Nutrition Challenge

Recently, at my gym, we completed a 9 week nutrition challenge. The goal: follow a meal plan/diet for 9 weeks, set a goal for how often to attend the gym, and set a fitness goal you would like to accomplish. 

I chose the Zone Diet. I made the condition that I could eat out once every two weeks and that I would go to the gym 4 days a week. 

I set a goal of completing the beginning workout which was 10-30-50 pullups, situps and lunges for time, three minutes faster than intially. 

My results: 

22 lbs lost

18 inches lost

nutrition goal, kept

gym attendance, done

and my final workout: 

30 seconds faster, but in the first workout, my "50" lunges were cut to 30 because I was struggling so much. The final workout I did 50 lunges 30 seconds faster!

Because this was a gym-wide challenge, there was quite a bit of money in the pot. Though I didn't win, I did find out that I was one of six finalists. Made. My. Day. 

I just want you all to know that I am starting my own 30 day challenge. I am sticking with the Zone Diet. I am attending the gym three days a week, and my milestone workout will be  10 rounds of 200 Meter Run, 5 Overhead squats (45#), and 5 Wall Walks.  

If you want to know my workouts, checkout CrossfitSouthtown.com.  I am telling you, this stuff is fun! Also, a big shout out to the owner/trainer of Crossfit Southtown for always being so supportive: Thanks, Shellece!

His Grace is all the difference.

Last week in Young Women's, our class learned about Grace. The teacher shared this talk by Brad Wilcox, who so clearly put into perspective the principle of Grace. How grateful I am to the Lord for His pure love and for his wanting me to do good and to choose to change to become more like Him. I love the Lord and hope to one day, return to live with Him.

Writing Prompts continued...

2. What 5 websites do you visit often and why...?

Well, this may be a boring topic to say the least. I am lucky to work at a job where we have seasons of work. Since I am in an off season, I have a lot of time on my hands which is spent surfing.  The web that is. So five websites I visit are:
1. People.com: I call this my trash time. I don't really care about what the rich and famous are doing and many of the articles published by People.com are pretty shameless. However, I find it amusing to see what Reese Witherspoon is sporting to show off her baby bump.  What Matthew McConaughey is NOT wearing? How does Katie really feel about Scientology? Anyway, this is why I frequent People.com. For mindless entertainment.
2. Facebook.com: Let's face it. Everyone is addicted to Facebook. This is where you get to walk down the proverbial hall in the never ending high school and say hey or boo to everyone you pass (a.k.a. your "friends") most of whom, you don't really care about and who really could care less about you. Yet, we find it fascinating that someone who we haven't seen or talked to in 20 years has a sudden interest in what we do minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. To tell you the truth, I am probably going to dump the facebook crowd after October. I have a commitment that will end then and I will be a facebook free woman...HALLELUJAH!
3. KSL.com: The local news station website. I mostly look at this because I hate watching the doom and gloom on the nightly news. Checking out the website allows me to pick and choose which stories interest me.
4. Pinterest.com: What can I say...I am blissfully addicted to this sight. I love all the many crafting, DIY, and style ideas. Also, I am influenced more by Pinterest than by any other website.
5. IMDB.com: I love this site for no other reason but this inquiring mind would love to know more about movies, characters, and actors. I love reading the trivia about a movie or actor I just watched. Whether this is influenced by my theater background or my husbands "need to know" stuff, its interesting...what can I say?

Well, there you have it. Everything there is to know about my surfing habits.

Writing Prompts

As a writer, I sometimes find it hard to find topics to write about. So, I am experiementing with writing prompts. I will be using this blog as a forum for my writing from writing prompts. If any of you out there have a writing prompt you would like to share, please do so! And check back the next day for the results!  So as of today, here is the first writing prompt...

1. What is something that you lost or gave away that you can never replace.

In my short 36 years on this earth, I have lost or given away many things. In fact, I cannot remember much of what was given, but I remember many things losts. When something is lost, its a tragedy. Giving something doesn't not care the emotional trama of loss. So here is a short list of things I have lost in life...

• One of my first dolls as a little girl. She was blond haired with a beautiful green velvet dress. I left her at the neighbor's house. When I went back to get her, the neighbor's little girl claimed not to know what I was talking about. I think she did.
• My set of Maddona tapes. I think my mom threw them out. I knew every note and lyric on those tapes. Although now, I don't really regret losing them.
• Trust. In my opinion once you lose someone's trust or they lose yours, its near impossible to get that back. Unfortunately, in 36 years, I know I have been on both sides of the trust coin.
• I lost my dad a couple of years ago to cancer.  Sure, he was older and lived a long full life. But, I know for a fact that no matter how old your parent is, losing them SUCKS!
• On that blue note, I have also lost a dear friend to cancer. My dear Kathy Jensen was the sweetest, most kind person I had ever met. Her absense is felt everyday.

I guess thats enough of what was lost. As the first post in this serious of writing prompts, I will have to mention this one is quite depressing. I hate leaving that mood to you as a reader. So here is a list of irreplacable things I have found in my lifetime.

