Sunday, March 30, 2014

Broken Up

No. Not the boyfriend and me. In fact, this post will be very boyfriend heavy because we had date night last night and he's the only one to take pictures of. We started at a Mexican resuraunt.


Then we went to froyo. I hadn't had froyo in way too long and it was the most delicious thing.


We ended date night with cuddles on the couch and watching Netflix. It was a perfect Saturday night. No clubbing for me! Also, I need this t-shirt.


I do wish it said "I'm an introvert," instead of social anxiety. That would make it perfect. This morning I woke up at a reasonable hour and realized I had enough time to get an hour of my long run in before heading to the boyfriend's mom's house.


This is where the broken up part comes in. We had plans to see a show at the local theater at 2 and, since I have many, many experiences at that theater, I know matinees don't get out until 5:00. I know I wouldn't be home until 6 and dinner with my dad was at 7. I didn't want to stress on anything, so I got it done. Then we went to brunch.


The show was great. Of course, I may be biased as I know every cast member, but I really loved it. 


The greatest set designer ever designed the set, so it was gorgeous.


Every time I sit in the theater as an audience member, I feel so strange. Like a guest in my own home. I've logged so many hours of my life in that theater that I feel as if a bit of my soul lives there. It's one of the places I love most in the entire world.

Name that show!


We got home home right at the time I knew we would and I promptly got back in my workout clothes and pumped out another 5 miles.


Long runs are much easier when they are broken up! 

Happy Sunday! Tell me about your favorite run of the week.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Switching Things Up

I had fallen into a rut lately with my exercising. I would run, lift, repeat. I was beginning to get bored and getting bored is never a good thing. 


So the past two weeks, I've been switching things up. I am such a creature of habit that this scares me. But my body is loving the change and I'm no longer bored in the gym. 


I have been doing group classes. Nothing like a good group class to bring my competitive side out. I've been sore for a week straight because I've been amount it up and actually pushin myself outside of my comfort zone. This was yesterday's workout.


I've also been doing Nike Training Club workouts. Today I did a 45 minute one and I was dripping sweat from the first minute.


So, needless to say, I've been waking up excited to go to the gym. I'm still running a whole lot, but breaking up the strength routine has really brought back my passion for lifting. And because this the pictures in this post have been boring, here's a picture of my dad throwing a napkin at my brother.


How often do you switch up your routine?

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Feeling Like an Adult

Some days, I completely forget just how old I actually am. I am closer to 30 than I am to 20, but it typically doesn't feel like it.


Then there are days like yesterday when I really feel like a grown-up. My bride friend was leaving today to go back to college, so my sister invited is over to her house for dinner. We were all standing around, cooking like adults and having mature conversations. And we made this spread.


At one point in the night my sister said, "Wow, I almost feel like a real adult." And she's the one with a 7-month-old. I felt exactly the same way. Some days, it just hits me that I'm not a kid anymore, and it's liberating and terrifying at the same time. 

Not too old to play dress up at an "Evita" cast party.

Then, we had class tonight where I got sent back to elementary school, and everything felt normal again.


In other news, someone got neutered today. He has been wandering around with the cone of shame. He keeps wandering into walls because he doesn't realize it's on him. 


Poor guy!

Happy Tuesday!

Do you ever have moments of really feeling like an adult?

Sunday, March 23, 2014

A Bridal Shower Weekend

Our college Spring Break ended on Friday. The best part about my week was that I got to see my sister and the babe every single day. I usually only get to see them once a week, so this was a treat.


Friday, since we usually have class all day, I got to sleep in a bit. Then I got to hit up the CrossFit style class at the gym that I never get to go to because it's at 12 in the afternoon. I killed my shoulders and I still can't lift my arms today. It was a fantastic workout.


The rest of the day was spent doing last minute bridal shower stuff. Saturday, we had class again. I was thankful I at least had Friday to sleep in because I was up before the sun to get a workout in before school. Then it was immediately to the shower to set up.


My lovely friend was kind enough to make us amazing cupcakes (not gluten free, so I have no idea how they tasted). They looked professional, though. And I did hear rave reviews.


We made a massive spread of food. My sister made scones and cucumber sandwiches while I cut up strawberries and watermelon. We also put cheese and berries on a toothpick and made mini caprese salads with a cherry tomato, mozzarella, and basil.  We also had a mimosa bar as well as a large selection of the bride's favorite tea.


We had a few things set up in the room where the guests first entered. We had them write advice to the bride, give her an idea for a date night, and had them play "Guess the Bride's Age." We also played, "What's In Your Purse" and "How Well Do You Know The Bride?" 


All in all, I feel it was a great bridal shower. Especially considering we had both never done anything like that before. Thank goodness for Pintrest. It also helps that we have the world's most laid back bride to deal with.


This morning was the usual routine. It was so sunny and beautiful, I couldn't wait to get my run on. Today's run was one of those fantastic ones that make you feel so blessed that you actually can run. There were also a few moments where I got so engrossed in my podcast that I totally forgot I was running.


I mean, the weather was perfect. Even the breeze felt great.


I even have the mark of the runner.


Be grateful I spared you a picture of my toes.... Oh. And my personal stretcher is back. I sure did miss him. And no, he did not get punched in the face. And he says thank you so much for the well wishes!!


The rest of Sunday looked a lot like this.


I hope everyone had a marvelous weekend!

How has the weather been where you are?

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Seniors!

