Letters to Abbey

Vulnerability=Beauty

2012-01-17T20:49:00.000-08:00

I must admit. I have had a really hard time the last couple of months. Pretending that this, whatever it is, I don't even have to know anymore; hasn't been happening in my own life. I have tried to "Hold it together" whatever that means, and somehow I have managed to do so in the right moments. But as I was teaching yoga tonight, I realized that the last couple of months have been a very vulnerable time for me, and I have never allowed this kind of vulnerability. No way would I have ever allowed it. But now vulnerability means strength for me. Normally, I would take off on my bike and climb the highest of mountains, and then everything would be "patched" up and I would "pretend" that nothing ever happened. I was running away from myself, my power, my life. As I was ending class and had a moment to just sit in that emptiness, I did feel that strength and that love I have for myself. I am a very powerful woman; because I have really allowed myself to feel vulnerable. I have allowed myself to feel the emptiness, the void. That there is something really amazing when you can do this. It has been the hardest, but also the very best experience to have gone through, and I am STILL going through it. I actually smiled at this chaos, and now I look at it as absolutely beautiful! I can love so much until it hurts, and that I can give EVERYTHING to myself. I love myself so much, and I am willing to stay open, and courageous, and absolutely brave. I am me, and there is nobody like me. I love you. Thank you for being brave and courageous. I share this because I fucking want too! I hope that someone may have needed to read these words tonight. There is something very powerful when you truly allow yourself to feel vulnerable, while staying open at the same time. There is something when you sit with yourself and feel ALL OF IT! To feel that dark, ugly, chaotic, gross, "STUFF", is really quite powerful. When you can throw it up, and then lie there in complete emptiness in your own vomit, is power. You in this emptiness, have nothing left but to trust something bigger than you...and when you do can trust...you become free. You save yourself, the only person that you can save. That is everything. Goodnight.

Speaking my truth

2011-09-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

I have erased this blog a few times already. Everytime I write down what I am trying to express, doesn't seem right. I can't even begin to tell you how much I want to speak. I want to speak. I want to speak so much that I don't even know what words to choose. I want to be honest in my approach. I want to be real. This whole process of finding my OWN voice, has been really damn difficult. Would anyone really want to listen to what I have to say. But tonight. Its just differen't. For a very long time I have not spoken. I have hidden behind a wall that kept me in fear, because I just didn't think what I had to say was important enough. Whether it is intelligent, or has any substance at all, it doesn't matter to me. Because it is MY voice. Nobdy elses. And I want to speak. Finally. For what feels like the first time. Will I offend anyone? Maybe. I always worry about that. I just cannot tonight. How do I say it? I surrender to the fact that I don't have to know exactly what I am going to say. I am just going to write and see what happens. A friend told me that I needed to speak. Speak about something that has been really hard for me. I have often wondered what others might think if I come out and talk about it. I am going through what I would call a grieving process. A grieving process of walking away almost a year and a half ago, from a belief that I thought was truth my entire life. Since I walked away, I walked away into a life that has been there all along, waiting for me to grasp on too.

I just turned 30. I look back at my childhood, my teens, and twenties, and I have to say.......Thank you God for what I went through. Thank you for every challenge I went through. Every heartache, bruise, beating of the ego, etc that I experienced. Thank you for not answering my prayers in the way that I would have liked you to at the time. Thank you for the refining moments that I did not think I would push through. Thank you for putting me through challenges that have created the woman that I am today. The strong, brilliant, loving, creative, funny, and beautiful woman that I AM. The woman that loves her life so much, that its almost annoying. I have to stop here before I move forward with my point... and say thank you for my family. For my incredible parents. Thank you for supporting me. Supporting me when I had no way to dig myself out of the trenches. Thank you for reminding me that I am special. That there is nobody else like me. My Mom has these qualities that I am in awe of. She is the purest form of love. When I want to define love, I describe the essence of my mother. She is safe ground. She is that warm blanket you crave at the end of a long day. I thank you Mom for who you are and what you continue to teach me through example. Dad, you and I we are a lot alike. We bunt heads at times. But I know how much you love me. You love me so much that it hurts you. You are so proud of me. I know you still picture me as a 15 year old, your little blondie that loved sports and would beg you to take to the Jazz game. I will never forget game six NBA finals. Me, you and Michael Jordan. :) I know it is hard for you to see your little patcha doll grow up. Because you still cannot help but call me, "Patcha" from time to time. Now I am a woman, a woman that has grown into herself and is proud to say that you are my Dad. I want you to know that I still need you. I still need my Dad. In this past year, I don't think I have ever grown at such a rapid pace. Thanks for being there. Phone calls, texts to tell me you love me. Knowing I can go home and find you there with mom, making sure everything was protected and safe for our family. I love you Dad, and I want to thank you for passing on your strength to me.

I am the wealthiest woman in the world. I have blessings that I cannot begin to express my gratitude for. Today I give my thanks.

I left the church. Yes, I left the church after 28 1/2 years of my life. No, I am not bitter. In fact, I have been thinking about what I might say to this so that it comes out of love and respect. I will never forget the moment when I knew I had to leave. Scariest moment of my life. Because I didn't quite know how I was going to do it. But I knew I had to leave, that is why I know I can't ever go back. That knowing is now instilled inside of me. It is a knowing that I cannot really even describe, but it is there and I cannot turn away from what I know to be true. Otherwise, I would be lying to myself. I choose to not live my life in that way. The church gave me that knowledge of God. My love of Christ. The church created in me my strong moral compass. I will always hold dear to what the church brought to my life. But in this grieving process, I am now able to stand on my own two feet without having to fear what choices that others may think are wrong or right. I go inside for the answers. Its inside me. And inside is where I am able to find God. That peace, stillness, that feeling that everything is okay. That life is to be experienced, and not to be feared. To learn to let go, and to understand that I am. I am enough. That my imperfections are perfect. That it is impossible to be perfect. Being perfect is boring. To celebrate my life. Every part of me. Every part of me, that I didn't feel would be accepted. I am free to be real. The woman that I have always known I was, but was hiding behind for two many fucking years. (excuse my language) I feel liberated. What does freedom mean to me? It means choosing to live my life experience in my way. Choosing to be exactly who I know I am. Not feeling guilty of my choices. Living in my truth is freedom. Following my soul purpose. Going by the beat of my own drum. Living in service, pure love, inclusion, and gratitude for everything I have. Even all the mistakes I have made in my life. Taking one day at a time, and learning as much as I can, so that I can be the woman that I know I have always been. So that I can change others lives by being real and living in my own truth.

I understand if this was hard for some of you to read. But speaking my truth is part of my voice. I am happy. I am in love with where I am in my life. The experiences and opportunities that I have every single day. Life is to be lived. Remember. Speak up! Be you. Love who you are. And live in your truth. Respect others and their beliefs. Be kind. Just go out in this world and make a difference. Find out what that is for you. Go do it! Be that person. Live the dream. It is possible.

Goodnight.

Looking for it in all the wrong places

2011-07-02T18:17:00.000-07:00

The past week has been week full of little tender mercies. I have learned recently through a couple of epiphany's what I must do in order to continue to walk down this path of life. It is a path that seems narrow at times, a path that others may not agree with, but a path that is my own, that I constructed and created for myself. A path that I know is my truth, and a path that I know connects me to everyone around me and most of all the path that connects me to God. I have discovered that I cannot overlook things about myself to make them go away. I cannot hide from the things that I fear in myself. I must take a look at them for what they are and love that part of myself. In order to free myself from fear, I most find that uncondtional love. Not the uncondtional love that I know resides in me for others, but the unconditional love that one should have for themselves.

A few nights ago I had the opportunity to go to the arts festival in downtown Salt Lake City. A city that I have grown to cherish. I love the energy that surrounds this city, I love the people, I love the smells. My favorite thing about Salt Lake is that I get to walk down 9th/9th in my barefeet and say hello to someone having tea or coffee reading the paper, and enjoying every moment they have with that coffee. I love the diversity. I love how everyone seems to know everyone's name and if they don't, well then they are a familiar face. I love that I can stare out the window of CCY and see Great Harvest across the street, and know that Brooke or Julie are probably over there making sandwiches. I am proud to call it my home.

It had been a long week of work. I took the opportunity to go hang out with my friends and enjoy the night listening to live music and having a drink of wine. I love wine--and if you know me we also know that I LOVE my work, that it is a part of the reason why I exist. I have a reason of being, and that reason for being is why I am choosing to fight like hell for myself. As I was walking around the festival with my friends, enjoying the night, and watching people--I picked up on an overwhelming energy that made me feel paralyzed. As I recognized this feeling, I knew it wasn't mine. I had to walk away from the situation, catch some fresh air, and shake off what seemed to be smothering me. I asked God to do something for me, to let me know I am not alone, and that love is stronger than this feeling I was experiencing. As I re-collected myself, and made my way back to the company of my friends, I heard a voice in my mind that told me to stay. Now looking back this experience changed me for the rest of my life. It was a pivotal moment in my life where I knew what had to be done. As we stood in front of the stage with hundreds of people behind us, I was claustrophobic, I now had a headache that would not seem to subside. Before I could leave, I found that the singer on stage drew his attention in my direction. In my mind, I was not in the mood for any fun and games. I felt as though I was in a nightmare, and I just wanted out. He proceeded to ask me my name, held out his mic so I could inform the entire audience what my name was. As embarrassed as I was...I told him, very "quietly". He then asked the crowd to chant my name. In that moment I felt loved. I had to glance up the sky and say to God, "really!" I am not alone for sure. I did start laughing. I felt the love of everyone around me. And in that moment, I truly understood what I believe in, we are all connected. God was watching out for me.

My friend that I am very grateful for this day said something to me earier that evening that stuck in my mind. She said, "Abbey, you are a people pleaser." This of course was said out of love, and I have no hard feelings. She went on to express that I do so much for others, that I need to make sure that I take care of myself first. I did not hold up a defense, because I believed her. In the past I have looked in many different situations for love. I have looked to get married in the temple, because I thought that is what God wanted me to do. But when that didn't happen, I felt like I let God down. I looked so deeply to fall in love and have that fairytale wedding. I thought that is exactly what I had to do, the path I must take. SO I even resorted to online dating, and believe me that is not my idea of fun. I felt like I had 5 job interviews a week, just to see if I was "good enough" for some man. And not to disrespect the online dating world, it works for a lot of people, but this just wasn't for me. This took me further away from who I really was. When the online dating didn't work. I just gave up on myself. I had nowhere to turn, and I felt defeated. I can now look back on my life and be very grateful for all these many experiences. I know why I ran like I did, biked like I did, and beat myself up like I did. All to prove to myself that I was unworthy of love. All to prove to myself that I had a deep hatred for myself.

Without those dark moments, I would have never found myself. I think I found her, and now that I know that all she really needs is acceptance and love for who she really is....my life can really begin. It took this experience that evening at the arts festival for me to really find clarity in a big mess of a headache. I often remember something that my dear friend, sister, and teacher saying to me once, "You are looking for love in all the wrong places." When she said that to me before, I didn't quite understand what she meant. As I was walking back to my car after the end of this concert...the words seemed to echo in my ears. I knew what she meant, and I knew where I needed to go to find love. I need to surrender to Gods will, and I need to accept love for myself. I need to fall completely in love with who I am. Because I haven't. I think I am a great person. I have talent and gifts. But If I were to say to myself, "I love you" I don't know if I would believe her. These 3 simple words that I use every single day, to let others know that I love them. I need to fall in love with myself. Embrace myself. Surrender to my anger, rage, and know that it is okay to not always have a smile on my face. That I don't have to be okay all the time. As I have found alot of inner peace in this, I told my own mom that I have to fall in love with myself, before love in a soulmate form will ever come into my life. She turned to me and said, "God made you exactly the way you were supposed to be, and that is the truth." I know as I fall in love with myself, all my dreams will come true.

Tonight I chose to surrender to the rage and anger. It wasn't easy. I put my trust in God that I could go to that dark place. And I did. I was able to let go of some things that have been bottled up inside. I feels as though I let go of 15 lbs of fear, anger, rage, etc. Now as I continue forward each day, I promise myself that I am going to love myself first. That I am going to give to myself what I promise to give to others every day, because I love unconditionally. There are people in my life that I love with all my heart. The compassion for these friends and family members in my life, is eternal. If I can love that much, and I have seen that love, I know that I can love myself with all my heart.

Right now I am not searching for a soulmate to walk into my life. My focus is to fall in love with myself in each moment. To remind myself that I am just as deserving of love as everyone else. And to fully accept love that is extended towards me each day. If a soulmate comes into my life while in this process, then I will welcome it. But I know that I have a lot of work to do. I feel like this is life long habitual patterns that I require a slow unraveling, but as I get closer to the love, ANYTHING is possible. I have dreams that I want to accomplish in life, some I already have, and some yet to be accomplished. if I can follow my heart, and give myself fully to each day, and love myself, I know that I can love more and more each day that I am alive. I thank God for being patient with me. And if I learned anything at all mostly that it is to not take everything so serious, to not put too much pressure on myself and to just appreciate the moment. I teach yoga, and I teach this each day to those that come to my class and step on the mat. Teaching yoga is just a reminder to me that we are all equal, connected, moving forward together each day in this amazing thing called life. I have an identity beyond that though, I am bigger than I can imagine. I am Abbey and I love her. I believe it right now, that is a step in the right direction. This is my journey. My journey towards that love. I hope to share it with all of you.

To: Mom, Dad, Amanda, Garrett, Allison, Amelia, D'ana, Nieces, Nephews, Kate, Linds, Jessie, Megs, Britt, Cameron, Adam, and my incredible CCY family. You are the most important people in my life right now. I love you forever and will promise to do that every single day that I am alive.

Just being real here...

2011-05-15T21:15:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been really struggling to really honor myself as a beautiful person. I look at everyone I am surrounded by and it is so easy to see their beauty. For instance I work at a yoga studio in Salt Lake City, its only the best one! Centered City Yoga. And I am surrounded by beauty constantly. First person that comes to mind is my friend Kate Linsley. She is beautiful. I am lucky to have her by my side each day at work, not only as a someone I work with, but as someone who is a very imporant part of my life and considered family now. I love you Kate. You define beauty and I really look up to you. Thanks for being a shining example of that. Someone who is so raw, and has so much depth. I also see beauty in the person that is coming to my classes for the first time or steps into the studio and they just want to be there. They have no clue what yoga is really about, but I think it is so beautiful that they just showed up to try. I see people on the mat in their bodies trying to make sense of it all, and sometimes I have to stop in awe of those students while I am teaching. I cannot help without knowing what they are going through, stand there and resonate with them. The one thing I do for them as their teacher is I can understand them. And I do. I am their equal. I understand because on my mat is where all my stuff comes up too. Like today for instance, I wasn't very nice to myself. And it really showed, I took stabs at myself the entire practice, and I felt like I could no longer support myself. It was in that moment, when my teacher D' came and supported me in a pose. It showed me that we really all are connected, and we all could use a little support at times in life. I have gratitude for my practice, because while on the mat I get these reminders even in the intensity, that I am okay. That this is life, that I am a human being having a human experience. In the office today, Kate said something to me that stuck. She said, "you know sometimes it takes everything you have to go teach, but we just do it. We just keep going." This week, I didn't really feel like going at times. I didn't feel brilliant enough or profoudn enough. But that is me lying to myeslf. So I went, I kept going. I put my shoes on, said my prayers each morning, and told God that I was going to go out in the world to make a difference. Even if it is small. Its something right?

While at retreat, the "theme" for the week was, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Am I that change that I wish to see? I don't know. I probably don't give myself enough credit. I should give myself more credit, and I will. I will start. I may not be the most beautiful looking woman, or have the prettiest smile. Yeah I am awkward at times-- but I am me. I know I give my heart 134 million percent to what I do each day (okay that's alot of percent). Lets just say I try my best each day, because I believe in it with every fiber of my being. And to believe in something so much, I think that is beautiful. I have so much gratitude for my job that I can almost see the graitude as if it was tangible. I am sacrificing each day to something that is bigger than me. I am sacrificing because I believe. I believe I am that person to do this job. And that job is to live my life, to go out and make people feel beautiful, loved, supported, and to let them know they have a friend. And if I can make them laugh every once in a while, then that makes me happy.

With that being said, I will make a promise to myself each day that I will tell myself I am beautiful, just because I care so much about people. I should care about myself.

I am beautiful. As hard as that was to write. I really know that I am beautiful in this moment. And to me that is all that matters.

To all the beautiful people in my life you know who you are. Thank you for being so beautiful! You inspire me every single day to get up and do what i do best, and that is love you.

I was answered in the Sound of Thunder

2011-01-23T20:11:00.000-08:00

There comes times in your life when you have to choose to either surrender or resist yourself. For many years I have resisted my true self and essence. It seemed to work out okay for the most part, but I always knew something wasn't right. When I was a young girl I battled with intense depression and anxiety. To the point that my poor parents did not know how to help me. I know they did the best they could and for that I will always be grateful. I was given anti-depressants as early as 11 years old and was on some type of medication as I journeyed all the way through highschool and a little bit through college. After really getting into running during my college days, I made the decision to get off the medications. I wanted to heal myself naturally. I found that running and working out very intensely was a way to self medicate. Running worked for awhile, but then I sensed that I was running away from something. I was running away from myself. After 9 marathons, many half marathons, and 4 Lotojas, I knew I wasn't being truly honest with myself.

Back in the day, there was no other choice but to turn to westernized medicine for help. It did help and I know it saved me in many circumstances. I was able to function for the most part. I am not saying there is anything wrong with it. But with everything I have learned through yoga therapy, I would now opt to go another direction for self healing. I participated in a program through Centered City Yoga and D'ana Baptiste this past year. Resonate Yoga Therapy school. I discovered that magic can occur by just listening to the body and giving the body the opportunity to surrender and let go. While in this process I have had to face my depression again, because I numbed myself over 15 years ago with drugs. After completing the program, I felt it all come back up, and I told myself I was willing to go through it again, this time with the intention of surrender. The last couple of months until now, I have felt a lack of courage and I really wanted to throw in the towell and give up. I would only have to call my doctor and he could write me a prescription just like that. It was the easy way out. Something in me told me to hang on, that I could face these demons and get through it. As a yoga instructor, I teach the path of surrender in all my classes, but for myself it seemed almost impossible. Every day I would get up and pray to God that he would help me get out of bed. I just wanted to pull the covers over my head and sleep it away. Each day the darkness and depression seemed to intensify. I have never felt so alone in my entire life. I didn't want to turn to anybody, because the affect that my energy was having on myself alone, I didn't want to give off to anyone, especially those closest to me. So I would sit in my room and try to cry, but I felt numb. Couldn't get any tears to come. The sparkle in my eyes disappeared. But I knew that there were reasons I was feeling this way. I had to learn something more for myself. Once out of my bed, showered, dressed, and walking into the doors of the studios where I taught. I promised I would leave all that stuff out the door. Walking around in that space, listening to breath, watching determination take place, and witnessing surrender, I forgot about myself. It was only about them. I felt peace and bliss. As I closed the studio door of my work, there it was waiting for me. I would go home and meditate and give myself pep talks and intend to surrender over and over again. But with that came more resistance. Why? I wasn't sure I had the answers anymore. Tuesday, January 4th I asked God to help me. I was in tears this time. I asked God if he would hold space for me. I told God I wasn't strong enough to hold space for myself and the question kept coming to me, "How can I hold space for others when I cannot hold space for myself?" I didn't realize this until now as I write, but as I kept teaching day after day, my classes seemed to be more crowded and I was able to give them a class through my own life experiences, even if I wasn't okay. I was being real. I could still connect. So, I asked God, if there was a God...if he could answer my prayer not in a subtle voice, but in a sound of thunder. So I would know that I am supposed to be alive. So I can move forward and complete projects and do what I do best and love with all my heart and that is teaching yoga, being a loving, funny, compassionate, passionate and energetic human being.

Friday, January 7th changed my life, my prayer was answered in the sound of thunder that I had desparetly asked for. Ten thirty pm I was driving home from a long day, I wasn't in my body. I was excited to get home so I could sleep. Finding myself distracted while driving, the next thing I know I am in a head on car collision. I remember the feeling of fear that came over me after the crash had occured. The feeling of looking outside of your car after the realization of what had just happend, thinking you had just done something terribly wrong. I was feeling completely helpless, alone, and terrified, I looked outside my door, only to see a mangled up car in the intersection that I had struck. I began to panick. I was so sure I had killed someone, and I was feeling the guilt settle in me. A man, a angel that appeared right after the accident walked up to my car. He was homeless from what it seemed, and he said, "Are you okay?", " can I get you help?" I remember asking him to just stay with me, I just needed him to stay with me. He said something that I will never forget for the rest of my life. "I will stay with you as long as you need me, I am here." The 12 cop cars came blaring into the scene, alone with the 2 fire engines, and 3 ambulances. Left trauma in my body. From the looks of the scene nobody should be alive. Sitting on the side of the road waiting with this man for someone I knew to come was the longest moment in my life. All the feelings I had been feeling were nothing compared to how I was feeling in that moment. After help and family arrived this man that came to me eventually disappeared. I never got a chance to thank him, but he stayed with me. I know that for sure. I will never forget him. That night I was saved by the grace of God. I want to express my gratitude to God for saving that man and saving me. Giving her another chance.

Even though that was a hard night, there where things that I took away that I will never forget. Material things come and go. Yes, my car was totaled. But you can always buy a new car. People are what matter. Love is what matters. The moment. The momet you have now, embrace it. That people are good and they want to help. Life is short. Tell those people you love how much you love them every opportunity you can. It is really all that matters. Have gratitude for your life, even if it seems shitty at times. Its your life.

The people that showed up for me that night in person or in other ways, you will never understand the love that I have for you. You were there for me when I was literally lying in the trenches all alone. You were beside me. God is there and our prayers are answered. I walked away from that accident with a couple bruises, but yes, I walked away. There was my thunder, I was saved, and I have a life to live. I am supposed to be here. Now what? I have work to do, projects to complete, and a brilliance to own. I know I will have many more times of surrender, I will never stop learning. I have people to help wake up, so they can know of their brilliance. There is a lot of people who are walking around unconcious of their full potential. I want to be part of waking up this world. After all of this suffering and resistance, came a peace that I know what my purpose is in life. That is great gift to receive. That night will always be a reminder that no matter what, there is God. God is in you, and I. We are all connected. God came to me in the form of that stranger, who told me he would not leave me. God came in the form of my sister D' who walked silently down the sidewalk with her arms around me. God came in the form of my parents, who love me. My mothers embrace at the scene. God came in myself, when I thought I was alone, really I was there all along, hanging with myself in the darkest moments.

I write this for myself, so that I can remember this experience. I choose to write about it, because I see this experience now as a positive thing for my life. It was the moment that shook me into my power. I want to share this with all of you because I want you to know of your significance. In moments when you just want to give up, don't. Just surrender, be real with yourself. Love yourself unconditionally. Take care of you. Don't be afraid of what comes up, because under that "stuff" is you. life is so exciting. Life should be full of pleasure. I have the ability now to look underneath that stuff and love who I am. I saw that essence in me. When the resistance finally was gone, I was free. i was able to fly. Dear God, thank you for answering my prayer.

Graduating from Inbody Academy 2010

2011-01-02T21:14:00.000-08:00

2010 was the best and one of the most challenging years of my life. I experienced things beyond what I thought was capable for my life. I am living in my wildest dreams and I am preparing for 2011 to be even better. Even though I have witnessed some of my dreams to come true this past year, I also was a witness to dark hours. There were many days where I didn't think I would make it through. I experienced the darkest sides of myself, uncovered spaces in my body that were neglected for a long time and accepted truths about myself that I wouldn't normally accept. Graduating from D'ana Baptistes inbody yoga academy was one of my greatest accomplishments and highlights of 2010. I will never forget the experiences and the family that is now a huge part of my life. These were the most phenomenal times of my life, most vulnerable times of my life, and most painful. I am honored to say that I was completely transformed by this program and will never look back. I realize now that I have my brillance and the world at my finger tips. I am not looking back. 2011 is all about expressing myself in my truths, and teaching from a genuine place, speaking my voice, and creating something from nothing. After realizing my power, I promise myself that I will fully embody my power and live my best most authentic life. I am so blessed that since graduation I have become a instructor for Centered City Yoga and I am able to teach for the best studio in the country. I am also incredibly passionate in assisting D'ana in bringing more students into Inbody Academy. I love my Centered City family. I cannot wait to support those I teach next to. I cannot wait for 2011 and all the abundance and success it will bring in my life. I am excited to bring as many people to yoga through my teaching, because it was what I was born to do. I wrote this credo for yoga therapy school. It is pretty much what I have learned about myself over the course of one year. It is my voice and I am discovering more about myself each day that I live.

MY CREDO
I am a courageous and transparent human filled with humility and inner awareness. I give my compassionate heart with a love that is simple, yet pure and real. I am filled up with overwhelming gratitude. My hands are giving hands, but I realize that I will let you down at times because I cannot please everybody. I am fierce loyalty. I will walk beside you, I will sit beside you, or I will lie beside you when nobody else will. I will hold space for you. I will cry with you and I will laugh with you. I will converse with you when no words are needed. I am safety and a protective heart. I will show up. I genuinely offer my gifts of caring love and kindness for the service of humanity. I am a young and old soul and I recognize the significance in each. I am extraordinary. I believe in the extraordinary. I believe in miracles. I have met with the darkest of night and woken up again and again to see sunlight, because I knew it would come. I am a strong mountain, a quiet stream, a erupting volcano, but at the end of the day, I dream of running with the sun into the horizon. I am a story of endurance, vulnerability, weakness, imperfections and experiences. If you look into my eyes I will tell you my story, because I cannot lie. I welcome you into my heart to stay for awhile if you need one. I will lead you up a mountain even when I do not feel strong enough. I am a powerful voice expressing trust in my inner guide to manifest my truths. I represent love and inclusion to help heal and change the lives of others. I am heart. I put my heart, sweat, and passion into people. Because I love people. I love God and I see God in you and I. I surrender to stillness, feeling and presence to allow for freedom and enlightenment. I am an open book and I wear my heart on my sleeve. I am connected in a language that encourages, supports, loves, and strengthens others to help them discover their full potential. I am a treasure in a simple chest. I offer this treasure to raise the higher good in my life and in the lives I touch daily. I am not striving for perfection and accept my imperfections as beauty. I am Abigail Daw and she is enough.

Some pictures of my tribe, family, and soul sisters.

