S.H.I.N.E. Goals: The Shine Method of Thinking

S.H.I.N.E. Goals

Well we planned to have an awesome video for you today, but let’s just say Ashley’s air conditioning broke and it’s over 100 degrees in Arizona…so it didn’t happen.

Instead, today is all about goals.  The base of every dream, accomplishment, challenge, you name it starts with one simple little goal.

You’ve heard it time and time again, but it is CRUCIAL to set health and fitness goals if there is something you are trying to obtain.  I initially created S.H.I.N.E goals for our Threads employees, but they can easily apply to many different areas of life, including fitness.

About 7 years ago I set a goal to run a half marathon.  I was in high school.  I trained, I worked my butt off and the day before the race I got the stomach flu.  Instead of anxiously waiting at the starting line for the race to start at 6:00am I was laying in my bed puking.  It was what it was, so I signed up for another race the next month.  That race has been my favorite race to run and I look forward to it every year.                                      

7 years ago I set a goal to run a half marathon and this month I set a goal to run my 10^th half marathon.  Every dream starts with a goal, don’t ever give up.

Follow the steps bellow to successfully set goals!

Sensible: The Shine Project is all about dreaming big, but there comes a point when goals must be sensible.  So, what does sensible mean anyways?  A sensible goal is realistic and reasonable.  Working in the fitness industry I have had client after client sit down at their goal setting appointment and say they want to lose X amount of weight in a very short period of time.  Is it possible for that individual to lose that much weight in a short period of time? Probably, but it’s not realistic and it would cause more damage in the end.

Hard: A good goal should be difficult to accomplish.  Push yourself to your limits and you will never fail.  You might not reach every goal, but you will get somewhere close along the way.

Inspiring: You should feel inspired by every single goal you set and your goals should inspire others.  Some goals are more exciting than others, some goals are big and some are small, but you should always feel encouraged to reach your goals.  Think about why they are important to you and how they could inspire other people to be better.

Near:  Can you picture yourself achieving your goals in the near future?  Near might be in 6 months, 1 year, or ten years, but you need to give yourself a sense of urgency in order to work toward accomplishing your goal.  If you always think “someday” it’s never going to happen, give yourself a time frame.

Exact: When setting goals it’s crucial to know exactly what you want and how you are going to get there.  Be specific. Ask yourself who, what, when, where, and why?  Example: I want to lose three pounds in two weeks by exercising three days a week for 45 minutes and cutting out processed food.  

Sedona Marathon Weekend! Ohhh my.

I have always wanted to run a half marathon.

So I'm going to.

Tomorrow.

I've been running my little booty off (literally)

since October when my sister convinced me to

run the Sedona Marathon with her.

We're all about reaching our goals this year, right?

There were so many times that I wanted to make excuses

so I could skip out on running for the day.

But, I never did.

You know what I'm REALLY scared about?!

Sedona has higher elevation,

is mostly uphill,

and is WAY colder than Phoenix.

Shoot.

I just hope someone doesn't have to push me in a wheel chair to the finish line :)

Husband keeps reminding me to have "good self talk",

which means to pump myself up positively!

Hey, when those miles start to wear on me,

it's nothing that a little Miley Cirus "It's the Climb" can't fix.

That's embarrassing. I just revealed my inner most seceret.

My tuned-filled I-pod and knee braces are going to be my life savers tomorrow.

Wish me luck :)

Have a GREAT weekend!

Don't forget to email me your CHALLENGE results- ashley.theshineproject@gmail.com

If I'm not back by Sunday... send a search party.

I did it. Now it's Your Turn.

Guys, I did it. I really did it.

Here's to my first (but not last) half-marathon..

Sedona, you are BEAUTIFUL!

We carbed up Friday night before the race.

(ps: You'll see a lot of food in this post.

that's the beauty of running over 13 miles.

you can eat whatever you want. heck ya.)

At the last minute, my sister and her husband decided to run the half marathon...

They are in fantastic shape, but havent been training for it

due to their wedding and being sick.

I couldn't believe it! I also couldn't believe I was actually doing it.

I think I went to the porta-potty 10 times before the race started...

