To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going to think she has the coolest, smartest, bravest big siblings in the world, and she's not wrong 😉
She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early on Saturday March 11 at 1:52 in the morning. 

Josh and I just had a feeling about that day (Friday), so we kept the kids out of school, went out to breakfast, and just spent our last day together as a family of four. 

My contractions started right after my 38 week appointment that morning and progressed throughout the day until around 4pm when I thought, "Mmk, I'm starting to really need to breathe through these. Better go in."

I was so convinced they were going to turn us away that it really didn't hit me that we were actually going to meet our girl that night until we'd been there for a few hours already. 

Baby girl ended up being 7lbs 15oz and 20in long!

We are all so in love. David and Evy are OBSESSED. A few times their friends have come to the door to ask them to play and they've said they'd rather stay home with the baby 😄

We are so blessed and thankful for this little girl ❤️
How to use a French hair pin. I love these things How to use a French hair pin. I love these things because they can hold up even my thick and chunky hair and I don't have a large clip sticking off the back of my head (don't get me wrong, I love a good hair clip, too)! Have you tried one yet??
This season of waiting has been weird. But I’m s This season of waiting has been weird. But I’m so grateful for it.

On the one hand, there’s so much to do to get ready for little one to join us—it’s been a while since we’ve had a newborn! I’m spending most of my free time writing and nesting, nesting and writing. 

And then on the other hand, I’m feeling pretty ready to have my body back. And by that, I mean just to be done literally sharing it with another being. You start to miss things after a while like being able to breathe when you lay on your back or not getting indigestion for eating a few grapes. 

Overall, there’s so much to be thankful for. Each little inconvenience is a blessing and I’m happy they’re there. I’ll also be happy when they’re over. For now, I’m just savoring being a mom of “older kids” (8 and going on 6) that can grab their own snacks from time to time and put on their own shoes. We’re going to be heading back to square one in a couple months and I’m sure there’s a lot we’ve forgotten!
Naturally, when we see a need, we rush in to fill Naturally, when we see a need, we rush in to fill it and fix it. On top of this, it’s hard for us to ask for help because we don’t want to be a burden to others. 

But in the process of meeting everyone else’s needs and neglecting our own (especially our need for rest), we often become bitter towards the ones we’re helping.

Instead, one of the best things we can do as a wife or mother is to assess our own needs and make sure to leave space to meet them ourself or to ask for what we need. 

It might be time to rest, help with the next meal, time alone to pray and meditate on God’s word, or allowing yourself to leave a task un-done so you can “selfishly” enjoy a hobby of yours like the rest of your family gets to do. 

In the end, making room to find joy each day may be one of the best things you do for your relationships.
30 weeks and counting down the days til we meet yo 30 weeks and counting down the days til we meet you. We *think* we've finally settled on a first name after non-stop back-and-forth and brainstorming. Any guesses?? Or.. what are your favorite baby girl names right now??
Saturday highlights 🖤 We've been trying to be s Saturday highlights 🖤 We've been trying to be super intentional with the time we spend with David and Evy recently, knowing that big changes are just around the corner! We pray with them, ask them what questions they have, take the time to explain things. I'm hoping they'll be set up pretty well for the transition of little sis coming in March but most of the work will happen after she gets here! How did you help littles prepare for baby?
Merry Christmas from the Damons! ❤️ Merry Christmas from the Damons! ❤️
The 12+ hour drive is worth it 😊 The 12+ hour drive is worth it 😊
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fitness, Health, Motherhood, Sponsored · June 7, 2017

4 Tips to Maintain Your Workout Routine in Your Own Home

Hey mama, got kids? If so, then you probably know what it feels like to be needed just about 24/7. And with all your time spent being needed, even the littlest amount of “me-time” can really make a difference in your overall mood.

Don’t believe me?

When I was working outside the home, I didn’t believe that I had any time at all to do the things I loved. I wake up, feed the baby. Go to work. Come home, feed the baby. Try to do a wifey thing like clean the dishes, and then feed the baby. Cook dinner, feed the baby. You get the gist. It did not take long at all before I felt burnt out and like I had no personality. I literally didn’t know who I was anymore because none of my life expressed uniqueness!

That is, until I started believing that I had the time to do more. See, with those days of working and momming, I would dedicate most of my time to those two things, and any free time I had to zoning out, because goodness knows my brain did need a break. But when I started to try to fit things into my schedule that were for me, my attitude began to change, a lot!

