Soul Searching

[this was written as a New Years post but it got lost. So here it is half way through the year to remind us all about those things we promised ourselves to change during this year.]

I have done a lot of thinking the last few days. I took some time to really reflect on my life in 2012 and come up with ways to make it better in 2013. I want to change some things in my life because I want to improve the lives of those around me and that means sacrifice. Some of the changes that I'm making might not be forever and some may turn into forever but its my life and voted on these changes.

1. Peace out Facebook. I have really become less and less of a fan over the last year and this year I cut ties with the alternate life. It's a wise professional decision for me but I also don't have time for it. I deleted the app months ago from my phone and I haven't missed it. I honestly don't want to spend minutes (aka hours) looking at other people's lives via social media. It's a pointless waste of time. So I'm cutting ties with no plan on ever coming back (and if I do...don't judge). If you get engaged, get a new puppy or do something cool and wanna tell me personally, I will jump up and down with you. But I'm not gonna read about it and look and hundreds of pictures on your wall or his wall anymore.

2. Goodbye high school clothes. I cleaned out my closet and officially said goodbye to all things Hollister and such. I had to clean it out partially because I had too many clothes in general but also because that stage of my life is over and I need to get ready to dress the part for my next stage in life. So I packed up all my high school and middle school clothes (basically the same stuff) and took it to some of my favorite girlies who are loving them just as much as I did!

3. Friends. I had to let some go over the last year and looking back I can see it has made me a much more positive person. I am a very loyal person so letting go is hard. We all fight with friends but sometimes people are only in your life for a season, and I need to let things stay that way. So this year I'm building so many new ones and I'm loving the fresh start! I also love continuing on friendships that I've had for years or decades :)

4. Clean. I'm embracing the clean lifestyle. If you know me, you know I'm organized and a neat freak. But this year I'm getting back to my roots of a clean diet and lifestyle all around. No more of this college living crap. I'm working out harder and eating incredibly clean these days. One thing I'm doing is giving up one thing I love for one month. So I picked 12 foods that I love or am tempted to eat too much of and for one month I won't touch it. After that month I'll be able to eat it again but this is to break habits and remind me I don't really need it.

5. Travel constantly. I'm packing my bags in about two months and heading to Europe for my last placement and semester of student teaching. This is one of my many ways I hope to travel this year. I want to constantly be traveling by reading books from all over the world on culture and lifestyles and languages and even some good fiction stories. I love to read and this year I'm attempting 52 in 52. Aka 52 books for 52 weeks of the year.

So these are just some of my working yearly commitments. Other ones are more personal and since I don't have Facebook you won't know about them now;) just kidding. But really- you won't because I'm not posting about them.

I hope you all take time to not only try to make your life better this year but the lives of others around you.

[Reflection: I'm not doing that bad. I picked realistic aspects of my life that I wanted to change and focus on. I'm still off Facebook and don't miss it one single day. I love all my professional clothes and get way more compliments on my style. I'm eating clean and training harder. And I've done my fair share of traveling around the world physically and through books. So how are you doing?]

the castle guards gossip

Today I know what the castle guards are gossiping about....me! Why? Because I ran around the castle complex like I owned the place for about an hour in bright pink shoes. The castle is about a 30 minute run from my house here. So I stopped along the way to take some quick pictures on my phone because the views were stunning...

Then I decided that since the castle was open I would take a run around the complex. And it was magical! Who else can say that they went running around a castle? A princess that's who. Plus there was barely anyone around so I got some amazing shots of the castle...

I honestly don't know how I'm ever going to be able to run on a treadmill or through a development again. The views in Prague are breathtaking and keep me running for hours to see more! I am getting the best workouts here because I run for hours up and down the hills of this beautiful city!

But I know that I caused a few giggles from the castle guards because I was wearing my American bright pink running shoes and jumping off of steps and running up, down and all around. Oh well...everyone needs something or someone to talk about on their breaks, and today it's all about these pink sneakers!

