Sand Art & Soul Food

Sunday's in my house can be quite hectic. I'm getting everyone prepped for the week. There's meals, lunches, laundry, and we try to go to church. Not to mention keeping a very active five and four year old entertained.

Yesterday was no different. Well kind of sort of. I let the kids do an art project. Not really my thing. Plus, I just hate the idea of them doing anything that's going to cause a mess, when I'm already cleaning. 

This sand art project ended up being great. They received the kit as a Christmas gift, and of course were begging to give it a try. 

Now mind you technically neither of them are old enough, to complete the project by themselves so it required some supervision on my part. 

All in all, they had fun, and so did I. 

Sunday's are also a huge dinner day in our family. I usually prepare something hearty, since I have more time to cook as opposed to during the week. I was in the mood for some soul food, but also knew I wanted something healthier as well.

I swapped a baked whole chicken instead of fried chicken.

Made a pot of collard greens. 

Passed on the Mac n cheese and cornbread. 

What a great way to start the week. 

Be Well,

LaToya

Wellness Wednesday: Family Snow Day!

Yesterday I had the most amazing snow day with my family! We started the day with sleeping in until 8ish. Yes you read right, that's late for my household. After lounging around in our pjs and a quick cold breakfast, we layered up and headed outdoors. 

We laughed, we ran, we made snow angels, we had a snow ball fight, and we (well mostly my husband) shoveled the 5+ inches snow. 

Once the kids had enough of my snow day selfies we headed indoors for hot chocolate and lunch. 

After warming back up, it was all about movies, snacks & naps! Oh and more "usies." Now that's how you spend a snow day! 

Be Well,

LaToya

Ps: Anyone else have a family snow day yesterday? Leave me some love! 

 

Wellness Wednesday: Mommy Meltdown!

Happy Wellness Wednesday! It's a cool fall morning here in Charm City, and guess who's home today??? I got a call around 6ish this morning stating their was a huge leak in my daughter's preschool today, and the school would be closed today for repairs. While I'm thankful for the school to alerting me ASAP, and thankful to be spending a day with my "mini-me" it sort of saddens me that it's situations like this that stand in the way of me returning to work full-time.

Yesterday, I had a interview for a position as Chiropratic Assistant (CA). Things went very well. My undergraduate degree in Clinical Exercise Science has landed me opportunities to work in hospital and rehabilitation settings. I left on cloud nine, and excited about the very strong possibility of finally obtaining my state licensure while still generating some income. Reality quickly sat in on the drive to work. How will this work with my husband's schedule? Who will transport the kids back and forth to school? What about sick days, or inclement weather….the list goes on. Truth is this has been my reality for the past three years, and I have had to turn down numerous job offers because I'm always forced in the position to chose my children vs. career.

I can think of a laundry list of excuses, but none of that will help my situation. Some days it truly disheartens me that I cannot no longer work in my chosen field path. I take that back, I can ( as I am gratefully employed right now), things will just never be the same for me career wise. Most of the positions in the my field require me to work at least two nights during the week, and depending on the setting some would require weekend hours. No big deal unless you have a husband who works 12-16 hour days and two pre-school age children with no family in a close enough radius to help out.

So where does that leave me? Ranting on this blog I guess, and trying to remember everything truly happens for a reason. Thankfully I have my faith and am somewhat sane. I don't know if I'll ever come to terms with giving up my dreams to raise a family, but in the mean time it's day-by-day.
Special thanks for my husband for blessing me with these two beautiful bundles of joy, supporting me, and working around the clock to ensure our family has all our wants and needs.

Clearly I'm not the first (or the last) mother who has had to push her career to the back burner for the best interest of her family. If you are or know someone who has been in a similar situation, a few words of encouragement are greatly welcomed.

XOXO,


LaToya

p.s. I know, I know….no pic but get over it!

Fab Five Friday!

Off work today so I'm getting in some much needed r&r. Sitting here (in between housework of course) enjoying the crisp, fall-like air and admiring my home (we purchased our first home last October), I cannot help but share how truly blessed I am.


 Keeping in mind my theme for starting my blog, here's a little something I'm calling Fab Five Friday!

Today is also #flashbackfriday in socialverse, so I'm taking a flashback at the fabulous five topics that I feature on my blog. As you can see from my logo above, my health, career, fitness, parenting and relationships are things that are near and dear to my heart. Now for something fabulous about each of these topics.

