Bucket List Bandwagon

Summer Bucket Lists are popping up everywhere - and really, I can't find a reason to NOT jump on board with the blog trend.

Join me, won't you? Here we go!

background image via Tumblr

Spend time at the pool.
I mentioned awhile back that we've started the grand ol' House Hunt of 2015. While we're pretty pumped (read: terrified) at the thought of homeownership, we realize that said House may not come with access to a pool. In the year that we've been at our current place, we've visited the pool a handful of times. When it's not crowded and the weather is right, being in and around the pool is pretty great.


Eat a s'more.
Add me to the millions of other people who have said this already, but s'mores are best in the summer. I've melted many a marshmallow on my stove with a butter knife, and if you're nowhere near a campfire or grill it's DEFINITELY the next best thing. COUNT ME IN.


Hop in a kayak.
One of my favorite places to be.

Folly Beach, SC

Beach getway.
It's a must. Even for just a couple of days.


Disconnect.
Unplug and pay attention when I'm with those I care about. I love Instagram, but I love people more.


Go on an adventure.
Day trips to new places can be oh-so-wonderful.


Conquer a fear (or two?).
YIKES. This one is scary (obvious much?), but must be done. What's life if it's not a little bit exciting once in awhile?


Run more.
Not for distance or exercise. Just for fun.

credit: Tumblr

Write more.
Even if it's just blogging more. Writing was my first love, and it's a wonderful, soothing outlet for me.


Buy fresh flowers.
There's something about having fresh flowers in a vase that makes everything seem prettier. It really brightens up a room. Even though I've only bought them on occasion since, well, ever...I'm thinking I need to incorporate more of this into my life.

Have a party.
BONUS POINTS if said House is in the picture at this point. Plus ALL THE MORE REASON to BUY THE FLOWERS! :)


Be more positive.
I can be QUITE a downer on the rough days. I declare this...THE SUMMER OF JOY!

{insert George Costanza gif here)


Keep in touch.
Earlier this year, I rebooted my Facebook in an effort to reconnect with folks. However, it only reminded me of why I deactivated it in the first place three-ish years ago. I spent too much time on it, and read status updates instead of actually calling someone. So, this weekend, Facebook went BUH-BYE once again. My goal this summer: keep in touch with those I don't see often. I want to call my people, send them a card or two...or MAYBE even WRITE A LETTER (OLD SCHOOL). We shall see!

Okay people, it's your turn. What's on your summer bucket list?!!!

If You Give A Girl A Checkbook

If you give a girl a checkbook,

She’ll likely pay her bills.

But she’ll start some online shopping,

Her budget keeping, still (WINK!).

She’ll remember there’s a gift card,

She received it long ago.

She can use it for this purchase,

And save her money, WHOA!

“But where is this card?”

She’ll ponder to herself.

OH, it’s in my old purse,

In my closet on the shelf!

So she’ll put down her shopping,

To the closet she will race,

To find that that old purse,

Is no longer in its place!

She’ll clean off the shelves,

‘Til her closet she has purged.

She will search through EVERYTHING,

And hopes that purse will emerge.

She’ll find old clothes and shoes,

That she no longer wears,

And toss them into storage,

To get them out of her hair.

But then she’ll see how messy

Her apartment has become.

She’ll surely trip o’er everything.

“Enough!” she’ll say, “I’m done!”

The time is right, she’ll think,

To take a trip to Target.

She’ll grab her keys and scurry,

With her debit card and wallet!

And Target, oh that magical place,

Let’s all its praises sing!

For its clothing, groceries, STORAGE BINS,

And all the sparkly things!

A girl will gather what she needs,

Especially storage supplies.

She’ll go home and get to business,

To get that closet organized!

She’ll work and she’ll work,

For hours upon end.

Sorting, searching, cleaning still,

This night’s for sure a win!

But when the closet she has finished,

That purse she hasn’t found.

She cleans her bedroom, kitchen, her living room too,

And everything else around.

But once there’s nothing left to clean,

Or organize or sort,

“Oh my!” she’ll say, “It’s 1 AM!

My mission I must abort!”

So as she lies that night in bed,

She’ll think of the time she took.

A seven-hour search for just one thing!

And it all started with a checkbook.

