Category: Healthy Living

Staying Positive After a Tough Day

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Yesterday, I felt overwhelmed. It suddenly hit me:

  • BFF #1 – Got a new job that pays a higher salary than mine, despite working less time, and moving to a nice new apartment.
  • BFF #2 – Left the job she hated to start a new job she loves.
  • BFF #3 – Is about to get hired for a new position where she’ll be making more than twice my income.
  • BFF #4 – Just bought a new apartment
  • BFF #5 – Has discovered a new passion that is bringing him unparalleled happiness.

And then there’s me.

It was a lot to take in. I think I’ve done well emotionally with quarantine conditions, but something about this week had me taking stock in my life. One of my new year’s resolutions was to be happy. I don’t feel happy.

So, I took a minute to feel those feelings. I don’t ignore feelings, I just don’t let them weigh me down for too long. There’s no cupcakes at a pity party, and if there’s no cupcakes, what’s the point of having a party?

kellykapooreatingacupcake
“Goodbye, Michael.” The Office. 28 April 2011. NBC.

After a minute (okay, longer than that), I made the resolution to move forward and get things done. I know I will feel better when things get done. On the top of my list is my biggest roadblock: finishing “The Once and Future King” by TH White. I keep not reading this book even though I like it, and it’s keeping me from feeling like I can accomplish anything else. I woke up this morning realizing that if work is quiet, I could finish it.

Then work was not quiet. Work was stressful, and people were cranky at me, and I wanted to throw my laptop into the surface of the sun.

So I’ve made a decision. Currently, I am reading two massive books. I need to finish these two massive books before I can resume applying to jobs that will make me feel more fulfilled. To worry about books, work, and my body image is a lot to put on my head and my heart. I need to learn to slow down, and take things one day at a time. That starts today.

melissamccarthybridesmaids
Bridesmaids. Directed by Paul Feig, performances by Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, and Maya Rudolph, 2011.

 

 

Late Night Jam Sesh? Late Night Jam Sesh.

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It’s 10 PM on a Wednesday. Do you know where your kids are?

If you’re my mom, you do. One’s tucked into bed, falling asleep to a “Gossip Girl” rerun on the other side of the house. One’s probably brushing his teeth, or enjoying a pre-bedtime chapter-read with his girlfriend in her house in the Hamptons. And then there’s me, heading into her third hour of non-work related screentime.

I have a good defense! I’ve been applying to jobs since 8PM (and a little bit earlier than that, if you consider tackling a few during work lulls). Sometimes I wonder if everyone struggles with the same questions I do:

  • Am I qualified for this job?
  • Does everyone use this vocabulary?
  • Do they actually read cover letters?
  • Why do we need to put our resume in twice, as a resume and a profile?

“Would you fill out one form?”

“Yes. Fine. Yes. How many times are we filling out the form?”

“You’re doing it once, three times. We use all three of them.”

“But why doesn’t the pen just go through, and it’s a copy of all three of them?”

“But sometimes that doesn’t work as well. And the numbers get smudged. You would think in this day and age–”

“FINE FINE FINE FINE. TURN THE POWER BACK ON.”

–Portlandia, Season 3 ep. 11, “Blackout”

I wanted to take a minute to bask in the splendor of my productivity. I had lots of fresh fruit today, a lot of good sugar, and felt very energized to get things done. I woke up this morning for a walk, then did a strength training workout at the gym. It was a quiet day at work, so I was able to stay on task while simultaneously doing some job-hunting and other research. I actually finished my workday at 4PM and decided to take that hour to go for a nice long bike ride! It was such a nice day to get on a bike. I used to love bike riding when I was in college. It feels good to go so fast that you don’t need to pedal, you just let the wheels go and it’s almost like flying.

Aaron and I ordered dinner tonight from a local restaurant, and I had a REALLY good veggie burger. It feels good to do well.

In the spirit of that, I’m thinking I want another early morning walk tomorrow, and it’s 10:26. Time for shut-eye!

