Hi! My name is Allie, & I am so happy you are visiting my blog.
Growing up, a pen & piece of paper became a way for me to deal with anxiety. I learned to express myself with words, & writing has remained one of my dearest outlets. Blogging was a perfect fit. This space gave me a place to put down my thoughts & ideas. If they resonated with others, all the better. I guess I thought I had something to say that might be worth sharing. My initial posts at my old blog revolved a lot around body image; a topic I would like to delve into again.
My blog is continually evolving, & I could never quite put a pin in a specific genre or theme. I finally allowed myself the freedom not to worry about pinning it down. My life has many colours. Moving the blog to this domain & renaming it was my way of accepting & celebrating this.
I am drawn to living simply. I strive to be selective about how I spend my time & what my energy goes toward, focusing on what I really love & what truly enhances my life. I'm all about creating experiences: this is what life is afterall, right? A series of experiences.
This is what i tend to (or would like to) share at ColourMeHappy:
If you've been around my blog at all, you've probably picked up on the fact I rock climb. I talk a little bit about my climbing background here. A lot of what we do revolves around climbing: it's a major factor in travels, whether it be the month we spent in Thailand on our honeymoon climbing on the beach or simply weekend road trips. It even influenced our decision to move to Arizona from Utah. I have started a series called "On Belay", where I talk about a climbing-related topic weekly. Even if we are not climbing, you will often find us outdoors, camping, backpacking, or just hiking with the dog. With the little bit I have done, I have realized traveling is one of my happy places. I like few things more than experiencing a new destination. I will be posting more on our "Sense of Adventure".
Fitness has also become a huge part of my life recently. I chose to get a road bike over a fancy wedding ring after all. Whether I am biking, swimming, doing yoga, or stength training, I have learned to love to challenge & push myself, & my "training" revolves around making my body "good for something" & not just good to look at. This has been a liberating shift in perspective & focus. I am not quite sure how to share my training here though; there are so many great blogs, showcasing workouts & healthy living. Do I really need my own? Perhaps I will start to talk about body image again.
It is amazing what a huge role food plays in our lives, & how often it is almost diregarded or discounted. I believe we should connect with our food & develop a good relationship with it -- & not only with the food itself -- but also where it comes from. For me, this means eating with the seasons & buying as local as possible. I have turned toward a plant-based diet, reach for whole foods, & avoid processed/refined foods (even sugar). If you follow all the rules to "healthy eating" but eat mindlessly & without true enjoyment, you've missed a huge part of the point. I love the sensory experience of cooking by taste, & I try to make as much as possible from scratch to not only control ingredients but reduce waste as well. I would not call ColourMeHappy a true "food blog", but I like sharing some of my recipes & thoughts, & am really taken with developing my food styling skills. You will likely find me sharing ideas more so than legitimate recipes on "Taste Buds".
The first time I heard about Body World (an exhibition on real human bodies) a few years ago, I was horrified. Gross. Oh, my narrow mind. It wasn't until I was in massage school I realized my fascination with anatomy & the human body. I went from thinking gross to finding my passion. I had the opportunity of working as a sports & injury Massage Therapist in Utah with the most amazing Therapist, who only fueled my love for anatomy further. I loved focusing on rehabilitative work with athletes & studying & encouraging protocols for injury prevention. I am currently going "back to school" to complete a degree in Exercise Science & fulfill the prerequisites for a Physical Therapy Graduate Program.
I never really considered myself "artistic" but have recently been overtaken by a passion for photography. Dave introduced me to this about a year ago & has taught me quite a bit, though I still feel very inept. I love exploring this medium & sharing what I learn & capture along the way though ["Thru the Lens"]. I am also spending more of my free time trying to tap into other creative channels. In fact, I have recently decided to spend time on artistic/creative expression daily, even if it just means playing the piano more.
We sold most of our belongings when we moved from Utah. I like living fairly minimally, really just having what we need to do the things we love. We try to be conscious consumers, & I am working on incorporating the following more so & in order: refuse, reduce, reuse, then recycle. I share some of my ideas through a series labeled "Less Waste". I'm an idealist: I don't like focusing on the little difference I may or may not make; the only way I can live is to be the change I wish to see in the world.
Nearly two years ago, Dave & I spent a month in Thailand & then were married in our cherished Indian Creek. We are the type of people who consider Eisley (our pup) & Bodhi (our cat) part of our family. Anyone who meets you at the door (& they both do) has to be, right?
We moved from Utah about a year ago. Even though there is so much we love about Salt Lake, those aspects are fading; so we quit our jobs, sold most of our belongings, & ended up in Arizona. We live in Flagstaff.
I have recently gone back to school at Northern Arizona University to pursue an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science & fulfill the prerequisites for Physical Therapy school. Remember my fascination with anatomy & rehabilitative work? It is so incredibly different & amazing to finally have found a field I am passionate about. I hope to find a way to share this on the blog in a useful way.
Now that you know a little about me, I hope to get to know you. Please leave comments & questions, & have a beautiful day!
