Doing it doTERRA Style

So I finally gave in to the peer pressure (that no one was giving me but myself) and bought these pretty little bottles of goodness.

That's right, I am now the proud owner of the Peppermint, Lemon, and Lavender doTERRA oils.  Although I am not 100% positive how to use these babies, I am 100% positive that I love the smell and the way they have made me feel so far.

Here's what I do know:

• I need a diffuser.
• I need roller bottles and coconut, grapeseed, or almond oil to put in those roller bottles with the oils.
• These little bottles of oil are so pure, vibrant, and have an amazing smell!

Here's what I don't know:

• How is the best way to use them?
• What are the other "staple" oils that I need to purchase?
•  I've heard you can put the oil in food/drinks.  What is the best way to do this?

Do you use oils?? Any tips, tricks, essential things to know from the blogland would be greatly appreciated!

25 during 25 January Update

Instead of setting a New Years Resolution, I decided that when I turned 25, I would make a list and check things off that list throughout the year - 25 during 25 is what I'm calling it! I can't wait to continue to see how this list gets crossed off over the next 11 months.

1. Run a 10k - signed up for one in Richmond, VA on March 28!
2. Do a blog give-a-way
3. Write a guest post
4. Shoot a gun
5. Go on a spontaneous trip
6. See sunsets in 10 different cities
7. Do a girls weekend trip
8. Have a house party
9. Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
10. Buy a camera and learn how to use it
11. Go to a new state
12. Host a shower for someone
13. Run a 5k in every month of the year, at least 5 of them being a race - knocked this one out at the beginning of the month!
14. Buy a new computer
15. Write 5 thank you letters to companies that i use their products
16. Cash in a whole milk jar of coins to savings 
17. Tip 100% of my bill 
18. Become CPR certified
19. Learn how to drive stick shift
20. Go to an NFL game
21. Do a 7-day smartphone detox 
22. Mail care packages to each of my siblings
23. Send my nana flowers out of the blue. 
24. Take professional photographs with D.J. and Stryker
25. Save $20 for every one of these that I complete

Super Bowl Weekending

So not only was it Super Bowl weekend, but it was basketball weekend, cheering weekend, CPR weekend, and much more! Needles to say, once again, we were busy.

Friday night D.J. had a basketball game followed by "Lower School Night" at the Varsity boys' game at the school.  Along with some of my co-workers, we managed to pull off an awesome night for all the lower school students with raffle prizes, games to play, and lots of cheering from the stands! The game awe AMAZING and we won by two points! In case I haven't mentioned it before, I stepped up to the plate and took on the Varsity Cheering team this year as the head coach.  More on that later.. but after the long, exhausting night of trying to control little kids and make sure they don't get taken out by the 6'6 basketball player, I topped off the night with a lock in sleepover with the middle school and varsity cheering team.

Yes. You can say it - I'm crazy. But the sleepover was actually pretty fun.  I wish I could have done some more team bonding with the team, but they wanted to watch some terrible movie called Warm Bodies, so we limited the team bonding. After the movie, I called a "bedtime" at 1:00 a.m. and I'm confident they didn't go to sleep until around 2.  So that happened... and then in the morning, they all looked like this...

Also known as PASSED OUT!

Then after everyone was picked up, the school offered a CPR re-certification class that I was signed up for, so I topped off a 13 hour work day, sleepover with middle and high schoolers, I went and refreshed my skills on how to save someones life...thanks to these pretty awesome friends right here...

 What's crazy/nasty is that when I was first certified (back in 2004? 2005?) these were the exact same "people" we practiced on!

The rest of the day Saturday I slept till about 4pm.  Then we did some things around the house and ended the night watching the UVA/Duke basketball game. 

Sunday morning I was up and at 'em. I put some boxes up in the attic, vacuumed, did some laundry, and D.J. finally took down the Christmas lights from the house.  No judgement people. We watched the Super Bowl with some friends and their kids out in Virginia Beach.  What an ending to a game.  Amazing game played by all!

Here's to another productive week!

Winter Baseball Itch

It's crazy to think that this will be the start of D.J.'s third full season.  

I am by no means trying to rush these next five weeks, but the baseball season itch is creeping in on this happy off season. 

Maybe it's the crave for warm weather, or maybe it's the fact that I haven't watched a baseball game in five months, but whatever it is makes me miss baseball season! Any of my other baseball wives out there feeling the itch??

For some people, the off season has ended, they are making their way out to AZ or FL, or that report date is coming soon! Good luck to everyone that is getting ready to start in the next few weeks!

 I am excited to see what this season has in store for us...who knows where we will be, but that's the adventure in it all! If you have been reading along for a while, you know that this sentence was very different last year.  I always struggle with the fact that I don't travel with D.J. during the season.  I see all these other girlfriends and wives travel with their men, but I know for us, me staying home is the best thing for us to do.  I was very spoiled last year with D.J. being so close to me at the Carolina Mudcats, but I know that regardless of where he is playing this year, we are thankful for the opportunity for D.J. to play professional baseball and live his dream.  Maybe one day I will be able to go with him, but for now - lots of visits in our future!

