Friday Favorites!

This week has been jam packed and last night was the first time Caleb and I really got to just "be". It felt amazing. We made a healthy dinner, we watched the latest This Is Us, and we unplugged and just talked for about an hour. It was awesome. Unplugging from the world, not even knowing what time it is, is kind of my new favorite thing.

Speaking of favorite things... lets take a look at my week so far;

Favorite Meal: (although it wasn't healthy) By far it was the Chicken Alfredo Bake I made for my family on Monday! Tonight we're making another healthy, simple sheet pan dinner but it's perfect because it can also double as our lunch for tomorrow! Leftovers rock.

Favorite Read: I'm still knee deep in Wild At Heart and it's been really great so far. Next up, finishing The Magnolia Story! I started it and then got so busy and I seem to do that a lot!

Favorite Funny: This is killing me. How true?!? "Are you dying"

Favorite victory: resisting the birthday cupcakes in the kitchen at work and sticking to my ever-exciting cheese stick instead. #smallvictories

Favorite post: (not that I found out from her blog, but...) My SIL/BIL announced their big move yesterday on her blog and we're still so stinking excited for them!! They've worked so hard and this new house is going to be incredible!

Favorite quote: DO IT SCARED. This is something that God put on my heart this week, and wouldn't you know it? This also popped up in my newsfeed this week AND was quoted at our young adult meeting by one of the girls... I hear ya loud and clear, God! ;)

Favorite person: okay so I just threw this in there so I could have a reason to put his face in my post...I'm so thankful for this stud! He's so good to me!

I hope everyone has lots of fun planned for their weekend! ENJOY!
Linking up with Amanda today!

Five on Fri-yay

This week was so great. Here's a few reasons why:

1 || The easiest, most delicious dinner I may have ever made. Caleb and I are BIG fans of spinach dip, so when I found this recipe I knew I had to try it. I'll admit, I get VERY intimidated when reading recipes, and I almost chose to throw this one out because it wanted me to "sear" the chicken on the stove-top, then transfer it to the oven. Ummm!?? Well, I gave it a whirl and am so glad I did! I realized my Granny's cast iron skillet (I never got to meet her, but it meant a lot when my Nanny gave it to me) would work perfectly. Caleb and I basically inhaled the entire thing.

2 || Getting to exercise my right to vote on Tuesday night.

3 || This photo a friend posted on her FB this week. The four of us were inseparable most of our childhood/teenage years, and seeing this photo just brought me back to those 8th grade sleepover days. We had way too much fun! I'm so thankful for each one of those girls! The two on the right are two of my closest friends, and were my Maid of Honor/Bridesmaid- Lyndsie and Ashley!

I'm second from the left...notice the shirt "your lips are moving but all I hear is blah, blah, blah" #mature

4|| Yesterday I was able to take part in my employer's annual community service day. It was a blast. We raked leaves and cleaned gutters for elderly/disabled families in our local area. My co worker Joyce is one of my favorite people at work, and she snapped this hilarious photo of me trying to open a leaf bag. Those things are so TALL, and I am so NOT. So, there's really no other way to get them all the way open unless you get in there like that, ha!

5|| Thank goodness for a half day today from work and a fun weekend in Nashville! Caleb and I are photographing a friends wedding tomorrow, and my bestie Lyndsie just so happens to be IN the wedding as a bridesmaid, which means she and I get a LADIES NIGHT after the wedding is over at her place. I am so excited. With her living a few states away we really don't get to see much of each other and I miss spending time w/ her so much! Throwback photo to post-ceremony CELEBRATIONS at my wedding! Love that girl!

I hope everyone has a great weekend ahead of them!

Friday {feeling good}!!

I'm so thankful it's Friday! Not particularly for any reason other than everyone is SO friendly in the office on Friday's. We have to work a wedding tomorrow, so its really like my Thursday, but regardless. Friday's always bring a certain happiness to the world so I'll embrace it!

This week I started trying to treat myself better than I have been. I've been so negligent. Eating whatever I want, whenever I craved it, staying up too late, exercising halfheartedly and just feeling kinda down. So I decided to change it. When we first got married, we kept up with our healthier lifestyle so well so we decided to get back to that!

