tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66874508513806880122024-02-18T19:42:01.539-08:00THROUGH THE EYES OF A FEMBOT- Amy PurdyMotivational Speaker - Gold Medalist Adaptive Snowboarder -Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-14615960860786591402013-02-19T08:09:00.001-08:002013-02-19T08:11:24.049-08:00A LITTLE HISTORY<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My name is Amy Purdy, I am a survivor, a snowboarder, a
founder of Adaptive Action Sports, a globetrotter and a daydreamer.</span><br />
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All of the above have helped to get me where I am today
which is on the path to the 2014 Paralympic Games!<o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1999 I lost both of my legs to Bacterial Meningitis at
the age of 19 and I had no idea if I would ever snowboard again. I dreamt about
snowboarding on a daily basis and went on a mission to figure out a way to do
it again. What type of feet work, what type of sockets work, how do I even keep
these detachable body parts attached to my body in the first place (this
reality came with some pretty funny experiences, I’ll just leave it at that) <o:p></o:p></div>
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While on my path of figuring out how to snowboard with
bionic bodyparts, I came across many hardships including enduring a kidney
transplant <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the week of my 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>
birthday where my dad was the donor. Just three months after my transplant I attended
the 2001 USASA ( United States of America Snowboard Association) National Competition
in Mammoth Mountain, CA where I met a handful of other adaptive snowboarders
who were just as passionate about the sport as I was. For the first time ever I
felt like I fit in again. </div>
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<a href="http://www.teamusa.org/Team-USA-Winter-Bloggers/Amy-Purdy/A-Little-History.aspx" target="_blank">TO READ MORE CLICK HERE</a></div>
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</span></span><br />Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-42656443670359841912012-10-05T18:45:00.000-07:002012-10-07T10:41:13.799-07:00WATCH: Amy on CBS "THE AMAZING RACE" <span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wow what an adventure of a lifetime! This past spring Daniel and I got the opportunity to race around the world on the Emmy Award winning CBS TV show "The Amazing Race" and being the adventurous people we are we jumped to the opportunity! Make sure to watch Sunday nights at 8pm on CBS starting September 30 2012 <a href="http://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">http://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br />Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-5699670733594871252012-09-28T15:00:00.000-07:002012-10-05T18:46:15.701-07:00WEAR: Live Learn Grow Collection Element EdenThe Element Eden "Live Learn Grow Collection Inspired by Amy Purdy" has hit stores! Check out the new Holiday Photos below and the collection at <a href="http://www.elementeden.com/">www.elementeden.com</a><br />
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At any point in my day you will find me wearing a piece from the LLG collection! This collection was inspired by the lifestyle that I try to live daily, a lifestyle inspired by health, wellness and giving back. Each season the designers dig into my activities and inspirations to build the line from. Sometimes I'm inspired by the way a river moves or the color of the ground after a fresh rain, or vintage fabric or even pilates, either way, all of these inspirations are incorporated into the line and the inspiration behind the line. I'm so grateful to be apart of this collection!I hope you enjoy! <a href="http://www.elementeden.com/">www.elementeden.com</a><br />
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<br />Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-841873255128486232012-08-27T08:24:00.002-07:002012-10-05T18:43:12.839-07:00BUY: They Are Back! Amy Posters!!Amy Posters are back! These posters have been popular in schools, offices and medical facilities! Inspire your clients and students and support a good cause at the same time! Funds raised will go to support Adaptive Action Sport programs for youth, young adults and wounded vets so they can get involved in action sports like skateboarding and snowboarding. <br />
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Posters are $20 which includes shipping. All posters will ship after September 15th 2012! For shipment or order issues please email the store manager at <a href="mailto:shop@adacs.org">shop@adacs.org</a><br />
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The first poster is the original Amy Purdy Element Skateboards "Power to the Planet" as which first appeared in Teen Vogue last year. <br />
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The Quote reads : <b>"When we embrace the things that make us unique, our true and remarkable capabilities are revealed. Live Beyond Limits - Amy Purdy"</b><br />
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The second poster is from an Element Skateboards ad for the Amy Purdy Signature Skateboard which was available in 2009. <br />
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The quote reads: <b>" Instead of thinking of how we are limited, lets begin to think of the unlimited possibilities Live Beyond Limits - Amy Purdy"<br />
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Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-47006939110307536222012-06-30T13:00:00.000-07:002012-10-05T18:51:43.501-07:00SHARE: Amy's TED TALK - Living Beyond LimitsLast Spring I was given an opportunity of a lifetime when I was invited to speak at the world famous TEDX Conference! Speaking at TED was a dream of mine, but only in a small speck in my brain did I think I would ever be invited.
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When I was asked to speak I had only spoke at very small events, so accepting the invite was a giant leap for me! Although I felt that I was still so new to speaking and out of my comfort zone I made the choice to never give up no matter how scared I was or how challenging it was to prepare. And let me tell you, it was a challenge! Since this talk, I have actually given talks about the challenge of giving talks like the TED one and the skills I learned along the way. With this talk I pushed myself in ways I never could have prepared for, I opened myself up to being vulnerable, to talking about the things that hit deep cords within my gut and I poured my heart out on the stage. It was scary as hell but let me tell ya, it was worth it! My speech was chosen out of hundreds of speeches (all performed at TEDx conferences) to be featured on the homepage of TED.COM for 30 days. As soon as it posted it spread in a way I could have never expected, giving me opportunities to now tell me story all around the world!
I am so grateful that I have made choices in my life to not give up no matter how hard things get, I am grateful that this short simple talk has positivity touched so many lives, and I am grateful for all of the support I have had along the way. This experience truly has led me on one amazing journey!
I hope you enjoy!
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N2QZM7azGoA" width="400"></iframe><br />Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-86001624669304848802012-05-22T10:41:00.000-07:002012-10-05T19:14:43.732-07:00FOLLOW: Amy's Journey to SOCHI 2014<br />
Wow! What news we got last month! <o:p></o:p><br />
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Over the last 6 years myself, Adaptive Action Sports and the hard work of many other international organizations and athletes worked endlessly to get snowboarding into the Paralympic Games. The organization I founded and help to run AAS has worked around the clock since it was founded to give adaptive snowboarding the recognition it needs to be a Paralympic sport! One of the many events we put in place and currently run is the Adaptive Snowboard X at the ESPN Winter X Games. The Winter X Games is one of the largest snowboard events in the world and by being the venue for us to showcase our sport, we helped to make history last month when Para-Snowboarding became an official sport of the 2014 Paralympic Games! Keep your eyes open, I will be training harder than ever this year in hopes of making the official US Paralympic Team! More news to come.<br />
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Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-81464707199759296782012-05-20T22:05:00.000-07:002012-10-05T19:15:17.625-07:00RISE ABOVE Featuring Amy Purdy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi Guys! I'm Featured on the Ride Channel's Documentary series "Rise Above". Watch it here!<br />
