Adult Field Day Recap

I mentioned we hosted the most fun adult field day in honor of my sister's birthday at the end of October and it was every bit as perfect as I envisioned it would be. As the most competitive girl in our family, she loved every second of it and I hope she felt all the love we all have for her as we celebrated all day long.

In my passion for planning any sort of event, I committed to making this day perfect for my sista. We rented out a softball field down the street to make sure we the space we needed for all the activities. I spent the whole week before prepping to make sure every little detail was special. I wanted to have all her favorite foods for the after party at our house which meant homemade snickerdoodle cupcakes and all things potato - her favorite food. Since we wouldn't be at our house for the games and wanting to make sure we still had fun event-themed decor, we made a few signs to hang at the softball field. I even special ordered her a sporty birthday girl shirt to wear. I'm so happy with how this day turned out!

Once the teams were chosen and more important, team names were selected, we kicked off the competition with a good old water balloon toss. Only two of us ended up completely soaked because of this competition (myself included). Of course this set off a bit of a water balloon fight because what else would we have done with all the extra water balloons?

Next up was a fierce game of kickball and I'm happy to say that my team won and I didn't get injured, both of which are worth celebrating!

We ended the competition with the highly-anticipated three-legged race and it was probably my favorite part. None of us could stop laughing during the entire race. It was pure joy for me to see everyone having such a good time.

Thank goodness, the birthday girl's team won the overall competition because she would not have been any fun the rest of the night!

Once the games were over, this fun and hungry crowd headed back to our house for food, fun and more competition in the form of slap cup and flip cup.

What a day. It was nice to switch things up and do something different with such a fun group of people. Seeing my sister so happy and carefree enjoying something so perfectly her made my heart so happy. It's safe to say we'll be planning another field day as soon as possible because this was a perfect day not to mention the fact that I'm sure we all want a rematch.

Our Weekend in Photos

I'm going to keep it simple today. I'm having a hard time staying focused, so here's our weekend in photos:

Friday we got out of work early and headed to Daytona Beach for a wedding. The weather was absolutely perfect and it was nice to get out of town, even for a few hours.

We were up bright and early on Saturday to participate in the Armageddon Ambush mud run. I have to admit, I'm a bit out of shape so running 3 miles was a challenge in itself, but add obstacles and stinky, wet, squishy mud to that and I'm just glad I survived. Jonathan was by my side the whole time, even though I definitely slowing him down quite a bit. I was a pathetic mess most of the way, but he was encouraging and patient with me. Love him. I did at least attempt most of the obstacles and it really was a fun day. I may have injured my knee during the race and the heat gave me a major headache, so needless to say I was in bed by 7 p.m. that evening and it was glorious.

Sunday consisted of marriage class, laundry and baking. It was the relaxing day I needed after a stressful and busy week. I love the days I feel like baking even though I don't have a particular occasion to bake for. I'm in no rush, I can bake whatever I'm in the mood to bake and it's just the perfect way for me to relax. I was in the mood to bake my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and we may have ended up with about 80 cookies when all was said and done. You can bet I'll be bringing cookies to anyone and everyone this week!

How was your weekend?

Linking up for Weekend Shenanigans!

A confession.

Once upon a time, just a few months ago, I was blogging about running a 5K, working out at the crack of dawn and sticking to a healthy diet. Somewhere between then and now, the workouts became less frequent and ice cream, big Sunday breakfasts and candy became more frequent. Don't get me wrong...I still go to the gym, but it's become more of a 1-2 times/week occurrence and my runs don't go much further than 3 miles or so.

I have fallen off the wagon. It's been a slow fall, but it's been a tragic fall. I have fallen in love and off the treadmill, so to speak.

It kills me that just a few months ago I was effortlessly sticking to a relatively healthy diet and I was working out like crazy and loving every minute. I could probably come up with a few excuses, but that isn't gonna get this girl back on track.

The good news is that the beginning is always hardest. Waking up tomorrow at 5 a.m. tomorrow to work out is probably going to be a little sad, but it must be done. I can't use the excuse of Tuesday night being date night with Jonathan anymore. If I can't work out Tuesday nights, I must work out Tuesday mornings. When Jonathan gets up for a bowl of ice cream before bed and asks if I want one, it will be a little hard to say no, but I can say no. I don't need a bowl of ice cream before bed.

