This week was full of all kinds of ups and downs. In so many ways, we are all ready for this never-ending break to conclude, and fo rum to get back to life as we knew it (in our case, school), but at the same time, everything is new and different. Every day seems to be full of deep breaths, ridiculous amounts of patiences, and counting to ten. I am very much faking it til I make it, and while I hate that as a way of life, I need to get things done.
Sunday – 3.79 miles, walking
As always, the week started with a nice bit of outdoor activity.
And then we just had a nice family day. We tried a new restaurant for brunch.
We also took little man to a nearby skate park to work on some of his skills. He’s still pretty cautious out there, but he is definitely getting out of his comfort zone.
Wellness Month Day 9: Set a serene scene for slumber. Our bedroom is actually fairly peaceful, but I tidied up some of the clutter on my nightstand and made sure the bed was made up.
Monday – 3.82 miles, walking
Another Monday, so I was down for a nice morning walk. I’m standing on one leg because I noticed that I have been rolling towards the outside of my injured foot again. That needs to tighten up.
Wellness Month Day 10: Mask Monday. This was pretty hilarious. I purchased a few of those sheet facial masks at Target and little man and I tested them out. His was a llama, and after he got it on, he was not happy. It made for a fun mother/son bonding activity.
Tuesday – 3.5 miles, running + 1.54 miles, walking + 30:00 HIIT workout
Since things are going so well, I decided it was time to move from 3 to 3.5 miles during my weekly runs (with 4 on the weekends).
I also did some of Mr. PugRunner’s HIIT workout. He has asked me if I want to start joining in with him, and I’m a bit nervous, but game to try.
Wellness Month Day 11: Book Yourself A Beauty Treatment. Ugggggghhhhh. Ok. So with everything going on, I desperately need my hair colored and cut. I just haven’t been comfortable going anywhere to do it. Full disclosure, I did book an appointment on Thursday for a few weeks from now. We will see if I am ok making it happen when the time comes.
That night, I had dinner with a friend at a restaurant that offered patio seating. Even though it poured the whole time, it was nice to be out doing something that felt kind of normal. And it was good to see an old friend.
Wednesday – 4.63 miles, walking
Wednesday’s walk was pretty hot and sunny. As you can see.
There was also a special visitor to our streets and Luna made a new friend.
Wellness Month Day 12: Share you favorite guilt-free, sweet healthy snack. Personally, I think all snacks are guilt-free, but apples dried with American Dream Nut Butter is pretty tasty.
Thursday – 3.53 miles, running + 1.65 miles, walking
Another glorious morning for a run. J and I felt really strong throughout and that’s just a great feeling to have.
School is getting closer. That afternoon, little man had his phone call with his new Homeroom teacher. She is super sweet, and talked us through some of the next steps before virtual school begins. It’s just so strange, but also exciting.
Just as I was starting to make dinner, our friends reached out to see if we wanted to join them. Yes, please. It ended up being such a great night and we needed that little bit of social interaction.
Wellness Month Day 13: Journal & Reflect On What You Loved Today. I usually use my blog as my journal, but I did take a few moments to write down things for which I was grateful. Journalling used to take up a huge part of my life, but as I’ve gotten older, I have less space for it.
Friday – 4.00 miles, walking
We made it to another Friday! I was dragging, but that’s ok. Walk? Done.
Little man had his virtual “Meet The Crew” for school. It was actually really great. The teachers are all so nice, engaging, and ready to help get this year underway.
Wellness Month Day 14: Share Your #1 Beauty Tip. I struggled with this one. I don’t have too many beauty tips, but I guess my tip is put on a a genuine smile. No matter what, smiles cost nothing, and make everything better.
Saturday – 4 miles, running + 1.02 miles, walking
Another successful four mile morning! Gosh, it feels good!
We hoped to go to the pool midday, but the storms are rolling in daily, and it never happened. Boo.
Wellness Month Day 15: Treat Yourself To A Spa Day. Obviously, spa days aren’t a thing right now, but I did treat myself to an under eye mask. I had grand plans to do my nails as well, but the rainy weather put an end to my motivation.
Goal-getting
The weather has not been a positive influence on me, right now. My leg aches in the rain, and I think it makes us all a little sleepy. Knowing that school will start on Wednesday is just so weird. I hope that we get back into a routine quickly enough.
