Embracing life's extraordinarily ordinary adventures, one step at a time

29th Birthday — Martinis not Optional, but Required

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Jenn

Today is my birthday. Actually, it’s my last birthday. Or my first 29th birthday. Or, from here I’ll just start counting backwards. I haven’t really decided yet.

I’ll come back with a more thoughtful birthday post on my 29 years soon, but for now, I share with you the above photo. My darling friend and sorority sister Adrienne made it for me.

Following her sending it, our conversation went like this:

Adrienne: Birthday Princess! Love you.

Jenn: Ha — thanks, Atay You are awesome. Love you!

Adrienne: And no, I’m not suggesting you go topless today, I just haven’t mastered shirts in Microsoft paint

Jenn: Ha — well. This is embarrassing — since I just ripped my shirt off at work and poured myself a martini.

Adrienne: Amazing, I expect nothing less from the birthday girl.

Hopefully the birthday continues along these same lines.

XOXO,
Jenn

Blog Readin’ Fatigue

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Jenn

image via

How do you all read your blogs? Do you physically go to each of them? Use a reader? Use the blog roll on your own blog and click through each one?

I, personally, had my life changed the day I discovered Google Reader. I love it and rarely physically hit a blog’s URL. Did you also know that when you look at the analytics of how many hits your blog gets, it doesn’t count all of those people who are reading your blog in reader? At least that’s how I understand it works on WordPress.

Anywho – if something is interesting to me and I want to read it every time someone posts, I drop it into my Google Reader, which I like to check every morning and sometimes every afternoon, so it doesn’t get too full. However, I recently found myself skipping over a LOT of the blogs I’d put in my reader. I’d just skim right over it and not even pretend to read it. I did this for months until I was like “hell – this is MY reader – why am I keeping this trash in here?” So I did a big overhaul on the blogs I follow and cleaned my reader out. SO much better.

It was sort of strange and got me ruminating over it – because I obviously liked the content at some point, or I wouldn’t have put it in there. So what changed? Surely the author didn’t change. They are probably doing exactly what they were when I once found them appealing. So it must have been me that changed. Why? How?

And with a couple of these blogs, I’m not talking about “eh, I just am bored with it.” I’m talking I was straight up like “you are terrible and dumb. Quit talking. If I see one more awkward self-portrait of you in running clothes in your tiny backyard, I will straight up knife my computer screen.” (I know, that makes me sort of terrible, but this is my little internet corner to speak the truth, just like they have theirs to be terrible in).

Did my interests change? Am I happier now and don’t feel like listening to them whine about how sucky everything is (when their world actually seems pretty perfect)? Or maybe it was the opposite and I found their constant state of euphoria unrealistic. Nobody is that happy. Maybe I’m jealous. Maybe I feel sorry for them. Who knows – but it got me thinking nonetheless.

They’ve done these studies that show that people who use Facebook are generally not as happy and satisfied with their lives as people who are NOT on Facebook. They believe it’s because we tend to post more about all the good things in our lives on Facebook, e.g. “I’m having the greatest day ever! I just got a promotion at my dream job and got engaged to my dream man via this 6 carat diamond! See photo.” Ok that’s kind of an extreme example – but you get my drift.

So we read all this crap about how wonderful everyone else’s life is – forgetting that they aren’t telling us about how they also gained four pounds last week, are strapped for cash until payday and have relationship issues, too. But it’s all about perception. So we start to think everyone else has a peachy life and ours is lame because we aren’t eating at the fanciest restaurants with the prettiest people and doing the “most fun thing!” every weekend. Neither are they – they are just going to be dang sure you know about it when they do. Multiply that by your 800 friends and you could see how that would be depressing.

I think the same thing applies to my recent blog reader overhaul. What do you think?

How’s that for a random Wednesday brain dump?

Happy humpday, friends!

