Dec 3, 2012

Pinterest Takes Over

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It is possible that Pinterest is taking over my life for the holidays.. but in the most fabulous way!!

For example, this centerpiece is inspired by Pinterest

And it’s so easy! Here is how you can do it and customize it your way…

Use any 3 pieces of glass you have around your house or go to a craft store and pick one up or even check out Walmart where you can get one of the same pieces I used for cheap! Pick 3 Christmas items that you love. I love candy canes, bows, and ornaments. Be simple… don’t get too crazy. Fill up your glass with your favorites… color coordinate if you want to go crazy. I love red and silver for the holidays but I also love all of the colorful pink, blues, greens, and purples in style this season. This year was classic- but who knows what next year will bring.Use it as a centerpiece for your kitchen table, coffee table, or a simple display pretty much anywhere! So simple.

Another Pinterest idea I executed with my friend Ann was the white chocolate snowmen I found. I also want to do this with Peyton but wanted to be sure I was able to execute first haha. They turned out so stinkin’ cute.

And they were simple! Here is what Ann and I used (we actually combined 2 different Pinterest ideas:

  • We used white ” ” sticks that we purchased at hobby lobby and put 3 normal sized marshmallows on the stick so that the top marshmallow was at the very top of the stick
  • We melted vanilla chocolate discs from Hobby Lobby in the microwave and just swirled the marshmallows on a stick in there
  • Throw those babies on some waxed paper
  • We assembled the hats (1/2 mini oreos with rollo candies)
  • We put on the eyes with a toothpick and melted chocolate discs
  • We used regular writing icing for the carrot nose
  • We used sprinkles for the buttons which we attached with Kayro syrup
  • We put toothpicks through the middle marshmallow for the arms and attached 2 mini marshmallows to each end
  • We adhered the hat to the top marshmallow with the Kayro syrup

Learnings and suggestions

  • Don’t use regular writing icing for the carrot nose- it’s not meant to dry very well
  • Dip the mini marshmallows in the vanilla chocolate discs too otherwise they look really white compared to the body. But do them one at a time. We did try this first but failed
  • To make the hat easier either don’t use 1/2 the Oreo and just stick the top part of the stick through the rollo OR use chocolate frosting to adhere. They slid off too easily
  • Make sure you have a way to dry them!

Pretty simple process… and was a lot of fun along the way! You can see more pictures below!

Tis the season and I’ll tell you what Pinterest has been making it A LOT of fun =) I am excited for another Pinterest play date with my sister and Peyton this upcoming weekend.

Happy Holidays!!

and if you haven’t done it yet, check out yesterdays post to win a $25 Gift Certificate to GO SPORT ID!

Filed Under: Random Crap · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Nov 12, 2012

Meet Lindsay from “Sweets ‘n’ Sweat”

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Hey there Engaged and Running readers! Today we are doing something a little special… MEET LINDSAY!    

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Lindsay is a fellow Sweat Pink Ambassador and is the writer of the “Sweets ‘n’ Sweat” blog. To quote Lindsay the blog is all about the fact that “life is sweet. a little sweat makes it interesting” and how true that is right? Lindsay is an inspiration to the health and fitness community and I am so happy to be able to share some interesting facts about her! I recommend you check out her blog, her page on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, and see what type of stuff she is in to on Pinterest.

Below are a few questions I asked Lindsay to answer so that you all can get to know her! Thanks Lindsay for participating and sharing about yourself with the Engaged and Running readers =)

1. What is your favorite workout? I am loving Les Mills Pump right now and running of course!

2. Why do you blog? I originally started my blog as a way to journal my first half-marathon training. I didn’t expect many to read or care! But, it has really grown since then. My goal, every time I blog, is to motivate. Whether it be by cooking a healthy meal, working out, etc. I just want people to know that I’ve been there and I know how hard it is to get and stay motivated. I want to be a part of their support pillar.

3. What word describes you best? Dedicated.

4. What drives you to get up every morning?  The feeling of accomplishment after a great morning workout is such a rush! It’s a great way to start out your day. Period. No questions. You never regret it!

5. If you were invisible, where would you go?  To our bedroom and take an extremely long nap!

6. How do you want to be remembered? I am a strong mother and woman. I put my heart into things that I believe in that are good. I would do anything for the people that I love. My determination cannot be shaken. Because I’m just that stubborn :)

7.  What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you? Oh gosh, that is a tough question. An act of kindness can mean so many different things. I always think of of the people who prayed for our family, sent kind words, made phone calls, etc. when my son was in the hospital for three weeks when he was four months old. Kind words and small acts are the big ones for me. I remember them all.

