On November 6, 2016, I completed my first half marathon with my mom by my side. Since I was twelve years old, when I really started getting into running, I had been planning on running a half marathon for my sixteenth birthday as opposed to having a “Sweet Sixteen” party. Now don’t get me wrong, I have always loved “Sweet Sixteens” and the whole idea behind them, but I knew that I personally wanted to accomplish something big by the time I turned sixteen. Additionally, I love exercising and working towards a goal, so training for this 13.1 mile long race was certainly up my alley! With the one year anniversary approaching, I have been doing a lot of reflecting since then and I have compiled a list of things I learned from training for a half marathon. Seven Things I Learned While Training For My First Half Marathon: 1. Make Sure You Have a Good Running Buddy! Fortunately for me, my mom has always been my go to workout partner, because she has the same level of persistence that I do. There were definitely days where I struggled to get out of bed in the morning that she shook me and reminded me that I was the one that wanted to do this. And on the flipside, there were days where I wanted to add an extra workout and she called me crazy and reminded me that we all need rest. 2. Figure Out What Time Of Day You Will Perform Your Best! (And consider the time of your race) I knew that for me, I always have the most energy in the morning so I decided to run before school on training days. After six hours at school I never had the motivation, nor did I have the time for a run. As luck would have it, our race line up time ended up being at four o’clock in the morning, so all these early mornings leading up to it ended up paying off! 3. Find A Training Plan That Works For You! I would say that I am the type of person that no only needs to be physically prepared for something like a half marathon, but I also need to be mentally prepared. The plan we chose was able to do just that. The way my mom and I trained was by obviously running for a while, then once it was ten weeks until the race, we ran three miles every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, then we ran long runs on Sunday’s starting at a four mile distance, working our way up to a twelve mile distance one week before the race. This plan was useful for me because I could fit it into my schedule, it wasn’t overly intense because I was also playing tennis while training, and by the time November 6th rolled around, I was completely ready to take on this half marathon. 4. Chose A Comfortable/ Exciting Location For Your First Race! Before running this half marathon, I had run multiple “5k’s” in my home town or in towns near me, but for my first half marathon, I chose to do it in one of my favorite places in the world, Disney World! Being in the most magical place on Earth had me extra excited and motivated for my first big race and it definitely took away some of the nerves. I remember just a day or two before the race, my family flew to Orlando, Florida and while we were enjoying the epic parks, I said to my dad, “Being here makes running my first half marathon even more special.” Our awesome race location made it so much more memorable! 5. Treat Your Body Right During Training! While my mom and I were training, I always made sure to stretch out my body before a run to avoid injuries of any sort, but I slacked off in the nutrition and sleep department. Speaking from experience, make sure you fuel your body because you will be hungry! On our long runs, we were burning up to 2,000 calories (that is what the average person should be consuming in a day). I was beyond hungry. But instead of turning to power fuels like I should have, I ate whatever I wanted. This didn’t do me an major damage in the long run (pun intended), but I know if I had made the choice to have the broccoli instead of tostitos, or almonds instead of oreos, it would have enhanced my performance. In addition to maintaining a healthy diet, you should be getting a decent amount of sleep every night. As a student, it was hard to rise at 5:30 AM after staying up until 1:00 AM studying, but those days of struggling to get up taught me to prioritize my sleep. 6. Don’t Bother Comparing Yourself To Other Runners! This tip was always hard for me to follow myself but after running my first half marathon, I was able to stop worrying about it. My best friend happens to be a runner on the track team so since the beginning of highschool he has been trained to be fast. While I was training for the half marathon, there were times that I convinced myself that I wasn’t a “real” runner because my pace was slower than his. Now looking back, that seems pretty foolish, because no matter what pace I ran, I ran for 13.1 miles straight which in my eyes made me a pretty legit runner, but it’s just not worth it, comparing yourself to others! 7. Enjoy Every Second Of The Journey Because Once You Reach Your Destination, You’ll Never Get Your Journey Back! Training for this race with my mom brought us so much closer. It gave me something fun to break up a boring school filled day, and it gave me a goal. One year later, I haven’t been able to train for another half marathon because of an injury, but I am constantly craving the feeling of having a goal. There is nothing more fulfilling in life than working for it. So if you plan on training for a half marathon, a triathlon, an American Ninja Warrior Course, whatever it may be, please enjoy it and remind yourself every once in awhile how awesome you are for doing this. *** So there you have it, the most memorable things I learned from running my first half marathon. I am certainly no expert on how to train, but I hope my tips can inspire you to set your mind to something and do it! Believe me, this was one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire life and I hope that everyone finds the way that they can reach the level of happiness I experienced! Here’s to one year later, and more half marathons to come! Thank you for reading! Please comment down below any thoughts you had and follow my instagram and twitter for more frequent updates! P.S. Discover What's Outside Of Your Comfort Zone Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.s.lifehappens/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/pslifehappens1
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Forget everything you’ve done before this point.