XOXO,
Jenn

Training Gets Personal — with Kathy Mead

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Jenn

Recently an email hit my inbox from Kathy Mead who lives here in Nashville and is venturing into the world of personal training after almost 15 years of being a group exercise instructor. Kathy and I have mutual friends (the Pancake Girls that I run with every Friday morning), but haven’t ever met. This was perfect — because Kathy wanted to hone her personal training style with a few guinea pig clients that she knew nothing about.

I love being a guinea pig!

First, Kathy and I had a phone conversation about my workout history, likes and dislikes. We talked about running, my injuries (stupid ol’ knee), my recent love for boot camp and BarreAmped classes, etc. She asked me what my goals would be if I were to work with a personal trainer on the regular, and I told her that I’d love to just continue to tone up — lengthen and strengthen, people. So that’s what we worked on.

Soon after, Kathy and I scheduled two personal training sessions. Again, her goal was to practice working with brand new clients and putting together fun, effective, hour-long personal training sessions that aligned with the individual’s goals and fitness level. She also wanted to get familiar wtih her new studio location and all it has to offer.

I met her bright and early at 6 a.m. at the studio she’ll be working out of — which was amazeballs. It’s so convenient to me, and anyone in the downtown area. It’s in Hillsboro Village on Wedgewood Ave. in one of those beautiful old houses that you always wish your office would relocate to.

The entire upstairs, with a separate entrance in the back, are small fitness studios outfitted with tons of equipment for whatever your exercising heart desires. It’s called The Studio of Muscle Integration, run by Kandice King. Go to the website and read about Kandice too — she kicks major butt.

My hour-long session with Kathy went something like this. 5 minute warm up on the treadmill to get the blood pumping. Then, three sets of a circuit that involved two strength exercises and one cardio exercise. We used the exercise ball, exercise bands, TRX, dumbbells, kettlebells and more. I’m telling you, they have a little bit of everything to keep it interesting. After working hard for 50 minutes or so, we cooled down and stretched. And I was a puddle on the floor.

So, for example, we’d do a set of wall squats using the exercise ball, some tricep and oblique (I’m so workout term savvy, as you can see) exercise using a band, and then a set of burpees for cardio. Then we’d repeat that at least one more time. Then she’d introduce another “circuit” of three new things. It was awesome and I was pouring sweat.

OMG the TRX. Do you all know what this thing is? I’d never used one, but had seen it. Here’s an example of a push up using TRX. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4fUS7yITAw. I fully expected for an elbow to give out and for me to get tangled up so badly that I’d have to be cut out of it with scissors, but it was great. Total body workout because you’re balancing and engaging your core the whole time. Don’t think me weird if I install one of these at the Flat, soon. Here’s another one we did — TRX Side Plank. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ezC5UNcyyg&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL4D2D34FEAE5E9A05

I’ll have to be honest — personal training has always seemed intimidating to me. I’ve never done it before, but the thought of someone staring at me and only me while I workout is daunting. But not so with Kathy — she is so likeable, personable and makes you feel comfortable right from the beginning. We chatted (as much as I could while gasping for breath) about random stuff like books, exercise, travel, cocktails! and such. It was like working out with a friend — if that friend just watched you sweat and told you what do to next.

It was SO nice to have someone who knows what they’re doing to be sure your form is right and to be sure that you aren’t about to blow a knee out because you can’t properly do a lunge. That was so cool — because that’s how so many inuries happen. Kathy was great at adjusting the workout up or down as I needed.

Perfect example: on the day of our second session I had run out of peanut butter. (Huh? Yes.) If I workout in the morning I eat one spoonful of peanut butter and that’s enough to give me some protein so I don’t pass out, yet it’s light enough so I don’t puke it up. I know, lovely.

I didn’t have any PB the morning of our second session, so I crammed some dried fruit bites in my mouth and headed out the door. About halfway through our workout I was doing a simple strength exercise and was watching myself in the mirror and saw all the color drain from my face. Then I thought I was going to barf. Then I thought I was going to…well, nevermind. I had to stop, lay down, started POURING sweat and my ears were ringing. I went in the bathroom to splash water on my face and to consider what it would be like if Kathy had to break the door down to pull my face out of the toilet after I fell into it. Finally, I settled down. It was terrible.

