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Two Meatballs: Where’s the Love Y’all…I Don’t Know!?

April 8, 2016health, 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,equal rights for allll, get educated and know your rights, hi kelly, love not hate, start a revolutiontwomeatballsgetfit View all 10 comments

Hello my loves. Sara here. Unless you’ve canceled cable, hate technology or you’ve gone underground for awhile, you’ve probably noticed a sharp change in the humanity climate. Such is the cycle of life that there will be good times and there will be bad times, but right now I feel bewildered and slightly terrified, especially as a woman…so I can’t even begin to imagine how people of color and the LGBTQ community feel.

I think I was born a feminist.

I have always cared deeply about equality. How can we in this day and age still not have equal pay and equal rights? I don’t want my health choices to lie in the hands of politicians. I also don’t wish to be blasted back into the 50’s. And why the fuck do we still make less for the same job??? This may all seem like, well what does this have to do with getting healthy?! But I even see the discrimination continue with plus size women who are finally being accepted in the media and even gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition! People still find fat women disgusting and instead of showing some love for people who refuse to feel anything but sexy at any size, some people still want to silence and degrade us….make us feel less than. Isn’t it all really just a power struggle? A way to keep us down?

And after all that, I’ve still got it pretty good.

I’ve never preferred racism, bigotry and belittling. Every time I turn on my tv, log into my email, get on Facebook or IG I am confronted by the sad realization that we haven’t progressed as much as my progressive heart would have hoped for 2016 in the land of the free. I would like to know why so many in the world have suddenly become so publicly bigoted?! Why are we not helping and uplifting our fellow human?!

Why are we threatened when human beings get the same civil rights as other human beings? Why do the people who have had said rights all along feel as if something is being taken away from them when others finally fought hard enough to get something that should have been for all from the very beginning?!

Decisions are being made in hushed rooms that affect us all without our consent and are sending us back decades in the battle for civil rights, not to mention that these decisions will cripple us financially, because in more positive news, soooooooooooo many companies and people do have progressive minds and hearts.

But why do all of these things spur on fear and intolerance which ultimately rears its ugly head as hate?! Without getting too political or delving into religion, I want to reach out to you all and say that I love you, because at the end of the day I think that might just be the answer.

I don’t think you can fight hate with hate, so why not replace what is missing so badly in the world today. What if we were a little more tolerant, understanding, compassionate, accepting, brave, inquisitive, inclusive and just plain more loving of the world and all those who live in it?! Lets help each other. The basis of human existence is do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Whether you look different than me, have different beliefs than me, even if this post makes your blood boil because you wish that nothing ever changed…

I want you to know that I accept you and that the best thing we can do is love more…and vote!

Have a wonderful weekend and remember everyone is going through there own struggles…love is the answer.

Two Meatballs: A Cry for Health!!!

March 31, 2016health, 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,begin again, hi jill, hi kellytwomeatballsgetfit View all 8 comments

Well hey there you guyyyyyys!!!! Oh how I have missed theeeee!!! Sara here. Lately I have been in need of some major inspiration. It feels so good when you are inspiring others and things are going great and you are losing weight, taking over the world and feeling fabulous. You feel unstoppable and like there is no possible way that you could ever turn back. That is what the first year of writing Two Meatballs Get Fit felt like.

So many people were reaching out and saying how we had inspired them…we even made it onto the news!!! And I honestly had no idea that telling the world you were fat and sick of it with your best friend could help so many other people feel like they weren’t alone in this struggle called weight loss. It helped us stay on track. We were pulling 5 to 10 pound weight losses every single month for 6 months. We could see and feel such a difference. And our weight loss became a rallying cry for how we wanted women to see themselves. We wanted for everyone to feel loved, seen, heard, powerful, sexy and healthy. We had a platform to champion our cause and to share the ups and downs of weight loss. It really felt amazing. Nowwwww, the next year of TMGF felt a little different. So many things happened. I realized I was an addict and that the blog had become my all consuming/exhausting addiction. I was grieving the loss of my sweet grandma and eating all the cake.

