Monday, April 30, 2012

Yes, It's Monday, time to motivate!

I love all the new changes that spring brings, and spring is in full swing! New seasons, new reasons to MOTIVATE!

I have been back on my fitness kick. Started about 13wks ago when I made the choice to quit consuming soda. Yes, Lent was starting and it was a great time to give up that habit that I had allowed back in. After reading a great book, Skinny B*tch, I'm not sure why any of us really drink that poison on a regular basis. It has no nutritional value, adds empty calories and is horrible on our teeth. Oh, you drink diet??  I did too, and after learning how awful that is for our bodies, um, yeah, I only hope that I can reverse any of the damage I may have done to me.  Now, I don't mean one cannot ever have any soda, I still think a nice glass of root beer from the local root beer stand would be great and I am working on ways to make our own here at home along with ginger ale!

I have found a ton of fun making my own fresh juices. I am not a big one on getting all my "GREENS" in my diet, so juicing is a great way to do that. Each morning I try to start my day with my own concoction and have had a blast making friends with the produce manager at my local grocery store. I am now able to get in some of these wonderful, exotic fruits and veggies to add the yummy vitamins my body needs. I do feel like I have more energy, my skin has gotten so much better and I haven't had a cold in over a year now. Yes, this healthy stuff does seem to work.

Along with changing my intake of fuel, I am back to working out. I have found a great group of people to workout with a few times a week and back to my running. Yes, even became part of a local running group to help keep me motivated. The comradery of these groups is so awesome and I love the unconditional support to "Do My Best and Forget the Rest" that comes with them! I have set a goal to run 10 races this "season" and so far have completed two of them, with another two on the horizon.


Sand volleyball is just around the corner too, and I am always excited for that, and for getting a team put together. Yes, a little fun in the sun and sand with other adults is always what this girl needs after a long day of work and time of being a mom!

Ok, food changes, activity changes, those are all great things to stay motivated on being healthy. I also love my reading group, that stimulates the mind as well and keeps that active. Yes, reading is something else I am passionate about and the fact that I can chat about a recent book we've all tried to read or even input on others we have read is great.

No, you don't have to join groups, I get that there are people out there that prefer to do things on their own, and that is great. I enjoy running on my own, since it allows me that time to just zone out and concentrate on me. I love the races, as that is what keeps me motivated and on check with my PR, but the group gives me ideas and the encouragement to keep at it as well. 

Long story short, life is all of what you make of it. You get what you put in. I want to put healthy in and keep the garbage out, that goes for all aspects of my life. My way of life is not for everyone, but I refuse to make excuses and want to motivate instead! Hope you can be motivated to find your way as I find mine!
I have recently become a Beachbody Coach...so I can help motivate and move others to a healthy lifestyle. What does that all mean? Anyting you really want it to, if you leave me a message, I would be more than happy to help you!
Life is good, get on with it, LIVE IT LOUD!

Monday, April 2, 2012

Respecting Time

And they're off....yes, I love to hear that at the beginning of any race. Yesterday was my first race of this year and it feels great to have that accomplished. I'm always re motivated this time of year to keep up with my running and health changes. I am also noticing that TIME is racing us at an ever quickening pace. Where is this year going in such a hurry?

As I have stated before, I am a planner, and I am trying to live more in the now so I can fully enjoy each day for all it's worth. I was recently reminded once again that time is not ours to behold and you just never know when it may be your last day. We really do need to live each day mindfully and joyfully.

People do bring me great joy. I love meeting new people, staying connected to all those I've met along my life journey and learning from each and every one of you. I think it's great that we all have so much to add to each other's life. Now, that doesn't mean that there aren't people whom I limit myself to due to differences in idea's or that I may not fit into other's ideals either. Just knowing that we all have a purpose.

