TGIF! I know so many of you feel the same way after what was either your first or your second week in quarantine and homeschool. We are all still in great spirits and healthy but it isn’t always roses and sunshine.  We have always spent a lot of time together as a family so I think we are doing really well overall.

One of the ways I am taking advantage of the forced pause is creating the habit of exercise for myself. I don’t talk about exercise much on AWL because, well, I don’t usually do it. I grew up dancing and cheering, and that’s how I got exercise. Since I graduated from college, I have struggled  to find an exercise that I truly enjoy.

Over the years, I would find a class I loved but burned out on it, or wouldn’t always fit in with my carpool schedule. For the past six years, I have had the girls in three different schools, except for one year where I had them in two. When you consider their age gaps, that meant different start times, pickup times, and three different after school activities. Frankly, I was too busy and too exhausted to even think about exercising.

Other than getting my home reorganized, creating the habit of exercise is my top personal goal.  Last January, I joined Obe Fitness and did their online classes for several weeks. I loved the dance cardio classes and the fact that they had live classes and a large catalog of classes I could play at any time. Dance cardio is really my favorite form of exercise. I got the flu that February and pinched my sciatic nerve at my tailbone, which took four months to heal, so, unfortunately, I fell off the bandwagon and never really started again.

This fall, one of my friends invited me to a dance class at Dallas Dance Fitness to celebrate her birthday. It was so much fun to dance again! However, this past fall was so crazy with moving my daughter to college, losing my mother-in-law in October, and then just getting through the holidays that I never made the time to go back.

On March 1st, I decided to put three classes a week on my calendar and schedule them in so that I could make them happen. Well, I made it to one class before this pandemic began. Thankfully, this creative team has begun live streaming their classes every day at 10 o’clock CST. They are fast-paced and so much fun!

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 28th, the Dallas Dance Fitness team is offering a free class live on YouTube. To sign up, all you have to do is register on their website and they will send you the link.  If that doesn’t work for you, don’t worry! Your first class is always free, whether it’s online or in-person. I hope you’ll join us for at least one class!  I’m hoping they will keep streaming after this is over, too.

I am proud to say that I have officially exercised 6 out of 7 days and 5 days in a row, which is a first in I don’t know how many years for me! They say it takes three weeks to build a habit, and I intend to keep exercising so that when we get back to the next “new normal” I will have created a healthy habit for myself.

Below I’ve shared a boutique of great active wear styles.  I plan on rewarding myself with a piece or two I need new cushiony shoes for all my dancing and I’ve been eyeing these.  My current activewear is from Athleta.  They are currently offering 25% off your entire order and free shipping.  These are my favorite tops.  I love the ruched detail that is so flattering.  These are my current favorite leggings  They are a bit high rise and keep everything where it belongs!  I may reward myself with these and these so that I have more than two pair!  Also, their sports bras are the most comfortable I’ve ever tried.  No more straps cutting into your shoulders!  These shorts are light weight and cool for summer.

I hope that you and your family are still healthy and doing well. I’d love to know what you are doing to keep busy, happy, and active during this time of Safer at Home.  Know that everyone is in my thoughts and prayers right now.  I’m hoping that my posts bring a bright spot to your day.  Please let me know what else you’d like to see on AWL right now and this spring!

I have a really fun post coming soon, so be sure to check your email and subscribe to the newsletter if you haven’t.  I also don’t want you to miss you any spring inspiration coming your way including a new Spring Boutiques, an Easter Tablescape you can easily create and some more big news!  I might show a hint on Instagram Stories this week!

xo

Alicia

PS – Also when you subscribe to my newsletter, you’ll also receive my eBooks, Fresh Sips, Taste of Summer and Summer Entertaining, all great for warm weather that is right around the corner!

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Also read

• Exercise at Home

• 21 Easy Meals 

• How I’m trying to slow down