Why I write

2010-11-19T14:10:00.000-08:00

When I write, I write from a place within that speaks to me every single day. I speak from a place of truth, and a place that I call home within. Sometimes that place is ugly, and sometimes it is joyful. But no matter what, i always speak from a place of complete gratitude. Even for the ugliness, and even for the sun. This is me, and that is where I begin today. I begin with me. Today I speak because I can, I speak because I am now everything and everyone that I need to know in order to be real.

How do I express myself in the way that I would like. I go to a deeper place. A very dark place. A place that I used to hide from, and a place that I always knew was there, but was never willing to explore with a bright enough light. I neglected that place, I pretended that place had no name, never a place of existence and that place would rot inside of me until its death. I tried to cover it up with every possible camoflauge known to man. I never gave it a name, a truth, it was not part of me, how could it be? This was not me. So I journey'd forward. I felt you every day. It felt like a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of one shoe. Trying to believe it wasn't there, but knowing it was there the whole time. My steps sticky.

One day, it would go away. Right? One day. It was ugly, I am not ugy. How could I bare to be ugly. Let me cover you back up again, stand on stage and act in the lights. Pretending you were not there all along. I did a pretty damn good job, I was a great actress. You were the act of my life. But still you sat in my there waiting for me, laughing, rotting in me. Until today, I held up the white flag. I give. You are me, I am you, lets do this together.

Today I welcome you with open arms. Embracing your colors, and your lessons. You are me, and I am you. It is me, it is stamped with the genuine stamp. You are what makes me original, and strong, and pretty darn powerful. Today I am proud that I can unveil that camoflauge and say thank you for what you taught me. Thank you for what you helped me to realize about myself. Life is too short to not be who you are. Live you truths, when you can be okay with that. Life is peace. Life is amazing, and life is exactly the way it is supposed to be. I love her. She is special. She has work to do. People to see and touch. Today she moves forward, laughing with it, and knowing she knew all along.

What is PEACE?

2010-09-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Today I am drawn to the word peace, the feeling that surrounds that word, and what it means to me. My body has been feeling the exact opposite this past week. And I haven't been able to really put my finger on why. There has been this uncomfortable feeling of anxiety that has been festering in my belly. I even experienced a nightmare a few nights ago that woke me up at 3 am, and caused me to feel more of that yucky feeling. I knew what I was feeling was the exact opposite of peace.

This week, I haven't been feeling like I normally do. Those feelings of uneasiness became so intense today, that I knew I wanted to find out why. I have been extra hard on myself, and I have also been snapping at those in my life whom I love the most, and I didn't know why. But I was aware that I was choosing to express myself in a way that wasn't so pretty. So today I write, because I was able to have an experience this afternoon that brought me to the place of peace inside. That place that I have been disconnected from lately. I was able to understand those feelings, without getting angry with myself. Realizing that my imperfections, my ugly side is what makes me human. Is what a lot of us all feel every single day. I discovered that I was allowing for old feelings, past experiences and attachments to manifest again inside of me. Not allowing for myself to let go of them. But today I knew they were there, and I felt them. Haunting me like they used to.

Peace may mean something completely different to you then it does for me, but that is ok. We all go through life and have our own human experiences. But I have realized that we are all connected, and we are all one, and I know that peace is something that we all would like to feel. So, to get back to the question, what is peace to me? How do I describe the feeling? As I write, I will open up to my vulnerable side, which is hard for me to do, but our vulnerable sides are sides that we should all embrace. I am choosing to embrace that side of myself today. I always make sure that I have the right intentions. Today my intention is to only express my genuine and real authentic side. Vulnerability is okay for me today. Vulnerability is what manifested peace for me today.

For as long as I can remember, there is a picture perfect place in my mind that I can go to in my dreams to feel peace. It is in this picture that I have posted above. I rememeber the first time I saw this picture, the feelings of peace came over me. I love this picture, I feel that this piece of art work was created for me. I love to take myself to this picture sometimes. It is my little imaginary place of solitude. I know inside that peace is so much more than just a picture. But when I want to feel a glimpse of peace, I take myself to my magical place. Today I went in search for that feeling, and this time taking myself to my beautiful picture wasn't doing me any good. I knew that I needed to dig a little bit deeper. I have been having a really hard time meditating lately. I felt like when it comes to meditation, I kinda suck at it. I can never stay focused. I have too much dialogue going on in my mind. My legs fall asleep, so I feel uncomfortable in my body. But today my intention was different. I was ready to surrender. And with that intention opened a different door, and I was able to discover the meaning of peace for me. I took myself into my bathroom, and sat on the bathroom rug in my meditation posture. Still was unsure of this whole process. Immediately I started to beat myself up, almost to the point where I was creating internal bruises just by what I was thinking about myself. It was this intense lack of love, respect, and every other feeling of hatred that you can have for yourself came into my body. It was the last thing that I was looking for to feel. I was feeling complete and utter chaos, disrespect, and sadness. But as I listened to my thought pattern, and became aware of how unhealthy these thoughts were, and what kind of feelings I was creating by thinking them. I noticed that love was not in relation to anything that I was thinking at that moment. As I continued to self sabotage, I was stopped in my thoughts. I began to pray, without even realizing it until I heard myself say Dear God. It was like God called my attention, and told me to stop. The love that was held out for me to hold onto was immediately felt. It was the feeling you would get of grabbing onto a floating raft in the ocean so that you could feel support. Dear God. (not a GOD that you or I have created) But God, the same God that is in you and I and in everything. The God that loves us unconditionally, the God that I see and feel in myself and others daily. The God that loves my imperfections, and the God that created this beautiful world that I get to live in. The God that is non-judgmental, the God that gave me my body, and my life. I prayed to that God. The God that I know loves me despite all the ugly things I have done in life. And I started to feel peace. Pictures came into my mind of those that I know love me. Their faces were so clear. The faces that appeared to me were those that I were afraid of letting down. I knew that I had their unconditional love. Peace was starting to become manifested. But as I sat there, I knew there was more to realize. Because without all of the love and support of those dear people in my life, there had to be something else that brought me peace. As I sat there feeling still numb to my emotions, I had an overwhelming feeling of love for myself. A feeling that I have been lacking for awhile. I had some tears, not a ton. But I had some. That is a step in the right direction. I haven't been able to cry, and feeling that emotion confirmed to me that I need to love myself. I need to believe in myself a little bit more than I do. I need to take care of myself. I am realizing more about myself every single day, and I know that I need to trust what I already know. But sometimes my old habits creep up on me, and I am learning to cancel them out of my life, and begin new habits. I need to be ok with making mistakes, and I need to be with my ugly side, the side that I like to pretend is not there amongst all of you. But these feelings are real, and I am owning them. They are not who I am, but they are real. I have a ego that likes to sit in the drivers seat, and I have a self that gets smothered by my ego sometimes. My self, that voice that guides my inner authentic side, is the side I can embrace. I just need to take more time to come to that place to when I stop and really look inside, has been there all along trying to speak to me. At the end of my prayer I discovered that I have had peace inside all along. It was there, waiting for me to discover. Peace is simple. Peace is self love, and love for all that surrounds us. I felt peace when God whispered to me exactly what I am meant to be in this life, and all that internal conflict I was feeling, turned into a overwhelming feeling of love for myself that I am always going to be grateful for. And I knew I would be ok.

So peace to me goes like this....

Peace is love. Peace is that amazing unconditional love. Peace is that love that I have for myself, and for people. I love people. Peace is that feeling when you have this realization that we are all connected. Peace is that feeling when you know God is inside of you, and everyone on this earth. Peace is that feeling of being so connected with the earth, and the love for the beauty of it. Peace is that feeling of gratitude. Peace is that feeling you get inside when you serve someone. Peace is that feeling I get when I am able to connect with another soul while teaching a yoga class. That blanket of energy that surrounds me like a hug when I walk through that space cueing people to inhale and exhale. Peace is that twinkle in my niece and nephews eyes. Peace is when my Dad and Mom tell me that they are proud of me. Peace is that place of stillness inside. Peace is presence. Peace is awareness. Peace is in that conversation with a friend when two souls connect on the same level and they just understand one another. Peace is that connection with a friend who is your kindred spirit. Peace is hard work, and persistence. Peace is family. Peace is nature. Peace is putting trust in yourself. Peace is honesty. Peace is being a part of this world at this time and in this moment. Peace is laughter. Peace is the sound of music of some of my favorite artists, such as Sarah Mclachlan, Enya, and Elton John. Peace is a big fat huge hug. I love hugs, and that is peace. Peace is watching determination in my yoga class. Peace is looking into the face and eyes of the elderly and of children. Peace is courage. Peace is being content with myself, and knowing that everything is exactly how it is supposed to be. Peace is so much. Peace is knowing that God is in us all. Peace is experiencing my life exactly the way it is right now. Peace is truly simple to achieve, we just need to stop and feel it. Peace is love.....Peace is love....Peace is love.....

I pray for peace on this earth. And it starts and ends with me every single day that I get to live. That is why I choose to do what I do daily. And I only hope to do my best every single day.......that is all I can ask for. Bringing what I am able every day. A little bit more peace to my life, and the lives of others by sharing what I know inside myself.

To My Life Teachers

2010-08-08T17:54:00.000-07:00

I enjoy writing. I enjoy writing because I am able to put into words, feelings and emotions things I would not usually vocalize outside of the keyboard. Writing is personal, which is why I don't care if others are critical of what I have to say. I know I am writing what comes from my heart, and what I choose to express is authentic to me. For those who choose to read, I hope that you know that I appreciate it. It tells me that you have an interest in what I might have to say, whether it's good, bad, or ugly.

A lot has changed in my life over the course of 1 year. And despite the failures, and successes that have brought me to this place. I can say that I am proud of myself. I have had some major ups and downs through this process, and I am feeling a shift of internal awareness every single day that I normally would have neglected in the past. I am aware now of the stuff that I need to let go of in order to move forward. Shifting away from old thought patterns that don't seem to serve me, and creating space for the moment, which is where I have noticed my truth resides. As I have experienced change, I have often been forced to stop in my day to think of all those important people who have played a huge role in my life. I am so thankful for those mentors, teachers, and friendships who have given me a reason to keep on swimming every single day! "Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming." Dori

When I was in elementary school I remember two teachers that had a huge effect on my life. Mrs Jepson, who was my second grade teacher and Mrs Millet who was my 5th grade teacher. The love they both extended towards me, will never be forgotten. I cannot thank them enough for seeing me, and for loving me. I still remember the cookie monster cake Mrs Jepson made for me on my birthday.

Mrs Cindy Nelson, thank you for being that teacher in 9th grade who was my friend. You were one of those coaches/teachers in life that I will never forget. You didn't take life so seriously, and in 9th grade that was all I needed.

To Mrs Anita Stites, I had the dream to play on the high school basketball team. I played Jr. Jazz growing up and every night basketball with the neighbor kids. I was in love with basketball. It was my life. I had hopes of one day playing in the WNBA. It was a real dream at 15 years old. When I was not picked my sophomore year, I was crushed. I was the only one amongst all my close peers that did not make the team. I thought my life was over. But I remember how I felt when you came walking into my 6th period Biology class, taking me out into the hall and asking me to join the team. I remember your words, "Are you willing to work hard?" Ever since then I have always worked hard to do my very best. Something ignited in me that day, and I have never taken it for granted. Even though I was not the star player by any means, you gave me a chance. That chance sparked a fire in me that eventually drove me to go on and accomplish some incredible goals as an athlete. You gave me that tool of determination, and will power. I never gave up, and I never will. Thank you.

To a friend who guided me through some rough times in life. You introduced me to my passion. A passion that will lead the rest of my life. Without your passion, I would have never found the passion that I have now for what I do. You were the only one at that time in my life to help plant that very important seed. Thank you for allowing me to get my feet wet in the fitness world. Seeing that I had potential as an instructor, extending tools so that I could grow, and then listening to your intuition when you guided me into another path that gave me better opportunities. At the time, I didn't understand why, but now I know and I couldn't be more grateful. Even though we no longer get to share our experiences with one another, I know that everything happened exactly the way it was supposed to. Thanks for teaching me, and mentoring me. Thank you for having that contagious passion that created something bigger in me. I will never forget you.

To KD, you are the bomb! You were the one that really saw that something in me, that I didn't see. When you asked me to go to cycle summit in Minnesota with you, is when I finally recognized in myself that I had something to offer. You gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. The friendships I gained from that experience, as well as the confidence will always stand out as an incredible memory. I look up to you. You are so intelligent, hilarious, and not afraid to speak your mind. You have given me that extra boost of confidence when I didn't believe I had anything of importance to express. Thanks for showing me through example. You have been an incredible leader, boss, friend, and mentor. And I love you so much. I am excited for more memories we will be making.

To D' my soul sister. The only words that come to mind. I love you. I feel like all the mentors that have lead me to this point, have lead me to you. A very significant mentor. You have taught me to love myself. You are my Angel. And without saying too much, because I could go on and on. The only thing that I have to say is. "You get it" and I think that you see in me what you know is in you. Compassion for people. "There are things you do because they feel right, and they may make no sense and they may make no money, and it may be the real reason we are here: To love each other and to eat each other's cooking and say it was good." You are paving the way for me, and I am so grateful. You and I have many projects to complete together.

To my family, I love you! My parents, I can't write how I feel about them without there being tears. To my beautiful mother who is my best friend. Who has been my permanent buddy. I always know she will be there when I need her wisdom. She is there to always love me unconditionally. I didn't deserve her, but somehow I was lucky enough to have her as my Mom. I am forever indebted to you. But know how much I love you. To my Dad, you have been the best Dad. You have bailed me out on many occasions. You have guided me, and you have held me up on a pedestal that I didn't deserve. I always wanted to be like you, and I am so grateful you are my Dad. Never forget that. To my parents, thanks for standing by me daily to make sure I was protected and loved.

To my beautiful sisters, and brother. We stick together forever. And I love you, and know I am always here for you. Always. And I know you will always be there for me.

Dear Tony, Kat, Maddie, Brie, and Ciel. There are no words but I love you. We are family, and I am so grateful for you.

Friends--you handful that have stood by me my entire life, you know exactly who you are. And you are my every day angels. I love love love you. Jessie and Megan, I love you. DEBB T2 what will I ever do without you.

I needed to share my gratitude. My heart is so consumed with it. And I wanted to put it out there. I am so happy with life right now, and I am so excited for where life is taking me. These incredible people that I have spoken about in my writing deserve to know. You are all my angels, and I felt the need to express this. When you feel something, I have learned to not let the opportunity pass you by to express it. You never know the effect it might have on that person.

Thanks for reading. I love you.

Immerse Yourself

2010-05-07T13:53:00.000-07:00

I did. I immersed myself. I gave it everything my mind-body-and soul would allow me to give. And I discovered, I discovered me, the greatest gift I have ever given myself.

Last week, I was given the experience of my life to go on a 5 day yoga retreat tucked back into the beautiful Altamont Utah, where we stayed at Hidden Ranch. A place now that I would call my home away from home. Or if i were to think of a heaven on earth, that would be the place. I have been participating for the past 5 months in a very intense yoga certification through the brilliant D'ana Baptiste at Centered City Yoga. I have blogged about my experiences with this certification before, and I have expressed how this training has really changed my life. Going into this retreat, I kinda had an idea of how amazing this retreat would be. But like I said "KINDA," Now being home almost one week after experiencing this retreat, absorbing what I felt. I still cannot find the right words to express on how this retreat changed my life. I have come to the conclusion that there really are no words, you just had to be there to understand. But I want to remember the best I can, so I am choosing to blog and express to the best of my ability. It was nothing less then amazing that is for sure. The first day getting out the door was very difficult for me. My car had broken down the night before, and I was told that I would be unable to drive it 2 hours to the retreat. I was upset the next morning scrambling for a solution, knowing that I had to be at the airport within 1 hour to pick up someone who would be counting on me to drive them to the retreat as well. I knew somehow that all would be well, and was able to get someone to fix my car within 30 minutes of having to be to the airport. I knew that I was meant to take on this retreat, and nothing was going to stop me from getting there. Even if it meant walking, I was showing up. Picking up Brie was only the beginning of this amazing experience. Brie whom I had never met before picking her up, suddenly became a friend that I felt like I had known for a very long time. I now know that I was meant to meet Brie, and I feel like I have a friend forever in her. Thank you Brie, for beginning the process of what would be one of the best weekends I have had to this point in my lifetime.

Arriving at the ranch 3 p.m on Weds April 28Th, I was a little bit nervous. I had no idea what to expect. Walking in and putting my stuff to my assigned bunk and roomies, I still did not know what to feel. Excitement? Fear? Definitely a little bit of both. I had jumped the first hurdle of getting there, and I was ready for whatever was about to come my way. I knew before going into this retreat, that I was more ready then I have ever been in my life. Our first night began with an amazing practice taught by D'ana and then followed by an amazing dinner with all of us ending the night sitting in the circle introducing ourselves. I was thinking to myself, what would I have to say that is profound. Look at all these amazing people sitting around me, I really didn't know what I was going to say. As I listened to my new family, I knew without a doubt that I was in the right place, at the right time, with people that I felt like I had already known before arriving. I felt completely at ease. Even if I didn't have all the answers to why I was there, I was sitting right where I was supposed to be in that moment. And little did I know I would soon have the answers that I was searching for.

Wake up at 630 ready for Pranayama. Breath work. I had never experienced this before. But before I knew it, I was so engaged in this process. I loved waking up to the sun. We would sit out on the deck all cozy in our pajamas breathing in the beautiful morning. I cannot believe the difference it makes in your day, just by beginning with connection to your breath. I realized while sitting there that normally I would roll out of bed without a thought of my breath or even connecting to it. And off to start the day in a hurry. While I was engaged in this breath work the first morning, I was waiting for some incredible things to be opened to me, a breakthrough maybe, because like I said, I was ready. Nothing happened that first day, it was like I was hearing crickets in my mind. Well OK, I did hear cows. I never wake up to cows mooing. I wasn't disappointed, because never in my life have I taken the time to wake up breathing to the sun before I start my day. I was grateful. I was grateful for the cows too. I was grateful that I was alive, and that I had my breath. This breath work every morning was the beginning process of connecting to self which is something that I had been lacking since I was a little girl.

Who am I? Learning more. I know that I am quick to beat myself up, I am cruel to myself. The first morning practice I was angry. I was upset and my mind was not connected. Was I even doing yoga? Well so I thought, but little did I know what I was holding on to, and choosing not to surrender too. What I did take from that practice is that I rarely support myself. Evidence that I don't love myself is lingering. Hard to learn, but lesson one was being unveiled to me. Still a success, every practice was a success because after all was said and done, I learned something new each time I stepped on the mat.

Lunch break! What an amazing cook we had up there, I am still grateful. Patty you were a beautiful cook, and I thank you for feeding me. My body absorbed it so quickly, it nourished me completely.

Practice two. Surrender! Something that I didn't do in the first practice. BREAKTHROUGH. My first bit of magic. That low lunge, brought tears. But I was completely willing to surrender. With the help of D'ana, I was truly able to surrender. I trusted myself. I started to see that even though I admitted to not loving myself in the morning practice, that there was a glimmer of hope within. I embraced myself in the afternoon practice. I was more stable, more engaged, and more in touch within my body. I was more observant of my thoughts, and breath. Savasana, I saw her. Red zip up sweatshirt, she always wore it. Red it was her favorite color.....now its green. But I saw her, a shy smile. Blond hair tucked behind her ears. Her bangs always pinned back, and blue jeans. I hugged her. I hugged that 7 year old. I told her it was okay. I said sorry. And I told her I loved her. It was as real as if it really happened. I was so connected to her and this moment, that I don't know how I even woke out of it in time. I have never been so relaxed in my life. I felt safe....

I was numb. Very numb. i stuffed all my feelings down, because most my life I have told myself its better to be strong. Its weak to show tears, and your vulnerability. It is exactly why I know that I have failed in all of my intimate relationships. Nobody wants to be with someone who is not willing to show vulnerability, walls, and who is too strong. I was numb. Until the tears came, the flood gates opened and they wouldn't stop. Breath circle did something to me. I don't know how, but I began to feel. I was OK with it. Yes, I was embarrassed, and I wondered who would see, and who would think I was weak. But then I remembered it was OK. Normally, if you ask those that know me. I don't hug much, I have walls up. I am not one to be really affectionate. But I will admit now, that I have craved it for SO long. I have ached for it. Before now, I shut that part of me off. Like it wasn't needed. I thought for some reason I didn't deserve it. When the tears were streaming down my face, I craved that touch. I prayed for it. It happened, and I felt loved. I knew that It was OK to be sad, because in that moment I felt loved. Once I embraced those feelings again, every chance I got to hug, I would. I would hug so tightly, and I didn't want to let go. I knew that I was making up for all that lost time. I was refilled.

Dear Hug, you were all I needed. Thank you! From, Abbey

My center...My heart....I felt them, and they were open. I felt my heart as if I was holding it in the palms of my hands. I felt so alive. I was WILLING to receive. I am now worthy of it. I am worthy of true love, and one day soon. It will come.

Dear past friend, I forgave you. You know who you are. I hope you forgave me. I cried my last tear for you. I wrapped that green ribbon around my soul for you, and forgave you. I sent it out to you, and I hope you felt it, because I did. It felt amazing.

Dad, I love you. I know you did the best you could with me. You are an amazing Dad. I love you Dad.

LOVES DIVINE-SEAL. That song was so powerful. I love you Abbey.

Time for some silence. I experienced silence in my life. What amazing things you learn about yourself in quiet times. I learned that I love silence. My life is loud, I have a lot going on. Being away from the phone, computer, music, gym, ect. The only thing I had was my thoughts. Wisdom flows. Wisdom flows within when you have silence. Thank you for granting me silence, it was a great nap!

Saturday, May 2. 2010

Today I was supposed to do an Iron man. That in my mind was supposed to bring me to myself. That was my false identity. I had to prove myself in that way (so I thought) so that others might see me and know me and approve of me. So that I again could feel worthy of being loved. Today I was supposed to cross a finish line that was going to give me the satisfaction, that I am worthy. But instead, today I chose to be still. Stillness. Stillness is good. I chose to stay within myself. To see, and know, and understand the pain for what it was. I felt that pain of what it meant. I identified with her, but this time I was honest. I got to know her for real. Today I chose a path that took me beyond any finish line. I have been given a gift that is more precious then that of any Iron man Medal. Instead the medal is my heart, and I wear it with pride, shining for the whole world to see. Allowing anyone inside that will nurture it. This medal represents, courage, strength, hard work, fears, tears, bliss, sadness, authenticity, and this medal represents passion, spirituality, dreams, hope, and faith. But most of all, this medal represents the real Abbey, and I am proud of her.

BLISSFUL! That is what I am feeling by now. I finally let go! I jumped in, and I didn't hold back. I gave everything I had that day. Everything, that I possibly could find within. Everything that I could give, I gave.

I danced! I never dance! I danced all night long! I normally am the person that sits on the sidelines, wishing that I had the guts to get out on the floor and shake it. But that night. Nothing held me back! It was so freeing. I am going to never stop dancing now. I danced! I danced! I danced! Then I went to bed, and slept like a baby! Much needed. Did I say I danced! How exciting for me. BREAKTRHOUGH!

The last morning Pranayama, something happened this time. The only words I have to explain the way things opened up for me was effortless. I was more open to feel and see from a place that I had never looked at before. And I saw it so clearly! My dreams beginning to unfold. I am not going to just be a dreamer, I know now what I am capable of being. That my dreams are mine to grasp. I am the master of my own destiny. I choose to be that woman one day that I told that little girl I could never be. It felt so good! But Then I realized that my weekend was about to close. And I began to feel sad, and I didn't want to leave just yet. I needed more time. But I had learned enough about myself that I was more then excited to go home, and start living my truths.

Final Salutations. Last practice. I observed everyone, the way they moved. The energy. We were a family, completely connected. We had been through so much together. We had cried a lot, laughed even more, danced, fell down, slept, leaned on, sweat, sang, hugged, shared, breathed, felt, gave, received, and not to mention (pigeoned, frogged, folded, lunged, and even MOOED together) I could keep going on. (you get the point?) We went through a whole lot together. During our last practice I noticed we all even moved together as if we were all the same breath. We shared so much. We truly became a family.
In the last practice, the most amazing thing that I observed was D'ana. She had watched over us the entire retreat. What an amazing and inspiring weekend she put together for all of us. Her passion is unbelievable. Her authenticity was revealed in every practice. Her dedication was seen, and her love and time for her work was felt. Her connection and dedication to all of us, gave us all the ability to move mountains within ourselves. Her unconditional love was undeniable. I felt so grateful. I felt so lucky to be a student of D'anas. I felt so grateful to be able to learn from myself as well. D'ana extended the tools, and I was willing to accept them. She taught me that what I learn from myself, is to be felt within. I observed the way she moved with us. She was sending us on our way, our angel protecting us and guiding us throughout our last practice. The sun was beaming through the windows. Everything was that of peace, and serenity. Wow! Is all I could think to myself. Was this really ending? Was it a dream........

I learned, I gave, I hugged, I cried, I listened, I felt, I noticed, I surrendered, I finally let go! I found hope, and I was leaving with faith. I learned to stay grounded, and I was feeling the internal bliss of who I really was. I discovered that. I did the work! What a great feeling. I felt brand new. I felt as though I was stepping out of a armor that had held me bound for so long. I felt again, that I really truly loved myself for the first time. I came back to self, knowing that it was OK to feel again. I had left that for so long. Knowing that stillness is sometimes better then chaos. That its not about the finish line, it is the journey in between. And if you have to stop and breath along the way, everything in life is more at ease. That you feel more abundantly blessed, and the bliss is easily recognized. The best part for me, was learning at the age of 28 what I know I must do for the rest of my life. Watch out world! Until next time..............I will remember every day the affect you had on my life.

Dear Scotland.......

2010-04-21T21:34:00.000-07:00

The past few months have been so unveiling for me. I feel like my blinders have come off and I am able to see myself in a whole other light. It has been the biggest shift in my life that I have ever experienced. I can't even begin to express to anyone the way I feel, and how much freedom I feel from beginning to let go of the past that had me bound for so long. Somedays it is overwhelming, and I feel myself forget for a moment what I have learned, and then that awareness brings me back to self. I am so grateful for those simple realizations. Realizing these things could not have come before now, I wasn't ready. I recently decided that I was willing to allow myself to go for what I know I am passionate about, not letting anything stop me. Having that road map in place lead me to so much more then I could possibly imagine for my life at this time. But even though these amazing things in my life have happened I still feel these unwanted walls that come up in certain situations in my life, in the past I haven't been able to deal. Usually I would allow for the wall to come up, and I would hide behind it. Now when these walls come up, I am aware, I sit with it for a minute trying to understand and feel it for what it is, and then I dismiss it. I am learning to deal. I have never talked about these feelings, and I am not usually this open and honest. But I love to write, and I usually write about honest things, and right now that is all I am trying to be for myself. For me this is has been life changing, and I see new things daily. So for those of my friends who read, thanks for taking the time.

