The Best Laid Plans....

In a perfect world, I had big plans to dazzle yall with my amazing intellect by doing a three part series relating to me being finished with my MBA.

Key Phrase: In a perfect world.

However, in the real world, this first post back has absolutely nothing to do with my new professional degree or any of the knowledge acquired during my MBA program.

Instead, lets discuss the utter debacle I walked into find when I came home tonight.  So, everyone knows- I absolutely adore my animals..  All 5 of them.  (If you're a new follower, just stick with me.  I know it sounds hoarder-esque, but I swear we're relatively normal.)

HOWEVER, my love for my furry friends immediately gets thrown into questionable mode when they're destructive towards any of my beloved materialistic items.  You know, such as my shoes?  Or yoga pants?
Nevertheless, nothing gets me more upset than walking into the house to find that they have done some damage to our house.  And honestly, our mini petting zoo has done absolutely nothing in almost a year to vandalize our home.  In fact, I was bragging to some of my accounts TODAY that all of our animals can be trusted at home, sans their crates, while we're at work.

Way to completely jinx myself...........

**Fair warning- If you have a sensitive stomach, you might want to skip over this next little section.  I can't lie- its pretty foul**

Don't worry... those stains that were strung across our formal living room are just remnants of a POSSUM that our sweet suburban dogs found in our yard, & subsequently desecrated.  

No big thing, right?

Psych.  

Jack Hannah might not consider that little roadshow a big obstacle to deal with, but for me?

Good God Almighty, if anyone had seen my reaction to that hot mess, they would have thought I had walked into the aftermath of a crime scene. I MEAN, WE LIVE IN THE SUBURBS?!? Dogs aren't supposed to hunt possums in the flipping suburbs?  Wait, I don't think dogs in the suburbs typically hunt anything.  

Obviously, Lucy the Cat continues to be a horrendous influence on our precious puppies.

And honestly, that picture doesn't even do the mess in my living room justice. 

*Side note: Don't worry-I'm not going to be that crazy parent that describes my children's bowel movements via my blog, facebook, or twitter.  TMI, people.  TMI. Ew*

The only reason I took the picture in the first place was to properly convey to Kevin how completely disgusting & overwhelming the mess and correlating smell was to walk in on when I came home today.

The stench was so honestly so overwhelming that I IMMEDIATELY sprung into Mr. Clean mode the very minute I saw the damage.  The best part about my Monica Gellar impression was that I started attacking the carpet stains with absolutely no regards to the fact that I was still in my work clothes, which included my wedding bands. And black patent high heels. 

Such a massive fail on my part.  Now my clothes have a sufficient dog feces/road kill smell to them.  Pretty terrible, but don't doubt for a second that those bad boys aren't headed to the dry cleaners tomorrow morning.  

So, one thing I can tell you all an MBA CANNOT do for you?

Ummm, teach you the necessary steps and proper remedies to clean up a doggy-defaced living room.

So, whats a girl to do?

Turn it to Pinterest, duh.

And because I'm a paranoid freak, I was petrified to leave the house again in fear of more stains magically appearing on our carpet while I was gone.  So, I had to concoct my homemade carpet cleaner from random home products I already had around the house.

So without further adieu, meet my All-Star Cleaning Team.

Boom. 

I know, I know, it looks like I'm trying to win the neighborhood science fair, but my concoction wound up being AAAAMMMAAAZINGGGG!

Generally, my pet stain Go-To is the Nature's Miracle.  That spray usually does the trick damn near every time.  However, its not every day your dogs perform their best "Survivor" audition, and their battle-wound rejection winds up on your floor.  

So, when that happens, here is what will be your new-found MIRACLE stain remover....

"I OWN YOU, STAIN" Carpet Cleaner

Ingredients:

-Hydrogen peroxide

-Dish Soap ( I used Palmolive- worked like a charm)

-Vinegar

Instructions:

-Combine all 3 ingredients in a spray bottle

-Spray on foul/disgusting/terrible/god-awful/no-good/very bad stain

-Let sit 3 mins

-Attack with wet cloth

-If it doesn't all come up in the first try, wait a bit & try again.  The second time should do the trick.

So after trying out my new cleaning solution, I am pleased to report that I don't think we'll have to rip up that carpet to deal with our dogs' newfound rodent fetish.

Maybe I'm jaded because I've been staring at it since 5 pm, but that stain looks infinitely better to me.

After dealing with that stress & mess, I'm kind of contemplating writing my University a heart-felt letter insisting that they develop a graduate (or hell- undergrad even) class devoted to advanced house-keeping skills.  Because lets face it- there is no class on earth that teaches you how to handle possum and rodent residue. 