I started Insanity on Monday, and my goal for Caleb and I this week was to pack our lunches together every night. I'm happy to say we did this! We also didn't spend a dime this week!

Some of my lunches in the below pictures wasn't all of it... this was more of a lunch/snack combo - not pictured are protein shakes, tuna, and almonds - yumm!

I also bought this tracking notebook earlier in the year called "Fit Happens", and I really love how it breaks down your days. It makes you list 3 things you're grateful for, what inspired you that day, what your eating was like, your mood, and energy levels - there is also an entire page for notes (where I write my specific exercises/numbers down) and a fun little tip/quote on each page. It's really holding me accountable. It's crazy because you can find it here on Amazon for $34 (what the what?!!?) but I got it regularly priced at Target for approx $8.

original image from here

Monday's Insanity prompt for Day 1 was the "Fit Test". This is something you're supposed to do every 2 weeks to track your progress and I'm really excited to see where I am by then!

Something seems different this time. I am ready to be better to myself. Of course, life is all about balance...and you know I love me some donuts...but I'm excited that I've started making better choices the majority of the time!

In other news, is it Sunday yet?!?! I'm ready to watch my Bengals to beat up on our biggest rivals - the Steelers!! Have a fun weekend, everybody!

Friday Favorites || Late April

Although we've got a busy weekend ahead of us, I'm really happy its Friday! The office is always just a little quitter on Fridays, which mean less people bother me, and I like that!! ;) We've also got fun plans to finally celebrate Erin's birthday tonight! So you could say I'm ready to be done with my work day.

Today I'm joining Amanda for another edition of Friday favorites! So let's get to 'em...

This. This is my life.

 Favorite song right now: Unsteady. The music video is pretty depressing, but this guy has a great voice!

One of my favorite posts this week was this one by Anne! That girl is so dang crafty!!!

Favorite mail day - getting my brothers graduation announcement. Eep (the same day my beloved pineapple shorts finally came - yay!!!!)!!

Favorite freebie: having a LOOONG work day Tuesday but getting free food from Starbucks since I was one of the last people there at closing. #photographylife

Favorite thought: realizing I can finally whip out all my dresses for shooting weddings. It gets HOT here in the summer. Pants just aren't acceptable!

photo booth fun

Favorite gym moment: sprinting up the inclines on the indoor track and feeling like a dang beast - even if only for 3 seconds, ha!

Favorite item - this mask I found in the bathroom storage under the sink. I found a few more and I'm excited to do these more often. It left my face feeling SO soft!!!

Favorite find: a $25 Cheesecake Gift Card we had forgotten about! Woop woop!!

Favorite moment: when your husband amazes you 24/7. He did something really sweet for me last night that left me in a mess of happy tears. I'm so thankful for that man!

So tell me, what was your favorite moment of the week?

Friday Favorites || YAY

Friday is here! Although we have a long wedding day ahead of us tomorrow, it should be a fun bunch of people to work with! I'm mainly focused on Sunday though, I'm VERY ready to celebrate my favorite Erin and her sweet baby at the shower!

I love the Friday favorites link up with Amanda, and reading all about other bloggers favorite things is so fun, too! I always find some of the best recipes through this random linkup!

Favorite Song || Don't Let Me Down by Chainsmokers and Daya. I seriously cannot get enough.

Favorite Purchase || My haircut. Does that count as a purchase?! Ha! I think spending a couple hours with your hairstylist, gabbing about life and relaxing while getting pampered is totally worth the money. I told her to take about an inch off to "clean it up" and didn't realize how short that would make my already short hair, but I have to say, I'm really happy with it! It's a fun length to work with! Plus, any excuse to whip out the macbook photo booth is fine in my book.

Favorite News || Amazon Prime has extended their services to SAME DAY DELIVERY for certain zip codes here in Cincinnati!! Although our home zip code isn't included just yet, I think this is pretty cool. Hopefully one day soon ours will be?! Not sure when/what I'd need it for, but its cool the option is out there!

