My Fitness goals

Setting goals gives me a long term vision and short term motivation. Sounds like I know what I’m talking about, right? ha ha.

Seriously though. It focuses me in a way and helps me organize my time to make the most out of what I’m working towards. It needs to be challenging but achievable. I track my workouts whenever I do them and post my weekly workout schedule for the previous week on my blog each Monday morning.

Sometimes it’s tough. I always need to remember you’re only one workout from a good mood. I cannot stress that enough. I’ve had a few hard days, and just heading into work out and finishing it up makes me in such a better mood. Working out also keeps me much more alert and I really do have much more energy when I work out throughout the week, than on those weeks where I skip.

My favorite photo I’ve taken of the Boyfriend at one of his many races.

It doesn’t hurt that I have a boyfriend that works out (even more!) than I do – so I almost get a sense of regret if I don’t work out as often as I had planned. Seeing him strive, reach his goals through hard work really pushes me to be a better person in life. Stay motivated, and to stay on track.

I always like to keep up on my weekly fitness plan and say that I’ll go workout so many times per week, write down my workouts on my blog, so I can keep track of my workouts and what I’ve achieved that week.

I am not a professional athlete or anything, so I of course do it for the pure bliss I get from going to workout classes, or climbing.

It’s good to keep my goals realistic. For instance, instead of saying “I want to lose x-pounds by x-date” probably isn’t the best way to go about it. Instead, start thinking more along the lines of “I will run 3 times this week for x-minutes, and next week I’ll run 4 times for longer x-minutes.”

Goals that I have accomplished, which currently keeps me completely motivated is competing and doing well in climbing competitions.

This photo is a few years old since I haven’t been in a top-rop climbing competition and placing second in the Women’s division.  I have to say, I felt like I crushed it that day. I remember it so well. In fact, this photo of me was published on the front page of my local newspaper back home in Newfoundland. The first place woman who beat me, had her hand better secured on the exact same hold as me. We fell in the same spot on the 2nd route we had to climb, because we both made it to the top of this crimpy route. Man. Just typing it makes my fingertips  sweat!

One of my favorite photos of me bouldering (a different style of climbing) back in December.

Here’s a more recent photo of me, climbing a 5.10 (rating of the route) at the local climbing gym here in Ontario, that I go to.

However, I do have goals that I’m working towards getting better at my hand stand push ups, and to climb much more often than I’m doing now. I ended up taking the entire summer off. I think the last time I climbed was when I was with Stephanie. It seems way too long ago :( I’m actually thinking of recruiting some GTA bloggers to come out here and try indoor rock climbing. People like Morgan, Jess, Robyn, Angela, and Krysten! Wouldn’t that be fun!?

So, I’d love to know what some of your goals, or what goals you’ve already accomplished in your life time. Have you ever ran a marathon? Tell me about it in the comments, or share it on Under Armour’s What’s Beautiful contest for women.

Under Armour Women are encouraged to share their fitness journeys and receive free gear, and support from Under Armour along the way. Super exciting right? All ya gotta do it share some goals you’re working towards or already accomplished. So easy to enter!

The 10 women with the most awesome #WhatsBeautiful journeys will win a trip to Florida (omg I’ve never been) to the Under Armou Women’s Camp Sweat, where you will train with the BEST. AHH!!

I already know of a few people who should definitely enter. Leanne from Fresh Season, and definitely Jill from Bluegrass Belle. Whattta ya think ladies? You going to join in on the What’s Beautiful fun?

What’s Beautiful entrants are eligible to win prizes. Contest is open to residents of Canada and the USA, however you have to be older than 13 to enter.

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A Fossil Giveaway

There is something for YOU in this bag I’m holding!! Thank goodness for that cami I’m wearing underneath that top of mine. Looks like my belly wanted to come out to play. Yikes! Don’t want another flashing incident happening here.

Since I love Fossil products so much, and I’ve gotten my two co-workers on the Fossil Wagon â€” I have decided to host my own Fossil giveaway. This means Fossil has absolutely nothing to do with my giveaway. They do not know that I am hosting this giveaway. It’s my money and I want to give back to my readers! Ha. Whatcha think about that? Seems pretty nice right? Let’s keep reading.