 And believe me, I would know.. I do live in Kentucky, after all :)

Alright guys- In all seriousness, I am beyond excited to be finished with grad school, and I cannot wait to get back into my blogging rhythm.

Thats about it for now.  Chat soon!

Confession Time

I'd love to tell you that it was other bloggers' previous confession posts that inspired me to write this post, and get back in the habit of writing again.  No really, I'd love to tell yall that.  However, thats completely not the case.  My husband made me watch his favorite guilty pleasure tv show tonight, which further made me question if he ate paint chips as a small child.  God knows that I'm not in a position to judge him for his television preferences, but I can't lie- this show he forced me to endure made Teen Mom AND Jersey Shore look like classy programs.

Hello Epitome of Trashy.

Ohhh myyyy Goodness.  These broads make the people on the Bachelor Pad look normal.  There are no words for the craziness featured on this program.  Even more so, there are no words that my husband thinks they make for quality entertainment.  

Anywho, for those of you who haven't had the distinct pleasure of watching this hot mess, the girls provide the viewers with individual monologues in their confessional booth, Real World style.  

Due to these girls making me feel incredibly GOOD about my life, I thought I'd throw out some confessions of my own.  

Sooo, without further adieu...

I Confess.....

• I am obsessive about keeping our kitchen clean.
• Mine & Kevin's biggest fights have stemmed from him not cleaning up after himself in the kitchen.
• I hate the taste of beer, which is why I insist on carting the most ridiculous drinks ever to KY Football tailgates.
• My car is messy 95% of the time.  
• I despise listening to voicemails.  
• I am dying for a tattoo
• I have a strong dislike for wedding showers, & got anxious for my own.
• The same sentiments apply to baby showers.  Honestly, its nothing personal to anyone, I just think I got forced into going to entirely too many when I was little.
• It annoys me when people scold me for biting my nails. Its a nervous habit that I've done for 27 years. I highly doubt your comments are going to detour me doing it at this point in my life.
• I cried my eyes out like a 4 year old when I figured out Kev's wedding band had fallen off in the lake.  
• I don't entirely understand the frozen yogurt craze.  Lets be honest, cupcakes still completely outrank fro yo.
• I've never been skinny dipping.
• I thought Shades of Grey was terrible. The writing in it was horrendous, and beyond repetitive.  Ie: he murmured, she murmured, we murmured.  Why didn't her publisher inform there that there are other words for murmur? Come on. Whisper? Utter? Mumbled? 

Blecccchhhhhh

• I probably talk to my Dad between 3-4 times per day.  Not because I miss him that much, but mainly because he is my comic relief.  
• I prefer running solo with Hudson versus Missy or with Kev.  They both cramp our style & hurt our time.

• I have a mouth like a sailor, and I was recently reprimanded by my neighbor because her children heard me utilize some choice language when my garage door stopped working in the 102 degree heat.  Ask me how well that went over. 
• I have no clue how to operate our grill.  Actually, I havent the slightest idea on how to grill food at all. Thats Kev's expertise, and it just wouldnt be fair for me to deprive him of that by learning how to do it.
• My High School Best Friends, immediately family, and husband all call me "The Driving Nazi."  They claim I am the worst backseat driver ever.  In reality, they just can't take constructive criticism.  Remember, I drive all day, every day for my job. 
• I am not skilled to anything related to graphic design, blog design, etc.  I have as much artistic skill as a rock. My whole blog design was developed and fully constructed by the amazing genius that is Jenn with Munchkin Land Designs.  Seriously, she is phenom and is currently doing some amaaaazing give-aways this week.  Check her out ASAP!!!

That about concludes my first confession session.  Believe you me, I could confess to about a million more things, but ummm, I'm slightly scared it might impact my readership :)  

One major thing that I failed to mention in my confessions is that I AM 4 WEEKS AWAY FROM BEING DONE WITH MY MBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Obviously you all don't probably share my enthusiasm level on that one, but what it does mean is that I'll be able to get back to blogging on a much more regular basis.  Get excited bc I've got about 4 months of ridiculous ideas built up for this little road show :)  

Alright yall, hope you all have a fantastic week & great Tuesday.  I'm with my boss all day today, so send some positive thoughts my way. 

I left my heart in San Francisco

Okay, the title isn't exactly accurate but I somehow thought it sounded a tad more classy than

"I left Sonoma in a wine induced coma?"

It's no secret to anyone that knows me well that my absolutely favorite things in life revolve around my family and friends.  However, I'd have to say that wine and fabulous food are a close 3rd & 4th priority for me.  So obviously when we plan a trip that's primarily focused on and in wine country, It's essentially my ideal vacation.

