Weekending

Monday, February 29, 2016
How do the weekends seem to fly by?

I had a day of silence on Friday when I left my phone at the gym, going until 5pm without cell phone was really weird but kind of nice.

Friday night Brandon and I headed back to the gym for a 2nd round of the crossfit open 16.1 workout.  We'd done it earlier in the day but I wanted another run at my score.  I completed 156 reps that morning and managed 179 reps that afternoon!


Since I tacked that workout twice, We treated ourselves to CiCi's Pizza, epic cheat meal.


If I ever make it 'big' in life I'm pretty sure hiring a housekeeper is on my to do list, that or just not working and being a housewife.  Seriously does anyone else feel like all Saturday is for is cleaning, laundry, and catching upon all the work you couldn't get to during the week!?

I just cannot do the daily cleaning lists, I love the feeling of the house being completely clean at one time.

Does it seem like everything happens at the same time, I couldn't tell you how many people are expecting little ones this spring, but I attended a quaint shower for a dear friend Saturday morning.  The shower favors were bottles of champagne to pop upon the birth!

I also spent some time Saturday afternoon doing meal prep for the week, I'll be sharing a post shortly on how I meal plan and prep for success! Its not as hard as it seems and saves you tons of time each night!

Did anyone else binge on Fuller House?  We did 5 episodes and I loved every minute.  Full House was without a doubt my favorite show growing up!  I didn't know what time on the clock it came on but I sure knew what part of my day was dedicated to those precious 30 minutes.

Weekends are for my favorite breakfasts, waffles, eggs, bacon, and never ending cups of coffee.



We've found Andy Stanley to be our favorite pastor to watch on Sunday mornings.  Although we do need to find a home church and get more involved I love his messages.

Sunday afternoon we headed back to the gym for Brandon to tackle 16.1.  He did slightly better than his run though Friday morning, but 16.1 score goes to the wife!


We did a quick Marshall's run and then spent the afternoon with our good friend Vicky and her little girl Ella, who found it very entertaining to toss her dolls off the back porch making us continue to retrieve them!

The weekend was wrapped up with packing up Poshmark sales and The Walking Dead!  I'm not so sure what I'll do if Negan comes into the scene and kills off a major player!


Linking up with Biana for Weekending!

Friday Favorites 03

Friday, February 26, 2016
Leaving work EARLY
Funniest It's Friday Memes From Instagram (13 Photos) - NoWayGirl:
the next best thing to taking a day off is leaving early on a Friday, three cheers to that!  Work and adulting have really taken a toll on my the last few weeks so I'm thankful to get out a bit early and just breath!

Crossfit Games Open
Its hard to believe this is my 4th crossfit games, 3rd officially registered!  I'll be doing the workouts once in the morning with my class then returning again for a 2nd run in the afternoon. 16.1 first run I completed 6 full rounds at RX (as written)

March
Month of March Easter Bunny
March is my birthday month and I'm looking forward to it with all sorts of excitement.  I have few treats for you all planned as well to be sure to follow me on your favorite social media channel to stay in the loop!

Fuller House

Is anyone else already planning their weekend around a binge of the new Fuller House!  Growing up, Full House was my favorite tv show, I'm entirely to excited about the remake.

Purposeful Planner
Purposeful Planner™ Daily CoCo Stripes
My favorite Christmas gift has been my Purposeful Planner.  There are tons of things I adore about it but one of the best is the daily quote/scripture/inspiration.  This week my favorite has been:
"Be careful who you pretend to be you might forget who you are"

Thank you
To anyone who sent well wishes or said a prayer, thank you! I found out yesterday that my dear friends medical issues are cleared!



 Linking up with Amanda from Meet @ the Barre & Liz from A.Liz Adventures  & Karli @ September Farm

What to Wear Wednesday

Wednesday, February 24, 2016
What to Wear Wednesday is back and imagine that 80% of the entire week came from Express.
They converted my Express store into an Outlet at least a year ago which really has been a great thing, they carry many of the same items as the regular store but with better deals and TONS of clearance.  



Many of the pieces here are no longer available online, but I've linked some amazing deals below.



Red Dress (similar) (similar) Vest (similar)  Boots (similar) (similar)

Black Top (similar) (similar) Blue Pants (similar) Black Wedges (similar) (similar)

Mint top (similar) Gray Pants (similar) Black Heels

Oatmeal Top (like) Jeans (like) Boots (similar) (similar) (similar)

Not Pictured White/Black top (similar) Red pants (like

6 Snacks under 200 Calories

Monday, February 22, 2016
Favorite Snacks under 200 Calories.

