Here’s the thing, you guys, I have a hard time sticking with a fitness plan. There are a million reasons (excuses?) why that is, but mostly it’s because I don’t have the time! As a working mom of two who likes her television probably a little too much, I struggle to choose fitness over other things….like Netflix. But I’m getting older and these days I can feel my body start to fight back when I don’t take care of it. So in the past year I’ve started trying to make fitness more of a priority in my life, but I have to keep mixing it up a bit, or I can get bored quickly. If you’re local, you may have seen me this morning on the Fox 4 Morning Show sharing about some of my favorite ways to stay fit, even when I’m “too busy.” I definitely mix it up between local classes and online workouts, and I’ve tried a TON of different programs. After lots of starts and stops, these are the top four that have really worked for me this past year:
1. Bar Method – This is by far my favorite workout…I’m grateful that Bar Method has two locations in Kansas City and tons of classes to choose from! The hour-long class targets specific muscles and improves balance and core strength. I’ve never looked or felt stronger than I have since I started taking Bar Method classes. Plus, the classes are fun, the teachers have so much energy and the community is always encouraging. An additional bonus…they offer childcare while you take class! Score for all the mamas out there! Bar Method is celebrating 5 years in Kansas City with an awesome anniversary event on November 5th, which will include tons of giveaways, freebies, different classes and more! But if you can’t wait until then, they are also running a great deal right now where you can sign up for 45 classes in 45 days for only $75…which is a total steal! Just use the code “Fall into Bar” when you purchase your classes.
2. Yoga Glo – This app (which you can download for Android or iPhone) is basically like having a yoga studio in your pocket! It was recommended to me by a yoga teacher friend of mine, and has hundreds of classes by a ton of incredible teachers. Plus, it’s portable, so you can fit in your yoga time anywhere! Yoga Glo is free for the first week, but then you pay $17.99 per month to continue the service.
3. The Balanced Life with Robin Long – I heard of Robin earlier this year when I saw a Facebook ad for one of her 30 days of pilates challenges…and I never looked back! She provides so much amazing fitness content, like free online video workouts, recipes and more that are tailored toward busy moms. With her Balanced Life Sisterhood program ($13 per month) you get even more content, including meal planning, workout calendars and an incredible community of women who support each other as they get fit together.
4. The Fitness Marshall – If you haven’t heard of these amazing dance workouts on You Tube, get your booty over there and try one! The Fitness Marshall videos are incredibly fun, and even if you’re not the best dancer (ahem…me!) you will get your heart rate up and your blood pumping while dancing to hit songs. My kids even love doing this with me!
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2016-10-18_0001.jpg367800Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2016-10-18 15:25:042016-10-18 15:25:04Fitness Solutions for Mamas
Today’s the day, and I should be frantically running around, trying to do all the things and check items off my list. But instead I’m sitting in bed with my laptop and the sleeping kitten. I feel oddly calm, which is so unlike me when I’m preparing for travel. Maybe it’s just because this trip is so different from any I’ve ever taken? Maybe it’s because I’m in denial this is actually happening? Maybe I just need more coffee?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always told stories. I tell them through my writing and my photography, and most of the time they are meaningless to anyone else. But that’s okay, because they mean a lot to me. I am made of that stuff that just inherently NEEDS to share, or else my head and my heart might explode.
We talk a lot in our home about using our talents to help others. I may not be perfect or famous or have a million dollars, but I can share my gifts in a way that lifts others up. I’m a storyteller, and my life’s goal is to tell stories for good. To tell the stories that need to be heard. Sometimes those stories are mundane and sometimes they are magnificent.
I met my best friend and chosen sister, Theresa, when I was 8-years-old. In the past few years she has grown so much, and these days I’m the one who looks up to her. She has risen in the academic ranks at her job and in the past year she has begun a very intense research project, which is focused on education rights for Syrian refugee children who have been displaced due to the civil war there.
