This past Sunday I completed my first half marathon in four years. The last one I participated in was the GO! St. Louis in 2012, so needless to say I was super pumped to be running in the MO' Cowbell Half!! Our morning started out super early, 4:40am to be exact. We had to get both boys up and dropped off to my parents and then out to the race all by 6:45. We managed to arrive on time and the place was packed, we had to park a decent distance away.

We made it to the start in time and got ready to go...

I hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll see you all back here on Monday!

Cheers!

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Happy Wednesday everyone!! As I promised last week, here is another installment of What to Wear Wednesday, where I'm sharing with you all my faves for a tropical vacation! Yes, I know, Summer is over, however I am in countdown mode (7.5 weeks!) until we go to Mexico for some much needed r&r!

Today's picks are all for a day at the beach, which I am looking forward to the most!

1. Knitted Stripe Tunic- The perfect cover up for a day at the beach, also makes for the perfect item to wear when grabbing a quick breakfast for hitting the pool! Cute and very reasonably priced, you just can't go wrong!

2. Bali Round Towel-  Beach towels such as these have been all the rage this Summer and for me I can't help but love this round one so much! I know at the resort we are headed to they supply towels to guests but I just can't help but want to bring this one myself!!

3. Jelly Thong Sandal-  Being on the beach or at the pool having a comfortable pair of shoes is just a must. Jelly sandals such as these are the perfect addition to any pool/beach day wardrobe. Jelly sandals just make sense!

4. Women's Straw Tote Handbag (Merona)- If you're anything like me you love to bring stuff with you to the beach or the pool. I can't go anywhere without towels, extra clothes, extra sunscreen etc. so for me I need a decent sized bag and I actually already have this one in my closet! I needed it all Summer lugging both boys to and from the pool! It will definitely be making its way to Mexico with me.

5. Blue and White Kimono- This kimono would make another great cover up. Pair with some cute beach shorts, or not, it's the perfect flowy cover up for a day on the beach!

6. Do Not Disturb Hat- Totally needing one of these! I love big summer hats like this and the added bonus of having it say "Do Not Disturb" I just can't say no!

7. Gathered Deep Plunge Swimsuit- And of course, we all need that perfect swimsuit. I am so loving this bright pink plunge one piece! It looks so flattering and I just want it so bad!

I hope you enjoyed today's post! What are your beach/pool/vacation musts?!?

Yesterday the sale went public! Yay!

Today, I am finishing up my favorites from the sale by sharing with you all my choices for athletic wear. This seems all too fitting as right now I am running with a good friend of mine as we train for our Half Marathon we are completing in October.

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Personally, I could use one of each of these. Especially the shoes, I'll need to be investing in some here in a minute so they can be all broken in for October's run!

It's nice to have fun new clothes for running/working out, helps to keep me motivated. When I think of all the cute new clothes I get to wear while doing any sort of workout it just makes me happy and wanting to do the work! Is that just me or is it universal?!

Well, that wraps it up!

Be sure to check out my first two posts {HERE} & {HERE} where I shared my all around faves from this years #NSALE

What are your favorite workout pieces from the sale?! Heck, what are your favorites in general?! I'd love to hear them in the comments!

Cheers!

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It's that time of the week again! It's Fitness Friday here on the blog and I have to say today's post has me so excited. I have tried many different protein bars in my time and I have to say I've never been truly satisfied or happy with any of them. I was lucky enough to try one of these bars a few months back and I have to say I was so impressed that I needed to get more.

I was so excited about the opportunity to team up with RX Bar and share with you all the amazingness that these bars contain.

First and foremost they have very few ingredients, all of which you can pronounce and immediately know what they are. Personally, that is a huge plus in my book!

They proudly show that their products contain NO B.S. and again, huge plus! I love to find products that not only taste good but I can feel good about eating them.

They have so many different flavors to choose from, here are a few that was able to sample.

If you are interested in trying out a protein bar that won't leave your mouth feeling dry and chalky, but leave you feeling full and satisfied, go on and grab yourself an entire box now OR you can head to your local Trader Joe's as they just became available in every Trader Joe's across the country!

Let me know if you're trying them out OR if you've had them in the past, I'd love to hear feedback!!

Follow RX Bars...
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Cheers!

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As I was getting ready to go for a run the other day I was putting on my clothes and getting all of my gadgets together and realized, man I have a lot of stuff to put on and bring along with me.

