Category Archives: Walks
Fall is coming!
I took Olive on a walk this morning and had to stop and marvel at the fall scene down the street.
I feel so slow and plodding…
I did not want to go outside. It was gray and windy and 25° and my feet hurt. But I made an effort. Not my best day but better than staying on the couch.
I keep wondering “Was I this slow way back when?” Because of course I can only remember the good times from when I was thin and speedy.
So I’m just telling myself I’m happy I’m out moving.
I feel slow as a damn turtle but at least I’m doing it.
#170by50
Convinced the old man to go on a walk with me today.
We aren’t setting any land speed records but I’m getting out there! (We also stopped for about 7 minutes to play Pokemon.)
Fall family walk!
We decided to take a walk in our amazing neighborhood during Sparty halftime since it was such a nice day. (Also, one of these things is not like the other.)
The girls are out walking!
While the boys are practicing baseball, the girls are out walking!
Mother’s helper practice
Kim and I took Katie on our walk today and gave her some practice being a mother’s helper.
Making social distancing work.
This was the closest Britt and I got just for a quick pic!
Back at the house we sat outside across the deck and I was too lazy to actually remove the chair cover and it kept falling down so we joked it was our way to keep distanced.
This might be the best forest preserve we have been to yet.
We had to go pick up a Facebook purchase for Katie’s room and I knew we’d be close to some parks…and it was finally a sunny day…so we dragged the whole family along. We hadn’t been here before but we will definitely be back! Lots of parking, lots of great trails (paved and wooded), pavilions, bathrooms, a lake…and a ton of Pokémon stops!!
A walk with mom.
Another nature walk.
Today we explored another new nature reserve with Anna and David and the kids. I generally don’t take many pics but I did think this tree was super cool.
Let’s remember how sweet she can be.
I took this picture so on an upcoming day when she’s being a little brat, I can point out to Tom that there was a point at which she was being cute and sweet.
We did have Anna take a family photo later on the walk to prove we actually got out of the house.
Going off trail to explore the lake. They were so excited you’d think they’d never seen water before.
Social distancing walk with friends!
There are lots of parks and nature preserve around so we’ve started checking out some of them with our friends. I need to take more pics—this was one Anna managed to get.
We might be walking in our new neighborhood again…
Today taking a trip around the park to spin some Pokestops. We close in 24 days! 😱
Today’s family walk!
Katie is more excited than she looks as she picked this route. She just wants to go play in the gross water and was mad at us for making her take a picture.
A good mask for a walk!
I thought this was a good mask for our walk around the neighborhood. Owen refused to do it.
The first nice day in forever…
It was nice today (57°!) so we took a walk to do a photo scavenger hunt and leave chalk notes on people’s driveways!
The kids went across the street to decorate the driveway of a single older lady. Owen also told me her brought her trash up to the house. ❤️
As far as for social distancing? Every single person that we saw and had to pass kept the right distance. Sometimes we moved out of the way, sometimes they moved out of the way. Thankfully we didn’t see any kids at the park but I would’ve lost my mind.
I was really happy about all this because I keep hearing stories about how parks are FULL of kids with and without parents around?!?! GRRR. I just think a lot of people are in the “it’s not going to happen to me” camp. And, of course, in the best case scenario, we won’t see anything happen at all and we will think all of this was for nothing. But that just means that it worked.
Anyway, they really had a lot more fun than I thought they would. Now we just need lots more nice days…
I treated myself when we got back… uncovered my egg chair and had a drink!
Owen wanted to wear his baseball shirt today to celebrate!
He also agreed to go on a walk with me before school this morning. 🥰
Long-haired ladies, you know the struggle.
Long-haired ladies, you know the struggle of going for a walk when it’s windy outside. I don’t do messy buns but I do crazy clip updos.
Taking a walk first thing…
Alexa lies.
There’s no way it’s 65° out here. 😒 (Getting one last walk in before the birthday craziness of the next two days starts.)
