you say i only hear what i want to

And it’s already Sunday! I hope everyone had a good weekend!

We’ve had a pretty low key weekend at our house. Yesterday I spent a lot of the evening digging through my closet and unmarked boxes, separating out clothes [keep, pack away for later/winter, see if mom likes, sell, & donate]. I tend to have a [very] hard time throwing out things. I still have tops from 5+ years ago that I still go back to and wear. And when I reopen my “pack away for later” box maybe a season or so later, I always find things that all of sudden catch my interest again. Nothing cheaper than shopping in your own closet!

Today I threw something casual for early morning errands. I’ve worn this striped top before [captured on instagram!] but never on the blog. Add some jeans and my old leopard flats, and I was ready to go! 

Now we have the AC turned off, the dogs running in & out [Olivia has picked up Bane’s habit of chewing on rocks—I keep finding small ones buried in her in bed]. The TV recapping the NBA playoffs. And I’m smelling the whiskey marinade on the pork tenderloin in the oven. Yum, yum, yum! [Tonight’s dinner: pork tenderloin, brown rice, & salad]

After dinner, I figure we’ll walk the dogs & then watch our Sunday night shows. [Games of Thrones = dying over last week’s episode.]

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WALMART fedora / FOREVER 21 striped top / ASOS jeans / ZIGI GIRL leopard flats

Fedora styled before here and here!

See more striped outfits here with my Stripes are Best tag or looks with leopard print here!

half-marathon training / check in

Monday - ab workout

Tuesday - 7.5 miles cycling

Wednesday - legs & buttwork out + interval treadmill 5k run

[see left photo above, thanks to reva ballerina via tumblr for sharing!]

Thursday - 8.2 miles cycling

Friday - rest

Saturday - chest & triceps workout + 2 mile jog with Chris

Hello, hello! As you can see, I’m switching things up a bit with how I’m posting my half-marathon training progress. I have been unintentionally drawn to wanting to post more about working out & how and to what my fitness goals are evolving to. It started out with a simple goal of wanting to train & complete a half marathon [already signed up! bring on November!] but has grown into more. I see more things I want to try, to do. [Maybe attempt the full marathon next April??] I actually enjoy working out now. Trust me, I’m more surprised than you are! Even though I was in track in high school, I was never really athletic—which was very difficult since I’m from a small, very sports-obsessed high school.

This blog is all about documenting my life, my journey—and now fitness is apart of it. So even if I end up completely ditching it all after I do my half marathon, hopefully for some it’s interesting and maybe even motivating/inspiring? Who knows! Even if no one reads it, I can one day look back and remember “that one time I was training for a half marathon & attempting to eat well."

Anyway, my social calendar has finally slowed down but I’ve been feeling a bit bored with just running on the treadmill. Thank you freezing, rainy, and cold Oklahoma. I have temporarily jumped ship from my half-marathon schedule and tweaked it a bit with incorporating some new aspects [basic beginner’s yoga, cycling & weight lifting] to my work out [weights courtesy of Chris with all his bottomless knowledge & patience]. Chris even surprised me this morning by offering to come run with me. This is a big deal—he hates running. I was literally shocked & smiling from ear to ear.

Couples who play together stay together, right? ;) 

Fit tip: Not drinking enough water? When your body doesn’t get enough water, the next time you drink it will store the water in your body causing you to gain extra lbs [hello water weight]. It’s called water retention. It’s easily preventable by exercising & sweating out excess water + drinking water regularly during the day.

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Left photo credit: Equinox  / Right photo credit: @nikerunning’s instagram

oldest fears are the worst fears

I’ve had this outfit sitting in my drafts for ages now but for some reason never uploaded it. But I feel like I’ve been a bit spotty with blogging lately and I really wanted to post today.

Something about last two weeks and this past [very eventful] weekend  [T is now a newlywed jetting off to Jamaica for her honeymoon!] has really cleared my perception on so much of what has been weighing me down recently.

I struggle with carrying around so much fear of disappointing those I care about. It has taken me months and months but I've finally had to look past it and decide what was best for me/us as a couple. I am the one who has to wake up every day and live my life. And on Sunday I was filled with so much love [starting with some amazing waffles from my mom]. I felt light and an immeasurable amount of happiness about everything. I felt in control of my life. Of my feelings. And finally, in control of my anxiety.

It truly made me appreciate those close to me—my friends and my family.

But my husband above all. He is truly such a strong support system for me. When I was younger, I was always afraid that I’m too much in my head, that no one could actually get me. Chris may not understand me 100% of the time, but he sure tries. Between some hard talks & choices, we are always on each other’s side. With any decision weighing me down, I know for certain, if no one else, he will always be there saying “go for it, it will be okay” and holding my hand through it.

I think that’s why I was so drawn to post these photos today. Because of my “Mrs” necklace that Chris gave me. The necklace is such a powerful and special symbol to me. I can't believe it's only popped up on the blog once before this.

Awkward moment of the day: Realizing that a good amount of my clothes could totally pass for maternity wear. Example number one, this top.

xo

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URBAN OUTFITTERS blazer in black [ on sale! ] / KATE SPADE "mrs" necklace / TARGET top [old] / ASOS jeans in white [ similar ] / GAP loafers [ similar ] / SAKS FIFTH AVENUE bracelet

 

 See this striped top styled for summer here. 



t's bachelorette party weekend in TX! 3/3

 Well this is the last installment (recap the first & second here!) of T’s bachelorette party weekend in Texas! It’s fun to compile & post these instagram photos today because tomorrow that bachelorette will be a newlywed! ♥ Everyone in these photos will be dressed up, walking down the aisle—all to celebrate and support T as she chooses to dedicate and share her life with her best friend, lover, and her very own modern day prince. I couldn’t more excited for her, and for them!

T came up will the awesome idea of having a hash tag for her bachelorette party—#tmbach2013. That way any photo we uploaded to instagram during the bachelorette weekend, we could tag and be able to see the whole collection of photos from the trip! [see above left photo]

So here are everyone’s captured moments, enjoy #tmbach2013!

t's bachelorette party weekend in TX! 2/3

One thing I knew I wanted to have when I started planning & putting T’s bachelorette party together was a photo booth! We just had to have one! Plus it allowed us to do the before & after photos from going out, which I love.

I had been patrolling Etsy for a while ahead of time for the right type of photo booth props—because let’s be real, I am not that crafty. I found and ordered the perfect package set for the party and even customized/mix & matched a few items [like those awesome bride & groom glasses props seen above!] from Paper and Pancakes. With the speedy delivery all that was left was to find a backdrop and a few decorations. My original thought was just getting white backdrop but when I passed this [ahem, raincoat] chevron fabric, I snagged it immediately! 

After T’s lingerie shower & a few pre-gaming shots, we put on some dance music and I set up the camera and tripod—it was time to grab a prop & strike a pose! It had to be one of my favorite parts of the night!

So let the #tmbach2013 photo booth begin! Enjoy ;)

t's bachelorette party weekend in TX! 1/3

Tiffany’s wedding day countdown is getting lower and lower—we are at 8 days until the big day! And what kind of Maid of Honor would I be if I didn't get her favorite girls together, whisk her away to a different state and try to get her completely trashed?…while capturing it all on camera!

Here is our adventure from a few weekends ago down to Texas for her bachelorette party.