The Five

I've been focusing all my emotional efforts recently into being a sane person. 

Do y’all ever go through times when that seems like an almost insurmountable task? Like, you know you’re on the verge of just being a normal, content, fulfilled person, but that edge is driving you insane. That is me. That is my life.

So I’ve been journaling like mad. I am an indiscriminate journaler. I will journal on any piece of paper, napkin, gum wrapper or old box I can scrawl on. I’ve been very specific about what I write, too. I’ve given myself parameters so I won’t even waste any time journaling thoughts I’m trying to get rid of anyway.

I journal “The Five” and “His Five.”

“The Five” are the five things I’m most grateful for that day. They can be ANYTHING. This morning I journaled that I was thankful Benny’s leg wasn’t permanently damaged when I accidentally shut it in a door yesterday. I journaled that because I’m SERIOUSLY thankful Benny’s leg wasn’t permanently damaged when I accidentally shut it in a door yesterday. (By the way, damn that dog is a drama queen.)

“His Five” are the five things I’m most grateful for about Noel that day. This list can also contain anything. I journaled this morning that I’m thankful he has good hair. Don’t judge my list. I said I can journal whatever I want.

Anyway, this is all in an attempt to slow down and appreciate everything I have, which is enough. I am tired of always wanting. I want to not want anymore. Journaling helps me refocus and literally see the things I have that make me most happy on a daily basis.

I also journaled that I was thankful for sparkling shiraz while watching “Something’s Gotta Give.”

Don’t judge my list I said!

Dreamy

He seriously is the best man ever. :)

Swingin'

Getting back in the swing of things is never easy. Ever. Sometimes the idea of it is fun, til you realize the idea is much different than the reality.

Still, I find myself ever-attempting to get back into the swing of things, even if I haven’t been on that swing since…college? Since I had summers off and only went to school 4 days a week for 4 hours at a time?

…Actually, I can guarantee that most of them time when I think about getting back into a set routine, that routine never even existed in the first place.  

I was a lot more active about 4 years ago because I had a lot more time on my hands. I cooked a lot more. I slept a lot more. I hung out with friends A LOT more.

The saying is true – so much to do, so little time. I can’t tell you how many times a day I wish I had more time in a day.

I want to work, hard. I want to be known as someone who gets stuff done, and who gets things taken care of. I want to get to work early and leave work late. (Is anyone else hearing “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” by Cake in their heads right now?)

I want to be a machine in the gym and on the track. I want to alternate between looking like a Victoria’s Secret swimsuit model and Jillian Michael’s at her most ripped. I want to run 50 miles a week and do yoga every day. In fact, I’d really like to be a fitness instructor and maybe a personal trainer and how bout a life coach as well?

I want to be best friends with everyone. I want to go to happy hours every day, have long brunches every Saturday and Sunday. I want to host birthday parties and showers. I want to buy all my people lots and lots of presents.

And I want to be the best girlfriend to my best boyfriend every hour, of every second, of every last day.

But, this just isn’t reality. As much as I want THIS all to be my swing, it’s not manageable. Things have to get dropped, people’s parties have to get skipped, money has to be saved, nights of rest have to replace nights of running, and yoga just never, ever gets done.

So what IS the swing I’m trying to get in to? What IS manageable?

I can work, hard, during the hours of work.

I can run, for an hour, a few times a week. I can lift weights and spin a couple other times a week. Yoga…still probably won’t get done.

I can hang out with friends a few times a week. I can see my boyfriend a few times a week. I can give 100% of me to these outings/innings because these are the people who revive and refresh my spirit. I can “show up,” not dial it in, not let the complaints and annoyances of every day life (Traffic? Weariness?) even come up in conversation. I can save my best for my loved ones.

I can focus on contentment. I can believe that “Gratitude turns everything I have into enough.” I don’t have it all, I don’t have enough time, but I have enough time to make my days and my weeks exactly as they should be.

