With 12 minutes left until the clock strikes noon, I think I can still call this a Sunday morning coffee chat! I’ve actually been up since 5:50a when a certain little person decided it was time to get up but I’m just sitting down at my computer for the first time today. Finn is down for a nap, I just finished a bunch of food prep and laundry is going.
It’s been over six months since I wrote a “coffee chat” style of post and today felt like a good day for one. They’re always well-received and I enjoy writing them.
So here goes!
If we were having coffee this morning, I’d share that I’m starting my 300-hour yoga teacher training journey next weekend!
Completing a 300-hour yoga teacher training program is something that has been on my goal list for well over five years but there have been three main challenges:
- Creating the space for the very time-intensive commitment in my already jam-packed life.
- Finding a program that excites and interests me.
- Fitting it into my budget.
Well, I got the push I needed to finally make it happen thanks to some significant changes that Yoga Alliance announced recently as they work to move towards more rigorous standards and more consistent quality with Registered Yoga Schools.
Beginning in 2022, any instructor who leads a 200-hour yoga teacher training program will be required to have their 500-hour certification. As most of you know, I lead 200-hour YTTs a a big part of my work so this is something that greatly impacts me. Yoga Alliance is also implementing a new “common core curriculum” for 200-hour teacher training programs, and I have already been working hard to bring my curriculum up to new standards in anticipation of having to re-certify the schools that I work for.
Overall, these are SUPER POSITIVE changes. I’m thrilled about them! It’s just a logistical and financial challenge for me to make this all happen but I’m going to figure it out!
I’m excited to share that I will be completing my 300-hour YTT at Asheville Yoga Center. Although it would be ideal to do a training in Charlotte, there just wasn’t one that met my needs given my schedule with Finn along with what I was interested in learning.
The AMAZING thing about the AYC 300-hour program is that it’s module-based and I can design my own 300-hour program based on my interests and schedule. PERFECT! Over the course of the next year I will travel to Asheville 11 times for trainings that range from 3-5 days. I have already mapped out my curriculum and I just know that it’s going to be an incredible experience.
I’ll share more as I progress through the training but my first module is next weekend and it’s Healing with Yoga and the Breathing Body with Leslie Kaminoff. He’s one of the top yoga anatomy teachers in the world and I teach from his book Yoga Anatomy in my 200-hour YTT. I cannot wait to study with Leslie in person!
If we were having coffee, I’d share that today is Zoey’s 5th birthday!
Can you even believe it!? HOW!?
It seems like just yesterday that this little bundle of fluff joined our family. From day one, Zoey could not have been more opposite than Sullie but she’s been a perfect addition. I will forever say that Zoey added years onto Sullie’s life. She was eight when I got Zoey and they spent almost five years together playing and keeping each other company.
These two were the best of friends and walked together, played together and relaxed together until the very end. I miss Sullie so much every single day but I am lucky to have so many fond memories of her when I look at Zoey. <3
These days, Zoey has a new BFF. Finn is OBSESSED with her. I’m 99% sure he likes Zoey more than he likes me, haha!
We’ll celebrate Zoey later today with some doggy cake and a new bone or ball!
If we were having coffee, I’d share that I cut the cable cord (and did I ever have to work for it).
My cable and internet bill had gotten a little out of control and I was frustrated that what I paid for cable didn’t even get me ESPN so I could watch my Georgia Bulldogs! I decided to switch to Hulu Live. It was super easy and I was done setting everything up in 5 minutes. AT&T on the other hand, made me work for it when it came to negotiating my bill. It was so hard to actually get connected to someone that could help me and then it was quite a negotiating process to get to a reasonable rate for internet. In the end, I ended up with an $80 cheaper bill and 2x faster internet. Winning!
Next up is tackling my mobile phone bill. It has also gotten a little out of control. Wish me luck. 🙂
If we were having coffee, I would share that last week was hard but that Finn is finally feeling better.
I can confidently say that this past week was the hardest since Finn was a newborn. On top of teething molars, he also came down with a virus that gave him a high fever, body aches and a sore throat. He was so, so miserable.
There were several very cranky days where absolutely nothing would make him happy and very sleepless nights where he woke constantly and needed comfort and closeness. There was one point where Finn would only sleep on top of me with piano lullabies playing in the background to soothe him. That was a long night.
I’m happy to report that Finn has finally turned the corner and is feeling much better this weekend.
If were were having coffee, I’d also want to clarify what I said about medicine! When I said, “I hate to give Finn Motrin,” I wasn’t clear in the context. I am 100% team medicine when it’s clear that Finn needs it but I don’t like to give it unnecessarily. So while I have no problem giving him Tylenol if he’s struggling after shots, I don’t want to give it to him preventatively “just in case he does.” We’ve had some vaccination days where he seems unaffected and some where the Tylenol is no question. I also don’t like to give Tylenol for a fever if it’s low (like under 101) and Finn seems otherwise happy and himself.
In the instance of last week, it was clear that Finn needed pain relief, especially once the virus and fever was layered in with the teething. I gave him Tylenol and Advil and there was even one 24-hour period where I alternated the two because he was so miserable.
I am sorry if I misspoke or made anyone feel like medicine is a “bad” choice. It wasn’t my intention.
YOUR TURN!
I’d love to hear what you’re excited about right now! What do you have going on in life…personal, family, career?
I’d love to hear any tips you have for budgeting, especially around negotiating things like cable and phone bills.
