2/8: Friday Faves
-Yoga. I always love yoga, but it’s even more delicious after a bit of a hiatus. Hot power yoga is my absolute favorite, but I *thought* all of the classes here were 90 minutes and far away. Not the case at all! Kyle and Meg introduced me to a studio downtown, $4 seriously hot yoga, an incredible instructor and practice is 60 minutes. I think it’s going to have to become a regular thing- this studio was like my Yoga Room meets Orlando Power Yoga.
-Valentine’s day. Anyone else really in the Valentine’s mood this year? Those Hallmark commercials get to me every.single.time (waterworks extravaganza) and I’m excited to make Valentine’s cards with Liv and plan a fun dinner date with the Pilot.
-Impromptu dinner parties. We invited some friends over tonight for dinner, cocktails and dessert. Livi will also have a little friend here- should be a blast 🙂
-Ocho bars. By the time I got my phone out to snap a pic for you, all that was left was a wrapper. I have no idea what happened to it.
-Livi’s unwavering love of all things Elmo. Give that girl a baby doll, something Elmo-related and a book, and she’s a very happy kid. I had to finally start telling her that Elmo goes to sleep in my phone (we have the “Call Elmo” app for emergency mode- usually when we’re waiting in an awful long line for something and she gets antsy), but she started to say, “El muh? El muh? EL MUH?!” every time we would hang up with him. Now it’s “Shhhh..Elmo’s sleeping. Let’s say ‘goodnight’ for his nap” and she gently pats the phone.
-When the time clicks over to the next day, my top search results are always a good time:
-Facials, one of the most underrated spa treatments. One of the [many awesome] perks about working at a resort is that we have instant access to fitness classes, lectures, spa treatments and services. If we have an open hour in our schedule, we can go work out, chill in the locker room (I’ve taken a nap before) or see if there’s an opening for a spa treatment. I treated myself to a facial last week and it was glooooooorious.
-Speaking of spa treatments, how about a little spa treat for one of you? My friends at Canyon Ranch offered a lucky Winter Shape Up participant an incredible gift basket with all of the things you need for a Canyon Ranch-inspired day at home:
-an inspiration journal
-comfy robe and slippers (the robes are to diiieeeeee for)
-DVD (with my beautiful friend Heather on the cover- she’s amazing)
–Nourish cookbook
(<– Affiliate link; thank you for supporting the blog!), which is one of my all-time faves
How to enter:
Check in for the Winter Shape Up! How’s your recovery day going? Let me know what you’re up to, or leave a comment with your favorite workout mantra. We can look them over tomorrow before hitting workout 2 and the ab burner for the last time before heading into week 3!
xoxo
Gina
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Awe! Olivia is too adorable with that Elmo. Her smile is so precious!
I’ve been loving pilates lately! Absolutely obsessed, I feel so confident doing it and just love how it makes me feel!
loving winter shape-up! my favorite workout motivation lately is reminding myself how truly lucky I am to get to exercise–it’s not a punishment, it’s a privilege!
Its my babies 1st birthday today. I can’t believe how fast the time has gone by. So I am taking him to a play gym in our area and then to enjoy a cupcake together. That is how I will be enjoying my recovery day 🙂
That’s adorable about Olivia and Elmo!We are supposed to get 2+ feet of snow today, so I think my strength training for the weekend will involve LOTS of shoveling!
If I just exercise for 10 minutes, that’s more than most people are doing today.
My hubby is taking me out for my birthday dinner tonight, so that is how I’m recovering 🙂
“can you eat anchovy scales” directed to your site? haha.
And I wish I was in a Valentine’s Day-mood…not really feeling it this year. But I do love me some chocolate.
Yesterday was awesome, 45 minute workout! Dinner I had sauteed apple pork with potato (hidden cauliflower) soup. Yum! And something has happened at dinner the past 2 nights. I have eaten less. Way less. 🙂 Like we’re talking small meal portions not I’ve been eating small meals all day so I’m ready to stuff my face with my delicious (but healthy and nutritious) dinner that I took 30-45 minutes out of my day to make to nourish me and my husband. I also make it because it’s more economical but mostly because it’s hard to get nutritious, yummy dairy free food where I live. So this surprised me. I didn’t push it. I didn’t say to myself, that stupid scale has not budged for 5 weeks so I better change SOMETHING. Because the truth is, I feel great! I have energy. I haven’t gotten sick. I look forward to workouts. My body is telling me I’m doing the right things. I’m sure there are still minor adjustments I could make to feel even better, but it’s working! Rock out! And then this has happened. I am intrigued and interested to see if it keeps up and what (if any) results this will lead to. I know I slept better. I didn’t even get up once last night! Anyway, just wanted to share this small victory.
