tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67389191858343955592024-03-13T14:12:40.888-07:00JabberJawsBlogAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-67780916206449356192016-02-10T11:12:00.002-08:002016-02-10T11:20:31.924-08:00#1 Productivity Tool : Schedule Your To-Do'sAs part of my morning routine, I cruise LinkedIn to find interesting articles about the workplace. This morning, I came across <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2016/01/20/15-surprising-things-productive-people-do-differently/?utm_campaign=Forbes&utm_source=LINKEDIN_COMPANY&utm_medium=social&utm_channel=Leadership&linkId=21028192#17479fac4025">Forbes's <i>15 Surprising Things Productive People Do Differently</i></a> and one tip stuck out to me.<br />
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<i>Throw away your to-do list; instead schedule everything on your calendar. It turns out <a href="http://blog.idonethis.com/how-to-master-the-art-of-to-do-lists/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #003891; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">only 41% of items on to-do lists are ever actually done</a>. And all those undone items lead to stress and insomnia because of the <a href="http://www.psychwiki.com/wiki/Zeigarnik_Effect" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #003891; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Zeigarnik effect</a>. Highly productive people put everything on their calendar and then work and live from that calendar. “Use a calendar and schedule your entire day into 15-minute blocks. It sounds like a pain, but this will set you up in the 95th percentile…”, advises the co-founder of <a href="http://theartofcharm.com/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #003891; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Art of Charm</a>, Jordan Harbinger.</i></div>
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Now, I don't subscribe to this entirely. I still use a physical to-do list because writing down my tasks helps commit them to memory and prioritize what needs to be done. However, I do schedule my to-do's and let me tell you, it's a game changer. </div>
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Here's why:</div>
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<b>1. Forces you to set aside time to actually do work.</b> Too often we get caught up running from meeting to meeting that we forget that we have tangible work that needs to be completed. Having your to-do's live in your calendar prevents you from missing items and BONUS! prevents you from being overbooked.</div>
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<b>2. Increases your ability to properly time manage. </b>As you designate time frames to work on items, you may find that tasks take more or less time to complete than your originally thought. Thinking that an expense report would only take you 20 minutes and seeing that it actually takes you an hour will help you better allocate your time in the future and identify areas of opportunity in your skills.</div>
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<b>3. Helps you analyze how you spend your time.</b> Many jobs require us to play multiple roles at a time. By scheduling to-do's, you can visually analyze where you are spending the majority of your time and if the need arises, speak to it with real data.</div>
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<b>4. Keeps a record of projects.</b> How many times have you gotten to your annual review and forgot most of the stuff you did that year? Wouldn't it be great if you could keep track without having to manage yet another document? Surprise! Your calendar holds the key.Scheduling your to-do's create the record without creating more work.</div>
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<b>5. Helps you keep your word and prioritize. </b>We've all uttered the words, "I'll get it to you by (insert day of the week here)." Suddenly, the day passes and there's the dreaded email/phone call/message asking if you've had a chance to complete the work you've promised. My schedule of to-do's gives me a visual analysis of my workload so I don't over-commit myself and saves me from the embarrassment of forgetting. I can just plop a reminder into my calendar to send so-and-so that thing on a date prior to what I promised them and TA-DA! I'm Ms. Reliable/Dependable/On-Time/Go-To/Get-It-Done. Additionally, if I've promised four people something by Friday and I can actually see that I don't have the capacity to complete all of the work needed, I can have the conversations to courteously reset expectations well ahead of time. </div>
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Scheduling my to-do's has been a lifesaver in the workplace. It allows me to be a effective, reliable, highly-productive member of the office without increasing the burden of record keeping or documenting on my part. The extra bonus (because there hasn't been enough of those) is it severely reduces my stress level. I no longer worry that I've forgotten to do tasks or if I have enough time to complete them. I've carved out the time and documented what needs to be done, so I'm all set.</div>
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So now I ask you...</div>
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<b>What's your favorite productivity trick?</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-26513535105960812962016-01-09T10:44:00.002-08:002016-01-09T10:44:36.132-08:00PopSugar Fitness 30 Day Challenge Combo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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30 Day Challenges have always appealed to me. I don't have to think about them. I wake up, I put on clothes, I look at the list, and GO! Who wouldn't love that?! Squats, push-ups, crunches, planks, cardio... these challenges are everywhere.<br />
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I wanted to speed up my fitness progress so I decided to combine a few of my favorites from <a href="http://www.popsugar.com/fitness">PopSugar Fitness</a>. This printable covers four areas - push-ups, crunches, squats and planks.<br />
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You can find the originals below with instructions on each movement.<br />
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/30-Day-Push-Up-Challenge-30974208">Push-Ups</a><br />
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Printable-Crunch-Challenge-34104122">Crunches</a><br />
