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| Evidence that not all "5lbs" are created equal! |
What do you find inspiring and motivating when it comes to fitness?
And how can I find a way to get whatever that is suctioned out of my body!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Food...for, um, thought.
Found this photo online and it is so motivating!
What do you find inspiring and motivating when it comes to fitness?
And how can I find a way to get whatever that is suctioned out of my body!
What do you find inspiring and motivating when it comes to fitness?
And how can I find a way to get whatever that is suctioned out of my body!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Labor Day Plans?
What are you planning for Labor Day weekend?????
Are you going to the lake or grilling out for summer's last hurrah? Are you traveling to visit loved ones over the long weekend? Are you taking advantage of the Labor Day sales? Are you running (or biking) in a race this weekend? Cleaning up all the post-Isaac debris? Going to see a movie (if so, please let me know because I'm on the lookout for good movies!)? Perhaps you're going to the US Open in NYC over the weekend? :)
Our plans are very tentative at the moment - we've talked about doing several things (all local), but we'll have to see what we fancy. Who knows, maybe we'll just watch old movies all weekend long?!
Whatever this weekend finds you enjoying, wherever that may be, please be safe and have a good, good time!
Are you going to the lake or grilling out for summer's last hurrah? Are you traveling to visit loved ones over the long weekend? Are you taking advantage of the Labor Day sales? Are you running (or biking) in a race this weekend? Cleaning up all the post-Isaac debris? Going to see a movie (if so, please let me know because I'm on the lookout for good movies!)? Perhaps you're going to the US Open in NYC over the weekend? :)
Our plans are very tentative at the moment - we've talked about doing several things (all local), but we'll have to see what we fancy. Who knows, maybe we'll just watch old movies all weekend long?!
Whatever this weekend finds you enjoying, wherever that may be, please be safe and have a good, good time!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Feeling Challenged?
Sometimes it's very interesting to "feel" the mood in your friends' Facebook postings. And it always surprises me when I see so many friends (who have never met each other and are certainly not connected to one another on Facebook) express the same or similar sentiments.
A quick scan of this morning's posts reveals that many of my friends are dealing with discouragement and feel that they are facing insurmountable challenges.
And certainly not to minimize any of those feelings (I'll be the first to admit that some of the situations these friends are dealing are unarguably challenging) but when I saw the above photos pop up in my newsfeed, I was stopped literally dead in my tracks.
These photos were taken at a recent Spartan Race and made me realize (me, people, just me. I promise I'm not trying to subtly communicate this point to any one other than myself) how there are people literally doing so much more than I ever imagined...and they are doing it with far less than what I currently have. Whoa. That's a sobering thought.
A final thought - and not a new one for those who are familiar with the military culture - everyone needs a "battle buddy." Who is there helping you do life? Helping you carry those tough burdens? Encouraging you to finish strong?
Live well, dear friends:)
A quick scan of this morning's posts reveals that many of my friends are dealing with discouragement and feel that they are facing insurmountable challenges.
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| A triple-amputee competes in the Spartan Race |
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| A buddy assists with crossing the finish line. |
And certainly not to minimize any of those feelings (I'll be the first to admit that some of the situations these friends are dealing are unarguably challenging) but when I saw the above photos pop up in my newsfeed, I was stopped literally dead in my tracks.
These photos were taken at a recent Spartan Race and made me realize (me, people, just me. I promise I'm not trying to subtly communicate this point to any one other than myself) how there are people literally doing so much more than I ever imagined...and they are doing it with far less than what I currently have. Whoa. That's a sobering thought.
A final thought - and not a new one for those who are familiar with the military culture - everyone needs a "battle buddy." Who is there helping you do life? Helping you carry those tough burdens? Encouraging you to finish strong?
Live well, dear friends:)
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
An Introvert’s Guide to Getting to Know Others
I was recently invited to submit a blog posting for an Army Wives Forum so I wrote what was on my heart that day. Thought I would share that post here for anyone who is interested... :)
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It seems like every where I turn lately, there’s discussion about the topic of “connectedness,” that is, how engaged {or how lonely} we may feel as military spouses.
Whether it’s on message boards that I follow, or in Facebook discussions, or even in face-to-face conversations that I have with spouses new to our Post, I am hearing the same thing: it can be incredibly difficult to establish and maintain friendships with others.
And this really tickles me to no end because, let’s face it – as Army spouses, we are a part a dynamic community and our diversity is second-to-none! The Army is literally filled to the brim with spouses who have some of the most incredible talents and experiences. Not to mention that we have world-class programs, organizations, events and groups with which we can participate.
And it would be so tempting for me to say to you, “Just get out there and make friends!”
However.
Our experiences and ways of making friends could be similar, or they may be totally different. And that is OK. What’s most important is that you know what kinds of friends you’re hoping to meet and how you plan to engage with others in meaningful ways.
