Tips to get through 75 Hard

 Tips to get through 75 Hard 

Although I haven't completed the program yet, there are few tips and tricks I've learned thus far to help me get through the daily tasks of the #75Hard challenge. 

In case you don't know the rules of #75Hard, I'll share them below. You can also check out my previous blog post for more information.  

Okay so now you know the rules, lets discuss some ways that will make your life a little easier while doing the challenge. 

1. As SOON as you get out of bed, take your progress photo. 

This may sound silly, but if you've done any research on this challenge, you know that this task is the one almost everyone overlooks.  It sounds easy, so you put it off and before you know it the day slips away from you and you forget.  Don't let that be you! 

2. Start drinking your water as early as possible. 

Needless to say, you don't want to be up all night peeing.  The earlier you start, the better off you'll be.

 I would also highly recommend drinking room temperature water.  It's extremely difficult to chug ice cold water! Not only that, but when I was training for Miss USA, my trainer recommended that I start drinking room temperature water because ice cold water shocks your system (think of when you jump into an ice cold pool.. thats how your body feels) and it slows your metabolism down. 

3.  Attend a workout class for one of your 45 minute workouts. 

I know workout classes aren't for everyone, but in today's world there is such a wide array of classes you can choose from.  Whether it's yoga, spin, aerobics, crossfit, etc... pick anything you think you might be interested in and book a class.  The reason I recommend doing a class as one of your 45 min workouts is because once you book a class, you'll be even more obligated to go.  It's scheduled and your paying for it.  No backing out now! 

4.  Download the 75 Hard App and place it on your home screen. 

You can find the 75 Hard app in the app store! It does cost money... I want to say its $4.99 or somewhere around there, but it's SO worth it.  It's a GREAT accountability tool, you're able to track your progress, and if you place the app on your home screen it's a great daily reminder. 

5.  Develop a mantra. 

There are going be days that are tough.  Write down a few mantras that you can always come back to during the difficult moments.  

A few of mine are: 

Take it day by day. 

Wake up. Kick Ass. Be kind.

I'm doing this for me. 

6. Plan ahead. 

Meal prep whenever you can.  You never want to be in a situation where you can't stick to your diet.  This also goes for your workouts.  I travel for a living so planning out when and where I'll be able to workout is vital to my success.  I would recommend scheduling your workouts in your calendar or planner.  You might not always stick to your schedule exactly but at least you'll have an idea of what your day NEEDS to look like.  

7.  When your body feels tired, take the intensity out of your workouts. 

Some days your body is going to be tired.  I mean 75 days of two a days will do somethin' to ya.  When you feel tired, just go for a light walk or do yoga.  

8.  Purchase a gallon sized water bottle. 

I have one and I've been pouring my water from that water bottle into other glasses throughout the day.  It's much easier to keep track when you're pouring from one bottle rather than trying to add up how many glasses and ounces you've had.  

9.  Do your research. 

I read a lot of blogs, listened to the Real AF podcast, and did a lot of research before starting the challenge.  I wanted to be as prepared as possible.  You can learn so much from other peoples experiences!  For me personally, I think doing so set me up for success right away.  I knew the challenges other people faced, so I was able to plan and prepare accordingly.  

10.  Remember your WHY. 

There are going to days that tough.  You are going to be exhausted.  You might even want to give up, but in those moments you have to remember why you started.  Maybe you needed a change, wanted to lose some weight, wanted to become a better leader, or excel in your career.  You must always hold your why close to your heart!

Best of luck to anyone starting this journey! Hope this helped! 

Xoxo

Ashley 

 

Miss USA Snapchat Takeover Recap

Hey Everyone!

I hope your week is off to a great start!  I can’t believe that in just 12 days I leave for Miss USA.  It’s kind of funny, at times it feels so surreal and at other times it hits me that this is actually happening!  My Miss USA Snapchat Takeover day was one of those days where all I could think about was the fact that I’m really representing New Mexico at Miss USA! 

On my Snapchat takeover day, I ran around the city of Albuquerque for over 17 hours trying to film as much as I possibly could.  It was important to me that everyone watching on this worldwide platform got a glimpse of New Mexico.  I also wanted everyone to get to know me a little bit more.  Some of you have been following my journey for quite some time, however there are a lot of people out there who only know me at Miss New Mexico USA!   I had so much I wanted to share that 24 hours didn’t seem like enough time, but I made certain to take advantage of every minute!

