There will always be haters. Surround yourself with people who will support, encourage, and understand you.

When I first started this fitness journey, many of my friends looked at me like I was torturing myself. They now realize it's not a phase and it's something that is a part of my life. They may not agree but at least they respect my decisions now.

Adios 2012...Welcome 2013

As I sit here and reflect on the last day of the year (Happy Birthday Dad!), it's crazy to think how fast this past year has flown by.  I am very proud at what I have accomplished this year in the way of my own personal fitness goals.  For the first time ever, I have continued to stay on track with working out and eating healthy.  There were some definite bumps on the way, but I never let it deter me from the bigger picture.  I'm so glad that I have stuck with it.  I haven't been more happy with myself and comfortable in my own body, ever.  That to me is the biggest gain on this fitness journey.  It can only get better from here on out.  Just.Keep.Going.

Not everything has been a win for me, but I'm trying not to focus so much on the bad.  Instead, look forward and accept the things that I cannot change and move on.

2013 is a brand new year, a clean slate.  Time to start it right.

Resolutions? I don't normally do resolutions because I tend to break them.  I do have goals in mind, but I'll keep those close to me this time around.  

It was a nice little surprise getaway to go hang with my cousin in NY. We went trap shooting (a first for both of us and a first for me to shoot a shotgun). I'm definitely hooked and can't wait to go again. The weather wasn't in our favor with sleet and rain, and our fingers pretty much lost feeling which made loading slugs challenging. But, all in all we had a blast an a ton of laughs. Hopefully, next time I'll score a little better too!

Afterwards we went to a great little tapas restaurant in Huntington called Cafe Buenos Aires. Every single plate we ordered was amazing. And for dessert we got the pear tart. Holy. Moly. It's a very good thing I don't live anywhere near that place! Dangerous.

PINK slug?! Whaaaat :)

Pear Tart

Spring, hurry the heck up!

Craving a run here (wherever this is):

Oh hello NY...

So yesterday, I decided to take a last minute trip up to NY to visit my cousin for the weekend.

My favorite part of the drive since I was a kid:

The Verrazano Bridge

Off to the gym. My time to decompress...

Big Money!

I won the lottery. A whopping $31.

Little by little...

Getting those arms closer to where I want them. Today, they're pretty much useless after my workout yesterday. Such a great feeling.

The good thing about the holidays is it has allowed me to bulk up a little bit. Come January, it's time to lean out a bit so I can see more definition. Can't wait.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

My favorite time of day

Sunrise has become my favorite time of day. I think it started with this job. I'm always up way before most people I know. Usually, on my drive in to work it's during sunrise. I get to see the sky change a bunch of different beautiful pastel colors, and for those 20 minutes, it somehow calms me and gets me ready for the day. Although I may not be the biggest fan of a butt crack of dawn alarm, I am thankful I get to see something almost daily that most people sleep through.

My most favorite sunrises came from the time I was living in Arlington. I was able to see the sun rise over all the monuments in DC. Sunset was equally as gorgeous.

This was taken from a parking lot this morning...

Oh Lululemon, why must you be so expensive?!

Want.

Reason #1 why it's hard to workout at home...

Off to FL for a work trip...adios.

Oh wow! How cute is this?! Shorty the boxer iPhone case! (looks more like a Boston to me)

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Zombie

Two days in a row, up all night hacking something awful makes me a zombie. I am definitely earning my weekend.

First day back to working out since Thurs...been fighting some upper respiratory mess. Celebrating with new purple crops! Love them :)

I wish this had a source. I looked on the Internet and there was no author. Either way, it's a good one!

Always remember...

Dear Santa,

Need this in 15lb and 20lb! And not those cheapo plastic ones!

XOXO

Want. Both pairs please!

Questbar Natural Protein Bar

The only protein bar I'll eat besides the ones I make at home. All natural ingredients you can pronounce and sweetened with stevia. Plus 20g of protein. Just tried the coconut cashew flavor for the first time...def getting this one again!

From the wedding this weekend...

This. Looks. Fantastic.

Roasted Portobello Mushroom Salad

Oh my goodness this was amazing!

Mix two parts EVOO to one part balsamic vinegar. Chop up a garlic clove or too Sprinkle thyme, pepper and a dash of salt into vinegar and EVOO mixture. Whisk to mix ingredients and brush over underside of mushroom caps. Toss in a 425 degree oven for about 20 and boom! You've got an awesome meal. Use the extra juice from the pan for dressing.

I put it over spinach leaves and a bunch of raw veggies I had in the fridge.

“I beg you to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”

— Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters To A Young Poet

Bridesmaid Speech

Compressing almost 10 years of a friendship into a quick speech is nearly impossible. Writers block? Nope. How about verbal diarrhea? Totally.

Happy Friday Dance...one day early...

Today is my Friday! Tomorrow I am off to St. Michaels to be in Ashley's wedding! So excited...it's going to be an amazing weekend long party!

Gotta love getting all gussied up!

Truth.

Breakfast

Raspberries, Blueberries and half a banana over Kashi cereal with almond milk. Amazing breakfast.

You really don't realize how long a songs chorus is until you have to do sprints to it during spin class.

Mmm...

Awesome snack idea. Avocado, cholula, and cracked pepper on whole grain. Get. In. My. Belly.

I need to start taking yoga so I can complete this pose. Beautiful.

Big leg day yesterday = cursing the stairs. And I take a LOT of stairs throughout the day.

The 2 days of soreness after a workout always remind me of how much I love working out. It's the only way you know you're going to get results. Being sore makes me happy.

Happy Tuesday!

Love this little Frenchie

"Let everything happen to you Beauty and terror Just keep going No feeling is final."
--Rilke

Snickerdoodles

Domestic as shit.

Sometimes you need to bake good old fashioned cookies for no reason.

M.I.A.

Been a little absent, things have been a little crazy! Whoops

Rent the Runway

For this weekend, we had a wedding to go to. Josh was the best man so we came up early to attend the rehearsal. That meant me finding not one, but 2 dresses for the weekend. A few weeks back I started stressing about what to wear. I really don't have time after work to go browsing through the mall, and the weekends are always packed with events. Wear dresses from past weddings? Sure. Except most don't fit me anymore since my body has changed so much from working out. Then, I remembered about Rent The Runway! You can rent awesome designer dresses for a small fee. They send it straight to wherever you are and you ship it back a day or two later in a prepaid envelope. You don't even have to get it dry cleaned! DONE. I was a little worried about having faith in 2 dresses I've never seen in person or tried on. But, the website has user reviews and pics that help you figure out the fit. Genius. My dresses arrived the day before we left and fit beautifully! It was super easy and virtually worry free! I'd rather rent any day than try to find a dress that I'll only wear a few times and spend $200+. They even had a special so I rented both dresses for $85. Worth every penny!

Hello NY!

We're New York for the weekend!

Mind blown.

I may have to pick this up and try it!

Camo!

I've always loved camo print...hello camo nails! Not sure why I haven't thought of this before, but I'm glad I experimented with it. Love this look!