Gettin Swol'

So last night was my second Crossfit class! Last Monday after class I felt like I had been hit by a bus and was wobbling around all week. Last night either wasn't so bad or I've gotten stronger! Although, I will admit, this isn't the most intense Crossfit training... its more like Crossfit for wusses. But I'm a wuss.

After the gym I walked into the house to find that the Bo dog had eaten a homemade beeswax candle I had JUST received as a gift. Needless to say I was pissed and we didn't talk for like 2 whole hours. I forgave him though when he climbed on top of me on the couch to apologize later that night.

Just a girl and her dog

Oh, and tonight I am so excited to start working on Halie's wedding invitations! This girl's got vision and I can't wait to show her my designs!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Vi Shake

2 scoops of vi shake powder

1 cup Almond Breeze unsweetened vanilla

1 teaspoon of sugar free fat free instant Chocolate Fudge Pudding mix

1 tablespoon of peanut butter

1/2 of an activia light yogurt - vanilla

handful of ice

252 calories

Weekend Recap

Happy Monday loverlies! I hope you had a fantasic weekend!

Ours wasn't too eventful. Friday night M.E. took me on a date to Harry's, our favorite. Where I ate like a pig and tried their new sweet corn grits - amazing. Oh and I got their chocolate bread pudding - to die for.

Saturday I woke up and went to the gym, who am I?? Then I ran over to the townhouse to meet the new renter and get the lease signed. Then, let me just tell you this story real quick...

Baby brother Nick call up Daddy on Friday saying the truck was acting up, by the time Daddy got to the gas station there was this shirtless fellow offering to fix it for $100. So naturally they hand him the keys and exchange phone numbers. Well, they don't hear from him and don't hear from him... So Daddy calls on Saturday and the guy says its almost ready (by this point my brothers & Ma are gone and on a cruise) so I drive over to give Daddy a lift to the middle of NOWHERE to this trailer off of a dirt road to where this shirtless nipple-pierced young man and his similarly garbed friends are fixing the truck. Welp, they had fixed it all right and I hightailed it out of there - oogy!

But wait before that adventure, I stopped by Bestie Sarah's house to meet my new little nephew. I present to you: Hank Williams Dean

Isn't he precious?!

Saturday night, M.E. and I ran some errands around town. You know how you really love somebody? You enjoy going on errands with each other. We went to this new pizza place in town for dinner, Maddio's. I have a feeling we'll be back there pretty soon... It's kind of a subway style pizza place, you pick your own toppings as you walk down the line for you individual size pizza.

Yesterday my other Daddy came to town and the three of us went to Up in Smoke for some amazing BBQ sandwiches and to the movies to see Wolverine (it was ok... kinda almost fell asleep). Then I took a nap, grocery shopped, M.E. made us tacos and we watched our Sunday night shows - Falling Skies is gettin' real!

This morning I made my favorite ViSalus shake so far, I call it:

Berry Cheesecake

1/2 Almond Breeze - Unsweetend Vanilla

1/4 cup frozen strawberres/blueberries mix

1 teaspoon instant jello fat free cheesecake flavor

2 scoops of ViSalus shakes

4 ice cubes

Only 141 calories!

I'm doing it!

I’m a horrible blogger, I know. Its funny because I plan everything in my life – but when it comes to planning blog posts I feel like it’s a chore! Today I’m feeling inspired though so today you get a post.

This is it. This is the week that changes the rest of my life. This week I got serious about exercising and losing weight. I’ve got 6 months until I marry the man of my dreams and I plan on being the hottest wife ever – so I am officially officially on the exercise train.

Monday I did my first Crossfit class! Ouch!!! But not quite as bad as I had anticipated.

Tuesday I did my weight training and 40 min of cardio. And I like really pushed myself! Typically I kind of half-heartedly walk on the treadmill – no siree, I raced my way up that fake hill on that elliptical!

Wednesday was my day off but I still ate healthy & low calorie.

