June 7, 2015

The Weekend in Review | June 5-7th

You know what was so great about this weekend? Nothing and Everything.

Nothing: We had nothing scheduled

Everything: The whole weekend was perfect.

What’s even better? I didn’t spend my whole darn weekend on my phone, taking pictures, facebooking, instagramming and believe it or not my Snapchat followers… I didn’t snap but maybe 1/4 of the weekend.

And, it was awesome.

Sometimes it’s ok to disconnect and not capture every moment on camera. Of course, I am all about the photos for memories sake. I ABSOLUTELY am. I want those to fall back on someday. Sometimes that someday is simply the next day, cuz girl… my memory needs some help.

But, this weekend, I put the phone down for the most part. And it was fab.

Friday: Off work at 3. Retirement Party for our dear Carol. Eyelash appointment at 6 with Jess. Home by 7:30.

Saturday: Up at 7 to attend an Arborist Climbing competition. My hubs is really modest when it comes to his line of work, but I won’t be. It’s dangerous, it takes knowledge, it takes strength, it takes guts, it takes someone who prides themselves on hard ass work. I never get to see him in action, and quite frankly, that is ok. Some of the photos he sends from “his office” aka… the top of some tall ass trees, is enough to make me weak in the knees. So, getting out to see some other climbers do their thing was fun!

Let’s play a game. Can you find the climber? He’s up there.

Bonus if you can find two!

Funny part of the day: A competitors truck got stuck. Guess who they asked for assistance? 😉

We hung out for a few and then decided our bikes were calling our names.

Rain was coming through when we got home, so a quick garage cleaning of the not-so-white walls was in order while we waited for it all to pass.

Then it was off to Butterfield’s for exhaust measurements and an estimate. Breeze at Butterfields and Clint have become quite the pair. If you ever need help with anything on your bike, I recommend going to see Breeze or Bob. Two of the coolest old-school bikers you will ever meet. And spending everyday for the rest of your life with them STILL wouldn’t be enough time to learn all of their knowledge.

Then we set out for Emerson, IA to check out the newly re-opened bar. Harley’s Bar and Grill is where it’s AT if you go through Emerson. And, I have to say you are missing out if you don’t give it a try. Sara came down to have a soda with us and then shortly after, a crew of riders we have come to know in the last few months came rolling in. So, naturally, we spent the rest of the afternoon riding with them!

Saturday turned out to be just GORGEOUS!

After Emerson we hit up Imogene, Malvern and another little bar called the Wild’s just south of Pacific Junction . Good peeps, cold drinks, warm sun, lots of wind. Easy breezy perfect little Saturday!

Clint and I ended the day back in Omaha for some dinner before calling it a night.

Dinker’s claims to have the BEST burger in Omaha. I’d have to agree. Holy YUM!

Sunday: A morning run that left me gasping for air, baths for the babies, loud music that the Jehovies surely enjoyed with us, snuggle time with Champ, grocery shopping, laundry, meal prep, lawn mowing, tv watching, easy day with my hubs.

Cheers to a fabulous weekend!

June 3, 2015

Crazy Tans, Fitness Queens and Muscles…. Oh My!

On Saturday, May 23rd I had the privilege of seeing one of my bestest friends knock a GIANT goal off her list.

Tyree has had a fitness competition on her Bucket list for several years now. Each time she has gotten to the point of competing, something had come up that didn’t allow her to see it through. And no… these roadblocks weren’t your everyday situations that come up.

Oh, No.

This is the girl who donated her KIDNEY to a friend 8 days before she was to go on stage for the May 2014 competition. Tyree’s heart is made of gold, my friends. Pure gold. You can read about that journey here: A True Hero.

Today’s post is finally about her achieving her fitness goal – to compete in the Heartland Classic Bikini Contest. And, for anyone that thinks competing in a fitness competition is a piece of cake, or maybe a little vain, I am here to tell you it is 100% quite the opposite. MONTHS of preparation go into something like this. Strict nutrition. Strict workouts. NO FUN FOOD. A lot of chicken, fish, green veggies, eggs and sweet potatoes. Some fruit in the beginning months. No fruit the last multiple weeks. Minimal grains. No red meat for a time span that made me want to cry.

No Sugar

Yep – I am out.

Tyree did it all. And she FREAKING ROCKED IT!!!

So, let’s recap the day of, shall we?

10am – Arrived at Tyree’s with FOOD that couldn’t be eaten yet, balloons and then the first layer of her tan.

