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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I’ve been lurking here forever, and love love love how your recipes have transformed my cooking 😀 Thank you!! Anyway, wanted to drop in a plug for a program called Restore Your Core, which has absolutely transformed how I approach yoga and all other types of exercise. https://laurenohayon.com/offerings/restore-your-core/
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Kaylin! I appreciate you telling me about that program! I’ll look into it for sure!
As a fellow runner and reluctant yogi with hip pain…I highly recommend Yoga with Adriene. Her post-run/walk 7 minute video is a total game changer! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhLbp8ibmEE
So many people recommending her channel. I feel like I’ve been living under a rock. Thank you!
I love your Friday post! Your pickle ball court looks awesome and would love to do something like that on our farm. It looks like you have a special surface. What did you use or do to make such a nice playing surface?
Keep up the good work and have a blessed weekend!
It’s actually just painted on our asphalt. So not special at all…but it’s been going strong for a year+ so that’s good news!
I was totally like you on the Yoga, it hurt and felt like the most intense exercise in and of its self when I would attempt it. I have knee, hip and lower back problems the closer I get to 40 and I am NOT about the inner chi etc. I am with you- The actual stretching is causing some major relief in my body. And I found @sarahbethyoga (all for free on you tube) that even has one for my terrible posture and my back, hips etc that is phenomenal! Try her out!
Thank you! She’s new to me so I’ll definitely check out her channel!
Hip pain can be a sign of diastis recti/pelvic floor trouble (dang kids!). MUTU is an exercise program with yoga plus kegels at the correct intervals to strengthen your core and pelvic floor if you suspect those might be the trouble. You can google the signs, I already feel weird enough with what I’ve written. It’s the same sort of exercises that I learned at physical therapy.
Thanks, Rebecca! Super helpful and not weird at all. I’ve wondered if my hip pain is a sign of something else, kind of like what you suggested.
Oh gosh, I went to a doctor about a year ago with hip pain similar to what you describe. She gave me some exercises to do that were basically yoga, but I didn’t stick with it long at all. Sounds like I need to try again because the hip pain is still there. Do you recommend any specific YouTube videos for hips?
Hey Emily, there have been some great recommendations in this thread! I have loved the yoga videos on the Peloton app but I’m excited to try some of the others recommended (TONS of recommendations for yoga by Adrienne on youtube)
You mentioned your hip pain, was that your piriformis? I have had major issues with that lately, and my physical therapist husband says it’s because I sit on my feet when I’m working at my computer. I love sitting on my feet! But I really tried to do a lot more stretching as well, and I’m with you, I Yoga has always seemed super boring, but I’m finding more and more as I get older that it’s that much more important! And I’ll tell you, I’m anxious to look up your jogger link, because I’m a big fan and wear them every day myself! I feel like it’s a step up from sweats and yoga pants, got the elastic waist band which helps my ever-changing waist line. I discovered Old Navy online that I like tall joggers. I feel like they would always keep up a little higher at the angle but I would Prefer, so that’s been a great tip for me. Fun to read all of these little tidbits, thanks for sharing!
Interesting about the hip pan + sitting on your feet. I am going to be more mindful of that for sure! Also, joggers forever. 🙂
I love these posts so much. I haven’t tried the Sriracha almonds but the habanero bbq are super delicious. Also have you ever played the game Gold Fever? Sooo much fun for all ages and so easy to learn and it’s fast. Thanks for always being yourself and being so relatable.
I haven’t heard of that game! I’m super excited to check it out!
Im so glad you have great recommendations for your readers! I love your post and all your wonderful recipes:)) Im also happy that you have great family values, something we all need to see everyday. You are a great example for many to us all! also, I can’t find where the books are that you recommended this time…could you send me the list?
Hi Laura, what list of books are you looking for? Sorry, I’m a bit confused.
Pickleball>yoga
Ha. Truth.
