mid-year check-in class (and a wellness giveaway!)

Sharing a giveaway with some of my favorite wellness, beauty, and skincare items! Check out the details below on how to enter.

Hi friends! How are you? I hope that you’re having an amazing morning so far!

A little update for you: I’m hosting a free health planning workshop next week. We’re halfway through the year, so it’s the perfect time to think about your wellness goals for 2026, how they’re going, and what you can do to finish the year feeling your absolute best. I’d love to arm you with some strategies and a custom plan!

Click the link here to sign up and claim your spot. 

Now, let’s chat about giveaway things!

I’d love to share some of my favorite wellness goodies with a lucky winner as a way of saying thank you for being here and supporting the blog after all of this time. The blog is now 18 years old…a full adult

Here are the goodies that are up for grabs:

– Skincare and cosmetics:

Pixi goodies 

Remedy Vitamin C serum

Elemis goodies

Primally Pure goodies 

Soshe lip products

The Good Patch eye patches

Nopalera body scrub

Saltyface tanning drops and makeup bag

– A Canopy rose humidifer (I have one in every bedroom and it makes such a huge difference for my eyes and skin)

– A walking pad

– EquiLife goodies: Cell Boost and Daily Nutritional Support

– My FAVE CBD gummies

About $700 worth of good stuff, plus whatever else I decide to add into the mix

Here’s how to enter:

– Leave a comment below with something you’re looking forward to this summer

Bonus entries:

– Attend our live health planning class next week – all attendees will get two extra extras

– Place any order on the EquiLife site. It’s our 100-day challenge right now and I’m so grateful for all of your support. Thanks to all of you, I’ve received a comped trips to the conference and a special group VIP dinner with Dr. Cabral himself I was #7 the past two years, and am trying to be in the top 5 this year! If you place an order between now and September, please send me an email gina@fitnessista.com.

I’ll have a few giveaways running during this blitz so make sure to let me know so you’re included in all of them. You can also stack my discount code FITNESSISTA10!

This giveaway will end and the winner will be announced and on IG stories on Friday, June 19th.

Can’t wait to see so many of you in our live health planning class next week!

xo

Gina

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My Korean Head Spa experience

Sharing the details on my Korean head spa experience and why it’s worth booking a trip to Korea just for this (but also stay for the amazing culture, food, and people!).

Hi friends! How are ya? I hope you’re having a lovely morning so far. We’re officially back in the swing of life over here. I subbed a barre class yesterday, and we have a mold remediation appointment today. Now that we’re back in town, it’s time to tackle that beast.

But for now, let’s talk about relaxation and spa-y things… like my amazing Korean head spa experience.

Here are all of my Korea and Japan posts in one spot – I’ll be adding links as they go live!

Seoul recap, what we did and what we ate

Tokyo and Kyoto itinerary and tips for travel

What we ate in Japan

My Korean Head Spa experience (this post)

When we decided we’d be visiting Korea, I knew I wanted to take advantage of some skin or beauty treatments. While it would’ve been easy to go WILD, I didn’t want to miss out on adventures with the fam. I figured a head spa appointment would be perfect because it would only take an hour or so, there were tons of locations close to our hotel, and they all had amazing reviews.

I booked a last-minute appointment at Hair the Beau and had no clue what to expect.

When I walked in, the main stylist, Raon, introduced herself and helped me get set up with a locker. Then I was led to a sitting area to have my scalp scanned.

I won’t post the before picture here, but let’s just say my scalp was kind of horrendous. Leading up to this appointment, I would only wash my hair once a week. My hair can get really dry, and I felt like washing it less helped prevent dryness. My hair didn’t get greasy, and it can hold a curl or style for a long time, so I didn’t really see a need to wash it more often. I thought it was better for me?

Turns out, the base of my hair follicles had tons of buildup from grime and dead skin. I literally felt ILL when she scanned my scalp and the image was projected onto a tiny screen in real time.

