so many exciting things, so little time!

this week has started off on a good great foot for many reasons!

first off, my girls had a basketball tournament this weekend where they took 3rd place! honestly, they should've went on to the championship game, but we lost by 3 points in overtime, bummer! either way, i am super proud of all they accomplished this weekend and this season so far. they are working hard, improving and they deserved to have something to show for it, in this case, it was a t-shirt. they also think that Coach owes them DQ for winning, but we'll see how well the Coach's budget is doing after rent and student loans (doesn't a high-five cut it anymore?).

also, i found this AMAZING 1/2 marathon in Vancouver on August 11th and the best part of it, it's sponsored by LULULEMON! anyone who knows me, knows that i am obsessed with this brand. some people think it's overpriced, i see it as an investment for living a healthy lifestyle fashionably and comfortably :)

either way, i REALLY want to go to Vancouver and i REALLY want to run in this 1/2 marathon....stay tuned (and keep your fingers crossed!).

this week is going to be super eventful, exhausting and fun! first off, my MF and i are celebrating our one year, ONE YEAR on friday! that's crazy to me, i know a lot of people say, i cannot believe it's already been a year, but seriously, i CANNOT believe it's already been one year. also, i start my yoga teacher training this weekend at CorePower Yoga. i am B E Y O N D excited! this could be a start of a new career away from my cubicle and onto my mat, could a girl ask for anything more? last thing, i am hosting a Pure Romance party at my house this saturday evening, so my house will be filled with friends, laughs and wine!

i am hoping i will be able to check in and maintain my resolution of BLOGGING MORE, but only time will tell!!!

always striving for more,

dee b.

when life throws you lemons, make lemon water!

seriously though, feeling a little down? throw a lemon in either cold or warm water and reap an abundance of benefits.  this list may seem a little long winded, but i will try to make it as reader friendly as possible!

o   DETOX>> it assists in “cleansing the system of impurities”. please realize, i just graduated from college, so i'm not sure if i'm still detoxifying from the past 4 years or if i need to detox from my everyday living, either way we ALL need to detox.

• it is effective at dissolving uric acid (often the cause of pain and inflammation in joints) and other poisons in the body. it also battles inflammation by flushing bad bacteria and toxins out of your system and cooling inflammation. have you read my prior post about having 5 knee surgeries? pain and inflammation in my joints is a constant battle and i'm sure i am not alone on this!

o   a good source of citric acid, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, vitamin C and antioxidants. lemons also contain vitamins (such as vitamin B, riboflavin), minerals, proteins and carbohydrates. have you heard of any of these being bad for you?!? didn't think so.

o   lemon juice is similar in atomic structure to saliva and other digestive juices, so it is very helpful in the process of digestion and eliminaton. the qualities of lemon juice help to relieve symptoms of indigestion, such as heartburn and bloating. lemon water will also help to eliminate waste more efficiently, i won't go into details there....

o   for all your blondies out there (me)>> due to it's potassium content, it nourishes brain and nerve cells 

• promotes liver functioning by providing natural strengthening agent liver enzymes. also, helps fix oxygen and calcium levels in liver which affects blood oxygen levels. what the heck are blood oxygen levels? it is the amount of oxygen that travels throughout your blood and arteries. in order to function properly, your body needs a constant level of oxygen circulating in the blood to cells and tissues. your blood oxygen levels need to be high in order to maintain levels of energy throughout your day and especially while working out. the higher your blood oxygen levels are, the more efficient oxygen will be transported to your muscles and the better workout you will be able to have! drink up!

• lemons are highly acidic, but they contain the good acids that your body needs, your body needs to be maintained around a certain PH balance in order to thrive and run smooth.  if your body is not alkaline, as it should be, then you could have a series of health problems. increasing body alkalinity is one of the key benefits of drinking lemon water. in addition, because of its antibacterial properties, lemon water will help control unhealthy bacteria.
• helps purify the blood and will also control a tendency to bleed

o   assists in lowering high blood pressure
 

o   relieves symptoms of asthma, allergies and other respiratory problems. also, reduces the amount of phlegm in the body, GROSS!

o   it's diuretic effect helps dissolves gallstones, calcium deposits, kidney stones, and pancreatic stones along with avoid urinary tract infections.

o   in pregnancy, it will help build strong bones in the child.

o   lemon's anti bacterial component reduces fever and relieves sore throats.

o   improves skin and dental health! helps ward off acne, eczema  and toothaches.

o   on a diet? lemon water helps maintain natural energy while you are on a diet and also reduces your body weight.

need any other reasons to drink lemon water? didn't think so!

although lemon + water seems like an easy equation, here are few tips that i've found when it comes to maximizing the benefits:.

