Hello, hello! It’s been awhile since my last postpartum core update, so here’s where I’m at. I’m nearing 2 years postpartum after my twins and focusing on functionality (rather than obsessing over physical results) has been my mantra. This translates into being grateful for what I CAN DO more than what it all LOOKS like. Which, to be honest is a wiggly yet moderately strong looking postpartum belly. But hey, I have been doing all the high-impact exercises that I love and have minimal leaking (if any) during those workouts. Hallelujah! My diastasis recti (separation of rectus abdominis musculature) is around 2-3 finger widths wide and thankfully not very deep…
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Timucuan Preserve – Theodore Roosevelt Area
Here I was with my babes in the woods, spattered with bug spray and heading down the trail in the surprisingly pleasant Fall weather that Northeast Florida had given us that day; slightly overcast and not too muggy with a breeze in the air. We were exploring the Theodore Roosevelt area of the Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve. It’s a nice little trail! Along the way there’s a fork to the right over to the marsh and you might even spot a Great Blue Heron. If you’re interested in learning more about the preserve and surrounding historic area, check out this website. And taken from what I had posted on…
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Broccoli Cheddar & Ham Egg Muffins
These egg “muffins” have been on repeat in my oven this past week. They are SO easy, SO tasty, moderately healthy AND my kids love them! They are also very forgiving…no milk? Use water. Forgot an egg? Oh well. Still delicious (and filling) every time! I might just have to get a second muffin pan, because a dozen of these disappear quickly at our house! And notice that I added a freeze-dried option for the broccoli. It seriously makes it sooo easy…cutting out the time for washing and chopping AND no mess of broccoli dust left behind either 🙌😀. So, give these a try next time you want a healthy…
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Our Return To Samoa 2019 — The First Days
Well, we’ve been off the communications grid for the past few days, including internet access, social media, etc. Man, traveling internationally with our 7 year old, 4.5 year old, and 1 year old twins is no joke! In a 4 day span, we’ve passed through three times zones and spent 17 hours on a plane—2 of which were 6+ hour non-stop flights. We’ve been getting settled here in American Samoa and dealing with some emotional outbursts from the kids (which is to be expected, but doesn’t mean it’s easy!). Thankfully we’re finally catching up on some severe lack of sleep and getting onto the Samoan schedule…just in time to…
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Progress in Parenting
I haven’t listened to the latest parenting podcast. I haven’t read the most recent hit how-to book on “being the best mom ever”. And I haven’t scrolled through the numerous posts on social media about why moms do (or don’t) have “mom guilt”, although I have certainly seen them before. And none of these are bad, in fact I’m sure many are really encouraging and insightful and I would like to catch up on it someday. But see, that’s the thing. I just don’t have time for that right now. All I know is that I’m on this rollercoaster called Motherhood that has it’s highs and lows (honestly mostly highs…
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Best {healthy} Frozen Pizza
So you’re craving pizza (or your family is craving pizza), but you don’t want to order something OR make something from scratch. AND you don’t want to buy something in a box from the store that has a gazillllllion ingredients. Well, I compromised and bought something in a box from the store that DOESN’T have a gazillion ingredients and it’s healthy and delicious. And I know the phrase “healthy and delicious” is not always true when buying something pre-made from the store, but you guys….this is actually HEALTHY AND DELICIOUS. The crust is unlike any other “healthy” crust I’ve tried…and trust me, I’ve tried my fair share, including cauliflower crusts,…
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Postpartum Core Update: Tools For Recovery
So I’m 5 months postpartum and what have I been doing in the core recovery department? Not much. Caring for twins plus 2 other children, plus pumping (my biggest time suck!) PLUS other full-time mom duties, have all taken over my days (and nights). I have little time to even *think* about exercise let alone specific exercises to help repair diastasis recti (abdominal muscle separation). But then there’s the voice in my head that says, “JUST A FEW MINUTES A DAY would make a big difference!”. Well sweetheart (yes, still talking to myself), that’s a few minutes a day I literally don’t have. Not with the sleep debt I’m in.…
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Pola Island & Tuafauna Trail
American Samoa is probably one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Not even probably…definitely. I may be biased since I was privileged to live there for a year and take in the full cultural experience and witness tropical beauty on a daily basis…..buuut you’d be crazy to agree that it’s not gorgeous, right?? Here you can see Pola Island, a great natural nesting area for sea birds. It lies across Vatia Bay, where the snorkeling was always on point with something exciting to see. We had friends who always saw rays, while I always seemed to miss them, darn! It’s hit or miss with the snorkeling….you never know…
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New Zealand Countryside
“The land of the long white cloud” is the nearest translation of “Aotearoa”, the Māori name for New Zealand. I took hundreds of breathtaking photos during our vacation 18 months ago and I’m dreaming of the day we can return to the land of the long white cloud. Scenes like this, or “The Shire” as I liked to call every single hillside while I busily snapping away photos during our cross country drives, definitely add to the numerous reasons of why I will be returning someday. And the cows! The cows are everywhere. It’s no wonder “New Zealand Grass-Fed Beef” is desirable stuff because it’s wild and free all over…
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Postpartum Core Update: Baby Steps Toward Recovery
This is a postpartum series of my own personal journey: 5 Months Postpartum.
