An Energized Breakfast

In continuing effort to be more fit, it’s a typical Tuesday for most, but for me, I’m having oatmeal today for breakfast before a mid morning jog.

Blueberry Oatmeal, Granola Mix w/Pumpkin Seeds, Golden Flax Seed, and Fresh Banana

Do you have a breakfast staple or any tips for someone like me who is searching for a healthy and energy boosting breakfast before a jog?

2016 14er Hike

It’s mountain number 3 for my 14er hike on August 12, 2016 and I’m excited to say, with enormous joy, that I made it to the top. My calves have definitely been paying for it for the past few days, but it’s the pure accomplishment that has gotten me through. Today marks the big 30th birthday and it’s great to know that I celebrated, not with a huge party and a hangover, but with a hike to the top for a glamorous view.

Mount Sherman; Elevation 14,036′

Until next year for mountain #4.

Nature and Human Powered Bicycle

This summer, I’ve taken on a personal challenge to bike-to-work once a week (20 miles round trip). This is due to my inspiration from Colorado’s Bike-to-Work Day. Granted, Bike-to-Work day is much more inspirational and enjoyable because it’s a day to raise awareness about biking to work. There are “fun” stations along the way to help support bikers on their route to work.  Free samples from various companies and bike accessories are given to all who participate. This also means that it takes me twice as long to get to work compared to a typical bike-to-work day that does not involve celebrating “Bike-to-Work Day”.

On a typical, non-bike-to-work day celebration, it takes me about a good solid hour to get to and from work. If I could use a few words to explain my experience with the trip, it would be, Excruciatingly Painful and Relaxing. Weird right? I thought so as well. This thought usually pops up in my mind on my way home from work.

Biking to work in the morning is peaceful and relaxing as the sun is just beginning to rise and the weather, chilly. Biking back home from work, is excruciatingly painful as I usually want to hurry home and relax – a 10 mile ride home is not the best commuting alternative to be taking when my ultimate goal is to make it home, kick of the shoes, and pour myself a glass of wine.

Nevertheless, I make it to work and back in one extremely long day and the view is absolutely breathtaking. Who would have ever thought that this gorgeous view is simply 50 feet away from the main commuting road for cars? Not me. As the saying goes, I believe, “You never know what you can find in your own backyard. You just have to look for it”.

How often do you make it a point to bike to and from work every week and do you have the pleasure of enjoying some sort of beautiful view as I do?

 

 

 

Reincarnation (after 3 years)

Wow! Has it really been three years? I’m not even sure where to start or how…

As you can tell, or maybe not, my last blog post was in 2013. I can say that I’ve taken quite the time off of blogging, though I never really started to begin with, to understand what “loving myself” really entails.

Since my last post, I’ve been given the opportunity to start a new career path with a company that provides energy and sustainability solutions for buildings around the United States – 3 years anniversary in December 2016. In the 2+ years that I’ve been at this wonderful place, I’ve have been challenged to start a new path in loving myself and a path to helping develop a better and more sustainable community, starting with the heart of Denver first.

The company I’ve been at not only believes in “inspiring better buildings”, but they also believe in their employees and invite them to participate in fun fulfilling activities such as hiking, jogging, and community volunteer work. This is where I have understood what loving myself really means. It meant that I could love myself not only by accepting my body for what it is (love handles and all) and how I dress it, but also for what it can do.

Personal Accomplishments:

1. (2) 14er hikes (Bierstadt and Grays)

I’d have to say living in Colorado, 14er hikes are a norm for active/fit enthusiasts, but it is a big accomplishment for me as I do not exercise at all. I sure did pay the price on these hikes (legs were sore for a week) but they were totally worth it. As an annual hiking trip with the company, August 2016 will be our 3rd annual 14er hike. I do hope that as I’ve been actually keeping up with jogging, the hike will be easier this year compared to the last two.

Grays Peak pictured below.

2. Participated in a marathon relay team of 5 (first marathon of any kind)

3. Kept up with training and continues to jog 2-3 times/week after completion of marathon relay (accomplishment #2)

4. Participated in the Annual Colorado Bike-to-Work Day (3 years and counting). 20+ miles round trip to and from work.

I leave you with wise words from Elle Woods (Legally Blonde), “Exercise gives people endorphins. Endorphins make people happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husband, they just don’t”. Well, minus the killing husband part, but you get it.

 

Pearly Whites :: Who doesn’t want them?

Tags

Colgate, Natural Whitening, Optic White, Pearly Whites, smile, Toothpaste

As a teenager, I hated coffee. Like I totally despised it. I couldn’t even be in a coffee shop. Haha!

Now though, it’s a different story. I can’t live without coffee. I have my daily cup of “jane” every morning and it’s starting to take a toll on my teeth. They aren’t the pearly whites I used to have.

I’ve heard that Colgate Optic White works wonders and I’m standing here today (figuratively :)) to tell you that indeed, it does work wonders. Granted my teeth is not the perfect white that celebrities have, but it’s white and I can still drink coffee everyday. Yay!

Do you have a product you like to use that works wonders? What about all the natural remedies that are out there? Have they worked? Do you recommend? What are the pros and cons?