>buy small, heavy fruit
>store lemons at room temperature
>prior to cutting, roll the lemon on the counter with the palm of your hand. also, WASH the lemon before cutting it, you don't want all those nasty germs in your water
>it is best to drink lemon water at room temperature or warmer. cold lemon water can shock your stomach
>best time to drink is 1st thing in the morning or at least 30 minutes before a meal.
>reuse! keep your lemon in your cup and add more water throughout the day, it's not as strong, but still tastes good and has the benefits!
>CONVENIENCE TIP:. don't want to spend time slicing lemons into wedges? feel free to buy the bottled lemon juice, but make sure the ingredients says 100% lemon juice, if not, well please use common sense here...
>if lemon water is not your thing (yet!), try putting orange slices or cucumbers slices in with the lemon. also, you can try making it more "lemonade-like" by adding a sweetener such as Steevia or Truvia.

enjoy!

always striving for more,
dee b.

.:CHECKING IN:.

hello friends!

just thought i'd check in to see how all of your resolutions are going and to let you know how mine are doing......

this has got to be one of the simplest, yet greatest creations ever. this was a christmas present from my mom (think it's a suddle enough hint to get organized?). as you can see i have LOTS of jewelry and this thing has a ton of compartments (the backside is all pockets as well) to keep it all separate, untangled and best of all, easy to find! you should have seen my jewelry box before this--my MOH and i spent a good chunk of an evening talking while untangling necklaces, bracelets and earrings. i'll be honest and say that we weren't able to salvage all of them and there is still a small ball that needs to untangled! nonetheless, here is a simple, yet effective way to de-clutter!

as far as my other ones, there are going mediocre.....

i am going to begin training for my triathon tomorrow (i know, i know, yesterday i said tomorrow). i already have bag packed ready to head to the pool at 6:45 AM to begin learning how to swim again.....

my room is FAIRLY organized which i am going to consider a win. between going from work to coaching or running or yoga or having a social life, i can go thru MANY outfits in one day and if most of my clothes make it to where they belong, i'll call it good :) (what do you think mom?)

in the past few days, i did decide on a few more resolutions:.

>sleep more! i can always find time to run, yoga, clean, have a social life, but the one thing that i can't seem to fit into my schedule is more sleep! i thought after college i would be well-rested and on a consistent 8-hour/night sleep schedule. well, it hasn't exactly happened that way, especially when the mf and i decide to watch just ONE more episode of Criminal Minds....

>blog more:. i don't believe this requires further explanation....

>drink more lemon water! does anyone else know all the health benefits of spicing up regular H20 with lemon slices??? it's crazy, i've now decided to dedicate an entire post on this, stay tuned!

how are your resolutions going? have you found effective (yet efficient) ways to make them stick?

always striving for more,

dee b.

new year, new you?

is anyone else tired of hearing this phrase when New Year's comes around?

along with everybody else, i do get excited for a new year, fresh start and of course, i set goals, but do i really need to find a new me in the new year? how about me who is trying to improve a few things?

i was reading in my recent Women's Health  magazine about setting resolutions using 5 principles. i found these really helpful when looking at my own resolutions and ensuring that they stick (let's face it, what is the average life span of a new year's resolution?)

1. specific--vauge goals give people too much leeway. be precise.

2. measurable--you should be able to gauge or quantify your success. it may help to set micro (weekly) and macro (monthly) goals. these will serve as 'checkpoints' to help you stay on track.

3. attainable--don't set yourself up for failure.

4. realistic--goes along with attainable. your schedule, body and energy can only go so far, keep that in mind!

5. time sensitive--deadlines will create a sense of urgency, will make this goal feel like a priority and always in the back of your mind. time sensitive goals can also be used as "checkpoints" for reflection and modifcation if needed.

in years past, i have always put 'lose weight' or 'workout more' at the top of my list, but not this year. i'm not sure if it's because i didn't fall into the viciously unhealthy cycle of finals this year or didn't completely gorge myself at Christmas to feel guilty or simply, but i am happy with my weight and health that i can move onto other goals and let me tell you, it feels good! i can finally move onto resolving  improving other parts of my life.

here are my resolutions/goals:.

>become more organized and with this SIMPLIFY! do i really ALL those clothes, shoes and junk that causes more stress than anything? regardless of what my mother may think, i do not enjoy coming home to a messy room or driving around in a messy car, it makes me feel uneasy and stressed. my goal is to only have to spot clean every once in awhile vs. having to spend an entire evening cleaning a week's worth of mess!

