My Comeback Post

So I accidentally took some time off blogging. Not on purpose, really, I just stopped having time for it. The time off was needed though, I needed a break.

Back in March, I started a new job that has been really challenging and while I’ve enjoyed it, it’s brought on some new challenges along the way at home, in life, and with life balance.

Since becoming a working mama, I had this rule of four. You can manage four things really well. Anything else is likely going to suffer. For me, those things have been family, work, self-care, and [insert fourth thing here]. Whether that’s running, biking, friends, junior league, blogging – they all have waves.

comeback post

But I’m ready to come back. On my own terms, though. I need to stop comparing myself to the bloggers who blog for a living, and the bloggers that maybe don’t have children and have beautiful homes, have perfect photos that they spend hours shooting, and just…have more time. We all have different stories and for me, it was a season where my story needed a break from blogging. 

I know that I’m not going to be a blogger that rakes in big money, nor am I going to be a blogger who spends thousands of dollars at the N-Sale and then returns half of it after doing photo shoots. I’m okay with this. Bloggers, I think are becoming the demise of the industry they created.

A while ago, I spoke with Renee about this on her podcast – when her and I started blogging over 10 years ago, blogging was about community. Connections. Somewhere in the past decade, that got lost. I miss that. I miss the connections I made through the DC blogger community. Blogging often seems about monetization. Everyone doing it as a hustle. I’m not going to lie, I have enjoyed some monetization from blogging BUT nominal in recent years. 

So, Where do I Go from Here?

I have a backlog of pretty outfits that I’ve been sporting and some #MomLife challenges that I’m ready to share. Here’s what my blog is going to focus on going forward:

  • Outfit posts – because I love these. My photos are self-taken most of the time, with the occasional husband photographer photo.),
  • Mental health – this is a battle I’ve been fighting recently, as some of you may have seen from my Instagram stories. I’ve found that as a working mom, fighting this battle can be lonely and overwhelming. As a mom in general, this battle can be lonely and overwhelming but I want to share my struggles and triumphs because it’s so important to let people know that you are NOT alone.
  • Fitness. I’m a run coach, I’m a fitness enthusiast. The friends I look forward to the most are the ones I run with and/or workout with. I love trying new workouts, new challenges, and I love sharing them on my blog.
  • #MomLife. As a parent of a child with some special needs, life can be a bit harried. There’s self-doubt, worries, anxiety, and triumphs. I’m not as eloquent as some of the other mom bloggers out there BUT we do have a story to share as we embark on the kindergarten journey in the next month.
  • Marketing. Listen, I’m not a GREAT blogger, but I am a content marketer by trade so I know some stuff. I’ve been around the blogging block – I understand best practices, I’ve taught others, and if there’s one thing I could talk for DAYS on its marketing and blogging and social media.

 

So hey, community, I want to know – what do YOU want to see here. Leave a comment! Tell me what’s been new with you! 

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Life Lately: April

Another month has gone. Another month where my blogging goals kind of fell flat. WHOOPS. We’ve had a lot of life going on though, and that is not a bad thing. I’m trying to get back into this especially since I have much to write…just not enough time. That’s always the problem though right??

Lately….

Cherry blossom 10 miler[With my MRTT pals before Cherry Blossom]

Running: I started a run streak – 35 days before my 35th birthday and I made it 30 days before I got sidelined with some terrible cramping and an evening in the ER. BUT I learned a lot during those 30 days. I shaved 5 minutes off my ten-mile time at Cherry Blossom and have been running pretty consistently in low 10’s/high 9’s (but still doing 4/1 intervals).

aerial yoga mantra fit

Fitness: If you don’t follow my Facebook page, you can’t see the awesomeness that I get to do two-three times per week with my Fit4Mom family. Seriously, I’m coming up on a year now with Body Back and I can’t even begin to tell everyone how much it’s changed my life. From the amazing community and support network to the tough workouts that have me stronger and faster.

Work life: I started a new job midmonth. That coupled with all the #runstreak-ing, and Little Man’s birthday…blogging kind of fell by the wayside. I’m super excited about the new role, plus I was proud to have negotiated my salary to where I wanted to be. It was a bummer to leave FLAVORx but a necessary one when it came to the financial benefits. You gotta do you, right?

Family life: We’ve been busy!! From all the therapies for the little man (now adding Behavioral Therapy to help with our lack of pooping) to my new job to two birthdays over the past month (little man and me). We’ve just been enjoying life. And you know, I’m okay with that.

