Hello friends! If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been these past few weeks, grab your favorite drink (I’ve got my water right here) and settle in for a proper catch-up.
It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through 2024! The first six months have absolutely flown by, and I thought it was the perfect time to sit down and share what’s been happening in my life lately, why I disappeared from YouTube for nearly a month, and what exciting things are coming up for the rest of the year.
Where I’ve Been
First things first—let me address my brief hiatus from YouTube. If you follow me regularly, you might have noticed I went MIA for about three to four weeks after my last video (the one with the Jellycat lunch and FIT Museum visit at the end of May). The truth is, I had been posting consistently since the beginning of the year, but I was filming, editing, and posting all in the same week—which leaves zero room for error or life disruptions!
Right after that last video, on May 31st, we headed to the Dominican Republic for our first proper vacation with Julia since she was born. Between the trip prep and being fully present during our vacation, I just couldn’t manage to film or edit anything beforehand. And then—because life loves to test us—I caught COVID for the third time shortly after returning home. Three years running now: 2022, 2023, and 2024. Not the streak I was hoping to maintain!
But good news: I’m finally healthy again, testing negative, and back to creating content. Looking back, I usually end up taking two breaks from YouTube each year—one around the holidays/my birthday and another mid-year. So I guess we can check «summer break» off the list for 2024!
Our Dominican Republic Getaway
While I didn’t vlog our vacation for YouTube (sometimes you just need to live in the moment), I did share content on Instagram! We decided to go for an all-inclusive resort where everything—food, activities, drinks—was included in the price. After doing our research, we chose the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
We managed to book using points (travel hack win!), and after reaching out to the hotel about a potential collaboration, they upgraded our stay! The timing couldn’t have been more perfect as we were there on May 31st—our wedding anniversary! There was even a «Happy Anniversary» sign on our door when we arrived.
I deliberately waited to post content until after our trip because I wanted to be fully present rather than worrying about what to share in real-time. It was so refreshing to take pictures and videos but only share them once we were back home. If you’re curious about our stay, head over to Instagram (@flopereira) where I’ve posted highlights from our trip!
My Fitness Journey: From Couch to 5K (Almost!)
One of my big goals for 2024 has been improving my fitness and overall health. Not just for aesthetic reasons, but for truly practical ones—like being able to climb subway stairs without getting winded or keeping up with Julia as she becomes more active!
I’ve had a complicated relationship with running for most of my life. Despite meeting my husband through running (he helped me train for an 8K!), I never really enjoyed it until the pandemic hit in 2020 while we were living in Germany. During those uncertain early days, running outdoors became my sanity-saver.
That’s when I first tried the Couch to 5K program—a 9-week plan that gradually takes you from zero exercise to running for 30 minutes straight. The program starts with running for just one minute at a time and works up to 30 minutes of continuous running. For me, that’s about 3.5 kilometers, not quite 5K, but it’s still significant progress!
Here’s where you can watch my full update about everything that’s been going on:
I tried the program again after moving back to New York but never quite stuck with it. Then pregnancy came along, which brought its own set of physical challenges. But this year, being one year postpartum, I decided it was time to recommit to my health.
As I’m filming this, I’ve nearly completed the program—I’m on Week 8, Day 3, with only one week left! I’m currently running for 28 minutes straight, which feels like an incredible accomplishment considering where I started in January. My goal is to work up to running 10K by the end of the year, which still feels like a stretch but maybe, just maybe, I can get there.
What I’ve learned is that fitness isn’t about making excuses—it’s about pushing through the «I’m too tired» or «it’s too hot/cold/early/late» thoughts. It’s about showing up for yourself even when you don’t feel like it. And honestly? I’m proud of myself for sticking with it, even with occasional breaks and setbacks.
Running has helped me feel stronger, more confident, and more appreciative of what my body can do. We’re often so quick to criticize our appearances, but having a healthy, strong body is truly a privilege, especially as we grow older.
If you’re considering starting a fitness journey of your own, whether it’s running or something else entirely—tennis, pickleball, football—I’d say go for it! Running is particularly accessible since all you need are decent sneakers and a safe space. (I’ll link to the Couch to 5K app I use and my Taylor Swift running playlist below—because nothing keeps me motivated like Taylor when I’m struggling through those last few minutes!)
What I’ve Been Reading
Another goal for 2024 has been reading more consistently. I’m aiming for 24 books this year (two per month), and I’m currently on track! Here are some highlights from my recent reads:
- The Woman on the Ledge — A thriller unlike anything I’ve read before. Highly recommend!
- The Stranger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine — Not my favorite from this author. It was a bit too twisted for my taste.
- Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros — Romantasy (romance + fantasy) about dragon riders that completely surprised me with how much I loved it! Probably my favorite books of 2024 so far.
- A Court of Thorns and Roses series — I tried three books in this series after everyone recommended it, but it just wasn’t for me.
- Mad Honey — A book club pick with an incredible twist and fascinating information about beekeeping.
- First Lie Wins — A thriller about someone with multiple identities. It had young adult vibes despite being marketed as adult fiction.
- Queen of Poisons — The third book in the Marlow Murder Club series, which gives me modern Agatha Christie vibes. One of my favorites!
- Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty — Coming out in September 2024, this book explores what would happen if someone could predict when and how you’ll die.
What’s Coming Up
Looking ahead to the summer months, here’s what you can expect:
- More NYC content — Summer is when New York City truly comes alive, and there will be tons of brand events, launches, and activities to share with you.
- Another trip — We have travel plans in the works! I’m hoping to plan my content better this time so I don’t end up missing uploads.
- Book club — We have our next book club meeting coming up at the end of July.
- NYC Summer Guide — I’m working on a comprehensive guide to NYC in summer, with all the best activities, events, and hidden gems.
A New Venture!
And finally, I’ve saved the biggest news for last! I’ve been quietly working on launching a new business for the past few months. This is something that’s been in the back of my mind for a couple of years now, but I’ve finally taken concrete steps toward making it happen.
It’s funny—when I started my blog 14 years ago, I just jumped right in without overthinking it. Now, I find myself so much more cautious about launching something new, worried about failure or things going wrong.
But despite those fears, I filed for a trademark in January, and I’m hoping to launch at least part of the business by the end of this year. I won’t share all the details just yet, but if you’re interested in updates, you can sign up through the link in the description below.
Would you be interested in a series about what it’s like to start a new business? The trademark process, all the paperwork, the ups and downs? Let me know if that’s something you’d want to see!
Thank You!
If you’ve made it this far, thank you so much for sticking with me through this lengthy update! I love these chatty, life-update style posts, and I hope you do too. I’d love to hear what’s been going on in your life lately:
- Have you read any of the books I mentioned?
- Are you on a fitness journey too?
- Have you been to Punta Cana or stayed at an all-inclusive resort?
- What content would you like to see from me in the coming months?
Drop a ❤️ in the comments if you read this entire post, and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram (@flopereira) for more regular updates!
Until next time, Flor
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