Today I have my Abripper class and tomorrow I start my Body by Vi shakes! I even downloaded this awesome app called Water Your Body. It tells me how much water I need today based on my weight and it grades me at the end of the day – and because we all know that I’m an overachiever, I need to get an A.

And to prove JUST how dedicated I am this time, here is a picture of me at my fatest for the entire internet to see!

Check back in 90 days to see what the new me looks like!!

Also, totally unrelated, check out this pie I made last night from the fresh peaches my mother-in-law gave us! And I only had like a tiny tiny sliver... Check out the recipe here!

Back!

Where have I been?? Yeesh I just realized how long it has been since I’ve last posted! What happened? I don't feel like I've been that busy but considering the fact that I can't even remember what I wore yesterday maybe I have been. Let me catch you up right quick:

I’ve been dieting like whoa and I’ve lost 3 lbs since last Tuesday! I’ve exercised maybe a little… but I’m mostly just using the myfitnesspal app and counting calories. So maybe it's not the healthiest way but it seems to be working, so I don't hate it!

We gutted the downstairs bathroom and I tore all the wallpaper down and painted last weekend! This weekend hopefully we will install the new toilet and hang the new mirror. I have lots of things to spray paint for the walls but with this rainy weather headed our way I’m not sure if that is going to happen… I also have been searching high and low for the perfect shower curtain. Found one! Found it on Joss and Main's website, and unfortunately I don't have a picture so you'll have to wait til the mailman delivers it!

May baby brother graduated from high school and turned 18 this past week! I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that he is so old and so tall… I still picture both of my brothers as the little rascals that they were when we were kids. Now they are both so grown up and freaking smart. Taller than me and like freaking geniuses.

The envelopes for our Save the Dates have arrived!! I have almost everyone’s addresses and I will be sending the proofs to the printer this weekend! Can’t wait!

I’ve signed up for my first Cara Box exchange. What’s a Cara Box? Kaitlyn from Wifessionals created this exchange and I am beyond excited. I really think I am more excited to create my box for Shannon than I am to receive one! She is the cutest little pregnant lady ever expecting a baby boy with her adorable husband … The ideas for this month’s theme for The Fair are flowing! Although I won’t lie… I’m curious to see what Trish from I am Succeeding comes up with for my box! I just began reading her blog today and man is she heck of inspiring!!! I just love it! So excited.

And now, here’s an photo dump for your enjoyment.

I'm Back!

Good morning my lovely bloggies! Long time no chat! I apologize for my absence – I’ve had wedding brain like woah. And by wedding brain I mean I am so excited to plan the day that I marry my best friend that I cannot think of anything else! Needless to say, this space will becoming more of a wedding planning journal than my normal everyday experiences! Let me just tell you:

• We have picked a date and a venue and I couldn’t be happier with our choice! Mission San Luis here in town is just gorgeous – inside (where we the ceremony and the reception will be held) and outside (perfect for pictures)
• We have booked the band, they played at Fiance’s brother’s wedding last fall and they were so much fun! They will learn any songs we ask!
• We have decided on a theme/colors – going with the pastels, muted colors… Because I’m just so indecisive, so the more colors the merrier.
• We have picked an officiant and a photographer, I have picked my bridesmaids, we have an idea of what style food we would like.

So you may say we are ahead of the game but I just want to be sure I don’t miss out on anything because I was too slow to book or indecisive! Next up on my focus list: engagement photos, Save the Dates & exercising.

I’m going to start running. There. Now that I’ve said it ‘outloud’ for the entire internet to hear, I’m officially committed. I want to start running/training for some of the local 5ks around town to prepare for the half-marathon in Disney in the fall. I’m thinking not only will it get me in shape for the wedding, but it will also give me something to look forward to before then! Eeeek! Starting this morning tomorrow.

Weekend Recap - it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Happy Monday friends!

Here's a little weekend recap according to my iPhone!

I made my first pie - a S'mores pie!

