5 On Friday

Hello Blog World!!  I promise I haven’t fallen off the face of the planet, I’m still alive and kicking!  Remember that time I opened a CrossFit gym while still teaching full time!?  Yeah that was a crazy, busy, fun time!! Oh wait, that’s right now!

So since I’ve been absent from the blogging world for {ahem} over 3 weeks now, let’s just jump back in with a little link up 5 On Friday love, shall we!?

1 – So I’m loving every minute of being at the box – coaching, meeting new members, working out there!!  But, things are just a tad busy so not only have I been absent from blogging, I’ve pretty much fallen off the face of social media! 

Home girl has no time.  I’m talking zero free time.  Between school, sprinting home to grab dog, squeezing in my own work out, coaching 2 evening classes, getting home around 9, making dinner and lunch for the next day, sending any emails or any CFP social media posts, showering and passing out around 11….yeah I’m pooped.  Happy!  But pooped :) 

There is a light though….we’re down to 1 hand.  I have 5 days left!  5!!!  Sweet glory hallelujah amen!

2 – The barista this morning accidentally made my latte a double.  I’m pretty sure that was actually a small Friday morning miracle!  I should have told her I love her.  Let’s be honest, I could pretty much use an IV of caffeine at this point.

3 – Little Scarlett Idalia should be here any day!  We’re all {not so} patiently awaiting the arrival of my newest little niece!!  I know my brother & SIL are ready to meet their baby girl & we’re all excited to add another girl to the brood!  My niece Roen’s excited to have a girl cousin since she’s holding her own with 3 little brothers!

4 – Season 7 of Dexter finally shipped to us last weekend!!  We’re already 4 episodes in and I can’t wait to watch more this weekend.  It’s weird to have a favorite serial killer, but I do!

5 – I may not be having a summer off as I have in the past since we now own a gym and all, but that doesn’t mean my summer to do list isn’t growing!  I have a few house tasks to accomplish and we’re planning to get a new bed for our master bedroom & {finally!} put together a guest bedroom.  I think I’m probably more excited about the guest bedroom than our own new bed, ha!  Of course my summer to do list will get its own post :)  You know I love a good list {or 12!} ;)

That’s all for today friends!  Hi 5 for Friday & Happy Weekend!!!

Friday Favorites

I just like Friday's.  Friday's my favorite!

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For obvious reasons, Friday is one of the best days of the week!!  So to celebrate it's awesomeness, here are my favorite things about {this} Friday....

It brings the weekend!!!  Duh!!  Captain Obvious here ;)

It also brings my husband home & my family to town!!  B was home Monday night in exchange for traveling Thursday night.  Can't win 'em all I guess!  And my SIL is having a baby shower this weekend!!!  Hard to believe baby girl will be here in about 6 weeks!!  Can't wait to meet my new niece!!!

There are officially 7 weeks of school left.  7!  That sounds manageable, yes!?  Let's hope!!

We're having turkey burger's for dinner with some homemade sweet potato fries & fruit!  Yes, I'm already thinking about dinner.  We all know a fat girl lives in me, let's be real!

It's rest day!  Girl needs a day off from the gym!!  No workout today, ya know, besides vacuuming my whole house!

This song on the radio on my way to work this morning!  Oh Phillip Phillips...you've done it again! Love this song...makes me happy and reminds me of my man!!  Have I mentioned he comes home today?!  :)  Happy day!

Happy Friday, happy weekend, happy!!!

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!

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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!  :)

M.I.A

Missing. In. Action.

That is what I have been lately!  Sadly, most of the action hasn't really been too exciting, ha!  Just the regular old stuff.  Work, working out, playing with fur babies, cooking, cleaning....it's a glamourous life really ;)

Last week we celebrated Valentine's Day!  I am spoiled with somewhat of a romantic husband, and he definitely speaks my love languages!  I posted "The Story of Us" last year on Valentine's Day, so feel free to read up on us if you like :)

B & I cherish good quality time together, some in part due to the fact that Brandon travels 3 nights/4 days a week.  So for Valentine's Day this year, a nice dinner in, some wine, our sweats and Grey's Anatomy sounded like a perfect evening!

