Being a Sports Fan

If you know me, you know that I love sports.  I grew up playing softball, definitely dropped the ball (no pun intended, haha) when it came to exercise during college, and got back into softball and started running after graduation.  I also love my teams--Blackhawks, Cubs, Colts, Steelers.  So, I was really interested when I saw this article from Fit Sugar pop up on my twitter feed about how being a sports fan is good for your health. 

Let's go Hawks!

According to the article, being a sports fan has these 5 health benefits:

1. "It inspires you to get active."

This one made me laugh, because I instantly thought of when I was a kid.  I loved to watch figure skating and gymnastics, but you had better believe I was "ice skating" around the kitchen for the rest of the night.  Kristi Yamaguchi was my girl.

2. "Watching live sports is a workout in itself."

Sure is!  Especially for my BIL.  He paces during big Packers games, and it sure is funny.

3. "You'll live longer."

Hope so!  That is all.  :)

4. "It's good for your relationships."

No relationship to speak of here, but I certainly feel like sports are good for my friendships.  The BIL and I love a little friendly football rivalry.

5. "It will make you smarter."

Yessss!

Here is what I love about sports:

1. They bring people together.  I mean, really...who doesn't love a good tailgating party?

2. They're an awesome adrenaline rush.  Nothing is quite as fun as dancing at the United Center after a Blackhawks goal.  Kind of like the endorphins after a great workout!

3. Generally, there is good food involved in one way or another.  Priorities people.

4. They make you part of something bigger than yourself- a team.  And how cool is that?

Your turn...what do YOU love about sports?

Bucket List

If you're a Pinterest junkie like we are, you know of the trend that is sparking up of people pinning their bucket lists.  There are all sorts of cool pictures on the Perfect Bucket List blog to pin if you want to check them out.  To end the weekend, we thought we'd lay out some of the things on our bucket lists.  We'll start with Amy.

Write a letter to yourself and open it in 10 years.

I did this one just recently.  It was actually really fun, and now I have it hidden away in my "special things" box with the date I'm allowed to open it.  It should be really cool to read when I'm 37.

Run a marathon.

My good friend Amanda and I are in agreement on Chicago Marathon 2013.  It will certainly be epic!

Adopt a puppy.

I'm itching to get one.  My friend at work loves to send me pictures of adorable dogs to adopt.  I'm just dragging my feet with it comes to taking the leap.

Learn fluent sign language.

Sign language has always fascinated me, so I can't wait to find the time to truly learn.

Find someone who will treat me right.

Cheesiest item on my list, but it's there.  Does it count as a bucket list item if fate/luck is in charge?

Get a matching tattoo with my sister.

This. is. happening.  And Mom will probably not be happy.  :)

So I (Ashley) also have a "bucket list" board on Pinterest and some important things on my list are as follows...

Reach my Goal Weight:  Which is part of my New Years resolution this year (establishing a workout routine that I like)

Open my own business : What can I say I like to be my own boss... and with as many goals and aspirations I have in my life what better way to do that is opening my own Early Childhood program.

Own a nice camera:  The goal of all of my photography blogging...

I'd also LOVE to see and photograph a pack of wild horses.  I think animals in their natural habitat is an awesome thing to see and one thing you can't see at the zoo (yes I know the zoo is not natural for the animals)  is a pack of wild horses.

and to combine a few on my bucket list into one

Have a healthy pregnancy, have a son AND a daughter and be a good parent.  

of course... get a matching tattoo with my sister, and no Mom will not be happy  = )

C'mon, Mom...you know it will be awesome!

Only the beginning...

After last week's feeling of defeat, I'm feeling much better about myself behind the lens.  I'm realizing that a hobby is just that, a hobby; some people are better than others, and others learn to be the best.  So, in order to learn to be the best,  I've started to study what it takes to establish yourself in the world of photography.  Thanks to Pinterest, I've discovered numerous lists of props that a photographer should have, and I've also discovered some tutorials on camera settings.
 
I plan to enroll in a beginner's photo course once my camera is purchased. 

Another must-have is a portfolio.  Some things I have on the list to add to my future portfolio are...

A photo (or gallery of photos) including-
- Engagement
- Maternity/ Birth Announcements
- Newborn/ Children
- Family (including kids and pets)
- Famous monuments or landmarks
- Sunrise/sunset using shadows
- Animals (specifically a pack of wild horses)
- Memorable Reunion (parent/child, Army/Miltary family, spouse, sibling)
      I have many more ideas but that will all come with time. 

Here are some more of my photos I'm proud of!

One of my favorite shots of nature...If animals could talk, what would this goose be saying...

Amy's Photo Challenge:  Something that reminds you of High School 

Well here is one of my group of friends and I when we were actually in High School...

and I have a few more photos that I'd like to share

 

Yes, this IS a collection of my graduation materials from college... but it reminds me of high school because a certain teacher I had tried to convince her students (me included) to not give college a shot.  In other words I was forced to feel as though college wasn't for me, but I followed my dreams and got the degree I had dreamed of my whole life.  I hope this photo can serve as an inspiration to someone out there who may be doubting themselves.

This photo has been seen on this blog before... but here it is again.  Why does it remind me of high school?  Because Amy was my biggest fan, my support system as well as my motivation.  When I didn't like something someone said or the doubt that was forced upon me, she was the one who remained positive and believed in me...this picture was taken at her half-marathon, and it is proof that now it's my turn to be her support system and motivation!! 

Uh...ok...that description made me cry.  How about for next week...a photo that shows one of your favorite ways to spend your free time?
Until next time:   Who do you turn to for motivation?

Superbowl Shuffle

You may remember from our 2012 goals post that one of my goals is to run a race in every season of this year.  Well, so far, so good!

