Happy Birthday, Husband!

Sure, we're 3+ years past our wedding, but I don't care. I'm still going to post a picture from the best day ever. We've has many adventures this year, some incredible and some terrible, yet through it all we were together. You are the BCAAs to my protein powder, the butter to my sautéed mushrooms, the red wine reduction to my medium rare steak, the fluffy blanket to my couch, the complimentary color to my pink and my best friend. Wishing you an amazing year and so thankful I get to do life with you. Love you to the moon, back and straight to the stars. xoxoxoxoxoxo

Fitness Friday the Thirteenth

Y'all, two posts back to back, stop the world! Hah! I really think I'll be able to get back into the blogging groove now that things in my life are more settled. Probably not five days a week, but at least three, fingers crossed.

Why am I so busy you ask? Oh you know, I work at a gym and my life is alllll about that fitness, everyday, errryday. Most of the time my stress is brought on by something I'm not that into, but the past two weeks and especially the past few days my stress has been high but my smile has been big. This weekend is FITTEST at Gold's and also the GLOBAL LAUNCH OF #BODYPUMP100!

THIS.IS.HUGE! Something so massive and so fantastical, I'm just grateful to be a part of it. Normally launch week is a busy time of year, but this year it's even busier since we are launching multiple programs over the weekend. I have three different formats I've had to learn and with my new job haven't been able to spend as much time as I normally do learning the chorey. But, I was a great late night studier so I'm confident my brain power will work, I just hope my body does. Check out my weekend, and then add two more classes Monday and Tuesday! #thatinstructorlife

Check out some of the fun I've been learning!

You'd think after this week I'd be all 'ahhhh I can't wait to relax', yeah, no! Once this week is over it's time to perfect my BODYPUMP100 technique because I have another training schedule for February that will take my coaching even further. I'm excited but super nervous because this could make or a break a big dream/goal of mine for the year. 

Speaking of goals, did I mention I was also trying to become a personal trainer in the next five months? Oh yeah, I am. This is a relatively new goal of mine and something I never thought I'd EVER attempt. But, being here in Tennessee and really sinking into the fitness world has made me realize what an ASSET a national certification would be for my career. I hope I can make myself proud and really absorb all of the knowledge to becomes one kick@$$ trainer. The sky is the limit once I pass my test and I'm looking forward to where my fitness path might lead.

Soooooo, yeah, how are you spending your weekend :)!?

No Place Like Home

Yes, friends, YES! 

After months of feeling lost, days of feeling depressed, weeks of wondering if this was the stupidest decision ever, finally, finally have A H O M E! You may have seen the good news over Instagram on Saturday [ find me here ] and I've just now found the time to update this space with the news. 

Le Husband and I closed on a townhouse last Friday and moved everything in over the weekend [talk about that adventure another day]. Right now the place is filled with boxes, both taped and opened, and our kitchen looks like a bomb exploded, but that's okay. It is OUR KITCHEN in OUR HOME. There is a lot of work to be done and we are slowly making lists, unpacking, organizing and brainstorming ideas to make it even more us. 

Thank you all for the support and prayers the past seven months. This move was much harder than anticipated on me, on Le Husband on our marriage and just in general. Now it all makes sense and now it is all worth the pain, tears, stress, frustration and failures. We are where we need to be and it's time to build our life in Knoxville. 

I can't wait to show you more pictures once everything gets more situated and get ready for a a bunch of DIYs because this place needs some work. Two words, popcorn ceiling [i know]. Now that we have Internet I'm hopefully going to get back into the swing of blogging and will be visiting y'all soon. Before I go, I have to share a picture of our second meal in the new place. The first night I created homemade bagel bites which were delicious but not something to brag about. Saturday night [after a ridiculous day, again, more to come] Le Husband decided he wanted homemade chicken and waffles so that's what we made. They, along with champagne and a Disney movie on my laptop, created the most perfect dinner experience and will be a memory I hold on to for a very long time. 

Thank you again for being here during our journey and for championing us when we lost faith. Y'all mean so much to me and I'm so grateful for each comment, prayer, happy vibe and well wish. I hope y'all have a wonderful rest of the week!

A New Year... A New Challenge...A New Life

Hello 2017...a few days late. Story of my life since November, huh? This poor lil space has been so neglected due to life, frustrations, happenings, depression, job stresses and just a plain old disheartened spirit.

December 2016 was quite different than December 2015 and I started a post looking back on where I was last holiday season. I was blogging about gift guides, cohosting a holiday linkup, talking about parties, food and traditions, scouring the Internets for the best buys and sharing in the joy of the hustle and bustle on other blogs.

Last month...I posted a total of five times. F I V E! During the busiest and most festive time of the year. I'd blame it all on work, however that would be a lie. It wasn't 100% work, maybe 85% which is still high when you think about it right? Quite often I was too tired to even think about the computer, or I was teaching or I was hanging out with family for dinner or just sitting trying to find my center.

The few times I opened up this space I'd write a sentence or two and then get stuck. Because that's what I've felt the past two months, stuck.

Stuck in a job I don't really care for but I know is a good experience.

Stuck in someone else's home.

Stuck feeling nervous, anxious, worried, fearful and stressed.

Stuck thinking about a possible medical issue which keeps popping up.

Stuck with thoughts of doubts, sadness and nostalgia in my head.

Stuck comparing where I was last year and where everyone else seems to be while I'm in this place.

Stuck. Stuck. Stuck.

Being stuck SUCKS.

As you can imagine, posts like this were not what I wanted when everyone was posting happy, happy, joy, joy, party, party life is grand. Not only did I feel whiny, I felt annoyed I was the only one feeling this way. The only one 'going through something' which I know is not true at all. Everyone has something they are dealing with and right now this feeling of stuck is my burden.

I'd like to say I've got this new mantra for the New Year and I've changed my mindset. That would only be 75% true. I am adapting a 'IT WILL ALL WORK OUT' thought process when I can, because it all has worked out so far. I was able to go home for Thanksgiving. I was able to go home to surprise my family. I was able to take off for Christmas and I was able to have a quiet New Years. Missing out on those were my big fears when I applied for this job, and lookie there, Pinky, it all worked out.

2017 has started with  a bang, both good and bad. Good I'll share next week, stay tuned it's big. The bad, yeah kind of tough. Someone quite without notice, which took away weekend help, I'm losing a kids care person and an overnight person at the end of the month, which I just learned about this week. Yeah, lots to work around and multiple puzzles to solve so NOT BORING.

My challenge is to keep the positive in focus, to trust in Him, to not cry overtime something goes wrong and to embrace this trying season of life. Because soon, it will pay off. SOON it will all make sense, I just have to hold on, with that hope for the new life down the road.