I've moved!

I decided to transfer my blog from Blogger to my own url: www.HAFCreative.com. Check out my website, which promotes my freelance writing and editing business and is the new home for my blog.

I was able to move my posts, but some comments got lost along the way. So, if you left a comment in the past, please know I didn't delete it. I will leave this Blogger site up but won't be adding new posts.

Please visit my new website and new blog at http://hafcreative.com/blog/ and add it to your bookmarks!

New opportunities begin today

Today begins a new venture: I’m back to working for myself. Last month, I decided to transition back to full-time freelance work. The reasons were numerous, but high on the list is the ability to better manage my schedule so I can work on the book about postpartum depression I’ve been attempting to write for the better part of 2011. I haven’t had much time to devote to the book, so I haven’t gotten far in the process.

I’m starting to put together a weekly schedule that incorporates regular writing and research times and allow myself to make that work – even though it’s not paying – a priority. I’ll also be doing more freelance writing and editing projects as well as continuing to manage a couple of clients for Step Ahead.

Plus, I’ve decided to officially create my own company, a sole propriotership called HAF Creative. Look for a new website coming soon. I have to schedule some time to open a bank account and get my finances set up. There’s more record keeping when you have your own business (tracking your expenses, making quarterly tax payments) but the personal benefits will be great and the commute is quite short and there’s never any traffic.

I’ll also be moving this blog and past posts over to my new website and keeping it updated more regularly as a way build excitement about the book and share my regular witty musings. Stay tuned!

Watch me

Last week someone shared this on Facebook, and I thought it was fabulous ... especially after my recent CrossFit escapades. :)

Just when you think you can't ... you can

Like a fish out of water I competed in an athletic competition a few days ago. Aside from tee-ball (which I hated), pee-wee basketball (which I hated), pee-wee cheerleading (which was OK but I wasn’t very good) and plain ‘ol gym class (which I loathed), I haven’t had much experience as an athlete. OK, really I’ve had no experience.

So two years ago if someone had told me I was going to compete in something called Integrity’s Revenge – part of the Garage Games CrossFit series – where I would run through a series of workouts in front of other people, I would have fallen on the floor laughing.

But last weekend, that’s just what I did.

I competed with several other athletes from our facility, CrossFit Mt. Pleasant. I partnered up with another woman and we entered the scaled team division. Let me pause here and explain CrossFit: It’s a fitness program that focuses on constantly varied, high-intensity, functional movements. Workouts are short and intense, changing each day with such activities as weightlifting, pull-ups, pushups, sit-ups, running, rowing and jumping rope.

I started CrossFit about 14 months ago and have seen pretty amazing results – both physically and mentally as I’ve challenged myself to do things I never dreamed I could (a pullup or deadlift 170 pounds).

CrossFit athletes compete in the Garage Games or regional competitions around the country. The elite athletes go on to compete in the CrossFit Games, sort of the Olympics of CrossFit.

One of the great things about CrossFit is that movements can be scaled to your individual fitness level and abilities. So when you start, you’re not expected to throw 65 pounds of weight over your head. Maybe you start with 10 or 20 and continue to work your way up. That means workouts come in two versions: “Rx” or the prescribed way they should be done and a scaled version for those who are still working their way up to the Rx level.

For this competition, my partner and I did the team scaled division. We did three workouts on Saturday and one on Sunday morning. My body definitely felt it on Monday morning.

How did I do? Well, I competed. The first workout was incredibly difficult for me because it involved front squats of 65 pounds and then a movement called the “thruster,” which is squatting with the weight and then quickly standing up and pushing the weight (still 65 pounds) over your head. Squatting with heavy weights is by far one of my weaker areas so I was pretty terrified when I saw this workout. My stomach was in a knot the size the Texas as I approached that weight bar.

Let’s just say I struggled and ended with lots of people cheering me on. I didn’t complete the workout in the allotted 12 minutes and kept my teammate from getting her turn. When time was up, I felt teary and embarrassed. But one of the great things about CrossFit is the sense of community. The people I work out with on a daily basis are my CrossFit family and they were pulling for me. The people I’d never met were pulling for me. You see in CrossFit it’s all about pushing through. When the workout is hard and you’re tempted to toss down the weight and walk away, you keep on.

A couple of times I looked at my teammate and the judge saying, “I can’t do this.” But then I turned back to the weight and tried again. At the end of the workout, that was what mattered.

Clint – who also competed – was there cheering me on with our daughter Kate. He said she was watching every bit of my struggle, while saying “Go, Mama, go!” Later we discussed that it’s good for her to see me incorporate working out into my daily life but also to struggle with something and push through – especially something people might look at and think isn’t really a “woman’s sport.”

The remaining workouts were challenging but not to the same degree. I was able to finish those and didn’t do too terribly.

When the weekend was over, I felt a mixture of pride and disappointment. I couldn’t help but wish I’d done a little better, but then I think about where I’ve come over the last year. I was one of those people who started out lifting 10 and 15 pounds, so to even attempt 65 is pretty awesome. I’ll keep working on my skills, building my strength, stamina and endurance and just maybe you’ll see me at the Garage Games next year.

So, what did you do this weekend? ;-) 

The CrossFit Mt. Pleasant Team

The CrossFit Fishers

Phrases I say every day - at least 3 times

As a parent, I often feel like a broken record, repeating the same instructions over and over again. So, if I had a dollar for every time I said one of the following, Kate’s college fund would be overflowing:

• Stay on the sidewalk; don’t get out in street. 
• Watch where you’re going … you’re running into people. 
• Don't run off ... stay close. 
• You have to hold my hand when we cross the street/walk in the parking lot. 
• Sit down in your chair before you fall over. 
• Put your shoes and socks away. 
• Get your finger out of your nose.

Kate Playing Model in Downtown Charleston

Just had to share! :)

Click here to view this photo book larger

Book Update

I'm making some small steps on my book. I created a schedule of to-dos that focuses on drafting a chapter list and descriptions, completing market research and writhing things like the dusk jacket author bio. The good news is there aren't many books out there on postpartum depression, particularly in the Christian publishing world. If you know of any, send them my way. I hope the lack of books on this topic will make it a bit easier to get my own book published while filling a need.

So, hold me accountable because these various items are due Aug. 12. After that, I'll work on getting an agent and actually putting together some chapters (which now consist of a hodge-podge of notes and musings).

Note, the photo is the cover of the notebook I'm using to track ideas, notes, tasks, etc. for my book so look for that image in book updates. (And thanks, Ronda, for the fabulous notebook!)