• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • New Readers
  • Shop My Instagram
  • Get Inspired
  • Hire me
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Meagan Rigney

3 things to think about this week!

March 29, 2021      Leave a Comment

(Shop my outfits HERE)

I hope your weekend has been a good one and that you feel rested and ready for the new week!

I feel like this past month went by really fast, even though the time change really got to me for a few days…waking up in the dark again was rough;) I get my 7th grader off to school before 7am each day and we were both missing the daylight in the morning. Other than that, I went to Hobby Lobby with a friend last week and snagged a couple of goodies for the house, and got reminded how nice it is to put down a to-do list and just have FUN. I’ve been working on incorporating more fun into my days, in big and small ways. I think days filled with obligations only are basically against the point of life, which is to fully experience things and enjoy, you know? I’ll chat about adding more fun in below.

I also received the first does of the vaccine two weeks ago, I woke up with a sore arm and was slightly more tired for a day or so, but all in all I am happy to have that. I will get the second dose next month and I’m just feeling hopeful. (My husband got the vaccine earlier this year as he is in the military.) This isn’t a message to say get it or not, I have no opinion on your body and only do what I think is good for mine. It just felt right for me at this time. 

Let’s get right into 3 things to think about this week!

1) I talked above about adding more fun into our days, and it has been a game changer for me lately. I think I talked a few weeks ago about this book and discovering your energy type. I took this test to help me figure it out and turns out, I am a Type 1 (which surprised me!) Type one people are fun loving and like to laugh and can seem ‘ditzy,’ embracing this side can be challenging. I know I always wanted to be seen as more serious and responsible and put together, but I truly think a lot of anxiety comes from NOT being your true and authentic self. The more I have let this settle in I’ve found that it feels really good to embrace who I am deep inside, something I am not sure I have ever fully done. I’ve always liked to have enough free time to do what I love (paint, read, write, etc,) and having a schedule that doesn’t have room for this really overwhelms me. When I have too much on my calendar I just end up putting my head down and doing it, but I am never present and always feel like I am just checking things off the list. Now obviously, life is full of this stuff! I have kids and I work from home and there are obligations, but I can add FUN into as well. 

Lately I have been adding fun things into my day when it is more packed with obligations. Need to go to the grocery store? Maybe I can stop by a book shop and browse before or after. Need to work out (because it helps me mentally?) Maybe I can add a walk outside with the kids instead of that gym class. Have to go on an errand that is super boring? Why not grab a special lunch to go after to make it special? These are all random things, and when my kids were smaller it was more difficult to get out and about, but just adding in fun things for me has made life more exciting. The thing is we DESERVE to have things to look forward to. They can be small like an iced coffee at a cute coffee shop, or bigger like an upcoming trip. So many of us do everything for others and forget ourselves, but that is what cause burnout and overwhelm and a sense of ‘here’s another week of the same thing.” 

How can you add some FUN into your week this week? Can you think of one thing that sounds exciting and can you schedule it? 

2) The other day I saw a picture of myself taken by someone else and the first thing I thought was, ‘Ugh, do my legs really look like that?” I’m sure we can all relate, we feel a certain way and then a photo or a glance in the mirror can undermine it all, and the negative thoughts rush in. I have been working hard this year to become more ‘body neutral,’ and understanding that feeling good about yourself is not about being perfect, but in how we think. After seeing this picture I felt bad for a few hours, and then I read something the next day that really helped me. 

The next time you notice a negative thought I want you to write down (or think) the opposite. For instance, turn “my legs look so big,” to “I love how strong my legs are.” You can do this for ANYTHING! I know I have a lot of negative thoughts in my head, we all do. The key is to notice them and replace them with better thoughts. Because honestly, these more positive thoughts feel better! I feel better when I think about how strong my legs are versus what they look like. The idea is to slowly train your brain to focus on the good, and not the old limiting ideas that our brains give us that are really just your subconscious mind and not good for you. Our limiting beliefs and negative thoughts hold us back rather than push us forward, they are our brains way of keeping us comfortable and ‘safe,’ which is a lie.

What are your negative thoughts, and how can you turn them into positive ones? 