She recommended the full treatment for me and said it would take about two hours. I told her I only had an hour or so, and she said they could finish everything in an hour and 15 minutes, which worked for me. (The Pilot and the kiddos were off to a petting zoo, so I figured they’d be entertained for a bit.)

She also explained that my hair would cost extra because it was so long. I had no clue what I was getting myself into, but I decided to trust the process and the amazing reviews I’d read online.

My Korean Head Spa experience

Hair the Beau Hongdae

The full treatment:

She sat me down and another stylist came over, and they started brushing my hair. After it was fully brushed, they added an elixir to my entire scalp, scrubbed it in, and put a bubbler machine over my head for five minutes. I’m not exactly sure what the bubbler machine did, but I can assure you that Korea is living in the future.

After that, it was time to head to a separate room, which is where the majority of the treatment took place. The shampoo bowl had a chair that was also a full-body massager, and it felt heavenly.

She started working on my hair and honestly, I pretty much transcended during this portion of the experience. She washed my hair maybe six times, added a mask, more elixirs, a peptide treatment, a cool waterfall rinse situation, and then massaged my head and shoulders for what felt like 20 minutes. It was pure bliss. The scalp massage is usually my favorite part of a massage anyway, so this was next-level.

After the treatment, they led me to a styling chair and rescanned my scalp. I couldn’t believe the difference. It looked so clean and healthy.

Then they did a tandem blow dry and straighten on my hair,

and my hair felt the best it’s ever felt in my entire life.

This is a screenshot from IG with a filter but you can see how sleek and shiny it was!

She also shared the products she recommended for maintaining my results at home, and I ended up buying the shampoo, mask, hair milk, and elixir.

Here were the recommended at-home steps:

I also linked everything I could find online in this collection!

The grand total was about $375 for the treatment and products. In the States, the treatment alone probably would’ve been closer to $500. If you find yourself in Seoul, I highly, highly recommend seeking out a head spa treatment. I’ve also heard amazing things about skincare, lasers, body adjustments, and traditional medicine treatments in Seoul.

Have you ever done anything like this before? If you’ve done it in the States, how much did it cost??

A friend recommended a scalp facialist here in Tucson, so if I end up doing it again locally, it’ll be interesting to compare.

Have a lovely day, and I’ll see ya tomorrow with a giveaway!

xo

Gina

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Seoul recap, what we did, and what we ate

Sharing a recap of what we did in Seoul, where we stayed, and my thoughts on the whole experience. The nutshell version: I CAN’T WAIT to go back.

Hi friends! How are you? I hope you had an amazing weekend! We just caught up with house stuff here, finally recovered from jet lag (I was barely jet lagged when we got there, but ended up riding the struggle bus when we came home), and met up with some friends.

I’m so excited to share some recap posts on our trips with you!

Here’s a list of what I have planned so that when they go live, I can add the links to this post.

Seoul recap, what we did and what we ate (this post)

Tokyo and Kyoto itinerary and tips for travel

What we ate in Japan

My Korean Head Spa experience

Seoul recap, what we did, and what we ate

Before I get started, I wanted to begin with an apology.

To my friends in South Korea and Japan, I was ignorant, and now I know. I had NO CLUE how much I’d been missing out. The girls picked the locations for this trip, and I figured it would be something that I enjoyed, but it wasn’t my first choice for a vacation. (I’d be happy repeating least year’s 5+ weeks in Spain adventure.) I didn’t expect to fall in love with these places, but I absolutely did. This trip absolutely changed my life. I’ll share more in my Japan post, but these places didn’t feel like different countries… they felt like different worlds.

The people in Seoul were SO kind and lovely. The food was incredible. It felt so very safe, and there was so much to do. We could have doubled our time there and been happy. The funny thing is that we had the opportunity to be stationed in Korea multiple times during Tom’s military career. All of our friends who lived there loved it, and now I understand why.

