Happy Monday!

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!  Things are going along o my roller coaster of life and I definitely feel a shift, in a good way on the horizon.  I can’t wait to share what happens!

Well, when I have something to share.

Anyways, I enjoyed the weekend and was finally able to take in a movie! 
Anyhow, I am not a fan of Woody Allen as a person but the man has been known to produce some quality flicks.

With that, go see Midnight in Paris.  But fair warning, you probably going to want to book a trip to the City of Lights following the movie and read Ernest Hemingway’s A Movable Feast.  Interestingly enough, I love Rachel McAdams but not a fan of her character.  I am not a huge fan of Owen Wilson but love his character.

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about why I have started running.  The simple answer is that I have committed to running a 5k in September and you have to train for these things.  The more complex answer is that I needed to do something to besides walking.  I’ve been using walking to exercise since I was 15 years old and now at almost 31, I’m bored with it.  Also, running is a great way to sweat out stress and compressed emotions so I thought I would give it a whirl.  So I got fitted for shoes and started my journey on July 2nd.

I’m amazed and I am only just beginning by doing intervals 3x a week.  For example, this week, Run 2 min/Walk 2 min for a set distance.

My body is changing, my skin is brighter, I’m sleeping better and my happiness levels are sky rocketing.

However, I am trying not to obesse.  Many years ago I went on a crazy diet of 2 shakes a day and a lean dinner of a veg, fruit and protein.  The calories count rounded up to about 1,000 per day but that was rare…try closer to 800.   Add walking everyday and pilates once a week, I dropped from 140lbs to 115 in no time.  But I was obssessed about my routine and eating barely anything.  I spent the first 5 weeks at a summer camp I worked at eating salads for lunch everyday before my favorite nurse took notice of my dark circles and suken in face and we chatted about not being obssessed.

Anyway, I don’t want to obesse this time around; I enjoy food.

We are under such pressure to look good all the time and to hold ourselves to a standard that isn’t attainable in a healthy way.

Happy Monday!

It’s shaping up to be a good week here in my corner of the world and I hope to share my news with you soon!

On a random note, since I struggle with this.  What are your tips for saving money?  Do you take a percentage out of your paycheck and put it another account?  Do you have a piggy bank?

Please let me know!

Have a beautiful day!

So here I am:  one week into said leap of faith.  I am picking up substitute jobs and working on some other things.  My weekends have been full of a lot of domesticated productivity (read: organizing, cleaning, etc) and sleep.  Who knew taking such a leap would be so exhausting?!   But I’m happy because I am giving myself some time to figure stuff out.  Yes, I’m 30 and society has dictated that I am supposed to have it figured out by now or something.  But you know what?!  I am okay not having it figured it out.  Okay okay not completely okay, it’s a little scary.

Everything will be fine and it’s an exciting new adventure!

Happy Monday Friends!

And by golly it did!

I certainly enjoyed my snow day and I have another one tomorrow!  I was really productive today and even made time for some afternoon wine, popcorn and this adorable movie:

This movie came out in 2006 and somehow I missed it.  However, it’s a beautiful and enchanting story and perfect for a day in!

If you had a snow day, what did you do?

Stay Warm!

Hello Loves!

Happy Monday and thank goodness it is almost over.  Why is it the short work weeks always seem the longest?  I work through Wednesday then have 4 glorious days off from work!  I am so excited!  My father and my niece and nephew will be joining us for the holiday and I am just really excited about the food.  The diet can start afterward right?!

I had a great weekend and met my wonderful Phi mu sisters for a fun-filled night of wine and fun!  We had a great time catching up and I got the best news.

My big sister, Angie recently got engaged and on Friday evening was sharing ideas about her wedding.  She switched over to a page or website that listed 5 names.  She turned to me and said, “Doesn’t the bridal party line up look great?!”  And as I looked the names, I saw mine!

How exciting!  Of course I said yes! Yes, to planning a Bachelorette Weekend in Charleston, attending showers, love and support and of course 10/08/11, their wedding date!  Did I mention they were engaged at 10:10am on 10/10/10 at the border of NC  & VA  on the Blue Ridge Parkway?  How cool is that!

Anyhow, so excited!  I hope your Monday went well!

Life has not been fantastic over the past few weeks.  I seem to be falling short in so many areas and I don’t know why.  People constantly constantly compliment me on my intellect, whit and diligence.  But yet I can’t seem to land a job that I adore.  People tell me how beautiful and fun to be around I am.  But yet I completely fail at landing a date…I haven’t had a date in two years…yeah two.

My mother nearly everyday tells me I am too strong for some people.

But I wouldn’t have gotten through all I had gone through if I wasn’t so strong.

I am feeling very unbalanced right now and disappointed and so full of regret.

I’m capable of so much including being loved but I feel otherwise.

Hope all my readers are well, I adore you:)

Gap Bag circa 2004 and yes one day it will be framed and hang in a bathroom or a closet;)

I am lots of things and have lots of labels.  But first and foremost, I am a girl.  My mother dressed me very prissy with hair ribbons and the like when I was younger.  At one point, she got tired of the hair ribbons and the beyond should length hair and got it chopped off to a bob shortly before I started the 1st grade.  However, she still continued to pick out my clothes.  By junior high, I just wanted to be in jeans and tee shirts which threw her.  Why? Because my mother is a classy lady and always thought females regardless of age should dress for any occasion which did not include jeans and tees.

I agree with her but I do love my jeans and tees.  Just as much as I love my leopard print slingback shoes.  That’s the beauty of being a grl; as long as you love who you are and how you express yourself, you’re golden, you’re a goddess.

As I sit here waiting for my raw honey + rice flour face mask to set, I celebrate being a girl.  A girl who can hang out with 3 year olds all day in the uniform of khakis and a white tee, appear at a restaurant/event/bar in a cute outfit or hang at home in her jeans, barefoot and a tee.

Enjoy being a girl and gentleman who read this blog, enjoy your girls!

Happy Monday!

I’ve been battling Strep Throat since well technically Wednesday but didn’t get myself to Urgent Care until Saturday AM.  Funny thing is that I diagnosed myself Friday but was still in denial.  When I awoke again Saturday morning feeling someone had lite a bonfire in my throat, I had no choice but to go.  The nurse seemed to believe I had strep despite no high fever and not a whole lot of tenderness around my throat and lymph nodes.  However, doc assured me it was just a common cold but agreed to look at the culture.  Before he could even leave the room, the nurse yelled positive.  I’ve been on antibiotics since that moment and have been bed ridden.  Called in again to work today and hope to be somewhat functioning tomorrow.

The lesson in all this, is that my immune system is now weak in the presence of my little ones.  You better believe this is going to turn me into a latex glove wearing, washing hands maven, Vitamin C and hand sanitizer junkie.  I thought I was pretty good before but my precious students have proven me wrong.

But all in all, I am enjoying the new job and the fact that I get to work with one of my really good friends.  Also, Junior League starts up again and our League has current AJLI President, Delly Beekman speaking at the meeting tomorrow.  Our BOD will be eating dinner with her tonight, unfortunately I have to skip due to my illness.

For all of you out there, how do you keep your immune system in tip top shape?

Happy Monday!