Category: Exercise

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20 Fun FREE Date Ideas

20 Fun FREE Date Ideas

Sometimes, life gets busy and money gets tight.  Having a list of 20 fun free date ideas can help keep the romance alive.  From going to the library to having a backyard bonfire, there are so many fun ways to spend time together that don’t break the bank.

1.Go to the Park

This idea is kind of a three in one idea.  You could have a simple picnic if you’d like a more intimate and relaxing date.  If you’re feeling more adventurous, you could go hiking or biking.  We love hiking at our favorite local parks and exploring new ones in nearby cities.  Fresh air, exercise, beautiful scenery, what’s not to love?!  Well, maybe bugs.  Don’t forget to wear bug spray!

2.Movie Night at Home

There are so many ways to watch movies at home now!  Browse through your old DVD collection for an old favorite.  Check out Netflix, Amazon or Hulu for something new if you have a subscription.  Go to the library to check out their selection.  Snuggling up to a good movie is a great way to relax together after a long day.

3.Board Games

We have a lot of games, but we don’t often get to play them.  Back when we were first dating, we loved to play different games together,  like Scrabble for example.  Taking the time to have a game night can give you something fun to do while allowing you to have a playful conversation.

4.Go to the Library

The library is a lot of fun with the kids, but it’s also a lot of fun without them!  Browsing the books together, picking out a fun movie, laughing over the music section and reminiscing, browsing through the exercise equipment, even if we don’t pick out anything (how can you not?!) the library is always a blast!

5.Puzzles

I LOVE puzzles!  Whenever I get a new one going, the whole family loves to spend time tackling it.   Spending time alone on date night working on a puzzle is a fun challenge!  I find puzzle nights are great for the times when you don’t want to say much.  Puzzles can be a stress reliever.  So if you’ve had a rough day/week/month, this might be a great way to tackle some of life’s anxieties by doing something you CAN solve.

6.Video Games

If your spouse loves video games, but you are not a fan, it might put you out of your comfort zone a little at first.  Playing together can be a lot of fun though!  If you’re not into violent games, like me, there are so many other fun ways to play.  Many game systems have physically active games that allow you to get up and move, like Fruit Ninja.  If you’d rather sit down, Tetris is always a fun challenge.

7. Take a Walk

Sometimes, a simple walk around the neighborhood can be a lot of fun.  It’s just you and your sweetie, walking, talking and getting some fresh air.  I find a simple walk can take the pressure off of date planning and allow you to just relax.

8.Cook and Clean up Dinner Together

I’m usually the one who cooks at our house.  Sometimes, Nate will take over for a night if I’m not feeling well.  Cooking together though, makes the work go faster and is a lot of fun!  Cleaning up together means that no one is stuck doing the dishes alone.  If cooking dinner is too intimidating, try making a simple dessert or appetizer.

9.Museum

We have a lot of museums in our area.  Many of them have free days or free sections.  Most history museums have a fee to help pay for upkeep, but sometimes they have a free day.  Often, you can get a free pass at the local library.  Many art museums are free.  A few of the bigger ones do charge a fee, so always check before heading out.

10.Window Shopping Downtown

Our town has a cute little historic downtown strip.  It’s full of antique stores, boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants.  It’s a lot of fun to check out all of the unique items in the antique stores and window shop some of the newer boutiques.

11.Backyard Bonfire

Summer doesn’t last very long here in Minnesota, so bonfires are only optional a few months a year.  We love to take advantage of this time to sit outside and enjoy the warm night air, under the stars, cuddled up next to the fire.

12.Tea/Dessert on the Porch

If you have a porch, like we do, it’s nice to sit out early or late on hot summer days.  Taking a little time to enjoy the quiet solitude that comes with dawn and dusk with a nice cup of tea or a shared dessert is a lot of fun!

