I can’t believe that it is December 29th. I can’t believe that it has been over a month since my dad has passed away. I can’t believe it is going to be 2025 and we have to enter a new year without him. Sometimes I don’t want to; like I just want to stay here in the past but I can’t and he wouldn’t want that anyway.
December, you have been an interesting one. Full of so many emotions. Most I can’t even put into words.
Usually I would write you a recap of my year but honestly I don’t want to relive all of that again. 2024 was the worst year I could have gone through and I am still processing my grief but in that process I found some light and hope so in that I will recap some of the good.
I had my first colonoscopy, a preventative measure given my dad’s colon cancer. This is good. They removed a very tiny polyp, no sign of cancer. The prep for that was worse than the actual procedure! But let me tell you that it is worth it. Preventative care is underrated and I am begging you that if you are reading this and you have history in your family or are of the age to have one just do it. It is worth it.
I launched my new fitness program in my app! It is Vol. 2 of our Dumbbell Only Program. If you follow me on other socials you have probably seen me talk about it extensively but that is because I am so passionate about health & fitness and the programs I build are designed for everyone to hit their goals! You get 7-days free by signing up for either a monthly or annual membership! Not a membership kind of person, I got you. If you want to just purchase a single program you can totally do that here— it is only $10.00 and you keep it forever in the app!
OKAY. On to some real exciting news to end 2024.
In the midst of all of my emotions, missing my dad, trying to navigate life without him and the new normal that is this life I was met with a moment of happiness.
On December 23rd, 2024 at 7:57pm, I was walking under a giant octopus lantern at the aquarium’s Christmas light show when all of a sudden Levi turned to me, dropped on one knee and asked me to marry him. With my mom, my sister and Dave the octopus as my witness I said YES!
Now, you are getting a sneak peak of this because while I have told my close friends and family I have not shared on any socials– SURPRISE! Don’t worry, they will hit IG, TikTok and Facebook tomorrow but this page is my original form of content and so I felt compelled to share here first.
We plan on having an engagement photoshoot in the upcoming weeks so if you are local to Utah and know a photographer please send them my way!
Getting engaged at the end of 2024 was not on my bingo card, especially since all that we have been through as a couple and family but my mom shared a really special moment with me after my proposal happened. She told me that dad and Levi had spoken in September and he asked for his blessing and my dad said yes.
I know my dad was there with me; watching as I said yes to the love of my life. I can’t help but feel sad that he is not going to be here to calm me down as I stress about wedding tasks or walk me down the aisle but I know he is going to be walking along side me every step of the way.
Dad, your little girl is getting married, crazy right. I miss you, thank you for giving Levi the seal of approval and for always being with me even though I can’t see you, I know you are here.
Here’s to 2025; a year of not only change but one of hope.
Friends! What an amazing last two weeks. First Thanksgiving and now it is ChristmasTime! That means hot cocoa by the fire, Christmas Lights and lots of happiness.
So much has happened in the last two weeks, I wanted to give you a tiny life update:
My sister finally moved to Utah!
That is right, we filled an enormous thermos full of coffee and hit the road!
You may have seen all the shenanigans on my Insta-Stories.. Well they continued… with gym sessions, apartment hunting, shooting at the range and now, we are settling into the Christmas Season, reliving all the childhood things we would do with our parents.
If you are not familiar with Temple Square, this building pictured above is a worldwide icon of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the heart of Temple Square.
During Christmas, shortly after Thanksgiving, the square is transformed into a festival of beautiful lights.
Not only do they have beautifully strung lights all down the path ways but there are handmade paper lanterns with the message “peace” in different languages. So inspiring!
People from all over Utah, and some passing through, come by to experience the magic of the Holiday season here.
It warmed my heart to experience such beauty with my best friend! It also inspired us to relive a family fun activity…. ChristmasCookieDecorating.
There is a hilarious video of this up on my Vlog… we sample them at the end. There also is another announcement so go check it out here: https://youtu.be/jTQvqNZBfmk
We used a standard sugar cookie that was store bought since we were too impatient to actually make them. Thanks Harmons for having a bomb AF Bakery; however, we made the frosting from scratch.
What you need:
2 Sticks of butter, unsalted, room temperature
2 TSP of Vanilla Extract
4 cups of powdered sugar
Food coloring (we used red and green but they looked like pastel colors haha)
Mixer (stand or hand is fine)
Piping bags or Ziplocks work just as good
Note if using Ziplocks don’t squeeze like the hulk… if you watched the video you know why.
Some recipes call for milk but we don’t use it in this one
Directions:
Cream butter with a hand mixer or the whisk attachment of a stand mixer until smooth and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until fully mixed in, scraping the sides until fully mixed. Beat in vanilla extract.
Add in food coloring and beat until desired color.
