Friday Thoughts: Speed Style
Shockingly, I’m checking in already again with another Friday Thoughts post, and I’m going to *try* to do it speedy speed style.
Nothing dramatic. Nothing serious. Nothing all that thought provoking to be honest, haha. Just a lot of quick random tidbits and thing I’ve wanted to share lately (YES, I’m finally telling you about those pants and shoes I promised).
As always, chime in on the comments with any feedback or recommendations of your own!
{Thank you to everyone who commented on the last Friday Thoughts post. I read each and every comment and try to respond to every one! Sure appreciate you guys.}
1) Headshots: after 12 years of blogging, I finally hired a professional photographer (the amazing Carrie Elton) to take some headshots and fun true-to-life photos of me and the family. Out of the hundreds she took, I wanted to share this one which I feel is probably the most flattering of the bunch and which will most likely become my new profile picture.
{I was trying to climb over the vinyl fence WHICH WE TELL OUR KIDS TO NEVER EVER CLIMB OVER BC IT COULD EASILY BREAK and also trying to avoid the electric/hotwire fence and Brian’s expression is clearly screaming: you aren’t going to make it – but also, he obviously wasn’t being much help either, haha}
2) Exercise Lately: regular exercise has been a beacon to my soul and mental health the last few months. I’m an at-home exerciser (shocker, I know). For the last few months, I’ve been doing an exercise combination that is working better than any other home exercise program I’ve ever done. I am loving it!
The Peloton app (I don’t have a fancy Peloton treadmill or bike; I just use my iPad with the Peloton monthly subscription and do a walk + run class a couple times a week) + The Sweat app (I’m currently doing the Lifting at Home program and try to get in two workouts a week on alternating days of Peloton). My favorite trainers on Peloton for walk + run classes are Matt Wilpers and Olivia Amato.
3) Hip Pain: I’m getting old. So is my hip. For the last many months, it has caused me some very significant pain (especially after I picked up a little light jogging with exercise). I can’t sleep on that side and sometimes wake up in the middle of the night (or after I’ve been sitting a long time) with excruciating pain that, if I’m being totally honest, usually brings tears to my eyes. After a conversation with a brother-in-law this summer, I decided maybe I should try yoga.
You guys, I hate yoga (I’m so sorry for everyone I’ve offended with that statement). I’ve tried doing it in the past when I went through a P90X phase, and I also tried a hot yoga class once that almost killed me within the first 10 minutes because clearly hot yoga is akin to opening the jaws of hell and taking a bath. I really thought I was going to die. Through all the yoga trial and error, I’ve just never felt the love for yoga that others do. It’s boring and I’m not flexible (this is ironic, I know; I’m the person who needs yoga the most) and I do a lot of side eyeing when I’m commanded to think of my legs being rooted into the earth with my heart center floating above me. I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry.
ANYWAY (remember when I promised this edition of Friday Thoughts would be brief, ahem), fast forward past all my yoga boredom, and I finally decided that trying 10-15 minutes of yoga every day might be worth it for my hip pain. I promise you I am not exaggerating, but you guys, 85% of my hip pain was gone within the first week. I kid you not. I still have some residual hip pain when I sit or sleep, but it is so significantly decreased, I feel like it is borderline miraculous.
All I’ve done is add a 10 minute yoga session after I work out. Some of the classes have been targeted for hips, others have just been restorative, and some have been yoga flow classes. I can’t say that I’ve necessarily fallen in love with yoga, but man, do I ever have a testimony of the benefits. I take back *almost* everything negative I’ve ever said about yoga. (I’m finding yoga workouts on YouTube + Peloton + Sweat apps).
4) Almonds: we are obsessed with these “bold” sriracha almonds {aff. link}. My 13-year old was introduced to them on a campout with cousins this summer, and he hasn’t stopped talking about them. I finally picked up a can at the store and they were gone in about 3 1/2 minutes. We can’t keep them in stock around here. I bought the 12-pack snack size {aff. link} for school lunches because the kids love them so much. The Sweet Thai Chili flavor {aff. link} is also very, very excellent.
