Girl Gone Strong

✨𝕆𝕋 𝕋𝕙𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕕𝕒𝕪 ✨ ⠀
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My Favorite Sensory Tools! ⠀
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1️⃣ Kinetic Sand!⠀
2️⃣ Playdough!⠀
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Why are these so good for sensory play?! ⠀
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It involves using some great skills along with sensory input:⠀
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💚New sensory input different from sand & PD⠀
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💚Fine motor skills (finger strengthening, dexterity, in hand manipulation etc)⠀
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💚Bilateral coordination skills (using both hands together to mold and shape)⠀
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💚Visual motor skills such as eye-hand coordination⠀
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🦋 How can these be incorporated into sensory play??⠀
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There are so many ways to add Kinetic Sand & Playdough in with your sensory play. Here are a few ideas to get you started:⠀
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- Mold it with shapes!⠀
- use magnetic letters to stamp!⠀
- make a race track with cars!⠀
- Make a sand castle!⠀
- Use cookie cutters for shapes! ⠀
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✅ Why kinetic sand is awesome⠀
I love playing with it too!! 😂⠀
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-It’s great to touch, squeeze, and hold. Kinetic Sand is a mixture of sand and polymers and so it feels like no other sensory material I’ve ever played with. When you hold it, it moves and falls through your fingers. It feels like what I think quicksand would feel like!

✨𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕣𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕪 𝕥𝕠 𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕥...⠀
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..is usually the moment right before a miracle happens. ⠀
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Too many times in my life has this rung true. Usually right when I want to throw in the towel is usually a sign that something amazing was going to happen. & it did.⠀
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💜I remember I almost stopped applying to OT school and I gave it one last shot on a school that actually accepted me. & here I am, a working Occupational Therapist.⠀
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💜I remember I almost stopped training for one of my first powerlifting meets because it was getting too hard, but then I ended up taking 1st place in my weight class at the meet.⠀
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💜I remember coming home from school this year unexpectedly early, letting myself go completely with my fitness & nutrition routine, when someone reached out & invited me to their Bootcamp & chance at coaching. ...literally on the brink of giving up on myself and I took a chance and said YES. said YES to my health, my mindset and overall well-being. & here I am, transformed and growing each day.⠀
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Point is, when you feel like quitting, try to remember why you started. & know that usually something better is right around the corner & you don’t even know it yet.⠀
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If you feel like you’re about to give up and quit on yourself, please don’t. If you need help, my DMs are always open & id be happy to get you started on the journey that has transformed me in just a matter of months.⠀
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You are worth so much more than giving up on yourself. 💕💪✨

Train like a beast & look like a beauty ✨💪⠀
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For me, I’ve always been more confident in leggings, a pair of nikes and a gym tank. I’ve felt the most “me” when I’m dripping sweat, no makeup on, hair a mess, sore from a workout and sipping on a protein shake 💜😜⠀
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And that’s just me.⠀
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So dressing up and putting on makeup and being “girly” and doing my hair was never really my thing or something I felt confident about. And I definitely don’t think it’s my strong suit, but man, when I put on a dress sometimes and get dolled up...⠀
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It just feels good. It feels good to embrace the other side of myself and appreciate all the hard work I’ve put in through my workouts and nutrition. It’s fun to embrace my “inner woman” & unique imperfect beauty that is me.⠀
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💜 Point is, you may be confident in one area of your life but not another. & when you push yourself to rock that other side or to embrace the imperfections you don’t like about yourself, sometimes you come out on top, & you truly shine ✨⠀
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Here’s your Sunday evening reminder that you are capable of doing whatever it is you set your mind to. Even if you don’t think you can or you don’t feel confident about it, you can do it. Go ahead & try it girl. I’m cheering for you. 💕

ℂ𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕓𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕖 & ℂ𝕝𝕒𝕡 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗👏⠀
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I do not say that lightly.⠀
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Celebrate all the small wins from your week.⠀
Reflect on what you accomplished.⠀
Look at what you took the time to do for yourself.⠀
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& girl...relish in that and celebrate THE HELL OUTTA YOU! ✨⠀
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It’s important we cheer for ourselves because at the end of the day, we are the ones in control of our life and our decisions...nobody else.👏⠀
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Sit back, cheers yourself, grab your glass of wine or whatever floats your boat & enjoy your own damn company✨⠀
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..I just survived 48 hours of work in 4 days & I am damn proud of myself for it. Showed up everyday with my workouts, dedicated myself to the kiddos that rely on me, & made time for family. I don’t care what that sounds like to others but for me I feel accomplished.⠀
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Take time for all the small moments in your life because those are some of the biggest ones, that make you...YOU! ✨⠀
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Happy weekend y’all! 🥂💕👏

