Pure Barre Tucson

I'm blessed to have many determined, dedicated and dream-chasing friends in my life, and today I got to stand by and watch one of them launch a dream come true. Today my wonderful and talented friend Vanessa Palestino and her business partner {and co-owner} Briana Acuna opened the very first Pure Barre studio in Tucson, Arizona. This studio has the PERFECT home in the Casas Adobes Plaza. With a Whole Foods and Starbucks as neighbors, as well as adorable botiques, it's any fit girls perfect all-in-one stop!  

 

perfect view from the studio

So what is Pure Barre? I had heard all about this amazing place as Vanessa and Briana were in the process of launching this store, but I had never taken a class until this weekend. It was like nothing I've ever done before {and I've tried A LOT}. Such a refreshing way to lift, tone, and BURN that was easy on the joints, got your heart pumping, muscles stretched and fatigued. It is a total body workout in 55 minutes that will not disappoint. Any fitness level, any age, this class can work for just about anyone! For a little preview into the Pure Barre experience... click here.

Sounds pretty amazing right?! It is!

From the moment you walk in the doors you're greeted by the kindest {gorgeous} ladies, with a BIG smile and they'll more than likely never forget your name! It is a community feel that makes you never want to leave. They also have amazing retail to browse before or after class, including a new line from Alo Yoga. 

 <---- the Pure Barre tank is the MOST comfortable tank {I may have gotten multiple colors!}

amazing retail

Had to grab a Knotty binder for the perfect kink-free top knot!

Don't be fooled by the 2-3 lb weights... when mixed with fluid movements, isometric holds, and small pulses.... your muscles are GUARANTEED to be on FIRE when you're done with the warm up! The hands-on adjustments during the workout ensure you're targeting the right muscle groups with proper form to stay injury free!

Your body will scream with joy when they say "ten more!" 


       So throw on a pair of Pure Barre sticky socks and come on in to experience a workout like NO other! And don't forget to grab a Tootsie Pop on the way out... you earned it!

I'm so proud and blessed to have had the opportunity to be here for the Grand Opening and support my sweet friend on this amazing adventure, and so thankful to have met the wonderful team of Pure Barre instructors and employees, you all are amazing women and will touch the lives of so many in Tucson. 

L I F T .   T O N E .   B U R N .

Entryway Mini-Reno

Recently I got a bug up my sleeve to update our entryway... and when I get a bug up my sleeve, that means the project is in the near future! I originally wanted to do wallpaper on an accent wall, but the cost of all the prints I liked almost made me go into cardiac arrest... even for a small wall. {I ALWAYS fall for the spendy ones}. BUT I am far too cheap to spend big $$$ on a tiny entryway so I got my budget thinking cap on. I came across cutting edge stencils and instantly I was sold!

I had never stenciled before, but how hard can it be right?! It was pretty simple for the most part, but there are some tips you should know before conquering this task!  It surprisingly didn't take me as long as I thought, approximately 2 days while working 3 jobs between breaks.

I fell in love with the imperial trellis design... and $39 beats $300 wallpaper any day! {and a bonus this stencil can & will be used on MANY further projects to come AND it will be much easier to change in the future than wallpaper!}.

I decided on the PERFECT gray color: Functional Gray by Sherwin Williams, and wanted the trellis to be an antique white. I started off by painting the accent wall the antique white, and all the other walls gray. Then once the paint was dry, I began the stencil. This is where I learned my first tip... The color of your foundation of the stencil wall should be in a flat paint, this way the paint from the stencil will dry faster, and diminish your chances of bleeding paint. I knew this going into the project, but I HATE flat paint and my OCD did not want two different finishes since my gray was in satin. SO, I broke the rules and did satin for both colors.

I started off in the corner against a level wall, so I knew I would have a straight line to work off of. The stencil does not reach all the way to the borders of the wall, so at the end you have to pencil in and hand-paint some spots {most time consuming part of the project}. So pick a level area to start, tape it on, and get started!

First Row!

