2011 // a recap

January // went on an ice fishing adventure

February // made a magical fort that started the beginning of something I can't explain

March  // bought a fish and named him Mac

April //   the best spring break ever with a best friend

May //  graduated college with a J-O-B!

June // celebrated with friends and family, backyard party goodness

July // my first full month of work on the gulf coast & trip home to see Ke$ha with my cousin

August // loved every second of my job and seeing the ocean every day

September // turned 23 and  was moved to Baton Rouge, LA

October // helped a friend move to Boston

November // met my cousin for a much needed night on Bourbon St.

December // ran my first race in 4 years and placed!

2011 was a hard year of anticipating changes and then actually living through them. A year full of unknowns and just going with the flow. A year of learning who I am and beginning a new chapter. A year that I'll look back on and wonder how I worked 70 hour weeks and only took two rotations in six months. A year where I had my heart broken but still kept hope. A year of learning to let go and move on. Another year of growing up and experiencing life. I'm so grateful for every moment of 2011 and here's to 2012.

Happy Holidays

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday full of laughs, smiles and great memories. Remember to take a second and be thankful for all the service men and women who are away from their families this holiday season. So grateful to them and their families for being so selfless.

over here.

lately. shop madness. a new rug. making hunndreds of earrings. getting more organized. and loving life.

Party Time

This year I got to attend my first company Christmas party. It was at a plantation in Louisiana and it was amazing!!! There was a pig roasting on an open fire pit, pound of freshly peeled shrimp and an open bar. I had a blast getting to be a little more laid back with my coworkers and managers and we all tore up the dance floor. I wish we could have more of these cause I smiled the whole night :)

I love my job... and I finally got to wear my Jeffrey Campbell wedges... win win.

why hello.

Taken by a professional. Feeling kinda hardcore. Motivated me to come up with an eight week training schedule for the half marathon in February. Wishing Snow Patrol was good running music. Excited for a day of mass shop planning and ordering of supplies. 2012 I am getting pumped.

Training for Angels

I recently stumbled upon one of the circuit workouts the Victoria Secret Angels use to tone up. I tried it once and fell in love :) I wanted to share it with you guys. I am in no way a certified trainer and you should listen to your own body's needs.

How to…
Run through this routine or circuit once with very light weights or no weight at all. Take a 2-to-3 minute break and hydrate (but don’t drink too much water).  Repeat the circuit one more time.  Now try the routine with heavier weights and/or ankle weights. The entire program should last 45 to 90 minutes.  Do this workout 3-4 times per week.

Light stretching and Good Mornings or Good Mornings with Knee Bends [2 mins]. How to: (i) Stand straight; (ii) Bend forward at the hips while keeping the back straight; (iii) Return to the upright position.  Repeat.







Jumping Jacks [1 min]






Platypus Walks [30 seconds].  How to: (i) Stand with your feet a little more than shoulder-width apart, toes pointed out (if using weights hold it over your head); (ii) Keeping your abs tight, slowly walk forward for about 30 seconds, holding the squat; (iii) Walk backward to return to the starting position. 






Shadowboxing [1 min].  How to: Hold light weights in each hand and throw a series of punches. Make sure not to punch so quickly that you hyper-extend your elbows or shoulders. Through out your workout, keep your abs tight and your shoulder blades retracted.







Plié Squats with Calf Raises [1 min].  How to: (i) Get into a squat position with feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell between your legs (your toes should be turned out at a 45-degree angle); (ii) Stick your butt back as you squat down, keeping your weight on your heels; (iii) As you squat, bring your heels off the ground and rise onto the balls of your feet (continue to keep your bodyweight toward your heels); (iv) Bring your heels back to the floor and shift your weight back onto them, squeezing your inner thighs and glutes before pressing back up.









Reverse Lunges [2 mins]. How to: (i) Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, keep your core stable and weight on your heels; (ii) Take a large step back with your right foot, planting and then lowering your body until both legs are bent in right angles; (iii) Exhale as you extend your legs; (iv) Lift your right foot, bringing your right knee in toward your chest and then launch a front kick into the stomach of an imaginary opponent.







Squat Thrusts [1 min].  How to: (i) Stand with your feet hip-width apart, and hold a weight or medicine ball (optional) with both hands at chest level with your elbows bent; (ii)  Bend your knees, stick your butt back, and go into a squat; (iii) Continue bending your knees as you bend forward from the hips, placing the weight on the floor under your breastbone; (iv) Press your hands onto the weight as you jump and extend your legs behind your body into a push-up position (keep your abs tight the entire time); (v) Recoil your legs and rise to the starting position.







Scissors Reverse Crunches [1 min]. How to: (i) Lie on your back on a mat; (ii) Bring both legs into the air so that the legs are perpendicular to your body; (iii) Stabilize your core and tighten your abs; (iv) Bring your feet apart so your legs form a scissor shape and then pull from your hips in a reverse crunch. Make sure your feet are flexed.









