Kelsie Fox

We got back last Sunday night from a 4 night vacation in Punta Cana.  It went wayyy too fast.  It was like a blink of an eye and we were both back at our desk working Monday morning.  We stayed at Secrets Royal Beach and it was exactly what we thought it would be.  It is an adult only all inclusive.  The weather was perfect; sunny and at least 80 degree everyday.  The beach was really beautiful and the property was well taken care of.  I think the only thing we would have changed or didn't like was the food. Since it is an all inclusive I think they focus more on quantity rather than quality. We have been trying to eat healthy lately and they really didn't have very many healthy options there.

We didn't get vary many good pictures, especially of the two of us, but here are the ones we did get.

Last week feels like a long time ago. I was able to fit in 20 miles and a few yoga classes and that's about it for the week.

Sunday: Rest

Monday: 4 miles

Tuesday: 4 miles

Wednesday: 4 miles

Thursday: 5 miles

Friday: 3 miles + Hot Yoga

Saturday: Rest

After hot yoga on Friday night

Total miles: 20
Other workouts: 1 yoga class

Pretty weak week in terms of workouts.  My December term class is taking up a lot of my time and I just can't wait to be done with it.  I'm hoping recording my weekly workouts will keep me more accountable so why wait until 2016 to get started!

I'm working on a weekend recap, but our weekend wasn't too exciting since I spend most of it writing my final paper!  We have a few showings for our apartment tonight and I wish I had more time to clean it, but oh well, hopefully we find a renter so that we can finalize when we are moving. So glad Monday is almost over and only 1 day of work left until we are laying on the beach,

Well the next few months are going to be a whirlwind. So I thought I'd catch you all up on the latest!

• We are moving. Don't know when or how, but it's happening.  We are moving out to the suburbs.  Although it will be sad to leave the city and an apartment we have grown so comfortable in, it will be so nice to have more space (we will probably be moving into a two bedroom rather than a one bedroom like we have now). It will also be fun to change up our decor.  We haven't really changed much in the almost 3 years that we have been at our place so it will be nice to freshen things up.  The building we are looking at in the suburbs has floor to ceiling windows in the living room so I'm hoping we get on a high floor, facing south and can get lots of light.
• I'm taking an accelerated MBA class this month called Leadership in Organizations.  It's half online and half in class.  The last class is tonight which will be a relief, but I somehow have to write a 10-20 page paper about myself before we leave next Wednesday. Yay :) Overall it was a really interested class with a lot of group and class discussions, but as expected a lot crammed into an already hectic month!
• The overplanner that I am is already figuring out what I'm going to pack for Punta Cana next week. I'm thinking lots of hats, no blow dryer, minimal make up, swimsuits, and sundresses. I always seem to stress over what to pack and end up overpacking (go figure), but this time I'm hoping I plan ahead enough and pack just right. Lucky for me there isn't many beach clothes out in stores right now so I'm not tempting to buy anything new for the trip.

Happy Wednesday! I hate to say it, but I can't believe we aren't closer to the weekend at this point. I think I'm just extra exciting about leaving next Wednesday that the next week is going to move like molasses. I'm officially on a 3 day blog streak and I'm so excited about it.  Follow me on instagram here to get even more updates!

I don't have a full on Christmas list, but thought I'd post a few things I'm loving lately..

I am loving this dress and especially the price.  I love that is has sleeves so it could be good for a winter holiday party.  Or a spring wedding.

35 Lessons - I love lists like this.  It really makes me reflect on my own life and what I have learned.

As soon as my face wash, cleansers run out, I'll be checking out this lovely "Face Collection".  I'm dying to check it out. I mentioned this company yesterday in my new years resolution post so why not get a head start on my resolutions?!

So I decided I'm going to try Eyebrow/eyelash tinting at Benefits Brow Bar this weekend.  Am I nervous?  Yes, a little bit. But it says the tinting only lasts about a month and I think it's worth trying before my beach vacation next week since I will be sans make up most of the time.  I have the blondest eyebrows and eyelashes so unless they end up tinting them orange then I think it will be an improvement. I'll keep you posted on how it goes..

