New Year New Goals, or Not

I know what you're thinking, I am posting this nearly a month late, LOL
You are right!
Truth is, I wrote this in December, and just realized yesterday that I hadn't posted it.... So better late than never since I took the time to write it originally, right!

So if you've read my blog through the years you already know I don't set New Years Resolutions because only 8% of people actually keep a resolution and I figured why put myself into the possible 92% failure rate.

Instead, I always have ongoing goals, most I don't bring up on the blog much. However, with a new year beginning it's always nice to reflect on those and share a few you may not know about.

LISTENING

Last year, I had a goal to work on becoming a better listener. I made a conscious effort to do this, can't say I have mastered it. But I am significantly better than I was. This is something I am going to continue to work on. It's a good personal growth thing that can only better myself by improving upon, so why not!

READING

This year I am going to set a goal to read 30 novels. I know for myself this is a small number. But with college it might actually be a tough number to hit, as most my reading time is done while I am doing my laundry, LOL

RUNNING

I won't get into specifics, but now that I am finally healed from the work injury, the past few months I've been working on convincing my parents to travel with me and possibly begin knocking off a few more states on my 50-state and D.C. marathon goal. I've got 19 left. They are up for it, so it may just happen.
Why do the parents need to come? To be honest, I'm on a tight budget so if they come it will cost me only the race entry, LOL I am terrible I know! But on the plus side, my parents love to travel lots so this is a win-win for all of us!

Additionally, I'm going to register for at least one more marathon this year. It's not much, but like I said, I'm on a budget so it may be all I can afford!  I hate living on a budget, but the less debt if any I can go into while I finish school the better and smarter of me!

HIKING

I have a bucket list of items in the Southern Utah and Northern Arizona as well as a few in the Nevada and Southern California area's that I'd like to do while I am living here. So I will keep on doing them while I am getting in shape and working on incline hiking to get reading for R2R2R at the Grand Canyon in late spring!

COLLEGE

Okay, I won't beat myself up about it if I don't. But I'm going to work hard and see if I can't pull off more straight A's and who knows maybe attempt another 4.0 Spring Semester too?
That might be a little too presumptuous, especially now that I am actually into the classes but hey why not shoot high, right!

BLOGGING

1 I've been thinking and working on some plans the past few months. Blogging 3-4 times a week is no longer an option for me. I could do it if I stopped visiting my favorite bloggers, but that isn't going to happen I'd miss them too much. I already miss a lot only going onto blogs 1-2 days a week.

2 Back in October, I set a goal to work on getting my Twitter following over 10K and I also determined I wanted to get my Instagram following up around 5K. I have no set date, but I'm hoping I can get the Twitter goal by March since I am much closer to that one.
These are the two forms of social media I use for my blog the most and the ones I am the most active on, so logically they are the most beneficial to grow.

3 I really want to pick up my Travel Tuesday series again, I have so many saved up to showcase, I just need time to finish putting them all together.  Plus this one seems to be the favorite of most of my readers, I always get 10X's the page views on them versus my other posts.

I'm likely switching my Me Monday's to the In the Life of a Returned College student on a more permanent basis.

I'm also going to start sharing some of my thesis research with you, at least the parts that may apply to those of you interested in the influencer jobs within blogging.

Additionally, I have so many fitness and recreation posts I half created with my class assignments last semester, I hope to get them finished and start putting them out, I think many of my readers will enjoy them and find them beneficial.

4 I'm still working on my schedule to see if I will have time to host some Giveaway Hops and Grow Your Blog Hops later this year.

5 Link-ups, I have a hard time with this as I absolutely love to participate in them and I have some amazing blogger friends who host some great ones. But I am not one who just links up to link up, link-ups have a purpose and that is to grow or get to know others and share the views and comments. If I don't have time to visit at least 3 blogs and the hosts in the hop I don't link up, mostly just on my own principles, LOL

I hope to link up with some throughout the year, but mostly I will probably stick to my own posts and things until Summer when I will have a bit more time on my hands to link up! So if any of you are wondering why I haven't or don't link up much anymore, trust me it's not because I don't want to, I just haven't had the time to fully participate!