...But I wouldn't know anything about that ;)

Pup-Pup-Pup-Pranking The Mister

I got him!

I got him GOOD!

With yesterday being April Fool's Day, I knew we HAD to get a laugh at some point. I just didn't know how that was going to happen.

At first :)

We ALL know by now my love for puppies and sweet little baby animals. I have NO DOUBT that The Mister knows better than anyone.

So I conspired with a coworker and grabbed an old photo of her dog (when he was a puppy), worked some Photoshop magic after work, and sent THIS to Hubs while he was still at work!!!!

That's the EXACT color of our carpet!!!!! I was so pumped I couldn't even contain myself on the drive home.

As soon as I walked in the door, this text conversation ensued....

...It took him awhile to answer.

Oops.

He SAID that his phone was taking too long to download the picture...but I think we can all agree that he was just stunned.

STUNNED!

Finally, he called me as he was driving home. It was all I could do to keep from LOSING IT on the phone!!!

I even pulled up a YouTube video of a puppy barking to play in the background.

Genius? Why yes, yes I am.

His reaction was just PRICELESS. Something about how he WAS NOT surprised AT ALL because OF COURSE I want to take in every animal I see, but then again JUST HOW LONG could we manage a puppy in an apartment and WHERE WILL SHE SLEEP and WHERE WILL SHE PEE and WHERE ON EARTH DO PEOPLE BUY KENNELS????

Let me pause right here to say that I've added the ALL CAPS for dramatic effect. I was seriously impressed with how calm and collected he was throughout the entire conversation. He was nervous...but surprisingly okay with it all. I'll have to keep this in mind for future endeavors hahahaha

I finally couldn't hold it in any longer and spilled the beans.

He was utterly confused and I kind of had to give him a few minutes to let it soak in that we do NOT, in fact, have a puppy.

Just imagine how he felt when I showed him how I THIS Photoshopped gem -- of him actually HOLDING said puppy!!!

I think he looks mighty cute with a puppy on his shoulder.

I actually originally sent this one to my parents, telling them that our family dog now had a sister. They did NOT think it was a good idea.

BAHAHA.

Lisa = 1; Everyone Else = 0.

It was a LOVELY April Fools' Day indeed.

Until next time!!!!

A Friday Survey

Okay Party People! It's FRIDAY afternoon and I have {finally} HAD MY COFFEE so we're about to have some fun! My sweeeeeeet friend Natalie posted a survey on her blog today and I pretty much loved it. So I copied it. And now we have a SA-WEET blog post thingy.

So without further ado -- here's your friendly neighborhood random Friday afternoon blog post!


What is the last thing you watched on TV?

I really don't remember. But it was probably King of Queens or something last night, because it's basically how we usually end our days. I know the TV was definitely ON last night, and that I was in front of it --- but so many things were bouncing around in my mind I really didn't realize what was on in front of me. Oops. 

When did you last step outside? What were you doing?

Earlier when I was coming back from lunch! It was the first time in weeks that I've actually left for lunch (THANK YOU LORD FOR THE SUNSHINE), and it was GLORIOUS Spring weather outside.

I was just coming back from grabbing some lunch and delivering a cup of coffee to my friend Christy, who's been having a rough week. I know how she feels (ha), but it's wonderful how just a few minutes catching up with friend can brighten a day. I think it did both of us a world of good.

Not to mention, you know, CAFFEINE.

What is on the walls of the room you are in?

Um...carpet?

And a random giant cord. I'm not sure what it is connecting.

I'm in a cube.

If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?

I'd go to my people and pay off their bills for that month. Then I would buy a vacation home or a beach or an ISLAND OH MY WORD I WOULD BUY AN ISLAND!

Tell me something about you that most people don’t know.

Like Natalie, I'm extremely shy. And I mean overwhelmingly shy, and I have yet to overcome it. I love being around people, but at the same time the thought of being in a large crowd makes me want to curl up in a corner and disappear.

For example, a few years ago, I attended a conference out of state and hid in the bathroom, almost hyperventilating, during the many "networking breaks," which only lasted about 15 minutes.

...but give me a microphone and a stage and it's exhilarating.

Also, bonus fact: I would really love to work in television. And when I was little I wanted to be a stand-up comedienne. (<- ????)

