Muscles & Mascara

Whole30 day 8 is in the books. I'm trying my hardest to be 100% strict, but it's so hard with hidden ingredients in what seems like everything. I'll get it though and really hope I get some good results. I just got this paleo coffee creamer in the mail yesterday and was stoked to try it out today. It wasn't as good as the sweet, very bad for you creamer, but I'll get used to it and probably love it on no time. Jezebel has discovered this, ahem, beautiful smile since we've gotten Sheeba. It cracks me up as she just looks at me with this smile. I thought it was share worthy. Haha! Well, good night everyone!!

As you can imagine, a lot has happened in the past year that I’ve been MIA on here. I’m going to give a few updates before bed…

1. Dominic and I are engaged!!! 💍💕 I’m so incredibly happy with him and cannot wait for our destination wedding! He proposes to me on my birthday while we were on a cruise. He's so wonderful; I couldn't ask for anyone better to spend my forever with!!!

2. I’m still doing Crossfit and loving it. I joined a new gym and could not be happier. I’ve slacked off a bit lately with work being crazy and, let’s be honest, just a lack of motivation. However, with a wedding in the works, I’ve found a bit more motivation. This blog always worked as a GREAT motivator for me because I love getting to see everyone’s progress on here, so that’s what made me decide to come back. I need y'all to be my motivators and accountability again! ❤️ I just started a Whole30 (actually 45) today and plan to 100% stick to it. Wish me luck!!

3. Work is going very well this year! I definitely think I’ve found my place as an instructional coach!!!

4. Dominic and I got a new puppy!! Sheeba is a German Shepard Husky rescue puppy that we just got about a month ago. She’s beautiful, and we all love her so much- Jezebel included! We’re a happy little family!

5. I have talked my friend Dianne (bottom picture) into starting a blog on here because it helped motivate me sooo much! She’s such an inspiration and will be a great person to follow. Her blog is new so she won’t have much on there yet, but I know it’s going to be great!! @aspire2fitspire

Well, I know there’s probably wayyyyy more that I could update you on, but that will have to do for now. Good night!

Well, it's been close to a year since I've posted on here, and I have many updates to give and catching up to do! I'm excited to be back and plan to make a "catch-you-guys-up" post soon!! I hope you're all doing well, and I can't wait to see everyone's progress and new life achievements! ❤️❤️❤️

Dear Tumblr friends, I'm still here. I'm still alive. I'm still working out. Life has been soooo busy that I haven't made the time to get on here and post a lot. I do plan to post more often than I have been for sure but cannot guarantee daily posts like I used to make. Life has gotten busy with my new career, new move, not-so-new-anymore boyfriend, and just in having things to do. I've slacked some in my eating but plan to pick back up on it soon enough. My workouts have been great. I actually won 3rd place in a Crossfit competition at my old gym. My partner and I pretty much met that day and made one heck of a team. It was great. Things with Dominic are wonderful. I'm so very happy with him and know that great things are ahead for us. Yay! I've been getting in the Christmas spirit lately, as the pictures show. I cannot believe Christmas time is here already, but we might as well make the most of it. :) Enjoy your Christmas, everyone! I hope you all eat too much and enjoy time with family and friends! 🎄❤️

Long time, no post. Sorry! I've been super duper busy lately and am out of town at conferences all week. I love nerding out!!! 📔🖊🤓❤️ I hope everyone is doing well!!!

Camo Day, take 2... This isn't exactly my look, but I bought this shirt especially for the school's once a year camo days. My new school has had 2 this year... I plan on trying to hide away today- hopefully it'll work since I'm blended. Yes, that was cheesy. Oh well! 😂 Have a great day, everyone! 🍂🍂🍂

I'm sooooo proud of myself! I did the Barbells for Boobs today at my new Crossfit gym and killed it! Well, "killed it" for me at least. When signing up, I'd originally decided on going RX because 95# sounded doable. However, after Thursday's workout of thrusters and front rack lunges, my body ached and 95 sounded more intimidating, so I knocked down to scaled when I got there this morning. Well.... After that I started practicing a bit before my heat and decided I did want to go RX. Say what?!? Grace: 30 cleans & jerks- 95# 4:48 Yessss!!! Win! I love my new Crossfit gym and am finally starting to find my place there. I still miss my old gym, but I absolutely love the family feel there. Yay! Well, my man and I are about to go downtown for a well-deserved drink. Good night, all!

