it's Halloween. boo

You guys may or may not know, but it's Halloween today boooo. As much as I love getting hopped up on candy, I am going to be honest - I am not a huge fan of today. It might have something to do with the fact that I am a big scaredy cat, but who's to say really?  

When it comes to scary things, I just don't. I jump at loud noises and don't even think about scaring me. One time Brad decided it would be funny to jump out of a closet and it made me cry I was so startled. Also, I don't understand scary movies. Why do people like them? Why do they like torturing themselves for 2 hours? I literally look like this the entire time something frightening is on. 

Pretty Little Liars even makes me jump. I have to pause the show and compose myself before I can move on to the next scary scene. Don't go into the pitch black woods alone, you stupid idiot! Brad was watching last night's episode of American Horror Story before I left the house this morning and I couldn't handle it. Not to mention shows like Criminal Minds. Oh.My.Gawd. Talk about nightmares. I want to love the show, I get caught up in the story line if I watch more than 5 mins., but sheet, I always assume I am going to be the next tragic victim after I watch an episode. When I go for runs alone, I think the random men on the street are going to attack me. Real sane, Brooke. 

And then there are the people that think it's cool to make their yards and homes look frightening on Halloween. Can't I just get some Christmas lights up in the betch already?! I hated going to those houses for candy when I was little, even though you know they were always offering the good stuff. Why do I need some battery powered, scary ass witch popping out of a bush?! Are you trying to make me pee my pants?....All I want is some damn candy. What's a girl have to go through to get some Reeses Cups in her Halloween tub?! 

Anyways, wish me luck on getting through the day and don't even think about trying to scare me. My natural reaction will be to punch you. Sorry, not sorry. 

So while you guys are all scaring the shit out of each other and watching horrible movies like Friday The 13th, I am going to be over here watching Candy Mountain. 

Trick or Treat!  <3 BB 

someday i will...

Obviously had to link up with my favorite blogger, Taylor at The Daily Tay for her 'Someday I will...' prompt. I have a lot of someday dreams, why not share them all with you?

//Someday I will create a gallery wall for my new office.

//Someday I will shave my legs more than once every week and a half.

//Someday I will have the perfect kitchen. Subway tile, butcher block counter tops, apron sink...

//Someday I will have a puppy.

//Someday I will stop getting my news from buzzfeed and gawker.

//Someday I will travel out of the country.

//Someday I will learn the foreign language known as HTML.

//Someday I will stop having the acne ridden face of a teenage going through puberty.

//Someday I will learn to apply makeup correctly on that said face.

//Someday I will stop being so entertained by gifs. Nahhhh. 

//Someday I will be a successful personal trainer. But never a meat head or fitness shamer.

//Someday I will stop using the term 'that's what she said' yeah, right.

//Someday I will stop getting unnecessarily annoyed with little things. Breathe, Brooke. 

//Someday I will have more than 100 dollars left in my checking account at the end of each month.

//Someday I will stop getting red and splotchy when I get nervous or talk to people who are cooler than me.

//Someday I will get Brad to watch Fern Gully. How have you not seen this movie?!

Then again.... Why not today?!

YOLO!

<3 BB

tunes that will make you break a sweat

Ever since my knee pain got bad and physical therapy started I have been slacking on the workouts. It's partly due to the knee pain, partly due to laziness - but either way it needs to change. Now that my physical therapy is winding down I am slowly starting to pick the workouts back up, which I am excited about, but also realize how quickly you can lose your fitness base. When the workouts aren't easy, I need good music to help get me through. Here is what I have been listening to during my recent workouts. 

When it comes to my workout music, I just need a good beat. It doesn't always have to be crazy fast or in my face, but it needs to be rhythmic - especially when I am running. Some of my favorite workouts songs are ones like Poetic Justice by Kendrick Lamar or the older, but never out of style Int'l Players Anthem. Plus, how could I not feature my current favorite, Too Much? Drake is just killing it on this song, but you already knew my thoughts on that. My workouts playlists also always feature my electronic loving, funky females like Banks, Lorde, CHVRCHES, and Haim. 

Enjoy. 
<3 BB 

office space

So I bought a desk this weekend. I don't know about you guys, but buying items like this is really hard for me, because I cannot make a decision to save my life. I know what I like and I know what looks good, but actually committing to a desk. Wow, that is hard. How am I ever going to commit to a guy forever....  

In my dream world I would have an office like this or this, maybe even this. However, they don't really go with the space I am working with. I have decided I want my our office space to look something like this. I love the crisp white and clean lines. I even braved Ikea alone yesterday and bought this desk.

