Well Hello There

I didn't mean to abandon the blog again, I had computer issues. After many headaches, I said farewell to my ....

and welcomed this beauty.....

Officially back in business and better than even! 

Friday Five

1. VIB Status! Did anyone else take advantage of the Sephora sale last week? I finally organized mine and my moms order and what perfect timing! I am always so pleased with their customer service and shipping-- its always so fast! My last order sent me in to VIB status, weeee!

2. Week one of our kitchen remodel is coming to a close. This is from the first day, since all of the cabinets have been delivered, but we are waiting on the electrician for them to be officially installed. I will be so happy when this is over!

3. Well the countdown is on! 7 weeks until one of my best friends wedding! I guess that means its time to kick the healthy eating and spin in to high gear!

4. It was administrative professional day on Wednesday. I suppose in a way I might be an administrative professional but I don't really have a specific job title, although that will be changing soonish. My boss sent each of us a beautiful arrangement of roses. This one opened up so beautifully Thursday morning!

5. Part of my job allows me to see pictures of the homes being listed in the MLS in our area. I saw this table in one of them and I've been obsessed since. I haven't noticed anything similar before. I'm dying to know where it is from. Isn't it pretty?!

Happy Friday!!

Headbands: Perfect Hair Accessory

Headbands are the perfect accessory to a dirty-sweaty-hair-messy-bun look. They help to dress up the look and distract from dirt. I spent days scouring the interwebs looking for a few new additions to my collection. Not finding what I wanted, I gave in asked Pink Lou Lou for recommendations. She sent me to one store I never set foot in, forever 21! I know, I know but I find the store crazy and overwhelming and the clothes are junk. BUT she said I would find what I was looking for AND cheap. PLL was right on. I left with all of these for less than $35 and would have cost me $15-20 each at other stores. Heres what I found...

I also picked up a set of flower clips. I thought for $2 why not and they weren't too large!

Do you have more suggestions? 

Sunday Social

I'm linking up with A Complete Waste of Makeup, which I found through pearls & curls! These link-ups are a great way to know a little more about a blogger.

I tried really hard to make a pretty graphic to go with this post because pictures make everything better, but photoshop and I weren't being friendly!


1. What is your shopping weakness?
Lululemon! I used to think this stuff was way over priced and was very content with my Nike stuff. That was until I stopped in the Georgetown location and bought a pair of Wunder Unders because I just wanted to know what was so amazing. Little by little, I started acquiring more. I find the the Run line better suits my needs with spin. I bought these two recently. I mean pink is a necessity!

And Sephora! I could easily spend a couple bucks in there every time! I just get sucked in and think everything is neat. I have an overflowing basket of goodies but I always go back to my old Clinique standbys. 

2. What is your food weakness?

Hmm this is tough. Outback Steakhouse? Mexican with a margarita! 

3. What is your go to movie when nothing is on?

You can't really go wrong with Sweet Home Alabama! I remember being obsessed with Reese's fashions when this movie first came out.

4. What is your breakfast food?
Every morning: 2 hard boiled eggs, 2 pieces of whole wheat toast, 1/2a banana (Jaeger and maybe Mojo eat the other half!), 4 oz of tomato juice and a cup of iced coffee!

5. Do you drink coffee? If so, how do you take it?
A coffee roaster opened in town within a couple of years and ever since I've become super spoiled. I only drink their iced coffee with a splash of cream, no sweetener. It is so smooth because it is cold brewed and also has the highest caffeine content!

My Addiction...to Sweat

Hi, my name is Caitlin and I have a crazy addiction to sweating. I am that crazy girl at the gym often twice a day. I love killing it in class and pushing myself to new levels.

I joined a local gym nineteen months ago, when I was done with DAT studying at the time with not a lot going on- no job, no real commitments- the gym was just something to do. Jealousy (eww) ultimately pushed me to join because my daily 3 mile speed-walks with Jaeger clearly weren't helping me kick the lazy bug.

I knew this person I was jealous of took spin/cycle classes so I convinced my friend and mom (because sidekicks make everything better) we were going to take a class. Let me be honest, that class was a-w-f-u-l. I thought I was going to die. Our instructor told us we had to come back for at least one more class before we could decide about spinning. I kept going to classes and I caught the bug! I started adding more classes during the week and before I knew it I braved a twice-a-day. Spin is a great class with low impact, high intensity and lots of resistance.

So how did I become an instructor? Especially so quickly. Just shy of a year since I first started, the group fitness manager, who also teaches great spin classes stopped me before our class and asked if I had ever considered becoming an instructor. She had complimented me before on my speed ability and endurance. I said, "well several people have suggested I get certified, but I've never really given it much thought." I talked with my family and they encouraged me to take the opportunity.

Before I knew it, I was signed up for training. Training was a great experience and there was so much energy in our class! After I figured, okay, I got certified but I was in no rush to apply. HA HA! She called me the next week and set up a time for another girl and I to practice. We were to come with a routine. I tried to backpedal out of this one. She then told us we would be auditioning that week. SAY WHAT! Mother nature had other plans that week. We had a hurricane coming and auditions were delayed! Hallelujah! Wait, more time to freak out, not good!

