Life Is Too Short

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Man, life is short. Way too short for some. Last night I heard the devastating news a former coed soccer teammate and friend passed away due to complications from a brain aneurysm over the weekend. Saturday to Wednesday and he was gone. So many prayers went up for a miracle, but his brain and body just said no more.

He was a great teammate, one of the hardest working on the field. Always had an encouraging word after a muffed play, always gave 100% and took the time to say hi to anyone he knew. Whether there were issues on the field or not, he always had a friendly "hey" for someone. 

Since our move I hadn't really spoken with him. But this still hurts. He was so great. So kind. So YOUNG. It breaks my heart he won't get to live a full life. Won't find the love of his life. Won't get to be an uncle to his best friend's kid. Won't get to see his brother get older. Won't get married. Won't have kids of his own. Man, what a knife to the heart. 

Death has a way of shaking out the cobwebs. Of helping us realize how temporary this time is for everyone. It helps us set priorities. So do that today. Let go of anything weighing you down. Love fiercely. Be kind. Help those you can. Text or call just to say hello. Reach out to that person you lost touch with if you want to reconnect. Be grateful for what you have. Don't worry about what you don't. Take a chance. Take a risk. Make the play. We only get once CHANCE. LOVE!

Quick Drop In Note

HI! I'm here. I'm alive. I'm still recovering from an incredible week with family in warm wonderful Arizona. We found out the gender of Baby Bean {!!!!}, hiked part of the Grand Canyon, ate a ton of food, hung out watching movies, sipped some delicious drinks and just was FAMILY.

I'll recap the trip tomorrow, but heads up, it will not be a HOW TO of anything. We honestly flew by the seat of our pants for most of the trip, with a few planned things here and there. Any questions you have I'll do my best to answer, though.

I had hope to get this post out yesterday, however, no dice. Sunday we had less time to get things done than expected. And Monday was quite the get back into the groove whirlwind. I'm talking lots to catch up at work, healthy eating prep, teaching BODYATTACK [woof], finishing up Christmas cards to take advantage of CYBER MONDAY and getting Christmas up and around the house.

Things should be a bit slower today at work so I'm looking forward to some blog hopping. I can't wait to hear all about everyone's Turkey Day and weekend. Have a fabulous TUESDAY!

Weekly Wins: The One Before VACAY

Wee, deee, deeeee!!!! Happy, happy, happy FLIPPING FRIDAY, DOLLS! Yes, we made. Yes, the glorious F word {ha} is here. I am pretty freaking stoked for 11/17! It's been a doozy over here [instagram story has it all] and yesterday's stress is making today blessed. Late night packing and submitting a video, but now HERE WE ARE!!!!

|| The BIG Weekly WIN ||

FAMILY! FAMILY! FAMILY! FAMILY! FAMLY!

YES! One glorious week together with my family. We also get to find out the gender of Sportyspice's baby, how exciting. And wonderful. And fabulous. I am oh so excited. 

And a bit nervous. Cause a sub win of the big win...T-BONE is coming with us. YAAAAAAAAAY! And whoaaaaa. Walking my 92 year old IDGAF grandfather through the airport is gonna be an experience. Fingers crossed for travel mercies, pretty please. I'm sure it will be fine, but ya never know around the holidays.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful weekend and BLESSED Thanksgiving. 

Fifteen Days Hath November

Looking at the date on the calendar like.....

Say whaaaatttt?!?!

Yup, here we are eight days from Thanksgiving [!!!] and days way from the family reunion. I'm as giddy as a kid on Christmas [aren't we all] and busy as a bee before harvest. Y'all it's been cray cray.

Hence no post yesterday. I had high hopes of joining in the book recap, but alas, I couldn't get my booty in gear and it just went by the wayside. Normally I'd throw it together at work, but yeah, I wasn't at my computer all day. There was a training [of a different sort, sorry to be vauge] and I'm a tad sore. Good but long day. 

What does the middle of the month look like for me?

+ Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. 

+ Purging, purging, purging.

+ Organizing, organizing, organizing. 

+ Prepping pretty invitations for a baby shower.

