My Son’s Health Journey & Crohn’s Diagnosis

I’m sharing my son’s Crohn’s diagnosis story today for several reasons. First, I hope that it will help another parent navigating their own child’s health journey. So many of us are going through this motherhood journey day-by-day and figuring it all out on our own, and I know how helpful it is for me when I see someone going through what I’m going through. We all pave little paths for one another. Second, I also hope this comforts other VEO-IBD warrior parents out there. It’s a lot, and we’re not alone.

First, I’ll share how we ended up with Luca’s Crohn’s diagnosis, how we’re treating it, how he’s doing, and what the future looks like for him (and our family.)

What is IBD?

Before we get into Luca’s story, let’s chat briefly about what Crohn’s and “VEO-IBD” means. Essentially, IBD is an umbrella term and stands for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. At its basic definition, IBD is a condition in which there is chronic or recurring inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Your GI tract is the system of organs that food passes through as it’s digested and absorbed.

Within IBD there are several types that present slightly differently, affect different parts of the GI tract, and are treated differently. The two main IBD types that are most common are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

IBD is treated with medications (everything from steroids to biologic medications infused via IV) and of course, diet (which I’ll get to.)  While these diseases can go fully into remission, they cannot be “cured” and thus are known as lifelong autoimmune diseases. They also don’t know exactly what causes IBD, but they do claim that there is a genetic component (none of our families have any known history of IBD.)

VEO-IBD stands for “Very Early Onset IBD,” and is classified for those diagnosed with IBD ages 6 and younger. Even though Luca was officially diagnosed at 7, his symptoms and his journey started at 6 and thus, his disease is categorized as such.

Luca’s Crohn’s Diagnosis Journey

Luca’s diagnosis took a while, because he didn’t have the classic indicators or symptoms of IBD (such as failure to grow, persistent abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, poop urgency, etc.)

For anyone that knows Luca personally or for those of you who have been following along since he was born, Luca was always a very athletic, coordinated, and active kid. He rode a scooter by the time he was 18 months old, was running down a soccer field dribbling a ball at 23 months old, and rode his bike before age 3.

Then, last year, in late March of 2024, at 6 years old, he got COVID (this was the second time he had the virus.) He was asymptomatic the entire time, and I only knew he had it because I tested him after I had tested positive myself. Then, about 2-3 weeks later, he woke up on a Monday and couldn’t walk down the stairs (we lived in a 3-story brownstone at the time) due to pain in his knees. I was shocked, but I thought maybe he got an injury playing or during after school sports. With a pretty severe limp, we walked to school (it was about a 5 minute walk.) When I picked him up from school, he was still complaining about his knees. His teacher said he sat out during recess. That was not the Luca I knew, so I called the pediatrician immediately and they said to wait a couple of days to see if he got better and if not, I made an appointment for the end of the week.

All week, I had to push Luca in our stroller (which I was using to push my 2 year old twins to school at the time.) He didn’t get better, only seemingly worse. He couldn’t run and he was very frustrated. It was so sad to see him like that, because as I said, Luca was always the most tenacious- if not the fastest – on the field.

After the pediatrician examined him, they said everything appears normal and referred us to an orthopedic surgeon. The next week, we visited the surgeon, had x-rays done, and she ultimately said “his bones look fine, wait 2 weeks and if he doesn’t get better, get some bloodwork done.” Well, after 2 weeks, it wasn’t getting better, so we booked an appointment with a hematologist, got the bloodwork drawn, and waited for the results. Now, he was laying down after school and started to seem fatigued more easily.

Finding out Luca was anemic

By May, the results of the bloodwork showed us that his inflammation markers were very high and he was anemic, with a very low iron count. The hematologist told us to start an oral iron supplement and monitor his iron levels and to get repeat bloodwork in 4-6 weeks. In the meantime, the pediatrician recommended seeing a rheumatologist. The physical exam determined nothing and she ordered some bloodwork to test for some autoimmune issues (I guess to test for juvenile arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.) All negative.

We moved to our first house in a new town in June and over the summer, Luca was at summer camp. We did some bloodwork and his iron levels were barely crawling up and his inflammation markers were still so high. Over the summer, he had intermittent knee pain and sometimes it would hurt in his hips or his ankles or his shins. It wasn’t ever as bad as it was that first time, but it was there. Also, once in July and once in August, he came home with dirty underwear because he had a poop accident (keep in mind he’s almost 7 at this point and had never had something like that happen since he was potty trained.)

Seeing the Gastroenterologist

Finally, his iron levels got to a near normal range by September, but it didn’t sit right with me. Why was he anemic? Where did the joint pain come from? Originally, my hematologist had recommended seeing a gastroenterologist “eventually” if the iron didn’t go up. Well, despite it going up after about 4 months of oral iron, I needed answers. Luca’s joint pain stopped, but I did notice that he was having really hard stools and he just didn’t look like himself – he was pale, had red rings around his eyes, he was skinnier than ever, and he was about to start school and turn 7 years old.

I booked the appointment with the gastro doctor and he said that Luca wasn’t presenting any symptoms of IBS or IBD and that he’s probably okay but if I’d like to get a stool test, he’s happy to do one. Of course, I said yes! And sure enough, after we sent the poop out (the things mothers do!) the results came back and showed microscopic blood in his stool (it’s the “fecal occult blood test.”) Then, the calprotectin test results came back which measure the amount of calprotectin in your stool and high levels are a sign of intestinal inflammation. Sure enough, they were elevated enough (at about 600, whereas normal for kids is <100.)

From there, the gastro doctor ordered an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. Just before Thanksgiving, I took Luca myself to this appointment and waited for the doctor to see me as Luca woke up from the anesthesia. He sat in the room and I’ll never forget his face looking very serious and he explained that while his endoscopy looked perfect, his colonoscopy showed severe inflammation in the colon, particularly the terminal ileum (the part that connects the small intestine to the large intestine) and an intestinal stricture (which is basically the narrowing of the intestine which can lead to a blockage that will require hospitalization, surgery, etc.) Not good. He said he finds these results indicative of Crohn’s disease.

I just remember wanting him to stop talking so I could reach for my phone and Google “kids and Crohn’s disease,” because a) I don’t know a single adult with Crohn’s disease, let alone a child and b) I had no idea what Crohn’s disease was! This wasn’t part of the plan. I didn’t know what his life would look like, how it would impact his love for sports, or anything. It was overwhelming, I was in the doctor’s room alone, and after he left and I waited for Luca to wake up, I cried (very quietly) in the waiting room. I remember seeing Luca afterwards and I gave him the longest hug. I knew I had to be strong and that this would be a very, very long journey with many highs and lows.

Getting a diagnosis

The next steps were to wait for the biopsy results and get an MRI, because the doctor’s scope couldn’t get as far as they would’ve liked, because of his stricture (that narrowing of the intestine.) A few days later, the biopsy results were not “totally” indicative of Crohn’s, so he really recommended we get an MRI to confirm the diagnosis. And more bloodwork, more waiting for results.

The MRI was done and that’s when I scheduled a second opinion visit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP.) With all of our MRI results, colonoscopy imagery and biopsy results, the doctors at CHOP also agreed with the Crohn’s diagnosis. However, there was one rare genetic disorder it could be and they wanted to rule that out. That’s when we had to wait MONTHS to get the blood test done (we tried FOUR times and the lab kept mishandling the blood sample.)

This past February, on President’s Day, Luca went to CHOP for this final blood test and a partial colonoscopy to look at something they found on the MRI (it ended up being nothing) and from this, we got our official Crohn’s diagnosis on Valentine’s Day 2025. Woof. It took 10 months to get the official diagnosis but once we did, I went into fight mode.

How we’re treating Luca’s Crohn’s Disease

To treat Crohn’s disease, there are three options: food, medicine, or food & medicine together. Ideally, I would love to treat Luca’s Crohn’s strictly through diet but it’s difficult to do with a 7 year old who’s constantly at birthday parties, play dates, school parties, and just…. living a normal childhood. I don’t want him to look back on his life and say he feels like he missed out, so for now, I’m picking what feels most feasible, most safe, and best for his stage of life: food and medicine.

Right now, we started him on a drug called Remicade (he’s taking the generic called Inflectra) which is Infliximab, used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. It’s administered via IV at the hospital once a month. The goal is to spread out the infusions/lessen the dosage of medicine if his inflammation gets under control (so he only has to go every 6 weeks or every 8 weeks.)

In terms of diet, a week before his first infusion, I started him on a gluten free and dairy free diet, just to experiment with popular triggers. Within days, his stools were softer and he was hungrier. Then, someone in a support group for kids with VEO-IBD recommended reading the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Diet for Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Diverticulitis, Celiac Disease, Cystic Fibrosis and Chronic Diarrhea. Talk about a mind blower! Upon further research and talks with other parents of kids with Crohn’s, I decided to dive into the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), a diet that restricts complex carbohydrates, such as grains, starchy vegetables (like potatoes), and all processed foods. Essentially, it’s a whole foods diet that eliminates starchy vegetables and grains.

While it may seem that it’s restrictive, since being on this diet and his first two infusions, he has gained almost 3 pounds in 3 weeks! His stools are normal, he has no abdominal pain, he has his appetite back, and the redness around his eyes has faded away.

So for now, the plan is to stick to the SCD diet as closely as we can without driving everyone crazy. It’s actually pretty amazing, he’s eating a larger variety of foods than he’s ever eaten even though we’ve restricted so many foods. It’s been eye-opening to say the least. Tonight we’re having rutabaga fries with lamb chops and roasted string beans. It’s almost like his taste buds have changed (no more refined sugar) and now he’s able to taste how delicious real food tastes.

A sample daily menu for Luca:

• Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with homemade cashew bread toasted with butter and fruit
• Snack: Yogurt with fruit and grain-free granola
• Lunch: Cheddar grilled cheese (on homemade bread) with beet “chips” and gummies
• Snack: Homemade waffle with almond butter
• Dinner: Lamb chops with rutabaga fries and roasted string beans
• Dessert: Homemade chocolate chip cookie and grapes

I’ve had a lot of fun coming up with family-friendly meals for all of us, and Luca is feeling so much better.

How Luca is feeling

Speaking of, Luca is feeling great. Just the other day (about 2.5 weeks into eating this way and starting the biologic), Luca couldn’t button his pants in the morning! He’s putting on weight, his color in his face is back, and he seems much less irritable. For the past few months, I’d pick Luca up from school he would always seem unhappy or upset despite having any real “reason” for his mood. Well the reason was his gut!

Now, what I’ve learned the most about is the gut-brain axis and serotonin being started in your gut. Well, everything starts from our guts and if your gut is off, the gut-brain axis is off and our moods, our anxieties, our energies, our everything is thrown off. Here’s a wonderful explanation of the gut-brain axis, in case you’re interested in learning more.

As for his perspective on his Crohn’s diagnosis and this diet he’s on, he has his moments. He will say that it’s “unfair” that other kids and his siblings can eat whatever they want. In those moments, I simply say, “You’re right. It’s unfair that your body did this to you, but once you heal yourself, you can reintroduce some of these fun foods.” And if he’s not taking that bait, I’ll always say, “Okay, Luca, have the cupcake. It’s your body and it’s your choice, I am here to tell you what’s the good choice for your body, but you can do what you want.” And whenever I say that, he makes the good choices, because he knows how those foods make him feel now, and I think he just wants autonomy, which I get. While we’re only a few weeks into this diet, he is doing really well with it and hasn’t give me that much pushback.

Spring soccer starts soon, and I am so excited to see how he does, since he hasn’t played a heavy running sport since the fall (he played basketball over the winter, but at this age, they aren’t really sprinting up and down the court yet and it’s mostly clinic-style.) I’m hoping he doesn’t have joint pain and that he isn’t as winded because his body isn’t fighting inflammation any longer.

Moving Forward: What the Future Looks Like

For right now, we’re in the hospital every 4 weeks for infusions and at home, we’re sticking to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Coming up, I have appointments with a functional medicine doctor to look at Luca’s health more holistically and give him more tools in his toolbox. Also, I have an appointment coming up with a pediatric nutritionist to dive deeper into these diet changes and make sure she’s getting all the nutrients he needs. Luckily, now that he’s on a treatment path for his Crohn’s disease, he can finally start to actually absorb the nutrients from his foods instead of just losing them from malabsorption.

For larger procedures and questions, we’re still going to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, but for the day to day check ups and infusions, we’re staying local here in New Jersey.

