The Pink Growl

Focus on Your Happy - Random Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:23:00 +0000

Get ready for the ultimate RANDOM Wednesday post.... I warned you....

Your homegirl here goes through a tough breakup in her life, gets close to Jesus again and all of a sudden I'm practically Dr. Phil & Oprah's lovechild over here spouting off positivity and motivational for all in need. But really, it's what I'm living these days. I can promise you that I have at least a couple tough days in a two week period (that's probably low-balling it too). And by a tough day I mean one of the following things happens: a) tears b) binge eating c) binge drinking d) self hate. Life is hard. Every single day is a struggle with my weight right now. My mom goes back for her (hopefully) final PET scan June 10th to see if the 2nd round of chemo and radiation worked. My love life...welllllll it's complicated. I'm broke, like gonna have to get a 2nd job this summer broke. The past week I've been stressed out. Zits everywhere, chocolate fest, crying to Tilly stressed. Pity party of ONE right here please.

BUT today I want to focus on the positive! When you spend your Monday being a whiny baby about your silly little troubles, then a major natural disaster happens and people LOSE THEIR LIVES, you feel like a jackass. Let's face it - I'm alive and I'm free, who wouldn't wanna be me? (bonus points, if you can name that song)

Blogging is about community and girls helping girls. It brings us together by sharing our stories with each other. I know this is a random rambling post, but my point is we have all "bad" stuff going on in our lives. On the flip side, we all have great things happening too. Try to focus on the good. And really I'm talking to myself just as much as anyone.

Random enough for you??

Weekend Update

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:38:00 +0000

Monday...again??? I'm not ready for it! I am running on 5 hours of sleep today, which isn't horribly awful but it's enough to make me feel incredibly tired this morning! I had a pretty good weekend all in all, aside from the weekend weather pattern that we continue to see of rain rain rain. Ugh! I'm so OVER rain! It's been at least 5 weeks of weekend rain now.

Friday night I stayed in and caught up on all my DVR - cried during the Grey's Anatomy season finale, cried during Nashville and sobbed like an idiot during The Office finale. Seriously, I cannot handle no more Office! Thank goodness for reruns! I am totally one of those people who gets so attached to characters on a TV show, hence all the crying.

Saturday I was so excited when I did my Zumba workout and NAILED every single power jump! Take THAT shin splints. Then I did my Insanity workout that night with very little pain. This morning my shins feel like death. It's so frustrating!

Yesterday was Sunday Funday with my family and we went to see Jana Kramer, Rodney Atkins & Darius Rucker in concert. So much fun! I apologize for the horrible picture quality, that's what iphone pictures will do for ya.

Jim & Pam - one of my most fav love stories of all time!

Always happens to me with these mini bags!

Jana Kramer - love her Whiskey song

Rodney Atkins - He's from Knoxville area!

30 Miles in 30 Days Challenge - Week 2 Update

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

May is kicking my booty! 30 Miles in 30 Days seems like a far away goal for me at this point, but I will continue to try and push my body. I blame Insanity! Today is Day 9 and OMG I can see why they call it Insanity - Shawn T is a machine! I have committed myself to this though and I AM GOING TO FINISH THIS 60 DAYS EVEN IF IT KILLS ME!! And it very well might. Exhibit A from Day 7's workout - killer shin splints from Pure Cardio day. Jumping on my hardwood floors in old shoes was so very painful.

I got lots of comments on Instagram & FB about my creativity with my ice packs! haha :)

Don't forget to show some love to the sweet Ms. Sarah who created this super cute button for the link up!

So button up and let's keep each other motivated!

If you want to stay connected with me during the week, I am posting some updates via Twitter & Instagram {nikkib918} too. #30milesin30days Kelly & Lins are also promoting this link up along with their own - Fitness Fridays! Check it out and link up your 30 Miles story for more people to get inspired by. AND Kristine has a great link up All the Way Strong that can help motivate us all! I'm so glad to have all these ladies, plus the rest of you linking up on board!! THANK YOU!

Updates on This Week's Progress:

I'm down a total of 6 lbs (I think) from about 2 weeks ago
Went to my Zumba class last Saturday and was able to keep up with her on the power jumps, thanks to only a week of Insanity! TWO workouts on Saturday - Zumba & Insanity for a total of 1160 cals burned! I was exhausted!
Back to counting cals on MFP, keeping it strict through the week and allowing a little flexibility on weekends
My Fitness Pal & My Polar FT4 HRM are GREAT motivational tools for me! If you want to friend me on MFP my username is {nikkibradley918}.