Im so glad you have great recommendations for your readers! I love your post and all your wonderful recipes:)) Im also happy that you have great family values, something we all need to see everyday. You are a great example for many to us all!
Loved your entertaining Friday thoughts—always do! So, my question is— after creating your pickle ball court, do you have any “lessons learned” to share? How did you paint your lines? With tape and a paintbrush? We’re working on doing this and I’d love to hear your wisdom!! Thanks a mil, Mel!
Hey Brenley! Great questions. We got the regulation details from the main pickleball association website and the we masked off the lines with extra wide masking tape and then used spray paint specifically for asphalt/driveways (from home depot). We got a bit of overspray so next time or when we need to touch it up, we’d probably use some cardboard to slide along to catch the overspray.
I love your name! I had to comment because, very rarely do I see/hear of another Brenley but I never see it spelled this way. We named our daughter Brenley, she will be 16 in November. 🙂
Hey Mel, I’m a huge fan of your recipes and website, in general! I just read through all of your thoughts. I love the EVA birkenstocks too. I bought white and lost them on a river raft trip a couple of weeks ago. But I replaced them as soon as I could. Now, I can’t stand to wear anything else. I use a magic eraser to clean them! I also, have converted to yoga. I had plantaar faciitis for years and couldn’t get rid of it….some good stretches and a little yoga helped me stretch the ol’ hips so my foot could heal. Also, just canned your salsa last night! So good! You recipes never disappoint! Thanks so much, I use your recipes almost daily. Gotta run, going to make the chocolate zucchini muffins! 😉
Such a great idea to use a magic eraser to clean them. Should have thought of that!
Those are my favorite almonds, too! Try them roughly chopped and sprinkled over avocado toast with a little bit of feta or goat cheese. Yum!
Oh wow. YUM. It’s late on a Saturday night and I’m suddenly hungry.
Yoga with Adriene!! I’ll be honest and say I haven’t tried many other channels, but I don’t know how I could bother. She’s absolutely amazing and she has options galore for everyone. If you don’t love yoga after her, then it wasn’t meant to be.
Oh, and as a fellow wordy person, please don’t ever stop! We love all of it!
Agreed!!
Oooh, I use her yoga for upper back, and I rarely have the stress pain or pinched muscles and nerves that have been plaguing me for the last year or two if I do her yoga once or twice a week!
So many great recommendations for her. I’ll definitely start using her classes. I’m excited!
I love these Friday Thoughts posts. I’ve had persistent hip pain, too, and I’ve been amazed by how much of a difference stretching makes! Thanks for sharing such fun glimpses into your life.
I’m glad stretching has helped, Nancy! I’m hoping I can nip my hip pain in the bud once and for all but it might be a lifetime effort. That’s ok!
I’m glad yoga is working good for you! I’ve been doing yoga using the free Down Dog app for a year and I love it now. It took me some time. And I’m stronger and more flexible! Also, your backyard pickleball court is amazing. I like pickleball, but I’m a tennis girl through and through. Anyways, your blog has been saving me for dinners this week. Thanks Mel!
Thanks for the app recommendation, Melissa! My sister is a tennis girl, too, and she’s loving pickleball (but not as much as tennis – haha)
I only like doing Jillian Michaels yoga because I’m not a zen person and that is not zen yoga. So I hear ya. Hear. Ya.
Pickle ball — huge fan. Grew up in Washington and we played it for PE all the time. Haven’t played it in twenty years and miss it terribly.
I clearly was living under a rock because I didn’t know pickleball had been around so long!
We recently tried the salt & vinegar almonds from Blue Diamond. If you’re a salt & vinegar fan, these are fabulous! We liked them so much, they’re part of our Subscribe & Save on Amazon now.
We just tried those, too, and I LOVE them!
Mel-I love you more after reading this!