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I rarely watch the work I have been in, maybe it's because I am a tad bit critical of myself, either something I said or the thought " gosh I look so tired." But self-criticism aside, I am proud to be apart of the "Ride Channels" " Rise Above" film series. The majority of film projects I have been involved in focus on my snowboarding or simply "my story" but this project gives you a little glimpse of the other projects I am involved in including the work I do with Element skateboards and motivational speaking. Thanks so much for all of your support, I hope you enjoy and please don't mind the circles under my eyes from a very long weekend. :)<br />
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<br />Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-6663715402031198502012-05-20T11:30:00.000-07:002012-10-05T19:15:40.721-07:00ME, NIKKI SIXX and DR. DREWNikki Sixx and I were featured together on the DR. Drew Show! Nikki asked me to do the show with him after he published his New York Times best selling book " This is Going To Hurt" which featured photographs of me that Nikki shot. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2vHMzCbi_UXVGbpji821DkbyxmmsdM3GNbqOdLuIEm6R9kTQLUDq5U4j52TJGrfv8qSX4gtQk1MxO7XNPj1gNw0sJ-NI36bYksLxVvcm_VkUYXkkogNTSZQYHt65vf7CYea6JaoMEHI/s1600/modeling+nikki+sixx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2vHMzCbi_UXVGbpji821DkbyxmmsdM3GNbqOdLuIEm6R9kTQLUDq5U4j52TJGrfv8qSX4gtQk1MxO7XNPj1gNw0sJ-NI36bYksLxVvcm_VkUYXkkogNTSZQYHt65vf7CYea6JaoMEHI/s320/modeling+nikki+sixx.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="257" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NjIbHmYLiyA?rel=0" width="400"></iframe><br />Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-41532554762617672522011-04-28T19:20:00.000-07:002012-07-04T14:30:10.166-07:00KEEP ON KEEPING ON<br />
Recently, I have realized that just about every person I know is in a major
life changing transformation. Right now more people than ever are without work,
money or direction. Some of my family members are going through it, some of my
closest friends are and today as I sat in a coffee shop on my computer I
overheard multiple conversations from people discussing the same thing,
"where do I go and what do I do now?" <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
So, I decided to open up about some of the things that have pulled me
through my toughest times. I too have found myself in many scary and uncertain
situations and the things below help to remind me that.<o:p></o:p><br />
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~ <strong>Everything is Temporary</strong>- Nothing in life is static, it's
constantly moving. Nature is constantly balancing itself out. So when things
get tough I try to remember that this situation is not permanent and it can
change with a blink of an eye, and if it doesnt, then I can change. The same
goes for the good, good things are temporary at times too, so enjoy every good
moment you have.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
~ <strong>Know that I am not alone -</strong>I try to surround myself with
people that make me happy, who are like minded, creative and positive, people
who support me. Like attracts like! We are all here on this earth for a reason
and we need to stick together!!!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>~ Remember that things can always be worse-</strong>.... I lost my
legs but I was prepared to lose my hands and more, but all I lost was my legs (
and some organs), lol. Even so, I am lucky to be me, to be healthy, to be alive
and to have the capability to love and be loved. Every breath we take is a
miracle and if we are still here, then we are meant to be here and meant to do
more.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<strong>~ Transition is good- I</strong>t may not be comfortable but it is
good. In order to stay alive you have to keep moving. Life is about growth, the
only way we grow is to be challenged, to learn from change and to move forward.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<strong>~Dwell in the possibilities!</strong> It’s so easy to dwell on the
things we don't have or think we can't have. Why not dwell on the amazing
things we do have and on the amazing possibilities! Anything is possible! When
I entered the hospital I was told I had less then a 2% chance of living after
almost every one of my organs shut down. I was massively internally bleeding
and fighting for my life on machines and yet, I'm here, healthy and strong, I’m
here! Anything is possible!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
~ <strong>Life is about the journey!</strong> When I was in the coma
fighting for my life, I made the choice to stay here and finish off what I had
started. After, I made that choice I began to understand that life is about the
ups and downs...at times I will climb to mountain tops and at times I dwell on
valley floors. Don't try to avoid obstacles, learn from them. Go with the flow
and it will all make sense in the end.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Whoever said " It aint easy, but it's worth it" hit the nail on
the head.... If we fight change, we will never be comfortable with it, if we
embrace it we may just find ourselves in a place we never could have imagined!<o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">These things he</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIJuEdpcteMrJelFktXP4mjKzStqnLNm7Zxo6G_fQnI58CauQA0u-V7D_WACT0_rzCr2yOQysCZRn0Z2O603Gb-ycFw3wPAhl3S-ov62_0h4-iLsc-d67WtAx4pYIBrnBDjw-Q0vfPdk/s1600/amy+LLG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIJuEdpcteMrJelFktXP4mjKzStqnLNm7Zxo6G_fQnI58CauQA0u-V7D_WACT0_rzCr2yOQysCZRn0Z2O603Gb-ycFw3wPAhl3S-ov62_0h4-iLsc-d67WtAx4pYIBrnBDjw-Q0vfPdk/s400/amy+LLG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-4657350821945779512011-04-13T09:37:00.000-07:002011-04-13T10:59:06.739-07:00RoadTrippen in HipstamaticWe decided to road trip up to BC for the WSF Adaptive Para-Snowboard World Cup and it was breathtaking! <br />About a month ago I saw this beautiful picture of a lake in a travel magazine. The lake was a vibrant turquoise and was surrounded by huge towering mountains and glaciers, I remember thinking that I wanted to go there someday! In our hotel room this past weekend the same picture flashed on the TV and I said to Daniel "That's the place, that's where I want to go!" and Daniel replied " that's where we are, look out the window." Everything was covered in snow, but yes, that's where we were, Lake Louise!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJoLYujvZ7CyCSsrKZ0yO6REVZsMPlqJnrz9RV5s_JabP0_ZvCL4AAbfYXtYBTLmfdxr3Ll6yvQHCDIeayd_2N5QiOxll1NAR0q5ceCmdg452jUUb80dNCpTKFesiuJDfJs1PuG9_5EU/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJoLYujvZ7CyCSsrKZ0yO6REVZsMPlqJnrz9RV5s_JabP0_ZvCL4AAbfYXtYBTLmfdxr3Ll6yvQHCDIeayd_2N5QiOxll1NAR0q5ceCmdg452jUUb80dNCpTKFesiuJDfJs1PuG9_5EU/s400/IMG_0891.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595114964136276786" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0xcdDNu5qVXdDq2yS-FvjFzXC-9e-q_Ovvw5wVFfvJJ3QXMxq6MXuBDNOQQWh5O_-PZPD_ijHMO5pYpZdImO3guah7xmR5S7xbQ47fGtHgR85D6jgijVldqcwml08cl4D0VZIreK4_Y/s1600/IMG_0889.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0xcdDNu5qVXdDq2yS-FvjFzXC-9e-q_Ovvw5wVFfvJJ3QXMxq6MXuBDNOQQWh5O_-PZPD_ijHMO5pYpZdImO3guah7xmR5S7xbQ47fGtHgR85D6jgijVldqcwml08cl4D0VZIreK4_Y/s400/IMG_0889.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595114991810403506" /></a> This is what I saw when I looked under my feet!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDky9r08btdCq405CSssD2XUFZpZv1mN4nZQiqLOayMKar4xPTQB92X_J7U1UDAUwPh95Hs-nkIZ4UJXu8pt0eXihOvHe-gBknoQsQ7HqcppbFkGb47YnU1Ashv0NDiMftiVnfElejaY/s1600/IMG_0880.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDky9r08btdCq405CSssD2XUFZpZv1mN4nZQiqLOayMKar4xPTQB92X_J7U1UDAUwPh95Hs-nkIZ4UJXu8pt0eXihOvHe-gBknoQsQ7HqcppbFkGb47YnU1Ashv0NDiMftiVnfElejaY/s400/IMG_0880.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595118098386780290" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDsH2K6NwsSaVsL0kagNzQo5x8r8Q09Oy1_x1A-ljP9TldPHAe2V-ro7YsR8ZlYb9l1KjeJbUcbdiJrYlOzZq4MJCs3N-zVReW2k6Kiv8J-3emfskqXWmBNNImJF3Qsf6L_Wlfg9yaZc/s1600/IMG_0862.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDsH2K6NwsSaVsL0kagNzQo5x8r8Q09Oy1_x1A-ljP9TldPHAe2V-ro7YsR8ZlYb9l1KjeJbUcbdiJrYlOzZq4MJCs3N-zVReW2k6Kiv8J-3emfskqXWmBNNImJF3Qsf6L_Wlfg9yaZc/s400/IMG_0862.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595114977384397314" /></a> The mountains were huge!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoxRzbZ6a6fKTmOqBv_qAPtwMpalvJVbMOLIIoIoNGXsJX6mNr3wgKeUoMfuEyC9TuApXcsTi-BU7K2aX14E3D7IYvHERpM7waYcnRrFEYLnsxmw7c-Qq9_a-JfkTI2fxVr5eEE9O9Lk/s1600/IMG_0876.