Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly, Fa La La La La, La La La La

Since Halloween, I've been repressing my Christmas spirit relentlessly...no Christmas shopping, no Christmas music, no Christmas decorating. It's been rough, I have to admit.

Nevertheless, Thanksgiving day (as much as I love it) has finally come and gone, and it's all Christmas from here on out. The tree is decorated, the wreath is on the door, and Black Friday has been conquered. Here are a few (okay, a lot) of shots of our Christmas spirit at 309 McDowell Drive. I hope you enjoy perusing them as much as I enjoyed taking them...with our new Canon EOS Rebel T3, might I add!

DIY tutorials coming soon!

Ornament from "The Christmas Shop" in Gatlinburg

Camera settings: ISO 6400, SS 1/32 (House lights off)

Ornament from Carolina Pottery

Squirrel ornament from Target

Dorothy's glass slipper ornament, from the Museum of American History (Washington, DC)

Ole Miss football player ornament, from Kyle's grandmother

A close-up of my ragamuffin linen garland (tutorial coming soon)

Owl ornament (set of 3) from Target

Bird ornament from Walmart (who knew?)

 Deer antler ornament from Walmart (Kyle's choice, of course)

 Poinsettias from Michael's

Ruffled Christmas tree skirt (tutorial coming soon)

My DIY winter wreath!

Coffee table (I'm loving burlap this season)

Merry Christmas!!

FITNESS FRIDAY: Too Much Turkey

Despite your (sort of) best efforts, did you feel as stuffed as yesterday's turkey after your Thanksgiving celebration yesterday? It happens to the best of us.

For those of you who ate in moderation and were able to keep the top button of your jeans fastened all day and all evening, I commend you. For those who were not so fortunate, not to worry...here's what you need to do about it TODAY.

1. Cut back your starch and sugar intake for the next three days. Most Thanksgiving goodies are loaded with carbohydrates and fat, which are NOT bad in and of themselves; however, over-indulging in these nutrients is likely to lead to water retention and bloating. So, by cutting back on carbs and sugar while replacing them with more fruits and veggies, your digestive system can catch a break and get a boost from all of the enzymes found in raw foods...meaning that you'll flush your system faster.

2. Do NOT starve yourself or workout for five hours a day. One extreme is no better than another. Starving yourself will only shock your metabolism into conservation mode, meaning that you'll store whatever food you do eat rather than releasing it as energy. Working out at maximum capacity for an extended length of time will more than likely make you nauseous, dizzy, or both. Instead, eat light, natural foods, consume LOTS of water (no, not soda, tea, or alcohol), and keep moving at a low intensity (shopping, cleaning the house, raking leaves, yoga, etc).

And most of all, don't panic. Your body knows what its doing...don't try to shock it into submission. Happy Friday, my friends.

GRATITUDE WITHOUT GUILT: How To Avoid Thanksgiving Gluttony

It's that time of year again.

Time for family. For friends. And for food. 

The latter of which is usually accompanied by stomach aches, heartburn, and the false proclamation, "I'm never eating ever again."

Want to avoid the post-turkey-day pounds? Here are a few helpful tips to keep your eating on track AND still enjoy the Thanksgiving smorgasbord.

1. DON'T SKIP MEALS. Many people choose to starve themselves through the day so they can have more room for the scrumptious meal. This will lead to binge eating. Instead, have a small, healthy breakfast and lunch. Drink water throughout the day to keep you from overeating or consuming empty calories from soda or alcohol. This will help you feel more satisfied so you won't overeat at dinner.

2. CHEW YOUR MEAL SLOWLY. Thanksgiving is the ideal time to sit down, eat your meal slowly and relish every bite. You will feel fuller faster, which will help you avoid overeating.

3. USE SMALLER PLATES. Depending on where you go for Thanksgiving it may be impossible, but if you are the host or your family doesn't mind, consider grabbing a smaller plate for your meal.

 

4. CREATE A TINY, PORTIONED SMORGASBORD. Between all of the delectable food, your great aunt asking if you tried her pie yet, and all of the goodies being passed your way, it is easy to be tempted to eat everything. Instead of having a big meal of turkey and potatoes and then trying everything else on top of it, have a little bit of everything. On most days, you should try to eat more vegetables and fruits than anything else, but on Thanksgiving, make your goal to avoid overeating. Allow yourself a spoonful or two of everything you love, pass over what you don't.

...A big thanks to Livestrong.com and Health.com for helping me with these tips.

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends.

FITNESS FRIDAY: Love Your Lower Body!

Hope you're having a fabulous Friday, my friends!

Like the alliteration? I thought you might. 

