I just got back from Orlando working the Raw Threads booth for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. It was a lot of work, but as always a fun time! It got me super excited to run my first half marathon this year in town next weekend. I haven’t been running too much, but I feel prepared and I am really running with a friend to motivate her and pace her. We shall see how it goes.
I wanted to write a little post about all the fun things that you can do with your family in Arizona if you are planning on going out there for Spring Break or Spring Training. We have been going for about 7 years and we always have such a good time. We love that the spring training games are really cheap (about $15-$20) and when your not enjoying the games there are plenty of other things to do.
1. Topgolf– A fun place to eat with the family while you enjoy some time at the driving range.
2. Desert Rose Steakhouse– Yummy Sunday brunch, lunch, dinner, and outdoor yard games to play with the whole family.
3. Water Parks- Wet and Wild Water Park is one of our favorites!
4. A Hike at Thunderbird in Arrowhead– The Hikes here are amazing, but you better get up early before it get’s too hot!Â
5. KTR Chandler -A one of a kind, state of the art 60,000 sq.ft. facility for the entire family to enjoy… at a price you can afford! It is so fun! It is fun for the WHOLE family! Toddlers, teenagers, and adults!
Question: Would love to hear what fun things you have done in Arizona over Spring Break!Â
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Wow what an incredible week up at Forest Home Family Camp! This was our 7th year doing Family Camp up at Forest Home and it might have been one of my favorites! RJ was with us last year and we had a blast, but this year she was able to enjoy so much more of the activities.
A typical dat at camp looks like this:Â
7am: Crossfit (optional) or Lap Swim
8:30am: Breakfast
9:15am-12:15pm: Children go to their programs and parents get some quite time of their own. I read a FULL book this week and caught up some journaling and just being still.
12:30pm: Lunch
1:30-5pm: FREE TIME! They have a pool, splash pad, hikes, lake, challenge course, snack shop, indoor game room, zip-line and much more.
5pm: Dinner
6pm: Meet you CCA aka babysitter at your cabin. The kiddos hang back with their childcare provider while you and the hubby get to go to the evening adult session (worship and amazing speakers) and just have a night together (every night). Some night’s we had an ADULT DINNER, no kids..just US! We got dressed up a little and enjoyed things like fancy salmon and watermelon arugula salad.
9pm: Adult Activities (including the ZUMBA I teach on Monday’s) or just chill by the outdoor fires and catch up with old and new friends.
11pm: Return to cabin.
We had so much fun! I love that we spent so much time outdoors and even got a few naps in here and there. When we got home we were so refreshed from the week that we even tackled a few big projects at home that I can’t wait to show you!
If you are interested at going to Family Camp at Forest Home, you should! They have 9 weeks of this amazing camp every summer and let me just tell you the intentional time with your spouse as well as the no cooking and NO DISHES, is worth every penny!
Question: Have you ever been to a camp or retreat center like this before?Â
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It was a great break, filled with some sadness due to some hard news about a family member. That’s life though, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. Life gets sad and hard sometimes and it’s in the thick of it that you either fall down and crash or rise up and trust God more than ever. So right now, I am choosing to trust God even through the tears. I can’t and won’t be able to see the end of this hard time, but I do know that God get’s the glory and final say in it all.
Ok, enough of the sadness….on to the JOY!
These past two weeks have been also filled with fun times as well. We went to Spring Training to see some awesome Baseball teams play in Arizona as well as spend time with my Brother and family. This is our fourth year going and this time RJ wasn’t sitting so much so it was a whole new experience. None the less fun, but just a little adventurous (aka crazy).
We also grilled out again on our back patio and even had some fancy drinks (recipes to come).
I love the California Spring weather, not to hot…and so NOT to cold! It’s the perfect weather to go on evening bike rides to the market with the family to pick up dinner and not SWEAT to death up the MASSIVE hill we have to climb back to our house.
I also spent some time in San Diego with my beautiful BLEND Amanda and got in my first 8 mile run in, in a long time! I love San Diego so much and 8 miles sure goes by fast when you have so much life to catch up on with a good friend. I saw the movie McFarland over my “Spring Break” as well and it was SO GOOD! SO INSPIRING! Â I think I liked it even more, because once upon a time I was a Cross Country Coach. I kinda really want to coach again!!! It also made me want to run a lot more too! So get ready for some fun new training tips. I think I am going to start a new blogging series called “Run Bobbi Run”. What do you think?
I love blogging and although I am not the best at keeping it updated and posting all the time. I thank you all for continue to be there and read! Thanks for reading my shenanigans, fun recipes, mommy moments, coffee dates, and workouts to come! Oh and guess what? SUMMER SHRED is coming SOON (where did the year go?)!!!
P.S. How cute is her new smile?! CHEEEESE!
Monday also was the start to my third annual Holiday Shred and how is it a week away from Thanksgiving?! Just wanted to pop in and see how you all are enjoying this holiday season? We are in the south for two more days and I am soaking up time with our in-laws on the farm. RJ is loving all the love and fresh air!
