Tracy Evelyn Health & Fitness

Reason #006 why I love my husband - After a long day of me sitting on the couch for the entire day (I know, rough) my amazing husband sent me on my way to girls group and then proceeded to clean the entire kitchen and living room :) Oh man I love him. Thanks babe for making up for my laziness with your complete and utter awesomeness!

I have been so busy (and crazy) lately that I forgot to tell you guys all about the Cosmo VoxBox that I received in the mail a few weeks ago! I think the thing I was most excited about was the Gillette Venus Embrace package! It came with the Embrace razor and handle and the Venus & Olay cartridge (which can attach to any Venus razor handle). I actually already use the Embrace razor and I love the smooth feeling it gives my legs so I snapped on the Olay cartridge right away! I was kind of skeptical of it at first but as soon as I used it I was in love! The Olay soap makes the razor glide so smoothly across my skin and it feels amazingly moisturized afterward! Not dry or bumpy like some razors leave it. You can go check out their website here for more information on which razor could be best for your needs! I got these razors complimentary of Influenster but my thoughts and opinions are my own!

Yes today. Today is the day that I repeat my first crossfit workout. I'm kind of freaking out. Cody says I should take off at least two minutes..I'm hoping for a little better than that!  My last time was 13 minute something, and I would love to be under 10 minutes!  I'll keep you updated! Ps.  I've been taking pictures of my biceps to show you once they are super impressive :) xoxo

1. Still not pregnant. Still hoping its soon. 2. Loving Fringe right now (the tv show). Mark and I moved everything from season 1 to current to our Netflix queue, so we are currently watching season 1 and the now airing season :) 3. Our Christmas tree is dead. Not drinking any water, needles falling off, found a whole branch under the tree dead. Sorry tree, I'll do better next year, 4. Staying overnight with an 8 month old twice a week is hard/not as hard as I expected. She fusses thru her nighttime bottle but will sleep until 4:30 or 7...if I'm lucky. I love her cute little face and her sweet smiles. She is always smiling at Mark and loves sitting on his lap or snuggling with one of us before bed. I can't wait to have an 8 month old of my own. Happy Tuesday / Wedbesday!

A few weeks ago I started doing crossfit wod's with my good friend (and now trainer) Cody. We do three a week...I'll probably be transitioning to four a week soon, now that I'm getting stronger! It's kind of amazing, but totally the hardest thing ever. It's constant movement, maybe a 5 second break here and there but mostly constant movement. Lifting and jumping and sit-ups and push-ups and more lifting and more jumping. It's crazy. But I have bicep muscles now, in less than three weeks of it...I've never had these muscles before, there is seriously a bump there people! It's awesome! And my calves, oh boy - they are just fab and have I mentioned that I have the start of a six-pack? Okay, it's more like just the top two but definitely a start :) I'm officially addicted - and I haven't even attempted a pull-up or handstand push-up. My little arms are still working on push-ups! So total weight loss is 10 pounds now, and I've lost ...

Have I told you guys about my awesome mom? First of all, she is the cutest mom ever! She is always happy and ready to help if I need it and sometimes we get to chatting forever and about everything :). I just love her! Well I just wanted to let you know about her Etsy shop (PamelaQuilts) and her blog ! She has some really cute festive things in her shop for the holidays (and she has no idea that I am posting about her)! Here are a few of her holiday items and a couple of my favorites! Go check her out! (All photos are from her etsy shop ) Love you Momma!

I can't stop thinking about cookies and cake and basically anything with sugar. Seriously. Then I accidentally happened upon this Pinterest page with everything my mouth/stomach desires. It's all awful for you. But look at it, it ALL looks amazing. I HAVE TO GO TO MY KITCHEN NOW. See you later.

Here is just a peek at our weekend! 1. Picked out a tree topper! NOTHING is better than gold + glitter! 2. Pretty birds and a little sparkle. 3. Homemade tree ornaments with my wife life group girls {the husbands weren't much help}. 4. Candlesticks. 5. Snowman on a bike! 6. Knitting project, can't wait to show you the finished product! What did your weekend look like?!

