Latest Faves: Sesame Place, Workouts & Beauty Hacks

Hi there! How is the summer treating you?

It’s been about a month since I last checked in and our summer has been full of travels, camps and adventures. I’ve been more go-with-the-flow this summer, and it’s been really nice. I’m realizing that time with our five-year-old is flying by more than ever, so I’m trying my best to stay in the present and take every day for what it is and as it comes. Less pressure, more grace.

Earlier this month, Scott, Skyler and I flew down to Florida to spend some much-needed quality time with my family in Orlando. We spent most of our trip at an Airbnb at New Smyrna Beach and then with friends and family in St. Augustine, and I haven’t gotten around to sharing any of the photos or stories. I’ll work on it soon!

Skipping ahead, I thought it would be fitting to dive right back in to favorites today, covering some highlights from the last week or so. This edition includes a trip to a local theme park, a new workout, some news and a beauty hack, Friday Favorites style.

Thank you for being here and reading!

Latest Faves: Sesame Place, Workouts & Beauty Hacks

working a new coaching certification

I’ve spent a considerable amount of time at coffee shops this week, as Skyler attended our church’s kids camp three hours a day. I used one of the days to teach a client during that off time, but the rest of those hours took me to a nearby Starbucks to park myself at a table and get valuable work done.

I’m happy to say that I’m already in Unit Two of the Sleep, Stress Management & Recovery Health Coach certification with Precision Nutrition. After finishing the Level 1 Nutrition Coach certification in 2021, I knew I would love the teaching style and programming behind this one when it rolled out.

This program dives DEEP into how to actually train yourself to get adequate sleep, manage stress and get the recovery you need for optimal results. It really digs into the WHY behind all of the advice we hear about “getting enough sleep” and “implementing self-care,” and it’s very interesting and helpful so far.

Stay tuned for more on this one, as I’m currently drafting a post that explains more.

• Sesame Place (Langhorne, PA)

Scott and I surprised Skyler by renting a car and taking a (long) day trip out to Pennsylvania last weekend, and it was such a blast!

Have you ever been to Sesame Place? There’s also a location in San Diego. After visiting Sea World Orlando just a few weeks before, we knew Sky would be very excited to learn that the Sesame Street themed kids area had it’s very own amusement park about an hour and a half from us in Brooklyn.

Our friends let us in on a sale they were having over the Forth of July, so we purchased tickets that day to use last Saturday and it was well worth the spend … and then some.

I didn’t realize this until we arrived, but Sesame Place has been around since 1980! It’s not a huge park, but big enough and honestly the perfect size for kids with rides, water slides, splash pads, shows, parades and more.

We were able to meet a few characters, see them perform in shows and caught the parade after a short rainstorm on our way out. We didn’t stay for the fireworks, however, as they didn’t start until 9 p.m.

Unlike other parks we visited this year, this park is targeted towards smaller kids, so the rides and activities were all right up Skyler’s alley and interest.

I will note that the dining was a little disappointing. Bigger restaurants and eating areas were closed during peak hours of the day, and we ended up waiting in line for about an hour for an expensive and mediocre lunch. The all day dining option at Sea World (their sister park) was much more enjoyable.

We navigated around it and decided to leave for dinner off-site, but that was the only frustrating part of the day.

All in all, we had a great time with friends from our church and plan to visit again next year.

• eyebobs frames

You might already know this, but I have a go-to brand for any type of glasses whether they’re prescription, blue light blocking, sunglasses, the whole nine: eyebobs.

I recently completed a project with their marketing team promoting a few sets of readers, and they’re too cute not to share here. And yes, while I don’t currently need reading glasses, this is something on my radar that I know will probably happen within the next few years as I get closer to turning forty. *whoa*

For now, these frames just have blue light blocking lenses, but they’ll be ready to be updated with a new prescription lenses when that day of blurry nearsighted reading comes in play.

Pictured:

• Total Wit in Purple and Fuschia Multi-Stripe Front and Milky White Temples

• TV Party in Black Outside and White Horned Inside

• Boardroom in Teal Multi Stripe Front and Teal Tortoise Temples

Aren’t they adorable? I love them and the quality. Get yourself a pair at 20% off using the code LIFENLEGGINGS20.

• a return to the gym (+ Total Body Strength Circuit with machines)

One of the BIGGEST milestones this week was my return to our local gym after an almost two-year hiatus. We paused our family membership during the pandemic and ultimately decided to cancel it shortly after it reopened, as they couldn’t offer childcare or kids activities. Both Scott and I were content using the Peloton bike and app for strength training workouts at home, so it it was the right move.

