Happy Friday! I’m so excited for the weekend because we’re taking Harper to see her first movie in the theater (Beauty & the Beast, obviously)! It’s one of my favorite Disney movies and I can’t wait to see the live-action version (also, I love Emma Watson).
O N E
Have y’all head of MacKenzie-Childs? I’ve always been a fan of their classic back and white Courtly Check design and I was recently sent a cute Spring-themed package from them. My goal this summer is to really work on our landscaping and get some hanging flower baskets for our front porch. I recently purchased these patio planters to flank our front door as well. I can’t wait to add a little color and greenery to our porch now that we’ve switched out our wrought iron porch railings to crisp and classic painted white wood! MacKenzie-Childs sent me the cutest gardening gear! This gardening tool set, a pitcher and vase in their Spring floral pattern and a pot in the classic Courtly Check.
T W O
I’ve been working out regularly (avg. 4 days per week) since February 11th. I’m so proud of the progress I’ve made and my consistency! The truth is that I can’t NOT do it now. It has seriously made me feel whole again. I told my therapist it’s like a switch flipped and I did a total 180 – I’m happier, feel less tense overall and have better mental clarity.
Although exercise has been so positive for me, this week I want to share one downside for me and that’s my struggle with self-image when I exercise. When I’m not working out, I feel happy with my body and don’t focus on it much. I look in the mirror and am relatively pleased with what I see. Once I start working out though, I become more focused than I’d like on my body.
When I was pumping, I was at my lowest weight (this was not intentional – I was eating like a horse and ravenous all the time). My body just drops a lot of weight from pumping, especially since I had an oversupply with both babies (your body burns about 20 calories per ounce of milk produced). I knew I would gain it all back when I was done and I have gained about 12 lbs since weaning. Though this was expected, I was still a little surprised to see my weight at a recent doctor’s appointment, because I hadn’t weighed myself in a long time so that lower number is what was in my memory. I tend to pack on a few pounds when I first start working out and then lean out a few months later as I develop more muscle mass. I know this because I’ve done it several times and my body always follows this pattern. Yet when I saw the number on the scale, I felt discouraged because it felt like I “wasn’t working hard enough,” which logically I know isn’t true. When I exercise, I’m excited to see results and thus I become more cognizant about my body composition. I don’t like this about myself. I want to have the same carefree body image I have when I don’t exercise, so this is a challenge I’m working to overcome.
One of the ways I do this is to shift my attention from the scale to how I look and feel in my clothes. I also think about how much stronger I am. When I catch a glimpse of myself working out and see my muscles engaged, I feel empowered by that. I’m definitely not unhappy with my body in its current state – so I hope it doesn’t come off that way (in fact, I’ve already noticed some small differences in tone that I’m really pleased with). I think I’m frustrated that the moment I begin exercising I become so focused on seeing results, even though I know it takes time. Does anyone else struggle with this?
T H R E E 
OMG. Are you watching Big Little Lies on HBO? Because you should be. Like now. Like yesterday. This drama is seriously star-packed from Reese Witherspoon (could my girl crush be any stronger?) to Nicole Kidman, Zoe Kravtiz, Alexander Skarsgard and Laura Dern. I won’t spoil what it’s all about, but trust me when I say you need to watch it. Speaking of TV, we got rid of cable years ago and have been using Netflix, Sling TV and Roku. We also have an antenna to get basic cable. TV was such a time-suck for me in the past and I found myself committed to too many shows. It has been amazing to watch shows when I want to and not have a DVR. Kevin and I tend to binge-watch Netflix and HBO series and we have a couple of shows we watch each week but other than that, we don’t watch a ton of TV anymore. The shows we do watch are amazing and I’d love to recommend some of our favorites if you haven’t seen them! The OA (Netflix), Westworld (HBO), Black Mirror (Netflix), Fixer Upper (HGTV), Love it or List it Too (HGTV) and Suits (USA Network).
F O U R
April is going to be a super busy month for me, but it’s also the month I’m partnering with three other bloggers to do a sugar challenge. Y’all, I am SO addicted to sugar. I’ve even seen a nutritionist for it in the past to help curb the cravings. It worked for a while, but then I found myself on the couch eating Oreos again (and not just a few). My sugar addiction always really ramps up after each baby. Not only am I ravenous from nursing, but I want sugar all the time because I’m exhausted and need that high (which ultimately ends up in a sugar crash, but whatevs, right?)