Weight Loss: Because I hit 2 of the 3 goals I set in January at my 4th Body Back transformation (sub-2 hour ten miler, sub 30 minute 5k), I’m working on my weight loss goal because I seem to be yo-yo-ing between 156 and 154 and can’t seem to jump past that, I’m putting myself BACK on my body back planning/tracking plan that I KNOW works. I have goals to be closer to 145 than 155 by summer, and then hopefully down to 135 by the end of the year. Fingers crossed!

Fundraising: I’m chasing big scary goals this summer – I signed up for the Bike to Beach for Autism in August – a 60-mile ride from the Eastern Shore to Rehoboth Beach. I’ve been itching to do a long ride like this for a while and it’s for an amazing cause (you can read about our story here) that touches us every day, it seemed like there was no better time. While E does NOT have an official diagnosis of ASD, we’ve had him evaluated and it has not yet been ruled out. His deficiencies are largely social-language and sensory-based but still, we come across so many kiddos that do have ASD through our various therapies so I’m doing this for them. I’d love any support from any of my readers <3 (no amount is too small!)

I think that about covers all the ish that’s been going on. What’s been going on with you all friends???

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Only One Mom: Body Back Transformation: A Review

If you follow me at all on social media, you know that about 9 months ago, I joined the Body Back Transformation program with Fit4Mom Severn. I had heard about it and needed something to change my attitude and change the plateau I had hit on my level of fitness.

This program has changed my life. Simple as that.

Four Transformation sessions later, I’m stronger, faster and am more happy with my level of fitness than I’ve been since before I became a mom.

This week, in my Only One Mom video, I share more about my experience with the Transformation program, why I love it so much, the moms who have inspired me along the way and what I’ve gained.

Check it out:

Have you found your tribe mamas? Share in the comments how you find balance, time for fitness and where you found your tribe?

Resources:

Body Back Review
Body Back Lessons
Fit4Mom Body Back Overview
Fit4Mom Severn
3 Legged Pushups!

Want to be a guest host on Only One Mom? I’d love to chat anything parenting, self-care, fitness or work-life balance with you! Email me at onlyoneheidiblog (at) gmail (dot) com!

FTC disclosure: I’m blessed to be an ambassador for the amazing Fit4Mom Severn community. I’m not paid but I do receive a small discount on my membership fee, however, all Transformation fees were paid by me and all opinions here are my own. I’d still be singing the Fit4Mom praises even if I wasn’t an ambassador. #justsayin’

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Mom Style Inspiration: Wearing Lately

As a pseudo-style blogger, i find my wardrobe is kind of boring. I don’t really consider myself super stylish, more classic and comfortable. I keep thinking about a capsule wardrobe and maybe for spring I’ll do one – I know the same colors dominate my wardrobe (olives, navy, blush, black and white), I really rotate through 3 or 4 pairs of pants regularly, and the same few tops, I just need to spruce up the combinations instead of the same thing..over and over and over again.

Lo, here are a few of the outfits that I’ve been rotating through over and over and over again. Over the past few weeks!

This is an oldie but such a goodie. The sweatshirt (out of stock now) is so comfortable and the perfect business casual piece to dress up or down on days when you just don’t want to think or worry about what you’re wearing. 

{Sweater: Loft (old – similar) | Shoes: J.Crew Factory | Pants: Stitch Fix (similar) | Necklace: J.Crew Factory}

This one with my favorite Lululemon leggings is a weekend staple. Saturdays have become really hectic for us with E having OT, my MRTT group runs so I really just want something that’s easy to throw on and comfortable in most cases. Obviously, this one doesn’t work in super cold weather but it’s done the trick the past few Saturdays 🙂

weekend casual outfit

{Pants: lululemon | top: Athleta | vest: Amazon}

We’ve seen this outfit before – it was what I wore to our family Photos back in November but it’s such a comfortable and classic casual Friday outfit that I had to include it. Especially as it gets warmer and we don’t need jackets, still appropriate for those 40 degree days where you’re not quite ready to go short sleeve.

{Vest: Amazon | Pants: Old Navy | Boots: Lucky via Amazon | Sweater: J.Crew (old, similar) | necklace: J.Crew Factory | white shirt: J.Crew Factory (similar) }

{Leggings: LOFT | Boots: Amazon | Sweatshirt: Nordstrom | Vest: Amazon}

Because it wouldn’t be an outfit post without my favorite Tippi sweater from J.Crew – a staple in my winter wardrobe for both work and play (as seen above).

