Posts tagged Travel
Reverse Bucket List: My Life Is Awesome
10January 22, 2013
in Simply Happy, Travel
With the arrival of the new year also comes the eagerness of people to add and cross off more items on their bucket lists. Although I am in constant motion, seeking out adventure, and more than willing to cross items off of my bucket list, the new year doesn’t push me any more than other times of the year.
I’ve noticed some recent blog posts about people’s reverse bucket lists. For instance, Heather and Katie, along with TrekTech, who brought the original post to light. Instead of focusing on what they haven’t done yet, it’s what they HAVE done so far in their lives. Just another friendly reminder of how awesome our lives really are. Some lists are more adventurous than others. Ultimately, no matter what is on the list should be considered an accomplishment and be celebrated.
I think it’s important to take inventory of our lives. Even more, with my recent focus on living in the present and being grateful for the life that I lead, I am all about this concept and figured I’d give it a whirl and see what I came up with.
1. Married my high school sweetheart and been married for almost 11 years.
2. Paid my own way through college, without financing, and have no debt.
3. Learned how to run….something I never thought I could do. I’ve run many 5ks, half marathons, a trail race. and a triathlon.
4. Traveled to Disney, Hawaii, Texas, Puerto Rico, Canada, NYC, Minnesota, the Caribbean, Arizona, Utah, and Italy over the past 10 years.
5. Broke the biggest bone in my body skiing and went on to conquer my fears in order to ski again.
6. Spent Thanksgiving Day in NYC watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and walked 20+ miles in just over 12 hours to see as much of Manhattan as we could.
7. Lived 2 consecutive months on 100% raw food. One of which I only ate bananas, dates, and water.
8. Bought a home.
9. Hiked into the Grand Canyon and jumped off a 30 ft waterfall.
11. Learned how to play cello and trumpet along with sitting 1st chair trumpet in high school.
12. Have swum in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
13. Spent 2 seasons as a cheerleader all because of a dare.
14. Sold half of our belongings, picked up, and moved halfway across the country with our menagerie…all without jobs, renting a place sight unseen, to live our adventure.
15. Spent 3 Christmas seasons spreading holiday cheer through singing and playing hand bells…performing for various organizations ranging from charities and nursing homes, to Disney World and Colonial Williamsburg.
16. Learned how to ride a horse and went on to show competitively along with taking 6th place at state in showmanship.
17. Rode on Maid of The Mist to view Niagara Falls.
18. Driven a car in a foreign country, including the very narrow streets of Montepulciano, Italy where New Moon was filmed. How narrow? See this person’s video, which doesn’t do 100% justice as to how small those streets were. One of the most nerve-wracking moments of my life.
19. Went the 1st 19 years if my life with no cavities. My first 2 cavities were then filled without the use a novocaine by my choice. I didn’t think much of it but the dentist thought I was badass.
20. Lived in New Orleans, Detroit, and Phoenix over the past 10 years…and am still not ready to settle down in any one location.
I am passing the torch on to you. What’s your reverse bucket list? Blog it. Post it on Facebook. Write it in a notebook. Either way, do it…and realize you are awesome.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
First #Omniten Reunion
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The first Omniten Reunion was pretty darn fantastic! As usual, I’m having a hard time putting into words the experience. After our Sedona/Havasu trip in June we had hoped to reunite in the future. I’m not unsure if anyone really thought it’d happen. Thankfully we were able to personally come together and make a reunion happen, even though some could not attend. (No worries! I’m sure there will be more.)
Upon my arrival I was greeted at baggage claim by Heather and Katie. We then headed over the neighboring terminal to grab Jon. Gotta love when flight schedules coincide. After a few quick hugs we ventured out into the COLD weather (Holy crap, did I really ever live in this sort of climate?!) to be met by Will, ready to start our short road trip to Park City.
Will was volunteered for the task of organizing this adventure and to say he delivered is an understatement. Our lodging alone spoke for itself. I’ve always hoped to vacation in a lodge such as Timber Wolf Lodge and it finally happened.
Fireplace? Check. Hot tub? Check. Classic wood/cabin furniture? Check. Warm and welcoming? Check. Kick butt entertainment set up? Check. Pots, pans, dishes, and other kitchen utensils? Check. It was all that I had hoped. You better believe I chose to sleep on the couch and fell asleep by the light of the fireplace each night.
