Cardio and Cupcakes

Cardio and Cupcakes.  Two things that mold my life together.  Two things that I completely LOVE {and love to hate}.  Two things that are completely OPPOSITE.

I've been thinking for quite some time that I wanted to change my Business Page on Facebook.  It was The Good Life Blog, named after this exact blog I'm writing on today.  It worked out fine from the beginning, but as time went on, I feel like the business page didn't really represent ME.  I'm not a BLOGGER full-time (I strive at blogging once per week), so I felt like it didn't really represent who I was.

Cardio and Cupcakes.  That's ME.  I am a fitness lover.  I am a cupcake lover.  I do cardio to eat cupcakes.  Okay, not all of the time.  But, you won't find me turning down a cupcake very often.

As a fitness coach, which I am, I strive to eat clean 80% of the time.  To be honest, it's more like 60-75% of the time.  I love food.  I love sweets.  I love cupcakes.

But, on the other end of the spectrum, I do get a good high off of a great workout.  I love cardio.  I'm a cardio girl. 

It was ONLY FITTING to name my new brand-- Cardio and Cupcakes.

I hope you like it!

Stay tuned for tips/tricks/blog posts/etc. on my page!  be sure to follow me for the latest updates!

XO,

Flashback Friday: Weight Loss Style

A huge passion of mine (which you should be able to tell by this blog) is health & fitness.  I'm not an expert.  I'm not a professional.  I've just had a huge transformation and a huge desire in continuing my health and fitness in the years to come.

I try to workout at least 5 times a week.
I try to eat clean 80% of the time.
I am human.
I make mistakes.

At-home workout programs WORKED for me.  It's the ONLY thing that WORKED!  But, that does NOT mean you can't go to the gym, join a fitness club, etc. and get results.  EVERYONE is different.  I will say if you've tried a gym in the past and it hasn't worked out for one reason or another, give at-home workout programs a TRY.  You MAY just be highly surprised!

Here's a little flashback Friday into the life I grew to know.  The life of being overweight, feeling fluffy, getting worn-down after climbing the stairs, and to a life of always WONDERING what it would be like to be FIT for one time in my life.  Oh to dream... if only I knew where I'd be RIGHT NOW.

This was in 2008.  I was the Maid of Honor in my Sisters wedding.

 

A size 12.  Large.

 

This was in October 2014.  Size 4.  Small.

 

Share below your flashback Friday! XO,

 

High Five! It's Friday!

Another week has come and gone and one of my favorite days has finally arrived... FRIDAY!

I guess the only reason it's my favorite day is because it's the last day of the work week.  How sad is that?  It's not that I don't love my job.  It's just that when you are running on Day 5 of the same ole, same ole, you get TIRED and burned out!

Friday's used to be about going out, having fun with friends and staying out late.  Now, I'm lucky to be up at 10PM.  I think I'm just so drained, it's only natural for me to get to bed early.  Plus, my whole mindset has shifted.

Truth be told, I've never really enjoyed partying it up till 2AM.  I'm just not that girl.  If you are, then that's great! 

Here's a little fun facts about the week and some of my favorites:

1. It was Josh's 29th Birthday on Wednesday!  We celebrated the best way we knew how.....grilling out steaks (his fav!) and then finishing the night with a homemade (somewhat) strawberry cake.  Okay, let's be honest... I used a box cake mix but spruced it up a bit.  I DID whip up some homemade cream cheese frosting from scratch...take that Betty Crocker!

This is Josh from this past Sunday, celebrating his birthday with the rest of our family.  He had his favorite dessert of all time, cheesecake.

 

2. Josh and I got to enjoy the fresh air and warmer temps.  HELLO spring.  If it wasn't raining and cold today, I'd almost believe that SPRING is here to stay.  I love colder weather and the thought of snow, but I'm SO ready for warm weather.  I love both of them and I love that we get to experience 4 different seasons every year.  We are blessed, right?

3. Well, this hasn't happened yet, but I'm looking forward to Josh being home Saturday (tomorrow).  He's working tonight not far from home, so he will be home the rest of the weekend with me.  Let's just say when he's gone the whole weekend, I'm super bored and miss him tons.  YAY for spending time with him!

Okay---do you have any faves from the week or anything you're looking forward to this weekend?  I want to hear it!

XO,

Hematoma in Dogs

This past Tuesday, Josh texted me (hello modern technology) that Stella's ear was swollen.  I didn't think much of it.  I asked if it was her ear inside or what part of the ear.  He replied with "her ear flap".  Still not knowing a thing about health and well-being, I just shrugged it off.

Poor Stella has been through more in her short 3 years with me than any dog should ever go through in their whole time here on Earth.

When I got home from work that evening, Josh said she was fine, she just had fluid in her ear, and even jokingly asked if he could stick a needle in there and pop it!  I absolutely, 100% said NOOO!

I still wasn't really concerned (again, that's my naïve self!).  But, I did decide to do a little googling.  I googled "fluid in dog ear".  The results were scary.  Shocking.

Hematoma.

What in the world is this?  Apparently, it's a socket of blood that forms when a blood vessel bursts due to either: excessive shaking of the head, ear mites, ear infections, trauma, or dog fighting (goes hand in hand with dog fighting). 

Well, I knew she didn't have an ear infection.  But, I do know that Hudson (our 64 lb. goldendoodle who thinks he is Stella's size--- 12 lbs) likes to pounce on her and get her to play with him daily.  Stella isn't that playful (she's an older dog, mind you) and our 15 month old puppy doesn't get that.