5) Pickle Ball: speaking of being obsessed, pickle ball is life right now. I mentioned this on Instagram a few weeks ago, but we painted our own pickle ball court last year (in front of one of our cow pastures). The lines are regulation, our skills are not. Haha.
We aren’t anything special, but we play all the time as a family and now that Brian rigged up some super fancy stadium lights (ahem, old corral posts with LED lights zip tied to them), we play a lot in the evening (if anyone ever plays with us, I am quickly reminded that my best talent is providing snacks). Any other pickle ball fans out there?
6) Marbles and Jokers: my brother introduced us to this game in June. We’ve literally played it almost nightly since. So, so fun. It’s like the board game Sorry but with marbles, face cards, and a few twists. Can’t stop, won’t stop.
There are lots of variations/brands available online through Amazon and Etsy if you look around. The exact rules vary based on which brand you buy. I’ve played other variations, and I have to say, the version we have is my favorite. It’s handmade from this small company, and it’s beautiful AND fun. Unsponsored. Just love it.
7) Cardistry: my talented 14-year old practices card tricks and cardistry nonstop. He pretty much has a deck of cards in his hands at all times (except for family scripture study and dinner time, ha). It blows my mind sometimes. He has a compilation video of all of his tricks (he learns them mostly from YouTube videos that I approve first), but he isn’t feeling quite brave enough to share that yet, so I’ll just give you a glimpse of a picture that showcases one of his tricks.
In the land of New Quarantine Skills We’ve Picked Up, I’m over here still stuck on the talent of seeing how many chocolate chip cookies I can eat in a day while my kids have apparently decided to go for more ambitious skills, like cardistry and card tricks (and keeping kunekune pigs and miniature donkeys alive and well).
8) Silk Pillowcase: Brian gave me a silk pillowcase {aff. link} for Mother’s Day earlier this year, and you guys, I’m totally and wholeheartedly converted even though I was the one rolling my eyes months before at the silk pillowcase revolution. I know you’ll say it can’t be scientifically verified, but I swear I sleep better now using this thing – it keeps my head and neck cooler and somehow just soothes me to sleep. I swear it.
Sadly, it hasn’t diminished any wrinkles as promised, haha, and I can still fall asleep anywhere, anytime (see below), but I don’t know if I can go back to a regular pillowcase. I love how it feels and how I sleep. Also, I’m lazy and just wash and dry it (on gentle).
9) Pants I Love: Ok, so the pants I promised to tell you about last time…well, they’ve been a disappointment. Good thing I waited to wear them a few more times! So I’m not going to waste your time with those.
(In case you are curious, they are these pants that are inexpensive and based on the reviews promised to be amazing, but after wearing them a few times, they lost their shape, made me feel claustrophobic with the super thick fabric, and were generally uncomfortable and not flattering on this 42-year old bottom – sorry I just mentioned my bottom).
Good thing I have other pants I love. And they’re super fancy. 🙂
Let’s talk about joggers, ok? I love these super comfy joggers {aff. link} (I have the black camo ones), and for a total splurge, I bought these joggers last year when they were on sale (you can also get 20% off with a first time purchase). Nothing compares to them. Nothing. They are the best loungy pants ever (I wear them out and about, too). But. They are pricey, so I get that spending that much on joggers might make you choke. All I’m saying is, if you can get 20% off and a mini inheritance, DO IT.
Also, my name is Mel and I apparently really like wearing joggers. Every day. Can we still be friends? {Wearing them in the picture below}
10) The Shoes: I’m probably showing my style (or lack of) with these last couple paragraphs, but hey, life’s short, and this is me. These shoes/sandals, {aff. link} are amazing and so, so comfortable. I haven’t worn another shoe all summer except for when I exercise or when I go tromping around the pig pasture.
I promise I hardly ever wear them with socks (that was just at a cabin trip this summer when my fashion standards were at a wonderful all-time low), but I definitely wear them every single day. I’ve foregone wearing my favorite “real” Birkenstocks for these, I love them so much. I have them in silver and white (full disclosure: the white ones are super dirty and impossible to get clean).
