new ways to sweat (1 of 5)

You know those people who make waaaaay too many New Year's resolutions and then have a hard time keeping them? Yeah, I'm one of them. But if I blog about my resolutions... will I feel more responsible for following through? It's worth a shot.

One of these resolutions is to try at least 5 different workouts that are out of my comfort zone.


First up: BODYPUMP
I saw a poster at the gym for a class called BODYPUMP and decided I would go. I knew very little about it, other than it had something to do with weights.

The most awkward part about attending a class for the first time is the set-up—those first 5 minutes when everyone is buzzing around the room collecting their gear and you're scanning the room to gather intel. She has four blocks. I go get four blocks. He has two dumbbells. I go get two two dumbbells.

I should've known I was in trouble when Irina, the short but super-fit instructor with a slight-Schwarzenegger accent, walked in the room and yelled, "Are you ready to pump, BODYPUMPERS?" 

1 hour and 800 repetitions later... did you read that? 800 REPS. In ONE HOUR. CAPITAL LETTERS are here to EMPHASIZE THE PAIN. Here's my review:

And while I'd be much too embarrassed to show you what I looked like during this class, here's a little YouTube promo video to give you an idea. Bet you wouldn't have guessed it, but my weights weren't as big as this guys'...


Stay tuned for the next challenge: BODYATTACK

MLK day 2013

"With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.

With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, 'My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.'" 

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
August 28, 1963

alter ego

Is it weird that I look forward to (eventually) having less-than-perfect eyesight so I can geek out in glasses? I've been waiting since 4th grade, when American Girl Molly McIntire was my hero. I mean, the way she played capture the flag like a bad-ass and rocked those glasses. And the beret? Oh, the beret! She was fab.

In the meantime though, I bought these... zero prescription glasses. Just because I like them, and yes I know it's ridiculous. But LeBron James and Dwayne Wade do it. So what if I'm not an African-American male who makes millions in the NBA? What's your point?

I'm just practicing. Just prepping to embrace my future self.

'twas the month after christmas

It's January. I know it's January. But I still find myself humming Christmas carols.

I love how cozy the house felt with stockings hung by the chimney, family hand-me-down decorations hanging about, and the smell of evergreen.

So, please pardon the unseasonable post. I just needed an excuse to reflect.

Gabby, decked out in her Santa scarf.

An Annalee Advent calendar from my Mom. Annalee Dolls were
originally made in New Hampshire, my home state (pre-Georgia).

Our living room on "Family Movie Night,"
all pillows and blankets piled on the floor.

Nutcracker from my Mom's mom. Santa from my Dad's grandmother.

crafty balls

That's right. This is a post about crafty balls. Okay, okay—crafty Christmas ornaments to be precise.

When our dear friends Laura and Matt were married this summer, their wedding favors were jars of homemade blueberry jam. As delicious as it was cute.

I had the idea to keep the blueberry-print fabric and turn it into keepsake Christmas ornaments. Turned out to be pretty easy, even for the not-so-occasional crafter like me. Here's how I did it: