Ketchup and a Question

Hey there! It's been a while. Way too long, in fact! So here's a quick ketchup* on me. (*or catch-up, update)

The summer was good. Camp is over, but I'm okay with that. The beginning of the school year is always so exciting that it makes the end of summer bearable.

Our wonderful waterfront. A favorite pic from the summer.

All the Lakewood 2012 staff. Being ridiculous, of course :)

 I've started a new "diet" plan. It's more healthy eating than anything. But, I've lost 3 lbs in about 2 weeks! That seems like a good thing to me. Plus, I don't have to exercise like crazy. It's sorta like Weight Watchers (I think, I've never actually done WW, but have read about it). I'm looking to lose 30 lbs. by the new year. If I lose 3lbs every 2 weeks, I'll be just shy of that goal (and I'm okay with that). Oh, and I got a great bike! I've been trying to ride or walk daily for some exercise.

My bike :)  It's really nice and comfortable. I just need to ride it MORE!

College football has begun! Woo-hoo! And for that, I am thankful (Roll Tide, Roll!!!)

Roll Tide!!!! We sat in the nosebleed section at the AL vs W. KY game, but it was still fun! Alabama won!

Brad was trying to pay attention to the game. I was trying to take pictures!

I'm officially a resident of Georgia! Got my license in the mail the other day. It makes me feel like I really have moved here and am working as an independent adult. Yes, the apartment and job helped, but the license just made it all that much more official!

Now for a question: Who was your BEST teacher, and why? Doesn't matter the grade, school, etc. I'm just doing some research on effective teachers/teaching and would like to hear what you say!

A Solution: Part 2

I believe most health experts these days would say taking some time for yourself-a vacation, if you will-is a good health move. We live in a world where we never stop; or at least I do. I'm fortunate enough to have a schedule which allows me to take more time off than most people. I usually have weekends free and don't actually have to go to the office more than 2-3 days a week. Even with all the "free" time I have, I'm still bogged down with school work (grading papers and planning classes), volunteer work (which I'm glad to do and feel I owe it to my community), and taking time to visit and help my grandparents. Also, I have a tendency to overbook myself and not say "no" when I should.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about my life, schedule, or all of the incredibly awesome things I get to do. But, I do know that it is time for me to take a break, even if for only a few days. The past weekend was exhausting. Between finishing the semester, driving (10 hours) from Georgia to Texas, celebrating my brother-in-law's graduation and driving 10 more hours from Georgia to Missouri (I should mention, up to this point, the driving has all been solo), I'm beginning to feel stretched thin. I noticed this when I snapped at my wonderful boyfriend this morning.

There is a bright side to all this, we (my boyfriend and I) left Missouri last night and have begun our 13 hour drive to the North Carolina beach! Although we will be spending some of our time visiting his parents and our friends in NC, we will also be spending a few days at the beach. There is something so relaxing and rejuvenating about being on and near the ocean. Luckily, we will be both near and on the ocean since there is a boat accessible. 

Hopefully with this little vacation I'll be refreshed and renewed. Ready to exercise and take on the summer. Vacations are always a good thing...usually!

A Solution

As you know, I've been trying to lose weight and work out. I will admit I haven't kept up with P90 like I wanted, but I've been doing other exercises. Also, I've started reading a book Blood Sugar Solution by Dr. Mark Hyman. Basically, he discusses the world-wide epidemic of Type 2 diabetes and how this can be stopped by getting to the root of the problem--general overall health. I'm hoping to slowly add his health method to my exercise regime. Read the book, or check him out. I really believe in this stuff.

My boyfriend has Type 1 Diabetes, and I want to do all I can to support him. Not that his diabetes can be reversed, but it can be managed with a healthy diet and exercise regime. When we are around each other, we tend to overeat rich, delicious foods! I'm not complaining, but since I'll be spending most of my summer with him, I want us to work on a healthier eating regime--together.

Also, the food at camp isn't the healthiest (and I'll be with Brad at camp for most of the summer), so this is another reason for me to start working on my eating habits.

So, here are a few things I cooked the last two days. I included links as well as the recipe. At the bottom of each recipe, you'll see where I've added my comments.

1.) Toasted Quinoa Salad with Scallops

• 12 ounces dry sea scallops, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, or dry bay scallops (see Note)
• 4 teaspoons reduced-sodium tamari, or soy sauce, divided
• 4 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons canola oil, divided
• 1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed well (see Tip)
• 2 teaspoons grated or minced garlic
• 3 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup trimmed and diagonally sliced snow peas, (1/2 inch thick)
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 cup thinly sliced scallions
• 1/3 cup finely diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

1. Toss scallops with 2 teaspoons tamari (or soy sauce) in a medium bowl. Set aside.
2. Place a large, high-sided skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon canola oil and quinoa. Cook, stirring constantly, until the quinoa begins to color, 6 to 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add water and salt and bring to a boil. Stir once, cover and cook over medium heat until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. (Do not stir.) Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Stir in snow peas, cover and let stand for 5 minutes more.
3. Meanwhile, whisk 3 tablespoons canola oil, the remaining 2 teaspoons tamari (or soy sauce), vinegar and sesame oil in a large bowl. Add the quinoa and snow peas, scallions and bell pepper; toss to combine.
4. Remove the scallops from the marinade and pat dry. Heat a large skillet over medium-high until hot enough to evaporate a drop of water upon contact. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons canola oil and cook the scallops, turning once, until golden and just firm, about 2 minutes total. Gently stir the scallops into the quinoa salad. Serve garnished with cilantro, if desired.

My comments:
Not my favorite. Too much vinegar. BUT, I did find out that after cutting up the scallops and mixing it around in the quinoa salad, the vinegar flavor was a bit less overwhelming. In the future, I may try to leave out the Asian elements (sesame oil and vinegar).
Favorite: Toasting the quinoa before boiling it!!! Really gave the quinoa a much deeper flavor. Also, the quinoa in general. It is feeling but doesn't settle in your stomach the way rice does.

Toasted Quinoa Salad with Scallops

2.) Lemon Dill Salmon with Asian Snow Pea Salad


Lemon-Dill Wild Salmon

• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tbsp. lemon juice
• ½ tsp fresh dill weed
• ½ tsp. fresh parsley
• ½ tsp. fresh tarragon
• 1 lb. wild salmon

1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Mince the garlic. Combine the garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs in a bowl. Mix.
3. Rub a cookie sheet or spray with olive oil to prevent sticking (or cover the pan with parchment paper). Place salmon, skin-side down, on the sheet pan. Evenly spread the herb mixture over the salmon. Bake for approximately 15–20 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork: internal temperature of the salmon should be 155 degrees.

My comments:
FAVORITE salmon recipe. Ever. Simple, delicious. Don't overcook the salmon (I cooked it for 15 minutes. Let it sit for about 5. Perfection). No need to add any more oil than what it calls for. Make sure to use the full amount of lemon juice.
Change I made: I didn't use wild salmon. I'm not a fan of wild salmon (too fishy), so I tried to cut out a little bit of the oil (wild salmon is less fatty than other salmons).

Asian Snow Pea Salad:

• 1/4 pound snow peas (generous 1 cup), stem ends trimmed and strings removed
• 2 cups shredded Napa or Savoy cabbage
• 1/3 cup julienne carrot
• 1/3 cup julienne red bell pepper
• 1/3 cup julienne cucumber
• 3 tablespoons minced scallion (about 1 medium scallion)
• 2 tablespoons minced cilantro
• 1 tablespoon minced mint
• 3 tablespoons light sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon low-sodium wheat-free tamari
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the snow peas and cook for 30 seconds. Drain and immediately place in a bowl of ice water. Remove the snow peas from the ice water and pat dry.
2. Mix together the snow peas, cabbage, carrot, red pepper, cucumber, scallion, cilantro, and mint.
3. Whisk together the sesame oil, tamari, rice wine vinegar, lime juice, and pepper in a small bowl. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and mix thoroughly.

My comments:
Great salad. I used lemon juice since I didn't have lime juice.
Future changes: less sesame oil; more lime juice. 

Lemon Dill Salmon with an Asian Snow Pea Salad

 

 

 

 

Reflections

As the semester is winding down, I've been doing a lot of reflecting on the past year. For those who don't know, this past year was my first year as a full-time college instructor. Basically, I'm on the path to fulfill my dream career, which is to be a full-time tenured college/university professor. I still need to go back to school and get my final degree (PhD), but for now I'm gaining valuable experience that will hopefully aid in my getting accepted at the university of my choice (for PhD work). I'd also like to have a chance at getting an assistantship so I don't have to pay for school.

Anyway, I've really enjoyed this year. It's been frustrating and challenging, but I'm happy. Here is what I've learned about teaching college:

1.) For the most part, college freshmen are lost and have no concept of what it means to study outside of class. They need LOTS of guidance or most of them will fail.
2.) It's not always about teaching the subject material (in my case, Music Appreciation). It is also about teaching skills that will come handy later in college and life.
3.) On that note, there are a lot of students who really care about what you (as a teacher) say. There are also a lot who don't care. Don't take it personally, just understand you're helping some. The others will learn eventually. If they don't at least you tried.
 4.) You may feel like you're having a bad day teaching. You probably are. But, generally speaking, the students don't know that. Bear through it. There will be better days.
 5.) Don't be afraid to use media (youtube, for example). The students love it and you connect with them. It's also easier ;)
 6.) Stick to the rules you've established. If you bend for one student, others find out and begin creeping in on your weakness.  Generally, students will accept your answer without argument. They just ask to see if they can break you down. Don't break!
7.) Have fun and be human. Students like knowing you can talk to them as humans and not like they are beneath you. But, refer to number 6: don't cross a line that makes them think they can get whatever they want.
8.) The more work you give your students, the more work you have to grade. Not that it's a bad thing, but keep it in mind.
9.)As a university employee, you get a lot of perks. You get to use the library, gym, go to speeches and presentations by people in all different scholarly fields (for free!!), attend sporting events, take classes, etc. Take advantage of it.
10.) Listen to your students. They've got some really great ideas and things to say! They are so young and excited. Let them help keep you grounded yet excited about what you're doing.
11.) Being a college teacher is the best job. Ever. Period.

Now, things I want to improve for next year:
1.) Being more prepared for lectures. This should be easier if you consider that last year I stepped into this job with all of one week to leave summer camp in Missouri and move all my stuff from Louisiana to Alabama, unpack (find work clothes, mainly), and attend 3 days of new faculty orientation/meetings. Then classes started. It was a hectic beginning, but was much smoother this spring.
2.) In keeping with number 1, I want to step into the fall semester will all lectures planned, tests made, and assignments developed. Understandably, things will change and I'll have to make adjustments, but I think it would be nice to have something to change rather than just coming up with plans as I go. I may not like this setup, but I'd like to give it a try.
3.) Work on creating my own book to teach this class. I don't particularly like the one we use and no publishers have sent anything that seems worthy of change. It needs to cover all the important facts and aspects of music, discuss female composers, and be affordable!
4.) Register for classes. Not sure what classes, but I get 9 hours (free of charge), so might as well take advantage.
5.) Attend more university events. Now that I'm not living 1 hour from the university, I should be able to attend more things; like sporting events, presentations, concerts, etc.
6.) Get a CV together that includes test examples, lectures, student evaluations, etc. I want to be prepared for applying to grad school.

All this being said, I need to leave this blog and head over to my emails and the pile of assignments that need to be graded. How's your school year been?

Worth the Wait

I'm not sure this blog is entirely worth the wait, but I'm back; but only for a brief visit.

Things are BUSY (I know, you're busy too!). The end of the semester always keeps me busy. Between averaging grades, grading papers, meeting with students...did I mention grading papers?...I stay really preoccupied.

Anyway, for fun I decided to talk about my new apartment. It's so cute and coming together nicely. One day I'll be finished decorating, but for now it is all mine and I love it. Here are a few pictures to let you get a glimpse of my favorite place:

1.) My bathroom. Of course, there are actually toiletries in there now, but I really love the shower curtain. What you can't see is the clear curtain on the inside of the shower. It has pockets!! I can put my shampoo, soaps, etc. in the pockets! I looove it!!!

2.) The front door. It's purple and there are LOTS of plants outside. You may notice the two trees on the left. They are fig trees! I love figs!!!

3.) My two favorite chairs in my tiny living room. I found these chairs at a second hand store in town. Great deal and great condition. Can't complain...and again, I love them :)

 
4.) My bedroom. Eventually I will add some curtains over the closet space so it doesn't look so cluttered, but I do love the storage space. Plenty of room for all my clothes, shoes, accessories, etc.

5.) Last, my favorite room: the KITCHEN!!! I love so many things about my super tiny kitchen. First, it's cute. Second, I love the pie safe and kitchen island (bought them both at local stores). Third, the appliances (refrigerator and oven) are brand new. Can't complain about that!

Pie safe with wine rack, of course!

 

Kitchen island. Absolutely necessary due to VERY minimal counter space

A bit sloppy, but there you have the other side of the kitchen! Did I mention I love the original 1930s sink??

There you have it, folks! My very first apartment! Quite the stepping stone in my life. Maybe one day I'll actually get to spend some time there!

Granddad 1

Some of you reading this blog (if any) may know my maternal granddad. He's an incredibly impressive man and has succeeded more in his lifetime that most people ever will. That statement doesn't give him the credit he deserves, but I feel it's the best, most efficient way to sum him up. However, in an effort to preserve his legacy, or MY view of his legacy, I'll spend some time telling you more details about him.

First of all, you need to understand that we don't always get along. He can drive me bat-shit crazy. Why, you ask? Because he is stubborn, relentless, opinionated, pessimistic, realistic, practical, and incredibly self-motivated and driven. This wouldn't be a problem if I possessed these characteristics as strongly as him. However, I'm almost always optimistic (at least outwardly). In fact, probably annoyingly optimistic-which is completely opposite of him. I'm also a dreamer. His realistic and practical view of life frequently clashes with mine and we often disagree on what I should be doing. I have a hard time with self-motivation (just making myself keep up with this blog has been a challenge), while he can't seem to stop going and succeeding. And, just when you think he's hashed out all of these issues with you, such as your opposite view of politics, life choices, outlook, etc, he comes back and hits you with this relentless effort to change your mind and impart more of his opinion on you. But, what I have to admit, is that these characteristics are largely what have made him so successful in life. And that makes me feel so many different ways: proud of him; frustrated because he's probably right; motivated to succeed; scared to fail; intimidated; and worried about a future without him.

I've been lucky. I'm the oldest grandchild on my mother's side and the second oldest on my dad's. Because of this (and the fact that my parents had me in their early 20s), I am fortunate to be 30 and have all four of my grandparents still alive. I have a close relationship with each of them, maybe closer than some of the other grandchildren have. This being said, my granddad isn't afraid to critique me and had admitted to being tougher on me than the others. There have been times he's hurt my feelings and all I wanted to do was either run away crying or cuss him. He can be so tough, but I guess it's because of the life he had.

See, he was born in a time when life was tougher than it is now. People who couldn't keep up didn't make it. There were no governmental handouts and society didn't feel sorry for you if you were lazy and didn't try. I think you've probably heard about these people-some refer to them as the greatest generation that's ever lived. They may be right. My granddad helped his dad keep their farm operating and raise the younger siblings (which is no easy feat to accomplish) while also maintaining excellent grades in school so he could later be accepted at Cornell University in New York City.  He says it's no big deal-Cornell had to accept some people from the south to keep up with quotas, and he just happened to be the one. I think it's a big deal. First, did they really have quotas and such during the 1940s? Second, he is smart. Really smart. And got into a school that was producing some of the leading doctors of the early-mid 20th century. That in itself is cool-and another one of those things that intimidate me. Fortunately, I'm not going to be a medical doctor, so I won't ever need to compare my medical practice to his!

He's tough because of his childhood and everything else that ensued: He went to war, fought, came home and continued to study medicine, married, had 5 children, lost his wife to cancer (which was pretty tough for a doctor), started raising 5 children/preteens on his own while maintaining a medical practice, remarried, had a 6th baby and started sending the other 5 off to college, continued to successfully practice medicine while becoming active in philanthropic organizations, became the granddad to yours truly and 12 others, eventually retired (hard, hard decision), became INCREDIBLY active in philanthropic organizations and started opening clinics for underprivileged children, got cancer, beat it a few different times, and travelled to every continent on the planet. All the while, he's maintained a successful home, kept a large family together without any tragic incidents, and still hasn't given up. However, the cancer he has now is doing it's best to bring him down. And that's pissing him off.

(More to come later. Gotta sleep now. Hope you enjoy learning about my granddad!)

Oh, hey there!

I'm sorry, I'll admit that I almost forgot about you, dear blog. However, just before you fell off my radar, I remembered some of my friends' blogs and that prompted me to remember my OWN blog. So, here I am, after a very nice spring break, getting ready to finish the semester.

About 10 days ago I left for Missouri and got back yesterday! Classes resumed today!! Ahhhh! It's nice to be back in the swing of things, but I'll admit it took a little while to remember how. Breaks like this always remind me of afternoon naps. They're really nice, but more often than not I wake up feeling slightly groggy and a bit disoriented. When I flew back yesterday, I had to take a few minutes to get my thoughts in order and figure out what I needed to do to get ready for the week. This included trying to recall my schedule, classes, obligations, and everything else you disregard when on a vacation.

