30 Day Yoga Challenge - Day 5

Man, this time change is killing me!  Plus, I just started my Hello Morning challenge today as well.  Not sure it was the wisest challenge to start when my kids' sleep is all crazy but I committed so I'm sticking it out.  But, I made it through our crazy day, actually got a good amount of tasks accomplished, and I just finished Day 5!

Let me be honest.  I did not want to do Day 5 tonight.  I'm extra tired because I woke up at 6am (so my body felt like it was 5am) and my kids didn't really nap so I've been "on" since about 6:30 this morning and then they didn't go to sleep until 8pm, which is an hour LATER than the typically do . . . They cut an hour off of my "me" time.  Yoga typically starts for me at 7pm, I get done by 7:30, shower, and I'm back downstairs for my "me" time by 8pm.  But, it's already 8:30 here.  So.  Tonight I was trying to come up with an excuse in my head.  There were plenty.  But actually, what kept resonating more loudly than the rest was that I have been feeling GOOD!  I feel really good about my body right now.  I'm sore, which always takes me by surprise because I don't feel like I'm working hard during yoga.  Maybe I'm just that weak . . . But I'm sore and my muscles are tighter and beyond that, I'm just feeling good because that's what yoga does for your body!  And mind, actually.

So, I threw out my yoga mat, hit play, and thanked God when I saw that Day 5 was a whole 15 minutes long.  There's really no excuse for a 15 minute practice.

Today's title was Day 5 - Feel Alive Flow and I really enjoyed this little flow.  I mean, it definitely was short but I think we went through about three vinyasas along with Warrior II, Peaceful Warrior, and Triangle Pose.  And we got back to boat ab poses at the end.  It was enough to make me shake at times or just get to that point of my brain starting to ask "when are we going to that next pose?" so I thought it was nice.

Tomorrow is abs.  There's a slight (okay, very large) chance that I'll be skipping tomorrow as I devote every possible minute of my evening to finding out who Chris chooses as his bride-to-be.  Will it be Whitney or Becca??  It better be Whitney or I'm jumping through the tv.  Seriously.

Okay, enough Bachelor talk.  Until tomorrow (or probably Wednesday). :)

~Laura

30 Day Yoga Challenge - Day 4

I DID do my yoga challenge last night!  I just decided it was finally time to watch a Downton episode rather than blog.

Day 4 - Yoga Has Your Back

I felt really nice and limber after Day 4, since it was all about the back (with some abs thrown in there).  Because it was day four, Adriene had us on "all fours" for most of the routine.  There were no standing poses in this practice.

It was a nice 20 minute practice where I left feeling like my back was healthier and I was ready to be more active.

Until next time,
~ Laura

30 Day Yoga Challenge - Day 3

I'm SO glad I'm writing this blog!  It was the only thing that got me on my mat tonight.  It's "daylight savings" day tomorrow which for any mom brings out an "ugh!".  And of course, Spring is the lovely time when we jump forward an hour so as I'm writing this, it's almost 9pm!  Yikes.  I still need to shave my legs and prep for tomorrow morning in an attempt to finally make it to Mass with the kiddos for the first time since Ryan left.  I mean, it is Lent . . . Sigh . . .

So, knowing I could possibly have a reader (it is possible) see that I again slacked, it was motivation enough to click play.  Plus I knew it was only 23 minutes so I really had no excuse.

Okay, to the workout.  Today was Day 3 - Forget What You Know.

I thought this was actually a fun one, though definitely less traditional yoga.  The first 10 minutes or so were spent upright doing various balance challenges as well as stretches.  These were not typical moves found in a yoga class but Adriene did an awesome job explaining what the stretch or ab work was for and helping to bring my attention to various parts of the body, if my mind was apt to wander.  Though, today, my mind was nicely present.

The mat work ran through a couple vinyasas along with low lunge, warrior I and warrior II.  I LOVE warrior II and could stay there all day.  The video ended as the other two before with a few ab moves at the end.

I like how Adriene is building on each day as the challenge goes on, so that you can test your ability and push yourself each day.