Somedays I feel like I am looking through the eyes of a 7 year old Abbey. Innocent, very fearful and cautious, observant, protective, intuitive, always aware of what was around me. I remember always knowing from an early age that I was different then others. Not in a way where I caused problems. I just felt like my idea of the world was different then others ideas of the world. Seven was a very difficult age for me. I had a lot happen in my life. My family had to pick up and move across the ocean to Scotland. I had to leave the comfort of my home, and best friends on Somerdowns Court. Before I moved, I was shy, timid, almost to the point where if an adult would talk to me I would pee my pants down both legs. This is true! It happened twice that I can remember. I wasn't a confident child. Now watching my nieces and nephews childhood, I can sense they are confident. No cares or struggles in the world. But for me It just was not like that. Since an early age, I have been unsure of self, and it has been a battle that I have dealt with my entire life. I am not complaining, or saying that this is a bad thing, or that I was picked on. A lot of people every single day have to struggle with these same struggles I have, in fact I think most people do. But for me, I am choosing to be honest and own up to my insecurities. It is part of my healing process. Those battles have turned out to be gifts that I would not trade for any amount of money or treasure. They are my treasures. They have set a solid ground for me to continue forward tomorrow with more awareness, strength, and confidence in myself.

Dear Scotland.
I remember you so clearly. I remember it was one of the scariest times of my childhood. I would remember dreaming of a fantasy world at night to try and take myself away from you. Today, I try to go back and disect it, and I can't quite figure out why I was so scared. But the feelings were so real, and I did a really good job of blocking out some of those memories that I wish I still had today. I remember that old house in Edinburgh that our family lived in. The kitchen was so small, and those stairs that lead up to that door, I swear it was haunted. Nobody ever dare go up those stairs. The house didn't have the normal scents of a home. My room was on the top floor across that hall from my brother Garrett. I still remember the way my room looked. The colors were dark, the carpet was old and there was a small window facing the backyard. Beyond the backyard was a stone wall that had a forest behind it. I never went in. I remember climbing on that stone wall and getting stung by a bee. I never went beyond that wall, I was always too chicken to find out was in that forest. I remember sleeping all by myself at night. The only things that I found protection from was my baby dolls. I slept with every stuffed animal and cabbage patch doll that I owned at the time. They cradled my entire bed. I felt like they watched over me, I didn't like going to bed at night. Then the pond in the back yard, I liked that pond. I used to play a game called "color the eggs" where my sisters, and brother would chase each other around this pond. The swing was safe, we always sat on that swing behind the pond.

My parents where amazing, I don't think they had any idea that I was scared to death. I never said anything, i never acted out. I just dealt with it. My other brothers and sisters were way more outgoing, and I would admire that. But I was ok with just observing, and learning from them. There were times where I would strive for that attention and I would try to do things so people would notice that I existed. I remember laying on the carpet in the family room when we would have company over pretending like I knew how to read out of a chapter book. I wanted to get noticed for my intelligence. But nobody ever said anything. When I went to primary school it was scary. Especially a shy 7 year old in a foreign country. But I was brave, and I met some amazing friends. I still remember some of their names. My teacher Miss Nichol. Wingsea, Kate, Ruth, and Rhianna. I started to love school, and I began to open up quite a bit. My confidence grew little by little, and I remember being the only blonde haired, green eyed American. I was admired amongst my peers, and I liked that. I even would show off in front of the P7 and P8 kids a recess. I would pick up people from off their feet and walk around with them. Everyone would stand around me when I would do this. It became something that I would do every day to gain attention. I know weird, I laugh at it now. But I remember it so clearly as if it were yesterday. But then I would go home from school at night, and I would feel so scared, and so lonely and I would close up. I think I blocked a lot of these times out of my mind. I pushed them so far down into my sub conscious because I didn't want to remember them. And I feel as though they have left scars. I feel those feelings come up today in my life. I remember that room, and I remember that house, and I remember the street that I used to roller skate down the sidewalks daily. Sometimes all alone. I remember the corner shop where my mom used to take me to buy her cards that she would send home to friends in America. I will always remember the stuffed duck she purchased for me from that store. It was my comfort. But I remember even though I was so scared, I was so strong. Looking back now, being there and dealing with those scary things is where I gained that strength that I still have today. It is where I feel like some of my most precious gifts were received. I wish I could go back and hug that 7 year old. I would like to tell her that everything is going to be ok. That the life you have in front of you is going to be hard, but you are being prepared for your amazing journey.

Today, I look back and I am proud of that 7 year old, who was so scared, but was not stupid by any means. The feelings I get when I think about my childhood in Scotland cause me to sometimes close up, and become that shy timid girl. When I realize those feelings come up, I quickly turn fearless, and I remember the strength of that girl. I am on the verge of change in my life, I am so lucky because I have found passions in my life that I know without a shadow of a doubt I was supposed to accomplish. Without those scary times in my life, I would not be the woman that I am today. I am so grateful for those times. I am so grateful for the fear, because now I am fearless. I cannot wait to see what happens in life for me. Taking one day at a time. Loving myself. Loving myself with all my heart. Hating myself sometimes also for the thoughts that I sometimes go back too, but then realizing that its ok. Those thoughts don't define who I am. I am always here for myself from now on. I am letting go of you Scotland. And I am grateful for you because I would never be the person I am today without you. Its ok to move forward, to let go. Finding when I cling to the past, that I don't move forward. Remembering the moments, the good and the bad. Remembering how I got to this place right now today because of you. It took a lot of courage, and it took a lot of faith, and internal strength. Time to close the past and let it be the past. Excited for the future, but even more ok with the now.

Your Friend,
Abbey

JOY

2010-04-07T22:45:00.000-07:00

As I sit here to write. Pretty late at night, I am not tired. I guess I could try to fall asleep, but my thoughts running in my mind tend to keep me awake. So I write..........I don't know what I am about to write, but I feel as though I need to express myself.

My Joys-

To me Joy means long term happiness. Not the feeling you get while you are eating a cookie, that is just happiness. Well short term, until that white sugar enters your blood stream and 1 hour the happiness turns into depression. To me Joy is the opposite, Joy is that happiness that resides in your heart, and the feeling is completely real. You know its there, you don't have to search far for it. It is easily grasped. To me Joy is long term. I am thinking about the joys in my life because I can't help but feel joy when I think about them. Right now I could use a little bit of joy. This week's joys-

-My niece Madelyn and Sarah. They love their aunt Abbey. They look up to me. The pictures they drew for me with a simple 3 words made me feel joyful. I love it when they say "I love you" because I know they mean it.

-Vincent my nephew. Screams my name loud enough over and over again to let me know he cares I am in the room. He is always the first one to greet me when I walk into a room, and he is always the last one to say goodbye with a big hug. Its love. And at 2 years old, I think he already knows what that feeling is. Because he shows me every day.

-The Morrill Family. I have nothing but love for this family. They make me feel joyful . To: Tony, Kat, Maddie, Brie, and Ciel You are irreplaceable

-The choice that I made to go out on a run this week because I wanted too. My intention was to just go to feel fresh air, and to know that I am alive. I didn't go out on a run because I had to, or because I was torturing myself. This time, I was in touch with my body, and it actually craved the run. I loved it!

-The energy of my classes bring me joy, it is very contagious

-The amazing journey I have been on through my Yoga Teacher Training. I never thought that I could feel so good doing something. KNOWING that this is one of the things in life that I will give myself completely too, and I will never have to fake my passion. It is there, I feel it, and it feels right! I love the effect it has had on my life. Very Joyful!

-My Family especially my supportive parents. They bring me joy daily just by letting me know that I have a support system when I need it. They are my home.

-Knowing presence, and feeling that is Joy

-Knowing that I have yet to fall in love again for real, and I know I still have the opportunity in front of me. That brings me joy. I can't wait to fall in love. But until then, I am ok with just loving me and all those around me. My friendships bring me joy

-Friends (all of you) PURE JOY!

-Children's Hugs PRICLESS

-Self Discovery and breakthroughs. Learning to be ok with me, brings me joy. Takes away the stress and replaces it with peace.

-Knowing that I am only human, brings me joy.

-LOVE is JOY

-GRATITUDE is JOY

-Someone "SEEING" me is JOY

-Giving my gifts to others is JOY, but receiving others gifts through what I learn from them has the same effect

-A new friend

-LAUGHTER

-MUSIC I am drawn to many differen't types, but I feel so joyful when I hear my favorite song. Right now, I love Alanis Morrisette song called Madness.

-Watching myself learn, and feeling proud when I put that knowledge to work.

-This week I have made decisions that would have normally gone against all my beliefs. But it felt good to break out of that mold, and believe in something else, that I know is right for me. Having that shift, has made me believe that their is someone else involved. But the only thing that matters is this moment when I feel peace knowing it was the right choices. That God knows me more then I know myself. And knowing that, I trust myself, and I am fearless in my decisions.

As I fall asleep. I feel a sense of peace that resonates with joy. The joy and peace I feel may go away some days, but all that matters now is that I feel it presently. And I am going to give myself the opportunity to bask in that feeling. I only have right now, this moment. I am willing to see the turmoil that I have inside sometimes, and I am willing to see it for what it brings, and I am willing to see that it is just a feeling and that it will no longer leave me terrified or paralyzed. I am willing to come back to presence and feel joy. Tomorrow will come, (I hope) and when it does, I will take this feeling of Joy and remember the joys that all the yesterday's brought my way. Good night friends. I love you!

Stripped Down

2010-03-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

Wow its been awhile since i last sent my thoughts out into the blogging world. I was not feeling inclined to speak my mind or talk about anything. I didn't feel like I had anything of significance to express. But whether or not you read this post, I wanted to send my words out there, to hopefully help someone realize what I have realized about myself within the last 2 months of my life. So deciding to come back today is perfect timing. Writing has always been my way to express myself. Sometimes I am not the best on the phone, or even sometimes in social situations I like to listen and take in what I learn from others. I do not find myself voicing myself very much. When I am sitting here in this moment listening to my inner voice, I feel empowered to express myself. So here is my story and I hope that you read it, and truly know that this is coming from my heart and I am going to be as real and authentic as I know I am.

I have always known a finish line. To me a finish line represents accomplishment, hard work, a rush that is indescribable, and a feeling of being quite proud. My Dad taught me at an early age that running was a great hobby, he himself running 16 marathons and almost qualifying for the olympics. I really looked up to him. I had always played school sports, such as basketball and soccer and was not the star player by any means. Actually I sucked. I was always the 8th or 9th man off the bench, so I was used to all my peers shining over me. When I graduated from high school, my brother and Dad talked me into running a marathon. 1 marathon turned into 2 marathons, and I quickly realized that not only could I run a marathon but I was a pretty fast runner. I qualified for Boston after my 3rd marathon and continued to feed into that feeling of accomplishment. (now you are probably wondering why I am telling you all of this, but I promise i will get to the point) I felt like these races and these accomplishments gave me my identity. My Dad would tell everyone how proud of his daughter he was, and It felt good. I started to feel like the only way my Dad would be proud is if I kept doing these races, but each race I did I was slowly dying inside. After awhile marathons became a bit boring, I didn't quite get the same feeling I used to get when running so I began to look for another way to prove to myself that I was strong. I started teaching spin classes at the gym, and fell in love with biking. I wanted to do the next biggest and best thing out there, so once again my accomplishments would continue to define me. I realized that not only was I a strong runner, but that I was a stronger cyclist. So I opted to register myself for the longest one day sanctioned bike ride in the United States. LOTOJA 206 miles of 17000 feet gain in elevation throughout the day. Well I not only did this, but I did this 3 times after. I was feeling high on life and soon realized well there must be more that I can do. My ego was high on life, and I must admit I thought I was pretty cool. Fast forward June 2009. At this point in my life, I had failed miserably from relationships, feeling very unworthy of love. Never vulnerable, and always feeling like I had to hold up the "I am strong card" The guys in my life couldn't keep up with me. And now looking back, I don't know how they did for as long as they did. I fell in love, and I lost him and so I started to beat myself up. Thoughts came into play "Maybe I needed to prove myself more that I am worthy of love," "What did I do to drive him away, am I not good enough" So going back to June It was time to sign up for what I saw in my mind the biggest race I could ever do in my lifetime. IRONMAN St. George, now if you don't know what an Ironman consist of it is 2.1 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 marathon. If I proved that I could cross that finish line, maybe I could prove to myself again that I am capable of being loved, and that someone must see that in me. (Which come to find out, it was the lack of self love I had, and I was only telling myself that I was unworthy of love. Nobody else was telling me this) So I signed up. I started my journey of Ironman training in November 2009. I started off with a ton of momentum, feeing great. I even did my workout late at night on New Years Eve thinking to myself, I am awesome! Everyone else is out partying and I am running. "I'm cool" right? No......

I have always loved yoga. It has been a huge part of my life, now to the point where I teach it daily, practice it a ton more, and It is a safe place for me. So while In this Ironman training process I decided since yoga has been a huge part of my life that I would enroll myself into a certification that would soon transform my thoughts and my help transform my life. So in all this I was trying to balance work, yoga, and 4 hours of training a day for this Ironman, and started to feel very overwhelmed with life. I would get mad at myself when I was feeling frustrated, because I am strong right? I can handle anything. No need to back down, and no need to ever feel vulnerable. Needless to say I became depressed. I started skipping out on workouts, hating my runs, and to be quite honest at rock bottom in my life. I was digging myself into a dark tunnel, and I felt completely out of touch with my life. I toyed with the idea of backing out of the race, but decided not to because I was afraid of what others thought. (when come to find out, they don't care as much as you think) I went out on a 12 mile run and decided that I was going to do it anyways despite what i was feeling. The first time in 10 years where I had to stop and walk. (this is NOT in my character) The kids on the school bus where pointing at me, and I felt like they were mocking me for my weakness, when in reality that was in my mind. People walking their dogs were passing me. I felt completely defeated. I went home and just cried. A few days later I was sitting in class, still beating myself up about my training, and way too tired to think or pay attention. I was listening in on a discussion half heartedly when I had my "awakening" or "aha" moment if I must say. This person who spoke to me this day will never understand what they did for me. When this person started to tell their story, I immedietly connected to it, and realized that her story was for me to hear that day. She expressed that she had gone through the similar torture that I went through, that she fell out of touch with her body and even though they looked good on the outside, internally she was completely out of connection with her body. For some reason those words hit me like a ton of bricks, and I knew in a matter of 10 seconds what I needed to do. I told myself that I am done torturing myself, and that I am done proving myself, and that I am worthy of love. I had no idea how to love myself, I only knew a finish line and to me that was my identity. So I was going to try and love myself with out all that glamour. I pulled out of the Ironman, losing a ton of money. But in the end gaining more then money can buy. I was set free, I was bound to this identity. I have never felt so empowered. Right now I am learning to love myself again completely stripped down of my expectations. Taking myself off of that pedastal that I wanted to place myself on, and stepping below it was the greatest feeling I have ever felt. I am learning that when I am stripped down to nothing, all those thoughts of me only having an identity attached to a finish line are just false. I am learning that I am powerful just being me. That I can move mountains, without climbing one on my bike or in my running shoes. I am the stripped down Abbey, and right now I feel naked without it all, but it is a better feeling than having the weight of the world on my shoulders. I am worthy of all the awesomeness that will come my way, and I will fail at times because I am human. i will be vulnerable, because it is alright not to always be the strong one. I am grateful because I have had that realization. I am powerful because at times I have felt powerless. Thank you to that person for helping me see that. I am going to carry on, and remember when I am being too hard on myself that its not reality. I am going to just bring what I am able every day, and if its just that I love myself, and others then that is all that matters. Filling my life with abundance by giving others the same. To me a finish line represents so much more then i can express, to me it represents an awesome journey to self fulfillment.

The Best Thing About Today

2009-11-12T17:53:00.000-08:00

The best things about my day come unexpected. I love the great mystery of life! The fact that I get the opportunity to live in today and experience things that increase my capacity to love more than I ever thought I could. Today was another day full of unexpected blessings, that made me feel grateful for the place that I hold on this earth today. Today Thursday, November 12th 2009 was just another ordinary day at work. Get up at 530 am after pushing the snooze button one too many times, not really excited to start my day because of the lack of sleep I got the night before. Then pull my hair back in a messy bun, grab my protein bar, and head off to the gym to try and help others understand that fitness, and healthy living is important. My job is demanding of me. It requires me to give so much of myself to others, it requires me to motivate, inspire, and believe in others when they do not believe in themselves. Which in all reality, I don't believe in myself somedays, and I am constantly giving myself the same pep taik that I give to others. I am worth it! Today was good, I had the opportunity to yet again be passionate about what i do. I love to teach! I love it! I love that when I am in my own little world in the studio class, I feel the most safe, I feel the most loved, and I feel the most confident. I love that my friends show up to receive and to be apart of the positive energy. When I teach I feel as though everything is right in the world. I am so grateful that today, I got to experience that yet again, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. It is who I am, and those gifts are precious to me. I was grateful for today because I got to go to lunch with a dear and amazing friend in my life. The fact that I had the opportunity to take a break in my day to talk, and know that someone cared enough to listen. That friend made today great. I am truly grateful for friends that love me, because I love them so much. I was grateful for today because I have a wonderful Mom, with by a simple text to tell me how much she loved me, made me feel important. I love that today ended with a simple phone call from a friend I rarely talk to, letting me know that they were thinking of me. She wanted me to know she was there if I needed anything. It is so easy to look at every day as a routine, days are going by faster and faster. Weeks feel like seconds, and years more like minutes. We have a hard time stepping out of our daily routine to breathe and to just be in the moment. We let the simple things that make a day great, go by unnoticed. We live in a world of stress, depression, anxiety, and heart ache. But I think it is easier sometimes to fester in the negative, and we get in the habit of forgetting about the joys, and tender mercies that make us feel happy. Being happy is a daily choice, and somedays it is easier to choose the opposite. Two people can look at something in life and see it in two different ways. A mountain, some may look at a mountain and notice how tall it is, or how beautiful the colors are that make that mountain majestic. While others may look at it and notice the pain of the climb, and the rocky paths. Just like each day that passes by, some look at it and notice the best things about that day. While others may look at it and only wish to be in the next. Look at each day and paint your own beautiful, awesome, and inspiring picture. Paint it positive, and fill it up with love. My favorite quote is from my favorite movie Moulin Rouge, "The best thing in life is to love, and to be loved" Try to stay positive, and try to connect with those that you think need a pat on the back. You are powerful, and you have no idea the effect you have on others. Be the best part of their day. Because you can, and you have the power to be amazing! I loved today because I have my health, friends, family, and a roof over my head. I loved today, and I can't wait for tomorrow. Until then..goodnight!

Fusion 10-Karma Release Playlist

2009-09-21T21:32:00.001-07:00

Ok here is my newest playlist from my Fusion 10 release. Thanks to all that come to my classes, you inspire me. I know a few of you asked me to post this, so here you go! Enjoy!

Fusion 10-Karma

1-Tai Chi-Bruce Springsteen: Streets of Philadelphia
2-Sun Salutations-Norwegian Mash-Up (sorry guys, this song you cant find on Itunes. Its a special song only I have) :)
3-Standing Strengths-Blue Man Group-Rods and Cones
4-Balance-Paula Cole-Me
5-Hip Openers-Seal-Prayer for the dying
6-Core-Natasha Bedingfield-Unwritten
7-Pilates Back-Jason DeRulo-Watcha Say
8-Twists-Tori Amos-Crucify EP Remix
9-Tai Chi/Folds/Hamstrings-Goo Goo Dolls-Iris
10-Prepare for Relazation-Lisbeth Scott-Where
11-Relaxation-Life Scapes-Eagle Dreams
12-Coming out of Relaxation-Ronan Hardiman-Heaven
13-Nameste-U2-Mysterious Ways (Apollo 440 Magic Hour Remix)

SONG Picks of the weeK-
Jason DeRulo-Watcha Say
Ingrid Michaelson-Maybe and Sort Of
Sarah Mclachlan-I will remember you
Mariah Carey-I want to know what love is

Album of the Week-
Ingrid Michaelson

BOOT CAMP SAT Sept 19th @ 9am LIFE TIME FITNESS

2009-09-16T10:07:00.001-07:00

CALLING ON EVERYONE!

ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH!!!

WHETHER YOU ARE A MEMBER OR NON MEMBER OF LIFE TIME FITNESS, WE ARE HOLDING A FREE BOOT CAMP CLASS THIS COMING SATURDAY @9am. 10996 South River Front Parkway, South Jordan 84096. PlEASE BRING ANYONE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE. FREE TO EVERYONE! WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BOOT CAMP PLAY GROUND OUT BACK ON OUR TURF.

A FRAME WALL
MUD TUG A WARS
POWER HURDLES
LOG BALANCE BEAM

ECT! IT WILL BE A BLAST!

INSTRUCTORS- JULIE ATWOOD AND STACI SHORT AS WELL AS THE PERSONAL TRAINING TEAM!

COME GET YOUR BUTT WHOOPED! IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT ME AT LIFE TIME FITNESS 302-0909

THANKS GUYS! SEE YOU SATURDAY!

I love Kids!

2009-09-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

I have a few special kids in my life, literally if I could spend most of my days hanging out with them I would. I Love you Madelyn, Sarah, Ethan, Savannah, Vincent, Dillion, Mason, Aly, Sammy, Spence, DMAN, Jaida, Jessica, Maddie, Brie, Ci Ci, and Christopher. Am I missing anyone. These are the best kids in the world! I would do anything for you!

Me and my two beautiful nieces Madelyn and Sarah.....Zac Efron or Edward...You decide!!!

Super Super Sour Spray! This little guy Daniel AKA DMAN, is probably one of my favorite kids in the world. I love the Thomas Family, and my Christopher.

PS...Don't look at my facial expression yuck!!!! :)

Song Picks of the Week! I'm Alive Fusion Release

2009-07-17T18:06:00.001-07:00

Water Skiing at Utah Lake with the Thomas Family. This is Sammy and I together. I Love this family with all my heart!

Sorry its been awhile since I last blogged. I am busy enjoying my summer the best I can. I have also recently been very busy at Life Time Fitness. I love my job, and I feel so lucky and blessed to have the job and passions that I do. They keep me happy, and inspired! Here are some favorite song picks for this week!

Marie Digby-What I've Done

One Republic feat Sarah Barellius-Come Home

Kodo-Strobes Nanafushi (Satari Mix)

Black Eyed Peas-I've got a feeling

I'm Alive Fusion Release:

1. Tai Chi-Celine Dion-I'm Alive
2. Sun Salutations-Ronan Hardiman-Anthem
3. Standing Strengths-Snow Patrol-Crack the Shutters
4. Balance-John Hiatt-Have a Little Faith
5. Hip Openers-Heart-Alone
6. Pilates Core-Coldplay-Lovers in Japan
7. Pilates Back-P!nk-Sober
8. Twists-Bed of Roses Soundtrack-Independant Love Song
9. Tai Chi/Folds-David Foster-Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire
10.Final Relaxation-
Clannad-Theme From Harry's Game
B-Tribe-Sunset in St.Carlos
Enya-Storms in Africa
Sarah Mclachlan-Answer

FUSION PLAYLIST-HOPE RELEASE and MS150 2009

2009-06-28T21:01:00.000-07:00

My girls. Debbie and Kaycee, I would not have been able be the captain of this team this year without their love and support! Thanks for all you did for me this weekend.

LTF Pre Team Dinner. MS150 2009! Abbey Team Captain

Ryan, Andrea, and Stacey

My Team and Support Every day in life!

Abbey and my two fav Debbs!

Abbey and Debb

The Gang! These are incredible friends in my life!
Debbie, Kaycee, and I. My 2 Favorite Women in the world. They teach me so much on a daily basis. They do tease the crap out of me, but I know its because they love me. PS. I designed the jersey's this year. Tell me what you think! :)

Thanks for all of you who have been patiently waiting for my playlist. I decided that from now on, I will be posting my song pick for the week, a current cycle playlist, and my Fusion release for the month playlist. I want to help other fellow instructor friends find good music for their classes, along with those dedicated LTF members and guests that come to my class on a weekly basis and want my music. I wish I could burn all of you a cd, but unfortunatly there is too many of you, and I want to accomodate all! Music and teaching are my passion, thanks for taking this journey with me every week in class! Here are also some pictures of the month of June! Enjoy!

FUSION-HOPE (JUNE RELEASE)
Tai Chi-ENIGMA: Following the Sun
Sun Salutations- The Verve: Bittersweet Symphony
Standing Strengths-Transformers Soundtrack: Hope Runs Deep
Balance-Marie Digby-What I've Done
Hips-Jody Messina: Burn
Core-OneRepublic: Apoloigize (LIVE)
Back-Michelle Branch: Happy Now
Twists-Sia: Breathe
Hamstrings/Folds/End Tai Chi-Rob Thomas: Now comes the night
Prepare to relax-Sarah Mclachlan: Good Enough (Felicty Soundtrack)
Relaxation: David Tolk-Fields of Gold B-Tribe-She moves through the fair Paula Cole-Me

SONG PICK FOR THE WEEK: Big Ali-ROCK THIS PARTY

I DID IT!

2009-05-22T20:31:00.000-07:00

I know I posted a blog earlier today. But I had to share my exciting news. So, I have always been the one in the family that is a little bit crazy. If there is a challenge, I go for it. If there is a mountain, I climb it. If there is a marathon, I run it. Well you get the picture..so there is this Ironman, and I do it! So I have had this dream since I was a little girl. I dreamed that I would do an Ironman Triathalon some day. An Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 Mile Bike Ride and a 26.2 Marathon all in one day. Well the first Ford Ironman to come to Utah has arrived. It will be in St. George Utah in May 2010. I have been thinking about it and I have been wondering and I have been thinking about it and I have been wondering. The idea of it makes me want to throw up, but when I picture the finish, I get excited like a little kid in a candy store. So I have this dream, and I am going to accomplish it. My mom told me today that I graduated from marathon running, so it is time to go for it! If I am really crazy to attempt this, it does not matter now..I am signed up! As of 4:45 pm today. I am an offical entrant. It cost almost 600 dollars but I am so stoked! I want to inspire anyone who has a goal to do something, just go for it! Don't fear it, live for it!

Training will begin in October, I can do this! Wish me luck! Its my year! I will be an Iron Woman!

An Update! It's time to blog again!

2009-05-22T11:31:00.001-07:00

PICTURES FROM MY EVENT! PHEW ITS OVER! and AN UPDATE! ENJOY!

