hip hap wednesday // with a free workout code

Happy Wednesday my friends. Here's what's making me want to high five all around the town:

1. Tomorrow I head to Virginia for sweet Lily's seventh birthday. I don't know when this happened, because it feels like just yesterday that she was here:

and now she's here:

How did it happen? 

2. I love a good workout class (obviously.) but must admit that sometimes, I just want to get in a quick workout at home. Sans fighting traffic. And sans spending money. I read about Booya Fitness on Pumps & Iron last week and was immediately hooked. Booya allows you to stream workout videos from the industry's most challenging boutique gyms and instructors. They have yoga, cardio, strength & toning, bootcamp, quiet workouts for those early mornings and more. It's $9.99 a month, but you can try it free for a month with promo code: 

sanblogpromo

A month of free workouts! That's a way to feel good on Wednesday! I love that the site tracks how many workouts you've done. It's so fun to see. I'm pumped to try it this weekend with Courtney.

FYI: You will be asked for billing but won't be charged for the first month.

3. This video is money. Let's get happy.

4. This weekend is February, which means we are touching the month that brings us spring. March! Yaay. 

5. I love this post about eating clean vs. eating junk food. Food is not good or bad. It's just food. 

6. And last but certainly not least, yesterday Ashley welcomed another sweet baby boy into her family! I love him already and cannot wait to meet him next week.

Happy day!

on why you should refuse to settle

Have you ever noticed the way we girls sometimes eat part of a cookie, then 12 minutes later go back for a little more? And then do it over and over? We end up eating the whole thing, but not enjoying it in its entirety. I think it ends up being less satisfying this way - it's piecemeal instead of the full indulgence, but yet, it still gets consumed. It's like we're pretending it's not happening, but before we know it, the cookie is gone. 

Lately, I've noticed a lot of girls doing this with relationships. They're willing to take just part of it. The hook ups without the title. The dates without the emotional commitment. The weekend hangouts without the exclusivity. 

They're taking the piecemeal relationship.

But is it really that satisfying?

It seems to me that we all deserve more than crumbs - the whole cookie, in fact. And I was thinking about how a lot of us feel pressure to race to the altar, and because of it, we accept less than we deserve. There can be so much pressure as people around us get engaged, married and pregnant. That constantly ticking clock - those constantly updated statuses - can make you feel like you should hurry. 

image source

When I found myself unexpectedly and abruptly single at 24 - just months away from 25 - I was panicked by the looming birthday. I cannot be single at 25. I kept thinking. I for sure thought I'd be getting engaged at 25, not singlefied at 24-and-three-quarters. 

But I was, and I felt really lonely. And sometimes I just wanted to rush forward - to hurry up and meet someone and get to know him and get engaged and finally have that wedding I'd dreamt of since age five. 

image source

But I don't think we should race. I don't think we should try so hard to keep up with it.  Whenever I start to feel rushed, which is more often than I care to admit, I think about the idea of living one way now, so you can live another way forever. 

For right now, you live with those high standards; you don't give in - 

you don't date someone you know isn't right for you

or someone who is only kind of right for you

or someone who is great but doesn't share your values

or someone you're constantly questioning

or someone who is nice to everyone else but hurts your feelings a lot.

And it's a little bit hard, because life can get lonely and it's painful to feel like you're getting left behind. It's painful to feel like you're the only single one left. Like you're so ready and you don't know what you're doing wrong. 

But then, you get to live the way you want - in love and with the guy worth waiting for forever. 

image source

A while back, I read about a study that was done that showed toddlers who were given candy and told to wait to eat it. Those that waited versus those that didn't ended up being more successful later in life. And I keep thinking about those toddlers and that I should be like them. 

Because if we're willing to wait a little bit longer - if we refuse to settle - if we're willing to walk away from good in order to get to great - I think we'll be more successful later in life, too. We'll have partners by our side. We'll have the whole cookie instead of crumbles. And that sounds pretty great to me. 

atlanta rocks! workout review // climb on

Last summer I lured my brothers to Atlanta with promises of warmer, humid winters. 