My total miles for Week 2:

Friday 5/10

~3 miles walking at work - I worked out in the field this day walking neighborhoods
= 3 miles total

Sunday 5/12

~1 mile walking outside
= 1 mile total

TOTAL MILES FOR WEEK 2: 4 miles!
Total Miles for Challenge: 6 miles!
Only 24 more to go in 15 days!

What were your challenges this week?

Currently - May Edition

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:55:00 +0000

Listening - Waka Flocka on iHeart radio. I like to get crunk in the mornings! The Voice has also got me inspired to listen to some old school - like Fleetwood Mac & Heart because their versions of Dreams & Alone.

Eating - so much better! The past 2 weeks I've been eating (mostly) clean and counting calories. A weakness has been Kit Kat minis that a co-worker keeps in her candy jar, those things are heavenly! My sweet cravings are definitely starting to subside though, thankfully FINALLY!

Drinking - I have developed a love for smoothies! I buy some frozen fruit, add a little protein powder or soy milk and blend it up. So delish for breakfast or a sweet treat.

Wearing - It's supposed to be 85 degrees today but I have to dress for winter because my office is so cold. I am rocking this pink sequin headband today, and I mean can you really have a bad day when pink sequins are involved? I think not.

Reading - The Witness by Nora Roberts, love my girl Nora!

Feeling - Positive & Happy! Eating right, working out and constant prayer has really helped me start to feel better about myself. Things are good at work, mostly good with family, good with a boy, my best girls are amazing, church is feeding my soul and lake season is upon us - I can't complain!

Weather - 80's in sight all week...finally spring is making herself known.

Wanting - new running shoes, patience with my body, to be in Iowa this week for my BFF's graduation from grad school, The Office to NEVER end - I'm going to miss it SO MUCH!

Thinking - I've been in such a silly carefree mood this week. I'm looking forward to a fun weekend, with nice weather.

Enjoying - Adam, Upton, JT and Lebron. This is my life these days. Work, come home do my Insanity workout, eat dinner, watch The Voice/Braves/Heat, listen to JT. Only 214 days until I get to see JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE in Louisville with my girl Manda! Best blate ever!

Motivational Monday

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:03:00 +0000

I heart weekends! They go by so fast, but man they are awesome. I was a bad little blogger and didn't take many pictures this weekend. But I did have a great one. Went out Friday night for dinner and to see a band with some friends, then Zumba Saturday morning, my Insanity workout Saturday afternoon, cleaned a little, saw the Great Gatsby and dinner with my girls Saturday night, awesome church service and visiting with my mama yesterday, then Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 was on TV last night so that pretty much sums up my weekend. Plus, I got allllllll kinds of cuddle time yesterday with this sweet baby face. She is such a little sweetheart!

Since it's Monday I thought I would start everyone off with a little motivation for your work week. Yesterday at church we talked about Romans 12:9 {Love must be sincere, hate what is evil, cling to what is good}. And it got me thinking about one of my all time favorite verses Romans 12:12. So last night I got my Bible out and read all of Romans chapter 12. If you are looking for instructions on how to live your life, look no further. This verse has always been special to me, and this week I really want to try and live it to the fullest. Will you try with me? Let's attempt to love sincerely and cling to the good things in our lives, be faithful with your prayers and thank the Lord for what he has blessed us with.

It's easy for us to judge and be evil to each other. It's easy for you to look at my blog, which is a small piece of my life, and see my talking about inspirational Bible verses but also about drinking or cussing and judge me for that. I am not a perfect Christian....not by a long shot. I struggle, we all struggle. But I want to be joyful in my hope, patient in my afflictions and faithful in my prayers and over time grow to be a better example for those around me.

30 Miles in 30 Days Challenge - May Week 1

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:54:00 +0000

I'm just going to start May by admitting that I am a total and complete slacker with this challenge right now. BUT I have started Insanity too (today will be Day 3 of 60) so it's a little hard to balance them both. That's my excuse! I will be playing catch up this weekend with my miles. I promise y'all I finish with at least 30 for the month.

Don't forget to show some love to the sweet Ms. Sarah who created this super cute button for the link up!

So button up and let's keep each other motivated!

Updates on This Week's Progress:

I started Insanity on 5/7/13 - so far it's kicking my ass, but in a great way! I hear that Month 2 is killer!
I'm back on track AGAIN with eating healthy and tracking my calories, and I can tell I've lost a couple lbs.
My Fitness Pal & My Polar FT4 HRM are GREAT motivational tools for me! If you want to friend me on MFP my username is {nikkibradley918}.

My total miles for Week 1:

Monday 5/6

~2 miles jogging treadmill 4.8 mph avg pace

= 2 miles total (pathetic, I know!)

