I was made for sunny days.

I'm so sorry. I always rededicate myself to being better and writing consistently but lo and behold, I still wait about a month between entries! Haha! I sincerely apologize.

There are days when I'm super inspired and know exactly what I'm planning on telling ya'll about and on those same days of inspiration, I have a million and a half things to do so I never even get to look at my computer.

Things going on in my life right now, I'm getting back into working out really hard. Like, Really REALLY hard. I'm going to be starting a workout/diet by my IDOL Jillian Michaels called "Making the Cut"

This  book is AMAZING. What I love most about it is that It makes me feel brilliant! Hahaha She says everything I tell those I train about nutrition and health and different workouts! Just a confirmation that all my training and studying are all pushing my people in the right direction!

This book like I said was written by Jillian and the goal in this book is for people that are already fit (With no more than 20 lbs to lose) to finish their goals at an accelerated rate getting you to your "peak", or the best looking you'll EVER be! I love how honest she is. She says, "This program is not for the faint of heart!" What she means is if you're not very dedicated, or if you rely on that cheat meal every week, this program is NOT for you. She teaches a lot of cool things that I didn't even know about how the body works and she includes a test to figure out what kind of diet YOUR body. She includes a diet for every day as well as workouts for all 30 day's you're on this diet. There are no cheat days/meals in this diet at all! But she does promise hard core results if you follow her EXACTLY. Haha I'm SO excited!

If you're really fit already just want to get CUT, get this book and start with me NEXT MONDAY! I tried one of the workouts this morning and man, was it so intense!

Lets get cut together in time for spring and swim suit shopping! WOO!

Other recent happenings, I raced a snowmobile! Hahaha Scott's work had a really late Christmas party last weekend (cause they were waiting on the snow mostly), and the main event was a crazy "Retro Snowmobile Race". Everyone was given a snowmobile from the 70's-80's to fix up and race and us wives got to compete too! It was a BLAST! I'm not gonna lie though, our joints are paying for it. Zero suspension or cushion on those old things. My knees are SO beat!

Just a taste of what those crazy machines will do to you. Talk about pain! Haha! Needless to say, I'm going to the chiropractor  in a couple hours to get adjusted again. My workout today was so crazy hard cause my joints are all seriously just stuck and so stiff! Not even my foam roller helped!  :(

More pics though?

Happy New Year!: Facing Fear

Hey everyone!
It's been so long since I've written I figured you'd be missing me. Also, I remembered I had a resolution to be a better blogger so today it begins.

I've finalized and began a few of my resolutions and here they are.

• Learn to swim.
• Run Ragnar
• Finish my quilt
• Learn to cook real meals!
• Read Scriptures.

Today I started learning to swim in order to start training for the IRONMAN competition I've aspired to try. I decided after doing research on exactly WHAT an Ironman is, to move that resolution to next year and use THIS entire year to train for it.

The Ironman consists of the following events:

2.4 mile Swim

112 mile Bike

and 

Run of 26.219 miles.

This will be mostly what my blog is about this year I think- PREPARING FOR IRONMAN. 

Needless to say, I have a LOT of work to do seeing as I really have no technical training in any event. My first step I made a few weeks ago was to contact my sister in law, who's been teaching swim for several years now, to teach me how to swim.
I have long since had a HUGE fear of the water. Why? No idea.
People say that we develop fear from things in our past- so I always try to think back and figure out what it was that made me think water was scary.
To this minute I still have no idea. But I figured, I'm now 22 and it's time to face my fear.

For those of you who don't know, this fear of water is kind of a big deal. It terrifies me to even be at 7 Peaks cause if a kid splashes water on my face, ask anyone- I'm put out the rest of the time. I get so crazy freaked out when water touches my face. Like I previously mentioned- NO IDEA WHY.

So, today I met my sister in law at the American Fork Fitness Center, and we started our lesson! She could tell how panicked I was as I walked into the pool area and she was so cool to keep my calm! She's BEYOND professional.

So we started with the basics. She taught me to breathe. Haha!
She showed me how to put my face under water without plugging my nose and for the first time EVER it made perfect sense.
We then moved on to kicking with the floaty board thing, then to a stroke I forgot the name of.
We finished out lesson and I was SO EXHAUSTED but the feeling of accomplishment pushed the exhausted feeling away and I was in heaven.