Guilty Pleasures (or, Do you, booboo)

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I’ll be the first to say it: I get writer’s block all the time. In fact, I’m pretty sure that 97 percent of writing anything is sitting down, realizing you have no idea what to say, and then falling down an internet rabbit hole instead. Rinse and repeat at least seven times before you get anywhere close to started. That said, I give myself the opportunity to succeed: I open up my laptop and wait. If nothing comes, I can always trust Pinterest for “blog post ideas”. Sure, sometimes they can be a bit generic, but there’s nothing wrong with a good list of how-tos or life hacks from YOUR perspective! That’s what makes you YOU.

However, I regularly see these suggestions (or some variants on the subject) for post ideas:

  • Be organized and do this!
  • 5 ways to cut that bad habit
  • Simplify your life in three easy steps!
  • X is hurting you. Here’s how!
  • Be fit and healthy by doing these ten things!

Posting about those topics always makes me feel weird. Granted, I’ve dabbled in the occasional workout post and written a whole Glam Girl Manifesto on healthy hacks that models and influencers use to look and feel their best. But that’s all sponsor-tested, publicist approved by the goddesses that run the Kardashian empire (the devil works hard, but Kris Jenner works even harder). Who am I to tell you how to live your life?

This brings me to my main point: early on in high school, I stopped supporting the idea of the “guilty pleasure.” Maybe it was because I was teased for loving the Jonas Brothers, or enjoyed spending hours watching reruns of “That 70s Show.” At a certain point, I felt so sick of being told that what I liked was pablum, or stupid, or less than worth my time, or not worthy of being liked at all.

First of all, the people who say that certainly have a lot of nerve. I could go on and on about the inflated sense of self-importance, the superiority complex, that those kind of people have (and I’m sure there’s a research paper about it somewhere, if not thirty), but it doesn’t matter.

Secondly, one of the most wonderful things about this world is that all of us are different, and no two people are the same. There’s no wrong way to be happy. I think everyone gets one vice, and they shouldn’t have to feel guilty about it. If your way of unwinding after a long day is three episodes of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” then go for it! If you’re outside the intended demographic for Marvel comics but a new edition each month is what keeps you going throughout the week, then go for it! If you work out five days a week and eat a vegan diet 30 days, but that 31st day you need an ice cream sundae, I will go BUY YOU ALL THE LACTAID YOU NEED.

I feel like we’re all so quick to judge what people like. I gotta tell you, shutting down people’s passions just makes you a buzzkill. If you think someone’s hobby is weird, you should keep it to yourself.

itsokaynottolikethingsaslongasyourenotajerkaboutit
Taken from this Youtube video.

Granted, there are limits to the “no guilt in guilty pleasures” rule. Your vice has to be something that makes you feel good in the short term, without having the potential to devastate you in the long term. Cracking open a cold one with the boys every Sunday is fine. Cracking eight cold ones three times a week? Not so much. Your vice shouldn’t be an inherent danger to yourself, and it definitely shouldn’t be a danger to the people around you (you need a new stress reliever if the way you relieve stress is by coming home and yelling at your family about it). Truly toxic vices are symptoms of a bigger problem, and indulging them is more like denial than a coping mechanism.

So that’s where I stand. I don’t think I can tell anyone that being tidy is better, being healthy is better, being organized is better. I think we all know that. I think that if we set our own expectations based on barometers that other people set, we’re setting ourselves up for failure. We should only be setting standards for ourselves to meet. Allow yourself to be your own judge and jury. We should all stop the shaming of other people’s indulgences. If we all enjoyed the same thing, life would be pretty boring! We’re in month six of quarantine, and being bored in the house and in the house bored just proves that life can get boring quickly. Have that glass of wine. Enjoy that Monday Night Football. Order the dessert. Just live your life the best you can, and remember that everyone else is going on their own journey. The best thing you can do is be supportive, and share what works for you in times of stress.

There’s nothing to feel guilty about an innocent recommendation!