The 19 year old Caroline would be rolling her eyes at the 26 year old Caroline, mainly bc at that time, my idea of fine wine was a bottle of Fish Eye Merlot. (not that I'm knocking cheap wine bc let's be honest here- I have yet to find a wine I absolutely won't drink!) However, once college ended (as did the end of $8/ all u can drink Thursdays at Avio, which I still consider to be a tragedy.), you tend to figure out that there are actually better tasting wines out there that won't give you quite the insane headache and hangover that a box of Franzia tends to cause. Shocking, right?  Wait, let preface that last comment by saying that I'm pretty sure ALL wine can give you a headache if you drink enough of it...which I normally do, soooooo nevermind. 

Anywho, I've been counting down the days to this vacation since December, especially since Kev was actually pretty pumped to go too. Last time we went to San Fran & wine county, my ever-eloquent husband immediately informed our wine tour guide of the following:

"Hi. My name is Kevin. I am from Kentucky. I only drink beer and bourbon. I just think you should know that going in."

Umm geeze. Way to be open to new things. Not. Our wine tour guide was like 65 years old, and she refused to be detoured from Kev's pissy attitude regarding wine. She gave it right back to him by looking him up & down, and then saying, "Son, by the end of the day, I guarantee I'll have you drinking wine of some sort. Mark my words." At the time, I didn't know if Kev was intimidated by her or if he had just sampled so many that he didn't care, but she was right because by the end of the day ole buddy was slamming back some wine & loving it.

These days, kevs taste for wine has expanded something serious, which is why I was more excited about this trip out there than any other time I've been (sorry, momma!).  On this trip, Kev jumped right in to the wine tasting aspect of our trip, and immediately realized how much his wine palate had exponentially expanded from our last trip.

And when I say wine palate has exponentially expanded, I'm not just saying that.  Unfortunately, that sentiment regarding Kev's highly developed taste palate was discovered by a gentleman who helps run the Benzinger Winery in Sonoma.  THEN, it was confirmed by another wine-maker at a different winery in Napa.  Kevin being told he possessed a superior palate was hilarious because I'm prettttyyy sure it made Kevin feel like a rockstar at every tasting.  However, it began to get even funnier because he INSISTED on telling people at every tasting about his amazing tasting skills.  I'd say the best part of this is when the winery hosts would ask Kev if he tasted items that Kev refuses to even try, such as mushrooms, while sampling the wine.  
Kev's response would then tend to be something along the lines of this:  


"Ohhh you know, I knew I was having trouble pin-pointing every aspect of this particular wine selection.  I bet (fill in the blank of the item that he has never tried) that is it exactly!"


Uh huh.  Sure honey. Or, the other hysterical thing that Kev has now started doing while tasting wine is for him to read the label and SWEAR he tastes the most random ingredient in the wine, such as green pepper?  
I will say that Kevin has been blessed with an insanely acute sense of smell, so I'm not doubting he can taste different aspects of wine that other people cant.... But I'm doubting its as developed as he's making it out to be. However, its highly entertaining to listen to-- just ask the friends we were out there with on the trip :)

Don't worry though- it wasn't just my husband that was entertaining.  The three of us should win an award for some of the hilarious comments that came out of our spouses' mouths.  
For example:  While doing a private tour of a boutique winery, where the bottles are all $40+, which included a private tasting & dinner in a wine cave, one husband (who shall remain nameless) asked our host this jewel of a question

"Sooo, my wife & I also drink two buck Chuck... like from Trader Joes?  Can you tell me what the difference is between your alls wine & this wine?  Because I can't tell a lick of difference!"

 Gotta LOVE us some Kentucky boys in California.  After his wife quieted his awesomeness down, we got to enjoy an amazing amazing amazing dinner in a wine cave.  

SO FUN!!

Literally, such a thrill.  I think we all felt like we were major celebrities at this point.  (Random side note: this particular winery was where Ben's season of The Bachelor was filmed.  Also- Ben does NOT own that winery & they have cut off ALL ties with him... in case you were wondering.  :)  )


Believe it or not, we also did do some beautiful hikes in the Sonoma Valley while trying to detox after consuming mass quantities of wine.

I swear Kev isn't wearing a purse- its a water holder thing.  Because were SOOO rugged and all :)

Anwho, after about 5 days out there, yall know my homebody self starts to miss Kentucky & our plethora of animals.  However, I definitely think that our trip out there lands in one of my favorite trips of all time.  Amazing company, perfect weather, great hotel, and phenomenal wine.  Whats not to like?  Now I just have to convince Kev that we need to take a trip out there at least once a year :)  I mean, we can't possibly waste the talents of his highly developed palate now, can we?? :)   


Until then, I guess I'm gonna have to curb my desire to head back out west with me drinking the wine we bought & looking at pics off my phone that look like this....

