The Good Life by RoxyB

So I realized in looking back at my blog, that I haven't really documented ANY of my journey in getting back into the business of fitness!  Since it's a pretty significant part of my life, I want to be able to go back and read about new opportunities, my thought processes, and lessons learned during this whole thing!

So... I've ALWAYS known that I want to be in the health/fitness/wellness world for the rest of my life.  It combines all of my passions: a love for PEOPLE, the gift of ENCOURAGEMENT, both sides of EDUCATION, physical ACTIVITY, taking care of the temple aka- HEALTH.  Since Avery's birth, I've taken a hiatus from my fitness profession, but around the beginning of 2011, I decided I was ready to stick my toes back in and test the waters :) 

It started with my Fitness blog (late 2010), which was just my outlet for sharing fitness and wellness information!  I'm constantly playing with the layout, trying to find something I'm satisfied with (who knows if that will ever happen!), but I just want it to be something that people can refer to for any questions they may have relating to fitness!  I want it to be user-friendly, well-organized, and easy to look at.  Who knows... maybe we'll get there one day :)

After The Simple Plan in April, I felt prepared to take on my first "official" clients, and thus has blossomed, "The Good Life".  My dear friend Kelly Simants, of Sweet Pea Events, has been an insane blessing in giving me advice, encouragement, and support on the business side of things.  God definitely orchestrated this friendship for many awesome reasons, probably the least of which is for my business' benefit :)

My clients have been super fun, some have been super challenging, and I am LOVING it.  A few months into this adventure I realized that I needed to give myself limits and designate certain parts of my day that could be devoted to "The Good Life", because although I love it, I did NOT want it taking time and energy away from my babygirls or my hubby or my wife/mom duties (which I LOVE and are my #1 priority!)  After feeling a bit stressed and overwhelmed for a short period of time, I figured out how to make things work... reprioritized :) It's amazing how when you bite the bullet and just spend more time in The Word, EVEN when you feel like there's NOT enough time, your days seem miraculously longer and The Lord finds a way to provide the time you need, the peace you need, and the attitude you need :)   Love it.

Anyway- that's what's been up with The Good Life by RoxyB in a nutshell.  There are some pretty fun opportunities I get to be a part of in the near future that wouldn't have presented themselves without The Good Life in my life!  Will share them soon.  Time for bed.  I'm thankful that God has blessed me with so many things.  HE is enough for me.  But He has blessed me beyond what I need with a super awesome husband to share my life with, 2 little angels of love that bless every minute I spend with them, and the opportunity to have a business that I'm excited about!

Finding Your Inner Child: Lifegroup Bowling!

Our Lifegroup is kiiiind of awesome.  We have finally finished up our Revelation study, and instead of diving into the next one this week, we decided to have an adults-only night-o-fun during the week! (since it's nearly impossible to find a weekend that we're all in town).

We ended up @ Main Event in Frisco... totally cheap fun.  I didn't snap any pics of the bowling, but we all took a quick 10ish question survey while we were there to earn a $15 card to the arcade.  Let's just say that the neon lights brought out our inner children (who am I kidding...everything bring out our inner children!)

We played some air hockey, some DDR, did some shooting, you know...your typical arcade entertainment.  The grand finale of the evening was spent in the arcade's Man-Fest Corner with games that involved seeing who could kick a soccer ball & hit a punching bag with the most force.  Pretty entertaining :) 

Here's to my fav Lifegroupers :)  P.S.- We missed you, Simants Fam!!

Pinkalicious!! ...and baby cupcakes :)

Pinkalicious is Avery's new fave book.  SO cute.  Love the cute little story.  Love the cute little dramatic main character.  Love the cute little dialogue.  LOVE the cute little illustrations!!  We read it before every nap and before bed every night.  It's a REQUIRED pre-sleepy-time ritual for little miss Averton.

