Finally Having OUR Shower

Almost 3 years ago, while pregnant with Makenzie, Peter and I remodeled our entire upstairs. Part of that remodel included gutting our master bathroom and redoing everything – including the creation of a large, beautifully tiled shower with two shower heads. Then, we proceeded to not order shower glass for said shower for a long time. Long time as in the glass got installed last Friday long time. I have waited almost THREE YEARS to shower in this dang shower and not a shower filled with Makenzie’s bath toys. Needless to say, this goes on the “Things I’m Currently Loving” list.

The Return of So You Think You Can Dance

So You Think You Can Dance could very well be my favorite show on TV. I even like it more than Glee. So happy to have it back. If you haven’t seen it before – tune in tonight!

My Rolling Pin

Although not for the reason you would expect. The rolling pin doesn’t get any glory for helping me create some awesome bread or cookie recipe. No. It gets credit for helping relieve my achy muscles. Don’t laugh when I tell you it works better on my calves and hamstrings than any foam roller every could. Who needs a Tiger Tail when you can buy an $8 rolling pin?

Black Bean Wraps

You know I go through food phases. Right now, I long for black beans mashed up and tossed in a wrap with anything else delicious as my lunch. Every. Day. Black beans with avocado and goat cheese. Black beans with salsa, romaine, and cheddar. Black beans with hummus and tomato. I’m loving it. Peter…not so much. 😉

Checking Things Off

My to-do list after a weekend away had my head in a tail spin the first half of the week. I felt like I went non-stop, yet things never got accomplished. Finally, last night I got all caught up. Checking things off my to-do list feels uh-mazing.

Impending Vacation Excitement

 
awwwww!!! little Makenzie!!!

Normally when I return from vacation I will feel the slightest disappointment at not having something big and fun to look forward to anymore. Not this time! I just got back from Baltimore and will be heading away for the annual family Daytona trip in just a little over two weeks. I love vacation anticipation! Chatting this week with a few awesome ladies I get to visit just amps the excitement.

Budgeting

Okay…this totally reveals my nerdy number loving side, but I can’t help it! After the financial savvy I Was Broke. Now I’m Not. event Peter and I attended earlier this month, we got a new fire to revamp our spending ways. We finally sat down and hashed out a real budget…with a fancy, schmancy spreadsheet and everything. We’ve both always been good with trying to save money, but never had a set budget. I secretly loved setting one up down to the last cent and am kind of loving the chance to put it to use. I score all the cool points.

• Any summer TV shows you absolutely LOVE?
• What’s something slightly nerdy that you find totally awesome?

Last night I had to make the saddening decision on whether or not to watch the Glee season finale or The Biggest Loser season finale.

As I have my weekly tradition with my sister, TBL won out. Besides, the finale is the best episode to see the changes people made all at once.

Before watching the show, we had a simple dinner that I prepped before her arrival. I won a coupon for a free package of Purdue Shortcuts chicken from Heather. I normally don’t purchase products like this (simply as personal preference in the meat we do buy), but free wins out in this house. And after wanting to get back to my normal eating habits, I knew it would make a great addition to a ginormous salad.

I included a mix of spinach and romaine lettuce, topped with a whole slew of yumminess.

• 1 whole avocado, diced
• 8 large strawberries, diced
• 1/2 medium red onion, diced
• 1/3 package white button mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 large cucumber, diced
• 4 oz goat cheese crumbles
• 1/2 package Purdue shortcuts grilled chicken
• 1/4 c Annie’s Lite Honey Mustard Vinaigrette.

The only downfall of the salad? It used up all those ingredients so I couldn’t make this all too incredible omelet Courtney posted this morning. It’s all good though as I needed veggies in my life. Just like I need my weekly sister time in my life!

sheesh I look tired!

And this week was extra special with our extra guests – the boyfriend and the pup!

Although I don’t know how into our choice of entertainment they were. Lucky for the men in our lives, TBL may not last long as our weekly tradition anymore. Did you hear about the new trainer?

Say WHAT?!!? I’m sorry but I do not agree with that decision at all. I have a hard time getting behind someone who does not have personal training certification or ever worked with people in the fitness condition in which the contestants will arrive. It doesn’t seem safe. Plus, in my honest opinion, she didn’t even look all that healthy herself.

The reaction I had to this announcement did get me thinking a little bit about us bloggers, though. Anna will train “based on her own experience”…and that is something I know we claim as bloggers. In fact, I mention that the information I share on FFF comes from my own experiences and personal knowledge. Does that make me just as in the wrong?

I know that readers could very well take what I express on the blog as advice. In a sense, I am giving out advice when I share suggestions on different workout ideas, foods I eat that I view as healthy, or ways I worked to improve my relationship with my body and food. I do hope to motivate others, whether in fitness or personal struggles. I do like the idea of inspiring new workout ideas or meal creations. However, I simply share my life. That is the basis of this blog. I do not put information out there for others to follow as a training plan, diet regimen, or anything of that nature.

I really enjoyed Tina’s post on blogger responsibility she shared earlier. I agree that readers have a responsibility when reading blogs to know and understand that most material presented bases itself on the personal life of the blogger. I personally will forever have gratitude for blogs and the ideas and motivation they provide me. And I like to think most readers think the same way – great source of inspiration, but not a professional source. C’mon…thinking readers view blogs as professional sources sounds a little narcissistic anyways! My desire to put myself out there for my readers prevails. I think that is my biggest responsibility as a blogger -  to let others see someone relates to them or that if I can live a healthy, balanced, joyful life, then they can too. Beside, it’s not like I’m a tennis star parading as an expert qualified to teach others how to overhaul their lives.

• What show finales have you been watching? Watching Glee on DVR tonight!
• What are your thoughts on blogger responsibility?