fresh 5-minute salad

My workout schedule has taken a big hit lately, so I decided I needed to at least get some good eats in to make up for it (I'll be back to some awesome gym sessions soon enough!). Tonight I took five minutes to create one heck of a salad - a fresh and filling salad. 

All it took was a bowl of spinach, some sliced strawberries, a handful of blueberries, goat cheese and sliced almonds. I drizzled a little olive oil on top, too. 

Delicious and easy, which is my JAM. Totally having this again...

meet me in the middle

Every day, I fall more and more in love with the blogging world. Some of my favorite posts are the ones that make you think. Ones that help you reflect and dig a little deeper. They inspire me in different ways. 

The other day, a friend of mine (who always has great posts) talked about meeting in the middle. She talks about the idea that if everything is great all the time, do we really value it the same way? It made me think. And I think the answer "no." Trials in life help us realize how grateful we should be during the great times. And to remember that yes, all good things might come to an end at some point but so do the hard times. Not everything lasts forever. We all experience good and bad. 

We need to remember to meet in the middle - to remember that it'll get better if it's not already. As my friend wrote, we need to "trust that there is a bigger plan - and to push that lawn mower through the rain." 

Good stuff, my friends. When the going gets tough, just meet in the middle. 

may day, may day!

This past weekend was full of celebrations. With three May birthdays and a high school graduation - we were all over it with happy stuff. 

Friday eve we made our way to the lakehouse (aka the happiest place on earth... move over Disney!) to spend some much-needed time with my family. We had three May birthdays to celebrate together!

While we didn't get the sunshine we were hoping for on Saturday, we enjoyed a lot of quality time with the clan. Saturday morning, we kicked off the day with a road ride in the middle of nowhere. The 89 percent humidity really did me in, but the view was amazing, and it did feel great nonetheless.

Lunchtime and a few games later, we ventured out onto the boat for the first time this year. It was a little rainy, but we made it nearly around the entirety of the lake. 

Following the May celebrations at Grandview, we headed back north to celebrate a big milestone - a high school graduation! Sam's youngest sis is officially off to college this fall.

Post-graduation, we had a family lunch and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening lounging outside. 

It couldn't have been a better weekend. I think we were ready for some low-key nights with our families to reboot. Looking forward to more lake days and family days all summer long!

chattanooga choo choo

It's been a long overdue visit, but we finally made it down to Chattanooga to visit Kel, Dave and the new babe. After a (very) rainy drive, we made it to their townhome and enjoyed some downtown catching up. It was so refreshing to be there with them. Feels like home when you're around your best friends! 

Friday was spent relaxing for the most part, but Saturday we enjoyed time exploring a few of Chattanooga's finest areas. First, we had a big ol' brunch at a local diner to gear us up for a mini hike. Kel took us to North Chickamauga for a mini hike down by the river. It was gorgeous and very tranquil to be in the midst of nature like that. It'd been awhile!

North Chick mini-hike with Kel, Sam, the baby and the pup!

Riding in the back seat with this chick!

For the majority of the afternoon, we explored the North Shore area--walking on the "walking bridge," going in and out of cute local shops and ending it in the park with delicious corndogs (my personal favorite). 

Some goodies we picked up at a local gift shop!

To close out the trip, we went to one of Kel and Dave's favorite restaurants for dinner, The Terminal, which was right next to the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel... we're going to have to stay there. It looks pretty interesting!

With Kel waiting to be seated!

All in all, I am so happy we could make the trip. While short, it was amazing. Like I said, feels like home when you're with the best of friends. Until next time...

my top 5 stress relievers

The real world can flood you with to-do lists, responsibilities, unknown obstacles ... and I've found it's so important to understand the best ways to de-stress when I'm feeling overwhelmed. 

I tend to get over ambitious sometimes by planning one too many projects or spreading myself too thin in hopes to please everyone at once. However, lately, I've been able to pinpoint a few ways to bring myself back to my "center," if you will, and reboot. 

Get moving. My dad always said that a little exercise can cure a lot of things. Well, he's right. Whether it's a quick workout, a long cardio session or an hour of yoga, I always feel better afterward. 

