Top posts of 2013

Its been a great year! Full of firsts and amazing opportunities. I feel blessed and I am so thankful for all of my readers and supporters. This blog wouldn't exist without YOU so thank you from the bottom of my heart. You allow me to do what I love. This has been a year full of tutorials, DIY, fashion, fitness and everything that makes me me, so I am going to start this week with a little post highlighting my top posts from 2013. Enjoy! And make sure to check them out.

 

 Anthropologie Inspired Knot Bedding Duvet {Tutorial}

This has got to be my favorite tutorial I have put on the blog. Mostly because a lot of blood, sweat and yes even tears went into this project. I love it because I am proud of it. I love it and will now probably never change my bedding. This is a great tutorial because it is so detailed and I am a beginner at sewing so seriously if I can make this YOU CAN!!! Thank you to Kojo Designs for the inspiration, I share with you my tweaks from their tutorial to make it even easier for us beginners and more washable for moms or babies and toddlers around. Check it out!!! Favorite Favorite! 

Being a Mom is the Best Job in the World

Yes, I truly believe that being a mom is the best job in the world. No, it is not perfect. No, it isn't always glamorous. Yes, it can be hard....even very hard.But it is the Most rewarding job in the entire world. It has the most sweet moments that I could never ever forget. The love that these two little boys bring to my life is indescribable. It is beautiful and so powerful. Read more of my thoughts on the post.

 At Home Busy Mom workouts {Part 1}

It is no secret how big of a part fitness plays a part in my life. I love to participate and I love to share it. So make sure to check out the three posts I have done so far full of at home workout ideas YOU can do. Look out for some more in 2014.

Sweet and Tangy Meatballs

You have got to check out this family favorite recipe. It is fast, easy and so delicious. Both my 1 and 3 year old boys love this dinner. Who doesn't want a recipe idea that you don't have to fight your kids to eat.

What I Wore {Birthday Celebration}

I love fashion. I love sharing what I wear and I especially love when I can put together a very in style and fashionable outfit for a great price. We all love a deal, we all love to save money and look good doing it right?! This is one of my favorite WIWW from this year. Simple, stylish, comfortable and a little bold.

Easy Superhero Capes

I made these darling capes for Maddux's birthday party this year for him and all of his friends. It was a super hero theme and we took the kids to the trampoline park to let them fly! It was a blast and then best part is how easy and fast these are to make and cheap hello!! Full tutorial on the link.

DIY Pallet Headboard

This is probably my second favorite project from this year and another one I am proud of. I love pallets and the rustic but chic look they can bring into home design. I knew I had to get my hands on some and when I did this is what happened. Full tutorial on the link

Celebrating the Success of Others

Last year in March one of my favorite shows, Studio 5, had this as their theme for the whole month. It really hit me. I feel like sometimes I can be a jealous person. I compare myself to others and I get upset when I do not live up to par. How silly is that. We are all different. We are all unique. We are all made to be true to ourselves. I loved this theme, because it helped me to see the beauty and success and amazing talents in others and how they are able to make the world a better place through those talents and skills.

USA Silhouette Slate Sign

I love this simple, but beautiful sign that I made. It represents so much to me. 4th of July is one of my very favorite holidays. I love celebrating the country that I feel so thankful and blessed to live in. We can accomplish anything here. We can be ourselves. It is where dreams come alive. And I am darn proud to be an American.

My Top 5 Packing Tips for a Move

My family moved to a new home in July and it is a lot of work. So I compiled 5 of my favorite tips for helping to make your next move more organized, less stressful and well easier. Go check it out to see what they are.

Crossfit Week one

This fall I started my crossfit journey in our garage with my brother. Go and read how it started, what we are doing and what is means for me in my fitness journey. Already this new year this journey has taken a turn to a gym and is getting more serious. I am so excited to see what this new year and new experience will bring to me in my life.

Ikea Table Makeover

Just a little furniture makeover that was easy, quick, cheap and made a huge difference in the look.

My ten minute Makeup routine

Who likes to take hours to get ready? Not this girl, but I do still like to look put together. I am a mom, I am busy and I just don't have time to take all the time in the world, so after many mornings of trying routines and products out I think I have got it done because well it doesn't take me any longer than 10 minutes. Come and see what I do and what I use.

