Learn to Enjoy Every Minute of your Life

It’s been so long since my last blog post! Time is flying by & in all honesty my mind hasn’t really been all there when it comes to sharing my thoughts, feelings or ideas with everyone. As most of you know, Joe & I get married next month. On top of that we are getting ready to move into our new home so there has been a lot going on all at once. Today I wanted to write about how I have been dealing with all the changes that are happening in my life + managing my hobbies, family & friends. I think it is safe to say that we all go through periods in our lives where we feel overwhelmed & have a hard time finding time to just BE. So if anything that I suggest or recommend can help even one person, then I will be happy J

For my fellow brides out there I have one piece of advice for you *E N J O Y. T H E . P R O C E S S * Wedding planning can be really stressful especially when it gets closer to the date. You will have one vendor appointment after the next & will have to make a lot of decisions. At the end of the day, you have to remember that this is supposed to be the happiest time in your life. So yes, at the moment you might be super overwhelmed with everything you have to do but in the blink of an eye it will be over. So enjoy the craziness & don’t lose sight of what it is all about.

For those who are getting ready to move out of their homes for the first time ( Yes, I am 28 & still live at home & love every bit of it) *E M B R A C E. C H A N G E* I feel so lucky to have been able to stay at home with my parents until the wedding. They have been the biggest supporters & I thank God every day for them. Although we are not moving far, leaving home is definitely really hard for me.  I get so sad thinking about leaving the house I spent my whole life in. However, I keep telling myself that this new chapter will be amazing, my family will ALWAYS be there, that house will always be there the memories there will be in my heart and new memories will be made.

Find an outlet. For me, it is clipping into a Soul Cycle bike or plugging in my headphone at the gym and escaping for an hour. It is the time that keeps me grounded when everything around me is happening so fast. Everyone deserves to have that. So no matter what that outlet might be for you, find it. Whether it is reading, listening to music, yoga, running, writing..make sure to give yourself the time YOU need.

Check in with your family & friends. I never like the excuse “ I am too busy”. It takes two seconds to reach out to someone to see how they are. Sometimes life gets in the way & we can see our family & friends as often as we like but always find the time to check in, it can brighten someone’s day.

So guys, this is most likely my last blog post until August ( I will try to blog beforehand). In case I don’t though, I wish you the best summer. I hope that you laugh endlessly you,  you do what you love & that you live life to the fullest.

All my love,

Ash

Ps: full wedding post when I return!!!

Tips to Stay on track this Summer!

HI friends! 

Summer is around the corner! Can you believe it?! This year is flying by. Life starts to get really hectic right about now, at least for me! The next three months there is so much going on but all really exciting, life changing, fun, memorable things! 

With summer just a few weeks away & all the craziness going on it is important to stay motivated & remain accountable for your goals. It is very easy to give up. I have heard a few of these things the past weeks. " Oh, summer is to close now I will never achieve my goals." " I am too busy, I have no time to workout." " I am surrounded by so much bad food, so I just have to eat bad". WRONG, WRONG & TRIPLE WRONG FRIENDS!

Here are my tips to getting yourself back on track & staying motivated this summer:

1) Do not set a time limit on your goals. Allow yourself to organically achieve them. I have never found deadlines to help me personally. All they do is make me anxious and angry if I don't achieve them. Work hard & work smart- that is my motto!

2) Find balance. The summer is here and you are going to be attending lots of great BBQ's, spending time with your friends & family, drinking some delicious cocktails & being lazy laying in the sun. It is so important to enjoy all of these things. We need to appreciate the moments we are given. However, it will not benefit you if you give up taking care of yourself just because the weather is nice now. So go for a run outside, go swimming, make being active fun, then go attend your BBQ. Put some music on & dance. Enjoy all the good food in moderation.

3) Check in with someone who motivates you & keeps you in check each day. I find that staying in contact with my friends who are just as into health & fitness as I am, helps me stay accountable.