8. Who do you admire? I admire my son, Maddox. He’s only three years old, but he has gone through so much already (medically). He is so strong and so brave. He had a rough first year-a year we will never forget! I can tell that he will be one amazing guy some day :)

9. If you had 10 minutes to speak to a group of young girls about fitness (say middle school age), what would you say? Do NOT compare yourself to others. EVER! We are all so very different. Be the best that you can be. Don’t get caught up on your image. Love yourself and form good habits. Bad habits come back to bite you later on!

Thank you Lindsay for sharing all of that information with  us! I have to say I could not agree more on #9… what great advice that every little girl needs! With that in mind, I will just point out that I recently heard about a program called “Girls on the Run” and I am not involved yet but I fully intend to be. Might be a good way to inspire young girls to be proud of their bodies and happy with who they are! Anyone ever participate in this??

Filed Under: Networking · Tagged: , , , , , , ,
Aug 14, 2012

Working Out, Eating Up, and Hanging Out

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I left my last blog up SO long because I wanted to ensure that you all had a chance to see how wonderfully fabulous I was to  have received the Liebster Award.

Actually I left that last post up so long because I have been overwhelming busy and going a little nuts.

Or a lot of nuts if you ask Tim haha.

Cinnamon and Sugar Almond Nuts if you ask me.

Okay okay I’m done with that nonsense.

So yes, life has been crazy busy as usual which just makes me so grateful that I am break from grad school right now because I don’t know if I could handle those marketing plans on top of the actual plans I create from 9-5. 8-5 who am I kidding? But somehow in some magical way I am still loving my life, all of those in it, and taking it day by day to ensure my sanity does not completely give up on me and because not living life happy is really no way to live life at all right?

So my updates! I have yet to truly figure out why most of you stop by? Is it my hilarious sense of humor (haha yea right?), is it my fitness inspiration? Is it my wedding planning DRAMA? or is just because you are interested in someone else life? Either way I am going to try to cover all of those topics in one post to get you up to speed on fun things going on.

Workouts

Why does it have to be so hot? And why do I have to be so tired when I get home from work that I can’t go running? Ugh Ugh and double UGH. Cross training has been fabulous. I have been able to consistently get to Crossfit 2 times a week and have been rocking out some series workouts. You may remember that Kari and I tried “Fight Gone Bad” a while ago (turns out the first time was a YEAR ago) and we almost threw up again but walked away feeling AWESOME and so PROUD of ourselves. There is seriously something to be said for completing a workout that challenges both your body and mind. The previous post contains the workout so feel free to check it out.

Other than that Tim and I did 4 miles the other day *he faster than I* and we had every intention on doing a 6 miler last Saturday morning but woke up to misty weather and then headed to two beautiful weddings! Sunday was filled with some recovery time from the beautiful weddings and then of course soccer =) I HAVE GOT TO GET BACK ON TRACK for this running stuff OR I am going to kill myself trying to finish that half marathon.

For you runners out there: What keeps you motivated after a long day at work? how do you get your butt outside to run?!

Pinterest usually inspires me but that is usually at like 3 o’clock in the afternoon so it’s a little tough to get a run in at that time. Ya know, because I have to work.

But in case you are inspired by fun “boards” and ‘”pins” here you go! Don’t forget you can follow me on Pinterests by clicking the social media button at the top of the page.

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Wedding Stuff

Well tomorrow if the RSVP due date! We are still waiting on about 55 people so if you are one of those peeps u better get your RSVP card in before I start stalking you.

Because I will.

And so will my knife.

Haha yea yea I’m not that violent but I would certainly appreciate them all to be in the RSVP envelope in my coffee table drawer within the next few days.

So this Sunday I am doing some crafting and fun with my Lanzer Sisters and Tim and I have been working on the seating chart. I was content using the excel file but Tim felt it necessary to put it on poster board.

Then realized he didn’t have post-it notes.

And made the circles drastically different sizes.

Which them ended up sitting on the living room floor looking like a kindergarten art projects.

Welcome to our lives =) Gosh I wish I would have snapped a picture of that thing.

But yea it has been pretty good. Taking every day one day at a time no doubt. I think you have to when you are only a month away. I’ll have lots of post wedding posts to put up and hell I have even written a few weddings post about lessons learned but I think it is probably just best to wait until after the wedding to share that drama.

