Ladies Night Out!

FINALLY it's Friday! LADIES NIGHT OUT.

Me and a few of my close girl friends in the area are getting together tonight (a much needed tradition that should be done regularly).

We are going to see the new movie, Magic Mike, with Mr. Gorgeous Channing Tatum and Mr. Delicious Matthew McConaughey. A total chick flick and a DIRTY one at that.

 Ladies, if you don't know what movie I am referring to, please watch the following trailer to catch up. Be prepared, if you are shy, prude, easily disturbed by male nudity, bumping and grinding.....this might not be the movie for you.



The movie will be followed by a few cocktails, gossip, and of course, gushing over the men in the movie. :)

Adoption Fundraiser

A friend of mine from church is selling these awesome blessed bracelets (only $10) to raise money for her and her husband's adoption. (they cannot have children of their own) You can read their story here: stained glass windows. I wrote about this couple in a post back in January 2012.

I am trying to spread the word to help this amazing couple out. I placed my order this morning. :) Can't wait to sport my bracelets.

Please take a few minutes to check out her blog (the link is below the picture) and consider sharing this on your facebook and/or blog. Many thanks!

doss-family-fundraiser

So proud of my future husband!

My future husband, ladies & gentlemen.....

  I'm so proud of him. He's such a good sport...anything to help promote our church summer backyard bible camp and teach children about God and His word (he will be an awesome dad some day).

To fill you in on WHY he is dressed like a daisy.....our church is doing a backyard bible camp this year. We did a safari-themed one last year. This year, 5 families from our church will be hosting mini camps in their own backyards. For the brief skit during each service, Matt played the backyard daisy learning about backyard bible camp, how he can help and what to expect. It was a fun way to advertise it to our families and children.

Matt and I volunteered with our bible camp last year and absolutely LOVED it! We are really looking forward to helping out again.
It is an amazing experience to observe children pray.

HELLO Brad!

Meet my new personal trainer, Brad Gouthro! Ok, he's not MY trainer, but I came across his Youtube channel and really like his workouts, food and nutrition tips. If you're looking for some fitness motivation.....he's your man. Check him out.....

Brides Made Fit - w/Jenny

I discovered Jenny a few years ago when I was a Jazzercise instructor. She is a personal trainer who's business is focused on helping brides get in shape for their weddings. Now that I am engaged, Jenny came to mind again, so I found her website again. She has a great podcast site here: Made Fit TV



I like that she explains the exercises she has you do, how to do them correctly and what muscles they are working. She's just so real...I love that.





That's my shoutout for Jenny in Detroit, Michigan and her amazing personal training tips and podcasts. Here's her website: http://bridesmadefit.com/aboutus.php

We set a wedding date!

I am excited to announce that Matt and I will be exchanging vows, promising love, life and commitment to each other in the presence of our closest friends, family and our Lord Savior, September 7, 2013.

I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I look forward to creating a life together with Christ as our rock and the foundation of our marriage.

Now that there's an official wedding date, I feel like this is all real....it is really happening. Situations in life and the people we meet....that come and go, it all happens for a reason....His reason. There was a reason God intended for certain things to not work out in life....to be lessons learned....to build strength & confidence. With all the "wrong" things that seemed to happen to me, allowed the good...better things to come along.

As I've said before, I feel like God hit the reset button on my life. He gave me another chance at love. He gave me a man that is eager to live his life like Him, and I love this. Together, we will strive to be more like God....to love like Him and forgive like Him.

September 7, 2013 will mark the first day of our lives as  
Mr. & Mrs. Martinez....I couldn't be happier and more excited for that day to come.

An open letter to all parents from a non-parent...

I saw this blog post on Facebook and just had to share as I have several friends who are parents. It is true....parents are superhuman. Y'all are my heroes and I have no idea how you do it all. I hope some day I will learn to master your magical ways. 

I just finished babysitting your baby today.

I have salmon stuck on my neck and in the crease under my left breast.

My eardrum is damaged due to high frequency screaming.

