Future Personal Trainer in the Works!

I've toyed with the idea about being a personal trainer for awhile now, but a few weeks ago I finally bit the bullet and bought the study materials and test. I went through NASM as they seem to be the best resource for personal training. I've always enjoyed working out and now I'll get to learn how to put together workouts! The main reasons I decided to become a personal trainer is because it looks good on the application for the Master's dietetics program and I enjoy helping people. I also think it would be a great part time job to have while going to grad school.

I have until the middle of May to study and pass the test. It's been awhile since I've had to study something and take notes, but I'm honestly excited to be back at it. (Pretty nerdy, huh?) Deciding to study for this test is just one of the many changes I have ahead of me in the next few months. I'm quitting my job in January so I can go back to school and work part time. I have quite a few prerequisites to get out of the way before I can apply for grad school. I'd be lying to say that I'm not worried about if I'm making the right decision, but I won't ever know until I try. Anyways, that's enough rambling. I just thought I would share where I'm headed right now, and maybe inspire you to chase your dreams too.

-Sam

My Winter Bucket List

Hi all! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving weekend and got to spend time with the ones you love!

Just popping in to share my winter bucket list for the season!

• See the lights at Temple Square
• Drink spiked hot cocoa
• Go sledding
• Go for a walk while it's snowing
• Go ice skating outside
• Attend Christmas Eve mass
• Try snowshoeing
• Watch lots of Christmas movies
• Make a snow angel
• Enjoy the season

It's important for me to make the most of this time of year since it's my favorite. I'm going to try not to get caught up in the hustle and bustle so much and just enjoy it!

What's on your winter bucket list?

-Sam

Halloween Night

I know this post is really late, but better late than never!
I wanted to share what I did for Halloween with you. Mike and I had elaborate plans to have awesome costumes this year. Sadly, we ran out of time to make them so you will have to wait till next year to see them. ;)

Anyways, we went out to dinner and tried a new pizza place that opened up. It's called Mellow Mushroom. This was our first time going to one and it didn't disappoint! It was delicious! We shared a spinach salad, stuffed mushrooms, and an ooey gooey calzone. If you haven't been I would highly recommend going.

After dinner we drove to Evermore Park. It's a new theme park that should be fully operational next year. It's supposed to be like a little town set in the Victorian era. You can find their website here. They were having a pumpkin festival to give locals a taste of what's to come. The park had lots of singers and sideshow acts, but the main feature was the haunted cemetery. You were let into the cemetery with a quest to win tarot cards from various characters along the way. They would refer you to a new character and so on and so forth. We didn't complete the quest because I was a scaredy cat (Mike's hand was about to fall off from me squeezing so tight.) I screamed and jumped a few times throughout the cemetery.

I would have taken more pictures if it wasn't so dark. Most of them didn't turn out too well. I also need to step up my photography game. Hope you all had a great Halloween!

-Sam

Quarter Life Crisis

Ok, so maybe I'm not 25, but I feel like I have been experiencing a quarter life crisis lately. I've been feeling a little stuck. I'm tired of my job, but not sure what my next career move. I hardly see Mike because of our different work schedules. I'm sick of our apartment and want a house with a yard. We are possibly moving to a different state within the next year. I've been feeling frumpy and lumpy  from having a desk job and not fitting in workouts And I miss living with my dogs. I need to get out of this rut!

So to make this post not be so negative I'm going to share with you what I have been doing about this. I've decided to take action about the things I can change and just learn to accept the things I can't.

I know I have to stay at my job for a year (which will be in October!). So until then, I'm going to study to become a certified personal trainer to see if that's a career I would like to pursue. 

I can't really change Mike's schedule or my own so I'm trying to accept it more. I'm also making sure I do all the mundane stuff like laundry, dishes, and grocery shopping when he's gone. That way when we are together it's not wasted on silly things.

I'm going to start looking for a new place for us that allows dogs and has a yard! I make it a point to visit my dogs at least twice a week, so that will have to do for now.

Moving to a different state is still to be determined so no point in worrying about that now.

I'm really going to commit to the Tone It Up nutrition plan. With all the stuff that is going on I can't let my health slip to the wayside. I tend to eat crap when I get stressed and it's definitely taking it's toll. Which is killing me since I wanted to finally get in shape this year!