Ha, thanks, Jennifer! 🙂
Have you ever tried Wit & Wisdom Ab-solution jeans from Nordstrom? They have built in elastic inside the waist, so they don’t cut into your stomach, but are still higher rise. I was even able to wear them throughout a pregnancy, just using the rubber and trick, and they were still great after. After two years, the knees are stretched out, but I loved them and worse them so much it was still worth it.
‘Stocks n’ socks—it’s a thing, I hear!
I haven’t heard of those, Rachel – thanks for the recommendation!
Oh my heck I am so envious of your pickleball court (and lights!) I am 100% addicted to pickleball. I wish I could ignore all of my grown up duties and just play all day every day. I’m always happy to find other people who love it. Have you ever done any tournaments or anything?
Also, yoga. It has always bored me but I started doing it 15 minutes daily through the Down Dog app just to see if it helped my balance and the nearly debilitating back pain I’ve had for 2 years. After 2.5 months of daily yoga I am totally pain free. It seriously feels like a miracle and I am trilled that I don’t have to give up pickleball. I am so happy for you that you’ve found some relief from your hip pain. Getting older sucks sometimes, doesn’t it?
Also I feel like a Mel’s Kitchen Pickleball round robin tournament sounds like something you should put together for your loyal followers and fellow pickleball addicts 🙂
I’ll bring the Sriracha almonds and the Gatorade.
Ha! That would be fun! Although you would be seriously unimpressed with my/our skills. No tournaments for us. Just lots of fun family/friend playing. But I’ll still risk embarrassing myself if you bring those almonds. 🙂
We’ve loved the wasabi and soy sauce flavored almonds for a couple of years. Recently I went to buy some and they were sold out so I bought spicy dill pickle flavor instead and they were great, too!
WHAT?? I have got to find that flavor ASAP. I 100% know I will love them.
Update: just ordered six cans on amazon. I need an intervention.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Mel- Friday thoughts are some of my favorite posts. I love the going over the fence photo- it’s exactly something I would do. I REALLY need to get back to exercise, and you’ve motivated me to at least make it tomorrow. Problem is that my exercise of choice is hiking (movement+nature+alone time keeps me sane) but since the start of school last month I haven’t made it out but once since the only option is to get up at 5:30 and get back before 7 (fell asleep before dinner). Not a morning person. Having all 5 of us home 24/7 and helping my three boys navigate their zoom classes and assignments while preventing them from pushing each other’s buttons or disrupting their dad (who’s teaching classes in the next room) has been exhausting. I taught high school and that was far easier. But I desperately miss my alone time- last minutes alone at home were on March 12th. I actually ate ALL of the chocolate in the pantry until there wasn’t a morsel left in the house, which led to a chocolate emergency. What saved me was the Chocolate Sheet Cake since we still had cocoa. THANK YOU! It was delicious (I might’ve eaten half of it?!).
Now that I’ve blabbed and complained, I’ll leave you with one helpful hint I learned from my tech savvy hubby. Before ordering a new item you’re uncertain about (especially if it has lots of rave reviews)- go to fakespot.com, copy and paste the url from the item you’re thinking about buying, and see what “grade” the reviews get. The lower the grade, the more fake reviews. Sadly those pants you ended up not liking get a D. Something to use for the future!
Enjoy your weekend and thank you again for sharing some of your sunshine with the rest of us!
Loved your comment, Jennifer! Also, that was such a rookie mistake on my part because I’ve used fakespot a lot in the past, but for some reason didn’t on the pants (I usually use it for health-related items). Anyway, thanks for the reminder! And man, I hear you on the alone time and finding time to exercise. I woke up twice last week to try to exercise at 5 am so I could be on tap to help with go to meetings and stuff for my distance learning kids and by 3 p.m. I was a monster. SO TIRED. Good luck trying to fit in exercise and figure it out. You aren’t alone!
Thanks to you, I made it out hiking Saturday, Monday and Tuesday and have plans for Wednesday. Hoping it sticks as it makes such a world of difference! Thanks again, Mel!
