Author: twomeatballsgetfit

Two Meatballs: No Wine and Design!!!

December 19, 2015health, fitness, beauty, motivation, plus size, make up, hair, hairstylist, oribe, bumble and bumble, MAC Cosmetics, comedy, Paleo, besties, best friends, meatballs, exercise, life change, lifestyles,art class for adults, hi kelly, movies galore, painting, welcome back!, Wine and Designtwomeatballsgetfit View all 9 comments

Hiiiiiiiii you guyyyyyyys!!!! We have missed y’all oh so much!!!

But we’ve been having so much fun actually hanging out again!!!

We’ve been on so many dates!!! We went to go see Love the Coopers at our favorite movie theater Raleigh Grande. You guys, they have leather recliners, never going anywhere else…

We went to an awesome Mark Debolt from Wella class together!!!

and learned so much together…we love Mark so much!!!!! And I got super inspired to do some beautiful makeovers!!!

Soooo much fun!!!

We spent my birthday morning together!

And decided to sign up for Wine and Design the day after Thanksgiving!!! We have both really wanted to be more creative lately, and who doesn’t love painting?! I picked Jenny up and we rode down together, so excited!!! Tonight’s paint by number was Gustav Klimt, The Kiss…my favorite artist EVER!!!

I’ve always wondered how this worked, but they give you an outline and then instructions!

But before any of that happened we had to explore! Bc of course we were early!

Almost immediately, we found a selfie station!

And then we started painting each others faces…

The employees were really egging us on, like we need encouragement you guys!

These two kitties were ready to paint!

I have to say, they were horrified that we didn’t bring wine. They just kept asking why which I thought was hilarious…I’m sober silly rabbit! After a lot more people showed up, we got to our easels and got our paint!!!

Our instructor was charming and talented!

We were so ready to learn and play.

We sat across from a really funny couple and had a blast. They were lots of breaks to drink, so after a certain point, Jenny and I just started painting on our own and getting real artsy fartsy!!! A total creative 4 dream! And look what we made!

And look at everyone else!

I loved that everyones looked totally different. This was so fun and freeing!!! Everyone should go to Wine and Design! They even have kids classes, so I’ll be taking the nephews stat. Art for alllll!

By the time it was done we were starving and ready to go to another movie. We ended up watching Trumbo…which we thought would be funny. It was not, it was dark and depressing and like 10 degrees in the theater!!!

We couldn’t quite get the paint off, so these kittens went public with our art. Jenny, it has been so great reconnecting!!!! I can’t wait to paint again and find new adventures to go on. And to our blogging family, thanks for supporting this little hiatus. We both needed to miss the blog a little and I really did. Writing is so fun, talking to you guys is the best. Glad to be back…there is lots more where this came from…living with my parents, renovations, brand new rooms, birthdays with my besties, Thanksgivings, Christmas Parties…oh my!!! Hope you guys are great, missed you so much. Xoxo Until our next date.

Two Meatballs: I Found My Sanity at Vannity!!!

November 18, 2015health, fitness, beauty, motivation, plus size, make up, hair, hairstylist, oribe, bumble and bumble, MAC Cosmetics, comedy, Paleo, besties, best friends, meatballs, exercise, life change, lifestyles,Alyssa, beauty and the blog, Live OhmK, Massage therapy, swag, Vannity Salontwomeatballsgetfit View all 3 comments

My sweet friend Nichole LuMaye is an amazing stylist, an awesome friend and an incredible blogger! She is the author of a beauty blog and it is so inspiring and addictive; do yourself a favor and follow her today http://www.theblogandthebeautiful.com A passion for hair, education, fashion and puns made Nichole and myself instant friends. She always makes me laugh, I love making fun of her midwestern accent and she loves making fun of the scar on my foot! We have the most fun doing everything or nothing and we spent years trying to pioneer ombre before ombre was a thing. So, when Nichole launched her blog for the salon and spa where she works, she reached out to me and offered me a massage with Alyssa Vine-Hodge, one of the therapist at Vannity Salon and I immediately said Yassssssss!!!! First of all, I never say no to relaxation and someone rubbing on me. As a person with very few personal space issues and a love of nudity and physical contact; a massage is a win win win! Last Friday, I drove to a big, beautiful historic home across the street from the Mordecai House…

And inside waiting was Nichole!!! She welcomed me in and this place was gorgeous!

I got a tour and fell in love.

Downstairs was a lovely area for manis and pedis. Upstairs, you could find a massage suite, shampoo room and styling floor. This place screamed pamper me! I got to meet everyone and see some old friends, always a bonus! Then I met Alyssa and she was the sweetest! We did a consultation in my childhood dream bedroom!

Floor to ceiling windows, a fireplace and an antique dresser made the room so relaxing and homey! Aren’t we the cutest!?

Then it was show time!