+ Bootcamp training [!]

+ Subbing extra BODYPUMP classes. 

+ Taping my AIM2 submission because the deadline for ELITE changed. 

+ Pulling out the Christmas decor. 

+ Trying to pack for highs of 80 degrees and lows of 40. #wak

+ Finding clarity in my instagram and fitness blog account.

Yeah, so there you have it. A whirlwind look at life. Check back tomorrow for the post I promised on Monday. I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions. Have a fabulous day!

Weekending: The One With A Wedding

Oh hey there. I'm back after an unexpected break {more on that Wednesday}. Enjoying my Monday after a fantastic weekend away for a family wedding. Double bonus, I took FRIDAY OFF! It was so lovely not being at work AND being with my husband. He's been traveling none stop and right now weekend trips are our only chance to see each other.

This weekend I:

... flew up to Columbus Thursday night to meet Le Husband.

... slept in Friday morning then headed further east to Glouster for the wedding.

... checked into the adorable lodge {that I failed to take a picture of, doh}.

... met up with family for dinner and drinks after the rehearsal.

... helped set up for the reception, so fun.

... woke up Saturday, hit the gym and watched football before the wedding.

... bundled up to combat the bitter cold in Ohio.

... watched a wonderful couple say their vows and be blessed by God.

... convinced Le Husband to participate in a photoshoot, whoop!

... drank, danced and ATE the night away in celebration.

... recovered with a lazy morning then headed to the airport.

... enjoyed a free upgrade and free movies while flying the friendly skies.

... came home, unpacked, did laundry, prepped food, cleaned the house.

Now I have a slow cooker soup cooking and I'm ready to take on this week. How was your weekend?

Weekend Recap: Unexpected & Enjoyable

Morning, ladies. Coming at you a bit tired as I landed at midnight Sunday. Can I get an AMEN for falling back? AMMMMMEEEEN! This weekend Le Husband and I were in Austin, Texas for the kickball championship. Cheers to friends, warm weather and fun together.

It was the whirl wind of a trip, which means a whirl wind recap.

Unexpected events of the weekend:

+ Last week ended pretty awfully, as I found out a close friend of the family had passed away. It was a shock and she was such a sweet lady to our family. Every year we would see her when we visited the lake and she was the salt of the earth, fierce lover of a good time and just a wonderful, wonderful human. I was able to get time off for the funeral Friday morning and man was it tough. Grateful I was able to celebrate her life, just not how I expected to get my weekend started.

+ Cloudy and cool temperatures in Austin for kickball day. I LOVED the warmth, seriously, I miss my 80 degree days, but was super thankful for the unexpected cloud cover. Kept me from getting fried.

+ Good play by me during my two games. Practice has been limited recently and I didn't expect to do much, just hold my own. I had two really great at bats and a few stellar catches.

+ Losing in the first round of eliminations. Dagger, sadness. OUCH!

+ Realizing how much I miss this group of people. Yes, I know people think we are crazy trailing around to play a kids game, but the relationships built truly last. I hadn't seen MANY friends in over a year and it was incredibly fun catching up with everyone. We root for each other on the field and in life and I almost teared up thinking this could be the end.

+ Not making it to the bar Saturday night and passing out at 10:00pm. Cheers to sleep.

+ DST making my sleep gllllllooorrrriiious for Sunday morning.

+ A crew time out which changed my connecting flight email that caused me to completely change my flights and leave earlier than planned. Grateful I worked quickly because many people got stuck on the delayed flight which had us landing in TYS at 2:30am, ouch.

Enjoyable moments of the weekend:

+ Having a teammate wait for me at the airport so I didn't have to ride to the house alone.

+ Seeing Le Husband after a week apart.

+ Morning walk for coffee with the housemates. Awesome time catching up.

+ Two great catches.

+ Delicious food at the field to eat while we watched the other teams play for the championship.

+ Amazing dinner at the JW Marriott.

+ Good execution during the women's tournament.

+ A friend lending us his car to get me to the airport for my earlier flight.

+ Using the Admiral club during a long layover in Charlotte.

+ Free WINE!