4) PLAN PLAN PLAN your meals during the work week. To all my friends who work, bring your breakfast, lunch & snacks to work. I find it so much easier for me to eat healthy when I do this. Of course it is okay to eat out too, just think smart when choosing what you want. 

5) Create a life of self care not just a month to look a certain way. Once you do that, I promise you will enjoy the process so much more.

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!!! Have the most amazing week!

" We Rise by Lifting Others"

HI MY FRIENDS!

Hope everyone is doing well :) I have been a little busy bee. It is a rainy Tuesday night so I really wanted to dedicate some time to write this blog post.

I want to speak about kindness. I know I know- you might think that is boring, or you might not want to hear what I have to say but it is something I am really passionate about so I knew I wanted to do a post on it when I started this blog.

I have always been a strong believer in surrounding myself with kind, genuine, caring people. I have vowed to myself to always treat others the way I wish to be treated and I make sure to spread kindness every single day. The world is so full of hatred and negative energy that it is so important to make sure that you are spreading even the littlest act of kindness.

Listen, not every day you are going to wake up in the best mood and want to smile at everyone you see, compliment someone or just say something nice. I totally understand that, BUT it literally does not cost a thing to be kind- so why not do it more? Smile. That is my first rule. SMILE. Why are there so many people walking around with frowns on their faces? Life is too short. One simple smile can change someones day. So next time you are walking around with your head down, look up & smile at someone. 

Giving compliments to people is probably my favorite thing. I will never understand how people do not say the nice things they are actually thinking. Think about it. How do you feel when someone tell you " You look so nice today", makes you feel good right? So if you are thinking that about someone else, why not tell them? Why not make them feel good too? You don't know what they are going through, it could turn their whole day around. LISTEN. Listen to others. When you are talking to someone, really listen to what they are saying. Cut out the JUDGING. I am telling you, once you stop judging those around you, you will see an instant change in your attitude towards life and others.

I believe in living a "healthy lifestyle". However, living a healthy lifestyle is way beyond just what you see physically or what you eat . It is way more than that. It is about your outlook on life & those around you. I have always been a very positive person, but over the past few years since incorporating more fitness into my routine, I feel like I have found even more happiness in my life. The reason is because I have found a greater appreciation for the life I have been given, for getting up every day and being able to move my body, and for waking up and breathing. When you start to appreciate yourself, you start to show appreciation towards others.

So do me a favor, do something kind tomorrow. Hold the door for a stranger, say "thank you" to the Barista at Starbucks and tell them to have a nice day. Call a friend you haven't spoken with to check in and see how they are, tell someone how proud you are of them, if someone you know is having a tough day; ask if they need someone to talk to. T

"Remember if you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up"- Booker T. Washington

xx ash

"Fall in love with taking care of your body"

12 weeks ago I started a new workout guide by Paola M. It is called Strong Sexy Body Method. You can check Paola out on instagram (@paosfitworld)

After two years of doing mainly HIIT workouts, I decided it was time for me to overcome my fear of lifting.My progress was stagnant. I wasn’t seeing much change & I was getting bored with my workouts. I was skinny with no muscle definition. Some of you may read this and say "but you were skinny, why do you work out?" My answer always is, being skinny does not mean you are strong. I don't work out to be skinny, I would out to build my strength and take care of my body.

I decided it was time to incorporate something new to my routine & step out of my comfort zone. I have always been worried that lifting weights would make me bulky. .For the past 12 weeks, I committed to working out 6 days a week. A lot of early wake up calls to the gym.I have pushed myself to increase my weights, to step onto the weight floor, & to try machines I haven’t used before.I have gained muscle, and I can feel how much stronger I have gotten from using these guides. Not just physically but mentally. I feel empowered. I focused on myself and didn't compare my progress to others. I zoned into each and every workout. Working out has become much more than the physical progress to me, its my hobby. It makes me feel good inside and out. It took a long time to get here though, I didn't always enjoy working out.  I didn't like that I would put in the work and wasn't seeing results right away.   I didn't like that I couldn't keep up with other people, or that I didn't know how to do something. After a while though, I realized that this isn't a race. That you do what you can, and as long as you are trying that is all that matters. There are days when I totally sleep through my alarm and miss the gym. There are days that I go to the gym and I have no energy to push through. It happens, we are human just get back up and try again.

