A friend in need...

I have not written in a while, but something I saw last night on Facebook has prompted me to do so. I friend of mine from high school has sent out the link below for help, and I feel it is my duty to spread her story.

My friend Jenny was always the most funny, and lighthearted person at my high school, so it is with a heavy heart that I share with you that she is now battling for her life. Please take the time to read her story and donate if your heart is moved to do so...

"Wherever there is a human in need, there is an opportunity for kindness and to make a difference."Kevin Heath

Please read her story on the web page her Husband has created for her:

http://www.helphopelive.org/find-a-patient/profile/index.cfm/patient/E438DBB4-F002-6AA7-493A43FC11AA2DF6

Fitness Time!!

Okay, so in my last post I said I wanted to exercise more...well I am more motivated than ever! Trainers always say if you want your body to change you have to be the one to change it, which is not easy! I have really taken this to heart, and am going to they gym 5 days a week! See my schedule below...I was told by a trainer that your week should consist of 3 cardio work outs, 2 strength training workouts, and 1 yoga or stretching workout. Here is my schedule:

Monday: Walk dogs after work, 6:00pm Spin Class

Tuesday: Walk dogs after work, 7:00pm Strength Training Class

Wednesday: 5:15am Spin Class, Walk dogs after work

Thursday: Walk dogs after work, 7:00pm Strength Training Class

Friday: 5:15am Yoga Class, Walk dogs After work

Saturday: Walk Dogs

Sunday: Walk Dogs

My goal is to not get off track and keep this schedule up all year!!! Posting this on my blog will make me feel more accountable!

Here are some quotes to help me along the way:

“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable!” 
  -Jillian Michaels

“When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow." Tomorrow is disease.”  
- Terri Guillemets

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."
 -Lou Holtz

"It's not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not."
 -Anonymous

New Year Resolutions!!

Its a new year, and that means everyone is making their list of new year resolutions...this year I am going to publicly publish mine so that I can be held accountable. I would like to consider my resolutions more as life changes, something more permanent that I can work on through my lifetime, rather than the short span of a year. Okay here goes:

• Turn off the TV and read more books.
• Eat more wholesome foods....reduce dairy, processed food, and fried food.
• Smile more.
• Enjoy the company of others more...My mind thinks to much about the future, and I don't appreciate the here and now and the people in it.
• Play with my dogs more.
• Exercise more for fun, not just to look good....join more classes at the gym,
• Be Happy! To the extent where negativity can not bring me off my happiness high!
• Avoid negative situations more...especially at work! Ultimately playing dumb around gossip will be my greatest weapon, that and a good pair of headphones.
• No self deprecating talk at all!!!!
• Limit dining out to 4 times a month!

Okay...I'm done! Hopefully my list can inspire you to make one too!! 2013 and beyond is going to be great!!!!

Things to ponder this Holiday Season

Hello!! Long time, no blog! I have been so busy with moving into the apartment, settling in, and going to many functions along the way. Last Weekend we went to my grandfather's 80th surprise birthday party...He was overcome with happiness! So glad I was there to celebrate with him!! I love my pappy so much, and really look up to him!

I did something yesterday which I know I shouldn't have...I eavesdropped on someone's conversation. The people and place where I was will remain nameless, but they were discussing their Christmas lists that they gave to their spouses. One of the people said that they are expecting an elliptical machine, a new watch (side note she added was that she really likes her Gucci watch that she got last Christmas), and a Tiffany diamond teardrop necklace that retails for $10,000....as I sat there listening to this it made me feel awful...awful because I shouldn't have been listening, but more awful because of the materialism associated with Christmas...I told Brian this year that I don't want a thing...not because I am trying to pout and see if he will buy me anything...but because this year I really feel fulfilled, I truly don't want a thing. I told him instead of gifts lets give each other a memory, or experience for Christmas, lets do something together that we can remember forever!

My eavesdropping left me feeling very disgusted and just sad that so many of us forget that the material things we define our lives with will be left behind when we leave this earth, and those material things don't care for us like our friends and family do. I really think investing in relationships with good people who make you feel good is the best investment you can make.

That being said...I was very surprised to find this link in my inbox this morning...just what I needed to hear! ENJOY!!!

http://www.purposefairy.com/8754/what-are-the-things-that-really-matter-in-life/

Weekend Fun!!

The past weekend was the best time I have had in a long time...I really needed to let loose and have a good time, and that is exactly what I did!!!

The Shins were amazing!!! I really had a blast!

 

Our next event was the wedding of my good friends Ellie and Albert! It was the most beautiful wedding I have ever been to. It felt like we were watching some kind of fairytale unfolding right in front of us. Her dress was stunning, and Albert's kilt was...well, a kilt. We had a fantastic time and I could not be happier for them!

 The groom in his kilt (sorry it's so blurry, my camera is not good at action shots)

 First Dance!

Father/Daughter dance with a few friends!

 

We also were able to pack up a bunch of stuff...moving day is Saturday! I am so ready to get it over with...If I never see another box I would be so happy!

 

Saw this today....super helpful:

http://www.purposefairy.com/7950/live-in-the-present-let-go-of-the-past-dont-worry-about-the-future/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PurposeFairy+%28Purpose+Fairy+-+Challenging+People+to+Challenge+Themselves%29

 

 Happy Hump Day!

 

Upcoming Events....

Today I am extremely excited to see one of my favorite bands The Shins!!!! (If I remember to take pictures I will post them!) My husband and I love going to see bands play with our usual group of band watching friends...Life just doesn't get much better than live music and good friends in my opinion.

I have decieded to take the rest of the week off to pack...something that I have been putting off for a while. But the more I pack and organize the better I will feel on moving day.

Friday we are attending a Scottish and Mexican wedding for our good friends. I am super excited for them, and am really looking forward to seeing all the kilts and bagpipes! Should be a really fun wedding!

I will leave you with some self help that has really meant alot to me this week. Sometimes I tend to let other peoples negativity affect me, especially at work, and after reading the webpage below I have been able to practice deflecting the negativity that people direct towards me...

http://www.innerbonding.com/show-article/959/avoiding-negative-energy.html

Have a great rest of the week!!! (I mean it!)

A move is approaching....

We are currently in the process of moving from our 4 bedroom rent house that we have lived in for 2 & 1/2 years (the owner...my mom...wants to sell it, and we are not in the financial situation to buy), and moving into a 1 bedroom apartment. The house has sold and the apartment is not ready, so this creates a month where my husband and I will live with my sister, her husband, their two boys, and two dogs. This whole process has been very stressful for me because change can be hard to stomach for someone who is a constant worrier, but I stumbled upon the blog post below and after reading it my outlook on my entire situation has changed.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/4-ways-to-deal-with-big-life-changes.html

I feel that this move is the best thing for my husband and myself. The house we were renting is not the house I pictured for our family. With this move we can now live like potted plants, we can move anywhere. I like the feeling that I can move wherever I want and not have to feel tied down to a house that was not meant for us. By living in the one bedroom apartment we will have the opportunity to save a ton of money that will one day go towards the house that fits us perfectly.

The following quote has been inspirational to me as well...I have it pinned up by my computer at work.

"We Must be willing to let go of the life we planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." Joseph Campbell