Have you seen any of the incredible trailers for this new movie?! It comes out Christmas Day (I'll be begging Mark to go see it!). I haven't read the book yet (yes it's on my 'to read' list on Goodreads ) but the way they filmed this movie/musical is amazing! All the singing is live, being captured on film exactly when they are singing to get more emotion out of the moment! Oh my goodness, you have to just watch, my heart just swells every time I see it. Go here to watch!

This picture never fails to make me smile :) Have a great week!

I won a BUNCH of awesome stuff from a giveaway a few weeks ago (thank you The Daily Tay !!) and one of the prizes was a free guest posting over at Bold Butter Baby . Brin was so friendly and helpful (I was so nervous!), she sent me a list of questions and after questioning my answers a bazillion times, I sent them back to her, easy peasy! Thank you Brin!! Now go checkout her cute space in blogger-land! Ps. I'll try to get on here and show off the rest of my goodies!

I can't help it you guys, I'm in love with the new Babel album from Mumford and Sons. Please don't tell me you haven't heard any of it, just go watch this video and then go buy the album, it's all amazing. Sorry, I couldn't get the video to post to the blog, but the link is worth it! You're welcome! PS. Mark and I took a trip to Southern California last week, I'll post some pictures later!

Last night Mark was feeling snack-y, and we thought, what's better than hot chocolate on a cold evening filled with Alias? {yes, the old but still incredibly enjoyable Jennifer Garner show} Nothing! So I googled a recipe, changed it a bit and we got to work - Serves 2 - 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 cup (maybe slightly less) granulated sugar Dash of salt 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons boiling water (we used our electric kettle) 1 cup milk 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract Put the first three ingredients in a small saucepan, add the boiling water and stir over medium-high heat until slightly boiling (careful not to let it scorch). Add in milk and stir continuously until your desired drinking temperature(don't let it boil), remove from heat and add vanilla - enjoy! It was so delicious, maybe a tad sweet {but who doesn't like deliciously sweet hot chocolate!}. Also, half of that recipe is only 126 calories, so I didn't feel too bad about consum...

... I am a wife I sipped tea and stared at my husband I'm overwhelmed with all I want to get done I hated kissing my husband goodbye I have to go start laundry I will workout I won't eat any sweets I get to go to Seattle with my love I'm seeing Wicked for the first time {!!!} I will wear a mini-skirt for the first time since losing 8 pounds I will feel good in it I'm praising Jesus for his provision I have faith in His plans for me Mark and I talked about a crib I'm not pregnant I'm praying I will be soon I'm thankful for another day.

A few weeks ago I decided I needed to actually act like I moved in and hang some photos on the wall. The black frames that we purchased for our old home didn't look quite right with our brown walls and bright white ceiling {that we cannot change}, so I decided to paint them all white! First I went to Home Depot and picked up some primer {I used oil based but water based would work too}. I had to do two coats of primer and the two coats of paint, I actually used the same white paint that was used in the house on the trim and ceiling. And there they are up on the wall! Mark and I were both really pleased with how they turned out! {no, I didn't hang a photo of a box of tissues, it's a mirror!} Hopefully I'll be getting around to posting more home makeover photos coming up!

I have been absolutely sucked in to trying new recipes lately and staring at food blogs {smitten kitchen} all day long. Suddenly I have this urge to make everything, just to see if I like it. Now, I have to take into consideration the fact that I'm still dieting , so I eat smaller portions, or slightly modified versions of the deliciousness. Luckily, the myfitnesspal app has a wonderful feature where you can create your own recipes and it tells you how many calories {along with sugars, fats, sodium etc..} are in each serving! Yesterday I made sticky toffee cake from Everyday with Rachel Ray. It's made with dates, which I had never eaten before. It was pretty caloric {serves 10, 353 calories each}, but oh so stinking delicious! It also teaches you how to make your own caramel! Holy smokes it was good! Here are some photos! So now I have too much cake in my house, someone come over for dessert?