13.Fishing/Boating

Here in Minnesota, we have over 10,000 lakes.  (11,842 lakes of 10 acres or more.  21.871 if you count the lakes under 10 acres!) We also have 69,200 miles of rivers which gives us many opportunities to enjoy some time on the water.  We’ve gone fishing as a family, but fishing as a couple can be fun too!  If you are vegan or don’t like to fish, sightseeing is also a lot of fun!  Don’t forget to take binoculars for a little bird watching!

14.Study the Bible Together

There is nothing else like putting God first in our lives.  Spending quality time together, with God, is one of the most important things a couple can do together.  God can help draw a couple closer and give peace and contentment.

15. Go Through Family Photo Albums

As the years roll by and memories add up, it can be a lot of fun to look back on some of those favorite experiences together.  Sometimes, this can inspire new plans for the future, so keep a notebook and pen handy!

16.Play Cards

Playing cards can be as easy as Go Fish, Speed or even a little more challenging, like enjoying a game of poker.  If you don’t know how to play any card games, you can easily google how to play!  Even better, there are a lot of videos on Youtube showing you exactly how to play!  Cards are simple, cheap and can lead to a lot of laughs.

17.Build/Make Something

Is there something fun that you’ve always wanted to try?  Build a birdhouse?  Make a garden?  Make a Chalkboard?  Hang up some framed family pictures?  Make a fun date of it!  If you don’t know how to do any of these things but want to, check out community education classes, your local library courses, or ask a friend who’s more experienced to help you plan the basics before getting started.

18.Exercise together

I’ve already mentioned hiking, biking and taking walks, but breaking out a workout DVD or pulling up a workout on youtube to try together can be a lot of fun!  Just make sure to take it slow if you don’t work out on a regular basis!

19. Read Together

Did you find an awesome book at the library or do you have a favorite you’d love to read again?  Make it a date night book.  Take turns reading chapters out loud (or pages if the chapters are long).  No cheating and reading without your partner on non-date nights though!

20.Pamper Each Other

Put on face masks, file each other’s nails, or paint them if you’re feeling adventurous!  Take a relaxing bath together, if your bath is big enough!  If you don’t have a big enough tub, have a detox foot bath.  Give a nice back or shoulder massage.  Both men and women love to be pampered!

I hope these 20 fun free date ideas have inspired you for a date night of your own!  What is your favorite thing to do on a date night?  Have you given any of these a try?  Let me know in the comments!




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7 Summer Challenge Ideas

7 Summer Challenge Ideas

Although spring has had a late start this year, these last few weeks have really warmed up!  It’s almost hard to believe that a few weeks ago, we had a huge blizzard!  If you are anything like us, you are probably itching to get outside and enjoy the warm, fresh air!

Last year we had so much fun doing a 5-week workout challenge!  Every week we made it a goal to move our bodies.  I don’t know about you, but I am not a big fan of a traditional work out session.  I have a hard time getting motivated to stare at a TV and watch other people work out. Or worse, go somewhere public to work out with strangers.

Hiking is my favorite way to get exercise.  Being outside, in nature, makes me happy.  Getting a change of scenery, enjoying a new adventure, exploring a new location, what’s not to love?!

When doing research for local parks online, I found so many!  I felt like the ones I had seen were just a drop in the bucket.  I wanted to see them all!  Is it crazy and over-ambitious that I’m not exaggerating?!

We had only scratched the surface last year.  I knew, without a doubt, that our adventures would continue.  Should I do another workout challenge?!  I don’t know.  It did motivate me last year.  Honestly, many days I felt like sitting on the couch and being lazy in the air conditioning.  Knowing I had made a commitment kept me going.

Maybe this year is time for a new challenge.  There are so many options!  I might have to try one or all of these.

7 Summer Challenge Ideas

  1. Get Outside Every Day Challenge-For 3 months… for a year?!
  2. How many parks can we hit in the summer? 30? 40? 60?!
  3. Around Minnesota in 80 Days
  4. Exercise Every Day for a Month
  5. Art Challenge
  6. 30/60/90 Day Planking Challenge
  7. 100 Days of Gardening

Get Outside Every Day Challenge/ 100 Days of Sun

People Are spending more time inside than ever before in history.  With the air inside polluted and stale, getting outside is vitally important to our health.   AT LEAST an hour outside every day is the recommended amount for every age.