The Wellness Challenge for August is still on. Are you playing along?
There is no meal plan for this week. I am absolutely uninspired to cook just about anything. Mr PugRunner is putting together protein bowls for his lunches, and we will need to rely on proteins and green vegetables for dinner (le sigh) the rest of the week. I want pasta. And cheese.
I am linking up with the Weekly Rundown, with Confessions of A Mother Runner and Running on the Fly! Check them out!
How was your week in training?
How is your motivation holding up?
What are those sheet masks? i haven’t seen that. Do they work like regular face masks?
It’s such a tough time right now, isn’t it? Motivation is hard to find. Being empty nesters, it would be so easy to stop eating healthy. We’re both like ugh when we meal plan, but then we find inspiration. Thank goodness my husband likes to cook!
You can find them in Target in the aisle with the face lotions and serums. I think they work like regular masks? I am not an expert on the topic at all!
I would probably stop eating entirely if we didn’t have A here. Fruit. Cereal. Popcorn. Done.
Jenn, it comes and goes. I’m struggling a lot with meals right now, it’s a perfect storm of being tired of figuring out what everyone else wants to eat and often having to work late. Believe me, my husband is used to being called on to figure out dinner at this point.
Congrats on all of your 3.5’s and 4’s! This is very exciting, especially for AUGUST in FLORIDA!!!
It’s just so exhausting. All the time. And I know I am grateful that we CAN plan and make healthy meals, but there’s no joy in it anymore. Zero.
I’m not saying any of these miles are fast, but girl, I am getting them done!
Love that his school mates also got to meet Luna. I think he had the hedgehog on a school call last semester which was what led me to asking to meet her on Zoom.
Glad you were able to have some friend time. Am enjoying all your wellness posts.
I imagine Luna willl be making many cameo appearances.
The wellness month is going way better than I anticipated. It’s been good for me.
I’ve been struggling with motivation lately. The past few weeks have been tough between work and parenting and not doing much of anything else, and it’s hard to wrap my head around this way of life for however much longer. (Although hopefully my mom will be able to help out in a few weeks, and that will make a big difference).
I hope the start of virtual learning goes well!
I am hopeful that once school officially starts and we are in some semblance of a routine, things will get easier? Maybe? I don’t know.
I have been loving ll of your Wellness Month posts. It makes me think of ways that I can practice self care more frequently.
I haven’t suffered with a lack of motivation yet, but I have been dealing with a lot of ups and downs, particularly when it comes to wanting to leave the house and be more social, but also knowing that if I can’t do that safely, it’s not worth the risk.
I hope that the virtual learning continues to go well for your son.
I just get so tired mid-afternoon. I get my book and lay down, and sometimes I read, but sometimes I take a nap, too. I just don’t want to deal with dinner or people or anything. It’s ridiculous.
Fake it till we make it, my friend. That’s what I’m doing. Some days are definitely harder than others. But step by step we will get there. So glad you had an enjoyable social with your friends. That’s what I really miss!
I miss friends but I think I miss the ease of little errands even more. Everything is just so fraught with fear and worry and doubt, and it just eats away at me. I don’t like it.
Those sheet masks are so funny! High five to your son for joining in 🙂 Cooking during the summer is always a tough one for me. In the cooler weather I am queen of the crockpot, but in the hot weather I’m out of ideas. My husband is the grocery shopper, and my grocery list is never ready when he goes. So it seems like we are doing a lot of the same shopping. Annoying 🙁
Hooray that you’re upping your miles!
We aren’t even major crockpot people. I’m very much a person who can cook by feel, but now I have to look at and manage every ingredient. Some days, I just say “F it” and he has to pick through what he shouldn’t eat. This week, I left it up to him. I think we are almost at the point where we should probably just order a meal service for him.
Oh my, I don’t know what my pups would do if they met a horse! What a brave dog 🙂
You’re doing great getting outside and getting all the benefits of sun and fresh air with all that walking. It definitely helps during this stressful time.
Apples and cookie batter butter…oh my! YUM!
Of course she’s brave, when someone is holding her! She’s queen of the world LOl! Taco has a very loud whinny, and when he neighed, Luna about jumped out of her skin. And I laughed and laughed.
Another busy week for you! I love those sheet masks too. That nut butter looks delish. Not sure I could be trusted with that. You and the hubs look cute together. Have a great week ahead!