So, the next day, Stella's ear got even BIGGER.... MORE FLUID= one freaked out dog mama!

I called immediately to our veterinarian and she was seen yesterday.  It is Hematoma.  The only thing they can do is Surgery, to drain it.

What's the problem you may ask?  Stella has Addison's Disease.  It's a disease where her body starts shutting down when she gets put in a stressful situation.  Surgery=MEGA stressful situation.  The last time she had surgery (the only time I've ever known her to have it) was not long before she went into a complete Addisonian crisis and almost died.

My heart is torn.  Right now we are icing her ear 3 times a day in hopes that it will stop expanding.  But, if not, then we will have to explore the idea of surgery.

I.AM.FREAKING.OUT.

Is this how it is with children?  Not sure if my heart can take it!  Do you have any experience with Hematoma in dogs?  What was your experience like, if so?  Give me some tips!

XO,

2015 bikini bootcamp

Here I am, typing the words 'bikini bootcamp' in February.  Who am I?  What have I become?

I used to cringe at the word BIKINI and throw it in the back of my mind for as long as possible.  At least until SUMMER arrived. 

I LOVE summer.  I LOVE pools.  I LOVE the beach.  But, what I HATE(D) the most was having to put on the dreaded bathing suit.  I can't even say the words bikini, because up until a year ago I don't think I ever owned one (aside from the one I'm not even sure my Mom had for me when I was about 2 years old).

I lived in tankinis.  I didn't want a ONE PIECE, because *gasp* in High School, I didn't want to be thought of as the FAT KID (even though I was!) So, I always had different tankinis.  So unflattering, so unhappy.

I HID behind my cover-ups and only took them off to jump in the pool.  It was miserable.  No, I'm not knocking the people who wear tankinis.  I'm not knocking the people who are a little overweight.  If you're happy, I'm happy. I think that's all that matters.

So, I wasn't happy.  I was very insecure.  I so badly wanted to change. 

Here I am.  I look like a million bucks (okay, maybe only like $500,000), but I'm improving daily and I've found a program and routine that literally WORKS for me.  I don't have to fight the 5:30 gym rush to knock someone out for trying to take the last treadmill.  I don't have to worry about forgetting my workout clothes (one day when I went to the YMCA I forgot my sports bra.  So I had to do ZUMBA in my regular bra.  Talk about major BUMMER-- this is a TRUE story BTW).  So, now I workout when I want to---whether it be 5 AM or 9 PM.  I wear whatever the hell I want to.  Not up for shoes today?  That's fine!  Plus, I'm surrounded EVERYWHERE by people who encourage and support me.  Sometimes it can get annoying seeing others working out when I have ZERO interest, but then I get over myself and push play. I never regret that!

So, I'm here to invite YOU to my BIKINI BOOTCAMP group.  It starts pre-season March 2nd (it officially kicks off March 9th)!  It's a 30 day group, where you WILL see results if you stick to it like you're supposed to.  We will be doing The 21 Day Fix Original OR the Extreme and we are going to be bikini ready BY May 1st!

This group is for people who are INSECURE.  People who are UNHAPPY.  People who want to make a CHANGE.

If you're interested in joining, head over to my personal FB page HERE and send me a friend request and then PM me. 

If you're READY to order your FIX, then use the following links depending on the program:

The 21 Day Fix (original)
The 21 Day Fix Extreme

READY. SET.  LET'S DO THIS!

XO,

Darling, I'll be loving you til' we're 70

Life has finally, SOMEWHAT, settled down.  I guess enough to do this blog post.

I want to give a huge shout-out {again} to my ah-mazing photographer, Casey Mlinar with Blissful Photography.  Not only is Casey an incredible friend, she's also super talented and from what I've seen (my wedding photos aren't completely edited, yet), she's captured our special day just as we imagined.

Today I want to share with you a few of my favorite photos from my Bridal Portrait Session.  Photos were taken by Casey Mlinar with Blissful Photography and they were taken at the farm at John De La Howe.

The morning of this session, I slightly freaked.  It was an October day (naturally you would think cooler temps), but it rained most of the morning which turned into HOT and HUMID weather for the evening.  Regardless of that, my pictures turned out stunning!

I hope you enjoy.  Let me know what you think!

 

 

 

XO,

The 21 Day Fix Extreme

Here's Folks, tomorrow is the day! 

My 21DF Extreme arrived Friday and I am starting tomorrow, Monday February 9th and for the next 3 weeks I'll be sticking to the FIX eating plan and workouts. 

I'm going to keep things real with you. I plan on following the program to a T, but if I don't, I will be open and honest about my journey. 

I completed the original 21 Day Fix and absolutely loved my results. Even after the first week, I felt lighter, more energized and saw the lbs fall off. 

I'm expecting the Extreme program to give me even better results (and I hope to lose my muffin top and flatten my tummy for GOOD). It's my trouble area (poo!) 

Here's me holding the new FIX EXTREME Workouts. There are 7 workouts (Plyo, upper, lower, cardio, Dirty 30, Pilates and yoga).  All workouts are 30 minutes and il be eating about every 2.5-3 hours. 

Stay tuned for more updates! 

Tomorrow night I'm fixing a healthified pork roast, so I'll let you know how that turns out! 

XO,