Weight Loss, Wine, Best Friend, Table, and a Book. How's that?

How has everyone's week been? Mine has been fantastic. I am absolutely head over heels in love with my new home! Work has been busy, but in a good way, I was able to get out of my Direct TV contract and get cable (there is no where to put a satellite dish at my new apartment and Direct TV were being complete assholes about it), my washer and dryer are being installed tomorrow, and things are just great.

It truly feels good to say that. I pray that they stay this way and I don't jinx myself.

As I wrote this post, I realized it is basically the "Friday 5" - you know the awesome link up's where you about 5 different things about your week? Well, I guess you can say I am starting the party early! Be sure and check out my "link up's" page so you can too!

1.) 3 pounds lost last week!

I was off of work Monday, thank God. It was so rainy, cold, and gloomy. I spent the day cleaning, unpacking, and organizing. I went to the doctor to get my B12 injection and I was down 3 pounds! I was very happy to see that. It was a complete surprise. I did not work out Saturday or Sunday because I was moving, and since my grandmother was in town, we ate out both nights as well. However, I did keep my meals healthy and moving is hard, hard exercise, so I suppose it makes sense. I am now down 10.2 pounds in two weeks. I cannot wait to write all about this!

I bought this shirt last winter because it was so cute. I could not pass it up. However, it was way too tight on me, especially around my stomach. But now it fits perfectly and is even loose around my stomach area. Total score!

2) Girl's night

Mine and my best friend Kelly, girls nights on "school nights" are really fun. We hit the gym for our work out's then come back to my place for dinner, wine, and girl talk. However, since I am working hard on my weight loss, I have not been drinking at all. But last night, when Kels came over for our girl's night, I decided to indulge. After all, we were celebrating my new place - it felt appropriate! 

3) New table!

My new dining room table was finally delivered last night as well. It was supposed to come Saturday, but in true "Murphy's Law"... sh** happens! And I have to say, does your best friend put together your new table? Mine does. While she is tipsy. Hilarious, but she totally did it! Go Kels! 

I lucked out on Amazon today and found two chairs that I think will go great with my new table. I bought them slightly used and was able to have both of them for only $43 bucks! The best part - they will be here Friday, hooray for free two day shipping!

4) Healthy but delicious dinner's

I always keep thinking cap on to make delicious dinners. Healthy and clean eating does not have to be boring and tasteless. I have been making a simple meal this week for dinners, but it has been SO delicious! The ingredients: ground turkey cooked in a frying pan via stove top with mushrooms with low sodium taco seasoning over a bed of fresh spinach topped with fat free cheddar cheese and crunchy onions. It is super easy and simple, but so good!

4) "There is more to life than this"

I consider myself to be a part book worm! I love to read. I do not have a Kindle or Nook, I prefer a cold, hard book. I do not know why, I just do. I am a huge fan of Teresa Caputo and her show, so I was excited when he new book was released. I picked a copy up at Target and it is such a good book. I read every night before bed to help get my mind tired and at ease, and this is a great book to do just that. It is an easy read with a lot of information and her background and other stories. It's definitely worth a pickup! 

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Life is all about change

I am trying to gather my thoughts and put myself together right now. Writing helps. This week has been one of the most emotionally draining weeks I have ever had. As we have always heard "it is darkest before dawn". And now is when I have to believe it.

This week started off with a text message from my step mother at 7:30 on Monday morning. My dad had two seizures Sunday night. My dad has been battling incurable cancer for exactly 2 years now. Though it is incurable, he is receiving the best treatment from Duke. He can lead a semi-normal life. There are a lot of ups and downs, but over the past 6-8 months, the disease has been very doormat and under control. I don't know how much longer than it is going to last though. Having a father with incurable cancer and a mother with the incurable disease MS, is very heartbreaking. I do not speak about it, write about it, or complain about it to anyone because it is something no one can change. Sometimes I like to pretend it does not exist. It's not denial, but an escape. Anyways, my dad is back home now and taking a lot of medication. He had some swelling in his head from his brain tumors. He will go back to Duke for more radiation once the swelling goes down. I spoke to him earlier and thankfully he sounds in good spirit. My dad is a fighter, I know that much. He refuses to let cancer get the best of him. I love you, Dad.

Wednesday, I must have eaten something bad. Wednesday evening I was SO sick. I am still reeling from the effects. Not to be gross, but I have never thrown up so much in my life. On my way home, I had to pull over twice so I could "get it out me", I only live 10 minutes from work too. It passed within a few hours, but it was unbearable. I still feel weak from it. 

On top of the issues with my father, I am resigning from my job in a couple of weeks. The meeting came to a head yesterday. This is heartbreaking but happy at the same time. Horrible and great. I do not know how it is all of those things at one time, but it is. I am very lucky because I have my mother and a wonderful fiance standing behind of me through all of this. I have written about my job before  and the downhill turn things have taken for the past year, and now the company has hit the bottom. It is sad because you always want to root for a small, start up company, but with every risk there comes either a reward or penalty. You do not always win. We are a very small company, over the past two and a half years we have been more family than co-workers, that is the hardest part about it all. Thankfully, I will be able to collect unemployment, and I will be right back in the job market looking for something new. Marquis is in the works of a new business I could run, but I don't know if I want to do that. I do not know what is next, but I am going to look at all different kinds of ventures. I may not be on Blogger as much as I am applying and interviewing, but I will still be here.

So in true Friday fashion, I am going to write 5 great things about my week. No matter how hard life gets, we can always see the good in things, right?