That brings up the fact of respect. I think it is quickly becoming a lost art. I had to explain this to my grandmother, whom I love dearly and will miss once she no longer is on this earth to antagonize me, but she really didn't understand respect. She feels it is just something one is deserving of and that one would just agree and do for you out of respect. Um, NO....to me respect is not agreeing, but being mature enough to accept another opinion.  Keeping an open mind to an other's idea's or ways, understanding that there is a difference, willing to hear the other idea. She then asked me why I take the other side on things, to which I explained it isn't that I take the other side, but I form my own idea's based on what works for me and it often happens to be different than hers, (thank goodness). I also told her when I question how she forms her opinions, it isn't meant as a challenge to her idea's but a wanting to understand how she came to that opinion for herself. OK, enough on my grandmother, that is a whole other post in itself ;)

Along the lines of respect is something I am coming to terms with with time. I am now respecting how quick it goes, how not to miss any opportunity to learn, change or challenge myself. I remember the days when my kids were itty bitties, now they are those early teens and I cannot believe how soon they will no longer be around all the time. I see how we think our loved ones will live forever, yet I know how quickly that can change, and that time we have with them should be enjoyed NOW! We should also take time to tell those whom are important to us how we feel about them, so we don't wish we had more time to do so.

We have become such a quick fix, instant gratification society, and I don't mean that for living in the now, as I do respect that some things do take time.  I see people who are just so busy racing off to the next big quest, to make more money, to buy more things...yet here is time which I think we can all agree on that we never have enough of and no matter how much we try we cannot ever get back and is something money cannot buy. Take that time today, be that person you want to be now, don't wait, don't put off, just make peace with the now and enjoy what is present, for as the saying goes, tomorrow is not promised.

Life is good, get on with it, LIVE IT LOUD!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Dealing simple

The simple things in life really are what can make the most difference. I don't know how many times I can say that.

Everyone loves getting a deal. I just scored one heck of a deal two weeks ago (thanks Today Show and Philosophy!) and that deal just arrived in the mail today. It's no secret I love a great beauty product, heck, it's a big part of my day. If you feel you look good, you often radiate happiness! I love being a part of that! What was the deal you ask?  My daughter and I happen to love Philosophy brand beauty products. Not only do they work great, smell yummy, but they have these wonderful "happiness" sayings on the their products that really promote happiness as their philosophy for living! I couldn't have found a more perfect line to fall in love with. This deal happened to not only pop up on one my my FB feeds, but was featured on the Today Show. I scored $140 worth of yummy products for only $40!!!  Bonus was they are all products the two of us use often =)  The mailman walked up to the house this morning and I think was amazed I bounded down the steps to grab that box of goodies. Simple things that make a day!


I also love things that a free, yes, you can have a ton of fun that don't cost much or without spending a dime. I hear all time from people that there is nothing to do or that they are bored. Really??  How can you find life boring? I often have to say no to activities or to going places since we just seem so busy. Can't you go out for a walk or a bike ride, feed the ducks that stale loaf of bread or left over hot dog buns since we all know the ratio there?  What about going to visit that old friend who just lives across town you haven't seen all winter?  Pick up the phone, call that long distant friend and fold your laundry at the same time, bet you won't mind that task while catching up with your buddy!  My kids learned how to sweep away boredom just the other day...

Didn't cost us a cent to just do such a silly thing. (no brooms were harmed in making this photo and were returned properly to their hanging place). 

I did take my four legged companion for a 3.5mi walk today...felt so great! After a pretty mild winter, this Minnesotan sure loves the deal of gorgeous weather Mother Nature is treating us to! Kids were out biking, walking, roller blading and I could just hear the giggles as they bounced on their trampolines as I walked by. To see all the couples out walking together and just people in general out enjoying this beautiful weathered day, well, that sure was a simple pleasure if you ask me. Free, no debit or credit card needed!  I came home and topped off my night with fresh made gingered strawberry-kiwi lemonade, made with the juicer I bought for $15 =) Priceless!

Cheers to the deals and simple pleasures in life!

Life is good, get on with it, live it LOUD!

Monday, March 12, 2012

It's up to you

We all know people who complain, and I'm sure each of us has done our fair share. We also know how easy it is to blame someone else and come up with excuses along the way as well.  But enough is enough and time to realize that it is up to us.

Every time I log into FB, I see so many that are constantly complaining or expressing things that they themselves are totally in control of but would rather whine about it looking for some odd sympathy from some "club" to be right there with them, or like there is some badge of honor for having a sucky day. If you offer up a suggestion, they really don't want to hear it and will often snap back at you with some excuse or angered comment on how they don't want to be in control. UGH...stop the whining...the world is full of enough 2yr olds already and we wonder why society has allowed these children to control their parents, but it is often learned to be an OK behavior from their parents. The same with politicians...whine whine whine, blame blame blame!

