March, April, and Self Love

Woah! Can life just slow down? I feel like it is going in warp speed. The past two weeks have been busy and April is just insane.

I spent the last week with some family visiting (my older sister & two adorable nieces). I am so glad they came up to visit me and get to experience my life. It was nice to play tourist for a few days.

Tomorrow is April 1 ... HOW IN THE WORLD DID THAT HAPPEN? April brings a busy month of friends visiting and visiting friends. Also, co-planning a very exciting 30th/35th birthday party - Murder Mystery Party! April 1 also starts my strict training for the 10k. Excited - no. Motivated - eh. But, this is a goal and I will do it. #onedayiwillbecomeacasualrunner

As I get older (yep, older) I realize the importance of self care more and more. Sometimes there are so many things to do; doctors, dentists, skincare, eating, etc. I am trying my best to max out each of these initiatives.
- I am still a vegetarian. Yep, it's been 46 days. Woah. I don't have plans to stay like this, I just take it one day at a time. I have to admit, I feel a little better.
- Damn the coffee, tea, and red wine. I love you, but this relationship is ruining my previously pretty teeth. I make sure to get to those cleaning appointments for this reason.
- Vitamins. When I was little, it was the flinstones chewable. Now, it is iron today, biotin at night.
- Did you know that Sephora has partnered with Pantone with this great new thing called Skin IQ. It is a small device that takes 3 pictures; forehead, neck and cheek. Then, it shows you all the products at Sephora that you should use. This was amazing! I believe in spending more for makeup - so worth it.
- I don't exercise nearly enough. But, since April 1 marks my official 10k training, hopefully I can improve this.
- I would choose coffee over water anyday. This is a sad fact. That definitely needs to change. I need to start making sure my body is hydrated.

Anyway, I leave you with that and some pictures of the last week.

Revisit & Update

I thought it was time I revisted my 28 Before 29 list. The original reason I started this blog. I wanted to see how much I have accomplished in the 3 months since I turned 28. I still have a long, long way to go but I give myself a little pat on the back for my progress thus far. :)

See where the health and fitness world takes me

Figure out what my body needs

Strengthen my faith and my relationship with religion

Create my support system here in New York City

Get comfortable with my voice

Shut off, frequently (Digital Detox)

Save way more

Get in touch, stay in touch

Give back

Plan an international trip (In the process)

Complete a 5k/10k without stopping (Coming in June - 10k)

Do the Oregon Wine Trail

Fly high in the Philadelphia Zoo balloon

Try Acupuncture

Get my parents to visit NYC 

Go to London for a weekend

Discover amazing new music

Go to a paint party/glo-party

Dye my hair (again) Red was the choice, obiously.

Take a solo trip

Take a "how to" class Shannon & I learned how to make Canvas prints. Next up, Macaroons.

Send more snail mail

Do 29 days of something Well, it has bee 34 days of Vegetarianism. :)

Make bread

Visit a friend

Visit a new area in NYC once a month (Definitely accomplishing this goal!)

Blog about it

Learn to meditate

Lean In More Often

Lean in, lean in more, no more.

A big reason I love my company; they empower women. I've read Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In." It is an empowering book for women about work and the will to lead. I certainly didn't major in what I now do for a living. I take it as a blessing each day that I got the opprotunities I have with my company. Three across state moves, four promotions and a few awards in 5.5 years. I am definitely proud. I can say that without a doubt and without sounded egotistical. I have worked my butt off for everything I have earned. I have aways put my best foot. I was always making sure everyone knew that I was willing to move on to the next thing. Never be content ... this is the hospitality after all.

Why am I bringing this up? Well, it is not always easy. I don't ask that it be. I like a challenge (she says fiercely). I get challenged weekly. Not everyone wants a woman to be at the top. But when we get there, we will be sure to let you know that you made the fight worth our while. :)

"Leaning in" can mean lots of things. To me, it is that mom who takes care of her kids full time. That IS a full time job. It is that married wife who is a doctor and still makes time at the end of the day to play with her little boy. It's that parent who makes the choice to move, no matter how hard, because it is the rigth decision for her family and she makes sacrifices. The other women who has had tough relationships, but still has her own house and chooses to live on her own and supports herself. It is that single mom who works a job and goes to school to better herself for her kids.These are the women I admire and give me support when I "lean in."

Rants, Raves and Other Updates

It has been awhile since my last post. CAN'T let that happen again. 

I am not one to complain alot, but I feel as though blogging creates a great release. I write this at look out into a sunny day. Spring looks good on you NYC. I almost feel bad for complaining about anything.

Rants

• Not being a morning person and having to squish myself onto an already crowded subway car in the mornings. Morning rush hour by subway is way worse than any car commute. "No really, sir, I love the fact that you are pressed up closer to me than my boyfriend typically is and we share a bed. No big deal."
• Escalator riders. Walk left, stand right people!
• It's hard to make friends as you get older. Meetups, kickball leagues, Non-profits. I will be doing them all come April. I don' t know if I have gotten more particular or if it just gets harder as you get older since people are set in their lifestyles. 
• People complaining on social networds ... Facebook. I know, I know. Complain about other people complaining? Say what?! But seriously, do people JUST use social networks as an outlet to scream and shout and complain about how "bad their life is?" It could always be worse and that is a great motto to live by. Do you have food? A job? A roof over your head? Then you are better off than alot of others. You should be thankful. Times are not always great and obstacles come and go.

Raves

• Spring, obviously. I have been in a weird rut lately. I love this city, but man does it get depressing when you don't see the sun for awhile and it is so cold you don't want to leave your apartment. Not pleasant. Bring on spring!
• My sister and two nieces are coming up to visit on Friday for a few days. I am so excited. It is nice to be able to share my life with my family since they all live so far away. I typically don't get to see them unless I go home. None of them have ever been here so we of course will do the typical touristy stuff. :)
• I miss my friends more than ever. I am lucky enough to have gotten to see one from FL earlier this year and she is coming back to visit me the first week in April. :) There is nothing I miss more than sharing a bottle of wine with my DC gals (now GA, NC, and MI gals).
• Yesterday marked my completion of 30 days vegetarian. Guess what, today marks 31. I haven't given up just yet and I figure, if i am not craving meats, I am going to continue on.

So, thats that. Now that it is starting to warm up, it is time to start running. I have a 10k in June that I am pretty excited about. Thanks to my super runner friend. :) I truly wish I could become that person who just loved to run. Maybe I will ... maybe.

I can't believe I have missed blogging this much. I have been so busy with work + other activities. Sam & I went to Avett Brothers at The Barclay. Great concert, not so great venue. We also saw "All The Way" on Broadway starring Bryan Cranston. Sam was star struck. 

Well, that about wraps it up for now. Busy week coming ... Philadelphia, Boston, oh man!