Five on Friday

Happy Friday, y'all!  I'm linking up with April & Christia for Five on Friday today, so let's get right down to it :)

1 - I'm headed to CrossFit Atlanta this weekend to get my CrossFit Kids cert…

It should be a fun weekend, although I'll really miss my boys!  I've really enjoyed reading all my material for the weekend, all the research about the benefits of kids being active & I'm excited to learn some new stuff {and fun games}!  We're hoping to launch CrossFit Kids at CFP starting this summer!

2 - Monday & Tuesday of this week I spent my afternoons on our patio.  It was so beautiful out!  I ate my lunch out there, soaked up some Vitamin D, watched Berk dog run around...

And even let Benny out to do a little exploring!  He was getting waaayyy too comfortable…

It was chilly yesterday & not the warmest today, but I have high hopes those temps will be returning sooner rather than later!

3 - I got to spend my Wednesday morning hanging out with this sweet friend…

Ashley (+ baby boy) & me :)

We'd been planning it for about 2 weeks & I was so excited, it was even on my to do list for that day…

We got mani/pedis & lunch at Brixx & just caught up on life!  She's my longest friend & I'm so thankful to have known her all these years & know that our friendship will continue!  We don't talk every day, but we just pick up right where we left off.  I'm sure I'll be calling her with lots of questions whenever we have babes of our own, Ash is a pro now ;)

4 - I saw this in my Instagram feed the other day & pretty much died...

Congrats!  We're all skinny!  Hahaha, I personally work more towards being healthy & strong {so much more freeing than trying to be skinny all the time!}, but still, that's funny!

5 - 27 days until we're back to this magical place…

With a few of these in hand...

Five on Friday

Happy Friday friends!!  Time for my favorite link up :)

Let's go….

1 - I came out of the shower the other night to this scene!  Haha, cracked me up!  He must have had some important emails to send with a quick little bone break in between!

2 - We've been using our old comforter for a few weeks now, as you can see above, since our sweet little cat decided to barf all over our white comforter!!  Lovely, right!?  Thankfully, we have an awesome member at out gym who happens to own a dry cleaner in Pineville.  He had me bring it by to work his magic & we've yet to put it back on yet since the white dog pictured above needs a serious bath!  B just doesn't understand my need for a white comforter, but I love the way it looks!

Clean, open, airy.  It just has to be white!

3 - Have you heard of Fabletics??  A friend just recently turned me onto them…they're an athletic wear company developed in part by Kate Hudson & you can get 2 & 3 piece outfits starting at $49.99!  That alone sounds like a steal, but the real kicker is your 1st purchase is 50% off!!  So a 3 piece outfit - bottoms, sports bra & a top is - just $25!  That's pretty much a steal!  Oh so much cheaper than my beloved lulu lemon! 

 

I think this might be my birthday present to myself!  Cute right?  If you want to sign up, go here.  {FYI I'm not getting paid or sponsored for this, that would be sweet, though!  I just live in athletic wear & am always looking for a deal!}

4 - The weather here this weekend is looking glorious!!!  I'm so excited for these warmer temps, I can't wait to be outside some - throwing the ball with Berkley, cleaning the cars with B, enjoying a drink on the patio - yes, please!

5 - I saved the very best for last….Brandon & I are terrible at gift giving!  I mean, we give pretty great gifts, we just have a hard time waiting for the occasion to give the gift!  My birthday is next Sunday & B decided he needed to show me my gift last night!  This is what he showed me…

We're going to Puerto Rico!!!!  Talk about best birthday present ever!!  He needed to make sure we didn't have anything going on the weekend he picked out for us to go, so he needed to go ahead & tell me so we could book our flights!  We fly out April 10th & come back the 13th and I'm already counting down the days - 48 days!!

We have been longing for a tropical vacation so this couldn't come at a more perfect time!  We'll only be gone 3 nights, but I think it's just what we need.  And Puerto Rico has a special place in our hearts, it's where we got engaged almost 4 years ago!  I'm so, so excited!!!!  Happy Birthday to me, right!?

Happy weekend, y'all!

Lately

Here's what's been going on as of late…

1 - February is off to a great start!  We had family in town last weekend for my niece's 8th birthday! 8!!  Seriously, where does the time go!?

Wasn't she just this little baby?

Throw back - 2006!

2 - This past weekend we randomly stumbled upon this beauty at Home Goods & brought her home! The TV stand, not the cute cat statue ;)

A "grown up" TV stand had been on my wish list for the house since we moved in, but it wasn't a big priority.  We happened to randomly stop by Home Goods Saturday & couldn't leave without this piece!  It was a steal!  Getting the new TV stand meant we "needed" a new sound system.  So we swung by Best Buy & got a sound bar as well.  Happy Valentine's Day to us!!  :)

3 - I just love this song, don't you?  The video is really sweet, too!

4 - I printed this printable from Rachel at Kincaid Parade to frame in our bathroom!  It's a great reminder for us right now.  The weeks can seem very long at moments when Brandon's away & hours are long at the gym.  Don't get me wrong, it's so rewarding!!  But 5+ years of B traveling every week have gotten very old, for him more than me even, and it takes a lot of work owning your own business. But it is all a Great Work and we cannot come down right now.

