My Experience with the COVID-19 Vaccine

So first, let me start by saying I feel extremely grateful to have been in the first round of recipients. Working in the clinic setting I thought I would have been in a second or maybe even in a third wave of recipients but with the possibility that it will become necessary to deploy ambulatory RNs into the hospital in the event of worsening COVID surging I was able to get both vaccinations at early dates. I feel for those healthcare workers who have been on the frontlines from the beginning yet still unable to receive it at this time even though they are the fighting hands, day in and day out, aiding in saving lives of so many who have become infected with this awful illness. My hope is that all healthcare workers and non healthcare workers will have it in the coming weeks to months so we can all start to feel at least a little protected as we attempt to return to normalcy.

Vaccination #1 – Saturday, December 19, 2020. 10:00AM

Initially, I felt fine. My arm a little sore – to be expected, a sharp object was just jabbed into it. I came home from receiving my vaccination and went about life as normal. Tyler and I went for a walk, ate lunch, cleaned house… honestly a pretty normal Saturday.

Then somewhere around 4pm, I was wiped out!! I felt like a train hit me. We had just gotten back from our walk about 30min prior to and it was all I could do to keep my eyes open. By 4:30, I couldn’t fight the urge to fall asleep any more and climbed into bed. I slept harder than I have ever slept for 2 straight hours. By the time I woke up, my arm HURT. I actually only woke up because I rolled over onto that arm and the pain woke me. I stayed awake for a few hours then returned to bed by 9pm and called it a night.

The next morning I was a little groggy and had a dull headache. By the 24hr mark I was okay, minus my arm. The arm pain started to fade by the 48hr mark and was completely gone by Tuesday when I woke up.

Vaccination #2 – Thursday, January 7, 2020, 10:00AM

Just like the first one, initially I felt okay. I had the vaccine, waited my 15min then headed back to work (at home) for the rest of the day. The first few hours were business as usual, then it hit me like a ton of bricks…

Around 2:00 the headache started, just a dull annoying headache but nothing seemed to make it go away. I tried Tylenol, caffeine, and extra water – my usual cure for all headaches. By 4:00, the chills set in. I felt like I was freezing in my 70 degree home with sweats and a blanket on. By 6:00, I was full on miserable. My head was pounding, my body ached, I was shivering like I was in the Arctic in a bikini, and my arm felt like it was rammed by a bull running full speed. I took another dose of Tylenol at about 8:30 and went to bed to try and sleep off the misery.

The next morning, the headache and just general feeling of brain fog were still present as well as the body aches. I was able to go into work and complete my day but boy do I wish I had it off so I could have slept off the rest of the misery. By about noon, the brain fog and headache did begin to lift and by around 4:00/5:00 the body aches were diminishing. Again, this night, I was in bed by around 8:30pm but thankfully, I only needed to take one dose of Tylenol all day.

The following morning, my symptoms were almost completely gone. A dull headache and a sore arm were my only remaining side effects. The headache went away by the end of the day and the sore arm gone by the end of day Monday.

All in all, even though I did experience side effects, I feel so blessed to have had the vaccine and I feel that it was well worth all the discomfort I felt in the days follow receiving it. I know there is still so much unknown about the vaccine and honestly the virus itself but I feel like it is a great step towards us at least attempting to return to normalcy.

If you have had the vaccine already, please share your experience below. And if you have not received it yet and have questions, please reach out. I would love to answer any questions that I can or at least help direct you to a credible site for further information.

xo, Kathryn

*disclaimer* This post reflects my personal experience with being administered the Pfizer vaccine. You may or may not have the same experience.

Let’s Try This Again… Hi, My Name is Kathryn

Hi! Wow, how has more than 2 years gone by since I last post!? Yikes! I have to say, I have certainly missed writing. So with this [ridiculously] long delay since my last post, please allow me to reintroduce myself, or should I say, introduce my NEW self! Just kidding, still the same me, just a new last name….

