Insta What? & The Untimely Death of Google Reader...

Well, if you haven't heard the news... Google Reader going going gone... (This Monday)... But never fear I've got options for you! I'm on the internets folks... Here's how to follow!

Bloglovin (the best blog reader in my opinion) or  subscribe via email (see right side bar)! Otherwise, you can follow along the fun on my other incredibly social networks... Who doesn't like to be social?

See them all here... 

Facebook

Pinterest

Instagram

Twitter

In the meantime we'll all be saying buh bye to Google Reader and hello to Bloglovin! Change is hard.. but together we can do it... must be strong...

Feel The Burn: Week 3...

World English Dictionary

plyometrics  (ˌplaɪəʊˈmɛtrɪks)
— pl n
	( functioning as singular ) a system of exercise in which the muscles are repeatedly stretched andsuddenly contracted Definition:    a type of exercise using explosive movements to develop muscular power, esp.bounding, hopping, and jumping.

Hope's Definition: a type of exercise where random bursts of awkward movements mixed with the desire to utter obscenities at the video instructor while trying to master the art of squats and lunges and not look like a complete dork. (it's not working)

Needless to say it's not for sissies.. I've been doing good trying to keep up with the boys.. but my workout kicked my behind on Tuesday...  Not to mention I forgot my pre-workout banana... won't make that mistake again... Hello foot cramps!  So on Wednesday I took it easy and went for a nice walk with the hubs... pacing myself and back at it tonight with a different workout ..thank God. and a coconut water (more potassium than a banana) .... Here's the improvement, I can tell I'm already doing better than I was last week. I made it through and hour instead of 30 min.. swearsies... and even though my squat jumps look utterly ridiculous, I'm already starting to feel my muscles start to take shape! What the what?! Here's the biggest improvement of all... I'm actually wanting to workout every single day! HOLLA! And while there are days that I don't, just the fact that I want to is a win! I'll take it.. 
Thanks for all your amazing support! I couldn't do it without you!

Short & Sweet: A List for Living Life Now...

Sweater- HM

Shorts- Old Navy

Sunday afternoon walk to a park... there are few moments that are as blissful as summer weather mixed with hand holding and a mini photo shoot...  Doing this blogging thing has become more than I ever imagined it would be... in only a few short months... Sometimes larger than I think I can handle and I'm certain that pretty soon it will be evident that I don't know what the heck I'm doing... Shh.. don't tell anyone.. 

Got to get a Media Kit together.. 

Must complete the branding process...

 Oh yeah, more outfit posts...  

Commission a blog design..

Get business cards...

Create a business plan...

Start selling advertising...

Buy my own domain... sheesh....#bloggerproblems

Just the ongoing list in my head,... Geez, those lists that we ladies have will never disappear... they just grow...  and if your like me, real life passes you by while obsessing over the never ending items that "must get done".. Well, here is my "live life now" list... 

• Laugh often... let's face it I'm hilarious and sometimes even on purpose...
• When in doubt paint your nails....the house needed to smell like nail polish anyways...
• Tell someone that you love them... they need to hear it and you need to say it...
• Wear high heels while doing menial tasks.. your welcome Trader Joes... this one is for you...
• Pop open some Champagne, just because it's Tuesday..
• Learn how to just be, instead of do...
• Smile, it will make you feel better... the best exercise created..
• Make a list of all you are grateful for and post it on your mirror to be seen every morning... 
• Instead of the regular ol coffee, try a cappuccino and pretend your in Europe.. that's what I do...
• Be silly... seriousness is soooo overrated.. 
• Take walks... summer nights are made for walkin....
• Hold hands... still the best...
• Accessorize! This, is such a great trick for any blah outfit to receive an instant face lift......
• Take naps... why you ask? duh... it's a nap!  Do people still say "duh"?
• Outdoor movies in the park... honestly, it's too much fun...
• Forgive.. people will hurt you and they may never deserve your trust again but forgiving someone releases your soul to fly again...
• Dance in your living room... my sincere apologies to the guy that lives below us...
• Have more hope in your thoughts than fear...

Lastly... Dream of someday while being grateful for today...  it's not about giving up on the "to do" list but more about letting life be the bigger list.. the bigger priority.. and all those other things will happen with hard work and determination but also joy... and who doesn't want more of that? 

Submission to IFB's project #100

Just a little giddy...

I have the extreme honor of having my blog mentioned on Coffee Beans & Bobby Pins Friday Five! Amy of Coffee Beans & Bobby Pins listed my blog and my Feel the burn: Week 1 post, on a blog link share! Basically really fantastic way of networking and getting introduced to some pretty fabulous bloggers!!

 I have to say I feel so honored and slightly giddy inside... Thanks Amy! I appreciate it... if you haven't checked out her blog and all the other fabulous ones she listed, you should! She does a new "link up" from Friday - Wednesday and then list's the top five on Friday! Check her out, you wont be sorry! In the meantime, I'll be over here trying to be cool and failing miserably... time to get my jaw off the floor... OMG...