I called Scott, my sister, my mom and brother and told them all of my success! I posted it on FACEBOOK even! I've been too embarrassed to even TRY for so long, and I've finally done it!
I've committed to practicing every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday every week this year and to compete in mini triathlons hopefully by September or October. We'll see if I can coordinate the Running and Biking as fast as I figured out the swimming!

I'm not gonna lie though, I still look ridiculous when I'm trying to take a breath in the water as I'm moving, but hopefully that will look better with practice.

Anyways everyone- I hope you can take the challenge with me. Not of doing an Ironman per say, but to pick a fear you have and get help to face it. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I can finally go to the pool in confidence and not just sit on the side and watch everyone else have fun.

I love you all!
Tonight I begin my BYU class so I've got to get everything ready! Wish me luck!

So, so much to read...

Not a lot has happened since I got my appendix out.
I've done a lot of sitting, waiting.. Gossip Girl-ing, Biggest Loser-ing.
I've learned a lot about myself too.
I'm a sap when it comes to watching the Biggest Loser, and Christmas movies and listening to Christmas stories. I'll elaborate on that in a little bit.
I've picked up my bass for the first time since I bought it.
I figured out that I really need school right now.
I've learned that even though I would recover fast, I didn't..
I learned that JUST A WEEK OF NON ACTIVITY RUINS EVERYTHING! (I'm so out of shape right now)
I've learned that I have so many more friends than I thought I did :)
I learned that soup was the best thing to ever happen to my breakfast..
I figured out what style of clothes I REALLY like and what style I want to  fall into now.. at least for this week..
I've learned.. a bunch.


There are a few things I've wanted to write about and I kind of gave you an introduction to them above which is a cool way to start.
I've had a hard time figuring out what I want my New Years Resolution to be, and in all honesty, I still have no idea. Here are a few things I want to do. (Fitness wise first)

1. Become a Zumba Jammer
2. Compete in an IRONMAN competition, or at least half
3. Run a half or full marathon.
4. Compete in another bodybuilding competition. (But I already know that's not going to happen. too controversial i guess.)
5. Run Ragnar. (Mostly for the Free T-Shirt and car sticker...)

In every other aspect of life I want to:

1. Make a real life Patch work quilt.
2. Write in my journal more often.
3. Become a real blogger
4. GRADUATE SCHOOL
5. Get better at reading my scriptures
6. Become a better homemaker/wife/daughter.

I know I can probably do most of the "Every other aspect" resolutions, but in my fitness resolutions I'm afraid I can only pick one or two... But WHICH ONES?

I'll let that sit for a minute I guess.

Oh and GOOD NEWS! I've gotten more opportunities to teach for the new year! I was recently hired to teach Zumba Fitness at UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY! Everyone should sign up!
ALSO, I just became a sub at GOLDS GYM!
That is such a big deal! SERIOUSLY! I'm SOOO Happy! Things are looking up in ways I never thought they would! So I guess the humbling experience of having "Robert" removed, (Yes I named my appendix Robert), has made everything work out for the better. Like I said, there's so much I've figured out and have had time to focus on that my busy life has really taken me away from! But lets Celebrate for a minute and do a happy jump for all this good news! *jump, squeal, jump*


Woo! Okay, like I said, I'm so out of shape now! That tiny jump got me all worn out! 


K so today's topic of discussion kind of goes with the theme of New Years resolutions. *Drum roll*
Today we're talking about that 4 letter "D Word" nobody appreciates.

DIET

I know you hate that word too.. This will be quick! Diet doesn't mean not eating anything ever. It meals your overall food consumption. If you want to eat better and lose weight, Eat more often. Eat 6 times a day, small, nutrient dense meals that keep you full all day. It speeds up your metabolism which is EXACTLY what you want! Drink LOTS of water. Eat LOTS more protien!

Daily meal example:

Breakfast :Eggs and Multi Grain bread

Snack: Cottage cheese and a friut

Lunch: Spinach salad with a chicken breast

Snack:Protein shake or plain Greek Yogurt

Dinner:Something like a salad or whatever with more chicken/fish/ beef equaling 15+ Grams of protiein.

THEN Don't eat anything after 10 PM.

For any questions tag on a comment.

Now, onto RESOLUTIONS!

Many of you out there might set a resolution to shed some pounds and tone up this year! This is a GREAT resolution! I don't know what I'd look like if I hadn't started my resolution last year to be in shape and have a "Flat tummy" by May. There are a few things you have to figure out with this resolution though. 

