And just like that, January is almost done.  And what do you guys think – did it fly by or crawl along?  I’m pretty torn on that one to be honest, and as I type this, it feels like New Year’s Eve was 100 years ago.  As I’m sure lots of you did, I made a few health goals wayyyy back here at the beginning of the month, and how are those working out, you ask?

Well the “drink enough water” thing is still a work in progress (go figure), but in the exercise department, I’m happy to say that I’ve been moving this month.  I’ve been a fan of pilates for years (check out my favorite local studio here), so I took a few classes at the beginning of January.  But when my package ran out and I went to purchase more, I started to think about ways to get in a quick workout at home before taking Weeze on our daily 3-mile walks.

A quick scroll around Amazon and I had these weighted medicine balls and this exercise ball delivered to my door in two days.  Of all the millions and squillions of things I’ve purchased on Amazon recently, these have by far been my favorite.  It’s something easy I can do while the dogs run wild, with the tv or music on in the background for distraction, without ever leaving home.  I’ve loved the weighted balls for both arm and core workouts, and they’ve been so key on the (usually rare) rainy days we’ve had around here lately – with four more coming at us this week.

I’ve found different exercises to do online but also just kind of mimic things that we do with weights in pilates classes.  And so far, so good.  Will I be going back to pilates or Orangetheory classes?  Definitely.  But now I can buy a few less classes and get in a quick workout whenever I can at home.  I’d say that’s a definite Amazon win for the month.  Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart

Happy Friday, friends.  October is here and I’m HERE for it.  And next week, there’s a particular day that I’m definitely here for.  My friends over at Suja reminded me that Wednesday, October 10th is World Mental Health Day, and I can’t support it more.

In this world, there is literally no cause or day I can get behind more, and I shared a little bit of my heart last year in this post.  I miss my brother a ton and always aim to celebrate his memory.  Today I also want to celebrate and spread a little love to those going through the rough time right now, or maybe, those who could just use a little self-love.

Life is crazy.  The work grind, the mortgage or rent cycle, balancing relationships, car issues, this problem and that.  Sometimes I think we all need to take a little time for ourselves.  You’ve probably seen people posting about “Self-Love Sundays” or something similar, and while it may seem a little cliche, it’s something we should all get behind.

Sometimes we all need to check out.  To do a little something just for ourselves.  For me?  It’s a long bath, doing ALL the treatments to my face, taking my pup for a walk around Balboa Island, and my favorite, taking a little time to unplug.  How much does Instagram mess with my head and make me a crazy person?  A ton.  (Thanks, algorithm.)  So on October 10th, I’ll be taking a little unplug day.  No blog post, no Instagram posts, and maybe a long bath.  (Go, me!)

I really can’t think of a better reason to unplug, take a second, and give myself a much-needed day off.  And I wish the same to you!  Let’s take a day to focus on ourselves, reach out to the family and friends who need us, and maybe give a stranger a smile.  You never know who needs it.  Can we all just try to be nicer to each other?  I think we can.  Happy weekend, friends.

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart

Besides this rainy Friday morning with a hot cup of coffee, I thought I’d share five more things I’m loving this week.  (Because spicy honey and the best suck-you-in leggings were just meant to be shared between friends.  Here’s hoping everyone has an amazing weekend ahead!

End of summer Habanero Watermelon Margaritas – Summer may be coming to a close, but it’s still pretty toasty outside.  For your next happy hour, try out these delicious margarita cocktails made with Casamigos Tequila, Suja Watermelon Whim juice, fresh lime juice, and a few drops of Bear Root Habanero Ginger Bitters.

The coziest faur fur bomber jacket – I was roaming around Bloomingdale’s recently looking for a dress for a friend’s wedding when I was completely sidetracked by this jacket.  Now it’ll be a while before I can wear anything super cozy around here, but I’m counting down the days until I can justify throwing this pretty on.  The absolute softest faux fur, hooded, pockets, and the prettiest blush pink color – it’s a good one, y’all.

The best spicy honey – You guys, I never even knew I needed a spicy honey in my life, but it turns out, I certainly did.  Somehow I came across Mike’s Hot Honey on Amazon and added it to my cart.  I changed my mind and didn’t end up ordering, but the next time that Eric made an Amazon purchase, the honey was still in the cart and showed up at our front door in two days.  And I’m so glad that it did.  Serve it up next to a cheese plate, add it to a breakfast sandwich, or dip a chicken tender while you’re living your best weekend life.  This stuff is so good, and I’m constantly finding new uses for it.

White Noise Lite App – I’m naturally a pretty light sleeper through the night, and I’ll wake up for any creak, crack, or noise.  This white noise app has been a total game changer for me.  It’s free to download, comes with a ton of different sound settings, and can be set to fade out or shut off whenever you want.  I’m now falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer, and it’s been especially great for blocking out hotel sounds when I’m traveling.

Spanx legging season – With the changing seasons comes one of my favorite seasons of all – Spanx legging season.  (It’s a real thing in my mind.)  I’ve worn my black and navy pairs approximately 476 times over the last couple of years, and this year I’ve got my sights set on their new “Rich Olive” color.  They’re a little pricey, but after you’ve worn them for an entire fall and winter, the cost per wear is super low.

xoxo