Present Meditation

As unexpected as this may sound, one of the most difficult meditation techniques is to just be present in the moment.

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Friday Faves

Hey friends! Happy Friday to ya. What’s going on this weekend? We’re meeting up with some friends for dinner, the Greek festival is in town, and I’m filming four (!) new follow-along videos for you with Grant and Katie. I’m thinking an upper body, a lower body, a barre workout, and a total body + HIIT. If there’s anything you’d like to see in future videos please let me know! (We recently did this barre workout and this strength and cardio blast.)

I’d love to hear what you have on the menu this weekend!

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party. This is where I share some of my favorite eats, wears, reads and finds from the week, so please shout out any of your faves in the comments section if you’d like to join in the fun. 

Random/life:

Girls’ night. We had cooking club this past week and the theme was “All Things Fall.” Shannon’s kitchen island was filled with so many incredible fall foods, including pumpkin meatballs, balsamic pear salad, pumpkin roll, sweet potato salsa and chips, turkey chili, butternut squash soup, and soooo much more.

Sept cooking club

We drank this spiced sangria and chatted the evening away. It was perfect. I look forward to cooking club every month!

Girls night

(The wine glass was the size of my face. Olivia Pope would be proud.)

3 pumpkin things I’m loving so much:

These flourless pumpkin bars. This is what I made for cooking club since I was in a time crunch and a few friends are strictly gluten and dairy-free. (I wanted to make a dessert they could eat!) They were just as amazing as I remembered them. If you’re looking for a quick and healthy pumpkin dessert, this is it! 

– Pumpkin candles from Trader Joe’s! The girls and I went into Trader Joe’s for fruit and came out with everything pumpkin that they had + a cinnamon broom because ’tis the season. Praise be that the girls love pumpkin and squash things as much as yours truly. (PS they’re obsessed with the new frozen butternut squash mac n’ cheese. It’s amazing.)

Pumpkin candle

– Pumpkin Pie Perfect Bars. This is probably my very favorite flavor. It was worth the wait and hunt to find them.

Perfect bar

The girls snuggled up and fell asleep like this together. They’re the sweetest little sisters.

Lil snugglers

Food and recipes:

Skinny Dipped almonds. I’m so excited to be partnering with them this year because they’ve quickly became my favorite healthy snack that tastes like dessert. 

0008ginaalmondsshoot photographybyjacquelynn

So many chocolate-covered almonds have a weird waxy coating and way too much of it. These actually taste like real chocolate and the chocolate to almond ratio is perfection. They’re lower in sugar and the different flavors are SO.INSANELY.GOOD. The dark chocolate peanut butter tastes like the best peanut butter cup. You can find them at Target! 

0118ginaalmondsshoot photographybyjacquelynn

I need to try this creamy cauliflower shrimp chowder.

A couple of meal faves from lately:

A quick lunch for low-carb day. This was Trader Joe’s cauliflower rice with veggies (it has bell pepper, scallion, carrots, peas and corn) with chicken thighs, kale, topped with Primal Kitchen Green Goddess dressing. (I order the dressing from Thrive.) It was so satisfying and P ended up requesting a bowl, too.

Low carb lunch

Read, watch, listen:

Welp. A friend posted this on Facebook and I did the full-on ugly cry. It was just a little too real right now.

And since we’re crying already, watch this, too. 

“You are the author of your life.”

Don’t forget to check out this week’s podcast episode with Brittany here!

If Hugh Jackman is in it, we’re going to NYC. (I love him.)

This made me laugh out loud:

Attachment 1 12

(Source)

So much truth and I always think a low pony looks just a little weird on me. This explains it so perfectly.

My latest post for WebMD with over-hyped exercises is here.

Fashion and beauty:

I ordered this top to wear to CJU and it didn’t end up making it on time, but I know I’ll be wearing it through fall and winter. I LOVE that it looks chic and put-together without being too dressy. I want all the colors now.

Jcrew goodies

(With these fun floral hoops!)