I had to hold her while I was peeing because from her perspective it seemed like Satan himself would rape and kill her slowly if I put her down thus I did not get the chance to wipe myself properly…

…no matter though as I am covered in a thick layer of sweat from pushing the stroller up the hill so a bit more wet between the legs even things out.

I washed my hair this morning but all of a sudden it looks like a stringy bag of shit pile.

You can read the rest here: Trying To Be Good

"I want a new marriage"

My church, GracePoint, recently just completed a 3-week series called,
"I want a new marriage."

Matt and I were only able to catch the last sermon in person, because of graduation weekend and then the Detroit RFTC weekend.

Time to catch up and watch the first two sermons of the series. Interested in checking them out? Here's where you can watch our church messages....

Valpograce.com

Even though we missed the first two messages, Sunday's was especially powerful. As a newly engaged couple, it was helpful for us to hear. Our pastor has a way of bringing us to tears with his sermons. They are so real and tug at your insides - he challenges us. I had to fight to  hold back the tears on Sunday (I am super emotional and cry even over sappy commercials). 

Here's the Series Opening Video (it will really make you think - listen to what they're saying).

As part of this sermon, we had a real couples from church give a testimonial videos about their struggles in their marriages. I highly encourage everyone who is going through a rough patch in their marriage/relationship and feel as if there is no hope to watch this video. These couple's stories will touch your heart.

Here's the marriage story from WEEK 1

Here's the marriage story from WEEK 3 (this one is really intense)

One thing I love that our church offers is a resource center. I bought a few marriage books for us. I know no book will make or save a marriage, but I think of it as an investment in my future marriage and my commitment to Matt and our vows. I want to make sure we are prepared and Christ is part our marriage. 

Running Tips

I love to run. I was never runner when I was younger, even when I played soccer. I hated running, and I had to run a lot. My best friend and I used to get in trouble during practice all the time for talking, so we'd be running laps. Ha ha!

Now, it soothes me. It helps me clear my head, de-stress and give me energy. I love it. So, for all my runner friends, here are a few good running tips (I didn't list all 101 tips) courtesy of Women's Health Magazine 

1. Accept the challenge

"Everyone is an athlete. But some of us are training, and some of us are not." --Dr. George Sheehan, runner/writer/philosopher

2. Shoot for this (at least)

"Running 8 to 15 miles per week significantly increases your aerobic capacity, and positively effects many of the coronary risk factors." --Dr. Kenneth Cooper, aerobics pioneer

3. Be a minuteman

"The biggest mistake that new runners make is that they tend to think in mile increments--1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles. Beginning runners need to think in minutes, not miles." --Budd Coates, four-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier/coach

4. Wear good running shoes

"Spend at least $60. A good pair of running shoes should last you 400 to 500 miles and is one of the most critical purchases you will make." --John Hanc, author of The Essential Runner

6. Take the "talk test"

"The 'talk test' means running at a pace comfortable enough to converse with a training partner--but not so easy that you could hit the high notes in an Italian opera." --Runner's World editors

8. Relax to the max

"When running, let your jaw hang loose, don't bunch up your shoulders close to your ears, and occasionally shake out your hands and arms to stay relaxed." --Dave Martin, Ph.D., exercise physiologist

10. Make time for a quickie

"If 15 minutes is all the time I have, I still run. Fifteen minutes of running is better than not running at all." --Dr. Duncan Macdonald, former U.S. record holder at 5000 (set when he was in medical school)

12. Try a "nooner"

"Noontime running provides a triple benefit: daylight, a break from the workday, and a chance to avoid eating a heavy lunch." --Joe Henderson, runner/writer

14. Stay "liquid"

"Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate! In cold weather and warm. We use water to sweat, lubricate joints, tendons, and ligaments, and to carry blood efficiently to major organs. I work all day at hydrating." --Dr. Alex Ratelle, former masters running great

17. Create your own running creed

"My whole teaching in one sentence is: "Run slowly, run daily, drink moderately, and don't eat like a pig." --Dr. Ernst van Aaken, renowned German coach