TOTAL MILES FOR WEEK 1: 2 miles!
Total Miles for Challenge: 2 miles!
Only 28 more to go in 22 days!

What were your challenges this week?

Random Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:46:00 +0000

Linking up with my precious Shanna today because that's what we do on Wednesdays!

#1 - Go visit my sweet friend Manda's blog ....go ahead I'll wait... she did a little Q&A with me and I promise it will make you laugh! She is my partner in crime!

#2 - Don't forget to link up your progress tomorrow for the first May post of 30 miles in 30 days! I am trying to do this challenge AND I started Insanity yesterday so we'll see how that goes.

#3 - Let's talk makeup!

Ms. Linny asked me to try out some Mark. makeup, so the past 2 weeks I've been trying out all my new goodies from her. I gotta admit, I'm not typically an Avon girl so when she asked I was skeptical. But I've actually been impressed with the quality of the products.

If you need a new mascara I HIGHLY recommend the Scanda-Lash Go-To Mascara! I LOVE IT! The brush doesn't allow clumps, and it's perfect for your bottom lashes. I've worn it for a night out and it doesn't smudge on the bottom either, which has always been a problem for me in the past with other brands.

Then there's the gorgeous colors in this On the Dot Neutral Eye Color Compact! They are so pretty, and go on very smoothly, yet looks very defined. I wore the darker purple shade to church a couple weeks ago and got so many compliments.

This is probably one of my favorite products I've tried - the Get a Tint Tinted Moisturizer. It's SPF 15, it's moisturising but doesn't leave a greasy feel and it covers up all my zits! SOLD!

Just a thought, if you are in the market for any of these products I would recommend trying Mark. Plus, they are affordable AND they have cute shoes, clothes and jewelry. I will definitely be trying more items from them. Get in touch with Linny and she can get you an order together!

That's about as random as I can get today - Happy Hump Day my peoples!

You Can Find Me...

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

You can find me blabbing over on my girl E-Money's blog (or Erin as normal people call her) today, while she is enjoying her vacay in Hawaii....I'm not jealous...nope not at all...

Guest Post: Sarah - Puppy Love

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:28:00 +0000

My weekend was CRAY! This old gal went out 4 nights in a row and now I'm exhausted. Still playing catch up at work from being off on Friday soooo today you get the post you were supposed to get Friday! Sweet Sarah at Venus Trapped in Mars agreed to fill in for me Friday and then my auto scheduler failed me! Oh well - her post was too good not to share so enjoy!!

I accidentally let it slip that Nikki asked me to come guest post over at Tilly's place. I was worried I was so busy this week that I wouldn't have enough time to write the post. Well, let it be known that my pup, General Neyland (named after the greatest football coach and stadium in existence) has a little crush on Tilly. It came as no surprise to me that he offered to write the post and go visit Miss Tilly. Nikki, I hope you don't mind that I offered the guest post to Gee, I was just way too busy to get it done.

HI TILLY!

{and you other people who come here for Nikki}

My mom, who talks about blogging non-stop, 24/7 over at Venus Trapped in Mars said Nikki needed some help today. Well, I wasn't about to miss the chance to come see you, girl. I took a bath, and put on my nicest bow tie for you. I thought I would use this as a pupportunity to try and impress you in hopes that you will go on a date with me, Tilly!

So what do you think Tilly? Call me, Maybe?

Thankful Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:45:00 +0000

Since it's only May 2, I will hold off on the 30 in 30 May link up until next week. So spread the word!

I know I've been pretty mushy around here lately, but you can stand just one more day of it. I talked on Tuesday about me being so hard on myself about my body and it really has a negative effect on my self-confidence. I know most of us struggle with this at different times in our lives. But I am trying to be thankful for what I DO have vs. complaining about what I DON'T have. The Lord has been working in my life y'all. I know we don't all believe the same way, and that's perfectly okay. But these past 2 months or so that I have been dedicated to getting back in church and surrounding myself more with positive people have really changed me. I have been able to let go of grudges, forgive myself for things that I was struggling with, influence others, make peace with people, and just feel free. I have prayed about specific things and relationships in my life and God has answered those prayers. (So sorry - I am not trying to get preachy with you guys!) Basically, my point is we all have a lot to be thankful for. No matter what you have going on in your life or what has happened to you in the past. Plus, I've said it before and you KNOW it's true positivity is contagious.

I have so many small goals for May; I know it will be difficult to juggle them all. But I really am in a place of focusing on bettering myself. My 2 major goals for May will be: 1) Work towards getting back to a healthier lifestyle, be active, make smarter eating choices 2) Be Thankful Every Single Day. Seems pretty simple, right?