DIGITAL DESIGN

If you don't know one of the (let's call it a double near triple major) I am working on right now is one in Digital Design. I'm still in the learning process, but I am starting to get the hang of it and I am taking another two advanced classes right now and my skills are improving!

When my skill level and confidence has moved up a level, I plan on selling my new design talent. That may sound funny, but I will be needing to begin my portfolio and plan on selling my skills to design logo's, blog headers and digital ads at a much cheaper price than most do just so I can get use them to build me up so by the time I graduate I've got a lot of work to show for it as well.

So later this year if you have things you'd like for your blog or business, definitely consider me! I'll have to showcase my work and stuff more often so you can watch my skill level and design personality grow.

In fact, I'll show you one right now. This is the design project I did for one of my class finals last semester.
We were required to create an effective magazine full page spread ad and I was given the Environmental theme. I got 200/200 and not to toot my horn but it was one of the better ones in class and I am probably the most behind on learning how to use Photoshop, Illustrator and In Design. Hopefully, it's a good sign of things to come, LOL

So that's it, I have many more but if you've actually read this whole post then you are probably already thinking enough is enough, LOL.

A Reflection

This year has been an incredible year full of firsts, mending, and great adventures.
I thought I'd write a post to share a bit of a reflection on some of the highlights of this year.

GOING BACK TO SCHOOL
This was a huge thing for me to quit my jobs and put the company I own on hold to go back and finish my goal and finally get my degree.

I am only one semester done, but I worked hard and stuck with it. So much so that I pulled off straight A's and have a 4.0. I know, crazy! I'm still shocked I was able to pull that off! I am really enjoying the experience and I am actually learning quite a bit too, go figure, LOL
I am so much so enjoying my 3-week break right now, but I am also looking forward to a couple of weeks when my next semester begins!

BLOGGING NOT SO MUCH
So years ago (2011), yes I have had this blog for longer than some stick with blogging. I set a goal to always post at least once a week, and try to mostly maintain a 2-3 post a week schedule.
I have for the most part kept to that since 2012, well that was until this year.
Blogging had to take a back burner, and even though it was hard at times (like an addiction) I had to force myself to work on other priorities than the blog itself.

However, I thankfully have not let it go. I still actually live (well eat) off the income my blog and social media accounts provide me with. Yup, that is how I am paying for my meals these days, LOL
I've seen many great blogging friends come and go through the years. Sadly more go than keep it up. It always saddens me when bloggers have to leave entirely especially when I have enjoyed their blogs so much. But I get it, life should always come first.
I am not ready to let this blog go, while you may see less of me, I am going to continue to figure out ways to keep it up!

FINALLY HEALED
Anyone who's read my blog over the (almost) past four years may know a little of what I have been going through. With the tendon injuries I acquired from a work injury back in January 2013. It's been years of mending and recovery, physical therapy, setbacks, flare-ups and other injuries because of the injured tendons. I won't go into more details on that, but I am happy to announce it appears I have nearly 100% recovered from this work injury!
What did it?
Changing my lifestyle entirely, my routines pretty much everything when I quit my jobs, moved away and went back to school that is what healed me.
It may sound funny, but it's true that is actually what did it, what helped me finish healing and the reason I am able to get back to being so active and running and enjoying an adventurous lifestyle again!
For that I will always be thankful for the idea to go back to school and change my lifestyle entirely, it fixed what no amount of doctors or PT could!

READING
I set a Goodreads goal to read 52 novels this year. Earlier this year I was way ahead of schedule and I love to read so I was sure I'd hit it and then some.
Yeah, not so much. I will probably finish a couple books shy of my goal. I'm halfway through book 49 right now.
But I've read over 18,000 pages this year, and that is in part to many of the books being heck of long, LOL So I won't hit the 52 book goal, but pagewise I well outdid even last years pages.

