My Favorite Blogger

Today I am supposed to write about my favorite blogger. Without hesitation, I know who mine is. The Fitnessista. This girl is where its at. Whether you're looking for health and fitness inspiration, delicious and nutritious recipes, or just something to put a smile on your face, you must visit Gina.

She is a certified personal trainer and teaches all sort of fun classes, like zumba, dance, and strength classes and even posts her seasonal "shape-ups", 4 week fitness plans with plenty of food ideas to go along. For FREE. She eats healthy, but is also the type of girl that wont deny herself some dark chocolate and red wine. A girl after my own heart.

She is a new mama to a cute little girl, and I loved following her throughout her healthy pregnancy to see how her eating and exercise adapted to growing a tiny human. She is a military wife and clearly puts her family as a priority. She also has plenty of great advice for preggos and new mamas, much of which I am sure I will reference to when needed.

I often find myself checking fitnessista.com every day just to see what new recipes and exercises Gina has to share. My favorites of hers:

the breakfast cookie 

Breakfast Cookie Dough Cereal 

Protein Pancake 

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

 

*Click on any of those meals to be directed to their recipes

Be sure to check her out at fitnessista.com! I am sure you will fall in love with her just like I did.

-Lauren

Speak to me

Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it

I like quotes. The ones that you will save as your desk top back ground because it really hits home. The pretty floral designed Pinterest ones that we love because they are easy on the eye. A bible verse that seems to speak straight to your heart. Quotes can be enlightening, encouraging and life challenging.

Some days I’ll just sit on Pinterest under the “Quotes” board and get inspired by all the beautiful wisdom and intelligence that streams across the page. I love nothing more than waking up to a text from a dear friend with a bible verse or receiving an email from a co-worker with an entrepreneurial quote in their signature.

When a quote gives me that goose bumps effect, there is always a mood or a life changing event occurring for me. The reason it resonates so deeply is because it correlates with what is taking place in my life. Lately, I have experience some super high ‘highs’ and some really hard lows. I got great news about a bonus at work and  so many answered prayers it's hard to count. However, I have been disappointed by some people and a fallen through job opportunity. It’s been a very cool season of growth and the Lord’s hand in my life. Many ups and downs. I go through moments when I feel out of control- like I can’t stop the speed of life happening around me and I can’t get a hold of my purpose in the craziness of it all. 

If we wait until we are ready we will be waiting the rest of our lives.

-Lemony Snicket

This quote is so fitting to where I am right now. I have been applying for jobs in my field again and searching for ways to get to Denver. I feel like that is where the Lord wants me for this next season of life but I can’t seem to piece together how it is all going to work out. I have been searching for the perfect job, the perfect apartment, and the perfect timing for it all. Truth is- it takes faith and courage and boldness to make a life decision like moving cities. If I were to just sit back and wait for it to all fall into perfect order, I will be waiting the rest of my life. I have chosen to trust the Lord’s guidance and give Him the captains seat in my life again. I will not wait on this world to make this happen for me, I will wait on the Lord and His will for my life. 

Isaiah 46:4

This pretty little Pinterest quote is such a good reminder about trusting that I will be taken care of and that He satisfies me more than anything on this earth ever could. 

Quotes. Find one that speaks to your heart. Cling to it until life changes again and then find another. After all your life circumstance are not permanent and neither is your desktop back ground.

~ Erin

Things that make me uncomfortable...

Day 3: "Things that make me uncomfortable" 

The blog topic of the day is, "things that make me uncomfortable." I have to be honest, this was a tough prompt for me. I can usually avoid awkward scenarios and lighten the mood when there's little discomfort although, I would have to say this is something I have gotten better at as I've grown up and my confidence has grown. We all have been the uncomfortable girl/boy at some point in our lives. I had an exceptionally long season of awkwardness in life peaking at about the 7th grade. I was 5'7 and gangly with a lesbian hair cut, fangs growing in my mouth, a gap in between my two front teeth, braces (there was a lot goin on in there), and glasses. Yes people, I could make anyone uncomfortable in the 7th grade. Too bad I can't dig up an old gem from that glamorous year of my life. Anyways, Here are just a few things that make me fairly uncomfortable.


- Eating Mayonnaise: I just don't even know what it is. Its gross people. I'm a firm believer that there is multiple other ways to enjoy a good sandwich or egg salad or tuna or whatever else you put that stuff on without goin pig fat lard status. Try hummus or pesto. I'm serious. Its an unnecessary condiment.

- Excessive potty mouth: This makes me so uncomfortable. When people drop no no words every other word their credibility, intelligence, and class is immediately called into question. Thats just about all I have to say about that. Again, not necessary.

- My Grandpa's hair piece: Oh dear. I hope gramps doesn't get offended by this one. My sweet, dear, and very precious grandpa has a hair piece. You see, its just a fancy way to cover up the obvious receding hair line and ultimately, old age. I say, embrace it and love that shiny little head. Sometimes the hair piece isn't properly attached  and it scares small children and myself when loose and dangling. I don't quite know how to approach the situation when it falls out of place. Its one of those "you have food in your teeth" situations....just uncomfortable for all parties involved.

- Dirty sheets: Yes, I am self-admittedly type A. I hate it sometimes, but I believe sheets should be cleaned weekly. Who wants to climb into a dirty sheets bed? Not much more to say about that. Dirty sheets=discomfort.

- Being underdressed in a fancy restaurant: This is one of those challenging things about living in Colorado. In L.A. or New York or multiple other cities it just wouldn't fly to walk into a nice restaurant in baseball cap and Patagonia fleece. It happens all the time here. I'm not sure if people are just uncomfortable in fancy clothes, but It makes me uncomfortable for them when mr. casual is sitting next to mr. suit and tie in their old college hoodie and berkinstocks. My mentality is, you can never be overdressed.