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoxRzbZ6a6fKTmOqBv_qAPtwMpalvJVbMOLIIoIoNGXsJX6mNr3wgKeUoMfuEyC9TuApXcsTi-BU7K2aX14E3D7IYvHERpM7waYcnRrFEYLnsxmw7c-Qq9_a-JfkTI2fxVr5eEE9O9Lk/s400/IMG_0876.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595121954632097634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqJahJAdIbGT03WXwmnCujL3ddsr5970iVJdTv64sBybxCgF8E0BYv80LbvLDtmYmb_yVYDISssvvBK9USSBwtUzVKR8JNE3L9uwoAeV6keCxqrMoWh4RguLwKwoQbo56_xH_Ln1CCNE/s1600/IMG_0877.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqJahJAdIbGT03WXwmnCujL3ddsr5970iVJdTv64sBybxCgF8E0BYv80LbvLDtmYmb_yVYDISssvvBK9USSBwtUzVKR8JNE3L9uwoAeV6keCxqrMoWh4RguLwKwoQbo56_xH_Ln1CCNE/s400/IMG_0877.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595121947053580978" /></a> The coolest hallway I've ever walked through!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWUwR3RyE9g5EBXSC0AslZ1UX3yQLxsR1vRRMTQLej-QrFh1Y_4Iu3tWyyTLkh3MT__Cl3fKt6tlx16wdQHwm7M6a-JcNt0VZE8ZdoDOfIB3URG0i1PTCHnZpyYZr0RzA0Nsg66t_siU/s1600/IMG_0868.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWUwR3RyE9g5EBXSC0AslZ1UX3yQLxsR1vRRMTQLej-QrFh1Y_4Iu3tWyyTLkh3MT__Cl3fKt6tlx16wdQHwm7M6a-JcNt0VZE8ZdoDOfIB3URG0i1PTCHnZpyYZr0RzA0Nsg66t_siU/s400/IMG_0868.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595118135588239426" /></a> The animals have their own bridges for crossing the highway!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-AMph3UHD4p_3trWQVouh03h3A2GFT-xDpBPru3F2zD980KmlPrQa-el0PAEQADeZNzeCa4ilOuJVdAtxNi0m_rHC5HThBENCtYHBvxqj7ez1K3NeGj1stfvFJxBMsFjnUvraBANNFQ/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-AMph3UHD4p_3trWQVouh03h3A2GFT-xDpBPru3F2zD980KmlPrQa-el0PAEQADeZNzeCa4ilOuJVdAtxNi0m_rHC5HThBENCtYHBvxqj7ez1K3NeGj1stfvFJxBMsFjnUvraBANNFQ/s400/IMG_0919.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595118124321189858" /></a> Gonnies style suspension bridge!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjMwNZC0yVcDuTUyWuZKXvhtT9U6TtBNr8r0_3foeQJXOvG__TXK55QXC_Xf-HOm3SaFWf0F4LjBMGJHeZRGlkVsjmwDEOjLpUDLrstgqXeWaxD8_oSAyc9V4MWbaI6xCR892qJSMbWo/s1600/IMG_0912.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjMwNZC0yVcDuTUyWuZKXvhtT9U6TtBNr8r0_3foeQJXOvG__TXK55QXC_Xf-HOm3SaFWf0F4LjBMGJHeZRGlkVsjmwDEOjLpUDLrstgqXeWaxD8_oSAyc9V4MWbaI6xCR892qJSMbWo/s400/IMG_0912.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595118118601387906" /></a> Well hello Mr. Big Horn Sheep!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzR4HBF5ntV_a0UVN3nbjbwts6LM9W1Op6rAjz0p3iagGacUfeCVBGt8e6jw1Q-0JhGaCD-pCKivYY-RuuU3QB625SvK5ok2Eunkx8iIKexAmA1fPR-PgGqalQ01W9tOx4ycl1Dl_2nE/s1600/IMG_0870.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzR4HBF5ntV_a0UVN3nbjbwts6LM9W1Op6rAjz0p3iagGacUfeCVBGt8e6jw1Q-0JhGaCD-pCKivYY-RuuU3QB625SvK5ok2Eunkx8iIKexAmA1fPR-PgGqalQ01W9tOx4ycl1Dl_2nE/s400/IMG_0870.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595128751162997090" /></a> Did I mention how huge the mountains were?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_9GHra5VbQqqEdJ_7aId3nhrTgth8hgnDChnFbhlVqgH94k1eKYrn5WdvZt-djgcVl17KqQPl78MmC89XRhZYTINyIE1mcQSH5t3TIE5XqRBsJTKB_V1OptGd6rPtBiBq8OeCTRlmSI/s1600/IMG_0905.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_9GHra5VbQqqEdJ_7aId3nhrTgth8hgnDChnFbhlVqgH94k1eKYrn5WdvZt-djgcVl17KqQPl78MmC89XRhZYTINyIE1mcQSH5t3TIE5XqRBsJTKB_V1OptGd6rPtBiBq8OeCTRlmSI/s400/IMG_0905.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595118108611216514" /></a> Blue Glacier waterfalls were everywhere! I've never seen anything like it before!<br /><br />Isn't our world beautiful! I am so grateful that I get the opportunity to experience it!Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-9941994565340574132011-03-22T19:32:00.000-07:002012-06-30T18:46:03.633-07:00Amy Featured in VANS " Pass the Bucket"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWnKyGauhHbx9eotD1ZW6DUuLk2oHtEQbOFyY6W7sMeEPEsGl1BVMEAhm3SSuDzcbEunblXqFxc6md4vcGqh7bxOGBGvBcq5aNNgL8wya1YFlpcCzkMGgoxCzOsOe48bkYNzpgS8S-X0/s1600/vans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="166" width="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWnKyGauhHbx9eotD1ZW6DUuLk2oHtEQbOFyY6W7sMeEPEsGl1BVMEAhm3SSuDzcbEunblXqFxc6md4vcGqh7bxOGBGvBcq5aNNgL8wya1YFlpcCzkMGgoxCzOsOe48bkYNzpgS8S-X0/s320/vans.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/21006371" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/21006371">Pass The Bucket - Amy Purdy</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/offthewalltv">Vans OffTheWall.TV</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<script src="http://player.ooyala.com/player.js?embedCode=tod2NiMjpSSf2AzEfPN7uoPNrUktB-Li&hide=info&width=480&height=270">
</script>Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-25798879382609644042011-02-16T11:30:00.000-08:002011-02-16T16:58:21.999-08:00Lean Green Machine!That's what I'm calling my new green drink recipe! It's so good and seems to keep getting better everyday! I started making these because I realize that most of us, no matter how healthy we eat, just plain and simple do not get enough veggies in our diets! It's hard to eat plates and plates of salad and fruit everyday. So, I decided to stuff all my veggies into the <a href="http://www.vitamix.com/index.asp">Vitamix</a> first thing in the morning, that way I feel good for the day plus had a mass amount of needed nutrients! Plus it tastes like pineapple and coconut, you don't even taste the greens!<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrzdjPZJh2-DbGGRyFWpXnIRzFX0H41h8MgpfqQY-HQh3zUyFZ4HpgK6d15Gx39wqqJxcndnAe78Vjcn4XyMYraMhrjxko40xpFPGKVfN9vPfa1Jb01efFUqCzn8_q_oT6vxG1Fu4DKo/s1600/IMG_0165.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 347px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrzdjPZJh2-DbGGRyFWpXnIRzFX0H41h8MgpfqQY-HQh3zUyFZ4HpgK6d15Gx39wqqJxcndnAe78Vjcn4XyMYraMhrjxko40xpFPGKVfN9vPfa1Jb01efFUqCzn8_q_oT6vxG1Fu4DKo/s400/IMG_0165.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574376057876567826" /></a><br /><br />GREEN DRINK RECIPE #2<br />Coconut Water (depending on how thick you like your drink, I add a good 16oz)<br />2 leafs of romain lettuce<br />3 leafs of dark green kale<br />1 stalk of celery<br />5-8 baby carrots<br />1 thick pineapple spear<br />1 handful of grapes<br />1 big handful of spinach<br />1 big chunk of ginger<br />1 spoonful of coconut oil <br /><a href="http://amy-purdy.blogspot.com/2011/01/oil-machine.html">2 big tablespoons of UDO's oil (read about it here)</a><br />2 tablespoons Flora Udo's Green Blend ( you can buy it at healthfood stores)<br />1 handful of ice<br />Blend<br />Makes 2 large servings!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV55e651GqOG1Cury8Zbs_hTjiBd2q5UZ3rQz1dQ2E3uvwv8P74DHWD_13g65NpHM0K4IolLn2SCTsqdB92qLNsKg2sQHH4gANY0GRo2vq6ydezOx-VzbvXOVOlm72hGRm23R0LTiYqQ/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV55e651GqOG1Cury8Zbs_hTjiBd2q5UZ3rQz1dQ2E3uvwv8P74DHWD_13g65NpHM0K4IolLn2SCTsqdB92qLNsKg2sQHH4gANY0GRo2vq6ydezOx-VzbvXOVOlm72hGRm23R0LTiYqQ/s400/IMG_0182.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574380335221785474" /></a>Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-20866969599561676382011-02-11T11:25:00.000-08:002011-02-11T12:09:33.983-08:00Read of the month!After reading a fantastic book this month <a href="http://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/0446691437">"The War of Art"</a> and wanting to share it with the the people I care for, I have decided to start a monthly blog post about the books I am reading. <br /><br />So why would you want to take a book suggestion from me? Well, I am certainly no critic and to tell you the truth I only read <a href="http://www.cliffsnotes.com/">cliffsnotes </a>in high school in order to get through book reports. I don't have a library of books in my house and certainly cannot say that I have read every book before the film comes out, usually it's the other way around. But, I think that is the reason why my opinion is legit enough to write about them! Outside of being fascinated with them, ( I love the way they smell, feel in my hands and am so anxious to fill my head with stories and knowledge)I think I am good to write about books because I get bored easy, I lose interest quickly, my ADD or whatever you want to call it forces me to constantly multitask, to skip around pages and for whatever reason I thoroughly enjoy reading books and magazines from the last page to the first. Therefore, can you think of a better critic then I? If a book captures my interest long enough to finish it and speaks true to my heart then you will find it on this blog! Enjoy!<br /><br /><strong>Fembot's first book of the month!</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70RHKBmgtbUF6vti1Ci57HXf4dINvbNhTcVn_8TXD4y-exGJDtSmDu4YSrHigNgyIX7194VgLOZAAwiu1kd_79X3_mHdp2zlQStkp0g7Qp86J2xEuam6oz7tHb_xpajsMEzODha1MY5A/s1600/war+of+art.