A Few Important Rules

1. It's ok to cry when you're hurt.  But wash your face and get up off the floor when you're done.  You don't belong down there.
2. You are a woman, you do NOT need a man, but you can absolutely enjoy your life with a good one.
3. Happiness is not a permanent state.  Wholeness is.  Don't confuse these.
4. Never walk through an alley alone.
5. Can't - is a cop-out.
6. Hold your heroes to a high standard.  Be your own hero.
7. If you can't smile with your eyes, don't smile.  Insincerity is nothing to aspire to.
8. Stay true to yourself always.
9. Your body, your rules.
10. If you have an opinion, you'd better know why.
11. Practice your passions.
12. Ask for what you want.  The worst thing they can say is no.
13. Wish on stars, and then get to work to make them happen.
14. Stay as sweet as you are.
15. Say Please, Thank You & Pardon Me, whenever the situation warrants it.
16. Reserve "I'm Sorry" for when you truly are!
17. Question everything … except your own intuition.
18. You are amazing!  Don't let anyone ever make you feel you are not.  If someone does … walk away.  You deserve better.
19. No matter where you are, you can always come home.
20. Be happy and remember your roots.
21. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
22. Be kind; treat others how you would like them to treat you.
23. If in doubt, remember whose daughter you are and straighten your crown!

Credit: https://ladiespassiton.com

After a While - by Veronica A Shoffstall

I read this poem a long time ago and just recently came across it again.  It's definitely worth saving & sharing.  It also has more meaning to me today than when I was younger 


After a While
by Veronica A Shoffstall


After a while, you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning,
And company doesn't mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises,
And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open,
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,
And learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
And after a while, you learn,
That even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong
And you really do have worth
And you learn and learn...
With every goodbye, you learn.

Why "Always Forward"?

I just finally realized, after years, and I mean a lot of years, that no matter how much I wish I had or had done or should have done something in the past, it was not going to happen.  The people, the situations, will never be.  What I have now is it

and it is beyond time to make the very best of and be happy with what I have now.  There is no going back, there is only forward.  There are still times I think too hard about the past and feel regret or disappointment but when I do I visually and forcefully push my mind forward – even going so far as to picture an open road in front of me.

In an earlier post I set a list of goals for myself for 2018.  I'm still pretty much on track to accomplish these, even if I have had a very SLOW start. 

I've lost about 10 pounds since the beginning of the year, mainly due to medicine I was put on for being "pre-diabetic", but we are going to call that a win! I've started walking/running again.  I'm not ready to run a half marathon yet, but I'm pretty sure I sure I could walk it without much trouble.  De-cluttering............ well, that goes in spurts! 

Update "Pretty Fitness Device"

After wearing the Michael Kors Fitness Device I've decided to go back to my Fitbit Alta.  Even thought the Michael Kors Fitness Device looks good in all settings, there are several things I didn't like:


1. No clock - My plan was to wear it with my watches, however, it just didn't work well with my watch. So I wore it without, and kept looking down for the time which wasn't there!


2. The App - This was really the biggest issue.  The device works, and syncs well with the app, but all you get is steps and sleep.  You can add activities or water, but you have to turn off one of the other features to add these. 


3. Social - There is no way to compete, chat or encourage your "friends".  It also does not post any of your results to social media.  A big part of my motivation to hit goals comes from the support of my friends, both real life and online. 


In the future I hope they add some of the features I mentioned above.  For now, I'll stick with my Alta!

Walking with TJ

My girl TJ loves to walk with me.  Get's a little harder to bring her along when the summer temps start rising though, but she is a big help keeping me motivated to walk more!

A Pretty Fitness Device

Once again, I am on a quest to get myself back in shape - both thinner and stronger.  In reality, stronger (and healthier) is more important than thin, no matter what the vain part of my brain tells me. 

My favorite exercise, one that brings me peace and satisfaction along with health is running or walking.  I accomplished a half marathon back in 2014 and I would like to be able to do this again. Just to be clear, my half marathon involved a lot of walking, along with jogging, but I was still able to finish in under 3 hours (barely!).  

I think I have used just about every fitness device on the market.  I currently use my Garmin 235 for measuring and keeping track of my walk/runs, and I wear a Fitbit Alta daily to keep track of steps.  I like both for the most part, except for the cell phone notifications such as calls and text, I keep those shut off.  The only other problem with these devices is that the are not exactly pretty and I can't wear my watches with them, and I do love my pretty watches.  

I am currently in Las Vegas, NV.  I'm hear for a quick vacation while a friend of mine attends a conference.  While shopping, I went to a Michael Kors store and while looking at their watches came across their new fitness device/activity tracker.  They have several, but the "Crosby" caught my eye. It is rose gold and pink with a small mother of pearl face.  This device, like all the others, syncs to your phone with an app, MK Access. It claims to do everything the Fitbit does, and the apps look somewhat similar.  I paid $149 for my Alta, this one was priced at $95.  I decided to give it a try!  So now, walking around Vegas I am wearing both my Alta & the MK Crosby to see how they compare.  

The reviews on the app weren't that great, but you can't really go by those. They ranged from "hate it, it doesn't sync" to "love it".  So - we will see, and since I don't leave Vegas for a couple days, I can still return it if it ends up being a "hate it, it doesn't sync".  

One thing I do especially like is that you don't have to charge it, it uses a watch battery.  As far as steps today, the Alta says I am at 3,326 so far and the Crosby says 2,774.  That's a difference of 552. I do have them on different wrists, not sure if that makes a difference or not.  Tomorrow I will try with them both on the same.  

It is pretty, so I really hope it works as well as my Alta! 

I'll be back soon with more information on how they compared! 

8 Things You Can Learn From an Action Heroine

1)  Fight for what you belive in
2)  Be resourceful
3)  Always have a plan B
4)  Don't rest on your laurels
5)  Get a signature look
6)  Know your enemies
7)  Don't be afraid of your own strengths
8)  Tap into your inner vixon

I don't remember where I got this list, but I've alway thought that if I followed these rules there was pretty much nothing I couldn't accomplish! 

It looks like Mother Nature is finally going to give us a nice, hot summer weekend - Enjoy!!