Working in the Workouts: Meadow frolic
I'm so happy to be back to incorporating outdoor workouts into my routine, sporadic as it may be. It's been almost three years since I moved from the West Coast to the East Coast and I still don't have winter workout gear in my wardrobe. So I tend to wait around for April to go for any lengthy walks or jogs outside.But that would be so normal.
The other day, I actually did sprints, played hide and seek and pretended to be Dora the Explorer in a field of tall grass down the street from our house. Of course, I wasn't alone. This was my daughter's idea of a grand time. And it turned out to be a pretty darn good workout, too.
No trails, stroller, trails, or special gear needed. Just an empty meadow and our imaginations.
I know that winter is coming to a close -- perhaps more rapidly in some areas than others -- but I know that for me, the weather extremes that occur at the end of winter tend to cause absolute havoc with my hair. I don't know if it's the return of the sun, the sudden, massive snowstorms, the wind or perhaps a combination of all of the above and more, but the months of February though April tend to bring fly-aways, split-ends and, of course, hat head on the colder days.
Except for the fact that someone in my household has been sick three out of every four days this month, this winter has been stacking up to be pretty awesome. Last winter was so unnaturally warm, it was kind of spooky. If you live in the North, like me, you're used to snow in the winter months, and lots of it. This year hasn't disappointed. We've had two snow days this week and more snow is headed our direction -- time to get out and play!
Ugh, who isn't dealing with dry skin in some form during this time of year? Besides anybody lucky enough to be living in southern California or Hawaii? That's what I thought. Practically nobody.
With winter here, those iced coffees we enjoyed so much over the summer will have to be, well, put on ice for the time being.
January isn't typically synonymous with taking a dip, but indoor pools in winter can be a great resource for parents and children. We're lucky enough to live walking distance from such an amenity. Next week, it will be the site of the regular playgroup my daughter and I sometimes host at our house.
Freezing rain, sleet, snow -- winter weather can make sidewalks and walkways slick and dangerous. When the weather is bad, it's a good idea to step cautiously until you know whether the surface you're walking on is wet or icy.
Winter is known as the season for sickness -- I know this well, since I've been battling a cold for the last couple of weeks. But you can fight back against illness. How? By stocking up on Superfoods, of course.
The forecasted high temperature for tomorrow is 17 degrees where I live. Let me say that again, the forecasted HIGH temperature for tomorrow is 17 degrees. Here in New England, this isn't entirely uncommon for this time of year, but it is certainly a sign that those extra couple of weeks of warm weather we experienced back on October won't be returning any time soon. That also means that we have to be mindful of such known dangers as frostbite and exposure. However, the winter months bring with them an added risk, one that we are not always as quick to take into account.
Last week I told you about carpet skating. This week, I'm going more traditional. How about a spin on an ice skating rink?
Playing outside with my kids today, I was marveling at the fact that the cold doesn't seem to bother them. As they threw themselves down the mini-snow mountain in our front yard again and again, they seem oblivious to the fact that it's only 20 degrees out there. I, on the other hand, was shivering in my boots! .jpg)
If the cold weather wasn't bad enough, another side effect of winter is the dry skin that plagues the majority of us once the temperatures drop. In particular, I notice myself reaching for the chap stick twice as often as I normally would, to soothe my almost painfully dry lips. You too?
Find yourself craving a big bowl of spaghetti once the first snow flies? I know I do -- something about the cold weather makes me want to hole up with my comfort foods -- mac n' cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, pasta and so on. And I'm not alone. 











