I'm a serial liker...

For real.  I'm a serial liker.  I have a legit liking problem.

Instagram is by far my favorite social media {you can follow me here ;) } and I check it probably about 73,000 times a day.  That's a lot, I know!  And I also hit that little like button on every other picture.

If you click the little quote/heart button at the bottom & scroll over to "following" to see what pics your friends have liked, it probably says something like "mrsshuck liked 53 photos".  I can't help it!

I sincerely liked that picture of your cute baby in a beanie hat, the video of your little toddler's sweet voice, that hilarious quote, the picture of your healthy dinner, your workout selfie, the flowers your husband sent you, your dogs spooning, that buddy the elf ecard 3 of my friends posted, your new lifting PR, the Panther's action shot, your Christmas tree, you standing in front of Central Park, your kid screaming with Santa, Trainer Bob's workout, & your new purse.

How can I not like all of those!?!  My habitual liking may come off as insincere, but I assure you it's not.  I really, really like all of those things.

And more :)  It's a problem.  But at least I can talk about it, right?!

Five on Friday

Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday!  Happy to be linking up again with April, Christina & friends!  Join me!?

1 - I noticed over on my blog archive on the right side of my blog that I have a measly 50 some posts this year.  Womp womp!  I guess that's what you get for taking 3+ months off blogging!  :( Lesson learned!

2 - How delish do these look!?

Orange Chocolate Coconut Clusters

I just pinned this recipe to my Paleo Pinterest board & I'm pretty sure they just went on my "to make for Thanksgiving" list!

3 - Speaking of Thanksgiving, I'm so, so excited for next week!

Brandon & I along with my siblings & their families as well as both of my grandmothers will all be down in Georgia at my parents house!  It's been a while since we've all been at their house together.  It will be loud, there will be 5 dogs, lots of air mattresses, and my heart will be full because we'll all be together eating lots of yummy food :)

It'll be nice to get away, too.  A mini family vacation couldn't come at a better time!

4 - Thanks so much for all of the kind words & SuperFit love!  I was definitely nervous going into my first competition, especially since it was sprung on me last minute & I hadn't been training too hard for it!  At the end of the day, it was a great experience & I felt so encouraged just to be in that environment!!

I shared my new Front Squat PR today on Instagram…

That was 115 lbs right there, almost my body weight!  For 2 sets of 5, so I was pretty pumped!  As I mentioned in the SuperFit post, I really am not sharing these things to brag, but to encourage anyone out there who might see them!  

There's a Facebook page called Women of CrossFit = Strong that posts tons of CrossFit stories from different women of all shapes & sizes who are doing something for themselves (for once!) and changing their lives, their bodies, their self image.  It's so encouraging!  And that's really what I hope to be, encouraging!

5 - Saturday, Brandon & I are celebrating our anniversary with a Spa Day, dinner & a little Christmas tree shopping!  I've never been so ready to have him home & for a relaxing day together, just the 2 of us!!

Happiest of weekends friends!

Our 3rd Year in Pictures

Today is Brandon & I's 3 year anniversary!!  3 years!  It feels like yesterday and forever ago at the same time!

B's somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania tonight, traveling, supporting our little family while we grow & develop our dream job here at home.  I'm so excited to celebrate with him this weekend! We have a fun Saturday planned!

I love going back & reliving our anniversaries, but my favorite is rereading each year in pictures!  Our 1st year is here (2011) and our 2nd year is here (2012).  So in keeping with my tradition…

Our 3rd Year in Pictures

December 2012
Our photo booth pics from B's work Christmas Party

January 2013
New Year's Day (barely) on the way home from the party - welcome to 2013!

February 2013
Little date night at the wing spot up the street ;)  Love to be silly with him!

March 2013
Spartan Sprint Finishers!!

April 2013
At our favorite spot in our favorite place - Lost Dog Cafe in Folly Beach :)

May 2013
Date Night on the patio at one of our fav spots in Ballantyne

June 2013
Goofy car pics are our speciality :)  B taking me on a date to the mall!