I think it is important to change up your workout routine. Be open to trying new things. Do not feel discouraged when something isn’t working. Keep trying until you find something that works for you. Paola's guides were perfect for me because she lays everything out for you. Each move has videos that you an watch if you are unsure how to do something. She gives you a range of weights to use, and she also answers emails so quickly, so if you have a question she is there to answer.

Oh & of course Soul Cycle is a part of my routine. I take 2x classes a week. I find it therapeutic and I sweat more than any other workout. It’s by far my favorite place to be.  I actually find myself now a days to be a stronger rider because I added weights to my workout routine.  Working out is a commitment to yourself. Only you can get yourself do it, and put in the effort. Nutrition is also key to success. It is so important to make sure your body is getting the nutrients it needs. When starting this guide, I also started counting macros. If I didn’t tell you, you wouldn’t know. I don’t weigh my food but I track everything in my fitness pal to make sure I am getting the proper protein, carbohydrates & fats that I need. I do not obsess over my food or caloric intake. Instead I just track to make sure that with all of the working out I do, my body is properly nourished. Paola calculates my macros and has been a huge help during this journey. It is all about BALANCE. So make sure to treat yourself. You deserve it :)

My advice to you if you are still reading this, is too have an open mind. Try new things. Ask questions. Make friends within the fitness community they will push you and inspire you.

Most of all, realize what you are doing for yourself. You are bettering your body & your mind. Get up and get your body moving. Even if its just 30 minutes. Your body will thank you! 

"Be Stronger than your Excuses"

Hi Friends!

I can not believe it has been a month since my last blog post! Time just goes so quickly I can't keep up. However, I am committed to this blog. It's something I wanted for a while, so no matter how much time goes by, I will be posting!

I have been asked a lot lately, how I keep my motivation to work out. The answer is simple. I love it.I have learned that once you make working out less of "Omg I have to workout" & more of a "Yay I can't wait to do something great for my body today." It gets easier.

Flash back around 5 years ago. I hated working out. I had "no" time & I was "skinny" so why would I need to work out right? I think that is what a lot of people think when they look at me. To me, weight is not the reason why I work out. I work out because I want to be strong. I work out because when I am anxious or stressed it is my outlet. I work out, because I have one body & I want to take care of it. I work out because I want to feel challenged & to grow. You do not need to go to the gym for hours & hours at a time. There are so many things you can do at home, or so many guides that you can do that do not require so much of your time. Just all your energy while you are doing them!

My friend Megan said to me " It takes 21 days to make or break a habit" that is something that has stuck with me. If you commit to something for more than just a few days, it becomes easier. However, only you can commit to yourself. Here are a few of my recommendations on how to start & feel motivated.

1) Find a community of people with like goals & interests. For me, this started with Soul Cycle. A community of people who are so supportive & motivated. I couldn't get enough and I just wanted to keep going back ( this has not changed at all!) It also started for me when I created my instagram and met so many people through Kayla Itsines Meet ups, as well as other fitness classes I have taken. I have met some pretty badass women who inspire me every day!

2) Set realistic goals. Small goals sometimes are the best ones. They can turn into some of the most successful ones. This might sound cliche, but write those goals down. Every morning when you wake up, look at them because only you are going to push yourself to go after them.

3) Be easy on yourself. There isn't a finish line. Remember you are doing this for you. It takes hard work & dedication. If you aren't seeing the results you want try not to get discouraged. Just take a deep breathe and re evaluate yourself. 

4) Don't be afraid to ask for help or advice. If there is one thing I have learned, it is how important asking questions is. I also turn to youtube when I need some motivational videos to watch! 

5) Last but certainly not least, don't forget to acknowledge your hard work & dedication. We all have ups & downs but its important to know recognize the work you are putting in. So reward yourself when you start achieving those goals. 