It is best to use a dense foam roller, and once you roll it in paint, roll out excess paint on a paper towel. The roller should be almost dry, and although it is more time consuming if you want to decrease chances of bleeding, take your time and do multiple light coats. I didn't mind a little bit of bleeding because I think it makes it look more lived in, and I was going for a rustic type look anyways.

$4 Foam Roller from Lowes

When I started I waited for the paint to dry fully in fears of making it bleed, but this actually was WORSE because when it dried it created small ridges {I later sanded down}. It is best to remove the stencil when it is almost dry!

Up Close

Once you move the stencil, make sure the spot you're taping to next is dry! Re-level to ensure your line is still straight, and repeat {over and over and over}.

Don't forget to level!

Almost Done!

I started to get cocky and think that this was easy.. So I decided to do a little accent wrap-around wall... that was a   m i s t a k e, as happy as I am with the outcome, it was pretty difficult to get the wrap around to match up perfectly, and also the space was so narrow I didn't have much room to tape, so I did a lot of bleeding touch up's after! BUT I am happy I did it, because now you get a little glimpse when you're sitting in the living room. 

Wrap Around Wall

Overall I'm BEYOND thrilled with the final results! It was TOTALLY worth it! There are some imperfections, but I'm sure I'm the only one that can notice, unless you stare long enough.

The shoe rack is from Ikea, and can be found here. It is a perfect solution to messy shoes in the entry, and is thin enough to fit in any space! The mirror was a $4 thrift store treasure made over with a coat of Annie Sloan chalk paint and some distressing! 

The other areas of the entry were finished with a combination of finds from TJ Maxx {the coat hooks}, thrift stores, as well as things I made {the white shelf and little bench}. I like an eclectic blend of old and new. Don't mind the empty frames... I'm waiting until we have children someday because I can't stand that many pictures of us, and if I put my cats in all the frames people would start to wonder. 

I made the chalk sign below, and I change it with every season. 

Now... once I get my dream front door and install my hurricane lantern lights the entry will be complete! Still can't stand the honey oak, but I'm learning to live with it and be thankful for everything I have, rather than what I wish to have. 

Don't be afraid to try a new project, and make your house a home!

-Sarah Gaub

Daddy's Little Princess

I cannot even begin to explain how fortunate I feel to have grown up with 2 amazing parents. My heart hurts for the kids that do not get this experience, and also for the parents that have to absorb both roles as a single parent. I can say with my whole heart that I am the person I am today because of the examples I was surrounded with from my mother and father. I'm thankful to grow up HOPING to be more like my mom & dad, rather than making a list of what NOT to become.

 

My Dad is like no other. He is truly the most amazing person I've ever met {besides my Mom}.

 

He has the BIGGEST heart of anyone I know. He is not afraid to show his emotion, which I admire in a man, and also not afraid to share his love for the Lord. He set such an amazing example for me being a young dad going to Bible Study with my mom, and taking us to church every Sunday. One of the best gifts God gave my dad is that he loves people, and wants to help & serve them. One of the best things he ever told me was that he didn't like his previous job as a manager for his department in a drafting role because he had to fire people. He didn't have the heart to do this. He got to know his employees, he knew they had families, bills, and he couldn't be the one to make that decision to let them go. He is so tenderhearted & gentle, I just love that about him. Thankfully all he had to do to discipline me growing up was look at me wrong, and I'd turn into a crying mess {except one time he had to ground me for hitting the neighbor girl with my jump rope}. He treats my mom with respect, and he might not always tell her enough, but the way he talks about her just makes my heart melt. He is SO proud of her, and supports her in anything she does. It is just amazing to have the privilege to grow up with my parents still being married, and still loving one another. He also has a huge heart for animals, sometimes I think he loves the dogs just as much as my brother and I. He knows more about fish, birds, dogs, you name the creature, than I could ever fathom to know.

 

He values FAMILY. As a young kid he took the bus, alone, to WI as much as he could to spend time with his Grandma and Grandpa. Even as an adult he took the time to visit them, care for them, write to them, and love them. When I came along, growing up he would always ask me to go on dates, I still regret the day that I thought I became "too cool" for these, because they were SO special. Father daughter day at work was my favorite day of the year. He took time on his lunch breaks to come home and eat with Mom and I, any second he could, he spent it with family {unless he was on the boat fishing}. He would always come home from a long day at work excited to see me {and all his daycare kids}, let us jump to him from the top step, wrestle, and be loud and crazy when he probably just wanted to sit and relax!

