Blog 30 (of 30) - Victory!

It's a miracle - I wasn't sure if I was going to make it.  Here I am....blog #30.  And what do I have to say?

Yeaauuugh!! 

Seriously, I feel like Wonder Woman right now - hands up high - victory! 

As a fair warning, I may run into a corner and hide from my computer for a while.  But then again - who knows! I may just bust out another blog tomorrow!

This incredible sense of accomplishment has my entire being on cloud 9 right now! Finally, something I can be proud of. I didn't do this for anyone, I just did it for me. I don't even know if the Bikini Competition last year was even completely for me - I don't recall feeling this excited or triumphant when it was all over.


Even if no one was reading any of these blogs, I feel successful - staying true to my word and finally making and keeping a commitment I made to myself.  No cheating. No bullshit excuses. All me. At this point, I feel as though I am on fire.....and this is only the beginning.


Please do not let your fears get in your own way.  Please do not let anyone tell you you can't do something. Because these fears and those people are lying to you - YOU CAN and YOU WILL!




Until next time. . . . . see you at the gym! :-)

Blog 29 (of 30) - NO Facebook, NO Problem

So.....I have decided to stay off Facebook - indefinitely.  Honestly, I thought being detached would have a WAY larger effect on me than it did. Were there times over the last 30 days that I thought I should be "connected?" Sure! Were those times significant enough for me to change my decision? Not really.  The only time I truly felt out of "the know," was when the bombs occurred in Boston.  I believe most people on Facebook heard this news first - and I was told a couple of hours later.  This concerned me, yet I did still hear about it fairly quick.



Being Facebook-less hasn't really altered the way I stay in touch with my friends. I have most everyone's phone number and if I feel like it, I will call or text them versus "liking" one of their pictures to acknowledge their presence in my life. I used to wake up each morning and read Facebook like a newspaper - each and every post being a new headline. There were some actual facts in regards to our country - and the world - that I did enjoy reading about. But mostly, I am not sure if Facebook actually contributed to my own personal knowledge or self image.

Much like the Internet, there are lots of opinions and thoughts on Facebook - either contradicting and confusing me or creating a sense of self doubt and worry that I am not keeping up with everyone else.

Without having this daily feed, I don't feel this confusion, worry or doubt any more. I am more sure of myself now than ever before, and maybe taking this break is what was necessary for me to realize it. Does this mean I think people who are on Facebook are bad? No! Absolutely not! This is a conclusion I came to on my own that works best for me! Will I ever get back on The 'Book? Yea, probably one day.  But for now, I am feeling very happy waking up and taking special care of my own life versus reading about someone else's. 



Until next time. . . . . see you at the gym! :-)

Blog 28 (of 30) - Plans for Summer 2013

With the arrival of spring and summer weather (yes, they decided to come at the same time this year!) here in Chicago, what better time to talk about plans for Summer 2013!

My new favorite trilogy - soooo good! 

1. Relax - this includes reading books, watching movies and.....doing Yoga!




2. Go to the beach! My sister and her boyfriend moved two (2) blocks away from Lake Michigan - guess who is going to be a regular house guest?! :) Shoot.....maybe I will even be doing some Yoga ON the beach!

3. 4th of July.....Montana Style! 
We are headed back to the Big Sky State for a Stefano's Pizza employee reunion - I am so excited to see everyone, especially all of my high school buds! 

Livingston Roundup Rodeo - here we come!! 

It's like Christmas in July!! 

4. Run a half marathon! Once again, something has possessed me to sign up for and run in a race - it's the Women's Half Marathon in June! Only a month and a half away, sooo ummm - I'd better start training..... 





5.  Work hard.....and play hard, too! I know I know, it sounds boring right?! But I have to say, I work at the best place with the best people. I'm not sure if I can even call is "work," can I?! 








It's going to be one heck of a summer! 

What are your plans?? 

Until next time. . . . . see you at the gym! :-)

Blog 27 (of 30) - YOGA

I don't know why, but I find it very difficult to sit still for an extended period of time! And I say "extended," but really that could mean a whole five (5) minutes for me! *can you say ADD?!* Some times I feel like I have so much energy and enthusiasm, that it. . . . . freaks people out! HA!

