Finding Total Happiness

Thunder Thighs!

2012-02-05T10:25:00.003-07:00

I have Thunder Thighs! I have to buy pants based on my thighs not my waist which can be frustrating! This is a good thought for me that later in life I will be able to do more cause my thighs are big!

Evil-Twin

2012-02-05T10:10:00.001-07:00

http://nerdfit.tumblr.com/

How would you workout if this was true!

I know I would workout harder, new motivation!

Motivation

2012-02-03T10:28:00.003-07:00

I've been working out hard lately and this little bits of motivation fuel my drive!

Thanks Justin for randomly sending me motivational pictures!

Body Update

2012-01-31T16:00:00.001-07:00

January 31, 2011

Weight 133 lbs

Body Fat 17.19%

weight is slightly up (but its that time of the month, and you hold onto water) but my favorite is that my body fat is down!

Body Update

2012-01-24T15:56:00.000-07:00

January 10th

weight: 134.6 lbs

body fat: 17.19%

January 24th

weight: 131.8 lbs

body fat: 17.53%

Weight is down but body fat went up a little, they say this is normal and that my body fat will go down slowly after the weight!

Under Construction!

2012-01-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

Sorry my blog will be under construction for the next little while... not that i have posted in a while!

Body Update

2012-01-10T12:43:00.007-07:00

January 3rd stats

weight: 135 lbs

body fat: 18.49%

fat: 24.95 lbs

muscle: 110.05 lbs

January 10th stats

weight: 134.6 lbs

body fat: 17.19%

fat: 23.13 lbs

muscle: 111.46 lbs

This was a good week! I didn't really lose weight but my body fat went down! Which means that I lost fat and gained Muscle!

Body Update

2012-01-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

Since October I have been going to Max Muscle (a nutrition and supplement store) to have my weight and body fat measured weekly, I want to post weekly about the changes and how I am feeling about the changes

October Stats:

Weight: 134.2

Height: 5 feet 5 inches

Body Fat: 19.13%

fat pounds: 25.67

muscle pounds: 108.53

January 3, 2012

Weight: 135

Height: 5 feet, 5 inches

Body Fat: 18.49%

fat pounds: 24.95

muscle pounds: 110.05

I will update every week how this changes... I'm happy with my progress, although I would like it to go faster but it takes time!

Goals for 2012!

2012-01-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

For 2012 I decided to break my new years resolutions down into sections of my life!

Fitness:
-get all splits flat again
-workout 365 times

Food:
-eat healthier (make at least 12 new healthy dishes)
-bake more

Craft:
-make a craft a month

School:
-Culinary school

Relationships:
-write more notes (thank you and inspiration)

Relaxation

2011-11-05T23:22:00.000-06:00

So today I haven't done much in fact I spent most of my day just lounging around... I didn't even get out of my pajamas (and I loved it). I did add a layer of sweats and hoody when I went outside. I went to the grocery store (I know shame on me... in my pajamas) give me some credit the sweats were really big! but other than that, I was at home, or at Justin's house. I had a great day of laying around and watching movies! my favorite part of the day was sharing a recliner chair with Justin, and having him be able to cuddle up and wrap his arms around me! It always makes me feel so safe and loved. Not that I'm going to be attacked at his house watching a movie! So today I'm grateful for the fact that i can have days like today every once in a while!

Yes i did my Burpees today... right before a bed time shower! (they are harder when you wait to do them)

Bluntness

2011-11-04T11:50:00.000-06:00

Have you ever had someone say something to you that kinda took you by shock. Until later and then you realized that that is what you needed. Lately I have had a few of these moments and I'm so grateful that I have people around me that will be honest and BLUNT about how they are feeling.

I have this problem with how I look at myself, and many times I've heard why you shouldn't...

well for those that have ever struggled with how they think they look or feel about themselves know that this doesn't really help. In fact this usually only makes you think about why you hate yourself more (which in my case makes me find more things wrong!). Anyways, lately I've been trying really hard (thanks to certain people around me) to really find things about myself that I can see positive in! It is starting to get better, but i still see myself as this out of shape, flabby boded crazy person.

This week I have had the niceness of people around me to help me...

Tuesday when I went to Max Muscle to have my body fat done (which I do weekly). I walked in and Rocky just looked up and said wow you look great this week, without even hesitating. This was a shock, because usually he is very professional. But it was what I needed, it made me feel good about myself let alone for the day, but for a few days. I guess seeing myself ever day in the mirror i don't notice the little changes everyday. Although they only see me weekly they saw a bigger change. So I'm grateful he said what came to his mind!

Today when I was finishing up my Burpees, one of my fellow workout pals was also doing her Burpees and looked over and said "you have and amazing ass!" afterwards she was like sorry I'm blunt but I wanted you to know I wish my but looked like yours! It was a random complement but made me think that I might not see all these things about myself that I should...

I also agree with being blunt about how you feel, such as if someone is bothering you to an extreme that you can't concentrate you should communicate that with them (in the nicest way possible)

So if I start spouting blunt comments your way I hope you know that they are because I love and want you to be better and happier with yourself!

Yup I did finish my Burpees after I got my nice booty comment!

Compassion

2011-11-03T11:32:00.000-06:00

Compassion...

Today I'm thankful for compassion, to those that have shown me compassion and how to be compassionate.

I'm thankful for the kind word, and how it can change my day.

Thanks to all those who have taught me what true compassion means!

Day 3 of my 100 burpees down!

Day 2

2011-11-02T11:18:00.000-06:00

Today I'm thankful for Father

He is the man that has helped me find myself time and time again throughout my craze life...

He is a rock that i know for sure that will be there, through thick and thin...

even when he doesn't agree with what I'm doing he is there for me!

He is hard working and never gives up!

I'm so thankful to have had him by my side throughout my life!

Day two of burpees completed!

Challenge

2011-11-01T11:16:00.000-06:00

I'm putting this out that

I AM TAKING THE CHALLENGE

of doing 100 BURPEES a day

for the whole month of November!

today is day one, and I've completed today's challenge

November....

2011-11-01T11:13:00.001-06:00

It has been awhile since i last posted and i would like to change that... A lot in my life has changed and I feel a little different about a lot of different things!

For November I want Thanksgiving to last a little longer so i decided that i would try ( this means it might not happen everyday but hopefully close) to be thankful for something everyday!

So to start off!

I am so Thankful for my ability to read.... without this i would have to find other ways to escape the daily worries. I am addicted to reading. It is my out when things get tough!

Chicago

2011-07-28T12:12:00.000-06:00

My dad, mom and i went out to see baby mason a few weeks after he was born and ended up having a lot of fun! Here are some pictures from the trip

here is papa throwing ash to her dad... she loved this and kept flapping her arms saying again

here is a mid action shot, although it looks crazy she loved it!

here is a pic of me and ash at the pool

can't believe how much she loves the water!

Grandma carting the bike up to their apartment

Ash... she had to go on the stairs all by herself

Baby Mason and I! he is such a happy baby

Time in Heaven...

2011-06-20T23:57:00.000-06:00

I will post a picture soon....

I have been spending as much time in heaven as I can... Heaven is a little piece of land that has no cell service or cable TV. Just you and who ever is there with you... I have been there a lot by myself lately, some of these times I've wanted to be alone others I wanted company, but mainly I need time to think about myself, and what I need to do to get where I want to be! It is beautiful there, not the pines, just trees and sagebrush mainly, but heaven all the same!

Single...

2011-06-14T03:06:00.002-06:00

It is weird but I'm officially single, I don't know how I feel about it... but it is true and I'm sure I will be doing a lot on my own and being with me family!!

What Ifs

2011-06-06T01:16:00.000-06:00

The what ifs in life are getting at me, hopefully all things will be okay!

U of U

2011-05-07T16:38:00.000-06:00

I have been accepted to go to the University of Utah for the fall semester!

Cheerleading Tryouts

2011-04-02T15:19:00.000-06:00

If you would have asked me in October about cheerleading tryouts I probably would have blabbered on about the U of U's tryouts and how I was improving, and hoping my body would hold.

Although, if you asked me about cheerleading tryouts in the past few weeks, I would have most likely said stressful, but I'm feeling like I should have everything put together.

Yesterday, was Millcreek Junior Highs cheerleading tryouts, and this week leading up has been clinics. I only have a few moms that were a little crazy, but all in all it went well! I now have 15 girls on my team and it should be a good year. I have two that are working back handsprings that are quite close... The rest of the girls have a back handspring at least, I have about 5 that have tucks and 3 that have standing tucks! I was surprised to see that I actually had a range of sizes that made the team (which will make stunting easier)! Hopefully at me parents meeting I will get a picture of the whole team!