Scope into piping bags or Ziplocks
Decorate!
We had some interesting piping skills– as you seen in our video haha but it was so much fun and they tasted even better!
Now you have the goods, go give it a whirl at making your own frosting instead of the processed store bought kind. It makes for more fun and tastier experience! Plus, you can add any sort of extract you want to make fun flavored treats this holiday season.
As we head into the upcoming week, I will be flying off to San Francisco for a quick trip and then back with more exciting updates!
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Thanks again for stopping by and remember, like, subscribe and share for more each week.
May your days be filled with joy and love this holiday season.
Be kind, love others andstay fearless ❤ Coach Tina
How many women are with me? Maybe you have the kids and are juggling diaper bags and grabbing them by the neck, making sure they don’t run into the wall or a car.
Then there is me. . .
I leave the house every morning with the following in hand:
My coffee if I haven’t finished it
My cell phone if I don’t have a back pocket to snake it into
My 6-pack lunch bag
My extremely large and unnecessary crossfit gym bag
Last but not least my backpack which holds my work shit
That is 5-6 items in my arms as I walk down a flight of stairs in hopes not to die each morning. Picture that… no way in hell am I adding a purse to the mix. So a tiny (dirty AF) keychain wallet had made its way attached to my belt loop or keys.
Super trendy– said no one ever, well maybe in the 80’s.
The trend of not carrying a purse to work somehow translated into my everyday life. I just love having my arms free–my hands free. Mainly because I like the freedom to do stupid shit, such as back squat my friends when I have been drinking (sorry Jim). So the gross keychain wallet stayed; that is until I discovered a company that made me feel like I was a girl again and still have the freedom of living my best life, purse free.
Penny Mae is all about living your life to its fullest without having the stress of worrying about your personal items. They have created every bag with your adventures in mind, so that you can have the ease and convenience to live MORE and worry LESS. Which is my motto as you all know!
Penny Mae has 3 really cute bags but my favorite is their Penny Mae Original, which I am rockin’ for my first Jazz Game!
The amazing thing about this bag, is the multiple pockets. It has inside credit card pockets which is perfect if you do not want to carry a wallet and it fits a wallet if you do.
It is super soft, and made with faux leather and an interior nylon lining. Which I absolutely love!
I fit all kinds of stuff in mine! From keys, chapstick, make up, wallet, sunglasses and my cell phone. I even managed to sneak some movie snacks into it! I mean, I didn’t put any cookies into it but I got a protein bar in there.
I love that I can dress it up or down depending on the day. Below, I was running to see my massage therapist and it still looked cute AF!
In August I am off to Croatia for a long backroads trip and I am going to purchase their Abigail bag in black because it is so fashion and you can remove the strap if you want a cute little clutch for date night!
Abigail- Black Penny Mae Photos
I have never been a fanny pack girl, but after rockin’ Penny Mae for the last two weeks I can say that I am absolutely sold and in love. I couldn’t imagine using anything else as my go to everyday bag (PSA: I am not being paid to say this– this is my honest review as always).
So if you are like me and hate purses I urge you to check out this cute little company. Toni is an amazing person and she has put so much love into her products, it absolutely shows. Thanks for making such cute products girl!
In other news, this week has been insane with work so we have not been able to explore as much as I would have liked but these next few weeks will bring some new posts so stay tuned! If you are not already following us on IG, headover and stay tuned to our stories, all the fun stuff happens there until we release a post.
Until next time, check out Penny Mae, be kind and stay fearless.
My hands are ripped and the only cure is to sit in my favorite coffee shop and blog.
Yes, you heard that correctly. Dave Castro, killed me and murdered my hands in the Crossfit Games Open Series this year. I RX’ed (did it as prescribed) the workouts except for 19.3 and I while I am proud AF, I am now trying to not have Rhabdo.
I did not register for the OPEN this year– I honestly didn’t even think I would participate in the workouts since I was just coming off of Injury Reserve due to a hip flexor strain and I have stopped conditioning since moving; so technique has just been shit.
What changed my mind?
The CrossFit Lehi community changed my mind– They push me, they inspire me and they have coached me like no other has before.
Accomplishments in the month I have been with CFL:
I nearly hit my muscle up– I lacked confidence which held me back more than anything. (See for yourself)
I RX every work out regardless if I can do the moments, I try.
I have finally feel strong to attack Hand Stand Push Ups and Chest to Bar Pull ups in a WOD
I walk into the gym everyday and smile at every moment because I now have confidence, which I 100% lacked before coming here.
One thing I have learned at CFL is that it starts with having a strong foundation of each movement and the rest will come. Slow down, practice, have patience. I have also learned you can’t go hard 100% of the time all the time… rest days are key. I can’t wait to see how the coaches unlock more in me. This is just the begining.
