// high five! it's friday //

Hip! Hip! Hooray!

So much has happened this week and there's so much I'm thankful for!  Josh and I are having a weekend get-a-way to a place we've both never been before, that's practically right in our backyard..... Beaufort, SC.

Anyone have any tips on Beaufort?  What to see?  Places to eat?  Things to do?  It will be a short trip, but one much needed and well deserved.

5 FAVS for this beautiful Friday:

1. Hudson and Stella were both groomed this week.  This was LONG overdue and they both look adorable in their fresh summer cuts.

2.  Josh took me out to Santa Fe... our favorite local Mexican restaurant.  I've been wanting Mexican for a while, so it was delicious and lived up to my expectation.

3.  I started yet another fitness CHALLENGE group on Monday!  I learned that a challenger from my last group lost 7 lbs and 16.5 inches in just 30 days!  THAT, my friends, is why I am a beachbody coach.  The workouts WORK and they cannot lie... ;) HA

4.  I had a follow up appointment with my Orthodontist since I've had my braces off.  Everything looked great, so I got a good praise report.  I go back in 6 months just for another check-up.  Hallelujah.

5.  Josh and I are OFF for a weekend get-a-way.  I don't even know how I'm at work today and focused, actually getting a few things done.  Take THAT haters. 


SO, what are your favorites from the week/weekend?  What are you thankful for?

XO,

Why the Gym Isn't for me!

Josh has been begging (okay, not really begging), but has been bringing up the subject of him joining a gym the past year or two.  I've been toying around with the idea and just wasn't digging it.  After all, I am a Beachbody Coach.  I live and breathe and BELIEVE wholeheartedly in at-home workout programs.  The gym isn't necessary and something I never wanted to step foot in again.

SO- I finally agreed to getting a gym membership, if we joined a gym that had ZERO contracts and that I actually liked.  So, we joined our local YMCA.  Josh used to go when he was in High School and I went until a few years ago.

So, we got all signed up.  We took our pictures, paid our "dues" and off we went.  Well, not before I asked if there was a spot I could stream my workouts on my phone and do my at-home workout AT the gym.  They said they had a "small spot" where I could do that.  It's in the middle of the gym.  Three people were already in the corner doing their thing.

It took me 2 minutes in the gym to realize I didn't belong in there.  I got on a treadmill and then got off and told Josh I was going home to do my workout and that I would be back to get him.

A wave of emotions rolled over me and I just couldn't help it.  For some-- the gym is a place of relaxation and a time where they can release and let go.  For me, it's a place of struggle and hard times, and honestly it's a place that I just don't fit in. 

Plus, I never got my results from a gym.  I got my results from my at-home workouts with my personal trainer telling me what to do every step of the way.

I hope I find somewhere inside of me the strength to go to the gym every so often with Josh.  It's just a struggle of mine that I will have to face in the days and months to come. 

I want to ask you---- are you a gym rat OR not?  Who loves it, who hates it?!

XO,

// high five! It's Friday! //

TGIF. TGIF! 

So, we know it's Friday, so let me get on about my favs for the week! 

1. I've lost 3 lbs in 3 days of The 21 Day Fix. Hallelujah. I've gained 10 lbs in the past few months since getting married. Isn't there a term for that? Well, multiple pairs of skinny pants no longer buttoned, so I knew it was time to buckle down and do a workout I KNEW worked! The FIX is my go-to for so many reasons and I KNEW it would "fix" me right up! 

2. I'm wearing this cute dress today by Lilly Pulitzer. It's the same dress I wore in Josh and my engagement pictures, and the honeymoon. I figured it was only appropriate for a casual Friday at work. ;) 

3. Our annual audit at work is coming to a close, so the work load is getting a lot better. For about 3 months, work was slight hectic. I give mad props to all the accountants working 15+ hour days right now during tax season. I'm blessed to not have to do that! 

4. Elizabeth (one of my coaches on my Dynasty Dreamers team) and I started our next fitness accountability group online--- Spring into Fitness! Ahhhh participation is already up and my heart is on fire! 

So, I only have 4 things to mention on here. Although I have a million things I'm thankful for on a daily basis! 

Stay tuned this weekend for a post dedicated to Watson Mills-- the state park Josh and I went to last weekend. I have lots of pictures to upload and hope to have some downtime tomorrow to do just that! 

Easter weekend Re-Cap

I've been meaning to do a little Easter Re-Cap and haven't had a chance. I had a blast with Josh and spent a little too much time out in the fresh air.... My allergies are getting the best of me so far this week and I'm hoping they pass quickly.

Friday--- I was off work for Good Friday. Hallelujah. I love a Good Friday off. Josh and I went to a cute little country restaurant called Grits and Groceries. Their food is to die for and it was Josh's first try. 

How cute is the chicken!? 

We then spent the rest of the afternoon shopping at Lowes for some spring flowers and for more fertilizer. Josh also picked up a cute bulldog. Even I approved of the purchase. We also soaked up the sun on the back patio complete with an ice cream truck treat! 

(Photo to come) 

Saturday, Josh and I took the pups to Georgia to Watson Mills State Park. I had never been and it was neat walking the trails, seeing the one lane bridge, and looking at the falls and river. We will definitely be back. 