Other little tid bits for you -

I have a little surprise for you tomorrow! I'm off work (HELLO, 3 DAY WEEKEND!) so I have asked a special girl to fill in for me. You'll love her - promise! And speaking of surprises, I have a BIG one planned for the end of May when we wrap up the 30 in 30 challenge. So keep linking up and stay tuned for that!

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and enjoy a little margarita in honor Cinco de Mayo! XOXO

30 Miles in 30 Days - April is OVA!

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:37:00 +0000

Week 4 is OVA! I start this month so strong and then slowly began to slack off and honestly again this month I struggled to finish with my 30 miles. I think I am the queen of doing things awesomely for two weeks, but ask me to do something for a month and I'll be damned if I can. This morning I had a real struggle as I tried to get dressed for work. This extra weight I've put on isn't cute in my clothes. I'm uncomfortable in my own body. I've struggled with even to keep going with this challenge for May, but I think I need the motivation and hopefully you do too. So we will be doing yet another round of 30 in 30 for May! I hope you'll come link up!

Also, my new blog friend Beth over at Hang On, Honey wrote an awesome post today about being nicer to yourself. This morning as I stood in my closet calling myself FAT and feeling ugly, I can relate to the need to be kinder to myself. Go read it and let's promise to work on being nicer to ourselves for May!

Don't forget to show some love to the sweet Ms. Sarah who created this super cute button for the link up!

So button up and let's keep each other motivated!

If you want to stay connected with me during the week, I am posting some updates via Twitter & Instagram {nikkib918} too. #30milesin30days Manda also posts her updates and she is a constant source of support for me! Now Kelly & Lins are also promoting this link up along with their own - Fitness Fridays! Check it out and link up your 30 Miles story for more people to get inspired by. I'm so glad to have all these ladies, plus the rest of you linking up on board!! THANK YOU!

Updates on This Week's Progress:

STRUGGLED! Emotional eating, PMS all that lovely crap came to haunt me last week
My Fitness Pal & My Polar FT4 HRM are GREAT motivational tools for me! If you want to friend me on MFP my username is {nikkibradley918}

My total miles for Weeks 3/4:

Friday 4/19

~3 miles stationary bike 16.4 rpm avg
= 3 miles total

Saturday 4/20

~2 miles jogging treadmill 5.6 mph avg pace

= 2 miles total

Sunday 4/21

~1 mile stationary bike warm up avg pace 14.5 mph
~1 mile walking outside
= 2 miles total

Monday 4/22

~3 miles walking outside
= 3 miles total

Sunday 4/28

~2 miles stationary bike avg pace 15.8 mph

= 2 miles total

Monday 4/29

~3 mile stationary bike avg pace 15 mph
= 3 miles total

It was a struggle to the very bitter end for me, but I did hit 30 miles AND I pushed myself last night to do 3 extra. I would really love to push for 40 for May!

TOTAL MILES FOR WEEK 3/4: 15 miles!
Total Miles for Challenge: 33 miles!

What were your challenges this week?

Weekend Update

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:58:00 +0000

Happy Monday errrrrybody! Ugh Monday...it's been raining here non-stop for like 3 days now. It's grey and cloudy and I feel like I haven't seen the sun in ages. BUT like my boyfriend LB says, rain is a good thing, right? I survived the weekend - thank you for all the sweet comments, texts, FB msgs, tweets, emails - every way that you guys reached out to support me on Saturday! XOXO

Mostly I was incredibly unproductive this weekend - again, I'm blaming the weather. I watched Django & This is 40 on Saturday. This is 40 was HILARIOUS! I highly recommend it. I laughed my booty off. Yesterday all I wanted to do was sleep in and sleep the day away, but I got up and went to church anyhow. I don't know if you believe in "signs" from God or not, but I do. And I got several this weekend. The weather was a perfect sign of fate for me. Then yesterday morning at church we wrapped up a series on forgiveness - focusing on forgiving yourself for things in order to move forward. Phil 3:13-14 (I'm paraphrasing) Forget your past, look forward. Press on. Boom! Just like that I'm done with the past. There is nothing back there for me to hang on to. Thank you sweet baby Jesus!

Here's a glimpse at my incredibly boring weekend via Instagram {nikkib918} -

Drinking problem much? Nah I just love some Fireball! A little pregaming to go watch a friend's band play Friday night.

Love this!

ok ok ok we get it... April Showers...

My precious little Sweet Tilly

Starbucks was so necessary this morning....come to mama!

Don't forget to link up tomorrow for the final 30 Miles in 30 Days post for April!