We flew from Phoenix to San Francisco, and then direct from SFO to Seoul. The flight was long – about 12 1/2 hours – but I managed to nap on and off (the girls stayed wide awake the whole time) and we landed at about 3pm. I think this is the perfect time to land in a new country because your hotel room is ready, so if you’re totally wrecked and need a nap, you can. You don’t have to wander around and wait until your room is ready.

We knew that it would be a low-key day, so we checked into the hotel and set out to explore. We stayed at the RYSE Autograph Collection hotel and I would 100% recommend it for the excellent location, amenities, and dining options. (I booked everything using our Amex platinum. My referral link is here!)

It was surrounded by great restaurants and shops, and easy to get around.

I didn’t take a pic but the bathroom had an enormous waterfall shower with great water pressure.

We were shocked to see entire streets filled with little kiosks and cute shops just a block away from the hotel.

We explored and met our new skincare bestie at TONYMOLY and P was exhausted, to we went back to the hotel while Tom and Liv grabbed dinner. We all slept through the night and were fully set the next day!

We did a lot while we were in Seoul, but here are some of the highlights.

Lotte World

Lotte World is an enormous indoor and outdoor theme park. Liv suggested this one – she added her ideas to our trip planning spreadsheet – and we had a blast. We joked that it was like a speakeasy. It’s many levels and quite a few attractions seem to be hidden, but there was so much to do. It also blew my mind that got four tickets with 3 skip the line passes for each of us and the total was $200. (I used Trip.com to book.)

I didn’t take a pic of the outside but picture a castle, various roller coasters, a drop ride, and lots of shops and food stands.

We did all of the best rides – they have a mix of rides for younger kiddos and more thrilling rides and coasters for older kids and adults – and spent the entire day there. Journey to Atlantis was AMAZING; definitely one of my top theme park rides.

Baseball game and Korean BBQ

We spent an entire day shopping and exploring, and that evening, we went on a tour with an English speaking guide to Korean BBQ

and a Dusan Bears baseball game.

Baseball is HUGE in Seoul and a true cultural experience. Each hitter has their own chant and cheer, and the entire arena is dancing and cheering. The baseball food is next level, too. They sold beers with an upside down baseball cap that was filled with shrimp – it looked SO good- in addition to tteokbokki, cheese and meat skewers, tons of real food options. You can also bring in your own food and drinks; so different from the States where they force to you go inside to buy $8 bottles of water.

Head spa and petting zoo

The head spa will be receiving its own post, but it was a highlight of the trip! While I was having one of the best spa experiences of my life, the Pilot and the kiddos went to a petting zoo where they were able to hold raccoons and pet meerkats.

Living the dream:

Shopping at Olive Young

If you go to Seoul, shopping at Olive Young is a must. You can stock up on all of the best K beauty products at amazing prices. It’s like an enormous Sephora with rows of skincare and cosmetics… all the best stuff. I was worried we wouldn’t find an Olive Young or it would be hard to get to, but they’re everywhere. We had three locations right by our hotel.

Gluten-free dining in Seoul

On this trip, I tried my best to eat gluten-free as closely as possible, but understood that it can be very difficult – not everything is labeled – and accepted that there would be some wheat in sauces and condiments. Also because I don’t speak the language, I didn’t want to be difficult to try to modify the meals.

I’ve been strict gluten-free for 3 years for the autoimmune stuff and it’s made a tremendous difference for me, and P has been gluten-free for the past year. (She was red on her IgG test and she used to have bad stomach pain and joint pain, which has resolved since we cut it out.) I told her we’d just do our best because thankfully we’re not allergic to gluten, but we’d probably have some in sauces, etc.

We were able to eat at two 100% gluten-free restaurants in Seoul: Sunnyhouse and Monli2. Both were A+ experiences.. better than any of the gluten-free options I’ve had in Tucson.

Sunnyhouse gluten-free restaurant in Seoul, Korea

Sunnyhouse has breakfast all day, sandwiches, platters and desserts. It’s kind of a hidden location but is extremely cute inside.

