True Life: I'm addicted to Pinterest

If I was told that I could only use one website for the rest of my existence I would have to say that  Pinterest would be a top contender because lets be honest that website has some of the most amazing ideas on it! Literally everything from recipes to DIY to planning your wedding to the T (or the wedding-that-I-will-never-be-able-to-afford as I call it)! If I'm not using the app on my phone then I am on my laptop searching new and fun ideas. Whenever I need something I go right to it and look it up. It really came in handy with my christmas party too with my reindeer cookies. I thought they were the cutest and simplest recipe! 

All you had to do was make sugar cookies, use M&Ms to make the face and pretzels for the antlers. (Also- This wasn't apart of the recipe but I found that if I added icing to the bottom of the pretzels it would act as "glue" to help them stick to the cookie because without it they were falling off)

Another great thing about the website is that there are TONS of fun work-out routines. I think part of the reason people (including myself) give up on their fitness goals is because they stop going to the gym due to lack of excitement. Walking on the treadmill gets veryyyy boring veryyyy quickly so after doing some research I tried out HIIT (high intensity interval training) for the first time. It makes cardio go by SO much quicker!!! (If you wanna read more about it - http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/8-benefits-high-intensity-interval-training-hiit). When I went to the gym on Thursday I decided to try a routine out and I loved it. This was just for the treadmill but you could use it for any of the machines like the arc trainer - increasing/decreasing the resistance or the bike - increasing/decreasing the speed. 

The routine that I did was: 

It was actually a lot of fun and it had me sweating!!! (Side-note: I modified two of the minutes because of my first time trying it out. Next time I will probably increase my speed on some of them)

The website also provides great gift ideas! Although, I thought of part of it myself, I saw on Pinterest a "gag birthday gift" as a joke for people who are "over the hill" which included items like adult diapers, foot cream, a cane, etc... So, for Christian's 23rd birthday (I know he is actually quite young but since he's a little bit older than me I joke around saying he's "really getting up there in age"). I found all these cheap 88 cent items at Walmart and made him a very special care package! 

He didn't think it was funny as I did ;) 

I think that one of the best parts about the website is that a lot of the time you can click the picture and it will link you to the spot where you can find the actual item. 

There are lots of fun and creative things on Pinterest and I hope that eventually I will have time to do more than just a couple of the projects! (Maybe after I am done with school... Whenever that is!) 

Although this post was a little out of the ordinary (I mean who blogs about other websites haha) but I just wanted to share my enthusiasm with everyone! My hat is off to the person who was brilliant enough to make such a fun but addicting website! 

Love always,

Meg :) 

P.S. 

Have a great night! 

Motivation Monday!

So, I really tried to blog yesterday (really keeping up with my resolution if you couldn’t tell ;) but I got overwhelmed with everything that I had to do to prepare for the start of the new semester and it completely slipped my mind!

I wanted to dedicate this post to a resolution that I would love to keep up with which is going to the gym and eating healthier. I was blessed with a yearlong membership to Planet Fitness for christmas (thanks Christian!) but so far I have lacked the motivation to go… I really really wanted to go yesterday but time was not in my favor! Also, stepping in the gym alone is kind of an overwhelming feeling to me. I have gone time and time again by myself BUT I feel very unmotivated and I usually just end up doing cardio… As fun as watching “Say Yes to the Dress” is on TLC while walking on the treadmill I realized that I really need to start incorporating more weights into my routine. So, I went onto one of my favorite fitness websites “bodybuilding.com” and did some research. There are tons of articles, weight lifting techniques, videos with proper form, etc… It is amazing! So, I had an idea of making index cards and putting different routines on each for the different day. This way, I can easily pick my day and walk up to the weights looking clueless and actually have a plan. Also, about a year ago, I made a “motivation wall” however! It became more of a spot for me to hang up my sunglasses and hair pieces (picture below) so tonight I decided to completely re-do it so I can hopefully rekindle the motivation I had for it a year ago.

Before -

After -

I kept the general idea of the one before but i felt like it needed to be more organized and not used as coat rack for my glasses and head phones.

