I hope you have some fun, relaxing, productive things headed your way this weekend. I have a party at my friend Lauren’s house with some other bridesmaids to do some fun wedding stuff & have dinner. She’s getting married in 2 weeks! I also have my beautiful niece’s baptism and a family dinner followed after. I’m looking forward to it.

Because it’s Friday, it’s time to share with you things I’m LOVING this week! 

We have now that it’s officially fall I feel like I can share with you some fall favorites. Yes I have fall favorites already.

I picked up some of these mini pumpkins at the store and they are a simple way to decorate the kitchen table without taking up too much space, they are also super cheap!

Have you ever heard or tried a Delicata Squash before?? Um, please go buy one. I’m slightly obsessed. They are so easy to cook and they are a bit more starchier then some other squashes out there so I felt very full and satisfied after eating it this week!

I felt generous yesterday, so if you haven’t emailed me or left a comment today is the last day to enter for a chance to win 2 free samples of Shakeology!

If you don’t know me, I love ice cream. I try not to eat it too often but it’s my weakness and its my go to TREAT!! Especially smothered in crunchies.

Popcorn is my FAVORITE snack of all time haha. Trader Joe’s has this amazing air popped popcorn that is healthy & delicious. I highly recommend it, its also a great snack for TGIT entertainment like Grey’s Anatomy & SCANDAL.

Guys I can’t even begin to tell you how pumped I was for the return of my 2 favorite fall shows. I did a little happy dance yesterday.

To wrap up this post, here are some pics of Ava from the playground this week. This girl is so much fun and I can’t get enough of her smiles and crazy faces.

What fun stuff do you have planned this weekend? 

Are you a Grey’s Anatomy or Scandal fan?

]]> http://thefitskool.com/?feed=rss2&p=8178 2 http://thefitskool.com/?p=6500 http://thefitskool.com/?p=6500#comments Thu, 30 Apr 2015 13:24:05 +0000 http://thefitskool.com/?p=6500 Continue reading →]]> About a year and half ago I joined Instagram and about 3 months ago I gave in and joined Facebook. Why? I’m not really sure, I guess it was because I am a blog writer and I wanted to reach out to more people. I thought I had good intentions by joining these 2 HUGE social networks but the truth is I’m starting to notice my free time is diminishing. These sites are distracting me from my family at times and I question why I need them.

Last weekend the YMCA in Greenwich, CT hosted a Healthy Kids Day. There were tons of ways for kids to learn how to be healthy with games, healthy snacks, sports, activities, and more.

Dr Katy Noble was one of the guests they had at the event and she is a children’s pediatrician. She approached Marc and handed him an article that she had written about Social Media and kids.

Feel free to click on it and zoom in (sorry its a little crinkled up, but Ava got her hands on it and she started to crumple it!!)

The article gives a list of 10 WAYS TO MANAGE KIDS USE OF MEDIA

As soon as Marc and I read the article our first instinct was to turn the TV off and not let Ava watch it ever again. (easier said then done)

This article got my mind thinking in all directions!

Why am I on social media? Why Do I watch TV? Why do I need to be like everyone else and fall into the trap of the media?

But then I realized I live a pretty balanced life. I have never been a TV person. I would rather be doing other things but I’d say on average I watch 3o minutes of TV a day. I’m just not into the TV. My computer use however is a little higher and since I joined facebook/instagram I have increased my time on social media.

I have decided I want to cut back.

As for Ava…. I don’t let Ava watch TV all day, we go for walks, we play at the park, we read books, we play games, she has play dates, she goes to daycare, but there are times where the TV is on and when she’s tired and laying around I feel its appropriate to let her watch a little Mickey Mouse. Luckily she’s not old enough for computers/ipads/iphones yet but I know by the time she is old enough she won’t depend on them.

My approach these past few weeks is to limit my time on my phone (unless its work related there’s no time limit). I am aiming for no electronic use after 9pm and I turn the TV off when no one is watching anything important because it’s just a distraction!