I finally got auditions over and done with, I thought I performed horribly. Wrong, I was called the next day. In true Caitlin fashion, I ignored the call and refused to check my voicemail. Ya, well she is persistent and called again and again. Finally I called to find out I was hired, I needed to sign paperwork and discuss availability. Oh and I was being paid....

I signed the paperwork and had two classes of my very own. "Don't forget you can pick up sub classes too." Okay, okay. Little did I know, I would quickly work my way to five classes and consistently subbing. I was committed to this little fun job. I am often told I am going to burn out, but I don't see that in the near future. You know the after workout high you get from endorphins and the feeling of getting something accomplished? It is an awesome feeling. Pretty hard to achieve the same caloric burn in any other class or on machinery.

I don't anticipate stepping away from spinning ever. It is my thing. Something I found that works for me. For the longest time I tried to be a runner. I jumped on the C25K bandwagon only to find out I had patellofemoral pain syndrome, which is really fancy for runners knee. I was a competitive swimmer in middle and high school. After being away from swimming in college, I realized I didn't miss the chlorine stench and the awful tan lines. My point: exercise is important to your physical and mental health. Just find something that you enjoy! Don't try to force yourself, find what works for you and you WILL fall in love with it too!

Here's to a little inspiration to get out there this weekend and try something new!

Friday Five

Five favorites seems to be the new Friday post. In attempts to blog more frequently, here are my Friday Five!

1. This morning was my first day back in the gym since LAST Saturday. Five days is a big deal when you are cycle instructor and thus have a crazy weird addication to cycling! I was out of town for work and there was just not enough time in the day to get to a class!

2. I splurged for a gel manicure while out of town. I always get a mani/pedi but I decided the occasion called for a little pampering and I thoguht my nails should look more professional than a bright red! I was thrilled with the salon and if you are ever in Tallahassee I highly recommend Royal Nails. They were highly recommended to me and I am passing it along. It was a little pricey but so so worth it. I felt very pampered and my nails looks awesome! And they best part, they will still look awesome for a bridal shower I am attending Sunday! (I don't know the color, I made it up - its a combination!)

3. I was so excited to see this adorable face and his brother (yes, you too Mojo!) after said trip. This little guy is my night owl and I really missed him and his company while I was gone.

4. Seabreezes are my drink of choice right now. I have perfected an at-home recipe: 4 oz of grapefruit juice (fresh is best and luckily we have a grove locally!), 2 oz vodka and 1.5 oz of cranberry juice. Fill a glass with ice, pour ingredients over ice, shake to combine. If you're really fancy, throw a lime slice on the rim!

5. Cheers to the weekend! Its 5 o'clock so I'm rushing out the door and grabbing one of the above! :)

xo 



Beauty Bag Finds

I am far from a beauty expert and on any given day I am only wearing mascara and lipstick or gloss. After spending hours browsing The Beauty Department and taking my new found must have list to the drug store (because lets face it, I'm not spending money for designer name just to try it out and we don't have a real Sephora, just a little stand inside JCPenney), here's what I left with: 

Sally Hansen Invisible Lip Liner $7

I set out for an invisible lip liner, well apparently Sally Hansen is the only drugstore brand that has a clear lip liner. And I can really tell a difference when I put my lipstick on. The line is more perfect if that makes sense. 



Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Lip Gloss $7 on drugstore.com (but I think it was $12 at CVS)

Okay, so apparently I am really late to the game because intuitive lipsticks and glosses have been around a couple of years. I remember seeing Smashbox O-Gloss a couple years ago, but I never knew what it was. Well lets just say this stuff is the B-O-M-B! In short, it warms up to your ideal color. Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker comes in a Pink, Light Pink and Peach. I picked the pink and holy moly, my lips are pink! So I tried it out on my grams and my boss. Grams was a lighter pink and my boss lady was more of a red. Even better, this wand has a light! So now every beauty counter I pass I try the intuitive lip colors. I definitely have my eye on a few others!

About a mintue inbetween the pictures

A ligt and a mirror!!

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base $12.95

In simple terms this is an anti-shine mattifier. TBD suggested this for a more budget-friendly option to Mally's Poreless Face Defender. Well Mally's is $40 and I have not a clue where to even buy Mallys. I just dab it with a sponge on my T-zone and my chin. It seems to work well.



Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Dark-Circle Eye Roller $11.69 on drugstore.com

Well this find is credited to my my friend that works in cosmetics at Walgreens. I was really looking for a lilac eyeliner pencil and well, thats a little to fancy for drugstores I suppose. (I did find my lilac eyeliner and it really does work! My eyes are brighter with just a little liner.) TBD told me it would make my eyes brighter and cancel out the yellow and was perfect for those of us who don't wear makeup. She said I was crazy and didn't need it but I really wanted something to try this. This stuff is a-w-e-s-o-m-e! Coffee helps to de-puff and the coverage is just enough. Better than any other eye concealer I've bought.

And with that, I guess you could say I'm back! I will try to do a much better job updating more consistently.

xoxo