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Sunday, July 20, 2014

Why in the world did I even start this?

My husband asked me this question and the following:  Why did you start this blog?! What is the deal with EVERYONE having a blog these days?

I started this blog because I wanted to be able to spread positivity. Whether it's encouraging someone to get out of their comfort zone, sharing my experiences of everyday life/struggles, or just plain letting someone know there is another crazy person out here and you aren't alone!

I read some blogs that have been really inspiring to me and they really made an impression on me. So I will definitely share some with you. My first blog I really got into was the Hungry Runner girl. This blogger's name is Janae and she runs everywhere! She really inspired me to start running again and try new fitness ideas. Every time I read her blog, I can just feel her positivity through her words. She has tons of things going on in her life, yet she always finds the positive. I love this. If you are a runner or want to be, let Janae inspire you to tie up your shoes and get out there.

Another blog I read is Simply Taralynn. This blogger's name is Taralynn and she is constantly moving and doing. I read her blog because she is very transparent, just read her 'about me' section. She is one of the bravest bloggers I read. She lets me know that not everyone's life is perfect, but rolling with the waves can be done with grace. She inspires me to be real. She also has tons of breakfast recipes that I use every week. If you need a good recipe, go to Taralynn's website.

Mama Laughlin is another blog that has been very inspiring. Brandi is the blogger for this site. She is amazing. Her story is so humbling and if you need someone to put a fire under your bum to workout, it's this girl. I've read her blog for a couple years now and really motivated me that you can literally do anything you want, no matter what size you are. She has broken down so many barriers in my mind when it comes to fitness and I really look up to her. She is another one of those bloggers that is very transparent and you can tell she really means everything she says. She lets me know that it's ok to struggle, but you need to be the one to pick yourself up again. I also love her fellow Texan personality.

These are just a few of the many, many blogs that I read everyday. Look at some of the other blogs I read, in my Blogs to LOVE section!!!

Long story short. My hope is to inspire someone the way these ladies have inspired me. I love to spread positivity. I think it's important in this world to let people know, nobody is perfect. I blog so other people will know there is someone out there like you, that has the same trials and tribulations, and the same struggles of everyday life.

I'm still learning so much about this blogging lifestyle and hope to get better at it everyday.

Thanks for reading today. :)

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Do you have a special blog that you read?

Are there any blogs that really inspire you?!

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

A Krispy Kreme mantra for thought

I feel as though today we are constantly plagued with good and bad. Everywhere we turn there's a commercial or something in the news telling you, oh gluten is bad for you or Splenda is going to give you cancer. 

So my question to you is:  Where in the hell do we draw the line?

I ran across this on Pinterest, and it really made me think, is everything we do good or bad?


Plenty of times I've given up on becoming healthy or just flat out started not to care because of all the good and bad things out there. Too much of anything is bad, even working out. Balance is a very hard thing to find, I even find myself struggling today. I find that I'm constantly throwing myself so far into school that my fitness life suffers, or if I start working out too hard that my knees don't feel like working the next day when I need to go to clinical. 

Balance. 

It's a little harder concept to grasp these days. Things that have helped me over the past few weeks is to plan out my days. Now there are days were my plans go to to shit. It happens.  However, planning has really helped in getting my study time in, as well as my gym plans, not to mention work, and finding time to spend with my hubs/cats. Sounds like a three ring circus just writing all of that. I'm completely vested in my iPhone calendar and planner. Without these things, I don't know how I'd get it all done. Don't worry people, even with all these things, I still don't feel like I have it all together. 

Eating. 

Planning what to eat has been the hardest. Used to be, If I was too tired to cook it was, "to Chili's it is". Now I know that eating Chili's on occasion is ok, but eating Chili's every week, was not. Finding balance in making time to prep food, i'm still trying to find the best way. Any suggestions..? With that being said, I'm definitely going to go plan out what we are eating for the rest of the week, yes its a little late in the week... but better late than never. 


Yes, this mantra is extreme and silly, but it really makes you think. 

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How do you find balance in your life? 

What is most important to you?

Do you feel that making a plan for the week helps your life have more balance? 

Do you feel that planners are stupid and pointless? 
--Prior to my late twenties, I did! 






Tuesday, July 1, 2014

27 goals before turning 27

Happy July! We are officially on the downhill slope of this year.