In the future, I’d love to be fully off the biologic and just rely on diet. For a 7 year old, I think that’s a tough goal, but I’m going to take it day by day and teach Luca how to feed his body properly. I would love to reintroduce some foods once his gut is healed, so it’s a little easier on him socially.

I’m monitoring my other children closely, because research shows that Crohn’s disease has a genetic component and often affects multiple kids in the family (and we’ve got 4, so our chances are higher!)

Overall, I’m feeling positive but I know that this will not be a linear journey, and I know that there will be many ups and downs, especially when he’s older. I can control most of his food intake and lifestyle now because he’s only 7 years old, but once he’s older and “on his own” a bit more, I’m already feeling nervous. But, I’m a big day by day kind of person, so that’s where we are!

And of course, Crohn’s and family friendly recipes from yours truly coming soon.

Support Luca and Fundraise For IBD Research & Support

I hope this was encouraging and helpful for many of you navigating similar paths with your kids (or, yourselves!) I am learning more and more everyday and have found the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation website to be so helpful. They even have this interactive GI tract guide that helped me understand the parts of our bodies more and to visually explain things to Luca.

If you’d like to help support Luca, we’re taking part in Take Steps, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s signature fundraising event, walking together to raise critical funds for research, education, support, and advocacy efforts for IBD.

We’ve started a fundraising team for Luca called the Luca Dawgs (our town’s mascot but also Luca desperately wants a dog, so everything is dog-themed lately, ha!) Even $1 is helpful in achieving his fundraising goal and anything is appreciated!

The post My Son’s Health Journey & Crohn’s Diagnosis appeared first on Inspiralized.

Okay, I jokingly tell my friends and family that I’m in my “mommy makeover” stage of life, but I really do hate that term. The day I got pregnant I became an entirely different person and I don’t want a makeover from that, I want to live this life and I’m proud of my body for what it did (literally birthing 4 children and nursing them exclusively for 14+ months each child!)

Now, I’ll be real honest here. That doesn’t mean that I look at this body and am like, “I love it!” every day. Some days, I wish my lips were fuller or the veins on the side of my leg weren’t so obvious. We all have those days and honestly, it’s only natural. We’re comparative creatures by nature and pair that with social media (and then pair that with being a social media persona), well… you get it.

I’m not trying to excuse any of the information I share with you after this intro, but I want to give a little context as to why I’m sharing all of this. I really believe in sharing the journey and the now. I want to let you know what I’m doing so you don’t compare yourself to me without knowing the true story. But most importantly, if you also have a similar insecurity or concern, you now have a ‘friend’ who is going through it and may have a solution!

At the end of the day, you are the only one who has to live in your skin. It’s the same with anything in life when you receive unsolicited advice or judgment – brush it off your shoulder because you are the only one who knows the truth and you are the only one living your life. If a family member or friend judges you for addressing a personal physical insecurity of yours, just remember that.

Okay, now that we’re through all of that, let’s go to it!

Why Now?

Up until now, I haven’t really invested much time or money into improving my appearance because I wasn’t done building my family and with every pregnancy and birth, everything changes. I didn’t want to go through all of this time and money and then have to do it all over again (and of course, some treatments and procedures aren’t even possible when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.)

Sure, I used to get lash extensions at one point to address my pin-straight, short lashes. And of course, I did Invisalign (which I think improved my appearance and addressed some of my physical insecurities by 80%!) Aside from that, I had never gotten injectables or really looked into addressing some of my skin insecurities.

Now that I am done having kids and our family is complete, I want to have fun with all the beauty and anti-aging treatments that are now available so I can look and feel my best and move forward. My body is finally mine again!

My “Refinements” List

One night, years ago, after a couple glasses of wine, I made a list that I dubbed “Refinements.” These were all the things I wanted to do or “get done” to feel my best. Here’s the list and how it’s going:

Done

• Zoom whitening for teeth
• Dyeing my hair (balayage)
• Eyelash perm for curling eyelashes (lasts 4-6 weeks)
• Intimate lightening: this is a chemical peel for your lady parts to lighten up your bikini line and more private areas.
• Invisalign to straighten my teeth and correct a crossbite
• Botox for wrinkles: for my 11s in between my eyes, evening out my wonky eyebrows, and forehead wrinkles.

Going Through It Now

• Vein removal via sclerotherapy: I have reticular veins (a step above spider veins) on my legs from pregnancy.

Scheduled

• Microblading for the eyebrows: the hair on my eyebrows stopped growing (I barely pluck!) and I want some more fullness towards the ends and to fill in little gaps.

Need/Want to Schedule

• Fraxel: this is a laser treatment that improves tone, texture, and radiance for aging skin (or if you have scars/sun damage.) I want to do this for the lines around my mouth and also a few sun spots from years of tanning without sunscreen!
• Laser hair removal: I’d love to do my bikini line and armpits!
• Botox for lip flip: I’m really considering this, but need to talk to my specialist more. Apparently this is a subtle way to add a little volume to your upper lip without filler and my lips do curl up when I smile so I am a candidate.

On Loving My Body

And that’s the list! I’m going to follow up with blog posts as I complete the list! By no means is this meant to suggest that you need to ‘build’ a list like this or get treatments done. I’m just sharing what I’m working towards, in case some of you are also struggling with insecurities from a post-baby body! It’s a total mind whirlwind being pregnant and having kids – your body completely changes.

I love what my body did for me and I’ll be forever grateful for it, but that doesn’t mean I have to accept it exactly as it is – I can want to look better so I can feel more confident. It’s also 2023 and we can look a few years younger thanks to modern medicine and science.

I also think that moms tend to age more rapidly due to the stress on our bodies and every day! My biggest pet peeve is when moms are shamed for wanting to change their post-baby bodies! No shame whether you want to change or don’t. All bodies are beautiful and YOU are the only one living in your body!

I certainly think it’s important to be in a place where you love your body before making changes to it. I’ve done that work, I love my body, and now I Just want to *enhance* it!

I’d love to hear about any beauty procedures or treatments that have boosted your confidence and made you look and feel your best! 

The post My Beauty Journey After Completing my Family appeared first on Inspiralized.

Updated Skincare Routine

When it comes to skincare, I like to change it up when I notice my skin starting to look dull. Our skin changes from so many different factors (pregnancy to postpartum to stress to weight loss to weight gain to weather!) so it’s silly to think one skincare routine can work for one person and that same skincare routine can work for one person forever!

Long story short, my skincare routine has changed a bit and I have to say, my skin has never glowed so well, especially within the first postpartum year! Here’s what I’m using:

Step 1: Facial cleansers

• This gentle gel cleanser by Honest when I’m washing my face in the evening.
• This exfoliating wash when I’m washing my face in the shower.

Step 2: Post cleanse resurfacing pads

• I’ve been loving these resurfacing pads by Elemis – I have to say, I think they’re single-handedly making my skin glow! I really noticed a true difference after using them morning and night for about 2 weeks. My pores were minimized, my skin just looked fuller. Very happy!

Step 3: Serum

• This new Versed serum product is new to me, and I love how weightless it feels. I put it on after I use the resurfacing pads.

Step 4: Moisturizer

• For daytime: I’m still loving this Beautycounter moisturizer I’ve used for years.
• For evening: I splurged on the Elemis collagen repair cream and wow – I notice the biggest different in my smile lines.

Step 5: Eye cream

• Depending on how I feel and what level of moisture I think I need, I use Cocokind or Versed.

Other products

• Versed Overnight Facial Peel: I love waking up having done this the night before. I use this on Sundays, and I truly notice a different shine in my skin on Mondays.

That’s my daily skincare routine (the only difference this summer will be an SPF moisturizer!)

The post Updated Skincare Routine appeared first on Inspiralized.

Why Our Family Loves Daily Harvest (And Our Favorites!)

Shortly after starting this blog and this brand, I discovered Daily Harvest. At first, they only had smoothies, and I loved them right away. I’m not someone who likes to build their smoothies, and I always forget to buy spinach or freeze my bananas or whatever, and then I don’t end up making a smoothie. Once I learned about Daily Harvest, I never looked back – now, I always have at least a couple of their smoothie cups in my freezer. In fact, I still have the same discount code – code INSPIRALIZED25 gets you $25 off your first order!

But Daily Harvest doesn’t stop with smoothies. In fact, Daily Harvest has options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert! With this post, I want to show you how Daily Harvest is an absolute must-have in your freezer and can help you stay healthy, even on your laziest, busiest or most exhausted of days! Whether you’re a person living the dream alone or a parent with crazy toddlers, Daily Harvest can help.

And if there’s one thing Daily Harvest does well it’s making it easier to eat more vegetables and fruits, especially for those who want to do it deliciously and easily. They take the guesswork out of getting your daily dose of fruits and veggies! The coolest thing about Daily Harvest is that when you open each product, you immediately see real, whole ingredients – so you know exactly what you’re eating.

How does Daily Harvest Work?

It’s a food service entirely curated by the customer (me/you!) You choose your plan of how many items you want (you can select from anything and everything) and how often you want it delivered (monthly or weekly.) They have over 80 nourishing, unique options that range from breakfast to dessert. After your initial order, you can customize it even further – skip a week, swap out selections, change the number of item, and more. They really cater to you!

That’s why I love Daily Harvest – it’s convenience, customizable, fast, easy, and they have ingredients you can see (they’re also listed on the cup!) They’re frozen, so the ingredients always taste fresh and everything I’ve tried has been delicious, even if it’s not by typical flavor preference.

My Favorite Daily Harvest Items

It’s hard to choose favorites, but if I had to, here we go. Below are the categories they offer and my personal favorites from each category.

You’ll see that I’ve made a note on how I modify the recipes to be “fuller” meals (calorically more dense or with more protein.) Some of their items are meant to be afternoon pick me ups instead of full meals, so I often “jazz” them up a bit if I want to enjoy them as a meal. Or, now, I’m really protein-conscious (because of my twin pregnancy), so I like to ensure I’m packing in a powerful protein punch.

For example, my go-to “everyday” smoothie is based off of their Banana + Greens smoothie cup. To this, I add 1-2 scoops of protein powder, 1 tablespoon almond butter, pea milk, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and flaxseed. Yes, I know that’s kind of a lot, BUT I love that I don’t have to have frozen bananas, cucumbers, spinach, kale, lemon juice, and wheatgrass powder – I just use what’s in my pantry (I always have those basics.) It takes the pressure off grocery shopping for perishables. It’s such a time saver!

Similarly, my favorite dessert right now is adding chocolate protein powder to the Mint + Cacao smoothie and having it as a post-dinner dessert, which keeps me satiated through the night and satisfies my protein needs for the day. It seriously takes like a Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie.

• Smoothies
  • Banana + Greens for my everyday smoothie, Mint + Cacao for post-dessert smoothie, and the Strawberry + Peach frozen into ice pop molds for my kids in the summertime (I add some chia seeds!)
• Harvest Bowls
  • Red Lentil + Cumin with some tasted Naan or the Brussels Sprouts Pad Thai (over some noodles or quinoa!) The Sweet Potato + Wild Rice Hash is so good topped with a fried egg!
• Soups
  • Carrot + Coconut Curry with some quinoa, Tomato + Zucchini Minestrone (it rivals my mother’s!)

• Oat Bowls
  • Apple + Cinnamon (stirred with a tablespoon of protein powder) this bowl will make your whole house smell like Thanksgiving, it’s so autumnal!
• Chia Bowls
  • I’m not a huge chia seed pudding fan, but the Chocolate + Almond is just so flavorful and such a fueling breakfast.
• Lattes
  • I’m not having the lattes right now because of pregnancy, but the Coffee + Almond is my fav. Top with blended ice!
• Flatbreads
  • I will admit, I was hesitant about these “sweet potato crust” flatbreads, but WOW. I eat the Tomato + Pepper weekly, sometimes topped with a little shredded Pepperjack cheese for extra spice and protein. The sauce is so flavorful, you don’t need even need cheese! I also love the Artichoke + Spinach.
• Scoops (like “nice” cream!)
  • DEADLY. I’m a fudge gal, so I love the Chocolate + Ooey, Gooey Midnight Fudge, but Lu can’t get enough of the Vanilla + Salted, Swirled Black Sesame. My tip: let it thaw out for 20-30 minutes, it gets so epically creamy.
• Bites
  • Love the Coconut + Lemon Bites, they’re addicting, but if you’re in the chocolatey mood, you can’t mess with the Nutella-like flavors of the Hazelnut + Chocolate Bites.

And just a note, they also have these “Mylk” pods which can be put into a blender with water to make nut milk! It’s a great option to have on hand when you run out of your usual milk alternative and are in a pinch! Or, if you’re over all the fillers and gums in those milk alternatives, these Mylk pods are an easy solution.

