Today is a Beautiful Day

I have the day off today, and I initially planned on sleeping in.

That, however, did not happen.  My boyfriend was up and busy, 

bright and early this morning before work, which of course woke me up as 

well.  I’m glad I woke up, because I feel awake and alert and I’m 

getting things done!  Whenever I sleep in, I always feel groggy and

tired when I wake.  It’s very easy to get lazy.  It’s easy to sleep in.

Easy to ignore your daily duties.  We get so caught up in life, we 

forget to make time for what is important.  For who is important.  

We work so hard at work and school that when we come home, we

just want to sleep.  On our days off we want to sleep in.  We shouldn’t!

We should still get up early.

We should wake up feeling refreshed.

Energized, happy, excited for the day!

Be productive.  

Be grateful that you have today.

Be grateful you can enjoy it.

If you have to go to work, then do so with a smile.

Come home and don’t be lazy.

Do something for you. 

Do something with someone you care about.

If you have the day off, don’t waste it.

Do something you’ve been putting off.

Things you don’t do today, will still be there tomorrow.

Do something fun.

Explore a new hobby, or pick up an old favorite.

Live for the moment.  Live for right now.  

And be excited for the future.

Have an amazing day everybody!

 

Happy Monday! 🙂

My Journey to a Healthier Me

I don’t normally eat very well, and I definitely haven’t had a regular exercise routine in a very long time.  A few months back, my cousin Rhonda who was in the middle of a weight loss journey herself, started a blog about it.  Now, I should tell you that I used to be a dancer, so I was once very fit and healthy as well.  But of course, I slowly grew out of all my healthy habits as I finished high school and began college.  I slowly stopped working out.  I slowly started eating worse and worse. It never really got too out of control, but I definitely was not feeling well at all.  

So, she started this blog (inspired by my blog) and I started reading it.  Something started to spark in me that hadn’t been there for quite awhile.  I was very busy at the time, going to school, finishing up the semester, and working a lot of hours as a manager at my job.  Completely revamping my entire lifestyle that moment was not exactly ideal.  And that was ok!  Honestly, jumping in too fast only sets you up for failure anyways.  So I took it slow.  I started walking to class.  I slowly started making healthier choices.  I eventually started finding time to go for hour-hour and a half long walks.  It felt really great to start doing something good for my mind and body.  After about a month of making those small changes, I could already notice my stomach was much flatter and my arms and thighs were slightly slimmer.  Mind you, these were very small changes added to my daily life.  

After a month of doing that, I moved to the cities (where I live now).  I now have a fitness room, a pool, and a sauna.  I started the same, I went for short walks and was making small changes in what I put into my body.  Almost immediately, I was in that fitness room, using the elliptical, lifting small hand weights to tone my arms, and all of the other fun machines they have available!  I recently have started getting into intervals of swimming laps in the pool and warming up in the sauna.   It’s a pretty great feeling afterwards!  

Most recently, I have discovered yogaX.  I have not tried any other P90X workouts yet, and I may.  But for now, I am doing yogaX.  I have done it twice now.  Tonight I did it and two nights ago I did it as well.  The first night started out pretty manageable and grew more difficult as it went on.  Some poses, I could barely hold but I pushed hard!  If I fell, I got right back into the pose.  If I shook, I would try hard to clear my mind and calm my breathing to steady myself.  It felt great!  This morning I was extremely sore!  I went at it again tonight and my muscles were so sore I felt the need to sit in the sauna and warm up my muscles before beginning.  When doing deep stretches like these, you definitely don’t want to feel cold or tense.  After my second round of yogaX, I am feeling really great!   Immediately after my workout, to fuel my body and benefit from my hard work I made a light snack.  Apples and peanut butter.  It was so delicious!

Protein is key when trying to gain muscle and lose weight!

I still don’t always eat healthy, and that is something I’m working on.  Working with the budget of a college kid, it’s hard to always make the best decisions about food.  Sometimes at the time, a $2 meal at Taco Bell is all I feel I manage.  For both price and convenience.  But I am making a conscious effort to eat better.  Today I drank a banana and almond milk smoothie for breakfast and I also made deviled eggs with a healthy twist.  I can definitely share the recipe for that in a separate blog.  They tasted very good!