There are literally hundreds of things to do every day, all year round!  I made a list of fun things to do, outside, in summer that you can check out for ideas.

30 FUN Parks in Minnesota That You Have to See!

Visiting Parks is one of the most fun things to do in the summer.  Parks are full of activities for every age.  The whole family can go for a hike.  The kids can play at the playground while the adults relax and chat.  Biking, swimming, sightseeing, bird watching, there are so many options!

Although the title is just an idea, you can set your goal for as many or as little parks as you think you will visit.  Obviously, you will change Minnesota to your own local area.

Around Minnesota in 80 Days

This title leaves the window open for future fun expeditions.  If you don’t have an exact plan of what you want to do, but you know you want to start a challenge, this might be a good starting point.

I might make a fun list soon about traveling ideas within a region.  To get you started with a few ideas, you could visit local parks, check out small historic towns, visit a museum, check out a historic site, go to a zoo, smell the flowers at a conservatory, and so much more!

Exercise Every Day for a Month!

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time getting motivated to exercise.  Making it a goal is a great way to keep on track and get your body moving.  Last year we did a 5 Week Workout Challenge.  It was a lot of fun!

Working out doesn’t have to be just exercise videos or hitting up the Y.  Exercise can be so many different things!  You could go hiking, ride a bike, go kayaking, go swimming or even try rock climbing!

Art

There are so many options with this one!  Art is near and dear to my heart.  My Grandfather was an artist.  He inspired me to be a creative person.  I’m working hard to instill a love of being creative in my children.  This would be the perfect project for us all to enjoy together.

If you didn’t have an artsy Grandpa, here are a couple of ideas to get you going!  I’ll make a more extensive list in the future too.  Paint on canvas, visit an art museum, draw with chalk, paint rocks, make a birdhouse, do a photography project, color with crayons and so much more!

52 Project, Week 11: Art

30/60/90 Day Planking Challenge

Last year, during our 5 Week Workout Challenge, we tried planking for two of the days.  Planking is HARD!  It was so much harder than I thought it would be.  It’s such a great way to build muscle FAST though!  I’d love to try a 30-day plank challenge to see how long I would last at the end of the 30 days.

I think it would be fun to plank in different places every day for different visual content.  The kids would probably love that too!

100 Days of Gardening

I started my first vegetable garden last year.  This year we have been expanding, growing new things and learning more and more about gardening.  Doing a 100 days of gardening challenge would be a perfect way to learn about gardening faster and get a lot of fresh food!




I would love to know how you are going to challenge yourself this summer!  Let me know in the comments!

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Getting Lost on Norberg Trail

Getting Lost on Norberg Trail
Camping, Day 6

When I was researching the area for things to do, I saw Norberg Trail as one of the highlights.  It looked breathtakingly beautiful.  With the rain and our busy schedule, we didn’t get the chance to check it out.  On our last night there, I decided that I would wake up early the next morning and head out alone.

I woke up and hit snooze once or twice.  Half of me wanted to say forget it and sleep in.  The other half knew I’d be mad at myself later for being lazy.  So I rolled out of bed, packed up and drove to the bathrooms for a shower.  Then I set out for my hike!

I felt a bit excited about going alone, as though this was a secret adventure.  Part of me felt guilty for leaving everyone behind, but they all wanted to sleep in any way.  I felt nervous anticipation as I pulled into the parking spot.  Would it be as beautiful as I had hoped?  I do have a tendency to romanticize destinations.

Thankfully, it was as peaceful and lovely as I had imagined.  Walking the short trail to the lake was relatively easy.  There were rocks embedded in the ground to navigate, but it wasn’t as bad as Kawishiwi Falls.  The view of the lake through the pines was delightful.  The fresh air invigorated my senses.  I was ready for a good hike around the lake.

