What I like... gif style!

Here are a few of my favourite things... gif style!!

Chocolate - I have lost count of the number of times I have tried to lessen my intake but I always fail miserably. I crave the stuff. 

I do, I do... [Source]

Blogging - I love blogging. I get to share my thoughts and feelings with all you fabulous bloggers. I also love being able to read all your comments and reply. I have made some good friends blogging, it's a supportive community.

I love a good blog event ... [Source]

Trashy TV - I love nothing better than getting wrapped up on the sofa and watching trashy TV shows. Many people will judge TV viewing habits but I just don't care. I love some trashy TV and that's that. Breaking Amish and Honey Boo Boo anyone?

Don't we all Honey Boo Boo? [Source]

Finding things out - I have quite a thirst for information and knowledge. I like to know things. If I watch a movie, the first thing I do is go onto IMDB and read up on the actors and actresses, the trivia and message boards. If I am told something I will research all there is to know about it. 

When you gotta know, you gotta know! [Source]

Working out - I have toyed with many different types of workouts through the years. My favourites would have to be ballet, pole, boxercise and yoga. As you can see I am more of a class kinda girl. The idea of motivating myself in the gym doesn't really do it for me at all. I love to get the endorphins going and I like the challenge of new moves. 

Oh to workout like Penny... [Source]

I wanna back my azz up this week to a song which is on my favourite album of the moment - Simple Songs by The Shins (Album - Port of Morrow).

What do you like? Are there any other chocolate loving, trash tv watching, blogging, information craving, fitness fanatic out there?


Linking up with :

The first time I felt the fear ... and needed crash mats for pole class!

I have been pole dancing (for fitness) for a number of years now and I love it. You can read about why I started here and check out one of my moves here. I have never felt scared of any of my moves before, and than incldes hanging from the pole with one knee!

That was until yesterday... duh, duh, duuuhhh. My pole instructor gave me a new move. I have been working on a twisted handspring for many weeks now and whlie I an hold the move if helped into it with a little push - I can't quite get there yet. It is starting to furstrate me and my arms are finding it wearing. So the new move came.

"Missy - I want to work on the Russian Splits with you today," was her introduction. In my head all I could think was - But i can't do the splits? Apparently that is not needed (regardless of the name). So we got to it, my instructor got YouTube going and showed me the Russian Splits. My mouth dropped and my first impression was WTH? How was this possible? How would I not fall off the pole? 

Just to clarify, this is not me (I wish!)

Then the fear gripped me. It was something which I had not encountered with a pole move before. Normally I have a sense of excitement and feel ready to get to grips with the move. This time, fear was mixed in with it. We began the move from the ground which was not all too scary, just taxing on my body. However, the thought of working my way up the pole into this crazy move was playing on my mind.

By the end of the session I had managed to complete the move from the ground a few times but more often than not I found myself tumbling off the pole. Needless to say, my instructor and I had a good laugh with this one. She has not done this move before and was attempting it for the first time. We had a number of yoga mats piled up as crash mats which were most definitly needed. I don't know how long this will take to get or if I will ever get to the point of doing this from higher up the pole. I will keep you all up to date with this one.

Have you ever had a workout challenge?

When you don't know what is wrong... what do you do?

I'm going to be honest today with you all and this may take some time so stick with me. This past year I have had health issues, major life stresses and a family bereavemnet. To say my life has been difficult is an understatemnt but I was strong and I made it through.

I am now having to find a different type of strength. As I have discussed previously on my blog, I suffered with a number of viruses, anaemia, sinus issues and to top it all off tonsillitis. It sounds a lot and let me tell you, it really was. I even visited a therapist. It wiped me out and I kept going and going. Looking back now I should have had some time out. My body was practically screaming at me to stop and take stock but I kept pushing.

Through this time I began to suffer major fatigue. Not just feeling tired, it was like walking through thick mud. My memory went, my sleep patterns were just no more. I was lucky to get 2 hours uninterrupted sleep a night (which had been going on from last year). I was having blood tests time and time again which eventually showed my iron levels were improving - they weren't great but the were just under the low end of normal so from where I was this was a massive improvement.

Being a teacher I was thrilled for my summer holidays to have started. This was it, this would be my time to pick myself up and get better but that didn't happen.

And relax! [Source]

Throughout the summer I have had good days, bad days and days which just pass in a blur. Let me explain. The fatigue I suffer from is exhausting, I wake up and I can't get out of bed. I lay and try and try but I just can't move. When I do, I can't do much before having to rest again. I have a fog which hangs around me, I sit transfixed by nothing, unable to motivate myself. I wouldn't say I am sad, I just don't feel happy. It's like things pass me by and I can't join in. Things I need to do just don't get done or they take me days.

Thank you ... [source]

My latest visit to the doctor ended up with me breaking down. We have established that my iron is not low enough to be causing this fatigue and I told her I was just going to get on with it (my usual reaction). Her response surprised me, "I am not happy letting you leave here and me at your age dealing with what you're dealing with to just get on with it. I need to figure out how to help."

