Becoming a Runner: Starting Where You Are

Becoming a Runner

Becoming a runner does not begin with speed, expensive shoes, or long distances. It begins with a decision. A quiet, personal decision that you are willing to move your body forward, one step at a time. Many people believe they are not built to run. They think runners are naturally athletic, disciplined, or genetically gifted. The truth is that runners are simply people who keep showing up.

If you are new to running, start where you are. That might mean alternating between walking and jogging for short intervals. There is no rule that says you must run a full mile on your first attempt. In fact, easing into the process reduces injury risk and builds confidence. Consistency matters far more than intensity in the beginning.

Set realistic goals. Instead of focusing on distance, focus on time. Commit to moving for twenty minutes three times a week. Allow your body to adapt gradually. Muscles strengthen, lungs expand, and endurance improves over time. Progress may feel slow at first, but every run builds a foundation.

Proper preparation makes a difference. Invest in supportive running shoes that fit well and feel comfortable. Wear breathable clothing that allows freedom of movement. Warm up with light walking or dynamic stretches before each run. These small habits protect your body and improve performance.

Mindset plays a powerful role in becoming a runner. There will be days when your legs feel heavy and your motivation fades. That does not mean you are failing. It means you are training. Learning to run through discomfort without harming yourself builds resilience. Each completed run reinforces the belief that you can do hard things.

Celebrate small milestones. The first time you run without stopping. The first mile completed. The first week you stick to your schedule. These victories matter. They shift your identity from someone trying to run to someone who runs.

Rest is equally important. Recovery days allow your muscles to repair and grow stronger. Listen to your body. Mild soreness is normal, sharp pain is not. Respecting your limits ensures long term success.

Over time, running becomes more than exercise. It becomes a space for reflection, stress relief, and mental clarity. The rhythm of your steps creates a moving meditation. Problems feel smaller when you face them one stride at a time.

You do not need to look like anyone else on the trail. You do not need to match someone else’s pace. Becoming a runner is about commitment, patience, and belief in your ability to grow. Start slow. Stay consistent. Let each run remind you that progress is built step by step. Lastly, don't forget to have fun.

 

Resetting Your Home After the Holidays

The holiday season is beautiful, but it can also leave your home feeling cluttered, chaotic, and a little overwhelming. Once the decorations come down and the kids return to their regular routines, January becomes the perfect time to reset your home. A home reset is not just about cleaning. It is about creating space for new energy, new routines, and new opportunities in the new year.

I like to begin with a simple walkthrough of my home. No cleaning supplies, no pressure, just observing what feels out of place. Are there toys that need sorting, paperwork stacking up, or corners that feel heavy with clutter? Walking through my home gives me clarity on what needs the most attention. I focus on one room at a time because trying to fix everything at once can feel discouraging. A calm and organized environment makes it easier to stay motivated in other areas of life.

One of the most refreshing parts of resetting a home is decluttering. After the holidays, new gifts come in, old items get pushed aside, and storage areas become crowded. I take my time sorting through the items we no longer need. Anything broken, outdated, or unused is either donated or thrown away. Decluttering always feels like a deep exhale, clearing mental and emotional space as well.

Once the clutter is gone, I focus on resetting our daily systems. This includes organizing the pantry, prepping school areas for the kids, setting up a simple cleaning routine, and creating a few cozy spaces for reading or relaxing. Even the smallest changes, like adding new baskets for storage or rearranging furniture, can make a home feel brand new.

Cleaning becomes the final step. I open windows for fresh air, wash linens, deep clean high-traffic areas, and refresh the spaces we use most. The goal is not a perfect home but a peaceful one.

Resetting your home after the holidays sets the tone for the entire year. A fresh home inspires a fresh mind, and a fresh mind helps you stay focused on your goals.