I started not only writing for Living the Sweet Wife, but I started working out, too! When I started finding little tid bits of time in my day to do something that felt more “useful” (you know, other than keeping a tiny human alive with my body), I started feeling like I wasn’t forgotten. Not only that, I started feeling more confident and a much stronger sense of purpose!

Was every workout done in a gym?

Oh no. While my gym’s childcare was great, my 1 ½ / 2-year-old didn’t always agree. There were times when we were literally pulling into the gym parking lot when he would start kicking and screaming that he’d want to go home. So we did. Because goodness knows I’m not about to walk into the gym with that mess. Did I mention I was pregnant? So yeah, home workouts it was. Which actually ended up doing a lot more than I thought it would for me.

You wanna know how? I got 4 tips for ya right here that made it all doable!

1 | Get that activewear on

The more obstacles standing in the way of you and your workout, the way less likely you are to follow through with it. It may sound simple, or even silly, but if I start the day by putting on my workout clothes, even if I’m not working out until 11 or 12 (stay at home mom, here), then my plans of working out are going to be in the front of my mind all day until I do it! Not only that, but when the time is right and the kids are distracted, I’m going to want to jump right into it- not waste 10 minutes trying to get a sports bra on. By then, the possibility of me losing my momentum is all too real and the chances of me throwing my workout to the wolves increases greatly. Moral of this paragraph, get ready ahead of time so you’re ready when the time’s right.

2 | Designate your workout space

It’s important to have a dedicated fitness space in order to make fitness an easy fit into your routine. Being consistent about working out is hard enough with everything life demands from us. If we walk into our fitness space without even enough room to exercise, I’m going to pretty easily push it off until later. But, if I have the space I need and the room is de-cluttered, it’s 100x easier to jump into the workout I was planning on having. No excuses allowed here! One of the ways I made this happen was by installing a SANUS full-motion TV mount. This way I was able to convert our small guest room into a guest room/home fitness space! Since the TV mount is able to move and angle so I can see it from where I am on the floor, I can super easily keep up with guided workouts. Then when I’m done, I simply fold it up and put it back and the room magically transforms into a guest room again! Better yet, clumsy me doesn’t have to worry about tripping over cords with SANUS’ on-wall shelves that keep all cords of the ground. Safety first! Here’s a quick video of how I set up my wall mount all. by. my, self. Well, I hired some muscle near the end 🙂

3 | Schedule your time and stick to it

Be careful to not have an attitude of “if I get to it” when it comes to your workout. It might sound like much, but your day needs to be planned around your workout, or else it will slip through the cracks. I find it really helps to have a plan of what days during the week I’m going to work out, and what time. For instance, I know that Monday’s, Wednesdays, and Fridays are good mornings for me to schedule for working out because my toddler will be in his pre-k program those mornings, thus also giving me a deadline of having to work out before I pick him up. But even before he was all grown up and going to pre-k, I knew that I wanted to hit the gym about 3 days a week. I also knew that if I aimed to go every day, life would have me going about half that. So, realistically, 3 days a week I would get a workout in. Not bad for a working mama.

4 | Plan out your workout

Know what you’re going to do in your allotted workout time in your fitness space. Whether you stick to a program on a DVD or have it written out in a fitness journal, knowing what you want to work ahead of time will help you make goals and stick to them!! I used to be the type of gym girl who would stop doing an exercise as soon as I started feeling the burn. Later did I learn that that’s not exactly how exercising and building muscle works. (Please take note that feeling the burn is a lot different than feeling pain). If I know how many reps I need to do of a certain exercise ahead of time, I can mentally prepare and push through the feeling of wanting to give up to meet my goal for the morning. And it’s a pretty good feeling when you do!!

So ladies, to sum up, when you’re trying to establish or maintain an in-home workout routine, do these four things:

Put your sports bra and sneakers on at the beginning of the day, if possible.

Designate your workout space by making sure a room is optimized for a great workout, and free from clutter.

Schedule your workout time and then schedule the rest of your day around that. We’re talking priorities, here!

Plan what your workout will consist of so you stay focussed and don’t wimp out.

Got any of your own tips? Share them in the comments below!

How would you use the space that a SANUS full-motion TV mount would save you? You know the drill, leave your ideas in the comments below!!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of SANUS. The opinions and text are all mine.

In: fitness, Health, Motherhood, Sponsored · Tagged: ad, bodyweight, exercise, fitness, Health, home, mama, mom, motherhood, noads, room, sanus, sponsored, workout

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Comments

  1. Robin Rue says

    June 12, 2017 at 7:45 pm

    Ugh – I am sooo bad about working out at home. I really need to make an effort to be better about doing it.

