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Vinyasa In the Vineyard Yoga

July 23, 2019

My schedule finally opened up to allow me to participate in Vinyasa in the Vineyard Yoga with Brianne Barrett from Bhogah Yoga last weekend. It was just what I needed!

What is Vinyasa In The Vineyard?

Brianne’s class is a 75 minute yoga practice that takes place atop the Rosabianca Vineyard’s hillside. We had a beautiful view of the Vineyard from up above it, as well as the surrounding farms and hillside. It was gorgeous.

The class was appropriate for my level of yoga experience. If you are familiar with the names of the poses, then you can follow along easily. If you aren’t, Brianne leads while you follow. There’s no pressure to be an expert or have any experience with yoga at all.

Brianne’s Teaching Style

Brianne has a hands on approach to the class. During some of the stretches, she walked around us and assisted us into getting a deeper stretch. You can choose to decline the hands on approach if you don’t feel comfortable with that.

During the last pose which is my favorite pose “corps pose“, she came around and rubbed the arches of my feet. Feeling that sensation reminded me that I am far overdue for a massage! It was awesome.

I was laying on my mat, completely relaxed, in the shade of the trees. I could hear the wind rustling through the leaves; and I felt the breeze blowing over me. It was blissful.

What Do You Receive When Attending Vinyasa In The Vineyard?

Wine!

During this specific class, you will receive a drink ticket to enjoy a beverage of choice offered by the vineyard. This includes water, juice, soda or wine.

Yoga

A 75 minute yoga session taught by Brianna. You can bring your own mat, but she does provide some if you do not have one.

What To Bring To the Yoga In The Vineyard

Yoga mat – bring your own or borrow one from the instructor
Water – It’s important to stay hydrated during class
A small towel – If attending the class in the heat, a towel is nice to wipe the sweat off your face
A yoga strap – For some of the deeper stretches, it’s helpful to use a yoga strap to help you lengthen your muscles.
A yoga brick – If you aren’t as flexible, the brick is helpful for balance.

This class is a wonderful class to bring a friend to. I didn’t mind going alone. I needed some “me time” and this was the perfect prescription for that! Next time, I’d love to have some of my friends to join so they can experience the amazing, invigorating practice and then we can relax at the vineyard.

Do you do yoga? Do you have a local studio that does classes outdoors? If so you should really check it out! It’s a wonderful experience and something different. Share your experience with me in the comments below!

Why You Should Move A Mile Per Day

July 9, 2019

So what is this Move A Mile Per Day challenge? I borrowed this idea from a fellow blogger Audrey from MomGenerations. She started a challenge to invite people to move a mile per day, however possible. At the time she started the challenge I wasn’t ready to commit to it. Now I made the effort to do it on my own and am encouraging you all to join me!

Get Up And Move!

The challenge is really just to make you aware of your lack of movement, and to get you up and moving. You’d be surprised at how long we actually sit during a day. We sit at our desk, we sit in our car to and from work, we sit on the couch if we are watching TV at home. This is why it is important to get up a move.

I also suggest that you stand while you work throughout the day. There are so many options around to help you design a work space that looks nice and functions well. This is the standing desk I use.

Get Outside

Do you work indoors most of the day? I know I do, up until the time we have to head out to the softball field for Adrienne’s games. It’s good to get outside. Take a walk around your building at work, or if you work from home, go get the mail, or go outside to water your plants. You’d be surprised at how quickly you can move a mile per day.

Take your shoes off and walk in the grass barefoot. I did that recently and ran around catching fly balls while the girls were practicing softball and I felt like a kid! It was so revitalizing! I didn’t care if my feet got dirty. I believe dirt is good for you! It’s good for your microbiome.

Learn While Moving

One night while I was taking my walk, I listened to a podcast. On another night, I resumed listening to the audio book The Boy In The Striped Pajamas. My son is reading that book for school so I wanted to also read the book. Instead I got an audio version so I could listen to it.

Lately, audio books have been my choice for consuming books because I am in the car more. I can also listen to it while walking or running.

There are Health Benefits From Moving a Mile Per Day

Here are some side effects from moving just a mile a day

You may lose weight!
You may lower your blood pressure.
You will foster creativity by stepping away from work and moving, which may reduce your stress
Your movement may be infectious to encourage someone else to do it too!

Do You Want to Join My Challenge?

To join the challenge enter your email below.

Share pictures of how you are moving a mile per day on my Facebook page, or leave a comment and tell me how you plan to get your mile per day accomplished!

