High Five for Friday - Link up, Vol. 13

Friday =

with Lauren @From My Grey Desk

Getting right to the point with my 5 favorite things from this week:

ONE. Got to meet one of my FAVORITE fellow bloggers, Nina from peace.love. & good food. We found each other by linking up with House of Rose's Stop & Smell the Roses vlog months ago. We thought it was funny because I'm from IL but now live in Charlotte...and she's from Charlotte and did live in IL...UNTIL a few weeks ago!! :) So she's back in Charlotte, and we knew we just had to meet up. We had a blast...talking about all of our favorite blogs, shopping sites, and exchanging our life stories basically. I am so sad to be leaving Charlotte soon, because I now know that I will miss out on all of Nina's fabulousness!! ;) Oh, but so we met up at a popular local restaurant, which leads me to my next pic...

TWO. One of the best restaurants in Charlotte, at least as far as I'm concerned, is Cowfish. It's a restaurant that combines sushi & burgers. Sound strange? Well, believe me, they make it work...in AMAZING ways. I love getting the bento box (as seen in the pic above), because I get to sample everything...some sushi (shrimp tempura roll above), a mini-burger (chef's choice that week), edamame (my fav!), & sweet potato fries (yum!). I'm telling you, if you make it to Charlotte, this place has to be on your list of places to eat at!!

THREE. Some of you who have been reading my blog for awhile know that I started doing Crossfit a few months ago. Those readers might also say "Um, Kristin...you're obsessed with it!" ;) I'm beginning to feel like I post about it a lot...but it really has become a daily part of my routine...and I LOVE IT! So, I'm super excited to announce that I finally completed Fran! Fran is a workout that includes 21-15-9 of thrusters (65 lbs) & pull-ups. Now, let me say it now...I had to do a modified version of Fran. I did 45 lbs. on my thrusters (just the bar) and did pull-ups with a resistance band (and believe me, they're not pretty or precise pull-ups...I still had to jump a little). BUT, I DID IT! In 6:08, AND it started raining right as I started. Ha, that's my luck, but I'm glad to get that benchmark WOD out of the way for now. The idea of the benchmark WODs are to do them from time to time to see if/how you're improving...so although I'm glad it's over (because holy cow, it was so tough - it amazes me how 6 minutes of a workout can make you feel like you've worked out for an hour), I can't wait to do it again in a few months to see how I do.

FOUR. And as if one Crossfit-inspired favorite thing wasn't enough, here's one more! :) I can't help it...I'm so excited and proud of myself for some of the things I have accomplished with Crossfit/working out. Now, the pic is definitely NOT my favorite thing...who wants to ice their shins...EVER?! But, the reason I'm icing them is because (1) I was attempting a PR at box jumps and 'biffed', hitting both shins on weights/bumpers, but (2) Right after that (that = shouted a few curse words and maybe shed some tears), I jumped 35 inches. Ahh...icing the shins was worth it! :D

FIVE. Finally...yep, I am the proud owner of this 2-Movie Collection DVD, bought at Target the other day. I couldn't resist...my sister & I LOVED watching the Sister Act movies growing up...every time they're on TV I have to stop whatever I'm doing and watch them! Anyone else like 'em?? If you didn't know already, I am a huge movie fanatic (along with my husband), and I am all about adding to my 'childhood movies' collection!! Laugh at me all you want, they make me smile!

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!!!

High Five for Friday - Link up, Vol. 12

It has been a few weeks, but I'm back linking up again for this week's...

with Lauren @From My Grey Desk

So here are my 5 favorite things from this week:

ONE. Cupcakes...yummy, delicious, OMG I have to have another one, cupcakes...

Need I say more?! :D

TWO. I have a new-found love for Zico's chocolate coconut H2O...

It's amazing...anyone else addicted too?

THREE. This is a BIG one...since starting up Crossfit & running, I have successfully lost 13-14 lbs, lost a total of 9-10 inches off of my body (from neck, chest, arms, waist, etc), gone down 2 pants sizes and decreased my body-fat percentage. 

I plan on posting some before & after photos in a separate post.

FOUR. My July Birchbox arrived

Birchbox teamed up with Glamour magazine this month to create a box based on Glamour's "Five Senses of Summer" issue. I'll have a separate post featuring its contents - but let me just say, I got some cool stuff this month!! :)

FIVE. The Crossfit Games are happening right now!! 

source

If someone asked me a year ago, if I'd be interested in watching/paying attention to these games, I would have told them that they were insane. But I am so wrapped up in it, it's ridiculous!! :) The men & women competing are just ridiculously fit...I'm amazed!

Can't wait to see others' favorite things that are linking up this week!
Thanks for hosting Lauren :P

On my iPod #5

Okay, I know...I know, I've been TOTALLY absent from the blog lately. I'm sorry guys, I've been SO swamped with work (my full-time job), plus I went to DC this past weekend to look for housing for the hubby and I to live in come this Fall. It has just been so hectic lately, I haven't had time to sit down and write a thoughtful post. BUT, I figured, the least I could do is share some more tunes I've been listening to lately.

So here we go...

Overwhelmed - Tim McMorris

Okay, so be patient...it's some kind of video uploaded by 'Audio Jungle' ?? so you'll hear that word repeated throughout the video. At least you can listen to what the song sounds like. :)

Dancing Shoes - Green River Ordinance

These guys are awesome!!