19. Take what you can get

"So-called 'junk miles'--those slow miles done on easy days or during warmups--do count. They burn calories as effectively as fast miles; it just takes longer. Regardless of pace, each mile you run burns about 100 calories." --Hal Higdon, runner/writer/coach

29. Listen to your body (yes, again!)

"Your body is always trying to tell you where you are. Beware when you become tired and listless, when you lose interest in workouts and approach them as a chore rather than a pleasure." --Dr. George Sheehan

43. Don't always watch the watch

"I don't wear a watch during my long runs. That way I'm not tempted to compare my time from week to week." --Lynn Jennings, three-time World Cross-Country champion

44. Rest assured

"Back off at the first sign of injury. Three to 5 days off is better than missing a month or two. Take regular rest days." --PattiSue Plumer, two-time U.S. Olympian

47. "Chip" away at it

"Think chest/hips/push, or CHP, when it's time for uphill running. Chest up, hips forward, push strongly off each foot." --Jeff Galloway

68. Warm up, don't wear down

"At most, jog easily for 15 minutes before a race. Then stretch your hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, and lower back. With about 15 minutes to go, maybe do a few strides. But no more--you'll warm up plenty in the early going." --Mark Plaatjes, 1993 World Championships marathon winner

71. Stay on pace

"It's better to run too slow at the start than too fast and get into oxygen debt, which is what 99.9 percent of runners do. You have to learn pace." --Bill Bowerman, renowned University of Oregon coach

75. Step back a bit

"Build up your mileage in gradual increments, but every third or fourth week, drop back in mileage to recover. This will help you avoid your breaking point." --Lee Fidler, coach and two-time U.S. Olympic Marathon qualifier

77. ...And enough is enough

"Never run more than 3 hours straight in training, whether your marathon best is 2:42 or 4:24." --Ed Eyestone

86. Divide by three

"Divide the marathon into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart." --Mike Fanelli, runner and coach

Angry Trainer Fitness

I tried two new circuits with Angry Trainer Fitness. LOVE them! 

*2 sets: A$$ Kicker Workout 

*2 sets: Abs O'Mighty 

Debt & The Envelope System

Ok, I know this concept is not really new anymore, but it's catching on. We even have friends who do the envelope system or method.

I'd like to try this personally. Maybe I will start with giving myself an allowance each pay period for "extra spending/play" money. This will certainly help me cut back on the extra spending I do on little things like, um......Starbucks.

Now that we are planning for a wedding, we, well, Matt, has created a budget for us. I think this envelope system plus coupons will help us more. I've already started taking advantage of coupons lately. I am not one of the organized category coupon binder people though.

Anyone out there already doing the envelope system? Advice? Tips?

Here are a few additional articles about it:

Today's Nest

Wisebread.com

Dave Ramsey

There are books, youtube tutorials and everything on this topic! Crazy!

I wonder why this "craze" has started? I think maybe it's because this generation (and maybe it's not even a generation thing) is in debt. Credit cards steal people's souls. Ok, that's a little intense, but they can certainly take over people's lives to the point where they are out of control in debt and can't bury their way out. Been there, done that. Never. Again.

 To me, there is good debt and bad debt. Credit card debt, to me is bad. Student loan debt (depending on the amount and the degree in which you earn) is an investment and is good debt. I have seen students go into $100,000 debt for a Bachelors degree - that to me, is insane.

Then there's the insane wedding debt people take on to put on a spectacular "show" of their love and affection for everyone and their brother. It's a 1 day event, ladies and gentlemen. There's no need for $30,000 ice sculptures....for a June wedding.

I once met someone (a law student) who took on a $3,000/month car payment for brand new flashy car (BMW or something like that...I don't remember). He used his student loans to help pay for this car. AHHH!

Why do people feel the need for expensive, flashy material things?

Time to start operation envelope system. Today's the first of a new month and a pay day. I'll keep y'all posted on how it goes. Wish me luck!