And perfect it was!

B spoiled me with flowers at school, in addition to the gifts he'd already given me!  (We're so bad at waiting to gift each other!!)  See...I told you, spoiled!

I got him a coupon book!  Yep, you read that right.  Haha, a coupon book!  A real one, too!  From the cutest website called Datevitation.com.  You should definitely check them out for a unique gift!

B now has 10 super fun dates that he can cash in whenever he likes (some require more planning than others) like breakfast in bed or visiting a nearby winery!  I'm so excited for him to use them up :)

We were super surprised to see some snow this past Saturday!  They were calling for us to get some, but we were skeptical.  We were sitting on the couch doing our taxes, looked up and the ground was almost completely covered from the down pour of snow that started!

B dog loved it!!  He was sprinting around the back yard!  Crazy dog.

We braved the roads that night and headed out for dinner to celebrate our friend Greg's birthday!  The roads weren't too bad and, per usual, good times were had by all :)

I was so thankful to have this past Monday off!I had a super productive day, if only every week could be 4 days!

I took a crack at the above workout I found on Pinterest on my day off!  Kicked my butt :) in the best way possible of course!  I dare you to try it!  And if you do, tell me your time!  I finished in 16:35.  I'll have to try and beat that again soon!

I'm so glad this was a short work week!!  Even so, it felt so. long.  Bless it!  Is it bad that I already feel like I'm in survival mode!?  Just trying to survive til spring break...til summer.  Yikes, it's probably too early for that :/

At least it's the weekend!!  Cheers to that!  

Happy weekend friends!!!

Lately

Welp, I've been quite the sporadic blogger lately, but better sporadic than not at all right!?!

Nothing too wild's been going on, just managing and surviving work and living a little in between.  I can't lie, it's definitely been a year so far - I've been challenged mentally, physically, and professionally.  But hey, I'm still here and still smiling, so I won't complain!!  :)

Here's what's been going on lately....

What I'm Loving: Thursday nights.  Thursdays bring my husband home to me and usually end with us on the couch watching Gray's or catching up on our DVR.  Thursday nights are practically the beginning of the weekend...and I'm a big fan of weekends!

  

Watching: Nashville!  I'm obsessed.

Looking forward to: The Holidays!!  I'm so excited for our anniversary, decorations, family time, Christmas cards, celebrating, gift giving, a stocking for Berkley, traveling to Michigan...the list goes on!  I recently downloaded these 2 printables & I can't wait to put them out!

Links on my Holiday Pinterest Board

Making me happy: Our new coffee table!!

We loved the oversized ottoman we bought with our new couch, but thanks to Benson's back claws and his jumping and skidding across the ottoman to escape an active puppy, it's pretty scratched up :(  We fell in love with this coffee table & bonus....it was 40% off!!

Celebrating: ALL THE BABIES!  My handsome nephew was born just over 3 weeks ago, I'm just itching to get back over and hold him.  My sweet friend, Rachel, had precious Maggie almost 2 weeks ago, hopefully I'll get to snuggle her this Friday for a minute!

My cousin is being induced with her baby girl tomorrow!  Brandon's sis & BIL are expecting a baby boy in February - we've been looking at all sorts of Christmas gifts for baby Weston, even though he won't even be here yet!  And another Acuff will be making their debut in May!!!  My brother & SIL, Rob & Gale are having a baby, too!!

Fanning: All these babies are just fanning and fueling the baby fever over here!  I even got an email today from Baby Gap.  What the heck!?  In due time, we haven't drank the water yet.

Memorizing:  This verse.

I've had a tough time staying true to Paleo lately (ahem - get outta my face Halloween candy!!) and I feel like I'm ruining all the progress I've made.  I made this verse the background on my phone and I've been trying to repeat it to myself when tempted to eat just whatever I have a craving for at the time.

So far, it's been helping!

Planning: Paleo meals so I won't cheat!  Ugh...it's so easy to stray, but when I've planned out my meals and have good options in the house, it really helps to eliminate the chances of my going awry.  :/

Enjoying: Weekends.  Seriously...there is nothing better.

I'm so thankful tomorrow's Thursday!  One day closer to the blessed weekend, we can wear jeans to school this week & it's a 3 day weekend my friends!!