Jenny and I stopped spending as much time together and when we did we were having “cheat” days and comfort eating and indulging in all of our former fat glory instead of doing all of the things that had helped us find health in the first place.

Starting in January 2015 (at my lowest weight) my health took a major nose dive and over the course of last year I went from losing 90 pounds to two bouts of pneumonia, 1 hospital trip, 1 surgery (tonsils out boiiii)

and at least 5 rounds of steroids, shots, antibiotics and inhalers. I can’t remember a time before now that I felt so sick for so long. And you won’t even believe what I didn’t feel like doing during this year of sick…I didn’t feel like cooking, eating healthy or exercising! And you won’t even believe what happened as a result of that hellish stretch. Y’all, I have found myself back at the starting line.

I can’t pretend like it isn’t heartbreaking.

I can’t pretend like I’m not exhausted just thinking about starting over…AGAIN!

But when I take stock, I am still a changed person. I am not running myself into the ground anymore. When I need a break, I take it. I don’t get as stressed out or overwhelmed like I used to. My calendar isn’t jammed packed. But what I’m missing so desperately is my Jenny, cooking in the kitchen together and exercising!!! I’m just starting to feel better and 2016 isn’t so far gone that I can’t turn things around and sign back up to live my best, healthy life.

I know, I know, But we are here to reach out and ask for help. So many of you have told us that we inspired you to get healthy and we are forever grateful for that. We need you to pay it forward and tell us your stories!!! We want to hear the ups and downs and how you made it through to the other side. We need to feel the community of women and men out there that are making healthy choices, surround us with your positivity and remind us that we can do this. I find myself reading my own posts from the first year and reminding myself that it was never easy, but it used to be so fun! We need to hear your success stories to help us find our way back to our own. I know so many people have felt like this or feel like we do right now. But it always helps to know you are not alone and we can all find our way to our happiest self. My first step to feeling good again started by going to see my Chiropractor, Lauren. I needed to tell on myself. I have been so sick, but I can also take responsibility for my role in not feeling well. Eating shitty and not exercising isn’t helping my cause. It was so great to see her and feel empowered and accountable. Next, Jenny and I decided that we needed to start writing again ASAP. My third step was an exciting one…finding my way back to yoga. If you’ve read the blog before you know I have a way of overdoing something until I fucking hate it. I never hated yoga, but after making it into something that had to be won…I realized i was missing the point and wanted a break. But that is another thing that I struggle with, taking the never-ending break!!! Jenny had plans to celebrate her husbands birthday(HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRANDON!!!), so I reached out to my bester Kelly. She was in and we signed up for Meg’s Flow Basics class at Bliss Body and I honestly felt relieved to be going back. I need yoga in my life and I need to have healthy ways to spend time with the ones I love.

Kelly’s friend from high school, Jill has from day one been such an amazing supporter of the blog. She was one of the first people who reached out and told us how much she related to the blog and how we helped her feel more confident and empowered in her own journey. No let me say, I idolized Jill and Kelly growing up. I mean somebody look at them!

They were so fucking cool and being 5 years younger than them I just desperately wanted to be them and be best gah damn friends. So for Jill to be so vocally supportive was everything! We have communicated so much through the blog and social media and her and my sister reconnected which is amazing. So Kelly knew Jill would be in town and invited her to yoga!!!! I couldn’t have been more excited…i hadn’t seen Jill since I was in 8th grade. This is how excited we were!!!

How do I get that bunny app!?!?! And all of the sudden, Tuesday night was here!

Yogayyyyyyyys, it was everything! Jill is like a long lost other sister bestie. She is so warm and sweet and funny. She has a great life and has found her tribe. And how brave is it to just come to your first yoga class with no prior experience!?! Loovvvee her!

It was so good to be back and to be together!!! But it was hard af. Anytime you take time off of something it is like starting over. Being much heavier doesn’t help either, but to remember how important it is to breathe and set an intention for your practice felt like home. Meg is the best and an hour flew by. And a total bonus, sweet Nicole , my Samuel Cole buddy was at class too! Look at this happy bunch!