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70RHKBmgtbUF6vti1Ci57HXf4dINvbNhTcVn_8TXD4y-exGJDtSmDu4YSrHigNgyIX7194VgLOZAAwiu1kd_79X3_mHdp2zlQStkp0g7Qp86J2xEuam6oz7tHb_xpajsMEzODha1MY5A/s320/war+of+art.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572524350391845314" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Book:</strong> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/0446691437"><strong>THE WAR OF ART</strong></a> Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles <br /><br /><strong>Author:</strong> Steven Pressfield<br /><br /><strong>Why this book?:</strong> It's rare that I read books that really speak true to my heart. I felt that this book not only taught me new information but even more it confirmed the information I already new and felt to be true. We all battle with resistance, we all battle with the fear and procrastination that goes hand in hand with motivation and drive. This book helps to identify that energy that works so hard to stop us from reaching our dreams and goals. This book also is written for someone like me, the chapters are small, some chapters consist of only 1 small paragraph which makes it a super easy read.<br /><br /><strong>Quote from the book that really sums it up:</strong> "There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny. This second, we can turn the tables on Resistance. This second, we can sit down and do our work." Oh and did I mention that this is the creater of the book and film <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Bagger-Vance-Will-Smith/dp/B00003CXI4">The Legend of Bagger Vance? </a>Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-80217078187937241922011-02-10T19:10:00.000-08:002011-02-10T20:34:30.710-08:00Golden Girl<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIwXMjHUJnawwh22j8KtXdLjWExeJc_MSXUlwj7Oz_xQCpeCXwRAsd3OaB7geB-L_5MKt1VB5ZmUuWzYRVWV4_abLthX41arkngMk2VA109_NT73JrOSfnkx9o6uS0XSzm7HGnKGqkhU/s1600/amy+WC+gold.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIwXMjHUJnawwh22j8KtXdLjWExeJc_MSXUlwj7Oz_xQCpeCXwRAsd3OaB7geB-L_5MKt1VB5ZmUuWzYRVWV4_abLthX41arkngMk2VA109_NT73JrOSfnkx9o6uS0XSzm7HGnKGqkhU/s320/amy+WC+gold.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572268441539599074" /></a><br />I won two French Adaptive snowboarding world cups this week! This officially makes me the highest ranked female adaptive snowboarder in the world! Nuts! Not too bad for a chick with legs made of metal..lol.. bionic, hightech carbon fiber that is... I have actually never been a very competitive snowboarder. I have always stood true to what it is that I love about snowboarding which is not the competition but the freedom and independence I feel while carving down a mountain of powder. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf5vPiloc-m68TOfmQxQ-2wTy81N9zlPQLZ6RI4uzi2_w2Ygw4sfBF9SDox0Sq6BpWmtJB6VWWJ6Vi8GtogV_r7HIK8eRXFysWL0LCKkwCshYrGb0GGrG6uKV2omXkG4fkjMiYTCRj2Y/s1600/IMG_2950.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf5vPiloc-m68TOfmQxQ-2wTy81N9zlPQLZ6RI4uzi2_w2Ygw4sfBF9SDox0Sq6BpWmtJB6VWWJ6Vi8GtogV_r7HIK8eRXFysWL0LCKkwCshYrGb0GGrG6uKV2omXkG4fkjMiYTCRj2Y/s400/IMG_2950.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572285517912949090" /></a><br />Although, now I can say that it is very rewarding being involved with competition.I know that when I compete that I am helping adaptive snowboarding grow, that I am pushing not only my boundaries but the limitiations of the sport in general, that I am a part of the growth of something much much bigger then myself! <br /> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.worldsnowboardfederation.org/modules.php?name=PARA-SNOWBOARD">para-snowboarding</a>, <a href="http://www.worldsnowboardfederation.org/morenews-viewallnews-6.html">adaptive snowboarding</a>, French Adaptive World Cup, WSF Adaptive Snowboarding,Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-31109162497466561442011-01-24T21:48:00.000-08:002011-01-25T08:04:02.190-08:0010,000 feet of endurance!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpAjsogfejrTRy0ZWWmxslNBaYZMmTgEfWGAIWV3BWEWZjNx8_Mzo413Yd8fhRgb7WuHqKzbTl-pvHPLV-2Ml7pgYYiUDAlaRO_TaezJlxfpTelQ0TktmP5ddNDs1E4KGmq8I_WHPwT4/s1600/IMG_2801.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpAjsogfejrTRy0ZWWmxslNBaYZMmTgEfWGAIWV3BWEWZjNx8_Mzo413Yd8fhRgb7WuHqKzbTl-pvHPLV-2Ml7pgYYiUDAlaRO_TaezJlxfpTelQ0TktmP5ddNDs1E4KGmq8I_WHPwT4/s320/IMG_2801.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566000820007480562" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Today I got the opportunity to ride Crested Butte, Co! What an amazing magical place! Not just because I met my boyfriend here 9 years ago and had the opportunity to live up here for a year but because the wilderness here is so huge, it reminds you just how small we are.<br /><br />We decided to take a detour here on our way to the <a href="http://espn.go.com/action/xgames/winter/2011/?ex_cid=2011_psrc_wx15_even_tune&partner=Google">ESPN X GAMES</a> where our organization <a href="http://www.adacs.org">Adaptive Action Sports</a> is running the first<a href="http://adaptiveactionsports.blogspot.com/2011/01/adaptive-snowboarder-x-espn-x-games.html"> X Games Adaptive Snowboard Competition!</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRF0ctxdh3YbNTJBL93sAZ1dzvPEuKn_GFc_rFAXyd2jiczFI4yHeVJqWNFfhMUJS_FjzITOZV3hZr2wUMAeuXK7x4KQ5_uQBRI11czXfiIC4t-9zqdi-JKPNVS8UVbTZbiWm3lhkAoE/s1600/IMG_2817.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRF0ctxdh3YbNTJBL93sAZ1dzvPEuKn_GFc_rFAXyd2jiczFI4yHeVJqWNFfhMUJS_FjzITOZV3hZr2wUMAeuXK7x4KQ5_uQBRI11czXfiIC4t-9zqdi-JKPNVS8UVbTZbiWm3lhkAoE/s320/IMG_2817.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566000172644985602" /></a> Today we woke up to bluebird sky's and perfect runs! I swear that the <a href="http://www.oilthemachine.com/">Udo's Oil</a> I am religiously taking has helped my snowboarding! I haven't rode for weeks and today in 10,000 ft elevation I rode all day without any muscle soreness during the day or after. It is supposed to be amazing for endurance and recovery and today was a test of that for me! Since I am missing the lower half of my legs I mainly snowboard using my thigh muscles and upper body! I use so much energy just to walk (a double leg amputee can burn up to 60% more energy then the average person)so you can imagine how much energy I blast through in a day of hard snowboarding! My muscles were actually feeling so good that at one point during the day I leaned against the wall to do some wall squats to try to get some burn, then at the end of the day took a hike to grab some extra pow and still... no burn and endless energy! It's amazing what a difference the oil is making for me! <a href="http://espn.go.com/action/xgames/winter/2011/?ex_cid=2011_psrc_wx15_even_tune&partner=Google">ESPN X Games</a> and <a href="http://www.worldsnowboardfederation.org/morenews-viewallnews-6.html">French Adaptive World Cup</a> here I come!<br /><br /><br /><br />Adaptive Snowboarding, para-snowboarding, ESPN X GAMES ADAPTIVE, Adaptive Action SportsAmy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-60191904581369721682011-01-12T14:51:00.000-08:002011-01-12T19:20:48.969-08:00Oil the Machine!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5b5WVwsW60sU6V4G9KRygaR45ku2vGRqCpyMXk_wwsMofEzSZRpNn5SjPFhvObbMkau141trLopRfSpz-K2aCYzfIqM3pOes5V2cO5NEM08uqYqAuGoarW_4d22Jh_J2gm8Ho3kqzo0/s1600/Udos.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5b5WVwsW60sU6V4G9KRygaR45ku2vGRqCpyMXk_wwsMofEzSZRpNn5SjPFhvObbMkau141trLopRfSpz-K2aCYzfIqM3pOes5V2cO5NEM08uqYqAuGoarW_4d22Jh_J2gm8Ho3kqzo0/s320/Udos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561469757174238130" /></a><br />Udo's Oil! Have you tried it? <br /><br />I saw Udo's Oil while walking through WholeFoods and other health food stores but I never knew anything about it or the benefits of taking it... until now!<br /><br />First of all our bodies need fat!! A lot of it! But it needs to be the right type of fat! Our bodies use fat for energy, strength and stamina. Fat feeds our brains and helps us focus, it supports our neurological system and helps promote a lean body mass just to name a few benefits. Yet so many people are scared of it, therefore we don't consume enough of it. Or, in most of our diets our intake comes from saturated animal fat. <br /><br />I, like most people get so busy day to day that I realize I haven't been eating enough nutrients or taking in a beneficial amount of oils and fats and yet I need to be taking in more than the average person since I am very active. Being a double leg amputee I burn up to 60% more calories then the average person (That's like doing sit-ups all day :))<br /><br />The idea of Udo's oil is to nutritionally support the system with the perfect balance of Omega oils 3,6 and 9. That way we are getting enough of the right kind of fat to keep our bodies running not just smoothly but at an exceptional level. Instead of the oil coming from animals or fish the oil comes from seeds and nuts including flax seed, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds.<br /><br />I started taking the oil consistently about a month and a half ago and I feel amazing! The first thing I noticed is that I was falling to sleep better and waking up more energized and refreshed. To tell you the truth I have been waking up with so much energy I almost don’t know what to do with all of it! No more groggy mornings! I mentioned this to Flora and they said that a study was done and that was a common benefit among the people taking it. Next I started noticing that I all around feel good. I don’t know how to explain it but I feel happier, more relaxed and less stressed, like an overall sense of wellbeing.<br /><br />In the next few weeks, I will be training harder and snowboarding more during our X Games event and World Cups so I will be able to put the oil to the test more athletically. I’ll keep you updated!<br /><br />Another thing; it's really important to me to be aware of where the products I use come from. I will only promote companies that I know have integrity and that are quality products that I believe in. I truly feel lucky to have been introduced to this product and to be working with Flora. <br /><br />From this point forward I’ll continue to blog about these products with tips and ideas on how to incorporate them into a healthy lifestyle!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.oilthemachine.com/About-The-Oil.html">For more information on Udo's Oil click here!</a>Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-69938896316285390622010-11-06T14:09:00.001-07:002010-11-09T12:54:21.793-08:00Happy 10'th anniversary to my kidney, my dad and my second chance at life!Wow 10 years already?? Where did time go? Oh yes it went to me living the fullest life I possibly could live! <br />I remember all of this as if it was yesterday. In 1999 I entered the hospital with Meningicoccal Meningitis, in septic shock and complete kidney failure. My kidneys had shut down so suddenly that Dr. Abby the emergency room surgeon told my family he had never seen a person survive kidney failure like this before. My kidney’s went from working as a normal 19 year olds should to stopping 100% without a warning. But that’s how Meningicoccal Meningitis is, it absolutly blindsides you. Your healthier then ever one day then the next every organ in your body has shut down, every blood vessel in your body is hemorrhaging and if you survive you are facing the amputation of your limbs, loss of hearing and skingrafts just to name a few.<br /><br /> As soon as the nurses were able to find a vein they put me on 24 hour dialysis where a nurse had to sit by my side around the clock manually controlling my blood pressure and heart rate. If my heart rate would drop, they would adjust a medication to raise it up then suddenly my blood pressure would crash and they would give me another med to bring that up, all while the machine was filtering my blood. My life was absolutely in the nurses hands at this point and any wrong decision or wrong move and I would have been gone. It was such tedious work for Nurse Vicki that at one point she stepped out of the room and broke down crying to my family.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXr26joR5utMdMxqpYbkzjBL_O72camNDwaLj4-_e6aP8InwG8jMVSeWgp3fSaJ-iDuRITYb3A6zThzjv48F96GlKr-PF63MvvG1S1kAKb71HVyTPic0u8U1r95uLBSk8R42dbT8AKRo/s1600/Picture4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXr26joR5utMdMxqpYbkzjBL_O72camNDwaLj4-_e6aP8InwG8jMVSeWgp3fSaJ-iDuRITYb3A6zThzjv48F96GlKr-PF63MvvG1S1kAKb71HVyTPic0u8U1r95uLBSk8R42dbT8AKRo/s400/Picture4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536579942242992674" /></a><br /><br /><br />After a few weeks, I was moved from 24 hour dialysis to Hemo Dialysis which was an experience all of it's own. Every other day I would watch them roll in the machine and absolutely dread what was about to happen for the next 4 hours. They would hook the tube from the machine to the tube that was placed into my heart. When they flipped the machine on and it would slowly start pulling my blood out and pass it through a network of tubes and filters. The filter was a long clear tube which had a material in it that had the appearence of a coffee filter. I always thought that was strange, that my life is being supported by a modified coffee filter. It’s almost shocking that this man made machine with an on/off switch and a plug in the wall could mimic a human kidney. After hooking me up to this artificial kidney I would watch the filter paper go from bright white , to pink, then get saturated with red. The filtered blood would then go through a network of tubing and would go directly back into my heart. My fascination with the machine would only last for a good 50 seconds before I would get dizzy, start shaking and throw up which would require the nurse to give me a medication that would knock me out. About two hours later I would open my eyes just to see that I still had another 2 hours attached to the machine. I have to say that as challenging as it was, I don’t have any negative feelings toward this time. If anything ,I only have good feelings. I imagine it is due to the fact that my family would sit buy my side the whole time chatting with the Dialysis Tech who always seemed to have interesting stories. There is something about that time that is so surreal for me to think back on, yet the feelings that I get from it are those of gratitude and comfort. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjsfEsItYmgpCoWRv9mzVlbG40a39lGNRfMWC9Ib-2tBrzW0J1euJGi3vtLQA1JvLAUlKEk6fcB9ay_QU6vrP1MWIV7RftclYgIV0CrVuhJl_q6j5eqZdSIkWkFdxcXnqtUJfPS1bcME/s1600/Picture13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjsfEsItYmgpCoWRv9mzVlbG40a39lGNRfMWC9Ib-2tBrzW0J1euJGi3vtLQA1JvLAUlKEk6fcB9ay_QU6vrP1MWIV7RftclYgIV0CrVuhJl_q6j5eqZdSIkWkFdxcXnqtUJfPS1bcME/s400/Picture13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536580236301347810" /></a><br /><br /><br />After about 5 months of dialysis, 4 hours a day, 3 days a week we decided that I wasn’t getting any healthier and if anything I was only getting weaker. I was only 83 pounds to start with and when I would get back from the dialysis center I would weigh less and be lacking important nutrients in my system. I spent these months without legs, in a wheelchair, with severe back pain and would sleep most of the day. At one point we realized that I wouldn’t be able to walk or gain weight as long as I had to be hooked to this machine. It literally was sucking out whatever life was left in me. <br /><br />I was lucky enough to be switched to another type of dialysis called Peritoneal Dialysis. My new kidney Doctor switched me to this dialysis after seeing how sick I was getting. Peritoneal is a type of dialysis that is gentle enough to be used on infants yet efficient enough for an adult to survive long term. I had a surgery that pulled out the hemo-dialysis port from my heart and replaced it with a peritoneal tube that went into my abdomen. This dialysis would prove to be my life saver! Just days after using it, I already felt better and within weeks I was gaining weight and building enough strength to get around the house in my new prosthetic legs. Over the next few months I went on to work out daily, to go out with friends and to even go to Aspen, Colorado for the summer by myself and hike and rockclimb. All with my “friend” the peritoneal machine by my side. <br /><br />A year and a half after my whole ordeal started I had hit a point where I realized, my kidneys were not coming back. We were hoping that being 19 years old, that I was young enough for my kidneys to regenerate. But we were aware from the beginning that kidneys aren’t very good at that. Once they are injured they tend to get worse until a transplant is eventually needed. My kidneys had functioned normal to a point, I was lucky enough to be able to eat as much as I wanted and to not have to worry about sodium or potassium, yet my kidneys would not filter enough toxins out of my blood on thier own to keep me alive and healthy. But the thought of a kidney transplant was so overwhelming to me it was so hard to wrap my head around the idea that for a long time it wasn't even a thought! I had just survived losing both of my legs and now the doctors expect me to have a kidney transplant?? Were they serious? Isn’t this the kind of stuff that happens to the people on Dateline, Oprah or 20/20? I pleaded at times with whatever greater force could hear me to please help my kidneys come back!! I cannot stress how I was absolutely against having a kidney transplant in every way!! That is.. until I felt the cool air of fall approaching and started to sense snow in the air.