Friday Love

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:21:00 +0000

Wow, I am soooooooo blown away and blessed and thankful and amazed at the incredible & supportive comments you guys left for me yesterday! When I say I have THE BEST friends ever, I really mean that. And that includes every single one of you who commented, tweeted, emailed or sent me a text. I love you all. So much. My heart was overflowing...and I felt so loved which is so important! It's insane how much I love you all via the internet! hahaha And it's amazing how much stronger I felt after each comment! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!

I meant to do a real Friday post, but I got sucked into a meeting at work and just now got out soooo...ya know how that goes...

Moral of this post:

1. I LOVE YOU! THANK YOU! YOU ARE AMAZING!

2. You have until Tuesday morning to get the rest of your 30 miles in for April! Come link up your April results on the 30th!

3. Have an amazing weekend! And you know what? I'm going to too!!

4. Enjoy this.... and if you don't know who this is by now then you ain't no friend of mine!

The Final Chapter in Our Story

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:15:00 +0000

It's just TWO days away. 4/27/13 was a date that was supposed to change my world. My wedding date. My world has absolutely changed, although in a completely different way than I originally thought. One year ago today, I was riding the engagement high and just diving into the wedding planning process. I was so wrapped up in my own little happy place that I couldn’t see the things that were beginning to unravel. I had waited almost 8 years for Skye to become my husband and there was nothing more important in this world to me. I wanted it more than I have ever wanted anything. I felt like finally my life was going to be complete and I never had a doubt that we wouldn’t make it down the aisle. One of the things he said to me when he left will always stick with me. “You just wanted to get married, not necessarily to me.” It stung that November night, and it stings now to say it out loud. For the record, I do not feel like that’s the truth. I 100% wanted to get married, 100% wanted to settle down and start our family, 100% wanted to be with him forever. To me it felt like the natural next step in our relationship. There are several reasons that I attribute to our demise, none of which either of us ever in a million years saw playing out the way they did. (at least in my opinion). Of course there is my version of events, then his version and somewhere in between lies the nitty gritty truth. Honestly, none of the He Said – She Said really matters 6 months down the road. He has moved on and I am definitely in the process of moving on and sadly there’s no looking back. It feels like years ago that I even knew him that way and that we spent our every moment together.

This verse has helped me so much over the past 6 months - it's my life quote. When in doubt, turn to Proverbs!

Isn’t it amazing how resilient we are? How one moment I was in literal physical pain over my heartbreak and now I am on this path of rediscovery? Time truly heals all wounds and the Lord makes things happen in our lives that will always find a way to work out for the best. I’ve always believed and said these things – especially to others during times of trial or struggle. But I had only barely experienced them. I have (and still am) learning so much about myself – about who I am vs. who I want to be and how I want others to view me. I am not that girl who wants to be seen as broken. I want to be seen as a strong girl who has been faced with a difficult situation and completely kicked it’s ass. Some days are easier than others, and you all know I am in a constant battle with emotional eating, but most of the time these days I feel good. I want to feel like myself again - I want to feel good about my body, but it all takes time. I am positive that God has blessed me with a second chance. A chance to grow closer to Him, to meet new people and surround myself with positive encouragers, to grow closer to my family, maybe an opportunity to move away, and definitely a second chance at love. But most importantly a chance to fully develop into the person HE wants me to be.

I know 100% for a fact that I would NOT even be close to where I am today without the support of my readers. YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING! I have made such lasting friendships and I treasure them so much! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! LOVE YOU!

After this weekend, I think I will be fully able to move on with my life. No more milestones to hang onto, no more looking back. There will still be tough days, it's a looooong process and I must be patient with mself, but soon things will fall into place for me. And when all else fails there's always margarita therapy!

Currently - April Edition

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:49:00 +0000

Listening - I have been obsessed with listening to Jason Aldean since the concert last week.

Eating - ugh...let's not go there. I've been having an emotionally stressful couple of days so we can sum it up and say I've been eating everything. Not good for my little DietBet...

Drinking - I drank 3 of these babies last night, and margarita therapy works like a charm! I feel so much better today. Also drinking Diet Coke like a mad woman this week...I know, I know it's my kryptonite!

Wearing - apparently a cute little number today because I've gotten a couple compliments. It's like the universe knows I need an ego boost today and I don't hate it!

Reading - Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. Has anyone read this? I'm about 3/4 of the way through it. and I have mixed feelings. I loved her Delirium & Pandemonium (haven't read Requiem yet). Next up on my list is The Witness by Nora Roberts.

