...Pictures

Here are pictures to document some of what we've done so far this year:

JANUARY

Clean office

Bored pup taking advantage of clean office

FEBRUARY

Hit & Run

MARCH

2 miles uphill

The last ascent to the top

What a view!!!

Our car is parked on that road before the tunnel

:)

APRIL

We must not have done anything picture worthy...

MAY

Pittsburgh - wedding road trip

:)

My garden!

Bored pup because I was making the garden

...I'll be okay

This morning was my last workout at Cincinnati Strength & Conditioning (CrossFit Nasti). I knew it was coming and Mike & I made the official decision on Saturday. We have some financial goals to take care of and the money will assist tremendously in us reaching those goals much sooner than projected. My first day at CSC was 5/10/11, the week after I ran my first race & half marathon. Everyone I've met there is amazing. It's crazy. It's not just a gym. It's like I became part of a family... one that I spend more time with than my real family. ;) I've learned a lot about fitness, health, and myself. I'll miss everyone tremendously but hopefully see them now and then until I return. And when I go back, Mike will be joining me. :) I've already cried 3 times this morning over this... and I'm sure the count will go up as the day progresses. You know you've found something wonderful if you cry (at the gym, in the car, at work) over leaving a gym. Because like I said, it's not just a gym.

...Update!

Well... it's been a looooong time. Whoops! I got a little busy I guess...

Let's see... at the end of February I passed my ACE Personal Trainer Exam. :)

During March I continued to participate in the CrossFit Open. It was definitely challenging and had a great experience. I went to Louisville to celebrate my best friend's birthday and had a blast. Louisville can't handle us girls. Coco got attacked by two mean German Shepherds that their owner couldn't control. She ended up tearing out a lot of her hair due to irritation from the bites so she had to get shaved on her leg and underneath, wear a cone (not happy at all about that), take meds like crazy, and get anti-itch spray. :(

Poor pup!

We got to go on a mini vacation with a big group of friends to Gatlinburg. The place we stayed in was huge! It was categorized as a Luxury +. The mountains were amazing! Mike & I broke away from the group and went for a hike - Chimney Tops. It was pretty much 2 miles uphill but absolutely worth it! The view was spectacular!!! Of course the pictures are still on my camera otherwise I would post one.

In April I bought a pair of rollerblades! My first time ever on rollerblades. I thought I was going to die. I've gone skating a couple times at the park and am getting the hang of it. Once the rest of the girls get their blades we're going to make it a more frequent activity. :) Super fun! And scary! I started training at LA Fitness in Crescent Springs, KY and so far I like it. I'm training Tuesdays & Thursdays after working all day. It ends up being a long day, but the time at the gym goes by quickly. I also put my friends through some workouts to help get them in shape for summer. I ran (in the cold and rain) with my two friends as they were training for the Flying Pig Half Marathon. I was pleasantly surprised I could walk the next day considering how far we ran and that I hadn't been running as much as they were. My ex-aunt, Patricia Gligor, released her first novel, "Mixed Messages." I'm so proud of her for accomplishing this great goal she set for herself!!! At the end of April I decided to participate in the Under Armour What's Beautiful competition. My goal: I WILL... Increase muscle definition (including killer abs) & reduce my body fat to ~15% by eating clean & working hard. I've got my work cut out for me... but will give it my all. :) I still have to post a video so I can move on and see what little challenges they want me to complete.

May started out great with Mike's 33rd birthday! He took off work and spent all day doing whatever he wanted which included smoking a pork butt. The pulled pork sandwiches and mac & cheese were delicious!  Last weekend we went on a little road trip to Pittsburgh for a family wedding. It was a good but very quick trip & I'm so happy for Matt & Heather. To help reach my goal for the UA competition mentioned above, this Tuesday & Wednesday I did two workouts - one CrossFit workout in the morning before work & another workout in the evening at home. I won't lie... I'm kinda sore. But the best goals aren't normally easy to achieve. :) There's still a lot of May left and I'm already thinking of the busy weekend ahead of me...

Oh... and I'm still on the hunt for a new blog name. Nothing is popping out though.