After digging through my jewelry box, I found my Ma's high school class ring - it's now rocking right next to my Daddy's ring! 1982 & 1970 :)

 

Boyfriend treated me to some Nuberri - and his looked like alien ice cream. We really do have very different sweet tooths.

Our beautiful tree! Thanks to Boyfriend's meticulous arrangement of the ornaments and ducktaping the treetopper so it stays exactly where I want it...

 Not pictured:

• Daddy's Birthday Dinner @ Chili's! Where I thought I was going to die when I ordered of the 'skinny' menu when all I really wanted was a bite of Boyfriend's burger & fries... But surprisingly, my chicken was quite tasty!
• Some Christmas shopping and a stop in the Beauty Supply store for some new nailpolish - pics tomorrow!
• Mexican Christmas with our friends Jude, Steph, & Ross - Feliz Navidad at the local tequila watering hole!
• NEW FURNITURE! Pics to come soon!
• And our Christmas photos! Also coming soon!

Very truly yours, A. Bean



Weekend recap - Feelin good!

Happy Monday! What? Have I lost it? There's no such thing as a 'happy' Monday!

Well, all things considered, today I'm feeling good.

Woke up early, did a little workout routine, made some eggwhites with cheese & and had coffee from our fancy still-new-to-us Kuerig while watching the Today Show from the kitchen table instead of bed!

Now it's almost 1:00 in the afternoon and I'm still feelin energized and I'm not starving! Maybe there really is something to this exercise & eating right thing....

I hope everyone had a fantabulous weekend! In bullet points, mine looked like this:

• Dinner at On the Border with some girlfriends (looked up the menu beforehand so I knew exactly what low-calorie dish to order and pushed the chips basket as far from me as possible!)


• Went to the movies to see Anna Karenina. Quick review: strange, beautiful, romantic, long

• Woke up early Saturday morning to meet Ma & Da at Market Days - an annual Arts & Crafts show at the fairgrounds. Maaaaybe bought my coworkers their Christmas presents ;)




• Completed a Saw it. Pinned it. Did it! Love it.

 

I took a Dollar Store Santa hat, cut the white parts off, used the red part as a pattern for the burlap, hotglued it all together, & found a brooch (from a jewelry dollar store here in town). After the picture I added a gold ribbon behind the brooch. Viola! Santa Chic.

• Went to the Tallahassee Winter Festival & Parade! The office hosted a little pizza party so the family and I camped out in boss's office and watched the Parade.



• Watched the Noles kick Georgia Tech's butt! We're Bowl bound!

Lola watching/distracting me from the game.

• Sunday was a day of cleaning, the Seminole basketball game, and napping on the couch with my Sweetie.

Happy December! I hope everyone is as excited as I am, its the most wonderful time of the year!

Very truly yours, A. Bean



My humps, my not so lovely lumps!

Oh its Humpday! Happy Humpday!

And speaking of humps… Maybe it’s because I stuffed my face during Thanksgiving break… or maybe I’ve just been in denial for a few months… but my pants aren’t fitting quite like they used too and my face is looking a tad to round in my Instagram pictures…

So we know what that means! Diet time!

In preparation of this little lifestyle change, I have done the following:

1.    Create a Pinspiration board. Or two. 1) for exercise ideas. 2) for skinny food ideas.

  

2.    Download a calorie counter app. Found this one and I love it! Super easy to use, pretty to look at, and my favorite – you can scan the barcode of your lean cuisine (or whatever product you’re eating) and it magically knows the name and calories! It’s called Lose it!

3.    From said Pinspiration board – create a list of low-cal recipes that even boyfriend will approve of. (Also, Hungry Girl’s website as delicious dinner recipes that are easy and yummy)

4.    Map out a weekly workout plan for early-before-work calorie burn sesh while watching The Today Show.

So wish me luck and endurance blogger friends! Lord knows I’ll need it…

Very truly yours, A. Bean