My Life's Playlist- TAG!

Hey everyone! I thought I'd write a fun post/tag for all of you to enjoy! I've always been influenced by music, and so I thought it would be interesting to think of songs that define certain aspects of my life and call it my life's playlist! Just follow my categories below, or add your own, and let me know what songs define your life! I tag you all! So leave comments! Or create your own post! I'd love to read your responses!

My Life's Playlist:


Song about Love: "Lucky", by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. This is my favorite love song because it emphasizes that not only should you just be in love with each other, but you should consider your significant other your best friend! <3

Song that Motivates Me: "Real Girl", by Mutya Buena. This song motivates me for obvious reasons! She is so strong in what she's saying, and it helps me to visualize where I will be someday too! :D

Song for When I'm Sad: "I Have a Dream", originally by ABBA, but I like Amanda Seyfried's version a little better. This song again helps me to get through any tough time that I'm having! It's so uplifting and it makes me believe in myself again :)


Song for When I'm Angry: "The Climb", by Miley Cyrus. Okay, go ahead and laugh! I won't mind! But really, this song really helps me when I'm angry because it makes me realize that I'm going to have to continue to keep working hard and fighting strong my entire life! Every day is a new chance, and I will never be broken!


Song for When I'm Bored: "I Feel Like Dancing", by All Time Low. This song is so fun, it just makes me want to get up and dance my little socks off! :D Woot!


Song that Makes Me Happy: "The Edge of Glory", originally by Lady Gaga, but I like Alex Goot's version better. First of all, his voice is GORGEOUS! ha! Second, the vibe is way cooler, and it just makes me happy!


Song that Evokes Good Memories: "Photograph", by Nickleback. This song evokes good memories because it reminds me that everything is relative. If something's bothering you now, 10 years from now, you'll be laughing at it!

Song that Evokes Bad Memories: "No Such Thing", by John Mayer. Don't get me wrong, I love this song, and I still listen to it frequently. It reminds me of how I felt in high school--trapped and over-shadowed. Now, I use it as a song for motivating myself. I use it as a reminder that I can get past anything :)

Favorite Song at the Moment: "Enchanted", by Taylor Swift. First, it's Taylor Swift.. Need I say more? ;) Just kidding! This song makes me think of the night I met my wonderful Tyler <3 I love him oh-so-much! <3  


Weird Song that You Like, but it Doesn't Really Suit You: "We Found Love", by Rhianna. The video is dirty/creepy, it's kind of a techno beat, and it just kind of freaks me out, but yet I'm obsessed with it? My subconscious is definitely doing something creepy with this song! ha

Going the Distance---Love It!

Hello again everyone! Shocking how I've managed to post the last two days now, right? Haha! I think so too ;) I'm just sitting around with some free time at the moment, so I thought, what they hay? I'll just write another segment of my "Going the Distance" series.

Today, I'm going to be talking about mind set, or emotional health, which is by far the *most* important part of any healthy life style. If you are not sound mentally, then everything else will just be in disarray. So, it's very important that you stay focused mentally on your diet and exercise regimen, as well as continuing to love and nurture yourself!

 This was by far the hardest part of establishing my new lifestyle because I was a very self-destructive person. I used to constantly bring myself down and beat myself up because I felt like I was not living up to my expectations. I would then take these feelings out by having lots of unhealthy foods, and sit around for hours watching TV and Youtube. Sounds really bad, right? It was. I was a very unhappy person there for awhile, and things were definitely out of control. But now I've learned that self discipline is not a way to punish yourself, but rather regain control of your life! Sure, I still have days where I'm not thrilled with who I am, but I think everyone has those days ;) When I'm having a day like that, I take some time to meditate and journal about why I'm feeling that way, and then I like to write about things that I'm thankful for, and things that do make me happy. This focus on positive things is *so* important, because once you banish the negativity in your life, you will be able to conquer anything! :D

Meditation, or prayer, are very important aspects of mental wellness. Do whichever suits you best. Just take some time to reflect every day. Once you start to do this, you'll not only feel more connected with yourself, but you'll feel more connected with the universe, or God, or any other higher power that you believe in. Take time every morning to think three positive thoughts. Constantly put it out to the universe that you *can* do whatever task at hand, and believe it. Once you believe that you can do something, 99.9% of the time, you will be able to do it :)

In order to stay focused in your diet and exercise, just keep thinking positively. I know this all sounds kind of cheesy, but I promise that it works. Tell yourself that you *will* eat healthy, (lean, clean, and green!!!) and do it! Believe in yourself! You might be surprised by how much you can accomplish! :) And if you need a great meditation video, I love this one from ToneItUp! Not only do you get a great meditation, you get a great stretch in too, which is always a good thing! Also, listening to motivational speakers is a great thing too! I personally love Jillian Michaels motivational materials. Sign up with a health community or follow a personal trainer on Twitter or Facebook. Seeing those little reminders really will help you to stay focused and positive!

