reflections

Happy Halloween – Throwback Ed.

| The Bee Life

In honor of Halloween, I wanted to share a few throwbacks from Halloween pasts.  Apparently I liked keeping my costumes simple – so I frequently did repeat costumes (more than I realized!) like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, I think it’s because I liked the ruby slippers so much!  I also recycled the 50’s poodle skirt girl in Pre-K and 3rd grade and then my Miss America costume was a hit in first grade and then repeated with an old prom dress my senior year of high school (not pictured!)

I’ve definitely had a few years that were not so hot and filled with extra chubby cheeks!  But the fun part for our Halloween costumes growing up is a lot of times we did the DIY route (before DIY was a thing) or found vintage clothes for the look.  Lately, the occasions for when B and I need to dress up for Halloween lately have been few and far between — but our last two decent costumes were Amy & Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory and Jim and Pam from The Office but that was even 2-years ago!

Did you ever repeat a Halloween costume? I want to know if I’m the only one, comment below!

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Fitness Friday 10.18

| The Bee Life

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, I thought I would switch up my typical Fitness Friday and share some helpful information around breast cancer, ways to be screened and other considerations to help prevent your chances of getting cancer.
Fitness Friday 10.18 - bee life blog
Knowing Your History.  This can be the difference of someone being an average risk to a high risk of having cancer.  Know your family history, whether it’s someone who has had invasive breast cancer or BRCA 1/2 gene mutation, especially if they’re a first relative.  If you have a family history your breast cancer screenings can start as early as 26 vs. an average risk person starting at 40.

Make Healthy Choices. These may seem like a big DUH, but how we treat our body and what we put into our body can greatly affect how we run!  All of these things that can prevent cancer may seem a bit obvious, avoiding use of tobacco, increased physical actively, working out regularly,  sun protection, and healthy diet choices are among the few.  Sometimes it seems like cancer will be unavoidable, but we can at least strive to make healthy decisions and actively avoid things we know are obvious cancer causers (tobacco – sun – etc.)

Check Your Body. Being aware of your body is important, whether it’s providing self exams to check your breasts for lumps or abnormalities or being aware of potential sun spots that may have not been there before.  It’s important to know your body so you can listen to your body and know when something might be off.  When in doubt, have it checked out my your physician.

Go to the Doctor. Maintaining your annual visits to your primary care physician and OBGYN can help mediate risks and also keep you on track for clinical breast exams – which should occur every three years starting at the age of 20, until it’s time to start receiving mammograms.

As a board member on a local organization that helps provide emergency financial assistance to women actively receiving breast cancer treatment who cannot afford life necessities – the risks of breast cancer are prevalent.   With that comes heart wrenching stories of those who lost the fight (like a 38-year old mom of two, who died within a year of being diagnosed), although it also allows for a lot of inspiring stories of those who’ve beat it.  Another sobering moment recently that hit home is my cousin who is my age going through preventative surgery as she has the BRCA gene mutation.  It’s something we can easily forget about, unless we know someone directly affected – so it’s good to stay informed and aware!

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Sources: Susan G. Komen – High Risk & Self Awareness| Mayo Clinic – Preventing Cancer | 

Ten Things – 2018

| The Bee Life

Three years ago I shared ten things to help my readers get to know a little more about me – it was funny reading it back and looking at how I would answer now. So I thought it was time for an update and another little intro to any new bee readers. So please enjoy these ten things about me, oh and I’ve included my 2015 answers just for fun!
Meet the Bee
1. If money was no object, what’s something you’d buy right now.
2015: My own personal gym.
2018: A vacation or four… maybe a sports car.

2. Spring vs. Fall?
2015: Fall – clam bakes, sweaters, pumpkins, coffee, jeans, scarfs, cool runs… shall I continue?
2018: Still fall. ❤

3. What’s on your nightstand?
2015: Pictures of me and B and my glasses.
2018: Lamp, ring holder, small vase with flowers, coaster & water glass

4. What’s your favorite room in your house?
2015: Our sunroom!
2018: Although our sunroom is still a gem, my new favorite room is our master suite (it was not finished in 2015!) … and our basement makeover (reveal coming soon!)