✨𝕆𝕋 𝕋𝕙𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕕𝕒𝕪: 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕄𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 & 𝕊𝕝𝕚𝕞𝕖! ⠀
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As a PEDS OT, I have come to realize that when you combine vestibular & proprioceptive input with a structured activity, kids are 10x more likely to engage in what you want/need them to! 🦋 ⠀
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🐝 Even further, when you pair it with tactile input & messy play, you are golden! (for those who are not tactile defensive) ⠀
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Today, I made slime with 3 of my kiddos and it was the happiest I’ve seen some of them engaging in play and OT! It made my heart so happy ☺️⠀
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✨I don’t have a picture of my slime but here is the “recipe” below! ⬇️⠀
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- 4oz elmers glue⠀
- 1 TBS Contact Solution⠀
- 1/2 TBS baking soda⠀
- food coloring⠀
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Mix well & get messy! ⠀
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Then go find yourself an obstacle course 😜 ⠀
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...I was even told today that I was the funnest teacher they had ☺️🤣 💜⠀
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My PEDS OTs, what are your favorite messy play/tactile input go-tos?!?

“...𝕀’𝕝𝕝 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕥𝕠𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕨. 𝕀’𝕝𝕝 𝕨𝕒𝕚𝕥 𝕥𝕚𝕝 𝕄𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕪. 𝕀’𝕝𝕝 𝕥𝕣𝕪 𝕟𝕖𝕩𝕥 𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕙. 𝕀’𝕝𝕝 𝕨𝕒𝕚𝕥 𝕥𝕚𝕝 ℕ𝕖𝕨 𝕐𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕤. ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕟𝕠𝕨...”⠀
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Are these the kind of BS excuses you find yourself giving from time to time when it comes to prioritizing yourself?⠀
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I am guilty of these old habit, but I buried them deep down because they no longer serve me.⠀
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It was a serious question I had to ask myself when I began my coaching journey and made the decision to join this Virtual Gym & Accountability group...⠀
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✨Right when I had absolutely ZERO money, yes, literallly just came home from school and had little $$$ to my name. (Any other new grads out there with those student loans too?? 👋) ✨⠀
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✨So in a moment of like ....”well I either do this and take a chance to see what it’s all about or I go on and say NO or wait and continue to let it fester inside of me..”⠀
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I chose the first option. & I have not turned back or will I ever. Because this group continuously helps me push past my own BS excuses to not level up my mind, my body, & my personal growth 💕I’ve learned that sometimes if I just don’t take the chance, I put it off and think about it and then my goals never get accomplished. How lame, Margaret. 🙄⠀
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Thinking that you are in a similar spot right now?!⠀
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My virtual Bootcamp & coaching team are going strong and we’re looking for YOU to join us! Yes you! ‼️💯⠀
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Accountability ✅ Nutrition & Meal plans ✅ Personal growth ✅ Bomb ass workouts from the best ✅💪 ⠀
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✨Two options:⠀
1. Join my Bootcamp & let’s see where we can get you towards with your GOALS! $20 off like NOW!!⠀
2. Wanna coach and help others while helping yourself? ⠀
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Fill out my free health assessment in my bio, message me or comment below ⬇️

“Never good enough. I’m too...., Who do you think you are? Do you really think you can?”⠀
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Have you heard someone else say phrases like this to you before? 👋 ⠀
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..how about your own brain? 🧠
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Negative self talk & comparison are the thieves of joy. I am guilty of it and let me tell you it has prevented me from acting with my gut and freaking going for it. It has held me back so many times in my life. ⠀
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I’ve cried thousands of tears from it. I’ve not gotten a job before because of it. I’ve not followed through on goals because of it. I’ve given myself less because of it. I have missed out on so much. ⠀
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Until recently.⠀
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I decided that my negative self talk is a reflection of what I think about my imperfections. And let’s be honest, we are not all perfect. No matter how much we try to be. For YEARS, I buried my eating disorder. Locked it up and never wanted to talk about it again. But until I came face to face with it when I embarked on my coaching journey, it was eating me alive. & let me tell ya, it was LIBERATING to say the least. ⠀
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No other human is us. No other person is uniquely ourselves.✅⠀
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👏 ✨Owning our story & imperfections can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love & belonging & joy- the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light. 👏✨ ⠀
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Get out of your own damn way and embrace the uniqueness that is you. You will be set free. 💕

I wanna grow old with you.. 🎶 ⠀
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Today we spent the day doing pretty much...nothing. & it felt so good.⠀
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✨ I’m talking no shower kind of day, having mimosas, watching tv, picking out music for our wedding, making a bucket list of all the things we want to do, attempting to take a walk (lol), eating popcorn & chips, looking at old pictures of us....that kinda day. ⠀
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It felt so good. We have been so busy and on such opposite schedules..& today was the day we didn’t know we needed.⠀
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✨ Point is.⠀
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It’s okay to not be productive every single day. Sometimes it’s good to SLOW.IT.DOWN. & just BE PRESENT.⠀
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While I am a go getter & a big “get after it hustle” kinda girl, I truly enjoy the days where I don’t do anything. & let my mind relax. ⠀
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✨Ryan helps me have these days and this is one of the many reasons why I know the rest of our lives will be full of adventures and lazy days. ⠀
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I am so grateful for these moments and all the “in between” moments that I don’t talk about much. ⠀
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I can’t wait to grow old with you my love. Here’s to the rest of our lives 💕 ⠀
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How do you slow down & make sure to be present in the moment?!

