Stryker's New Favorite Treats

Thanks to the lovely people at Chewy.com, Stryker was introduced to these delicious (I'm assuming because he's obsessed!) Orijen Original Dog Treats.  We aren't big on treats in our house, but these little babies are perfect for when he comes in from playing outside or after a walk to reward him for good behavior. I love the way the treats are packaged - resealable for freshness! 

Something that attracted me to these treats were the fresh ingredients listed on the packaging. Look at these delicious ingredients that we all eat every day, but may not think to check if our pets are eating the same thing! 

 Anyone else think these look like little cookie dough bites?!?! YUM

 When I gave the first treat to Stryker, he could barley stay still long enough for me to snap a photo! He was eyeing that treat so bad but I made him let me snap the photo!

 And you can clearly see how much he loved the treat from his tongue-licking expressions!

We can't wait to try more delicious treats from Chewy.com and order some fun toys for him to play with! 

Momument 10K

This weekend I crossed another 25 during 25 thing off my list - run a 10K! Friday after work I drove to Richmond to spend the night with Hannah before the big race in the morning. We indulged at Bakers Crust for dinner with mac and cheese appetizer, a big salad, and a delicious crepe with ice cream and all! We fell asleep pretty quick when we got back to Hannah's apartment to get a good nights sleep for the race!

The race started at 8:30 so we woke up around 6:45 to get ready and figure out a way to get down to the race start and find a parking spot.  We left around 7:25 and stayed in the car once we found a place to park.  It was sooooo cold, so we decided staying warm was the best decision.  We went outside around 8:30 when the first heat started and we finally crossed the starting line around 9 a.m. By that time we were ready to get running because of how cold it was.

The run was much easier that I was expecting it to be.  We ran 3.1 miles down one direction and turned around and ran back.  Monument Ave. is a beautiful street.  Lots of people were out cheering us on, offering beer, water, gatorade, and even BACON! I saw lots of hilarious signs and heard the great sounds of the bands that lined the streets.  There was over 10,000 runners in this race, so my only complaint (besides the cold) was how crowded it was.  There wasn't a time where I felt that it thinned out.  I was constantly passing people and being passed.  

I did some what train for this race, but I never ran more than 3.5 miles.  So when I got to around mile 4 and 5, I was surprised on how good my body was feeling! We finished the race in 1:09 and I was so proud of us! We never stopped running and I'm ready to do my next 10K!

After the photos, we went to Continental to enjoy this terribly bad for you delicious french toast breakfast! I hit the road back for Norfolk after breakfast and ended up taking a 4 hour nap before Dad made dinner.  We topped off the night going to see Kingman.  It was decent - I'm glad I only paid $3 to see the movie on base! 

Sunday I went to church at 8 with my aunt and uncle and relaxed till around noon.  Then I spent the afternoon with this cutie and her sister...

and flushed my tight muscles out at hot yoga at 4! 

Looking forward to this four day work week and finding out what team my hubby is going to be on at the end of the week!

5 Benefits of Teleworking for the Baseball Wife

Thank you all for the kind words about being able to work from home and see D.J.'s baseball career blossom this season! I couldn't be more excited about what this summer will hold for us.
I am so thankful for this opportunity, personally and professionally.  I know that I will be able to do things with the Alumni program at Norfolk Collegiate that I wouldn't have the ability to otherwise. At the same time, I will be able to see so many more moments in D.J.'s career by being able to be present whenever I want to. So here are my 5 top benefits I think this setup is going to provide me.

one // seeing every baseball game known to mankind
ok, well maybe not every game, but a lot of games! After the work day, I won't have to drive 3-5 hours to see my husband, I will be able to get things done, workout, eat a healthy dinner, and then go to the game whenever I want! Last season when I visited, it was a crapshoot if I was going to be able to see D.J. play.  Sometimes he was starting on days I wasn't there, and other times he would pitch the day before I got there, so then I didn't get to see him play.  This will allow me to see him play whenever he is scheduled!

two // meeting new alumni
Being able to try out new techniques to engage our alumni at the school is something I am very excited about! Whenever I travel to a new city, I am going to look up the alumni that live in the area and see if we can grab lunch or coffee.  It will be a perfect way to engage our alumni and get info on the fun place I am visiting!

three // staying independent
I am a very independent person.  I take pride in the fact that I have a successful job, have a college degree, and I can provide for myself and my future family with the help of my husband.  I know that right now, having a job at Collegiate is not only providing me an income, but it is something I am passionate about.  Being able to work from home allows me to continue my career and not quit, like some baseball wives do.  I like being able to have more than a job in retail or waitressing job.

four // traveling to new places and new stadiums
I am looking forward to adding new ballparks and states to my check list.  Regardless of what team D.J. goes to, I will most likely have been to a majority of the states, but hopefully we can do new things in the places we go together!

five //  branching out of my comfort zone
Asking my boss for this opportunity is not something I would have typically done.  I stepped out of my comfort zone and this is what I got! So thankful!! I am looking forward to taking on the role of a baseball wife during the season at the same time maintaining a successful career.