Health: I love preventative health, and enjoy being about to promote various health topics for a living. 

Career: Although, my dreams have been pushed to the back burner lately, I'm still thankful to work within my field and I look forward to someday returning to the health/ fitness industry full-time. 

Fitness: Running, weight training, yoga, and the elliptical are my go-to means for maintaining and improving my physical fitness. 

Parenting: I'm a mother of two under 4, and boy oh boy do I love my children. 

Relationship: Friends, family, co-workers, husband, etc relationships are a driving force in our lives as human beings. Similar to the aforementioned topics, I'm always looking for way to improve my role/ involvement in my interactions with other. 

So what are five fabulous reasons or topics that prompted you to start your blog? Do you blog about any of the topics that have such profound meaning to me? I'm still very new to blog world, but always looking forward to linking up with people with similar interests.

Happy Friday folks!

LaToya

Me, home on a Saturday?!

Today is the third consecutive Saturday, that instead of my alarm waking me up at zero dark thirty for my weekly group run, I slept in and was awoken by the little ones. Of course it's nice getting a little extra family time in, but it's weird not running. Plus, I miss my Saturday am run crew. I did start my day off with a 30 minute Tae Bo video. Something is always better than nothing right?

Granted I run by myself during the week, my Saturday group runs are something I've always looked forward too. It's great to have that extra push and accountability. I'm hoping tomorrow to meet up with my local BGR! Chapter. Emphasis on hoping. Since I'm not training my motivation has declined because it seems pretty pointless to drive 20-30 minutes for a short run. I guess we'll see.

In other news I'm down 2.6 pounds since my husband's new work schedule. This week was definitely better than the first. The kids and I have settled into our weekly routines, and I've been preparing all our meals and lunches at home. Last night, was the first night all week we ate out. McDonalds for them and a i swung by a local spot for a salad. Fingers crossed I can keep this up. Also, instead of beating myself up about my 30 by 30 goal, I've decided to focus on smaller milestones. With that said, my next target is 160. Currently I'm 164.8

Have a happy, healthy weekend! 

Wellness Wednesday: Mommy's Balancing Act

Happy Wellness Wednesday!!!! Long time no post! Okay maybe not that long, but I was just getting into the swing of things of posting at least once a week, and this thing called LIFE got in the way. So here's my little rant.

So I missed last week because I've just been struggling to balance the many hats I wear throughout the day. My husband got a promotion, and now is working 80 hours a week. That leaves me Monday-Friday caring for two preschool-aged children, and maintaining our home. On top of that, I'm still working part-time as Senior Trainer and aiming to get into the best shape of my life. Woo-sah I just got tired reading all of that!

Yes I realize I am not the only wife/mother that has a lot on her plate, but let's face it….it's not exactly a "walk in the park." I can either complain about the lemons I have or make lemonade, and I'll gladly choose the later. My life isn't perfect and I'm okay with that. Somedays are better than others, but at the end of it all I'm just trying to balance everything out. Although often times I'm stressed and sometimes just want to literally pull out my hair, I'm grateful. I'm grateful for my hardworking husband, and his willingness to put his family before anything else. I'm grateful to own our home. I'm grateful to still be able to work within my field with one day being able to manage a gym again. I'm grateful for my health, and I'm grateful for my two children.

I think as mothers and wives we get so caught up in the day-to-day struggles, that we forget how grateful we truly are. Instead of complaining about this or that, and comparing your life to someone else focus on the good and keep it moving. Easier said than done, yeah I get it…..but seriously give it try.

(Family Photo Spring 2013…the kids are bigger and we are smaller lol)

Being physically active (and lots of prayers) is the way I balance it all. I need that adrenaline rush when I'm a few feet away from crossing that finish line. The endorphin release after a tough workout or run. Even the extra deep breath after a relaxing Yoga class. As cliche' as it sounds exercise keeps me sane. When I decided to stop working full-time, I was so gun-ho about exercising regularly because all I wanted was my pre-baby body. Now I could careless. I need exercise to de-stress. Taking care of me is equally as important for me to be around, and take care of everyone else.

If you are a single-mom, stay-at-home (SAHM) mom, new mom, working mom, etc, feel free to share how you balance everything out.

Best of Health,

LaToya

(Wellness Wednesday) Count your Blessings...

