my serenity

I enjoy exercise. 

But if there are two forms of exercise I truly, truly love, they are running and yoga. 

You know those people who say that exercise makes them feel happy? I am one of those people. 

Running has been a hobby of mine for quite a few years, now. I admit, in the past, running and I have had a bit of a love-hate relationship. You know, sometimes running is exhausting and hurts and makes me feel old (and i'm only 20). Sometimes it is too cold and running in that weather hurts my ears. Sometimes its really hot outside and the heat seems to drain every ounce of energy out of my body. I have a bad hip and sometimes running really bugs it. BUT despite all that, the feeling after you've finished a good, long run is fabulous. I crave that feeling almost daily. The very best is when you're actually running and you feel so good. Endorphins are yummy.

Running is such therapy for me. Especially when life is throwing me a lot of lemons, I find that running puts my head back on straight and helps me see and think clearer. Running is a blessing.

My newest exercise addiction is YOGA! Holy guacamole, I am madly, head-over-heels, crazy in-love with blessed, beautiful yoga. I will even go as far to say that I love yoga more than running. I. Love. Yoga. I've been doing yoga for several months now, but already I'm feeling/seeing benefits from my practices. I like to be open minded about different, foreign forms of exercise but yoga was always one I was a little iffy about. I had the stereotypical mind and thought yoga was a bunch of sitting like Yoda and humming with my hands in a funny position on my knees. I was sure that yoga wasn't at all a work out. Then I tried yoga and learned BOY was I wrong. Yes, yoga is hard. It puts you into positions you swear you could never get into, but with practice, honor and a good attitude, you'll get that position sooner than you'd ever imagine! (something i've learned from experience). Yoga is most definitely a workout! Not only a physical work out but also a mental and spiritual workout. There is something about beautiful yoga that works your whole entire body and soul in a magnificent way and after your practice, you feel like a million bucks that is forming into a beautiful, toned, sane individual. Why wouldn't you want that?
Yoga, too, calms me down and settles my heart. The yoga class I take is late at night and is in the dark with the heat on full blast. It doesn't sound fun, I know, but it is, don't worry. My instructor, Jen, is the most beautiful, uplifting person, I'm sure she is half the reason I adore yoga so much. I'm thankful for the outlook on yoga that she has given me. Yoga is a blessing.

Now that Spring/Summer is finally here/on its way, this means hiking season is coming and I also love hiking! I'm anxious to begin cycling as another form of exercise, too, and see how I like that. Then, of course, there is also the gym...I'm still learning to love "lifting," but this exercise, like the rest of them, leaves me feeling good, refreshed and accomplished. Exercise is a blessing.

I'm so excited to one day be a person who can help other people appreciate exercise and find the good in it rather than the bad. I'm anxious to help people be open-minded about being in shape and being physically active. I believe that exercise really is a blessing and a gift that I hope everyone, one day, can appreciate and take part in! 

i hate the fact that i've been forced into being a morning person

I like to look cute. When I go out for the day, I like to be ready. I like to look presentable. Usually. However, waking up at 5-5:30am most mornings, sometimes puts a damper on my lets-get-cute-and-ready attitude. I still try to look at least socially acceptable, but the outcome is never what it would normally be if I woke up at 9 or 10 and had 1-2 hours to get ready. 

The typical Monday/Wednesday/Friday morning goes as follows, typically, for me:

• Roll, grumpily and very sleepily out of bed at 5:15ish, usually
• Say my prayers
• Put on my outfit I chose the previous night
• Stick my iPod in my ears
• Wander up two floors to my bathroom
• Put in my contacts
• Put on my make up (depending on how good i woke up that morning, decides how good my make up will look...aka the time i will spend on it)
• Brush and floss all my teethies
• Put on deodorant 
• Brush my hair
• Do my hair (same rules apply as with my make up, here)
• Drench myself with my body spray (vanilla lace=yum)
• Find some comfy shoes and put them on 
• Gather up all my school stuff and put it in my giant, cute backpack (on fridays i take my guitar)
• Grab a Cliff Bar and a Chocolate Soy Milk
• Find my keys
• Walk out to my Jeep
• Off to school, goes ChelseaKate - leave by 6:25

The typical Tuesday/Thursday, however goes this way:

• Get out of bed around 7, a little happier on these days seeing as I get to sleep in a little longer
• Say my prayers
• Find a cute outfit (these days i have more time to spend on myself)
• Grab my iPod
• Go upstairs and see what's for breakfast
• Eat breakfast
• Go up to my bathroom
• Put in my contacts
• Do my make up, hair, all that getting ready jazz
• Gather up my school stuff
• Find my keys
• Walk out to my Jeep
• Off to school, goes ChelseaKate - leave by 9:20

There is no typical Saturday. That is my "be spontaneous day."

Sunday isn't too different from school days, except some mornings I'm running around my house like crazy trying to prepare for my primary lesson. Oh, we have church at 9. Um, I can't wait til next year. 11 o'clock church sounds like heaven.

Reading...Someday, I will.

Since, forever, I've maintained a strong, love/hate relationship with reading. I've always loved the idea of reading. You know, curling up in a blanket by the fireplace, on a rainy day and getting lost in the world of your text. It sounds so lovely. However, I've never been one to achieve that pretty imagery.

My problem is, I begin a book, and the second something happens I don't like, (which usually seems to be very early on in the book) I put the book down...forever. Sadly, I even did this with books I was assigned to read in school.

There is the rare occasion I finish a book, and enjoy reading it, but this probably happens less than once a year. Here's to hoping with time, I'll change and become that pleasant looking lady, reading, peacefully by the fireplace.

Encyclopedia of Yours Truly

My mommy-dear got this idea from her friend, Landee.

The idea is awesome. So, I, like my mommy, have decided to copy her, as well.

Its a doozy trying to explain this "project" so bear with me.

I'm going to be doing posts...about me. Like...random facts/things about yours truly.

They could be long, or they could be short. You'll never know.

It is called, "Me: The Abridged Version."

The idea behind this, is one day, to compile a book...as my mom put it, an Encyclopedia of Chelsea.

My future family can read through it and learn about good ol' Chelsea and what goes on inside her mind.

Get it?! Kinda-maybe?!

Sorry, I did say it was hard to explain.

Anywho... I'll be labeling these posts as "Yours Truly" or maybe, "M:TAV." Also, I'll label them with whatever letter the post begins with... type thing.

Holy, I feel like I'm blabbering in a different language.

How about this. This: davmarwalker.blogspot.com is my mommy's blog. She explains it better. Read hers, if you feel interested in learning about my "project." I believe the title of her post is, "Well, here goes nothin'!"

Enjoy it.

I guess in the words of my mother, dearest...

Here goes nothin'!