2011 New Years Resolutions UPDATE

2011-03-20T15:46:00.001-06:00

These are the goals I have for myself:

*standing tuck

(getting closer)

*cheer (try out for Utah Xtreme)

(not going to happen, body can't handle it, but I stunt once a week)

*do something that I normally wouldn't do

(i have been talking to people I normally wouldn't and have been stepping out of my shell)

*Find a job coaching

( I now coach Millcreek Jr. High cheer team and I also coach rec and preschool gymnastics at cheerz)

*Cook something once a month

(I love cooking so this is true)

*Run a 5k, 10k, and a half marathon

( I have ran a 5k and I will prob have to run the others not in a race, just cause I work on Fri and sat)

*Complete a sprint triathlon

(hopefully if I get time off)

*Re-connect with old friends, and try and keep good communication with them

(I had lunch with Brooke the other day! I also talk to Matt frequently)

*Find Religious peace

(working on it)

*Keep financial records and save as much as possible

(Need to be better)

*Have a positive body image

(Getting better)

*Finish the recipe book

(worked on the other day)

*Organize car, room and life and keep it organized

(have organized now I need to just keep it cleaned)

*Try to get scrapbook caught up to end of 2010

(lol.... Need to work on it)

Tryouts

2011-03-19T16:35:00.002-06:00

I can't believe it I only have one week till clinics for tryouts start and I still have so much to do!!!

A little update...

2011-03-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

Lately I feel great...
I was down a lot before, I don't know if it was the time of year or just a rough time.
I realized that I am happier when I am busy.
Which has been my life a lot lately
With getting 2 new jobs,
I have been able to expand my views,
and see the goals at the end of the tunnel.
I am more enthused about school,
work and learning everything that I can about my body,
I am hoping to love my body more and more as the year continues.
I hope that life will continue to be better and better.
Which I think it will just because I have a better ATTITUDE!

2 Years Old

2011-03-03T12:11:00.001-07:00

This little puppy is now a big puppy

[sorry about the lighting]

Coco turned 2 today, it feels like she has been part of the family for much longer!

Pre-School & Kindergarten

2011-02-28T21:28:00.001-07:00

I am now coaching a preschool class and a kindergarten class, at Cheerz/USA gymnastics on Tuesday!

Just thought I would add to my busy schedule!

Birthday

2011-02-23T17:47:00.000-07:00

For my birthday, Justin got me a flip camera...

Here is the first video i took....

I will post a picture of the Flip Camera soon! It is super cute!!!

Cheer...

2011-02-09T02:41:00.000-07:00

More about the cheerleading job.... I will be coaching the 2011-2012 cheerleading team at Millcreek Jr. High School. I am super excited!

Millcreek is located in Bountiful.... I will start with tryouts, and the pre-tryout meeting. Then after tryouts I will have the girls/boys(if there are any) after the school year ends!

Cheerleading!

2011-02-07T16:39:00.002-07:00

I just got offered the position as the Cheerleading advisor at Millcreek Jr. High

Ashaboo

2011-01-08T21:18:00.006-07:00

My cute niece Ashlyn came into town for the holidays, she brought her parents with her too. It was so fun to have them here for the holidays. For a fun time with boo (Ashlyn), Justin and I took her over the the cheer gym twice and let her run around. She is born a cheerleader, or so i hope! Even if her dad wants her to play football, she loves cheering , jumping and dancing. She loves to jump and play on the tumble track.

This is her running around the floor she was just content to run and run

This is her standing on the vault... she wasn't supper happy that i walked away!

Boo mid jump, can you see what i mean by happy?!

Her dad has taught her to tackle... so when i wasn't expecting it her mom told her to tackle me.... can you tell i wasn't ready for it!

every time she got to the end of the tumble track she would fall down on the mat and then get back up and run to the other end.... giggling the whole way, of course!

Mid run.... wish that she lived closer so i could take her more frequently!

Resolutions

2011-01-08T18:22:00.007-07:00

2011 New Years Resolutions

Its that time of year again to make out some goals for the next year, hopefully I will stay motivated throughout the whole year!

These are the goals I have for myself:
.

*standing tuck

*cheer (try out for Utah Xtreme)

*do something that I normally wouldn't do

*Find a job coaching

*Cook something once a month

*Run a 5k, 10k, and a half marathon

*Complete a sprint triathlon

*Re-connect with old friends, and try and keep good communication with them

*Find Religious peace

*Keep financial records and save as much as possible

*Have a positive body image

*Finish the recipe book

*Organize car, room and life and keep it organized

*Try to get scrapbook caught up to end of 2010

The New Year!

2011-01-08T16:18:00.002-07:00

2011

Can you believe it is already 2011!

I can hardly believe that it is already here!

I am working on some posts that will hopefully be up soon,

I started on new years resolutions so hopefully

I will be able to have those up soon!

So you can watch me succeed or fail!

Hope that everyone had an amazing year,

that was full of wonderful memories!

Hope the new year is amazing!

2010....

2010-12-31T16:31:00.001-07:00

Was my year for change although not all that i wanted to change actually changed, big surprise right!

WELL...

I would like to at least tell you about all the things i did accomplish or at least start on that can be finished or worked on in 2011...

If you wanna see the list for 2010 it is here.

*Start school again: I started school in the fall and took 12 credits, at first it was great but reality sunk in and it was just school... I did well coming out of no school for over a year. I got 2 A's, and A- and a C+, so not so bad for a returner who had no motivation to be a student again.

*Decide on what i want to go into: I did this over the last few months of the year and it was one of the most stressful things i have done in a long time. I was so afraid that i would hate it again like i did the Nursing thing so my guard was up in full force. But I have made my decision! I am going to get a bachelors degree in Exercise and Sport science- emphasis: Exercise Science. Once i have completed that i will continue on to get my masters degree in Dietetics, hopefully in the sports dietetics program!

*Find a new Bike: I got a new bike and it has been a blast i forgot how hard biking actually is. My bike is a mountain bike with look out shocks, which allows me to do road biking a lot easier! Hopefully once I get more into triathlons I will be able to afford a road bike!

*Go Camping: Of course we went up to the property but other than that this year I haven't spent a lot of time in nature!

I have completed a lot more on my list, but haven't finished them all the way! So I will continue to work on them and update you as they are finished!

LDS Hospital

2010-12-30T17:47:00.000-07:00

Day-06

Talk about where I work

I work at LDS hospital on a bone marrow transplant and high does chemotherapy floor. I love my job most of the time. I really hate my job when patients pass away. The patients i deal with have cancer of the blood in all different forms... so when they come in to stay it is usually for awhile, this is one of my favorite parts about my job is getting to know my patients so well... I have great co-workers so when I'm here it is usually great... although i do hate coming to work but once I'm there it is usually good... I have two different jobs while I'm there i usually work as a HUC which is mainly a clerk, I answer the call lights and the phone i also take orders that the doctors write and put them on the the cardex, and order in the computer what i can (not meds). Other times when I'm there I'm a CNA, so when I'm doing this job i take vital signs and blood sugars. Help to give blood products and help the patients to the bathroom. That's about it... but it is so worth it to see people get better and see how strong a persons will can be... They truly show me to live int he moment! Because who knows if there will be another tomorrow, or another week, or year!

5 things

2010-12-30T16:57:00.000-07:00

day-5

5 of my favorite things I use everyday!

1- my Burtsbee's chap stick
2- my toothbrush
3- my cell phone
4- my magic bullet
5- my bed

2010 Jeep Liberty

2010-11-28T09:56:00.002-07:00

2010 Jeep Liberty Austin
Originally uploaded by Mac Haik

Day 10~ Picture of your Dream Car

My dream car isn't a car but an SUV, it would either have to be a Jeep Liberty, or Ford Escape.... both i like because they are small yet still big enough and tough enough for all sorts of problems...

2010-11-28T09:47:00.002-07:00

princess-cut-diamond-engagement-ring
Originally uploaded by Ingle & Rhode

Day 03~ a picture of my dream engagement ring....

well above is a ring, and that is the most i would want, i would be absolutely okay with a simple silver band.... Justin has informed me that, that is not a possibility. I think the above is simple yet extremely pretty

2010-11-28T09:26:00.002-07:00

Remember this post?

well i'm back to trying to fullfill all those things on that list!

day 4

the one day i was scared about.... this is cause i'm very self concious about a lot of my body!

But if i had to choose one area of my body it would have to be my stomach... you know that area that is the first to get puggy and the last to slim down.... i dread the moffin top and get the chills when people start talking about pear shaped or apple shapped bodies... i wanna have a slim, and athletic stomach! is that to much to ask for?

