this is HUGE!

‎"When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself." ~Wayne Dyer


Ok ya'll. Here it goes. 
Tonight I did something HUGE, GRAND! It was one of those "can you believe it?" moments. Something so totally unbelievable that even I can not believe it. So...here it is.

This evening, after work, I went to a restaurant. To have dinner and a drink. ALONE!

Why is this such a big deal?

If you know me you know why this is such a big deal.

I have a phobia of people eating alone. I guess I could say had. But really I can't. While I did go to dinner alone tonight, I have to admit that it wasn't too bad, I still fear seeing someone eating alone. 

Anywho...I did it. I did it because I wanted to celebrate my trip to Austin. A successful adventure! I also thought that after all I've done (moving far away, moving back, moving to a new city, living alone, starting a new job) I should make the final step. I finally feel that I am an independent woman! I can live alone, work with strangers and do a fine job, and go to a restaurant to have dinner alone! the end. 

It's also easy to sit alone in a restaurant knowing that in just 2 days I will be with best friends in Fort Worth. And in 3 days I will be on the beach with family! amen!

LOVE LIFE and be independent!

the day is good?

"If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been." ~ Robert Brault

I would say that the day is GREAT when it starts with this sweet little note...

"I'm proud of you. You are the strongest young woman I know with the sweetest heart!"

LOVE YOU, 

mom

boy...I am so very blessed.

LOVE LIFE & those in it!

2/12 and feeling guilty

"Better to get up late & be wide awake than to get up early & be asleep all day." ~Anonymous


Yep. Week 2 is done. 
Only 10 more to go!
Here is a look at this past weeks progress. Here is also why I am feeling guilty.


Distance- 11.5
Time- 2 hours & 51 minutes
Weight loss- 1.5 pounds 
Yes, you are right! That means I am one pound away from the 4 week goal weight. woop!


Well. Here it is. I started out the week great. Doing my runs, staying strong, feeling great. Then I fell back into the real world and realized I had to work. You know, make money, make a living. Blah, blah, blah. If you know me you know that I would LOVE it if I never had to work again. My dream life is to travel. Anywhere, everywhere. Any day, everyday. But...that ain't gonna happen. Nope. Not right now at least. 
So... I started my week of work on Friday knowing that I had three 7-7 shifts ahead of me. yuck. Work was fine and Friday was my "rest" day so all was good. Saturday came along, I worked and skipped my "cross training" session of 30 minutes. While I shouldn't have done this I can explain my reasoning. I worked 12 hours, on my feet for 12 hours...enough right? Then Sunday arrived. I was scheduled to run 4 miles. Ha...that didn't happen. I told myself that it was ok, that I could do it on Monday when I didn't have to work. Some guilt, but I was alright with my decision. Well. I didn't do the 4 miles Monday either. Instead I slept until 12 and went shopping. It was nice, but no running involved. Thus the guilt. ohwell. Today was a great day. I did my 3.5 mile run, relaxed by the pool, and chatted/skyped with many great friends. 


So...long story short. I messed up, I am back on track, and I am feeling swell. the end!


I hope that you are all doing wonderfully and wish you all a happy rest of the week!


LOVE LIFE

1/12 and still goin'

"You are fully responsible for everything you are, everything you have and everything you become." ~ Brian Tracy


Welp...week one is done!! 
Are you proud? I am. 
Here is a run down of how training has been for my first week. 


Distance- 15 miles
Time- 3 hours & 10 minutes
Weight loss- 1.5 pounds


Last week was an "ok" week of running. I didn't feel bad, but my muscles were sore and running the longer runs wasn't the easiest thing I have ever done. But my runs yesterday and today were much better. I am calling them "easy" runs because I felt good the whole time, took no breaks, and felt like I could have just kept running. That's a good sign right?


Did I do anything in the past week besides run? 
Well yes, thanks for asking!


I was able to go to Hamilton Pool with Karen and some new friends Lindsay and Katherine. We had a great time relaxing in the natural water and people watching. Austin is SUCH a wonderful place to people watch or as I like to say, people judge!
Some of us headed out to Lake Austin Saturday for some fun in the sun which was great fun as well. 
And I went to Barton Springs! The place was great but I didn't stay long since it was 104 outside and the water was too, too cold to get in!
Aaaaand I went to the last Union Park 6th street Tuesday night BINGO! 


Boy, that sounds like a busy week. It's definitely been fun. I hadn't been to any of these places until this past week and I am glad I got the opportunity to see them since I leave two weeks from tomorrow. WOW. Can't believe it. So fast. I am finally feeling like I can make my way around Austin without Google Maps and now it's time to go. That's alright though. I am really looking forward to a fun, fun, fun July!

Hamilton Pool

LOVE LIFE!

the Proof is Motivation

"To achieve happiness, we should make certain that we are never without an important goal." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

My inspiration for this post came when I saw this photo...

Why?

Two reasons.

