Archives

SUBSCRIBE BELOW AND RECEIVE WEEKLY UPDATES IN YOUR INBOX!

Email Format

Affiliates

The #bikiniseries is coming to an end. I can not believe how fast it went by. I hit some big milestones during these last 8 weeks including my weight goal and I have loved seeing everyone else meet theirs as well. I love checking in on my TIU Instagram every day and seeing everyone’s recipes and fitness goals. It is so encouraging and inspiring which is why I know I’ve had so much success with this program. It’s because of the wonderful community of women (and men?). So here is a look back on my Tone It Up Bikini Series 2014:


running
My favorite running buddy!



5k
Our second 5k!
weight loss
The day I hit my #bikiniseries goal weight!
Logan_Can
That time I got soaked in a storm because I was determined to get in a run.
Logan Can

5k record
I beat my PR!
cute nikes
I bought some new kicks!

first 5k
Our first 5k
healthy living
This chicken recipe is coming to the blog SOON! I promise it will become a staple in your home as well.

Did you participate in the Bikini Series? How are your fitness goals coming along this year?


Join the Blog Love Facebook group to help grow your social media platforms!


Linking up with Katie!
WAHM

I’m so excited that Helene and Sarah chose this as the #TotalSocial topic for this week because I’ve actually had this post written for a while. I just haven’t hit that publish button. So here is my #9to5 :


I am a work at home mom. That means that I work from home while also keeping my 7 month old. I have worked many jobs and have had a part-time or full-time job since I was 12 years old. I worked from home for 2 1/2 years before having my baby. It was my full-time job. It still is. I just added a baby to the mix.

Are you a stay-at-home or work-at-home mom? I applaud you. A lot of women openly admit that they work to get a “break” from their children. Seriously, I’ve had multiple friends and family members say that to me. While I think that is so sad, I can also understand. Being a full time mom is so stressful. It is literally the only 24/7 job in the world. You are always on call.

Trying to work while also entertaining a baby is tough work. Can you imagine doing both at the same time? I do it every work day. In fact, about 90% of my weekends, I’m also having to work to make up for all that I didn’t get done during the week. I feel like a lot of people don’t understand what a WAHM does or what that means. A WAHM has a job that she works from the home while also raising her children. I’ve had a lot of people laugh at me and say I do “nothing.” HA, if only they knew.

Personally, I made the decision a long time ago to stay at home with my children. I feel a sense of responsibility for my child because I chose to bring him into this world. I wanted him. I prayed for him. I want to raise him and spend as much time as I can with him. Motherhood is about sacrifices, and I’ve had to make a lot, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

I work as a web content manager for local lawyers and restaurants during the week, and if you missed my post a couple of weeks ago, I am now the BOM coordinator and social media expert for ALWB. Doing these along with my blog is a lot, but I enjoy every minute of it. Sure some weeks I could rip my hair out, but most of the time, I genuinely love working from home, raising my child and blogging about all of it.

Want a little bit more of a glimpse into what it’s like to be a WAHM?

I’m on a conference call while tending to a screaming child and wrestling with my mute button on my phone to try to sound like I’m not dealing with a screaming child while trying to conduct business in a professional manner.

I know the importance of a nap not necessarily because it’s good for my baby to sleep, but because it is my one opportunity to finally get some work done, uninterrupted.

I start working early with the intention of actually finishing on time only to realize it’s 3p.m. and I’m not only still in my PJs and showerless, but I’ve still got hours worth of work to finish. Sigh.

I have mastered the art of feeding my baby with one hand while talking on the phone and answering emails on the other.

I understand how hilarious it is when people say things like “oh, you don’t understand because you work from home” or “you have time to do this, I mean you just work from home.”

Do you work from home? Are you a WAHM?

Chambray
 


Over the weekend, we laid by the pool, I read a great book, and we spent a lot of time with our families. Father’s Day was a good one and all of the men in my life were definitely spoiled a little bit, but they deserve it. I am so blessed with a wonderful husband, dad, FIL and the most kind-hearted brother. I love them all so much and I’m so proud of the fathers they are to their children. 

michael kors

pink skirt
leaf necklace
ootd
Tank: H&M here
Skirt: H&M here
Watch: Michael Kors
Chambray: Old Navy here
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Linking up herehere and here.
I just created a Lookbook account! Be sure to fan me!

How was your Father’s Day? What did you do over the weekend?

Book Club

1. What are you reading? Tell us about it!


I’m reading Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter for our Twitter chat tonight! 

2. Library or bookstore?



Bookstore. I don’t even own a library card anymore. I get impatient when it comes to the whole waiting list thing at libraries. I love to shop for books at discount stores, garage sales, and the clearance section at BAM.


3. What book(s) have you read and re-read several times?

Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Twilight SAGA, Nora Roberts Bride Quartet, Pride and Prejudice, Secret Garden, Fairy Tales

4. What is the first book that made you fall in love with reading?


The secret garden quotes

I’ve talked before about how my grandmother read fairy tales to me throughout my childhood. I fell in love with reading, then. I also grew up reading Nancy Drew, Boxcar Children, Hardy Boys, and The Babysitters Club. I loved all of those and had to read the new ones as soon as they came out. I also love The Secret Garden, again because of my grandmother. I grew up watching the movie but then read the book when I was a teenager and it instantly became a favorite of mine. Plus, it’s a classic! 😉

5. Who’s your favorite author? Tell us so we can binge-read!


Wow, I have several: Nora Roberts, Kate Morton, and Adriana Trigiani are the ones coming to my mind right now.