July 2013
Happy 4th!  Celebrating at our friends' awesome party!

August 2013
In the Mitten at the Double J Ranch getting ready
for a Rodeo  - we're so good at those silly faces!

September 2013
Back to our happy place, Charleston, for some wonderful friends' wedding

October 2013
Oktoberfest!  So much delicious pumpkin beer :)

November 2013
My very 1st CrossFit competition with my boo!

I'm blessed beyond measure to do life next to this guy!  Every year with him just gets better & better. He's the constant in my life, my encourager, my biggest fan, my rock.  I love you, Brandon!  Here's to year 4 & many, many more!

I'm baaaack!

Why hello there little blogosphere!  It's been a while a little over 3 months!  Whoops.  I sort of fell off the face of the {blog} earth!  Obviously, you all noticed!  I mean how did you survive without me!?

I didn't exactly mean to drop off the {blog} planet, but it just kind of happened.  I was kind of stuck in this rut back in July, if you recall.  I tried to keep on blogging, but the rut won.  Rut - 1, Michelle - 0.

I still don't really know why I backed away so suddenly.  I sort of felt fake this summer in my blogging life.  I don't know why....I've never been fake on this blog or tried to convey a picture that doesn't really exist of my life.

It kind of just felt like I was blogging to put on this pretty show, to keep up with this chore.  Looming over my head...but I had a lot going on and I just didn't want to, to be really honest!  I couldn't keep up with my blog...it felt like work.  So I needed a break.

I wanted to be in my life, be intentional.  And that meant letting go of the blog, and of twitter, and Pinterest for a while.  So I let go!

I kept reading all of your blogs!  I still love keeping up with everyone's lives, but I think I just needed time away to miss my blog.  And, finally, after 3 months....I miss it!  I miss recapping our weekends, funny stories, sharing pictures, & recipes.  All the good ol' boring stuff!  So I'm going to give this another chance & hopefully keep this journal going.

I'm baaaaack!!  And just know that's a very loose term ;)  I may only still post once or twice a week or not a all a week here and there, but, I want to be back!  So here goes....

3 months in a nutshell!

End of July/August

I ran the Electric Run with some friends, we continued to enjoy drinks in our driveway (because we're classy!), worked out (a lot. duh!) at the box, & traveled to the Mitten for B's work summer party - we got to see our cutie nephew Weston oh so briefly, step our feet into chilly Lake Michigan & enjoy a rodeo!

September

We enjoyed double dates with great friends, celebrated Labor Day, threw an awesome Mustache Bash for Brandon & Warren's 30th Birthdays, and celebrated our friends' Greg & Ashley's wedding in the beautiful city of Charleston with good friends :)  It was such a great weekend away!

September/October

We celebrated multiple Oktoberfests, got new tattoos, celebrated lots of October birthdays with sweet family in town, killed some more workouts & got some sweet new Reebok CrossFit gear - it was like Christmas in October!

More October & early November

We bought a gorgeous new chair for our living room (which I feel is finally complete!), drank lots of Cottonwood Pumpkin Ale (our new fav!!!), snuggled our cute Halloween pup, & enjoyed a wonderful weekend away in the Mountains with awesome friends!

It's been a great & busy couple of months!  I'm already feeling so mushy & thankful approaching this Holiday season....busy or not, there's always so much to be thankful for & I love documenting it all here!  I'll try to fill in the gaps here & there on these last months when I can & I'm going to be more intentional about blogging.

So if you're all still out there, still reading, thanks!  It's good to be back!

Weekend Recap

We had a fun little weekend over here!!  There was pretty much a common theme....lots of good {sometimes not so Paleo} food, friends & fun!  

Friday night we broke out the Weber because Brandon loves to grill & I love to eat grilled food!

B likes to live dangerously {or he was just lazy & it was hot out} and grilled in his undies!  Haha, don't worry, the neighbors didn't see!

It's Restaurant Week here in Charlotte so Saturday night, B & I headed uptown to meet Warren & Kelly for a little double date action at Blue!  Sooo good!!  If you're local, call & make a reservation asap!  Restaurant Week lasts til next weekend :)

Awesome red eye right!?  Ughh couldn't correct it!