Ok, I have about 17 1/2 more things I could share with you today, but I’ll let you get back to your real life. 🙂
Any new fun recommendations to share with me?? Tell me in the comments below!
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Have you tried Yoga with Adriene? She has lots of free YouTube videos at all different levels and lengths. She’s even started a Yoga PE break for virtual learners (which my kids are doing).
Thanks for the pants recommendations! I’m embracing wearing comfortable pants. I work from home, so why not be comfortable? It’s better than living in pajama pants which is what I actually want to do.
That’s awesome about the yoga PE break. Love that!
I love reading these! I also love the recipes of course but these are a fun switch up! Also, I’ve been wondering about those vuori joggers and almost pulled the trigger so so many times!! I just need to go for it!! You’ve inspired me’
They’re totally worth it!
Someone already mentioned her, but Yoga With Adriene on YouTube is amazing! I felt the same way about yoga and then had back issues and a spinal fusion whenever I have any issues, I do some yoga and wonder why I don’t do it more often!
Thanks, Shannon!
Hey girl hey, when you ever want something new… (i’ve used Sweat too and got so bored ) try the FitOn app. It’s completely free and amazing. I’ve used it for over a year consistently and they have pilates, yoga, hiit, strength training, you name it! Or just downlaod it for the yoga work outs only
I can’t believe I’ve never heard of the FitOn app. Excited to check it out! A couple others have recommended it, too!
My husband and I have recently gotten into pickleball. He’s much better than me since he played tennis through high school, but we have a fun time with it. Your casual couples pickleball league sounds like my kind of gig!
I’m glad yoga is helping your hip! Yoga helps me like nothing else can. I have so much more energy and just feel better. My go to for yoga is Dr. Bri (youtube channel is FemFusion Fitness), but that’s also because I have issues with diastasis recti and mild prolapse and all her workouts are core and pelvic floor friendly. She’s amazing.
I’m not as good as Brian, either, but I love that it is still a fun couples sport! And thanks for the yoga recommendation, so appreciate it!
Brian’s face in that picture is SO priceless Mel. I love it!! Lol! I’m sorry you’ve joined in on the hip pain train…it sucks. Especially when it cramps our sleep! I was always a strictly side sleeper and have had to learn to sleep on my back. I hate it. And I too have a love hate relationship with yoga. I started about 4 years ago because of some IT band problems, and now I go for my hips. The class I go to combines yoga with fascia release. So we get to massage out on rollers AND do yoga! I’m sure you wouldn’t say no to that one am I right? It’s heaven. Best of luck and keep it up! Consider it your daily vitamin. Good for the soul too, but then again so is chocolate.
That’s what I’m afraid of – having to learn to sleep on my back. Nooooo!
Mel, have I told you lately how much I love you? I haven’t told you? Oh, my bad. I seriously love you Mel! Ok, now that we’re all warm and fuzzy… I’m still over here rolling on the floor laughing about the hot yoga comment. (So funny I had to copy and share with my BFF.) I guess I can relate. I hate, Hate, HATE being hot and I’m not overly excited about yoga either, though I’ve never tried hot yoga the way you described it I’m sure would be my exact feelings. You crack me up! Thanks for the best laugh yet. Thanks for the insight on the Peleton app though. Didn’t know they had that without the expensive machines. I’ll have to look into some of those.
Not a fan of joggers but that’s just personal preference. Haven’t tried pickle ball though it seems to be all the rage here. Love the spicy almonds!
Ok. Thanks again for the laugh. I really do love you! I’m on your site all the time trying to figure out what’s for dinner, and what’s for dessert, and how does she do that bread dough again? You’re the best!
Haha, you’re so funny, Jamie! Thanks for your comment. Gave me a huge smile.
I love your recipes, but, truthfully, these’s posts are my favorite!!
Thanks, Sarah!
Oh my goodness, if I could sit and chat with any blogger, it’d be YOU! I love love love your Friday thoughts and you *maybe* convinced me to try yoga again. Like you, I’ve never enjoyed it. BUT, I’m so glad it is helping you with your hip pain. Anyway… Thanks for being you!