I almost hated to title this with calories, lets be real; there is more to what you eat than just the calorie number.  Good snacks should include all macros: fats, carbs, and protein.  If you're anything like me you're always looking for yummy snacks!

So maybe this should be called simple to fix, easy to grab, healthy alternative snacks.

chocolate-chip-cookie-dough
I grabbed these from Target, because they were an additional 10% off with cartwheel and let me just say, best spur of the moment purchase  This bar satisfies your sweet tooth and doesn't hurt your waist.

I've only tried the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and I don't think there is any reason to try another.  But we also went back and grabbed the Salted Caramel and once again, tasty! 
Chocolate Chip Cookie - 100 calories - 2.5 grams fat - 17 carbs - 5 grams protein


If you asked me to pick a favorite, Id say Mint Chocolate Chip or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (see a trend here)  The mint is new and its amazing, even husband who says he doesn't like mint stuff enjoys stealing these from my cookie jar.  The cookie dough is a staple and if you heat it for 20-25 seconds in the microwave its like eating a cookie straight from the oven.
190 calories - 8/9 grams fat - 21 carbs - 21/20 grams protein

Greek Yogurt 

I'm loving the Dannon Light & Fit Greek Blends along with the Yoplait Greek 100.
Dannon Light & Fit® Greek Yogurt – Banana Cream
So far I've had Dannon Strawberry Banana, Banana Cream, & Toasted Coconut.  All were great, but favorite is the Toasted Coconut and Banana Cream. (You can get $1 off Dannon here)

Coconut
The Yoplait Greek 100 can vary but flavor when it comes to macros.  But the Vanilla and Coconut flavors are the same and the best overall pick.
Dannon Light & Fit Greek 80 calories - 0 grams fat - 9 carbs - 12 grams protein
Yoplait Greek 100 100 calories - 0 grams fat - 11 carbs - 13 grams protein 


Fruit 
Duh! But even with fruits and veggies you have to be mindful of how much you are eating.  

Apple, sprinkled with cinnamon and Peanut Butter
1/2 medium Red Delicious Apple 85 or 100 grams 45/55 calories - 0 grams fat - 12/14 carbs - 0 protein
Jiff Natural Peanut Butter 1 tbsp=16 grams 95 calories - 8 grams fat - 4 carbs - 3.5 grams protein
Total 150 calories - 8 grams fat - 18 carbs - 3.5 grams protein

Watermelon
200 grams - 60 calories - 0.5 grams fat - 16 carbs - 1 gram protein

I don't eat these often but they are nice to have on hand, occasionally I need something packed with fat.  You probably just rolled your eyes at that and thought who actually eats fat.  Raises her hand slowly.  Because you can get these in packets its automatic portion control.
180 calories - 14 grams fat - 11 carbs - 5 grams protein

Popcorn 
Any Fat Free popcorn, topped with some seasoning.  I love the white cheddar Kernel Seasons but the options are endless.  Regular size bags will still have you coming in under 200 calories, but to be safe with your carb intake, look for the individual size bags.

Tuna
Chunk Lite Tuna Low Sodium Pouch with avocado and hot sauce.  
1 tuna pouch 70 calories -  0.5 grams fat - 0 carbs - 17 grams protein
Avocado (40 grams) 60 calories - 6 grams fat -  3.6 carbs - 0.8 grams protein
Total 130 calories - 6.5 grams fat - 3.6 carbs - 17.8 grams protein

Friday Favorites 02

Friday, February 19, 2016
Friendship
I was given some unexpected news this morning from a dear lifelong friend.  While the situation looks optimistic, prayers are appreciated!




Swallows Grace
This is the sweetest couple and thankfully their story has a beautiful ending as Baby Reddick is making his way home!  You can read their story here and grab their goods on Etsy.  About a week ago, just before they got their call for their new son, Chip Gaines posted this photo on Instagram and the sales from that helped them hit their cap for the full adoption costs.  Now that the baby is here, I'm sure they would love the support, since many of you know babies are not cheap.
Swallows Grace Instagram
IT IS WELL Coffee Mug


Hot Yoga
Never expected to be a girl who'd be into Yoga, but throw in the element of fiery heat and I'm down.  I've been sweating my ass off at Arrichion thanks to an amazing groupon and while my attendance options are limited I may continue a 20 class pass option and hit them up once a week.


