 Yesterday, on a whim, I decided I'd start up one of those fun little Facebook diversions in the form of a collaborative story. As illustrated by the post above, I started out with two words, and those who chose to participate each added two words at a time. I promised everyone I'd collate their posts in to story form and post it for everyone to read and have a good laugh. For the purposes of continuity and sense-making, I added a couple of small edits (noted in brackets) throughout the story. And so, without further adieu, the story y'all created and have been waiting to read in its entirety.... One day, I hopped these tacos with a jump rope that was mixed with gasoline and glitter glue. The tacos were delicious and sparkly, tasted like corn syrup combined with grits and hash browns. The clown underground said, "We float down here, down here." He said, "That's awesome, down here, over there." Said [t]he, "Where there, we all are monkeys trapped in a cage made of wire and strawberry Twizzlers, chicken feathers, in cake topped with jelly beans." Sour patch that went down the rabbit hole carrying a rabbit's foot, looking for Lucky Charms, but monkeys flying out, we saw Batman with a web of snot and hope, and he hopped over Grandma's house into the swimming pool filled with gummy sweettarts surrounded by [a] search for garden gnomes praying to win the battle and make banana bread. So they took turns mixing with Deadmau5 and vanilla pudding with a mixing board tied to the bottom of a [lamppost] with cake all over the front two teeth, forgetting where they put an enigma of seagulls with diarrhea and breadsticks. Unfortunately, when Santa came, the flowers wilted away after the Batman arrived, until he STOMPED forcefully upon those hairy spiders who said, "Stop it!" But I am addicted to breadsticks, to spinach, [and] the end of ducks. It was a lot of fun, kind of a Facebook twist on Mad Libs, so much so that I think I'll do it again sometime... maybe even make it a somewhat regular thing. Watch this space! [Well, my Facebook profile space, that is].
Big thanks to everyone who participated!!
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Ask and It Is Given - Esther & Jerry Hicks
This book was my first real introduction to the Law of Attraction, by way of the nonphysical entity, Abraham. This book will help you learn how to manifest your desires so that you're living the joyous and fulfilling life you deserve. As you read, you'll come to understand how your relationships, health issues, finances, career concerns, and more are influenced by the Universal laws that govern your time/space reality - and you'll discover powerful processes that will help you go with the positive flow of life. Lead With Your Heart: Creating a Life of Love, Compassion, and Purpose - Regina Cates My name appears in the acknowledgements of this book! I was privileged enough to work closely with the author and be one of the first to read one of her first drafts. Author Regina Cates asks us to question our notion of what success and happiness really mean. Through the sharing of her own personal stories as well as providing helpful meditations, questions, and exercises, Regina offers a combination of wise advice, compelling anecdotes, and practical strategies for living a life that is authentic, fulfilling, and healing. Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao - Dr. Wayne W. Dyer For this book, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer reviewed hundreds of translations of the Tao Te Ching and has written 81 distinct essays on how to apply the ancient wisdom of the Tao Te Ching author Lao-tzu to today’s modern world. The Compound Effect - Darren Hardy This book proves that little, everyday decisions will either take you to the life you desire or to disaster by default. It's those small decisions and choices that add up over time that determine your future experiences. This is a great book to keep on hand when you begin to get weary of not seeing results right away from all those small positive efforts over time. E-Squared: Nine Do-It-Yourself Energy Experiments That Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality - Pam Grout This book could best be described as a lab manual with simple experiments to prove once and for all that reality is malleable, that consciousness trumps matter, and that you shape your life with your mind. Rather than take it on faith, you are invited to conduct nine 48-hour experiments to prove there really is a positive, loving, totally hip force in the universe. Yes, you read that right. It says prove. Yah, this is one I intend to read again, and really apply all nine experiments again. Just so my logical mind finally GETS it! Then, my next step will be to read author Pam Grout's follow-up book, E-Cubed: Nine More Energy Experiments That Prove Manifesting Magic and Miracles Is Your Full-Time Gig. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose - Eckhart Tolle In this book, author Eckhart Tolle describes how our attachment to the ego creates the dysfunction that leads to anger, jealousy, and unhappiness, and shows readers how to awaken to a new state of consciousness and follow the path to a truly fulfilling existence. I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It - Barbara Sher If you suspect there could be more to life than what you're getting...if you always knew you could do anything if you only knew what it was, this extraordinary book will prove you right! A great read to find out exactly what you really want! Tiger-Tiger, Is It True?: Four Questions to Make You Smile Again - Byron Katie This is a great children's book - a story about a little tiger who thinks that his whole world is falling apart: his parents don’t love him, his friends have abandoned him, and life is unfair. But a wise turtle asks him four questions, and everything changes. Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling - Dr. Wayne W. Dyer There’s a voice in the universe calling each of us to remember our purpose—our reason for being here now, in this world of impermanence. The voice whispers, shouts, and sings to us that this experience of being in form, in space and time, knowing life and death, has meaning. The voice is that of inspiration, which is within each and every one of us. Assertiveness for Earth Angels: How to Be Loving Instead of "Too Nice" - Doreen Virtue Do people take advantage of your niceness? Do you have trouble honestly communicating your feelings? If so, you may be an Earth Angel. In this groundbreaking book, author Doreen Virtue teaches Earth Angels—extremely sweet people who care more about others’ happiness than their own—how to maintain their inner peace and loving nature while at the same time holding boundaries. Now that I've shared ten great inspirational books.... share one that you love in the comments below! :)
There are several tools and apps that I use regularly, or have used in the past, that I've found super handy in helping me stick with the goals I set for myself in the area of health and fitness. One of first places I turned to at the beginning of my health, weight loss and fitness journey, the one that opened my eyes to just what and how much I was eating, was MyFitnessPal. I became an avid label-reader as a result of using their food diary to log my daily calories. I quickly realized I was eating far too much and some really not-so-healthy things, too! MyFitnessPal is a GREAT tool to not only help you become aware of what you're eating, but to also give you incentive to exercise to "add calories back". MyFitnessPal is available on their website, and also as a handy app on iOS and Android. Next up, the app responsible for helping me become an avid runner: Couch to 5K (or C25K for short). It's a nine week running program for absolute beginners. It helps to take you from out-of-shape to being able to run a 5K. You start off gently with 30 second run intervals broken up with 1 or 2 minute walk intervals, all the way to being able to run for 30 minutes straight. I started using the app in February 2010 and signed myself up for my first (4 mile) race in September that year as a goal. I went from being a complete and total non-runner in 2010 to just last year completing my first full marathon (26.2 miles). I currently use the Nike+ app on my iPhone to track my runs. I've also used Runkeeper in the past. The biggest reason I've chosen to use Nike+ over Runkeeper regularly is that I can use Nike+ to track my treadmill runs, whereas I cannot with Runkeeper. One of the best things about tracking all of my runs with an app such as Nike+ is that I have a visual of how far I've come. I can see run stats at a glance, it saves my personal best times, and adds up the miles ran over time. You can also connect with other runner friends and set up challenges if you're the competitive type. More recently, Nike+ has added a Coach section, which houses their training programs. Overall, technology has most definitely had (and continues to have) a huge impact on my fitness journey, and for that I am thankful. :) What tools, apps or bits of technology do YOU use? Leave a comment below and let me know! 
Step number two is to break the big goal down into smaller chunks. I started off the year with a round (60 days) of Les Mills Combat. Toward the end, I've thrown in a couple of runs for the pure fact that I miss running. I also miss yoga. And I know I want to continue with Combat workouts. And so, as I come to the last couple of weeks of Combat Round 1, I've taken some time to forward-plan the next 12 weeks.