I need to do this. I made it through a year of eating dairy and soy free and 4 months of eating dairy/soy/gluten/wheat/egg/peanut/fish/shellfish/corn free, which I NEVER thought I would be capable of, so I can do this too. It’s going to be so hard and I can ensure you that I will probably be a raging you know what the first week. I may even fail. But I need to try — and I’d love for some of y’all to join us for this 30 day challenge so we can encourage and support one another. I’ll share more about this soon – basically it’s about cutting out added sugars (I’m not going to be giving up fruit, I’m not that cray). I believe in moderation, but I was not practicing moderation at all with my sugar intake. It’s not uncommon for me to eat sugar and sweets multiple times a day, after each meal. It’s not uncommon for me to eat hundreds of calories a day in sugary sweets. No beuno. No wonder my body always craves it. Will y’all join me for this challenge? I think it will be great to check-in and keep ourselves accountable. I’ll post about it at the start of April!
F I V E
This faux fur pom pom blanket is the cutest home accent ever. Please note it’s also on sale for $37 which obviously means I need to buy a second one.
accent chair | pillow | rug | pom blanket
Our new chairs are here (yay!)) and I was able to sell our old dining chairs to a wonderful local woman. I’m so thrilled the chairs are hers — she’s going to enjoy them and take great care of them.
Isn’t our new gold mirror lovely? Obsessed!
gold mirror | chairs | table (RH) | similar vase | rug
Lastly, I’m sneaking in this outfit so many of y’all loved on IG!
sweater | sandals | raw hem ankle legging jeans | sunnies
Here’s to a HAPPY weekend!
Beauty & The Beast is soooo good! I loved it! And I loved that they stuck to the original movie plot. Also, I love your new dinning room set up! It definitely opens up the space.
Have a great weekend!
– Claudia
https://www.justalittleblush.com/
Claudia you are so sweet! I agree that it opens up that space so much since it’s such a small little nook. I also think the style of the chairs adds a little unexpected character (or maybe I just love bamboo too much haha).
I cannot wait to see it — so thrilled you enjoyed it! Seems like everyone is just raving about it.
gorgeous and LOVE all of this- esp working out and the sugar cravings. i really need to jump on board because with my second pregnancy right now i keep craving oreos too 😉 cant wait!
Cait– so excited you will be enjoying for this challenge! It’s such a struggle because the studies show the body is as addicted to sugar as it can be to drugs. I still want to practice moderation but I need a jump start to get on a better path.
We are cord cutters too, 6 years now!! It’s such a freedom to watch shows on our schedule instead of the other way!! Thanks for the show suggestions!!
Don’t be discouraged by the number on the scale. If you are working out 4x/week, I am SURE a lot of that is muscle. Strength training is so much more important in getting fit/healthy than cardio. I know that can be hard for some people to realize. The trainers at my gym stress putting cardio last on the priority list if you want to see changes in your body. Do you track your diet? That could also play a major role. I know it can be temping to reward yourself with a treat after working out, but that completely negates the point. You know what they say… “You can’t out-train a poor diet.” Think of it as diet contributing 70% towards your physique and exercise contributing only 30%.
Thank you Rachel! isn’t it funny how the mind works? Logically I KNOW I am gaining a ton of muscle considering I didn’t work out for almost four years, but then another part of my brain is telling me something else.
I don’t track my diet…but I would like to start. I think because I was so strict for a year when I was nursing (due to Lincoln’s intolerances) I kind of went a little overboard when i could eat whatever I wanted again. I think that genetically, I am lucky to be able to mostly eat whatever I want and stay slim, but I know I would have better/faster results if I actually ate well.
I HATE cardio so I’m glad to hear what you said about it. The only cardio I do is small burst that are incorporated between weight training exercises.
#2 – YES, OMG YES! I always feel the EXACT same way — after nursing babies, and then once I start working out. It’s as if I wrote that myself!
#3 – YES! The book was amazing and I’ve seen episode 1 of the show and can’t wait to finish it!
#4 – COUNT ME IN!!! Sugar is my weakness for sure.
Have a great weekend!
Erica— it sounds like we have a lot in common, for better or for worse, ha 🙂
Beauty & the Beast is fabulous – I cannot say enough good things about it! I love Westworld and Fixer Upper & I’ve been making a point to check out Big Little Lies!
It was sooo good.
OMG…Big Little Lies is an HBO show? I loved the book!!!
Yes! it’s a 7-episode series. The finale airs next Sunday!
I’m definitely interested in the sugar challenge – give us a heads up before it starts! Also, what I really want to know is, where did you get your ginger jars? Love!
Hi Moncia! They are from Home Goods 🙂 all under $30!
I read the book years ago and am ADDICTED to the show! I am going to be sad when it’s over 🙁 I neeeeeed to get on board with the no-sugar challenge! I work out 3-5 days a week and have been consistently since August and have seen a huge difference in my body, but more importantly my self image. I agree about needing it more mentally than physically. You should be proud of yourself to committing to that while working full time out of the house AND taking care of your family! Way to go!