We now have a great set of light to heavy dumbbells (stored in our living room, ha), and continue to use the app, but I have been craving a return to the gym for heavier lifting for quite some time. My plan is to utilize the gym for three lifting days per week, add in an extra bodyweight or dumbbell workout at home, and hop on the bike for short rides in between.

In most spaces, you can acquire everything you need in a garage or empty room, but there’s absolutely no additional room for a weight bench, TRX, or much more than what we currently have set up in our apartment.

A return was inevitable, and the timing was right with a $0 joining fee and the return of childcare (thank goodness!) that includes access to the swimming pools. Skyler has been BEGGING to go swimming ever since we got home from Florida, so I am very happy that we can now make his dreams come true.

All that said, it felt amazing to hit the machines and weight room this week, and I wanted to share the latest and newest strength workout here. For this one, you do need access to weight machines, along with a yoga mat and a medium-heavy dumbbell or kettlebell for the core circuit at the end.

This workout was a great re-introduction to the strength machines, and would be great for beginners. The machines guide you through the movements, and you can easily build and and track progress as you repeat the workout in the future by taking note of your resistance in each exercise.

I sectioned the workout up into upper and lower body exercises, but you can totally jump back and forth between upper and lower depending on how tired your muscles get or what machines are available. Aim to get 12-15 reps each, rest, then repeat that exercise for a total of three rounds before moving to the next one.

chest presses

overhead presses

lat pulldowns

biceps curls

triceps extensions

leg presses

leg extenstions

leg curls

hip abductions

hip adductions

You could hit a core machine to round it all out, but I opted for a quick core finisher on the mat instead.

kettlebell (or dumbbell) sit-ups

kettlebell (or dumbbell) standing side bends

I used a 12 pound kettlebell for the sit-ups and a 25 pound kettlebell for the side bends, but do what feels best for you or simply use your bodyweight.

Let me know if you give either one of these a try!

• DRMTLGY brightening eye masks

Okay, you already know that I am a big fan of skincare, especially if it’s better-for-you and free of harmful chemicals. I am still using my go-to Beautycounter regimen, and I’m thinking of sharing an update of what that includes in a new blog post, so let me know if that interests you.

Well, I’ve been *raving* about a newer addition to the routine to clients and anyone who will listen. I try to put them on every morning after my skincare has set in, but sometimes it’s something I do at night or during a snuggle break with Skyler if I don’t have the extra fifteen minutes or so in the morning.

Have you ever tried brightening eye patches or masks? I’ve tried a few different kinds and finally have a favorite that actually WORK. I was suckered into trying them by a targeted Instagram ad (lol), but hey, they’re pretty legit. You’ll notice an immediate change in the puffiness under your eyes after the first use, but the real results come around a month or so later. They’re the only thing that have lightened up my dark circles!

The package says to leave the patches on for 10-15 minutes, but I’ve found that anywhere from 15-30 as the sweet spot where most of the serum actually soaks into my skin. I 10/10 recommend them and don’t receive any kind of kick back for saying so. Here’s the link again, and you have the option for a recurring shipment at a 20% discount, too.

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In case you missed it …

» Highlights From a Family Getaway to Las Vegas

Vegas isn’t typically the first destination you think of for family-friendly fun, but it proved to be a fantastic choice and well worth the investment. Contrary to popular belief, there are a lot of things you can do with kids included, so hopefully this post helps if you’re looking to visit one day with your who family along for the ride.

Fitness from the archives …

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Busy mom? Entrepreneur who never takes breaks? It can be challenging to dedicate time to exercise, but here’s why it’s important and ten tips on how to get it done, even during your busiest days.

Nutrition/Food from the archives …

» Easy Ways To Increase Your Daily Veggie Intake (Kids, Too!)

If you’re struggling with getting plenty of vegetables in your everyday diet, you’re not alone. This is something I hear from clients often enough to make it the topic of a full blog post. I hope this list of ideas helps you (and your kids) feel less intimidated.

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All right. I need to get moving and out the door with Skyler for a play date. While I don’t feel like I’m getting much done during the days (lol), I am really enjoying my time home with him while I have it.

When do your kiddos go back to school? We’ve got another month or so to go over here!

Wishing you a great weekend ahead, and check out the latest on Instagram until I see you here again. Happy Friday!

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