It be callin' me

I eat this during the holidays.  Yeah buddy!  No clean eating here.  Why front?

 

But, I get focused and use these..................

So, I can be ready for this.....................

Tis The Season

I do not care how old I get; when I watch Charlie Brown Christmas and listen to the songs, then I know it is Christmas.  Love.

For your listening pleasure, Christmas Time is Here.  Merry Christmas!

Throwback

Dr. Dre and Snoop- The Chronic a true classic


 I had lots of fun (lots- a whole bunch, ok, let me get back focused) in the 90s, and the soundtrack for the year 1992  was Dr. Dre's The Chronic.  It was smooth, hard, and dope.  Plus, the world was introduced to a new rapper named Snoop Dogg.  The Chronic was released on December 15, 1992, and if you play it to this day, people will still rock to it.  Trust.

Dre is now 47 years old and is a businessman.  He is the highest earning celeb this year; he earned 110 million dollars from his Beats by Dre headphones.  You know the headphones people wear around their necks like it's an accessory.  He introduced the world to Kendrick Lamar- love his album, and he brought Tupac back to life this year at the Coachella Music Festival.


Dre and his gorgeous wife, Nicole

Dude defnitely works out.  Check out his arms.

This is what 47 years old looks like.  Still making moves.  Let's go.


Fear is fuel

ING Marathon in Atlanta, GA
This is not a hill, but one is coming soon.  Trust me on that.  That's why that guy is walking.  He is getting his mind right.

My birthday is in six months.  Yes, I will be the big 4-0.  So, I am going to start listing things that I want to do in the next year, and I have decided to do things that scare the crap out of me.   As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." 

Scare - running a marathon.  Yes, I just sucked in my breath.  Three years ago, I ran a half marathon with a friend of mine, and it was a wonderful experience except for the hills.  There were so MANY HILLS.   I did not know Atlanta had so many hills.   Drivng up a hill doesn't even register in your brain unless it is covered in ice.   Running up a hill registers in your brain, your heart, your legs, your arms, your stomach-- you get the point. 

During the half marathon, there was a marathon route.  There was a point in the race where the runners split; the half marathoners went left and the marathoners kept straight.  A mass of runners went left while only a few ventured down the marathon route.   I took note of that moment.  I was proud of myself for running 13.1 miles, but I knew one day I had to conquer the marathon.

So, I plan on running a marathon in March.  Yikes!!!  I am scared like crap, but I think that's the point.

Clothes, Clothes, Clothes

Effortless chic

Tory Burch Boots- love!!!!

I love fall/winter for many reasons, but one definite reason are the clothes.  Boots, turtlenecks, fabulous coats, sweaters, layering, and did I say boots. I hated boots when I was a kid, which is a testament that your brain is not fully developed until you are an adult.  How can anyone hate boots?

These Tory Burch boots are fabulous.  Chic and simple.  Two words that I hope are starting to describe my grown up style.

Everyday Greatness

I can watch this video over and over again.  I love every word that is uttered in this video, but I am most fascinated with the words of Muhammed Ali.   He eloquently told every single person that doubted him when he fought George Foreman in 1972 that he was going to show them just how great he was, and he did.

Aren't those some powerful words...."I'm going to show you how great I am."

To say those words with such sincerity and confidence.  To say those words and believe them.  To say those words and believe in yourself so much that the challenge you face excites you because you know it is an opportunity for you to show the world how great you are.

But your opportunity to show your greatness does not happen on the world stage or in front of thousands, your opportunity to show your greatness happens everyday.  It shows when you take care of your family.  When you use your calm voice when your children are asking you three thousand questions.  When you workout when you would rather just lay on the couch.  When you run instead of walk.  When you listen to the voice of belief instead of the voice of doubt and take another step towards your dream.

Everyday you get the chance to show the world how great you are; and if you are honest with yourself, you do, every single day.

