How To... + A Disclaimer

How To... posts are tricky. If your not an expert, should you write a How To... post?

Well, I've had a few people ask me what my tricks are to getting up early to go to the gym. 

Now, I'm no fitness expert and I don't have the body to prove it, but if there is one thing I am consistent at, its my workouts. So, if you like working out in the morning, but struggle getting out of bed and to the gym-I hope this helps.

I wrote a very similar post back in October...when I had barely been doing this for a month. A lot of the ideas are similar, but my perspective has changed and I do some things differently.

1. Make sure that your alarm clock is out of reach, preferably far enough away that you have to get up and out of bed to turn it off. I use my iPhone as my alarm and have titled my morning wake-up call "Get Skinny." Having to get out of bed and see that is hard to say no to.

2. Have your gym clothes in a convenient location, all ready to go. Part of my nightly routine consists of gathering my gym clothes and putting them to the bathroom-because the second my alarm goes of I head there. For me, getting dressed and ready to go is the hardest part, so I do that ASAP.
3. Start your car. After I get dressed I run out and get my car started. This is especially beneficial in the winter months because your car can defrost and warm up. This also puts me on a time table to finish getting ready and get out the door. I don't want to waste gas!

3. Eat and/or drink something. This helps give you energy for your workout and helps you to finish completely waking up. I usually eat an apple or banana and my preworkout N.O.Xplode.
4. If you can, have a buddy to go with you. Last semester I went alone because my husband had to be in class at 6:30. This semester he has been going with me, and it has made a world of difference!
5. Put your brain in zombie mode. It is easy to talk yourself out of going. On those mornings where I'm struggling to get motivated, I try my best to turn off my brain. I try not to think about why I don't  want to go or how much I want to get back into bed. I fall back on my routine and hope that it can get me there. The first few weeks will be hard- leave yourself notes in places you'll see them as you're getting ready reminding you why you are up at such an ungodly hour.
6. Go to bed early. During the week, my husband and I strive to be in bed by 9:30 at the latest. It seems super early, but that's only 7.5 hours of sleep. I also look at it this way- if you're getting up earlier, you're getting more time out of your day. You'll be more productive and be able to go to bed earlier. 

So, there you have it...happy early mornings!

"Motivation gets you started, habit keeps you going."

Media Management

Well, my Media Management Unit in Family Foundations has come to a close. I thought you might be interested in the final result. I am proud to say that I have not logged into Facebook since October 26. I'm not particularly proud of the rest of the results, but I will definitely learn from them. Here is the finally tally of my media use in the last two weeks:

So...In the last two weeks I spent 42.1 hours watching TV or movies. That's a part-time job. Yikes. The thing is, 12.1 hours of TV is about 52 minutes a day- which equals one episode of a TV show. In the last two weeks I watched 8 movies. To me, that doesn't seem like an insane or unreasonable amount, but when you look at the actual number of hours it seems a whole lot worse. 42.1 hours is 8% of 14 days. Now I see that there is no excuse for me not to go to the gym, not go to the temple, not read my scriptures, not write in my journal...etc.

I also wanted to include a few quotes from my paper I submitted. I will keep it short so I don't lose you. :)

"I was the most surprised with how much I didn’t miss Facebook. Its amazing how something that was a part of my daily life really didn’t matter. I didn’t feel disconnected from my friends or family. I wasn’t dying to know what was going on in random "friends" lives. I was more productive and on my computer a lot less. I also found that I would be inclined to want to check my Facebook at school, usually during class. What a waste. I’m paying to be here and to get an education; no class is too boring or seemingly “unimportant” that Facebook should take precedence."

In closing...

"I plan to continue monitoring and minimizing unnecessary media use. I have too many things I want to do and more important things to do with my time. I have things I want to accomplish in my life; sitting on the couch fulfills none of them. I think if I can continue to improve, this “plan” will help me be better in all aspects of my life. I will get more done- helping me to achieve more goals. I will have real relationships that will develop and grow; relationships that exist and thrive on real communication, not cyber communication....I won’t be too caught up in that show or the “he said, she said” that goes on in the Facebook world."


OK, maybe not as short as I originally thought....I have a lot to say, I guess. Now, get off your computer and go read a book or something. :)

::Nineteen:A Year in Review ::

Nineteen. Its been a great year for me....for obvious reasons and not-so-obvious reasons. Here's a recap of my year in photos. 

November 2010: I turn 19 and participate in my first collegiate musical. 

"The Spitfire Grill"

I also go on my first date with my future husband on November 13.

...which ended in a grass fight.

We become an official couple on Nov. 21

December 2010: Chris and I continue dating & say "I love you." I spent Christmas at home with my family.

Before Chris left for N.Carolina for Christmas we went on an amazing date to Temple Square and we ate at the Garden

A screen shot of our Christmas Skype conversation

January 2011: I travel to St. George and perform in Spelling Bee at the Utah Theater Association Conference. Chris and I are engaged January 30th

February 2011: Spelling Bee performs at Westminster. Chris' mom and sister come and I meet them for the first time.

March 2011: Spring Break! I spend it wedding planning, including dress shopping.

Looking at the different styles with my future sister-in-law

Dress #6...skeptical about the slimmer fit as opposed to a fuller (ball gown) fit.

The veil wins me over

My Dress Finding Crew

April 2011: Chris and I finally reside in the same state. :) We take engagement photos and prepare to move to South Carolina for our internship at Plantation Resort in Myrtle Beach. I finish up my last semester at Westminster College.

The Pie is our favorite place to eat.

May 2011: We make the move to South Carolina and begin working. I live at the resort and Chris lives with his Aunt & Uncle.

All the Interns got a free surf lesson

Relaxing in my condo

Friends who lived behind our condo

June 2011: Chris and I work hard and play hard.

Our favorite place to eat: the best Wendy's on the planet. Its clean, they play old music and there are fresh flowers on every table.

We got in free to the aquarium

July 2011:  We take our beach bridal photos. I get a parasite in my ear (I'll spare you the photo) and experience the worst ear infection ever. Our last day of work is July 14. We spend a week in Fayetteville NC and then return home to Utah.

August 2011: I have 4 bridal showers in 3 days. Chris turns 23 and I take out my endowment on his birthday. We are married on 8/12/11 at 10:20am and it is the most perfect day. We spend 2 weeks on our honeymoon.

No editing has been done to any of these photos

September 2011: We move into our first apartment. I start my first semester of school. I love BYU-I and the special spirit that is here.

October 2011: We make a spontaneous trip to Utah for a weekend. We get our pell grants. Chris decides to apply to the paramedic program and I decide to go into Social Work (with the intent of doing marriage & family therapy).

We like to eat at Pizza Pie Cafe.

November 2011: I turn 20. I love married life and my life here in Rexburg. I have started a new blog, started exercising again, and have begun to learn to cook.
Looking back....I am a million miles away from where I would have thought I'd be a year ago. However, I am so happy and so blessed and wouldn't have changed a thing in the last year.

Birthday Flowers Mom & Dad had delivered.

Pasta dinner with my sweetheart

Ice Cream Cake from Coldstone

Here's to a happy 2012 & age 20!