evan had a BLAST on some of the rides. My heart was so full watching him, it almost exploded.

We also enjoyed an insanely beautiful sunset:

It was such a sweet night. Uncle Joe even made an appearance that Evan loved:

By the time we got home, we were all ready to crash and we did. But not before some rough housing with our poor pup, Oso:

Today has been just as fast paced. Although we slept in! Didn’t really roll out of bed until around 7:45 about an hour and 45 minutes later than usual. Maybe third trimester sleepies? Who knows. Hahaha. I went shopping with one of my very best friends, Joanna. Brought Evan home for a nap and am catching up on some other thoughts that I plan to write about in the not too far future like breastfeeding, prepping a big boy’s room and a nursery AGAIN *sigh* so much to do.

Well, I’m off for a laundry marathon. Followed by cleaning, organizing, some yoga and cuddling with my two year old. Oh! Salmon for dinner and one of our family walks. I’m telling you there has been nothing better lately.

Happy Sunday!

My Weekend – Insert Sadface & Last Weekend In Pictures (5/26)

June 3, 2014June 3, 2014 JenLeave a comment

This weekend was supposed to be really was awesome. I woke up Saturday morning so happy I thought I could fly. My husband had told me he was going to get Sunday off (Whaoo!!) and I was all set at 7 a.m. to get my day started with FARMER’S MARKET! One of my all-time favorite places to go. It is honestly such an awesome way to start the weekend. Fresh veggies, flowers… the works. I was especially looking forward to grabbing some herbs and a strawberry plant for Evan’s very own lil garden (a couple pots this year! next year a whole little bed!! If we don’t get to it this year). I called my mom and was off! Had a great talk with the hubs and stepped out the front door at 7:30 sharp.

Then BAM! Major accident. I was walking down my front steps with my lulu bag and flip flops and hit an uneven piece of concrete and my loose ligaments in my right ankle gave way! It was such a scary moment. I knew immediately that my day was taking a dramatic turn and BOY did it HURT! I immediately yelled out for Hector in short gasps “Hector. Help. Please hurry.” It was honestly so terrifying. Thank God he was home. As someone who plays sports and has had aches, pains and sprains I knew I needed to get it up and iced as fast as possible. The pain was so intense I thought I was going to pass out. I got inside, asked Hector to get me some I ice and give me a phone, I needed to call my mom. Naturally, I called my mom in tears, likely frightened her and thank God she lives like 3 minutes away because she was there in a flash because within minutes it looked like this:

A half hour later (with icing and elevating):

I was over the moon in pain. I never want to go to the hospital with things like this because I knew it wasn’t broken but my mom talked me into it. I knew the doctor would tell me “It isn’t broken, ice, elevate and take Tylenol” (because I can’t take NSAIDs). Still around 3’clock because the pain was at an 8 if it wasn’t elevated (and even then the throbbing was awful)… I broke down and went.

To Elmhurst ER we went haha. They said it wasn’t broken, and to ice, elevate and take Tylenol. They gave me a fancy aircast and crutches since I really couldn’t put any weight on it whatsoever. The hardest part of this all was the fact that I had so much planned. It is tough to watch my weekend fly by when I was literally daydreaming about long walks and sunkissed cheeks and instead I was elevated and icing. My sweet son had a nice time with Grandma though!!

I spent my Saturday and Sunday pretty much in bed or on a couch because the minute my foot hit the floor major major pain.

Ah well. Some weekends just don’t work out the way you planned. Today it is still painful and turning a lovely shade of purple but I’m hobbling around and hope to be gently hobbling around tomorrow. As this is my right leg with my crappy knee to begin with the hobbling will likely cause other strange pains so I’m trying to gently stretch in all ways that feel good and aren’t terribly painful. I’m praying that this heals quickly because my almost two-year-old… as sweet as he is isn’t easy to keep up with on crutches or hobbling.

Here are some pictures of LAST weekend, the weekend I was looking to semi-recreate:

Loving Weekends

August 25, 2013 JenLeave a comment

When Monday rolls around I always am asked, “How was your weekend” – from the people who become a random 2nd family.

“Spectacular, always.” (Duh!) – We live for weekends over here…

When I get to take my boys for super long walks with no care that I have dinner, a workout, cleaning, planning… sleeping to do – like during the week. Our days are CRAZY during the week.

Yesterday Oso, Evan and I took a super long walk; we even dropped off Oso at Mom’s quarter way through because his coat makes him uncomfortable in the sun.

Evan, naturally has it made, he loves the BOB:

He happily snoozed while I did a run/walk combo trying to get some of my endurance back. We did about 5 miles and went past my old beautiful college campus:

It was an awesome way to unwind; and I came home and felt an abnormal calm that I haven’t felt in a while. Getting back in the fitness saddle puts me in such a better place. I didn’t completely fall off of my fitness train but it has been a bit of a struggle to fit everything in. With Evan growing so fast; I feel like I miss so much during the day with him it is hard to leave him at night… Slowly I’m finding a balance and his super independence makes me feel slightly better (well, not really but I’m trying to reach myself it is ok to have “me” time)…

Hitting my matt at home has been a God send… Even if they are quick bursts… It is such a peaceful place… ❤

I’m also getting better about meal prep and incorporating super fresh HOME GROWN ingredients 🙂

Today I planted some rosemary, oregano, basil and thyme into a new planter. I’ll post before and after pictures of what I used to have in my window… my new collection not only will flavor chicken tonight but it is pretty to look at while hanging by the sink.

