Helloooooo Weekend!

Friday, Friday, gettin' down on Friday! Wussup Rebecca Black?!

I am so excited the weekend is here! After this week, it is much needed!

I attempted the gym last night—it went well, don't worry! I was nervous, even though my leg was feeling a little better. I took it easy in my lifting class and went a little more "HAM" in my kickboxing class. I ended up burning 830 cals in a little less than two hours, so I was happy. 

Soooo I guess this is where I say..."you were right" to my friends that told me to stay home and rest!

And a big shout out to the frozen corn in my freezer that was by my side (but really on my leg). 

I have a fun weekend planned...today sometime I am going to PFN (Power Full Nutrition—I will be referring it to PFN from now on because I am type-lazy) ;). I am going to get a "body scan"—which measures:

1. Percentage of Body Fats
2. Percentage of Water in Your Body (let's face it...I LOVE SALT.)
3. Muscle Mass
4. Bone Mass
5. Visceral Fats (the fats around your vital organs & abdominal area)  <---- ummm...YIKES?!
6. Basal Metabolic Rate (the calories you burn at rest-vital to help you shape up)
7. Body Metabolic Age

I'm excited but nervous...I hate knowing the reality of my body. But...I'm sure it's not THAT bad, since I do take care of it for the most part. 

Tonight I will be heading to my sisters in North Liberty for a birthday party. I always enjoy visiting her and my niece, Tweets. Andrea and I call her and Beebs—Tweebs or Beets. :) Clever, huh?

Tomorrow, I am going to take time to myself and rest. My allergies are here because Spring decided to finally show up. I like days when I don't have a single plan.

I assume after my body scan, I will pig out this weekend. Here are a couple of photos that sum it up! :)

PS-this is the ONLY reason I eat this kind of food: chips and salsa! 

Seriously...can never have just one!

We all have those days, right? :) Have a great weekend!

All Aboard!

Let's just say today's post has been something I have been putting off...shame on me!

In my home town, there is a bar called Rails Bar and Grill. My dad and step mom own it. I work there when they need me and enjoy it. 

I recreated their menus, inserts about specials, upcoming event flyers, and their Facebook page. A while ago, (this is where the shame on me comes into play) they had asked me to design shirts for them. This was like...back in December. 

I'm just now getting them done. I haven't gotten the official "OK" from my step mom. But I have sent many designs out to different people to get their opinions. 

Here's what we've come up with...

Front corner

Back (The skull from the front is in the "conductors seat" of the train on the back...you can't see him unless you're up close!)

We are attempting to get koozies and ladies tanks, too. 

Overall, I'm very pleased with the design!

The Struggle...

If you don't follow me on Twitter or Instagram, then I have a story for youuuu. I feel as if everyone in my family (or a majority) have some sort of injury right now. ...Welcome to the club, Miss McGrath!

I was in my Monday exercise class...Cardio drill...which I had ran 2 miles prior to...towards the last 20 minutes of class we started doing a running tabata.

Before the tabatas, we had done mountain climbers, star jumps, and push ups...I could feel in my hip flexor and quads that something wasn't right. I figured it was just because it was Monday...hadn't worked out since kickboxing on Thursday...well I wanted to get the full effect of this running/shuffling/skipping tabata, so I knew I needed to sprint. My first burst through the room I felt a pop in my left quad and a tug/tighten/pinch in my right.

It was one of those moments where your body goes numb and you can't feel anything but the specific areas pain. I tried to run again, thinking I could run out this "knot." Boy was I wrong...I proceeded to skip and shuffle while my classmates flew by me. These two forms weren't so bad on my quads, but I knew I had done something really wrong.

When we moved to abs, I figured I would just stretch my quads/legs. My left leg, which I'm 95% sure is pulled, was limp—basically. I had to pick it up with my hands. With my hands, seriously? I had only pulled a muscle once before—my left hammy during a dance class my first year of college. I could have thrown up. When you injure yourself, do you feel like you could vom? That's always been what happens to me...like when I got hit with a pool ball during carpet ball right on my elbow in middle school. Instant vom rush.

Anyways...I was pretty upset about what happened. I have come along so well in my work outs with cardio, lifting, stretching, ect. and especially my diet. Taking a day off in my normal routine will drive me completely bonkers and make me feel "fat" after a day or two off. It's just how my body and mind work together. I came across this saying, "The struggle is part of the story."

How true is that? I have to stay positive about this set back! If I sit around and mope or be stubborn, there is no way I will progress in the future or for the future. So when I get somewhere in the long run, I can look back on this and say something like...I overcame these obstacles and be proud of my end result.

I can't wait for that moment...but right now, it sucks. It really sucks!

Do you have any struggles that were part of a success story for you?

Have a great Tuesday, while I limp around with a bag of ice saran wrapped to my leg! :P

It's Time...

So I remember saying something like when the wedding invites were sent out by the couple, I would post them...

So happy Monday to you, here they are!

[Peacock theme wedding invite on white pearlized paper & a purple pearlized card stock back]

[RSVP on white pearlized paper & a purple pearlized card stock back]

These were mailed in purple pearlized envelopes. I'm happy with their turnout!

The programs are still underway...

To be continued...

Designer By Day...

Every Thursday night I attend a kickboxing class at Ames Racquet & Fitness.