No more excuses. No more french toast on Sunday mornings. No more eating out for lunch because I didn't plan anything.

I'm confessing all of this on my blog to help hold myself accountable. There's something about putting it "on paper" that makes me more motivated to stick with my plan. 

It felt great to be where I was at a few months ago. I was healthy, in great shape, I was happy and I had a ton of energy. I need to get back there before I really lose all the progress I made.

This starts now...as soon as I finish the bag of Skittles sitting on my desk.

I'm wondering...

How do you get yourself back on track when you fall off the wagon? Tell me what works for you!

Shootin' guns n' drinkin' beers

As per usual, here goes my weekend recap on Tuesday...hope you all had a happy weekend!

We hit the road early Saturday morning headed to the Ocala National Forest to camp for the night. It was an adventure, that's for sure! I should probably tell you ahead of time that instead of reserving a designated campsite, we the boys decided to go off on our own and find our own spot to camp in the forest. After driving in the middle of nowhere for a while, we turned down a random dirt road to find a spot to camp.

About a mile and a half up the dirt road, we got stuck, really stuck. At this point, Jonathan's friend's truck had already gotten stuck and we were actually turning around to find a spot where the road wasn't so hard to drive through. The boys spent about 2 hours trying to dig Jonathan's back tire out of the sand.



Off to a great start!



After calling a few different towing companies, we finally found someone who was willing and able to drive the 45 minutes to tow us out. The tow truck driver asked us to meet him back at the main road since we couldn't give him a very good idea of where we were. Doing what any good girlfriend would do, I joined Jonathan for the 1+ mile walk to the main road so he wouldn't have to go alone.

I will tell you one thing...I definitely underestimated how far we had driven. It was hot. I had to pee. It was all a little unfortunate, but Jonathan and I held hands and chatted the whole way, stopping to take pictures and whatnot. It was nice to see that even when the situation isn't ideal, he can still enjoy himself and not let it ruin his day.

We sat by the side of the road long enough to snap a few pictures before I had to give in and pee in the woods. I knew I would have to do it sooner or later, so I ran into the woods while Jonathan waited for the tow truck. Of course, it's just my luck that mid-pee, he would start yelling at me telling me the tow truck was there!

$250 dollars and a few hours later, we were finally settled at our campsite and ready to relax! The best part of this is that everyone was still in such good spirits by the time we got settled. I know a lot of people in my life who would let an inconvenience like getting stuck ruin their fun. Not this group. Don't get me wrong, we were all so very glad to be done with that part of our adventure, but everyone was still psyched to be there and we were all able to laugh about it. I'm really glad Jonathan's friends are like this.

We spent the afternoon drinking, chatting, shooting guns and we even flew a kite. The kite...let me tell you about that. It must've been our 2nd or 3rd date that I mentioned to Jonathan that I've been wanting to fly a kite...I don't think I've brought it up since. It was the sweetest thing when we were setting up our campsite and he handed me a Barbie kite he bought for me. I don't know how I didn't notice it when we were packing up the truck, but he is always surprising me in a smallest and most thoughtful ways.

I think my man was pretty impressed with my shooting skills. The boys had set up a few targets (beer bottles and a few cans) in a tree and I shot both bottles!

Needless to say, we had a blast! I handled the outdoors pretty well, if I do say so myself. Jonathan even commented on this the next night saying "You didn't complain once!" Don't get me wrong, you can bet that as soon as we got back to his place, I hit the shower and we spent the afternoon/evening cuddled in his bed, only leaving long enough to go to his parents' for dinner. I had a blast roughing it for a night, but it was good to be home!

Tell me...

Do you enjoy camping? What's your ideal camping trip like?

You can never have too much happy.

You'll have to excuse the excessive optimism I am giving off lately. I am over the moon happy and I'm loving every minute. For example, I've found myself smiling for no apparent reason and I shed a few happy tears simply sitting at my desk daydreaming about how wonderful my weekend was.

I feel like I could go on for days about all the simple, magical, wonderful moments of pure joy I've felt over the past few days, but I'll try to simply cover the highlights here.