Great night with great friends!!

Then, Sunday night, I met Rachel & Ashley for a little girls night at Chuy's!!  We talked & ate & talked some more!  It was so much fun!  I'm so thankful to have friends like these 2...we pick up right where we left off the last time!  And we just get each other I think.  That's huge!  I'm also so thankful they're doing the whole baby thing 1st!  Haha, I know who I'll be calling when it's our turn ;)

That about sums it up....food, friends & fun!  Now back to eating like a good trainer & on with the work week :)

Lately

So here's what the Shuck's have been up to lately....

We started off the 4th with a Hero WOD at CFP!  We had a great group that morning, 19 people!! We did the Hero WOD Morrison.  Hero WODs are named for fallen soldiers, police, fire & medics. We thought it was a great way to start July 4th!

4th of July is seriously one of my favorite holidays!!  It ranks right up there with Christmas & Thanksgiving {& my birthday, which is not in fact a holiday, but I prefer celebrating as if it was!}! About a week out we still didn't have plans & a new box member/friend, Lauren, invited us over to her and her husband's neighborhood pool & house for some holiday fun!

And fun was definitely had by all!  I didn't take a lot of pictures, but there was sun {and rain}, food, friends, drinks, laughing, new friends, & lots of fireworks!!  I mean LOTS!  Lauren's husband Rich is a bit of a firework enthusiast!  Let's just say that when there was a buy 1 get 2 firework sale around Memorial Day, Rich stocked up!  We had an awesome private show that did not disappoint!!

Just a little CrossFit bonding with Tom & Warren!

We even convinced Lauren's husband Rich to come try CF out :)  {Some people are so skeptical ;)} We have a good little community going on at the box!  It's really one of the best parts of CrossFit!! I'm loving making new friends & how encouraging and supportive everyone is!

Speaking of the great CrossFit community, last weekend was CrossFit for Hope.  Hope is a fundraiser {and a workout - read more here} for St. Jude's Children's Hospital.  The Charlotte edition is actually this weekend at CrossFit Steele Creek.  Brandon & Warren are in the 12 o'clock heat and we're really excited to be apart of it!

This is sort of the first CF event where we can put a face with the CFP name since we're the newest box in town!  We're getting a group together to go cheer Warren & Brandon on, it should be really fun!!

Happy almost Friday friends!!

Five on Friday

Happy Friday y'all!!

1 - Clearly I love link ups!  Nothing wrong with 2 in one week if you as me ;)  And it's important to always count your blessings, so I'm loving listing my fav things for the week!

2 - Today is the official start of summer & the longest day of the year!!  We're celebrating by catching a few rays in between classes at the box today & maybe a little happy hour on our patio later.  Pretty close to perfect minus some type of body of water {preferably a lake or ocean, but sadly neither are in our back yard!}!

3 - Instagram has video!!

I saw this picture yesterday on Instagram and was thoroughly amused!  I couldn't really get into vine!  I just couldn't wrap my head around another form of social media to use.  But I can definitely get into some video on Instagram!!  It's one of my fav forms of social media to begin with, I think video will be fun.  

And Vine, let's be honest...you just got blocked.

4 - This is our first weekend in a while with no real commitments or plans!!  After classes at the box & working out tomorrow, we'll probably hang in the back yard for a bit.  Then we've made loose plans for a little shopping {new bed = new bedding!} and an at home Paleo pizza/movie night.  Sign me up!

5 - 90s Pop Radio on Pandora.  Go add this station immediately!  How could you not love a little Third Eye Blind, Sugar Ray, Britney, Will Smith, Mariah, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Hanson....the list goes on & only gets better!  Such good jams!!!

What's your Five on Friday!?  Cheers!

Random Life Update :)

Catch up!  That's what I need to play!!  My poor, sad blog is so lonely and neglected :(

I get sad that blogging has taken a back seat for the past few months...I so enjoy journaling our little life's journey and this sweet community! But when I get sad, I just try to remember I am doing a great work right now.