This past weekend, I ran a Superbowl Shuffle 5k.  As I mentioned last week, I did not have high expectations for this race.  Despite one of my best runs ever early in the week, my shin splints decided to make a return, and I was battling a nasty cold.

Luckily for me, I woke up Saturday morning feeling a LOT better.  Plus, the weather on Sunday was GORGEOUS.  Like out-of-this-world awesome for February in Illinois.

My cousin likes to run as well, and we decided to do this one together.  He, however, is much faster than I am and convinced me to line up with the 7-minute milers.  Mis-take.  Eight minute milers I could probably have hung with, but I was not in these peoples' league.  I did try though.

And then there were hills.  And about a mile and a half in, I started to burn out.  I had to walk twice during the last mile, which I was really not happy about.  However, I ended up finishing in 27:08, which is my second-best (official) 5k, so I have to be positive about that!

When I posted about the race, I set my goal at 28:30.  This was a lie.  :)  I really wanted to beat 27 minutes.  And I was close.  Darn close.  If only I hadn't walked that second time.

Alright, whining complete.

My favorite spectators (including my mom) came to cheer me on, which is my favorite thing about racing.  Afterwards, we used some awesome race-goodie coupons to satisfy my quite drawn-out Chipotle craving.  It was awesome.

All-in-all, this was a super fun race that I would do again in a heartbeat.  Just hoping that next time there are no sniffles!

Does anyone else set goals for themselves and then keep setting them higher?  Or am I crazy?

Check It Off the To-Do List!

I've said it once, and I'll say it again...my sister rocks.

I'm a pretty independent person, but there are some things I just can't get accomplished on my own.  This weekend, I really wanted to get a couple of just such things checked off my to-do list, so Ashley was kind enough to come over and give me a helping hand.

This was the state of my living room as of yesterday morning.  Pretty boring.  I'm hosting a baby shower for my good friend in a couple of weeks, and I wanted to pretty this place up!  Plus, the art I got for Christmas has been sitting on my floor for two months now...time to put 'er up!

The spacing was complicated, which is where Ashley came in.  She helped eyeball it...

...and was great at helping me remember numbers as I measured. :)

I am loving the finished product!  (Sorry for the glare...working on learning to take pics with the new phone.)  So far, they have not fallen off the wall.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Thanks again for the help, sis!  I am one lucky girl.

Did anyone knock some good stuff off the to-do list this weekend?

Defeated....

While I am in no way, shape or form, by any means a PROFESSIONAL photographer, I give it my all behind the lens.  My mind is always working on ways to take the ordinary shot and make it into something that everyone wants to see.  I have found that some of my favorite shots have been candid photos of children doing what they do naturally...PLAY!

When given the chance to photograph some family portraits yesterday I can honestly say it was my first (while I'm sure not my last) time feeling absolutely defeated by the camera.  How an object that can't acknowledge me in any way could seem to cover my whole day with this tiny dark cloud...I do not know.  But I didn't seem to get a single good shot and just couldn't get the right angle or the right position being either zoomed in or zoomed out.  I wouldn't call it a failed attempt, but certainly not what I had hoped would come out of the opportunity. 

To reassure myself that I'm not the only one in the world who has walked away from the chance to give a family some memories through photography...I have looked up some quotes I'd like to share.

I found them here...

“ You don’t take a photograph, you make it." - Ansel Adams

“ Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." – Henri Cartier-Bresson

Maybe just random photography IS what I should go for... however setting a goal may get me a little further into this hobby... one last quote of goal-setting inspiration...

“ You’ve got to push yourself harder. You’ve got to start looking for pictures nobody else could take. You’ve got to take the tools you have and probe deeper." – William Albert Allard

So there you have it... on my journey to probing deeper and taking that shot that no one else can!

Amy's Photo Challenge result:

 

Challenge:  A photo of something people would think I'm weird for laughing at...

It's no secret to anyone that knows him... Matt is an avid sports fan.  He loves every sport, but football is his favorite.  Even though we don't live in Wisconsin, the Green Bay Packers are by far his favorite sports team of all time.  A few weeks back when they lost the game resulting in the end of their season, Matt watched in the position he is in this photo.  Amy and I thought it was funny how he sat like this for the majority of the game so I decided to jump in the photo and mimic him.  This photo kind of sums us up...I, really could care less about sports (except hockey), and he is my total opposite. 


For next week's challenge: Something that reminds you of high school.

Until next time....How do you overcome the feeling of defeat? 

5K on the Way

My cousin and I are running a 5K this weekend, and I'm really excited about it.  I'm surprised I'm not dreading it, however, because my good ol' shin splints have returned and I know I am not going to PR at this race (seeing as I'm only allowing myself to run a few miles this week to avoid some serious shin pain). 

And, *gasp*, I'm OK with that.

So, I thought today would be a good time to reflect on why 5K racing is awesome, regardless of the time.

1. I always run a 5k with a buddy (whether we run together or not), and running buddies are awesome.

2. They are short enough for my family to come and watch without getting terribly bored.

3. Races feel a little like a carnival, and there are always interesting people around.  Without the super-nerves of a half marathon, you can really enjoy the atmosphere, and the run, with all the cool people.

4. You have enough energy at the end to blast past some people...sorry!  :)

Can't really count this as blasting past...she let me beat her.

5. Even without a PR, it's fun to track your time, set goals, and compare with past races.

There is a chance of light snow on race day, which won't be good for my time, but I'm aiming for faster than 28:30, which would be my second fastest 5K.  We'll see if the shin splints and Mother Nature agree.  I have been pretty leary of setting a time goal for myself, as I don't want to be disappointed, but I still want to push myself.  I'm definitely a person who is afraid to fail.

Do you pressure yourself to meet goals?  Any races coming up?