engagement video preview

Daniel and I just watched this trailer last night. Bonnie and Gabe of Two Birds Photography posted it in YouTube today and I've already shared it via Facebook. But in case you don't follow Grrfeisty [or my own page], here you go.

Not your typical engagement video. :)

There is also a 2nd trailer [not posted]. Maybe they'll share it. ;-)

Revolt Now Fitness Update

So! My favorite way to compare "before" and "after" shots is via derby photography. These shots are caught when I am not interested in looking nice for the camera. I feel like they are the most honest.

I haven't lost as many pounds as during the initial detox week, but thank goodness for measurements. :) I've maintained my initial loss and since then have lost an inch around my arms, an inch around my hips, and an inch around my legs. I am so excited! Especially because my arms are definitely a sore spot for me.

The food has been nothing to complain about, and the work outs are tough! Because I play roller derby and work out with my Crossfit Caveman folk, I tend to do half the assigned work outs [unless it's an off day]. I decided to try and up it to double work outs once summer begins - yikes!

After finding out that I can swap meals from one week with another, I am even more interested in continuing this program off and on for life.

I am back to detox this week because it's wedding countdown week! 5 days!! That way Daniel and I can be at our "slimmest" for the ceremony - though I am more interested in keeping this up for our honeymoon in Hawaii. :)

If you are interested in trying this program out [which I highly recommend!], there's a free Kick Start going on - make sure to check it out!

My biggest win has been reducing my beer derby gut. This photo is from April - I am barely leaning forward! Atrocious. I can't believe it.

[Thanks to Steve Beard for the shot!]

And this past weekend - exactly a month later [because we bout every 3rd Saturday] - I am down about 7 lbs, and losing inches everywhere!

[Thanks to Hung Truong for the shot!]

This one is a little hard to see, but look how far I am leaning over! And how much smaller my stomach is! And this is kind of embarrassing...but last weekend, when I had some ladies over, a couple of them mentioned how tiny my arms looked. I was seriously beaming!

The proof is NOT in the pudding. ;-)

 

Thank you Revolt! This program rocks!

xoxo

[The Revolt Not Fitness program offered me 12 weeks participation in exchange for my own views and opinions.]

guilt-free fun with the laaaaaadies

The other night, I just needed release. A night with some friends, doing nothin' but hanging out. No wedding planning, texts, phonecalls, emails, nothing! Okay, maybe we did our nails... :)

Pretty much everyone that came over is currently on a diet or fitness program [like me!]. So we didn't really want to go crazy. No worries, my friends! I was able to make a few low-calorie drinks using Smirnoff Sorbet Light Vodka. I mixed 3 different infusions and a variety of juices and made some delicious guilt-free beverages!

 [My sister had a good time sniffing the products - yum!]

[Friends were looking at the calorie count - pretty impressive.]

My favorite concoction is the Smirnoff Sorbet Light Raspberry Lemon Punch [Smirnoff raspberry pomegranate infused vodka, lemonade, and raspberries]. It tasted as good as it looked. :)

Everyone knows raspberry lemonade is the best!

This juice-look-alike is a martini.

 The Smirnoff Sorbet Light Tropical Martini consisted of coconut water, Smirnoff mango passion fruit infused vodka, and pineapple juice.

I am in love with coconut water, so I made mine a double. :)

Other drinks favored were the Smirnoff Sorbet Light Citrus Punch [Smirnoff lemon infused vodka, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and agave nectar], and the Smirnoff Sorbet Light Tropical Screwdriver Punch [Smirnoff mango passion fruit infusion, orange juice, and pineapple juice].

You can probably tell how refreshing and light these drinks were by how large a serving we all enjoyed, and the lack of ability to keep the polish on my nails.

[Don't look too closely!]

The ladies and I decided that because we'd be partaking in alcohol, staying in was key. And with everything going on with my upcoming nuptials, the night definitely helped with the whole "just breathe" bit. :)

Always remember to drink responsibly.

And now you can drink healthy, too. :)

xoxo

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Smirnoff Sorbet Light.  All reviews/opinions expressed in this post are unbiased & based on my personal view.
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our imperfections

i love dogs.

but i am not an expert and i am not a whisperer. somewhere along the way, i led people to believe this. yes, i can train my own to do certain things...but with time and patience anyone can. 

what i can't do, is read their minds. oh how i wish i knew what was going through those cute little furry heads when they did something crazy or silly.

tonight, daniel and i met with a dog trainer because last week...was pretty rough. let me start from the "beginning."

most of you know the story of Osa. but this is not about her very beginnings [although they definitely shaped her into who she is today]. this is about the beginning of her change.

i've been keeping a secret from you. since mid-march, daniel and i have been struggling with Osa. all of a sudden, she is an aggressive dog [towards some other dogs]. daniel and i have been trying new methods and techniques, but after the last 2 attacks, i was traumatized. this many tears haven't been shed since daniel was hospitalized in 2009.

i felt ashamed and embarrased that this was my Osa. where did it come from? what was the trigger?

do we need to think about adoption?? [cue sobbing]

what if we have to put her down?? [cue breakdown]

both mya and buster were injured - and buster needed stitches. was this all my fault?? should i have left her in the road all those years ago?? oh, the tears.

our vet recommended a trainer. i was skeptical because i considered daniel and myself pretty good at teaching our dogs. and then i was scared because the possible-trainer said she might have to refer us to a behavior therapist, depending on the issue. things worked out. she said this was definitely something she could handle. YES.

we met her tonight. and having an outside observer is the best thing we could have done. she showed us things about Osa we never realized. for example? my "simple" dog is oh-so-smart.

she noticed things that may have led up to the events that started a couple months ago. she analyzed Osa's behavior and what we shared about each incident. in each case, there was a "resource," a type of "trigger."

what we have concluded: Osa is an anxious dog. and she feels like she needs to take care of us - enforce the things we request of other dogs. she needs control. it's true! and anxiety mixed with our commands, loud situations [barking, noise levels, yelling], only makes things worse. "well if she's not going to do anything about that non-stop barking, i will."

i feel such relief that someone is hopeful. Osa will never be able to go back to being just goofy old Osa...but we know what to watch out for and which situations to avoid. we are back to kenneling and have purchased a muzzle. it's been about 4 or 5 days of muzzle now...and she's fine. barely reacts anymore.

i am sad that things have to change now...i am sad that some people see her differently. but i am also hopeful. i get to keep my Osa, and rediscover how amazing she can be.

what would you do in this situation? what have you done in this situation?

xoxo