Monday, May 12, 2014

Hungry for Happiness

Today, I am foregoing my normal weekend review for something much more important. Every day thousands of kids go hungry, and many in my own backyard. Well, Arby's (and who doesn't love a roast beef sandwich) is making a stop in its mobile tour in Dallas. So, take a second to read about the Arby's Foundation and the work its doing in communities like mine. And... there is a giveaway!

The Arby’s Foundation ‘Hungry for Happiness’ Mobile Tour Stops in Dallas to Help Fight Child Hunger

On Monday, May 12, the Hungry for Happiness mobile tour will visit Dallas to help raise awareness about the issue of childhood hunger and increase participation in free summer meals sites for kids located in the area. Summer continues to be a vulnerable time for those who rely on school breakfast and lunch during the school year. The Arby’s Foundation, the charitable arm of Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc., in partnership with Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® campaign, is committed to helping kids get the food they need.

In Dallas, many school children who rely on free or reduced-price school lunches during the school year currently participate in summer meal programs. These free programs are available to kids and teens age 18 and under at thousands of summer meals sites across the country. Sites are registered with USDA and are held at safe local places such as schools, churches and community centers.

The Hungry for Happiness mobile tour has partnered with the Irving Family YMCA to provide more area children access to healthy food during the summer months. In Dallas, the mobile will stop on Monday, May 12 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Irving Family YMCA (2200 W Irving Blvd, Irving TX 75061) – we would love for you to bring your kids to come out and support!

In each market, the tour will provide Arby’s® Kids Meals (which are endorsed by Kids LiveWell and include a Jr. turkey and cheese sandwich, apple slices and Shamrock Farms low-fat milk) to children participating in the summer meals program, distribute information on local resources to the public, and provide fun summer activities such as hula-hoop contests, tug of war, bean bag toss, basketball and other family-friendly games to get kids moving.

So.... Arby's is giving me the gift of roast beef, and you too! One lucky reader will win an Arby's gift card! Just enter below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, May 9, 2014

Mom

I am blessed. Like beyond blessed when it comes to the mom department. See, I have my mom and then I have a V. Its like the best of both worlds.

See, my mom, she well gave birth to me. I mean ate like a zillion bags of Nestle crunch then went into labor gave birth to me. I was her girl, her last baby. (and I'm still the baby). She clothed me, fed me, attempted to import some sort of normalcy into my life despite the quasi-hell we lived in and out of. Man, I think she would give her right eye, rob Peter to pay Paul when it comes to her kids. To this day, woman would probably rob a bank if I asked her. (Note* mom do not rob a bank, but feel free to plant that money tree you always talked about).

Point is, I would not be where or who I am today without my mom, literally. She will talk to anyone about me, seriously, watch out or Rose will be taking your ear off in the grocery line about her kids or my grandson. So, thanks Mom.

And then I have a V, aka second mom. She chose to love me. How many people get that honor? To have a woman decide she loves, who chooses to love you everyday, even when you do stupid things like take her car when she told you not to, or lie about silly things? V is so much more than that to me though. She is my role model, supporter, kick in the pants, tell you how it is, one of a kind woman!

She taught me how to walk, talk, answer things in complete sentences, cross my ankles, not my knees--how to do my hair and makeup--how to properly shake hands and always introduce yourself to others. She instilled in me the virtues of honesty, patience, hard work, perseverance and never giving up. She taught me that sometimes you have to be the adult, even when you're not, and that's ok. She taught me that guys who call you after a certain hour, or who only do things with you in private only want one thing. She showed me what it means to be a lady and the true meaning of family. No, V won't coddle or baby you, but she will always be there when you need her and will always speak truth.

This Mother's Day and everyone one since I was 3 and everyone tip I die, I will thank my lucky stars that I have two wonderful women in my life (a handful of other honorary moms) who have guided me every step of the way.

I love you both so much and words cannot express my gratitude.