It's no secret that I love a good backpack.  I have been crushing on this Henri Bendel Jetsetter Backpack.  I can't decide if I like the gray one or the black one better.  I'm trying to refrain from buying any new bags.. at least until after the holidays.. I know, wish me luck.

As 2015 comes to the close, I've starting to think about my new years resolutions for 2016. I'm trying to come up with some reasonable resolutions.  What I'm struggling with is that most of the resolutions that I have come up with are not as measurable as I wish they could be.  So here are the resolutions I am thinking of.  I have the next few weeks to narrow it down and hopefully come up with a way to measure their success.

• Complain less; see the positive more. It's so easy to spiral into seeing the negative in things and voicing that.  I get that situations are not always going to be rainbows and butterflies, but I think making a conscious effort to be more grateful for everything I've been blessed with in my life can't hurt.
  
• Be more present.  Hi my name is Kelsie, and I'm a social media addict.  My latest obsession is instagram.  I just love it.  I love the fitness motivation.  I love the shopping.  I love the decor inspiration.  It's so easy to just hope on the app and the next thing I know a half hour has passed or I've stayed up later than planned because I just get caught up.  But even more importantly when I am with other people, I want to be more present.  Less on my phone and more enjoying my company.
  
• Be more organized.  Now, I'm not sure if I am wording this correctly, because it's not necessarily keeping my closet clean, but more being more efficient to make my life easier.  Meal planning.  Setting out my work out clothes the night before. I don't mean to say I don't want my closet clean and no dishes in the sink, but that's not the resolution.  I want to have a plan for my days and have everything ready to make my life easier, smoother, and less stressful.
  
• Be more accountable and purposeful in my workouts.  It's been so easy for me to just check the box.  With so much else going on in my life lately, I'm lucky to fit in 30 minutes on the treadmill which means I don't have to think about it.  I can just check the box.  I think in 2016 I'm going to try to use this blog to be more accountable and make my workout more meaningful.  Hopefully by posting my workouts weekly it will make me reflect on what is working for my body and what is enjoyable for my mind.
  
• Be more conscious about what I put in, on, and around my body.  Make up, skin care, soap, shampoo, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent... Soooo many chemicals. I recently watched a presentation on the company Beauty Counter and it really inspired me to be more aware of the products I'm putting on my skin.  I want to make an effort to slowly more towards chemical free products. I realize that won't happen over night as it would be sooo expensive, but as I use up current products I'd like to stock up on ones that I know won't be harmful to my body.
  
• Drink more water and be consistent about taking vitamins.
  
• Try meditation.  And by try I mean not just once, but try it consistently for 30 days and see what I really think of it. This year I read a few "self-help" books and it amazed me how many recommended meditation so there has to be some magic to it.  One thing I do know for sure is that it can't hurt. 

Well what do you know.. It's been another couple of months since my last post.  Things have been busy with weekends filled out family, friends, weddings, celebrations, birthday, thanksgiving.  I'll share a few pictures of all of the big events we've had going on.

We are 10 days away from heading to our vacation in Punta Cana and it still feels so far away.  I definitely need to do some inventory on my beach clothes.  I'm sure I'll be packing nothing but swimsuits and sundresses which will be so nice.  I did a little online shopping to see if I could find any cute suits or sundresses, but most places don't even have anything out yet let alone on sale. That's probably best since I have plenty of beach clothes as it is.

We will come right back from our beach vacation ready to celebrate the holidays.  We skipped out on fully decking out our apartment in Christmas decorations this year.  We are hoping to be moving soon so we avoided it for fear of having to pack up all the decor along with all of our other belongings after the holidays.  Plus with us being gone a lot for the month of December, I think we will just appreciate our parents decorations when we go to visit them for the holidays.

Celebrating the Wedding of our good friends Lauren and Don!

At the wedding celebration

Celebrating our Hawkeyes post wedding celebration

Celebrating Mom's birthday

Celebrating Mom's birthday

Celebrating a wedding on Halloween