Guess i better do something to make that happen, it surely won't come by sitting on my butt!

Auschwitz Fence

2010-11-17T06:18:00.002-07:00

The place i would love to go to most would have to be in Germany.... and i have been told i'm crazy once or twice for wanting to go here. The place i want to travel to most would be Auschwitz concentration camp in Germany. I love to learn about this period in time, and to actually go there would be a dream!

Auschwitz Fence, originally uploaded by Rod Monkey.

Thanks...

2010-10-19T16:45:00.001-06:00

This is my latest craft project... i have been trying to fit in the time to craft so one day i decided to make this to get it out of my system... at least for a min....

New Roof

2010-10-19T16:32:00.002-06:00

We re-shingled our house recently and i actually remembered to get my camera out and take some pictures...

we took all the shingles off of our roof to begin with and i ended up with three lovely blisters to prove that i was there. it took us about three days in total that is with everyone working at their normal jobs and helping out when they can.

left: is my boyfriend climbing a ladder to get onto the roof... below are my mom and sister picking up shingles and sweeping up the mess

Frustrating...

2010-10-03T14:19:00.001-06:00

Wish that i didn't get frustrated so fastly...
Wish i could just let it go...

Dave Ramsey...

2010-09-27T04:05:00.002-06:00

Yup that is right i've joined the mainy and started the Dave Ramsey program to finacial peace... so far i have found the program very intertaining and interesting... i have been doing it all online, which means i watch the vedios of dave entertaining me and all the while i've been learning a lot about myself and my spending habits... Each lesson has journal entires and i didn't know where to write these so i decided hey why not the blog...

Super Saving (save! please save!):
1- What do you hope to get out of financial piece university? What
motivated you to enroll?

I hope to get a steady finacial goals set into place... i hope to know where
i stand finacially
and be able to save and live a very amazing life in the future from saving
today!! What motivated me to enroll was all the people i knew that have already
done the program and are so greatful for the process... I have really learned to
listen to people who have more life experiences, and what has worked for them..
so thanks to all of those out there who help me!

2- What aer 3 or 4 specific goals you have for this program? What ways do you want your life to be differently by the time you finish this program?

i would like to understand where all my money is going
i would like to know that i have money to live on in the future and not
just hope it is there
i would like to understnad investments better
i would like to know what and where i should skimp and splerge to recieve what will help me
in the long run!

Favorite Movies

2010-09-24T14:11:00.004-06:00

The Spotlight
Originally uploaded by Lea Alauda

So i really don't have a favorite move... but as of recently i really love the movies that have to do with dancing and cheering, etc... i don't know why but i'm curiously drawn to these movie!

Mother's Day!

2010-09-19T12:53:00.003-06:00

I know it has been awhile since mothers day but i wanted to show what i made my mom... it was super easy and turned out better than i thought it would...

not sure if it needs a flower or bow or something... but i like it the way it is...

It looks a lot cuter now that it is up on the wall and pictures, and notes have been added.

so...

2010-09-19T08:43:00.004-06:00

So i wanted to share a little about myself... for myself in the future... so i will try and do this daily might be more might be less, who knows... each day will be a new post... hopefully i can stick to this one....

Day 01 → Favorite movies.
Day 02 → Places you want to visit
Day 03 → A picture of your dream engagement ring.
Day 04 → One body part that you are self concious about.
Day 05 → 5 of your favorite things you use everyday.
Day 06 → Talk about where you work.
Day 07 → Best day of your life.
Day 08 → Picture of you when you were younger.
Day 09 → Picture of your family.
Day 10 → Picture of your dream car
Day 11 → Picture of your dream house.
Day 12 → Favorite place in the world.
Day 13 → Addictions.
Day 14 → 5 things you love about yourself.
Day 15 → What you wanted to be as a child.
Day 16 → favorite character from a book/movie.
Day 17 → Favorite musicals/plays.
Day 18 → Make a list of your pet peeves
Day 19 →Photo of your parents, and tell about them.
Day 20 → Person you can’t live without.
Day 21 → List your favorite quotes.
Day 22 → Photo of something in your home.
Day 23 → Photo of something in your vehicle.
Day 24 → Person you think is beautiful.
Day 25 → Favorite clothing item.
Day 26 → Hometown location and facts.
Day 27 → Favorite food, drink, treats.
Day 28 → A concert you have attended.
Day 29 → Photo of you.
Day 30 → 5 things you could change about yourself.

September!

2010-09-05T19:10:00.001-06:00

can you believe it that it is already September.... i can't although i'm excited for the leaves/ seasons to change, i'm not quite ready for summer to be over. hopefully fall doesn't come to fast and i can have a little of hope that summer can last a little longer. School has started and i already feel behind, i think a good day or two of getting ahead will make me feel a little bit better.

promise i have a lot to catch up on hopefully soon!!!

Boo turns 1!

2010-08-01T13:11:00.000-06:00

Boo, my niece Ashlyn, turned one this summer... i worked during her birthday party =(

This year i decided to make her gifts with the exception of a few... I got the wood for her name at the wood connection along with the wood for the lady bug... it was fun and pretty simple to make...

Friendships

2010-07-31T16:35:00.002-06:00

Have you ever wondered why you feel like you have zero friends and everywhere you look people are surrounded by there friends... i feel this way frequently! i wonder what is wrong with me... do i do something to make people be repelled by me? The friends i do have i see very little of and i know some of that is my own fault... but i wonder what it would be like to have friends galore ( my little sister is constantly being pulled this way and that by her friends)... i feel like those i was friends with before have slowly drifted far away and i have no way to get them back... I'm such a chicken when it comes to committing to let someone whole heartedly back/just into my life.... i have a huge fear of letting people down!

This was brought full fronted last night when we (Justin and I) went to dinner with some of his good friends and their kids... they were amazing they pretty much didn't even hesitate to bring me full fold into their love... it shocked me that they could love me so much and only because I'm dating their friend...

i have never really felt that kind of love from everyone around me... my family and me aren't the closest just because i don't exactly believe in all that they do... and some of my standards are a little different... like i know they love me but the support is a little lacking... and as for the friends thing i just have a select few and i really haven't seen them in months... i know i sound like a loser but i am a huge home body, i love reading and other low key things...

if i could do my life over i prob would i would be true to myself and those around me... i would try and be less annoying and more open and willing to help those around me more!

Fathers Day!!

2010-06-25T02:29:00.004-06:00

Yup... i do realize that fathers day was a while ago... but oh well

i would still like to give a shout out to the men in my life...

My Father, who has let me be me and try not to push things onto me (thanks). This is the same person who would put anyone in front of him to help them out. This person who works all the time to keep me and my family in a comfortable living situation, and still find time to give us the joys of travel and experiencing life in a whole new way! This is the same person who taught me what it is like to spend the best day possible in Disneyland... This is my dad who is truely a big kid at heart! (Yup... we really did celebrate his 50th birthday at Disneyland!) He is the same man who goes out of his way to make sure his syblings are doing okay. Yet he is the same man who isn't afraid to tell you what he thinks even if he knows it might hurt!

My Grandpa Preece, the man who raised my mother... that has been a influence in how i was raised... this man is the same man that took 5 grandchildren by himself to yellowstone by himself for a week! and 5 other grandchildren to disneyland also solo... he is stubborn as can be and more loving than almost any one else i know

My Grandfather Willis, this is the man who just recently passed. The same man who battled cancer twice, served in the military, and raised my father! this is the same man who lived near me in college while i was at dixie state and would make sure i was doing ok.

Justin, this is the man I Love. This is the man who willingly helps me fix my car, which i struggle with... if filling it with gas was any harder i would probably need help with that. This is the man who makes me smile and laugh at least once a day! He makes sure i'm taken care of before he even thinks of himeslf. He always is a gentleman and i don't know how many times he has gone cold cause of my blondness in forgeting a jacket or some type of warm clothing.

Justin's Dad, I would like to give you a shout out just for the fact of raising a son that is so amazing... i'm sure that he gave you hell, ok, is still giving you hell. but i'm so grateful that you were able to teach him right from wrong. Thank you for giving his dreams wings to fly

Its Official

2010-06-25T02:22:00.002-06:00

I have finally taken the step toward going back to school in the fall...

I have registered for my classes! They are all over the place and in a lot of different areas but i'm excited to see how i like certain ones and if i hate certain ones... I feel like a little kid... about to start school for the first time nervous but excited!