Setting Realistic Goals for the New Year as a Mom

 

Setting Realistic Goals for the New Year as a Mom and Creator

Setting goals for the new year is exciting, but as a mother and creator, I have learned to set goals that truly align with my life. I no longer pressure myself into long lists or unrealistic expectations. Instead, I choose goals that honor my responsibilities, my dreams, and my peace.

For me, setting realistic goals starts with understanding my capacity. I look at what I can handle with love, patience, and balance. I remind myself that I do not need to chase perfection. I only need to move forward in ways that feel healthy and meaningful.

I separate my goals into categories. I think about motherhood goals like being more present, creating more memories, or helping my children grow in confidence and kindness. These goals remind me that motherhood is a journey I want to cherish, not rush through.

I also set goals for my creative work. Whether I want to write more books, build my brand, or share more on my blog, I choose goals that motivate me without overwhelming me. I give myself room to grow and room to rest.

Another important part of setting realistic goals is giving myself grace. Some days I will be productive. Some days I will need rest. Both are valid. I remind myself that progress does not always look the same every day.

As I move into the new year, I choose goals that fill me with purpose rather than pressure. I choose goals that align with the woman I am becoming. I choose goals that allow me to grow at my own pace.

 

The Importance of Rest and Slowing Down Before the New Year

December carries a different kind of energy. While the world rushes to finish shopping, finalize plans, and wrap up the year, I choose to move a little slower. Rest during this season is not laziness. It is preparation. It is healing. It is necessary.

Slowing down before the new year gives me space to reflect on everything I have been carrying. This year was full of responsibilities, experiences, and emotional weight. Rest allows my mind and body to release what no longer serves me. When I slow down, I can hear myself better. I can understand what I need for the year ahead.

This month reminds me that I do not have to earn rest. I deserve rest simply because I am human. I deserve moments to breathe, to think, to let my body recharge. I do not have to wait for the new year to start fresh. The preparation begins with stillness.

Rest also strengthens my connection with my children. When I slow down, I notice the little things. Their laughter. Their growth. Their excitement. Their questions. Their need for closeness. Slowing down makes me a better mother because it gives me the emotional capacity to be fully present with them.

It also helps me reconnect with myself. With so much to do during the year, it is easy to forget my own needs. December gives me a gentle reminder that I matter too. Whether I rest by journaling, reading, napping, or simply sitting quietly, these moments recharge my spirit.

Slowing down also allows me to enter the new year with clarity instead of burnout. Rest resets my mindset and helps me approach January with renewed energy and hope.

This December, I am giving myself permission to slow down. I am choosing peace over pressure. I am choosing rest over rushing. I am choosing myself the same way I choose those I love.

Peace During the Hectic Holidays

 

How I Keep My Home Peaceful and Centered During the Holidays

The holiday season brings a certain kind of energy into the home. Decorations start coming out, schedules get fuller, and everything seems to move a little faster. But even with all the activity, I choose to keep my home peaceful and centered. For me, the energy inside my home is everything. It shapes my children’s mood, my own spirit, and the way our family moves through the holiday season.

Maintaining peace during December starts with routines. With the excitement of the season, it is easy to let everything feel chaotic. I make sure we keep our simple routines so the kids feel grounded. Whether it is bedtime rituals, calm evenings at home, or taking time to check in with each other, our routines help block out unnecessary stress. My children thrive when they feel stability, and I do too.

Another way I create peace is through the environment itself. I lean into soft lighting, warm colors, calm scents, and gentle music. Even a clean living room makes a difference. I learned that the home does not have to be perfect, but it should feel comforting. I want my kids to feel like our home is a safe space from the world, especially during a season when everything feels busy and overwhelming.

I also set boundaries with our time. I do not say yes to every event, activity, or invitation. Sometimes choosing peace means choosing stillness. Protecting our time helps keep stress away. We focus on what matters most to us rather than trying to fit in everything December throws our way.

Peace also comes from how we communicate. I model calm energy with my kids. When the excitement makes them restless, I remind them gently to breathe and slow down. I want our home to feel like a place where emotions are understood, not rushed or dismissed.