I packed a bag for me and a bag for Blake on Friday and we headed off to spend most of the weekend at J's house. This was my first time bringing my puppy love to Jonathan's house and we both weren't quite sure how he would hit it off with J's cat, Money. I'll cut to the chase and say they didn't hit it off. At all. Blake wanted to play. Money was scared for his life. It was a nightmare and we had to keep them separated all weekend. I only tell you all of this because I have to say...if this is the biggest issue with our relationship so far, then we are pretty darn lucky.

Moving on...we had a great Friday night enjoying a home cooked dinner with Jonathan's sister and his friend, then heading out for a few drinks. I love that we can go out on the town and have a great time socializing, but I love it even more that this man can't wait to get home so we can enjoy our time alone as well. We had such a fun and relaxing night and ended up staying up until 3 a.m. talking about everything under the sun.

Saturday morning we went on a bike ride to the farmer's market and took Blake along with us. I wish I got a picture of Jonathan riding his bike with Blake running alongside him, but here is one of me. It was so nice to start the day off this way.

I ran The Color Run yesterday (I'll get to that soon!) and had to make a tutu to match the rest of the girls on my team, so we spent the afternoon out and about getting the materials I needed, meeting up with J's parents and sister for a late lunch and headed home to attempt a homemade tutu. I can't find words to express how special it is to have a man who not only helped me with this, but was happy to help and be a part of it. I'm not the most crafty girl out there and had no clue what I was doing. Even shopping in Joann Fabrics to get the supplies was a task. But he helped. With everything. He cut strips of tulle while I tied them on the elastic. Then he helped me tie and finish the tutu. When we were about to crawl into bed that night and I remembered I wanted to cut a little length off of it, he had me put it on and twirl while he cut it for me. We are a team and I love that about us. I also have to mention that I am falling for his family, as well. They are so welcoming and easy to get to know.

After our tutu project, we spent the evening hanging with a few of his good friends I hadn't gotten to meet yet. I planned to go back to my house and sleep there since I had to get up early for the race, but I honestly couldn't leave him. Laying in bed that night, we talked until we couldn't keep our eyes open any longer. We talked about how happy we were with each other and when then he asked me to promise we'll always be positive for each other...always lift the other person up instead of bringing them down. When he said all of this...I just closed my eyes and thanked God for everything that led me to this wonderful human being.

Needless to say, I am absolutely overwhelmed in the best way possible.

Speaking of happiness overload...

The Color Run was an absolute blast! It really is the happiest 5K on the planet. If you have a chance, I definitely recommend signing up if it comes to your city. It's so much fun!

Before and after the race with Laura

Seriously...have you ever seen someone this happy after 3.1 miles?

To say I'm feeling blessed is a huge understatement. One thing about life I love: whether I'm doing something new and exciting like The Color Run or simple things like riding bikes and taking Blake for a walk, with the right people, every minute is absolute perfection.

"We Just Have to Beat the Girls Who Stopped for Ice Cream!"

Good morning! I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

As many others were, I was completely torn apart by the events that took place Friday in Newtown. I wish I could find the words to write something...anything on this. But I can't. Simply knowing that horrific tragedies like this happen on this planet is absolutely heartbreaking. Since I can't find the right words to say, before I get into the nonsense my weekend consisted of, I wanted to share this song with you all. It came on my country music playlist on Friday night while I was home and it gave me a little spark of hope...hope for better days ahead.

My weekend...

The highlight of my weekend was running participating in the Tap n' Run 4K in downtown Orlando on Saturday. For those of you unfamiliar with this race, the emphasis is less on running the 2.4 miles and more on drinking beer, wearing ridiculous costumes and inappropriate behavior. Instead of the typical water stops during a typical race, there were 3 beer stops along the course and at the end of the race, everyone gets a medal/beer opener and another beer at the finish line. I had an absolute blast!

I'd fill you in on every detail, but the few photos I took really highlight the best parts:

I loved that when you registered for this race online you could choose a nickname for your bib. I obviously went with Booze Clues, which is what I refer to as trying to figure out what happened the morning after a wild night.

I absolutely loved our team baseball shirts. So cute!

It was absolutely necessary to take a "baseball card" photo. I obviously don't know how you are supposed to stand, but that isn't really important.

Best friends stop in the middle of a race to get ice cream with you. We were maybe two minutes into the race when we ran by my favorite frozen yogurt place. We just had to run in and grab a snack for the race. It was so funny to hear people behind us cheering each other on saying "We just need to beat the girls who stopped for ice cream!"