For those thinking about competing some day – Jan Tana has great products for staining your skin. I say staining, because honey – ain’t NO ONE need to have that kind of tan on the regular. We used the foam based stain that was very easy to apply. But – USE GLOVES! That stuff is no joke.

After layer one had been applied we waited two hours before applying layer 2. And that is when the magic happened. Hellllllo very tan skin. Boy, if she didn’t already have white teeth, she looked like she did now! Next was hair and makeup. What I have found: I am no stylist. I only seem to know how to do my own hair at a very mediocre level. But the makeup? Oh, we had FUN!

Before.

After

Those eyes! <3<3

3pm: Time to go!

We ran into her parents first upon arrival. I am sure that helped calm some of Tyree’s nerves. There is just something about seeing your mom and dad that is good for the soul. 🙂

Then it was time to head backstage and continue the prep work.

Suit on, taping of suit (you don’t want that baby to move on stage, now), helping others tape up, tanning touch-ups, oil baths….

Ya, that happened…

Pumping up

Photo sessions with friends

And last minute posing practice before hitting the stage!

My role that day was to be her back stage pal, makeup artist, nerve calmer, shit gatherer, taper,tanner, photographer, videographer, name yeller when she was on stage “Smile, Don’t Hook, Butt Out, Let’s go TYREE, Looking good”.. you name it. I was her b!tch. 😉 And, I loved every second of it!

I also was a Snapchat QUEEN!

At one point a fella and I were in competition with each other… he didn’t know it, but it was to me. He would yell for his girl and I’d follow up with a yell to mine. Ya, I hear you and I one up you, my friend.

She competed in the Bikini Tall Open and Bikini Tall Novice. She also did a stage walk at the end of the night. All in all the competition took around 5.5 hours. I got a little delirious towards the end so can only IMAGINE what the competitors were feeling like…

#selfie4dayz

At the end of the day, Tyree did absolutely fantastic.

She made a goal, she stuck to the goal, she accomplished the goal.

And she had FUN while doing it.

AND the best part at the end of the night? She got OREOS to CELEBRATE!

To say WE are all over the moon proud of her is an understatement.

Tyree and Mom and Dad

Carrie, Tyree, Lise

This last photo speaks VOLUMES as the lady on the left is Rachelle, Tyree’s kidney recipient.

Truly amazing how full circle this has all come

❤

CONGRATULATIONS, Tyree!

❤

May 31, 2015

Memorial Day Weekend 2015

In the 9 years I have lived in Omaha I have never really explored The Old Market. I’ve been down there multiple times, eaten at many restaurants, drank at multiple bars, celebrated Bachelorette’s, Birthday’s and Sunday Funday’s but I have never really gotten out and walked around until Memorial Weekend. And lucky for me I was able to explore it with my mom while she was in town with my brother.

We started with a couple drinks and appetizers while sitting on the patio. It was a little overcast but overall the weather was gorgeous.

Next up a little walk to Cupcake Omaha! Mom got a Red Velvet while I chose two sea salt caramels, which were simply divine.

They even sold frosting shots! How genius for us frosting lovers!!

We continued to walk around the entire Old Market before ending up at Old Chicago for a beer while we waited for Gabe to get out of his meeting. It was SUCH a lovely day with my mom and it was great to finally get to walk around the heart of my city. ❤

On Memorial Day Monday Clint and I were able to get out on the bikes for the day. The weather was gorgeous and we were definitely ready to get out of the city.

We rode to Red Oak to drop off some paperwork to one of Clint’s former employees and then we rode back to Emerson to hang with Troy and Sara and kiddos for the afternoon.

Bubba was sure loving on Clint. Can’t resist a sweet dog.

And I can’t resist these three beauties. Sara has been such a good friend to me since we met in 2005. Nothing makes me happier to see her shine as a mama. ❤

A nice sunset ride back to the city and our Memorial weekend had come to a close.

One thing I left out of this recap is Tyree’s fitness competition that took place on Saturday, May 23rd. I will get to that recap very soon. Super proud of her. 🙂

Stay Tuned…

May 25, 2015

Market to Market | IOWA | 2015

It takes a special kinda crazy to get your butt up at 3:30am to run a 75 mile relay race.

We are that kind.

Brian, Me, Sara, Blair, Jenn, Suzette, Brad

🙂

From Jefferson, IA to Des Moines, this crew killed some serious miles, formed new friendships, caught up on old stories, shared laughs and inside jokes, cursed miles and miles of long hills and created awesome memories.

Starting from Jefferson, IA where our first runner kicked it off at 7:30am