Tag: exercise

Workout out and staying fit

Blogmas Day 22: My 2026 Goals

sunnysidewithsiri2 Comments

Hello Sunny Siders, it’s Blogmas day 22. I can’t believe how close we are to the end of Blogmas!

As we get closer and closer to the new year, I always love taking this time to reflect and set some goals for the year.

In the few years that I’ve done this for Blogmas, I’ve shifted from setting a lot of goals to focusing in on a few to make it more manageable.

I’ve made this shift, as I read a book “The 5 Resets” that indicated that as humans we really cannot make more than 3 changes in our lives at a time even if they are positive. The brain struggles to adapt and keep up with more than three habits changes. The book recommends making 3 habit changes for 3 months before starting another set of habit shifts.

So you’ll see that while I have more than 3 goals, I won’t have more than 12 goals because it won’t be realistic to achieve them.

2026 Goals:

Phase 1: January – March

Drink my daily recommended amount of water.

I’ve had this as a goal for so many years now but it always seems to get pushed to the back. This year I’m starting with this goal and I’m going to stick to it!

Really start learning Japanese.

I’ve been doing Duolingo for almost 4 years and I don’t really feel that I’ve retained much or can even speak the language. In 2026 I want to expand my learning platforms so that by 2027 I can speak enough to get myself around Japan. Basically, I want to be able to order food, ask for directions, and get help if needed.

Replace my screen time with hobbies that challenge my brain.

I’ve been making a lot of progress towards limiting my screen time over the years. In 2026 I want to challenge myself to replace that screen time with tasks that require my brain to think and grow. I’m talking more puzzles, crosswords, and maybe I’ll finally learn to play sudoku.

Phase 2: April – June

Use the amenities I have available to me!

My apartment has a host of great amenities that I never use. I’d like to change that by taking advantage of the pool, the gym and my patio more often. I’d also like to try and attend some of the resident hosted events!

Re-learn how to do a press handstand.

I’ve been really enjoying getting back into old gymnastics skills and one that I’d really like to be able to do again is a press handstand. This will probably take longer than 3 months to learn, but this is the time of year that I’ll update my exercise program to start training it consistently.

Phase 3: July – September

Being okay with boredom.

This one has always been a challenge for me. I really struggle when I don’t have something to do. This year I want to learn to sit in silence and be okay with boredom.

Expand my art skills.

I run a small business sticker (and soon card) shop. I want to start expanding my digital art skills. Maybe I’ll take a class or maybe I’ll invest in a sketch book. All I know is I’d like to level up my art!

Phase 4: October – December

Spend and enjoy lots of time with family.

Some pretty big milestones will be happening in this final quarter of the year and I really want to make sure I am present in the moment to enjoy them.

Blogmas 2026!

My final goal will be to participate in Blogmas again for 2026! Since I’ve been doing it for a few years I’m sure some of the topics have gotten repetitive, so for 2026 I’d like to plan early so I can make some more unique content!

I’m looking forward to seeing how I manage to make these goals work for me in 2026!

Blogmas Day 10: My Exercise Challenge in 2025 and How it Went

sunnysidewithsiri2 Comments

Hello Sunny Siders, we’re back for Blogmas day 10! Today I want to talk about exercise and how it’s changed for me in 2025.

2025 saw a big change in how I think about exercise. I started the year off with a coloring sheet my mom gave me. It had each month and day of the year, with the objective to color in a square for every day you exercised.

Given my prior toxic relationship with the over exercising, I wanted to find a way to partake in the challenge without reverting to old habits. To do this, I decided to alter the challenge to be a movement challenge. Every day I got movement (could be walking, stretching, or even heavy lifting) then I would mark a box off. This way, I could enjoy the challenge without becoming obsessed with high intensity exercise just to check the boxes.

For most of the year, I was really just following my prior year goal of 4 days of exercise, but then around the end of July I made a rather drastic change.

It all came from a day when I was lounging on the couch watching Instagram reels. I had discovered a new content creator who specializes in making bento boxes for her friends and was loving her cooking content. On one particular video, she was talking about her mom. Her mom was getting ready to run a marathon and while that was already impressive, what was even more impressive was her 3 hour exercise regime that she was doing DAILY!

