Hello November

How can it be that it is November already???  So October and November are my FAVORITE months of the whole year and I look forward to it all year long.  

I have been like the worst blogger EVER!!  I know it's been like a month since I've posted but life has been cray cray!!  

We are finally getting settled into our apartment and I am loving this view from our porch.  Pumpkin coffee cake + bacon + vanilla latte = AMAZING breakfast with my Love.  I am loving fall but I am NOT ready for Christmas...UGH...Bahhhhh Humbug. 

Celebrated another birthday with the loves of my life.  My sweet hubby turned 30 again this year.  I had a great weekend relaxing with my little fam.  Adam wanted a coffee bar in our apartment so we spent the weekend creating a coffee bar.  So I had to post a picture of our masterpiece.  As you can tell, I love me some RED!  

 

I got the cutest earrings in the mail today!!  A friend recommended this small business online.  These earrings are just adorbs!!  They have plastic backings so my ears won't break out.  Plus she sent a little personalized note to go along with it.  She accidentally sent the acorn instead of the leaves and was really sweet and offered to send me the right pair.  I love buying local and from small business owners.  They are always so amazing!

Friday night I have the night off from work and the hubs is working so I am having a craft/movie/wine night and I am super excited.  I have some empty wine bottles I am going to paint and decorate, along with some wine bottles.  Pictures to follow this weekend! 

Hope everyone has a GREAT rest of the week!  Don't go crazy with Christmas decorations and getting in the spirit already...enjoy NOVEMBER and be Thankful and Grateful! 

Hello Fall!!

Cooler weather is here! This is my absolute favorite time of year...and I can't say that enough.  So we have been super super super busy this past week.  We moved to an AWESOME apartment!  I love having our own space again.  I will be posting pictures of our cute apartment as soon as we get the ugly brown boxes out!!

How cute is my new tervis cup?  I don't really watch football, unless it is my Texas teams.  Gotta support my birth state!  They have really sucked this season so far...but I'm just watching it to look for Matthew McConaughey in the crowd [GUILTY as CHARGED].  We are just ready for hockey to start!

With the hustle and bustle of work, school, and moving I have slacked at the gym..BIG TIME and I have eaten CRAP lately.  Somebody needs to rescue me!!  But no more excuses, it's time to Spark it up, throw my hair up, blast my tunes and get back into the gym.

Also moving with limited help really suckssssss.  My hubby had a case go to trial in court this past week so I ended up doing most of the packing and loading by myself.  #PoliceWifeLife/Probs

Definitely not a happy wife right now.  I knew the life I was getting into by marrying a police officer but that doesn't mean it doesn't suck any less.  I am not very happy with the department he is working for and I am hoping and PRAYING for a change in the upcoming year.

Also I have this to say about the media reporting certain stories about police officers:

Not all police officers are bad and most of them do a lot of good to help people, but those stories never get reported!!

Rant over!

Hope everyone has a good week!!  Pictures of the apartment to come this week so stay tuned

Is it Monday Already?

My weekends off work seem to get shorter and shorter.  I had a fun couple of days with my bae (inside joke as to why I called him that) and some great friends.  Saturday night we had some drinks at Mossy's with Mitch and Sarah.  It was nice to catch up with them and have some fun.  

 Sarah and I had to get a Cosmopolitan because that's what Carrie Bradshaw would've done.  Yea we are a little obsessed with Sex and the City.  The boys don't understand.

So this is Moving Week!!  We move into out apartment starting Wednesday....AHHHHHHHH...I can't wait!  It can't get here soon enough.  I have a lot a lot a lot to do but I am ready to get our own place.  

Its been several months since my hair has been colored and the red still looks vibrant...its because I use salon quality shampoo and conditioner and my stylist is the BOMB!!  For real though she is literally the best person EVER!!!  

I will leave you with some inspiration/motivation for all my Advocare peeps:

This is motto for the week...I will have my hair in a bun and the music cranked up and get our stuff into the apartment. 

Fall is here!!

Yea so I have been a complete slacker on this blog thing.  Life has been CRAZY lately.  I recently went to to 8-hour shifts at work, so I'm basically working like every day and between school and working out I barely have time for sleep.  Plus we are moving into an apartment next week!!