We also create peaceful moments together. Movie nights, baking cookies, journaling, reading stories, and long conversations fill our home with warmth. These moments remind my children that love and presence matter far more than gifts.

As December unfolds, I continue choosing peace on purpose. Our home is where memories are made, and I want those memories to be filled with comfort and connection. Peace is not an accident. It is a choice, and it is one I make every single day.

Thoughtful Ways to Make Him Feel Appreciated. Christmas Gift Ideas

 

Gifting the Men in Your Life

Gifting the men in your life doesn’t have to be complicated. Even though many men say they “don’t need anything,” the right gift can make them feel valued, understood, and genuinely appreciated. It’s not about the price tag, it’s about intention. A thoughtful gift shows him that you pay attention, you care about his comfort, and you recognize what makes him who he is.

Men appreciate gifts that are practical, personal, or help them relax. They may not always say it out loud, but they feel it. Whether it’s your partner, father, brother, friend, or son, choosing the right gift can strengthen your bond and create meaningful moments.

Here are some great ideas to make gifting easier and unforgettable.

Practical Gifts He’ll Actually Use

• High-quality wallet

• Sleek watch

• Grooming or beard care kit

• Durable belt or everyday accessories

• Tech gadgets that upgrade his routine

Comfort & Self-Care Gifts

• Cozy slippers or robe

• Weighted blanket

• Massage gun for sore muscles

• Relaxing candle or body care set

• Premium hoodie or loungewear

Sentimental Gifts That Hit the Heart

• Personalized keychain or bracelet

• Engraved accessories

• Custom photo book

• Framed picture of a special memory

• Handwritten note tucked into the gift

Experience-Based Gifts

• Tickets to a sports event or show

• A surprise date night

• Weekend trip or getaway

• Cooking or mixology class

• Fun activities like go-karting or zip-lining

No matter what you choose, the goal is simple: make him feel seen. The best gifts tell him, “I know what you love, and I appreciate everything you are.” Thoughtful gifting creates lasting memories and that’s something every man deserves.

#ChristmasGiftsForHim #HolidayShopping #MensGiftIdeas #MeaningfulGiftsForMen #RogersBooks #Christmas2025 #GiftGuide

Meaningful Gifts She’ll Truly Love, Christmas Gift Ideas for Any Women in Your Life

 

Why Thoughtful Gifts Matter

Every woman in your life holds a unique role whether she is a mother who pours endlessly into everyone else, a sister who always shows up, a best friend who carries your secrets, a partner who pushes through life’s hardest moments with you, a daughter who reminds you of innocence and possibility. When the holidays come around, birthdays arrive, or a moment simply feels deserving, gifting a woman isn’t just about handing her something pretty wrapped in a bow. It’s an opportunity to honor her, to appreciate her, and to remind her that despite everything she juggles, she matters too.

Women are often the silent strength in so many lives. They give without being asked, they sacrifice without acknowledgment, and they love without limits. So, when it’s time to choose a gift for Christmas, a birthday, Mother’s Day, or just because, it becomes less about the item and more about the message: “You are seen. You are appreciated. You deserve something that brings you joy.”

Why Gift-Giving to Women Is So Meaningful

Women are natural nurturers. They carry emotional labor, mental load, and responsibilities that often go unnoticed. A thoughtful gift becomes a moment where she gets to be the one cared for. It’s more than material. It’s validation.

A meaningful gift tells her:

• “I pay attention to what makes you happy.”

• “I value your rest, your comfort, and your peace.”

• “I notice how hard you work, even when you say nothing.”

• “You deserve softness too.”

This is why personalized or thoughtful gifts hit differently. A self-care set says, “Take a moment for yourself.” A customized necklace says, “You’re one of a kind.” A journal says, “Your thoughts deserve space.” A cozy blanket or slippers say, “You deserve comfort.” And an experience like a spa day, a brunch date, or a quiet weekend says, “You deserve to breathe.”

