I wanna ROCK!

This past week I made a commitment....

Before the wedding I was visiting my mom and father-in-law, and was talking about how much better I feel now that i'm getting into shape. I told them I wasn't going to stop after the wedding, and needed to keep myself motivated. Maybe someday I would even run in a marathon. My father-in-law, Tim, is really into fitness and goes to the gym regularly. He told me that he would love to do a marathon someday, and if I wanted to train with him and do it then he would be into it. I said sure, and hadn't really thought much of it since. Marathons aren't usually run in the fall of course, so I put it in the back of my mind to visit at another time...

This week we visited them again. We talked about the wedding, and showed them the photographs from our honeymoon. Then Tim reminded me of our conversation about marathons, and told me that he had been doing research! He found a 5K that is run right down the street from me.

 You have an option of 5k, 10k and half marathon, and he thought we should start with a 5k as our goal. The silver lining...the marathon is sponsored by my ex-employer....and Tim thought it would be a good way for me to feel good, and shove it in their faces as a, "look at me now! Thanks for laying me off and giving me time to get in shape while collecting unemployment!" haha

So..... now i'm in training! April 2, 2011 I will be running a 5K with my father-in-law, 

and possibly my sister and brother-in-law as well. :)

The race is called....

I'm actually really excited about it! I can run 3-4 miles on the elliptical no problem, and I know its going to be VERY different....but at least I know I have the stamina and the breathing down. My plan is to start running on a treadmill for the next few months, and then once I feel confident in my stride, head outside to run the streets for a few months. I know I can do this, and who knows...maybe if I train hard enough i'll trade up for the 10k!

I will be posting here from time to time on my progress

I need to stay motivated, and held accountable.

No excuses...this is a big deal!

♥

Jenni

EIGHT....Feeling GREAT!

8...

Wow....I feel absolutely crazy saying that I only have 8 days left until I get married!
I still feel like I have got to have at least 2 weeks...but nope!!!
So here are my thoughts for today....

I finished up my tanning package tonight. I had purchased a month and a week. I have a nice little glow now, but I want to bump it up a little and not let it fade...luckily tonight they let me do a special package of 3 High Pressure tans! High pressure beds are so awesome. You lay on a comfy bed, can take a nap and refresh for 30 minutes of heated wonderfulness. I had no idea but aparantly regular 32 beds have bulbs of 180watts, while high pressure's bulbs are 1800 watts! That's a HUGE difference!! 

♥

I also made it to workout tonight! I have got to say, I absolutely LOVE my Zumba class! It's lots of dancing, booty shaking and core training. We move and groove and by the end of it my abs were BURNING. I could feel them with each shimmie! I just love that i'm able to keep up now! During class she had us do football runs. When I used to do football runs I always felt like my legs were turning into jello and I was going to fall down and die! Tonight however I did my football runs and kept right on going, jumping around like a dancin' fiend! I am going to be one SEXY bride!!!!!

 ♥

Tomorrow we have a BUSY day! We are going out shopping for cake ingredients with Spencer's sister. We will also be going to get our marriage license, sending information to our DJ, finalizing the order of events and possibly heading out to get my wedding ring sized and everything cleaned! But the exciting part is that at 7:30p.m. Spencer and I have 100 minute massages!!!!! I can't wait to lie down and let Teri and Sherri work out all the kinks! I have never had a professional massage before, and neither has Spencer, so it should be a really awesome experience! Although, I fear we are going to become quickly hooked! We have a couples massage on the beach when we go on our honeymoon! By the way....Have I told you how freaking excited I am for our honeymoon?!?!

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

♥

Jenni

An Announcement...

I'm wearing a size smaller jeans!!!

I went shopping today, and hello size 12 it's nice to see you again!

It's been 4 years since we last met!!!

EEP!!!

25 days! YIKES!!!!

I have been sooooo busy!