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ve got 5 Things for you on this beautiful Wednesday…
#1. September 11:
A day of great mourning. Today I pray for all that continue to be affected by the horrible tragedy of 9/11. I can’t believe it has been 13 years since that day happened.
On a lighter note, today is also my oldest brother’s birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!
#2. Beach Camping:
We are off beach camping at this week with 16 other adults and 18 children!
This will be our third camping trip with this community of friends, but we missed out last year because we got to bring our RJ HOME! This will be our first camping trip as a family of three. I am exited and nervous all at the same time.
I am also sticking to my #WHOLE30 challenge while camping and hope to have a post next week on how I packed and how I did during this trip.
#3. WHOLE 30 Update:
I am staying strong. We ate out a lot last week with family in town for RJ’s birthday, but I managed to to stick to clean eats and not quit (although one night I just wanted to enjoy some chips and salsa and a marg). I even froze one of RJ’s cupcakes from her birthday so I can enjoy a bite next month.
It’s actually been pretty easy, because I feel great! I think the no sugar and being able to have coffee part is helping. I just drink my coffee with a splash of almond milk. I am doing this to (a) see how this style of eating really makes me feel, (b) kick my sugar habit from this summer and (c) help my Mama stay accountable.
Only 2 more weeks to go. Best part of it all, it has encouraged me to use more whole foods and get in the kitchen. I will be sharing a meal plan at the end.
#4. Fall is EVERYWHERE:
I know we still have a few more weeks of summer, but I still decided to hang some fall decorations and start lighting the pumpkin candles.
Fall has a new sense of amazing memories for me now, mainly because it was right when we brought RJ home for the first time. I remember the few days before RJ came home, I put up all the fall decorations so when she came home, it was nice and cozy. I have always loved fall, but now I love it even more!
#5. Refresh Attire Shop closes this Sunday:
This will be the last time for a full month that you will be able to purchase Refresh Attire tanks and tees.
It will also be the LAST TIME we will be offering the FIT SO I CAN BE ME designs.
CLICK HERE to purchase!
]]>Thought I would share a few fun picture of the fun that has been happening this summer…
Susie and I went on a little Mamaâ€s Get-Away with her kiddos and RJ to Palm Springs, before school starts…
RJ had a BLAST!
RJ is 11 months old (crazy right?), so that means we got a party to start planning! I am keeping it simple and going with a color scheme instead of a theme… pink and gold!
She is GROWING!
I have been adding to KALE to everything! Itâ€s the best in veggie and chicken sausage skillets!
I found the watermelon Chobani, and I LOVED IT! Itâ€s not a super strong watermelon taste, itâ€s the perfect amount of sweetness. I found it at Super Wal-Mart.
I have been making an effort to not live in my workout clothes and now I live in these Target shorts and gold sparkly shoes. I love SUMMER!
I have fallen in love with BODY PUMP! How I had never tried it, I will never know. I try and do two classes a week and itâ€s so much fun. I may even get my certification!
I am on week 7 of my ABIDE JOURNAL from Naptime Diaries. I am gonna miss it, when I finish!
RJ got her first pony tail!
Saturday cycle has been amazing this summer. I will be sad when it getâ€s too cold to ride!
For dinners, we live on the porch. I am not even sure we have sat at our dining room table once this whole summer.
TRX classes have started at my Gym and I am teaching some of them! I am stoked!
I taught my first beginner class on Saturday with my friend Jackie and we CRUSHED it!
Still trying to master the beachy waves, maybe one day I will get it and do a tutorial.
Friday nights, have become FAMILY NIGHT and we have had so much fun getting out with the little. We always stay close to home and I think that we are starting to fall even more in love with our little town.
I am headed to the Idea World Conference this weekend and I am SO EXCITED! Who all is going to be there????
Question: What is one of your favorite things you have done this summer?
P.S. Winner of the Propel Challenge coming tomorrow!
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Last week we spent a week up at Forest Home Family Camp. It was an incredible week. It was a life-changing week. I stepped away from social media as much as I could and truly unplugged for 5 solid days. This was our 5th year of Family Camp and it was the most special one thus far, because we got to share it as a family of three. We also spend the Fourth of July there, which was perfect!
I could go on and on about what we did at Family Camp and what God taught me. Itâ€s fun what God teaches you when you actually sit still for more than two seconds and have some quiet space to listen. It was in that quiet space that I truly, madly, and deeply became ready to ABIDE more than ever in Godâ€s truth and grace. Here are the top 10 highlights from our week:
10. Inspiration Point Breakfast
Itâ€s about a two-mile hike up to the most beautiful hilltop, where guests get to enjoy the freshest and fluffiest pancakes and bacon, while drinking a cup of Joe with a view.
9. Main Speaker Albert Tate
It was such a blessing having our old pastor as the main speaker for the week. I have been going through the Abide journal by Naptime Diaries, and the entire week of messages was about John 15:5 and abiding in the Lord. It couldnâ€t have been a sweeter time of learning.