- When people expect to communicate with others while on the phone: Does it not occur to people how rude it is to both recipient of communication and friend on the phone when you try to have two conversations at once? When you are checking out at the grocery store, cashing a check at the bank, ordering your coffee, or any other such time just wait till the phone conversation is over. Its just weird and semi-offensive. Also, uncomfortable.

That should do it friends. Happy day 3 of the blog challenge and happy Friday! What are everyone's plans?

~ Mekenzie

Fear

Day 2: Educate us on something you know alot about or are good at. 

So, today I am to tell you something I know a lot about. Thinking over what I wanted to write about I was unsure of what approach I wanted to take. I could tell you all about the perfect pour-over, ice cream {my most guilty pleasure}, the studliest man in the world {my hubs lol}, or something completely random like my fascination with sharks.. yea i dunno.  But after more thought I decided that I would share something I unfortunately know too much about; and that is fear.  

Do you remember when you were a little kid and you knew without a doubt that the noise you were hearing that was keeping your awake was a terrifyingly ugly dangerous monster and it was hiding under your bed!? Well that is what fear is for me. A hideous monster that creeps around my every thought, keeps me awake at night, and paralyzes my whole body. 

I strugge with fear in relationships; the fear that if I mess up, don't do a good job keeping in contact with someone, or if I have to miss out on an event, that my most dear friends will in return leave me out of everything and no longer want a friendship with me. I have fear that my husband and I will repeat our parents mistakes and even more so never move beyond the challenges were dealing with now. 

Although my frenemy fear is that of being alone at night. There is nothing I dread more. 
I go back to being that little kid in bed paralyzed with fear of the horrifying monster hiding under my bed. When I am alone at night/overnight I have to do a thorough sweep of every closet, behind every door, in the shower, or even a shelf large enough to fit a human; at least two times. 
Fear becomes so powerful that I am certain when i leave an empty house to go to the gym I will return to a kidnapper or rapist hiding in that closet I already checked twice before i left! Then when I know that I am safe and no one is in the house and day has turned to night, I will go to shower, hear a noise and am sure that the huge chair I put in front of the door has knocked over and the man entering has slipped over the weights I put in the way to block his path. I am doomed. 
So now a simple task such as showering has turned into a war zone and I must walk out the door armed and ready for battle. Once I'm out and see that the chair is still blocking the door and the weighs are securely in place, I must now re-check all those hidden places that someone could be hiding in. I know how absurd this sounds... Believe me. 
And I am not proud of it.

 

The verse that most speaks to me about this issue of mine is, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discilpine." -2 Timothy 1:7
The part about having a sound mind is what always escapes me in these moments. First and foremost God is with me and is my protector. He will not let any harm come to me. And I know that if I lock the door then really, who can get in? 
People, the Devil is alive and knows our deepest weaknesses and will use them against us in the worst way. I have allowed him to do this for too long, and it is not okay. 

While I can not speak to total victory of this ugly monster I know it is possible. I have a dear friend who   has won the battle against fear and is victorious! I tell you about her for two reasons; the first is that God is bigger than fear, or whatever issue you may be dealing with, He has equipped us as believers with the tools needed to overcome. Victory is not a probability it is a certainty when you have The Lord. The second reason is that it helps to share what your struggling with someone. Facing that ugly monster in your life alone is near impossible but sharing it allows you to feel a sense of release, and when it is with someone who struggled with the same issue, it brings contentment to know you are not crazy and that you're not the only person to ever deal with these feelings. Because whatever it is; you are not alone in it.    

My husband had to leave me last week for three nights. The first two were a struggle; but by the third night after I truly leaned into the Lord and put up the necessary door blockers, I slept soundly. For the whole night. Not waking up once! Little victories should be praised! 

Thank you for reading. It's not easy sharing this struggle, but I believe its crucial if I want to overcome it. I hope and pray for you and the monster in your life. You will have victory, and when you do sing praise!! 

<3 Gabrielle 

Blog Every Day in May

We girls here at Serendipitous  are taking on  a fun challenge, Blog Every Day in May hosted by Jenni over at Story of My Life. Visit her and show her and the other participants some love! We are going to (do our best to) blog every day this month about a predetermined topic, so join us here every day to get to know each of us a little better.

Day 1: Story of My Life in 250 words or less.

I was born in Texas to two loving parents, moved to Colorado when I was 5 and consider this beautiful state to be my home. I would be okay if I never left. Despite being a part of a military family, I feel blessed to have had a stable, consistent childhood and upbringing. My family means the world to me. I am the middle child with an older brother and a gorgeous little sister. I met the love of my life in high school and knew from the start of our relationship during senior year that he was the one God planned for me. We went to college together at Colorado State University, I met my best girls there and they bless my life in countless ways. Although I studied Business, I always wish I had chosen Nutrition and Exercise Science. I have found these topics to be my passions and hope to get my Certified Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor licenses someday. My ultimate dream is to be a stay-at-home mama and raise some beautiful babies with that Hubs of mine. A desire to travel and see the world is in my blood. I am the girl that seems shy when you first meet her, but give me some time to get to know you and you will see a goofy-obnoxious-did she really just say that?-type of girl. My husband says I am the weirdest girl he's ever met. My faith defines my life and all things in it. I hope to be a light in this world.

Random? Yes. But all-encompassing.

Hubs and I, Senior Prom 2007 (whyyyy did I wear ivory?)



Freshman year at CSU



Puerto Rico 2009



My girls





My family