Why I’m Loving Daily Harvest More Than Ever

As a future mama to 4 kids, time has never been more precious. More so, fueling myself properly (and quickly! and easily!) is of the utmost importance. With Daily Harvest, they just make it easy. I tell my husband all the time that one of my goals in life is to have a giant freezer so I can just fill it with all of my Daily Harvest meals. Seriously, I prioritize my kitchen appliances around my Daily Harvest!

I can spend more time with my kids and my family because I know I always have something in the freezer that I can heat up quickly and serve to everyone. I’m never bored, and I’m always introducing new flavors into mealtimes.

It’s been very cool to see this brand grow, and I’m so honored to work with them, as they started off with just smoothies and now they’re a one-stop-shop! They’re constantly adding new items, and it’s been so exciting to try new flavors that I’d never even think to make (or just, frankly, didn’t want to devote the time to cooking!)

If you’ve made it this far, you must be convinced – just remember to use my $25 off code INSPIRALIZED25! And scroll back up to see my favorite picks for inspiration! Don’t sleep on that Tomatillo + Pepper flatbread, seriously!

Thank you to Daily Harvest for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own, always.

The post Why Our Family Loves Daily Harvest (And Our Favorites!) appeared first on Inspiralized.

My Invisalign Experience & Results – Crossbite and Crowded Teeth

For the best Invisalign journey process pictures and videos, check out my Invisalign highlight on Instagram.

I had always felt there was something off with my jaw. When I’d look at photos of myself, I couldn’t exactly point to exactly what was causing my jaw to look misaligned. My lips and my jaw seemed to move in different directions or something. It wasn’t anything I ever was very insecure about, but when I’d see photos of myself where it was more apparent and when I’d see people with more symmetrical smiles, it would slightly bother me. I also had some crowding on my bottom teeth which I knew was only getting worse.

In January 2020, I decided it would be the “year of me” and that I would invest more in “self-care” or simply, putting myself first and feeling my best. Unfortunately, COVID hit a couple of months later, and I had to put that goal on hold, but, thankfully, I had made me Invisalign consultation appointment with my dentist for the end of January, committed to it that day, and then on February 12th, I went in to get my first package of Invisalign aligners and get my buttons put on. I knew that I’d have to wear these aligners 20-22 hours a day (preferably 22) for the best possible Invisalign results.

Braces twice as a teenager

Yes, you read that right: I had braces twice as a teenager. My poor parents. I forget why I had to get braces on twice, but I had them twice. Something about a growth spurt and my jaw shifting, I believe. And then, after having braces for the second time, we were on a family trip, and I lost my retainer. I didn’t tell my mother about it, and I just never wore a retainer again. Thus, my teeth and my jaw shifted and undid any work the braces had done!

Back to square one.

My first Invisalign appointment

During the Invisalign consultation appointment, the doctor scanned my teeth and showed a 3D representation of what my teeth and bite looked like and what they’d look like after the Invisalign treatment. Once I saw him slide the button from start to finish, I was sold. I couldn’t believe my crossbite and my teeth needed so much help! This is what I saw:

The doctor told me it would make my face more symmetrical. It’s actually pretty cool how they make the “mold” for your aligners. There is no gel mold, it’s all done with this wand that scans over your teeth and it transmits to a computer which prints out the aligner molds.

The dentist also told me that I would need two veneers after the Invisalign treatment, because the treatment plan would create two gaps between two of my top teeth (lateral inciser and canine.) The reason the gaps would appear is because they were widening my top row of teeth to correct the crossbite.

So, on February 12th, I went to get my first Invisalign treatment for my crossbite and crowded teeth. Now, my mother had just finished her Invisalign treatment, and I could barely tell she had anything on her teeth, so I was like, “Oh, I could do this!” As someone who is always “on camera,” I didn’t want anything that would change my face or make me look different or worse, make it difficult to speak.

Well, this is something I blame both myself and my dentist for. I wish I had researched more into Invisalign and what the possibilities were and then I wish I had used that information to ask my dentist about the treatment plan. For example, “Will I have to get buttons on my front teeth?”

The way Invisalign works is that there are these little “buttons” (that’s what they call them) that they put on your actual teeth. It’s like a gel that hardens and creates a “knob” of sorts which the Invisalign aligners can latch on to and keep the aligners secure on your teeth but also, that’s what shifts your teeth. When the gel does harden on your teeth it’s basically the exact color of your teeth, so they’re not as noticeable (they’re more noticeable when you put your trays on.) With each changing of an Invisalign tray (I was instructed to change them every 2 weeks, but it varies), the aligners change slightly to “pull” on these buttons and thus, shift your teeth.

So, I didn’t expect to get those buttons put on all of my front and bottom teeth and although the aligners are clear, you can still see them and they’re very obvious. It was a little shocking, and I felt like I had braces on. It was a big hit to my personal confidence, and I felt foolish about being so focused on physical appearance, but I couldn’t help those feelings. Luckily, within a few months, you’re so used to them, you forget they’re there and they become less and less obvious.

Long story short, ask your dentist about the Invisalign buttons, haha! Now, even if I had known ahead of time, I would have still gone ahead with the treatment, I just would have liked to be a little bit more mentally prepared.

Well, ironically, COVID hit a month later, and I had to wear a mask for the past year, so no one really saw my aligners! Both luck and extreme misfortune there, COVID being the misfortune and luck being that I had a socially acceptable mask to wear. Actually, on my second appointment (typically, you go every 2 weeks to get your next aligners from your doctor), my dentist sent me home with a bunch of aligners “just in case COVID hits the states” (crazy to think about that statement.)

The doctor actually ended up sending me all of my aligners for the rest of my treatment plan, which was 7 months. So, until the last day of my treatment plan (in mid August of 2020,) I didn’t go into the dentist.

After the first treatment plan: Revisions

By the time August came, I was so excited for my final Invisalign appointment. However, I still felt some misalignment in my jaw, and I knew I’d have to extend the treatment plan for “revisions” (that’s what they call it.) Luckily, the revisions aren’t an extra charge and of course, I wanted a perfect bite, so I agreed to continue. They removed all of my buttons, took new scans, and two weeks later, I picked up my trays for another 5 months of treatment. Womp womp.

During this treatment plan, the changes were so subtle, that I couldn’t really tell as they were happening (unlike the first time around, when my teeth were shifting so much and straightening, there was soreness each time for a day or so as I adjusted.) However, when I watched videos of myself speaking and looked at photos, I could tell that which each month, my bite was getting more and more symmetrical.

Most people I know who have done Invisalign have had revisions, because the dentist can’t predict how well your individual teeth will shift (some people, for example have one tooth that just won’t budge!)

My final appointment

At my final Invisalign appointment (after the revisions), the dentist said, “Looks great, but you molars aren’t touching. This is normal and happens a lot. We’re going to have you wear your bottom aligners for the next month and then you’ll switch to nighttime retainers and be done.” They took off all of my buttons and cut down that bottom aligner so that it didn’t cover my molars. And then, they took molds for my veneers. They actually didn’t need to shave down my lateral incisors very much at all, so I didn’t need to wear any temporaries in the meantime.

Two weeks later, I came in and got my veneers put on. It was shocking at first, but after two weeks, I got used to them. The dentist then told me to continue wearing the bottom aligner and he took molds of my top and bottom rows for my nighttime retainers (that I will have to wear forever, but only while I’m sleeping.) Two weeks later, I still felt that one of my veneers seemed to be “jutting out” a bit, so when I came in for my final, final appointment (to pick up the nighttime retainers) he shaved it down a bit. I felt instantly better!

Here is a photo of what I looked like after my final treatment and after the veneers were put on:

So now, my Invisalign days are over and now I just wear my nighttime retainers forever! The next step is to get professional Zoom whitening, but I’m holding off on that for a bit until I have a full 2 hours to devote to a dentist appointment.

Invisalign Before and Afters

(No veneers here)

Q&A About My Invisalign Experience

Here are the questions you asked me about my Invisalign experience!

How much does Invisalign cost?

The cost of your own Invisalign treatment is something personal that you’ll need to find out from your provider, whether that be a dentist, orthodontist, or Invisalign center. For me, it was $5,000 for Invisalign and then $1,200 for each veneer. So, $7,400 total.

Do the Invisalign aligners hurt?

Each two weeks, when I’d get a new aligner, there would be some discomfort from my teeth moving. It’s a light “soreness” and it would be gone within 2-3 days. Sometimes, it was barely noticeable and sometimes, it would be a little sensitive when chewing hard foods. On a scale of 1-10 of pain, it was a 3, maybe. It’s not a sharp pain, it’s like more of a throbbing. I never had pain that I felt the need to take Advil for, FYI.

What was your least favorite part of Invisalign?

Definitely having to take them out every time you eat or every time you drink something not clear. You can eat anything, but you have to take your aligners out first. And every time you eat, afterwards, you have to floss and brush your teeth before you put your aligners back in. Of course, towards the very end, I got less diligent about this, but for the best Invisalign results, you’re supposed to do that. It’s tough when you’re a big snacker, because it’s obnoxious to have to deal with that. Also, the worst was in the morning, when I just wanted to enjoy a coffee, I’d have to chug the coffee, because I had to stick to keeping the aligners on for 22 hours a day. If I wanted to go for an afternoon coffee, it was difficult, again, because I had to take my teeth out at the coffee shop and then put them back in. It’s especially difficult during COVID, when the last thing you want is to put your fingers in your mouth.

How did you clean your Invisalign trays?

Every morning, I would take them out and put them in a coffee mug of water and a Polident denture cleaner. After a few minutes, I’d scrub with a toothbrush I reserved just for that purpose and then rinse with water. I’d put them back in!

What are some products or tips you recommend to help with the Invisalign experience?

• Polident for cleaning the aligner trays
• Buy extra retainer holders and put them everywhere – by your desk, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, by your bed, in your car, in your purse. That way, you won’t be tempted to put your retainers somewhere unsanitary or worse, on a paper towel, where they’re likely to get tossed in the garbage!
• Keep flossers, toothpaste, and a portable toothbrush wherever you will be able to most easily brush your teeth after eating (so you won’t be tempted to skip it.) You can even buy a cute pouch and keep it altogether for quick trips to the bathroom. I love Stasher bags for this.
• For cleaning your teeth in public or just in case I was in a situation where I needed them and didn’t want to bring a big pouch with toothpaste, I always had these on hand.

That’s my Invisalign experience! If you have any specific questions, please let me know in the comments, and I’ll be sure to respond as quickly as possible.

The post My Invisalign Experience: Correcting a Crossbite and Crowding appeared first on Inspiralized.

Strengthening my Pelvic Floor Postpartum with Physical Therapy

Many may say that this blog post is TMI or gross, because I’m talking about peeing myself. And to that I say, “consider yourself lucky!” I wish I didn’t struggle with incontinence, but I do, and it’s a major condition that negatively affected my daily life routine. And frankly, I thought that that was normal and that there was nothing you could do about it, that my body was just changed or “ruined” after childbirth. And I was absolutely misinformed.

And that is why I’m oversharing about peeing my pants, because I’m here to say that it’s not normal, it’s a condition, and it can totally be treated, improved, and even cured. If this blog post helps one woman strengthen their pelvic floor, I’ll be elated.

How my incontinence began (and got worse)

To back up, I’d like to preface that I’ve always had issues peeing my pants. I always joked about my weak bladder and it has always been part of my life – I’ve never been able to “hold it” for very long. I’ve peed my pants laughing with friends, and I’ve certainly peed jumping on trampolines. I haven’t done jumping jacks in a decade, because there’s always leakage. Sneezing or heavy coughing and I have to change my underwear. When running, I’d have to stop in bathrooms along my route to pee, even during just a 30 minute run.

Then, I had children. When I became pregnant with Luca, I thought I just had typical pregnancy bladder issues (because the baby is essentially pushing down on your bladder for 9 months.) I had to give up running entirely and any time I left the house, I had to wear a pad, in fear of completely wetting myself. It was inhibiting my life and it was something I had to think of all the time. Even planning trips to do errands, I had to think about bathroom breaks. I planned my outfits around the time of day, because I knew at some point, I’d probably have a wet spot. Even if I went to the bathroom, I’d leak minutes later, it was like my bladder was always full and I couldn’t empty it.

After having Luca, the problem just continued to worsen. Someone mentioned Pelvic Floor Therapy, I kind of shrugged it off, and I told myself I’d look into it once I was done having children.

