Well hello again!  I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted...almost a full year!  Allot has happened in a year.  Some things absolutely amazing and somethings not so great.  I have been trying to get my creative juices flowing again and finally came up with something that I think would be an amazing thing to share will all of you and will keep me on the path I have been on...the practice of daily gratitude.  Ok, ok not a new concept and I actually got the idea for this from a book I was reading.  When I read about it a light went on over my head...like a really bright one.  Not the flickering fluorescent kind so I figured I must be on to something!

So this is what I am going to do.  I am committing to posting a picture of something I am grateful for on my Instagram every day for a year.  Yes every day.  This coming from someone who hasn't kept up with her blog for a year.  Remember it doesn't matter how often you fall down, it only matters that you get back up!!  So that is what I am doing.  

I also want to hear what you are grateful for.  I am going to use the hashtag #gratefulheart365.  Please comment what you are grateful for either on my Instagram post or in the comment section here. If you feel compelled to join me and post on your own Instagram please use the hashtag and tag me @classicallytrainedheart so I can see what you are grateful for.  I feel like in these times especially, we all need to remember what we are grateful for.  Remember it can be ANYTHING.  The sunshine coming through your window. The flowers coming up in your garden.  The flavor of gum you are chewing.  The fact that your house is quiet and peaceful (something I am always grateful for).

I am also committing to putting up a weekly blog about how the gratitude practice is going.  Yes, I said weekly;)  

Let's spread the practice of gratitude together.

From My Heart,

Andrea

So as I have mentioned before...I love live music.  Like REALLY love live music:)  My hubby and I kicked off the summer concert season with Sammy Hagar at Bank of NH Pavilion.  I had always wanted to see Sammy and he did not disappoint!  What a great show with music from back when he was with Montrose to Van Halen to new music with The Circle.  It was a beautiful night filled with great music!  It is truly my favorite venue.  Always clean and the staff is so nice and helpful.  Highly recommend taking in a show there.  They have a great variety of music including country, pop, hard rock, classics to current. While we were there we kept wondering how old Sammy is and even though I was listening to him back when I was a kid, I never realized how old he is...71!  I couldn't believe it but google doesn't lie!  That guy rocks like he is 21!  He looks great, sounds great and moves around like he is still in his prime.  Most 71 year olds I know are sitting at home watching TV and acting like they HAVE  to slow down.  But barring a medial condition, you don't have to slow down!  

I have been wanting something more for awhile now.  I am not ready to slow down.  I really feel the need to shake things up a bit.  I like my job but after 30 years, I am ready for a new challenge.  My kids are grown.  My husband is settled in his job.  We have a beautiful home and the ability to travel and have new experiences.  Shouldn't that be enough?  I am 50 after all.  Is it too late to start a side hustle or a career change?  I think I still have more to give, more to do, more to experience.  Yup MORE!!  Being a cancer survivor also plays a role in this too.  I am so grateful to be healthy right now.  I feel the need to keep growing, keep learning, be productive.  I don't want to waste the precious gift of life I have been given.  I am not sure what it is yet, but I will figure out what the next step is for me.  The important this is to be open and the universe will show me the way!

I am off to New Orleans in a couple of days for CrimeCon.  I am super excited to visit the city for the first time and attend the conference with my friend who is an even bigger true crime buff than I am!!  I should have plenty to write about when I get back!!  Time to put on my blood spatter shoes and hit The Big Easy!

From my heart,

Andrea

Hey there!  Long time no blog;)  It has been a crazy few weeks!  I celebrated three years cancer free on April 11!  Woo hoo!!!  My family took me to one of my favorite restaurants to celebrate.  I will always celebrate that day like it is a birthday because it is a birthday of sorts.  That is the day they removed the tumor from my breast.  My doctor said that is the day to consider yourself cancer free.  That is to say that is they are assuming that is the day the cancer was removed and the treatment that followed was just a precaution to make sure any possible cancer cells left were killed.  Right now I am still on the six month cycle of doctor visits (next one in August).  Can't wait for the day they say I can go once a year instead!!  I try not to worry too much in between appointments but about a month before I go, the anxiety usually sneaks in and starts to get the best of me until the appointment is over.  I don't think that will ever change.  Once you have it the fear is always there whether you show it to the world or not.  