Feeling - Much better today. I'm telling ya margarita therapy always does the job. Seriously though, I feel blessed today. Sometimes a bad day that turns into a couple bad days, can just mess with your head. Then a good day comes along and puts everything back in perspective. Plus, I got gorgeous flowers at work today so that always makes me smile! (even if they are from my boss and not a cute boy)

Weather - It's actually chilly today - low 60's supposed to thunderstorm later. I can't complain too much about the weather lately, but I am ready for April showers to be over. Bring on the May flowers!

Wanting - a fun weekend trip out of town! Dying to go see the Braves play this season - my boys are killing it! A sugar daddy....not the candy :) My face to clear up...maybe if I stopped eating junk then that would follow...

Thinking - Positive thoughts!

Enjoying - the relationships in my life - my family, best friends, co-workers, all my bloggy buddies - you guys lift me up more than you know and it's so important to me!

TO ALL MY 30 MILES IN 30 DAYS LINK UP GIRLS: I will NOT be posting tomorrow when I usually do for the April Week 4 Link Up. I'm waiting until next Tuesday the 30th to give ~~myself~~ everyone an extra weekend to get in your miles! Spread the Word!

Find a Man Who Can Make You Laugh

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:14:00 +0000

I think a lot of women have a "type" when it comes to dating men. I am a self proclaimed no type kinda girl. I told you here about how I am going through a country boy phase....and I am still totally into country boys, but I always love a boy who can make me laugh. I am a goofy person and I am automatically attracted to anyone with a sarcastic sense of humor like mine who can make me laugh. It's so sexy to me!

I just noticed that all these fellas have dark hair and half of them have brown eyes. I'm not usually attracted to guys with brown eyes, but apparently I will make an exception if you make me giggle.

Here are some of my current favorite funny men -

1. Vince Vaughn - he's probably my favorite of all time! Plus, I love really tall guys and he fits that bill. I think he's incredibly hot and he's sarcastic as hell.

2. John Krasinski - You gotta love Jim Halpert right? Well I vote absolutely yes. He never looks incredibly cute on the office, just the typical blue shirt and tie but he always looks hot on the red carpet. Again, with the tall thing - it just gets me!

3. Jason Sudeikis - I love him on SNL! Everytime I watch it I get more of a crush on him!

4. Paul Rudd - I have loved him since Clueless and he definitely won me over in Anchorman. Now he's a leading man and I just so get his sense of humor.

5. Jason Segel - If I give a shoutout to Jim on The Office, then you know I have to throw in a HIMYM reference. I love Marshall!

Who are your favorite funny men?

Weekend Update

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:09:00 +0000

I have a tiny case of the Mondays today...I don't want to play work week....I want to go back to playing weekend! I had a great weekend - if you consider two cute dates, drinking, sunshine & Jason Aldean great. The only downside was I didn't pay close attention to what I ate at all AND I didn't get in a workout. So yeah that whole DietBet thing that has 21 more days...I need to get on that! I plan on going for a nice long jog tonight after work and getting back into the swing of things today so hopefully there wasn't too much damage done.

I planned on taking wwaaaaayyyy more pictures, but sometimes when I'm drinking I forget! Then other times I take 1204923049724. Just depends on the day. You can find me on Instagram @nikkib918!

TN flag canvas that my BFF in Iowa made me...love her heart!

Sibling Love @ Jason Aldean concert

#shamelessselfie Here's a decent shot of ny new summer blonde hair!

Jason Aldean might be a Georgia boy but he knows you gotta rep the Power T when you come to Knoxville!

My sweet girls!

Friday Funnys

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:01:00 +0000

It's Friday - hip hop hoooooray hoooooo heeeeyyyyy hoooooo. Yesterday I was in the gym by 5:30am, worked from 7:30 until 8:30 then proceeded to go out to a bar with my co-workers and do 6 shots of fireball then drink beer and watch the Braves kick ass. I drug in about 1:30 am and got about 5 hours of sleep. Good day in my book! I have a date tonight and a date Saturday night so I'm pretty excited about this weekend's potential. Plus, I get to see Jason Aldean and Jake Owen Saturday so there is nothing bad about that whatsoever!

Seriously though, I have a slight hangover today so we are keeping it simple. Friday funnys - let's giggle together!!!

Here's to a FAB weekend! Thank you to everyone who linked up yesterday for 30 in 30 too - you guys are such great motivation for me! Hugs to you ALL!

30 Miles in 30 Days - April Week 3

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:11:00 +0000

Short & Sweet today because I am a busy bee! I struggled a little bit this week with my cravings...but I have managed to keep it mostly in check. And my work schedule has been so busy that I haven't had much time to get in miles. I am absolutely dedicated to running BOTH Saturday & Sunday to get ahead of the game. Thanks to my wonderful friend Nikki (cute name, right?) who I can text a moment's notice and she offers me encouragement constantly. She even text me this morning to make sure my booty was in the gym at 530! She's awesome!

