Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Goodbye 2013


Well, well, well...

Another year has come and gone and I feel like it's only appropriate to do a quick look back at my year through iPhone pictures. I had originally planned to have this post done first thing this morning, but life kind of got in the way, and the only reason it's even happening now is because Juliette and Allie both yelled at me last night for not finishing it... so here we go.

2013 was honestly a pretty amazing year. I changed physically, mentally, emotionally, and probably spiritually as well. Instead of writing lots of words to recap my year, I'm just going to post a few collages that I threw together to highlight some things that stood out in my head.

  • Goodbye fat.
    I'm officially down ONE HUNDRED POUNDS from my heaviest weight. But this year I've lost about 75lbs.


    The top middle picture and bottom middle picture are the same shirt.


  • Goodbye workouts.
    Like you'd expect from my last point... I worked out a LOT this year. A lot. A lot. A lot. Goodbye 2013 workouts. Time to change things up and take my fitness to the next level in 2014.


  • Goodbye Home Sweet Home.
    I made a two trips back to Halifax this year to visit family and friends. My parents will be selling my home in Spring 2014 so I have officially said goodbye to the house that I spent the past 10 years knowing as my home sweet home. These are some of my favourite memories from my visits with family.


  • Goodbye Randomness with Amanda...
    I felt as though it was only fitting to have a collage of pictures with Amanda. We kind of spend every day together, so we have our fair share of random memories, adventures, and silliness. Goodbye 2013 randomness, I'm ready to bring on the 2014 adventures riiiight now.


  • Goodbye Spider.
    I felt like this big jackass deserved his own collage because this was a VERY traumatic experience. Goodbye spider. Forever.


  • Goodbye Laughs (and Drunken Adventures)..
    ...Until 2014. Obviously the laughs, good times, and drunken shenanigans with friends will never end. Bring it on, 2014. I'm ready for ya.


  • Goodbye Concerts, Events, and Road Trips.
    2013 was an amazing years for concerts and events. I got to attend so many great shows, and see so many great things. I'm excited to kick 2014 with seeing JT in concert AGAIN.


Goodbye 2013 - You were an incredible year and I'm excited to see what 2014 brings.
See you all next year!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Day Twenty-Four




What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?
It's Christmas, Eve!


Monday, December 23, 2013

Day Twenty Three




What do you get if you cross Santa with a duck?
A Christmas Quacker!



Thank you to my favourite little Googly-Eye obsessed Princess Juliette for today's joke and picture.


Sunday, December 22, 2013

Day Twenty-Two




What do snowmen like to do on the weekend?
Chill out!


Saturday, December 21, 2013

Day Twenty-One




What do you call someone who doesn't believe in Father Christmas?
A rebel without a Claus!

Friday, December 20, 2013

Day Twenty




What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus?
Claustrophobic.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Day Nineteen




What often falls at the North Pole but never gets hurt?
Snow!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Day Eighteen




Why did the Rudolph cross the road?
Because he was tied to the chicken!


Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Day Seventeen




What's worse than Rudolph with a runny nose?
Frosty the snowman with a hot flush!


Monday, December 16, 2013

Day Sixteen




What says Oh Oh Oh?
Santa walking backwards!


Sunday, December 15, 2013

Day Fifteen




What do you get if you cross a bell with a skunk?
Jingle Smells!


Saturday, December 14, 2013

Day Fourteen




What do you call an old snowman?
Water!


Friday, December 13, 2013

Day Thirteen




What Christmas carol is a favorite of parents?
Silent Night!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Day Twelve




What do you get when Jack Frost gets hungry?
Frost bite


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Eleventy Billion




Why is it always cold at Christmas?
Because it’s in Decemberrrr!


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

100 Reasons To Celebrate


Happy Tuesday, friends.
I've decided that I'd like to take my blog down a 'healthier' road this week and share a few different things with you all. I will probably do 2 or 3 health/fitness posts this week, so consider yourself warned. Ha!
Also, this post is SERIOUSLY going to be all over the place. I have so many thoughts running through my head and so many things that I want to say... so this post is going to be a whole lot of word vomit and a whole lot of thoughts just going all over the place.

A lot of people have asked me to do a weight-loss update, and show my progress as of lately, so that's what I'd like to share with you all today. Lets just say, I've got 100 reasons to celebrate.



As some of you may, or may not, know - from September 1st to November 30th, my roommate Amanda and I completed a 90-day challenge. We 'upped' the intensity of our daily workouts, stuck to clean eating, agreed to workout 5-6x a week, and cut alcohol. I'm not going to lie, the 'no alcohol' thing was really hard because most of our friends simply didn't understand. Amanda and I definitely indulged in a few 'cheat' nights of drinking with friends because we had a few big evens that we didn't want to miss out on... but we stuck to this challenge pretty damn well - and I'm proud of our hard work.