But, after a successful day, things are back on track. Whew! The only thing that isn't exactly on track is my exercise regime. Yeah, about that, I didn't do everything I had planned while on vacation. That's not to say I did NOTHING--I just didn't do the norm. So, starting tomorrow I'm going to get back in the swing of things. Summer is so close (swimsuits and cute summer clothes!!) and my pretty Easter dress would look so much better on me if I would shed half an inch (or a few pounds).

Last thing to note is I spent my first night alone in the new apartment last night. It was nice; nothing overly thrilling, but it did feel good to stay at my own place. There are still several boxes lying around, but things are organized such that I can walk around and get to what I need. The boxes mainly contain books and winter clothes. They will be unpacked as I go along. I've got the important things: a bed, a bathroom, towels, soap, toothbrush, coffee and coffee maker, bread, peanut butter, warm water and electricity. I'm not sure I NEED much else :)

Tomorrow it's back to working out, eating right and finishing the last 4 weeks of my first year as a college teacher! Yaya!

Moving right along

These days, things seem to happen really quickly around here. I can't believe it's been almost a week-or maybe a full week-since I last blogged. Last weekend was nice. My mom, dad, and middle sister came to visit. While they were in town, a few of my other aunts (mother's sisters) came to visit as well. We had a nice time catching up, eating, laughing, etc.

Since I've been so busy, I haven't been able to keep up with my workouts as I'd like. I didn't work-out yesterday or today, unless you count moving boxes and furniture into my apartment exercise. Now that I think about it, I don't feel so bad since I did move all that stuff (by myself). Speaking of apartment, it has almost everything in it (besides what I've got here at my grandparents' house, which, admittedly, is a lot). I'm looking forward to unpacking boxes and rummaging through stuff that's been packed away for a year or more. Hopefully I'll have a super cute and ORGANIZED apartment one of these days.

However, that won't happen until after next week. Tomorrow I leave for Missouri (yay!!) to see my boyfriend and some other girlfriends. We'll be spending some time in St. Louis as well as at camp getting ready for the summer. Hopefully we'll also make it to a winery (surprisingly, Missouri has a lot of really nice wineries) and do some hiking. The weather is supposed to be nice and springy :)

I also thought I should do a quick update on some of the things I've been doing for my 30th year project.

1.) I've almost finished the "Hunger Games" series! Great series and I'm excited to see the movie
2.) I'm still working out and although I haven't done EVERY day of P90, I feel good about how I'm doing.
3.) The car purchase may be put on hold since I decided to rent an apartment, but I feel okay about that. Living in my own place (without roommates) has been something I've wanted to do for a real long time.
4.) I've made some big payments on my credit cards and MAY be done paying them off before summer is over. Of course, I've got to do some budgeting since the apartment will bring new expenses.
5.) I've lost 5 of 50 pounds. Not bad at all; I'm actually on track and now that I've begun to lose weight, I'll start losing more if I keep at it.
6.) No work on the writing or publications...yet. (Unless you count blogging!) Recently I've had several people my grandparents' age tell me they knew my biological grandmother and how great she was. I'm thinking I would like to do learn more about her and consider that as a book or document to put together for my mom and her siblings.
7.) I'm a tiny bit behind on the letter writing, but that's okay. At least I'm writing letters.
8.) I'm thinking I'll work on donating money to either cancer research or diabetes research. Right now I'm doing the cancer research since Relay for Life is approaching at the end of the month.
9.) Speaking of Relay, I'll be running another 5K in May for cancer fundraising. Working on more running so I can (hopefully) do a half marathon.

So, that's the update for now. I don't have my list of 30 things in front of me, but I know of those of the top of my head.

Hope you're well! I'll try to give some updates while traveling in Missouri!

Busy days

I've been horrible about writing here...and I'm sorry for that. But, you know, life is busy and things happen, so our best plans are often changed to something entirely different.

Anyway, I figured I might as well write a little update.

Yesterday I joined the other millions of lease-bound adults by signing on (for the first time ever) to rent my very own apartment! I'm excited and nervous. Plus kinda sad about leaving my grandparents when my granddad is so sick. It is such a bittersweet situation. However, once I found out I'd be coming back to my job next year, I decided it was time to stop commuting an hour to work and get an apartment in town. This will open up so many new opportunities for me to make friends, become more involved on campus, and learn to live solo!

As of right now, the only furniture I have is a bed, t.v. shelf and chest of drawers. I don't have a t.v., couch, chairs...nothing. However, those things will come with time. In fact, I think it will be pretty fun getting to decorate an apartment from scratch! I'm going to spend some time searching used furniture stores and try to get some lightly used retro furniture. I want my apartment to be funky!

In other news, my brother is back home as of today! In fact, he is probably getting ready to land in Louisiana and see his family for the first time in nine months. I'm so proud of him for serving in the military, and also very ready for him to be back home and not in Afghanistan.

My parents and sister will be here this weekend, which means I probably won't be updating too much. Hopefully I'll do some moving and get my bed set up in the apartment. The power has been transferred to my name and the water is on, so as long as I've got a place to sleep I can stay there until I'm all moved in and ready to go.

Workouts have been okay. And only okay, which is disappointing. I feel like I've been so busy that I haven't had time to do the 'hardcore' exercising I'd like to do PLUS all of my other obligations. One day I'm going to learn to say no ;)

How's you, dear reader?

Zombie 5K

Did the Zombie Run 5K yesterday. It was HARD. I've never experienced mud like I did on that track. Because of the rain, and the fact that the trail used was (already) a muddy dirt track, the whole thing was nothing but sopping, sticky red clay mud. Fortunately, it came out of almost everything I was wearing. My socks are stained and the insides of my shoes have a bit of stain, but overall everything cleaned up really nicely.

It took me 1hr 20min to run the 5K. There were a few reasons it took so long:
1.) The mud. It was like running in slippery sand.
2.) The obstacles (naturally, they'll slow you down)
3.) The zombies (duh)
4.) Trail running (much harder than road and treadmill running)
My average time on a TREADMILL is 45 minutes, so 80min is to be expected with these type of conditions.

The biggest thing I'm taking from this is that I'd like to practice running on trails more. The day before the race I bought a new pair of running shoes (that I did NOT wear on race day). While talking to the salesperson (who also fitted me for shoes and got me a pair that will work best for my stride), we discussed trail running. Apparently it's not only better for your joints (knew that already), but it also give you a much better overall workout. You are forced to use your core and arms for balance, so you're working on full body rather than mostly legs (street running). Plus, it's nicer to be in nature!

I plan on doing more running over the next few months so I can run a 5K without stopping. I'm going to sign up for some 5Ks and hopefully a 10K or two. Maybe by October/November I can start training for a 1/2 marathon.

Now for the not so good news. I missed a workout last week :(  For the first time since starting P90, I actually didn't do a day's exercise. That's kinda sad, but I don't fee HORRIBLE. I pushed myself really hard with the 5K, so at least the week wasn't a total waste. However, I've got to keep on track this next week. My family will be in town Friday-Monday. Their visit will be a big distraction; however, I'm determined to keep focused. I may alter my workouts so my sister and/or mother can join, but I'll still do something!

Gotta stay focused!

5K

Just wanted to jot down that I ran/walked the 5K today (on a treadmill) in 43:30. That's an average of (almost) 14 minutes/mile. Not too bad if you consider that I expected it to be more like 45-48 minutes. I'd like to eventually run a 5K in 30 mins; however, I think that will take some serious running and training.

I'll be interested to see how long this 5K takes me on Saturday when you consider there will be obstacles and the added challenge of outside terrain (trees, hills, rocks, etc.) that we'll be running on. My guess is it will take closer to an hour. But that's ok.

Fitness Update

I haven't done much updating on the fitness side of things, so here you go:

Work outs are going well. I've varied things on the occasion by working out at the gym rather than the house. This means I don't always do the P90 exercise. I still feel I'm getting the same quality of workout, though. I figure in another 10-15 days I should be able to start the next video in P90, which means harder, more intense workouts. Hopefully that will equal more weight loss and muscle definition.

A few people have told me they think I've lost some weight. The scale did say I've lost 6 pounds. However, I wish it was more. But, I know I'm starting somewhere. I guess 6 pounds is about right when you consider that the healthiest weight loss is 2-3 pounds a week AFTER you've gained some muscle mass.

Today I'll be going to the gym to do some running. My first 5K is this weekend. I'm not sure I'm ready for it, but sometimes you just gotta jump in and sink or swim. I'm pretty sure I'll survive, but it's gonna be TOUGH!

I got pretty motivated last night after watching the Biggest Loser. It's one of my favorite reality style shows. It's actually descent and does something good for people. Anyway, today I'm going to try a Biggest Loser style workout at the gym. I can push myself pretty hard today and still have enough time to "heal" before the race on Saturday.

