Success

While it's been less than two full weeks into March, I feel confident in saying that I've started out pretty successful at fulfilling my proclamation last entry of going to the gym 3x/wk for the whole month. I spent the first week after writing that deciding on a gym (I figured it wasn't yet March so I didn't go at all that whole week after writing that, irony of ironies). I quizzed my friends on where they go to work out, compared prices, and then impulsively joined one without actually going to visit any of the recommended gyms.

Despite that, I've managed to go 4 times, 3 of which were before work. Meaning I'm waking up around 6:25 which let me tell you is ASTOUNDING. Seriously, I think that is one of my biggest challenges, since I had difficulty waking up by 7:10 to get ready for work. I'm still kind of running late by the time I'm done, so I am going to try getting up around 6:15 (::shudder::) as well as try to make it out of the house quicker. I move in such slow motion the early that even when I'm out of bed without hitting snooze, it takes me 20 minutes to get out the door.

So far I'm just doing to elliptical machines because it's easy and mindless and I don't have to think about it at all, which is exactly the kind of outlet I need right now. I think once the routine is down I will start doing the treadmill and paying attention to stuff and possibly do the Couch to 5k plan. We'll see.

I can already feel the benefits, which I'm really taking in to keep me motivated. I like actually being awake at work in the mornings, and feeling awake before drinking coffee is pretty impressive. Overall I can tell my mood is better and I'm less roller-coastery, although I had a mild to moderate freak out before my party on Saturday, but that was extenuating circumstances.

I have been really excited about the party. And thinking through all the minor details. Planning themed food and drinks (Speakeasy spinach dip! Sidecars!) and even drawing up a menu to post to the event invitation.  Considering everything else I was doing I ran out of time, and forgot some things, and wasn't completely finished when people started arriving. Then, I was taking 30 hand breaded chicken tenders out of the oven for my modified version of Chicken a la Rose, and they were sticking to the foil, and I realized I forgot to make Waldorf Salad, that I lost it. I had to step outside for a few minutes and David finished putting the food together. (Chicken Tenders a la Rose were a huge success). But, after that, I managed to pull myself together and had a great evening. The game was fun, although a little hard to figure out, but everyone enjoyed themselves.

(I'm just thinking if I hadn't been working out all week I may not have been able to pull myself together so easily).

Anyways, here's an adorable picture of me and the hubby for you to enjoy! I don't know when the Jim Henson comp will be available but when it is, I will be sure to post.

Record a Duet with David: The Grouch Anthem (Alternate Title: How I Became an Emotional Wreck)

Story Number 1: I decided to record the Grouch Anthem with David to submit to a Jim Henson Cover Project found on Facebook. (It's not a traditional duet, but we're both singing, so I'm counting it as a list item). (Ain't No Road Too Long, also from Follow that Bird, would have been a better a duet but it has to be submitted by March 1st, so time constraints meant Grouch Anthem won out). We started recording last night, and don't worry, I will definitely post the finished results, but we're not quite there yet.

Story Number 2: Friday night I was getting food with some friends before going to see Everything is Terrible at the Loft, and I had been talking about how my classes were going, and recently quitting smoking, and one of my friends remarks that I am having "an awesome year".

...and it's true, I am pretty much having an awesome year. I quit smoking, I started grad school which I've been talking about FOREVER, I have a job I like and that I do well, I have some awesome friends and even more-awesome husband; by all accounts, things are pretty much great.

At this point you may be wondering if I am just writing this blog just to brag. Don't worry, that's not the case. My point, and the reason I started with Story Number 1, is that I have been turning into an emotional roller coaster. At home, it's the grouch anthem, all the time. All of the aforementioned positive changes are in fact positive, but it doesn't mean they're not changes. And apparently I no longer adapt to change as well as I have previously.

At home we're working on de-cluttering and organizing. We're brainstorming different ideas for storage, etc. and I burst into tears. "Why do you disagree with everything I suggest?!?" I say through tears.

I go to the two costume shops in town to look for a 1920's dress for a themed murder mystery party I'm throwing myself for my birthday. I don't find the exact type of dress (a non fringe evening type dress) and they don't really have anything in my size. More tears.  "I just want a pretty dress!" (I found one at Ross. Also: found my 80's prom dress. Total cost? $50! Score!)

I could go on, but I've basically been ridiculous. Not just with the tears either. I've gotten snappy, my irritability threshold is way way down, and I've just been generally out of sorts. And when friends ask me how I've been, I haven't been admitting any of this. I focus on the positive, that the grades I'm getting have been good (even though I'm 3 chapters behind in reading), that I've made it to my yoga class 5 out of the past 6 weeks (even though the other 6 days of the week I'm not active at all), and so on.

Anyhow, the point of this ramble blog post is to admit that I've been a total grouch, and remind myself it's ok to tell people instead of pretending I've got it all together, that working full time AND being in my first semester of grad school IS tough (even with "only" 4 credits).  

Lastly, I am going to commit to being more physically active. Not because I'm trying to be super woman and pile more things on my plate to feel bad about not completing (photo a day challenge? hahaha). But because I know that I feel better when I'm active. I feel awesome on Saturdays after my yoga class is completed, by once a week is not enough. I need some other sort of regular outlet. I keep saying I'm going to do this at home, to wake up early and exercise before going to work, and I just sleep in later and later and feel groggy all day. I think I need to have an actual place for working out, not just my living room, and so today I'm looking around and asking friends and figuring it out. For the month of March my goal is to go to the gym 3x/wk (in addition to yoga saturdays). Even if nobody reads this, I think simply posting this will help keep me accountable. Let's do this!

