Weekly Update – 10/10/2016

This was a pretty stressful week regarding work, but we also got to get out and enjoy time with friends and family!

Monday

Monday was covered in last week’s post.

Tuesday

Tuesday was a gorgeous fall day.  My husband usually goes for a walk/run in the morning before work.  On Tuesday he was gone for a whole 2 minutes before he came in and got on the treadmill.  Guess we aren’t used to the chill in the air yet!

Wednesday – Friday

I took a virtual class for work.  For any tech nerds out there, I’m trying to get ITIL Expert certified.  ITIL is basically best practices how to run an IT Department. I am already ITIL Foundation (aka beginner level) certified.  I was taking class one of FIVE that I’ll have to take (intermediate level).  Each class has an exam you have to pass afterward.  I didn’t realize when I signed up for the class that we didn’t take the exam the last day of class like other classes I’ve done.  I had to sign up to take it on Monday.

Saturday

I had to work for about 5 hours on Saturday, some planned, some studying.  Michael and I attended a wedding for my trainers Nicole and Danny! It was a beautiful day up in Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore.  Such a beautiful wedding.

Selfies in the car!

Sometimes I clean up and wear makeup!

 

Sunday

On Sunday, we checked out a local church (we commute to a church 30 minutes away). Since we are building a home and putting down roots here, we want to find a church home that is closer.  Afterward, we headed down to NC to see Michael’s parents.  Sunday night included more studying!

How was your week? Has the weather been where you are?

 

Weekly Update – 4/25/16 + My brother got married!

This was a great week.  Mostly because I was lazy and because my brother got married!!!!

Monday

Got in a quick mile before yoga.  Class was pretty crowded.  My knee is still getting better, but there are some things I do that it says “nope” to.  Its been two months!

Tuesday

I didn’t get a workout in.  My hand wash/gentle laundry (aka all of my work clothes) has been piling up and I needed to get it done.  I hate doing it because I have to hang dry all of them and it stinks.  So I got that done and starting getting myself together for my brother’s wedding this weekend.

Wednesday

On Wednesday, I got some more laundry done, and packed for the weekend.

Thursday

Left work early to head up to Charlottesville for my brother’s wedding!  The trip was pretty uneventful.  We got checked into our hotel, then grabbed dinner at a steakhouse.  I had some wonderful salmon!

Friday

On Friday, we got up to head into Charlottesville so I could get my nails done with the girls.  It was a fun time, full of mimosas and getting to know each other.  After Michael and I left Charlottesville, we went back to the hotel to get some lunch and get ready for rehearsal.  We got to Veritas early for rehearsal and had a glass of wine.  Rehearsal finished early, so we had some more wine until it was time to go to dinner.

Dinner was at a cool place called “The Local” in Charlottesville.  Yummy food and a great time.

Michael, me and my sister Grace

 

Saturday

My brother got married!!! I’ll spare you all the details so here are the highlights:

• getting ready starting at 10am for a 6pm wedding
• Lots of champagne
• pretty hair and makeup
• bride freaking out about the weather
• deciding to hold the wedding outside because its not supposed to rain until 9pm
• rains through the entire outside wedding
• we dance and party the night away

A little rain can’t stop these two! *

stunning!*

Ignore my dumb face I’m making…isn’t my brother handsome?

Dad, Laura and Jaryd!

 

* Photo credit to William Walker Photography

Sunday

Sunday was spent recovering from our hangovers.  We got on the road around 10:30, stopped at Tiffanys to get our rings cleaned, then stopped at the Continental for a late brunch, complete with mimosas and omelets!

It was a great week and now its back to reality! How was y0ur week?

Weekly Update – 4/4/16

Monday

Monday was a day off of work and a travel day back from Atlantic City.  Nothing too crazy, but we did stop for a yummy lunch at a cool place called Blacksmith Bar and Restaurant.  They are a farm to table type restaurant.  Totally unexpected up on the Eastern Shore in the middle of nowhere!

Yummy locally sourced salad!

 

We also stopped at Island Creamery because ice cream.  I didn’t take a picture of my ice cream, but I’ll recycle an old picture because I get the same thing every time!

Tuesday

Work kicked my butt. I didn’t work out, and I don’t feel bad about it.

Wednesday

Went for a normal checkup at the doctor and my blood pressure was high (its normally on the lower side of normal).  Does anyone else get high blood pressure at the doctor’s office? I hate going to the doctor and it sends my stress levels through the roof!

Made it back to yoga on Wednesday and class was great.  My knee is able to tolerate a lot more pressure on it, so I don’t have to modify poses as much.  Its been a month since my fall at work, so I’m relieved its finally feeling much better.

Thursday

I had to work late on Thursday.  Stopped by my mom’s house on the way home and had her check my blood pressure.  It still high.  This is a clear sign to me that I need to find a way to reduce my stress and do all the other things I should be doing to take care of myself.  My lack of consistency in working out and eating right has certainly started taking more of a toll.  How can I be this stressed after a vacation!?