Gift Ideas That Speak to a Woman’s Heart

When choosing a gift for a woman, think far beyond the store shelves. Think about her personality, her lifestyle, her burdens, and her joys.

• Self-Care & Wellness Gifts:
  Women are constantly in motion. A self-care gift encourages her to slow down, recharge, and reconnect with herself.

• Sentimental & Personalized Items:
  Whether it’s an engraved piece of jewelry, a birthstone charm, or a personalized photo book, these gifts become keepsakes she’ll treasure for years.

• Creative & Expressive Gifts:
  Journals, planners, art kits, or anything that fuels her creativity remind her that her dreams and ideas matter.

• Comfort Gifts:
  Pajamas, candles, warm throws, these gifts create moments of peace she rarely carves out for herself.

• Experience Gifts:
  Because sometimes the best gift is not a thing, but a memory. A spa treatment, a wine tasting, or a surprise outing leaves her with something she’ll never forget.

Final Thoughts

Gifting a woman isn’t about the price or the brand. It’s about the intention behind it. Women often carry the world on their shoulders, and the right gift reminds her that she deserves care, love, and appreciation just as much as she gives it. When you choose something with purpose, she feels it. She carries it. And she remembers it.

So, the next time you’re shopping for any female in your life, don’t just ask yourself, “What should I buy?” Ask yourself, “What will make her feel valued?” That’s where the true magic of meaningful gifting begins.

#ChristmasGiftsForHer #HolidayShopping #GiftIdeasForWomen #MeaningfulGifts #RogersBooks #HolidaySeason #SelfCareGifts

Starting and Building Your Home Gym

 Recommended Items For Home Workouts

    I, like many, had a gym membership before and during Covid, but unfortunately, my gym felt it would be a liability to open back up the daycare section, which forced me to end my membership. If I allowed this to bum me out and set me back on my fitness journey, I would have disappointed myself. So this caused me to look into starting and building my personal home gym. At the beginning of the Covid shut down many of the gym accessories were becoming few and in between because many had the same idea as I did. Now, since things have opened back up you will have no problem getting items like dumbbells with no hassle. One may feel slightly intimidated by building a home gym because there are a number of things you can buy. So to begin I jotted down the weight loss goals I wanted to achieve. For me, I had some baby weight I wanted to shed and then some toning up to do. Being aware of this I then began to research many exercise moves and different home workouts I can use to achieve my goals. Next is finding the equipment and what better place to shop other than my trusted Amazon.com. We all know that they have pretty much everything and they helped me get my home gym where it is now. Below are some of my must-haves and items I recommend with pictures and links you need to get for your home gym.   

1. Resistance bands, use to help build and strengthen your muscles.

https://amzn.to/3xYdUZH

2.  Jump rope is one of my go-to for cardio. Jumping rope builds and strengthens muscles, builds stamina, and endurance.

https://amzn.to/39UxkXk

3. Dumbells are good for building muscles and stimulating and promoting muscles and joint flexibility.

https://amzn.to/3yjr18Y

4. Workout mats are important to prevent you from slipping and falling and helps reduces stress on your body when completing many floor moves.

https://amzn.to/3njsh5S

5. Treadmill is another great option for cardio exercise. The treadmill works the full body and helps with muscle building and fat shedding. Many can be stored to prevent having your place look cluttered.

https://amzn.to/3xTJVlA

6. BONUS, not necessary but an amazing investment. Sweet Sweat waist trimmer is used to produce a great amount of sweat increasing your calorie loss and helping tone and shrink your waist. When I tell you it works like a charm and has helped me lose inches on my waist and tighten up my mommy pouch area. 

https://amzn.to/3xXpWSS

The items listed above were my go-to for the beginning of my home workout journey, I have now added more items to my gym and will share those things in another post. Please feel free to utilize the links I provided. Share some of the items you may have if you are also someone who workout from home. Until next time, be blessed. 

