Time to get in shape!

I hope you all have enjoyed your winter, but are looking forward to summer like I am :). March is on our heels and now is the time to get that bod in shape for swimsuit season! There's no better time to start a workout routine and doing that with pilates!

I am still teaching at King Studio and have now picked up classes at Xcel Gym and Spa in Holladay. Xcel has a fabulous pilates studio with 12 (that's right 12!) reformer machines for both members and non-members.

**Xcel featured my bio and class description in their latest newsletter. Check it out!

I am currently teaching four Reformer Plus or Reformer + classes a week at Xcel and will add classes in the coming months.

Reformer + is a more intense, amped-up version of classical pilates and is described below:

Reformer + is the optimal workout for quickly achieving a sleek, defined physique. The circuit-training classes are a twist on traditional Pilates and a workout staple of celebrities and top athletes. Best of all, expect to burn between 500-700 calories per class! One of the keys to Reformer + is pushing the body to muscle failure. As the term implies, Reformer + workout isolates specific muscles until they can no longer move. With muscular strengthening, improved flexibility and cardio endurance, this class encompasses all aspects of an effective workout, while embracing Pilates fundamentals.

These classes are AWESOME! They kick your butt and you will leave feeling like you just pumped some major iron at they gym :)

Signing up for classes at Xcel is easy. Just visit xcelfitness.com, click on pilates, then register for Reformer +. That will take you to the online schedule where you can register for one of my classes. The best part is your first class is FREE! So there's no reason for you to not come try at least once! Prices for these classes are set by Xcel and are available on their website.

Xcel Class Schedule:

Monday:

10:15 am

Wednesday:

8 am

10:15 am

6:30 pm

King Studio Class Schedule:

Monday:

4:30 pm

Tuesday:

3:30 pm

Wednesday:

4:30 pm

Friday:

3:30 pm

Saturday:

8 am

KING STUDIO ADDITIONAL INFO

Below are my prices for King Studio. Remember to text, call or email me to reserve your spot as there are only 6 spots per class. If you are interested in private or duet sessions let me know. If none of these times work for you, call or text me and we can figure out a time that would work for you!

**24 Hour Cancellation Policy

PRICES:
First class FREE!!
$20/class
5 pack for $90 ($18/class)
10 pack for $150 ($15/class)

King Studio:
1400 Foothill Dr. suite #228
Salt Lake CIty
(on the second floor in the south west corner of Foothill Village--above Steinmart)

Thanks everyone!! I hope to see you soon!

Ashley
801.502.9956

Tummy time

Tummy time? Sure, why not.

Emery's Baby Blessing

Emery's baby blessing 

January 22, 2012

Liz & Mark

Lauren

Travis, Dad, Colby, Newtons

Good friends, Bret, Cherissa & Violet

Phil & Kathryn

Aunt Ellen

Reed & Amber

Dave, Sam & Eli

Bonnie & Greg, Uncle Hicks & Aunt Deanna, Debi

Emma, Seth, Mason, Nathan, Neil, Tatum & Addie

Good friends, Andrew, Brynn & Addie

Becky, Ricky, Dave

Mom, the host & hostess

We're grateful for such awesome family and friends. It was a really special day for us and especially Dennis to be able to bless his daughter.

The early days

These were taken when Emery was first born. A little outdated but I wanted to record her early days of life. I look like I was just run over by a dump truck. That's what happens when you endure a 34 hour labor and end up in a C section.

Our sumo wrestler baby. Thank goodness she's gotten cuter.

Aunt Car Car

Nana

A must read.

I never really sympathized with a person, when speaking of a book, has said, "I couldn't put it down." I've always thought that was an overused cliche someone uses when they want to sound like they read a lot. You know. To impress you with their ability to read books quickly and with haste. I've never read a book that I literally couldn't take out of my hands and put on my night stand to go to sleep. Sleep has always taken priority over reading a novel. Well, things have changed my friends.

If you haven't had the privilege of reading this book, I implore you to do so. I can honestly say I read this book in the wee hours of the morning after feeding my baby because, well, I couldn't stop thinking about it. The story was consuming my mind. A book so intriguing, I would insist on discussing its contents with everyone, including the grocer at the super market. That's a slight exaggeration. But in all seriousness, it made my top five. Right up there with Into the Wild and The Road.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is a truly gripping story of a WWII vet that survived a plane crash and 42 days at sea in a flimsy raft only to get captured by the Japanese. He then becomes a POW in some of the worst prisoner camps during WWII. Albeit a startling and horrific story, it details a man's mind-boggling will to survive, his later miraculous transformation, and his ability to forgive. Great, great book.

Protagonist, Louie Zamperini.

What once was, now has been replaced.

Our dog has inexplicably become the red-headed step child. What once was the apple of our eye, has now hastily taken the back seat in the Blackburn house-hold. One might ask how such a travesty can occur. My answer to you is a 12 pound, eating, pooping, keep her mommy and daddy on their toes, machine. Her name is Emery. And she has taken over our lives. One diaper change at a time.

Emery came to this world October 24, in true overly dramatic, movie-like fashion. After a 34 hour labor, and an hour of pushing with forceps, she finally decided to grace us through a C-section. Her mommy wasn't ecstatic about the news of surgery, but was grateful nonetheless for her safe arrival. The first words emanating from the doctor as he pulled her out of my tummy, were "Wow, she's a huge baby!" That she was. All nine pounds seven ounces of her.

Before it was time to push, Emery decided remaining posterior (face-side up)was the only way she would attempt the birth canal. After an hour of coaxing and in reality trying to force her out, we all knew it was not going to happen safely. We pulled the plug and I came to grips with the fact that I wouldn't, in actuality, be giving birth. Despite my utter gratitude for her health and safety, I somehow felt inadequate as a mother. In this situation, I couldn't by any means give birth the natural way. It was disheartening, but in the grand scheme of things, it really didn't matter. I had a beautiful, dark-haired baby girl and I was happy. Besides, I dealt with a horrendous pregnancy for a while, so I guess that in itself makes up for my lack of birthing skills.

The next hurdle was breast-feeding. Truth be told, no one informed me of the frustrations nursing has to offer. I assumed your milk comes in the day you give birth, that your baby latches on right out of the womb, and that the natural feeding system is stress free and easy as pie. Boy, was I mistaken. After attempting to throw in the towel numerous times, I decided to stick it out no matter what it took. After all, I had a C-section and was not about to fail at nursing.

The nursing plight became a thing of the past, and baby and I were well on our way to a successful feeding relationship. I was once again a well-equipped mother.

Emery is gracefully aging into a post-newborn. She is almost 8 weeks and continually shows signs of contentment such as smiling, cooing, gurgling and adorably kicking her legs. As each week passes, she miraculously develops into an older, wiser, and more mature infant. Her progression is quite astonishing and sometimes I find myself wishing she would stay just where she is. A cuddly, squirmy, sack of potatoes.

Although our dog's walks and morning cuddle sessions are no longer to her liking, we still love her and consider her an integral part of our family. Emery and Stella will one day undoubtedly become best friends.

Belly pic, oh my!

While being bored on a Friday night waiting for my hubby to get home from a work trip, I decided I better post a 9 month pic of my GINORMOUS belly. The picture is horrible but it will have to do. I have less than four weeks until this baby decides to debut. Kinda freaking out. Not gonna lie.