Know Before You Go: Suavie Island

Hello, Hello! 

Happy Monday, folks. Hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was busy, productive, and restful all at the same time if that is even possible? Friday evening was spent making boozey margarita cupcakes similar to these guys right here and falling asleep while watching the Lego Movie. Saturday was spent working at the gym and Sunday was a good mix of productivity and rest. I went to yoga. Got my hair done. Went to brunch at Olympic Provisions and had a bomb Bloody Mary. Lastly, we ventured out to Sauvie Island, where we quickly learned a few things to know for our next outing. I figured I would be a good Portlander and share with you all:  

//You have to pay for parking in order to enjoy the beach 

//You can only pay for parking with cash. 

//You should make sure you bring cash with you.

//If you happen to forget cash, you should stop at the first you-pick farmers market at the beginning of the island to see if they have an ATM before you drive 15-20mins, get all the way out to the end of the island, and realize you have no cash and can't pay for parking. 

//It might also be wise to start your trip out to Sauvie Island before 4pm, especially if you struggle like we might have with the whole no cash situation. 

Either way it was still a pleasant evening even if we didn't ever make it to the beach. I still got to enjoy the farmers market with Bradley. We shared a peach iced tea, which I always forget how refreshing peach iced tea is. We listened to country music with the windows rolled down, because it is mandatory when you're among fields of corn that you listen to country music.  And I took a few pictures too. Now if only I would take the time to put them on my computer.

Cheers!

<3 BB

Ps. How good does Bradley's Stache look in the above photo? #CreepsvilleUSA

Tuesdays, ugh.

So you know how everyone says that Monday blows and is the worst day of the week? Those people have obviously never met Tuesday. Tuesdays are the worst. Want to hear how my Tuesday has gone so far and it's not even 8:00 am.... 

//Alarm goes off at 4:30 (which I did get to sleep in a bit so hooray to that?) 

//Zombie walk through my routine and slowly get ready to go work at the gym. 

//Realize my zombie like state has no left me running behind. 

//Quickly go make coffee in the Keurig only to realize I have hit the BREW button before I have even grabbed a coffee mug out of the cupboard. 

//Coffee starts pouring out of the machine making a mess everywhere. 

//Frantically run to the cupboard and get my situation under control. 

//Finally make it to my car and while struggling to open my car door (because I can never leave the house without 3 bags, my cellphone in hand, my coffee mug, my keys, etc.) proceed to pour out my coffee from my travel mug all down my arm, all over my jacket, and onto my garage floor. 

Basically, what I am saying is sorry I smell like a crappy Starbucks location all day, coworkers. 

Cheers! 

<3 BB 

i just want my coffee in slushie form

Starbucks. Why must you be so complicated? Here is the deal, I have a very love / hate relationship when it comes to Starbucks. Yes, I have wasted enough money there that I am a gold card member. Yes, I love red cup season. Yes, I extra love iced coffee time --- but I just can't handle how big of a deal they make everything. 

Like yesterday for instance, it was uncharacteristically hot for April at over 80 degrees here in Portland and I wanted to treat myself to an iced coffee on my lunch break...And not just any iced coffee, but I was craving an iced coffee in a delicious, perfect texture of ice, blended, slushie form.  With that being said - all I wanted was some iced coffee blended up with some soy milk. No pumps of sweetener. No whipped cream. No extra bells and whistles. So, I walk up to the counter and here is the exchange between the barista and I after I have stared blankly at the menu for a few moments searching for anything that might resemble what I am craving.   

Me: Hi, so I was wondering does the Caffe Espresso Frappuccino have a lot of extras in it or is it more just a blended iced coffee? 

Barista: Oh no, the Caffee Espresso doesn't have much extra to it. They really try to highlight just the espresso flavor in this drink. 

Me: Oh Perfect, I'm trying to stay away from extra sugars and dairy if possible. Can I get it with soy milk, please?

Barista: Oh well, it does come with an espresso infused whipped cream and Italian drizzle that is delicious. 

