Our Screened In Porch

Ty and I moved into our first home last August and we immediately had the idea of screening in our porch.  We already had a covered patio, so screening it in should be easy, right? Well, props to Ty and my Nana and Pa who made this all happen. They also had great helpers along the way including my Dad and some of Ty's friends - thank you all!  We finished the porch in early November so we didn't have much time to enjoy it before it became bitter cold.  Fast forward to now... We've been hard at work cleaning, decorating and getting this gem of a porch ready for spring!  We finally finished all of our tidying and decorating this weekend.

Our screened in porch is one of our favorite aspects of our house by a mile! I never considered us DIYers but my husband is slowly showing me he can do just about anything... :)

Before

This is a picture right before they started building, and this is how the porch looked when we moved in.

No lie... This is how our porch looked all winter. It was too cold to be outside for very long and I wanted to brainstorm the possibilities for decorating...

After

Ty also built this fountain inside of our porch. Go Hubs Go!

We are in love with our new space and have pretty much lived out here since getting everything finished. There's nothing like working on your first house and accomplishing a big project together!

The Perfect Protein Shake

So, this whole working out + eating healthy thing does something to your body. It makes you lose weight.  Well, losing weight wasn't my intention but it happened. In an effort to make sure I consume enough calories, I started adding in a protein shake. I never dreamed it would taste like something straight from heaven.

I searched the internet and combined a couple of recipes and this is what I got:

The Perfect Protein Shake

1 banana
1 cup fat-free milk
1 scoop of Peanut Butter Chocolate Whey Protein Powder (from Walmart)

1/2 TBS. peanut butter (I like the Smart Balance kind)

4 ice cubes

Put all ingredients in a blender and mix for 30 seconds.  Pour into a glass and enjoy! 

This amount filled my mason jar up perfectly to the top!

This shake tastes almost exactly like the Peanut Paradise smoothie from Tropical Smoothie. If I was blind-folded, there is no way I would be able to tell the difference.

Fitness: New Workout Clothes

Shopping is one of the things that I do very best.  I can shop for anything... clothes, shoes, make-up, house decorations, nail polish, shampoo and even buying new workout clothes gets me excited.  In fact, it's amazing what new workout clothes does for your motivation.  The other day I was in Old Navy getting my nephew some birthday gifts and I happened to swing through their active section and was pleasantly surprised at all of the goodies.  Here's what I picked up...

These tanks are my new favorite workout tops. They are loose and comfortable. I love that they are not skin tight..  who wants a skin tight shirt at the gym? Not me. I got the neon yellow and a bright coral.

I love compression pants for working out... I like the way they hold you in and feel snug. These will be my spring staples for workout bottoms.  They come in bright, cheerful colors that will make working-out easier. I promise!

I also got an adorable, light-weight pull over hoodie.  I cannot find it online.  It was on sale and only $15.00.  I recommend you check your store because it is so worth it.  It's the perfect pull over for night time walks.

When it comes to workout clothes, you really only need a couple of good bottoms that are versatile in color and season.  I prefer to have more tops that I can mix and match with neutral bottoms.  If you're in a work out slump, stop by Old Navy and pick yourself up some new things.

The biggest thing that I've learned with workout clothes is that you don't have to spend a lot of money.  My top three places I buy from are: Old Navy, Target and T.J. Maxx. I even found my current tennis shoes from T.J. They are New Balance and have held up great, but I do have my eye on these...

Have a fabulous week!

30 Day Shred Post 1

Happy Wednesday!  This week is flying by and I totally love that we only have two more work days until the weekend. Ty and I celebrated this by eating Mexican tonight at one of our favorite local places.  We decided a weekly Mexican fix on Wednesdays was necessary from now on.

So, I said I was going to take measurements and better pictures.  Have I? Nope. Not at all. I put it off and now I'm half way through with the 30 Day Shred DVD and it seems silly to take measurements this far into it.  What I can tell you is this...

I love the 30 Day Shred DVD.  After completing Ripped in 30, the first week of 30 Day Shred felt like a nice, easy week.  It made me happy as I felt challenged but it didn't totally kick my tail like Ripped in 30 did most of the time. I'm now finishing up Week 2 on 30 Day Shred and it is definitely challenging and a great workout. I really cannot say enough good things. Jillian's DVDs are so easy to follow and I love that about them.

