Healthy Habits

Start fresh, every single day! Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control. Instead, invest all of your energy in the positive present moment. Notice how many things you can feel, smell, see and hear.
Breathe it all in-- and breathe it all out.

Sugar is evil.
Eat whole foods as much as possible.
Consolidate and pay off debt ASAP.
Stand up for yourself!
[Optimize fertility]
CONCEIVE BELIEVE ACHIEVE
Love yourself.
If you want to get over your issues and rock your life, be grateful, look for the good and learn.
Be grateful for all you are and all that you're becoming.

"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration." // Nokola Tesla

RAW.

Say that you are joyfully married to your soulmate and best friend. You live in a good space that you absolutely love to call your home. You have your dream job of helping life into this world. You have a strong supportive family spine. You have come to accept the fact; that you have the prettiest long, thick, red hair everrr. Just had the best wedding of 2016 and married your king.
You can add a very traumatic experience to that, and hey if you looking for negativity, you can find a lot of things that bring you down.

But overall you choose to be happy!

You are the the happiest, nicest, caring person that people know! You love people, and people love you. You are surrounded by everything happy, positive and perfect-- and you totally love your life!

And then your therapist says to you: "It sounds like you have depression."
Then she continues on how the word: "depression" has such a bad stigma. It is simply a chemical imbalance caused from all your stress.
[ie nursing school, moving, wedding, death]
Let's be honest here: your lifestyle choices, relationships, and coping skills matter too.

You are in denial, but you start thinking that in actuality.... you have felt a little off, a little disconnected from the world's energy, a little down on yourself for this and that-- you're even very fat for you. You have pushed away some best friends, withdrawn to your head and sometimes you try too hard to fake that smile. You give it a second thought and read up on this word: "Depression"... "that feeling of impending doom" <- Those new anxiety attacks that you have to breathe yourself through. Your lack of interest in even getting dressed, let alone leaving the house for any reason. Drinking often, and way too much. That tossing and turning at night, caffeine not doing a thing. Shoulder shrugging, large scrub wearing, minimal make up wearing zombie.

Hmm.. maybe you have let yourself just slip through the cracks.

I am taking this as my: "wake up and feel reality call."
#choosingtobehappy

Here are my short term and long term goals for myself:
CHECK THAT POSTURE GIRL!! [posture checks all day, working out and stretching that back and shoulders.]
Stop with the constantly saying sorry-- [unless I really need to be sorry of course!]
Be confident and be assertive-- FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT.
No more of this withdrawn crap [I'll save that for my zen time]
Coping with conflict <-- This might take some research and time..
Save $$$$
More green tea, much less alcohol. [Sober November]
No comparing yourself to others, just yourself yesterday.
Blog more -- lucky YOU :P
Give at least 5 compliments and 5 genuine thank yous a day.
Spend more time with the grandparentals.
Quit pressing snooze, or at least only once-- haha.
Backpack through Europe. [Planning on our honeymoon November 2017]
Go back to school for my Bachelor's degree, but let's enjoy two more quarters off first ;)
BE HEALTHY!! [the gym was a good start today, but I want to nourish this baby maker.]
Diet-- meal and dinner plans weekly!
Volunteer monthly.
Be more involved in the world and news-- still not politics though ;).
Spend more time outside in nature!
At least 3+ road trips this year!! [Yellowstone/Jackson & Pacific Coast Highway!]

From this older, happier post:
What are you feeling especially blessed or thankful for today? If you are feeling down and out, I challenge you. Every night when you crawl in bed, think of three things you are thankful for today, and three things you want to accomplish for tomorrow. Think happy thoughts, then sleep on them, and make the best of every day.

the more one judges the less one loves.

I Just left the gym for the first time in longer than I would like to admit -- & I loved it. I am thankful that my hunky husband will come with my ass, and show me how it is done. :P
Not everyone is as lucky as him to not feel judged there -- I love you babe! ;)

Anyway, I love this insta-post and had to share it with you today!

::::::::::::::::::::

"When Chris & I first started working out at the Rec, we were judged hardcore. Someone even posted on Facebook about the "buff couple" & how they "thought they're hot shit because they wear their belts all the time". This was about two months after my back surgery & I did indeed wear my lifting belt during almost all of my workouts for support.

My point is, everyone gets judged. People don't bother to understand where you're coming from or why you do the things you do.