Once settled in we made our way to the market to grab all of our food necessities for our time in Park City. We kicked off our first evening with a gourmet meal from Will and called it an early night.
We woke up early the next morning in hopes of hitting the slopes at opening. After Jon and I grabbed our rentals at Park City Sport (High five to them. We almost didn’t acquire rentals for our lack of planning. They were super nice and understanding. Not to mention, they didn’t make me feel like a tool for my lack of knowledge.) we headed to Alta.
That would be the look of fear captured by Katie
I knew this, but wow, ski resorts out west are nothing like Ohio. Those aren’t just hills. Those are mountains. There are no words to describe the beauty.
Photo Courtesy of Heather
After taking a brief moment to take it all (brief, because it was flippin’ cold! I don’t know if I’m meant for cold weather anymore…), it was time to face the challenge I set before myself well over a year ago. That’s when the nerves kicked in. How in the world was I going to survive on these little toothpicks? Alas, I did it. First run of the day + no crashes = success. Woohoo!
Photo courtesy of Katie
Another photo from Heather
After several hours of runs we took a brief lunch and then headed back for a few more runs before calling it a day. The second half of the day was filled with even more beauty as we were surrounded by falling snow. So peaceful.
Alta is a pretty sweet mountain. The slopes were perfect for my lack of experience and I really fell in love with all it had to offer. Unfortunately those that are looking to snowboard must head to another mountain since it’s only open to skiing. However, the variety of green, blue, black runs provided enjoyment for the varying skill levels in our group.
We finished up the day with a quiet night in the lodge since the next day called for more skiing!
Day 2 of skiing lead us to meeting up with another member of the Omniten, Steve, and took us to Solitude. A bit quieter than most mountains, Solitude lives up to it’s name. With the sun shining and the snow falling consistently throughout the day, it was as though diamonds were falling from the sky. Can’t beat that. Unfortunately for me day 2 didn’t go as well as day 1 (more on that in the future). Even so, it was another beautiful day on the mountain.
That evening we had several Blends (blog +friends) come to our lodge to celebrate New Years and have dinner.
I love meeting blends in real-life. Heck, these are some of my best friends, so it’s always great when the opportunity arises. After dinner we hit downtown Park City to ring in the New Year.
The next day called for sleeping in, eating lots, checking out more of Park City, playing cards, and even some dancing. Before we knew it, nighttime had once again come and it was time to call it a day.
As expected, our final morning together was filled with cleaning, packing, and goodbyes. As always, time flew by faster than we imagined. Could it really be time to head home?
2012 was filled with adventures and experiences that were out of this world for me. 2 life-changing experiences included my Omniten family. In our short times together they’ve seen me at my highest and also at my lowest. They’ve provided inspiration to pursue my adventures and kind words or a shoulder to cry on when I’ve stumbled (both literally and figuratively) through these adventures. I really couldn’t imagine my life without them.
To friends and future adventures!
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Ringing In The New Year With Adventure
2December 27, 2012
What better way to start out the new year than by going on an adventure? Yes, another adventure. (What’s new?!) All of my adventures are sure to be a good time but there’s no doubt in my mind much fun will be had over the next week with some of my favorite people. I’ll only be gone for a few days, but as always, adventuring calls for stepping away from blogging and enjoying all the moments that come my way. Want to keep up with my shenanigans? Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. When I return I’m sure I’ll have some fun stories and photos…not to mention, I have a few giveaways coming. See ya in the new year!
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Day 2 #InspireLV12: Yoga And CrossFit
16October 30, 2012
After such an amazing Day 1 at Inspiration & Perspiration I didn’t know what to expect of Day 2. What I did know: Yoga and CrossFit were going to happen. As crazy as it sounds, I’m intimidated by both. Crazy, I know. I’ve only done yoga once. As for CrossFit? Never. Yikes stripes! Speaking of stripes….
We were forewarned that Day 2 was “80s day” and were were encouraged to wear our best 80s gear. It was fantastic to see so many people participate and have a good time with the idea.
Day 2 started with Bex sharing a bit of her life story and how yoga became part of her life. She also spoke about the beliefs and teachings of yoga which then lead to an actual yoga session.
