Friday Faves

It's time for Friday Favories...

Favorite "get fit" idea.

My school is doing the pedometer step challenge.

I'm pretty competivie so if this doesn't motivate me to be more active then nothing will.

I'm so motivated by things like this and I can't wait to walk more to reach 10,000 steps a day.

Favorite splurge

I really love my sweet tea!!

Favorite DIY

I want to do something like this of the places I've traveled...

Favorite thing to watchAside from the VS Fashion Show of course...

 Favorite Day of the week

It's also a 3 day weekend!  Wahoo!

Happy Friday lovelies!

XoXo

It's OK

Linking up with Neely and Amber for It's OK.

It's OK......

That I cannot stop watching the Bachelor even though its 95% fake and a little too much for me to handle this season.

that I can't commit to races on Saturday's because I feel like it's my one day to really sleep in.

(this is going to change after I complete coach to 5k)

that I am 17 days away from being 26.

(OMG I'm gonna be closer to 30 than I am to 20)

that I have another week before all of my shows start back.

(I don't like being sat in front of the tv for hours at a time....

on occasion is fine, but I refuse to watch live tv because I have to fast foward thru commercials.)

that it's almost the 100th day of school.

Yah...that's so exciting!

Happy Thursday lovelies!

XoXo

Wednesday Loves

It's Wednesday...the week is half way over and it feels like it just started.

Technically, I guess it did just start for me since I was off on Monday.

Wouldn't it be nice if every week was a 4 day week?

Anyways, I am linking up with Jamie for WILW and Michelle for Oh How Pinteresting...

these are 2 of my faves!

{BCS}

I'm absolutely ecstatic that Alabama won the BSC National Championship game Monday night!

I'm loving, even more, that it was a complete shutout.

We had a little get together at my friend, Heather's.

and had such a wonderful time watching this game with our fellow alums.

{Off day}

 I'm loving that my day off was very productive and started with a 2 hour hike, partially in the rain.

We are awesome like that!

{New Year, New You}

I'm loving how motivated I am lately...

I bought 3 groupons lately...

Livemocha

12 month online access to learn up to 32 different languages.

I'm thinking I will do good to learn Spanish, but the more the merrier. (Is that a word?)

I also bought this pedometer for $10.

I want to be able to count my steps and see how many calories I burn in a day. 

I also bought a groupon for $20 worth of organic groceries for $10.

I have been obsessing over eating organically lately.

By the way, I'm also loving MyFitnessPal and my new scale!

I have eaten so well the past couple of days and I'm pretty sure that I am building the foundation for the rest of my life...

I know that sounds corny, but I am so dedicated this time 

(unlike the millions of other times that I whine about being out of shape and eat healthy for about one day)

Please, leave me a comment if you are on MyFitnessPal so we can be friends!

{Giveaway}

I'm also loving this amazing giveaway!

Check it out.

OK, moving on...

Some pins that have really motivated me this week!

I love love love this!

During our hike on Monday, we were quoting this to motivate each other...

we were talking about how we wanted to be able to hike in our sports bras and feel skinny...

that is our goal for 2012!

How true is this...

Just for fun....

There are times that I have been so self-conscious about my freckles, but I have learned to embrace them.

I've always been told they are cute, so today I encourage you to embrace your freckles.

They are a part of YOU.

Happy happy Wednesday lovelies!

XoXo

Miscellany Monday

Write random and link up.

{New Year, New You}

I got a scale, I got a scale, I got a scale hey, hey, hey, hey

Can you tell that I'm excited?

It measure body fat and stores my information.  I'm so pumped!

I try not to obsess over my weight, but I do think it will help motivate me when I see the pounds coming off. 

{Weekend Fun}

Saturday morning, I went hiking.

I love to hike and it's such a good workout.

The weather was amazing and Coral was a natural.

Saturday night was game night with some friends.

Kim, Heather, me.

We played Apples to Apples and MadLib and ordered pizza.

So much fun!

{National Championship}I cannot believe it's already the day of the big game!I am so super excited.

We are having a little get together and guess who is off work Tuesday? I'm also off today and I have a full day planned. Hiking with Heather and the fur babiesGiving bloodGoing to the orthodontist.  (Remember when Coral ate my retainers?)Party for the big game! And possibly a dentist appointment in there somewhere.We will see.
Happy Monday lovelies and Roll Tide Roll!

 XoXo

Week 1 Recap

MyFitnessPal, anyone??

 

We should be friends!

Find me at Sraustin123.

I did pretty well this week as far as drinking more water and eating more fruits and veggies,

but I still have some areas of improvement.

I really struggle right when I get home from school because I'm always so hungry and I start snacking.

The calories really rack up then.

Weekly Average- 1798 calories

Daily Goal- 1200

So I went over, but overall I still feel good about my first week.