Before I left, I checked out the map on the sign and I knew there was a loop around the lake.  Down near the water, I could see a trail going off to the right.  I knew there was another trail further up near the parking lot, but I thought it was the one that led to the other lakes.  I set off to the right since it seemed to be a clear beaten path.

Everywhere around me was the wonder of creation.  It was hard to resist stopping frequently and photographing the lovely ferns, trees, moss, mushrooms, and plants.  I noticed that there were a lot of mosquitos, so I tried to keep moving.

Every so often, there was a fallen tree across the path.  At a few spots, the path was impassable and had to be trekked around.  It seemed that many had done so before.  I wondered if some of the damage was from recent storms, but on further inspection, it appeared that they were all felled by beaver.

As I got further along the trail, it became more difficult to find the path on some of the roundabout excursions.  I didn’t want to disturb any plants or animals, so I tried to be careful where I stepped.  I had once been attacked by a swarm of bees as a child when a friend stepped on a ground hive.  The emergency room doctor told me that I would most likely be allergic to bees after that since I had around 40 stings all over my body.  Stepping on a hive alone in the middle of the woods was not an appealing idea of a way to start my day.

There came several times where I couldn’t find the trail.  I didn’t know if I had gone off completely or if it was so wild that it was simply difficult to see the path.  Perhaps others had given up and returned the way they had come?  I found it hard to believe that everyone had given up and not continued along.  Periodically I found a trail again, much to my relief, but the majority of it was off-road.

I was swarmed by mosquitoes and I didn’t want to stop for long anywhere.  I kept my hood up on my sweatshirt to protect my head and neck despite the rising temperature.  I kept forging forward, stopping only at completely impassable spots.  I backtracked often, climbed deeper into the woods many times and went up and down steep hills. I often contemplated giving up and going back, but I’m not a quitter.  I think I also held hope that at some point it would get easier.

 

I did eventually get on the trail again near the very end.  It was wide and looked extremely easy to hike on.  Later, while reviewing the map, I found that the trail I went on was not mapped.  The trail I thought led to the other lakes was the main trail.  It made a very wide loop around the lake, far from the water, which is why I didn’t stumble on it till the very end.

The lake wasn’t very large, but the path I took was not easy, so it took a considerable amount of time.  My entire journey was a little over an hour and a half but it felt much longer.  I thought I had been out there for at least three hours.  I estimate the other trail might take someone 30-45 minutes.  By the time I got back to the van, I was relieved.  I was proud of myself for waking up early to exercise and for continuing around the whole lake.  I went on an adventure and survived.  The quote “Get Lost In the Woods” has a whole new meaning.

Even though I got lost and eaten alive by mosquitos, I don’t regret my journey.  Staying on the trail might have been easier, faster and with a lot fewer mosquitos, but the images I got while going off trail are some of my favorite from the trip.  I got to see nature in its wild state.  I found beauty that I probably would not have seen, had I gone the other way.

After arriving back at the campsite, we packed up to head home.  Poor Cat was having anxiety attacks because she was afraid everything wouldn’t fit.  I had her walk away, but she hid just around the corner and came running back when we tried to put stuff in.  Cat is an excellent organizer.  When I go shopping, she makes everything nice, neat and perfect in the cart.  It drives her crazy when everything is out of order.

I had OCD as a child, so I understand the anxiety that having something out of place causes.  I remember having to wash and rinse my glass a certain amount of times.  It used to drive my Dad crazy, maybe because I was wasting water.  As an adult, I get that.  As someone with OCD, I HAD to do it or I felt anxiety creeping up on me, making me feel like the world would end.

Years later, my Dad told me- You know, the glass washing thing you used to do is not a bad idea, it helps cool the glass down so the water is nice and cold when you drink it.  I don’t know if he was just being nice, but it meant the world to me that he was trying to understand and connect.

Once I developed allergies to the entire world, OCD began to creep back in my life.  I remember a day when my Mom asked me for a box of tissues and I almost didn’t let her have it because then I would have an uneven number of tissue boxes.