My First Attempt at Pelvic Floor Therapy

After Roma was born, my incontinence was so bad, I couldn’t even hold my toddler and walk around the apartment without completely wetting myself – and that’s after I went to the bathroom! Around 8 weeks postpartum, I went to see a highly recommend Pelvic Floor Therapist in my area (in Hoboken, NJ) named The Pelvic PT, Dr. Judith Meer.

Roma was still a newborn and my mom was staying with us, so I brought her to the appointment so I could nurse Roma (we were still trying to get our nursing flow.) Roma was crying hysterically in the room next to where I was having my appointment, so I immediately tensed up, couldn’t focus on what was happening. I went home and didn’t go back… until 14 months later.

Pelvic Floor Therapy, Finally!

My incontinence issues only got worse. I was buying so many pads to wear during workouts and just every day to deal with the leakage, that I would be so afraid to walk out the door without a pad – it was like a security blanket. I never got dressed for the day without a pad. And that was no way to live. I couldn’t run around with my toddlers, I couldn’t go on car trips longer than 15 minutes without peeing myself. I wasn’t living a full life and couldn’t be the active mom I wanted to be!

That’s when I called back the same pelvic floor therapist. I loved her demeanor, the way she made you feel comfortable despite a very uncomfortable situation, how she explained every single thing that was happening to you and why it was happening, and the way she spoke to you and empathized with you. She was a toddler mom, too!

We had our initial appointment, which is a full pelvic floor exam. Now, I am going to butcher all of the technical terms, but essentially, she does an external and internal exam of your pelvic floor, which takes about 45 minutes. Yes, her fingers are internally examining your vagina for about 30 minutes during this exam. She pushes lightly certain places, asks you to tighten your pelvic floor muscles, and feels around while you perform little breathing exercises and muscular movements to basically figure out what’s happening in there. And I have to say, I had no idea how complex our vaginas and pelvic floors were!

After the exam, she concluded that my pelvic floor was very weak and instead of my pelvic floor tightening and staying tightened, it would “flicker,” as in, it would tighten for a moment but I couldn’t keep that tightness for more than a second. This meant that I didn’t have the strength to support my bladder, which sits above your pelvic floor. Whenever my bladder was slightly full, my pelvic floor was so weak, it couldn’t keep the pee in.

Now, there were so many other things coming into play and reasons why I had such a pelvic floor. Pregnancy and childbirth definitely weaken a woman’s pelvic floor (and I had a weak one to begin with!) For me, we figured out that I wasn’t breathing correctly. I couldn’t believe that that was how simple the answer was: breath.

In layman’s terms, when you breath into your belly through your mouth and exhale through your nose, your pelvic floor rises and falls and that helps keep it engaged and strengthened. For me, I was holding my breath a lot and when I was breathing, it was rarely through my stomach – always in my chest, which is a high stress breath. Essentially, I was never activating or engaging my pelvic floor, so it was super weak.

She sent me home with some breathing exercises as homework and from them on there, we made an appointment weekly. I have to say, although I believed her, I didn’t have much faith that breathing would cure my incontinence. I was expecting all those fancy exercises you see on pelvic floor Instagrams. But I promised myself I’d see it through.

In case you want to search some of the exercises that I did, aside from big belly breaths:

• Glute bridge with adductor squeeze
• Abdominal stretch with Cobra Pose variations
• Chid’s pose breathing
• Prone quad & hip flexor stretch
• Deep squat with pelvic floor drop
• Supine marching

How Pelvic Floor Therapy Strengthened my Pelvic Floor and Is Curing my Incontinence

The first week, she instructed me to practice deep inhalations and exhalations, rising up my belly on every breath and releasing. There were some exercises where I’d breath in and on my long exhale, I’d do a kegel, but that kegel wasn’t an average kegel, it was an engagement of my deep core as well – something she showed me how to recognize after an internal exam in her office. Every day, I had about 5-10 minutes of breathing exercises that I’d do on the couch at night while watching TV with Lu.

And to be honest, within 3 days, I was having less and less sense of urgency to pee. I started to notice that I felt more confidence in my body’s abilities that certain moments that normally would result in wetting myself, I was barely leaking. For example, when I’d get up off the couch at night after watching TV to go to the bathroom, I’d usually have to cup myself and apply pressure so I wouldn’t pee on the walk over to the bathroom! This ended after a week of pelvic floor therapy.

During each weekly 45 minute appointment, she’d do an internal therapy session, so if you’re shy, be prepared. I could barely feel what she was doing in there but she was releasing tense muscles to help engage and activate my pelvic floor. She’d explain what she was doing the whole time and after the therapy, she’d ask me to do my breathing exercises and engage my pelvic floor and each week, it would get a tiny bit stronger.

After about a month, she gave me new exercises to do to help loosen all of my muscles in my back and neck, because everything is connected through breath and to fully operate your pelvic floor, you truly need to breath through your body. I thought it was crazy and the exercises seemed silly (squatting and just breathing for a few minutes, for example) but they really, truly worked.

Continuing to Strengthen and Moving Forward

Three months later, I’d say my sense of urgency has dwindled from a 9 to a 4 and my leakage issues have gone from a 9 to a 3. I’m almost there, and I’ve noticed that when I stop doing my nightly exercises consistently (like if I skip a whole week), I have leakage issues. The holidays and the New Year have set me back a bit, but I’m excited to get back into it.

I won’t have to do these exercises so much forever, but like with any strength program, you have to put in the work to get the results and then maintaining is much easier, once your muscles are built.

My biggest goal with pelvic floor therapy was to be able to run around the house with my kids without peeing my pants, and I’ve accomplished that. My other goal was to be able to run again without leakage. And I’m almost there. There are some moments when I have leakage and now, I can usually distinguish them – like drinking too much water or coffee before going on my run or not doing my exercises and having a bit of weakness. But generally, I’m able to run without leakage 7/10 times right now, which is so exciting to me.

Honestly, I never thought I’d get to a place where I could control my bladder. I thought it was my bladder, but it was my pelvic floor. Now, when I’m in a situation where my bladder is super full and I can’t make it to the bathroom, I know certain exercises I can do to wake up my pelvic floor and have it do its job to get me to the bathroom. There are little techniques I’ve learned (like certain breathing when you’re having a sense of urgency) that have helped tremendously, too.

I’m in such a better place and it has made me feel like a better mom, a sexier wife, and just a complete human.

If you have any specific questions, I’d love to help as much as I can by sharing my own journey, but know that I’m not a doctor and I can’t give any medical advice. My biggest recommendation is to see a pelvic floor therapist to get a full exam to find out what your unique situation is, because it may not be similar to mine at all!

Thank you for listening to my TMI blog post, which isn’t TMI at all – it’s completely essential to talk about these things so women know they’re not alone and that they don’t have to live this way!

I hope this helps other women in a similar situation. Please let me know if you have any questions about my journey!

The post Strengthening my Pelvic Floor Postpartum with Physical Therapy appeared first on Inspiralized.

Before I give my recommendations and reviews, please know the following:

• I cook a lot. Not only do I cook 7 days a week (breakfast, lunch and dinner 5-6 days a week), I cook more for this blog and my business. I’m always testing recipes, and I’m always in the kitchen. Thus, my cookware goes the ringer! So, it’s both important to know that my cookware gets heavily used, SO I like to have more cookware, because frankly, there’s a lot of wear and tear.
• I have the luxury of space in my current home. I have enough room for multiple pots and pans, so I don’t take that into consideration when purchasing and keeping cookware.
• I don’t cook a lot of meat (hardly any, actually), so the pans I recommend and use are based off of that – I don’t need much cast iron, because I find that cast iron sears and cooks meat profoundly better than non stick, but I don’t cook meat, so I don’t need that feature.
• I’m married with two toddlers. AKA I’m cooking for four people (two are tiny.)
• Some of this cookware I’ve only been using for less than 2 months. It’s hard to give a full review if you haven’t owned cookware for 4-6+ months. But I know you want to hear my opinion, so I’m sharing it!

What Cookware I Currently Use Regularly

Another disclaimer. As you’ll see below, I use a lot of different cookware. I don’t think you should ever only have one line of cookware, just like you should never have one pair of shoes – there are different occasions when you’d want to wear different shoes, right?

Caraway

Note: If you do decide to purchase the full Caraway set, make sure to purchase through my link for a discount! 

Right now, the Caraway pans are my favorite. The sizing of the pans are exactly what I need for cooking (I have the entire set), they’re very sturdy (some may say they’re too heavy, but I like heavier pans, personally) and they’re just designed sleekly and beautifully. The handles are sleek and solid and the tops are very flat, which I love for easy storing and cleaning. Actually, when you purchase the cookware set, it comes with this AMAZING hanging top storage canvas rack that makes life so much easier. It’s almost worth it just for that storage system (which would only work with flat top pans!)

I love that all the pans have lids and in general, the sizing of the pots works well for me- whether I’m small batch cooking or cooking for my entire family. Of all the pans, if I’d have to choose one, the near 12-inch saute pan is my favorite. It’s wide and cooks everything.

In addition to that canvas lid rack, it comes with a magnetic storage system, which has helped me keep my pans in great condition, also (instead of just throwing them in my cabinets.) It comes in cute, chic colors and overall, has held up very nicely (again, it has only been a couple of months, so I can update this post!)

GreenPan

What: 12 inch frypan with cover
For what: when I’m cooking a big portion, I love this pan because it’s wide, deep, and 12-inch. Plus, it has a lid, so you can slow cook foods in there and let them steam (like rice, for example.) It’s an all around does-it-all pan.

I also have these beautiful blush ones, and I use the 8″ pan all the time to make quesadillas for the fam!

Before I started experimenting with older lines of non-stick cookware, I was exclusively GreenPan kinda gal. I’ve been using GreenPan for years, and I have many different versions of their lines (many of which have sold out or are no longer made.)

Here’s the truth: yes, GreenPan’s non-stick will diminish IF you don’t take care of your pans. I learned this the hard way for the first year or so I was using their pans and I was disappointed. However, recently, I have learned there’s an art to taking care of those types of pans, so I’m careful and these pans are standing up and it’s been about 7 months.

Our Place’s Always Pan

MANY questions on this pan. Before I start, if you do decide to purchase, it’s currently on sale (today is November 30, 2020) for $95 with code SUPERSALE. That’s incredible! Snag it now.

Here’s the deal. I keep this pan on my countertop because it’s light and pretty – very Instagrammable and goes with the decor of my kitchen, so I like keeping it out. There are a few features that I love:

• The spoon rest on the side – very clever and it helps keep mess less.
• The top handle doesn’t get hot, so you can uncover it at any time without a mitt.
• It’s wide enough to cook rice dishes or deep casserole-like meals (but per my point below, not a large portion.)
• It’s light, so it’s easy to work to clean.
• It comes with a steamer insert, which I use all the time for quick and easy steaming. That’s my favorite part!
• It’s obviously adorable.

And a couple of features that I don’t love:

• It’s small. We’re a family of four and I cook a lot of large meals, so it’s not practical when you’re cooking a larger meal.
• Since the sides are so high and deep (which is also a pro at the same time!) it’s hard to flip things, like if you’re cooking pancakes, burgers, veggie cakes, etc.
• It’s expensive! For $145, you could get a more complete cookware set, but again, if you’re not cooking for many people, $145 is pretty great and it will replace other cookware.
• It’s not oven safe, which is kind of a deal breaker for me.

Who would I recommend this pan to? Someone who doesn’t cook for many people and/or who doesn’t have room for a steamer basket and wants something that does both (steams and fries/sautés.) If you want to take pretty photos of your food, this pan is great for that too.

Since this pan lives on my countertop, I usually use it for simple things like steaming the kids’ veggies for lunch (if I’m not eating with them) or frying or scrambling eggs in the morning or making their grilled cheese sandwiches (it barely fits two slices of bread, but it does!) I definitely use it a lot and that’s probably because it sits on my countertop and is super light, so it’s easy to clean.

Le Creuset

What: Le Creuset frying pan

Whenever I’m making something like a pork chop for my husband or a very slow cooking dish, I opt for my Le Creuset. You can’t get any better! It heats evenly (as all cast iron does) and thus, is so great for cooking meats. I love making single dish meals in my Le Creuset – like some pork chops with roasted brussels sprouts. You can cook it all in one pan and go in and out of the oven. I’ve made frittatas here, I love making home fries/breakfast potatoes in my Le Creuset too. I feel like everyone should own a cast iron fry pan, and I’m glad I do.

