Hephaestus’s Story Hello, my name is Soren Stebbins and I am today’s guest blogger. Every now and then, I will return here to share stories from all across the world, from Mythology to fairy tales. Today I will be telling the story of Hephaestus, one […]
Fitness and life update Hello again everyone, I thought I would check in with everyone with a fitness and life update today. If you recall in this blog post, I stated I was about to start my summer fitness shape up. All was fine at first, […]
I look forward to the different seasons we have here in Virginia, because they mark the start of fun family traditions like this! Going to our local farms and orchards is something I love doing every summer and fall, and no matter how many times we go to the same place, there is always a new experience to be had! During the summer we usually head out to go berry or peach picking and in the fall you will find us at our local apple orchards.
The memories made on these various trips stay with me throughout the years and never fail to bring a smile to my face. I would rather go to beautiful countryside location or a beach with my family than an amusement park any day! I am a nature child through and through! 😉
The day we went strawberry picking was nice because it was overcast and the temperature, while warm, was not unbearable. There were so many ripe strawberries so we quickly got a nice bucket full to take home with us. Handpicking your own berries from the plants they grow from makes you appreciate not only the hard work that goes into creating that plant, but the quality of natural, unprocessed foods.
After picking our strawberries, we went to see the animals! I’m a huge animal lover so this is always one of my favorite parts of visiting Holly Forks farm. They have a few pigs such as Mr. Woo, adorable rabbits, and of course chickens! Ever since I was little I have loved chickens, and I have pretty good luck getting along with them wherever I am.
Every year, in May, I look forward to strawberry picking with my family at Holly Fork Farm. This family tradition began when we first moved to Virginia, and we first discovered the farm while looking for a place to pick pumpkins in the fall (a tradition we also have had since living here!) It has been fun to watch this farm grow and change over the years, and I am so happy to see their business thriving. I am a big believer in supporting local farmers and businesses, and there is nothing in this world like eating fresh from the farm strawberries!
Holly Fork farm’s strawberries are not sprayed, and chemical free, so you can feel good eating them on your toast with mascarpone cheese and honey as we do!
The eggs from Holly Fork are also amazing! You can visit the actual chickens these eggs come from. The yolks of these eggs are so rich and healthy, and were bright orange…so fresh and delicious!
It’s always a pleasure to get to visit all the animals at Holly Fork. The baby chickens and bunnies were so cute, and curious as well! I love baby animals…much like human babies, they are discovering and learning about the world around them, and it is fun to watch their reactions.
Holly Fork is one of our Family “happy places.” Even Mr. Mickey loves to visit and see all the animals. Much like the baby animals, he is very curious about all the farm animals. He would do well living on a farm…who knows, maybe in the future we will have a farm of our own.
What family traditions do you and your family share? Do you visit pick-your-own farms? I am always looking for fun activities and ideas to try! What do you suggest? Leave a suggestion below!
The “Cosmic Mini Dress” & “Mermaid tears” earrings…. The “Cosmic Mini Dress”…. If you are looking for the perfect dress to wear on your next vacation, date night, or festival…look no further! The “Cosmic Mini dress”, Is backless, and has an alluring corseted detail […]
The Summer Style post series….outfit ideas and accessories for the summer season The Undine Dress and Gossamery Mermaid Jewelry collection Who doesn’t love summer style? All those flowing sundresses, cute mini dresses, shorts with breezy tops? When the weather turns warm, the carefree clothing […]
I feel so much gratitude for being gifted the chance to live in an area where there are 4 seasons. Every few months I have new sights, sounds, weather, and foods to look forward to. When spring rolls around, I love to watch the trees, as they begin to explode forth with new green leaves. It’s amazing to watch the tulips and daffodils emerge from the soil, and the dogwood and redbud trees bless us with delicate pink and white blooms. This change of season also signals a reset in my fitness program. It’s time to shed the “winter fluff” that has accumulated on my body, and shred down to show off my hard earned muscle. Usually around October, I begin to add more calories to my daily meals. I love all the hearty warming food fall has to offer, and I enjoy myself thoroughly. I still workout, but my focus is more on building muscle tissue, and less on “getting shredded.” I never allow myself to gain more than 5 to 7 pounds over the autumn/winter season. If I were to gain more than that, it would just make it harder, and take longer to sweat it off, and I have better things to do with my time. LOL!
Hands down, my favorite way to lean out for summer doesn’t require a gym membership! It is free, and anyone, anywhere can do it! All one has to do is step outside! My two favorite ways to get my sweat on in spring are walking/running, or mountain biking. When ever I take to the outdoors for my workout, I actually burn more calories than if I was on an elliptical, treadmill, or other cardio machine. The beauty, and energy all around me, is so motivating and inspiring, that I find I push myself harder and sweat more. Being out on a beautiful trail also eases my stress, and clears my head. It’s so good for the soul to reconnect with the natural world. This week I have started to ramp up my outdoor workouts. I have several trails and areas I like to frequent. I really want to visit some new places I haven’t been before, and review them for this blog. I am so lucky to live in an area with so many options for outdoor exercise. There are thousands of miles of trails all over. It’s just amazing.
I always train with weights, and this does require a gym membership, or purchasing your own equipment. Over the years, we have purchased many pieces of equipment, and have our own gym in our garage. After I had kids, I found the convenience of working out at home, a much easier option….and it also saved us a lot of money (not just in gym fees but gas to get to the gym!) I have worked out at gyms as well, but I prefer not having to wait in line for equipment, or being exposed to germs (YUCK!) as not all people are considerate, and stay at home when ill.
