High Five for Friday - What I Love About Summer

Happy Friday! TGIF and welcome to the last long weekend of the summer. You know how I love my long weekends. I am ready to be done with this workday and home with 3 long luxurious days off ahead. Since it's the last Friday of what I consider to be the summer, I thought I'd focus my High Five for Friday on some of my favourite things from this summer. I am going to go a wee bit went a lot crazy on this one and am well over 5, but I have a feeling you'll forgive me!

Do you like the whole High Five for Friday theme? Check out what other bloggers have been loving by clicking here to visit Lauren's link party.

First and foremost, I'd have to say that my garden has been the absolute best. Are you sick of hearing about it yet?! I thought I would be sick-to-death of going there by now, but I'm not in the least! It changes so much over the course of a few days and I've had so much success that I think I may have caught the gardening bug. I'm also loving all the fresh produce; I'm saving a ton of money at the grocery store and I am enjoying the freshest of fresh veggies on a daily basis. I'm already thinking about how I will plan everything out next year, so that I can fit more stuff in my small plot of dirt.

The Toby Keith at Rogers Bayfest 2012 was another highligh of our summer. So. Much. Fun. This is the only concert that we've had time to get to. Outdoor concerts are the best and I'm hopeful that we'll be able to make it to a couple more before the weather gets too chilly.

 

You gotta have a red solo cup at a Toby Keith concert!!

Lifting weights is another love that I've developed over the past couple of months. It all started with Jamie Eason's LiveFit trainer and even though I'm only loosely following it right now as my schedule permits, I've discovered that I love working my large muscle groups with weights. I had to step WAY out of my comfort zone to even enter the free weights area just a few short weeks ago and now I try to incorporate some sort of a weights routine into every workout. Who would've ever thought?! I'm so excited to see how my body transforms over the coming months :-)

Source: Pinterest via Amy Smith

Another thing I've totally been loving is shellac manicures. I am a nail biter in situations where I'm tense, anxious or bored. I love the look of painted nails that have a little length and the shellac manicures have helped keep my nails strong (and bite free) so that I could grow them out. Having fingernails painted for 2 to 3 weeks without so much as a chip is awesome ---- I won't do it all the time because the acetone can wreak havoc on your nails and cuticles, but it is absolutely perfect for vacations or special events! This is the manicure I had done at LimeBlu last Saturday.

And finally, I've have some link love for some of my fave posts of the summer ~

Favourite Summer of 2012 Recipes
Bananarama Protein Pancakes
Raspberry Cheesecake Protein Pops
Jenn's Triple Bean Veggie Burgers
Sommer's Vegan Garden Style Chili
Brittany's Garlicky Kale
Courtney's Light & Tasty Zucchini Casserole
Janetha's Slow Cooked Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats 

Favourite Summer of 2012 Posts
Negative Thoughts Are Wasted Space by Lindsay of The Lean Green Bean
9 Ways to Have a Productive Work Day by Angela at Oh She Glows
In 2011 I Had $3 in My Pocket by Kris at i heart wellness
Lucky to Be Able to Run by Theodora at Losing Weight in the City

Whew! Now that's what I call a post to cap off the summer.

What is one your most favourite things/memories from this summer?

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Andrea
xoxo

Just GO For It!

Hiya & Happy Tuesday!

To me Tuesdays seem to be the most tedious day of the week. Last weekend is long gone and we've still got a ways to go before next Friday rolls around. {Yes people, I live for the weekend!} So, to make this Tuesday a little more special and exciting, I thought it was the perfect time for sharing something that's been on my mind for quite some time now.....pursuing the things you desire.

Are there things that you'd like to do that you are putting off until a better or more convenient time comes around? Do you have dreams that you are just dying to purse, but there seems to be something that's holding you back? Do you have a feeling deep down in your soul telling you that you are meant to do something different or something more but you're too afraid to take the first step?

My answer is: yes! yes! and yes!

It could be something as simple as, "I'm going to start eating clean and working out" or it could be more life-altering like a change in careers --- you always plan to start it next week, next year or sometime down the road, but for some reason that time never comes around. Sound familiar? This is, or I should say was, so totally me. Take the eat clean and working out example ~ I might start to eat clean and workout, but if I fall off the wagon by Wednesday (which I often did), I would just continue rolling downhill all the while promising myself that I would start again...next week. Oy, what a vicious trap we set for ourselves.

This is in fact one of the goals I've been wanting to accomplish and as you know I am now into week 3 of a 12 week program to get me started on the right path. There's no more excuses, no more waiting ---- I decided to just Go For It! As a gift to myself for my 35th birthday (coming up in November), I want to be healthy, fit and confident enough to rock a beach in a super cute bathing suit. I have never been healthy, fit and confident all at the same time and I decided that it was either now or never, so I committed to a plan, found a buddy to do it with me and just jumped off that ledge.  I really didn't want to look back in 20 years and think, "Now why couldn't I have just buckled down done it?"

Source: Pinterest via Robin Craig

 I don't want to look back at my life with regret. The example above is just one thing that I've been wanting to do and have been putting off  until a more convenient day, until I have some downtime where I can commit without any challenges, etc. etc. The reasons why NOT to do it were endless, but the reason why I needed to do it was what was important; it is something that I really, truly want and I deserve to give myself the chance to accomplish my goal and be the best me possible.

We have the power to control our own destiny. If you want something, there is nothing stopping you from going after it. All you need is desire and drive. It can be really scary to take a risk and do something different or challenging, but fear is normal....just don't let it paralyze or inhibit you to the point of not doing it. Heck, do you remember how afraid and intimidated I was to go into the free weights area of my gym?? I know it sounded ridiculous to some, but it was a true and valid feeling for me. The first day I went, I was literally shaking in my sneakers praying as I walked through the door that the gym would be deserted. Now, after only 2 weeks, I remember why I had the fear, but I know it was a little bit ridiculous. I love the free weights and I am getting more and more comfortable in that area of the gym each time I go. I'm so glad I looked that fear in the face and worked through it because I look forward to each and every workout and can already feel the benefits of my hard work. I survived and it was SO. WORTH. IT. (it was a helluva lot easier than I expected too!!)

So, before I send you on your way, I want to encourage you to take a leap of faith this week. Take some steps towards a goal or dream that you've been wanting to achieve and Just Go For It! I know you can do it and the end result is going to be worth the work to get there.

Source: Pinterest via Betty Lefler

What is one thing you have been wanting, but have been putting off until that perfect time rolls around? Now, whatcha gonna do about it?!

Good luck friends!

Andrea

xoxo