good day?

i think you know your day is going to be tough when you're at work and the phone rings and you rush to take your ear-bud headphones out and the left ear-bud breaks off into your ear.

not that anything has happened like that to me this morning......

one year later

Today is my one year anniversary with Rick. One year ago today I had a near panic-attack when Rick, my newly-hired personal trainer, asked me to weigh-in and take my body fat and BMI measurements. I managed to pull myself together and jump on his 'i-don't-want-to-hear-any-complaints-just-go-ahead-and-do-it-and-don't-you-dare-waste-my-time-i-think-you-just-cheated-on-that-so-we'll-do-four-more-reps-just-to-make-sure-you-know-what-you're-doing-and-please-don't-tell-me-about-your-life-i'm-just-here-to-make-you-thin-not-to-be-your-friend' train. And life has never been the same.

After a year of enduring burn-out workouts and weight watchers, I'd like to give a couple of shout-outs to some awesome folks:

Josh: you sweet, sweet man. You have listened to me complain about workouts, count weight-watchers points, stress over calorie content and let me fall asleep mid date-night after a hard workout. You have tried crazy vegan recipes, supported my brief 2-a-day workouts and let me buy songs on Itunes for countless workout playlists. You've been my biggest cheerleader, supportive coach and patient friend. I could not have come this far without you!

Dad: my financial backer. Let's be honest: working out ain't cheap! Thanks for the birthday money last year---I couldn't have gotten a personal trainer without it! You helped me jump start a lifestyle that I thought was out of my league. Thanks for the encouragement, motivation and for answering my million questions about sore muscles, nutrition and strength training.

My YL Girls: you have tried some of the worst recipes known to man in my attempt to make healthy sweets for women's fellowship. You've let me come to the caf for lunch in workout clothes...and still acknowledge me. You've even hugged me when I've been really sweaty at the gym (true friends!) You've run, cycled, walked and zumba-ed with me. You have encouraged me when I needed it the most. Thanks for always being there with me!

Rick, the PT: You crazy man. I am certain of two things: 1) you pushed me harder and more consistently than any coach or workout partner I've ever had and 2) i never could have come this far without a workout plan that was perfectly tailored for me. Thanks for being available even after our paid sessions were up. You've continued to challenge me and give me advice on new techniques. I really indebted to you!

Maury and Taylor: dear weight watchers girls. Thanks for being so honest about WW. It gave me the courage to try it myself. Thanks for answering my million questions about points and recipes and for ordering with me at restaurants (i need this on the side, steamed not fried, veggies not chips, etc).

So now to the fun/shocking part of the post......the before and after photos:
(sorry for the awkwardness, i was pointing at a sign in the first photo and trying to re-create the moment in the second photo)

I've lost:
51.4 pounds
8% body fat
6.6 points on BMI
40.25 inches*
(*arms, chest, waist, hips, thighs)

I don't know if I should be excited or embarrassed that I lost that amount! I never would've thought that I had 50 pounds to lose. I mean, I obviously needed to lose weight (I'm not a total moron!) its just that I didn't think I'd let myself go that far. Josh and I were happy. Really happy. We ate out a lot and I didn't really exercise that much. And the pounds started creeping on. But I didn't notice, because I was happy (and too busy picking out where we were going to eat dinner....mexican or japanese?) I recently told Maury that at least my weight-gain was 'happy pounds'....I really did enjoy every ice-cream sundae, bowl of nachos and beer.

And then I saw that rediculous picture of me from the Virginia Creeper Trail (the 'before' picture above.) I shed a few tears, pleaded with God and hired a trainer. And the rest is history. A very sweaty, exhausting, fat-blasting history.

So. Now here I am...goal weight and all. So what's next? I'm still going to keep up with my 'diet' which has morphed into full-fledged lazy-vegan lifestyle. I'm enjoying it a lot more than I thought and still splurging on the occasional piece of cheese. I'm going to try and strength train 2-3 times a week and fit some cardio in every day. So there....its out there for all the internet world to see (or the 4 people that read this blog). I'm going to try and maintain this lifestyle. Invite me to a 5k, send me a recipe or join me at the YMCA....I'd love the company (and the accountability!)