Who made the last incoming call on your phone?

On my work phone -- my organization's marketing department.

If you could change something about your home, without worry about expense or mess, what would you do?

I would have a house on the water. A private lakehouse and a couple of kayaks? Jackpot.

What was the last thing you bought?

Coffee for Christy and myself. It was a drive-by coffee date, ha.

Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?

I'm not sure. Possibly sky diving if I was strapped to a professional with approximately 10 backup parachutes.

If you could eat lunch with one famous person, who would it be?

Jimmy Fallon! I love the guy! I'm convinced we'd have a blast and laugh a ton.

For example:

I laughed ridiculously hard.

Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?

Maybe GAP or Banana Republic? Unless I wasn't paying for it, then I would say ALL THE STORES.

Actually, maybe Academy and/or Dick's. Because WORKOUT CLOTHES ARE COMFORTABLE.

Is the glass half empty or half full?

On a good day, it's half-full of something sparkly and delicious!

What’s the farthest-away place you’ve been?

Hawaii :)

What’s under your bed? 

A few giant, broken-down boxes that we didn't want to part with, because we knew we would eventually move. And most likely a pair of shoes or two.

Excuse me now while I crawl in a corner and cry because I've now realized how boring I am.

What is your favorite time of the day?

10am and 4pm. At 10am, it's still mid-morning but the day is still new. At 4pm, the day is young but everything starts to slow down a little.

What Inspires You?

Talking to and reading about people who absolutely love and are passionate about what they do. I so want to feel that way.

Girl Weekend

Living with a boy definitely has its advantages.


Something on the top shelf? He's got it.

Heavy box to lift into the closet? Easy.

Sixteen bags of groceries to take up to our third floor apartment? Nooooooo problem.


Hubs is no doubt my best friend. And living with him is great. But one of my FIRST and longest best friends was (and still is!) my cousin Kayla. We've been talking for months about her coming up for a weekend stay, and this weekend IT TOTALLY HAPPENED.

Girl time is oh-so-good for the soul, my peeps. I assure you this.

Hubs had to work late on Friday, and by the time Kayla got to the apartment, I was just finishing up supper. So we put on comfy clothes, ate chicken and dumplings (down South we just call it "dumplins"), and chatted the evening away.

The Hubs got home and we all talked and talked some more.

Until around 11:30 that night when we decided it was high time to BAKE SOME CUPCAKES.

Clearly, the passionate love for cupcakes DOES IN FACT run in our family.

They were oh-so-delicious.

Saturday morning we slept late and ate cupcakes AGAIN before heading to a late breakfast at our FAVORITE BREAKFAST PLACE EVER.

(outside of Cracker Barrel, I mean. Because Homegirl loves her CB.)

You guessed it! I do love the Broken Egg with all of my whole little heart!

The weather was even in the 60s again so we could eat on the patio!

Many a beignet, omelet, and potato were consumed, but not before we could have our annual struggle to take the perfect picture!

Regardless, the girl can't take a bad picture. Seriously though, isn't she gorgeous???

We spent the rest of the day shopping - because Kayla is my ultimate shopping buddy, and then Saturday night my friend Christy and her husband came over for dinner. But because I'm lame I neglected to take any and all photos so please forgive me and enjoy this photo of Miniature Goat that I want kind of badly!!!

Blog writer FAIL.

Then Sunday we all went to church, came home to our PJs, and consumed EVEN MORE CUPCAKES while watching Father of the Bride.

Parts one AND two, mind you.

Do we know how to party or WHAT.

But in all seriousness, this weekend was just oh-so-lovely and warms my heart to its very core.

I've said it before, but there's just something about being around family that just makes everything okay. We got to hang out, catch up, talk about all sorts of stuff like girls do, and just be together.

So this post really doesn't serve much of a purpose other than to reiterate my belief that best friends, famliy, and cupcakes make everything a-okay. Hope your week is getting good at this point, friends :)

Happy Wednesday!

Link Lovin'

The weekend is ALMOST HERE! Just a little while longer to push through and then the weekend is ours!

IthinkIcanIthinkIcanIthinkIcan!

To get us through the next little bit, here are a few things I've read/seen this week that I wanted to share. Hope you enjoy these as much as I did!