Everyone wants to know the results, so here they are:
*I'm still not comfortable sharing what my currently numbers are, so I'm just going to share the numbers lost*

    Weight: 21.2 lbs lost
    Waist: 3 inches lost
    Bust: 0.5 inches lost
    Thighs: 2 inches lost (1 inch on each)
    Arms: 2 inches lost (1 inch on each)


Overall, I'm pretty happy with what I was able to achieve in 90 days. I think I definitely could've done better, and I know that I didn't give it my ALL in the month of November. I took a week off from working out due to being sick, and I had a hard time getting back into the groove. Near the end of the month, I got back on my grind and I've been trying to stick with it.

This whole process has been interesting. I started my weight-loss journey earlier this year. Let me just tell you, the past few months have been a WHIRLWIND. Everything about me has changed, for the better. My physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being have improved greatly.

This year I've gone from blogging about why I will never run to blogging about running situations I've gotten into. I love running, I absolutely love it. I wouldn't, by any means, call myself 'a runner' compared to people who actually go out running. I still get out of breath quickly, and can't go far - but I do interval running about 5x a week and it is amazing. It clears my brain, allows me to get out any aggression I have, and has helped to eliminate my insomnia problems that I had been battling for a few years.

My instagram has gone from endless mirror selfies (#OOTD anyone?), pictures of food, alcohol, or my dog to being non-stop fitness related posts. I'm now sharing daily workouts, inspirational quotes, before and after photos (and hey, I still share far too many selfies, pictures of food, alcohol, and my dog... but it's mainly fitness-related posts).

I wanted to share this quick video to show you where I've come from vs. where I am now. My heaviest weight was in 2011 and my guess (I refused to step on a scale) was that I was around 325lbs. I'm happy to share that I officially hit 100lbs lost this past week. That BLOWS MY MIND. I still think I'm that girl, I still feel like that girl some days and I literally have to look at myself in the mirror and tell myself that I am NOT her, nor will I ever be her again.



I happened to find this video in September when I was looking through some old files on my computer, and I honestly didn't remember making it. Watching this video for the first time was a completely surreal experience. Who was this girl? How had she allowed herself to become so unhappy, so unhealthy, and so unmotivated to do anything with her life? I want to reach out to her, hug her, tell her that everything was going to be okay, and help her to make the changes that she needed to make...

The funny/ironic thing is that I had the resources at my finger tips the entire time. My best friend, and my brother had both dropped a lot of weight (the healthy way) and were living healthy, active lifestyles, but I wouldn't take their advice or their help... because I didn't want it. I wasn't ready for it. I needed to come to the realization that I needed to change, all on my own. From 2011-2013 I lost about 30lbs from walking more (instead of driving everywhere), and not eating fast food or diet coke every day. Basic changes. I was still eating 'unhealthy' but the changes were enough to help me to drop some weight. It wasn't until earlier this year that I finally had enough and admitted to myself - and the world - that I was sick of being "fat". I officially changed my lifestyle, which lead to 70lbs of weight-loss in 6-7 months.

The changes that I've implemented in my life have made me happier, healthier, and have helped to show me that there's more to life than what I previously knew. Change can be scary, change can be intimidating, but change can also be a wonderful thing. Don't be afraid of change... embrace it.

100 lbs. One Hundred freakin' pounds.
I have 100 reasons to celebrate today, friends.


I have come so far in such a short period of time, and I can't wait to see where I'll go from here. I think that the keys to success with this kind of journey is to NEVER give up, allow this process to run its course, take it day by day, and never, ever ever ever, forget where you came from.
Like I said, don't be afraid of change.




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Obviously I still have to share a Christmas joke and picture today since the advent still counts...



What do gingerbread men put on their bed?
Cookie sheets




Monday, December 9, 2013

Day Nine + Shenanigans




What’s white and goes up?
A confused snowflake!


Happy Monday, friends.
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Mine was jam-packed, and these are the only pictures I seemed to take all weekend! Linking up with Sami today as usual.



one. Car selfie.
two. Saturday's workout.
three. Ho Ho Ho.
four. The most delicious lunch.
five. Sunday morning run.
six. Saturday night curled up on the couch watching Christmas movies.


Sunday, December 8, 2013

Day Eight




What do you get when you eat Christmas decorations?
Tinselitis


Saturday, December 7, 2013

Day Seven




What do monkeys sing at Christmas?
Jungle Bells


Friday, December 6, 2013

Day Six




How do you scare a snowman?
With a hair dryer.


Love Letter (Christmas Remix) by R. Kelly on Grooveshark

I'm pretty sure this doesn't really count as a jam to #backthatazzup to with my favourite little Whitney today... but it's Christmas, it's R. Kelly, and I'm just going to let it happen.

This week has been the epitome of CRAZY, I mean working 7:00-5:00 everyday and then out every single night this week. I promise to blog more than just my advent calendar next week. Have a wonderful weekend, friends.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Day Five




What’s the difference between the Christmas alphabet and the ordinary alphabet?
The Christmas alphabet has 'no L'!