I know there are a lot of people out there who don’t have Snapchat, so I thought it would be fun to do a little recap of my day!

I woke up at 4am.  I start off having technical difficulties signing into the official Miss USA snapchat account which was a little scary knowing that I had to be ready for the first activity at 6:00am.  Thankfully, I was able to get everything taken care of before my day officially started.  Shout out to the girls who helped me out! (You know who you are… wink wink! #SlaySquad)

After I was signed into the account and ready to go, I introduced everyone to my cat, Bella!  I got ready for the first activity and then made my glass of hot lemon water with cayenne pepper! 

Around 6:00 am, I hit the road and headed towards our launch location for my very first hot air balloon ride!   I was so thankful to Christine, Jessica, and the Hearts a Fire Balloon crew who so graciously offered to take me up in a hot air balloon for New Mexico’s  snapchat takeover day! 

The Balloon Fiesta is my all-time favorite event in Albuquerque! Being able to showcase our beautiful city from 3,500+ ft in the air was incredible.  We flew over the Rio Grande at sunrise and the entire morning was just perfect.  The weather was great, it was a gorgeous day, and everything was off to a wonderful start!

After our balloon ride, I had just enough time to swing by our Thursday morning office meeting at Coldwell Banker Legacy.  I was able to introduce everyone watching to my place of work, show them my office, and tell them how it really is working with mom!

Once I was done showing everyone around my work, I drove downtown and taped an interview with my most favorite radio host, Kiki Garcia with 93.3 KOB FM!   We had so much fun... like always!

This year, the 66^th Miss USA will be crowned… so I thought it was appropriate to take a photo by the historic Route 66 sign!

After we were done with all the morning activities, I was STARVING!  We stopped at my favorite lunch spot in Albuquerque, Flying Star Café!   I ordered a salad and a breakfast burrito with “Christmas” because let’s be honest… I wouldn’t be doing New Mexico justice if I didn’t highlight a BB with both Red AND Green chile!!!

Once we were done with lunch, I came back to the house and shared a lot  about my blog, why I started it, what I talk about my blog, and why I titled it Sparkling from the Inside Out.  I also talked about writing daily gratitudes and affirmations.  This was probably the most special part of the day as I received so many heartfelt messages! There’s no better feeling than knowing you’ve inspired someone in some way!

While I was at home, I shared a few photos of my family and my best friend, Kristen!  My parents will be celebrating their 30th anniversary this August!

And here is a picture of Kristen and I! We met at kindergarten orientation.  This is a picture of us
at our kindergarten graduation and our high school graduation!

I took sometime to talk about Special Spaces and what the organizations means to me! I shared a couple of stories from my favorite room makeovers! 

Of course, I couldn't leave out the fact that I've been competing for the title of Miss New Mexico USA for 8+ years!  I shared about my journey and my road to Miss USA.  Thankfully, I was able to share the moment all of my dreams came true! My crowning moment! In case you haven't seen it, click play below! 

I also share that on top of working in real estate, finishing up my degree, and being Miss New Mexico USA, I also teach Spin, Barre, and Yoga!  I showed everyone a few videos from my classes and then headed to the park to do some yoga!

Around dinner time, I met up with my family at my favorite Mexican food restaurant, Zacatecas!  I’m slightly obsessed with tacos and I hadn’t had any in awhile so this was a treat for me!

We finished dinner with just enough time to grab a picture in front of the Breaking Bad house, then ran up to the foothills to take a quick picture of the sunset!

I had a few things on my list that I didn’t get to but since it was late in the evening, I decided to come home and show everyone how to make fresh juice with a juicer.  We did a little juicing 101 seminar which was so much fun for me. 

I finished the night up with sharing a few of my favorite books, writing out thank you cards to everyone who helped with the entire day, and answering a few questions!

My Snapchat takeover was probably one of the most memorable and fun days of my life!  It’s days like this where I am just so beyond thankful for this experience!

I hope you enjoyed my recap of my Miss USA Snapchat takeover day!   Be sure and tune into FOX on May 14^th for the big show… Miss USA that is!!!!

Xoxo 

Ashley Mora

#TeamNewMexico 

Choose Self-Love this Valentines Day

Happy Monday! 