Why was I shocked? Because I am used to people just accepting what I say and leaving me be. I know she's a professional but at that point I cried... cried because I felt she cared, cried because I knew at that point she was really going to try and help me.

In past visits she has discussed the possibility of me suffering Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This if you don't know is a debilitating condition which is primarily linked to fatigue. This session, like past she also discussed the possibility of depression. Again, something we have discussed. I reminded her that I didn't have anything to be depressed about particularly. She said after the year or so I have had I need to be less hard on myself and that sometimes it is just a chemical in balance.

We really don't know. So as this posts, I will have been to a second doctor. She has chosen a specific doctor for me to visit for a second opinion to make sure she isn't missing anything and to give us a fresh take on things. For now, I really don't know what to do. The whole situation is somewhat frustrating and something which I want to solve. I am pretty sure she is leaning more towards the depression side of things but it just is not clear.

Now this hasn't been prescribed yet...

So here I am. At the age of 28 - suffering from some issue which can not be pinpointed and it sucks. I spent time last week trying to deal with this and I don't know if can. I am not sure what decisions to make or which road to go down. I find petty problems others have difficult because all I want to shout is 'Who cares?'.... I just want to be better and I don't know how to do it!! Times like this make me feel like a crap friend. But I can truly say that the doctor not taking my 'I'm fine' response seriously was the first time that has happened and secretly... I wish my friends would do that more. See through all the walls I build and just be there for me.

[Source]

Have you suffered from depression or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Or have you ever been ill and not know what was wrong?

Love Life... words by Pinterest

I have decided to share some love today with you all from my Pinterest.

We only get one life... learn to love it and yourself.

Love Life

Don't fall for promises.

Yes and No... two little words which make a big difference.

Be careful with your words - they can't be taken back.

Value moments.

Don't forget about you .... yes - YOU!

Think about your life. Be kind to others. Don't say yes when you should say no. Look back and realise the moments which you have and value them.

Love Life

Check out my Pinterest for more quotes.

But you're a girl ... hockey time!

I have always been a fan of sports. Maybe it's because I have an extraordinary amount of energy on most occasions and this lets me burn it off or maybe it's because underneath all my pretty girly clothes, I am a bit of a tom boy. Either way, I like being a sports fan. I love the feeling of being part of a team (even if it's not me playing).

However, being a sports fan - in particular a female sports fan - can bring about it's own problems. I have encountered a number of men who seem to scoff at the fact that I am into 'their' sports. I always want to remind them not to judge a book by its cover!

My favourite sport is hockey (which I have blogged about before here, here , here and here) and this is something which I got into a bit later on in life. I had always enjoyed tennis and enjoyed the odd football game here and then. This was until a friend took me to a hockey game. In the UK hockey is not a prominent sport (to the point where my area no longer has a hockey team), I don't know why because it is quite frankly AWESOME!

My first game I was amazed at the speed, the sounds, the fights, the crowd and just the atmosphere and I knew this was going to be a love affair for some time. I went to the last few games of that season and then began with the new season. I attended pretty much every game. I was judged by the way I dressed but I didn't care. So what if I wanted to wear skinny jeans, knee boots and pretty coats - that's me. I would wear my jersey with pride and I brushed off the comments that I was only there for the men. I am me and I will always be me reagrdless of where I am and the situations I am in.

My standard Saturday night hockey outfit.

I remember one of the guys I went with (who we met as he sat next to my little group of 3) said to me, " I didn't think you'd last long here when I saw you come to your first game dressed like that but now you know more than me!" To say I proved him and others wrong was an understatement. I met a guy in NYC once who said to me after I talked hockey with him- and held my own - "Wow! You really DO know your hockey? Where I come from most female hockey fans look like line backers." Umm thanks?

So I saw out that season and in that time I even dated one of the team. Not by hanging around waiting for him after games, it just kinda happened. He made eye contact a few times on ice and around the rink. We passed each other once and he stopped me to have a conversation and it kinda led to a thing. Does that change your view of me? It shouldn't, I still cheered every game and continued to do so the following season when he didn't play there anymore. Sometimes those things just happen. 

I have even made it to a game at Madison Square Garden to my favourite team the Rangers take on the Flyers. Unfortunately the score line was not a happy one that day but I loved seeing an NHL game in action. But I have to say, I did love the dingy little rink my team at home played in. 

Let's go Rangers, let's go!

I sometimes feel men feel like they have some claim over sports but guess what men... it may be a man's world but it's certainly nothing without a woman! So appreciate us for the fans we are. 

My jam for today is one which takes me back to my hockey days. It was the team intro music and always got everyone up on their feet: 

 

Have you ever been judged for liking a sport?


Today I am linking up with another strong, female sports fan: Sarah at Venus Trapped. Today she is talking about jobs she'd be great at in football!  We'd love to see you linked up too!

I've also linked up with :