On February 2, I'll be starting Hal Higdon's Intermediate Half Marathon training plan, and infusing it with a weekly yoga practice, as well as a once-a-week visit to Combat-land. I'm very much looking forward to this new blended schedule. A rough sketch of the next twelve weeks looks like this: Monday: yoga Tuesday: easy run Wednesday: speed run Thursday: Combat workout(s) Friday: rest day or easy run day Saturday: pace run day Sunday: long run day This means I get up and put in my daily workout, it's all scheduled out for me through April 26, and a couple of weeks prior to this, I'll begin planning and scheduling my next workout plan... and so on and so forth until the BIG RACE DAY. MAKE A GOAL. CREATE A PLAN. FOLLOW IT. SUCCEED. {click to tweet} It's really and truly THAT simple to achieve a goal. Set your goal. Make a plan for how to achieve that goal. Follow the plan, without giving up, stay persistent and determined... and SUCCESS is yours! Tell me, what are YOUR big goals for 2015?? P.S. YOU ARE INVITED!!! In February 2015, I'll be celebrating my 5 year running anniversary (my RUN-iversary, lol), and I wanted to celebrate it in a big way. So, I'm hosting a virtual 5 mile run/walk to raise money for charity. Full details can be found HERE. I hope you'll join me in celebrating AND supporting a very worthy cause all at the same time! :)
There's a handy sound on/off switch too, so you can hear the beep or keep things ninja stealthy-like while your kiddo slumbers. I like also that it lights up green for a 'normal' temp, yellow for a slight fever and red for a higher fever. We compared the readings given by this device with readings from a standard thermometer (on ourselves, of course, not the poor sick fellow who cannot stand such nonsense). As far as that test went, the Braun No Touch & Forehead Thermometer is pretty accurate! Oh, and it's quick too! In just seconds you've got your verdict, rather than waiting.. and waiting.. and waiting.
It appears that it will be rather durable too, as the little guy took to playing with it here and there while we had it out for the duration of his downtime. The cap that goes over the sensor part could have been a little better-fitting, but that's seriously the only (minor) complaint I can come up with about it. I'm thankful I had the opportunity to review this product and that we now have a great alternative to the torture device that is a regular thermometer! You can purchase this product on Amazon through this link. Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about the Braun No Touch & Forehead Thermometer and I'll be happy to answer what I can. Here's to a happy, HEALTHY 2015! :)  The upcoming six-week 'Loving You' challenge within my Fitness with Friends (FWF) Facebook group {details here} has prompted this bog post -- a deeper introduction to me, Chandra Sullivan. A summary of my background, my goals achieved so far and looking forward toward goals and aims for 2015. I figure if I'm going to get to know all of you who've recently joined FWF, and the ones who will come along to join us in the future, this would be a good place to start to introduce myself a little more fully and to return to blogging more regularly -- one of my 2015 goals. :) To start things off, I'm a 35 year old mom of two boys (almost 11 and almost 3), I'm married and we both work from home. We also homeschool our eldest boy (through Indiana Connections Academy). I'm a Team Beachbody coach, a social media strategist and manager, copywriter and avid runner. I'm about 5'1" and currently reside in the 135-145lb range. And now for a little background: I started to have issues with my weight as a pre-teen/teen. I gained a lot of weight while I worked at the local ice cream shop part-time during high school. My senior photos (which were taken the summer before my senior year) show me at my heaviest at that time (over 200lbs). During marching band season of my senior year, I began to lose some weight and feel a little better about myself. Fast forward a bit to my move to England at age 19. Long story short, met a guy through AOL at the dawn of 'internet dating', flew over the ocean solo to meet him in person, I stayed, we married, and I learned oh-so-much about life outside my little 'box' of rural / suburban Indiana. This union ended when I became so unbearably homesick I moved back to the States in 2003. Quickly after that, I got pregnant with my now almost-11-year-old. After a few