This is probably the most serious photo Laura and I have ever taken together. We got way too much joy out of creeping people out with these mustaches throughout the night. We would hold put our staches on and stare at random people from across the bar until they very awkwardly caught our eyes. After being vicimized several times, one guy finally came up to us and told us we were making him really uncomfortable and left the bar. It was hilarious.

If you ever have a chance to particpate in something like this, you just have to. It's so much fun! For all the running I've been doing and the hard work I've put in lately, it was kinda nice to partipate in something like this where I didn't care about the actual running at all.

I do have to say that day drinking really isn't my thing. I get a headache and start feeling hungover before 8 p.m. Does this stop me? Not usually. However, when at midnight you are twirling and dancing to 80s music and realize you've been drinking since 3 p.m., it's time to go home.

Miscellaneous

What's going on in my world right now:

I forgot to tell you all that Blake graduated from his beginner training class a few weeks ago. I really only share this with you because this photo is too cute not to. I am so glad I decided to sign him up for training when I did. He's almost a year old and while he is still very much a puppy, his behavior has improved so much and I'm so proud of him for catching on to the basic commands we learned so quickly. I'm pretty impressed that after 6 weeks of class I can get him to sit, stay, lay down, shake hands and drop toys or things he shouldn't have in his mouth.

I stumbled across these two quotes on Pinterest recently and I absolutely love them. I can't believe I still haven't read Eat, Pray, Love. I really need to add that to my Kindle.

In the last few weeks, I've started switching to morning workouts on the days I have evening plans. Depending on the week, I've been waking up at 5 a.m. 2-3 times a week to get to the gym. I know how awful this must sound, but I am finally at the point where it doesn't bother me too much. I used to hate it how I would get into a great gym routine, going 4-5 nights a week, but then a week would come where I had a lot going on in the evenings and I would hardly make it to the gym at all.

An active social life is no excuse to let all my hard work go to waste, so the only way to make this work was to workout in the morning on the days I have plans at night. I won't tell you hearing the alarm go off at 5 a.m. is a good feeling, but driving home from the gym at 7 a.m. feeling accomplished before I'd normally be awake is an amazing feeling.

I'm also super excited that yesterday I got up to a 4-mile run. This may sound silly to serious runners, but that is the farthest I've ever gone in one run. It took me 35 minutes and I seriously couldn't be more excited about this. When I started working out regularly and getting back in shape in August, I could hardly run a mile without struggling a lot. The fact that I've come this far in such a short time makes me realize that so much of our limitations are all mental. I'm not setting any specific goals, but this makes me so excited to build up my endurance even more.

 

Last but not least, if you don't watch Modern Family on ABC, you need to start. It's the perfect combination of funny and heartwarming. I'm obsessed with Phil's-osophy.

 

My favorite: "When life gives you lemonade, make lemons. Life will be all like "what?!?"

 

That's all for now. I hope everyone is having a great week!



Tell me...

Do you watch Modern Family? Who is your favorite character?

Do you prefer working out in the morning or evenings?

Race Recap: Miracle Miles 5K

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. I sure did! The highlight of my weekend would have to be running in the Miracle Miles 5K on Saturday morning. The race benefitted the NICU at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies and through a few generous donations from family and friends, I was able to raise almost $200 on my own to support such a great cause.

6 weeks ago I could hardly run a mile without struggling and I'm so happy to say that I successfully ran the 5K on Saturday. I ran all 3.1 miles, not even slowing down when I grabbed a cup of water from the volunteers somewhere after the 1 mile marker. I was so committed to running the whole thing, I convinced myself I could sip and run, which resulted in me pouring water down my shirt. Oh, this wasn't a wet t-shirt contest and 5K? I didn't get the memo...

I finished the race in 32:30 and I'm pretty satisfied with that time. I've only run one other 5K and that was back in 2010. I ran that one in about 34 minutes. I also didn't prepare for that one as much as with this one and I'm overall in much better shape than I was then. Comparatively, 32:30 is a huge improvement, but I am looking to get closer to 30 minutes in my next race.

I recruited my roommate to run with me. We were side-by-side
the whole race and I loved crossing the finish line with this girl!

