Happy Happy Happy

What a busy week it's been around here.  I've been so busy at work that I have hardly had time to read all the blogs that I link up with during the week.  Our pool is opening this weekend, but--of course--it's going to RAIN all weekend.  I hope to see the sun a little bit, but at least the next two weeks are short work weeks. 

Today is all about what makes me happy and I also incorporate my gratitude, too.  This is a great link up with Kenzie at Chasing Happy.  I invite you to join us!

What makes me happy this week:

*  I have a job I love, co-workers I love, and a boss I love.

*  My husband--he power-washed the patio and it is now perfect for relaxing in the afternoon.

*  My father-in-law for letting me borrow a car while mine has been in the shop all week.

*  The wonderful bloggers that share their stories with me, make me laugh, and keep me motivated.

*  My family--our Mother's Day dinner was fun, chaotic and yummy.

*  My brother--he has a the biggest heart and is such a kind person.  His thoughtfulness made me smile this week.

*  I have a roof over my head and food in my pantry.

*  My doggies

*  Meg--I don't know how we made it through the winter without our 3-mile therapy sessions!

*  The sunshine--we've had a week full of sun!

*  Music--music gets me through my day.  I listening to music ALL day while I'm at work and it just keeps me motivated.  I guess my co-workers are lucky I'm not putting on my own Karaoke concert in my cube.  LONG LIVE ROCK-N-ROLL!

What are your Pieces of Happy?

Okay, so if you read my blog on Wednesday, you know I'm soliciting votes for my friend, Kate.  Please go and vote for her.  You can vote daily and there are only 4 more days.  You can vote HERE.  Thanks!

Happy Friday, y'all!

xoxo,

Laurie

NSV #8

The weekend is in sight and I am once again ready for it!

It's also that time again to celebrate our NSV's.  I'm linking up with Katie and Lex for this powerful link up that has brought so much support to so many women working hard to get healthy.  Each week I meet more and more women through this link up.  It is amazing the friends I've made through this one-day-a-week post.

Too many of us base our success just on the number we see on the scale, but there is so much more to it! All the little changes we make are helping us make a healthier lifestyle. Whether you lost weight this week or not, let's celebrate your non-scale victories! So whether you said no to that birthday cake in the office, ran a 5k, or tracked your food every day this week. . . it is time to celebrate! 

I thought I would have MORE exciting news, but I'm still slow and steady.  I'm eating so-so healthy.  That means for the most part, I have been doing well.  I'm off bread right now and I'm working my way back to getting off sugar.  I also got outside over the weekend and got myself back out walking and shuffling just a bit--6 miles worth over a two days.  I was hoping to get out in the morning this week, but my two designated days weren't working with me.  Lack of a good night's sleep and then an upset tummy were contributing factors.  I think the biggest victory is that I haven't given up and gone back to eating crap all the time.  My food selection could certainly use a little overhaul, but for the most part, I'm happy and working my way back to being healthier than I have in years.

Happy Lil' Friday, y'all!

xoxo,

Lauri

Vote for Kate!

I am using my social media to the fullest this week to help my friend, Kate, win the opportunity to sing God Bless America at one of the NASCAR races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.  I'm here in a shameless tactic plea to solicit your vote, too.  To put this into perspective, she's got 87 votes so far, but the person in first place has over 2000 votes right now.  We need your vote!
I promise, when you hear her sing, you'll want her to win, too.  A little background for you, Kate and her family grew up just up the block from us.  She comes from a big family and has three siblings (like me).  They are lots of fun (like my family).  And seriously....the woman has got some pipes.  Her video brought tears to my eyes and made me feel so patriotic.  Check her out and vote HERE. You scroll to the bottom, watch the video, put the answer in the box for the addition problem, and click VOTE.  

It appears you can vote daily and I have voted from work and home.

It's easy and I really appreciate it!

Kate and my Baby Sister

You've got 5 days to vote.  What are you waiting for?

Go HERE to vote!

And TELL YOUR FRIENDS, too!

Happy Hump Day!

xoxo,

Laurie

Spring Training 5K Challenge

Good morning!  I am having another tough morning.  I did not sleep much last night and really wish I could stay in bed today.  I have far too much to do at work to stay home, though.  I am happy to be linking up with Katie J for Spring Training today.  It won't be long before it will be time to run a virtual 5K with all of these fabulous ladies.  No to mention that summer is right around the corner--though yesterday was slightly fall-like. At least the sun was shining!

The goal of this challenge is to get moving. No matter how much or how little you can do you can participate. Linkup and share a fitness related post. If you've started walking, running, swimming. . .tell us how you've started to get moving! At the end of the challenge we will be running/walking a virtual 5k together on June 1st!!!

I am happy to report that I got in 6 miles this weekend.  3 Saturday and 3 Sunday.  It felt great and I was glad to find that I still had endurance to do what I needed to do.  I was supposed to get up this morning, but I tossed and turned all night and I just couldn't pull myself out of bed at 5:30.  I feel like I woke up every hour.  I even went to bed by 9:30.  I am in need of some deep sleep, that's for sure.  If I feel good when I get home this afternoon, I may get out and get my 3 in today.  I feel so much better when I can get out and move.  I sleep better, too!

While my hip is still a little sore, I know once I'm able to purchase a new pair of running shoes that this will correct itself.  My Brooks are due for a replacement and I'm hoping I can do this in June.  My Jeep needed lots of TLC this month, so my new shoe fund went towards her.

I hope you've had a great week of training!

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo,

Laurie

Monday Monday

Another weekend in the books.  I'm suffering from a Benedryl hangover this morning.  My allergies were bothering me last night, so I knew I would not get a good night's sleep without the help of a Benedryl to stop the runny nose and itchy eyes.  I'm better this morning, but still stuffy.

Our weekend was productive and fun.  We had a low key weekend of preparing the patio for summer.  Just a few more things (mostly plants) to be put into place and it will be the perfect space.

We spent Sunday with our mom's...his mom at lunchtime and with my family for dinner at my sister's house.  She was so kind to host since it was also her anniversary.  We had lots of fun with everyone, especially our mothers.
My afternoon between spending time with our mother's consisted of John Hughes movies and a cat nap.  I was thrilled to find The Breakfast Club, from the beginning, on AMC.  Little did I know it would quickly be followed by Sixteen Candles.  WIN WIN!  I had forgotten how serious some of the teenage angst topics were in TBC and how hot Jake Ryan was back in the day.  I had to leave for dinner halfway through Sixteen Candles.  I'm sure I'll catch it again soon, though.

I hope you had the chance to enter the collaborative giveaway for the Starbucks gift card and nail polish. We are happy to announce our winner:  Congratulations, Karen!

We appreciate everyone who entered!

I'm linking up today, as usual, with Bre and Leeann.  Join us, won't you?  Lots of great blog reads!

Happy Monday!

xoxo,

Laurie

Happy Mother's Day

I thought about doing a post called "What is a mom?" and then I realized that it would be easier to ask, "What isn't a mom?"  The answer:  Dad.

Thank you, mom.....for everything.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Sunday!

xoxo, 

Laurie

Brother's Birthday Weekend Recap

Well, a week later, I finally have time to recap a whirlwind weekend of fun, family, and friends.  I hope my brother enjoyed his 40th birthday as much as I did!  It was full of laughter and music and horses and hats and cake and ice cream and pictures and beer and bets and well, just about anything fun you can think of.  Pardon the blurry pictures...my camera is officially 10 years old.  Yeah..I know.

My family came over on Friday night and we had cake.  I did not have time to take any pictures from that night, but it was fun and loud with all the kids.  My nephew, who is 4 and half--really he's almost 5--likes to have "surprise" parties, so we all hid and jumped out when my brother arrived.  It was quite funny.

Saturday night, the party was set at Blue rock Pizza and Tap.  It's my brother's favorite place.  They have awesome pizza and great brews on tap.  They even had a special sign made just for his birthday.

 My brother, donning his derby hat, or what I call the Panama Jackass hat.  I'm sure he and his BFF are having an interesting conversation.

 Pizza and beer and nachos--Oh My!

 Panama and our baby sister posing for a quick selfie.

 Some of the best music in the world from Benji and Johnny aka Turpentine Shine!

Baby Sis and her Hubs--they were THE cutest dressed Derby Couple.

 If I posted ALL of the photos that Baby Sis and BFF Trix took of themselves--it would be an entire post by itself.  I think they just started taking pictures and lost track of time...alcohol does that to people.

 Of course, I did get in on the action!

 We did manage to snap a respectable picture of the four of us.

And don't worry....we had cake, too!

It was a ton of fun and I thank my Baby Sis for some of the photos shown here (the ones that aren't blurry). 

Brother, we hope you had a great time--because we sure did!

Happy Saturday!

xoxo,

Laurie