Oh, yesterday I went to the gym at 5pm to lift weights (instead of using the resistance band like I usually do). I am pretty proud of myself for sticking it out. The gym was kinda full AND everyone there was fit, lean, muscular and pretty. I find it embarrassing to work out at the gym when you're around all those super healthy people who run laps around you. But, then I remembered a quote that goes something like this: "I may not run laps around the people at the gym, but I'm running laps around people on their couch doing nothing." It made me feel good and I finished my workout!

So, time for some gym action! Later, gator! 

Frustrations, Pt. 2

I need a minute to vent.

1.) I'm tired of having this cold and allergies. I don't want to blow my nose again. Ever.
2.) I want to see faster results with this exercise/diet thing. I was immediate results. I'm tired of being patient.
3.) Deciding to eliminate sugar from my coffee for lent was a bad idea. Now I don't enjoy my coffee as much, and that is depressing.
4.) My granddad is a grumpy old man and he drives me crazy sometimes. He's also really critical. I love him, but he's getting on my last nerve. I feel like I can't ever please him.
5.) I think it is bullshit that only children are socially allowed to play make-believe and make up wild imaginations. I'm tired of people laughing when I tell them crazy ideas and fun dreams. Sure, they may never happen. I get that. But it doesn't mean it's not fun to imagine and dream sometimes.
6.) Just because I don't always fit into the most practical mold doesn't mean I'm not being productive with my life. I just do things more creatively and I don't always fit into the box society wants. Deal with it.
7.) I will have fun and enjoy life. Even if that means spending a little more money rather than saving it. Or "wasting" some time laughing and doing silly things rather than reading or being "practical." I'm an artist. This is what we do.
8.) I will be happy doing the jobs I want to do. Even if that means I won't make as much money as others. I've accepted that.
9.) I'm sick of my boyfriend being 9 hours away. It sucks.
10.) My sister in law pisses me off. She doesn't communicate with me. I send gifts and packages to the niece and nephews and she never lets me know when she gets them. She doesn't ever talk to my parents even though they try really hard to be a part of her life, especially since my brother's been deployed. Since she doesn't want to ever spend time with us, we never see the kids OR my brother. Sometimes I really want to tell her how much she irritates me, but then I'm afraid it would ruin my relationship with my brother. Why couldn't I be one of the lucky people who gets a SIL that becomes a best friend? Oh well, I do love my brother-in-law.
11.) I hate my office chair. It is so uncomfortable. I hate that the office chair I want is really expensive.


But, on a happier note, it's a beautiful day. Maybe I'll go for a walk and I won't be so irritated any more.

Whew...

What a week. Things have been incredibly hectic between visits from friends, work, travel, and exercising.

So, quick update:
-My best friend in the world (Hannah) came to visit on Tuesday. She left early this morning. While here, we went to a museum, played the piano, talked and laughed (lots), went to Atlanta and saw the Atlanta Symphony, rearranged my work office and did some shopping. Overall, it was a fantastic visit. Now it's my turn to visit her.
-I've somehow managed to keep up with Power 90 this week. Admittedly, I didn't do the entire workout yesterday. I woke up late, so it had to be a quick version. But at least I did what I could. Today I ran instead of doing the entire cardio (gotta get ready for the 5K next weekend); however, I did do the P90 yoga and ab routine.
-My aunt and little 18mo. old cousin is visiting this weekend. It's nice to have visitors, but this means I have NO free weekends before Spring Break. Somehow I've got to figure out how I'll squeeze in all of my school work. I can do it.
-Next weekend is the zombie run. This means I'll be running again on Monday then taking it kinda easy for the remainder of the week.
-I weighed at the gym today and I've lost 3 pounds! Woo-hoo!!!

BEST NEWS of the YEAR:
My teaching job has been renewed, so I'll remain at UWG for at least another year! It is both a relief and incredibly exciting! As a bit of a celebration, I rearranged my office and bought a few little items to decorate and make it more comfy for me to work in. I found an amazing store that sells antique/retro items. While walking around, I came across a fabulous red and orange lamp and a few cute mirrors. The combination has really made my office a bit more comfortable and quirky (which is right up my alley).

I'm looking forward to another year of perfecting my teaching. It will be nice to have a summer to evaluate what I've done and get ready for the year. I went in to this school year with such short notice that I've been making things up as I go, but next year I'm hoping to be completely ready with lots of great teaching ideas and plans!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

30 days and nights + Lent

I'd like to take a minute and reflect on the past 30 days of Power 90. I'll do this in list form because I like making lists.

1.) I did it. Now for 60 more. If I can do the first 30 WITHOUT missing a single workout (success), I can do all 90.

2.) I can't believe it's been 30 days. Seriously. I remember looking at my calendar thinking it would take forever and I'm already 1/3 of the way through.

3.) I took a picture (which is what you're instructed to do). To be honest, I don't see much change. HOWEVER, I can do some things (physically) that I couldn't do before. So that is a small step. I can only think that there will be more physical/body changes (for the better) in the second month.

4.) I'm pretty sure I can add to this workout regime and see positive effects but not over exert myself. I'll get to that more when I discuss lent.

5.) It's not as hard as you think it will be. Once the first few weeks are over, your body gets used to the workouts and it becomes more mental than physical. That's not to say I'm super fit, but I can tell when I'm having a bad day because my mind says I don't want to do it. On days when I am mentally ready to work out, I have fabulous work-outs (and those exercises are the same as on my "bad" days).

6.) My boyfriend is amazing for listening to me talk through this every day. I've had nights where I am super discouraged and frustrated, but he is ever encouraging and supportive.

Now for Lent:
I come from a southern Baptist background, so I wasn't raised honoring lent in the way other religious groups do. However, after living in a heavily populated Catholic area, I began participating in the lent season more for personal evaluation and discipline than anything religious. It's actually become a time of year I look forward to. To me, giving up something bad or adding something positive to your life is easier during Lent because it's such a short period of time. However, it's long enough to become a (hopefully) good habit AND allow you to see how much self motivation, determination and discipline you have. Anyway, there is no need to explain myself. Point is, I've got two things I'm doing for lent that you'll probably read about later on.

1.) I'm adding 1 hour of cardio to my workouts per week. Ideally, I'd like to add 1.5 hours (30 extra minutes, 3 days a week). But I know that just adding the extra 30 minutes two days OR 20 minutes 3 days is going to be enough of a challenge. Hopefully this will aid in my goals to run a half marathon AND do a triathlon. I've been doing some of this over the past week. It's not that bad, actually. Once I've already done the P90 workout, I just go straight outside and add walking, running, a combination of the two, etc. Plus the P90 workout isn't so hard that I'm COMPLETELY whipped by the end. There is usually still enough energy to add 20-30 mins.

2.) I'm getting rid of sugar in my tea/coffee. This is mainly so I'll be able to drink coffee without sugar. I add way too much and HATE artificial sweeteners. Cream/milk is allowed, but sugar isn't. I've been working on this some, but it's time to be serious. The only reason I'm not adding honey to tea is because once I stop adding honey and sugar to tea/coffee, I'll have completely eliminated all calorie containing drinks (besides my health shakes and wine--which those don't really count. I'm talking about sodas, sweet tea, sugary juices, etc.). This doesn't mean I'll forever quit having honey in tea. I understand honey is good for you and all. I'm mainly hoping to get rid of the extra calories for now and stop depending on sugar in coffee.

So, that's it. 30 days of P90 under my belt. Lenten season is on it's way. I'm doing it big. No cheat days---Ash Wednesday through Easter without any breaks. That will also ALMOST be the end of P90! Whoop! Just one more day to enjoy my sugary coffee! Glad it's a work day :)

This week has been insane. I've been incredibly busy and am just now getting around to updating about my birthday, visit from Brad and the birthday weekend.

Also, I've had a hell of a time sticking to a healthy diet...Valentine's Day and birthday celebrations have been a big reason for my food binge. But, despite the hectic schedule and all of the distractions, I've managed to do my workout everyday. And I feel really good about that.

Anyway, my actual birthday was nice. My grandparents took me out for lunch at a nice place downtown. I spent most of the day resting and talking to friends/family. That evening I had a rehearsal, where they all sang happy birthday to me. After rehearsal I took myself out for sushi (which was wonderful!).

Thursday was an extremely busy day at work. I spent the day trying to catch up and get ahead so I could enjoy the weekend and next week when H comes to visit (yay!). I also had a piano lesson (which was okay...my teacher is really inexperienced so he isn't as much help as I'd like). Fortunately, I did enough work that I've been able to enjoy the weekend. I will have to do some things tomorrow evening, but that's fine. Hannah doesn't get in town until Tuesday afternoon, anyway.

Brad got here Friday! It has been so nice to see him. We spent most of Friday and Saturday seeing my family, so today it's just us. Which has been nice. I've noticed I've been kinda clingy and whiny; he even pointed it out. I think being separated for 6 weeks has been harder for me than I realized. He doesn't seem to worry about it--like a guy, he's super practical. His practicality gets frustrating because he doesn't seem to understand my concerns and I can't see things through his view (which is, 'why worry about it if we can't change the way things are?').

