Hi friends! I have a brand new podcast episode live, and today I’m catching you up in a solo episode that’s part life update, part travel tips, and part parenting reflections.

Here’s what we chat about:

• The 700% growth of the podcast this year and what’s been working behind the scenes

• How I budget and plan for vacations (including my favorite credit card points hacks!)

• Raising daughters with a focus on positive body image and why certain conversations don’t belong at the dinner table

• How creating a nag-free dinner environment has helped our family connect more

• Why I believe “balance” is a myth (and what I focus on instead)

• Tips for traveling with kids while keeping stress low and expectations realistic

• What living in Spain taught me about slowing down and savoring life

• The big “someday” dreams my family is talking about—Spain, Germany, or maybe even homesteading

This is a cozy, chatty episode full of stories, reflections, and practical takeaways for creating more connection, joy, and ease in your family life.

Take a listen and tell me which part resonated most with you!

190: Budgeting, Balance & Big Family Dreams

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Detailed show notes here: https://fitnessista.com/podcast

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Sharing some of my top remote work tips since I’ve worked at home for so many years now. I know quite a few of you work remote, too, so please share your top producivity tips or hacks in the comments!

Hi friends! I hope that you’re doing well and enjoying the day. I have a podcast interview this morning and we have the usual homeschool/dance/basketball fun today.

Today, I wanted to chat a little bit about working from home and brainstrom some tips with you all.

OG reader friends are familiar with this story, but I started the blog when we were living in Valdosta, GA. I had just started working as a personal trainer and leaving the retail management world, and it ended up growing into something I never could have imagined. I LOVE being able to connect with all of you, and every single day, I’m so thankful for the freedom to work and earn an income from home while being able to be here for the kids.

I know that many friends out there aslo run a business from home, or work remotely. It’s kind of become the “new normal” and I love that it’s an option. Since the pandemic, the way we think about work has completely shifted: home offices replaced cubicles, video chats replaced conference rooms, and coffee shops became the new coworking hubs. And honestly? It comes with a ton of benefits: convenience, flexibility, fewer commutes, and often a better shot at real work life balance.

But here’s the truth: remote work or working from home isn’t always easy. Without the right strategies, it can feel isolating, overwhelming, or even unproductive.

Today, I wanted to share some of my favorite remote work tips that will help you live your best work life, whether you’re at home, an office, or a coffee shop.

Remote Work Tips

I think that understanding what remote work really means is key. It’s not just working in your pajamas or answering phone calls from the couch. It’s about designing systems, routines, and habits that keep you productive, connected, and fulfilled.

These tips for working remotely are meant to help you not just “get by,” but actually succeed, grow, and enjoy your work from home setup. I also wanted to include tips for my friends that work virtually for a company, because working for yourself is a different beast. (If you’d like me to do more behind-the-scenes blog posts, I’d be happy to do that, too!)

What Does Remote Work Mean?

At its core, remote work means performing your job outside of a traditional office. That might mean setting up a home office, working from a coffee shop, or even doing your job while traveling. Unlike conventional jobs, there’s no water cooler chat, no morning commute, and no boss walking past your desk every 20 minutes.

The biggest difference? Freedom and responsibility. You have more say over your working hours, your work space, and your daily rhythm, but you also need discipline and creativity to stay focused.

Remote work isn’t just a perk anymore; it’s a completely new way of structuring both work and life.

How To Make Remote Work Suc

Sharing a recap of books I’ve read lately and if it’s worth adding them to your collection. 

Hiiii friends! How are you? I hope that you’re having a lovely morning so far! We’re doing the usual homeschool thing around here and I’m looking forward to an F45 class this afternoon.

For today’s post, I wanted to chat about books and share some of the ones I’ve read (and quit) lately. TBH, I haven’t been devoting as much time to reading lately. I’ve been working hard through my IHP Level 3 modules – I’m trying to finish by the EquiLife conference in October – and honestly, scrolling at night a lot more. The days are SO wild that it feels amazing to curl up with my weighted blanket and scroll, but the reality is that reading feels good and actually does something positive for my brain. I downloaded about five new books in the hope that one completely sucks me in, so I can be back into my bookwormy ways.

For now, here’s a roundup of the latest books! I’d love to hear what you’ve added to your collection lately and couldn’t put down.