Look at the size of that bow! Nichole shimmied out and I got nakey and hopped under the sheet. Alyssa came back in and set a very relaxing tone. Normally I yammer on during a service bc I love meeting new people, but her calm nature really put me into a zen zone. We did a 60 minute Breath with Ease service and it was incredible. She has a great touch and created the perfect combination of therapeutic with a big dose of relaxation! It was exactly what I needed after a long work week. I mean, somebody look at this after pic! Look how relaxed!!!! Isn’t massage hair the sexiest!?

And there is always time for fun!

Nichole!!!! Thank you so much for inviting me to an afternoon of pampering!!! It was so great to see you! Ps shout out to Katie and Katherine of Live OhmK for sending me this adorable Kick Asana tank top!!! I love it and it’s so comfy and badass! http://www.liveohmk.com Check it out and support these awesome ladies with a powerful message.

And to everyone else on earth!!! You should treat yo’ self to a morning, afternoon or evening with Alyssa at Vannity Salon!!! Doing something for yourself is so important and paying someone to rub your back or bust those knots out is the perfect way to feel totally blissed out. Alyssa, thank you for making me feel extra loved, special and super limber after. Go see this special lady!!! Xoxo

Two Meatballs: This is How I Know I’ve Changed!

November 5, 2015health, fitness, beauty, motivation, plus size, make up, hair, hairstylist, oribe, bumble and bumble, MAC Cosmetics, comedy, Paleo, besties, best friends, meatballs, exercise, life change, lifestyles,allowing yourself to change, cooking while sick, finally learning how to get better, hi kelly, not throwing it all out the window bc you are sick, seeeee we didn't quit writing the blogtwomeatballsgetfit View all 4 comments

Hey you guys! Since last we spoke, Jenny and I spent alllllllll day together Sunday and it was glorious. I can’t even tell you how long it had been. We didn’t dress up, we didn’t take one single picture and we felt no pressure to hurry up and finish hanging out just to write the blog. Don’t get me wrong, I love this blog, I love writing and I love all of you. I even set up a new blogging area in my den!

I am eternally thankful for Tow Meatballs. I have learned a lot about myself and apparently my very typical M.O. #mo #itsliterallmyname is to love something so much that i do it all the time (think Yoga, Pure Barre, any challenge, Paleo, Chipotle, cake pops, pad thai, Edible Art cupcakes, Coquette, Blizzards) and then I fucking hate it. #OCD I have been trying to stop being so extreme. To not literally love something to death. So I backed off of Pure Barre, Yoga and the blog because I love all of these so much that I don’t want to lose them. I am however glad that I can leave all of the sweet food obsessions in the ground where I killed them! I’ve also learned that I can feel better alllll the time. When I eat what I know I’m not sensitive to, I feel better on all levels! I can breath better, my body feels better, I just generally feel healthier, I feel more energized and ready to take on the world. Joelle talked the other day about how she prioritizes. She makes a pyramid and puts the most important things on there. Genius, so I made one. The most important thing in my life is my health. I can’t be good to anyone else if I don’t take care of myself.

It took me a long time to get to the point where it didn’t feel like the most selfish thing putting myself at the top of my own pyramid!!! But I love myself and want to continue getting healthier. Next is my family and closest of friends. Duh, they are my world and I love them so much. Case in point, I gave the boys a pampering night full of shopping, manis, pedis, massages, bath time, shampoos, and story times!

Even a sleepover! #ughilovethemsomuch

And we all spent Halloween together! Say Happy Halloween-er to WUrkle, Mew Barrymore and GI Chase!

I LOVE MY FAMILY!

Then, my career comes in. It is my passion and my livelihood and I feel so blessed that I love it with every fiber of my being. But today is a talk about the top of the pyramid…my health. So, guess what?! Sunday night I started feeling really bad. I mean like crazy body aches. I had reintroduced eggs and tomatoes and both hit like a lead ball. Dr. Lauren told me to look out for joint pain, so to me all of this was just a big fat no thank you from my body. But when I woke up Monday morning to a fever, a pounding headache, chills and even crazier body pain, I thought this is a hell of an allergic reaction. I drug myself to work and felt like every joint and nerve ending in my body was en fuego. Showering hurt, my eyelides hurt, I couldn’t even wear a watch. I made it through, canceled yoga and came home to go to bed early and take an epsom salt bath. Then that night, my throat got fiery, I got really congested and my stomach was killing me…even my ears started to hurt. I stayed home. And I didn’t feel guilty about it. I got some major sleep. Mom brought me lunch and Sweet Mary, my co-manager at work brought me dinner. #lifesvers I went to bed early again. Then Wednesday morning I felt so much worse. It finally occurred to me, I might have the flu! This could be more than a reaction to tomatoes! So i went to urgent care and found out it was a bad bacterial infection. The gave me some shots, and some prescriptions. But you know what was so different this time. I finally learned to give myself a break, no negative self talk. I was sick and unable to come to work, so I didn’t. I went to the doctors and listened to them. As my prescriptions were being filled, I went to the grocery store and stocked up on allllllllll the veggies!

