New Release Tuesday

I heard this song on one of my favorite shows Mob Wives (Team Drita- holla at me!) and I fell in love. The song reminds me of Robin Thicke's music...smooth and sexy!

Enjoy!

I'm It!

I was tagged by Faith over at Life.Love&Marriage to join in the fun!

Here are the rules:

1) You must post the rules.
2) Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3) Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.
4) Tag 12 people and link them in your post.
5) Let them know you've tagged them!

12 Fun Facts About Me!

1) I'm the world's biggest klutz. No joke. If there's a way to walk into a wall, trip over an invisible crack in the  sidewalk, or spill food onto my clothing I will find it.

2) My favorite sound is the laugh The Princess does when she finds something really really funny - there's something about it that's so joyful & carefree.

3) I hate roller coasters. 

4) If I could have one thing for breakfast, it would be bacon. Bacon makes everything better :)

5) My hubby describes me as his arm candy and his trophy wife and you know what...I'm definitely ok with that ;)

6) I miss having time off for Rodeo Days....yes...in Tucson, you receive 2 days off from school in February because the rodeo is in town.

7) I'm claustrophobic.

8)  I had never heard of the band U2 until I met my first college roommate Tobey! Now they're one of my favorite bands.

9) I love the smell of bleach - it reminds me of when I was a kid and my mom would clean the house in a frenzy on Saturday mornings!

10) My dream car is '67 Pontiac GTO.

11) I never remember my dreams....unless I'm in prep...then I remember every single one of my dreams about food...lol

12) When I was in the 4th grade, I won a limo ride to school. It was the highlight of my year!

Answers to Faith's Questions!

1) If you could be given any gift, what would it be? 

More time - I never feel like I have enough time to spend with the ones I love - if I could have a few more hours in each day, that would be awesome!!

2) What is your favorite tv show of all time? 

Law & Order! doom doom! :)

3) If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be? 

Turks & Caicos - I saw a special on the Travel Channel about it a few years ago and I've wanted to go ever since!

4) What is your favorite item of clothing and why? 

I don't have a favorite...

5) Apple juice or orange juice? 

Orange but with no pulp

6) What is usually your first thought when you wake up? 

"Really? It's time?!?"

7) Name one thing you miss about being a kid

Being fearless and having a never-ending supply of optimism!

8) Name one thing you love about being an adult 

Being the boss of me! :)

9) What's your favorite song of the moment? 

Good Life by One Republic

10) Do you have any hidden talents? 

I've been told that I have a pretty good singing voice....

11) What would be your dream job? 

I'm proud to say that I now have my dream job! I'm a librarian - nothing cooler than that!

12) What's your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon? 

Hang out with my crazy family while enjoying some snacks and each other's company

My Tags

Chelsea at Git It Girl

Genie at Genie's Journey

Liz at Just Another Rep

Kerryne at My Fitness Journey

Stacy at KarateNurse

Britney at From Fat to Figure

Keelie at Sweat = Success

Becca at A Blog?! Srsly?!

My 12 Questions

1) How do you like your eggs?

2) Favorite movie quote

3) Last book you read

4) If you had $500 to spend on whatever you wanted, what would you buy?

5) What's your "go to" recipe?

6) What concert(s) will you be going to this year?

7) Favorite candy

8) What is the best piece of advice you've received?

9) What was the first job you ever had?

10) Do you untie your shoes before you take them off?

11) What is your best feature/body part/characteristic?

12) If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

New Release Tuesday

This song is just "meh" but the video cracks my sh!t up....I'm kind of evil...what can I say? :o)

Following In Other's Footsteps

Melissa from Melissa's Journey: To the Pro Figure Stage and Beyond! is nothing short of incredible. If you don't believe me, just check out her competition pictures from her last show where she competed despite being 8 weeks pregnant!! Tell me who you know that can look like a top level pro while carrying the newest member of their family inside of them??!!? Anywho, Melissa did a post entitled "According to G"  which was inspired by the post you can find HERE.

Often times I'm very uncomfortable in my own skin. I often feel like the ugly duckling in a world full of swans. So with these feelings in mind, I have decided to follow in the footsteps of both of these ladies. I am posting several pictures that when I see them I feel like a fiercer, more badass version of myself!

Bald & brawny - love it!!! :)

I won hardware in my hometown!

*last four photos are the work of Ana of Urban Chick Foto

Now it's your turn! What pictures do you have, that when you look at them, help you take off your blinders and see yourself in all of your awesomeness? Post a link in the comments section!!

So, What Exactly Are You Doing??

I love getting questions from people who read my blog! Questions range in topic from what are my favorite MAC products to what type of supplements I take.

I want to talk about a question I received recently where a reader asked,

"I know it's your off-season....so, what exactly are you doing?"