The pictures of me running are ones my husband took of me during the last half mile. If it looks like I am dying, its because I was :)

Most of the race was up hill, which was brutle, and the last mile was all up hill.

When I got halfway up it, there was my cute husband,

cheering my name, camera in hand, ready to run the last half mile with me.

He held my hand the whole way. And I made it.

I almost cried I was so proud of myself when I crossed the finish line,

but then the full affect of all my leg cramping set in and I didn't have

time to get all sentimental.

My goal was to not walk at all...

and I didn't.

Oh the sweet rewards:

(not pictured: husband telling me I can buy a new outfit for my accomplishment. it just keeps getting better and better.)

I seriously can't even tell you how good it made me feel to accomplish this.

I've been training for months, and have always wanted to run a half.

Here's where your weekly challenge comes in.

This week is called:

Quit talking, and begin doing.

You know that goal you keep telling yourself you'll do someday?

And you might start it up,

but then a week later you cave because it's just too hard,

and you're just too busy?

It's the goal that you find yourself thinking about right before you fall asleep,

and sometimes, it keeps you up at night.

This week, our challenge is to identify something we want to and WILL

accomplish, and write it down.

Post it on your mirror,

nightstand,

fridge,

everywhere!

So you can be reminded of your end goal each day.

Then, this week, you will begin the first steps that lead to your end result.

Track your progress in your journal.

And don't forget to email your goal and progress to ashley.theshineproject@gmail.com.

This time,

THERE'S NO EXCUSES!

How to Train for a Half Marathon

This was honestly one of the proudest moments of my life. After months of training, I DID IT, and dang did it feel good! (Well... take "felt good" with a grain of salt :) )

You can read more about my race HERE.

I have gotten a lot of emails from you troopers out there who want advice for running your first half marathon. Even if you don't feel like you're ready to run a half, these tips are for you, too!

1. Set up an account at Runnersworld.com. It's free, and after you type in what kind of race you are doing, they give you a training schedule! It is AMAZING, and makes it so easy to know how far you need to be running every day. Here's the real catch: YOU HAVE TO STICK TO THE SCHEDULE! Motivate yourself, and remember that you'll never forgive yourself for giving up.

2. GET THE RIGHT KIND OF SHOES. This is seriously SO important. I highly recommend Asics running shoes. Trust me, it's worth the investment.

3. Plan out your days. Running 7 miles (or however far you're supposed to go for the day) takes a while! When you plan your day the night before, you can be sure to leave time to run. Otherwise, it's easy to give excuses and end up not doing it.

4. Make a sweet i-pod mix. When I run, music really keeps me going. Having songs with beats that motivate you will get your legs goin! Justin Bieber may or may not be on my playlist...

5. If something doesn't feel right when you run, GO TO THE DOCTOR. I was having a horrible time with my knees, but kept ignoring it. A month after my race (3 months ago) it finally gave out, and I couldn't walk for almost 3 weeks. I'm STILL in physical therapy for it, and haven't been able to run for THREE MONTHS. It's killing me, and I wish I would have taken care of it before.

6. Run outside. I can run outside forever, but put me on a treadmill and forget it! Running outside really helps me stay focused, and prepares you for the course that you will be running.

7. Eat carbs. When you run a lot, you can NOT be on a little fu-fu salad for every meal diet. Your body needs fuel. Whole wheat pastas, wheat breads, etc...and veggies! The night before your race make sure you carb up so you don't cramp up while you run (I recommend spaghetti).

8. Strength train. Your legs needs to be in good shape. Build your muscles by lifting weights on the days that you don't run. (My knee injury is mostly because I didn't do this).

9. Remember your goal. Most of running is MENTAL. Pump yourself up. Make someone hold you accountable for running every day. YOU CAN DO IT. Crossing that finish line is worth every drop of sweat.

10. GO! You got this! And tell me about how it goes!

Don't forget to link up your fitness goals tomorrow in the link I provide! I'm excited to read all of your blog posts about what you are doing to stay fit!