I made two different kinds of comfy stews that will only help to make me feel better.

I lit some candles with my adorable new matches from work, how cute!

And I relaxed. I napped, I pinterested my life away since my bathroom reno is finally going to start this week!

I am helping myself get better instead of unwittingly prolonging my illness as I always did before by comfort eating processed food that only made me feel worse!

And you know what…I don’t feel better hahahahahahah!

But I will and I will feel better sooner. Instead of forcing myself to go workout with Sandra bc I’m supposed to be losing weight, I canceled and I’m going to sleep in in the morning, bc that is what my body is begging for. I canceled yoga tomorrow night. I’m going to listen now. It really feels good to be nice to yourself. And to not just feed myself Chickfila soup and Diet Dr Pepper bc I’m too sick to be bothered with it. I tell you what , if this is what progress feels like (minus the sickness) than I am hooked!

That one is for you Kelly! Hey, I love you all. See you when we see you. Xoxo Off to my cough syrup induced wonderland of dreamy needed sleep.

Two Meatballs: Whose That Girl Over-scheduling Herself?! It’s Me, It’s Me!!!

October 29, 2015health, fitness, beauty, motivation, plus size, make up, hair, hairstylist, oribe, bumble and bumble, MAC Cosmetics, comedy, Paleo, besties, best friends, meatballs, exercise, life change, lifestyles,gold stars are my drug now, good enough is good enough, healing, healthy, hi kelly, love my people, no more challenges, no more new things, saying no, shiny object syndrome, tah tah for now, therapy...its a thing, yoga is not a competitiontwomeatballsgetfit View all 4 comments

Hellllllooooo!!!!

It’s Sara! I found myself at my therapists office this week with a lot to talk about. I was feeling a little overwhelmed again. I have a full calendar pretty much at all times, and it’s all things I want to do, but the last two weeks have been crazy! Last week, I met my yoga heroes in a two hour workshop!

Then stated Beginners Series again with my mom this time!

So fun! But I hurt my back!!! The next morning I really debated on whether or not to go to the fair with my family, but I couldn’t not go!

I ended up canceling my two yoga classes that afternoon bc I just couldn’t move!

Then, the next day was an amazing class with the oh so talented KatieM at Samuel Cole Salon.

It was an Oribe Texture class and my cousin Kristina was our model and my buddy Carolyn was my partner! This class was the living funnest and so challenging. I loved Katie’s teaching style and the way she would do a step and then we would recreate it!!!

Best day ever. And just look at my gorgeous cousin!

Styling used to really intimidate me years ago, but now it is my favorite part of being a hairdresser!

So much freedom to play and create!!! I love my job, thank you Kris, Carolyn, Breanna and thank you KatieM! Then I rushed over to Terri’s, the women who puts my connective tissue back where it is intended bc my back was really scaring me! She worked her magic and I felt 100 times better, but I accidentally missed a yoga class (part of my 20 day challenge) Eeeek!!!! The guilt got me good. Also with a full day of class, I was a little behind with work. The next four days flew by with hiring, interviewing, clients, meetings, initiatives and scheduling! Oh and don’t forget yoga…why did I sign up for a challenge??? Sprinkle in grocery shopping, cooking, some family time and time with the guy I’ve been seeing for awhile, the upcoming weigh in and the blogggggggg and all of the sudden, I was feeling very sleep deprived and manic. Plus I found my first 40 gray hairs…aaak! But, you always end up where you need to be. So as I sat in Christine’s office and unloaded about my very busy two weeks with no end in sight, she introduced what I consider to be, an earth shattering concept. She said, what you’re doing is enough. What you know is enough for right now. What if you didn’t add anything else right now. My response was, I don’t know how to do that! Then we giggled. I told her that my pendulum swings far. I schedule myself bc it keeps me on track and it helps me use my down time efficiently. I also want to do all of the things that I am doing, this just happened to be a really crazy 2 weeks! Then we got really tickled talking about scheduling restful things…you will relax at 4, meditate at 5, BE CALM DAMMIT! haha I am so intense. Then she said, Sara, you seem tired. And you know what I was. Signing up for challenges is always so exciting to me. I love the accountability and the competition. But I am not very good at disengaging when it becomes too much. I still want to win…which is so ridiculous…winning yoga?! That seems ironic. And I don’t want to swing to the other side of the pendulum, say fuck it and wipe my calendar clean. #balance #findingcenter She also said, look how far you’ve come. Now you can recognize when you are spiraling down this rabbit hole before you are completely depleted…that is progress. And you know what, it is! So, after I left her office, I went to restorative yoga with my bosses and let go of the overwhelmed feeling, after all the week had ended and I survived. I went to bed early, canceled Saturday morning yoga, slept in LATE and then went to a lovely wedding. I went to bed early Saturday night, woke up late Sunday morning and went to yoga twice…baby steps ok!? It takes time to change behaviors. If I say yes to everything, I am saying no to my health. I really understand that, but I am going to have to stop myself from signing up for anything new for awhile. I have everything that I need. And how can I really go deep with something if I can’t really focus on it…adios Pilates November and hello to a little more sleep and a few less gold stars. I am just learning how to breath again. My health is important to me. I don’t have to say yes to everything and sometimes I need to say no to myself for myself. With all that said, we are not feeling the weigh in. Things have changed so much since we started this adventure and we need to make smart decisions for ourselves. As fun as it used to be, this go round I really was having to talk myself into it. It felt like a chore and like the opposite of where I am right now, trying to be less obsessive and goal oriented. Also, Jenny and I haven’t actually hung out this entire month. I just kept thinking, so the one time we’ve made plans with each other this month, and we are going to work?! Because that is what a weigh in is…work! I want to reconnect with my best friend. This blog used to be so fun, because we were in it together. We need some time together without any outside pressure. We want to be able to write things that we feel really passionately about. So, no weigh in and no scheduled writing. We are going to write and post when we feel inspired…that could mean 3 times a week or a couple of times a month! We appreciate all of the support and love you guys have given us. Thank you for everything and for supporting this passion driven decision! Shew, What a sigh of relief. Now, off to make my Halloween Costume…Mew Barrymore! Happy Halloween and we will see you when we see you. Xoxo times a milly.