Fitness:

Fit Guide Bonus Covers

This is the last chance to get the Fit Guides for the intro price. They’ll be jumping up to $97 tonight! These workouts are fun, totally new, and a great way to add challenge to your routine + create consistency as we head into the holiday season. Don’t let fitness be one of the things to stress you out. I’ve got 12 weeks of workouts based on your goals and what you like to do, meal plans from an RD, 2 bonus follow-along videos, and our interactive Facebook group to ask questions and get motivation. Take the fitness quiz here and check out all of the available plans here. 

Happy Friday, friends!

xo

Gina

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The Super Carb Diet Is the Latest Eating Trend—Here’s What You Need to Know

The Super Carb Diet Is the Latest Eating Trend—Here’s What You Need to Know

Jenna Jameson Reveals Her Struggle with Loose Skin After Losing More Than 60 Lbs.

The Case For Taking a Walk After You Eat

Jenna Jameson Reveals Her Struggle with Loose Skin After Losing More Than 60 Lbs.

The Case For Taking a Walk After You Eat

Deciding on a Diet

Paleo, keto, IIFYM… when it comes to diets, there’s no shortage of options. The one you pick depends on what you’re willing to give up.

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20-min outdoor HIIT workout

This is a bodyweight HIIT workout you can do at home or at the gym. Get in an awesome sweat with zero equipment!

20 min cardio hiit workout you can do anywhere. Get in a serious sweaty cardio workout at home! fitnessista.com

(Leggings are on sale here! I looooove these ones.)

Hi friends! Happy Thursday! I hope you’re having a wonderful week so far. I feel like this week has flown by and with everything going on, in my brain it’s practically Christmas. I keep having to remind myself to stop getting ahead and just enjoy the present moment, but it can be tricky sometimes. Thankfully, my workouts have been keeping me sane and I’ve been able to stay consistent with Lean Machine strength sessions, Orangetheory, barre, and Peloton here at home. I’m also a huge fan of quick workouts I can bust out when I get in a time bind and the one I’m posting today is perfect for when that happens!

This is a HIIT workout you can do anywhere with your own bodyweight. Now that the weather is cooling down, you could even venture outside! I love workouts like this because they go by so quickly and when I’m finished, I’m covered in sweat and basking in the endorphins. You don’t need a lot of time to get an awesome workout and I find that for something intense like HIIT, 20 minutes is perfect. Next time you’re looking for something fast and furious, this one is for you, boo. (<— I’ve been taking too many of Cody’s classes on Peloton lately. He calls me boo and I really like it for some reason.)

Here’s what the workout looks like:

20 min cardio hiit workout you can do anywhere. Get in a serious sweaty cardio workout at home! fitnessista.com

Form cues and tips:

Rotating burpees: Sit into your squat and bring both hands to the floor, firmly planting your entire hand. Walk or hop back to a plank position (push-up here optional), walk or hop your feet back to your hands, and jump, rotating 180 degrees to face the opposite side, raising your arms overhead. Land with a soft knee and complete a burpee on the opposite side, rotating each time you jump.

Box jumps: Stand about 2 feet behind a sturdy surface you can jump onto, like a bench, plyometric box, or wooden chest. (I’ve also used an ice chest but can’t recommend it. Make sure it’s something that will stay still and not slide or fall over if you jump onto it.) Power through your legs to jump onto the platform, landing with soft knees.

2018 139 ZF 1033 39649 1 027

(I used a tree stump because you do what you can haha.)

Step down and repeat. Make sure to exhale on the way up.

High knees: Walk or run in place, bringing your knees up high towards your chest and maintaining a tight core. 

Thruster to breakdancer: Sit into your squat and bring both hands to the floor, firmly planting your entire hand. Walk or hop back to a plank position (push-up here optional), walk or hop your feet back to your hands, jump back to plank, then rotate into a breakdancer pose, like so: 

Breakdancer20 min cardio hiit workout you can do anywhere. Get in a serious sweaty cardio workout at home! fitnessista.com

Come back into plank, jump forward, jump back, then rotate to the opposite side. 

Lateral lunge to jumping lunge: Take a big step out with your left leg so that your foot angles out at 45 degrees. Your right leg stays straight and strong with toes pointed forward. Think about sinking your hips down and back as your keep your core tight and chest lifted. Step back to center and back, into a lunge lunge position, making sure your front knee doesn’t bend in front of the toe and keep your legs parallel to each other—like a train track, not a tightrope. Make sure to land with a soft knee and sink into your lunge before springing up. If the impact is too much, try quick and efficient lunges instead. So you’ll lateral lunge, step back and do 3 jumping lunges, then lateral lunge on the other side.