Easter Decorations
Bye bye Valentines and Hello Bunnies!  Keeping our home decorated for the holidays is one of my favorite things.  I've added a few new cute Easter decorations that I cannot wait to put out.  Perhaps a trip to Hobby Lobby is in store since Easter & Spring items are 40% off!

New Recipes
Brandon requested we try out this recipe so I finally have some extra pickle juice, we'll give it a trial run this weekend.  I have high hopes they turn out like Chick-fil-a nuggets, because is there anything better?!

Warmer Weather
We're getting our first taste of warmer weather here in Charlotte this weekend and I am so thrilled. To help shed the winter blues grab some FleurtyBands today during the sale.  The pineapple print was a must have for me along with some adorable Lilly inspired prints





 Linking up with Amanda from Meet @ the Barre & Liz from A.Liz Adventures  & Karli @ September Farm

Winter Steals and Spring Deals

Wednesday, February 17, 2016
It's time to shed the winter blues and think spring! But the beauty of the end of the season is snagging amazing deals.  Here are some of my must have's for winter warmth at amazing prices!  Bonus, to shed the winter blues here are some amazing spring pieces.


Winter Steals



1.Fuzzy Slippers
Cold feet are a real downer, fuzzy slippers are a lifesaver!  Mine were snagged from Old Navy during the holiday sales, but Target has these adorable options for under $15.
2. Leggings
leggings are pants and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  Well quality leggings that is.  The Zella Live In leggings are just that, leggings that you will live in, making them worth whatever dollars Nordstrom asks. During the Winter Clearance sale you can snag some amazing options for 30%-40% off!  I grabbed a black pair at the semiannual sale and they've already paid for themselves.
3. Oversize sweaters/ponchos
I don't like being cold, I do love a snugly sweater.  This beauty is just one of the amazing deals at Forever 21.
4. A cozy scarf
Big, small, floral, Aztec, I love them all!  A scarf is usually a key piece to my outfits, it adds tons of interest and keeps you extra cozy. Check out these beauties at Forever 21 here and here ! All for under $10.
5. Boots
Boots are on clearance.  Buy two pair.



Spring Deals



1. Floral Maxi
This dress at Forever 21, is calling my name!
2. Floral Top
Work or play, this top is a beauty and a steal on sale for $14, it also comes in white!
3. Swing Dress
I have a love/hate relationship with Old Navy, love the cheap prices but sometimes the fit is just odd on my body.  Will have to try this out in store, but love the idea of adding a cardigan and making it work ready
4. Printed Tanks
Tops at Express are buy 1 get on 50% off.  Here & Here
5. Wedges
I like big wedges and I cannot lie, these are available in navy, snakeskin, or beige.

Is there anything you're scooping up at the end of season sales or have your eye on for warmer spring days?


linking up with Jessi & Jenn

Why your Swolemate is your BEST training partner

Monday, February 15, 2016
In honor of Valentines Day I wanted to share why focusing on your fitness with your Swolemate is the best!



Who knows you better than your significant other? For my husband and me, we’ve found fitness to be a very rewarding aspect of our relationship. When we first started dating, we dabbled in fitness – he had a lot of knowledge and we were both motivated to get in better shape. As our relationship progressed, so did our dedication to our health. We’ve both lost weight, learned more about nutrition and compete together in 5ks and CrossFit competitions as a team.

Tour de Kale, 5K glow run

WODs for Dogs
Having my husband join me at CrossFit for 5:30am classes gives us more time together and fuels our competitive spirits. We are just as fierce to beat the other as we are when we join up on a partner workout. We know each others’ strengths and weaknesses, and motivate one another daily!


As crazy as our swolemate status is, there is no one out there who can push us harder than we can push each other! Having someone as committed as you are to your fitness and health goals can make all the difference. We both count macros and meal prep. There’s accountability to make the right choices and someone to push you along when it gets a little tough. We’ve come a long way and I can only image where our journey will take us!

Check out the full Girls Gone Sport Swolemate article, here.
Also, see what Crossfit Athlete Stacie Tovar has to say about training with her swolemate, here!

"We don’t lack in the quality time department. Sometimes we train together at the gym. Other times we’ll go for a run or a bike ride close to home."

Powered by Blogger.
Back to Top