I thought I had gotten a lot done, but the closer the wedding gets the more I start freaking out that i'm forgetting things. The wedding is in less than a month! 25 days to be exact! Over the next couple of weeks we have to meet with vendors, get our insurance paperwork changed to cover the rings, finish decorations, get our marriage license, figure out our final count, decide on music for the reception, make last minute arrangements, have my bachelorette party, keep working out everyday, go tanning.....and then

GET MARRIED!!!!!!

I think the best way for me to update everyone on the last few weeks is in a list..... so here goes!

Working Out... I have been working out like a mad woman! I have lost another inch from my waist for a total of 10"! I feel amazing, my energy levels are up, i'm down a full size in jeans. In addition i'm seeing an increase in my stamina! Yesterday I actually ran a mile on the eliptical in under 10 minutes! It was only 2 seconds under, but still a HUGE deal for me! I don't think I was even able to do that when I was in Elementary School and they made us run the mile! I have changed up my routine a little. I was doing P90x but after 3 months i'm a little burned out on it. I know the DVD's so well that It's become more routine, with very little to spice it up. So last night I added about 15 workout DVD's onto Netflix, all focused on the mid-section (abs, tummy, etc) to help blast calories and tone the stomach. I have also upped my gym routine doing about 35 minutes on the elliptical (3 miles running) followed by res on the rowing machine, fly machine, thigh machine (inner and outer) and ab machine. Now I'm going to start adding in my workout dvd's at home at least 4 days a week. Only one month to go until the wedding and mexico and I plan to look GOOD!

Bridal Showers... The past two weekends have been filled with bridal showers! Two weekends ago was my first shower, thrown by Spencer's sister and aunts! It was wonderful! The food was delicious, the house was decorated with cute little pompoms and it was wonderful to get to know all of the ladies in Spencer's family a little bit better. The second shower was this past weekend at my moms house with members of my family, Spencer's mom and grandmother and my friends. It was wonderful as well, but more on that later...for now, here are a few photos from the first shower!

The pompoms were hung from the ceiling with care...

The ladies were seated, excited to share.

First up, a beautiful handmade vase!

 carved by Spencer's aunt from a fresh new gourd.

This beautiful piece now is a grace in our home.

and then comes the big one...

the guests couldn't wait...

A gorgeous quilt hand sewn by the grooms mother!

Containing beautiful panels with lots of history

Fabric from his grandfather, his father and he.

Many more presents continued the fun...

as the ladies all chatted and laughed

even the kids had fun!

then it was over. Time to go home.

A perfect end

to a wonderful day.

My only problem now is that my Macys registry is just about empty and I can't find anything to add to it tha we want or need. Hopefully people start hitting up Crate and barrel for the wedding! 

It has some of my favorites on it still!

Watching while I work... With so much going on, i've had to keep myself entertained somehow. While I address thank you cards, cut out stencils, creat programs and organize all of the wedding activities i've been watching lots of Netflix movies and television! Right now I am loving the Veronica Mars series! I'm finishing up season 1 as I type this, and I absolutely love it! The perfect thing to keep my mind entertained while I work hard.

A great movie I watched recently was Dakota Skye! It was surprisingly good, and I really enjoyed it! 

Dancing... Spencer and I have now learned the rumba and the foxtrot! We are going tonight to learn the waltz and will visit again in 2 weeks for a refresher course on the foxtrot! I am so excited for our wedding! I just can't wait! I think we will end up having a really cute dance!

Well, that's about it for me!

I'm glad to finally get the chance to update everyone!

Today I will be going to the gym, sending out all of my thank you's once I get some more stamps, and going to dance class. Tomorrow will be some errand running, and thursday i'm driving out to my sisters house and spending the night. We're working on some things for the wedding and i'm going to go to her Zumba class! I hope everyone is doing wonderfully! I can't wait to catch up on all of your blogs, but please forgive me if it takes me awhile!

♥

Jenni

PS- I need some guest bloggers while i'm away for the wedding and honeymoon!!! 
Please message me if you are interested in posting for me!!!!!!!!!!

EEP! (Not to be confused with Meep)

Everytime I say that word I think of this guy...

via

haha, but that's ok because i'm so excited and life is going great!!!!