  2. Janel says

    June 12, 2017 at 9:27 pm

    Now that I have all these tips I just need someone to kick my butt into gear to motivate me to actually do a workout routine. I even recently canceled my gym membership because I wasn’t using it .

  3. Cassie says

    June 12, 2017 at 11:38 pm

    These are some awesome tips. I love a good home workout because sometimes you just can’t get to the gym or get outside so having a routine up your sleeve really helps!

  4. Karen Morse says

    June 13, 2017 at 12:30 am

    Working out at home is convenient and easier if you have kids and a family to take care of. I think it’s important to have your own space and a schedule to stick to! These are great tips!

  5. Jessica Joachim says

    June 13, 2017 at 2:01 am

    I feel like it is hard to work out at home at first. It is easy to lose that motivation, but I really loved your tips! Nice workout clothes can really help make you feel like actually working out.

  6. Kristina says

    June 13, 2017 at 2:02 am

    This motivates me to start my work out routine again to get back into shape. Exercise is also one of the way I do ME time.

  7. Danielle says

    June 13, 2017 at 2:07 am

    I need to stop thinking about it and put these tips to work. I’ve been pondering a workout routine at home, but haven’t gotten it off the ground (or couch). I think designating a specific time would help tons. Maybe in the morning before the kids wake up.

  8. Ashley says

    June 13, 2017 at 3:17 am

    Yes- staying disciplined and sticking to your word are all key for a successful workout. It goes to show that you can workout just about anywhere!

    Much love,
    Ashley | dearash.com

  9. Holly @ Life on Southpointe Drive says

    June 13, 2017 at 12:21 pm

    Such a great post! I struggle with keeping up my workout routine at my house and it’s sad because I have a treadmill and I never use it! Love your tips, saving for later!

  10. Cindy Ingalls says

    June 13, 2017 at 3:49 pm

    Whenever I work from home I always wear workout gear. This way I’m comfy and always ready for my workout. I actually enjoy working out a home more than the gym. I don’t have to wait in line for equipment or wipe off other people’s gross sweat.

  11. Melissa says

    June 14, 2017 at 12:45 am

    I can see you are really dedicated to getting that workout in from the beginning of the day. I will need to learn a few things from you but I workout outside the home.

  12. Di Hickman says

    June 14, 2017 at 1:12 am

    Oh girl I am always in my workout gear! My main issue is keeping my shoes on. If the shoes come off then I tend to just vegetate!

  13. Sona Sethi says

    June 14, 2017 at 3:26 pm

    I have a fixed workout time during lunch and it really works well for me especially during busy work days

  14. Charlotte says

    June 14, 2017 at 5:21 pm

    Some great tips! It can be really tricky getting into the mindset of working out at home without a designated space, that’s why I love using a yoga mat, when it’s out I am ready to get my sweat on, when it’s away im in home mode!

  15. Brittany says

    June 15, 2017 at 1:40 am

    I have been having the hardest time working out at home. I started working out of the home last year and it’s made it so hard to keep up on anything else!

  16. Rachel says

    June 15, 2017 at 3:02 am

    Scheduling time is so important for me. If I don’t do it, I won’t do it. I also love the idea of having the space.

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Hi! I'm Chelsea and we're the Damon's. We spent the last two years in WA state paying off student loans and just bought our first house in SC! I love a smooth black coffee, Josh's first love is the Seattle Sounders. Our kids are huge dorks and constantly make us laugh and we all love spending as much time outside as possible.

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To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going to think she has the coolest, smartest, bravest big siblings in the world, and she's not wrong 😉
She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early on Saturday March 11 at 1:52 in the morning. 

Josh and I just had a feeling about that day (Friday), so we kept the kids out of school, went out to breakfast, and just spent our last day together as a family of four. 

My contractions started right after my 38 week appointment that morning and progressed throughout the day until around 4pm when I thought, "Mmk, I'm starting to really need to breathe through these. Better go in."

I was so convinced they were going to turn us away that it really didn't hit me that we were actually going to meet our girl that night until we'd been there for a few hours already. 

Baby girl ended up being 7lbs 15oz and 20in long!

We are all so in love. David and Evy are OBSESSED. A few times their friends have come to the door to ask them to play and they've said they'd rather stay home with the baby 😄

We are so blessed and thankful for this little girl ❤️
How to use a French hair pin. I love these things How to use a French hair pin. I love these things because they can hold up even my thick and chunky hair and I don't have a large clip sticking off the back of my head (don't get me wrong, I love a good hair clip, too)! Have you tried one yet??
This season of waiting has been weird. But I’m s This season of waiting has been weird. But I’m so grateful for it.

