family fun

Two Meatballs: Bulls, Balls and Bikini’s!

This weather!!! The outfits just get cuter!

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And the activities just get more fun…this weekend was the opener at my sisters pool!It is heaven….and also a reminder that even though I’m back on track… I have really let myself go!

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This bathing suit looked a lot better when I bought it, but that is just motivation to remember where I really want to go!  This weekend was the opener at my sisters pool and it was soooo fun!  I went hard on the activity points.  I love the water, no matter how cold, but you guys…it wasn’t even that bad! And these nuggies are so fun to play with!

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Look at all the calories we burned!

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We had so much fun and wore ourselves out…we all got out for adult swim! #ohchildhoodmemories

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We had some snacks!

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I will admit, I indulged in a cronut…it was interesting but I was not a fan #notworthit

We even had time for some selfies!

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After 3 hours baking in the sun, it was time to hide in the shadows as I was already burnt to a crisp!  We went back to Kellys house to have a super yummy and healthy cookout!  I snuggled with Chase. #ibroughtmydishpremade

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And proceeded to pass the fuck out while everyone else worked hard #yikessorryguys Then dinner was served! Immmmmm Yummmmmm!

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Chase wanted LOTS of alone time tonight!

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All of the sudden it was late and bedtime. The next morning I got ready for more family time…Kelly, Chase and Wyatt were coming to get me to meet my salon to watch a Durham Bulls game!

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It was so disgustingly hot!

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I love spending time with my work family outside of the salon.

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And I got to meet Taylors sweet baby!!!!

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Look at that angel!  Look at all the fun was had! Getting to spend time with my actual family was just icing on the cake #donteatitsara

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This was all the meatballs a couple of years ago!

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We really have changed!!!!

 

It was soooooo hot and we were all burnt from yesterday that we bounced very quickly! And spent the rest of the afternoon watching Matilda…my all time favorite book/movie!

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Then they took me home and we got so tickled bc I shared with the kids that my ultimate 33rd birthday fantasy is to have a massive food fight.  I’m talking full scale, no holds barred food motherfucking fight! And we got so tickled bc Kelly would ruin it by obsessing over the mess and we got so detailed on how to execute it and then we all lost our shit!

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You guys, it was the living funnest weekend.  I managed to work out, eat healthier than I have been  in a long time and see all of my families.  Now I can’t wait for Memorial Day fun!  I’m feeling so much better and in such a better place. I really want to feel proud again and see and feel the actual progress of hard work. I want to remember how hard this is and that it takes commitment. I love to feel proud and I feel so relieved to want to get healthy again.  I got worried there for a second that I was going to see 300 again.  If you guys have been reading the blog for awhile, you know that 3’s have been my enemy that haunted my weight loss journey in the past.  I would get stuck right at 30 pounds lost and then gain it all back and more.  Then I got stuck right above 300 pounds and just couldn’t  get below it.  Then I blew it out of the fucking water, got down to 250 and the pressure of losing 90 pounds literally crushed me. It feels so nice to want this again.  I’m back baby.  I love y’all!

Two Meatballs: (singing) These Are a Few of Our Favorite Placessss!!!

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This is everyone who made it down to the beach this vacay! I feel so lucky to look forward to my family vacation and actually totally enjoy it.  If I read my posts and didn’t know me I would think barrrrrfff…this bitch is full of shit.  No family likes each other this much and has so much fun together!  But you guysssss…it’s totally true! #whydontyoubragaboutit?! The weather has been super up and down but that didn’t stop the fun! Our family has been coming to Emerald Isle or Atlantic Beach forrrr-ever and for the last long while, we always stay at Summer Winds!  We’ve gotten to know the place well and have several favorite spots in and around the island.

 

First on the beach tour is the best little gem on the island.  Every single day we trek it to our favorite coffee shop and bakery, 4J’s in Emerald Isle…I really needed to lose those three pounds so Joe the owner let me bring in my own unsweetened coconut milk for lattes…thanks JOE!!! It should also be noted that Joe is lovely! He has a kind word for everyone who walks through his doors and you just know that he remembers each and every person that pops in. He is clearly passionate about what he does…I’m not kidding when I say that the coffee is unbelievable.  He makes his own bagels using NYC water, he also has a bakery in Newport and makes muffins, cakes and every goody I needed to stay away from. Who looks forward to their favorite coffee shop on vacay…the Beards! 4J’s actually just won Best Coffee on the Crystal Coast!!!  Thanks so much to Joe and all the girls at 4J’s…if you guys find yourselves on the coast do yourself a favor!