Our sales guy was WAY cuter,
but you get the point!

This was brought to my attention last night. My mom's lease is up and I went to help pick out her new car.  Apparently when I said yes to coming with her, I had completely forgot hold LONG it takes to purchase a car.  Not only was the sales guy talking to us about the latest and greatest "deal," we also test drove a car - negotiated - signed paperwork - talked to the finance guy - reviewed the car - and THEN drove home.  This was, easily, a three (3) hour process!

I found myself itching to get out of there!! God forbid I enjoy this quality time with my mother - instead I kept thinking to myself, "I have 5 more blogs to write - it's 9pm - and I have to be up in 7 hours!"

On our way home, my mom (innocently) started to talk to me about Yoga, specifically about the meditative and spiritual benefits. The weird thing is - I've been thinking about this and knowing I need to incorporate Yoga into my life some way. Maybe it's also because I thoroughly enjoy reading my girl, Jen Comas Keck's, blog - she writes all about Yoga and actively practices it daily! *PS - she also is a super bad-ass and lifts massively heavy weights!*




So then, with such inspiration, what is my drawback from Yoga? Why can't I bring myself to walk into that classroom and find my inner peace? Maybe I'm not ready to face it. Maybe I'm too scared of what I might find. Regardless, I just haven't made the commitment.....yet.

THEN (as if The Universe is sending me signs!), this morning I ran into one of my class participants - Andrea! You can find Andrea, most often, walking in and out of the gym with her backpack and her.....Yoga mat! When I saw her at 7:45, I said "Hey! How are you? Did you just take a Yoga class this early?!" She said, in fact, she just finished.  Ninety minutes of Yoga at 6:30 in the morning! I told her how I am working on adding it into my routine - she said it would definitely be worth it.  She also suggested if I can't make it to class (since a 90 minute class seems like a lifetime to me), I could download a guided meditation Podcast from iTunes, ranging from 20-60 minutes in length!  Did I run into Andrea for a reason?! I am thinking.....YES!

I am ready to make the commitment. I am no longer going to be a talk-er of Yoga - I am going to be a do-er. With a Podcast or in the classroom, I am looking forward to this new venture on my mat. And maybe, just maybe, I will find a way to sit still and be at peace for longer than five (5) minutes.....


Until next time. . . . . see you at the gym! :-)

Blog 26 (of 30) - Writers Block!

Just when you thought I could keep writing forever. . . . . WRITERS BLOCK!

With only four (4) more blogs left to post in roughly 25 hours, I find myself at a loss for for words.

Ironic, right?!  

So, I open it up to.....YOU!

What should I blog about? 
What would you like to hear? 
Health, Exercise, Food, Fun, Instructor Life, Love - anything! Give me the topic and I will give you a blog! :) Let me know in the comments below, send me an email or shoot me a text!



Until next time. . . . . see you at the gym! :-)

Blog 25 (of 30) - The Ripple Effect

Do you know what kind of an impact you have on others?

Maybe you don't know.

Words. No words. A smile. A frown. A wave hello. A 'finger' goodbye.

Regardless of how big or small you might feel in this world, you are making an impact on someone's life - right at this very moment! *Make it a good one!*



Until next time. . . . . see you at the gym! :-)

Blog 24 (of 30) - My Daily Reads

There are two emails that I receive on a daily basis and read on a nearly-daily basis. I use them for sources of encouragement, strength and inspiration. Regardless of the message, almost always I feel it's as if they are sent to me at the perfect time for what is happening in my life! If you visit their websites, you can get your own daily reads, too!

Here is a little snap shot from each: 

The Daily Love

The joy of living a Self -Approved life is revealed when we begin to allow ourselves to be ourselves - we accept ourselves as we are - we accept ourselves as perfectly imperfect and the inner conflict begins to die down. And our true nature emerges and The Uni-verse supports us in miraculous ways

TODAY'SAFFIRMATIONS

I am 100% Self-Approved.

I am 100% Self-Approved.

I am 100% Self-Approved.

Notes from The Universe

It's not the career you choose, Stephanie, the friend you marry, or the path you take that determines success or happiness in life, but that each day, in some small way, you seek to amaze as much as be amazed. You "Wow" me,     The Universe Until next time. . . . . see you at the gym! :-)