New Blog Makeover

Thanks to Danielle at Girls Night Out Custom Blog Designs, I now have a new blog makeover! I absolutely love it! I went to college with Danielle and we are from the same city in Florida. I still scratch my head and wonder why and how we never hung out during that time? She is a sweetheart! Be sure to check her out!

My take on the Shred

I have been reading a lot of blogs lately that are either Shredding or are going to start the Shred soon. My advice to those considering it is to go for it and my advice for those who have half-way started it is to keep going. You haven't seen anything until you get to Level 3! I weighed myself Saturday morning and I am down 10 pounds since May (without the GYM!). I am so excited. I did not want to lose weight super fast -- I have always been of the belief that consistent lifestyle changes are what get you to your goal and help you stay there. With my busy work and social schedule and travel almost every weekend, I do not have time any longer to dedicate 6 days a week to exercise -- I want to -- but, it is now more like 3 or 4. Because of this, I really have to watch what I eat, but I have still managed to see the scale creep lower and lower bit by bit. If I lose 5 more, I will be at the weight I was my freshman year of college. How crazy is that?! I would like to get there by Christmas, but we will see about that.

If you didn't get anything I said in that paragraph, please get this: I do highly recommend the Shred workout system. If completed up to 4 times a week (after the initial 30 straight days which I did complete) paired with 30 minutes of moderate running (a 50 min. workout in all), you should definitely see some changes happen. Sometimes it is a slow process, but one day you will put on your favorite pair of jeans like I did and go, "Wow! These fit great." Keep it up!

I want to see this!

I found this movie at Tales of a Southern Belle and Her Beau. I already watched the trailer and I know it's going to make me cry. Watch the trailer here!

Why I Love this Week

What a great idea from Live.Love.Laugh! She had this cute graphic designed so that each Monday, we can post why we are excited about the week. I needed this kick in the right direction this morning. I had to stay home from work today because I am not feeling well and am just a tad bit down. Ever have a down day? I have them from time to time. I am sitting here thinking, how can I be down? It's 67 degrees outside and sunny! Having this post will literally force me to focus on the positives of this week. So, here I go:

*The weather is staying in the high 60s, low 70s. All week long.

*My mother is coming up to visit Friday-next Monday.

*Wednesday is payday. Thank Goodness.

*My sweet boyfriend bought me a massage this week.

*My favorite TV shows are on this week: The Biggest Loser, Grey's Anatomy, and The Office.

*I am getting caught up on laundry.

Here are some pictures from Saturday's game. It was pouring rain!! We had to leave at the 1/2 because we were concerned about our puppy, Hutch.

All bundled up before the game!

Making our rounds.

Oh, I was already soaked -- 1 hour before the game started! I had to borrow Don's raincoat because I don't have one.

Holiday Cards from Papyrus

I know it is only September, but I am such a big planner. I don't think it's too early to start thinking about Christmas cards, do you? This will be my first year sending out cards on my own and I am very excited! I cannot decide it I want something cutesy or classy. I guess future years can always have a classy card, so I am thinking of going the cutesy route this year. I passed through Papyrus yesterday at Union Station in Washington and loved their Christmas card box collection. It got me in the spirit -- even though it was 87 degrees! Here were a few of my favorites!


Other sites with cute cards are Swoozies & Snapfish! However, Snapfish are photocards, and I don't think a card with a big picture of myself would be appealing to friends and family!

Juggling the Computer

Do you find yourself working late at night? I do. I get in bed with my laptop and ... work. This has been necessary this week because I have been out of town and in lots of meetings, so I find that this is my only time to catch up. I get stressed when email gets more than a day behind! OCD? na...

I have been on the web now for three hours straight and I have still yet to catch up on blogs! It has been quite the busy week and I can't believe tomorrow is Thursday! For the past 3 hours, I have been in web zoom mode. I send a work email, then check facebook Inbox (which keeps creeping up in numbers too!), check the news, check everyone's twitter, set a work calendar reminder, repeat. I find myself switching from page to page trying to squeeze it all in!