Weeellll, that about does it for me!

PROTEIN!!! MUSCLE MILK!!!

You like the post title? Ha. I couldn't help myself.  When I think about protein, I immediately yell "MUSCLE MILK" in my head.  Is this post about muscle milk? Hell no. But is it another post regarding healthy living? Ummm, yes. Don't kill me.
I swear on my life that I do not obsess over my health and fitness.  Never have. Never will. I have wayyyy too many other things in my life to stress over.

We might look like we're being super healthy by hiking during our wine country vacation, but that picture does a truly poor job depicting how much booze and unhealthy food we consumed.  Tricky, huh?

However, I have to admit that after a vacation centered on wine, followed by Kevin's 29th Bday celebrations, and partying it up in Indy for DMB last weekend, my body was starting to rebel against me.  Like legitimately, I felt disgusting and just... well... sloppy


 I know its shocking, but a steady diet of alcohol, pizza, and taco bell does NOT do a body good.
Regardless of feeling completely foul health-wise, I still always discuss my weekend shennanigans w/ two lovely ladies, whom I probably talk to more than my mother, who happen to be the infamous Pink Lou Lou and The Bargain Blonde!

So after recapping last weekend's events,

(*side note* -which may or may not have included running into one of the hottest guys to ever graduate from my high school, and sharing multiple dances with him over a fab 80s band. Don't worry yall, Kevin was there the entire time, and I introduced them to each other like 10 times.  Okay, i might have been gushing over this guy while introducing him to my husband, but hey- wouldn't you if you ran into "the" senior guy that everyone coveted when you were in 7th grade??  Believe me, my 7th grade, 13 year-old self is still super pumped about that random occurrence.  Like jumping up and down ecstatic, even though I'm sure I made a complete idiot out of myself while mentioning to him that his senior picture was a HOT commodity amongst us 7th grade FC girls. Hilarious and embarrassing all at the same time, but oh well. )

Lindsey mentioned that she had been doing the Tone It Up nutrition plan, and she really liked it so far.  Seriously?  A nutrition plan that LINDSEY likes? hrm.  That pretty much sealed the deal for me, and I immediately made my pizza-loving husband join me on a semi-detox.
First things first, we went to the grocery to get healthier items.  I never really buy bad items, but I could definitely use more protein, fruit, and veggies in my life, as could Kev.
Sooo, this was the result of our grocery trip.

Note all of the fruit, almond milk, and apple cider vinegar

Veggies GALORE.

I'm not going to lie to you, I was super skeptical about half of the items on the nutrition plan, because I am kind of a picky eater.  And as I've mentioned to yall before, Kev eats like an 8 year old.  I was super unsure how this was going to go.
And honestly?  I've been extremely surprised by mine and Kev's reaction to the food.  When I say surprised, I really mean super happy and completely fulfilled by all of it.  I've had to modify some items because there are some things that I just simply won't eat (ie: tofu, quinoa, tuna, and pineapple to name a few...).  But we've both also tried a lot of items that we've really wound up loving, which are all awesome for you.

My two favorite surprises so far?

GARLIC SHRIMP!!!!! 

Holy amazingness

PROTEIN SHAKES!!!!

Amazingly fabulous and refreshing

I think I was the most skeptical about the protein shakes because I seriously conjure up images of the guys from Jersey Shore when I think about protein shakes.  Do I wanna look like Ronnie?  Umm, thats a hells no! But every nutrition plan on earth heavily emphasizes the need for protein in your diet.


Kevin and I have both lost weight while doing it, and to be honest, we were going to completely end it after this week.  However, both of us feel soooo much better while doing it, that we're going to continue on with it.  I've always tried to live by the 80/20 rule in regards to food, but I have seriously slacked on that in the past few months.  (And by 80/20 rule, I'm not talking in a business sense.  I'm talking about I try to eat healthy 80% of the time, and the other 20% of the time I splurge a little bit.) So I think we're going to keep after it during the week, but let ourselves have a little bit of fun on the weekends.  Like Kev and I could/would be able to give up wine or bourbon for a diet? Yeah. Right. Theres no way.

