California Wine Tour: Day 1

Today has been the most amazing day of all time.  I cannot believe this experience.  It is unlike anything I have ever experienced and it has completely surpassed my expectations.  Today, we boarded AirTran at 10:30 and landed in San Francisco at 12:40.  Yeah, you're thinking it was a two hour flight like me aren't you? FALSE! It was a FIVE hour flight.  I must say I enjoyed myself and took some pictures of the beautiful mountains in Arizona.

After landing in San Francisco, we headed straight to Los Gatos, CA to visit Testarossa Winery.  The winery is named Testarossa because the founder is a red head and Testarossa "red head" in Italian.  This place had so much history in this small business.  We enjoyed lunch in one of their cellars where we were able to talk and mingle with Rob Jensen, the owner and founder, himself.  What an experience.  I won't explain the history to you but if you want to know send me a message and I'd be happy to share.

The tree on Testarossa's label

The lodge we are staying at tonight is so exquisite.  The hospitality is beyond belief! I'm currently laying in bed with egyptian cotton sheets, listening to the fire place roar, and drinking distilled water from a glass bottle.  :) Life is good.  My tummy is completely full with more food than I could ever imagine of eating in one sitting.  It was a TEN course meal!! Unbelievable I know.  I'm going to come back two sizes bigger, but no worries, training starts the week I return.  As soon as we return from the restaurant tonight, one of our donors takes all 15 students to the bar at the lodge and orders all of us drinks on him.  I cross my fingers that one day I'm able to purchase 15 college students premium drinks.  This place is unbelievable.  I wish a picture could describe how miraculous this place is.  Right now it is 11:45 PM in California and I am not adjusting to the time well.  It's 1:45 AM in Alabama and my body is saying, "Let's shut down."  Tomorrow should be a relaxing day and I cannot wait to share all the fun we'll be having.

Quote of the day, "Don't be afraid to do what you want to do."  Sleep on that and wake up with that mentality tomorrow.  This is your life and you cannot be afraid to live it up.  Dream big and don't settle for less than you deserve.

Reaching for the stars,

Kayla

Fitness Instructors

For the longest time I have thought about becoming a certified fitness instructor.  I worked at the front desk of a YMCA for a year because I thought they would eventually promote me to class instructor.  I had no idea you actually had to take a test, take a few classes, and then get your certificate.

Fitness instructors aren't there to just teach a class.  They are there to inspire you and keep you motivated.  Without them, would you really go to a class? Some people would say yes, I would love it if I could take a class without an instructor but most people (I believe) would say, no, the instructor is the only reason I go.  If you said yes, then you probably are meant to be an instructor.

I love taking fitness classes.  Working out with other people keeps me going (because I'm so competitive) and it makes me know that there are other people in this world that want or are trying to do the same thing as me; lose weight or burn calories so they can eat whatever they want (let's be honest, that's what I workout for!)  Whatever the reason people come to fitness classes whether it be to get enjoyment out of a workout, try something different, become inspired, or be surrounded by people who want the same thing as them, none of it could happen without the fitness instructor.

In January, I realized that I was meant to encourage people.  I was put on this Earth to serve people.  Whether that be in hospitality, working out, helping others with problems/projects/etc., I have a desire to help them.  Watching the Biggest Loser, inspires me to do something with my life.  Reading about other peoples success makes me want to do better.  Being around certain people makes me want to be a better person.  I think it's time for me to take that extra step and become a fitness instructor.  I am already crazy busy but I think it is important to be somebody that someone else can turn to or confide in.

You don't have to be a fitness instructor to do that.  You can just be a positive influence in someones life.  Keep that smile on your face and show people how awesome it is to walk through life happy.  Be a light in someones life.  You matter even if you think you do not.  I promise there is someone wishing they could be more like you.

Smiling a little bigger,

Kayla :D

Back at Square One

I am embarrassed to be typing this blog post but I believe it is necessary.  I have completely fallen off of my pedestal of running and staying focused on being in shape.  I cannot seem to get the motivation I need to workout and eat healthy except that my body feels awful so I go out to get a run in just to feel a little better.  It seems I cannot find the motivation to run unless I have something to run for.  Without a race, or someone to share the same passion with, what do I do?

I have been in search for a 5-K, 10-K, Half-marathon, or Full-marathon ever since I posted my blog, "Post Race Blues".  I found quite a few but haven't picked one to actually run in.  I'm running in a 5-K in August with one of my dear friends but other than that I don't have anything else to do.  I can still run a 5-K but my time isn't what I want it to be.  I am putting that on myself because 1. I haven't been running like I should and 2. I haven't been eating like a should.  And I won't be running the race in August for time so I don't see the point in practicing speed.

