Heather: 30 at 30

Last weekend was an open casting call in Denver for the NBC game show “Minute to Win It“.  Since #17 on my list is “be on a reality show”, I figured I should start auditioning for such shows.  I definitely consider game shows a reality show.  So off I went with my trusty beau at side. There was a long line outside the Lucky Strike bowling alley that we got in.  I could tell there was going to be a wait.  But it was a nice, sunny day so I was fine with the idea of waiting and chilling in the sun.

While waiting, I filled out the application, talked to Tahj about her recent engagement, made friends with the people around us, checked my email and facebook a thousand times, twiddled my thumbs, asked Chad to go get me a snack and feed the meter once, then again, then I went and fed the meter even again…and waited and waited.  About 2 hours in, I was ready to cut out.  I could tell this was literally gonna be FOREVER.  But Chad was in it to win it that day for me, so we waited.  And waited and waited.

FINALLY I was up next after about 5 hours of waiting…which is really long for someone as impatient as me.  As you can see in the video, I was pretty over the whole idea of auditioning for this show by the time this video was taken.

And that was it…we left. Pretty anti-climatic. They said they will call if they’re interested. So maybe???

The best thing about the whole long day was hanging out with this guy. Not only did he encourage me to just wait it out, he even makes a comfy chair.

Now I just need to make my Survivor audition tape and I think I might have my chance!!!

Completed: #2: Pass the RKC Snatch Test (100 kettlebell snatches with 35 lb. bell in 5 minutes)

So as you know from my previous post last week, I’ve been working on my kettlebell snatches to get ready for my RKC Certification course.  So on Friday, I got pumped and went for it the snatch test…success was mine!  I did all 100 snatches in 4:58.  Chad was there watching the time and calling out each number for me.  Very helpful.

I planned to workout after this little 5 minute venture.  But my body disagreed with me on that one.  I was EXHAUSTED!  I felt like I sprinted a mile.  Which actually is what snatching that much and that heavy is equivalent to.

Like I said last week, I’ll continue practicing the snatch test until the RKC weekend.  But as far as 30 at 30 goes, I am crossing #2 off the list!

Watching me work so hard inspired Chad to lift heavier than normal…he was able to curl 1 pound dumbbells!  Great job!

So my web presence has been shifted a bit lately to a new blog. My Dad had the brilliant idea to somewhat copy my 30 at 30, and encouraged the family to make an 11 in 2011 list. Then he asked me to make a website/blog so everyone could stay accountable. So check out that awesome family website here.

But what I really want to talk about is my #13: Pay off Half my Debt. I just realized the irony of it being “unlucky number 13″. What I’ve come to realize is that I will not be able to pay off half my debt this year; unless I win the lottery. But since I don’t play the lottery, that probably won’t happen. But don’t fret blog-readers, I do have a plan that I am proud of.

Over Christmas break, I sat down with my parents and talked money. We went over all my expenses, income, credit card debt and we wrote a very specific, and doable, budget. It was so helpful to have them during this process. While it was hard for me to ask for help, because I’m a modern, independent WOMAN, I am so glad I did. I now have a set amount I’ll be paying every month toward my debt, instead of just throwing some money at it here and there in odd amounts. The plan is to be debt free in 3 years. And I know I can do that.

Human’s aren’t made to go about it alone…life, that is.  So if you need help, ask.  Most of us have all kinds of willing helpers around us.  Trash your ego and show some vulnerability.  If you need more motivation, check out this video:

#4: Read One Book a Month: I read a classic in November, The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway. It was alright.  I know the book has a lot of deep meaning and allegory, but I wasn’t really feelin’ it.  You win some you lose some.

#21: Volunteer somewhere on a regular basis: In November I volunteered at the Denver Film Festival.  I got placed in the “Filmmaker’s Lounge” as a bartender.  It was SO FUN.  I was basically mixing drinks and schmoozing with people in the industry.  Hello networking!!! Also, I drank for free, ate awesome food and got a voucher to see a movie.  BEST VOLUNTEER JOB EVER!  In addition, I met a really cool and cute barista…he made a heart in my latte so obviously he liked me.  But nothing came from meeting….my point is that flirting with a cute guy all night was an added bonus.

#9: Call my grandparents once a month: This has been fun.  And I got to see my grandparent’s over Thanksgiving.  Aren’t they cute?

#7: Hold a handstand for 15 seconds: I’ve been working on my handstand finally.  I met a really nice guy in the airport who is a former gymnast and gave me some pointers after I showed him what I got.  It was a random, but helpful encounter.  Thanks Matty.

#2: Pass the RKC Snatch Test (100 kettlebell snatches with 35 lb. bell in 5 minutes): I signed up to go through the RKC certification course at the end of April! So I will HAVE to pass the Snatch Test to pass the course.   Apparently, it will be the most grueling 3 days of my life…and I am SO excited.

That’s it for now.  I would like to throw up a video here soon.  Cheers!

When I was a kid, I LOVED painting.  My parents put me in private oil painting lessons from age 5-7.  I really excelled at my practice.  Here is one of my paintings from 1987: Pretty good for a 7 year old, right?  Well my painting teacher got sick and stopped teaching.  So I stopped painting.  I still took art in school and did well with most projects, but I got out of practice quite quickly.

