Friday 5 :)

Hooray! It's finally FRIDAY!! :) :) Today I'm celebrating the top 5 moments of my week.


[ONE.]

My dad always, always knows when I need a text to encourage. He sends the best Bible verses or he just knows how to make my day. Today was one of these days, where I got this text from him. He is seriously the best dad and his encouragement is always appreciated. :)


[TWO.]

I am in LOVE with my Target Beauty Box. Due to the fact that I am in student loan repayment, I cannot afford or justify getting an ipsy or Birchbox monthly subscription -- I am absolutely in LOVE with these boxes from Target. Each one is $5 - free shipping. This box is my 2nd, and included products from Dove, Shea Moisture & a coupon for $3 off $15. Will be redeeming that this weekend for more makeup!

With these boxes coming out every few months, I always stock up when they come out as they sell out ULTRA fast. They also make perfect gifts. :)



\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


[THREE.]

 At the beginning of the month, I got two really incredible birthday gifts. My 30th birthday is 7 DAYS from tomorrow. I am SO excited. :) :) Anywho, this month I got to pay off my smallest student loan, so I only have 2 left & they are beasts. My second gift: celebrating my health. I've been part of the JessicaSmithTV Community. She's a certified fitness trainer through YouTube and I love her workouts. I've been stocking up on her DVD's but my husband's gift for my birthday was her newest 30 Day Walk On challenge. I finished Day 15 last night and I love this DVD set. I'm still making a decent dent on my weight loss and these DVDs are a perfect add on to my daily workouts. :)

So this is definitely been a journey for the past year. I am on track to my #size9progress & my future self is definitely thanking me. I am so close. :)

[FOUR.]


I am not a Pumpkin Spice fan but I do love me some candy corn/pumpkin. I definitely treated myself to some last weekend. I am seeing more in my future which is ironic but I definitely don't eat 80 lbs at once. I love this time of year because its everywhere. :)

This particular one is Sea Salt Chocolate. I found it at Target and it is delicious. I bought more than I should but I am saving some for the fall holidays when I need a boost. YAY.



[FIVE.]

Sometimes you need inspiration so you don't eat everything in sight. This is me with dark chocolate lately. I used to hate it and sometimes I just want cake but I found this the other night & I laughed for 10 minutes. ;)

Almost like Ryan Gosling cares about my #size9goal & wants me to keep hitting it hard.

Thanks for stopping by. I am in so much need of sleeping in or a nap. Disney plans on Saturday, World of Beer date night Sunday, catching up on SCANDAL and getting some OT this weekend. :)

Our Adventure updates.. of sorts.

Hello again.

As Central Florida has promised, the weather and humidity is trying to make me glow with sweat at 7am. It is truly an attractive image. Google Orlando weather and you'll be empathizing with me.

Last month, my husband & I celebrated 4 magical years together being married. We celebrated with 4Rivers and it was incredible. Next year is our 5th & we're hoping for big celebrations.



 other adventures.

Game night with family & catching Minions in theaters opening weekend. We don't have kids yet, and at first the only couple without any but no regret on my end. My husband was imitating 'Barney Stinson' from How I Met Your Mother. ;)

                          


                          


Other than that - at the end of June - I had a work injury that scratched me up pretty bad. Slip n sliding on concrete is never recommended. Hurt myself & my pride.

& as of late - i've been having starbucks dates + supporting my future pro basketball sister.

                            
                         

                             

Tomorrow - we're having our first #CelebrateRobinWilliams tribute movie night in honor of the late actor who changed our lives with his movies. I am pretty sure we're watching Mrs Doubtfire to kick this annual tradition of ours off. Tomorrow is his birthday and surely I hope he is at peace. :) -- J

                                 
 

A D V E N T U R E S.

Hello! Happy New Year. Hope 2015 has started off well for you. Thankfully I've been on vacation this whole week to usher in the New Year w/my best half. :)

We spent our NYE at home, surrounded by 4Rivers BBQ. That was our last big indulge of the year because I am still committed to my #operationpinkbikini goal this year. I gained a few extra pounds and that isn't sticking around. My hubster is also determined to support me this year by him getting fit too. Another good thing that happened on NYE was that I was able to see a good friend of mine that I haven't seen since my wedding day. So catching up over Starbucks, yes please! Feels great to have coffee with friends.

Chris + I ended 2014 on NYE by working out! What a great way to end the year. He was on the elliptical and I was doing a mix of Zumba Core + starting my JessicaSmithTV DVD's. Burned some calories. Which helped me keep the flame to get fit/healthy this coming year. Even when I don't want to - I am VOWING to DO SOMETHING. Everyday. Slowly & surely - I am training for my first 5K that I will be able to run/walk. Hooray. :)

Yesterday - I was able to invest in our home with some extra $$. Our home is definitely a first home with it's own list of fixer upper qualities. Every time we run into an issue - we immediately remember this. So, thankfully Home Depot will be helping us start off our New Year with the first home project - replacing our bathroom towel bars. Thank you Jesus, the other ones are just too dingy & cheap. Lo + behold - not doing favors for ANYONE!

So for 2015 - I am claiming the word A D V E N T U R E S. 

Which this weekend - we will be back to hanging out at Disney. Ohh, the perks of living in Central Florida. :) 

Jan 5th has  2 big adventures - I am celebrating my 4th year @ my company! Another A D V E N T U R E awaits to hit year 5.

& this is my Papa's birthday. Another one spent in HEAVEN. 

CHEERS to A D V E N T U R E S. This year is a milestone one for me. I turn 30! & I am going to work hard to look good. 

