I'm baaaack!

Hola amigos! 

Wow... Really long time no talkie! To be honest, I was secretly planning on not posting on this blog anymore buuuut this is my baby and I really want to make a better effort to post more often and also interact with all of you! Because you are all awesome and I love chatting with you, sharing with you and seeing what is going on on your blogs as well! So, here I am, saying "hello" and that the rest of this week is going to be all about planning what I would like to share with you. :)

Let me know if you have any suggestions, or maybe there is something that you would like to go do a post on, whether it be about fitness, life, love, etc., etc.!

I hope that you are having a fantastic Monday (one of my favourite days!).

Much love and blessings to you all <3

5 Tips for Starting an Active Lifestyle.

First of all, let me point out the obvious: I am not a professional nor do I believe that I am. All I am is a girl who is active and loves to share her tips on how she remains the active chick she is! So, now that that is all out of the way, let's get to it, shall we?

Tip one: You make the choice! Now, this one is the most important tip and really the only tip you need - don't worry, I will share more! If you are working out because someone is making you, you will not succeed. If you are working out because you want someone to notice you, you will not succeed. You need to make the choice. Make the choice for you. Make the choice to be more active, to eat healthier, and to go that extra mile (metaphorically and literally)! You need to make the choice to get out of bed and go for that run, or pick up those weights, or go to that yoga class. Trust me, if you are becoming active because someone suggested you should, you will not succeed at an active lifestyle. Your motivation comes from your choice to continue.

Tip two: Set a goal. Maybe you want to run a 5k, a 10, a half marathon. Maybe you want to be able to hold a handstand or hold half moon position (both goals of mine!). Maybe you want your goal to be that you workout for 30 minutes 5 days a week. Or maybe you want to lose 10lbs - I don't believe numbers matter but for some they do, and that is totally okay, just don't make it everything! Whatever your goal may be, make it realistic, write it down and stick to it! 

Tip three: Write it down! As I just mentioned in tip two, writing down your goals will really help you out. If you can see what you are aiming for, you are more likely to go out and reach for it. Along with writing down your goals, keeping a journal of your workouts, how you are feeling and your progress can really benefit in keeping yourself from falling off the bandwagon and staying active. I keep a journal that I write in every few days -when I am feeling like it-  of my progress, my workouts, what I am rocking and what I can improve on, and how I am feeling - ex. sluggish or energized. 

Tip four: Find a workout buddy! This tip is for those who don't like to workout alone or need someone around who will keep them in check. I am the workout buddy for my husband, who is extremely fit but also a tad lazy, which is understandable after a long day at work. But, your health should not be put aside just because you are tired! So, if you are lacking that motivator, that person who will kick things into high gear, or just be there at the finish line with an ice cold bottle of water in hand, then put out an ad and start asking around! Another option would to sign up with a personal trainer - they can make a workout specific to you and make sure that you are doing everything correctly! So many options!

Tip five: Make it fun! Working out and being active should not feel like a chore - it may feel like it some days but it shouldn't every day! If you find that your workout or your lifestyle is missing something or becoming a bit to drab, pizzazz the shiz out of it! Being active is the funnest part about being alive! You can run, jump, skip anywhere at anytime. You can make TV workouts - do pushups, jumping jacks, squats, or run on the spot during commercials. You can run up and down your stairs 10 times. You can take the stairs instead of the elevator. You can workout at your desk (check out Yoga with Adriene for videos on that!) or even on a flight (*cough* Yoga with Adriene  *cough*). You can literally workout/ be active wherever you are whenever you are. It is all up to you to make a conscious choice (tip one) and effort to maintain this lifestyle. 

Believe me, I have days where I just feel like being melted butter on the couch watching Netflix all day. You will have those days, and that is completely normal. Do not fight it. Allow yourself to relax when you need to. Your body needs to stay active but it also requires rest, so make sure to pencil some in necessary Netflix binge-watching time. 

These are just some of my tips, so if you would like more or more posts on being active, let me know! I would love to hear your feedback, your ideas, and your tips! 

Take care,

C.

Don't be beautiful.

Since turning 25 in April, I have reflected back on my life and the things I wish I could have known when I was a teen.

If I could go back and give my 16 year old self some advice, it would be to worry less.

Worry less about how big your nose is because you are probably the only one that thinks it is that big.

Worry less about how much you weigh. You are already small for your age, if anything, you need to bulk up!

Worry less about boys. You are 16, boys are a waste of time right now. Focus on you.

Worry less about being beautiful. 

Worry less about pleasing others. Being a pushover will get you nowhere and will crush your future confidence in the abilities and talents you have.

Be funny, be kind, be caring, be generous, be adventurous, be positive, be present!

If you could go back and give your 16 year old self a piece of advice, what would it be?

Don't be beautiful.

They keep saying that beautiful is something a girl needs to be.

But honestly? Forget that. Don't be beautiful.

Be angry, be intelligent, be witty, be klutzy, be interesting,

be funny, be adventurous, be crazy, be talented -

there are an eternity of other things

to be other than beautiful.

And what is beautiful anyway

but a set of letters strung together to make a word?

Be your own definition of amazing, always.

That is so much more important than anything beautiful, ever.

- Nikita Gill -

Photo taken by Mark Buckle.

Surrender.

Minnedosa Beach, Manitoba, Canada.

"Surrendering is the free-falling backwards into the unknown and trusting that The Universe will catch you. And this can't be done from a place of lack or a place of mistrust - OK, I'm releasing, you better come through beotch! - you have to give it all you've got and totally let it go for reals, you must fall back, have faith, be grateful, and wait. And while you're at it ...
Love yourself.
And the Motherlode shall bestow her magic upon you."

-Jen Sincero, You are a Badass, pg. 229-

I am complete.

Yoga has changed my life.

It has seen me through some pretty stressful times but it has helped to create better and brighter times.

When I get on my mat, I feel like a warrior, like my body is capable of whatever I ask it to do. Now, that is not actually the case but my mind wouldn't know any better. 

All it sees and thinks is perfection. 

When I am practicing yoga, I feel perfect.

 I feel like this is exactly the way that I am supposed to be. 

I have aimed for so long to find who I am, what my purpose is, and I think that yoga has helped me accomplish just that!

I am complete.

I hope that your day is filled with laughter, love, and positive vibes!

Happy International Yoga Day!!

Namaste <3

(Sorry for the grainy photos, they are from my instagram - which you should follow me on!)

I am just starting to learn forearm stand, so please mind my horrible form!

"An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward.
When life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it's going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming."

-Unknown-

I choose to be magic.

I choose to be a child of God.

I choose to love one man entirely.

I choose to see the world.

I choose to make people laugh. 

I choose to be around good and grounding energy.

I choose to inspire.

I choose to smile.

I choose to be magic.

I choose to be me.

As I was writing this out, I looked at it and saw something wrong. 

I originally wrote "I want" to all of these points. But "to want" and "to choose" are very different things. I am choosing to be happy, to love, to hold hands with God. 

To choose is to be great.

To choose is to live extraordinarily.

To choose is to achieve !

What do you choose?

Your authenticity is mesmerizing.

Your vulnerability is captivating.

Your flaws are enchanting.

Your light is breathtaking.

Your love is spellbinding.

You are magic.

- Creig Crippen -