Soooooo, now I'm here at work and hanging in there. Doing my best to turn the dreary into cheery. There might have been some Christmas music playing this morning to bring out my smile. Wishing you a wonderfully fabulous week!

Weekly Wins: The November Swing

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Chello, November, how you doing? I mean has this year flown by or what? I'll be honest, even though I'm not ready for Christmas [shopping wise] I am so stinking excited the holiday season is finally here. Cheers to a new month, with new goals and family time on the horizon.

Let's check out some weekly wins, shall we?

|| I pushed myself and made it IFing 15 hours four days this week and 16 one day, woohoo! My body usually prefers the 14/10 fast {has been shown to be better time frame for women, especially during that wonderful monthly visit}, but I just wanted to see if I could make 16 once. I did, WOOHOO!

|| Christmas music is here to stay, fa la la la la, it's the holiday season. Oh and yeah, did you all see the news about the NEW 98 DEGREES Christmas album?  And they will also be performing at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!!!! Their first CD is one of my all time faves, be still my teenage heart.

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|| Babyspice and I are planning Sportyspice's December bridal shower and she has created the cutest invitations. I am so in love with our theme and can't wait to share more with y'all in the coming weeks.

|| My audition for BOOTCAMP is over, woohoo!

|| Gallery wall is up, Le Husband hung it on Monday. Oh, and yes, here's the actual picture!

|| I did not catch the baby cold from our nephews, wooooooooop!

|| Temperatures in the second part of this week were extremely mild and I LOVED them. #teamnocoat

|| I went out to dinner three nights this week with three different friends. We are all connected by fitness, and I have such a great relationship with each lady which makes my heart so happy. PLUS, no cooking or mess in the kitchen.

|| In three weeks I will be heading Arizona, so so so so so cannot wait.

|| After an incredibly busy week I am all packed [PTL] and heading to meet my better half for our last kickball tournament of the year. I'm hopeful for a big win and super excited for warmer temperatures and meeting up with friends.

Last Championship weekend throwback.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, friends. Lots of love from me to you!

What's New With You {November}

Started this drafter earlier in the day on Wedsneday and then the WIFI went out at work so poof, it gone. Now I'm coming to you with a sheet mask on my face before I read and go to bed. Sometimes you just have to late night blog post, right?

What's new with me you ask?

House update: The downstairs bathroom is finished and our gallery wall is 99% complete. We just need to print out the small pictures and then boom, dunzo. I'll have pretty pictures for you soon, but for now, here's the wall. 

Fitness update: Tonight I'm auditing to be a BOOTCAMP coach and I'm nervous but excited. But nervous. It is a big opportunity and for more money per class which would be awesome. I also officially start my Personal Training next week with our Fitness Manager....yup, it's getting real.

Family update: I see them in 16 days and I CAN.NOT.WAIT!

Le Husband update: He's rocking his job and traveling a lot, so I miss him. But, it makes the weekends and weeks he doesn't travel more fun. We make sure to go on a date night once a week now since he's sometimes gone for fourteen days at a time. He's doing a new workout program right now and dude is gonna get jacked. I need to step up my game.

Workout update: Besides teaching I haven't been to the gym at all and I can feel it in my classes. With PT starting I don't know what my schedule will be yet so I haven't gotten back into the lifting groove. I really need to add some yoga into the mix too. I'm feeling kind of off honestly. 

Alright, that's all I've got right now. Boring, I know, but it's a blog post. And I love this link up. 

What's new with you?

C U R R E N T L Y {NOVEMBER}

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realizing: we are now in the holiday season and man it feels good.

stirring: hot cocoa or tea with honey

appreciating: friends who help me get better and family time.

investigating: new meals which are healthy, easy and tasty.

following: lots of fitness/les mills peeps.

hoping: all of the people who have dealt with natural disasters recently are still receiving the help they need. my heart breaks thinking about people still suffering and spending the holidays without. 

anticipating: all the travel this month. our next 30 days are going to be crazy but I'm so excited for all the places we are going and all the fun things planned. cheers to travel.

loving: our home. knowing we have our OWN place for the holidays this year makes me so happy.

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