Happy New Year!

I already miss randomly belting out, "It's the MOST wonderful time of the yeeeear!" Christmas? Come back!

Let's talk about the undeclared resolutions that happened to yours truly in 2014:

1. Zucchini, broccoli, sweet potatoes? I never had it in my plan fall in love with, let alone, eat more veggies!

2. Personal development. I seriously jumped right in! It's been a total game changer! 20 minutes while getting ready (thank you Audible) and throwing in a Jim Rohn CD in the car!

3. The 6 pack I somehow acquired at the end of Spring. I'll be working even harder for that this year!

4. Starting CrossFit. One year ago, I wasn't even thinking about CrossFit. I knew very little about it. With that: competing!

5. Moving and eliminating television from my life. (You'd be surprised how much crap is in the news!)

Now onto, what I would love to see in 2015. These are things I will work on, but let's be real here, these may not happen and other (possibly even BETTER) things may arise.

1. We know traveling won't be an issue considering Colorado, Hawaii, and St. Louis are all in the picture.

2. Priorities. Really figuring out what my priorities are at 24/25 years old. 

3. Really being in the moment on the travels I have in 2015. Documenting every moment, taking notes, and exploring!

4. Working on my weaknesses at CrossFit: rowing, pull ups, snatch to name a few!

5. Stretching more! I'm fairly flexible, but I could always be better! Plus stretching will release tension in other areas (back, neck, and better recovery).

Back Tracking to Sparrows!

I was going back through my recent posts and I didn't realize I forgot to fill you in on a couple of things! 

First off, the Saturday before the holidays is when my family had Christmas. First stop: tattoos with my mom and sister! 

There is one thing that can get my heart to stop and my sweat to be uncontrollable and that's getting tattooed! This one wasn't as bad as my wrist...but maybe that's because my friend Tracy did them! Go visit Heroic Ink in Ames (precisely right around the block from my apartment)!

My mom was such a trooper. Not only did she go first of the three, but her first words, "...That's it?" TROO-PER.

Somehow my mom and I were so distracted that we didn't get a photo of Andrea getting her new ink. But my sister did a good job of making sure she got photos of our finished product!

These sparrows signify myself, my sister, my mom, and the pink as my mom's mom (my grandma Cookie) who passed away from breast cancer. When she was going through treatment, she had a small glass sparrow that had a story along with it. After she passed, my aunt and my mom both got a sparrow to remember her by. It has since become the Laubenthal girl emblem. (Cindy and Jenn, you're next! :) )

What a treat! We had so much fun that day. Eventually, I'll get to posting more about that day. :) 

Then, we proceeded back to EG where we had Christmas with my dad's side of the family. My dad and Sandy have a rather LARGE house...and just those two and 4 pets live in it, and it somehow is getting smaller every holiday! :) We enjoyed jokes, watching the kiddos peek into their presents, and a "Chinese" gift exchange. Don't get me wrong when I tell you I didn't hold back on my present. So when you put in a gift at this exchange, you get one out based on a number you draw. I gave Chocolatarie Stam Chocolates (seriously, DIVINE) and Starbucks gift card. What did I get?

CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY! Hilarious! Collin and I have played just us two, trying to come up with the most obnoxious statements or answers. I can't wait to play in a group!

That night, my dad and Sandy's bar had an 80s party...

Motley Crue? Twisted Sister? We'll never know...

I'm not the best at dressing for the 80s...but I took what I could get! 

Sunday was spent with my mom's side of the family, including my aunt Cindy and uncle Larry! I love hanging out with them!


And that's a wrap of my family's holiday weekend!

Oh, right before this holiday craze we received some news...Collin and I have been working our booties off in 2014. So what happens when hard work pays off?

YOU GET A TRIP TO HAWAII!!!

That's pretty darn exciting!

Post-Holiday Catch Up

Finding time to update you on the holidays was quite a task! Apologies!

I didn't realize I would have so much going on.

Christmas Eve was spent working until 5pm and then heading out to a celebration with Collin. We met up with some friends and enjoyed a few hours of casual convo.