I think I would love to have a big ol’ chat with so many of you guys, Kathryn!! Right at my kitchen counter. Thank you!
Love these posts!! Does anyone actually say that they don’t? We love the habanero BBQ almonds. Added bonus, you can get a 14 oz bag of them at Walmart for $7. They have a few other flavors in that size as well. I love the realness of these posts with butt shots and sandals with socks. Pretty sure we could be best friends for life!! Thanks for being a source of positive with all the negative out there right now.
I’ll look for those almonds at walmart! Thank you for your kindness, Keri!
Athleta joggers have been the game changer for me. I discovered them this past winter and I may never ever go back to jeans! I put them all the jeans on the top shelf of my closet possibly never to be worn again. They are also pricey but have many different styles, weights and colors. I’ve even been known to wear them with booties out to dinner at a fairly nice restaurant in the before times.
I have a pair of Athleta pants I love so I can believe the joggers are pretty awesome!
I highly recommend the workout program called Mommy Fit with Andrea! You pay $15/month and get a workout for every day through a fitness coaching app. You can message Andrea with any questions you have about fitness or about the program. The workouts are fun and different every day. She has example videos for each move. Every move can be done at home and the only equipment you need is dumbbells. I’ve been loving it!
Thank you, Melissa!
I’ve been wearing sandals with socks for about 15 years in the fall and spring. You Go, Girl!
haha, YES, PJ! Love this!
Have you ever played Star Fluxx? We love this game at home, and play it often. The Marbles game looks similar to a game my teenagers play online… but it is so expensive! That might have to be a special Christmas Gift!
I haven’t played Star Fluxx – I’ll look into it!
You crack me up – thank you!
Ha. Thanks, Susanne.
I was so excited to see you posted a Friday thought today! I have hip pain and yoga had helped so much with it. Glad to hear it helped you too! Now I’m off to order a silk pillow case. If it’s Mel endorsed it has to be good
Hope you love it, Lindsey!
Mel, I friggin love you. Your new headshot, your fashion blog. I had to pipe up and tell you. Also, yoga. I went back to school at the age of 40 and one of the classes I had to take was a PE class. Yoga was close and fit my schedule so I took it. I COULD NOT DEAL with the hokiness of it all and would laugh every time the yogi said ‘namaste’. But here I am, same as you, 43 with fresh hip pain- and the only thing that’s worked is yoga. The hip pain in me recognizes the hip pain in you . Thanks for being so amazing!
You’re so cute – thank you, Leeanne! It looks like you and I have both had a dose of yoga humility. Haha.
Thanks so much for the Friday morning entertainment! Love it all! And I just have to ask, do you have any tips for painting your own pickle ball court? We are getting ready to do that on a cement pad. You guys made a sweet court! Well done! Did you just put tape down and paint within it or what tricks did you use to make it? Please share! Thanks!
Hey Brenley! We just grabbed the measurements off the official pickleball site and then used wide masking tape to mask the lines and painted it with asphalt/cement spray paint we picked up at home depot.
Pilates! I have some major hip problems, and Pilates is the key. Most of the exercises are exactly what the physical therapist was having me do. I use @thebalancedlife membership and she has a bunch of week long free challenges you can find online too. I would definitely check it out for hip pain.
I am a Balanced Life member too. It has been transformative and I feel stronger than I have in years! I highly prefer Pilates over yoga.
Thank you Britney and Tamara! I will definitely check into it!
Well, thanks a bunch. I’ve now added sandals to my Amazon wish list, and put the pillowcase on Subscribe and Save – just for the savings. Does anyone buy a new pillowcase every month???
Love the new profile pic, lol.
Haha, nothing wrong with subscribing and saving to a pillowcase! 🙂
I too thought I could never be a yoga person and now love it. Try the Downdog app! The free version is awesome! (I bought and renew every black Friday when it’s cheap, and the paid for version does have great perks too.) P.S. I am not flexible either, but yoga is more for mental health in my opinion!
Also we just discovered pickleball because covid, and it is THE BEST. Such a fun, social, learnable sport!