Later that night, as I replayed the event over and over in my head (Yaaay anxiety), I was trying to figure out why I was acting so crazy.  I mean, it was tissues.  Not sharing was selfish.  I didn’t really care about the tissues.  I love my Mom and I enjoy giving her things.  I couldn’t have an uneven number of tissue boxes though.  Yes, I admit I was a bit slow to come to the realization that the OCD might be back.

Now that I know what my food allergies are, the OCD isn’t as bad.  I would say it’s almost non-existent most days.  Although a messy house always makes me feel freaked out.  I’m not saying my house is spotless, it’s usually a mess.  There is a tipping scale that makes me freak out though.  If the kitchen is messy, I can’t breathe.  The kitchen must be clean.

When I have a large amount of exposure to allergens close together, also known as a full bucket, the OCD comes creeping or slamming back.  Bad exposure makes the volume of OCD turn up high.  I clean and clean and clean.  Although it’s nice to get some cleaning done, the panic that happens in my head is never fun.  I’m always thankful to get back to normal after an allergy flush or detox.

Anyway, back to camping!  We got everything into the van and Cat managed the rest of the time packing with her outward OCD volume turned down.  I’m sure inside it was still high, but I’m proud of her for gaining control.

On the way home, we stopped at a thrift store in Cloquet.  Cat got some anime(manga? Or anime?  I can never get those two straight.) and Cupcake got another book.  The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful.  Nate drove the first half and I drove the remainder.  We unpacked and enjoyed the rest of our day in the comfort that only home can bring.

Have you ever gotten lost while hiking?

Check out our video!

5 Week Workout Challenge
Previous Week: Week 5, Day 2: Kawishiwi Falls

Did you miss Camping, Day 5?  Read about it here!
https://cisforcomfort.com/went-2341-feet-underground/

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If At First, You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again

5 Week Workout Challenge: Week 5, Day 1
Schaar’s Bluff

After getting sick, we missed week 5 of our workout challenge.  Rather than give up, I thought it would be best to try again.  I’m using the old proverb, “If at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again.”  I don’t like to give up. I’m the type of person who will tackle a goal over and over until it’s accomplished.

We set up a playdate with some friends at Schaar’s Bluff.  It was a beautiful day.  The weather was perfect, there were a few fluffy clouds in the sky and a mild breeze to cool us off.  We enjoyed exploring the trails and seeing the wildlife.

We walked to the park to let the kids play for a little while.  I think my favorite part about play dates is having another adult to talk to, for a little while.   Being surrounded by children 24/7, it can get lonely.  Usually, when Nate gets home he’s too tired to do much else except sleep.

I know that someday the time when my children are little and dependent on me will pass.  Someday, I’ll miss these days terribly.  Having a teenager, I already know how fast little ones can grow.  So I’m soaking up as much time with my children as I can.  Someday, I’ll have the rest of my life for adult talk.

Lately, Nate has been watching The Great British Baking Show.  While I was on my walk, he was inspired to bake.  He decided to make me a gift of a gluten free, corn free, chocolate cake.

While the cake was cooling, we made a trip to visit my Grandfather.  He was doing amazingly well!  Talking, wide awake and joking around.  It made me so happy to see him so well!

After visiting Grandpa, we made a trip to Gander Mountain.  They’re all closing and having sales as a result.  We got some lures for fishing and a few new work shirts for Nate.  Princess was especially fond of all of the lures.  She picked out so many we had to put two-thirds back!  She is really excited to try fishing!

After dinner, we gave our cake a try.  It was so beautiful, I couldn’t wait to eat it.  Before I even sat down, I took a bite and immediately turned around to hide my puckered lips.  Nate asked me how it was.  I think I gave him an “Mmmmm!”  as I gulped down some water.

I waited for Nate to take a bite of his own before commenting.  I laughed as he grimaced.  He told me he thought he forgot the sugar.  It wasn’t horrible, but the cocoa powder was really bitter without any sweetener.  I can’t help but laugh at the memory.  It was so sweet of him to make a cake.

Has a goal ever gotten away from you?  Did you pick back up and continue?

Check out our video!