Plank punch: Make sure that your body is in one straight line from your head, all the way back through your knees or toes (depending on whether you’re modifying). If you’re on your toes, press back through your heels, and no matter what, keep your hips in line with your spine. Tilt your chin away from your chest so your neck stays long, and take some nice deep breaths. punch the space in front of you with one arm. Place the hand back down and alternate sides. 

Mountain climbers: Get in plank position with your wrists under your shoulders. Bring one knee towards the elbow on the same side. Move back to plank and switch to the opposite side. For more of a challenge, move as quickly as possible.

Broad jump: Jump forward as far as you can, landing in a low squat. Stand up and rotate, then jump back the way you came. Try to jump a little farther each time!

Low squat jacks: Come into a low plie squat with your knees tracking towards your toes, core tight, and chest lifted. Stay LOW and jump your feet to center. Jump back out to a low squat. 

2018 212 ZF 1033 39649 1 004

Stay low the entire time and keep your booty down!

Push-up to side plank: Start on your knees or toes, with hands wide and knuckles pressing into the floor. Keep your hips down as you perform your pushup, exhaling on the way up.

20 min cardio hiit workout you can do anywhere. Get in a serious sweaty cardio workout at home! fitnessista.com

As you rise, rotate into a side plank. Push-up then rotate to the opposite side. 

You can complete 2 rounds, or 3 rounds if you’re looking for a 30-minute workout. I hope you love it!

xoxo

Gina 

Wearing: Zella leggings + Fabletics tank

Photos: Lindsay Colson

Don’t forget that Fit Guide prices jump tomorrow! Grab yours here. 

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Turning Up the Intensity

There are a lot of terms thrown around in the fitness world: HIIT, circuits, intervals. What are the differences, and what’s right for you?

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016: Brittany Mullins from Eating Bird Food

 

Hi friends! Happy Wednesday! I hope you’re having an amazing week so far. Thank you SO much for all of your incredible enthusiasm with the Fit Guides. Don’t forget to sign up before the price jumps on Friday! We’re starting the plans next Monday. <3

I didn’t get the chance to get a post ready for yesterday since Fit Guide stuff was so exciting/busy/crazy in the best way, but I’m back with a brand-new podcast episode for you! I’m so thankful for the incredible blessings this little blog has brought me, and my #1 favorite thing is the ability to connect with women all over the world + the lifelong friends this little blog has brought me. Brittany and I started blogging around the same time and she’s become a real-life friend after the blog world introduced us to each other.

I feel like Brittany is such a perfect example of Healthy In Real Life. You can tell she takes great care of herself – her hair and skin are always glowing – and she lives a balanced, sustainable lifestyle. She enjoys her life with desserts and the fun stuff, but also makes the most gorgeous salads you’ll ever see. She works out but also stresses the importance of rest and self care. She inspires and motivates her audience to love their bodies, which gets cheers from me all the livelong day. I’ve had the pleasure of hanging out with Brittany a handful of times and she’s just as fun and genuine as you’d expect from reading her blog.

In this episode, we’re chatting about all the good stuff:

– How Eating Bird Food got started and when she felt like she could quit her 9-5 to pursue the blog full-time

– The biggest changes she’s seen since the OG blogging days

– Tips for Instagram, especially increasing followers and engagament

– Favorite blogging tools and tips

– The health struggles she’s experienced and what seemed to help the most

– Staple breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes

and her tips for being Healthy In Real Life

Brittany eating bird food

Here’s some background info on Brittany:

Brittany is a health coach, certified personal trainer and the woman behind Eating Bird Food, a wellness platform where sheshares recipes, workouts, wellness articles, travel adventures and more. Brittany focuses on living a balanced life throughhealthy habits over dieting. Rather than promoting a specific diet, she strives to show a balanced approach to health with real-food, plant-focused meals that are not only nutritious, but also delicious and satisfying.

