Five on Friday

I have been scarce this week and I apologize...but if you see my #1, you will know why. Hope y'all have had a great week! Here are my five for this week...

{one}

On sort of a whim, and sort of planned, I decided to revamp my fitness blog, The Gym Bunny, this week. I've given it a new url and it is now on Wordpress instead of Blogger {a jump I hope to make with this blog soon as well!} So as many of you know, setting up a new blog from scratch can be a daunting task. I also still have some things to tweak with the design and all, but it is up and running. I am excited for the new direction I plan to head it in and I really hope you will consider following via your choice, or choices, of social media and Bloglovin' too of course.

{two}

The last couple days in Charleston have been solemn ones. The historic downtown church shooting that took nine precious lives has done the opposite of what white vs. black hate crimes have done to other cities such as Ferguson and Baltimore. We have come together to show love for the city and it's people - of all races, ages, colors, religious backgrounds, whatever differences we have - and we have prayed. I am so glad they caught the very disturbed individual that carried out this horrific act of hate and intolerance.

{three}

It has been one heck of a scorcher this past week or so in Charleston. The heat index has been over 100 for days. I took the kids to the pool after work on Tuesday, but even that water felt like a lukewarm bath. It was nice to change up the afternoon routine though.

{four}

Father's Day is Sunday and we plan to go to the beach so Jake can get his precious volleyball time {it's the least I can do}. Farrah's new beach tent arrived from Amazon this week, so I'm excited to try it out. Her little one broke last time when I was trying to set it up so we had to trash it. This one is bigger and is one of those half-canopy tents that is made for the beach, so even I can sit in it with her, which will be nice. Once we get home I believe we are having his parents over to BBQ. What are you doing to celebrate with all the important dads in your life?

{five}

Farrah is getting around so much now...I don't remember it ever being this bad with the boys...maybe it just seems so because I have three now? Or I've accumulated a lot of dangerous household decor in the last few years? She isn't walking, but she's a speedy little crawler and pulls up on everything. She can't be let out of sight and it's exhausting. It's also a really sweet age...and even though she's trying to get into things she shouldn't all the time, she's so innocent and bright-eyed...

Hope y'all have a great weekend - I'm headed to Party at the Point this evening with the wine club gals to celebrate one of their birthdays. Looking forward to a fun, sun-filled weekend {and hopefully no heat stroke!} xo

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Friday Five

It's been a pretty nice week, I have to say. It got a bit chillier here in Charleston, but that's always expected right about now to get our little "January freeze". I can't believe in just a couple months we will already be looking at spring weather {hopefully!} I'm definitely ready to play outside more with the kids.

Anyway, on with my five...

{one}

We started off the week with a free bushel of oysters! Jake called me and said not to make dinner, he'd be bringing these home to roast.

We had just roasted oysters at our NYE party, but I'm always game for some oysters. Tanner wasn't really a fan, but he was really good at opening them. Breckin LOVED them and kept wanting more. It was nice to start off the week with a pretty healthy meal.

{two}

Remember that Free People flowy top I did an outfit post with a couple months ago? Well, while my mom and I were doing some day after Christmas shopping, I saw them in Belk and fell in love with it in this color...had to have it, knowing I just loved the fit of it. I posted a pic on my Instagram this week asking if it was better with scarf or without. More liked it with the scarf, but I of course will rock it both ways...the scarf is great for right now.

{three}

I've taken my fitness up another notch...not only am I doing Body Beast, but I am also doing the Insanity program simultaneously! Am I crazy? Yes, but I've accepted it...and I roll with it. I started on Tuesday, but I am not hating it...I actually feel awesome. Body Beast is an amazing program, but I really feel the need to keep my cardio in high gear too... and since Body Beast is primarily weight training {there is only one cardio day each week}, I just feel I would benefit from adding in the HIIT workouts from Insanity. I'm determined to blast through this last 10 lbs of pregnancy weight! Seriously, I'm in Charleston...beach season starts in April here...sometimes earlier. It will be here before I know it.

There are actually a lot of hybrid schedules out there for the two already, but I am doing 6 days on, 1 day rest with both of them...Body Beast in the AM and Insanity in the PM. I do still go to my HIIT class and barre classes at the gym as well.