“Simplyrikaswo-20 is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.” (source: Section 5)

Don’t Forget You!

 

    If you are like me then I know that you also are guilty of putting everyone before yourself. But ladies and gentlemen, this will be the year that we won’t forget ourselves any longer. I have made it my responsibility to love me first. I can’t give my all to my family if I don’t put myself first. Over the past many years, I have always placed my children, friends, and family before my own needs and got to the point where I lost myself. It was like the days just all seemed to begin to mesh together and feel the same, as though I was in the Twilight Zone and I was just living for them and not for myself. All my goals and dreams that I wanted to accomplish were placed on the back burner because I did for everyone else and failed to do for myself. So this year we are putting ourselves first. We are working on our health because a healthier me/you equals happiness and more years added onto our lives. Get up and put on that sexy dress, or that suit, fix your hair, and if you are into makeup apply it and add a bold lip to the look. We are pushing ourselves to accomplish or at least start something we have always wanted to but felt we never had the time to do. We are no longer making excuses that will hinder us from starting or finishing the projects we want to complete. We will be rewarding ourselves with little gifts that we have always wanted but never got because we spent that money on someone else. So sweeties buy that perfume/cologne, shoe, purse, and jewelry and don’t feel guilty about it. Valentine's Day is around the corner, but we don't need to wait until then to begin loving ourselves a bit more. 

We are all beautiful people and never forget that. Until the next post, be amazing and do amazing things. -Rika

COVID BLUES (poetry)

Let us out, it’s not fair, that is all I hear,

The sun is shining but we are compelled to stay clear.

Cover your face, comply it’s law, 

The health system is broken and it sees its flaws.

These mask we wear are stifling,

But there’s a short on mask so nurses are striking.

This virus I swear is not a joke,

I had a brother who never woke.

It takes on the form of the grim reaper, 

With every day that passes with lack of compliance through the streets it spreads deeper. 

It doesn’t judge, it doesn’t care about

Your race, your age nor the money you have, Your status doesn’t grant you a pass. 

We are all equal and it’s up to us to stop the spread of this killing machine,

By doing ones part with a social distance, and hand hygiene routine.

              @simplyrikasworld

15 Things To Do While In Quarantine

Whom else is tired of being stuck up in the house either alone or with very hyper children 😂. Though I am a healthcare worker and is considered essential and most leave the comfort of my home to assist in the caring of the sick. I do have days off where of course I’m home like everyone else and wondering what can I do to pass the time 🤔. So below are a list of the 15 things that I enjoy doing or on my list to do, not in any particular order.

Hopefully you can take from this list and apply some of the things in your daily quarantine routine. Or if you have anything else to add to the list please feel free to share them in the comment section with me.

Top 15 things to do while in quarantine 

1. Read a book ( I’m currently reading You Are A Badass by: Jen Sincero)
   
2. Organize closet ( put away your winter items and bring out the spring/summer wardrobe).
3. Organize makeup (dollar tree/amazon has lots of cute organization items for makeup).
4. Declutter closet/makeup (makeup does have an expiration date ladies and gentlemen so be mindful and know it’s okay to throughout old makeup. Don’t become a hoarder).
5. Play with children ( this is an everyday thing for me being a mommy of two).
6. Go for run/ stay active ( I bought a pair of rollerblades and I do a lot of youtube workout videos).
7. Bake treats
8. Give self a facial 
   
   
   
   
9. Take a bubble bath (I am long overdue for one, Dr. Teals here I come).
   
10. Zone out to your favorite music (I’m a oldies/doo wop kinda girl. Also throw in my 90’s R&B).  
11. Catch up on rest 
12. Write in journal (I love to jot down ideas for my son’s 8th birthday party).
13. Give self new hairstyle (I’ve been putting on and taking off wigs 😂). 
14. FACETIME love ones (my family and friends are on the East coast so I try to speak to them as much as possible).
15. Give thanks/ say a prayer for being alive and well (this is a everyday must for me).