First things first, I am doing so well! I haven't been able to make it to the gym as much this week because I did some freelance work and have been bunkered down editing photos all week long... but all my hard work has increased my metabolism and I lost almost 3 lbs. this week! YAY! I also measures myself today. If you remember, my wedding dress came in early almost 2 months ago, and I was about 2" shy of it being able to close at the bust (I'm "blessed" with a large chest). Well today when I measured myself I was almost 2" UNDER what I need to be!!! It should fit like a dream now, and I can't wait to try it on at my moms house! Which makes me feel great because when I ordered it it was supposed to be in in mid-september so I ordered a little smaller, knowing I would get myself down to that...and i'm right on schedule since it's just now September!

Second, and totally going AGAINST my healthy update post above.... Starbucks salted caramel hot chocolate is back!!!!!! 2 years ago I got HOOKED on this stuff! It was perfect for a day of shopping on the Plaza (an outdoor shopping area here in KC) keeping me warm, and it tasted delicious! in fact, I sometimes even had a shot of expresso added to it. Last year I was DEVASTATED to learn that Starbucks hadn't brought it back! I wrote letters, I did a post on this blog... I even joined a community for those who wanted to bring it back! Well...it must have worked because it's here!!!!!!!!! YAY! I enjoyed mine tonight by sitting out on the back porch watching the puppies play!

Third....fall has arrived!!! It was a BEAUTIFUL day here in Kansas City today! Clear blue skies, nice cool breezes....Absolute perfection! I could almost smell the change in the air, and while sitting outside a leaf slowly floated down from the tree, and was bright yellow! I can't wait to see our backyard again in all its beauty!!!!

 B is for Brown

Fourth...Some friends come into our lives right at the moment that we need them the most. While Summer and I have never met in person, my days are never complete without a friendly hello and some g-chat action with Summer. She came into my life right when I was starting to lose a grip on what was going on. She is an amazing friend, and one of the kindest people I have ever met in my life. Right now she is going through a lot. Her father is going through medical problems, and they are proving to be the kind of challenge that can make, or break a person. If he is anything like Ms. Summer....well I just know that one day he will look back on all of it, and be amazed with what he has overcome. Please stop by B is for Brown to leave her kind words, read his story and maybe send a special little note to her amazing father. Someone who truly deserves it.

Fifth, I went shopping for my sister tonight, and happened to wander into Aerie for the first time. I always thought it was just underwear and camisoles...but oh my goodness it is AMAZING! It is definitely my new favorite store! Everywhere I looked I fell in love! Gorgeous sweaters, ridiculously soft pajama pants, beautiful jewelry...and well...the underwear and camis were soooo cute!!!

Here are a few of the things that I found to be drool-worthy...

I ♥ this skirt.

I ♥ this sweater.

I ♥ the softest, most comfortable pants EVER!

I ♥ this bra.

 I ♥ these little lounge shorts

I ♥ this workout jacket.

I ♥ this sports bra. (and I own it now!)

They also have a crazy amount of REALLY cute sport headbands, dressy fashion headbands and really really pretty jewelry! (none of it is on the website. It's in-store only). I ♥ Aerie!

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! Mine will be filled with celebrating my sisters birthday (dinner and a trip out on the pontoon boat), replacing the shutters on our house because all the paint keeps chipping off! (Apparantly only one type of the plastic/affordable shutters you can repaint) and spending some quality time with the fur-balls and the mister. 

Have a good one everyone!

♥

Jenni

A WINNER!!! + Some other stuff

We have a winner for the gorgeous address stamp!!!

The exciting, lovely, hilarious, adorable Belen!!!

Congrats Belen! 

Send me an email with your choice of any wood-handled stamp, mailing address,
contact info and the exact wording you want on the stamp!
And don't forget that Karissa has offered 10% off any purchase to my readers!!!

Just place "She's Getting Married" in the message to seller and she will give you a 10% refund!