Resources from this episode:

Maple Balsamic Tempeh Bowls

Asian chopped salad

Samoas

Peanut Butter Banana Chia Oatmeal

Get her ebook, Fit With Five here!

Find Brittany at her blog, on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube!

Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support with the podcast! Please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed this episode. If you leave a rating, head to this page and you’ll get a little “thank you” gift from me to you. 

You can listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunesStitcher, and Google Play.

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Gazing Meditation

You look at objects all day long, but did you know that just one of them can help calm and center you?

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New Fit Guides are HERE! (customized workout plans based on your goals)

Hi friends! I’ve been waiting for this day for the past few months! They’re finally here:

Fitnessista Fit Guide Cover Display

New Fit Guides are available (choose from 6!) and they’re better than ever.

When I first released the Fit Guides, it was on a subscription basis. The feedback was incredible and everyone seemed to love the plans. The Facebook group was bumping with testimonials from women who felt stronger, more empowered on their fitness journey, and were crushing their personal goals. 

When I saw a subscription cancelation notice, I’d usually send a quick email to see if there was any feedback they could share so I could make the plans better.

The major reason:

It was a subscription. 

I totally get it. I’m particular about subscriptions, too, and so often, I’d rather pay once and enjoy than have to continue to pay monthly.

So that was a huge change that I made. You pay once, and you get everything:

12 weeks of customized workouts to suit your goals and preferences

4 weeks of meal plans and grocery lists from a Registered Dietitian (Kim! She is SO amazing at fueling athletes and providing healthy, sustainable meal plans as you work towards your goals)

2 bonus follow-along workout videos: HIIT + Strength and Pure HIIT 

Fit Guide Bonus Covers

– Cardio guidelines with extra cardio workouts to do at home or the gym

When you purchase a Fit Guide, you have 5 options to choose from: Benchmark Babe, Cardio Queen, Lean Machine, Fitness Freak, and Home Workout Warrior. (Early postpartum mamas will be referred to my post baby bod plan, which is a safe, effective way to get back in the fitness game after giving birth. Post baby bod advanced is for those who want to take it to the next level.)

Fit guide ladies

How do you choose which plan is for you?

You can take this free and fun quiz to see what I’d suggest! You aren’t obligated to purchase your quiz result and can choose from any Fit Guide you’d like. If you’re torn between plans, please leave a comment or send me an email and I’ll help you decide.

Why did I create these plans?

There are a ton of fitness plans in the internet sea, but they’re designed for one person. One type of exerciser, one type of goal, one type of training style. They don’t take into account personal goals and preferences, but instead loop everything into a general plan or category. Of course, sharing fitness is a GREAT thing, but I thought that there has to be a better way to customize workout plans.

I really wanted to create something different, and something that would cater to the various goals and likes/dislikes that are out there. 

For SO long, I received requests to do online personal training. It’s something I’d love to do, but I’d much rather be able to help a lot of people instead of like 5 a month. It’s something I’ve been trying to figure out since I started the blog, so in order to help as many people as possible, I categorized the 6 most common types of clients I train:

The Benchmark Babe (working to get started or back in the fitness game. They’re setting their benchmark for success!)

Cardio Queen (the cardio junkie who loves the sweat and endorphins of cardio but may be lacking the fitness front)

The Lean Machine (the strength training maven who likes to follow a structured muscle split and has goals to increase lean muscle)

The Fitness Freak (those who love all the classes and all of the fitness equipment! The more variety, the better)

The Home Workout Warrior (the ones who get in their fitness hustle at home. They’re dedicated to their goals, but may need some more structure or variety)

The early postpartum mama, who wants to get back her fitness levels without compromising the healing process post-birth

These are also the types of clients I LOVE TO TRAIN. I truly enjoy creating fitness plans and have been doing it for a long time. There’s a lot of art and science that went into the design and structure of each plan. They’re not something I just threw together; each one was created with purpose (and so much love!). They’re like my lil fitness plan babies. 

Here’s what our first round of Fit Guide ladies had to say:

Fit guide testimonialsFit guide testimonial 2

Fit guide feedback

Some of the amazing results:

Laura progress shots

Fit guide progress

And as a Fit Guide tester myself – I do Lean Machine or Fitness Freak workouts almost every time I strength train – along with more focused nutrition, they’ve changed my body. I feel stronger, leaner, and these solid workouts (in addition to eating more carbs and protein) have me feeling so much more energized. 