I’m so proud of you! I was inspired by so many in this comment thread and have tried to wake up at 5 a.m. yesterday and today. I think if my body can get into the habit, I won’t be so tired. It makes a world of difference – I hear you! You’re awesome!
Marbles and Jokers — is it any different than Sorry? Because I like Sorry but don’t need another version of the same game. And any second-best recommendations? The link you provided is sold out!
Hey Denise! It’s the same premise as sorry but definitely not the same. I think it can exist on its own for sure and I would play it over sorry any day. Darn about the jokers and marbles game! My cousin has this version but I just looked and whew! It’s expensive
https://www.amazon.com/Jokers-Marbles-Game-Brown-Player/dp/B00MS1GK44/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=jokers+and+marbles&qid=1600575308&sr=8-3
I have an appt for a gum graft consultation next month. I’ll most likely need them around ALL my teeth, molars and anterior. Give me courage! Also, I’m curious, what kind of camera do you use for your food pics and general other stuff? A camera phone or something fancier? I’m in the market for an upgrade.
Oh Rebecca, I’m sorry! I hope your appointment goes better than expected. Keep me posted! I use a nikon dslr for my photos – I’ve had several models over the years and really like the d700!
Wingspan Mel. Wingspan. You’re welcome
🙂
My husband loves Blue Diamond’s Sriracha almonds too. They can be a bit pricey at the store, but thankfully we live about 15 minutes from the Blue Diamond factory in Sacramento where they have a gift shop that they sell their various products at wholesale. I was in the area last week and bought him 6 cans.
Oh so fun!! And super lucky! 🙂
Just added a few things to my Amazon wish list. Love these posts, Mel!
Thanks, Emily!
I love reading these! I love your recommendations always! And I am so happy you are at least starting to see the value of yoga. It has been a huge part of my last few years and last two pregnancies. I am currently meeting with a friend/sister that I minister to twice a week and I am learning even more how beneficial it can be. It is life-changing!! Everyone should at least try it for a couple weeks or forever! ❤️ I know I will never stop now. It helps me feel oh-so-much younger as I approach older.
I will have to check out the joggers. I am in serious need of some new comfy pants before winter! Love these posts. And you!
I love your testimony of yoga, Jennifer! Definitely makes me want to stick with it!
Pilates. Just saying 🙂
Lots of great free workouts, yoga, pilates and stretching on the FitOn app. Love that too.
Also @docjenfit on instagram has great functional movement advice (she’s a PT)
Just trying to say there are really good options to help your hip or anything achy without having to suffer through something you don’t like. Lots of ways to get those functional movement benefits!
Thanks so much for chiming in with other recommendations. So helpful for me!
I just ordered the Vuori joggers- and I’m making your caramels for the first time this Saturday night. Hoping both turn out great . Thanks for the recommendations- it’s always nice to hear what real life people think of certain clothes .
I hope you like the joggers, Jess! But mostly, I really hope you love those caramels!!
Thank you for being so open and honest. As a 54 year old (unwilling) grandparent ( don’t ask, long story) I too have been feeling my age!! But I strive to continue to learn and try to do good things in this world, and I like to think that keeps me young 🙂
I have no doubt that keeps you young, Heather! Hang in there!
Hi Mel, wanted to share my yoga experiences with you. First I must tell you that I am going on 77 years old, have had right knee replaced, fell down cellar stairs and landed on my back on the concrete floor, managed to break right leg in 4 places just below my knee replacement. Had MRI on back and found 4 bulging disks, severe spinal stenosis and a floater? so I signed up for a Chair Yoga Class at our local YMCA. Chair Yoga is for people that can get down on the floor but can’t get back up. Everything is either done in the chair or standing while holding onto side or back of the chair, and Lots of Breathing exercises (belly breathing) I have to say the instructor makes all the difference in the world Normally don’t let ANYONE see me exercise until I saw some women coming to class in a wheel chair or walking with a cane, like me. Love your website and your wardrobe which is similar to mine except for the sandals that have the strap that goes between your toes. Haven’t tried any of your recipes that require turning an oven on due to our sweltering hot & humid summer ( I’m a spring & fall person) . You would think that living 200 yards from Lake Erie in PA would be cool but when the temp is in the 90’s so is the breeze. Looking forward to trying your oven recipes now that the weather is cooling down. Stay Healthy and Safe wherever you are. ps; love all the pics too, especially of you tramping through the Pig Pasture….lol
Oh Susan, I was just cringing inside for you at your health/injury challenges the last little while. My goodness! I’m proud of you for seeking out a yoga class that works for you. You’re amazing!
