The end of Spring Quarter 2011, The beginning of Summer quarter 2011.

Today was officially my last final exam of the Spring 2011 quarter. Thanks to the fact that I got my quiz and assignments for my summer class done over the weekend, I could officially take a night off from studying for any classes! It was so wonderful, but yet boring. I could begun to read for my Art History 2 class that I am taking online for the summer, but I am burnt out from studying, and took a much needed night off! I rented two movies today from the good old Mcdonalds red box down the street. I watched The switch with Jen Anniston, and it was actually okay, Though the guy who played her love interest wasn't a very likable character,  and then I watched Burlesque with Cher and Christina Auguilea, and it was kind of slow, but midly interesting. I don't think xtina is a very good actress.

Getting ready for day 2 or Ripped in 30!

     Yesterday I started Jillian Michael's "Ripped in 30" workout, and at first, I thought the warm up was pretty easy (Ya I know, I shouldn't have gotten ahead of myself, it was just the warm up!) But I was able to get through the work out just fine through out the first 10 minutes. I was thinking, "Okay, I can do this no problem!" I haven't worked out in a few weeks since I bruised the bone of a few of my toes, and had trouble wearing shoes for the first week, so to be on the safe side, I took a break from exercising to let my toe heal. But now that bikini season is here, it's time to get in shape! 


     I originally had no desire to post any before pictures, especially since I didn't have any make-up before my work out. But then, Jillian suggested that I should take before pictures, because I am not going to believe my after. The only full body picture I managed to take of myself yesterday was by setting the timer on my camera, and my fish tank was in the way. (I was going to take the tank over to a friend's house for the summer, but that didn't work out, so it was still sitting by the door at the time). Anyway, with the fish tank moved, I used the timer on my camera to try and take some better pictures today. Once again, no make-up on, and they are not the prettiest pictures ever of me, but are before pictures ever good? Not really, so I'll post them anyways! I wasn't sure how I felt about anyone seeing me in my work out clothes, but a sports bra actually covers more than a bikini, so what they hey! Not to mention, I know I don't have a vast amount of readers right now, so most likely just friends and family will read this anyways. Maybe I'll get some more followers eventually when I have time to comment on other people's blogs and get some comments sent my way? 


     Anyways, after the first ten minutes were past during my week 1 workout. I took a couple drink breaks, a bathroom break, and soon it was taking me longer than 20 min to get this work out done that was supposed to be only 20 min, though the dvd case says 24. The actually workout ran for just a little over 30 min. Which is good, because I have read that to simply maintain your body weight, you are supposed to work out for 30 min everyday, however this is supposed to be getting me ripped, so hopefully I can do that but only working out for 30 min a day, and not an hour which is recommended to lose weight. I'm not trying to drop any pounds, I am trying to tone my muscles and improve my health. 
By twenty minutes, I was tired, and feeling the burn as I finally began to sweat. Something tells me each work out will get harder sooner as my body is more sore from the day before's work out. 


     Last night I didn't feel too sore, only a tiny bit, but when I woke up this morning, I could definitely feel it. I know that I will be more sore as I work out more this week, so I am not taking my day off yet. I have 4 days to study before my final exam, so I have no excuse to not workout today. As a matter of fact, I plan on doing just that after this post. I was told by a medic once who worked in Iraq, that it is best to give your body a little time in the morning before you start working out. Most people are more prone to injuries when they first wake up. So, I always try and give myself a little time to loosen up and not be so stiff, which would in turn make it easier to injure myself. 


     I can work out 5-6 days a week, and depending on how I feel the rest of week one, I plan on taking it slowly at first since I don't work out on a regular basis, and I don't want to push myself to hard and risk an injury. I would rather make it all the way through. I am also following along with the modified version since I am a beginner. My goal is to get through this DVD in 30 days. I am also following Jillian's meal plan which anyone can download for free off of her website. JillianMichaels.com


     I have read some reviews on the DVD, and the biggest complaint is how tough it is. But come one people, she is from the Biggest Loser! It's her job to be tough and whip people into shape! I want to do it! I have watched the show with my parents, and wished she would put out a DVD for people like me who just want to be more defined. When I'm doing her work out, she reminds us that if,  300lb people can do it, so can we! It's so true! She is very motivational. I am going to see if I can check out her new book from the library this summer. 