 In other news, I am feeling amazing!! All of my hardwork is paying off. My metabolism has increased, my energy levels are crazy and I am really enjoying this new lifestyle. I have slowed down a little as my schedule has gotten pretty busy lately, but I still plan to keep going strong. I will be heading up to the gym in just a bit and i'm hoping for a nice relaxing run, some quality time spent with the weights and I might even try out the crazy/scary looking stair-step machine! Spencer and I have also been focusing heavily on eating right, and rewarding ourselves occasionally. Last night we went out for frozen yogurt, and it was delicious!!! I had fat-free raspberry with coconut flakes and white chocolate chips...mm I could use some now!

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Yesterday I began my fall cleaning. Forget spring. I clean in the fall! It's getting cooler, and i'm getting my house ready for our long winter hibernation of cooking delicious warm meals, watching lots of movies and fall television shows, and cuddling up on the couch for a long winter's night! So I pushed up my sleeves and began scrubbing. Every spot, mark and piece of grass was cleaned up and gotten rid of! I mopped, scrubbed and organized 2 whole rooms, and left no page unturned. My kitchen and backroom are done...next up....living room, bathroom and hall closet! It was actually a lot of fun, and I turned up the television's volume to blare out the Imogene Heap station on Pandora. A nice, relaxing, attention-to-detail kind of music!

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Its freaking september!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only is it the beginnings of my favorite season being almost here.....but im freaking getting married in october...the month after this one!!! Talk about wierd! This month will be filled with dress fittings, 2 bridal showers, getting golden bronzed, lots of planning and organizing, and dance lessons for Spencer and I! (Plus my daily trips to the gym, a possible upcoming life change and some other stuff....but that's all for a later date)

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I am in the midst of a reading obsession. My latest book? The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud, written by Ben Sherwood. Many of you know it simply as "Charlie St. Cloud", the movie starring Zac Efron. Well, I havent seen the movie...but the book was fantastic! I read it in only 2 days time and it was moving, emotional, and well written. It was like a tall, cool drink of water that you just couldn't put down. I finished reading it this morning, and kept reading right through all the acknowledgements and thanks from the author...I just didn't want it to be over! I highly highly recommend it to anyone wanting a great story.

So that's my life in a nutshell right now. I'm enjoying the cooler days, sweating off the inches at the gym, becoming swept up in wedding craziness, and cuddling as much as possible with my little furbabies. I hope everyone is having a fabulous week, and Belen, I can't wait to hear from you!!!!

♥

Jenni

Friday Funday!

It has been a FABULOUS day!

I woke up a little sore after doing yoga AND hitting the gym yesterday.

I ran my butt off on that elliptical and even had the guy next to me pacing himself off of me!

I'd speed up, and in the corner of my eye so would he!

I'd slow down and slowly he would too!

It was kind of cool being the person who holds the pace...for so long I would sprint and have to almost go down to a slow crawl to catch my breath, but now I hold a normal runners pace, sprint for a minute or two, and easily go back to my runners pace to slow down my heartrate a little. It feels good!

I hope you all are enjoying my little daily series...

... because I really enjoy writing about it each day, and it is really helping hold me accountable!

I am taking a small break for today, but I am going to make sure to do some ab work tonight.

Every little bit helps!

Other than the workouts, Spencer and I's passports came in today!!! YAY! I am so excited to go on our honeymoon! Now i've got the passport, the flipflips, some fun summer dresses...new swimsuit here I come! (Although, i'm waiting a few more weeks so I can hit the mega clearance at the beginning of fall!) I'm thinking of purchasing a little passport cover/book for it and i'm leaning toward this little cutie...

 

It's from Jenni20 on Etsy and I think its so cute! I'm still thinking about it, but I may have to order it pretty soon! I also just paid off the balance due on the honeymoon! WOOHOO! Its going to be soooo amazing!!!!!! 

And for the best news of all! Our photographer sent me a message saying we were an EXTREMELY photogenic couple, and she has 300 photographs that were keepers from our engagement session!!! I seriously can not wait! The disk is ready tonight and I am heading down there in just a moment to go get it from her and see her adorably sweet little Boston Terrier.