But, over all I've had a great time. We celebrated my birthday with my family last night. He met some of my aunts and uncles for the first time and they got along great (which is important because I'm VERY close with this side of my family). Today we're going to go ride around and see Guntersville, maybe have sushi for dinner (which is always fine with me), and generally enjoy our last evening together until next month...  :(

Oh, and I did work out today even though he's here! Go me :)

Girly Girls

Although most people reserve Valentine's day for their romantic love, I really try to let my best girl friends know how much they mean to me. Boys have come and gone throughout my life. Other than my dad, granddads, brother and uncles, no guy has constantly been there on Valentine's day.

So, on this Valentine's Day I am being thankful for my best girlfriends who've been there through the good and bad. When I was "taken" and didn't have time for girl nights, you still loved me. You were all still there when the guy didn't work out and I came back crying and bemoaning my bad fortune. You didn't say "I told you so" (until much later when I was over him); instead you listened, supported me and said what a creep he was for not wanting me.

And, remember those times we were single? Those were great! We had fun looking at cute guys, trying on clothes, going out, not caring a bit what anyone else thought, planning our futures, traveling, laughing, crying....

Now that we're all taken (married, engaged, with child, in a relationship, etc.), well, life is still good. We still talk on the phone (as often as possible), write letters, plan visits, imagine, laugh, and grow together (even though most of us are separated by distance...lots of it). 

I'm lucky to have as many fabulous girl friends as I do. If everyone of my best friends are in my wedding, my wedding party is going to be massive. Thank you all for being there and loving me with all my flaws and crazy tendencies. I love you, too.

Lucky in Love

Yep, I'm gonna do it. It's Valentine's week (one of my favorite weeks all year), so this means I get to write about love.

I understand a LOT of people HATE Valentine's day. I feel like too many people have given into mass marketing and media by allowing their view of Valentine's day to be only for those in some kind of romantic relationship. Yes, it is a PERFECT day to celebrate your romance, but it's also a GREAT day to celebrate all the other people who are in your life. And please don't tell me you should do that every day. Yes, you should. But does that mean we stop celebrating Thanksgiving because we should be grateful for all we have every day? Well, we SHOULD be grateful and thankful every day, but it is nice to have one day out of the year to celebrate and focus on all our blessings.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox. Now it's time to start the week of love by telling you about one of my loves.

He's gonna kill me for this...but his name is Brad and he's so wonderful. We met last summer at summer camp (how cliche is that???). Don't worry, we weren't campers OR counselors (not nearly "Wet, Hot American Summer"). I was bouncing around with dating and semi-legit relationships after having ended a 7 yr long relationship. To be honest, I'm not even sure what "semi-legit" means, I just know they weren't anything real or long-term. I knew I wanted something, but wasn't sure what. Anyway, I went to this camp as the summer photographer mainly so I could get away from real life. Turns out I met Brad and...well, now we've been together for 8 fabulous months. 

He lives about 9 hours away (that's the problem with meeting at camp). But, we make it work by seeing each other as often as possible (sometimes once a month) and talking on the phone daily. I write him letters, he reads the letters! Haha! He's not much of a letter writer, but I don't really mind. 

The main reasons I love him are:

1.) He makes me laugh. I LOVE to laugh, and I'm constantly laughing with (and at) him!

2.) He actually listens to what I say and remembers (most of) it! Even the non-important things.

3.) He genuinely wants me to be happy. It's so obvious and so sweet.

4.) He doesn't always agree with me and he's really good at having a mature disagreement.

5.) He's nice. So very, very nice. (This may seem silly, but I've been in some relationships where the guys just weren't that nice to me. I didn't realize it at the time, but that was one of the first things I noticed about him-how nice and polite he was.)

Sometimes you have to look at the bright side of things. See, at first I was all sad because he wouldn't be here on Valentine's Day OR my birthday. But, the good thing about it is, he'll get here on Friday, which means I get to extend this week all the way through the weekend. 

That's enough about Brad. I'll tell you about some other people as the week continues.

Just in case you're wondering, yes, I did the double cardio work-out today. I was really tired/sore from lifting weights at the gym yesterday. It affected some of the cardio that involves arm movement, but overall I'm pretty satisfied with the work-out. During my walk I found some pretty decent places to do some cross-country style sprints, so that'll be good for later in the week and next week.

Until tomorrow....

Frustrations

I may have made a huge mistake by weighing myself at the gym today. I haven't weighed myself in 3 weeks, and I haven't lost a single pound either (according to the SAME scale I last used to weigh in). I would be off the Biggest Loser... I know, I know. The argument will inevitably be, "but you've gained muscle mass." That's true, I do feel stronger and I THINK my clothes fit better (at least that's what I'm telling myself), but it still doesn't help when the scale (reality) hasn't actually changed.

But, see, here's the thing. I'm in this for the long haul. So, I've got to get over these frustrations and get up tomorrow and work out again. I really need to stop cheating on my diet (I've been having too many sweets lately) and man up (or woman up, to be more exact). This week I add more cardio, so I think that should help. I'll stop eating rolls at dinner (my grandmother makes them and I have a hard time saying no). Ummmm...and stop having seconds at meal time when I'm technically "full" after the first go-round. That's about all I can do, diet wise. I still don't drink sodas or eat out at fast-food places EVER. I don't eat within three hours of going to sleep. And I REALLY don't have too many sugary sweets (like cakes and candy or ice cream).

This all being said, this is my birthday week (in case, dear reader, you've forgotten). And I WILL have cake for my birthday. :)

Ah, a day off :) Seriously, I love my days off from workouts. In fact, I didn't do much productive today AT ALL. Tomorrow I've got to get serious with school work!

This week is going to be a slight challenge (exercise, wise). Not only will I be attempting to do my workouts in the morning, but I'm also adding extra cardio. On March 3, I'm running my first 5K!!! I figure this is a right step in the direction towards running that 1/2 Marathon. This 5K is a bit special because it is an obstacle course that not only includes both man-made and natural obstacles, but also ZOMBIES!!! Yes, that's right, folks. Zombies. I'm so excited!

Anyway, I don't want the zombies to get me and turn me into a zombie (that's part of the challenge-not allowing the zombies to take all your flags and turn you into one of them), so I MUST prepare! On MWF (cardio days), I'm going to add 30 extra minutes of cardio/5K Zombie training. I won't go too crazy this week (don't want to get sore and wear myself out too soon), but I've only got 3 weeks before the race, so I can't hold off the training.

Here's the plan for now:
Sunday: Early afternoon sculpt at gym (use weights instead of band)
Monday: AM P90 cardio followed by 1 mile jog/brisk walk (It's been a while since I ran any distance outside, not on a treadmill. I'm not sure if I can make it a mile, but I'm going to try. I've got three weeks to get my distance up to 3.1 miles plus obstacles!)
Tuesday: AM sculpt at home w/ bands
Wednesday: AM P90 cardio followed by 10 hill sprints (5 run up/5 run down), 10 spreepers (This is a new word I just made up. Essentially, I'll do a sprint then get down on my belly and belly crawl or "creep"...get it? Sprint + Creep = spreep.) Not sure on the distance since I'll be doing it in my yard...so, whatever the length of the front lawn is, I suppose.
Thursday: AM sculpt w/bands (MUST do this. I have piano lessons in the evening so I don't get home until almost 6:30. Then I eat dinner with my grandparents, so I can't work out until almost 8pm. That's too late. I'm too tired and the workout at that point is not nearly as good as it could be.)
Friday: AM cardio followed by 30 min brisk walk up the mountain (I'm going to assume I'll be pretty tired by this point in the week. So, to avoid complete exhaustion, Friday will be a walk but I'll make sure it's helpful for the obstacle course by going up the mountain side of the neighborhood.)

In other news: I'm making my boyfriend an awesome Valentine's gift. I'll disclose more later-right now it's a secret since he could potentially look here and find out (though I don't think he actually reads this). I have my moments of craftiness and this is one of them.

I ordered a king cake to use as my birthday cake next weekend. Hopefully next weekend's birthday celebrations are epic. Sadly, I don't believe Wednesday (my actual birthday) will be as fabulous as I'd like. I've already found out my grandparents will be going to dinner with some friends, and I'm pretty much friendless here (yeah...that's something I need to work on). So any birthday celebrations on Wednesday will be with me and me alone. I cried when my grandmother broke the news to me (I think she genuinely felt bad about the commitment), but not in front of her. That would be too embarrassing. Anyway, I may just take myself out for sushi or something else wonderful.

Okay, enough chit-chat for now. Gotta go to bed. I've got a long day of church, working out, school work, concerts, practicing clarinet and piano, and Valentine's projects to do tomorrow.

