Salt Air
Memorial Day weekend starts today (hooray)! It seems all anyone can talk/think about is the beach and I am no exception! Sadly, I am not actually going to the beach this weekend, but that doesn’t mean I can’t dream of my toes in the sand and the salt air in my hair. If I put on my Jimmy Buffett Pandora station, and close my eyes, it’s almost like I’m there…
Source: alongthewaywithvandj.blogspot.com via Briana on Pinterest
Growing up I spent 12 consecutive summers going to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I’ve been to a lot of beaches all over the world (Mexico, Florida, Greece, Italy and California), but nothing can replace my love for, and sentimental attachment to, the OBX. It’s still one of my favorite places on earth. I think a trip back is definitely in order!
Does it get any better than this?
Source: google.com via Briana on Pinterest
To all of you heading to the beach this weekend…I hate you…I mean…have a great time!
Happy Holiday Weekend to all!
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Hump Day Happiness (and Inspiration)
Here’s something brining me happiness (and inspiration) on this Wednesday, I hope it brings you some too!
It’s that time of year when a whole new class of young graduates joins the work force. Hopes are high and futures seem bright, but first, you have to make it through the actual graduation. Often a key-note speaker is someone you have never heard of, some intellectual somebody, or a big muckety-muck (I was blessed with a witty, and self-deprecating, Bob Costas, who was wonderfully entertaining). So I was surprised, and delighted, to see that Tufts University invited former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens to address the class of 2012. How wonderful to see a top-tier university honor a military veteran with the chance to do a commencement address. Even better was Greitens message to graduates of selflessness and service:
“What kind of service can I provide? What kind of positive difference can I make in the lives of others?’ If you work every day to live an answer to that question, then you will be stronger.“
My favorite part of the speech was when he said:
“The best definition I have ever heard of a vocation is that it’s the place where your great joy meets the world’s great need. … We need all of you to find your vocation. To develop your joys, your passions, and to match them to the world’s great needs.”
A great lesson (and reminder) for new, and past, graduates alike!
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Workout Wednesday: Plates
This workout post is not about the kind of plate you use to eat. This post is about the kind of plates you use to offset all the eating (oh, am I the only one who works out partially so I can eat delicious stuff?).
They looks something like this:
Source: no1fitness.co.nz via Pink on Pinterest
These weights are most often used in conjunction with machines and benches, but there are a lot of great ways to use them on their own.
I usually use a 25 pound plate.
Upper Body:
- Hold the plate with both hands in front of your chest. Bring the weight in a clockwise rotation around your head and back to start. Move slowly and controlled. Do 12 reps. Switch directions and do 12 more. Works arms, shoulders, and chest!
Abs:
- Hold the plate in your right hand. Bend your torso as far as you can (without moving hips or feet) to the right. Repeat 15 times then switch sides.
- Lie on an ab bench that’s adjusted so your legs are above your head. Hug the plate to your chest as you do crunches. Do sets of 20.
- Sit back on your tailbone and balance with feet in the air. Hold the plate in front of your chest and slowly rotate to the right and then the left. This is one rep. Do 10-20.
Cardio:
- Hold the plate while doing any variety of cardio exercises including running stairs
- Hold the plate while doing hopscotch-type jumping patterns. To make it more difficult, lift the plate up, and down, over your head as you jump.
Full body plate weight circuit:
How do you use plate weights?
Have a happy workout!
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Food is Joy
Today, I am linking up with one of my very best blogger friends, Sarah from Notice the Dirt. She has started a new “Food is Joy” series that is meant to remind us all that food is not the enemy. In her words “I want women to stop battling their plates over calories and start delighting in the way food fuels us, sates us, comforts us. And I want all of this because we’ll never be healthy eaters if food is our nemesis.”
I have a volatile love/hate relationship with food. Man, it sure tastes good, but the guilt I often feel after eating is depressing and exhausting. I forget what it’s like to just appreciate food and not over-analyze every bite.
So here goes, my attempt to remember that food is delicious, nourishing, and most definitely a source of joy.
This week’s prompt is your favorite food. As crazy as it sounds for a food lover, my favorite is salad. No, I’m not just saying this to seem “healthy,” I really, truly could eat a great salad every day (during B’s deployments it’s not uncommon for me to make the same salad for dinner 10 days in a row).
When I lived in Rome, there was a little Snack Bar (what they sometimes call a cafe) down the street from where I went to class. They would make the most amazing salads to order. It’s here that I learned the art of mediterranean salad making. A little bit of butter lettuce, some arugula, cucumber, artichoke, and a few chunks of fresh mozzarella. Top it all off with a dash of olive oil, a pinch of salt and perfecto!
These days, I make my salad with whatever I have handy, but my current favorite combination is:
{Spring mix lettuce, arugula, grape tomatoes, and red onion}
{Cucumber and red cabbage}
{Feta cheese, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and it’s ready to go}
Buon appetito!
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Last Weekend I…
…reenforced my love of baseball with a(nother) trip to Nationals Park. The Orioles won in extra innings, making it that much sweeter.
