Hello friend! Thank you for stopping by the blog today. I hope you have had a great week. And hey, the weekend is right around the corner, too. We made it!
Today is a big one for us, as Scott gets home after two weeks of traveling. He was in Haiti, then Texas, and is currently flying back to the NYC area as we speak. Skyler and I are very excited to see him in just a few hours!
If you caught the video I posted on Instagram yesterday, then you probably already know that I’ve been actively seeking out the moments that spark joy with Skyler in this season of solo parenting during Scott’s frequent travels. It hasn’t been easy, but this time around felt different, and it went relatively smooth with all things considered.
The biggest difference in the past trips and this one is my perspective and making plans to do activities and things out of the norm during our days together. We’ve gone to the movies, had play dates, enjoyed several picnics at the parks and playgrounds, and even painted and crafted more than usual.
It made a huge difference overall, and we made it to the end of this stretch at Day 14!
This edition of Friday Favorites is packed with our adventures together, including some that didn’t cost anything at all. It’s been fun spending so much quality time with Sky, and he’s had the best time exploring. But now we’re ready to get back on our normal routine! It feels good to find a balance in it all, right?
Here are some of the faves!
FRIDAY FAVORITES: WEEK OF 9/17
- Beach Day in Coney Island
I had never ventured out to any beach by myself before, at least in the New York City area. I always think of it as a bigger trip than it really is, especially if we’re staying local and visiting Coney Island in South Brooklyn. For us, it’s as easy as packing a beach bag, getting on the F train, riding it for about thirty minutes and walking a few minutes to the beach and boardwalk. That’s it!
Scott and I have taken Skyler to Coney Island several times, but this was the first time that it was just the two of us. And that felt pretty cool.
We went on a Monday afternoon, so the rides and a lot of the boardwalk attractions were closed. We split a smoothie on the way and enjoyed a picnic lunch with peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, veggie chips, apples, oranges and some gummy candy. He thought that was just as cool as the rides, so I’ll deem it a success.
We were only there for about two hours, but it was a trip that I will remember for many years to come. We hadn’t been to the beach in a long time, and Skyler was so happy. He played in the sand and we built sand castles, but his favorite part was a tie between jumping in the ocean waves and jumping in the muddy sand by a splash pad area. He was in his element for sure!
One sure fire way to know if he truly enjoyed himself is if he naps on the train ride home, and he was out as soon as we sat down. I’m so glad we got out there!
- Soho House & walking in Dumbo, Brooklyn
Speaking of time outside in the fresh air, I received an invite to join my dear friend Lauren (my bestie from middle school!) at Soho House in Dumbo on Tuesday while Skyler was in preschool. Since Sky’s school is an investment for us, I will typically spend every minute of those hours he’s away on the computer, at the gym, or doing something that advances my businesses. That said, I hardly ever take a day to just exist and catch up with a friend at the pool.
Well, that’s exactly what we did, and it was so good for the soul. We talked about life and all things baby and baby registry, as she’s about seven months pregnant right now. It’s pretty neat to think that after all this time (and the different states that we have both lived in over the past two decades), we are about to walk through motherhood together in the city.
It still blows my mind that we live where we do, and I honestly never thought this opportunity would happen! So that’s a favorite for sure.
- *New* 20 Minute Upper Body-Focused Strength Workout
I haven’t been posting as many new workouts here or on Instagram lately, mostly because I have thoroughly been enjoying the Peloton app and taking a variety of formats over there. (I’m on a free 30-day trial, so we’ll see what happens in just another week or so!) Well, I made it back to the gym yesterday and have a new workout to share with you today. It focuses on the upper body and took me around twenty minutes to complete two rounds.
You’ll need access to gym equipment for this one like weight machines and/or cables. Also, I used a Captain’s Chair/Power Tower for the first exercise, so check out the demo videos if you’re not sure what that is or how to use it. Most gyms have them.
EXERCISE DEMOS
Please listen to your body and rest in between exercises and when needed. And if you need help with modifications or have any questions at all, please ask!