Today, 5 minute wake up yoga. I am addicted to yoga. It’s ridiculous but that is what is happening. I have already done like 7 hours of yoga for the first week of February which is well on my way to my monthly goal of 25 hours. 🙂
I ate 2 egg whites with my avocado wheat toast and a banana oatmeal muffin.
Lunch will be chickpea salad.
Post workout meal will be green smoothie.
Dinner will probably be chicken marsala. 🙂
Have a great day!
I just found a hot yoga studio by my new place too! I am with you it’s so exciting! My price is no way as good as yours, but hitting up the starter price of $59 for 12 sessions. I already got all my Valentine’s Day cards and will be doing my secret shopping on Monday!
Another great giveaway! My recovery day will involve walking home from work in the approximately 3 feet of snow we are expecting by the end of the day.
My usual exercise mantra is: I think I can, I think I can. 🙂
She’s so cute with her Elmo! Those are some very nice perks for sure. I’m now reevaluating my current career. 😉 I like the mantra “showing up is half the battle”. Even if I am exhausted, if I can still force myself to get going it helps to re-energize me to get in a good workout.
This is a pretty random post, but this has always plagued me when I send people to your blog. Are you the fitness-ista (a la fashionista) or the fitness sista (like my sister from another mister)? I guess the first option based on the spelling, but the google search terms made me wonder. And also, I just finished a book called Breathe by Kate Bishop and I kind of think you’d like it, based on you liking Violets of March and being into yoga/ fitness. Aaaaand, end random post. Have a good weekend!
Actually just realized it was Blackberry Winter you posted about… same author as Violets of March though. 🙂
Oh, my mantra. It used to be (when I ran more) Push, push, push. Now it’s breathe, in and out. Breathe, in and out. 🙂
I’m lovin’ the Friday Faves. I’m in serious need of a facial myself and I’m cracking up at your search results. 🙂
I usually work out first thing in the morning. This morning I took the chance to sleep in on our rest day. But since the in-laws will be over first thing tomorrow morning, I’m gonna be hitting up Workout #2 and the ab burner pretty hard later tonight.
And my most recent workout mantra: “Are you really pushing yourself? Can you push harder? GO!”
Recovery day is going well. I’ve been doing small distance runs in addition to the weekly workout. Resting up today in order to run hard for another 5K tomorrow. The pic of Olivia and elmo is adorbs!
effort creates excellence!
Loving the Winter Shape Up and all these workouts so far! But especially rest days too. My favorite mantra is “just keep swimming, just keep swimming!” Courtesy of Dory : )
today I’m recovering with yoga & a massage 🙂 can’t wait!
Ahh this post is just cuteness overload!! Liv is a doll!! Seeing those pictures of her makes me want one haha 🙂 I plan to enjoy my rest day with a nice big goblet of wine tonight and prepare myself for Workout 2 in the AM! Happy Friday 🙂
The weather here is pretty bad but I got up early and busted out week 2 since yesterday was my recovery day. Sooo glad I did it, since it looks like I won’t be leaving the house for the rest of the day (which I’m totally okay with – who doesn’t love snow days?)
Love the flowers!
Mantra = “Wedding Day, Wedding Day” which leads into “3 months left, 3 months left” and lastly “strong sexy arms, strong sexy arms” (I also sneak in “no further alterations” and “want a beer tonight” to keep me going)
I had some knee pain yesterday, so I had to switch around my recovery day. Going to ride the stupid stationary bike today and do the ab burner!
Today I did Workout #2 since tomorrow will involve me sitting in a car for 5 hours but, the plan is to go hiking after we get to our destination. I am almost too scared to try hot yoga since I am really a novice but maybe one day I will build up the courage!
Since yesterday was so crazy busy that I didn’t get around to working out (boo!), I’m doing it today! Looking forward to a major sweat sesh 😉
I was traveling this week, so I had to switch up the calendar a bit. Last night I did Workout 2 + Hills, and when I woke up this morning, my quads. were. on. fire. Soooo glad today is a rest day. It’s the good kind of pain, though — I love to know that I’m making progress. 😀 Thanks for putting together this amazing shape up, Gina!!
I am making tomorrow my rest day since we’re getting a blizzard in Boston 🙂 Finished week 2 today and it was glorious!
I missed a workout earlier this week so I decided to do an easy 4 miles on the treadmill for my recovery. Didn’t push myself too hard because I am still sore from Wednesdays workout! One of my favorite motivational mantras is nobody ever regretted a workout! It’s just so true because no matter how much I’m dreading going to the gym I always feel great after!
Liv is too adorable. Really, I love the pics of her!! My recovery includes a long sleep in 🙂 and some soft Yoga. My motivation is that invincible feeling I get when I’m done with a workout. It lets me feel independent and strong- it’s such a good feeling!!