Wow. I’ve been missing out on so much by passing on yoga. It was quite challenging both physically and mentally, yet I had a sense of calm too. Bex’s session has lead me to dig deeper into the philosophies and teachings of yoga. I’ll be talking about this more in the future…
After yoga it was time to head over to CrossFit Las Vegas for Danny J to kick our butts with a CrossFit inspired workout.
We fueled up on some Zico and Real Food Barres (Seriously, Chocolate Zico and Ballerina Spirulina for the win!) and then got started.
Danny J began by showing us some CrossFit basics and helped us correct our technique.
I thought she was going easy on us. No tire flipping. No pull-ups. No climbing ropes. Whew! But then she busted out her REAL workout. Yes, we were to do 3 rounds of this.
I do believe she was trying to kill us. I think I can speak for most everyone who completed the workout when I say I was still feeling that workout 3 days later. No joke. Definitely adding that to my workout mix.
I couldn’t believe the weekend was drawing to a close. We shared a few more words, laughs, and tears before Danny presented us with a keepsake necklace from Creative Galina.
Such a wonderful gift to represent the weekend together.
What an amazing weekend. I made new friends, solidified existing relationships, crossed a few items off of my Before I Die list, and became more enlightened along the way. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to leave this weekend a changed woman, but it indeed happened. More on that soon…very soon.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Day 1 #InspireLV12: Body Image & The Power Of Positive Thought
4October 27, 2012
I’m still wrapping my brain around everything that happened at Inspiration & Perspiration, but I think I’m getting there…enough to start organizing my thoughts into some blog posts. I won’t be sharing the ins and outs of every session of the weekend since planning has begun for another Inspiration & Perspiration to be held in Dallas in early 2013 (You better be there!). I’d hate to ruin the experience for future attendees but of course I want to hit the highlights…and there were many!
Me, Mimi, and Mimi – Yes, 2 Mimi’s!
I knew the weekend was going to be one to remember from the start. Within an hour of arriving in Las Vegas I began meeting people who were also attending the workshop. Friday evening those that had arrived all went out to dinner and socialized before calling it a night in preparation of our full schedule the next day. Due to our bit of interaction on Twitter and Facebook it was as though we all had known each other for years.
Lindsay, Angie, Me, Mimi, Danny, and Mimi
Saturday morning brought the official first day of the workshop. We were greeted first thing with sweet swag bags from MPG Sport filled with goodies from Labrada Lean Body 4 Her, Naturebox, KLUTCHClub, Perky Jerky, MusclePharm, Quest Bar, Real Food Barre, and Train Dirty Fitness.
Throughout the weekend we had our choice of many of their products to nibble on along with food and drink from Chobani and Zico.
After several ice breakers Angie Gooding took the floor to discuss Body Image. Angie then guided us into her next session, discussing our Relationship With Food.
Before we knew it in was time for a round table, er floor, discussion on Diets, Hormones, Metabolism.
Danny J finished the day with a fantastic session on the Power of Thought & Affirmation.
What a day! The emotional highs and lows were intense but there was no way in heck I was going to stay in when this was the first time I’d ever been to Las Vegas. Small groups separated as everyone had different plans for the evening. Mimi and I teamed up to tackle The Strip, taking it all in through photos.
After walking up and down The Strip, checking out the Bellagio fountains (Yes, TOTALLY worth the time to check them out), taking hundreds of photos each, it was time to call it a night. Seeing as there was yoga with Bex, followed by CrossFit planned for Day 2, we knew we needed to rest up.
Heads up, I have some pretty “deep” posts coming soon. Lots of opening up and enlightening going on in my life right now…..
Stay tuned for my recap of Day 2 and more!
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
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Only a couple more days to enter my Mizuno Running shoe giveaway. Have you entered? If not, get on it. 1 of 10 pairs of shoes could be yours!
Wrapping My Brain Around #InspireLV12
10October 25, 2012
in Simply Happy
I know I should be sharing all about Inspiration and Perspiration with you right now. I truly want to…but am unable. I’ve sat down several times to write and the right words just won’t come. When words don’t come on paper, I turn to video….
I promise I will be writing much more on my experience soon. For now I will say…I don’t think anyone expected to experience the emotions that flowed through the group…Not only throughout the weekend, but also the after effects as we continue on in our day-to-day lives. It was a weekend we will never forget and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.