And speaking of photos...i'll leave you with some of my favorites from the past few weeks.... of my puppies!!!! Aren't they just the most darling puppies around!?

PS-Don't forget to enter the "letter lovers" giveaway!!!

♥

jenni

Day 4!

Four days in a row and i'm feeling great! I woke up this morning at 9 am and started my P90x yoga right away! A full 1.5 hours of planks, downward dogs and crazy yoga ab exercises! It was especially tough after my workout yesterday, but I perservered!

Today i'm meeting up with a friend and seeing her 2 month old little girl who I haven't seen since she was 2 days old! Tonight when Spencer gets home we will head out to the gym for workout number 2. I'm hoping for a good 40 minute run on the elliptical, followed by some weight lifting. :)

I'm feeling good!

♥

Jenni

Day 3

So far so good on keeping with my promise!

 

3 Days in since I dedicated myself to making it all come together and I am feeling great!

This morning I woke-up and relaxed for a few minutes with the dogs, cuddling in bed, before beginning my day. At 10 a.m. I met my friend Andrea at the gym. I ran 3.3 miles on the elliptical in 40 minutes burning 500+ calories. I then hopped on some arm machines and thigh machines to get some strength building/flab burning reps in!

We finished up right as the lunchtime gym-goers started crowding the machines, and headed out for a delicious salad lunch! I packed mine with lots of different colored veggies (tomatoes, zucchini, red onion, egg, celery, and jicama!) We enjoyed some wonderful chat and then stopped off at Old Navy before we both headed in our opposite directions. (I scored some flip-flops for $2.50 a piece! Great for the honeymoon!!!)

When I got home I greeted the puppies and began workout #2...P90x Shoulders and arms! I was already a little sore from the machines at the gym, but I pushed myself through each of the exercises, including the 1-armed push-ups and side planks! 

I am exhausted now! I think I am going to throw on my swimsuit, grab "The Time Travelers Wife" and head outside to rest my muscles for a little bit. :) Fun side note: In the book they get married on October 23rd!!! Spencer and I's wedding date!!!!!

What have you done today?

♥

Jenni

Day 2

Today Spencer and I hit the gym. I went to do my time on the elliptical, and about halfway through the resistance started to get more and more intense! Turns out the heart-rate monitor was broken and so the levels kept increading to make it harder! It felt like I was running through mud, but I kept going! I thought maybe it would eventually catch up and I would get that wonderful sensation as the level goes down and my speed increases and feels amazing! (oh, and the down button on the levels was broken as well...sooo I couldn't just turn it down!) I ended up sticking with it for 25 minutes, and then hopped on another elliptical so I could finish out my set!

After we got home from the gym we had to shower, change and get ready to go for our engagement photos! We finally got to take them and the weather could not have been more beautiful!!!! I can't wait to get them back, and of course I will share them with all of you lovelies!

Tomorrow morning I have P90x, followed by a trip to the gym with my friend Andrea and a yummy salad lunch date! Should be fun!!!!

What did you do today?

♥

Jenni

9...8...7...6...5...4...3..........

2 months until our wedding!!!!!!

I can't believe that it is finally the last 2 months before the wedding!
We still have so much to do, and I am hitting the gym hard from here on out!
(I've been slacking lately...)

Today I am introducing a new feature on my page...

I will be posting each and every day about my gym-going activities

so I can be held accountable!

Feel free to mock me when I try to make excuses for my NOT going to the gym

and praise me on the days I go. :)

AND a for a little extra fun, I invite you all to comment on my posts 

with what you have done to get healthy that day!

It's time to get serious people!!!!

As the first day of me getting serious, and my first official post...I just completed my P90x for today.

I hit ANOTHER new goal, and over the course of my workout completed 218 pushups!

Yes! 218!!!

GO ME!

I am now nourishing my body with some raspberry cheesecake yogurt and replinishing with water

In 30 minutes it will be off to the gym for my second workout of the day!

♥

Jenni

PS- Don't forget to stop in tomorrow for an AMAZING giveaway from a VERY talented lady!