Fitnessista fit guide

Who these plans are for:

– Those who are looking for structure and guidance, especially as we head into the busy holiday season. It’s so much easier to stay committed and motivated when you have a plan in place (and someone cheering you on!)

– Those who are comfortable strength training and can execute movements on their own with proper form. We have a comprehensive exercise gallery here and I’m always adding new workout moves! As always, please check with a doctor before making any fitness changes.

– Those who want a personal trainer without the extra time requirement and expense. For the cost of less than 2 personal training sessions, you get 12 weeks worth of workouts, tools, and motivation

– Those who have hit a plateau and are looking to shake things up, take fitness to the next level and accomplish new goals

Who these plans are NOT for:

– Those who don’t like to strength train on their own or purely take fitness classes

– Those who are happy doing their own thing

Take your free fitness quiz here and check out the plans here! The price will jump this weekend to $97, so now’s the time to get dibs on your spot.

We’ll be starting the workouts on Monday of next week so I hope you’ll join in the fun. 

xoxo

Gina

Congrats to the winner of the Fit Guides sneaky giveaway: Hillary! (Check your email for your access code today)

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When To See A Doctor About Problems With Your Gut

Don’t let embarrassment stop you from seeking expert advice if you’re struggling with these symptoms

21 Sep 2018
Advice

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Dealing with Distractions

Sometimes those closest to you can derail your good intentions. Here’s how to navigate this tricky situation.

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Friday Faves

Hi friends! Happy Friday! The weekend is heeeeeere. What’s going on? After being gone pretty much all week last week, it will be nice to have a weekend at home. We’ll probably get into the usual shenanigans: I have a girls’ night planned with friends, we’re meeting up with friends + their kiddos for dinner, church, chores, prepping for the next week. P’s birthday is going to be here before we know it – I literally have to remind myself every day that she’s only 2, because she’s really like a 4-year old trapped in a 2-year old’s body – and I’m excited to start party planning. I’m thinking we’ll do something here at the house but get a jumping castle and a taco truck (necessary). I’d love to hear what you’re up to this weekend!

Now it’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party. This is where I share some of my favorite finds, reads, wears, and laughs from the week. I love hearing what you’re enjoying, too, so please shout out some faves in the comments if you’d like to join in the fun!

Random/life:

– The decaf almond milk lattes from Cartel are A+.

Hey latte

– Last night, I took a baby meal over to a friend who has a lil newborn. All of the usual staples were there: cheesy enchiladas, Instant Pot Mexican rice, beans, salsa, chips, brownie/cookie/Oreo bars, and margarita mix. I pretty much make the same thing for every baby meal, so if you have new ideas, please throw them my way! Even so, I’m cool with being the token enchilada girl. 

Enchiladas

Read, watch, listen:

– Tips for better conversations

All the happy tears for Lindsay, Bjork, and Sage.

How to beat insomnia

Won’t You Be My Neighbor. I cried during parts of it because Mister Rogers was such a rare, genuinely kind human being. I highly recommend this documentary as it gives insightful background into his life, his true genius, and is very well-done. 

Wont you be my neighbor pbs

Another reason to get in endurance exercise

36 hours in Tucson

– Don’t forget to check out this week’s podcast interview here! Jess and I are chatting all about injuries: what to do about them, how to prevent them, when to use heat/ice, and cryotherapy. 

Jessica Valant Instagram

Fashion/beauty:

– I met Merrick briefly at last week’s CJ event and love her style! She looks so put-together without being over-the-top. (Check out her blog if you haven’t already!!) She inspired me to try a couple of new things in my wardrobe, so I ordered these studded booties (on super sale. Going to wear them with a black top, black jeans, and this long blush cardigan I recently picked up from Express), this pleated skirt ($25! and you can dress up or down), and this tiger dress. The tiger dress is outside of my normal comfort zone, but I loved the way it looked when she wore it with black buckle booties.