ADVENTURE
Last spring my sister and I set out on a fun adventure to hike so many of the trails that we haven't done that were only 20-30 minutes from our front doors. While we didn't do as many as we would have liked, (she got pregnant, LOL) We did do many and had a lot of fun seeing the different trails along the Wasatch Mountains.
I also summited Butterfield Peak this year, that was something I have wanted to do for a while, heck of a climb and I did it sick too, LOL
I continued with those adventures when I moved south, I have thoroughly enjoyed hiking and getting out and enjoying the desert again.

RUNNING
Well, I only ran 1 race this year and it 5k that I decided to do last minute, so I don't really count it as getting back into racing since distance running is more my thing. But it was fun to be in a race again even if I did only run it for fun not to race.

I had to pull out of the fall marathon I entered because I wasn't trained well enough for it, I volunteered instead. I learned volunteers are awesome and there is a big difference between a participant and a volunteer and rarely they are mixed much. Most volunteers have zero desire to run and think runners are inspiring but insane.  I'm not much of a volunteer, I'm a participant and there is nothing wrong with that!

However, I did build up a great base as I've been getting back into it. I've really enjoyed running new trails and places in the new area I live.

What this year has taught me is this. I don't have to run a race to enjoy running. I don't have to get a medal to feel accomplishment and success. Those things can be great, but when you run purely because you just love it and your goals are subject to whatever mood your in that day when you put on the shoes and head out the door. There is almost even more gratification than any pronounced finish line can give me.
I will eventually get back to marathons, don't get me wrong I absolutely love the thrill of them. But until then I am thankful for this opportunity to learn and get to know myself better, to train just to train for fun, to run any distance I want because I want to, not because I have to. It's been interesting and I'm glad I had to experience this!

Well, I've had a fantastic year, and I've only shared 6 of the subjects with you. I can tell you this, I cannot wait for 2017, it's going to be epic in so many ways both little and big!


What is your favorite memory or reflection of 2016?

My Least Favorite Time Of The Year

Hope everyone had a fabulous past week, and weekend!  Did anyone watch the U.S. Olympic Trials? Wasn't it an awesome race!!

Totally have to shout out to the Utah runners in the men's who took 3rd, 4th and 8th. We also had three women from Utah running as well, who did quite amazing too.

I pretty much guessed the first two spots in the men's race, by mile 15 and I guessed the women's top three correctly sooner around mile 8. I like to be right, but the great thing about the marathon is its a race that can always bring the unexpected. Truthfully, that is the best part about the distance!


This week I became active again, with both PT and aerobic and it was hard. My back pains are not being kind, not having cartilage to cushion my movements is tough. But I am, getting it used to movement again. Learning what I can and can't to.

I'd be lying if I said it isn't driving me crazy.
I can right now only run about 1/2 mile before the pain kicks in. Walking hurts worse than running, which I guess is good. I'd rather just run anyway. But right now I am getting back into shape, so walking is inevitable.
I'll get through it, I am just going through the part where my body has to learn the type of pain I may have the rest of my life and its a process.

Since I am only running such short distance, it's easy to just use the good ol' treadmill.

This is the last time I will talk about my back pain for a while I promise, I don't like sounding like a broken record. So until I've made great progress or figured things out, I'll quit chatting about it.

On the plus side, I am going to start a more aggressive diet of natural foods with anti-inflammatory in them, I don't know if it will really help. But it's definitely worth trying!  Good news is, aside from fish, I like most all other foods that have them in it.

DO YOU TEXT TOO MUCH TOO?

My sisters and I realized just how much we text, and how we may actually be able to outdo even teenagers.
One night, one of my sisters left to change her babies diaper and when she came back all she could say was.
"52 texts people, 52..." "I was only gone a few minutes, 52 people....."
LOL

It wasn't until after I went to bed that night and looked back, between 10pm and 1am, we had sent/received over 800 texts.
Yup, apparently we have a problem, but a good  one since we are having fun!

