Happy Friday, friends! Thanksgiving 2017 is in the books!
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had a busy but great day.
And just like every Friday, I am linking up with Erika, Andrea and Narci to share our FAVORITES for the week.
ONE
We’ve had a great week off with the kiddos. Now, I’m not going lie, Monday was rough. It started off great. The girls sat by the fire and played while I read. I thought, maybe this will be the break when they all get along. Ha! Yeah, Monday was rough. I am not sure what was wrong with my kids, but evil monsters they were!
I did snap this picture before the horns came out LOL!!!
So peaceful right? Yeah…didn’t last long!
TWO
Tuesday, Jojo had a hair appointment. While he was getting his hair cut, one of his best buddies came in to get his cut as well. So of course, scheming began and Jojo ended up hanging with him the rest of the day. I love those boys!
Since it was just me and the girls, we enjoyed lunch at Chick-Fil-A!
THREE
I am a wimp when it comes to cold weather. I hate being cold so the rower has been my best friend. Y’all, I prefer a rower to a treadmill! If you are looking for something to have at home, I definitely recommend one! I try to get a couple of 5Ks each week if I can.
FOUR
One year ago, we had our island installed in our kitchen. We moved into our house two years ago and have loved making it our own. We’ve made a lot of changes and still have a couple more to go, but the kitchen is by far my favorite room in our house. We still need to replace the light fixtures above the island and our appliances. We are also debating changing out the black granite to more of a white. Here’s our progress so far…
Before
After
Our cabinets are Divine White and our walls are Revere Pewter. Perfect color combo!
FIVE
A couple of weeks ago, we had Friendsgiving with our small group and my friend brought a blueberry dump cake. It was delicious. I’ve made it three times since then and it’s been a hit every time. If you are looking for something yummy and easy, try this!
SIX
As always, love our CrossFit 30549 family! Enjoyed working out with our crew Thanksgiving morning.
SEVEN
We had a great Thanksgiving Day! Lunch at Joseph’s Nana’s and then back to our house for dinner with my family. So thankful for this crazy crew I get to call mine.
I am known to be a little OCD. Ok, maybe not a little ha! I always want the kiddos dressed nice and sometimes even coordinate outfits. But this year, I let them dress themselves. I took a more laid back approach to the holiday. I am trying my best to not sweat the small stuff and enjoy all moments, big and small.
And that wraps up this week’s Friday Favorites. I am off to pack and clean the house. Joseph and I leave for our anniversary trip in the morning. Please say a prayer for us and our kiddos. Pray for my sister who will stay with our kids while we are gone.
I get super anxious when I fly. This message has definitely been a timely message for me.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and week! I will see you all soon!
Y’all. This week. Gracious. We had SIX softball games in Four days, Football practice three of those days and we hosted small group at our house. Today, we have our school fundraiser for the big kids and my crossfit team is doing our weekly team workout.
Not to mention, laundry is piled up, bedrooms need cleaning and my sink has not been empty all week. #momminainteasy
But it’s Friyay and that makes me happy!
Today, I am linking up with Erica, Andrea and Narci to share some of our favorite things from the week. Grab your coffee, take a breather and get comfy.
ONE
I was looking through old pictures and came across this one. Can we just take a minute to look at my sweet girl? We’ve had a rough week y’all. She has been extra whiny and emotional. She cried one morning because I started to fix Mary’s hair before I did hers. It’s been rough, but then I see these pictures and it reminds me that my baby isn’t a baby anymore.
I normally try to space out having lunch with the kiddos at school. It was Jojo’s day, but she cried and well…I made it work. Jojo has “brunch” at 10:55 so I went to Hardees at his request ha! Chicken biscuits for him and his buddy. Then I left a little early around 11:20 to go back to Hardees and get this sweet thing some chicken tenders and fries. She has lunch at 10:32 so I was cutting it close, but I made it!
TWO
Mary went on her first overnight field trip to Jekyll Island last week. She had a blast, but we were so happy to have her home. I felt like a “bad mom” because I didn’t go with her, but she was well taken care of by all of my sweet momma friends. I think it really helped her to do this without me. Earlier this year, she struggled with anxiety and some minor panic attacks. I was so worried that it would all come back, but thank God it didn’t. Mackenzie missed Mary! As much as they fight, they really do love each other. Mackenzie made Mary a sweet card while she was gone.