As humans living on planet Earth, we have the luxury of waking up every single day to a new start. We all have bad habits that we try over and over again to break. I myself can’t break many of my bad habits. Some because they’re guilty pleasures, but others I revert back to because they’re the “norm”. Look at it this way, we wake up every morning facing a new day. We should always be striving to better ourselves. So tomorrow when you wake up, re-create yourself. You don’t have to make any drastic changes, but write down what you want to be, and be it, because any bad habits you’ve had before this point no longer matter. Wake up to a fresh start! I hope this little message inspires you to go after any goals that you have, and helps you become the best version of yourself. Every single person on this Earth has a purpose for being here and has the ability to change the world. All it takes is some passion and determination! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post! If you have any tips of your own for becoming the best version of yourself, please comment them below. Unfortunately I will not be putting up a new blog post next Friday, but be sure to check back the following Friday, August 25 for a new post! P.S. We Are Ever Evolving! Today on my blog, I want to share with you one of my favorite summer treats. For years, I’ve been helping my mom make blueberry-pear pie and it’s our go to dessert for barbecues, pool parties, or anything of the sort. So many of my most memorable summer nights have ended with a delicious slice of blueberry-pear pie!
Link to the recipe: www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/streusel-topped-pear-and-blueberry-pie-102911 Most recently, I made this delectable pie on the fourth of July for a family barbecue. In addition, we brought some vanilla bean ice cream to put on the side. I served the pie warm with one scoop of ice cream, and to say it was heavenly was an understatement! During these last few weeks of summer, be sure to give this simple recipe a try! The pie does take quite a while to make but the instructions are easy to follow. Comment below if you’re planning on trying blueberry-pear pie and please let me know what you think. Thanks for reading and check back next Friday for another post! P.S. There’s Always Room for Dessert! Just a few weeks ago, I had the honor of attending the Washington Journalism and Media Conference as a National Youth Correspondent. Starting Sunday, ending the following Friday, myself and 280 other students attended George Mason University, located just outside of Washington D.C., where we listened to speakers and got a week-long college experience sleeping in dorms and eating at a dining hall. In addition we took busses into the heart of D.C. to see the Capitol, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Washington Monument and the Vietnam Memorial. As for the city of D.C., I’m completely in love with it! In my opinion, D.C felt like the adult version of Disney World. Although nothing compares to the magic of Disney World, the meticulous design of every sight in D.C. brought happiness to my heart (sorry to be so cheesy)! A few photos from our visit to The Newseum, where we saw the display of newspaper headlines from 9/11 and used virtual reality to get an in-depth look at what living with the Berlin Wall was like. Some of the greatest aspects of the Washington Journalism and Media Conference included the speakers. Each and every speaker had a unique perspective of the world of journalism and had so much to share. We heard from Jamie Smith, the former Communications Director for former secretary of state, Madeleine K. Albright, Eric Felten, managing editor of The Weekly Standard, Susan Goldberg, Editor in Chief of National Geographic, CNN Reporter, Nia- Malika Henderson, Brian Lamb, Chairman of C-SPAN Networks, Terry and Sulome Anderson, a father- daughter duo speaking about journalism in extreme circumstances, White House Correspondent Michael D. Shear, blogger, S. L. Young, Meghan ATB Reese, professional photographer and Sam Wolfe, supervisor of WJMC, and rising junior at George Mason University (I know, impressive list!). After each speaker I was left with a question or an answer. For example, Jamie Smith asked us to determine what our ultimate goal was, whether it changes once a week or not. I have always been the kind of person that wants to do everything, so determining what I wanted to do with my life at that moment was certainly a challenge. But by day two I decided that at this point in my life, my ultimate goal is to become a successful lifestyle blogger and photographer. The Washington Journalism and Media Conference was not just about learning journalism, but instead about learning about ourselves and our role in this world. By far, my absolute favorite part of The Washington Journalism and Media Conference was the people that I met and relationships I formed. Throwing myself into an environment where I knew no one at all was beyond nerve wracking, but by the end of the first day I had already met so many amazing people and had a newfound sense of confidence. Being able to walk up to a random person and introduce yourself is empowering in a way that nothing else is! Additionally, I was so fortunate to be in a dorm room with three other outgoing, polite girls who I was completely comfortable talking to. Additionally, because of the large number of students attending WJMC, we were split into color groups in order to have more controlled discussions. It is an understatement to say that I had the best color group. I left WJMC with twenty-two amazing friends, and two lovely mentors, our color group leaders. The Washington Journalism and Media Conference was a life-changing experience and I hope that if there’s anything that you learn from this blog post, it’s how valuable an experience can be when you leave your comfort zone. Feel free to comment about any experience you’ve ever had like this because I’d love to hear about it. Thanks for reading and check back on on Friday’s for new posts!