Photo thanks to Justin, the fabulous husband of Bex
Many, many more photos to come.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
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I’m totally digging everyone’s responses for my Mizuno Running shoe giveaway. Have you entered? If not, get on it. 10 pairs of shoes are up for grabs!
#InspireLV12 is here!
5October 18, 2012
It seems like just yesterday that I posted a request for everyone to share my What Inspires Me To Sweat post in hopes of earning free registration to Inspiration & Perspiration in Las Vegas with BexLife, The SweatyBetties, and Angie Gooding. I can’t believe the weekend is here! Huzzah!!
As I deal with my own personal issues, this couldn’t have come at a better time. I am beyond grateful for the fun we’ve had since we’ve arrived in Arizona, however with fun also comes challenges that can wear you down. Taking a quick refresher weekend will do me good. (I only wish D could join in too…but then again, he gets a break from me….)
As I look at the itinerary it looks like this weekend is sure to be a good time. From talking about body image, to our relationship with food, the power of thought, and being awesome (yes, that’s a topic on our itinerary), I’m ready to dive in.
Thankfully for me my half marathon training doesn’t call for a long weekend run this week so I have no worries about fitting one in somehow. Even better? It look likes we’ll also be heading to CrossFit Las Vegas for a workout. Cue my anxiety. No. In all seriousness I’ve wanted to try CrossFit but it totally scare the bajeezus out of me. This is the perfect opportunity to give it a whirl.
I am beyond excited for this weekend. I can’t wait to explore Vegas, meet new people, and have a blast. Be on the lookout tweets and Instagram photos this weekend!
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Buzz: Living Life At Buzzbomb Speed
14September 16, 2012
Something you need to know about me is that my life moves at warp speed. With the moniker “Buzzbomb” I’m sure you could’ve guessed that. Never a dull moment, that’s for sure! I actually love that my life moves so fast but I do need to remind myself often to stop and smell the roses. I’m taking a moment to do so by sharing with you all the exciting things going on right now.
For those that actually read my blog from the webpage and not a reader you may have notice a sparkly new badge on my sidebar. I’m proud to say that last week I was accepted into the Arizona Bloggers Network. This is a network of female bloggers, over the age of 21, who share their interests, life, and passions through a blog. Yep, I fit into all of those categories! What better way to find more blogs, meet new people, and learn all about the happenings around Arizona? Pretty stoked about this.
Remember when I told you about What Inspires Me To Sweat and asked you to share my post in hopes of earning free registration to Inspiration & Perspiration in Las Vegas? Well, I was one of the lucky ones chosen to attend for free! Thanks for your help!! This is quite exciting as this conference sounds AMAZING. Not to mention, I’ve never been to Vegas before. You know what would make it even better? If you registered and came too! It’s sure to be a great time.
I think I have narrowed down my list of what races I want to do this winter. I’m not ready to announce my tentative plans just yet, but trust me when I say I’ve got my thinking cap on. In the meantime, thanks to Ashley and Color Me Rad, I’m going to have a little fun in November. What’s that you say? You say you want to join me in some fun? That’d be awesome since I have no one to run this race with yet and I think it’d be much more fun to run with someone or even better, a group. Sign up and let’s have some fun!
My last bit of excitement that’s going on is that planning for an Omnfriend Omniten reunion is currently underway. If all goes as planned I will be heading up to Salt Lake City come January to not only meet my challenge that I’ve so far unsuccessfully conquered, but also hang with some of the raddest people I know.
Even living life at Buzzbomb speed I’m absolutely grateful for all that’s going on. What exciting is going on in your life right now?
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Grand Canyon Havasu Falls W/ @Columbia1938 & @GoPro
0September 7, 2012
You may remember back to when I received a GoPro from Columbia Sportswear and also my trip to Sedona and the Grand Canyon. I have finally gotten around to figuring out how to edit my GoPro footage. Of course I wish I had more, but that just means I have to go on some more adventures, right?
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Off-Road @Jeep & Lake Fun W/ @GoPro and @Columbia1938
5September 3, 2012
Finally took the time to learn how to edit GoPro footage. This is where our adventure took us this weekend. Many more adventurous videos to come….
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