Justin was saying the other day that i will get to meet new people and make new friends... too bad i feel really awkward when i meet people for the first time! Which makes it difficult to reach out of my little bubble/comfort zone and talk to people... some people think i am super out going... you have me wrong i like to do things but people that i have to be peers with is really hard for me...

Anyways... i'm taking a lot of different classes and if you ask me what i'm taking i probably won't remember what all im taking =)

but here you go... i'm taking
Intro to Social Work
Intro to Economic Systems
Foundations of Business
Culture and Human Experience
Foundations of nutrition
Intro to Archaelogy

wish me luck!

The Ugly Duckling!

2010-06-15T04:06:00.002-06:00

So lately i have been feeling like the ugly duckling...

not what your thinking... I'm okay with how i look, like yes there are things about my body i definitely want to change, but that is gong to take some will power i know i have deep down inside and a few friends help! anyways the type of ugly duckling I'm talking about is with what i want to do with my life!

lately i haven't been super happy doing what i do... and i did take a year off school to think about where i want to go in life! Yet, it seems when i look around me at all the other people my age and even younger everyone i talk to (except for a few) know exactly what they want to do! Most have even started direct majors and a bunch are even done and just working away at what they love!

me on the other hand used to think i had it all figured out until one day when i realized i have no desire to do what i thought i loved! it is weird how these things hit you like a ten ton truck... i think i officially realized the fear most kids get in high school, of the pressure to know what they will do, but maybe even worse, because society thinks that because I'm the young age of 22 that i should know exactly what i should do and how i should do it! In fact they think i should already be half way there!

So if anyone has any suggestions on what this ugly duckling of this world that is confused might be good at! Send your suggestions my way and i will read up on it and see if i have any interest!

May's Books

2010-06-05T14:32:00.002-06:00

The Hunger Games, originally uploaded by huntleyareapl.

Okay... Okay i know I've been slacking i have a lot to catch up on! i will try and update about the last little bit soon!!

But i have read a lot this month!

The Happiness Project by; Gretchen Rubin

Team of Rivals by; Doris Kearns Goodwin

The Gift by; Cecelia Ahern

Hunger Games by; Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by; Suzanne Collins

Spring!!!

2010-05-09T22:26:00.000-06:00

Don't you just LOVE spring!

Books for April

2010-05-09T21:46:00.002-06:00

Mineko Iwasaki & Rande Brown- Geisha, a life, originally uploaded by Kikuyo-san.

I completed my goal of reading two books this month!!!

Geisha, A Life by: Mineko Iwasaki with Rande Brown
(which is the book in the picture above)

Modoc by: Ralph Helfer
(biography of an extraordinary elephant)

Sorry....

2010-05-04T01:33:00.002-06:00

for the lack of posting! sorry it is long!!!

life has been a little off lately, and I've been trying to decide what my feelings are... although i think that emotional sums it up! i feel horrible that i have been on the edge of laughing and tears all at once and it seems like poor Justin has been seeing the worst of this... he has been so amazing in making me feel loved and assuring me that all will be okay! i have decided that if someone else tells me that i should know exactly what i should be going into, or have a true and distinguished direction with out a doubt on maybe going in a different direction... me i feel like i have so many things that interest me and i have no clue which one that i really want to do! i kind of feel like those kids in high school that feel like the world is making them decide and they aren't sure which direction to even begin looking!

On a sadder note my Grandpa Willis is currently passing away... he won the battle with cancer 30 years ago and just recently lost his second battle. this is weird for me since i see people at my job having this happen more often than i would like... but it is different this time! He has been such a big part in making me a person i am today! when i lived in st. George my grandparents house was the place to be for Sunday dinner or in fact anytime... they were always welcome and i cherish the nights playing Mexican train with my grandfather! although I'm sad to see him go i am grateful that he is no longer going to be in pain... the horrible pain of chemo and lose of appetite. i know he will be missed!

On a happier note i have decided what i am going to do for mothers day and i hope it will turn out cute! along with the normal every year gardening that comes... this year i will actually have a gift!!!!

anyways so if you randomly run into me don't be confused if I'm laughing one second the crying the next, then laughing again... I'm grateful for Justin so much it is hard to say what i would have done with out being to cry on his shoulder or even just tell him all my concerns.... or even just to see his smile to brighten my entire day

ABC's

2010-04-13T02:46:00.003-06:00

A - Age: 22

B - Bed size: Twin shared with a cute giant puppy
C - Chore you hate: Dishes

D - Dog's name: Coco

E - Essential start your day item: I love a good workout in the morning

F - Favorite color: Grey

G - Gold or Silver or Platinum: Silver

H - Height: 5'4

I - Interesting fact about yourself: I love the Holocaust

J - Jewelry you wear everyday: Ring on left pointer finger and necklace i got form Justin

L - Living arrangements: Me and my parents and my little sister

M - Mom's name: Ellen

N- Nicknames: Court, Willis, Shorty,

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Not sure

P - Pet Peeve: People who think that they know everything about everything

Q - Quote:

R - Right handed or left handed: Right

S - Siblings: 2 sisters

T - Time you wake up: Depends on the day and what i need to do that day

U- Underwear: boyshorts...

V - Vegetable you dislike: cauliflower

W - Ways you run late: traffic, accidentally falling either back asleep or just asleep, getting distracted by a book
X - X-rays you've had: knee, ankle, foot, teeth, spine

Y - Yummy food you make: deserts! and i like to try to make things that look delish

Z - Zoo favorite: Gorilla

April Fools!

2010-04-02T22:36:00.001-06:00

Can i just tell you how much i hate April Fools! I just wish that people could be normal... I feel like i can't believe anyone about anything in this world on that day and a lot of time i want to ask people questions i want a straight answer on and i can't get it all because of the date! This is why i hate April Fools!!!

Loving life!

2010-03-26T23:46:00.002-06:00

I used to think that loving life meant that i had to love everything in my life! although recently i have discovered that is not true! i have had some of my best memories in the past little while due to the fact that i was being me and only me and i didn't feel like i had to live up to any one's expectations even my own! it was a hard adjustment and I'm still making it daily, hopefully it will become a good habit!

Thanks to those who have been there and have been making life a little easier!

Want or Need?

2010-03-24T21:48:00.002-06:00

15

2010-03-24T21:00:00.002-06:00

15 what? you might ask....

well there are 15 days left tell this girl comes back into my life...

and then we can take coco on an adventure like this...

and can have fun even though it might not be a perfect day outside like this day...

But we will always be sisters...

So in 15 days the adventures of two sisters can continue...
and the two of us won't be separated by a ocean

M.Y.L.A.

2010-03-24T20:36:00.002-06:00

So i haven't completely finished MYLA yet but i am going to start just posting on other things for now... I have a goal to finish the series, just prob wont post and if i do it might not have the title to show it! Thanks for letting me share this series in my life with you. It truly has helped me to find some answers to some things and others i just realize i have a lot of work to get to where i want, yet, it isn't impossible!

Day 24

here is my list of things that can help me recharge and want to grow and learn!

visit more museums/historical sites
find little unknown shops and restaurants
celebrate friendships
take more pictures
go to the theatre/ballet
take a cooking class
be in nature

M.Y.L.A. post 23

2010-03-24T20:07:00.004-06:00

Celebrate Your style

“Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.”

Gore Vidal

The things i love about my style:

♥ I love that my style changes depending on how i feel

♥ I love that i feel confident in jeans, tee and baseball cap

♥ I Love that some days i feel the need to be a girly girl

♥ I love that i am not afraid to get dirty

♥ I love how I'm proportioned

♥ I love my addiction to shoes

♥ I love that i look good in a baseball cap and no makeup

♥ I love that i feel comfortable in public with no makeup on

M.Y.L.A. post 21

2010-03-19T21:17:00.002-06:00

Make The Most Of Your Time

another vintage clock, originally uploaded by katisworld.

“Watches are so named as a reminder - if you don't watch carefully what you do with your time, it will slip away from you.”

Drew Sirtors

Thank you Megan (writer of the blog charadestyle.com)
this day in the MYLA series has been good for me to get things in order... i love that you didn't just give one way to manage time!

Homework:
♥ Plan Your Time!

I decided to give each day of the week a purpose

Monday: Clean up and run errands (try to de clutter running everywhere later in the week)
Tuesday: Organize Day
Wednesday: Learning Day (catch up on school/learning projects)
Thursday: Personal Day (work on something creative)
Friday: Catch up day (day to complete tasks not accomplished on their assigned days)
Saturday: Service/ Social
Sunday: Rest Day

M.Y.L.A. day 20

2010-03-19T21:06:00.002-06:00

Mining For LOVE

“Love is the best medicine, and there is more than enough to go around once you open your heart.”