At the beginning of turning 26 I made a list of goals I wanted to accomplish before turning 27, which will be in November... Some of these will be completed after my 27, but I wanted something to work towards. I started this list because as I get older I want to keep improving my life. It doesn't always have to be in the biggest ways, but some of the smaller goals help to prove that I'm still striving for something. 

Here is the what i've done so far and where I need to go. 

  1. Graduate Nursing school --> hopefully December 16, this is my pinning ceremony. 
  2. Do 1000 miles of cardio ---> I've really only completed 150 miles in running... I'm not counting my elliptical days, maybe I should.. It still counts as cardio right?!
  3. Celebrate 3 minor/unusual holidays :     -January 19th is National popcorn day  -July 17th is national Ice cream day, - August 10th is national smores day.  Popcorn day has been celebrated, victoriously. 
  4. Wear red lipstick  DONE, duh. 
  5. Eat at home for one month ---> Still working on this one.. its so hard when you're in school. I need to plan better. 
  6. Clean Cat box everyday for a month ---> This has been a big fail so far... I usually clean every other day though.. I promise my house doesn't smell like a cat box!
  7. No alcohol during each semester --->  This has been a huge fail. School, need I say more?  
  8. Get a B in one nursing class DONE
  9. Get Braces off --> I'm hoping those babies will be taken off in December before pinning!  
  10. Do an advocate cleanse for the full 10 days. (3/1/14) DONE!
  11. Do weight training for 2 weeks straight DONE!
  12. Be able to run a 10.5 minute mile ----> Still working on this... fastest I've gotten is 11.5 minute. 
  13. Buy something decorative for the house, once every quarter. ----> So far i've done well in this department. 
  14. Go Crabbing ----> I've still yet to do this.. I'm waiting on some of my south Carolina friends to take me. South Carolina people really know how to do this. 
  15. Go to SC aquarium 1/19/2014  DONE!
  16. Make 5 new recipes, that you wouldn’t normally eat. - Chimchurri sauce (1/2/14) -chilequilas(1/11/14)  - white bean and fennel soup (1/15/14)   -Artichoke and quinoa (3/14/14) Cauliflower mash (3/14/14) DONE!  This was actually a harder feat than I thought.. I feel that sometimes I only eat what i've always eaten, rarely breaking out of my comfort zone. I now am a huge fan of cauliflower mash!
  17. Donate to the Goodwill  DONE! Oh the good feels I get donating to others. I plan to do another big haul before the year is over. We have to get rid of some more stuff before moving next year! 
  18. Take more pictures DONE! Starting this blog has got me taking tons of pictures. I love pictures and now I have tons. Thanks blog, I knew I wouldn't regret starting you! 
  19. Go to the SNA Convention April 9-14 DONE! I REALLY gained a lot by going. I got to see the beautiful Tennessee! 
  20. Read 5 novels:  The mockingjay, The Book Thief, I'm currently reading A Casual Vacancy by JK rowling, I'm still trying to figure out my other novels during my break! 
  21. Try 10 NEW restaurants... I'm only at 9 but I'm sure by the end of the year.. this will be much, much more. I live in Charleston for heavens sake. 
  • Rio De Brazil  (1/10/14)
  • Angel Oak (1/15/14)
  • Stars on the Rooftop (1/17/14)
  • Basil (2/21/14)
  • Grouchos (1/20/14)
  • Closed for Business (3/15/14)
  • Fleet Landing (4/5/14)
  • Claim Jumper (4/11/14) in Tennessee. 
  • Snapper Jack's (6/1/14)
22.Complete a squat month Challenge ----> This has been the biggest fail. I always forget. I will complete this, starting today being July 1st. 

23.Do one Pinterest craft every quarter for the house. --> FAIL. Nursing school doesn't allow me to have time for fun. 
24.Do at least 3 volunteer events --> I will do Nursing Student Orientation (7/16/14)
25.Watch a baby born to this world.(3/26/14) DONE! One of the most rewarding things I've ever witnessed. 
26.Start an IV on an actual person  ---> Still waiting on this one.  
27. apply for bsn at several colleges ---> Absolutely will start in the fall. I want to get this one out of the way more than anything. 

I'm really hoping to complete at least over half of these items by the end of the year. I love having something to look forward to. I shared this list with you because I want to stay accountable. Maybe now that my list is on the interwebs, I will do better. 

I'm using bold today, because I feel bold!

Ps.  I saw this on another blog and it really inspired me to do the same. I hope I can inspire you do be better too. 
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Do you have a list?!

If so, What is on your list?! I'm always looking for new ideas to add.