Coca-Cola Balanced Living Workshop

I was compensated for my participation in Coca-Cola's Balanced Living Workshop, but my thoughts and views are my own.

Admittedly, we've had very little time to tend to ourselves, our relationships, our health or even hygiene lately. This whole stay-at-home-mom business can really bring out the grunge in a person. I recently made a pact with a friend that we'd send one another photos at least three times each week of us actually wearing nice-ish clothes and having washed and blowdried (bonus if styled!) our hair. No joke.

Actual photo proof.

Add a basement renovation and taking care of a very rambunctious 9-month-old to equal a recipe for exhaustion at the end of the day. I love to cook, but find myself reaching for a frozen pizza when I'm so tired from toting around the little all day and spending the rest of the time scrubbing dried scrambled eggs off the dining room floor. It's an exhaustion I'm so grateful for, but one that requires some balance.

Our relationships matter. Ray and I spend very little time together these last few months. The jogging stroller has received very little wear and tear because by the time I can hand over the kiddo at the end of the day I'm too busy catching up on dinner or dishes or emails or DVR to have the desire for anything else. Okay, so that bit about DVR is neither necessary nor important, but sometimes it's just really awesome to zone out while hearing adults speak without actually having to interact.

We need some work.

Next week I'll be heading to downtown Chicago for a Coca-Cola Balanced Living Workshop that will take place over the course of two days. I'll be spending time with other mom bloggers as well and I'm pretty excited about the whole thing. I received the itinerary and am looking forward to a few things that will be taking place:

• Learning about family nutrition, specifically how I might find more effective ways to feed my family while sticking to my own vegetarian interests.
• A one-on-one consultation with a registered dietitian about my lifestyle goals. I'm excited yet nervous about airing out all the dirty laundry on this one!
• The family-friendly fitness session during which I will totally be wearing my cute yoga pants.
• Meeting some local Chicago moms and mom bloggers. I'm not from here and meeting friends can be tricky. What if I meet someone super-local and we have tons in common and plan coffee dates every week?
• A grocery store visit with a registered dietitian to get their take on reading labels and buying the best produce. I feel like I'm decent at this, but I'm used to California produce being super fresh and ripe. It's harder to pick it out here, especially in the middle of winter!
• The cooking demonstrations because I'm a sucker for fun kitchen gadgets, techniques and yummy food.

I'm seriously thrilled. I feel all kinds of fancy going on my own little trip downtown for fun and learning. I'll be taking photos and updating, so stay tuned. It's time this girl (and her boys) gets back in shape and lives a healthy lifestyle. Lumberjack Benjamin approves and decided to release me from my mom duties for the event.

My name is Benjamin and I approved this message.