Sometimes, I'm super nerdy.

I'm a nerd, and I'm totally ok with it. I don't really have a clever definition of what that means, but its always felt like it was the right word, if I had to classify myself (why I need to classify myself, I don't know).

Here's an example, I've been working on a Project at work for over year and its time to write the report. And I'm kind of excited. Tonight, when I was brushing my teeth tonight, I realized I was thinking about the outline I'd written at work a couple days ago.

And I was reminded, that once, writing reports was a fact of life. And, if I think about it, I already have a process. A way that works for me; I take breaks in the process, and it flows organically.

How I write a report:

• I do research immediately to see what kind of resources are available. Then I spend a couple days thinking about it.
• I write an outline. Then I spend a couple days thinking about it.
• I write the sections, independently, one by one. Then I might spend a couple days thinking about them.
• I write the text to connect the sections.Then I spend a couple days thinking about it.
• I read, edit and review everything. Then, ideally, I spend a couple days thinking about it.
• I read, edit and review everything, again.
• And then, I make it final.

I'm super excited to remember, I GOT THIS.

Seriously, though, that's super nerdy right?

And, I love that about me.

Finding My Inspiration to Exercise

As I try to find balance in my life, and for my blog, one of the things I am turning to with more and more regularity is exercise. I’ve discovered that there is nothing quite like the endorphin rush of physically pushing myself to stave off a bad mood. Although running is the clear winner for me in that respect, given we have -20C temperatures and snow for a good portion of the year, there’s also a need to find indoor activities that make me sweat.

Exercise is what helped me make my first true friend in town, we started off running and have ended up with a regular morning workout routine on all three of my days off. We have done PIYO (my favourite), P90X (which I don’t mind) and even tried a few Insanity videos (which I hated), but the routine of it all has really helped me carve out a little bit of guilt-free time that’s just for me. An essential for all parents, but as a working mom, I REALLY appreciate this special time.

My friend and I were doing amazing in the fall, working out three days a week we were both as strong and fit as we’d ever been, and then Christmas came along and suddenly we fell off the bandwagon. I registered my kids in early morning swimming lessons and suddenly we lost one of our regular weekend workouts and for the last few months we have struggled to find our stride and get back on track with our exercise regime.

Because, when you’re on track with your exercise, being on track with your food seems so much more natural and that is a recipe for success.

I know that you don’t need STUFF to have a good workout, but by the same token something so simple as a new gadget or outfit can be so inspiring to keep pushing forward. And so, this month I ordered a new FitbitCharge HR to replace my recalled Force (which I miss a lot) and I also took a chance and ordered a new outfit from Fabletics.

 Seriously, isn’t it just adorable? And including shipping and exchange it going to cost me about $40 cdn. Granted future outfits will be more because I won’t have a first purchase discount, but if they are honestly of the quality that all the blog reviews say they are, then it will still be well worth the cost and much less than the highly coveted Lululemon.

So, how about you, how do you stay inspired to stay fit?

And what is your workout of choice? Variety is the spice of life after all.

Disclosure: this post includes both affiliate and referral links, however all opinions are my own.

Why I hate the 'I'm Going to Bed' Meme

Lately, I’ve been seeing this bedtime meme on Facebook and I hate that it reinforces gender stereotypes; the husband simply goes to bed, while the wife cleans and tidies the house and prepares for the next morning before her head ever hits the pillow. Each and every time I look at the list, I have only one thought.

I am the husband.

I am exhausted at 9:30pm and sheepishly crawl off to the warm embrace of my bamboo sheets and cozy pillow most nights of the week.

Do I pick up all the toys first? Nope.

Do I clean and tidy my house first? Nope?

Do I fold a load of laundry first? Nope.

Do I do the dishes and load the dishwasher first? Nope.

I give my husband a kiss, trudge upstairs to wash my face, brush my teeth and put my pajama’s on before I collapse into the bed and fall fast asleep for another night.

Does my husband do ALL THE THINGS I don't before he goes to bed? Yep.

All that being said...

Do I get up with my almost 4 year old at 5am nearly every day? Yep.
Do I work 10 hours a day so that my husband can be home with my boys? Yep.

Do I need to go to bed early to maintain my lifestyle? Yep.

I recognize that in the ideal world this meme wouldn’t even exist, because everything would be perfectly balanced, all the time. And I also understand that this meme is simply a reflection of people’s experience that many people relate to it, but personally, it rubs me the wrong way. 

This meme reinforces my inability to fit into gender stereotypes and worse makes me care, just a little bit, that I don’t fit into traditional household roles.

And in the end, does any of it matter?
Which chores are yours and which chores are your partner's?
Which gender you do (or don’t) identify with in any and all respects?

No, it doesn’t.

What matters is that, however you do things, it works for you and your family.

I may not be a traditional mother in many senses of the word and yet in many others I am and quite frankly, my boys love me just the way I am.

So I am just going to go ahead and continue to hate this meme.