5. If you could have lunch with anyone in the world, who would it be?
2015: Too many choices…. it’s a toss up between Derek Jeter and Katy Perry
2018: This one is tough, maybe some Bravo reality stars? RHOBH or Vanderpump!

6. Name one thing on your bucket list.
2015: Sky dive with B
2018: Travel to Europe

7. What’s the best vacation you’ve taken?
2015: Jackson Hole w/ B and my parents! The company makes all the difference.
2018: Our honeymoon to Palm Desert was a pretty great vacation

8. Congratulations, you just won an all expenses paid trip to…
2015: Ireland & Germany
2018: Lake Como & Greece

9. Backyard BBQ or Formal Dinner?
2015: Formal dinner – I love getting dressed up, and sitting around the table sharing stories, good laughs and a bottle of wine.
2018: Same! But I do love a good meal out on the patio on a summer night.

10. What advice would you give your teen self?
2015: There is a much bigger world out there; explore it as much as possible, and even if you break away – there is still a bigger world beyond that.
2018: Don’t let silly people affect you to the point of insecurities or anxiety – they do not define you, and there is a world of people out there that won’t tear you down.

Some of these were tough to answer again! But it’s fun to reflect on these ten things, as life and the world seems to move too fast.  Have a question you want me to answer? Leave a comment below!

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Birthday Reflections

| The Bee Life

Another wonderful year has come and gone, and I’m looking straight into the eyes of 28. Eek! So in order to celebrate and share, here is a hodgepodge of 28 things about me, things I learned about myself this past year and inspiration for my new year!
23
Here we go!!

  1. I will always love birthday cake.
  2. The Wizard of Oz was my favorite movie as a kid #rubyslippers
  3. Every year I would get a ‘Nancy’ cake and they were usually Disney princess themed growing up
  4. I love champagne, but it’s also one of the only alcoholic beverages that agrees with my stomach
  5. Hidden Talent: Dog Whisperer
  6. I am an avid scrapbooker and started in high school – I probably have about 10 and counting large 12×12 scrapbooks
  7. I hope to get more into interior design this year with projects beyond my own home
  8. When I golf, I only need 3-clubs: a driver, iron and putter and I’m not that bad
  9. Crafty especially in the homemade card department
  10. I prefer to cook without a recipe, but baking, recipe needed
  11. I have two godmother’s, but no godfather.
  12. This past year I learned I can go without eating pizza for months!
  13. I can recite The Wedding Singer, line for line, among many other movies…
  14. Dancing is one of my favorite things to do
  15. I’m really good at games; Scrabble, Cards, Connect 4, Wii Bowling (sitting), you name it… bring it on!
  16. Vanilla frosting, vanilla cake, rainbow sprinkles
  17. Fruit and desserts are two food groups I could live off of
  18. When I was little, I swallowed a plum pit, because I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to eat it!
  19. I have a super high pain threshold
  20. This past year I learned I am stronger than I think I am
  21. Pink and gold are my favorite colors
  22. Growing up my dream job was to be a CIA agent, like Sydney Bristow
  23. I love fast cars, like Lamborgini’s and Ferrari’s
  24. My Starbucks order started as a Carmel Frappuccino, I now order Red Eyes
  25. B and I were both characters from Wizard of Oz for Halloween, multiple years
  26. I don’t like going to the movies
  27. I wish I could’ve known my grandpa
  28. I dream of the mountains

It was really hard to think of 28-things because I didn’t want to overshare, but I also didn’t want to bore you! Did I miss something that you’re dying to know? Leave a comment and I’ll be sure to answer!

Cheers!

Life After Wedding

| The Bee Life

Let’s keep the love train going! This weekend, B and I will be celebrating our 2-year proposal anniversary!! Yah, I know it’s a little obnoxious to celebrate every little anniversary or moment – but that’s what makes life special! And we always love an excuse to drink champagne and order Chipotle.