One cannot rely on someone else to make them happy. It really is up to us. It's not someone else's fault that you made the choice you did. Yes, you alone made that choice. At one time you thought it was the best choice to make. I can't blame the traffic for making me late, I chose to sleep in a little extra or start that load of laundry and not leave a bit early. I am the one that decided I didn't have time to exercise or make healthy meals at home, no one else but me. I am the one who thought I should burn the midnight oil and get things done or sat at the computer instead of going to sleep and now I'm tired in the morning...yep, my choice. No one told me to buy that large ticket item that I just HAD to have, now it is a bit tighter with the budget at home. Oh well...all of this is based on a choice that we made ourselves at one time or another.

I may strike a nerve here, but it is something that bothers me and I am willing to take the fall out from it.  Have you ever noticed the "battle" of stay-at-home-moms vs. working-moms??  I see this so many times and how about just saying, "we're all mom's doing what we can to survive raising our kids?"  Yes, you stay at home mom's do it all at home and do a great job of meeting your kids' needs. Yes, you working moms have that stressor of rushing off to daycare and how to make dinner when you've been at work all day. SAHM's don't just lounge around, and WM's don't get a vacation from every day life by going to work! BOTH work hard, only in different ways, and they are choices that were made by that mom.

Now, let's put that in a different way. Often we look at another's life and think they have it made...it is easier to judge someone elses life than to take control of our own. What we forget is that we all have bills, we all have obligations, we all have "stuff'' going on, but some just choose to deal with it differently.  When one complains about what is going on in their life, another may think, "man, I wish I HAD their life."

Time to buck up and take control. Break that habit of complaining and blaming. Take charge of YOUR life. Make it what YOU want it to be. We have no one to blame but ourselves, really, we don't. Find that extra you don't need, free up time and money, plan for that vacation you want or that item your family "needs".  Make time for YOU, clear the mind, and free yourself from the blame-complain game, take charge and be happy!

Life is good, get on with it, live it LOUD!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Lifestyle Living

What motivates you?  No really...what is your motivation?  For me, it is life. Yes, simply the joy of living life and navigating a life worth living.

In my last two posts I've shared two "goals" of mine for this year. After viewing a post on FB and Pinterest this morning, it really dawned on me...it is a LIFESTYLE (thanks SKH) that I really strive for. I have made the choice to be happy, it is so simple; I am making the choice to live in the now and to be healthy. I love it!

Every one's life is worth living. We were all placed here for a reason. Isn't that a grand thought? We all have a place! Now, we all have choices as well. With those choices come the "stuff" that goes with the choices we have made. We can chose happy, angry, negative, positive...it really is up to us! I can choose what I want to do for a living, either by what I like and am passionate about or by what I think will provide the income I need to survive. I can choose to go on a trip, to fix up my house, to go shopping or to eat at McDonald's. I can also choose to workout, eat healthy, surround myself with positive thinking people and make that conscious effort to have well being in my life. Yes, I think that is a choice I want to make!

I can't control tomorrow, nor relive yesterday. I CAN be here in the now and see what direction I want to go in.  It is up to me to make my life the one worth living. Wow, I have that much power???  I like it! It really is up to each and every one of us to make the life we want to live. I want to teach that to my kids as well. It's not someonelses fault for my mood, my choices or my lack of motivation. It has to do with me and me alone.

Now, I understand that there are things that pop up that we have no control over...but do we?  We may not be able to control some of the things that happen to us, be we do have the choice on how our attitude is and how we react to it. I didn't choose to have appendicitis last year, but I did make the choice to get right back into the swing of things. I didn't choose for my darn patio door to be a pile of crap, but I can fork out the cashola to get a nice working one and enjoy the new view and energy savings! I can also be happy for the fact that I am able to have a job to provide the funds and that I know who to call to install this for me! Yay!

Yes, life can hand us some silly cards at time, but it is still up to us to play them. I know I don't want to fold, but I can always ask for a new hand!  So start living in the now, if that means taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out and opening your eyes to a new way to see things, then so be it! YOU ARE WORTH HAVING A LIFE TO LIVE!

Life is good, get on with it, live it LOUD!

Friday, March 2, 2012

You are what you eat.

I saw a pin on Pinterest awhile back that stated "you are what you eat, funny, I don't remember eating any sexy beasts lately."  Cracks me up! 

