June Fitness

So I was (past tense for sure) doing really well with working out and eating fairly well for a few months early this year, but then somehow I just got lazy and fell out of doing it. So today I am recommitting. The 'type-A' in me likes to have a schedule and a clear idea of what to do, so today I am sharing the two things I am working on.

The first is the June Strong Arms Challenge from Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. Now that its summer, and with the wedding coming up (less than 150 days!) I want to get my arms, shoulders and upper back toned for that wedding dress! It is only the 6th so I am just jumping right in. For sure have to work on my push ups though I can't even do one correctly I am sad to say!

The second thing I am going to do is this PopSugar Crunch Challenge. I am feeling really good with the weight I have lost, but I for sure need to tone up in the tummy area. This one I just started on Day 1, since it is a 2 week challenge.

Another thing I am working on is getting back into running. Running is such a struggle for me! The biggest setbacks I deal with are shin splints and blisters. I have never, in my entire adult life, had a pair of running shoes that has not given me blisters. It is so discouraging! If anyone has any tips, or a shoe they really love I would love to know! I have a really narrow foot, which is probably part (most?) of the problem. 

I also wish running was just easier! I know that seems like a silly thing to say because, duh, it's running, but I wish I could just be one of those people who running comes easier to! Listen, I know running is a lot of hard work, and that everyone that runs has put in the time. But uhhhgggg, so frustrating! I want running to feel therapeutic like it does for some people, where for me it is just hard! I wish I had the mental strength that those people have but I just don't, wahhhh!

Seriously I am so jealous of this girl! But I still love her :)
She's amazing!

Bookworm

Soooooo... Hello again loves! I sincerely apologize for my absence but you know how life is! In the past however long, I have been busy busy busy! Mostly wedding planning, we moved, and I have lost almost 15 pounds!

So anyway, the reason for my return is this: I signed up for a service today that is basically like Netflix for books and I really wanted to tell you about it! At first I was thinking it would just be a facebook post but it just kept getting longer and longer!

I have always been a reader. In high school I took a class called Great Books, and actually passed it with OVER 100. I love reading. Lately though, life has gotten in the way. I have read some books here and there that I was really interested in, but not nearly as much reading as I've wanted to. But with summer coming up and not as much good TV in the summer, I went out and bought Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

I have wanted to read it for a while, and heard it was good, it being all over the internet and everything. I am not done with it yet but mannnnn it is getting good!!! I definitely recommend it. (By the way I hear there is a big twist, and if you ruin it for me, so help me!!!) Please don't. No spoilers here!

So since I am planning on getting back into reading full throttle, I have been thinking about how to go about this without A) buying every book I want to read and going broke, and B) having to leave my house (GASP!) and scour the library for a book I want to read, and have to worry about when it needs to be returned.

Please note: I do not have an e-reader. I just like to hold a real-life book in my hands, and turn a real-life page, and mark it with a real-life bookmark. It's a nostalgia thing I think. The only thing Carrie Bradshaw and I have in common. Ha.

I did some google-ing and found Booksfree.com. It is Netflix for books. They have actual books, as well as audiobooks. You can choose a plan depending on how many books you want at a time, and create a queue of all the books you want to read.

I can tell this is going to be dangerous because just in the last few hours I have accumulated a queue of 48 books!! I seriously can't wait to get started. Warm weather, sitting on the new screen porch with a cold drink and a good book.... perfection! 

Here is a screen shot of my queue, with the first two books I will receive up at the top. 

My first 2 books should arrive just in time for me to finish up Gone Girl. I can't wait for these two either.

The Shack by William P. Young I have heard crazy good things about.

And seriously who doesn't love Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery? I was given the first 4 in a set when I was like 10 or 12 maybe. I remember loving them and have been wanting to reread the series. I loved these stories about the quirky red headed girl with the big imagination. Summer is the perfect time to start them again!

I am so excited! I for sure know what I will be doing when I get home today, sorry chores!