This was a swift kick in my ass to get me to up my movement. I don’t go crazy with 3 hours of intense exercise a day, but I told myself if this mother could exercise for 3 hours a day, then I could get movement for my body every day.

And let me tell you, it worked. Whenever I felt like “ugh I don’t want to do anything” I’d think of her 3 hour exercise routine and get my butt up to go for a walk or to stretch.

I also started to find much more fun exercise avenues than just the basic cardio on a treadmill or lifting. I started getting into calisthenics, retraining myself to do handstands like I used to do as a gymnast. I also found an incredible YouTuber Move With Nicole for super fun yoga and Pilates classes at home!

These little shifts made it easier for me to get up and do the dang thing, and every time I did it, my confidence boosted, making me want to continue the practice.

I had a great streak going for 3 full months…up until I slammed my finger in a door and had a trip to urgent care (that’s a story for another time). But even when my finger was immobilized and I couldn’t do anything intense, I still found myself wanting to go for walks and stretching.

With all that, I wanted to share my current tally of days with movement in 2025. As of today, I have exercised 302 days out of the 344 days so far this year, about 88% of the year! I’m really proud of myself for sticking to this challenge and I can’t wait to see what my final day is on December 31st!

Blogmas Day 1: Gratitude Challenge

sunnysidewithsiri2 Comments

Hello Sunny Siders, it’s officially December which that means Blogmas is back! For the new Sunny Siders, Blogmas is a time of year when I blog every single day from December 1st through 25th. The content is usually holiday focused to get everyone feeling the spirit of the season.

This is my 4th year doing Blogmas and usually I start with a workout challenge that lasts the entire duration of Blogmas. However, this year I’ve decided to switch it up and make a challenge focused on mental fortitude.

This years Blogmas challenge is a gratitude challenge. The goal for the next 25 days is to spend 5–10 minutes every day to take a step back from technology and the world around you and to be alone with your thoughts, focusing primarily on what you are grateful for.

I’m including some example prompts of what you can focus on during your 5-10 minutes a day, but the real goal is to pause and take time to reflect, so do what works best for you. That could be sitting in a quiet space away from distractions like a meditation or journaling your thoughts. Again, do what works best for you!

Prompt ideas:

List 5 things/people you are grateful for and why.

Reflect on something that happened today that made you feel happy.

Send positive energy into the world for those you love and care for.

Think about a time you felt calm and at peace, what caused you to feel that way?

What is something you are excited for during this holiday season and why?

Who is someone you are grateful to have in your life and why?

Reflect on a time that you were going through something difficult and how you perservered.

What are some things in your life that bring you joy? Why do they bring you joy?

I hope that taking a little time to practice some reflection and gratitude it will make each day a little brighter as we inch closer and closer to the end of another year.

Let’s Talk About My Meditation Journey

sunnysidewithsiri2 Comments

Hello Sunny Siders and happy November! I can’t believe we are rapidly approaching the end of the year, it feels like 2025 just started.

Today I wanted to talk about something that was new for me and that was the journey of meditation. For some context, I started meditating in May when I was having a lot of stress at work and I needed to find a way to bring it back to normal levels.

I had read a few books on stress and they had a lot of great insights, but I wasn’t finding that I was actually able to reduce my stress as much as I had expected. I also had a lot of swirling thoughts that I wanted to find a way to calm, turning my mind from a rough ocean into a calming sea.

Before this I had dabbled in meditation on and off, but never really stuck with it. However, this time I really wanted to give it a shot and that’s what I wanted to share my thoughts on today.

Now I realized very quickly I am not good at just sitting down and meditating so I decided to invest in an app called Balance. This blog is not sponsored by them in any way, they were just the app that I was recommended by my therapist and so I decided to give it a shot. Now, full disclosure Balance is an app that you do have to pay for in order to get the most benefits, and that ended up being around $37 for a year of benefits.

