Well, hello. Happy Friday, happy August, happy all the things. I’ve been so MIA from the blog space lately. I’ve had photos for this post edited for a week but I just keep adding to the library and not finding the time to sit down and write a post.
Life is full this summer in really fulfilling ways. I have added taking a yoga teacher training, planning a yoga teacher training that I’m leading this fall and launching the new app to my already full plate of personal training, yoga teaching and online work. I know I’ve already shared about this but it’s really been the theme of summer and where my focus has been. I have found it challenging to find any semblance of balance with work stuff the last couple of months and many things haven’t happened as expeditiously as I’d like. I’m giving myself as much grace as possible and doing my best on a daily basis – and accepting that my best is going to look different every day.
Okay, here are the last two weeks captured in 10 photos.
I have paused many times over the last few weeks and felt so much gratitude for my personal training clients. At the moment, I’m only training women and what strong and inspirational women they are. I really enjoy the time we spend together and feel so lucky that they trust me with their workouts and share parts of their life with me. I’m in such a great flow with my clients and truly look forward to being at the gym with them every day.
Final stat for this week was 14 training sessions!
I’ve been teaching a lot of yoga the last couple of weeks. Seven classes last week and eight this week. Next weekend is my final weekend (of six) for the training that I’ve been taking this summer. I have a lot of feels about this teacher training, haha.
Last thing on the work front, Johnna and I had a great shoot with Wanda Koch last week to shoot images for our manual and sequence sheets for our upcoming teacher training. It’s been too long since I shot with Wanda and it was so great to be back with her.
Let’s transition to mom life. I took everyone on an outing to Blackhawk Hardware on Monday to visit their dog wash. Here’s Finn taking a “family photo.” (Be still my heart.)
One of my friends told me about their dog wash and it’s amazing! It’s a 10 minute wash and super techy. You put the dogs in the wash and then do everything by touchscreen. There is shampoo, conditioner and a flea wash built into the hose and then a blow dry at the end. It’s $11 per wash which I think is super reasonable because they supply everything including the towels. It was so much easier to bathe the dogs in this wash than at home. I have to do it outside with the hose because I can’t put them in any of my inside tubs/showers because their nails scratch them.
Both dogs did really well in the wash. The water is really warm, which I know they appreciated and the whole thing feels very secure. I was especially proud of Benji. He was so confident and calm. He’s come so far with his anxiety. My plan is to do the dog wash between our eight week grooming appointments.
I’ve gotta stay on Benji for one more minute. My sweet boy turned FOUR last Sunday! Happy Birthday Benji! He is truly a joy. So funny, personable and sweet. I’m eternally grateful that I stuck it out through the trying times with our rescue pup because I can’t imagine our life without him. Benji is so loved!
We have been all about the pool life. I can’t believe that summer is winding down and we are in the final month of a full schedule at our swim club. We’ve really taken advantage of it this summer and spent tons of time at the pool.
When he dresses himself in 3T dinosaur trunks and a Mickey rash guard. He’s smiling and that’s all that matters.
Still going strong with play-doh over here. There was an afternoon that he stayed here for THREE HOURS playing. That tongue out concentrating kills me.
I’ve been trying my best to get to the farmers market every weekend. I have major FOMO when I don’t go because summer tomatoes are so fleeting. I had teacher training last weekend so I was only able to get to the Cotswald Farmers Market close to my house but got a great little haul. I was so pleased to find Mano Bella there – one of my favorite local artisans. Their homemade pasta is to die for as is their pesto, fresh mozzarella, taralli (the crunchy snack crackers) and everything else they make. I also got an insanely delicious peach hand pie from Thoughtful Baking. I am still dreaming about how wonderful it was.
Lastly, workouts have been a little all over the place but I’ve been running a lot despite the summer heat and humidity. I’ve been good about doing electrolytes in my water every day and I think that’s made a bit difference in how I feel. I rotate between Ultima (love the lemonade flavor), LMNT (I like citrus and raspberry salt) and Nakedade.
BONUS PHOTO! May your weekend bring you lots of sweet moments and sweetness treats and may you look at something the way Finn is looking at this donut. 🙂
Thanks for sticking around friends! xo
QUESTIONS
Where/how do you bathe your dogs?
What activities have kept your kiddos the most entertained and happy this summer?
Do you go to a local farmers market?
What workout is feeling best in your body right now?
I also use a local dog wash with the exact same setup as yours to groom my doodle, Franklin. It’s SO much easier than doing it outside with the hose and there is no way I could do it in the bathtub… he’s 90 lbs and not a fan of our slippery bathtub. I love hearing about Benji’s progress! What a sweet and resilient guy!
So happy to hear life is full in all the best ways, Jen! 🙂
Aw, sweet Franklin! He is a big boy!!! I can imagine that bathing him at home is impossible! Glad you have a similar set up. Sending love to you always! xo
WHAT??!! Taking my dog to Blackhawk immediately! My kids would love this
Yes! You’ll have so much fun. And it’s great to walk around the store. So much to look at!
Kiddos and their attention spans feel like such a mysterious science. Our most recent foster kiddo would sit and play independently with this or that toy for an hour or more at a time one day, and then the next day, we would be lucky to get them to play independently for even 15 minutes. Sigh. But their favorite (and most likely to result in long periods of independent play was Magnatiles.
I would agree with this statement fully! I feel like the only thing I can consistently count on keeping his attention is the TV, haha. And of course we want to limit that. Finn likes Magnatiles but they’ve yet to capture his attention for long spans of time.
I am cracking up because my almost 4 year old does the same “tongue thing” when focusing on playdough and I was worried it was weird but maybe its normal? HA. He can play with playdough for hours now as well and its crazy to me.
We try to bathe our dogs every 2 weeks but lately its been once a month. Horrible I know. My younger pup is a rescue and I can barely get him into a collar and a leash which I need to tackle soon since he needs his shots…..
Haha – I think their tongue concentration must be normal! 🙂 Gosh, I’m lucky to bathe mine once a month so I think you’re doing great!!! Aw, wishing you luck with your rescue. I know how tough that can be and how much patience it requires. You’re amazing to give him a second chance. <3