Going Healthy- For REAL

So I know that I recently made a commitment to stay off sugar. In my heart, however, I knew I wasn't going to follow through... I just wasn't motivated! Two nights ago, Sterling (My wonderfully amazing 16 year old big brother) and I talked about actually committing. I actually really like to work out, and Sterl does to! We also eat pretty healthy and always have salad at dinner and protein shakes in the morning. Its just that, despite our healthy eating for the most part, We will still succumb to the enticing chocolate-chip butterscotch cookie fresh out of the oven, or the homemade cinnamon bread Mom is famous for, sitting all buttered up on the counter top. (Kudos to me- I didn't have any of the cinnamon bread! Whoop!)

I totally feel committed- and that makes me sooooo happy! I am off Sugar, Carbs, and Carbonation. I actually don't like soda... whenever I DO drink it, it's only when it is offered to me. I think that it's a good thing that I don't like soda, because it bloats your belly, and I think that is the thing I am most self-conscious about since I dance and have to wear skin-tight clothing.   Yesterday Sterl and I started running together. I run on the tredmill at the gym in the morning, and Ster runs in Wrestling at school, but we have never run together! It was fun, motivating, and time went by much quicker as we ran along a shaded creek, than when I run solo on a stationary piece of equipment staring at the same "Inspiration Fitness poster" for half an hour. Also I have been doing yoga in the mornings again! Really hard yoga.... Here's the link! http://zuzkalight.com/category/workout/ This girl is incredible.... whoa.

So today is my second day off sugar! I can't wait for the want of sugar to be gone... or at least fade a little! I "cracked" yesterday afternoon. I just wanted something sweet! So I turned to Rice milk- my savior! Hahahaha I LOVE RICE DREAM®. It is seriously the most heavenly thing ever. I've converted little Shep to Rice Dream-ism. Fun Fact about me: I love to drink. So I usually have a water bottle in my hand, and three empty ones at my beside.... I also like to drink Vitamin water zero... my parents have given me a limit on those.... and at last- Rice Dream. Ahhhhhhhhh :)

I brought the entire carton upstairs.... Shep and I with our cups!

Five cups later...

Wedding Song

Last night was aMAZing! Why was a seemingly regular Thursday night so fun? Because I got to play my guitar ans sing for someone! Here's the whole story, which I wrote yesterday:

One of the most fun, spunky, and yet laid back people in the ward is Sister Wendy Keeler! Let me just say- She's incredible! It is so sad to me that all her kids are grown up! If only there was one my age... heck- if there was one within 3 years of me I would love them because they would be a Keeler. So anyway, Wendy's son is getting married tomorrow, so she was having a "casual" dinner with all the family and close friends. By the way, it was in her backyard, which was so extremely beautiful! Oh, the flowers! So since it was supposed to be casual, 2 days ago, Mom told me that Wendy wanted me to play guitar to liven things up! I sat on their pool ledge and strummed away! My mom came up and took a picture which I'll include, but I look kind of weird, since she took three tries to do the picture and it was my "Hurry up please, Mommy, I really need to be playing..." face. After everyone had gotten their food and had settled into comfortable conversation, I made my way around the corner where they were eating and began to strum the opening chords to Elvis Presley's "Can't help falling in love".  I stood right at the cute couples table and began to sing! They were soooooo adorable :) They kept laughing, which made me laugh! Great night.

Playing at the Dinner

In Young Women's this week, we were Challenged to watch four of the Prophet and apostles videos. Here's the link:

http://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/what-are-prophets-testimonies

I really liked the experience that President Monson talked about in his video, about how the man asked "Where will my spirit go when I die?" and President Monson flipped open the scriptures randomly to the answer. Part of the reason I liked this so much, is because I have had my own experiences where I flip open my Scriptures and read the PERFECT scripture. President Monson didn't suddenly have a vision and the man's bedside, he opened the scriptures, something we all can do.

Also, I wanted to share a pic of my nails.... there cute little stick on things and I LOVE them!