 Anywho, I highly recommend doing this little nutrition plan if you're feeling a little sloppy after all of the summer parties, weddings, and cookouts.  I also think its SUPER beneficial if you have someone that is doing it with you.  I've had an awesome support system with this guy at home,

This pretty lady, 

Annndddd my fav Texan :)

Alright guys, I hope this inspired you ALL to have one last binge weekend :)  I promise you if you try this & are able to keep it clean for a bit, you're body will seriously thank you.

Mmmkay, thats about it :) 

Do something that makes ya sweat....

I feel like I need to redeem myself since I've been so MIA.  Work, school, animals, weddings, wedding showers, and family events have taken over my my life.  So I decided that I would finally do a post dedicated to a question that I've repeatedly gotten via email, fb, & twitter since I've started this blog and kind of avoided.
Sooooo no more procrastination, Topic of Conversation today???

Sweatin' it out, the Caroline way

(And before I start- I feel as though I should preface this post by saying that I am in NO WAY a certified trainer or have any kind of formal education in the exercise department.  Everything that is in this post works for me, sooo take that for whats it worth :)  )

Let me just go ahead and let you in on my fitness secret....

I don't follow a workout routine.  At all.

Never have.

Never will.

Let me just say, my extreme ADHD alone probably prohibits me from following any type of rigorous workout schedule.  Actually, to be really honest, workout schedules in general kind of make me want to stab my eyeballs out.  And furthermore, I feel as though I would do the exact opposite of whatever a workout schedule would tell me to do.  Just like I do when I attempt to go on a diet.  Seriously- you all know how it is- the exact moment that you decide to cut something out of your everyday diet, you wind up craving it 10000 times more than ever before.  As a result, I just avoid boxing myself into any type of organized workout schedule.  Exercise always has & still continues to be a huge release for me.  And as a result, I just don't ever want to feel like exercising is an obligation that I dread doing.  As it is now, I still look forward to my workout almost every day.  

So now that I've reiterated the fact that I don't follow any exact workout schedule, I'll be honest about the fact that..... 

I DO workout 5-6 days a week.

Every week.

No exceptions.

Yall ready to come through the computer & hit me yet?  Hell, I would be if I was you.  I'm totally aware that I'm contradicting myself and probably sound like a crazy Jillian Michaels wannabe. Heres the skinny (hahahahahahaa, you get it???? Such a fun pun) : While I hate be held to an exact routine, I am an extremely regimented person.  If I don't some type of workout in on a daily basis, I feel like I've completely wasted my day.
Soooo as a general rule, I do whatever type of workout I'm in the mood for that particular day.  If its 30 minutes on the elliptical, then I do that.  If its beating Kevin at tennis (again) for an hour, then I do that.  If my body is in pain, I'll either skip a day or do pilates.

I once read somewhere an article where Matthew McConaughey stated,

  "You should do at least 1 thing per day that makes you sweat." 

Helloooo Hotness...

And obviously, who am I to disagree with that beautiful man?? :)  Regardless of what type of workout you do, I guarantee it'll help your bod & your mood. I highly recommend starting a calendar to document what you did as a workout each day.  That way it not only holds you accountable for actually doing something each day, but it also helps jog (haha, i did it again. I just feel super clever with all my fitness puns) your memory about your fav workouts.  There are SEVERAL awesome iphone apps for this too.  My personal fav is myfitnesspal, which records your food intake AND workouts.


 I'm pretty old school & just write down what I do on our calendar at home.  However, anytime I feel like I want to hit Kevin over the head with a hammer ...yell at Kevin for one of his boneheaded moves ..have a thorough conversation with my interesting husband, I tend to go for a run around the neighborhood.  Not only does it take out my frustration or aggression, but it also completely changes my mood for the better.

Since I don't have an internal GPS, I run with my iphone, which I have conveniently downloaded the Nike+GPS app on it.  I LOVE THIS APP. It tracks my run, keeps a running history for me, shuffles my itunes so that it pairs a good song based upon my speed, and has famous athletes giving you motivation while you're running.  I mean, lets be honest- When Tebow tells you to run faster, by GOD, you RUN FASTER.  
Now, how many miles do I tend to run per week?  This number varies from week to week.  Last week, I ran 16.2 miles.  The week before, I ran 22.  I never ever hold myself to completing a super high number of miles when I go out for a run or when I hit the treadmill because forcing yourself to stick to a strict schedule just takes all the fun out of something.  Do I always do at least 2 miles when I run?  Yep.
Do I generally do between 2.5 - 4 miles?  You bet ya.  But if I dont have the time or I'm not in the mood, then I'll get in at least 2 miles & move on to something else.

I'm well aware that I'm in the vast minority of people who actually enjoy running... soooo heres a quick rundown of my favorite AT home workouts:

(In no particular order...)