 

He is the most TALENTED person I've ever met. Seriously... he can do anything. From fishing, to training animals, to fixing cars/boats, to construction. He was never trained to be a handyman, he taught himself. He can fix anything, and makes working with angles on the miter box look easy {seriously NOT easy}. I loved sitting in the garage growing up while he was working on something... I'd make the most hideous creation with scrap wood, nails, screws, markers, and he would proudly display it somewhere in the house, or in his office.

 

And most importantly he is the best example of PERSEVERANCE. He made even the hard times growing up seem so seamless. Probably because he enjoys the SIMPLE things in life. He taught me doing what makes you happy will make your soul richer than any amount of money ever could. He left his job of 25+ years as a mechanical engineer to pursue what made him happy: helping people and fixing things. Using his God given gift, not sitting behind a computer screen and firing his friends. That transition wasn't easy by any means, but he never gave up, never looked back, and ALWAYS made it work. He has been given SO many reasons to give up, be unhappy, but he never lets that get to him. He has lost a lot of his hearing, and I know that can be SO frustrating for him, but he never complains. He still finds things to be thankful for. His joints have no cartilage, yet he works with heavy tools at a physical job DAILY and barely ever mentions he hurts. He's gotten his tool trailer broken into, had the trailer break off his truck, his boat broken into, had a giant house fire, but yet even through all those things {that I would be so down about}, he always finds something to be grateful for. When his tool trailer fell off his truck and broke, his response was "I'm so thankful I didn't hurt anyone"... not "I lost a few days of work, it will be too expensive to fix, this ruined my day... {all the things I would be thinking}." In the same month this year he lost his Best Friend Steve to cancer, and also his Mom unexpectedly, but he never once couldn't find something to give thanks to the Lord for, even through those horrible times.

 

We might not have grown up with a lot of money, but I would've never know because it was always a house with needs met & hearts & belly's full. and he has taught me that THAT is all you need. Sure, he isn't perfect, he has a temper {that I inherited}, he might have forgotten some mother's days, birthdays, etc., he tried to teach the daycare kids what poison ivy was by GIVING us poison ivy.... but in my eyes he is perfect.

 

Happy Fathers Day Dad

Love, Your Princess

 

 

My MOM... & Best Friend.

Happy Mother's day to all of you beautiful ladies who have the MOST important job in the entire world. I respect you all more than I could ever say in words. You live each day FOR your children. You're amazing examples of the most selfless people I know, and I admire that SO much.

 

In honor of Mother's Day... I wanted to take a minute to boast about my Mother.

We all think our Mother's are the best... BUT mine truly is! They say your Mother is your 1st friend, and the best friend you will ever have. I'm thankful to agree wholeheartedly.

 

My mom is the most GIVING person I've ever met in my entire life. She GAVE up her job at an advertising agency to do daycare from home so she could be present for my childhood. She GAVE up most of her daycare income to buy crafts, go on excursions with us, take us on field trips, and help us throw neighborhood carnivals.She GAVE up goals of a career to homeschool me. She GIVES up her days off work to help friends with everything from cleaning, yardwork, watching their kids, anything that they need. She GIVES up all her "me" time. She stops for almost all hitchhikers to GIVE them rides {this one can be scary}. She GIVES up things she needs to make sure she can buy someone else something they want {not need}. She GIVES back to her church. She once even GAVE someone our car... for free... to keep... because they needed one more than we did. She will literally GIVE you the shirt off her back, and then some.