Only positive happy thoughts for now!

Other Fun Things- Our daily lives

We have not had a shortage of fun things to do over the past couple of weeks! This past weekend we got to enjoy not 1 but 2 weddings for family and friends! The first was our friends Tiffany and Brett who tied the knot on Saturday afternoon in Copley. A beautiful ceremony and a GORGEOUS bride! Simply perfect.

The second was a later in the day ceremony for Josh and Danielle and while Josh may not be my brother by some blood definition I consider him one in every other way possible. My first memory of Josh and Danielle as a couple was when I went to Josh’s prom with him and he ended up ditching me for Danielle.

Good brother right?

But seriously, Josh (brother of Kara) is amazing and Danielle is the perfect gal for him. You can see how much in love they are every time you look at them and their wedding day was on exception. Danielle was somehow very calm and relaxed the entire time (even when Josh was crying hehe) but it was simply a beautiful day!

Here are some photos for you to enjoy

4 of us

The crazy and amazing 4-some

kara and tim

Kara and Tim- Kara looks adorable- Tim should open his eyes a little more!

me and josh

The groom Josh and myself- one good looking groom

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Kara and Dana… looking amazing as always

danielle and tim

Tim and the beautiful bride Danielle

Clearly there were some good looking people there and I’ll tell you what the food presentation wasn’t too shabby either!

Photo Aug 11, 7 33 53 PM

I had the grouper stuffed with lobster with a side of mashed sweet potatoes, carrots, and another veggie that I liked but can’t remember the name

Oh and I should probably mention that we got to see Tiger Wood’s and Jack Nicklaus’s LOCKERS there at Glenmore Country Club in Canton.

In appropriate but hilarious pictures on their way…

Photo Aug 11, 5 50 10 PM

Go ahead zoom in- it says Tiger Woods

Photo Aug 11, 5 50 25 PM

Kara will love this- I just know it! and yes- we should NOT have been in the Men’s locker room

So that has been some exciting stuff happening in our lives!

What is going on in yours?!

Filed Under: CrossFit-ing, Friends Make The World Go Round, Primary Menu · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
Jul 3, 2012

I Just Got Better.

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I found this on Pinterest today…

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Then I had a moment of “omg, that’s right!”

As if I was surprised Pinterest could enlighten me with some life lesson that I needed to learn at 26 years old.

I thought about how this applies to all aspects of my life not just the fitness aspect which was of course the obvious applications based on the photo. But I thought about how when you lose a loved-one in your family what do people tell you?

“It will get easier”

When you start a new job and you are confused and feel like you don’t understand anything, what does your boss tell you?

“It will get easier”

When you are 16 with a broken heart from the boy that didn’t want to take you to the dance what does your mom tell you as she wipes away the tears from your eyes?

“It will get easier”

We are brought up hearing those 4 words. A lot. And they are always said to us with the best intentions as to tell us that even though things feel hard and frustrating at that very moment that we won’t feel like that forever. But after reading that Pinterest inspiration it really made me think about how much more impactful it is to tell someone that THEY will get stronger. THEY will make the different. That THEIR hard work will pay off. It won’t be magic or luck that makes them feel less frustrated or broken but rather their own self.

I hope I remember this when I am a parent someday.

But it really inspired me to get excited for the half marathon training program that I will be starting on July 9th. I am using the Hal Higdon Half Marathon Novice 1 i-phone app and suddenly really looking forward to the training. All this time I have been thinking by week 3 or week 4 things will be easier. And now that I think about it that is not really rewarded.

This sounds more rewarding.

By week 3 or week 4 I will have busted by ass so hard that I WILL BE BETTER and STRONGER and therefore things will come naturally to me which will end up feeling “easier”.

Hmmmm. Let me process that for a second. Yes, got it. MY BODY my very own body and my WILLINGNESS to challenge myself and my STRENGTH to keep going and my COMMITT to my goals will make all the difference.

Not Harry Potter magic that I wish really existed.

I will be better.

So while I have been slacking off on my running- that stops here VERY soon. I am about to get very serious about my training because I want to SPRINT across that finish line on September 29th. I want to walk, skip, and jump the next day and not be so sore that I can’t move. I want to reward my body AND my mind for a job well done.

I can wait for things to get magically easier OR I can work hard and I can be BETTER and I can determine my own destiny.

Which will you choose?

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