1. What EXACTLY am I trying to do?  My goal wasn't to simply "Lose Weight", but to have a flat tummy! It's easy to lose weight! I would have stopped at 10 LBS and finished cause that's weight lost right? Little did I know it would take losing 47 LBS to gain a flat tummy! But I did! Figure out a SPECIFIC goal!)
2. When is my deadline? Something a LOT of us do when we set goals is forget them. Why? It's easier to? Haha Our goals are too hard? Here's the fix. Set a date to finish your goal. I wanted my flat tummy by MAY 2011. Did I get it by then? No. My tummy wasn't completely flat till July 2nd! That's when my goal was FINALLY achieved. But by May 1st, I was so close to my goal that there was only some minor work to do. Some final dieting, and July, I was finished. I had reached and maintained my flat tummy till my appendectomy. Haha and it IS COMING BACK! SET A REALISTIC DEADLINE!
3.  Write out your plan or action. There is a lot that we don't think about when figuring out our resolutions, that we don't figure in. For example.. When on earth do I have time to go to the gym? Many of you have families, jobs, etc that keep you away from taking care of yourself and your goals! Those really are GREAT reasons to miss out on some things... But there's ALWAYS time for the gym or for any goal if you make time. There's always time for updating Facebook status' and getting our nails done or watching the game.. Take that same time to put in the work to attain your goal, make those healthy dinners etc. Here's how. Get a pen. Get a paper. Write down a schedule of what you do every day and see what time you're free. In January, I was going to school full time, working, teaching Zumba (12 of them!) and trying to take care of my apartment! So the only time I had to hit the gym was 6 AM. I saw that was my only option, so I set my alarm at 5:30 and was at the gym by 6. Done by 7, showered and changed at the gym and went on with my day. It's possible. MAKE THE TIME.
4.  Do your research on your goal. When I first started training in January I had no idea what the H I was doing. I walked into the weight room... and walked right out into a Group Fitness class. There's NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT! But instead of doing that, research workouts online. We're so lucky to have YouTube videos of trainers showing you a FULL WORKOUT and Google or Fitness Apps on smart phones! WE HAVE SO MANY TOOLS at our fingertips! USE THEM! You can even hire a trainer and instead of just working out with them, ask them "So what muscles am I working?" "When you say to Super Set, what does that even mean?" "What machines do I work on when you're not here?" Trainers LOVE to dump their knowledge on you. You just have to ask.
5. TELL EVERYONE YOUR GOAL. It's hard to pump yourself up every day and be like "WOO GYM TIME!" especially after that first week in January where the gyms are packed and everyone's so motivated.. It ends FAST! Haha The spark of a shiny resolution flickers away fast if you don't tell people "Family! I'm starting this new diet/exercise program! PLEASE help me keep going. Be annoying in reminding me I can't eat this or I NEED to wake up and go on a walk." And you know what? They will. They will ask you all the time, "How's that diet coming? Have you seen results?" and they'll ask you forever.

With all that said, write down everything that you want to do whether it's a goal in weight loss or in anything else and DO THEM! Focus on one or two of the big ones and set a deadline, write our your plan of action, do your research and tell everyone! You can do hard things. Post that quote as well as your goal with the fishing date somewhere you'll look every day. Keep it up even when you finish your goal to remind you of what you've accomplished! TAKE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES!!

LASTLY, I want to announce something I've always wanted to do.

I want to throw my own BIGGEST LOSER COMPETITION! More details to come but with this, the idea is to start January and go through March of putting everyone participating in teams, and every team on a diet.

Weekly challenges and last chance workouts! Tell your friends and I'll post details within the week!  Gather your friends and family! I want to do a "Youth edition" ages 10-18 and adults 18+! It's going to be a BLAST! Tell everyone!

Ode to Appendix.

Appendix.
My now missing body part.
It still hurts like you're inside of me.
But you're not.
You're now a missing part of me.
Now that space you lived in is an empty hole.. in my intestines or wherever you were.
Thanks for the good times.
Sorry I had to get you removed...

Now that THAT's over, I'm stuck in bed. I spend the night at the hospital Saturday night through yesterday, Sunday, evening.
Surgery Sunday morning.

Left last night around 8:30.

Slept okay..
Woke up this morning and ate toast.
Ate soup for lunch.

Watching 500 days of Summer with the sisters.
I'm gonna die.

I need to go to the gym..
I need to be able to walk now..
I'm not allowed to lift more than 10 lbs.
I was lifting like a million times more than that last week...

