What tops YOUR bucket list?

Is there something you have been wanting to do, something so out of character it would shock people that know you best?  Something that may seem strange to others, but for some reason inspires you to work harder, run father, study longer?  Do you want to go back to school and finish your degree or maybe even get a 2nd degree on top of the one you already have?  Do you want to compete in your first ever bikini competition?  What about travel to every single state in the US?  Retire by the time you turn 50?  Learn a new language or start your own company?  Bucket lists are fun to create and there is one thing that tops mine.

For quite some time now there has been something I have wanted to do so badly, and I figure I might as well write about it and make it a serious goal that I want to reach.  This may seem so strange - but thats why I think I love it so much.  I am a pretty square person - I tend to follow the rules (most of them anyways), I try to not create too many waves, I don't step out of my box too much, and I tend to take the safe route on most things I do in life.  I'm a jeans (or yoga pants) and t-shirt kinda girl.  I love hoodies and flip flops.  I don't dress up unless I have some where really fancy to go.  I don't where a lot of makeup, and I wear my hair in a pony tail 90% of the time.  I am a Libra - I weigh out every single option I have about a million times before making a decision - and ask just about everyones advice before I take a step in a new direction.  Even admitting that this is a bucket list of mine feels a bit revealing because it is not something I EVER thought I would be interested in.  So here it is.

I want to be a pinup girl.  No, no, no I don't want to be posing in Playboy.  Let me explain.  Right around the time that I found Tone It Up, I also came across this company called Vavoom Pinups.  They are based right here in Chicago, IL and they create the full pinup experience for you.  Hair, make-up, wardrobe, and photo shoot - they do it all.  It's private, it's fun, it's exciting...and most of all - IT'S EMPOWERING.  Here are some of my favorite shots from their website that they did.  All photos or videos on this page are from Vavoom Pinups.  GORGEOUS!!!

I have "watched the experience" videos about a million times just imagining how fun it would be to go back in time and be a pinup girl - when classic American beauty was in style.  When girls with red lipstick, gorgeous outfits, high heels and real bodies were in pinned up on walls across America and in magazines galore.  I have always thought that the pin-up girl alluded this amazing sense of confidence and beauty and I just think it would be amazing to get that feeling - even if it was for just a couple of hours - and just for a quick photo shoot.  I want for once to take my sometimes too serious personality - and go for a crazy roller coaster ride of being a 1940's pinup girl.  

The girls at Vavoom Pinups allow you to give create own direction - you choose what story you want your photos to tell.  Do you want to be sexy, cute, or maybe a little bit of both?  Do you want to wear a dress, skirt, bathing suit, lingerie, or daisy dukes?  Prop or no prop?  It's all up to you.  They give you suggestions on how to pose, but they want you to have a say in your shoot too!  It does not matter what your age is, your size, or your shape...this is about making you feel powerful and strong and beautiful.

So...my #1 bucket list adventure that I have never really shared with anyone is to go downtown and have one of these photo shoots done.  I just think it would be such a unique thing to have when I am 80 years old, to look back on and say I had the courage to take pride in my body and do a fun photo shoot.  To have a day where I was pampered, dolled up, and made to look like a classic hollywood beauty.

If you are interested in learning more about Vavoom Pinups, I have put links at the bottom of this page to both their website and their Facebook.  You can do a solo shoot or make it a fun party trip with your girlfriends.  It can be for a bachelorette party or just with your best friend.  You can get single prints or make a whole calendar.  It's up to you and there are so many different options to choose from!

Have you ever done anything like this before?  Would you?  Let me know in the comment section what tops YOUR bucket list.

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Tone It Up Meet Up!

This past weekend I met up with a few of my favorite Tone It Up sisters (Shannon - @smalone_tiu, Lauren - @runlaurenrun_, Arielle - @relletonesup, and Danielle @danibee8tiu) and we had a little cooking lesson hosted by our friend Shannon.  This idea all started because as most Tone It Up girls are - we are addicted to the Perfect Fit Protein pancakes/waffles and we had heard that Shannon makes the best ones yet.  We all got to talking and realized that there were more things we wanted to know how to cook/bake and since Shannon feels comfortable in kitchen - she invited us all over for a cooking lesson.