>take better care of my teeth:. i'll admit, i fell into bad habits of not taking care of my teeth while in college. don't get me wrong, i brush my teeth twice a day (most days), but i have white strips i would like to start using and floss that NEEDS to be used.

>eat less carbs....i know, i know, what a lame GIRL resolution, but seriously, it can be a bit excessive.

>train for SOMETHING:. with my recent knee surgery, i may not be able to train for a marathon (yet), but there are a lot of other events i could should be training for! first on my list, Alexandria's Sprint Tri. going along with this, i would like to create a leaner body type. i consider myself to be 'bulky' (thanks to years of playing soccer and basketball) and i think it is time to get rid of that! i am hoping that by leaning myself out, my knees won't have as much pressure on them, resulting in being able to run long distances again (read train for marathon) !!!!

> make the next step in my career planning/pathway, i'm on a 3-5 year plan (more on this later....)

>save more money:. luckily, my mf and i are both on a budget diet with the help of some expense tracker apps, but i'm beginning to realize the more money i have in my savings account, the more i seem at ease and the more risks i can take...

i can honestly say, that none of these seem drudging, i am excited to get started and anxious to see where i am at the end of 2012!

now onto ringing in the new year! how did you all celebrate?!

i can say that i couldn't have imagined a better NYE. i got to spend the evening with my mf, Henry (duh), brother and sister-in-law. it was low-key and so much fun! the evening began with grilling, baking cookies, playing Apples to Apples and drinks! right when it started snowing, we decided to hit a couple bars on Grand Ave.

here are a few pictures, enjoy! :)

       

 

happy new year to you all! i would really enjoy to hear about your resolutions or tips to help mine stick!

always striving for more,
dee b.

busy-not at leisure; otherwise engaged

that, my friends, is the definition of busy according to dictionary.com. no complaints here, i was definitely enjoying the Christmas/holiday season, but i couldn't seem to find time to update my blog!

how was your Christmas/holiday celebration? my fellow Minnesotans, how did you feel about the 'brown' Christmas we've had?

well, as much as i do enjoy snow and getting in the Christmas spirit with a winter wonderland, i made the best of the 'brown' Christmas we had this year and even will admit that i enjoyed being able to run outside without having to wear 4 layers and slipping everywhere! :)

this Christmas seemed extra special for reasons that i can't quite pinpoint, but i can take a few guesses....

1. i got to spend the couple weeks before Christmas having a great friend of mine stay at my place (what up, MOH)....we had SOOO many laughs, reminisced about the good ol' days (cause we're so old and wise) and created so many new memories and outrageous sayings that wouldn't make sense to anyone, but us....

2. being able to see my basketball girls enjoy the Christmas season and 'Secret Santas' put me in a festive mood. has anyone else noticed that as you get older, Christmas seems to be a bit more stressful than enjoyable with all the spending money, long 'To-Do' lists and traveling? these girls keep me grounded and made me realize Christmas can be easy and enjoyable.

3. i absolutely LOVE giving presents. i am a person who would rather give presents than get presents, but being short on money can make this difficult and stressful. i realized a little creativity and planning can go a long way! i was able to stay within budget and give some of the best/creative gifts yet! yaay!

4. simplicity--maybe this is what the 'youngens' are doing right to enjoy Christmas....this season will always be hectic, but there is no reason why it cannot be simple at the same time. i found myself truly enjoying the simple thingsthis year:. time with friends, decorating the Christmas tree, enjoying the scent of a holiday candle (seriously, has anyone tried the Glade holiday candles? AMAZING!), enjoying the peace and quiet of an evening run in the snow and cuddling up with my mf and favorite kitten just watching TV. slow down, enjoy it! it's the most wonderful time of the year!

5. TRADITIONS! my family and i have always had the tradition of attending the candlelight Church service and afterwards,  gorging ourselves with crab legs (and butter) along with pecan pie on Christmas eve. in my mind, you can't beat this tradition! my oldest brother, Nic, coming home has also turned into tradition! his life is very 'Hollywood', so he only gets to come home twice a year and having him home is a really special treat (for the most part...). 