Happy Friday everyone :)

A Big Announcement!

...NO - WE ARE NOT PREGNANT!

But, I am happy to announce that this baseball season I will be seeing much more of D.J. Regardless of where baseball takes him, I am going to have the opportunity to be there with him!!!! After proposing the idea to my boss, we have decided that my job is one that can be done remotely as well as in the office! So from June 15 - August 5, I will be with D.J.! If he travels for an away game, I will have the ability to go with him and work from there or stay at "home" - either Lynchburg, VA or Akron, OH.

When D.J. and I first started talk about this idea, I knew that I had to think it out before I presented the idea to my boss.  I had no idea it would all happen so fast and that work would be willing to let me make this work.  Being able to see D.J. play every day is something that I am so grateful for and will make me feel like I am not missing out on so much of his career.  Giving up my job is something that was never an option for us.  I love my job and my coworkers, so this is the perfect way for me to keep my job and be a part of D.J.'s baseball career.

I am so excited for this opportunity and journey that Norfolk Collegiate and baseball is letting us take together! I am looking forward to learning the in's and out's of working remotely and seeing how I can continue to grow the Norfolk Collegiate alumni program by trying new tricks!

Be ready because I may be coming to a city near you soon!!

Back to Baseball Life

The past two and a half weeks have been an adjustment to say the least.  Having D.J. back in Arizona reminds me how true the "You don't know how much you love something until it's gone" saying is.  It is hard to see all of my baseball ladies enjoying the warm weather out in AZ! But I've been staying super busy traveling, working, hitting the gym hard, and counting down the days until we know what the next five months will look like! Until we find out those details, I will just sit here and think about how different life is at home without my doggie daddy and loving husband!

one | I miss having someone to talk to when I get home from work.
However, I don't typically go straight home from work anymore.  I usually eat dinner at my parents house and spend most of the night over there.  I came home straight from work last night though and it was too quiet.  I turned on the TV, did laundry, blogged, and got my life together. 

two | Will it be harder to get out of bed or easier??
I have had mixed reviews on this one.  Some mornings all I want to do is sleep and snuggle with Stryker.  Other days though, I get out of bed right when my alarm goes off.  Before D.J. left we were getting up and going to the gym, so I was in somewhat of a routine. Overall it hasn't been terrible getting up early!

three | My nights will consist of listening to lots of baseball games.
Fortunately this has not taken over my life yet since games don't start till April 8th.  Being on a new team this year (regardless of if he stays in High A or AA) also brings a new radio announcer.  We were so lucky to have an awesome announcer last year that kept us very in the loop with live game updates. I just hope the voice of the Hillcats or Rubberducks is as good as Darren was last year for the Mudcats!

four | Things on the top level don't get touched
Let's be real.  Will I ever be getting those bowls down from the top shelf in the cabinets??? Nope. Not happening.  I have a step stool, but sometimes being short is just not worth trying to pretend your tall.  Having a husband that is 6'6 is seriously a blessing! We balance each other out very well - I pick up stuff on the floor and DJ cleans the fans in the bedrooms. I call that Super Couple!

five | No Jeopardy Fun

This off season we didn't play as much, but we like a good healthy competitive game of Jeopardy every now and then.  Like, we keep score and everything! Now watching the show I just feel like a loser. Oh well, it passes the time!

Although I miss having him around, having the house to myself is pretty nice.  I can leave cabinets open, dirty clothes wherever I want, and do the laundry when I need to! I do have some pretty exciting news though about this baseball season, so be sure to check back later this week to see what it is!

Virginia Whirlwind Tour

This weekend I put some miles on my already tired tires as I drove across Virginia stopping in three different destinations in a matter of 72 hours.
Before hitting the road, I spent Friday afternoon watching my little cousin Liam's dive meet! It was the cutest thing ever to watch him get up on that spring board and showcase his dives.  Such a smart, funny, little kid he is!
Thinking that I would miss the traffic, I got on the road around 6:45 and sat in about 45 minutes of tunnel traffic.  Not what I was expecting, but I passed the time by watching some March Maddness on my phone! Thank goodness for technology! And don't worry- once we started moving, I stopped watching.

