My New Home

Well my friends, this evening I am writing to you from one of my new favorite places in downtown Spokane... The Onion. It is a fabulous restaurant and bar, with amazing food all freshly made with luckily grown products. Tonight, I am enjoying a delicious hummus platter, along with a Widmer Hef & Orange Juice. YUM! Lucky for me, this place is just across the street from my new apartment, so I am sure I will be here often. Especially since it is currently the closest place I can get Wifi, as my apartment will not be set up for awhile. :-)

I have now been in Spokane for 6 days, and so far, I am really enjoying it. I love my new job, and finding that I fit into the position very well. I am extremely grateful to my past supervisors who have over the years prepared me for this position. A month ago, I would have never guessed that I would currently be in Spokane, starting a new career that wasn't even in my sites. It's amazing how God works sometimes. I am in a new place, far away from all I know and love, and yet I am incredibly happy and excited to start this chapter of my life.

My new apartment is pretty great as well. It is small, as expected with a downtown city apartment, but there is plenty of room for me and my kitten.Oh yes, I got a kitten. She is quite adorable, and enjoying terrorizing the apartment every chance she gets! Back to my apartment... It is a 1 bedroom with an office. the living room and dining room are basically one room, and there isn't a whole lot of storage. But, it has a tiny little balcony off of the bedroom, is about 2 blocks from my office, and the walls are NOT WHITE! Anyone who has lived in an apartment for any extended period of time can appreciate not having stark white walls! It's nice to have a little color around me. Now, I just have to finish unpacking, and get rid of a few things, and then my little home will be perfect.

I really like the city too. There is stuff to do everywhere.... restaurants, bars, coffee shops, stores, malls, museums, and parks everywhere. There is no lack of things to do. The parks are truly amazing. One of my favorite things so far is to hit my favorite coffee shop (Thomas Hammer, by the way) and then cruise Riverfront Park for awhile.... take in the river and waterfalls... it's so peaceful. Oh! And there are so many events around here! This weekend is Hoopfest, which is a hug Basketball event. And then after that, they have Pig Out in the Park, which obviously is a big food event. There are many others during the year, and during these events, they shut down the downtown streets, and I will be right in the middle of it all! They also have a Cruise Night every Friday that goes right in front of my apartment! So yeah, you could say I like it here. Good thing, because I plan on being here for a bit!

I've made some friends too! No surprise there for anyone who knows me.... give me 5 minutes and I'll find 5 new friends! I am not shy, and I am not afraid to start a conversation with a perfect stranger! Hahaha!! It's nice to already have some girls that I can call and chat with. I have already been invited on a campout with a group of girls.... can't wait for that!

What do I miss? Well, I miss my family, and my friends. I miss my CCC crew and co-workers. I miss my coffee guy, and my pharmacist. (Yes, my pharmacist... he's awesome! Got to Luke's Yreka Drug Store if you don't believe me!) I miss my favorite pub and all the staff their that I love. I miss my doctor too... she is pretty awesome. I miss my girlfriends so very much. I miss the little things about living in a small town. But you know what? It's all worth it. Moving here, starting over, leaving everything behind... it's all worth it for the opportunity I have been given.

A week ago, I was starting to get pretty scared about this move. What if I fail? What if I hate it? What if it's a huge mistake? But I am not scared anymore. I'm actually feeling pretty peaceful. I feel like I am home. It's nice to feel like that.

That's what's going on in my world. I plan on posting soon with some pictures too, so stay tuned for that.

~Amber

Big Changes

Friends, I move to Spokane, Washington in 2 days.

Thursday, June 21st will be my last day at my current job and my last day in Yreka. After that, I will move on to a new chapter in my life. New career, new apartment, new state... new friends too, but of course I will be constantly in touch with all my friends elsewhere as well. I am so very excited for this change in my life, and I can't wait to get started. This came at the perfect time for me, at a time when I am ready for a change and ready to take the next step forward.
I'll be offline for awhile as I get settled in my new home and at my new job. After that, I am looking forward to blogging about my new adventures in Washington!

~Amber

June 19, 2012

I thought today would be a bittersweet day.

I thought I would be sad... sad for what once was and will never be again... sad for what I thought we had and thought we would always have... sad that a chapter of my story has come to an end. But I’m not sad anymore.

I’m in a better place today than I have ever been. I’m starting a new chapter of my life, moving on to bigger and better things for myself. I’m happy. Actually, I’m more than happy, I’m elated. I’m excited about what this next chapter in my life has in store.

Today isn't bittersweet like I thought it would be. Today is a sweet day. It is, and will always be a reminder of what once was, but now, it will also always be a reminder of what it took for me to find myself again... what I went through to get to a place where I am at peace… At peace with myself and at peace with life.

This is my "beauty from ashes" story... and it will be filled with beauty. Today, I celebrate new beginnings. Today, I embark on a new and exciting adventure. Today, I turn the pain of my past into the dreams of my future. Today I will turn something painful and ugly into something glorious and beautiful. Today is a sweet day.