Don't forget to show some love to the sweet Ms. Sarah who created this super cute button for the link up!

So button up and let's keep each other motivated!

Updates on This Week's Progress:

I started DietBet yesterday so it's game ON for the next 28 days. I also got a new scale - a digital one because I was still using the dial kind. So my weight is a little different (about 3 lbs more on the new digital scale vs. the old one). Kinda sucks!
My Fitness Pal & My Polar FT4 HRM are GREAT motivational tools for me! If you want to friend me on MFP my username is {nikkibradley918}.
Pinterest has been a great source to find some at-home 30 min or less circuit workouts. I am one of those cheezy people who gets fired up over motivational quotes too and you can always find some good ones on there!

My total miles for Week 2:

Friday 4/12

~1 mile warm up on stationary bike 16.4 rpm avg
~.5 mile walking cool down treadmill 3.4 mph avg pace

= 1.5 miles total

Sunday 4/14

~1 mile warm up stationary bike
~1 mile jog treadmill 5.9 mph avg pace

= 2 miles total

Thursday 4/18

~1.5 miles stationary bike warm up avg pace 14.5 mph
= 1.5 miles total

TOTAL MILES FOR WEEK 3: 5 miles!
Total Miles for Challenge: 18 miles!
Only 12 more to go in 12 days!

What were your challenges this week?

Random Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:25:00 +0000

My work week is taking over my life. I didn't have time to work out yesterday (my fault for not getting out of bed early and doing it before it work!) and I felt like I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. We have a big even at my work tomorrow so I will be working 7a-8pm and today will be spent getting ready. I failed to get up AGAIN this morning to work out before work - bad Nikki! Tomorrow I MUST make time to get in some miles for the 30 in 30 challenge!

Also, I'm doing a DietBet 28 day challenge starting TODAY! This is my first one and I am sooooo excited! Mrs. Monologues got me on board and I've talked some other lovely ladies (Brooke, Sarah, Manda) into doing it with me. You put in $10 to play. The goal is to lose 4% of your own body weight in the 28 days. Winners split the pot and we are up to $360! WHOO HOOO mama needs that money! And mama needs to lose weight so win-win!

I got new fresh hair last night! I couldn't get a great picture with my phone but I will try to have one to show you by Friday. We cut off a couple inches of completely dead hair and really lightened it up (esp. in the front) for summer. I love bright blonde hair and tan skin in the summer! Makes my teeth look whiter.

Today is my handsome baby brother's birthday y'all! He's the big 2-3, and that makes me feel ancient. I love him more than words and I am so blessed to have him in my life and thankful for our close relationship.

Happy Hump Day!!

Weekend Update

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:27:00 +0000

Good Morning sunshines! My weekend treated me pretty well, even though I didn't get out and about much. I spent lots of time with my family, cleaned up my DVR, finished reading Safe Haven, logged some miles for 30 miles in 30 days, became obsessed with watching the Masters and FOUND OUT I'M GOING TO SEE JASON ALDEAN AND JAKE OWEN THIS WEEKEND!!! Pretty good if you ask me. I was so excited Friday night when I found out about the concert that I couldn't stop smiling.

Here's a glimpse at my weekend via Instagram {nikkib918} -

Spring nails!

New Sunnies - Thank you TJMaxx! I got both of these for $18!

My gorgeous talented future hubby bringing home the first Australian green jacket at the Masters last night - Team Adam Scott!

Spring is showing her pretty face around my yard!

Random, but I wanted to share this with you guys. I watched this amazing show from OWN last night when cleaning up my DVR. (I had recorded it Easter weekend.) It was Super Soul Sunday with Oprah and Joel Osteen. If you get the chance to watch it, you need to! It was about being positive and starting each day on a positive note. For example, if you are always saying "I'm fat or I'm poor or I'm tired" then you become those things. Even changing little statements like those can make a big difference in your life. I've been having a couple weeks of positivity, but I just wanted to share that with you. Try and make this week a positive one by watching how you think about and treat yourself - worth a try for one week if it can make you feel better.

Things I'm looking forward to this week:

1. Zumba tonight

2. Getting my hair done Tuesday night - ready to lighten it up some for the summer

3. My baby brother's birthday Wednesday - the big 2-3, gosh that makes me feel so old!

4. JASON ALDEAN & JAKE OWEN SATURDAY!

Gotta Get Down on Friday

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:51:00 +0000

Fridays are a gift from baby Jesus! I am ready for the weekend and wanted to send you on to your weekend with this little jam. I love me some old school Fiddy! So do your thang, link up with Whitty and #backthatazzup!