Hi, my name is Kathryn Meadley. I married the LOVE of my life, Tyler, on 10.31.2020. With the marriage I also got the best puppy son in the ENTIRE world, Ash. He is my shadow, snuggle buddy, and is 100% a mama’s boy. Tyler said he lost him to me while we were dating but being married is a whole new ball game. Don’t worry, you will hear more about both my boys frequently if you continue to follow along through this journey.

And yes, my gray fur baby kitties are also still around. We are a happy family of five. The kitty cats are still just as cute and needy as ever. Debra is my sassy, little girl and Dexter, Debra’s son (we think), is still just as scared of life as ever before. He trusts his people and his mom (Debra) ONLY! But hey, even though he is always in his constant state of hiding, Debra takes great care of him and makes sure neither of them EVER miss a meal.

I also still work as a Registered Nurse. I work for an outpatient cardiology clinic… yep, I left the 12 hour shifts and back breaking work of the bedside for the 8-5 Monday – Friday life. It certainly has its perks but sometimes I do miss those mid week days off. Hard to say no to weekly routine and a consistent sleep schedule though. I have been with this clinic for almost a year and it has treated me well. I even get to work from home from time to time… certainly nice during a pandemic.

Exercise …. well that’s been a bit all over the place. I MISS RACES and EXERCISE CLASSES (without masks)! They gave my TRAINing purpose but I am navigating the online fitness world and am slowly finding a love for BeachBody on Demand. Maybe one day I will follow a program from start to finish but for now I am enjoying the ability to change it up most everyday. As for running, I am finally finding my stride. I had an injury shortly before the wedding (just another obstacle to juggle as a COVID bride! Insert full sass eye roll! haha) that kept me off the pavement for about 3months but over the last few weeks I have started to run more consistently and its starting to feel less like torture.

Food…. this has been a HUGE perk of getting married. Tyler is a GREAT cook and LOVES to cook! #winning!!!! Tyler does about 90% of all the cooking in our house and it is AMAZING!! Yes, I still hate cooking so I have become a great dishwasher while he creates fantastic meals. Slowly, I will transition him to cooking healthier meals but for now I am enjoying not picking up a pot or pan or planning a single meal. It sure is nice to actually EAT at least one good, home cooked meal a day. Oh, how I love this man! (PS this no cooking thing has had its trade off… I am now the Laundry Queen!)

I think that about sums up an introduction/where I am at in life now. I cannot wait to connect with each of you in the coming weeks and months!

XO, Kathryn

A to Z Survey

Hey y’all! I hope you are doing great and had a happy and relaxing 4th of July weekend! I was able to spend a few days on the lake with friends and family. It was the perfect “stay-cation.” Anyways, I am sure you have noticed by my lack of posts, I have been in quite the blogging rut lately. I have tried putting together posts recently and ehh they just fell short so here I am today to give it another try with an A to Z survey all about me….

A – Age: 24

B – Biggest Fear: It’s a toss up between the dark and spiders.

C – Favorite Color: Pink

D – Drink You Last Had: Diet Coke….it’s Monday, I needed my caffeine.

E – Everyday Routine: wake up super early, train a couple personal training clients at the Y, go to work at jenny craig, workout, make dinner / watch TV / surf the internet, journal, go to bed.

F – Favorite Food: Umm…this changes by the day but I am currently loving all the fresh fruits… berries and watermelon especially.

G – Grossest Recently Memory: While out on the boat this weekend, we tied up with a bunch of other boats and one of the guys from another boat who had recently been in a motorcycle accident and had road rash gashes all over him was swimming in the nasty water without covering them….make it worse…I accidentally bumped into one of the big open wounds!!! YUCK!!

H – Hometown: Born in Charlotte, NC, raised in Alpharetta, GA, started college in Rock Hill, SC, finished college in Raleigh, NC, currently living in Charlotte, NC.

I – Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Butter Pecan

J – Jealous of: People who can go with the flow and be totally happy without having any plan. I just don’t get it!?!?!

K – Kindest Person I know: My mom. I don’t think I have ever met someone who didn’t immediately love her. She has a heart of gold.

L – Longest Relationship: 3 years.

M – Middle Name: Elizabeth

N – Next Race: I am racing a local sprint triathlon this coming weekend.