Staub 6 quart dutch oven

What: Staub 6 quart dutch oven

You can’t really mess with Staub or cast iron, but they’re very expensive! I love my Staub to death and I use it when making large portions for my family. I use it to sear meat in it when I do cook meat and I use it for casserole dishes that I want to transfer to the oven. It’s great for stews and roasts. It’s wonderful for searing chicken and transferring to the oven to bake and other meat dishes like that. I use it for pasta dishes a lot, too! It fits a full pound of pasta. I’ve made everything from jambalaya to chicken tagine in this!

I have no complaints about this pan and strongly recommend everyone owns one!

I hope this helps you find your next favorite pot or pan! I’m always happy to answer questions, just let me know….

The post My Favorite Everyday Pots and Pans appeared first on Inspiralized.

I instantly fell in love with Peloton – the inclusive, motivational, and positive environment. Unlike previous spin classes I had taken in studios in NYC, Peloton workouts challenged you to look inward for motivation and shut out the noise. Zero distractions but your own thoughts, which the instructors guide you through shutting off. There was this sense of community, even though you were alone on a bike at home. When you’d get a shout out in a live Peloton class, you’d pedal the hardest you’ve ever pedalled and it was this surge of adrenaline that was kind of inexplicable.

Originally, I used Peloton as a means for weight loss. I guess I had always associated spinning with a high-cardio weight loss exercise. Since then, it has never been about weight loss and more of a release and therapy for me – I don’t know where I’d be without this bike!

Now, 6 years later, Peloton offers a completely different workout experience while still maintaining that original spin studio spirit. In 2020, Peloton has everything from barre to yoga to full body strength workouts and indoor and outdoor running classes. You literally don’t need to ever leave your house to get a total body workout, gimmick free. You don’t even need to buy weights, Peloton has so many bodyweight class offerings, you can do full body workouts without them!

So yes, Peloton has changed my life. The bike was there for me when I was postpartum with both of my babies, trying to just fit in 10 minutes to myself that day. Without it, I could have never regained my strength or endurance fitness postpartum. I used to be someone who could print off a “workout guide” and go from there, but not any longer – I look forward to working out with the Peloton trainers and while I started off a devout Robin follower (and for about 5 years only exclusively did her rides!), I’ve tried many Peloton rides now and know which ones I need on certain days to push me, recover me, or meet me.

There have been many jokes made about Peloton and riders in the Peloton community have been poked fun at for being so “intense” about their bikes. But you know what those naysayers haven’t done? Jumped on a Peloton bike and taken a class! Once you take your first Peloton class, you’re hooked. There’s an undeniable energy about Peloton that draws me in. No talk about weight loss or summer bodies or “tank top ready arms.” Peloton accepts you where you are and gets you where you need to be.

Anyway, clearly I could go on forever about how I love Peloton, but since so many of you have asked me questions about my experience, I figured I’d do a Q&A style post so that I could refer people here in the future. And to be transparent, I have never worked with Peloton in a sponsored capacity. I bought my own bike and paid for my own Peloton subscription. I’m truly a fan!

My Peloton Fitness Experience: Q&A

Here are my answers to the questions you guys kindly submitted on Instagram – if you have any other questions after reading this, feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll answer them as best I can!

Can I follow you on the Peloton app?

Yes! My username is….. you guessed it…. inspiralized! I got my own personal bike in December of 2017 (as a way to workout postpartum with Luca), but I had been riding consistently since 2014, but I never logged my rides (I used our building’s gym bikes and used their login.) I’m so bummed, because I am so curious what my Peloton ride count would be at this point. Definitely over 1,000!

Who are your favorite Peloton instructors?

When I started Peloton, my first ride was with Robin Arzon, because her profile said she was Puerto Rican and I felt an instant connection to her because of Lu (being Puerto Rican.) I loved her immediately, but tried another Peloton instructor shortly thereafter and wasn’t impressed, so I went back to Robin and pretty much for the next 5 years, only rode with Robin. I sprinkled a little bit of Alex Toussaint in there, but still rode Robin 9/10.

Once Robin stopped recording as many rides (she’s now the VP of Fitness Programming and obviously can’t record as many rides, as that’s not her singular role at Peloton anymore), I started experimenting with other instructors. Also, once Peloton released strength workouts, I started exploring other instructors. But of course, Robin is still my go-to

Now, my favorite Peloton instructors are, in no particular order:

• Jess Sims – for strength workouts and Bike Bootcamps, she’s the best! So positive and uplifting and she WORKS you.
• Adrian Williams – for strength workouts, he is easy-going and keeps you engaged and I find his Peloton workouts simple and effective. I love his music and…. he’s pretty easy on the eyes
• Alex Toussaint – he’s got this life perspective that’s very inspiring and he speaks to that throughout the rides. I love his hip hop music picks and I find his workouts super challenging.
• Cody Rigsby – if I want a tough Peloton workout and some laughs, I’ll take Cody!
• Ben Alldis – personally, I find him very calming and straight forward and extremely difficult. He finds a way to push you without that bravado the other Peloton instructors bring (yelling inspirational things, telling you to hustle, etc.). If I’m in a self motivated mood, I’ll do his rides, but if I need that extra “oomph,” I won’t take his rides.
• Tunde Oyeneyin – definitely in my top 3 favorite Peloton instructors. Not only are her rides super difficult, she has a way to speak to you through the pushes to get you to finish them like no other instructor. If you need someone to totally carry you through the class and push you to do things you didn’t think you could, she’s your girl.
• Rebecca Kennedy – for walking workouts on the treadmill, I did many of her hiking workouts while in Florida, when I didn’t have my Peloton bike, but my parents have a treadmill. She’s THE BEST, and I also love her strength workouts, too. She’ll get you sweating in a walking workout more than a spin ride!

What are your favorite Peloton rides?

When Peloton first started, I was just doing 30 and 45 minute rides. Now, I do all types of rides and it completely depends on my goals or time constraints that day. Sometimes, I just do 20 minute rides! Sometimes, just a 5 minute ab class!

Typically, my go-to Peloton rides are, in no particular order:

• 30 Minute Tabata with Robin: if you want to burn, burn, burn… do these!
• 30 Minute Intervals & Arms: if I’m looking for a good sweat, but can’t commit to spinning for 30 minutes straight (if I’m tired or unmotivated). I love these Peloton rides because the arms segments break up the monotony of spinning.
• 30 Minute HIIT & Intervals: I find these rides fly by and they’re an efficient way to burn.
• 45 Minute Interval & Arms: just for the same reason as the 30 minute version, I love this ride.
• 45 Minute Hip Hop: I love hip hop, so I love these rides!
• 45 and 30 Minute Bike Bootcamp: when I want to incorporate strength into my Peloton workout, you can’t beat these rides. I’m obsessed and they’re definitely my favorite rides to do right now, but they don’t have many on demand just yet (they’re a fairly new concept), so I don’t do as many right now.
• Honestly, I love all of the strength Peloton workouts I’ve ever done!

And recently, they added 60 minute Peloton bootcamps and I can’t wait to give those a try.

Where should Peloton beginners start?

Peloton literally has something called Beginner Rides. Start there! And I’d definitely recommend taking different instructors in the beginning to figure out what you like and which instructors are better for you when you’re in different moods. I wouldn’t just hop into a 45 minute ride unless you’ve been spinning previously and understand spinning. Start with a Beginner Ride and then try out the 30 minute Peloton rides, a few different variations (the Interval & Arms, the Tabata, the HIIT) and then get to a 45 minute ride. But definitely try different Peloton instructors!

How noisy is the Peloton bike?

My Peloton bike literally makes no noise at all, if you have headphones in for the sound. Your breathing is the loudest thing in the room.

Are you going to get the new Peloton+ bike?

Nope! I’m happy with this Peloton bike and while I’d love better audio and a swivel screen, good wireless headphones and a TV to cast the bike on have solved that for me.

How long did it take your body to get used to the Peloton workouts?

I’ve been spinning since 2010, so my body was already used to spinning. I think the variety of workouts on the Peloton keeps you from burning out. You don’t want your body to “get used to” anything because complacency doesn’t lead to progress!

Why the Peloton bike over the treadmill?

I live in an apartment and don’t have room for a treadmill or else i’d have both, but I personally prefer spinning over running AND I have severe incontinence right now (that I’m working on!) that limits my running options right now. When we move to a larger home (like a house), I will 100% get the treadmill, especially because that’s Lu’s favorite workout.

How did your Peloton workouts change during pregnancy?

When I did my Peloton workouts, I didn’t push myself nearly as hard as I did before becoming pregnant, simply because I got out of breath. I took breaks when I wanted to, not necessarily when I “needed” to (I push myself harder when not pregnant.) For example, if the instructor in the spin class says to do an interval and I’m not ready for it, I won’t push myself like I would not-pregnant. I’d give myself a few extra seconds on the recoveries, and I didn’t go as fast or as high of a resistance, either. Most importantly, I just listened to my body and did what felt most comfortable to me. If you want pregnancy guidance on the Peloton bike, Robin is currently pregnant! After 36 weeks, I stopped spinning because it was too uncomfortable AND my incontinence was so bad, I’d pee the bike in the first 5 minutes.

Do you pre-plan your Peloton workouts for the week? How do you do it?

Yes, but depending on how the day goes (and if I make my 6am workout), I may change that up. As I mentioned before, some Peloton instructors and rides I like for certain moods and how my body is feeling.

Basically, I try to aim for strength training 3 times a week and pure cardio 2-3 times per week. For strength training, I either do a Bike Bootcamp or I do a short cardio warmup (like 10-20 minutes) and then a 30 minute strength workout. And on the cardio days, I aim for a 45 minute ride. All of these are Peloton workouts at the moment!

Do you feel like you get a full body workout with Peloton?

100%, especially now with the Bike Bootcamp – you start on the bike, go to the floor, get back on the bike, and then end on the floor, so you have two strength segments and two bike segments. You get that balance of cardio and strength in a single workout BUT if you also just want strictly strength training, they have plenty of that! As I said before, I also make sure I hit the major muscle groups, so a sample week may look like this:

Monday: 45 Minute Bike Bootcamp
Tuesday: 45 minute spin ride
Wednesday: 10 minute spin ride + 30 minute Full Body Strength workout
Thursday: 30 minute spin ride + 15 minute Abs
Friday: 45 minute spin ride

Does Lu ride the Peloton bike?

He doesn’t ride right now for a few reasons, but he has taken a handful of rides in the past. He says the rides are too difficult, haha! He prefers running and he used to go to the gym in our building pre-COVID. Once COVID hit and our gym closed, he started working out exclusively outside. He prefers to do this when the weather permits, he doesn’t like working out indoors. He says this winter, since we’ll be indoors, he plans on getting on the Peloton bike!

What gear do you use when using Peloton?

First off, I have the mat they sell that goes underneath the bike. Highly recommend that for sweat! I connect my Apple Airpods for audio, I use the Peloton brand spin shoes, and I recently got a Roku enabled TV to cast for strength workouts, so I don’t have to crane my neck to see the bike screen. I have a yoga mat and 3/5/8/10/12 and 15 pound weights. Lu has 30s. I also keep a container of disinfectant wipes nearby to wipe down the bike after every workout.

Do you ever get bored with only doing a Peloton spin workout?

To answer this clearly (although I’ve answered it above): absolutely not. The Peloton App has so many different types of workouts – if you want to just do strength, they have 45 minute strength workouts. If you want to do yoga, barre, or go for a run – they have those workouts, too. It’s literally a complete fitness solution and I have never once been bored, ever.

What is your pre-workout routine when you workout at 6am?

Night before: Set the coffee machine for 5:45am, lay my clothes and contact lenses out.
5:45am: alarm goes off, usually a) hop out of bed or b) snooze until 5:55/6am. If I snooze….
6am: contacts in, put my Invisalign retainers in cleaning solution, pour myself a cup of coffee and drink it while I get dressed. Brush my teeth, put my aligners in, and go to the bathroom.
6:10/6:15am: on the bike!
7am: pour Lu a coffee, get Luca his gummy vitamin, and make Roma’s milk.
7:05am: bring Luca and Lu their stuff (they are in our bed together because Luca sleeps in our room) and go into Roma’s room, change her diaper, and bring her into bed with Luca/Lu and give her her milk. Hop in the shower!
7:15am: Showered, dressed, and ready to start the crazy!

Is Peloton truly worth it? I’m trying to convince my husband and he just shows me cheap spin bikes.