#workoutgoals #soulsister #iwantthatoutfit #halloweeninsporation #forevergrateful

Two meatballs: Broadway baby Blues

October 28, 2015health, fitness, beauty, motivation, plus size, make up, hair, hairstylist, oribe, bumble and bumble, MAC Cosmetics, comedy, Paleo, besties, best friends, meatballs, exercise, life change, lifestyles,twomeatballsgetfit View all 2 comments

this journey always has me curious, to what actually makes me happy. What do I care about, what am I passionate about. I made a perimaid of my life, prioritizing the most important things in my life. Shocker!!!!!!!!!!! My family is number one!!!! My healthy was up there as well. Finding balance, and appreciating my food is huge! I know this balance thing is an on going thing forever!!! But for some reason, I forget it and seem amazed at myself every time I remind myself of it.

The last couple of weeks I haven’t been as active as I would like to be. And I hear my inner dialogue. You better workout…..you better workout. You are slipping. I hear you lady!!! But for some reason I drive myself home kicking and screaming inside. I’m not going!!!! You can’t make me!!!! I won’t!! I won’t go!!!!!! While this is gong on inside, I peacefully drive myself home. My urge to go home, do laundry with Broadway musical song breakouts, seems more important to me at this moment. And it has felt good.

You may not know this about me, but I’m a total Broadway musical buff. I always dreamed of playing Christine in phantom of the opera,

Maria in west side story,

and Kim In miss Saigon.

It is definetly my altar personality!!! My Sasha fierce. ( can you tell I have been watching a lot of United States of Tara on Netflix?). Music, singing and performing has been a strong influence, and practiced my entire life. Everyone gets there thrill in different ways. Some people jump out of air planes, shoplift, triathlons, do drugs, sexcapaids, and who knows what else. For me it’s being on stage. And I’m starting to missss it sooooooooo much!!!!!! So I’m just indulging in it at home. Having a little girl is a dream for me. We watch musicals, dancing and sing all over the house!!! Thank goodness we have this in common, for now!! It is the same memory I share with my mom. I selfishly love the moments. It feeds my soul in a totally different way. And I don’t discriminate, Disney movies are just fine, as well as Taylor swift ( a household fav) . The precious moments alone at the house with my own music selection at my finger tips is really doing it for me right now. I have a full on solo performance that takes place. So funn. I sometimes mourn the loss of performance in my life. I know I will make my way back to theater one day. But for now it is truly feeding my soul!!! That is all 😃

Two Meatballs: Ace is the Place…to Work in High School and Make Friends for Life!!!

October 27, 2015health, fitness, beauty, motivation, plus size, make up, hair, hairstylist, oribe, bumble and bumble, MAC Cosmetics, comedy, Paleo, besties, best friends, meatballs, exercise, life change, lifestyles,ace reunion, backyard weddings, bliss body yoga, friends for life, hi kelly miss you, lizard breath, mason jars, Miller's Ace Hardware, restorative with my bosses, twinkly lightstwomeatballsgetfit View all 4 comments

You guyyys!!! Hope your weekend was everything, I know mine was!!! I kicked off the weekend with my super best boss mentor buddies #likeaboss They joined me at Bliss Body for a little Restorative Yoga!!!

I finally got to meet the other Beginners teacher, Kristen and she was an adorable little sprite!