Last weekend I traveled to Virginia to visit my oldest daughter.  We had a great visit and I enjoyed the warm weather so much!!  It has not been a very nice spring here in New England.  We also attended a concert in Charlottesville.  One of our favorite bands (Parachute) was performing while I was there and we were able to go to the show and hang out for pictures and autographs with the band.  It was such a great show and super hype because it is their home town.  My daughter and I have seen them several times as well as met them.  They always deliver a great show and are so kind and appreciative of their fans.  I just love live music of any kind!  I have a few more shows planned this summer with my husband.  Nothing better than an outdoor concert on a warm summer night!  I have cut back this year (went to 12 shows last year) because of the travel I am doing this summer.  Next trip...New Orleans in June!!  Definitely a bucket list trip!!

This past Friday I had the privilege of modeling in the Seeds of Hope Fashion Show to benefit the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center.  The event raises money for cancer research and support services for cancer patients and their families.  It was held at the beautiful New Hampshire Institute of Art.  The event included live music, a food and dessert showcase, silent auction and cancer survivors modeling designs from local designers and boutiques.  I was asked to participate by a coworker who is also a cancer survivor.  I was nervous to say the least!  This was totally outside of the box for me!! I have never modeled before and was super nervous that I would trip and fall and end up on YouTube somewhere!!  Everyone at the event was wonderful and did their best to make all of us feel at ease.  A local salon was there to style hair and apply professional make up.  I was lucky to model an original design by Uwimana Design.  I went there a month ago for measurements not knowing what to expect and was so surprised by the beautiful one of a kind design she created just for me.  The dress was later auctioned off.  Some of my family and friends were there to cheer me on and I think I rocked it!!  They have asked me to do it again next year and I think I will!!  Not only was it for a good cause but it ended up being a real confidence booster too.  To see more of Uwimana's beautiful designs, go to uwimanadesign.com.  To learn more and/or donate to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center go to www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org.

Focus this week is to get back on the healthy eating and exercise track.  I have totally fallen off the wagon and don't feel too good about it!  I find it very difficult to stay on track when I am super busy and/or traveling. Way too easy to pick the wrong things to eat when I am in a rush.  Did some food prep today for the week to try to make it a little easier!! Back to the 4:30 AM workouts.  Not easy to do but I always feel ready to take on the day when I get my workout out done with time to get back home and write in my Start Today journal before going to work.  Looking forward to a great week!

From My Heart,

Andrea

Hey I'm back from sunny Florida!  What a great week!  Just a few pics above from  beautiful Fort DeSoto Park.  It truly is one of my favorite spots.  My "happy place" if you will.  We are fortunate enough to have family that owns a condo down there and they graciously allow us to stay there.  It is so nice for my husband and I to have a week away to relax and regroup after the long winter.

This time it was especially important for a couple of reasons.  One was just the long winter and we are experiencing a super crappy spring in the northeast on top of it.  Two was because we had gone through a small stressful rough patch due to my husband losing his job in February.  Turns out it was truly a blessing.  The stress of the job and the time it required to do the job just wasn't worth it.  As we get older we realized that time is so important.  Time for your family, time to do what you love, and just plain time to take care of you!!  He has a new job that is closer to home and will allow him to have the time to do the things he truly enjoys.  No more 7 days a week!!

One other great benefit of heading to the Sunshine State at this time of year is the ability to be outside and move!!  Just move your body in the warmth where it feels good.  We made it a point to move our bodies everyday.  We went for walks on the beach, bike riding, kayaking, heck we even found the local Planet Fitness and worked out at the gym one day because it was a little rainy.  My husband is a runner too...not my thing so he went on  few runs while I journaled and enjoyed my morning coffee:)  My husband and I are both on a weight loss journey right now and although we were on vacation, we tried to still eat well and exercise.  We didn't want to set ourselves back by indulging too much or sitting too much.  We wanted a balance of relaxation and self care.  Balance really is what it is all about.  Not too say we didn't have ice cream or eat out a few times.  Can't be perfect all the time!