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/30-Day-Squat-Challenge-30806625">Squats</a><br />
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<b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3dYfZKYnAGpSUZzeFVUazhEOGs/view?usp=sharing">Download the combination chart here!</a></b></div>
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I found that it's best to start with the planks and then do the other three in the order of your preference. This also makes an AMAZING warm-up to do other exercises. I do this before runs, kettlebell workouts and even yoga. Give it a shot!<br />
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Find more inspiration and workouts on my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/jeneevans/fitness/">Fitness Pinterest board</a>.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-79938035910940419912016-01-08T06:38:00.004-08:002016-01-08T06:38:41.816-08:00What To Do With All of Those Quotes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Like millions of people across the globe, I love Pinterest. My love is simple. I'm a very visual person so I see, I like, I pin. This formula works tremendously well for me. Unfortunately, I use the same methodology for online shopping and as you can imagine, that's no bueno. But I digress...<br />
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In my time as a pinner, I've amassed quite the collection of quote images. Some for fitness motivation, some aspirational, some funny. Over time, I've dove into my boards to see the clever words but for the most part, once pinned, they are quickly forgotten. The true tragedy of this is I actually really love most of these quote images. They are beautifully styled. For a while, I've been looking for a way to bring these quotes more to the forefront of my life. Being a <a href="http://www.thecreativecubby.com/">crafter,</a> one would imagine I would print them out and have them in a clever display in my home. Unfortunately, my tastes change too frequently to commit to a certain set and by printing I'm limited to the number of images I can see.<br />
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On a typical Sunday morning, a brilliant idea occurred to me. Sunday mornings are my time for laundry and cleaning. I turn the music up and go putt around my home. My AppleTV is always the source of my music - not only for Sundays, but for every day. Until this point, my screensaver was a system standard of floral images and I was curious if I could load my own images into the screensaver. You can do it on a laptop, why not AppleTV? Turns out you can! Thus, a dream was born!<br />
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The process is really very simple. On any Apple device (MacBook, iPad, iPhone), download the images from Pinterest into your iPhoto library. I found this part particularly fun because it felt like shopping, except I didn't have to spend any money and there wasn't any pesky buyer's remorse.<br />
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Next, create a new <b>SHARED</b> album. The "Shared" part is crucial. This won't work otherwise. On the iPhone and iPad, it's the middle navigation button within iPhoto with the Cloud. On MacBook, on the top navigation, select "Shared". Next, hit the "+", give it a name and start adding photos.<br />
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All set? Now, it's time to tell your AppleTV that you want to see that screensaver.<br />
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Here's your path...<br />
Settings > Screen Saver > Photos > iCloud Photos > Select Album Name<br />
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You're all set! If your album is new, you'll need to give the iCloud time to catch up. My album ended up being about 60 pictures (can you imagine if I printed all of those?!) so it took about half an hour for the pictures to fully sync on all devices.<br />
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Play with your settings as well! I have my screensaver start after 5 minutes and have it set on "Flip-Up" style. But you do you!<br />
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Also, because I loved this idea so much, I added it as my laptop screensaver. To reset your laptop screensaver, here's your path...<br />
System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Screen Saver > Source (change to your album)<br />
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The <i>best </i>part of this is how easy it is to add to it. Next time I find a quote I love, I just add it to my Shared Album and boom! It syncs everywhere.<br />
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Now, these beautiful quotables are in my face, reminding me to be ambitious, get my butt moving and stay rad.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-14896324637910206942015-09-01T09:29:00.001-07:002015-09-03T18:27:57.884-07:00keep life simple<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-3982991342179770572015-08-26T19:21:00.002-07:002015-08-26T19:21:44.655-07:00Book Review :: "The Darlings" by Cristina Alger<i>The Darlings</i> by Cristina Alger is one of my favorite books I've read in the past few years. The story centers around a family in crisis. As we all know, when business and family mix, odds are things will not end well. This family happens to be a New York City powerhouse that heads up one of the largest investment firms in the city. Suddenly, the firm is under investigation by the feds and loyalties are tested. <br />
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Alger's writing style is superb. Reading like a cross between a thriller and a soap opera, she only gives you enough to keep the pages turning. Full of intrigue and odd character connections, I found myself wondering "Who dunnit?" even though it's not a murder mystery. In reality, the novel is a giant puzzle and you have to piece together the implications between all the relationships.</div>
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The best part of the book is it felt real. Having lived through the 2008 financial crisis, the book feels familiar at every turn. The characters could easily be profiles we read on the front page of The New York Times. Incredibly intriguing and too good to put down.<br />