 

My mom is the most HARDWORKING person I've ever met {besides my Dad}. She always has a million things going on. I used to make fun of her for this, and now I'm the exact same way. I admire that she likes to put 100% of her effort into everything she does. She has always done whatever it takes to make ends meet. Last summer she came over to help with yardwork at our new home, and she outworked me by a long shot. I had to BEG her to go home because I was exhausted, and she was still running on full battery. I've watched her work more hours in a pay period than most work in a month. She's a work horse. A few years ago she decided to go to nursing school after not having more than a high school education, at the age of 50. Most people wouldn't even fathom doing that, especially not while working full time like she did. She worked HARDER than anyone I've ever seen work. She studied HARDER than anyone I've ever seen. She failed, and did not give up, but worked HARDER. They had a house fire during her nursing program, but that did not stop her. She failed again, and still did not give up, just worked HARDER. I got the honor of pinning her at her graduation ceremony as she crossed that stage as an RN, one of the coolest moments I've ever experienced. I got to be with her on the phone as she read her results of her NCLEX that showed that precious word: PASSED, as we both screamed and cried tears of joy. I guarantee no one has ever worked HARDER for the RN after their name.

 

My mom is the most COMPASSIONATE person I've ever met. She loves everyone she meets like they are her family. I'll never forget a day I was with her downtown Anoka, and we passed this young girl sitting on the steps of a building. My mom approached her {originally because she had a dog... and she cannot pass an animal without stopping to pet them}. This girl turned out to be homeless, and was sitting on the steps of a shelter who had just kicked her out for reaching her max allotment of days. My mom was seconds away from forcing this young lady to come home with us. She had already found another place to stay, but the point is, my mom didn't hesitate to invite this stranger into our home. She's always bringing her co-workers treats on her day off. If someone has a problem she can't fix or help with, she will find someone that can. She makes everyone else's problems her own, because she doesn't like to see anyone in a bind. She was always a listening ear to my friends growing up {OH the drama!}, and still loves my friends & old daycare girls like they are her daughters. If there is someone in need, my mom will be there to help. Even when her plate is overflowing, she makes time for others.

 

I cannot thank you enough, Mom, for all of the things you have done for myself and others, and continue to do each and every day. Thank you for teaching me to have such good work ethic, to have a big heart, to enjoy life, to love the Lord, and what NOT to do while driving :) You're truly the most amazing woman I will ever meet. I don't know HOW you do it all.
I Love you more than words can say.

 

 

 

Why Fitness Coaching?

I grew up very active. I tried every sport {my poor parents}. Volleyball, basketball (EPIC FAIL), softball, cross country skiing, and then eventually stuck to dance. My dad went to the gym consistently as I was growing up, and I'd often go with him and he would stress the importance of lifting weights, spot me, and teach me everything he knew. Being a typical teenager, I didn't listen, but I enjoyed the dates with my dad. I loved to rollerblade, bike, and do anything outside. Although I was active, I had a HORRIBLE diet. I ate anything quick, easy, from a box, and drank about 6 Mt. Dew's a day... yes S I X.

 

Then college came... and I honestly cannot recall working out more than a handful of times my entire college career {other than dance parties with my roomates on late nights}. I was never overweight, but certainly did not have much muscle... if any. 

 

Around the same time I became a RN, I decided that if I was teaching people to be healthy at work, I had to take my own advice too. I could not give my patients orders, that I myself wasn't following. One night around this time I was working out at a local gym and this 80 year old woman followed me on the row machine, and SHE INCREASED THE WEIGHT! Yes, that's right, an 80 year old was not only lifting more than me, but she also busted out more reps than I did. I was horrified {and extremely impressed}! From that day on I did everything I could to learn about changing my diet, and getting stronger.

 

My husband was playing for the Chicago Cubs at the time, and had ENDLESS knowledge about fitness and nutrition. I watched him fuel his body with food, not satisfy cravings {which I did for my entire life}. I slowly made small changes towards a healthier lifestyle. I tried SO hard to listen to his advice in the gym, but that was a horrible idea. I'm not sure what it is, but I think I'm just far too competitive to let him see me in an area which I hadn't perfected yet.

 

After eating clean, lifting, and working out consistently, I became addicted to how amazing I felt. I was soda free for longer than I've ever been in my life, and now I got killer stomach aches when I ate like crap {when before my stomach could handle just about ANY amount of sugar I put into it}.

