Five on Friday

It's time for another Five on Friday with my favorite ladies! I'll be linking up with AprilChristinaNatasha, and Darci for Five on Friday and Amanda for Friday Favorites.

ONE:
I met a sweet girlfriend {Hi Melis!} for Happy Hour yesterday at one of my favorite restaurants, Vivace. If you live in Raleigh than you can attest to how wonderful the food and wine selection is here, not to mention the outdoor patio is my favorite too. It was such a fun evening catching up, sipping cocktails and enjoying this heavenly cheese board.
TWO:
I've been wanting a pair of Espadrilles flats for a while now but can't seem to pull the trigger on a pair. So I need your advice, which pair do you like?
Barca Sailor Stripe Espadrilles
Sam Edelman Lynn Espadrilles
THREE:
I love fresh flowers, there is something about fresh flowers that can brighten up my day instantly. It is an easy way to freshen up your house or add color to your tablescape when hosting a party. But I am always trying to make them last a little bit longer so when I read this article on Apartment Therapy, I was excited to see which theory works the best.
source
FOUR:
The adorable Ashley from Girl Talk is on her way to Florida and will be setting sail on Sunday, I am so jealous of the fun and sunshine that she will be enjoying for the next 7 days! She has a week full of fabulous women that will be guest posting while she is gone. Make sure to stop by on Tuesday to see what I'll be talking about :)!
Girl Talk by Ashley
FIVE:
I'll leave you with the quote that has been my motivation recently. I've been focused on being my best self, not being afraid of what is ahead and surrounding myself with the people that make me a better wife, daughter, sister, friend, and co-worker.
 I hope everyone has a wonderful, relaxing weekend! Cheers to Friday!

Fitness Motivation: Get Going & Get Results

I've always enjoyed exercising and love discovering new workout classes in the area. I find that if I can work out a couple times each week that I feel better and have a little more energy. I always wish that I could squeeze in a few more workouts than I do each week but I have to be realistic with myself and right now, our days fill up quickly with other obligations.

I was recently given the opportunity to work with Orangetheory Fitness, a revolutionary workout concept that has been featured in the New York Times, Bloomberg, Men's Fitness, and many other news publications. They have just opened 3 studios in the Raleigh area so I was very excited to see what it was all about.
Orangetheory Fitness is a unique group workout broken into intervals of cardio and strength training. You will alternate between treadmills, indoor rowing machines and weight room/resistance training blocks. Each session that I have attended has been unique and different which I really enjoy because I tend to get bored {very quickly} if my workout routine is same. That definitely won't happen if you make the investment in Orangetheory Fitness!

The sessions are led by professional and very energetic trainers that are there to support and encourage you during the entire workout which was a huge motivator for me. I'll be honest, the last 10 minutes were tough - my legs were shaking, my arms were already sore and the sweat was pouring down my face - but our trainer kept us going until the very end.

During the 60 minute workout, you will wear a heart-rate monitor which is designed to help you keep your heart rate in a target zone that stimulates metabolism and increases energy. Everyone's heart rates are projected on TV screens throughout the workout so you can see if you need to push yourself harder or slow down to reach the target "orange zone." If you stay within the orange zone for 12 - 20 minutes during the class, the result is the Orange Effect - more energy, visible toning and extra calorie burn up to 36 hours post-workout. Who doesn't love to hear that their workout will continue to drive results even post-workout?!

After the workout, you will receive an email with a recap showing how you did during the class to easily track your progress. If your goal is to lose weight, you can expect to see an estimated loss of 3-5 pounds by attending 3-5 sessions per week. But if your goal is performance, like me, you can expect to see an increase in power, speed and strength after your first 2 weeks by attending 2-4 sessions per week. As I train for my upcoming half-marathon in October, I will continue to attend at least 2 sessions each week and will let you know the results that I am able to achieve after crossing the finish line in Philadelphia.
You can also expect to burn an estimated 500 to 1,000 calories per workout. During my first session, I was able to burn approximately 755 calories in 60 minutes! This is my kind of workout.

Their studios are located all around the country, click here to see if there is one near you. If you are in the Raleigh area, they have a studio in Morrisville, Chapel Hill and Holly Springs. The Holly Springs location is where I attend classes - the entire staff is extremely friendly, willing to answer any of my questions and are just awesome people! :)
I highly recommend Orangetheory Fitness to anyone, it is challenging but incredibly rewarding. If you have any questions or would be interested in attending an upcoming class, feel free to email me! I'd love to have you join me.

Outfit Details:
Pants: Zella "Live In 2" Capris 
Top: Lululemon "Cool Racerback" tank 
Shoes: Brooks PureCadence 4 
Headband: Headbands of Hope Sheer Gold 

Current Obsessions: Summer Wardrobe

My closet received a complete overhaul this weekend {it felt so good} but this can only mean one thing in my mind, I need to spend some time at the mall this weekend. I am in desperate need of a few summer items to brighten up my wardrobe! 

Here's what I have my eye on right now.
1. J.Crew Sleeveless Floral Lace Sheath Dress {currently on sale with code summerlove}
2. 1.State Pleated Overlay Dress
3. Frenchi Woven Swing Tank
4. John Robshaw Alabat Beach Towel
5. J.Crew Punched-Out Eyelet Romper
6. Lilly Pulitzer Dusk Romper
7. J.Crew Silk Strappy Jumpsuit
8. J.Crew Midnight Floral Cocoon Top

Oh, and these Southern Saying Cocktail Napkins from Reese Witherspoon's new store called Draper James. If I could have one of everything, I would. I love her classic, Southern style.

They included a tab of "Southernisms" on their website and I have to admit that these are perfect!