Sunday was a refreshing day. We started out with our church Service, followed by a brunch and then a joint Sunday school class. Then, we headed over to Josh's grandaddys house where he washed his truck that he's got up for sale and I got in a Beachbody on Demand (#BOD) Chalene Extreme workout. We took the pups with us and they enjoyed the sunshine. 

We finished the day with a traditional Easter dinner and spent it with my family. 

Blessed is all I can say. 

// high five! it's friday! //

Happy Friday!  Can you BA LEAVE it's already Friday?  Time flies by when you're having fun and especially when the weather is gawgeous.... except for today.  Spring decided to revert back to winter and it's raining and chilly out!

Here are 5 of my faves from this week and what I'm looking forward to!

1.  I started a new workout program- ChaLEAN Extreme on Monday.  So far, so good.  I'm a little worried about this weekend's exercise plans because I'm travelling, but I'm committed to getting them in somehow.

2.  Josh and I had a rare weekday date last night.  We went to The Mill House (a local wood fire pizza place).  Josh got a yummy pizza and I opted for the chicken salad.  Both were delicious and I was actually craving a salad (I crave them from time to time).  There was a local musician that was playing that Josh and I both like, so that was an added bonus to the date.  I also had a glass of wine.  There's not much better than a good glass of pinot grigio.

3.  This weekend I am going to visit my Grandparents in North Carolina.  I don't get to see them and spend time with them near as much as I would like to. I'm going with my Sister and her cute fam, so I get to spend time with them as well (I'm most excited about Cooper time, to be honest).

4.  Josh and I cooked a kickass chicken artichoke pasta Wednesday night.  It's one of my faves that I have never made for Josh before.  Don't know why not, but that's about to change.  It was a huge hit and I am craving some right now.

5. The weather during the first part of the week was gorgeous and warm.  The pups and I got a few good long walks in during the evening, and I'm thankful for that!

What are your 5 Friday Faves?  Share below!

5 CLEAN EATING tips for beginners!

Today is Tuesday and it's not just ANY Tuesday. Today starts the first of many great things to come...  

Today is TIP TUESDAY! 

I'm here to talk about 5 tips to help a beginner start implementing and incorporating CLEAN FOODS into their diet! 

So, I started a 75/25 clean eating lifestyle just about two years ago. Although I strive to do my best day in and day out, I still LOVE what I call 'dirty' foods. That sounds so wrong, doesn't it!? Oh well. 

So, these are a few things that worked for me and that were EASY things I could do without too much work. Here they are! 

#1- STOP eating plain white bread. Choose 100% whole wheat OR whole grain. 

#2- REPLACE regular pasta with, again, whole wheat or whole grain pasta. 

#3- KNIX the soda. It's bad for you. You'll thank me later. Try flavored water with real fruit or try La Croix water if you need the carbonation 

#4- when grocery shopping, shop the perimiter of the store and not so much in the food aisles. This is the veggies, fruits, meats, and dairy. 

#5- when in doubt, if a food has over 10 ingredients or it has something you can't pronounce, just drop it. Don't waste your time, money, or health on it. 

Maybe you've already heard or read these before, maybe it's new to you. I hope that at least ONE thing I've mentioned is helpful. And for goodness sake, if you're just starting off and you drink 12 cans of coke a day, then please ease into this lifestyle. No one says you have to cut cold turkey (unless YOU want to, of course). This is a lifestyle change, not a fad. So, do what you can in your time. 

*please note that I'm not a nutritionist, expert, or a dietician. I am just a human who makes mistakes (ouch, that was hard to admit) 

Healthy Banana Bread

I wanted to make it a priority to take on a banana bread recipe and make it health{ier} than most recipes I've seen.  A lot are filled with sugar, butter, white flour, etc.  Although I LOVE those ingredients, they don't always love ME!

So, I did some Pinterest browsing and came across a recipe I decided to give a GO with.  The recipe I used came from The Cooking Doctor.  I followed the directions just as they were laid out, except I substituted 2 cups of whole wheat flour in place of the regular white flour.  I also added chopped pecans AND a little extra spice (a sprinkle of cinnamon).  YUM.

The reason why this recipe caught my attention was because of the limited amounts of sugar (only called for 1/2 cup) and only 1/4 cup of butter (which is half a stick).  It also used plain Greek yogurt, which is one of my favs and something I keep stocked in my fridge.

Here's the recipe (adapted to my substitutions)

Healthy Banana Bread

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 45-60 mins
Yield: 1 loaf

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 ripe large bananas
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
a pinch of salt
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
splash of cinnamon
chopped pecans (about a handful--add more if you like em'!)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F.

Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer until blended and fluffy.

Add vanilla extract and then the eggs one by one.  Beat for another few minutes.

Add in the mashed bananas and then add in the yogurt.

Mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon) together in a separate bowl.  Once mixed, slowly add to the wet mixture.  Beat until combined.

Stir in the pecans and mix until well incorporated.

Pour into a greased loaf pan.  Bake for 45-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clear.


Notes: You can use regular flour instead of whole wheat, as was in the original recipe.  You can omit the nuts and go plain or you can add in chocolate chips.  Possibilities are endless.


The bread is a sweet treat, but not overly sweet like a cake.  To me, it's the perfect thing.  It's even better warmed with a lather of butter.  Try it, it's worth the extra calories.