I feel like I’ve gotten really comfortable on the fashion front lately and heading into fall, I feel inspired to switch things up a bit. (Stay tuned for a fall capsule-ish wardrobe post since I literally have like 4 articles of fall clothing here. I’m pretty much starting from scratch since I stored and donated so much in Valdosta.) Also, this is a problem that isn’t really a problem but I recently realized how much I was depending on Stitch Fix to pick out clothes for me. It feels oddly freeing to pick things out for myself again after quite a few Stitch Fix duds. 

Tiger dress

Maybe it will look cute. Maybe it will look like I’m wearing pajamas. We shall see. 

Eats + recipes:

– Yesterday was low-carb day, so I thought I’d share my breakfast: 2 eggs, 6 egg whites, 2 tablespoons of guacamole, a Mikey’s Paleo English muffin with butter and cinnamon

Bfast

Give me this Instant Pot curry

Best services for healthy prepared meals

Fitness:

NEW FIT GUIDES ARE HEADING YOUR WAY! (<— yelling a little because I’m so excited) I’ll have all of the info up Monday,. Be sure to check in if you want first dibs because spots will go very quickly. If you haven’t taken the free fitness quiz yet, check it out here and see what plan I’d recommend. I put so much love and work into these plans and the response has been amazing.

Check out Laura’s results after only 6 weeks:

Laura progress shots

Leave your fitness personality in the comments below and I’ll pick a lucky winner to receive a free Fit Guide on Monday!

Happy Friday, friends!

xo

Gina

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Rebecca Charlton’s Cycling In London Tips For Beginners

Plan your routes and don’t let yourself be rushed if you want to thrive on the busy streets of the capital

20 Sep 2018
Advice

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Woman Who Lost 350 Lbs. Body Shamed on the Beach Again—Even After Skin Removal Surgery

Woman Who Lost 350 Lbs. Body Shamed on the Beach Again—Even After Skin Removal Surgery

Morning Workouts

Working out in the morning is a common goal, but there are a few questions to ask yourself before setting that early alarm.

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How To Improve Your Running Form

Tweak your technique to become a more efficient and resilient runner

20 Sep 2018
Advice

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only a churro away

Hiiiiiii friends. Happy Thursday! Hope you’re having a wonderful week! We’re chilling here and enjoying the Tucson rain after an amazing long weekend in California.

Disney weekend

I got back from Santa Barbara Thursday night, put the girls to bed, did laundry, and packed our big suitcase for our flight BACK to California on Friday. The planning with this one was just a little bit crazy, but totally worth it. We picked up Liv from school and headed straight to the airport for our flight to San Diego.

When I was first planning this trip, I briefly considered driving up to Anaheim. It’s about a 9-hour drive and the thought of all of us crammed into the car for that long made me break out into hives, so I just got plane tickets to San Diego. I figured we could enjoy a little time in SD and make the short drive to Anaheim in a rental car. It ended up working out perfectly!

The girls are PRO travelers now (we made it!!!!) so I read Crazy Rich Asians (still making my way through it) while they ate snacks and watched a movie on the iPad. The flight was insanely short and before we knew it, we were right back in Ocean Beach, feeling almost like we lived there again.

Ob noodle

Going back to San Diego always floods me with nostalgia. It’s one of the most incredible places, with gorgeous weather and so much to do. While I don’t think it’s our *forever spot* it’s such a great place to visit. Now that we’re a drive or very short flight away, I’m excited for more trips back!

We had dinner at the one and only OB Noodle House. The pho was just like we all remembered it

Pho

We heart pho

and we all love the lettuce wraps, busting with umami and dipped into chili sauce.

After dinner, we headed to Betsy’s house. Their family drove up to Anaheim early that evening, so we had their house to ourselves and snuggled their 3 dachshunds for the night.

Saturday morning was breakfast at Better Buzz,

Avocado toast

and then we hit the road to Disney! 

We were at Disney for two days and used park hoppers for Disneyland and California Adventure. (They also have a new Max Fast Pass system which is $10 per ticket; you just add it through the app and can book Fast Passes there. We were new to this since we’re used to the Magic Bands at Disney World, but it was very easy.) Our trip aligned with the fall and Halloween decor, and it made me so excited for the upcoming season. The girls lived their best lives riding rides, hugging characters, clapping and dancing along to the Paint the Night Parade, and we all enjoyed the festive fall treats.

