Birthday Weekend!

Yesterday, I turned the big 2-7 {if you can even say that with 27?} & I spent most of the weekend celebrating!  I was glad to finally have B home on Friday night!  We ate a quick dinner at home & watched some House of Cards…

Saturday morning classes were a lot of fun at the gym, followed by a little coaches meeting.  B & I picked up some Earthfare meal deal lunches & then I popped over to Blakeney for a little birthday shopping!

I found these cute espadrilles at Target & couldn't pass them up for only $30!  I wore them out Saturday night with some skinnies, the perfect shoe to transition into spring!  :)

Saturday night we started off at Lenny Boy Brewery, a local kombucha brewery here in Charlotte. {Kombucha is a non-alcoholic fermented drink made from tea, sugar, water, & a symbiotic culture of bacteria & yeast.  Some consider it a raw food with probiotics & health benefits!}  We've gotten into drinking kombucha lately since B has been training so hard for the Open & we haven't really been drinking too much alcohol.  We were excited to finally try Lenny Boy out!

Lenny Boy is tucked away in South End, their little tap room is really cute!  We got a flight to sample all of their traditional kombuchas & their wild kombucha ales (containing alcohol)…

Andrea & Karl met us for a drink before we headed over to Peculiar Rabbit in Plaza Midwood!

I took fun selfies in the car on the way to dinner, because it's my birthday, duh!

Warren & Kelly met us there & gifted me with some pretty flowers!  I failed to take a single picture at dinner.  Boo!  Major fail.

Dinner was delish & we were home to my Paleo Brownies, wine & bed by about 930 or so.  If celebrating 27 this way is wrong, I don't want to be right!

Sunday, we woke up slow, laid around & then got ready for the gym!  I started off 27 with a brownie {breakfast of champions} so as to do well on my birthday WOD & dropped this boy off for a haircut {as you can see it was much needed}…

An after picture to come, once I take one!  The weather was gorgeous all day Sunday!  We love to prop the gym doors open & let some warm air in!

Brandon redid the Open workout, getting 354 reps this time, then it was my turn!  I got 248 reps, which was my exact goal!  I got 5 rounds completed & 23 more double unders, so I was very pleased!

Aren't my cupcake earring so fun?

We spent the rest of the afternoon doing a little work, B made my very favorite bacon burgers, we watched more House of Cards {holy crap episode 1 of season 2!!!!!} & I ate a very large red velvet cupcake!!!

So far, 27 is looking pretty stellar :)  Thank you all for the sweet birthday love all over social media! You sure know how to make a girl feel loved!!

Five on Friday

We've made it to another Friday!  Woohoo!!  Linking up with once again with April & Christina for Five on Friday :)

1 - The ol' blog got a little {almost} spring maker over!!  If you're reading this in Blog Lovin' you can't really tell, so click on over to my site to admire it :)  I purchased it from Designer Blogs {super affordable!} & it was very easy to install!  I had a little trouble with my blog title being too long, so I emailed their help center & they fixed it for me asap!  I'm loving it!  It's clean, simple & pretty - just what I wanted!

2 - I gave myself a little at home mani/pedi today! I'm going to will spring's arrival with my nail color :) Come on warmer temps!

3 - The CrossFit Open 2014 is here!!  The 1st workout was released last night & we streamed the announcement & 2 competitors trying the workout live at the gym!

The CrossFit Open is how you get to the CrossFit Games.  Anyone in the world can sign up, the top 48 from each region will go to regionals in May & the top 3 from each region go to the games in July! Brandon will do the WOD for the 1st time tonight, I'll be filming him, and probably again on Sunday! This will be my birthday WOD on Sunday!! :)

4 - Sunday is my birthday!  I'll be 27.  What an uneventful birthday 27 seems like, ha!  But don't worry, I love birthdays & fully plan on celebrating!

I'm actually not concerned in the least about getting older or approaching 30!  Brandon said he won't trade me in ;) and life just keeps getting better!  What's to freak out about!?

5 - We're down to 6 weeks!  41 days & counting until Puerto Rico!!

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 :)

Weekend Recap

It's Monday again…and a cold & dreary one, at that!  Berk's so tried of the rain, he just wants to run around outside!!  Poor guy :(

The weather's done a complete 180 from last week!  It was in the upper 70's & sunshiny Friday {blissful} and now we're in the 40's & rainy.  Yuck!!  I'm thankful it's not snow though, that sort of cripples us in these parts!  I am excited to maybe see some snow, though, this weekend in Michigan!

The yuck weather didn't stop our Surprise 80th Birthday party for my grandmother!

Memaw (center) with her brother & sister!