Julie Marie

Love is as precious as gold, and I’m not talking sickly, rom-com, chocolates and flowers type love, I’m talking the kind of love that works in the real world. Love for yourself and for life as well as for people. Love as a lifestyle choice; love as a main dish not a side order. Love is there, it exists with or without you, and you choose whether you want to invest in it or not; you choose whether to mine for it.

Homework:
♥ Choose Love

Things I Love!

Good times with friends

Running

shoes

Historical Sites

Books

Exploring

Finding my Creative Side

Finishing a project

101

2010-03-19T19:10:00.001-06:00

It is official! i have made 100 posts and now I'm onto see if i can reach 200!

M.Y.L.A. day 19

2010-03-18T20:22:00.002-06:00

Influence Others for Success

“Because everything we say and do is the length and shadow of our own souls, our influence is determined by the quality of our being.”

Dale E. Turner

motorcycle touring Memorial Day 06 (19), originally uploaded by David Clow - Maryland.

We are often influencing people without even realising it, sometimes positively, sometimes negatively. The way we talk, the way we move about our lives, what we do and achieve – all of these will impact others on a small, or sometimes very large, scale.

This homework has been hard for me! it is to know what i stand for and yes i know that i stand for peace and justice. That i also stand for honesty and happiness. Along with people doing and saying what they believe in!

But the fact of what i stand for in my life such as in a success for myself i have yet to discover... of course i want success but what in...

and i would love to have a focus to put goals and dreams to but I'm still working on that too!

if anyone has suggestions let me know!

M.Y.L.A. day 18

2010-03-15T16:58:00.003-06:00

How You Can Benefit From Doing Things For Other People

07-07-09-2, originally uploaded by jillygg.

"A life isn’t significant except for its impact on other lives."

Jackie Robinson

Homework:

♥ Get doing!

Set yourself the challenge today, or tomorrow, to do ten helpful things for other people. They can be small things like putting a coin in a collection tin, holding a door for someone, making dinner for your family or partner, helping somebody out with heavy bags, stopping and listening to somebody wholeheartedly, assisting a mum to get a pram down some steps, giving up your seat on the bus, buying a down friend some chocolates... You get the picture!

Or, you can choose to do more with less and undertake some bigger actions like committing your time to a volunteer project, clearing a neighbour’s garden, trading a skill with a friend, taking the time to post about a worthwhile charity on your blog, spending more at the supermarket on fair-trade products, or supporting local, small businesses.

This was a wake up call for me! I have been wanting to be more into service and this has helped me to notice that there are more things to be more serviceable to people around me! Even if it is really small i can still impact people around me by doing small little things! I will try to get a big thing into play to help someone somewhere but for now i will have to continue to think exactly what i want that thing to be!

Wish Me Luck!!

M.Y.L.A. day 17

2010-03-12T14:06:00.002-07:00

Focus on Friendship

“A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.”

~Lois Wyse

Right... sometimes i feel that i would be fine with out friends, then i realize that the times i do go out i am much happier! I do tend to run still when seeing people from high school, for some reason i hate that conversation, u know the one where it goes "how r u?" "good, you?" "good"... you get the picture.... a conversation that goes no where. That when your done you think what a waste of time! Anyway i would love more friendships yet i struggle with the making them part! i wish there was just a place that you go and they say these people would be good friends for you have a good day! then those people would automatically become your friends and life would be a little easier.... anyways...

Homework:

Take Action on Your Friendships

Write 5 things in your notebook on how you could improve your friendships

* Be the one to make the attempt to get together, also have a plan on something we could do... so as not to just sit the whole time

* Listen well

* Be willing to make friends - be more open to people

* Make an effort to make sure friends are okay and doing well

* Try to keep my friends in mind more often...

M.Y.L.A. day 16

2010-03-12T13:51:00.002-07:00

Sorry I'm a little behind on M.Y.L.A. so i will be doing a few each day to catch up!

Don't Get Jealous, Get Better

Rosa de agua, originally uploaded by ƒreg / Fernando Gregory.

“If you're able to be yourself, then you have no competition. All you have to do is get closer and closer to that essence.”

~Barbara Cook

You have to focus on being the best you – because that is all you have. Being yourself is the best gift you were ever given, have you ever thought of it like that? Think about yesterday’s post and be thankful that you are who you are, where you are. When you feel jealousy, recognise it as a symptom of your own ability to achieve, and take a lesson from it, not a confidence knock.

Homework:

♥ Change your attitude to jealousy.

There are people, places, and things that i am super jealous of! So in this homework i discovered that i can make the best of these feelings! Although i don't feel that i should share them here because that is just weird. i will write them in my journal and then some person way later in life will find it and laugh at my silly fears and jealousy...

M.Y.L.A. day 15

2010-03-11T13:38:00.002-07:00

Vintage Atlas Thank You Envelope Seals, originally uploaded by KisforCalligraphy.

Be Thankful

“Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy – because we will always want to have something else or something more.”

~David Steindl-Rast

HOMEWORK:

Say Thanks

Dear Universe,
Thank you for letting me live here on this amazing planet. Thank you for Justin being my best friend and his helping me to feel loved and worth something amazing. Thank you for a sarcastic, crazy, fun, and supportive family. Thank you for coco and her fun playful personality. Thank you for friends. Thank you for nature and its ultimate beauty. Thank you for a roof over my head and food to eat. Thank you for a job. Thank you for my body and the amazing things it has overcome. Thank you for running shoes. Thank you for my ability to learn. Thank you for the challenges i have encountered and overcome, which have made me who i am today. Thank you for all the talents that i have been given.

Thank you for everything
Courtney

M.Y.L.A. day 14

2010-03-10T20:36:00.002-07:00

Dreamstone, originally uploaded by Michael Mahlum.

What You Need to Know About Happiness and Determination

“People tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will descend like fine weather if you’re fortunate. But happiness is the result of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly.”

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Saying you want to be happy, and actually setting out and doing something about it, you’ll know, are two quite different things. You have the right to happiness, and you can choose it anytime you like, but we’ve all felt the weight that bears down on us when their seems to be too many darned hurdles in the way; we give up and resort to a limbo state of idleness, hoping happiness will come knocking when we get that big promotion or meet the lover of our dreams.

Homework:

Work hard to be happy

write five points on what you’re noticing happiness means to you, and five points on what determined work you could be doing to make that happiness a reality

Happiness means
... freedom in choosing
... peace
... knowledge
... beauty all around
... love

Determination means
... planning
... finding comfort in my decisions
... seeing the beauty all around me
... always studding, always will to question
... finding passion, and saving money to allow that Passion and all other goals to come true

M.Y.L.A. day 13

2010-03-10T20:08:00.002-07:00

CMS Detector at CERN, Cessy (F), originally uploaded by Panoramyx.

How to Write Powerful Daily Affirmations - And Make Them Work

You may never have experienced the real power of an affirmation – that combination of words that really hits home. Like with a wonderful quote; you could have heard the same thing time and again in a different format or style and never really paid attention to it, but something about the way it is put now truly strikes a chord and excites you.

Homework:

♥ Build your own affirmations.

My Affirmations

Surprise yourself with a leap of creativity

Capture the wonder and delight of the day

Enchant your inner genius and discover your organized self

You are a creative talented channel it and just decide to let it out

M.Y.L.A. day 12

2010-03-06T06:05:00.003-07:00

Ballet Dancer - EXPLORED! #13, originally uploaded by Philip Rood Photography.

Sell Yourself, to Yourself

“Life is just a mirror, and what you see out there, you must first see inside of you.”

Wally Amos

What’s more, if you don’t sign-up to the wonder that is you, how can you expect anyone else to? Success in relationships, career etc. all require us ‘selling’ ourselves, or seeming worthy to others. The logical place to start for success in these areas is to have a self that we feel is worthy, a self that we’d love to know if we weren’t us.

So here is the deal i have never really been able to sell myself to myself.... so this task for me seems like a huge feat, i have been looking ahead at what is coming for me and this one has been scaring me... i am the type of person who looks in the mirror and see thing i wish i could be! So... we will see how long this takes me. I have always been afraid of doing things that others wont like so i have become a very indecisive, and although Justin has been helping me become more decisive i still have lots of room to improve. I am a very easy to please type of person, who still believes in being a hopeless romantic!

Homework:

Create a self-belief C.V.

This doesn’t have to be in the format of a traditional CV, nor do we want to analyze and criticise ourselves too much. We simply want to highlight our best, most prized qualities, so that they become our focus, and in that become the traits we develop further

Break it up into sections such as:

♥ Expertise & Talents
♥ Achievements
♥ Unrivalled Qualities
♥ Real-World Qualifications... or whatever you choose that sells you, to you!