But you know what is really freaking hard. Like even harder than picking out the desk... Picking out a chair to go with it. The chair makes the room when you have such a simple, white desk. Oh boy, oh boy. I don't even know what direction to go. Annnnd, why do all chairs have to be so expensive. Plus, I have a theory, the more money you spend on a chair the less comfortable they are. Ugh. I just want to be able to use my desk to study for my personal training certification, but can't do that if I don't have a chair. Brad did not understand my dilemma last night as I was searching the internet for what felt like forever instead of using my free time to study. BUT YOU CAN'T STUDY AT A DESK IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CHAIR TO SIT ON. Needless to say, I was not very amused when he tried to set a time limit for my internet use. What am I, a child?! 

Anyway, here are some of my favorites. I really, really love the colored folding chair from Anthropologie, but I still don't know what I am going to end up with.

desk chairs by brooke-l-smith featuring a swivel-chair

Side note, why does every Polyvore template have shrubbery on it?! Green plants next to my picture does not make my collage of chairs look cuter. The one I picked still does nothing for me, but I was too lazy to create my own, because I am a horrible blogger...but that is neither here nor there. Anyway, if you have any say on what kind of chair would look best with my desk or where you can find inexpensive ones, let a sister know.

Linking up with Sami for these office space shenanigans. Now if only I had a red stapler. 

Help me! 

<3 BB 

links

Guys, I am ready for the weekend. Like more than ready. Although, I don't have much planned for it. Some family time, some studying for the Personal Training Certificate time, some workout time.... yeah, I lead an eventful life is what I am saying. 

Anyway, I wanted to share some links today, because well.. because I haven't in a while and I can.

//20 things you need to let go to live a happy life.

//This Jezebel article is spot on. If you could just scoot yourself around on the carpet like a dog with butt-worms, and then put your heels on outside in the beauty bark, that would be ideal for Pablo. Thx.

//15 terrible love lessons we learned from Disney Princesses. 

//Uncle Jesse asks people about when they lost their virginity, it's not as weird as it sounds.

//Learned how to finally Fishtail braid my hair yesterday after watching this tutorial.

It's not pretty, but I learned how to do it and can only go up from here right?! Also, how do girls make the tail look so pretty and full?! 

And so yeah, that is all I have for today. Actually, that's a lie. I have one more thing for you. It's not new... but it's Miley and I don't care if you hate on her, she's legit when she want's to be. Here is your #backthatazzup song for the week. 

Cheers! 

<3 BB

punkin patch

A few weeks ago I went to the pumpkin patch to pick out the pumpkins that I made pretty the other day. We decided to go to the Roloff Farm, you know the family farm from the TV Show Little People, Big World. The farm itself is really cute and also really busy. The only downfall is I am still on a hunt for Apple Cider Doughnuts, because this farm didn't have them. I WANT IT NOW!!!!!! Said in my best Veruca Salt. Anyway, I was lazy and finally did a photo dump from my camera and remembered I had these photos. I know it's late, but here is the thing, I don't care. The fall pictures make me happy, so deal with it and enjoy them like I do. 

Cheers to Fall. I don't want it to ever leave me.

<3 BB

all of the pumpkin things

The last time I attempted to be crafty it did not go very well. Check out this post for proof. So, last night when I was invited over to my friend's house for pumpkin carving and I had the bright idea to paint my pumpkins instead of carve them, I was definitely setting myself up for failure. I blame Pinterest. 

I used this picture for my inspiration, but made sure to stay away from the devil Chevron stripes.

Here is what I ended up with. 

Don't worry I was still a struggle and somehow ended up with gray paint in my hair. #winning. #struggle #ididitallfortheoktoberfest 

Anyway, the pumpkins are nothing to run and show the girls at A Beautiful Mess, but I have to admit they could have turned out much worse. 

Go me? Wish me luck when I attempt to make this pumpkin custard for dinner tonight with Jessi.

Linking up with Helene and Sarah.

<3 BB

daughter

No, not the child kind that I am nowhere ready to have. I am talking about Daughter the band from London. They have been a favorite as of late and NPR just posted their Tiny Desk Concert yesterday. I LOVE TINY DESK CONCERTS.

Tiny Desk Concerts are intimate video performances, recorded at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. I have maybe listened to this Daughter's performance at least 4 times since they posted it yesterday. I don't get obsessive over my favorite new music or anything.

Anyway, I wanted to share the Tiny Desk Concert with you, as well as their new album, because it's lovely, and melancholy, and sad, and beautiful all at the same time.

My favorite on the album is Youth, but the whole thing can be played on repeat and it wouldn't be a bad thing.

Enjoy!

