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.
Words
Fitness Friday: #BikiniSeries
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?
Bookworm Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
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.
Easter 2014
5 Kimonos for Under $25
A Taste Challenge: Yoplait vs. Chobani
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.
Bookworm Review: The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
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.
Have you read The Husband’s Secret? What are you reading?
Literary Junkies (April)
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty. I actually just finished it last night and, wowza! It was a good one. My review will be up Thursday.
In order from favorite to least favorite: Twilight, Hunger Games, Divergent. I was a huge Twilight junkie from the beginning so it holds a special place in my heart (HA). Hunger Games is awesome. Divergent was great but I hated the end. I like happy endings and I was really disappointed in the ending. I also hated the movie. It felt very low budget and the acting was terrible. Was anyone else disappointed, or was it just me?
The only show I have ever seen that is based on books is Pretty Little Liars. I love the show but the series is very different than the books. I think they have to do that to a certain degree. For example, Ezra leaves in the 1st book. In the show, he has been a main character for what, 5 seasons now? It is because he is so popular, of course they don’t want to get rid of him.
My favorite book (Pride and Prejudice) has already been made into a movie, so I’m just going to choose the book I just finished (The Husband’s Secret) because I feel like that would be a good movie. Jennifer Anniston would definitely play Tess. Reese Witherspoon would play Cecilia. They are two of my faves so I had to go with them.
I can’t think of anything I would change.
It depends on the book. If I love it, I keep it. If it’s terrible or I know I’ll never read it again or loan it out, I get rid of it. If a book is really good but I don’t think I’ll read it again, I give it to my grandmother. We are constantly trading books.
Easter Basket Ideas: for Baby
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:
3 Steps to a Cleaner Fresher You
I don’t know about you, but I love the feeling I get after a hot shower or bath. I feel so clean and fresh – it puts me in a better mood almost instantly. As a woman, I know and understand the importance of feeling fresh and clean throughout the day. Here are a few steps to help you feel more clean and fresh during your day:
Step 1: Start your day with a warm shower. It is the best way to wake up and get feeling clean and ready to face the day.
Step 2: Use Cottonelle Clean Care Toilet Paper. People – especially women – shy away from talking about their bathroom habits. Why is that? I guess I’m just not shy about it. Everyone poops. That’s right, I said it. I’m sorry if that offends you, but you do it too, so it shouldn’t. This two-ply, tuggable, huggable, soft toilet paper goes a long way. Side note: My husband is always complaining about how much toilet paper I use. Since switching to Cottonelle Clean Care, I don’t use near as much. It saves money in the long run and leaves me feeling just as clean.
Step 3: Make yourself feel even more fresh by pairing your Cottonelle Clean Care toilet paper with the Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Wipes. Seriously, these flushable bum cloths leave me feeling so refreshed. The wipes break up after flushing which makes them sewer and septic safe and they are alcohol free! These are a must have to add to your clean routine.
You can receive a $1.50 coupon to save on the Cottonelle Clean Care toilet paper or cleansing wipes. Now you and your clean bum can make like Outkast and feel “so fresh and so clean” all day long.
Don’t forget to “Like” Cottonelle on Facebook!
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