Remember when I used to blog!?

Well, hey there dear, sweet blog friends of mine!!  Are you still actually there!?  Still checking back to see if I've posted, updated anything, or am even alive!?

I assure you I am alive!!  Just super busy, living on caffeine & a prayer ;)

Remember when I used to have all this free time over the summer?  And before that, when I was in a good routine/flow with school!?  And when I actually, regularly posted on my little blog!?!

{Sigh} I sure do.  That was fun!

Between getting back in the swing of things (aka waking up at 520 everyday and working until 4ish), having a puppy, and trying to get my fitness on daily amongst the other gajillion things to do - there is so little time for blogging :(  wahhhhh!!  I've yet to even recap our weekend trip to Michigan :'(

I will eventually recap & share our pictures, but until then, I'll leave you with a little teaser...

Yes, Brandon & I are certifiably insane!!  Thought I was going to die!  But more on all that later :)

Ok friends, just bear with me while I get my school legs back on!  And don't worry, Stella Michelle will get her groove back ;)

The Final Countdown & My Sweet Dirty Flea Bag

It's the final countdown y'all....

In just 4 days my cousin Erin says "I do" to her love muffin Ryan!!

I'm so stinkin' excited I can not hardly focus at work this week!  I took the last day of school off so I won't miss any festivities!  We leave Friday morning for Blacksburg, VA for wedding weekend and this MOH {Matron of Honor - yep, I'm a matron, old obviously} is ready for all the bridesmaid luncheon - mani/pedi-ing - rehearsing - hair did - gettin' hitched - FUN!!!

Bring it on!

E&R are VT alums and are appropriately getting married at their alma mater - right in the VT chapel & then having the reception at the South End Zone of the VT football stadium!  I know it's going to be fantastic!!

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Let's be real though, wedding weekend is not the only reason I'm having trouble focusing at work this week...

There are 2 days with students (since I took Friday off) & 3 teacher workdays between me and 10 weeks of summer vacay!!!  That's 5 days total, y'all! {Incase you're not so good at math!}

That is one amazing thing about teaching...just when you're not sure if you could keep going, summer break is there to refresh & rejuvenate you for the next year and a new start!

I'm looking forward to accomplishing a few tasks for our house and enjoying some down time, rest, traveling with my handsome hubs, beach vacays & more...I just have to survive first.

Onto a way less fun topic... I know it's hard to believe, but this sweet little thing right here....

is a dirty little flea bag!!

We have no clue how he actually got them since he's an indoor cat - and I guess that doesn't really matter at this point - but we're certain of how we're going to rid him (and our house & yard) of them...

Task 1 - Ben got a flea bath!  He was not a fan.  But it was necessary!  I wish I could have snapped a photo of him soaking wet and shocked/angry - but washing him was a 2 person job!  He might even have bath numero dos before we leave this weekend.  But shhhh...don't tell him yet!

Task 2 - Ben got some flea "meds" on his neck.  He's still a little greasy looking, but I don't care because I want those suckers to die!

Task 3 - Cleaning Freak!  I've cleaned the downstairs, the upstairs and the downstairs again.  I'm paranoid about these stupid little bugs and their flea dirt (woof!) and I will not have it in my house!!

Task 4 - Orkin Man!  Ha, well we're actually using a company called Black Pest Prevention - they've serviced our house before and their sign adorns our yard so I figured we'd just stick with them.  They seem rather affordable, too. They're coming Thursday to spray inside and out I'm more than ready, because y'all, I DON'T.DO.BUGS.

Amen.

Happy hump day friends!!

Tuesday

Well friends, the only good thing about a long weekend being over is that the next week is a short one!  It's already Tuesday!!

But I'm in a funk...I'm down to 7 days of school left and I have meetings on 6 of those 7 days.  I'm literally swimming, drowning in paperwork.  Joy.

So here are a few things that helped me remember today that God is good, all the time, and all the time, God does good....

...this news...

My grandmother had a heart cath today and she has 0 blockages!!  Huge praise!!!

...this post...

...and this post...

...and well...these funny cat pictures just helped me grin and bear it...