4 Reasons Why Toy Story 4 Related To Me

July 5, 2019

The whole family went to see Toy Story 4 on opening day. We bought our tickets in advance so we wouldn’t miss it! I loved all of the previous Toy Story Movies so I was very excited about this one. There are a lot of huge moments in this movie that made me feel many different emotions. I’ll share with you the 4 reasons why Toy Story 4 related to me.

I also took the family to Toy Story Land in Walt Disney World this past January during the Early Magic Hours so we could have time there to ourselves. That’s how much I love Toy Story.

1. Woody Fostered A New “Toy”

I love how Woody took the role of mentor to Forky. He was doing his job to make sure Bonnie was ok in kindergarten when he snuck in her backpack. Then when he saw she was upset he quickly came to the rescue with some various crafting supplies that later became Forky. When Forky came to life he was conflicted. Woody had to teach Forky that he was valuable and not a piece of trash.

Forky needed to learn that he has an important role to play in Bonnie’s life.

2. Buzz Lightyear Had To Listen To His Inner Voice

Woody had to leave Buzz Lightyear in charge and his advice to Buzz was to listen to his inner voice. Buzz, not really knowing what that was, used the buttons on his space suit and listened to that “voice” instead. It was quite hysterical. But Buzz did a good job stepping up for the job and took care of the rest of the toys while Woody and Forky were out in the world looking for Bonnie.

AND BEYOND – Buzz Lightyear is back on the big screen in Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” joining Woody and the whole gang on an eye-opening road trip that takes them to unexpected places, including a carnival. Featuring Tim Allen as the voice of Buzz, “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019. ©2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

I related to this this year because I have had to listen to my inner voice and trust my instincts on decisions I need to make for my business. This has been a big year for me and so far I think I have been making good decisions. I don’t have regrets so far.

3. Bo Peep and Woody Are Meant To Be Together

Woody happened upon Bo Peep in an antique shop while looking for Bonnie and her family. He spotted her lamp in the window and was so surprised to find her there! Earlier in the movie when Bo was given away with other things, Woody and Bo had a tearful goodbye.

GIGGLE MCDIMPLES — In Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” Bo Peep introduces Woody to her best friend Giggle McDimples. A miniature plastic doll from the 1980s, Giggle is Bo’s confidant, supporter and advisor, and spends a lot of her time perched on Bo’s shoulder. Featuring Ally Maki as the voice of Giggle, “Toy Story 4” opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019…©2019 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Their relationship evolved throughout the movie and Woody saw Bo in a new light. She was independent, strong and knew what she wanted and went after it. I love that portrayal of Bo Peep in the movie. I also admired how she took charge of her group of toy friends and Woody’s admiration of her.

4. We All Have To Follow Our Heart

(Spoiler Alert!) I was surprised about this part of the movie and I actually felt really torn about it. Woody had to decide if he was going to stay with Bo Peep or head back home with the toys. He chose to follow his heart and stayed with Bo.

Sometimes we need to make difficult decisions in our life. It’s not always about what is right for everyone else, but it’s about choosing to do what is right for you.

Toy Story 4 was the perfect family movie. There was something for everyone, we laughed, cried, cried laughing, and there were a few screams during the movie. I loved it so much I am going to go see it again soon. I can’t wait to watch it again and look for the little easter eggs that Pixar drops into their films.

Have you seen the movie yet? What did you think of it? I’d love to hear if the 4 reasons why Toy Story 4 related to me are similar for you, too. Share your thoughts with me in the comments below.

5 tips on how to survive summer while working from home

5 Tips On How To Survive the Summer While Working From Home

June 25, 2019

Our kids got out of school early this summer, so how will I juggle working from home and keeping the kids busy every day? Trust me, I thought about this for a while this year, and I think I came up with 5 tips on how to survive the summer while working from home.

5 Tips on How To Survive the Summer While Working From Home

1. Keep A Schedule While Working From Home

I haven’t mastered this yet; but my intent is to maintain a daily schedule as if I were going to an office. I want to work efficiently and have quality work time. When I used to work in an office, I used to leave for lunch; so treat your home office and your time the same way.

I don’t take a break for lunch. That’s usually because I know I have to get out for a run at the end of the day when it is cooler, or we have a softball game or practice to go to. Every night we go up to the farm as well, so that is designated time that I spend with my family. .

Don’t get distracted by the items in your house. If you are working outside your home, you can’t clean your house at the same time, so LEAVE IT! I know it’s hard to do; but you will never get your work done if you don’t.

