WOD Addiction

As with most addicts, you put down the drugs, but that doesn't mean you aren't an addict. I can still find myself addicted to certain things. Some, thankfully, happen to be healthy. My newest addiction = crossfit! Love, love, love Crossfit! 

Wikipedia says that "CrossFit describes its strength and conditioning program as 'constantly varied, high intensity, functional movement' " The Crossfit world is full of jargon: WOD, AMRAP, METCON, and many other abbreviations. I still don't know what half of them mean - but listen - Crossfit is ONE HELL OF A WORKOUT. 

I officially became a member of Crossfit Advance in Secane, Pa a few weeks ago and I have not regretted that decision. Its pricey - but its worth it. My issues with working out are #1 time and #2 will power. I couldn't get to the gym often and when I did - I didn't give it all I had. Well that has changed - I still can't get there as often as I like - but when I am there - I work my ass off.  I sweat!! I feel like quitting, but I don't. I feel nauseous. I struggle. But I HAVE YET TO QUIT!!!!! 

I love their signs...

Sums it all up if you ask me....

Everyone at CA has been so helpful and supportive of my efforts to get in shape. Reasons I keep going back:
            1) The coaches are knowledgeable. They explain skills and teach you the right way to do each exercise. They will also scale down an exercise if you need that.
            2) The coaches and EVERYONE else doing the WOD are my biggest fans. They push me harder. And help me get to the finish line. I HAVE YET TO QUIT. 
            3) I see results. I have lost weight and inches. And I have gained strength and endurance.

You can count me in...I'm addicted. 

12 months

I have been doing a lot of reflecting the last few days and I am having a hard time coming to terms with Matthew turning 1 this upcoming Saturday, June 15th. Last time I check he looked like this....

The first few days and weeks, I was so exhausted, the days felt like they lasted forever. Now I feel as if I blinked and Matthew is a little boy! DISLIKE!

This past weekend we had a dear friend Photograph Matthew for 1st Birthday Pictures. That boy makes me laugh. He was so serious as soon as the camera was in-front of him. Smiling was out of the question. We did balloons and a smash cake. Nothing humored him. In-fact, the cake made him cry.

I still have a lot of planning and gathering to do before his birthday party Saturday. And lucky me, the US Open is in town. So getting around will be hectic, bumper to bumper, and oh yea, stressful. But nothing will stop me from throwing Mr. Camera Shy the best possible 1st Birthday Party. 

And just in time for the special day - Monk's Dada bought me a Canon Rebel T3I. I am in love with this camera. The potential is endless. I have a lot of reading to do and a tutorial DVD to watch but I am so grateful to be the owner of this beautiful camera. 

I promise to take TONS of pictures Saturday - the party has a subtle Beach/Summer theme. Around 45 adults and 20+ kids are expected. If I make it through "Happy Birthday" without an emotional breakdown I will impress myself. 

Love,
Monks Mama

Downtown Cowgirl

There is a clothing store in Rehoboth Beach, DE named Downtown Cowgirl. I can relate. Born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia but a southern girl on the inside. I lived in North Carolina for a short two and a half years and I felt "home". I loved the music, the farms, the slow pace, the accents and the sweet tea. 

I've been back in Philadelphia since 2011 and grow more found of country music by the day! The local country radio station  92.5 WXTU sells a "Megaticket" that includes 7 country music concerts as a bundle. My cousin, his girlfriend and I bought the Megaticket and have gone to the first two concerts, Tim McGraw and Luke Byran! 

I have been so happy during those shows. So happy and so content. No tailgating, no drugs....just me, 25,000 fans and country music. Granted, the majority of those 25,000 are intoxicated on some level but not me. And its perfect. The weather has been beautiful. Our seats are on the lawn. Out in the open, underneath the stars, on the water. I feel home. I don't need to put anything in my body to feel better.

Tim McGraw was amazing but in this post I'd like to focus on Mr. Luke Bryan. Yes I can sing along to all of his songs, this country girl can "shake it for me" but OMG, that man is GORGEOUS. Jeans and a white t-shirt....all American country man! There is no doubt in my mind why he won ACM's 2013 Entertainer of the Year. And the best part of that moment was his humility....

Luke's show included different genres of music, lots of lights and visual effects, kids on stage, shout outs to our military and many many many "THANK YOUS" to his fans for voting him Entertainer of the Year and selling out the venue that evening in Camden, NJ. 

And OMG he was GORGEOUS........

Looking back on this past Saturday evening, I am so grateful for where I am at in my life. Clean and content. I am able to wake up, complete a handful of errands, attend two parties and end up under those stars enjoying country music all in one day! I have a choice today and I choose recovery. There was a time in my life when I couldn't get out of bed without putting a drug in my body. 

My physical being is downtown but my heart is that of a cowgirl. 

-Monks Mama

Matthew's 1st Birthday Video

Over the past few weeks I have put together a video of our favorite pictures and videos of Matthew over the last year. It is so hard to explain how quickly the last year went. The video gives me "chill balls" every time I watch it. We plan to show it at his birthday party June 15th. I look forward to making one every year and saving all of them to look back on. 

Since this is my first blog post, I thought it would be a good way to introduce you to Matthew and our world. 

Click here for Video! 

Enjoy!
Monks Mama