30 Miles in 30 Days - April Week 2

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:04:00 +0000

I told ya'll that I was gonna kill it in April and so far I've stuck true to my word. I've been really proud of myself for my willpower with not snacking and backing off sweets. I even had two nights last week where I had a few beers, but that didn't derail my progress. I did Zumba bright & early Saturday morning with a slight hangover and let me just tell you that was a challenge! I almost tossed my cookies a couple times and can't say that I gave it my all, but I still managed to burn 700 calories. YES! It feels so good to feel my body loosen up and see my clothes fitting just a little bit looser after only one week. It's definitely motivation to keep pushing towards my goals.

Don't forget to show some love to the sweet Ms. Sarah who created this super cute button for the link up!

So button up and let's keep each other motivated!

Updates on This Week's Progress:

I LOST 4 LBS LAST WEEK!!!! HOLLLLLLLA! (I'm sorry I know I overuse "holla") I was so damn proud of myself and it felt awesome!
Tracking my Weight Watchers points has really helped give me some structure that I needed, plus I've been keeping a food diary each day to help with my binging. I write down how I felt that day and how that affected my eating habits.
My Fitness Pal & My Polar FT4 HRM are GREAT motivational tools for me! If you want to friend me on MFP my username is {nikkibradley918}.
Pinterest has been a great source to find some at-home 30 min or less circuit workouts. I am one of those cheezy people who gets fired up over motivational quotes too and you can always find some good ones on there!

My total miles for Week 2:

Sunday 4/7

~1 mile warm up on stationary bike 16.4 rpm avg
~1 mile running on treadmill 5.8 mph avg pace

= 2 miles total

Monday 4/8

~2 miles jogging intervals outside

= 2 miles total

Thursday 4/11

~2 miles stationary bike
~1 mile running treadmill 5.9 mph avg pace

= 3 miles total

TOTAL MILES FOR WEEK ONE: 7 miles!
Total Miles for Challenge: 13 miles!
Only 17 more to go in 19 days!

What were your challenges this week?

Recipe: Skinny No Bake Peanut Butter Pie

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:30:00 +0000

I got a lot of requests on Instagram, Twitter and comments yesterday for this receipe so here you go. I was feeling all domestic over the weekend when I decided to make this peanut butter pie for my little boy toy friend. He's been overly sweet to me lately so I wanted to repay him and we all know there is no better way to a man's heart than through his belly. I didn't dare tell him it was a skinny receipe, and I didn't get any complaints!

Found this recipe on skinnytaste.com and then pinned it on Pinterest for the world to see.

I didn't exactly give it a taste test myself, but I did sneak a little taste of the "filling" and YUM! And it was EASY!!!

Skinny No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie

Skinnytaste.com

Servings: 10 • Serving Size: 1/10 • Old Points: 5 pts • Points+: 5 pts

Calories: 216.8 • Fat: 6.4 g • Protein: 2.9 g • Carb: 32.9 g • Fiber: 1.3 g • Sugar: 16.7 g

Sodium: 94.6 mg

Ingredients:

5 oz reduced fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup Better n Peanut Butter
8 oz fat free frozen whipped topping, thawed (or truwhip for healthier option*)
reduced fat graham cracker pie crusts
3 tbsp Hershey's chocolate syrup

Directions:
Beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar together in a medium bowl. Mix in Better 'n Peanut Butter and beat until smooth.
Fold in whipped topping.
Spoon into graham cracker pie shell; cover, and refrigerate until firm, at least 2-3 hours.
Drizzle with chocolate syrup before serving.

side note: when preparing my version, I didn't fold in much of the whipped topping in with the "filling". I put it more on top, so that might have varied the taste a little bit.

Weekend Update

noreply@blogger.com (The Pink Growl) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:25:00 +0000

Happy Monday friends! I can honestly say that because I woke up in a great mood! I had a fabulous weekend - hope you did too! I have a busy work week, but I'm looking forward to being productive and getting stuff done. I am really starting to feel like my old self more and more again, and it feels so good.

Here's a glimpse at my weekend via Instagram {username: nikkib918} -

BFF time Friday night - we went out to see a friend's band play

Relaxation time in the tanning bed...I know it's bad for my skin, but it's such an amazing nap!

Early Sunday AM workout - gotta get those miles in for 30 in 30 April Challenge!

Post workout, Pre church breakfast - YUM!

Sun time while reading Safe Haven

Skinny Peanut Butter Pie I made for my sweet boy toy- Recipe to come this week!

I couldn't think of a more perfect way to end a perfect weekend than these 2 handsome hilarious fellas!