We survived! I felt peaceful, pumped and really sore already! Megggg!!!! It was so great to be back in your class. You are the living best!

Then me, Jill and Kelly went to dinner at Guasacas and talked about everything.

Jill really pumped me up about writing again. She said everything that I needed to hear and that I was feeling called to do internally. I want to write and more than that I need to write! We had the best time. Me, her and Kelly all struggle with being healthy….just like every other person on the planet. It’s so hard to not feel all alone sometimes, but literally everyone is struggling day to day. By the end of the meal we decided since Kelly is the President of the Meatballs Fan Club, Jill would obviously be the best choice for Vice President. With these two in charge, Jenny and I can’t lose! Kelly and Jill are the greatest cheerleaders and supporters that we could ever ask for. Jenny and I are so incredibly lucky that our families and friends are so amazing! They still believe in us even when we have epically lost our way. What a fun night and what a great night for the soul. I love my people oh so much and Jill, I can’t wait for our next date. I love you so much. Jenny and I are so glad to be back at it. What a relief!!! Xoxo to you all.

We’ll never stop…we just may have to restart a few times!!!

Two Meatballs: Sara, Are You Ready To See Your Fixer Upper???!!!

January 14, 2016health, 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,hi kelly, newman builders, renovationstwomeatballsgetfit View all 12 comments

It’s finally time!!! My great pal Nikki referred me to her contractor friend and neighbor, Ryan Newman of Newman Builders, when I first started talking seriously about a renovation. I reached out to him and set up an appointment, immediately followed by an appointment to refinance my house haha!!! I’m a human with lots of family, friends and clients, so like most of you, I’ve heard my fair share of contractor horror stories. But I have to say, I didn’t experience any of that…like at all! Sure there was a lot of dust and some unexpected obstacles and we ran over budget (because I couldn’t stop adding projects…ship lap, barn doors…) but Ryan was an absolute pleasure and I mean, somebody look at this amazing work that he did! This was my kitchen before…shitty counter tops, ugly wallpaper, just so blah and not me…

Look at it now!!!!

It’s a space that I am enjoying personalizing so much!!!

I could literally die. It’s so beautiful… from the butcher block counter tops that he custom made to the oversized shelves that he created to the custom ship lap on the walls!!! This space is so homey, chic and totally on trend now. On to the closet…you remember this dumb space from before!

Less than zero personality…it crushed my soul everyday! But now…TA-DA!!!!

I mean, somebody look at the shiplap on this ceiling!!!!

Ugh, I just love it!!!! Before their were hangers on both sides that smacked me in the face as I shoved myself into the stupidest closet alive!!! But now, it’s EVERYTHING! I look forward to getting dressed every single day and I love the function and form that he created. I can actually see all of my options and my pretty little things now have a pretty little home. And finally…my favorite…THE BATHROOM!!! Here is the before and the useless wall that separated the teensiest space. Ryan and I spent a lot of time talking about that wall. I hated that wall.

You may want to sit down for this…

I’ll give you a moment to regain consciousness from passing out FROM HOW PERFECT THIS ROOM IS!!! Ok so where do I even begin…i mean did you see the shower?!?! This room is so spa like that I don’t ever want to leave it. I have an orange clove candle that I light every time I walk in and check this out…

It may just look like a fan, but it’s a bluetooth speaker. When I turn the fan on, my Spotify playlist starts playing. So far Beyonce, Peaches, Led Zeppelin, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sia, Rolling Stones, Kid Cudi and Childish Gambino have been rotating non stop, full blast. Another reason for my neighbors to hate me…if they only knew how sexy this bathroom is! I no longer have peaceful showers, everyday is a dance party or a concert. #theseacousticsaregreat I really love design, so the aesthetic is basically all I cared about when we first start planning. I planned this entire bathroom around my first find…the gorgeous white resin deer head named Liz Lemon and then everything else fell into place. Ryan was great about incorporating my look with great function. My shower is so useful now, the bench he designed is a life saver, the frameless glass door is incredible, the tile work is art! I was going to hang a chandelier or bubble lights but he steered me in the direction of an industrial look with LED Edison bulbs which ended up totally tying the style of this room together and upgrading it 1,000 percent. I didn’t know I could love a bathroom like this. I am so seriously considering moving a chair in there to read and hang out bc it is now the spot in my house that I never want to leave. But wait, there’s more. Somebody look at these barn doors…