It’s beyond worth it. It is hands down the best purchase I have ever made for my own personal well being. It’s one of those things that until you buy the bike and hop on, you won’t fully understand how amazing Peloton is. There’s a workout for every single one of your moods, from meditation to stretching to walking to hiking to spinning to bootcamp to barre to yoga to beyond. If you’re nervous about the price, just think about how expensive and cumbersome it would be to find all of that. And I haven’t even talked much about the Peloton community, but it’s such a strong one – I high five people on the leaderboard all the time to keep myself and them motivated, because you feel this special kind of connection with the strangers riding on the Peloton bike. And I’m not a gushy person at all, trust me.

Oh, and I haven’t even touched on LIVE Peloton rides! You can ride live (they have a live schedule), but I usually do On Demand rides, but there’s nothing like getting a shoutout from your favorite Peloton instructor during a live ride. You connect with the strangers riding alongside you, the instructors getting you through the rides, AND you can follow friends and take rides they’ve taken before (or meet them for a ride together) and ride with them that way.

Needless to say, I’m Peloton’s #1 fan, haha! Hope you guys found this post helpful.

The post My Peloton Fitness Experience and Why I love It so Much appeared first on Inspiralized.

You reap the benefits – you feel better by keeping a promise to yourself, your fitness levels improve from the consistency, you’re more energized throughout the day, and most importantly, you’re more focused and intentional because you’ve woken up on your own accord.

Here are the tips I’ve used over the years to make those morning workouts and commit to myself:

10 Tips To Make That Morning Workout

1. Figure out a time to wake up that’s sensical. Don’t set the alarm for 5am when you don’t need to wake up that early – that’s just setting you up for failure, because you know you can snooze and what ends up happening is that the more you snooze, the more your motivation wanes. And when you’re snoozing, you’re not even getting great sleep – it’s interrupted and thus, pointless. Figure out that sweet spot wake up time and stick to it!

2. Figure out a time to wake up that’s feasible. Now, also keep in mind that if you set too small of a window for your workout, you’ll be less likely to make those workouts, because feeling pressure first thing when you wake up is NOT motivational. For example, I set my alarm for 5:45am. I have to be done by 6:50am in order to get showered & ready for the kids. My workouts are 45 minutes long, which means that I HAVE to be on my bike between 6-6:05am. That gives me 15-20 minutes before my workout begins to wake up and get ready. I know it takes me 10 minutes to get dressed/drink my coffee/etc, so that leaves me 5-10 minutes of “buffer” time. It’s not much time, but it’s enough in case I’m moving slowly that day! No more or less than 5-10 minutes of “buffer” or else you’ll take advantage of it OR if you’re running behind, you won’t have time to make your workout and you’ll skip it.

3. Once you’ve figured out that time, set your alarm and have a no-snooze rule. Snoozing leads to more snoozing, which leads to missing your “window” of workout opportunity. Just be strict about it and don’t snooze. Five minutes isn’t going to give you any miraculous amount of sleep to energize you, trust me.

4. Prepare the night before. Whatever you have to do to make the transition from bed to exercise easier, do it! For me, that means setting the coffee machine up so there’s a pot waiting for me (I drink a half cup before my workout!), planning/picking out my workout for the next day and selecting the music, if applicable, and picking my workout clothes out and laying them out.

5. If you’re someone who needs a certain amount of sleep to function, figure out what your new bedtime should be to account for that. For me, I need at least 6 hours of sleep to function. Thus, I can’t get to bed any later than 11:30pm, so my cutoff is 11pm, in bed and asleep by 11:30pm.

6. Find a workout that gets you excited to get out of bed. This makes ALL the difference. If you’re a runner, maybe select a new route or a new playlist or make a new goal for yourself. Every day, there should be something NEW that gets you motivated to make it to your workout. For me, I like to pick out a totally new workout every day – I never repeat the same workout twice. Luckily, I have a Peloton bike, so it’s easy to find new instructors and types of rides! Find your flow.

7. Find your PURPOSE and write it on a sticky note and put it on your nightstand, next to your alarm – or set it as your alarm reminder! These tips always sound corny, but when you actually execute them, you realize that they’re not corny, they’re motivating and purposeful! Why do you want to be a morning workout person? Is it because you want to be more productive with your time during the day? To make more time for your passion project/side hustle? To spend more time with your kids? To ensure that you make your workout every day? Write it down and then it’ll be a visual reminder of why you need to get your butt out of bed!

8. If you’re not a self-starter and need someone else to help you motivate, find a workout buddy – online or offline. Text that buddy the night before, set up your meetup/log on time and encourage each other to make it to your workouts. And then in the morning, text when you wake up to check in! This accountability really helps – just make sure you pick someone that you know is as committed as you or wants it for the same reasons as you do! For instance, if you pick a workout buddy that’s just doing it to help YOU and not themself, it won’t work – they’ll be less motivated and thus, won’t encourage you to motivate. Pick someone who has your same goal – if you’re a mom, pick another mom that needs that time for herself. If you’re trying to tone up, pick someone who has the same fitness level goals as you.

9. Start small. You don’t need to wake up and become a morning workout person (literally) overnight. If you want to make that 6am alarm clock, but you’re used to waking up at 7am, wake up at 6:30am and do a quick 15 or 20 minute workout. Do that for a few days and then adjust your wakeup time to 6:15am… and then 6:00am… and so forth, until you’ve reached our ideal wakeup time. Remember, this is a lifestyle and progress over perfection. As long as you’re making an effort, you’re in the right direction. And don’t worry about “only” having a 15 minute workout, because guess what? You will eventually get there! Everyone starts somewhere.

10. Commit to 3 days. There’s an old saying that habits are formed in 3 days, and as someone who has wavered in and out of the morning workouts, I have to say, 3 days is the magical number. Tell yourself that you will wake up in the morning to workout for 3 days. Just 3 days. Commit to that. And see how you feel after the 3 days. Sometimes having a mental timeline like that can help you, especially on the 2nd day (only one more to go!) I have a feeling you’ll stick with it….

What are your morning workout tips? I’d love to hear them!

The post 10 Tips To Make That Morning Workout appeared first on Inspiralized.

And now, they’re back! I’m committing to a full year (12 months!) of monthly challenges. The key? At the end of each month, I decide what the next month’s challenge will be. I do this so that the challenges reflect what I really need to work on in that moment. Setting a full year of challenges ahead of time isn’t realistic for me, because my life is a whirlwind and each month, life happens and I need to focus on something else.

February Monthly Challenge: Recap

Unlike my failed January challenge, my February challenge was a complete success! In February, I vowed to give both one of my kids separate, undivided one-on-one time. I wanted this time not only for myself (being with my kids make me the happiest!), but because I know it means a lot to my kids, especially Luca.

With Luca, each week, we had a little “date.” Usually, at 3:30pm, after I nurse Roma, I go downstairs and run whatever errand I have to run or just get coffee. I’d take Luca with me – sometimes it was to get coffee (and I’d get him a croissant or cookie to nosh on with me), sometimes it was a longer walk to the pharmacy on his scooter, and other times it was to his favorite place, the grocery store, to grab a few food items. It was easy to do, and I’m excited to continue this moving forward. It made him so incredibly happy and I was going out anyway, so why not? Well, going anywhere with a toddler takes 3 times as long, but it was a nice way to slow myself down and enjoy the time with my son.

With Roma, we decided that instead of Luca and Roma going to music class together on the weekends, I’d just take Roma. Now, we have this dedicated one-on-one time together every Saturday and afterwards, we meet up with Lu and Luca and grab brunch. It’s become a nice, relaxing weekend tradition. Other than that, what I realized is that I do have one-on-one time with Roma a lot: I nurse her! That’s at least an hour of alone time every single day. Now, I just am much more mindful when we’re nursing. I don’t have my phone, I talk to her, sing to her, and we have our time. Sometimes it’s all about being present!

March Monthly Challenge

I really, really want to make more time for morning pages and mindfulness. I want to start a morning mindfulness practice, where I fill out a page or two out in my mindful journal, a cute gift I got from a friend that I’ve yet to break open. I want this to be the first thing I do, before I even workout. So, once our nanny arrives and she leaves to take Luca to school with Roma, I’m going to fill out my pages and then start my day.

I’m looking forward to seeing how this impacts my day to day!

I encourage you to either make your own monthly challenges this year or follow along with mine! Who’s with me? Leave a comment with your monthly challenge and let’s keep ourselves accountable!

The post 2020 Monthly Challenges: March appeared first on Inspiralized.

And now, they’re back! I’m committing to a full year (12 months!) of monthly challenges. The key? At the end of each month, I decide what the next month’s challenge will be. I do this so that the challenges reflect what I really need to work on in that moment. Setting a full year of challenges ahead of time isn’t realistic for me, because my life is a whirlwind and each month, life happens and I need to focus on something else.

January Monthly Challenge: Recap

Unfortunately, this challenge was a bit premature to set. With a 6 month old infant, it’s still hard to stick to any sort of schedule. There are sleep regressions, middle of the night teething wakeups, and in our case, sickness that ruined sleep for the first few weeks of the month. Thus, when I’ve been up for half of the night, I need every extra second of sleep I can get, so I was sleeping until Roma woke up.

The whole point of me setting the challenge to wake up at 6am was so that I could be a more productive person throughout the day by setting the pace with organizing myself at 6am. However, that would have required very minimal hours of sleep, and there would be absolutely no productivity in that scenario.

Long story short, I failed my January challenge, but in my defense, it wasn’t the right challenge to set at this time in my life. Lesson learned!

February Monthly Challenge

I’ve been thinking a lot about how quickly time is passing and how it’s insane that I have an almost 2.5 year old and an almost 8 month old! Literally, how?! So this month, I want to prioritize one-on-one time with my kids. Each week, I want to focus on each of them individually. I’m going to work extra hard (time block the heck out of my days) so that I can have some special alone time with them and not feel stressed about work.

For Roma, I want to take her to a music class! There’s a music class every Thursday that she can make, and I want to take her to that – she’s never been! Otherwise, maybe it’s just not sending her off to pickup Luca from school with the nanny and instead, playing at home together and going for a walk before it’s time for lunch. These are little windows of time that I know would fill me up so much and make the kids happy. Plus, what’s having a ‘flexible’ work schedule like if I don’t take advantage of it?

For Luca, I want to surprise him and pick him up from school and do a picnic lunch on a day when it’s in the high 40s (today would’ve been perfect!) or take him on a scooter ride. Or maybe take him for a treat after he wakes up from nap as his afternoon snack. I always go to grab coffee at the coffee shop downstairs and it would be so fun to take Luca for a croissant (he loves the ones they sell down there!) I miss our one-on-one time especially, and I know he misses it too.

So, just a couple hours a week to devote to my family. Not every day, just a couple of hours during the work week. And I feel better just thinking about it!

I encourage you to either make your own monthly challenges this year or follow along with mine! Who’s with me? Leave a comment with your monthly challenge and let’s keep ourselves accountable!

The post 2020 Monthly Challenges: February appeared first on Inspiralized.

The Backstory

If you are reading this like, “what the heck is she talking about?!”, then let me back up first. Before I started this tiny space on the Internet in 2013, I ate pescatarian. Before that, I ate vegan for about 3 years (2009-2013) and before that, I ate everything under the sun. After I started my blog, I wanted it to be a place for everyone to find food ideas, so I started building other sources of animal protein into my diet (not beef, but pork and poultry.) And as of September 2019 (so about 4 months), I’m primarily eating vegetarian (with seafood here and there – mainly salmon or shrimp and fancier fish if I’m dining out a nice restaurant.)

You can read all of my reasons on my shift from veganism to well, not veganism, here. And please note, I’m saying I “eat” these ways instead of I “am” these ways (ie I “am” a vegan), because my diet doesn’t define who I am. Geez, if I defined myself by the way I ate, I would be a pretty wishy-washy person, haha! And ugh, I hate food/diet labels because they’re restrictive. If you say you’re eating vegan and you decide one day you want to have a slice of cheddar, it’s as if you cheated on your partner, you’re despicable, and your entire 99.9% vegan diet is put into question and you’re no longer able to label yourself as “vegan.” You’re shamed online and it’s a whole thing. I just want to say that if you’re eating a certain way and get a craving for a food outside of that diet box, just have the food. Your body might be literally craving it in that moment for a reason. For example, when I was pregnant, I ate so much meat, my body just needed it. I didn’t question it, I just tried my best to frontload with vegetables and source quality meats.

Needless to say, in my adult life, I’ve been back and forth between plant based diets for more than a decade (it feels crazy to say that!) This is because, in my heart of hearts, I know that veganism is the best for my body. Now, it’s definitely not the best for everyone – people have serious and very major health issues when they eat plant based and that’s real. However, for me, I feel and operate at my optimal best when I’m eating plant based.