So...because we read Pinkalicious so much (AND bc she's my daughter), Aves has been super fixated on cupcakes for the last few days.  So yesterday we finallyyyy had a little baking sesh in the kitchen.  SO fun.  She was the greatest little baking assistant.  We made little minis and Aves decorated a few for herself, one for Cameron (who lovvvved it of course!), and a couple for daddy.  My little Preshling.  I'll bake cupcakes with you anyday :)

pouring & mixing.  so focused :)

sneaking LOTS of tastes even after mommy said "no" ...must have learned that one from Pinkalicious ;)

baking buddies!

this child waited in front of the oven for almost the entire time!

beautiful baby cupcake decor

i want one i want one!!!!!

DELECT.  what a great little treat to wake up to.  Don't get used to it C-Lil ;)

Sunshine = Happiness

Today was beautifully perfect...or..."puhpick" as Aves would say.  Can you tell by these happy little faces?

I'm thankful that God has chosen to water the earth so often lately...but The Bradfords needed some sun-to-the-shine up in hurrr!  We got to go on a walk, play outside, open the windows, and just enjoy a bright sunshiney cheerful day! Aves napped great (a drastic change from yesterday), Carson came over for a few hours.  The girls had a party in their little tunnel before bedtime (presh).  I love days like today. LOVE.

lovebirds.

 Speaking of awesome weather ...as cool as Seattle sounds, I am SO thankful I live in Texas... I need bright sunshiney blazing hot 100 degree summers.  :)  They make me happy!

SUNSHINE = HAPPINESS

Fitness By RoxyB: North Texas Warrior Dash - 2011

ready to go!!

we made it!!

aren't we intimidating?

attempting to look cute while covered in mud from head to toe :)

Fitness By RoxyB: North Texas Warrior Dash - 2011: " I participated in my first Warrior Dash. I wish I could explain to you how much fun this thing is. If you're a runner- DO..." {continued here}

Saturday. April 16, 2011. 10:18pm.

We're back from Mexico.  It was AMAAZZIINNNGGGG.  So relaxing.  But we are SO tired.  How does that happen?  We missed the girls like CRAZY.  Being reunited with them was the greatest.  :)  Thanks to my mom & pops for being parents for the week :)

I have Warrior Dash en la manana and I'm a teeny bit scurrd.  I fear that my Mexican-getaway has left me with some stomach issues that are NOT super conducive to running 3.5 miles.  Hopefully it all works out :)   

My 2 munkshins are each a month older.  I'm pretty sure they turned 8 & 23 months like...yesterday?  But apparently not.  I've got to whip those posts together asap.  Maybe tomorrow after my morning of trudging through rivers & mudpits and scaling walls ;)

Nug is having a baby like...REALLY soon.  I AM FRIGGIN PUMPED!!!!  I'm kinda sorta going to be an aunt soon.  a baby to spoil and NOT discipline....holla.

Jacci is getting married ridiculously soon.  This makes me smile REALLY big every time I think about it!   SO EXCITED!!!!!!

Okay.  I need to sleep off this vacation hangover so I can be peppy & excited in the morning for WD!! Woohoo!

Happy Saturday.  It is soooooo good to be home w/mi familia!

Sleep ISSUES!!

Aves has been a champion sleeper since she was 3 weeks old.  NEVER had to do any kind of sleep training/ferber type of stuff.  She just slept.  I had to wake her up in the middle of the night to feed her!  It was awesome...and HAS BEEN awesome for the last 22.5 months.  Well, ever since we got back from Galvy my little one has been STRUH.GUH.LING.  Once we returned from Austin this past wknd, we are finally home all together everynight for the rest of the week, so we are busting out some Ferber method up in this joint.  Poor Aves.  I feel bad doing it @ the age of almost 2.  It seems meaner when they can cry out your name.  She is fighting hard, but we're on night #3, and the process was significantly shorter tonight.  We shall see.  I miss seeing this...

...within 10 minutes of putting her in bed!  

Speaking of Ferber action...we did this with Camo @ about 4.5 months...once the colicky stuff ended (which coincidentally happened at the same time that we switched to formula...hmm...).  Worked like a charm, and we've never looked back!  Nightnight time is super pleasant for little Camerton {and us...usually}.