I just didn’t know you guys, how impactful it is to do your dream household projects!!! And how important it was to find the right contractor to do the job. Every time I called Ryan with another idea, he was always so positive and really honest. We got a stainless steel sink and he called me to tell me it looked awful and suggested the beautiful white one that you saw above. If you know me, you know I love that. I don’t want to have something that looks like shit in my house and with certain things, you just don’t know until someone who knows more that you tells you!!! But he was supportive of my every whim and if something didn’t make sense to do he would tell me or help modify to something that would look even better. Are you picking up what I’m putting down!?!?! Call this guy, he will make all of your home dreams come true! As soon as I rebuild my house fund, we already have two more projects in the wings-shiplap over the fireplace and reading nook and paint the inside of the house and then project two…girly backyard overhaul…I’m talking a deck with a pergola to hold all the twinkle lights my sweet little heart could desire, custom picnic table, an herb garden, new pavers…the works!!! I love having things to look forward to and people I trust and love to work with. Here is all the info you will need to change your life and give your home a much deserved face lift:

Ryan Newman

Newman Builders

ryan.newman07@gmail.com

(803) 983-9948

Also, he has a Facebook page for his business (Newman Builders) if you want to see more of his work… I honestly can’t say enough great things! Ryan, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I love my house and everything turned out better than I could have ever imagined. I so look forward to working with you again really soon. And to everyone, one last view of the house decorated for Christmas, my favorite time of the year!!! I have missed you all and look forward to telling you all about me and Jenny’s trip to Miami! Xoxo

Ps…I ordered my vanity and all of my light fixtures from Wayfair.com and looooved everything I got!!! Love y’all!

Two Meatballs: I’m 33 and I Live With My Parents!!!

December 31, 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,and loving it, hi kelly, moving in with your parentstwomeatballsgetfit View all 8 comments

Sara here. So, last we spoke, I found out I had a bad mold allergy and needed to get a bathroom (and kitchen and closet) reno stat!!!! Well, it finally happened. I realized very quickly that I would not be able to live at home during this time; between the dust, noise, power outages, mess and chaos, I couldn’t hack it! My sweet parents, Anna and John ( how cute are they?!)

graciously took me in and we have been having…THE BEST TIME! Oh my gah you guys, have you ever moved home under positive circumstances?!? Cause it is great. We cook together,

snuggle,

giggle, sing Christmas songs, look at lights,

come up with schticks, decorate trees,

watch movies

and when I got strep throat last week,

my mom made me soup and my dad took me to get my meds! I am in heaven. The day that I moved in my mom started the same elimination diet that I am on and it was so fun to have someone to do this with . She feels so much better and looks amazing and it really helped me stay committed to help someone else get started!!! And look at these yummy meals we made together!!!

I am so grateful that we all get along so swimmingly! And wouldn’t you know it, 5 weeks flew by and it was all of the sudden time for me to move home!!!! This was so bittersweet. I was dying to see my completed renovation and sleep in my own bed…but this has been the living funnest time. As I packed up all of my belongings from my parents guest bedroom I was excited but saddddd!!!! Who would I come home to at night?! When would I ever watch Jeopardy again? Whose crossword puzzle am I going to google answers for, whose going to show me all their newest craft and gift ideas, when am I going to get to feel like a technolgical genius again!?!?!?!

But I am sure it was perfect timing, no one wants to overstay their welcome and I wanted us to still be the best of friends after a 5 week home invasion. I left a love note and headed home…to meet my entire family!!! #iwishicouldquityoutwo This house needed some serious cleaning and my family is so great. More on that later. So, to my sweet parents. OH MY GAHHHH! This was the best 5 weeks…it could have been terrible! I could have been the biggest pain in the ass inconvenience, we could have been at each others throats, but we weren’t! It was a joy and a pleasure. I never thought that I would move home at 33, but I’m so glad that I did and that it was a super positive experience. How lucky can one girl be?! Thank you for everything that you guys have always done for me. I love that we are so close and I really miss you guys so much already!!!!! You are the best parents a girl could ask for and I love you guys so much.

