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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Heavy Heart

Good morning.

I'm coming to you today with a heavy heart.  By now, I'm sure you have all heard about the devastating tornado that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma.  Here's what you may not know.  My good friend, Kimmy, lives in Norman, OK, just south of Moore, and her kids play softball and baseball in Moore.  They have team mates who have lost everything.

Monday night, Kimmy texted and told several of us about Jules {a boy on Kimmy's son's baseball team}.  Jules, his two brothers {one of which has special needs} and his single mom have lost everything.  These boys are absolutely devastated that their baseball equipment is all gone. 



Another teammate's sister had been missing, until they found her body late yesterday afternoon.  My heart broke when I heard this.  I cannot even imagine losing everything AND my child.  My heart hurts for these families.  Please keep them in your prayers.


If you would like to do more, Kimmy has set up several ways to help these two families specifically.  She is one of the kindest people I have ever known.  Her heart is so full of love and compassion for others.  If you would like to help, email Kimmy at  kim@jamwd.com.  She has also set up a PayPal account to help these families.  That address is: rangersmoore@gmail.com

Please check out her blog for more details.

Also, Mama Laughlin blogged about ways to help the community of Moore, Oklahoma.  

If you are not able to help financially, or through other donations, please pray.  I truly believe prayer is the most powerful tool we possess.  

Sunday, May 12, 2013

24 Day Challenge, Challenge

Hey ladies!  I apologize for just now getting this out. Yesterday was my grandma's 80th birthday and it slipped my mind to post this....

Code for the 24 Day Challenge photo is: MOTHER'S DAY

Email me (ashley{dot}hoppus{at}gmail{dot}com) either today or tomorrow morning.  I will not accept entries later than tomorrow morning.

In your email must be a picture of the code word and starting weight ON THE SCALE. 

Based on how many emails I get, I'll officially determine prizes.  Like I stated in an earlier post, because we did not get enough people to purchase the 24 Day Challenge, I will not be giving out the original prizes.  HOWEVER, based on the number of people that email me, there will be prizes given out. 

Those doing just the 10 Day Cleanse are NOT eligible for this challenge.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Fail

Happy Friday!

I'm feeling terrible today.  I didn't go to the gym this morning because I was so stinking exhausted.  I allowed myself to sleep in a little.  I don't feel guilty about that, but I do plan on hitting the gym or going for a run after school.  

What's killing me is my eating.  I didn't pack a lunch this morning because we usually hit subway on Friday.  Then I got to school and remembered my lunch buddies aren't here - so instead of going to Subway... I hit a pizza place and got a personal pan AND Bosco Sticks.  FAIL.

Now my stomach is not feeling so hot and all I can visualize is the picture I posted Tuesday of "the old me."  I certainly did not eat cleaner than her today.  FAIL.

Tonight's dinner will probably be a giant salad with a side of Pepto Bismol.  Ugh.  Tomorrow R and I are running a 5K, so that will get me up and moving.  But tonight I'm definitely going to crank out a couple miles to get this pizza/Bosco Stick baby moving.  

I'm disappointed in myself, but I learned a lesson.

I'm back on track now.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Finish The Sentence - Link Up

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It's that time again!  I'm linking up with Holly and Jake to finish the win a gift card finish the sentence.

1) Unlike my sibling(s) (that I love very much)... I am Mom and Dad's favorite child.  Bam.  {I kid, kind of}

2) My best friend says... We should be comedians. I'd have to agree. 

3) People call me... Claire Danes, and Ash.

4) The best part of my day is... coming home from school knowing my workout is already completed.

5) I really don't understand... which arm rest is mine at the movie theater and why banks have branches if money doesn't grow on trees... 

6) I get really annoyed... when people don't use their turn signal.  It's not hard.  Just flip the lever!

7) There's nothing like... crawling into bed and relaxing at the end of the day.

8) Lately I can't get enough... hummus!  I LOVE IT!

9) One thing I am NOT is... confident in my birthday suit.

10) I spend too much money on... other people's income.  

11) I want to learn... how to retire at the age of 30.

12) If I ever met Channing Tatum, I would... die a happy girl.  :) 

13) I can't stop... thinking about a friend going through a rough time.

14) Never have I ever... liked red meat.  

15) Reese Witherspoon... is R's celebrity crush.  The sweet little southern accent she has in a couple movies gets him every time.

Happy Friday Eve!!!!






Wednesday, May 8, 2013

SWW - Better Late Than Never

So What Wednesday
Once again it's Wednesday and today I'm saying SO WHAT IF...

...I'm late to the blogging party today.  Be glad you're getting something.

...I'm officially a member of the 5am club!  I'm loving the morning workouts!  

...I would make Nelly's Country Grammar my theme song if I lived in the Lou.

...I made Paleo Meatloaf last night.  It was delicious... and I don't like meatloaf.

...one of my students wore a shirt that says, "Young, Wild, and Free" and the only accurate part was "Young", she rocked that shirt.

...I ran my fastest 5K this morning at the gym.  I'm hoping to do it again Saturday at the Freedom Run.

...I'm counting down the days until my return to the Lou. 

...my lunch today consisted of all veggies and some hummus.  I wasn't mad about it.

...I'm rocking my Vibram Five Finger shoes today and have been asked 137642 times "what's you with your shoes?"


That's all I have today.  I'm headed home to take a nap!

Happy Hump Day!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

I Know Her Well

I'm keeping this short and sweet today because this speaks for itself.