<br /><br />October of 2000, a year and a half after I left the hospital I couldn't fight it any longer and agreed with my doctors that the only way for me to move forward with my life was to have a transplant. The decision was made, I had no choice, If I ever wanted to snowboard again and live a healthy life I would have to succumb to my worst fear. Here I was trying so hard to keep myself healthy so that I would never get something like Meningitis again. Yet ,with a kidney transplant I would be forced to take immune suppressive medication the rest of my life so I don’t fight off the kidney. It was a catch 22 and I had to figure out if living a life on dialysis without a new kidney and without immunosuppressive medication would keep me healthier then living a life with a new kidney paired with a life on immunosuppressive meds. I chose the latter. <br /><br />We always assumed that If I was going to go through with the surgery that my sister would be the donor. We thought that our closeness in age and her optimum health would make her a perfect candidate. That is until we realized that under a microscope her and I didn’t match at all. The first thing that has to match is your blood type, so that ruled her and my mom out right away. The next thing that had to match was the antigens. There are 6 in total that they look at and the more antigens that match between the donor and the recipient the better chance that your body will accept the kidney. My father and I matched higher then most kids do with their parents, 4 out of 6. Yes, my dad was almost perfect match! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUiex2WYzcdicHNNK3dZOFsNx3r7w-KIh2BBQZ4EbdnbKkwq6hLOA8PJ6oqWIVfDhhbrsfSnPVoHye3lxjPOYNUoj6uGNgYryeoqwEDflhX_yGHi5kH36KewyKNbY4q1eJAlhSRvvre0/s1600/Picture17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUiex2WYzcdicHNNK3dZOFsNx3r7w-KIh2BBQZ4EbdnbKkwq6hLOA8PJ6oqWIVfDhhbrsfSnPVoHye3lxjPOYNUoj6uGNgYryeoqwEDflhX_yGHi5kH36KewyKNbY4q1eJAlhSRvvre0/s400/Picture17.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536581207623155426" /></a><br /><br /><br />After multiple X rays and blood tests the doctors gave us the option to set the surgery for November 7th, which just so happened to be my 21st birthday. As much as I agreed that I was receiving the best birthday gift I could ever receive, I chose to do the surgery 1 week later on November 13th. So when most 21 year olds are taking shots of tequila, I was taking shots of morphine and immune suppressive medication.<br /><br />I remember the day of surgery clearly. I remember waking up that cold November morning, looking in the mirror and thinking that I could not imagine really following through with this. I kept thinking that something was going to happen last minute where they weren’t going to have to do the transplant. That miraculously my blood work would suddenly come back perfect or that the doctor would call in sick. I truly could not believe that this was happening today. <br /><br />When we arrived at the hospital they took my father in first. I can’t imagine how nerve wrecking it was for my mother to know that both her husband and daughter were going through major surgeries at the same time. She handled it all with grace. As soon as they took my father back, I put my headphones on and tried to stay as relaxed as I possibly could which didn’t last for long. I began to panic so the nurses knocked me out with some sort of medication. Next thing I remember was waking up the next morning in my hospital bed. The first thing I asked was “how is dad?” then I looked down to see the bandage across my stomach and that indeed the surgery happened. My dad and I had just had the first Laparoscopic kidney transplant in Nevada! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4L3J29YhOIpqy6cnOimZtooSDDuOIelfOSJ4CfihkWNeZIDzej6em3Z6tYjmZUWHTnVUeyCXTQ-UYiLKEZTFYRoXM3O-3S9EpGxUFPHe7CGzR4Z-anbHPEWCb04byF5Yfq7-d6Tph28/s1600/Picture16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4L3J29YhOIpqy6cnOimZtooSDDuOIelfOSJ4CfihkWNeZIDzej6em3Z6tYjmZUWHTnVUeyCXTQ-UYiLKEZTFYRoXM3O-3S9EpGxUFPHe7CGzR4Z-anbHPEWCb04byF5Yfq7-d6Tph28/s400/Picture16.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536581498632889202" /></a><br /><br />According to the doctors the surgery almost didn’t happen. Although my father and I were put through a series of tests and x-rays before the surgery, they came across something unexpected when they opened him up. They realized that he had 3 arteries leading to his kidneys when average person is supposed to only have 1. If this were a normal situation the doctors would have stopped in their tracks, stitched him up and would have stepped out to tell my mom the unfortunate news. But because it was the first laparoscopic surgery and doctors and medical students had come out from other states to watch and assist, they decided to cross their fingers and go ahead with the transplant. My dad’s surgery lasted 6 hours due to the caution they had to take when cutting all of the blood supply to the kidney. I believe my surgery took less time with zero problems except for the loss of blood that required a few days of blood transfusions.<br /><br />3 months later my father was happy and I was healthy enough to get back up on a snowboard and win 3 bronze medals in the USASA National Snowboard Competition.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX4EJ4GaCCi9torRqipMhnPa5zTUXJHIOqxGUu9WARznh_G2Nuuw4JUT3WrxX6cvqslljp4VY1SZjN5prXBWvph6MlPOrF5XFT5s8kjX2lZ3Lfg_69L_63MeG1hJouN33E9WNteP3eKI/s1600/amysnow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX4EJ4GaCCi9torRqipMhnPa5zTUXJHIOqxGUu9WARznh_G2Nuuw4JUT3WrxX6cvqslljp4VY1SZjN5prXBWvph6MlPOrF5XFT5s8kjX2lZ3Lfg_69L_63MeG1hJouN33E9WNteP3eKI/s400/amysnow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536581840191599442" /></a><br /><br />So here I am 10 years later,10 years after the first day of my new life and I have to say that I am extremely grateful and proud. Proud of myself for enduring everything I did, proud of my father for putting his life on the line to save mine. My goal was to never treat myself like a victim to my circumstances , to always find the things in my life to be grateful for and to live the absolutely fullest life that I possibly could live! This transplant was my second breath and chance at life and there was no way that I was going to let myself waste it!<br /><br /> It’s funny because as much as I pleaded and prayed to the Gods above to bring the function of my kidneys back , today I am grateful that they didn’t. Nothing has made me live to the fullest like this transplant has. To know that absolutely every day matters and that every day that you are healthy and that you have love around you, that you are blessed. That has been my everyday for the last 10 years. <br /><br />These days, I live my life not focused on my kidney or on my legs but on the passions in my life! Because of this life saving gift, I not only have the opportunity to live a full life, but I have been given the opportunity to help others do the same. Although I don’t don't look back on this experience daily, it is this time of year that always reminds me of this nervous young girl who was clueless what the future would hold and clueless about the beauty and adventures that awaited her. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGP74pdyWvWSbWDgONs65qwuEIDL0cGnaMXyh3jyr0hYUEr96yM75q037OwVEx8YI8s4j-ej2ho70GyhK0vfD5MrEPr7ANpgyRHmE6aZ-ZJDgBtmfZSGtx5NWq_paQlvtgRvWLUruhgdU/s1600/africa+159-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGP74pdyWvWSbWDgONs65qwuEIDL0cGnaMXyh3jyr0hYUEr96yM75q037OwVEx8YI8s4j-ej2ho70GyhK0vfD5MrEPr7ANpgyRHmE6aZ-ZJDgBtmfZSGtx5NWq_paQlvtgRvWLUruhgdU/s400/africa+159-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536604786087506578" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKHnuKgdwXT2klSjE7L_bSx1SNoWXyvpru8MMLs_sfCg5bwk0i-IzcohMH3As6oHswzxdAWk2o6Lv4Ico66npcoEJsIAuQKO1BagKZLYeq7qsluB8XuWQwQTXoLCZOZCI4OQ81aBi5HE/s1600/IMG_7223.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKHnuKgdwXT2klSjE7L_bSx1SNoWXyvpru8MMLs_sfCg5bwk0i-IzcohMH3As6oHswzxdAWk2o6Lv4Ico66npcoEJsIAuQKO1BagKZLYeq7qsluB8XuWQwQTXoLCZOZCI4OQ81aBi5HE/s400/IMG_7223.