When I first had the idea to start this blog, it was about a year or so ago. I was coming off depression, and was looking for an outlet. I opted not to because I couldn't think of a cool name. I knew I wanted to blog to about my strong desire to have it all. By having it all, I mean the perfect marriage, career, children, and body. Blogging over the past few months, I have truly grown. I've learned that while my marriage, children, career, and body are not perfect, I'm happy with my perfect imperfectly life. That doesn't mean that there are not bad days, but for the most part I am in a happy place. My husband and I have a great relationship. My children are adorable, funny, smart, and for the most part well-behaved. I'm not in my dream role, but I'm happy to be working in my chosen field. My body isn't where it used to be or where I feel it should be, but it is progressing. I say all of this, because I have seen a lot of social media posts about women being in the same postion. Truth be told, I know there are a ton of people who would love to be in my shoes. So before we begin bashing ourselves or each other, sometimes all it takes is doing some deep reflecting on what you have to truly make you appreciate everything.

For the fun of it....

Top of the morning (well middle for me), and I have few extra minutes to spare. I thought I would share how I'm doing with running for the fun of it as opposed to running to train for a race. Corny as this may sound but I'm LOVING IT (cues McDonald's commerical music). So glad, I've rediscovered my joy for running. I enjoyed the time I spent training and racing, but just getting out there and running is what I truly love. I have even ditched the garmin, and not been focusing as much on my pace. Who would of guess I'm getting faster, and becoming an overall better runner. This past weekend, I went out with BGR! and ran the Centennial loop. That was the first time ever I ran 2.5 miles non-stop. I was on cloud nine for the rest of the weekend. I met a new BGR! member who had been training for Baltimore Women's Classic. Orginially we both said we would be doing intervals, and somehow, someway we managed to keep a steady breath, conversation, and pace throughtout the entire course. We both jumped for joy, and ended the run with laughs and hug; not realizing that this was the first time either of us had run that distance without stopping before. Definitely a moment, I won't forget, and another reason why I love Black Girl RUN! I also caught back up with my B-more Run Buddies via our faceback page, and am looking forward to reuniting with them as well. Aside from that, I have just been trying to move more & eat less. Today marks week 2, day 8 of P90x3. I'm enjoying the program thus far. The 30 minute workouts are great because I can still get my mileage in. Mileage wise I'm aiming for 3-5 miles day, alternating walking and running every other day. As for my nutrition, well the usual up & down battle. One thing I can give myself credit for is consistently logging everything into MyFitnessPal, and staying within my alloted calories most day of week. Keyword MOST, as this was Father's Day weekend! On a personal note, I'm wrapping up a 60-day weight loss challenge with my clients at work. Overall the feedback has been great, and so far the group has lost about 86 pounds. Things are also great at home. I had a great weekend with my husband, my daughter is doing an excellent job with potty training and received her first pair of panties, and my son is nothing short of amazing.

#Wellness Wednesday: Calistenics & Counting

If you have visited my blog before you know that amongst other things I am a mother. I have a four year old and a two year old daughter. Finding the time to exercise when you have two preschoolers can sometimes be difficult. Add in a husband, a home, and a part-time gig as a Personal Trainer, and yeah you get the point. So for the past two weeks or so I've been doing a calistentics & counting with my children, and to sum things up in one word its has been great! I get to kill two birds with one stone. My kids are praticing their counting and I get a little more activity. Somewhere between dinner and bed/bathtime we get started, and the kids love it. Even if I'm not in the mode one if not both of them are asking to do their "exercise." So here's out it works. I call out an exercise (squats, crunches, push-ups, lunges, jumping jacks, etc) the kids inmitate the movement, and they count the reps. So much fun! My favorite part is seeing how they have improved with thier counting since both enrolled in a local preschool last December. My two year old can count from 0-20, and my four year old can count to 100. We'll do anywhere from five to six exercises in increments of 10-20 reps. It's a great way to do what I love with the people I love! So for all those busy moms who say they never have time for exercise, I hope this helps. Happy Wellness Wednesday! Best of Health, LaToya

Wellness Wednesday: Work-life Balance

Happy Wellness Wednesday! This week's topic is work-life balance, something that truly resonates with me. There are many ways to define work-life balance, and for me personally it’s about finding the balance between my work and life. It sounds pretty simple, but I’m sure many would agree that is just isn’t that easy.