My family

So what about my kids? My husband? Do I serve them animal protein despite my sentiment that meat isn’t the best? Well, yes, I do. I want my kids to be exposed to everything so that they don’t develop allergies and so that they can make the choice on their own of what they want to eat. It’s not my decision and they’re not old enough to be able to make a decision, so I will wait until they’re ready. And while I may feel best eating mostly plant based, that doesn’t mean it’s right for Luca and Roma.

For dinner, it’s pescatarian right now, so that I can eat alongside everyone. However, for lunches, I serve meats. We always offer the kids meats when we’re out, too. I make sure the meats are organic and grass fed, local as possible, and from a respectable source.

Also, I like serving primarily plant based, because I’m showing them at a young age that vegetables can be at the forefront and the star of the plate, not just something you have to “get through.” As long as their diets aren’t primarily meat based, I feel good about this lifestyle.

Why I Stopped Eating Meat

Having said that, let me explain why I went from eating everything (aside from beef) to eating as I am now, which is mostly vegetarian, but pescatarian if you had to put a label on it.

These are the main reasons:
• I wasn’t feeling great – lethargic, dull skin, tired
• I do care about the environment
• I was trying to exercise and found myself with lower back pain and I never felt energized for my workouts.
• I was getting lazy in the kitchen.
• I was eating too much meat, as someone who prefers eating veggies.

Now, let’s dive into those a bit.

I wasn’t feeling great

I was feeling lethargic, my skin was dull, and I was always tired. I know I just had a baby (my girl was born in June), but I was not just ‘sleep deprived’ tired, because Roma was sleeping through the night and I was getting a solid 6-8 hours (depending on when I put myself to sleep, ha!) It was just a general malaise and a lack of energy. A lack of excitement, maybe. It’s hard to put words to it, but I just didn’t feel like myself. My skin was dull, I was starting to have more breakouts, and no matter how much chia seed oil I slathered on my face at night, my skin looked the same in the morning.

The last time I was in this position, I started eating more plant based and my energy and focus levels sky rocketed. And my skin was the smoothest it’s ever been. So, I wanted to try it again. And literally within 2-3 weeks, I felt like a new woman. I was getting work done at nighttime instead of just slumping onto the couch. My libido was better, I could focus more during the day and I didn’t need a splash of cold water to the face. I felt clearer, and I put all of this energy into my personal life and then I started exercising more consistently. Without sounding dramatic, practically overnight I started feeling better and all that changed was my diet.

I do care about the environment

Every time I’d look at the news, I’d be frightened by the state of this world, not politically speaking, but physically. Literally, our world’s resources are quickly depleting. Tragically, Australia caught on fire. That’s real and it’s happening. I’m not going to get into it further (especially because there are schools of people that don’t believe in things like global warming and I don’t want to start a political war), but eating plant based makes me feel like I’m doing my part for the environment.

Of course, I limit my plastic use by using Stasher bags/reusable water bottles and coffee mugs/glassware, buying local groceries as frequently as I can, using public transportation, and all of that good stuff, but the biggest change we can make for the environment is by decreasing our animal protein consumption. If you didn’t know, cattle’s poop (and farts!) contribute more to the greenhouse gas effect than car emissions! These byproducts are methane, which is more powerful than carbon dioxide in the greenhouse effect, which depletes the ozone layer. And the water usage to maintain cattle is astronomical. Thus, by simply transitioning to a plant based diet, you’re saving the planet. It’s true! Or, just try a meatless Monday at least?

For that and other reasons like soil sustainability, I know in my heart that it’s better for the environment if I eat more plant based. Now, I’m not a vegan, but I am doing what I can and I’ve found a balance where I can now sleep better at night, because I know my little contribution in this world is helping more than it’s hurting.

And let me preface by saying, you don’t need to eat plant based to save the world. There are SO SO many other ways you can help. This is just the easiest way that I can do it, and it’s working for me and my family. I’m not judging anyone slugging back bone broth and cheeseburgers. Do you!

Lower back pain in exercise

Now this was just something that happened by chance, it wasn’t one of the reasons I went into vegetarianism. I was having bad lower back pain that I get on and off ever since I had birthed Luca. I just kind of accepted it. It would get worse when I exercised, and I was starting to avoid certain workouts, because I didn’t want to engage those muscles and make it worse.

Then, I watched the The Game Changers on Netflix about high performance vegan athletes and another light bulb went off. I tried eating vegan the next few days, and I kid you not, my lower back pain DISAPPEARED. Furthermore, my workouts were better, I had more energy, and I felt like everything from my breathing to my endurance was strengthened.

Now, I don’t eat vegan, and I notice it after certain workouts and the foods I eat. It’s pretty cool to literally track your food intake and your sports performance. For example, when I have something with cheese the night before, I wake up sore from that day’s workout. It’s like it causes instant inflammation in my system.

But alas, I love cheese, so…. little steps. Jokes aside, the documentary further motivated me to eat primarily plant based and this new way of eating paired with consistent exercise (made possible by my quick recovery times and newfound energy levels) has gotten me to a very healthy stage of my life and as a bonus, I lost the baby weight. Losing the baby weight wasn’t an immediate goal of mine, I knew it would happen eventually, but I never thought this quick!

I was getting lazy in the kitchen

Now I’ll admit… of all the reasons I turned to pescatarianism, this is my #1 motivator. Simply, I was getting lazy in the kitchen. When you eat meat, it’s so easy to fall into the “protein/starch/veggie” rut. It’s so easy to just roast vegetables on a sheetpan and serve it alongside some meat and call it a meal. Meat is so flavorful, that you don’t need to amp up the vegetables. And I started making lots of chicken, ground turkey, and sausage. We all know how versatile meat is (especially chicken) and it’s easier to find filling meat recipes rather than vegetarian ones on the Internet.

At one point, I think I was eating chicken 3-4 times a week and ground turkey 1-2 times per week. The other days, I’d eat some sort of pork or other meat, dining out a restaurant. My freezer was full of frozen meats. I was a meat eater through and through! And after every meat meal, I just felt off. I didn’t feel glowing or fully nourished. I always felt like I needed something sweet after my meals. There was just this sense of “this isn’t best for my body, but it tastes good, so I’m having it” (which is totally fine, by the way – we live a life of seasons and this was one of them for me.) I think I went an entire month without eating lentils – and that’s so unlike me!

Anyway, I felt like I wasn’t flexing my creative muscles, especially because I was on maternity leave, so I wasn’t cooking for the blog and just for my family’s meals, which were meat heavy. I had the same rotation of meals each week, and I wasn’t trying to transform vegetables like I so notably do. I wasn’t even spiralizing! I was complacent.

Finally, after I started following some vegan Instagram accounts (this was totally subconscious and I forget exactly what spurred that action), I said to myself, “You know how to eat this way and you know how excitingly delicious it is!” And so, there was that.

I couldn’t be more excited to cook now! When I build my weekly meal plans, my nerdy glasses come on, and I get all giggly planning out what we’re going to eat, from veggie curries to lentil meatloaves. The food is just as flavorful (I’d even argue more flavorful) and it makes me feel better. It’s a win-win! No more mealtime boredom for this girl.

The future

Alright, there you have it – those are the reasons why I decided to transition to a primarily vegetarian diet or simply, a pescatarian diet. I don’t know how long I’ll keep this going or what the future me looks like, all I know is that right now, at this stage in my life, my body feels best eating this way and most importantly, it works for me. This is a healthy and sustainable way to eat for me, I never feel hungry, I don’t ever feel deprived, and I am having so much more fun in the kitchen!

Any questions?

The post Why I Stopped Eating Meat For Now appeared first on Inspiralized.

And now, they’re back! I’m committing to a full year (12 months!) of monthly challenges. The key? At the end of each month, I decide what the next month’s challenge will be. I do this so that the challenges reflect what I really need to work on in that moment. Setting a full year of challenges ahead of time isn’t realistic for me, because my life is a whirlwind and each month, life happens and I need to focus on something else.

January Monthly Challenge

Start my days at 6am

Before I had my first baby, I made a yearly resolution to be that person who wakes up early and works out. I loved the 6am alarm and was always focused and energized on the days I worked out before the sun came up. After having Luca, between swollen breasts full of morning milk and the absolute exhaustion of new mom life, I gave up on the morning workouts. Now, after having Roma, she sleeps in our room, so I keep making the excuse that it would be too hard to set an alarm and get out of bed with her there.

I really liked waking up at 6am because I feel like before the day started, I had already checked off a big part of my day! Now, it’s a bit trickier to get to that morning workout, but regardless, I’m committing to early mornings starting at 6am. I’ll either get to the gym OR I’ll check off something on my to-do list (work or personal) so that by the time my work day does start, I don’t feel guilty about taking 45 minutes-1 hour for a workout, because I’ve started my day earlier and already “worked.”

I encourage you to either make your own monthly challenges this year or follow along with mine! Who’s with me? Leave a comment with your monthly challenge and let’s keep ourselves accountable!

The post 2020 Monthly Challenges: January appeared first on Inspiralized.

Long before I became pregnant with Luca, I always used to think it was shocking when women worked out while pregnant. It looked “wrong”, like these women shouldn’t be pushing themselves in their delicate state. Then, when I became pregnant with Luca, I realized that there’s nothing delicate about pregnancy, ha! All jokes aside, our bodies are strong and are meant to carry children. My OB-GYN put it into great perspective during one of my early appointments, when Lu innocently asked, “Should she be spinning in her state?” My state meaning… pregnant. My doctor answered, “Think of the women years ago who had to run from animals in the wild. Women all over the world have been birthing children for thousands of years. Yes, it’s okay.”

My doctor did say this: if you are already an active person (you regularly workout), then there’s no reason to stop when you become pregnant. However, if you haven’t been active, it’s not a good idea to start a fitness program when you become pregnant. There are parts of your body that are weakened, because they are changing, expanding, and getting ready for birth (like your joints.)

Many of you have asked me, “do you not let your heart rate get above a certain point?” and the answer is this: I don’t wear a heart rate monitor when I workout, so no. I think all of those things cause anxiety and stress, which is worse for you and your baby than a certain peak heart rate. that’s just my opinion! some people like having rules, restrictions, and guidelines – it’s comforting and it makes them feel safe. my #1 rule for pregnancy and motherhood is: do what makes you comfortable.

My philosophy on working out while pregnant

My philosophy on working out while pregnant is this: listen to your body. If you’re doing an exercise you normally do and it doesn’t feel right or you become dizzy from exerting yourself too far, just stop and don’t continue. There are certain exercises I avoid while pregnant, because they cause my discomfort, obviously anything that requires me to lay on my tummy, like most ab work, lifting heavy weight, jumping (I’d pee myself anyway at this point), exercises on my back (the pressure is too much), and anything that requires me to bend over very far (dead lifts, for example.)

If there’s anytime to be in tune with your body and listen to it, it’s during pregnancy.

my current workout routine

Before I was pregnant, I was doing BBG (you can read my full review here, after completing the 12 week program.) I felt stronger than ever and that overlapped with my first few weeks of pregnancy, so I was happy to start at a great, strong place. I had abs! typically my workout routine usually consists of 2-3 days of strength training and 3-4 days of cardio. I aim for 5-6 days a week!

Now, it ranges week to week, but in general, I get in at least 3 cardio days and at least 1 strength training day per week. for my cardio days, I use the Peloton spin bike (we have one in our bedroom) and on the strength training days, I do a 20 minute treadmill warmup of walking uphill in intervals and then 20-25 minutes of strength training, combining upper and lower body.

When I do cardio workouts, I don’t push myself nearly as hard as I did before becoming pregnant, simply because I get out of breath. I take breaks when I need to. for example, if the instructor in the spin class says to do an interval and I’m not ready for it, I won’t push myself like I would not-pregnant. I sit in the saddle and recover a bit. I don’t go as fast or as high of a resistance, either. I do what feels most challenging in my pregnant state!

As for strength training workouts, I like to switch it up, but generally, this is what one of them looks like, in case you’re looking for inspiration:

Warmup: uphill treadmill walk, 15-20 minutes

Lower body (repeat 2-3x)

• 15 squats with 10 lbs
• 20 reverse lunges with 10 lbs
• sumo squat with 15lb kettlebell
• 20 side lunges with 10lbs

Upper body (repeat 2-3x)

• 12 bicep curls with 10 lbs
• 15 tricep dips
• 12 shoulder presses with 10 lbs
• 15 pushups (on knees!)