Tara, Jessi, and I. Life Time Fitness Instructors

The Gang at Village Inn after a long night at the charity event

Prized donated! Thanks to everyone that donated. Install Pro, Utah Jazz, Impact Fitness Wear. Ect!!

Kaycee trying to deal black jack. She just entertained her table!

Kaycee and Jayden! How Cute!

Janessa my best cuz, indulging in the chocolate fountain! Donated by Cami Bingham

Heidi Ormsby dealing

Heid and Brian

The gang playing

Debbie dealing Texas Holdem

Man I love these two people! JT and Debbie Thomas

Tammy our Life Studio Department Head

Travis my favorite! I love this hat he won! He comes religiously to my cycle classes and is a mad spinner! LOVE YA!

It has been so long since I blogged. My life has been filled with new things to keep me busy. I have been working like a crazy woman, which is nothing new. I also planned a successful fundraising event at Life Time Fitness that I was very proud of myself for accomplishing. I decided that event planning is something that I will not go into in the near future. I did have a blast while doing it but now that it is done, I do have alot of stress off of my shoulders. I am glad that I could do this for the MS Foundation. Now the fun part, I get to go ride the MS ride at the end of June. What else is new, I am now incorporating a new healthy way of life with eating. I have been doing so well, and I love the changes I am seeing and feeling physically. Summer is arrived, the pools are opening up, and the mountains are calling my name to take my bike out for some many rides ahead. I have already completed Big Cottonwood Canyon and the St. George century this season, and hope to get out this weekend. I have a busy summer of training for upcoming events. I am doing most of these events with friends and I cannot wait! The Wasatch Back Relay is at the end of June as well as the MS Ride. Training now for the St. George Marathon and Lotoja. I am currently debating whether or not I should sign up for the St. George Ironman that will be happening next May 2010. Decisions, Decisions! Most of you would say that one should not be a hard one to make, but I am crazy! I guess I want to inflict more pain upon myself.

Dating life...well to be continued. Life is good! I love where I am right now, and I feel so happy about the direction I am taking. I feel like right now I have some very imporant decisions to make that will be very important for my future. So much to learn from right now. I must stay the course, and keep on climbing those tough mountains. I know that in the end I will be the apple on top! Happy Summer Everyone!

MS 150 Bike Ride/ Life Time Fitness Charity Event

2009-04-27T23:21:00.000-07:00

I am the captain of team Life Time Fitness this year for the MS Bike Ride being held on June 27-28th down in Logan Utah. I want as many riders to ride on our team as possible. If you or somebody you know wants to join our team, we would be so excited to have you join our team. I have a goal set for 180 riders this year. I want to break the record from last year. If you join team Life Time Fitness you will recieve a Black Bottoms custom designed Life Time Fitness jesrsey. Not only that you will have the time of your life! It is a great oppertunity to meet new people. There are 3 routes. 40 mile route, 75 mile route, and of course the century. You choose! If you are beginner rider and you are nervous, dont be! I will help you. This is a perfect course for a beginner. Email me for more info at adaw1@lifetimefitness.com if you would like to join our team log onto www.bikems.org join the ride, then join team Life Time. My name is Abbey Daw and it will have me as the team captain. Please do not hesitate to ask me questions or help with this process! See you out on the road!

FYI- LIFE TIME FITNESS is having a charity event all day on Friday, May 1st. We will be holding speciality group fitness classes all morning long. NON MEMBERS ARE WELCOME! I am teaching a 90 minute spin class with Kaycee Dunfield our GF Department Head and it will be a blast! If you are interested in coming let me know, and I can get you a guest pass. It starts at 9am sharp! A 5-10 dollar MS donation is recommended at the door! See you there!

CHARITY EVENT Friday May 1st @ 7pm

Where: Life Time Fitness
TIME: 7pm until whenever you leave :)
Cost: 20 dollars for the raffle or to play black jack
(All funds raised will be going to the MS Foundation)
Food: An amazing chocolate fountain and yummy sides to dip in the chocolate!
RAFFLES: I have some amazing raffles, Utah Jazz autographed ball, Impact Fitness Wear, Black Bottoms, Marriott, DVR, ect ect. Do not miss out!

Dress nice, please come hang with us! We will also be having some dancing! Bring a date or come alone, I don't care! :) See you on Friday!

Here are some pics!

Putting the LIFE back into LIVING

2009-04-08T22:15:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder when you lay down at night before you fall asleep, how you got back to the pillow that night? Was your day just packed full of responsiblities to tend to and you barely had enough time to think of yourself? Where did all that precious time vanish too? I was driving home around 7pm last night literally exhausted from work. I was having a hard time keeping up with my thoughts. It had become one of those drives that when I got home,I was not sure how I got there. I was driving down Boulter Street about to approach my house when I experienced an "AHA" moment. I was minding my own business when I came to some rail road tracks and had to slam on my brakes and wait for some young boys ride their bikes across the road. At first I was annoyed, because they did not watch where they were going. I wanted to roll down my window and yell at them, and I almost did, but I stopped myself when I saw the last kid chasing his friends down the road to barely catch up with them. I took a deep breath and something changed. I gladly stopped my car and smiled at myself. I immediatly thought why are you annoyed? These boys are just playing. Let them play! Chill out and wait for them to ride by! Why are you always in a hurry?! They are enjoying the awesome spring night riding their bikes with their friends without any cares in the world. They are playing! Those sweet, innocent boys get it! They are putting the life into living. Something that I have rarely done lately in my own life. That scene made me go down memory lane. I had a few tears in my eyes, and thought about when I used to ride my pink banana seat bike down Somerdowns Ct, where I grew up! I remember the feelings of being carefree and in love with my day. Living a simple life. Eventually yes, we all grow up. But why do we all have to stop chasing our dreams. Or why do we take for granted our days and take out the simplicity? Instead the day passes us by so fast that it literally feels like the day is chasing us down. I NEVER slam on my brakes! I am always trying to keep up with my busy schedule. It changed my perspective on many levels. I decided that I am going to take a little more time to be aware of what is around me. Something as simple as stopping for a minute just to look up at the sky, or mountains. Maybe it is taking the time to smile at a stranger, or to just stop myself in my tracks to breathe for a second. Maybe its to just turn down the radio when I am driving home from work. Maybe it is taking a walk outside and getting fresh air. I thank those little boys last night for showing me something so simple by riding their bikes so carefree down the road. I was glad that they stopped me in my tracks, and forced me to slam on my brakes for a moment. It made me feel grateful that I am still alive, and that I need to put the LIFE back into my LIVING.

We make a LIVING by what we get, but we make a LIFE by what we give.
Winston Churchill

GRATEFUL

2009-03-30T22:36:00.001-07:00

I have to say that I am grateful for my family this week. No matter how hard I think I have it sometimes, I know that I have been born to the greatest family. I could not ask for a better support system. I am so grateful for how close I am with every single one of my siblings in differen't ways. Mom and Dad, man I love you! Thanks for always putting up with me..you know since I was the last to leave the Daw nest. :) Garrett, he is my hero. I have always looked up to my big brother. He and I shared things together that nobody has ever shared with me in my life, and I hope he knows that I am forever grateful. Amanda, she is my comfort. I know I could call on her in the middle of the night and she would be there for me. She was always my security blanket. I miss you so much, and I am so grateful you are my big sister. Allison, she is always the one that makes me feel good about myself. Whenever I am having a rough day, Allison and her husband Cameron are always there for advice. I know Allison loves me unconditionally and there is not a better sister in the world. Thank you for supporting me all these years and coming to all my classes, it means the world. Amelia...well this sister is special to me. We always fought like cats and dogs but we were inseperable growing up. I think we slept in the same room until I was a jr or sr in highschool. Amelia and I went through the most with eachother, and I think she knows me better then I know myself. We could never live with eachother but we are always there for each other and she can always make me laugh! I love you Mills. I love my family. All my nieces and nephews too. Here are some pics!

Mason my darling nephew

Dillon the cutest nephew in the world!

My beautiful Mom and sister Amelia

Mason my nephew what a cheeseball

Sarah and Madelyn

The best Grandpa in the world. I miss you Grandpa. and of course Kenz my cousin, I love you!

Geeks! Sarah and Madelyn my beautiful neices

Garrett and Vincent

Garrett and I after our first marathon finish together. That was a looonnng time ago!

Garrett my brother and his family

My Family

My Dad is seriously the cutest man in the world

Brittany my sister n law and my nephew Vincent

Amelia my sister and my cousin Kenzie

Amanda my sister and her beautiful family

Amanda my sister and my nephew Ethan

Allison my sister and my nephew Mason

HELP!

2009-03-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

Ok so I feel like my skin is jacked up! I have been getting hormonal acne on the bottom half of my face for quite some time and I am FED UP! I have tried EVERYTHING! Dr. Murad products seemed to help the most. I eat really well, and I drink tons of water so I really have no idea where this is all coming from. Well probably stress! But..I am seriously at the end of my rope and I need advice. Does anyone else suffer from this skin problem, and have some advice or suggestions for me on how to clear it up? I had the best acne free skin all growing up, I seriously feel like I have been going through puberty! I am not 12! Ok I am done with my rant..but if anyone has suggestions, I would love to know..because I will try anything!

What I loved about this week.......

2009-03-13T23:04:00.000-07:00

I loved this week because........

I love that I can get in my car and be within 15 minutes of the most beautiful place on earth. Alta Ski Resort. I had the best time skiing alone and enjoying my own company. There is nothing like it!
Walking through the Draper Temple. I felt very close to the spirit and I cannot wait until I can get married in that temple.
Having lunch with my two dear friends Andrea and Heidi.
Having 60 plus people in my Fusion class on Sunday.
I made the best Lemon Rosemary Garlic Chicken and I was very proud of myself.
I did well with my new job responsibilities this week at Life Time Fitness.
I learned alot about myself and gained more confidence in myself.
I had Red Mango twice and it is my favorie treat of all time!
I helped my sister Allison figure out some frustrations at the gym, and helped direct her on the right path.
I helped clients realize their goals are closer then they think and they are capable of reaching every single one of them.
I laughed quite a bit at funny people...especially Heidi Ormsby.
I have an amazing cousin, and her name is Janessa. She brightened my week.
I realized I had a friend in myself, when I felt very alone at times.
I was humbled and realized life is amazing...even when you think you have it bad..somebody always has it worse. I thank the Lord for showing me that this week.
A phone call from my Dad just to let me know that he loves me, what a great Dad I have..I am so blessed.
I loved that the SUN came out this week, and gave me a glimpse that spring is just around the corner.
Discovering that oatmeal, almonds, and organic fruit melody is the best breakfast combination.
I felt grateful for people that pay compliments. You made my day,because I was having a rough day. Compliments go a long way. Thank you!
A sushi lunch with my friend Kaycee
A Dance Jam session with my friend Debbie, even though I look like a robot or Skreech from Saved by the Bell when I dance. It still feels good to relax and let go.
Having the oppertunity to change lives every single day.
Watching my favorite show Biggest Loser. Go TARA!
Laying in bed and looking out the window at snow falling, it was so peaceful. Being still and quiet even for a moment, means everything to me.
American Idol is just a great show and I liked it this week.
Getting worked in a training session by another personal trainer other then myself for once. HA!
Gaining realization that miracles really do happen.
Chicken bowl and sweet potato fries from Rumbi Grill
Monday night at LTF
CONNECTING WITH OTHERS
I realized this week I don't give up. I need to keep the faith and I will continue to keep the faith. It is my life and I am lucky to be alive and fully engaged in my daily happenings. I can do whatever I want, and I can be whoever I want, as long as I do my best every day. I will do my best every day. I will live up to my integrities, and I will keep the faith. I am UNSTOPPABLE!

I CAN CLIMB MOUNTAINS AND I WILL CONQUER THEM.........to be continued....

Remembering 2008 and gearing up for an amazing 2009!

2009-02-19T22:03:00.000-08:00

Now that the new year has come and gone, I got this blog idea from another blogger friend, and thought I would share the same idea. I realized recently that life passes so quickly. It feels like Christmas was yesterday and it is already almost March. I cannot believe it! I wanted to reflect back on a very difficult year that 2008 was for me, but also one of the most life changing and incredible years I have ever had.

REMEMBERING 2008 and gearing up for an AMAZING 2009!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Skinny Dipped in Bear Lake in the middle of the night. Ran the Wasatch Ragnar Relay! Best times of my life!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't really make resolutions. I have goals, and I am one that always try's to better myself each year. I love a challenge. New Years Day is an amazing day. A clean start.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes. My sister Allison welcomed baby Dillon my nephew on June 16th.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes, my Grandma Daw passed away right before the New Year.
5. What countries did you visit? None, I wish I did. That is something I want to change in this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? I want to fall in love this year. I lacked in the relationship department last year.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Lotoja, Sept 6th 2008. My parents and best friends were there to watch me ride 206 miles for my second time from Logan to Jackson Hole Wyoming. I also had a blast at Idea Fitness Convention from July 8th-12th in Vegas with my best friends. I also had an oppertunity to go to the Life Time Fitness Cycle Summit in March 2008 through invite only to meet amazing mentors in the fitness industry. Those dates I will never forget about last year.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Lotoja
9. What was your biggest failure? Having regrets, I am usually a no regrets kind of girl. I lost love and thought it was my own fault. I felt that I failed miserably. I learned though, and life is good!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope. I am very grateful for my health.
11. What was the best thing you bought? My Nose :)
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
14. Where did most of your money go? GAS Prices!! and bills!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Cycle Summit Minnesota for LTF. Idea Fitness Convention. All my races! I also had a few girl trips last year that made for a fun year. New Port Beach and Disney Land.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Katy Perry-Hot N' Cold or Kiss'd A Girl.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? depends on diff situations. I am a happy person most of the time. b) thinner or fatter? Thinner c) richer or poorer? Rich in my life! More blessings and more gratitude.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Relaxing
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Working
20. How did you spend Christmas? With my amazing family over at my Brother Garretts house. Amanda's family was in town from Iowa and we just hung out every day during the Christmas break.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Nope..but 2009 will be a diff story.
22. What was your favorite TV program? So You Think You Can Dance and Brothers and Sisters
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don't hate anyone..there is a relationship that I wish would be mended.
24. What was the best book you read? The Book Of Mormon.And, Eat Pray Love.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? TOO Many! I love music, I am discovering amazing stuff on a daily basis. I loved Snow Patrol, P!NK, Katy Perry, and OneRepublic and Rhianna last year. I think the song Apologize topped one of the greatest songs written that was popular last year.
26. What did you want and get? My new bike! Roubaix Expert
27. What did you want and not get? Fall in Love with a boy and live happily ever after.
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Benjamin Button
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I seriously don't even remember. I think my birthday was on a Sunday. I am not sure though. I know I went to Bear Lake with my friends like a week after.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Do I have to keep bringing it up! Probably to fall in love or to travel more.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Gym clothes...Impact Fitness Wear. When I was dresesd up it was Anthropologie, Urban Blues, or Target. Those are the 3 places I mainly shop.
32. What kept you sane? My passion for teaching group fitness at LTF and my amazing family and neices/nephews. I also have the best friends in the world.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Jennifer Aniston is gorgeous, Lance Armstrong is Hot. But I don't really get too involved in that really. I did love Shawn Johnson and Nastia who won gold at the olympics for our womens gymanastics.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? Probably prop 8. Just alot of controversy. Which causes more contention in our world, that we don't need right now.
35. Who did you miss? My Grandpa Daw and an old best friend.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Debbie Thomas, Jen Droke, Angela, Marie, Joel and Lisa, Emily Booth, and Patrick Baum. Those stick out in my mind the most. I am sure there is lots more!
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Live a no regrets life. Never second guess yourself. If you're grateful, you can have whatever you want. Smile, and you attract good things. Stay positive! Have a little faith.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Realize-Colbie Calliet or "Are you strong enough to be my man." Sheryl Crow

2009 is going to be the best year of my life! I already know it! Take more time to stop and breath in your day. Time passes by too fast, and we don't take advantage of the precious moments we have here to make awesome memories! Make this your year!

"Making The Cut"

2009-02-12T22:55:00.000-08:00

Jillian Michaels is my hero! If I could have any job in the world, it would be to have Jillian Michaels job as trainer for t.v. show's "Biggest Loser". It is my favorite show on t.v. I am so inspired by those individuals who are there to change their lives! It makes me so grateful for my healthy body! If you want a good read, go buy, "Making The Cut" by Jillian Michaels. It is a must have book! It has become my fitness bible. It has great tips, recipes, and amazing idea's for circuit training. I have learned so much reading this book! Go out and buy it at your local Barnes and Noble for only 16 dollars. You won't regret it! Happy Valentines Everyone!

I LOVE!

2009-01-29T07:11:00.000-08:00

Time for a new post! I thought I would blog on a few things that I absolutely LOVE! Because I LOVE life and I would rather write on positive things, because a positive heart brings good and more happiness to my life!

I LOVE RED MANGO! Red Mango is the greatest treat that I look forward to almost weekly. Not only is it to die for but it is incredibly healthy for you. There is over a billion bio protiens, and all natural ingredients. Nothing that is going to add to the pounds. This will actually help increase the rate you burn fat! Now that is a good thing! My favorite is Palmagranite and Orginal Swirled with Strawberry's, Blueberry's and Grahmn Crackers. Fort Union right next to Paradise Cafe! Go Try! Mmmmm Mmmmmmm Good!

I LOVE the movie Benjamin Button, this is a must see with Brad Pitt and Kate Blanchett. It was my favorite movie of this year so far. It is a must see!

I LOVE the organic yogurt I eat in the morning for breakfast. It is so creamy and delicious it just melts in your mouth. My favorite flavor is Key Lime and the brand is WALLABY! You can get it at Harmons!

I LOVE that I get to wake up next to the mountains. It takes my breath away. I live in the most beautiful part of Utah. I am so grateful for my home

I LOVE that when I am sick, my friends make sure I am ok! They make me soup and call or text to say they are thinking about me. That means more to me then they will ever understand, and that is why I choose to surround myself around friends I LOVE!

I LOVE that I can move! I can RUN, JUMP, SKIP, SKI, WALK, RIDE, SWIM, DANCE, ect! I am so grateful for a healthy, active body that works for me.

I LOVE Murad skin acne complex kit, for it saved my face from the worst breakout! Bless Dr. Murad for this product. You may get it at your local Ulta Skin Store. :)

I LOVE Bare Escentuals Mineral Makeup! I will never use any other product or makeup as long as I live!

I LOVE Lake Powell, it is a place of peace, and reflection for me. There is nothing like laying on the top of a house boat gazing at the galaxy of incredible stars, wakeboarding on a beautiful glass lake day, or BBQing and playing cards with friends against the beautiful redrock and amazing views! I LOVE IT!

I LOVE Itunes, without Itunes I don't know where I would be, and Itunes without me..well I am sure your company would not survive! Tuesday is new release day! :)

I LOVE my FACEBOOK! Because it keeps me intouch with old and new friends!

I LOVE that I have no idea what tomorrow brings, isn't that an incredible feeling?! I love it because every day is a surprise of new adventures and happenings!

I LOVE that I can connect and empower people to be happy, healthy, and reach their goals. I LOVE TO TEACH!

I LOVE to be on a yoga mat and enjoy a peaceful practice

I LOVE energy that makes the hairs stick up on your arms and neck!

I LOVE nice people, I LOVE people that are genuine and mean the things they say and are true to their word.

I LOVE my family, and the fact that I can be together forever with them no matter what

I LOVE that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I feel like the luckiest person on earth because of my knowledge of the gospel.

I LOVE that you can get on a airplane and fly anywhere in the world.

I LOVE the feeling you have when you finish a great workout!

I LOVE the feeling of crossing a much anticipated finish line, after long months of training.

I LOVE long, deep conversations that make you think.

I LOVE children, for they teach me everything about being honest and joyful.

I LOVE my moms home cooked meals, and the fact that I know she will always be there for me when I need someone to lean on.

I LOVE having extra money at the end of the month and being able to buy a new outfit.

I LOVE people that pay compliments, it just tells me they are confident

I LOVE girls trips, because when its just the girls everything seems to be ok

I LOVE AHA moments...when something just clicks!

I LOVE that we have our intuition. Your intuition will never lie to you.

I LOVE the feeling of butterflies in my stomach when I am liking someone, and they actually like me back! :)

I LOVE shopping at Target and finding great deals!

I LOVE JILLIAN MICHAELS new book called "MAKING THE CUT" It is my fitness bible, and she is awesome! Watch the BIGGEST LOSER on Tues Nights! 14.00 at your local Barnes and Noble

I LOVE that I can pray and get revelation from GOD.

I LOVE laughing so hard, Crying till no tears come out, and Feeling uneasy or Sad because atleast I know I can FEEL.

I LOVE Trial and Error, because it makes me stronger

I LOVE waking up to no alarm clock

I LOVE the memories of 2003, some incredible things happened to me that year, and I had some incredible friends in my life that got me to where I am today. I will never forget those times, and those certain friends. THANK YOU! and I LOVE YOU!

I LOVE Sundays!

I LOVE MY JOB!

I LOVE Avocado's and my homemade Salmon Burgers.

I LOVE going to Harmons and getting fortune cookies from the Salad bar to find out my daily fortune! Yes..I do this often!

I LOVE a good hug!

I LOVE exciting news!

I LOVE forgiveness

I LOVE that I will fall in love one day and the BEST is Yet to COME!

I LOVE that there are miracles ocurring every single day!

I hope you take more time to LOVE each day!

I love my friends

2009-01-20T22:26:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to say that I love my two friends Kaycee, and Debbie. They mean the world to me. Thanks for being such fun, awesome and genuine friends. I have so much fun working at Life Time for Kaycee, she is an incredible mentor, and friend, and not to mention the funniest person I know. Debbie, is a rockstar, she is the most selfless person I know. Serving all around her and wants everyone to feel loved. They both have definetly made my life happier and I just wanted them to know! :) Love you guys!

Alot has happened

2009-01-18T16:38:00.000-08:00

Well it has been quite some time since I have even logged onto blogger. ALOT has happened, and I have not had the time to be apart of the blogging world...but I am back and ready to elaborate on where I have been. I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season and new year 09. I was very excited to ring in 2009, and I have many goals that I am going to attempt to accomplish this year and I already cannot wait. I have a feeling that 2009 will be one of the best! Since I have last blogged, I decided to pack up my bags and leave the Daw nest of Ryan and Shelly. They have been the best roommmates a daughter could ask for, but it was time, and I was very ready for the change. I have gladly welcomed this change in my life and I have already seen the positive effects from making this move. Thank you Mom and Dad for the late nights of watching all of our Tivo'd shows and hanging out, I will always be grateful for your love and support, I promise to never return :). I live in a beautiful area that I can bike,run, and ski. Most ski resorts are literally in my back yard. It is perfect! I live with the most beautiful roommmates and I am so grateful for their friendship. Katie and Marie have been the best and we have a blast living with eachother. We sit up late nights and watch our TV shows on Katies lap top, and we laugh about bad date stories..we have plenty to go around with the 3 of us! We cannot wait to have Jessie join the crew in a couple of weeks. Besides moving and getting settled in my new place, I have enjoyed working at Integrated Wellness, and working on some great projects at Lifetime Fitness. I am so grateful for my life and where it is headed. I could not be happier! Hope to hear from all of you soon. Here are some new pics!

My New Home

The street we live on, at the base of the mountains. BREATH TAKING!

Our backyard, and our friend that likes to hang out often

My BEAUTIFUL roommates and best buddies, Katie and Marie

Abbey and Katie! I love you Katie!

LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW! SKI LESSONS Winter 2009

2008-12-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

If anyone is interested in Children Ski Lessons. I am available to teach every Saturday from this point on. Please contact me at adaw@thewellgroup.com I posted a blog earlier on in the month regarding this service, so please scroll down a few posts to read more about my experience and information. Thanks! I hope to here from many of you soon!

Christmas Poker Party Charity Event 2008

2008-12-13T20:57:00.000-08:00

Ok so I had a blast this year at our Annual Christmas Poker Party Charity Event. My best friend Megan has made this quite the tradition, and is done so well every year. This year in particular was more successful, and it was so much fun to say the least! We play poker to earn money for families that are in need for Christmas. We sell raffle tickets, and somehow end up scoring some great prizes to give away to those who are not playing poker all night long. Our biggest prizes were given to those that won the poker games. The winning table didn't end until 4 am! I didn't play poker, because I am no good..so I just mingled and snacked on goodies the whole night. I did however end up walking away with three prizes! My raffles were lucky this year. We raised 1500 dollars! All of the money will now go to a couple families so that they can have a Christmas. I was so happy to be apart of this event. It is what Christmas is all about, and I love being a part of something where their is charity and giving involve. I haven't had this much fun in a long time. Thanks Megan for doing such a good job at putting on this event. I love you! Merry Christmas everyone, tis the season to be giving! Here are some pictures!

The winning poker table, went on until 4 am. There were some serious poker faces going on!

I have no idea what I would do without these girls in my life

My best buddies

My cousins, Spencer and Janessa. I love them so much!

Me and my friend Adam. He told me I was going to be his wife someday! How nice :)

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-12-03T09:39:00.000-08:00

The Daw clan had a great Thanksgiving, we packed our bags and headed to Newport Beach. We also spent two wonderful days in the Happiest Place on Earth. The crowds were not bad, despite the fact that it was a holiday weekend. We had so much fun! My favorite rides where; Pirates of the Caribbean, Souring over California, and as always The Hollywood Tower of Terror..which never gets old in my book. It was so nice to take my friend Katie along with my family. I love her so much! My brother Garrett and his wife Brittany came along too, and brought there two girls, Madelyn and Sarah. On Thanksgiving we did not have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but that is ok, we still had a nice dinner at the ESPN sports grill in Downtown Disney. Everything was perfect! I will never forget the memories we made, and that is all that matters. Here are some pictures!

Abbey and cute Madelyn on Big Thunder Mountain train ride

Right before we splashed on Splash Mountain!

The Haunted Mansion. It was set up like the Nightmare Before Christmas. Very cute!

Katie and I had to travel to the happiest place on earth to look for Prince Charming

My Beautiful Mom

Madelyn and Abbey

Abbey, Cruella, and Katie. She was the funniest character in Disneyland. I loved it!

Newport Beach

Abbey and Katie waiting to go see "A BUGS LIFE" In 3D

I've Been Tagged!

2008-11-29T22:11:00.000-08:00

Heidi tagged me, I know your probably bored of reading these blogs..but I got tagged so what else am I supposed to do. Here it goes!

