Sunday Funday in Leadville, Colo

I challenge you to top the Sunday I just had. Here's what went down...

My wonderful mother-in-law stayed home with my two kids (2.5yrs and 7 months) so my husband and I could enjoy some time together. 

We hit the trails with 8 four-legged friends and took turns driving the sled. Thanks Alpine Adventures Dogsledding for an awesome time!

I dusted off the XC skis and took a few laps on the trails before lunch.

We skied about a mile to Tennessee Pass Cookhouse and Nordic Centerwhere I enjoyed a delicious chicken|apple|brie sandwich and my husband had some tasty salmon tacos. We also might have enjoyed an Elevation Beer Company beer and a warm cookie!

The only thing that would have made our day perfect was no ski traffic! ‪#‎stopmovingtocolorado‬ ‪#‎I70nightmares‬

‪#‎journeytothirty‬ ‪#‎100daysofhealthy‬ ‪#‎day76‬

Soul Cycle Pop-Up

It happened and my first (and hopefully not last) cycle class is in the books!

Target teamed up with SoulCycle to provide pop-up classes across the country and Denver was one of the cities selected. I'll admit I only signed up because a friend mentioned it to try and get a group of us to go together. So when it didn't work out and I was going to venture in my own, I was a little nervous. 😳

After getting signed in I headed up stairs to the "bike room." I got even more nervous when I saw how close the bikes were packed in. I just kept thinking I'm going to make a fool out of myself 😁 So I found my bike, at the front of the room right by the instructor...awesome! (insert sarcasm) The instructor was nice and helped me set up my bike and show me how to click in my shoes and I was ready to go. 

As I sat there waiting for the class to start, I gazed the room and kept thinking to myself "I'm going to look like such a fool," "Everyone's going to be watching me up here," "The instructor is going to call me out for not doing something right." And then we started...

My legs were spinning, my heart was pumping, sweat was pouring down my face and I was IN THE ZONE! I've always loved upbeat music and have rhythm (but can't dance for the life of me) so this class had me rocking! 🎧 I loved pushing myself to the beat of the music and while at first I felt a little silly that quickly faded as I put my head down and got to it 👊🏼 And we weren't just spinning. There were push-ups, body extensions, weights and "running" and before I knew it we were at the cool down. 🚴🏼💦💪🏼

I really wish I could have recorded part of the class because it was so much fun. Our instructor was amazing, her energy was contagious and I wish I could have remembered more than one thing she said to us but at least I got one. "It doesn't have to be perfect; you just have to show up, believe you can and enjoy it." 

Happy Saturday! ‪#‎soulcyclextarget‬ ‪#‎journeytothirty‬ ‪#‎100daysofhealthy‬‪#‎day75‬ ‪#‎fitmom‬

Workouts: #IMaxedOut

Called Sweat Fest for a reason! 💦 The only thing you can't see is my heart beating out of my chest! ❤

‪#‎journeytothirty‬ ‪#‎100daysofhealthy‬ ‪#‎day71‬ ‪#‎fitmom‬ ‪#‎imaxedout‬

Workouts: #imaxedout Abs

Need some ideas for ab workouts that aren't stationary? Pop in a Shaun Tvideo and he'll give you plenty! ‪#‎imaxedout‬ ‪#‎journeytothirty‬‪#‎100daysofhealthy‬ ‪#‎day66‬ ‪#‎fitmom‬

Positivity

I saw this on my FB feed yesterday and it couldn't be more true for myself right now. 

I am 100% guilty of focusing on negativity. I find myself constantly wishing the baby days and toddler years away; I am NOT a little kid person! But then the days come where my baby falls asleep in my arms or the toddler tells me "Goodnight, I wub you," as I leave his room. Those moments melt my ❤. And if it's not my kids it's something else:
🏠 Why'd we buy a fixer upper when we have no time, money or energy to do what we want
🔸Be grateful you are able to be a homeowner
💻 Work was so stressful today
🔸I'm very fortunate I'm able to work at home and keep my baby with me
🏔 It's such a hassle getting 2 kids ready to go out somewhere
🔸I live in a beautiful state full of adventure
🍲 The last thing I want to do at the end of a long day is make dinner
🔸There are many people who would love a home-cooked meal
😫 When will the house stay clean for more than 30 minutes?
🔸"Please excuse the mess but our family is making memories."

Here's my challenge to you. Whenever you catch yourself saying something negative, put a positive spin on it and then say it out loud. "Let's be grateful for the life we have as we live it."