A year ago, I thought it was the end, but it is only the beginning. I thought my heart would never heal, but I am now happy and healthy. I thought I lost it all, but I actually gained everything. I felt weak, but I found I am stronger than ever. I didn't know where my life was headed, and now I am embarking on a new adventure that I never could have imagined.

June 19, 2012... This is a sweet day. This is my day. I am reclaiming it for myself and creating new, happy memories that will last a lifetime. I am no longer interested in what once was... I am focused on what is, and what will be!

~Amber

Making Progress and Starting Over...

Wow, it has been quite the crazy last few weeks! I have some big possible changes coming up in my life, which I will share today. But first, and update on my weight loss and work out progress!

As of yesterday, I have officially lost 50 pounds!!! I am so excited about that! I still have another 60 pounds to lose, but I am so stoked that I have made it this far and I am almost halfway to my goal! Woohoo!!

As for working out, I have been struggling with that a bit lately. My weeks have been busy, and I have just not had the time to workout like I was. Also, I have kind of hit a wall with the 5k training. I was on week 4, which is where the jogging distances start to get a bit longer. I am just not to the point yet where I can jog for 5 minutes straight, so I have found myself getting frustrated that I am not finishing my runs. UGH! Also, a number of things have come up lately that are going to keep me from running the 5k on June 16th. I just don't have the time. BUT, I am not giving up on this goal! I decided that I am going to start over on the C25K plan, from week 1. I am hoping that doing that will help me continue to build up in my running ability and endurance so that I can keep with the plan. I WILL still run a 5k, I just don't know when yet. At the very latest, I am still planning on running in the Color Me Rad 5k on September 1st!

Okay, so now that I am all caught up on that, let me explain why life has been so crazy lately. I am in a transition period of my life right now. Going through a divorce was certainly not what I expected at this time in my life, but it is what it is, and I am working to grow through this whole experience and become a better me. Right now, I am focusing on career goals and on moving. I love this small town that I live in... It is my home, and always will be. But, living in a town of 6000 people when you are dealing with some heavy stuff can be draining. It is also kind of hard to start a new life when you live in such a small place. It is time for me to move on to a new future. I started looking for jobs in other areas a few months ago. I had a few prospects, but nothing solid. Then, 2 weeks ago, a job opportunity came up out of the blue. I am flying to Spokane, Washington this Monday for an interview that could be life changing. If I get this job, I will be moving far away from everyone I know, and starting over in a new place, with a new career! I am so excited/nervous/scared/happy about this possibility!! We will see what happens, but if I get the job, I could be moving within the month.

In the mean time, I also have a wedding cake to make, a few graduation parties, a mission trip to Utah, among some other things.... oh yeah, an work, and working out and all that jazz. Anyone who knows me well knows that I love to be busy, so this is really like heaven to me! :-)

Hope you are having a good week, whatever you are up to. I'll be around soon with more updates from my world.

~Amber

Off Track

My friends, I have fallen off track a bit. I haven't done my C25K workout in almost a week, and I missed kickboxing this week! My eating hasn't been terrible, but it hasn't been great either. I haven't been drinking enough water for sure!

I'm not saying this to beat myself up, but just to hold myself accountable, and to hopefully spur myself on to get back on track. It's easy to get distracted when life gets crazy, but I still have goals that I need to keep working towards. It is time for me to hop back on track and get to work!

Tomorrow, I am going to get up early, and do my C25K workout first thing. Then, after work, I will have kickboxing. I plan on finishing week 4 of the C25K training this week, so I need to really stick to it to make that happen! 

If you are having an off week (or month/year/etc), please don't be discouraged! Hop back on track with me, and get to work! I have more energy just thinking about it!

Have a great rest of the week, friends. I will be enjoying a 4 day weekend, and numerous workouts. :-)

~Amber

This Weekend

This weekend, I only worked out once instead of my planned two workouts. Instead, I spent amazing quality time with my friends and family. It was totally worth it.

This weekend, I didn't stick to my diet at all, and I indulged in some delicious food. It was totally worth it.

This weekend, my friends and family commented many, many times on how much weight I have lost, and how great I am looking. I may have not followed my plan for this weekend, but the support and encouragement of my loved ones will help me get right back on track once I return home tomorrow!

It's great to take a weekend off every now and then, and just relax. It's important to take that time, and not beat myself up over it. But it is also important to have the motivation to get back on track!!

More updates soon... Tomorrow I start week 3 of C25K!

~Amber

Staying Focused

Good morning, and happy Friday, friends! It is a beautiful day here, and I am looking forward to going outside and working out a little later today. I hope you will do the same. :-)

This week, I have been thinking a lot about what it takes to stay focused and motivated on a goal. So often, we set goals for ourselves, but we don't follow through with them because we don't have anything set in place to help us stay on track. I think that is why I am staying successful on this goal... I have set numerous things around me to keep me focused. I would like to share some of those things with you, and hopefully they will help you reach your goals also, weight loss, fitness, or anything else!