weeks of bed rest, he was born 6 weeks premature and spent his first four weeks in the NICU. The relationship with his father was tumultuous (to keep a long story as short as possible). At the end of the relationship, I was left vulnerable, overweight, unhappy and neglectful of self. It took some time to start to heal, and I wasn't particularly looking for another relationship, just friendship, new people in my life, and so on. A few months later, I met the man who I've called husband for the past 3 years. At that time, I was on the verge of making some positive changes in my life to rediscover my true self and learn to love myself. I was just gearing up to stop smoking cigarettes and did just that a couple months or so after he and I met and began dating. It took a bit longer, but I finally got passionately irritated enough to start doing something about my weight. We got pregnant twice and I miscarried twice. We wanted a baby together so fervently, it was heartbreaking each time we lost. The miscarriages are partially what gave me the drive to begin to get healthier and drop the excess weight. I started Couch to 5K on my treadmill and soon moved my running to outdoors when I felt comfortable enough to do so. In September 2010 I ran my first official race, the Fort4Fitness 4 mile. Then, our baby wish was fulfilled when, after reaching 150lbs, we discovered we were pregnant! In September 2011, at 19 weeks pregnant, I ran/walked the Fort4Fitness 4 mile race, this time with my husband. Later that very same day, we got married, surrounded by our closest family and friends. I "walked on eggshells" so to speak throughout the pregnancy due to the previous miscarriages. He was born healthy as could be in February 2012. I gained 32lbs during the pregnancy and was so, so ready to return to running just as soon as I was cleared by the doctor after his birth. I ended up running the Fort4Fitness 4 mile race for a third year in a row, with my hubby by my side, as our anniversary run. I'd intended to run the Fort4Fitness half marathon in 2012, but with said caution during pregnancy, I decided to delay it by a year. So, in 2013, I ran my very first half marathon. Then, on January 1, 2014, I signed up for my first full marathon. 26.2 miles!! I trained all year this year and on November 8, amidst 40 degree weather, wind, light rain and lots of hills, I made the arduous journey and learned oh-so-much about myself, my drive, my determination, my self-discipline and more. Oh, I nearly forgot to mention all the times I shoved myself well outside my comfort zone this year in the name of growth -- being my own boss, digging ever deeper to continue growing that self-discipline "muscle" and so on. What started out as a hobby years ago alongside my full time legal assistant desk job at the time has turned in to a full time work-at-home job that I absolutely L-O-V-E. Plus, I get to be at home with my children, which I adore. It's hard, it takes so much organization and discipline, but it's so so worth it to me. If there's enough interest, I've been tossing around the idea of some blog posts this year regarding home / office organization, self-discipline, schedules, home time vs. work time, etc. Let me know what you think! My general aim for 2015 is to continue to build upon the growth and lessons learned from years previous. I'm well on my way toward recovering fully from chronic depression and almost debilitating anxiety. I know what it's like to feel hopeless, desolate, alone, afraid. I've battled through a lot and I'm still kickin', stronger than ever and ever growing stronger. My big 2015 running goal is the Fort4Fitness Triple Crown. All 3 races back-to-back-to back. A 10k followed by a half marathon followed by 4 miles, my hubby joining me for the last 4 miles. And thus, throughout 2015, I work on speed. Last year, distance. This year, speed. I'll be looking to combine my run training schedule (likely a Hal Higdon one) with my new favorite workout DVD series, Les Mills Combat. I love martial arts-based workouts, and these ones are so much fun!! I want to shift my eating patterns and nutrition plan to a healthier, more balanced place, with fewer indulgences. It's time to lay off the sugar dependency to get my body to where I want it to be. I don't have a number-on-the-scale weight goal in mind anymore. Honestly, I hardly ever step foot on my scale at this point in my fitness journey. I did take measurements at the