Wood Chalkboard Banner

Love this gem. Easy, fast, cheap and it can be used all year round, in any room for just about anything. I love to make projects that can be used for many purposes.

Chevron Board backdrop

This ditty just came to be when I felt like I needed a little color and something tall to put behind some of my V-day decor and now I am able to use this backdrop all the time. Full tutorial on the link.

Painting Furniture Series from the Pinners Class

One of the highlights of this last year was being asked to be a teacher at the first ever and very successful pinners conference and expo. They asked me to teach a class on redoing and painting old wood furniture. I was nervous and so excited. Once I had everything set up and the classes started the nerves completely left I was like a new person up there. I love to teach and when it is something I am passionate about it is even easier and more enjoyable. It went awesome both of my classes were sold out and so I decided to share with all of my readers who couldn't make it to the class all my tips and tricks in this series of 4 posts so make sure to check them all out. all four links in the post link above.

Ikea metal trivet to necklace organizer, and mini flip calendar

Another highlight of this year is I was asked to be on Studio 5 three times. Seriously a dream come true. I fell so blessed to say I was on a show I watch everyday and love so much. This post was from the last segment I did on turning ordinary ikea items into something extraordinary for less than $10. So much fun check them out.

DIY Bright Marquee Letters

These are my favorite Christmas decor items aside from the tree. They were so happy "bright" and the glittery goodness made me happy every time I turned the corner or walking in my home and saw them. Make some of your own for every holiday!!!

DIY A-Frame Play tent

As a mom of two boys I knew I had to make them one of these bad boys. I have been seeing them around for a while, but when I figured out how to make my own easily and for much cheaper I knew I had to share it with all of you moms out there.

DIY headwrap Tutorial

This is one of my most popular posts. Headwraps are use right now and I m obsessed. I love them on he fashion side and I love them on the practical side to wear while working out.You can make your own by following the tutorial I laid out for you, or I will be opening up an etsy shop very shortly to sell them, so stay tuned for that announcement and all that goodness.

I would love to have you follow me on Instagram

@WHITNEYULRICH

to see all my fun pics, my real life, fitness, fashion ideas

and sneak peaks of what I've been working on

Thank you for your support, for reading and for following
It really means the world to me 

Make sure to check out my other social media sites and follow along

{Links below}

Crossfit {At home workouts anyone can do} Part 3 Plus ALBION FIT WINNER

It is Monday and what is a more perfect day to get your little tush into gear, get a good workout in and start your week off right? So tell those Monday blues to go away and lets get moving and the endorphins pumping. I know I am going to need it. Mondays and I usually are not friends, but if I start it off right we can tolerate each other. I will be working out this morning do it with me, virtually or come along if you want lol.

So today I am going to show you another warm up idea, or freak it could even be a workout it is pretty intense and then I am going to share with you another workout, Modified for home "Cindy".  But first make sure to check out my other workouts and warm ups here PART 1 and PART 2.You can also read about our crossfit garage gym HERE.

{Sample Warm up}- 

Can also be A Workout on its own

First of all let me start out by saying how important it is to start out with a warm up. You want to stretch your muscles and tendons and warm up your body. This will help prevent injuries and get your mentally ready for the workout ahead. So I am going to share with you another one of the warm ups we do. 

-First we start out with a block run. This is just a light jog around our block which is about 1/3 of a mile or about 500 m

-Next up 100 double unders if you can with the jump rope, or 200 singles, but the catch is every time you stop from 0-100 or 200 you have to do 5 burpees. Yeah fun times you will love me for it. 

 -Burpees {these are 5 every time you stop on your jump ropes} start in a standing position, bend down to a squat with your hands on the ground, push your feet back into a push up position, go down into a push up, come back up to push up top position, bring your legs back into the squat and stand straight up. Repeat.

- Box jump/situps combo. 10 box jumps- 5 sit ups every 1 jump. If you don't have a box, jump up on a stool or stairs. For the situps- bend your knees, open your hips and put the bottoms of your feet together in a butterfly position like the picture above then you will proceed with the sit up in this position. Lay back, then using your abs and pulling your back down to the mat sit up all the way to straight back sitting position, lay back down and repeat.

-Bear crawls- 2 laps around the garage. Bend down so feet and hands are planted on the ground with straight legs and arms walk around your garage. Think Mowgli crawl from The Jungle Book.

