Hello Loves! How are y'all?!? Life is great right now. Busy and I know I've been MIA. Let's catch you up on things! Socially - Two of my favorite ladies birthdays - AC and Rachel! We got together at PJs last week for the birthdays and Game of Thrones. We had an amazing time. Friday I went to happy hour with two of my girls from work at On The Border. BEST happy hour deals - seriously, the best ever.
Last week was rough for me. Not really sure why. I'm stressed, overwhelemd, had a rough week at school and CrossFit. Saturday I went to the city with Nilda & Jenn. We did yoga in the park then headed to Mercer Cafe. It was my FIRST time doing breakfast in Philly, and the food was AMAZING! I needed it. Jenn also talked us into going to work out with Donnie (her fiance) at his place - 19125 Fitness! It was a BRUTAL workout - love getting my ass kicked!
After we died, I went home showered and let the girls out. I headed back over and we headed to Three Monkeys Cafe. First - they have a FABULOUS drink called "Grape Soda" and it was amazing!
It was a great end to a fabulous night with my girls! Lots of talking, laughs and spending time with my loves! Much needed time. Also got to hang out with my Rachel that night. I needed the day with just girl friends. No major thinking. No stress. Good friends. Good time. And a really good drink haha Food wise - my staying on track is going great! I've been cooking up some mean dishes lately! I've been trying a lot of new things - like the top rack in the picture. Breakfast sausage, onions, garlic, cauliflower rice and tomato sauce. Holy came out awesome! I was kinda of stoked! And yes, the bottom of it is Paleo Chocolate Cookies -- I've like perfected my recipie finally. I'm pumped! I need to share them with y'all one day.
Hey y'all! Can you believe it's October already? I swear life seems to be FLYING by lately! Let's chat what's going on in life and some goals I need you to help hold me accountable for!
Life! Life is FABULOUS right now! Have I told you that lately? I am seriously the happiest I have been in a very LONG time. I have made a lot of personal changes since end of May/early June and I am reminded more and more every day how I definitely took the right path for me. School is fabulous - even with all the changes. It's more work and planning, but I am really loving it. I have great munchkins, as I always do. I'm a little homesick right now. It always comes and goes in phases. This is the first September and October that I'm not making a trip home. We are doing the Princess's birthday in November this year, so I will be home twice then!
CrossFit. Yo, CrossFit is kicking ass right now. Pardon the language but seriously...if you don't follow me on twitter or instagram you may not know that I hit a HUGE personal PR...
100# Snatch...did it! Triple Digit baby!! I also hit a new OHS PR....95# for 3 reps.....
Then added 10# and hit 110# baby!!! I still can't believe it!
It's been awesome month of CrossFit stuff for me, but I want to do more and I need help. Here is what I know -- sometimes I get overwhelmed. I don't know how to figure it all out. I need mobility help and mobility WOD is one of my goal for October. I want to learn more about it and figure it out and how to better use it. I also want to incorporate 2-3 Gymnasty WODs in a week. Plus I want to really clean up my nutrition - strict Paleo Sunday - Friday night. Gives me Friday nights and Saturdays to relax some. So, there is the three main goals:
1. Adding Mobility work into the week - 4-5xWeek for at least 45mins/1hour.
2. Adding 2-3 Gymnasty WODs a week - Tuesday and Thursday nights with Nilda and maybe another day!
3. Food - No going out or alcohol during the week -- strict Primal instead of Paleo as I want some cheese and greek yogurt sometimes.
Last but not least, I'm getting back to running!! I'm starting this week - a track night/speed session with my girl Kelly from the box, plus Aspire Run club on Sunday mornings and one decent run a week! What's your goals for October? I promised some people to talk more about my running/CrossFit schedule...it's coming :)
Last - as you all know I am an ambassador for Delta Labs and I have 5 samples from Delta Labs - the Hair, Skin & Nails -- who wants to try it? I've been taking it for about two weeks and I love it! Leave me a comment below and tell me what are your goals for October! I'll pick 5 random winners :)
Also - Delta Labs is donating 10% of ALL proceeds this month to #BreastCancer -- check out the information in this video from Bex!