Tell people about your goal
Goals are great. But they don't do us a whole lot of good if we keep them to ourselves and then never complete them. For me, a great source of motivation has been sharing my goal with others and hearing there feedback. Don't be shy! I talk to my friends, family, co-workers, and all over Facebook. I want people to know what I am working towards!

Give people permission to hold you accountable
How many of you have failed to complete a goal before, and no one said anything to you about it? You know why? Most people aren't going to just call you out and say "Hey, what are you doing eating that junk, I thought you were on a plan?" Unless, of course, you give them permission to! That's what I have done this time around. I work with a group of 18-25 year old young men and women. Part of the program they are in is focused on achieving goals, so I am regularly following up with them on their goals. Recently, I turned the tables and I shared my goals with them: weight loss, working out, and working towards the 5k in June. Not only did I share it with them, I gave them full permission to ask me how it's going and to hold me accountable. They have been so encouraging to me!! Someone asks me almost every day how my workouts are going. They tell me regularly that they can see my progress, and some even leave me notes of encouragement on my door. It is AMAZING how motivating it is to have people standing behind you, cheering you on! So, tell someone. Tell a bunch of someones. And give them permission to be a little nosy an hold you to your goals!

Make charts & trackers
This part is fun for me. I love tracking my progress. It gives me something to constantly look at that is real and reflects how far I have come, and how far I have to go. I have multiple ways that I do this. I have 2 trackers on my phone. One is the C25K app that tracks my workouts, mileage, and times. The other is the "Lose It" app which tracks my meals, workouts, and weight loss. I also have a total weight loss chart in my office, that is basically just a picture of a thermometer that I update after each doctor's appointment. I also have a calendar of all my scheduled workouts on the door to my office. Each day that I complete my workout, I put a smiley face over that day. That way, those at my work that are holding my accountable can see how I am doing. So far, that has helped me to not miss a single workout!!

Check your progress regularly and often
It's easy to get distracted with life and not track your goals regularly, but this is really important! You can't know how far you have to go if you don't know where you are! For me, this means I weigh in often... really, almost every day. I know many people say you should only weigh in once a week, but for me, daily works better. It keeps me accountable ever. single. day. I know that if I eat that huge, delicious, gooey, brownie, that it WILL show up on the scale tomorrow. So I think about that, and I decide if it is worth it. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't! The scale is not my enemy, it is just an accurate reflection of what I am doing in my life, and how I am treating my body. I actually get pretty excited when I get on the scale, because I am seeing daily progress, and that is exciting! For your goals, figure out what timeline works best. Daily, weekly, monthly... whatever is best for you and for your goal. But then put it on the calendar, and follow through. Know where you are so that you can get to where you want to be.

Give yourself time
It takes time, and you don't make huge amounts of progress overnight. This goes for ANY goal. For me, I have to remember that I didn't put on all this weight overnight, and I am not going to take it off overnight either. Set reasonable, attainable goals for yourself, and give yourself the necessary time to reach them.

Brag about yourself a bit
Don't be afraid to tell people how you are doing! I love being able to tell my friends and family that I am doing great and sticking to my goals! I love being able to brag a little about how much weight I have lost! (44 pounds today, by the way!) It is an encouragement to me, and I have found that it is often and encouragement to others as well. When you see someone making progress on their goals, doesn't it make you want to work harder on your own?

Reward yourself for progress made
Set mini goals as you work towards your big goal, and reward yourself as you go! With my weight loss goal, my rewards are pretty simple... clothes that fit!! I am not really buying new clothes right now, since I know they won't fit soon either. But, I did splurge on some cute personal items last month... For me, it was so happy to be able to go into Victoria's Secret and find cute things that actually fit me!!! :-) I think my next reward may be a mani/pedi day. I need a little pampering!

Don't be too hard on yourself
We all have bad days... or bad weeks... or months. It happens! Lately, I have been out of town almost every weekend! It is much harder to follow my diet and exercise plan when I am away from home. But, I do the best I can (which sometimes isn't much!) and then when I get home I kick it back into gear. This weekend, I am headed down to Sacramento. Over the next few days, there will be a graduation, much celebration with friends, many meals out, and a BBQ with my Dad and family. Not much time to workout... But I am going to try my best. Lots of food temptations, but I am going to try my best. I know that there is a good chance that the numbers on my scale will be a little higher when I return, but as long as I do my best, and get back on track when I return, I am okay with that. I still have a life to live!! So, don't beat yourself up if you fall off track! Just dust yourself off, and continue on your way. As Dory from Finding Nemo would say: "Just keep swimming!"

That's what is keeping me focused friends. I hope my tips help you out a bit too. Now, it is time for me to get busy... I have a house to clean, a workout to complete, bags to pack, and a friend to visit. Busy day for me!

~Amber