Thanks, Shauntel! Lots of recommendations for the down dog app (and although yoga hasn’t done wonders for my mental health YET, pickleball definitely has helped!) 🙂
I totally get not liking yoga. I keep hearing all the benefits but I always just want to hurry through it. I just started doing some Tai Chi YouTube videos, though, and I’m hooked. The flowing movement is so much better for my brain than holding poses.
I think I could get behind Tai Chi!
Hi Mel, Love your recipes and blog. You should check out Ellen Barrett at mindfulmovement.com. She has great exercise routines that are easy and very effective. You can try it for a week for free to see if you want to subscribe and then it is only $5.95 a month and you can cancel any time. I think you will really like her routines. Have a great day.
Thank you for the recommendation, Patti!
Have you used “Yoga with Adriene” on youtube? I like that you can choose your focus for the yoga session and you can find lots of options for short practices.
I just did one of her videos this morning after so many recommendations for her in this thread. I liked it! Just a quick 7-minute post-run yoga stretch.
I had to jump in here to give Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube a shoutout. She’s got a user-friendly flow, a fun sense of humor, and short classes (lots in the 10-15 minute range). She’s great if you’re new to yoga.
I’m intrigued by the peloton app sans bike. I may have to check that out!
Happy Friday!
I haven’t had a single issue using my regular ol’ treadmill (and I think you can use a non-Peloton bike) with the app on my iPad. It’s been amazing!
You didn’t mention going to a chiropractor. Please go. Your spine or SI Joint being out of alignment can be a major cause of lower back and hip pain.
Yes! That’s what I am doing! After five kids it was time to take care of my hip pain!!! I just barely started and it does help.
Hey Lisa – I’m not going to lie…chiropractors kind of scare me! But I should probably look into it.
Have you ever heard of RomWod? It is a subscription, but they have a new “yoga”/stretching video that you can do daily and follow along. It doesn’t cost very much ($14 a month I think). They have long versions – 20-30 minutes some days and short versions usually no longer than 15 minutes. I really like it. You can try it for a month for free too!
Thanks, Jessica – I hadn’t heard of that!
Your feelings about yoga made me laugh. I’m glad it has helped with your pain though. And thanks for all your other recommendations. Just wanted to say I think you are awesome!
Thanks, Jennifer! 🙂
Mel, great thoughts! Also… Kancan jeans are like yoga pants in jean form and you can find them
Almost anywhere and in lots of styles! Keep up the great work, thanks for all of the yummy recipes! I hope that you eventually made it over the fence okay
Thanks for the pants recommendation, Shae!
I love the Peloton app! I do the spin classes (with a non-peloton bike) and I really love the ease (of getting started, not of the classes) and motivation. Matt is one of my favorite bike instructors (I’ll try a run with him!) and Christine D’Ercole and Ally Love are my other two favorites. I like their yoga classes, too! I will have to try the sweat app!
Thanks for recommendations on your favorite biking trainers. I just got a non-Peloton bike for pretty inexpensive so I can start doing the biking workouts too. I didn’t know Matt coached biking!
I’m super jealous of your pickleball court. We love to play but don’t really have any courts available here in rapid city. Definitely want to check out that game.
That’s a bummer! I hope they get some courts in your area soon -it seems to be a sports trend that is spreading really quickly!
i feel you, i’m 42 and had to give up running, biking, and pretty much most exercising I love due to chronic low back pain. it’s my mental therapy. and i TOTALLY agree with you, I HATE yoga. a good compromise is PIYO, and can be found on the Beachbody app. It’s lots of flexibility, but with strength moves and you’re always moving!
I’m so sorry for the low back pain you are experiencing, Karin. It’s SO frustrating when it impacts those activities that keep us mentally and physically strong! Good luck!
I am traditionally not a yoga fan either. But recently I’ve really enjoyed the free FitOn app and doing yoga with Vytas. He’s very calm without being mystical and explains things very clearly and simply.
Thanks, Laurie!