 

this was the first Christmas my mf and i have spent together, so we decided to create a few of our own traditions....

we put up our own Christmas tree! we had a lot fun doing this (Henry was a big help as well) and we are quite proud of our first Christmas tree :)

another tradition we decided to do was to write down all of the memories of 2011....on an ornament! we bought a big green ornament and wrote down big milestones of 2011 in black permanent marker. we really had a great year together and can't wait to see what memories can be put on 2012's ornament.

do you have any Christmas traditions? i think they are so fun and really add to the meaning of Christmas!

always striving for more,
dee b.

slacker....

my sincerest apologies friends for neglecting my blog for so long! it  has been over a week since i have written a post....

do i have an excuse? not really, just been very busy with LIFE!

updates in my life:.
>i am going to my hometown this weekend to see one of my good friends get married! i am so excited to see her little family officially become one!
>i am having a GREAT friend of mine stay with me for 2 weeks (we are already  1 week in). it is so wonderful to have her around to talk with, take my mind off of other things and workout with! ok, we have only worked out once together, but she does hold me accountable to go to bed earlier which is something i should HAVE to work on! you can also blame her for being the reason my blog has been slacking...jk, she was the first one who pointed out that i was slacking!
>i have been able to get about 2-3 runs, 2 yoga classes and at least 1-2 weight lifting sessions in per week. much better improvement than before, however still a lot of room for improvement, i'll get there!

one thing that i think has allowed me to stay in shape while not putting in as much time in the gym is going in there with an intention. i have found that you can accomplish a lot by only spending 30 mins in the gym if you know what to do. besides, there is nothing worse then spending an hour in the gym and realizing it was a waste of time and you could've burned more calories cleaning (which is also an area that is slacking...), am i right?


i found this wonderful link to carrie underwood's leg workout, who doesn't want legs like carrie (or arms or hair or teeth for that matter)? she is absolutely stunning! not the, 'of course she looks good in an evening gown' stunning, but the stunning that still looks good kicking it in sweats, no makeup and greasy hair! can you tell i may be slightly jealous?

http://www.bodyincredible.com/incredible-bodies-2-those-legs-are-amazing-and-heres-how-to-achieve-them/

anyway, i am currently trying to compile little workouts like this one to target certain areas that i can either do at home or before practice at the gym. they will even come in handy if i ever decide to get my butt out of bed in the early morning for a short yet, effective workout. stay tuned for more!


goals:.
>start training for the annual sprint triathlon that is held in my hometown every spring. last year i was not able to participate due to my knee surgery, but plan to participate and be in great shape when i do!
>go thru my clothes and simplify my closet, who doesn't need to do this? luckily i have 2 closets in my room, but with my friend staying with me, we are both realizing we have TOO many clothes. this is going to be something we will accomplish together.
>TRY getting out of bed next week for an early morning workout. i have been failing at this so miserably that i will set an alarm early enough to workout, but then oversleep and barely have enough time to get ready for work, yikes. i need to do better. also, if i am going to start swimming for this triathlon, the pool right across the street from my house (literally, right across the street which makes me look even more pathetic) has open swim from 7-9 am 3 days/wk.
>pay off my iPad. i finally have the money to do this and need to this ASAP before that money magically disappears....
>finish my christmas shopping:. my parents, brother and sister-in-law, and mf are completed! yaay! i get super excited to GIVE presents for Christmas! i also am known to get so excited that the presents don't stay a surprise for too long. here's to a new christmas tradition:. not spending over my budget on presents and keeping everyone's presents a secret.....

that is all i can think of for now, my mind is already checked out looking foward to a weekend full of fun!

what are you all up to this weekend? how's your christmas shopping going?

always striving for more,
dee b.

.:your greatness is measured by your gifts, not by what you have:.

i'm done! i'm done and have been done with this detox! SOOOO over it!

i made it to about 3 pm of Day 3. did i see significant weight loss? sure, i lost 3.5 lbs (probably a little more since this was a measurement at the beginning of Day 3) in 2 days. was it worth it? hell no! i truly do enjoy eating fresh fruits and veggies and maintaining a clean diet, with a few nights of completely sloppy food (just to keep my metabolism on its toes, of course), but i did not get enough nutrients to really function. by 3 o'clock,  i was sitting in my cube with a crazy headache feeling light-headed and dizzy. knowing that my evening included practice with my girls and squeezing in a run before, i knew i had to eat something with substance to survive.

before my run, i ate a bag of animal crackers and granola bar, the best things i could find in my work's vending machine. 20 minutes into my run, i was shaking and nauseas ready to just go home and forget about practice, but luckily, i brought my protein powder with me. if i did not have that protein to get me through practice, i may have passed out.  either way, i had a huge realization:. you absolutely CANNOT workout without fuel and your diet is just as important as your workout routine....lesson learned

let's see if i can keep that in mind at 11 pm when my stomach is growling for something unhealthy (read ice cream)


always striving for more,
dee b.