 

I've worked LONG and HARD to get that RN, BSN after my name. I have 2 nursing jobs that I love, and I truly enjoy going to work for. So why on earth would I pursue fitness coaching if I already have 2 jobs that I enjoy? Because... I was already doing coaching without even knowing it. I was making my friends meal plans, gym routines, sharing recipes all the time, texting some of them daily to keep them on track. Soon this expaned from friends and family to co-workers. I didn't even think twice about it because I loved fitness SO much I could talk about it all day!

 

There is NOTHING more rewarding than someone sending you a message thanking you so much for saving them from a dark time, helping them get out of a rut they were stuck in for years, inspiring them to do things they never thought they could do, or hearing weight loss stories and seeing unbelievable before and after pictures.

 

Nursing has very difficult hours to have a family life around. Days, nights, on-call, holidays, weekends, etc. I want more than anything to be a mother and have a family someday, and I know that this would be a difficult schedule to work around, and the LAST thing I want is to miss any part of my future children's precious childhood years.

 

Not only does fitness coaching allow me to help & serve others, just as nursing does, but I can BE MYSELF without any rules, regulations, orders, etc. I can "work" from home in my pajamas all day. I can push people to believe in themselves not only in regards to fitness, but in life as well. I can turn dreamers into believers. I can talk about failures, successes, my OPINIONS, my BELIEFS, keep myself accountable, and create a life of FREEDOM being my OWN BOSS. I can build that life that would allow me to be PRESENT for my future children.

 

what. a. blessing.

God's Work on Earth

Have you ever had a life experience that stops you dead in your tracks and you know at that very moment, regardless of how bad or good, you know it is a game changer?

My family recently spent 7 days at Mayo Hospital as we went through the agonizing decision making process of taking my Grandma Ceil off life support.

 

This was the best and worst 7 days of my life.

 

It is clear why it was the worst...

I had to say goodbye to the strongest willed lady I will ever meet, watch my fathers heart break, my uncles, aunt & cousins mourn, and my Grandpa slowly say goodbye to his soulmate.

How could that possibly be any of the best days of your life? 

Because in those 7 days, I got to have 4 hours in the car with my dad each of the 6 days we made the drive, telling stories, giving advice, and talking about all things life. I got to talk to my family about the Lord, hold their hands and pray. I got to help & give back to my family in their biggest time of need, and I got to know and love my Grandpa more than I ever thought possible. I got to watch my family, who rarely agrees, make decisions together. I got to see 4 tough guys showing love and support to one another. I got to stand by the sides of my family members while we cried, laughed and everything in between.

I got to see a real life fairytale of unconditional love that took your breath away. From the very first day we were there, my grandpa carried around her bag with all the documents he might need, and a little notebook of all important phone numbers she made for him {even coupons she cut for him with the expiration dates written larger for him to see}... and most importantly his Bible. He cried tears of joy when he heard the surgery was a success. He talked about her non-stop, what she would've liked to eat, what she would've said if she saw us feeding him loads of sugar & sweets, how beautiful she was, what a strong woman she was, what a great mother she was, how proud of her he was. He sat at her bedside each and every day singing to her, reading her Bible verses, talking to her, rubbing her feet and holding her hand. Although she couldn't respond, he never stopped. The moment we pulled support, he didn't move his hand from her head the entire 4 hours. He sat there telling her how much he loved her, touching her beautiful hair, giving her permission to go be with the Lord. He didn't move a muscle. While he was holding his sweet wife while she took her last breaths, he made sure everyone who was having a hard time had a hand placed on them for comfort... he was still looking out for everyone else.

I got to meet real life angels that were her nurses... I mean these were not just nurses, they were so much more. They held our hands and prayed with us, they gave hugs that warmed your heart, they were so patient, kind, and loving. They answered the phone and talked you through anything you needed at anytime day or night. One special nurse {super Joe, as my dad liked to call him}, even came in on his day off to be with us as she passed. They were BY CHOICE, doing God's work here on earth.

It makes my heart happy to know that she was in the BEST place possible for the last days of her life, and that I can take my Grandpa to the Mayo chapel in days and years to come and have it be a place we can celebrate her life, rather than a place we would never want to return.  And so proud that my family has a bond that has proven it can't be broken.