Monday Motivation

Monday's are a great day to hit that restart button. It's a new week so go at it with a great attitude and open mind! 👊🏼
Live Simpy: Last week I talked about simplifying things in life. When your days are filled with numerous priorities, not having a plan-of-action can make life feel chaotic. And I was 100% guilty of living in "chaos." But I'm ready for it this week with a to-do list ready to go. If you have to have chaos, at least organize it ‪#‎livesimply‬

Dream Big: We all have dreams we hope to succeed at. One of my current dreams is becoming successful with fitness coaching. Not only do I love and live an active lifestyle, I love helping others and want share how it's possible to maintain a healthier lifestyle amidst the {chaos}. 👆🏼‪#‎dreambig‬ ‪#‎BBcoaching‬

Be Grateful: I also shared last week how I've been dwelling on the negatives instead of being grateful for everything I have. This morning my sister-in-law shared a story about a friend of hers. Due with a baby in May, her husband unexpectedly passed away. We never know what life will throw at us so find a way to ‪#‎begrateful‬ everyday! 🙏🏼

Give Love: Can you believe we are one week away from February (the month of love)? While it's important to express our love to those near and dear to us, we can't forget to love ourselves either. And what better way to do that with committing to a healthier YOU! ❤ ‪#‎givelove‬ ‪#‎selflove‬‪#‎healthierwealthier2016‬

Laugh Lots: Laugh everyday. 😂 Laughing is contagious so live in the moment and find humor in the things that just aren't going your way. "When you love and laugh abundantly you live a beautiful life!" ‪#‎laughlots‬

Happy Monday! ‪#‎motivationalmonday‬ ‪#‎journeytothirty‬ ‪#‎100daysofhealthy‬‪#‎day70‬

Simplify

This month my coaching group's ‪#‎wordofthemonth‬ is SIMPLIFY. While this is true for my fitness business, it's also true for life in general. I took a moment to think about all that I have on my plate:
🔸2 kids
🔸Full-time job
🔸House chores
🔸Personal Development
🔸Running my Fit Page
🔸Working out
🔸Making meals
🔸Exercising the dog
...

After listing everything out I wonder how in the heck I even make time for all of this. I've been more stressed than normal these first few weeks of 2016 and I finally figured out why...I'm trying to do TOO MUCH and have no schedule to anything. So I'm taking a step back to re-evaluate what is important to me and how-to better time manage the rest to fit it all in.
🔸My sink will be full of dishes and toys will stay on the floor because I want to spend time with my husband and kids
🔸Steak and cucumbers is an OK meal with me because I do not like spending time in the kitchen
🔸My workout is over my lunch break because the baby naps and I'm not exhausted from the day yet
🔸I follow-up with my coaching and training groups when the kids go to bed because it's quiet and peaceful
...

I love this picture not only because it's pretty, but because that splash is from my 2 year old throwing a rock in to the lake on a family vacation. A vacation where time slowed down, I took in the small things and realized that simplicity is what I need in my life. ‪#‎journeytothirty‬ ‪#‎100daysofhealthy‬‪#‎day65‬ ‪#‎simplicity‬

Workouts: #imaxedout Texas Style

I used to go out of town with the attitude, oh I'll just get back to working out when I get home. And then the vacation would come with less-than-stellar eating habits which left me just feeling 😩 But now I've got no excuses with my workouts on my laptop! So ‪#‎imaxedout‬ in the Texas sun ☀💪🏼 ‪#‎noexcuses‬ ‪#‎fitmom‬ ‪#‎journeytothirty‬ ‪#‎100daysofhealthy‬ ‪#‎day60‬ ‪#‎BOD‬

How do you go strength when you didn't bring or have access to weights? You stream Max:30 Strength! Whoa push-ups!! 💪🏼

Unfortunately the Texas sun was not out today so my grandparents' entryway made do. #nbd 👊🏼 #imaxedout and am now ready for some football 🏈#fitmom #BOD #journeytothirty #100dayofhealthy#day61 #beatthepatriots

Cooper Thomas: Six Months

I can not believe I am sitting here writing a 6 month post for Cooper. Wasn't it just summer and I was complaining about being pregnant? Well I'm not and yes, Cooper is 6 months old!

Coop monster, coop-a-loop, pooper are a few of your nicknames. You (knock on wood) are doing much better sleeping and waking up 2, and sometimes only 1, time per night. You seem to be an early riser like your momma and want to take a nap soon after (again like your momma!). I think I can officially call you a mover. Once a roller, which you still like to do, you've now mastered scooting on your stomach towards toys. It is only a matter of time before you get your knees under you and and start crawling. Your brother crawled 2 days after turning 7 months, so it's a race to see if you'll beat him! We are working on sitting up. You actually move around so much mommy had to get the pack-n-play out to contain you for a little while so she could get some work done. You can stay up for a while, but then topple over. I really think you're too focused on moving somewhere to sit still long enough.

Some fun things you did this month were riding in the swing for the first time at the park and trying frozen banana and banana crackers for teething. You are wearing 9 month clothes now and I sadly gave up breast feeding right after Christmas. You've been bottle fed since the beginning of December and even though mommy is a little sad (it was our quiet time away from your crazy, loud brother), you don't seem to mind. But you are growing now like a champ and are in the 50th percentile for height and up to 25th now for weight. Finally evening out :)

Birth: 6lbs 11.1oz and 19.5in

Leaving Hospital: 6lbs 3.9oz

Five Days: 6lbs 10oz

Two Weeks: 7lbs 10.5oz and 20in
One Month: ~9lbs and 21in
Two Months: 11lbs and 23in
Four Months: 13lbs 4oz and 25 1/2in
Six Months: 16lbs and ___in

We love you so much Cooper and everyone is so excited to meet you in Texas this weekend!