This will be my new Friday ritual…what a great way to let go of the week and start the weekend off right!?! See you next week Kristen! Then Jack, Joelle and I had dinner at Guasaca and bathed in the bliss that is adult nap time. I just love these two. Going to such a spiritual class with two people who have helped you grow up and whom you love and respect is something I am very grateful for. Xoxo Rays!

Then, Remember my old pal Elizabeth??? We grew up in the same neighborhood and became super best buddies in 2nd grade. I spent the night at her house every Friday night in elementary school and we played Barbies like it was our full time job!!! I swear I have pictures of us as kids but I can’t for the life of my find them…this is the closest I got..here is Elizabeth’s butt at my 8th birthday party!

We stayed close even though we went to different middle schools and then reunited in high school!

We even worked together as cashiers at Miller’s Ace Hardware!

We made so many amazing friends here (Hi Katie, Annie, Missy, Mark, Phil, Ryan, Katie B, Kristine, Carlos, Scott, and everyone else…and Ace and high school is where we met Natalie!

We hung out allllllll the time…mostly at Mark’s house!

For years these were the people I saw every single day and all weekend long! But eventually the store closed down, we all found different jobs, went to college, moved away, got married and now keep in touch on Facebook. While I was on vacation, Elizabeth asked if I wanted to be her date to Natalie’s wedding in Winterville! I was so excited!!! It is so hard as adults to make the planets align and really get to hang out with the people you love when you no longer conveniently work together!!! So, Elizabeth picked me up on Saturday and we trekked it out to the farmiest of places. It was so great to catch up!!!

We made it just in the nick of time…they were literally walking down the aisle as we walked in…

Chris and Natalie are adorable and they have a little girl named Phoebe who was having none of this wedding bullshit!!! She was falling apart in the sweetest way!

Her wanted none of it. The ceremony was short and oh so sweet!

Lots of laughter and talking and cute faces.

Natalie hasn’t changed a bit!!! She was wearing Rainbows and the most beautiful hippie dress. These two clearly adore each other! Look at that kiss! #hubbahubba #ishouldbeaphotographer

And once it was all said and done, Phoebe even came around to the excitement!

They had the wedding in a friend’s backyard and it was gorgeous and really intimate!

Twinkle lights and mason jars…heaven!!! We also got to see Natalie’s mom, who I haven’t see in forever! #loveyoujackie #kissesforeveryone

Catching up was the best. I love when some things never change. Congrats you two!

Thank you so much for having us!!! Natalie I am so glad I got to be there for your special day and to see your sweet face. Thank you for always supporting the blog…even from afar! Love you so much… and Elizabeth thanks for letting me be your plus one!!!!

Friends for life is the way to go! #letsdothismoreoften Let’s have an ACE reunion you guys!!!!

Then, Sunday morning I found my way to the mat and the love of my life…Meg!!! I am always glad to find myself coming back to this place…there is always a message that I need. And don’t forget the yoga burrito!

I came back later for one more dose of Restorative with Kristina. I love ending my weekend the way it began. With peace, patience and love for myself and others. Thank you to my Bliss Body family. I love you all and cheers to old friends and new ones!

Two Meatballs: It’s Just Not Fair!!!

October 22, 2015health, fitness, beauty, motivation, plus size, make up, hair, hairstylist, oribe, bumble and bumble, MAC Cosmetics, comedy, Paleo, besties, best friends, meatballs, exercise, life change, lifestyles,all the fun, fire, frost butt, get it, hi kelly, i bring my own snacks, i love my family, jicama fries, Just say no to funnel cakes, making your own comfort food, meatball run ins, NC State Fair, people watching, roasting marshmallowstwomeatballsgetfit View all 4 comments

Lately temptation has been allllll around me!!! I guess it’s just that time of year. Whenever the weather gets a little colder, it just seems like a great idea to roast marshmallows around a campfire! So that is exactly what the Beards did last week! Safety first!!!

And a little cruising!

And a few selfies!

And now time for some fire!

Ahhhhh!!!

What kid doesn’t love fire!? Or marshmallows!

Or really, what adult for that matter!?

Super jelly…I have to admit that marshmallows and mor specifically S’mores are my weakness, but I won’t let my food allergies/envy hold me back from spending time with my beloved little family!

This weekend we all packed into the car early Sunday morning

#practicalbeards and arrived at the North Carolina State Fair, 2 hours before it opened. #gottagetagoodpark It was fah-reezing!!! But we all bundled up and could not have been more excited!

We are always this matchy matchy and I love it. I have trained the kids well, look at how happy they are to take adorable pictures!!!

And they even snapped a few of us!

#theapplegang

We found a haunted house…

Some Oregon Trail players…#ogoffthegrid

A choppah! #yougottogetdown

Man eating praying mantis… #grasshopper #whatever

Giant Flowers!!!

Then we found ALLLLL of the games!

Wyatt won a donut and wore it as a hat allllllll day…kid after my own heart! And look how sweet he looks in my scarf!