Love is in the air this month!  With Valentines Day right around the corner, I wanted to take some time and talk about self-love on the blog today. 

One of, if not THE most important relationship you will ever have, is the relationship you have with yourself.  I mean seriously, who else are you going to spend 24/7 with for the rest of your life?  Loving yourself for who you are isn’t easy… especially in today’s world when we are constantly being told we need to look, feel, and act a certain way in order to obtain happiness and success.  The truth is, the media and social media clutters our mind everyday with false hope.  So many people scroll the feed and think once they find that picture perfect relationship or land that dream job THEN they’ll finally be happy, but the thing is you have to truly love  and accept yourself first.  You have to be happy on your own, be grateful for what you do have, and then everything else will fall into place.  There is only one person who holds the key to your happiness and that person is you! 

Self-love and self-care should be something that we are constantly working on.  They should always be evolving.  In today’s blog I wanted share a few instrumental daily rituals that have helped me along the journey to loving and accepting myself… flaws and all.  We were created to shine, but that light has to come from within! 

1. Change your thoughts 

How do you talk to yourself?  I know I am my worst critic.  I still sometimes struggle with this because it’s so easy to talk negatively to yourself.  However, we have to free ourselves from being so hard on our bodies and ourselves.  One of my favorite quotes is “your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, and your actions become your character”  It’s pretty crazy how powerful the mind can be.  Everything we do stems from the way that we think, which in my opinion is pretty amazing because we can choose to create positive thoughts.  Try writing down some affirmations everyday…  I am beautiful, I am strong, I am enough.  Before you know it, you will be confident in all of those things! 

2. Express gratitude every day 

One of the best things you can do is take the time everyday to write down 5 things you're grateful for.  I know it can seem petty, however this has been life changing for me.  When you start focusing on what you do have, rather than what you don't have, you're entire perspective on life changes.  Expressing gratitude and appreciating the small things is an amazing and beautiful way to live life.  I encourage you to try expressing gratitude everyday for one month! 

3. Practice the things you expect from your partner  

So we expect the world from our significant other, but can we offer the things we yearn for?  Every other relationship we have- friends, family, career, and happiness stems from how we feel about ourselves. Take a moment and write down all of the things that are important to you in a relationship and then ask yourself (and be honest!) if you can offer each of those things.  Instead of looking for the perfect person, work on becoming the perfect person and then you will start attracting like minded individuals.  

4. Take time to unplug 

Whether you need to do this everyday for 15 minutes, once a week, or once a month, take some time to unplug from social media and center your thoughts.  Without distraction, think about your needs, wants, and goals, and make a plan to achieve those things! 

5. Take baby steps towards a healthier you  

When you feel good, you look good!   Regardless of your goals, we can all work on becoming healthier.  Fuel your body with nutrient-rich foods and be intentional with what you put into your body… you only have one, so take care of it!  Try doing one small thing every single day that makes you a better, healthier you! 

There is so much magic in loving yourself that will make you radiate from the inside out!  Self-love brings so much peace into your life and it overflows into everything you do.  Once you start to love yourself, life will feel ridiculously good. 

This Valentine’s day, decide to make a positive shift and move forward with ease. Embrace having a deep, loving relationship with YOU! 

Xoxo, 

Ash 

#SparklingFromTheInsideOut 

Makeup by Alanna Garcia 

Photos by Rebekah Villanueva 

Makeup by Alanna Garcia 

Photos by Rebekah Villanueva 

Finding your WHY

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

"He who has a why can endure any how" -Frederick Nietzsche

Lately I've been doing a lot of reflecting on life, success, and figuring out my purpose. Maybe it's because I just turned 25 last week which feels like a huge milestone or maybe it's because I'm three classes away from obtaining my marketing degree (finally... I know)!  Either way, I wanted to share some thoughts on finding your "why" and your purpose.  Life is hard, confusing, and there will always be obstacles, but if you know your why, it will always pull you up and keep you fighting. 

When you wake up each morning, what drives you? 

If you don't know the answer, then you have no reason to improve your life and become more successful.  The truth is, motivation will ALWAYS fade. You might get reinspired from time to time but that fire lit by motivation will inevitably die. This why you must create habits and stick to them. You have to know WHY you're doing what you're doing, make a plan, and stick to it. You have to know what you're fighting for and why your goals are important to you. You have to know what drives you, what inspires you, because that is the only thing that's going to pull you up and keep you going. 

