Workout Routine

Hello!

Half way through another week, can you believe it? May seems to be FLYING by. We leave for the beach next week so I'm not mad about this week going by quickly. #takemetothebeach

Today I'm sharing a little bit of my fitness journey. I call it a "journey" because I'm still on it. I don't have everything figured out at ALL but I will share the things I have figured out so maybe it'll help you start or keep up the journey you're on.

Let me start by sharing a picture of my post-baby bod... I know I looked hot. Or not. At this point I was nursing exclusively so I really felt helpless as far as cutting calories and was too overwhelmed to even think about challenging myself beyond walking the stairs multiple times a night to feed my babe. You new mamas feel me, right?

My sister and I decided to do the Whole 30 together. During the 30 days, I also started trying to add resistance training into my workout since finding time to run was challenging with an infant and a two year old. I would work out about three days a week for 30 minutes. Doesn't sound like much but you gotta start somewhere.

Before                                    After

After I completed the Whole 30, I got pretty relaxed about what I was eating again. I still tried to stick to the 80/20 rule (Eat clean 80% of the time) but I felt like I had kind of plateaued. I was doing the same exact exercises every week. I was bored.

I stumbled across the BBG (Sweat with Kayla) workout plan while scrolling thru instagram and seeing all the incredible before and after pictures. My sister had just purchased the guides so she let me give them a try. 

Oh. Man.

I couldn't do it. I'm not even kidding. Like I couldn't do any of it. I was huffing and puffing and literally feeling like I was going to die. Trying to finish three burpees in a row had me envisioning the next days headlines 

"Local woman sweats to death after attempting consecutive burpees." 

What a way to go.

But the strange thing was, I actually got excited about doing the workout. It was different every time and even tho I saw some of the same exercises, it always felt new and challenging. The longer I did it, the more I thought "this has to get easier, right?" Wrong. The longer you do it, the harder it gets. But that's the beauty of it. You never get bored and you actually see results.

The other thing I love about this workout is that it's fast. 28 minutes and you're done. 

Nowadays I'm doing at least three BBG resistance training sessions per week along with two cardio sessions that last about an hour. I'm also really trying to up my protein intake and continuing to stay away from sugar in all of its glorious forms. I still love you, starbucks. 

Pre-BBG                                          4 months after starting BBG

I'm not a machine. I still have to struggle thru finding balance week by week in my eating but I don't miss my workouts. Whether it's at night or in the morning. During nap or jumping around my babies when they're awake, I just know it's going to get done. I don't say that to sound cocky. I just know how I feel when I'm working out and I know what it does for my overall outlook. I also love that my girls can watch me do something consistently that's good for me. Today in Target, Rowen was doing a (very strange looking) sit up like motion in the buggy. She looked at me and said "I do my wookouts, mommy." I died. 

The BBG plan is now in an awesome app format making it super easy to get started. It is a little on the expensive side but I think it's well worth it. 

I think the moral of this story is that sometimes you just need to start something. Just get moving. And if you're not happy with the results you're getting, then change what you're doing. 

If you have any questions about the workout, please let me know in comments! I'd be happy to help in any way I can. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a happy hump day!

Laura

Mother's Day Weekend + My Favorite New Shoes

Hi!

Hope you had a great Mother's Day. Friday night Matt took me to dinner at Stoney River. I told him my only stipulation was that we go somewhere with really good dessert. The only problem was, after we ate our dinner, there was zero room for dessert. Matt always jokes that I have a little space in my stomach that's always ready for dessert but even that space was like "Um, no way."

Saturday morning I went with my mom and sister to a private shopping party at Kendra Scott at Avalon. It was so fun! Each guest got flowers, a gift card, and a yummy little breakfast to munch on while we shopped. And boy did we shop. I love the new spring line but ended up using my gift card to buy this beautiful necklace.

My stone is a dark grey but the awesome thing about this style is that it's semi opaque so whatever color is underneath will kind of transform the stone to match.

Saturday night we took Matt's mom to dinner and Sunday morning, Matt and Reese brought me my gifts and coffee in bed and then we all got ready for brunch.

Reese wanted to sit next to me at brunch. Pretty sure it was because she wanted some of my bananas foster french toast (yum)

Back to my moms house to hang with the rest of the family.

Love my little fam!!

One of my favorite things Matt got me this year are these grey nike tennis shoes. They're like bedroom slippers. I'm not even kidding. I literally have only taken them off to sleep since yesterday. The best price I've found is from Zappos. Plus, you get free shipping!

Thanks for stopping by! Later this week I'm going to be sharing my workout routine. Warning: It'll kick your tail.

Happy Monday, friends!

Laura

Mother's Day

Buying gifts for mom can be tricky. Especially Mother's Day gifts. This day is so sweet and sentimental and it carries so much weight. Celebrating the woman who brought you into the world, potty trained you, fed you every meal, kissed your boo boos, and sang you to sleep is a big deal. Hug coupons aren't gonna cut it anymore, kids. We can do better.

Me and my mommy at the beach last year

If your mom is anything like mine (if you're lucky, she is. Mine is awesome) then she loves gifts that mean something. It wouldn't matter if I gave her a new wreath for her front door or a gift certificate for a massage, as long as I told her why I gave her the gift, she would love it. When she knows I put thought into the gift I gave her, that's what speaks volumes. Because isn't that what this day is all about? Honoring the one who has spent millions of her thoughts thinking of you? 