I am always here! This is a team effort so whenever you feel like quitting please message me! We are in this together xx

"No ones life is as perfect as their Instagram feed"

Hi Friends!

Hope everyone had a beautiful, fun filled, relaxing weekend!

When I decided to start this blog, I wrote down some topics that I wanted to talk about. This one immediately came to mind. Being that social media is such a huge part of this generation it is important to realize that there is life beyond it.

When I started my instagram around two years ago, I started it to hopefully help motivate and inspire someone out there. Being the I was a skinny girl, trying to start a fitness journey to live a healthier active life style, I thought that someone might be able to relate. Sometimes we think that skinny is healthy or skinny is strong but in all honesty neither of those things are true. 

One thing I have made sure of since day 1 is to always stay true to who I am, and not try to change based on everything else going on around me. I post about my bad days. I post about my good ones. I post quotes, a lot of them. I post about the times I can't get out of bed to workout or I eat horrible. I post videos on my stories of me singing, because I love it and I don't care what people thing.  I am myself. The same on screen as I am off screen. On social media we look at others "perfect pictures" and believe that they have "perfect lives". We wonder what we are doing wrong. Why doesn't our food look so beautiful when we photograph it, or why our bodies don't look like all the girls we see on our screens? We start to compare ourselves. We start to lessen our self worth & we start to "filter" our lives. 

Believe me when I say that, being imperfect is beautiful. Being real & having struggles make you humble. Don't compare your life to others, instead appreciate what you have and everything that you are. Don't pretend to be something you are not. Be YOU, Genuinely yourself. Spread love and not hate. Speak kindness & make the world a better place. Show the real you, so that young people out there can relate. That they realize that life isn't all rainbows & butterflies and that things aren't just handed to us.

Remember this, you are not measured by how many followers you have, or how many likes you receive. You are measured by the imprint you leave on others.

Social Media to me can be used as a platform to help others. If used the right way, it can be a really great tool. Don't use it to impress people, use it to impact them. 

Rule #1 to happiness:

Stop comparing yourself to others.

you are beautiful.

xo

Ash

SKINCARE ROUTINE

HI Friends!

I am constantly taking notes on what I want to blog about. Finally, I want to touch on what is probably one of my favorite things EVER. Skincare. Anyone else as obsessed with facial cleansers, moisturizes, face masks, primer and all that good stuff?! Good, then you came to the right place. A lot of people ask me what my skin care routine is, which is shocking to me but I would love to share :) I have listed all the links to these products at the end of this post!

I definitely stand behind certain products but I do like to switch things up. After using the same products for quite some time I always like trying new things.

Last year, I started using Rodan & Fields products through my friend Danielle. Her skin was looking amazing and she swore by it. I am always willing to try new things so I decided to give it a shot. I have to say, the products DO work. I was using the Sooth Regimen which is for sensitive skin. I felt like my skin was less red, not oily, and I felt confident not wearing makeup on a weekend. They have all different products for different types of skin so if you are considering trying something new, definitely give it a shot! My consultant Danielle's link is at the bottom of this post!

I used the Rodan & Fields products for about a year, but like I said I tend to want to change things up. Once Jan 1st hit I decided to switch up my routine. This is what my routine is today:

Makeup Remover: Neutrogena Wipes. My mom and I have been using these wipes for as long as I can remember. One piece of advice, don't rub your skin harshly when taking of your makeup. That is something my grandma taught me growing up. Be gentle.

Facial Cleanser-Clean & Clear Skin Brightening Facial Cleanser. I LOVE THIS STUFF GUYS! First off, its super affordable but also I feel like it really does brighten my skin. It has these small little beads in it that help exfoliate your skin but are not harsh. I know this says morning burst, but I use it Morning and Evening because I love it so much.  I also use the Mia2 Clarisonic in the evening. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THIS YOU NEED TO GO AND PURCHASE IT IMMEDIATELY. Please??!?! You would be surprised how much makeup we leave on our faces at night just by washing our face with a cleanser. This little gadget gets all that unwanted makeup right off.