5 - In case you hadn't heard, it's Snowpocalypse 2014 here in the south!!  It started yesterday & is supposed to continue through tomorrow!

It's pretty, that's for sure!  Be of course the whole world here shuts down.  We cancelled our 7pm classes last night, early classes this morning, & all our PM classes tonight.  Doesn't look favorable for tomorrow either!

6 - I guess the snow couldn't have come at a better time, though.  I seemed to have come down with some sort of head cold!  Yuck.  And honestly, I'm not home that often, so I'm soaking up this snowed in time & making the best of it!  Although, I wish B was here to be snowed in with me!

My cold wasn't that bad Monday, but yesterday I was really feeling blehh.  Typically I'm of the mindset to sweat it out, but I decided to nap it out yesterday & stayed home from the night classes. I slept so well last night & am feeling much better today!  Still super stuffy, but well enough to do an at home WOD!

I started with Man Makers!  Woo buddy, they're good!!  Jump out to plank, pushup, row on each side, jump up, squat clean thruster = 1!  I did 5x10 with my 10lb dumbbells & I was sweatin'!!

Then I did this WOD I found on Pinterest (by the way, CrossFit Pineville now has a Pinterest Page!) so I don't end up Fat Michelle while stuck at home!!  Did it in 17:23, care to try & beat me?  :)

This is what I looked like after, haha!  Just keeping it real for y'all... crazy hair, sweat, I love it!

7 - I need to be better asap, I'm in a local team CrossFit competition this weekend called Squad Gauntlet!  It's a 4 person team & I'm doing it with some friends from the box!  Should be really fun :)

8 - B & I have a fun little date night afterwards to celebrate Valentine's!  We're not super into the holiday, but love a reason for a date!

9 - I will not be eating lots of chocolate this Valentine's since we're doing a 6 week Paleo Challenge at the gym.  It started this past Monday & it's been great so far!  It's nice to exercise a little self discipline!  I'm sure I won't miss the chocolate that bad!  Mind over matter, my friends.

10 - I have nothing else for you, but I couldn't end on 9 :)

Christmas Card Carousel 2013!

Merry, Happy, Holly Jolly Christmas friends!!!

Ben cat doesn't come to the box, so he didn't make the picture, but he wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, also ;)

This is my 3rd year to link up with Faith for her 6th annual Christmas Card Carousel!

It's one of my favorite link ups all year long & my way of sending a virtual Christmas card to all of you!!  Our 2010 & 2011 cards are here and last year, 2012.  I love looking back on them & seeing all of yours, too!

Cheers!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving friends!!!

I'm totally going to be cliche today & make a list of 30 things I'm thankful for in 2013!  Some are obvious, some are completely materialistic, some are sentimental, but all are heartfelt & truthful!!  In random order...

1. My furry faced sidekick!  I know we're biased, but our pup has the best little personality!  He brings us such joy & is the sweetest little lap dog :)

2. Blazing hot showers.  The gym is freezing now that it's cold out, I like my shower to turn my skin pink!

3. CrossFit Pineville.  It's such a joy to go to work every day!!  To have this opportunity, to do what I do now, I really can't even describe my gratitude!

4. A fresh, perfect haircut!

5. DVR!  Lord knows I have zero time to actually watch shows when they're on.  And I love to skip commercials :)

6. WiFi HotSpots that allow me to catch up on my shows on the way to Atlanta!

7. My Ben cat!  He sleeps on my head every night, I wouldn't haven it any other way :)

8. Instagram.  It's totally my favorite form of social media!

9. Heated car seats.  Those things are the jam!

10. Pretty painted nails that make me feel girly :)

11. Seche Vite.  The world changing top coat for at home mani's!!

12. Lululemon.  I wish I never drank the water!

13. Starbucks!  My favorite weekly cheat!

14. Our beautiful home!  B & I count our blessings every day to be in a house we can grow into as a family!

15. Blogging!  I love having a journal to go back & reread!  And who would've thought I'd meet such wonderful people through this little community :)

16. Our CFP Athletes!  We've got such a great community at our box & we've met & become friends with some of the most wonderful people we may never have met, otherwise!!

17. Grey's Anatomy, Parenthood, Nashville & 2 Broke Girls.  My current favs!

18. Sleeping in!

19. My health & strength.  I hope to never take this for granted!  And hope to only improve it over time.

20. My Panthers!!  What a season we're having!  So pumped!

21. My man!!  I'm so thankful to have married such a wonderful, handsome, disciplined, driven & loyal man.  I couldn't ask for a better mate!  I can't wait to see where this life takes us together :)

22. Panera salads.  Yum!

23. My wonderful, loving parents.  They mean the world to me!  I'm so thankful for their support & guidance!!

24. Target.  Pretty much my favorite store ever!  I have a problem, but at least I can admit it ;)

25. My faithful God.  His mercies are new every day & He is good all the time, even when He says no!

26. All our great friends.  You can't pick your family, but you can pick your friends & I think we've found some pretty awesome ones!