...

This Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese from How Sweet It Is. I want NEED this in my belly ASAP. Still drooling over that one.

JIMMY FALLON. Usually enough said, right? USUALLY. But this week? DOUBLE WHAMMY. That Saved By the Bell Reunion PLUS the Fresh Prince Remix? Had me smiling all week.

If only we could all age as gracefully as these folks. WOW.

via

Major kudos to the writers of this. It was basically perfection.

PLUS -- did anybody notice the Screech look-a-like in the background? Or was that just me?

Andie Mitchell's Tedx talk from last year. I love everything about her presentation. Her poise, her story, her optimism, her realness. Seriously cannot wait to read her book.

Jen Hatmaker's post "On Becoming A Writer." It's been a lifelong dream of mine to write a book (or series), so naturally I soaked in basically every word of this.

The Big Boo Cast podcast. Technically, this was posted last week, but I'm still giggling about it this week. I love these podcasts between Melanie and Sophie - they are hilarious and I had to try my hardest to control my obnoxious laughter at work while listening to this one.

Today's Entertainment post on The Pioneer Woman. Romantic, rom-com, or not, these are GREAT movies. And there's a whole section dedicated to The Princess Bride. Love it!

Aaaaaaas youuuuu wissssshhh....

Challenge...Accepted!

Earlier this week, my friend Lauren challenged me to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

Side note: Extreme Southern accent ahead. Since marrying my husband I'm convinced it's grown even stronger (AAAAH). I opted to spare you from the twangfest and show you the condensed version of the video. YA WELCOME.

Side note #2: #HailState. Until tomorrow when they play my beloved Eagles, that is.

Well, none of those I challenged in this video have blogs - so I'm issuing a NEW challenge to my bloggy friends!

Whether you read this blog or not (and it's TOTALLY okay if you don't, but you're AWESOME if you do!) --- you have OFFICIALLY been challenged and have 48 hours from the time you read this to complete it.

That's right!

Natalie - I'm talking to YOU!

Lindsey S. (aka BEAST) - Get ready to get soaked!

Ginger - I've read your comments!

and Jessica - YEP. You and James. GET IT!

Consider yourself CHALLENGED.

And on a very sincere note - I love that this challenge has brought so much awareness to ALS. I have a close family friend that has been living with it for over 7 years now, and the strength that he and his family have found in God through all of this is awe-inspiring. So along with all of the fun, excitement, laughs, and ICE that comes along as these challenges continue, please say a prayer for those that live with this disease every day. Pray that they and their families will find strength, comfort, peace, and healing, and that one day {soon} there will be a cure in this world.

That's all for now! I'll be back later today with another update!

Happy Friday, friends!

A List for Monday

So I blinked and apparently it's Monday?

Actually, as I type this, it's nearing the end of the workday, so it's basically Tuesday.

Which means we're almost to the weekend guys!!!

#thingsItellmyselfonMonday

As you'll find out soon enough, I'm pretty caffeinated - thanks to the coffee shop that considers a 16-ounce cup a size "small" (!!!!!!!) - and therefore have failed miserably at conjuring up one nice, evenly-flowing, beautifully worded post. So here I present to you the ping-pong thoughts bouncing around in my mind at the moment!


ONE. As I've mentioned before, Hubs and I are training for the St. Jude Half Marathon in Memphis coming up in December. Saturday we met up with a few of our teammates and knocked out a GORGEOUS 5-mile run on a paved trail just outside of The City. While normally I cringe at getting up before 7am at 5:15 am EVER on a Saturday, I actually was really excited and ready to rock when the alarm went off that morning. #loverunning

YES - I am THAT GIRL who (occasionally) snaps pictures while running. But, I mean, can you see my point? Just look at that view (and the SHADE!) and imagine running with a beautiful sunrise. Plus, it felt AMAZING outside at that time of morning.

 

Pre-103 degree heat index :)

Side note: As a running team leading up to the race, we've pledged to raise some dollars for the St. Jude Heroes program. Everything we raise will go directly to St. Jude Children's Hospital. If you're curious about it or interested in donating, you can do so on our page HERE. There's no pressure - just throwing it out there!