I did chill with my sister and my niece and nephew one day. Helped her hold things while she painted and created her cute Ladybug Valentines box.
Then we relaxed the night away in the hot tub.

When I left that night, we'd been in a long time I was hot, and my dry clothes got wet. So just climbed in the my car in a towel and as I was driving home I realized I was the only one in 28 degree weather driving in a swimsuit, LOL I got a funny look at one of the lights I stopped at. Ha ha.

MY LEAST FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR

This is my least favorite time of the year.  Normally, I love living in Utah, and believe it's one of the most beautiful states, except for a few weeks in the winter, like now.

In Utah especially down in the valleys, we have this thing that happens in the winter called an Inversion.
In short, it's when cold air gets trapped beneath warm air and it becomes gross, very yucky air to breath. In other words, all the pollutants get trapped down in the air we breath.

I hear different stories of how bad it is, some say walking out in it for a few minutes is the equivalent of smoking a cigarette.
It gets hard to breath at times, and its very unsafe to workout outdoors.

I know a few still do it, but you can seriously cause health problems if your out breathing it too long so most of us are smart and stay indoors or go up in the mountains away from it and into the fresh air to work out.

I personally don't need anyone telling me how bad it is. I can see how bad it is.
See the above picture I took last week with the mountains?  Right below it is the exact same picture, and where are the mountains? Hidden by the hazy inversion air, that is where.

No it wasn't a cloudy day. In fact just the opposite , despite how it looks. It was a completely clear, not a cloud in the sky day.
I consider myself slightly more lucky, I live on the higher end of the valley, than those who live lower down in the worst part of it.

We actually need a big storm or some good winds to come through, until it does we are stuck with yuck air. It warmed up a little Sunday we got a little rain, so it might help it a little for a day or two, but the yucky air will be trapped in again until a big storm comes through. Yucky huh!

Had lunch with a good friend, it's always great to sit around and have some fun girl chat. As I was driving to her house, I noticed her neighbor, they designed the UP house to live in from Disney's movie Up. Too funny. It's cute though, kinda! It would be cuter if there wasn't an inversion going on. Believe it or not behind the house are gorgeous huge mountains, which obviously can't be seen.

This week I got a little reading in, not quite as much as the past few weeks. Thanks to being able to get out a bit more and begin getting active again.
I read Bloodlines by Richelle Mead which I guess she's famous for Vampire Academy (which I have not read.) But I actually really liked this book.
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini was one of those books that hooked me at the beginning, almost lost me in the middle, but made me glad I kept reading because it brought me back by the end that I couldn't wait to read what happens next.

So well, that is a few little bits of my past week.

I am linking up with HoHo Runs and MissSippiPiddlin today for their Weekly Wrap!

Tell me something you did last week? 
Do you text way too much at times too?
Or do you have neighbors who build crazy fun homes based on Disney movies too?

The Hills are Alive With The Sound of Music

This past week was full of great times and fun adventures. I'll give you a little run down, in no particular order.

Wildflowers
It was the Wildflower festival that one of the ski resorts in the canyon I was hiking in was having. I had no idea, so this was a pleasant surprise!  All the mountain meadows were just covered in several pinks, yellows, oranges, purples, whites, reds and more.  I could have just walked through these meadows or sat and relaxed and enjoyed the view all day!




Hiking
I did get out and do some light hiking.  I mentioned earlier this spring that I was going to tackle some of the hikes that start within 20-30 minutes of my front door.  (There are over 80 and I haven't even done a 1/4th of them.)
So I did get out on another one of them Saturday morning.
I felt bad though, I went hiking with an friend of mine, and she ended up getting altitude sickness. Poor girl she started getting it nearly from the beginning. We were up around 8,300-10,000 feet and even if you live in Utah it can still happen to some.  I haven't experienced it myself, I seem to acclimate well everywhere.  But I felt really bad when she started throwing up.  It did cut our hiking day short, but not before we did get out and see some beautiful things.