1. 30 Day Shred & Biggest Loser workouts w/ Jillian Michaels. 

Ohhh yes, I went there.  Do I think she's a crazy hooker? Yes.  Does she frighten me? Yes.  Do her workouts kick your butt in every way imaginable?  Yes, but they're all only around 20-25 minutes. Yall, anyone can do anything for 20-25 minutes.  Start at level 1 & work your way up. 

*Side Note*-I find it helps to yell at her & call her mean names- makes the workout much more entertaining :)

2. In-home walking w/ Leslie Sansone

I am embarassingly aware of how insanely lame this sounds/looks, etc.  And umm, I can't lie, it definitely is pretty mild compared to Jillian, but yall, listen... 

this woman is to walking like Lance Armstrong is to cycling.  She is the  walking Guru, and unlike Jillian, she is super nice in all of her videos.  (Yes, bishes, I said video(s).  That is plural.  I may or may not own a few of them.)  Leslie is kind of sneaky because she can make you work up a sweat by walking & doing weights, but she has this calm/hypnotizing way about her, so that her workouts kind of feel like you're working out with a nicer & more fitness-minded version of your mom. (Sorry Jan, we both know you get all competitive when we work out together. And people wonder where I get it from. hrm.) Anyway, like Jillian, you can find her DVDs just about anywhere.  

Since I know her moves pretty well, I usually just mute Leslie & watch something on demand on our computer.  Makes the workout go insanely fast.

3. Tone It Up Girls

If you haven't seen these girls in SELF Magazine, pinterest, or on a blog, immediately go to www.toneitup.com and check them out.  They have about a BAZILLION different work out videos on their website, youtube, and pinterest to choose from.  I adore their workouts because it essentially marries Jillian Michaels intensity with the calmness from Leslie's videos because they film all their videos at the beach.  talk about motivation. (Bhahaha- ps-don't you love how I talk about these trainers like they're my friends?   Hysterical.  Probably not normal, but funny nonetheless.)

Anywho, I have their beach babe DVD, which has SEVEN different workouts on it and you can also download the workouts to your computer as well.  In addition, they also have a great twitter account that directly connects you to their blog, which gives you daily workout ideas and/or assignments.  Obviously, I don't follow the daily assignments to a T, but its a great reference tool.  Seriously- check these girls out- you'll love them!

4. Pinterest & Youtube

I've gotta be completely honest with you all.  I have days where I'd sooner watch a Hannah Montana marathon than get a workout in.  Like I've said 90 times in this post, I get easily bored with my workouts, so sometimes I'm just tired of running, the gym, or those peppy broads I just mentioned.  In which case, I march my happy self to my computer & try to find SOME type of workout that peaks my interest.  

I highly recommend looking at the Pinterest Fitness Board to give you simple in-home workout ideas that require no machines or weights.  

If that doesn't strike your fancy, go to Youtube & search fitness videos, like 10 minute ab workout, 15 minute arm workout, etc.  I really like the 5-10 min workouts on youtube because they always get me going, even when I'm not in the mood to do anything.   

And honestly, that about sums up all my workout stuff for when I'm not at the gym.  I told you all- its not rocket science and it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it has always worked for me :)  

And when I'm not in the mood to do a darn thing, I try to keep this in the back of my head....

No truer words have ever been spoken.  

Thats about all I've got today :) Hope that answers your all's questions! If not, you know where to find me!

Back to Reality....

And I'm back from a much much needed vacation in my beloved vacay spot in Hilton Head Island, SC. If you haven't been, I highly recommend going.  Like tomorrow.  Its beautiful.  Its clean.  Its calm.  There's fabulous outlet shopping.  Oh yeah, and there's a beach there too :)

HHI

Since returning, I've been plotting of ways for Kevin & I to have the ability to permanently move down there, but ummm.. all my business ideas are centered around wine or cupcakes.  The thought of me attempting to open and successfully run a wine or cupcake business is hysterical.  Heaven knows I'd wind up bankrupt in about a month because I'd drink/eat my whole inventory before I could even sell it.  Or I would find it necessary to frequently close down to see the daily shipments that came into the White House Black Market & Saks Off Fifth outlets.

Obviously my priorities are really in check these days

Hello Tanger Outlets. 

  Anywho, like I've said before- I'm kind of OCD about my routine and actually happy to be back home.  I can deviate from my normal schedule for a few days, but then I kind of get anxious to return home.  How on earth I ever thought I could study abroad in college is beyond me.  Ptsch, I can barely make it 5 days without almost having a meltdown because my life is lacking structure.  Plus, I was dying to get back to these two.  