Gratitude and contentment. These are the swings I’m getting back into…or maybe just really getting into for the first time ever. 

Try.

I’ve been dealing with a nasty undercurrent of emotion lately, and I’m sick of it.

It’s called dread. Heard of it? Felt it? It’s been a subtle buzz in my worklife for quite a while now, and I know it’s having destructive effects on my mind, heart and body.

There are a couple people I dread interacting with. Their demeanors, their tones, their energies – I negatively anticipate my next encounter with them.

There are work situations I dread being a part of. I hate the work, I don’t believe in the cause, I can’t stand the dysfunctionality.

I’m sure at this point you’re dreading reading any further, too. Now you know how I feel A LOT of the time.

How terrible is this? My life is arguably the best it’s been in…forever. For as long as I can remember, I’ve never felt like so cared for and loved.

Why is work getting to me like this?

The conclusion I’ve known all along, and the solution I’ve come to, is that my emotions are in my control. Dread doesn’t “happen” to people. It’s a choice, a pair of emotional Spanx I choose to put on everyday that restrict my joy and positive outlook. Knowing this, though, hasn’t produced positive action yet. I see the problem, and I see the answer, and I just sit there and look at both of them, all of us at an impasse. In the meantime, my patience, joy, love and gratitude are slowly slipping away.

Enough.

Time to stop beating myself up for feeling this negative emotion. Time to accept this is how I feel, love myself through it, give it Up, and move toward strength and healing as a result. This is the gameplan.

In other news, I’m doing my first triathlon this weekend! I have NO idea what I’m doing – signed up on a whim. It’s a super sprint, so 600 yds swimming, 11 miles biking, and a 5k.

I know it won’t be easy. Nothing important is ever as easy as “Ready, Set, Go” without some serious mental, emotional preparation, but sometimes the best way to get started is just to commit. I can sit around all day and see my current skill set and see where I’d like to be, all of me at an impasse. But nothing’s going to change unless I do, and therein lies the fear…and the answer.

All I can do with this tri is love myself at each twist and turn, knowing I’m doing the best that I can.

All I can do at work is try – let go of the dread, relax the clenched fists, keep my head up and give this life – even the 6:30 to 3:30 portion of it – my all.

All I can do is try. 

Try.

Florence

I remember the first day I listened to Florence and the Machine. I was on a hot, hot run, and I was intermittently running, walking, crying, and gasping through downtown Houston. It was not during the healthiest, happiest time in my life. Little did I know, though, that her little album there was going to play a huge part in bringing about happiness and health in my life in the coming months after that run...

A couple weeks ago Florence came to town. No way I was going to miss her, not with the kind of influence she's been in my life this last year.

The dog days are over, over. 

Went with another healing power in my life, and we Ooo'ed and Ahh'ed at her performance and vocals. Turns out being in relationships takes away from other relationships (it's inevitable but sad), so it was wonderful to see OJ! We talked boys, and work, and boys, and boys, and the future with those boys, and froyo (duh).

Lovely Lisa G!

Finally, right when it was about my bedtime, she came out, and great Scott, what a show! That woman sings from the depths of her soul...sometimes it's almost like an on-pitch bellow. She was incredible.

(Also she was wearing some kind of bird-like cape thing. While I don't necessarily condone this kind of wardrobe for normal people, Florence can rock a feathery, flowy tarp like nobody's business.) 

Caw!

It was an hour's worth of bliss, and I was so sad when it was over.

The dog days are over indeed. As my mom has often said, "The only thing we know for sure is that nothing stays the same." I think back to that hot, sweaty, breathless run and thank God for the journey he's taken me on and is taking me on. It's filled with people and details and love that I would never have been brave enough to ask for myself. And yet, he's made it happen anyway.

That being said, there's lots of great things to catch up on, friends! My semester is over, and I'm free until August. This means there's hours upon hours of cooking, reading, exercising, firefighter discussing and lazing to do for the next few months. Can't wait to get started!

