30 Day Photography Challenge

 

Through the recommendation of my friend Kristen over at Asymmetrical Joy, I’ll be doing the 30 Day Photography Challenge. So starting tomorrow, keep your eyes peeled for a post a day of photos!

 

Hope y’all will play along.

Quick and Sweet workouts

 

As I was browsing through some blogs today I came across these fantastic workouts on For the Love of Skinny. I thought they would be perfect to share since so many of us get behind on actually getting to the gym and working out. These are short, sweet and get to the job done.

 

 

What do you all think?! Think you can commit to this?!

Tuesday Travels – Dreaming of Mexico

 

We love all inclusive and to us an all inclusive vacation to Mexico once a year is a must to reprogram our C drives (brains). Honestly, there is nothing more relaxing then laying on the beach, with a beautiful ocean and a pleasant breeze. An ice cold drink in hand and a good book to enjoy.

 

How I miss being away on the beach. It’s been a year since our last trip to Cancun and our blood is boiling to go back. We’re thinking sometime in November/December. Speaking of which I’m going to let you in on a little secret I learned from a good friend. If you want to go to Mexico, go the week before Christmas, the overall package price drops for the week, and then skyrockets back up for the week of Christmas.

Lots of people think that going in December the weather will be awful, however it’s the opposite. The average temperature is about 75 to 80 degrees, the water is warm from the hot summer (water takes about 3 months to catch up in temperature), and you get a nice enough breeze in the evenings that you can sleep soundly without being overheated.

Currently I’m lusting after the Secrets Maroma Beach Rivera Cancun which is an all-suites, Unlimited-Luxury resort fir adults only.

Here are some pictures from the website:

The first of our requirements when looking at hotels in Mexico, is that there is a large, white sand private or at least somewhat privet beach. Check that!

Second is that the pools and hot tubs have a nice view of the ocean, and a relaxing/friendly atmosphere. Check!!

There needs to be a nice sized pool with a swim up bar. CHECK!

Nice setting for the dinners, if you chose to eat at the “restaurants” rather then in the buffet. CHECK!!!  

And finally the room. There needs to be a king sized bed, and some kind of a sitting area. Considering that all the rooms at Secrets are suits we got that checked off! As an added bonus there is a hot tub in every single room! CHECK CHECK CHECK!!!!!!!!!!

Doesn’t it look just perfect?!

I’ve looked up some estimated pricing for a trip out from Denver for two adults for 8 days and 7 nights here are the dates and the estimated prices. Keep in mind that I’ve only skimmed prices and there are more then likely better deals and offers for this piece of paradise.

August – $3759.98 this includes a direct flight, transfer from airport to hotel and of course the stay for two adults. 

October – $3479.98 same thing here, a direct flight, transfer from airport to hotel …

November – $3819.98 Same deal!

December – $3639.98

All of these were priced through Apple Vacations. Keep in mind that these are not the only prices, and sites such as Kayak and BookIt have the chance to give you a better deal. Since we aren’t planning on shelling out $4000 for our next vacations it is highly unlikely we’ll go here, UNLESS of course I stumble upon a killer deal that I cannot refuse.

We will more then likely stay at either a Dreams, an Iberostar or another Secrets. We LOVE Iberostar and it is truly my go to when I need a quick get away. It isn’t all that cheap but it is worth every penny! Since it’s tried and tested I know you cannot go wrong with this resort.

Where have you been recently? Any all-inclusive that you are in love with?!  

Staying Motivated

 

When it comes to working out, the first three months are the hardest to keep motivated and get going to the gym. However, the time when you least want to go to the gym is the time when you most need to!

I say that the first three months are the hardest because once you are over the hump of being completely out of shape your body and brain began to crave the endorphins from the workout and you just keep going back. In a sense, if you push through the first few months at the gym you simply become addicted to exercising and keep going.

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I’m one of those people that tends to commit to a cause for a while, and once my goal is accomplish I let it dwindle. I did this with my fitness this past month and feel awful to admit it. When I started the 25 Days of Fitness I was motivated to work, and I did. I lost about 6 pounds in those 25 days worked out every day and felt fantastic about it. Once I was done, I used my finals as an excuse to slack off, and continued to pay my fat tax for about a month.