One super-cute thing we've discovered via this minor sleep-related drama is how in tune with each other the girls are!  Avery wakes up every morning asking for Camo.  She goes down easier when we let her say night-night to her baby seester.  If Camo hears Aves crying, she cries intensely for about 4 seconds in approx 1-min increments...just to let Aves know she feels her pain.  It's kind of hilarious & sad & adorable all wrapped into one.  Love my little nuggets!

 

I {heart} you Austin, Texas!!

We spent last wknd in my fave place in America.  We had missed the previous few years' T-association reunions, so we were pumped to finally get to attend again!  We spent Friday night in Georgetown with B-Rizzle's college roomie & his fam.  We FINALLY got to meet little Ewan...such a cutie!  He was so sweet to the girls, shared all of his toys like a champ, and kept referring to Aves lovingly as, "that girl".  The 4 Bradfords spent that night in the same room.  All FOUR of us.  TOGETHER.  Needless to say...the night involved little sleep.  It was good to be reminded how blessed we are that we're able to live in a home that allows each of us to have our own room to sleep in!  Some people HAVE to sleep that way! I guess (hope) that maybe you just get acclimated?

Brian got up & outta there before the sun rose on Saturday to spend the day playing golf.  We hung around a bit and then headed into Austin to lunch @ Kerbey Lane w/some of my girrrrls (& baby Knox!!).  LOVED seeing some of my most favorite people who I miss so much!  Linzer was a trooper for bringing Knox in the middle of his nap-time (and for bringing her pregnant self!  She's expecting again..woohoo!!)  Driving through campus with my 2 BABIES in the backseat was kind of crazy.  I do NOT feel that far removed from UT.  Being on campus brings me the most overwhelming happiness I can't even put it into words.  I miss that place like crazy and consider it a gift from God every time I get to go back.  It just gives me peace.  Weird.  I know.  But it does :)  Anywho- A big bowl of Kerbey Queso was just as delish as I remembered.   And our subsequent trip to SnoBeach was perfection as well :)  Livin' the life.  We spent the rest of the afternoon hangin' out @ Banana's house until I had to meet B for the big dinner that night!  Riles, Tbabe, Banana, & her roomie took care of the girls for us (thx loves!) and we had a super great time.  LOVED getting to meet the new coaches, hear them talk up the team & their philosophies.  I particularly enjoyed talking w/the new strength & conditioning coach.  Wish we couldn't talked for an house! Mack seemed extra excited and encouraged about this year and all the coaching changes that took place (but that's his job right?...and he's dannnng good at it!)  After the dinner, we grabbed the girls & hit the road to F-Burg to meet my Pops.

snobeach = heaven on earth

sno beach deliciousness.

banana love.

dancing for uncle yiyi.  love.

 Big Poppy hadn't seen the girls in AGES (since Jan) and could hardly contain himself for the roughly 18 hours we were together.  He cooked us a yummy waffles & bacon breakfast, snuggled w/Camo on the back porch, took Aves on walks.... you know...grandpa stuff :)

gooooood morning!

We all attended the Orange-White game that afternoon.  The lettermen get to bring their little ones early to hang out on the sidelines during pre-game, so the girls enjoyed crawling around on the turf.  We got some cute pics!  All the little teeny-tinys in burnt orange were presh!  We left a little after half-time, and honestly, I only saw 2 plays the whole time.  The girls were WIPED OUT and SO ready to leave before we even arrived.  So, the ride home was pretty peaceful.  I loathed driving away from my fave place, but LOVED the time I got to spend there w/mi familia!

Until next time, my dear ATX!!

Last Week was Cuh-razay.