Moisturizer- For Christmas my sister bought me the Hope in a Jar moisturizer from Philosophy. I have combination skin ( more on the oily side) so when it comes to picking a moisturizer I am extremely picky. I personally love this stuff! I put a little on my finger tip and apply to my face both in the morning and in the evening. Switching to new products can be a tough decision because you never know how your skin is going to react. I had no bad breakouts when switching to this & I love how my skin feels. It isn't heavy and not oily. Definitely try to get your hands on a sample and try it out :)

Eye Creams- Yes I know I am 27 years old and use eye cream, BUT did you know that your eye area ages 5 to 10 years faster than the rest of your Face ?! ( I read that in Cosmo and it totally stuck with me) Listen it is never to early to start taking care of your skin, so why not now? I have been using Shisedio anti dark circle eye cream for the days where I feel like I have dark circles under my eyes. Most nights, I am using bareMinerals renew & hydrate Eye cream. My friend Erika told me about this product a while ago, and I have been using it every since. Just tab a little on your finger and SMOOTHLY apply under your eyes.

Face Masks- Okay so if you know me, I AM OBSESSED with face mask. Literally, my favorite thing ever, I love trying new things especially the face mask sheets that you can get in Target ( i will list them below) they are cheap and easy to apply. However, my all time favorite face masks are the Glam Glow masks. I have tried every single one of their face masks and I love all of them. Glam Glow is on the pricey side, but definitely worth it. You can also get the smaller samples from Sephora if you want to try them out but I highly recommend them. Another favorite of mine, that I received as a gift is the Bubbly Clay mask. This mask is so refreshing and leaves your skin glowing. It also tickles when it is on your skin so if you are having a bad day and just want to laugh, end your day applying this to your skin lol. Sometimes on nights when I feel like I need a little more hydration I use the Water Sleeping Mask by LANEIGE. This was also a gift from a friend that I fell in love with. I wake up feeling refreshed and hydrated.

& thats really is folks. Those are my favorite skincare products. I will list all the links below if you are interested in trying. Please know that this is NOT a sponsored post. I genuinely love all these products and would recommend them any day. If you decide to try them, please let me know! I would love to hear what you think.

Have a great day everyone! xo chat soon

SLEEP MASK:

http://www.target.com/p/laneige-water-sleeping-mask-70-ml/-/A-14897252?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Health+Beauty+Shopping_Brand&adgroup=SC_Health+Beauty&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9004410&gclid=Cj0KEQiAw_DEBRChnYiQ_562gsEBEiQA4Lcssiexsur3d7KxhRGrv2enYyWzMD89uFL47lk2efP6-mAaApAL8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

FACIAL CLEANSER:

https://www.cleanandclear.com/facial-cleansers/morning-burst-skin-brightening-facial-cleanser

MOISTURIZER:

http://www.ulta.com/hope-in-a-jar?productId=xlsImpprod1490044

GLAM GLOW FACE MASKS:

http://www.sephora.com/glamglow

BUBBLY FACE MASKS:

https://www.amazon.com/Elizavecca-Milky-Piggy-Carbonated-Bubble/dp/B00MWI2IS0?th=1

BARE MINERALS EYE CREAM:

https://www.amazon.com/Bare-Minerals-Renew-Hydrate-Cream/dp/B005FPN0MA

RODAN & FIELDS REGIMEN I USED. Below is the link to the consultant I used Danielle!

https://danielleloughran.myrandf.com/Shop/Soothe

CLARISONIC MIA2:

http://www.sephora.com/Clarisonic?products=all&publisher_id=255779&sub_publisher=g&sub1=e&sub_keyword=clarisonic%2Bmia%2B2&sub_campaign=700734674&gdevice=c&gclid=Cj0KEQiAw_DEBRChnYiQ_562gsEBEiQA4LcssjRdXHL0wNogvAYnbCBeplSMVC4TCdeXAvzzL7u2274aAkit8P8HAQ&node=1050055&site=us_search&om_mmc=ppc-GG_700734674_38298920084_aud-89368447817%3Akwd-28442933171__160678835920_9004410_c&sub_ad=160678835920 