First Sledding of 2016

Sledding is a lot harder when you're a parent but it's all worth it when you see the excitement on your kids face as they zoom down the hill! ‪#‎fitmom‬‪#‎journeytothirty‬ ‪#‎100daysofhealthy‬ ‪#‎day55‬

Workout Accountability Buddies

Ok ladies, who's with me? 🖐🏼

On Fridays a friend and I get together and work out after work. Usually we talk about our kids, husbands (but only good things 😉) or about our family plans for the weekend. But the next thing you know 30 min have come and gone and we also got in a workout!! It's a great jumpstart to the weekend which always seem to be chaotic when you have kids. 

So grab a friend, significant other, family member or even your kids and make it fun! #timeflieswhenyourehavingfun #journeytothirty#100daysofhealthy #day53 #fitfriends#accountability

Be-YOU-tiful

Today's a mini-milestone in my journey as I hit #day50 on my #100daysofhealthy countdown. While that might not seem like much to you, to me it means I am 50 days away from turning the big 3-0! I use to be scared of that number, but now I'm ready for it!!

25 was my best year health wise and I'm back on track to being the best me again for myself and my family. Coming up on a milestone birthday I've been reflecting on where I am in my life and I'm ready to make my 30s the best decade for myself. My family is complete, I've surrounded myself with an amazing online fitness support group and I'm challenging myself in new ways to make an even better me than I was 5 years ago.

So here's to the last 50 days in my 20s reflecting on where I've come from, where I want to go and being proud of where I am today and all I've accomplished. #journeytothirty #fitmom #beyoutiful

Monday Motivation

On Mondays I kick it in to high gear to make sure my week starts off on the right track. I tend to have the most energy on Mondays so I like put it in to a good workout! 👊🏼 #nevermissamonday #fitmom#journeytothirty #100daysofhealthy #day49#t25gamma #burpeefrontkick

Real People: Real Resutls

This is what REAL people look like after a workout! 💪🏼 #crazyhairdontcare We are a few days in to 2016 and I can already tell this is going to be a great year. Do you have big plans for the new year? I'm ready to keep getting strong on my fitness journey and be more focused and committed to my fitness coaching. Here's to a #healthierwealthier2016#journeytothirty #100daysofhealthy #day48

A Very Merry Jennings Christmas

Ok, so it's already 2016 and I'm just now writing a post about Christmas...oops! Things have been a little crazy around the house and I finally found some time to sit down.

The Christmas season started for us with a visit to Santa Claus at a local rec center. I was hesitant as to how Carson would react to Santa this year, but it was a great year and he LOVED Santa! He ran right up to him and gave him a big hug!

Next on the agenda was a trip to the Hudson Gardens light display. Although still chilly, the frigid Colorado nights hadn't arrived quite yet, so it was a great evening to stroll the gardens. Cooper loved looking at all the lights (if you can't tell by his big eyes gazing in all the pictures) and Carson was in to the "cool lights" on houses so he enjoyed them as well. We also got to see Santa and take a wagon ride.

My parents came to town the weekend before Christmas to babysit for Reid's office Christmas party. We opened some Christmas presents with them before they went back to Kansas.

Christmas morning Cooper decided to get up earlier than normal. He didn't seem interested in waiting for everyone else to wake up so I used the opportunity to take some pictures of him and then let him dig in to his stocking. Shorty after Carson and Reid woke up and the rest of our stockings were opened. While Carson enjoyed round 1 of gifts, we cooked some cinnamon rolls, put on Michael Buble and ate some breakfast before getting in to all the gifts under the tree. It was a LONG distracted morning and I helped Carson unwrap half his presents it seemed like! Carson's favorite toys were his broom from Santa, kitchen food from Santa and Nonni and a remote control car from Great Grandma Joyce. Cooper loved the teething rings from Santa and a rolling ball from his cousins in North Carolina. I wish I could say Christmas was nice and relaxing but Carson was not in the best of moods which followed by some weird stomach bug that lasted about 6 hours. Poor daddy had to do house work on Christmas and his birthday.

When the morning of presents finally settled down, we decided to head to South Valley Park for a family hike. We've been able to get out for a hike for a few years now so hope to get out every year! The temperature was chilly, but it was lightly snowing big flakes and it was just beautiful outside!!

After our hike it was time to switch gears for the day and get ready to celebrate Reid's birthday. It was a milestone birthday this year as he turned the big 3-0! I decided to make his wish come true and whip up a gin and tonic cake. Aside from getting stuck in the pan, it turned out pretty good!

The Christmas celebrations ended with a trip for Carson and Reid to the Santa's Lighted Forest Train at the Georgetown Railroad the Monday after Christmas. He got to see Santa again, got some jingle bells and got to eat/drink lots of unhealthy things!

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas season! Love The Jennings Family!