My off-season goals are different than most figure competitors. I am not aiming to gain additional muscle mass between now and when I start my next prep - in fact, I'm aiming to maintain (if not slightly decrease) the amount of muscle mass I currently have. My goals for the off-season are to stay as lean as possible while building shoulders like Dwight Howard, continuing Operation Build-A-Back, and tightening & rounding out my glutes. Hey, you gotta aim high - right?!?!? :)

I am averaging about 5 meals a day - mostly clean but I do allow myself a treat (like the Peanut Buster Parfait from Dairy Queen I'm currently consuming) when I want one. I'm still a member of Jug Nation but am enjoying the freedom of sipping Coke Zero Vanilla soda or Rolling Rock beer when I come home :)

I am still participating in the Mile-A-Day challenge  and while I'm not falling in love with running, my level of despise for it is slowly decreasing. I haven't had a lunch date with the StairMonster in quite some time but next month I plan to switch out a couple of running days in the week for these lunch dates (woo-fricking-hoo!). 

I'll leave you with the back workout I did last week that might be one of my favorites yet!

Dumbbell rows

40 x 8 (2 sets), 45 x 8 (2 sets), 50 x 8 (2 sets)

T-bar rows

90 x 6 (2 sets), 115 x 6 (2 sets)

Lat pulldown

105 x 8, 120 x 7, 135 x 5

High cable rope row

50 x 10, 60 x 10, 70 x 10, 80 x 1o

Iso-lateral low row

70 x 6 (2 sets), 90 x 6 (2 sets)

That's What's Up Thursday

source


Have you ever looked at someone and
thought to yourself,
"If only I could look like that..."???

I feel like that every time I look at this woman...
EVERY time!!

She's gorgeous, has a bangin' body, and
is going to be a force to reckon with
in the sport of bikini.

IFBB Bikini Pro Talia Therese - now that's what's up!!!!

New Release Tuesday

My love for Common runs deep!

The man is like Dove chocolate for my eyes....smooth, chocolately, tasty....you feel me....he's so intelligent and his lyrics reflect that...they're like poetry...and I just enjoy just letting his music wash over me....yep, I got it bad....

Survey Saturday

I was lurking on Christina's blog, Hungry Meets Healthy, and saw that she did this survey. It looked fun so I stole borrowed it ;)

1. What time did you get up this morning? 8:30...I blame last night's partying for my sleeping so late :)

Party time! Chelsea from Git It Girl turned 40!!! 

2. How do you like your steak? Medium or medium well

3. What was the last movie you saw at the theater? Umm.....it's been so long since I've gone to the movies, I don't remember!

4. What is your favorite TV show? I have a lllooonnnggg list which includes Once Upon A Time, Modern Family, Mob Wives, and Law & Order (yes, I know new episodes are no longer airing but I will watch any episode that's on no matter how many times I've seen it!)

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Hmmm....maybe Seattle or Washington D.C.

6. What did you have for breakfast? Nothing yet....waiting for Tom to decided he wants to take me out for breakfast ;)

7. Do you wear glasses or contacts?  I'm supposed to wear glasses but they're often on my desk instead of my face

8. What food do you despise? Soggy bread

9. Favorite Place to Eat? My inner fat girl cannot commit to only one favorite place....but I do love Cafe A La Carte, Bobo's, El Guero Canelo, McDonald's (stop your gasping & judging!), and Dairy Queen

10. Favorite dressing? Ranch

11. What’s your favorite movie? The Godfather

12. What are your favorite clothes? Jeans, workout clothes

In my comfy spot wearing my comfy clothes :)

13. Where would you visit, this weekend, if you had the chance? San Diego - I fell in love with the city when I went for the Border States competition

14. How many tattoos do you have? 8

15. Where would you want to retire? Turks & Caicos

16. What is your desktop photo? Don't have one

17. Where were you born? Richmond, VA

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Football, basketball, boxing

19. How many siblings? 1 sister, 1 brother

Let's thank Olan Mills for this flashback!

20. Favorite pastime/hobby? Reading, working out

21. Coffee Drinker?  Yep

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night

24. Do you have any pets?  3 dogs and a few fish

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Not that I can think of

26. What did you want to be when you were little? An obstetrician, ballerina, or boxer

27.  What is your favorite color? Black, orange

28. Are you a cat or dog person? Dog....I had a horrible experience with a cat when I was younger & I've never recovered

29. Are you married? I am someone's old lady :)

30. Always wear your seat belt? Of course!

31. Been in a car accident? Heck no!

32. Any pet peeves? People who talk sh!t behind your back, drivers who cut you off on the freeway, soggy bread, crybabies.