2. Let Your Family Know What Your Schedule Is

I know it is harder when children are younger. My kids are 10 and 12 and they are used to me working from home. But they don’t always know when I am heads down and needing to provide 100% focus to a project, unless I shut my office door.

I have to let them know when there are times that I need uninterrupted time. During that time they can play outside, swim, watch TV, or ride bikes. But I don’t let them get involved in any projects that will require my attention.

If I want to schedule time off or family time, I make sure I get my work done ahead of time or have time scheduled to cover my obligations. When I know I want or need some days off, I will either work late after the kids are asleep or even work in the car if we are on a road trip.

3. Take Time Off

It’s important to take time off. I need it and my family needs it. We went to Hershey Park last week, and I was able to take time off; but also was able to get some work done while on the trip. I would work when I woke up and the kids were eating, then my husband would take them to the pool for a while. After that we would head out to the park for the afternoon until closing.

We are night owls, so we prefer to swim in the mornings, and go out at night. We stay up late, and then we sleep late. It’s been that way since they were little. But it works for us.

4. Outsource Simple Tasks

If there are tasks you can outsource, this would be a good time to try this. Start small. I have outsourced my Pinterest account to help me organize and structure my account. This has been a good investment for me. I feel like now I would love to have someone take a look at my YouTube account and help me build that account up.

You don’t just have to outsource your blog and social media work. Be creative, maybe you need to hire a babysitter or a mother’s helper to do some of your tasks around the house that are on your mind and sometimes prevent you from doing your work.

Have someone take your kids for a couple of hours during the week so you have a set time and day that you know you will have uninterrupted time. I think this is probably one of the most helpful things to do to help you meet deadlines.

5. Enjoy What You Do

Remember, you want to work from home and have your independence. In fact, as I write this, I am at my daughter’s All Star Softball practice. I tried to work during her games, but they are too important to me and I don’t want to miss any of the action.

We live for the summer with the warm weather, time off from school, late nights and family adventures. I want to be around for my family more this summer and have less regrets than last summer. I feel like last summer went by in a blink, and I felt like I wasn’t very present for my kids. But I believe every working mom feels that way. Hopefully following these steps will help you AND me!

5 Tips On How To Survive the Summer While Working From Home

Were these tips helpful to you? Which tip do you feel is most important to implement? Share it with me in the comments!

Men In Black™ Agents Drive Lexus Vehicles

June 12, 2019

I had the honor of joining Claudia from Trendy Latina for the Lexus advanced preview of Men In Black™: International at the Crosby Street Hotel with an after party at Intersect by Lexus to show off how Men In Black™ Agents drive Lexus vehicles.

MEN IN BLACK™: INTERNATIONAL Cast

I loved the cast in this movie! Chris Hemsworth (Agent H) and Liam Neeson (Agent High T) speed into the first scene as they were about to destroy The Hive from the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Then we are introduced to Agent M played by Tessa Thompson. We learned of her encounter with an alien as a young girl, played by Mandeiya Flory .

Fast forward 20 years later and she is trying to land a job with the FBI to save the world from aliens. She finds herself in the Men In Black secret office and wins the heart of Agent O, the chief of MIB Worldwide to give her a chance to be in the agency.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers; but I will share that the movie will keep you wondering up until the very and; and you will also grow fond of the aliens in the movie, too. My favorite was Pawny (voice of Kumail Nanjiani). Not only is he cute, but he had a great sense of humor!

*Pawny for Columbia Pictures’ MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL.*

The Men In Black ™ Agents Drive Lexus Vehicles

The 2020 Lexus RC F is the galaxy saving advanced alien-fighting vehicle of the Men In Black agents on earth. The cars in the movie were so sleek and sexy.

This eight-speed automatic 2020 Lexus RC F is a 5.0-liter V8 with 472 horsepower (351 kilowatts), and 395 pound-feet (535 Newton-meters) of torque. In human terms…. this car can go real fast in a short period of time!

When in space, the other Lexus vehicle that was an alien-fighting, transforming spacecraft was the Lexus QZ 618 Galactic Enforcer. It uses Quasar Power Source technology so that it can travel anywhere in the universe within seconds.

Notice how the RC F’s spindle grill and the QZ 618 remain the same in both versions of the vehicle.