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Buy it here:<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-57484244250268168182015-08-13T08:32:00.001-07:002015-08-13T08:34:50.717-07:00Champagne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-61042187772097821052015-07-16T18:39:00.000-07:002015-07-16T18:39:30.499-07:00Book Review :: Searching for Grace Kelly by Michael CallahanMichael Callahan's new novel <i>Searching for Grace Kelly</i> follows the lives of three unlikely friends in 1950's New York City attempting to navigate romance, friendships and all the challenges in between. Laura, Dolly and Vivian encounter very different types of men, turning their ambitions, goals and life perspectives on end. <br />
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Callahan paints a beautiful environment with his descriptions of 1950's New York City. The entire feel of the book is glamorous and lush. While I felt he tried a little <i>too </i>hard in the first few chapters to set the stage (too much name dropping), it was an education on the time and effective. </div>
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The tone of the book was... quiet. Don't take that to mean slow or boring. What I mean is the pace was on point with the movement of drama at the time and it progressed with ease - in a tantalizing way. Callahan has a way of building suspense without writing a thriller or being overly dramatic. The novel felt real and accurate. True to the time and the people is was meant to represent.</div>
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And the ending... was shocking. There's no other word for it but shocking.</div>
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Check it out here: </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-37042258414058475062015-06-27T08:27:00.001-07:002015-06-27T18:59:19.525-07:00What Marriage Equality is Not<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><a href="http://www.newsweek.com/white-house-turns-rainbow-honor-supreme-court-gay-marriage-ruling-347832">Source: Newsweek</a></i></div>
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Yesterday, in a historic decision, the Supreme Court determined that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, consequently legalizing it throughout the country.<br />
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The reactions were... mixed.<br />
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This debate is not new to the United States nor is this an issue that will fade quietly into the night. However, as I scrolled through my social media feeds, I was struck by how misunderstood the concept of marriage equality is. <br />
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First, to make this easy, let's answer the question: what is marriage equality?<br />
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Marriage Equality means you can't be denied a marriage license from a state based on the gender of either consenting adult or the benefits legally endowed by that license (including being honored by other states). I can only imagine that laws will be written to reflect the language of <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/815/text">Employment Anti-Discrimination Act</a>. You know, the one that outlines you can't be denied employment or be harassed based on race, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. <br />
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Simple enough.<br />
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So let's talk about what marriage equality is not...<br />
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<b>Marriage Equality is not associated with <i>your </i>religion.</b><br />
This inclusion requirement does not have anything to do with your church, synagogue, temple, mosque, etc. It does not require your preacher, priest, rabbi, bishop, etc to perform or acknowledge same-sex marriage. It does not require you to rip out pages of your Torah, Bible, Quran, etc and change your beliefs.<br />
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<b>Marriage Equality is not associated with <i>any </i>religion.</b><br />
Marriage Equality, as governed by the United States of America, has <i>nothing</i> to do with any faith or belief system. No one is even dictating that someone must be emotionally, psychologically or spiritually "okay" with marriage equality. <br />
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What it <b>is</b> saying is if two people of the same gender want to get married, as defined by <i>state</i> laws (remember: state, not church) then they will not be denied the opportunity to file their license and consequently, have all legal rights (remember: legal, not spiritual) associated with that license.<br />
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I frequently hear the defense that marriage started with the church and thus, is a religious institution. Then someone on the side of marriage equality will fire back with an argument about polygamy and other outdated Bible verses regarding selling your wife and eating shellfish. This argument is never ending and honestly, I don't feel should ever be engaged in. Your belief system is your belief system. Congratulations to you for finding a faith in which you can invest your conviction and guide your life. However, pay me the same respect and leave my belief system alone as well.<br />
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"But my belief system is under attack!"<br />
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<b>Sorry to tell you, but any religious influence on the definition of Marriage Equality ended when states started accepting officiants ordained online as legally-approved officers of marriage ceremonies.</b> The church/synagogue/temple/mosque impact on what defines marriage got the boot a while ago. Marriage, as legally defined, is a contract. A legal contract that is fulfilled by checking off all the right boxes at the courthouse and paying a fee. <br />
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Again, I will reiterate, marriage as defined by your religious faith does not affect nor is effected by changing what is on that checklist or is accepted on the forms you fill out at the courthouse. Every religion has their own requirements for marriage and the Supreme Court is keeping their hands out of that honey pot. Continue to have your beautiful ceremonies steeped in tradition. They are truly beautiful. Truly.<br />
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<b>Marriage Equality is not an attack on anyone or anything...</b><br />