 Before delving into the topic, I would like to include just a little more background info. I surfed the web for some more insight, and came across http://work-lifebalance.com/what-is-work-life-balance/ . Having to give credit where credit is due, I’d like to first explore the work-life balance concept, and share my personal experiences. According to bestselling author Jeff Davidson, “work-life balance is the ability to experience a sense of control and to stay productive and competitive at work while maintaining a happy, healthy home life with sufficient leisure,” Davidson’s website also goes on to include six components of a successful work-life balance. Those components include: self-management, time management, stress management, change management, technology management, and leisure management. (J.Davidson. What is Work-life Balance? http://work-lifebalance.com/what-is-work-life-balance/ Retrieved 5/28/2014).

 My passion for wellness lies deeply in my desire to create and maintain a perfect work-life balance. It’s also one of the main reasons why I created this blog. As a self-proclaimed “Jill of all Trades”, I wear many hats throughout the day- wife, mother, health/fitness professional, sister, friends, personal trainer, lifestyle coach, daughter, runner, etc. Despite it all, I truly love my imperfectly perfect life. I didn’t always feel that way though. In fact, up until about four to five months ago, I was miserable and basking in my personal struggles to create the “perfect” work-life balance.

 Oftentimes I’m asked by friends and family how I find the time to do it all, so here are my tips for balancing out my work-life!

 1. Goal-getter! I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t always chasing and challenging myself to a goal. It’s something that was instilled in me when I was “yay” high and pretty much just stuck. I begin each New Year with planning my goals (not resolutions). My goals are divided between short and long term increments. Blame my type-A personality, but goal setting truly makes a difference. Whether it’s a financial goal like saving up some extra cash for a family getaway or achieving a personal record in a race, I’m always after something. When goal setting for your work-life balance, make a list of everything you would like to accomplish for a year. Sharing them with both your loved ones and employers, and make regular check-ups.

 2. If you plan to fail, you plan will fail. We’ve all heard the saying before, and it truly applies to your work-life balance. I make it a point to schedule everything: downtime, date nights, my workouts, you name it. Keeping in mind that sometimes life happens, and you may have to improvise, adapt, and overcome, keeping a detailed schedule takes the guess-work out of everything and decreases your overall stress.

 3. Time-out! Too many people waste their time on activities or others that do not add value to their life. If someone or something doesn’t enhance your career or personal life, ease away. Just think of the headache you’ll save yourself if you spend less (or no time) small-talking with that colleague who you don’t like. Perhaps you would be more productive at your desk, and even have more energy for an evening walk with your family. Make the conscious effort to limit the time plugged into your electronic devices. After 7pm I take my “time-out”, and devote all my attention to my family. Plus it gives my brain a little break, from keeping up with every Tom, Dick & Harry on my social feeds.

 4. Keep it Moving! Oh of course I couldn’t forget this one! I hate the infamous “I don’t have time to exercise” line. Really? You make time for everything and everyone else, why not make time for yourself. The benefits of physical activity are endless, and they add so much value to your overall well-being. My husband can usually tell when I’ve skipped a run or two. It’s like I have a built-up aggression, and I’m taking it out on everyone. Even if I didn’t work in a gym, I need my daily exercise fix to maintain my sanity. I’m better person after a great workout. My mind is cleared, I’m relaxed, and what’s that Pharell Williams song “because I’m happy!” If you’re serious about improving your work-life balance, you have to keep it moving. That doesn’t mean you have to spend an hour and half in the gym each night, but something is better than nothing. Get up from behind your desk, every hour or so for a quick stretch. Take a 10-15 minute walk on your lunch break. You’ll be surprised by how so little will make a big difference.

 5. Prioritize. Try making a honey-do-list for yourself. We do it all time at work, and even for our spouses, why not do it for ourselves. Can that load of laundry wait another day or two, so you can sit down and unwind with those that matter most? 10-15 years from now, your family won’t remember you new highlights you skipped-out another softball game for, because you saw a pic of Halle Berry on the cover of People magazine. They will remember you coming home each night with your “panties in a bunch” grumping about everything.

10 Tips for a Happy, Healthy Memorial Day

For many of us, Memorial Day sparks the unofficial start of summer. You’ve weeded your garden, brought out the patio furniture, and rinsed off the deck so before you’re dressed in your best red, white & blue, here are some must have tips for having a happy, healthy Memorial Day just for you!

1. Beat the Heat: Meteorologists are forecasting temps in 80’s with plenty of sunshine in the area, so don’t forget you sunscreen. For added protection, use something with a SPF of at least 30, dress in light, cool colors, throw on a hat or visor, and don’t forget your shades.