I remember about a year ago, when I first moved to Ames, I attended this class. Seriously...so difficult for me. I gave up after one class and stuck to my ONE cardio class on Mondays. I don't know what got me back, but ever since...last fall, I am obsessed with kickboxing.

I have never taken such before...so I couldn't really tell ya if it's the kickboxing that kills me or the instructor + her format. Either way, hats off!

The instructor is, sadly, leaving this summer in June. I have gotten to know her in the last few months and will be bummed to see her go. Probably a month or so ago, we were sitting outside the class and I joked about how the regulars should get to meet the candidates for her position and choose who we like. She then mentioned to me that I should look into teaching and thought I'd be great at it.

Listen here, the only thing I've ever taught is CPR and lifeguarding...from a book. I sweat and get flustered when it's anything else in a group of 10+. I've gone back and forth about doing this. What will it take? Am I in that good of shape for people to follow my lead? Will I know what steps to do? Will people come and like me and the class? So many thoughts...but...I guess if I can teach people how to save lives, I could probably tell someone to punch and kick, eh?

Last week, the instructor introduced me to the "chief" of the group fitness classes. The gal seemed a little exhausted (weren't we all?!) since we just got done with kickboxing. So I wasn't sure if it was the right time. But apparently it was...because she e-mailed me yesterday to ask if I was really wanting to pursue this.

So this is happening...I am becoming a fitness instructor (starting with kickboxing...and going from there)! Designer by day...Fitness instructor by night.

My Alter Ego...Sorta

I came up with one more conclusion as of last night...this can be my #10.

I went to a nutrition class at...you guessed it, Power Full Nutrition, last night. One of the people that was attending asked me what I did...we carried on with conversation and found our way back to our occupations. She asked, "If you weren't a graphic designer, what would you want to do?" 

I have been asked this before...another time being in my interview for the job I currently have. Of course, I responded something along the lines of I'm not sure because I really love what I do. After last night...I firmly believe it's okay to answer that question honestly. I mean, I do love what I do, don't get me wrong. (My conscious is saying "THINK OF SOMETHING CREATIVE, MCGRATH!") But let's say the world didn't have graphic designers (yeah right!) or I was forced (LOL!) to change my job...

This was my last thought before closing my eye lids last night...

Ready? Drum roll...

...


(Deb, you'll like this!) I would totally study or attempt to be a food artist! You probably have seen more food artistry than you think. Food ads, magazines, billboards, menus, ect. Someone actually puts those things together and it's usually not the restaurants chef. 

My friend and coworker (S/O: Sup, Deb?!) works often with food artists (or stylists...whichever your prefer to label them as) more often than I do (actually, a LOT more than I do). If i'm on set, I usually just stand back and watch. It's a cool thing.

These people may have played with their food a little too much when they were younger... But really, it's a gift, if you ask me. Food artistry can range from the Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair, to sculpting ostrich eggs, noodle/mosaic portraits, party pieces (see below!), and like I said above, creating the pieces you see in photos in menus, ads, and magazines.

You also may not know that these food stylists pay attention to the smallest details...where a piece of cheese is placed, how the light hits a certain kind of meat on a plate, how green the broccoli is in the background, where the fork and knife are placed, what color and type of dish the food will go on or in, ect. My favorite part to tell about this occupation is that they have a ton of tricks and secrets. Check out a Hy-Vee ad...that ice cream? Probably mashed potatoes with food coloring. The meat? Probably cooked (not all the way, either) with a torch. How shiny the meat looks? Probably water sprayed onto it to give it a savory look.

I don't want to give away all the things I know, but doesn't this change your perspective?!

I found this on Pinterest...isn't is cool?!

When I did get to go to photo shoots, there were times when we did get to eat the food. And, yes, it was cooked all the way! :) Here are a few examples of what we got to eat last fall. These are from the Tassel Ridge magazine, Simply Extraordinary.

The food stylist and her understudy (I can't remember what to call it) put these (divine) treats and snacks together. Between the stylists, the photographer, and the designer...they all contributed to the setup of each of the photos. It takes longer than ya think!

There's your food for thought today. (See what I did there?) Have a happy Thursday! And to all you Iowans—stay warm! ;)

Conclusions...

There are many conclusions I've come across the last few days.

1. Movie theater popcorn almost ALWAYS makes me feel awful inside and out...hours after I've devoured it.
2. Mark Wahlberg is just flippin sexy (I went to see Pain & Gain last night)...along with Tom Hardy (who isn't in that movie...but it's a toss up for me). I mean...if I could just go on a date (or 100) with one of them...my life would be complete.
3. Designing wedding programs has been the most difficult task of my wedding package debut.
4. Why can't I decide between Bodoni and Univers (and yes, it is spelled that way)?!
5. Star 102.5 is never going to notice my persistency when it comes to "Grand In Your Hand."
6. Whitening my teeth will never feel good (see ya enamel).
7. As much as I enjoy my job, this time of year always makes me miss college. I just loved the feeling after finishing finals...having summers off...oh the days.
8. I think I might be hooked on Power Full Nutrition shakes.
9. I'm flower deprived. I love to garden...more like plant and take care of flowers. I don't do the veggie gardening stuff...yet.

I only have 9 conclusions instead of 10 because I decided to delete that one...such a touchy subject, I figured I should keep it to myself :)

I decided to post pictures of them clothed...I'll let you decide when the time is right to see them without their shirts on :) 

Happy Wednesday!