Hello friends! I can’t believe I never posted a Friday Favorites this August! Right now, I’m staying home with the kids most Thursdays, and I have all three of those days, so it’s a bit difficult to get these posts up. But I’m resolved to make them start happening again! There is so much to share with you guys that haven’t gotten to share! I do share a lot on IG stories, so make sure we are friends on Instagram/FB if we aren’t already! (@hungryhobbyRD). I also automatically share my stories on FB if you follow FB stories (@hungryhobby). Anyways, let’s jump in! Lot’s to catch you up on, and the baby is already rolling around on the monitor, so I want to get through as much as possible!
Favorites
Alcantara Vineyard – Cottonwood, AZ
Last weekend, we attended a wedding in Cottonwood, AZ, at Alcantara Vineyard and Winery. Unfortunately, it was unseasonably hot (like 100 degrees when it’s usually 80s-90s), but I think this would be an absolutely beautiful getaway for most Arizonians, I would definitely come again! My in-laws have been up there a few times and loved it too. We would definitely go again for sure. it was a quick drive to a beautiful vineyard, and the the wine was impressive! We were so happy to be able to celebrate this beautiful couple (Zach is KJ’s Godfather) and have a quick mini getaway to ourselves. (We left the baby with my in-laws and the dog/big kids with the sitter. We were gone less than 24 hours, but having the two-hour drive up and back to chat without being interrupted 8 million times was so great.) Good food, great wine, better people!
Pet African Dawrf Frog
Unfortunately, our beta fish of three years passed away a couple of weeks ago. KJ was so sad that I immediately offered a replacement fish, which made him happy. But then, I remembered I had one of these frogs when I was little and mentioned it to him. He was ECSTATIC. He named him Swimmity Swim. And last night, we found out he was a male because he was “singing,” which sounded like a weird high-pitched vibration. I wouldn’t have believed it was coming from him and not the wall or something else if we hadn’t found a YouTube video with the same sound.
Pre-K
KJ started his third and final year of preschool. He is staying all day this year, three days a week. Initially, that was definitely an adjustment, so I’m glad that we did the full-day schedule. I think it will make all-day kinder next year an easier transition. I just couldn’t imagine running back up there for a half-day schedule this year between nursing the baby and two other kids’ schedules and trying to have time to work.
Carseat Coolers
Speaking of school. I knew that KK would likely be coming with me to drop off and pick up, so I wanted to find some solution to keep him cooler while rear-facing in the car. Because the few times we did go somewhere this summer, he would get out a sweaty mess. I tried a couple of fan options but wasn’t comfortable with the crash risk (if you crash hard, objects are dangerous.) So, I finally broke down and tried the car seat ice pack option. It actually worked so much better than I expected! The icepacks keep the seat nice and cool while we run in to pick up KJ so that even if he is super hot when he gets in, he isn’t also absorbing the heat from the car seat. He’s often not sweaty at all when we get home, even though we don’t have rear-facing vents or air directly on him. So, I would definitely say it’s a win! (Since you don’t need them when the kids are actually in the car, they can easily be stowed away in a car box organizer. I have to keep from flying up and hitting them in the event of a crash. )This works well for us because I have a fridge/freezer in the garage I can store them in and grab them right before we head out. If we didn’t have the freezer out there, though, I don’t know how practical it would be to remember these on a daily basis.
Rolling Rolling Rolling
We officially have a roller! After two days of sleep hell taking her out of the sleepsack, I ordered the Merlin, and now we are doing okay in that department again. I could never make the Merlin work for the boys, so I’m glad it’s working for her (for now anyway, haha.)
Fitness
I often feel like PP fitness is two steps forward and one step back. It’s definitely NOT a straight line upwards. But I’m happy with my progress. I’ve been doing the expecting and empowered return to running program as well as their postpartum strength training guides. And I recently got my orthotics replaced (after 7 years), so I’m hoping that clears up random hip, tailbone, feet, knee pains, basically all the things that keep popping up haha I just do what I can every day and try to get stronger every day. As a Mom of three now, I really feel like I’m training for LIFE. Being a mom to young kids is incredibly physically demanding. First and foremost, my goal is to be strong to lift them, play with them, and have the stamina to hang out with all three all day. Right now, I’m running twice a week and strength training three times a week, and that feels GREAT!
Food
Nothing super exciting on the food front this month! Except we have made a billion batches of these easy blender pancakes. KJ even took them for his lunch one day!
PS I started a highlight for preschool lunches. Since KJ is staying all day this year, I’ll be packing lunches three times a week! I’ll do my best to share here as soon as I get a decent amount to share, but follow along there, too!
Friday Flashbacks
Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew (Dairy Free)
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