I had to hide the nut butter! It was out of control!
I hope your son has a great school year. I am so excited for him! I am still waiting for more information from my District regarding our plan. All I know is that we are doing remote, 3 days of Institute beginning on the 26th, and the students start on the 31st.
Is The Wellness Challenge a monthly thing? If there is one for September I might be interested in doing one too.
I LOVE your beauty tip! A smiles doesn’t cost anything and it makes us feel good and everything better. 🙂
I know August was “wellness month” for whatever that is worth, but I would love if they did another challenge. This has bee great.
I hope you get all the info soon. I think the whole “hurry up and wait” mentality has been really hard for everyone.
It is hard to maintain motivation right now with everything going on, and bad weather certainly doesn’t help. It looks like you’re doing a good job with everything! And that photo of Luna with the horse is adorable 🙂
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She’s just ridiculous. She makes us laugh every day.
That wellness challenge is very motivating. I would not do most of that without it and I don’t 🙁
Ups and downs is exactly what it’s a been since March.
You seem have managed a lot of ups. It’s all we can ask for.
Hope the school year is less stressful than anticipated.
Day one is in the books and it went fairly well. Not much going on – it’s almost like college LOL!
Well done for persisting with the wellness challenge. No haircuts here (well, I do Mr Liz, how I hate doing it, but at least it’s easy and I did it before so I didn’t have to learn in lockdown!). A good strong week for you too and lovely smiley faces!
Yeah, I let the boys go out back with the clippers. Haircutting is not in my wheelhouse.
I’m so with you on the lack of motivation, especially where running is concerned. I think I’m starting to feel the cumulative effects of the past 6 months of all this.
I love this Wellness Challenge you’re doing!
It’s just grinding everyone down.
Wellness Month has been great for me. I’m actually super surprised.
I think we’re pretty much all uninspired with cooking by this point. And I like to cook! I’ve been going back & forth between salads & eggs & veggies for dinner, LOL!
OMG, my dogs would’ve barked they head off at the pony! Or is it a miniature horse? Seriously they bark at pretty much anything that moves.
I have my salads for lunch. Mr PugRunner does all his eggs at breakfast. I would just be eating cereal at this point.
It’s a miniature horse, and he’s amazing.
Yay on those 4 milers! I know you’ve had a long road to recovery, so I’m sure they feel extra triumphant. I think I’d be in a much better frame of mind if my husband was comfortable eating outside — or doing anything. He’ll ride his bike, but hasn’t liked my suggestions to stop for ice cream.
Super triumphant.
I’m the one in the house who is less likely to go out. Mr PugRunner is constantly telling me I need to be more reasonable, but I just don’t feel comfortable. What’s the point of paying for something if I’m an anxious mess the whole time? Ice cream makes me comfortable so I would be all for stopping. I would just want to eat it outside.
My girls are huge fans of the sheet masks. I just took Thing 2 to Target to stock up the other day. I need to try one! I hope Luna was nice to her new friend! I think Ozzy would’ve been scared. Haha!
Now that Thing 2 is off to college, I anticipate meals will be easier here. She was so darn picky.
Luna did smack Taco in the nose. Taco didn’t care lol.
Picky eaters are hard. Little man is pretty good, but can be very dramatic over certain vegetables, and that’s annoying.
I have never been disciplined with meal planning, even when all three kids were young. Last week, though…. with no power, we had grilled burgers & dry cereal and granola bars. I even snuck in an extra serving of oatmeal at work (late in the day) to serve as my dinner LOL
First off, as I read through your post I noticed how beautifully your pictures flowed together with the very calming color theme of green/blue and peach. I felt like I was in my very own little spa environment just reading this!
When we remodeled our master bath and bedroom last year, I used spa blue and went for a very calming decor and we love it!
Our little next door neighbors just got skateboards and it’s been fun watching them learn to use them. Our youngest son who is 30 years old and was an excellent skateboarder when he was little just got a long board. He went skateboard with them when he visited last weekend. It was adorable!
Here’s hoping Little Man has a successful school year!
<3 I love how skateboarding is just taking off with the kids. The dads are getting involved too. Like running, it's such a wonderful, collaborative community.
I have to finish up our bathroom. I'm dragging my feet on it, though.