Are you a Fashionista?!!!

TGIF, friends!  I hope you've all had fun and productive weeks. 

I'm dedicating today's blog to a friend of mine, Danielle Nelsen!  After what could have been a set-back she decided to pursue her dream job of owning her own retail boutique!  Danielle was laid off from her job and rather than let that frustrate her and discourage her, she rallied with her friends and family and is finally celebrating this exciting adventure in her life THIS weekend!

Fashionista Exchange is a upscale resale boutique in Overland Park, KS.  She carries women's clothing size 0-16 including designer shoes, handbags and accessories.  She's also gone as far as to find local designers to add even more excitement to her store with awesome handmade jewelry and other super-fun and cute things.  For more info and details go to Fashionista Exchange!

I've had the opportunity to work with Danielle on the professional level as well, as she an advertiser in the magazine, and her preparation and research and hard work have been so inspiring and exciting.  The fabulous pink decor and adorably dressed window models make it impossible NOT to stop into the store for a look around.  With the resale model, her inventory will change often.  Not to mention if you have some gently used, name brand things you aren't using these days, Danielle will pay cash on the spot!

Stop into the store whenever you can, but the big celebration is tomorrow, June 25th from 2p-6p.   She will be providing refreshments and also doing some great sales and giveaways.  It's a great chance to spend some time with your girlfriends and find great clothes at even better prices.  The cool part of the buying model is that she will buy during business owners.  So ladies, clean out your closets, make a little cash, and find some great new treasures at this fabulous new store!  

And Danielle, congrats!!!  I'm so excited for you....and I'm wearing my new skirt today :).  Thank you!

xoxo,
ryann

We all have that person....

First of all - Happy, Happy bday to one of my very best friends in the world, Cynthia Jordan!!!  I can't spell your new last name, so I'm sticking to the old one.  I hope you have an amazing day.  One of my very favorite memories is your 21st bday trip to Long Island.  Loved it, and you!  xoxoxo

Okay...back to the point at hand.  We all have that one person in our life.....or maybe more than that....that we used to be friends with.  And somewhere along the way we were forced to fire them due to toxic behavior.  I may admit, I have more than one....way more than that.  But, what happens when you've fired this person, but the other people in your life haven't?  You constantly run the risk of running into this person, listening to your other friends talk about this person, and worse yet, KNOWING you'll be in the same social setting with this person. 

I don't know about you, but this causes some pretty high anxiety for me.  I know, I know, I'm working on controlling my thoughts and feelings, but I will admit I haven't entirely mastered it.  So, as I prepare to be in the same social setting with this person (okay, I admit it, I'm focusing one particular person here), a million scenarios run through my head.  It's been over a year since I've seen or spoken to this person.  And, I still have nothing nice to say.

So, I guess what I'm asking is....how do I handle this social situation?  Say hello?  Don't say hello?  Ignore?  Smile and be polite?   What would you do?!

Thanks for the help and input here, friends.  Have a wonderful Thursday.

xoxo,
ryann 

Triathlete?

I believe I may have reached a new level of craziness.  I'm about 90% certain I am going to train for a triathlon on August 28th in Paola, KS.  The problem....I'm not a swimmer.  I do have home court advantage for the biking part as I've been biking around that lake since I was 12.....I also have an advantage of endurance being only about 6 weeks past my last long race.  BUT, again, I'm not a swimmer. Luckily, this race has what they call a "sprint," meaning it's a 10.42 mile bike, 5k run, and just under a half mile swim.  Yikes!

However, I am fortunate to have a WONDERFUL friend who is a swimmer and has offered to help.  Jen Pottinger claims, depending upon my current skill level in the pool (low), she can help me get there.  Let me make this clear.  I can swim to save my life.  I can float.  I even know what the stroke is supposed to look like.  What I lack is grace and a rhythm.  I'm hoping this is where Jen comes in.:)

I've found a few websites that talk about training for you first triathlon and some training schedules, so I'm hoping those come in handy.  I've gone as far as to freeze my Title Boxing Club membership and RE-join 24 Hour Fitness to have access to a pool.  I guess all I need is a bathing suit (apparently my green bikini isn't suitable for training), some googles, and a swim cap.  I've seen what chlorine does to hair...I'm not above a swim cap.

Soooo...now that's it out there, I guess I have to do it.  I will be making a trip to Target and/or Wal-Mart sometime this week and hope to get started on Monday.  Wish me luck, kiddos.

xoxo,
ryann

What you focus on expands....

The last two books I've listened to are Lynn Grabhorn's "Excuse Me: Your Life is Waiting" and James Arthur Ray "Harmonic Wealth: The Secret of Attracting the Life you Want." They both have very similar messages delivered two very different ways.  I went as far as to buy and check out these books at the library to review the material.  And though the message is different, the idea is simple: What you focus on EXPANDS.

I don't know about you, but for me, this couldn't be more true.  By nature, I'm a worrier.  I'm a high strung individual.  I analyze and reanalyze everything.   And focus on the negative.  I worry about paying off my debt, losing weight, being successful at work.  Not that these aren't real problems in my life...and you probably have a few that you focus on as well.  But what both Grabhorn and Ray make very clear is that the more you focus on what you DON'T want...the more you get of just that. 

