This is my 75th blog post of 2016.

And the 107th post on my very young site. 

Looking back through the posts, a major goal for the new year is to write better headlines though. :)

I have my reservations about doing a “best of” for my blog. My site is young, and despite my age, I’m young in the industry. I’ve learned a lot, but the more I learn, the more I realize I still have to learn. 

But I started this site in part because there is so much gimmicky fitness bulls*** out there that it becomes impossible to know where to start with your fitness journey. I wanted to give friends, family members, and clients a place to find information to get them started. And thousands of people have visited the site which is very humbling.

Many of these posts are reflections of me and what I’ve learned in the 40 plus years I’ve had to fiddle around on this earth. Some of them tie into fitness, and some of them, like the most popular post from the site, are just about life.

1. It took 15 years and a failed run to understand how depression was affecting my life

With close to 10,000 views on Facebook and 22 shares, this was by far the most popular post that I wrote in 2016. But this is more about the pervasive struggle with mental health issues and the fact that according to the Center for Disease Control, as many as 1 in 10 adults report symptoms of depression than it is about anything I'm saying. This is just my story. 

2. Why I turned down a Division I scholarship

Once again, this has nothing to do with fitness, but everything to do with what it means to be a coach or a parent working with kids in youth sports. Burnout can come out of nowhere, and it did for me. 

3. You don't have to earn your holiday cookies

This was a recap from 2015, but so important that I thought it was worth re-writing and posting, and so did all of you. I'll be working more on this message in 2017, and hopefully you will too. Because it's important.

4. Are you over 50? Read this

This is a post addressing the importance of working on balance and core strength as you age. 

5. Exercises to combat the dangers of sitting

I wrote this post while still working at a desk job, and with folks who were constantly trying to find ways and times and strategies to move a little more. The two-part post involves videos of exercises you can do while still in your office, and some of them you can do while wearing a dress. Maybe. I mean if you want.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read my site, like my Facebook page or follow me on Instagram. I look forward to continuing my education and growing my knowledge base to provide you with the most useful information I can in 2017. 

Cheers to the new year. 

As I type this, my niece and nephew are taking naps. Not gonna lie, Aunt Kimmie had a nap too.

In fact, I think Aunt Kimmie probably needed the nap more than they did. 

Ho ho ho my goodness. 

So far today we've played hot potato, made ginger bread houses (so sticky), and played football in the back yard.

Before I get back to to "Despicable Me," I thought I'd throw out a couple of last minute gift ideas for the fitness enthusiast in your life. Or the person who is planning to become a fitness enthusiast in the new year. 

1. The New Rules of Lifting books

If you can get to your local Barnes and Nobles, pick up one any one of Lou Schuler's New Rules of Lifting books. I got my first start with fitness by using The New Rules of Lifting for Women - it was both an education on lifting and also included six months worth of programming from Alwyn Cosgrove and some great recipes from Cassandra Forsythe. It's the best 15 bucks you can spend.

Though I haven't had a chance to read it yet, Lou and Alwyn recently updated the original book with "Strong," which includes nine workout programs. They have several books in the series, and any one of them would be a great pick up for someone wanting to get fit.

2. A heart rate strap

While there are plenty of fitness devices out there that will track your heart rate, I've found that the straps you wear around your chest work best. To date, I've tried out three different brands, including Polar, Wahoo, and MyZone. The MyZone straps are often sold and used at certain gyms (we use them at Spurling), but both Polar and Wahoo can be found on Amazon or at Best Buy. 

If your recipient is a smart phone user, the Polar H7 Bluetooth Heart Rate Sensor or the Wahoo Tickr Heart Rate Monitor both work with smart phones or Apple Watches. Either option will cost you around 50 bucks. Though I haven't done my own review on this site, I'd rank them, in order of performance, just the way they are here. The MyZone has worked best for me, followed by the Polar and then the Wahoo.

If you'd like to read a more thorough review, check out this recent article from ware.com.

3. Fitness E-books

If you're looking for something a little more advanced and you don't have time to actually go anywhere, there are some fantastic e-products out there, including Eric Cressey's High Performance Handbook which is the closest thing you can find to working out at Cressey Sports Performance. This program is perfect for anyone who is looking for some guidance on strength training - and Eric has broken the programming down into either two days, three days, or four days. 

You could also hop on over to Nia Shanks website (check it out even if you don't need gifts) and purchase the Lift Like a Girl Fat Loss program, or check out the Modern Women's Guide to Strength Training from the ladies over at Girls Gone Strong. 

Ok, the kids are awake and we're about to get our Minions on. 

Over the weekend I stumbled onto "The Joy of Painting" by Bob Ross on Netflix.

Actually, I think it's called "Chill with Bob Ross." Even better. 

It's tempting to argue that this entire tree is a mistake. But, I can go with happy little accident.

You remember Bob Ross right? Crazy big hair, super soft voice, and he painted lots of happy little things. Trees, clouds, mountains.

Also, he had a thing for rescuing squirrels, so in the first episode I watched, he was feeding a baby squirrel with a bottle.

A baby squirrel. 

If you didn’t grow up watching Bob on PBS as a kid I’m sad for you. I used to be, and apparently still am, mesmerized by watching him start with a totally blank canvas, and then after 30 minutes of titanium white, random brush strokes and making mountains with a palette knife he'd created this stunningly beautiful landscape.

I don’t know a thing about painting, but I could listen to him talk and paint trees for hours. 

So that’s I how I started my vacation. That’s right, I binge-watched some Bob Ross, and chased it with a few campy episodes of the original Incredible Hulk.  

Anyway, about half-way through the second episode with Bob, as he was lulling me into a trance with a snowscape he made the comment, “remember, there are no mistakes, only happy little accidents.”

I laughed out loud. 

Everything Bob painted was happy, but I’d completely forgotten about this particular expression, and it delighted me sixteen ways to Sunday. 

What a great way to think about the artistic process. What a great way to think about life. You know what that statement does?

It gives you permission to try. To take risks. We are so judgmental about what we do and how we look doing it that we never bother to step outside of our comfort zone. We don’t try new things because we’re afraid we’ll look silly. 

I’ve heard it said, I’m pretty sure from Doug, that you should scare yourself at least once a year. That’s why I wear 80’s wigs and unitards. In Facebook Live videos. 

As we wind down 2016 and think about things we want to try in 2017, remember Bob Ross. 

Because there are no mistakes. Just happy little accidents.