holiday gift guide: affordable workout gear

In between all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I have to remind myself to take some time out  just for me.  Keeping a regular exercise routine is important for my sanity - especially when life gets a little crazy.  My go-to workouts are pilates, walking and kettle bell exercises.  I find these workouts challenge me (and make me sore in places I never knew I could be) and vary enough to keep my body on its toes.  

If you're like me, splurging for pricey exercise equipment is just not in the budget.  But you really don't have to shell out big bucks to get quality items.  I put together a fun little gift guide for you that won't break the bank.  In fact, everything you see is just $60 or less!

Items going clockwise:
1. Active Mesh Top:  These Old Navy tops are perfect for working out - stylish, cute & cheap!
2. Puma Rio Speed tennis shoes: These Pumas are perfect for that cute, I-just-worked-out look.
3. GoFit contoured kettle bell: Kettle bells great for working your whole body and the contoured design doesn't hurt your arms.  They come in various weight amounts.  (I used this kind along with Bob Harper workout DVD's and LOVE it!)
4. Fitbit Zip: This is a super cute pedometer for the walker/calorie counter in your life that syncs to your phone (I really want this to make it into my stocking this year.  Hint hint.)
5. Gaiam Pilates Mat: This mat from Yogaoutlet  is sooooo good for pilates.  I was doing pilates on my plain old carpet for years and this mat has changed my life.  It's thick and fabulous.  If you do pilates and don't have one - get one!)
6. Marika Kitcket Legging:  I wear these cute pants from Yogaoutlet for my pilates workouts.  They give the right amount of stretch and come at a great price - a perfect piece to add to your workout attire. Yogaoutlet.com has a fabulous selection of workout clothing and gear for all budgets.  Give them a look see!


**This post was done in collaboration with Yogaoutlet.com, however, all opinions are my own.

Busch Gardens Christmas Town

We managed to throw a fun little mini vacation into our Christmas holiday.  Grandma and Grandpa Buis sent us a little money to buy the kids some gifts.  The Mr. & I decided it would be better to purchase one large gift with it than individual gifts.  A friend had told me about Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg and how much our kids would love it, so we decided put the money toward two-day tickets to the park.  We used our Priority Club points toward a hotel stay at Holiday Inn Express and only had to pay for one of the two nights.  The park wasn't open till 3pm each day, so we ate our free breakfast at the hotel and brought a cooler full of food for lunches both days.  So we only had to pay for dinner at the park, which can be crazy expensive for six people.  We had burgers the first night, ordering 3 meals and splitting them in half.  It ended up being plenty of food because the burgers were huge.  Dinner for day two was a simple corn dog for the kiddos and the Mr. & I split a ginormous turkey leg.

I snapped pictures whenever I could.  I shoved my iPhone and a video camera in my coat pockets & got the kids to pose for pictures throughout the park.  The kids got sick of it halfway through day two so I was happy just taking pics of them on the rides when I wasn't riding them too.

It was in the low 30's both days, so we splurged for hot chocolate after the sun went down because it was the only way we could keep warm.  We cozied up in our winter coats, hats & gloves to fight off the chill.   The kids got smart and wore 2 pairs of socks on day two to keep their toes cozy.

The kids braved rides I thought they'd shy away from and the Mr. rode VerBolten all by himself - in the dark, in the front row and all by himself.  I don't care much for roller coasters.  I prefer my feet on solid ground.  So does Hailey.  She is not much of a thrill seeker either.  Carter and Tatum were much braver and wanted to ride everything in sight.  They remind me that sometimes I need to be brave and just do things even if it scares me.

Noah was just tall enough to ride most of the rides we went on and if he didn't meet the height requirement, there was a kiddie version of the same ride so he went on those instead.  It worked out perfectly.  He was my partner on most of the bigger rides and we had fun yelling "wooohooo!" together.  There were times when I knew he was scared but we were already on the ride and it was already going so I acted like I was having a really fun time so he'd feel more comfortable.  It totally worked.

This was such fun little trip for us.  We had the best time.  Thanks Grandma & Grandpa Buis!

bits of Christmas

Christmas seemed to have passed quietly this year.  Gifts were all bought and (mostly) wrapped the week before.  We played our favorite  vintage holiday albums on the record player every day while I baked cinnamon rolls and made pizzelles for a few friends from church.

