1 YEAR

One year ago I started the wee little blog. I just wanted to keep track of my goals and progress. My personal fitness journal. It morphed as I learned things along the way. Thank you all for visiting... for your comments... for your support. I'm excited to see what this next year will bring!! BRING IT!!!

Brand New Year

I went back home a couple days ago to help my sister clean her room and teach her a piano & violin lesson. I came prepared with my running shoes and my snow shoes! I DIDN'T come prepared with a pack & play crib for the baby {yes, I still call him "baby" even though he's 15 months old}. That was a BIG mistake!!! He slept terribly and therefore I didn't sleep AT ALL!! I didn't let that get in the way of my workout though!! I borrowed my sister's under armor and I headed out the door for a beautiful winter run.

It had snowed A LOT the day and night before and I chose a run that was out in the sticks. 5 miles out & back with only a few homes breaking up the view of fields, trees and mountains. It was gorgeous. It was AWESOME!!! It was one of those runs that bring me peace. It was the PERFECT way to end 2009.

While I was running I thought about all the things I've accomplished this year, especially concerning my health. I was pretty proud of myself! I got rid of those baby pounds {20 pounds or so}. I ran in a number of races. I eat better and sleep better. My self esteem is higher & my energy level is higher. I look better but most importantly I FEEL better! I have succeeded in accomplishing some of my goals and it's only looking better from here!!

I am not a HUGE fan of New Year Resolutions. I feel like people all too often set goals too high and set themselves up for failure. I'm more for setting smaller goals more often. However, I am going to set a few goals for a more healthy self, and hopefully I don't become one of "those" people!

*Run a marathon {I have my eyes set on two, hopefully we can find babysitters}
*Keep my weight in my healthy range
*Surround myself with positive and kind people
*Cut out soda {though I will allow for RARE indulgence}
*Go to bed early and wake up early

Thank you for your support and encouragement. I hope that you too are finding success and that you're making the choices TODAY to live a HEALTHY life! Bring on another year!!!!

Spoiled ROTTEN

Christmas was great. We played our hearts out and had a blast the entire weekend!! I am not one to boast about loot from Christmas but I just HAD to share what I got... cause it's what I'm going to be DOING!!! I must have been a really good girl this year because I was spoiled ROTTEN!!

Santa left some GU in my stocking! Ah Yeah!!!He also brought me Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 for my Wii. I am SO ready for her to kick my butt!
My man got me the Wii Fit Plus!! I am so excited; I hear this one is WAY better than the original Wii Fit.And I SCORED BIG time with these Yukon Charlie's snow shoes!!! They were intended for my sister but she already has a pair so she graciously sent them home with ME!!! I seriously CAN NOT wait to try these babies out!
A HUGE HUGE HUGE thank you to Stonewall, S. Jay See {my sis} and my parents!! I've got the tools and there are NO EXCUSES!! I ♥ you guys!!! Thanks again!!!

I also got a hot new hairdo!! Oh how bad I needed a pro color job!!! It looks so GOOD!!! Thanks goes to my MIL for letting us use her kitchen, My SIL for hooking me up with her sister, K for doing such an amazing job and to Stonewall for forking out the dough! Man I feel good!

Thankful ♥

I love Thanksgiving. Gathering around family and loved ones; sharing laughs, playing games, swapping recipes and indulging in yummy food. Oh how I love it!! But more than any of those things I love having a day where everyone is reflective of those things that they are blessed with. There is an overall optimism that I just LOVE LOVE LOVE!! So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are a few things on MY thankful list... what's on yours?

♥ My Man. I have an amazing husband who is my white knight and my best friend.
♥ My Sprouts. I have 4 fabulous kids who are full of energy, brain power, imagination and fun. I love them to pieces.
♥ My Fam. I have such an awesome family. My parents are my heroes. My in-laws love me as their own. ALL my siblings are simply amazing individuals.
♥ My Faith. It gets me through the hard times, lifts me even higher during the good times and warms my heart.
♥ My talents. Some days I feel they are few and far between but if I'm honest I have a lot to offer this world and I'm grateful for that!
♥ My Bod. I have always been lucky to be naturally smaller and working off baby weight has always taken little to no effort. But regardless of that fact I love that I am able to run far and fast. That I can dance. That I can play with my kids. I try to take care of my body and it, in turn, takes care of me!

I am grateful for SO many other things. Shelter, sustenance, friends, security... We live a wonderful happy life. LUCKY ME!

My First AWARD!

So Tiffany {over at Skinny Jeans} has bestowed upon me my very fist blogging award! WOAH! Didn't see THAT coming! How COOL is that?! Thank you Tiffany; I am elated!! Check it out:So as part of the "deal" of getting this prestigious award I have a few things to take care of:

-Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass the award on to five most deserving blogger.

-Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author and the name of the blog from whom s/he has received the award.

-Each Superior Scribbler must display the award on his/her blog, and link to The Scholastic Scribe, which explains the award.

-Each blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr Linky List. That way, they'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives this prestigious honour. http://scholastic-scribe.blogspot.com/2008/10/200-this-blings-for-you.html

-Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

So. . . the only left to do is name MY 5 choices. . . and they are {drum roll please} . . .

1 Healthy Ashley - keeps me motivated to eat healthy and KEEP RUNNING
2 Apron Girls - a group of domestic goddesses who are uber talented
3 Summertime Designs - some of the cutest digi scrapbook stuff out there
4 Seriously So Blessed - sarcasm and hilarity abound
5 Get Off Your Butt and Bake - Martha Stewart, watch out!

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all our military veterans. I absolutely LOVE this song by Toby Keith:


And a quote that I LOVE LOVE LOVE:
"A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve, - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." ~Unknown

Thank you Veterans, from the bottom of my heart

2000!!!

Wow!! TWO THOUSAND visitors!! I am pretty excited about that. I have had people find me through search engines; looking for specific workouts and dieting tips mostly. Others are my AWESOME family members and DEAR friends who are always SUPPORTING me!! How did YOU find me? I hope that you'll come back! Let me know what you want to see more of!!! Spread the word; help others get off THEIR butts & get FIT!!!

Patriot Day

It's supposed to be Fabulous Food Friday. Since moving I haven't done one so I was all geared up with my food for the day {it's a good one too}. I started typing it up and it just didn't seem right. I kept thinking about it being September 11th. So I gave it up and switched gears for the day.

I am so grateful for this country. It's a BEAUTIFUL country isn't it? I love that I can put on my running shoes and hit the street or trail and enjoy this amazing piece of land. I love that I can be part of the process to choose the leaders of this great nation. I love that I can own my own gun{s} and go to church where I want. We have so much FREEDOM!! It's INCREDIBLE!!

To the families of those killed in the attacks at the World Trade Center 8 years ago; our hearts are with you again today. We will never forget! And a HUGE thank you to all the men and women in our military who devote their lives to protecting others.