Hello loves! Finally getting around to updating all of y'all on my awesome Disney racecation. You can find Part 1 here. After an awesome night out with my God-sisters, Friday morning was an early start. We definetly had a head start since I was still on East Coast time. Mama and I headed down to Chula Vista to pick up God-Mom then got on our way to Disneyland! They dropped me off at the expo...which if you haven't heard by now, it was a not so hot experience. I'm not going to complain or whine on here...stuff needs to be changed by next year's event, and I know RunDisney is doing their best to get it done.
God-Mom & Mama
After the expo GodMom, Mama and I went over to the parks. We went to Disneyland. It was SUPER hot. We did some of the smaller rides. The ladies also got themselves those fans...you know that spray you too! Haha they were funny! We rode the train around and did a couple rides. I made sure to go see the Iron Man exhibit. Incase you don't know - IRON MAN GEEK! Seriously - total geek out moment there. I left early and headed back to rest. Mama and God-Mom stayed and did some other stuff.
Me, Shireen and Jamie
Saturday morning I woke up and got ready for race time! Ro wasn't going to make the 10K because she did not get her packet in time. I got ready in my sweet new Sparkle Athletic skirt and Raw Threads shirt. Obviously I was nervous about my ankle. I did not have a goal time or some PR I wanted. Goal was to finish out the weekend with a healthy ankle and races done. Thank GOD for Shireen and Jamie. I meet up with them around mile 2 and they saved me. I totally held them up, but they were sweet enough to stay with me. By the end of the race, I had two new race friends (both from California, so totally have to get out there for a race haha). We had lots of fun talking and getting to know each other. I really enjoyed their company and help. For not running more then two miles since before I broke my ankle and it having been six months, I was pumped. Now for the coolest part of my whole trip. I have been running for about five years now - everything from 5Ks to Full Marathons - and I've never had family at a race to cheer me on. I had actually just finished telling my new friends about how my Mama was there to support me. As we came into the last half mile or so, we came around the corner and Mama was THERE! It honestly MADE MY WHOLE RACE!! I've had friends at races before, which is always awesome, but to actually have Mama there was awesome. We finished the race and I headed back to the hotel. I grabbed a shower and then had some brunch with Mama & God-Mom at the hotel. They went to the park and I watched the Buckeyes play and then a nap.
Once I woke up - I headed over to the park and hung out with the ladies. It was super hot again. We just did some shows and a ride or two. Nothing major. (My recaps aren't uber fun huh? haha) It was a fun day, but I was scared to be on my ankle too much. I really want to go back and have more time at the parks. After hanging out for a while, we headed back to the hotel. One of my ex-boyfriends and favorite people in the WHOLE world lives out there so we decided to go to dinner. It was honestly amazing to see him, and that could be an understatment. It was like time hadn't passed at all.
Me & Tony
Didn't skip a beat. Always interesting to be reminded of such an amazing time in your life! Him and I had such an amazing relationship. We ended up spliting due to distance, but I'm happy we can still catch up and be such good friends. You never know what will happen ;)
It was a good dinner and relaxed night to have before the half marathon. I made plans to meet up with Ro and Shireen for the half marathon. Next up...the amazing half marathon :)
Hello Loves! Long time, no post. Sorry for the delay. Summer went SO fast and I felt like I never posted (too much actually living life and going non-stop) and now school is back in session. I am LOVING being back at school. I know I love what I do, but it's great when the very first day you are reminded of it :)
Let's talk California and my favorite stuff - running, WODing and DISNEY!!!
I started my trip on Thursday the 29th. I flew from Philly to San Diego and Mama Dukes flew in from Nashville. When we got in we headed down to Chula Vista and picked up my God Mom. We grabbed lunch and caught up. I then headed to CrossFit Invictus. Holy amazing WOD. We started with a fun game of musical medballs - like musical chairs - it was really fun. I got to hop into their OLY section of the class - some drop snatches which I had not done before. Got some great tips and loved every minute. Then we had a partner WOD - my partner was fabulous - 7 rounds - 7 push press and 7 T2B. Remember I just really got my T2B so was scared I wouldn't be able to get them. I got most of them and were close on the others. Then we had to go around the block holding a 25# plate above our head. BRUTAL. Totally needed it! Got Nick, Nilda and I a shirt.