O – One Wish: Health and Happiness always.

P – Next Purchase: A new computer. I currently have a MacBook Pro and it is on its last leg. Anyone have suggestions for my next one?

Q – Question You’re Always Asked: I have a few frequent questions…..”What should I eat?” “What kind of workout should I be doing?” and “If X body part hurts, what’s wrong with it and how do I fix it?”

R – Reason to Smile: Seeing clients hit to goals and milestones on a daily basis.

S – Siblings: I have two brothers….. one (human) younger brother named Alex and one (canine) bother named Chase.

T – Time You Woke Up: 4:45am.

U – Underwear Color: Tan.

V – Next Vacation: Cozumel, Mexico for my Ironman at the end of November!!

W – Last Workout: 60min trainer (indoor bike) ride and foam rolling.

X – Number of X-Rays: Yikes! Too many to count!

Y – Your biggest weakness: Putting others before myself. I am known for making sure everyone else is taken care of before I take care of myself.

Z – Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Play along with me in the comments and let me know a little bit about you! Have a great Monday!

Treading Water

Hello Hello! Happy Monday y’all! I hope you had a fantastic weekend and your Monday has gotten off to a great start. I had a great weekend. It kicked off Friday with an early visit from Dylan and an afternoon at the Wells Fargo golf tournament. Saturday morning started out bright and early at work before driving south to a good family friend’s wedding. How cool is this y’all…she wore the same dress as her grandmother and mother did many year before just made slight alterations. After the wedding Dylan and I headed to the lake for a little paddle boarding before he hit the road for Greenville and I back home to Charlotte. Upon arriving home, my long lost running girlfriend, Kimberly, showed up at my door. We had a great time, stayed up late chatting then in the morning went for a 5mi run before playing on the lake till the she had to hop on the train to head home. It was great getting to catch up with Kimberly and just get to discuss life with someone who knows me almost as well as I know myself. She has seen me go through ups and downs and has been there every step as I try to figure out my future. So that where today’s post comes from….

As Kimberly and I talked, it seems as if we are both “treading water.” Sometimes it is with great success and our heads are far out of the water and other times it is just as if we are about an inch above the surface and hanging on for dear life. We are both at about the one year mark into the professional world and still running with our heads cut off like we did in college; trying to juggle holding down a full time job, long commutes, maintaining relationships of the past, creating new relationships in new cities, keeping up with training, and finding the balance of family and fun. It seems like the days are never ending and free moments are few and far in between.

This state of “Treading Water” is something no one ever told me I’d be doing immediately out of college. I thought I would land the perfect job, marry the love of my life immediately after graduation, and be settled into a city with close friends. I never thought I would be working two jobs and would meet my boyfriend and roommate online. I could have never ever imagined it would be this difficult to meet new people and that I would work so many hours for such a little paycheck.

And this isn’t to say I’m not happy….in fact I am very happy. I have learned more about myself in the last year and a half than I have learned about myself my entire life. I have had to grow up… paying my own rent and bills and insurance and being 100% in charge of myself. Your early 20s are a time in your life of great change. It’s almost like you’re the awkward middle schooler again. One day you’re on top of the world and the next day you’re knocked right back down to the bottom to learn a new lesson yet again. Bosses expect that you know the lay of the land but really you’re like Bambi fumbling around to get your bearings and stand on your own feet.

So if I were to tell a new college graduate what life will be like in the year to two years following college, I would say be prepared “tread.” You’re going to have to pay your dues, be flexible, take opportunities when they present themselves, be patient, and work your butt off.

Have a great Monday y’all!

Hey, Yes I am Slacking….

Hey Hey Hey! Man I am a slacker… a post every 20days, I can do better than that….well maybe. Regardless of if I am slacking, thats how things go these days. I am busy from before the sun rises till long after it sets most days and exhausted every free second I have in between. So here is the run down of whats been going on these last 20 days:

Easter weekend was spent in Boone with my family and Dylan. We watched a little baseball, dyed some easter eggs, I kicked butt at the Easter egg hunt, Dylan made a delicious baked apple french toast, and we hiked Grandfather Mountain.