(Pssst. Did you catch the firefighter part? Yep, one date turned into two, then two into three, and now we've been together for almost three months. And rarely have I stopped smiling this entire time. Swoon.)

Baked Cheetos

So delicious. 

It's only when I'm extremely bored at work that I notice things like this...

Really, Cheetos? Really?

Yeah right.

...I should throw these away immediately. 

And I will just as soon as the bag is empty. 

CHEETO FINGERS FRIDAY! Happy times!

This is a good one.

Question of the week is "What's the one dumb thing you used to believe in?"


I'm a person with a lot of beliefs. I'm idealistic...in fact, I'm extremely idealistic, especially in the realm of romance. I have long hoped for a man who would understand me, believe in me, root for me, challenge me and adore me -- all within 45 minutes of meeting me. This is a dumb thing I used to believe in, and let me tell you why. 


I've realized that for much of my life I've been looking for myself in manform. Why? Because I'm comfortable with me, and I'm safe with me.

I'm great and all, a lovely little human, but when it comes to someone who's going to be my life partner, that man has to take me outside of myself, not remind me of myself and make me more me-like. The challenging, the understanding, the believing - those aren't necessarily going to come in packages that I'm familiar with; I'm not going to meet a man who reads blogs, loves to cook and thinks Ryan Gosling is hella hot (at least I hope not). But I do believe someday I'll meet a man, and one day he'll do something or say something that is uncomfortable because it's unfamiliar, and I'll be like - woah, you aren't me, and I totally dig it. 

For lent this year, I went back and forth. Paleo diet for 40 days or more Bible reading? After evaluating my Paleo plans for .0035 seconds and realizing it had absolutely nothing to do with Jesus, I decided on dedicating myself to reading one chapter from Acts every night throughout Lent. I think Acts is only 28 chapters, so once I get to the end, I'll start over. 

As far as the firefighter goes, date #3 (third date in a week) is this Friday. I like a lot of things about this man, and I like that it's all been very low key and slow (no texting 6 hours a day). I've been doing lots of praying and soul-searching to keep myself grounded. I have learned the hard way that as appealing as something (someone) may seem, give me God's way every single time because I know that's where my ultimate joy and love come from. 

...That being said, I'm ready to have my first kiss in almost a year, and I'd be fine with Friday. :)

A Birthday Race

May 2012. First muddy/obstacle course race, and I am PUMPED!

Also, I have a date Thursday with a hot firefighter. 

Two great things on this beautiful Valentine's Day. :)

A Cuss of a Good Movie

Decent day at work.
Three page paper for school submitted.
Awesome 3 mile run at UH.
Dance party with weights back at home.
One snoring pug plastered against my side.
And a smelly wienie not far off.

Life is good!

This past Friday I watched Fantastic Mr. Fox with some friends and was reminded of how cussin' amazing this movie is. It's probably one of my top five.

It took me a while to appreciate Wes Anderson's movies.

This one was the first one that made me all googly-eyed for his stuff:

And when I get right down to it, it's this guy. This big ol' jewish hunk of love..

Swoonsies. 

And Wes loves him too, so that's just about all the reassurance I need.

Hello, A Month Later!

Hello, bloggy friends!


I've been gone for a few weeks, often missing this blog, other times being at peace with its demise for the time being. Ultimately, I'm on the fence and don't want to pressure myself to either blog every day or to not blog at all. It's my blog and I'll do what I want with it, y'see?


The first thing I'd like to share with you is my mild obsession with this website right now. She's starting a new series called The Burning Question, and once a week she's going to post a question to respond to. This week's was about how you want to feel. Since I'm 80% emo-kid, I jumped all over that!