With Balance once you begin, it asks you a series of questions about what brought you to meditation, what challenges are you having, and what are your goals. For me that was challenges with stress and anxiety and wanting to find ways to be happier by calming my stress and anxiety. But plans in balance can be different based on what you’re trying to do. There are a variety of different things that balance can coach around and that is something about the app that I really like is that it is tailored to my needs.

I started by doing their beginners program, which really just focused on the different breathing techniques and introduced me to skills like labeling, body scan, and visualization.

Labeling helps to return you from distractions. Essentially when you’re meditating, and your mind starts to wander, labeling can help you to identify that your mind has wandered in a neutral way and then bring you back to what you were focusing on.

Body scan allows you to notice sensations in your body and check in with how you’re feeling.

Visualization involves using your imagination and visual metaphors to become more aware or relaxed.

Throughout my meditation journey, I have learned so many more tools beyond those three skills, but Balance has really helped me to learn it in a very simple way.

You have guided meditations that start at only five minutes but as you progress through your programs, you get up to twenty minutes. I recently completed all the beginner, intermediate, and advanced level introduction courses, and I found that I now have a plethora of tools in my tool kit to help me focus and reduce my stress and anxiety.

I can’t say Balance meditations are the only thing that helped me to calm stress and anxiety and bring me to a better mental state, but it really has helped.

I even am now able to use the tools that Balance meditations have given me just throughout my day. Sometimes at work I need to take a quick break and I’ll do a little breath focus or moment of silence. When I go on walks outside, I try to focus on listening to the noises and focusing on the sites around me instead of being glued to my phone.

When I go to bed, I love their sleep journeys, especially the on the tracks meditation, which is a 30 minute visualization meditation centered around getting on a train and going on an adventure, but it takes place in different seasons, depending on how many times you do it!

I think utilizing Balance or some other similar program to get into meditation is one of the only ways I would’ve been able to do so. They really take what feels challenging and explain things in a very simple way. and There’s also a bit of gamification with a streak element of how many times you come back to do meditations and I think that has helped me to stay consistent, which is a big part of seeing the positive impacts of meditation.

Overall, I can say that in my meditation journey, I have seen the positive effects on my stress and anxiety levels. I have a set of tools that when my stress and anxiety begin to heighten, I now know how to mitigate them.

It’s not perfect by any means and it’s not going to solve all problems, but it has given me away to try and take a positive approach to handling my emotions, stress and anxiety, and I do feel it’s made a positive impact on me for the better.

Just Saying Hello!

sunnysidewithsiri2 Comments

Hey Sunny Siders, I hope you all have been doing well the past couple of months. I have been super busy the last few months as it is busy season for my job so I took a break from blogging, but I am excited to get back into in again!

I also took a break because I had this idea for a more research based blog that I wanted to be my next post, but the thought of doing more work during this very busy time made me unmotivated and overwhelmed.

So instead, I thought I’d start small and simple and work my way up to that more intense post when I am refueled and ready.

Today, I am just saying hi and thought with the growth in the blog it might be fun to do a little reintroduction!

For those who are new or need a refresher, Sunny Side Up With Siri started as a project to document my honest college experience and then transformed into a personal blog showcasing my hobbies, interests, and growth.

This blog has had many phases coinciding with my interests: fitness content, recipes, fashion, anime, drawing, and more over the past 5 and a half years.

Right now, I am new to the corporate life working my first 9 to 5 job learnings lots about setting boundaries, advocating for myself, and growing my career the way I want. It has been tough and I am not great at sticking up for myself, but each day I am learning more and more about navigating this new chapter of my life!

I recently started a small business selling my digitally drawn and then printed stickers. Sunny Sider Crafts has been such a learning experience and has allowed me to tap into my creativity in a new and exciting way. I am currently trying to get some cards ready for the upcoming holidays like Mothers and Fathers Day, but I cannot wait to get back into doodling for fun alongside my business designs.

Exercise is still a big part of who I am, but it has had many different phases since the inception of this blog. From high intense workouts daily, to slow walks for recovery and everything in between. Right now I have been doing lots of home workouts and prioritizing stretching since work leaves me very exhausted by the end of the day. Simple easy exercises during the week coupled with walks have been my norm. On weekends is when I spice it up by going to the gym and really sweating it out, whether that be a cycling session or weights. Being transparent, I’ve lost a lot of my strength in the last year shifting from school to full time employee due to low energy levels, but I am working hard to get back to a place that is healthy and manageable for me.