I need to be teaching Zumba tonight.
But I found subs instead hahaha

This is the worst blog post ever.
My bad.

I love you all.

Lately..

It's been a while since I've written and so I feel almost like I'm letting someone down because they're not able to read what's going on in my crazy life.. Whether that's true or not, I'd like to fill you in!


There are so many things going on and whatever time I've had, I've spent burning through Gossip Girl episodes or at my new found obsession, CrossFit!


That's what I'm gonna be talking about first! Check it out..

 It's the BEST! It's so hard core and it's a full body workout and they make you feel super strong and super good to know that you can get through something so tough in about 45 minutes! EVERYONE DO IT! To get more info about my place i go to, check out crossfitants.blogspot.com
You'll LOVE it i promise!


Something else I feel like talking about is my cute husband!

Last week celebrated our 1 year anniversary! It was SOOOO ROMANTIC! He is seriously the best husband EVER!!

Haha! Okay so Scott wrote in the part about him being the best.. but I'm deciding to leave it since he really is the best in the world! 

Things I love about my husband, Scott:
His sense of humor. Even though most of the time I STILL have no idea when he's being serious or when he's teasing me.
His love for the LDS gospel. He's so faithful and he's always doing his very best to be the best person he can be at all times and in every situation. He's such a great example to me!
His love for his family. He always talks about how much he loves adventures with his dad! And I love the respect he has for his mom and the love he feels for her and all his siblings. He always has something good to say about everyone.

His brain. He's way too smart. Enough said.

His determination to know how to fix EVERYTHING! Scott will never be the guy to call a repair person. If he doesn't know how to fix something, he'll google/youtube it, or take it apart and put it back together forever till he figures out how to fix it.

His skinny legs... I love that he looks so good in semi skinny jeans... Haha!

He's fearless! Put him on a snowmobile, and he'll ride it up crazy mountains or over lakes just to say he did. He's SO BRAVE!

He asked my dad for permission to DATE and MARRY me..Can you say IMPRESSIVE?

His eyes.. I get lost in them..

The quiet romantic he is. He's not one of those guys to always shower me in flower petals and chocolate, or say cheesey things all the time, but when he says something romantic, or leaves flowers for me, I know it's coming straight from his heart. I know it's for real.. :)

His laugh. I mean his real laugh, when it gets kind of high pitched and his eyes and smile are all big! haha

His hugs. When I die, I hope it's in his embrace. I could stay in his warm hug forever..

I love how the only time I've ever seen him choke up or almost cry is watching the "Goodbye Michael" episode of the Office.. Not during a big fight.. not when we got married... during The Office..

His dedication to projects! His goal is to build a Powerstroke Bronco.. and nothing is going to stop that from becoming a reality!

He always knows how to make me laugh.

He always makes me feel beautiful when I'm having a fat day.. No matter how terrible I really look..

He's a hard worker. He starts a project and always finishes.

He notices things. He will never gossip, or say anything bad about anyone, but he always notices things about everyone good and bad.

He's so wise. He knows how to word things in a way that he's so "politically correct" but he's not scared to punch you in the face with honesty when you ask for it.

At the top of my head, that's all I can think of.. So Let me hurry and tell you about our Anniversary  celebration!

It started Wednesday night.

I got home to a BEAUTIFUL bouquet of roses.

We went to dinner at our favorite place, Osaka, in Provo.

Went to see FOOTLOOSE! Which by the way was AMAZING! I couldn't help but dance in my seat the entire time!

Friday, we went to Salt Lake and went to the Temple there! So beautiful!

Then dinner at Tucanos.. OOOH BABY that was so good.

Then after that we arrived at the Marriott Hotel and we were treated like ROYALTY!

Vallet parking,  King Suite, Cider and chocolate strawberries delivered to our room, room service-d breakfast, which was AWESOME! People answering the phone to Scott saying "Hello Mr. Veenker how may I serve you?" WHAT!?

Can I just say, the hardest part was leaving!

After that we left and went to the cabin for another adventure, Bronco-ing and 4-Wheeling in snow and 12 degree weather..

Needless to say, It was a great celebration! I can't wait to see what Scott has up his sleeve for NEXT YEAR! The pressure is officially on Scott!!

Anyway, I hope I didn't kill you all with the cheese. I just LOVE my little family. Scott, you're the best man I know, and I'm so glad/ lucky to call you mine. :)

I love you all too..