Between the craziness of life, I am NOT gonna let fall slip away from me this year.  This is my ABSOLUTE favorite time of year.  Cooler weather is here and PUMPKIN stuff is everywhere!!  I just got a new shipment from Advocare.  Their pumpkin meal replacement shake is pretty tasty!!  Also I purchased a new shirt that looks like fall and is the Texas Longhorn orange!!  

An Advocare friend turned me on to this concoction:

Hot Orange Spark and Pumpkin Pie Spice is like Fall in a cup!!  I also tried orange Spark and sugar-free apple cider powder and cinnamon.  It was like the bomb dot com!!

Also fall time means Cowboys football games.  Of course my little Molly is a Dallas Cowboys fan.  Oh and look the Cowboys tight end drinks Spark!!  Heck yes!!  I am also following the Longhorns this year....maybe to catch a glimpse of the McConaughey on the sideline  <3 Austin <3

This weekend will be full of packing and getting things cleaned and ready to move.  Now it's time to get to work!!  See yalls later!!

Pumpkin Season Is HERE!

As most of you know, fall is my favorite time of year!  September - November is my favorite months out of the whole year.  Halloween and Thanksgiving are my most favorite holidays EVER!  I so ready to put pumpkin in everything.  This morning I made some breakfast Quinoa with Pumpkin!  It was pretty delicious.  I think next time I will add some Splenda or honey to sweeten it up a little bit.  Here is the recipe I used: 

Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Quinoa

1/2 cup milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)

1/2 cup of water

1/2 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed and drained

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree

2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Pinch of salt

2-4 tablespoons chopped pecans

Directions:

Bring milk and water to a boil in a small to medium sized saucepan.  Add quinoa, cover, reduce heat to simmer, and let cook 15 minutes.  Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.  Uncover and fluff with a fork, then stir in the pumpkin, maple syrup, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.  Taste and adjust any amounts to your liking.  Divide into two bowls (or eat it all if you are a fatty like me).  Top with desired amount of pecans.  

So Adam and I went to the gym last night and had the WHOLE gym to ourselves.  We decided to do a photoshoot since we kinda matched and didn't plan it. 

 Trying to be like Chris and Heidi Powell, doing our side by side "we hot" look.  Would have been better if we didn't smile and had serious looks on our face.  #relationshipgoals  

Some Inspiration for Your Saturday

We made it to the weekend... which means nothing because I am working all weekend.  I actually enjoy my job and I am good at it.  I just really hate being away from Adam when he is off.  Lately we haven't spent much time together.  I am just looking forward to Monday because it is our next day off together.  

The countdown is on...ONE month until we move into our apartment in Winston Salem and I cannot wait!  It's been a LONG eight months with my parents.  Not having our "things" and space really BLOWS!   School has started back and between working at the hospital and fitting in my workouts and meal prep, I have been going non-stop.

I am ready for a change and can't wait to see what the rest of 2015 brings and what is to come in 2016, I am hoping and praying it will be the BEST year yet.  We are in desperate need of change PERIOD!!  We want what's best for each other and our marriage.  Loving this quote by the GREAT Dr. Seuss:

This is probably one of my FAVORITE quotes/statements!!  I truly believe this and have experienced this in my own life.  People will judge you by your actions, not your intentions!  You can say all day that you love me or you care but unless your actions prove it, words mean NOTHING to me.  That's your PSA for the weekend!

Being married to a police officer has definitely made me a stronger, more independent woman.  I don't sugar coat things and I tell people my opinions and beliefs.  I know how dangerous my husband's job is and the types of people and crime he deals with.  He carries a gun and wears a bullet proof vest.  In this day and age being a police officer on the streets is one of the most dangerous jobs out there, especially with all the evil things people do.  This quote by Albert Einstein is sooooo accurate, there are lots of evil in this world but if people don't do anything to stop it things will only get worse.   

Until next time, have a blessed and wonderful weekend!  Enjoy the gorgeous weather we are having. 

What I'm Loving Wednesday (Even though it's Thursday now)

Well it's back to reality...work, school, more work, hustles, and workouts.  Is it okay my mind is still at the bed and breakfast???  Definitely looking forward to Monday which is our next day off together. 

So this is my new favorite thing COTTON CANDY grapes.  Yes you heard me right and they are AMAZEBALLS!!  I am not a grape person (unless its wine hehe) but these grapes are banging.  I froze some of these bad boys with some Green Apple Spark and they were the perfect little treat on these hot, sticky days we've had lately.  I had to throw in a picture of me drinking my kool-aid aka my SPARK!