So what is next. . . Some of the Street Parking Utah fam and I have signed up for a Team Competition hosted in Park City; The Mountain Meltdown— we are competing in the Gnarly division which is doing all events with a vest and weight. I am so excited to tackle this with my SP Fam! I will be purchasing my new Hero Go Pro this weekend so we will have some Epic Videos. Stay tuned.
Until the next competition… I will be continuing to spread the UTAH FOODIE love to you all in hopes to have you visit me or to have you move here; don’t worry if you need a job we are hiring too [insert shameless work plug].
My last blog post blew in two of my favorite people; my dad and Jimbob.
*Jim is not a photo lover so unfortunately no selfies were taken– but he was here!
Dad and I did so much exploring; from food to shooting at the range to looking at houses so he and mom could finally move here already.
We spent a lot of time on the range, getting me used to shooting my new Sig365. Safety first! We spent a long day doing safety drills and lessons. Then went spent a good 2 hours in Sheels, which is the biggest sporting store ever. I mean literally they have everything you ever need for the outdoors, fitness, and so much more! Closest one to my bay area friends is Reno though. Good luck with that drive…
We were so hungry after that the only cure for a long day was food like my Noni used to make. Homemade italian food. Introducing Siragusa’s, Taste of Italy.
Every dish we ordered was so delicious and brought me back to childhood days of visiting my grandparents. My Noni and Nono would cook the best italian food, and it made me miss them so much. You ever have those moments where you smell something and it just hits you in the face with memories. Yeah, that kind of good.
We had the Cheese Garlic Bread, Dad ordered Lasagna and I had Sweet Potato Gnocchi. The alfredo sauce they make is so creamy and light, definitely try any dish with this sauce. It is killer. It was great since this was after a day of Crossfit and shooting. Talk about carb restoring haha. Is that a thing? I don’t know; it is now.
The next morning we wanted to check out this place that is new in Lehi called The Original Pancake house. It is a chain locally and from the looks of it seemed like an iHop but I thought, “whatevs I can get eggs and bacon here.”
WRONG– it is more than an “IHOP TYPE PLACE TINA” how could I make that assumption.
I definitely got my meat and eggs but the pancakes– holy moly. They have an entire page of different pancakes. I tried the Macadamia Nut Pancakes which made me feel I was back in Hawaii again where I enjoyed similar pancakes yet with a beach front view (take me back; insert crying face emoji). So if you can stop by this place when you are here, it is a hit. Best times to go are Sunday’s between 9a-10a.
So as Dad headed home, I got a little sad– then in no time, Jimbob shows up.
Let the eating commence. . .
Jim and I always do it right though, brunch- lunch- dinner. We never skip a beat. And why not, he can afford to. Me? I on the other hand, look at food and instantly gain weight haha. But it is all for the blog right?
From juices to healthy egg dishes they have you covered. Sundays between 8-11a are the best times to go!
I had the Wasatch Hash which is Hash with cheddar, onions, peppers, mushrooms and green onions. It also comes with eggs and your choice of meat or avocado but I did both, cause why not. So yummy. I am making myself hungry now. The staff is so sweet and the service was quick. Coffee here is also great!
Saturday we went to see my favorite, Matt Nathonson in concert and prior explored another brunch/lunch spot and then did dinner.
I am not sure even where to begin here. The atmospher and vibe here is amazing. Reminds me of San Francisco which I do miss so much. The food, well the food was on another level. I ate every last bite and I was racing Jim on the appetizer. It was that good.
We went for Brunch but the Dinner menu looks fantastic.
Appetizer: CITRUS & RICOTTA TOAST: pink peppercorn honey, house ricotta
Heaven is what this place should be called. It was amazing. I can’t wait to go back. It is also centered in the 9th & 9th districtwhich is home to some cute little store fronts you should definitley check out!
We spent the day sitting on our friends poarch enjoying the SLC sun, 50 degrees felt like 65 and it was amazing. 4 hours later we were hungry again. You guessed it– Jim found us another SLC spot.
There are actually two Red Iguana locations. We went to the second because the original was jam packed. Insider tip *Go to the second location*
30 mins later…
Margaritas and Tacos– hell to the yes.
I had some carne asada tacos and a spicy margarita. Honestly some of the “Cleanest” mexican food I have ever had. I did not feel heavy or in other words, never did I feel like I was in “food coma.” It was just really good! No taco was left behind.
5lbs later, millions of laughs and memories made we found four new places to call our favorite Utah Eats!
“The only thing I like better than talking about food is EATING” – John Walters
Smart man that John Waters…
Well the Crossfit games are over and that means it is back into training mode for the Summer Spartan Super Race and our Mountain Melt Down. Training mode includes eating so you will always get a new place to explore, don’t you worry. In addition, I will be back to my old ways, sharing my meal plans and some fun at home recipies, insipred by the local eats here in Utah.