We cannot thank the staff at Mayo enough for being by our sides and such an amazing support through this last week. You're all angels here on earth.

Adventures in Hair

My poor hair. It has sure been through a LOT over the years. I developed a little OCD in relation to my hair at a very young age. I would spend HOURS getting my bangs {no, not the cute side swept bangs, the curly puffy ones} just PERFECT before I'd leave the house for school... in kindergarten. I'd obviously throw a fit if they weren't just right. Or how about when I was obsessed with slicking my hair back into a perfectly smooth ponytail, if there was one little bump... crisis mode. My poor mom.

When I found out that you could color your hair the OCD even got worse. No one could EVER do it right (or so I thought). In middle school I took things into my own hands and experimented with box colors. This was not a good idea. I have fond memories of my mom yelling at me and my self-proclaimed {now real life} beauty professional friend Rose, for spilling bleach on the carpet or not cleaning up the hair on the floor from her do-it-yourself haircut in my bedroom... I wish now that my mom yelled at me for how hideous my hair looked. My poor hair, my poor mom.

I also went through a phase of despising my naturally wavy/curly-ish hair, and decided to try an at home leave in straightner (made for African-American hair) {we laugh now}. Well let's just say this led to one of the most traumatic nights of my life. I'll never forget the feeling of my hair literally burning off and falling out of my head in HUGE clumps as I laid over the tub screaming and crying trying to get it out. My dear friend Lauren was by my side trying to be positive telling me it was going to be fine, as her and my mom washed clumps of my hair out. I knew my mom was in panic mode, and trying her best not to let me know she was freaking out. I was convinced I was going to get up from lying over the tub and be bald. My poor hair, my poor mom. Luckily it was only HORRIBLY damaged, and I still had some hair on my head. It however has taken my hair angel Jena and I over 10 years to fix (more on this later).

Like most "love at first sight" stories, my lovely husband has his first image of me burned in his head as "the girl in class who had stripes in her hair"... I went through the extreme contrast phase of bright blonde and dark underneath... then to all dark (horrible), I FINALLY hit rock bottom. It was then, in my freshman year of college that I started to build my relationship with my hair angel, and now dearest friend, Jena.

Jena has been doing my hair since then, and I wouldn't trust anyone else to do it! Best part is she works at Fantastic Sam's so it is SUPER affordable!! {if you're ever in the Blaine, MN area get in with Jena, you'll be hooked!}. She understands my OCD and kindly accepts when I decline her sweet, yet STRONG suggestion that I need a "trim"... and she's also not afraid to let me know I've been neglecting my eyebrows... but that's another story.

My hair angel has the color part under control for me now, unfortunately she can't style it everyday for me. Over the years I've found some AMAZING products that I can't live without.

 

 

 

 

Orbie Texturizing Spray: THE BEST product ever! It helps give my limp, lifeless, thin hair some volume! It can also be used as a dry shampoo. I usually spray on to my dry hair before styling and it helps hold the style for a long time! Best part is it smells AMAZING! Unfortunately not many places in MN sell this product, I either get it online or at POSH salon on Grand Ave in St. Paul.. it isn't cheap, but a little goes a long way.

Alterna Caviar Volume Hairspray: This is the best hairspray! It is so lightweight yet it actually holds a style. It isn't sticky, and leaves your hair touchable! I've seen this line at ULTA, but not the hairspray. Jena gets this for me, I'm sure it can be ordered online as well! {I also use their shampoo and conditioner}

It's a 10 Leave in Conditioner: This was a gift from Jena, they sell it at Fantastic Sam's, it's a leave in conditioner that smells AMAZING and leaves your hair soooo silky smooth!

Big Sexy Hair Powder Play: I'm all about ratting my hair to get some volume, and let me tell you this product is my lifesaver. It holds a good back-combing for DAYS! It's a texturizing powder. I've seen this at many places, ULTA, salons, etc.

I got to see my little hair angel today! Thanks for the AMAZING work, as always!