I went into the race feeling pretty anxious. I had my training for the week of the race specifically planned out. I planned to run at least 5K on Tuesday, take a break and do about 4 miles on the elliptical on Wednesday, run 5K on Thursday and take Friday off. After a great run on Tuesday morning, I came down with a nasty stomach bug and wasn't able to work out at all on Wednesday or Thursday. To top it off, I was down 4 lbs in just two days from being sick and felt pretty weak from all of that. I obviously couldn't run on Friday with it being just one day before the race, so I was feeling a little....unprepared.

I felt really great at the start of the race. If I am going to get cramps while I run, they usually hit pretty quickly and I felt fine from the start. I felt comfortable with my pace and to play it safe, chose to stick to it although it felt a little slow. The first mile and a half was really a breeze, but I struggled for the remainder of the race. I used to struggle with the simple act of running. My calfs would get so sore and I would struggle with cramps and general pain. This wasn't the case on Saturday. For the first time in my life, I felt like my legs could go on for miles and miles. I didn't feel any soreness or cramping. What I struggled with for the last mile and a half was my breathing.

I've read a lot about how to control your breathing while running and I can't seem to stick to it. It's the same reason why I found yoga so challenging at first. If I lose control of my breathing for a second, I have such a hard time getting it under control again. I honestly feel like the entire 3.1 miles could have been a piece of cake if it weren't for my breathing, so that is something I obviously need to focus on improving.

There were several times I thought about taking a short walking break, but I'm so glad I didn't. It's a perfect example of not letting my thoughts get the best of me. Seeing the finish line with about 1/2 mile to go was such a relief and knowing I made it that far only motivated me to finish strong.

Overall, the race was a blast and I'm so glad I'm at a stage where I can run a full 5K. I have a few more races I plan to participate in throughout the fall and winter, so I can only imrove on this one. I'm feeling more confident in my running ability than I ever have before so I'm super psyched!

Tell me...

What do you struggle with most when you run? Any tips on getting my breathing under control?

Staying on Track

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It's hard to believe it's already been over a month since I wrote this post telling you I was getting back on the fitness train. The last few weeks have flown by and I'm happy to report that I haven't fallen off!

The last month has consisted of healthier eating, regular exercise, more activity and better choices overall. I feel great and I'm so glad I'm finally back to where I want to be. I've made several claims over the last few years about getting back in shape, eating better, changing my diet, etc., but I feel like I am more committed this time than ever before.

You may be wondering...what makes this time different than all the others?

-- I haven't been thinking of myself as being on a diet. I'm simply trying to make better choices and finding what works for me.

-- I haven't set some unreasonable goal to lose this many pounds by this date. The weight will go down if I'm doing things right. That's enough to keep me going.

-- I haven't been working out 4 times a week because I feel like I have to, but because I know I'll enjoy the challenge once I get going and feel great afterward.

-- I haven't been dreading the gym and looking for excuses not to go. I've found once I got back in the routine and stopped thinking of the gym as a negative activity, I made it a priority and actually want to go every day.

-- I haven't committed to a trendy diet plan that makes me feel like I am starving myself. I still treat myself and go a little off track some days, but I don't use that as an excuse to fall of the wagon completely.

-- I'm not looking for a "quick fix" for any of the changes I want to make. I know that I'm not going to get where I want to be if I don't put in the time and work.

-- I'm mixing it up. Getting into a workout rut is the biggest cause of me falling off the wagon before. I am still running at least 3 times/week to get ready for the 5K, but I make sure to mix it up with the stairmaster or elliptical on nights I don't run. I've taken up yoga on Saturday mornings to add a whole new element to my fitness routine. I'm making sure to keep up with my strength training so I can continue to tone my back, chest and arms. I'll never get bored at this rate!

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It's been just over a month and although I didn't weigh myself at the start of this and I don't "weigh-in" every week, I know I've lost at least a few pounds. My clothes fit better and clothes I didn't feel comfortable in a month ago now fit great.

I'm currently stuck at a 2.5 mile run and need to build up to a 5K before September 22nd, so that is the only specific goal I have going on right now. By simply running 3-4 times a week I've already seen a huge difference in my body and that is all the motivation I need to keep it up. I've also made a totally random and awesome cardio playlist and I've found this makes a huge difference! I'll have to share that with you in another post because I'm always looking for good songs to add to it.

