First off, I want to say a huge thank you for the response I received from yesterday’s post. That is exactly why I love the blogging community. I loved all of the feedback and encouragement from everyone.

My cousin, Zana, was married this past weekend and I had the pleasure of standing beside her on her perfect day. She was married in the backyard of her home in Dothan, on an island in the middle of their pond. The weather was absolutely beautiful and Zana was breathtaking. It was an emotional weekend for me because she is not only my cousin, but also my best friend. She and Landon have been together for over 6 years. They started dating just a few months after Ryan and me. Needless to say, it was about time they got hitched! I couldn’t ask for a better man and husband for my Zana. I’m so incredibly happy for them.

Their wedding was southern chic at it’s finest. They did almost everything themselves as far as flowers and decor. Everything turned out so beautiful. The guests had a lot of fun at the reception, and as a bride, you can’t ask for much more than that. Here are a few pictures I (and my sister) snapped of their wedding.

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 

We’ve all done it. I’ve done it more times than I can count. Scandal excites us until we are on the other end of it. Have you been on that other end? I have. It’s not fun. I left my college because of rumors that were floating around about me. As false as they were, they still got to me. Everyone talked. Stared. Whispered. I wanted to group them all in a room together and yell “it’s not true! It’s all a lie!  If you gave me the chance to really get to know me, you’d see that it’s a lie.” I never got that chance. After 3 long semesters of trying to fit in, of trying to live out my parents legacy, I couldn’t do it anymore. The gossip got to me. It drained me. It disappointed and killed me on the inside. Girls can be pretty mean.

So, I’m pretty excited. Only a few more days stand in the way of the beloved #BikiniSeries with our favorite girls – Karena and Katrina from Tone It Up!! Eeekkk!!! If you remember from previous posts, I participated in the Love Your Body Series during the winter months and it helped me lose the last bit of my baby weight…and then some! My fitness training has improved tremendously. I’ve been sticking to their weekly workout schedule and am officially 8 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight! Cray. Anyways… I’ve been counting down the days until the Bikini Series begins and it is finally here! If you haven’t checked out Toneitup.com, you need to. Their workouts are no joke. Add them to your daily cardio and healthy diet and you’ll achieve your goals in no time.

More so than the workouts, I’ve made so many connections and friends throughout the Tone it up community and I love it. Everyone is so encouraging and that helps push me and drive me on the days I don’t feel like putting in the work. You are welcome to follow my fitness journey on Instagram @TIULoCan where I’ll be checking in daily. Creating that account during the LYBS helped motivate me and held me accountable. I look forward to working out with all of you who choose to participate!

I’ve already planned one beach trip and am in the process of planning a second one. I want to be a fit woman this summer, not a jealous one. Are you with me?

Sign up for the #BikiniSeries today! Let me know if you do!

Did you do the Bikini Series last year?

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
January 2012, Dutton Books

Synopsis from Goodreads: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.


My Thoughts: We all know people suffering from cancer. I know people who have died from this disease and who have beat it and are thriving today. It is a terrible thing that seems to be growing and spreading more rapidly than ever. I loved this book because it gives you a glimpse into the mind of a person fighting cancer. 


The main characters – Hazel and Gus describe cancer and talk about it in a very different way than I’ve ever thought about it personally. I loved everything about this novel. I feel like everyone should read it because in some way or another, we are all affected by cancer. Whether it is because of a loved one suffering from it, or a friend. It is a remarkable story. What would you do if you were diagnosed and knew you didn’t have much longer to live? Where would you go for your last big hoorah? I gave this book 5 stars. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter! Hampton was definitely spoiled by the Easter bunny this year. Here are a few pics from our day:

Most of you know I had a baby boy almost 6 months ago. I struggled getting off the last bit of baby weight for a couple of months until I finally put my foot down and started eating healthier and exercising every day. I didn’t start a “diet,” but I changed my lifestyle. Yoplait was definitely involved in this change. I love yogurt, especially for breakfast or to mix in shakes.

When I was offered the opportunity to participate in the Yoplait Greek 100 Strawberry yogurt vs. Chobani Simply 100 Strawberry challenge, it was a no brainer! I couldn’t wait to find out the best Greek yogurt. I pulled my husband into the Yoplait Taste Test as well. After blindfolding him, he tasted each yogurt. Here were the results: 


First up: Yoplait Greek 100 Strawberry

Next up: Chobani Simply 100 Strawberry

And the winner is: 


YOPLAIT!!! By …a lot. No offense to Chobani, but Ryan didn’t care for it at all, and after trying them both for myself, I couldn’t agree more. Chobani had a bit of a sour taste to it and the Yoplait yogurt had a much stronger strawberry taste which is the whole point of buying flavored yogurt, right? Congratulations, Yoplait!


Yoplait Greek 100 contains only 100 calories and is available in 12 flavors. It is a perfect healthy choice to add to any diet.


Click here to find out more on this challenge and see what other people are saying.

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
July 2013, Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam


Synopsis on Goodreads: Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . . .
Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret.

Acclaimed author Liane Moriarty has written a gripping, thought-provoking novel about how well it is really possible to know our spouses—and, ultimately, ourselves.

My Thoughts: If you remember, The Husband’s Secret is on my Must Read in 2014 list. I was very excited to read it and it definitely did not disappoint. I loved What Alice Forgot that I read a few months ago (and was our Literary Junkies April read), so when I saw that this book had come out, I knew I had to read it ASAP. Like her previous hit book, this one makes you think. I honestly thought I knew what this book was going to be about but it was completely different which was a great surprise. It contains loss, hurt, lies, betrayal and how different women deal with all of the above. It was a wonderful story that left me breathless and in tears at the end. It was beautifully written. I can’t wait to read more from Moriarty. I gave this book 5 stars.




Have you read The Husband’s Secret? What are you reading?

I have been struggling with Easter basket ideas for Hampton this year. He is 5 1/2 months old, so it’s not like he has been begging me for the latest most popular toy. Do I fill it with things he needs like diapers, oragel, and wipes or do I fill it with fun things like teething rings, toys, books, etc.? So, I decided to do a little bit of everything. Here is what’s in Hampton’s Easter basket:

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Baby’s First Bible (board book)

Bath Toys

Oragel Teething Tablets

Gerber Oatmeal and Banana Cereal

Fisher-Price Rock and Learn Guitar

Thomas the Train

Veggie Tales Easter Collection