{four}

This sweet girl is 8 months today...I can't believe how fast time is flying. I suppose I knew it would. Two-thirds of her first year...passed. Wow. I have only four months to plan the most spectacular rainbow-themed birthday party for her! {Yes, I'm that mom that has already known the theme I was going to do for her first birthday...but hey, she's my first girl and my last baby.}

{five}

I took down Christmas and spruced up our front and back porches. I still need new flowers in the pots...but it is January and I just don't have the motivation for gardening until March. I finally found cushions that would somewhat fit the set we have {they discontinued all of the replacement cushions on it!}

Here is the front porch {where I love to enjoy a glass of wine in the evenings when it's warmer and still light outside}:

And the back deck:

I got the long slatted bench for only $40 off our local Facebook mom exchange...glad to have something that doesn't require cushions since we have no cover from sun or rain out there {we had already been through THREE sets of cushions on ours in 6 years...so I need to be good about pulling these chair cushions in when it rains now. This is why I placed the couch part of the set on the front porch.} I got the round glass table for FREE - one of my neighbors posted a curb alert and I dashed over there to get it. We had a table that went with out set, but my sweet little 4yo son took a metal bat to it while playing and it shattered! God, I love my boys, but dang.

Anyway, 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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Monday Musings

Apologize for the later post today, but here goes...

I think my favorite weekend all month has already happened. This weekend was so fun...full of lots of good people and holiday festivities.

We kicked off the weekend by going to my friend Suz's house Friday evening for dinner and a play date. The kids had fun as usual..we even took them out to the marsh areas behind her house with flashlights and explored. It was also a full moon and the weather was beautiful.

Saturday night I had my annual ladies' Christmas gift exchange. It ended up being a wonderful time for all...we threw in some karaoke and dancing as well. I didn't end up getting to bed until almost 3am! I felt it the next day but was up at 7:30am for Farrah anyway. No more 3am nights for a while...

That Christmas Cheer up there was the culprit for many of the evening's antics.

Such a great time, I look forward to it every year.

On Sunday evening, we took the kids to see the Holiday Festival of Lights and Santa. We roasted marshmallows and drank hot chocolate. It was a great time...Farrah loved all of the lights!

I woke up today with some determination and got my first day of Body Beast done after I took Tanner to the school bus. It works out perfectly with just enough time to get it done before the other two wake up. I was also able to get to a barre class in the late morning. I think I'm really going to enjoy this program.

I plan on keeping track of my progress over the next 90 days on my fitness blog, The Gym Bunny. I hope you'll consider following along! I am also going to incorporate a series on the blog I am calling Tabata Tuesdays. If you've never heard of Tabata, it's basically a small series of HIIT intervals with exercises of your choosing. Typically, you choose 4 exercises {i.e. burpees, jump squats, etc.} - do one for 20 seconds at your max, rest 10 seconds, then move onto the next one and repeat through so each one is done twice, totaling a 4-min circuit. Then, optionally, you can repeat that entire circuit 5x to total a 20 min exercise. It's actually quite beneficial for fat loss as it raises your heart rate for a burst and then a short rest and raises again.

But anyway, I know it's late, so I'd better go ahead and publish this post!

Linking Up With: Monday Morning Gossip // Life Of Meg // Still Being Molly // Lipgloss & Crayons // B Loved Boston // Really, Are You Serious?

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California vs. Carolina

Disclaimer: The content in this post is from this article. My personal content is below each picture from the original article - in bold, italicized print..and may include a picture of my own. This article was borrowed in order to make a rebuttal in Southern California's defense {for the purpose of humor}. Enjoy!

I came across an article titled 14 Reasons Why Life Is Better In Charleston, South Carolina. As you can see from the title of my blog, I came from California to Carolina. To be more accurate, I was ripped from my beloved state and dragged by the hair across the U.S. {thank you husband and the USCG}. We landed in Charleston, SC. This post will serve as my argument that life is better in Southern California.

1. You Can Wear Flip Flops in November

Via pinterest.com

Temperatures can reach the 70’s even in the coldest months so it’s totally fine to be THAT person who wears flip flops in the winter.

It never went lower than the 50s when I lived in sunny SoCal. Charleston, let's be honest, you put your flip flops away in January and February, maybe even December and March. I never put my flip flops away in California.   

2. That Time You Hung Out With Bill Murray…

Via fiaforever.com

Okay, so it was actually a friend of a friend who spotted the elusive Bill Murray downtown, but in your mind you’re totally BFF4E ~*

P.S. can you crash my engagement photos too?

I've been here almost 10 years and I haven't spotted or run into Bill once. While in California, I met a handful of celebrities.