A couple of weeks before the get together, we all sent Shannon 2 recipes that we wanted learn how to make.  I decided on kale turkey burgers that my co-worker always brings into work.  They always smell amazing and the one time she let me have a little bite, I was in love.  Another recipe I chose was from the update to our Nutrition Plan called the Spicy Señorita.  I have become bored with my normal food routine and wanted to learn two new recipes that added a bit of spice and shook things up a bit.  Other girls wanted to learn how to make a stir fry, the perfect fit pancake, and kale chips to name a few.  When we were all done, last minute we decided to fix up a gluten free flax seed wrap from the book Wheat Belly.  Um lets just say that was the tastiest wrap I have had in a VERY long time.

What was great about this set up was that Shannon walked us each through our own recipes step by step and helped us cut up some of the ingredients but really allowed us to do our own mixing and mashing and cooking so that we gained confidence in the kitchen.  When those kale burgers came out of the oven - yummm yummm yummm - let me just say they were super yummy.  They had a good kick to them and tasted delicious.   They are going to become a staple in my dinner routine.  I also really enjoyed the chicken stir fry recipe as well - lots of veggies and chicken - it was light but filling.

After we were done cooking - we all sat down and got to talk with one another.  This is something that I love so much about the TIU sisterhood.  We are all different ages, come from different backgrounds, live in different cities, but when we come together at a table - its like we have known each other for ages.  Next weekend we are all headed to the SELF Workout In The Park.  Can not wait for that day!  It is one of the best things I discovered in the city last year - a whole day of working out in beautiful downtown Chicago at the start of summer in Grant Park.  More on that tomorrow!

Here are some pictures from our get together last weekend.  I really hope we get to do more of these!  Thank you to Shannon for hosting and showing us how to get around in the kitchen a bit.  I even grilled for the first time tonight WITHOUT my husbands help and didn't burn down the house or burn the food!  That is an accomplishment!

Gluten Free Flax Seed Wraps

Getting the kitchen ready for some cooking!

Chicken Stirfry

Shannon's Perfect Fit Pancake - nice way to start your day!

Spicy Senorita egg with quinoa and bell pepper muffins

Turkey burgers cooling down and Lauren making her Stir Fry

Is it really only Tuesday?

Wow!  I can not believe it is only Tuesday!  I feel like this week is dragging by so slowly it must be because it is absolutely beautiful outside and I just crave the free weekend time!  Anyone else get as excited for spring/summer as I do?

I know some people are so sick of someecards but I find them to be absolutely hilarious!

I unfortunately slept right through my alarm this morning and woke up a bit later than normal so no morning workout for me today.  Total bummer.  However, when I got home I decided to head out for a quick 3 mile run.  As you know I am following the Tone It Up Bikini Series and they just started a new challenge called #100bysummer where you can run, bike, swim, or dance your way to 100 miles by the first day of summer!  They did this a while back for the the Love Your Body challenge - it was so fun and a great way to push yourself to get in 100 miles!  It may seem like a lot but it is really do-able if you stay consistent.  It just started this past Monday (the 13th) and it ends up being an average of 2.5 miles per day!  Join in on Twitter, iInstagram, or Facebook!

Me post run today - wiped out!

I love Chicago but the weather here is always all over the place!  Yesterday it was in the 60's and today it was 90 degrees at 5pm when I did my run!  Phew!  I had a hard time getting my breathing down and struggled a lot during the run, so instead of the 3 miles I had planned -  2.7 was the final tally.  Better than nothing!  I always put SAFETY in front of DISTANCE when I do my runs during the summer months.  I would much rather get home in one piece - then push myself too hard during a workout and get heat stroke, sick, or injure myself.

I will admit that this makes me a bit nervous for my half marathon in July.  The race starts at 6:30am so hopefully we will beat the summer heat and have nice running weather.  The run today made me realize how important it will be for me to do my training outside rather than on the treadmill at the gym.  Not only is it completely a different feel when you run, but I need to get used to warm weather elements so I don't have a hard time like today.  Good thing is that I have about 2.5 months to prepare myself.  Is anyone else running a race this summer?  What is your favorite time of year to run?  Do you do prefer running on the treadmill, roads, trails, or tracks?

Oh!  I have to share this great little recipe with you!  For anyone who is challenged in the kitchen like I am - even you will be able to make this!  For the Tone It Up Bikini Series I have the bestest partner ever.  I got home and knew I needed to refuel my body but I didn't have any chocolate syrup to put in the milk for a quick protein drink.  My partner gave me super easy recipe to match it and if you are a Tone It Up girl I am pretty sure you have the ingredients in your cabinet.