This is how she walks with me.
Well, sometimes anyway. Some days it’s pure whining about how tired she is and it’s soooo far.
FRIENDS, IT’S ACCOUNTABILITY TIME.
Most of you know I lost a lot of weight a few years ago. And it was mostly easy–141 pounds in 1.5 years eating whatever I wanted with just walking as my exercise? Sign me up! And I swore I’d never let myself get that heavy again. But friends, maintenance is a slippery slope and a few pounds here and there add up. No, I am not back to my original weight, but I have gained back an embarrassing amount. 🤦♀️
I have tried to restart a handful of times now–and have lost like 10# each time–but I always went back to my bad habits pretty quickly. I mean, MARGARITAS, y’all…and all. the. food. all. the. time. And I mean ALL the food.
But, shit got serious when my pants went past just being tight and actually stopped fitting. Like can’t even get them on to zip them. Since I had followed Naturally Slim rules, I had gotten rid of all my bigger sizes so I wouldn’t be tempted to let myself get back to that size…so it was yoga pants, leggings, and maxi skirts for me! But then I remembered that I had actually kept like 3 pair of jeans in one size up…so those are now in my closet.
BUT NOT FOR LONG!
Tom and I have BOTH restarted Naturally Slim again. We are on Day 5 and I am currently down 10.2 pounds! (Man oh man do I love the first week back on the plan!) And I have walked every morning (with the kids!) this week.
So, I did it once…I can do it again. I simply have to. I have too many damn cute clothes in my closet that I want to wear again!! 😜
It’s almost time!
Owen and I went on a walk today since he had a half day. He talked to me the entire way about his video games!! 😉
And look what I saw…
Three things.
1️⃣ It was supposed to rain all day so I thought I’d better get my walk in first thing since it was dry. I’m not often up and moving by 8:30am but when I’m on a mission, watch out. (I lost two more pounds last week, which puts me at 10 total for two weeks! Gotta keep it going!!)
2️⃣ I love my long hair but coats and wind are my enemies. 😂
3️⃣ I can’t wait to get my brows done at Ulta Beauty today. It’s been two months (one month too long). I try not to touch them myself since I’m a compulsive overplucker…
This is what dedication looks like.
So a few days ago it was 70° and gorgeous and walking through the neighborhood was a dream. It was also perfect timing for me as I had recently restarted (for about the 10th time) my weight loss efforts and walking is my thing (it’s the only exercise I did when I lost 141# a few years ago).
So fast forward a day and it snowed. Then I burst a blood vessel on my toe and it was painful to walk. So today it was super windy and a little chilly but it was at least sunny so I bundled up and off I went, hood up and everything (I stopped short of a scarf and gloves). I’ve gained a bit of that 141# back but I’m now determined to get it off again.
Today’s life tip brought to you by me and Lake County 911.
Guys, you should really learn what cell phone button presses set off the emergency contact/911 sequence. (FYI, for iPhones you rapidly press the top or side button five times.)
I had my phone wrapped in my leggings waistband and wanted to turn the volume down without unwrapping it… Nothing was happening and then I heard a weird loud noise I’d never heard. I quickly unwrapped my phone to see my phone dialing 911. I hung up (wasn’t sure if it had connected yet) and then had to stop my phone from dialing my emergency contacts.
THEN I had to answer a callback from Lake County 911 checking if everything was okay.
I explained what had happened and told her I was mortified. 😣 They were nice about it.
Upshot? Lake County 911 is on the ball.
Artsy exercise photo.
It’s so gorgeous out right now I figured a walk was absolutely called for. Before it snows later this week. 😖
(I randomly took about 20 photos while I was walking and this single photo was the only good one!!)
I don’t always put on a full face of makeup to go on a walk…
I don’t always put on a full face of makeup to go on a walk first thing in the morning but I have an appointment this afternoon so I figured why not just get it done right now so I don’t have to worry about it later. And I know it will last through whatever I throw at it.