Work is busy as ever, we are growing leaps and bounds at Jenny Craig…thank you Time! They published a study reporting that Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers were the top two most effective ways to lose and keep the pounds off.
Rock ‘n’ Roll half Marathon was great. Thanks Kathryn and Coop for being such gracious hosts. Dylan and I ran a 1:48:34 and 1:48:35…guess who won between the two of us?! ….Yep, you guessed it, THIS GIRL! haha thanks for being a gentlemen Dylan. It was a tough course, and we were both a little disappointed by the event festivities both on the course and after but overall we were happy to have run a good race and I am sure we will sign-up for another race together sometime soon.

My other job is growing immensely as well. After a very slow start, I now have 1 – 2 personal training clients everyday, Monday – Friday, at the Y. And as I mentioned before I am helping coach alongside two amazing women the triathlon team. Check out this awesome post practice team selfie!

Now that the 31Day Detox is done, man I have had some yummy foods! I might have even slipped up and over did it on the sugar in that first week but I am on track again now. Not a stringent diet I am following but back to my variety in all things, moderation in all things approach I typically have.

this couldn’t possibly be kilwins amazing praline ice cream…. 😉

Ironman training is up and running, I have felt exhausted these last couple weeks but I think I have a better plan this week and was (finally) able to catch up on a little rest this weekend so I am ready to get after training this week. Nearly 11hrs of swimming, biking, running, and strength training scheduled for this week.

Living in Charlotte has opened up so many more opportunities to see family. I get to see my parents and grandma on nearly a weekly basis and when out of town guest pop in to stay with my parents, I get to see them too. I am loving this aspect of living in Charlotte. It was great visiting with my aunt and cousin at the beginning of the month.
The lake is open! Starting last weekend, the lake is open for business…well for play! After Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon, Dylan and I headed to the lake for a little R&R so we thought. We ended up jumping out behind the boat for some wake boarding and surfing then this weekend a little kayaking and paddle boarding. Chase even jumped in on the fun this past weekend!

I think thats about it for me! Work, train, eat, and play! I guess I can’t complain. So what about you, how are things going on your end, what have you been up to?

Have a great week!

Tuesday Things

Hey Friends! How are y’all doing?! Things are a bit crazy here so to continue with the chaos I call life, I bring you my most unfocused blog post yet. Here are some things going on in my life and on my mind these days….

1. Hallelujah!! 31Day Detox is done in just a few hours. Most days have been totally fine but goodness I have had several days (<–read like last 10 days) I have wanted sugar and salt!!! I will write a full update on my 31Day Detox experience later this week.

last weekends date night dinner…. low country shrimp boil and baked apple slices with cinnamon

2. Sorry 5AM, we have divorced and 4AM has taken my heart. I have quite a few more clients at the Y as of recently and dang it has made for some early mornings. I used to think getting up in the 5 o’clock hour was rough but now I have separated from that thought and have become good friends with Miss 4AM! Holy crow I don’t know that I will ever get used to this one!

3. The triathlon team at the Y is up and running for our next 8 week session and this go around I am an official coach and loving it!! The other two coaches are teaching me so much and it really is such a joy to go to each of the practices whether I am leading it or just participating.

4. Speaking of triathlon….Ironman training is in full swing! It definitely keeps me especially busy with my typical 2 workouts a day. Veteran Ironman competitors, any suggestions on finding the balance and fitting it all in? I feel like some days there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished or I am just exhausted. I am hoping as I figure out more of a schedule this will get easier.

look closely and you will see my new training partner Izzy! she is totally fascinated my by trainer.

5. Starburst Jelly Beans…get in my tummy!!!! …ahhhh just a few more hours!!! Is anyone else quite as obsessed as I am about these deliciously, fantastic candies?!

can you sense my excitement?!