Fit Friday: Pregnancy Fitness

Workout clothes c/o Lorna Jane

We've been lacking in our fit Friday department and we're sooo sorry! Brooke is pregnant and we've been so busy and just haven't been good at it. We are trying to make more time for it, and I've made some personal goals to a better healthy life, so expect more fitness posts coming your way. I always struggle finding workout clothes that I like, and have become obsessed with Lorna Jane. They're based in Australia and are huge over there,  and are now taking the states by storm. Be sure to check them out for workout clothes that are actually comfortable to work out in.

A couple of weeks ago we did a Walk for Water with Aveda Institute in Phoenix, and it was so much fun. Working out for a cause makes you actually want to do it :) Brooke was talking to me about how good walks like that are for everyone, and for women who are pregnant. Here's Brooke to take it away to talk about how to stay fit while pregnant...! 

Hi guys. remember me?  Ya, it's been awhile since my last Fit Friday post.  I'm going to blame that on the fact that I don't wear gym clothes to work everyday now that I'm pregnant.  You would think they would be the most comfortable thing to wear when pregnant. WRONG.

Everyone has a different opinion and different guidelines for exercising while pregnant.  I have learned to listen to my body and not get frustrated with myself.  I love to run and it has been the hardest form of exercise for me to do while pregnant.  I had plans of running my second marathon this past February, when I found out I was pregnant I decided to take a step back and do the half marathon.  A month before the race I decided I should only do the 5k.  Did I even run the entire race?  No.  While other runners continue running long distances, I could not keep up.  I lose my breath within minutes, my hips hurt and I almost pee my pants. So, I realized early on that I needed to focus on other forms of exercise throughout my pregnancy to keep myself sane.

1.  Walking, hiking and short distance low intensity running intervals:  I have never been into walking for exercise.  It's boring to me, but during pregnancy it has been so enjoyable, relaxing, and energizing to go on long and short walks.  I have always loved hiking and while I have been pregnant I have found any excuse to skip the gym and go outside for a hike.  When I feel like pushing myself a little harder I will do running intervals on the treadmill.  Usually they consist of 1-5 minutes of running followed by 1-5 minutes walking, repeated several times.

2.  Low-Moderate intensity resistance training: I am a weight lifting junkie.  Although my high intensity resistance training workouts have drastically been scaled down, I find myself in the gym several days a week lifting weights!

I couldn't imagine not exercising during my pregnancy, it is a part of my life.  Some pregnant women can't imagine working out during pregnancy and some are unable to due to complications.  Listen to your body, talk to your Doctor and create a plan that is right for you!

Your Turn to be Random

It's been a crazy, crazy day my friends. So I'll lead us into Friday with my two favorite pictures of the week. And since we're doing random facts about ourselves, here's a couple more:

*I love ketchup in mac n cheese

*I do things in multiples of 3's. Example, if I eat candy or crackers, etc, I have to have them in threes. Ha.

*Rain makes my knee hurt so bad that I can hardly stand sometimes. (I injured it while running a half marathon this year)

* I'm a sports fanatic

*Skydiving over Las Vegas was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had

*I served an LDS mission for a year and a half in Cincinatti/Kentucky. Half of my heart is still there with those people who are now a part of my family.

*I HATE being cold!

*It's really hard for me to sleep at night because my brain never turns off

Anddd PS! You have an opportunity to win FREE advertising on an amazing blog with almost 3,000 followers! Miss Casey Wiegand is definitely someone that you will want to work with Giveaway ends Friday at midnight. Click HERE to enter.

Link up your Random Facts about yourself in link below!

My Journey in 2011

January 16th

I created my first shine necklace to give to a widow,

and The Shine Project began. (here)

On January 26th I put my necklaces up for sale, and sent out my first shipment!

February

I started doing weekly Shine challenges to inspire people to make a change,

and reached a life goal of completing a half marathon.

You all gave me so much encouragement! (here)

March

I realized that maybe my idea was spreading a little faster than I anticipated. 

I also injured my knee badly from running (I still cant run)

and had to stop working at Cesar Chavez High school because I couldn't

walk for over a month.

During this time, God showed me that it was time to make the leap

to be self-employed.

April

Was interviewed by NBC local news for a segment about TSP. (Here)

They ended up loosing it, and we had to re shoot one that aired in July.