3. Our Beloved Ravenel Bridge

Via d1vmp8zzttzftq.cloudfront.net

The Ravenel Bridge is an illustrious Charleston landmark. And each spring, 35,000 runners from all over the world come to Charleston to run across it for the Cooper River Bridge Run 10k race.

I love the Cooper River Bridge, but the Santa Monica stairs are no joke when it comes to a workout. And what a view.

{via}

 

4. Shrimp ‘n Griiiiiiiits

Via pinterest.com

Sure, Charleston is a culinary mecca, but you can’t go wrong with this classic southern dish. I need it like I need air to breathe. GET IN MY BELLY.

I've never been a fan of shrimp n' grits, I almost think it's something you need to be raised on. Forget Shrimp N' Grits...give me In N' Out.

5. Even Ryan Gosling Loves Charleston

Via monsieurgotstyle.com

Since shooting parts of The Notebook in Charleston, Ry Ry has made frequent visits to the Holy City. When he was spotted in downtown Charleston in Fall 2013, it’s said the entire peninsula sank 6 inches* from all the girls rushing to catch a glimpse of him.

*Not a real statistic.

While he may visit Charleston, I'm pretty sure Ryan Gosling actually LIVES in L.A. Just sayin'.

6. King Street is a Mini Rodeo Drive

Historic King Street offers the best shopping and finest retail stores in the state. Enjoy luxury shops and trendy boutiques all in one place and then grab a drink afterwards - schmoozin’ and boozin’ Charleston-style.

Los Angeles has THE Rodeo Drive. And it is AWESOME.

{via}

7. Life’s a Beach

Via sciway.net

From Folly Beach, to Isle of Palms, to Sullivan’s Island, you’re never more than 30
minutes away from having your toes in the sand.

In the words of Liz Lemon: “I want to go to there!”

Life's a beach...and a much prettier, larger one...with boardwalks...and bonfire pits.

{via}

8. We Have Impeccable Fashion Game

Via zerogeorge.com

You don’t need to travel to New York or Miami for a killer fashion scene. Thanks to Charleston Fashion Week each spring, fashionistas get their chance to see and be seen!

I'm preeeeetty sure Los Angeles has fashion covered pretty well...and a lot better. CFW is awesome, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it will ever be what L.A. is. L.A.'s fashion week gets way more celebrity attendance and performances.

9. Everyone is So Dang Friendly

Via cntraveler.com

“Hey stranger!” “Yes, ma’am” and “No, sir” are all common phrases in the land of southern hospitality. The readers of Conde Nast even voted Charleston the Friendliest City in America!

I think a lot of this depends on the person. Charleston peeps are pretty friendly, but I've also seen the other side of it too. And I remember seeing a lot of both in California too. I'll give this to Charleston though, they did get the vote after all!

10. The F0o0o0o0od

Via newsobserver.com

Oh you fancy, huh? Charleston is home to ridiculously luxurious lodging and trendy culinary destinations. We’re spoiled with fabulous high-end food and libations no matter where we turn, which makes it super hard to visit other cities and expect the same in return.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. #FoodSnob

The food here is pretty stellar, I must admit. I do miss my California fish tacos and burritos...especially on Taco Tuesday.

11. NBD…

Via susanlucas.typepad.com

… Just a horse and carriage casually hanging out downtown.

OK, I got nothin'.

12. Say it With Me: Happy Hours

Via charlestoncitypaper.com

From heading to Shem Creek after work for happy hours, or braving downtown on the weekends, getting a buzz has never been easier or more fun than in good ol’ Charleston.

I, for one, am not complaining.

There are more badass happy hours than I could possibly name in SoCal - are you kidding me???!! This one is in my hometown of Huntington Beach and is an awesome bar...oh and look...the happy hour lasts 'til 9pm...

 

13. Potential BAEs Are Plentiful

Via thedandyfashion.blogspot.com

For some reason, everyone here is like, really attractive. Is it hot in here or is it just me?
  
Is it just me, or is this the most awful picture they could have used on their side of the argument? Not my type AT ALL. Give me this any day though...

 

14. Charleston is LITERALLY the Best City in the Country

For three years in a row, Charleston has ranked as the #1 city in the USA!

Game over.

I think it's great they got this ranking thrice...but I still think San Diego tops them all...plus, any city where you can go to hang at the beach and go to the mountains to snowboard all in the same day...can't beat that in my opinion.

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