Fashion is still a fun one that I enjoy, but don’t experiment with as much as I used to. Now that I have my personal style locked in I don’t buy clothes nearly as much as I used to, meaning I am fully an outfit repeater. Interestingly, working a corporate job has also limited my wardrobe in that certain outfits I used to wear just aren’t appropriate at work (jeans, shots, skirts, etc). Since I spend most weekends at home, a lot of my favorite outfits don’t get worn as much as they used to, but I am working to change that on the few days I do go out during non working hours.

I still love anime, but the rate at which I am watching anime has slowed down dramatically. TV time has primarily been replaced with playing Stardew Valley with my friends instead, or reading, which I got into more thanks to my slow transition to a dumb phone user.

To all the new Sunny Siders and to those who have been with me since day one, I am so excited to keeping reinventing this blog to coincide with my passions, and I am even more excited to share those passions with you!

As I get back into blogging, get excited for more surrounding these core pillars of my personality as well as new and exciting areas that I am certain will crop up as I continue to grow.

So hello, I am Sunny Side Up With Siri and I am so happy you are here!

I Was Diagnosed With Stress: Let’s Talk About It

sunnysidewithsiri2 Comments

Hey Sunny Siders, happy Sunday! I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend and a fresh start to the new week. Today, we’re going to chat about something that happened a few months ago, back when I was working and pursuing my MBA.

Now that I’ve had some time to make lifestyle changes, I want to share my experience being diagnosed with stress and how I’ve been working to mitigate it.

About six months ago I was have cramping and pain just about every day in my ovary. This was a gradual progression, it started a few times a month, then once a week, and finally it was happening almost daily.

I thought, like most would, that it was probably a cyst and something that I should get checked out at the gynecologist. However, when I went to the gynecologist after they ran all the tests, there was absolutely nothing wrong. I was (and still am) so grateful that everything was healthy, but that didn’t solve the problem of why I was having terrible pain every single day.

The gynecologist told me that it was likely because of stress. I’ll be honest, I hated that answer! I was like “How the heck am I supposed to fix this then? I can’t just stop school or stop work, so I’m just stuck in pain until I graduate?”

Well, turns out there are ways to reduce your stress while still not giving up your personal obligations.

It just so happened around the same time I was struggling with this, one of the podcasts I listened to had a special guest Aditi Nerurkar, a doctor who specializes in stress.

After listening to the episode, I asked for her book, The 5 Resets, for my birthday to help me handle my stress.

So in Dr. Nerurkar’s book, she provides 5 key areas where one can make easy changes to take back your life from stress.

Notably, Dr. Nerurkar highlights the importance of only making two habit changes at one time, sticking with those two habits for two months to make them stick.

Anything above two major habit changes, even if they’re good for you, and your brain can’t handle it, so sticking with two and really making them new life changes is the way to go.

After reading all 5 habit changes, I chose the first two that I wanted to prioritize: Breaks/Check-In’s and Movement. With the first one, for the past few months I’ve been working on taking breaks every hour at work while doing check-in’s using the Stop. Breathe. Be technique, which has you stop, take a big deep breath, and then centering yourself.

My other habit I’ve been building is getting movement every day, this could be a workout, or even just taking a nice walk as a quick break during work!

Using these two techniques for the best few months, I’ve actually been able to reset my stress. That pain I was having finally subsided, and I haven’t had it since I started managing my stress!

I’m planning to start building two new habits tomorrow, one focusing on setting more digital boundaries from my phone, and the other fixing my sleeping patterns.

What I Got For Christmas 2022 (Blogmas Day 25)

sunnysidewithsiri2 Comments

Hey Sunny Siders and Merry Christmas! We have arrived at the final day of blogmas! I hope you all had as much fun with this as I did. I had a blast coming up with these holiday themed posts for you all, it really added an extra touch of holiday spirit to the season for me. As my final post before I take a little break, I’m sharing what I got for Christmas this year. In no way, shape, or form am I trying to brag. Rather, I’m just showing how grateful I am for the people who thought of me this holiday season.

