My Favorite Youtube Workouts

I really love working out. I need those endorphins & I love how I feel after. I’m still trying to shed some baby weight too – and hope to do that through clean eating & regular (but not extreme) exercise. I used to enjoy going to the gym, but ever since I had Cora I do most of my workouts at home. I like quick, simple workouts and I love to mix things up so I don’t get too bored. I do Kayla Itsine’s Bikini Body Guide, which is great, but I get bored easily. Youtube has been such  great resource for my home workouts. There are literally thousands of completely free workouts, most with no equipment necessary (or just simple hand weights if anything at all). I thought I would share the links to a few of my favorite videos. I usually play them on my TV through our Apple TV, but you can also use your phone or laptop! These are less than 30 minutes, and a few are literally only 10 minutes that I do when I’m pressed for time! Some days I throw dinner in the oven and then do a quick 10 minute workout while the girls play!

Let me know if you try any of them!

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1.) This one is quick & includes a warmup. It gets me sweating & gets my heart rate up. I usually pair this one with a quick ab or arm workout video after, if I have time (and energy).

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8rcu-ekUlE[/embed]

2.) This tank top arms workout is a great one to pair with the above HIIT workout!

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUychjqfO8I[/embed]

3.) This one is only 10 minutes. For the days I’m super tired and feel like I don’t have energy to workout, I can usually swing this 10 minute workout. It’s simple too… 10 moves, one minute each. Nothing too complicated.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sxsUPbtiys[/embed]

4.) This 20 minute HIIT workout is super fast paced but awesome. And I usually need the moments of rest to tend to the baby anyways, so it’s perfect ;)

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6KfdWDz0XI[/embed]

5.) I really like the simplicity of these HASFIT videos. Six moves, one minute each. Simple and my abs are burning the next day. These short targeted videos I usually do after a walk/cardio session or pair with other videos.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGOMAHOJxXM[/embed]

6.) This arm workout is 6 minutes, no weights, and still hurts! Haha! I used to do this when I was pregnant too. Again, some day’s I will go for a long walk with the girls and then do some arms/abs/legs videos. They are short enough that you can pick a few to do. Blogilates is an awesome page too for lots of great workout videos.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1CohjEGbPc[/embed]

7.) Here’s another quick one that you can mix & match — or add in after some cardio to tone.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoGlnGMLE6o[/embed]

Summer

I used to think Fall was my favorite season, but this summer (apart from being sick) has been so magical. Trolley rides, road trips, beach days, splash pads, family visits — all have made it so fun  and so full of amazing memories!

I’ve been trying to be more intentional about using my pro camera for my personal day-to-day family photos, and I am so grateful when I do. This particular day we were just needing some fresh air & sunshine after being cooped up in the house sick all week, so when Ryan got home from work we got take-out and had a picnic in our front yard. The weather was perfect, the light was dreamy, and we were all together. I love soaking up these moments with our family. And it warms my heart to watch Evie play with her daddy. They are so silly together and she really lights up when he is home. Too much sweetness.

This season with littles is a lot of work and can be so hard at times, but I know someday I will look back at these photos and miss this stage so much. Now here’s to soaking up the last few weeks of Summer before it “officially” becomes Fall!

In love,

Monika

Big Sur

This last week has been really hard. We’ve been home sick with what feels like the plague (AKA hand foot & mouth disease). Eveleigh got it first, and even though adults don’t typically catch it — I am one of the lucky few who did. And then it spread to Cora as well, and well, it’s not been fun, to say the least. And since it’s super contagious we haven’t really left the house at all, and I am going stir crazy. It’s started triggering my wanderlust and making me crave a trip when we’re all feeling better.

But in the meantime, I thought I’d share some photos from our road trip this summer… these are all from our time in Big Sur, which is the most beautiful stretch of coastline I have ever seen. I love living in this beautiful state because there are so many amazing places to visit, most within driving distance (especially if you’re a road trip lover like myself!).