✨𝔽𝕠𝕔𝕦𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕡 𝕚𝕟 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦, 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕣𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕖✨⠀
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When you get overwhelmed, do you ever stop to notice maybe how much you are taking on in the present moment?! ⠀
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👋 guilty. & I learn the same lesson everytime.⠀
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In today’s world, I think many of us are taught to multi-task in order to be proficient & accomplish something. Whether it be through work or in our personal lives, we are DROWNING in (the drama of the overwhelm.) ⠀
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What we all need to learn ( & sometimes re-learn) is to focus on ourselves & focus on 1️⃣ thing at a time. ⠀
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It is good to have a lot of goals, but to prevent yourself from burning out or become anxious or stressed out, take these words with you below. ⬇️✨⠀
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One step at a time.⠀
One day at a time.⠀
One moment at a time.⠀
One rep at a time.⠀
One task at a time. ⠀
One goal at a time.⠀
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Hold your head up high girl, you got this ⭐️✨ 🌈💪

✨ OT Thursday ✨🦋⠀
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Tips on starting your first job as a NEW PEDS OT!🐝⠀
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1️⃣. Make sure you love getting messy and playing with kiddos all day long. —Get your rest and prioritize sleep!😴⠀
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2️⃣. Stay current in all new toys & games & technology! Take time to go through your facility’s closet of toys and games and organize inn your mind or on paper what those target!⠀
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3️⃣. Go for it! The only way I am learning to become a great PEDS OT is to just go for it. Try new things. If they don’t work...that’s okay, try something else. ⠀
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4️⃣. Be informed about each child and their interests! It saves you when coming up with treatment plans and ideas on the spot. ⠀
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5️⃣. Ask for help when you need it! Lots of questions, utilize the therapists that are there to gain knowledge about different kiddos, ways of doing things, equipment to use, asking questions why they are doing what they are doing. It ONLY HELPS YOU GROW! ❓⠀
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6️⃣. Ummm PINTEREST. Download it like NOW. 💯⠀
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7️⃣. Be informed & read up on latest ways of practice and different interventions for different types of diagnoses. Utilize your AOTA membership & read through articles! Never thought I’d say that after school, but it’s been aooo helpful!⠀
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8️⃣. Always shoot for the stars! - Children will surprise you at what they can achieve. You may learn in school that you need certain range of motion to complete a skill, and then you will meet a child with significant contractures who can do that skill independently. ⭐️ ⠀
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9️⃣. BE A KID & HAVE FUN WITH THEM! This will help you and engage kiddos so much more! ...but don’t be afraid to be firm when you need to.🐠🦋🦄⠀
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🌈 Hope this helps some of you. As a newer PEDS OT, I am learning all the ins and outs and have accepted that this is truly a lifelong learning journey! ✨

I did not want to do it. I did not physically feel like I could move today. 5 am came waaaay too early for me today. I complained. Even during the workout I was just so annoyed. & honestly don’t let that smile tell you that I ALWAYS feel like it. I am exhausted. I am overwhelmed. I am stressed. ✨BUT I did it. ✨I just got up and started moving. My body has gotten so used to getting up and moving. & that took time. Habits take a ✨long ass time to build✨. After working 12 hour days, I know I don’t want to or will not workout at night so that’s why not matter what I prioritize myself. Even when I don’t feel like it.

✨✨ Because I matter. Because my health matters. Because at the end the day, I am my biggest priority. Start putting yourself lady & go after the life that you DESERVE.

Where my 90s kids at?! 🌈✨⠀
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Remember....⠀
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1. Feeling like a rockstar when you opened a Capri Sun without breaking it?! ⠀
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2. Blowing on your CD before playing it?! ⠀
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3. Feeling like your American Girl doll just got you?!⠀
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4. Listening to nothing but girl & boy bands (Spice girls, destinys child, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, TLC)⠀
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5. Watching TRL & Boy Meets World after school??⠀
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6. Freaking out about Y2K?!⠀
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7. Trying (and failing) to keep your Tamagotchi alivE??⠀
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8. Trying to rub candy necklace indents off your neck??⠀
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9. Using the internet for the first time? Helllooo instant messenger, aol, & screennames 😂✨⠀
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10. Blowing your allowance on Beanie Babies?! (Still got mine!)⠀
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✨🌈 Doesn’t going down memory lane bring back all the good times?! Which ones do you remember the most?! Any other memories from being a kiddo back in the days??⠀
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Guess what!! NEXT months Bootcamp theme revolves alllll around this! & I am so SO excited to relive my childhood days through our workouts & music!!⠀
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Today marks pre- enrollment for September and I would LOVE to get you going on all the fun and fitness that is to come in our supportive accountability group!! ⠀
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✨🌈 DM ME for the deets or comment below OR FILL OUT MY FREE HEALTH ASSESSMENT FORM link in my profile!⠀
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🎶 “Everybodyyyyy...Yeahhhh..Rock your body...yeahhhhh!! 🎶