So maybe my thoughts are all over the place in this post, but I know social media isn’t just going to disappear any time soon!!

I hope by setting some realistic goals for myself and Ava that we won’t get brainwashed by our technologically advanced world!!!!

What are your thoughts about social media?

Do you find yourself wasting time when you are on the internet, etc?

I did however, do a few minutes of light Cardio at home to warm my muscles up and took advantage of some stretching. I do stretch with all my classes every day but ever since my hip injury a few years back, my body needs a little more then just the before/after class stretching.

When I don’t want to think or come up with my own workouts I turn to the internet and the TV for “no-thinking workouts.”

I chose a Ballet Body Stretch on Demand (Thanks Verizon Fios)  The stretch workout was 13 minutes. It was PERFECT and hit every muscle in a short amount of time. Here are a few of the stretches.

PIGEON POSE (Cooper snuck in the picture!)

CROSS LEGGED SIDE BEND

LOWER BACK TWIST – also gets legs, glutes, neck

CROSS LEGGED FORWARD LEAN

I walked away feeling loose which was my goal.

Stretching is so important! It keeps us loose & limber. You will gain flexibility by adding regular stretching to your fitness routine!

On a different note….This Sunday we will be heading to the Thanksgiving Parade in Stamford, CT. They have GIANT balloons of awesome characters like Cookie Monster and Kermit the frog!! I can’t wait, I think Ava is going to love it!

HAPPY FRIDAY  

Do you stretch on a regular basis? What is your favorite stretch?

Any fun weekend Plans?

How was your weekend? Were you busy & productive? We had a lot going on, but I liked it.

Friday night Is typically our low-key night. Butttttt my dad offered to hang out with Ava while Marc and I grabbed a quick bite to eat at or local favorite restaurant Barcelona.  We shared some delicious tapas and it was a nice mini date night out!

(These were a few of the tapas we got: Chili Brussel Sprounts, Hanger steak with Truffle Sauce, Spinach & Chicken Casserole)

When we got home from dinner, I fed Ava and put her down for the night.   Shortly after Marc and I watched some TV Shows on Demand that we missed from the last couple of weeks. I don’t typically watch a whole lot of TV during the week, so we play catch up on the weekends when my body wants some rest on the couch.

What are some of your go-to shows? I am a huge fan of Scandal & Grey’s so I was super pumped when the Fall Season kicked off last week!! I am one of the few people that have been watching Grey’s since it started. I seriously get super pumped when it is Thursday!!

The weather Saturday was crummy and literally made me not want to get out of bed. Ava was my reasoning for getting out of bed, that little girl wakes up ready to go, she gives me energy. My mom stopped over in the morning, and I practiced the new Group Power workout with her. Instructing the workout is the only way I get better

After I finished practicing, I quickly showered and got ready before Marc’s family arrived.

It was sooooo nice to spend time with them.

I love seeing Ava and her cousin Natalie together. They love each other and it is too cute to see them play, Natalie is clearly the ring-leader.

Once the rain cleared up.. Natalie enjoyed splashing around in some puddles! I probably should’ve taken my shoes off and joined her, she was clearly living in the moment it was the favorite part of my day.

When I woke up Sunday, I was confused as to what day it was! Does that every happen to you? I guess since I was heading to the YMCA at 815 for Group Power, I felt like I was going to work but really I was going to participate in a class.

We had quite the group and I’m pretty this workout confused our bodies in a good way.

In the afternoon we went to Marc’s softball party at Fairways Restaurant in Greenwich. Luckily my mom was there to help us entertain Ava, she had a lot of energy.

It was a beautiful fall day outside!

They had a live band at the restaurant and the music was great, I am sure Ava’s little ears were ringing when we left.

Shortly after we took this picture Ava crashed from all of the festivities so we headed home.

And nowwww I am off to teach the new October release of Group Power. Wish me luck, my muscles need it!

What is something fun you did this weekend?

Do you like rainy days?