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? Feta cheese, jalapenos

34. Favorite Flower? Don’t have one. 

35. Favorite ice cream? Rocky road

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? McDonald's

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Passed with a 98% on the first try....booyah!

38. From whom did you get your last email? Lucy

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? MAC or Coach

40. Like your job? Love it! Providing people free access to information, teaching the public that the Pima County Public Library is more than books, making people re-evaluate their perceptions of what a librarian is....yep, I have one of the best jobs in the world!!! 

That's What's Up Thursday

source

I love to see competitors

who refuse to give up despite 

not placing well & being told they need to

change/soften their physiques.

This woman continues to persevere

and bring a package to the stage that is 

out of this world! I think 2012 will

be an incredible year for her!

IFBB Figure Pro Ann Titone - now that's what's up!!!

New Release Tuesday

This song makes me want to put on my "goin' out clothes", dance &drink the night away, and cap the night off with a trip to the taco truck :)

Great addition to your cardio playlist - enjoy!

My Week at a Glance

Number of miles run: 8
I missed one day of the running challenge due to migraines. I chose to lay in the dark and silently pray for my head to fall off versus trying to walk fast run!

Number of workouts in a gym: 2
If I want to workout during my work day, I head to the Gold's Gym that's a short walk from my work. It's not my home gym but it serves its purpose. However, I think the fact that I'm not as comfortable there as I am at my home gym prevents me from working out there consistently. I hit up shoulders Tuesday and biceps & triceps on Thursday. My focus during the off-season in regards to my shoulders is to make them look like this:

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or this:

source

Number of books I've read: 4
I'm a librarian, a nerd, a bookworm. Would you expect anything less?? :) I've read the first three books in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich and while I won't put them on my list of "Favorite Reads", I could understand why so many of the library's patrons gravitate towards to the series. I also finished a book entitled Nemesis by an incredible Norwegian author by the name of Jo Nesbo. I'm addicted to his work....it's to the point where I literally squealed out loud and jumped up & down when I arrived at work on Thursday and saw  a copy of his latest novel "The Leopard" sitting on the 3-Week Express shelf. I snatched it up, checked it out, and plan on starting it as soon as I finish my chores today!

Number of jalapeno muenster cheese bagels consumed: 1
One of the perks of working in downtown Tucson is being surrounded by so many locally owned, tasty restaurants. Arizona Bagel and Deli has incredible bagels of all flavors but it's the jalapeno muenster cheese that makes my inner fat girl giggle with delight. I'm trying to limit my visits to the deli but let's be honest, we all know I have no self-control when it comes to food!

Number of snack bags received from my mother: 4
My mom handed me a shopping bag when I went to pick up The Princess after I got off work on Wednesday. In the bag was a treasure....an addictive treasure that is not helping me win my fight against the fluff! The shopping bag contained four bags of these:

source

I can't stop eating them. I want to walk away from them but I don't know how!!! Someone stage an intervention!!!

Number of times I was told that I need to open up to people: 1
I was talking with a close friend and she made a comment about the fact that I am so hesitant to trust other people and share my feelings. I will be the first to admit that I keep people at a distance and have to remind myself during the times when I feel like I have no one to turn to or lean on, that it's my doing. I decided after that conversation that I am going to actively work on being more open and trusting. It scares me but it's something I definitely need to work on.

So there you have it - my week at a quick glance! What about you? What happened in your life last week?

A Personal Challenge

There is an elderly gentleman that lives in our neighborhood and based on my observations, it appears that he may have suffered from a stroke or some type of brain injury. Every morning, I see this gentleman either in his garage slowly pedaling his exercise bike or walking slowly up the sidewalk with his cane while stopping every few steps to do bending & kicking movements. His feet drag, his movements are slow, yet you can see the determination on his face to keep moving & get stronger.

I realized that if this gentleman can get out of bed, rain or shine, and push himself to become stronger then I can do this same. I have no excuse for not doing the things I know I need to do in order to become a stronger, healthier version of myself.

source

With that in mind, I decided that I would participate in The Sweaty Betties January Mile-a-Day Challenge. I think I've expressed to y'all how much I despise running but one of my goals for the off-season is to really give running a try. This is where the Mile-a-Day challenge comes in - it's simple - run or walk one mile each day this month. I didn't find out about the challenge until late last night so I lost one day but I did complete day 1 today! I'm tweaking the challenge for myself just a little and instead of one mile each day, I am going to attempt to do 2 miles. That might not seem like a big deal to those of you who run on a consistent basis but for me, it's going to definitely take effort. 

Someone should have told me just because you
put on running shorts, that doesn't make you a runner :)

So there you have it, I'm starting off the new year walking at a semi-fast pace running and praying that the rubbing together of my inner thighs will not set my shorts on fire! *fingers crossed*