Mama and I stayed at the Marriott Marquis in downtown San Diego. It was an amazing hotel with fabulous view. I definitely grab a quick shot from our room. I LOVE San Diego - I forget how beautiful it is there. I definitely want to go back for a vacay to San Diego and crash here again. The pool look fabulous - and there was a CrossFit L1 seminar that started the day I left....fail for missing that! Anyways, I grabbed a quick shower....and my God Sisters Jennifer and Anna came to get me.... We started at The Blind Burro. We got a craft of Sangria and I filled them in on life. I haven't seen them since Anna and Nick got married. It was great to catch up and just be around people who aren't necessarily family, but might as well be family. Jenn use to babysit me when we lived out there and I was little. Mom always says I reminded her of Jenn. After hanging with her, we totally are so much alike...I love it! We had some good food - seriously, it was really good!!
After Blind Burro Anna took us to Altitude. It had amazing views of the city and of Petco Park. We just chatted and hung out. I had an amazing time and it was JUST what I needed. Part two is coming up tomorrow...lots of running and adventures with Mama and God-mom :)
Hello loves! Happy Sunday! How are y'all doing? I am back in the Dirty Jerz. Got back on Tuesday night. Decided to come back Tuesday instead of Wednesday so that I had a day to get situated and settled before I started back to school stuff. I tell you what thought I miss those kiddos major. I think Scarlet misses Tank's bean bag chair haha.
I did get to have a good last night out with my SIL. We went to Smokey Mountain Brewery which is local back home in East Tennessee. She had never been so we did the testers and both had a pint after. They make all their own micros so everything is different. It's pretty good.
Ok so some people asked me about how I always drop into CrossFit boxes whereever I am. I thought I'd just post what I have found. The biggest thing you need to do is look into what boxes are around the area you are traveling to. I know whenever I go home to Tennessee, I ALWAYS drop into CrossFit Knoxville. There are other options, but those guys are the best in my opinion. When I go to other place - Philly, Maryland, Cali, Florida, etc. - I like to try different boxes. I google the area and CrossFit. I try and pick from there. I typically reach out via email to the owners and ask about their policy. Most boxes are totally cool with people from other boxes dropping in. Some will charge you a fee per visit, some will give you a deal if you're there more frequently or some will just ask you to bring a shirt from you home box. It's super easy and if you're wanting to get your WOD on while you're traveling, you can totally do it. I promise it is fun! Meet new people, get a different style WOD then you're use too and learn something new. I always do when I drop in places!
Fitness Recap Monday: CrossFit at CrossFit Knoxville - Deadlifts - then metcon of power cleans and KB swings Tuesday: Rest Day - Drove 13 hours home to Jerz Wednesday: CrossFit - Back Squat 2x10 @ 145, touch-and-go Power Snatch 2x3 at 65 then went into OLY class (now Aspire Lifting Club) and I PR'ed everything this week - Power Snatched 1x2 @ 90, Power Clean & Jerk 1x1 @ 120, OHS 1x3 @ 95! It was a great day! Thursday: Ran - I forgot to start GPS so think about 1.5-2 miles Friday: Rest Day Saturday: CrossFit - my first Saturday back since ankle to competition class - started with Clean & Jerk getting heavy - hit 115 - then do 80% of that as many as possible in 2 mins. Then metcon - 3 rounds 400m run + 12 deadlifts (145) + 21 box jumps (first two rounds did 12 step-ups/9 jumps, last round all jumps). Then a partner WOD - I partnered with Jamie - while one person is doing lunges with a 70# axel bar in front rack position the other is AMRAP 10 pistols/10 ring dips. Each partner did 3 rounds of lunges. It was an ASStastic day! Sunday: Run Club - 1 mile + 10...9...8..7..1 burpees/sit-ups + 1 mile. Felt good. Then Alycia taught me how to flip a tire....