If you have the Peloton app, try Becs Gentry for hip stretches. She has a bunch of 5 minute classes that take all my hip pain away!
Thank you, I will!
Fun thoughts! Try washing your sandals with powdered Tide detergent, in some water and a drop of bleach. Scrub with an old toothbrush. See GoCleanCo on IG….she works miracles with shoes!
Thank you!
Mel, I used to have terrible hip pain. We bought us a purple hybrid 3” mattress and it was a game changer. Speaking of silk, have you tried a silk scarf for the winter time? There is a reason all those farmers wear one!! I’m going to have to try the pillowcase and that game sounds fun!
Love your blog!
Thanks, Hollie! Maybe we need a new mattress! And I have not tried a silk scarf but since I’m totally faking it at the farming game, I’m going to get one! Ha!
I’m with you on the yoga.
I just wanted to tell you that I think you’re hilarious and adorable! Life IS too short-be comfy.
I 10000% agree! 🙂 (with the be comfy part, not that I also think I’m hilarious…well, actually I do sometimes and then my family tells me I’m not as funny as I think I am)
Two responses:
Yoga: I hate it too but I have to do it or I can’t move! I do a 10-15 minute yoga workout either on the Nike Training app (free version) or “Yoga with Adriene” on youtube.
Sorry–posted before I finished my thoughts!
Pickleball: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I can’t believe how fun it is!
I think I’m entering the same camp of suffer through it so I can move!
Loved the fence photo! Too funny, especially the look on your husband’s face…
Try Yoga with Adriene on YouTube. Life-changing and very inspiring with all levels of practice. Her spirit shines.
So excited about so many people recommending her channel! I will check it out!
You are hilarious and delightful and real. I am 35 and I’m starting to have mental benefits from doing Pilates in the morning. Whaaaaaaat? Weird that is helps. Yes, hip pain has got to be the worst. I have back pain, and I’m determined to become a pilates lover. Not so much Yoga.
Love the low fashion standards. That’s how I am. Give me comfort above all else! Life is short.
I think I need to give pilates a try! I didn’t realize it would help with similar aches and pains. Amen to the life is short comment. I wore uncomfortable clothes in my 20’s and regret every minute. Ha.
Mel, I kid you not, I am dealing with the same exact hip pain! Everything you described is exactly what I’ve been experiencing. I’m not a big yoga girl either, but this voice inside my head keeps telling me I need to start doing yoga to help with my hip pain. Thank you for being inspired to share about that today.
I also love Birkenstock’s and tried their new flip flops that came out this year. Love them!
I don’t know if you’ll remember this because it was years ago, but I actually met you at the Boise Zoo one summer when you were there with your kids. We live in such close proximity that I often wish I could come hang out with you for a day. Love what you do and who you are!! You’re amazing!
I’m so happy we are on the same wavelength thinking/talking about hip pain, Sadie! Sounds like it’s maybe meant to be?? So many great recommendations in this comment thread, notably: yoga with Adrienne on youtube. I’m excited to check it out! Also excited to check out those birk flip flops. I totally remember that about the zoo! Mostly because I’ve only ever been there once and I remember talking to you! Thanks for bringing up that fun memory!
I love these so much! You are so down to earth and hilarious! Looked through your previous gift guides to find gift ideas for my twins bday coming up. Can’t wait for this year’s gift guides from you! Have a great weekend!