This summer she reached out and asked if I’d be interested in traveling with her to Greece to photograph the refugees and refugee camps there in conjunction with the United Nations. I couldn’t believe it. This is a dream opportunity for me! Our goal is to learn more about the current state of primary education for refugees in Greece. We want to heighten awareness for support needed for further development of access to education, and the bigger picture for the Syrians, Afghans and other nationalities of refugee children residing there.
I fly to New York today. Tomorrow we leave for Greece.
I am in awe of this opportunity. I know I can’t even fathom yet how this will change me. I think that’s why I’m still laying in my bed, instead of frantically running around. I am preparing, in the only way I know how.
Be still. Be still. Be still.
I will be off the grid while I’m away, but I hope to keep updating social media when I have internet access. I would assume the best bet for photos is to follow my Instagram and for video content to follow me on Snapchat under the name “crazeebananaz” (I love Instagram stories, but it’s still a bit glitchy for me, so I’m going to plan on snapping most things and then uploading to Instagram stories if I can). If you’re able, send some good vibes or prayers or juju or whatever into the universe for us, as we embark on this journey. We can use all the encouragement we can get…
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/img_4903-1.jpg24173226Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2016-09-30 07:53:062016-09-30 14:22:37What Dreams May Come...
A few years ago, when I decided to take my photography business full time, I decided to no longer offer mini sessions. This wasn’t an easy decision, and I knew there were families who would be disappointed I was no longer offering these quick, simple sessions anymore. However, I knew if I wanted to be able to make a living doing this job, I had to cut out my Minis, at least for a little while.
After my 30 Days of Summer Photo Challenge wrapped this past July, I was THRILLED to be able to offer some special deals to the participants…including the exclusive opportunity to participate in my first Mini Sessions in years! A few families jumped at the chance and I had such a blast photographing them. I’m thinking of keeping Minis as a benefit for anyone who participates in future challenges as well…stay tuned! More info about how to make sure you don’t miss the next photo challenge is at the bottom of this post.
Fitness Solutions for Mamas
/0 Comments/in Heath + Wellness, Kansas City /by MeganHere’s the thing, you guys, I have a hard time sticking with a fitness plan. There are a million reasons (excuses?) why that is, but mostly it’s because I don’t have the time! As a working mom of two who likes her television probably a little too much, I struggle to choose fitness over other things….like Netflix. But I’m getting older and these days I can feel my body start to fight back when I don’t take care of it. So in the past year I’ve started trying to make fitness more of a priority in my life, but I have to keep mixing it up a bit, or I can get bored quickly. If you’re local, you may have seen me this morning on the Fox 4 Morning Show sharing about some of my favorite ways to stay fit, even when I’m “too busy.” I definitely mix it up between local classes and online workouts, and I’ve tried a TON of different programs. After lots of starts and stops, these are the top four that have really worked for me this past year:
1. Bar Method – This is by far my favorite workout…I’m grateful that Bar Method has two locations in Kansas City and tons of classes to choose from! The hour-long class targets specific muscles and improves balance and core strength. I’ve never looked or felt stronger than I have since I started taking Bar Method classes. Plus, the classes are fun, the teachers have so much energy and the community is always encouraging. An additional bonus…they offer childcare while you take class! Score for all the mamas out there! Bar Method is celebrating 5 years in Kansas City with an awesome anniversary event on November 5th, which will include tons of giveaways, freebies, different classes and more! But if you can’t wait until then, they are also running a great deal right now where you can sign up for 45 classes in 45 days for only $75…which is a total steal! Just use the code “Fall into Bar” when you purchase your classes.
2. Yoga Glo – This app (which you can download for Android or iPhone) is basically like having a yoga studio in your pocket! It was recommended to me by a yoga teacher friend of mine, and has hundreds of classes by a ton of incredible teachers. Plus, it’s portable, so you can fit in your yoga time anywhere! Yoga Glo is free for the first week, but then you pay $17.99 per month to continue the service.