I plan to continue on this new healthy lifestyle journey. I am feeling good and could not be more excited about it! 🙂

 

Happy Fitness!!!

The Elephant and the Ant

 

So there is an elephant and an ant.  When a fly comes along and lands on the elephant, he doesn’t notice, nor does he care.  The fly is so little it doesn’t matter to the elephant because he’s bigger than the fly.  It doesn’t affect how he feels and it doesn’t affect his day at all.  The fly then leaves the elephant and makes his way over to the ant.  This time when the fly lands on the ant it’s a really big deal!  It really affects the ant.  The ant is not larger than the fly.  He notices the fly, he feels the fly, and it’s probably greatly affecting his day.

So what you have to do is decide who you want to be.  Are you going to be the elephant or the ant?  That’s completely up to you.  It’s not always easy to be the elephant and not be bothered by the fly.  But you are the one that controls if you want to be.  And honestly, for me,this story is enough of a reminder for me to become the elephant again.

HAPPY DECIDING 🙂

Be Quick to Listen and Slow to Speak

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever heard is “Be quick to listen and slow to speak.”

It seriously makes so much sense.  I was on Facebook this morning and came across

this photo.  I love this because this is something that can really help me.  At times I can

be pretty quick to talk and slow to listen.  I have to constantly remind myself to always,

always listen well.  I also have a small little habit of “word vomit”, which is not really

in my favor.  You know, those thoughts that pop into your head and you for some reason

just absolutely can not hold them in?  Yeah, those.  So, I came across this photo!

This really spoke to me and I want to read it a few times and keep it in my head.

I want to remember these questions as I go through my day and as I speak my

mind to others.  Don’t just go spitting out any words that your brain crosses.

 

Stop.  Think!!!!

Be sure to listen.  And then speak..

if it is true, helpful, inspiring,

necessary, and kind.

 

 

HAPPY THINKING 🙂

How Important are the Details?

Relationships!

Topic of the day!  Okay, relationships can be a lot of fun!  But don’t let hollywood fool you.. a good, healthy, and stable relationship is a lot of hard work.  I can promise you right now it will never be easy.  

I would have to say the two top things that YOU have to do, not you as a couple, but you as an individual who is a part of the relationship, have to do to survive your relationship are as follows: 

  1. Get independent.  The earlier you start, the much easier this will be.
  2. Do not, and I repeat, DO NOT worry about the little details.
When you are dependent on somebody you are in a relationship with, it typically does not go very successfully.  Somebody usually gets annoyed of the other, or you both do.  Having your own independence within the relationship 
allows you both to do your own thing.  You don’t have to share the same hobbies, friends, and lifestyle with each other.  In fact, the more things you don’t have in common, the more you have to talk about!  If you do everything together all day long, imagine how little you will have to discuss.  When you went off and did your own thing, and the other person does theirs, at the end of the day you honestly will have so much more to talk about.  You probably even missed each other.  The less you see that person, the more you truly appreciate their presence!  Also, something I have learned about being dependent on somebody in a relationship is that you sort of lose sight of how to socialize on your own!  You can become so dependent on a person, that you forget how to socialize!  You can forget how to go out and just be on your own.  This is why you have to push yourself out there, make your own friends, get your own hobbies.  Seriously, just do what you love doing, do what makes you happy. 
Details, guys.  They can get you into a lot of trouble.  How important are details?  Are they important to you?  How important do they become though, when it comes down to the two of you arguing over every little detail of something that person did that you just can’t seem to understand.  You don’t need an explanation for everything!  That’s why you are in a relationship with this person.  You trust them.  You trust God, because you know he would never steer you wrong.   If this isn’t the person you are meant to spend the rest of your life with, then there are probably some pretty good lessons to be learned out of it .  So, basically, you don’t need to spend your time worrying about every little detail in the relationship.  Every little thing said or done.  Focus on the big picture.  Now, I’m not telling you to ignore all the details and forget about them.  Definitely still pay attention!  Be aware of the details and what is going on with you and what is going on with the relationship.  Just, don’t analyze every little thing.  Because trust me, in the moment something small like that, that really bothers you and you just had to start up that argument, you will regret it later.   It’s just you two in the relationship.  You trust each other.  You love each other.  So, seriously, bite your tongue sometimes.  It’s not worth it.  Once you start letting little things go, that really don’t matter you will feel a difference.  It is way less stressful for you and you can really take time to focus on yourself and on the two of you.  
Have fun together!  It’s your relationship!  Do your own things, but make that special time for each other.   My boyfriend and I live together, but our schedules are about to get really crazy with work and then when school starts, so we decided that we will devote one night a week to each other.  Just the two of us.  We can do whatever we want, no commitments to our schedules.  We can just relax and have fun.  Go out, or do whatever.  Then, the rest of the week we will commit back to our schedules at work and school.  
Just remember to have fun and not worry so much.  Read a lot.  Listen carefully.  And talk only when necessary.
HAPPY GROWING 🙂