My beautiful best friend from Minnesota and her daughter spent the weekend with me. We had a blast searching the beach for seashells and enjoying the sunshine. I wish I could extend the weekend and keep them here longer, but no can do. It's back to reality today as I head back to work for a day of leading PLT meetings. Hopefully the teachers are accepting of everything I do today. Have s great day, everyone! ❤️❤️❤️

Chocolate. I would love to be filled with chocolate rather than emotions. This candy is sitting in my drawer, and as much as I’d love to dive into it, I’ve left it alone.

So, we have camo day at school once a year, so this shirt gets worn once a year. Ha! It’s not my look, but I love dress up days. (If you’ve followed my blog for any decent amount of time, you’re well aware of this about me- haha).

Crossfit tonight was good. I’m definitely starting to feel myself improving again. I was starting to get discouraged but am getting back in the game now. ;)

I linked together a long strand of double unders tonight, and they felt perfect! I’ve never done them that well before, so I was cheesing after that.

WOD: 9 minute AMRAP Shoulder to OH (65#) unbroken –Penalty for dropping bar: 20 DUs Front rack lunges (65#) unbroken –Penalty for dropping bar: 5 burpees

I was the only person in the gym to go Level 2 tonight, so that’s impressive to me alone. Everyone else used 35# and did front squats instead of lunges. I ended up with 91 reps and am content with that. My arms are shot.

Everyone else did great as well. My friend, Becky, is constantly improving. I love it!! :)

Well, bed time for me! Good night! ❤️

Whoop! Look at those guns! Haha! I'm finally starting to tone up again. Yay! What a busy, busy week! I'm excited though because I've started to get my act together again. Last night' workout was killer, but I'm happy with how I did! 5 RFT (17 minute cutoff) 400 m row 15 OH squats (65#) I finished at 16:05 and am happy with that. I didn't think I was going to finish at all, so I'm good with that. :) I've got to be more dedicated as a whole though. Life has been so busy lately that is made it hard for fitness and health to be a priority, but I'm keeping it together for the most part. Anyway, I'm going to go enjoy this bit of sunshine. ☀️☀️☀️ Have a great day, everyone! :)

A minion by day... And a gym-rat by night... I had a lot of fun today as a minion at school; however, I must admit that I genuinely miss my friends from my old school. It's just not the same without them. Don't get me wrong, I love my new job and the people I work with. Brantley was just my "home," and we were really like a family there. On a different, not-so-sappy note, Crossfit went very well tonight. We did the Lurong Challenge WOD. 15-minute AMRAP: 50 wallball shots (14#) 50 Dumbbell Snatches (25#) 50 Single Leg Squat Touchdowns 50 pull-ups I went into tonight expecting to get through about 5 pull-ups at most, but, to my surprise, I ended up completing 46 pull-ups and ended with a total of 196 reps. I was only 4 reps shy of completing the workout. I'm very happy with that. My eating is back on point, and I refuse to let it slip again. I'm putting in wayyyy too much work at the gym and during the weeks with eating healthy to let myself lose it on the weekends and blow all my progress. I've got this, and the results will be worth it. I can't wait to see some of the benefits of all my hard work. :) Well, bed time for me! Good night, my dear friends! ❤️