Shannon's Homemade Chocolate Milk

8 oz of milk (I used skim)

1 1/2 tbsp of cocoa powder (you really can't go wrong with chocolate)

1 tbsp of stevia (yum yum yum)

Mix it all up and ENJOY because it's DELICIOUS

I will probably do this recipe now instead of milk with syrup - this was just too good!

Another thing I wanted to post about today is a new class I am taking.  I just graduated with my Associates degree this past weekend and don't start my Bachelors program until August BUT I can't go very long without learning something new.  A while back I entered a giveaway on Grow.Soul.Beautiful for a 6 week online photography course for moms called Momtographie (by Beryl Young) and WON!!!  I never win anything!  We just started Week #2 and I am learning so much!  I've kept my DSLR camera on the top shelf in my closet for the past two years or so due to major frustration with it.  When my camera came in the mail to me, I thought that it would take professional looking pictures like magic and was so disappointed when it didn't.  So when I won the giveaway I just about freaked out with excitement.  Throughout these 6 weeks we are going to learn the key ingredients of great photography and learn how to get our cameras out of AUTO and take the reins on being creative with camera settings.

 

Well, it's time to settle in for the night and watch a movie with the hubby.  I chose 50/50 to watch tonight - have you ever seen it?  Hope you all have a wonderful evening - make sure to catch up with me on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!

--Jessica

Nashville Baby!!!

Long time, no post...I know, I know...but now that school is out for the summer I am officially back in business and I will be blogging regularly.

Downtown Nashville

A couple of weekends ago, I flew with my mom and sister to the wonderfully crazy town of Nashville, TN to run the Nashville Country Music Half Marathon (Rock and Roll Series) for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  I thought I would be leaving the gray yucky skies that usually are still lingering in Chicago for sunny, clear blue skies in Nashville - but the weather gods didn't want to fulfill my wishes this time!

We got into Nashville SUPER early on Friday morning the day before the race.  We had time to get our bags at baggage check, get our rental car, and start driving around Nashville before hotel check in time. We drove into downtown Nashville and did a little bit of walking up and down Broadway before heading on over to the expo at the Nashville Music City Center.  I even got to meet Elvis...

Me and Elvis

After walking around downtown Nashville for a bit, we headed on over to the Expo to get our bibs, race shirts, and check out all of the vendors they had.  While I was there, we got to check out the medals for the race and holy moley were they heavy!  Gorgeous but heavy!  I went over to the Brooks booth where they were doing evaluations on my stride and how my foot was hitting the treadmill.  It was pretty interesting because you had to run barefoot which I never do, but it was cool to watch back on video anyways.  While I was there, I was able to sign posters for the tragedy that happened at the Boston Marathon just a couple of weeks earlier.  It was sad to see all of the messages that people wrote and to reflect on what had happened - however it made me realize something.  The running community is 100% strong. 100% bonded.  100% supportive of one another.  It is such a great thing to be a part of. Whether you run a mile or run a marathon, I truly believe you are a runner and the power of all of us together is quite amazing.  

***Scroll to the bottom for a coupon from a vendor I am in love with called Road ID***

Checking in at the Expo!

The gorgeous medals

Strolling around DT Nashville outside of the Ryman Auditorium

Signing the posters for Boston *RUN*NOW*

 Friday night after the expo we decided to take it easy and just get some food in our bellies and get some rest.  Saturday morning came too soon and we were up before the roosters getting ready for the race!  We were so excited because the  night before it was forecasted that we would having rain the entire morning and all throughout the day - so when we woke up to no rain (although there were cloudy skies) - we couldn't have been happier.  Now....fast forward a couple of hours and the race is about to start.  Its pouring rain.  I mean POURING rain.  So much for that 2 hour window of no rain.  It was cold, probably about high 40's low 50's and windy, and really really rainy.  It was raining so hard that from the time I walked from the hotel bathrooms to the race stalls which was only about 100 feet or so, I was completely soaked.  Head to toe, soaked.  The race was actually pretty fun - wet - but fun.  I had a blast at every single photographer I saw around the route - I made either a funny face, thumbs up, or muscle arms - hey you gotta make it fun when you have to run for over 2 hours in those conditions!  I also just had to keep my head in a positive place.  It's really easy to want to give up when you have to run in those conditions and I just kept having to tell myself what a bad a$$ I was for doing this - and it got me through the race.