Today's Fitness Friday is all about your lower body. My clients know better than anyone that I am ALL about your legs and butt...it's my favorite thing to work! So, imagine my delight when, as I perused Pinterest in class yesterday, I stumbled across this nifty leg workout from Prevention.com. The coolest part? You do the whole workout using a nothing but a wall! As an added bonus, all of these exercises are highly functional in nature, meaning that: (a) almost everyone can do them in some form or fashion, and (b) they are important for maintaining balance, core strength, and movement efficiency throughout the day!

Pretty neat, right? I thought so. 

That's why I decided to share some of the exercises with you guys. So don't just sit there...find a wall and get busy!

Wall Bridge

(Lower back, Glutes)

Lie on back with butt against wall, arms at sides, knees bent, and feet planted 3 to 4 feet up wall. Exhale and peel lower and mid back off floor, keeping shoulder blades down, so body forms a nearly straight line from chest to knees. Hold for a deep inhale, then exhale and slowly roll back down.

MY TIP: Walk your feet all the way up the wall and back down for an added bonus.

Windshield Wipers

(Inner & Outer Thighs)

From Wall Bridge starting position, extend legs straight up against wall so body forms an L. Inhale and slowly lower left leg down wall like a clock arm toward 9 o'clock; exhale and return to start. Repeat with right leg, sweeping toward 3 o'clock. Continue to alternate legs until you've completed all reps. 

MY TIP: Use an exercise band to make this one harder!

Wall Scissor

(Glutes, Hamstrings)

From Toe Reaches start position, bend knees to plant feet on wall. Peel back off floor, keeping shoulder blades down, and step feet up wall so body forms a diagonal line from feet to chest. Bend elbows and support lower back with hands; keep shoulder blades, upper arms, and head on floor. Lower left leg toward head as far as you can, keeping both legs straight and abs tight. Return to wall and lower right leg. Continue to alternate until you've completed all reps.

MY TIP: Alternate between making tiny pulses with your leg, then moderate pulses, and then big pulses. Repeat for all reps!

As if you didn't already LOVE these exercises enough, flipping your workout upside down is great for injuries, arthritis, and knee problems. Why? Because your legs get a great workout without putting much stress on those joints! 

Happy Friday.

And remember, the best way to spend your day is by showing everyone you encounter the same love and grace that God has shown you.

Wedding Wonders

Happy Thursday!

Today, we're celebrating all things vintage and vintage-inspired. I love the combination of old things with new life together. 

Also, this post is dedicated to my sweet friend, Elizabeth Dew, who will be walking down the aisle on the arm of her father in 3 short days.

A picture.

A cake.

A dress.

A ring.

A flower.

An idea.

Cheers.

Eat Your Vegetables.

Take a walk down memory lane and picture yourself as a child, sitting at the dinner table. Remember all those foods that you used to sneak off your plate and under the table to the happy dog waiting underneath (assuming that doesn't just happen in the movies)?

Well, you may want to rethink those brussel sprouts. 

 A new study suggests that those vegetables and fruits which tend to leave a bitter or acidic aftertaste (brussel sprouts, kale, spinach, red wine, dark chocolate, etc) are likely HIGH in phytonutrients, which are important for disease prevention and MAY also be linked to cancer prevention as well! Pretty neat, right? 

Here's the link to an insightful article (from ScienceDaily.com) that discusses the results and implications of this study. 

 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/11/001128070121.htm

Happy Tuesday!

Memories on the Mountain

Last weekend, Kyle and I joined six beautiful friends for an early Thanksgiving in the mountains. Two of the couples, the Clarks and the Smiths, are dear friends of ours from college, and we were so blessed to spend time with them again. The third couple, Billy and Lauren, are new friends that we met for the first time last Friday. 

Kyle and I had an A-MAZING time. When we agreed to go on the trip, I second-guessed myself several times, thinking that two nights in Tennessee might not be worth the six-hour drive. 

I was very, very wrong.

What amazed me most about our time in the mountains is how little how changed between us. In college, we were full-time students with no jobs, little responsibility, and no idea where we'd be in 10, 5, or even 2 years. Fast forward to 2011, and we have wedding rings, careers, homes, and lives that are vastly different from the world that we lived in two years ago. And yet, despite all that change, we came together for three days, and I felt like I was back in Oxford, Mississippi. Football was watched. Settlers was played. Laughs were plentiful. Life was beautiful. 

Below, I've added a few of my very favorite pictures from the weekend. I can't help but smile as I look at these pictures and think about all of the wonderful memories we made in college, in the mountains this past weekend, and those that we're sure to make for years to come. 

Pretty sappy, yes? I can't help it.

Driving to Tennessee.

Yep, that's me. Bungee jumping.

At the Pancake Pantry.

I love him.

This is what Fall looks like.

Our God is greater.

Lauren and Katy, getting ready for bobsledding.

Chris and Hayden, being awesome.

Kyle is pretty stoked.

Lauren and Billy

Katy and Charles

Hayden and Chris

Kyle and Me

Beautiful friends.

 

Beautiful life.