Cold Weather and Resolution Walking

I started a blog and then realized how hard it was for me to pick something I really wanted to talk about! I am usually full of words, and I can write a lot about anything. However, I find that I just don't want to share some things that I thought I wouldn't mind sharing. Here's my attempt at another blog:

The hot (and sometimes annoying) topic lately is the brutal, cold weather that's arrived again. Yes, it's stinkin' cold outside. We all know it. I've heard a lot lately that us people who used to like the winter weather now wish it would just go away and be spring already! This stands true for me. Does it you?  It's made exercising a little trickier. Who wants to think about going outside to walk when you can't even stand to sprint to and from your vehicle every day. (As I type this I'm getting a negative vibe from my husband who is standing over my shoulder asking me what the point of a blog is?) So.. Cold weather and 'resolution walking'.. too many people make their New Year Resolution to lose weight and then don't follow through. :: Hand in the air like a school kid :: I am guilty of this. I told myself this year that I really wasn't even making a "resolution" to lose weight. I'm making healthier choices and hoping to lose a few pounds in the process. After all, I have so much to look forward to in 2014. (Maybe I'll be brave enough to share those things in later blogs. I'm still working on that.) So- because I so suddenly decided that I was going to stop just 'thinking' about making better food choices and just try it again, I figured I'd just kind-of call it a resolution. I don't voice that to people though (other than you). I don't want to get wrapped up in the idea that I have this big goal for myself. Resolutions seem to allow us to set ourselves up for failure. Lawrd knows I've set myself up for failure AND FAILED plenty of times. Surprisingly, I've managed to eat well for 7 days straight now. I've been plugging things in to the My Fitness Pal App and trying to get some activity in each day. This brings me to the reason for my blog title, "Cold Weather and Resolution Walking". I am so proud of myself (for once) for eating healthy and staying under, with the exception of yesterday, my allotted calorie count for seven whole days. (GO ME!) The stinky part is that the weather has just been crap and kept me from doing anything Sunday- Monday. For once I'm motivated and more importantly WANT to walk, but my blood will freeze if I try going out there! Not good. Not good at all. Tonight I said I was going to bundle up and get out there! This healthy eating makes me healthier, but losing weight means I must exercise. There's a difference. Eating Healthy in the kitchen is good for you, but you can't lose weight without the gym or whatever exercise method you choose. For me, it's the local track that's F-R-E-E. Fresh air is always good for us anyways. 

My track record for losing weight and/or being fit is not good. After a slue of problems, a crap metabolism, some thyroid issues and falling into the world of -eat what's convenient and tastes good-, I've gotten far off track from where I should be. Shame on me, right? One can only get back up and try again. It seems as though I've finally figured out the proper mind-set in keeping myself motivated. I literally do not think about tomorrow. I think about today. What I'm eating today and what exercises I will do today. All the previous times that I've attempted these similar "resolutions", I've immediately started worrying about how far I had to go and how hard it was going to be. I'm hoping I've finally figured out what's going to work for me. And, I hope you're figuring out what works for you no matter what your resolution might be. If you're trying to lose weight or 'get fit', I pray you get to where you want to be and find the happiness you deserve. Baby steps. All good decisions will make a difference. They'll add up. 

So, if it's 38+ degrees outside, I'll be walking and running bleachers. If it's below 38, I've still got to figure out what's going to work for me. Spring, where are you? I need the fresh air at the track! 

I guess that's all for now, folks! Enjoy your week. Stay warm. Find your motivation. 

<3, 
the other Ashley Robbins

Blog Beginner

Welcome to MY BLOG! My FIRST blog! I've been contemplating on starting myself a blog for a few months now. I finally decided to just do it already! It should be an interesting way to document life's ups and downs and just hope that someone understands. I hope to entertain you, make you laugh, hopefully not make you cry, and just be happy to be a blogger. I guess I'll start this first blog out as a 'get to know me' type blog.

So- I'm Ashley, the other Ashley Robbins. I say this because that's my domain name--"theotherashleyrobbins.blogspot.com", but it's also a little inside joke that I share with my name twin..the other-other Ashley Robbins (find her at @robbinsashley.blogspot.com). About 5 years ago (wow, it's been that long), I came in contact with a fellow banker named "Ashley Robbins"..We've talked since that day, and 5 years later I'm proud to call her one of my very good friends. It's really pretty crazy how much alike we are! I heart my name twin! Anyways..more about that later.

I'm 26. Where has the time gone? In 3 short months I'll be celebrating 27 years..it just doesn't seem real.

I married by best friend and husband 5 1/2 years ago. I couldn't be more proud of the man he is today. To call him my husband and to stand beside him makes me one of the happiest girls in the world!

 [here WE are]

We are the fur-mommy and fur-daddy to one of the smartest dogs evaaaa.. Mr. Hank 'Hankie' Robbins--a 6 year old Bichon Frise who acts more like a human (our child) than a DOG! He's such a cutie-patootie! It's hard not to just squeeze him till he pops. The cuteness is too much to handle. *heehee* You'll hear me talk about him a lot. I'm sorry, ahead of time, but I <3 my dog! Mr. Hankie is addicted to Pupcorn Treats and destroying toys. He's very spoiled, but I'm okay with that! A dog really is "man's best friend"... we recently had to give away our 1 year old Bloodhound/Lab Mix. My heart still hurts a little from that, so I'll talk about him (Roscoe 'Ros' Robbins) another time. -sniffsniff-... but to fill your hearts will joy, here's a picture of my fur-baby, Hankie-Poo. {{And  yes, you'll soon learn that Hank has MANYYY nicknames. Probably more than one dog should have :) }}

[OUR BABY]

About Me's: I love to sing. I wake up and go to bed doing it every day. I have many friends and huge families. My mother passed away tragically just 1 full day after I graduated high school. I have 1 full brother who means the world to me and goes to college in Chicago! I have a half sister who is 21 years younger than me. I have 2 step-brothers. The mountains are one of my most favorite places to be. I love back-roading and going for drives (especially to the mountains-the scenery and cool-mountain air are refreshing). I hunt with my husband- bow hunting and gun hunting. I usually don't use g's on the end of my words, example: huntin', but I'm trying to just for your sake. I own 5 guns and 1 bow. //You're impressed, right?//  I've had more animals than one can count on his/her hands and toes. I'm a born-n-raised Arkansas Girl and proud of it. Farm life makes me happiest, whether it's animal farming or hay farming. My family has done both. My hubs and I just bought our second home <a little closer to work and to people than our last>. I love rural-living. I could never live in a neighborhood. I am probably the shortest person in my work department of 32 people. I've had a lot of 'downs' in life these past few years, but I'm finally learning to just pick up the pieces and go forward! 

I hope those are some good things to start off with. Christmas is now over. I hope you all had a Merry one, full of family and friends, love and joy! It's crazy how quickly Christmas comes and goes! 2014 is on our doorstep. It should be an interesting year of events and blogs! Maybe you'll come back to read a few. 

Have a safe and happy new year, if I don't say it again before then. G'night. 

<3, the other Ashley Robbins.