Waiting to start the race - I don't know how the lady in the pink at the bottom is - but I LOVE her expression!

After we finished the race the wind seemed to pick up even more and when I stop running - if its not warm out I cool down really quickly.  I was freezing and shaking and couldn't feel my arms or fingers - that part was not fun.  It is hard enough running a half marathon - but then to not be able to feel your body because of the weather afterwards - makes it much harder!

We got into the car after the race and unfortunately due to the weather we didn't stick around for the after party and I didn't get to meet up with any of my Tone It Up sisters because no one wanted to be out in the weather (myself included!).  I got into the car and quickly changed into whatever dry clothes I had and started munching on the post-race snacks they handed out afterwards.  YUM.

Me frozen in the backseat of the car!  Brrrr!

After the race we headed back to the hotel to take a warm shower.  Probably the best shower I have ever taken.  We took a mini snooze and then got up and ready for our busy and crazy night ahead!  Yes we went out after running a half marathon!  Wouldn't you?  It's time to celebrate!  First we went to downtown Nashville for some food.  You work up quite the appetite running that much!  I indulged in the yummiest nachos I have ever had and then turkey burger with french fries.

Can you believe this is the first time I have ever had guacamole?  It's true!

We had really cool plans for that night.  We went to the Jimmy Buffett concert and then headed over to 3rd and Lindsley to see Sam Palladio (from the hit show Nashville) as well as Ben Taylor (James Taylor's son) play a show.  The Jimmy Buffett concert was great - he has quite the life.  I can not imagine how amazing it must feel after so many years coming out to yet another FULL ARENA of long time and new found fans of your music.  It has to be quite the rush!  He sounded great live and everyone there seemed to be having a great time.  Seeing Sam Palladio play was a super big surprise to me.  I didn't know he would be playing that weekend in Nashville and I was very happy to have been able to see him.  He is incredibly talented and I hope that he goes on tour when filming for Nashville is on hiatus.  I even got to take a picture with him!  Dream come true for this girl right here!

Outside of the Jimmy Buffet concert

Me and Sam (Gunner from Nashville)

Sunday and Monday flew by pretty fast and we did so many touristy things such as shopping on Broadway, getting drinks and listening to live music, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and my mom even got herself a brand new pair of cowboy boots.  Luckily, by Monday the weather turned around and we were able to enjoy our last day in town with some good old southern sunshine.  I am not sure if I will ever go back and run the Nashville Half because I'd love to try out other courses...but if you want to go somewhere fun to run a race - I definitely recommend it (link below).  Everything ran as smoothly as it possibly could have for a race of this magnitude (it was a full and half as well as a kiddie race) - I was impressed by their organization for the most part (we had an issue with gear check).  Below are some final pictures of my trip!

**Scroll down to the bottom for a coupon from ROAD ID**

The wall of gold records at the Country Music Hall of Fame 

Hatch Show Print and a kitty cat

Ice cold water, sunshine, and a roof top deck overlooking Nashville 

I even got in some good workouts while on the trip in addition to my race!  I was proud that I stayed on track!

Lastly, while I was at the expo I took at trip over to the Road ID stand.  Road ID makes customer ID bracelets for those of us who want to take an extra step at safety while out and about exercising.  I do a lot of trail/path running during the warm months in Chicago and I always wondered how would any one know who to contact if I was found injured and unable to communicate?  That's where Road ID comes in.  You can pick from so many different types of bracelets or shoe IDs that you are sure to find something that you like and is your style.  I chose the Wrist ID Slim bracelet in green.  I thought it was a nice size and it was able to hold my name, two contacts with phone numbers, allergies, and words of inspiration.  It was created on site and I got my bracelet back in about 15 minutes after my order.  If you are someone who is active outside (or even at the gym) or has a kid who is off doing activities a lot - this is something I definitely recommend.  I will be getting one for my daughter too!  Below is the image they have posted on their website for the Wrist ID Slim.

I was able to get a coupon from them that is good until May 28th, 2013 - but its only good for 20 people - so if you are interested head on over to their site for $1 off your order. It covers basically the cost of shipping - hey it's a dollar!  Those add up!

COUPON CODE:  ThanksJessica26127190

 Until next time...