Me: Wait? What? I thought you just said it didn't come with anything extra. Ok then, can I get it without the whipped cream and the sugary drizzle please? If I wanted sugar I would ask for it. Don't just go throwing Diabeetus in there!

Barista: But the whipped cream is really good, it is infused with espresso!!!

Me: I know you mentioned that. I still don't want it. I am cutting out dairy. 

Barista: So since you're not getting the extras. Do you just want the coffee frappuccino then?

Me: Wait?! Coffee Frappuccino was an option? But it is not up on the board!? Do you people have a secret menu that I don't know about?! Now I am so confused. Why can't you just say here are small, medium, large, here are flavors we offer, here is coffee.  Yes, I would just like the coffee frappuccino then if that is an option. No sugary drizzle, no whipped cream. Just blended coffee, please. 

Naturally, I was super awkward during this whole exchange and started to get red and splotchy trying to explain what I wanted. Besides, all I wanted was the simplest drink on the menu - coffee goodness in slushie form. Is that so hard to make, Starbucks?!?!? I am pretty sure whatever I ended up with still had extra sugars and sweeteners in it, but at that point I just gave up. I took my drink and quickly power walked away. This is why I need to just stick to the Kcups at the office. I wonder if my boss would get annoyed if I brought a blender into work?! That wouldn't be loud or anything.... 

Cheers to Iced Coffee? 

<3 BB

i'm a survivor

Oh Thursday, 

Let's pick it up quickly please. Here is how my morning has gone so far. I am house sitting with my sister for a few days and the family has smoothie fixings and a magic bullet! Score... Until I realized that the magic bullet has nothing on my Ninja blender at home.Evidently the bullet could not handle my fruit to liquid mixture. It was a struggle making a smoothie this morning. The end result was more large chunks of frozen fruit with some splashes of liquid. Whatever. 

It has also been raining for the millionth day in a row here in Portland, so I decided to wear my rain boots. Note to all, Hunters don't have much traction. Second note to all: Hunter boots + rain + slick paint lines in a parking lot = an almost epic fail. 

By the grace of the sweet lord baby jeeezus I somehow managed to catch myself from falling and spilling my smoothie everywhere. Bad news, I think I might have almost strained my groin in the process. It is really sore now. We shall see how my workout goes tonight.... 

Thankfully I am a survivor and I am going to make it through this day....Let's hope.

Cheers to not spilling my smoothie everywhere!

<3 BB

sweet baby jesus

Guys, I made it through Thursday, just barely. It ended with this short story, though: anytime I go somewhere and do not want to take my purse with me, I put it in the trunk of my car - just in case someone tries to break into my car. (please don't go break into the trunk of my car now). Anyway I get to the track yesterday and park out in the big parking lot that gets quite a bit of action. Anyway... I put my purse in the trunk go on with my coaching blah, blah, blah...well I get back to my car 2 hours later only to realize that my trunk had not shut all the way and it just chillin there wide open. I start to mini panic in my head. Is my purse gone? Did people steal all my stuff? Is my car battery dead? This is really the last thing I need in my life. PRAISE SWEET, SWEET BABY JESUS my purse (with everything in it) was still there and my car started...but this was just proof that I need the weekend. 

 Sidenote, I think this gif wins the internet. 

Anyways, I got home made dinner and got straight into bed to read so nothing else could potentially go wrong and guess what... I made it to Friday, I am not tired and things are looking up!!!!! Now let's enjoy to some internets to celebrate. 

//I listened to the most interesting interview last night on the way home from track practice. Fresh Air had Jolie Kerr on, author of the book My Boyfriend Barfed In My Handbag..And Other Things You Can't Ask Martha. Kerr also writes a post called Ask A Clean person and for someone that secretly loves to clean this interview made me the happiest. She talked about how to get out all kinds of stains from blood to puke, and why things like mildew-y towels happen and how to fix it! It was gross and fascinating at the same time! Highly suggest you listen to the interview or check out her writing. 