Until we meet again, stay humble, be kind and always be fearless.
XOXO Coach T
“We grow fearless by walking into our fears” – Robin Sharma
It is official! I am a Utahan… sort of hard to pronounce but I dig it.
I packed all my things, put Bullet (my SUV) on a truck and moved to an entirely different state, on my own and alone… for the first time in 31 years. I can honestly say, it has been a breath of fresh air. One I needed more than breathing itself.
It is amazing how doing somethings so bold, so out of character, so life changing can truly make you feel like a weight has been lifted off of your existence.
I wake up each morning and I am finally awake AF. I am spiritually woken by what lies ahead of me. Each morning, I take a deep breath of mountain air and I am lifted into a mindset like no other. It is true, adventure awaits.
I am currently sitting writing this blog in Draper, a cute little city not too far from Salt Lake City Airport. I am waiting for my dad to fly in, so exciting! I am indulging in some amazing coffee and Almond Butter Toast. Literally feel like I have been transported to Denver or Portland. That is the vibe this cute little coffee shop gives off.
Meet La|Barba Coffee— The coffee is by far, some of the best I have had since being here. It is great for us strong coffee lovers, I had a 12oz Cap– reg milk. The Foam to Coffee ratio was spot on. You know some places can really F* that up.
I also had the Almond Butter & Blueberry Toast which was to tie for. The bread was not hard as a rock and it was topped off with some Cacao Nibs and some honey which really through a spin on the standard Almond Butter Toast. A great afternoon treat while I wrote this blog.
I think I will stay a while…
While coffee shops are definitely my jam,food in general is the way to my soul so I been saving extra macros each week to explore new places to eat. This past weekend I had a girlfriend in town, and she and I together are chaos in the food department.
We literally ate everything.
I mean everything.
But our favorite was our date night in Salt Lake City at The Copper Onion and our Brunch Date in Sugar House at Sweet Lake Biscuits and Limeade.
Let’s talk Dinner Date night first since that is what came first– if your a brunch lover scroll down then back up but we need to address this Cappuccino I had…
I am not drinking until right now. And before you say it, no it is not because I moved to Utah nor is it because I am preggers. For those who don’t know, in January, my liver decided to stop working and both Enzymes were highly elevated with no known causes. So my doctor has decided for me to go on a “liver detox” that means no alcohol. I am trying to be good at that… sometimes it slips. I am human. I haven’t kicked the bucket yet. Try me liver. Anyways, I digress.
Back to the cappuccino.
It was so foamy– again, coffee to foam ratio spot on. It was not as strong as La Barba but what is exciting is it is Stumptown coffee, so what is not to love.
Now onto the food:
Appetizers: Patatas Bravas: potatoes & spicy aioli. A perfect blend of spice and savory goodness. I tried to not eat the whole plate and save some for Monika.
Dinner: Steak Frites: snake river farms flank steak, bearnaise and steak fries. This picture needs to have a smell component because as soon as my plate was placed on the table, the smell of amazingness filled the air and I had less than 5 seconds to snap a picture and then I went to town. There was zero leftovers.
Dessert: House made ice cream– which you have to ask the server for the flavor options. We tried honey lavender and an earl grey rose flavor. Both were fantastic. So good we didn’t even take a picture. (Presentation wasn’t anything to brag over but the taste was FANTASTIC).
My favorite neighborhood in SLC, SugarHouse is home to this cute little place called Sweet Lake Biscuits and Limeade. Trust me when I say, you must get a limeade.
Drinks: Limeade, try the Raspberry Limeade or Honeydew Cucumber. The Raspberry Limeade has chunks of fresh Raspberries and is a beautiful balance of tart and sweet. If you do the honey due, think a twist on a non alcoholic mojito! I am sure this is a hit in the summer but it was snowing and 29 degrees outside and we were digging both!
Food: I observed a lot of food going around that morning but I can honestly say that the hit was what we ordered. Meet the Hoss:
Their famous biscuit topped with fried chicken breast, egg, bacon, cheddar, sausage gravy and green onion garnish. Monika did no egg and felt it was amazing. I did not do any modifications and also felt it was BOMB.com I think if I came back, I would modify with no cheese since I do not handle cheese that well but it was the best thing I ate that day… It also was the only thing I ate that day until dinner… which was this free Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie they sent us home with for using YELP RESERVATIONS! Shout out to Yelp!
As I continue to eat my way through Utah– This blog should help you determine if you
1. want to come visit me
2. Want to move here
3. Now are just really freaking hungry
Haha. Sorry, not sorry. I promise, I will continue to share all these amazing adventure and all Utah has to offer with you.
I can’t wait until Dad gets here. I wonder what we will get into this weekend!
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