I arrived in Richmond, VA around 9 to Conner's house and Brad met us before we went out to Jack Brown's, which any JMU student knows as the best burger place in town.  They just opened up a Richmond location and I knew I had to try it. After an hour wait, 4 Bold Rock ciders later, I was enjoying a artery clogging delicious burger topped with mac and cheese and BBQ chips followed by an even more unhealthy deep fried Oreo.  Yep, that happened!

Saturday morning I met up with one of my besties, Hannah and we took a spin class at BOHO in Richmond and it was killer.  It was so awesome though - the instructor was so energetic and helped me so much since it was my first spin class!

I drove up to Charlottesville after the class and met Kendall, my big in AST and bestie, at her fabric store to look for curtains.  Remember my curtain post from a while ago?! Yea, well I have about 14 new fabrics to choose from.  Talk about overwhelming.  I think I have narrowed it down to three finalists and will let you all in on those soon! We spent the night watching basketball and drinking more beer at Mellow Mushroom with a nice little visit from Danielle!

Sunday morning I drove the rest of the way to my final destination, the one and only James Madison University.  You all have heard me talk about it before, but I hold a special place in my heart for JMU.  The people, the faculty, the part of the country its located, the opportunities - everything  - I just love it.  I would give anything to have a reason to go back, even if it is just for five hours.
First thing I did was make a photo stop by the quad!

Gosh I seriously love this place.

I grabbed breakfast with some of the AST sisters before heading to the Recruitment workshop.  It was so fun to catch up with them and see how the chapter has grown over the past three years and see the seniors that were freshman when I was there.  Being able to provide what I know on Recruitment to these women makes me feel good! I love being able to give back to the chapter that gave me so much during my time at JMU.  After the workshop was over, I had all the members of my "family" stay after to show them a family tree and see how much it has grown since I was the youngest one in the family.  I don't know much about any of these ladies, but I do know that we share a common bond of AST and know that they stand for the same things I stand for.  Graciousness - Respect - Connections - Intellect - Excellence.

Tori, the sweet little blonde on my right, took me to the house after to see the new basement they have now! It was awesome to see my room and what it looks like now and how beautiful the basement is!

I hit the road home around 5 p.m. and made a quick pit stop at the scenic view to snap a few photos and reminisce on old times.  When D.J. and I first started dating, he wanted to take me on a picnic to watch the sunset from the mountains.  We drove the the first scenic view we came across.  We had m&m's, chips, and a Dr. Pepper to share.  We were too early to see the sunset, but it was one of those memories that will always be a part of our history and I love it.

I made it home around 8:30 p.m. After a fast weekend traveling Virginia, it was nice to be home, do some laundry and hit the bed around 9:30 because my alarm was going off a 5:15 AM for workout class today!!

Have a good Tuesday everyone!

Bridal Shower Bliss

With only three days left until we are officially out of winter, I am beyond excited for the upcoming wedding festivities to begin! Our dear friends Conner & Carleigh are getting hitched on June 20, 2015 at the beautiful King Family Vineyard in Crozet, VA.  But before they tie the knot, I am honored to be co-hosting Carleigh's Bridal Shower on April 12! Along with her big sister in Phi Mu, Jilly, this bridal shower is going to be a beautiful event.  

I'm thinking peonies, hydrangeas, gold, blush and all things that pinterst is swooning over when I search "bridal shower brunch". 

These pretties are some of my inspiration for the invitations - I haven't decided which one I'm going with yet, but I think all three would be a great option.

Trying to stay on a budget is something Jilly and I are both conscious about so some DIYing is definitely in my near future. What have been some of your favorite easy/cheap things to do at a bridal/baby shower? I'm loving these heart strings for an easy added touch to a room.

How about this perfect mimosa bar for a brunch bridal shower?! I'm in love.

I think that with a brunch, a cake may not be the best sweet snack for the morning. I'm thinking something light like these pink delicacies!

Cannot wait to show you all the final product when we shower the bride!