{Sweater: J.Crew | Pants: Stitch Fix (similar) | Shoes: Target | Necklace: J.Crew Factory}

Happy Friday friends!

What are YOU loving in your wardrobe lately?

 

 

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Currently | March

If there’s one link-up I’m unlikely to miss, it’s the Currently Linkup with Anne where the first Wednesday of each month, we share what’s currently going on in our lives.

This month we’re sharing…

planning | Little man’s fifth birthday!!! We’re keeping it low key since last year we did Disney, but we’re going to have a fun birthday weekend with my in-laws, and we’ll send in cupcakes and pizza for his class on his birthday and a playdate the weekend before I think.

seeing | all of the specialists for little man. I haven’t talked much about our journey through IEP’s, etc.. for his sensory issues, but over the past two months we’ve had an ASD evaluation (not diagnosed), a feeding therapy evaluation which led to a possible tongue tie diagnosis (following up with the ENT), a behavioral therapist evaluation later this month, our annual IEP meeting, and of course our regularly scheduled speech and occupational therapy visits each week. I’ll dive into this in a video blog one of these days but I’ve tried to keep him off my blog for the most part but these appointments, while helpful, have all been taxing on all of us I think.

making | appointments to pretty myself up before I start a new job next week! I have ONE day between gigs – my new job starts Friday the 16th, I’ll be getting a mani/pedi and an eyebrow wax at the very least.

pretending | I have plenty of $$ to shop for new spring clothes. I don’t. So a lot of stuff has been living in my Target, Nordstrom and Old Navy cart lately. SOON MY LOVES. SOON. Want ALL the spring garb in my closet right MEOW!

wearing | winter-y favorites. My favorite Tippi sweater, my favorite vest, this ruffle-y Loft Sweatshirt/sweater that’s a favorite and my new favorite bell sleeve top have all been on repeat lately.

 

What are you CURRENTLY up to?

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Only One Mom: Episode 2 | Can’t Let it Go

Hubs and I are huge podcast fans. We each have a few we follow regularly, one of which is the NPR Politics podcast. Each week, they do a segment called can’t let it go. Where they share news stories that they can’t stop talking or thinking about. Often, they are hilarious and incredibly noteworthy.

So once a month, I’m going to do a Can’t Let It Go segment. Just recapping what happened in the month prior – whether in life or in the news. As a kick off to Only One Mom, I roped hubs into being my guest as I experiment with editing, filming and you know, all the things. Adam talks about his new favorite show and I talk about my love of the Olympics and one skier who KILLED it over in South Korea.

Resources:
Altered Carbon: (Trailer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhFM8…
First Mom on Team USA Kikkan Randall: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/e…
NPR Politics Podcast: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510310/n…

Follow me:
http://twitter.com/missheidi
http://instagram.com/legallyheidi

Follow Adam:
http://twitter.com/adamjschmidt

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here | Want to be a guest? Sign up here.

What are YOU not letting go of? 

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Introducing… Only One Mom

Somewhere in the past few months, I started listening to and watching more podcasts. Somewhere along the line, maybe after being a guest on one of my favorites, I started to get this idea that maybe, just maybe, I could do my own podcast or video blog. Whatever you want to call it. I’ve enjoyed the few times I’ve gone live on my Facebook page, and I really feel like I have a lot to say.

Then I started brainstorming. Thinking about what I’d talk about, who I’d interview and threw the idea out on my Facebook page. Lo, people were intrigued! My desire to talk more about self-care, #momlife, fitness goals, and all that other fun mom stuff that I’m passionate about kept growing and growing so plan I did. I capture

So here we go! Episode one of Only One Mom – the video blog/podcast featuring all the things that moms want to talk about.

I have TWO episodes going up this week but they’ll typically be going live on Tuesday.  If you’re interested in being a guest, fill out this form and I’ll get back to you to schedule!

I’d love for you to subscribe on YouTube, or sign up for emails on the side!

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Loving Lately: Target Finds

Guys, Target seriously has my number right now. 

Ever since the A New Day line hit last fall, they’ve kind of been killing it on all fronts. Recently, they launched the Universal Threads line – which is super swoon-worthy and has me all kinds of lusting for spring weather.

The shoes! The tanks! The bags. I want them all. Seriously. But instead of spending money that I quite frankly, don’t really have right now, I’ll just blog about all the things.

 

Here are 9 Target finds that you need to RUN for…right now. Like seriously, I’m super jazzed to add some of these pieces to my spring wardrobe because they are versatile, budget friendly and a little trendy (I’m loving the tie front trend lately!). 