3) I read recently about coming up with a list fo five things you need to do everyday. These are non negotiable habits and routines that we do daily that support our current and future selves. Most of these things we are already doing, but writing them down and checking them off can be really life affirming. Here are five things I do daily:

*First thing I do when I wake up and wait for me coffee to brew is I drink one cup of water with my Metamucil (old lady alert!) I like this habit of drinking water first thing, and the Metamucil is good for gut health (which is tied to brain health.) 

*I always wash my face, brush teeth, and apply some type of makeup. When I do this it feels like I transition from morning to day, and even if I am wearing sweatpants at home, I feel like I made an effort. Most often I do get dressed, as that helps my mindset, but even just a little mascara and eyebrow pencil makes me feel ready for anything (and sometimes that is my couch and a good book!)

*I make my bed daily. This is such a small thing and takes two minutes, but it not only makes my bedroom look neater, I love getting into a made bed at night!

*Each day I take a softgel of my CBD, which I get from Equilibria. I find I notice when I don’t take it more than when I do! I order the monthly subscription and get either the softgels or the drops, they both work great. The gels are longer lasting I find, but take a bit to feel the effects. The drops are more instant but wear off faster. I often use both as well, depending on the day!

*I drink at least 64 oz of water a day. I have a big water bottle that I fill at least twice and finish, and often drink more. I learned years ago from my chiropractor that water is the KEY to how our bodies function and feel. Anytime I would visit and tell him something hurt he would immediately ask me if I was drinking water. Now I do the same to my kids;) 

What five this can you do daily? Big or small?

Primary Sidebar

Oh, hey there!

Hi, friend! My name is Meagan and I like to overshare on Insta-stories, LOVE finding the best stuff for everyday life, and I truly believe that life is more fun when you feel good about yourself, both inside and out.

Let’s connect

Search

Looking for something particular?

Archives

ConvertKit Form

meaganrigney

I’ve been coaching our high school powerlifting I’ve been coaching our high school powerlifting team (along with a few other awesome people,) and we had our first meet of the season this weekend. Working with these kids has been so freakin’ fun-they work hard and they make me laugh every 5 seconds. I feel lucky I get to mentor them both in and out of school each day.
Rolling into 2023 with a full heart. This past yea Rolling into 2023 with a full heart. This past year brought big, beautiful, years in the making changes to the Rigney family (we all decided ‘22 was was pretty amazing when it came to reaching big goals!) Looking forward to settling in and enjoying our accomplishments, and soaking up each moment with these kids of ours and this awesome life we have full of friends and family. Each year I think it can’t get better, and then it does. 💫
Haven’t worn real pants in a week and I don’t Haven’t worn real pants in a week and I don’t hate it 😏
Life lately…. Christmas + good food + gratitude Life lately…. Christmas + good food + gratitude + sparkly trees + family + cozy outfits + time off to love on my people 💫
Work looks-teacher edition! I’m a Resource Room Work looks-teacher edition! I’m a Resource Room teacher in high school and like to be comfortable (but still sorta cool? Lol.) I teach freshman-seniors and everything from Language Arts to Econ to Learning Strategies to US History. It’s fast paced and fun and I’m never, ever bored 🙃

Most of my stuff comes from Old Navy at this point, they are honestly killing it! I am a size 8/medium in most things. You can shop my outfits here…

https://shopltk.com/explore/meaganrigney/collections/11ed52d1acbbb795b3720242ac110004
⭐️FORTY-TWO today ⭐️ Grateful for…my hu ⭐️FORTY-TWO today ⭐️

Grateful for…my husband (he makes me laugh everyday and is my best friend), my kids (the funniest, kindest, most awesome kids on earth), my family (who always make me feel loved), my friends (can’t live life without you,) my co-workers (I’m obsessed with you all, how else do I teach without you lol), and just feeling settled after 20 years of moving. 