My weekend in a nutshell... Buddy Walk with my handsome man to support my cousin who has Down syndrome. It was soooo sweet, and I'm glad he went with me. I ate like crap all weekend and can definitely feel it. Blah! I hate the bloated feeling that comes with cheat. Not worth it. This is a new week, and healthy groceries have been bought. When most people look at the first mask in my collage, they see a raccoon. I see minion glasses. Haha! I couldn't find any minion glasses for my costume tomorrow (spoiler alert), so I made my own. I'm pretty pleased with them. Well, good night, tumblr world! ❤️

Happy Friday!!! Yes, I'm having a Friday cheat- pumpkin spiced latte- and I have no regrets. I haven't had Starbucks in over 3 weeks- don't judge me. Ha! This has been a busy week without a lot of tumblr updates. Long-story-short: I've eaten pretty healthy all week but desperately need to go grocery shopping and get my meal prepping done. It felt like I was scrounging for meals all week. I've only worked out once this week. Yes, I'm slacking. It's on next week though. The end. Have a WONDERFUL Friday! ❤️

Saturday's WOD: Lurong Living WOD This was a 9 minute AMRAP and kicked my behind! That was the fastest 9 minutes ever. I ended with 71 reps total and could've got more if it wasn't for having to add more weight each round. I'm happy with how I did though. I turned down A LOT of unhealthy foods this weekend. I said no to Arby's, homemade birthday cake and ice cream, dessert at Longhorn, and more in between. I'm super proud of myself but am expecting some real results from this challenge. Ha! I'm probably not being as "perfect" as I feel like I'm being, but I am doing far better than I was. That counts for something. Goodnight, amazing people! Tomorrow will be a long day and I need my rest.

I’m feeling good, and I love it! I forget how great it feels to workout and eat healthy. It’s times like this that I wonder how I ever let myself fall off the bandwagon. I love this feeling. 💕

Tonight’s workout was brutal but so good. I’m beyond proud of myself. I don’t mean to toot my own horn or anything, but “Toot! Toot!” I did way better than I thought possible!

The WOD: 18 Minute AMRAP 7 box jumps (20") 7 HSPU 14 KB Swings (35)

When I saw today’s workout posted online, I literally thought I’d get around 6-7 rounds tops. However, I definitely got 9+7 and went unbroken for all the rounds for KB swings. I’m usually one to break between reps but not today! And my box jumps felt on point! Whoop!

I don’t get proud of myself during workouts often but I will today. I felt great!

On a different note, I’ve got my fridge stocked with health foods and have thrown away all foods that aren’t paleo. I’m trying to be fully committed to this challenge. I want to see results! ❤️💪🏼

PS- The lovely gal in the picture is my friend, Becky. She, Mariella, and I have formed a special friendship, and it's been so amazing to have with my move and new Crossfit gym. They're my little piece of home here. ☺️

Man, does it feel good to be back on it!! I've been eating very well (aside from my beers while watching Georgia destroy SC) and have been getting in plenty of exercise! :) Saturday I went to Crossfit: 0-5 minutes: AMRAP 5 clean and jerks (105 for 1/95 for 2) 5 burpees 8-13 minutes (3 min rest between sets) 5 deadlifts (135) 15 abmats 30 double unders 15-... (2 min rest between) 800 meter run I got 3+2, 2+11, and 6:13 for the run. I'll take it! Sunday, I took Jezebel on a nice, long walk. It was probably about 2 miles, give or take. She was soon stinking exhausted after our walk. I live that dog! 💕 Today I led the after school workout (a program I started) then went to Crossfit. Yes, I got a double in today. School: (1 minute stations- AMRAP) Lunges Burpees Incline bench press Jumping air squats Wall sits Bent over barbell rows Bench press Calf raises Box step ups Planks Crossfit: 3 RFT 9 deadlifts 6 hang squat cleans 3 shoulders to overhead I got 3:43 minutes at CF tonight, and I'm very proud of this. My legs are cramping now though, so it's bed time for me. Hopefully I won't be too sore tomorrow. Good night, my dear friends!