THREE
I am loving my new Halloween booty shorts and sports bra by Born Primitive. You can read all about this awesome brand here. Ladies, if you are looking for a new sports bra-check them out! Use my BFF’s code: Sanders15 for 15% off.
FOUR
This week was lunch with my kids week. I try to do this a couple of times during the school year. The weather was beautiful this week so we sat outside.
FIVE
It’s competition month at our crossfit box. We are celebrating our ONE year anniversary all month-long. Here I am #meanmuggin representing my #teamnumberjuan.
I love watching our morning crew interact with the evening crew, athletes lifting heavier, running faster, jumping on a box and rope climbing for the first time. We’ve had a blast! If you are looking for a community of athletes from all different walks of life and fitness levels, come see us! You don’t have to be “in shape” to come. We help you get there. All of our workouts can be scaled and modified to fit your fitness level. I promise you can do it! Check us out on Facebook!
SIX
My sister-in-law dropped off some goodies at our house this week. In the goody bag was this awesome, big jar of squash relish. Oh my. Y’all. This stuff is so good.
SEVEN
My sweet Mackenzie made me this card at school. Gosh I love that girl!
EIGHT
On Sunday, we decided to go to 12 Stone Church. We are “in between” churches I guess you can say. After dad passed away, I wanted nothing to do with church. We didn’t go for over a year and then couldn’t get in a good routine of going. On Sunday, our schedule was a little off so we opted to go to 12 Stone. I’m so glad we did. It was exactly what I needed. We started a new series that you can watch here.
What I have loved is that each day, they have a devotion that goes back to the message from Sunday. It’s really challenged Joseph and I this week.
Here’s Day 1. There’s links to the following days at the bottom if you want to follow along.
If you are a praying friend. I know not everyone prays, but if you do will you pray for us? We have struggled to find a church home since dad passed. Pray that we can find a place that will challenge, encourage and help us grow in our walk with God.
This Instagram post spoke such truth to my heart this week.
NINE
I am hosting a Virtual Bible Study and would love for you to join me! We will start this Sunday. You can read all the details here. I’ve worked on it this week to get a head start and it’s going to be so good! It’s already encouraged and challenged me so much!
TEN
A couple of weeks ago I spotted these cute shoes at Old Navy. I am a sucker for leopard print and love that it’s back in style this fall. You need these shoes! Pair them with some jeans and a plaid shirt for a fun fall look.
And that wraps up this week’s Friday Favorites.
We have a busy but fun weekend ahead. It is finally feeling like fall around here and we’ve been blessed with some beautiful days. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Good morning everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful Thursday. We’ve had a super busy week around here and it does not seem like it is slowing down any time soon.
Our crossfit box is doing a competition this month to celebrate our ONE year anniversary. We’ve had so much fun! Athletes are excited, they are lifting heavier, running faster, jumping on boxes, rope climbing. I am so proud of all of them and super thankful for our community.
I shared a little bit about how this community motivates me every day and helps get me out of a fitness slump. You can read a little bit about that here. It’s so important to have friends who will motivate you and keep you accountable.
As a coach, many times I have to go in to do my workout in between classes. As someone who is used to working out with friends, it’s hard getting it done by myself. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good run with my headphones on and favorite tunes playing. But when it comes to crossfit, I love my workout buddies.
There is so much that motivates me to workout, but today I am talking about one of my favorite things.
Workout clothes!
Yes you read that right! Since this is my daily attire, I own a lot of workout clothes. Ask my hubby who insists that I don’t need anymore. In which I respond, you can never have too much ha!
I am faithful to the brands I have come to love. My list is short because I’m pretty picky when it comes to my workout attire. It needs to pass the test of being comfortable, durable and most importantly it needs to be cute. Let’s face it you look good, you feel good right?
I have shared my love for Lululemon, but today I want to tell you about another one of my favorite brands.
My best friend and business partner, Staci is an ambassador and is the one who introduced me to the brand. It took some time before I finally ordered some of their very popular booty shorts, but after I tried them on I knew why Staci loved them so much.
Not only are they comfortable, they have a longer inseam to keep you covered and they don’t ride up when you are working out. They have all kinds of fun patterns to choose from. These are their Halloween shorts that I am absolutely in love with! Aren’t they adorable? I think they are sold out, but be on the look out because Christmas ones are coming. These shorts are not only for crossfit. You can wear them to yoga, boot camp, weightlifting, running and of course hanging out around the house.
