Monday, December 31, 2012

I Bet Santa Crossfits!

I hope everyone had a fit and festive holiday!  I know I have thoroughly enjoyed my time off!

Kicked off my vacation Friday with a workout and a trip to Athleta in Atlantic Station.


It was there open house event and my 1st time experiencing there fitness wear. There clothes are ridiculously high quality. I am vert textural and loved the feel of there products, and their staff was extremely attentive and friendly, great customer service. It wasn't just about the clothes tho. I was also able to get on their fitness schedule for January 13th Tabata and the 27th for Flirty Girl Fitness.

Then Saturday Me, the hubs, and my lil sis went up to Helen, Ga for wine tasting.  Ummm guess who left there ID at home and didn't realize it til they reached the winery, this girl! Luckily I have been before so I was able to be a good host and get the husband to by the bottles I wanted, crisis averted!

1st stop, Habersham Winery in Nanoochee village.


Then Nora's Mill for locally milled flour and Jumping Goat Coffee for a caffine boost.


Then we made our way into the Helen village, where Alicia played nice with big Santa.


After Helen, we went and picked up our new family member Gus!


He is an early Christmas present for my husband who has been wanting a dog for years.

Sunday was yoga, deadlifts, box jumps, and burpees.

Monday kicked off a week of crossfit. We did a hero's workout, "Victoria", these are my favorite, they are inspiring and intense. 


Victoria was the Sandy Hook teacher that hid all her kids when the gun man came to her classroom. She died protecting the lives of her students. I was humbled and honored to do a workout in her name.

Tuesday, Christmas! I got lots of awesome gifts, including a giftcard to Athleta, Just Dance 4, and a beanie to get through the cold weather.

Wednesday, I achieved a PR of 105 on my floor press



and rocked my overhead squats, still need a little more depth to reach the CF standard but I'm getting there.

Thursday was a Crossfit birthday workout for my lil sis!



Friday, we worked on Sumo deadlift, with a MetCon of DB snatches and pull ups.


I achieved a PR on my Sumo Deadlift at 205lbs


then Alicia PR'd at 215lbs, siblings ;-) she keeps me motivated, no slacking with her around.

Saturday, kipping work and super team WOD.


We did a little bit of everything in this one including tire flips and my nemisis the kick up handstand. But, forcing me to do at least 10 is a good way to conquer the fear.  1st 5 were ugly 2nd 5 were solid kick ups!

We took Gus for his 1st vet visit and all is well on the puppy front! He has one command so far, he has a really good sit ;-)

I have a few more days of vaction time, and I am loving it!

Enjoy your friends and family this season,
See you in the New Year!

Health and Happiness
L

Monday, December 17, 2012

Finding that Holiday Spirit

This weekend I was fortunate to have the opportunity to give back to my community.  After the tragedy in Connecticut on Friday I was happy to be able to put out some positive energy in the world.

This Saturday the Tech boys and I volunteered with Operation Homefront Holiday Toy Drive. Operation Homefront is an organization that provides emergency financial and other assistance to service members and wounded warriors.

My dad served over 20 years in the US Army and retired as a SFC.  We were fortunate to be able to travel as a family everywhere he was stationed, and all of my holidays are full of joyous memories. I was reminded there are lots of military families that don't have that privilege, and many of the people we would be serving are being deployed during Christmas.  I felt honored to be able to give back to my military family and spread some holiday joy.

I got to use my muscles for good, unloading all the toys that had been donated for military families.


We then helped to sort all the toys to the appropriate rooms.


Our next task was to take hundreds of books, stuffed animals, and other stocking stuffers and create goodie bags for the kids.


Tashawn, Andrew, and Anthony are so systematic when they work a project. Their Tech and APO training was definitely showing.




It looked like Toys-R-Us in the Galleria by the time we were done!

The whole setting was perfect. 
some of our volunteer elves playing piano and caroling
There was also the festival of trees going on.  Organization decorate a tree and you vote by monetary donation which tree you like the best.





This is the Operation Home Front Tree!

You don't always get to see where the stuffed animal you dropped off in a bin at a store or football game goes. Seeing the parents walk through the store and how overwhelmed they were by there amount of choices filled me with so much joy.

I think I found my holiday spirit again. It was in giving a few hours and knowing that I helped make some kids holiday so much better.


If you've donated anything physical, emotional, monetary, or your time throughout the year, Thank You!

Health and Happiness,

L

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

On the 1st day she tried... On the 4th day Success!

Hey there ... I know I haven't been around lately ... But, I'm back!

At the Great Tree in Atlantic Station

So to start the month I'll recap what I've been up to.

Went back to the alma mater last weekend for the UGA v GT game!
The annual rivalry week paper put together by GT, since I work there I get a copy :-P
On our way to Downtown Athens on the Stadium shuttle

Our out of town guest Ruchi and Nirav, at least they are supporting the right team

Hot apple cider on a football afternoon in Athens




Inside Sanford Stadium

We got great seats

The hubs not so excited about how things are going

It's almost over now!

We were victorious! Instate champions!

Thursday the hubs got us tickets to the Falcons v. Saints game. My 1st game of the season!


Outside the dome

Inside the dome from the 300 section

Me and the hubs

And another victory!

Saturday I started the day with an arm shaking leg quivering crossfit workout. We also started our handstand challenge.

Then it was time to get ready for some college football.


UGA v. Bama for the SEC championship!

It was a hard fought game, all the way to the last few seconds! But, we weren't able to secure a victory :-( Our boys played with tons of heart and hopefully earned the respect of the rest of the SEC.

I was looking forward to relieving some stress from the game with Hatha yoga at Crossfit Around the Corner. We had a great turn out for class! Looking forward to getting to know everyone and helping them meet their goals.

After that I worked on my kipping pull-up and my Overhead Squat technique. Both are showing vast improvements. We found out this week that the Crossfit Open will kickoff March 7th. We don't know what's coming! It will be my 1st time participating. I just want to put up some competitive numbers. Lots of work to put in til March ...3...2...1...GO!

Health and Happiness
L