Marriage Equality is, simply put, legal empowerment. Unless you're going to engage in a same-sex marriage contract, this, literally, has nothing to do with you. It does not take anything from or contribute anything to the value of your marriage. Stop playing the victim. No one is telling you what to believe or feel. If you feel societal pressure to change your believes, take that back to your faith group. <br />
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<b>...other than States Rights.</b><br />
Now, this is argument to be had. But that's a story for another day.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-69400072010418533262015-06-17T10:30:00.001-07:002015-06-17T10:30:11.443-07:00Book Review: "Inferno" by Dan BrownThe fourth of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon fiction, <i>Inferno</i> follows Langdon on an adventure that takes him from Florence to Venice. However, this time, instead of just figuring out riddles left behind by a crazy scientist, Langdon must also put together the pieces of 36 hours of lost memory. Centering around the tales of Dante's epic poem <i>Inferno</i>, Langdon must once again save the world from impending doom.<br />
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My favorite part of this Langdon adventure is he doesn't immediately have all the answers. While loyalty and trust are always themes in Brown's novels, this one is unique in Langdon interacting with people he has no recollection meeting. His puzzle pieces consist primarily of what he's being told by those around him. The twist at the end is superb! <br />
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I still would not rank this one above <i>Angels and Demons</i> or <i>The Da Vinci Code</i>. However, it is a must read. Get it here:<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-55280102937656808192015-05-31T12:28:00.000-07:002015-05-31T12:28:28.866-07:007 Tips for Running a runDisney Race<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My goal this year was to run a race. A real, bonafide race. And since I love Disney so much, the choice was obvious. I recently completed the TinkerBell 10k at Disneyland and learned a thing or... seven along the way. Here are my 7 tips for running a <a href="http://www.rundisney.com/">runDisney</a> race.<br />
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<b>1. Hydrate</b><br />
I know, I know. You hear this from <i>everyone</i>, but seriously, nothing takes the magic out of the happiest place on earth like dehydration cramps, getting sick or much worse. Even if it's not hot out, you need to be properly hydrated. Start <i>daaays</i> before. Not the day before. Not two days before. You should become Flounder that week.<br />
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<b>2. Get into Character</b><br />
All those people dressed as princesses driving you nuts? Well, maybe you're too much of a curmudgeon for a Disney run. Find your inner child, drop the "too cool for school" act and make/buy a costume. Last minute, I put together my tutu from lightweight fabric and while not a full costume, I'm so glad I looked the part! Take this opportunity to be silly and fun. And trust me, if you don't go over the top, your costume won't affect your pace. Speaking of pace...<br />
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<b>3. Decide: Speed or Experience</b><br />
When developing your training plan, decide: <i>Are you running for speed or experience?</i> <a href="http://www.rundisney.com/">runDisney</a> races offer a lot - a killer course through the parks, entertainment, a unique experience. However, you can't PR and stop at every character to take a picture. Pick one or the other. Have a game plan.<br />
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<b>4. Arrive Early</b><br />
The parks are <i>loaded</i> with people. Give yourself plenty of time to park, walk to the pre-race celebration, use the restroom, stretch, and most importantly, get to your corral. The corrals are massive and the staff packs people in pretty tightly. Try to be at the front of your corral. <br />
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<b>5. Outside then Inside</b><br />
Start the race on the outside of the group, then work your way to the middle. The beginning of races are usually crowded and slow. My first mile was over 15 minutes because I couldn't break through the crowd. If you're running, stick to the outside for the first mile or so until the crowd thins out. You'll be able to pass the walkers more easily and keep your pace reasonable. Once you're in stride, move to the middle. Walkers will (hopefully) stick to the edges, but never to just the left or just the right, so for easier navigation, go right up the middle.<br />
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<b>6. Smile!</b><br />
Disney photographers are <i>everywhere</i>. Standing at a turn or mile marker. Sitting on the ground. Most of the time you won't see them until you see the flash go off - so let those endorphins take over and keep a smile on your face! ESPECIALLY at the finish line!<br />
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<b>7. Register Early</b><br />
Sold on doing a race? Register early. Sign up for <a href="http://www.rundisney.com/">runDisney</a> emails so you're the first to know when registration open. The TinkerBell 10k filled up in five days after registration opened. Gotta be quick!<br />
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<b>Have you run a race? What are your tips?</b><br />
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Have fun and good luck!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-33224247839135715382015-05-31T10:52:00.000-07:002015-05-31T10:52:24.096-07:00TinkerBell 10k - aka Wings Earned!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After sixteen weeks of training, race day week finally arrived. I made the short trip out to California from Arizona and was completely focused on my goal. I had set a personal goal of completing the 6.2 miles under one hour and fifteen minutes. That meant I had to run an eleven minute mile. I was determined to do it.<br />
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Two days before the race, I visited the runDisney Expo with my friend to pick up my race packet and explore. As to be expected, Disney has people moving down to a science. Picking up my packet was painless and getting through the expo easy. I couldn't believe the number of people there and the buzz. Everyone was legitimately excited to be there and run. Seriously... we're all crazy.<br />
