Who doesn’t love Friday? It’s definitely in my top five favorite days of the week. And speaking of favorites, I get to share some other favorites of mine with you this week! The list that I’ll share with you is pretty simple because that’s how I like to keep it these days, having two toddler boys that I chase around all day!
This year I’ve made a goal to get rid of some of the post-pregnancy belly fluff. So, that means I’m trying to hit the gym when I can and be more mindful of eating healthy. Do I always achieve that goal? No. But, I can happily tell you that I am currently writing this while at the gym on the exercise bike, which brings me to my first “favorite.”
1. My Pandora workout playlist: “dance cardio radio”
It’s amazing how quickly some good, high-energy tunes can turn that frown upside down and help push you to break a sweat. I’ll get to the gym, put my earbuds in, turn on my Pandora workout station, and all of a sudden, I feel like the Hulk gearing up for a game of whack-a-mole. And if I get a song that isn’t living up to my feel-good standards, SKIP! I’m not a workout beast. I’m not a health nut. I’m not prancing around in some TikTok yoga pants trying to get a reaction from the men. BUT, I am a mama who needs some extra motivation to get rid of some unwanted fluff in the belly area, and my Pandora workout playlist is my favorite go-to for that motivation.
Next up is something I cannot live without.
2: Laneige lip gloss and sleeping mask
I’ve always struggled with having chapped lips, and when we moved to Lubbock a couple of years ago, my body wasn’t used to the heat, the wind, and all of this west Texas weather. My lips needed some lovin and not the kind my husband could offer. I have tried so many chapsticks, lip balms, etc., but I finally found my lips soulmate when I walked into Sephora one day and found the Laneige lip gloss and sleeping mask. It’s been a game-changer and makes my lips feel so silky and smoochable.
3. Spending time in my garden
When we moved from eastern Washington to Lubbock a couple of years ago, I left behind a little hobby garden that I enjoyed spending some of my free time tending to. Once we settled in Lubbock, I knew that I wanted to get some raised beds and continue having a garden. I like getting my hands dirty. Not only did a garden provide produce, but also a little bit of sanity when I needed to retreat from needy kiddos. My garden has been my “happy place” that is a space just for me. Although, it’s quickly becoming cohabited by both my boys as they love to “help” dig in the dirt and pull up plants. And even though I cringe anytime they step on a plant or pull something up that isn’t ready, I try to keep in mind that they are just learning, and it’s better to encourage and teach them rather than get upset. For me, having a garden space large enough that your plants can flourish, yet small enough that is manageable for a tired mama, is key. I grew up on a farm, and we always had a large garden. As a kid, I hated being forced into weeding and working in the garden. But now, I can look back and appreciate everything that working in the garden taught me. I hope that one day my boys will have fond memories of gardening with me.
4. Western Son Prickly Pear Vodka & sugar-free 7-up
I really tried to like the White Claws and other low-calorie seltzer drinks, but I have finally given up trying to be someone I’m not and have embraced my true self. I’m a vodka girl. And the Western Son prickly pear vodka mixed with sugar-free 7-Up has won my taste buds over! It seems to always taste better in my Lubbock Moms stemless wine glass. You may be looking at the vodka bottle in this picture and thinking, “wow, that’s a big bottle of vodka” and, you’d be right. It is! But it’s next to a mini 7-Up can and looks extra big, so don’t go all judgy-judgy on me; it’s all about moderation.
And last, but certainly not least…
5. Game Nights
What kind of game, you might ask? Any! Board games, card games, sporting games, yard games, you name it – I like to play them all. My competitive nature subsided after having kids, but it is still very much alive and comes out while playing games. Some of my top favorite games to play lately have been: Catan, Chess, Cribbage, Scrabble, Pictionary, Ping Pong, Golf, and of course, I’ve been playing my fair share of memory and Go Fish with my kiddos. Pre-kids I used to play a lot of Poker and entered several poker tournaments. In poker, a world largely dominated by men, I’m proud to say I could hold my own and get intense satisfaction anytime I win.
Game nights are a great way to connect with others and have some laughs. I highly encourage trying a new game or playing an old favorite!