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These last few days I’ve been good about it, and last week I was at the gym two days, which is more then I was the week before but really not enough. So here are some things I am doing to keep motivated and going to the gym.

Pencil It In

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Schedule a time to go to the gym and write it down in your planner. Really, when I pre-plan my weekly schedule I put in times to work out and consider it an appointment. My health is important enough to me to set aside an hour to two hours a day for exercise. I use to pencil in my gym time and I stopped over the last month. Now I’m back to it.

Get your spouse involved

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Two years ago when I started the P90X program, I would have never made it if it wasn’t for my husband supporting me and doing the program with me. The Mister has been super duper supportive of me, and has even gotten me off the couch to go running with him even though I would have done anything not to. In short, get your spouse or significant other or best friend involved in your workouts, they’ll not only motivate you but push you to do better.

Meet a friend

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Plan a time to meet a friend at the gym. Especially if you are working out in the mornings. If you ask a friend to meet you at the gym at a given time, you will more likely show up. This is my biggest and greatest motivator. My friend got me to sign up for a gym membership and introduced me to Body Pump, and when we make plans to meet at the gym we always end up going, even if both of us don’t want to.

Write it Down

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I have been slacking in this one. BUT, I always kept a workout log, with how much weight I lifted, what exercise I did, how many sets, how many reps and so on. It is a great motivator to look at where you started and where you are at a given time. While on a daily basis you might not see results you’ll see them when it’s written down. I also take pictures and measurements as I go along, usually about once a month.

Set a Goal

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Set a goal of how many days in a row you’ll go to the gym, and see if you can make it. Once you’ve made it, set a new one that is a day or two longer then the last. Speaking of this, my goal is to go 4 times this week.

So these are my motivators. What are yours?!

Anyone up for another 25 Days of Fitness Challenge? Or maybe a 30 Day Fitness Challenge? Let me know!

Outfit – Summer Date Night

 

If I had unlimited money, and unlimited closet space this is an outfit that would find it’s way into my infinite closet!

This would be the perfect summer date night outfit. It’s so simple yet the heels dress it right up. I can see some red nails and possibly red lip stick with this one.

I’d add some Megan Fox curls to the outfit and some dark lashes! So easy, and so perfect. I might have to go digging in my closet to try and recreate this outfit.

What is your go to summer date night outfit?!

Remember, Remember

 

Hope you all are having a fantastic Memorial Day! Please don’t forget that to thank the men and women who serve. Don’t forget what Memorial Day is all about.

 

Thank you to all who have served!

I personally know many who have served, retired and are still serving. While many of them are military there are also civilians who are supporting our Armed forces with technology, innovations and support. I’d personally like to thank the following people who are close to my heart and who have served our country.

My grandfather – Vietnam and Korea (Navy)

Zach Smith – active military, just returned from Afghanistan (Army)

Grandfather-in-Law (Hubby’s Dad’s side) – Army

Grandfather-in-Law (Hubby’s Mom’s side) – Army (passed away last year on Memorial Day)

Father-in-law – dedicated his entire career to making our fighter jets better

My Husband – who is currently a DOD civilian

I’d also like to thank all the spouses, family members and friends who support our men and women in uniform. Thank you for all you do for a country that seems to forget about those at enemy lines. Thank you for keeping us safe, and for all the scarifies you make.

Please don’t take Memorial Day for granted, I know for many this is just another day off of work and school. But this day is meant to be so much more then a holiday from work.

 

Have a fantastic day all!

How to walk in heels

 

I was just browsing through Facebook and came across this little article titled How to walk in heels. I thought I’d share because there are so many people I see stumbling around in sky high heels looking a little very ridiculous!

 

Walking in high heels it tricky business, and honestly it took me forever to get use to being in heels, walking around and not tripping over myself. Granted, I’m still as clumsy as ever, so being careful doesn’t do me much good.

I feel that these tips are really helpful, and I even learned a thing or two from InStyle.

Hope this helps out a bit! Let me know what your tricks to wearing high heels are!!!

Get to Know Me

 

1. would you rather go on a picnic or to a bbq?