Happy Friday, Mel. Thank you for all you do for us!! I make so many of your recipes on a weekly basis that my family thinks we’re personal friends! I found yoga about 4 years ago and like you, have found that the stretching and flexibility I get from it are amazing. I prefer hot yoga because I feel it helps me find even more flexibility during the class but those classes have been hard to come by since the pandemic. I’ve recently found Piyo which is a nice mix of yoga and pilates. It’s a great toning workout that also incorporates stretching for flexibility. There is an instructor on YouTube named Michelle Briehler who is amazing. Check her out!
Love your Pickleball court. I purchased the paddles and balls a few years ago but have yet to try it. I’m inspired now to make it a priority – it looks like so much fun. Have a great weekend and thank you again for all of your amazing recipes and ideas on making life more fun and enjoyable. All the best to you and your beautiful family 🙂
Thanks, Cindy! I used to do PiYo with Chalene Johnson years ago when it first came out on DVD…I should look into it again!
Thanks Mel for your Friday thoughts. I just bought the pillowcase! Maybe it will solve my hot headed sleep problems. I clicked on the link for the game because we love Sorry around here and boo hoo, it is sold out. Ah well, I added my name to their email to get notification when they have it in stock again.
I hope the game becomes available soon, Karen!!
EXCELLENT photographer choice! We love Carrie Elton as well! And I’m wondering if hip pain is a result of bloggers bum and being in our mid forties? As a fellow blogger, I’ve been battling hip pain for the last year now. It flares up when I have long days sitting at my computer. I found some awesome physical therapists on YouTube that have taught me a few good stretches (search Bob and Brad). I think I’ll need to test out some yoga. ☺
Gah, you could be right with being over 40 and “bloggers bum” – a real possibility! Thanks for the youtube physical therapist recommendations!
My 13-year-old is obsessed with pickleball! He’s constantly badgering people (aka siblings) to play with him. A few years ago we bought a net on Amazon and set up a court on the driveway, and we’ve played for hours and hours. Our lines, when we bother, are chalk—your court looks so professional! (I won’t even show it to my son. It’ll just get him started.)
Haha, chalk lines are still legit! I think our 13-year olds would be friends! 🙂
I’ve had hip pain since I was 20 years old (I’m about your age now.) After seeing several doctors, getting several cortisone shots INTO MY HIP, very long needle, lots of discomfort, taking ALLL the medicines, and HOURS of ice on my hip, nothing was helping. At about age 28, I picked up yoga. After a month of yoga, I could honestly say I don’t have pain. I’ve been lax on my yoga for about a year and I’m back to the pain in my hips and you’ve reminded me that yoga is the cure.
Bonnie – this is amazing! And another reason why I’m going to stick with it. Thanks for adding your testimonial. That’s remarkable!
We call joggers “socially acceptable sweat pants” at our house. I was feeling kind of depressed this week (might have something to do with the apocalyptic smoke covering the town I live in). Anyway as I was whining, my nine year old said, “Why don’t you put on some socially acceptable sweat pants and do something cozy?” Haha. It worked. I felt better.
Oh my gosh, I laughed out loud at this, Mary. Hahahahaha. I think I’m going to start using socially acceptable sweat pants as my new therapy.
I had what I thought was hip pain. Then someone told me he thought it was my it band, and that I should use a roller. A roller makes a big difference!
Good insight, Laurie!
My name is Melanie, and I, too, love wearing joggers. On the daily. I have a problem. Like, soooooo many pairs of joggers. #cantstopwontstop.
You’re great. Your recipes are great. Your thoughts are great. Keep it up!
Haha. Solidarity to all the Melanies loving joggers! 🙂
I used to echo everything you said about yoga BUT also am dealing with my old and tired body so started doing yoga. I highly recommend Yoga with Adrienne (someone else also commented on her). Now I crave yoga and feel like it might safely help me ease into old age. My entire family is in the area and someday when I’m visiting I hope I bump into you at the store so I can thank you in person for all of the wonderful recipes and game recommendations over the years. I also have had a major mohs surgery on my face a few years before you- and experienced similar trauma- have 5 kids similar ages etc. But no pigs or donkeys, alas. You are a gem
I think you’re right, Jami – yoga (and now other recommendations in this thread like pilates!) might be just the thing to ease me into old age, too. I hope we bump into each other, too!