She did mention abs a lot in this one and I was hoping to feel more of a burn.  I know there's an "ab" day coming up soon so I'm really looking forward to that.  I did find that I was left wanting more.  I think 23 minutes is pretty short for a yoga video, especially when a good amount was more gentle stretching.  I'll give it a few more days but I'm kinda craving a sweaty, 30+ minute flow right about now.  I'm getting excited about practicing again and want to move quickly. I know Adriene is up for that challenge but I'm not sure if it's coming in this series, or at least not yet.  Only time will tell.  I'll let you know if I break down and seek out some power yoga.

Thanks for the accountability.  Until tomorrow!

~Laura

30 Day Yoga Challenge - Day 2

Okay, so, of course the minute I start a yoga challenge my cold comes back with vengeance.  Yesterday I could barely function let alone do yoga so I had to take the day off.  Thankfully, today I felt well enough to go on a Spring shopping spree at Target so I got back to the challenge.

Day 2 - Stretch and Soothe

This was a nice practice.  Again, approximately 34 minutes long.  The first half was some nice stretching including the hands and feet.  The second half was more active.  I'm noticing my self-talk is terrible right now.  The minute I start to burn or shake I immediately go to "I don't like this" or "I want this to be over."  I try to breathe more when I start to hear those negative phrases but I do love that yoga gives me the space to hear and confront those negative thoughts.  I'm sure they come up in other places of my life beyond the mat.

I left the mat feeling stretched and energized.  I can tell Adriene is going to kick this challenge into gear fairly quickly but I'm excited for the test.  I need something to get my health back in focus and this is going to do just that.  This and freezing temperatures leaving so I can get back outside.

One of my favorite things about is that I naturally choose healthier foods when I practice.  Yoga helps me honor my body as a vessel for my soul and in doing so I simple pick less-processed, fresh foods to nourish it.

Tomorrow's yoga practice is titled "Forget What You Know" so that should be an interesting 23 minutes.  Looking forward to it!

~Laura

30 Day Yoga Challenge - Day 1

Hi there,

I know I haven't written in forever!  A bunch of things have changed.  We welcomed a son over a year ago, experienced the NICU first-hand, lived through sleepless nights and giving up dairy, and now are working through a deployment.  Plus, I just started my own business as an independent consultant for Perfectly Posh!

While all of these things are exciting on some level, they also all add stress to my life and for the past six weeks or so I've found it hard to maintain any sort of physical activity.  The fact that it's been below freezing most days hasn't helped.  I found Yoga with Adriene's 30 Day Yoga Challenge on YouTube and it seemed like such a great way to get back into fitness.  I always love yoga and I've done Adriene's practices before.  Adriene challenges me with her nontraditional approach to yoga.  She's very knowledgable and fit but she incorporates movement that honestly makes me uncomfortable.  My initial reaction is to want to just hold a pose.  Still.  It's yoga.  It's not swaying.  But, with that in mind, I thought it might be good to get uncomfortable. So, here we go!

Today was Day 1 - Ease Into It. 

When I started the video and saw that it was 35 minutes, I seriously almost turned it off.  It was 8pm.  I had just finished cleaning the kitchen from dinner (and the entire day really), both kids were in bed, I knew I had to still shower and get ready for our early Thursday schedule and 35 minutes just seemed too long.  But, I really wanted to start (and complete) this challenge so I just said "F it" and plopped down on my beloved purple yoga mat.

The workout itself was very basic.  Lots of slow stretching, a little runners pose and could turn into lunge, a couple vinyasas at the end but one thing from the video really stood out to me and made me appreciate it: Adriene told me to notice if I got bored.  She said to acknowledge my desire to move on from the pose but then to come back to my breath.  Multiple times throughout she challenged me to not be a yoga challenge "robot" but to honor my body, get in tune with it, and to take the time for me.  It's very easy for me to get bored while "just sitting and breathing" but her reminders helped me to get past that uncomfortableness because that's exactly the place in my life that needs to change: I need to be able to slow down and just sit and focus on me.  Not my kids.  Not my husband.  Not whatever thing I could be doing for my business at that moment. But those 35 minutes were just for me and once I allowed that, it all felt SO GOOD!

So, Day 1 is done.  It's now 9:20pm.  I'm off to take that shower, get the diaper bag packed up with food for the morning, and then off to read some more Anna Karenina.  That book never ends but I honestly loving every minute of it so I don't mind.