Now ladies, let’s talk sport bras. So I have to admit. I was quickly sold on the booty shorts, but I just couldn’t convince myself to spend the money for a sports bra. Let’s just say…shame on me for waiting this long! Y’all. You all need a Born Primitive sports bra. Trust me on this one. This is the most comfortable sports bra I’ve bought. It fits perfectly and doesn’t feel like it’s cutting off my circulation. It gives me the support I need while working out because that is super important. You ladies know what I’m talking about. Our girls need support ha!
Sports bras and booty shorts are not the only items they sell. They recently added yoga pants and have a great variety of tanks, long sleeve shirts and sweatshirts. I love that you can wear them to the gym and around town running errands. They also have a men’s line for all the guys out there.
I love Born Primitive not only for their clothing line, but also for what they stand for. You can read all about it here, but I wanted to share this quote from their page:
“Born Primitive was created for the modern savages out there who reject this notion and refuse to accept the mediocrity that society now fosters. Whether it’s at the gym or in life, our beliefs are simple. Set goals, relentlessly strive to achieve them, and never make excuses. Look people in the eye and give them a firm handshake. Your word is your bond. Throw your conventional limits out the window and realize your true potential.”
I just love that. Don’t settle for mediocrity folks. Set goals and fight to achieve them. Not only in your fitness, but in all aspects of life. Reach for the stars. Don’t give up and fight to the end.
And lastly, I love Born Primitive because they give back. You can read all about the charities they support here. Ladies you need to go and buy their Bright Pink Edition Vitality Sports Bra. During the month of October they are donating $10 for every Pink Splash Bra directly to Bright Pink.
I love a brand that gives back!
So there you have it why I love Born Primitive. Now go online and start shopping and use my BFF’s code: Sanders15 for 15% off.
Good Monday morning friends! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend. Fall break is over and back to school the kids go.
I’ve been on the struggle bus the last week or so with my workouts and nutrition. I had surgery at the beginning of August and took about six weeks off. The break was nice and much-needed, but it’s time to get busy. Getting back into a workout routine or starting a new routine is hard.
Growing up I wasn’t much of an athlete. I played basketball and soccer, but I wasn’t the best. I was always one of the slower ones and to be honest I just wasn’t very good!
I spent my summer mornings working out in a sweat suit to my mom’s Jazzercise videos ha! That was the extent of working out for me and the way I got rid of those extra pounds I put on during the summer.
During my twenties I got married, had babies, battled anxiety and depression so exercise wasn’t even on my mind. I wish I would’ve lived a more active lifestyle back then. But I’ve learned that it’s never too late to start.
After I had Mackenzie, my crazy hubby decided to train for a half-marathon. Not really knowing what that was, I didn’t want to be left out, so I decided to train too. I will never forget that first mile I set out to do. Y’all. Bless my heart. I mean I thought in my head that running couldn’t be THAT hard. Yeah…let’s just say it took me about 30 minutes to get through a mile and a half. I remember thinking what the heck did I agree to? I can’t even make it two miles how am I going to make it 13.1?
I set my mind on my goal and fought through the hard days. I gave myself small goals and developed a good routine of getting up early to run. I had three kids under four so waking up at 6:30-ish was the only time I had.
I slowly began to enjoy it. It was my time to focus on myself and prepare my mind for the day. I remember the first time I ran an entire mile without stopping. I danced and danced on the side of the road not caring one bit what people thought of me as they drove by. As the weeks went by, I added more miles and then found myself running anywhere from 7-8 miles on a Saturday morning. I loved it!
I was hooked to the rush, the endorphins, the feeling of accomplishing something I never thought I could do.
Years later Joseph and I began CrossFit and that was a game changer for both of us. I know CrossFit isn’t for everyone, but sometimes I think that a lot of people have a skewed view of it. CrossFit has given me the strength and endurance to do life! A farmers carry is like carrying all my grocery bags into my house and a deadlift has taught me how to correctly pick up something heavy. I’m not trying to get you to come to CrossFit, but I totally am partial and think you should ;).
Going through a slump or wanting to get started can be overwhelming. We’ve convinced ourselves that we can’t do it or aren’t athletic enough. It is a mental game and overcoming your mind is step 1.
