Spin Class

Happy Friday FriYAY!

Yesterday I went to a spin class for the first time ever, and whew!! It was a tough one! I had  never utilized a stationary bike to act like I am climbing hills and mountains until this class.  I had also never pushed myself on a high gear or fast speed on a stationary bike.  My legs can feel the workout this morning, that's for sure! I can't say I loved spinning but I can't say I hated it - I'll have to give it another try before I decide if it's the workout for me. 

After spin class, I thought I deserved some Starbucks - so I got a black iced tea with sugar free vanilla syrup! It's my favorite drink at Starbucks and if you've never tried it, you should because it's so good!

Enjoy your day! Xoxo, Roxanne

Valentine's Day!

It's almost February, and you know what that means - Valentine's Day! What is better than a holiday centered around pink and love? I enjoy Valentine's each year - with or without that "special someone." I just love LOVE.  You can celebrate by showing your friends, family, or even your dog, lots of LOVE! Just make them feel extra special - and that makes you feel loved and special too. Check out sone of these ideas to make all those around you feel LOVED:

FRIENDS:

Make your friends cookies or some sweet treat - maybe even include a kind card to show them how much you LOVE them and are thankful for their friendship.  I found these on Pinterest - super cute ways to decorate your cookies add an element of fun (if you like to bake and decorate, like myself). If you need cookie cutters, Wilton has good quality ones.  

If you're at college and do not have access to a kitchen (like me), treat bags are always great ideas, too!

FAMILY:

I am planning to go home Valentine's Day weekend - my mom got tickets to an event for us to go to. I am excited to make cupcakes when I get home - pink and red of course!  These are some that I have made in the past so I might do one (or both) of these! The ones on the left are fresh strawberry cupcakes with a strawberry buttercream and garnished with a strawberry (yum!) and the ones on the right are red velvet with a cream cheese icing and garnished with edible pearls!

I will probably make a batch (or two) for my family, and then take some to my grandparents as well!

YOURSELF:

Of course you deserve a little LOVE too! Get a pedicure with your best friend, pick up a few extra Valentine's Day decoration for your room, splurge on that dress you've had your eye on for over a month! No shame in treating yourself once in a while. These are on the top of my list lately:

1) Jack Rogers sandals

2) CiChic dress

3) Lilly Pulitzer dress

GOD:

The Valentine's Day season is also the perfect time to reflect on God's LOVE for us - He LOVES us so much that he sent us Jesus - that whoever believes in him will receive eternal life in heaven someday! (John 3:16)  The Bible teaches us so many great lessons about LOVE. We are called to LOVE. Matthew 22:37-38 says "You shall LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and first commandment." Again in Colossians 3:12-14 it says "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these, put on LOVE, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."  

LOVE God, LOVE others, and LOVE yourself.

Xoxo, Roxanne

Winter Break RECAP!

Definitely took a break from blogging over Christmas break - I was having too much fun with family and friends to spend much time on my computer!  Break was perfect though, I wish it would have lasted longer, but I'm thankful for the time spent with people I love.

Some fun things that took place over break :

Pink Party

My grammy and I spent a lot of time planning the pink party I told you about in my last post.  And it was so great!!! We had so much fun and everyone who attended seemed to also. We had pink food, everyone wore pink, and we had a pink grab bag game.  Check out the pink macarons - our first time making them and they turned out SO well! They even had the little "feet" or ridges along the bottom.  We filled them with almond buttercream. Oh we can't wait to make more again soon! My best friend, Allison was able to come (yay!), as well as a lot of other guests that we were overjoyed to see.  

Just SOME of the food 

Macarons yay

The best Grammy ever 

Christmas Sunday & Christmas Eve & Christmas

Of course this was exciting! Christmas Eve is one of my favorite days of the year - we always go to Grammy and Papaw's for supper and gifts, and then we go to our church's Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.  Christmas carols, the Christmas story, it's perfect!  Then on Christmas morning we read the Christmas story again and opened presents again.  We are so blessed to have each other and the greatest gift of all - Jesus.

Vacation to St. Thomas, USVI

This was one of the best vacations EVER! So warm, so fun, and so memorable.  My dad, mom, brother, his girlfriend Erika, my best friend Carley, Grammy, Papaw, and my aunt Julie all went to visit PARADISE for a week! It was literately perfect. We would wake up, go to the beach all day, and then go back to our hotel and get ready and go out for supper.  I could definitely get used to that lifestyle, y'all.  I wish I could put all the pictures up, but here are a few of my favorites!

Sapphire Beach

All of us with our super cool driver for the week!

We realllly enjoyed the beach - laying out and snorkeling were two of our favorite things.  So glad Carley got to come with us!

Working Out

I've been trying to stay motivated to work out - it is one of my New Year Resolutions! One thing I'm kind of excited about for going back to school is hitting up the gym there (it's much bigger and nice than the one I use at home.)  Hopefully I can stay determined to keep this resolution.

One of my running views - God is the best artist

Misc.

I also spent my time hanging out with friends, babysitting, and watching my best friend Kalle cheer! I did competitive cheer in high school, so I'm reliving the days by watching and cheering her on! 

Cheer competiton

Tea at Grammys

Manicure with mommy

 It was a great break, and I hope you had a great time at home too! Now, back to school as classes start tomorrow [I have two 8 AMs this semester eek]. 

Love y'all,