I have been in this canyon before, but never on this trail.  I can't believe I have lived so close to this view most my life and this is the first time I have hiked here.  Stunning isn't it!

Some girls in front of my friend and I hiking started playing
The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Music so of course I joined in and sang.
I have to say, this view totally fits that don't you think of end of the Sound of Music too?

Cannibal and Lagoon 
It's a new very FUN roller coaster that just opened.  I have been watching it being built for a year.  So of course my sisters and I had to go try it out.
* It has the steepest drop of any roller coaster in the entire US, and the 4th steepest in the world.
* Holds the current World Record for the tallest beyond vertical drop on a roller coaster.
You go up a 208 foot completely dark elevator, that opens up, and It has a 116 degree vertical drop. So ya, you not only do a vertical almost 200 feet drop in the first decent, but it's inverted so your upside down for the drop. So awesome!

That's only the first inversion, I lost count but I think there were 3 or 4 more along the rest of the way.
It lasted 2 minutes 30 seconds, and I enjoyed each one of them.  I look forward to riding it again, but when it becomes less popular and the lines get shorter, LOL
If you live in Utah, or are visiting it's totally worth it, it's a great time for roller coaster lovers like me!

Sharknado 3
LOL Did you watch it? What can I say about that, totally loved it, so fun!! I mean they really out did themselves on dumb horror comedy and I loved their choice of picks for Pres and V.P, LOL awesome! Bring on #4!!!

Another view from my hike.

Tour De France
If you don't know I am a HUGE fan, I try to watch each stage every year.  I was rooting for the American TJ Van Garderen, but I was totally bummed when he dropped out Wednesday. I really wanted him in the top 3.
Truthfully, I love watching the Alps stages, so gorgeous!  Never wanted to visit France until I saw all the pictures of the Alps a few years back, and now if I ever make it there, skip the cities, leave Paris for the other tourists, I just want those mountains!

Wedding
Got through a small indoor wedding this week, put it together in less than 24 hours.  It turned out beautifully, the bride was very happy!  I don't normally do that.  But I am getting better and better at rush jobs!
One funny though, I've been telling clients lately that I just passed 6 years in business. But I just looked back at my original business license, come November I will hit my 8 year mark. Wow, that is what happens when you work a job you love, you don't even notice almost 2 extra years go by, LOL LOL LOL

View from my hike

Books Read
I actually read a couple this week.  Normally I just read on Sunday afternoons, but I had a few extra hours to relax with during the wedding Tuesday and then Friday was a state Holiday, and I relaxed in the afternoon and read a book before the fireworks.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard - Must say I couldn't put it down, I haven't enjoyed a book this much since the Selection series.  For my YA reader friends, this is one you definitely want to put on your list to read!
Cuckoo Song, by Francis Hardinge.  Strange, but sometimes I like something different and weird to read!
I plan to get back to book reviews on Wednesdays, but when life slows down a little.  Maybe this fall!
I also read one called Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson which has been on my reading list for years, loved the twist even I wasn't fully expecting!

Water Park Fun
Visited a water park again this week with 5 of my nieces and nephews!  Rains came that cut it short, but it was still fun!  Let's just say it was probably more fun for the kids, but I love playing with them so its fun for me too!

Running
I haven't been able to run for 3 weeks.  I beyond discouraged about it. Three weeks ago I did something that aggravated my tendon and yet another flare up.  Truthfully, it's so discouraging I annoy myself talking about it, so I won't say more on my feelings on it.  But I have put the boot back on during times of rest to help with the healing, it has been working.  But I am not sure if I will be able to begin running again this week or not, I will see how things feel come tomorrow.  I have a Plan A, B & C....  But plan C, will have to get Dr. approval, since it's not exactly the most sane of options...

The lake I hiked up to.