It ended up being the biggest blessing ever because it helped spread word about a new project.

May

Had the first Shine Project Service Event in Arizona.(Here)

We also graduated from ASU. (here)

In May, I realized that if we all came together for a common goal,

a lot could get accomplished.

I raised the price of my necklaces by $1, donating it to the Shine Scholarship Fund.

July

Organized a beach clean up in San Diego for the second Shine Project service event.

Rescued our little Oliver from the pound, who now is my obsession!

August

Started the CHANGE4CHANGE campaign (here)

and dove head first into planning a charity event for The Shine Scholarship Project,

which raises money for college scholarships for inner city high school students.

September

Started selling vintage clothes for fun.

And boy has it been fun!

But more importantly, had life changing moments like this

that fueled my mission.
CBS local news also caught wind of my project and did a live interview
on their Morning Show with me.

October

Successfully threw the first charity Shine Event 

that I had many sleepless nights over.

This was one of the highlights of my year. (here)

November

Felt inspired to create The Shine Scholarship Project.

A non-profit organization that raises money for inner city high school students,

while getting them involved in service in their community. (here)

This is still in the process.

December

With your help, I was able to win Christmas for one of my student's families.

It was such a sweet experience.

I chose my Board of Directors for the non-profit,

and have so many changes in the works that 2012 doesn't even know what is coming!

THANK YOU for all of your support this first year.
We've raised over $10,000 in just a few months for the scholarship fund,

and I promise you, with your continued help,

more lives are going to be impacted these next 12 months and beyond.

The new changes will be kicking off mid January!

12K's of Christmas

Today was the 12K's of Christmas race. It was so fun I wish I could do it again tomorrow... Since it was Christmas themed, everyone dressed up in their best Christmas wear, including their dogs. I still think our snowflake and christmas tree/santa shorts get ups were the best... At every mile there were choruses singing Christmas songs. I loved it!

Before the race, sportin our fancy outfits. Look for us in College Times next week. Ya baby ;)

After the race in front of the finish line. Only in Arizona can you run outside in December in 80 degree weather. I seriously got a tan today, and I'm not mad about it.

No matter how much I train, I can't keep up with Brooke. It's so annoying! I was SOOOO happy for her because she placed second in our age group! Santa even put it around her neck. HAHAHA this picture kills me. Brooke in all her glory.


My absolute favorite time during the race was when I came down the final hill and saw my dad cheering and waiting for me right in front of the finish line. We weren't expecting him to be there. Love my daddy-o. We hope to get a few more little races in before the marathon in February. I love this hobby!

Bloggers in Real Life: Sometimes Sweet

Creating, sharing, and inspiring connects us all together. Every day we are drawn to blogs that make us feel something, and we take a little piece of it with us. Behind every one of our favorite blogs, there's a person. A person with real emotions, fears, goals, and weird quirks that we never really get to experience first hand. We've brought together your favorite bloggers to give you a more intimate take on their lives, so you can catch the little details that make them who they are. Every Wednesday, we'll be capturing the lives of the people behind your daily reads in a way that you wont experience anywhere else.

So get ready. We have lots to share! xoxo

Each week on Casey's blog, you will hear a more personal story about one of your favorite bloggers.... why they are the way they are, stories on loss or happiness, struggles or triumphs...we want to have them share the happiest moment of their life, or a time that they grew stronger because of an enormous trial placed in their path.

On my blog, they will be sharing any advice they have for you readers. It can be about fashion, being a mom or wife, how to grow your blog, how to start your own business, etc. Whatever their niche is, you will hear their expert advice!

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Today, Dani from Sometimes Sweet is leaving some sweet, sweet advice.

If you've never read her blog before, get ready for a new fav...

Before I became a Mom I used to pride myself on my extreme multi-tasking. I was a high school English teacher before I left to become a full time stay-at-home mama, and there were many nights you could find me grading papers, sipping tea, texting friends, having a conversation with my hubby, and watching The Real Housewives of Somewhere, all at once. And doing it well! It was crazy. I felt like I couldn't get water out of the fridge without also rearranging part of it- I couldn't go to the grocery store without stopping by Target and the post office too. I was go-go-go, and I loved it. I thought of myself as efficient, successful, and a total go-getter.