As a naturally leaning introvert, here’s a list of things I like to keep top-of-mind when thinking about how engage with others:
So, what do you think? What ways have you found to get involved and become connected? What helpful tips can you offer to new or struggling spouses?
*********************************************************************
It seems like every where I turn lately, there’s discussion about the topic of “connectedness,” that is, how engaged {or how lonely} we may feel as military spouses.
Whether it’s on message boards that I follow, or in Facebook discussions, or even in face-to-face conversations that I have with spouses new to our Post, I am hearing the same thing: it can be incredibly difficult to establish and maintain friendships with others.
And this really tickles me to no end because, let’s face it – as Army spouses, we are a part a dynamic community and our diversity is second-to-none! The Army is literally filled to the brim with spouses who have some of the most incredible talents and experiences. Not to mention that we have world-class programs, organizations, events and groups with which we can participate.
And it would be so tempting for me to say to you, “Just get out there and make friends!”
However.
Our experiences and ways of making friends could be similar, or they may be totally different. And that is OK. What’s most important is that you know what kinds of friends you’re hoping to meet and how you plan to engage with others in meaningful ways.
As a naturally leaning introvert, here’s a list of things I like to keep top-of-mind when thinking about how engage with others:
- Forrest Gump had it right when he said, “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.”…this applies not only to “life” in general, but also to people you will meet. Some are fruity, some are nutty, some are sugary sweet, and some are refreshing to your very soul. What’s important is that you give everyone a chance and, in doing so, you give yourself a chance to get to know some really incredible people.
- “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” This is timeless advice that you probably heard as a kid growing up, but it’s never truer than when you are meeting new people. “Oh, she’s an ‘Officer’s wife’” or “She has tattoos and piercings and I’m not really into that” are not good reasons to avoid getting to know someone. You could be missing out on the opportunity to get to know an amazing person if you push closed a door before you get a chance to walk through and take a look around.
- Attend (almost) everything at least once. This will give you a feel of the local flavor of your Post and the activities it has to offer. If you’re a newly minted Army spouse (as I am), take the AFTB classes, and the FRG classes and anything else you can get your hands on that will help you learn about the Army and your community. And who knows who you might meet during the process! Pick up a calendar of events from your MWR and/or the Spouse’s Club and find something fun to attend. And then go.
- Attempt to forge a relationship with your Soldier’s Unit. We can all agree that it would be wonderful if the FRG group was dynamic and close knit (bonus points if they meet on the weekends around a camp fire to sing Kum Ba Yah with smores & hot dogs) but that’s not always a guarantee. However, I am resolved to at least make an attempt.
So, what do you think? What ways have you found to get involved and become connected? What helpful tips can you offer to new or struggling spouses?
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Summary of Colorado Trip
Any state with the word "rad" in its name is cool with me! :)
Since the Posts for the Colorado trip were sprinkled over several days - and across several week - I thought I'd park them here, in one Post for easy perusal.
Enjoy!
Travel to Colorado
Hail & Farewell Dinner
Change of Command Ceremony
Trip to Garden of the Gods Park
Dining Out/Ball & Dinner
Visit to Pike's Peak
And, there you have it - all the posts re-capping our August 2012 trip to Fort Carson/Colorado Springs.
Since the Posts for the Colorado trip were sprinkled over several days - and across several week - I thought I'd park them here, in one Post for easy perusal.
Enjoy!
Travel to Colorado
Hail & Farewell Dinner
Change of Command Ceremony
Trip to Garden of the Gods Park
Dining Out/Ball & Dinner
Visit to Pike's Peak
And, there you have it - all the posts re-capping our August 2012 trip to Fort Carson/Colorado Springs.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Pike's Peak
Whew! Didn't think we'd make it, but here we are; the final blog Post rounding out the last day of our visit to Fort Carson.
On our final day in Colorado Springs, the husband & I got up early-ish to catch the COG Railway train to the top of Pike's Peak. {Tourist tip: make your reservations in advance - either online or by phone - so that you're guaranteed a seat. Yes, there are assigned seats and many of the time slots for the trains were already booked up. It's also important to note that there are often discounts & coupons - amounting to some pretty good savings! - just remember to ask when you call.} We purchased our tickets via phone a couple of days before-hand and arrived about 30 minutes prior to the departure time. This was a gooood idea because it allowed us plenty of time to figure out the parking situation, go to the restrooms, and mill around the gift shop without being hurried. It's probably even more important to arrive early for the later trains because the line for tickets can get quite long!
Manitou Springs is about 6000 feet...and the Summit of Pike's Peak is 14,110. Fortunately, it is a slow trek (taking about 45 minutes) to reach the top...and most of the train ride is on a neighboring peak which allows for a much more gradual ascent, before switching over to Pike's Peak for the last several hundred feet.
