Fun Facts Friday

Here are 20 random and ridiculous facts about myself. Some things you should know if we are going to be BFFs:

1. I can make some of the most ridiculous funny/ugly faces when posing for pictures. My friends and family can attest to this.

2. I loving re-arranging furniture in rooms, I like changing things up!

3. I love to cook, but I don’t like to bake. If I can’t eat all of it in one sitting, it’s not worth my time 

4. I am constantly leaving cabinets and drawers open after I use them. My husbands pet peeve. Oops.

5. I don’t like to clean, but sometimes I just get in the mood and can go for hours.

6. I don’t like tomatoes or blueberries. But I so badly wish I did!

7. I didn’t use to like breakfast, but now it is becoming one of my favorite meals. I get excited about what I am going to eat the night before! This weeks current rotation: dippy eggs, turkey bacon and raspberries. Mmmm.

8. I eat every 3 or 4 hours. Literally. I pack a mid morning-snack, lunch, and afternoon snack for work.

9. I am mostly an introvert. If I don’t get at least one night at home by myself or with the Hubs with no plans, it stresses me out.

10. I want to be a stay-at-home mama one day.

11. I love watching the Real Housewives. All of them. Don’t judge.

12. I hate confrontation. More than anything. I would rather suppress feelings than bring them up. Something I am trying to get better at it!

13. I would much rather have a night in than go out. A night in a cozy house with friends and family is much better than a loud bar or restaurant in my eyes!

14. I am married to my perfect other half. He is good at the things I am not, and vice versa. He makes me a better person 

15. We keep a running list of baby names we love and may use someday. We have also decided that we will not be sharing our children’s names with the world until they are born. I value others opinions too much and fear someone might make me second guess  a name I love.

16. We love planning vacations, and start planning the next year’s anniversary trip immediately after we get back from the previous one.

17. A lot of times I will sing song lyrics out loud in a really weird voice, and I won’t even notice until Nick calls me out on it. He thinks its hysterical.

18. We like to “white boy dance” in the kitchen while making dinner. Think: the cheesiest most awkward dance moves ever.

19. I won my school spelling bee every year in elementary school, and even went to State in 8^th grade. Nerd alert.

20. I am learning to love the season I am in right now, without looking too far ahead to the next. It has always been a struggle of mine, but something I am working on!

~Lauren

A Little Advice

Advice is a funny thing. Sometimes we crave it but can’t seem to find it anywhere, and sometimes it is unsolicited but exactly what we need to hear. When I think about where I am in this season and what advice I cling to, it is simple but powerful. Especially for women. You’ve probably seen this all over Pinterest but when I saw this image it blew me away. 

It felt like I was hit with a ton of bricks. This is precisely what I had been doing for so long without even realizing. 

These days we are bombarded with social media, readily available to be viewed from all devices at any hour of the day. We get glimpses into each other’s live through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, blogs and so much more. When these new sites and apps first came out I found myself suddenly feeling highly inadequate in all areas of life. It seemed like most other people were happier more often than me. They all had perfect jobs and perfect relationships. They had more fun on weekends and went to more restaurants. 
Social media makes it so easy to display the “good” parts of our life without sharing any of the “not-so-good”, and gives off a false sense of perfection. We can put filters on our pictures, write inspiring quotes on our statuses, and write blog posts to make our lives look perfect from an outsider’s perspective. 
It is so easy to get wrapped up in other people’s lives and families and outfits and vacations and what they had for dinner for crying out loud. And all of this is good and fine, as long as we aren’t letting it steal our joy. I was completely happy with my life before, but sometimes it’s hard to not be jealous or long for something different when we see the way another person lives.

Another favorite quote of mine: “Don’t compare someone else’s highlight reel to your behind-the-scenes.” ENJOY Instagram, ENJOY  Facebook, ENJOY reading blogs, but don’t let it become a place to compare your life to the highlights of someone else’s. And especially don’t let it become a place where YOU try to make others think your life is perfect.  We all have struggles, we all go through difficult seasons, they just aren’t displayed to everyone. Let’s be real, people!

So today I am choosing happiness. I am choosing to enjoy Facebook and Instagram, but I am also choosing to love my life and where I am in this season. Some may have it easier

and some may have it harder, but I wouldn’t trade my life for anything.

Love the life you live!

~Lauren

Workout Playlist # 2

I love switching up my music and finding new jams to motivate me during my workouts. Download these ASAP and get out there and kill it! Here are some of my recent faves...and some re-discoveries of old favorites!

