Best of 2013

As the clock strikes midnight we will ring in the new year. I experienced so much this year and through all the travels, challenges, and relationships I've learned that I felt more empowered this year than ever before. While juggling all these things I realized my life has never had such a healthy and happy balance. There has never been a point in my life like there is right now. 

In 2013 I began to feel comfortable and more confident at work. I worked my butt off and got a few promotions. I became extremely involved and almost overly committed to my job in the start of 2013. Over the year I realized how to set boundaries, how to pull back, and still be a hard working go-getter.

In 2013 I moved to San Francisco. This city is one I always pinch myself when I am out and about. Yes, I can walk to so many beautiful and historic places in just minutes. Along with moving to the city,

I sold my car and started using my feet more. 

This year I started my own little side business of personal styling. I have always been in to fashion and even started off in fashion classes while in college. I now love shopping for people and helping them feel great.

I became financially independent this year. Although I've always paid for almost everything on my own after college, my parents helped out with my cell phone bill and insurance (since my last job paid me next to nothing). This year I have cut myself off, and made more money than I have before. SF is super pricey, but I even have plenty extra to travel with. 

In 2013 I traveled as much as possible. I went to Belize, Texas, Canada, and London. I love to travel. I learn so much not only about other cultures when traveling, but what I want to incorporate from theirs in to mine. I like to sometimes live like today was your last, what would you do? Where would you go?

This year was also tough at times. We lost my grandfather to cancer in October. My papa was summed up  in one word JOLLY. He was similey, fun, happy, and a fighter. It's been hard seeing a missing plate at the tables during the holidays, but I know he's in a better place without suffering now.

Then the first week of September we lost Anne. Anne has been my second mom since I can remember. Brittany and I have been best friends since kindergarten, so Anne has been around forever. She was the kindest, most caring, smart, and supportive woman I literally have EVER met in my life. Her death has been extremely hard on all of us. I think about her daily, but instead of crying I now am able to smile. Life is so short, I want to make sure I live everyday with a good heart and intentions.

This year has been the year of good girlfriends. I have never been so thankful. I have more girlfriends than ever, and (not to brag) but seriously they all rock. Every friend I have right now brings positivity in to my life. They are all have rock star personalities, great job, are smart, funny, and supportive. They truly have helped me feel sane this year. Our ladies cooking club has officially gone 1 year strong!

Fitness has continued to stay fun. I enjoyed a few photo shoots, working out, cooking, blogging, and this year it's been what comes easy to me. It's who I am. This is the life I lead, and I don't have to fight it. For so long people misunderstood my intentions, my goals, and what I represented. Now, I think people understand what I stand for. I will always try support, coach, and guide people to a happier healthier them. 

2013 has been quite amazing, but I know 2014 will be one for the records. I know I am destined to do big things. Time to get to work. Happy New Year everyone! 

Cheers to 2014- How to set goals and resolutions you'll stick to

My email has already started to blow up. Clients are starting to feel sluggish, stuffed, and not like themselves. Statistics show that the average person gains 2lbs during the holidays.

These last few months may have gotten you off your healthy routine, but it's never too early or late to start back up. January is the most popular time to set new goals.

New Years resolutions are extremely popular. Holidays tend to put stress on people at work (to finish the same amount of work in less time), traveling and not being in your routine, finances sometimes become tight. People tend to eat more and drink more when stressed. 

On January 1st most people set new health and fitness goals, financial goals, relationship goals, and travel goals after spending months under unbearable stress. So what should you do about it?

Take advantage of the popularity, and make your own detailed resolutions. Check in with yourself every day for the first 21 days. It takes about 21 days to create a habit. After that check in every 5 or 10. Don't lose sight of what's important to you.

When you set your resolutions:

-Be Specific: write down detailed instead of broad goals.

-Make sure the goal is Measurable: how will you know when you reached it?

-Make sure the goal is attainable:  can you personally acheive this within the given time?

-be relevant: is it worthwhile? 

-make sure it's time driven: how long are you giving yourself? 

My personal goals:

Fitness goals:

January: and will re-evaluate and alter on feb 1

M: leg day and cardio

T: cardio and yoga

W: body rock 

T: upper body 

F: rest or body rock

S:rest or body rock 

Su: long run yoga 

Run a half marathon in February.

