What Went On in November

Happy end of November, friends! How was your Thanksgiving? Is it getting cold where you are? It’s been warmer than I expected this month up here in Vermont, although the last few days have been chilly – winter is coming.

Let’s lead off this Fine Fit Day November recap with the good stuff: RUNNING.

I got some much-needed running time this month. October was not a banner month for me, fitness-wise. Sadly, my workouts seemed to be the first thing to be set aside when so many other issues needed my time and attention. This month I made an effort (and Fran made an effort for me) to make time for me to get out solo and get some miles in. 

We also joined a gym, with a pool! Not a lap pool, but a fun place to take the boys. They heat it to about 80 degrees, so the kids think it’s wonderful because they can stay in so long. Roman is getting so good at swimming – he grabs a noodle and paddles around on his own. I’ve been doing the jump-in and kicking practice with him we learnt in his swimming classes, too, but he really is just taking to the water.

Another thing he’s taken to is all things Star Wars. (You saw his Halloween costume, right?) He hasn’t watched the movies, but we have toddler picture books of Star Wars and Fran shows him little clips on YouTube of the age appropriate stuff. Mamas of kids who liked Star Wars – how old were your little ones when you let them watch the movies? (I’m talking the originals, here.)

We’ve also been doing lots of exploring. I like to get the boys out for hikes and nature walks as often as possible while the ground is still snow-free. We live close to the Winooski River, which has some really pretty hiking paths and places you can walk right out towards the water.

And of course, there’s Lake Champlain. Roman found some tiny clam shells one day on a bit of an explore.

When it’s rainy out, we keep ourselves amused with ridiculous craft projects like turning ourselves into robots. (I may have had as much fun making this as Roman does wearing it.)

And baking muffins and cookies. Because muffins and cookies.

All this domestic goddess mama stuff pays off when your son insists on buying roses for Mama when he’s out with Daddy. Daddy didn’t have the heart to tell him Mama doesn’t like getting flowers because the cats eat them and then they throw up. (Side note: WHY do cats vomit so much??)

I will spare you any cat vomit photos. You’re welcome.

Let’s move on to blogger perks from the month. First, my friends at TrailHeads sent me some winter running goodies because they know I moved to Vermont and if I was woefully under prepared for NYC polar vortex running, you know I’m getting a little chilly up north here. Spoiler alert: there’s a giveaway in your future!! 🙂

Next, I had to make a new purchase with Spandits, because they released a bunch of new patterns and hello – this one is called Chantilly and it looks like lace. PRETTY!!!! I’m in love. I wear them a LOT. (If you don’t know, I’m a Spandits ambassador, so please use SPANDITSLOVE for 10% off your purchase and tell them I sent you!)

And then New Balance made Roman’s day by sending him a new pair of sneakers! He was SO excited that his new kicks have laces, because hello, he is a total big boy, you know. Also, New Balance is doing a really awesome thing for the month of December to give back. From their press release: New Balance is encouraging consumers to donate used shoes to an organization or donation drop-off of your choice while posing a picture of the shoes being donated on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #NBGivesBack. For every photo posted, New Balance will donate $5.00, with a maximum of $100,000 to Good Sports, Inc. which will help provide brand new sports and fitness equipment for children in high poverty communities across the United States. This is really a great opportunity to give back to the community, not only once—but twice! 

How awesome is that? Before we left Brooklyn, I took SO MANY pairs of old sneakers to Jack Rabbit Sports for donation. Contact your local running stores – most of them are happy to accept used shoes for donation! Don’t forget the IG or Twitter post to have New Balance donate on your behalf!

And then Thanksgiving rolled around – meaning we are THISCLOSE to the end of the year. We went to Grandma’s place near Woodstock, Vermont. It was such a delicious feast. And yes, I made Roman take one of the decorative gourds to Grandma and instructed him to say, “Oh my GOURD, Grandma!” It’s the little things.

This little squoodge enjoyed every moment of his first Thanksgiving. ALL of the potatoes and gravy, please Mama! 

While his brother made some (creepy) new friends in town…

Baby T was all about the ladies.

I challenge you to find a happier baby than this little muffin.

And during November I accessorized with Momentum Jewelry (pretty sure lots of my Christmas shopping will be done with Momentum). Did I mention how excited I am to be a Momentum Jewelry ambassador??

And speaking of gifts, our friends’ gift of a membership to the Echo museum and aquarium keeps giving and giving. We love it there!

And as we’re heading into December, if you’re weary of the enforced merriment and all that, I encourage you to follow my friend Mandy on Instagram (yes, she’s the one who managed to post a slug on Wellcoin). If you remember from last December, she and her fiance do a cocktail Advent season, where they post a new cocktail and recipe every day for the month. It’s a gift that keeps giving. Follow her at @hppyfantm on Instagram for the potable magic.

 

 

It’s tiiiiiiiiiime!! Day 1 of the #2015SilvaKainCocktailAdventCalendar is the Stormy Night: 1oz bourbon, 1oz ginger beer, fill up the rest with orange juice! YOU’RE WELCOME.

A photo posted by @hppyfantm on Dec 1, 2015 at 5:09pm PST

 

And finally, I leave you with my familiar cry of ‘How did this happen already?? Seven months? Are you kidding me? He’s a newborn still!”

 

Happy December to all of you!