That overweight guy? Someone judges him because of his weight, but little do they know he's already lost 100 pounds & has changed his entire life around.

That guy with the skinny legs? He's had seven knee surgeries & he's currently trying to strengthen his legs. It's just a long hard process.

That skinny girl you think "really needs to eat"? She's actually super self conscious about her thin figure & has been trying to gain weight, but her metabolism is super high.

That kid who follows you around & watches everything you do? He looks up to you and wants to learn your workouts, he's just scared to approach you.

That girl with really bad form? She had to mentally prepare to enter the weight room because she was terrified of people judging her. She second guesses every exercise, but she's too intimidated to ask anyone for advice.

That buff dude you think is cocky? He grew up in poverty and working out was his alternative to drugs or alcohol. He's not cocky-just focused.

That woman taking too long on the equipment you want? She's a single mom exhausted from working two jobs & raising three kids. She's trying to push herself to finish her workout, but she needs a little extra rest between sets.

That old man doing strange exercises and talking too much? He decided to get a gym membership to stay active & socialize after his wife passed away last year. Talking to you makes his day & has helped his depression.

There's more to people than what you see. Instead of jumping to conclusions or making judgements, take a moment to consider someone else's perspective.

Don't judge a book by its cover."
@stephanielynn996 // Via: Instagram

NANDA

Spent 10 hours on a care plan today.. hopefully the last one I ever have to do for school.
Got me feeling like:

you go girl!

Have you guys read: "Dear New Girl at the Gym" ?

A friend of mine shared this letter on Facebook the other day, and I absolutely loved it.

I recently canceled my membership to the amazing Xcel facility. It was hard for me because I have been going there since I was 15, and I have been grandfathered in at a killer rate of $24 a month (and if I ever go back rates start at $79 a month--ouch). I decided to switch to Vasa fitness for the option of more locations, better hours, and to feel a little less out of place.

 I am a little uncomfortable in my own skin right now, but I gained enough courage on Tuesday night for my first yoga class there. I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved the atmosphere. I realized that there are always people more fit than you, and always people less fit than you. We are all in this journey together, and the only person you need to be better than, is the person you were yesterday.

Anyway, this letter says it better, enjoy:

"Dear New Girl at the Gym,

You stand across from me in boot camp or on the treadmill next to me or a few bikes over in spin. I have never seen you before, but here you are. I can tell by the look on your face you are embarrassed. Embarrassed that you can’t do a pushup or don’t know how to adjust your bike or that you walk on the treadmill when the girl on the other side of you runs for a full hour at the speed of a cheetah. You look around and wonder what on earth you are doing here. You glance at me and I smile, but you look away pretending you didn’t see, because that would mean I noticed you. Maybe you are discouraged. Maybe you tell yourself this was a huge mistake and you’re going to ask for your money back. Maybe you wonder if I’m judging you.

I am not.

I want you to know how proud I am of you. You see, even though it might not seem like it, none of us are judging you. Why? Because so many of us were just like you. We know what it is like. We know how hard it is, especially in the beginning. Really we do. Maybe you woke up one day weighing forty pounds more than you did five years ago. I have been there. Maybe you stepped on the scale at the doctor’s office, had the nurse cluck her tongue, and then had the doctor say something like, “Now let’s talk about your weight.” I have been there. Maybe you recently had a baby, and you wonder if there will ever be a time when you don’t have to tuck your stomach into your pants. I have been there. Maybe you get half way through the warm up in a group fitness class and wonder if you are this out of breath now, is a full hour going to kill you? I have been there. Maybe money and time are tight and the idea of spending $30-$70 a month and an hour a day on yourself feels awfully selfish. I have been there. So many of us have.

You see us running or biking or lifting weights, and may feel discouraged or that we are judging you. Please, please, PLEASE know that we are not, because so many of us have been in your same shoes. You see us for what we are now, but many of us started out just like you, on a journey to find our best selves.

Please come back. I know it is hard, but it will get better, I promise.

And then you will wake up one day and wonder when you became that person. You know that person who can jog a few miles or do a whole spin class or even do boot camp without being sore the next day. And you will be the one, standing across the room, smiling at the new girl hoping she knows how lovely and wonderful and brave she is. Hoping she knows she is worth all the work. Because you are. You are so worth it. You deserve to be your healthiest self.