But first, a sneak peak of what one of you will receive:

I’ve been noticing the Fall 2012 trend vamp into a little bit of a different style than my favorite boyfriend watch. I picked up the latest Fossil catalog and noticed that a lot of the watch straps are getting smaller, and most of them were leather. It has more of a retro spin on things. Almost like an aviation series.

Fall 2012 Fossil catalog

I actually really like the men’s watches (shown on the bottom left, of the image above). So rugged, but very preppy at the same time.

So, what did I go out and get for you guys? A Stella Leather Watch! Of course, the watch will come with a gift receipt in case this isn’t your style at all. Because to be honest, the new watches out from Fossil (the Heather, and the Georgia) isn’t really my style. I love huge clunky watches on my toddler sized wrist. Balances everything out ;) Because of that, I got the best of both worlds, and picked out an in-between watch. One with a thicker leather strap, and larger face! Stella never fails.

There she be, all brand spanking new in its packaging. Can’t you just see yourself wearing this and adding it to your Fall wardrobe?

Me posing with it. I felt as if I had just bought a watch for myself, I was super excited about it!

The cute box miss Stella will arrive in, to one lucky winner. I picked this one out, all by myself! ;)

I’m going to have my giveaway open to anywhere in Canada and the USA. Enter away using the Rafflecopter form below. This contest will run until 12:01am on August 31, 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Cooking with Cognac?

I’m a huge visual person, hence my job: a Graphic Designer. So, when I’m looking to create new recipes in the kitchen, I would like to know exactly what it is that I’m trying to replicate, rather than reading the ingredients and imagining it in my head. Doesn’t work.

Any cook book that has images for every recipe, is definitely a , which is why Kristin from Iowa Girl Eats is my favorite go-to website for cooking. (Nerd alert: I was a little star-struck when I met her at BlogHer11 last year!! She knew who *I* was too. Get out of town!!).

Back to business…

Have you got a bit of talent in the kitchen, and are from Ontario, Canada?

If so, I’d like to invite you to create a culinary masterpiece that incorporates Courvoisier cognac and submit it on Courvoisier Collective by August 24. While I didn’t participate in the Courvoisier Collective challenge, I thought I’d share this all with you, in case one of you wanted to whip up a little somethin’ and maybe win a prize!?

Some of the recipes featured on the site may end up getting selected at an exclusive tasting even in Toronto this fall. Sounds delicious, can I come?

I promise I won’t drink all this before I arrive. Heh heh…

Here are some more details about it:

  • July 3rd to August 24th – Users can submit recipes and vote for their favorites
  • August 24th – September 7th: The chef judging panel (you can learn more about them on the site) review each recipe.
  • September 7th: 6 finalists are contacted and invited to attend an exclusive tasting event in October where their dish will be recreated and sampled.

Some rules and regulations (more found online)

  • Must fall under the category of soup, salad, hors d’oeuvres, or entrée
  • Must be an original recipe, ingredient list, cooking instructions and photograph of the completed Recipe only, photos of anything else may not be accepted as an eligible Entry
  • Must be submitted by a resident of Ontario who is 19 years of age or older with an authorized Facebook account

Prizes:

Finalists: Six Finalists will be awarded: A Visa gift card valued at $500 for Finalist to use toward a trip to Toronto, including accommodations (if necessary) to attend the Courvoisier Collective event on October 17, 2012. Finalists will have the opportunity to work with a team of elite chefs to recreate their recipe and have it served at the Courvoisier Collective event. Finalist Prize requires entrant to attend the event on October 17, 2012 in Toronto.

Grand Prize: Two of the Finalists (one (1) from the Student Finalists and one (1) from the amateur Finalists, described above) will be awarded $1,000. The winners will be selected at the event based on criteria listed in Rule 4 Round two Judging. The Prizes consist only of items specified herein. Dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian currency.

If you do end up entering the Courvoisier Collective challenge, be sure to come back here and let me know what recipe you posted so we can all vote for you!

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