But in reality that is exactly what I should be doing.  Since I'm bored with myself and my workouts, I need to incorporate speed work to keep myself entertained.  But more importantly I need to change my diet.  I have never been able to grasp the concept of diets.  If I workout, why should I diet? Well, going on my run today made me realize that I have to give my body the nutrients it needs to function.  If I feed it all this bad stuff my body rejects it and cramps up.  

I feel like everyone losses focus every once in a while.  Maybe not as often as me but I know Jillian Michaels has to slip up sometimes and so do you.  It's okay as long as we realize what we are doing wrong and fix it.  I am trying this new app on my phone called MyFitnessPal.  It is keeping me accountable to what I eat.  You can add friends on it so they can keep you accountable too.  If you find yourself having trouble, add me.  I'm the worst when it comes to sweets which I'm realizing now needs to be cut out of my diet completely.  My body does not like sweets, even though my mind and mouth thoroughly enjoy them.  Try and regain focus even if there is nothing you have to work for.  Work on yourself.  Stay focused on yourself because in reality working out and dieting is all for you.  The only way you can continue a diet or exercise is for yourself.  Just know that everyone slips up.  Don't let yourself slip up so much that you can't regain control over yourself.

Taking the reigns,

Kayla

Cumulative Finals

The dreaded week of finals is finally here.  Everyone on campus is heading to the library, loading up on caffeine and bad food, and cramming for all the classes they didn't really learn anything all semester until last week when their professor said, "It's cumulative."

I understand the need for finals but does it have to be that stressful?  For the most part, I think we (as students) put the stress upon ourselves.  You have all semester to study for this one test.  Learn the material the first time and it won't be as hard to study for.  Or actually go to class and listen to what the professor has to say because they might just give you the answer to the final.  But why do finals have to be cumulative? Oh that's right, professors want to make sure we got the whole concept of the class and actually retained the information for 16 weeks! Well then my question is, why did you test us three times during the year? We obvious either got it or didn't on the past tests so why make us retest on the same information?

Luckily, only two out of the four of my finals are cumulative and of course they are going to be my hardest ones.  But surprisingly, I'm not stressing this semester.  It might be because I'm completely burnt out or that my classes are actually interesting and apply to my future jobs that I can retain the information a lot easier.  BUT guess what? My two cumulative finals are both in subjects I would only use in real life and not in my field of study.  Surprise, surprise. But another cool thing about one of my classes is instead of a final we got a hands on experience (THE Hospitality Gala) and our grade is based on how well we executed the event (we raised $200,000!).  Like someone said in my class today, "The money we raised goes TO the college.  They should GIVE us an A!" haha So hopefully, that class won't be a worry.

But to all you people freaking out about the cumulative finals, good luck studying in RBD where everyone else is going to be... not studying.  Studying is not communicating with your BFF that's in Italy on Skype.  Actually sticking your nose in a textbook is the only thing that is going to help you pass your finals.  But to all you people who can actually get things done at the library, I commend you.  My dining room table will work just fine for me.  Good luck on finals and just think, YOU'RE ALMOST DONE!

Waiting for summer,

Kayla

My Past is My Past

I loved being a kid.  Elementary school could not have gotten any better.  Middle school was all fun and games and I met some great people.  High school was a different story as most of you already know.  It was the darkest time of my life at least the last year.  College I have redeemed myself and I am who I want to be.

Growing up has been (is) a great learning experience.  It is one of the reasons my blog is titled "Running Through Life".  I catch myself wishing my life away just to get to bigger and better things when in reality I should live in the present.  These past three years have been spectacular and I wouldn't trade anything for them in the world.

Going home, I realized how much things change.  Easter Sunday was a fabulous day to spend with family but the whole weekend consisted of seeing things/people from my past.  I believe things happen for a reason.  People are in your life for a reason and they make it to the future because that's where they are suppose to be.  Playing games with people in high school should not have been a way of life.  I and other people burned a lot of bridges that will NEVER be rebuilt.  Honestly, I could careless about those bridges being burnt because I see a bright and happy future ahead of me.