Then I had a minor freak out and thought I may be a little too high maintenance as a runner but then decided it didn't matter. Who cares how many gadgets I find that I need to run with, as long as I get out there, that's what really matters!

So as I was running I thought it would be a good idea to share with all of you just what I bring along with me that makes running so much more enjoyable and comfortable at the same time! So this Fitness Friday blog post is dedicated to just that!

MUST HAVE GADGETS WHILE RUNNING
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1. Athletic Sunglasses - I got mine back in 2011 so the ones I have linked aren't identical but you get the idea. These are by far the best sunglasses I have ever used to run in. Foster Grant has such high quality sunglasses for athletic purposes that, like I said before, I have had since 2011 and they aren't even close to being worn out! I've been looking at buying some more here soon just because I love the ones I have so much I want options! Anyway, I can't run without sunglasses. Even if it's cloudy or drizzling rain, my sunglasses never leave my face. For obvious reasons when it's sunny out they are a necessity but even in the cloudy/rainy weather they help keep my eyes clear and clean.

2. Headband - I prefer mine monogrammed! I personally made my own, however I don't sell them so I have linked a reputable Etsy shop where you can get your own monogrammed headband as well! Now when it comes to running, especially here lately, the heat has been so intense. I find myself sweating like crazy, so the head band comes in handy in catching the moisture and keeping it from running into my eyes!

3. Wireless Headphones - I can't explain enough how much I love these head phones! I use them all the time, not just while running, as does my husband! They are absolutely perfect for running. You can link them up to your phone through bluetooth and then while running, you aren't dealing with wires from standard head phones flopping all over the place. You also don't have to worry about the type of phone carrying case that you want to use while running, the wireless head phones make it extremely convenient!

4. SPI Belt - Now, everyone has their own opinions on what they like to use to carry their phones, keys etc. in while running. I personally didn't want anything that strapped to my arm, the sun tan lines just didn't seem appealing. I also have the iPhone 6 Plus so it's huge and almost all the other carriers that I have had in the past, the phone wouldn't fit. So I asked my Mom, who is more of a runner than I am, what she uses. She had this belt that she uses when she runs half/full marathons so I tried it out. My phone fit and I have been using it ever since. I'll have to invest in my own here soon, we are doing a half together in October so she'll need it back then! While running this sits perfectly on my waist and isn't in any way annoying, in fact I forget that it's even there! I would highly suggest this belt for anyone who is looking for something to carry their things while running!

5. Polar Fitness Tracking Watch - So I have done an entire blog post dedicated to this wonderful accessory, you can read it HERE. Anyway, I love being able to keep track of my heart rate as well as the calories I have burnt while running. There is nothing better than this watch to do just that, I can't say enough good things about this watch and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fitness watch. It keeps great track of my calories as well as my progress from run to run!

So there you have it! My 5 favorite gadgets to use while I run. I hope you enjoyed and gain some inspiration to help you feel comfortable and enjoy running as much as I do!

Happy Friday, everyone! Have a great weekend!

**This is not a sponsored post at all... I bought this watch because I saw tons of great reviews on Amazon and wanted a tracking watch**

Okay, with that said here are my thoughts on the Polar FT60 Heart Rate Monitor

First off I have to say I researched a lot of different calorie trackers and my first choice was the FitBit. I had heard things here and there about the FitBit but upon further reading it wasn't exactly what I wanted. I didn't want it to just track my steps, however I wanted something that would be able to track other activities outside of running or biking such as strength training.

The FitBit is awesome for what it is and I have friends who absolutely love theirs, and I'm sure I would have loved it too had I gone that route.

So onto my Polar watch. Man do I love this thing. Seriously, no matter what workout activity I am doing I put this baby on and get a much more accurate idea of the amount of calories I burned during said workout.

**View from my morning runs!**

I was nervous at first since it comes with a chest strap that you have to put on before starting to workout. This tracks your heart rate thus giving you a more accurate reading of your calories. I thought it would annoy me and feel uncomfortable. However once it's on I forget that it's there. I come home from running or any other activity and I keep it on because I forget that it's there. So as far as that aspect of the Polar watches, it's really a non-issue and if that's what's holding you back, don't let it, I promise it's not bad at all!

**I never run without it**

Also the style of this series of Polar was one of my favorites. I was looking for a sleek design and wasn't too worried about size, since it is rather large. I was looking for white and clean looking which this watch completely captures the exact look I was going for. I also wear this watch throughout my everyday life as well, without the chest strap of course, when running errands or out with the boys. It's large display makes it easy to glance quickly and see the time rather than rummaging through my bags for my phone! I sort of feel naked without it now!