Never Scared

The championship game- my son's team is in the black and gray.  Yes, I gasped when they walked out onto the field.

This weekend my son's 9u football team played in the state championship game.  When the captains walked out onto the field, they seemed like they were playing in two different leagues-  the NFL and little league.  For a moment, ok several moments, I was nervous because the boys they were playing were huge.  But I reminded myself that we have a team full of boys who have the hearts of champions, and they are never scared.  

They looked at this team full of bigger kids and believed in themselves, their coaches, and each other.  They never took a play off and gave it their all.  They were not intimidated in the least.


Those 9 year-olds inspired me.  They were not filled with fear when presented with what seemed to be a daunting challenge.  They were courageous.  They didn't stop when they were tired.  They fought harder.  They didn't cower and make excuses.  They played to the best of their ability, and they were perfect.

Those are life lessons.  Courage.  Belief.  Perseverance.  Enthusiasm.

I am blessed to have witnessed such greatness.  To make it even sweeter, WE WON THE GAME!!!!   STATE CHAMPIONS, BABY!!!

Inspiration abounds and sometimes it can come from a group of 9 year olds who are just playing a game they love and who decided only courage pumps through their veins. 

What could you do if you were courageous enough?

It can happen

This summer my girlfriends were enthralled with this book titled 50 Shades of Grey.  They kept telling me how I had to read it.  It was a must read- they said.  You'll love it- they promised.  You won't be able to put it down- they explained.  Succumbing to peer pressure, I read the book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the naughty bits.  All of them.  The many, many, many pages of them.  But what I enjoyed more was reading about the author.

E L James wrote this wildly successful novel along with two others: 50 Shades Darker and 50 Shades Freed.  She is a wife, a mother of 2, and 49 years old.  She didn't lock herself away somewhere and write.  She still lived her life with all of its responsibilities, and she wrote and completed her book.  She owned her dream and made it her reality in a gigantic life- altering way.  She did this while cooking dinner, chauffeuring kids, going to work, and taking care of home.

Did I mention that this is her first book?  49 years-old and starting a whole new chapter in her life story- a fun and exciting one.

50 Shades of Inspiration, indeed.

Author E L James- making all the money

With the movie coming out, here are my two choices for who should play Christian Grey.
I would love to be the casting agent with this one.  Ryan Gosling or Alexander Skarsgard.
I could care less who is Ana.  I will be too busy looking at either Ryan's or Alexander's naughty bits.  Yes, that is a smile you hear.

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling shirtless in Crazy Stupid Love- such a cute movie

Alexander Skarsgard

I adore him in True Blood.  I live on Sunday nights to see his intense stare.

Rock it!

Y'all know I love listening to songs that make me feel like I am in my very own commercial when I am working out.  Well, The Roots made this gem a few years ago, and Nike used it in their ads for Nike Women.

Once again, the lyrics are dope.  Just what you need to hear when you are pushing through that last rep or finishing up that last mile.  Show those 20 somethings what it really is.

This is what 57 years old looks like.

 

I know this is a tad late, but beauty can be admired anytime.  Denzel Washington graced the cover of GQ for October 2012.  This man is 57 years old.  I would take this over Lil Wayne anyday.  A grown man in a double-breasted suit who is impeccably groomed.  Ooooo weee.
Youngsters, step your game up. 


 

Mr. Denzel Washington in GQ October 2012



Will Smith is the truth.

Ok, this is not a blog dedicated to Will Smith.  Yes, this is my second post about him.  And I do get overly excited when Bad Boys comes on.  I wait patiently for the scene when he runs down the street with his shirt open.  I will also admit that I have watched the scene in I Am Legend with him running on the treadmill and doing pull-ups several times.  But I digress.  I am more intrigued with his personal philosophy than his physique (yes, I said that with a straight face). 

His personal philosophy is one based on believing in God and in yourself.  He is intelligent, giving, and his life is a testament to what he believes.  The boy is bad.