What do you love about weekends? We love the simple stuff.. hanging out, cleaning up… Thinking of new projects around the house and hanging in our awesome backyard.

Well this random post is coming to an end because Evan, Uncle Joey and I need to run to a baby shower… Back with some more updates, we love playing catch up… haha

Oh one final thought… Weekends put me in a natural good mood… any other day running to Starbucks to get coffee because Hector forgot to pick it up the night before would probably make me angry… But today I took the time to enjoy a short car ride to treat him instead:

Happy Sunday.

June 1. Catch Up. Saturday’s Start

June 1, 2013 JenLeave a comment

Hey hey! It has been a while and I’m super behind! I’ll catch you up with our 10 month old sometime this weekend, promise!

In the meantime, a few things going on over here today – enjoying some of our favorite things:

Coffee and bananas, Evan (of course), sunshine, clean counter tops, sippy cups & my very own essential oil blend burning away.

I also stepped into my garden (which needs some TLC, it is looking like a jungle) to admire some INSANE flowers:

The only thing I had anything to do with was my herbs, which are doing awesome 🙂

My favorite blogger’s summer shape up starts Monday – superrrr excited about that! She gave us a bunch of info to have a successful head start so I’m going to cover my bases for that this weekend.

My May’s smoothie challenge was a hit:

My detox blend above with mint from my very own garden! 😀

And I will be treating myself to a vitamix in the very near future!!

So all is well over here, just busy – you know how that happens – life!

Be back later with some more updates from today, and some refreshed goals and my little dude’s 10 month update!

Keeping it fresh

May 5, 2013 Jen1 Comment

Hello beautiful weather! I’ve missed you so! All of the rain has really turned my yard from brown and drab to green and [sorta] fab!

I’m also totally THRILLED about my potted herbs. The previous owner was an AVID gardener and she told us DON’T RIP ANYTHING UP and although we will make alterations in back because we currently have no green grass space whatsoever – we would like a little for a play space for Evan and Hector *gasp* would even like to do a raised vegetable garden! MY VERY OWN GREENS! This man, he has a way with words to make me swoon 😉

I’m so excited for summertime bbqs with friends and fam. I’m so crazy blessed.

Someone super special to me is having a shower today – so back later for picks of the day!

Race Day – Prep

November 11, 2012 Jen2 Comments

So we are in running season. For me running season starts early September and goes though November. My sister mixes with the Santa Hustlers and braves the Chicago cold in December but it takes a lot of outside running in the cold to prepare my lungs for distance runs in the cold. My legs end up on the tredmill in that type of weather and I hit the steam room after because the thought out outside gives me a chill. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ll hit the pavement but my preferred method on cold days is inside running for the simple fact I’m not a fan of cold sweats 😉

Most race days for me are filled with happy anxiety! The night before I’ll prep my stuff, put together my gear-check bag and pray that I can sleep at night:

I’ve learned for short races like 5k’s I don’t do a gear check. Some small races don’t even give you an opportunity to do this (like a small race I did yesterday). Longer races like the half or marathon it is a MUST for me to have a gear check bag. This is what is typically in my “longer race” bags:

FLIP FLOPS! — My feet always swell a bit when I run, I love the moment after the race that I can rip those puppies off and slide into some feather light flip flops.
Cell Phone – I don’t have an iphone so I run races with my ipod (guess what phone is next on my list? lol unlike my husband, I’m apple fan).
Motrin – Yes I usually pack an anti-inflammatory in case my knee, back or whatever hurts a bit after the run. Better safe then sorry.
Goodies – Some sort of protein bar or a good-to-me fruit bar (Larabar, homemade protein balls, a good old fashioned banana) – After the marathon the last thing I wanted to do was eat but after distances of 6-13 miles I’m usually pretty hungry!
Nice dry – weather appropriate shirt or shirt and lightweight jacket. What? I sweat! lol

I like to be prepared, and I don’t fear losing anything out of my gear check bag (but I also don’t leave valuables in there – my phone’s priceless photos? they are automatically uploaded by photobucket).

When race-day morning pops up and I roll out of bed way too early, I sip some coffee, down the water and have a pre-race breakfast which is almost always: 1 slice whole grain bread, tablespoon peanut butter (guestimate, I don’t measure) and banana slices.

I get my stretch on, and try to get my hubs to take a picture:

Because when I attempt – I forget things like the bib:

I also get pictures of my knarly toes… Poor things went through h-e double hockey sticks last running season.

I always have a fear I am going to forget something… like my shoes or my bib, how about you?

My sister has, in fact, forgotten a bib before and had to go ALL THE WAY home, to retrieve it. Good thing she started that day way early:

Look at my itty bitty baby!!

*sigh* I love races, they are a great way to get you moving. I always try to train to beat PRs and they are a great way to help you stay active. Next year, we will be entering races that include jogging strollers so I can introduce my race prep to my little dude – I can already see his gear bag: diapers, wipes, something to chew on and maybe so baby sunglasses.

How do you prep for race day? Do you get race-day jitters?