Until tomorrow!

~Laura

Army Life: On Post or Off?

Neighbors' houses across the courtyard.

Currently we've been at Bragg for a little over 2 months now and we live ON post.  I have to say, I wouldn't have it any other way!  I LOVE living on post.  Let me count the ways . . . 

1. Community.  We live in a cute neighborhood with tons of kids.  You know ALL of your neighbors are military.  They all "get it" to an extent.  Typically my kiddo (2.5 years old) can find a child to play with (except at the park where apparently we're the only patrons).  Plus, you make friends and then you can walk to each other's houses.  It's great!  And if you have school-aged kids, the school is a walk or easy bike ride away.  

We also attend Mass on base at one of three chapels that offer Catholic services.  It's nice knowing that everyone attending is part of the greater military community and the priest knows the special hardships that go along with this life.  All three chapels are less than 10 minutes from our house.  

2. Ease!  It's SO convenient living on post!  The neighborhood center with the gym and pool is a stone's throw from my house.  You can see it out the front window.  We walk to the gym multiple times a week where my kiddo plays in the kid room while I work out.  I can watch her through a large glass window.  The commissary is about a 3-min drive or 25 min walk so forgetting something at the store is no big deal.  

3. Time with spouse.  My husband's schedule has been pretty erratic.  Since we live on post, he can often come home in between tasks.  A "typical" day consists of early formation and PT, break, formation for actual work, break for lunch, formation after lunch until end of day.  We live a good 20 minutes from his work, which happens to be off base, but he still comes home for lunch often and more often than not his day is more erratic, such as today.  He got off for lunch and then had to be at a nearby gym at 2pm because he had a task during PT this morning.  Living on post allows us as a family to be more flexible and we're both happier.

4. Money.  There are no house bills!  Rent = nope.  Just takes your BAH.  And we're in a 1800 sq ft, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath house for what an E3 gets in BAH.  No way we could have this kind of house on BAH in the local community.  Electric, water, sewer = nope!  Actually, we just got back $30 for February because we used less than the average family in our community.  How great is that!  You get a check for every $25 you didn't use.  Lawn care is taken care of too.  We just have a little path we're responsible for.  

In addition to housing, we're using less gas.  Most of my days are filled with walking or very short drives.  Once the weather warms, I plan on biking to the store more than driving too.  Ryan would actually probably have a shorter commute if we lived south of base but we'd make up for it having longer drives to other things, such as the doc and groceries.  

5. Safety.  Yes, there is still crime on Bragg.  Yes, you still should lock your windows and doors. BUT, it's still safer than the high crime in Fayetteville.  On Bragg, DOD ID holders just show their card to get on base (unless you're selected for a random search of your vehicle).   Others who want to come on base must have a valid ID (like a driver's license) and submit to a vehicle search.  Yes, it won't keep out every scumbag but it's still more of a deterrent than living in the community off-base.  

6. Activities.  There is always something to do on base.  Bragg is huge so there are museums, horse stables, tons of parks, gyms, and planned events.  Since it's almost Easter there are multiple free events.  We already went to one egg hunt at the museum and there are two more this week plus the neighborhood center is having a carnival-type event.  And those aren't including the egg hunt that was two weeks ago!

So, clearly I'm biased.  This is our first duty station.  But, based on our current situation, I would always live on post.  The convenience and extra time I get with my husband makes up for any downside (which at this point I don't see).  

I've spoken with Army wives who say they live off-post because their husbands wanted a separation between home life and work.  Here's my response to that:

1. What separation?  You're in the Army.  You are theirs.  Might as well accept that.  

2. The wives are the ones who suffer from that decision.  Typically, they're isolated and are less likely to come on base to attend activities and functions.  Soldiers' hours vary tremendously and more often than not their on base most of the day while the wife and kids are left at the house.  As an Army wife, whether I had kids or not, I much prefer living around other women going through the same experience.  

So, before you let your soldier talk you into living off base, or before you just assume you want to live off, take a good look at what your lifestyle is going to be like.  Imagine your soldier gone A LOT and decide if you still prefer to be off base.  There is SO much support on base, especially when you have kids, I just can't imagine living off. 

