High Five for Friday

Welcome back to your weekly installment of High Five for Friday, along with Lauren Elizabeth over on her blog.

This week, I'm doing something a little different and sharing something I found on Pinterest the other day. It's actually originally from Buzzfeed, which isn't normally where I go for great advice, especially for weight loss, but I think this one's a winner!

So, this week's High Five for Friday ...5 weeks to cleaning up your diet! I've never made it a secret from anyone about my weight loss issues and have previously posted about it here on the blog. After that "Weight Loss Woes" post, I thought I'd be more motivated to clean up my diet. Well, nope. I scheduled my knee surgery, then postponed it, and life has just gotten in the way. No excuses, that's just how it is. Knee surgery is now one month from yesterday, it's only seven and a half weeks until I head to Vermont for a week for vacation and one of my best friend's weddings, and summer is coming fast. Time to get real with my diet and exercise. My goal is to lose 15 pounds before Vermont, which is doable, but it's going to take real work.

Week 1. Add real fruits and real veggies to every meal. I believe in not starting a program by taking something away from yourself, but adding something in to the mix. This is also going to be a bit of a challenge for me for 2 reasons- 1) I'm a picky eater and 2) I have major texture issues with food. I started off this morning by having an apple. Then a doughnut. Whomp. But at least I tried? I'll try again at lunch. That's all I can do.

Week 2. No more fast foods. This is definitely going to be the most difficult step of all. I've always had a fast food addiction. I can talk myself out of it and go weeks without it, but then, I snap and have it once. Once turns into twice in one day. Then twice in one day becomes seven fast food runs in five days. That's going to stop. I'm going to modify this one from the get-go and not say no fast foods, but I'm saying only once a week. And I'm sticking to it.

Week 3. Give up white breads and grains. Switch to whole wheat bread, brown rice, and whole wheat pasta. Thankfully, this will not be the most difficult for me since I already use whole grain english muffins, breads, and pasta at home. But, it WILL definitely put me on the struggle bus when it comes to biscuits (y'all know this North Carolina girl loves biscuits), pizza crust, and general eating out. However, I know this is one thing I can conquer!

Week 4. Use a fruit or veggie as the base of every snack. Again, I'll be on the struggle bus, but I can handle some apple and peanut butter or carrots and ranch. YUM.

Week 5. No more soda or sugary drinks. This one will be a Coke walk through the park. Get it? Haha. Yes. I haven't been a "real" soda drinker in years, which is great. I only have a full sugar soda when I have a migraine from hell because the caffeine helps and the sugar does, too. I'm altering this week's challenge to include limiting myself to only one day of sweet tea a week, and limiting sweet treats to the same, just like during Lent.

I know this is ALL going to be hard, tough work. But no one else can do it for me. Week 1 officially starts on Monday and I will have an update post every Monday morning about how the previous week went. Feel free to join me on this journey and let me know how you're doing, as well! Here we go! Have a great weekend!

xoxo!

High Five for Friday

As per usual on Fridays, I'm linking up again with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday. 

Here's a look back at 5 of my favorite things from the week. And, GO!

1.  As y'all know, last week was one helluva longggg and tedious one for me. The struggle was real. My plan last Friday night was to go to the tanning bed and then head home to just drink wine on the couch while watching TV. Thank goodness for friends like Madi (you met her here)! She texted me just as I was finishing up at the tanning bed to come over to her house and drink. Well, that took a lot of arm twisting. Thankful for a relaxing, wine-filled. and girl talk-laden Friday night to unwind! 

 

Sweet, sweet Southern wine from Duplin Winery!

2. All day Sunday, and I do mean alllllll damnnnnnn day, was filled with yard work. As I've noted before, my house was empty for about three years prior to my purchasing it, and even in the year I've been here, I was focused on the inside and just keeping the front yard mowed. So, Sunday was devoted to more in the back yard. It's crazy what 6 hours and a lot of blood (literally), sweat, and elbow grease can do. 

Ooooo....the pollen. Yes, look at all that yellow.

Front Yard Azaleas

Dogwood and Azealeas

Look at all of those leaves and limbs.

My most proud comparison picture. The top was about a month ago, after I had already gotten rid of some leaves. The bottom is Sunday evening. Notice the middle and right and the difference in raking leaves and cutting back bushes.

3. Super Super Super proud of myself for finally getting on the make ahead meal prep bandwagon this week. You can read more about this goodness here.

Grilled Chicken, Brown Rice, Roasted Asparagus, and Steamed Broccoli. Pretty, healthy, and tasty!

4. On the same cooking thread, I officially cooked Monday night for make ahead meal prep, Tuesday night for myself, and Wednesday night for the manfriend. Wednesday night's dinner menu was comprised of chicken stir-fry with brown rice, and not only did he eat it right up, even went back for seconds. That's what I call a girlfriend WIN! Bonus tip: I actually used leftover grilled chicken from Monday night's meal prep. I made too much then, so I refrigerated, cut into smaller pieces before throwing in with the veggies, and warmed.