5 Week Workout Challenge
Previous Week: Week 4, Day 4: Afton State Park
Next Week: Week 5, Day 2: Kawishiwi Falls

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52 Project, Week 18: Spring Trees

52 Project, Week 18: Spring Trees

The spring trees challenge was a lot of fun to photograph.  After choosing to photograph the same spot of trees for the winter, spring, summer and autumn challenge, I already knew where one of my locations was.  As my main image for the challenge, I’m choosing some beautiful crab apple blossoms.

I’m always amazed at how fast the trees turn green.  In what feels like a few days, the trees go from bare branches to tops full of leaves.  Catching that moment when the trees are softly budding with baby leaves is a race against time.  As soon as the surrounding hills took on a soft subtle green, I knew it was time to head out and start shooting.

All of the kids came with for this challenge.  It was a lovely, warm Sunday, with a scattered sprinkling of rain showers throughout the day.  After our meeting at the Kingdom Hall, we stopped by home to pick up our cameras.  We took the scenic route to the park and enjoyed the lovely views of our changing world.

Mr. Awesome and Cupcake chose to wait in the car, but Princess hopped out with Cat and me.  Princess is my little shadow, she follows me everywhere.


Cat’s Spring Trees

The following Sunday was a clear, warm, sunny day.  We met some friends at the park for a walk.  In just one week you could really see the difference in the trees.  In the picture of the children below, the kids are walking toward the back of the trees from the previous week.

On our walk, we saw a kayaker in the river.  We went down to our favorite spot where the children were able to wade and splash in the water.  It was a beautiful, spring day.

What is your favorite thing about spring?

Previous Week: 52 Project, Week 17: Light
Next Week: 52 Project, Week 19: Jewelry
Main Page for 52 Project

Join us for the photography challenge! We’d love to see your images!
You can post your image on our Facebook page here:  https://www.facebook.com/cisforcomfort/posts/1451661678252387
Or tag us on Instagram with #cisforcomfort52

 

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A Park With Beautiful Rolling Hills and River Views | Afton State Park

A Park With Beautiful Rolling Hills and River Views
5 Week Workout Challenge: Week 4, Day 4 Afton State Park

It was early on Saturday morning when Nate playfully tried to wake me up.  He told me he’d already gotten the kids out of bed and they were getting breakfast.  We were going for a walk!  He had picked the spot and did all of the work to get everyone ready.  He even made my morning tea.  What a wonderful way to start the day!

It was a beautiful day for hiking.  The high was 81 with a cool breeze.  When we started out, it was still in the lower 70’s.  The drive there was scenic and peaceful.  The park was packed with people.

This was my first time to the park, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I was a little worried seeing how packed all of the parking lots were.  I didn’t realize it was such a popular destination.  Thankfully, we were able to find a spot to park.

Heading down the trail, we encountered some beautiful views of the hills surrounding the river valley.  I was easily able to see why this was such a popular park.

Unfortunately, I had forgotten our bug spray.  The mosquitos were huge and the lower we descended into the valley, the more gnats and mosquitoes there were.  We tried to walk fast and mostly kept to the center of the trail to avoid them.

Once we got down to the beach, the breeze kept the insects away and we were able to relax.  The kids enjoyed checking out the dock and then searching for agates and rocks to skip.  We watched the boats zoom past and we thought about how fun it must be to tour the river from the water.

Heading back, the bugs weren’t as bad.  Maybe it was because it was a little later in the day and a bit warmer.  Heading up the trail was a bit more difficult for me, but the rest of the family wasn’t fazed.  They jumped up the steps like mountain goats.  I lagged behind, tired and struggling to keep up.

Later that night, I ended up in bed sick.  Perhaps Princess’ fever wasn’t allergy related after all, and she had passed a virus to me.  I spent the next week bedridden.

For some reason, I always get the sickest in our family.  Over the years, I’ve learned holistic remedies to heal faster and keep from getting as ill as I used to.  I also don’t get sick as often as I used to, thankfully.

Have you been to Afton State Park?  What is your favorite area?