Tomorrow, I have one meeting in the morning, then I am heading home. I have another fun weekend planned with Don and friends. Pretty much every weekend from now until Christmas is planned with fun activities!

Also, all I can say is I am so thankful for the GPS this week. I would have been lost without it in this crazy city!

Weekend recap

Friday

I drove up to Don's house after a long work week and we had a celebratory dinner for him and then saw "Love Happens." I looked at Don halfway through the movie and asked if he was bored. He said, "Yes?!" I started laughing. The movie was just A-OK. I probably won't see it again, but it is maybe worth it if you are totally bored on a rainy day.

Saturday

I woke up at 8 a.m. on a Saturday! Awful, I know. However, I had a golfing gig to make. I used to really enjoy golf, but it had been about a year since I had swung a club. With a little tweaking to my swing, courtesy of Don, I was hitting them pretty far and even Straight!

The golf course was beautiful! It was tucked away in a teeny bitty town about 15 minutes outside of where Don lives.

Don all decked out in his outfit! I thought it was adorable!

I don't know if I would necessarily categorize this as a golfing outfit, but oh well! Sometimes polos irritate my neck.

Then, off to the first JMU home game. This was my first Duke experience and it was so fun! We started out down on the field during warm-up time and I got to meet some nice JMU staff.

I am wearing my media pass! I was too excited when Don got it for me. At first I carried it in my bag (so I could have my necklace showing) and would show it to the security, but then I finally put it on. Wear it loud and proud.

Yay!

The Dukes warming up

Here we are -- best seats there. It's a secret and we are so not telling.

Friday Finds

I love finding new blogs that I find interesting to read! Since I am now back in the blog loop, I searched out a few this week to add to my blogroll. I met:

Brown Girl Blogs
Matt & Hailey tie the knot
History of the Harveys
The Rest is Still Unwritten
Lis Loves
My First Year as a Wallace
The Seattle Smith's

I look forward to keeping up with them along with the other blogs I follow!

Have a great weekend everyone! I am off to Don's house for the weekend. Fun things we have planned include: celebratory dinner, movie date, golfing, football game at JMU, church, and a trip to the gym on Sunday. I have made a promise to myself to take pictures. Please keep me accountable!

Eat a good Breakfast

I have always read and heard that women who eat a good breakfast every morning will maintain their weight better or even lose weight if they are trying to do so. I will admit that I wake up starving! I rarely skip meals. I have the eating breakfast part down, now I just need to establish a solid time to eat it. There are days when I press the snooze button over and over a few too many times and end up running out the door with only a tumbler of Dunkin Donuts vanilla coffee & a Fiber 1 bar in hand. I get so wrapped up in driving to work, walking from my miles-away parking spot (will explain later), and getting settled into my laptop at work checking emails and starting the day that I forget to eat my Fiber 1 Bar until 10 a.m. hits and my stomach reminds me. I normally will eat it but then it messes up my lunch time because I am not hungry at noon or 1. I find that when I forget breakfast, it throws off my day and eating schedule. I guess the entire point of this post is that I had 2 slices of wheat toast this morning with OJ & a cup of coffee before leaving the house and it is now 11 a.m. and I still feel fueled and alert. It definitely has given me energy to plow through my morning to-do list.

My question is what do you all eat for breakfast? Do you even eat it? Or, better yet, what do you working ladies eat for breakfast and lunch on workdays? I typically stick to the basics of toast, fiber 1 bars, a CLIF bar, or occasionally cereal. I make pancakes for Don and I on Saturday mornings, but that's another post. Anyhow, please enlighten me!