8 Shows I Watch:
1. Brothers and Sisters
2. Survivor
3. Oprah
4. The Hills
5. Ellen
6. Greys Anatomy
7. American Idol
8. So You Think You Can Dance

8 Restaurant I Like To Eat At:
1. Porcupine Grill
5. Life Cafe at Lifetime Fitness
6. Harmons Salad Bar
2. Tsunami (Sunshine Roll)
3. Papa Johns
4. Ginza (The X Roll)
7. Chilis
8. Rumbi

8 Things I Did Today:
1. Ate a bowl of oatmeal
2. Took a picture with Cruela Deville at Disneyland
3. Rode on the Tower Of Terror at California Adventure Disneyland
4. Ate at ESPN Sports Grill at California Adventure Disneyland
5. Went on Space Mountain in Tomorrow Land of Disneyland
6. People Watched, holy cow! We are a weird species..especially in Disneyland
7. Went on Soaring Over California at California Adventure Disneyland
8. Went on Indiana Jones Ride in Frontier Land at Disneyland

8 Things I Am Looking Forward To:
1. Moving out this week :)
2. Christmas
3. Falling in Love
4. Becoming a wife and mom of a beautiful family someday
5. Skiing in the Mountains this season
6. A New Year 2009! Can't wait!
7. Completing an Ironman someday
8. New clothes from Anthroplogie

8 Things On My Wish List:
1. Love and Marriage and Babies in a baby carriage. :)
2. To see Lion King on Broadway in NYC.
3. Stay in Banff Canada at Lake Louise
4. To meet Sarah Mclachlan and have her sing for me at my wedding when I get hitched someday.
5. To write a successful novel
6. A shopping spree to Anthropolgie
7. Qualify for the Olympics in Cycling
8. To be a rockstar :)

8 People I Tag:
1. Katie
2. Heather
3. Ashleah
4. Brandie
5. Stacey
6. Joel and Lisa
7. Amanda
8. Allison

TIME TO SKI! CHILDREN SKI LESSONS 2008-2009 Season

2008-11-21T10:54:00.000-08:00

Hey all! IT IS TIME TO START THINKING SNOW, and SKIING!

SKI LESSONS
I am a certified PSIA Alpine Ski Instructor and instructed for Alta ski resort for 3 seasons. I have also been a PRIVATE Instructor for Deer Valley Resort and I have experience in teaching beginners-Advanced. I also have instructed professional atheletes. (Such as Hall of Fame baseball player Ken Hill.) I decided this season that I will only be instructing children and young teens.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED:

I am going to be instructing skiers this coming year from Beginner to Int/Advanced Levels. I will be committing to every Saturday once we are having consistent snow falls for good skiing. I will only be instructing ages 3-16 years of age.

I will be charging $20 dollars an hour plus the cost of my ski pass. I will travel to any resort of choice. If your child is a beginner and you want them to ski in a group, I will only instruct 3-4 kids per lesson. I want to be as hands on as possible for each child. If there is a group of kids that have experience in skiing then I would be willing to negotiate a group of 5 max. I am available to do either full or half day instruction.

There will be a liability statement that needs to be signed beforehand in order for me to take your child up to the resort.

I am so excited to ski this year, I hope that I can ski with any of your children that have expressed interest. I absolutely LOVE kids and have confidence in myself that I will do a fabulous job! Please pass this on to anyone you may think would like to contact me for lessons.

Happy Holidays!
Abbey Daw

CONTACT INFO:
email: adaw@thewellgroup.com

Time To Write

2008-11-19T21:23:00.000-08:00

WARNING-THIS BLOG IS LONG!

Wow! It has been almost a month since I last blogged, which is very unlike me..but to be quite frank blogging was not on my to do list. I am now sitting at my computer trying to think of something to write about, something interesting that will keep all you fellow bloggers reading this post. I swear this month went by too fast! I feel like Halloween was an hour ago. It is crazy to think that Thanksgiving is now a few days away. Where does all the time go? It is sad to think that we probably all do not really stop to breathe and enjoy the beauty of just staying still for a moment. I plead guilty of this right now as I sit down and rack my brain of fulfilling wonderful experiences to blog about. I still have many other thoughts on my mind that will not allow me to sit still. But I will try now to just let everything be and write. I am in the writing mood. I get in this mood sometimes and I usually write my blog for myself, not really caring whether anyone else will read it. If you happen to skim through it..great! I really do not know what will come out of my thoughts as I sit here alone tonight at my computer while everyone else has gone to bed.

I am actually looking back and thinking about the year 2008. I feel like my life hit a HUGE milestone, and I learned alot about myself and about what I want to be and who I am becoming as I continue to walk and breathe each day. Usually, I would post a blog like this the last day of December...but I am slightly overwhelmed right now, and we are never really promised tomorrow...so bare with me.

Abbey's 2008 Review..(Growth, Experiences, Oppertunites, Moments, Friendships, Family, that changed my life for the better...and made me a stronger Abbey.)

December 2007-I learned alot about myself when I lost a very important person in my life. My amazing Grandpa J. Weston Daw passed away. His favorite holiday was Christmas and he passed away about 2 weeks prior. It was the most spiritual Christmas I have ever had because I learned so much about service. My grandpa was the most serving man I have ever met, besides my own mother. I will never forget the experiences I had sitting by his bedside as he waited to pass on to the otherside. My family grew closer and even though it was sad to see my grandpa go, he left a legacy in us all...and especially in my own life.

January-Garrett and Brittany welcomed baby Vincent into the world. He has been a major blessing to our family. Vince is the cutest blue eyed, blonde haired baby boy you will ever see.

I did however have kinda a hard time, going through a break up with someone that you love is never good. I learned that I needed that experience to learn how to love myself. I don't think I did, and It came at a cost of losing someone that I cared deeply about, I know strange! We always learn the most when we have to climb the highest mountains.

February-I decided to read the Book Of Mormon, I wanted to find Peace and gain a stronger testimony. I finished it the following summer, and I have never loved a book so much in my life. Alma 32 sticks out in my mind on FAITH. I am so glad that I chose to sit down even for ten minutes a day and read that book. I gained an incredible amount of peace from reading it.

March- Highlight for me was the oppertunity I was given by my awesome boss and friend Kaycee to attend the Life Time Fitness Cycle Summit at Corporate Headquarters in MN. I learned so much and made some new friends that will now always be a part of my life. I was also chosen to be a part of the board of Directors by Braham our CEO. I will never forget those experiences I had there with everyone that weekend.

April-The only thing I remember about April was when I ran the SLC 1/2 Marathon. I kinda realized that I love Biking more then running. ;)

May-I met some great friends, and had the best time working as a marketing rep for Black Bottoms cycle wear. I learned alot about the biking business and gained 3 new friends. Jay, Allie, and Matt.

June- Funnest times of my life! The MS 150 ride with Life Time fitness. It was awesome to be a part of the Fab 5! We smoked EVERYONE!

The Ragnars Wasatch Relay, The Runamok Diva's. Longest but the most fun 32 hours I haver ever had. NO SLEEP involved! I am already signed up for next year. "Breaking Wind...here we come! :) DEBBIE! YEHAW!

Allison and Cameron's little Dillon came into the world 6 weeks premature. Hardest 6 weeks for Allison, Cam and Mason. But they made it through, and now Dillon is a healthy little baby who is sooooo loved.

July-Is my FAV month! IDEA FITNESS CONVENTION in Vegas. I always go down and work for Impact Fitness Wear. This year was the most fun I have had at convention. We laughed, and laughed, and laughed every moment. The top 10 list! I will never forget the paten leather watering can purse and the Asian's that love the head bands. Megan, Kirsten and all the girls. I had so much fun with them. Also, hanging out with Kaycee and Emily in my condo every night. Kaycee and I's long talk about life and how could I forget about getting stuck in a parking garage at 4 am. I thought my life was over. OH and dancing at a piano bar to Tina Turner. Yes I said Tina Turner! I let go of some inhibitions that evening. And finally, almost getting shot in a food 4 less at 11 o clock at night, when Kaycee and I went to get oatmeal for our daily breakfasts.

August-My 27th Birthday, a little bittersweet realizing that I am 27 and still single. But now I am learning to embrace it, and my attitude has changed. I get to look forward to falling in love. I also met a hottie that month, the relationship lasted about a month until he hit my car and then we parted ways. He was a good kisser though, and probably the hottest guy I ever dated. It was good times..but never meant to be. Also, the Bear Lake Trip with Kaycee, Heidi and Kasi.

September- LOTOJA finishing in 11 hrs 47 Minutes. Loving every moment of it. Hanging with Keena most the day. My family and friends at the finish line was the best!

Amanda and Adam moved away. Sad! I'm still not happy about this situation.

Last but certainly not least, my nose surgery! YAY! Sept 16th will forever be an anniversary.

Landing the best job as a Spinal Technician at Integrated Wellness. It was the best change for my life. I love Matt, Tony, Scott, Amy, and the whole Frogley clan. You have all made my life sweeter and I am so blessed to be in such a positive atmosphere.

October-Not much really happened in October but it was still a good month. Garrett dressed up as a Chick Fil A Bird for Halloween, and I won't ever forget that night.

November-A New President Elect. Bear Lake Trip with Debbie and Kaycee. Man I love these two! They always make me laugh. I don't think I would rather be with anybody else if I want to laugh. They are the best! The Morrill Girls, hanging with them is always a highlight. I am headed to Disney Land this coming Sunday. I can't wait to blog about my trip!

PHEW! I guess I have much to be Thankful for and alot of memories to lean on to make me smile. 2008 was a great year! I look forward to the holidays!

Welcome each trial as an oppertunity to grow, and the trial will become more of a journey, rather than a destination of pain.

Halloween Cycle Charity Event Oct 24th

2008-10-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post on the fun charity event we had at Life Time Fitness Saturday morning. I was in charge of this baby, and it felt good to create and promote something for such a good cause. We raised so much money for the Hurricane Ike fund. Even in the times we are having right now with the economy it is amazing to see how considerate people are to contribute. The members had a blast and we filled the entire room up! We had a blast teaching and decorating the room all spooky. I am still tired from all the planning, but it was a success! I am so blessed to be a part of a team that supports one another each day. I cannot express enough how much I love what I do. Thanks to Cami, Doc, Jenn, Julie, Jamie and Erick for a fun time! Also, Thank you to Tara for helping set up even though you could not ride with us. Here are some pictures of the event.

Time to ride!

Our beautiful decorated stage

Abbey and Jenn warming the class up

Teaching

Joining the ride!

Fun! Fun! Fun!

Man I love them!

All Of Us!

Our Awesome Life Time Members!

Julie teaching..she's so cute!

Our Team, Erick, Cami, and Jamie

This Weeks Favorites and Gratitudes!

2008-10-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

I took this idea from a few of my blogger friends. Here are few things that occurred this week that kept me grateful to be alive and enjoying the joy in my daily journey.

* My mom, the unconditional love that she has for me. Her concerned tears of love for me for my faults, trials, and heart aches. I was humbeled and stood in awe of how blessed I am to have the mother that I have.

* Bishop Christiansen

* The Spirit speaking to my heart

* Lunch at Harmons with Megan my best friend

* My five mile route that I run with Jessie whenever I can. The beautiful fall Saturday afternoon when we ran together and enjoyed each others company.

* The relaxing words and support of my angel Nadine.

* Katie Park, for the support and friend that I have in her. I am blessed to have you in my life at this time.

* Debbie Thomas, for being the person in my life that I can talk to and you will not judge me. I love you more more each week we are friends.

* Prayer to my father in heaven. I can always turn and find peace in prayer.

* For my favorite TV shows, The Hills, Brothers and Sisters, Survivor, Ellen, and Oprah for providing me with mindless entertainment after a long day of work.

* My patients and staff family at Integrated Wellness. I am abundantly blessed to work in such an amazing environment where everyone is grateful and where I can contribute to others that are not feeling well.

* Lifetime Fitness GF family, I want to pinch myself daily because I am so lucky to be apart of such a great team. I am truly blessed beyond words. I love you!

* Kaycee Dunfield, for providing me with lightness in life and laughter. How I love your company and friendship. Allowing me this week to PTLMS your back and making me laugh so hard when you could not hold still. I had great pleasure in this process. HA!

* Heidi Ormsby, for making me laugh this week by any comment you make.

* Jenny Frogley, for your beautiful voice. Downloading, "We are free" and "Stand in holy places". on Itunes.

* Sarah Mclachlan released a new greatest hits cd "Closer" and I went out and purchased it! Amazing!

* Attending the temple. I felt so peaceful, and I was grateful for the sweet spirit I felt there. Reading Mormon:9 and having hope for miracles.

* Christina McEvoy, for her amazing friendship. Winning a necklace at her Twisted Silver jewelry party. I never win anything! It was a first!

* Ethan and Savannah, for emailing me and calling me almost every day this week. I miss them so much, they moved to Keokuk Iowa. Savannah emailing me and letting me know "This is a NIGHTMARE without you!" Ethan asking me for my "I dress" because he wanted to write me a letter. I miss all of you! Amanda my beautiful sister, Adam, Ethan and Savannah.

* All of my classes that I had an oppertunity to teach this week.

* Julie Labrum, for subbing a Total Conditioning class for me on Saturday. I was so tired, and did not think I could make it. I LOVE YOU!

* The way one of our patients Logan scared the hiccups right out of my mom. Funniest moment this week!

* Jennifer Ebeling, a patient that I just love! She made me smile this week.

* Kat Morrills nice texts

* Watching two of my favorite people do so well in the figure competition! AMAZING!

* Laughing so hard at Ellen when she was teaching Dakota Fanning how to drive. If anyone saw this, wasn't it funny? I almost choked I was laughing so hard. If you did not see it, watch it now! Oh my gosh! You won't regret it.

* The beautiful fall weather

* Debbie and her story about eating maggots accidentally.

* My car was fixed. Thank you Preston.

* Realizing that faith is real, and I am blessed according to my faith.

* My new nose, the swelling went down more this week. Hurray!

* Realizing that I have a best friend within myself, I spent a lot of time alone ths week. It was ok. I needed the time.

* Garrett, Brittany, little Vince,and the girls. Letting me hang out with them on Friday night. Ordering pizza and giving me company.

* Shelly's great TC class! Loved it. Thanks for a great workout.

* Having 48 people in my Fusion class on Sunday and feeling as though I was being hugged with their postive energy.

* Having 57 people show up to Cycle on Monday and feeling again how amazing these people are in my life. I am grateful for the cold weather because they all come back indoors to ride. :)

* I am grateful for Allison, Cameron, Mason and Dillon for always being their for me if I need family. Mason is really starting to like his aunt and you don't know how good this makes me feel. Mason sitting on the stair with me while I talked on the phone. He watches every move I make...literally. I feel as though he is so intrigued by me.

* Realizing that this is my time and my day! AND I am not giving up!

So there are my favorites for the week!

7 Things About Me

2008-10-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

Alot of good has happened to me in the last couple of weeks! Also I have experienced alot of exhaustion and overwhelming thoughts about life and change. Conference was amazing and It completely filled me up. I love our prophet so much. I esp love Brother Uchdorf's talk on "Hope". I am so grateful for everything in my life right now even if it is exhausting and full of busy, non stop day's. I hope all is well with all of you and I hope all of my dear family and friends know how much I adore you! have a great week! SMILE :)

Abbey and Madelyn hanging out conference weekend

7 Things about ME

7 things I plan to do before I die...

1. Get married and have a family

2. Write a few best selling novels

3. Finish an Ironman Triathalon

4. Climb Mt. Kilomanjaro

5. See Lion King on broadway in NYC

6. Mission with my husband

7. Kiss Lance Armstrong (before I get married of course)

7 things I can do...

1. Beat men up canyons on my bike

2. Touch my nose with my tongue

3. Stand on my head

4. Run Marathons

5. The best babysitter and aunt anyone could ask for in life

6. Lip sinc to Miss Otis Regrets by Bette Midler

7. Write

7 things I cannot do...

1. I suck at Bowling no matter how hard I try

2. Go cross eyed

3. Do a back flip on a tramp

4. sing

5. get a brain freeze

6. scrap book

7. Math

7 Things that I would have on a deserted island:

1. Book of Mormon

2. Yoga Mat

3. Sunscreen

4. My Pink Blanket

5. Toothbrush

6. Sarah Mclachlan greatest hits cd/ipod

7. Pictures

7 Things I say most often

1. you little monster

2. what in the

3. Oh my gosh

4. I would like to order a Sunshine roll please (sushi) :)

5. Come on! Don't give up! Put on some Abbey Love!(when I am teaching):)

6. I love you

7. Whats up!

7 Celebrity Admirations...

1. Lance Armstrong

2. Oprah Winfrey

3. Ellen Degeneres

4. Jennifer Aniston

5. Tiger Woods

6. Lauren Conrad, Whitney Port, Audrina Partridge, Lo, Heidi Montag (HA!)

7. Brody Jenner is hot!

7 Favorite foods...

1. SUSHI, SUSHI, SUSHI!

2. Pizza

3. Potatoes and Gravy

4. Turkey Sandwhich

5. Life Cafe Salad (candy walnuts, chicken, craisens, blue cheese, rasp vingerette)

6. Moms Homemade Chicken Enchiladas

7. Salmon

7 People I think should do this:

1. Katie

2. Heidi

3. Amelia

4. Allison

5. Amanda

6. Debbie Thomas

7. Debbie Tebbs

THE RESULTS ARE IN!

2008-09-28T16:56:00.000-07:00

So after a very grueling 2 weeks of recovery, I can finally show you all the new addition. It has been very un comfortable and has not been a party for me to say the least, but I am excited to have the hardest part over and done for good! I still have swelling and it will take an additional 3 months until my nose is completely where it needs to be...but here she is! Let me know what you think!

A New Nose, Eh why not ;)

2008-09-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

So I did it! I have wanted this surgery since I could say the word nose or knew what a nose was...I have had my doctor picked out for years! Dr. John Clayton. AMAZING! So my surgery was today and it took 3 hrs. I have never experienced general anthesia, so I was really nervous thinking about going under the knife. I had my Dad just drop me off at the front and I proceeded to go in by myself. I tried to act all tough girl like no I don't need my daddy to come with me, but I was freaking out inside! As I turned around to walk away from the car my Dad said well good luck, I love you! Then he said hold on, let me take one more look at that shnoz! HAHA! Jk, he said let me take one more look at that nose, I'm going to miss it. I started thinking to myself, I'm going to miss this nose too..it has brought me alot of joy in life, that is sarcastic. The day has finally come because this has been my dream my whole life. If you grew up with me you would know this too. All my old friends and neighbors texted me today because they were anticipating this as much as me. Anyways, I walk in and meet the lovely nurse that would be taking care of me,and she looked legit so I was happy. She told me to put on the gown and I really had no idea what way it went, I was too embarrassed to ask her so I just guessed. I did put it on the right way, because they didn't tell me to fix it, but my cute pink undies wer sticking out from behind. I also had to wear booties and what looked like a shower cap. It was not cute, but who needs to look cute during surgery! Well I kinda did, this was an important day. I was scared until I met the blood doctor, his name was Dr. Foster. He made me feel so comfortable, he told me I know when I see a beautiful woman but I also know when I see beautiful veins, and yours are the most beautiful I have ever seen. He is like you work out right? Uh yeah! HEHE! I was thankful for the compliment. Next he had me follow him into the E.R. and I suddenly felt like I was on a episode of Grey's Anatomy, especially once I saw the operating table I would be laying on. I got freaked out and started to tear up. I wanted to say nevermind I like my nose, I'm peacing outta here! Dr. Foster could tell I was nervous so he put some nervous juice in my IV and about 30 seconds later I thought WOW this is an incredible feeling, and can I have more? He then goes on to inject what he called my happy juice and I do not remember a thing following. Because that is exactly what it was, HAPPY JUICE! I was out! I woke up in a bed not knowing where the crap I was and then remembered holy moly I have a new nose! I was happy to be alive and well! I came home and have felt pretty good the whole day, not alot of pain just tired. My dad came home sick from work today and hung out with me, he said I just rambeled all day to him. I was loopy! He told me it was the most I have talked to him in years...sad :)! I must have been talking alot, he told me he enjoyed conversation with me even if it did not make sense. I'm drugged and I'd like to keep it that way. Thanks to Megan and Jessie for bringing me a smoothie and hanging with me, I have the two best friends in the world...literally! Thanks to my Mom for waiting on me hand and foot all day,I love my mom. We are having a slumber party tonight downstairs because she has to be with me 24 hrs. I am glad that I could have surgery just so I could hang with my mom and dad all day. It has been nice. Here is a picture, enjoy! HA HA! No laughing please! I'll take picutures of the finished product on Monday.

LOTOJA September 6th 2008

2008-09-12T14:43:00.000-07:00

Well I DID IT!I attempted and successfully completed the longest one day road biking race in the United States. The course travels from Logan and ends in the beautiful and to say the least BREATHTAKING Jackson Hole Teton Village. All together the race goes through 3 states, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming with a total of 206 miles and over 11,000 feet in elevation gain. I look forward to this race every year and I was especially excited for this year. The day was filled with the most exhilarating feelings of happiness, determination, pain, tears, joy, and complete rush! I am so blessed to have the health and endurance of my body to withstand such a day on my bike. I started the race at 7:04 am and crossed the finish line at 6:45 pm that evening. It was amazing to see the support there for me throughout the day. I cannot thank Megan, Jessie, and my cousin Janessa for being there for me to help feed me and make sure that everything was in tact for my ride. I have AMAZING friends, and family. Thank you to my parents for riding along side me when I needed them the most. Thank you to Keena Shaereer for riding with me as a mentor and support, I couldn't of asked for a better rider and friend to hang with throughout the day. Shane Evans, your a rockstar! Thank you for riding with me through one of the toughest parts of the race along the snake river canyon (the last 47 miles). Thank you to Julie Labrum, Whitney Pogue (my sister), and Sue Kertesz for the endless support of friendship and for always knowing what I need to survive on the bike. I love you! I am so grateful today for the talents I have and for the oppertunity this was for my life. It brought inspiration, humility, and confidence in my life and I am so happy to be alive! LIVE LOVE RIDE! Here is some pictures of my day. Enjoy!

Abbey and Keena ready to start! Janessa are you ready for a long day of supporting these crazy gals! :)

Just me ready to start a day full of fun :)

On our way from Montepeliar to Afton mile 90! 116 to go!

Me and my best friends and support! Montepeliar rest stop, mile 65!

Another pic of me and my girls!

Lotoja finish line! PHEW!

I'm finished! I had crossed about 5 minutes prior to this picture. My support crew. Jessie, Megan and Janessa! My legs were jello! I was so happy!

The three of us together. Finished! Abbey, Keena, and Shane! We rode most of the day together. I LOVE YOU GUYS!

Summer Highlights 2008

2008-08-29T21:44:00.000-07:00

This summer has been a BLAST!TRIPS TO BEAR LAKE, MS 150 RIDE. I am now feeling the summer finally winding down and coming to a close. A little bit depressing, but I am excited for the fall. It is my favorite time of year. I thought I would blog and post some of the pictures that highlighted my summer. I really am blessed with a great group of friends, job, and people in my life! I had the time of my life this summer of 2008!

MS 150 our registration and signing into the race!

This was our hotel room, 4 girls in one bed and Deb on the floor! WORST NIGHT SLEEP OF MY LIFE, but still a highlight to say the least! We all still managed to ride 100 miles the next day!

All the girls! LOVE YOU!

A bunch of girls hugging a tree! I can't explain myself here, the tree was available!

Posing cute on the stairs, we got bored at camp and decided to walk around and found ourselves here on these stairs! HA HA! We are cute!

THE FAB 4, I'm sorry but nobody could keep up with us in the end! HE HEEE!

DOC AND ABBEY! I love this person with all my heart! He is another rockstar instructor at Lifetime!

Me just riding, I don't know how Kaycee managed to take this picture!

Abbey and Debbie, also one of the greatest gals I know, we had a blast together. She is also a rockstar instructor at Lifetime Fitness

Me doing what I do best! Clicking my heels! :)

Doing a headstand in Bear Lake! Seemed appropriate at the time!

Getting ready to bike 52 miles around the BIG BLUE BEAR LAKE! YAY!

LOVE THE SHORTS! YES! ELECTRIC BLUE IS HOT!

This is attractive!

Getting ready to play cards. Abbey, Kaycee and Heidi! My condo in Bear Lake

Kaycee directing us to do some Yoga Poses in Bear Lake once again, we thought it was appropriate at the time. We didn't say it would be attractive. :)

The 4 girls, Abbey, Heidi, Kasi, and Kaycee. LOVE MY TAN LINES! I think I bike alot! :) SEXY!

Heidi and Abbey lounging out in the lake on our green tubes

Can I say Baywatch BABES! OH YEAH!

Me just laughing my guts out! HAVING A BALL!

I seriously thank all those in my life that cheer me up on a daily basis and make life good! I love you all! Until next time, have FUN!!!!!

I Love Savannah

2008-08-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

I had to post today on a special person in my life. I love all my nieces and nephews with all my heart but I wanted to pay attention to my niece Savannah on this blog. Her and I have been really close since the day she was born on August, 10th 1997. We have a bond that is amazing. I just found out that my sister and her family will be moving to Iowa the beginning of September. I will miss them so much. I will especially miss Savannah and all the fun times we have had hanging out. Here is 25 things about Savannah and why I love Savannah. You are beautiful!

1. Savannah is the sweetest person and friend
2. Savannah can immitate an english accent like nobody's business. You wouldn't beable to tell a difference between her and real englishmen. :)
3. She gives the best hugs in the world
4. She is absolutely hillarious
5. She is an amazing sister to Ethan
6. She has an amazing ability to make you feel better
7. She will hang out with me if I need a friend
8. She loves frosting like me
9. She is a great older cousin, all of her little cousins love her and want to follow her everywhere
10. She is kind hearted
11. She is a huge help
12. She always listens to me, I have told her secrets that nobody else knows.
13. She is so outgoing, everyone wants to be Savannah's friend
14. Christlike in every way possible
15. She hates candy but loves Chocolate, and her favorite place to eat is Sweet Tomatoes
16. She looks up to her Aunt Abbey and it makes me feel good
17. She is a dog LOVER and if Amanda would let her, she would own every dog breed in the world.
18. Her favorite tv show is Moonlight and she loves Vampires :)
19. She hates that she is tall, but I think she is beautiful...she is going to be tall like her aunt.
20. I know she will always be there for me if I needed a friend
21. She is obsessed with swimming
22. Her laugh is contagious
23. Her favorite vacation is Lake Powell, like me
24. She is down to earth and genuine
25. Savannah is going to be a leader in life, I love you!