Even If It Breaks Your Heart - Eli Young Band

 Love this song right now!

~~~~~~~~~~~

So I'm going to admit that I am a newcomer to listening to the Avett Brothers (I know, believe me, I'm embarrassed about it - what rock have I been under?!?!)...I had hear of them before, but just hadn't ever listened to their music very much. Well, I am OFFICIALLY hooked & obsessed!!!! Their songs are on constant replay on my iPod...but these 2 are definitely my favs at the moment:

If It's the Beaches - The Avett Brothers

Swept Away - The Avett Brothers 

What are you all listening to right now??

High Five for Friday - Link up Vol. 11

Linking up for another weekly edition of...

 ONE. My new Gussy Sews medium zip pouch

I just love seeing that note - "YEOW! - you own a Gussy!" :P

TWO. Wild Harvest goodies came in the mail

Part of registering for The Healthy Living Summit consisted of receiving some freebies!!! Um, yes please! Hello Wild Harvest cherry vanilla granola, animal cookies, applesauce, black beans, peanut butter, mild peach salsa, ground ginger & ground cayenne pepper - and THANK YOU!!

THREE. Jumped 30 in. on my box jumps this week!

 Pinned HERE

 via

I promise, I'm not really one to brag on myself, but I was pretty excited about this one! Box jumping is probably my favorite part of a WOD (I know, I might be a little crazy!) :P
p.s. I think I definitely need the tank above, don't you?!

FOUR. Right around the same time as Lauren got her journal & blogged about it, I too found this 5-year journal and couldn't resist snatching it up...been slowly filling it up ever since

You answer 1 question a day for a year, then start all over again, answering the same questions again - for a total of 5 years. Then you get to go back and read it all once you're done..seeing how you've changed OR haven't changed and reminiscing about your life over the past 5 years. LOVE IT! <3 

FIVE. My best friend gave birth to her 2nd little girl this week...introducing Miss Zoey Blythe

 Is she not the cutest little thing...and in those hand mitts?! She is precious and I can't wait to meet her!

Thanks for checking out my 5 favorite things from this week & thanks for hosting Lauren!!

ALSO...did you check my video out that I posted yesterday?? Strong, amazing kids from Seattle Children's Hospital (hemoncology floor) rocking out to Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger"!

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger...

Maybe some of you out there are having a bad day...I know, I do sometimes. But more and more, I try to put things in perspective. I definitely allow myself to get frustrated or stressed, because we all deal with different things on a daily basis. But I also try to keep my bad days in perspective...

I came across this video and wanted to share it, (1) because I love the song and Kelly Clarkson (she rocks, right?!) and (2) because I am amazed at how positive & uplifting people can be, even when they are in compromising situations. These kids are AMAZING, and don't they look like they're having so much fun?!?! :) I am so glad they had the opportunity to have some fun and spread smiles on other peoples faces, like yours and mine!

Stop & Smell the Roses Vlog: Week 17, Vol 10

Happy Hump Day everyone!!!

It's time to link-up with Mandy again over @House of Rose for our weekly...

So as promised, here's Sami with little miss Zoey:

She was born at 12:12 am (6/20) - 7 lbs., 1 oz., 20 in.!! PERFECT! :)
Yay, I'm so excited to see more pics!! Congrats Sami <3

I don't know if you can tell or not, but I have a hard time even describing how amazing this organization is!! Ashley & The Shine Project are making a HUGE difference in teens' lives!

Read more here & please, watch the video - I promise, you'll be inspired instantly, by what Ashley & her crew are doing!! 

Here's a close-up of the Pass It Forward Card I was talking about:

*The tank I'm wearing can be bought here, as can many other of TSP products

There are so many ways for you to get involved, wherever you are!!! Hopefully you'll enjoy finding out more about TSP after today & want to contribute in any way you can, big or small - as Ashley just recently wrote, at the end of one of her most recent blog posts..."give love. get love. shine on." :)

Have something you're thankful for this week or smiling about this week? Then...

And don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel!!

Love Out Loud - "Love on Wheels"

I think I shared with you all, as part of my "High Five for Friday" post a few weeks back, that one of my favorite things from that week was buying this book:

So just as it says, it's a book of daily devotionals and I am absolutely loving it!! I try to read it in the mornings, right when I wake up or right before bed if I missed it that morning. But each page is a devotion - super short to read, but packed with messages that really shake you to your core.

Today's story was so powerful to me, I wanted to share it:

~Love on Wheels~

He who oppresses the poor reproaches His Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy. PROVERBS 14:31 NKJV

I once met a ten-year-old girl named Gchi. When we met, she had lived in a trash dump in Cambodia for six years; many other children had lived there much longer. Gchi's parents could no longer support her, so they asked her older sister to take her, and the only way the two could survive was to live and work in the trash dump. Gchi spends seven days a week digging through the trash with a metal pick or with her hands, looking for food to eat or for pieces of plastic or glass she can sell to get money for food.

This is the city trash dump, and every night the garbage trucks back up to the pile of trash to dump the remains of other people's lives, which they have gathered around the city. The children work at night, in the dark, wearing helmets with lights on them because the best garbage is found when it first arrives.

When I shared this story with people, many wanted to help. We began to plan, work, and raise money. After about a year and a lot of effort, we managed to turn two large buses into mobile restaurants, showers, and schoolrooms. They pull up to the trash dump; the children get onto the bus, get a shower, sit down to a nice meal, and even receive some lessons in reading and math to help prepare them for a better future. Of course, we share God's love with them, but we don't merely tell them they are loved, we show them by meeting practical needs in their lives. 

~Joyce Meyers

So messages that come to the surface for me...

• One man's trash is another man's treasure
• Do small things with great love
• Do what you can with what you have
• Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
• Live simply that others may simply live
• Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something

What other things does it make you think about? What are you doing to make a difference in the lives of people in need?