Stroller Workout

Last weekend I woke up bright and early for a morning run with Team World Vision.  For those of you who don't know what that is, find out here!  Daddy took Maddy to the gym while I was running and his workout was cut short because she wouldn't stop crying in the kids club...she was very tired.  Poor baby girl :( 

When they got home from the gym, Daddy was on a mission to power wash the windows on our house haha.  I decided to walk the neighborhood with the fussy girl.  After she passed out, I did a little stroller strength training in the driveway.     

20 walking lunges

20 push ups

20 squats

20 resistance band shoulder presses

20 resistance band bicep curls 

<<repeat 4 times>>

^^ post workout sweaty snuggles^^

4th of July Weekend Recap

^^ one of her many festive outfits ^^

^^ she hated her life jacket ^^

^^ snoozing with grandma ^^

^^ my nephew on the paddle board ^^

^^ #lakelife ^^

^^ floating & drinking beer ^^

^^ my cute niece & Maddy ^^

^^ love him! ^^

^^ hubs ^^

^^ all ready for the fireworks! ^^

Having a baby makes the holidays so much more fun!  I loved going shopping for a festive red, white, and blue outfit for my baby girl!  We spent the weekend relaxing, doing chores around the house, and partying at Lake Lotawana with family and friends.  Lake Lotawana reminds me so much of Bass Lake, the lake my family had a cabin at growing up.  We went swimming, ate tons of unhealthy food, and watched fireworks from the boat.  Any weekend spent on the water with family and friends is a perfect weekend for me!     

35 minute burn & firm

This is the perfect workout if you don't have a lot of time, but want to get a great workout in.  It's also easy to do at home because it requires no equipment.  Perform each exercise for 30 seconds with no rest in between.  Repeat each round 2 times.  After each round, rest for 1 minute.  

Round 1

Squats

Flutter kicks 

Push ups

Bicycle Crunches 

Burpees 

Round 2

Squat jumps

Forearm plank

Hop on right foot

Push ups

Hop on left foot

Round 3

Burpees 

Split squat jumps

Russian twists

Jump over the line 

Shoulder taps 

Round 4

Jumping jacks

Wide leg push ups

Side plank (left side)

Mountain climbers

Side plank (right side)

cousin love

We are having SO much fun with cousin Tatum and Auntie Megan visiting from California!  Yesterday we went to the park and had a little DIY photo shoot with the girls!  Maddy is impossible to take pictures of, but Tatum was just a little doll baby.  

Zucchini boats

 I don't know about you, but I am all about a quick, easy, and healthy dinner.  Zucchini boats fit all three of these categories!  I don't know how I have waited so long to make this dinner, it's so simple and SO delicious!   My husband and I both loved this meal, it will definitely be a regular in our household. 

Ingredients:

3 large zucchinis 

1 jar pasta sauce 

1 pound ground turkey

1/4 cup feta

1/2 cup cheddar cheese

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2.  In a skillet, cook ground turkey

3.  Once the turkey is cooked, add the pasta sauce 

4.  Cut the zucchini lengthwise and scoop out the insides

5.  Fill the zucchini boats with the ground turkey mixture

6.  Top with cheeses

7.  Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes

Race Day Outfit Details

Sports Bra: Lululemon Energy Bra

Tank: Lululemon Cool Racerback

Shorts: Lululemon Run Times Short

Shoes (on sale!): Brooks Ghost 7 

Running Belt: Flip Belt

Every race I have ever signed up for, I use it as an excuse to buy a new outfit.  Good excuse right?! 

I have never worn shorts during a race, I have always worn crops.  I absolutely love these running shorts from Lululemon.  I own a pair of their speed shorts but they are a little too short for my taste.  The Run Times Shorts are exactly the same, just a little longer in length.  I wish I had a pair in every color! 

The Lululemon Cool Racerback and Energy Bra are staples in my workout wardrobe.  I love these pieces because they are SO comfortable and practical.  I often wear my Energy Bra with normal clothes, I just can't get enough of it!  Why wear a normal bra when you can wear a stretchy one?!  Don't judge me...

I originally bought the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante running shoes.  I get a 30% discount on all New Balance items for being a certified personal trainer, so I thought I would give them a try!  I really do love these shoes, but not for running distance.  I started getting shin splints so I bought my trusty Brooks Ghost 7 running shoes.  Not the cutest shoes in the world, but they feel sooooo good on the feet.  

The flip belt is AMAZING!  I bought this at the last minute and never had a chance to run with it before the race.  I was nervous it was going to be annoying and ride up the whole time.  Nope, it stayed right on my hips and I forgot I even had it on!  I would highly recommend this product.  

Overall, I was super happy with my outfit choice...until it started raining.  I was so paranoid the last 6 miles because it was pouring rain and I was wearing a white shirt and a white bra lol!  Clearly I didn't think that one through!  

Hospital Hill Race Recap

Hospital Hill is a 5k, 10k and half marathon race.  I ran the half marathon, which starts and ends at Crown Center.  I signed up for this race towards the end of my pregnancy thinking it would be good motivation to get back into shape.  My goal for this race was to survive and cross the finish line.  I meannnnn, I just had a baby 3 months ago! 

Our alarms went off at 4:45am.  I ate my bowl of oats with baked apple, threw on my new lulu outfit, quickly and quietly transferred the baby into her car seat, and we were out the door by 5:15am.  We dropped Maddy off at Grandma's house at 5:30am... she should win an award for waking up that early on a Saturday to watch our girl!  We got to the race an hour early (it started at 7am).  We decided to sit in the hotel lobby near the start line and people watch for 45 minutes, it was entertaining.  

Around 6:45 we made our way to the start line.  Scooter helped me find the 2:15 pace leader.  I know, I know...super fast.  My goal was to survive, remember?! 

The weather started out better than I expected.  It was about 70 degrees and humid,  I was so scared it was going to pour rain the entire race.  After running a couple miles, I started to realize why they call the race Hospital HILL.  Holy moly, I thought Kansas City was flat?!  Every time I finished running down a hill, there seemed to be a new hill to conquer.  Even though the course was difficult, I really enjoyed myself, and the scenery was beautiful!  We ran through the Power & Light District, Brookside Neighborhood, and The Plaza.  From miles 7-13 it rained pretty hard, but it didn't bother me at all.  

I finished the race in 2:13:21.  I'm aware that is very slow, but I am SO happy I survived and finished with a smile on my face!  Also, shout out to my awesome husband for waking up so early and cheering me on! 

Pool Day

Yesterday was Maddy's first time at the pool!  We just dipped her toesies in the water, she wasn't so sure about it at first but I think she started to like it after she got use to it.  I haven't even bought her a swim suit yet, I better go do that since the weather is nice now!  Maddy spent most of the day lounging in the shade with her best friend Reece.  They are such cuties, I love that my best friend and I get to raise our baby girls together! 

Team World Vision

Hi Friends!  I will be running the Kansas City Half Marathon in October with Team World Vision to help provide clean water to communities in Africa!  "World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice." The needs in these communities are real, and I am so excited to be a small part in helping solve this problem.

For every $50 raised, water will be provided for one person for a lifetime.  Providing clean water allows the children in Africa to have improved nutrition, better overall health, and better quality of life.  It also allows the children to go to school instead of spending their days fetching water.  My goal is to raise $100 for every mile that I run, which makes my goal $1,310.  I am super excited about this opportunity and I appreciate your support!  

Check out my page and donate here! 

ooh la la

Where has time gone?!  I can't believe my baby girl is almost 3 months old.  She is starting to get the cutest little personality.  My heart might explode I love her so much.