After leaving the party, Collin and I got the idea that "cruising" was definitely a good one! Remember when you would do that in high school? It twas the thing to do! So Ames, on Christmas Eve, is not an eventful time to "cruise." But we made the most of it by checking out holiday lights and walking around Target for some time and walking out with a jar of pickles and salsa........

We opened eachothers gifts and what can I say? My guy knows me so well! :) We really try to go for more practical gifts and then throw in a surprise gift that isn't so practical. These would be things that I really want or like...or need, but don't want to buy myself "just yet." It's awesome to look at how practical varies from person to person!

A new pair of slick CrossFit shoes to kick off 2015 was perfect.

Out with the old, in with the new! Plus, they're my favorite color! GREEN. <3 These were a deadly (steal of a) price that I know was irresistible. Lucky girl!

And then there was this! While I was gone, in NJ, Collin picked up these gems, hung them, and then "wrapped" them while they hung on the wall for another two weeks. It was hard not to peek, but I was definitely surprised...LOVE! Like, really, he is SO thoughtful! And I am so proud of him for making such awesome use of the conduit!

Christmas day was spent traveling, eating delicious food, and Collin, his mom, and I went to 'Unbroken.' 

The story of (olympian) Louis Zamperini during WWII, after a near-fatal plane crash, spending 40 sum odd days in a raft with two fellow crewmen before he's caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a POW camp. It was pretty raw, I won't lie, but seriously, one of the best movies of all time! I get a (some-what weird) sense of nostalgia when I see WWII movies. Not that I lived during that time (obviously...maybe?), but I really admired my Grandpa Don and his brother who served in that war.  I have always been super interested in that time period. I would give it 5 stars...and I'd go see it again!

The weekend was spent catching up, attempting to regain my endurance at CrossFit, scratching off the scratch tickets (which I won $14.00 with!), and a UNI WRS reunion during the UNI basketball game on Sunday.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Happy (Merry?) Christmas Eve!

What a wonderful time of year! Besides Home Alone 1 & 2, my favorite party has to be the ambiance of the holiday season...Dec. 1 to the very day of Christmas! The rush, the hustle, the planning, ect.
I love it!

I am grateful for so many things this holiday season! Health, functionality, my job just to name a few. Obvious ones being my friends and family! But one particularly sticks out to me this season. And that would be the family I have become a part of at Max Oxygen. The very first day I stepped into that facility, something was different. Not in a bad way, but I knew it was where we wanted and needed to be. I have become a better athlete, discovered my weaknesses (hello gymnastics!) and my strengths, developed the best of friendships, become a family with these people, and really learned what accountability is all about. I have to give a shout out to all of the members I go to class with, they put up with my obnoxious dancing and singing! Much appreciated!

On a different note, this season I realized how much more I loving giving gifts than I do getting gifts. I spend about 90% of the time (during the holiday season) planning and organizing what I am getting my loved ones, 9% actually shopping, and 1% answering to others what I want when they ask.

I hope you have the best Christmas season yet & a wonderful 2015!

Clicked...12/19/2014

Something has completely clicked in my head as of recent. 

It's like my mental/emotional strength has really stepped up its game. 

I feel it, I can see it, I am overly joyed about it. 

While constantly trying to battle image issues, I have found the beauty in my journey physically. And please don't give me the, "oh my gosh, Mollie, you are so ____________." I don't respect the person that comes back saying you're skinny, you're perfect, you're yada yada. Like, no, you don't know, at all. I might be different from you, but I wasn't asking for a pity party. I have goals.

No, I don't look like I did in April when I was rocking a solid 6-pack---1st time ever in my life, but I am stronger now then I was when I had that 6 pack. Do I want it back? Abso-freakin-lutely, but I have other goals to reach before I begin to cut again. Things like: 3 set of 3 reps of 210lb back squat. My 1 rep max is currently at 195 lbs ...Or 1 ring muscle up, 100lb snatch, and consistent butterfly pull ups. 