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At the expo, I was fortunate to find the missing piece to my race day outfit, which is really what the expo was all about. I bought this incredibly appropriate shirt for my run.<br />
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<a href="http://rawthreads.com/fly-wings-streets-v/dp/1206">You can purchase it here</a>, along with many other Disney-themed run apparel (yes, there's Star Wars too!).<br />
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Before I knew it, race day was upon me. With my support crew in tow, we headed to Disneyland at 4:00 am. I was ready.<br />
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I won't give you the mile-by-mile summary but I will tell you, Disney doesn't lie. <i>Every mile was magical</i>. The race route was really well planned and there were characters/musicians/supporters at every turn. It was the most distracted 6.2 miles of my life. I've said it before and I'll say it again - the race was worth every penny.<br />
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And how did I do? See for yourself!<br />
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Not too shabby! Plus I looked cute and got an AMAZING medal!<br />
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I was so happy to complete my first runDisney race. In fact, I've already agreed to run the January Star Wars Half-Marathon with a friend! I can't wait!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-79838414789997347052015-05-02T18:03:00.000-07:002015-05-02T18:03:24.294-07:00Book Review :: "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain<i>The Paris Wife </i>by Paula McLain is a historical fiction about the marriage of Ernest and Hadley Hemingway. The story starts at their first encounter and ends their journey at their last parting. Told from Hadley's perspective, the reader gets to experience a classic, sweeping romance. The story is only that much more intriguing if you know how it ends from the beginning.<br />
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I can't remember the last time I couldn't put a book down like this. I was sneaking reads on my breaks and taking the book every where with me. Knowing that Hadley was Hemingway's <i>first</i> wife made the book all that more intriguing because I was constantly waiting for her breaking point. McLain did extensive research on the Hemingway's and it truly showed in her writing, which was colorful and engaging. <br />
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As a woman of my generation, I didn't necessarily find Hadley to be relatable but, simply, interesting. I found her thought process to be frustrating, though incredibly historically accurate. Being of an empowered generation, it is sometimes difficult to look back and relate to the behaviors and thoughts of women before me. However, I have a deep appreciation for that, despite her time, Hadley still stood up for herself and her happiness in the end. By the end of the novel, I found I had a great affection for her. Team Hadley!<br />
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I highly recommend this book. It's a great beach read AND a cozy by the fire book. Check it out:<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-36616976142354383332015-04-15T17:16:00.005-07:002015-04-15T17:16:54.353-07:00Earning My Wings :: Training Week 13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Week 13 was spent getting back on the horse, working out like a normal person and not a crazy person. <br />
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I went easy on my knees by doing elliptical and cycling workouts. I also spent more time toning and doing yoga to strengthen up those important muscle groups. <br />
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I know everyone is crazy about kettlebells these days. Don't get me wrong - I do enjoy them and see the virtue in them. However. Howeveeeer. Nothing is better than good ole dumbbells. I would encourage anyone who is looking to tone up fast to drop the kettlebells and work with dumbbells. I have found them to be, legitimately, the more effective tool.</div>
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That being said, after a great series of workouts, I took a little break in sunny San Diego for some relaxation. Not a single work out was completed and I'm okay with that.</div>
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My return to real life also brought on the beginning of <a href="http://toneitup.com/2015/04/bikiniseries/">Tone It Up's Bikini Series</a>. This is an annual 8 week moderate-to-intense training schedule to tone up your entire body. Training Week 14 will be full of more details... including a Before picture. Oh boy.<br />
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Until then... keep moving forward.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-34081178141188275202015-04-08T19:31:00.002-07:002015-04-08T19:31:33.128-07:00Earning My Wings :: Training Weeks 11 & 12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Leading into Week 11, I made an agreement with someone close to me. I'll do 5k a day running or 10k a day cycling for 14 days straight. The agreement was made to ramp up our fitness levels and while, due to circumstances beyond their control, they were unable to complete the challenge. I, however...was not able to either. <br />
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Why?<br />
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Allergies. Stupid springtime.<br />
<br />
So how far did I make it?<br />
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10 days. 10 workouts in a row doing either a 5k run/elliptical (have to give those knees a break) or 10k cycle. <br />
<br />
I'll be real. It was exhausting. I had to be sure to change my diet because I was burning so many calories and I was perpetually sore. But...my body felt great. I hit a 10:00 mile with great ease and now I really understand why cross training is so important. I've immediately noticed a change in how running feels. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, Arizona is heating up, which means the pollen is coming out to play. Ugh! On day 11, I couldn't walk outside without my eyes watering up and had to take allergies pills, which severely dehydrated me. Unfortunately, that put a temporary halt to my challenge and I've resumed regular workouts this week. I'm really glad I did it though!<br />
<br />
So what am I most proud of?<br />