Friday

Friday was a surprisingly relaxed day at work.  We went out to dinner with my dad and stepmom.  I resisted the urge to get all the bad things, and got one of the healthier options on the menu.

Saturday

On Saturday I got up and got in 3 miles on the treadmill.  I showered, enjoyed an iced coffee, and vegged out for awhile.  I had some Jersey Mike’s for lunch, then went to get my bridesmaid’s dress altered (for my brother’s wedding).

I spent the rest of the day being a complete bum and watching Jurassic Park on TV.

Sunday

Had church responsibilities in the morning.  Afterward, we had tickets to the Norfolk Tides baseball game (minor league team).  We got them from work…didn’t realize how nice the suite was!

We stayed until the 8th inning, then got on the road.  I wasn’t feeling well. We spend the rest of the night vegging out.

How was your week? Do you like baseball?

Weekly Update – 6/22/15

Monday

I really wanted to get to yoga, but sometimes the best laid plans fail.  Next week?

Tuesday

Workout with Nicole, and thank God it was inside.  Heat index of 110 degrees? No thanks.

Four Rounds:

1. 8 hex bar deadlifts

2. 4 reverse lunges with goblet squat hold

Three Rounds:

1. 10 hip hinges

2.20 overhead ball slams (14 lbs)

3. Jump squats with resistance at shins

We came home to 2 packages.  The first was a canvas from our photographer!!! It is beautiful and I can’t wait to figure out where to hang it! The second was the storage shelves we were waiting for in order to organize our the downstairs bathroom.  I put them together while watching Pretty Little Liars and I’m so relieved to have them done!

Wednesday

Newlywed night!  Michael and I have been super busy lately, so we decided we needed a night for just us…..well that didn’t happen.  I had to deal with some drama with my new eyeglasses.  I didn’t get home from that until after 7pm.  We cooked yummy food on the grill, then my mom stopped by.  We pretty much went to bed after she left.

Thursday

Nicole night.  I was ridiculously sore from our workout on Tuesday (thanks to being lazy on my honeymoon).

Three Rounds:

1. 10 Y raises with resistance band

2. 10 inchworm pushups

Three Rounds:

1. 10 prone chest press

2. 10 kneeling overhead press

Two Rounds:

1. 10 overhead kneeling wall slams

2. 10 hip drops each side

Two Rounds (with the FIT class):

1. Run, 5 burpees

2. Run, 5 squat jumps

3. Run 5 pushups

4. Run

After we got home and showered up, we heated up some leftovers, then watched Extreme Weight Loss.  We love the show and are always so impressed at the drastic changes people are able to make in their lives.

Friday

Friday night was a chill night.  I had a terrible day at work.  My sister was in town, so I stopped over at my mom’s house to see them and my nephew, Weston!  I held him for about an hour…he’s such a sweet baby.  After I got home, Michael and I went to Mexican with his brother.  Yum!

OMG that face.

Saturday

Saturday was a day filled with a ton of emotion.  We had the going away party for my trainer and his girlfriend.  All of their clients and the group exercise class came to one of the member’s house for the send off.  We had a lot of yummy breakfast, then every member and trainer had an opportunity to speak. I cried.  Didn’t think that I would, but I was just so overwhelmed with how much we loved them and how much we’ll miss them being in our lives every day.  I had been dreading this day for a long time.

Danny and Nicole shared a wonderful moment with us – Danny chose to propose to Nicole at this gathering.  I was sitting right next to her and it was the sweetest moment to witness.  I am so incredibly happy for them.  It was a perfect ending to a wonderful morning.

You can see the top of my head over Nicole’s head!

He did good!

Later that evening, Michael and I went to my cousin’s wedding.  Tyler is my stepdad’s nephew, and his new wife Erin is one of the sweetest people you’ve ever met!  The rain ruined a lot of the day, and they had to revert to their rain plan, but they handled it like champs!

My stepdad and his grandbaby Weston!

 

Wedding selfie!

Sunday

After church, Michael and I headed down to VA Beach to do some people watching.  It was a gorgeous day out and it was nice to get out to the beach.  Afterward, we came home and did our weekly grocery shopping.  We got some fantastic salmon and cooked it up on our new grill.

Yummy!

 How was your week? What’s the hottest temperature you will work out in? Have you ever witnessed a proposal?

Weekly Update – 6/15/15

Monday

We had gotten back from the honeymoon late on Saturday night.  We mostly bummed around on Sunday.  Monday morning was all about the Social Security Office to change my name.  OMG, that place is evil.  Thankfully, we only spent a little over an hour there.  We did a bunch of stuff to clean up the house and get our life in order.

At night, it was Jurassic World time!  I was super excited about the movie and I couldn’t wait to see it!  It did not disappoint!

Tuesday

Tuesday morning was all about the DMV!  We did not spend much time there at all which was miraculous. Maybe around a half hour!? And the people were surprisingly pleasant!  We did some more errand running and cleaning later in the day.

Wednesday

Wednesday was our first day back to work after a glorious two weeks off!