I am grateful

2008-08-17T19:26:00.001-07:00

Its been awhile since I last posted. I have been so busy! I have not even stopped to breathe and absorb my day. Today however was my 27th birthday, and I am OLD in Utah years. Its pretty rare that a girl my age does not have 4 or 5 kids already. Get the violins out ok.....HA! Anyways, today I woke up not really excited to celebrate my birthday, knowing I was going into another year yet again single and not loving it! ;) Now, I am not complaining or throwing a pity party but I have come to the conclusion that when I do tie the knot, angels will be singing hallelujah from above. Today I went on an amazing bike ride by myself and while I was out I realized that I had every reason to be grateful. I need to stop worrying about everything and just focus on the simple things that make me feel happy. They are simple and its so cool that it is nothing money can buy. I am truly grateful for the 27 amazing years of my wonderful, blessed life. I now feel like a very lucky YOUNG woman. I also have decided that this year is going to bring good things in my life. I have a heart full of gratitude and If it is ok I would like to share with all of you fellow bloggers and friends what I am grateful for tonight.

I am grateful:

I am grateful for my family, what an incredible family I been blessed with in my life. Ryan, Shelly, Amanda, Garrett, Allison, Amelia, Brittany, Adam, Cameron, Jason, Savannah, Ethan, Sarah, Madelyn, Vincent, Mason, and Dillon.

I am grateful for my health, I am not suffering from any terminal disease. I am able to run, bike, hike, wakeboard, ski, yoga, ect. ect. I couldn't be more blessed.

I am grateful for the many accomplishments that I have experienced and that have made me a stronger person. 7 Marathons, including Boston and NYC,1/2 Marathons, Relays, Lotoja 2006-2007 and soon to be 2008.

I am grateful for this beautiful place I get to live in. Utah is incredible place and I am so lucky to be here with a roof over my head. I am absolutly so grateful for our mountains.

I am grateful for a bubble bath at the end of my day. (It is one of my most favorite things)

I am so grateful for good music. I love Sarah Mclachlan, Peter Gabriel, Enigma, Colbie Calliet, Enya, Movie Soundtracks, U2, Tori Amos, Alanis Morrisette, and Ronan Hardiman. (Those are my favorites)

I am grateful for my job. I am so PASSIONATE about what I do. I love to teach group fitness. It is my calling in life to inspire, motivate and help others reach a healthy way of life through fitness. I love my friends that I work with all my heart, you know who you are, THANK YOU for inspiring me.

I am grateful for my best friends. Megan Burger and Jessie Shurtleff. There is nobody like these two

I am grateful for my parents, without them I would have not succeeded the way I have in my life.

I am grateful for a beautiful sunrise and sunset

I am grateful for my trials. They make me a stronger person

I am grateful to LOVE so much that is aches inside

I am grateful for inspiring athletes and people

I am grateful for the men that have rejected me, because it only gets me closer to my husband

I am grateful for all the kids I have babysat, because it has prepared me to become a mother someday

I am grateful for the teachers that have become great friendships in my life. You know who you are and I will always love you. Some are not in my life anymore and some will be in my life forever. You have made me strong

I am grateful for a good plate of Sushi at the end of a work day

I am grateful for my yoga mat

I am grateful for a still mind

I am grateful for my road bike, without this in my life...well I don't even want to imagine

I am grateful for Little Cottonwood Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, American Fork Caynon, Emmigration Canyon, Millcreek Canyon, Suncrest for these canyons have caused many wonderful moments in my life on my bike

I am grateful for my Grandpa Weston Daw, for his life has given me something to live by through example

I am grateful for the gospel

I am grateful for Prayer

I am grateful for laughter

I am grateful for my bed

I am grateful for trees, I LOVE trees! I know kinda a weird thing about me.

I am grateful for color! My favorites, RED, BROWN and GREEN

I am grateful for Failure, it gives me a reason to do better

I am grateful for tears

I am grateful for the MOON

I am SO grateful for the stars (Esp at Lake Powell)

I am grateful for boat rides

I am grateful for the snow

I am grateful for education

I am grateful for honesty

I am grateful for compliments

I am grateful for the members that come to my classes at Lifetime. Its all about you and I am in love with teaching you and being taught by you

I am grateful for movies, some of my favorites, Charlottes Webb (there is not a better story about friendship) Runaway Bride, The Last Samurai, The Sandlot, Nottinghill, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 1 and 2, Never Been Kissed, The Notebook, ect ect.

I am grateful for my friend Nadine, she is an angel

I am grateful for the Oprah show..there have been some good books on there and one day I will have one her list of my own

I am grateful for all the dogs my dad gave away, I was attached to all of them. I am sorry!

I am grateful for my childhood, because it was magical

I am grateful for so many wonderful things in my life. I could go on forever, but most importantly. I am grateful for MY LIFE.

Be Grateful, I need to be more grateful! It makes your day better to think about what you really have in your life.

Bear Lake Trip! One great weekend!

2008-08-03T10:49:00.001-07:00

I love my mom! SO MUCH! Hanging on the boat after a great wakeboarding run!

I just got home from a weekend trip to Bear Lake with the family. I got off work early on Friday, so I was excited to get out of town and enjoy some down time. Yesterday was one of the best day's I have had in a very LONG time. It was a perfect day in every way possible. I started out the day riding my bike around the 52 mile loop of Bear Lake. I was completely in my element. Once I was home and very tired from my ride I met my family down at the beach. I was content just sitting there with my brothers and sisters, talking and catching up, while the kids played on a floaty in the lake. We rarely get this time with eachother and I didn't realize how bad I needed this time spent with all of them. We went for a boat ride after dinner when nobody was out on the lake. Wakeboarding is my favorite thing to do besides riding my road bike. I was like a little girl on Christmas morning when I was strapping my wakeboard on my feet, and getting ready to jump in the water. It was a perfect time of night. The sun was about to go down and the glare of the sunset on the water took my breath away literally. I was the only one out on the lake for miles. It was complete peace that I have not felt for a long time. Garrett talked me into riding the tube with him to finish off the night. Justin was the driver of the boat and he was not messing around and I thought I was going to die. I have never heard Garrett laugh so hard in my life, it was like a little boy. Garrett had also never heard me say a few choice words when I thought his 200 pound body was going to land on me as we skid across the lake! It was the best night! After we got done boating the night ended eating Bear Lake shakes and playing games. I really have the best family in the world and I am so lucky! I have never been so grateful for one weekend. It was BLISS! Here are some pictures!

My Dad, Amanda my sister and her family. Look at my dad! What a crack up! LOVE IT!

Me and my brother, he is my hero! I look up to him so much!

Garrett my awesome brother!

Me and little Ethan, he was excited because he got to hang with the adults on the boat without the other kids. He felt pretty special

Abbey and Madelyn just being silly at our condo!

Another one :)

Me wakeboarding..I was in paradise! I would rather be doing this than ANYTHING!

Can I go back?

PLEASE!

BLISS!

This is a sexy looking boat! I LOVE BOATS and ANYTHING to do with boating. It just brings a smile to my life!

Gotta love a 4 year old's honesty

2008-07-28T20:00:00.000-07:00

Ok so I had to blog tonight on something that really entertained me this past weekend. I had the great oppertunity to watch 3 little girls for a friend of mine while she and her husband took a weekend trip. It was so fun to be able to hang out with my little friends. Especially because they love me and they are so honest. They also know how much I love them. 4 years olds I decided can sometimes be a little too honest and the things that fly out of there mouths sometimes are down right hilarious. I had a little note book handy because I knew that I would be laughing at the funny things these kids would say. Especially the 4 year old Ciel. I wrote down most everything that I laughed at coming out of her mouth. I don't have kids of my own and it made me want them more and more after hanging out this weekend. (Not to mention, they are a bit dramatic at times too! Everything is SO much!!!)

CiCi'isms. (4 Year Old)

Abbey: Do you want to watch Lion King?
Ciel: No, I want to watch Little Mermaid
Abbey: Little Mermaid is on video tape and your VCR does not work
Ciel: Oh Dang it!
Abbey: How about we watch Brother Bear
Ciel: Oh ok I love that one
Abbey: Are you ready then?
Ciel: BRING IT ON!

A while into the movie CiCi and I were lying right next to eachother on the couch and we were kinda squished, so I asked her if she was comfortable

Ciel: Yeah I just have to put my armpits in.

Abbey: Thanks Ciel for giving me a kiss that is so nice of you!
Ciel: Did you know that sometimes girls can marry girls?
Abbey: Uh, yeah I guess. (I did not know what to say at this point, this was coming from a 4 year old)
Ciel: My friend Paris told me that girls can marry girls.

Lets just say the conversation ended there.

Maddie: (Ciel's 11 year old sister) CiCi why don't you come eat your pizza
Ciel: Because I don't want to Maddie
Maddie: It's going to be wasted and your going to be in trouble
Ciel: (So LOUD that she could have woke up the neighborhood) MADDIE! IT'S WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT!

that made no sense whatsover but it made us all laugh so hard.

CiCi: Abbey do you want to taste the most delicious food in ever and ever
Abbey: Sure!
CiCi: Ok, Hold on you will love it!
Abbey: I'll bet, can't wait!
CiCi: (Bringing over a box of cereal) Stick your hand in and try
Abbey: Yum those are delicious (Blueberry Frosted Mini Wheats)
CiCi: Aren't they just delicious! I love them!

(SO CUTE)

Ok so this is where the honesty kicks in...I thought this was the funniest thing. My friend Kaycee and I took the kids up to Silver Lake on Sunday for a walk and picnic. Kaycee has a 4 year old little Kyli who is the cutest thing in the world. It was nice to see Ciel and her get along so well. We were walking down the board walk and Kaycee and I were kinda minding our own business when a family of Polygamist people walked past.

Kyli: (SO LOUD RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM SAID...) Mom, why is that lady wearing a white long dress when she is hiking.
Kaycee: You know that is a great question.

I was laughing so hard I could barely contain myself, Kyli was just curious to know why this person was wearing her long dress with pants underneath and she did not care to say it right in front of her. It is those moments you want to just crawl under a rock and die. CLASSIC!

I had to take Ciel to the potty because she was walking kinda funny and doing the pee pee dance.

Abbey: Do you need any help CiCi
Ciel: Nope
Ciel: Actually, I do need help.
Abbey: Are you ok?
Ciel: No, I can't get my underwear down its too tight!

I walk in there and she had both legs through one leg hole in her underwear. No wonder's she was walking funny! I had asked her earlier that day to go change her underwear...I guess she needed my help! Man it was so funny!

I could go on and on...I feel so lucky to know these little people in my life. They keep me grounded and I am so grateful for those oppertunities. If you have little kids, next time they say something funny you need to write it down. It would be cool to show them years down the road when you need a good laugh, or when you need something to make you smile on a not so good day. I love kids!!!!

Chase Walker Photography

2008-07-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

Last night I went out on a photo shoot with an amazing photographer. Check out his website. www.chasewalkerphotography.blogspot.com. He is a new photographer mentoring from some amazing people and he is building his portfolio. He asked me to be a model for him and I was reluctant to go but all in all had a good time. I am no model but it was fun to feel pretty for a minute. Tell me what you think.

A Week In Review

2008-07-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

Madelyn, Abbey, Kyli at the Draper Day's Rodeo

Kyli, Madelyn, Sarah at the Rodeo. I love being with the girls!

Allison, Abbey, Savannah at the Rodeo

Abbey and Sarah at the Draper Rodeo

Abbey and Madelyn at the Draper Rodeo! I really can't get enough of my nieces!

Well it is Sunday night and I am about to go up to bed but I decided to sit down and write a blog tonight. I had a great week. I have to say what amazing friendships I have started to build lately. I have had some amazing people come into my life. Let me review on the great things that happened to me this week.

*Home from Vegas, it was so great to come home and get back into my routine. Teaching my cycle class Monday night was a great highlight.
*I love Allie, Matt and Jay. I am so fortunate to work with them and I look forward to the laughs every single day. They are great people!
*Harmon's Sushi, it was the first meal I had when I came home.
*Fusion on Wednesday night, great class Kaycee!
*So you think you can dance! It is my favorite T.V. show. The dance done with Katie and Will to Imagine by David Archuleta was out of this world amazing. How do people move like that...I am so intrigued!
*My sweet friend Debbie. She is so full of wisdom and is so beautiful. I am so grateful for new friends like her, someone I know now that I will be friends with forever. I learned a great deal from her this week and I will forever be connected to her for the help she gave to me. I love her!
*Seeing people that couldn't run or use their limbs as I can made a huge difference in my life. Made me feel grateful for what I have and the health and strength of my own body.
*My mom, what an amazing mom
*Allison my sister. Watching her makes me want to be a mom. She is so beautiful and I am so grateful for her as my sister
*My family
*I adopted a new child to spoil this week. Kyli, now this little girl is so fantastic. I was laughing so hard when she and I had a little conversation in the car. Kyli-"You know what Abbey?" Abbey-"What Kyli?" Kyli-"My dogs have been having problems lately?" Abbey-"Really, sad what kind of problems?" Kyli-"No, its ok they have problems because they are getting better." Abbey-"Oh, ok." Kyli-"You know where pets with problems go?" Abbey-"Nope, where do they go?" Kyli-"They go to the pets with problems store." It was the cutest thing I have ever heard in my life! Thanks Kyli for making my weekend great!
*The Draper rodeo with my family. Listening to my dad laugh at the clowns jokes when they weren't even funny. I got a kick out of it and realized how much I loved my dad.
*BBQ at the Burger's house. Jeff's amazing Salmon. He was so proud of it.
*Riding my bike up Big Cottonwood Canyon with Debbie, Kaycee, Jaynann and Tara. It was so much fun. Then eating breakfast at Silverfork and talking on the deck while sitting in the sun for a hour or so. Riding down so fast to the base of the canyon, feeling like I was on top of the world and being so grateful for what I have and where I live.
*Fusion class on Sunday morning
*Talking in church on Sunday. Feeling the spirit and the peace that comes from it was amazing.
*Call from Brother Moyer made my night
*Janessa my cousin reaching the Suncrest summit on her bike after I told her she would do it and her not believing me!
*Getting invited to go see John Mayer and buying my tickets!
*Getting my E.L.F. makeup order in the mail this week. AMAZING product! Love makeup!
*Madelyn, my sweet Madelyn. Getting to snuggle with her
*Having a sleepover with Madelyn, Sarah and Savannah in my little queen size bed and all of us sleeping diagnol. Love them!
*Fireworks and Friends
*The Moon

I had a great week. I appreciate all my friends that have come into my life recently and for the amazing difference they have made in my life. I hope everyone has a great week next week!

New Do!

2008-07-17T14:51:00.001-07:00

Alright, I finally got my hair done after a long hiatus from not doing anything to it. Typical daily hair routine for me consists of washing my hair and brushing it. I let it air dry because I am usually late for work. So upon returning from all my trips and races I decided to pamper myself a bit. Do you like the bangs? I think I will keep them for awhile...we will see how long this lasts! ;) Thanks to Sydney the wonderful hair dresser who takes care of me.

Yes I had to take a picture of myself to get it! Don't laugh!

IDEA Fitness Convention July 8th-13th 2008, Top Ten List and more...

2008-07-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

The AMAZING booth we set up at the expo! Impact Fitness Wear

Good Times! First day selling!

Megan the owner of Impact Fitness this is why I came to help support her and her awesome fitness clothing line!

Mindy what a cute person she is, I loved hanging with you Mindy!

I LOVE YOU KIRSTEN her and I had the funnest time's with the Top Ten list! We will sure miss the juice man.

Danny! What a good sport! Megan's hubby, he was always working so hard to make us girls happy! The trip would not have been the same without you.

Well I'm finally home after a crazy June and July! Every year I go out to this convention to get some much needed ideas for my group fitness career in teaching. This is very entertaining for me to attend Idea. Usually what happens is I go and really I don't come home with tons of ideas. What I do come home with is hillarious stories and great memories. This convention is packed full of people of every shape, size and ethnicity....to say the least! Master presenters from around the nation come and present their format to the attendees. (Which are other fitness instructors, guru's ect.) Our day's are packed full of workouts and lectures. Then there is the awesome expo where vendors come with their product to sale to the many of us who just don't know how to stop swiping that piece of plastic on more and more and more fitness clothes and accessories. I have more work out clothes than I can use but I kept buying and its all in good fun! Here are some highlights.

The last couple of years I have also been going out there to work for Impact Fitness Wear and sell Megan's awesome fitness clothing line at the expo. It is a hoot! We made up the top 10 list and if something is funny or weird enough it goes on the top 10 list for the top funniest things we see at the convention. If you make the top ten then it has to be good! www.impactfitnesswear.com

Kirstin and I's second top ten. This is just not right. This guy's shirt was a little small but you can tell he is really into aerobic's. We saw a whole bunch of these type's of outfit's on the wrong gender.

Tuesday July 8th
*Fly out to Vegas at 8 am with Sariah, stoked to go to Vegas!
*Meet Megan at the Marriot it is 115 degrees! Can't wait to work her Impact Fitness booth!
*Set up booth and expo hall opens at 4:30-7pm. First top ten occurred within ten minutes of opening. I called it! I told Megan and the girls that the Asian's love the headbands for some reason its their favorite thing. Well we put the headband's up and guess who are first customer was, well I will post a picture. It was awesome! We laughed our butts off!

*Close down the booth
*THE FUN REALLY BEGINS...Meet Kaycee at the Condo at 10:30 P.M.
*Go to the store and run into a man with a gun at Food 4 Less, NO JOKE! We were trying to dodge him the entire time, but Kaycee walked down his aisle anyways..you kiddin me. She said she didn't want to look like a target. I was outta there. No more Food 4 Less anymore. We did get our oatmeal. PHEW!
*Emily arrives at the condo 1:30 a.m.

WEDS July 9th
*Wake up time to go to the EXPO and work! MORE TOP TENS TODAY!
*Strike with Kimberly Spreen from Lifetime Fitness at 5:30 AWESOME WORKOUT!
*Dinner at Grand Lux Cafe for Megans Birthday. YUMMY!
*Go back to condo goodnight!

All of us girls! Happy Birthday Megs!

THURS July 10th
*Wake up and head to EXPO SELL OUR GUTS OUT!
*Kaycee picked me up at EXPO we head back to get ready for SUSHI at a place called RA. VERY YUMMY!
*hung out and baught fun make up in Sephora, went dancing and went to a piano bar. Fun times!
*Get stuck in a parking garage at 4 a.m. took us 45 minutes to find a way out, had to get security. I thought I was going to die of being so tired!
*BED!
Kaycee and Abbey at the Piano Bar. Kaycee is always one to make a trip a bit more exciting with her humor and the way she just is! I want to thank her personally for the many laughs and good times! I don't know if many could say they love their boss. I love my boss and she is a great friend.

Emily Dancing!
FRIDAY July 11th
*SLEEP IN!
*LAST DAY OF EXPO SO TIRED!
*Kaycee and I went to a hole in the wall Sushi place for dinner that was amazing!
*Sonic Burger Shakes! Getting fatter by the minute
*Go back to condo and just hang in our pajama's.
*Bed time

SATURDAY July 12th
*No Expo today
*Do some damage at the outlets.
*Drive to St. George and stay at Kaycee's parents house

SUNDAY July 13th

*Exhausted!
*DRIVE HOME
*FAT

Part of our Top 10 List. I spotted this guy at the Piano Bar, he looked like he just needed a woman. It was so funny!

TOP 10 LIST VEGAS CONVENTION 2008!

1. Asian lady buying the first headband, after I called it! If you were there you would have laughed your brains out!
2. Guy in the aerobics shirt..now its just not right.
3. Lady with the red shiny fake leather purse shaped as a watering can. I thought she was coming in to water our clothes...oh wait its a purse.
4. The guy running for dear life on the strip passing up two girls standing on the side walk in there running clothes and shoes doing nothing..who should be running here?? This other guy was in his jeans and tee shirt...so funny!
5. The old lady decked out in spandex and eighties leg warmers with boxers over the top of her pants rocking out in a dance session. I literally thought I was going to die! She had some great moves if I must say!
6. Kaycee missing every possible exit and never one time getting on the right exit..well maybe once, the last day.
7. The old lady rocking out at dynamix music booth with the ear phones on and acting like nobody was watching. She had a magnifying glass in one hand because she couldn't see the songs she was picking. Not to say the least her little jig she was doing while listening to the music selections.
8. The guy at the piano bar decked out in American Flag apparel and all sorts of pins on his shirt. Enjoying his time alone, but he did need a lady!
9. The camel toe I called out..yes the many camel toe's I called out but this one was the worst of all..and sad to say I think the lady heard me because she looked down at her crotch and left the booth...I felt bad!
10. A lady that had probably size triple ee boobs and I am not exaggerating!She asked for a size small tank and than I looked at Kirsten with all sorts of confusion when she told us she was a 32 bust. Lets just say we got Megan. HILLARIOUS!

4th of July and Biking!

2008-07-05T18:40:00.000-07:00

At the top of Emmigration Canyon

Holy cow I have had alot going on lately. It seems that I have not stopped to breathe and take everything in that I have been doing the last few weeks. Since the Ragnars Wasatch Back Relay, I have been to Lake Powell and back, I also took a trip the very next weekend to Logan for the MS 150 ride that I did with Life Time fitness. Please read on as this is my second post today because of so much that has been going on that I have not yet blogged about. I leave Tuesday for Vegas for the Idea Fitness convention and I already can't wait! I will be headed down with some of my Life Time friends and I will be helping Megs out in her awesome Impact Fitness Booth for the week. Last night was the 4th of July and it was so nice to be with my family. We went to my sisters house and had a bbq and watched my dad as he and Joseph entertained us with store baught fireworks. The funniest part was playing cop patrol, making sure they were not lingering around the neighborhood to catch us in our mischief. I love my family!

SO, today I finally got some alone time. I have not had any in awhile. I'm the type of girl that every once in awhile I just need a break and I need some Abbey time. So, of course I decided to take that much needed alone time and go for a 70 mile bike ride. It was a long day but the views at the top of Emmigration canyon was amazing! It was very hot and by this time my arms were full of heat blisters so I quickly got back on my bike and made my way back home. What an amazing thing it is to see such views after a long hard climb. It makes it worth it!

View at the top of Emmigration Canyon after a long ride from home

Over the weekend, just being silly!

Keep reading on to see my latest blogging about the MS ride.

MS 150 Life Time Fitness June 28th 2008

2008-07-05T18:05:00.000-07:00

Let me just say that I really do have the best job in the world! It is times like these and events like this that I am reminded of how lucky I am to be a part of such an amazing team. Last weekend was the MS 150 bike ride in Logan. Life Time is always a huge part of this and we try to raise as much as we can for this great cause. This year we had the biggest team of 177 riders. We rode 100 miles in 97 degree heat but it didn't matter, I was with my favorite people in the world. I rode with Kaycee, Deb, Heidi and Kasi and we called ourselves the fab 5. Nobody else could stand a chance to hang with us, so we stayed together and kicked major booty. The 100 mile ride would not have been the same without them. We also had a blast hanging out the night before. We had 4 people in one king size bed and that alone was a comedy. I don't think I slept and if I did it was probably for only ten minutes. The night before we decorated our bikes and stayed up late laughing and eating candy. Kaycee and I had noise makers on our bikes to keep everyone entertained. I had a huge horn that we baught at Walmart on our way up and Kaycee had a rubber parrot named Pete that I had mounted on her handle bars. Holy crap, we almost peed our pants everytime we honked these suckers. So did everybody else! Anyways, here is some pictures of the race. I don't have many posted, but once I get the others from Kaycee I will blog more about my fun weekend. Enjoy!

My team! I can't express to you how much these people mean to me. LOVE YOU!

All of the girls being silly! This pyramid did not last long, we all fell like two seconds later! Kaycee we can't see your muscles because your hair is in the way! ;)

Good Times!

Debbie and Kaycee! Man I love these two!

Yikes! Never cute in a helmet and a very close up picture! I have to say though that I was sure glad to be done with 100 miles!

TO BE CONTINUED ON A FUTURE BLOG POST........

A Lake Powell trip gone Horribly bad!

2008-06-25T16:13:00.000-07:00

I have these two friends. I love them with everything I have, they mean the world to me. Below is a random picture that I took last night after we went out for sushi. We were celebrating our friendship :) You will know why after I tell you this story. Below that is a picture of a tube. I will never as long as I live set foot on one of these as I experienced a horrible accident at Lake Powell on Monday, June 23rd.

Jessie, Abbey and Megs. 3 Peas in a Pod!

Not a good idea!

I just wanted to say that I am lucky to have Megan Burger with me today. We went down to Lake Powell immediatly following my Wasatch Back relay race. I was excited to unwind and enjoy the rays. Lake Powell is my favorite place on earth. We arrived Sunday afternoon and I was so excited I could barely contain myself. It had been years since I experienced the whole house boat thing. Monday morning we decided to go out and tube because it was not good wake boarding water. We had a blast! We worked our way over to Swim rock. This is an incredible site. I was amazed by the beauty. We had a chance to play in the water for about an hour and laugh our butts off. On the way back to the houseboat, Megan and I decided we were going to just sit on the tube and get a ride. We didn't want to go all crazy! As we approached the houseboat, Megan mentioned that she was tired of holding on to the tube. I told her that we were almost there. As we got closer to the houseboat, they decided to take one more circle around the bay. I told Megan to hold on....well we hit a wave. Megan came off of the tube and landed back on the tube hitting her nose and giving her a good hard hit. She looked up at me and said, "I'm ok!" I said are you sure? I than saw that her nose was bleeding. I motioned for the boat to pull us in...I than looked up and saw something that I will never forget in my lfe. Megan's eyes rolled back in her had and she passed out falling into the water. I screamed! I jumped in to grab her and pulled her towards the boat. I begin wiping the blood off of her face. I had never seen my Megs in this condition. We got her on the boat and hauled her to the dock. She was not really responding. We gave her a priesthood blessing and I was so grateful to have that available. Megan was still not responding. Jessie and I kept telling her to keep her eyes open. We got her to the doctor and they put oxygen on her face. She started breathing really fast and screaming. I could not watch it, I walked out of the room and went outside to wait and sat with Jess while we just sobbed. We couldn't believe this happened to Megs. The doctor came out and told us that Megan was ok and she wanted to see us. We went in and she again started breathing out of control and screaming. I knew she was not ok. I had so much anxiety! To make the long story short, Megan was ok. We ended up cutting our Lake Powell trip short and left that night. She didn't have anything wrong with her and I know it was because of the priesthood blessing she recieved. The doctor told us she was very lucky! I love Megan and Jessie and I am so grateful to have them both in my life! It brought us together and I will always know that they will be for me if I needed them in a time a need.

