Newtown, Connecticut

What happened last Friday in Connecticut is still weighing heavy on my heart and mind. I cannot fathom or imagine the emptiness, pain, and unimaginable sadness that the families of these lost loved ones and children are experiencing. The questions they have, the feeling that this pain in their hearts will never be lifted, the longing for someone that is no longer here on earth. I am not a parent, but I am the big sister to a little brother...and the mere thought of losing him in that way is almost unbearable. My heart is broken, and I have them on my mind and in my prayers daily. I know God has the power to comfort them in a way no one here in this world is capable of.

 I hope you all will take the time to be in prayer for everyone involved in this tragedy, that God will take up the mothers, fathers, grandparents , brothers and sisters and relatives up in His arms and  comfort them.

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all our comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted in God."- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Christmas Lane

^ left to right: Sisters Hannah & Sara, friends Hannah & Kelsey, me.

^ my sisters : Hannah, Sara and I. 

(still missing half the crew as the 3 youngest siblings are with mom visiting Dad in Alabama!

 read more about that HERE)

 ^and they say grandma got ran over by a reindeer..... 

^ innocent observer...plotting his attack. 

TITUS!

There has been a lot of Christmas cheer going on around this house and neighborhood lately. Despite the 70-80 degree weather, Floridians are quite determined to spread the Christmas spirit! The other day two of my sisters( Sara and Hannah) and my two dearest friends( Hannah and Kelsey) joined me for an outing to Christmas Lane- a popular place here in Central Florida. It's someone's front yard and house that has turned into a holiday outing tradition for everyone! There are hundreds lights, Santa, and loads of all things Christmas! It's quite impressive for someone's front yard. My sister's and I also picked up a tree and spent the evening decorating it....with the help of my pup Titus and our cat shadow.

Is it just me, or is it amazing how quickly the END of the year is approaching?

My Wellness Journey: Tough Mudder GA Prep

 I recently registered for Tough Mudder: Georgia 2013  and will be racing on a team with several of my lifelong friends ( even the boyfriend Isaac is doing it with me!). The event is Saturday, April 6, 2013 in Georgia.

I have exactly 4 months to get in shape for this 10-12 mile obstacle course race that will have 25 obstacles for me to tackle. All the proceeds go towards the Wounded Warrior Project!
Not only is this race for a good cause, it is a great way for me to take the next step in my wellness journey.

In January I made a diet change as a new year resolution ( read about that here & here). Basically, due to personal health reasons,  I went cold turkey and cut out all gluten and processed sugar from my diet. I can't even begin to tell you what I change it has made in my overall health ( chronic stomach pains are gone!). I also can't believe I have been on this diet for almost a year!

While I now seem to have a good handle and balance on my diet, I have realized that my fitness level is extremely low. As an equestrian I often ride 2-3 times a week and my job can also sometimes be physically demanding, but my strength and endurance level is still quite low. Tough Mudder is the perfect way to motivate me to start working out and hopefully develop a lifelong habit!

With the help of some athletic friends and trainers, I have a 4 month training program which I began the beginning of this week. I have signed up at a local gym with a coworker ( who is also doing Tough Mudder) and we are doing the program together! I  have also started fine tuning my diet.

I plan to start posting on  the blog weekly with updates on my progress ( the perfect way for me to keep track of it all!) I'll be including diet, fitness, wellness, health, etc. I also plan to do a monthly update with a photo ( like the one below) to document my progress! 

*disclaimer: I am NOT doing this program/diet to lose weight! I am very happy with my weight and am hoping to increase my muscle & strength as well as improve my overall health and wellness! 

Month 1-The beginning!
Height: 6''
Weight: 150.1 lb
Workout Routine: Going to the gym Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday. ( resting Wednesday, Saturday, & Sunday) Focusing this month on developing proper technique& form, as well as slowly developing muscle strength and endurance. Weight training each day( alternating muscle groups each day) as well as doing cardio ( running- 1st week running 14min after weight training and then adding 5-10min to that each week).
Diet: Besides being gluten and sugar free- I am now focusing on a HIGH protein, HIGH fat( healthy fats) , low carb diet. I've been doing this diet for about 2 months and so far I have been really happy with it! My energy levels are great ( no 2pm crash!) and I have also noticed an improvement in my overall ability to focus and sleep.
-I am also drinking a homemade protein shake after each workout!

I am excited to begin this next step in my journey!

Here is a short video of what Tough Mudder is-enjoy!

The Sea

On my most recent visit to see Isaac and his family in Vero Beach,  we decided to head out to the sea one evening  because the weather was absolutely perfect for a stroll. ( did I mention he only lives about 10min from the beach?! I will admit I am quite jealous as I would be out  there every single  day!)

The beach was quiet, the waves were white and foamy...we skipped rocks and enjoyed the amazing view.

"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net forever." 

-Jacques Cousteau

p.s. as you can see the blog has "grown" a little and gone through a few changes! I would love some feedback from you readers as to what you think of the new layout?? ( the old one simply was not working for me)