I ordered her brand new workout DVD a few weeks ago and I'm dying to try it...

I was going to do this DVD after 30 Day Shred, but I think I will start doing 1/2 of my workouts with the Shred and 1/2 of them using Hard Body.  Hard Body isn't a 30 day challenge- it has two 45 minute workouts that I want to start doing several days a week (mainly when the Shred is over).

I apologize for being a major failure with pictures and measurements.  But, let's be real, nobody really reads this blog of mine anyway. So, it's probably not causing anyone to lose sleep. ;)

I do have a before/after picture that I took of my stomach.  The picture on the left was right around January 12 (when I began working out) and the picture on the right was taken 2 weeks ago.  I'm thinking I lost about 1 inch off of my waist as I have had to go down a size in pants.  That wasn't my goal but Jillian's DVDs make you very lean.

Arm Progress. 

Thank you, Jillian, for kicking my butt everyday.  Really, it's awesome.

What I'm Loving

I'm feeling way slightly stressed with work right now (please say a prayer) and when I'm stressed I have a few different outlets I reach towards: shopping, exercising and writing.  It's amazing what all three of these things can do for one's spirit.  I cannot go into much depth about what is stressful but I could just scream.  This is what is on repeat in my head right now: I will make it until May 24th, I know I will. Deep Breath.

I'm also a worry wart and this does nothing but make everything seem worse. Moving on to happier topics.

I'm a total product junkie.  I love to try anything and everything that has to do with make up, toiletries, hair care, nail polish, etc.  Lately, I have tried oodles of products that are making it onto my "can't live without" list.  Let's discuss these things, shall we?

Hair

This is not a new product for me as I've been using it for 2 years now.  I used to switch shampoo and conditioner each time I ran out of a bottle.  Then, I discovered Wella.  Life change.  I use the Brilliance line which is for coarse, color-treated hair.  The smell is divine and it works wonders in all aspects.

I must have a detangler to function.  My hair is major coarse and tangles easily.  When I get done washing my hair, I spritz this all over and then use a wide-toothed comb.  It makes brushing so easy and also is supposed to be healthy for your hair.  So far, I love it.  I think it does smooth my frizzy mop.

I read about this in a magazine and picked it up the other night on a Walgreens run.  After combing my hair, I apply two pumps of this to my hair concentrating on the ends.  Today, I blew dry my hair and then just added a few loose curls and went with it.  I'm loving the beauty balm so far!

Make-Up

I am in love with Mary Kay's Timewise Luminous-Wear Liquid Foundation.  It provides great coverage for all day and leaves skin with a pretty glow.  If you're looking for a new foundation, I recommend you try this out.  The foundation doesn't have SPF, so I apply this first...

Mary Kay Foundation Primer with SPF 15.  

I bought the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion this week and I'm hooked.  It is a little pricey, but so worth it.  I can tell such a difference in how my shadow applies and stays on throughout the day.

I typically am not one to like super pink lips.  I'm more of a neutral person.  However, all of these bright colors this season are making me fall in love with pink.  I bought this at Sephora and cannot quit wearing it.  I've worn it everyday since and it even has a slight glitter to it.  It's their Jumbo Glossy Lip Pencil in Pink.

These Mary Kay Creme Eye Shadows are amazing.  They apply great and wear well throughout the day.  The creams are perfect by themselves or under your favorite eye shadows.  I have the dark, bronze one and the light gold.

Skin Care

I'm using the entire Mary Kay Botanical Effects line right now. I love each product in the line and feel super refreshed after each use. My two favorites are the moisturizer and freshen spray!

Nails

 Essie - Lady Like.  The perfect blush/nude color.

For the days you are feeling more rowdy, grab Maybelline's Color Show in Pinkalicious.  I picked this up tonight while grocery shopping and couldn't wait to get it on my nails.  It's the prettiest, girly pink for summer.  I really am falling in love with pink.  Next on my list, pink skinny jeans like these...

Tell me, what are you loving right now?