I think they're mostly wondering what I was talking about, because this winter Georgia has been anything but warm.

To  make it up to them, I asked them to join me for an introductory class at Atlanta Rocks! indoor climbing gym. I can safely say that none of us knew just how awesome this class was going to be - and it was the perfect opportunity to get away from the cold. We took the class on Monday and, as I write this, I am still sore. Still! Such a good workout. 

We did the Intro to Climbing class, which is offered daily and teaches you tie knots, belay and use a harness. The class certified us to belay (plus one belay check we will take next time we go back), which allows us to climb without a belay assist anytime.  

After the class, we climbed on our own, which was so much fun. They have more than 50 top-rope stations with hundreds of climbs. They also have a gym onsite, so you could go lift prior to climbing - although I don't know who in the world has that kind of forearm strength. 

My favorite part of the gym (besides the double-purified water at the drinking fountain) is that they have automatic belay stations, so you don't need someone there to belay you. This was perfect for me while Duke and Sam climbed in another part of the gym. I'm also thinking about getting a pass so I can go some mornings before work and love that I won't need to coordinate with anyone else's schedule. 

Although you can climb without getting certified (by either passing the belay check, or at the discretion of a staff member and with someone else belaying you), I strongly recommend taking the class. Duke, Sam and I all went to camp where we rock climbed daily when we were younger and did a bit of climbing in middle and high school. While the techniques weren't completely new to us, it was so helpful to have the refresher course - and would also be beneficial to beginners. Those knots don't tie themselves!

I've driven by Atlanta Rocks off of I-75 hundreds of times and have always wondered what it takes to get to climb there. So, in case you're like me and are a little intimidated by the thought of walking into a climbing gym completely clueless, here's what you need to know:

- Yes! You can go on your own :) You don't need to be a climbing pro.

- Wear flexible clothing. I suggest yoga pants or capris so the harness doesn't make them ride up. On top, a tank or tee is ideal. 

- You can rent shoes for $4 - or they're included in the class fee if you take it. 

- If you're not in climbing shape (ahem, this girl), I suggest not working out prior to the class. You can burn ~570-700 calories an hour and you're going to want all the arm and leg strength you have the first time you go. 

- For your first class, arrive 10-15 minutes early to get settled. The class lasts about two hours and then you can climb for as long as you want. AKA until your arms and legs give out :) 

My brothers and I raced up the wall at one point and they absolutely dominated me. I think I was about a third of the way up when they got to the top. It reminded me of climbing trees with them in our backyard when we were younger and I couldn't have been happier. It was the perfect way to blend exercise and play and I can't wait to go back. 

And I'm so glad I checked it off my Atlanta workout bucket list, and 2014 to do list. Now, just give me just a few more practice runs before we head outdoors. :)

Happy climbing!

Atlanta Rocks allowed us to try this class for free, but all of the opinions are my own and this is my honest review. 

happy, looong weekend

Heading into the start of the New Year, I was a little stressed about how much I was going to be traveling in January and February. 

First up was a weekend to Indy to celebrate my dear friend Megan's baby on the way. And you know what I found? No matter how busy life feels, traveling to be with people you love is always, always worth it. 

On Friday, I went to an awesome dinner with my parents and afterwards they dropped me off at Jordan's for a sleepover. My dad joked it reminded him a lot of middle school days and that if I got scared and needed a ride home later, I need not be afraid to call. 

Don't worry, I made it through the night. 

We checked off a few last minute shower to-dos. Drank some wine. And laughed and late night talked. It was so wonderful to be back together with happy friends. 

Saturday was sweet Megan's shower at my parents' house, with more of our old friends, who filled me up to the brim. I loved being together after years apart. 

Other highlights include a family party with our cousins. And breakfast at Patachou with my parents. 

It was a most happy Indiana weekend and I couldn't be more grateful for my family, friends and our time together. 

AND it was a long weekend. Which is pretty much the best thing ever. Monday, Duke, Sam and I went rock climbing (more on this to come) and broke in my new bike!

And those, are the makings of a very fine long weekend, I do think.