Mamegoma in a frog costume plushie

I love stuffed animals and I love Japanese characters even more so. I saw this Mamegoma plushie in a frog costume almost a year ago and I’ve wanted it ever since. I was so excited when my boyfriend was able to get it for me! Just look at her, she’s so cute!

Stay itk skincare

I saw this skincare brand a few months ago, and I’ve been wanting to try something new. What drew me in was that it was relatively cheap and made with all natural ingredients. So far I’ve only tried the tonor and I’m really liking it so far!

Closet pants organizer

I’ve been struggling with keeping my closet organized ever since I moved. I stumbled across these hangars that hold up to five pairs of pants and they can hang horizontal or vertical. I absolutely love these! They shored up so much space in my closet that I think I might even buy more!

Closet shelve organizer

Another struggle I have with my closet is that in order to get everything to fit in my closet I have to stack my clothes in very tall piles that tend to lean. These shelve organizers help to keep everything upright, and they instantly made my clothes look so pristine.

Macaroon candle

This candle is so aesthetic, and it smells phenomenal. I can’t wait to relax on the couch, listen to lofi beats, and light this candle while I drink a warm cup of tea.

Antibacterial wipes and after sun lotion

These wipes are my favorite antibacterial wipes from Aldi. I love keeping a pack in my car, so I’m so glad I got another pack. I also got some after sun lotion. This is my favorite brand to use after a day at the beach or the pool.

Mini sewing machine

For those who don’t know, I actually love to sew. However, my sewing machine is at my childhood home. I’m so excited I got this mini version so I can fix my clothes while I’m at school!

Heat gun

Something I’ve been wanting to do for awhile is restore and DIY furniture. One tool that people love using is a heat gun. I can’t believe I can finally start wit for DIY projects! I’m going to try making an acrylic table first!

Colorful koala shorts

These are my favorite biker shorts on the market. I have a pair in black already, and I can’t wait to wear these shorts to the gym!

Japanese language book and adult coloring book

I have been learning Japanese for almost a year, and I’ve been wanting to get into writing the symbols. I’m so excited to get even more invested into learning the language. I’ve also been looking for activities that I can do without being on my phone. I saw this cute adult coloring book that I thought I can spend more of my time coloring than scrolling on social media.

Portable charger

I’ve been wanting a better portable charger and this one charges both my phone and my Apple Watch. I seriously can’t wait to try this out on trips!

Socks

I’ve been wanting some crew socks to style with my loafers. I was so excited when I saw these!

Glass straws

I love reusable straws and I’ve been wanting one glass one to go with my cute curved glassware for awhile now. I already tried these out and man I love them!

Mini vacuum

This was the item I was most surprised and excited about! I had been wanting this Shark mini vacuum, and I wasn’t expecting to get it because the price had gone up tremendously for the holiday season. My mom surprised me and apparently she found it on Woot for over half the price! I seriously love this mini vacuum, and I can’t wait to use it to help make my chores easier.

Bath and Body Works

I received some of my favorite scent from Bath and Body Works! The aroma therapy Lavender + Vanilla smells amazing, and I am so happy I got a restock for Christmas.

Aritzia set

A store I have recently gotten into is Aritzia. I love their sweat sets, but I saw this one during their summer sale and really thought it’d be perfect for spring. I can’t wait to wear it!

Mini lava cake maker

I love lava cake and when I saw my mom got this for me I was so excited! I can’t wait to try making my own soon. Such a cute little surprise gift that I wasn’t expecting!

Sweat set

As I mentioned earlier I’ve been loving sweat sets. This one is so cute and I think it’ll be perfect for winter and spring!

Holiday sweaters

I received two holiday sweaters this year and I adore them both. I love the beach vibes in the first one and the cute subtle Christmas vibes of the second.

Soma underwear + giftcard

These are the best underwear I’ve ever tried and I was so excited when I got more! They have this silicone gel that holds them in place and they are also no show!

Candle wick set

I love candles and this set that helps take care of your candles was something I’ve been wanting for awhile! I’m so excited that I finally have the tools to properly care for the all the candles I’ll use.

