September 28, 2015

GETTING FIT THIS FALL

September 28, 2015/ Laura Liira

It's time for me to get my fitness on. There are two times of the year where I am motivated to get fit...fall and January (of course). I don't know why but I've never been motivated in the summer...(must be from dying on super hot runs or my love for ice cream.) But I always have been motivated to get fit in the fall time. I was just chatting with my friend Chenoah yesterday how fall is the PERFECT running weather. Cool air but sunshine...ahhh it's the best.

But this fall I'm extra motivated. Mainly because part of my 20 goals for my last year as a 20 something included: 5. Eat healthier, 6. Join a gym and 4. Go on a fancy vacation somewhere hot !

Let's consider two of those goals being accomplished :) James and I have booked a fall vaycay (conveniently right after conference)!!! We're flying down to Austin to see Joy & Ryan (!!!!) and hopefully some Friday Nights Lights pleeeeease and then we'll fly to Florida and embark on a 7 day Caribbean cruise because we're senior citizens and my bedtime is 9:30pm. #SOEXCITED and now I have a reason for a couple fitness goals!

So I signed up at Good Life and have been loving it. I hired a trainer for 3 sessions to teach me how to not kill myself with a barbell and man, I wish I could do their one year program but OHMYGOSH it costs a billion dollars. So I will be my own trainer after my final session today but I'm okay with that. They have some great classes which I'm hoping to try out this week.

So here's my gameplan (or at least the start of it):

Exercise 4x per week. This could include a run or going to the gym (which I hope to be at least 2 of the 4). Sadly, my half hour walks to work will not count.
Drink at least 2L water everyday. Before I started my training, my trainer made me step onto this magical machine that measured my weight, my body fat %, how much of my weight is muscle, how much calories I normally burn in a day, a bunch of other things AND how much water I drink!!! It was insane. She told me that I was very dehydrated which makes sense because I'm horrible at drinking water and really good at drinking coffee. So I'm gonna change that...not the coffee thing, because that is just crazy talk.
Don't eat after 7:00pm. Now this is gonna be hard because I am a late night snacker. A bowl of cereal before I go to bed is one of my love languages!! But I'm going to try and also make sure I eat plenty of healthy & balanced meals in the day so I'm not starved at 7pm.
Cut back on sweets. Sweets are my weakness. I didn't say never eat sweets because it's fall and I'm gonna bake pumpkin everything so I can't deprive myself!! But I need to cut back a lot...which will be hard, but so good.

So there's the start of the gameplan! I'll be back in a week or two with an update for you. I did take pictures and have measurements of waist and thighs and all that jazz. I don't think I'll ever share that with you BUT I'll definitely tell you if what I'm doing is working!

Happy Monday!

XO,
laura

September 25, 2015

HELLO WEEKEND

September 25, 2015/ Laura Liira

HELLO WEEKEND!
So happy to have arrived at Friday. This week has been something....

First of all, I thought my mail was being stolen...then my faith was restored in humanity (this instagram post explains all)

Then, I drop my already broken phone off my lap and it lands on carpet and BOOM the screen goes black..I can still use siri but that's about it. I need a new phone ASAP but my plan is so good that I need to buy a phone outright and OHMYGOSH iphone 6's are like $1000.

And then yesterday morning I decided to be hcore and run 4km to my 8am training session at my gym. Because I was headed to work after, I needed to run with a backpack on so I could get ready after my workout. First of all, running with a backpack full of stuff SUCKS and second of all make sure you backpack isn't junky because this may happen.... I'm crossing the Bay street bridge and am so happy that I'm almost at the gym when all of a sudden a guy in a white truck honks viciously at me...at first I was like REALLY? and then I turned around and saw my pink bra hanging from my backpack which had magically come open and no not just that, but my flannel, t-shirt, socks and NEON undies were littered 10 feet behind me. Oh and did I mention it's rush hour? ON THE BAY STREET BRIDGE???? Good thing my face was already red from running because MY GOODNESS morning commuters just saw all my undergarments. But thanks to the guy who honked because I would've kept going and that would have been awkward losing all my clothes...