So last week was way out of the ordinary.  We are usually pretty low-key around here, but last week was so not.  We got home from our Galvy trip around bedtime on Sunday night...finalllyyyy all back together.  Here's the breakdown of the craziest week ev:

monday

Pretty normal.  The girls were catching up on sleep from the previous 4 days of being separated for the first time.  BUT that night we had our 1st co-ed softball game so we had a babysitter come over after the girls had gone down (we had a late game!)

tuesday

I was @ a Workshop ALL DAY.  I left before the girls woke up and didn't return to the casa until bedtime!!  Carli said they did GREAT all day.  B was super dad and had evening/bedtime duty all alone.  But, Aves STRUGGLED that night.  We finally let her get up from 9-1030 (mainly bc I was sad that I hadn't seen her all day!)

wednesday

Same workshop (which was the bomb btw), but I got home around dinner time.  Basically, just in time to love on the girls for a few minutes before Brian took them to Casizzle's to hang w/Tatum & the babysitter.  He had a softball game and I had bunco!  I did NOT want to go, but had already RSVPed.  It ended up being a SUPER great night of bunco-free genuine conversation.  Loved it.

thursday

Home Sweet Home all day!  But we had Lifegroup that night!  So...ANOTHER FRIGGIN BABYSITTER.   Again, Aves wouldn't go to bed on time...but we let her cry it out for a bit once we got home. 

friday

MUCH-needed return to normalcy :) 

So I'm super thankful for our friends here.  I'm thankful for our church.  I'm thankful that we have a fun social life.  I'm thankful that we have a million babysitters that we LOVE.  I'm thankful for our kiddos' adorable little friends.  I'm thankful for the opportunities that God has provided for both Brian and for me.  I'm thankful for our house that we love! I'm thankful that we have the option to have crazy weeks like this one...

But I am also SO thankful that we have the luxury (at least I consider it a luxury!) of living a pretty low-key life here in the Bradford Household.  :) 

Crazy Busy

It seems like there is just not enough time in a day!  We've got a lot going on around the Bradford casa. What with nap schedules, mealtimes, bottles, diaper changes, and then everything else in life, I'm not even sure a 30-hour day would cut it. 


Avery is a busy little bee.  She's really starting to talk more and more and more...repeating most things she hears out of mommy & daddy's mouth, obsessing over animals sounds, being a sweet little mommy to her babydolls & stuffed animals.  It is SO sweet.  She is also loving entertaining her baby sister.  Melts my heart.

 

  

Cameron has become a little person!! She is so animated! That child loves her jumperoo, squeals like crazy pretty much all day, cannot get enough of her big sister... She is changing so much and I love it, but at the same time, I want her to STOP IT NOW!!  I lovelovelove having a teeny baby around, and although as she grows she gets more and more fun, I will SO miss the baby stage!  And this time around, we are NOT expecting to add another teenytiny anytime soon! 

Our move-in date is Dec.18th, so I'm starting to pack things up with any free moments I can find in the day.  Progress is SLIM, but we'll get there :)  I know if I don't get it all done, my awesome Lifegroupers will hook me up with some help!! (wink, wink)

This weekend is going to be ridic.  On Friday evening we've got a going away party for Brian's current manager.  Saturday we've got a first bday party, a meeting with our new landlord, and then 2 super fun Christmas parties hosted by a coworker and then a friend that night.  Annnd finally, on Sunday we've got our Lifegroup Christmas party.  SO PUMPED about this wknd.

I've also gotten my hands on a few new things.  I've started a new fitness blog (check it out!!).  I'm starting to invest a lot more into my training business (live in the Dallas area and need a trainer/consultant?? email me! fitnessbyroxyb@gmail.com!)  I'm in the works with a friend of mine who is an amaaazing wedding planner in DFW to get some cool stuff going (check out her blog!) And last, but mosdef not least, I was introduced to something that I truly believe is life-changing.  If you don't know what stem-cells are...you should do some research.  They are the future of medicine and are allowing for a natural way for the body to heal and repair its own cells!  This discovery will truly change lives...and as a skeptic of these types of things... I have done my research.  Believe me.  I just can't help but to back this company and help spread the word.  Stay tuned for more info in the near future!