Demon Slayer video game

I love anime and I was so excited when I got this Demon Slayer video game! I cant wait to start playing it with my family!

Piggy socks

My grandma got these for me and I love them so much! I cannot wait to wear them because they are literally the cutest.

Cute pens

My grandma also got me these super cute pens. There is a set of three, but I already put one in my travel bag!

Goals For the New Year (Blogmas Day 23)

sunnysidewithsiri3 Comments

Hey Sunny Siders, welcome to blogmas day 23! Today, I’m sharing some of the goals I want to set for myself in the new year. I know we all make crazy resolutions and barely stick to them, so I’m all here to offer some advice for setting these new year goals. When setting goals, make sure they are SMART, that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. Setting goals with these five objectives in mind will help create realistic goals you can actually accomplish. So this year I’ve set some SMART goals for myself that I’d like to share.

1. Exercising 4-5 times a week

I used to be someone who tried to exercise every single day, but that really just leads to burnout and injuries. I also used to think exercise could only be done at the gym. Now I know that rest is important, and exercise can be done just about anywhere. Ideally, I’ll get to do some lifting at the gym because I enjoy it, but I also enjoy walks and riding my bike too!

2. Drinking 48-64 oz of water a day

I’m horrible at drinking water, and I set a water drinking goal every year but never stick to it. In 2023 I will be sticking to this goal. I’m going to start slowly and work my way up to 48-64 oz (the daily suggested amount of water). By the end of 2023 I want to be doing this with ease.

3. Only use social media for 30 minutes a day

I spend way too much time on social media when I’m “bored.” I want this to stop. There are so many other things I could be doing with my time that are still relaxing and fun. I want to use my free time more wisely, rather than scrolling for hours on end.

4. Cook for myself 3 times per week

I find that I tend to put cooking off, or wait for someone else to help me because I’m not that good at it. I want to prove to myself that I’m not a bad cook, rather I just don’t do it enough. I’m going to start by just cooking 3 times a week, then as I get better start incorporating new recipes.

5. Don’t go over budget any month in 2023

I almost did this in 2022, but I want to do this in 2023. Being on a budget has helped me so much financially. My savings have grown, and I’ve become a lot more intentional when buying things. I want to prove to myself that I can keep my budget and stick to it!

6. Put $100 into my savings per week

I saw that if I put $100 into my savings each week I’ll end up with $5,200 by the end of the year. If I can do this for 3-6 years I’ll have enough to put a down payment on a house! That’s incredibly enticing to someone who is just a few years away from the work force and being completely on their own. I want to make sure that by the time I am getting a job, I’m also able to buy/rent a place to live.

7. Journal my thoughts 4-5 times a week

I always start the year out strong with journaling, and then lose my touch my April or May. This year I want to keep up with the journaling. To make it more attainable, I’m only setting the goal of 4-5 times a week. This allows for days off so that if I miss one day I don’t automatically feel like I failed the goal.

8. Do 10 pull ups without assistance

This is a goofy one, but I’ve always wanted to be able to do I decent amount of pull ups at one time. As of right now I can do about 5 in a row on a good day. I’d like to work my way up to 10 high quality pull ups before 2023 ends.

9. Spend 15 minutes learning Japanese 4-5 times a week

By the time I’m 30, I want to visit Japan. I also want to be able to speak Japanese so I can understand the locals and truly be immersed in the experience. I do my daily Duolingo, but I want to spend more time learning. I think if I can do 15 minutes worth 4-5 times a week that will have me learning a lot more than ever before.

10. Read at least one book for enjoyment per month

I love to read, but when school picks up and I’ve got so many other things to do, it falls to the wayside. I want to replace some of that time scrolling on social media with time spent reading for enjoyment. I should be able to finish at least one book per month even with my busy schedule.

11. Clean my reusable water bottle daily

This is another thing I’m terrible at. I really need to start cleaning my reusable water bottles more often, so I’m being harsh with this goal. I need to make this a daily habit so I don’t waste anymore bottles because they got moldy.