This is a hard one, I enjoy both, but I’d say the Mister and I are way overdue for a picnic so a picnic it is.

2. would you rather go bra-less or panty-less?

bra-less

3. would you rather go on a $5000 shopping spree at your favorite store or go on a $5000 vacation?

A vacation for sure, I could go on two vacations for that price!

4. would you rather eat escargot or sauteed crickets?

Escargot, it’s actually not as bad as it sounds. A French delicacy and all

5. would you rather go on survivor or the amazing race?

haha neither.

6. would you rather be hot or cold?

Hummm cold, there is always more clothes you can put on, but only so much you can take off

7. would you rather go to the beach or lake?

the beach for sure!

8. would you rather not shave your legs for a month in the summer or your armpits?

Humm… legs, I can cover them up in some jeans… armpits not so much.

Shrimp and Sausage Boil

 

When warmer weather comes around, the Husband and I love nothing more then easy meals that we can make in one pot or on the grill then dig in with our hands.

About three years ago we went down to Rockport Texas for the Mister’s family reunion and visited a little place called the Boiling Pot.

This place was very cool! The tables were covered in butcher paper, there was a roll of paper towels thrown on top. You ordered your food by the bucket and when it came out it was just dumped on the table in front of you.

 

A few months ago I was dying for some Cajun boil, and after searching high and low for an easy recipe to duplicate and coming up empty-handed, I decided to try and take bits and pieces of ones I found and create my own. I mean HOW hard could it be to boil a bunch of stuff together?!!

Well my first attempt was a little strange, the potatoes didn’t cook all the way, the shrimp might have been slightly overcooked and the sausage was completely wrong. But after several tries, I perfected it, and now it is one of our go to meals!

I’d like y’all to meet the Shrimp and Andouille Sausage Boil!!!

Here is what all you’ll need:

• 3oz bag of Shrimp and Crab boil
• 3 tbsp Old Bay Seasoning
• 4 lbs of small new potatoes
• 6 ears of corn
• 3 lbs of Andouille Sausage
• 4 lbs of medium unpeeled shrimp
• Lots of lemons
• Some Italian Parsley

Make sure to follow the following steps in order to ensure you have fully cooked food.

1. In a large pot, bring about 2 gallons of water to a boil
2. Add in the Shrimp and Crab boil, along with the Old Bay Seasoning, Let the seasoning boil around for about a minute or so
3. Add in the potatoes and let them cook for about 10 minutes
4. Cut up the corn into 2 to 3 inch pieces and add them into the boiling pot (Ha! get it!)
5. Let the corn cook for about 10 minutes 
6. Cut the Andouille into inch long pieces and add it into the mixture, let it cook for about 5 minutes
7. Finally add in the shrimp and watch for them to turn pink.

Once the shrimp are cooked, and be super careful not to overcook the shrimp, drain the pot and dump the boil into a serving platter stick wedges of lemon next to it and sprinkle parsley on top.

 

However, this meal is not done until you make some garlic/lemon butter to go along with it. This butter is my own creation and I sort of eyeball what I put into it. Next time I make it I will get measurements so that y’all can re-create it. Here is what I do put in it:

• Some butter, melted
• salt
• paprika
• garlic powder
• salt powder
• red pepper

Now go on, make this dish, dump it on the patio table and enjoy it along with a cold beer or some sweet ice tea! 

Our Story – Part Two

 

The Mister and I started officially dating in August of 2007, and within a few short months we both knew that we’d be getting married. It was just one of those things that feels right. We never really had any wild nights on the town and were usually content sitting on the love seat in the basement watching TV, reading or talking.

We were both in school at this time, the Mister in his last few semesters of school and me in my first few. The Mister had quit his job to try and finish school since it was taking him more then the four years to finish, and I was working 60+ hour weeks and going to school full time. We spent practically all of our free time together, but usually we each had our noses stuck in a textbook.

In our first year together we made some great memories:

The Mister’s 23rd Birthday – Underworld concert at the Fillmore (9.11.07)

We went to the annual Denver Parade of Lights right before Christmas

We went to the Renaissance Festival

Where I got “bonked” on the head by Ded Bob and the Mister met a very willing pirate

 

We also enjoyed a Smoked Turkey Leg… you can really tell who enjoyed it more!