Nutrition goals:

Drink 1 day a week

Sweets 1 day a week

Limit eating out 2 meals a week

Optional: count calories

Blog goals:

By February have a new set up 

Blog 4-6 times a week 

Start advertising more starting in January 

Look in to fashion ads and email for sponsors in February 

Career goals: 

New fun cerification by march 

Get a promotion or recognition for changing policies at work 

January: boot camps with Lindsay on Sunday 

Financial goals:

Start an account in 2 months that I can't touch for 10 years.

Start to look in to investment options and meet with someone in February.

Travel:

Save to visit 2 places this year I've never been

Visit Brittany in Austin 

Other goals:

Volunteer at least 1x a month

Seek Public speaking opportunities 

Find a community or create one of women (with Lindsay)

I'm still milling mine over, but I'm curious- what are your goals and resolutions?!

Workout of the week: Christmas Countdown

Try this total body workout almost anywhere. Take it while your traveling during the holidays and make sure you keep up your workout routine during these tempting upcoming holiday weeks. 

Total Body Workout: 8 Days Till Christmas Countdown 

8 squat jumps for height

7 burpees 

6 sit ups

5 push-ups 

4 lateral (side lunges)

3 squat jumps for distance 

2 lunge jumps

1 minute plank 

Repeat 7 more times for a total of 8 rounds

How To Be An Athlete Again: From Childhood All-Star Athlete To Chubby Adult

Growing up is awesome, right? Grown ups have more responsibility, freedom, often make more money, and are able to call the shots-, but in some way athletes have backslid a bit. Quarterbacks, to the pitchers, goalies, cheerleaders, setters, and sprinters all get out of high school and college at some point. 

In 2012 studies showed that less that 1% of high school athletes would continue their career to eventually go professional. This leaves 99% of us athletes who aren't pro in the dust. What are we supposed to do? Many of us grew up revolving our lives around practice, tournaments, games, and juggling more than one sport at a time. 

Not surprisingly, when people stop being highly committed to a sports team their activity levels decline dramatically. When your caloric burn drops significantly, and you don't change your diet you can easily pack on unwanted weight.

This oftentimes throws people for a loop in their late teens, early twenties, all the way up to mid-thirties. Even if you are a rock star athlete—or were on JV and didn't play much—you can still find a way out.

It's time to dins a new passion to commit yourself to. What have you always wanted to take up? It's extremely important to continue exercising. In my opinion (being a former collegiate athlete) it is EXTREMELY important to take up high intensity activity. 

When you find and activity you can get a killer workout doing, and at the end you're smiling in your own pool of sweat-you know it's the right hobby for you to take up. Remember you're an athlete, you have intrinsic motivation after all the years of practice. Once you find something you want to get great at, you will be consistent in doing so. You just need to find your "THING".

I highly suggest trying numerous things. Things you never knew you would be interested in. You may end up a rock-star at a sport you never imagined trying.

Workouts to take up (google to find workouts in your area)

CrossFit

Tennis

Bootcamps

Getting a personal trainer

Cycling

Group fitness classes

Weight lifting

Triathlons 

Run clubs 

Swim clubs

Flag football leagues

Bodybuilding

Hockey leagues

Softball leagues

Yoga 

Pilates

Rock Climbing

Indoor soccer leagues

Basketball leagues 

Dance classes

If you think of something else, go for it! 

You Were Born To Be Real Not To Be Perfect

The moment I first saw this quote, I had an "aha" moment. I knew I had to mill it over in my head and write about it. Reading this quote hit a chord for me. 

Why?

This quote is significant to me, because I tried to be perfect for so long. You may be thinking this is such a first world problem and It may be, but it surely is a problem we deal with frequently. 

The pressure I felt to eat the right things, say the right things, look a certain way, hang out with a certain crew, listen to certain music, enjoy the arts, be funny and personable and happy all at once was TOO MUCH. When I finally realized I was actually happy with being me (flaws and all) was the moment I realized that being real was going to make a better person. 

I started focusing on progress and not perfection. I started acknowledging my strengths instead of picking at my weaknesses. I began trying new things for fun, instead of forcing myself to like things to fit in. I found passions I never had by taking some time alone, when before I felt awkward when I was alone in quiet. My outlook has completely changed.

I wanted to post this quote so you can take some time to think about how it resonates with you. Are you obsessed with your looks? Do you work way too much so you can be rich? Do you try to please everyone?

You're real, become ok with being awesomely flawed!