Oath- Cher Lloyd

Play Hard- David Guetta ft. Akon

Wings- Little Mix

We Can’t Stop- Miley Cyrus

All of the Above- Maino ft. T-Pain

Pretty Girl Rock – Keri Wilson

Haven’t Had Enough- marianastrench

Hold Yuh- Gyptian ft. Nicki Minaj

And a few latin ones for kicks:

Haste Que Salgo El Sol- Don Omar

Danza Kuduro- Don Omar

Don’t knock em til you try em! Maybe it’s the Spanish student/zumba lover in me, but I find pop latin music to be crazy motiviating!!

~Lauren



Taking Time to Smell the Roses

This is something I have been stuggling with lately, to really stop and enjoy the life that is going on all around me. My life has been a little bit of a whirlwind as of late, with my work load picking up, closing on/moving into a new house, and then leaving for vacation less than a week after moving. I found myself getting easily irritated, snappy, and stressed.

Moving Day!

But what are my reasons? These are all beautiful blessed things that I am so very grateful for. I think I was getting lost in the hustle and bustle of it all and not taking the time to look around and realize how incredbly lucky I am. To purchase our first home with the love of my life, to have a steady job that provides, and to be able to get away from it all in a beautiful place. Thankfully a week in Mexico with my love seemed to be the perfect remedy! It was exactly what I needed; no schedule, no agenda, nothing to do but relax, decompress, and re-prioritize.I got to read my bible every morning, have deep and meaningful conversations with my husband, dream about our future, and just be still.




My favorite morning spot


Now that I am back home and the vacation is over, I find myself taking life on with more ease. My priorities have been re-aligned and I am realizing that if our home isnt decorated exactly how I want it in the first month, life will go on. If I have a not-so-great day at work, try again tomorrow! If our house isn't spotless when people come over, no one will care. And life will be more enjoyable! I know life only gets busier and crazier from this point forward, and I want to relish in every season. You only get to live once!

My goal this month: Stop and smell the roses. Take in all the beauty of this world. More fellowship and community. Not get wrapped up in material things. Enjoy life! I hope you can find the time to look around and realize how beautiful life really is.

~Lauren

Ch-Ch-Change It Up

Its so very vital to change up your workouts. I get sad when I see people doing the exact same routine for days on end and expecting new results. You gotta change, people!

I admit, I have totally been there. Either training for a race or simply being unmotivated to try something new and get out my comfort zone.We like what we know and we get stuck. Run everyday for 20 minutes. Or the elliptical 5 days a week. Or spin class and nothing else. While all these things are fine and dandy, it is better if you mix them all together!

Here are my favorite ways to change things up:

-Adding in a strength routine! Girls, DON'T be afraid to lift, and lift HEAVY! It will not make your arms bigger. It drives me crazy when people say this. The type of food you eat is what makes your arms bigger. Especially if you stick to sets with 15+ reps, you'll be lean and toned in no time.If you need help with movements and ideas, check out Shape.com, Bodybuilding.com (don't be afraid, they have TONS of plans for toning and for women, not just bodybuilders), or self.com.



Workin' on my guns!

 -Try HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)

This basically means changing up the speed of your workouts. It can be done on most any equipment (treadmill, elliptical, bike, stairmaster). Try 30 seconds of regular/easy speed, then crank it up for 30 seconds as fast as you can! Repeat as many times as you can. By ramping up your heart rate and then bringing it back down, you give your metabolism a nice surge and will continue to burn calories faster once you are done than if you did steady-state cardio. Here's one that doesn't need any equipment:

My heart rate monite after some HIIT!

-Try a new class!

I tried out TurboKick at my local gym, and fell in LOVE. I try to do it every Monday night, or every other.But not 5 times a week. Group fitness classes are great supplements to your workout week. When you find a class and instructor you love, it keeps you motivated and before you know it you've worked for an hour and burned 500 cals!

-Try a program/workout DVD

These are nice because they are specifically designed to help you change your routine on a daily basis and work your whole body in different ways.

• Jamie Eason' Live Fit Trainer (I have 2 weeks left on this program!and its FREE)

• Insanity/P90X

• TurboFire

What new thing are YOU going to try this week?

~Lauren

My Summer Bucket List

Since the weather is heating up and the nights are getting longer, I have been dreaming up a Summer 2013 Bucket List. I feel like it is harder to get out and do the things I love when I work full-time in an office, so I made a little to list to motivate me and keep me accountable. I want to take full advantage of this beatuiful season!

Here's what I have come up with:

Film on the Rocks





Camping

Outdoor Concert

Happy Hour(s) on a patio

Go on a vacation

Backyard BBQ complete with yard games

Drive to the middle of nowhere to gaze at the stars

Hike a 14er

Watch the morning sunrise at least once

Rockies Game

Road Trip to somewhere new

Read 5 Books

Plant a Garden

What's on your summer bucket list?