I know this is probably an animal hoarder comment, but I legitimately worried about Missy (the Tornado Dog) the entire time we were at the beach.  Although she was boarded with Hudson at a fabulous boarding facility, I was convinced that she probably thought we had left her there permanently.  Yes, I am aware that dogs don't have the best concept of time.  And that their brains are the size of a peach (Thanks, dad for that reminder), but you can't help but worry they'll hate you or not remember you when you pick them up.
However, all my worries were cast aside when we picked them up and my dogs made the biggest scene in the history of dog boarding when they saw us.  You would have thought Kevin & I had been on an 8 month African Safari with the way they acted.  Literally- both dogs were barking & jumping as though I just given them free reign on some jars of peanut butter or let loose in Petsmart.  While it was kind of flattering to see that they missed us so much, it was also mildly embarrassing because the employees & other pet owners looked at them (and us) like they were they anti-christ.  Never a good look.  Actually, you should probably just run when you see that expression given to you by someone because it strongly suggests that they think you're a moron incapable of doing anything.   Regardless, I'm gonna choose to think that the dogs' insane reaction clearly indicates the love our animals have for us. Orrrr maybe it means that we smelled like bacon when we got out of the car from a 9 hr van ride, but whatev.

So, yes, I am back to my every day reality.  And that also means, I've been catching up on my reality shows.  We all know I am a sucker for reality tv.  Like, the trashier the better.
**Side note: Kevin tries to act like he's appalled by these shows, but he watches almost every single one with me.  You stay manly, Kev. **)


So, a few quick comments....

Real Housewives of Orange County- I want to give Briana a huge hug for defying ole Vicki & eloping in Vegas.  If Vicki was my momma, I wouldve run away to Vegas to get married too.

  Also, why was Ryan (Tamra's son) have more hair than he ever has before?  How is that possible?  Or that he couldn't afford furniture last episode, but he bought a new tux in this episode? Ohhh the housewives and their financial priorities. Lastly, Brooks just flat creeps me the hell out. From Donn to Brooks? I feel like Donn is probably super fun to hang out with, and I think he's probably even more fun now that  hes escaped Vicki.  You go on w/ your bad self, Donn.

Real Housewives of New Jersey-  I'm getting super tired of the whole Guidice/Gorga family turmoil.  Caroline & family are boring the absolutely bejesus out of me this season too.  I really wish they'd focus more on either Rich Wakile's crazy comments

or the out-lawish antics of Ashlee.  When is that crazy girl gonna be back home?  I feel like that show is kind of coming off the tracks these days.

The Bachelorette- Okay yall, since I have been getting my MBA on Monday nights for the past 2 years, I haven't seen any of the last 4-5 bachelor or bachelorette shows.  Since I did watch Brad Womack's initial season like 6 years ago, I did try to keep up with who he picked.  So after watching the bachelorette premiere tonight, here are my initial thoughts...
1) Emily looks/acts/talks like she is highly medicated.  She just comes across as being super wooden.

2) I would say 96% of those guys are complete toolbags that I would never even consider talking to when I was single.  Seriously though-Where do they find these guys?  No guy I know acts like that or is that desperate to get married.  And i live in the South where people get married at age 18.
3) How is this show even still on?  Havent only 2 couples married after like a bazillion seasons?  I mean, I feel like match.com would laugh at the bachelor/bachelorette's face about their overall success rate, which wouldn't give me much hope if i was single.
4) I kind of think Arie is super hot.  Maybe its because I'm familiar w/ his family & the whole Indy car thing, but I have a sneaking suspicion he will go very far, if not win it all.

5) My conspiracy theory is that Emily & Chris Harrison will wind up together now that he is divorcing.  He's made numerous comments to the media about being uber protective of Emily, which has made me wonder if they've had a side thing going this whole time?  Maybe thats why they were so persistent that she be the next Bachelorette?     Stranger things have happened.  I'm just saying.

Okay guys- that about does it for me.  Chat soon.
   

Missy Moo, the Tornado Dog.

I preface this post by reminding you all that Kevin and I should be prohibited from even coming within a 1 mile radius of Petsmart during adoption days.  We are the definition of bleeding hearts, and those sneaky shelter volunteers see us coming from a mile away (Hints why we wound up with Lucy, Stella, and Hudson.  Breyer was actually premeditated, believe it or not.)  Keep that in mind as you read this post..... and also... please don't call Animal Hoarders on Kevin Gray just yet.