Yep.  I think I'm officially a cat person!  I mean I love dogs still too, but I really love my cat :)

Stay tuned for my Memorial Day recap in pictures tomorrow! For now, I'm glued to the couch while it's storming outside and going to bed e.a.r.l.y.

Case of the Mondays

Tonight I had big plans of blogging and recapping our weekend....but then a big ol' case of the Mondays set in!  YUCK!

After a late day at school, setting off our alarm when leaving for a run, running back to check everything out and reset our alarm, running and attempting a P90 video....it was almost 745 and I was done.

So to remedy my case of the Mondays, naturally I....

...ate some sushi for dinner....and then had 2 bites of a cupcake before throwing the leftover ones in the trash (temptation get behind me!)....

...painted my nails a girly shade of pink....

and relaxed on the couch to catch up on some Private Practice in my DVR!

Hopefully, I'll be back tomorrow with a recap of our weekend at the lake!  But for now, I relax :)  Here's to a speedy work week friends!

Midweek Randos

I can't begin to tell you what a relief it is to have the thought and anticipation of moving lifted off our shoulders!!  I feel about 12 pounds lighter {ok, not really, but that would be fantastic!}  No, but seriously, big sighs of relief over here!

While we're super happy to be moved in, this guy is still a little unsure....

I think he still feels like he's a city kitty & just isn't used to the 'burbs quite yet!

All these neighborhood sounds and the big space of this house - as opposed to the old apartment - are just a little daunting for this little scaredy cat!  He'll come around I'm sure!

Now that we have a fenced in back yard, I think Benson might feel a little more safe in the 'burbs if he had a companion!  Or I'm just looking for a reason for us to get a puppy ;)

Problem is - we really have no clue what kind of dog we want.  All we really know is not too big, not too small, friendly.  Help!!  What kind of dog should we get??

Hopefully we'll get a pup sometime this summer!

And the summer countdown is in full effect, y'all...30 days!!!  Pure survival mode from here on out.  Kids are antsy, teachers are antsy, testing season is coming & summer's knocking at the door.  30.

The first book I plan to read this summer - 50 Shades of Grey!  I've read the reviews & I just need to check it out for myself :)  Judge away!

Yesterday I took out our trash bin & recycling bin.  Most mundane of tasks to most.  Not for me!!  It was really, super, exciting to take out our trash & recycling bins!  For the house that we own.  Craziness!

Don't mind me, I'm just living in a constant state of disbelief over here :)

Happy hump day, y'all!

Behind

Do you ever just feel behind!?  Because oh good gracious, that is the only way I know how to describe my every day right now!

From battling strep throat, to a Virginia wedding shower, spring break cruise, closing on a house, throwing a bachelorette party, and preparing for our move this weekend.....I'm just flat out behind!!  Ughhh

So behind in my workouts.  Those have been sparse these past few weeks, and I am not ok with that.  I just feel "off" not working out & being out of my normal routine.  Tomorrow, that changes!

Behind and busy I guess.

Busy at school.... We're down to 8 weeks left & testing season is just about to begin :/

Busy packing and setting things up for our move... Like reserving a U-haul, changing our mailing address, setting up/transferring power & cable, etc, looking into an alarm system, changing the garage code....this list goes on!

Busy trying to catch up on reading blogs -- I don't even know what's going on in y'all's lives! Tear :(  So, so behind!  But I will catch up slowly this week!

And busy trying to blog myself!!  Ugh....I've yet to blog about our cruise & I need to recap the Bachelorette Weekend!!

I promise...those are coming this week :)  So stay tuned & hold tight while I attempt to get my rear back in gear this week!!



PS - Thank you all so, so, so much for all the congrats on the house!!  I had so many sweet comments and house love on the blog & twitter!  We're just so stinkin' excited & almost still in disbelief it's really ours :)  So thank ya, thank ya, I just love y'all.

Weekend & Other Random Musings

While vacation was wonderful, I was definitely glad to be back on Friday in order to have Saturday & Sunday to recoup.  Reality was definitely creeping back around the corner, plus we needed to get a jump start on some packing & get ready for B to head off to another work week of travels.