Christmas is never really a big production in our home.  When the Mr. & I were just starting out, we could only afford just one or two gifts for each person in our family.  It started out as a necessary thing, but is now just how we do our gift-giving.  Keeping things simple reminds us that our focus really should be on the Savior and that all the things that we have are gifts from our Heavenly Father.

I took more time this year to ponder the meaning of Christmas - what it all entails and why we really celebrate it. My thoughts were focused on Mary and her role as the Savior's mother.  What an incredible amount of faith she must have had to know that she would bring Jesus into the world.  That she cared for Him and loved Him and supported Him in a way only a mother can.  Even at such a young age, she was entrusted with so much.  I have a great amount of respect and deep gratitude for her.



I hope your Christmas was all you hoped it would be.  I am counting this one as one of my favorites.

make your own gratitude branch

Hello friends!  Thanksgiving is just two days away.  Are you ready?  We are staying home for the holiday.  It'll just be our little family around the dinner table this year.  I am cooking our Thanksgiving meal and the Mr. has eagerly agreed to help.  It's going to be delicious.  A piece of my heart is missing my family this holiday season but being far away and on our own gives us a chance to establish our own traditions.  This year, we had a little Family Home Evening that focused on gratitude.  We each took a turn sharing something we are especially grateful for and why.  Then we wrote that one special thing on a cutout of a feather (you can google free feather printables).  One of my kids obviously likes to do fun things outdoors ;)   We strung our feathers up with bakers twine and placed them on a branch I found in our backyard.  The branch sits on the wall over our table, reminding us of all that is good and dear to us.   Afterward, we watched this video.  (This video is good too.)




It's easy to make your own gratitude branch.  You can find other cute ideas here and here.

So what am I grateful for?  Motherhood.  My children mean everything to me and I love them dearly.  I miss them the minute they walk out the door in the morning to go to school and my heart is happy the second they walk in the door after long days in the classroom.  They teach me to be patient, kind and to laugh even when I'm mad.  Being a mom is my chosen career.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

What are you grateful for?

tricks-or-treats

Halloween was a little test of our sense of adventure this year.  Our costume budget was slim to none because we had to pinch pennies thanks to the government shutdown.  By the time Halloween rolled around, the Mr. was back at work but we decided it would be best if we continued with our original plan to have the kids wear costumes made of things we already had around the house.  I may have snuck out to JoAnns for some felt, cheap blue fabric and glitter snowflakes, but kept my spending to a minimum.  The kids opted to be made up superheroes.  I guess wearing capes is too cool to pass up - even if you are eleven.  We ended up with a Super Nerd Guy, Super Shadow and Super Snow Girl outfit.  And at the last minute, Hailey decided she wanted in on the candy action too & threw together a cat costume.  I don't blame her - I like chocolate too.



If you follow me on instagram, you know that we had quite the adventure on Halloween night.  Rain was in the forecast but we managed to get through the whole night with beautiful weather and only a few drops fell from the sky.  The kids had such a fun time running from house to house with friends, filling up their treat bags with lots of chocolate candy for the Mr. & I to eat later.  Just kidding.....sort of.  

Did you have fun trick-or-treating adventures with your little ones?

life lately (via my iPhone)

Hello friends.  Life has been surprisingly busy for our little family this summer.  All is calm during the daytime and then evening rolls in and we have somewhere to go and something to do every night of the week.  I am looking forward to things slowing down a bit now that the Independence Day holiday has come and gone.   Thanks to my iPhone, I was a able to capture a little of the craziness these past few weeks.

The Mr. & I had signed up to walk a 5K in our community.  The funds were going to update a park so that it was handicap accessible.   I was super sore from the crazy 3 mile hike we did while camping the day before and the thought of skipping the 5K was seemed like a pretty good idea.  But like 20 minutes before the race, I decided we should do it.  You can see the thrill written all over the Mr.'s face, can't you??   I'm just happy we finished in under an hour.



We celebrated birthdays that weekend too.  The Mr. turned 39 the day before the race & Tatum turned 9 the day of the race.  We celebrated small, eating cake and ice cream throughout the weekend and enjoying time as a family.   Nothing crazy this year, but I hope they both know how much they are loved.