 

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Sidebar…a guy comes here everyday and parks his car and his two dogs climb into the front seat and look like a married couple driving the car…adorable and a great way to start the day!!!

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This next stop was a first for us.  We spent almost every single morning at a place we had never tried before…Mike’s Place for breakfast!!!  The sassy hostess set the tone for our mornings…everyone always has a smile and the food was yuuuuuumy!

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#isntchasethesnuggliest!?

And another little diner gem in Swansboro called Yana’s! #50’sdiner

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Another family favorite is The Sweet Spot…the living best ice cream shop…confession I ate so much ice cream down here you guys!  Another reason I pulled a big fat zero for weigh in #worthit

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Dinner at The Spouter Inn on the waterfront in Beaufort is the loveliest place!!! You should def get the crab cakes!!!

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As you saw last week…Fort Macon is always a hit…

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We also love stopping at all the fresh produce stands along the way..this one was in Cedar Point and it helped me get back on track food wise!!!

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This literally became farm to table!

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#backontrack

We spend 90% of our time on the beach or at the pool so I know this list is really food heavy….but that is what we do!

Here are some final honorable mentions…Flipperz was a new place that we tired this year and ended up going 3 times!  Normally I wouldn’t trust something that ended in a Z in that manner…but this place was yummy and had a cute gift shop! Also they had a million side options and healthy salads!

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We had lunch at the Crab Shack one day…they had grilled seafood in a land of fried seafood!!! #healthyoptions

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And a couple of nights at Amos Mosquito’s in Atlantic Beach….I LOVE THIS PLACE! I had the biggest cheat meal here one of the nights and probably the healthiest meal I ate on my entire vacation on the second night!

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#cheat

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#healthy!

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#greatcompany

So if you find yourself on the coast visit any one if not alllll of these places you will have the living best time!!! Best two weeks of my life…can’t wait to see you Raleigh!!!

 

Two Meatballs: Fort Macon-Me Crazy!!!

Did you guys know that I love the beach!?!  And my family?!? Annnd adventures!?!  #duh Gahhhhh, I really needed this vacation.  For the first time ever, I took 2 weeks off of work with my family and rented a little getaway at our favorite place in Salter Path, NC.  I love going to the beach in the fall and especially with these fun people!!!  Look at this happy bunch…

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But what do you do when there is a three day gully washer and super overcast skies in paradise!?

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After lots of coffee trips to our favorite spot, 4J’s we decided that the cabin fever had taken over. #igot99problemsandtheyareallrain

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Unfortunately for most of the rainy days we ate constantly #ohnotheweighin and hibernated…but on this magical day we had a brilliant idea and knew we had to get out of the house, the Beards trekked it out to Fort Macon…the living funnest historically rich favorite pastime of ours!

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This was literally the first moment that we got here…let the fun begin…am I right ladies!?

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There is sooo much to explore here!!!  Obvi the kids love it buuuuut I would go out on a limb here and say that the grown ups are just as excited!

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We learned all about how food was rationed and what the mess hall looked like…

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We pretended to be in jail…

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Tried to shove Wyatt and Kelly in the oven #familytradition…

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Wind sprints down an enticingly long hallway #activitypoints #burningoffIcecream

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More exploration…

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Seeing how the soldiers slept firsthand…

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A little more jackassing around for good measure #kelandiaresittinginaclamshellbutyoucanttellatallllll…

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Can you tell that we like having a good time!?!  My family is my world!!!  This next group of pics is why I’m sooo in love with them.  Bring on the historical re-enactment in a museum gift shop…

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Kelly and I trying so hard to look solemn…I just can’t do it!!! #notnailingit #laughingismyfavorite

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Then we found some family photo opportunities!!!

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#fail

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#win

What a fun day!!!  You guys should for sure go to Fort Macon if you find yourself on the coast!  I love you guys!!!  Miss you!