Yoga healed my lower back. Try some wasabi and soy sauce almonds. Yum
I bet we’d love that flavor! Glad your back is healed, Heather!
We just got jokers and marbles too after my parents introduced it to me awhile back! So fun! Our rules definitely varied from the rules we played with at my parent’s house. I’d love to know what rules you play with!
Hey Melanie, the main rule difference we play with that I’ve seen is different with other versions is that if you are playing partners, you can move your marbles or your partners marbles interchangeably at any time.
Wow that is a fantastic looking pickleball court! Like field of dreams for pickleball! The lighting really makes it–Brian did a great job with that.
I am really glad that the yoga has been helping you! Like you, I find a lot of meditation/spiritual parts of yoga a bit boring (I wish I could get into them, but I just can’t) but there is no doubt that the stretching and balance work can be incredibly helpful. That’s wonderful it has been so helpful (and I will keep this in mind if I ever have hip pain)
Thanks, James! I wish I could get into the meditation circuit, too. I’ll keep trying!
Bahaha. Love your new headshot. We always love your game recommendations, so I will be ordering. My 15 year old has been juggling lately but those card tricks look jaw dropping cool.
I need to know- How do you motivate yourself to workout? I always want to and need to but life seems to stop me.
Agree with yoga being a no go. I have had hip pain and the right shoes fitted at a running store plus daily sciatic nerve stretches help me a lot.
Thanks for letting us peek in your beautiful and busy life. Now I have to go learn more about pickle ball because I have no clue.
Juggling would be an awesome skill for my kids to learn. Thanks for recommending that! Working out is a never ending battle of motivation. I’ve just learned with myself that it’s more of a mental health benefit than a physical health one (or at least, I value the mental health benefits more) and so I know if I don’t exercise, I really struggle mentally. So it has become more of a priority to fit it in. Having said that, I don’t exercise every day. I shoot for 3-4 times a week!
Mel, I love yoga but have also discovered The Girl With the Pilates Mat, Rachel Lawrence, on YouTube since I have been doing workouts at home due to COVID. I never thought Pilates was for me but she is an awesome instructor, has workouts of different lengths and difficulty levels and I love them.
Thanks for the recommendation, Kathy!
I’m getting old too!! I’m trying to embrace it. So glad your hip pain decreased! I love yoga with Adrienne on YouTube! I have been following her for at least five years. My sister just moved to Meridian 2 weeks ago! So now my 2 favorite cooks are in the same state! I often think about your skin cancer post. I also have extremely fair skin but with ginger hair. I had a brown mark on my lip show up last year. I put it off and finally had it checked out last week. The doctor numbed my lip and sliced it off. Your bravery with your skin cancer gave me courage! I have yet to hear the results from pathology. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. My lip is healing and the brown mark doesn’t seem to be there anymore.
Thanks for all your posts! Happy fall!
Julianne (Lemon zucchini cookie recipe girl)
Thanks for always keeping it real! I also have and love those splurge joggers. Always love your friday thought posts!
Julianne, I’m sorry about your skin worries. Do you have the results from pathology yet?? Good luck! That can be scary!
I just got a silk pillowcase for myself because I heard it helps with hair frizz! Total game changer for me. I barely have to do anything in the morning because my hair is no longer a rats nest! 🙂
They’re amazing, aren’t they?
Wow! Very excited to see you posted today. A very nice surprise. I am making your chocolate/banana cake today . Hate yoga? Say it isn’t so Mel! I bet the more you practice , the better you will like it. Yoga has single handedly gotten me through menopause(without killing someone ) lol. We also love those almonds, my hubby loves the salt and vinegar flavor. Thanks for the recommendations on joggers, I have already ordered the splurge pants for myself. Just want to let you know how much you are appreciated. Your recipes never disappoint and I truly truly feel that you are an old and trusted friend. Love your pictures! Have a great weekend.
“Splurge Pants!” I love it. I think I need a Splurge Frappuccino while wearing Splurge Pants…
You made me laugh, Cyndi, about yoga and menopause. I promise I’m giving it my best shot and I don’t hate it nearly as much as I did before! Haha. Thank you for your kindness!