Then we rode rides…

We even ran into Jenny and family, totally unplanned!!! What are the chances at the FAIR!?!?!

We saw animals…

Giant pumpkins…

We Village of Yesteryear’ed it up…

And even had a Greg Fishel moment at the WRAL tent!

Soooo funnnny!!!! And creepy. #makeito’fishel

It was such a fun day!!! The fair can be such a slippery slope for food!!! This is a segment called, yum yum gimme some…

This is a segment called, doing the best I can!!!

There isn’t a ton I can eat right now and I was almost positive that there wouldn’t be ANYTHING that I could eat at the fair bc literally everything has sugar in it, or something else that is on my no list. So in preparation, I ate a big breakfast of 4 Applegate turkey sausage links (the tiny kind) and a spinach smoothie with almond butter, unsweetened coconut mil, blueberries and pineapple. I packed myself an apple and a Larabar and that is all I had! What a victory! I also feel like we walked ten miles today. Needless to say I was starving by the time we left…so I went immediately to Chipotle!

#success Then I had such a craving for fries, bc they are my ultimate weakness, so I made my own jicama fries…food allergy solutions! And they were amazing. I actually had a night full of comfort food cooking. Quinoa and Chicken sausage with spinach and shallots, sweet potato chips and roasted asparagus. I also roasted a spaghetti squash for a spicy shrimp scampi later in the week!!! It’s certainly not fair food, but it is what I can have and I think it is delish!!! These food allergies have turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It is much easier to abstain when I just know that I can’t have those things. Apple freezies are my favorite thing at the fair and as Wyatt and I stood in line to get him a freezie and dad a hot apple cider, I read that there was no sugar water or chemical preservatives and for a moment I thought, oh maybe I can have this (even though I know there is so much sugar in there) and Wyatt looked at me with big eyes full of concern and said, “Don’t risk it Mo!” Always looking out.

To my fellow Beards…OH MY GOSH I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! What a fun day filled with love and giggles. I love you guys so much I just can’t say it enough. #cantegtenoughofyall

I am so lucky to be a part of such a fun, loving, hilarious, supportive, sweet family. And I hope we always feel this way about each other. Love you all to the moon and back and then back again!!!

Two meatballs: wedding cake, funnel cake, and hair!

October 21, 2015health, fitness, beauty, motivation, plus size, make up, hair, hairstylist, oribe, bumble and bumble, MAC Cosmetics, comedy, Paleo, besties, best friends, meatballs, exercise, life change, lifestyles,twomeatballsgetfit One comment

this weekend was just cakkkkkke!!! This weekend Brandon’s best friend Jordan got married!!!!!!! So I got to take a shower in peace !! Brandon was gone and London was with my mom for the night!!!

exciting!!!

But I always end up missing her so much!!!!

But God it feels good to lay around in my towel and take a nap and just do me for a little bit!! You know ladies!!!!

Omg bff’s for life!!

They have been besties since the 6th grade. These two are extremely loyal and would do anything for the other! I know Brandon was honored when he was asked to be his best man!! Everyone knows I nurture “the bromance”. These guys keep eachother inspired and constantly dreaming. Love their friendship,and I know I could call on Jordan if I ever need anything. Love him and couldn’t be happier for him and his wife Bethany ( my client!!!!) small world right?!?

While brandon had best man duties, I hung out with Alisa, Brandon’s mom. She’s always down for a good time, so I knew we would have together

And what’s a wedding without cake??

Cake everywhere!! Wtf!!!! The struggle is real. I had a cupcake and decided to literally dance my ass off with all our buddies!

Brandon and I had so much fun!!!! Love you guys xoxo!

The next day I got up early. And went to the fair with my sister, brother in law Stephen and London!! We basically did whatever London wanted. Rides and games! And I ate total shit!!!!! Corn dog, funnel cake, and a candy apple!!! Detox is in my future!!

Im sooooo tired!!!!

I think she had fun!

This week was so much fun, but also extremely challenging. Just looking for a little more balance in my nutrition tomorrow. Progress, not perfection!

and to feed my soul…..we had a fantastic class at work!! It was challenging and full of fun styling! Everyone’s model looked amazing! Look what me and my partner Katie created!!!!! Team work makes the dream work!!! #bestjob #lifeisgood

i didn’t make the best food choices this weekend, but my heart is full. And that is ok for now!