Halloween lights disney

Halloween treats disney

Madre joined us for this trip and having her with us was the best ever. I’ve taken the girls to Disney a few times by myself, and while it’s magical no matter what, it’s fun to have someone else to enjoy their joy if that makes any sense. My mom and I would catch each other’s eye when the girls did something particularly hilarious or adorable. I’ve always loved Disneyland, but kids really take it to the next level. 

Fam at disney

We were able to spend the weekend blitzing around the parks with madre, and meeting up with Betsy, her husband, and kiddos. Betsy’s boys are like the girls’ cousins, so they all had a blast hanging out together.

The kiddos

Some of the highlights:

– The Plaza de la Familia in California Adventure.

YOU GUYS.

Plaza de la familia california adventure

 If you’re going to Disney anytime soon, definitely check this out. They have the most beautiful alcove where you can write memories of beloved family members and hang them from chains, face painting, a room decorated to look like Miguel’s house, and fantastic Mexican food. We got tamales, rice, chicken and bean burritos, and sat in front of the stage to watch live mariachis. 

10/10 get the Coco cake.

Coco cake california adventure

– Dinner at Goofy’s Kitchen

Goofys kitchen

This was our first time at Goofy’s Kitchen and the girls loved it. We tend to enjoy the character meals because there’s something for everyone (Akershus in Epcot is the BEST), and the girls get to see so many of their favorite characters at once. Goofy’s Kitchen is a typical Disney huge buffet (with a variety of healthy options + kiddo-centered food) and all the desserts.

During dinner, Chip, Dale, Goofy, Pluto, Mickey, and Minnie all stopped by the table to give hugs to the kiddos and take pictures. P also restrained herself from accosting the characters, so I’m calling it a win. (When she was really little, she grabbed onto Donald’s tail and tried to follow him around the restaurant.)

– The Paint the Night Parade 

Paint the night parade

This is one of those core memories I’ll remember from the trip. I wasn’t quite sure if the girls would be too tired to go to the parade, but they were wide awake at 8:45, so we decided to go for it. It’s like the *new* version of the Electric Parade, with bright illuminated floats of all of the classic characters. The girls sat in front of madre and me, and were clapping and dancing in their seats the entire time. It was the sweetest ever.

– A margarita from Tortilla Jo’s at the end of the second night. After a full day at the park, a cold margarita with 1/2 salt hits.the.spot

Rita

– P meeting Spiderman

P and spiderman

P and I dipped out of Frozen Live a little early since she had to use the restroom, and on the way out, she saw Spiderman doing a character greeting across the street.

“Mama, I need to see Spiderman!” 

“You really want to meet him? The line is kind of long.”

“Yes, I need to meet him. I need to see him.”

I couldn’t say no to that, so we stood in line and she waited so patiently to meet him. When it was finally her turn, Spiderman was SO kind and genuine. He stooped down to her level, asked her name and a bunch of other questions, and then told her to flex her muscles for the picture. I could tell by the little look on her face that she was a little starstruck and so excited about what was happening. She talked about it for the next couple of hours.

P and spiderman2

– Livi’s Coco Mickey ears! We love all things Coco.

Coco land california adventure

When we got back to San Diego before our flight on Monday, we had time to chill in Liberty Station for a bit. We took the girls to Kid Ventures to get the wiggles out -they got to run free and play for over an hour- and grabbed coffee at Moniker General. Moniker was one of my writing spots when we lived in San Diego and it felt like I was supposed to park at a table and write Post Baby Bod. 😉

Moniker

It was a quick and easy flight back, a Whole Foods frenzy for grocery essentials, the quickly back in the game of school, dance, gymnastics, work, and the usual life stuff. I’m already trying to brainstorm another fun trip for their fall break… No matter what happens, I have a feeling we’ll be back at Disney again soon. We can never stay away for too long.

Where’s your go-to vacay spot when you’re looking for a quick getaway? Any ideas for a fun place to take the girls (low-key but lots for them to do)?

Have a wonderful day and I’ll see ya soon!

xo

Gina

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