Lindsay's List

Hey-o! Hey-OOO!!!

No time for small talk today…I gotz stuff to do. Travis and I are leaving for a little romantic getaway tomorrow (WITHOUT kids!!) which means I have to pack for 5 people (and OVERpack for myself because you just never know what you’ll need so I end up taking two suitcases and wearing one outfit….but you just never know.) We’re visiting the Biltmore House (haven’t been since elementary school) and staying the night. We’ve also tossed around sushi and indoor rock wall climbing so I’m incredibly excited.

Anyhow, here are a bunch of pictures that I just cleaned off my phone. Virtual photo diary, GO!!

QUESTION: Weekend plans???

splendid…lindsay

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, here is a list of things I’m currently loving:

Soggy cereal.
Not-soggy cereal.
All cereal.
When the Holy Spirit moves at church and I can literally see the goosebumps forming on my arms.
Travis’ manbun.
Travis’ everything.
This family he gave me.

The way that Amazon segues right into the next Backyardigans so I can sit still for just a bit longer.
Walking with Tiffany at the track (boo hiss to the current it’s-freezing-outside-so-we-can’t status. I can’t wait for Spring).
Looking out my back window and still loving the fact that it’s Winter.

Eating my protein pancake as slooooowly as I can every morning.
Burpees and thrusters and push-ups and….
The way my new Arbonne lotion smells.

Being able to say that last sentence and not trying to sell you guys anything.
The excitement of a snow day.
The fact that my seven-year-old was brave enough to audition for Treasure Island (not only that but he ROCKED it, pirate-accent and all).

Hazelnut k-cups.
The way Tiger Balm makes my sore muscles feel (but not the smell…the smell is not good).
Reading through the Bible with my inlaws.
Group texts with my inlaws (although sometimes I DO click on the “Do Not Disturb” function).
Trying to perfect the cauliflower-crust pizza. I can’t seem to make them “pickupable.” (Any tips/recipes you love??)

Puzzling with my husband.
Making puzzling a verb.

Doing everything I can to find out how best to teach Clara.
Being BLESSED to be able to BE her teacher and all of the amazingness of homeschooling.
Helping others lead healthy lives…being a cheerleader.

Blogging sporadically.
Deleting the Facebook app from my phone.
Resting. Truly resting.
The way Sunday feels.

Just to name a few….

Happy Valentine’s Day, my dear friends! I hope you feel loved (because you ARE loved!).

QUESTION: What are some of YOUR current LOVES??

splendid…lindsay

I think that what stops me sometimes from sitting down to write a post is TIME. I feel like I don’t have enough time to create a solid post with an intro, conclusion, theme and a picture. That’s stupid. It’s 9:58am, Wednesday morning and I just did something weird and thought, “I wonder if other people would think that’s weird. I should blog about it.” And so I am.

No pictures, no edits. 5 minutes, in and out. Yes, calling a behavior or a person “weird” is definitely subjective but you get the gist.

8 Weird Things I Do

I don’t like it when my nails are long. If one breaks, they all get chopped.

I cut my own hair and can count the number of times I’ve gone to the salon on ONE hand. It’s a hot mess and that’s why I wear it up in a top bun. (and also I’m lazy and hate styling it)

(Here’s the one that prompted this post) I look forward to drinking/eating the last little soggy bits of cereal in my kids’ breakfast bowls. There’s probably a bit of “backwash”-action going on but I don’t mind and I simply love it. Best cereal to do this with –> Frosted Mini Wheats.

I chew evenly. I take bites on each side of my mouth and they have to end in an even number. Don’t give me 3 M&M’s. I want either 2 or 4.

Toilet paper. The roll needs to spin clockwise off the holder or else I’ll take it off and readjust.

Clean floors are my jam. We don’t wear shoes in the house. Clara’s allergist suggested this when we had her tested but honestly, I use this as backup to my neuroses.

I hate eating big meals. I like to snack ALL DAY long. Unfortunately, I’ve trained my kids to be snackers and they’re always asking for food. This isn’t a problem that I’m really trying to change so don’t give me tips.

My nostrils dictate how I sleep. If one side is stuffed up and the other is clear, I put the clear side down, facing the pillow and sleep on that side of my body. That may be the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard.

——

That was 5 minutes. I’ll stop at 8 things. Happy Wednesday!!!

QUESTION: Tell me one WEIRD thing YOU do!

splendid…lindsay

Hello and Happy Thursday friends!