I find it fitting that March is National Nutrition Month....especially since one of my other goals for this year is to once again get healthy. =)  I'm tired of having that sluggish feeling and "brain" fog. I need to get back on track with being the best me I can be!

Yes, we all have aspirations of losing weight, feeling great and being healthy. How many of us say.."tomorrow" or "next week" or..."yes, I will do that, after I loose a little weight." My hand is in the air, I am guilty!  I have once again put the many needs of my family before mine (not that it is a bad thing) and let my eating and working out habits slide into "when I get time" category.

Not any more...it's time to make sure my health is back on track. A healthy woman is a happy woman ;)  I know, I am a cornball.  Any how, it became way too easy for our family to just eat on the fly, and we found ourselves spending so much money on eating out. This is not what I wanted for my kids as I grew up with the fact that eating out was saved for special occasions. So not only to make our household budget to be on a better "diet" I am once again trying to put our family on a better whole foods and life long eating well diet.  I've started reading the book, Skinny B*tch, and find it refreshingly blunt and to the point on our health and habits, along with wonderful inside information to our food. Just what I need for some added inspiration.

No, no fads...yes, I am using a juicer, as a way to add more veggies, greens and fruits to our bodies, not as a meal replacement.  But, I will admit, this will be used as a breakfast for me since I am not one to usually eat breakfast. That is a bad habit I got into as a teen and just cannot break. I make sure the kids get out the door with a banana or toast, and on a special day a pancake or two, but now I can also give them a full glass of plenty of fruits and veggies.  I have not been a big one to get all my leafy greens in, so now I can add baby spinach to my juice and not even taste it, those strawberries sure do wonders ;)  I will also like to have this "juice" for that mid afternoon "snack attack" that I seem to get these days.

Started back at my boot camp class at the gym as well.  Wouldn't you know it, just as my body was starting to not feel like a truck ran over it after class, the session ended. I know we'll have a two week break, and I need to stay on top of things. Jillian to the rescue, she will be my trainer.  I may also finally fit in some "Fit Club" sessions as well.  I miss running...a lot. I never in a million years thought I'd hear myself say that, but I do. I have taken the steps to sign up for two races already for the "season" and am mapping out a few more. I need to do this, I will do this!  Baby steps, one mile at a time.

I was once told, part of a goal is to write it down and then tell others to help you be accountable. Please, if you see me or are my FB friend, feel free to ask me how it's going...call me out if you don't think I've been on track, I am human and can use all the encouragement you can give!  Now, who is on this journey with me??

Life is good, get on with it, live it LOUD!

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN??

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder...and yes, I've been gone from the blog for awhile, I've missed you too. We all need time to take a step back and reflect, so, right after the holidays I did just that, and it just what this girl needed!

A new year and many new adventures. I get so excited for the new and upcoming things that I often forget to just live in the now. I have made a conscious effort this year to be more in the now and not on to the next thing. I cannot control what may happen and I can't worry about tomorrow, last week or next week. I want to enjoy what life is handing me NOW, here, and today.

We set goals, I like goals...goals are attainable and manageable. You can reset your goals as life happens and take them into new directions. I like the sound of that. To me, goals help you look to where you want to be and focus on the actions of today to get you there. This year I have set a few goals and am excited for them!

You may have guessed, my first goal is to spend more time in the here and now. We cannot change the past, and can't continue to rehash it with expectations of a different outcome.  And then we get so busy with what is coming up (I am a planner) that we often cannot simply enjoy what is going on today. I also find that as I have gone through life always thinking of the next thing, I forget about what just happened. I need to slow down, this thing called life, that I so love, is going by at an ever quickening pace! The kids do so much better when us adults aren't in a hurry and take the time to be present in the moment. I think that is one of a child's greatest attributes, the ability to just cherish the now to the fullest. Yes, I will still make plans, as with being a working mom of three full time kids, Mr. Man, a part time kid and the dog one has to, but will be more mindful of the now.

So, as I start back on my blogging, (thank you to those who have reached out and encouraged me to get back at it) AND that this is Leap Day,  I will be mindful of the extra day today and every day we have. I did read a parenting blog about not seizing the day awhile back...and it really struck me as someone who was bitter about the place they were in couldn't really take in the day and enjoy the place in life they were in. I don't want to be that person and don't want that for any of you...so go on, and carpe diem...seize the day, and enjoy the now, the extra now!

Life is good, get on with it, live it LOUD!