The Mr. had a furlough day for work last week and we decided to splurge and take the kids to see Monsters U.  We let the kids pick where we sat and ended up on the back row.  We're such rebels, I know.   It was cute & I was in love with all the marching band music.  High fives for all the band nerds out there!    



Before I knew it, the 4th of July rolled around and we packed our day full of yard work, patriotic cake baking, dinner with friends and fireworks in the mall parking lot.   I considered the yard work my workout for the day and then ate a piece of cake so put back all the calories I had worked off from pulling weeds.  Life is all about balance, right?? ;)   The fireworks were pretty blah and somewhat hard to look at because the city left the mall parking lot lights on & they were totally blocking our view but the kids really enjoyed them so that is what matters.



Happy Monday!
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Mother's Day

Mother's Day was completely wonderful.  And I can say that because I have 15 of them under my belt and most never met my expectations.  I selfishly used to think that this special day was all about me and that I deserved a nice breakfast in bed and should be showered with gifts and handmade crafts the kids would make at school.  I didn't want to lift a finger and I wanted this day to be all about me.  Me, me, me.  I mean really, didn't anyone know just how much I went through to have four kids???  And I would get really down by the end of the day because I wasn't as spoiled as I wanted to be.

I was purely selfish.  I know it.  And I am not proud of it.

My focus shifted this year.  After coming home from church, I changed out of my dress and plopped onto the couch.  I looked around and happiness filled my heart.   My children were laughing and carrying on and I was happy that they get along so well.  They are gifts from heaven and I am deeply grateful that Heavenly Father trusts me enough to be their mother.   It's very humbling.  My sweet husband showered me with love and that is way better than any gift, although he did have a few surprises for me throughout the day.  I reflected on the state of our little brick rental home and it was a bit of a mess.  But I didn't care because it meant that our home is lived in and well loved.  I felt such a connection to all of these things.  I felt fulfilled.

We all worked together to tidy up so that the missionaries from our ward (church) could skype with their moms that evening.  It's the one day of the year, out of the whole 2 years they are away from home, that they get to talk to their mothers.  It was so impressed with the amount of love and gratitude these two 18 year old boys have for their mothers.  It made me realize that my time with my children is so precious.  Before I know it, they will be out in the world making their own choices.  So for now, I am holding on to them as tight as I can.

Amongst all the happenings of the day, I got out my tripod and we snapped some family photos just before the kids got distracted by a bunny in our neighbor's yard.  Noah was not really into it, but we managed to get a few good ones.

I hope that your Mother's Day was extra special this year.

easter weekend recap

Our Easter weekend was filled with egg dying, candy eating, dinner with friends, church and soccer games squished into the mix.  The Bunny treated the kids to a new soccer ball so they can practice at home and Hotel Transylvania - our new favorite movie.



The kids left the bunny a little note and the Bunny kindly replied.



I hope your Easter weekend was filled with good memory making.

DIY easter basket

Easter is practically here!  While our family focuses on the Savior on Sundays, we are all about the Easter Bunny bringing us goodies on Saturday morning.  Since the Bunny & I are pretty tight, I already know that candy and treats are prepped and ready to go for the big day.  Egg dying happens Friday.  But while getting ready for the festivities, I realized I only have 4 baskets on hand.  The Mr. & I kind of wing it from year to year, using whatever we can scrounge up in the house to use as a basket.  Sometimes we end up just using a bowl.  Well not this year my friends.  I was super inspired by Mer Mag's bunny basket made out of a oatmeal tube and duct tape and wanted to give something like that a try.  You really should click over and check it out - her basket is adorable.

Being that I am on a super tight budget and don't have enough duct tape lying around, I decided to cover an oatmeal tube with scrapbooking paper I already have on hand.  I also pulled out some velvet ribbon to use as a handle and glue strips to hold it all together.  I cut one piece of 12 x 12 paper in half.  While holding one of the pieces on top of the tube, I carefully traced along the top of paper with a pen and then I cut along the pen mark with an exacto knife so that the tube was 6 inches tall (the same height as my paper).  Then I glued one piece of paper down on the tube.  I trimmed the 2nd piece of paper so that it went exactly half way around the tube.  Then I put glue strips on each seam and added my ribbon.  I eyeballed the ears and bow tie, figuring that if my first try looked to crappy, I could trash them and start over.  Luckily, I didn't have to!

Did you make an Easter basket this year?  I'd love to see - leave a link in the comments.