I was so embarrassed and felt so wimpy! Kathy was totally cool of course and was like “let’s stretch.” So we did about 20 minutes of really good stretching to finish the workout. Poor Kathy.

If you are interested in personal training in Nashville, give Kathy a call, please. She is so kick ass and you will love her for kicking yours.

Bio and Contact Information for Kathy Mead:
Kathy Mead has a B.S. from Vanderbilt University in Human and Organizational Development and Psychology and a M.S. from MTSU in Exercise Science. She has been a certified group exercise instructor for almost 15 years and interned with MTSU’s strength and conditioning department as a graduate student.

She’s worked as an Exercise Coach since 2004 (also certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Health and Fitness Specialist since 2004) and is a VERY amateur bike racer.

She is absolutely committed to exercise and fitness as a way of life and has worked with a myriad of populations including: pre/post-natal, bariatric surgery patients pre and post-op, post-physical therapy patients, athletes, and just the everyday “Joe” or “Sue” who is interested in improving fitness or losing weight and unsure how to amp up their workout routine or start a routine all together.

Contact her at either 615-330-7308 or at meadkm1028@yahoo.com for more information.

Update on Eggplant Kitten, aka Sally

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Jenn

I got an email update from the sweet people who adopted Eggplant yesterday. (see previous post to catch up).

Apparently, Sally, as she’s been renamed, is doing just beautifully in her new home. She loves it and has settled right in. The four-year-old little girl who is Sally’s new mommy is having to work on giving “gentle hugs and kisses,” said her Mom, because the kitten is just so squeezable. Smile Too cute. She said Sally doesn’t seem to mind though, because she just keeps coming back for more. I’m telling you, this little fur baby has the sweetest disposition.

Check it out.

So glad she’s enjoying her new home and all her new furry friends in that crib.

XOXO,
Jenn

Eggplant the Kitten

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Jenn

Yesterday I was headed to lunch at the Farmer’s Market here in Nashville to meet my friend Alice. I was walking down the sidewalk from where I parked, and noticed up in the distance this tiny thing bounding down the sidewalk. I thought it was a bunny — it was so tiny and bouncy. Then, it darted under a car. I hurried up to the car and knelt down to see what it was, and it was a tiny, adorable, heartbreakingly precious kitten. It mewed (smaller than a meow) and hopped up into the car’s engine parts. Oh hell no. I wasn’t about to let this little nugget get piston slapped.

I laid on the ground (in a skirt) and shimmied halfway under this car. Two people asked if I was ok. ‘YEP! I’m cool. It’s a KITTEN!” They just hurried away — probably going to find security.

I coaxed it partly down and then pulled the little booger into my arms — fully prepared for it to eat my hand off. (After all, I live with Callie Cat, so fury is all I know). But it just looked up at me and mewed. (I think it said “mama?”) Then it licked my nose. I about fainted from cuteness.

I called Alice to see where she was because she’s always wanted a kitten — and told her where to meet me. In the meantime, approximately 20 people walked by and told me “oh you’re done for now,” or similar. Yeah — I know. I also tried to give her away to several people, just in case Alice didn’t want her because I sure as heck wasn’t putting her back out on the cruel city streets.

I knew I couldn’t take her home though. Callie is an only child and just can’t be anything else. Let’s just say that if I brought the kitten home, she would be an only child again like five minutes later, because she would eat it for fourth meal.

Alice went in and got our lunch (after she too fell in love with kitten pants) and we had a picnic outside with the kitten. She played (the kitten, not Alice), ate some cheese off our pizza, part of an old chicken finger someone had dropped (and accidentally bit my finger — so I was pleased to find out last night that she didn’t have rabies), then she tuckered out and took a bath and a nap.

Alice took her back to her office, thinking she’d at least foster her for a few days and then decide what to do for her full time. But her Executive Director fell in love with her too, and took the kitten home to her four-year-old daughter who is going to give her a good home. She already got checked out at the vet last night and got a clean bill of health. Just a few earmites.

P.S. — Alice and I decided since we’d found her at the Farmer’s Market, we should name her something vegetable-like. So I blurted out Eggplant, and it was set. Little kitten Eggplant.

However, I found out last night that the four year old who Eggplant is living with has renamed her “Sally.”

I’m not sure how I feel about this, and think she’ll always be an Eggplant deep down.

I woke up this morning and asked Rogers if he thought that Eggplant had a good first night in her new home. He just came over and hugged me. Bless him.

I’m such a crazy cat lady.

Best lunch at the Farmer’s Market ever, right Alice? Thanks for taking care of our kitten baby!

XOXO,
Jenn

Beach Me

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Jenn

The beach trip with the family was ah-mazing. A whole week of togetherness, relaxation, fun and good times. And we didn’t even get tired of each other – I don’t think.

We stayed in a house in Miramar Beach (just east of Destin and before Sandestin). It’s in a neighborhood called Frangista Beach. We used to drive by it when Josh and I were little and we’d stare at the big houses and think “that must be where the rich people stay.” Ha. While we are certainly not, our foursome was a sixsome this trip and we needed more room! The “Happy Go Lucky” was perfect and I want to live there forever.

There were porches for sitting and catching up and drinking coffee and I miss the “Happy Go Lucky” house already.

Here is a photo overload for you – and all of my iPhone photos can be seen here: https://plus.google.com/photos/103099989861665011156/albums/5744751461106338641?authkey=CIGIwMeTu9yFHA

My sweet parents – about to smooch.

We celebrated my birthday a little early while we were all together. Donut Hole doughnuts – way better than cake!

We had my birthday dinner in Baytowne Wharf at Acme Oyster House.

And topped it with a Fat Tuesday daiquiri.

Dewey Destin – so tiny and such a great hole in the wall dive seafood joint. We watched a mama dolphin and baby dolphin frolic after dinner.

Check out the rain wall moving in. So cool.

Our view when we stepped on the boardwalk to head down to the beach. I miss it!

And some courtesy of my awesome photog sis-in-law.

Rinsing the sand off or doing the “Stanky Leg” – who knows.

I’ve been doing that for years – apparently.

My supermodel brother and sister-in-law.

Me and my main squeeze – and my birthday dress from my Mom and Dad! Mom had some help from her personal shopper, Ashley.

My little familia.

And then we had a thirsty Thursday. Things happened – like this.

I had to go undercover for a while.

I love this brother of mine.

We may not be right, but they’re my family and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

Can’t wait for the next Wade beach vacay! Family is a blessing –and it’s even a bigger blessing when you actually enjoy being around them. Mine is the best. Truth.

XOXO,
Jenn

I’m Beached

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Jenn

I’ve been at the beach all week, so you’ll have to forgive the lack of blogging. Here are a few little tid bits to hold you over until I return and give you the full recap.

My Dad and Brother did a Half Ironman Triathlon before I got down here to the beach. They are basically amazing and I’m in awe of their dedication. They put the rest of us Wades to shame and we just ride their fitness coattails. You can read my Dad’s recap here and see some sexy photos of them in their wetsuits. http://jeffwadeflyfisher.blogspot.com/2012/05/703-half-ironman.html. Yes – my Dad is a blogger too!

Photo recaps of beach fun: (all of these courtesy of my amazing photog sis-in-law, Ashley Wade Photography):

See ya back on the mainland.

XOXO,
Jenn

Adventure Boot Camp – Recap

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Jenn

Several weeks ago I saw a Groupon for Adventure Boot Camp here in Nashville. It was for either 5 or 10 sessions at a drastically cut rate – I think I got my 10 sessions for like $52, which is awesome. It meets every morning (or evening, but I chose mornings) at 5:45 a.m. and lasts four weeks. The normal package is for four weeks of camp and you can choose to go 3, 4 or 5 days a week. I did four days for two weeks and finished my last two days (10 sessions) this week.

I wasn’t sure what to expect – but my friend Kim had been through camp before and helped prep me a bit. Her one beef with it was there wasn’t enough upper body workout. Well, your review was heard, Kim – we burned out those arms several times.

Quick run down.

Josh Allen leads Adventure Boot Camp and is awesome. He told us the first day he would be encouraging, but wouldn’t yell at us. Well hell – what kind of boot camp is that? But he was just that – very encouraging and supportive, without making you feel like a fat idiot. He adapts everything to your skill level – if you’re hurt or having issues with something, he can help you modify every exercise and does a great job of floating through the class and checking form on every exercise, praising you when you do well and will know your name by the second class. I just can’t say enough about Josh.

The boot camp meets at Lipscomb University and their facilities are the jam. I loved being outside (if it wasn’t rainy) on their tennis courts and watching the sun come up while getting my sweat on every morning. Started my whole day on a high note.

The camp is made up of all women, which was nice. One reason I hate gyms and have never held a membership is because of all the grunting men. I don’t want to see your beefcakes or hear you flexing them. So being surrounded by other women trying to reach the same goals was a nice, calm, supportive environment. I made several new friends and loved seeing their familiar faces every morning as we bonded over sweat and near tears some days. (Nah, it wasn’t that bad). :)

I consider myself pretty in shape, particularly with cardio since I run. But this really stretched me to do weight lifting (just 8 and 5 pound weights are required for the class) and to work some different muscle groups that running just doesn’t touch. It was a challenge every day, but not to the point where I thought I didn’t want to come back or felt like I wasn’t getting enough. It was always just right. I left in a puddle (I seriously was so sweaty I looked like I’d been swimming some days), and was sore some, but not to the point that I couldn’t come back four days in a row. One day the class will focus more on legs, the next day more on abs and arms, for example — so your soreness has time to wear off before you really burn those muscles out again.

The class progresses and gets more challenging every week, so you never get complacent and you can feel yourself getting stronger. I did drop a couple of lbs in the 10 days, but even more than that can see more definition in my abs, legs and arms. Cha-ching! But, I do intend to drink my share of cold beers and eat my weight (daily) in seafood next week at the beach – so, I look forward to undoing it all! Kidding. That’s the great thing about Josh’s camp is that I’ve learned so many things that I can take with me and do at home or while I’m at the beach next week.

Adventure Boot Camp really teaches you a lot, quickly – and pushes you in a good way. If you have a chance, try it out. I think Josh does Groupons pretty regularly, so that’s a great way to dip your toe in if you’re not sure about it, and then you can upgrade to the full four weeks if you enjoy it.

XOXO,
Jenn

Weekend Recap–Downton Abbey Style

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Jenn

Yesterday was my Girls on the Run 5K. Girls on the Run is a program for 3rd through 8th grade girls that uses the power of running to help prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. It is an AWESOME program and I have so enjoyed being a “running buddy.” We do one practice 5K (about a month ago) and then the real deal 5K that’s an open race that anyone can register for and run. GOTR has one running buddy (volunteer adults) per girl, to keep her safe along the run, pace her, help her meet her goals, etc.

I was paired up with Leandra yesterday, who was the cutest girl out there. Don’t argue – because you would lose. She was the cutest by a landslide. Le Le (as I call her now since we’re BFFs) is in the 4th grade and loves her dogs and school. She doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up because she “has way too much time to figure that out.”

We had the best time running (and walking) and talking A LOT. She beat her previous time by 3 minutes and her mother and brother who were there supporting her were SO proud. I can’t wait till the professional pictures are posted and I’ll show you one of Le Le and I. I was afraid to take my camera because it had rained off and on all morning – but trust, Girls on the Run (and Le Le) are the jam. So awesome.

This was what the sky looked like around 6:30 a.m. when we were about to leave for the 5K – and this is my “you want me to run under that sky?” face.

I came home and ran some errands, then swung by Redbox and picked up the first season of Downton Abbey. I wasn’t really interested in this show (I mean, it comes on PBS) but everyone was just going on and on about it, so I thought for $1.20, I can check it out. Well I’ll be damned if I didn’t watch the entire first season in about a 12 hour time span. And, I learned I’d mistakenly been calling it “Downtown Abbey.” It’s Downton. We Americans butcher everything. Bollocks.

After I unglued my butt from the couch, I managed to clean the house with Rogers today. He is such a good partner and we had this place shining in no time. Josh and Ashley, my brother and sister-in-law, stopped by on their way back from Missouri and had a late lunch with us. I made the Mongolian Beef, Chinese Takeout at Home, that I blogged about recently. Nom nom.

Broseph.

He likes to have pretty women in his life.

Here’s some other random moments from the weekend.

Essie “Tart Deco” – very summery. I may need a support group for my nail polish addiction.

My friend Kim mentioned that her friend said Mabelline Falsies mascara is the greatest thing since sliced bread, if sliced bread went on your eyelashes and made them long and luscious. And since I’m no one to resist peer pressure, I promptly went out and bought some. I have to admit, I quite like it. I also have been applying my mascara wrong for about 15 years. I never knew about the whole “start at the base of your lash and wiggle horizontally back and forth.” What? I like my eyeballs unscathed and tend to keep them that way. This will take some practice.

If you want to witness the “proper” way to apply mascara, PixiWoo does it in this video.

Maybelline Falsies.

I went to McKay’s books and took my Good Reads list with me. I found lots on my list! And one that wasn’t. AH! I love McKay’s. I got 5 books for 28 bucks. A couple of them were more expensive than usual – $10 and $8, but that’s still a bargain.

Can’t wait for some beach reading next week.

I got this adorable shirt called Robot Flirting from Ript Apparel this week. R2D2 giving flowers to a trashcan. Had to have. Ript Apparel has a new t-shirt featured each day by an artist. You can buy it for 24 hours, then it’s gone, never to be purchased again. Odds are, you won’t see someone else walking around with your shirt on. And if you do, you should high-five them because you are both so stylish and sophisticated.

Then I packed for the beach. Oh beach!! Next weekend I’ll be beached.

And since I know you can’t resist the Callie Cat (and since I can’t blog without including her), here you go.

Have a good week, friends! Mine will be hectic trying to wrap up things before vacay. I haven’t taken a whole week off of work in 7 years…that would be “ever since I started the real world.” Crazy. I am going to savor the flavor.

XOXO,
Jenn

What I’m Loving Wednesday

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Jenn

I’m linking up with What I’m Loving Wednesday!

I’m loving my recent Target purchases. How can I spend $90 in there like it’s going out of style, when I just went in for coffee filters?

$3 belt. Yes please.

I’m so in love with this purse. I want to marry it.

I’m LOVING my Adventure Boot Camp every morning with a bunch of amazing women and our trainer, Josh Allen. I bought a Groupon to check out this whole boot camp thing, because I’m enjoying mixing up the ol’ fitness routine lately. I’m on week two – four days a week at 5:30 in the morning. Whew! I’ll do two more days in my third week and then it’s off to the beach soon. I better be beach bod ready by then!

I’m hating the heat that’s set in this week in Tennessee, but loving that it gives me an excuse to not fuss with my long, hot mop on my head. There will be many more of these easy up-dos this summer.

I’m in love with some new music that I bought today – I’ve been iPoding at work lately with my headphones and it makes the workday much more enjoyable.

Do you all know about Graffiti6 yet? You probably have heard “Free” but check out “Annie You Save Me” and “Stare Into the Sun.” OMG I love this band. So easy on the ears AND eyes.

Here’s the whole playlist that I downloaded today.

Lastly – I’m loving this guy:

And this girl!

Happy hump day, friends!

XOXO,
Jenn

Embracing life's extraordinarily ordinary adventures, one step at a time

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