Then I had a baby.

A couple of weeks after my son Henry was born I found myself in his room one late night, rocking him slowly in the sage green glider I'd received for my baby shower. I had my little guy carefully laying in my left arm, while I emailed on my iphone with my right. Since H. came into the world I found that I could get a lot done during his marathon nursing sessions, and even more during the hour or two he liked to be rocked at night. So I sat there, in that chair, holding my baby boy in one arm and trying so hard to get it all done with the other. Then suddenly this blinding realization came to me. I will never, ever have this moment again. Ever. Henry will never be 16 days old, so tiny and new, laying in my arms, his tiny bow mouth slightly open, eyes closed, making the sweestest little cooing sounds. This was it. And I was wasting every precious second of these special moments trying to empty my ever-full inbox.

I put down my phone and continued rocking my boy, thinking about time. How fragile it is. How fleeting it is. How in a way, I was trying to master it, trying to multi-task so I could feel ahead of the game and in control of my life. When in reality, I was letting so many important moments pass me by.

I rocked Henry that night for another hour or so, and I thought long and hard about the kind of mother I wanted to be. I thought about the kind of wife I wanted to be. I realized that to be my best self, I needed to slow down and start to appreciate the little moments in my world. To rock my son to sleep and take in the smell of his hair, his breath on my neck, the feel of his tiny little arms wrapped around me. To sit with my husband and just be. Hold his hand and put my head on his chest. Watch a movie on date night all the way through, without checking my phone, thinking of my to-do list, or wondering what's next.

And that really sums it up. Not wondering what's next. My challenge to myself was to move into the now. To just be, and to enjoy all of the beautiful moments in my day. To sit and eat my breakfast and really taste it. To go on a walk with Henry and really feel the Autumn breeze and smell the pumpkin pie baking somewhere in the neighborhood. To see the clouds and hear the trees moving in the wind.

Since becoming a Mom I feel like my world has only gotten better. It's amazing to think how one little person can change everything, how he or she can bring so much joy into your life. I'm so thankful for Henry for so many reasons, but especially for teaching me to slow down and really enjoy this life.

So my challenge to you is simple; slow down. Take it all in. Not later, not tomorrow. But now. If you're anything like me, it's a good reminder to look around you and see every little bit of this beautiful world set out before us. It's truly amazing.

Here's the link to my twitter, I'd love to send readers over there too in addition to my blog. <3

Follow Dani on Twitter HERE

Go visit Dani's blog HERE

Read Part 2, her personal story on Casey's blog HERE

*comments turned off so you can go introduce yourself and leave some love!

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*Come help us raise college scholarship money for The Shine Project Fund in our online raffle! Over $500 worth of prizes, and it's only $1 to enter! Enter HERE

**ANNND TOMORROW is The Shine Event in Chandler, Arizona. PLEASE come if you live in AZ..more event information HERE!

Wigwam Style (Sung to Gangnam Style)

 me- Skirt c/o Kiki La Rue, vest c/o Chicwish, hat- Ralph Lauren

So yesterday I posted about the second part of our trip (camping... yikes), but I haven't told you about the Wigwam yet. When my sister told me she was running a half marathon in a small town in AZ, I knew I had to go. Why? Because they are the home of "The world famous Wigwam Motel."

I booked the last teepee available, which obviously means it was fate.

Not only did the Wigwam have teepee rooms, but the lot was full of old cars.

We searched the town for a good dinner place and EVERY SINGLE restaurant was Mexican/American food, which is usually not our cup of tea. 

So our table was full of pancakes and tacos. I almost died after eating what we ate.

We always do the most random things together, which is one of the million and ten reasons I'm so happy that Brooke is finally back in Arizona!!!

She's working for me full time now, and will also be creating a healthy living section on the site!

She'll be posting healthy recipes, work outs ((she's a personal trainer)) and tips to feel your best.

If you have any workouts, questions, or anything you'd like future posts of from her, leave them in the comments below!

And if you ever in a million years make it to Holbrook, AZ, you must stay at the Wigwam.