*click on any pictures to see zoom in and see them bigger!

the prague diet

Living in overseas means eating like the natives.
So what does the Prague diet entail?
A lot of walking and fresh fruits and veggies.

Czechs go grocery shopping almost every single day
because they don't have cars to load everything in
so they carry all their groceries home. And no one
wants to carry too many things home so they don't.

This means that everything is very fresh to eat!
They have less preservatives here and plenty of
places near by to get fresh fruits and veggies from.
I mean Spanish strawberries...to die for!!

So one aspect of the Prague diet: fresh fruits
and veggies daily - basically every meal!
But add in that they eat less...small portions.

Lastly, walk, walk, walk, run, run, run.
Lots of walking everywhere around the
city to get things and go to work, and
then running for a great workout!

So basically....
1. eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies
2. eat smaller portions of food
3. walk everywhere and then go work out


And that my friends is the Prague diet!
I love it. Working out twice a day plus
all the walking, fresh meals and smaller
portions is looking pretty good on me!

color run

How sweet does this run look?! I'm definitely all about this one!

Plus it's only a 5K - piece of cake.

Happy running :)

i work out

I love exercise. I love pink.

I love putting them together.

Hence the pink shoes, shorts and shirt!

Everyone should be getting some physical exercise daily.

I run, do zumba, or lift about five times a week.

I wish I could do it every single day, but my schedule

and the time the sun sets kinda throws it off.

I'm super pumped for spring though because then

I get my run on every day!

I do much better as a whole when I run daily.

I'm not as stressed and I feel better about myself.

I also sleep better when I get more exercise.

And of course I eat healthier foods to keep my going.

So I love to workout for many reasons!

The key to working out - find something you love!

It's not going to be enjoyable or fun if you don't like it.

It's just going to be painful and really hard to stick to

if you don't at least like to do it.

This is why so many people quit their programs.

Don't let that be you!

Now it doesn't have to be easy.

Actually, it shouldn't be too easy for you.

But you should like it and be able to grow with it.

Also, switch things up daily to work different muscles.

You don't want to over do it at first or

let your muscles get used to certain exercises.

For example, I love to run and I can grow with that.

I can increase my speed and distance each time,

and that makes it a great workout for me.

Hence my half marathons that I did and am doing!

But I also love lifting which is good because in order

to keep running - you need to build up muscles.

So find something you love to do and get active!

And cute workout clothes can help your mood while you workout :)

Pink running shoes are my thing!

Need some more tips - go here.

commitments

Happy New Year!
It's officially the year the world "will end."

2012 Commitments.
[I hate the word resolution.]

I hate how everyone is suppose to come up with resolutions,

and even though I hate it - I still do it because I always want to.

So this year since I did 21 things I decided to go lighter on the commitments.

I wanted to pick 5 things to really commit to because 2+0+1+2=5.

I wanted to do things this year that will become habits and roll into other years.
But make the commitments more realistic and less idealistic like years before.

I wanted to make some resolutions that really required hardcore commitment.

So drum roll please....

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

I want to do my part in going green.
I also don't want to spend an arm
and a leg in this new apartment.

2. Stop tailgating.
Some would think I was from Jersey...
nope I just have a need for speed and
it bugs me when people drive slow.
But I need to work on my tailgating.

3. Be healthy at least 70% of the time.
It's hard to do it constantly so
I aim to change enough of my habits
so that I'm healthy at least 70% of the time.
Therefore exercising and eating will be strict
but not insanely strict like before.

4. Be more patient.
I have high expectation of people and
become frustrated when I'm let down.
I'm working on it but this year I really
need to learn to be more patient and gracious.

5. Put Him first.
We all do it - put people above God.
It's a natural thing to do but a very empty one.
So I want to work on always putting God first,
and running to Him first before others.
People always let me down - but He never will.


Well peeps..there you have it!
Now what are your resolutions?!

CrossFit

[amen to that!]

