"The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles."

Monday! Monday! Monday! Such a cold morning but I pumped out 6 miles to get started! I wore one of my new Lululemom running jackets! It was so cute and kept me warm! It was very slushy and slippery, but I was so glad I did it! 

After my full time job was done, I headed to Kittery for a quick 3 hour shift at Lululemon! We had such a fun night! 

I got home and Cyn made tacos for dinner! My favorite! We watched Home Alone and headed to bed! 

Tuesday morning was in the negative degrees! Yikes! I decided to change plans and make it a hot yoga morning! I went to a 90 minute vinyasa flow with the wonderful Heidi! Such an amazing release and acceptance! 

It was the first time I was able to rock a full Lululemon outfit! I love this maroon/ plum color! 

After work I had 3 trainings! The snow started coming down around 4 but that didn't stop us! We went to Stockhouse for wing night with Pam, Pete (x2), Murph & the boys! Yum! 

We got home turned on the Christmas pandora station "Let it snow" - lit the tree - poured the hot chocolate & watched the snow come down with Cyn & Bela! What a perfect Tuesday evening! 

Wednesday morning we were hoping to wake up to a snow day, but the roads were quite clear. Still slushy and smaller than usual so I headed to Zone 3 Fitness to jump on the treadmill for 9 miles. Yuck, boy do I hate running distance on a treadmill but on a day like today it was my only choice. I also took part in the strength circuit training class! I was sweaty and exhausted after all that! I did use the motivation on the wall to be me charged up and moving! 

I had a great meeting to end my day and headed home to Bela to relax for the evening! I got a bunch of paperwork done and ended up falling asleep on the couch by 7 PM! Yikes! When Cyn got home she woke me up quickly and I put together some BLTs for dinner! 

Happy Thursday! What a great day to spend recovering! Had a crazy day running around, but all in all successful! I had 3 wonderful trainings after work and got some great finds Christmas Shopping with my sister! 'Tis the Season! Cutest wrapping paper ever, right?!

We spent our evening cleaning and wrapping & getting ready for our busy weekend ahead!  

Friday morning started out great with a quick 3 mile run and Christmas music! We had our work Holiday Party in Portsmouth! A good time was had by ALL! 

After I had a quick shift at Lululemon! We had a great night educating and having a dance party! 

Saturday morning I was up and on the road again to work 9-3 in Kittery! We wore our Holiday Sweaters! What a fun group of people I work with! 

After I headed home we went Caroling at the Rairdon's! What a great turn out to show the true meaning of Christmas! (Photos by the Dorn Family and Murph)

From there we had our friends over to celebrate together! We always have so much fun when we get together! 

Erin took a few family photos for us! I love these two!

Sunday morning we finally got to sleep in!  We went to my grandmother to celebrate Christmas and enjoy some great food together! 

We had so much yummy food we were all snuggled up on the couch! 

We got to listen to Grammie play the organ and had my favorite Italian cookies! 

Sunday evening we went to Pete & Murph's for dinner and to build Gingerbread Houses! 

We had a great time with the Rairdon's and were able to remember the true meaning of Christmas! 

What a crazy week it has been, but truly full of love and family! 

Remember: "The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles."

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” - Mark Twain

Monday we woke up to a snowy day! I headed to hot yoga to warm up and stretch out! It felt so good! After work we had dinner with Pammy and ran to the mall to get some Christmas Shopping done! 

Tuesday I bundled up and got out for a 6 mile run in the flurries! It started off very cold but I was quickly warmed up! What a beautiful sunrise! 

After work I had 2 fitness classes to teach and the kids were wild today. After I headed home to a quiet house got some studying done! 

Wednesday morning I bundled up and got in another 6 miler. Not a great time, but proud of myself for getting up and going! 

What a beautiful sunrise! 

After work I headed to Kittery for a quick 3 hour shift at Lululemon! I had a great night with some amazing people! I also made my first purchase... 3 bags later! Lol!

Thursday morning was my off day from exercise! I got up and grabbed my favorite Starbucks Caramel Brûlée Latte! Yum! 

I headed to Portsmouth for our monthly meeting and what a beautiful sunrise! 

After work I had 3 trainings! My Dryland kids were so energized and excited for there big meet this weekend so we changed things up a bit! They were having fun with the jump ropes! 

After I bundled up and met my family out at Merry Madness! We had so much fun and I got to hang out with the birthday girl! :)

TGIF! Friday morning was my 9 miler! It was snowy and cold! Ah so nice to start the day with some exercise. Talk about waking up quickly! Brrr! 

I had a busy day at work followed by one training! We had a great time and got to try some new exercises! 

After I picked up Bela and we headed to my parents to celebrate Christmas with my sisters! It's such a busy time of year that one of my sisters wasn't able to make it, but we made the best of it! Quinn loved his new remote control car! 