These are my responses - 

I want my day to feel like a sunrise.
I want kissing to feel like skydiving.
I want my next success to feel like being at the top of Hahn's peak in Steamboat, CO. 
I want my body to feel like a 1200 cc motorcycle.
I want smiling to feel like swinging at the park on a crisp, sunny day.
I want my friendships to feel like the brunch I had at Liberty Kitchen this Sunday.
I want my nervous system to feel like Pearl Jam.
I want my integrity to feel like a good hard Shred with Jillian Michaels.
I want my money-making to feel like dancing.
I want my word to feel like real conversation with a trusted friend.
I want my laughter to feel like Wild Berry Skittles.
I want the end of the day to feel like hot peppermint tea.
I want being of service to feel like having a made bed to crawl into at night.
I want my philanthropy to feel like rock climbing.
I want my challenges to feel like camping in the Redwoods.
I want my love to feel like warm half-baked brownies.
I want my writing to feel like the Mediterranean.
I want my ideas to feel like waking up completely refreshed.


In other news, I've been running and shredding, and running some more (can almost tackle 3 miles at a 9:15 pace on the TM at this point). I've been working and schooling and being with my fuzzy boys. I don't dig this winter weather, and I'm about 90% convinced I'm going to start tanning again in what can only be described as a DESPERATE attempt to beckon summer back.


Here's to Monday!

Friday

I stayed home from work today. I don't know if it was the marathon or just general life-exhaustion, but I felt like a cinder block all week long. I woke up this morning and thought, "There's no way. I can't do it another day." So I didn't. Sometimes, I really, really love the flexibility of my job.

On grad school:

My first class is a STATS class. MATH. INTENSIVE. Thanks, school counselor. I ordered all my books and printed off all the supplemental readings my professors have posted online. In one class, I've already filled up an entire 1-1/2" binder with extra stuff to read. I already have about 200 pages to read and a quiz on Tuesday. I'm half terrified, half exhilarated!

I haven't done any exercise since the marathon. True fact. Going dancing tonight though, so...I'm counting that as my first foray back into aerobic activity.

Have you seen this? I watch it about five times a day.

Go Cougs!

My first class of grad school is tonight, and I’m really excited to open this new chapter of my little life!

I’m taking three classes this semester:

Principles of Human Learning

Introduction to Educational and Psychological Measurement (starts tonight!)

Cultural Foundations of American Education

By the time I was done with my undergrad degree, I was SO burnt out on school. I felt like it was unnecessarily expensive, and I honestly thought all my professors were a joke. Grades were absolutely not realistic or preparing me for “the real world,” and anything that didn’t directly benefit my education, I was against. (For example, I WORKED during college – if I wanted to skip three classes because you were boring as hell and I was exhausted, why shouldn’t I be allowed to?) (Also, I graduated Magna Cum Laude.)

I have a different attitude going into the Educational Psychology program. Even though I work full time, I’m excited about everything I’m going to be learning, and I’m invested in the studies because this is the direction I want my life to go. I know every little thing we do in life matters (firmly believe that), and I’m ready to focus my efforts and attention during these next months and years to achieve great things on both a short and long term scale.

I also downloaded a new calorie counting app I read about here, and I LOVE it! My goal is to lose 3 pounds by February first, so I’m on a daily allowance of a little over 1200 calories (unless I exercise, in which case, I’ll obviously eat more). Trust me, I know 1200 calories isn’t a lot, but with school starting and me wanting to do NOTHING after the Houston marathon, I think 1200 cals a day will be fine for a totally sedentary person for a couple weeks (again, I will allow myself more calories on the days I do bust a move).

Here's what I've got so far today:

Please note I've eaten cheese three times today. 

The Chevron Houston Marathon in Pics

Almost all of these pictures are brought to you by the Ninja's sidekick/fiance. 

Mini Recap

Second marathon in the books!

I don't have all my pictures from various sources yet, but I think between my parents (who videotaped me running to the finish - how cute!) and Ninja's fiance, there will be some really good ones!