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Until next week... keep moving forward!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-53149047380712137002015-03-26T12:48:00.000-07:002015-03-26T12:48:27.006-07:00Book Review :: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest HemingwayNow I understand.<br />
<br />
Now I understand why Ernest Hemingway is considered one of the great American authors. <br />
<br />
<i>The Sun Also Rises</i> is beautiful illustrative of the Lost Generation and the morality shifts of a post-World War I world. Though I still struggle with Hemingway's rambling prose, I enjoyed this allusion to key character points and use of bullfighting as a powerful symbol. Not going to lie, there were enough layers to this book that I had to pull up Sparknotes to make sure I didn't miss anything. <br />
<br />
Outside of being an awesome piece of literature, the story is entertaining. Who doesn't love a good love triangle and fist fight?! The main character Jake is wonderfully tragic and you truly do root for him. <br />
<br />
If you haven't read <i>The Sun Also Rises</i> yet, I highly recommend it. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-41967363648242445512015-03-25T07:35:00.005-07:002015-03-25T07:35:45.100-07:00Earning My Wings :: Training Weeks 9 & 10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
The past two weeks have flown by! <br />
<br />
My training in Week 9 was in preparation for my first 8k - ever! I was really intimidated by the distance and the heat. Arizona's "spring" is really an aggressive jolt into summer and the temperature was rising quickly. <br />
<br />
I went out to Glendale for the <a href="http://www.irishrunaz.com/">5th Annual Kiss Me I'm Irish Run</a>. I couldn't believe how many people were there! Over 2500 runners - all waiting to get their morning run done in exchange for free green beer. The route was diverse, though crowded. I had to take a few walking breaks but I powered through with a pace I was really proud of.<br />
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Completing this 8k has really built up my confidence for my 10k in a few weeks. The distance doesn't seem so scary anymore, although running in the heat does. I'm focusing on getting more runs outside done as the temperatures increase to condition myself to that environmental challenge.<br />
<br />
In Week 10, I focused on toning my body up. Lots of weight workouts and short distance runs. I'm trying to be cognizant of varying my workouts and keeping my body agile. <br />
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I also participated in a basketball shoot-out competition at work, during which I tanked in fashion. Doesn't matter how fit I am - I still suck at basketball.<br />
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So what am I most proud of?<br />
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Weeks 11 and 12 come with an interesting challenge. I'll probably double up that post intentionally as it will tell a complete story. Stay tuned... it's ridiculous...<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-91421988561527320042015-03-11T12:00:00.001-07:002015-03-11T12:00:05.614-07:00Earning My Wings :: Training Week 8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Well, I'm halfway there. <br />
<br />
The past week focused on resetting my eating habits and working out... a lot. I actually did two workouts a day. Crazy, right? The reason why may surprise my friends.<br />
<br />
I've always been a strong critic of crash diets, slim down plans, "get skinny quick" solutions though I have never actually tried one. So, deciding not to be a hypocrite and embrace the "Don't knock it until you've rocked it" philosophy, I planned to follow the Tone It Up 5 Day Slim Down. I chose this specific slim down because I trust Tone It Up and it seemed manageable.<br />
<br />
Last Sunday, I did all the prep work, took my measurements and my "Before" picture, and braced myself for the coming week. Honestly, it seemed really intimidating to completely change the way I eat for a week while adding in an extra workout every day (first thing in the morning).<br />
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Here's what I learned...<br />
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1. I really love working out in the morning. Sure, going to bed at 8:00 PM is difficult, but the benefits of working out first thing in the morning can't be disputed. I felt more energized, accomplished and after the first two days, it didn't seem optional. After only two days, it was part of my morning routine.<br />
2. Eating 5 small meals a day is incredibly manageable. A little bit of prep work goes a long way. I'm not talking about cooking all your food on Sunday night and filling up 8,000 tupperware containers. Really, all you need to do is make a meal plan for the week and get your grocery shopping done. Half the battle is knowing what you're going to eat first before hunger kicks in and you make poor decisions. Also helpful - having an alarm to remind you to eat. I programmed my Jawbone to buzz me when it was time to eat, but you can have your cell phone alert you just as easily.<br />
3. On the topic of food, you have to really love healthy food to get through a slim down menu. Like... <i>really</i> love veggies. Otherwise, you're going to suffer.<br />
4. Working out twice a day - not nearly as exhausting as you would think! By the time I was done with work, I was ready to run or do yoga. Something to shake out the rest of the day.<br />
5. Be very careful with these slim downs! Tone It Up's plan puts you in the position of a 1000 calorie a day DEFICIT, which is why they don't recommend doing them more than 3 times a year. By the time Thursday came around, I found that I was slightly impaired. My thought process was a little fuzzy and my reaction times were way off. Don't worry - I fixed that with a Snickers. I'm kidding, of course. I added more protein than recommended and had just a few carbs to rebalance. <br />
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So how did it end up? You tell me...<br />
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Definitely an impact. I didn't lose a significant amount of weight - which is fine by me. But I did tone up - losing about an inch off every measurement. Even better, my eating habits are back on track and I learned a ton about my body.<br />
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I'm happy to be back to my normal healthy eating (with some modifications due to lessons learned) and focusing on my running for an 8k on Saturday.<br />