Ps. I've been following her YouTube channel for a few months because of my love of ballet + Ballet kickboxing. Starting Monday - JessicaSmithTV will be starting the #FITIN15 challenge. I love her workouts. Try them out HERE! 

My goal for this blog is to be MORE consistent. Posting way more. Meeting new friends. in 2015. 

So I hope you will sit, stay awhile + say HELLO. :) 

 

Why Frozen's 'Let It Go' & Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off' is Greater than or Equal to my Past.

Hey friends. Bet you weren't thinking that could even be an analogy or a math problem. I've been thinking lately how much I love both of these songs and why combined they don't just appeal to kids. If you think about the lyrics and while they're fun to belt out too -- they can be applied to your life!

 

I am a Taylor Swift + Frozen fan. That may make me totally unpopular but I really refuse to care. 

How do these songs relate to my life in any way? 

1) Both of these songs provide fresh perspective when I think about my past: relationships gone wrong with guys and friends, my not so pleasant experience in middle or high school. My teen years. There are many experiences I am not fond of and don't remember fondly but these songs literally help me remember to 'Let it Go because ALL of that is in my PAST.' No longer important to my life.

2) Keeps me focused on ME & my goals. These songs help me remember that taking a glimpse into my past even in the smallest window - is pointless and does absolutely nothing to edify me. Satan tries to use it as a foothold in my life because I was skinnier in that time period. This is why I enjoy creating scrapbooks with my mom & printing out canvasses of those real happy moments. It's my way of remembering my past but only the highlights and focusing on these.

3) Puts a smile on my face. Like I said - I am a Taylor Swift fan + a Frozen fan. I am already saving up and counting down to buy Taylor's new album. Hooray for Target exclusives. 

4) Reminds me of where I come from but not where I am staying at. These songs keep me motivated and encouraged that regardless of what happened years ago do not matter. Parts of my past did help mold me into who I am today, specifically some individuals more than others. But those times taught me who I am and what is important to me in the long term. All those years that I hated myself and I hated being bullied -- only made me stronger. Music became my alliance against them. Jesus helped me forgive, let it go and move on. {Not all of my past is negative or bad - but there are bigger chunks that I wish I could've avoided}.*

Regardless of what is in your past, I hope these songs can inspire and encourage you in some way as well. While they were meant for kids initially - I love finding music that I can enjoy and apply it to my life. So I wish to thank Taylor Swift + the songwriters of 'Frozen' who changed my life & put a smile on my face. I wish I could meet all of them, its on my bucket list. <3

Thanks for stopping by. ~ Jessica

//Currently.Lately.Soon//

//Currently//

Tonight I decided that I was going to stop making excuses and work out. Part of my childhood that I miss dearly was taking ballet/tap & jazz classes along with gymnastics. I miss my ballerina days, putting on my tutu, tights, and losing myself in song while dancing my heart out. Tonight I found a YouTube channel that I love on Barre workouts. I will feel this tomorrow but I can't wait to do it again!

I scored a free photo book with Shutterfly and while I love scrapbooking - I can't seem to find time to do that with my mom so I am digitally remembering our Disney cruise in March this way. This way by our next one, I will be all caught up to scrapbook that one.

Photographs & collage frames are incredulously becoming part of my life. I have a growing wish list on Amazon for ones that I want to add to my hallway.

Baking is my life. In the past ten days - I've added quite a few tools to my collection. & that wish list is also growing. YAY.

Our next vacation isn't for a few months but I am pretty much already kind of adding to our existing plans. Planning gets me excited.

I've a lot of sweet tea tonight and I am totes okay with this fact.

//Lately//

I haven't really worked out. I kept making excuses but as of tonight - I am stopping that trend and getting back on the right track. I have a lot of big events coming up.. like my birthday, being an aunt again, and the holidays. I want to go shopping again and feel good.

I've been really stressed at work, its been really busy and overwhelming. I kept telling myself that I wanted to have an outlet or three to take my mind off it. I think these outlets are: baking, making collages, and working out.

I really enjoy cleaning. I am like a fierce cleaner lately - its therapeutic.

I did a little early Christmas shopping - took advantage of pretty freaking sweet sale and scored somethin for me too that was unexpected.

//Soon//

This week I have an endocrinologist appointment and I am pretty sure it may not go in my favor. Thankfully Carlos is all about self improvement and making strides.

I get to pay off one of my loans entirely this week. Take that loan debt!

All my fall shows come back on in a month: Parenthood, Scandal, Bob's Burgers, Bones, Blacklist & that beautiful list goes on..

I am going to start the Squat September challenge paired with Barre + Frisky Fall Challenge with Tone It Up.  I'd like to have nice birthday pictures, fall pictures and later - Christmas pictures that look dazzling after all my hard work!

Fall goodness is arriving soon -- cooler weather, the holidays, my birthday.. all the beautiful joyness!

//etc//

I am really excited about what is going on now, to come and possibly in the next five minutes. I've been working on a post that may not happen til Thursday but its in the sake of encouraging and inspiring.

As always, thanks for stopping by! Thank God tomorrow is Wednesday :)

Oh hey, weekend! {vacation edition}

Vacation is beautiful. This has been the case for me for this week & a few days more. My in-laws came into town last Friday and the adventures began. Today my inlaws treated us to breakfast at Denny's, gave us hugs and hit the road back home. Already missing them and all the good times we had. Plus I got my sis in law into Cartwheel (that magical Target app!). I had an INCREDIBLE week with them & I cannot wait to see them in a few months. Plus its good for my husband to see them - he is noticeably happier and I enjoy seeing him this happy! <3

 

 

 

Could spend my paycheck at stores with all Disney items. One day.  

 Earl of Sandwich & introduced my inlaws here as well.