Eat well and drink water. Because I don't like coffee, I often get my source of caffeine from a lunchtime soda. It's become such a habit that even when I don't feel the need for a pick-me-up, I still pop open some Mountain Dew or Coca Cola. Recently, I've focused more on H20 and less on carbonation. It actually gives me more energy than a soda ever would. Who knew?! (This awesome Nike water bottle helps...)

Avoid the TV. It's like clockwork. I walk in the door from work and immediately plop on the couch to watch TV. Sometimes the best thing for me to do is to grab a book (or magazine) and go into the front room. Since I stare at a computer ALL day, it's nice to avoid the big screen for a few hours as I wind down for bed.

Enjoy an impromptu date night, girls night or midweek activity. Breaking up the week is key. Not planning every second of the day and night is also key. I love impromptu week plans. Simple walks with the husband and pups, a dinner at our favorite place or a fun girls night are perfect ways to decompress and get out of the house.

Create something. I wish I did this more than I already do. From painting to sewing to moving around some home furnishings... creating something is a little like therapy to me. It gets my the right side of my brain working and (usually) the end result is rewarding. Brit + Co. has some great ideas, along with the book Young House Love.

While I also believe in retail therapy -- perhaps too much -- this doesn't make the list. That doesn't mean I don't lean on it sometimes. ;)

What do you do to de-stress? Any tips? 

images via Pinterest

and then there were two

For months we've been talking about getting a companion for Mr. Rudy, and yesterday we took the plunge! We've found tons of perfect pups only to find they are gone within just a few days. This time, we asked just in time!

Meet Chaz... a boxer / St. Bernard mix who is sure going to be a really large pup. 

We knew Rudy was in need of a little brother (or sister) to keep him company while we're at work and to also just give him another pup to play with anytime. It's proven to be a worthwhile choice, as Rudy and him are already the best of friends. They snuggle. They play. They eat together. They go outside together. 

It'll be a bit of work these next few weeks, but it'll be worth it after some training sessions. Rudy and Chaz are in good hands!

Ruff, ruff.

taming the beast: my favorite curly hair products

As spring approaches and humidty beings to rise, I am reminding how difficult it can be to manage my hair. I've learned over the years to embrace the curls and let the fro go, but it took some time. My guess is that I've tried hundreds of products at some point hoping I'd discover the perfect one for my hair and its makeup. Trust me, each strand seems to have a mind of its own.

In addition to dealing with frizzy, dry and extra curly hair day to day, I've also been working on ways to help my hair grow faster while staying healthy at the same time. (Note: Not getting your hair cut by a pro for a few years is certainly not the answer!) Last year, I finally found the perfect hairdresser who not only knew what she was doing with this "mess," but also introduced me to a few fine products to help me manage my locks. 

1. Moroccan Oil (appx. $45 for large bottle): In place of Moroccan Oil, I've tried a few drug-store brands. However, they don't even come close to measuring up to the Moroccan Oil brand. From the second  I put the drug store products in my hair I could tell they were absorbing, which defeats the purpose of the product all together. Pay up. It lasts several months and is so worth it.

2. Aquage Defining Gel (appx. $27 for large bottle): Previously I used a wide range of mousse products. Prior to this gel, I'd use at least three cans a month less-than-par results. Switching to this gel helps me keep the control and use less product - a win/win for my wallet and the health of my hair. A bonus is that it doesn't make your hair crunchy.

3. Moroccan Oil Curling Creme (appx. $30 for large bottle): I use this curling creme when I need really long-lasting results - think things like a night out, all-day work event, etc. It helps define curls and  hold them in place. I've also noticed my hair dry longer in length when I use it because it helps weigh them down a bit (but not flatten!). 

4. Tresemme Extra Firm Holding Spray (appx. $4 for XL bottle): Hairspray is something that can be drug-store quality. I've used Tresemme for years and never switched. It doesn't leave residue in my hair, and it does its job day in and day out. Can't beat it.

I'm all about saving money and doing this on a dime, but trust me, products 1 through 3 are worth the splurge. Each bottle usually lasts several months, too, because I don't need to use more than a few pumps to get the hold my hair needs.  Prior to these, I'd spend just as much or more because I used three-times as much product as I do now.

You don't have to have curly hair like mine to use these. The Oil helps with hair growth and keeping hair shiny and strong, while the gel is a great alternative for beach hair.