If you are new to Blog With The Browns, check out our story in minor league baseball here.  There will sure be a lot of baseball in the next few months coming on the blog :)

Home Tour - Master Bedroom

I haven't done a post on the house in a while, but I figured that since you have only seen the before and after pictures that I need to show you what the room actually looks like!

First up, the master bedroom.  This is one room that I let DJ dictate with the paint color.  He had stated from the beginning that he wanted a grey bedroom, so that's what he got.  At first, I wasn't a fan.  It was giving more of a green-grey look and I didn't like it.  But as we continued to add touches of blue to the room, it started to even itself out.  We went this a great set of wood furniture for the bedroom.  We were thankful for my Nana for her help in purchasing the bedroom set, but it is so nice to have a full dresser, ottoman, and a bedside table.  

We went with a simple duvet cover from Pottery Barn with the king size monogrammed pillows. I love it, but was a little disappointing that some of the monogramming has already started to come undone from the pillows.  We acquired the perfect "always kiss me goodnight" for some friends cleaning out their home.  I love it because we always make sure there's a night time smooch before we pass out.

I had been struggling to find a good throw pillow for the bed for some time now.  I came across these beauties at TJMaxx last week and wasn't 100% sold, but I think they work great.  They are a smidge bit different than the blue on the duvet cover, but I'm fine with that.

Curtains were the death of me.  And still are as I am trying to find some for the living room.  After about three different options, these were the ones I went with.  They are not super thick, but I wasn't going for blackout.  I was going for more of a decoration look.  These were from TJMaxx as well and I am so happy with the way they turned out in the room. 

The bedside table is so convenient.  I love having a place to throw my glasses when I fall asleep.  I also use it as a place to keep my rings and everyday jewelry that I can throw on before I walk out the door. 

Hello dog hair...real life struggles.

The dresser is another key part of the room that I could not go without.  The drawers are literally stuffed to the top on my side.  I love how the vase the B are different shades of blue that tie in the bedspread.  Having my diploma displayed in our room is a constant reminder of how smart I am.  Just kidding! I love being able to see how much I have accomplished and how thankful I am to have parents that supported me while I worked for such an accomplishment.  

And that's our bedroom! Some of the photos I took were sideways and I couldn't get them to be the right direction.  I even re-saved them and tried that way.  Does anyone else ever have this problem? Is there a solution that you know of?

Exhibit A:

Let me know :)

6.2 Miles

6.2 Miles

10K

Call it what you want, but I'M DOING IT!

I'ts official, y'all! I have signed up for my first 10K!! 

On March 28, I will be kicking ass at the Monument Ave 10K in Richmond, VA with some of my dear friends! As one of the 25 things I have on the list to do while I'm 25, I am so excited to push myself and get these 6.2 miles under my belt. 

I've never  been a runner. Some people are just born to run.  I was more of a soccer - volleyball type of girl.  But as I've gotten older I've realized that I need to get into running because soccer and volleyball aren't happening anymore! 

 As ,  I will continue to update y'all with how the training is going! 

Weekend of Celebrations!

This was a great weekend.  Friday I took off a little early to head out to Cape Henry for the basketball games that night.  All three (JV, VGB, and VBB) all lost, but we put up one hell of a game for the varsity boys' game.  I mean, after all, Cape Henry's basketball team is number 5 in the nation, so we knew it was going to be a tough game.

The student section was rocking and overall, it was a great night.  The in-laws came down for the game as well so we decided to grab a late night dinner at Shorebreak on our way home.  I had a delicious chicken ceasar wrap with sweet potato fries.  We got home around 11p.m. and called it a night.

 

Saturday morning we had breakfast at Sandfiddler before heading to the mall to see American Sniper.  

If you haven't seen it yet, you are not American.  Just kidding, but you really should go see it.  It truly is a movie that all Americans should see.  The respect I have for those men and women that serve our country went through the roof after seeing the movie.  There is so much more to it than just being deployed and leaving your family, as was portrayed in the movie. Thank you to all those that have served, are serving, and will serve for our freedom.

MERICA.

After the movie, the in-laws got on the road to head home and I crashed on the couch for about two hours.  We had dinner plans at 7:30 to celebrate Gracie's 25th birthday at Watermans! We stopped at JoS. A. Bank for DJ to try on a suit for an upcoming wedding. I didn't snap a picture, but he was looking FRESH! 

Dinner was so much fun.  It was great seeing friends I haven't seen in a while and meeting new friends. I am so lucky to have friends that I can pick right back up where we left off! After dinner, we went to one of Gracie's boyfriends friends house to pregame and then hit up The Eagle's Nest.  I haven't stayed out that late in a while! But it was so worth it!

 

 

Sunday morning we slept in till about 10, before I got antsy and had to get up and do something.  I made some breakfast and DJ got up around 11.  We decided to enjoy the beautiful weather and take Stryker to the beach! It was SO pretty outside, so enjoy the photos!

The rest of the day we spent lounging on the couch, cooking dinner, and giving DJ a haircut! It was quite funny at the time, but I did a pretty good job, if I do say so myself.  

Here's to another great week of workouts, healthy eating, and productive workdays!