A very fun side-trip, I highly recommend that you make the trek if visiting the Colorado Springs area. The views are amazing, but remember to plan accordingly. Even in August, the temperatures at the Summit were in the 40s (the Peak had received some snow only the day before!). The train runs almost year-round...and snow is sometimes a deterring factor (that is, of course, if it can't be removed from the tracks by snow plow or by dynamite!). There's a "Santa's Village" about 1/2 up that would be a great time for kids and families during Nov/Dec...
Why does my spell checker not like the word Santa?! :)
On our final day in Colorado Springs, the husband & I got up early-ish to catch the COG Railway train to the top of Pike's Peak. {Tourist tip: make your reservations in advance - either online or by phone - so that you're guaranteed a seat. Yes, there are assigned seats and many of the time slots for the trains were already booked up. It's also important to note that there are often discounts & coupons - amounting to some pretty good savings! - just remember to ask when you call.} We purchased our tickets via phone a couple of days before-hand and arrived about 30 minutes prior to the departure time. This was a gooood idea because it allowed us plenty of time to figure out the parking situation, go to the restrooms, and mill around the gift shop without being hurried. It's probably even more important to arrive early for the later trains because the line for tickets can get quite long!
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| Got his ticket! Ready to board! |
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| All aboard! |
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| In our seats, ready to go:) |
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| Looking out the train window - almost 8am, almost time to go! |
Manitou Springs is about 6000 feet...and the Summit of Pike's Peak is 14,110. Fortunately, it is a slow trek (taking about 45 minutes) to reach the top...and most of the train ride is on a neighboring peak which allows for a much more gradual ascent, before switching over to Pike's Peak for the last several hundred feet.
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| The ascent is straight up, but the steepest grade is about 15% (not bad) |
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| We did not see any... :) |
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| Close up of the tracks! |
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| Here's how you know you're getting close to the Summit: no more trees. You can see the last of them (the tree line) in the far right-hand corner of this photo! |
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| Everyone made a mad dash into the Summit House on top mainly b/c it provided WARMTH... |
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| ...but also because it provided the Pike's Peak famous donuts! Yum... |
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| I snapped this photo from our table inside the Summit House. Love the sky that's visible through the train windows! |
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| A close-up of our train. |
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| Hey honey!, can you back up a little more? A little more?... :) |
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| More breathtaking views at the top. |
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| We snapped this photo then hopped back on the train - it was COLD up there! |
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| Time to go back. But an hour on top was really plenty of time. |
A very fun side-trip, I highly recommend that you make the trek if visiting the Colorado Springs area. The views are amazing, but remember to plan accordingly. Even in August, the temperatures at the Summit were in the 40s (the Peak had received some snow only the day before!). The train runs almost year-round...and snow is sometimes a deterring factor (that is, of course, if it can't be removed from the tracks by snow plow or by dynamite!). There's a "Santa's Village" about 1/2 up that would be a great time for kids and families during Nov/Dec...
Why does my spell checker not like the word Santa?! :)
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Dining Out
Friday night in Colorado Springs was a fun night - a formal dining out event!
***Warning: this post will be full of photos for my Mom's benefit! HI MOM!"***
You may remember from this Post about the fantastic saga of my dress that there had been a lot of challenges in finding, obtaining and altering the gown...and that's only part of the story! Once in Colorado Springs, I had to find a delicate way to de-wrinkle this gown (since it arrived at my doorstep looking like it'd been waded up in a garbage bag!). A good friend & I drove around the vicinity immediately surrounding our hotel but came up short on finding a dry cleaner that I felt comfortable enough with to steam press this dress. Sooo....I ultimately decided that I would take my chances with the hotel iron {scary thought!}...which, surprisingly, worked out well and saved us about $25!
My sweetheart & I had a great night - even though I say this every time, THIS was one of my very favorite formals!
***Warning: this post will be full of photos for my Mom's benefit! HI MOM!"***
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| Let's be honest - this is what my Mom is most interested in seeing:) |
You may remember from this Post about the fantastic saga of my dress that there had been a lot of challenges in finding, obtaining and altering the gown...and that's only part of the story! Once in Colorado Springs, I had to find a delicate way to de-wrinkle this gown (since it arrived at my doorstep looking like it'd been waded up in a garbage bag!). A good friend & I drove around the vicinity immediately surrounding our hotel but came up short on finding a dry cleaner that I felt comfortable enough with to steam press this dress. Sooo....I ultimately decided that I would take my chances with the hotel iron {scary thought!}...which, surprisingly, worked out well and saved us about $25!
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| The Fort Riley crew! It was so much fun that we attended this event together! |
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| Fort Leonard Wood & Fort Riley ladies |
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| The CAKES table - one for Group (back/left) and one for each of the Battalions |
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| Our Battalion's cake/logo |
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| Our new Group Commander cuts the Group's cake (yes, with a sword/sabre..) |
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| A great night spent with old friends (my husband)... |
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| ...and a great night to meet new friends (for me) |
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| More old friends... :) |
My sweetheart & I had a great night - even though I say this every time, THIS was one of my very favorite formals!
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