things that are my jam

Confession: I am rocking some post vaca blues this week. Being back at work is hard. I have said it before and I will say it again - why can't I be a stay at home girlfriend?! I don't think that is too much to ask. With that being said I have a lot of great things cooking right now even if it leaves me with no free time. So to keep it simple, stupid I am stealing out of Ami's playbook and sharing things that are my jam this week.

//First, is this birthday present I got from Bradley. Now it is not the only thing I got, but it might be favorite....I am also not sure what this says about me because he also got me a Kate Spade purse....And yet the cast iron just makes me a happy, happy lady.


Since I was gifted it we have made every meal with this bad boy.

//Also my jam - My new team at VillaSport. Even though I feel like I am a tad bit over my head right now, I am so, so excited for this opportunity to put my personal training to use. Better yet, I am working along side  some fabulous people! You hear so many horror stories when it comes to the fitness industry and working as a personal trainer, but so far I have felt none of that. It's a pretty good feeling to have - especially when I am such a newbie compared to all my teammates. It's a little frightening, but mostly exciting....but definitely frightening....

//This video of tips on how to perform the kettlebell swing!

//Lastly, this jam is my jam.

Ok, that is all I have for today... I have to finished up everything here at the big girl job and leave early for more new hire training! Pretty much what my schedule looks like from here on out :) 

Cheers!

<3 BB

Brooke Does Indiana

Alternate title: no, we're not engaged. 

So, I sat in the airport on my birthday (ps. I am officially 26 now. I got old, when did that happen?!) waiting for our delayed flight home from Indiana as I wrote this.

After over a week away from home, I am ready for my own bed - but this past week was a blast with Bradley's family and I am feeling full of love and food. 

Bradley and I also had a lot of people question why we would randomly pick to visit humid, southern Indiana in the summer time...and before another person asks us....no, we are not engaged, nor am I pregnant. We just thought it would be nice to visit his family in the summer time. I have only made it out to the Louisville area over Thanksgiving and it is always cold and a whirlwind of Thanksgiving festivities. This trip was different. Yes, it was a whirlwind, but I was able to explore the city he grew up in, as well as let Bradley spend quality time with his family. Win! Win! Win! (as Michael Scott would say). Now it is back to the real world and back to playing catch up, because evidently work and life in Portland doesn't get put on hold when you leave for a week. womp womp. 

Cheers to good times with good people!

<3 BB

Friday Favorite - Vacation Style

Guys! It is here, finally!! Starting at 11am I am off work for the next 9 days. So basically that is the only Friday Favorite I have to share today. That and this song that Amos Lee played at his concert last night.

Baby Makin' Music + A Frank Ocean Cover = One Happy Girl

Also, he covered Boyz II Men. I was in heaven.  Technically, neither of these videos were from last night's concert, but you get the idea. These photos were though...

Perfect night, for a Perfect Concert, with some pretty Perfect Friends.

I may or may not post a time or two while I am on vaca, who's to say really.... Miss me while I'm gone!

<3 BB

who wants to pack for me?

Hello, hello!!!! 

Today I confess for humpday confessions that I am not a fan of people who brag about how busy they are and how they don't have any free time blah blah blah....buttttt I also confess that that is exactly what I am going to do today because it's my blog and I can be annoying if I want to. Let's talk about what my week looks like, ok?

Monday: Get to my regular place of employment at 6am. Leave early for new hire training at the gym until 5pm.

Tuesday: Get to work at 6am and stay until 5pm. Happy Hour with my lady friends....where I left my credit card at the restaurant and didn't realize it until I was all the way home and had to go back and get it. wa wahhhh 

Wednesday: Work at 6am. Training from 1-5pm. My last round of golf lessons that night. More on that at a later date.

Thursday: Work at 6am. Amos Lee Concert at the Oregon Zoo that night. OH EM GEEEEEEEEE. 

Friday: Work at 6am. Fly out to Indiana for 9 days that afternoon. 