So here's to another year of being happy and healthy. Cheers!

help me miley

I think I may have just lost my mind. I almost bought a Miley Cyrus tshirt.

Let me try to explain:
I was at Walmart, getting groceries on the cheap, when out of nowhere I saw the cutest tshirt:

Not being one to judge where a trendy girl shops or where she snags a deal, I grabbed the shirt to examine it a little closer. I only fell more in love. And then, when I thought things couldn't get better, I saw the price tag: $7. Could it be true? Did I just make a fashion find at Walmart?!

And then I saw that the brand was Miley Cyrus. And I threw the shirt back on the rack.

How insanely out of touch with reality am I?? I can hear it now: Seriously Blair, a Miley tshirt? I know you work with middle schoolers, but why are you trying to dress like one?

But secretly, I'm still in love with some of her pieces:

to narnia we go!

Josh was playing "Bigger or Better" at College Life last night. It was a very close finish between his team and a team with a set of walkie-talkies that doubled as Spider Man-Green Goblin dolls. (Of course the walkie talkies won---does anything get better than walkie talkies?!?!)

Josh didn't have anywhere to unload his prize, which he claimed took up the entire back of his car (big SUV.) So he brought it home.

And now I'm in love.

what a lovely little wardrobe
you will get a fresh coat of paint and some sassy door pulls
and when josh isn't looking i might climb inside and see if i can get to narnia
(just kidding....kind of)

the girl did great!

My friend Laura just dropped off a picture of my and Elizabeth from the SHS homecoming game.

Elizabeth did great! She walked out confidently, talked to her escort the entire time and smiled a ton. I was lucky that I managed to get a picture with her before she changed back into her jeans. Yes she did. Yet another reason I love Elizabeth----right after she took this picture she changed out of her snazzy outfit into her favorite jeans. Love her.

brrrrrrrrrrrrr!

It was 31 degrees outside when I met Elizabeth at her house for a pre-work walk this morning.
It was brisk. And by brisk, I mean freezing. And by freezing, I mean I may have lost some function in my left hand due to frostbite.

And then I went to work, where my office was a steamy 58 degrees. And since my boss is out of town today, I threw all caution to the wind and turned on the heat! I'm such a little rebel. (Don't worry, the heat only goes up to 68 degrees, what the heck?!?!)

feels like winter!

It has been sooooo rainy and cold the past two days. Its beginning to feel like that's all the weather we've had-----where did those crisp fall days go?? I seem to have by-passed fall altogether and have moved into full-swing winter mode. Let's pull out the down blankets already!

The first thing I started getting excited about was going to see The Messiah in Charlotte. Josh and I weren't able to see it last year because we had to go to a YL staff conference.....and the same thing is scheduled this year! Dang it!

But, The Nutcracker is a very very very close second place holiday tradition for me. I knew Josh wouldn't be thrilled about the whole ballet idea, but I knew Chelsea would be fully on board. I called the ticket agent at the Blumenthal in Charlotte. We were able to find seats on the the third row of the right side of the orchestra section for $15! I can't wait!

deal of the day

I love finding a great deal! And I love bragging about it even more!

Josh loves this pair of Patagonia shorts. They're fairly indestructible, which is awesome since they're pretty expensive. So, by the time these shorts are worn out, he's usually had them for several years.

Unless he wears them to Young Life. Which he did. And they got messed up. Great.

So the search for a reasonably priced replacement pair began. I love a challenge....especially a shopping challenge!

I found the perfect pair on Ebay. They fit perfectly and Josh is in love (with me and the shorts):

Patagonia Stand Up shorts
retail: $55
Ebay: $3.99

Go and find a deal today!!

just hanging out with joe

As Josh and I were going over our schedules for last week (to plan meals, dates, laundry.....oh the fun of married life!) we ultimately got to Thursday's plans.

me: So, what are your plans for Thursday? Ride bikes with the boys and then YL at Gardner-Webb?
Josh: No, not this week. I've got to do some stuff with Joe.
me: (wondering) Joe? Who is Joe?
Josh: (casually) Oh Joe? You know my good friend Joe. Me and Joe Gibbs go way back.