12. Receive all A’s during my graduate courses

This is probably my most challenging goal I’ve set for myself, but I’m ready to tackle it. I want to earn all A’s in my graduate courses this year. It’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I’m going to put in the time to make this goal happen.

13. Text my family and friends once per day

When I get into the work and school mode, I often forget to reach out to friends and family. I’m going to try and be better about this. I’m going to try and text at least one person I know and care about every day.

14. Call my family at least twice a week

My family is a big part of my support system, and talking to them always makes me happy. While I used to be able to talk to them almost daily, my schedule has gotten pretty hectic. I want to at least talk with them twice a week, and if my schedule permits maybe more.

15. Spend at least 2 hours doing something I enjoy each day

I started a goal similar to this one last year and it worked very well for me. I want to continue this goal in 2023, so I don’t get burnt out. I need to spend at least 2 hours each day doing something that I enjoy. No school, no work, no studying, just fun for these two hours.

Holiday Gift Guide For That Gym Obsessed Someone (Blogmas Day 5)

sunnysidewithsiri1 Comment

Hey Sunny Siders, welcome to blogmas day 5! Today, I’m sharing my first of a few installments of gift guides/ideas. Today we are focusing on gifts that are perfect for those who love all things fitness.

Wireless Headphones

As someone who works out pretty frequently, one of the most game changing purchases I ever made was investing in wireless headphones. Now the cool thing is you don’t have to get an expensive brand. I mean you totally can go for some AirPods or Beats, but personally I got JLab and they are amazing for a really great price! Right now they are only $20 on Amazon, and I’ve had mine for three years and they are 10/10. Of course you can go the fancy route and get your special someone a pair of Beats over the ear headphones or the new Apple AirPods Max, but if you want to get a great gift without breaking the bank I recommend these JLab ones.

Matching Workout Sets

The feeling that a coordinated workout set gives when you go to the gym is unmatched. It adds such power and confidence to any workout. You can find some super cute sets on Amazon, or go the traditional route with Gym Shark or Luluelemon.

A Gym Membership

This one is a great idea for someone you know who is looking to start going to the gym, or even someone you know who works out at a particular gym. Now I’m not entirely sure how this works since I use my college gym, but you can either go to the gym and see if they’ll let you purchase a membership for someone else (like a giftcard) or you can just make your own little certificate saying you’ll pay for their membership the next year

Nice Quality Waterbottle

I personally struggle with drinking water. That is, until I bought myself a cute water bottle. Hydration is important regardless if you’re using the gym, but it’s essential when working out. You can either get one of the staple brands like Yeti or Hydro Flask, or visit a place like Marshall’s and try a more affordable option like Hydra Peak. Something super fun with this option is to find some cute stickers to give along with this gift. Find stickers that remind you of the person you’re buying for, that way they can decorate their water bottle with them!

A Quality Gym Bag

Every gym rat needs a nice gym bag to hold all their personal items. One with lots of pockets and space for all sorts of items ranging from shoes, to hair ties, to towels, to weights can come in handy when hitting the gym.

Foam Roller

I know this one sounds weird but here me out. I recently went to the chiropractor because I was having trouble with my knees. She used a foam roller on my KT hand and it was instant relief. Since then, I’ve been using one every day during my pre-workout stretch and it’s done wonders for my knees. The great thing about a foam roller is that it can be used on all the muscles to loosen them up and keep them from getting tight.

Toiletry Bag/Travel Hygiene Products

You’re gonna sweat at the gym and chances are have to shower off there too. Having a toiletry bag and travel hygiene products is something that doesn’t seem so important but really is. I am always so grateful for my travel carrier and four-in-one soap dispenser that keeps the process seamless.

Yoga Mat

You don’t have to be into yoga to find a yoga mat useful. I use a yoga mat for stretching and core exercises all the time. A personal yoga mat is nice because sometimes the ones provided at the gym are not very clean or upkept.

A Biking Desk

The last item on my list is a bit of a silly one and that is a bike that doubles as a desk. This one is perfect for that someone who always has to be doing something. Here, they can get their work done and their workout in all at the same time!