Now there might come a time and a place where someone will judge you, even someone at the gym. Maybe they make rude comments or give you that look. Maybe they have never known what it feels like to struggle with their weight. Maybe they have low self-esteem. Maybe they have never eaten an entire pan of brownies by themselves (I have) or an entire bag of Halloween candy before a single trick or treater came to their door (I have). Maybe they forgot what it was like to be the new girl. Please, don’t waste your time on them. You are on a journey to be your best self, and they don’t belong on your journey. Find people and a place where you can begin where you are.

Come back. You are so worth it."

Daily law.

↬Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. While you walk, smile! It's the ultimate anti-depressant.
↬Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. #breathe.
↬When you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement:
"My purpose is to ____________ today."
↬Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
↬Drink green tea, and plenty of water.
↬Try to make at least three people smile today :)

↬Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.
↬Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out credit card.
↬Life isn't fair, but it is still good. #always.
↬Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
↬Don't take yourself so seriously-- no one else does.
↬You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
↬Make peace with your past so it wont spoil the present.
↬Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
↬No one is in charge of your happiness except you. Choose to be happy.
↬Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
↬Forgive everyone for everything. #karma.
↬What other people think of you is none of your business.
↬However good or bad a situation is, it will change. #nostress.
↬Your job wont take care of you when you are sick, your friends will. Stay in touch.
↬Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
↬Each night before you go to bed, complete the following statement:
"I am thankful for _____________. Today I accomplished ________________."
↬Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

A few of my favorite things..

Today was complete with: 

♥ fresh iced tea.

♥ lots of h2o.

♥ margarita pizza.

♥ yoga class.

♥ sweat sesh.

♥ clean hair. 

♥ kombucha.

& cuddles.

Happy Tuesday! 

be still my soul.

I recently have been trying to get more involved with meditation, especially with all the stress from nursing school. I found this little meditation exercise for beginners I quite like, & I thought I would share it with you guys.

It is called "Counting Backward" from: Yoga The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness
by Erich Schiffmann.

"In this exercise you will be counting backward from fifty to zero, synchronizing the counting with your breathing. You'll count the even numbers as you exhale and the odd numbers as you inhale.
Sit with your back straight and your eyes closed. If you can sit comfortably on the floor, do so, Otherwise, use a chair. Be comfortable.
Begin by breathing in gently, fully. As you exhale mentally say "fifty." As you breathe in again, mentally say "forty-nine," exhale "forty-eight,"inhale "forty-seven," exhale "forty-six".. and so on.
Count backwards on both the in-breath and the out-breath until you reach "twenty," then count only on exhales. Silently count "twenty" as you exhale. Then, instead of counting "nineteen" on the in-breath, do nothing, just inhale. With the next exhalation count "nineteen" and so on until you reach zero.
When you reach zero, stop counting, but stay aware of the natural flow of breath in exactly the same way as when you were counting. Watch the breath as though you were going to count, but don't count. As you do this, practice sitting absolutely still. But don't hold yourself still. Simply be so relaxed that no movements occur.
Be very aware of how you feel as you do this-how peaceful, energized, calm. Notice how pleasantly alert you are, how serene, fearless, at ease. Familiarize yourself with this feeling, with the feeling-tone of being centered and at peace, and rest here another two or three minutes. Absorb the stillness. then prepare yourself, open your eyes, and return. This will take six or seven minutes.
As you do this exercise, breathe normally. Do not do deep breathing or control the breath in any way. This is important. You are learning not to be in control. You are learning to get out of the way. Therefore, rather than controlling the breath, allow it to flow freely in and out at its own natural pace. Yet, stay aware of the breath. Keep track of the numbers. As the breath comes in, count. As the breath goes out, count. And when you reach zero, stay aware of the breath nonverbally. There should be no strain in your breathing as you do this. Keep it soft and easy.
As you count backward, you may be more aware than usual of your mind darting rapidly from one object of attention to another. You may be unusually aware of sounds, physical sensations, or thoughts. You may lose count altogether. None of this matters. All of these things are evidence that the technique is working. You're becoming more aware.
The value of this technique lies in its ability to help you notice where your attention is moment to moment, what's in your mind, and the contents of your consciousness. The counting is not only a centering device and a way of developing concentration, of training your mind to focus, it also acts as a backdrop on which your thoughts become very apparent.
For now, however, do not do anything with the various thoughts or sensations that arise. Simply be aware of them and continue counting. Gradually become more aware, more quiet within yourself, and increasingly dynamically still. As you immerse yourself in your stillness-and this is something that improves with each attempt- you will experience an unexpected and immensly satisfying sense of contentment and ease."