Now that you have this CV, are you sold? Don’t be disheartened if you aren’t quite, we still have a way to go in our month-long journey into the amazing. The most productive thing you could take from this exercise, if you aren’t already sold, is a new focus on how to get sold.

M.Y.L.A. day 11

2010-03-05T15:35:00.002-07:00

im scared, originally uploaded by Scarleth White.

How to Believe in Yourself

"Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon must inevitably come to pass"
~Paul J. Meyer

There are endless examples of people completely altering their lives simply because their beliefs are so unquestionable to them; they believe it to be, so it comes to be. If we can gain a sincere belief in ourselves, then we can have our amazing life, no question. But how do we gain this belief? Where do our existing beliefs come from?

Homework:

* Be aware of your beliefs

In your notebook, record three beliefs that would make a considerable, positive impact in your life. Even if you don’t quite believe them yet, word them as though you do, word them as unequivocal truths. Mine are:

* I am successful in learning and finding my path

* I am a bright, fun, happy person to be around

* I live a life full of happiness, an abundance of love, and a knowledge of everything i want with a way to get them/there

Okay Megan, I'm giving this a shot, this is something I'm really bad at!

M.Y.L.A. day 10

2010-03-04T13:23:00.002-07:00

Barcelona..another point of view..-, originally uploaded by ancama_99(toni).

How To Create Confidence:

Follow me to Charadestyle.com and M.Y.L.A.

"I was once afraid of people saying 'Who does she think she is?' Now i have the courage to stand and say, 'This is who i am.' "
~Oprah Winfrey

Homework:
♥ Understand and envisage your confidence in yourself

♥ Answer; what does confidence mean?

Being assertive
Reaching outside your comfort zone
Being able to make friends anywhere
Living life as fully as possible
Doing things for you even when it is frowned upon by others

♥ In real situations this is realized by:

Staying positive
Letting people in
Being willing to start up a conversation and listen to others
Trying new things
Living in the here and now
Answering only to myself on my progress

♥ Actions i can do to reach these things

Standing up straight and tall
Keeping eye contact, and looking up(no eyes to the ground)
Smiling
Slow deep breathing
Reaching to my limits and sometimes even above them

♥ Do you suffer from low confidence?

I believe i do... but i surprise myself sometimes

♥ How important is creating confidence to you?

This exercise has helped me to realize that it is really important to me. Knowing that having even just a small amount of confidence can help me accomplish even my biggest dreams and goals!

M.Y.L.A. day 9

2010-03-03T15:25:00.003-07:00

Microsoft, Productivity Partners, originally uploaded by weszel.

Get To Know Your Productive Self

"Ninety percent of the world's woe comes from people not knowing themselves, their abilities, their frailties, and even their real virtues. Most of us go almost all the way through life as a complete strangers to ourselves."

~Sydney J. Harris

Homework:

♥ Suss out your productive self.

It’s time for a bit of ‘cause and effect’ science-project business: what elements line up to make you productive? Think of the last time you were really productive, in anything: what was the situation? What was happening around you? How did you feel?

Factors I can't really control that influence my productivity:

♥ A beautiful day
(either sunny and bright or pouring rain)
♥ Waking up early
♥ A clean organized space
♥ Quiet, alone time
♥ Good music

These are the things that drive me to be more productive:

♥ A desire or passion for whatever I'm doing
♥ Time (giving myself time by planning)
♥ Knowing i will not have any other time to do the task at hand
♥ Knowing that what I'm doing is for the benefit of others
♥ Having someone to fess up to when it is done
♥ Knowing exactly what needs to be done (by planning ahead)

So... for me to be productive i need... Time, A Passion, Focus, Accountability, and Organization.

Therefore my productive self is Focused, Passionate, Time Wise, Organized, Accountable person!

Hopefully every so often i can be this person!

M.Y.L.A. day 8

2010-03-02T03:00:00.002-07:00

Dreaming............., originally uploaded by Nicolas Valentin.

Make Today a Change Day!

"Forget yesterday. It's gone and you will never get it back. Focus on making today a day you will not regret tomorrow"
~Stephen Mills

Summary:
♥ Change is positive and empowering.
♥ Change will catch up with you; make it your friend and asset now.
♥ Change does not have to be active; an openness to potential change is often the key.

Homework:
♥ Make today a change day.

1. In your journal, map out your normal day in bullet points. You can use as few as three, or as many as ten plus, of these points. Ask yourself: is this day good enough? Is it optimal? How can I implement change to upgrade my average day?

2. On a new page, map your day with at least one element of change (but the more the better.) Make it realistic, satisfying change that you truly want to see in your life, not a list of things you think the world wants from you. Changes can be very small at first; don’t overwhelm yourself or this exercise becomes obsolete. We want to encourage change, not scare ourselves off of it. See my example below.

3. Now, implement it! Get changing! This is an exercise you should repeat regularly when you feel a dip in your spirit/lust for life/productivity. Reviewing and specifying what change really means and can do for us is an important aspect to a life that is fluid and budding and amazing.

A Normal Day in My Life:

♥ wake around 11 or 12

♥ Lay in bed for awhile, sometimes read

♥ Get dressed around 1

♥ Eat lunch usually unhealthy

♥ Play with puppy

♥ Go to the Gym

♥ Eat dinner

♥ Read/ spend time with Justin/ work

♥ go to bed around 1 or 2

A Changed Day in My Life:

♥ Up and ready for the gym by 9am and be heading to the gym be 9:30

♥ Eat a healthy breakfast

♥ Work on a planned project

♥ Eat a wholesome lunch

♥ Play with puppy

♥ Read/ Learn something new

♥ Dinner with family

♥ Time with Justin/ Work

♥ Review day/ Plan next day

♥ Go to bed

2 books a month!

2010-03-01T15:20:00.002-07:00

Dear John Movie Poster, originally uploaded by moviegoodsposters.

January:
Thanks for the memories By: Cecilia Ahern
The Charlemagne Pursuit By: Steve Berry

February:
Short story writing(practical English series) including

Book of Ruth From: the Bible
Rip Van Winkle By: Washington Irving
The Theif By: Feodor Dostoievski
The Necklace By: Guy de Maupassant
Strain By: Albert Richard Wetjen
I'm in a Hurry By: William Fiazleti Upson
The Trumpet Sounds By: Mary Roberts Rinehart
Friends in San Rosario By: O. Henry
The Most Dangerous Game By: Richard Connell
The Fourth Man By: John Russell

Dear John By: Nicholas Sparks
Witch and Wizard By: James Patterson
The Last Song By: Nicholas Sparks

hopefully i can keep up with reading at least 2 books a month! I think it is going to get harder once i start school!

Goals Update

2010-03-01T15:00:00.003-07:00

Holy Cow it is March already! This year i set some goals. They are in my January posts titled 2010 a year for change! I want to update on my status of these goals!

* Start School Again:
i have officially enrolled in school again at SLCC!

* Decide on what i want to go into:
still haven't decided yet, But i have narrowed it down to social work or anthropology

* Run a 5k or 10k:
my knee is still hurt so no luck yet!

*train for a half marathon or triathlon:
been swimming longer distances at a time and trying to build my endurance... can't run or bike cause it hurts the knee to much

*Find a new bike:
kinda discouraged on this cause of not being able to ride it cause of my knee

*Go camping:
yet to do this but I'm sure once summer comes i will have plenty of stories to tell for this one

*Finish the recipe book:
i printed out the first 50 pages and I'm continuing to add more of the recipes in.... hopefully i will have it done by Christmas to give to my mom

* Reorganize everything:
Done!
yup finished one, yet i keep changing things, i will most likely do this one alot within the next year

*Keep room clean:
i have a goal to clean it at least every Saturday, so it has stayed somewhat clean

*Try to catch up on scrapbooking:
oops! guess i should start working on this one

*Read at least 2 books a month:
doing great on this one but that may be because i love to read!

*Work on being more positive:
working on it with M.Y.L.A. hopefully that will help!

*Learn something new:
i have been learning new stuff about myself this last little bit! but i have this feeling this is just the beginning of learning

* Do some kind of charity work:
still haven't decided what kind of charity i would like to do!
Any ideas I'm open for suggestions

*Work on building my savings account:
i have a goal to put $20.00 a month into my savings i know it isn't a lot but it is a start

*Manage my time more efficiently:
well i have been trying, but I'm not sure that counts... i found that my list making helps some but i just need to be more conscious of what I'm doing and why

M.Y.L.A. day 7

2010-03-01T14:44:00.002-07:00

Freedom, originally uploaded by Camilla Ferrari.