I found this to be extremely powerful.  Hope you do too.

Happy Tuesday, Rockstars!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Weekend Recap

Good Monday morning to all of you!!!

Friday something happened.... At 5am my alarm went off.  Instead of resetting it for 6:40 {like I have been doing every morning for two weeks}, I got up!!!  I had gotten my workout clothes out and ready Thursday night so I couldn't make excuses this time.  As I got up, I was tired, wishing I was still in bed, and a little grouchy.  However, after my Think Thin bar and Spark, I made my way to the gym and found myself awake, alert, and {dare I say} happy!  I did my workout and even wished I had gotten to the gym earlier so I could have done more.

Friday afternoon, I got home from school, had some dinner and sat down to watch tv.  As I was sitting there I started feeling guilty, like I should be working out.  I kept reminding myself that I had already completed my workout for the day, but I just couldn't shake the feeling, so I laced up my shoes and went for a run.


Two workouts in one day... Holla!

Saturday, I got up, did house work, and eagerly waited for the mailman to arrive.  According to my shipment notification, my grab bag from Apple Of My Eye Jewelry was out for delivery.  When it came, I could hardly wait to get it opened!  I had NO idea what to expect, but was THRILLED when I opened each piece.  



I wore the chunky pink necklace to church yesterday and got a lot of compliments.  Today, I'm wearing the pink clover leaf necklace with the pink and gold chain bracelet.  I cannot wait to wear the rest!!

Saturday evening I looked out the front windows and noticed the neighbors outside hanging out having a few adult beverages.  A little while later, one of the neighbors knocked on my door and said they would be out for a while if I wanted to join them.  I did what any good neighbor would do and grabbed my chair and a glass of wine and went outside.... but FIRST -- I hit the gym.  Bam!

Sunday, was my first food prep day.  I know GASP!  I have heard a million time, "if you fail to plan, you're planning to fail."  So, I planned and prepped.  I made homemade meatballs {recipe courtesy of Kassie from Southern Girl Gets Fit} with ground turkey, panko bread crumbs, Garlic Garlic, Cajun seasoning, and a egg.  They are delicious and according to My Fitness Pal are just 23.1 calories per meatball!  I definitely plan on making more of these! 



 I also cooked chicken in the crockpot for chicken salad {didn't have all my ingredients so this won't get finished until tonight - womp womp}.  

This morning I was up and on my way to the gym at 5:15.  That's two week days in a row!  Truthfully, I actually LIKE getting up and working out early. What's happening to me?!?!  It wakes me up and puts me in a better mood the rest of the day.   

Tonight I'm trying a new recipe.... Paleo Meatloaf.  I'm not a meatloaf fan, but R loves it.  We're also having smashed cauliflower.  R doesn't know that part.  :)  We'll see how this goes.  Stay tuned.


Thursday, May 2, 2013

It's ON!

I posted Monday evening about putting together an AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge, Challenge.  You can read about it HERE.

The challenge is ON!  However, so far, I have had just one person order their 24 Day Challenge (Hey, Meghan!!).   In order for the prizes to be as mentioned on Monday's post, there needs to be at least 6 more people sign up.

The button below is a link to order your 24 Day Challenge.  Remember, it's never too soon to start living a healthy lifestyle!!



Rules for the Challenge are as follows:

1) The challenge starts on May 12th.  - That morning, participants must email me (ashley{dot}hoppus{at}gmail{dot}com) a picture of their scale with starting weight AND a code word verifying picture was taken that morning.  The code word will be revealed the night of May 11th.  

2) At the end of the challenge, participants must again email me a picture of their scale with finishing weight AND a different code word verifying picture was taken that evening.  That code word will be revealed the morning the challenge ends (Wednesday, June 5th).

3) Person who has the greatest PERCENTAGE of weight loss wins!  

Those doing just the 10 Day Cleanse are not eligible for prizes in this Challege.  

Let's do this! Bikini time is quickly approaching! 

What are you waiting for??

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein




Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Something Happened

Yesterday started like a typical Tuesday.  I went to school, taught 6 classes, thought about beating my head against a wall at least twice, and came home to get a work out in.  During the afternoon I had already decided to run outside.  Once I got home, I set the goal to run 6 miles.  That is two laps through my neighborhood and would be the farthest distance I have ever ran at one time.

As I took off running, I was going at a 9:15 mile pace for the first two and a half miles.  I knew if I was to go the entire 6 miles I needed to slow down.  There was one point {while still on my first lap} I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep going for another whole lap.  As I passed my house after completing lap one, I stopped briefly to take a drink from the water bottle I had left outside.  That reenergized me and I kept going.  Before I knew it, I looked down at my watch and I was at 5.6 miles.  I had just 4 tenths of a mile remaining. 

I was going to do it.  

I had set the goal to complete my 6 miles is less that 1 hour and 10 minutes.  I knew that was far more than a ten minute mile pace, but since this was the longest distance I had ever run, I didn't want to kill myself {read: frustrate myself and quit because my mind told me I couldn't do it}.  

I finished my run in 1:06.  

I did it.


It was slower than I would have liked and I walked more times than I would have liked.  But I did it.  It wasn't a perfect run, but my neighbor told me when I got back, "each time you run, that distance will get easier and easier."  He's right.   And at the time, that was just the thing I needed to hear. 

I cannot say I have experienced "runners high" yet, but I did feel the incredible sense of accomplishment and pride when I finished this run.  

Something happened yesterday.... I became a runner.