Donkey Kicks [2 mins].  How to: (i) Get on all fours with your hands under your shoulders, knees under your hip; keep back flat, not arched or curled; (ii) Contract your abs to stabilize your torso; (iii) Inhale as you lift your right knee off the floor and pull it straight in toward your chest; (iv) Exhale as you press your right foot back and up behind you in an arching motion (you should feel this in your buttocks); (v) Inhale as you lower your leg until your thigh is parallel to the floor; (vi) Exhale as you raise your leg again, this time bent at a 90-degree angle, pulsing your heel toward the ceiling; (vii) Exhale as you straighten and raise your right leg behind you; (vii) Inhale as you lower your leg.







Bench Stepups [1 min].  How to: (i) Stand in front of a step with your core stable; (ii) Place your right foot on the step and press up through the heel of your right foot to lift your body off the ground onto the bench; (iii) Once the right leg is extended, bring your left knee up toward your chest; (iv) Lower yourself to the ground; (v) Switch legs and repeat the motion on the other side. TIP:  Resist the urge to push off with your foot while stepping up, and instead focus on pushing only with the leg that is lifting the body.







Pushups [1 min]


And that my friends is what I've been up to...just add Taylor Swift and Drake music blasting in the background ;)

warning // fitness is coming

This is a blog about my life, my passions and of course my business. I've not really talked much about how much working out and fitness are a part of my life, mostly cause I wasn't sure how to fit it into the blog. I workout almost everyday and I'm tired of leaving an important part of my life out of the blog... so get ready for weekly/monthly/sporadic fitness posts haha. If you need motivation to join the fitness party you can read about my weight loss journey here.

I recently ran the Jingle Bell Run, and I plan to run the Mercedes Half Marathon on Feb. 12th, 2012. I am so excited. More like nervous that I won't make it. I've been logging my daily miles at the dailymile.com and I'd love for you to add me :)

Tomorrow morning I will share the Victoria's Secret Model Circuit Training I've been doing every other day. It's so much fun and really rewarding. I like circuits because the time goes by really fast but you work almost all of your body. And as you get better you can repeat it more times.

Okay that is it :) So excited to add this part of my life into my blog!!

My high-school room // post college

I've only been home a handful of times since I graduated in May, so I've really neglected my room. My mom painted it white for me before I came back, but since I wasn't sure if I'd really ever be living here I didn't want to invest in decorating it. However, I knew I was going to be home till the middle of January and the bare walls were getting to me.  So I spent yesterday adding things to the bulletin board, hanging prints, buying frames and realizing I need lots of Command Hanging Velcro. Here is what it looks like as of December 12th. Stay tuned for more updates.

still a long way to go, but it's starting to feel like my space. I need to find some things to add to the walls around my bed, a lampshade and possibly some twinkle lights.

**You can find the plywood art tutorial here. **

wise words.

Tonight I was talking with a friend about relationships and I was wondering how people can just turn off their feelings. He left me with some wonderful words and I wanted to share them here.

"That's how relationships are. You go through a bunch of things together and it seems like they are the only one that gets you but in actuality there are a lot of people out there that would get you. You will find someone again who will be there for you."

The Jingle Bell Run

Today I ran in the Jingle Bell Run. It benefits finding a cure for arthritis. I haven't been able to do the race since I was in high school so I was really excited to participate in it again :)

Runners and walkers tie bells on their shoes and some even wear Santa hats. So FUN!!! I'm not use to running in the cold so I was pretty nervous. I kinda felt like I might puke at the start. There were so many people. The start was up a hill... it was brutal. But I kept trucking and before I knew it I could see the finish line. I ran as fast as I could and then I looked up 27:09... are you serious!! Was so proud of myself. I haven't run in a race in 4 years.

We stayed around for the results and then I heard my name!! 3rd place in the 20-24 age group!! Ahhh. Cloud 9. And I got a trophy.

Have a wonderful Saturday. You can also follow my daily workouts over at the dailymile.com. Add me as a workout buddy! xoxo

Sneak Peek

I have a been working on new shop items, building a new website for the shop and improving the branding of the business. Daily e-mails between Kara and I have been inspiring and motivating. I cannot wait to see the new site :)

I've been working on an updated card line, magnets and pushpins, in addition to new hair clips!! I'm so excited for 2012. Thanks for hanging in there with me through the last 5 months. I promise I'm here to stay.

On Working Out // Hotel Style

Getting motivated to workout is something I struggle with everyday. Especially now that my workouts occur late at night after work or early in the morning before. The hotel I'm living in has a small workout room, one elliptical, two treadmills and some medicine balls. So I've had to improvise on my workout routine. Anything that doesn't involve a cardio machine is done in my room. It's been a challenge, but I've gotten use to it :)

Most days I do about 30 minutes of HIIT, high intensity interval training, on the cardio machines. Then I head back to my room for target specific workouts. I pick either legs, shoulders/chest, or arms, and everyday I do some sort of abs. I had my personal trainer from back home help me with exercises I can do within my room with some 5lb weights and a stability ball. If you guys are more interested in my workout stuff I might consider doing  a more detailed post with exercises and pictures... would anybody want that?

I'm off to work, I can't believe it's December!! Ahhhhh.