Looking forward to another year teaching high school (I hope all my students know, Mrs. Rigney adores you!) and just another year of being grateful for this beautiful + amazing life I’ve built. ❤️
Happy 13th birthday to my baby boy! He’s loving, Happy 13th birthday to my baby boy! He’s loving, affectionate and always willing to lend a helping hand. He talks extra loud on his video game headset with his friends 🫠, grew approximately 6 inches this year, and his voice has deepened so I keep thinking another man is in the house(!) But still, he’s my baby and always, always will be. I love watching his dedication to playing all the sports, being his mom is just the best. From the second he was born and they placed him on my chest, my heart burst with love for him. He’s pure magic and also currently taller than me and I don’t know how 13 years have passed but I have loved every second of them.
Vacation vibes, part 2! Vacation vibes, part 2!
Summer vacation vibes, part 1 ☀️🚤🌊 Summer vacation vibes, part 1 ☀️🚤🌊
I’ve been loving this oval Amazon ring since it I’ve been loving this oval Amazon ring since it came in the mail last month. If you know me, you know I like to switch up my rings often. I have a lot that I like to play around with. Life is too short to not have fun with jewelry 😊
Also, an ombré mani that I can’t stop staring at. I feel like in the winter I like nail art and in the summer I like simple neutrals. 

Follow my shop @meaganrigney on the @shop.LTK app to shop 🌈

#liketkit 
@shop.ltk
https://liketk.it/3KDj2
This weekend…. Picked up our oldest after 11 da This weekend….

Picked up our oldest after 11 days away at summer camp (with no phones/no contact!) and it was amazing. Love this kid!
Travelled 3 hours across state for a lacrosse tournament that even included an afternoon at the beach 🙌🏻
On Sunday drove 1.45 hours to pick up Molly from camp, then drove 1.45 hours back to watch the boys play in the championship game (lost by 1, boo…), then drove 3.15 hours back home. 
But! My babies are back home and all is well. 
Our hotel had Direct tv so I was reunited with my beloved Hallmark and watched a few Xmas in July movies 🙏🏻

Anyone know how to steam Hallmark? I need it back in my life 😞
A little over two years ago my family started watc A little over two years ago my family started watching wrestling together. It kinda became our thing, following the story lines and becoming invested in each character. My husband grew up watching it, and he wanted to share that with the kids. Then, slowly but surely, I got a little bit invested myself. 🙃What I love the most is that we all watch this together, and anything that we can all enjoy as a family is what makes me happy. 
Anyway... @allelitewrestling came to Detroit and we knew we had to get tickets. We went the other night and it was awesome! The lights, the music, how invested the crowd was, I kept looking over and seeing huge smiles on all of our faces. This was what we did during the pandemic, in the uncertainty of quarantine and the world, we watched a lot of movies and we watched wrestling. Getting to see it live sort of felt like a full circle moment. We had survived, moved across the country, and settled into this new life of ours that we love. If you had asked me 3 years ago if I would have enjoyed a wrestling match I would have rolled my eyes, but sitting there the other night in an arena full of magic and energy, it was just magic. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
*Also, is this what one wears to wrestling? Bodysuits? Wedges? lol 😆
When the looser jeans of our youth (long live the When the looser jeans of our youth (long live the 90's!) came back, I resisted. You weren't going to pry my Madewell black skinnies off of my body! Those of us who have lived it already know how bad low rise was (2" rise, baby), or how our pants used to be shredded and dirty b/c they dragged on the ground, or how the fit of everything was just off. 
 But then I got sucked into buying a pair of "dad jeans" (which is funny because I use to borrow my step-dad's jeans in high school), and after I got used to styling them I like the look! First of all, my legs can breath lol. The key is to show of your waist in some way and just not take yourself so seriously. The older I get, the less I care about wearing what other people think looks good and wearing what *I* want. Are my skinny jeans more flattering? Yes. DO I feel more comfortable in these? Also, yes. Life is too short to wear anything other than what YOU want, end of story. Wear the skinny jeans, or the baggier ones, buy the cropped tank or the oversized flannel. Forget about what is "right or cool" or what you think you *should* wear and just wear what makes you happy.
My mom sent me a package filled with old pics and My mom sent me a package filled with old pics and report cards that are hilarious and embarrassing! 

My faves....skiing in jeans in the 90's?!
The leaning my chin casually on my hand school pic. 

The fact that I have maybe 10 pictures of myself in high school but took probably 20 selfies of myself yesterday.

Report card comments..."A great worker, sometimes I need to interrupt her independent reading to call attention to the next class discussion." 😆
"Meagan needs to "buckle down" a little more on her studies and a little less on her artwork." 🤩
Turns out, my independent reading has turned me into a Language Arts teacher, and my art has turned into an Etsy shop. 