Before I get started with today’s topic, I wanted to give you all a big virtual hug and say, “THANK YOU” for your support on my last post. It sounds like a lot of us are in this same boat of waiting and it’s comforting to know that I’m not alone.

Did I ever share this picture?? I can’t remember. I love it. I love us.

So real quick…I want to try to blog at least once a week. It’s good for me. I always feel better after I sit down and write a little. The thing is, I want to write content that you guys would want to read. What topics do you like to read about? What things should I (over)share about?? Full day of eating? A Day In the Life? More workouts? Products that I’m using and loving (btw, right now I’m saying NO to a lot of paid product reviews. Since I’m blogging so sporadically, I don’t want this to become one big infomercial.). Would you like more big photo dump posts??

Point blank –> Tell me what to write!!

Comment below with topics and requests.

splendid…lindsay

It’s currently 7:10pm on Friday night.

Clara and Porter, who still have tomato sauce on the corners of their mouths, are sitting at my feet engrossed in (the same exact episode that we always watch of) Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I remember when Henry was little and watching Finding Nemo over and over and over and over again, so much so that I gave our family a 6 year break from that fish movie and we only just recently watched it again. Luckily, Porter hasn’t shown such an affinity for it. MMC is his Nemo and I can already see me (conveniently) breaking this dvd disc. Poor Mickey.

Anyway, Travis took Henry to basketball practice (yes, 6-year-old basketball practice at 7pm on a Friday night!!!!) so I thought I’d sit down for a second and type.

It’s hard to put into words the way I’m feeling these days but I want to try because writing always helps me process.

I think “resting” is a good word for this time.

I also think “bored” might apply.

From 60 to 0

I haven’t shared it here on the blog but I recently sold my part of the coffee/yogurt shop. There’s a lot of backstory that I won’t get into here but I am no longer part-owner of that business. It was a good thing and I’m happy to have stepped away (and also rooting for that baby to succeed). The actual signing away of the business came rather abruptly (start to finish in one month) and I’m still processing what it all means. In addition and as you’ve probably heard, Janetha, Lauren and I decided to step away from Blend Retreat . Although it was very amicable (and I believe, necessary) my heart broke a little when we decided to stop. Blend was like a child for me. Something I poured a lot of blood, sweat and tears into. Four years and hours upon hours of work yet it all felt so worth it when that weekend would roll around and I’d get to see so many of my favorite bloggers all in one place. Again, I still am processing that decision and the feelings that I have are akin to those that you’d feel when a family member dies. That may seem dramatic but starting Blend and managing it was a huge part of my life (and identity).

Two businesses essentially ending at the same time. Two rather large pieces of me just not there anymore. For someone who thrives off of completing tasks and staying busy, I’m left feeling lost. And again, bored.

“I’ll Shrivel Up”

A couple of weeks ago after we announced the Blend news, I just couldn’t stop crying into Travis’ chest. Like any good husband, he held me and listened. The words I’d been feeling just starting falling out of my lips and onto his chest.

“My fear is that I’ll shrivel up and become unseen.”

With not even the least bit of remorse, I confess that I want more for my life than being a homeschooling housewife. I want to make an impact on both my children AND my peers and I believe I can do both successfully. I want to be in the thick of it. I want to star in theater shows. I want to pursue nutrition coaching and help other women overcome their eating disorders. I want to write quality blog posts that get shared and that make people nod along as they read. I’d like to own my own gym one day. I want to start a few more businesses, get them up and running and then sell them and use the money to travel to Nice, France.

Simply put, I want to flourish.

I want to have my cake and eat it too. I want to pour myself into these children while also pouring myself a celebratory wine. (Figuratively speaking since I don’t really care for wine). One of my fears (now spoken for all the world to criticize and pick apart) is that I’ll get these children raised and sent off to college and I’ll have missed out. Yet even as I type those words out, the Holy Spirit calms my soul and says, “Your motherhood is enough.” And it could be. For sure.

But I think I want both. Can I have both??

I want both.

A Season of Waiting

God works on us during these silent periods of rest. That’s where I’m at right now. Resting. Waiting. Embracing this time when I have more margin and not filling it up with anything less than that “next thing” that God has in store for me. In the past, I would have said, “YES!!!” to anything that showed up during this rest period. I’ve learned better. I’m not looking to fill this void with any and everythings…I’m looking for the right thing and I KNOW that it will be nothing short of amazing, big or small.

And so I wait. And rest up.