Keep your head held high if there is something that brings you down.  Don't let your past creep back up and bring you to that dark place.  Whether that be people, decisions you made, or barriers you broke through.  You can be as strong as you set your mind to be.  Believing in yourself and having the confidence to keep yourself going is how you will prevail! I believe in myself and the things/people that are in my life now.  I'm not looking back for one second because it will only hold me back.  Tear down everything that is holding you back and know that you can do anything you set your mind too! Get out there and make something of yourself.  Your past is in the past.  It may creep up every now and then but don't let it phase you.  Dream bigger, laugh more, and don't live in resentment, regret, and darkness.  It isn't going to do anything for you but waste your precious time here on this Earth!

Living life to the fullest,

Kayla

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter everyone!  What does Easter mean to you?  As a child, Easter is the easter bunny, dying eggs, and eating lots of candy.  For teenagers, it's finding the perfect outfit to wear.  For adults, it's spending time with loved ones.  But for everyone it SHOULD be about the risen Christ.

I experienced Easter in a different way this year.  We didn't do Easter baskets (yes, I'm 21 and we still did Easter baskets until last year.)  Mom and Dad still got us great gifts (Thanks for the grill!) but it wasn't about that for me.  I was able to focus on the deeper meaning.  I have been a christian since I was in the second grade.  Christ has always been apart of my life and we have had this come and go kind of relationship.  Well He has never left, but I have strayed.  The sermon at church today touched me in a way that an Easter sermon might not touch everyone else.  I have been keeping Christ hidden.  I only seek Him when I'm in trouble.  I have to learn to live a life through Him all the time and not just when I need His loving and saving grace.

My family supports me through the thick and thin.  My parents use to say "If we can just get her raised, she will be just fine."  Well, I think they are still raising me and always will be.  I learn more and more from them every time I talk to them.  Their relationship is like no other marriage.  I am so blessed to have my parents still together.  My parents always have the right answers and know exactly what to say to make me feel better or feel loved and supported.  A child could not ask for anything better.  Jesus gave me my parents because he knew they would be able to handle all my screw ups and He has given them the perfect tool to make me who I am today.  That tool was keeping me in church.

I have learned so much from my parents and my church.  I am still confused on the whole religion thing but I know I believe in the risen Savior.  That is truly all that matters.  I hope I can continue to keep God out of the tomb and live my life to be pleasing to Him!  My Lord is good and His mercy endures forever!

God bless,

Kayla

Individuality

God made each and every one of us completely different.  There are not two of the same people on this Earth.  So why do people try to be like other people?  Why not be who you are and be proud of it?  Why do we try so hard to be something that we aren't?

Being an individual does not mean just looks.  I'm talking about personality, hobbies, and more! Every aspect of our live should be about us and not what other people want you to do.  Make your own decisions and be proud in what you choose.  Yes, you should be considerate but you should never alter yourself to be something that you do not want to be.

I have always considered myself to be pretty independent but as I take a look at my life I was only independent up until high school and as soon as I stepped into the sea of people four years older than me and all my friends were changing, my body was changing, and my interest were changing, I haven't been that independent.  In ninth grade, I thought it was crucial to have a boyfriend.  Without a boyfriend, I thought I would be no one!  While the first year was great and fun, I should have ended it when things took a wrong turn.  My senior year, I was determined to be single and just have a lot of friends.  That back fired and I dated a few people and had zero friends my age.  I became dependent on my family and didn't know who I was or what I wanted to be.  Coming to college was an opportunity to become myself again and for the first four months that is exactly what I did.  I was never more myself than I was in those first four months of college.  I learned a lot about myself and who I wanted to be in the next four years and after college.  Then I had my first college boyfriend and I went right back into my old ways of being dependent on him, my friends not liking him (for good reason), and no longer being who I wanted to be.  After that relationship ended, I felt myself slowly coming back to old self.  

Then I met my current boyfriend and I was NOT going to let myself not be me.  After dating for six months, I was still me.  That was impressive in itself.  Now we have been together for a year and some odd months and I'm pretty much still me.  I'm a better version of myself that's for sure but he brings out the best in me and for the most part I'm independent.  I'm just scared to take that leap of faith in doing things by myself in unknown territory.  He is my comfort zone and reaching beyond that is nerve racking.  Next year, we will both have job offers (fingers crossed) and they could be on opposite ends of the country or they could be together.  Who knows.  But I need to be willing to be my own person and know that everything is going to be okay.  Family and friends are my rock and having those people around me make me confident in who I am.  Being alone in this big world can be intimidating.  BUT I am still me and I will always stay true to who I am and what I want to do/be.  Do not be afraid (like me) to take that leap of faith.  I am working on it and hope to continue to grow and become the woman I want to be in life.  Be yourself and do NOT let anyone change you.

Stay true,

Kayla