So my question to you all is....Where do I find time to pack for this trip?!?!!?!? No really, who wants to do  my laundry, get my life in order, and pack for me?! Because ain't nobody got time for that around here. How does one even pack for 90, humid, and thunder storms anyway? Rain I can handle, but humid.. I can't even. 

Anyway, enough about me complaining, because honestly, I am not even complaining. I am loving the gym so far. I can't wait for it to open to the public, even if I am nervous to start actually training. I am ready for vacation. The weather has been great here and things are going well in my life. I just don't have time to pack... I suppose I can attempt to do it when I am trying to come down from the greatness that is Amos Lee's concert tomorrow night. I hear sleep is for the birds anyway. 

In other news, I purchased a few books on nutrition the other night and am really excited to start them on my vacation! Has anyone read any of these? What are your thoughts. 

Good Calories and Bad Calories by Gary Taubes

What to Eat by Marion Nestle 

Wheat Belly by William Davis 

Cheers!

<3 BB

Oh Lordy

You know when you pack so much good stuff into one weekend that you feel like you need a weekend from your weekend to get caught up.... Well that was this weekend. Ps how many times can I say weekend in one opening paragraph!?? Answer: After seeing this paragraph about this weekend, a lot of times. 

Melissa came all the way from Winnipeg to visit Jessi and I and we tried our best to give her a good Portland weekend filled with sunshine, thunder storms, food, hiking, wine tasting... more wine, food, more food. And did I mention food? 

Thanks for visiting, my favorite Canuck! Come back soon.  Ps. Anyway one who wants to visit Portland..Jessi and I will be sure to show you a good time wink, wink. 

Cheers!

<3 BB

balance, you fickle thing

So my girls Rebecca, Chelsea, and Jessi are hosting a challenge for the month of July and today's prompt had to do with balance. 

Balance: What brings balance to your life? A favorite workout? Book? Specific location? A person or animal? Share with us how you bring balance to your life.

Balance is funny. There are so many things in my life I am trying to balance and I feel the list keeps growing as I get older. 

//The balance of work and play (this scale is shifting even more now that I have started a second job)

//The balance of fitness and relaxation 

//The balance of being the best person I can be for others versus for myself. 

//The balance of healthy eating and the occasional yummy treat. 

//The balance of being connected with technology and knowing when to disconnect.

I could go on and on and on, but I won't waste my time, because you know...balance. 

I can say after my first week at my new job balancing my life just got a little bit harder. However, my goal is to be smarter with my time and the choices in my life. I mentioned Tuesday that I may not be around this space quite as often, because I need to devote my time to other priorities for a bit. It was weird not posting yesterday, but it was also necessary for my balance.  I am quickly realizing I will have to pick and choose what is extra important to me when it comes to my time and here are the things I know I will never give up when it comes to living a healthy, happy, balanced life. 

//My people

//My fitness 

//My health

//My me time 

//My things that make me happy (which includes my blog)

So my question to you is, what keeps your life in balance? 

Cheers!

<3 BB

exciting news

So fun news guys, I recently got a job as a personal trainer at a new gym that is opening up by my house and I am super, super excited. I have kept it on the down low while interviewing just in case I didn't get the job. No one would have wanted to hear about a job I didn't get. Now when I say gym, I  don't mean your standard gym. The place I will be working at is fabulous. We are talking indoor and outdoor pools, a huge water slide, NBA sized basketball court, new equipment galore, spa, cafe, etc. 

VillaSport doesn't officially open until sometime in early August, but I started new hire training yesterday and have it all of July. With that being said my schedule is going to be crazy packed with my full time job, training for PT, trying to live up summer while I can, and heading off to Indiana at the end of next week to visit Brad's family. Basically, what I am saying is you might not see as much of me around this blog and your blogs. I would say I'm sorry, but I'm not actually sorry. Mostly I am excited for what is all to come. Don't worry, I'm not quitting this blog, I love it far too much to stop...I just might be a little more selective in my posts and with my time.

