Monday Musings

We have had quite a bit of rain in Charleston lately and I am soooo ready for that to be done for a while. It's hard to entertain children all weekend indoors. This weekend I was actually getting the gift of a "free" day to just have to myself - go shopping, get stuff done, etc...that is otherwise way hard with kiddos in tow. I went to TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Buckle and I found quite a few nice things! I also managed to squeeze in a 1" trim of my hair {I'm trying to grow it a few more inches, but it was in desperate need of some pruning on the ends.}

Saturday night, Jake and I finally got to go out for my birthday. I had wanted to go bowling instead of doing the same old dinner and a movie blah, so we went to The Alley in downtown Charleston. Unfortunately, their wait for a lane was way too long, so we just parked it at the bar for a while, but we did have a really good time. We stopped at a bar near our house on the way home to cap off the night. It was nice to get out, for sure.

Sunday was a typical, lazy Sunday. I did get some of the usual chores done, we went to church, etc...but mostly we just spent the day indoors {damn rain} playing games and watching movies with the kids. Farrah is so good at crawling now {finally!} so we have to keep quite a close watch on her these days. She's getting so talkative too...and still just sweet as ever.

This was Sunday's outfit...white top is from Buckle and colorful one is from TJ Maxx...they layered so well together! I'll have an outfit post soon with all the deets.

I think it's safe to say my go-to style is officially Boho these days. I've always loved that look, but my closet it almost all that now it seems! I feel like it's timeless though...it'll be stuff I can keep and put away for Farrah some day and she'll probably still think it's all fabulous 16 years from now. I love how it's a bit of my SoCal style...and it's so pretty, yet relaxed.

I have to share this awesome railing my husband made for a client's house {a $5M house on Kiawah Island!}...he texted it to me. If you love the nautical, beachy theme, you'll love this:

He's super-talented, right? I love all the work he has done in our home...I hope one day we can build a house and he can put awesome touches like this in it.

This week I'm getting back in the swing of things with workouts. Last week started out good, but a work function and other things got in the way of my original plans later in the week. I've got Barre class on Monday and Wednesday {by the way, got an email about the instructor auditions and they are still deciding who and how many they want to hire, plus are doing a couple make-up auditions, so that's why I hadn't heard anything all week. Still crossing my fingers!} and I'm definitely going to run a good bit this week...I need some cardio in my life.

Have a great week, y'all! xo

Linking Up With: Life Of Meg // Still Being Molly // Lipgloss & Crayons // B Loved Boston

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Monday Musings

It's my birthday week! And spring is in full swing 'round here...so my spirits are high.

This weekend was fun...Friday night I had my girlfriend, Suz and her kids over. We had a little fun with my karaoke machine {we are seriously addicted...and dorks}. But, OMG...Farrah loves to sing already...just check out this little karaoke queen:

Jake had USCG duty, but he was in Charleston instead of Georgetown, so he was home in the evenings.

On Saturday, I had my Barre instructor audition...I was nervous, but really pushed through. I feel like the group of girls I was auditioning with all did about the same...we had nerves, but we all made it through...so basically, I have no idea if I got the job or not...and I feel like it could go either way. It will depend a lot on everyone's availability and how many they end up hiring. I'm just crossing my fingers at this point...I know I have it in me...and if I don't get it this time, I'll take their constructive criticism {I'll definitely be asking for tips!} and just learn from it and keep focused on my goal of teaching.


I'm actually switching up my fitness routine to include more barre classes...and a little more cardio via running. Swimsuit season is here...and I'm not 100% so I want to keep working hard through the summer.

I totally fell off the clean eating wagon this weekend...I just feel blah. I spent a good portion of Sunday evening prepping my meals for the week...and Jake's too since he too has fallen off the wagon.

I also bought a glass water bottle so I can start taking essential oils internally. I am doing the weight loss trio - grapefruit, lemon and peppermint. I've read about some great results from it and it really is an overall healthy detox.

Anyway, my 32nd birthday is tomorrow, so tune in for 32 randomly awesome bits of information about me in celebration of it...you know you want to know it all.

P.S. Any of you that may have doubted Farrah's high favor in resemblance in of me...you're about to get schooled!

Hahahahaha...Happy Monday!

Linking Up With: Life Of Meg // Still Being Molly // Lipgloss & Crayons // B Loved Boston

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Five on Friday

I am so glad it's Friday. For me, it sort of feels like a long weekend because I haven't been at work yesterday and today. Not that I'm relaxing, I'm taking care of baby Farrah and of course trying to take advantage of the extra time to get household chores out of the way.

Here are my five this week:

{one}

As mentioned above, I've been home with Farrah the last two days. I had planned on going back to work today since she was fine all day yesterday, but late afternoon yesterday, her fever spiked to nearly 103, so I just knew that there was something wrong other than teething. I took her to the doctor this morning and turns out she's got ear infections in both ears. Just what I thought. She's been really great though, and other than the fever, you wouldn't be able to tell anything else was wrong. She's happy and playful, so that's good. We're starting her on antibiotics today, but I may also take this opportunity to soothe her and speed the healing process along with my essential oils. I'm going to try this recipe.