A few weekends ago, I attended my first high school prom! At the beginning of this year, I had absolutely no intention of going to prom, nor had I had predicted that I would be going because my grade’s prom isn’t until next year. But to my surprise, one of my friends in my gym class asked me to be his date!
During the two months leading up to prom, I was preparing for AP exams, and I had a few “Sweet 16’s” to go to, so I was extremely busy, but in an exciting way. In the time that I did have to prepare for prom, my mom and I bought a dress, some new makeup, new jewelry, and new shoes. For me atleast, getting ready for prom was almost as exciting as actually being there. The weekend of prom was incredible. To start, my date and I took pictures at my house, then at our local flower house, and then we met up with the rest of his grade at a friend’s house for more pictures! After that we rode to prom, and when we arrived, we danced non-stop. Eventually we had dinner, and the highlight of the buffet had to be the taco bar, or the chicken nuggets. Once dinner was over, we were back to dancing. Later that night, my date, my best friend and I indulged in milkshakes and pancakes at the diner. Once the day came to an end, it was sad that prom was over, but we were already looking forward to going to the beach the next morning! Overall, the entire weekend of prom, starting from the early morning track practice, to falling asleep on the boat ride home from the beach was amazing. I became great friends with my date, I kicked off beach season in a spectacular way, and I learned how to dress to feel like a princess, affordably. Here am going to list a few of my tips on how to have the best possible prom (or any other formal event) without spending a ton of money! My Tips:
I hope you were able to learn something from my tips. I’m sure that around this time next year, I’ll be using these strategies again for my prom, as well as this summer, because I will be attending my first gala! Thank you for reading and I hope you’re able to use my tips to save money, avoid stress, and enjoy life! Feel free to comment or contact me with any questions you have! P.S. An Experience is Priceless! Hello, and happy summer! A week ago, I finished my last exam and started my summer vacation. Summer is my absolute favorite time of year, as it is for many people. First of all, as much as I do love school, summer is a much needed break from a strenuous 10 months of hard work. But I also love summer because it is a chance to get outside and do things that you don’t always have time for. Summer’s a chance to relax and recharge. A chance to celebrate with your family and friends. A chance to “have the time of our lives” according to the iconic movie High School Musical 2- which is a must watch on my list of summer movies. Lastly summer is a chance to give more focus to the things you are passionate about.
Now yes, I know that as an adult, summer doesn’t mean a free-for-all, that there are still responsibilities like a job, children to take care of, and families to feed, but that doesn't mean that you can’t embrace the beautiful weather and the extra opportunities that summer has to offer! This summer my goal is to write all of the time, read all of the time, learn French, get better at surfing, listen to great music, and spend my time with the people I love. I also plan on exploring where I live, more this summer. Only lately have I come to terms with how amazing my home town is. There is so much to do here, and it’s just so beautiful! Additionally, the few days that I’ve been on summer vacation have been packed with excitement and inspiration. I’m looking forward to writing new types of blog posts, and sharing my ideas and adventures with you! So here’s to the summer of 2017! I’m fully prepared to have the best summer of my life! Check back on my blog throughout the summer for stories, advice, inspiration and excitement. And if you would like updates, follow my instagram: p.s.lifehappens and twitter: @pslifehappens1. Thank you for reading, and joining me this summer! P.S. Let The Summer Begin! Hello, again! I’m sorry about not having this post up on the 8th as promised. That day, I was sledding with my younger brothers and a friend of mine and ended up giving myself a concussion falling off of a toy snowboard. Haha! To be completely honest, I had a great time even after my fall because I was unaware of my injury.