Curly Hair!

Ok, so my latest obsession is curly hair!  

Anyways, I need new extensions and my

roots aren’t the greatest, but seriously when

you curl your hair none of that matters it just looks good!

Like, ok it takes me a little bit longer to

do because I have to straighten all of the

hair, and then go through and curl it.

But once it’s straight, the curling really

doesn’t take that long.  And I really don’t

mind doing it as long as I have the time!

Because it just looks so cute!!!

I was never really one to curl my hair

it was always just down and straight.

But seriously, you guys curls are so 

pretty and they are my new fave look!

If you have your “typical hairstyle” you always 

wear, I suggest branching out and trying something  

new!  Who knows, you may just fall in love with it!

It may be the perfect new look for you this summer!!

 

 

 

HAPPY CURLING!! ❤

Twelve Days!!

 

I have been so busy lately, I have been neglecting my blog pretty badly!  I move into my new apartment in about 12 days! AHH!! I could not be more excited about this!  Life is going to be a lot different in many ways, but in some very good ways!  I am going to get to live comfortably and peacefully with my amazingly supportive other half and all our nice things!  Some people say it’s not rational to be living in such a nice place while in college, but honestly with the mindset my boyfriend and I have, we wouldn’t settle for anything less at this point.  We both have a go getter attitude and when we want something we get it.  I read in the book, Rich Dad Poor Dad, that one aspect to the difference between a “rich mindset” and a “poor mindset” is your reaction to seeing something you really want.  Thinking with a “poor mindset”, you see something you really want but shrug and walk away thinking you simply cannot afford it.  Having a “rich mindset”, you see something you really want and you think long and hard and say, “HOW can I afford this?”  You don’t have to buy everything you want that you see, most definitely not your life would become way too cluttered, however this mindset difference, sets you apart from others.  It can make you very successful.  This is why we are going to live in a very nice apartment with the given amenities we like!   Given, we may sometimes have to eat an inexpensive meal or occasionally skip out on our daily caribou coffee to save money for rent at the end of the month, but that’s sacrifice.  You weigh your opinions.  You can pick up extra hours, get a second job.  There are many ways to get what you want, you just have to have the right attitude!  

I also start school up again soon!  I’m going to be taking one online class this summer while I settle into our new place and work a bunch of hours to save money for fall and then I’m going to throw myself into school and get my marketing degree.  I recently in my life chose to switch majors for college, so instead of being three years in, I’m really only a year in with the credits that count towards my new major.  This is definitely fine though, because I would rather spend a couple extra years in college to do what I really want to do than to get a degree I found out I’m really not interested in!

I start my job at the new store June 1st!!! I’m kind of nervous… I’ve been told my new team is a VERY head strong team.  For anyone who knows me, I have a pretty soft and sensitive personality.  So I’m sort of wondering how this is going to all go down.  Honestly, if it isn’t the store for me, there are other ones in the mall.  I also have the qualifications to work at a nursing home or hospital for quite a better pay than I would make in retail, so I have many options.  Even though that’s not my pursuit anymore it can sure pay the bills! 🙂

 

Hope you all had an amazing week and ENJOY THE WEEKEND and make sure to spoil your momma on Sunday!!! 🙂

Happy Mother;s Day Weekend! 

My Instagram

This is my dog Lacy!

Enjoying the warm weather!

My dog Sammy!

I found this saying online and made my own version of it on sketchbook 🙂

These are just a few of my latest and greatest photos I’ve posted on instagram 😉  I love them so I figured I would share them with you!

Happy Thursday!