Confessions

I confess:

I just ate an ice cream sundae and I'm feeling a bit gross. I've been seriously slacking on the healthy eating since Vegas. That needs to change. Now. 

I confess that it probably won't change until the ice cream carton in my freezer is gone. True story. 

Actually this post was not intended to have anything to do with ice cream. Here comes the true confession:

Ready or not, here comes a serious post. 

I came to a serious realization recently. One that I am not proud to admit, but one that I feel like I should write about. I want to document this, so that I can come back to look at this and talk some sense into myself if/when that's needed in the future. 

I confess that I am a girl who changes when she gets a boyfriend. 

Completely changes. 

I have no idea why it happens, or when it started happening. But it does, and it did. Sometime in college, I started totally changing myself for guys. And it's not like they would ask me too. 

It's like I would get so scared of losing them, that I would try to make myself into exactly what they were looking for. 

And I would lose myself in that process. 

Not only that, but I would turn into someone that I was not proud of. 

And then BOOM, we would break up, and I'd go back to being me. 

The real me. The happy me. 

And I would wonder how I ever let myself change in the first place. 

I thought I had it figured out after my college boyfriend. But then it happened again. I changed again. I lost myself again. 

So now, I'm owning up to it. I'm admitting it, coming clean. 

Because the person that I am today? I like her. Actually no, I love her. 

She finally accepted how much she needs and loves Jesus. And she will never look to another man to feel complete again, because she already found Him.

She's a good friend, a good person.

And one day, she'll be a great girlfriend. A great wife.

So this girl? She needs to stick around. 

Vegas In Pictures

It was my first real girl's trip to Vegas, and it was so. much. fun. It's trips like these that remind me how fortunate I am to have a good group of girl friends. 

Friends that:

-Will help me frantically search for my eye drops when I am freaking out that my eyes are red. 

-Will split nachos with me 14 times in 3 days. 

-Will tell hilarious stories about splitting 5 entrees between 2 people at a restaurant at 3 AM. And then pull out the 5 trays of left overs the next morning to prove that the number was not at all an exaggeration (like the bullet above). 

-Won't judge me when I bust out my easy flats 30 minutes after we get to a club. (Easy flats were the best investment of the trip. Don't go to Vegas without them!).

We better be will still doing trips like this for years to come. 

I need my girl time, and they don't have a choice. 

Back to the Real World

Ever think you need a vacation from your vacation before getting back to reality?

Yupp, that's about how I'm feeling right now. 

But I will say that it was an amazing weekend, and here are a few the only group pics before the real photo dump/recap happens tomorrow:

Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! Yay for a short work week.

So you thought the traveling was over, huh?

Yupp, that's right. I'm not at work today, because I'm driving to fabulous Las Vegas, where I will be spending Memorial Day Weekend with 7 other gorgeous gals. 

Kristi, Carly and I are going with 4 of Carly's friends from college, and I can.not.wait. 

I apologize in advance for the photo overload that will occur come next week. 

If you want a little preview, follow me here.

And to spice up your Friday, I leave you with some of my favorite tunes that I'm sure I'll be rocking out to this weekend. 

Have a little dance party in your cubicle. Or wherever you are today. 

If I was there, I'd totally be right there dancing with you. 

Enjoy.

I hope you have a very long and enjoyable weekend!

On Running

So a little while ago, I mentioned that I was training for a 10K.

It's happening, guys! And turns out, I kind of like running! I am constantly surprised at what my body can do when I do my best to tune out those excuses in my head. 

I've realized that I can actually run for a lot longer than I think I can, I usually just want to stop and walk. So when I ignore that and just keep going, I'm able to see what my body can really do. 

And it's a great feeling to realize that it's true what they say, anyone can become a runner. It's totally a mental thing. 

A few months ago, I posted about the exercises that I've learned in this class.

Guys, if I didn't say it enough then, I seriously can swear by this class. The results are ahhhmazing. My legs are so much more toned than they were before. And I think that has played a big part in my running. I'm finding that I can run longer than I have ever been able to, and without training really. When I was at home for Easter, I had to run for the first time in forever (no more gym membership at home, sad day). I was fully expecting that run to be a sad little pathetic run/jog/let's face it--walk. 

And I was shocked to find that I didn't need to stop to walk. Not once. And I ran farther than I've ever run before. 

I give all the credit to Christine and her BLAST of a workout. 

I can thank her when I cross the finish line of the 10K.

Oh another note, I've found that my body is definitely not loving all of the effects of the running. My knee has been hurting a bit after each run, so I've resorted to trying to stretch more, and icing after. 

