ladyofthebog

Yes!! I keep on going back to Tolkien. gratitude while my husbands washing the kids: - reading books together with the family - watching the great British bake off today with my oldest - the kindness my oldest shows her little sister - the river so close to our house - William Shakespeare!!

Whoops! Update: my husband got a few job offers pretty quickly and accepted a position that is actually a promotion in title and role in line with the direction he ultimately wants to be moving- more into business side of things from strict tech. It seems like it’ll be a good fit and nice to know that there’s a world beyond his last position. Also a good reminder that sometimes it’s good to change up roles/ companies because it opens more options if things falls through and allows you to be flexible. Maybe more than that seeing change (uncomfortable change) as opportunities for growth and expansion. Again, all of this taken when not in a struggle to survive type situation. All easy to say when putting food on the table isn’t in question. But for me, this time of upheaval has me really thinking about my own tendency towards scarcity mindset- the idea that there are limited resources and one must struggle to procure them. Salve is in part gratitude but also dissecting why I go to anxiety and scarcity with upheaval. Also, recognizing how the greater consumerist culture has seeped into my mindset without even realizing it! Maybe that’s why I appreciate the hobbits so much- with the exceptions of the Sackvilles- they lead a simple life and appreciate that simple life!

Gratitude between sets: - strong body - deep breath - the chickens clicking out back - smiles and their power to communicate - growth

Upper body today. Definitely have a harder time finding my limits, knowing my form, and connecting mind/muscle with the upper body vs lower body. I’m thinking I’d benefit from adding in some upper body mobility- maybe it’s from hunching over and breastfeeding/ carrying around a huge baby/toddler?? In any case, my shoulders, particularly my right, are tight. Had my parents over for dinner tonight- was nice. I love seeing them. More of that. gratitude: - the rhythm of each breath - the miracle of human creativity, there’s novels/poems being written this very moment that will reveal beauty and meaning in some unexplored region of my being! - chocolate - that I’m living in a time in history where exotic spices can be picked up a the local market with ease! - moonlight xxooo

Busy making valentines last night! Five gratitudes this morning upon waking: warm blankets, soft cozy bed being able to provide comfort for my children, and how receptive they are to it fresh water the countryside so close the library and all the librarians who work so hard in it xxoo

Sore sore sore sore from trading dumbbells for barbells and lifting heavy. gratitude: the miracle of seeds and growing things still having “it” after 15 years with my husband The emerald podcast the sweet feeling of my baby falling asleep in my arms our hot tub goodnight!!

I’m glad to be among those returning! Thank you for always being so encouraging as your epithet suggests!!

Thank you for being here and kind words! Official word from my MIL’s oncologist tomorrow. I’m hopeful but do understand, particularly as a former hospice nurse, how brutal cancer can be. Eeek, yes, tech, particularly at the big name companies is rough right now. We are pretty well positioned to weather the potential storm well but it’s still stressful! thank you! tbh, it’s been my experience that trouble comes in threes so I’m hoping all (in this season are least) has been revealed so that we can get down to handling it. Thank you for being here

following! and a magic show in a spooky tower?? sounds brilliant!

following! i'm not inspired to convert some ability scores for myself!

Hello all! So glad to be here one again for another challenge after a long-ish hiatus. I'm here because this is a particularly challenging season is our hobbit hole and now, more than ever, is a rich time for personal growth and perspective... as well as an opportunity to start lifting heavy again, as always. In the past week, my we found out my mother in law's stage 4 cancer has spread further into her pelvis and spine, my husband was laid off from a large (very comfortable!) tech company is a massive bloodbath, and both children have been down for the count with RSV (no sleep, my friends). All of this various levels of challenging and also a moment where I realize I can be very Hobbit-like, at least of the Shire variety, in that I enjoy stability, regularity, and the known and, of course, the nature of life is that it is unstable, doubtlessly with surprise you in sometimes painful ways. Going to channel my inner Took. So, my main goals at this time is to explore this time of instability and find opportunity in the discomfort, continue to workout goals, make and effort towards writing my PNW small town urban fiction novel. GOALS: - write 5 things I'm grateful for each day - declutter basement - do something relaxing every day - spend some time each week working on novel WORKOUT PLAN: currently I workout doing beachbody workouts (it's convenient w/ a toddler and entertaining!) 5-6 days a week new plan: heavy lift day in garage, lower body focused upper lift day (bodi) DAY OFF (going to take nap time on Wednesdays to just chill) heavy lift day in garage/heavy lift day inside with dumbbells depending on day, lower body focused barre (bodi) barre/full body fun tinmes (bodi) Stay tuned for some hard work!! Life Lately: bright day at the beach house

so, i feel like i kinda have done things more femininely targeted but! in no order- 21 day fix (both the classic version and live versions and the more intense version, forgetting the name). 80 day obsession, 100 MM, a few of the p90x types ( i forget names but there's a few iterations!), lift4, and my favorite ever barre blend which i've done around 8 times? I think?? I did it in endless loop for i think about 2 years. Right now, I'm doing the bodi format which I find charming, lifting heavy 2 days a week (we tricked out our garage with a squat rack!), running. I kind of follow a 2 heavy days, one full body day, one lower body day and fill the rest with combo of barre/running. I might be over training but I keep on dropping my heavy squat days due to the baby and the garage being... just absolutely not baby proofed currently. den of danger.

I was just wondering how you’ve been doing! Thank you for keeping us updated and sounds like you’re pretty adept forging anchors. I’m also doing Beachbody things- I find it very entertaining and now can’t really imagine ever having enough time to go to the gym. I did p90x years ago, find tony Horton very charming 😂

Though should say that what I mean by untoward pregnancy issues I mean sore back or sciatica or pelvic pain or that kind of thing- definitely go pee a million times a night and every thirty minutes during the day, GERD! Though that’s diminishing (I wonder if she’s descending), I walk slowly and I can’t see my feet! Etc etc etc but feel like all to be expected when super pregnant!

Yes!! Getting very close! Feeling pretty good but definitely slowing down. Can’t wait to meet the little one! Still doing barre and I think it’s doing me well this pregnancy! Highly recommend prenatal barre blend for pregnant people- I feel like it has prepared my body well for pregnancy. Not really having any untoward pregnancy issues except being tired! Last pregnancy I ran pretty late into the pregnancy and did life weights but found it harder to keep consistent. More recently- earlier this week, 35 weeks I think this is 33 weeks, before baby shower