Friday Freebie: May Desktop Calendar + Bikini Series Challenge

It’s hard to believe 2014 is already 1/3 of the way over! Here is your May Desktop Calendar download!

Click Below For Download:

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Bikini Series Challenge Info:

If you follow me on Instagram you know that I’ve started the 2014 Tone It Up Bikini Series challenge this week. An 8-week challenge to workout errrryday, eat clean, green & lean and live the best summer of our lives!! You can check out the series here. They provide weekly exercise routines and tips/tricks to keep you going. I’m still working on incorporating more of their recipes into my weekly meal planning. It’s just hard when you live in a small town in the midwest and don’t have access to a lot of the ingredients their recipes call for… that are readily available on the coast of California!

Our very first challenge for the bikini series was to “create your summer” by making a bucket list of the things you would like to accomplish this summer. My list is below & you can read others by searching “#createyoursummer” on Instagram.

I’m really kicking myself in the ass now. I wish I would have been able to drop the damn Reese’s (and other junk food) the last few months I was in boot camp. I can only imagine the improvements I could have made if I were eating healthier foods, that entire time. But what can you do? Learn from your mistakes and move forward.

I used to be an avid My Fitness Pal* user. I do think it is a great tool to help log meals and workouts; but I’m too obsessive. I would feel like it was ALL about the calories. If I went over my certain “allotted” calories for the day I would shame myself. Then I would get mad and stop using it. Then I would eat whatever the hell I wanted because I wasn’t holding myself accountable by logging my meals. Then, eventually, I’d feel bad for myself and start using the MFP app again. And then the cycle continued. I might go back to the app after I get to a point where I’m happy with myself or when I get to a point where eating healthier is easier and feels ‘normal’.

So, in order for me to track my food intake for this bikini series challenge, I bought a cutesy little notebook that was small enough to fit in my purse so I can take with me. & guess what, it doesn’t automatically add all the calories/fat I’ve eaten all day and guess what? IT DOESN’T MAKE ME FEEL BAD ABOUT MYSELF!

No more emotional rollercoasters. Yea, right. I’m a woman, we’re allotted at least 2 big-tall-scary emotional rollercoasters a month, right??

xoxo

Merrissa

 * My Fitness Pal — I know a lot of people who have had great [long-term] success using the MFP app. I’m just not one of them.

Friday Freebie | ‘Choose Joy’ iPhone Wallpaper + Weekly Update

TGIF

(scroll to the bottom for this week’s freebie)

I have been so busy this week and the madness continues this weekend! Momma J and I are going to the Hard Rock tonight to watch Jennifer Nettles, so I’m pretty excited about that. By the look on this lady’s face, I’m certain we’ll have a good time.

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I have been so busy with work, bootcamp, trying to still have a social life, community service, my dogs, etc. Not to mention, last week I signed up for a “Spring Trimmin’ Challenge” through the studio where I attend bootcamp. There are two prizes up for grabs to try to motivate us to work harder!! So with the challenge, I will be going to bootcamp/personal training at least 3 days a week. Plus trying to fit in Spin Class and time to go to the gym with Candace.

I noticed lately, that Katie at Make Me Over Momma, had lost some weight, (she also does bootcamp) she said she has been getting results from this book:

Lucky me, she gave me a copy to read, so I’m hoping this will give me a jumpstart to the Trimmin’ Challenge.

Yesterday, marks 100 days since I’ve been off the coke. 😉 I honestly feel like my hair has grown so much faster since cutting pop out of my life. But maybe I’m just delusional!!

On another note, make sure to check out my guest post on Rachellesmiles.com! (She’s also doing a POPCHIPS giveaway, so make sure to enter up!)

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FRIDAY FREEBIE:

As I was feeling overwhelmed last night with everything going on this week, I sat in my chair and told myself to simply ‘choose joy’. Don’t choose hectic, don’t choose to do anything that doesn’t bring me or those I love, joy. So that’s where today’s Freebie is coming from, a home screen & lock screen download.

Click Below for Lock Screen Download:

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 Click Below for Home Screen Download:

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 Don’t forget about these iPhone wallpapers, designed by Jessica!

 

xo

Merrissa

 

Friday Freebie | April Desktop Calendar + Life Update

I can’t believe we are getting ready to start the 4th month of the year! (HOLY COW) Spring is finalllllly starting to poke it’s little head up. Unfortunately, that means I don’t want to go to work anymore; I just want to lay outside and enjoy the weather with my pups, like last night:

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CLICK BELOW FOR DESKTOP DOWNLOADS:

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Life Update:

I havent’ had a Coke (or any other pop) for almost three full months! Woop Woop. This means, I’ve saved myself 3,480 cubes of sugar, almost 30 pounds of sugar and 48,842 calories. (You can read about my addiction to Coke, here)

I’ve also been working out several times a week (for 3 months straight) and I pretty much only drink water. I’ll have a lemonade every once in a while, just to quench that sugary craving. Now, I’m working on getting my nutrition/food back in line. THAT SHIT IS HARD. I love food. I LOVE FOOD. But it’s a work in progress and if it ain’t worth working for, it ain’t worth having, right?

That’s all for today, short & sweet.

Have a great weekend!

Merrissa

Friday Freebie + Sneak Peek

This is my ‘Friday Face’, y’all.

I don’t know about you but I have definitely struggled with the time change this week. It feels like 6,431,297 years have passed before Friday finally arrived.

This weeks freebie is a 8.5″ x 11″ printable featuring a dream catcher and one of my favorite quotes… (Can two words count as a “quote”?!)

Click below for downloads:

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Also, coming up is a collab with Warby Parker Eyeglasses & Sunglasses. More on that will be posted this weekend; but here are the glasses that I got to model awkwardly pose with:

Yay! Can’t wait to share that post with you guys!

Have a great day,

Friday Freebie | March Desktop Calendar

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It’s Friday. Thank you sweet baby Jesus!

Graphic design is something that I enjoy doing in my free time so I decided I would start a FRIDAY FREEBIE series, where I offer free downloads/pintables’, designed by yours truly. 😉

If you’re anything like me, you haven’t changed your computer’s desktop wallpaper in ages. I have had the same zebra desktop wallpaper since 2010. I’ll change it here and there to pictures of my sweet dogs but always go back to the generic black and white zebra. (If you own a Mac you know what picture I’m talking about.) I put this chic desktop wallpaper together featuring the March calendar. (Is it just me or can you believe that we are already 2 months in to 2014?!!) Feel free to download and dress up your computer’s desktop.

Click on the link below & “Save As” to your desktop

Have a great weekend!