Friday Night Party...Or Not :)

I am for sure that I am no longer willing to stay where I am.  The more I read and try to learn about the world of food, the more I am sure that I am ready to make the next step.  I am ready to get better, stronger, faster at CrossFit and change my diet for good.  I am really excited for the nutrition information session at CrossFit Aspire and the 30 day challenge.  I am also currently reading It Starts With Food  -- it is very informational and I want to know more.  I am only up to the part on dairy, but I can't wait to read more!

Tomorrow is a nice run with my Fleet Feet Marlton half marathon program group.  We are 23 days our from the Philly Rock-n-Roll -- below is what our medals will look like.  I can not wait to see my group rock it! For some of them, it will be their first half marathon; however, for others it will be another race.

So, random for you - Brian called me Tuesday night and asked me to go the the Phillies game with him.  Of course I went (easy decision since they were playing my Reds).  It was a good time.  Brian is a good friend and I enjoy his company.  We seem to always have a good time when we hang out.

Ok -- that's all -- just thought I'd post a lil something :)  Ps look what we got for the store

 

How awesome are those? If you know me, you know how obsessed I am with cozies.  Also, Nicolella from school has got me HOOKED on Game of Thrones -- 5 episodes into season 1 and I love it!

Enjoy your Friday!

~xoxo
M

I've Got Friends In Low Places

So much for August goals - haha! I wanted to blog every day, but missed Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  My bad ya'll! Short little recap --

Thursday - started my day with some CrossFit action.  I really like being able to go in the morning and get it out of the way! The group was small, but the WOD was KILLER!! Run & Row combo; however, I did better then I thought I would have done so that is a plus :) Then I worked at Fleet Feet all day.  It was a great day at the store so that's a plus!! Plus we got new store shoes from the Nike Rep - LOVE my Vomeros! Never will get to run in them as they kill my achilles but for the store - YES!

So now the reason I didn't blog Thursday...I got home and crashed.  I was asleep by 8 and slept the whole night. I woke up at about 12:30 and got off the couch.  I knocked out my #PlankADay and went back to bed! haha lame I know - I just kept saying

Friday - started the same (ps three cheers for three days in a row for CrossFit!!), with my awesome crew at CrossFit.  Justin was coaching and we worked on overhead squats -- I put up 65# so I was very proud of myself.  The WOD included pull ups and I can't even remotely get close to one.  Was suppose to be 21-15-9 but he told me to do 15-10-5, AND I had to use the black band :( Have to figure out how to get better at those!  After that - I went with Chels for mani/pedis and to relax. Worked the afternoon at Fleet Feet w/Issac.  After work I went home and napped for about 30 minutes.  Stepped out for a bit to see some of the Jersey crew then went and crashed.

Saturday was FABULOUS day!! Knocked out a beautiful 8 miles! Temp wise was perfect for a run, but the humidity made it looked like I just got out of the pool --

After that - I had to work all day with Issac, Steve & Rob.  Good day! I LOVE my Fleet Feet boys!! Again, came home and crashed again.  13 hours.  I'm getting some blood work done this week so I'm ready for that and to figure out what is wrong with me. Mom was up and I was hoping to go to AC with her, but apparently my body would rather be asleep 13 hours...maybe why I'm still single haha!

Today is Sunday. Mom didn't get back to me in time, so Jill talked me into going to our box's (CrossFit Aspire) run club.  Felt great to stretch out my legs, especially after yesterday. 3x800m as fast as could.  Goal was to hold it within 5 seconds of each other. Yea, I'm not there yet, but working on it! We also did a wallball shuttle run - it was fun and the guys on our team would good about me being a little slower lol. Slow is better then nothing though right :)

After that I went to the Phillies game with Ro & her family! It was BRUTALLY hot, but thankfully our seats were in the shade and we had a pretty sweet breeze so once we were in for the game I was good to go!

I cheated and had some ice cream at the game, and it was SO worth it! After the game I meet my friend Gina for a later lunch/early dinner at Panera.  She lives about 40 minutes the other way from the city so we meet about half way.  It was great to see her and catch up.  We worked together at my first job at OMS. She is preggos and due end of October/early November and I couldn't be more excited for her.  Her and her hubs are just amazing people.  I am anxious for her to see where she goes from here :)

TrueBlood just ended (yes I am OBSESSED) and I am SHOCKED at how this season is going! Each week leaves me ITCHING to see the next...not sure what I'm going to do next Sunday in TN with no HBO...have to figure that out haha! Maybe mom's hotel will have it:)

xoxo~Melissa

Picture Overload...but you know they are cute :)

Life.  Life seems to never slow for me.  I make changes to my schedule thinking about how great the outcome will be, then either it doesn't turn out like I thought (imagine that) or something else happens and I have to make more changes.  Bringing life up to date.  I had an interesting talk with a un-named friend from HOME (Tennessee that is).  This week she told me that she was right. When by the sound in my voice she must have realized I had absolutely NO idea what she was talking about, she said she was excited that I was eager to get my blog up and going but made at comment at the time that I would never update.  You see - if you know me you already know this - but I am known to jump into things until my plate is almost overflowing.  I jump to the point of being semi-stressed but loving the outcome, which is why I believe I do it time and time again.