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Until next week...<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-63629684945131616392015-03-03T18:34:00.002-08:002015-03-03T18:36:34.002-08:00Earning My Wings :: Training Week 7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I spent the majority of the past week at a conference for work. While my eating habits took a small detour (so much chocolate in those goodie bags), I am proud to say that I remembered to work out doing cardio and toning exercises every day. <br />
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Working out at the conference was rough though. Not because of the early hours or the soreness. The air quality. Unfortunately, the fitness center was on the second floor of the hotel, which was open to the attached casino. The second-hand smoke created quite a challenge while I was ramping up my heart rate on the cardio machines. I powered through but my muscles didn't feel so great afterwards. Oh well.<br />
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I was excited to hop back on an elliptical and rowing machine. I don't utilize my apartment's gym very often so it's been quite a while. What felt best was doing something other running or HIIT sessions. Shaking it up really gave me my groove back.<br />
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At this work conference, we received some amazing gifts, one of which being a <a href="https://jawbone.com/">Jawbone UP</a>. I never thought I would like having a fitness tracker.... and then I got one. Truly I'm in love. I like the way it tracks my activities and specifically how easy this one is to use. It also syncs well with other apps, like RunKeeper, to make tracking easier and less cumbersome.<br />
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If you have an UP, add me to your team via my Twitter handle jen_evans_.<br />
<br />
Going into this week, I decided to give Tone It Up's 5 Day Slim Down a try to get my nutrition back on track. You have to purchase their <a href="http://www.shoptoneitup.com/collections/nutrition-plan">Nutrition Plan</a> to get the details but essentially it creates quite a slice in calories, while upping your workout time and focusing on fuel (not feeding time). After three days of meetings with a goodie bag filled with candy, my body needed a non-detox detox. I'm not much for diets, but my body felt gross and felt like it needed a reboot. I'll let you know how it goes next week.<br />
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So what am I most proud of this week? I'm really proud of myself for completing my workouts despite being at a work conference, which is the adult excuse for being super lazy. Go me!<br />
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Catch you next week!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-56667613736717036612015-02-23T18:57:00.001-08:002015-02-23T18:57:14.217-08:00Earning My Wings :: Training Weeks 5 & 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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aaaaand...</div>
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Yup, I'm combining the two. Why? Because I got lazy again? Nope. <br />
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I simply forgot to blog last week. Work was insanely busy (for all good reasons) and the three day weekend, plus special events.... sigh. I just forgot.<br />
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That being said. In a nutshell, the past two weeks have been learning experiences for me. (Isn't every week?) I've started to more closely follow the <a href="http://toneitup.com/category/fitness/toneitup-weekly-schedule/">Tone It Up weekly fitness schedules</a>. I don't like having to think about what I need to do every day, so I let Katrina and Karena tell me what to do. I modify their workouts to fit my running schedule but find them to be an excellent cross-training complement.<br />
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The past two weeks ultimately have been focused on what I put into my body. One of my big goals for this year is to learn more about nutrition. I eat well, but admittedly, I'm pretty uneducated on complete and incomplete proteins, "healthy" fats, "good" sugars... whaaaaat? Aren't there just calories? Apparently not. <br />
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I did some light research on the internet and tapped into some trusted sources to learn about how to balance meals and the difference between was good and <i>better</i> for my body. Thankfully, I learned that my habits weren't too far off from "balanced" - I just had some firming up to do. <br />
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Now, let's be clear. That doesn't mean I'm a "health" nut. The empty box of Girl Scout cookies in my trash can proves otherwise. But I'm happy to start developing healthier habits.<br />
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One small discovery that I'm <i>very</i> late to the game on is infusing my water. I love the natural sweetness of fruits so why it took me so long to flavor my water with the simple techniques of infusing is really very silly. I found the perfect infuser bottles on Amazon that are the perfect size for grab-n-go. You can get them here:<br />
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I've been experimenting with different combinations. So far, strawberry/mint and raspberry/cucumber are my favorites.<br />
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During the past week, I've focused on not kidding myself during my workouts. This means truly working <i>hard</i>. None of this "Oh, I'm tired so I'll only do 2 sets instead of 3." Barring anything painful or dangerous, I've been honestly pushing myself. Pushing through the burn. Pushing through the crazy heartbeats. Pushing through the shaking. How did that work out for me? I'm sore. Very, very sore. But it hurts so gooooood. <br />
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All in all, it's been two weeks of running, toning and learning about nutrition. All good things. <br />
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Here's to looking forward....<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-86440036485829730722015-02-09T19:28:00.002-08:002015-02-09T19:28:10.687-08:00Earning My Wings :: Training Week 4... ish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, well, well. Fancy seeing you here again. Training Week 4... ish... is a mash of a few weeks together. As I referenced in my last posts, I started to experience some light knee pains.<br />