Let me say first off that this marathon was night and day different than Dallas. Yesterday was sunny, cool for the most part and way more fun running with people I knew, on streets I knew. Our corral and pace leader was easy to find. There were lots of snacks and spectators throughout the whole thing, and the finish line was SO fun to come to - lots of music, cheering and spectators making a ruckus! I felt like a rockstar, despite not feeling like one at all.

I'm proud of myself that I ran all the way to mile 22 this time without stopping, as opposed to 18 last time. I definitely started feeling the Wall creeping in between 18 and 20 but was able to keep pushing through. After 20, I was straight up ready to be done, and at 22 I finally decided I wanted/needed to walk if I was going to enjoy the rest of the marathon. I alternated walking and running until 25 and then got a huge burst of energy and sprinted (okay, it FELT like a sprint but I'm sure it was actually more like a slow death crawl) to the finish. That finish line, seeing my parents, was one of the most glorious moments of my life. The sun was shining, music was blasting, and I knew this would be my last distance run for quite a while.

My marathon days are officially over (but I hear that's what they all say).

Sorry there are no pictures just yet. I did run behind Mattress Mac for about a mile, and I also ran past George Bush, Sr.! I ate bananas, pretzels and gummy bears on the course, as well as 3 of my 4 Gu's. Le Ninj and I got a couple shout-outs from our matchy shirts, and I saw a handful of friends along the way, which is always, always a HUGE encouragement!

I'm pretty sure I shaved only a couple minutes off my Dallas time, but I'm still so happy with yesterday!

And now, it's off to a celebratory lunch with THE LADIES!

Let's Do It Again!

The Houston marathon is fiiiinally tomorrow, and I am equally nervous and excited!

Already the organization surrounding this marathon blows Dallas out of the water. The French Ninj and I went to the expo and retrieved our bibs today.

All Immodiumed up and READY TO RUN!

We also geeked out and made matching shirts for race day tomorrow, which makes me laugh and also motivates me to keep up with her because people will definitely not get the joke if we're not side by side (specifically with her running to the left of me).

The energy in downtown Houston today was unbelievable - the Olympic time trials added an extra crispness to the already gorgeous day.

Tomorrow is supposed to be 60's and cloudy. Just as long as there's no rain, I am pumped!

I don't want to put the cart before the horse (because I haven't even started let alone finished the dang thing), but I am so jazzed to be running another marathon, and to be running with friends, and to be running in a city I know. Our goal for tomorrow is a sub-5 hour with no walk breaks. I have no doubt in the Ninja, and I'm hopeful for myself. Assuming everything goes well, this will be my last marathon for the time being.

Anyways, God is good! So many things to be thankful for - so, so many things!

Until tomorrow! Wish me luck!

Rosencrantz

'We cross our bridges when we come to them, and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and a presumption that once our eyes watered.'
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead


Sometimes it's just about getting across the bridge and knowing you can burn it behind you if you want or you can leave it there knowing you've conquered it. 


Also, this quote for some reason reminds me of The Hunger Games and makes me REALLY excited for the movie. 


Marathon in THREE DAYS! Nervous poops in full force!

No Excuses!

Against all my better judgment I've gotten involved in the Biggest Loser saga again this season.

Dangit. 

I tuned in to one episode because I wanted to see who replaced Anna Kournikova, who replaced my beloved Jillian. Turns out Bob Harper's trainer-competitor this season is this guy:

Dolvett Quince

Well...who the heck are you?! You can't just show up on the Biggest Loser ranch and expect me to love you more than my second-best-to-Jillian, Bob!

Hello, you gorgeous blonde man (so not my type.)! 

Anyways, the theme this Spring is No Excuses, and I'm hooked already. Sometimes I have so many excuses for every possible issue in my life, I get tired of hearing myself talk. My favorites are hunger and boredom --- they are my quintessential excuses for some of the messes I get myself into.

I got invited to be a +1 to a wedding shower in New Braunfels in early February by someone I spent some time with in Colorado a few years back. Perfect reason to enact my own little Biggest Loser No Excuses ordeal.