How To Revel in Your Own Life

"...and in the end, it's not the years in your life that count it's the life in your years"
~Abraham Lincoln

Look around you; this is your life, going on right now. Start enjoying it! Stop fighting against life; accept it for what it is. Ride the wave instead of being the rock it crashes against. Take your day and wander around the full extent of it, soak up the experiences like a sponge and slip and slide through all the little ups and downs. Let the day happen to you, rather than battling to happen to it.

Summary:

stop assessing yourself, and start enjoying yourself
think of everyday as an exercise in happiness
don't say you don't want better, say you want to be happy

Homework:

an exercise in happiness
your mind is a very powerful thing; simply put you can make yourself happy
this exercise is completely driven by want, by dogged determination to be joyful. it may not happen the first time, but if you want it, through and through, it will happen
if you exercise in happy thoughts regularly, it may take time, but you will eventually become fully the regulator of your own mind - and that's a good place to be. take a deep breath and smile. write in your journal

BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT!BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT!BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT! BE HAPPY! and MEAN IT!

M.Y.L.A. day 6

2010-02-28T18:45:00.002-07:00

tower in littleton, co, watercolor, originally uploaded by mike thomas.

The Real Secret of Quitting Bad Habits

"A habit is something you can do without thinking - which is why most of us have so many of them."
~Frank A. Clark

Summary:

+ It is not the how of a bad habit, but the why that is important
+ Habits are out subconscious at work, therefore we can beat them with conscious
+ Stop sleeping through life

Homework:
+ Get Conscious
+ I want you to spend a day talking to yourself. Not aloud, in a crazy-bag-lady kind of way, but in your own conscious. Every time you go to perform an action, think about that action. Ask yourself: how do I feel now, doing this? Am I bored, tired, happy, sad? Why am I doing this? Is this a conscious choice? Make yourself accountable for every action. This homework doesn’t require any writing in your notebook but, if you get really inspired, it might be an idea to record some of the conscious answers you uncover.

M.Y.L.A. day 5

2010-02-27T18:38:00.005-07:00

How To Keep a Clean Slate With Yourself

"i try to avoid looking backward and keep looking upward"
~Charlotte Bronte

Summary
*we are creatures molded by our pasts, but that doesn't mean we cannot begin to thrive on the possibilities of the future
*lose the dead weight of regret
*whether your previous life has been amazing or not doesn't matter. Now Matters

Homework:
*on an entire clean page in your journal, write on affirmation of forgiveness and forward-thinking.
*think of it as a sort of motto for you: the clean slate superhero

My affirmation:

"nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending"
~Maria Robinson

M.Y.L.A. day 5

2010-02-27T18:28:00.004-07:00

How To Keep a Clean Slate With Yourself

"I try to avoid looking backward and keep looking upward"
~Charlotte Bronte

Summary:

*We are creatures molded by our pasts, but that doesn't mean we cannot begin to thrive on the possibilities of the future
*Lose the dead weight of regret
*Whether your previous life has been amazing or not does not matter. Now Matters

Homework:

*On an entire clean page in your journal, write an affirmation of forgiveness and forward-thinking.
*Think of it as a sort of motto for you: the clean slate superhero

This is my affirmation:

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending"
~Maria Robinson

M.Y.L.A. Day 4

2010-02-26T15:35:00.004-07:00

the operation was successful..., originally uploaded by vízszilánk.

How to Get a Successful Mindset

"success is a state of mind. if you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success"
~Dr. Joyce Brothers

Summary:

success is all mindset, because success is relative.

a clear intention + self-belief = the successful mindset

start thinking of yourself as a success NOW.

Homework:

be sure of yourself as a success

write a list of 5-10 things you have already been successful in start each line with 'i am/have been successful in...'

next write down 5-10 things you would like to be successful in. write these as 'i will be successful in/at/with...'

My Successes:

I am successful in maintaining a great relationship with my little sister

I have been successful in reading some of the classics
(i found i actually enjoy them)

I have been successful in winning a national championship in competitive cheerleading

I have been successful in growing a garden and actually using what I've grown

I have been successful in learning who i am

I have been successful in finding a job that i love not to mention actually helping people

I have been successful at having zero debt

I have successfully completed a 5K

I have been successful in coming up with ways to creatively and my own style to things

I have been successful in a relationship

Future Successes:

I will be successful in learning how to cook

I will be successful at making new friends

I will be successful with school and earn a degree in something I'm passionate about

I will be successful in owning my own house

I will be successful in having a family

I will be successful at finishing a half marathon and a triathlon

I will be successful with keeping a scrapbook to help me remember all the good times I've had

I will be successful in traveling to another country and learning and viewing their wonders

I will be successful in exploring the world around me and discovering it beauty

I will be successful at being who i am and not letting others tell me who/what to be

I will be successful at being honest with myself at all times

I will be successful at keeping and maintaining good friendships

I will be successful at giving back to the world and the people i care about most

(sorry it is such a long post)

M.Y.L.A. day 3

2010-02-25T16:20:00.004-07:00

Individuality, originally uploaded by Sinfilter.

Reclaim Your True Individuaity

"To be nobody-but-yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else, means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting"
~e.e. Cummings

Homework:

♥ Gain self-understanding; spend a day with yourself.

♥ Be aware of your thoughts, your cravings, your talents, your motives, your ambitions, your agendas, your triumphs, your ideas, your thrills and your spills

♥ at the end of the day, rationalize ten truly individual and amazing qualities you have noticed about yourself

Here it goes my ten things!

♥ When i'm passionate about something i will do anything to accomplish that thing

♥ I like making lists and trying to complete them, checking things off makes me feel like i accomplished something great

♥ I love to feel needed, yet, don't want to be the center of attention

♥ i can go from happy and laughing to sad and depressed or angry in about 5 seconds this can also go the other way

♥ i love when things are clean and in order but i mainly live in a mess

♥ I'm smart and love to read anything i can get my hands on

♥ I tend to over analyze everything

♥ I have no clue what style i actually fit into
(so sometimes i wear a little of everything)

♥ I am a addicted to sugar

♥ I love someone and that someone loves me

Day 2

2010-02-24T15:07:00.002-07:00

Survey:

Who are you?
Courtney, daughter, sister, aunt, female, girlfriend, friend, C.N.A., clerk, student, mom of a cute puppy, cousin, granddaughter, shy, stubborn, dreamer, reader of books, seeker of truth, clumsy, self-conscious, lover of nature, family oriented, organized in some things, very messy in others.

Are you happy?
yes i believe so. i love who i am and who I'm with. although there are things i would like to change(such as living at home, or the time of day i work) but i feel happy, I'm finally being honest with myself.

What in your life really amazes/pleases/gratifies/encourages you?
people who work really hard all the time, yet if asked they will do anything for anyone. people who have horrible situation/circumstances but are still happy and confident.

Where have you been when you have been at your happiest?
in nature with the people i love. i tend to be happiest in the simplest of places and events.

What occasion has caused you to feel the most amazed by your own life?
being able to accomplish the things that i have done (national champion, state swimmer, education, etc..) being able to be faced with a bad situation and overcome it.

Where so you see your life is going right now?
towards an education in either anthropology or social work.

Is this where you want your life to go?
yes i believe so

What does ~amazing~ mean to you in terms of your own life?
doing or overcoming things in my life that scare/overwhelm/look impossible to do.

day 1

2010-02-24T14:30:00.002-07:00

So this is my sketch of my dream self....
if only i could actually draw..

M.Y.L.A. day 2

2010-02-24T13:48:00.003-07:00

The Self Survey

Summary:

♥ Do you know yourself? Knowing yourself means a fast ticket to your amazing life.
♥ We wouldn’t expect to learn much on a subject simply as a bystander; you must gather information about yourself, in order to know that self.
♥ Thinking about who we are is one thing, observing ourselves in written format is quite another.

Homework:

Put yourself on paper.

In your notebook, have a go at answering all of the questions below, and any more that arise for you. Don’t worry if you find this exercise difficult; if you struggle with a question share it in the comments and we can all post our own ideas for you.

♥ Who are you?
♥ Are you happy?
♥ What in your life really amazes/pleases/gratifies/encourages you?
♥ Where have you been when you have been at your happiest?
♥ What occasion has caused you to feel the most amazed by your own life?
♥ Where do you see your life going right now? Is this where you want your life to go?
♥ What does ‘amazing’ mean to you in terms of your own life?