Two Meatballs: Splurge!!!! You Deserve It ;)

October 20, 2015health, fitness, beauty, motivation, plus size, make up, hair, hairstylist, oribe, bumble and bumble, MAC Cosmetics, comedy, Paleo, besties, best friends, meatballs, exercise, life change, lifestyles,bliss body yoga, Celebrate Good Times Come ON!, clients make the best friends, Dana Falsetti, Durham Yoga Company, hi kelly, Jessamyn Stanley, ModCloth, My Name IS Nola, Torrid, yoga, Yoga is for everyBODY, yoga with yo mommatwomeatballsgetfit View all 4 comments

As you heard from me last week, I will not be defined by a number. I love the momentum that Jenny and I have created for ourselves lately. I am feeling so proud of this progress that I want to celebrate. My refinance went through this week and I shaved off a project from my renovation list so that I could splurge on some smaller sized fall wardrobe pieces…

A new workout outfit…

My dream rain boots and a bag that I’ve been eyeing FOREVER courtesy of our newMarket at Colonnade neighbor, Dress! (I didn’t totally splurge, this is a consignment piece!)

It feels so nice to buy myself things that I need and to be able to let loose a little. So no 3rd bedroom turned into a closet, but yes to a revamp for my master bedroom closet…a great swap! Another way I’m choosing to celebrate is by treating myself to a class at Durham Yoga Company

with my yoga heroes Jessamyn Stanley and Dana Falsetti!!!

I could not wait to be in the same room as these women!!! I mean, somebody like at them!!!

I love powerful, brave women and I can’t wait to soak in every lesson they have to share. Their message is that yoga is for everyBODY!!!! I love the idea that one day, with lots of practice, I can work on getting into (and out of haha #pigeonfail #fuckbirds) any one of these poses. Plus I love their distinct styles!!!! I am so excited to be going on this adventure with my client and friend, Gabi!!!! You guys, this class was everything!!! We got there super early bc we both have that unsettling fear of new things; where will we park, what if we get lost, what if we are late!? This only gave us lots of time to talk and meet new friends!

When I saw Dana and Jessamyn walking towards us, I felt very fan girl! They greeted us warmly and we went inside to wait for the previous class to end!

And then it was time. There were only 6 people in class so it was super intimate and just so fucking amazing. It was everything that I dreamed of and more. You know me, I asked for a picture right away and Jessamyn kindly obliged!

Look at those yoga pants…jelly as helly! Then we jumped right in. They both talked a lot about how sometimes the hardest part about yoga is just getting yourself to the mat. Then we did wrist exercises like crazy bc little did we know we were going to hit down dog, high plank, chatarunga, up dog over and over and over and over again. It was great to watch someone in yoga pants and a sports bra do these poses bc you could really see what they meant. My alignment and body position changed immediately and ultimately made everything, especially my plank 100 times easier. This was so challenging, it was just as much mental as it was physical. I for sure got to a point where I thought, there is no fucking way I can do down dog again!!! But we finally moved on to half moons and warriors and attempted crow on my part haha. I was pouring sweat. But it was so fun and just so damn inspiring. These women are incredible…like every woman I have met on this yoga journey! All of the sudden, two hours were up, my arms were shaking but I didn’t want to end. I felt so much closer to Gabi, we have decided to do something fun and challenging once a month since we made such a great team! #nosharktanksipromise By this time I had made my blogging wants and needs known and everyone totally obliged for the funnest picture sesh!

It is so bonding to sweat and learn with people in this intimate of a setting. Plus I just love when people are onboard…look at this fun bunch of nuts! #mypeople And the fun didn’t stop there.

Look how sweaty and in love! I wanted to be a part of the skins team! #noshirtsneeded

And then we got crazy!

Look at them!!!

Look at us! Hahahahahah! Sooooo fun!

Gabi!!! Thank you so much for coming with me!!! I love you so much! Jessamyn and Dana, I feel so lucky that I got the chance to practice with y’all. You guys are amazing and I loved every single second of this time together. I literally can’t wait to do it again. Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo Ps, lets be friends forever!

The next morning my mom and I started Nancy’s Beginners Series at Bliss Body!!!

I thought it would be a breeze considering it was my second go round, silly bird! It was so fun seeing familiar faces, two of my fellow graduates decided to retake the series!!! And then my client/bestie Carol and her mom decided to come as well! This class was packed and I found a whole new family to love. Mom, this time together means so much to me!!! Can’t wait for Saturday! Love you.

What wonderful ways to celebrate a healthier me. Now, time to stop spending money since my renovation starts the first week of November…more things to be excited about and grateful for. I love all of you and always remember to treat yo’ self!!!!

Two Meatballs: Math is Hard!!!