Josh was doing a couple of skits and games for the Young Life fundraising banquet in Lake Norman. His character was Coach Kenny, the football coach from the local middle school (Burns Middle, home of the Fighting O'possums!) He was in the middle of a motivational speech when he got 'interrupted' by Joe Gibbs.


I mean really.....what are the chances of Coach Gibbs showing up at a YL fundraiser?!?! The chances are actually pretty good, considering he loves Jesus, Young Life and the YL staff at Lake Norman (and of course, Josh!)

I wonder how long Josh is going to pretend that he's best friend with Coach Gibbs?
Probably forever.

PS: I totally stole this picture for Sharon Clark. She is an AMAZING photographer. Book her for a session NOW!

Elizabeth for Queen!

My younger sister Elizabeth is going to be in the homecoming parade today!

Ok, she's not technically my sister, but I certainly feel like she's family. (I'm totally freakin out about her 'talking' to this guy that's a junior at SHS, but that's a whole other story.)

When Josh first moved to Shelby seven years ago I used to spend the night at the Lampley's house when I'd come up to visit; which is how I was able to slowly infiltrate the family. Laura's now my friend (not Mrs. Lampley) and Elizabeth is like my younger sister. It helps that Laura will perpetually be 32-ish in my mind, since I'm rapidly approaching the 30 mark. And I have so much fun with Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was just a wee-little babe when I moved here

Sarah, Elizabeth, Sidney
spring 2005

and now she's tearing up the halls at the high school

Elizabeth, Sidney, Sarah
summer 2009

oh elizabeth!

you're going to be great at the parade today and the football game tomorrow....and not because this whole homecoming thing is a big deal, but because of who you are.

you are fabulous. i love your spunk and your heart!

if i could bottle your passion and zest for life, i'd be a freaking millionaire (and not to mention a genius, because how would you even attempt to bottle all of that anyways?!)

you have such a sweet spirit and gentle heart
i love how you love your friends, the environment and Jesus; and how you aren't afraid to try something new

you're smart and bold, but also unbelievably compassionate, and i like that about you

you can't be put in a box or stereotyped, because you're just too dynamic for all that (unless its in the box of "people blair loves" or the stereotype "awesome")

i love you girl!!!!!

*ps* i definitely did NOT have Elizabeth's permission to write a blog about her----she would've been way too embarassed to have me going on and on about her. But that's another thing I love about her....she's fabulous AND humble. anyone jealous of her yet?

yum.yum.yum.

leftovers can make the best meal. seriously. well, my leftovers can!

let me introduce you to the fabulous world of leftovers at the jones' household:

That is a piece of Light Italian Flatout Bread, topped with a tinesy bit of goat cheese (i said i was a lazy vegan), balsamic onions, sauteed green and red peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, cilantro and southwestern black beans (made from scratch!).

Roll it all up (long ways, so it looks like more!) and place it in a frying pan for a few minutes on each side to get it all warm and gooey. And voila:

yummy burrito(?) with a side of apples and spicy southwest black beans
a vegetarian meal that makes even the biggest carnivore drool!

i gotta crush on you

I have to confess....I have a crush. Whew, I feel a lot better now that I've admitted it out loud!


I actually have a lot of crushes (I mean, as long as I'm attempting to be honest here I might as well unload). I have a clothes crush on Sharon, name crush on Sidney, workout crush on Karma, free-time crush on every college student......I really could go on and on.


And now I have a hair crush. Leah has the best hair. And I'm totally crushing on it.

lindsay, melissa, leah
i must have been a little hair obsessive because i got one blond, brunette and redhead

this is me trying on her hair.
i love her 'i'm-kinda-freaked-out' face and my 'yay, i am so happy' face
i guess i was slightly bordering on stalker at this point

The cool part about this whole crush is that Leah dyes her hair! I've never been one to shy away from hair product (I had blond highlights two years ago and super-dark brown last year) and I always say that hair and makeup are two of my favorites things.

So you be my style jury............should I dye my hair Leah's color?

Get This - Survey Results - GlowDay.com

note: If I end up dying it, I'm going to wait until the end of October to dye it because that will be my one-year weight-loss celebration and I thought I might treat myself to something at the spa (which having my hair cut and colored would be perfect!)