6. Rock ‘n Roll Raleigh half marathon is almost here!!! Dylan and I did our last really long run (14miles) this past weekend and will be in full taper mode come Sunday! I am so excited for this race for a couple reasons…

Dylan and I are doing it together….we have already agreed that this race we will do start to finish together unless something catastrophic happens. Those who know me well will understand just how excited I am about this!
We are staying with my good friend Kathryn and her hubby in their NEW HOUSE!!! I cannot wait to see her and the new place!!
I am going back to Raleigh!!! Need I say more?!

a couple weekends ago, our 4:30AM 12 mile training run! head lamps and reflectors were a must!

7. I am always hungry. I think this is because I am starting to ramp up the miles in my training and the detox had me eating a lot of fruits and veggies which unfortunately don’t keep you quite as full.

8. Guess who has her first three days off in a row since Christmas….?!!?!? THIS GIRL!!!! This weekend I am taking off Friday, Saturday, AND Sunday!!! I am so ready for the break. I know I will still be training and running around crazy since I do date “the hyper one” as my mom calls him but I am so excited to step away from work for a full 3 days. I think this break will do me well. Plus I will be getting away from Charlotte and will be headed up the mountains with my family and Dylan for Easter weekend where it looks like lots of starburst jelly beans will be had, hikes will be taken, and baseball will be watched.

9. I am loving this warmer weather!! And added bonus Alexie just informed me that so many fun things happen in Charlotte come spring and summer….think concerts at the white water center and baseball games in uptown!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

10. We have had a great couple weekends in the mountains. Three weeks ago just for a day trip and two weekends ago for an entire 24hours! I love getting to spend a little extra time with my family and the hyper one.

baseball games and mountain hikes with my favorite people

11. I miss blogging. I know I have had my ups and downs with my posting frequency but I really enjoy it so I hope I am able to find more time to get posts up more regularly in the coming weeks and months. Speaking of which….what would you like to see more of on the blog?? Also, fellow bloggers, what is your strategy in a busy week to get a couple posts up?

I guess I will call it quits here….I would love to hear whats been going on with you and what you’d like to see more of on the blog. Be sure if you are a veteran ironman competitor to let me know how you find the balance of life and training. If you are a blogger, what is your strategy for posting frequently when you’re busy. And if you are just as obsessed with Starburst Jelly Beans as I am or if you have a different favorite Easter related candy!

Happy Tuesday Y’all!

8 Point Win

Hello Hello!! I hope you are staying warm and off the roads on this cold, yucky, ICY night!! Today’s post is a quick update of what has been going on with me these last couple weeks….

1. SNOW DAY or should I say ICE DAY!!! Today I didn’t go into either of my jobs since the roads were such a mess. This was a super strange concept for me considering it was a Tuesday and not going into either job only happens like 3-4 times a month!!! That being said my first reaction this morning was “….uhhh what do I do today?!” Not to worry though, I did manage to clean the entire apartment top to bottom, run on the treadmill, run the stairs, sign up for another race, cook a pretty awesome dinner, and still sit on the couch for several hours. Pretty productive day for never leaving my building!

2. Speaking of apartment, it is coming together great! My roommate had furnished most of the apartment before I got here but it feels more and more like home to me everyday.

3. I am still on the Grilled Cheese kick that I talked about yesterday but today I traded out the chicken for a little canned tuna. It was awesome! I wonder what master piece I can pull off tomorrow?!

4. My race calendar is starting to come together for the year. At this point I am going to be running Rock ‘n Roll Raleigh Half Marathon in April, Beach to Battleship Half Ironman in October, and Ironman Cozumel in November. I am looking to add in 2-3 more races between May and September. Maybe a sprint and an international distance triathlon…not sure yet but I do know I need to find a few more to keep myself motivated all the way to the end of November.

5. My car finally has a name!!! I present to you Edna!!! Like the little lady that makes the super hero suits in the movie The Incredibles.

6. Work is super busy and by super busy I just mean I am working all the time. As a mentioned a few months back, I am working at both Jenny Craig and the Y. I love that I am getting to help people achieve their goals but dang it is hard to find a balance sometimes. I am fighting to keep my Sunday’s free as often as possible but that seems to be getting harder and harder to do each week.

