A Personal Post & Your Weekend Workout

The workout is at the bottom. Scroll down if you don’t want the personal sappy part! 😉 

I’ve been looking forward to this weekend all year. I look forward to it every year, and always have since I was a kid. This weekend is my BIRTHDAY weekend!

Well, sort of. My birthday is technically Monday, the 27th,  and Erik and I are travelling out of town next weekend so chances are, the next TWO weekends might be my birthday weekends. Personally, I’m not opposed.

But this weekend, I kind of have a lot going. I’m working bright and early tomorrow (Saturday) morning due to our annual Race for the Cure Breast Cancer 5k here at work. (BTW, if you’re interested in racing, last I heard, we’re taking walk-in registrations. Comment below or message me for more info.) And after that I’ll be heading to the gym for my own workout. I haven’t made plans for Saturday night but Sunday, I’m hoping to catch up with some family.

When the 26th of October rolls around, I never know what to expect. I always get a little nervous and never try to make plans–just take things as they come. Four years ago, October 26th 2010, I lost my dad to cancer. I’ve written about it before, and I don’t want this to be another “typical-sad-story-of-loss-you’ve-heard-a-thousand-times-before” but I do like remembering my dad and writing about him so that others remember him too.

One of the hardest moments about losing my dad was thinking that the world “had” to go on without him and that people would forget him. He was a simple man who lived a quiet life and won’t be remembered in a text book; however, all he stood for, all he taught me–I just didn’t, and still don’t, want it forgotten. I never wanted to stop talking about him, and I still don’t want people to forget that of all people I’ve ever known, his heart was probably one of the biggest. 

It’s funny how it seems that people don’t want to talk to you about the people you lost. Like they’re going to break you if they mention a name. I didn’t want–nor do I want–people to ever stop talking about my dad. I don’t like when people act like he just never existed. So when this time of the year rolls around–the same time he used to love to go hunting, watch football, fish with his own dad….those times make me smile. And it’s weird to say this, but I don’t mind that his death falls the day before my birthday. I think I feel closer to him during this time of year and that’s a nice feeling.

All that said, I’m hoping to bake some cookies and see my family this weekend. I definitely do not get to see them as much as I should–I constantly blame by business on my lack of visiting–and I especially need to step up my game to see my grandparents…who aren’t doing so well these days.

So that’s my plan this weekend–have fun, smile a lot, see family, and remember loved ones. <3

What are yours? 

Don’t forget, the weekend isn’t complete without a workout! Here’s my Strong Figure challenge for you guys…something a little different.

Since many people will be running Saturday morning, I challenge you guys to do TWO things: 

• Run/Walk/Row a 5k (pick your poison) 😉
• Then perform 25 Push-ups and 25 pull-ups

You can break your push-ups and pull-ups into sets or even do 2 rounds of PU/PU if you really want a challenge. If you don’t have access to something in which you can do pull-ups, try to row a heavy dumbbell 25 times, each arm. If you have no equipment, do 50 push-ups, BUT change your hand position around every so often so that you change the muscle groups that you are working.

Happy weekend, and go hug someone you love! <3 Steph