What I loved about MEN IN BLACK™: INTERNATIONAL

Don’t worry if you haven’t seen the first MEN IN BLACK™ movies. Men In Black™ : International fills you in to some of the past events throughout the movie. Some of my favorite elements were:

Men weren’t the only ones in black, women were also lead players in this movie. Tessa Thompson was involved in all of the action and fighting as she was supporting Agent H with his mission. Emma Thompson was the chief of MIB worldwide, also known as Agent O. Rebecca Ferguson’s role is the lead villain Riza, and past lover of Agent H,
There were special winks and humor intertwined into the movie. My favorite one was when Agent H was in a fight, and reached out for a specific tool/weapon to use against the enemy.
My favorite quote of the movie was from Agent T, played by Liam Neeson. “The universe has a way of leading you to where you’re supposed to be at the moment you’re supposed to be there.” That has been my personal theme of my year.
The dynamic between Agent H and Agent M. I love the quick wit between the two of them.

*Chris Hemsworth (H) with Em (Tessa Thompson) in Marrakech in Columbia Pictures’ MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL.*

MEN IN BLACK™: INTERNATIONAL Trailer

Lexus HQ At Intersect

After the movie screening, we were taken by bus to The Lexus HQ At Intersect. What an amazing space!

My eyes were immediately drawn to brightly lit area where the Lexus was on display along with several of the movie props, and costumes that Agent H and Agent M wore.

Real items from the MEN IN BLACK™: INTERNATIONAL movie were also on display at HQ At Intersect.

Lexus And Dewar’s After Party

Dewar’s also treated us with special Men In Black™: International cocktails.

“Covert Operation” – Dewar’s White Label Blended Scotch
“Alien Antidote” – Honey-Ginger Syrup, Dewar’s 12- Year Blended Scotch Whisky, Fresh lemon juice, Islay single-malt Scotch
“Double Agent” – Neat pour of Dewar’s 15- Year Blended Scotch Whiskey
“Intersect” – Ginger Infused Gin, Pomegranate, Lime, Jasmine, Rose water
“Black Magic Woman” – Aged Rum, Tuzu, Lemongrass, Sparkling Wine

I wanted to try them all, but I chose the Intersect because I loved all the essential oils used when making the drink.

Get Your Tickets Today!

MEN IN BLACK™: INTERNATIONAL opens June 14th in theaters and is rated PG-13. Ready for an action packed thriller? Get your tickets today! Let me know what you think of it!

This summer is going to be fun with so many great movies coming out. It’s the perfect thing to do with the kids to do while on summer break!

Emotional Toy Story 4 Trailer And Activity Sheets

May 31, 2019

Toy Story 4 is coming out on June 21st! This is going to be the perfect movie to kick off summer vacation! But bring your tissues! I am hearing that it’s going to be an emotional Toy Story 4.

Emotional Toy Story 4 Final Trailer

The Story Behind Toy Story 4

I fell in love with Toy Story when it first came out in 1995. Then Toy Story 2 was released in 1999; and when Toy Story 3 came out in 2010, we took our son to see it for his first movie. I never tire watching any of these movies when they are on.

Toy Story 4 takes Woody, Buzz and the whole gang on a road trip. But first, Woody takes on a new role as Bonnie prepares to go to kindergarten. As Bonnie is growing up, Woody is also having to transition into a new role. He needs to be there for Bonnie.

When she was struggling during kindergarten orientation, Woody dug through a trash can to retrieve a few art supplies to create something for Bonnie. When his creation becomes a toy named Forky, Woody has to teach him how to become a toy and embrace being a toy. But Forky struggles with his feelings of being trash and not a toy.

As the movie continues, the toys and their new friend Forky go on a road trip that unexpectedly reunites Woody and his long-lost friend Bo Peep. Woody learns of Bo Peep’s new life outside of Andy’s house. There was always a special connection or love between Woody and Bo Peep. When they are reunited she shares with Woody her new life and how she has changed.

There’s so much more excitement in the movie with the introduction of new characters such as Duke Caboon, Gigg McDimples, Benson, Ducky and Bunny. Woody and the gang meet these new characters in an antique store called Second Chance Antiques, and at a carnival.

I can’t wait to meet these new characters and follow the adventures of Woody, Buzz and the gang! Check out more fun facts about the movie on the Toy Story 4 Facebook page!

Toy Story 4 Activity Sheets

Download, print and color the pages with your kids for great summer fun before the movie comes out! Make some of the recipes to bring with you to the movie, too!

Coloring Sheets

Games

Recipes

Emotional Toy Story 4 Trailer And Activity Sheets

Are you going to see the movie? Which of the first three movies was your favorite?