I'm almost ready to run my half marathon!

YAY! But not today so more on that later.

But what do I do after I've completed that goal?

I'm signing up to run a half marathon in May -

but what am I gonna do until then.
Run. Run. Run? Boring if you ask me.
Mud run? Other races? Gym it? Lift?

Nah. I found my answer a few months ago.

A blogger I follow did CrossFit and loved it!

I've been thinking about it for a few weeks,

and over my break my brother brought it up
and he said I'd be perfect for it cause of what it takes.

I'm a competitive, no nonsense and don't stop until you're dead

kind of person - and that's how I exercise too [it's pretty tough.]

My motto when you work out with me:
If you aren't passing out or throwing up - keep going.
You won't get better if you don't push yourself.

So I'm looking into 2 CrossFit gyms around me,

and I'm going to be trying it out shortly.

I'm ready to get in the best shape of my life

while being competitive, challenged and having fun!

[Seriously this is right up my alley.]

Watch and find out about it!

It's motivating - believe me :)

Anyone interested?! I AM!

[It's pretty bad ass if you ask me]

sneakers

I posted before about training for a half marathon.

Didn't read it..forget... here you go - click.

Anyways...training is great! Thanks for asking :)

I have an amazing running partner!

I couldn't ask for a better girl to run with.

We challenge each other and have great girl talks.

You read that right - we can run 6 miles at race pace AND

chat the entire way about life! We're talented :)

We're so busy with school, work, volunteer hours, and life

but we always manage to get our workout in!

Plus it helps me get through my stressful weeks!

I've started a running and food log.

I know how far I run each day and what I eat every day, all day.

I write it all down so that it is constantly in front of me and I can look back.

This helps me to be training not only on my run, but before and after.

This journey has been more than I expected.

It's fun and relaxing but kind of time consuming...

but hey who doesn't wanna kick all the boys butts!

So every day I've been lacing up my black and pink nikes

and getting out there and running my heart out.

I don't regret a single workout I do - even when my legs are tired.

Tips if you run or are thinking about starting...

Good shoes are the key to success!

1. You need ones that fit your feet- everyone has

different feet so get someone to look at your walk/run

and assess what shoe will be the best for you.

[Go to a running store - NOT the mall people.]

2. Also get new ones every 6 months or 300 miles.

3. Fun color sneakers make wearing them better :)

4. The reason why I believe in good sneakers - 

you can't run if you mess up your feet.

So love those feet and take care of them!

Need some fitness motivation?!

Click!

Half Marathon

[half marathon training, when I grow up, workout tips]

The calm before the storm.

Monday I start my training for a half marathon.

I have two months to get completely in shape for this run.

My brother gave me a plan; I found a buddy.

And Monday I begin the intense daily running.

I'm not completely out of shape but not like I used to be.

I was in sports all my life; basketball. soccer. lacrosse.

I could run miles and miles and not think twice about it.

That would not be the case anymore.

However, I have a long term goal.

I will get in amazing shape within the next year.

I want to be in the best shape of my life.

This is who I want to be when I grow up:

JILLIAN MICHAELS.

She's amazing and I love her dvds -she rocks a hot bod.

So I'm going to continue her dvds and do the half marathon too.

Workout overload. But soo worth it!

Anyways,

all the races were too expensive though.

So the weekend before my birthday

I am going to devote the morning to running it.

Details:

Date = December 10.

Participants = Me.

Place = Bucks County.

Time = Morning.

Let the fun times begin!

Thanks to my running buddy

and my brother for the plan :)

WORKOUT TIPS:

1. Get Motivated: find what motivated you inside and out

2. Get a Buddy: working out with a friend is always better

3. Get a Routine: a habit is made after 30 days - so get a routine

4. Push Yourself: go a little longer and harder than the day before

5. Rest: don't go over the top and forget to rest and take a day off

6. Have Fun: do zumba, yoga, pilates - anything that you will enjoy