I’ll be able to maintain my current workout routine for the rest of my pregnancy with the exception of the spinning – at a certain point (with Luca, it was around 25-30 weeks), my belly becomes too big and it’s uncomfortable for me to sit and mainly for my lower back. I’ll replace spinning with treadmill and the strength training days will become 100% strength training with no cardio in them.

I hope this is helpful! let me know if you have any questions, I’m always happy to share my journey – all love to hear yours!

The post My current workout routine: 21 weeks pregnant appeared first on Inspiralized.

The first part

First off, my body recovered pretty quickly after having the baby. About 6-8 weeks later, I felt great. I felt like my body was starting to look like its old self, with a flatter tummy. Breastfeeding was really working wonders, from a weight loss perspective. Then, at around 2.5-3 months, my appetite kicked up big time throughout all of Luca’s growth spurts and breastfeeding. I started to use that as an excuse to eat more than necessary, and I started gaining some pounds back. I wasn’t exercising constituently, either, because, well, newborn life.

I was okay with that, because I was being gentle to myself during this uncertain, new time. I liked not feeling pressured to workout everyday, and I liked knowing that this baby is more important than superficial things like fitting into my old jeans. The last thing on my mind each day was my weight, it was the precious little baby in my arms. However, it was approaching the holidays, when I was due to be in Florida and then after that, I had so many events (work and personal) that required me to be in Florida (my sister’s bachelorette party, her wedding, another friend’s wedding, an HSN appearance, etc), that I started to feel the pressure and needed to “whip back into shape” for it all.

Thus, I got back down to my pre-baby weight about 4.5 months after giving birth. You can read that journey here. Unfortunately, I didn’t do it the right way – I rushed right back into it. I was doing 5-6 Orange Theory Fitness workouts a week, and I stopped the excessive snacking and sugar, but still ate slightly more to accommodate my milk supply. The exercise part was not sustainable. And let me just say a note about HIIT workout classes like OTF – I have a lot of issues with them, which is why you don’t see me going to those types of workout classes (unless it’s for a special event) now.

The measure of a good HIIT session seems to be all about how utterly demolished you feel after a class. Like, your body is just shaking. That’s not necessary (at all) to get in shape. And in fact, most people rush through these classes without knowing the proper fundamentals (and there aren’t enough instructors to help you during the class) and end up hurting themselves or pushing their limits. Not all workouts are “one size fits all,” and these types of classes have that mentality.

Anyway, HIIT shouldn’t be done more than 3 times per week, because it really stresses your body out. People suffer from things like increased appetite, adrenal fatigue, cortisol spikes (which causes you to gain weight or makes it harder to lose those last 5 pounds), and unnecessary stress on your nervous systems, muscles, and joints.

What I learned from this experience is that I learned to listen to my body. To accept that some days, I will need to skip a workout. Some days, I will need to focus more on nutrition than exercise. I’ll need to get enough sleep in order to do a tougher workout, and I’ll never workout because I feel a sense of guilt. And, most importantly, I don’t feel the need to do hour-long HIIT workouts multiple days a week. To me, a day of nourishing my body and mind and maybe taking a 30 minute walk with Luca is considered a heart-healthy day of “exercise.” Movement is good, you don’t need to wreck your body to look or feel good – it can actually do the opposite.

The second part

So after all of my events were over in Florida (basically, the first weekend in March), I came back to New Jersey, our nanny started, and I found myself working full-time again. I couldn’t strike a lifestyle balance of working out and working. I felt “guilty” working out while the nanny was there. Almost like, I felt this sense of privilege that made me feel guilty.

So, I didn’t work out much. Maybe 1-2 times per week. And my diet wasn’t great, but I was at or around my pre-baby weight (just with no muscle.) I was stressing out so much about being a great mother, wife, and business owner, that the stress got ahold of me, and I woke up one morning with Bell’s Palsy (more on that here.) That’s when I realized a) I need to be way easier on myself and b) taking care of yourself is as important as taking care of your baby. I always try to think of the rule on airplanes – put your oxygen mask on before assisting others, because if you’re passed out, you can’t help anyone.

Also, a few friends helped me with that by explaining that I’ve built this life and worked so hard to get to a place where I can afford a nanny and have a flexible work schedule, that I have a right to enjoy it. Plus, working out is a part of what I do – inspire people to live healthier.

Once I came to this realization, I knew I needed something. I needed a program to stick to. Something that I could commit to, that was gradual, that wasn’t like an intense, back-breaking workout, that I could grow with and get stronger. I wasn’t looking to lose weight, I was looking to tone up. I wanted to feel strong, energized, and be able to feel as strong as I knew I was mentally (I mean, heck, I birthed a baby and I run my own company!)

BBG

That’s when I remembered about BBG (Bikini Body Guide), a workout program designed by Kayla Itsines. Now, this isn’t an advertisement for BBG, so if you want to know all of the specifics of the program, you can Google it. But, for a brief overview:

• It’s a 12 week program
• It’s three 28-minute workouts per week – they are HIIT workouts (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
• On Tuesday and Thursday you do a 35-45 minute LISS workout (low intensity steady state)
• Depending on the week, you do a 35-45 minute LISS workout on Saturday, too for a total of 5-6 workout days, per week
• It uses minimal gym equipment – a bench, weights, medicine ball, BOSU, etc. You can also replace these with things in your home or at the park.

I bought the printable PDF, because I found the App hard to navigate, and I’m old school – I like bringing a printable to the gym.

I started with the determination that I would try to be as consistent as possible for the first half of the program (6 weeks), so I could see results as quickly as possible and stay motivated to complete the next 6 weeks. Sure enough, after the first week, I felt the results – I couldn’t BELIEVE it. It was shocking!

After the first month, I couldn’t believe the lift in my now-firmer butt and my flatter tummy. The second half of the program gets MUCH tougher than the first, and I found myself not being as consistent with the workouts as the previous 6 weeks. I’d skip a workout, but always make it up. But sometimes, I just needed a day to rest mid-week. By the time I completed the program, it took me an extra 2 weeks to complete (so, 14 weeks.) I never missed a HIIT workout, but missed some LISS ones, due to rest days.

The program is tough, but doable. What I love most about it, is that even on the hardest days, you’re going at your own pace. The program is designed to be accomplished better and better as you grow stronger and stronger. There are modification opportunities, and I took them most times (I prefer to do pushups on my knees, always and towards the end, I HAD to do the commandos on my knees as well — who can do 36 commandos in a row?)

The leg and arm days were absolutely the toughest – I was so surprised by how much I sweat on arm day. But, I was more surprised by how strong I became in my upper body, a place I’ve always struggled to define and tone.

What I love about BBG the most

That the workouts are only 28 minutes, three times a way and LISS isn’t overwhelming cardio. It’s doable. It’s sustainable. It’s something you can do, no matter your fitness level (they even have ‘pre-training’ for those who have never done these types of workouts before.)

The other thing I love most about BBG is that you don’t have to do any work but show up to your workout. What I mean is this – all of your workouts are planned out for 12 weeks. And honestly, when I’m working out on my own accord, I NEVER devote a full workout to abs OR arms. I love that there are some days that are just Arms and some are just Abs … and of course, some are just Legs (which are the toughest workouts!) However, each workout incorporates ALL your muscles (for example, on Abs day, there are burpees, which workout your entire body!) It’s just very organized and simple to follow. And you’re guaranteed a great workout everytime.

In the beginning, the muscle groups are combined – Arms & Abs day, for example. Towards the end of the program, it’s single muscle groups (because you can handle it!) In the beginning, a lot of exercises are repeated, but after the 2nd week, it all changes. And Kayla keeps switching it up on you, to keep you interested. And that’s what I love – every day, it’s a different workout.

What I did for LISS

Like I said, there are three HIIT workouts a week. These are the workouts designed by her. The other days, you do LISS workouts (low intensity steady state), which she examples as light jog/walk, stationary biking, etc. Basically, anything that is not a HIIT workout. For me, I have a Peloton bike in my apartment, so I knew that was what I wanted to do. But of course, those workouts are usually on the HIIT spectrum, so what I did was I just went at my own pace on the bike and didn’t push myself. If there was an interval, I just stayed steady. If there was an intense increase in resistance, I kept my resistance the same or added just 1-2 numbers. I worked up a sweat, but I wasn’t dripping or out of breath at the end, like I typically am in a Peloton ride.

There were some days when I couldn’t make my bike, so I would go on a nice long walk. But 9/10, it was Peloton for my LISS.

My before and after

Towards the middle-end of the program, I stopped taking before and after pictures. I didn’t need them. The way I look in front of the mirror wasn’t my goal, so why was I taking photos? My goals from the beginning were to just tone up. I wanted muscle definition and I was/am happy with my weight. I’ve never had the goal of being so thin or so low fat that I look shredded. I like being curvy – I have hips, I have a little padding around my tummy, I have breasts, my arms aren’t twigs. I like that look. I have no desire to be a stick figure. I don’t think that’s sexy, at least as far as my definition of sexy goes.

I didn’t expect myself to look drastically different at the end of the program, because I didn’t change my diet at all. I’m still breastfeeding and my body keeps fat around my hips and that probably won’t stop until I stop nursing. I love that extra pudge. All I care about is muscle tone, and I couldn’t be happier. My legs don’t jiggle when I walk, I don’t have terrible bat wings when I wave, and when I flex, I see a bigger muscle than I’ve ever seen. My butt is higher than it’s ever been, even before the baby!

Most importantly, I feel great. I feel energized, and I am filled with a sense of pride from finishing the program.

So, what’s next?

I am taking a few weeks off of BBG to just do my own thing. For now, I’m really enjoying getting back on the Peloton bike and following the rides and getting that HIIT workout in. I’m going to Iceland this weekend (to celebrate Lu’s 40th birthday earlier this week!) and obviously won’t be working out, so I plan on starting back up next Monday with a plan.

My plan is this – to give myself a few weeks to do my own thing, and if I can’t keep consistent, I’ll get back into BBG. I really loved the workouts, but they were definitely tough, and I just want a little bit of a break from the dedication.

What does do my own thing mean? I plan on doing Peloton 3 days a week and 30-minute lifting workouts 3 days a week. I’m going to probably use 1 of those 3 lifting workouts to do an old BBG Abs workout, because I just can’t bring myself to do abs unless I have a guide to follow, haha.

So, we’ll see how that leaves me – if I’m craving more structure, I’ll get back on BBG and probably do BBG 2.0! But for now, I want a little more flexibility.

Hope this post was helpful and informative, for those of you looking into BBG!

The post My Postpartum Review of the BBG Workout Program appeared first on Inspiralized.

let’s start with a recap of the last month and then get into this month’s challenge!

september’s challenge: recap

september’s challenge was to listen to a new podcast episode everyday. I didn’t do this very well, because it’s impossible for me to listen to podcasts while doing anything that requires typing or writing (which is a big chunk of my job.) either I work more slowly, can’t focus, or I just end up turning the podcast volume down and can’t even hear the podcast.

when I’m cooking in the kitchen, it’s much easier and enjoyable (caught up on my friend Liz’s Healthier Together podcast and some episodes of How I Built This I’ve been wanting to listen to), but in general, podcast listening is tough for me. I don’t drive distances in the car or commute otherwise when a podcast would make sense. I don’t walk to work or take the Subway.

needless to say, I won’t be incorporating this into my daily life, but it was great to catch up some podcasts and I really enjoyed the episodes I could actually focus on listening to. however, it isn’t something I’ll be making a conscious effort to do more of.

october challenge

I’ve spoken about this before on this blog, about how taking care of things like tidying up the house and meal prepping is my “self care.” it’s self care, because it allows me to do things that make me happy and relax me, like spending time with Luca and Lu.

these things include cleaning all the dishes in the sink and putting them away, prepping Luca’s muffins at night so I don’t have to do it in the morning, making a to-do list before I go to bed so I don’t have to stress about it, I have a gameplan already set up. another thing is working out in the morning, instead of leaving it for the late afternoon.

SO my October challenge is to set myself up for success each night. I started last night so I’d start this month off well. last night, the entire kitchen was clean, my clothes were put away, my desk area was cleaned, and all of Luca’s eating utensils were put away and ready for use in the morning.

it felt really good to wake up to a clean space, ready to start the day. and I got to spend more time with Luca, which started the day off really well.

I’m looking forward to this, mostly, because I need to be a better organized person. and this is one step in the right direction!

what will your october challenge be?

The post monthly challenges: october appeared first on Inspiralized.