It’s crazy to think it’s been 2-years since we started this new journey of being engaged, wedding planning, and now living life married! After the wedding and all the holiday crazy, I had a weird lull – as I know many brides tend to have – where I kept asking myself; “Now what do I do?” We were consumed for almost 2-full years of planning, meetings, parties, and more planning for one single perfect day… and now it’s all over!  I loved planning our wedding, I would do it again, but our day was also so perfect and special I’d never want to replace it.
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So back to the question, now what? Well, we need to figure out a few trips this year, we have some ideas but nothing is finalized yet, we went on 4-trips last year, and I want to keep that up.  We are also figuring out and prioritizing house projects that have been on the list for the last 3-years… *smiles* … so looking forward to those, since that is something we both enjoy doing. Also, just continuing to experience more things together like more of our city, new foods, new adventures with friends and family and new hobbies.

I am also in the process of scrapbooking our wedding, which means I’ll continue to swoon over all of our gorgeous pictures, randomly post one or two now and then on instagram (or here!) and this lull will quickly turn into getting back on track to a normal life! A normal, beautiful life with B.

XOX

Local Love: Yogatta Give Back

| The Bee Life

Today’s local love is spotlighting one of my favorite local businesses which combines yoga and giving back to the community.   The founder, Danielle, also happens to be a dear friend and it’s been so impressive what she’s been able to accomplish having just started Yogatta Give Back this past June. In seven months YGB has supported 15-local non-profits and has participated in 4-neighborhood clean-ups.
Local Love - Yogatta Give Back - the bee life
What I love the most about Yogatta Give Back is you’re not only taking care of your own body, mind and soul, but you’re also contributing and giving back to your own local community in the process. Giving back is something I always have on my list of to-do’s but don’t always find a way for it to fit in regularly, with events offered weekly, I can refine my yoga skills AND give back on a routine basis to local organizations.

Classes vary from donations being monetary (and often built into the class fee) or specific to the non-profit from canned goods, to school supplies, or simply picking up trash.  In the warmer months, classes take place in various locations like rooftop patios, local parks or community centers. In these cooler months, Danielle leads practice in historic fire houses or partnering facilities.  With classes held multiple times throughout the week, the opportunities to practice yoga and give back are endless!

You can learn more about Yogatta Give Back; here and also be sure to check  out Facebook and Instagram!

My 2018 Goals

| The Bee Life

It’s that time of the (new) year again! Time to check-in with our 2017 goals, see where were netted out and set goals for the coming year.  I kicked my 2017 goals’ asses, every single one of them – so figuring out goals for this coming year was a little tricky, especially since I want to continue to challenge myself yet make achievable goals.
2018 Goals - the bee life
Maintain my fitness routine.  I finally reached and exceeded goals this past year, so now I need to maintain and continue to become my best self! I feel so good and confident with myself, I want to maintain that feeling – I want to maintain this through my bootcamp classes and running a few races, maybe another half?

Travel out of the country. And get a passport! Yup. Never had one, need to get one so we can start crossing off bucket list trips. In addition to <hopefully> traveling out of the country, we’d like to explore some more/new cities.

Listen more. I often find myself being distracted with my surroundings or my own thoughts in my head – making a conscious effort to listen more, engage and remember conversations is definitely something I need to work on.  This includes shutting down digitally!

Get out. Of the house! Go to local events, take a road trip, learn new things, visit friends, go to concerts and games, takes classes, go out dancing… have new experiences!

These are just the starting points for my 2018 goals as I’ll continue to reflect and challenge myself this year. One of the keys of having a successful year, is not only reflecting on your goals, but writing them down!

Cheers to another year of new possibilities!