Please think twice before you take a tube ride. The smallest wave can knock you out. Better luck next time! I am just grateful to have my friend!

Ragnars Wasatch Back Relay June 20-21st 2008. "The RUNAMOK DIVA'S"

2008-06-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

This was one of those races I could say when I was finished,"I AM EXHAUSTED" This relay consists of two vans,12 runners and a route that starts in Logan and ends in Park City Utah. 100 miles total! I went 32 hours without sleep and I have never run so hard in my life! I ran through heat, cold, and gave my teammates sponge baths along the way. I was fortunate to be apart of an amazing team! The Runamok Diva's do not mess around. We finished 72nd place overall with a total of over 500 teams. We also finished 7th overall in Womans open teams. Thanks Andrea for asking me to be apart of this great experience. I will never forget it as long as I live! I already cannot wait for next year. Here are some pictures!

Abbey, Natalie, Jenn, Andrea, Katrina and Alicia! RUNAMOK DIVA'S

Waiting for Andrea to come in so that we could send Jenn on her way!

Ready to rock n' roll. My first run consisted of a 6.7 mile run in 90 degree heat! GIDDY UP! Who knows why I had that weird lookin smurk on my face. YIKES!

Abbey and Deb! She was on another team "A Pretty Pace" She works as an instructor with me at Life Time and I love this person! Their team rocked!

"A Pretty Pace" Quick shot as they were driving to meet their runner.

Runamok Diva's Car...we did some art work all over the windows.

Andrea Martinez! She is an AMAZING runner! She is the reason why I was on this team. I loved this vest and I could not wait to wear it! I had a few more hours until I had the great oppertunity!

My Team! Abbey, Natalie and Alicia! I had so much fun with these girls!

Andrea hot stuff!

In the middle of the night..waiting to run my night leg. We were starting to get really tired by now. Good Times!

I just wanted my blankie and a place to rest my head before it was time to run again, and again.

These memories will go down as some of the best of my life. It was so fun to see a lot of people that I knew from around Utah joining in the awesome fun! There was over 7,000 runners. Despite the lack of sleep and the tears of pain I shed during this race...it was well worth it. I grew more as a person and it definetly tested my strength. I still think about it and wonder how the heck I did this, but I could not have done it without the support of all my friends and team mates. I LOVED IT!

CYCLE SUMMIT PICTURES

2008-06-19T22:22:00.001-07:00

Well after a few months of arriving back from one of the greatest times of my life, I am finally posting pictures. To recap, this trip was probably one of the greatest oppertunities I could experience with Life Time Fitness. This job is my passion in life. Going to Minnnesota only helped me gain a deeper gratitude for what I do each day. While I was there I was chosen to be on the Board of Directors by Braham Akradi the CEO himself...what an experience! I will never forget it! I will also never forget laughing so hard till my stomach was about to burst. I met people that have influenced my life and I am so lucky to have them as friends. Thanks Kaycee again for choosing and having in confidence in me to be a part of this awesome weekend! I LOVE MY JOB!

Kaycee and Abbey while getting our butts kicked by Braham as he engaged us in our first cycle class of the three day summit! We had no idea what we were in for..AHHH! Those are not smiles of joy, they are smiles of pain...Kaycee would have to agree!

Amazed and taking everything in!

Getting ready to ride!

WOW so much fun!

Another rock star cycle instructor Tara from Dallas Texas.

Braham Akradi the CEO of Life Time Fitness! Teaching us how to uh...sweat!

Braham and Kimberly. Kimberly is the Group Fitness Department Head for Life Time Fitness! Awesome person!!

The gang

Emily, one of the coolest girls I met at the summit

Rob Glick, he is big time!

Braham's personal DJ. Roberto Costas! He is so dang cool! He provided our music for the week! He can make some mad remix's!

Rob Glick again...
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Summit Attendees!

More and More and More of us!

Dana and the girls! We were all in the same van and boy did I have fun with all these girls.

So there you have it! Those are some of the best times of my life! I can't wait to continue this amazing journey with Life Time Fitness!

Its just Monday

2008-06-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

Ok time for a new post. I was browsing amongst some friends blogs and took this one from Anika's blog. I hope you guys enjoy more interesting facts about my life at a glance. Also, my nieces can't get enough of my new camera phone. They are obsessed with taking pictures...so yet more pictures with my nieces. I don't mind they are my angels.

Joys- Oh the Joys of my life, I have so many but here are a few that stick out in my mind.

1. Friendships- Nothing like friends that always know how to lift you up on a bad day or knowing they are there for you no matter the situation for support, advice or a good time. A few stick out in my mind. Jessie and Megan these two are the definition of a friend and I am so grateful for them. I hope they never forget. Katie is a good friend because she relates to everything that I am going through. She is someone I can call on that will always understand. Heather Mcdonald and Heidi Pferdner are friends that no matter how long we don't talk they would be there for me in a minute if I needed them. I love you two! They will be my friends forever. The Morrills, they are a family that I have come to know more this past year. Their cute girls brighten my life and I look forward to every chance I get to hang with them. My Life Time family every one of my friends I work with and the friendships I have made in the last year over there, truly amazing group of people! My awesome family is the best friends that anyone could ask for and I am so blessed to have such a great support system in my life.

2. Accomplishments, crossing a much awaited finish line. Seeing family and friends there to support you as you finish. Amelia running in with me at the St. George marathon when I had nothing to give and I did not think I would qualify. She held my hands and guided me as she ran with me to the end. She had the strength I needed to finish and I qualified.
Ethan's face when he saw me finish Lotoja in 2006, he looked at me as if I was his hero. He walked my bike for me and I truly knew that he looked up to his aunt that night. Watching the Pogues jump up and down as I finished Lotoja the same night. (They were much faster)
When I finished the SLC Marathon the hardest race I have had in 2004 my friend jumped the ropes and ran me to the finish in her barefeet down the road as I was in pain.
Watching others accomplish hard goals is so inspiring. Half of the stuff I have attempted to accomplish and have accomplished is because of the inspiration of watching others. Lotoja-A friend, Boston Marathon-My Dad, Eventually I want to take on the biggest accomplishment of my life and that is to become a good mother and I watch and learn from my own mom and sisters example.

3. Teaching a successful class and watching others learn and become stronger from what I give and what I am truly passionate about, its an amazing feeling.

4. The Gospel is my true definition of Joy because it is everlasting

5. Climbing a long canyon on my road bike and then descending down with only the small of my tire and road to seperate me from literally flying.

6. The little angels in my life: Savannah, Sarah, Ethan, Madelyn, Vincent, Mason, and Dylan (My nieces and nephews!) CONGRATS to Allison my sister, Dylan was born today 6/16 at 7:30 this morning. YAY! Another one to spoil!

My other little angels: Maddie, Brie, and CeCe Morrill. Christopher. Shawn Armstrong and cute Maddie from Lifetime. KIDS are absolutly the joy in my life.

Fears

1. Never finding love, yes this is a real fear of mine. I have so much to give but I hope I get the chance to find that special person to share it with and I really want to be a mommy!

2. Airplanes. I am getting better, I have a few things that have to occur while I am flying. A. I have to sit in a window seat B. I have to listen to my music perferably Sarah Mclachlan or Ronan Hardiman C. I need to take a valume! D. I need to check out the pilots to make sure they look nice. D. Nobody can talk to me during take off. E. Pray Pray Pray.

Although the last time I took a flight it was with Kaycee and she did not allow for me even to think about being scared she chatted and made jokes the whole time and I was not by a window seat. So we just listened to her laptop and I did pray still ;) Thanks Kaycee! She had no idea how scared I really was to fly. There is something wierd about being 30,000 feet above ground in a tube.

3. Heights, I'm not too fond of heights...I have this re ocurring dream that I am on top of a sky scraper in NY and I am hanging on for dear life and no! Spider man is not there to save me. Anyone that knows about dreams, can you interpret that for me?

4. Not reaching my highest potential and goals. I am really hard on myself, so that scares me. I want to live my life but really LIVE my life!

Goals
1. To be a awesome wife and mother someday to a beautiful family.

2. To finish a Iron Man triathalon sometime in the next couple of years. Couer d'Alene. To do well in all of my races, prepare myself accordingly to place and break records :)

3. To write a successful novel that will one day be on the Oprah book club list. Or atleast a few! I would like to travel the world and become a motivational speaker.

4. To continue on my awesome group fitness path. To keep pursuing this dream and become more and more passionate with what I do, if it is even possible. The growth is endless and I love it!

Current Obsessions

1. Sushi! I don't know what has come over me but I can't get enough. There a few places that I have discovered where I like to get my sushi. Harmons and Ginza! Wow, incredible!

2. My road bike, I think it has always been my obsession.

3. I am obessed with the tv show "So you think you can dance" Its is one of the highlights of my week.

Random Facts About Me

1. I will say it how it is...sometimes I need to watch what I say, but I am blunt! No beating around the bush!

2. I'm into New Age and World Music. I LOVE the LION KING soundtrack, that music just is incredible.

3. I have a really good sense of what is right and wrong and sometimes it bugs the crap outta me. I want to live more on the wild side.

4. I am very observant, I can observe a lot about people and I am a good judge of character. I have a strong intuition

5. My favorite thing to do is sit in bed with my lap top and watch T'vo at the same time.

6. I love Cinnamin Tea

7. I love being with kids

8. I was a children's ski instructor for 3 seasons, good times!

9. I lived in Scotland for a year

10. I have my own language called Scodiax

11. I LOVE PEOPLE

12. I can stand on my head

13. Lake Powell is my number one choice vacation spot

14. Roller coasters make me really sick

THATS ALL FOR NOW!

Good OL Highschool Days!

2008-06-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

Just me and my cute niece Sarah last night hanging out together!

Thinking back on the Red and Black days!!!! I stole this from Heidi's blog so have fun reading it! I had some funny stories!

1. Did you date someone from your school? No, I just chased one guy throughout highschool, big big big mistake.

2. Did you win anything in Senior's Who's Who? I don't think we had seniors who's who's

3. What kind of car did you drive? sophomore year Allison and I shared her 97 Honda accord for a little while. I drove my Grandma Daws old 87 Jeep Cherokee Loredo my Jr. Year, I named it Buffalo Soldier and I put fog lights on it. I think at one time I wanted to put a lift on it, I wanted to totally pimp it out. Fog lights is as far as I went and that was bad. Senior year I drove a new 99 Red Jetta, my dream car at the time.

4. It's Friday night. With Heather Mcdonald, Ashleah Williams, Jamie Shurtleff, Kristin Stowers and Heidi Pferdner causing mischief somewhere. Usually at Zanes pool or at the mall, Ashleahs..who knows! We had fun though.

5. Were you a party animal? No I would consider myself a goody goody in highschool. I thought driving down State Street was bad.

6. Were you considered a flirt? No, I was a horrible flirt. Allison my sister tried to teach me how to flirt and at the time I worked at Zuka juice and I liked one of my co-workers. She asked me what I did to flirt with him and I told her that I tugged on his apron to try and pull it off. That is how I flirted because I wanted to make out in the Zuka Juice Ice Cream and Fruit freezer in the back. Trust me the tuggin on the apron thing never worked, I never made it to the freezer. Instead I got asked to Homecoming by a real cutie that I worked with and I'm not mentioning names. He wanted to take me on our date activity to Zuka Juice the place were we rekindled our love. YIKES! To this day, I'm not the best flirt. Will someone please teach me! :)

7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? No, I thought that was for nerds. Now come to think of it, I would have loved to play the violin or something in orchestra. Back in the day being part of the school band just meant that you carried a black clarinet case or guitar case around and sat with the nerds at lunch.

8. Were you a nerd? I was not a nerd I don't think, but I did some lame things that now that I look back, pretty nerdy. We won't mention Miss Otis Regrets in front of my Senior Class at a B-Ball game. I had a good group of friends and I had good times!

9. Did you get suspended/expelled? No. I will mention that Heather and I got kicked out of a few classes. Seminary for one which I feel bad, Bro Whitmer loved us at first but than I started bringing Albertsons french bread to class and gold fish and passed them around the class by throwing it to people. Did not go over so well. We also got kicked out of Preschool Mrs Toronto's class, because I talked too much to Tiffany and Heather. I did make a awesome rudolph song prop at Christmas that my potential preschool little hawk would have loved..but she/he never got to meet me. SAD! Heather, those were the days! Oh and I will never forget when Miss Dahle said the F word to me in English at the computer lab cause she hated my poem I wrote. Heather and I also paid a girl from the softball team, the teachers aide that liked us to change our grades for English our senior year. Noonne ever found out and it was Heather and I's secret. Whoops, we learn from our mistakes. We had like every class together and I have no idea how we pulled it off.

10. Can you sing the fight song? Nope

11. Who were your favorite teachers? Mrs. Wrathall our craft design teacher. She was weird. But she loved our table. Heather, Heidi, Rick, Jamie, Ashleah, Rory and I hope I'm not forgeting anybody. We had a blast! I also loved Mrs Stites, she loved me...even though she cut me from the basketball team. I was the best team manager and she will always say that about me. I did suck at basketball though and she will say that churchball was the place for me to shine.

12. Where did you sit during lunch? At Wendy's!! The Larry H Miller one on State Street. We went there every day. I remember the drive through lady had really green eyes. If we went inside to eat the down syndrome worker was always there to hang with us, but sometimes he got really mad at us for no reason and I will never forget when he chased Jamie and Jackie around the tables and they knocked over.

13.What was your school's full name? Alta High School

14. School mascot? Hawk

15. Did you go to Homecoming and who with? Holy yes, worst dance of my life. HIs name was Dan and I actually saw him at the gym tonight. We went to the circus. I wore the ugliest dress and I did not want to go my mom I remember thought we were like a match made in heaven but I did not want to go and I did not have fun, I sound like a brat but really I just remember him almost hitting the concrete wall on the freeway on the way to the circus and I was praying for my life.

16. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Never, but I will never forget the memories and my best friends.
17.What do you remember most about graduation? That I did not iron my gown. I took it straight out of the box. I had to flap it out the window on the freeway to try and get the wrinkles out but that only made it worse. I felt like a idiot, I walked on stage a wrinkled mess, but at least i was not the only one..Jason Judd didn't iron his either and he was my really good friend so it made me feel ok. Pepperwood party like usual and I can't remember anything else.

18. Where did you go senior skip day? Every day was senior skip day. we would all pile in my jetta and take off or Jamie's jeep.

19 Were you in any clubs? SC for life..but I was not a true member

20. Have you gained some weight since then? No I think I have actually lost weight.

21. Who was your prom date? Well, his name was Brian Mitchell and he was like 7'9 he played center for the basketball team and he was tall. Heather said no to him so he asked me..which made me feel even better about myself. His friend nate asked me in a tux on my doorstep with a banana that said I will go bananas if you go to prom with me. Heather was sleeping over and we laughed our guts out but I said yes and when he picked me up..Jenny, Amelia and Heather sat in my living room laughing because they said he had tap shoes on. I actually had a nice time at prom with Brian..Heather you missed out! I did like my dress this time around. Thats a plus

22. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? Only if Heather will come with me..it wouldn't be the same. I also sure hope I am married by then, its ok if I don't have kids but please Abbey lets just get you married before your reunion.

So there you have it! Please don't judge my experiences, It would not have been as fun without them and without Heather. Holy cow! Awesome!

Life is good! I have no complaints this week

2008-06-03T20:47:00.001-07:00

I am the favorite Aunt Abbey! Right Now that is my title in life, to be the best aunt in the world until I can have some munchkins of my own. These are my little monkeys and I don't know what I would do without Sarah and Madelyn in my life. I love these girls and I am thankful I get to be their aunt every day. I am so blessed! Here are a few pictures and yet again another week in review! Enjoy!

Well Let me just review. It is now Tuesday evening and I have time to blog tonight. I would like to blog about the week we just came out of and take in all that I was thankful for and what kept me smiling into this week.
*Megan Burger and Jessie Shurtleff, now I may get emotional as I write about these two friends of mine. I will just say that these friends have been there for me through thick and thin. I had a fun hanging out with them this week. Jessie was sick and It felt nice to go sit with her at her house while she layed in misery on her couch. I felt proud to be her friend and I even helped her drink her soda with a straw because she could not even move.
*The 2nd week of "So you think you can dance!" This is a weekly party with my friends and I, we love watching TiVo. Yes, we do watch the Bachelorette and Jeremy and Jason are hot! Good job to Shelly my team mate at Lifetime. She tried out for "So you think you can dance" and was put through to Vegas. Watch for her next week! Awesome job girl!
*Nose Surgery scheduled..drum roll please......SEPT 16th 2008! I am so excited!
*I started my new job on Wednesday at Black Bottom Cycle. I love it! I work with a great bunch. Matt, Allie and Jay. I love anything to do with biking so this is the perfect job in my book. Even if I do sit at a computer most of the day. It was a highlight!
*The Chronicles of Narnia. What an amazing amazing movie. I am a big fan of C.S. Lewis and I enjoyed every minute of it, I even saw it twice. The soundtrack is a must buy!
*The Burgers treat drawer after a long day of work. There is nothing better than this drawer. I love Good and Plenty's!
*My Mom is always a highlight
*Cinnamin Tea
*Climbing Suncrest on my road bike with Jen. The weather was beautiful!
*Teaching all of my classes is always a weekly highlight of mine.
*Discovering another place to find sushi in Draper. Ginza! This place is incredible. Try the X roll!
*My Brother Garrett
*Working so hard on Saturday to get my new Fusion release choreographed. Thank you Jen and Rachelle for meeting me at Life Time late Saturday night, so I could run through it with you.
*Sunday was the most incredible day of my week. I was really worried that my hard work would not pay off as I was pretty worried about my new Fusion that I worked my butt off on all week. Sunday's class was nothing less than perfect. The experience I had with 50 people in my class that morning I will never forget. In 6 years of teaching, I have never had a class like this one. It was crazy to stop and realize that the Fusion I created and worked my butt off on looked so beautiful! Especially when we were all doing the Tai Chi. It overwhelmed me to the point where yes everyone, I shed a couple tears. I have never had this happen to me, but the class was beautiful. I love my job, the passion I share with these members is so magical. I love all of those that come and support my classes. I am so lucky to have my job! I was and still am overwhelmed with how amazing this felt. The hard work did pay off and it was worth the long long nights and days of choreographing this baby.
*The Harley ride my dad took me on, it is nice to just be with my Dad. I never get alone dad time. Thanks Dad, it is my favorite thing in the world.
*Testimonies at church and it even felt nice to bare my own this time.
*The Gospel
*Friendships,Megan, Katie, Jessie, Ryan, Amanda,Emily,Melissa, Kaycee and my entire Lifetime family
*Compliments
*Frozen pizza
*Harmons, I swear this an addiction!
*Music-Goo Goo Dolls "Acoustic number 3"
*I was truly thankful for my Gifts and Talents this week that I have been blessed with in my life
*The Sun
*Talking with Katie tonight over sushi. This person is so beautiful and has amazing things coming her way. I know it!
*The picture Maddie my little friend from Life Time gave to me. It was so beautiful! I love kids!

Well thats all folks. This week so far so good! I'll write soon, but for now..Happy Blogging.

A Bittersweet Week in Review

2008-05-20T21:41:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pictures of me and the kids and my cousin this week! Also a week in review following! Enjoy!

I have not had time to even think about sitting down to my computer and blogging about my days. This past week many things ocurred, some good, and some not so good. Let me review

*Hung out with my beautiful cousin Mekenzie about every other day. I love you Kenz!
*My awesome car broke down...couldn't have happened on a better day! Thanks to everyone that car pooled me or allowed me to borrow their car for the weekend and into this week. Allison, Britt, Garrett, Jessie and Megan. Thanks to those who offered to help! Oh and to my second father Jeff for trying to jump start my car! I can't forget Megan and I's great attempt..we are pathetic! It was funny though trying not to blow up the car or get shocked to death..or so we thought..Well atleast I would have died after Megan told me to hold onto it because she would rather have me get shocked then herself...good times!
*Laying out with Ashton at the Lifetime pool! SUN SUN SUN!
*Andrea Martinez for coming to my fusion class every Sunday and touching my life when she was emotional after class and gave me a hug.
*Talking with a old friend at Zupa's for lunch..highlight of my week.
*The Jazz lost which sucks, but made for a great time of hanging out with friends
*The AMAZING T-Mobile rep Renae..the great help she was with my blackberry. I talked to her every day this week because my phone was doing wonderful things to make my life easier. She made everything ok! Those customer service reps at T-Mobile are the best!
*Emily Gramillion, I can't express how awesome this person is..thanks for being the greatest friend!
*Stacey and Travis...giving me cliff bars after my class on Monday night so I can teach my second class in a row. They take care of me! I love these people!
*Sonja, she comes to my classes every week and she made my day today with her compliments
*My Fusion class, getting them choreographed and having great energy in the room. All the hard work pays off!
*MY AMAZING AMAZING FACIAL WITH ANGELA! I can honestly say this was the best part of my week
*Harmons, this new store in Draper is my new obsession. I have found myself going there on a daily basis for no good reason. The sushi is incredible! Try the California Nigiri roll and the Salmon Roll! YUMMY! Thanks Randy Harmon! :)
*My road bike, I went on a very long ride on Saturday. Megan you are a great rider
*Welcome to the wonderful world of training for Lotoja! I got in..Whitney..here we come!
*My cousin Spencer, our great talk we had after I picked him up from his haircut the other day on our drive home.
*Debb Thomas and Kaycee Dunfield. These two have no idea how amazing they are..thank you!
*Lori Ray's great eyebrow wax
*Heidi Ormsby, the way she makes me laugh so hard and she does not get why. She is one of the funniest girls I know. Thanks for the laugh this week when you imitated my walk
*four classes taught in one day..a career high. I was exhausted
*SUSHI SUSHI SUSHI
*Sunday night at my sisters..thanks for making a great dinner
*DID NOT GET INTO THE ST. GEORGE MARATHON LOTTERY! ANYBODY ELSE! SUCKS
*I AM SCHEDULING MY SURGERY TOMORROW! I CAN'T WAIT...a new nose on the way! Consults over and done with..I am ready!
*I washed my I pod in the washing machine...only I would be stupid enough to do this successfully, oh and it still works! PHEW! I had to laugh really hard! I could not believe it.
*The great store URBAN BLUES in Draper. Greatest place to shop!
*Heather Wilks going away BBQ, I will miss you. :(
*No Limits circuit Erick and I taught Saturday morning for the charity event at LTF..Augies Quest. Thanks Ashli L, for doing such a fantastic job! GO TEAM!
*Whitney Pogue, the one person I talk to when I am in need of a understanding friend. You have no idea how amazing you are, thank you!
*Finding out that I will be taking a much needed trip to Lake Powell for a WEEK in a couple of weeks! YAY!
*Harry Potter 7
*Savannah's Smile oh and the new Vampire kick she is on lately makes me laugh!
*D&C
*I had some awkward moments this week. Standing up too soon in church and making a fool of myself..I was supposed to say the closing prayer but got up to say the opening prayer and everyone laughed.
*Walked into the mens locker room at LTF and saw naked bodies, I went all the way in before I realized this was not a familiar place and died when I saw a few co workers getting changed and ran past the naked men showering. AHHHH
*Shaking a really hot guys hand at the movies on Saturday when he really went to hug me...that was awkward. Man!
*Saw What Happens in Vegas...I'm in love with Ashton Kutcher
*Staci Short for just being a great friend and instructor in my book

Well that pretty much sums it all up! Long but amazing week! Bring on the next!

LIFE TIME SPRING CLEAN 08

2008-05-08T16:06:00.001-07:00

Ok this was the longest day! Now I am home and I have something to blog about finally. Today we had a team building experience at Life Time. All the department heads and their assistants got together and cleaned the heck out of Life Time. I was not excited to clean but I was glad that I was able to be there for Kaycee. So, I put on a good attitude and as much as I hate to scrub down equipment and pick up garbage in parking lots we had a lot of fun! Kaycee also taught the management team a spinning class and kicked our butts. We also had a nice little lunch catered for all of our hard work. Needless to say I am exhausted because I still had to teach another spinning class tonight after my long day! Here is some pics of my day! Please no laughing at how I look...no shower, hair in a messy bun and in cleaning mode..not attractive :)

Just Me a Cleaning a MACHINE!

Abbey-Stacey-LeAnne oh and we can't forget weird Kaycee!

Kaycee on the floor and Heidi cleaning..Tyler is just watching

The Best Girls in the World! Mindy, Leanne, Stacey and Kaycee

Eating Together

Cycling Together

Kaycee Teaching! Kicking our BUTTS!

I USED TO BE THE BLOGGER QUEEN OF BLOGGERVILLE......

2008-04-30T21:11:00.000-07:00

I don't know what has come over me lately, but I have not felt like blogging. I have never worked so much in my life and I can't seem to detach myself away from it these days. I will though blog tonight, even though it is yet another boring survey about moi.

Anyways, I was browsing amongst my beautiful friend Heidi's blog and took this blog idea away from her page. So enjoy this new blog and have a fantastic week. Also, these pictures are of our back yard campouts we have every summer with the fam. It is so fun! I can't wait...I just hope for the weather to finally get warm enough, we are ready already! GEEZ

A- Attached or Single: Single :(
B- Best Friend: Megan, Jessie and Katie (there is nobody like these girls)
C- Cake or Pie: Holy cake! Yes, cake. My mom's texas roadhouse brownies. They are so good I could swim in them. My favorite cake though, confetti you buy from the store with the confetti chip frosting. I guess I like cake
D- Day of Choice: Sunday, it is the one day I get to spend some time with my family and go somewhere besides work.
E- Essential Items:Yoga mat and Ipod lots of relaxing with these two items
F- Favorite Color: Brown, Green and Red
G- Gummy Bears or Worms: Gummy worms
H- Hometown: Draper Utah
I- Indulgences: Cookies and Icecream.
J- January or July: July by far. No competition. January is good for ringing in the new year but after that PEACE OUT! I am ready for July. There is nothing like the smell of BBQ's and Fireworks on the 4th of July. oH and FLIP FLOPS!
K- Kids: Yes for now they are Sarah, Madelyn, Savannah, Ethan, Mason, Vincent, Brie, Maddie and CiCi..until I have my own...these are my kids. I love them like I would love my own.
L- Life is incomplete without: The gospel, Family, Friends, Road Bike, Yoga, Music, Movies, Laughing, Dancing, Traveling, Prayer, The Mtns and The Beach.
M- Marriage Date: Ohh thats the beauty of my life, its like a game I play every day...guess when I will get married? And the million dollar answer is...who the hell knows. I'm very patient
N- Number of Siblings: 4, Garrett-My Hero, Amanda-My Comforter, Allison-My Sunshine on a bad day, Amelia-The Comic and Best Friend. I don't know what I would do without these people in my life. I love you!
O- Oranges or Apples: Apples they say keep the doctor away..but I do like Oranges better.
P- Phobias or Fears: Never finding love and becoming a mother.
Q- Quote: You make a living by what you get, but you make a life but what you give. -Winston Churchhill
R- Reason to Smile: I'm alive and I have the best job, family and friends in the world. I am very blessed.
S- Something New: I baught two pairs of shoes today at Famous Footwear..by one get the other 1/2 off. Good Deal! Kathleen baught me a darling shirt from her trip to AZ this weekend that is so cute. LOVE IT!
T- Tag: AMELIA and HEATHER and TIFFI POO
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I want to be on Oprah really bad
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor Of Animal: I am kinda a vegetarian, I don't like a lot of red meat.
W- Worst Habit: WORRY WORT
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds:Ultra Sounds of course..usually its about a baby in the oven.
Y- Your Favorite Food: I like a good Pizza from Papa Johns
Z- Zoo Animal: Monkeys

Week In Review

2008-04-20T21:40:00.000-07:00

I feel like my life has not been that exciting lately. Pretty much going through the motions of each day the last couple of weeks. This week though was many things all packed in one. It was full of craziness as well as exhausting, emotional and completely draining! It is now 10:45pm on Sunday night and I am done, yet I felt like a lot was accomplished. Here is my attempt to elaborate on the good things that happened to me this week.