October 15, 2015health, fitness, beauty, motivation, plus size, make up, hair, hairstylist, oribe, bumble and bumble, MAC Cosmetics, comedy, Paleo, besties, best friends, meatballs, exercise, life change, lifestyles,bliss, bliss body yoga, hi kelly, i am not a number, life of a 4, obsessive compulsive, realistic goals, the ups and downs of healthtwomeatballsgetfit View all 9 comments

I don’t want to make you guys barf or insert side eye/intense eye roll….but I’m just so happy! Sara here and I just want to say, it’s always easier to focus on what isn’t going well, what is a struggle, what we wish was different since we are such a goal oriented society that is discouraged from sharing their true feelings, but sometimes we forget to say when things are just going swimmingly! This has been a really tough year, but it is turning out to be the best year I’ve ever had! In the spirit of positivity, let’s cheers to the good times. So here goes…I want to celebrate that I have made huge changes in my life and that my life is joyfully responding. It feels so nice to not be devastatingly sick. It feels amazing to be dealing with my past so it doesn’t keep creeping into my present and future. It is nice to feel and embrace all the feels…even the ones that make me uncomfortably vulnerable. It feels stupendous to complete things I signed up for. Trying new things makes me tingly. It feels kind to really listen to my body. And it feels so warm to bathe in empathy and unconditional love and connect with everyone on a deeper level. I feel so good that I fee like I’m literally glowing. #stopit #noreally I know that obstacles will creep their way back in but I feel better equipped to recognize the decline and tap into my healthier coping mechanisms. I’m not poisoning my body with foods that I am sensitive to. I’m not poisoning my mind but judging myself and beating myself up for the missteps. I’m not poisoning my body by running it into the ground. I have changed. Jenny and I have made such huge changes! As you read yesterday, my meatball and I went to yoga at Bliss Body last night…

And as yoga always does, it sparked a really great conversation between us. We are both so much more open than we were a year ago. In March, we are coming up on 2 years of the journey to health together and we have changed, evolved and thankfully grown together. #loveyoujenny Here is where we started!

Big, boozy, reckless babes. We both thought that we had it alllll figured out. But the gift is accepting that you can always learn more. Here is a run down of our weigh ins thus far…

We were at our smallest on the stairs with the front and back view!!! Then we both really started gaining weight back and slowly realizing that we were moving further from our goals and that this was about to become so much more than paleo. We always know we are doing well when we want to post our #ootd or Outfit of the Day!

This was both of our teeniests! And we love a before and after! I mean somebody look at these!

We really fell off of doing these around February. We both just weren’t in it anymore and just couldn’t seem to find our way out of the darkness. And by the time Nikki’s shower rolled around, I had hit 300 and beyond again.

To go from 340 to 255 to 306 felt so discouraging and like I had really failed. Thank gah for therapy, yoga and health care professionals and a burning desire to change. I had to accept that what I had been doing, might not be sustainable.

So, now that we have both done some serious soul searching we both know that ultimately nothing has changed about where we want to go. We both want to be healthy and to keep evolving into better versions of ourselves…and we want to do it together. So we had to find new ways to keep it interesting and to keep getting real with ourselves. Like for instance that as good as Edible Art cupcakes are, they probably definitely aren’t a positive contributor to our lives/addictions/end game. And you know what, amazingly enough, we started eating healthy, putting ourselves first, exercising and exploring all the areas that make you healthy and ultimately wanting to do #ootd’s again and before and afters.

I haven’t weighed myself since we decided to take a break from weigh ins. I am really trying to get healthy and I had a very unhealthy obsession with my made up math of weight loss. It feels very freeing to not have the constant literal and figurative ups and downs thrown in my face every morning. I can’t lie, of course I’m curious…and that is what brings me to a little segment called…So, Weigh in is Coming Up.

So, weigh in is coming up in the beginning of November. We used to do a weigh in shoot every single month to post our progress. When I got very sick again and had to got to the hospital, we decided to postpone our weigh in and start doing it quarterly. We both desperately needed a break and we wanted to have some real time to actually see progress since our numbers had been moving in the wrong direction for awhile. And wouldn’t you know it, November is just weeks away. How does it fly by so fast?! I am really at a crossroads here. My obsessive compulsions with my weight have really been silenced by not stepping on the scale. It has allowed me to really focus on my physical health instead of my actual weight. I have some major trepidations about weighing myself. I worry that I will fall into that rabbit hole of obsession once again and possibly sacrifice some of the amazing progress I have made chasing that dragon of a minus on my chalk board. What if I feel this good but my weight isn’t where I think it is in my head. What if I start defining who I am and what I am worth by a number again. What if this spirals back into a relapse and I start gaining weight again. #lifeofa4 And then the clouds part and I see the light. I don’t have to be shackled by fear, worries or what ifs. I can measure myself and my progress in any manner that I see fit. As this post began, there are so many things to celebrate and Jenny and I have no reason to be anything but proud and accepting of our resiliency in the face of great obstacles. We created this blog to help ourselves and others and we get call the shots. I am not going to let a number send me off the cliff. I am not a number and I won’t let a number define me. We are striving for progress not perfection and we had both been working so hard…why not continue to share the ENTIRE journey with everyone. This is hard, and that just means it will be worth it. As long winded as this was, I will close with, we will see you at the weigh in, chalk boards in hand, feeling brave and empowered. Sending you all my love. Xoxo,

Sara

Two Meatballs Get Fit

We had so much fun getting fat together. Now we're going to have even more fun getting fit!