There are plenty of other generations of the Polar watches and the newer ones look absolutely awesome as well and one day I may trade up but for now, I couldn't have made a better decision on going with this watch and would highly suggest it to anyone looking for a sports tracking watch!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR OWN POLAR FT60 WATCH TODAY!

I hope this helps anyone who is looking to buy an activity tracking watch! Please let me know in the comments what your favorite watches are or if you have tried one of these Polar watches yourself! I'd love to hear any and all feedback!

Cheers!

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What goes better with a hot day by the pool (or beach depending on where you're at) than a nice cold and crisp adult beverage?!

Not too much if you ask me.

The only problem with this is that my body is very susceptible to bloating, which is why on a daily basis I make sure to watch intake of sugars, carbs and other ingredients that will puff me up like a balloon.

With that said there are a few drinks that I would recommend choosing to not only feel your best but to also join in on the merriment that is Summer.

#1 : Gin and Sparkling Water (Or Vodka, depending on what you like)

Instead of Tonic, Sparkling water contains no added sugars, therefore cutting out any unnecessary added ingredients that may increase bloating and water weight. 

#2 : Tequila on the Rocks

This is pretty straight forward, the less amount of ingredients the better for you. When drinking any alcohol this way you'll tend to drink it slower, therefore drinking less as well. Also, tequila contains no carbs, which is great for me because I have been doing my best to stay away from carbs as much as possible.

#3 : Champagne

On average your 4 oz. glass only contains 80 calories! The carbonation that is in champagne also tends to make anyone drinking it drink it slower, therefore not consuming as much. And let's be real here, it also makes you feel a little fancy, or is it just me?!

These three tried and true drinks are the perfect combo for a day at the pool or heck, even for a night out that won't leave you feeling completely blah later that evening!

Just for comparison, most people jump straight to the Pina Coladas, Pre Made Margarita Mixes and Beer. Let's break these down a bit shall we?!

Pina Coladas - On average this drink contains upwards of 650 Calories. Let's put this into perspective, a Big Mac is only 576 Calories and we all know deep down that a Big Mac is a horrible food choice health wise, so why go with a drink that is even worse?! Plus all the cream and sugar, I can't even handle that. (Source of Info HERE)

Pre - Made Margarita Mixes - Contain nothing but added sugars and all other sorts of additives that just aren't conducive with attempting to look and feel your best in a swim suit.

Beer - Need I really say more about beer other than it is nothing more than liquid carbs?! Don't get me wrong, I am a HUGE beer lover, in the right scenario. I will choose a dark beer over almost anything when out with friends at night or at dinner with my husband. However I would NEVER choose a dark beer or even a light beer to sit by the pool with.

What are your poolside beverages of choice?!

Happy Friday, everyone!!!

Cheers!

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It's Friday, finally, was it just me or did this week draaaag on? Well this weekend is going to be crazy busy for me. Tonight, preparing for everything going on. Saturday, Bachelorette party. Sunday, my high school's Fall Festival {in which I will be there all day, so anyone in the area should stop by!}

So I want to take some time and reflect on this week & write some letters.

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I have a pretty exciting announcement to make... I am currently sponsoring an amazing blogger, Neely from A Complete Waste of Makeup, now I am sure that you have hear of her, if not, go check her out asap. Right now I have a pretty awesome giveaway going on over on her blog...

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Oh, you want to see the craziness of my Instagram as it happens? How, sweet... You can follow HERE if you don't already {@mmlarose}

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Dear Andrew, Thank you for finally hanging up our wedding pictures last night, that pretty much made my night, love you! Dear Heat, you really need to calm down, these past twenty plus days of temps hitting the hundreds is about to do me in, the AC at work can not keep up. Dear Rain, where are you? Dear Friday, oh how I'm glad you are here. Dear Followers, thank you so much for supporting this blog of mine, it means more than you know {& I'm loving all of the sweet comments!} Dear Mexico, please hurry up, I need a vacation. Dear Melanie, thanks for coming over last night & drinking wine with me while I did arts & crafts, sorry I didn't let you paint lol {ps, you made the blog, happy now? :)} Dear Cardinals, can we please beat the cubs this weekend? k. thanks.

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Now onto some of my FAVORITE things...

Favorite DIY...