Thursday Favorites

Copying Claire, here are some of my Thursday favorites! 

1.) Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto, The Emperor. If you haven't heard it, you're doing yourself an injustice.

2.) Coffee. Need I say more?

3.) BIRTHDAY in less than one week!! (Yes, I'll keep mentioning this until the day it arrives...and maybe even afterwards if it is especially amazing)

4.) Talking to a favorite friend during the morning commute.

5.) Upcoming visits from friends :D

6.) Signing up to run in a 5K that involves both an obstacle course AND.....ZOMBIES!!!!

7.) Friends who read my blog (thanks)

8.) Piano lessons starting TODAY!

9.) Getting discounted software for my computer because I'm a teacher.

10.) Organization

3/3-4

Sorry about the absence of a post from yesterday...I got busy and never made time in my day to write.

I did work-out, and I pushed super hard! I was pretty sore after the workout. The plan to wake up early and do it before work didn't pan out, but if I'd done that, there is no way I would have had the energy or strength to try and max out the workout. However, tomorrow I'm going to HAVE to wake up early since I've got a really long day and I know I won't be able to exercise after work.

Today I made it through cardio pretty well. I'm still struggling on some things, but I can see improvements. I'm still pretty certain that I MAY advance to the next level on strength training before cardio. We'll see. I also know that the more muscles I build and the stronger I get, as well as the more weight I lose, the easier cardio will be.

On a different topic, let's talk about how busy I am with school work. I LOVE my job. Seriously, but I'm having a real hard time squeezing in extra things I like to do. Examples you ask? OK:
-Not only writing notes, but making homemade cards for special days (like Valentine's)
-Calling friends (I LOVE talking, and when I make phone calls to my friends I know they'll be time consuming. I just haven't had the time to call anyone in the past few weeks)
-Reading (need I say more?)
-Napping (I know I've already told you how much I like to nap. Well, that's not on the schedule anytime soon)

BUT, I don't really want to complain. Not too much, at least. I love my job and would rather have it and all of the busyness that comes with it, than not have it and have all the free time in the world. Plus, to be fair, I've got some visitors coming in the next few weeks which means I've been staying on top of all my work and planning for the next few weeks at the same time.

Speaking of visitors, my WONDERFUL boyfriend will be here next weekend!!! We'll be celebrating my birthday with family. I'm sooooo excited to see him!!! It'll be six weeks since we last saw each other! (Busy lives, distance, money, time, etc have all been against us the past 5 weeks) After he leaves, my best, best, best friend in the entire world is coming for 4 days! We'll be hanging out, going to see the Atlanta Symphony, laughing, eating, talking...you know, all the fun things that best girlfriends do. So, those are some wonderful events I'm looking forward to. It makes all of the busyness not seem so bad, ya know?

The real week 3, day 2

After a day that consisted of staring at my computer screen for HOURS (literally), the workout was a much needed break from my real job. For the first time I WANTED to get up and sweat. I think for that reason, I pushed really hard and had one of the best cardio work-outs I've had with P90 so far. That could also be attributed to the fact that today was the first cardio work-out of the week, but I really think it had to do with the fact that I knew I needed to move around and burn some energy off.

Tomorrow: early morning work-out is a MUST.

And a new week begins...

Days off are wonderful. Just so you know. Yesterday (Saturday) was my day off. I had considered working out, but then I realized I'd have to take Sunday off, and that doesn't work well with my schedules. Besides, I like having Saturday off from work.

I went out with some friends and had pizza and dessert. Two desserts, to be honest. Then, today I had a small piece of carrot cake with lunch. Honestly, I don't feel entirely bad since my aunt told me she thought I'd lost 'lots' of weight since she'd last seen me in October. The word "lots" made me feel pretty good and worked as a motivational tool for getting myself in gear today. So, as soon as lunch was over and I was back at the house, it was time to get back on the proverbial wagon.

Since my birthday is in two weeks, and I REALLY like celebrating birthdays (especially my own), I'm going to fast for two weeks until the big day. It really won't be so hard. No desserts (I'll have plenty to look forward to during birthday celebrations), limited carbs (and none at dinner), and limited alcohol (maybe a glass of wine at dinner). Those three things alone will make me feel better about all of the excess I'll have on my birthday.

Speaking of my birthday, I promised to share my list of 30 things while 30. Understand it isn't finished. I'm still thinking of things and have 10 days to finalize it. And, since I don't really like being held by rules, I may add to it or adjust it throughout the year. You just never know what will happen. I've organized them, though some won't have any particular grouping.

Here ya go: (In NO particular order)
Health:
1.) Run a 1/2 marathon. I've been saying this for a long time. My intentions had been to finish one BEFORE 30. Well, that didn't happen, so now it's for this year.
2.) Lose 50 pounds
3.) Compete in (another) triathlon. I did a mini-triathlon a few years ago. It was one of the most exhilarating and proud moments of my life. I want to do that again.
4.) Climb a rock wall without assistance (other than the regular restraints to keep me from falling and killing myself)
5.) Finish Power90. All 90 days without a break. (As you know, I'm 2 weeks in already, so I've got a start on this one!)

Academics/Scholarly Work:
6.) Write a book about my granddad. I've been saying this for a while. I live with him right now and he's pretty sick, but not so sick he can't hold a normal conversation. It's time. This must be done.
7.) Have something published. This could be either the book I'm writing about my granddad (though, honestly, it's more for my family's benefit than anything) or something scholarly and in my field of study (music). A music article would REALLY help with getting into school for my PhD.
8.) Do a solo, public performance on my clarinet. This doesn't have to be a full recital; it could simply be playing a solo at church. But, I need to play solo more often, it will keep me playing and practicing.
9.) Practice the piano enough that I can play hymns and chordal progressions with confidence while teaching. I'm taking lessons this semester, so hopefully (fingers crossed), I'll be motivated enough to do the practicing I need to do.
10.) Become the BEST Music Appreciation teacher I can be. I'd like to spend some quality time this summer evaluating what I did this year and really do a GREAT job next semester/year.


Financial:
11.) Get out of all my credit card debt (almost there!!!)
12.) Buy a car
13.)Triple my savings account. This might be tough, especially if I'm buying a car, but I think I can do it if I really get serious and budget myself.
14.) Make a strict budget and stick to it.
15.) Donate to a charity monthly. I do this when I think about it, but not on a regular monthly basis. I want to make that a part of my financial goals. It's a good thing.

Travel:
16.) Travel somewhere new. Anywhere I've never been will be fine.
17.) Go on a beach vacation.
18.) Take a road trip. I LOVE road trips. I went on a good one with my brother a few years ago. They don't have to be extravagant, just a nice little trip with someone I love.
19.) Visit a friend I haven't seen in years. I'm thinking either some of my childhood friends or maybe a friend from my Kansas years. Both would be nice, but we'll see.
20.) Go on a camping/hiking trip.

Life/Random ideas:
21.) Throw out ALL of the old clothes, shoes, hats, jackets, jewelry, random crap, etc. that I NEVER wear or use but am attached to.
22.) Get my keepsake/memory/photo boxes in order so I can actually look through it.
23.) Write 8 letters/month. A few years ago I wrote a letter/day. That was nice, but I really wasn't able to put the effort forth on every letter I wrote that I'd have liked. So, with 8 letters/mo. (roughly 2/week), I should have the time to write nice, meaningful letters.
24.) Read the Hunger Games books.
25.) Make a t-shirt scarf with my old t-shirts.
26.) Throw/host a party. Not a birthday party, but a regular "party" like I used to have back in my early 20s (minus all the alcohol...maybe).
27.) Do a random act of kindness EVERY Friday.

28-30: Still up for grabs...

Week 2...

So, week 2 is basically done. I need to do an extra day (since last week I was only able to work out 5 days). If I have the energy, I'll go to the gym tomorrow and do the sculpt work out with weights rather than a band.

Things I've learned this week:
1.) ALWAYS have a protein shake after the workout. I'm pretty sure they aren't lying when they (exercise experts) say it helps heal your muscles. I had shakes the first few days. By the end of the week, I was REALLY struggling to get motivated to exercise, then I was so tired I could hardly finish them. Admittedly, some of the exhaustion was from from a week of working out and all my other commitments, but I really think the protein shakes make a difference. Today, after a hellish work out (tired body and exhaustion), I had a shake and I'm feeling a LOT better than I did after yesterdays tough work out.

2.) Treat yourself. A LITTLE bit of icecream isn't bad. My grandparents went to the local dairy and got some chocolate ice cream. It's locally made with real milk and cream (no artificial hormones given to the animals and they are cage free). Plus, purchasing from them supports the local economy (added bonus). Anyway, I had ice cream. Just a little bit (be smart---don't let your workout go to pot because you eat an entire pint of ice cream!!!). But, the little bit was WONDERFUL!!!!