1) My Hump Day b l o g h o p 

Ladies, you all amaze me. You guys helped me spread the word and we had nearly 80 link up's our first time. Plus over 1,500 views. My co-host gained 12 new readers and I loved hearing about you guys finding new friends and blogs. To me, this is what Blogging is all about - making new friends, networking, and coming together as a community. Sometimes I like writing on my blog and telling you guys about my life, more than I do to people in real life. So thank you for helping me make Wednesday a success. I look forward to doing this every week and promoting my next co-hosts.

2) I p s y and M a r y K a y

I came home on Monday to my first Ipsy bag, Mary Kay foundation and "Makeup Stay Spray". I have not use much from my Ipsy bag yet, but I did try the red Cailyn lip stain. Holy crap I love it! I always love receiving new mascara so I cannot wait to try it out. I will die with my Mary Kay foundation so I was happy to receive that and I am excited to try the new makeup stay spray. I have read about Urban Decay's stay spray but since I love my Mary Kay girl, I thought I would try theirs first. I hope it works!

3) P o l a r FT4

My new Polar arrived Tuesday! I am so happy to finally have this for the gym. It is more than just a heart rate monitor, it is a challenge. I am excited to keep up with how many calories I burn and what zone I am training it. I want to push myself to burn more calories and beat yesterday's goal. Another great thing - I only paid $60 for it, plus free shipping. Ladies, do not pay $90-120 for this, pay $60 like I did. You can purchase it here.

4) My mama is in town. There is nothing better than having your mom come see you after a very hard week. We are having a blast. I love my mom way too much. I am 24 years old and I still get like a baby around her. And in my true mother's fashion (you guys know how she is on Facebook) here is what she has said:

Brantley is my brother's son, her one year old grandson. I think I may break it to her that she is famous on my blog, ha ha!

5) I needed some fun in my life last night. Mom, Marquis, and I all went to the White Water Center for drinks and live music, and took the pups with us for extra added fun. It was a great time and much needed.

Mama, Marquis, and a couple of the pups @ Whitewater Center

Now I am ready for the weekend, I hope you guys have a great one!

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Friday is All About FIVE!

It has been a great week.

Damn it feels wonderful to be able to say that.

Today my blog entry is a summary of 5 random's of the week that has ensued.

1.) For the first time since starting my lifestyle blog, I poured my heart out. I started this personal blog because I felt like I could write about my fears, joys, pain, and everything in between. On my health and fitness blog that had been featured so many places and was well known, I didn't want too. It just didn't feel right. So, on this blog, I took a plunge and wrote.

It has been a rough YEAR at my job, and this past month has been an ongoing trial of just how strong you can be when you feel like you are falling apart. After some intense prayer, mental regrouping, pepping myself back up, and taking a risk to start something I have always wanted to do, it has been a wonderful week!

I started my dream. I started writing. I am well into chapter 1.

2.) I do not get near the amount of best friend time as I want. I love my girls. I love having girlfriends. I would die without them. I miss the single girl life because I always got to be with my friends. But we grow up right? We fall in love, work full time, train every day at the gym, have a house, pets, and well - life gets in the way. But my best friend and I had a date night on Tuesday and it was so needed and a lot of fun. We had a good work out at the gym of cardio and weights, had a delicious/healthy dinner at Zoe's, then did a little shopping. This girl scored a $10 bathing suit at Old Navy! Man, I love a good deal.

Post gym! Do you like my aviator's? I think they're so badass. Ha!

3.) Speaking of my $10 bathing suit steal at Old Navy, it is in perfect time for the beach. Only 8 more days! It sucks that Labor Day weekend is approaching so fast. This will probably be our last Myrtle trip of the season. But that just means we get to go to Florida soon. I miss St. Augustine and cannot wait to be back. We only travel there between October and March.

We are saying at the above resort, "The Anderson". Our first time. Can't wait.

4.) I switched up my meal plan significantly as you may have read here. I have enjoyed my new concoctions so much this week. They are all wins!

5.) I have never used Pintrest before but needed to find a recipe to make for a party Marquis and I are going to on Saturday. I "pinned" these and we are making "Red Velvet Cake Brownies". I am excited to create them - they look delicious. I hope they turn out okay! I will report the outcome on my weekend recap!

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Oh Marilyn... (5 on Friday)

Time for one of my favorite link up's of the week! Five randoms on a Friday!

(1) I have been in the personal blogging world since Memorial Day weekend. I love it and I am having a blast! I have reached the 100 follower mark, and I think that is a pretty cool milestone. Therefore, I wanted to say "thank you" and host my very first giveaway! It is a $40 gift card to Ulta Beauty! I have made it super simple to enter and I hope you guys will join in on the fun! All you have to do is click the below picture.

(2) My birthday was Tuesday. I am so blessed and so beyond thankful for all of the love I received from my family, fiance, and friends. I had a great time at the beach, but I have to show you guys my favorite gift: my new Marilyn Monroe book. I have been obsessed with her since I was a little girl. And thanks in a big part to her life, I am now super OK with being curvy, blonde, and loud. I just feel the strongest connection and love for her. I have her pictures all over my house. This book means a lot to me.

(3) Marty. There is never a dull moment with my baby boy. He keeps life fun. Right now he is on a toilet kick. He loves for me to flush the toilet, for no reason. He purrs and watches, and had an absolute blast. Hilarious. [[My toilet thing broke, embarrassing, I know! I've been too nonstop to fix the damn thing]]

(4) Low calorie desserts. Marquis is currently in show prep for his bodybuilding competition in October. We get really creative during prep time. He made the most delicious, sugar free dessert. It's angel food cake with fat/sugar free whip creme and strawberry jam, with fresh strawberries. You literally can have almost a FOURTH of this cake for 120 calories and virtually no sugar.

(5) 18 miles. I finally broke my record for 15.5 miles in spin class. Hello 8-freaking-teen! I am so excited. But it's going to be tough trying to beat that!

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