Structured Hobo Bag | Ponte Fit & Flare Dress | tie Front tank top | Blush Mules | tie front long sleeve blouse | faux wrap front tank | off the shoulder top | wedge sandals | Gingham bow flats

What are you loving lately? Anything from Target you’re running for right now??

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10 Ways to Celebrate Valentines Day on the Cheap

Hubs and I aren’t big Valentine’s Day people.

My theory is, showing how much you love someone shouldn’t be subject to one holiday, one arbitrary day if you will. It should be an everyday type thing.

This year, we’re on a tight budget so we’re having a date night in, and heading up to CT for the “long” weekend (I say long weekend because Hubs has presidents Day off whereas, I am taking the time.) for some QT with the in-laws who offered up some free babysitting.

Here are ten easy ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day on the cheap…

celebrate Valentines Day on cheap

 

  1. Have a dinner date at home. We love making something a little more extravagant than usual for Valentines Dinner in. Homemade dumplings, linguine with Clams. Because it’s Ash Wednesday I think we’re ordering sushi (no meat!) instead.
  2. Have an indoor picnic with a movie. Pour some wine, make some popcorn and a charcuterie board and cuddle up under a blanket. Massage each other’s feet and just enjoy a night in with candles and a good romcom.
  3. Go ice skating. Skate rentals are inexpensive and if you can find a place outdoors, it can be super romantic at night. Similarly, if you’re like us and have a (welcome) third wheel on daytime dates, it can also be kid-friendly and super fun for little ones too.
  4. Hit up a local brewery or winery. Our favorites? Diamondback in Baltimore, Black Flag in Columbia, Boordy in Baltimore County, or Linganore out in Mount Airy. Bonus if they’re relatively kiddo friendly – some are more so than others 🙂
  5. Workout together. Seriously, hubs and I are super competitive. We workout together once per week (well, really we go to the gym, I run, he does weights) but this weekend, we’re hitting up an Orange Theory Fitness class this weekend when we’re up north which I am SUPER excited about. I tried it ONCE in Atlanta on a business trip, and LOVED it so I’m jazzed to share.
  6. Have a game night in. We love Yahtzee, Kinder Perfect, and Kings in the Corner. We usually play when little man goes to bed, turn on some tunes and sip some wine. It’s a really inexpensive fun way to spend some quality time together.
  7. Bake your favorite dessert together. I’ll be making these vegan blueberry muffins with a festive (likely non-vegan) frosting on top for us all to enjoy this week.
  8. Do some Yoga together. Whether you decide to take a class, or just do a video. Getting your om on can be not only relaxing but also kind of romantic.
  9. Road trip. Go explore a new town, grab a fun lunch and explore a new town for an afternoon. Some fun road trips from our area? Frederick, St. Michaels, Richmond, or Harpers Ferry, WV.
  10. Hit up a museum. Since we’re so close to DC, hitting up a museum can be inexpensive and super fun for an afternoon. If you have little ones to bring along, go somewhere kiddo friendly where they can let loose.

What inexpensive ways are YOU celebrating Valentines Day? 

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Currently Craving: All Pink Everything

Happy Monday friends!

Once upon a time, my blog was titled “Life in Pink” – pink was a long favorite color of mine – less so now, but still a welcome freshness and feminine accent. So i thought it would be fun to find all the cute pink things on my wishlist (mostly workout gear ah-hem) think pink

[Top L-R: Leggings | mug | top | cape | bow mules | Perfume | Sneakers | Open Back Tank | Off the Shoulder sweater | Nail polish | Peplum t-shirt ]

Blushes and mauves are my favorites right now – long since I moved away from bright fuschia pink, blush became a staple of mine in my wardrobe. The workout tops from Gap, Athleta respectively are super feminine, the mauve leggings from Lulu are STUNNING (and their luxtreme fabric is my FAVORITE for workouts).

Pink on your feet is super fun too when you need a touch of brightness – one of my Fit4Mom coaches has these sneaks that I’ve been swooning over for a few weeks (well since I realized I needed new sneakers – I’ll probably get these in navy though since they fit with my workout wardrobe better ;). These mules are pretty for the office with a nice feminine touch as well. Really you can never turn down a pair of mules with a bow…in any color.

Finally, I’m not one for bright nail colors, you’ll often find me with nude or lavender/greyish on my nails – when they’re actually painted that is – but this light pink from Essie “Eternal Optimist” is super pretty and non-offensive for those who can’t stand bright or super dark colors.

Are you thinking pink? 

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