All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/afton-state-park-area-trails
Basic Park Info: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/afton/index.html

5 Week Workout Challenge
Previous Week: Week 4, Day 3: Night Walk Date
Next Week: Week 5, Day 1: Schaar’s Bluff

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Night With Nate

5 Week Workout Challenge: Week 4, Day 3 Night With Nate

We got some new nail polish called Ella and Mila that is low on the toxicity scale.  It’s the least toxic I’ve been able to find that is also affordable and works well.  Cat painted Princess’ and my toes and put cute little feather decals on too.

After running around with the kids all day and Nate’s long work days, it can be hard for us to find time alone.  I thought it would be fun to join him for a night-time walk before bed.

It was a beautiful, warm night.  Being as hot as it was, I wore my pajamas on our walk.  My pj’s were cute matching shorts and a t-shirt, acceptable for wearing in public.  I personally wouldn’t be comfortable during the daytime, but I didn’t think we would be seeing many people.  As it turned out, since it was such a warm night, there were a lot of people out taking walks.

Nate and I walked up to a gas station where he got something to drink.  In the harsh lights, I felt awkward in my little PJ shorts, but I tried to play it off like it didn’t bother me.

As we walked back toward home, I could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.  Beyond the trees, I could see occasional flashes of lightning.  The storm looked like it had passed us over for the night.

We met a man out walking who asked us if our power was out.  It turns out, that half the city was without power.  We chatted with him for a little while before heading the last couple blocks home.  Fortunately, our power was unaffected.

Unfortunately, poor Princess had a small fever and had been asking for me while we were gone.  Cat said she had been doing mostly well but had only gotten hot shortly before we got home.  Poor kiddo was either sick with a virus or was having an allergic reaction to something mildly corny she ate earlier in the day.

What do you do for alone time when money and time are short?  Do you enjoy taking walks at night, or do you prefer going in the daytime?

5 Week Workout Challenge
Previous Week: Week 4, Day 2: Fort Snelling
Next Week: Week 4, Day 4: Afton State Park

 

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Historic Fort Snelling

5 Week Workout Challenge: Week 4, Day 2
Historic Fort Snelling

Today we visited Fort Snelling.  My parents, my sisters Shannon and Liz and Liz’s boyfriend Jimmy had a lot of fun!  We’ve been here many times and every time I find something new to enjoy.

Although I’ve always visited Fort Snelling as a tourist, my Dad visited as a child, before it was restored as a historic landmark.  When he was a child, his uncle and cousins lived here!

Fort Snelling has always been one of my sister Liz’s favorite places.  Since she was a child, she’s always loved the cannon blast.  That might be because, when she was little, my Dad used to tell her that they set it off just for her.

After hearing the cannons go off, we went to get root beer and cream soda for the non-allergy people.  Then, we practiced walking on stilts.  My Dad was the best, to everyone’s amazement.

We checked out some of the usual buildings, like the tower and the schoolhouse, but my favorite was the medical rooms.  There were some new displays that I haven’t seen before.  I especially got a kick out of the weather diary.  The climate here was judged “the most excessive among all military posts in The United States.”

Liz, Jimmy and the kids had great fun making star wands in the arts and crafts building.  Liz has always excelled in making a four-sided star.  In usual tradition, she gave her star to the youngest in our family, Princess.  Jimmy was kind enough to give his star to Mr. Awesome.

After we were done for the day, we cooled off inside the gift shop and art gallery area before heading to our cars.  This year’s exhibit was a display of beautiful photography by Paul Kitagaki.  Accompanying the portraits were moving stories of families and people who had lived through the Japanese internment.  There was also a fascinating display of old clocks.

Later that night, we met up with my friend Joleen and her son Drake for fireworks at our local golf course.  It was a lovely evening.  The fireworks were beautiful and seemed to be right on top of us.  It was the perfect finish to a fun day.

Have you been to Fort Snelling?  What is your favorite part?  What historic sites are near your home?  I’d love to hear about it, share a link to your blog post in the comments!