Thursday

I had kind of been dreading Thursday cause I knew it was the first day back to the gym.  Since Danny got let go the week of the wedding, I was working with Nicole.  She took it super easy on me – thank the Lord!

Dynamic Warmup – RDL reaches and inchworm pushups

Three Rounds:

1. 10 Goblet squats (25 lb KB)

2. 8 Single leg RDLs each side (20 lb KB)

Three rounds:

10 resistance band paloff press

After our workout, I had to talk to the director of the trainers to discuss my future with training.  Danny was let go during my absence at the gym, and Nicole is leaving at the end of the month.  The time I was dreading finally came.  I decided to finish out the month with Nicole, suspend my contract and see what I want to do after some time away.  I love the accountability of a trainer, but I feel like I have benefited from some wonderful trainers that have equipped me with all the tools to be successful on my own.  There are only a handful of trainers left that I remotely trust, but I can’t see paying that much money for a trainer that I don’t love.

On Thursday night, my mom and stepdad brought over our wedding present: a grill!!!! We are so excited to start using it!

Friday

Friday night, I couldn’t wait to get home after work.  Even though our first week back was short, it was hard to come back!  We went out to get some mexican with my brother in law.

Saturday

Saturday AM was very hot….so naturally I decided it was a perfect time to mow the lawn.  I was pouring sweat the entire time.  I tried to pull weeds in the flower beds, but quickly gave up on that in favor of air conditioning.  Sorry flower beds.

Sunday

We went back to church on Sunday, which was great.  After church, we visited Michael’s dad for father’s day, then my dad, then my stepdad! It was quite a busy day, but good to see them all.

What did you do for Father’s Day? What was your best experience ever at the DMV?

I’m married!!!!

Hey ya’ll.  I’m baaaaaaack! And I’m married!!!!

Once I get back to the daily grind, I’ll start posting again, but I wanted to share a few wedding pictures first!

You can check out more pictures on Katelyn James Photography’s blog here!

One of my favorites!

We called this the “Beatles” pose!

 

Missed you guys!

Trying on Wedding Dresses!

I’m finally going shopping for my wedding dress on Saturday! (tomorrow)

I’m being cautiously optimistic about finding “the dress” on my first trip – but how COOL would it be if I did!  I’m going to have an interesting mix of people there with me: my mom, my future mother-in-law, my stepmom and Julee (long-time friend and bridesmaid).

I’m going to a lovely little couture shop – so I’m hoping to get a more personalized experience.

Any tips for my shopping experience? Is there anything you wish you had done/hadn’t done?

One year away!

Let the countdown begin!!!! Oh wait, I’ve already been counting down….Ya’ll, I’m getting married a year from TODAY, and I couldn’t be more excited!

Wedding planning has been slightly stressful thus far, and there is a TON more ahead of me, but thankfully, I have the really big things out of the way and done! Here’s a bit of a sneak peek:

Venue – We’ll be getting married at my alma mater: Christopher Newport University (CNU)!

Catering – CNU will be doing the catering and its gonna be oh so yummy!

Photographer – The amazing and fantastic Katelyn James (now Katelyn Alsop) will be capturing our big day.  I am so beyond excited to have her!  Katelyn and I have known each other for almost 10 years and I have seen her business grow over the years.  She and I were on worship team together in college and she is such a beautiful soul.

DJ/Lights – My friend Eric will be my DJ and do our lighting for the wedding.  He is starting his own business: Surf and Sound Events, and we are so excited to support this new chapter in his life.

I have an appointment to try on dresses at the end of the month!  I’m not normally a super girly girl, but I totally will be that day.  I’m excited 🙂 I don’t have any preconceived notions of finding THE DRESS the first time I go, but hey, maybe I’ll get lucky!

I’m excited about all the things that go into the wedding day, but I’m so much more excited to start my life with Michael.  This year will certainly be a test of patience. I’m trying so hard to enjoy this season of life…you aren’t engaged forever, after all!

What things in your life are you counting down to? Are you a good planner, or does planning stress you out?

 

Training and Planning a Wedding

I don’t know about you, but the idea of wedding planning while training (and working full time) terrifies me!  I know people have juggled many more things that that, but for me it seems a tad overwhelming.

We are meeting with our favorite venue this week and I hope to be able to make a decision on that and check that off the list.  Once we do that, I can lock in my photographer and I’ll have the two major things that are important to me.  I know you are thinking, “Wow, that was fast, she just got engaged!” Yup, its fast.  BUT – weddings for Spring 2015 are booking up fast and I want to get those things locked in!

I will be doing the Crawlin Crab half in October and Shamrock again next March.  I have a feeling that there will be a lot of wedding stuff going on during Shamrock training.  Here’s to hoping I can train and plan (and work full time) all at the same time 🙂

So I know I usually blog about running and training, but I’ll probably talk a lot about wedding stuff on here – because hey; its part of my journey!

Did you train for an event while planning a wedding? How do you manage to balance life and training?