Stay tuned, while I get Ripped in 30! 

DAY ONE 

Water Break

Mat work included

When Semesters and Quarters collide

I finally finished my 15 page paper tonight! Yay! Now I have another chick lit fiction story to write for my final exam in my fiction writing class, then I have to study for my final exam in spanish 103. Then, I have a quiz due on monday for my summer classes! I am taking two online summer courses through Kent State. I'm taking Art History 2, which starts monday, though I have to listen to the lecture online and take my quiz by monday (it's not like I have final exams to complete on top of this or anything) and then submit an online discussion for Art History by wednesday, which is the day of my final exam in Spanish. Not to mention, I am moving to West Virginia on sunday and I have to pack up and clean my entire apartment this weekend. (It's not like I have final exams to complete and a summer class quiz to prepare for or anything). Are you noticing a pattern here? Taking classes for two different colleges at the same time is a little challenging. But I'll get it all done. I always do. 

In the mean time I'm sleeping out on the futon in front of the air conditioner since it doesn't reach the bedroom and it gets mighty stuffy in there at night. Ross is already living in West Virginia and we are keeping in touch via text message, web cam, and cell phone. Kind of reminds me last year, (see 

http://ashliekristin.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-quarter-begins-and-bit-about-my.html )

Soon enough...

-I won't hear the cars thudding over the rail road tracks every time they drive by.

-I won't have to listen to the people walking around on Main Street right below my window.

-I won't have to hear the immature college &/or high school students driving by honking every time they pass the bar I live across from (really? every day you have to do this?) I want to yell out at them "Shut up!" But I don't. 

-I will be with Ross again. (I'm not a fan of sleeping places by myself)

-I won't be living in disarray. (This apartment is officially undecorated and a mess)

-Someone else will have my fish, hopefully! 

-I will only have one class to worry about at a time. few

-I'll have more free time. To do things like, read, watch movies, catch up on shows, work out, and just relax! 

I can't wait to move to West Virginia for the summer. It will be like a nice long vacation. 

Here are some pictures I took tuesday night of the really cool sunset here. 

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Photographing the alphabet

My first assignment in my photography class was to go around and find objects that formed letters of the alphabet and photograph them at different times of the day, including sunrise, midday and sunset, as well as some time in between. They had to be made from 1-3 ft, 3-5ft. or 15-100 ft. We were not allowed to have more than five with only one surface, some with 2 objects to make a letter, some with three, and 4 plus if possible (backgrounds and objects in background count as other surfaces in photos).
The photographs had to be in focus and exposed properly. These are my photographs from the class.

Midday 2 objects 15-100ft.

2 objects (ground and hose) 1-3 ft. Sunset

Midday 2 objects (brick and tube) 1-3 ft.

3 objects (shadow, handle, siding) Midday 1-3ft.

3 objects (grass, mulch, bricks) sunrise 1-3 ft.

3 surfaces, deck, water, rail. sunrise 1-3 ft. 

2 objects less than 1 ft. Midday

many surfaces 15-100 ft. sunset

3 surfaces/objets (sky, pole, light) midday 15-100ft.

2 surfaces. midday. less than 1 ft. 

stones, pavement, rocks, implied lines. sunrise 1-3ft.

4 surfaces (grass, wood, fence, mulch) sunset 1-3ft.

sunset, many surfaces/objects. over 100 ft.

midday 2 surfaces. 3-5ft.

3-5 ft. many surfaces 

3 surfaces (window, bushes, siding) 5 plus ft. sunrise

2 surfaces sunrise 1-3 ft.

sunrise. many objects (background counts)  1-3 ft.

2 surfaces midday less than 1 ft. 

15-100 ft. sunset 2 surfaces

many surfaces. sunset 3-5 ft.

1-3ft. one surface. 

midday 1-3ft.

2 surfaces 1-3 ft. 

3 objects midday 100+ ft.

midday 3-5 ft. multiple surfaces