We drove up to Monterey first and spent two nights there, exploring the town and heading north up to Santa Cruz for a short visit. Then we started making our way South to Big Sur, driving through Carmel and stopping at several scenic overlooks to take in the view. We stopped for lunch at the River Inn and then stopped later for coffee at Big Sur Bakery. If we were sans kids I would’ve definitely stayed there a while longer enjoying coffee & dessert and taking it all in. Very charming & definitely worth a stop! Then we stopped off at McWay Falls and hiked the little trail there. Such amazing views & a great short walk with kiddos. We were also planning on stopping off at Pfieffer beach but we couldn’t find the path and the girls were sleeping, so we kept on going and just stopped off at a few more turnouts. We continued to make our way south towards San Simeon, and visited the Elephant Seal Rookery. Eveleigh loved seeing the Elephant Seals & the super friendly squirrels that were there too!

Big Sur was definitely the highlight of our summer road trip! Hoping to post & share some more photos from the rest of our trip soon. :)

Have you ever been to Big Sur? Would love to hear your favorite spots & places to stay, as we hope to visit again soon (I’m thinking like once every two years at minimum ;))

With love,

Monika

Simple Arugula Salad

Processed with VSCO with f2 preset

I used to not be a fan of arugula but lately I am loving a good, simple arugula salad! I love this recipe because it’s light, refreshing, and flavorful. I eat it at least once a week these days!

Hope you like it! Have a wonderful weekend!

With love,

Monika

Ingredients

• Arugula

• Shaved Parmesan

• Pine Nuts

• Heirloom tomatoes

• Sliced Chicken (though also delicious with flank steak)

• Olive Oil 

• Half a lemon

• Salt & Pepper

Instructions

1. Place desired amount of salad in a bowl and top with parmesan, pine nuts, tomatoes, and chicken. Add desired amount of olive oil and squeeze the lemon all over. Add a little salt & pepper to taste and enjoy! 

Our Home

Every year of our marriage we have had to move for one reason or another. It seems by the time we finally feel settled and “home” we end up moving again. But not this time. We were just able to renew our lease for another year! Hip Hip Hooray! Moving every year has been emotionally & physically exhausting (not to mention expensive). I am really just so relieved. So, in honor of that I thought I’d share a few pictures of our space. It’s a continual work in progress, and there’s still a lot I would want to do, but we love it so much and feel so blessed to get to live here for as long as we’re able!

This house is so above & beyond what we ever could’ve hoped for. Our good friend Monty saw that his neighbor was moving, and asked her whether she was renting or selling. When she said that she was renting, Monty said he knew of some people who may be interested (and loved the idea of finding some awesome people to be his new neighbors). It was way out of our price range but Monty showed it to us anyway and was trying to convince us we could do it with a roommate. But we were newly pregnant with our second, and my brothers had just moved back with their mom, and I really needed to have a place to ourselves again. So when we saw it and met the owner we told her we loved the place but that is was over our max budget and so it wouldn’t work out. So several weeks went by and we kept looking, and found a little two bedroom/two bathroom condo in a nearby town and were just about to sign the lease &  put our deposit down. But then that very day who should we get a call from?! The owner of the house… saying she felt like she was supposed to rent to our family AND that she would come down to what we could afford (even though it would be losing money for her)!!

I had been longing for a home with a little more space for our growing family, but everything in Southern California is just so expensive, so we’ve only ever lived in condos. I never really even prayed & asked for it, because it felt selfish. Like I should just be happy with wherever we live and not be so set upon “a house.” But God totally provided and knew the desires of my heart & completely blew us away. So for the same price as a condo we get this amazing three bedroom/three bathroom house by the beach with an ocean view! And the most amazing part is that we are literally neighbors to some of our best friends! We all get to do life together & live in community — which is really what it’s all about!

We are so incredibly thankful and love to share the story because it is such an awesome testimony of God’s amazing provision!

With love,

Monika