Apartment Shopping

It is that time again where I feel like I am always moving! I have not lived in one place for longer than one year in like 6 years. I moved from Jacksonville, FL, to Alabama, to college dorms, back to Alamaba, back to dorm, to D.C. for short-term internship, back to Virginia apartment, back to D.C. for job, back to Virginia best friend's apartment for 2 months, then finally into where I live now! Whew! Such as life....! I moved into a large home with 3 other girls last December after moving back from D.C. and have enjoyed my time there very much. The owner of the home has decided to put it on the market to sell soon, so all the housemates will be going our separate ways soon. Many memories have been made in that house as well as lifelong friendships formed. One of my current roomies and I have decided to branch off together and find an apartment with a year lease, so the search has officially started. We are moving out November 10, so about 7 weeks to go. We have looked at several 2 bedroom townhomes & apartments and will make a decision the first week of October. I think we are both on the same page as far as what we are looking for --- here are some of our "Apartment Musts":

Nice, Nice, Kitchen because I am ready to start cooking again
Dark cabinets
Stainless Steel appliances would be nice, but black will do too
Walk-In Closets are pretty much a neccessity
Washer & Dryer included
Water included in Rent
Nice floor plan
Good location in town
Newer development

So far, we have narrowed it down to two that we really like: a townhome and an apartment. The price difference is only $25 so that's really not a huge factor. I will be sure to keep you updated on our decision process! We love both, but there are pros and cons for the two of them and we cannot decide yet!

Here we are!

I cry every time!

I cry every time this show comes on. How about you? I look forward to The Biggest Loser each season -- it is so inspirational! I think I lose weight watching it too because 2 hours every Tuesday night with Jillian makes me want to exercise more. I feel this show serves as such a role model to America. To me, this show does not just cater to the feelings of just looking good, although it is an added benefit, but I believe that it goes way deeper than that. I respect individuals who want to stay healthy not just for themselves, but for those around them. Working out and losing weight to stay healthy for their kids and loved ones is moving. Should be a great season! I like how shows like this are so long that it lasts all the way up to the Christmas season.

My friend & her Officer

Last weekend, we headed down to Charlotte, NC for Meghan and Eli's wedding. The wedding was held at a hotel in downtown Charlotte. They had a rooftop wedding ceremony and the reception was held inside one of the hotel ballrooms. We had a great time and I loved getting to see one of my best friends get married! Eli is an officer in the U.S. Army and is stationed in Savannah, GA, so that is where they will be living. He is set to go to the Middle East in December for a whole year, so we will be keeping him and Meghan in our prayers.

Pictures before the rehearsal.

Don on the rooftop.

Starting to get ready (after the Starbucks run). No makeup on yet!!

Waiting...

This is when we saw her rounding the corner.

Here Comes the Bride!

Meghan had a lot of guests there to celebrate her special day with she and Eli.

Yay! They are married!

Picture at the reception.

Okay, this has nothing to do with the wedding but I had to include this shot of the cutest little man ever! This is my roomie's nephew! We love it when he comes over to play.

Work weekend & more Cupcakes

It is September 1 and that means it's Fall! Well, not technically, but it is to me anyways. The weather in Virginia is gorgeous today and it feels so good!

I had to be in D.C. this past weekend for a work trip. I always enjoy going, and from what my schedule looks like, I will be up there a lot this fall. Fine by me!

At the end of the day, we drove around in the crazy traffic for fifteen minutes in the Georgetown neighborhood and then squeezed into a teeny parallel spot. It was Don's first trip to this little jewel and I wasn't leaving until he tried it! I'm sure he was thinking, "This place better be good, Britt!" with all the driving we did. Come to find out in the end that he doesn't like icing! So, we opted for a sprinkled topping cupcake for him.

And here they are! We also picked two up for our friend's Jen and Dustin. We all like the red velvet with cream cheese icing.

We were so tired from the busy day Saturday that we spent a Sunday in chill-mode. We went to the park and read travel magazines and grabbed Starbucks.... took a drive... went to the grocery store..... I love Sundays like that! >>with church included, of course!

This current week is FLYING by. Tonight, I am meeting with my friend, Jordan, at Starbucks and then going to see "My Sister's Keeper." The previews make it seem like I may just cry!