Three years gone but not forgotten!

Today is anniversary number 3 for me and AJ! What have the last three years been like? Amazing! Although, I must admit that nothing has really gone according to plan, ha ha. Whatever the plan WAS I am thankful for where we are NOW.

Since today is our wedding anniversary and I haven't blogged "our story" yet I figured today would be a great day to share! Read on if you dare! (I just rhymed... sorry.)

 AJ and I met in 2008 when we went to the Diana singing with a mutual friend... also known as "the guy I was talking to". When I first met AJ I didn't really give him any thought besides "Wow, he's funny!" and "Wow, that guy knows a lot about the Bible!". Anyway, the three of us went to the singing and had a good time. A few weeks later I wasn't talking to TGIWTT anymore... he dumped me! (Yay!) For some reason after that I got on good ol' Facebook to tell AJ I was dumped. From that moment on we were talking daily and for hours on Facebook and finally on the phone. Less than a month after we met we decided to meet for a date. I can't remember if he asked me or if I asked him.When it came time for us to meet for our first date, I couldn't even remember how tall he was! It didn't matter; I was already hooked. AJ came to Jacksonville to go to a JSU football game with me, and a friend of mine and two of her little girls. I guess you could say it was a chaperoned date. We had a blast and after that AJ and I were meeting every weekend we could, usually half-way in the big town of Talladega. It's where we had our first kiss and where I, according to him, proposed just about two months after our first date. I didn't get down on one knee or anything!! It just came up in conversation and ever since then AJ has been convinced I proposed... maybe I did.

Snap shot of my future husband the day we met!   Sept 12, 2008.      

Our first date! Oct 4, 2008

We are cool, we made a sign for the game!

One of my favorite pictures of the two of us.

Well we officially became engaged in March of 2009; six months after we met! When you know, you know; you know? After six months of wedding planning we became Mr & Mrs! September 25th of 2009 will always be one of the best, most amazing days of my life! We have been moving ever since... seriously!

Engagement shoot, CDP.

Claire Drummond Photography

Honey moon!

Sorry, I don't have a single wedding picture on the computer I am using! 

AJ moved to Jacksonville so I could finish school. Next thing we know we are moving to Wilsonville, AL in December of 2009. In April of 2010 we moved to Calera, AL, just two towns over, into a nice new and fancy apartment. We both had really good jobs at that time and could afford it. Later the cost became too high (2 hours to and from work for me... that was 4 less hours I could spend with my sweet hubby each day!) and it wasn't worth it. So we found ourselves moving again in... October of 2010, just after our one-year anniversary, back to Wilsonville. We almost stayed there for a year until AJ finally came to terms with the fact that his desire was to become a gospel preacher. (I was so glad. It's what he has always wanted to do.) So August 2011, we packed up again and headed north to Memphis, TN. Here we are today! We have officially lived here for one year, plus a couple of weeks; it's the longest we have ever lived anywhere since we have been married. Go us!

It's been a little crazy, but crazy is fun, right?! After all the packing and unpacking and telling our parents we are moving for the fourth time I couldn't be happier. I will never mind moving as long as I'm with my one and only. I love you, baby!

What's in store for us next?!?!?  

Babies! Lots of babies!!! LOL J/k... or am I?

Seriously, for now we are focusing on AJ finishing school at MSOP and finding a congregation of the church to work with. Pray for us! :)

How many times have you moved? Anything new and exciting in store for you?

Thanks for reading. You're awesome! 

PS. I don't know why the pictures are positioned the way they are so just deal! Thanks! 

Work out week 2.

Two? Yes, two. I repeated the first week because I didn't feel like I really did everything correctly the first time. Even repeating it I didn't do the 60 min jog on Friday. It is hard for me to get to the gym on Fridays.

Updated. I totally forgot to post my work out for the week. Here you go! 

Week 2:

• Monday – 5 sets of 8: deadlifts, bulgarian squats, lunges. 50: squat jumps,  calve raises.  Plank for 3 minutes, 60 reverse crunches, 60 hanging knee raises (these are almost impossible for me... going to get it.)
• Tuesday – 60 minutes HIIT cycling (:30/1:30 format)
• Wednesday – 5 sets of 8: incline bench press, clean and press, overhead tricep extension, bent over barbell row, concentration curls, upright row.
• Thursday – 60 minutes HIIT running (sprint for 30 seconds/jog for 1:30 minutes)
• Friday – 5 sets of 8: deadlifts, bulgarian squats, lunges. 50 squat jumps, 50 calve raises.  Plank for 3 minutes, 60 reverse crunches, 60 hanging knee raises

Tips: When there aren’t any sets listed for squat jumps, calve raises, planks, and any ab exercises, complete the number of reps/time in as few sets as possible. i.e. 50 squats as fast as possible, before moving on to the 50 calve raises.  Continue to go heavy on the weight during resistance training.