Again, you can always leave comments or message me on Facebook if you need some help, or if you're having a tough day. Even if you aren't trying to diet, it's so important that you incorporate some positivity into your life. So be happy, stay strong, and remember, each day is a new opportunity to get one step closer to your goals! :)

Going the Distance---Feed It!

Greetings fellow bloggies! I apologize about the delay of this post, but the last two weeks have been full of writing papers for classes and readings! Yes, it's Midterms...already! Where has the time gone? It seems like every year of University has gone faster and faster for me. Luckily, I think I just finished up with the last of my assignments for the week, so no worries, I am not procrastinating right now! ha! But just to give you an idea of what my midterms were like, I had to write 35 pages worth of material for different classes, (5 papers total), plus all of the normal readings, plus studying for two tests! Yikes! Haha, well enough about that! I'm sure you've been anxious to hear a bit more about my diet, not my crazy life. lol

Before I get in too deep here, I do want to make a quick disclaimer that I forgot to make in my last post. I forgot to mention that anyone with injuries, or any other health issues should definitely consider talking to his or her doctor before starting any exercise or diet regimen. You should check your BMI online too, and make sure your weight loss goal is not too low for someone of your size. If you're still uncertain, again, I recommend talking to a doctor or a nutritionist to make sure you're heading in the right direction. I do not want anyone getting injured or sick because of my posts! :) 

Anyway, now for the yummy talk! haha! I have three words that I want you all to envision: lean, clean, and green--that is how your diet should be if you really want to cut weight and be healthier (and happier). This means to avoid foods high in fat, calories, unnatural sugar, and chemicals/preservatives. Sounds hard, right? Well, it's not as hard as you'd think. Try substituting slowly at first, like try adding Truvia to your tea instead of a teaspoon of sugar, substitute a cup of hot chocolate (made with hot water, NOT MILK) instead of having a full size candy bar, or try a few Saltine crackers with a *thin* layer of peanut butter instead of having a piece of white bread *smothered* in peanut butter to satisfy those sticky cravings! Small choices make a HUGE difference! 

As time goes on, and you get used to the small changes, start incorporating a few more fruits. (Yes, I appreciated making changes slowly because I knew I'd give up otherwise.) Some of my favorite fruits are apples, raisins, craisins, bananas, kiwi, watermelon, peaches, and pears! Fruit is great because it's portable! Stick an apple in your purse or your backpack and have it for a snack! I promise it's much more satisfying than a bag of Cheetos! *Natural* almonds are a great snack too, just make sure that there is no extra salt or flavors added, as these are generally not 'clean' ingredients. Luna bars are also a great pre-workout snack, or meal replacement! They are 70% organic and they're really high in protein! They taste yummy too! If you want I may even try to do a favorite food post each week to give your more healthy ideas :)

My diet now is pretty strict, and you're probably wondering what I've incorporated now. Well, I usually have cereal in the morning, such as Kashi Go Lean, or Fiber One. I always have a cup of coffee with Light, French Vanilla Coffee Mate liquid creamer because I'm naughty ;) And, I always have a multivitamin. For lunch, I really like Oatmeal (made with water), light fat-free yogurt and fruit, or I'll have fat free cottage cheese instead of Oatmeal. Or sometimes a reduced-sodium soup, or cereal again. Just remember to have a large serving of fruit with whatever you eat, and keep everything else light. For snack, I love having Crystal Light Green Tea Instant Drink Mix, in any of the flavors, because Green Tea is so good for you, and it's yummy too! I always have fruit and usually almonds too. For supper, it really ranges, but I just try to watch portions of whatever I have. Just listen to your body; it'll know when to stop :) For those late night snack attacks, go with fruit and a cup of warm, decaf tea. It'll really hit the spot and help you unwind! :) 

Just remember, don't beat yourself up if you mess up! It's okay to have a sweet every now and then. (Heck, I even had two cookies today! haha) But just remember that moderation is key. Try to drink lots of water (half of your body weight, in ounces, every day!!!) and repeat after me: Lean, Clean, Green! :D 

Comment if you have any questions! You can always message me on Facebook too if you need support! I want to be here for you!! The ToneItUp community also has some really great tips on healthy eating too!  Happy Snacking! :D 

Going the Distance---Move it!