Feel the Burn: Week 2...

It's a weird feeling "planning" to post pictures fully knowing they wont be very flattering... however I'm completely inspired by seeing change and I knew I needed a "before" picture along with my measurements if I was going to see progress... a little "visual aid".... 

I'm up to 15 on push-ups (the girly kind)... And I definitely used wine as a reward for getting through lunges... don't judge me..I officially hate jumping jacks and I've created the best workout mix on Spotify ....  I've only wanted to puke like a couple of times and I've found out that I've got muscles in my neck that I didn't know about... Apparently I'm better at Yoga than my husband.... score.. and I still can't seem to get through the crunches without grunting like a women's tennis player... Dictionary.com calls it...." to utter the deep, guttural sound characteristic of a hog... "

Well there you have it... time to get to my goals...

 In the next 7 months, (which would bring me to my 32'nd birthday).... I would like to.... 

-Weigh a muscular 115-125lbs (not sure how much I'll weigh with muscle since this will  be a first for me) 

-Fit back into my wedding dress...

-Living a consistent healthy lifestyle with exercise as my daily routine...

-Beat my sister arm wrestling.... Charity you're going down!

Each week I'll post an update and each month I'll take new measurements... so you and I can see my progress... gotta feel like a winner! Thanks for all the amazing support I couldn't do this with you! 

Feel free to email hhdesignsblog@gmail.com or comment with any questions!

Look Good... Feel Good...

Look Good... Feel Good... by hchdesigns featuring a lightweight zip hoodie

I have to admit... one of the things that does excite me about working out and getting in shape is getting cute workout clothes... Yes, the husband's shirt is comfortable but... it doesn't help the slim down look... baggy = big... fitted=slim....Win!

I'm a firm believer in dressing like how you want to feel... so I've been working out for like a week now... and the first two days I wore my drabby old yoga pants (that are a little small) and a t shirt that belongs to my husband... yes, I was comfortable but I didn't feel like I looked good.. and this is all about how we feel right? I mean how the heck am I going to be motivated if I feel defeated even before I start? Lame.... so... I got me some new workout leggings, put on a tank top and just like that, I felt like I looked better! The magic of having something fit...  That's all it took... I believe we should feel like a success now, so then we can continue on and start looking like we feel... Every now and again we need to give ourselves a head start... and for me that was workout leggings from Marshalls... Oh the little things...not to mention a snazzy new water bottle that doesn't leak... no one needs a puddle in their purse... 

Marshalls is a fantastic place to get great quality active wear for pennies! I scored my wicked awesome leggings there and I can't wait to go back to pick up more goodies! Shopping motivates me... shocker.. What motivates you?

Stay tuned tomorrow for me weekly update... and my stats... Thanks for reading and all the lovely support I couldn't do this without you guys! 

Feel the burn: Week 1...

Follow my daily progress on Twitter @Hhdesigns 

Face plant into the area rug.... yup, definitely that's my nose smooshing into the carpet... I mean it's got to count for something, I haven't consistently worked out for well like ever... I kinda hate to work out, feeling like I can't breathe, feeling sore for days and then giving up before I see progress? Sounds amazing doesn't it? Growing up I never really needed to work out, a fabulous mix of healthy diet (thanks Mom) and semi active lifestyle, plus good genes... I pretty much too my body for granted.. Isn't like the norm for anyone under 27? I know I did... go back 4 years and 30lbs lighter, switch from active job always on my feet , consistently walking to work to commuting 30 min one way to work and sitting at a desk... I pretty much didn't exercise anything except the muscle of pinning the phone between my ear and shoulder... which I dominate at by the way...

So here I am trying to get back to my "former glory"... Honestly you should see me try to do a push up... pretty comical... you know what a newborn baby cow looks like when their first trying to stand? Yeah that's me and my push ups... I've perfected the "wobble".. my husband and our friend were working out with me and I would do a couple push ups (the girly kind) and they would be like "don't go all the way to the ground" and I'm like "I'm not trying to!" Enter... smoosh the nose into the carpet... I must say Nick & Ashley you have excellent taste in carpet! I got an up close and personal view of it!

But.. I'm proud to say that I successfully did 10 good push ups! And I'm not stopping.. hence the sharing on the blog.. I'm usually SUPER private about this stuff especially since I have a knack for starting stuff and not finishing! But there is power in numbers so I'm going to share once a week my "progress/puking my guts out since I'm so out of shape" journey... I mean really it's pretty funny if you think about it, last night, my arms felt like I was swinging around two limp sausages... and this morning, putting on eye shadow was well.. interesting...  but I've got my first day of the workout done! And got to start somewhere right? And after all this hard work done, I'll be grateful that I started now... not to mention maybe the next time someone thinks I'm pregnant I'll actually be pregnant! :) Crossing my fingers...

Linking this post up with these fabulous bloggers...

Check them out!