I have so many things to do! Currently, I'm building. You might also hear this as "bulking" for some people, but I'm not going rogue on my eating habits. That's usually what they're doing. But I'm more so consistently feeding my body of the right things (fruits, veggies, fats, proteins) more often. I have more beige food than an ideal (lean) person might have, but those are easy for me to cut out.

But I am so happy right now. I am surrounded by the people that I know will:
1. push me
2. help me
3. encourage me
and 4. have two hats: a friend hat and a I know you can do better than that (coaching) hat.

I appreciate these people more than I can ever say.

 Big things are coming in 2015 for me. I know it.

Wish List?!

Do you remember what you asked for as a kid?

My list(s) were SO LONG. Ridiculous toys, things I "NEEDED", ect. Like, I totally took for granted whenever my mom bought be clothes for the holidays! DANG IT! Now, I'd love if someone else bought my clothes, right?!

Now that I'm older...like way older than when I'm talking about above, I have a hard time coming up with anything when my parents, sister, boyfriend, whoever, ask me what I want for Christmas. I mean, besides paying of my car and student loans...anyone, anyone?!

Let me show you a few toys I had or that may have shown up on my 6-10 year old Christmas lists...prepare for nostalgia:

Dinky Dino, anyone? I had the yellow one! 

Mermaid Barbies?!

And I loved these dinosaur toys more than I loved Barbies. Truth.

I usually wrote how mad I was at my sister if she forgot to pick me up from school.

I couldn't have been the only one obsessed with Aladdin, right?

I know Brittney Pamperin will love this one!

Similar to photo one, but with a more popular name: TAMAGOTCHI!

So jelly of their bling suits!

Quite possibly the most messy thing ever.

If I knew what I know now, when I wanted these Happy Meal toys....

Brittney Pamperin strikes again! I got one of these from her for Christmas in elementary!

My sister and I could seriously have a pretty sick throw down with these still to this day!

And disclaimer for how inappropriate this post is going to be: learning the form of HJs since 1994. GAH!

I would always leave a message on this for my grandpa and put it in random spots. He would do the same. What a guy!

As an adult, I can laugh at all of the things I thought I would be dead without. I mean, now, it's more about getting to see my family, seeing my nieces and nephews faces when they open their gifts, seeing how excited my parents and siblings are when they get something that means a lot to them, and just the overall feeling of the holiday season is enough for me. I enjoy giving gifts more than getting them...it's been that way since I started college I'd say.

Take this time of year to appreciate the time you get to spend with family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

Transformation Tuesday...12/16/14

Happy Transformation Tuesday, Ya'll! Don't worry, you don't get ONE post today...but TWO!

Oh...

My...

Goodness...

Ok, busted. I thought I was "pretty fly" 2.5 years ago (left photo...say 'hello' to Mollie 2012). I remember this photo well. Because I photoshopped it. PHOTOSHOPPED. YEP, you read that correctly. I don't have the original photo, but boy do I wish I did! I remember YouTubing tricks to nail a "slim" body look in Photoshop. I don't think I did too well, but at the time, it was right.

Now, I'm not saying I did this to all of my photos, but I did it to some...the ones I posted, more than likely. I miss that shirt (on the left), I wonder what it would fit like now. But, in a way, I'm glad I donated it. I didn't need that shirt of bad, unfortunate memories in my closet anymore.

The photo on the right? Not Photoshopped, no filters, nada...Just a photo taken with my phone. *Disclaimer* I know it says pic lab in the corner, but that's the App I used to put these photos side-by-side.

I mean, besides the figure, LOOK AT THAT SKIN! Yooowza! I was known for my ridiculously 'oily' complexion. Yes, I still get zits occasionally, but my face on the right is fueled by Herbalife's SKIN line. Simply amazing!

There are days that I feel like I'm constantly in a bragging state about my transformation(s). But in reality, I'd be selfish NOT sharing it. Seeing these photos side-by-side has completely changed my inner talk. And it has inspired me to HELP OTHERS.

HELP OTHERS reach and achieve their goals. That is such a gift. I am so thankful I was where I was 2.5-3 years ago...I'm such a better person now. If I can do it...YOU can do it.