Month: May 2014

Kickstarting the summer!

The Appalachian BarbieLeave a comment

Hey y’all! I hope you’re all winding down your weekend in the most comfortable of ways and preparing yourselves for a fresh new week ahead.  I’m personally folded up Indian style under a blanket in my most comfy VS sweats on the couch with my 2 sweet fur babies snoozing in my lap and I could only be happier if my honey wasn’t working.  Time is flying by so fast, we’re already almost 2 weeks into May and I’ve hardly had time to look around and savor the final fleeting moments of spring before the summer’s heat steals it’s innocence.  One thing that was consuming a lot of my time was the “Mr.Tipton Street Pageant,” a charity event I organized at work for our local animal shelter.  A former employee and myself came up with the idea of a “man pageant” for average Joes last year as a way to get people into the bar and to raise money for a good cause.  It turned out to be a smashing success so I decided to make it an annual event, this year with a Kentucky Derby theme.  I started work on this thing the first of February and am very proud to say my solo efforts were able to raise almost $550 in cash and tons of donated items for the Washington County Animal Shelter.

Flier for the event I organized
Flier for the event I organized
My managers at the pub with all the donated items
My managers at the pub with some of the donated items
Me gifting a shelter employee with a check for the money we raised
Me gifting a shelter employee with a check for the money we raised

As stressful as it was putting on this whole to-do, I really learned a lot and actually used that Bachelor’s in PR and Advertising that I earned way back in college.  And most importantly, it felt really good to be able to give back to an organization that is so close to my heart.

I also achieved another milestone in my fitness journey recently, finally breaking the 150lb curse and dipping to 149lb.  Only 9 more pounds to go and I will have reached my goal weight!  I am finally seeing progress and other people are starting to notice as well.  I read somewhere once that it takes 4 weeks for YOU to notice a change, 8 weeks for the people around you to notice, and 12 for everyone else, and it is so true!  I really got serious about my health for Lent, so it’s been exactly 2 months and my whole outlook has changed.  Going to the gym used to be as dreaded as my yearly checkup with my gyno.  Now, I almost look forward to it.  Well, let’s not get carried away.  I don’t look forward to it so much as I just don’t want to miss.  And I love seeing the changes in my body! I’ve never had arm muscles, so it’s kinda cool to be able to flex like a douche.  I’m going to stay with Christian at the beach in one month and I would love to be at my goal weight by then but I’m not gonna kill myself.  All good things in all good time!

This was such a big deal..
This was such a big deal…Please ignore my ratchet toenails.
Lunch is served! Delicious spinach and cucumber salad with cherry tomatoes and blackberries, drizzled with a citrus poppyseed vinaigrette.
Lunch is served! Delicious spinach and cucumber salad with cherry tomatoes and blackberries, drizzled with a citrus poppyseed vinaigrette.
Healthy dinner: 4oz ribeye on the grill with a big salad and my own yummy apple, pear, plum puree!
Healthy dinner: 4oz ribeye on the grill with a big salad and my own yummy apple, pear, plum puree!

One of the best things about getting fit is how much better I look in clothes.  I’ve really enjoyed getting cute new outfits and accessories for the gym, and even splurged on a few everyday things as well.

Booty and triceps!!
Booty and triceps!!
New Betsy Johnson backpack....perfect gym bag
New Betsy Johnson backpack….perfect gym bag
Seriously in love with this maxi dress
Seriously in love with this maxi dress
Does it get any easier than throwing on a simple breezy dress for a summer night out? The unique detail on this halter neckline really gives this dress some character!
Does it get any easier than throwing on a simple breezy dress for a summer night out? The unique detail on this halter neckline really gives this dress some character!
It was a basic black tank and edgy accessories for date night with my babe this week
It was a basic black tank and edgy accessories for date night with my babe this week
My biggest (and most needed) splurge--some wireless headphones. Who cares if they make me look like zoolander?!
My biggest (and most needed) splurge–some wireless headphones. Who cares if they make me look like zoolander?!

Finally today was Mother’s Day, and I couldn’t end this post without talking about what a wonderful day we had.  Mitch and I were able to take the mom’s plus my dad out for brunch this morning at the Bonnie Kate Cafe.  It was beautiful as usual.  The food was delicious and the presentation was on point.  When it comes to a great dining experience, it really is all about the tiny little details.  Like the fresh mint leaf garnish in your water or tea.  Small and inexpensive, but it makes basic tapwater seem so much more elegant.  This cafe is such a hidden gem in my little hometown.

My beautiful mother and me on Mother's Day.
My beautiful mother and me on Mother’s Day.
Mitch and his mother outside the Bonnie Kate
Mitch and his mother outside the Bonnie Kate

So far this summer is off to an awesome and exciting start!  I hope you all have as many exciting things to keep you busy this summer as I do–and if you don’t, then just kick back and enjoy it next to some water!

Is this what it’s like to have “haterz?”

The Appalachian Barbie3 Comments

I’m just gonna throw this quick little update out there because not only are my feelers hurt, but im also honestly pissed off.  And now I’m even more livid because I felt forced into using the term “hater.”  But what else do you call someone who pisses on another’s parade??  Since I have gotten my life together and started losing weight and making improvements in my life, I have had a few people who have made my life their priority and decided to tell me that what I was doing was unhealthy or abnormal.  Or “unreasonable.”  I have one question–where were you people for 10 years when I spent 6 nights a week in a bar, in an unhealthy mutually abusive relationship, overweight, and smoking a pack of cigarettes a day??  Not one person except my mother ever questioned  my behavior then when I was the most self-destructive human being I’ve ever known.  Now I have people coming out of the woodwork questioning my actions, saying that it’s unreasonable for me to spend the time I do at the gym, or that I eat clean and that’s not normal.  NOW people are “worried” about me.

I don’t need to justify my life but just for fun here ya go.  It has taken me 2 months to lose 10 lbs.  I consume 1200-1500 calories/day.  I workout 6 days a week for 1.5-2 hours.  30 minutes of that is HIIT cardio and the other time is spent on weight training.  I eat organically as much as I can afford and I go out on the town about once a month.  If this is an unhealthy lifestyle then so be it.  I feel better than I ever have.  Look better than I ever have.  Have money in the bank and someone great at home.  If you don’t like it, I honestly don’t care.  I’ve never been one to try to please anyone but myself and I don’t intend on changing that any time soon.

I'll take the girl on the left over the one on the right any day.
I’ll take the girl on the right over the one on the left any day.