New Zumba dance: “Algo Musical”
Hi friends <3 Hope you’ve had an amazing day so far! I can’t believe I forgot to include the Stitch Fix giveaway winners in this morning’s post. Congrats to Rachel G. and Olivia H! Expect an email from me with all the details 🙂
Some pics from last night’s Winterhaven adventures:
I’ve written about it quite a few times, but it’s one of our all-time favorite holiday traditions. Winterhaven is known for its elaborate light displays, and it’s always fun to check out what families have done. Some stick with the same theme year after year (like one of my very favorites, the “Wishing Tree” — passerby can attach a paper ring to one of the many long chains with their written wish) and some that are entirely different than the year before. We loved the enormous spinning driedel, fairy house, and Livi especially enjoyed waving to Santa Elmo (from afar. Can’t get too close or she freaks out haha). Winterhaven is free to walk though -they also have drive through nights- and usually costs the price of a large bag of kettle corn 😉
While we were walking around, I was thinking about how much I enjoy getting activity together as a family. Last night was the first time Liv has been in the stroller in a few months, since she prefers to walk around with us. (Since it was a quick trip after a long day, we asked her if she wanted to ride in the stroller and were shocked when she said yes.) Even though Livi and I play a lot during the day, I’ve been thinking about the more sedentary aspects, like when I’m on the computer for a couple of hours before she wakes up in the morning or during naptime. I’m starting a new goal to get up and move around if I’ve been sitting while she’s sleeping, whether it’s dusting the house, busting out a few pull-ups on the pull up bar, or a quick Zumba dance. I love the energy boost from a quick burst of activity, and I feel blah when I sit for too long. I’m sure many of you can relate.
When I interned at the hospital and worked at a desk, here’s what I would do to shake my legs out:
-Offer to run an errand. Paperwork always needed to be transported, so I was happy to get some sunshine and take paperwork back and forth
-Get in a killer workout before going to work. I loved my 5:45am spin class, and it was a great way to get in some endorphins before sitting at a computer for hours
-Drink a ton of water = more walks to the ladies’ room. Even if I got up for a couple of minutes, it was still nice to stand and walk around for a second
Here’s a little Zumba video that Sasha and I filmed a couple of weeks ago. It’s a great addition to today’s cardio workout, or an excellent way to add a quick burst of energy into your day.
Hope you enjoy!
What’s your favorite way to add more activity into your day? Are you able to walk to work??
When Livi and I aren’t out and about, we’ll play games here at home, visit the park, or kick a soccer ball outside. When she’s awake, she keeps me very active 😉
What’s a local holiday tradition that you love?
Hope you have a wonderful night <3
xoxo
G
psst. We’re running a Soli Beat sale if you haven’t picked up a copy yet! There’s an option for expedited shipping, and great savings if you order more than one copy. Check it out here, if you’d like 🙂
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Our holiday tradition is to drive around town on Christmas Eve with the family and look at all the most decked-out houses in town. There are some crazy amazing ones!! I can’t believe the time some people must spend stringing all those lights but they look totally awesome.
I bet Livi was amazed at the lights. 🙂
The last month I’ve been doing 100 pushups, situps, and squats during the day. It helps me get up from the desk and move.
I move a lot at my work since I am a teacher. I don’t sit down very often. But I love your tips. I definitely wouldn’t like a job where I would sit al day. I have to move around!
I used to work in a building with 8 floors, and being new to a 9-5 could not stand (and still can’t!) sitting all day! I would walk the stairs a few times a day to break up to monotony and man do I miss that!
What a great neighborhood! I wish there was something like that near me. I feel like I could never handle the pressure of living there haha!
right?! i think it’s part of their HOA agreement, too!
My husband’s family and neighbors have a great tradition which I’ve been been part of for 8 years. Just before Christmas, they hold a “Round Robin” where you go around to each neighbor’s house for about 30minutes for drinks and hors d’oevres.
It’s been a great way to connect with the people who live right around you, catch up, greet newcomers, and really forge neighborhood relationships. It’s always so much fun seeing everyone’s houses and partaking in their personal traditions too.
I sit in an office all day but try to take walks on lunch and breaks. I’m with ya on the drinking water thing too! It’s a great way to stretch the legs often.
We have a drive-thru light display that we go to every year. We’re so busy this year, I think our first opportunity will be on Christmas Eve, which will make it extra special.
oh, that will be fun!
I’m on my feet allll day at work, so I cherish the moments when I can sit down – they’re few and far between. I notice that when I am sitting down for a long period of time (like for a meeting or something) I get super uncomfortable. I like your tips!
i’m the same way– i hate sitting for too long
Great ideas for being more active!
Unfortunately I sit all day long so like you, I drink a lot of water so I have to use the restroom a lot. I also make it a point to walk to a persons office if I have a question for them instead of calling them. I get to stretch my legs and it’s a more personal, one-on-one interaction in this technology driven world.
If you ever feel like making a trip up to Phoenix the zoo lights are amazing!!! And we’ll worth the trip!!!
that sounds like so much fun! we haven’t been to pix in way too long
Walking to work is definitely my best way to get more activity in the day. I think just making a conscious effort to walk a lot during the day is the best way to go. Otherwise, sitting at my desk all day does a lot of damage!
Love the zumba video!
I try to walk every where that I can
There’s a neighborhood called the “Fabulous Forties” in Sacramento, and I remember there were a couple years my parents drove us out at Christmas-time to get cocoa and drive through the streets. Such fun memories!
And I hope this doesn’t come across as creepy, but I’ve been a reader (not a commenter 😉 ) for awhile, and I think I remember you wrote something about your brother proposing to his girlfriend on this street a couple years ago…Or am I just imagining that?
I love the tips. I used to work in the city where you are forced to walk a lot (even the nearest parking was 2 blocks away) now I’m in NJ in a one story building so movement has really decreased so I need more ways to get moving. Thanks for sharing. And the video is awesome.
LOVE zumba! Thanks for the video! 🙂
Winterhaven looks beautiful!
I workout first thing in the morning at 6am. And I cycle everywhere – no matter the weather. I don’t have a car 🙂
At work, I have a flexible desk, means I can stand or sit, and I take a walk to the post office everyday. I need to move every 40-50 minutes, otherwise I go crazy!
I have a desk job, and I think it has contributed to the occasional back pain I get. I make a conscious effort to stand up every half hour. I drink a ton of water so I have to make restroom trips often and refill my water bottle often. When neither of those are needed, I just stand up at my desk and do something like look through mail, make phone calls, or just take a brief break. It drives me crazy to be sitting all day! When I go home for the evening I try to be on my feet as much as possible too when making dinner, doing my crossword puzzle (nerd), etc.
I like to drink water and other beverages throughout the day so that I need to get up every hour or so to use the facilities. I also like to walk to lunch when I’m at a client with close restaurants.
My favorite holiday tradition is just getting together with my family. I only see my extended family on holidays, so it’s always nice to get together with them.
I’ve noticed walking around during the work day does help. It also really helps if I can do a workout as soon as I get home to boost my energy for the rest of the day. 🙂
As a college student, I walk across campus several days of the week. I can also ride my bike to campus in about 25 minutes, so getting in extra activity isn’t hard. However, there are days when I’m sitting in class or at work for hours. On those days, I drink a ton of water as an excuse to go to the restroom, lol.