Blogging Made Easier

There are many reasons why I sometimes don't get around to blogging.  No blog ideas, TV shows ( I know how ridiculous that sounds, but I do love a good episode of Grey's Anatomy on #TGIT), whatever it may be, there always seems to be an excuse.  BUT - my biggest excuse is that my computer is coming up on 7 years old. That's right. I got my first and only computer summer going into my freshman year at JMU and it has been great for me. With the ever changing technology, it was way beyond outdated.  I couldn't even add new music because iTunes wold not download to the outdated operating system.  Uploading pictures to blog posts took over five minutes, browsers took forever to load, blah blah blah.  EXCUSES, but real excused.  

So...after debating it for about two months, I finally bit the bullet and made my big girl purchase of a new Macbook!!!!! 

I am so excited for what this new computer is going to allow me to do with the blog and life in general.  I love starting from fresh and there is nothing better than a blank slate on your computer! 

Spring Training 2015

I'm backkkk!

After what was an amazing Spring Training visit, I'm ready to be back in blog world.  If you follow me on Instagram, (which you should) you would have seen that we did some pretty awesome stuff during the week I was in Arizona.

Before we left on Saturday, we had spent the last three days playing in the snow.  Talk about another crazy winter this year.  We had seven snow days and only went to work THREE days from Feb 13-March 9!!! You would think that with all that time off, I would have all my blog posts ready to go, but I truly disconnected and spent the last few days enjoying my husband's company. 

Both D.J. and I went to the airport together on Saturday, but took different flights. We met back in in the Phoenix airport around 8:30pm and made it to the Haase's apartment around 10:30.  They had the airmattress all ready to go for us and since it was late, we all called it a night when we got in.

Sunday morning we woke up to this pretty awesome little kid...

How cute is he?! Looking just like his daddy, as always.  We played with Sonny, ate some breakfast, and then decided to spend the only day D.J. didn't have to go to the complex hiking Camelback Mountain, something I have wanted to do since hearing about it. 

The views from the top were amazing, but it was no easy hike. D.J. told me halfway through that if he knew we were going to be rock climbing, he would have stayed home! IT WAS SO HARD, but so worth it! At times, I seriously thought we were going to be higher than the clouds. Take a look at how beautiful these pictures are.

 This was right when I thought we were getting close to the top...only to realize we were about 1/5 of the way there!

 One of the many times when I looked up and thought "Am I seriously about to climb this?!"

Amazing right?! You could seriously see all the way across the valley. It was stunning. 

We got back to the apartment around 3:30 with groceries and went to church at 5 and ended the day with this beautiful sunset. iPhone camera doesn't do it justice!

Monday the guys went to the complex and Maria and I spent the day inside since it was raining. We got a quick workout in and spent the day staring at this one make this face...

I mean...come on! Out of nowhere he just started making the kissy face and it was precious.  It truly is amazing to see what kids can learn in a week.  Within the seven days I was there, I saw Sonny really learn how to walk, break skin on a new tooth, learn to imitate me, and make new noises and faces.  I cannot WAIT to experience this first hand with my own mini me! 

Tuesday we met the guys at the big league game to watch some of our friends play in the game.  Sonny had his first experience with grass and wasn't a big fan! He would rather be in Uncle D.J.'s arms :)

Later that night we went to the Westgate Entertainment District in Glendale, AZ, which is where the Superbowl was held this year! It's also where the Coyotes play games, lots of restaurants, and the best part of all - the outlets!

Some of the best baseball friends a girl could ask for. Thanks again to the Haase's for letting us spend the week at their apartment!

Wednesday I drove over to Scottsdale to get lunch with Martha Kate and spent the afternoon at the Dodgers game.  

Thursday we decided to go to the big league game again since Merritt, another pitcher that played in Carolina last season, was making his big league Spring Training debut! It was awesome to see him out there - so well deserved!

Maria and Eric were able to enjoy a nice night out with Auntie Cayte and Uncle D.J. babysitting! We took Sonny on walk to the swings, but when we started walking he fell asleep.  I think he thought I was crazy...

And on the last day I was there, we enjoyed the sunshine at the pool.  Even though we couldn't go to the pool any other days, it was the best way to end the trip.  It left me wanting more and I cannot wait till the summer rolls around!

D.J. and I spent the night together and I enjoyed my first casino experience! We made another stop out the outlets and saw this awesome hot air balloon festival! It has been one of my dreams to go on a hot hair balloon for a while now, and it was so cool to see them in person so close.  I hope one of these days we are able to make that dream come true!

 

The visit was so needed and I am so thankful for the opportunity that baseball gives us to explore. I can't wait to see what this season brings and I am incredibly proud to call myself the wife of a minor league baseball player, especially D.J.'s wife! Let the countdown till we see each other again!