SOME OF MY FAVORITE SHEET MASKS:

 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Miss-Spa-Hydrate-Pre-Treated-Facial-Sheet-Mask-0.88-oz/47308143?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227038518030&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=90377089112&wl4=pla-182517575312&wl5=9004410&wl6=&wl7=9004425&wl8=&wl9=pla_multichannel&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=47308143&wl13=&veh=sem 

 http://www.target.com/p/pretty-animalz-by-look-beauty-panda-calming-facials-sheet-mask-1-ct/-/A-50831797

"BREATHE IT'S JUST A BAD DAY, NOT A BAD LIFE."

Let's talk about bad days. We all have them. We all hate them and we all try to avoid them but it is pretty much impossible to not have a bad day.

Yesterday, I just wasn't having a good day. Couldn't really tell you why but I just felt off. So I was working on something for the wedding and found mistakes that I had made. I was getting so frustrated and started to cry. Literally it was so small and it wasn't anything that couldn't be fixed but being the emotional person I am, tears immediately started running down my face. Joe, who was helping me, so calmly said to me " Will this matter in a month, a year, 5 years." He said "Ash it really isn't that big of a deal." I thought about it for a second and stubborn little me said " It will matter." When in all honesty, I was already over it because I came up with a solution lol

Have you ever just had a bad day that all those little tiny things that can be fixed just bother you. You make them out to be bigger than they actually are. We automatically react as if is the worst thing that has ever happened. When things don't go as planned, it ruins our whole day. We overanalyze every little situation. We pick out all the things going wrong in our life and forget about all the things that we should be thankful for because in the moment we are just so sad, upset and frustrated.

We cannot control bad days. Life gets in the way and things happen. However, the way we react is something we can control. Here are a few things I am trying to work on when having a bad day. Sometimes you just need to try and find the good in every situation even when you have to dig a little deeper to find it..

1) As Joe said.. will this matter in a day, a month a year? If it is something that is so small and irrelevant take a deep breath and try to come up with a solution rather than dwelling on it. Obviously this depends on the situation!

2) We all go through hard times. Regardless of your definition of a hard time, as human beings we all experience them. Although we go through struggles and at times we feel weak we need to remember that those hard times help us appreciate the good ones.

3) It is OKAY to cry. Don't hold it in. Crying does not make you weak it means that you are showing your emotions. It isn't good to hold back. So if you need a good cry, do it. Release it..You will feel so much better afterwards. 

4) Think about everything that you have been through and how much stronger you are today because of it. Life is a learning experience you live and you learn. Close your eyes and remind yourself this.

5) NO ONE HAS THE PERFECT LIFE. Do not compare yourself to others. We all have different paths and are at different points in our lives. Comparison prevents us from being happy with our lives.

These are the top 5 things I am reminding myself when I have a bad day & I hope you do too.

I want to leave you with this quote because it is one of my favorites..

" & if today, all you did was hold yourself together..I am proud of you."

xx ash

TAKE YOUR JOURNEY. CHANGE YOUR BODY. FIND YOUR SOUL

Obviously creating a blog, I knew right away how badly I  wanted to write about Soul Cycle.

If you know me, you know how much I love that place. Soul Cycle was the reason I fell in love with fitness 2 years ago. It was the jumpstart to me taking care of myself. In January of 2015, my Aunt had a gift card to take a class and we decided to go. I will never forget how nervous I was walking into that studio. I had heard so many things about Soul Cycle but I was always so scared to try. I didn't want to hop on that "cult" bandwagon. 

