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Carrie

@essentially_fit

3.2K

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Administration - management- organizational officer for Revive Retreat, Nashville Fit Magazine, and event coordination

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NASHVILLE CLIPPED IN. 💛🚲

What a morning at GEODIS Park.

The 5th Annual Clip In 4 the Cure brought Nashville together for four high-energy, relay-style cycling sessions — with some of our city’s top spin instructors, live DJs, teams, families and an entire community riding for something much bigger than a workout.

Every dollar raised supports lifesaving cancer research and innovative patient care through Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. And after five years, this community has now helped Clip In 4 the Cure surpass $1 MILLION raised for adult and pediatric cancer research.

That’s what happens when Nashville clips in together. 💛

A huge thank you to the riders, instructors, DJs, volunteers, vendors, partners and sponsors who made today happen — and to everyone who showed up, donated and rode for the people and families impacted by cancer.

One bike. One team. One seriously powerful Nashville community.

#NashvilleFit #ClipIn4TheCure #NashvilleFitness #VanderbiltHealth #NashvilleCommunity

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After more than 25 years of marriage, I’ve learned that a strong relationship isn’t something you build once and then just live in.

You have to keep building it.

Life changes. Careers change. Kids grow up. Responsibilities get heavier. And somewhere in the middle of all of that, it can become really easy to settle into routines and forget to keep choosing each other.

I think one of the best things you can do for a marriage is keep pushing outside of your comfort zone together. Try new things. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Laugh at yourselves. Be willing to look ridiculous. Make memories that have absolutely nothing to do with work, bills, schedules, or responsibilities.

And most importantly, make time for fun.

After 25+ years, we’re certainly not the same two people who started this journey together. We’ve grown, changed, struggled, succeeded, disagreed, laughed, and learned a lot along the way.

But I still want to date my wife.

I still want to experience new things with her.

I still want us to laugh until our stomachs hurt and occasionally do something that makes us both say, “What are we doing?”

A long marriage isn’t about getting comfortable and staying there.

It’s about continuing to grow — individually and together — while never forgetting to have some fun along the way.

Here’s to the next adventure.
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#marriage #family #fun #strength #couple

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Saturday fun is a necessity and @puttingzone delivered! I don’t play well but we all had an amazing time. This spot is super cool, you’ve gotta come check it out! Thanks @terrifa for showing us this hidden #nashville gem!
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#entrepreneurlife #ﬁtfam #worklifebalance #family

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There’s something about a lineup like this that deserves a little attention. 🥃

We got the chance to spend some time with four bottles from Town Branch, and what we really enjoyed was how different each one showed up in the glass.

The 7-Year Kentucky Single Malt brings a deeper, richer character that rewards slowing down and actually paying attention to what you’re drinking.

The Kentucky Straight Bourbon is the approachable one of the bunch—balanced, smooth and exactly the kind of bottle you can pour for just about anybody.

The Kentucky Straight Rye brings a little more attitude. More spice, more bite and enough complexity to keep things interesting.

And then there’s the Maple Stout Barrel Finished Bourbon—the wildcard. Rich, slightly sweeter and layered with those darker barrel notes that make you go back for another sip just to figure out what you’re tasting.

Four bottles. Four completely different personalities. And a good reminder of why we enjoy exploring what distilleries are doing beyond just their flagship bourbon.

Big thanks to our friends at Town Branch for keeping things interesting. 🥃

DISCLAIMER: Our model was fairly compensated for this photo shoot with a top-notch pour from our friends at Town Branch. Her agent negotiated aggressively. 😂🥃

#TownBranch #KentuckyBourbon #Bourbon #Whiskey #KentuckyWhiskey

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There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes when we manage an event. Building booths, coordinating volunteers, solving last-minute problems, managing schedules, and making sure the vision actually comes to life on event day.

But year after year, the best part has nothing to do with logistics.

It’s the people.

Getting to know the vendors, athletes, volunteers, and attendees is what makes these events special. We get to hear their stories, learn about their businesses, celebrate their wins, and watch relationships grow that often last long after the event is over.

That’s why it’s such an honor to be part of events that genuinely put people first. At the end of the day, the booths come down, the equipment gets packed up, and everyone heads home—but the relationships are what stick with you.

And it’s even better when you get to see vendors who have become more like family over the years, like @licia.mock and her family with @asesinadesigns.

Great events. Great memories. But most importantly, great people.

Year after year, that will always be the best part of what we get to do.
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#nashvillefit #entrepreneurlife #ﬁtfam #family #work

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What a weekend working the @southernwhiskeysociety alongside Tiny and Leah!

There’s something special about an event that brings together great bourbon, incredible food, and even better people. The weekend was filled with old friends, new connections, warm conversations, plenty of laughs, and of course, some seriously amazing pours.

Our team worked hard behind the scenes to help make the experience one to remember, but weekends like this never really feel like work when you’re surrounded by people who genuinely love the bourbon community and everything that comes with it.

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by, shared a pour, had a conversation, or simply came out to enjoy the weekend with us. We hope you had as much fun as we did.

Until the next pour.

#SouthernWhiskeySociety #BourbonCommunity #WhiskeyCulture #BourbonLife #cheers

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The right relationships make all the difference.

Way back when I was building my gym, I had a hiring problem.

Not a lack of applicants. A lack of clarity.

Interviews told me who people said they were. I wanted to know who they actually were.

So I created “Hell Week.”

Five days. Early mornings. Long hours. Coaching, cleaning, front desk, smoothies, team meetings—everything. On the final day, I’d plant fake clients whose only job was to make things difficult.

One would stop mid-session, look the trainer in the eye, and say, “No. I’m not doing that. Figure something else out.”

That’s when you learned who could stay calm under pressure.

We put 45 trainers through that process. Roughly 80% are still training today.

The lesson wasn’t about making people suffer. It was about finding the right who.

Skills can be taught. Character usually can’t.

Too many businesses hire based on resumes and fire based on behavior. Build a hiring process that reveals character before you hand someone the keys to your business.

📖 This story is from my upcoming book Still Standing, releasing October 2026. Pre-orders open September 1.

#Leadership #Hiring #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #stillstanding

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Marriage isn’t built on perfect moments. It’s built on imperfect people who keep choosing each other.

The truth is, a long marriage isn’t the absence of failure—it’s the result of working through it. There are seasons when communication breaks down, expectations aren’t met, patience wears thin, and life pulls you in different directions. Those moments don’t have to define your marriage. They can refine it.

Every disagreement teaches you something if you’re willing to listen. Every disappointment is an opportunity to grow in grace. Every challenge asks the same question: Are we committed to being right, or committed to staying together?

Time has a way of sanding off the rough edges if you let it. You learn when to speak, when to listen, when to apologize, and when to simply show up. You discover that love is less about butterflies and more about consistency. More about choosing your spouse on the ordinary Tuesdays than the anniversary dinners.

The strongest marriages aren’t forged in comfort. They’re forged in the hard conversations, the setbacks, the forgiveness, and the decision to keep building—even when it’s difficult.

A lasting marriage isn’t perfect. It’s refined. And the refining never really stops.

Here’s to choosing each other, again and again.
#Marriage #Relationships #Growth #Commitment #love

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Vacation 2026

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Vacation was conquered by all that was in attendance.
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#ﬁtfam #nashvillefit #entrepreneurlife #family #worklifebalance

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