Thanks, Marie!
Yoga! Hilarious but typical comments. I was recommended yoga by my spinal Dr for buldging discs. Pain was horrible!
Yoga=no more pain and now I’M A YOGA TEACHER lol
Glad you tried it again.
Find a good teacher whose style you like and it won’t be so bad
What?? That’s amazing! I can’t imagine being a yoga teacher – so, so happy your pain is gone and you are on this path!
I was a yoga hater too, so I started with Pilates. Now I love yoga more & you’ve given me a good reminder to keep going so that I can take care of my body, so thank you for that!
I was also a silk pillow disser, but have now repented & become a huge fan. I. LOVE. mine!! My hubby laughs that it travels with us (not just pillowcase, but pillow too, & I just say that a well-rested me is a much more fun person on vacation!!)
Love your joggers—I will definitely save up for those! & maybe try the amazon ones in the meantime #comfyclothesforlife
And yay for your cute kiddos!! I am so impressed that they have found such fun ways to improve themselves! Bravo!
My #coronaproject was chickens—we got six, one for each person in my family. We raised them from chicks & they are about a month away from laying now…& one of them has started crowing…♀️ I’m going to wait & see if there’s any chance she’s a crowing hen who still lays, but then we may be looking for a new home for her/him! any chance you’d want a sweet roo to add to your collection?!?
I laughed out loud because I also bring my pillow and pillowcase with me wherever we go. Not even embarrassed about it. haha. I think I need to try pilates after so many recommendations. I am SO excited about your chickens. Like, irrationally so. I’m guessing that cute crowing chicken is not going to turn into a hen. Haha. We rehome all of our roosters; I’m sorry I can’t take him off your hands!
Happy Friday to you Mel! Today I was scanning email quickly, saw your post, and thought I’d just read the intro and get to the rest of it later, but I didn’t stop there, I went ahead and read the whole thing because I just enjoy reading your posts! You make me laugh and I enjoy your spirit and honesty.
I just have to say I agree with you about yoga! (The part where you hate it). I have tried many times to “get it”, but I don’t. I understand the value of it but I feel totally uncoordinated to do it. I much prefer 30 minute total body workouts with moves with simple commands – squat, lunge, sit up, plank!! :-).
I really like joggers too, so thanks for the recommendations. I do not, will not, wear yoga pants! I will do actual yoga before I wear yoga pants!!
Have a great weekend!
You are so cute, Kristine. Thank you for your comment! I think I’m with you…I just am not coordinated enough and it frustrates me. Haha.
I have always loved your recipes but your Friday notes are so fun. I love them. You make me laugh but I also love finding out about new things! Great Friday gift!
Aw, thanks, Laura! Friday Thoughts posts are some of my favorite to get up and ready. I love connecting with all of you!
Oh man I totally do short yoga stints for low back and hip pain. My favorite has been Sarah Beth yoga on YouTube because it’s free haha and she is easy to follow/very professional videos. Highly recommend!
Another vote for Sarah Beth Yoga!
Thank you for the recommendation!
Pickleball is so fun! A park nearby just remodeled their tennis courts to add a few pickleball courts. I’m determined to spread my new love for the game to everyone around me! It is surprisingly fun.
Thank you for sharing your favorites with us. I appreciate you putting yourself out there and value your suggestions. You are an amazing lady!
I agree, it is surprisingly fun!! I’m kind of a pickleball ambassador too!
I also recently started using the Sweat app. I was tired of daily finding an at-home workout to do. Since I’m now homeschooling our kids, I needed one less task. The app tells me what to do, and then I just do it. I’m loving it. I’ve been doing all kinds of workouts for years, but the beginner round of BBG was a perfect place to start. (Especially since I saw what a friend was doing Week 1 of BBG 1.0 )
I totally agree, Vanessa! The sweat app takes all the guesswork out of what to do and when to do it.