My weight is a real source of discomfort for me right now.  Took allot just for me to post that picture in my bathing suit because I think my arm looks fat.  No really, I was going to edit the picture so that it looked slimmer but then I thought what the heck am I doing??  The whole point of this is to be who I am.  Share who I really am.  Hopefully encourage other women to be their beautiful selves.  So there it is up there...me in my bathing suit modeling my favorite hat (a mothers day gift from my daughter). 

Truth is I have put on what I would consider quite a bit of weight in the last 3 years. Since my breast cancer diagnosis.  I am currently on Tamoxifen and they say I will  be for 10 years.  I have read conflicting reports that it can cause weight gain.  Some say yes and some say no.  All I know is that I have gained since I have been on it.  I have had a few of the other side effects like hot flashes and leg cramps but I am managing those symptoms like a champ.  Weight loss is a bit harder for me. I do not feel comfortable in my own skin right now.  I am determined to change that.  I am going back to my workout routine in the morning.  I hate to work out after work so I go at 4:30...yes 4:30 am.  Not easy but I do feel great when I am done.  Ready to start the day.  My husband and I have also adapted our diet to be full of more fruits and vegies with lean protein.  I don't really believe in a strict diet plan.  Just healthy eating and portion control.  Thinking I might give up all sugar for 30 days.  I have the biggest sweet tooth!  It will not be easy!!  I also discovered that I will have to give up wine... I never realized how much sugar is in it!  We took a tour of a great winery while we were down there (you can see more about that on my Instagram @classicallytrainedheart) and learned allot about the process. Maybe I need to dangle a carrot in front of me to do it.  Like a bottle of wine from that winery!!

I am off to prep my food for the week and get ready to head back to work.  Feeling rested and ready to tackle real life again!  I have a super busy week coming up including my 3 year cancer free anniversary!  Feeling another post coming on after that;)

From My Heart,

Andrea

So this is my very first post!!  I guess I should start by explaining what the name of my blog means.  I have been on a journey of self improvement and empowerment most of my adult life.  I have journaled on a daily basis for the past 30 years.  I have been a student of many people in the personal growth space.  Oprah, Sarah Ban Breathnach (Simple Abundance), Richard Carlson. Man....the Don't Sweat the Small Stuff series was my jam!!  I still go back and read those!  Most recently I am listening and reading Ed Mylett, Brendon Burchard and my queen Miss Rachel Hollis!!  So I feel like I, my spirit, my heart have been trained by some of the best...hence the name:)

So here I am, a fifty year old wife of 29 years, mother of 2 beautiful, amazing, grown daughters and I have been in the same career for nearly 30  years (with a few breaks to raise my family).  I am a breast cancer survivor which has only made me feel more blessed than ever before.  I feel like I am just getting started!!  I wanted to share my love of life, my journey of self discovery, my adventures and show that there is still so much to be accomplished!!  I guess what triggered this whole thing is people who follow me on Facebook and Instagram were always commenting about how much I go out and do..like Andrea, do you ever stay home?  First of all yes I do.  I actually love my home, my sacred space.  However, given the opportunity to travel or do my very favorite thing (go to a concert)...  I am there!!  

I also love fashion and embrace the high maintenance woman I am!  I love getting my nails done, my lash extensions, SHOES!  Holy crap do I love to buy shoes!  I am a true believer that a little retail therapy goes a long way. You don't have to spend a fortune to look awesome.  We are all beautiful women and nothing feels better than when we leave the house like DAMN I look good today!

My intention with all this is share my life, my adventures, my life lessons, my dreams, my fashion finds through photographs & paragraphs.  I will be posting again soon. I am off to sunny Florida tomorrow for my husband I's annual beach vacation.  Follow me on Instagram @classicallytrainedheart.

From My Heart,

Andrea