We celebrated July 4th with some great friends, and lots of booze!

And overall had a fantastic time!

We we got into fights, maybe one or two big ones. But honestly we never thought of breaking up or had second thoughts about our relationship. It sounds strange to say it now, but we’ve had a pretty solid relationship since the very beginning.

 

Stay tuned for our second year together which had a lot more going on.

Book Club Friday – Illusions

 

I’m linking up with Megan over at A day in the life today for the Friday Book Club. 

Today’s book is very special to me, I received a copy of Illusions by Richard Bach from my uncle on the day of my high school graduation.

On the inside of the front cover my uncle had inscribed the following words:

You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true.

There was also a page number that I could turn to where the quote was underlined in my uncle’s neat head. I read the book in a day, and re-read it the next day. To this day I’ll pick it up and read through. The book is an inspiration and has become my personal bible.

Here is what Amazon has to say about the book:

In the cloud-washed airspace between the cornfields of Illinois and blue infinity, a man puts his faith in the propeller of his biplane. For disillusioned writer and itinerant barnstormer Richard Bach, belief is as real as a full tank of gas and sparks firing in the cylinders...until he meets Donald Shimoda--former mechanic and self-described messiah who can make wrenches fly and Richard's imagination soar....

In Illusions, the unforgettable follow-up to his phenomenal bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach takes to the air to discover the ageless truths that give our souls wings: that people don't need airplanes to soar...that even the darkest clouds have meaning once we lift ourselves above them... and that messiahs can be found in the unlikeliest places--like hay fields, one-traffic-light midwestern towns, and most of all, deep within ourselves.

Over this weekend I will be giving a copy of this book to two of my debaters who are now high school graduates. I hope that it will be as inspiring to them as it was to me and help them in the journey of discovering themselves and becoming full adults. I also do hope that they never lose the childish perspective of life, when everything and everyone is seen through the positive light.

Friday Confessional

 

It’s Friday again and time for the confessions for the week. I’m linking up with Glamazon & Mamarazzi!

 

I confess, that I’m enjoying my slightly hectic life. Sometimes I feel that I drive around all day, running from one place to the next, but at the end of the day I love what I’m doing with my life, even though it has nothing to do with my degree.

I’m kind of wanting a little crafts corner like this

I confess I made 3 homemade meals this week and loved every single one of them. This might have to become a trend.

I confess that I check my blog entirely too much, and really it has become an obsession. I love, love, love getting comments from all you awesome gals out there, and have made some awesome friends in the short time in the blogging world.

I confess that I’m writing this at 12:48 AM, and am entirely too awake and giddy considering I’ve been up since 6 AM this morning.

I confess that all I want to do right now is get on a jet plane and run off to some warm tropical location with my hubby.

I confess that I cannot wait until my shoes are here. I ordered another size to see if I like the way they fit better. My big toe hates me and loves to stick out of peep toe shoes.

I confess I went to the gym at 8 AM and loved the fact that I got my workout in so early.

I also confess that I spent too much money on Groupons this week, but am excited to use ‘em. Maybe I’ll share what I got them for in the near future. As a matter of fact, I’m sure I will. But for now it’s my little secret.

I’ve been really considering getting a spray tan, and one of my neighbors has a lady that comes to her house and does it for her, but I also just want to do it myself. Anyone spray themselves? What brand do you use to not look orange, and for God’s sake how the heck do you get your back and make sure it’s even. HA!

I confess, that I love Fridays when the Mister is home, which happens to be every other weekend, and this weekend we have a four day weekend. WOO

Finally, I confess it make me both sad and proud that all my high school debaters, who I coached when they were freshman are now officially graduated and on their way to bigger and better things. If any of you are reading this, I really am soo very proud of you and couldn’t be happier for your accomplishments both in high school and through your debate careers. I hope you remember me once in a while and come back and talk to me. Or I’ll just stalk y’all on facebook and make sure you are having a time of your life in college!

Now all my kiddos are graduated from high school! These were the best high school debaters that anyone has had the honor of coaching. I wish I had been there for their senior year.