Although we're busy around here, we are loving life and enjoying all of the places we are being led!  I am amazed (but not the least bit surprised) with the awesomeness that God had in store for Brian and I when he led us to the Dallas area. 

K, gotta go fold laundry and then the worst part...actually put it away (boo!)...before my momma arrives tomorrow!  Happy Humpday!

Pack'n'Play

I spent my day packing up for our weekend in Lufkin. It's always a challenge to keep the munchkins entertained enough to allow time to get everyone packed! My parentals are taking Avery Sunday night through Wed night when we arrive in SL for T-giv, sooo for Aves I was packing for 10 days and 3 different locations! My sweet little ones were champs and we were able to hit the road on schedule! That never happens. Thank you, Lord, for jumperoos, high chairs, and the Backyardigans!!

Hope everyone has a superfab wknd!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

We Found A House!!

We turned in apps and are just waiting to make sure we were the first to it!  Super cute neighborhood.  Lots of kids.  Right by the park & pool.  EXCITED!!  That was quick...just praying it all works out :)

The only thing that would be cooler is if it was in Casey & Greg's neighborhood :)

The Story of Audrey Caroline

Wow.

Ivy, a friend of mine from UT, brought a pretty amazing blog to my attention. It's called "Bring on the Rain: The Story of Audrey Caroline".

I thought I might give a quick synopsis, but I don't even know where to begin. Just click on the link. It will take you to beginning of their story and you can go from there.

Their story is an increddddible testimony to faith, God's power, and the power of relationship/fellowship in Him. Their story is SO humbling.

Love you guys so much!

I got a degree!!...so that I could go BACK and do it alll over again :)

So I quit my job a few weeks ago at APEC. I loved it, but I had no role in the program development, so it got PRETTY boring. Plus, I wasn't being paid NEARLY enough for someone with a college degree :) Anyway, I've been job-searching for a couple of weeks now and have been trying to steer clear of the most popular gym in Tyler, Premier Fitness. I'm really not even sure why. I have discovered something strange about myself: At times, I try to take the less popular path simply for the sake of NOT being a part of the majority. I'm not sure why... I just find myself doing it sometimes. DUMB/POINTLESS.

Okay, so despite my greatest efforts to avoid this modern, cool, forward-thinking gym, Premier keeps shoving its way back into my path. I've been almost there with 3 different gyms now, and then things just don't end up as they originally appeared they would. Hmm...I can't COUNT the number of times in my life that God has hit the brakes hard on MY plans, knocked me on my butt, and redirected me onto HIS path. THANK YOU LORD for keeping me in line. It's frustrating at times, but I mean, DUH. I am SO down with your plans for me, whatever they are....I just have to wander around for a while in search of them sometimes :)

Okay, so basically I've put forth a bit of effort to talk with the head trainers at Premier, but to no avail. I took in my application, but they were too busy to see me. I took in my resume...again, they were too busy to see me. I've called in, but they were in meetings. I even contacted a friend of a friend (their marketing director) and HE tried to hook me up with the head trainers, but they didn't call me back. I DO NOT enjoy being pushy. I feel like a total nuisance...and kind of stupid. It hurts my pride a little to have to try so hard I guess :) (Good lesson for me to SHED MY PRIDE!) Well, on Tuesday I just took it upon myself to stalk the owner and dig up his email address and... I shot him an email. I sent him a long and pretty impressive email if I do say so myself :) He emailed me back immediately, and now I'm meeting with him tomorrow right after my lab! YIIPPPEEEE!!!! Now, I can't say that this guarantees me a spot on Premier's payroll, but it is DEF a step in the right direction :) So...say a little prayer that all goes well! I really want to be a part of the things they're doing at Premier!!

PS- I am officially a student again. I'm taking a class at TJC this semester, (a pre-req for nursing school) and I had my first exam today! I am 99.8% sure that I got an "A". SWEEEEET. I know it's sick, but I really do miss being a student! It feels soooo good to be feeding my brain with yummy biological information again! I am bound and determined to turn in my nursing school application with a bright and shiny 4.0 at the top!!