I still drink and eat out on the weekends, but I'm trying to make better decisions when I do that. I love beer, but that doesn't mean I have to drink it everytime I go out, so I've been sticking to flavored vodka and soda water for the most part unless I'm at a place where (1) the beer selection is too good to pass up or (2) I'm watching sports or hanging out with my guy friends at the dive bar we go to. I've also cut back on how much I eat when I do eat out. Just because I order something not-so-healthy, doesn't mean I have to eat the whole thing.

The best part of all of this is that I haven't been frustrated by a strict, hard-to-maintain diet. I'm enjoying the healthier lifestyle and the times I treat myself to something sweet or unhealthy are truly a treat, rather than just another unhealthy meal or snack. I'm feeling great and excited to keep up with these new habits!

Tell me...

What helps you stay on track? What are you doing to stay in shape?

Back on the Fitness Train

I've fallen off the fitness wagon so many times this year it's hard to tell if I was ever really on it! The good news: I'm back and hanging on for dear life. I don't know how it got to the point where I was eating whatever I wanted and had ZERO motivation to go to the gym, but those days are long gone.

Here's what I've been doing to make sure it stays this way:

Committing to run a 5K (two, actually) in the next few months. I've always done best when I have a deadline or goal in mind. I'm not looking to win first place or anything, but I want to go into these runs feeling confident that I can at least run the whole thing (ideally without fainting at the finish line). I'll be running the 14th Annual Miracle Miles 5K with some friends in September and obviously The Color Run in December. Having these on the calendar is helping me stay motivated.


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Splurging on workout gear. This may sound silly, but I've learned that I will use anything as an excuse to avoid working out. I've never been one to have a drawer full of exercise clothes; I've always had a few basics (capris, pants, a few workout shirts) and made those work. The problem: a few workouts a week and I was out of clean clothes before I had a chance to catch up on laundry. I've been stocking up on running shorts, tanks and socks to be sure I never have that excuse. I'm making sure to buy things I will feel comfortable running a few miles in so I have no excuse to leave the gym early.

Being more flexible. I used to think the only way I was going to go to the gym was if I went straight from work. I convinced myself that going home first, I would severely decrease my chances of working out because I wouldn't be motivated to leave the house once I got there. This worked fine until Blake came into the picture in January. Being the puppy that he is, I've tried to be overly cautious about leaving him in his crate too long. That, and I feel like a terrible mother if he is stuck in there longer than absolutely necessary.

I would go to the gym straight from work and give myself one hour to work out before I rushed home to Blake. One hour? That isn't nearly enough time to get in a decent workout no matter how hard I tried to convince myself otherwise. By the time I was done with arms/shoulders or back/chest, I hardly had enough time to get in 30 minutes of cardio before I was rushing home. All of this made me look at working out as such an inconvenience. Now, I go straight home after work to take Blake out, feed him and let him run around for a bit, then go to the gym. Once I'm there, I don't feel so rushed and therefore have a MUCH better attitude about the whole thing.

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Getting out of my own way. Exercise has always been one area in my life where I don't project my positive attitude. Talk to me about any other area in my life and I'm all "I can do anything," "the sky's the limit," "anything is possible if you really want it." In the gym, I've always been more like, "I am running 1 mile. 1 mile, that's it." I can't tell you how many times my workout buddy, Chad (Scott's best friend), has told me to get out of my own way. He was right. He's always told me to get on the treadmill and run until I can't anymore, rather than setting a specific distance for myself. Giving myself a limit before I even get on the treadmill is doung just that-- limiting me.

These days, I run until I can't anymore and while that still isn't very far, I know it will get better because I'm getting out of my own way. Some days I even run until I can't anymore, then get on the elliptical for a few minutes to switch it up. It's amazing how changing the way you think about something makes such a difference.

Staying busy. I've always been happier when life is busy. Spending more time at the gym each night is bringing more control into other areas of life. I don't do well with down time at home. I either sit around watching television or snack, usually both. I also end up feeling down or lonely and overthinking things which is never good. With my new routine, I've been taking Blake for a walk before or after the gym instead of sitting around doing nothing at home. When I am finally home around 9, since I don't have much time before bed and I have more energy, I eat something quick and healthy for dinner and get things done around the house. Busy is good. It doesn't leave time for sitting in front of the TV, snacking or being lazy.

Needless to say, I'm psyched to be back on track! I'm

determined to keep it this way.