7. Cookie butter and cookie butter ice cream might be my new favorite foods. If you haven’t tried them, stay far far away!! They are almost too good to be true!!

8. Did you catch the “us” and the “we” in the grilled cheese post yesterday?! Since “love” is in the title of the blog I guess it is only fair I share the latest update in that category too…..His name is Dylan and we have been on a few dates now. Two of which were to one of my favorite places in Charlotte, Freedom Park. We went there the last two weekends to either throw the frisbee or shoot hoops. Aside from the park we have gone for ice cream, bowling, cooked each other dinner, and checked out Lake Norman State Park for a little hiking. I’ve had a great time on each of these dates and I am really enjoying getting to know him more and more!!

Post hike smiles at Lake Norman State Park 🙂

So there you have it, a life update in 8 short points. And incase you couldn’t figure out why I titled this post 8 Point Win, it is because I am extremely happy with the way things are going these days as I adjust to Charlotte living…. basically it feels like I am winning 😉

Have a Great Day Y’all!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Hey y’all! I hope you have had a very happy holiday season, are well rested, and have a good jump on those new years resolutions. Since I have been so pitiful on my holiday updates, I am going to take you through the 12 holiday high points, sort of like the 12 days of Christmas…

1. A visit with our good Friends the Coggins kicked off Christmas week for us. Congrats Jaclyn on your engagement!!

2. Christmas party at my parents house with family friends. I won Left Right Center and we had a Gingerbread House Competition. So Fun!

The “Kids” … I think it is safe to say we have all grown up a bit. 2 in college, 4 college grads, and 1 engaged!! WOW, where has the time gone?!

3. Baking Christmas cookies. Let’s just say we had the good, the bad, and the ugly amongst our 90+ cookies!

4. Christmas Eve Christmas shopping with my little brother… this has become a tradition at my house and I love getting to spend a little time just the two of us.

5. Writing our annual letters to Santa. Alex always has the most creative of letters. That boy, although he can be a bit much at times, sure is a funny one.

6. New Christmas jammies. Grandma has been giving us an ornament and PJs every year on Christmas Eve since I was a little baby.

7. Santa stopped by and was WAYYY too generous at our house! Those elves sure were busy this year!

8.NEW CAR!!!! Thanks daddy!!! My pretty little girl still remains nameless… Any suggestions??

9. A quick visit from our friends the Andrews. It was great getting to catch up with them.

10. Belk Bowl! Go Dawgs! So much fun to see a former Kimball Farmer (my childhood neighborhood) tear it up on the field. Congrats to David Andrews on finishing his college career with a great performance and a victory.

11.New Years eve… dad and his girls (mom, grandma, and I)! We went to Vine American Kitchen for dinner and it was delicious; a great last meal of 2014.

12. New Years Day….Moving day! Well moving day wasn’t exactly the best but being in a new apartment is pretty awesome! The place is great, roommate is very nice, and there is a crazy cat named Izzy. I’m sure I’ll have some Izzy stories for you as the year progresses.

Meet Izzy! The crazy cat the plays fetch and is a ton of help unpacking…Can’t you tell?!

That was my holiday season in a nutshell…. So what are your high points of the holiday season? Please share in the comments below. I love getting to know more about my readers 🙂

Thanksgiving

Hey Y’all! So this will be my last Thanksgiving post for the year…I feel like I have said “Happy Thanksgiving” enough on here already. But before I close out the holiday, I thought I would give you a quick recap of the Thanksgiving weekend…Gobble Gobble!!

Wednesday after just a half day of work I headed to the Charlotte house to be with my family. My brother was already there so the festivities began upon my arrival. Dad and Alex headed to the hot tub and Mom and I baked our first ever apple pie…. it was pretty good if I do say so myself! That night we had family dinner which ended in a big game of (Alex’s Rules) Rock Paper Scissors…I’m still not sure who won but nonetheless it was a lot of fun and many giggles were had.

Thursday started off with the Turkey Trot. Mom walked the 5k and I ran the 8k. It was so much fun. For as much as I love doing marathons and other big, epic races, races like this are so much fun. You have people of all ages, shapes, sizes, and abilities, everyone is smiling and having fun, and there are lots of costumes. It really was a fun way to start the morning.