Anyone got any suggestions? 

Besides that, I would say that I am loving this new running kick. And I'm definitely hoping to stick with it. 

Yay for running!

99

I've seen this floating around Blogland, so I thought I'd give it a try. Bold things are things I've done. I'm thinking I might come back to this list over time to see if I can cross some of these babies off. 


For now, here you go:


1. Started your own blog

Check!

2. Slept under the stars

Pretty sure I slept in a blow up jumper once {I was young, don't judge my lack of certainty}. 

3. Played in a band

Always wanted to though.

4. Visited Hawaii

Read about one trip here.

5. Watched a meteor shower

Junior year of college.

6. Given more than you could afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

Advantage to living in SoCal, been many times.

High school senior trip

Freshman year of college

8. Climbed a mountain

Was gonna say Big Bear Mountain, but realized I drove up that one.

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

Totally sang Peter Pan's "I won't grow up." I wish I had video footage, it'd be all over this blog.

11. Bungee jumped

I feel like I have to do this at some point.

12. Visited Paris

I definitely have to do this at some point.

13. Watched a lightening storm

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

I used to play piano by ear. And I mean like 2 songs that were not difficult, but counts, right?

15. Adopted a child

Maybe one day...

16. Had food poisoning

Fun stuff.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

But I have been there! We took the lazy, ride a boat around the statue, option.

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

But I have picked up a hitch hiker! That was Mom and Dad's call. In Hawaii. Not sketch at all.

23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill

Totally got caught too. Cried the whole time when I was in line for a ride at Sea World.

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

But I have held a baby cow!

26. Gone skinny dipping

Scandalous.

27. Run a marathon

Hopefully one day! Gotta get through this 10K first.

28. Ridden in a gondala in Venice
I really need to get out of the country to start checking some of these off.

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

The fam loves trying to spot the green flash at sunset.

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

Doing this soon, for sure.

33. Seen Niagra Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

Hopefully going to Israel next summer to start this traveling tradition.

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

Totally spoke Gibberish in Elementary School. All the cool kids did it. I still can.

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

Honestly? Right now, I am truly satisfied with how much money I have.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

See my comment to #28.

39. Gone rock climbing

I used to be way better at it, now I kind of suck.

Grad Night

40. Seen Michelangelo's David

41. Sung karaoke

Kind of one of my callings. Hence the Peter Pan solo mentioned earlier.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

Read about one time here.

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

I had my portrait drawn at Sea World once, does that count?

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

This is really rubbing it in that I haven't traveled enough :(

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

Read last comment.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

Both, but scuba diving was only in a pool. Super cool, I know.

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

There's a super cute pic of us neighbors playing in the mud as babies/toddlers. Maybe I'll dig it up sometime, but pretty sure I'm only in a diaper. Almost as scandalous as skinny dipping.

54. Gone to a drive in theater

Love the drive in!

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

Started a neighborhood tattoo business with gelly roll pens. Anyone remember those? We got hired to do a birthday party, so totally counts.

58. Taken a martial arts class

Got pretty far in the belt system too, ballerrr.

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout cookies

But I was in Girl Scouts for like a week.

62. Gone whale watching

This question still depresses me because my brother had a whale watching birthday party, and I was told that there wasn't enough room on the boat for me to go. But they totally didn't see any whales. Ha, Karma!

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

Kind of getting over my fear of needles, so I feel like it's time to cross this off the list

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

Whoops.

68. Flown in a helicopter

In Hawaii, with the fam.

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar

The first time I did it was on accident. Definitely was scarred for a while.

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

I actually might have when I was in New York, but it was so long ago that I can't really remember :(

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the changing of the guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been a passenger on a motor cycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

But I need to go back to appreciate it more.

80. Published a book

I would love to do this.

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

Maybe next summer!

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year's Eve

Not by choice!

86. Visited the white house

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone's live

One time I rescued a kid in the ocean, I feel like that's the closest I'm gonna get on this one.

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Got a tattoo

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

Shocking, I know.

99. Been stung by a bee

Whew, did you make it? There you have it, 99 things that I have {or in a lot of cases, have not} done. Hope you know me a little better now.


Happy Hump Day!

Weekend Rundown

This weekend was a great one. 

Any time I get to add some family time into my life, I'm a happy camper. This Friday, I drove down to LA to stay the night with my Aunt and Uncle. Friday night was spent full of the best kind of conversations. 

You know, the kind that goes beyond just your average catching up sessions. The kind that goes beyond the surface level "I'm good, how are you?"