I also did zumba, walking, dancing, and hiking this week for exercise.

I have decided to give myself one day to splurge and yesterday was the day.

Pizza and beer...really kills the whole calorie counting thing, but that's ok.

Next week, I am aiming for a lower weekly average.

 

As far as my 101 in 1001...

I am giving blood tomorrow.

I have found 2 bikes on Craigslist that I deciding between.

I entered a contest to win 2 free tickets to see Wicked in February.

I have listened to my daily audio bible every day.

I planned to go to church this morning, but woke up feeling really sickly.

I wish everyone a very healthy Sunday!

I'm off to buy a scale.

Yippee

XoXo

NOLA

In case you haven't noticed, I LOVE traveling!

I am constantly thinking of ways to visit new places...

I enjoy seeing the world and experiencing new places.

In the past 8 weeks, I took my first and second trip to NOLA.

To say that I love it, would be a huge understatement!

These pics are a recap from Nola round 2,

but I will be documenting all the things I saw and did during my 2 trips.

Sight Seeing

First time on Bourbon.

New Years Eve Day

Kent 

Happy New Year!! 

 Places I went:Bourbon StreetCity ParkAudubon ZooMagazine StreetJackson SquareRiverwalk MallHarrah's CasinoHistoric New Orleans Places I ate:Surrey's Juice BarAcme Oyster HouseCafe Du MondeSaki CafeTheo'sSuperior Bar and GrillLucy'sReginelli'sSlim Goodies DinerBlue Frog Chocolates Night's out:Pat O'Brien'sMonkey Hill BarRendezvousRusty Nail I loved visiting Nola and can't wait to go back!There is so much left to do! Thanks for reading!XoXo And yes, I'm blogging on a Friday night because I am feeling a bit sickly.

Friday Faves

Favorite Laugh...

My niece dancing to Super Bass.

Favorite Inspiration...

Favorite time saver...

Favorite words to live by...

Favorite Splurge...

Happy Friday lovelies!

XoXo

It's OK

Help us get 100 link ups!

Join Neely and Amber...

for It's OK Thursday!

It's OK...

That I have been so exhausted these past 2 days...

getting back into my work routine is proving to be a difficult task.

That I still haven't even gotten my suitcase out of my trunk from my NOLA trip...unpacking is the worst and it will depress me to have to stare at my suitcase until I finally get around to unpacking it. That I still have my Christmas decorations up...give me a little break, I was out of town until Monday night. That I can't wait until this weekend to do absolutely nothing, but sleep in, unpack, and do some deep cleaning. That I haven't actually fixed my hair since Monday...it's been a week of ponytails for me.

 and It's DEFINITELY ok that someone told me last week that I look likeMILA KUNIS!!

And I think with that, I am done!

Happy Thursday!

XoXo

Bear Naked

It's time for WILW with Jamie

 I'm loving a lot today!

 {Bear Naked}I'm loving that I have decided, in an attempt to live healthier, to eat more natural/organic foods(hints the title).

I have been feeling so unhealthy lately and yesterday I felt so inspired to change the way that I eat.

I made a trip to Wal-Mart after work yesterday and bought only organic foods...

fruits

veggies

whole grain bread

granola

eggs

and nuts.

Along with my healthier eating habits, I started zumba yesterday.

I loved zumba when I lived in NY so I decided what better way to kick of 2012.

I have never really given much thought to processed foods...

I always just figured eating anything at home is better than fast food.

After watching Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, I just feel so motivated to try to live healthier.

It's going to be hard at first to give up some of my favorite treats,

but I know that after a week I will feel soooo much better!

I found a great website, Processed Free America, that gives some great resources for living a more natural lifestyle.

These are a few of the suggestions I found on the website that I really want to focus on...

Eat an abundance of fruits and vegetables.

Eliminate artificial sweeteners.

Eat more whole grain foods.

Minimize exposure to pesticides.

Avoid as many chemical additives as possible.

If any of you feel like joining me on this journey, I would love a support system.

Happy Wednesday lovelies!

XoXo

New Year, New You

Write random and link up.

{Vacay}

My trip has come to an end. I'm on the train headed back to Birmingham.

I was so sad to leave, but I'm so ready to see Coral.

I will have a post about my trip later this week.

{Resolutions}

Listen to the entire bible...

if you have an iPhone download the app daily audio bible. It's amazing!

Get to my goal weight by working out an eating healthier.

Cut back on processed foods. Eat more fruits and veggies, drink less soda, and stay hydrated with my new water bottle.

Restart our sister bible study.

Go to church more.

{Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead}

I watched this documentary this past week and I was so inspired.

I'm going to do a 7 day fast on fruit and veggie juice only.

It's a great way to detox.

It's another one of my resolutions.

{The Bachelor}

Premier tonight!!! Enough said!

Happy Monday lovelies!!!!

XoXo