I train with weights 5 days a week for spring/summer training, and in the autumn/winter, I usually cut that down to 3 or 4 days a week (heavy weights). I currently am utilizing a split routine, and work at least two body parts a day. I usually will follow this up with some sort of cardio. If I am not taking my cardio outdoors, I perform HIIT for 10 to 20 minutes on my treadmill, or with a body weight circuit of plyometric exercises.
For my body type, I absolutely need to do regular cardio. I gain muscle fairly easy, especially in my upper body. I hold my body fat in my lower abdomen and legs, and regular cardio is what melts it off in those areas. If you have stubborn body fat on your lower body, then sprints are your best friend, I highly recommend them, especially if you have a hill you can get at! Sprint up the hill, then walk back down. This will also work for a long flight of stairs.
I also do well with a more moderate carbohydrate intake. If I eat too many carbs, I bloat. I will literally gain a pound or two in water weight overnight! This being said, if I am going to load up on carbs, I make sure to burn them off. If I know I am going to mountain bike all day with my family, I consume those carbs.
I have now started my summer fitness program. It will be interesting to see how fast or slow I will lean out. We spend a lot of time out on our boat, so I am always wearing swimwear. Who doesn’t want to look their best in a bikini? I will be updating my progress as time goes on here. If you want an idea of what type of weight training I do, just click HERE. What are your favorite ways to get in shape for summer? Are you ready to join me in my fitness quest? Comment below and join the conversation!
Have a wonderful week everyone! Stay fit and healthy!
SUNFLOWERS IN WINTER… We just wanted to share with you some of the photos we took for the “Sunny Sunflower Dress” from the “Gossamery Gardens”collection. To learn all about this dress in detail, please click HERE. This style of dress is going to be […]
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” –Pablo Picasso My Art courses this spring Last semester I dipped my toes into the realm of printmaking and painting, and I am continuing that this […]
Meditation practice is on the rise these days, and everyone from seniors to children are giving it a go! This really comes as no surprise. Life isn’t always easy with the constant stress, deadlines, and traffic….not to mention the absolute absurdity that is thrown at us constantly from various media sources. We all deserve to distress, unwind, and to achieve a level of calm and serenity. Meditation is the key to achieving this goal. Meditation enhances physical and emotional well being. It’s a wonderful and free “mind-body complementary medicine” according the Mayo Clinic, and I have to say I agree. The best part of this medicine, is the positive side effects it brings! I know since I have started my meditation practice, it has changed my life for the better, and it can change yours too! Before I get into how it has changed me, lets take a look at what health benefits it can deliver….
Meditation can help with emotional well being, as well as illness. Some of the emotional well being benefits are:
Meditation a can also be great for those suffering from illnesses. They can enhance your health, and boost any treatments or protocols you are currently following. Some illnesses it can help with are:
There is no real wrong way to meditate, so if the thought of giving it a try stresses you out because you area afraid you might do it incorrectly…don’t worry! There are several ways to engage your mind in meditation. Some types of meditation include:
As you can see there are many types,(a description of each HERE) so there is something for everyone! Some are active, some you can sit, some you are laying down….you can even practice meditation while walking, running, or riding a bike!
The first thing I learned was acceptance of my current state. some people might get frustrated when they first start but that is ok! Don’t give up! Accept where you are in your journey. Meditation is all about letting go of what you no longer need, and this doesn’t happen all at once.
Meditation has definitely surprised me. I knew it would bring relaxation when I was feeling stressed, but I had no idea it would bring about a chain of events that has changed me for the better. I am not only more calm, but I don’t get upset as quickly as I used to. I am slowly learning to “let thoughts pass without judgement” and my heart feels lighter. My sleep has improved dramatically. I achieve deep sleep easily, and awaken with more energy. I also don’t wake up in the middle of the night like I used to.
Slowly but surely, I am beginning to be able to express my feelings better verbally. (before it was so hard to put into words exactly what I was feeling…INFJ problems! LOL) My intuition is getting even stronger, and I am beginning to look at the world in a different way….Everything seems to be becoming even more obvious, and “crystal clear” so to speak. I swear I feel like Sherlock when he goes into his “mind palace.”
before meditation, my mind palace would like the party scene from the movie Weird Science….
now it is something like this….
I make sure to meditate for at least 10 minutes in the morning, and in the evening when I get into bed, I meditate for at least 20 minutes. I actually look forward to this time each day.
While you do not need to use an app for meditation, I downloaded mine originally just for the timer it contained, but as it turns out, it is so much more!
The app I use is called Insight timer. I love it! There are so many cool features such as guided meditations, music, talks, and even a social aspect. You can add friends, and also message people, as well as hit a button to “thank” people for meditating with you.
When you open up the app, There is a map of the world, and it shows all of the people currently meditating with insight timer. I love knowing that so many people in the world are meditating at the same exact time. Very cool.
The timer itself has various sounds you can set for your opening, and closing bells, as well as various intervals during your meditation.
You have the option to choose silence, various nature sounds, or music to play the duration of your meditation. My favorite sound is “secret garden”. It sounds like a beautiful garden scene with birds chirping, a water fountain bubbling, and wind chimes. Very relaxing…
Some of my favorite guided meditations are for sleep, manifestation, chakras, and relaxation.
There are even groups you can join, where you can discuss a variety of subjects! It’s such a great app for community.
I highly recommend Insight timer. It makes me want to meditate all the time! You can find both Ciarra and I on the app. Join us! Download the app and give it a whirl!!
Until next time,
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Black Velvet in the Rain…. “The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood, and the sound of outer ocean on a beach.”-Henry Beston Handmade black velvet duster…perfect for the free spirited woman […]