Thursday, May 8, 2014

Hi, I'm ___, don't mind my tatas


I workout. I workout at 5am. I workout, then shower and change at the gym and head to work. So do about 5-6 other women at my gym. I spend about 30 + minutes a day with these women staring at their tatas and have no clue their names.

Doesn't it seem strange? I mean we just all kind of stand in our space, do our hair and makeup and don't talk much. Sure some of them say hi, or share shampoo if one forgets, but really, we just exists in that small space of a locker room in the gym. However, I have seen more of these women than I have seen of my some of my best friends naked.

Tatas, who-has, booties.... I know what kind of shampoo they use, conditioner, body lotion, underwear. I know their morning routines to a T. Yet, I do not know their names, let alone what they do.

Such a strange concept to know that much about someone, except their name. Perhaps I should just speak up and ask, but then I feel like I have broken some sort of "code" in the gym that reads: do not speak to the other women.

Then I wonder if its like this on that man side? Do they just walk around free as bird? Do they converse? share lotion?


Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Workout Wednesday


Guess what day it is? Hump Day Workout Wednesday! Today, we explore a little more about my workout story. If you missed the first edition, check it out and link up and tell me your workout story!

When I last left you, I was post Miss Texas and feeling good! I continued my working out and eating healthy throughout the next year of my life. This was my last year working at TCU and before law school. I went up and down, but maintained a pretty standard weight. And then I went to law school.

Law school, to say the least, is stressful. I was away from home and M, and on a crazy schedule. Working out became my go-to for everything: stress-relief, boredom, depression... I became obsessed.  Like, not in a good way, obsessed. I weighed myself everyday, 3 or 4 times a day. I refused to drink, refused to eat sweets, existed on eggs whites, apples, granola bars and grilled chicken and veggies. It was boring, but it was something I COULD CONTROL! Yup, it was all about control.

I could control what I ate and how I looked, so I did it. I got down to about 110 pounds at one point, and at 5'6, that is not healthy. We are talking pointy hip bone skinny. i thought I looked so good. I also did anything to stay that way. Pills, laxatives, running twice a day. I just needed to feel in control.

Obviously this could not last. Once I stated to work, I slowly put on some weight. I freaked out. I tried to keep it up, but I sit all day long, work 10-12 hours a day and was getting older. At first, I did not know what to do and tried to pretty much do anything, but then I realized it was all too much. The toll it took on my body was bad. My metabolism was shot, I was even more depressed, and hangry people.

Somewhere in between 29 and 30 I realized I looked good, but I was not really "healthy." I was skinny, but not toned or again healthy. So, I embraced my newly formed hips, the extra pounds and curves and decided to get fit.

Sure, I still have my issues and wish i could go back to that weight, but I know that now I am strong and healthy. I allow myself things I enjoy and refuse to starve myself. I just maintain a good balance.

Ok, and now for a treat. My good friend & workout buddy Sam is going to share some wonderful tidbits with you all from time to time. Sam has a BS in Kinesiology with a certification in biology. He is also a certified sports nutritionist and master certified personal trainer. He is not only a good friend, but sometimes kicks my butt into shape! So, meet Sam!


cute huh?


I guess I will begin by thanking my sweet friend and training partner, Lynn, for the opportunity to chime in every once in a while on her brilliant and very entertaining blog.  Don’t let her beauty and charm fool you though, she is an animal in the gym as a training partner.
For my first guest entry, I would like to answer a question that I get most in my profession.  I train people from all walks of life with different goals in mind.  I would like to think that a well-round trainer/wellness coach/athletic coach exhibits the ability to accommodate everyone’s personal goals and needs while incorporating ability or lack thereof.  With this in mind, I do not shy away from the challenges of an elderly couple with musculoskeletal disorders, an athlete recovering from ACL surgery, or even Miss Texas competitors preparing to hit the stage (although, I am not going to lie, I was a bit intimidated by it). So as you can imagine, I get all kinds of questions from clients, some pertinent, some downright silly.  One question that I seem to get from them all is: What is the best form of training out there? Or does one form of training work better and faster than the others?

