Summers are always crazy, aren’t them? Well this summer is no exception but we are still loving it! Check out our Summer Happenings – July 2019.
Hi guys! How’s your summer going? I cannot believe we are already half way through!!! Where has it gone?
Our Minnesota summer has been a bit different than usual. The bugs (at least in the city) haven’t been quite as bad, and the weather has not been quite as warm. Can’t complain about that!
This is the first summer we have spent mostly at home as we continue our full time ABA Therapy program for Poppy. Day to day hasn’t changed much since Winter and Spring. We are still doing 40+ hours/6 days a week of at-home therapy and Poppy is still having fun, while working hard and learning so many new skills.
With the busier than normal summer schedule, any time we get a few hours off or have a slower weekend, we are taking full advantage of it with family time, at the lake/river, splash pads, parks, and zoo! We have missed out on most Twin Cities summer events, but tried to spend more time outside with the girls, which has been so great, so calming.
Despite all the craziness, I am feeling very grateful. The girls have grown up so much this summer it seems.They have grown closer to family and closer to each other as well. They really truly LOVE each other and LOVE spending time together. It is so fun to see them play and tell each other “I love you!”
For the hubs and I, we have been busy with our own things. The hubs has been working hard at work with longer hours while still trying to make time for everything else. And I have been taking on some extra mama duties, working with our therapy team, teaching tennis lessons and making delicious meals for my SPS Meal Clients.
Although I don’t want summer to end, a little part of me is craving fall and some slower days.
Getting Healthy
Recently the hubs mentioned to me that he wanted to be all around healthier. So we are making small changes to make that happen!
Food: More pulses/less meat, less processed snacks for the whole family, and more water (less coffee for me)! The hubs has never been a huge fan of beans so I’m testing lots of different recipes. Great thing is most bean dishes can usually be made ahead of time, which really helps while I’m out teaching tennis. So far we have rocked different lentil recipes, chickpea and pinto bean recipes. And all have been given a stamp of approval.
Physically: From stretching to icing to getting outside and being active, we are all trying to stay consistently active both individually and together as a family.
Stress: Exercise, more reading, less TV, spending time together/apart/with friends, not overdoing our schedule, and making things a bit simpler around the house has helped reduce stress. Even as simple as re-arranging our bedroom this week has made our sleeping space less overwhelming and more calming.
Marco Polo
Have you tried this app? I know it’s another app, but it’s really cool. It’s a communication app, where basically you record and send video messages to a friend or group of friends and they can hear it any time! It was a little weird at first to record myself talking, not going to lie, but it’s been so incredibly fun to keep up with friends that I don’t see very often here or far away!
This simple app has made me feel so much more connected to my friends despite all of us having crazy busy schedules and lives right now. Plus unlike other social media apps where you get bombarded with people that you barely know, this app keeps your social circle small and intimate.
Reading
I am finally reading consistently… something other than cookbooks! This has been an ongoing struggle for me mostly because I used to always find so much to do before bed, get sucked into whatever TV show the hubs was watching, fall asleep at 830PM, or end up scrolling through my phone before bed!!!
Major Game Changers:
- Actually reading books that interest me
- Limit my phone time!
- Consistency
So far I have read one book every 4-5 weeks which is for me is HUGE! Woohoo! And at this point it’s finally become a habit. As in I actually look forward to cuddling up with a book at night instead of doing other things. Hoping to share a post on some of the books I’ve been reading. What books are you loving lately?
Second Hand Shopping
You guys, I’ve been saying that I’m going to go to second hand shopping since winter! And finally, on a slow Sunday afternoon, I did it!!!!
I’m always surprised at how much stuff you can get second hand that is seemingly new and very affordable! The key is to be patient and try everything on!
Obviously with kids in tow, this sounds awful, but alone, it’s not so bad! I scoured the store (Arc Value Village) for everything in my size, spent very little money, and got a few staple pieces I needed (denim shorts, flowy summer top, summer casual dress, dressy sleeveless top and Fall dress). Boom! Shopping done for the foreseeable future!
Simplifying
The quest for less stuff, less bills and less stress is ongoing for us. The hubs and I had a really good conversation the other day about how we can simplify our lives in the next 5-10 years. Right now during our few years of ABA Therapy for Poppy, I don’t see much changing. But after that point when the girls go to school, how can we simplify our lives, our house (downsize?), and our spending to enjoy a more frugal life, and reduce financial stress. This will allow us to live a bit more freely, save for the future and spend more on other things
Ideas are brewing and personally I think that is a great conversation to start having and thikning about.
730 PM – All Done!
Anyone else get the munchies at night? Man I do! But in an effort to regulate my snack-asausar tendencies, I’ve been trying to close the kitchen down at 730PM. No more snacks after that point.
It’s only been 1 week of this and it is by no means a habit. Of course there are nights when circumstances don’t line up, so my 730 efforts were a total bust. On the successful nights, this simple trick has helped me sleep better and wake up feeling hungrier, both great!
Like all healthy lifestyle changes, I plan on trying to stick to this for some time and making it a habit. Wish me luck!
Less is More
It has been my most consistent summer in a long time for running and lifting! Despite our nutty therapy schedule, I’ve been able to stay active 6 days a week (2-3 mile run 4 x a week AND dumbbell/abs workout on the other 2 days)! Each daily work out takes me 25 min, so totally doable.
Constantly running and lifting always intimidated because I thought it would take up so much time and that I needed a gym membership. Also because I don’t particularly love lifting, I’d just skip lifting all together. After this summer I realized, I don’t need a gym, lots of time or fancy equipment. Just motivation and consistency.
My mindset for my short daily workouts has changed. I no longer see them as something I have to do. Instead I have started to see them as a way to get away, relieve stress and shut my brain off.
I am feeling stronger than ever, more energetic, less achy and injured, and more present. Short consistent workouts plus icing/stretching have really made all the difference.
That is it for now guys! Have a lovely week and hope you enjoy the warm weather!
Originally posted 2019-07-23 21:18:55.
Mina says
Brandon Shackelford says