3.) Even on days when the last thing I want is to work out, if I just get dressed and push play, it's not so bad.

So, that's it for the health portion. I'll be coming back shortly with a list of thirty things to do when I turn 30. For those of you who may not know, my 30th birthday is just around the corner!! Wednesday, February 15. Feel free to send cards, flowers, gifts, whatever ;)  Anyway, I'm working on a list of 30 things to do during the year. Some new, some repeats, some improvements, etc. Any suggestions are welcome...I still need a few ideas!

3/2; Fruit is an option

Damn the yoga in the P90 work out! It's hard. And frustrating. I felt I'd made some progress on Monday...but today was REALLY difficult. Then again, I'd had a day off on Saturday (and hadn't done yoga since Friday), so my muscles had time to heal. Hopefully I'll see progress next Monday...

It's crazy how fruit works as a sugar/candy substitute. I've stopped drinking sodas, chewing gum and am seriously limiting my desserts (I usually allow myself a MODERATE dessert once a week). However, limiting my intake does not change the the fact that I still occasionally CRAVE sweets. But, I have noticed the cravings are less than they used to be. Anyway, the point is, I've started having fresh fruit when I want something sweet. Apples, oranges, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, etc.

Right now I'm having a  red, white, and blue fruit salad--patriotic!! (blueberries, strawberries, bananas). When I want something creamy (like ice cream), I add cottage cheese. It's NOT the same thing as ice cream. I won't lie to you. Ice cream and frozen yogurt are one two my very favorite things on earth. But, since I can't have it daily, or as often as I want, the cottage cheese and fruit combination will do. To make things a little sweeter (when the fruit just won't do, or isn't as sweet as I'd like), I add honey. It's not bad, and it helps get rid of that sweet tooth.

People have always said that once you stop eating sweets, processed sugars and even artificial sweeteners daily (or multiple times a day) you won't crave them as much. It's true. I hate to admit it...but they aren't lying. Also, I'll say it again, the fruit is actually really sweet and delicious once you've gotten away from all the other "bad" sugars. Damn nutritionists always being right...

On a different note, concerning this blog, I think I'll make an effort to learn how to make it a little more friendly to the reading audience (which I think only consists of about 2 people). I'm going to figure out how to post pictures and links (well, I know how to post links), but I could at least add some pictures, like maybe the picture of my patriotic fruit salad!! Haha!  But, not today. Maybe tomorrow...

Gotta run!

2/2

Work out-done. That's all I have to say about that...

Right now, to be honest, I'm sorta freaking out about skin cancer. Not that I HAVE skin cancer...but I just watched this video about it and it's making me paranoid. Also, a good friend of mine just went through the whole process of finding out he had melanoma and then having surgery and is now in remission.

Anyway, I do have a little bump on my arm that is a bit worrying. I'm going to a dermatologist soon. In fact, I'm going to schedule an appointment tomorrow. Just to be on the safe side. It's scary to think that I need to be checked for a disease that could kill me. Sometimes I think if I don't go to the doctor for these types of things they'll never find it and I'll be okay. Sorta like: if I don't see it or know about it, it doesn't exist. But, we all know that isn't really the case.

Ugh. Sometimes growing up (old) isn't that fun.

11 questions

My friend, Claire, whose blog I recommend, tagged me (Yes! Me!) in a little "meme" that I'm definitely going to participate in! I tell 11 random facts about myself, then answer 11 questions. So, here I go:

11 Facts about Moi:
1.) I don't really like watching the local news, but I know it is important to stay up to date with current events in my area. So, I watch it.
2.) I love writing letters. But I've been really busy lately and haven't kept up with writing. In fact, I've got a letter half written sitting beside me.
3.) I used to suck my thumb as a child. I stopped in first grade for fear of being laughed at.
4.) I still have my baby/childhood blanket. It's on my bed and I sleep with it every night. However, I don't travel with it. Too risky.
5.) Even though I've been to England, if I could only travel to ONE other place for the rest of my life (outside the U.S.), it would DEFINITELY be England.
6.) I don't like scary movies. They always scare me way too much.
7.) I want to write a book.
8.) I have an uncanny ability to turn almost any normal situation into an incredibly awkward situation. I don't mean to, it just happens. Fortunately, my friends, family, and boyfriend think it is an endearing quality.
9.) I don't really like T.V. that much. I watch a few shows, comedy mostly, but otherwise, I don't care too much about it. In fact, I don't even own a T.V.
10.) I despise video games. Funny thing, I actually own a Wii, but have only played it about 5 times (and that is a generous number).
11.) I've cried while playing Monopoly. Because I was losing. I'm a poor sport, sometimes.

Now, 11 questions from Claire!!

1. Which is your favourite holiday or celebration? Basically everything that falls between Thanksgiving and my birthday or Mardi Gras (whichever comes first). So, that includes Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (yes, it's a holiday), Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, my birthday and Mardi Gras. However, if I could only pick ONE, I'd go with Christmas. It's MAGICAL!

2. What's your favourite song to rock out at a karaoke party? Or, if you're not a karaoke person, what's your favourite song to sing in the shower?
I've never karaoke'd (it is on my to-do list), but it's probably a toss up between Rocket Man and Bennie and the Jets

3. Do you wear pyjamas? If so, do you have a favourite pair?
Yes; I don't have a favorite pair. It's really whatever is closest and how hot/cold I am. No, that's not entirely true. I do have a favorite summer gown. It's white with flowers and real thin. It is probably the only thing I can sleep in on those super hot, muggy evenings.

4. Which of the cities you have visited is your favourite?
London, hands down.

5. What do you think of the Kardashians?
I have a sick obsession with them. Kim annoys the piss out of me, but I like her sisters. I don't watch their show regularly, but I do keep up with them. It's sad.

6. Do you have any tattoos?
Yep :)

7. Who was your favourite teacher?
My 10th grade English teacher, Mrs. Borrego. She was tough but amazing and I learned so much. She helped me learn to accept criticism.
My 11th-12th grade Chemistry teacher, Mr. Diskin. He was incredible at making chemistry FUN! For a while, I had every intention of being a chemist.
Dr. Hochkeppel, my college band director and conducting coach. I've never had a teacher that inspired me as much as he did. He was tough and expected nothing but my absolute best, and he believed in me. I owe much of my success in music to him.
Dr. Garcia; she wasn't as much of a teacher as a mentor (though she was the piano instructor at my university). She guided me through some really rough times in my academic career. She put more time and effort into my education that she was required, but I'm grateful for it every single day.

8. How much sleep do you need each night? Do you sleep well?
It varies. I try to get 7-8 hours each night, especially nights before I teach. However, I don't sleep well when I've had a nap and been lazy all day. I love naps, but I have to limit them so I can sleep at night.

9. If you were a Star Wars character, which one would you be?
I don't like Star Wars, so I can't really answer this one....

10. What is your favourite kind of candy?
Chocolate.

11. The Simpsons was recently voted the greatest TV show of all time - what's your take on this?
I've never watched much of The Simpsons, but it doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy it or haven't enjoyed it when I have watched the show. I just don't care too much about it...basically, I can live without it. This being said, it's run has been remarkable. Not to mention the fact that so many people STILL watch it religiously. It's a show that's almost as old as I am, and has an audience that ranges from senior citizens to young children. These facts alone are enough for me to agree that (thus far), it is the greatest show of all time.

Whew, that was fun! Now time to do some school work...Thanks, Claire :)

2/1

So, if you've been reading this blog, you know I have changed the order of my workouts. Today, rather than sculpt, I did cardio. It should make my Tues/Thurs mornings a little bit easier.

I've really come to enjoy writing in my blog about the daily exercise routine. It's a bit of a motivator to workout. Anyway, it's funny how you really can see improvement in just a short amount of time. The yoga is still hard, but I made it halfway through without needing to make adjustments or take a break. Last week I couldn't do ONE move without taking a break or stopping entirely. It's pretty encouraging to see that I'm getting stronger. I don't think I've lost much weight or inches yet, but any bit of improvement is good.

Also, I was able to do jumping jacks for 30 seconds!!! I HATE jumping jacks. They hurt my boobs (seriously) AND they are hard. I think the new sports bra is a good thing. I'm going to credit this $40 sports bra for making my jumping jacks much more bearable. It was worth every dollar!!

Oh! I almost forgot, I was complimented on my triceps this weekend! My aunt said she could see some definition in my arms! So, another good sign! Hopefully I can remember all of these positive outcomes on days when I have no motivation!

Until tomorrow...

Weekend Notes

I failed in doing my workout yesterday (Saturday). There was too much going on. I spent most of the day with my aunt, cousin, and grandmother, so I won't complain. I rarely get to spend entire days with them. We took my grandmother to have her nails done and get a cheeseburger, which she loved. So rescheduling a workout for valuable family time is excusable (in my book).  This meant I did the sculpting video today. Tomorrow (Monday), I'll start cardio and go all the way through Saturday. This should be a challenge. In essence, I'll be doing workouts 7 days in a row. Fortunately, they alternate so I have a day between to allow my muscles to heal.