This final high school throwback post landed on a very appropriate day.  I took 300 eighth grade students on a field trip to my alma mater so that they could tour the campus.  So, today, I also got a tour of my old campus.  It was fun and a little weird to be wandering the halls of my former high school.  The kids were great, though.  I am really, really enjoying this population of students.  Now for my final year of high school.

This was the year, as I am certain it is for every high school senior, that I mentally checked out.  My friends and I were out of class far more than we were actually in class.  My second period econ class was a joke, so my sister and I always told him we were going to the library to work on our project and really went down the street to get breakfast.  Every.  Single.  Morning.  One day, the teacher told us, "Okay, don't get in an accident."  Yeah.  We had fun our senior year.


It was also the year of 18th birthdays.  My best friend turned 18 first.  We, of course, skipped class to decorate her car.  It was the one and only time we ever actually surprised her.

It was the year of my first job.  I became a phone recruiter at the local blood bank.  I am pretty certain that every single teenager who has ever grown up here has been a phone recruiter for the blood bank at least for one week.  I lasted my entire senior year.  It was a great job.  We just had to go in two hours a night and call people to ask if they could come in and donate.  There obviously wasn't even a dress code.


It was the one year that I actually participated in Homecoming.  The theme was "The United States" and each class had a state for their float.  The seniors, of course, had California.  They decorated half of it as Northern California and half as Southern California.  All of the popular girls decided to dress like they were from SoCal, and my sister and I couldn't let NorCal not be represented.  We raided our closets and came up with the best outfits ever.  Yes.  We owned every single piece of clothing we have one.


This was the year I met the man I thought I was going to marry.  He was 22.  I was 18 (17 when we first met).  At that time, he seemed so old and this was kind of scandalous.  We dated for 6 years before heading our separate ways, so something must have been right.  This is what I looked like the very first time we met.  No wonder he couldn't turn me down......


We took our annual family trip to Mexico that year.  We spent Thanksgiving in Cabo.  We had Thanksgiving dinner at this Asian Fusion place and they served us turkey sushi.  It was possibly the weirdest Thanksgiving I've ever had.  We should have just had tacos. 


My sister and I were SO close to legal drinking age (I was less than a month away), so we felt really cool when we got to go bar hopping.  We learned quickly that they began carding at 11, so if you were in before then, you were golden.  Please note that my sister has braces in this picture.


I gave up drinking until I was 21 sometime during this year because I realized that I didn't know how to drink correctly and I always ended up feeling like dying.

The most exciting part of all was graduation.  I was more than ready to move on and be an actual adult.  I walked across stage barefoot in shorts.  I really took it seriously.


I also got a dinosaur as a gift.  So that was pretty cool.

That summer was a great summer of boyfriend, river, and working at the blood bank.  In August 2006, I quit my job, said goodbye to the boyfriend, and moved 800 miles south.  It was one of the hardest things I have ever done.  I lasted a year before returning home and moving in with said boyfriend.  Stay tuned for next week when I discuss my freshman year of college.

Tell me about your senior year!

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Spring Break?

This week is technically Spring Break at my college. While all of the undergrads are off frolicking on the beach in their bikinis (somewhere far from here), I'm still going to my placement each day. The only difference is that I don't have class. Which is good because it means more time with this little one.


That's right. She's big enough to sit in the shopping cart. Pretty soon she will be graduating from high school. I don't like this. My sister and I have been doing a lot of prepping for a bridal shower we are throwing this weekend. I spent an hour and a half doing this today.


The babe helped out a lot. She's a great artist already!


It's been really fun hanging out with them every single day. I've only been seeing them once a week since school keeps me so busy! It's also taken my mind off missing this guy, who still won't be home for another three days.


He went to Davis for the week to have eye surgery. Fun fact: when he was three, he was leaning back in his chair exactly how we tell every child NOT to. Well, he fell backward and his eyes crossed. It really freaked his mom out when he said, "I see two mommies!" He had surgery to straighten them out, but since he has become an EMT and has a very random sleep schedule, they re-crossed. So he had the surgery again.


I will spare you the one that made MY eyes hurt. When he comes home, his eyes will be straight. I feel terrible that I can't be there with him, but it was the worst possible week since this is my first week at the new placement. Which I am absolutely loving, by the way.

Happy Wednesday!!! 

Have you ever had surgery? 

Monday, March 17, 2014

Weekend Wrap-up

Today is Monday, again, which means that I have been slacking on posting. I've been super busy and have hardly had time to think. 

On Friday, we took a midterm (yes, a midterm???) and got to leave class early. I'm not complaining because this gave me time to finally find my bridesmaid dress.


It was absolutely perfect. Not only is it exactly my size, it is the correct color and was 50% off. Umm. Yes please. Here's the back.


Saturday was yet another day of math camp. I actually really enjoy the Saturday classes because we work with actual students, so we get more practice. Then my friend and I have been going to the gym together afterward. I did sprints this Saturday.


The rest of the day was spent with the boyfriend because he was leaving me the next day for an entire week. We went down to have dinner with his mom and then we spent the night how I should spend all of my Saturday nights.


Sunday, I said goodbye to the boyfriend and procrastinated on my run for way too long. It was cold and dark outside, so I chose the treadmill again so that I could just get lost in a show. I almost didn't run because I was feeling so lazy and tired. But once I got going, I didn't want to stop. Next Sunday, I am forcing myself to run outside, whether I like it or not.


The rest of Sunday I just sat around. I needed a day to just be. It was fantastic. Today, we started at our new placements. I can already tell I am going to love it. I also had dinner at my dad's where the babe and I hung out.


Her outfit melted my heart. But pretty much everything she does melts my heart!

How was your weekend?