What are you passionate about? 

Instead of focusing on what you're doing, ask yourself why you're doing it? Seriously, take a second right now and stop and think about everything you do on a daily basis. Now, ask yourself why you're doing all of these things?  If you don't have an answer that excites you, it may be time to refine your list of priorities.  If you want to be successful in reaching your goals, you must be passionate about the things you're doing. You need that gusto because your purpose is what leads the way, but passion is what keeps you going.  

Find an answer that speaks to you soul.
Find your why and let that drive push you to go forward, to be successful.  Find that one part of you that will never change, regardless of what life throws your way. Your purpose- your why is the one single thing that lights you up, that one thing that when you're doing it, time seems to stop. Once you have your answer, write it down and keep it with you. Carry it around everyday and feel it deep in your heart.  Look at it from time to time as a little reminder WHY you're doing what you're doing! 

I hope you enjoyed this post! 

With lots of love, 

Ashley

Catching Kelce Ep.3

If you're wondering how I'm feeling after last nights episode of Catching Kelce, wonder no longer!

*Spoiler Alert* 

Here's a quick run down of Episode 3 just in case you missed it!

On last nights episode, Lauren (Missouri and my bestie in the house) got picked for the coveted group date! The group date this week was a huge deal because the girls attending were going to get to go to a red carpet event, which was the Sports Spectacular in Hollywood! Lauren chose me, Jamie (West Virginia), and Avery (Colorado).  The event was soooooo amazing!  We got to meet so many wonderful and well known athletes, it really was a special evening.  At the end of the night, Travis chose Avery for the VIP date.   Towards the end of the episode, the girls called for the elimination line-up were Loreina (California), Me (New Mexico),  Anika (Minnesota), V-Rich (Mississippi), and Avery (Colorado).  I was the first one to be sent home followed by Anika and V-Rich.

So, the big question is how did I feel about being eliminated in last night's episode? 

I'm honestly so content with everything that happened.  We started with 50 girls, so making it into the "top 12" was huge in itself.  Staying true to who I am and holding my morals close to me was so important.  I wanted to make sure I represented my home state with grace and class.  New Mexico truly has such a huge piece of my heart and I wanted everyone back home to be proud when they were watching and not embarrassed.  I absolutely believe that everything happens for a reason so going home was in God's plan for me.  It just meant that there was something or someone else out there... and there was :)

What's next?  

I was just recently asked to be one of the celebrity dancers at this year's "Dancing with the Stars" Hacienda Ball event here in Albuquerque and I've already started training for that.  The event raises funds for Heading Home ABQ which fights to end homelessness in Albuquerque.  Other than that, I'm going to be getting back to a normal routine at work with Real Estate and teaching Hot Yoga!

You can cast your vote for me by clicking the picture below!

Special message for anyone reading... 

"If you get the chance take it, if it changes your life let it"

I took a huge leap of faith doing this show.  I didn't know what to expect or what would happen but I'm so happy that I just went for it.  Sometimes you have to step outside of your comfort zone in order to pursue your dreams and goals but I promise you, it'll be worth it!  Follow your heart, work hard, be courageous, and always stay true to who you are!

Here is a special little video of pictures from the show! 

With love, 

Ash 

xoxo 

Healthy Staple Foods

Healthy Staple Foods

"It's not a short term diet, it's a long term lifestyle change"

Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite go-to foods that help me stay on track with eating healthy.  I’ve learned over the years that if I keep my fridge and pantry stocked with nutritious foods, I’m more likely to stay faithful to my diet.  We’re all busy, so keeping healthy staple foods that are easy to prepare is the one of the best things you can do for successful weight loss or weight management. 

The most important thing you can do to clean up your diet is to starting reading the labels on the back of everything you buy.  The more natural the food is, the better.  If you can’t pronounce it, don't buy it!

Always remember that balance is key.  Making small changes is the only way to get lasting results.  Start off slow and by that I mean start cutting out one “bad” food at a time.  If you cut everything out at once, you’ll feel deprived and revert back to old habits quickly. Below you'll find a list of different healthy foods to start incorporating into your diet.