Some Random Things I am Loving Lately (Part 1)

sunnysidewithsiri1 Comment

Hello Sunny Siders, I’ve covered a lot of heavy topics lately and thought it was time for something more lighthearted and fun! For the next few blog installments I will be sharing some random goodies that I’ve been obsessed with lately. These items range from food to shower preferences to social media influencers. So strap in for this hodgepodge of little things that have made life extra fun lately. This week, we will start with my favorite food and drink items.

Food and Drink Items

• RX Vanilla Almond Nut Butter

I recently tried this as a recommendation from my cousins, and all I have to say is wow! It has the texture of frosting, and my favorite way to eat this is straight out of the jar with a spoon.

• Mint Chocolate Chip NuGo Bars

If you like protein bars, but hate the texture then NuGo bars are the one for you! My current favorite flavor is the Mint Chocolate Chip, I am not kidding when I say it tastes like a Thin Mint.

• Planet Oat Sweet Cream Coffee Creamer

As a non-dairy drinker, I’m always looking for dairy free alternatives to items I love. In comes, Planet Oat coffee creamer. This creamer has such great flavor with no weird aftertaste. I personally have been loving the Sweet Cream flavor in my iced lattes.

• Chobani Extra Creamy Oat Milk

Another dairy free favorite of mine has been Chobani Extra Creamy Oat Milk. I love this stuff because it is the only dairy free milk I’ve found that has a similar viscosity to milk. It makes for perfect bowls of cereal in the morning (or night)!

• Sourdough Bread

Sourdough is hands down the best bread on the planet! Need I say more?

• Pop Corners

Pop Corners are the perfect salty, savory snack. I love grabbing one of these when I’m on the go for a quick re-fuel moment. My favorite flavor is either kettle corn or white cheddar!

• Salt and Pepper Pistachios

If you’ve never tried salt and pepper pistachios then you are missing out! With how delicious these guys are, I seriously could eat an entire bag in one sitting if I’m not careful

• Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter

If you’ve followed along with me for some time you’d know I’m a huge lover of Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter. I love that the only ingredient in Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter is peanuts. Plus, it’s got the perfect texture for drizzling over some pancakes or for making apple nachos!

• Slate Milk

Slate is one of my favorite grab and go protein shakes! Both the milk and dark chocolate flavors are so yummy. I love drinking one of these in the morning before a workout or school.

• Kodiak Cakes

If you love pancakes and are looking for a little extra protein in your diet, I highly recommend Kodiak Cakes! I personally love making Kodiak Cakes every Sunday, it’s become a staple in my house. They also make frozen waffles which are heavenly.

• Pears

I have been on a pear kick lately. Something about a ripe and juicy pear is just hitting different lately.

• Shirley Temple with Lime

Don’t knock it until you try it! If you like sprite, grenadine, and lime juice then this is the combination for you. I personally find this to be the drink of the summer!

• Pamela’s Gluten Free Honey Grahams

I recently found out I have a sensitivity to gluten, but I love graham crackers. In walks Pamela’s Gluten Free Honey Grahams and all my troubles have melted away. These are the only gluten free graham crackers I’ve found that taste like the regular ones. They actually remind me a lot of Scooby Snacks if you’ve ever had those before.

• Strawberries and Whipped Cream

This had been my tride and true dessert of the summer. Something about some juicy strawberry’s with some light, fluffy whipped cream is a magical combination.

• Land O Lakes Whipped Cream

Since I’ve been eating lots of strawberries and whipped cream, I’ve obviously been on the hunt for the best whipped cream. Spoiler alert: it’s not Reddi Whip! Personally, my favorite right now is Land O Lakes. It has such a creamy texture and it isn’t super sweet. It’s almost like eating the homemade stuff.

Reiner Cherries

Another staple for the summer has been Reiner cherries. They are seriously addictive so be careful!

• Fairlife Strawberry Nutrition Plan

If you’re looking for a strawberry milk that isn’t mostly sugar, then I encourage you to try the Fairlife Nutrition Plan in Strawberry flavor. This stuff literally tastes like Nestle Strawberry milk, but with 30 grams of protein!

** disclaimer: This post is NOT sponsored by any of these brands. These are just foods/drinks that I truly have been loving lately! **