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Here's the deal....<br />
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I have weak ankles.<br />
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It felt silly writing that, but it's true. I have weak ankles, which, given my ill-fitting shoes, could not support my high arches while running, which strained my knees. Thankfully, I didn't tear or pull anything and stuck to doctor's orders by taking two weeks off. I also went to a small local running store and got properly fitted for running shoes. <br />
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Armed with new kicks and a little bit of fear, I hit the pavement again. I've also started following Tone It Up's workout plans. Not faithfully - I tend to mix and match them, but I find them to be wonderfully complementary to my running. Yoga and low-impact toning have kept me in shape in my downtime.<br />
<br />Thank goodness.... because yesterday, I ran a 5k... in record time too.<br />
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So unfortunately, this post is a culmination of a few weeks and I don't have day to day workout to share. However, I really loved <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLVlq0mxTKk&list=PLcXEFJAzmzktSGEPNg3qVJucbcPL7JFfk&index=1">Tone It Up's KettleToning</a> workout for today. I don't have kettlebells, so I did the full routine with dumbbells, but beware! This will kick your butt!<br />
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So what am I proud of this week?<br />
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Check in with you all next week!<br />
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To follow my every day adventures, follow me on Instagram @jen_evans_<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-70698109276614696272015-02-08T16:39:00.002-08:002015-02-08T16:39:45.689-08:00Book Review :: A Farewell to Arms by Ernest HemingwayAs much as I would like to give a properly analysis to this American classic, my reaction can be summed up best by this scene from <i>Silver Linings Playbook</i>. *Spoiler Alert: He gives away the ending.*<br />
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Hemingway's writing style was new and different for me. My mind took a while to adjust to the cadence and context of conversations versus thoughts. One minute you're in Henry's mind. The next you're reading dialogue - without the punctuation. It was odd, but by mid-book I really enjoyed it.<br />
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I'm making my way on to <i>The Sun Also Rises</i>, which I've heard is a completely different feel. We'll see if I want to throw that book out the window as well.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-79600155768897232382015-02-04T06:33:00.002-08:002015-02-04T06:33:34.755-08:00Believe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-10757979210162762912015-01-28T06:50:00.001-08:002015-01-28T06:50:53.116-08:00Take Chance...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-18299401704213983612015-01-22T19:30:00.004-08:002015-01-22T19:30:57.400-08:00The Perception of Age in History (Or History is Full of Lies)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My brother sent me an article yesterday to which he expressed blew his mind. The moment I saw the title, I had to laugh to myself. <br />
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The article <a href="http://allthingsliberty.com/2013/08/ages-of-revolution-how-old-1776/">Ages of Revolution: How old were they on July 4, 1776?</a> addresses the idea that the majority perceive the Founding Fathers to be...well, that. Fathers. Older, wise, patriarchal, philosophical, experienced men. However, the "united States of America" was actually founded by fairly young men, by today's standards. Taking into account the life expectancy of the time, most of them were middle-aged - barring Ben Franklin. Dude lived forever. <br />
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Speaking of good ol' Ben Franklin, during one of my American Revolution classes in college, my professor did her own mind blowing along the same lines of this article. Take a look a the picture above. Chances are you're familiar with it. It can be found in almost every American History textbook on the planet. This is the moment when Ben Franklin, with his son William, took a kite out in a storm and discovered electricity. So nice to see a younger Ben performing cool science experiments with his young son in tow. Right?<br />
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Wrong. <br />
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Before I blow your mind, take a moment to look at that picture again. Look closely. <br />
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Franklin's kite flying experiment occurred in 1752. <br />
Ben was born in 1706. <br />
William was born in 1731. <br />
That would make them 46 and 21 respectively. <br />
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William was 21 at the time of that image.<br />
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I'll be honest... I thought he was about 12 years old. Nope. William was legally allowed to drink in today's world and was a mere 11 years away from being the Governor of New Jersey. <br />
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*Additional fun fact, William was a Loyalist and openly opposed his father during the American Revolution, which they did not recover from until a few years before Ben's death in 1790. <br />
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So what's the point? History lies. Men are glorified and vilified based on who owns the story. Age, maturity and courage are all projections of our own perception. The next time you read a story about one of the Founding Fathers, examine them as just men, not demi-gods, and it may reshape the way you see history.<br />
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I mean really, aside from not being old, they also were not altruistic and revolting for the "all men's rights". They were selfish, self-serving, young men, but that's a rant for another day...<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6738919185834395559.post-42301910521655780412015-01-21T08:06:00.001-08:002015-01-21T08:06:27.321-08:00Just do it!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17215189773879498968noreply@blogger.com0