On the one hand, there’s so much to do to get ready for little one to join us—it’s been a while since we’ve had a newborn! I’m spending most of my free time writing and nesting, nesting and writing. 

And then on the other hand, I’m feeling pretty ready to have my body back. And by that, I mean just to be done literally sharing it with another being. You start to miss things after a while like being able to breathe when you lay on your back or not getting indigestion for eating a few grapes. 

Overall, there’s so much to be thankful for. Each little inconvenience is a blessing and I’m happy they’re there. I’ll also be happy when they’re over. For now, I’m just savoring being a mom of “older kids” (8 and going on 6) that can grab their own snacks from time to time and put on their own shoes. We’re going to be heading back to square one in a couple months and I’m sure there’s a lot we’ve forgotten!

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To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going To the best big brother and sister. Cleo is going to think she has the coolest, smartest, bravest big siblings in the world, and she's not wrong 😉
She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early She's here 🌷 Cleo Renée was born 2 weeks early on Saturday March 11 at 1:52 in the morning. 

Josh and I just had a feeling about that day (Friday), so we kept the kids out of school, went out to breakfast, and just spent our last day together as a family of four. 

My contractions started right after my 38 week appointment that morning and progressed throughout the day until around 4pm when I thought, "Mmk, I'm starting to really need to breathe through these. Better go in."

I was so convinced they were going to turn us away that it really didn't hit me that we were actually going to meet our girl that night until we'd been there for a few hours already. 

Baby girl ended up being 7lbs 15oz and 20in long!

We are all so in love. David and Evy are OBSESSED. A few times their friends have come to the door to ask them to play and they've said they'd rather stay home with the baby 😄

We are so blessed and thankful for this little girl ❤️
How to use a French hair pin. I love these things How to use a French hair pin. I love these things because they can hold up even my thick and chunky hair and I don't have a large clip sticking off the back of my head (don't get me wrong, I love a good hair clip, too)! Have you tried one yet??
This season of waiting has been weird. But I’m s This season of waiting has been weird. But I’m so grateful for it.

On the one hand, there’s so much to do to get ready for little one to join us—it’s been a while since we’ve had a newborn! I’m spending most of my free time writing and nesting, nesting and writing. 

And then on the other hand, I’m feeling pretty ready to have my body back. And by that, I mean just to be done literally sharing it with another being. You start to miss things after a while like being able to breathe when you lay on your back or not getting indigestion for eating a few grapes. 

Overall, there’s so much to be thankful for. Each little inconvenience is a blessing and I’m happy they’re there. I’ll also be happy when they’re over. For now, I’m just savoring being a mom of “older kids” (8 and going on 6) that can grab their own snacks from time to time and put on their own shoes. We’re going to be heading back to square one in a couple months and I’m sure there’s a lot we’ve forgotten!
Naturally, when we see a need, we rush in to fill Naturally, when we see a need, we rush in to fill it and fix it. On top of this, it’s hard for us to ask for help because we don’t want to be a burden to others. 

But in the process of meeting everyone else’s needs and neglecting our own (especially our need for rest), we often become bitter towards the ones we’re helping.

Instead, one of the best things we can do as a wife or mother is to assess our own needs and make sure to leave space to meet them ourself or to ask for what we need. 

It might be time to rest, help with the next meal, time alone to pray and meditate on God’s word, or allowing yourself to leave a task un-done so you can “selfishly” enjoy a hobby of yours like the rest of your family gets to do. 

In the end, making room to find joy each day may be one of the best things you do for your relationships.
30 weeks and counting down the days til we meet yo 30 weeks and counting down the days til we meet you. We *think* we've finally settled on a first name after non-stop back-and-forth and brainstorming. Any guesses?? Or.. what are your favorite baby girl names right now??
Saturday highlights 🖤 We've been trying to be s Saturday highlights 🖤 We've been trying to be super intentional with the time we spend with David and Evy recently, knowing that big changes are just around the corner! We pray with them, ask them what questions they have, take the time to explain things. I'm hoping they'll be set up pretty well for the transition of little sis coming in March but most of the work will happen after she gets here! How did you help littles prepare for baby?
Merry Christmas from the Damons! ❤️ Merry Christmas from the Damons! ❤️
The 12+ hour drive is worth it 😊 The 12+ hour drive is worth it 😊
We took the kids to baby's 20 week anatomy scan to We took the kids to baby's 20 week anatomy scan today and here's how it went. Have you ever brought kids to one of these appointments??

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