Sweet seats
…learned that someone still knows their way around a beer pong table (that someone is me). It’s fun to play college student for a night once in a while.
…planted more flowers in our front yard. Yes, more flowers and yes, I am slowly becoming my mother. I just couldn’t resist the Dahlia bulbs on sale at Lowe’s.
…soaked up every second I could of the beautiful weather. Between planting flowers, doing my new fave circuit workout, and enjoying a birthday BBQ at our neighbors, this girl got her fill of vitamin D.
Beautiful Sunday evening
…picked up some new neon Nikes for the gym. They add some fun pizzaz to my generally black workout attire.
Lululemon Power Crops and new neon Nikes
All and all a pretty lovely weekend…only four days to the next one (but who’s counting)!
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(B and B) + P = 3
I’m really bad at math, but I’ve got this equation down pat! I’ve really been so happy lately with our little family of three. That’s me, B, and Princess Penny of course. Life just seems right.
Content as can be, just us three.
I couldn’t be more excited, however, to become an Auntie for the first time (calm down Mom and Dad, neither lil sis has something to tell you)! One of my dearest friends is preggo! She’s the first of my ladies to hop on the mommy train and it’s been so fun to live vicariously through her. I hope I can be an honorary aunt/free babysitter!
I get to ooh and ahh over adorable stuff like this (without actually having to be pregnant myself!)…
Source: media-cache3.pinterest.com via Alethia on Pinterest
I’m not sure what it is about onesies that makes my heart melt, but they are so darn cute!
Dear HEP,
I’m so excited for you, and can’t wait to meet your little bundle of joy in November!
XOXO
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Hump Day Happiness
Here’s a few things bringing me happiness on this Wednesday, I hope they bring you some too!
The hubs surprised me by buying me one of these bodybugg systems. It’s a fancy shmancy device that tracks your body’s daily calorie burn (and it’s a pedometer). It connects to a phone app that allows you to track what you’ve eaten/calories consumed. It has amazing reviews from users and I think it will be a great way to see just how many calories I burn during my workouts!
***
My Orioles continue to surprise and I’ve got tickets for the whole family to go to their game at Nationals Park on Friday night! How will I decide who to root for? Well, as much as I loved my time working for the Nats, it can’t replace 28 years of devotion to my O’s. I hope the Orioles Bird decks one of the Racing Presidents like last year (purely for the entertainment value, I have nothing against Abe, Tom, George or Teddy).
***
One of the first things I saw while perusing my iPhone during morning commute traffic was notice of a Kate Spade surprise sale. Up to 75% off? Yes, please! I picked up these beautiful earrings. Did I need them? No, not exactly, but that’s not what surprise blowout sales are about! Check it out for yourself!
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Workout Wednesday: Short Circuit
In a Workout Wednesday a few weeks ago I posted some great circuit workouts you can do at home. I wanted to share another one I recently tested out.
Source: pbfingers.com via Briana on Pinterest
I did this workout over the weekend and loved it! It took me just over 30 minutes, but I felt like I had worked out much longer. It’s perfect if you’re short on time, traveling, or don’t have access to a gym. If you don’t have a jump rope, just pretend (make sure you get your arms moving as well!). Use the stop watch on your smart phone to help with the timed intervals (don’t cheat yourself though, it will take you a few seconds to put the phone down and get going).
Don’t be fooled because it seems like it’s mostly cardio/lower body (besides the pushups and burpees). The repetitive jumping jacks, and jump rope sets, get your upper body in on the action too. I felt it in my shoulders and lats the next day. In short, this is an efficient, and effective, total body workout!!
Have a happy workout!
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What Should I Wear: Summer BBQ Edition
Memorial Day is right around the corner and that means lots of BBQ’s and time outside! While I am not one to stick to the hard and fast rules about what you can and can’t wear before Memorial Day, I still consider it the gateway weekend into summer (and summer wardrobe style).
If you’re like me and haven’t packed away all your sweaters, make some time in your schedule and room in your attic. Bring on white jeans, breezy dresses and colorful tunics! I like to keep things simple in summer and one of my fave staples is the perfect, classic white tee. I just bought a fabulous new one from Banana Republic. Style and fit are perfection!
Here it is dressed down, and up, for all your BBQ wardrobe needs!
P.S. I have both of these bottoms and love them!
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Dear Mom
I’m lucky to call an extraordinary woman “Mom.” I touched on just how amazing she is in my “5 People I Treasure Most” post. I’ve always known that my Mom was wonderful, but as I get closer to motherhood myself, I realize just how much a of a superwoman she was (and continues to be). She was one of only a few women in the Chemical Engineering department in college. She had three daughters by 30. Ran her own business. Supported my Dad, while he went to Law School at night. Took us to countless ballet/soccer/lacrosse practices. Went back to school and got her MBA. And….through it all she managed to always look good and cook her family a home-cooked meal every night. I have no idea how she did it, but man am I thankful she did!
I love you Mom!
Senior portrait
Mom and my baby sister
Mom and her three girls
Happy Mother’s Day to all the hot mommas out there!
Thank you mom for always being so amazing!