P had a fluffy nutella waffle, a grilled cheese,

and I had the Mediterranean plate. I could eat this every day. The bread was SO soft and fluffy. Why do US restaurants have such a hard time making good gluten-free bread???

Monli2 gluten-free restaurant in Seoul, Korea

Monli2 has CHURROS, pizza, sandwiches, and baked goodies. I ordered a pesto pizza and it seriously one of the best gf pizzas I’ve had in my life (#1 is Italy, #2 is this one, and #3 is NYC).

I knew that I would eat different foods while we were in Korea and Japan and the entire time we were gone, I felt amazing. My energy was great, I didn’t get a stomach ache from anything, and the foods were all so incredibly fresh and delicious.

Our hotel had a huge breakfast buffet each day and you could get American breakfast staples (like fruits, pastries, eggs, potatoes, bacon and juice) as well as tradition Korean items, like kimchi, beef bulgogi, fried rice, pickled veggies, etc.

Tips for visiting and things we noticed:

– Definitely learn a handful of phrases but Google translate can be a great tool. I was surprised to find that quite a few people spoke English, and when ordering at kiosks, it’s easy to switch the language to English. The girls know so many Korean phrases so they were able to help us out.

– The bus and subways are very clean and efficient, but we ended up using Uber to get around. It was far less expensive to get around than it is in the states. We liked Uber instead of traditional taxis because you can input the location – no language barriers this way – and you can see the exact fare.

You can also get a Climate Card or T Money card for unlimited passes for transportation if you decide to use public transport.

– Carry a little trash bag with you. Public trash cans are not everywhere, so you may have to carry trash with you until you can find a trash can. Don’t assume that all trash cans are public; it may be owned by a store.

– Don’t walk and eat. It’s bad manners, so if you get a meal or snack, just stop and enjoy it before continuing on. I fee like this is a better way to eat anyway! If your nervous system is calm, you’ll have a better time digesting your food.

– Google maps doesn’t work. We used Naver instead to get around. Google transit issues before using Naver for public transportation. You should get these on public alerts while you’re there, but it’s good to verify before hopping on public transit.

– Tipping is not a thing in Seoul, but you can add compliments in Uber.

– Call your phone provider before leaving to set up an international plan. We usually do this before we travel so that we can have voice and data. We use AT&T and it automatically activates once it detects that we’re in a different country and they offer deals; Liv’s phone was half off while we were there.

– Korean Air! This is what we used to get to Tokyo, and it was an elite experience. Ticket prices were very reasonable,

– Take your shoes off in your hotel room. Usually they’ll have little slides by the door that you can wear.

– Leave your shampoo and conditioner at home. Pack LIGHTLY on the toiletries because you will find better stuff there and the shampoo and conditioner in the hotel will be amazing quality.

– Korea uses European outlets. I’ve had these converters for years and brought them on this trip. They work for laptops and phones but do not plug your hair dryer or styling tool into these! The best bet is to buy a hair tool there, go to head spa or get a blow out somewhere (!), or let it air dry and do some sock curls.

– You can’t bring CBD to Korea. I’m glad I researched this beforehand and left my beloved gummies at home. I brought melatonin but didn’t end up needing it. There are also some medications that are prescribed here that are not allowed in Korea, so check the regulations before you go.

If you’re headed to Seoul anytime soon, you’re in for a treat I’m here if I can help with any questions and I’ll be back with my head spa recap tomorrow!
xo

Gina

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6.4 Friday Faves

Hiiii! Happy Friday! What do you have going on this weekend?

We’re back from an INCREDIBLE trip to Korea and Japan. I have so much to tell you guys that I’m splitting it into multiple posts that will start on Monday. If you have any questions or anything I can answer in these, please let me know! I’ll share all of the details on what we did, what we ate, where we stayed, my Korean head spa treatment (glorious), Kyoto and why it’s so magical, eating mostly gf in all of these places, Tokyo DisneySea, ALL the things. The nutshell version is that it was one of our best trips ever and not to be annoying, but it absolutely changed my life. Please send me recovery vibes as I return to everyday living lol.