They go as far as to say that the Universe/God/Higher Power that you believe in  grant ALL of your wishes.  And they don't understand negative words.  So saying I don't want anymore debt....the Universe hears "I want more debt."  I don't want to gain weight becomes "I want to gain weight."  I tell you what, THIS was a huge wake up call for me.  It's more than "thoughts becoming things" - it's controlling your thoughts in a way that paints the exact picture of what you DO want.  "I want to be a consistent performer at work.  I want to hit my monthly goals and earn more commission."  They also say that thinking/feeling in the PRESENT tense is important.  "I am a consistent performer at my job. I hit my monthly goals and earn more commission each month." 

It's hard....believe me, I'm trying and I catch myself a THOUSAND times a day rewording my "thoughts" I'm projecting into the The Universe.  But when I think about it, it makes sense.  I promise you that my constant worry about debt certainly hasn't made it disappear.  And my constant worry about weight hasn't made that disappear either.  So, perhaps these folks are onto something.  Though there may not be a lot of "scientific" information to back these ideas up, I feel as if turning all worries and concerns in to "I wants and I haves" has to be more productive than the alternative.

Food for thought on your Tuesday morning. 
How do you feel about these ideas?  Any proof to back up them up or negate them?  Any other authors that discuss these same points that you'd like to share? 

Have a great day!

xoxo,
ryann 

Monday, Monday....

Good morning friends!
Sorry I'm a few minutes late this morning!

Oh Monday.  I have a love/hate relationship with Monday.  I know, it's the beginning of the work week and often follows a super fun weekend (at least that's the case in my world!)  But, it's often an opportunity to wash off whatever yucky stuff is left over my last week and start fresh.

I don't know about you guys, but my diet starts over every Monday!!!  I also commit to my work out schedule, not spending a fortune on stupid stuff I don't need, not drinking as much, and actually getting some sleep.  Every week in the summer, this is my life!  And every Friday...I'm back to waiting til Monday to get back on track.

So, my commitment to myself this Monday is this:
At least 2 great workouts w/ my trainer
At least 9-12 miles logged
Sticking to my diet (tator tots are not a food group)
No drinking until Friday (my friend Andrea's 40th bday partyyyy!!!!) 
Not going out to eat at night.  (I work in sales, I can't commit to not having to buy lunch on the road!)
Having a great week at work and setting myself up to have a KILLER July.

What goals have you set for yourself this week? 

xoxo,
ryann

To let go is to open a door...

Happy Friday, friends!
I was debating all kinds of way to bring up something that's been bothering me about a few situations without being negative.  After chatting with one of my closest friends yesterday about a person in her/our lives and realizing that people only change when they want to change and that we just have to accept them and let them go....this seemed perfect for today.  I'm sure we all have that person/thing/situation that we should let go but we're afraid of for one reason or another.  Perhaps this will help.  Again, borrowing from 
http://positive-thoughts.typepad.com/positive-thoughts/.

To let go isn't to forget, not to think about, or ignore.  It doesn't leave feelings of anger, jealousy, or regret.

Letting go isn't about winning or losing.  It's not about pride and it's not about how you appear, and it's not obsessing or dwelling on the past.

Letting go isn't blocking memories or thinking sad thoughts, and it doesn't leave emptiness, hurt, or sadness.  It's not about giving in or giving up.

Letting go isn't about loss and it's not about defeat.  To let go is to cherish the memories, but to overcome and move on.  It is having an open mind and confidence in the future.

Letting go is learning and experiencing and growing.  To let go is to be thankful for the experiences that made you laugh, made you cry, and made you grow.  It's about all that you have, all that you had, and all that you will soon gain.

Letting go is having the courage to accept change, and the strength to keep moving.  Letting go is growing up.  It is realizing that the heart can sometimes be the most potent remedy.
 
To let go is to open a door, and to clear a path and set yourself free.     
 
Leonard Jacobson

Post-race blues...

I never knew this actually existed.  Upon some more research, it's actually quite common for a person that trains for a long race has a period post-race that is somewhat melancholy.  Running doesn't sound fun.  Lack of motivation takes over.  And the need to fill the time once spent training is often tough to deal with. 

After training for my first half marathon in the Spring of 2010, I was so relieved when it was over!  And had no problem getting back in the gym!  But after my second race in May 2011, I fear that I'm feeling a little post-race blues.  I find it so hard to motivate myself to keep running.  I keep letting myself slack off, miss workouts, and not finish short runs at full speed.  I took the suggested "1 day off per distance ran" and haven't found a schedule that works for me since.  I'm sure that it doesn't help that I love training with my trainers at F3 Fitness (www.f3-fitness.com) and taking a boxing class at Title Boxing Club on 76th and Stateline (www.titleboxingclub.com) AND playing at least 3 days of week of volleyball.  

What I keep challenging myself to do is run at least 15 miles a week.  3 miles 5 days a week.  5 miles 3 days a week...or whatever combo works.  The most I've done is 9 miles in a week.  Does anyone have any advice on how to get over the post-race blues.  Or perhaps I should just focus on lifting and boxing and take a few more weeks off and not worry about it.  Currently my plan is to start training for the Kansas City Half Marathon in October around the mid/end of July.  Will it hurt the endurance I've built by not doing a lot of running between here and there?

And input is appreciated!!!  And tonight...I will play more volleyball :)

Have a great day, friends! 

xoxo,
ryann