And lastly, I've been keeping myself distracted/busy with a lot of projects, which I will do a post about soon!

I already feel so much better now that I have a plan. If you're stuck in a rut I recommend examining what you can do about it. It will make you feel so much better!

Have you ever been stuck in a rut or dealt with a quarter life crisis?

-Sam

5 Tips for Caring for Yourself

If you are like me, you get so busy that you forget to make time for yourself. It seems like as I get older "me time" gets pushed aside more and more. This never turns out well because I end up being really cranky and resentful towards everyone! So I wanted to share with you what I have been doing lately to make sure I'm taking care of myself.

Exercise: I've been making time to workout 5 times a week, even if they are short. A good sweat session does wonders!

Journal: I've also been journaling more. It's really nice to just let my thoughts flow and get them out of my head. Vent, reflect, plan, write it all out! 

Do Things That Make You Happy: I've been knitting more. (I know I'm a grandma). I enjoy having a project to work on and enjoy it even more when I'm finished! It's so satisfying to have made something with my own two hands! Find your thing and do it!

Let Things Go: I've been trying to let things go and to not dwell on things that didn't go as planned. I used to get really mad at myself if I didn't workout every single day. But some days I'm just tired and want extra time with my loved ones. What I'm trying to say is be gentle with yourself. :)

Make Healthy Choices: I try to eat healthy most of the time so my body is fully nourished. I've suffered from bouts of insomnia for years, but when I eat healthy I sleep better. Try to find ways to improve you health. Start small and see all the amazing things that follow.

I hope these tips help you to take better care of and be kinder to yourself.

I Did It!!!!

Lucky number 785!

I ran my first half marathon last Saturday and did better than I thought I would! It took me 2 hours and 28 minutes! (It really would have been 2 hours 12 minutes if the potty line wasn't so long!) I'm super proud of myself for accomplishing this! As I've mentioned before, I'm really good at starting things but not so good at finishing them. So I'm so happy that I stuck with it, just typing this brings a smile to my face!

Almost there!

A quick little recap of the race:
3:40am: Jumped out of bed and had a quick breakfast and got dressed
4:00am: Drove to the shuttle point and met up with my friend Tori
4:40am: Road the bus 11 miles up the canyon that we would soon be running down
5:20-6:05am: Stood around in the freezing, and I mean freezing cold for an hour (I only had a tank and shorts on)
6:05am The race started and we were off!
6:25am: Mile 2 Tori pulled ahead of me
7:25am: Mile 8ish the potty break that took too long, dumb line
8:30am : Finished and was cheered by my family and Mike!
After the Race:
I caught up with Tori and found out she finished in just under 2 hours! Super proud of her! I went over to my dad's house afterward and rehydrated. Then I went home showered and Mike and I met my family for brunch. I ate everything on my plate, I was starving! I was pretty sore from running downhill so I took it easy for the next couple of days.



















Needless to say, it was a great experience and I'm so happy I did it! I definitely want to run another one, just not downhill. I think my knees have been punished enough for one lifetime! I've taken a week off running to fully recover, but I'm super excited to get back at it and work on my speed. I'll keep you posted on future races!

Me with Tori and my sister! Tori got 2 medals, one for finishing in less than 2 hours and a completion medal!

May Cause Miracles Review

So I finished May Cause Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein. If you read my first post about it then you're probably thinking that it's about time! I would have to agree with you on that.

Overall I really liked the book and I think I have changed from reading it. I'm more aware of my negative thoughts and think I have been choosing love over fear. I would recommend it to anyone. Here's the but...It was hard for me to commit to the book fully. Sometimes I didn't make time for meditation or simply forgot to read it in the morning. This is why it took me so long to get through it. . The one thing I didn't like about the book were the meditations. I'm totally fine with sitting in silence and meditating, that wasn't the problem. The problem was you had to read what to meditate on as you were meditating (which kind of defeats the purpose of meditating). You can download the meditations from gabbyb.tv but they cost money. I wish I had known that before I started the book or I totally would have downloaded them. But all that aside I really did like the book and am looking forward to reading another one by her. I think the messages and pearls of wisdom are really helpful.

xoxo Sam

P.S. My next post will be a fun DIY project with pictures *gasp* :)