3. The Balanced Life with Robin Long – I heard of Robin earlier this year when I saw a Facebook ad for one of her 30 days of pilates challenges…and I never looked back! She provides so much amazing fitness content, like free online video workouts, recipes and more that are tailored toward busy moms. With her Balanced Life Sisterhood program ($13 per month) you get even more content, including meal planning, workout calendars and an incredible community of women who support each other as they get fit together.
4. The Fitness Marshall – If you haven’t heard of these amazing dance workouts on You Tube, get your booty over there and try one! The Fitness Marshall videos are incredibly fun, and even if you’re not the best dancer (ahem…me!) you will get your heart rate up and your blood pumping while dancing to hit songs. My kids even love doing this with me!
What Dreams May Come…
/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography, Finding My Path, Happiness, World /by MeganToday’s the day, and I should be frantically running around, trying to do all the things and check items off my list. But instead I’m sitting in bed with my laptop and the sleeping kitten. I feel oddly calm, which is so unlike me when I’m preparing for travel. Maybe it’s just because this trip is so different from any I’ve ever taken? Maybe it’s because I’m in denial this is actually happening? Maybe I just need more coffee?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always told stories. I tell them through my writing and my photography, and most of the time they are meaningless to anyone else. But that’s okay, because they mean a lot to me. I am made of that stuff that just inherently NEEDS to share, or else my head and my heart might explode.
We talk a lot in our home about using our talents to help others. I may not be perfect or famous or have a million dollars, but I can share my gifts in a way that lifts others up. I’m a storyteller, and my life’s goal is to tell stories for good. To tell the stories that need to be heard. Sometimes those stories are mundane and sometimes they are magnificent.
I met my best friend and chosen sister, Theresa, when I was 8-years-old. In the past few years she has grown so much, and these days I’m the one who looks up to her. She has risen in the academic ranks at her job and in the past year she has begun a very intense research project, which is focused on education rights for Syrian refugee children who have been displaced due to the civil war there.
This summer she reached out and asked if I’d be interested in traveling with her to Greece to photograph the refugees and refugee camps there in conjunction with the United Nations. I couldn’t believe it. This is a dream opportunity for me! Our goal is to learn more about the current state of primary education for refugees in Greece. We want to heighten awareness for support needed for further development of access to education, and the bigger picture for the Syrians, Afghans and other nationalities of refugee children residing there.
I fly to New York today. Tomorrow we leave for Greece.
I am in awe of this opportunity. I know I can’t even fathom yet how this will change me. I think that’s why I’m still laying in my bed, instead of frantically running around. I am preparing, in the only way I know how.
Be still. Be still. Be still.
I will be off the grid while I’m away, but I hope to keep updating social media when I have internet access. I would assume the best bet for photos is to follow my Instagram and for video content to follow me on Snapchat under the name “crazeebananaz” (I love Instagram stories, but it’s still a bit glitchy for me, so I’m going to plan on snapping most things and then uploading to Instagram stories if I can). If you’re able, send some good vibes or prayers or juju or whatever into the universe for us, as we embark on this journey. We can use all the encouragement we can get…
2016 Photo Challenge Mini Sessions
/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography, Photo Challenge /by MeganA few years ago, when I decided to take my photography business full time, I decided to no longer offer mini sessions. This wasn’t an easy decision, and I knew there were families who would be disappointed I was no longer offering these quick, simple sessions anymore. However, I knew if I wanted to be able to make a living doing this job, I had to cut out my Minis, at least for a little while.
After my 30 Days of Summer Photo Challenge wrapped this past July, I was THRILLED to be able to offer some special deals to the participants…including the exclusive opportunity to participate in my first Mini Sessions in years! A few families jumped at the chance and I had such a blast photographing them. I’m thinking of keeping Minis as a benefit for anyone who participates in future challenges as well…stay tuned! More info about how to make sure you don’t miss the next photo challenge is at the bottom of this post.
If you’re interested in knowing when my next special or photo challenge is offered, sign up for the Crazy Bananas Creative Studio newsletter!