What was the highlight of your week?  Anyone been on any fun vacations?
Have you read any great books this summer?

Famous Last Words

Famous Last Words by Katie Alender is one of those books I was browsing the libraries new arrival shelf and the synopsis caught my attention so I took it home to read.

Really glad I did, this is one of those mysteries that is a super fast and easy read.  Literally, I got through it in a few hours.  I think because it was such a quick read, and kept my attention throughout was the reason I enjoyed it as much as I did.

Willa thinks she is going crazy because she has started seeing things.  She recently moved with her mom to Hollywood.  Into none other than a huge Hollywood mansion owned by her now movie producer stepfather.  She's been enrolled in a bit to high class school for her tastes.  Where everyone is judged based on who their parents are, how much money they have and how famous they may be.

But Willa is somewhat okay with all of that, especially since it is making her mom happy.  It's the fact that she has started seeing dead bodies that has her worried.  Dead bodies in her swimming pool and a force that tries to drowned her, messages on her walls that only she can see.  Reflections and sounds that only she seems to hear.

If that isn't enough, there is a Hollywood killer on the loose.  The killer is stalking his young pretty celebrity victims in Los Angeles and using their deaths to reenact famous movie murder scenes.
All of it has Willa a little unnerved and she can't help but want to investigate it more.

Throw in the totally handsome Reed, who is her stepfathers assistant.  Wyatt who is smart but kind of a outcast with a bit of an obsession with the Hollywood Killer himself.  And you've got yourself a fun, Hollywood mystery to unfold.

I really enjoyed this book, and like I said above I think it was because it was such a fast read!  The perfect read for an afternoon that you have a few hours to spare.
A fun plot, that isn't completely ridiculous and interesting yet suspicious characters.  This is one read I recommend!  It would even be a fun beach or poolside read:)
It's actually quite a clean read too, you don't have to worry about the content, even for young adults to read.  Overall, I give it a thumbs up to add to your reading list!

Reading, writing and blog changes

Hope everyone had a great weekend and past week!  I want to give you a few quick updates, and then let you in on some changes that you'll be seeing on my blog in the coming months.
But first I have to share this quote I found yesterday that I really love!

WRITING

I don't know if I have told you before, but I belong to a national writers group, that has local chapters where we meet once a month.  I miss a lot of them because weddings and work take a priority.  But when I can make them, I enjoy them.  This week we kind of had a "social and pot-luck."   I realized I am really lucky to be surrounded by so many great women both published and others who have a great chance at it one day.
I really need to spend a little more time each week working on my own new book, than I currently do.  So I am setting a goal for myself for to work on between now and mid August.  The goal is to get at least 25,000 words written in the current book I am working on:)

READING

This past week, because of the hip flexor injury I have really been unable to do anything.  I rested more than I likely even needed to because I am adamant about having this thing healed in a week or two at the most:) (Positive thinking:)  Not only that but I didn't have any weddings, and I purposely didn't schedule any other work so I could heal.
So what does a girl do when she can't do really much of anything else?  Read, and I read a lot.

However, I do need to admit, one of these books I started the week prior.  I have way too many books on my reading list, and I am never going to find the time to get to them unless I am multi-tasking:)  So I figured why not try to listen/read and run/walk:)

Some of these books I won't be doing book reviews on, but I enjoyed them all so I thought I would mention them.

Crewel & The Winter Witch were the ones I listened to via audio on my player as I went walking and running over the past two weeks.  Crewel was by far my favorite of the two.
The Rebel Princess by Janice Sperry, it's a little younger book than I normally read.  But the author actually used to be one of my baby sitters when I was a kid so I had to check it out.  Its quite a cute story, but I think ages 10-16 would probably be the best fit for this book!  It's full of lots and lots of fairytale/princess adventure!
Sleep No More, well if you know me and read my past book reviews you know I love Aprilynne Pike and her Wings series is one of my all time favorites.  However, this new one totally Wow'd me.  I will definitely be doing a book review on this one!