1. In this picture I am learning to sail and checking another item off my bucket list. Read Learning to Live for more details about the experience. Seeing this picture motivated me to continue checking things off my bucket list because if not now then when, right? So...I've started training for a half marathon! Silly, I know. I am not the greatest runner and have terrible knees and hips from many years of dancing, but I figure if 80 year olds can make it happen then so can I. I am using a 12 week training schedule that I found online and will probably tweek it a little bit. I am hoping to run the race come September or October, but I haven't decided what race I will actually run as I don't know where I will be living then. I intend to do a weekly post with my running progress so keep your eyes peeled for that! Hopefully announcing this to the "public" will keep me motivated and push me to the end! Any words of encouragement or advice are welcomed...bring it on! 
2. When I saw this picture I thought...oh good god! While I don't think that I am an overweight girl, I look yucky. There were some other pictures which will not be discussed that confirmed my reaction too. So...seeing this photo and watching two episodes of Extreme Makeover:Weightloss Edition have motivated me to take control and lose those lbs that I have been complaining about since...well...since college I guess. (too much partying...definitely wouldn't have changed that though!) I am making a weight loss schedule that coincides with my training schedule.  I have decided that I will weight in every Tuesday and make goals for the weight loss per the running goals. Todays weight is 142 pounds. I can't believe that I am announcing this to the "public" but I know that unless I share I will not change. Extreme Makeover is really motivating me these days I guess! Per my marathon training I will be running 5 miles in 4 weeks and my goal weight for that day is going to be 138 pounds. Week 8 I should be running 8 miles and weigh in at 132 pounds. Week 12 I should me running 13.1 miles (ha...scary) and weigh in at 127 pounds. If I can do this then I think I will be at a healthy weight and in the best shape of my 25 years! Again...any words of encouragement or advice are welcomed! Bring it on!! 

LIVE a healthy LIFE!

mi humble abode de Austin

"Live simply, so that others may simply live." ~ Gandhi

Love & Live Life

Learning to Live

"There are no regrets in life, just lessons." ~ Jennifer Aniston


I usually don't get "serious" with this blog due to the fact that I really don't know who reads this and what they might do with the words I type, but today is different my friends. 
Why?
Lately, I have been waking up with a heavy heart. There's lots going on in my life that is causing this and I am hoping that I am finally ready to let this off my heart, move forward, and stay positive. Because, as Jason Mraz put it, "we're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time. Let go and enjoy." 


Let's let go.


This past weekend I had a great time with some new friends exploring new places. No complaining there. I went out to Inks Lake with Karen, Charlotte (from Houston), and Kristin (from Dallas). We headed out to meet Max (Karen's bf) and some of his friends for the day and night. We made it out about 2, met the boys at the house, & started the party! We had a great time swimming with snakes, drinking some beers, and playing some lairs dice. Oh and we almost sank the boat...legit, really scary! Oh AND I learned to sail. It was awesome & I got to cross another item off my bucket list! A new friend Davis and I went out on a small sail boat and I learned how to "jib" and "come about." It took us a while to work out all the kinks and we tipped overboard once, but soon we were smooth sailing and had a great time. You wouldn't know it by all the bruises I've got, but I would totally do it again. 


After a late night with lots of games and little sleep we made our way back to Austin. Karen had rented a party bus for Max's birthday for the afternoon so we had to get back early. About 35 of us got together for a ride out to Salt Lick BBQ. The bus ride was way fun and Salt Lick was a great experience. Overall, the weekend was pretty great. I can say this now looking back on it, but Sunday night as I was leaving the party I couldn't help but feel like such a Debbie Downer. I think I was completely exhausted and thinking about some things, but suddenly I caught myself shedding tears at the bar and knew immediately that I had to get the hay out of there. 


So I did. I headed home and cried the whole time. What a dud, right?


Who knows why. I mean I can think of lots of reasons why. But why? I am totally living the life right now...I shouldn't be complaining or whining about my life. No way. But still...there are things. Everyone has their issues and here are some of mine as of late. 

• I am living alone and definitely have lonely times. I have never felt lonely before. Sometimes it's awesome, but most definitely lonely.
• I am finally (and when I saw finally I mean FINALLY) ready to start a real relationship and share all these fun, wonderful experiences with someone who wants to share them with me. This makes me feel so very vulnerable and terrible at the same time. It's really hard to want this and know that what you want just isn't going to work out how you wished it would. 
• I like to have a good time. I like to enjoy adult beverages & go to bars & dance & enjoy fun times with new and old friends. I love this, but HATE being judged for it. It's hard to be around new people, in a new city, and feel like you are being judged on every move you make. Because let's be honest...as much as I would like to say that I do not care what others think I know that I would just be lying to myself. 
• I love the traveling that I am doing, but can't help but beat myself up for not just moving to where my best friends are and spending all my time with those I love and those I know love me too. 
• My family spends a lot of time together. A lot of time that I am missing out on. Pro's vs. Con's right? You can't have the best of both worlds...its just not possible. 

Well...enough is enough. I am a happy person with a happy life. I've got friends that love me and friends I love. I've got a large loving fabulous family and am blessed beyond this world. God is answering most of my prayers (I'm still waiting for a few) and truly don't think I would change anything in my life. So...I am going to be happy because "most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be" (Abraham Lincoln) and gosh darn it...I am gonna be HAPPY!! Heck, I am happy. I just need someone to slap me in the face and wake me up!

Love Life