I am working and making an impact and bringing in a little bit of money for our family and all the while struggling trying to find balance.  And sadly, right now that means that most nights I am doing work or when Brandon is home I am not typing away on a post...although he'd probably tell you I have my face planted in my iPad playing Candy Crush!  Whoops....seriously, don't download that game!  But go download it, cause it's such fun, mindless entertainment!

I digress...back to my point!  I definitely don't plan on giving up blogging, but I'm just going to have to come to terms with the fact that it's not going to be anything regular for a few more months.  I am doing a great work and one day I might have regular posts again!  Maybe ;)

So onto a random life update...let's play catch up {aka a picture and brain dump}, shall we!?

All clean after the groomer :)

How cute are these animals!?! Omg....it's impossible to be mad at them if they do something wrong, because then they just get all cute & you can't even act mad!  Love my fur babies!

My sweet MIL sent me these redneck wine glasses for my birthday!  Seriously, it's super fun drinking out of these bad boys!

via

I bought myself a food processor with all my birthday money!!  I'm so excited about it, too!  You know you're old when.... Ha, seriously, it was between a food processor & curtains for our bedroom.  I've already used it twice, I think I'll be getting lots of use from this bad boy!

Speaking of our bedroom...I've decided I really want to be the kind of person that makes their bed every day.  Because, I won't lie to you, I am not one of those people!  I don't exactly know when I'm going to become this person.  Soon, I think!  I really like getting in a bed at night that was made and it just makes the room look put together!  Ok, so, it's settled....starting soon!!

I think I'd also like to be one of those people that uses less exclamation points!  But I just can't!  Nope.

Sportin' B's way to big aviators!

This is what our Saturday afternoon looked like...perfection pretty much!  The weather in the Carolinas this past weekend was GORGEOUS!!  We brought our beach radio out to the driveway, I lounged in a lawn chair with Berkley tied up to it and read magazines while B washed our cars!  It wasn't a bad view ;)

When B was done, we had a couple beers right there in our driveway!  Redneck!? Quite possibly!  Ok with it?  Yep!  We both got a little sun & then went right up the street to grab some dinner and green beer (bottles that is!) for St. Patty's Day!

Between last weekend's weather & day light savings, I am so ready for spring & warmer weather!!  Flip flops, tank tops, porch sittin' weather, grilling out, pool days....yes!  Bring it on!

Sadly, the forecast is going in the crapper for the next week or so.  Which is terrible news for the Spartan Race this weekend!!!  I'm so nervous, y'all!  On top of it probably being the hardest thing I've ever done physically to date, it's supposed to be 52 with possible showers.  Wahhhh...can I change my mind!?!?

Say your prayers for me on Saturday!!  Eeeeeeek!

On a brighter note....there are 7 school days until Spring Break!!  And counting!  :)

Lately

Worst blogger ever.  This girl.  Right here!  

I feel like I preach the same sad song whenever I get a chance to get on here and write a post...I'm so busy, I have no time, my poor blog is so neglected!  Wah, wahh, wahhh right!?  Haha

I'm still reading all y'all's blogs, though, trying to keep up & commenting as much as I can!  So now I'll attempt to play catch up.  Here's what's been going on here lately...

Loving - Bachelor Monday Nights!  My friends Andrea and Lisa have been coming over pretty consistently every Monday night to make a yummy Paleo meal, have some girl talk and watch a little trashy, awkward TV!  Good times :)

Watching - Bachelor!  I loved Sean last season which I think is probably the only reason I'm watching this season.  Well that, and an excuse to have a girls night!  Ha, but oh how I cringe as I watch him on some of these dates!!  They're so awkward.  I literally have to look away sometimes!

via

Looking forward to - My birthday!  I'll be 26 in about 3 weeks and even though I keep getting older, I still love my birthday and celebrating another year!  Talk to me in about 3 more years when I'm pushing 30, maybe my tune will change.  But so far, life keeps getting better!  I can't complain!!