Favorite Quote || Lysa Terkeurst is AMAZING. I'm diving into her book "The Best Yes", and its rockin' my world. This is everything. Saying yes for YOU (and not the world) is the most important thing you can do for yourself, sometimes.

Favorite Meal || Bacon cheddar burger patties. SO good!!

Favorite Moment || Watching my little cousin get his black belt. I will NEVER forget his smile when they announced him and handed him that belt. So proud of this little guy!

I hope everyone has a fun weekend. Our will be a busy one, indeed, but I'm excited! Any fun plans for you?

Friday Favorites: The End of February!

TGIF, y'all, and yes, I'm allowed to say y'all today because I'm visiting my bestie in Nashville this weekend!!!! My friend Angie is picking me up after work and we're heading down there together! I am so excited to squeeze them both, and can't wait to see Lyndsie's home and even though I've been to her city a few times, its never been while she's been a RESIDENT! So it feels new to me! I've been so lucky lately to spend so much time with friends and family... I love all this free time!

I also love Amanda's blog and all the varieties of posts that she always has, but one of my favorite posts is her Friday Favorite's post! I love checking out everyone's posts and finding new workouts, new music and new blogs! So, I thought I'd finally link up, since its been a while!

Insert random photo to cover my disgusting greasy hair but since it says "SALTY DOG" it gets me excited for our upcoming vacation... only 20 something weeks... but who's counting?!

FAVORITE SONG
This is on repeat in my car right now. It brings me so much peace, and these ladies sound BEAUTIFUL together! Caleb and I are considering going to see Bethel Music when they are in town and I hope we land on the decision: YES YES YES!

FAVORITE RECIPE
I made this last night and while it didn't look exactly like the photo, we nearly ate every single piece of that chicken!!! So tasty.

FAVORITE WORKOUT
Although running has been my main priority this week, I've really loved whipping out my new kettle bell weights and trying these moves...full link here

FAVORITE MOMENT
When Caleb moved the entire couch away from the wall and sat it directly in front of our TV so we could cuddle while we watched our movie without kinking our necks... he's funny... but adorable.

FAVORITE MOVIE
The Intern. I really can't get enough of it!! Have you seen it yet?!?!

FAVORITE WISH
...I don't think that's even a thing? BUT anyway! I want to wish one of my favorite ladies - Becca - a HAPPY HAPPY birthday!!!!!! Throwing it back to SIX years ago! What?!?!

I am so ready for it to be 5. I am ready for a weekend of fun with some of my favorite gals! Why is it that time always seems to FLY when you're doing awesome stuff? I'd be fine if from the moment we get there, time slowed down for a bit! :) hope you all have an AWESOME weekend planned!! Have fun!

I have no energy.

So my plans of getting more sleep this week and being a more productive adult pretty much failed... like crazy. So much so, that I didn't fall asleep until nearly 12:30 last night. Caleb's softball games didn't start until crazy late and although they got some pretty sweet dri-fit shirts out of the whole thing, I'm BEAT. But, I'm thankful I had my SIL with me...and her warm blanket ;)

Finally linking up with Amanda for her Friday Favorites prompt!!
Favorite song: has been for a while, but Touch the Sky by United. So, so good, and so powerful.

Favorite moment of the week: One night this week, I came home from a REALLY long day of work (we're talking an hour long engagement session, then driving downtown to meet a bride and groom - in the pouring rain, with sopping wet shoes), so when I saw a package on my table from my sweet Emily, I got a little giddy. Think about how much more excited I got when I saw what was inside?! Fall decor and fuzzy socks, what more can a girl ask for??!?!

Favorite purchase: Those delicious soft pretzels and cheese at the ballpark last night. #fatkid

Favorite funnies: I laughed way too hard about this just now...

this is how I get when I haven't tasted Mountain Dew in weeks...

My week at work was a little weird. Every day felt kind of "off"/strange. I'm covering for a co worker as well, so my job seems a little different than normal, the days feel longer, etc., so you could say I'm insanely thankful its Friday. Caleb and I have a big date tonight with the local grocery store and our big comfy couch! What about you?

Happy Friday!!!