Healthy Starts Right Here! 

Breads: 

    •      Ezekiel Bread- Found in the freezer section.  This is the only bread I buy now.  It’s clean, natural, and organic.  Not to mention, chemical free, easy to digest, has protein, lots of vitamins, is kosher, Non GMO, no refined sugars, no preservatives, no shortenings, and full of fiber.  It’s absolutely delicious! They also offer buns, cereals, muffins, tortillas, waffles, and more! 

Grains: 

White Flour is stripped of all nutrients which makes it an empty source of calories.  That’s not what we want! Here are a few nutrient rich grains to add to your diet! 

    •      Quinoa- all kinds.  Quinoa is superfood that is PACKED with nutrients 

    •      Brown Rice 

    •      Wild Rice 

    •      Quinoa Pasta 

Flours: 

    •      Coconut Flour (Naturally Gluten-Free)

    •      Almond Flour (Naturally Gluten-Free and Low in Carb)

Dairy & Non Dairy: 

    •      Almond Milk Yogurt (Non-Dairy)

    •      Coconut Milk Yogurt (Non-Dairy)

    •      Greek Yogurt  

    •      Unsweetened Almond Milk (Non-Dairy)

    •      Unsweetened Coconut Milk (Non-Dairy)

    •      Unsweetened Soy Milk (Make sure it’s Non-GMO) 

Fruits: 

    •      Apples 

    •      Oranges 

    •      Grapefruits 

    •      All Berries 

    •      Bananas 

    •      Avocados 

    •      Pineapple 

    •      Any fresh fruit you like 

Veggies:

    •      Kale 

    •      Spinach

    •      Broccoli 

    •      Celery 

    •      Tomatoes 

    •      Eggplant 

    •      Squash 

    •      Carrots 

    •      Celery 

    •      Bell Peppers 

    •      Zucchini 

    •      Sweet Potatoes 

    •      Onions 

    •      Green Beans 

    •      Any Fresh Veggies you like 

Meats: 

When purchasing any kind of meat, always opt for organic or grass fed. Also, try and purchase the leanest meat possible.  If you buying lunch meat of any kind, look for nitrate-free! 

    •      Lean Ground Turkey 

    •      Chicken Breasts 

    •      Salmon, Tilapia, or other fish 

    •      Lean Ground Beef 

Eggs: 

            •          Always purchase cage free.  

Beans and Legumes: 

If you are trying to eat healthy on a budget, beans are an excellent source of protein (especially if you are vegetarian or vegan) 

    •      Beans: Explore different kinds of beans.  Black, Pinto, Red Kidney, Red, Soybean, and More! 

    •      Legumes: You can make so many great meals with legumes.  They are excellent! 

Other Grocery Store Items: 

    •      Oatmeal: Always buy plain steel cut oats. Nothing flavored due to the chemicals and sugar that they put in flavored oats.  

    •      Tea:  Any natural, organic, unsweetened tea is great! 

    •      Dry Beans and Legumes 

    •      Nuts: Always try and buy nuts that are organic.  Nuts are a fantastic snack filled with a ton of nutrients but you have to make sure you read the labels.  A lot of nuts that are sold in stores are loaded with sodium and sugar.  

    •      Bars:  I used to be a protein bar junkie.  Make sure you read the labels on the back of your protein or snack bars.  Most of them are filled with a lot of junk.  My personal favorite brand of health bars are Laura Bars… they are delicious, have minimal ingredients, and are very healthy and clean! 

    •      Condiments:  Most condiments are also loaded with a ton of junk that could be slowing down your weight loss.  When you can, avoid condiments or try and make your own using all natural fruits, veggies, and herbs.  If you have to purchase condiments from the store, look for the organic condiments with minimal ingredients and no added sugar.  

    •      Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

    •      Walnut Oil 

    •      Coconut Oil 

Sweeteners: 

Processed Sugar is the easiest way to pack on the pounds.  Here are few natural alternatives to sweeten things up. 

    •      Coconut Nectar

    •      Honey 

    •      Maple Syrup 

   •       Agave 

Eating healthy isn't always easy,  but keeping a few of things on hand or in your home will help keep you on track when hunger or cravings strike. Remember that when you're hungry, your body wants nutrients, not junk! 

I hope you enjoyed this blog! 

xoxo, 

Ash