beginning of Les Mills Combat and 'before' photos too. But, what matters most to me in this journey is that I love myself for who I am, how I am right here, right now in this moment. Being happy with how I am now while also being open and EXCITED about doing routine things, such as regular exercise and eating healthy, to change my body to my preferred experience instead. I'd love to wear a brand new bikini this summer and feel 100% comfortable and confident in it. I'm feeling ever stronger and fitter the longer I stick with my Combat workout plan and I know I'll continue to build upon that as I begin to fuse together my run training with my Combat training. I'm excited for what the future will bring and I feel so fortunate that I get to associate with so many positive people who are working their booties off right along with me to make positive changes in their lives!! Here's to an AMAZING start to 2015 and health, wealth, love, light and laughter throughout!! A quick rundown on where you can find me around the 'net: sparkyourmotivation.com facebook.com/sparkyourmotivation facebook.com/runningismyzen twitter.com/motivationspark pinterest.com/motivationspark instagram.com/motivationspark myfitnesspal.com/marytheicecube https://plus.google.com/+ChandraSullivan/posts https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=146232109 about.me/chandrasullivan Also, drop your email address in the box at the top right-hand side of this page to receive future Spark Your Motivation blog posts directly to your email inbox. :) THANK YOU so much for journeying with me... and let me know in the comment section below what is YOUR general overall aim for 2015? Love, Chandra P.S. I've added a few then/now progress photos in a slideshow below: 
Growing up, it was made crystal clear to me that I was not to trust myself. This led to second-guessing myself as a "natural" part of my life since childhood. Confidence? Nah, I had very very little to none. I was too busy picking my flaws apart, hiding them from everyone else, being too afraid to speak much for fear of judgment and shame, and definitely never trusting myself to follow through with anything I might want to do, such as losing weight. It never failed. I'd start a healthier path, a little bit of exercise... and then I'd stop. I sure followed through with not following through, that's something anyway right?! I jest... :)
It's only been in the past 5-6 years that I've begun to tentatively trust myself. To follow through with what I promised myself I'd do, to prove to myself that I am in fact trustworthy and reliable, to myself. I give someone else my word, I generally follow through. I started figuring out that it's high time I do the very same for myself. Bit by bit, I'm sticking by my promises to myself. And so throughout this journey, I've set goals for myself. I've achieved some, I've fallen far short of others. Throughout it all though, is a dogged determination to follow through with what I set out to achieve. I won't let anyone -- least of all mySELF -- to stop me, ever again. That's a promise I keep from here until the end. I now know what I can accomplish when I set my mind to it and don't let myself back down or back out. 2014 alone has brought with it such tremendous opportunity for growth, expansion, confidence-building and so much more. It was about a year ago that I began working as part of the Pillai Center team (you can find me managing their Facebook page). It's also been almost a year ago that I signed on as a Team Beachbody coach. And what a difference these two occurrences alone have made! Throughout 2014 I've pushed myself to handle more and more responsibility, to figure out along the way how to handle it all, how to "fit it all in", how to put myself out there in to situations that are good for me but that also scare the pants right off me! How to keep my word and run my business(es) effectively, how to ask for help when I need it and how to communicate more confidently and effectively. And so very much more. I'm definitely a FAR more confident being than I was a mere 12 months ago. This is why I'm so very excited about what 2015 will bring. I have big plans, high hopes and farfetched dreams to chase. And I hope you'll continue journeying with me... Tell me, what are your thoughts on the year coming to a close and the year about to begin? Love, Chandra My Goals for 2015 My goals for 2015 actually begin on December 1, 2014. Why? Two reasons.