I am in Boston and we are expecting a huge blizzard (40 inches?!) so I am relishing recovery day because I expect a lot of cardio snow shoveling over the weekend! eep!
My workout motto is also my life motto: festina lente. It means “make haste slowly.” I try to stay consistent in doing a little workout everyday and I don’t take on extreme diets or workouts. It has so far paved the way for consistent weight loss, increasing fitness, and weight maintenance without ever feeling over burdened or deprived.
PS- I would love a snuggly robe and new cookbook!
Favorite mantra? Think how good you will feel when its over!
The Shape up is going so well! I can already see some new definition in my arms! Definitely taking advantage of the recovery day to stretch my muscles out, I’m so sore! This morning we made juice, even a little baby juice for my boy: beet, carrot, cucumber, pear, spinach.
It made me laugh seeing the search terms for your blog. My mom got some of those comphy thongs for xmas right after you posted about them. I was like “oh my gosh!! The fitnessista totally just did a post on those! They are amazing underwear”
Might have to do some light yoga on this active recovery day after that endorsement! 🙂
Thanks for including us non-WSU readers in today’s giveaway! My fitness mantra is that I know I’ll feel better after I work out. I’m loyal to my workout schedule (yoga or barre, depending on the day, plus daily morning walk) but sometimes I need that extra self-motivating push.
Recovery days are always great 🙂 I’m thankful that was on the schedule today because it was already snowing when I woke up at 7 this morning and we’re expecting about 24 inches. My recovery day is going to include just a liiiiiitle bit of shoveling!
I had to juggle the schedule, so my recovery day was yesterday – and it was awesome! We slept in, drank coffee, and relaxed before getting ready for work.
I was grinning after reading about Liv saying goodnight to Elmo in your phone; absolutely adorable 🙂
My favorite fitness mantra of late is, “If you’re tired of starting over, stop giving up.” So true! (And can apply to lots of other things as well). I’m taking today as an active recovery day, just taking the pups for an easy walk before work. LOVING the winter shape up! Thanks for all you do!
I changed Saturday to my rest day on account of my going out schedule. That an burner was killer in the best way!
I used to run with my husband before we had kids. When I got tired, he’d say “work now, rest later.” I still love this mantra – and it comes in handy on a third time through the WSU week 2 circuit!
My mantra is simply “you can do it!” There’s a commercial for a college that sometimes runs while I’m watching TV during cardio and their jingle sings “you can do it!” Which I find motivating during my workout. 🙂 recovery day will be spent cleaning the house.
Today I am taking care of a friend’s dog, and we are going to go for an easy hike! Trying to enjoy the nice weather before it snows tomorrow!
Um, yes please… that robe looks cozy! I did the week 2 workout this morning after a 20 min run! Also did the ab burner yesterday morning while studying for my AP test.
Checking in for the Winter Shape Up. Not sure if this is where we need to for todays giveaway or not :/ (so I’m posting on both!) This week has been great, I’m having to adjust a little bit because I found out i was pregnant as soon as I started the shape up! So the canyon ranch giveaway would be amazing for this pregnant mama!!
Yesterday was my rest day, so I did the stairmaster workout today. Thanks for posting it. I have used the stairmaster probably 1-2 times in my life. It was good to change things up a bit!
That Canyon Ranch basket sounds AHH-mazing! Recovery day was much needed yesterday, and as much as I want to bust out the week 2 workout, I’m teaching TurboKick today – but I’m adding your ab burner to class! 4-minute plank FTW.
I don’t have a workout “mantra”, but whenever I’m not really motivated to workout, I remind myself how amazing I feel afterward and that usually convinces me to go 😀
I’m supposed to go to the gym for my stairmaster workout today (I’m one day behind) but our blizzard here might make that difficult…hoping to do a workout video instead.
I love the motivational quote I saw on someone’s pintrest “Someone busier than you is running right now”. I love that because it reminds me of all the amazing people I’m honored to know who just keep chugging along and make things they care about a priority no matter how busy they get.
Wow, that’s an awesome giveaway! I am currently sick so I am recovering to the max. Luckily I’m on the up-&-up, so my weekend will be low-key so I can get back & tackle week 3! I can’t wait 🙂
After some schedule re-arranging (aka, too tired to get up), today was the stairmaster challenge. Holy man, that is way tougher than it sounds.
My workout reminder for morning workouts – that extra 40 minutes (broken up every 5 minutes by the snooze) isn’t good sleep anyways.
I’m enjoying my rest day by treating myself to a relaxing night at home while my fiance is out of town. I adapted my workout mantra from Legally Blonde – I always remind myself that exercise gives me endorphins which will lift my mood and make me happy!