What would you share if we were having coffee? (wouldn’t it be cool if we really could!?)
Congrats on cutting the cord! I’m not sure why old school cable exists at all anymore, with so many internet alternatives.
I have Google Fi for my phone, $20 + data, my bill is ~$25/month. They don’t have wifi calling for iphones but other than that it’s a total win. Of course calling your cell provider and asking them to “help” you close the gap between $25 a month and what you’re paying now might work wonders as well!
I KNOW! WHY IS IT STILL A THING!?
Thanks for sharing what you do!
I love Leslie’s Yoga Anatomy book – it was one of the books I bought when I was doing my 200 teacher training last year. It’s been so helpful and I refer back to it all the time. I actually listened to a podcast that he was a guest on a few days ago. I hope you enjoy your training with him!
If we were having coffee I’d tell you how much I enjoy reading about Fin and your yoga. I have never tried yoga but can see where I can am benefit from it. I’d ask if you ever thought of doing a video of basic moves for those of us who are new. I really enjoy your workout videos. Then I’d thank you for all you do!
Aw, Sue! Thank you so much for these kind words. I’m so grateful! That is an excellent suggestion and something that I will look into for 2020!
Yes, it is an excellent resource! I am so thrilled for the opportunity to study with him in person!
So glad Finn is feeling better!
We’re planning on cutting cable too when Disney starts it’s streaming service next month. We have ATT too. It’s so expensive and we don’t watch enough to justify it other than kids shows/movies which we should be able to replace with Disney/Hulu. I don’t know if there is anything to be done about our cell phone bill. We seem to burn through our data allowance at alarming speed!
SAME with that data! That’s how mine has gotten so high…I keep having to add data and then I get stuck at a new tier! I try to use WiFi as much as possible but ugh!
We haven’t had cable for years. It’s such a huge cost saving and we find we don’t miss it. We get Hulu for free through my MIL’s cell phone contract – it’s some sort of perk? And then we have amazon prime and share my MIL’s netflix account. Between all those streaming options, we don’t really miss cable. And the cost savings are significant. I wish internet was cheaper but we seem to have to renegotiate it every year or so (call and threaten to cancel). My cell phone bill isn’t awesome but I have to use my phone for work and my company gives me a stipend which makes the cost to me $25/month so it’s not too bad.
I’m glad Finn has turned the corner. What a double whammy to get a virus on top of teething. Teething was super painful for our little guy but not as bad as it was for Finn. It never really interrupted his night time sleep but it can result in very early mornings (like last week he was up before 6 every day – I think from the pain of his 2 year molars).
The internet is so expensive (as is my cell) but I have to remind myself how much I use it for work and can write off a good bit of it.
Yes, that double whammy was no fun for anyone! So glad he’s getting back to normal!
It’s just awful when little ones are sick, isn’t it?
IMO, golden retrievers are the absolute best dogs! I love that Finn loves Zoey so much, and happy birthday to her.
Surprising fact about me to share: I am 48 years old and did my first real live yoga class last week! (I have done a few yoga workouts on DVD over the years but never an actual class.) It was outdoors on a grassy field, and I loved it. Will definitely be doing more!!
Goldens are totally the best and I’m so glad that Finn and Zoey are such good friends! 🙂
I am SO HAPPY to hear that you loved your first yoga experience! You cannot go wrong with outdoor classes. So nice!
i would love to cut the cord on cable but just not sure how to do it ? i have dish network and netflix. i love DVR and we watch a decent amount of sports. so i need streaming that 1. works everywhere in the house on all the TVs, 2. doesnt f ing buffer!!!, and 3. allows all the sports channels. and dont get me started on internet ! we live in an area where there is literally 1 “choice” and believe me….they charge you for it. the weird thing is i used to live in a smaller place and we had several internet choices ? so calling to threaten to cancel doesnt work. words of wisdom welcome LOL
Ugh, I have no idea! I am the worst at all of this and not a very skilled negotiator!
Happy 5th birthday to Zoey! ?????
I’m glad that Finn is feeling better now Jen bc I know how hard it is being a single parent and working too!
Your doing great raising Finn bc he’s a happy and healthy little guy!
Have a fantastic week!
Thank you so much for the words of encouragement! 🙂
Please don’t give Tylenol after vaccines! Doctors are not up to date on anything related to vaccines….but there are a lot of articles saying why not to mix.
https://www.kitchenstewardship.com/risks-tylenol-with-vaccines/
I’m not trying to get into a vaccine debate with anyone-but please research the Tylenol aspect.
So I work from home and I just use wifi as much as possible. I have data turned off on all but a few apps and really just try not to use any data while I’m out and about. Like no random checking of Facebook unless I am on wifi. My husband does the same and he uses wifi at his workplace when he is there. So between us we share a tiny 2GB! Like we always have a ton of data left too. Not sure who your carrier is but if you haven’t looked at your plan lately do that as well. We have Verizon and about two years ago we inquired and found out we were paying MORE than their current plan (same services) so we switched and saved like $40 a month. I think they really make a killing off data so if you can just reduce your date usage that’s my best advice!
With regards to budget – I use Mint.com to keep track of finances between multiple banks. It is free and really helps give me the big picture of what is going on.
And you might want to look into YouTube TV for sports, I’ve heard great things from people who cut the cable cord.
So glad to hear Finn turned the corner – you are a rockstar mom!