{via}

DIRECTIONS:
In a Roller Ball (Old 5 ml bottle)
Combine the following:
5 Drops of Lavender
5 Drops of Purification
5 Drops of Lemon
3 Drops of Pan Away
3 Drops of Thieves
Fill the rest with Olive Oil
Roll in Front of, Behind and Under the Ear to relieve pain. DO NOT PUT OILS IN YOUR EAR.
I'll let you know how it goes!


{two}

My Goddis Linsey cardigan arrived this week! I am in love with it. I am so glad I waited for a major price-drop though...no way could I justify $215.00 on a cardigan, unfortunately.

{ The Goddis Linsey Cardigan / Similar Items }

The colors are so vibrant in person. I am really pleased with the quality. I actually bought the last one in Starfruit on Revolve's website, however, I found the same one on the Goddis website, but at full price. Click links under my photo for other options.

{three}

I have an audition tomorrow to be a Barre instructor at a local studio here in Charleston. I am super-nervous, but I know if given the opportunity, I could be really great at it. I just have to fight through these nerves and show what I'm made of. At the very least, it will be a good experience, and if I don't get it this time, I won't let it break me, I will only work harder to attain the goal...it will all happen at the right time. I'm not yet certified in group fitness {working on it}, but I have taught dance & sculpt classes at gyms before. I really, really love Barre and I hope to become an instructor very soon. I will let y'all know what happens!

{via}

{four}

My workout plans went out the window this week...not totally, but they definitely didn't go as planned. Next week, I plan on changing my usual routine up a bit. I think with summer rapidly approaching {and let's face it, it's actually beach weather out already}...I am going to focus more on cardio. Mondays & Wednesdays I will take barre classes and Tues/Thurs/Sun I will run. I need to start working on my running mileage anyway. Saturdays I may take in another barre class or some sort of HIIT workout.

{five}

It's Jake's USCG duty weekend, so it will just be the kids and me for a couple of days. I'd love to take them all to the pool for the first time this season...so that's definitely in the plans. Lord knows I need some sun...I'm blinding right now.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Linking Up With: Hello, Happiness! // The Good Life // A. Liz Adventures // Carolina Charm // Lauren Elizabeth // Meet @ The Barre // September Farm // The Farmer’s Wife // All The Joys // Momfessionals

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{Workout} Wednesday on a Whim

This is a whimsical post because I'm literally just typing it as I go along...so there really was no planned post for today, but I feel like writing, so here I go.

I've got a few things running through my mind lately...future plans, goals...things like that. As I get closer to my "contract end date" at Boeing, I realize that I very well could be back to being a stay at home mom by next month. However, there is a chance my contract will get extended. But as far as anything permanent opening up in my current organization, it's looking pretty grim and the work has definitely slowed. I'm OK with it either way though...I started mentally preparing myself for this possibility about a month ago and I tend to live life in a "roll with the punches and rise above it" sort of way. With this possibility of being back at home on the horizon, it's given me some time to really think about what I want to do and how I can make a career - whether full- or part-time - out of something I'm passionate about.

Without getting into too much detail in the very early stages of my "planning", I can say that my future plans are definitely fitness-oriented. I have been so passionate about improving and challenging myself physically for well over a decade now. There is no doubt that I love fitness and I've found that along with that, I really love sharing my knowledge with others and helping drive them to succeed at their own health and fitness goals. It really is rewarding. I have an idea in mind for where I want to end up as far as the business end of this industry, but for now, my first steps are getting my personal training, group training and specifically, Barre instructor training certificates. I'm hoping to get my feet wet in teaching some classes soon.

I have started a neighborhood boot camp and the first class is tonight. I'm pretty excited to get some great girls through a challenging workout. I'm hoping to make it a weekly thing for the neighborhood and that the attendance tonight is good. I'm a tad nervous, but I've got a class plan and many of these girls are already friends of mine, so I know it will be a lot of fun {and hard work!}

So other than all of that, I have been pretty much keeping good with my clean eating and workout schedule. I have really found that writing it out on Sunday evenings has been beneficial and I've stuck to that process for 3-4 weeks now. Here is a snapshot of my workout plan for this week:

Hope you're having a great week!

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Thoughts For Thursday: Obsessions

Found the perfect striped sweater for fall...been dying to find something to look great under my pink puffer vest:

{via}

And what a great price at under $50.00!

I'm trying to channel this look...

{via}

I am all about the Boho chic look and I just adore this floral crochet top. I'd style it just like Andee did...casual, yet gorgeous:

{via}

A steal at $26.00 for something as unique as this!

This paisley top is so cute...you could definitely dress it up or down:

{via}

And it's under $20.00! This is why I love Forever 21...even though I'm 31...

In just a bit, I'm headed to my 2nd barre class this week...my obsession is already coming back! It killed me on Monday, but I know it is worth it.

{via}

Happy Thursday! Linking up with:

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