This whole selective with my time also means I have to force myself to get up at 5 am for early morning workouts to fit everything in. We'll see how long that lasts...

Then again, working out on mornings like this is a lot easier than in the dead of winter. 

Wish me luck with the new job, I am actually pretty nervous since it is my first real training experience since getting certified! 

Cheers! 

<3 BB

america things

My weekend was filled with very American things which was fitting seeing how we were celebrating the 4th of July! Ps. It is officially my birthday month, get excited, people! 

Thursday night was shenanigans at the St. Paul Rodeo. Where I might have eaten the majority of those fries by myself. 

Friday was spent with Fireworks and BBQs, but I don't have any pictures of that, because who needs to see more grainy night photos of fireworks, answer: no one.

Saturday we trekked on down to the Portland Waterfront to the Blues Fest that happens every year and never disappoints. Sugaray Rayford KILLED it during his set.

OH! And my favorite part of the weekend, getting to meet the newest member of our family. Meet my little brother's new puppy, Gunner! Now if only he didn't live 3 hours away!

Cheers!

<3 BB

Happy (almost) 'Murica Day!

Guys, what is more 'Murica than Miley?!?!


Answer: nothing! (ok maybe Tim Howard)

The United States might be out of the World Cup, but that doesn't mean I will be any less patriotic today and this weekend. So this weekend, let's celebrate all that is Amurica: horrible fast food, shootin stuff with guns, and honey boo boo. 

Lastly, Let's think about what would happen if we were still British.

Tube Sausages. Eww.

Have a happy (and safe) 4th of July. I'll see you on the other side, Amurica!

<3 BB

Hot Confessions

Today is Wednesday, so today means we confess things with Kathy for humpday confessions. It is what Sweet Baby Jesus would want us to do.

::I confess I was irrationally sad when I went to try out a new Ramen place yesterday after work and it was closed because it was too 'hot' out. Now granted it did reach 99 degrees yesterday which is hot for this early in the summer...but come on?!? Are you kidding me?!? Are you going to close your shop every time it is over 80 degrees? 

::I also confess it was probably a good idea I didn't actually eat it in 99 degree weather, I would have gotten really, really sweaty. 

::Speaking of hot, I confess I really, really, really wanted to be cheap and not turn the AC unit in our bedroom on, but there was no way I would have been able to fall asleep without it. Why do things like cool air have to cost moneys? 

::I confess after the US lost yesterday, I did what any good girlfriend would do and bought Bradley a large, cold beer to help with his sadness. My favorite quote form him yesterday was 'I know that the USMNT losing is not actually that important in the grand scheme of things that are my life...but on my list of things that are not actually important - they are at the top.' I know, Bradley. I know.

Lastly, I confess - I can't stop taking selfies. I am annoying myself now. And I found this old picture on the left in my phone. God that is frightening. Who let's me go out in public, ever? 

Cheers! 

<3 BB 

Short hair. Don't care.

Well, the rumors are true. If you saw the sneak peak on instagram last night, you would have seen my new hair cut. The long hair is officially long gone. Those of you who have been around a while have known that I have been toying with cutting my hair. Last time I went in though I chickened out on the shortness. This was not the case this time. My hair is officially above my shoulders and I am in love with it. I pumped myself up all day by only looking at and pinning pretty ladies with amazing short haircuts and I think it worked, because I love the outcome. 

As always, Emmanuel at One Creativity & Design did a fabulous job. Now if only I could have him come wash and style it every morning as well. If you ever need a great haircut be sure to check E out. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about him and I think my haircut and color speaks for itself. So happy :) 

It has also made me a little vain because I can't stop looking in the mirror or taking selfies just to see what it looks like to other people. Oh well, I suppose it is better than always looking because I am sad and hate it. Anyway, that is all I've got today...Just a vain post about how much I love my new hair.

ps. Linking up with Miche for Link up the Love Tuesday.

Cheers! 

<3 BB