Feel the peace.

Quick thought.

I just saw something someone posted; they just got back from a week long vacation in California-- including a trip to Disneyland.. And the caption was: "What a great trip, how exhausting."

Funny thing is tho, your vacation you are looking forward to.. 

- it will be here and over before you know it..

As much as you are loving your first day, with that whole week off ahead of you..

- suddenly it's time to pack up & head home. 

#Enjoythenow. 

That moment you are in--right now. The one that you are wasting your time reading my silly little pointless blog...

I challange you to go outside and live.

Slow your breath down, and focus on this present moment... 

How does it feel to lie/sit down?

 How does your inhales & exhales feel? 

What is in the sky/on the ceiling?

 What can you do to push all your stressors away? 

#BREATHE.  

INNNNNNNNNN

& 

OUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT.

Pause to take it all in.

2020

Our journal topic for this weeks clinical was:
"where do you see yourself in five years, and what steps do you need to do to get there?".

Have you stopped to think about that lately?

In five years, it will be freaking 2020!
In five years, I will be turning 31. :(
In five years I will no longer be living with my mommy.
In five years, I will be a wifey and a mommy too!
In five years, I will have an established nursing career.
In five years, I will be officially "grown up". #scary.

It got me thinking: today is the oldest you have ever been, and the youngest you'll ever be again. Soak up every last moment, because life keeps on going whether you are ready to live it or not.

Balance yourself.

I am in love with this:

☯Balance is the key. In everything you do.☯
Dance all night long and practice yoga the next day.
↬Drink wine but don't forget your green juice.
Eat chocolate when your heart wants it and kale salad when your body needs it.↫
Wear high heels on Saturday and walk barefoot Sunday.
Live high and low.
Move and stay still.
↬Embrace all sides of who you are.
Be brave, bold, spontaneous and loud and let that compliment your abilites to find silence, patience, modesty and peace.↫
☯Aim for balance.☯
Make your own rules and follow your own path and don't let anybody tell you how to live according to theirs.
#namaste.
☮♥☀

So I have this little BIG problem, and it is becoming increasingly more and more annoying.

I have a serious case of Philematophobia.
[the fear of kissing]

This is not a joke. I admit it sounds silly, (cause it is).
In all honestly I have enjoyed a few kisses in the past..
& I love the thought of being kissed passionately in the rain.

.. but in real life, when a boy gives you that look, and you know what's coming..
I PANIC!
My heart starts pounding,
My knees go weak,
My palms sweat,
I can't breathe.
& I flee.

It's so awkward.
& It's so annoying.

I physically cannot do it :'(.
I just want to be normal, and enjoy a freaking kiss like the rest of the world..
any advice is more than welcome,
please and thank you!

I turned 24 this week!!
It left almost faster than it came, and I am still in denial.
My adorable aunt in law was commenting on my age yesterday, telling me she had her life planned up just until 24! That was her big year, she graduated from the U, married my uncle and got pregnant, all in the same year.
HOLY CRAP.
That sure did put my life in perspective.. I had my life semi planned out too, I was going to marry the boy I have been in love with my whole life. I would be married by the end of this year (10/11/12).
That is a scary thought.
"Life is what is happening while you are busy making other plans"- I can honestly say I am happy with where I am in life, and whom I have become. Yeah, sure I will probably never finish school, and never get married.. but I love my life to the fullest, and that is all that matters right? #YOLO.
Instead of doing my "New Years Resolutions" on January 1st, I decided I wanted to start them May 14th, a fresh start for another year in my life. This is going to be the best year yet. :)

#Blessings.

I have been meaning to blog this for months:

Three things I am thankful for today are:
1. Good music!! My life rolls to the beat, and I am so happy it is always there to make me smile, or scream, or cry! :)
2. Breathing!! You don't fully appreciate a good deep breath until you can't breathe. Plus, you could possibly breathe your way through anything.
3. Our bodies!! It can feel like we absolutely "can't do it" anymore, and it just keeps moving, and only gets stronger. Believe it or not, I am thankful for the opportunity to study anatomy and learn more about how it works! Anatomy helps me appreciate the body just that much more.
Until next time,
Peace, love, and sunshine :)