During my first class, I was confused. Everyone was doing this crazy choerography and I was just sitting in the last row freaking out that my feet were clipped in and I couldn't get out. I made it through the class. I remember as the last song was coming to and end I was so excited that I made it through.  I wanted to cry because I felt so vulnerable. I wanted to cry because I was exhausted & I wanted to cry because I knew right away that this was going to be become a crazy (expensive) obsession. :)

I was determined to learn the moves, to ride to the beat and build my stamina. I started to ride more often, taking many instructors and feeling so amazed by how different they all were- each making the class their own. OMG THERE ARE SO MANY BUT ( SABINE, JADE, CASI, JO, TRAMMEL, SUNNY, KARYN, ELLE-YOU GUYS HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE IN SO MANY WAYS. YOU INSPIRE ME BEYOND WORDS & YOU PROBABLY DON'T EVEN REALIZE IT)

Every class that I rode in, I allowed myself to get lost in the rhythm to get lost in the instructors words and to just escape from the outside world for 45 minutes. Soul Cycle became my therapy, it IS my therapy. It is the place that I go to when I am having a bad day. It is the place I go to when I want to celebrate and its the place that has made me such a stronger person.

Over the past 2 years, I have met some I N C R E D I B L E people. Every time I walk through that studio door my heart is flooded with love & I am overwhelmed by the amount of support that is there. It was definitely hard to explain the obsession with people who either hadn't tried it or maybe didn't feel the same way that I did about it. I couldn't put into words what I loved so much about a "cycling" class because you just had to experience it yourself to understand.

I was told I was strong when I felt like I was being knocked down. I was told that I was beautiful on the inside and out even when I felt my worst. I feel like I have this huge family that is there supporting me each and every day. 

I can't sit and name all of you because it will take to long. So if you are reading this and our paths have crossed at Soul Cycle than you have changed me.

My advice for anyone out there who is hesitant to try something new ( not just Soul Cycle) do me a favor and just GO FOR IT  & don't just try it once, go back a second time. If you don't like it after the second time than maybe it isn't for you but at least you can say you tried. 

If I had listened to what everyone said about Soul Cycle and all the reasons why I shouldn't go than I wouldn't be where I am today. So go out of your COMFORT ZONE & TRY SOMETHING.

Be open to change, be open to possibility and be open to falling in love with something new.

So yes, I have an obsession & it's with a class that you ride a bike that goes absolutely no where but to me I go absolutely everywhere I want to be.

IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED SOUL CYCLE, PLEASE CONSIDER IT & LET ME KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE IT AFTER. YOU WILL THANK ME!! XOXOXO

"CREATE A LIFE THAT FEELS GOOD ON THE INSIDE"

Hi Friends!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! It goes so fast, doesn't it?

Since it is the beginning of the year, a lot of us have decided to get back to the gym, change our workout routines and start eating healthy again. These are all amazing changes! Way to go for wanting to start fresh :) 

One thing I feel very strongly about when it comes to working out is progress. We all want amazing progress. Prepping for the summer months we want to feel confident walking around in a bathing suit, shorts, dresses whatever it may be. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that but it is so important to not get so obsessed with your physical progress.

In Feb 2015, I started Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it. It was a kickstart to me working out and falling in love with taking care of my body. Progress pictures are always very important when it comes to these types of guides because you want to be able to see how you are progressing along the way. However, the way I was taking these pictures was not good. Every Saturday morning, I would jump out of bed to take a picture and see if there were any changes. I became obsessed with seeing results. Some may say that it is not a bad thing to be obsessed with your results, but looking back at it I definitely disagree. 

Progress pictures are great. I am not saying to not take them, but when you become so obsessed with your physical progress you forget how important the mental progress is then you are doing it for the wrong reasons. I was becoming stronger mentally & emotionally as well but wasn't really speaking about that. Instead, every Saturday morning I would post my progress picture hoping that people would recognize my hard work.

Like with any program, I had my highs and lows. Weeks where I was eating well and working out regularly and weeks where I was half fasting my workouts and my eating was not the best. It was actually then that I realized how important it was for myself to find balance. It is okay to have off weeks, it is okay to not always feel 100% about yourself and it okay to mess up. Now when I take progress pictures, I take one at Week 1 and at the very end of whatever guide it is what I am doing at that time. I am no longer defined by those pictures. I LOVE working out. I love challenging myself, I love seeing results but I also love how strong I have become over the past few years.