Friday night, once we got back into town, we made a stop by the ever so generous ABC store.  More booze after a whole week of vacation!?  Hah, no, no...boxes my friends. Boxes!

We started the packing process & finally, after a whole week Dexter free, fed our addiction!  I'm glad we got a jump start on packing, but unfortunately that means I get to live in a half packed up - cluttered - stuff out on the counters - apartment for 12 more days. EEEK.

That does seem to mask the dirt though - I've also decided to pretty much stop cleaning the apartment!  Ha, our complex is making us pay a lovely cleaning fee when we move out, even though we know good & well they'll just be coming in to demo our whole kitchen!

Our building is slowly undergoing a reno - so I just don't understand why we have to pay a cleaning fee for them to come dirty up our apartment again!  So, I'll show them.

Saturday morning we were reunited with this sweet thang...

This is pretty much how he spent the entire Saturday night!  He's been super snuggly.  Must of been a fun & busy week with his brother, Oliver!

Saturday night out for Ms. LB's birthday was SO much fun!!  I failed to take a single picture the entire night except of me before walking out the door.

OOTN - You're so vain

It was fun to catch up with my old roomie - just love her!  It was definitely some fun girl time over nails, drinks, and dinner :)

Our Easter Sunday was wonderful as well!  We woke up early to get a small work out in before church, and then went to my brother's church, Warehouse.  It was a really wonderful service!  I am partial since Josh is the worship leader - but the music was just great - one of my favorite ways to praise Him!

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No Easter baskets this year, no candy, or a big family lunch unfortunately.  But He is Risen indeed!

Sunday afternoon was our final walk through at {the house} so Lord willing and the water don't rise, by Wednesday this will all be a done deal!  I just can hardly believe it!!!

I took B to the airport Sunday afternoon to head back to Florida for the work week & then snuggled with my Easter snuggle bunny....

The workweek came back with a {sting} today.  Frankly, 530 am flat out sucked!  Just sayin....  And I'm in a weird work out funk from vacation and every day busyness (oh yeah, that's called life).  Yuck!  But I'm in the home stretch here.  Survival mode & the official end of the school year countdown starts today.

42 days!  I think I can?

Girls Night Out & Survival Mode

Last night I hit the town with two of my girlfriends, Andrea and Emily, for dinner and a movie!

They met me at my apartment and we walked to The Dandelion Market on our way to the movie theater.  Ahhh...the perks of downtown living :) I've been to Dandelion for drinks before, but had never eaten there.  I've heard good things about their food so I was excited to try it out!  

They are a tapas/small plate themed restaurant so we chose 4 plates to share.  It was delish!!  We chose stuffed zucchini, mac & cheese, artichoke dip, and a fresh mozzarella & pesto flatbread.  Emily is a vegetarian so we wanted to pick things we could all share.  Most of our picks ended up being cheesy and carby (yes its a word), but that's ok!  Calories don't count on girls night!

Oh my goodness...so funny!!!  Grab some girlfriends and go see it!  Guys would like it too because its definitely hilarious, but girls just relate better to the whole idea!  Loved it!  And I have since downloaded this song.  Go see and you'll download it too :)

Girls night along with small amounts of chocolate and my ever so awesome countdown list are keeping me in survival mode!  The end of the school year is just plain stressful.  I know this too shall pass....but the kids are crazy and ready for summer, the teachers are two clowns away from feeling like we're running a circus, and for being a short week its feeling awfully LONG!

BUT....

3 days until an engagement party for our friends Courtney & Cory!  I'm making nutella pie...yum!

4 days until I get my iPhone!!  Woohoo

5 parent meetings...

7 days of school with the kiddos...

9 workdays in all...

10 days until my friend Kelly's bachelorette party at the Lake

Geez I'm tired just reading this

lastly, just 13 days until I can catch up on some zzzzzzz's

Tonight I was domestic & made some Banana Bread Muffins & tomorrow I'm planning to be a sweet wife and cook my sick hubby a yummy dinner, so I foresee a recipe post in the near future.  (I think B caught what I had last week.  Whoops, poor guy!)  Still didn't get to the vacuuming though.  It'll be there tomorrow :)

Happy June!