First the baby tire....
Then the medium tire (we have a bigger one but I can't do it yet haha)...
Overall it has been a great week back! I love Jersey. I miss my family, but honestly love this place more and more every day. Def think the new apartment and my amazing CrossFit family helps with that!
Hello loves! How y'all doing? Fabulous here! Still home in Tennessee and loving it. Seriously, I love coming home. I know I don't want to live here right now, maybe one day; however, I LOVE coming to visit! That little Princess right there and that handsome Tank make life so awesome! I am blessed to be able to come home and share moments like Tank's 9th birthday with him and the family.
Plus its always nice to catch up with old friends. For instance - on the right is my KellieShea. Her and I talk pretty frequently while I'm in Jersey, not every day but enough. I go to her for everything! On the left is my Travis - I don't talk to him at all when I'm gone, but when we catch up, it's like nothing even skips a beat. I love it. It seems no matter where I have been in my life, I am also extremely blessed to have such amazing friends around me!
Tank's birthday was awesome. He seemed to really enjoy himself. He's huge into WWE, so that was the theme. It was just family. He's doing the movies with friends another weekend. We played place the patch on Cena's wrist - Tank said it was his Uncle and my future hubby - YES, PLEASE ;) I wish I could date Cena or The Rock haha! Broski, Tank and I went to Splash Country Saturday just us three - it was awesome!
Last night I went out with some HS friends and DJ Nyce One. Christa is on the right in the green - her and I have been friends for about 15 years. We have had some ups and downs and I wouldn't trade it! She is currently expecting a sweet little baby and I can't wait! In the yellow is my BiaBia - her and I have had MANY adventures and I love we still keep up. We are going on about 7 years.
Courtney is in the dress on the left - she is actually Christa's little sister - and my pseudo little sister haha. I love her! On the right is my Nyce One. He's the best! I actually (FINALLY) saw Iron Man 3 today with him. Holy AMAZING!!!
Today consisted of playing with my babies this morning - Princess is falling more in love with my girls! Today she actually sat with LD and pet her and Scarlet. It was super cute! I also went by Fleet Feet Sports Knoxville and got fit for some new shoes. My ankle is doing great and I am ready to get back to it. I got to see my Whooty and it was fabulous. We both got new shoes and to catch up!
Workout wise I've been semi slacking with the week. I did my first ever WOD with rope climbs this week at CrossFit Knoxville. It was awesome. I couldn't believe I did it. Have a huge bruise on my leg, but it makes me feel pretty bad ass!
Fitness Recap Sunday - WODed with Jenn in Philly Monday - CrossFit - Got my 95# Snatch I told y'all about - plus some hang clean & jerk work Tuesday - CrossFit - squatted and just focused on form.
Wednesday - Drove all day Thursday - rest Friday - CrossFit - dropped into CrossFit Knoxville and did the rope WOD
Saturday - active rest - played and walked all over Splash Country with the boys
Sunday - RUN in my new shoes :)
Looking forward to tonight and my last day here tomorrow. Back to semi normal training schedule and school this next week, then off to CALIFORNIA for the DumboDoubleDare next week!! I'm super stoked because Mama is coming too. She has NEVER been to any of my races or CrossFit things so this is a big to me. Too bad I'm not really running - more just trying to survive. haha
Hello LOVES! How y'all doing today? I am in TENNESSEE....don't be jealous...actually be very jealous. I have to tell you, I have been in a funk lately. Not my normal outgoing self. I've been very judgmental towards people I wouldn't normal be judgmental too. I've been a bit of a bitch too. Clearly need to work on that. I'm homesick. The spring/summer is the hardest for me. Throughout the fall/winter I get to see my family a TON- Tank and Princess's birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas! Spring/summer I don't really get to get down. I sat down with a really good friend lately and talked about life....and I think he had a point...I'm starting to get nervous about Jerz. Jersey is now becoming the 2nd longest place I've ever lived besides Tennessee. I never thought that I'd be in Jersey more then a year or two. Here I am going into my fourth year. It will tie Ohio this year. I never thought anywhere would tie Ohio or Tennessee. My love for those two places is monumental; however, Jersey is very much so close to my heart.
