Summer Reading

I thought it would be fun to share what I want to read this summer with you guys! I love summer time and being able to read outside. This year is nice since our new place has a patio that is perfect for outdoor reading!

Books on my list:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
Outlander
The Nest
My Brilliant Friend
The Sunrise
The Water's Edge
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (not pictured)

My boyfriend actually surprised me with the eighth Harry Potter this week so of course it had to be added to my list! :)
I'd love to see what you plan on reading this summer in the comments! Happy Reading!

What I'm Reading Wednesday: Rory Gilmore Reading List Update

Hello!
Just thought I'd stop by to share some things going on in my literary world.
Firstly, I've made some slight progress on the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge. I'm up to 28 books out of the 339, but I hope to get 2 more crossed off soon!
I'm currently rereading To Kill A Mockingbird so I can read Go Set A Watchman next. I was so excited when I heard that a sequel was found for TKAM. I love TKAM, it's my most favorite book I've read and it's been so fun to reread it. There were many little things that I had forgotten about. I highly recommend you read this if you haven't!
Also, a few of my friends and I have started a book club. Our first meeting will be next month and I'm really looking forward to it! We are reading Where'd You Go Bernadette. The book has received a lot of positive feedback so I'm excited to read it. Feel free to join along.
Lastly, I must admit I haven't been reading as much as I would like, but I've made a goal to read at least 30 minutes a day. Reading is such a great way for me to relax and shelve my worries even if it's only for a little while.
What are you reading? Any recommendations?

Catch up!

I'm baaaack!
I disappeared again. Life got a little hectic with school, work, and studying for personal training so I had to drop blogging just for my sanity. Anyways, I thought it would be fun to do a little update of what I've been up to since I've last posted!
First things first, I decided not to pursue personal training anymore. Not because I don't enjoy fitness and don't like the idea of helping people, but because I hated studying it. It felt like a chore and quickly became something I dread. I was getting so stressed out about falling behind with the study program that I started to develop anxiety and was losing sleep. So I stopped studying it, not because I'm a quitter, but because I realized my heart just wasn't into it. I still enjoy fitness and enjoy reading about different techniques, but I'd rather keep it as a hobby. It's important to learn to accept that your dreams may change and that that is okay.
In April I participated in the Salt Lake City Half Marathon. (I might do a post about that.) I say participated because I could hardly run. I got injured while I was training for the rest and have been dealing with that injury since! Yeesh! I overworked my hamstring which is causing tension on my knee. I've been going to physical therapy and doing exercises so hopefully I'll be good as new in a month or two.
I'm in my second semester of school. Still chugging away at all the prerequisites for the Master's of Nutrition program. It's going to be a long road, but I keep reminding myself of why I'm doing it.
I'm still working on the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge too. I think I've crossed off two more books on the list since I last posted about it. I've been getting back into reading more and it feels great!
Lastly, I'll be 25 at the end of this month! Say what?! My goal is to be in the best shape of my life by then! It's been quite the journey, every now and then my knee pain flares up so I have to take a break from most cardio exercises and lower body resistance training until it feels better, but I'm optimistic that I can make it happen.

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

What I'm Reading Wednesday

As you can tell from this post I'm a big reader. So I thought it would be fun to share what I'm currently reading every now and then.

Shopaholic Ties the Knot: These books are hilarious! I've actually laughed out loud while reading these. The main character, Rebecca Bloomwood, tends to daydream which can be pretty entertaining. She also gets herself into some sticky situations that she always has to wriggle her way out of. I read the first two earlier this month and plan to read the rest of the Shopaholic books by the end of the year.

The Body Book by Cameron Diaz: I was a little skeptical of this book at first. Who knew Cameron Diaz knew about health? I'm not too far into it, but have been enjoying it so far. It's definitely making me think about how I could be treating my body better. I'm always a sucker for nutrition related books, and this book does a good job at making nutrition relatable.

What have you been reading lately? Anything good that I should add to my list?

-Sam

Fabletics Review

A few weeks ago my friend sent me a link to sign up for Fabletics. She really likes their workout clothes so I thought I would give them a try. First time buyers get a great deal so that was good incentive to sign up. You take a style quiz so they can match up workouts that best fit your needs and tastes.

I ordered a three piece outfit complete with the Switch Back Tee, Vaasa Sports Bra, and Salar Leggings. I got all three items for around $35. Not too shabby. Plus shipping is free if you sign up to be a VIP member. VIP members get lower prices, outfits picked out every month, and free shipping. You can also skip as money months as you'd like and still maintain your VIP status. You can also earn money for a new outfit by doing reviews of the products you ordered and referring friends.

I really liked the sports bra and top. The sports bra is so comfortable and I love the criss cross design on the back. The top is also very comfy and reversible, so pretty much two tops in one! I was disappointed with the leggings. I loved the pattern, but they were way too tight. I followed the sizing guide and was sad to see they weren't true to size. When I went to exchange them the next size up was gone and somehow I was sent the same size I already had but in a tall. Thankfully, the tall ones were a little bigger so it all worked out. If you plan on ordering I would recommend ordering a size up for bottoms. I'm really happy with my order and will purchase again! You can order here!

I hope this was helpful. What are your favorite brands of workout clothes?

-Sam