That's all I've got for now. Good news is: I've finished one full week of Power 90!! Woot!!

1/5 and Friday Favorites!!!

Done. Did. Not too much to say about that. Today was strength/sculpt, by the way.

Now I'm just REALLY tired. All I want to do is take a nap, which I think I'll do in a little bit once I finish my laundry.

As most of you know, today is FRIDAY!!! For those of you who don't know it's Friday, please check your calendars and prepare to enjoy the weekend. I'd like to list a few of my favorite things today, since Friday is probably my favorite day of the week!

1.) Afternoon naps. I love, love, love taking naps. In fact, I'm taking one today since I have the time.
2.) Red wine. Since today is Friday and I don't have to wake up too early tomorrow, I'm going to enjoy a glass (or 3) of wine.
3.) Stretching. I love to stretch. Whether it be an early morning, just waking up and climbing out of bed kind of stretch, or one just before/after a work out, I really, really love to stretch. It just feels soooo good :)
4.) Libraries. I like how quiet they are, and how you can get lost in the aisles of books. I love wandering through the stacks and finding something completely new that I had no intention of checking out. I also love the way library books smell. They smell different from regular books...and that's just fine by me.
5.) Candy,Ice Cream,Sweets,Cakes, desserts, etc. You get the idea. Sometimes I think I could survive on JUST sugar. Once, someone told me my world must be a combination of Munchkin Land (from Wizard of Oz) and Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory (Oompa-Loompas, edible tea cups, and all). Now that I think about it, that's exactly how things would be in my world. However, I'm really proud of myself. Since I began my workouts, I've eliminated most sugars from my diet. Now I settle for fruit or honey-sweetened tea. It's not the same, but it will do.

Well, that seems like enough for today. Time for that afternoon nap. Until tomorrow...

1/4

Just a quick post...

I did my workout, but not without having to get over a case of the I don't want tos (not sure that's a real phrase, but I'm assuming you get what I mean).

Anywho, turns out yoga is still kicking my butt. But, I'll get it eventually. It was a LITTLE bit easier today. That could be because I wasn't as sore today as I was Tuesday (which is progress).

Tomorrow is a BUSY day. I'll be working with elementary students from 8-11 (doing a little music class with them, which is pretty nerve wracking since I'm a college teacher), then going to the university for an afternoon weekend, and later in the evening heading to visit my aunts, uncle and cousins for the weekend! Should be a good time, but I'll have to make sure I exercise Saturday! That will be the biggest hurdle--staying on this exercise plan even when I'm out of town. Luckily, it's only 35 mins long, so I won't be anti-social for too long!

Until tomorrow...

1/3

Work out. Done. Not too bad. I donated blood yesterday, so I was a bit nervous about doing too much with my right arm, but since I wasn't lifting heavy weights (only using the resistance band), I didn't have any problems. Those push-ups are going to be the death of me, but once I can do the push-ups, I think I'll be ready to advance to the next level (it's gonna take some weeks, though).

On a different note, I got contacts today!! I've wanted contacts since I got glasses at age 15. I'm just now getting around to it. Anyway, once I got home I noticed my eyes were quite dilated and I was having a hard time reading. I called my doctor to see if that was a normal reaction to contacts. Apparently, it's not. The only thing we can figure out is that SOMEHOW the dilating solution got on one of our fingers and onto the contacts. Really weird. I've taken them out and have cleaned them really well (I'm pretty paranoid about this). Once my eyes are back to normal I'll put the contacts back in to see if my eyes do okay. My fear is there will still be dilating solution on the contacts even if I've cleaned them. However, if that's an issue I'll call the doctor and get another pair that isn't contaminated.

Alright, enough for now. However, I've got to give a shout out to my friend, Claire! She's reading my blog (probably the only person who reads it!!). So, thanks, Claire :)

1/2

Whew. That cardio work out was MUCH harder than I thought. I was assuming it would be a bit easier since the sculpt video didn't seem so hard. My prediction now is I will be advancing with the sculpt/circuit video before the cardio. Again, that's fine.  I'm committed to this, so I'm taking my time and NOT getting burnt out.

And, as expected, one of the HARDEST things about these Beachbody videos is the yoga. Whether it be a full 1 hour yoga session or the power yoga, it's freaking HARD. I think part of my problem today was lack of stretching prior to the yoga. I just wasn't warmed up enough (had just gotten out of bed). But, even if I'd been warm, I know I would have still had problems with it.

Alright, enough. Until next time.

1/1

Week 1/Day 1 of P90.

Not as hard of a sculpting exercise as I thought. I'll be on to the next video within a month for sure. One thing I'm going to need to purchase for the sculpting is a set of weights. I have a band, which works for now, but I think I'll need a set of weights to mix things up and get a bit more build on muscles. I also think I may purchase a tighter band since bands do offer the resistance that weights don't (plus, they're easier to transport).

Anyway, feeling good. Nice work out. Ready for tomorrow's (cardio/abs...ahhh!!!)

Review of Power 90 prep week....

Today was an off day from working out. However, I got a little bored, so I went for a 30 minute walk. It felt good-not too strenuous, but I didn't feel lazy.

Since it was my day off, I decided I could have a very moderate dessert. So, at lunch I had about 1/2 cup of fat free vanilla ice cream, and at dinner I ate a very small sliver of coffee cake. It was probably more than a dietician would have recommended (I'm going to assume they would say nothing at all), but it was remarkably less than I would have eaten two weeks ago.

While at the gym (doing my 30 minute walk), I decided to use the scale and see if my weight "guess" was accurate. Turns out I weigh about 10 pounds MORE than I thought. Ugh. Good news, I measured my waist (and only my waist) to compare it to the measurements from last week, and according to the records, I have lost an inch in my waist! That makes the weight disappointment a little less.

As of today, I'm pretty motivated to keep up this diet plan. I know it is better for me to get off my butt and do something productive for my health than it is to sit at a computer all day without any physical exercise. Plus, I REALLY want to climb that wall this summer!

This week I start the "real" Power 90 workouts. I'm glad I did the other video for one week, I think it's going to make this week seem a bit easier since I've already made it through week one--sore muscles and exhaustion. The biggest challenge will be getting up and starting my workouts on Tuesday and Thursdays BY 4:50am at the latest (they are 40 mins long). But, as my WONDERFUL boyfriend tells me, I'm tough, I can do it!

So, here we go, Week 1 :)

#6 (week 1 in the books!)

So, yep, as the title says, week 1 is in the books. Only about 14 more to go...(not exactly sure on the number of weeks, but I know it is about 14).

Next week starts the REAL Power 90. This week was Power 90 Express Fat Burner, or something like that. However, I'm pretty sure the workouts will be similar.

Either way, I'm glad I made it through the week. It wasn't so bad. I've done really well with my "diet." No sodas, candy, desserts or anything. I've limited my sugars in coffee and tea by trying to use honey in tea and fat free flavored creamer in my coffee without additional sugar. I've also stayed away from a lot of the "bad" carbohydrates like white bread, rolls, white rice, etc. In fact, I've had very few carbs in general. Instead, I eat fruits (which give me a boost in energy because of the sugar).

So, I'd say I've been pretty successful. Now to enjoy a day without exercise (or intense exercise, I may go on a relaxing walk if the weather is nice).

#5

I've got a feeling that simply saying I did my workout is going to get boring. However, I'm trying to avoid admitting I didn't do it...so...at least I can say I did.

Anyway, to avoid this getting to boring (for me as the writer), I'm going to continue reminding myself why I'm doing this. I've already listed a few things, and obviously general "good health" is a desired outcome, but I've got a few other goals as well.

I should explain that I turn 30 in less than a month. Last year, I had a list of things I wanted to do before I turned 30. However, due to general laziness and being pretty busy, I didn't get around to a few of those things. Now, I'm changing the list to "Thirty while Thirty" or something like that. Meaning, 30 things to do once I turn 30. I haven't finished it, and I'm sure it will be a work in progress, but here are a few of the thing on the list that relate to an active, healthy lifestyle:

1.) Running a half marathon
2.) Doing another triathlon (even a mini-triathlon)
3.) Climbing a rock wall at camp without help
4.) Finishing Power 90
5.) Completing P90X (we'll see if this is even necessary)
6.) Taking a multi-day rafting/hiking trip

I don't have to be a superstar athlete to complete all of these, but in my current condition I would struggle to do several of them, and I KNOW I couldn't run a half marathon or climb a rock wall without someone pulling me up...or even attempt at finishing P90X. So, that's the fitness goals. I'm sure I'll add a few, but I also want my list of 30 things to be varied and not just fitness oriented!

Until tomorrow....