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5 Week Workout Challenge
Previous Week: Week 4, Day 1: Morning Workout
Next Week: Week 4, Day 3: Night Walk Date

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Feeling A Bit Self Conscious

5 Week Workout Challenge: Week 4, Day 1
Home Workout

I’ve been having an argument with myself over if I should post this workout video or not.  I’ve been feeling a bit self-conscious.  I’ve edited the video, put it on private on youtube, and there it has sat.  Buuut, I can’t seem to post the next video until I post this one.

You see, I am not a body builder.  I am not super fit.  I don’t have an amazing body.  I have a normal, soft, squishy, cuddly body.  I am ok with that.  In fact, I am more than ok, I love my body.  I’m not obsessed with myself or anything, I’m just comfortable with who I am.  I’m thankful for all of the things my body has done for me and all of the journey’s we’ve been on together.

I don’t need big muscles, rock hard abs, a butt you could bounce a quarter off of, thighs that could crack a nut.  Instead, I have a lap that is soft and great for sitting on for stories.  I have a tummy that makes an awesome pillow for snuggle time.  My butt is comfortable to sit on, unlike my skinny days.  My arms are big enough to hold all of those I love.  I don’t need much more than that.

So why am I doing a 5 week workout challenge?  My goal is not to have a super model body.  My goal is to get a moderate level of exercise so that my body is healthy, regardless of its size or amount of squishyness.  My goal is to inspire others to move their bodies and get healthy too.  My goal is to show that you don’t have to be perfect or even strive for perfection to exercise.

Getting daily exercise doesn’t have to be boring or grueling.  There are so many ways to exercise!  Walking, hiking, jogging, running, dancing, rock climbing, pilates, trampoline, swimming, biking, I could go on and on.  Find something that YOU love and do it!

Although I feel confident about how I feel about my body, for myself and for my family, it’s a different thing to expose oneself to the world.  Seeing myself on video, and my not so perfect body, I worry not about what others might say as much as how my children would feel if they saw others saying bad things about me.  I’ve seen some cruel things said online about a lot of different topics.  My heart hurts for those that the comments are aimed at.

Ultimately, I’ve decided to be brave and post this video regardless of what anyone else might think.  Should anyone say anything mean, I will let it roll off my back.  The only opinions that matter to me are of those I love and of myself.

Do you ever feel self-conscious about your body?  Do you worry about strangers making rude comments?  How do you handle that kind of situation?

 

5 Week Workout Challenge
Previous Week: Week 3, Day 4: 4-Year-Old Adventure
Next Week: Week 4, Day 2: Fort Snelling

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4 Year Old Adventure

4 Year Old Adventure
5 Week Workout Challenge: Week 3, Day 4

The big kids went to the drive in with Grandma and Grandpa, so Princess and I decided to go on an adventure.  We went on a walk downtown and along the river.  It was the perfect evening for a walk and we had a lot of fun!

Princess LOVES going for walks.  She is a little outdoors girl.  If we could live outside, she would be so happy.  One of her favorite activities is camping.  She’s always asking me when we can go play outside together.  I let her lead us on this 4-year-old adventure.

I’m naturally a home body.  I love hiding inside.  I’m always looking for ways to motivate myself to go outdoors more because the outdoors are beautiful and they always make me feel closer to God.  Doing this exercise challenge has been a great way to do that.  I do love to explore new places too, but it’s nice to have a little girl who pushes me to do so.

I hope we’ve been inspiring you to get outdoors too if you are naturally a home body like me.  Exercise doesn’t have to be gruesome and horrible.  Getting outside, exploring the world and all of the wonders that God created for us to enjoy is fun and exciting.  The person who moves slowly on the trail is still moving faster than the person at home on their couch.  So get out there and get some fresh air!

Have we motivated you to get outside this week?  Do your kids love to go outside as much as my little outdoor girl?

5 Week Workout Challenge
Previous Week: Week 3, Day 3: Covered Bridge Park
Next Week: Week 4, Day 1: Morning Workout