//Hipsters love coffee.

//Samuel L. Jackson recites Boy Meets World.

//Why does nothing cool ever happen to me on planes. I just get stuck next to the annoying people or crying babies. 

//Nice Life, Juanny Pabs. 

//If you've ever had the misfortune of opening a woman's makeup bag, you know that it smells like a dead actor.

//What did people do before email? Just stare at papers? 

Now let's play some tunes to get your ready to #backthatazzup into Friday. 

Cheers to the weekend! 

<3 BB

try again tomorrow

It's been a morning. Well, technically it started last night when I was forced to stayed up past my bedtime to watch the United State's Men's National Soccer team play long hated rivals Mexico and they ended in a tie. Ties are dumb. Brad also almost gave me a heart attack during the game. The one time I look away from the TV the US scores and he loses his shit in excitement. This late night lead me to snooze one too many times this morning. That had me running late to work weird how that works. For the life of me I couldn't put a cute outfit together - I am ready for warm weather. Got to work and noticed my water bottle had leaked all over the seat of my car. I dropped my avocado in the parking lot and it rolled under my coworker's car. Naturally, I struggled to get it out from under the car, because I had earlier decided a skirt was a grand idea today. I already know I will be disappointed when my avocado is bruised for my lunch. I spilled my coffee on myself. And I can't eat my oatmeal, because I am doing this no sugar / most carbs thing.  My life is hard, feel bad for me. 

Is it the weekend yet? I am going to go look at cute puppies while listening to this playlist filled with banjo love and try and re-start this day. 

Let's try again tomorrow!

<3 BB

workout wednesday - win some, lose some.

You wanna know why I love my Grandma....

A) she plays draws with friends or draw something, whatever the hell it's called. 

B) she drew a picture of a wedgie that I was able to figure out

C) she then proceeded to call and congratulate me after I got it! 

D) we're cool, you don't have to judge us 

Speaking of butts.... How bout that beach body?! See what I did there? Nice, transition, Brooke... Pats self on back. 

I have been trying to ramp up the workouts again and it is mostly going well.  Minus last night when I had an unnecessary breakdown for no good reason at all.  Kind of like this one I posted about a few months ago. This doesn't happen very often, but when it does I just feel pathetic and I get really negative. Brad gets annoyed, frustrated, concerned, because he says negativity does not look good on me and I agree. After my little breakdown once the run was finished I realized Brad told me I just need to remind myself there are a lot of great things I have going on when it comes to fitness.  I need to focus on the positive things, like the fact that I was able to knock out over 6 miles during 2 different runs yesterday after bettering my time in this hard workout the day before. Fran, you're hard, but I finished you in 5mins30secs and I am kind of happy with that time. As opposed to taking the route I did, which was only focus on how sore my legs were, how out of shape I felt, how long the run was, how slow I felt, and how I was slowing Brad down... basically every negative thing I could think of.

Live and learn, people. Live and learn.

Then this morning I came across this blog post and it really resonated with me. Especially this line:

"I became a more capable, energetic, independent, and mentally focused person once my focus shifted from what my body looks like to what my body can do"

Anyway, enough about what I can't do. Let's talk about things I want to do... maybe? Do I dare? How many times can I use the word 'do'!?

Bear Complex looks hard in a good way. 

And since we're talking about bears.  I went all sorts of carnivore the other night and made this meat on meat on meat dish.

Lastly, and this has nothing to do with fitness, but you should totally download the A Beautiful Mess app for your iPhone photos. It's awesome. The end.

Cheers!

<3 BB

fall so hard

via

Not sure why I am sharing this embarrassing story, but oh well here goes... Enjoy the visual. Laugh it up on my account!

Yesterday, while I was at the track coaching, I tripped and ate it, hard ... I wasn't paying attention (that never happens) and caught my foot on a little metal rail thing (super descriptive, Brooke) that lines the infield and the actual track. It of course happened in front of all my athletes and this wasn't one of those trips where you can kind of catch yourself and not actually fall.  This was the kind of trip where you try to run it off and keep yourself up, but I couldn't and fell on my hands and knees, left a bit of track burn on my knee and bum and everyone gasped and then laughed. It was embarrassing.