Photo-a-day, 2-7

Day 2: Breakfast

Day 3: Something You Adore

Day 4: Letterbox I MET GUINEVERE TODAY!

Day 5: Something You Wore

Day 6: Makes You Smile

Day 7: Favorite

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Today has been one of the best New Years Day that I can remember. I've been fighting some sort of cold/upper respiratory thing since Tuesday and today was the first time since then that I've woken up and felt....good. This is likely in large part due to the fact the hubby and I stayed in last night, hung out on the couch, and went to bed before midnight.

I felt so good when I woke up that I started my day with about 30 minutes of yoga and a healthy breakfast (eggs and greek yogurt) just to maximize all that feeling-goodness (It totally worked; I finished feeling refreshed and energized. I love yoga). With the rest of the day I've worked on some knitting, did laundry, and began organizing all of my things to be packed. In a few minutes I'll be heading over to the in-laws for dinner. It's been a day I've managed to make both productive and relaxing, which can be difficult to balance. I hoping that having such a balanced day will bode well for the new year, in terms of having a year that is both productive (helloooo grad school) and relaxing (helloooo hopes of keeping a social life!).

Lastly, I've decided to do a photo-a-day challenge for January, because apparently I don't already have enough on my plate? I'm thinking I'll update the blog weekly with my photos, b/c updating daily is a little more challenge than I'm up for. Today's photo, though, is a photo of yours truly, so here's to Day 1!

(Yes, it's awkward. I've decided I'm okay with that)

Paint Chip Art Galore!

Hey everybody! First order of business: I am blogging from my brand new Macbook! I asked friends and family to help chip in for Christmas so I could buy one before starting school at the end of January. I am so, so, so, in love with it.

Ok, now that that's out of the way, onto the crafty showcase!

So I mentioned I recently joined Pinterest, which is just amazing. I searched for some ideas of what to do with the immense amount of paint chip cards I received from my neighbor after she painted her house.

One of the first things I came across was this intersecting circles wall art from Two Girls Being Crafty, and it was amazing. So that was the first thing I tried:



(Sorry about the not great cell phone camera quality, but I actually gifted this without realizing I didn't have any better photos!)

I was pretty impressed with myself at this point, but the intersecting circles design was a little too exact, and  so I was thinking about some other things.

Then I saw this awesome fabric leaves on canvas and I thought it would work well with the paint chips. Sooo I made one of those!




Totally loved it!!

By this time, I was getting tired of cutting all those ovals out by hand, and I thought there must be an easier way to do this. So I headed over to Michael's once more after getting a 25% off coupon to look at their paper punches. I was then struck with inspiration to do a mini series. The previous two canvases are 12x12in, so I bought a pack of four 6x6in canvases...



And did the four seasons! I love these soooo much I can't even tell you. All of the above have been given away, and I have some more ideas I'm working on for family I will be seeing in January, but couldn't wait to share the pics of ones I've completed already!

Dec. 5th

So much has happened in the past 3 months, so I'm just going to jump right in.

1. Our friends Jess and Frank got married! We were able to go to the wedding, in gorgeous Santa Paula. The wedding was in a citrus grove and was overall amazing in every single way possible. As part of our trip out to CA...

2. I went to Disneyland for the first time!! We had two days to spend, which meant we got to see Captain EO a zillion times. Our other awesome friend Katy joined up with us for day 2, which was a blast.

3. I applied, and was accepted into graduate school! I almost can't believe it. I am starting San Jose State University's Masters in Library and Information Science this January!

4. Last, and probably the MOST exciting of all the news I am sharing.... MY SISTER HAD A BABY!!!! I am officially an auntie!! My lovely sister gave birth late Nov 6th to a healthy baby girl.

5. Ok, one more thing, actually, and probably the LEAST important, but I have recently discovered Pinterest and am officially addicted. I only have a short period of time until classes start, so I'm hoping to get as much crafting done before that happens b/c I know once it does, there will be very little time as I plan to continue to work full time and take classes part-time.

I'm cranky

I am currently dealing with either the worst allergies in the world or a horrible summer cold. Either way, I'm congested, sore, and cranky, and as such I've decided to channel my irritability towards something that actually merits it.

Nearly every day I have to drive past this horrible, horrible billboard. If you can't see the picture (or my crappy cell phone pic isn't clear enough) it reads: Nothing Beats a Pair, Don't Fold to Cancer. Charmingly, there is a picture of playing cards with cartoonish circle breasts w/hearts for nipples.

Yeah. Now, my brain is not on full function mode right now, so I'm going to break this down bullet-point style rather than try to continue to construct full sentences and paragraphs.

1. HEY LADIES! You may think you're intelligent, good at your job, witty, creative, a good friend, any number of things, but you know what's REALLY important? Breasts.None of those aforementioned qualities are as important as your physical appearance.
2. Equating losing your breasts as "folding" to cancer. That's right, did you have a life saving surgery that removed your breasts? That's like being defeated!
3. See points 1 and 2
4. So, when I started writing this I definitely know I had more to say, but antihistamines are kicking in and all my thoughts seem to have vanished. Feel free to leave more coherent thoughts in the comments!