Hello everyone! I know that it's a pretty crazy time of the semester for everyone--or at least I know it's a crazy time for me! It's midterm season here at good ol' DSU, and that means nights of practically no sleep, and days so busy there's hardly a moment to think. So you're probably wondering why I'm sitting here writing a blog post.... Good question! Haha, okay I think we all know the *real* reason why - procrastination! Garsh, that problem will be the death of me! But seriously, that actually isn't the whole reason why I'm writing today. Today I'm going to tell you about a little, okay large!!!, journey that I have undertaken in the last 5 months--the journey to wellness. Now, if you're easily offended by serious motivation, this post is not for you to read--just kidding. If you don't like what I have to say, I can respect that.

Anyway, enough disclaimers and chit chat, let's get down to business! (Cheesy segway...) This is actually going to be the first post in a series of posts because I have so much to say about my journey to wellness! There are so many different aspects to consider, and so much tied into being "well". So today I'm going to talk about fitness, or moving my body.People have probably noticed that my body has changed a little bit in the last few months, and I should hope so! I've now lost 26 pounds, down two (sometimes three) sizes, and I feel so much better too! I've worked my @$$ off to get here (literally), and I'm not going to sugar coat that effort at all....

 It all started after a few problems I had been having with my shoulder. One morning I woke up and simply could not move without crying because I had slept on it wrong. I missed classes so that I could lay in bed with a sore shoulder the whole day.I knew that there was something more to be done about it. After thinking about it for a day or two, I decided that I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired all of the time, and so I decided to try working out a bit more to see if it would improve my health. So about two days a week I tried doing my elliptical, along with going to a Step Aerobics class at our community center (which I had already been doing). Feeling better already, I decided to make exercise a permanent fixture in my life.

Around my sister's wedding, I began on a new track to try to get in a little better shape. I purchased a Jillian Michael's video called "30 Day Shred", and even though it seemed somewhat gimmicky, it actually turned out to be one of the best workouts ever! I never thought that I would ever get past level one on that thing, but somehow I just kept pushing on and I knew that my strength would only improve. After completing the shred, I decided to get Jillian's "Ripped in 30", I know it sounds really silly and like it wouldn't work, but after trying the level four workout, let me tell you I will never doubt Jillian again. I now consider her to be one of my favorite health mentors. She has such a great outlook on life too, which I will talk more about in my next post. Anyway, I still do this workout routinely, as I have not found anything tougher! hahah! That's seriously how tough it is!

I've also started running a lot more too! I really enjoy running because it's a great time to clear my mind! I usually run anywhere from 3-6 miles a day, and I'm seriously addicted! And if it's too cold to run outside, I simply substitute my elliptical or my treadmill in for 30 minutes.

Other than running, I also love the ToneItUp team on youtube. Not only do they have countless workout videos to help you out when you're short on time, but they also have an amazing blog where they share healthy recipes and foods to incorporate into your diet. I will talk more about my diet in a separate post too. I absolutely love their ab-workout videos. Yes, I finally have a 6-pack now :) And, I love their "love-handle" workout videos, because what woman loves her love handles? Certainly not this gal! But seriously, it was a major problem area for me, and I've noticed a huge difference since I've added their videos into my routine.

So what is my daily exercise regimen? Well, it is a little crazy, but I promise it delivers. One Mondays and Wednesdays I usually go to my Step Aerobics class (which is an intense, hour-long, fun, and fast-paced class!) (This is also the FIFTH semester that I have participated in it!) And then, if I have time, I'll try to go for a run too (usually about 3 miles) so that adds up to be about an hour and a half. On every other day, I'll usually run for 30 minutes (I try to really push and run 4-6 miles here), do my Jillian video (about 30 minutes), and then do two ToneItUp videos (about 20 minutes) and then I'll just do some arm lifts for 5-10 minutes, so again it adds up to be an hour and half, which sounds like a HUGE commitment, and it is! TRUST ME! Especially when I have to do it in the morning! BLAH! So, am I suggesting that you start at this level? Absolutely not--unless you've already been working out and would like to step it up. What I suggest is finding some sort of exercise that you find fun. Find a sensible amount of time that you would like to do it for, and then do it! Every day! Also, I really try not to take days off. I think it's a bad idea, and a bad habit to get into, but if you're not as habitual as I am, then go for it. Just keep in mind that if you take two days off a week, it adds up to be a whole week by the time that month is over, and if you multiply that by twelve months, that's twelve WEEKS of not working out, which is about 3 MONTHS... So it's your choice, but I personally think that exercise should be a daily thing for everyone--even if it's just going for a 30 minute, slow-paced walk. It's better than nothing, and it'll improve your life by leaps and bounds. Trust me.