TWO. Although I've frequently mentioned my love of brunch, I'm not a particularly huge fan of breakfast food. But after our run on Saturday, we decided to refuel with some breakfast at a new-to-us place nearby - and I was thoroughly impressed. Egg white omelet with goat cheese, tomatoes, and spinach? SOLD.

...and I could talk for hours about the coffee (BONUS POINTS for the fun mug). I'm already ready to go back :)

THREE. The "Save the Undies" ad has been popping up on my Spotify playlist DAILY for about a week now. I don't mind the ads, but it can be PRETTY odd when my {male} co-workers walk by and there's THIS giant of an add taking up my screen. Can't help but chuckle just a little ;) Especially when I'm jamming out RIGHT in the middle of some Shane and Shane.

Somehow those two things just don't seem to go together. #awkwardlaughter

FOUR. I had to run an errand during lunch today, so while I was out I splurged with a little treat from one of my favorite little coffee places :)

I think it was called the Mt. Rainer or something about a mountaintop --- but it basically tastes like a liquid Andes Mint. Oh my YUM. Yes indeed. Plus the "small" option was a 16-ounce cup. Jittery much????? :)

FIVE. I pulled a muscle in my lower back yesterday and apparently this has turned me into an ancient old lady. Grocery shopping last night was WILDLY entertaining, as was getting in and out of the car this morning. I'm convinced that I'm roughly two-point-five applications of IcyHot away from having to balance myself on a cane just to get around. Some things aren't pretty but slightly entertaining.

SIX. And now that's practically Friday again (ha), I'll leave you on a positive note and a song in your heart. I'm completely loving these songs right now and simply cannot get enough of them. There's such a wonderful message in both of them. Enjoy, friends. And Happy Monday :)

10,000 Reasons - performed by Matt Redman

K-LOVE Fan Awards: Songs of the Year (by Anthem Lights) - 2014 Mash-Up

The Many Stages of Running a 5K

Happy Wednesday folks!!!

We're halfway through the week, and I'm so thankful that it looks like it's going pretty well so far. The new job is teaching me a lot, but I feel like I'm starting to adjust and settle in.

So we pretty much had the most low-key Fourth of July weekend ever - I'm not complaining! We've been running around a lot lately so it was nice to be able to have some down time...although I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a TEENY bit envious of all the beach and vacation picture I kept seeing! ;) With the new gig I can't take any vacation time for at least a couple of months - so I imagine come September/October we just might be leaving on a jet plane!!!! {First Anniversary - whoop whoop!)

The highlight of the weekend was Friday morning - after three years we were finally able to participate in our city's annual Fourth of July 5k run: The Watermelon Classic. In the past it has sold out so quickly, so the fact that we were able to get in was a big deal for us!

Or maybe it was just me. Bur honestly? I get just as excited and pumped up about a race as I do for nearly any country music concert or festival. {All the Miranda fans say HEEEYYYYY!!!!}

Fun fact about me:  I actually don't dread getting up early (as in - 6am or earlier) to run a fun race. I do, however, find it increasingly difficult to be thrilled to get up by or before 7am for work or any other activity,

Another fun fact:  I hate crowds. Like, with a passion. Especially when it's a huge crowd of people that I don't know, never met, etc. I'm naturally a VERY shy person, so it can get a little overwhelming in a large group. HOWEVER! At a race --- the more people running, the better.

That's not weird at all, right? RIGHT?????

The Watermelon Classic had a great course - relatively flat with a few hills here and there, and lots of music and watermelon at the end. Aaaaahh-mazing.


Moving on!

I have this weird thought process that I usually go through on the mornings of a race - any race. 5ks, 10ks, half-marathons, whatever the scenario. It's exactly the same with each and every race - yet I don't exactly realize it or snap out of it until I'm actually done with the race and feeling all the endorphins happening :)





But,my mind? Well, it goes a little something like this on Race Day:

• {Cue alarm} Nope. Too early. Snooze.
• {Second alarm} Ehhhhh....I can get ready in 5 minutes, tops. Snooze.
• {Third alarm} Yep. Time to get up. STRETCH.
• WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF
• Why are races in the morning????
• I'm an idiot. I suck at life. Stupid early mornings. Stupid races.
• At least my gym clothes are comfortable.
• WOW it feels good to stretch.
• At least there will be snacks after the race. I'll take a nap afterward. Not too bad.
• En route to the race: Thiiiiiiiis is gonna be awesome. I'm ready. Sooooo ready.
• Starting line: Whoop whoop! Let's do this!
• At the half-mile mark: WHAT AM I DOING
• A hill? What the heck???? It's too early in the race for hills!
• Downhill - Score!
• 1.5 mile mark - Second wind...I'm gonna sprint!
• AIR! AIR! I NEED AIR! Slowing down.
• More hills? Bring it.
• Water stop - nah, I'm good! Wait, it's 98 degrees at 8am. Yeahhhhh.....
• Finish line!!! WHOOO!!!! 
• When's the next race? Where can I sign up? Can we run again later today? OMGILOVERUNNING

I'm a tad overdramatic - and not at all a morning person.

Happy Wednesday party people!


Question:
What runs through your mind when you do something that challenges you?

Mind the Gap

Happy July party people!!!

We are creeping up on the Fourth - and I have to say I'm ridiculously pumped. And caffeinated!

Yes, definitely caffeinated. Mmmm coffee.

Well! I started my new job last week and so far, so good. I pretty much dropped all technology on my trip to Georgia the week before (more on that later!), and I'm still trying to find my groove with this new schedule. Sure, I can blog when I get home, but the weather has been so beautiful lately I have little desire to open up a computer screen when I get home in the afternoons.


Aaah summer  :)


So anyway! After leaving my last job, it was vacation time and I hit the sunny skies to head to Georgia to visit my friend Jessica from college. Jess and her husband James are expecting their first bebe' in few (short!) months - so we soaked up all the girl time we could for 3 and a half days!

I've said it before, but there's just something about re-connecting with longtime friends and having some serious girl time. We had the best time.

But of course, how could we NOT when we were coming home to these sweet faces every night?

It's okay -- you can say it. Awwwww....

#PupsOfSocialMedia


As soon as my plane landed, Jessica and James whisked me off for a full day of exploring Savannah. I must have said "wow" a thousand times that day -- everything was just incredible. The buildings, the history, the FOOD -- so many interesting things have happened/are happening there. I'll absolutely be back!

Lunch was on Tybee Island, where we ordered a GIANT platter of delicious seafood -- crab legs, crawfish, shrimp, potatoes, corn...the works -- and enjoyed it along with THIS VIEW:

...which was later followed by an incredible dinner in Savannah that considered of a pizza slice BIGGER THAN MY HEAD (see fork for reference):

Surprisingly, I don't have a ton of pictures from the trip. But then again, I rarely took out my phone in hopes of enjoying a technology hiatus. And let me tell you, it was a successful trip, in part because of that.

Even considering the fact that I woke up at 3:20 that morning to catch an early flight and consequently fell asleep on a late-afternoon trolley tour in Savannah. Oh it was lovely. Our driver had stopped the trolley and we were admiring this great, historic building with such a great story (so I'm told) and BAM. Sleepiness hit me and there I was - head hanging out the window, mouth wide open - ASLEEP...right in the middle of Savannah's historic district.

I'm the epitome of grace, I tell you this.

Thankfully, Jess was a dear sweet friend and elbowed me before too many people walking by could get a good laugh.

Thanks Jess! ;)

While James got up early and went to work on Tuesday, Jess and I took a girls' trip over to a nearby island to picnic at a state park and grab some beach time. We had THE BEST day -- since it was the middle of the week, the beach wasn't crowded and we were able to just explore to our heart's desire! We spent the entire day there and loved every minute of it:

By Thursday I was back in The City and on Friday morning I drove to my college town to meet two MORE college friends (it feels like ages since I've seen them!) for brunch. Fancy, that we are.

See? I told ya we were fancy :)

When was the last time you reconnected with friends or family?

Friday Fun Facts

Hey-oh!

FRIDAY AT LAST! Ohhhh the relief. I have no idea what's happening this weekend, only that we'll be staying far, far away from the noisy crowd of the St. Paddy's Day parade here in The City.

All I know is that there is a high of 70 here tomorrow and I hope to be outside loving it! There may or may not be some BodyPump involved - but weee shall seeee!!!!