(There’s still no reason for skiing in jeans.) 🙃
A few self care things I do on the regular... *eve A few self care things I do on the regular...
*every two weeks I get my nails done. I get gel on my real nails and often get designs or fun colors, and seriously have a Pinterest board and a special album saved on my phone with ideas. It just makes me happy to have pretty nails. 
*I schedule in workouts. I don't do well with "winging it," I have to be really intentional with my time. I work out after work on Tues + Thurs and also on Sunday, and will sometimes add an extra day. I feel my personal best when I am active.
*A couple of months ago I finally started the habit of flossing my teeth. I just started at night and for some reason it has stuck and I am on a streak and I feel like a real grown up. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks at 41:)
*Every Sunday I cook a lunch for myself to bring to work, and I pack it into 5 pieces of Tupperware. I find a simple dish and will eat it all week. That way when I get up I just throw it in my lunchbox and I have a healthy option to eat. 
*I research affirmations and have them written in a word document. Typically during my lunch break I will open up and read the document, and then I have a running list of things I am grateful for that I type out. I also have a couple fave self help books at my desk and I read a chapter or two. 
*Every Sunday after my workout I apply a face mask and let it sit, then shower and apply a hair mask and exfoliate. Then after my shower I put my self tan on. Love starting the week feeling refreshed and with a little color on my skin. 
* I have days I do certain things that make my life easier. Saturday I meal plan and order my groceries. Sunday is for picking up groceries, meal prep, and laundry. Tuesday and Thursday I work out when I get home and wash my hair. Linking certain days to activities takes the thinking/anxiety out of running my life.
*Reading daily, lots of sleep, lots of water, painting, writing, etc.
Celebrated a friend for her bday with a fancy dinn Celebrated a friend for her bday with a fancy dinner out! It’s been awhile since I got to dress up and wear fancy necklaces and drink Prosecco and I really, really enjoyed it. 😊
Part 2: In my last post I talked about learning to Part 2: In my last post I talked about learning to appreciate what is, versus thinking the next big goal will bring happiness, particularly with weightloss. Spoiler alert: being skinnier won't bring you contentment, I promise. 
Here's the deal, there is no 'finish point' when it comes to our physical self. If you are lucky, you will change in a million ways as you grow old and live a long life! Bodies are meant to evolve in many ways, and it is pretty amazing what they can do. 
The big question I want to ask you is, "How do you want to FEEL on a daily basis?" I know I want to feel healthy and strong and I want to be able to do active things with ease. That fires me up. So then, how do we get there? I believe habits are the key to change rather than grand resolutions. Adding small changes into our day that are easy to achieve. This year I am building in habits that will help me FEEL better in my physical body, and they aren't based on weight or pants size. 
The key? Keep these habits SMALL. Like, stupid small. One habit I made was to go to CrossFit 1x/ week during the school year. I could have set a bigger goal, but I wanted to build my confidence that I could do this one thing. And I have! I am adding more to that since I know I can, but that benchmark is still there when things are hard. Another habit is to eat more veggies, so I buy a ton and cut them up on Sunday to have. I like to ask, 'What can I ADD to my life" versus taking away? More water, more veggies, more mindful movement. I'm also adding in more fiber (Hello Metamucil #thisis40) and flossing at night. 
I'm not looking for a dramatic physical transformation, I am looking to FEEL better on a daily basis with small, achievable habits. When it comes to adding these in ask yourself, "Can I do this for the rest of my life and be happy?" If the answer is no then it probably isn't for you, or it's a quick fix.
Part 1: I'm not a resolution person, as in, the ty Part 1: I'm not a resolution person, as in, the type of person that promises to make huge changes on January 1st in the blind hope that this year will be different. (I used to be!) I think for a lot of us, we assume that achieving something big (weight loss, more money, a new job, marriage, kids, etc) will bring happiness. And honestly, it probably will for awhile. However, I have learned something in the past couple of years that has really helped me put perspective on the whole, "I'll be happy when..." thing.
Here's the secret:
If you can't be happy where you are RIGHT NOW (even if it isn't your ideal,) you won't be happy when you achieve your big goal.
You might enjoy checking the box that you did it, but then your brain will switch to 'keeping up' or it will look for the next thing to get to. This will go on forever (or 41 years in my case lol.) One day you will wake up and see all the time you were wishing for something else, life was happening right in front of you. 