Making me happy - This guy!

Seriously, being married to your best friend is the best thing in the world!  Cheesy sounding, but true! We have fun no matter what we're doing.  And he spoils me rotten!

Thursday, Brandon sent me this picture and said "Happy early Valentine's Day!  Sorry I'm such a tease!"  So I had to wait all day long to see what was in that bag!!

I opened the bag that night to find this pretty...

And, a new phone cover!  Mine had been on the outs!

via

See, spoiled!  I thought we were just doing a fun at home date night, ha.  Good thing I have something up my sleeve ;)

Celebrating - This sweet girl's 7th birthday!!

It's hard to believe the sweet little girl that made me an aunt is now 7!  Roen is so precious & I just love being her aunt!  We wrote on her card this year she was our favorite niece....she can continue to hold that title til niece number 2 gets here in May or June!

Loathing - All the paperwork I'm drowning in lately!  I'm trying to be super organized & schedule when I'm doing what paperwork.  It seems to be working!  This too shall pass, right!?

Browsing - Pinterest!  My love for pinterest has never wavered, but like blogging, I typically don't have a lot of time to aimlessly browse around!  But lately, I have been pinning lots of yummy Paleo recipes & butt kicking workouts!  I try to skip over all the deliciously-looking-terribly-bad-for-you-make-you-want-to-stuff-your-face-with-all-the-food pins.  I've been mildly successful :)

Oh, and you can follow me here.

Missing - My blog!!  My goal is at least a post a week, if only to journal what's going on in our lives! But I'm itching to get back to a more regular blogging life.  Maybe one day when life slows down, right?!

I'm off to cook, maybe watch the Grammy's & snuggle on the couch with my boys!  Hope y'all had a great weekend!

Friday's Letters

Dear Friday, It never fails,  you're just as wonderful each week!  It's rainy here today & I'm looking forward to making a hot dinner and curling up on the couch to a movie!  Dear Michigan, We're jet settin' to your neck of the woods tomorrow for B's work Christmas Party.  I'm excited to wear my new dress, red cowgirl boots, and get my line dance on.  Apparently, the theme this year is "A Country Christmas"!  I'm ready to show these Michiganders how it's done ;)  Dear Christmas Cards, We've yet to decide on a picture for you so unless we get one this weekend, we're sunk!  Maybe we'll just send out a picture of Berkley.  He's pretty darn cute!  Dear Instagram, You're probably my favorite form of social media, but this parody video that my friend Ashley shared with me makes me pee my pants laughing!!  Literally.  Ok not actually, literally, but it's hysterical!  Half of it describes pictures I'm completely guilty of posting, but I'm totally ok with that.  Go watch!  Oh and you can follow me @mrsshuck on Instagram :) Dear Husband, I'm really glad you didn't need your appendix out last night, or anything else remotely serious.  You make even a triage room in an ER fun!  I love this life with you! xoxo

Grab your pin & link up with Ashley!  Happy Friday friends!

Our 2nd Year in Pictures

Now that's is two weeks past our anniversary, I thought it was high time I get around to blogging Our 2nd Year in Pictures!  Whoops!

I stole this idea last year from Megan over at Tales of the Trees and wanted to make it a yearly tradition.  You can see last year's post (2011) here.  So to keep the tradition going....

Our 2nd Year in Pictures

December 2011
Cheering on the Panther's on Christmas Eve

January 2012
Playing around with our favorite app one lazy weekend night :)

February 2012
Date night!

March 2012
St. Patty's Day Bar Crawl

April 2012
Spring Break Cruise - Schooner's Wharf, Key West

May 2012
Memorial Day - Post Run, headed to brunch :)

June 2012
Folly Beach Weekend Trip!

July 2012
Carolina Beach - Family Beach Week

August 2012
Boat Cruise on Lake Michigan

September 2012
Asheville & Biltmore for B's birthday & Mama Shuck's visit :)

October 2012
Halloween!

November 2012
Cheers to 2 years!!

And here's to infinity more!

Love you B!!