Wild animals
While I was shaking my booty with a room full of hooting and hollering women + live drummers (not a bad way to wake up!)
the Pilot took Liv to see the animals.
We have annual zoo passes and figured we should start using them more, especially since the zoo opens early (to beat the heat) and it’s a great place to walk around. Liv is to the point now where she can look and really see the animals, so it’s fun to watch her reactions.
They also opened a HUGE new elephant habitat:
and the Pilot took a lot of amazing photos. My favorites are always the otters and the giraffes 🙂
After the zoo, they headed over to the madre’s where she cooked up a huge feast for my brothers, the Pilot and my stepdad. Blueberry muffins, corned beef hash + eggs, toast, potatoes with peppers and onions, orange juice and horchata.
I wish I could have been there! Instead I was dancing, teaching cardio/weights and buff booty, then back home to see the Pilot, sleeping Liv and my own wild animal:
Lunch:
A salad beast with strawberries, turkey, cashews, basil and balsamic dressing
+ some aloe drink mixed with sparkling water.
This is my newest kick:
I’ve always enjoyed it, but recently started drinking aloe more consistently. Aloe is extremely hydrating (great for skin and hair), beneficial if you’re active, and I love these drinks from Trader Joe’s. I’ll mix half with sparkling water (it’s too sweet otherwise) and it’s a refreezing summer drink. You can read about the benefits of aloe here.
Time to pack up afternoon snacks and head back for Zumba, assist bootcamp and then family dinner to celebrate Meggy’s birthday.
Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Gina
Zumba song of the day:
These girls teach in Jacksonville, FL! If we were headed to our usual beach vacay spot this summer, I’d totally take their class.
![Life’s [not] a Beach](https://fitnessista.com/wp-content/uploads//2016/10/fitnessista-rp4wp-default-image.jpg)
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I will totally have to grab the aloe drink from Tj’s!
I’m so jealous! Our zoo doesn’t have elephants or giraffes (it’s obviously too cold during the winter months). We’re going to Disney World next month and staying at the animal kingdom lodge and I am crazy excited about seeing a real live giraffe!!
lol, I just got really excited for you because my sis and I went to Disney World a few months ago for the Princess 1/2 Marathon and kept going back to eat at the Animal Kingdom Lodge because it was soooo gorgeous (and had giraffes, lol)!!! Have an amazing time!!!
Awww Liv and the animals = amazing. I wish I lived closer so I could baby sit!! 🙂
Gina, why are you wearing your heart rate monitor watch? To track your burn in all the classes you teach per day?
yep, i always like to keep track when i have an intense day of teaching. sometimes i need to eat an extra 1200 calories or so
I will have to pick up some Aloe juice next time I make a TJ’s run! That salad looks super refreshing!
A friend of ours in Aruba harvests and bottles aloe, fresh daily. And sells it…for everything from a drink to applying to your skin. I can’t get down with the taste but I love it on my skin 🙂
How do you like your macbook pro? I just got one…and it’s def taking some getting used to…
MAN! Zumba just looks like the biggest partay ever! <3
aww i bet she loved seeing all the animals! what a good dad:) thanks for sharing! and aloe vera rocks! i drink it every day…it’s so good for you! chlorophyll too!
Where do they teach in Jacksonville?
Just Fitness 8206 Philips Hwy Jacksonville FL 32256
That does look like a fun Zumba class! That’s nice that you’re able to teach so many classes! I’d love to become Zumba certified, but I’m not sure if I’d be able to get much use out of it since the gyms near me are pretty small. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while, though!
I’ve seen the aloe drinks a lot lately and have wanted to try them but all I can think of is putting aloe vera gel all over sunburns, and it no longer seems appetizing, ha. Now that I know it’s good stuff, I might have to give it a try! Is there a different texture to it?
Making the Caprese Chicken for tomorrow’s dinner! 🙂
What is that drink sweetened with? I’ve had straight aloe vera juice before and it is not tasty!
sugar! and you’re right, by itself… phew
Elephants are always one of my fav since I’m a huge Bama fan, and the Birmingham zoo has a good elephant area. I always like the sea lions bc they play around alot. I love fruit in my salads like strawberries, blueberries, apples, and mango!
Aloe juice is my favorite! So refreshing!!!
SUCH A CUTE PIC OF U AND LIVI! she is so beautiful what a lucky momma. I have always been curious how many blog visits do you get a day?? I feel like your following has been growing and growing!
The Zumba class looks like fun. Your Madre is such a great cook!
madre is amazing:)
Hi, I know you are still breastfeeding Livi and wanted to mention that my lactation consultant recommended no aloe as it’s known to be harmful and even lower supply while breastfeeding. I’m no expert and I’ve only been breastfeeding for a little less than two months but I thought it would be good to pass along the information. I know you research the items you take in and probably have gotten the ok. Love your blog! 🙂
thank you, alyssa!
my midwife said it was fine if i’m having half a bottle a day, but that’s good to keep in mind. i’ll be sure to nix it if my supply drops
Is that a polar HRM? How do you find it? I just got one and it is so motivating!
yes- i love it! i’ve trained with one for the past 4 years or so
I love drinking aloe after a workout, yummm (:
I just love all the food you share with us, everything seems delicious!
LOVE aloe. It’s also great for the digestive system!!
When I worked on a sustainable farm in the Virgin Islands a couple years ago, we got to harvest aloe leaves and try eating them- I gotta say, there’s a reason why those bottles are sweetened so much! But it was great to smear on our skin for sunburns 🙂
it’s AWESOME for cuts and sunburns
I love aloe for skin but never heard of drinking it. I wonder if I could just use some from the back yard plant in smoothies?
totally- that’s what we did at 105degrees
Hey Gina!!! 😀
I’m totally NOT trying to be one of ‘those’ readers..;) But I just wanted to let you know about the aloe vera juice- I was actually drinking it (mixed with cranberry juice, or another kind of juice because drinking it alone was just not good- tasted like leather- yuck!) for my Crohn’s disease, but when I told my Gastro about it, he was like do NOT drink that! Apparently it can actually cause some problems in your GI tract, like creating open sores, etc. Just an fyi- it could definitely be different depending on the type of aloe vera juice, etc…just wanted to let you know what I knew about it! Hope all is well!! Xo
Love aloe for heart burn! I was excited yesterday when I found an aloe plant for $7!! They’re hard to find here in Texas.
Gina~ What kind of stroller do you have? My Sister is expecting her first and we are doing lots of stroller research for her. She has had her eye on a Inglesina..but not sure if/which infant car seats are compatible! It seems you have done your research too when it comes to accessories/carriers! Any info is appreciated!!
hey girl, we have the orbit baby travel system. it’s super safe, green and easy to use- all things that were important to us
xoxo