...Oh, Snatch!

Workout 12.2 of the CrossFit Open was posted this evening:
      Women - includes Masters Women up to 54 years old
      Proceed through the sequence below completing as many reps as possible in 
            10 minutes of:
      45 pound Snatch, 30 reps

      75 pound Snatch, 30 reps
      100 pound Snatch, 30 reps
      120 pound Snatch, as many reps as possible

Tomorrow's workout at the gym will be going through the movements and putting a game plan together. It's definitely going to be a hard workout... but I'm looking forward to it!

...A Crazy/Busy Life

I think my life is about to become a lot busier in the next few weeks.

If you didn't know, I passed the ACE Certified Personal Trainer Exam last Tuesday!!! It was the hardest test I've even taken and thought I was going to have a heart attack while waiting for my test score. The girl taking a test next to me probably thought I was dying. ;)

I've got a lead on a part-time evening trainer position from my CrossFit trainer, Rob. I really hope it goes through! I know it's going to be hard and awkward at first; I'm going to cry at some point due to being overwhelmed, it's inevitable. The work/life balance might be thrown off a bit and take a while to get use to, but I know it will be worth it. I can't wait!

In other exciting news, last Saturday was the first workout of the CrossFit Open. It was AMRAP in 7 minutes of burpees to 6 in above your reach. I got 76! Here's a video of the workout if you don't know what I'm talking about: http://games.crossfit.com/workouts/the-open. This week's workout is suppose to be posted this evening. I'm excited to see what it is!

This Saturday I'm headed down to Louisville with the girls to celebrate Jessica's 25th birthday & Amy's 24th birthday! Jimmy Buffett is down there on Saturday so I'm sure there will be crazy people all over the place. Maybe they'll buy us drinks? ;) I love my girl friends and being able to hang out with them all the time!!!

And... I'm still trying to decide on a new blog name. Maybe something in the next few weeks will inspire a great blog name or give me an idea of what I want this blog of focus on. I'm open to any suggestions!

XOXOXO!

...Reality

"Are you prepared for your exam in 4 days?"

The reality is kicking in big time. I'm taking the ACE Personal Trainer Certification exam in 4 days. I'll have 3 hours to complete 150 multiple choice questions. I've already taken a practice exam (which I did not get a passing grade on) and believe me, these aren't easy-breezy multiple choice questions; they are tricky. I wouldn't expect anything less though. People are going to be looking to me for guidance and they expect me to know my shit, and rightfully so.

A big part of me wishes I hadn't told anyone when I was taking my exam. There is a possibility that I will fail. I'm not okay with failing (I'm a perfectionist, I want 100%), but I've accepted the fact that it could happen. What I don't like is the fact that I'd have to pay again to take it a 2nd time. That's the little budgeting freak inside coming out. ;) So, I'm going to get to studying, for the budget's sake.

P.S. Coco is going to have to accept the reality that she's getting her nails clipped and a bath today.

Trying to fit on my bean bag chair when she has a perfectly good bed behind her. :)

...Exhausted

I don't know why, but I've been waking up every morning this week completely exhausted. I'm not going to bed late; I'm getting the usual amount of sleep that I have been (6-7 hours... I want to get more though). I've cut back the amount of days I'm working out... maybe that has something to do with it. My schedule change is really reeking havoc on my body. Whatever it is, I hope I figure it out or it starts to cooperate.

Last night I was out celebrating a friend getting a new job and she mentioned that she really wanted to get in shape. She's got some things coming and wants to look good. Who doesn't?! Anyway, it got me thinking (not always the best thing since once I start thinking about something it doesn't usually go away)... Do I also want to train a few close friends/family out of my house? What would all of this entail? I've read a bit but would need to formulate a plan more. Gotta get this plan together... she wants to start ASAP! :)

UPDATE: My sister, Sarah, thought of a great idea for a new name for my blog... but of course the web address is already taken. I posted on the dude's site (he has one post and it's from 2006) to see if he would release it... if not, I think I have another one in mind... maybe. I'm still taking suggestions.

XO!