27. Our wonderful siblings & extended family!  They are our people, just wish we could see them all more!

28. This pretty lady!!  She's the newest edition to our Ford Family & I am still in shock!  Post coming soon :)

29. This weekend away, to spend with out cutie nieces & nephews!  It's rare to have my whole immediate family under one roof!

30. Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes & beaucoups of desserts….in that order :)

Five on Friday

Hooray for link up Friday!  I have so much fun reading posts linked up to April & Christina's blogs!!  Go read some :)

1 - As promised, I wanted to share my favorite new nail color!  Essie Sunday Funday :)

Cute name, right!?  It's bright & cheery so you pretty much have to be in a great mood while wearing it!    I used to be an OPI girl, but I think I may have switched teams.

2 - Look at the brothers...

They are best friends!!  When Berkley's not biting him & Benson's not running away that is.  This is how I found them the other morning before heading to the box.  After this picture was taken, Berkley gave Benson's head a little bath, he was just licking his ears!  Cat & dog bros :)

3 - I think I'm late on this train {shocking!}, but I am loving Bloglovin'!!  It makes it super easy to read all my favorite blogs & I have the app on my iPhone & iPad!  Now, I won't miss a post!

4 - A special someone turns 30 this year!!  

B will be 30 at the end of September, and it just so happens, Warren will also be 30 in August!  So I'm in full fledge party planning mode!!  The theme for their combined 30th birthday is a Mustache Bash! 

{Thanks to Maran for this hilarious idea!!  She totally did this for her husband's birthday last year & I fell in love with the idea!  Yep, I'm that blogger...posing her idea :)  Please consider it the most sincere form of flattery, Maran!}

For whatever reason, mustaches are in right now!  I don't really get it, but I can get behind it, haha. Pinterest is a wealth of ideas and I'm so excited to see it all come together!  It's going to be at the box since I hope to have lots of friends & family there!  And if anyone knows of any awesome dj's that also do karaoke, please send their info my way!!

5 - This little blue box made it's way to our house yesterday...

B traveled through Asheville on his way home yesterday & brought home these little gems.  Seriously, these truffles are Heaven on Earth.  Such a fun little surprise!  Give me chocolate.  Always!

I'm off to my happy place...Target :)  Happy, happy weekend!!

Things that make me wonder...

Y'all....Kim & Kanye named their baby North.  North!  Their daughter's name is North West.  I mean, really!?  I thought this was a joke!  I just found out today this is in fact not a joke & is actually her name!!  I shouldn't be surprised anymore with weird celebrity baby names like Apple, Blue, Sunday.  But, alas, still I am surprised....and sorry for that poor girl!!

Please tell me how I'm supposed to beat these levels when I get down to just 7 moves left and then suddenly you tell me "No more moves possible" and switch it all up.  Well no wonder I haven't won since there were barely any moves for me to make!!  Come on Candy Crush, help a sista out!!

How did these 2 animals get so cute!?  And who let them think they can just sit all over the furniture!?!  PS - this is our new bed & bedding!!  I still need some light blue/teal accent pillows, big white shams for our Euro pillows, new lamp shades & curtains....but otherwise it's gorgeous, yes?  :)

Happy Tuesday friends!!

Officially official...

Welp...it's officially official!  Cat's out of the bag!  

My Ben cat :)

Today I told my school I will not be returning in the fall.

Starting Wednesday, I will be a full time trainer, office manager, marketing {and whatever else needs to be done} gal for CrossFit Pineville!!!  I'm sad and excited and thrilled and a little scared and super pumped and then a little sad again.  Basically, I'm a ball of emotion!

If you've been around here a while, you may remember this post I wrote last fall.  Suddenly, I feel like I'm a flip flopper and going back on everything I wrote in that post.  But I know in my head and my heart that's not true, I'm not flip flopping.

My principal summed it up well today when she said "You're not running from something, you're running to something."  At the end of the day, even with all the mess going on in the educational world - all the politics, low teacher moral, terrible pay, standardized testing, 21st century teaching, yada, yada, yada - I'd still be going back in the fall if CrossFit Pineville hadn't been born.

I was fortunate to work at a great school with great people and great kids!  And I will sincerely miss the people and kids!!!  But will I miss the mess and the stress?  No sir-ee bob! :)

So tomorrow, you may hear me squeal with glee as I leave the school building and I'll be doing my happy dance all the way to the box!  Haha

In non-box/CFP news...

Brandon and I finally got to meet our sweet baby nephew, Weston, in Michigan this past week!

He is the cutest little man!!  And feisty!  So glad we could meet him before he was walking and speaking in full sentences!

And our sweet new little niece, Scarlett, was born yesterday!!

Born June 9th at 3:20am, 6 lbs 14 oz, 19.5 in long.  She's a little peanut!

And a doll baby!  I can't wait to get my hands back on her!!

These baby nieces and nephews give me fever....

But then I remember how I like sleeping through the night so we'll wait just a bit longer ;)

Happy day friends!