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536582825935798322" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6cdf-FZb9sSxkZLmZV2U3V2aRIAOqP3_desUsHprAb9tePYRiKReOMepaHnLdg4RKDPQ2CCrlQQmLyAsvS6g5ziuMeuoqfbsTyp99Nw7YDJ4n1zZEH1cFz_lV-r3G7A85nwtYMp2l_Y/s1600/amymandf+page+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 292px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6cdf-FZb9sSxkZLmZV2U3V2aRIAOqP3_desUsHprAb9tePYRiKReOMepaHnLdg4RKDPQ2CCrlQQmLyAsvS6g5ziuMeuoqfbsTyp99Nw7YDJ4n1zZEH1cFz_lV-r3G7A85nwtYMp2l_Y/s400/amymandf+page+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536604265362873282" /></a><br /><br />This day affects me emotionally deeper than anything else ever could,I am so grateful to my father that words cannot even begin to describe. I really do not know all that went through my father’s head at the time that he was preparing to give me one of his kidneys. He really never expressed the fear and concerns that no doubt he had to be feeling. He just proudly stepped forward and offered to put his life on the line in order to save the life of his daughter’s. I will never quite know how to thank him for this gift of life and all I can hope is that whatever my father has inside of him, whatever it was that gave him the courage to do what he did for me, that I too have it inside of me. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGS-ILITLBL6Bnai81Wl1sOUmlCbQOQvwiQN9EVKgA1rVHLb8ZsbLcu48m1ntCjV_atKmdie-nWWphii3R-DIKC4jQfVB5ayZpSdxLoZE2UUNkWc-tDEziQZGILjzlGs3p41ME8ju4Zk/s1600/Shanan_&_Nick_Wedding_055.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 293px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGS-ILITLBL6Bnai81Wl1sOUmlCbQOQvwiQN9EVKgA1rVHLb8ZsbLcu48m1ntCjV_atKmdie-nWWphii3R-DIKC4jQfVB5ayZpSdxLoZE2UUNkWc-tDEziQZGILjzlGs3p41ME8ju4Zk/s400/Shanan_&_Nick_Wedding_055.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536589596573997346" /></a><br /><br />Happy 10th Anniversary Dad!Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-36639867722826337912010-10-16T13:52:00.000-07:002012-06-30T18:48:06.678-07:00Coming HomeA few years ago, my family moved from good ole Las Vegas to a neighborhood in Boise, ID. After a few years of just visiting for a two or three days, I was finally able to stay put for a while and it was wonderful! I have fallen in love with the place and was so blessed to spend time with my beautiful niece Bryten Dae and wonderful nephew Jonas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidd8hNHHc9hWxQyH1pz10dkz4dKT_3XS-x4dOfcE73wu1Ku1ZBGLWZG0OxZaWX3aKWqCuPhYdC5ZrxwjqREPpIqbiEuXBv566CMq0Fyv6AFtI2Buw9JpMKTKsYzWg0S5O10ufEEeOkTNo/s1600/IMG_0194.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528754474416151970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidd8hNHHc9hWxQyH1pz10dkz4dKT_3XS-x4dOfcE73wu1Ku1ZBGLWZG0OxZaWX3aKWqCuPhYdC5ZrxwjqREPpIqbiEuXBv566CMq0Fyv6AFtI2Buw9JpMKTKsYzWg0S5O10ufEEeOkTNo/s320/IMG_0194.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBQMn0YCyYNNfLsYNq0_k8-vsEAemytrWijTEKQ4kvfJlUDjwdtH4JTkxEug9SMYOaKpnq4nYo3ugi71EtfGXuJ8dCZ6qT0C1rZftGXNIcVg2AyXnQVs4ZTPFQkxzTPQyif-OsT6Yb44/s1600/IMG_0244.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528753618726767826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBQMn0YCyYNNfLsYNq0_k8-vsEAemytrWijTEKQ4kvfJlUDjwdtH4JTkxEug9SMYOaKpnq4nYo3ugi71EtfGXuJ8dCZ6qT0C1rZftGXNIcVg2AyXnQVs4ZTPFQkxzTPQyif-OsT6Yb44/s320/IMG_0244.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwzobYLvzl7v7epay00pkiZjH5DlNuPXi_q9bmthcpVFhLObADQnSPN4QHiTO1gO_ijTaKHd9Q2m6qM20usEm3Iac0O0lWmHHyTZ3cfbU8LUOkcqpSCRHQ_NoQMKouEj0OHO1KZc-kvo/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528753613373136466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwzobYLvzl7v7epay00pkiZjH5DlNuPXi_q9bmthcpVFhLObADQnSPN4QHiTO1gO_ijTaKHd9Q2m6qM20usEm3Iac0O0lWmHHyTZ3cfbU8LUOkcqpSCRHQ_NoQMKouEj0OHO1KZc-kvo/s320/IMG_0231.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9G9AHS1vaZB1s6J-Sy252RJ_0zqJQgSzfMcja4dTzPwpAVIAHN5a8KKndTyBiVK9-5WAn-E4HTm46CE3XYr2uvlB80OiGgUbHbuqHlhtVUQ0mD8ccgQWbgI7yFzgd_3zaJVx0bD6toI/s1600/IMG_0209.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528753611358438722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9G9AHS1vaZB1s6J-Sy252RJ_0zqJQgSzfMcja4dTzPwpAVIAHN5a8KKndTyBiVK9-5WAn-E4HTm46CE3XYr2uvlB80OiGgUbHbuqHlhtVUQ0mD8ccgQWbgI7yFzgd_3zaJVx0bD6toI/s320/IMG_0209.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-84753569732457381442010-10-16T13:19:00.000-07:002010-10-16T13:27:46.014-07:00Good Morning Toronto!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzhwtgo5RPDJNUwSwMDbx4M932dBEuI-PLh7vEfZ5TeLbv1LUMbv1AnMjCVADcNapq5TgyQQ_aIzLxTzt3Q8aHZD7yd0zuutZYt3OqQ1jMHzerb5xa5qGpMbWpYup1Kdv67BAVPitQ1Q/s1600/Amy+9.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzhwtgo5RPDJNUwSwMDbx4M932dBEuI-PLh7vEfZ5TeLbv1LUMbv1AnMjCVADcNapq5TgyQQ_aIzLxTzt3Q8aHZD7yd0zuutZYt3OqQ1jMHzerb5xa5qGpMbWpYup1Kdv67BAVPitQ1Q/s400/Amy+9.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528742869662766738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90r3K4YnkUxvpmHKYPRRgT5yQDZVq_vGuKCqnmp9rX-FurMwVhxp76s7CtzuDinnatMgdHQFqb_w9V4oHsS0iFdwlxFWODhfqCkV-5DhJwgEVimv5egGubiMFZrQuelj48hJ_VqCnls4/s1600/Amy+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90r3K4YnkUxvpmHKYPRRgT5yQDZVq_vGuKCqnmp9rX-FurMwVhxp76s7CtzuDinnatMgdHQFqb_w9V4oHsS0iFdwlxFWODhfqCkV-5DhJwgEVimv5egGubiMFZrQuelj48hJ_VqCnls4/s400/Amy+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528742489180286034" /></a><br />I have been traveling to Toronto lately to do work for the Pharmaceutical Company Senofi Pasteur who makes the meningitis vaccination "Menactra". One morning I ended up on a Toronto Morning Show.... I'll try to get a clip to post!Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-53361185828637727672010-08-08T00:53:00.000-07:002010-08-08T18:34:22.450-07:00Thunderstorms and the breath of life!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVLWHrMM1FZKulb-9gY9VCdkQrJqf0leEU99nRY1G41JJhGFSyLJeGl41TDJKMeI3keGk7wky4C5OREOHwWMlknYf_F69SD4mCpbzwG6Sz_NcX-OMtDN9gKYjbtxMwbeT9LB7nqnTFhM/s1600/thunder.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVLWHrMM1FZKulb-9gY9VCdkQrJqf0leEU99nRY1G41JJhGFSyLJeGl41TDJKMeI3keGk7wky4C5OREOHwWMlknYf_F69SD4mCpbzwG6Sz_NcX-OMtDN9gKYjbtxMwbeT9LB7nqnTFhM/s400/thunder.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502954909659646002" /></a><br /><br />Tonight I got exactly what I have been needing…a good cry.. a good thunderstorm and the smell of rain! There is nothing that refreshes the soul like the perfect summer thunderstorm. Thunderstorms have always affected me in the most extraordinary way. The smell of the sweet rain the sound of the cracking thunder, the beautiful light show and me feeling so tiny and being reminded how powerful and amazing nature and life is. I think the last thunderstorm I witnessed was while in Africa. It was late at night and we were thick in the trees watching the sky light up while we sat under canopy trying to not get wet. Every time the thunder would crack a bolt of lightning would crawl across the sky and reveal to us the silhouette of the landscape. We were sitting at the edge of a cliff with a huge canyon that opened up to the ocean right in front of us. When the lightning would flash you could see the beautiful canyon and ocean waves down below. Paul our Fuel TV guy has it on video, I will try to get it from him to post! <br />But my most significant experience in a storm was 10 years ago when I was in the hospital with bacterial meningitis. I had just awoke from a coma and had not moved from my hospital bed in 5 weeks. My body was so weak that I was stuck on my back, I don't think at this point they had even started to try to get me sitting upright yet. I think it must have been about 4 in the morning when I could see through the window that a thunder storm was rolling in. My dad lay asleep in the chair next to me like he and my mom did every night for those anxious weeks. At one point I could almost smell the rain through the window so I woke him up and told him that I wanted to go outside and sit in the rain. Without hesitation my dad jumped to his feet and said, "let's do it!" He ran out and gathered up the nurses who tried to argue with him since I was still attached to machines and IV's and they were worried something would go wrong. I remember my dad assertively insisting that I go outside, I heard him say " my daughter has laid in that bed for 5 weeks fighting for her life, she deserves to go outside and smell the rain.” So the nurses got together and unhooked machines and moved me, my bed and my friends ( I called my IV's my friends since they were always by my side wherever I went). They moved me outside onto the sidewalk where I could smell the rain and lay in the thunderstorm. My dad sat right next to me the entire time. I don't think one word was spoke the hour or so that we sat out there but I'm pretty sure that we were both thinking the same thing. How grateful we were to be sitting together in the rain. We took in the beauty of life and for the first time since I had entered the hospital I felt alive. I felt the power and beauty of nature and thought how amazing it is that we have the opportunity to be on this earth to experience it. I felt energized and ready to move forward and conquer all of the challenges that still lay ahead for me. And here I am tonight sitting in the rain 10 years later conquering more challenges then I ever could have prepared myself for. Yet all that matters is that I am here... sitting in the rain.Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-21699595260370537442010-06-21T16:38:00.000-07:002012-08-28T15:23:38.843-07:00$25 donation for a "Live Beyond Limits" shirt!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNJ3OeLmYYZ2eBOz2SqjCLcUPTTodvp_3RwI4s_tyOiwHNWrnKNM-MS2xs1-igmQKZohXCbxV-ZPOscjugnT9HlGDZAwKD0iWr46NU-DjqbMcI2i8xDdqWI83L2Nz-TpTlVq1PkLJ4lU/s1600/IMG_1773.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNJ3OeLmYYZ2eBOz2SqjCLcUPTTodvp_3RwI4s_tyOiwHNWrnKNM-MS2xs1-igmQKZohXCbxV-ZPOscjugnT9HlGDZAwKD0iWr46NU-DjqbMcI2i8xDdqWI83L2Nz-TpTlVq1PkLJ4lU/s400/IMG_1773.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485378390013415730" /></a><br />