Fast forward to 2003 when my aunt commissioned me to paint a very specific painting of a horse for my cousin.  I was excited and nervous about the project.  I spent a ton of time on this HUGE piece and it actually turned out satisfactory:
I named the horse Tenacity.  And the name was very fitting since she survived Hurricane Katrina and a house flooding (my cousin lived in New Orleans).  My cousin has even had offers to sell the painting, but she loves it too much (which is a huge compliment to me).  Since Tenacity, I painted a few other pieces I was proud of through the years.  And a few pieces that were pure crap.  It happens.  But the point is, I was painting.  And I loved it.

Since moving to Colorado in March of 2009, I hadn’t so much as picked up a paint brush.  And that is something I decided to change this year.

It started in early August, a couple weeks after my 30th birthday, with a trip to Sipping n Painting for Bree‘s very delayed birthday celebration. Sipping n’ Painting is one of those new places popping up everywhere. You go with friends, drink some wine and paint a picture. Even if you’re not a painter, you paint. There is an instructor who walks you through the painting. It’s fun to see how different everyone’s masterpiece turns out: (Obviously, Bree was not following the instructor.)  This was a fun, social event.  And I loved the actual painting part…I didn’t want to STOP painting. But ya know…they had to close the shop. That painting is now hanging on the wall in our dining room:

Since this event, I’ve been looking forward to painting at home. And I FINALLY started doing that last week. Here is my recent piece: Obviously, I enjoy painting skies and landscapes very much.  I enjoy big, bold strokes and blending colors.  And I love texture. This is definitely my style.  You can even see it in Tenacity.  So did I find joy in painting again?  Indeed I did.  And I don’t intent to stop painting.

I read this awesome book in October.  It was all about weight lifting and life.  If you’re like me and enjoy lifting heavy things; this book is for you.  Or if you WANT to enjoy lifting heavy things, this book might also be for you.  I loved it.  The author, Dan John, is some kind of legend of a strength coach.  So I tried to soak up everything he wrote and let it inspire and educate me.

Speaking of fitness, another achievement I made in the past month deals with #8: Maintain weight within 4 pds.  I finally GOT to my ideal weight range of 135-139 pounds.  YAY!!!  I’ve been hitting the kettlebells really hard the last 2 months and been watching my food intake closely…lots of veggies, protein, good supplements and portion control.  One of my key eating tips is not to eat a lot at night, ever.  As in, have more of a snack than a dinner.  It’s really hard sometimes, but it seems to be the best thing for my body when I’m trying to to drop a few pounds.  And it’s really fun to wake up STARVING and a have a huge, delicious breakfast.  YES! 

This is the outfit I work out in.  Ok fine, I lie.  It was for an 80′s party.  I do love me some leotard though.  So about my ideal weight range…it’s nothing official but just a range I made up.  I know I feel best when I weigh within the range.  If I got any lighter, I’d be too weak and when I’m any heavier, I feel chubby.  So I gave myself these 4 pounds to slide around in. Plus, all my clothes (size 4-6) fit perfectly in the range.  Some people might think 135-139 sounds heavy for a woman who is 5’5.  But you see, I am built like a train.  I always tell people that if they saw just my skeleton, they’d be SHOCKED at how large and dense my bones are (And yes, people usually look at me funny after I say this). Even my skull is enormous.  I am just in no way a petite woman and I never will be.  Add that to that the fact that I house A LOT of muscle (on purpose), and bam…there you have my “heavy sounding” weight range.  To me it sounds small though…I was a lot heftier in college (tipping the scale around 175, size 12-14).  So the fact that I can even weigh in the 130′s is still kind of amazing to me.  I’ve taken fitness and health really seriously the last decade and I’m proud of myself for it.  Plus, being fit feels so right.  It’s the me I was know I am suppose to be.

Now I want to go workout!!!  I hope your fitness and health is also important to you, reader.  If it’s not, maybe it’s time to evaluate that part of your life and commit to improving it. Everyone’s ideal weight range and size is different. I urge you to think about where you feel best and decide how you can get there. And stay.

In September I read:

Chelsea is a trip.  This book was quite entertaining and naughty.  This month I’m going a completely different route and reading a book all about weight lifting and life.  It’s really good.

My September volunteer activity was to register an account with In2Books.  They pair you up with an in need child and together, you read a book and write about it back and forth.  You are pen pals.  So you’re developing a relationship with them and helping them get more out of reading too.  Sounds cool right?  So I haven’t gotten paired up yet, but I’m on the website and did all the necessary information filling out…so now I’m just waiting.  But I plan for this to be my consistent volunteer activity, and then I’ll also pick up some other one time things for funsies.

I called my grandparents in September.  And then I also saw them last weekend when I took a quick trip to Dallas.

In all honesty, my 30 at 30 has been on the back burner the last few weeks.  Life gets in the way of goals sometimes.  And I’m hugely terrible at finishing projects…but really good at starting them.  But I am recommitting myself to working on these goals.  I’m settled into my new residence in Denver and it’s time to get crankin’.

Thanks for reading.