What are your secrets for staying motivated?

Adventures in Aerial Fitness

I was reminded once again this week how much fun it is to try new things! For my birthday a few weeks ago, my good friend, Sarah got me two things: an aerial fitness class and a pole dancing class. She is the friend that I signed up for kickball without telling her and we always end up doing random things together and having a blast.

Last night, we attended our first aerial fitness class. If you don’t know what this is, check out the place we went here.

You all know by now that I don’t exactly consider myself athletic or coordinated in any way and when I walked into the class and saw girls flipping and spinning on the silks, I pretty much decided I was going to fall on my face at some point.

Since we were beginners, they taught the basic climbs and poses, which looked challenging on their own. I don’t have much upper body strength and this type of exercise really relies on that. When it was our turn to try, we all surprised ourselves by how quickly we caught on. It definitely wasn’t easy, but we got better every time we tried, which is really encouraging.

The last thing we learned was how to wrap our arms in the silk and hang upside down. I might have done gymnastics for about a week when I was a kid and I had no idea how I was going to flip my body upside down. Sarah went first and after a few tries, she had it! I tried next and to my amazement, I did it on the first try! We were unstoppable after that, cheering each other on and helping each other perfect the pose. It was an absolute blast and one of the best arm workouts I’ve had in my life. We are definitely going to make it a regular thing so we can learn more.

There was a time not too long ago when I never would have tried this. I would’ve been too scared of not being good at it, afraid of making a fool out of myself. I’m so glad I got over that. I love trying new things like this and the feeling of doing something I was scared of doesn’t compare to anything else. 

Last night was a good reminder that I really can do anything I put my mind to. I walked into that class thinking I would fall on my face and there was no way I was flipping upside down, but I walked out feeling like a rock star because I did it all because I tried! It’s amazing what you accomplish when you jump in and try.

Today, my arms are sore but it feels great! If you’ve never tried this, I highly recommend it. Next week is pole dancing….oh boy! 

May: A Birthday, a Boy, a Beach and a Bride

It’s Friday night and I’m staying in. For the first time in a while, I am not rushing out the door to go on a date, to meet the girls, to kickball, to work or away for the weekend. I finally have some alone time. I’m catching up on the DVR and being super lazy on the couch. So it’s time to fill you in all the fun stuff I’ve been up. Between my birthday, a trip to the beach with my girlfriends, meeting The Umpire and traveling to Minnesota for my cousin’s wedding, it’s hard to believe so much fun could happen in one month!

My 25^th Birthday

I turned 25 on May 12. Some of my friends were telling me that turning 25 was going to freak me out, but I felt nothing but excitement over celebrating another birthday! I am exactly where I want to be right now, happier than I ever could’ve imagined being at 25. Who could feel anything but happiness over that?

Me and the girls celebrating downtown.

Girls’ Weekend at the Beach

I’ve had this beach weekend planned with Taryn and Sam since the beginning of the year so I’m really glad we made it happen. We spent three days at St. Petersburg beach and had an absolute blast! With how stressful work has been over the last few months, it was so nice to get out of town and relax.

We might have started a bar crawl at 3 p.m. and actually crawled to the last stop. Such classy ladies. 

After a few stops on the bar crawl. 

We had a picnic at sunset with strawberries and mimosas. We laughed and danced around. It was heaven.

Most relaxing part of the weekend.

Minnesota for my Cousin’s Wedding

When I say I was excited about my cousin’s wedding, I don’t think that quite gets the point across. If you know me at all, you know that I have been dying for someone to get married so I can go to a wedding. My cousin was an absolutely beautiful bride, the wedding was lovely and I was so touched when she asked me to do a reading at the ceremony. Me? Of all people? It really meant a lot to me. Needless to say, the wedding and whole weekend was amazing! Oh yeah, also spent 7 hours at The Mall of America that weekend. Wow.

Best part of the weekend? My whole family was together. 

What a beauty.

The cake was amazing!

In between all these celebrations, I’ve been seeing a whole lot of The Umpire and enjoying every minute, work has been busy and stressful (but going well overall) and our kickball team has managed to make it into the championship, which is next week! Life is busy, exciting, silly and chaotic…I wouldn’t want it any other way though! But sometimes…I need to remind myself of this:

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." Albert Einstein