My New Favorite Place!

Oh my goodness...how I LOVE grocery shopping!

I tried out a new grocery store [well new to me anyway], Trader Joe's, about two weeks ago and went back again last night.

Can we say super fantabulous?!

TEXAS!!! I'm sorry to tell y'all this, but y'all are missing out!!!

Imagine a Whole Foods, but way cheaper, way better selection, and way more fun...especially when it's time to pay!
Okay, so one might ask, "What was really on Nicole's grocery list?"

Ummmmm...

You asked for it!

• Fresh, organic, locally grown produce: red plums, red grapes, bananas, oranges, strawberries, kiwis, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, avocados, spinach, carrots

• Fresh crab, mahi mahi, ahi tuna, salmon, shrimp
• Feta cheese, lite organic cream cheese, lite organic swiss cheese, lite organic mozzarella string cheese, organic strawberry yogurt tubes [for Rylee]
  
• Organic roasted garlic hummus
• Olive oil/red wine vinaigrette and just some plain olive oil

• Raw almonds, raw cashews

• Edamame, organic kidney beans

• Organic olive oil popcorn, root vegetable chips, TLC 7-grain crackers, Puffin cinnamon cereal
• Frozen soy "chicken nuggets" [for Rylee], frozen mixed vegetable stir-fry
  
• Organic sprouted grain bread [flourless]
• Organic cage-free eggs

• Organic skim milk, 100% Coconut water, organic white grape juice boxes [for Rylee], and bottled water
  
• A few Luna bars [peppermint stick] for me and a few Z-Bars [ClifBars for kids] for Rylee
• Toothpaste, face wipes, and some vitamins/supplements I was out of [fish oil, spirulina, and a multi-vitamin for Rylee]

They even unload your cart and bag EVERYTHING for you! I'm a [BIG] fan. What can I say?

L.O.V.E.
this place.
See...I'm not the only one excited about Trader Joe's.
[P.S. I have no idea who this kid is]

We do not remember days; we remember moments.

I will first start off saying how blessed I feel.

I LOVE our neighbors!

The sweetest family lives next door to us and they have a little boy named Gunner...Rylee's best bud. Rylee and Gunner even have a "handshake" [haha] and yes, they are SO precious together. It makes me so happy to see her so happy...and it brings back great memories from when I was her age. My childhood best friend growing up [Becca] lived right next door to me and we were inseparable. Gunner has 2 brothers and a sister and Becca also had 2 brothers and a sister...a similarity I think Rylee loves since she's an only child.
^^Becca and me way back when I was Rylee's age ^^

So, last night I randomly flipped to this "Cheerleader Nation" show about their Nationals experience and it completely flooded my mind with some of the best memories I have ever had.

It made me miss flying.

It made me miss that feeling of those 2.5 minutes out on that floor that you spend ALL year working so, so hard for.

It made me miss the bond our squad had [and I guess in some cool way we still have;].

This is what a nerd I am:

I even got nervous for them [some random team I don't even know] before and during their routine!? Literally. I felt butterflies and I even heard myself say [out loud], "Yes!" "Good job!" when they landed tumbling passes and stuck their stunts. Yep, I'm a nerd.


Here are some oldies, but goodies:

And last, but not least...I will leave y'all with some [more] pictures of the last few days!

Pajama Story Time at the Central Park Library

We stopped for ice cream on our way home!

We went to a kids' concert in the park...

We baked strawberry cupcakes with butter cream frosting for Dora the Explorer's birthday! We watched her birthday celebration on TV and helped ourselves to our yummy homemade treats!

We were invited by our neighbors to Movie Night with their church...it was outside and was set up like a drive-in. All the kids made cars they could sit in to watch the movie out of cardboard boxes. Rylee had a blast...and that is an understatement!


The End!

What a Pain in the Butt, I Mean...Back!

[I didn't have a front squat pic...so here is an OHS one instead]

Well, as of Thursday morning I am crippled. That's right. While doing front squats during Thursday's wod [5 sets of 5 reps at 106 lbs] I felt and heard a big [POP!]. My back completely gave out on me! I was at the very bottom of my 2nd to last rep on my very last set and [BAM!]. Not exactly sure how "bad" it actually is, but this is NOT fun. I have it narrowed down to either a low back strain, sprain, or a disc injury.

AHHHHHH!!!! Why, oh, WHY??!

Haha...Seriously, I do know there is a reason for everything, BUT [booo hooo...sniffle sniff].

Okayyyyy, I'm done feeling sorry for myself.

I have just about 10 weeks until I am supposed to run a 1/2 marathon and do another fitness competition! So, now my training schedule has to be put on hold somewhat [BOOOO] as it is quite uncomfortable at the moment to walk, sit, lay down, let alone run. Although, this in NO way means I have stopped working out, walking, sitting, laying down, etc. I must keep active so I can get better...I just need to kill my stubbornness and take it a little easy for a while. I'm usually either an all in or not at all kinda girl...so this will be a challenge [fo sho]. I am just thankful to be able to walk and still be mobile, as I know it could be a lot worse. Thank you, Jesus.

So far I have been icing it multiple times each day, doing yoga [excluding back positions/stretches and anything else that doesn't feel right], modified crossfit, walking, and foam rolling it. I am, however, incredibly anxious to get my back healthy asap so I can get back to business as usual. Please pray for quick healing if it happens to cross your mind! I would be so thankful!! :)

Okay, enough of that! Here are some pictures from Rylee's gymnastics show! I couldn't be more proud of her and I LOVE to see her joy, excitement, and confidence doing something she loves...which makes me even more happy! :)

Shortly after getting home this is what happened...
Haha...AND she still told me [after she woke up], "I wasn't sleeping!" :)
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Healthy Life Tip of the Day:
Sugar impairs the immune system! Stay away from simple sugars and choose complex carbs like whole grains or even better, sprouted grains. Sugar also causes your blood sugar to spike leaving your body unable to metabolize fat efficiently and slowing your metabolism. Start gradually, especially if you're a sugar addict, and try eliminating sugary drinks first...and so on. Also, stay away from artificial sweeteners as much as possible and if you must sweeten something choose honey.