 
I use to really enjoy going to the gym first thing in the AM. Now I would rather go at 1:30 in the afternoon. I have figured out that it is the SLOWEST time for the gym; there are like 2 or 3 other people there at that time. Its awesome. Starting next week I will begin working again, keeping a little girl at my apartment 3 days a week. I will have to go first thing on those days at least.

I am afraid I will have another poor weigh-in next week. Even though the first is a Monday I am waiting until the fourth in order to give myself an extra couple of days. :/ Sad I know. I am going to predict a 2 lb loss. We shall see!

Tomorrow is mine and AJ's THIRD anniversary!!!! Yippee!!!! I love him A LOT! Won't say much about it since I will probably do an anniversary post tomorrow. <3 data-blogger-escaped-br="br">
Wednesday is our oldest nephew Sam's 8th birthday! I can't believe how grown he is! He is in second grade and loves video games, books, movies, Star Wars and all the super heroes. Most 8 year-old boys do though, don't they? He plays soccer, too! I am planning to go home for his birthday party this weekend. I am more than excited about this because it has been awhile since I have seen him! Not only that, but my brother (Sam's dad) and his youngest son, Gareth, are coming from Maryland, too! Its been a really long time since I have seen them. Its going to be a great weekend. The only thing that would make it better is if AJ could go with me. Sam loves his uncle and will be sad AJ couldn't come.

I'll leave you with a couple pictures of the birthday boy.




Sam when he was about two. Photo belongs to his mom.




Sam at 7 and 3/4s with my beautiful mom. Isn't Sam a handsome boy? :)
This photo was taken by my sister-in-law.

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Monster sighting... Big and green.

Okay that was sort of corny. I'm talking about the "Green Monster" spinach smoothie. I've known about these smoothies for a while, but am just now getting to try them. You can find more information about green smoothies here and the benefits of spinach here.

I bought the ingredients I needed for the most basic green smoothie on Monday and made one that day for lunch. AJ even tried it and said he would like to have more!

Here is the recipe I tried.

1 cup almond milk
1 tablespoon flaxseed
2 cups organic baby spinach
1 banana
Blend completely then add ice and blend on ice setting.








Viola! Green Monster! I am really weird about things I have to drink and its texture. However, this was not awful. The spinach taste really is covered up by the banana taste. It sort of had a bite to it when it first hit my tongue, if that makes sense, but then it just tasted like banana. I haven't tried to make another yet, but planning to today. I am going to put one or two more types of fruit in it. That should make it taste super delicious!
Have you tried a green smoothie? What is your favorite recipe?

Gym time

Check out my gym routine this week.

Week 1

Monday – 60 minutes HIIT cycling (30 seconds 100% intensity, 1:30 60% intensity, repeat for an hour)

Tuesday – 5 sets of 8: squats, barbell deadlifts, sumo squats, walking lunges, reverse lunges. 100 box jumps. Is that possible?

Wednesday – 30 minutes HIIT jump rope (45 seconds jump, 30 seconds rest. repeat for half-hour)/15 minutes row machine. This day will also include a training session with Trainer Lady, henceforth "TL".

Thursday – 5 sets of 8: bench press, military press, barbell curls, skull crushers, snatch, lat pulldowns. 250 ab reps ( you pick the type of exercises)

Friday – 60 minute jog

Tips: Try to complete this Mon-Fri, allowing yourself a full two days off on the weekend. On weight days, make sure the weight is heavy enough that the 7th and 8th rep are VERY tough to complete. Training heavy at the beginning of this program is key for establishing your base.

I found this routine on Pinterest. Its a 12 week program that I intend on sticking to exactly. It looks pretty intense, especially as you progress. I need intense though if I want to lose 30 by Jan 1. It seems like Cross Fit almost. By the way, I saw some of the 2011 Cross FIt games on ESPN today, those ladies are hosses... I don't want to be a hoss. I am not going to post a link because the woman who designed this routine has photos posted of herself and she is not dressed appropriately. Sorry.


Today I'm going to try my first green monster smoothie! Everything I read says they are delicious. Going to do the most basic version first. What are you going to do today to better your health?


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