So this is apart of my wardrobe now and is the perfect workout shirt.  Southern Charm Designs is a business run by a Police Wife and has so many cute things.  I am definitely all about supporting my fellow police wives.  This tank is super cute and super soft!!  Anyways, this girl is tired and it's bedtime so I can get to the grind in a few hours.  Keep it real, yall

Weekend Getaway

We had a great weekend at Pilot Knob Inn.  It was a much needed getaway with my love.  I haven't seen much of him lately.  The weekend wasn't long enough!!  We did a lot of resting and relaxing but we also hiked Pilot Mountain.  We really had a great time hiking.

 

 Saturday night we drove to Cody Creek and ate at the Depot.  It's been a while since we've had this much time together without interruptions.  It just makes me appreciate our time together so much more.  

No Bake Dark Chocolate Coconut Almond Butter Energy Bites

Okay so I ran across this this recipe on Pinterest (are you surprised) and thought I would give it a try.  OMG you must make this like yesterday.  They are literally...AMAZEBALLS!!  Such a tasty and healthy snack.  I see myself making these again, and again, and again!  I thought I would share this amazing recipe.  Here is a pic of my ingredients and yes, if you must know most of it came from Trader Joe's!  

Ingredients:

1½ cups of old fashioned rolled oats

½ cup of ground flax seed

1 tablespoon of black chia seeds

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

⅓ cup of unsweetened coconut flakes

½ cup of raw honey

½ cup of almond butter (I may have used a little more)

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

½ cup of dark chocolate chips

Instructions:

Mix all ingredient together in a large bowl.

Form energy bite mixture into 1" balls and place on parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Cover and place in refrigerator for 2 hours.

Serve!

Doesn't this just look delicious!!  

Sunday Not So Funday

This was a pretty busy Sunday.  Went to church (by myself of course....#LifeOfAPoliceWife), napped with Adam (which was the best sleep/nap ever..best part of the day), made dinner for Adam and I, shopping at Trader Joe's, and meal prep for the week, then late night gym shesh.....shewwwww.  It is going to be a busy week as well.  I work Monday through Thursday and I start school this week.  But I will NOT make excuses for not working out!  I am really excited about next weekend.  My sweet, sweet, amazing husband planned a little getaway to a B&B for some R&R and quality time together.  It is the only thing getting me through this week!!

Just a few pics from what little I had with Adam this weekend:

Had a little trip to Sweet Frog...gotta
have my cake batter and cotton candy
yogurt (yea I'm a kid).

My pre-workout must...Spark and Catalyst

Adam bought me this shirt and I LOVE it
Pizza is like my soulmate 

Now I want PIZZA but here is a snap of our dinner
Southwestern Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
and grilled chicken!!

Here is a little motivation for your Monday!

Finally Friday

Finally it's the freaking weekend...which means nothing to me because the hubs is working the next 4 nights so seeing him is going to be impossible.   Blah blah blah, story of a police wife!  

Anyway, I received a new Advocare product this week and I introduce Coffeccino,  Coffeccino is a chocolate/coffee drink that provides almost the same effect that the Spark does.  It's not terrible, but it's not like the creamy coffee I use to drink but it's a good substitute.  Of course I mixed mine with unsweetened almond milk and it was delish.  

Lunch yesterday was a Trader Joe's turkey burger and sweet potato fries, and grilled asparagus.  OMG this was delicious, colorful and kept us full for a while!

The past 3 nights I have had to work and prepared lunch and dinner every night but yesterday Adam didn't have to work.  The sweet man that he is made me dinner which was Fajitas and Quinoa and it was delicious.  He brought me dinner and also brought my sweet baby dog to see me!  

Friday aka Monday for Adam.  Between our work schedules the next 6 days, we won't be able to see each other much.  Yea that pretty much sucks, but I am counting down the days until next Friday.  We have a whole weekend together with no work or hustles.

So I haven't posted a before gym picture in a while.  This picture was taken back in April before I started working out everyday and eating a straight clean diet.  

This was taken today at the gym.  I am down 12 pounds and 2 dress sizes and feel the best I have ever felt.  I am able to run faster on the treadmill and I can feel myself getting stronger after lifting weights. I'm not stopping now!  OMG this song is my new favorite cardio, treadmill running, song...it is a very motivating song and if it is not on your workout playlist...it should be!!