Fitness Friday 12.17

| The Bee Life

Wow! I can’t believe it’s December and the last month of 2017. It’s been a life changing year, both physically and personally. I wanted to reflect on this year’s fitness journey and reading posts from each month’s Fitness Friday. I wasn’t in a good place physically or mentally at the start of the year, I wasn’t happy with my job and that was bleeding into my personal life, and how I took care of myself.  And I knew it was a problem, and I continued to make strides, get a new job and started taking care of myself. This time last year I was living in yoga pants and tights because my jeans wouldn’t fit – and now my jeans are loose!
Fitness Friday 12.17 - the bee life
Here is what I learned about myself this past year;

  • Don’t give up. I worked hard for 7-8 months with seeing limited results in inches and BMI, I still was the same number on the scale, but I was feeling better and I was determined even in the moments doubt.
  • Diet is just as important. As your workout routine, it wasn’t until I finally cut down – with the many thanks and help to B, on all the carbs and crap that the pounds flew off.  Beyond that, portions were limited and breakfast options were much improved and burgers were ordered without buns, subbing fries for side salad.  B and I made smarter choices, and held each other accountable and sometimes I did eat a cookie!
  • I am strong. And I can push myself. I started with only being able to do 10 or 15lbs weights depending on the exercise and now I am up to 20-25 in hand weights and 35lbs in kettle bells. I can do boy push-ups, and I can endure more than I thought, I’ve grown.
  • Don’t go back. This is the most important, and the easiest one to erase, because I was here and I went back – and I came out again.  And I don’t ever want to go back.
  • Make the investment. I got over the monetary cost it takes to help me achieve my goals, give me a place to challenge and push myself, and have my time to focus on me.
  • It’s a journey. Eleven months of a journey, and it doesn’t stop here. Just because I’m at my goal weight doesn’t mean I can stop or will. Life changes, schedules change and it’s constantly adjusting and continuing the journey to success.

I feel good. I am happy. I am focused. I achieved my goals, but I also need to maintain my goals, and I will. I’ve learned the balance and effort that needs to be made to be my best me, and that has been the best part of it all.

Cheers to a healthy 2017!

#EmnBWed – The Final Update

| The Bee Life

In case I have any avid bee readers out there – yes, I’m still getting married, and no, we haven’t gotten married yet! But it’s happening, and it’s happening very soon! I figured I would fill you all in with the latest and greatest, but keeping in bee fashion and not spilling too many deets of the big day.IMG_4765So about a month ago, we hit a few hiccups – and I’m only sharing in case any other brides are reading and have experienced the same thing; and I’m sure many have experienced much worse.  All of the following hit at once; B started a new job, B lost his voice and was diagnosed with a paralyzed vocal cord (still happening, 5-weeks strong), the electric in our garage magically stopped working ($$$), my debit account got hacked and drained my savings account – thank you overdraft, oh and our DJ mentioned he was declaring bankruptcy.   We rallied through most of these and as mentioned, B is still working through the whole paralyzed vocal cord diagnosis, which is pretty crazy, since one day within a few hours he just couldn’t talk. Our awesome and super handy neighbor was able to help us through the garage electrical drama and saved us the money and headaches we would’ve had to manage had we gone the contractor route. And we’re learning to have a little faith with our DJ. But woah, was it a lot, all at once.

So now that hopefully the worse is behind us… here are all the things I’m most excited for, and I think B would probably agree about most after our recent chats.

  • Seeing the reception venue all set-up and all the tables put together – it has all been a vision in my head for well over a year… and I can’t wait to see it all put together.
  • Walking down the aisle to B and seeing him all done up in his suit!
  • My Father/Daughter dance – it’s going to be a tear jerker but that’s all I’m saying.
  • Dancing the night away with B, our family and friends.
  • Eating MY wedding cake and drinking champagne!
  • Finally being B’s wife!

The details have come together quite nicely, there are still a few things to do on the list but nothing crazy it’ll only be a matter of time before I’m straight butterflies, complete ADD, and ready to walk down that aisle to my husband!

Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to share all the details and a behind the scenes look on the blog later this month!

Until then! XO!

Photo Credit: Timothy Logan Photography