M.Y.L.A. day 1

2010-02-23T04:00:00.004-07:00

Why You're Standing at the Edge of Your Dream Life and Refusing to Jump In

"The purpose of life is a life of purpose"

~Robert Byrne

Summary:

♥ Being unhappy is not a given. You don’t have to accept your life as it is, if it is not good enough.

♥ You are the only thing standing in the way of your dream life.

♥ Your first mission is to beat the fear.

Homework:

Stop being scared of your dream self; picture your amazing life.

In the first page of your notebook, sketch your dream self. Now, I can’t draw for all the chocolate truffles in Belgium, so don’t worry if you can’t either, we’re not trying to be Picasso reincarnated, nor does anyone ever have to see the picture; we just want to have an image we can relate to.

Okay so i'm working on my picture and when i'm finished i will take a photo and post it so that everyone can see... don't expect much, but i will be following the directions to the homework.

Thank You whitney...

2010-02-23T03:43:00.002-07:00

my good friend whit posted about this blog charadestyle.com and about this amazing 31 days to make your life amazing.... well yes it started in January and ended in january but hey why not start now and see what happens.

i will be making an entree with everyday so i can see what is happening, so if your reading hope it can keep you entertained... heck you might even want to check out her site and take the challenge!

here is what the challenge is about!

January, famed month of self-empowerment, resolution and renaissance; what better time to make magnificent changes in your life than at the beginning of a brand-spanking new year, ready to unravel like a big ball of sparkly string?

Many of you will recall my Dream Style Series, I considered it a great success and you all seemed to enjoy it. For that reason, I am embarking upon another themed month. Only, in true Charade style, I’m stepping it up a gear.

I’m going to Make Your Life Amazing.

Over the first four shimmering weeks of 2010, I will be initiating you into the wonder that is: your own amazing life. That’s right, and I won’t be doing it by halves. Every single day of January 2010 I will be posting an uplifting, enlightening, inspirational article – that’s thirty-one articles altogether. Phew.

Each article will be made up of three parts:
♥ A foundational, inspirational idea to get you thinking

♥ A summary for straightforward development

♥ An item of ‘homework’ to undertake if you’re really serious about that amazing life

If you want to take part, all you’ll need to do is to pop by the site each day, armed with a journal/reporter’s pad/post-it/napkin and pen, ready to document all your dreams coming true. I will be doing the exercises along with you, and will post my journal pictures. Then, we can all get giddy and discuss how we’re doing in the comments. Sound good?

Article titles will include:
♥ How to Reclaim Your True Individuality

♥ Getting to Know Your Productive Self

♥ Improve Your Life by Playing a Character

♥ Take Yourself on a Creative Date

♥ How to Find and Follow Your Bliss

PS...

2010-02-23T03:41:00.001-07:00

MY WINDOWS ARE OFFICIALLY FIXED!

now to get the broken glass out of my door and to get the window roller down handle to stay on!

catch up!

2010-02-23T03:06:00.003-07:00

i haven't blogged in awhile so i thought an update was needed....

Valentines Day...

the day itself was uneventful, i ended up just going to church and reading my book until the night came. then after Justin got off work he came and got me. being the cute boy he is brought me a dozen red roses! what more could make up for a bad day!

February 15th

yup i officially turn 22, with an interesting day. i was woke around 10 am asking what i was going to do with my day. when i replied that i was going to sleep in i was rudely told that i wasn't i was going to do something! so after dragging myself out of bed i showered and got ready, then went with my parents and sister and brother in law to lunch and to the children's place (which i bought my niece a very cute outfit!) then i went home and intended on taking a nap, but was informed that wasn't happening that i need to plan the rest of my day! so instead i read my book, for dinner Justin came with the rest of my family to Olive Garden. i was excited to get there garlic herb chicken con broccoli (with out the chicken) but to my surprise they didn't have the stuff to make the sauce... so lucky me i got to eat something i didn't really want! after dinner Justin took me to a movie which was fun. glad i got to spend part of the day doing something that i wanted instead of what everyone else wanted!

so that is a quick update!

How Stuff Works!

2010-02-23T02:09:00.002-07:00

did you know:

concrete takes approximately 4 weeks to cure to full strength?

well this web site called how stuff works is full of good facts and information on how to do things it will be keeping me entertained for awhile!

RENT-A-COPS

2010-02-09T05:02:00.000-07:00

Usually i would tell you nothing bad about the security at my work, but Saturday made me have a very different opinion. After work my clerk shift i headed out to my car (which i park in the parking garage). When i was nearing my car i noticed glass all over and to my surprise i then realized that my windows had been broken. So i turned around and headed back into the building where i had security paged to the front desk. When the older looking security guard walked up to the front desk he asked what he could do, when i explained what had happened he then informed me that i should "brush the glass off and drive home" After giving him some information he then walked me to my car making me feel like the whole time i was just an inconvenience in his night. Then hearing him say he had heard of cars with broken glass earlier yet didn't think to go check.
So since he could do nothing for me i then decided to call the police and get a case number so that i could at least file for insurance to cover the cost of the two windows that were broken out. when the police arrived he was very nice and felt bad he even helped me clean the glass out enough to drive home. The whole while the security gaurd stood there and looked stupid. He was of no help to me. In fact he made me mad about what he had done.
I am not even mad about my windows because hell life happens... But i am concerned about my safety when it comes to certain security gaurds, who want to act as though they have better things to do (when most nights when i walk out to my car they are all just chilling at the information desk!)

Julie & Julia

2010-01-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

So i recently rented from red box a movie titled Julie & Julia ... it was a very good movie! I'm a sucker for a chick flick, well I'm not sure it could be classified as a chick flick but it was sure motivating. Making me want to jump on a challenge and actually finish it...

So as for now I'm looking for a challenge that is challenging enough... yet... able for me to complete! we will see what i come up with.

body parts...

2010-01-16T23:40:00.000-07:00

do you ever wonder why your body just doesn't fall apart when things are broken...
i wonder this and think wouldn't it make it easier to know if the pain you are feeling is legit or not...
like would a doctor be able to do anything or not? my knee is hurting quite badly... it is inflamed so of course i need to call the Dr. again... and because of this I'm starting to doubt my self image... wondering what would it actually help... i am afraid of what this injury is going to do...

lost

2010-01-16T23:35:00.000-07:00

have you ever had someone tell you something that when they say it you just start crying because you know it is the truth and you have be denying yourself looking at it that way because you want to feel self pity. well that is what happened to me today! I'm sorry that it took me so long to realize this... i feel like i have been trying to hide from the world, and prevent myself from getting hurt again. i keep thinking that i need to change but where do you start to becoming a better person, who do you ask to help you with such a feat. have you ever wanted someone to tell you that they will fix it... i do but then i know i wont be happy... i want to know what i need to do but go through the hardship of it. i want to be someone that people don't look at and think wow what a crazy person. i want them to think that I'm a good person. i want to be someone that they can see and say wow she has had a good life! I'm lost and confused on how to do this!

schooling

2010-01-16T23:22:00.002-07:00

i have yet to decide what i want to do with my life...
is this sad?
well i think i have narrowed it down to 2 different things each of which i really like. meaning that i can read and study them and still want to learn more..

the first is Anthropology
the second is Social Work

Anthropology: the study of humanity. has origins in the natural sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences. typically 4 sub fields they are *social and cultural anthropology * archaeology * linguistic anthropology * biological anthropology. there are several characteristics that tend to unite anthropological work. one of the central characteristics is that anthropology tends to provide a comparatively more holistic account of phenomenon and tends to be highly empirical. the quest for holism leads most anthropologist to study a particular place or thing in detail, using a variety of methods, over a more extensive period than normal in many parts of academia

Social Work: a profession committed to the pursuit of social justice, to equality of life, and to the development of the full potential of each individual, group and community in a society. social workers are to some extent reliant on the academic social sciences, but social work itself is not a social science; it is a vocation concerned strictly with practice

we will see which one pulls me closer and helps me feel like it is where I'm supposed to be...

2010 a year for a change...

2010-01-16T23:15:00.002-07:00

i have decided to make a list... cause that is how i am. i love lists!

here are my goals for the year 2010!

* start school again
* decide on what i want to go into
* run a 5k, 10k (if knee is able)
* train for a half marathon and a triathlon
* find a new bike
* go camping
* finish the recipe book
* reorganize everything
* keep room clean
* try and catch up on scrapbook things
* read at least 2 books a month
* work on being a more positive person
* learn something new
* do some kind of charity work
* work on building my savings account
* manage my time more efficiently

so there they are we will see if i can actually complete at least one of these things on my list by the end of the year!