-Ran the SLC Half Marathon on Saturday morning and did great. Congrats to Cristin Jacketta, Andrea M, Melissa, Cari, Jenn, Ashley, Susannah, Chelsea, Megan, Patti, Emily,Jen D and all those that were on the Life Time team that did so well and finished successfully!
-Officially landed a new job promotion as the cycle master lead instructor at Life Time Fitness
-The Sun came out on Monday
-Talking to the T-Mobile customer service rep on Weds..man they have good customer service. I learned all about her life and she pretty much learned about my life. Megan from Oregon..you made me actually have a better day! My stupid razor phone broke and you made everything better by being so nice. Good CS goes a long way! Its crazy how you vent to people when you are having a bad day..so thanks for letting me vent to you my T-Mobile friend :)
-50 people in my Fusion class made me feel so happy!
-Michelle Funk, she is such a bright face to see and uplifted me today at church
-The Book of Mormon
-My Mom made this week amazing
-Brother Moyer
-I spent a few nights over at Amanda my sisters house. It is always a party over there. Listening to Sydney and Amanda talk is quite entertaining. I couldn't get enough. Amanda's homemade weight watchers cake. Everything about hanging out at Amandas this week made me feel good. I needed to spend time with my family.
-Savannah holding my hand while we watched "The Seeker" Friday night.
-Ethan sitting by me today while he played his Nintendo DS this afternoon
-Emily from work...just an amazing person
-Cycle Friday..as always
-Watching an episode of Ellen Degeneres when she posed as a facialist in Orlando last month. Laughing so hard, tears were rolling down my face.
-Stacey and Travis, members that come to every class I teach. I truly love these people with all my heart
-My uplifting Group Fitness family. We had a looong meeting on Saturday afternoon but they are always there to make me smile. They are an amazing bunch!
-Carlie is hanging in there another week on American Idol. She was not even in the bottom three last week. PHEW!
-Brothers and Sisters came back on Sunday night tv.
-Fudruckers with Jeff, Sherry and My Parents Friday night...a great ending to a horrible day! I don't even like Fudruckers but I didn't care, I was with my two sets of parents
-A text from JW, dinner on Thurs :)

Well that is all I can think of tonight. I hope everyone had a fabulous week. Just remember to keep those you love close to you and never let those friendships go in your life you cherish most. I have a few old friends on my mind and I hope they know how much I love them. For now thats all FOLKS!! Next week is new, make it even better than last week!

What.........

2008-04-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

I was reading another friends blog and I thought that I would steal her blog idea. Nobody tagged me into answering these questions. I am bored and I have not posted a blog for awhile so here is another bit of interesting news about me I guess.

What I am doing: Sitting here at my computer because I am bored stiff. I don't have to work until tonight. I have time to waste I guess.
What I’m proud of today: I am proud of the fact that I get to run the SLC 1/2 marathon on Saturday with a bunch of great individuals who I have coached and helped train for this race for 12 weeks now.
What I’m thinking about: I have to go downtown to pick up my number and packet for the race, wash my car, clean my bathroom and still send in my now LATE TAXES!
Who is home: Nobody
Plans tonight: Teaching a spinning class and that is about all I have planned for the night.
My weekend was: A lot of fun. Well....kinda. This weekend will be much better.
What’s for dinner: A Salad or a Lean Cuisine. The USUAL
Thoughts about love: OH we don't want to make this post into a 500 page sob story so I will just say. adshfldjg;dlkga;dlkhfas
Feelings about life: BE PRESENT and you will become POWERFUL. Literally
What I need: LOVE
What I want: The weather to stop playing mean tricks on all of us. We need the sun already!
What I have: My confidence
My pet peeve: Cereal Eaters...LOUD ONES. Like my Dad. SLURPING, CHEWING, It really gets to me.
My guilty pleasure: Getting my hair done and paying alot of money for it. I could care less...it makes me feel good.
What you don’t know about me: Well we don't need to know everything do we. NAH!
What I can hear: Barbara Walters talking on The View on T.V. She bugs! That just means I need to get ready for the day and get out of the house. ASAP!
What I can smell: Nothing
My style: I am into Anthropolgie. Nordstroms. I like to be original and comfortable at the same time. Not dressy or too girlie. But....usually it is just my workout clothes because I am always in them. So, Nike..Impact Fitness. ;)
My hairdo: Long and a little wavy.
My outfit: Workout yoga pants and a nike white pullover.
My mood: Bored
The weather today: Sunny but chilly.
Thoughts on parenting: I am not a parent. (Yet) Lets hope I can answer this question in a blog five years down the road.
Thoughts on marriage: again, I am not married. Lets hope I can answer this question in a blog a year or two down the road. SERIOUSLY!!!!
Thoughts on politics: I listen to the O'reily factor on a constant basis and I still don't get what crap is going on in this world. I will just stick with Pres. Monson.
Thoughts on celebrity gossip: A good way to relax on the coach. This is another guilty pleasure of mine.
Thoughts on beauty: Beauty lies within everyone and is beautiful when it is finally discovered within yourself.
Thoughts on sleep: I love it, I look forward to it every night.
Thoughts on writing: LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
My favorite appliance: Kitchen Aide, treats are always made when you use them.
My favorite car: Range Rover
My favorite splurge: Clothes, Getting hair done.
My favorite beauty secret: Smile
My favorite treat: Icecream or French Fries from Rumbi Grill
My favorite everyday pleasure: Teaching others to be healthy, active and confident.
Ten years ago: I was 16 and a sophomore at Alta Highschool. Just got my drivers license. Playing on the sophomore basketball team. Very timid and shy.
Five years ago: 21 years old. Just beginning my career in fitness. Working at the Treehouse. Going to SLCC college. Running my first couple of marathons.
One year ago: Working at Life Time Fitness. Finishing up a season at Alta Ski Resort. Just getting into a brand new relationship with a great guy. Starting to work at Impact Fitness and preparing for the fun summer I would have at convention, California.
One year from now: Preparing to compete in my first Ironman in Coeur D'Alene Idaho. I have no idea, that is the great mystery of life. I hope to progress each day and reach my highest potential when it comes to job and LOVE!
Five years from now: WOW! I have no idea. I hope maybe to be a presenter for Idea Fitness. Starting a family. Living in Utah in a cute little home with a hot and very good man who will be my husband.
Ten years from now: A Family that is all I wish for in the future.
I’m famous for: My contagious outgoing personality on life. The positive energy I bring to each day.
I’ll never be famous for: Dancing skills and my singing skills.
Who I am: Daughter, Sister, AMAZING Aunt, Baby Sitter, Mentor, Daughter of God and Athlete.
Who I hope to be: An example to those around me. I hope to serve others as much as I can. I hope to be humbled each day. I hope to be more than I thought I could.
What I’m thankful for: The GOSPEL, Family and the AMAZING Book Of Mormon that has made me believe that anything is possible for me in this great life.

So there it is! Hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved typing it! ;)

A WEEKEND OF FUN! Studio Soiree and St. George

2008-04-06T21:05:00.000-07:00

Ok so I am about to blog about one of the funnest weekends I have experienced in a LOOOONG time. Before you scroll down and look at my pictures let me tell you about these pictures before you judge me right away. I went down to Studio Soiree with my friends on Friday night for a girlfriends bachelorette party. Now let me tell you a little about Studio Soiree. I recommend this place to any woman. It is a fitness pole dancing class. I don't know if any of you have heard about these classes but they have done a episode on Oprah about fitness pole dancing. I figured if Oprah can do it, I can. My friend from work came in one day and was very excited about these classes she has been attending on a weekly basis. At first I was a little reluctant to believe that this was something that I should be doing. I figured I would go out on a limb after she explained the idea of the class and go with my friends on Friday night. We got there and the studio was so cute and I was excited once I saw the studios. I didn't have the feeling that I needed to leave right away. It was very much a FITNESS class. The idea is to just feel more like a woman. It was all I needed to let go a little bit and have some fun girl time. So yes, we danced on a pole. Let me just tell you it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I did pretty good if I must say so myself. Your core has to be incredibly strong. The instructors teach you the Firemans spin and the Tinkerbell spin. I was very good at the Tinkerbell spin. We turned upside down and we also had competitions to see who could climb up the pole and touch the ceiling first. Heidi and I tied for the best pole climbers. For the first time in my life I felt a little sexy :). I ran from pole to pole turning as fast as possible and laughed my guts out! In the end my friend Melissa and I TRIED to put our sexy on and do a dance for the group...all in good taste I promise! I am a good girl. I really do recommend this class to anybody!!! It will make you feel at ease in your own skin. No men ALLOWED!Perfect for a girls night out. You walk out feeling two inches taller from letting all your stress leave your body. I had so much fun with my friends. I will tell you, in the end the instructor teaches you all how to give a lap dance. It was hilarious. I am not married, but when I am my husband better be prepared for the best lap dance of his life. I hope he has never had one though before me..HA! Although I was the designated driver for the night, it was one of the funnest times I have had in a long time. Melissa congrats on your upcoming wedding! I am so excited for you. I love you so much. Any woman out there that is interested in this class the studio is in Sugarhouse and it is called Studio Soiree. http://www.studiosoiree.com/ I am going to take my sisters and my mom next time! Get ready you guys! Here are some pics of the night!

I also got home from St. George, I left early Saturday morning. I was so great to be with my family. I took a long bike ride this morning through Snow Canyon and It was so refreshing. I am so grateful for the things that I have and I am especially grateful for my family. It was so much fun taking a run with my mom and Amelia yesterday. It has been awhile since I have had sister and mom time. I love Allison and Cameron so much, thanks for keeping me company today on the long drive home. Cameron was a sport to sit in the back seat and play with Mason. I am so grateful that I could listen to conference and know that the gospel is everything to my life. My testimony is so strong. St. George thank you for delivering the 80 degree weather this weekend...it was all I needed!

CYCLE SUMMIT MINNESOTA

2008-03-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

Hey all! I told you I would update once I got back and I just have not had the time. Plus I have not recieved my pictures from the trip. I will get my pictures this week and post them asap! I thought I would still write a blog and let everyone know how things panned out!

This oppertunity was one of the best experiences of my life! I have never learned so much from others in my life. I met some pretty incredible mentors. We first arrived and I new that I was in for a very long two days. Kaycee who was my roommate never ceased to keep me entertained. LITERALLY! I don't think I have ever laughed that hard and that much in my life. I absolutely have to thank her for my entertainment for the two days we spent in Minnesota. When we got there we were greeted by our van members. Kaycee would be driving the van which again...I was not sure what to think of this idea. ;) Daina and Tara from Texas Life Time was waiting for us at the baggage terminal. They were so dang cute! We also met two other girls and they were sweet as well...except these two did not understand our Utah sense of humor. We experienced a few awkward silences and than I would just start laughing my guts out with Kaycee because at least we thought we were really funny. We were so tired by the time we got to our hotel room after dinner that we went and purchased about six laffy taffy's, a bag of licorice and chilled out on our bed. We also watched and made fun of the first episode of the Bachelor. I again almost peed from laughing...Kaycee you kill me! We did not sleep the first night..we should have because we both had no idea what was in store for us the next morning.

Tuesday we woke up really early, put our cycle clothes on and headed down to Eden Prairie Life Time in the VAN. We walked into the cycle room to be greeted by Kimberly Spreen who is the national group fitness director for Life Time. 65 nervous instructor attendees from across the company occupied most of the bikes. I started feeling overwhelmed with excitement! Sitting on the instructor bike was Bahram the CEO himself. Now I have never met a nicer person. He was so warm and inviting and I was very impressed. I was not sure what to expect from our CEO and I was quickly reminded at why I work for this company. There were two bikes waiting for Kaycee and I smack dab in the front of the room. We were trying to make a bee line for the back row....Kimberley told us to take the two bikes in the front instead..YIKES! So for two hours we cycled in the hardest class of our lives! We could not even cry for mercy. It was a two hour z4, anaerobic threshold, sugar burning fest of a class. It was cool that Bahram him self taught this class...he is hilarious. I just kept glancing over at Kaycee and she would glance back and we both acknowledged the fact that this was never going to end. A few words were exchanged...if you know what I mean. The class finally ended and we headed back to the hotel to get changed out of our sweat drenched clothes so we could enjoy our first catered sushi for lunch and our first brainstorming session.

It was awesome to rub shoulders with Rob Glick who is on the Nautilus Board. He presents at Idea every year. He also works with Life Time. He was there the whole weekend and I felt like I was amongst some industry celebs...which in your case wouldn't mean anything. I on the other hand felt as if I was hanging out with Brad Pit. Rob Glick is big time. Now I wont ramble forever but I met some great people and life long friends.

We spent two days cycling, eating sushi, brainstorming and laughing. I had something pretty incredible happen to me that I will elaborate on for the last paragraph of my blog. So, we were wrapping up the last brainstorming session and Bahram (ceo) single handedly picked me from the group and asked me to come up to the front of the room. He then goes on to ask me questions about myself. In the end of this little moment with my CEO, I walked out of there 1 of 5 people that will be on the board of directors for the cycle club throughout the company nationwide! I wanted to pinch myself, I did not believe this was happening. I glanced over and saw Kaycee, she was clapping for me and smiling so big! I in the moment was humbled by everything and I knew that I could not take this moment for granted. Now I have a big responsibility and I feel like I am actually moving upward with my passions. All my hard work is starting to pay off and I could not be more excited!

So, it was awesome! I met amazing people, laughed till no laughing came out and ate sushi until I could not eat anymore. I love my job and I love the fact that I can live within my passions. I have so much more to learn. I love it!

This weeks Highlights!

2008-03-16T22:04:00.000-07:00

I thought I would blog about my past week. It was so busy! I am now getting ready tonight to bored a jet plane tomorrow morning and head off to Minnesota. I am going with my Group Fitness Director to the Cycle Summit at Corporate Head quarters for Lifetime fitness. I am so excited to meet the CEO and the other 65 instructor attendees from around the nation. Thank you again Kaycee for giving me this oppertunity. I will blog about my trip when I get back at the end of the week. I will take many pictures! Until then...breathe in a GREAT week!

This weeks highlights:

-Fusion Launch went amazing! PHEW! All my hard work as well as 3 other of my fellow instructor friends hard work paid off! We had 65 members show up and it was so much fun to teach with all of the postive energy in the room!

-Costco sheet cake..thanks for having a birthday Andrea and Heidi :)

-My friend Julie L joined the Lifetime fitness team! YAY!

-Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies

-Megan and Jessie, I love my best friends

-Johnathon my autistic friend that comes to my cycle classes. The way he dances, flexes his muscles and blows me kisses after every class.

-American Idol was fantastic this week. Brooke and Carlie are still standing! :)

-Amelia...she always brightens my day, just to know she is there makes me happy. A phonecall away

-My new hair color. Ashton does a fabulous job! Thanks for making me pretty

-Sales at American Eagle and Aeropostle

-I had the house to myself, major highlight

-The pages of the Book of Mormon. The 2000 strippling warriors....left me in humility

-Emily and Melissa our daily lunch dates in the Life Cafe at work. We order the same thing each time and eat at the same table. Love these girls.

-Madelyn and Sarah our date to see "Horton hears a who" Very Cute! These girls melt my heart

-Sweet Potato fries from Rumbi grill YUMMY!

-I hung out with a hotty named Justin and that is all that matters!

-Rhianna Burger, I sure realized how much I miss this girl. I had a chance to hang with her on Friday night. LOVE YOU!

-Prayer

-Priesthood blessing from the best Dad

-Realizing the ambition I have and feeling very content with my life

-Jessie, a member that came to my Fusion class this morning...gave me a hug after class and told me how much she loves class and how much she is inspired each week when she comes. I realized more today why I do what I do!

-Whitney Pogue..I just love this person with all my heart

-The Sun

-Good Ol Tivo...My guilty pleasure...THE HILLS....Very Addicting

-Cycle Friday's...but we missed Deb this week

-My Aunt Nanete and my cousin Mekayla, I love you! They made my week happier!

-Interview with David went well and I am ok with whatever the outcome will be! I love you Melissa

Well that about sums up my week. It was great! I could not ask for a better past few days!

HUGE FAN!

2008-03-12T21:35:00.001-07:00

Ok, so I am obsessed with American Idol this season. I am already placing bets on these two! Carlie Smithson and Brooke White. They are my absolute favorites. I don't know if you watched the singing on Tuesday night but I had chills running down my spine when these two took the stage. I love the Beetles! I was so excited when they chose those songs. They both delivered in the most amazing way! Carlie had so much confidence and her voice is simply untouchable. She took "Come together" to another level in my book. She is definetly my first choice and I hope that she ends up in the finale this year. I am also very impressed by Brooke White. I was kinda worried in the beginning of the competition and was not sure if she was going to make it very far...being really nice! I thought maybe there would not be anything interesting about her except the fact that she is LDS. I now know I would buy a cd if Brooke were to record by the way she has been singing with so much passion. She is my second favorite and is so original. Her heart and passion is in it 100 percent! I literally shed tears after she sang "Let it be"and I was so proud of what she accomplished. These two better go all the way, because there is nobody that can even come close to these two! I am pretty glad that David went home tonight...although Kristy Lee Cook did the worst last night. I was not into her cowboy rendition of "Eight days a week."

PS.....Simon is hot! ;)

My Blessings and My Bike

2008-03-09T21:55:00.000-07:00

My Four Parents
Lotoja 2007

The Burgermiesters

Whitney and Sue are the cheese of my macaroni when it comes to biking!
LOTOJA 2008 HERE WE COME!

I decided that I really am a blogger..in fact I probably blog more than anyone in bloggerville. Here I am again posting yet another blog on another late Sunday night. I needed to blog about two things. My bike and my blessings. My bike is patiently waiting for me to dust the frame off and take it out for its first spin of the 2008 season. I am highly anticipating this moment. In fact with the spring fever I am having along with this amazing weather...I think I will attempt this tomorrow morning. I will keep my fingers crossed for another beautiful day. I am loving this streak of early spring weather we are receiving. Please spring stay and do not go away! PLEASE! I love especially riding with my bike mentors Whitney and Sue. They are the coolest gals in the world and can beat any body up a mtn. I mean anybody! So, all you biking peeps out there watch out! We are rearing to go! Don't look back because you might miss us as we pass you up Little, Big, East, Millcreek, American Fork and Rose canyons this year. Not to mention good ol Suncrest. I can't wait to pump up Ruby's tires tomorrow morning and take her for a spin!

On a second note, I can't tell you enough how much I love the Burgermiesters. I was having a downer of a Saturday night. I decided to go over and watch the Jazz game with my family away from home. This consists of Jeff, Sherry and my best buddy Megan. They have no idea the impact they place in my life. Sherry thank you for your hug it meant the world. Jeff, thanks for just making me laugh. The way you watch the Jazz game is entertaining. Megs, what would I do without you? I have no idea! Your my soul sister. I love you even if you ask a billion questions. One after the other. You guys are truly my blessings. I sure love you more than life!

Mom and Dad...I feel like telling you how much I love you! Thanks for being there for me always. Dad, thanks for singing the mickey mouse club song today to cheer me up! You had no idea I was lauging so hard. You wouldn't stop you just kept singing. Along with some others, "Tomorrow from Annie","Ba Ba black sheep" and whatever the heck else you were singing as I was sitting at the computer desk listening to you. I love you. Mom, thanks for buying me a necklace from Urban Blues and putting it on my bed this week. I love you even if it was a necklace that I will probably take back..haha! You meant well, I just don't think I will be wearing a peace sign. I loved that you love me so much to buy me a necklace with a peace sign hanging from it. Truly your the best mom anyone can ask for and I love you more each day! Your beauty amazes me on a daily basis.

Well, thats all folks! I had a great weekend. Now, time to start a new week! I can't wait!

100 FACTS

2008-03-06T21:35:00.001-08:00

So I can't help it, I got this idea from someone elses blog and I found it very interesting and entertaining to read. I am now going to try and attempt to list 100 facts about myself....so here goes nothing!

1. I am in love with music, I could spend all night browsing I tunes and never get bored. I think it has become an addiction.
2. I am a very Loyal person
3. It is hard for me to hold a grudge
4. I believed in Santa Clause till I was 12
5. I have never had a Big Mac
6. I have never had a real Coke
7. I can touch my nose with my tongue
8. I can tap dance, I took lessons back in the day and got pretty good
9. I used to think I was going to become the next Julia Roberts and told my parents I was going to run away to Hollywood after highschool and make it big...didn't really work out that way.
10. I have a huge obsession with Jackets
11. My favorite color is Brown
12. I love the mountains at Sunrise, simply BREATHTAKING in my book
13. I believe in Karma
14. I can stand on my head
15. I love anything NEW AGE
16. I am very scared of flying in airplanes
17. When I was little I peed my pants every time I ran into an adult or someone bigger than me, I was really shy! Pee would just automatically run down my legs. In 2nd grade I peed when at the Library when I looked up to see a 6th grader staring at me. They had me wear some under roos from the lost and found until my mom came and picked me up. Allison had to leave her 5th grade class to come be with me because her sister peed her pants.
18. I want to own a Yoga studio one day
19. I want to name my first girl Zoe and my first boy Seth
20. My favorite place in the world is Lake Powell
21. My favorite ride at Disney land is The Tower of Terror, I once went on it 18 times in a row
22. I get REALLY sick on roller coasters
23. I love watching the Disney Channel
24. I have a very messy room and car and it bugs me that I am not clean, but I still never change
25. My favorite singer of all time is Sarah Mclachlan
26. I love to have my alone time
27. I hate large parties, I get anxiety and will rarely go
28. I think I am a people pleaser
29. I am really hard on myself
30. I am very intuitive
31. I am very stubborn
32. I can eat the frosting off of an entire sheet cake no problem
33. My favorite candy is Red Vines and M&M's
34. I used to call Pajamas, Bajamas when I was a little girl
35. My mom changed my name to Abigail when I was 8
36. I used to swallow spaghetti noodles whole without chewing them to make people laugh
37. I am left handed
38. I can paint a mural of any kind on a wall
39. I know exactly what I want in life and I wont give up on it until I achieve my dreams
40. I have never experienced a brain freeze
41. I sleep with the bathroom light on sometimes...I get scared
42. I will only run in Adidas shoes
43. I love The Lion King and the music from Lion King, there is nothing like it in the world
44. I want to be a writer
45. I am really tickelish
46. I love gossip magazines and I buy them everytime I go to the store
47. My favorite movie is Nottinghill
48. My #1 reason of being on this earth is to become a mother some day. I aspire to be the best soccer mom around town
49. My favorite game to play when I was little was Under our Legs with my sister Allison. I have no idea how we came up with that name, but we made up the game.
50. I love sitting on my porch on a summer night around 7:00 pm PERFECT!
51. I love the sound of kids playing out side
52. I shop when I am having a bad day
53. I am very picky when it comes to buying things
54. I want to be an olympic gold medalist
55. My brother Garrett is my hero
56. I love going to southern California New Port Beach
57. I have an obsession with working out, it is my true OCD
58. I take a Bath every day, I RARELY take showers
59. I love getting my hair colored and I change it quite a bit
60. I am a natural person, not girly girl one bit. I try sometimes but it only lasts about a day
61. I really see the best in people
62. I make friends easily
63. I think so much that sometimes my brain hurts
64. My dream is to travel the world, yet I am scared to fly in airplanes
65. I am a procrastinator
66. I have tried out for SURVIVOR 3 times
67. I can lip sink like nobody's business to Bette Midlers-Miss Otis Regrets
68. I love going to Vegas
69. I am obssessed with having clear skin
70. I am not good at dancing and bowling
71. I sing really loud in my car when I am by myself
72. I feel more beautiful each day
73. I am not so good at school, yet I wish I had a PhD
74. My favorite flowers are Orchids
75. I love homemade oreo icecream
76. 4th of July is my favorite holiday
77. There is not a better feeling of crossing a much anticipated finish line
78. I am very cautious and never take risks
79. My favorite games are...Candyland, Sorry, and Balderdash
80. I am really good at Guitar Hero
81. I am very aware of things around me
82. I don't like it when others are uncomfortable around me in a situation and I always try to make them feel at ease
83. I cannot cross my eyes and it bugs me
84. I love skiing at Alta ski resort
85. I love going on canyon drives in the summer and fall
86. I like to be in control
87. I love Ketchup on my Mac and Cheese and My Pizza dipped in Ranch
88. My favorite restaraunt is Porcupine Grill
89. My favorite road in Utah is Wasatch Blvd
90. My favorite hymn is "If you could hie to Kolob"
91. I am NOT a morning person and I can stay up all night
92. I love sleeping on the top of house boats at Lake Powell...I LOVE star gazing
93. I am horrible at Math
94. I made up my own language called SCODIAX when I was a little girl and I still can speak it fluently today..just ask!
95. I love to bury myself in blankets in my bed
96. I LOVE BBQ's and Rainbow Flip Flops in the summer
97. I love reading self help and philosophical books
98. I am too much about the CHASE..But I am very happy that I have not tied the knot yet, I have lived an amazing life thus far!
99. I cannot stand to hear people eat cereal in front of me
100. I have a strong sense of right and wrong and I have been given some rare gifts and I am thankful for them each day of my life.