QUESTION: Are you in a season of rest like me?? Are you a mama who wants a little more?

splendid…lindsay

Maybe you read that title and thought, “Meh, no big deal. I could not workout in my sleep.” But if you know me (and if you’ve read about some of my past struggles), you’ll understand that this accomplishment is worth writing about.

I haven’t exercised in four days.

(This morning’s Trackstars will break that rest period and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m going to break speed barriers.)

I needed it.

The rest.

My body, my mind. All of me needed to just sit on my fanny for four days and not do ANYTHING.

No push-ups on the carpet. No living room WOD. No running in place while watching a tv show (yes, I do this sometimes when we’re stuck inside).

Nothing.

Yes, it helped that we had a big snow storm move in which forced me to cancel Trackstars and my MoveMore groups for three days in a row. I’m not sure that I would have taken quite so many rest days in a row had it not been for the weather. What’s noteworthy here is that I have a full gym in my basement at my disposal, no driving or babysitter required. And I didn’t use it.

The Importance Of Rest

If you haven’t heard, you’re supposed to be resting a few days during the week. I’ve written about the importance of rest before but here are the highlights:

1. REST PREVENTS INJURY

It’s common sense that resting is beneficial for injury reduction, but why? Well for starters, rest days prevent overuse. That extends from running to lifting and even walking. If you’re a regular runner, you know how much your legs and feet can take until you just need a day off. If you push it too hard without a break, your muscles and joints suffer from overuse and that’s where injuries can happen.

2. YOUR MUSCLES NEED REST

This is likely the first thing you learned about strength training. When you lift weights, you’re essentially tearing muscle fibers. But without a proper period of rest for your immune system to repair and grow the muscle, you’re not going to get the benefit of your training. That’s why you need to vary the muscle groups you engage on staggered days.

3. YOUR PERFORMANCE WON’T DIP

In general, it takes your body almost two weeks of non-activity before you start losing a noticeable amount of your progress or performance level. So don’t think that taking a day or two off from training will set you back all that hard work you’ve put in.

4. OVER-TRAINING AFFECTS SLEEP

Is your sleep data all over the place? Over-training could be the culprit. Too much exercise can put your body in a constant state of restlessness or on high alert making a good night’s sleep tough to achieve. A telltale sign is an increase in your resting heart rate. Taking those rest day can help bring down your alertness and heart rate, which can help get you a night of sound sleep.

5. YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM CAN OVERHEAT

During periods of heavy activity, our immune systems are constantly activating to repair muscles and joints. Without proper rest, your immune system can’t catch up to all the repairs your body needs. And then? You guessed it: injuries.

6. MENTAL EDGE

From a psychological standpoint, taking a rest period can rekindle your hunger for exercise and help prevent burnout. Mental fatigue can be every bit as detrimental as physical fatigue and taking a rest day helps to recharge the psyche. {source}

For me, resting one day is pretty easy. I know that it’s best for my body so I always schedule one rest day per week. But FOUR?!?! The thought of taking four rest days in a row gives (gave) me anxiety and that’s exactly why I needed to do it. These hard things…these better-for-us things..they make me stronger. I want to get stronger. I told Travis on Day 2 that this exercise in not exercising would make me a better person. He wholeheartedly agreed. My plan is to rest more often – a couple of consecutive days every month.

I share all this not only to document it for myself (I CAN do hard things. I CAN take multiple rest days and not lose strength) but to also encourage YOU to do whatever it is that you find difficult. Maybe you don’t work out enough. Maybe you struggle with binge eating or not eating enough. Maybe you have a sugar addiction, an alcohol or drug addiction.

Whatever it is, you can do it. Stop complaining and just do it.

QUESTION: What’s that one hard thing you need to do but can’t seem to pull it off?? Do you need to take more REST DAYS?

(And if you struggle with overexercising, message me! I’d love to talk to you!)

splendid…lindsay

a whole bunch of pictures for your eyes to see

things i love

the weird things i do

8 Weird Things I Do

quick, tell me what to write

a season of waiting

From 60 to 0

“I’ll Shrivel Up”

“My fear is that I’ll shrivel up and become unseen.”

A Season of Waiting

i haven’t exercised in four days

I haven’t exercised in four days.

The Importance Of Rest

1. REST PREVENTS INJURY

2. YOUR MUSCLES NEED REST

3. YOUR PERFORMANCE WON’T DIP

4. OVER-TRAINING AFFECTS SLEEP

5. YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM CAN OVERHEAT

6. MENTAL EDGE