A little bonus is that we had a 12 hours layover in Honolulu on the way home.

We checked into a hotel for a day stay and a nap, then headed immediately to the beach for a walk,

to get snacks (malasadas, masubi, and acai bowls),

and to browse around the shops before heading back to the airport. It softened the blow of returning to the US just a little.

I’d love to hear what you have going on this weekend! It’s back to *normal* around here with a Sculpt Society workout this afternoon, dinner and the pool with friends, taking Liv and her friends to the mall, and lots of summer fun.

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves roundup! This is where I share some of my favorite finds from the week and around the web. I always love hearing about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below.

6.4 Friday Faves

Fashion, beauty, random:

Loving this Nopalera body scrub. It has clean incredients including prickly pear fruit and real sugar, it smells amazing (if you haven’t experienced prickly pear, I think it’s kind of like hibiscus) and they kindly offered a discount code to share with ya. Use the code GINAH10 here.

I came back with some great skincare and hair products and rounded up everything I could find online here.

Still loving these jean shorts. I’ve worn them so many times! They’re true to size, not too long, not too short, and the perfect wash. I also washed and dried them and they didn’t shrink.

There are so many things I’ve added to my list from Tuckernuck lately including this dress, this dress, this top, these shorts, and these shoes.

Read, watch, listen:

Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix. Don’t be mad but I was kind of turned off from reading the book because it’s narrated by an octopus. I just wasn’t intrigued at all, but when I saw the movie pop up, I decided to give it a whirl while walking on the walking pad because I adore Sally Field. I was so into it, I finished it later that evening. Highly recommend.

A great podcast episode about various breast screening options. You can read about my experience with thermography here.

What books have you begged friends to read?

Fitness, health, and good eats:

A huge recognition and honor in our EquiLife community. Being an IHP is one of my favorite things that I do and I feel so grateful to be able to share our life-changing tests, protocols, and products with my clients.

Stay tuned for a giveaway next week featuring some of my favorite wellness goodies!

I’ve been on the lookout for this ice cream and it did not let me down.

ALL the muscat things. We brought home quite a few snacks but I wish we would have grabbed even more

Homemade hamburger helper.

This propolis spray. I had it in my carryon to take during our multiple flights (PHX > SFO, SFO > ICN, ICN > HND, HND > HNL, HNL > PHX. WHEW)

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today! Have an amazing weekend and I’ll see ya soon!

xoxo

Gina

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latest book recap

Sharing a roundup of the latest books and if they’re worth adding to your collection.

Hi friends! How are you? I hope your week is off to a great start. We’re exploring Kyoto – SO gorgeous here!!- and having the best time. I’ll share more pics in Friday Faves and a recap when we’re back.

In the meantime, I wanted to chat about books. TBH, my book goal has kind of fallen by the wayside this year. I was so consistent the past few years, but lately, by the time we go to bed, I’m exhausted and crash out. I might read for five minutes before I decide to go to sleep… and it takes a long time to finish a book that way!

Now that summer is here, I’m going to spend more time reading with the crew, during the day (<— hoping this makes a huge difference). My current plan (we’ll see how this works) is that in order to have screens, the kids have to make their bed, get dressed and brush their teeth, complete two chores, read for 30 minutes, and move their body (or at least plan to swim or move their body somehow during the day). I’m going to join them for the 30 minutes of reading time and use the time that they’re completing chores to get work stuff done, and we can head out for the adventures of the day. We’ll see how this pans out in real life lol.