Tomorrow, I have a lab early in the morning, then I meet with Cune (the Premier owner, and no, I have NO IDEA how to pronounce his name!), and then Brian and I are HEADED TO AUSTYYYYYY!!!! I am 100% delighted to be heading back to my fav city in Texas!! Have a terrific weekend everyone!

Super Bowl Weekend!!

Super Bowl weekend is usually something I REALLY look forward to and get super excited about! This year, however, when both the Colts AND the Cowboys lost on the same weekend...my excitement about the Super Bowl completely dissipated. Of course, we still went out to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday. Not even a game between two teams that neither of us like could stop us from that :) As the game began, I was undecided about who I was for. I have NEVER been a Patriots fan. Belichick rubs me the wrong way. So does Tom Brady. I can't say I dislike them because I don't pay enough attention to either to know much about them as people. Anyway...I'm just not a fan. And Rodney Harrison bugs the crap out of me too. The only Patriots I like are Tedy Bruschi and Wes Welker. Plus, the whole Spygate sitch definitely didn't improve the Patriots' image in my eyes. Thennn we have the Giants. Not an Eli fan, not an Eli hater. Just have never paid much attention. Tom Coughlin always seemed mean. And...why would I ever cheer for New York anyway? There are about 30 other teams in the NFL I would rather cheer for.

Well, as the game started, I found myself cheering unequivocally for the Giants. And by the end I couldn't stay seated and was actually NERVOUS! Who woulda thought I could possibly care that much. It turned out to be a really fun game to watch! And afterwards we played "Screw Your Neighbor"...a card game involving little to no strategy OR brain activity, haha. Then, we let the boys play spades and the girls just sat and talked about hair, weddings, memories from each of our bachelorette parties, and all things girly :) A weekend that started off in a pretty frustrating way (see below) turned out to be a blast!

RECAP of WEEKEND:

On Friday night, Brandon and Kelley came to stay with us because they were in town for a fam function. We hadn't gotten to hang out with them in forev, so it was a blast, although we stayed up wayyyy too late! B and Brandon played PS3 allll night long, so now Bistro wants one (we'll see how long I can hold out!) So, Friday morning Brian had to get up early for work and I had to get up early for my Dallas-Day plans to see Jennybenny and Sexy. All went as planned, until I realized that Brian had accidentally taken the keys to BOTH CARS with him! Bummerrrrr. He felt TERRIBLE, but I ended up studying for the tests I have this week. So...I guess it all worked out for the best. I'll have resched D-Day for some other weekend in Feb!

On Saturday Brian and I slept LOTS during the late afternoon and then just kinda hung out. It was relaxing and nice to get some things done around the house. For dinner Brian provided me with my first Mexican Buffet experience. I was miiiighty skeptical, but it was delish! Unfortunately I think each trip to the buffet was comprised of at LEAST 600 calories. We made 6 trips. FATTIES....but at least we're happy fatties :)

Sunday we went to Green Acres and found an AWWWWESOME class (FINALLY!) The couples were all really cool and humble and open-minded. It was a self-taught class and the style was just really...open and applicable. We LOVED it! It reminded us of Lake Hills. The only catch: they all have like...8-year-old kids!! So...I guess they're kind of in a dif phase of life than us. We'll see what we end up deciding, but regardless of where we end up, it was SOOO REFRESHING to be there! We spent the next couple of hours driving around looking at houses. There are a MILLION new really nice neighborhoods going up in Tyler. They say it's supposed to double in size in the next 5-10 years...so I guess we hit at the right time! We're soooo excited and anxious to get moving on our house search! I'm pumped to live in our first house together!!

A couple of pics:

My fav 2 golfers in the whole wide world!! :)

Our cute little PEE-FACE in timeout approx. 7 min ago.

Anyway, I hope everyone had an awesome weekend! Can't waittt to go to Austin this upcoming weekend. Love to all :)