Work Lunch Ideas

If you're anything like me, working an 8-5 job 5 days a week really puts me in an eating rut. I find myself eating the same things everyday, which I don't mind, but I like to change it up every now and then. Its easy to get stuck with sandwiches or eating out, so I try to keep things interesting in the bagged lunch area.

Here are some of my recent favorites when it comes to a packed lunch:

-Grilled Chicken Salad

Nick and I grill 10 chicken breasts on Sunday night to last us through the week, and you can add any toppings you like!

-Chicken, Brown Rice, Broccoli Slaw

My own creation: stir it all up with some asian dressing

-Jamie Eason's Turkey Zucchini Burgers

Click here for the  recipe- a great make-ahead meal!

-Tuna Avocado Toast

Don't use mayo, avocado does the job. Packed with protein!

-Mekenzie's Mashed Chickpea Salad

Click here for the recipe

-Turkey Wraps

Can't go wrong with this classic, but try switching it up by using lettuce or collard greens, or a spinach tortilla!

Hope you enjoy these delicious lunches! Let us know if you try them. What's your go-to for a packed lunch?

~Lauren

Songs that take me back...

How about a little trip down memory lane? Lets go in chronological order...

Wide Open Spaces- The Dixie Chicks

This song will forever remind me of middle school, driving around Waco, Texas with my bests Erin and Bre and our mentor, Karen (the college youth group intern at the time). Karen taught us the best game ever, called "sing as loud and as terrible as you can with the windows down and make the people in the cars next to you highly uncomfortable." I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life. I may have even wet myself. But ultimately, this song takes me back to sweet innocence and living life with no responsibilities.

Blackmail. 7th grade.

Don't Wanna Miss a Thing- Aerosmith

Gettin' old school. Nick and I went to homecoming together sophomore year of high school. This song played and I remember being so nervous to slow dance. (I was 15, ok?). I'm sure he was too, but he broke the ice by belting the song to me and doing hand gestures. I'll never forget it.



Can you say....awkward?



Here in Your Arms- Hello Goodbye

The song Nick asked me to Senior Prom with. Cue the cheesiness. A balloon was delivered to my front door step, giving me his home address to drive to. A sign half way down the road telling me to park and walk toward the driveway. As I got to the end of it, a sign illuminated on the garage door saying. "PROM?", that song started playing, and my high school football star came around the corner in his letterman's jacket with a bouquet of flowers. Awwww....



Couldnt find a picture with my date....also whyyy did I wear white?



We Found Love- Rihanna



Although I can't really stand this song anymore, anytime I hear it I am instantly transported back to the last downhill stretch of the 2011 Denver Rock n' Roll half-marathon, knowing I was going to have my fastest race ever and it motivated me to break into a full-on sprint finish. Thanks to my girls Mekenzie and Erin for giving me the song the night before! (Had to throw a fitness one in there:))



My girls

 Then-Brad Paisley


More cheesiness, I am terribly sorry. Short story: the song Nick proposed to and then became our first dance song at our wedding. Enough said.

The night we got engaged



Our First Dance



And that's all I've got right now...click on any of the song title for a little throwback!

~Lauren



You have something on your face....

Day 25: Something someone told you about yourself that you won't ever forget.

I definitely won't ever forget this one. Back in grade school, I took dance lessons. For whatever reason my mom couldn't take me on day, so my friend's mom who lived across the street was taking me that afternoon. It was just her and I in the car, and I was in the front seat. We were talking on the way there, and suddenly she stopped and looked at me.

"Oh, Lauren, I think you have something on your face, it looks like a little bit of chocolate on your lip."

"Um, that's my mole."

Poor sweet lady, she was so embarrassed. Bless her heart.

My moles in all their glory

M husband and I like to joke, I'm fairly mole-y. But I've learned to embrace it, it's part of makes me who I am. As my Daddy always told me growing up, they are "beauty marks". It's just like Marilyn's, only a little more centered :)

~Lauren

My Favorite Posts

Day 21, still goin' strong. Today we are challenged to link up our favorite posts from our blog.

Here are some of my favorite, they consist of recipes, life posts, and fitness posts.

Recipes

Cinnamon Swirl Protein Bread

Thai Turkey Burgers

Skinny Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

Protein Pancakes

Fitness

How to Avoid the Desk Doubler

Plyometrics

Strength Training for Women

Winter Woes

Life & Love

This is Life, Try to take it in...

Remembering Through Flavors

Fear

A Break from Social Media

*Click on any of the titles to be taken directly to the post*

These should keep you busy for a bit! Let us know what you like, and what you'd like to see more of!

-Lauren