After our fun morning we headed home to walk the dogs and get to cooking. Everyone else arrived at the house between 2&3. We had my grandma and another family for dinner. It was a fun afternoon and evening with all of them. Lots of chit chatting and catching up before dinner and WAYYYYY too much food for dinner. Everything was delicious, even the ginny pig fried turkey, so it was hard to stop at a little portions but I did as best I could…I had to save room for my apple pie!

Friday was pretty uneventful for the majority of the day, I made my way to the Y for a cycle class but that was about it for the morning. It certainly felt good to get a good sweat in after a day of eating and drinking.

Then that evening as a family we went to the Charlotte Hornets game. My brother and I had a good time laughing and saying “What are we doing with our lives?!” as we looked at the roster and noticed that a fair number of the players were younger than us.

Saturday started bright and early with a morning shift at Jenny Craig. As much as I didn’t want to get out of bed, I was really proud of my clients that came in that morning. The majority of my clients maintained their weight loss over Thanksgiving week and a few even lost. One lady lost 3lbs over the course of Thanksgiving week! Just further proving that you can lose weight over the holidays! So proud of her!

Saturday night as a family plus my brother’s girlfriend, Lindsey, we headed to the Comedy Zone in Uptown Charlotte. We saw James Gregory, he has to be about 70years old but he was hilarious. I really enjoyed his show because it wasn’t raunchy, dirty funny but rather (almost) clean funny. He had us laughing from the beginning all the way to the end from both his facial expressions and his jokes. I personally think he’d make a great Grinch. Has anyone else seen him live, what’d you think? Also, for anyone living in the Charlotte area, I definitely recommend checking out the Comedy Zone if you are looking for a fun night out.

And finally Sunday, Alex headed back to school and Lindsey back to Charleston, but only after our “First Annual After Thanksgiving Pancake Toss”….We, being the competitive family that we are, threw left over pancakes off the back deck having a competition to see who could throw the furthest. Not sure we ever officially declared a winner but I am going to go with Alex as the champion of this one. It was a great final laugh to end the fun, family filled holiday weekend.

And now it is back to reality…and time to work off those couple of pounds I put on these last few days! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving Holiday, please share some of your highlights of the weekend in the comments below!

Happy lets get those abs back before Christmas Monday! 😉

Get to planking y’all!

Lets Play Catch-Up!!

Hello Friends!

How are you?! Have you missed me?! I know I have been gone for quite a little while and I know I have certainly miss you all! To get things kicked off after my long hiatus from the blogger world lets do a quick re-cap of the last couple months….

Dad’s retirement party and the day I accepted
my big girl job 🙂

June started out with Raleigh Half Ironman. You can read more about it here. Then later that month I celebrated my 23rd birthday and quit my job….yep thats right, I quit my job in Raleigh and start packing up my life.

July started out with a move to the Queen City where I knew no one and had no job but fortunately for me I have a great family who happily opened their doors to me. And almost as fortunate I found a job only 3 short weeks after moving home. I accepted my first “big girl” job working as a Jenny Craig Consultant. The hours and pay aren’t great but the relationships with coworkers and clients have been more than worth it. I have also learned a ton already and I know I will only continue to grow and learn.

All smiles after passing
the ACE Health Coaching exam

August I really got in the swing of things with the new job and unfortunately that took quite the toll on my training…no one ever mentioned how tired you’d you be at the end of a full work day!! I decided to defer my registration for Beach to Battleship 70.3 to the 2015 season when I hopefully have a little bit more structure to my schedule.

September was full of studying and I am happy to announce it all paid off…. I am now an ACE Certified Health Coach!! In addition to the studying, I have jumped back on the training wagon and started picking up my milage as I continue to train for Thunder Road Marathon in November…I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot more about that over the next 6weeks as I get ready for the grueling 26.2miles.

So now you’re all caught up with me and I look forward to sharing more with you in the weeks to come!

Happy Hump Day Y’all!!