Good luck with your decision!  I'd love to hear what your experience has been.

~Laura

Army Life: PCS - Part One: ORDERS

So, we FINALLY got our Orders the Tuesday before Holiday Block Leave.  As we've come to find out, it wasn't the best timing.  Of course, everything has been closed most of the time we've been trying to figure stuff out and Ryan had absolutely no time that week before leave to visit Transportation.  Rather than rehashing the rather frustrating experience so far, I want to share with you what I have found out that I think will be helpful. 

This is our first move and it's straight out of AIT so I'm sure other experiences are different but this is what I've found for our situation:

1.  SHIPPING HHG (home goods): Your solider has to be the one to handle the move, at least shipping.  He or she must go to their Transportation Office in person with their orders and only then will they be helped. 

- Long story short we were filling out the shipping information on Move.mil (self-counseling) but came across a question so when Ryan found a business day to call them they told him they couldn't tell him anything until he came in.  So, we pretty much spent two weeks worrying and trying to figure this out when we could have just been relaxing and enjoying the holidays.  Ugh.

2.  SHIPPING CAR: Shipping your car is relatively easy.  First, the Army will not pay for this if your move is CONUS (in the continental US) so if you want to ship your car and fly to your destination, as we are, then you're bearing the cost yourself.  I just googled "car shipping" or something like that and came across a website where you can type in your info and tons of people call and email you with quotes.  It's a little annoying but you get a good idea of what a reasonable price is. 

- Here's what the broker I went with told me: 1) if they offer you a military discount it's actually the exact same price another person without the discount would charge you, they're just starting higher (may or may not be true), 2) don't go with the cheapest person - it's like anything, there's usually a catch or they'll take your money and then deliver you car three weeks late.  Just do a little research and chatting with the brokers and find someone you trust.  We're shipping our Pathfinder from Oregon to North Carolina for $1125.  Cheaper than some, more than others.  Door to door, $100,000 in insurance, no hidden costs and fees.  You give them a three-day window to pick it up and then it's delivered between 7-10 later.  Only annoying thing is they don't take personal check or credit/debit so we have to have cash or money order. Not terrible, just somewhat inconvenient.  I understand why.  We're scheduling it so Ryan will have it as early as a day after landing in NC. 

It took me about 2 weeks to get to the point of accepting that first fact about not having any control and having to wait until the last minute to do anything.  I'm a huge planner (I'm told the Army will teach me to be flexible) and I like things scheduled and orderly.  Doing things short notice with a two-year-old sucks but obviously that's what I have to do.  I'm hoping it all goes smoothly and quickly once Ryan heads back to AIT in a couple days.  My military friends said a cross country shipment could take about three weeks so if we get a house quickly we'll definitely be borrowing some items. 

3.  PACKING/PLANNING: I hadn't been put a lot of thought into packing.  But, with shipping the car I get to put about 100 pounds of stuff into the car as long as it's lower than the windows.  So, I'm approaching packing like this: 1) what I want on the plane, 2) what I want upon arrival (i.e. checked at the airport), 3) what I need/want immediately or soon after I get there, 4) what I can live without until our HHG's arrive.  It's been helpful to work backwards and also to know what baggage I'm willing to check and what I can realistically put in the car.  The car has actually been a real blessing because I can put diapers, a few toys, and clothes in there and only check a couple bags at the airport.  Definitely give yourself a few days to do this process, even if you're having packers pack all of your belongings. 

I think that's about it for now.  Our next big question is about shipping our HHGs.  Our stuff is in two locations.  A storage unit at our Home of Record and where I'm currently living at Ryan's mom's house.  They're more than 50 miles apart.  We were never told this would be a problem but apparently there's a fine involved if your second pick up (if you have one) is far away. 

Worst case scenario we pack up the house, rent a U-Haul, and drive it down to the storage unit.  It's just frustrating when recruiters say it'll be fine.  I'm coming to find out recruiters tell you anything is fine to get you to sign on the line.  Ugh. 

I'm looking forward to keeping you up-to-date on the whole process.  On a side note, Ryan's HOME!!!!! and it's been wonderful.  I'll make sure to post about that too because there's been an adjustment period that he didn't expect (but I did) so it's good to prepare your soldier if you have kids.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

~Laura