- Disney Store (Times Square)
We originally planned to take a road trip to Florida this fall to be able to see family and also take Skyler to Disney World for the first time ever! But, due to spikes in COVID-19 cases and the new Delta variant, we have put that plan on hold until further notice. It’s not something that we have to do right now, so we feel more comfortable waiting to travel there and especially to highly-populated, touristy areas when things calm down a bit.
So, in the mean time, I wanted to take Skyler to the Disney Store for the first time on one of our adventure days together. We were already in Midtown for church on Sunday morning, so it was an easy walk of a few blocks over to Times Square which is becoming somewhat crowded again.
I told him that we were going to see all of his favorite characters in one place and he had the biggest smile on his face when we walked in. We saw familiar faces from the movies and shows he loves, and it was so sweet. He obviously wanted to take everything home, so I told him that he could pick out one toy. He went with a Luca Deluxe Figurine Play Set that he is currently obsessed with, and he asks to bring those little guys everywhere!
Anyways, it definitely felt touristy, but making that trip to the Disney Store was a highlight for many different reasons. I highly recommend a stop in if you’re around the area with kiddos. Just know that you’ll probably get talked into bringing something home, too.
- Pop It Fidget Toys
I would imagine that you have seen these pop it toys in person, as they have become very popular for kids and, well, just about anyone to tote around and fidget with. They come in so many different colors and designs, and everyone seems to love them!
I had been wanting to get Skyler a pop it toy or two a month or so ago, so it was perfect timing when our friend Alex gifted him one while we were staying with their family in Michigan. Sadly, we lost it on our commute into the city last weekend, so we were on a mission to find a replacement in Times Square. That was easy, haha — they’re everywhere!
Sky really likes pushing the bubbles, and so do I. It’s a great little fidget toy that can keep your hands busy if you’re someone who needs or appreciates something like that. (I know I do!) I’m sure you can find them in local stores around you, and there are endless designs available on Amazon.
- mega clean beauty giveaway
Just in case you haven’t heard, I’m currently offering a giveaway opportunity that has the potential of gifting you up to five free and five full-sized Beautycounter products at half price. You can find all of the details over on the Life In Leggings – Beautycounter page, and I would love it if you joined the conversations over there.
Also, you can subscribe to the if you’ll never want to miss these types of announcements and hear them first. I truly love talking about this stuff, but it’s mostly done in those two places.
- favorite LIL posts
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Some news! And sharing all about the Level 1 Nutrition Coach Certification process with Precision Nutrition. You’ll find my full review along with some FAQs and key takeaways from the experience.
» How To Avoid Workout Boredom and Stay Motivated
Feeling burnt out in your workouts or in a fitness slump? Exercise should be something you look forward to doing, not dread. Try these tips to make workouts more fun when you’re feeling bored or unmotivated to stay on track!
Okay, it’s time to wrap this post up and get the house together. Scott, Skyler and I are going to a neighborhood puppet show tomorrow, church Sunday, and maybe even a dinner out, all pending negative virus tests post-travel.
Thank you for clicking over to read Life In Leggings today. I have so much content on the brain after completing the nutrition coaching certification, and I cannot wait to get it out and start publishing!
Until then, you can keep up with the adventures on Instagram. Have a great weekend!
*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, but affiliate links may be included. Also, I am a Beautycounter consultant and love what I do with the company. By using the links provided in this post to order products, you are supporting my business. I appreciate you so much!
![[in our elementary school era] 🚌😭
Skyler did great walking into KINDERGARTEN with a big smile on his face this morning. I, however, was a bit of a mess on our walk home. 🥹
It’s wild how fast these 5 years with him have gone … 7 since we moved to NYC and into our apartment, dreaming of the day our kids would someday go to the *awesome* school right down our block. 🏫
That day is today, and I still don’t believe it — feeling allll of the emotions and thanking God for placing us here and for being able to trust His timing through the journey. 🫶🏼 #hbshinnyc
SO proud of you, SK - you are going to rock your first year at your “big boy school” - WE LOVE YOU !! 🩵👑](https://lifeinleggings.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
You look awesome