BLOG CHANGES COMING

I have been contemplating for some time now to change my blog a little and how I do things, what I blog about etc...  The past year as I have been building my blog up from something more than just race re-caps. (Yes for the first two years I blogged, pretty much the only thing you saw were race recaps or wedding picture posts.)
The past year and a half, I have been doing a lot of things on a trial basis, see what works, see what doesn't and try new things.
Usually every three months I mix a few things up a little, and switch things around.  Keeping what people seem to enjoy reading, and cutting down or out what doesn't seem to be working.

I actually plan things out for my blog, I know that probably sounds weird but I do.  July you'll notice things being for the most part as they have been.  However, come August you will start to see some changes.

Things that will be staying; Monday's where I share a little about my life.  Travel and adventure Tuesdays have been really popular and I love doing them, so they are staying.
Giveaway hops will continue but I will be going back to how I used to do them and will only be hosting them every other month or possibly every two months.  They'll resume in the fall, the dates are still TBD.
I had already started adding a Inspirational Sunday post.  Although you may not see one every week, just creating them uplifts me and gives me a great jump to my own week, so I am going to be continuing those.
Everything else may get mixed up a little and I am going to be starting some new things.  So I guess you'll just have to see.  But hopefully, you'll enjoy the upcoming changes.

________________________________

So what is next for me?  Well my hip flexor is feeling quite a bit better.  I followed my old physical therapy plan (from the first time I injured it in 2012) exactly.  I think the immediate action over the last 5 days has worked wonders!

Today I plan on taking an easy 1 mile walk and seeing how it handles it.  Any pain, I'll stop.  However, if I get through it as I hope, and no pain.  I may gradually begin running/walking more and more each day starting tomorrow.  So we shall see how it goes, *positive thoughts*

Even though I just took a week off for injury rest:)  I need a vacation, and I'd really like to take off for a week or two and get some camping in! 

I was thinking about this last night, this is the longest period I've gone in my entire life without camping and I'm not liking it!   I can't do it this week, because I have too much work lined up.  But to keep my sanity, I really need some fresh air, campfires, hiking and fishing soon, real soon and I am going to make it happen!!!

How did your weekend go?  Do you periodically change the way you blog too?  

Life is meant to be explored

Have you all been having a fun Memorial Weekend?  Hope you all remembered to take a minute and reflect on those who have served or who have lost their lives while in the service of our great country.

Did anyone get away for a fun trip or race over the long weekend?

I actually am writing this post late Sunday night, because Monday I am going to go and play:)
Taking a niece and two nephews up to the mountains for a picnic and a little light hiking:)

I say light hiking, with an emphasis on the light, as I am still with a bit of pain with the foot fracture.

I'm hoping that along with my short Monday hiking.  By later this week I'll be able to get some additional walking in.  Because I signed up to participate in Fairytales and Fitness Summer Run Scavenger Hunt.   If I can get out a bit later this week, I think I have a good chance at finding all of them except for the tree bearing fruit or berries:)  It's a bit too early in the season for that here in Utah.  We have fruit tree's here, but they still have flowers on them.  I also think the Disney lawn ornament will be a struggle, as I don't think I have ever seen anyone with something like this:)  But the rest, I will have fun watching out for!!!

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One good thing about taking it a tad easier and trying to stay off of my new injury is I had a lot more time to play catch up on a few things.  I'd been wanting to get a month ahead on my Travel Tuesday posts, and my Wedding or Book review Wednesday posts for a while, and I am happy to say I am finally scheduled out through the first week in June with those posts, YAY!!!