One: These days, I like to get a head start on my goals for the year-to-come, and most especially this year, as 2014 was just the start of huge growth, aims, goal-setting and limit-smashing. I'm ready to take that to the next level in 2015 in all aspects of my life. Two: My birthday is November 30, so December 1 has become a natural personal "new year" of sorts these past few years, too. Anyway, back to the actual goals at hand. On December 1, I begin Les Mills Combat. This is a sixty-day program that incinerates massive calories as well as sculpting and toning muscles by combining moves from 6 martial arts disciplines. I'm a big fan of martial arts workouts and so I'm really excited to begin this new journey. Not to mention, I haven't exercised except for a bit of yoga here and there since Marathon day. Wanna join me on my Les Mills Combat mission? It's on sale for 60% off through December 2 (or while supplies last!). It's a SUPER deal! FREE Combat gloves come with the bundle, all for around $30 shipped! Treat yourself for the holidays and COMBAT holiday weight gain together with me! :) Beyond that, as far as fitness goes, I know I want to keep up running because I love it so. My big running goal for 2015 will be the Fort4Fitness Triple Crown. Three back-to-back races, a 10k, a half marathon and a four miler. So I'll be working on my speed in the coming year, beginning on the treadmill for the winter season. First though, new running shoes are a must. :) Family-wise, we are growing and adapting together. Goals in that area continue to be love, love, love, develop patience, savor every moment with these boys before they grow up and move out, and so on. We've come so far as a family and look forward to traveling together for a very long time to come! <3 Business... what can I say? What started out as a hobby, as something I enjoyed doing alongside my full time, 40 hour a week, sit down, office job that, let's face it, was drudgery for me. It sure paid the bills but I just knew it wasn't my lifelong calling! Now, I work from home, like I'd always dreamed. I homeschool our eldest boy and have started the potty training process with our youngest. Business has grown over the past year in ways I couldn't have previously imagined, and I'm loving every moment of it! I get to use my creativity, I get to write, I get to connect with people all over the globe and plant seeds of hope. I feel so blessed! And so, to ramp up my 2014 blogging efforts in 2015, it is my aim to get more organized about it all. I've been researching and studying editorial calendars, and I do believe it's high time I plan ahead when it comes to blogging. What I'd love from you to help me with this goal are some ideas. Some topics. Some questions of yours that I might answer in the realm of health, fitness, exercise, nutrition, small business, family, homeschooling or anything else. I plan to write once a week, with a guest post once or twice a month and a sponsored post about once a month. I'm very much in the planning phase right now, and wanted some input from you to take this blog in the direction most helpful to you! I look forward to a very exciting 2015 with lots of big hopes, plans, goals and dreams. What are you planning to achieve in the new year??  So I walked off and left my blog after Week 8 of marathon training. However, I did NOT walk away from the marathon goal itself. Nope, as illustrated by my 24-week training plan above, I stuck with it ... as best I was able given everything else that has gone on throughout 2014. And on November 8, 2014, at dark-o-clock in the chilly, windy morning, I got up, got dressed and did it. I chatted with my Healthy Everyday Lifestyle Podcast co-host, Angela, about the big day on our most recent podcast episode, which you can listen to right here: And so now that the long training hours are done (until next time.....), it is my plan to begin to blog again at least somewhat regularly, because I really have missed it. Even if I only have a small handful of regular readers, or even none at all, I feel like it helps me sort out my own thoughts at times. No real plans yet on WHAT I'll be blogging about, but that'll come along in due time, I have no doubt.
I'm also going to be blogging regularly over at the Tripura Foundation HoPE Post Blog, so be sure to catch me there, too! Oh, wanna know how I feel about myself after completing a very difficult, very hilly, very lonely 26.2 miles? A whole heck of a lot better, that's how! More confident. Less anxious (most of the time!). Definitely more of a can-do attitude, and... I even listened back to the entire podcast episode above. If you know me at all, you know that's pretty big. I usually cringe at the sound of my own voice being played back, and so I've tended to avoid it at all costs in the past. Now, I guess it's not too terribly bad after all. ;) This blog post is all over the place... I apologize... but, I guess that's what I get for being absent from my own blog for so long. I promise that future blog posts will be less... scattered. :) As for the next step in my physical fitness... as of December 1, I'll be tackling Les Mills Combat. It'll be a refreshing change of pace from running, though don't count running out altogether for me over the winter months. Nope, that's why I own a treadmill. ;) Until next time... leave me a comment letting me know what topics you might like for me to cover in future blog posts. I'm curious! And I'm happy to be back! :)
And so, for this week's marathon training update, I present to you a video summing up Week 8. Please don't judge too harshly. ;) Do, however, let me know if you'd prefer to see more video updates in the future, or whether I ought to stick with the written word, hehehe :D I challenge YOU to do one thing that scares you today....... Comment below with that one thing and together, let's tell fear to TAKE A HIKE!!! :D
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Photos used under Creative Commons from ˙Cаvin 〄, Claus Rebler, lululemon athletica