Chicken Stir-Fry

5. Crafting is still well underway for my friend Ashley's bachelotette party/night out next Saturday night. I'm not ready to reveal anything yet, but it's going to be a boot-stompin' good time!


Hope y'all have had a great week! I'll be going to church and having family time Sunday to reflect on how blessed I am and to celebrate the season of Easter and what it really means. Have a good one!

xoxo!

High Five for Friday

Welcome back to Friday, y'all! You saw how well my Friday went last week with a broke down car (yes, that's purposeful incorrect grammar), so this week can't be any worse. Thank The Lord it's FRIDAY! Now...go back and read that as if it said "IT'S HUMP-DUHAYYYYYY" except with Friday. You get it, right?! Yes? Good! Today, I'm linking up again with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday! She has a wonderful lifestyle blog that's down to Earth and very easy to read.

This week has been just as horrid as the last two, except worse. Since I work in higher education, and it's registration time, things are CRAY CRAY. Add to that preparing for Spring graduation ceremonies, and it's even better. And by better I mean crazier. 

Here's a look back at 5 of my favorite things from the week. And, GO!

1. Last night, Manfriend and I went to the Carolina Hurricanes game at the RBC Center. Oops, I mean PNC Arena. The place has changed names so many times since it's been built, I can't even keep up. I won 2 free tickets from a Facebook contest for Stevens Sausage Company, a local pork producer here in Eastern NC. We had so much fun! Too bad the Hurricanes didn't win their last home game of the season, but it was a great night out.

2. This weekend I have absolutely zero plans. Yes, you read that right. I have ZERO plans set in stone, and I love that. I can do what I want, where I want, when I want, and not worry about being late or under-dressed for the occasion. Of course, this doesn't mean I have nothing to do, it just means I have no plans.

3. It's finally feeling like spring here in Raleigh. While that can sometimes take forever, we're especially grateful for it after the long and harsh winter we had. It's going to be in the 80s until Monday and I can't wait. This means I can wear J Crew chino shorts this weekend with Jacks and be happy, happy, happy!

4. My yard is finally looking like someone actually lives in the house. My home sat empty for more than 3 years before I bought it and moved in, and I've cleaned up and done things in the front yard and inside, but didn't pay much attention to the side yard or backyard until now. It's life changing, and muscle-sculpting, I'll tell ya! (I'll also be writing more about home improvements and yard stuff later!)

5. Possibly the best thing all week? This fatty found fat-girl heaven in the form of Spring Funfetti cake mix and icing at the Food Lion. Heaven, y'all. Pure, saturated fat, artery-clogging heaven. (Yes, I bought it, and I'll be baking it right up Sunday morning!)

Anything exciting happen for you this week? If so, do tell! Have a great weekend, y'all!

xoxo!

High Five for Friday

Welcome to Friday, y'all! Phew, it's been a long week here, in Raleigh! So glad we finally made it to our favorite day of the week. Today, I'm linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five Friday! She has a wonderful lifestyle blog that's down to Earth and very easy to read.

1. Monday I had a doctor's appointment that confirmed what I'd been thinking- I'm having my fourth knee surgery, but only the first on my right knee, in April. I know it will suck for a few days, and make my gym time only the stationary bike and weight training for a while, but hopefully it will set me on the right track to feel better during my workouts and moving around, in general. It's going to be good to focus on weightlifting, because I need to learn more about how to do this and incorporate it more into my routine.

...a recent workout. notice how my time/mile ratio is horrible. I was on pace with 2 13-minute miles until my knees were too in trouble to run...

2. Wednesday night was graduation dinner for the Spring 2014 class of the NC State College of Textiles. Seeing all of these young adults and realizing this will be 4th graduation I've planned made me feel old. (It's already been 5 years since I should have graduated in Spring 2009.)

3. Speaking of feeling old, my "little" cousin went to her boyfriend's high school prom last night. She looked SO grown up and SO beautiful that I can't imagine she is the same person I held in my arms just hours after she was born on October 14, 1995. CRAZY stuff, I tell 'ya!

4. Yesterday evening, I got to meet my friend, Averi's, new baby girl. Averi and I were in Pi Beta Phi together in school and little GM is just the CUTEST and tiniest little thing you ever did see. Averi and her husband, Grant, have such a charming 1950s home and I was grateful to be welcomed in to meet the new littlest family member. While little GM got some really cute Easter shoes, I baked mom and dad a cake!

5. Last night, walking around Michael's for over an hour, I confirmed something else I've really known for a while- I have SERIOUS craft store ADD shopping. Y'all, this should be a true disorder listed with the American Psychiatric Association. I'm currently working to plan and craft for a bachelorette night out for a friend and having 16532 different projects running through your head at once with 864 different ways to accomplish each one releases the ADD shopper and perfectionist crafter in me. It's sure to be a damned good party on April 26.

...some inspiration found on Pinterest for Bachelorette crafting!...

So, what have y'all been up to this week? Anything big or exciting? Also, if you have come here via The Sweet Mash, welcome! And thanks to Madison!

xoxo!