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Grab one of these super soft AAS skate shirts before they go out of stock! Inspired by an Element Skateboards shirt the Live Beyond Limits shirt has major style and is going to be the most soft and cozy shirt you own! All proceeds raised from this shirt will go directly into the Adaptive Action Sports Summer skateboard and wakeboard programs that help get youth and young adults with physical disabilities involved in action sports! Shop for a good cause!<br />
Thank you to our shirt sponsors Element Skateboards and HighDefinition printing!<br />
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Click below to make your $25 donation and recieve a Live Beyond Limits skate shirt. They are going fast and sizes are limited!<br />
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CURRENTLY ON BACK ORDER until September 15th 2012 PLEASE EMAIL US IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THE LIST WHEN THE SHIPMENT COMES IN! shop@adacs.orgAmy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-48394622347176113932010-06-18T08:56:00.000-07:002010-06-18T09:12:36.684-07:00Hot Legs!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjevm6sqZXbtmoN4Mvof3RgQjB8Vl9E6Ham_4NseaYL9faXyNFxdPR_kxkL_I7qkQvA7d5mOyG2vquS2w9nOzry_QIgqvVfGY6EhgaKqWBmDA02A5J5_M7Z49v-fnpvIBoyfKGbHzB1vg/s1600/Saga.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 102px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjevm6sqZXbtmoN4Mvof3RgQjB8Vl9E6Ham_4NseaYL9faXyNFxdPR_kxkL_I7qkQvA7d5mOyG2vquS2w9nOzry_QIgqvVfGY6EhgaKqWBmDA02A5J5_M7Z49v-fnpvIBoyfKGbHzB1vg/s320/Saga.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484146226082607666" /></a><br /><br />Don't let the title fool you... My legs are seriously HOT!!... temperature hot in the summer! It's hard to escape, I'm stuck in silicone liners that go up mid thigh with thick carbon fiber below the knee. How is a girl like me supposed to stay cool and fashionable? Well, In this Element Eden dress I think! I just ordered it and cannot wait until it comes in! The Saga dress and a pair of TOMS are the answers to my summer prayers! www.elementeden.comAmy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-22399513797000537852010-06-17T15:29:00.000-07:002010-06-17T15:31:41.611-07:00Hey that's me!On Carson Daly!<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HtVFAO3LDQY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HtVFAO3LDQY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-57831843147784671792010-06-14T08:43:00.001-07:002010-06-14T17:42:18.531-07:00Creamy Coconut Butter recipe #1I am obsessed with coconut oil and butter! Not only does it taste dreamy but it is packed full of nutritional benefits!<br /> - anti-bacterial,anti-viral,anti-fungal,anti-parasitic<br /> - boosts energy<br /> - helps digestion<br /> - helps weightloss<br /> - Keeps skin healthy and moisturized<br /><br />On a mission to incorporate more nutritious foods into my diet here is a recipe I came up with that I can enjoy every morning! Try it, you might like it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnHOOrAs_GVrTGVcCa8fiDgNSgzTMjZqxwLMRAZdY_26ugY4fggXznTrj_gGw-KZpgzc29JHMpeqjxNFG93ubAyBlaOKL2rcG2sJ5Av0q_thwWZN0vaVgRiauOTerLzqgFtesZ8G8eLg/s1600/IMG_1548.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnHOOrAs_GVrTGVcCa8fiDgNSgzTMjZqxwLMRAZdY_26ugY4fggXznTrj_gGw-KZpgzc29JHMpeqjxNFG93ubAyBlaOKL2rcG2sJ5Av0q_thwWZN0vaVgRiauOTerLzqgFtesZ8G8eLg/s320/IMG_1548.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482670604999942722" /></a><br />2 Tablespoons Raw Cacao Nibs - Cacoa is raw chocolate which is high in Vitamin C, and Magnesium. Has more antioxidants then red wine and 30 times more then green tea! They can be a bit bitter so add agave syrup to sweeten!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLIKjgsrKaKcLle3V2k1ODo-qT1CbxSeI7-o9yJhx6RwG_H_WRmIDoh0vvO94s0QEcdZEPUYOdWIsLIFFqSYHBAGakTXCtgwGwBmXjfy25L7eaNXrbWkeSCSmYgsNM_4tlmWbY-nltM4/s1600/IMG_1550.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLIKjgsrKaKcLle3V2k1ODo-qT1CbxSeI7-o9yJhx6RwG_H_WRmIDoh0vvO94s0QEcdZEPUYOdWIsLIFFqSYHBAGakTXCtgwGwBmXjfy25L7eaNXrbWkeSCSmYgsNM_4tlmWbY-nltM4/s320/IMG_1550.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482669922762822530" /></a><br />1 tablespoon Coconut Butter - Don't be scared of the fat! It's the good kind!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqjgM-7EHyKp-qyrB9HI4tWzO9ToN6PXnQhc5Dd7S01f0PAtAa7UIwm43oqIEfth-SqQEmE5GmrejPRBFgual1O_Bbso7sSpgxdsyCZhOVXCSCzzU22H2ZLYQXq84DzTxGG3Q1L1EJfY/s1600/IMG_1557.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqjgM-7EHyKp-qyrB9HI4tWzO9ToN6PXnQhc5Dd7S01f0PAtAa7UIwm43oqIEfth-SqQEmE5GmrejPRBFgual1O_Bbso7sSpgxdsyCZhOVXCSCzzU22H2ZLYQXq84DzTxGG3Q1L1EJfY/s320/IMG_1557.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482669457410499474" /></a><br />Vanilla or chocolate protein powder - I use USANA brand protein powder because it is low glycemic and is packed full of vitamins and nutrients!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QGPoGTdCfJfe8Wr6r6LOrdNVSIN-IUDn7D5czXjEXBrPj66xuEg_XF3wnPO_v_GiHXcVM2dBStZGWt2toO5XCS7uQnbQ9TwMN80aEG3Gjm3-Eqa1ktccpzzie74bv8SRMlu-xmIqwPg/s1600/IMG_1559.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QGPoGTdCfJfe8Wr6r6LOrdNVSIN-IUDn7D5czXjEXBrPj66xuEg_XF3wnPO_v_GiHXcVM2dBStZGWt2toO5XCS7uQnbQ9TwMN80aEG3Gjm3-Eqa1ktccpzzie74bv8SRMlu-xmIqwPg/s320/IMG_1559.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482668610279587234" /></a><br />Almond milk! Almond milk is much better for you then regular and soy. You can also add water or half almond milk half water depending on the amount of calories and thickness you want.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQg7YZjkruHZeg_Ona7MtqpuzUEKTQJ_QNG5JJRhcQ2Q8bJfFk6pckSObQ7wCMWPmzkfgJRAkT9zSlAN6Qz0-vrODUXnjw6E299bT24M4LC1ztQN3LcD8PjWecqEvdAkxbIa4xPMggEY/s1600/IMG_1565.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQg7YZjkruHZeg_Ona7MtqpuzUEKTQJ_QNG5JJRhcQ2Q8bJfFk6pckSObQ7wCMWPmzkfgJRAkT9zSlAN6Qz0-vrODUXnjw6E299bT24M4LC1ztQN3LcD8PjWecqEvdAkxbIa4xPMggEY/s320/IMG_1565.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482657755061606706" /></a><br />Add agave syrup or honey to sweeten!<br />Then add ice and blend... ( Word of advice, blend the coconut oil before adding the ice, otherwise it get's cold and chunky) <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PZ7vVFsXWRI/TBZPn-MA6uI/AAAAAAAAAbI/plenScpUKcY/1600/IMG_1568.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnWcaF9coN1kRuXVEkC4UBH7uj4JRULPbipSS6oiYR0jjHTL8ywPKi08Fjg-o07cLInznvb18kCP0MluQOvkGHAs6-bDUq99Y1sLqN0EfYxo77LdNzL3CWdeAtWgOPygSv-y_BqfRHmI/s320/IMG_1568.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482657144497040098" /></a><br /><br />Yummmmm! Enjoy!Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687450851380688012.post-3531680525340949332010-05-28T22:57:00.000-07:002010-05-28T23:08:04.574-07:00The gold at the end of the rainbow!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmSTcjzUe2GB-u7DaZMizkG3ScNxJLvk5z4vwY-acXll-tI1dm4uax-pVzjy9uCLr2XKefM2coKOztypO8l_6aTMMNaj7Dv44rmCK0oxdBVm7XESqdi2ECuOH0pyboEGQEPXGbRiFX8M/s1600/IMG_1324.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmSTcjzUe2GB-u7DaZMizkG3ScNxJLvk5z4vwY-acXll-tI1dm4uax-pVzjy9uCLr2XKefM2coKOztypO8l_6aTMMNaj7Dv44rmCK0oxdBVm7XESqdi2ECuOH0pyboEGQEPXGbRiFX8M/s400/IMG_1324.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476568765096827714" /></a><br /><br />As Daniel and I drove from the South Shore of Lake Tahoe to the North Shore we were taken aback when the trees opened up to a panoramic view of a Lake Tahoe with a vibrant rainbow! We found a good spot to park and I snapped this photo! We could see the entire rainbow from end to end but I could not fit it in the shot. Being that I love tree silhouettes, I thought this would be a fun way to capture the beauty. It was breathtaking! Now I can say that I saw the "gold" at the end of the rainbow!<br /><br /><em>“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true"</em>Amy Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450671135959949754noreply@blogger.com