I wanted to keep all of my race bibs because I never thought I would ever enter into a race and it helps me realize that I accomplished six 5ks in one year! I swear one day I will do more than a 5k but unfortunately I get bored after mile 5 so it is hard for me to want to keep going. I re-did all of my fitness quotes because the old ones were just not doing it anymore… Plus a friend of mine decided to draw on them so I needed something new and fresh so I went onto one of my other favorite websites Pinterest and searched “fitness quotes” and found lots of ones that I liked! Some of my favorites were: “if you’re tired of starting over then stop giving up” “today is the day” and the “four simple rules” for fitness. Beside the quotes I listed Monday – Sunday on put the index card with the workout routine underneath. Hopefully, if I can keep up with everything I will start to switch up the exercises and try some new routines so I won’t get bored. My last idea was to cut pieces of paper into strips and write 1-15 on them to symbolize the number of pounds I hope to lose! When I lose it I will take down the number until eventually they are gone! I am really excited after doing the “motivational wall” over. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with it!!

Lastly, after reading several articles directed towards accomplishing your goals for getting fit I made my own list of my ways to help me stick with my plan.

 - Set realistic goals for myself – I need to drink more water and less sweet tea! After I stopped drinking soda I used sweet tea as my crutch. I will never ever give up tea but limited my consumption is probably a good idea. I also need to conquer my fear of lifting weights with the big boys. I might feel silly lifting only 10 pounds but I know eventually I can turn it into 25 (God willing).

 - Allow a cheat meal – I think that I lose hope in myself quickly because I set these rigorous “rules” for myself like cutting out junk food completely and lets be honest there is no way I can ever give my favorite red flavored Sour Patch Kids and pizza! Allowing myself special treats every once and a while will help me realize that it is okay to treat myself without having to cut everything out!

 - Patience is a virtue and one I need to learn to master – I get discouraged easily because I expect results quicker. I need to realize that it takes more than a day to put it on so it will definitely take more than a day to take it off!!

 - Plan ahead!! “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” this can include my meals, packing a gym bag specifically for the car, etc...

 - Lastly, I need to stop buying so many work out shirts and actually use the ones I have at the gym!!! 

Spring break and summer are just around the corner so I hope that I am able to keep the will power up enough to get off my butt and work out! I plan to use this blog partially as a way to keep myself accountable to make better decisions in the way I eat and to remind me to work out even when I feel sluggish and unmotivated.

Thanks for reading!!

Love always,

Meg

My first blog!

A few months ago someone mentioned to me that I should start a blog. My initial reaction? Psh, why would anyone want to read about me?! Well, honestly I have no idea but if you are - thank you for taking the time to read it! Of course, I had no idea where to start... I wasn't sure what to talk about or anything but I have decided that I would like to share the things I enjoy, my rambling thoughts, activities, recipes, OOTD (outfit of the day lol), fitness related material (plus my own challenges), and a spot to share the hundreds of pictures I take! I hope you are able to find some type of enjoyment from the weekly (God willing) blog posts! Plus, wouldn't it be fun to look back on this in 25+ years and laugh about all the silly things I did?! ;)

I first wanted to start off with my "2013 Year in Review." 2013 brought many challenges and adventures to my life. I started and finished my first year of nursing school (say what?!) Side note: not really sure how I did that! I celebrated my 21st birthday in April. I gave my first injection (SubQ of Lovenox... Still remember like it was yesterday) as terrified as I was, I did it and survived! I was invited on my third trip to Florida with my loving second family and celebrated two years with cBp! I got to watch an actual delivery of a baby in OB. Honestly, that has to be one of my favorites... To all those people who think its gross... Well, it is but it is also such a wonderful experience for the mothers!! I conquered my fear of going into a psychiatric unit (I was SO nervous but I did it and actually loved every clinical experience. Some of those clients I will remember forever - hopefully!) Finally, I got to celebrate the holidays with a loving family and friends. Shout out to my mother who makes it work every year.

2013 was great but I know 2014 is going to wonderful. I know this will be challenging school wise but I have faith that God will pull me through it one step of the way.
As much as I love New Year Resolutions... I know that almost every time they fail (except for giving up soda the year of 2011 - still going strong two years later. Holla!) I want to accomplish more and give more of myself to others. Some of my ambitions for 2014 are:

• Less Netflix, more studying
• Less social networking, more reading 
• Less junk food, more working out
• Less procrastination, more motivation
• Less complaining, more being grateful for what I have
• Less yoga pants, more slacks (hopefully... dressing up for 8 ams are the worst)
• Less spending money, more saving and giving back

For now, that's all I can think of.. Anything else and I am becoming too much of an over-achiever. 

I am really looking forward to 2014. I hope it is a great year for every one and that you can achieve everything you set out to do. 

Love always,

Meg Alexander 

P.S. I hope I did this blogging thing right! 

"But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded" 

2 Chronicles 15:7