If I could get as obsessed with my own healthy living as I do with these strangers, I'd be in great, great shape.

I'm off to see this little film tonight:

I lost a bet and he got to choose when, where and what movie we would go see. Otherwise I would NOT be seeing a Cold War movie...on a Wednesday night at 7...in a very cramped theater. ...But I'm also kind of not mad about it. ;)

Confesh

I'm trying to lose weight.

There, I said it.

I'm 5'5 1/2, and I weigh 130 pounds. I'm active, and I usually eat pretty reasonably, even though I'm a big believer in indulgence in moderation.

I'm not heavy or large (this weight loss isn't about false humility), but over the past few months, I've become uncomfortable. And that's why I'm trying to lose weight.

I am proud of my body and how it can perform for me. I'm about to run my second marathon in two months - I'm not ashamed of a little extra jiggle if it means I can go farther and harder than ever before.

But, my work clothes are tighter than they should be. And that's why I'm trying to lose weight.

I don't want my "fat" jeans to fit so well, and that's why I'm trying to lose weight.

I think about my body too much, and that's also why I'm trying to lose weight.

So here's my plan. By February 1, I want to be 127 pounds. That's three pounds between now and then (21 days). It's not as easy as it sounds because this week I'm tapering, which means I can't go all out with weights and cardio. Next week I start grad night-school. Three pounds should be no problem, but any amount of weight loss is a psychological and physical challenge.

Diet is my biggest obstacle. Hunger makes me crazy. I would rather work out three hours a day and eat all I want than buckle down on portion control and diet. But I didn't gain this weight by working out three hours a day, ya know.

I want my final resting weight to be 122 or 123. It's going to be a lot harder to go from 127 to 122 than from 130 to 127, but I know my body, and I know I feel at my best right around 122, 123. I'm going to give myself more time to drop those pounds, maybe a pound a month (that would take me to June).

So this is a lot of yammering to say I know I'm not fat, but I want to feel my best, and right now I don't. I'm proud of myself, this weight or any other, but I'm ready to not let discomfort at the office or second-guessing outfits with friends even be concerns of mine.

Slow, steady and healthfully. For a visual just imagine me working out in my study with Jillian Michaels, sweat literally flying all over the place. :) Now we're talkin'!

Blue Ivy

There's just something about my girl Beyonce that I love. Love her music, love her attitude, love her man. LOVE her music videos. 

Not sure if you're the only person on the planet who hasn't heard this yet, but she had a little girl this weekend. And by that I mean she had the entire floor of a hospital in New York cleared out for 1.5 million dolla-dolla-bills-y'all so she could have a C-section in peace. Beyonce style.

Houston marathon is in exactly one week. I'm EXCITED! I'm ready to RUN!

Run Happy

Today a wonderful thing happened to me...

These babies are luminescent!

I crossed over from the old to the new. Goodbye, Old Brooks. Hello, New! Brought to me courtesy of Zappos. "Run Happy" is the Brooks slogan, and that's exactly what I did tonight in my GTS 11's after a good 30 minute Shred.

Does anyone else kind of dread the new shoe glow? I felt like everyone tonight at the gym was looking at me like, "Oh look, that girl had a New Year's Resolution to work out more, so she bought new shoes. How sweet."

It's not easy saying goodbye to my old GTS 11's. They carried me through quite a hard, sweaty, awesome season of life, but sliding my feet into these new kicks made me feel like a new woman. It's amazing how a shoe changes and kind of collapses throughout its short life. I figured I'd break these in before the Chevron Houston Marathon coming up on Jan. 15, and then I'd let them basically just carry me through 26 and some-odd miles on race day.

Anyways. Fair wwell, old friends. Many thanks, and don't worry, I'll still be pulling you out for random walks and when I can't find the newbies. Y'all are like the Velveteen Rabbit in shoe form now.

Not sure what's dirtier - my post-workout face or these nasty old things. Oh well, we're practically one anyways.