Here’s a recap of some of the books I’ve read lately. If you have any summer reads that you’re enjoying, please share the goods in the comments!

latest book recap

Good Grief by Sara Goodman Confino

She’s one of my favorite authors for lighthearted reads and this one is about a new widow, who has an unexpected long-term visit from her mother-in-law. Her plan to get rid of her is to find her a man and she eventually discovers that her mother-in-law has the same plan for HER. There’s lots of shenanigans and I found this to be a sweet read, but not my favorite. (My favorite SGC novel is Don’t Forget to Write). 6/10

From Amazon:

It’s 1963, two years since Barbara Feldman’s husband died. Raising two kids, she’s finally emerging from her cocoon of grief. Not yet a butterfly, but she’s anxious to spread her wings.

Then one day her mother-in-law, Ruth, shows up on her doorstep with five suitcases, expecting a room of her own with a suitable mattress. Abrasive and stuck in her ways yet well meaning, Mother Ruth arrives without warning to help with the children. How can Barbara say no to a woman who is not only a widow herself but also a grieving mother? As Ruth’s prickly visit turns from days to weeks to what seems like forever, Barbara realizes Ruth has got to go. But Barbara has an ingenious plan: introduce Ruth to some fine gentlemen and marry her off as fast as she can.

Soon enough, something tells Barbara that Ruth is trying to do the same for her. At least they’re finding common ground—helping each other to move forward. Even if it is in the most unpredictable ways two totally different women ever imagined.

The Hearts Invisible Furies

This is one of those books that spans an entire lifetime, and took me an entire lifetime to finish it.

It’s about Cyril Avery, a man who grows up with adoptive parents in 1940s Ireland, the circumstances behind his birth, his evoltion and the relationships in his life (and how they all intertwine). As I read this book, I found myself wondering if all of the extra storylines and details were totally necessary… and they were. It broke my heart slowly and the end was absolutely gorgeous. It’s well-written, vivid, descriptive –  a deep and compelling read. 10/10

From Amazon:

Cyril Avery is not a real Avery — or at least, that’s what his adoptive parents tell him. And he never will be. But if he isn’t a real Avery, then who is he?

Born out of wedlock to a teenage girl cast out from her rural Irish community and adopted by a well-to-do if eccentric Dublin couple via the intervention of a hunchbacked Redemptorist nun, Cyril is adrift in the world, anchored only tenuously by his heartfelt friendship with the infinitely more glamourous and dangerous Julian Woodbead. At the mercy of fortune and coincidence, he will spend a lifetime coming to know himself and where he came from – and over his many years, will struggle to discover an identity, a home, a country, and much more.

In this, Boyne’s most transcendent work to date, we are shown the story of Ireland from the 1940s to today through the eyes of one ordinary man. The Heart’s Invisible Furies is a novel to make you laugh and cry while reminding us all of the redemptive power of the human spirit.

High Protein Plate by Rachael DeVaux

This was a new addition to the cookbook collection since I’m always looking for healthy protein and fiber-dense meal ideas. I have Rachael’s previous book and we love so many of the recipes, so I was excited for some new ideas! I’ve read it cover to cover and while I haven’t made anything yet – I received it in the middle of packing and planning mode for our trip – I’ll definitely report back.

From Amazon:

Getting enough protein is essential. It’s needed for health and strength at every stage of life. The more protein you eat, the more satisfied, energized, and resilient you’ll feel. It builds muscle, fuels hormones, and supports every organ.

In The High Protein Plate, Rachael DeVaux, New York Times bestselling author of Rachael’s Good Eats, shows how anyone at any stage of life can easily incorporate protein into their diet. The High Protein Plate includes the following:

– 100 high-protein, craveable recipes for packing protein from breakfast through dessert.

– Straightforward guidance on how much protein you really need—and why it matters.

– Macros for every recipe, so you can easily track what’s best for you.

– Confidence to plan and prepare balanced, purposeful meals.

– Meal prep tips to set you up for success all week long.

– A 28-day plan to help get you started and stay on track.