8. Root Beer Freezes and Shaved Ice
Who knew that I would fall back in love with such fun camp treats?! I think I had a Shaved Ice everyday and at least two Root Beer Freezes from the Clubhouse. When at camp, you have to just enjoy!
7. Morning Adult Free Time
Every morning after breakfast we would drop off RJ in her classroom while we went to our morning session. We always had about 2 hours after the session to do whatever we wanted. I chose to spend some deep time in Godâ€s word and read in the hammock. Hubby still had to work a bit, so this time was when he got his work done.
6. The Pool
I swear RJ is a fish! She loves the pool. Forest Home just installed a new pool and a splash pad that one day we will all enjoy.
5. Adult Dinners
We had two “fancier†dinner nights, where we got to eat KID FREE! They had an early dinner for kids (obviously RJ didnâ€t go) and then our CCA (see #2) came so we could enjoy an amazing Farm-to-Table dinner! Both nights all the food was delish! We even had lavender ice-cream one night for dessert!
4. Nap-time
I donâ€t know what it was about the mountains, but RJ slept so hard! She took two solid naps everyday. I even snuck in a nap or two (first time ever) and they were glorious.
3. CrossFit
I was stoked that they offered two days of CrossFit and two days of lap swim. The CrossFit workouts were made up of mostly tabata and then a deck card workout. There wasn’t anything too intense, but so great to work out with new friends and with such an amazing back drop!
2. Date Nights every Night!
The one thing that sets Forest Home apart from all other family camps is the Child Care Assistants that are offered for free! Every night after dinner our CCA would come over, tuck RJ into bed, and stay with her till 11pm, while we went to our evening session and then enjoyed some amazing one-on-one time! The Hubby and I have not been away from RJ together on a trip yet, so this was the perfect compromise. We played cards, enjoyed life dreams over coffee, shared a shake in the clubhouse, star-gazed, and just relaxed!
1. Quality Time with these Two
Although Matt had to work, it was a lot of fun not having to clean up after meals, worry about what to cook for dinner, being caught up with watching TV, or stuck on our computers. Just to look each other in the eyes and worship together for an entire week was such a blessing.
I am so happy that Hubby works here year-round so we can visit often and still experience a bit of family camp every week. 
This weekend was an absolute blast! The three of us loaded up the car and headed out to San Clemente and San Diego for some sand fun and ball park hotdogs!
I was invited to a summer solstice yoga session on the sand by a yogi friend of mine and I couldn’t think of a more fun way to celebrate the first day of summer! We did 108 sun salutations (crazy right) to celebrate God who has blessed us with the sun!
Our day at the beach with RJ wasn’t long enough! Taking a vacation with a little is a whole lot different from just the two of us. Everything takes about an hour longer and schedules get thrown out the window. She was a trooper though and did so great!
I think more than anything being able to relax together as a family is one of the best parts about getting away, if only for a night. Our evening was pretty chill, as RJ is teething and wasn’t her normal sleep-for-12 hours self. She stayed up with us and we watched UP and enjoyed take out Thai food and some cheap wine (none for RJ of course).
The next morning was nice and slow. It was slow mostly because RJ was up early and mama needed about 4 cups of coffee to get moving!
The hubby surprised us with behind-the-plate seats at Petco Park! He wanted RJ’s first MLB game to be EPIC. (I will tell her when she’s older.) I was excited because it was a Dodgers vs Padres game. Go blue! We cheered, we ate (I enjoyed a brew and a hotdog), we sang, and RJ even napped.
It was such a fun weekend and the perfect way to start out the summer. Hubby and I decided we have to make this a yearly tradition!
Let the Summer FUN begin!
Question: What are you excited about this summer?
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Today Iâ€m blogging as part of the Marriott Rewards® Ambassador program and this is the second of a serious of three posts. My family and I stayed at the Residence Inn Portland Downtown/RiverPlace – Marriott in April and the property and location was FAB! We really liked our room and how close we were to everything downtown! I wanted to take a minute and chat about the actual Marriott Rewards program and my experience redeeming points for our one-night stay.
In case you didnâ€t know, the Marriott Rewards program is free to join and every time you stay in a Marriott property, you earn points that can be redeemed for free nights (you can enroll here: Marriott.com/rewards). I am loving all our racked up points!
Based on your stays and points, you also gain status and each tier comes with even greater benefits. As a Platinum Elite member, you gain privileges such as 48-hour guaranteed availability, exclusive offers, dedicated Platinum reservation line, 50% bonus on points for stays, free wifi, and late checkout.
Here is a fun video for you all to share our experience:
*Video Update* // There is actually another nomination period in August!
Also, donâ€t forget that Marriott Rewards is celebrating itâ€s 30th birthday with a Year of Surprises. You can nominate friends or family for a surprise party at yearofsurprises.com by sharing your ideas for a celebration. I am so excited about this! The second round of nominations takes place May 1 to May 31, so enter soon (full rules at yearofsurprises.com/rules!
Disclaimer: Millennial Central is providing me with a promotional item and Marriott points in exchange for this post series, but I was not pressured to write a positive review and all opinions expressed in todayâ€s post are mine alone.