This morning I want to encourage you to get active. Whether you are going through a fitness hiatus or you are trying to get started-here are a couple of helpful things that I do to help get me back on the fitness wagon.
SET GOALS AND CRUSH THEM
Setting goals is a must for me. I work better under pressure and with a plan and goal in mind. I am a list girl. I love to write lists, but even more I love crossing things off my lists. Setting goals and accomplishing them is so satisfying and empowering.
I mentioned overcoming your mind is step 1. Once you do that-set out a plan. What do you want to accomplish? Do you want to run a certain amount of miles? Do you want to lean out and tone? Or do you just want to be active.
Give yourself a goal of 30 minutes a day. Run/jog/walk for 30 minutes. Each week increase those 30 minutes by 5-10 minutes. Don’t think about the miles. The miles will come.
When I started running I tried the apps where they told me when to run and walk. They didn’t work for me. Instead I listened to music and set out to run as far as I could. Once I felt like I couldn’t run any longer I would walk and give myself a marker on the road such as a garbage can, street sign or bush. Once I reached that marker, I would run again. I slowly began to run longer and walked less.
Breathing while running is super important. I taught my athletes in the 6:45 morning class to think about Lamaze class. The “hee hee hoo” breathing technique I called it ha! Getting your breathing under control will help lots!
For those going through a hiatus-give yourself a goal of a certain number of days you want to get in for the week. If you are a runner-set out to run three days a week. If you go to a fitness class do the same. Set out a number of days and increase a day each week. Before you know it, you will be back at it. Muscle memory is great and you will realize that after a couple of weeks you are close to where you were when you quit.
Schedule Your Day
Go ahead and schedule your workout. Put it in your planner or phone. Set that time aside. As moms it’s hard finding time. I’ve found that early mornings are best for me. It stinks getting up early at first, but your body gets used to it. Set out your clothes the night before, go to bed early and set your alarm.
Sometimes afternoons are then only time that works and that’s ok too. Mom’s with older kiddos-go for a walk during practice or bring your yoga mat and dumbbells with you. I’m sure there’s a mom or two that would join you!
A little sidenote here….do not feel bad for setting this time aside. Absolutely not. We are working on us so that we can be better wives, moms and friends.  I am a better person when I am working on me. I used to feel bad for bringing my kids to the gym with me. Not anymore. It is ONE hour of their day and it isn’t hurting them to sit and let mommy have her time. Before you know it they will want to join you. You are setting a good example of being active. I love that my kids want to workout with me.
Moms-be encouraging to one another. If working out isn’t your thing don’t put those that do down. We are all different. Our seasons are different. Our priorities and our lives are different. And that is ok! You do you and I’ll do me.
Ok. Sidenote over.
Find a Support System
One of my favorite things about CrossFit is my people. My community, my tribe. I look forward to going to class and when I’m not there I get a text asking me where I was. A good support system of encouraging friends is a must.
CrossFit may not be for you-no hurt feelings. But find something that is. Whether it’s meeting to run with friends, a spin class, yoga or boot camp. There are so many different ways to stay active. Find which one works for you and do it. But most importantly, find a place that will encourage, motivate and push you. A place where coaches will be there to help you and teach you correct form and technique.
I’m partial, but my community is the bomb.com. These friends have gone through so much with me. Sickness, death, hardships, anxiety, issues with kiddos… I am who I am because of these folks. They are my tribe and I am so thankful for them.
So are you ready? Set some goals girlfriend, believe in yourself, plan your day and find a tribe that will push you.
But above all-GRACE, GRACE, GRACE.
Do not quit if you miss a workout. If the kiddos are sick and you haven’t done anything in days-do not let your mind convince you that all your hard work is ruined. Get back on that wagon and hold on. You can do anything you set your mind on. I believe it. I’ve lived it. And you can too.
I hope you have a wonderful Monday. The alarm is going off and it’s time to wake up the kiddos.
I just love this month. The (hopefully) cooler weather, jeans, boots, sweaters, pumpkins, costumes and all the wonderful things that fall brings.
This week we are out-of-town at one of our favorite spots, Hilton Head Island. I look forward to Fall Break every year. It’s a week to rest and recharge. A week off all things school and sports.
Since I am on vacation, I thought it would be a great time to talk about tips on how to stay active while on vacation, workouts and nutrition. It can be easy to fall off track while on vacation. I know for me, I love my mornings on vacation. Drinking coffee, enjoying the quiet, reading a book or just sitting on the porch. I do enjoy several mornings of this, but try to add in runs, workouts or fun activities with my family. It is all about finding a good balance.