2. Portion Control: Let’s be honest who can resist a summer bbq, I sure cannot. Go ahead enjoy yourself, but watch your portions. So you don’t overindulge too much, take a look at everything that’s on the menu or table beforehand. Once you have scoped out the most appetizing dishes, use a smaller plate and take a small spoonful of everything.

3. Keep it Moving: Time and time again, we complain about how this new generation knows nothing about the “great outdoors.” Use this weekend to have some old fashioned fun, and keep everyone moving. Great ideas are volleyball, badminton, or a family walk. If you family is anything like mine, we’re quite competitive. So there’s nothing like a fun game of horse in the driveway, heading to the park for a softball game, or my uncle’s obstacle course where everything from water balloon fights, egg toss, and hopstoch is included.

4. Sip Cautiously: Lemonade, Sangria, soft drinks oh my! Whether you’re enjoying your favorite adult beverage, or keeping it simple with freshly squeezed lemonade don’t forget the H20. It maybe tough to get in your usual 8-10 glasses of water, but that is not an excuse to skip it all together. Make your first beverage choice an iced cold bottle of water. Then continue to sip slowly throughout the day. You’ll stay hydrated and full!

5. Lean & Green: Whether you’re hosting or attending, think lean & green when deciding what to eat. My go to lean meats are always grilled chicken breasts and shrimp. Also to try incorporate something green into every recipe. Adorn burgers with nice crisp lettuce; try a summer chilled string bean salad, add green peppers and broccoli into your pasta salad.

6. Nature’s Skittles: One of my all-time favorite summer recipes is a fresh fruit salad. There’ so many delicious options this time of year. Hit up your local farmer’s market (or grocery store) choose a variety of flavors and colors, and ta-da! It’s usually always a hit for kids and grown-ups a like.

7. Dance Like No One’s Watching: We’ve heard the saying once or twice before, and it’s a great way to set the tone for your gathering, and burn some calories. Crank up the jams and get moving with your guests. Just think of it a large Zumba-thon to your favorite tunes.

8. A Bug’s Life: Pesky mosquitoes can certainly ruin any event. Stay ahead of the game, and be prepared with a natural repellant. Spray on a diluted liquid garlic concentrate or apply vinegar or soybean oil onto your skin to prevent the bugs from biting. There is also a new OFF! Spray that is made naturally with plant-based solutions.

9. Pack Wise: Hitting the road? Pack a small cooler with cold water, fruit, vegetables, and maybe even lean turkey sandwiches. It’s easy on your pockets, and beats the urge of going to a drive-thru or a convenience store.

10. Hostess with the Mostest: Sure hosting can sometime be a pain, but if you’re looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle it may actually work in your favor. Since you can control the menu, you have more insight on what to serve you and your guests. Swap veggies and hummus for chips & dips, turkey, chicken, or salmon patties instead of beef burgers, and don’t forget to grilled up some fresh veggies and even fruit! If you're keen on the whole red, white & blue theme, I love the idea of strawberry, banana, & blueberry fruit skewers.

Best of Health,

LaToya

30 by 30

I started this list on New Year's Eve, and never got around to finishing it. Since we're almost halfway through the year, I figured I'd map out my goals. Those highlighted in red have already been accomplished.

1. Drop at least 20 lbs.
2. Become a half-fanatic 
3. Vacation/ mini-getaway with my husband
4. Ride a train (does metro count)
5. Support a local team (went to wizards game)
6. Join a credit union
7. Become a Beachbody Coach
8. Add another nationally recognized health/fitness certification
9. Take hot yoga class
10. Never miss a student loan payment
11. Keep my credit card balance at 10%
12. Ice skating
13. Go skiing
14. Pay off my car (thanks mom)
15. Treat myself to a massage (oh how i miss my regular appointments)
16. Find a church "home"
17. Rosetta stone or somehow learn Korean
18. Buy an SUV (wishful thinking)
19. Get back into my pre-pregnancy size 4/6
20. Host a family dinner/party just because (no holidays)
21. Own a home
22. Renew my vows 
23. Girl's trip 
24. Attend a health/ fitness conference 
25. More extended family time 
26. Try sushi 
27. Go to a gun range (need to go back)
28. Bake a cake from scratch 
29. Go to a Cowboys game
30. Transition from a fitness to a health/ wellness position