The kind where shit gets real. 

But luckily, with how well life is going right now, I mean real in a good way :) I stayed up wayyy past my normal bed time talking with my Aunt and Cousin. We talked about pretty much everything. 

Relationships

Jobs

Friends

Family

Faith

& Math

A little thrown off by that last one? Yeah, my cousin is a math major (and in case you're new around here, I was one too!). 

After not nearly enough sleep, Saturday was greeted with more family. I was so glad that I got to see my Mom, brother and sister (who drove up for Mike to take a placement test at La Verne. Can't believe he's starting college so soon!), and my other Aunt, Uncle and Grandma. 

I failed and left my camera's battery plugged into the wall, and my memory card plugged into my computer {Blogger fail}, so here are the two pictures from the afternoon:

It was a much needed family reunion. 

But I will admit, for the first time, I think I left feeling more homesick than when I came. What can I say, I love these people. When I'm with them, it's like everything makes sense. Being surrounded by people who I know unconditionally love me no matter what? Well, that's the best. 

After saying goodbye, I drove back to SB just in time to watch the Lakers lose with some coworkers. 

In case you missed it during my Boston recap, I'm sort of a Celtics fan:

Sunday, I got to volunteer with the babies at church. I've been wanting to start volunteering for some time now, so it was exciting to get to start. 

I also took a yoga class for the first time in a while. My knee has been hurting when I run, so I'm trying out yoga to increase stretching and flexibility. I'll let you know how it works out for me.

The weekend ended with this delicious rhubarb crisp made by Carly:

Keep in mind that this crisp was made before yesterday's Fit Club post, so you don't get to judge that I had 2 servings with ice cream. 

Does it make it any better that the ice cream was low fat?

Well, either way, it was delicious and I enjoyed every.single.calorie. 

I hope you had a great weekend, as well! Tell me about it, will ya?

Fit Club {and A Recipe!}

I bet you thought I had said so long to my Fit Club goals for this year, huh?

You would be about 50% correct. 

So I'm bringing back these Fit Club posts to try and get back on track. Working out, I've kept up with. Eating healthy, ehhh not so much. 

This week, I'm making a few changes to try and switch things up. I find that I crave what I eat, so I'm hoping to cut out some of the carbs and desserts to sub in more of the healthy stuff. Here are some things that will be making an appearance in my diet this week: 

1. Better'n Peanut Butter

I have a major weakness for peanut butter, and if you can limit yourself to a normal portion, I'd say you're fine. But I, cannot. 

Working on that. 

This weekend {weekend recap coming tomorrow!}, my Aunt and Uncle introduced me to this amazing product, Better'n Peanut Butter. I love the taste, it's a creamy, honey/peanut butter flavor. And I'm usually a chunky peanut butter type of gal, so if I'm a fan, that's saying something. 

Best part? It's half the calories of normal peanut butter. Half! And you can find it at Trader Joe's. Score. 

2. Fruit Salad

Fresh fruit is the best, gives me that sweet kick when I'm craving it. Problem is, my fruit will often go bad before I eat it all. Especially if I try buying a lot at once. 

This week, I'm trying something new. I bought a bunch of fruit {strawberries, blueberries, bananas, apples and pineapples} and chopped them all up. I tossed them all together, and into a plastic container to put in the fridge. I figure the fridge will keep them fresh for longer, and since all the preparation is done, it'll be easy to bring some to work every day. 

And now for the recipe:

3. Teriyaki Tofu, Mushroom & Avocado Salad

I'm really excited about this recipe, because it's the first one I've posted that I came up with myself. Not that salad is all that difficult to toss together, but it's still exciting that I'm starting to feel comfortable enough in the kitchen to toss the recipe book aside. 

Well, sometimes. 

Ingredients (for 1 serving):

2 cups baby romaine lettuce

1.5 oz. baked tofu

3 oz. sliced mushrooms

2 tablespoons soyaki (or teriyaki sauce)

1/2 avocado

2 tablespoons cilantro salad dressing

Directions: 

1. Cut the baked tofu into cubes, and saute with sliced mushrooms and soyaki. Soyaki is a Trader Joe's brand of teriyaki sauce. 

2. Cut up the 1/2 avocado, and combine avocado, lettuce and sauteed mushrooms & tofu in a bowl. 

3. Toss with cilantro salad dressing {also Trader Joe's brand, seeing a trend here?}.

This salad is simple, and deeelicious. Perfect for a light meal out in the sun.

Hope you all had wonderful weekends, and if you have any favorite recipes of your own, send them my way! I'd love to try them :)