Memaw & 5/8 of her adult {are we really all
adults now?!} grandchildren :)

Helping their great-grandmother blow out the candles! {3/5 of the
great-grandkids ;) }

Memaw was very surprised by her party & felt very loved!  It was great to see some family, even just for a little while!  Our house full of guests was short lived…they all left Saturday night to head back home due to the possibility of icy weather.  But they'll be back for Christmas celebrations is 2 weeks :)  And you better believe I ate some of that cake.  Whoops!

Saturday night, we threw on our tacky Christmas sweaters for a few hours & stopped in at our friends' party!

We relaxed a bit Sunday morning before a good long workout at the gym, followed by naps {ok, only I napped}, Dexter & taco soup.  I tried to not eat the Hershey Mint Truffles & Candy Cane Kisses I bought {why do I ever buy those things!?} and then I cried myself to sleep after a dismal 1st half in the Panther's v. Saints game :(  

Sadly, I didn't wake up to better news, but we still have a chance to redeem ourselves in 2 weeks! And 8 wins in a row is still pretty impressive!

Here's to a productive week, I have a little shopping left to finish & lots of wrapping to do!  How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

Dirty 30 Mustache Bash Cake Tutorial

These 2 boys turned the big 3-0 about 6 weeks apart from each other this fall, so I threw them a Dirty 30 Mustache Bash at the box!

The morning of their party they celebrated with a Dirty 30 Birthday WOD, and as you can see, Brandon really embraced the mustache theme!  He creeped me out all weekend long, ha!

I did a terrible job of taking pictures of all the party details, since, ya know, I wasn't really blogging then.  Ughh.  But if you ever throw a mustache themed event (gender reveal, boy baby shower, kid birthday party, etc.), feel free to ask away about the details, I'm happy to share!

I knew I needed a mustache cake for this party!  It was a must!!  I saw this pin on Pinterest a while ago & my inner baker felt inspired!

The link from this pin is broken :(

Basically, you cut a yin-yang in a circle cake, flip one half and match the larger circles to form a mustache, ice & voila!

A few weeks prior I made a trial run cake.  I needed to perfect my craft & of course sample the recipe.  Had to make sure it was good! :)

My trial run was a success!  The recipe was a keeper & the shape turned out pretty well for being free handed.  I needed a way to fool-proof cutting the yin-yang, though, so it would be exact!  I finally realized I could print one out, cut it, and trace it while cutting the cake.  I was able to blow up the yin-yang to 9 inches in a Microsoft document, print, cut and trace & it worked like a charm!!

Here is the final Mustache Bash double layer Mustache Cake!  I was quite impressed with myself, to be honest!

The cake was definitely a hit at the party!!  Everyone thought it was adorable & they couldn't believe I made it!  Every last slice was eaten, so it's safe to say it was delish!  I, of course, turned to Elana's Pantry to find a gluten free cake and icing recipe.  Obviously, the recipes did not disappoint! Happy baking!!

Vanilla Cupcakes

1/2 c coconut flour

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

6 eggs

1/2 c grapeseed oil

1/2 c agave nectar

1 tbsp vanilla extract

Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.  Blend wet ingredients in a small bowl.  Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients with a mixer or hand blender until smooth.  Pour batter into well oiled 12 cup muffin pan (or 9 in cake pan) and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Cool completely before icing.

**Back off the oven temp to 300 and bake for 1 1/2 the time (30 minutes) in order to have a flatter cake for layering, mustache creating and icing.

Vegan Chocolate Frosting

1 c dark chocolate chunks

1/2 c grapeseed oil

2 tbsp agave nectar

1 tbsp vanilla extract

pinch of sea salt

Melt chocolate & grapeseed oil over very low heat in a saucepan.  Stir in agave, vanilla & salt. Place frosting in freezer to chill and thicken for 15 minutes.  Remove from freezer & whip with hand blender until smooth & fluffy.  (I totally forgot this step & I think it would've been helpful!  Whoops!) Frost over cake.

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!

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!!

Berkley is 1!!

This guy turned a whole year old on Saturday!!!

Sadly, we didn't throw him a doggy party because we're bad fur parents just a teensy bit busy lately! Well that, and he's a dog so he doesnt really need a party! Haha, but we did buy him some yummy birthday treats, let him dig in the back yard, and sleep on the bed with us at night!

Not that he doesn't normally get to do those things anyway. Spoiled much?!

No way, not this pup! ;)

Berkley, you are our favorite dog in the whole wide world!! We're so glad you adopted us last year! You have the sweetest, friendliest, spunkiest personality, you're so stinkin' cute & we're so glad you're ours!!!

Here are some of my favorite pics form your first year...

Meeting your cat bro!

Floppy ear love

Dead dog

Floppy ears no more!!

Pure happiness :)

Our smiley dog!

In his Christmas sweater!

King of the hay!