Between my personal training business and the supplement companies I help run, I probably answer this question 10 times a month. Here is my short and honest answer: I don’t know.
I find solace in the fact that I can say unequivocally that no one does.  The smartest and most intelligent people in this world know more about medicine than they do about the body’s physiological response to diet and exercise. The truth is that exercise is a relatively new concept that has not been studied long enough to speak to a definite and concrete evaluation of what works best.  We are all very different and our bodies respond differently to the various methods of training out there.

My advice is to try it all. Find a method that you enjoy and that works for you.  Don’t let the stage competitors of the world tell you that lifting is the only way. Don’t spend hours and hours on the treadmill simply because you see these marathon runners on television doing it. Crossfit and their cult like ways? It isn't for everyone, trust me.

In the end, the most elite athletes in the world cross train- or in other words, they do it all!  Kevin Durant, arguably the best basketball player in the world, cycles in the off season.  Maria Sharapova does crossfit to supplement her hours of hitting tennis balls on the court.  Michael Phelps lifts weights to prevent muscle breakdown during his hours of cardio training in the pool. 


So be open to it all. Develop a routine along with a positive attitude towards the regimen and stay consistent. Focus on your destination. The road traveled to get there doesn't matter.

Thanks Sam!! So link up and if you have any questions for Sam let me know and I will pick his brain! xoxo ya'll

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Sometimes/Always


I have done this one before, but it seemed like it had been awhile, so here's a quick sometimes/always of my life:

Sometimes.....

  • I eat bagels for breakfast... with cream cheese
  • I close my door, lay my head down and take a 20 minute power nap at lunch
  • I am "that" dog mom
  • I bake for no other reason than to bake
  • I obsess over things like my cuticles
  • I hate boys who can eat a whole Reese's and not gain an inch
  • plan great blog posts and then end up posting something random at 6am
  • try to save money and my house ends up eating it all (or this could be an always)
Always....
  • I workout at 5am Mondays & Thursday
  • allow myself 2 sodas a week
  • pack my lunch and snacks and still get hungry
  • wear my sports bra more than once a week (gross I know, but I have my favorites)
  • come home and immediately put on pi's
  • think "if I could only lose 5 pounds"
  • go to sleep with no dogs on my bed and wake up snuggled up with two!
  • thank God each morning for all the blessings in my life
  • enjoy each and every comment from you all!
Never....
  • do I eat fried food
  • eat sushi (just don't like it)
  • will you find me wearing something too tight, too low, or too short
  • will i wear white pumps
  • will i wear a bow, although I wish I could
  • am I there first person to put away the dishes or do laundry
  • do I say, hey, let's watch the game!
  • will I choose wine over chocolate (but I will do them at the same time!)
See ya back tomorrow for Workout Wednesday!

Monday, May 5, 2014

Wine Down Monday

I am back from a wonderful trip with my best friends! It was full of wine, laughter, history, food, did I mention food? Oh, and an epic hammock nap! Needless to say I did not have time to get a wonderful post all ready, but... it shall come! Meanwhile, here are some of the "phrases" from the trip.


  • She said it! (someone's mom did not quite get that whole "that's what she said" line)
  • they were swinging
  • bean bag
  • food baby
  • i'm so tired
  • I love you so much
  • DUH!
  • your pallet is so immature
  • #fallcreekout
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Texas Hill Country

I clearly missed the smile memo

long car ride home

Friday, May 2, 2014

5 on Friday

Happy Friday ya'll! I'm off to the Texas Hill Country with my besties for Girls' Weekend. Don't you love a good girl's trip? So, today I give you my top 5 favorite memories from this trip in years past!

1. These Cookies - Best cookie ever (seriously, it started a whole text)
2. Dancing at Hondo's in Fredricksburg! We always manage to make new friends, score free drinks and make fools of ourselves!


3. Finding the cutest places and doing things like eating ice cream for breakfast!


4. Late Night Catchphrase games. The later it gets, the crazier we get.


5. Last Friendship & Memories!


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