Almost 2 months ago, Tornados ripped through Eastern Kentucky, leaving two towns in my work territory absolutely devastated.  In the week following the tornados, I was unable to even go to Eastern Kentucky, so I had no idea how the damage affected my customers or if they were even alive.  Finally, FEMA had cleared out of Salyersville, Kentucky, so I was able to make it there 1.5 weeks after the tornados ripped through.  I thought I had mentally prepared myself for what the town was going to look like, as I had been paying close attention to the news casts every night.

I could not have been more wrong.

Nothing could have prepared me for what I witnessed when I got there.  

This was about 2 miles away from Salyersville.  As a point of reference, those hills used to be covered in trees and other greenery.

And this was the first sight I was met with when I finally got into town.

My heart was absolutely broken when I realized the gravity of the situation, and how horrific the damage was to the city of Salyersville, Kentucky.  

Now, I took video of my experience as well because pictures didn't show everything I wanted people to see to better understand the situation they were dealing with.  However, I start crying midway through the video, which leaves anyone watching it forced to deal with trying to translate my hysteria. I didn't want to do that to yall, but if you get a chance to donate to the Red Cross or United Way of Eastern Kentucky- please do it.  They still need all the help they can get.  It will be years before these towns fully recover from this.  

So, Kevin & I continued to talk about what we could do to help with the tornado relief efforts.  We had already donated to the Red Cross, but it still didn't seem like quite enough.  Then, my phone rings one day while I'm at work....

Me: Hello?

Kevin: Honey, I know how we can help with the tornado relief.

Me: Ohhh! Thats great!! What are you thinking?

Kevin: Well.  You know all the Animal shelters in Morgan & Magoffin County are now non-existent.  And as a result, a ton of the dogs are being sent to other shelters.  Like Estill County.  You KNOW, Estill County is beyond over crowded and they can only keep the dogs ONE day before they are put down.

Me (Being my bleeding heart self): No.. I didn't know that? Oh my god.  Okay, well, should we make a big donation there?  

Kevin: NO, CAROLINE (In the most annoyed voice ever).  I think we should work with a rescue league and (wait for it)... FOSTER MISPLACED TORNADO DOGS. (Yes- read: Dogs. S. As in plural)

Me: Ummmm.... I'm sorry, what did you say?

Kevin: Ohh yeah- we'd be great at it!! And I've already been working with a Rescue League & we've already been approved anyways.

Me: Ummm.... I'm sorry? I think I'm hallucinating.  You want to do what? Seriously? I think you've lost your damn mind.

Kevin: What are you talking about?  This will be great!  This is how I'm giving Alms during Lent, Carol! 

Me: Seriously?  Is this my life?  

A lot of people have the misconception that I am the head-strong one in my marriage.  Lemme tell ya, when Kevin Gray gets something in his head that he is going to do something, homeboy is going to do it, come hell or high water.  

Knowing this about him, I wasn't entirely surprised to come home from Easter in Louisville (which he um, conveniently skipped out on because he was "sick?") to find this little angel in my back yard.  

Meet Missy Moo, the Tornado Dog

So, again, was I surprised?  No.  Was I thrilled to see a new dog at our house?  Ummmm, No. And actually, I'm convinced that Kevin googled "How to calm your wife down so she doesn't kill you for doing something utterly ridiculous" before I got home because I was greeted with red wine and flowers as soon as I walked in the door.  That kid knows how to work me.  Maybe Petsmart gave him some pointers, no? :)

So, that was 3 weeks ago, and I think its safe to say that Missy Moo, the tornado dog has been formally adopted.  She is basically the best dog ever.  We are both pretty much completely enamored with her.  I mean- good lord- how could we not be?  She came to us crate trained, house broken, and has learned quite a few tricks already.  Its like a miracle dog.  

However- Let me stress that there will be NO more dog fostering at the Grays because you get attached & it inevitably leads to scenes like these.....

I gotta give her props- she is the best snuggler ever.

And if you don't believe me, just ask Hudson...

At this point, I firmly believe that Hudson would cut me if we gave Missy back or let anyone else adopt her.  

She is his BFF.  

For life.

The only downside to their newfound friendship is that I think Missy has further fed his ego & he now firmly believes that he is a huge dog.  Its basically like Missy gives him the muscle to back up his insane persona.  

What a pair.  

So, anyway, if you havent called Animal hoarders yet, rest assured that my A-type personality has made me even more psychotic about cleaning my house & ensuring that our humble-abode smells nothing like a Feeders Supply.  Now, lets just pray that no more natural disasters occur because I'm mildly terrified that Kevin will try to adopt something really weird, like a lama or ostrich, the next go round.  hahahaha.

Anyway- thats about it does it for me.  Have a fab Tuesday!