First Friday of the year tomorrow! Holla!

Post-Itless Post-It Wisdom Wednesday

Sigh.
Slower is always better.
Unless you're doing an interval workout at the gym.


...then it can't end fast enough.

Soups of our Lives

...One Life to Soup?
...As the Soup Turns?

Oh whatever, this is a post about soup.

I am not a food blogger or photographer; I'm the first to admit these pictures do not make this look meal look appetizing, so you just have to trust my impeccable judgment.

This is a little dish I've eaten at least the last four days in a row. It's quasi-healthy, and more importantly, it tastes like a million bucks. This guy recommended it to me.



Ingredients: head of broccoli (chopped), EVOO, garlic (chopped) and salt. [This is how Rachel Ray does her starting lineup for Week in a Day. Respek.]



Add to simmering water. [Yes, I agree that broccoli in water is not appetizing. This picture is no exception.] Only let it go for 3-5 minutes.

Offer Pug the last bit of the carrot you were munching on.

Regret the offer when pandemonium ensues.

Drain brocc.

Add to your favorite brand of tomato soup (mine is organic and comes in a box). Add cheese, scoop with saltines.

 Yum. Lately it's been followed up with Haagen Dazs strawberry and lemon sorbets.

Tonight after much backing and forthing with myself, I shredded and then lifted some weights. I only did it because I made a list and forced myself to work out before I could do any of the subsequent fun things on the list (that means you, bloggy!).

1. Sometimes lists are necessary.
2. Sometimes it's fun just to write your list out so you can cross stuff off of it and have a sense of accomplishment. 

Now I'm going to get my clothes ready for tomorrow (yes, that was another fun thing on the list!), meditate, journal and read. And maybe paint my nails (that was an optional fun thing). Good night!

Back to the Grind

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad about going back to work tomorrow. These past two weeks have FLOWN by, and every bit of the time off has been glorious.

They say all good things must come to an end, but I'm looking forward to the little sweet spots that come with the grind. Working isn't always my favorite thing, but obviously I have no choice, and I believe there's a lot of wisdom and growth to be found in doing the things you HAVE to do, rather than only the things you WANT to do.

Maybe someday my have to's and want to's will align. :)

To send off my vacation, I went to the dog park, the movies and the grocery store. Two of those things I really enjoyed. I worked out, I ate some delicious ice cream, I even meditated and now I'm winding down with some journaling and reading.

Five a.m. is gonna come way. too. fast.

Beginnings

Ahhh, Beginnings. Remember how I'm working on upping the sappy quality of my post titles? One point for me!

Okay, but...before we get into Beginnings, I think we need to have a word on Endings.

Yesterday was all around the best year ending I've ever had. I ran not a few miles. (Bonus: I think after all my runs this past year, all toenails remaining in tact, yesterday's run is going to claim not one toenail but two. I am that hardcore.) (I also have never chaffed so bad in my entire life. Hard. Core.)

I met up with some friends. Awesome, hilarious girlfriends. And then I went across town and met up with some more friends, who hosted a faboosh party. Then I went back across town and ended the night with that original group of awesome, hilarious girlfriends. And it was all good - very, very good! This was a New Year's Eve without stress, worry, any negative emotions or sadness. It was perfect, and it made me so, so thankful to end the year surrounded by all the best parts of 2011.

So that being said I'm just going to let these pictures speak for themselves and you can infer all the laughter, merriment and 2012 postulating that happened...

So THAT was a great night. And with that, I'm leaving behind 2011.

Today, I've lounged around and eaten a VERY cream cheese-y bagel and journaled and - most awesome thing ever alert - paid my last month's rent at my current apartment. Halleluuuu!

...And now it's time to get out of bed and get stuff done. LOTS to do in 2012, no time to spare! :)

All the best to you in this most wonderful New Beginning, First Day of the Year, Clean Slate, etc. This is our year. :)