I think about this the most with body image. I look back on ten years of photos from my blog and social and life, where I was at my fittest, and I was never satisfied. I always saw myself and thought I had 'let myself go," or I looked better the year before. AND YET, since I have been working on shedding diet culture ideals and disordered eating and have gained the weight that I always dreaded, I can see how messed up that thinking was. I was NEVER HAPPY with how my body looked, even at its thinnest. I always found fault. So then, what if I taught myself to love what is, instead of always trying to shrink myself smaller? What if you were to look like you do right now, forever...can you learn to be grateful for your body, from a standpoint of what it allows you do (like breathe and LIVE?!) Can you dress the body you have and appreciate what is? Can you stand in front of a mirror and just say THANK YOU and know that what you weigh is the least interesting thing about you?
My first baby turns 14 today. The night she was bo My first baby turns 14 today. The night she was born (3 weeks early!) I had driven myself to the hospital because I thought there was no way that I was actually in labor, and at one point called my husband at work and told him not to come home early from work (he ignored that, luckily.) Molly Amelia was born and I remember holding her in my arms and staring into her face and wondering who would she become? This tiny, 5 pound baby, with the head full of dark hair and squished little nose. I can still smell her newborn smell and feel how tiny her hand was in mine.
She taught me how to be a mom, and she taught me how to be myself. There is no greater mirror for reflection than through your children's eyes. They will humble you to the core and drop your to your knees. From day one this child has brought a light into my life and my days, she was the piece of a puzzle to myself I didn't know I was missing. Watching her grow has been the biggest gift of my life, and I will never take it for granted. 
I wish I could describe the magic of my daughter. How she lights up a room and how she can tell a story that holds the attention of everyone in a room. She is dynamic and sarcastic and funny and empathetic. She is 1 million percent smarter than I was at her age, I love watching her navigate the world and can't wait to see who she will become.
It is beautiful and heartbreaking to be a mom, because I know that with each year she grows I will have to eventually let her go. I can't keep her forever, safe at home with us. I want to bottle up each year and say, "This! This is my favorite!" I want to freeze time and hold her tight, as my baby, forever. But I can't. We never can. Instead I will fill her up with love and grow her self worth and give her the knowledge that she is magic and to never, ever, ever forget how special she is and how she is a gift. She is the most beautiful gift I have ever received. She is my heart, forever,
I just finished the first season of ..."And Just L I just finished the first season of ..."And Just Like That," and I have some thoughts!
I've heard so much negativity around the return of this show and I get it. If you watched the original season and was as invested as I was, it can be hard to feel like you want things to stay the same when they just can't. Let me get this out of the way, though. I loved this new season. I knew from episode one that there was going to be a journey, and I had to be patient. As much as we all like a happy ending, I think we all needed to see something deeper. 
You know what I loved? I loved seeing vibrant, amazing women in their 50's being shown as they are. Women age, things change and often the world is not ready to see that. While I'm still in my early 40's, I can see and feel how these changes become more and more apparent, and it's OKAY. It's okay to age and not always look like you are in your 20's anymore. If life continues as it has for me, each year I get more confident, I feel more amazing in my skin, and I become more and more who I authentically am. I want to see more women that are older and vibrant and real in the media. I think the show showed us that.
I also loved the portrayal of motherhood from a  teen-age perspective. So much is covered about early motherhood, the baby + toddler + elementary age. You rarely see people parenting teenagers in a real way. I have seen the issues Charlotte portrayed parenting her children in both myself and my friends children. I want to see more of life and motherhood from this perspective in the media, and not the cliched stuff. There are so many weird horror stories of parenting teens in this day and age (that I don't really agree with), and I appreciate seeing more angles and stories that I can relate to.
I liked that no one has their stuff figured out, too. Just because you age doesn't mean you know what you are doing, or can't change. Life is dynamic and wonderful. I think the show showed that.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Wordpress Theme by Hello Yay!