Showing posts with label magnolias. Show all posts
Showing posts with label magnolias. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

What I'm Loving Wednesday

1. Mint Julep cups

Did you know each state has a different cup?  Thankfully, Louisiana's cups are prettiest! 

source: Southern Living May 2011
The Derby is this weekend, but a mint julep is not reserved for Derby Day alone.  Being that it is my all time favorite drink, I enjoy them all summer.   Here is Garden & Gun's charming article on why a Mint Julep should be enjoyed all the time and their theory on why it isn't, along with a classic recipe.  


2.  Magnolias (of course!)


They are blooming like crazy right now.  I love that even the smallest trees still produce huge flowers.


3. That the weekend is almost here!

Saturday is Drinko Cinco de Mayo AND Derby Day!  Sombrero or Derby hat?  Julep or margarita?  Only time will reveal my winners.




4. My new, extra job.

It's easy and fun, and the extra "mad" money is great, too.  The best part is my bosses are my friends and I get to visit with them on a daily basis.  Our patrons are so friendly.  Since my "real" 9 to 5 (actually 8 to 4:30) job is isolating (I sit in my office all.day.long.  Occasionally, I get out for a rare meeting.), it's a great social outlet.

The only con is I have much less free time. I'm still working on getting into a workout and eating routine on the days I work from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM.  I missed my last two scheduled morning workouts after getting to bed entirely too late Monday night. (I think I was still catching up on sleep last night and slept right through my 5:00 AM alarm.)


5. Smoothies and eggs (not together!)


The plan was to food prep Sunday, so I would have some things to eat during the week, but that didn't happen.  Smoothies and eggs are quick, healthy options and have been my go to while working all these long hours.  Also, you can add veggies and fruit to ensure you're getting 5 servings a day.  For example, yesterday for breakfast I had an egg scramble with broccoli slaw (10 minutes to cook.).  Lunch was sauteed cabbage topped with eggs sunny side up (10 minute cook time).  Dinner was a smoothie with whey protein, strawberries, coconut, pineapple, spinach, and coconut milk (3 minute prep time?). 


6. CrossFit


I haven't been all week.  I miss it. So much so, that I considered calling into work today so I could make it to a class.  :(  Tomorrow! I hope the WOD is killer!


7. Sundresses (aka my summer uniform)

I love a sundress because it is appropriate for work, play, church, and really anything else.  You can dress them up or down.  Flats, wedges, or heels. They are possibly the coolest option on humid, sweltering, Louisiana summer days and nights.

Here are a few that need to be in my closet.


J. Crew
Modcloth
Lilly Pulitzer
Piperlime
Forever 21
Old Navy

Can you tell I love eyelet?  And that I don't love prints? 


What are you loving? A food?  A workout move? A summer trend?  A good book?  Share with me.

Monday, April 30, 2012

3 Reasons I'm Happy on a Monday Morning

Good Monday morning!  I am in a great mood (especially for a Monday) for a few reasons.

First, I had a fun weekend.  Friday after work I went to look at a car my parents found and insisted I see.  I know I had mentioned I was buying my mom's car after all the drama, but they said this particular car would be worth a look.  I drove to Sulphur (about 20 minutes from my house), decided I wanted the car after test driving it, and told the salesman to wash it, change the oil, fill it up with gas and I would take it home.  Well, I shouldn't have been surprised when he told me the oil change and washing would not be happening, because the shop guys went home at 5:00.  But, I could pay for it and either take it home and bring it back to be detailed and maintenanced or leave it until I could come pick it up later.  No thanks.  If it's meant to be, I'll be back to take care of everything at once.  Problem is, I won't be able to get back over there until Thursday. Have I mentioned I hate car shopping?!?  The trip to Sulphur wasn't wasted, because my sister cooked me dinner. After eating a pretty delicious meal of pesto shrimp "spaghetti" (it was spaghetti squash) and steamed brussels sprouts, I headed back to Lake Charles.  A friend had called and asked if I wanted to get drinks.  Of course!  So we headed to Micci's and sat on the patio since the weather was nice.  We talked about everything you could ever imagine from boys to literature to finances to music.  When we went inside to pay our tabs and leave, I noticed a huge, gorgeous magnolia someone had picked and put in a vase on the bar.  Magnolias are blooming like crazy right now!

Saturday morning I woke up early and packed Lola and my bags.  I wanted to get an early start on our trip to the lake, but I got sucked into watching recaps of the CrossFit games Regionals.  We finally got on the road and reached Toledo Bend at about 11:00. 



It was a short trip and we headed back Sunday morning.  I arrived home at 11:00, and the day consisted of more CrossFit Regionals updates, laundry, other things around the house, watching Tough Love and Real Housewives of New Jersey, reading and bed.

The second reason I'm in a great mood is because CrossFit Lake Charles represented at the CrossFit Games Regionals: South Central in the biggest way possible.  I had absolutely nothing to do with their success, but am so proud that I work out beside and am coached by these athletes.  (If you want to know more about what the games, otherwise known as "CrossFit Christmas", are all about, here is a post I wrote about it.)  They went into the games ranked 24 out of 30 qualifying teams and after day one of competition, were in third place!  Who doesn't love an underdog story?  They finished 7th, which is huge when you consider they are competing with gyms from big cities like Houston, Dallas, and Austin with bigger pools of elite athletes.

source
 Unfortunately, I wasn't there to support the team, but I did watch "event summaries" on the Games website, which was basically a highlight reel of each workout.  When I would see our team on the video, I would get so excited and yell at the computer, even though they couldn't hear me and the things going on onscreen had happened hours earlier.  Next year, I want to be there in person!


source - the team workouts

Thank you Ashley, Megan, Danielle, Detlef, Ben, and Mitch for working so hard and making us all so proud to be a part of CrossFit Lake Charles.  Here is an article that was written about the team. And here are some pictures posted to the Facebook page of CrossFit Games - South Central Regional.
 
CFLC team during workout 1.

Danielle during workout 3 snatching 70#.  To show you what a beast she is (besides what is obvious by looking at her body!), I one arm snatch 15#...and struggle.
This is my favorite photo from regionals! Mitch cheering on his wife during workout 3.  It was a 2 man workout (actually, 1 man and 1 woman) and they completed it for the team.  A couple that competes in CrossFit games together, stays together.

Ashley working overhead squats during workout 4.

Detlef doing wall balls while Mitch chin hangs during workout 6.

Detlef doing muscle ups while Mitch holds 225# (and Ashley cheering them on.)
Team hug after the last workout!
The third reason I'm in such a great mood is because I woke up early and ran before work.  Why have I been fighting this?  I love early morning runs.  I love being awake before the rest of the world.  I love feeling like I've already been productive by 7:00 AM.  Since I now have to exercise before work Monday through Wednesday, my week of workouts looks like this:

Monday: morning 3 mile run + tabata workout (My start was later than intended.)
Tuesday: 5:30 AM CrossFit
Wednesday: morning 3 mile run + tabata workout (push ups, sit ups, squats, lunges)
Thursday: 5:30 AM CrossFit (might as well make early mornings a habit!)
Friday: 5:30 PM CrossFit
Saturday: 9:30 AM CrossFit or bleacher workout on my own
Sunday: run or bleacher workout on my own

I have a beach trip planned for Memorial Day weekend (26 days away) and in my current body state, will have to wear a moo-moo rather than a swim suit.  So, for the next 26 days I'm going to work hard, eat clean and Paleo-ish, and limit my cheats.  (I think I make this statement every week.)

Sorry for such a long post (I probably should have made it 3 posts), I'm just so excited and wanted to share!


How is your Monday morning?  What exciting happened to you this weekend?