So let's review! Do something you love, find a sensible amount of time to do it in, do it every day, and remember that you're improving your life one step at a time. It really doesn't have to be super hard; in fact, you may come to really enjoy some new time for yourself--you're worth the fight, so step up to the plate and swing :)

The Big *One*

Usually a person is only given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the story I am about to tell. For me the story is rather simple, but nevertheless, it's amazing, and it continues to change my life every--single--day.

It was the end of Fall Semester, 2010. Finals week was a full-blown disaster as usual consisting of late nights with literally no sleep, and mountains of papers to write and review. I was a mess--to put it lightly ;) Anyway, DSU always offers a winter formal around that time of year, so I was pretty excited when I saw the fliers appear on campus. I always have enjoyed going to dances, and this is the closest dance to a formal or prom, so it's an excuse to dress up (as if I really needed one! ha!) So I asked my parents permission to stay out a wee bit later than usual so that I could go and have a good time, however they were adamant that I needed to *go with* someone. Ugh. Luckily I knew there was a good guy friend I could go with and I was pretty excited since he was really nice, and kind of cute, but unfortunately he copped out at the last minute, and I remember just rolling my eyes and thinking "oh, well this figures!".... Ha! If only he knew! (Uh oh, he might possibly read this-- no worries Mister Date Cop-out-I still consider you my friend!) Anyway, then I decided to ask another girlfriend to go with me and she thought she was going to be able to go, but then she had another commitment, so there I was Friday night December 10th, 2010, dateless....

That night also was the night of a home school event. So I went with my parents and sisters to do some Christmas caroling at the high rise. It was so much fun that I kind of forgot about all of my lonely woes! I was having a great time bonding with some of the other members of the homeschool group, especially this darling little boy who kept telling me that I was "his girl"! So adorable, right?!?! Anyway, the whole event was really great and it reawakened my spirit. I prayed right there, and right then that I would have a great time at the dance. 

After caroling, we all came back to the house, and I set off to my bathroom to start curling my hair-despite my parents' grumbling about not having a date. I smiled and told them I would not be alone, and I knew that I wasn't because God was with me that night. Sounds cheesy, right? But He was. Believe me. So I dressed up in some of my finest boots and leggings and I hit the floor. It was exactly what I needed! Some girls I knew actually ended up being there and it was so fun to dance with them! They also happened to have this really cute guy friend that seemed to be a part of their group too. As the night went on I inched closer and closer to him. I could just *tell* that he was a good guy. First, he looked dang good in his Charlie Brown Christmas tie, and second he seemed like he was having a really good time too (and he wasn't drunk, so that was a plus too! LOL!) Anyway, I finally got his name from another girlfriend of mine, and I was determined to talk to him!!! I never did get the nerve to at the dance, just because it's kind of weird shouting to someone you really don't know... So I did the old facebook trick (Yes, I cop-out too, so I'm not one to judge!) I still remember opening up the chat screen and typing h and then i. I sat with those letters on my screen for like ten whole minutes before hitting enter, and as soon as I did, I swear to you I ran like heck away from my computer, just because I was so nervous! (Might be hard to believe if you know me well! I'm normally not a nervous person!) It sounds so silly now, and you can feel free to laugh, because it makes me laugh too :) As soon as I heard the chat "ba-boop" at me, I was probably one of the happiest people in the world, because I did it--well sort of ;) 

This young man and I corresponded for all of Christmas vacation and it was so exciting to learn new things about him every day. We would ask each other random questions, and get giddy when the other one would make hints about attraction. We finally met for our first date--China Moon. I had worked all day in the Pamida Pharmacy that day, so I was pretty tired, but I was still so excited!!! I was kind of scared though because I had never eaten at China Moon (feel free to gasp and tell me that I'm a terrible person!). We sat and talked for probably two hours that evening. It was truly wonderful! 

We continued to correspond and met up for a few other dates. Finally it was January 21st, 2011, and I knew the moment that I woke up that day that it was going to happen, and it did. I asked him if he wanted to be "official" and he said yes. Let me tell you it was one of the best "yes's" I have ever heard. And even to this day, I still get giddy thinking about it. 

Since then my life has changed by leaps and bounds. Not only am I completely in love with this young man, but I know that we were made to be together, and if anything different had happened on the night of December 10th, 2010, then we might not be together. Our fates had intertwined because God had made it so. I thank Him every day for that too :) 

So yes, I know this was an incredibly long, and personal post, but you're all my friends, and even if you didn't read it all, that's okay :) I guess all I really wanted to say is that sometimes you've got to take a chance, and go out of your comfort zone a little bit. Remember the old cliche too, that love always happens when you're least expecting it. :)