I headed home and was ready for bed! Bela was too.... Patiently waiting for the magic word to come snuggle! Lol

Saturday morning I was up before the sun! Made the trek to Kittery for a morning shift at Lululemon! What a beautiful sky! 

I had a great shift at work and was hoping to head to MA for a race but the weather coming we decided to stay home. We were able to attend the Bernier Christmas Party! Emma and I got to sing Christmas Carols together! I love her!

We headed to Pete & Murphs for the rest of the night to relax and have dinner! 

Sunday morning was a blizzard! We got a ton of snow! I got up and headed to Dunkin for our Coffees then made Eggs and Bacon! Mmmm! We spent the morning relaxing and cleaning! 

We went to Pam & Pete's to help them decorate their tree! And bake cookies ;) 

Later we went to the Magic of Christmas! What a great way to get into the holiday spirit! 

Fun with my cousin Meg!

Then grabbed some dinner at Nosh!

We had a crazy week and our busy, snowy weekend gave my legs a good rest period! I hate taking 2 days off in a row but sometimes it just the way the cookie crumbles!

I have been trying to make decisions that will effect me in a positive way and allow me to reach my new goals and attain my dreams! 

The best part of getting started with a new goal, new hobby, new dream is that you're taking steps in the direction that will get you there! 

Remember: “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” - Mark Twain

"Life is such a gift."

A dark and dreary Monday morning doesn't make it easy to get moving especially after a week off, but I did it! Waking up miserable from my cold I was out the door to try to sweat it out at hot yoga! I'll tell ya, being in downward dog with a runny nose is NOT fun, but I will say I was revived after a hot shower! It felt like I got all my nasal congestion out... For a few hours! It was a nice idea, but it didn't clear me completely! After a busy first day back I has one training after work to break back into the swing of things! We had a nice long, dark, chilly walk but it was nice to catch up! Once I got home I took Bela out for another walk  and snuggled up on the couch until Cyn got home! 

We rented the movie 2 Guns and it was soooooo good! Definitely recommend it! We snuggled up on the couch, the THREE of us! The house feels so cozy with the tree up! 

I even got to endulged in my favorite holiday treat! Cracker Brittle! Yummm! It's a must have around this time of year!

Tuesday morning was surprisingly warm! Up in the 40s! Woo! I got in 8 miles and it felt so good! It's been over a week since I've run and it was nice to get my long one in! It wasn't my best time, but I'll take it for being sick!

After work I had 2 trainings! One with my kids fitness class and the other with my Dryland kids! Boy did I miss them! We had a blast! 

I ran home and grabbed Bel and went to my parents to hang out an have dinner! I helped them put up Christmas decorations and ornaments on the tree! I really love this time of year! 

I decorated our table as soon as I got home to get ready for our party Sunday! 

Wednesday was my circuit training day! I went to Zone 3 Fitness for an hour cardio/strength class! It was just the change of pace I needed! It's a beautiful facility with new equipment I definitely recommend trying a class over there! 

They have a goal board that I love! It keeps people motivated and working hard! They also have words of encouragement scattered around the facility! 

My Mom got her Knee surgery today and was such a champ! I went to check on her and we did a little more decorating! I came up with a cute centerpiece idea and got all the stuff from GoodWill! Let me know your thoughts! 

I had 1 training and we had a beautiful sky for our last night outside! 

We had a surprise visit from my sister with her BRAND NEW CAR! It's beautiful and I couldn't be more happy for her! She deserves it!  

Such a perfect evening at our house! 'Twas 21 nights before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse! 

Thursday morning I hit the road for a 5 miler! Another slow one because of my cold, but I was glad to get it in! After work I had 2 trainings and we headed to my parents for dinner and The Sound of Music! We had a fun night with my family! Aunt Kate and Bela definitely missed each other! 

 

Friday was my day off of exercise. I had a busy day and a long evening, but was lucky to be surrounded by such amazing family! We ended the night at Stockhouse. Love these two goofballs! 

Saturday morning I got up and bundled for a quick 5 miler and had another family filled day. It was a beautiful morning. So much love and support. ❤️ 

All 3 babies wanted to sit with auntie! Just missing Cameron! 

Sunday morning we got up and turbo cleaned for our first Holiday Party! We had an Ornament Party! Everyone was asked to bring and old, new, handmade or purchased ornament to help us decorate our FIRST Christmas Tree! We had so much fun and were so grateful to everyone who came! It was just what we needed to get into the holiday spirit! 

Later we made the trip to John & Donna's to visit and watch some football! 

It's been an emotional week but truly so much positivity has come from such a tragity. I find it so inspirational to see so many people I love being so strong and supportive of one another. It has really made me reevaluate my life. Life is such a gift and we are lucky to have all of the things we do. It's so easy to take things for granted and want bigger, better, newer things. Take a moment to look at the world around you. You are blessed by so many big and small, new and old things in your life. Take it all in and feel the blessing you've been given. 

Remember: "LIFE IS SUCH A GIFT."