Nice job, Coach Brooke, Your athletes really want to get advice from a girl that can't even stay on her own two feet.  In my defense though, the stupid railing is dumb and it shouldn't be there! Mature, I know. 

This fall then lead me to think about how clumsy I am all the time sometimes.

I am that girl who:

::always has bruises from running into table edges

::always has bruises from.... shoot, how did that bruise get there again?!

::drops weights on her shins and feet

::falls while doing box jumps (this still has not fully healed and there is a nice scar forming, by the way)

::misjudges where doorways and entryways are, so I run into walls

::constantly has scrapes, cuts, and burns on my hands

For being fairly athletic, I am sure a struggle street.

Anyone else have this problem?!

To make myself feel better about my life, I had some comfort food when I got home.  I had Annie's Mac and Cheese for dinner. Obviously, not the healthiest choice I could have gone with, but hot daumn was it delish. I was tired and it has been in our cupboard for a few months now calling my name. I couldn't not eat it.

Yes, I am wrapped up in my blankie. It was almost bedtime (8:27pm), don't judge me.

Luckily, for me and my beach body needs, Brad was there to share the cheesy goodness with me or I would have eaten the entire box.  Not that I know I can eat an entire box or anything.  I have never done that before I tell myself that Annie's is better for me than Kraft. I mean, it has to be right?! The color of the powdery substance is more natural cheese color and less cheetos orange, that alone has to be healthier. I also paired mine with an avocado and we might have added a little bit of additional cheese and some chicken to the mac as well. Gotta get swoll. Protein on protein on protein.

So yeah, that's my Embarrassing Story Wednesday for you. Hope you had a good laugh! You're welcome.

Cheers,

<3 BB

hitting the links

Happy, happy Friday!!!!!! Not sure whether or not it was the same for you guys, but this week went surprisingly fast for me. No complaining here, although yesterday was a bit of a struggle street no one act surprised.

It started out bright and early while I was running late and rushing to make my lunch. Of course I then had to spill an entire bottle of salad dressing.

womp, womp. 

Then I went for a lunch run and it poured the entire time - which that's fine, it wasn't cold and I came prepared, so it was still a good run.  The struggle part came after, when I finished and was quickly trying to get back to my desk.  Went to dry my hair and the locker room must have a fuse out, because my blow dryer that I brought with me did not work, nor did the small one they have attached to the wall.  So this girl sat at her desk for the rest of the afternoon with a wet un-brushed top knot. Feel bad for me, my life is so hard.

I also somehow managed to scrape off some of my skin on my already hurt right hand.

Pray for me. 

::Got a little aggressive when peeling a sweet potato earlier this week and nicked the index finger.

::3rd degree burn from a hot pan on the top knuckle that still hasn't healed. Might as well have taken me to the hospital burn unit with that one.

::Mysterious fresh new scrape to add to the bottom.

Get it together, Brooke 

Interesting to put into perspective what 2,000 calories looks like.

My friend Courtney showed me these awesome bottles.  Now your hose water can still be classy.

Want this tee.

Let's show some #mightylove around these here parts.

This article is just fueling the fire that is my burning hip flexors and hammies.  ;)

I think it is safe to say that most of us have a love/hate relationship with the gym.

Speaking of gym, think I am going to attempt this workout today.  I tried 13.4 last week and have many thoughts on it and Crossfit in general, but I'll save that for a later post.

I watch New Girl for Schmidt and only Schmidt.

Watch Nashville for these two girls. Ok, first watch it because you love Mrs.Tammy Taylor, then watch it for those two cute gals. (I swear I do more than watch tv)

Hope these links get you through the rest of your Friday.  Wish me luck the rain holds off for coaching tomorrow!

Cheers,

<3 BB