I've also had a little reading time, which has me catching up on a few sequels and trilogies I have been wanting to read.  I think I will stay up late to finish Dreams of God's & Monsters tonight:)  I have The One waiting for me at the library, and can I just say I have been waiting for this final book for years, I hope the ending is as good as I imagine it could be!  I seriously LOVE this series, and know I won't be able to put it down after I start reading the first word on the first page:)  In other words, The One, has a lot to live up to in my reading world:)  But sometimes you can just tell an author will do a trilogy justice, and I have the up most confidence that Kiera Cass can make me love the ending:)

Additionally, I have finally had a little time to start writing again.  (In case you didn't know, I have dreams of becoming a published author someday:)  I bought a new laptop a few weeks ago (thanks to Window XP becoming obsolete in my previous laptop).  So I have finally started on my second novel.

My first novel is finished, and I do have plans to start getting it out to a few more publishers.  But that process can be long and drawn out.  So I want to start on my next project while I go through the waiting game process on the first one.  FYI, my first novel is a historical romance during the Vietnam War.  This time I am going a completely different direction, and I think I'd like to try my hand at a Young Adult Dystopian. Maybe I'll share with you more on that when I dive full into the writing process.  I have never done this before, but possibly I'll even post the first chapter when I get the first rough draft done, and get some feeders on what people think.

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So what places did you explore this weekend?  Or what did you do?

I've had too many weddings lately I haven't been able to take off and enjoy seeing some local Utah sights lately.  Instead I just decided to throw up a picture I took a while back, an area I never get bored exploring. I love our canyon country here in Utah.  The views from above are breathtaking, and the views from when you climb down in them, are amazing and different at every turn:)
If you ever have plans to come to Utah, hit me up.  I can suggest some of the best places in the state to sight see and hike!

The good news is, I don't have a wedding this week.  Which means, I can play and I'm starting that playing today!  Cheer's my friends - Hope you are all having good times and finding lots of time to play!!!

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Also, the Shape up for Summer Giveaway Winner will be announced on the giveaway page as soon as I get home from the mountains tonight:)
Additionally, if your a blogger and you enjoyed linking up for our Giveaway Blog Hop, you can sign up and join us for the June hop - You can find the click-thru image top right corner of my side bar.

Oh, and great news:)  It's Memorial Day, we can now break out our whites again and enjoy our summer clothes:)  

AN INSPIRING READ "UNSTOPPABLE" BY NICK VUJICIC

I finished a compelling novel that I really enjoyed and feel others should take the opportunity to read and be inspired as well.

Unstoppable, The Incredible Power of Faith in Action by Nick Vujicic. Many of you may have heard about Nick. He was born without arms or legs and before the age of eighteen made the decision not to allow his disability to stop him from creating a life-long mission to serve and help others. Nick wrote it best in his book, “to simply say “I believe” in something is not enough. If you want to have an impact in this world, you must put your beliefs and your faith into action.” (Page 7)

 In Unstoppable, the reader will join Nick on a journey of his successes and failures. He shares his own stories of being made fun of, feelings of complete despair and of being humbled. Nick also shares the romantic love story of how he met his wife Kanae, the woman who was willing to overlook his disabilities and see him for the incredible man he is inside.

 Nick found his passion by discovering his own talents and using them to create a life of purpose, happiness and positive impacts on others. He has chosen to live a life without regrets by using his faith and his disability as a miracle in others eyes. I found many of Nick’s experiences quite uplifting and you will too! Reading his book I realized it’s never too late to make a difference in the lives of others.

Additionally, Nick tells inspiring stories of others around the world that have experienced everything from bullying, persecution, disability, career obstacles, addictions and cruelty beyond what most of us can comprehend. He shares his experience in meeting a young boy named Daniel, who like him was also born without limbs. In each of these stories, you’ll be uplifted and inspired as people find the faith they need to overcome their trials and start over again with a new purpose.

Personally I loved reading Unstoppable! Nick asked this question in his book. “You may ask, “what can I do?” or “What do I have to give?” the answer is, “yourself.” You and your God-given talents are the greatest gifts you can give.” (Page 201) I recommend this book for ages 12 and up, who like inspirational stories. Or for those who might benefit from the inspiring testimony of a man who refused to believe that a person with no limbs couldn’t make a difference.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
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