I have made fitness my hobby. It has helped me grow. I have met so many incredible people who have inspired me so much. The community is indescribable. I have tried so many new things and I have seen so many changes in myself over the past two years.

So next time you judge your progress by a picture, take a second to think about how this journey is making you stronger.  Think about how you have become dedicated to making yourself better. Think about the people you met, the things you have decided to try that you never thought you would  & most of all give yourself credit for all the hard work you put in. It is never an easy process. So I APPLAUD YOU. Yes, YOU!

Fall in love with taking care of yourself.

MIND. BODY. SPIRIT.

Have an incredible week ahead friends!

so much love,

ash xx

NEVER STOP LEARNING.

Hi there friends! 

I found this quote & I wanted to share with you all.

"The first step to receiving an answer, is being brave enough to ask a question."

Don't you love that? I do.

Something I have always been nervous about is asking questions that may make me sound "stupid" or that I don't know anything. The older I get, the more I realize how important it is to ask questions. There are so many things I do not know. Approaching the next chapter in my life  I am trying to soak up as much information as possible. I am asking a lot of questions because I know that is the best way to learn.

Everyday we are given the opportunity to learn. Don't let those opportunities slip away. Ask questions, read about something that interests you & listen when people speak ( I MEAN REALLY LISTEN).

It is easy to get overwhelmed with life. We are faced with different decisions that we need to make each day. Yes-we want to be superwoman/superman and do everything on our own but sometimes you just can't. You need to ask for help and ask for guidance when you need it most. That is something that I am 100% working on this year. Between planning a wedding, and preparing to move in with Joe we both have a lot of questions. Our families have been beyond supportive during the whole process. 

I am in the process of registering and there are literally a bazillion brands of every kitchen appliance on the market. How in the world do you know what to pick? You call mom and ask. Don't sit and pretend you know what is going on because odds are you don't. At least I can speak for myself, I sure have no idea what is going on. & You know what?

that is okay. It is all a part of the process. Learn something new each day. We all have to start somewhere.

Do me a favor and take a second- Look at yourself now, and look at yourself 5 years ago. I can guarantee you that you have grown so much over that period of time. Things take time. You aren't expected to have everything figured out overnight. Actually let me correct that, I don't think we ever have everything all figured out.

So keep asking questions, keep being curious, and keep wanting to learn.

If you want to know more about something, educate yourself.

Goodnight friends!

xx ash

2017-NEW YEAR. NEW ADVENTURES

Hi!  I am so excited to write my first blog post. I have been wanting to start a blog for a while but was always worried that people wouldn't understand why I would want one. I always find myself writing down my feelings or turning to music to express them. So why not share them here! I didn't tell anyone that I was starting this because I didn't want anyone to discourage me. 

A goal of mine this year, is to go after what I want, regardless of what people may think or say. Starting this blog right now, just feels right. I am not starting this blog so that millions of people will read it. I am starting it with the hopes of having even one person relate to me. I have a lot of exciting things happening this year. In August, I will be marrying the love of my life (Hi BABE!)  Planning our wedding has been so fun, but also super stressful. ( I am sure any brides reading this can relate!) I want to be able to share my experiences with you, both the exciting ones & the challenging ones. 

I turn to fitness as an outlet everyday. It is the time that I get to work on myself. Some might think that sounds selfish, but I believe that if you give yourself the proper attention, overall you will be so much happier. This doesn't have to be for 3 hours a day, literally it can be a 30 minute workout at home. Taking time for yourself to decompress is so important. It took me a while to realize that, but I am so glad i did. The past year I have been more open to trying new things & pushing myself further than I thought my body could go. It is amazing what our body can do. Have you ever stopped to think about that? You can do anything you put your mind too. I truly believe it.

I am excited for all that 2017 has to offer. Between prepping for our wedding, moving in together, balancing working out in between, and learning along the way I am so happy to share my experiences with you. Let's support and motivate each other. Encourage and inspire each and every day. Thats the whole point of this!

Thanks for joining my journey. Can't wait to crush this year with you all. I am excited for this new little hobby :)

So much Love!

Ash xx