 -High jumps {10}

-Wall Squats {10}- You want to go up against a wall with your feet shoulder width apart, arms up with your hands on the wall, then you are going to squat down, keeping your chest and hands and inside of your knees against the wall then go back up against the wall, repeat.

 -Leg swings- 10 each leg from the side and 10 each leg front to back.

-Ankle Raises- 20 both feet, right only and left only.

-Next up are some good mornings. These are fantastic at stretching out those hammies, calves, back, abs and pretty much everything else. We use a PVC pipe to do these but you could totally just use a broom stick. You will place your hands about 6-8 inches past shoulder width place the bar behind your head, and resting on your shoulders, then you are going to bend at your hips to a 90 degree angle keeping your hammies tight, your head up and your back straight. This form is very important and will warm you up and stretch in all the right places. Then you will stand back up. And repeat until you have done 10.

-Good morning twist. This is the same start and form as the good morning but you will stay at the 90 degree position and twist your body to the left go back to the middle and twist your body to the right. Repeat until you have done 10.

 -Upright twist. This one you will have the same hand placement as the good morning and have it behind your head. Then you will simply twist from side to side keeping your feet planted in place. Repeat until you have done 10.

-Pass throughs. You will want a wide grip on the stick raising it above your head keeping your arms straight pass through to behind you, rotating your shoulders, then still  keeping your arms straight you will pass back up to over head and back down to your hips. Repeat until you have done ten.

 -Around the world. start with a wide grip, bar at your hips then rotate the bar to the left until it is behind you, then rotate it to the right until it is in front of you again and then repeat until you have done ten.

-Ninja Stretch on both arms hold for 20-30 seconds.

Ok that was kinda a crazy warm up and that is why you could also use that as your Work out for the day. I have and I felt fantastic after.

{WOD- Work out of the Day- Sample 2}

As Many rounds as you can complete in 20 minutes 

-5 handstand pushups or handstand holds

-10 push ups

-15 air squats 

Get your timers out its about speed how many an you get through in that 20 minute time frame.

Handstand hold- Kick up to a handstand against the wall hold and come down repeat 5 times.

OR Handstand pushup- Kick up to a handstand bend arms touch your head to the ground or put a pad there and then push back up using your arms, and repeat 5 times. Keeping your core tight, hips in a line and your bum tucked under.
 

-Pushups- on your hands and toes, core tight bum tucked under and hips in a line. Go down to chest on the ground and push back up. 

Air Squats- Start in a standing position with your feet about shoulder width apart. Before you do the squat it is important that when you are squatting down to keep your torso vertical, your weight on your heels, knees stay out- tracking over the feet. Then when you squat down you will keep your eyes forward and slightly up, your arms out for balance, and squat down until the crease of your hips are at or below your knee, tuck your bum under and squeeze your abs in,  keeping a good lumbar curve and chest up, then stand back up and repeat.

I hope you are all taking the #noexcuses challenge with me. Keep it up.  We could always think of a million excuses, I sure do,  but I am taking the NO EXCUSES challenge and I hope you will do it with me. I have been posting on instagram of me doing a workout when it is hard and I don't want to but I do, and I take a picture with the hashtag #noexcuses. I challenge and invite you to do the same. I want to see your #noexcuses pictures!!! tag me @whitneyulrich

So now that our WODs are over lets talk what I am wearing. Yes? Ok! My amazing zigzag leggings and go long Tee shirt is from Albion fit, which is my very favorite place to get my workout clothes. I have talked about this company a lot on my blog, and even just had a giveaway with them last week.  I will just say they are amazing quality, great right on style and feel amazing. Everything I own from Albion fit really just fits like it is meant for my body and wears fantastic. These items are going to last you forever. They know what they are doing and you will never want to wear anything else. 

Now lets get to the winner of the $50 to Albion fit Giveaway shall we: The winner is

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Yay Congratulations Kaylynn. You have been emailed, please email me back within 48 hours to claim your prize.. Thank you all who entered and shared it. Thank you Albion. Make sure to check out Albion fit online and at their City Creek Store.

I would love to have you follow me on Instagram

@WHITNEYULRICH

to see all my fun pics, my real life, fitness, fashion ideas

and sneak peaks of what I've been working on

Thank you for your support, for reading and for following
It really means the world to me 

Make sure to check out my other social media sites and follow along

{Links below}