Books I’ve read lately

One Golden Summer – DNF

I had high hopes for this one, and I’ve read other books by this author and loved them. They’re usually fast, breezy, with decent writing, and a swoonworthy storyline. This one was FLAT. I kept reading, hoping that it would get better, and I was just slogging through it. I finally called it quits at the 70% point. UGH. I was pretty annoyed with it, but the reality is that reading time is sacred and I’m not going to waste time reading books that I’m not loving — there are too many good ones out there. 4/10

From Amazon:

Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true. Alice spent just one summer there at a cottage with Nan when she was seventeen—it’s where she took that photo, the one of three grinning teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that changed her life.

Now Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she’s most comfortable on the sidelines, letting other people shine. Lately though, she’s been itching for something more, and when Nan falls and breaks her hip,

Sharing a currently-type post and what we’ve been up to lately.

Hi friends! How are you? How was the weekend? I hope you had a great one! We went up to Phoenix for the Josh Turner concert and it was everything. He sounds SO good live and the band was incredible. The rest of the weekend was pretty chill. We had an NCL meeting, family dinner at madre’s house, and I got some work stuff done.

For today’s post, I thought it would be fun to do an old-school “currently” style blog post, focused on some of the things we’ve been up to lately. If you’d like to play along in the comments section, I’d love to hear what you’ve had going on lately, too!

Currently:

Celebrating…

Anniversary #18! For next year’s anniversary we should do something huge… like move to Spain?! Just halfway joking…

18 years was a second and a lifetime (multiple lifetimes). Beyond thankful for the little life and family we share, all of the adventures, celebrating the highs, holding each other through the lows, and choosing each other, every day <3

Wearing…

Dresses and Flabelus flats:

(my got-to everyday combo)

And Sambas! I didn’t really get into the trend even though I always thought they were cute, and that’s because someone told me they were super uncomfortable and they returned them. Finally I couldn’t handle it anymore, and I got a pair “for me” but they were really for Liv. (Something kind of funny/interesting: I can rarely get the kids to buy anything or go shopping with me. When I was a teen, I was the OPPOSITE and wanted to buy everything! Now, if I want to get something for Liv, I buy it for myself, she asks to borrow it, and then I usually never see it again.)

They weren’t uncomfortable at all, but felt even better after being broken in for a couple of weeks. Now I have my eye on these ones!

Watching….

NOTHING. I’m over here anxiously waiting for Emily in Paris to come back so I can binge the entire thing. I haven’t really found anything I’ve been excited about since I finished Younger and rarely watch TV. If you’ve watched anything lately you’ve loved, please lmk.

I have a bit more time now when the Pilot is traveling and the gir

Hi friends! Happy Friday! What are you up to this weekend? We’re headed to Phoenix for a concert, P has a b-ball scrimmage, we have NCL meetings, and our weekly dinner with the fam – I look forward to it all week. I’d love to hear what you have going on!

(Monsoon season has been a BUST but at least we’ve had some gorgeous rainbows)

We’re still trying to find our school/homeschool/airline/work groove around here, and our daily schedules have changed a ton since last year. Liv has done competitive dance for many years and it’s her first year taking a break. She’s going to play some school sports instead, and I’m excited for her to find something new that she enjoys. I definitely miss the dance world but I don’t miss driving two hours each night between drop-offs and pick-ups at the studio. She’s had more time to work on homework and chill at night, and I’ve been able to cook pretty much every night.

(gluten-free chicken pot pie with roasted broccoli. I’ll do a roundup soon with new recipes I’ve tried that have been successful)

I prefer to cook at home because you can control the ingredients and sometimes I’m disappointed by the taste, quality, and cost of restaurant food. If I didn’t prep and plan in advance, we’d often grab quick takeout on the way home from the dance and basketball shuffle. We were spending soooo much, many times it was meh or gross, and I definitely feel like eating at home has been easier with this schedule.

Some exciting things coming up on the horizon:

– Not one but TWO huge launches on Monday. Two of my all-time favorite brands are launching amaaaaazing things and of course, I’ll spread the word here Monday morning!

– A trip to San Diego. Counting down for time with our Kleiger fam and some Vitamin Sea

– P starting farm school. It’s one day each week and she gets to ride hoses, help with the animals, and do art on the farm with some other homeschool kids and she’s super excited about it. More of our homeschool plans are here.

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party. This is where I share some of my favorite finds f