My gift for my mom this year is really simple. I got her a few special things for her kitchen that I noticed she needed when we were baking together last Christmas. Practical and pretty. Two things that she and I both appreciate.

But another part of her gift has been coordinating a dinner with all her girls (I have five sisters) so we can spend some quality time together. My mom told me once that as we have gotten older, she has feared we wouldn't want to spend time with her anymore. It's actually quite the opposite! I want to spend more time with my mom now than I ever have. But I can say those words all day. If I don't help plan time to spend with my mom, my words fall flat.

So don't be mad but I really don't have a "one size fits all, buy this for your mom and she'll stay happy til next year" gift list. I wouldn't know where to start because only you know your mom. My only suggestion is to think about her. Like really think. What makes her smile. What makes her light up. If you don't know, then ask her.

I think now that I am a mom I can connect so much better with my mom. I have a tiny little understanding of what it must have been like for her to give and give and expect nothing in return. But also to know how gratifying it is to get something in return from the people you love the most in the world.

Maybe it's a hand-written note, maybe it's just a one on one dinner out. Maybe it's a shopping trip where you help her pick out some clothes. Maybe all these things sound exhausting because you don't have the best relationship with your mom. What if this year you extended the hand of friendship to her as your gift? Talk about the gift that keeps on giving...

Whatever you choose to get for your mama this year, my hope is that we will all take some time to really think about how our moms have given of themselves and celebrate them for that. Even in their imperfections, they are still ours. So let's love them well this Mother's Day.

Laura

Styling the Swing Dress

Hi! Happy Monday to you!

Hope you had a great weekend!

We went to dinner and a movie Friday night, which was so fun. I haven't been to a movie since-- ok I can't even remember. It's been that long. I even decided that I was going to get a cherry coke but after one sip, I changed my mind. Not worth it.

Saturday morning I went to a baby shower and then we played outside pretty much the rest of the afternoon. Forecast was calling for a rain in the ATL for the next few days so we had to be sure to soak up as much sun as possible!

We ate dinner out on the patio at our favorite greek restaurant on Saturday night. It is a hole in the wall but the food is amazing. You know when a self proclaimed ambiance snob is willing to overlook the environment for the sake of the food, that means its real good.

Sunday morning we had brunch and then enjoyed a day of rest since it was pretty yucky outside. We decided to take a few weeks off from church since Matt's been dealing with so many health hurdles but we are all pretty excited to get back into the swing of our normal Sunday schedule.

Sunday night we had Mexican and watched Wheel of Fortune because we are THAT COOL.

Enough about me, let's talk about dresses!

The Swing Dress

I love this style. Its affordable. It's versatile. It's COMFORTABLE. It's just the perfect addition to your wardrobe. One of my favorite things to do with friends and clients is to show them all the different ways they can wear items in their closets. Once you fill your closets with the right basics, you're in business. This dress is a must!

Day Time

I wrapped my denim jacket around my waist but you could also use a printed button down as well to add some color.

Night Time

Same dress but this time I threw on these comfy heels from Dress Up, added a statement necklace, and lost the hat and the jacket. Also switched out my cross body for a striped clutch.

Old Navy has this style in black, black and white stripe,blue and black stripe, and olive and black stripe. I need them all.

Hope you have a great day! Thanks for stopping by! 

Laura

Sources:

Dress: Old Navy

Jacket: Old Navy

Converse: Converse Outlet

Leather Cross Body: Target

Hat: My husbands closet ;-)

Heels: Dress Up

Necklace: Dress Up

Clutch: Kate Spade

Friday Favorites

Hi!

We just got back from the sweetest little girly lunch at The Swan Coach House and while the girls are napping, I wanted to share a few of the things I'm really loving right now.

1. Southern Living: Do you have a subscription? If not, you need one. It's just the best piece of happy mail and such a highlight to find it in my mailbox each month. But even if you're not into all things Southern, I highly recommend finding a magazine you do love and getting a monthly subscription. When it comes each month, it forces you to find a minute to slow down and enjoy. That, my friends, is good for the soul. We got ours through Magazines.com at a discounted rate. They also send tons of coupons if you sign up for their email.

2. The color Red: I know, so random. But you guys! Red is not just reserved for Christmas and Valentines Day! I'm loving using pops of red in my decor and my outfits. I even pulled out my favorite Kate Spade that Matt gave me a few years ago. At first I thought it was too "heavy" of a color for Spring but that's pretty silly as evidenced by how cute it looks with my May Southern Living.

3. Izze Sparkling Grapefruit: I got these on sale at Target this week because they don't have any added sugar and the rest of the ingredients are pretty clean. Hooray. But they are SO GOOD. Especially if you're like me and don't drink carbonation at all. Now we have something fun to drink with mexican because carbonation and mexican? Yes, please.

4. Smashbox Shadow Primer: I got this stuff months ago and it's one of the best additions to my makeup bag. I promise you, the eye makeup will not MOVE if you apply this first. I got mine at Ulta and I think it'll be especially awesome during those sweaty summer days.

We have a pretty chill weekend ahead, which I'm thrilled about. Weather is supposed to be beautiful here so if you're looking for us, we will be outdoors.

Coming up next week on the blog... styling my absolute favorite: swing dresses!

Happy weekend, sweet friends!

Laura