We all have a personal philosophy- beliefs that drive our lives forward, backward, or cause us to remain in the same place for years.

In this clip, Smith expounds on the importance of belief- belief in God, yourself, and your dreams.
Powerful and fine.  Jada, you did that!!!!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Five things I am thankful for:
1.  My amazing, fun, loving, healthy, beautiful family.  My team is the absolute best.  I want to be better because of them.
2.  I have authentic true- blue friends.  They support me and are really for me, and I for them.
3.  Having the courage to start this blog and the imagination to see it grow.
4.  Fabulous health
5.  New beginnings

Five other things I appreciate:
6.  I am ending my co-dependency of gossip sites.  I used to visit them several times a day to stay in the know, but I haven't been on one in awhile, and I don't feel deprived at all if I don't know which Kardashian was seen coming out of a gym in full make up walking down the street pretending not to notice the photographer.
7.  I am 10-1 in my fantasy football league.   Even though I am thankful, I am a little salty over that one loss.  I am still trying to figure out why I put LeSean McCoy on the bench.
8.  Pinterest.  I adore Pinterest.  It is addictive.  I plan on cooking some of the recipes, visiting some of those places, painting my nails with such meticulous care, trying out some new hairstyles, decorating my house, stepping my wardrobe game up, exercising even more, and planning a wedding for somebody.  Why is every other pin a wedding pin?
9.  Boots
10.  Christmas cartoons and movies which start in one week!!!!!!

EAT, ENJOY, CELEBRATE!!!!!  Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Will Smith's Words of Wisdom

Will Smith says he wants to represent an idea.  The idea that you really can create whatever you want to create.  I didn't get that when I first watched this video but now I do.

 He wants to represent possibility.  He wants to be a symbol of what can happen when you really believe in God and in yourself. 

That is what this blog is about.  That is what this community is about.  Possibilities.  What can happen if you want something and you believe in God and in yourself.  The amazing thing now is that you have an audience to witness your greatness.  Your children, your spouse, your family, your friends.  You can inspire others with your courage, but most importantly, you can inspire yourself. 

"The sight of an achievement is the greatest gift a human being can offer to others." Ayn Rand
I can dig it.

Post Run Swag

I ain't cute like the girls in the Nike ad when I workout, but I feel awesome and beautiful (on the inside) when I finish.  I truly feel like I can do anything.  Best.  Feeling.  Ever.

My Team

These are my favorite people in the world.  They are making this life worthwhile.  Blessed.

Amazing song= run ad

I work out.  A lot.  Not- training -for- an- Olympics a lot but training- for- life- a lot.  I am a firm believer that I have to break a sweat when I exercise; otherwise, I am wasting my time.  Therefore, I run, and I crossfit.  When I was listening to this song, Ali in the Jungle, during my run, I felt like I was starring in my very own Nike commercial.  It was epic, and I kept playing it over and over during my seven mile run.  I expected a camera crew to jump out and start filming me at any moment.

Just listen to the words.  If they don't make you decide to do something today to get you a step closer to your dreams, then you have given up.  And that should never be an option.  You are still breathing for a reason.  Everybody gets knocked down; how quick are you gonna get up?

Finally!

"I have been thinking about creating a blog for awhile."  Isn't that what most people say when they finally start a blog?  I wish I had some new, outstanding, mind blowing introduction for why I wanted to create a blog, ummmm, but I don't. That pretty much sums me up too.  I wanted to create a blog, and I finally did it.  Yep.  That's it.  For the most part.

In about six months, I will be forty, and I figured that if I don't start doing the things that I want to do now, I probably never will.  Call it a mid- life crisis, if you like.  Although, I picture men going through that, and they end up buying a new car, a new wife, or both.  Well, I am not a dude; I'm happily married, and I happen to love my minivan.  So, this blog will have to do.

Welcome and let's help each other thrive in this life.....this forties life.