<3 BB

cyclocross shenanigans

So, yesterday for my weekend shenanigans, I got to complete in my very first Cyclocross race with the Cross Crusade Circuit. Never heard of Cyclocross?! Yeah, I was more or less a newb coming into, too. My good friend Wikipedia describes Cyclocross as: 

'Races typically take place in the autumn and winter (the international or "World Cup" season is October–February), and consist of many laps of a short (2.5–3.5 km or 1.5–2 mile) course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike while navigating the obstruction and remount.'

More or less a Tough Mudder, but on a bike. My spin instructor, Tess, whom I love, has been talking it up for months and finally got me to come out this past weekend. She let me use her old bike and everything. Luckily for me, my first experience was pretty awesome. Since races are in the fall and winter it's usually rainy, muddy, and cold, but yesterday was the perfect fall day to attempt my first race. 

There was gravel, mud, hills, concrete barriers, and a lot of ladies that were much better than me out on the course. 

45 mins, 4 laps, and no crashes later (the leaders finished 5 laps in the 45min time cap) I finished middle of the pack in the beginner section and I am pretty happy with the outcome. Now obviously looking back after the race there were a lot of things I would have done differently, but oh well, race one is in the books. 

Here are a few things I learned after my first race:

//I really need to stop doubting myself and my abilities.

//I really enjoy biking, even if the last time I was on a bike was 3 summers ago. 

//My background in hurdles definitely helped get me and my bike over the barriers.
//I am not very good at turns at the end of steep hills. 

//I had pre-race nervous pees just like before track meets. 

//I need to invest in bike shorts. 

Here are a few pics Brad took during my race. 

Cheers to getting out of your comfort zone, getting sweaty, and trying something new! Linking up with Sami for weekend shenannies! 

<3 BB 

excuses

Not sure if many of you have seen this photo floating around the internet or not.

But it has been getting quite a bit of backlash and attention.  Maria Kang considers herself a mother, a business owner, a creator of the nonprofit, Fitness Without Borders, and a fitness blogger. 

After posting this photo, she has been accused of 'fit-shaming' and 'fat-shaming' others. People are even calling her a bully and accusing her of being a bad mom. Really, people, really?!!?!?! 

Why the negativity? Why are we getting angry at a woman who has taken the time to make her health a priority so she can be a healthy, active role model for her sons. Not to mention, she wants to live long enough to raise her sons and you need to be healthy to do that. Her point here is not to attack others or judge others' lifestyles. Her point was DON'T MAKE EXCUSES to be healthy. She is also not saying you have to have her body type or her abs eight months after giving birth, she is just saying don't let excuses stop you from living a healthy life. 

Let's be honest we all make excuses. We're too busy, too stressed, too tired, too sick...whatever you tell yourself to get out of being healthy is not Maria's fault or problem, so stop projecting. 

Hate to break it to you, but our country is overweight. Our country is lazy. Our country has many, many health problems that could be alleviated with fitness and healthy eating.  You don't have to like Maria or even like how she went about making her point, but the fact is, she does have a point.  And if you're angry with her, it might be because you realized you are making excuses and she is calling you out a little bit. 

So, let's stop with the hate and judgment of others and instead look inside ourselves to see what is causing the negativity and excuses and figure out how we can make positive changes. At the end of the day it comes down to not comparing yourself with others and being happy and healthy in your own body. 

Janelle from Renegade Mothering does a much better job getting her point across about this same topic in this post, so you should totally go read it now. 

Anyway, I linked up with Sarah and Fan Friday for this post, because in case you haven't picked up on it yet, I am a fan of fitness and a fan of health. 

Also, go listen to this song when you #backthatazzup with Whitney to go get your workout on. 

End Rant.  <3 BB 

no pants dance

Brad's parents left yesterday and after eight awesome days with them, I am kind of excited to not have visitors now. It's not that I didn't love having them stay, but they came into town just two days after we moved into our new place.  I hadn't fully gotten acquainted with it yet.  It didn't really feel like my space. Plus, I have to admit it was nice coming home after work yesterday and taking off my pants and laying on the couch as soon as I walked in the door. 

Not to mention, I am a creature of habit and my habits get off when guests are in town. My gym visits are less frequent, my eating habits are just, no, and well my 9:15 bedtime gets pushed back not cool. 

So yeah, last night was nice. I got to go to Spin class, Brad made me a healthy dinner, and I was in bed by 9:30. Success! 

Now if I can just get through the rest of the week it will be a victory for all.

Cheers!

<3 BB


Images: 1, 2, 3

wine tasting

If you ever get the chance to go wine tasting in Oregon, do it. There are over 450 wineries to choose from and it's hard to pick a bad one. Lucky for us, the weather was perfect, fall was still around, and the wine wasn't half bad either. Here are photos from the four wineries, Brad, his parents, and I visited. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

||Willamette Valley Vineyards|| 

||Domaine Drouhin||  

||Winderlea Vineyards|| 

||Erath Winery||