I think the biggest change to how I feel towards Jersey is my box, CrossFit Aspire. I know, people get sick of hearing CrossFitters talk about how much they love the box, our WODs (workout of the day) and apparently we have all drank Kool-Aid, but seriously, screw that. I LOVE my box. These people have started as complete strangers, and yes, I only know them from the box; however, these people have become some of my best friends. These girls love me regardless of my shenanigans. They know who they are! I'm not sure I can ever thank them for everything they have done for me! There are lots of people at my gym I am friends with, but obviously with how life works, I seem to get closer with certain people. I had an impromptu ladies night this past Monday and I needed it. I don't think those girls knew how much I needed it - HUGE thanks to AC, Rachel, Nilda, Allie, and Teralyn. Love you ladies! AC - I'm glad we started that plan during out workout! ;)
Had some AWESOME WODs Monday and Tuesday - Monday - I PRed my snatch - FINALLY hit 95# and think I could have gone up, but I didn't.
Tuesday night I went to the Legends of the Summer Tour. HOLY SHIT - please excuse the language - but HOLY SHIT. Let's discuss that if you know me, you know my obsession with Jay Z is HIGH! I love him. He was PHENOMINAL!!! Of course I knew everything he did - and totally made friends with the guy next to me over it haha!
JT - yea, I get all the hype over him by the girls now. He's HOT. I went with my cousin Ashley, T and GF. We had an awesome time. Seriously - it was the perfect end to my Jerz summer break. I need more nights like that!
I definitely paid for it yesterday when attempting to drive the 12.5-13 hours home. I was exhausted, but I would do it again tomorrow.
On my way home I stopped in Maryland to see the Boo thing and her girls! Her hubs was at work, so didn't get to see my Danni, but It was a much need little pick me up on the drive. Gummy & Ellie are getting SO big, and I honestly feel like it's been forever since I had seen them. Boo needs to get to Jersey for another girls weekend. She came to see me for my birthday and we need another weekend! The drive - seemed to take forever- was a really nice mental break.
I forgot how much I love that drive. It's long, but I get a lot done mentally on that trip. Windows down the WHOLE way. I miss that. I miss the mountains and the green. Had the girls too! Scarlet loves the car - and she loves rest right next to me. haha
The Princess and Tank were still up when I got here so that was awesome. I was scared I wouldn't get to see them. I don't get enough time with them so I try and suck in whatever time I get.
Everyone is at work and school today - I'm spending my day with KellieShea - going to Fleet Feet Knoxville to get fit for new shoes. Want to make sure I'm coming back in the right shoes from the broken ankle. Plus the Dumbo Double Dare is getting UBER close and I am so not ready. At least I'll have the right shoes for the race. Then we will putz around - I miss my Knoxville friends - excited for this week!
Hello Loves! How are y'all?!? Life is great right now. Busy and I know I've been MIA. Let's catch you up on things! Socially - Two of my favorite ladies birthdays - AC and Rachel! We got together at PJs last week for the birthdays and Game of Thrones. We had an amazing time. Friday I went to happy hour with two of my girls from work at On The Border. BEST happy hour deals - seriously, the best ever.
Last week was rough for me. Not really sure why. I'm stressed, overwhelemd, had a rough week at school and CrossFit. Saturday I went to the city with Nilda & Jenn. We did yoga in the park then headed to Mercer Cafe. It was my FIRST time doing breakfast in Philly, and the food was AMAZING! I needed it. Jenn also talked us into going to work out with Donnie (her fiance) at his place - 19125 Fitness! It was a BRUTAL workout - love getting my ass kicked!
After we died, I went home showered and let the girls out. I headed back over and we headed to Three Monkeys Cafe. First - they have a FABULOUS drink called "Grape Soda" and it was amazing!
It was a great end to a fabulous night with my girls! Lots of talking, laughs and spending time with my loves! Much needed time. Also got to hang out with my Rachel that night. I needed the day with just girl friends. No major thinking. No stress. Good friends. Good time. And a really good drink haha
