Some of you may remember my review from the first time we did this.. it's one of those workout programs that you love to hate.

As part of my recovery and goals to regain my lost strength & endurance I will be completing this cycle in June. I'd love for you to join me!  It's a grind, but the results are absolutely worth it. 

After the first cycle I noticed I was visibly leaner, had increased muscle mass in my quads, hamstrings, shoulders, and back.  I even noticed my somewhat there abs were more defined.  My endurance also significantly improved. I wasn't gasping for air the last weeks of the program. When I did returned to regular training I was stronger.. I did not test any PR's but I was able to add weight to various lifts such as front & back squats, press and deadlifts. 

Please read this article that started the whole thing. You can read my original review of the program here. 

I plan to start this program on June 1st. I will ask that everyone document their time for this, we'll use this to compare to the time for the very last workout.

You can choose to follow along with the schedule of 2 days on, 1 day off, working out an average of 4 days per week.. or create your own if that does not work, as I know we all have lives and things happen. Just make sure you complete all 10,000 swings by June 30th! :)

No matter where you are in your training, whether you're well versed with a barbell, just starting out, or ready to start a new program, this will only help you improve.

If you are new to kettlebell swings, please watch this video and review this article

If you're game, leave your name and email below. I will add you to a private Facebook group where we can all support, cheer on and hold each other accountable. 

Pregnancy, labor & delivery blow my mind. The fact that we can grow a perfect, tiny human and deliver them into this world, no matter what kind of birth you have, is absolutely incredible.

It seems we are in a world where bouncing back into your pre-pregnancy body is expected to take .53 seconds after you give birth. Lets be real..

My first pregnancy resulted in a Cesarean section, this time I had a successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). So I've had two completely different recoveries, both had their benefits, but both were  (and have been) just as grueling, in their own special way.

Six weeks out from delivery I'm still not 100% and don't expect to be for awhile, it took 9 months to grow a little person and to give birth.. it will take time to return to pre-pregnancy shape. I am planning to make more notes regarding my recovery this time to share later. I anticipate sharing these notes in hopes of helping those experiencing something similar and looking to regain their strength and endurance.

I'm taking the time to appreciate what my body has gone through and how it has recovered. Feel free to comment below, I'd love to hear your experience..how you recovered, or what your plans are if you just had a baby recently too.

I am putting together a summer challenge, so stay tuned for that later this week as I hope you'll join me! 

This little ice-cream queen turned two this week, so to celebrate we filled the days with ice-cream, or rather "kweeb" in Aria's terms, sprinkles, popsicles and all thinks pink & fun. 

We kept her actually birth day celebration low key at home with family to open presents and blow out her candles. We decided to go with a play kitchen for her birthday this year. With a big thank you going out to my brother-in-law for venturing to Ikea and hauling it up here from Cali earlier in the month. Aria loves to be in the kitchen with us. We set her on the counter to make coffee and pancakes in the mornings or give her spoons and a mixing bowl of Cheerios to mix and sort, so it just seemed perfect. 

We told family our plans of a kitchen so everyone pitched in all sorts of kitchen themed gifts & accessories.. pots & pans, food and all the cutest tiny utensils. Why are tiny spoons and cups so much cuter than regular ones? ;) I've found that there is a never ending list of hacks to make the little wooden kitchen even cuter! A mini kitchen renovation may already be in the plans. ;) 

I decided to make her cake myself again this year. I had the hardest time deciding between several ideas I had, but went with a gluten & dairy-free chocolate cake recipe with dairy-free vanilla frosting topped with dairy-free fudge and a faux ice cream cone. I wasn't quite brave enough to make this an actual ice-cream filled cake- maybe next year. ;)  

With the extra batter I made some mini cupcakes. Sprinkle dipped waffle cones and vanilla & strawberry coconut ice cream a la mode. 

Watching her blow out her little candle on her cake may be my favorite part. She wasn't quite sure what to make of us all singing "Happy Birthday" to her, she had the cutest little smile on her face as she looked at us all as if we'd lost our minds. Her recent bubble blowing made for great practice for her birthday wishes. She was so happy as blew out the flame. 

I've cream cones, sprinkles all over the floor and too much sugar before bed made for one happy toddler. She had so much fun! 

Friday we had planned an ice-cream play date at the park, but cooler, rainy weather made for a change of plans that made my living room look like a pink tornado hit. Baby dolls, tea party remnants and all the play jewelry made for a toddler-created mine field. 

I seriously cannot believe this sweet girl made me a mom, and her daddy & I parents just two years ago. It's bittersweet, as she's growing too fast, but I cannot wait to see what this coming year brings. We love you Aria, happy second birthday baby girl! 

Aria is turning TWO tomorrow! How can that be!?

She is our sweet, sassy, wild girl, which makes all of her emotions extra big, including how she loves. When she smiles her whole face lights up, she loves to snuggle on the couch every morning and snuggle into our lap for bedtime stories at night. She puckers up for a kiss & tells us "yuv you!" which is almost too much to handle. She tries our patience & pushes our buttons, but then turns on the charm & makes us forget all about it. 

She's still adjusting to becoming a big sister, but does love Emerson so much. She is quick to share her very favorite blanket and makes sure Emi has her binky. She gives her kisses on her head, brushes her fingers through her hair and say "awe, sweet!", which melts my heart! 

She is a little comedian, she always knows when she is being funny & will do anything to make us all laugh. She is both a mama's girl & a daddy's girl. 

Aria has stolen our hearts, day after day, and we can't believe she is turning two tomorrow! As I look through pictures and watch videos of her past two years, I've become a puddle on the floor. This sweet girl made me a mama and I couldn't be more thankful & blessed. I savor each moment as much as I can, as I realize the days of her being a little girl are fleeting. As much as I reminisce on her days as a baby, I look forward to watching to grow, reaching new milestones and each new phase of life. We love you sweet baby girl! 

"Hold her a little longer,

Rock her a little more, 

Read her another story,

(You've only read her four),

Let her sleep on your shoulder,

Rejoice in her happy smile,

She is only a little girl

For such a little while."