Right now that plate is full. I feel as though for once though it may be overflowing, but I don't think it is any fuller then before but that my life priorities have really changed in the last year.  Yes, we all know I've moved and I am coming up on my third summer in the great north east region, aka the Dirty Jerz, and I really do enjoy it.  I do miss the south, the way of life and the people; however, living 20 minutes from such an awesome city and an hour from the mountains or the shore make it great for right now.  My fitness life has changed.  The way I look at fitness, working out and life has really evolved, and more so in the last six months.  Being the first post since before the Shamrock Half...let's give a little run down :)

Shamrock Half was a blast - nice little weekend away with Hoover & Ro! Even though I had definitely not run enough nor was in half shape, I made it with a smile on my face and LOVED it! Sweet swag and got a hoodie which totally made my day! I paid for being under trained in my back; however, the Achilles was back and not to bad!!! I had a blast running for Team Racing for Veterans! Check them out and get involved if you can!! I am looking forward to more races with them & the awesome Megs!

That was really all of my March - April came and had fun -- Got to spend Easter down in DC with my Boo & her family and have Sunday brunch with Mama Dukes -- Boo was still preggos at the time, but as always we had a blast! Gummy has gotten SO big!!

Me, Boo & Gummy

Me & my Gummy

Spent Easter with my SIL and the babies -- much need week of just them!

Austin & my girls (Scarlet Tressel & LD)

Me & Ms. O

Also had the big 2-8 birthday in April! Had a blast with majority of my Jersey loves!!

LC, Ush, Fanning, Me, GF & T

I think April brought the Phillies game for running the Phillies 5K with the Wifey - so her, Bobby & jackass went (yes that is his name for now)!

Me & the Wifey

Me & Bobby

End of April and May were BUSY BUSY!! First we had Dollface's Bridal Shower -- it was a surprise for her and she def had NO idea if was coming!! She is by far one of my most favorite people so I was glad how well the bridal party rocked it - we are one FABULOUS bridal party haha :)

Next big event was the Bachelorette Party - McFaddens! We had a blast! And of course because we are such a fabulous group - we rocked the place!! :)

Me & Dollface

Dollface & her girls!

Me, Kels, Alicia & GF

Next up for my life was NJ ASK testing week which was concluded with Dollface & Cuzzo's wedding!! Mind you she is now officially family, though she has been the whole time! The wedding was great! We had a blast and I was surrounded by majority of my family and Jersey friends!!

Dollface & her bridal party

Me & Dollface - isn't she BEAUTIFUL

Cuzzo & me :)

Me & my bro

Ms. O & me

Now, May also brought into my life CrossFit Aspire which has quickly and honestly become my BEST decision ever!! I have never felt so welcomed by a group as well as pushed past so many boundaries!! The picture below is from our July 4th workout - which was team style and a BLAST!!!

June brought the end of the school year and Kelsey & Todd's wedding! The end of the school year was hard - I am looking forward to being out of 4th grade and back to the middle school next year, but I really loved that bunch of 4th graders! They taught me a lot of patience as well as love! They really were a great group!! I swear that Kelsey & Todd got married on what felt like the hottest day ever! haha no really but I felt bad for them until I saw Kelsey - and she looked cool as a cucumber and her & her girls were BEAUTIFUL!! It was a beautiful evening, and again I was lucky to be surrounded by a vast majority of my Jersey loves!!

Kels & her girls :)

Sorry for all of the pictures but that pretty much brings you current on the major happenings of my life! Of course there are tons of little things that I haven't said - like I'm no longer doing weight watchers and am moving towards a more Paleo diet.  It has become a semi 75-80% Paleo and 20-25% Clean Eating with an occasional cheat and Cherry Vodka and Diet :) I'm down another pant size which is fabulous!! I am helping to coach a Half Marathon program at Fleet Feet Marlton. We have a great group and I am really looking forward to seeing everyone with that fabulous medal around their neck!

I am really hoping to start blogging more about my fitness adventure, cooking and just the fabulous life I am SO blessed to live!

ATL...80s style

So ATL was 2 weekends ago and it was a GREAT time!! Red Sox swept the series - but ATL played well. Ready for another weekend already...check out my shutterfly for more pics! These are just a few highlights, because as always, I am only on here today to try and avoid finishing my thesis.