Stay tuned, friends. That's all I can say.

So - moving on! - here are a few things that have rocked my world lately:


one. I tried Vietnamese food for the first time tonight. I was taken aback by the lango on the menu - but thankfully there were translations that were only half as scary! I kid, I kid. Hubs and I both ordered the shrimp hot pot (he's eaten there many times), and it was delicious: shrimp, noodles, and steaming hot rice with a side of soup. What is it about white rice that is just so...comforting and satisfying? Aaaahh good ol' starches.

two. A couple of nights ago, we were talking about various desserts and dishes that I want to make when Hubs asked, "Have you ever made a blueberry pie?" In all honesty, I don't think I've ever had a blueberry pie. I've had blueberry cobbler (I think) and something my dad called "Blueberry Yum-Yum" (catchy, yes?), but I don't think I've ever had blueberry pie.

It was right then and there that we both determined we HAD to put some of this deliciousness in our lives as soon as possible. Hubs called his mom (around, say...11pm?) to get the recipe, kind of forgetting that she MAY be asleep at this point - because, obviously, everyone stays up late like us talking about food...right? Right? {crickets}

Anyway, half asleep, she gave us the recipe and our lives were complete. Until tonight when we actually made it. And WHOA.

 

three. Next week is going to be epic. CUH-RAZY, no joke. I have a huge and important meeting on Monday afternoon that kind of makes my knees shake and my tummy flip just thinking about it. On Tuesday and Wednesday I'll head down to my college town to help out with some alumni bizz-NISS, speak at a meeting, then represent our office at a career fair before getting back here to The City on Wednesday night.

Then...on Friday afternoon, we pick up the keys to our new apartment because WEEEEEEEE'RE MOVING!

Saturday is the Color Me Rad 5k here (I recounted our experience briefly last year in this post), and you bet yer britches we'll be there, loving every color-exploding moment of it! Then we'll head back to the apartment(s) for a full day of moving our stuff to the new place!

YAY WORKOUTS FROM LIFTING HEAVY THINGS!

Saturday's sleep will be a great, great thing. Prayers for the next week will be GREATLY appreciated :)

 

 

four. On the nights when I don't make it to the gym, I like to stay in and do these Barre3 workout DVDs. I was slightly skeptical of the hype of it all, but I tried a Pure Barre class once and loved it; plus, when I found a Groupon where I could get 5 DVDs for half the price right after Christmas, I had to jump on it.

So far, I'm extremely pleased with the 4 workouts I've tried! I have one more left to try out, but there's one that I can't seem to get away from - I really love it! Barre3 moves slow enough so that you can relax and keep up, but moves quickly enough that you don't get bored with it.

I absolutely LOVE the feeling of being sore and relaxed afterward. The first couple of times I tried it, I was sore for days - and it felt great :)

If you're interested, here's a great deal via QVC. It's worth a shot if you're looking to switch up your routine a little.

five. Speaking of workouts, starting tomorrow I'm doing the 30-Day Squat Challenge. For 30 days, you work your way up to doing 250 squats. I found this challenge via a retweet from Women's Health, so I figure I've got nothing to lose by trying it out! Anyone care to join me?

Here's to stronger glutes and a firmer bum!

six. Yesterday I skipped the gym (and later did a Barre3 workout WHOO!) and opted to call my friend Jessica instead. Jessica is one of those people where, as soon as we met, we just...clicked. I don't remember the exact moment we met in college, but it's safe to safe that I really don't remember a time where we weren't friends in college! Jessica and her husband live in Georgia (for now - they may be moving soon!) and are expecting their first little bambino in the next few months!!!!!! Can we say excitement? Aaaahh I'm so happy for them!

Anyway, I'm not exactly what some would call a "phone talker," but I miss my girls A LOT and just needed some "Jessica" time I guess. We talked for almost an hour about basically everything in the world - and let me tell you, I felt better mentally than I would after any workout.

Moral of today's story: Grab your phone and go call someone you love and miss. Call them for no reason at all but just to say hello. It does wonders for your day and theirs! :)

...And now that it's officially Saturday, I believe I'll put on my jammies and hit my pillow. Sleep is gooooood :)

Happy weekend everyone!