Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 5: Weekly Update & Final Reflection

1. I will take my dogs to Hartley Nature Center for a 30-40 minute walk/run, 3 times during the week days.  This week was a little more tricky.  I was able to get out there every day, but not for the entire 30 minutes.
2. With the semester winding down and work schedules keeping me running around town every single day, I would pack the two puppies in my car, bring them along for errands and work so I was able to stop at one of the parks on the way home.
3. I did feel rushed at times.  And the cold weather is darn freezing now!  The puppies still love every minute of freedom, but we know its time to stop when their poor little toes start bleeding from breaking through the crispy, icy snow.
4. Organization, minute by minute planning.  We all have 24 hours in a day...spend it wisely and prioritize.
5. We will definitely continue these fun outdoor adventures for the upcoming weeks.  Hopefully we'll be able to visit the new parks more often.

OVERALL REFLECTION

1. I will take my dogs to Hartley Nature Center for a 30-40 minute walk/run, 3 times during the week days.  My goal did change somewhat throughout the weeks, rather than just going to Hartley, we were able to explore some other parks around Duluth.
2. It helped to keep a schedule- go the same time on the same days each week and stick to it.  Yes, things happen and schedules change, but it wasn't too much to fit it in at another time.
3. The benefits: it made get outdoors in the cold weather!  We were able to find new parks that I normally would not go to.
4. I guess just by telling the story of the two dogs and talking about the new place we went today and the funny things that they would do brought awareness to others of what out there and available to us in Duluth.  Hopefully people will take the time to visit the parks themselves.  This might be an outreach, but again after hearing Abby & Ranger's story, people will be encouraged to check out the local shelter when & if they're looking for a new pet.
5. Of course we're going to continue this behavior.  It also kind of goes along with the bill that I looked up:  Adults needing to participate in 30-40minutes of daily moderate activity.  I need to continue to promote what I believe in.
6. Baby steps, you can always modify later, but you need to stick to it!

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 4: Weekly Update

1. I will take my dogs to Hartley Nature Center for a 30-40 minute walk/run, 3 times during the week days.  It's still going very well.  It was nice having the extra days off and not having to stick to my normal schedule.  We were able to go to new places and go for a longer period of time.
2. However, the beginning of this week was a little more tricky.  The weather was terrible and difficult to get to the places because of the bad driving.  It took even longer to get to point A to point B.  I'm sure it's going to be not as fun outside as the weather gets colder and colder and colder.  The puppies can only last so long running in below zero weather and it's hard to see them when it's snowing out (they blend in pretty well).
3. My feeling were still fun and enjoyable.  Just got to continue to get up and get out there...not allow myself to get lazy and use the weather as an excuse.  
4. We learned about a few new parks to visit around Duluth this week.   Some are nicer than others...
5. Things should stay the same this upcoming week.  If we can't continue to go to the new places we found we will definitely continue going to Hartley, the park that's close by and convenient to get to.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 3: Weekly Update

1. I will take my dogs to Hartley Nature Center for a 30-40 minute walk/run, 3 times during the week days.  Things went much better this week.  I really stuck to the schedule and along with having the extra days off this week, we were able to stay out and play longer.
2. It still is tricky to fit it into my schedule, but now it has been easier getting up earlier to give myself more time to get out there.  My strategy, since I'm not a morning person, is to not press the snooze button.  There's no point in trying to fall back asleep once my alarm has already gone off...Might as well face the day on my first chance.
3. Once I get up and going the cold fresh air is refreshing!  I'm awake and I'm alive...Seeing the two puppies literally frolicking through the trails is so fun.  When I'm outside I catch myself continually smiling and all I do is laugh at how joyful those two are together.  It's nice to take the time to not worry about all the other stressors waiting for me.
4. Next week I want to continue going strong.  Maybe throw in an extra afternoon walk...or Abby really enjoys helping shovel snow!  She chases it and jumps like a kangaroo every time i throw the snow off to the side.  Get a little extra outdoor activity.  (I'm planning on getting one of those ergonomic shovels with all these snow storms a'comin.) 

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 2: Weekly Update

So I had to change up my SMART goal a little bit...

1. I will take my dogs to Hartley Nature Center for a 30-40 minute walk/run, 3 times during the week days.  It's been going good...tricky to work into my hectic school schedule.
2. During the week there always seems to be too much going on & I become overwhelmed.  I wanted to take time for myself & to exercise my two puppies, especially because they're not as active as they need to be during the week (they're german short hairs- made to run and hunt).  My strategies have been to get up earlier and when I need a break from my overload of projects, to just get some fresh air and walk down to Hartley just down the block.
3. It's a challenge to just make myself get up and outside.  That's why I chose this goal, because like my previous goal...once i'm out there & finish the walk...I feel like I have achieved something.  I'm more relaxed and can get my head focused again.
4. I learned about patience and not to wait to do something.  I learned that I can yell very, very loud as well (darn dogs kept running away from me)!
5. My plans for next week are to keep on going.  The three days during the week has been a good number, not too much & not too little.  The puppies love the snow & I still enjoy the outdoors w/o it being below zero.

Eco-chic Lifestyle Change Week 1: My SMART Goal

My smart goal:
I want to run 1-2 miles (10-20 minutes), three times a week (M, W, F) before class at the gym or around my neighborhood.


I will be able to get outdoors more often and experience the fresh air.  It will allow my two dogs to run free alongside of me.  They are little speed demons and are just begging to get out there and run wild.  Running is a challenge for me.  It's a mental game and I usually have to force myself to do it.  However, when I finish my run, I feel like I have accomplished something.  It may be a small accomplishment, but it still feels good.  I enjoy participating in marathons and other running events, but never really seem to train that much.  By starting this small goal now, it  will only make those races easier and probably more fun, rather than dying afterwards.  I completed the Ragnar Relay Race this summer...Group of 12 of us, 193 miles, from Winona to Minneapolis...I have not run once since that race, haha.  There's no better time than now to get started up again.

Welcome to Jamie Says Jump...!

Hello everyone!  My name is Jamie.  I'm a senior this year & studying health education.  This blog is going to contain information of the environment & sustaining the world we live in...<3

There are 6 possible types of posts on my blog.  They include:

1. Advocacy Project
2. Eye Openers
3. Reflections
4. Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change
5. Read 'n' Seed
6. Share and Voice

MEMBERS: Brier S., Kristy S., Jamie S., Elly S., Lauren W., Mary X., Sarah Z.

1. Brier@lovin nature with brier
2. Kristy@kristys fun in the sun spot
3. Jamie@jamie says jump
4. Elly@elly dreams green
5. Lauren@laurens pourin grain
6. Mary@blue skies for mary
7. Sarah@take a hike with sarah

You can subscribe to my blog by clicking the subscribe gadget in the gadget column.  You can also follow my blog by clicking "Follow this Blog" in the gadget column.  I am subscribed to all the blogs in my blog list gadget.  You can see my complete profile and all the blogs I am following by clicking on "See Complete Profile."

Hope you enjoyed!  Stay tuned for more information and fun adventures to follow!