Ryan and I are planning a family beach trip in the next couple of weeks. We are so excited to take Hampton to the beach for the first time! He already loves to be outside and play in all things dirty, so I have a feeling he will love the sand. When planning a beach trip, I always like to pack my beach bag full of everything I will need on the beach so that I don’t have to worry about doing that once I get there. Here is a look at what’s in my beach bag:




Beach Bag Essentials

Kindle or Book…usually both
Baby Lips lip balm
White lace shorts: Choies here
Sunglasses: Target here
Blue Ruffle Bikini: Choies here
Tank: H&M here
Hat: Choies here
Sunscreen
Small Bag or Make-up Bag for my cell and other small items
Flip Flops: Old Navy here
Hair Ties
Water and a healthy snack
Beach Towel
Mascara
Make-up remover wipes

There you have it! What’s in your beach bag?

High Heels Shoes

White Wedges // Lace Platforms // Teal Wedges // Pink Wedges // Tan Wedges // Yellow Peep Toe  // Coral and Beige // Navy Wedges

Can you believe that the first day of summer is only 1 week away? Honestly, I can. The temps down here have been pretty brutal already.

I am semi-tall for a girl at 5’6. I usually pass half of the guys in my church or am at least eye to eye with them when I wear my 4″ heels. I rarely buy heels that are shorter than 4″ because I’ve found that that is a pretty standard ‘pretty shoe’ height. I try not to let the height thing bother me, because I do love to wear them often. I love wedges for summertime. They are easy to walk in for all of those outdoor summer weddings and graduations. I seem to always have trouble finding the perfect summer wedge heels shoes, so I have compiled a list of a few of my favorites while perusing the internet.

What do you think? Which are your favorites?

5k
We had a really busy, but fun weekend. Saturday morning, Ryan and I ran our second 5k and ran it 3 minutes faster than our last one. I came in 4th in my age division (out of 8). I was so happy that I had a better time. It was so much fun and the people were great. Hampton did awesome and came in second in the stroller division.
SliceFest2014
Saturday afternoon I had the pleasure of attending the 3rd annual SliceFest hosted by Slice Pizza and Brew in Birmingham, Alabama. You can read all about my experience on Alabama Women Bloggers. 

Fashion Truck
Of course, being a fashion lover, I was so excited to see the Birmingham Fashion Truck parked beside the gate! I did a little shopping which was unexpected and thrilling.

Stuart McNair doing his thing! I love listening to him sing. He plays in my hometown pretty often.

Slice Pizza Brew

Pizza
The pizza was amazing! Seriously, I’ve eaten pizza at tons of different restaurants all over the country and even in London. This pizza was one of the best I’ve ever had, and my husband agreed. 
I was so excited to meet the beautiful Laura who blogs at Alabama Graffiti. It was my first blogger meet-up. She is so sweet and her husband was great! He is actually from my hometown, so we had a lot in common. 

Saturday night we visited one of our best friends in the hospital who had their baby boy! Hampton has a new little friend! Later that night we attended a wedding of a close family friend. It was a beautiful wedding right on the river.

Sunday after church we decided to make homemade ice cream. When I say we, I mean Ryan. He loves his ice cream. I ate a couple of bites but after eating pizza on Saturday, I tried to be really good and stick to my TIU approved meals. After all, we do still have 1 more week of the #bikiniseries. Do you follow my fitness Instagram account? I was able to check a few things off of my Summer Bucket List and I’m hoping I’ll be able to check a couple more off this weekend!
Homemade Ice Cream
Have you made homemade ice cream this year? What are your plans this weekend?
Linking up with Katie!

I can’t be the only one already dreaming of the weekend, can I? After a crazy week and weekend last week, I am so ready to relax by the pool this Saturday and enjoy a good book.

Maxi and Tank: TJ Maxx
Sandals: DSW here
Necklace and Earrings: Premier Jewelry
Linking up herehere and here.
What are you looking forward to this weekend? Do you have any plans?

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

Pamela Dorman Books, August 2013

Synopsis from Goodreads: In 1916, French artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his wife Sophie to fight at the Front. When her town falls into German hands, his portrait of Sophie stirs the heart of the local Kommandant and causes her to risk everything – her family, reputation and life – in the hope of seeing her true love one last time.

Nearly a century later and Sophie’s portrait is given to Liv by her young husband shortly before his sudden death. Its beauty speaks of their short life together, but when the painting’s dark and passion-torn history is revealed, Liv discovers that the first spark of love she has felt since she lost him is threatened…

In The Girl You Left Behind two young women, separated by a century, are united in their determination to fight for the thing they love most – whatever the cost.



My Thoughts: Amazing doesn’t begin to describe this book. I couldn’t put it down. It is the perfect mix of historical fiction and chick lit, which if you know me, you know that’s right up my alley. I think I have found a new favorite author and can’t wait to read more from her. The characters captivated me as well as their individual stories. I didn’t want it to end. I loved Mo’s eccentric and sarcastic personality. She made me laugh and was an excellent added character. I gave this book 5 stars.

Be sure to stop by and enter Karissa’s giveaway!