That night, while putting the finishing touches on my post, I suddenly became nauseous. All I wanted to do was get my blog post up, number one, because I am so thankful for everyone who has started reading my blog and I wanted to have new material for you, and secondly, because my post was completely New Year’s based and it was already over a week out from New Year’s Day, but my parents insisted that I go to the hospital and get checked for a concussion. Thank goodness for them, because right away the nurse in the ER told me that I did indeed have a concussion. After a follow up at my local concussion clinic, I was under very tight restrictions. I was told that my concussion would heal quicker if I completely rested my brain meaning no screen use, reading, writing, or concentrating in any way. I spent the first few days of the week sleeping, then by Thursday I was feeling a little bit better, but still was under restrictions and couldn’t do much. Now that I am feeling almost 100% back to normal, I am under less restrictions but I am finally able to get back to writing! A week of having no way of being productive was quite aggravating, but I was thankful for a mandatory brain reset. Also, I met a few very intelligent, insightful doctors along the way! Once again, I apologize for my New Year’s post coming a little late, but what can I say? P.S. Life Happens ;) On that note, thank you so much for returning to my blog, or if you’re a new reader, welcome! I owe you a blog post, so here is a little bit about my thoughts on the New Year, because it’s never too late to set goals, or make changes in order to improve the way you live! Happy New Year! I have spent some time reflecting on 2016. Last year was certainly one of the most memorable years of my life, because not only did I spend it with people I loved, but I accomplished the goal of a lifetime, running my first half marathon. This was the highlight of my year because it gave me a sense of unexplainable pride and in addition, I got to do it with my mom! Training was an accomplishment in itself, but finishing the half marathon made me feel the way I never had before. Running a half marathon changed me in ways nothing else could. It built my mental strength, my physical strength, and made the bond I have with my mother even stronger. On our runs, we were able to chit-chat while taking a slight break from reality. Training taught me to have better time management during runs that I cried through after only four hours of sleep. It made me crave challenge, when I would daydream about the feeling I would have after running 13.1 miles. Lastly, it taught me to do things for myself, because I was running for nobody but myself, and my own satisfaction. Although last year was one of the best years of my life, I am confident that 2017 will top it! I made a list of goals, and resolutions for 2017 because there’s nothing like the fresh start you get at the beginning of each year! My List: -Travel outside of the U.S. -Travel on my own -Run another half marathon -Take better care of my body -Meet 5 new people and keep in touch -Become more outgoing -Become more spontaneous -Avoid stress over things that aren’t worth it -Become a better photographer -Read and write more frequently -Volunteer more -Immerse myself in at least one other culture -Show the people closest to me that I love them I look forward to seeing what 2017 has in store, and I hope that this year allows you to achieve any goals you may have! Thank you for joining me along this journey! P.S. Here’s to the New Year! Hi! My name is Parker Sydney. I am currently a high school student. Ever since a young age, I have had a passion for writing. I have always been creative and that sparked an interest in fashion for me. To be completely honest, I was never really interested in fashion design, but I loved putting outfits together. Back in 2013, one of my favorite shows was “Courtney Loves Dallas” on “Bravo”. I thought Courtney Kerr was the coolest, most fashionable person I had ever seen. One day while my mother and I were watching her show, my mom said something along the lines of, “We have to take a look at her fashion blog.” I had never heard of a fashion blog before, and was eager to check it out! Once I saw Courtney’s blog, “What Courtney Wore” (now called “Kerrently”), I was in awe. From then on, I decided that once I was old enough, I would start my own fashion blog.
My enthusiasm about blogs didn’t stop there. I began reading the blog of Stassi Schroeder, another one of my favorite Bravo stars, called “Style By Stassi” (now called “Just Stassi”). Then for Christmas I recieved Lauren Conrad’s “Beauty” and “Style” books, and was thrilled when I found out that she also had a blog (Lauren Conrad) that I could gush over. Later, I came across “Man Repeller” while reading “#GIRLBOSS” and loved the originality it had. I also stumbled upon Aspyn Ovard’s blog, and two YouTube channels, and enjoyed reading, and listening to the ideas of someone a little bit closer in age to myself. Most recently, I found Hailey and Brad Devine’s blog, “Somewhere Devine”. Their blog was a completely different type, having nothing to do with fashion but all to do with adventure. I was intrigued by their posts about travel, and in addition, their videography skills were impeccable. Reading Hailey and Brad’s blog made me change my own ideas slightly. Their blog made me realize that what I really wanted to write about wasn’t just fashion, but also my opinions, goals, and experiences. As of now, this blog is a work in progress, but I hope that it will grow and become successful. Thank you for your support from the beginning! I look forward to writing, hopefully for your enjoyment, and learning and evolving along the way. P.S. Let the journey begin! |