Side note, as we walked into my house…which you guys, it is not like Fixer Upper when you walk into a perfectly staged and immaculately clean home, my dad instantly said, ” You can’t stay here, just come back home with us!”. It melted my heart to think that they would want me back and to not just be wiping their hands of me after over a month of cohabitation. It was so tempting. Until the next project JB!!! Love y’all to the moon. #mycuprunethover #152insightsintomysoul #theygavemethesecookies #afteripaidforthem #lalalalalaaaa #lookwhatigotharper #butternutsquash #iamsosickofbrusselsprouts #wehadalltheholidaystogether #iloveyall #thanksforbeingthebestparents

Two Meatballs: All of the Holidays!!!

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,all of the holidays., hi kellytwomeatballsgetfit View all 2 comments

As you know, I moved in with my parents while my house was being made over by Newman Builders!!! And during that time, so many great things happened! I celebrated my 12th anniversary at my dream job! You must be asking yourself, she looks so young, how could she have worked somewhere for 12 years!?!?! All I can say is, I know right?

#heymarebear

My friend and client Christie had a pre birthday private yoga sesh with sweet Meg!!!

Look how fun!!! It was so nice to get back to yoga and hang out with 2 of my favorite gals!

Then my family went to see Peanuts 3D as an early birthday celebration for me!

And lunched it up at Chipotle afterwards!

Then it was actually my birthday…work was so sweet…

and the OG Beards went to Winston’s to celebrate the big 33!!! #allofthepotatoes

Then my bestie flew into town and me her and Kel went to the Umstead and had the living most relaxing and equally hilarious weekend! Somebody look at how cute we are!?!

How much plaid can you fit onto one bed??? We went to the spa and had all the treatments and all the hot tea!

Hey Kelly, remember when you got shushed!? Hey Katie, remember when you awkwardly ran into that guy…and good morrow to you as well kind sir bahahahahahahah!!!! And remember I didn’t wear pants or a robe!? #fuckit #noshoesnopantswhocares We even rode on the elevator with a meatball reader Sharon…totally felt like a celeb! Best weekend of life. We had room service and again, I ate all of the fries.

We watched Fixer Upper, caught up on life and laughed our collective asses off at YouTube videos #errmegerddd Love you guys so much! Then wouldn’t you know it…it was Thanksgiving!!! I love a holiday and time with my sweet family!

As usual, Marty entertained the crowd #lordknowsiwantone #nooffense

Mom and I made a ton of dishes that we could both eat and we walked away unscathed!!! We even made our first batch of turkey bone broth!

So great seeing everyone,

laughing till it hurt and eating healthy on the most gluttonous day of the year! Then when the kids got back into town we went to see the Good Dinosaur!!!

I literally cannot get enough of this theater!!! And the movie was awesome!

And my dream came true…we were the only people in there for a long time! Then we drug the boys kicking and screaming to see lights! And you would have thought we tortured them! #youlied

Then December rolled around and we kicked it into high holiday gear. Kelsey told us to go to Piper Lights off Mitchell Mill Rd and finally we saw an awesome light spectacular!

Followed by watching the most inappropriate Christmas movie of all time National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation #somuchcussing

Chase is snuggling in a box next to me on the couch…he was so sick! He is ironically making the same face as the tv!!! Hahahaha And what night would be complete without a sleepover! #Shhhhh

And now Christmas is upon us!!! I’ve been decorating like crazy to get ready for the Apple Beard family christmas party and tonight is the night!!! More on that in a later post! I hope you all have been enjoying your holiday season as much as we have!!! There is just so much to be grateful for. Xoxo and happy holidays to you all and to all a good night.

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: 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: 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: 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!!!!