Making Exercise Fun and The Blonder Side of Life

Happy Monday! I'm sure the smiles aren't as readily available as they were on Friday morning but it's a good morning nonetheless, right? Mondays around here are known as Grateful Heart Monday, courtesy of Emily from Ember Grey. No matter what the circumstances are in your life there is always something to be grateful for.

Today I am grateful for something that may seem a little strange. There seems to be a new fitness trend that my daughters are jumping on. It's what I call the fun runs. Within the span of 2 months, my daughters have participated in runs that are not only great exercise but fun as well. I love the fact that kids are getting introduced to events like these that show them that exercise and being active is not boring.

This summer my daughters participated in the Color Run. This was a 5k that was also a fundraiser. The runners go through the course and get sprayed with paint. It ended in a dance party with hundreds and hundreds of runners. It was a ball to watch and amazing to participate in (according to them!).

On Saturday my youngest daughter participated in The Mighty Run (the kids version). This race had a series of obstacles that you had to run through. Think mud, mud, and more mud. Add to it Fall hitting central NY with a vengeance that day (45-50 degrees and rainy) and you have a recipe for fun in an 11 year old's eyes.

Doing this race once just wasn't enough. She had to go back and do it one more time. I love that through these races kids are learning that physical activity can be both fun and good for you. I think that's a lesson that I missed out on early on. I'm grateful that my girls are learning this now and that they may have a healthier attitude towards exercise than I do.

I'd love to introduce you to a blogger that embraces the athletic lifestyle. Kelsey of The Blonder Side of Life is one of those people that seems to have it all. A zest for life, adventure, genuine-ness, and a sense of humor. Following her blog is like a breath of fresh air. She is honest and real and is fun to read.

In Kelsey's words.....
How did you come up with the name for your blog? I wanted something original and I love corny jokes and puns so I knew I wanted to incorporate "blonde" in there somewhere. My first name was Southern Blonde out of Humidity when I moved to Boston, but then I kind of expanded my vision and thought the Blonder Side of Life was more appropriate for my outlook on life. If you couldn't tell from the name, I'm a huge optimist and it's a rare occasion when i can't find the good in any person or situation.
What are 3 words you would use to describe your blog? Fun, sarcasm, and food. All things I love. :)
You can go anywhere in the world....where are you headed? oh jeez, ALL the places! I love to travel and have been fortunate to be able to visit almost all of the lower 48 states, but I've never been overseas anywhere. I'm thinking Australia or New Zealand, though my dad just got a job in Finland so I'd like to visit that area as well (though maybe not when it's so cold.....).
Name 2 favorite things about yourself, one physical trait and one personality trait. I love my giant blue eyes. They're really the thing I get the most compliments on and I always tease that they're my one redeeming trait. Though I have to admit that my eyesight is pretty poor so it's a double edged sword lol. For personality I like to think that I'm pretty friendly. Like I mentioned above I tend to see the good in people even when they've done something "bad". My parents always called me a Peacemaker when I was little.
What's the best advice you can give to a new blogger? Reach out and make friends! That's why we blog right? To make connections. You might have other reasons as well, but if you're not connecting with your readers then you won't last long. Also don't be afraid to reach out to the "bigger" bloggers. I used to never comment on their blogs because they would get so many from other people I assumed there's no way they'd ever take time to talk to me. Boy was I wrong, they were once small like me (or you) and are into connect no matter their stats.
You can follow Kels on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

What are you grateful for today?

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