But I'm seeing blessings in disguise. No phone = I can get a lot of stuff done! And undergarments on the sidewalk = laugh for others and now me and future sermon illustration! Good thing God has a sense of humour.

So this weekend I just want to curl up in an overpriced HBC blanket and hide from the world...JK JK. I plan on hanging with my students, baking lots of fall things and hitting up the gym! And potentially working on a new logo for S.S.Heart.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend! This is the time I'd say follow me on snapchat, instagram blah blah blah but obvs I'm MIA there because I have no phone and only will post the sporadic insta when I steal James' phone ;)

XO,
laura

September 18, 2015

HELLO WEEKEND

September 18, 2015/ Laura Liira

Hello WEEKEND! Mine started a bit early as I took today off because RIFFLANDIA! Rifflandia is a local music festival happening in my city and it's my first year attending. It's a multi-site festival with music in a billion venues all across town. Last night James and I checked out Boreal Sons at the Wood Hall (a cute chapel esque venue) and we loved them. Afterwards we headed to some night shows in an industrial-ish part of town.

My goodness, it felt like we were transported to another city! The whole block had music coming out of multiple venues and there was a DJ stage in the middle of one giant parking lot. So many good vibes...but I was getting beyond tired at 10pm and had to go home..LOL. Tonight I will prep myself with lots of caffeine so I can last till at least 1am..

James' band is playing tonight at 9:30pm at Alix Goolden (which is a stunning venue!). If you can't see them there you can catch them Sunday in the park at 2:30pm and if you're a real night owl, they're playing at 3AM on Sunday morning at CMCT studio!
Now onto the real important things: What to wear...It's supposed to rain :( So I'll probably wear this hat, (which btw I've been LOVING especially because it gives me an excuse to not wash my hair) a long skirt (because technically it's still summer), and a leather jacket (faux) (dream jacket).
Oh and I signed up at the gym and start with a personal trainer...TODAY. I'm a little bit afraid because I know I'm going to have to change my eating habits but I'm a whole lot EXCITED because I'm going to get in shape for our fall vacation! And now all I want to do is buy cute gym clothes (like this and this and this!)

Hope you enjoy the final weekend of SUMMER! And if you want to catch some of RIFF be sure to follow me on social media!

XO, laura

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September 11, 2015

HELLO WEEKEND

September 11, 2015/ Laura Liira

So Summer decided to reappear this week! I'm not complaining but man, I was convinced fall was here and walked to work wearing a jacket, leggings and long sleeves..big mistake. I was sweeeeaaaating up a storm. It's crazy to think we had our heat on last week! It's supposed to stay sunny this weekend so I am one happy girl...scarves can wait a week or two :)

Tomorrow we become a family of four. (No I did not hide being pregnant with twins from the world incase you were wondering!) Our second homestay student arrives! It's going to be a bit crazy cooking for four people, but it's preparing us for when we have kids one day...rrriiiight? Now I'm on the hunt for good crockpot meals, please send me your suggestions!
The church is being the church and stepping up to the Syrian refugee crisis. It can be so overwhelming to think of but everyone can do one thing. This website is a great resource to help you figure out how you can practically help.
Rifflandia is happening next weekend! I'm excited to see my man play with Towers & Trees of course but ohmgeee I'm also sooo pumped to see Chromeo again! Last time I saw them was at Coachella in 2011 and it was the best dance party of my life. I'm hoping the sunny weather will stay so we can have a good ol music festival.
Earlier this week, I shared with you some beauty products that I'm currently loving but ahhh I have more to add to that list...like this eyeliner and this mascara. I didn't think I'd love that mascara but I DO and I'm going to buy it when I run out of my current one.

Hope you enjoy the second to last weekend of Summer!

Love you lots,
laura

September 08, 2015

SUMMER IN PHOTOS

September 08, 2015/ Laura Liira

Oh summer 2015, you were a good one. You were full of adventures and rest as well. You were full of books and music and camping and sun and beach days and ice cream (maybe a little too much, but that's okay....) and parties and love.