Be Prepared
Pack your workout clothes yo! If you are driving to your destination, pack your weights, resistance bands, jump ropes and anything else you can. This will help add in variety to your workouts. If you don’t have weights that’s ok! There are plenty of workouts you can still do.
Plan Ahead
I am a planner. A list maker. A girl who loves to know what she’s doing with plenty of time in advance. For me, a lot of the battle is mental so I go ahead and set a tentative plan in my mind. It’s tentative because if I miss a day, I don’t beat myself up. It is vacation! If you CrossFit, plan to visit a local box. If you are a runner, plan what days you will go for a run. Setting that plan in your mind helps keep you accountable. And if you are traveling with a group that also enjoys working out, do it together!
Involve Your Family and Friends
You do not have to go out and run miles and miles and miles or go to the hotel fitness center for hours. You can make staying active fun! Go for a hike, walk on the beach, play spike ball or volleyball, golf or go shopping! My husband would disagree that shopping is exercising, but it totally can be.
We love renting bikes and taking the kiddos out riding. We normally set one day aside as “bike day.” We ride our bikes around the island and grab lunch. You will be surprised at how many miles you put in by the end of the day.
As a box owner, I’ve had a lot of athletes ask me for ideas of WODs (workout of the day) while on vacation. There are so many on the web that it can be a little overwhelming when trying to find them. Here are a couple of my favorites:
A. 20 Minute AMRAP (as many rounds as possible)
5 Push ups
10 Sit ups
15 Air Squats
Add in a one or two-mile run at the beginning or the end and you have a great 30-40 minute workout.
B. 4 Rounds for Time
Run 400m
50 Air Squats
C. 100 Burpees for Time
D. For time
Run 1 mile, lunging 30 steps every 1 minute. (Keep your hands off of your thighs!)
E. Run a 5K
Next up, nutrition. Oh me. The hardest part of vacation. Resisting the urge to splurge. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. It’s all about balance.
I am one to go crazy on vacation and then come back home with an extra set of pounds and regret. It leaves me feeling gross and makes it hard getting back on track when I get home. This is why, for me, staying active is so important.
Choose a healthy breakfast
Oatmeal, whole grain toast, turkey bacon and eggs. This will help get you started on the right track for the day.
Healthy Snacks
I make sure to bring my protein powder and yogurt bars when travelling. If I have a refrigerator I make sure to have Greek yogurt, fruit and deli meat on hand. This keeps me on plan with my snacks and helps me avoid reaching for the cookies or the potato chips. Water is your best friend! Lots and lots of water!
Choose a Healthy and Light Lunch
When we go to the beach, we pack snacks and lunch for the day. So when packing, I make sure to go ahead and pack something relatively healthy. I roll up slices of turkey and ham with cheese and some pretzel crisps. I make sure to pack lots of fruit in our cooler.
Dinner
When we are in HHI, we eat out most nights. There are so many restaurants that we love so we make sure to hit as many as we can. I choose to have a glass or two of wine with my meal and don’t fret too much about the calories. Again, it’s vacation!
When we go to PCB with friends we eat in for dinner every night. This year we were spoiled with our friend Rod’s cooking. We try to balance out healthy options like spaghetti squash or steaks and a salad. One night we have a Low Country Broil. Our friend’s uncle makes the best mac n’ cheese. Believe me. I am not thinking about calories that day ha!
Everyone is different when it comes to staying active on vacation. Some choose to do something daily, others may choose to do something here or there and others may take a complete break. There isn’t a right or wrong way.
Our bodies and our mind need a periodic break. This summer I chose to take a complete break off of counting macros, but I also balanced it out with staying active as many days as I could. It’s all about balance y’all. And grace. Don’t be so hard on yourself for missing a couple of days. But when you get home….hit it hard!
I am known to be a little OCD. Ok, maybe not a little ha! I always want the kiddos dressed nice and sometimes even coordinate outfits. But this year, I let them dress themselves. I took a more laid back approach to the holiday. I am trying my best to not sweat the small stuff and enjoy all moments, big and small.
Mackenzie missed Mary! As much as they fight, they really do love each other. Mackenzie made Mary a sweet card while she was gone.