Remember when I told you I was going kayaking? Here I am, finally getting around to posting pictures from the day! We had such a blast, a great group adventure for sure! It took me a while to get used to it, but once I got the hang of it I was sailing ahead of the group! So much fun! If you ever come to the Olympia area, check it out! At Tugboat Annies you get two kayaks {and gear} for 3ish hours and breakfast for two just for $48, I highly recommend it, such a great experience, we can't wait to go again! None of us fell in :) {the part I was most worried about}. We also saw a ton of jellyfish and seals were following us the entire time! And if you are in the area to have your own kayaking adventure, let me know!

Just doing a little update on my weight loss so far! I've been doing 20 days of Jillian Michaels' 30 day shred, thats right, Level 3 is up next! {trembles in fear}. Level two was hard enough, I am not very excited about level 3! But Jill seriously works. I've also been counting my calories {myfitnesspal.com they also have an app!} along with working out and drinking more water. So far I have lost 4.5 pounds! It is really strange to know I have 8-10 pounds more I could lose {unless I get pregnant, fingers crossed}. Not only have I been tracking my weight, but also measuring certain parts of my body along the way {about every 7-10 days}. I have in total lost 8.5 inches off my body {crazy, right!}. Over an inch off my waist, love handles, hips, butt and thighs {along with smaller increments from my chest, above the knee, calf and ankles}. It all feels like a total success so far, I know it'll be harder to lose the rest of it, but I'm looking forward to eithe...

Sunday was my 26th birthday. *sigh. It was a great day, pumpkin spice chai, my awesome husband made delicious omelets and mimosas, tennis, lounging, wine and an amazingly simple yet delicious dinner. My favorite part was just being with Mark all day, he is seriously the best choice I've ever made..I could spend all day everyday with him and never tire of it! But I'm pretty sure I totally failed my 26 before 26. Seriously. I gave myself too many hard ones! So I'm just going to share the ones I actually DID. 2. Read one book a month {I'm gonna say 14 books, since I'm not quite 25!} Follow me at my Goodreads account to see my progress and what books I'm reading! I actually ended up reading WAY more than just one book a month, about 3 a month! I'm loving being able to spend time reading again, I've really missed it! Thank goodness the library is three blocks away from my new place in Tumwater! 4. Order our wedding photos and hang them! This I did w...

Did some browsing on Madewell, also, I've been spending too much time on the Internet :/ 1. / 2. / 3. / 4. / 5. / 6. / 7. I'm starting to really enjoy this birthday after all...

Yep. You read that right. I'm on a diet. Of 1200 calories and working out daily. It's weird and hard and most days I'm sick of it...but I'm pretty sure it's working. I'm tired every night, but ready to get going every morning, I haven't gone down pounds wise yet, but I can see my body changing, and I'm eating more fruit and vegetables but not starving to death! Also, I'm doing this Summer Butt Challenge . I know summer is ending but now I just want a better looking butt before getting pregnant, because really...this booty is seriously going to grow during pregnancy. How could it not? It's the first thing that gains and the last to lose. I'm hoping my booty and thighs will turn out like this Here. And this Here. I think anyone who knows me knows my tush will never be that tiny, but a girl can dream right?

My birthday is right around the corner {ugh} so to make myself feel better about turning 26 I started putting together a wish list of items. Items that I don't actually care if I get, but right now they are making me feel better. About...you know. Being old{er}. 1. 2. 3. 4.

The last week of July we took a 7 hour road trip {starting at 5 am} to Silverwood theme park in northern Idaho. It was our friend Tyler's birthday, so four of us couples jumped in two cars and headed east! We had such a blast! Silverwood has a portion of the park with roller coasters and another with water, wave pools and tube rides! We got there and immediately jumped on the roller coasters, and rode The Aftershock twice {click the link to watch a crazy video of it!}. Here are some photos from the day! The girls! Just before our first ride! First ride was a success! Got soaked on the rafting ride. The whole crew! We are so blessed to have such a great group of friends here in Oly!