Real-life practicality meets science-backed nutrition in Rachael’s approach. She embraces better-for-you swaps over strict food rules and shares alternatives to packaged foods so you can build balanced protein-forward plates that are satisfying and simple. From Buffalo Chicken Baked Tacos and Honey Blackberry Overnight Oats to Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta, these meals are made for everyday life.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Lisa See is another one of my favorite authors (read Lady Tan’s Circle of Women if you haven’t) and this was a beautiful story about sisterhood, resilience, and what it may have been like to grow up as a woman in 19th century China. 9/10

From Amazon:

In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu (“women’s writing”). Some girls were paired with laotongs, “old sames,” in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.

With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become “old sames” at the tender age of seven. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. With the period detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship.

Ok friends, what books have you read lately? What’s on your current list?

I’m currently reading The Hormone Shift and Our Perfect Storm.

xo

Gina

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things that Lola has done (eaten)

Lola has never had a formal blog introduction, but she’s now 6 months old and I’m sharing some of the mischief she’s gotten into instead. It’s much more fitting this way.

We knew that we eventually wanted to get another dog. When Maisey started to act more grandma than puppy – sleeping on the couch and just seemed bored during the day – we figured it would be sooner rather than later. The Pilot and I had discussed it and knew we wanted to make it happen.

He wrapped up the pieces to this puzzle for Christmas:

The girls and I each had a piece and when we put it together, the girls squealed, and I shed a couple of tears because I was excited and it was so cute to see them so happy.

He figured we’d pick out a puppy and it would be a while until she was actually home with us, but the girls and I had Lola picked out the next day and he was flying out to Salt Lake City within a week to pick her up. (We act quickly around here haha.)

She is a tornado of joy and energy, and has been the sweetest best friend and sister to Maisey. They already love each other and chase each other around, play tug, wrestle, and nap together. I’m SO so glad we did it.

At the same time, I didn’t realize that goldens are a very unique breed. (Lola is a mini goldendoodle but I think they may have lied about the mini part because she’s already huge and not done growing haha.) They like to eat everything, get into everything, and pretend that they can’t hear you when you try to correct them. I’m not super worried about it because we have an amazing dog trainer and I know goldens are amazing dogs. (We have close friends who had a golden retriever and he was such a great boy.) As a puppy, it’s been a lot!

I realized that unlike our other dogs, Lola hasn’t had a proper internet introduction. This is mostly because I spend most of the time chasing her around and prying things out of her mouth. Instead of a formal introduction, let me tell you about all of the things that she has destroyed or consumed, just in the last month.

things that Lola has done (eaten)

The entire spongy inside of a pink highlighter marker. I was petting her and realized her beard was reddish. I was like, “What did you eat?” and she yawned to show off her neon pink tongue. I found the sad empty highlighter shell in her dog bed, but everything else was gone. She’s totally fine.

P’s homework. Not once, but twice. I took a picture so we could prove it to her teacher when we asked for another copy.

The entire bottom section of all four of our breakfast nook chairs. You know the foam underneath that gives the chair squish and support? It’s gone. Come sit with us for breakfast and your booty can sink down in your chair as you eat, too.

Multiple rolls of paper towels.

An entire Eegee’s sub sandwich. P set it on the table in between bites, Lola jumped up and CHOMP. The entire thing, down her throat.

A hibiscus bush, which continues to grow despite her chomping on it every day.

A baby bird in the backyard. Tom had to pry it out of her mouth and unfortunately the sweet little bird didn’t make it.

Fruit salad. Multiple times throughout the day, I have to ask Siri if it’s safe for a dog to eat certain fruit, because she’ll steal it off the counter. She likes pears, mango, and melon. She likes everything really.

Attempted to eat: our guinea pig. We have baby gates downstairs and one was open. She ran upstairs to where the guinea pig lives and our amazing house cleaner stopped her. Now we have to get an additional baby gate for the game room, where the guinea pig lives.

So tell me, friends: any tricks for golden doodles? She gets walked every day and still has a ton of energy, but I’m hoping we can start swimming with her soon.

I was thinking about getting her some treat puzzles if you can recommend any! And also waiting until I replace all of the breakfast nook chairs.

xo

Gina

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