• I found my husband on-line...or he found me. Either way, I am most grateful to have such a love in my life. I had prayed, oh so long, for a love like his. I am blessed to have him in my life.
• I found an awesome deal at the DI. I bought an old 1970's something coffee table that I promptly turned into a cute entertainment center. I consider this an amazing find!
• I found myself among all the experiences of life. I found out who I am, what I like and don't like. I found out that I am stronger that I give myself credit for. I am one tough cookie with a tender heart. I cry when I am happy, sad, frustrated, angry, or irritated. I am a perfect mix of my mom and Dad's personality. I have just enough of each to make me pretty awesome.
• I found a love for running.
• I found a love for designing and creating.

I feel better now.

Our Trip to the Northwest!

This is our trip to the Northwest. We spend night one in Oregon...on the coast...like, right on the coast. I just have three words for you...Best. Trip. Ever!

From our campsite!

We camped here...

Much of the road was like this. I kept watching for Edward to jump out...

We stopped here...my first time seeing a lighthouse upclose and it was cool!

But I thought it would be bigger...

But the views...O.M.W.

This is at Fort Stevens.

The 4 mile bridge crossing the mouth of the Columbia River. Oregon to Washington.

Astoria, OR  I wanted to meet the Goonies, but I couldn't find any.  Boo!

When life gets busy and you forget to do,
The things you care for can forget you too.

So, lately, life has been going a million miles an hour. I have been working with my buddy Nancey Owen on the Relay for Life. We just completed our second year as The "A" Team! This year, we had lots of things come up. Namely, Nancey had some health issues. Needless to say we decided to go low key at Relay. Guess what! Best. Relay. Ever.  We raffled a new beach cruiser that was donated along with a beach bag full of stuff to go to the beach. The lady who won was so grateful. She had tears in her eyes. We also sold dutch-oven fruit cobler. Between the raffle and the cobler we made about $650. WOOT!  We also had the opportunity to host Holly and Trent Rasmussen on our team. They are currently fighting the battle of thier lifetime...and in my estimation they are winning!

Other going on's:

I was led by a friend from Hyrum to join the Time Out for Women team. Basically, I do some word of mouth stuff, share on facebook, and blog about it. In turn, I get free admission to the TOFW event, I also get to help usher, serve fellow sisters, and overall, have a great time. If any of you are interested, please let me know. I am putting together this week a group rate group.

I have also been asked to help with the Brigham City Temple Open House Cultural Celebration. I will be working behind the scenes, but I am so glad to help out.

Konnor Moore, Gary's son, is graduating this week from Marine Corp. Boot Camp. We are so proud of him and all he has done so far to change his path. I know it hasn't been easy, but he has worked hard to be better and has succeeded.

Well, thats all for now. Lots more to come...I'm sure.

Don't have a {Heart} attack!

I know, I know. I really have been miserable because my blog has been suffering from neglect for quite some time.

I keep saying I am going to keep it up and then,

I don't.

Well, I am who I am, what can I say?

What I can say is that life has been quite interesting the last few months.

In July of 2011 I got a new job. I was virtually unemployeed at the time

(though we writers call that freelancing).

My sweet honey and I were staying in my mom's basement.

All of us were getting worn out with the situation. 

So I earnestly started the hunt for an affordable apartment that would afford us the financial freedom to exist.

I looked high! I looked low! I looked to and fro. 

Though there were lots of options, none were affordable to us

(Eeff and Molly cost too much)!

So on a God-given whim, I decided to see if I could qualify for a home loan.

After months of unemployment, what do you think my credit is like.

Yeah, I know. Right?

But miracle of miracles, I qualified. WHEW! It wasn't a huge qualification, but still doable.

Well, we needed a down payment, so we scrimped and saved and had absolutely no expendatures except Food and Fuel. 

We totally skipped Christmas 

just to save all we could for a down payment.

Well, after looking at 100+ homes from Davis to Box Elder counties over the course of six weeks,

I was exhausted.

In the meantime, I kept tabs on UtahRealEstate.com to see if anything new became available from day to day in

Box Elder County. 

I just happend to get on the same day that a 1860 sq ft condo in Perry just had a price drop of $20,000.

Boy howdy!

I jumped on that deal like a fumbled football.

Needless to say, after a 60 day closing and six weeks of painting, we are finally 90% moved in.

The condo is in my old Perry 5th ward (which I love) and I have wonderful neighbors. I am close to my mom should I need anything.

My back windows and patio over look the most picturesque scene. Seriously if anyone needs a place to take photos...

I love all the space, the layout, and my new paint job.  I just bought new drapes last night that are adorable.

Its been a trial trying to get it decorated, boxes put away, and just getting it livable, but its slowly coming together.

My sweet friends Nancey and Karen have come several times to help get things

organized and put away.

I just have a lot of stuff!!!

So, if you were wondering what has been happening in my life lately, that's my story.