 

 

An Experiment in Makeup: Part 2

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Two months later, and it’s time to experiment! I am completing a different look with each post.

In this post, I am breaking down the makeup look as described in Tana Mongeau – trying EVERY SINGLE viral Tik Tok beauty hack blackout drunk. 

She is way more experienced at makeup than me, and also has fillers and filters at her disposal to make herself look even better. She also is four years younger than me, more money than me, and a less stressful job than me, so she doesn’t have the same aggravations that I have that make my face so sad.

Materials:

Notes on My Procedure:

There were several products that were used in the video that I did not have at my disposal. These steps were eliminated. The purpose was to test TikTok makeup tips, so an additional step was added to include a separate TikTok makeup tip. I will note where indicated. Tana filled in her brows offscreen, but I use my eyeliner to fill in my brows. It’s close to my natural color!

Procedure:

  1. Roll your face using a jade face roller.
  2. Use facial ice globes under your eyes (I skipped this step as I do not have this product).
  3. Apply Pixie Hydrating Milky Mist (I skipped this step as I do not have this product).
  4. Gua Sha stone your neck down, then gua sha your inner to outer cheek.
  5. Apply Moisturizer.
  6. Apply translucent powder all over the face, but not too much.
  7. Apply setting spray.
  8. After setting spray dries, apply primer.
  9. Apply concealer to individual pimples/correction spots (this was inspired by this Tiktok).
  10. After two minutes, apply foundation.
  11. Apply concealer in bottom corner of your eyes, then create a winged effect with your concealer at the bottom outer corner of your eye.
  12. Apply concealer in a line going up the sides of your cheek from the corner of your mouth (think “Joker” esque smile).
  13. Contour your face (in this video, Tana was testing a contour palette that she didn’t love, and then applied a powder over it to adjust for herself. With that, I just followed my instincts, using the shades Vanilla and Java in my palette, as well as this general how-to for applying contour).
  14. Fill in your brows (Tana also used her brow pencil to apply fake freckles, then used concealer to create an eyebrow ‘scar’ on her face. I skipped this step).
  15. Apply white shadow in the corner of your eyes, and then matte nude colors on your eyelid (In Naked Reloaded palette: white shadow = Bribe, matte nude colors = Blur across eyelid, Boundaries in crease. I also added a bit of Angel Fire right in the bottom center of my eyelid, to add a little shimmer just for me).
  16. Take a dark matte shadow (shade from my palette: End Game) and wing liner into your eye. Blend.
  17. Add white eyeliner in your waterline.
  18. Add mascara.
  19. Apply fake lashes (Tana’s video was sponsored by THIS lash brand, so these were the ones she used).
  20. Add lip plumper.
  21. Line your upper lip straight across your cupid’s bow.
  22. Add lip gloss and top with tinted lip glow.

Let’s compare the “before” and the “after”!

The Person The Before The After
Tana Mongeau tanamongeautiktokbefore tanamongeauafter
Me mybefore1 myafter2

Analysis:

There’s an obvious difference in MY after compared to Tana’s. That said, she has professional lighting and, as stated previously, a better hand at makeup. She was apparently drunk while filming, so the fact that she has a stronger makeup hand when inebriated compared to my bright and sunny morning hand is… disappointing? I don’t know. I do think my face looks slimmer (from contouring) and my skin tone looks more even (from concealer rand foundation). I do not think my lips look fuller, which is the intention with connecting your cupid’s bow at the top. The BIGGEST note I have is that the lashes make all the difference in the world.

I did not use the same brands of products that she used (with a few exceptions), and I don’t think that my tools would make the look better. That said, she had good things to say about the palette she used to fix her contouring, as well as the lip products she used. I might try the lip products in the future!

How does it fare in the wild, you may ask? I asked Aaron for feedback, and this was his response (with the caveat that yes, I always look pretty, and I don’t need to wear makeup for him to like me, etc.):

  1. The lip shape was throwing him off a little.
  2. I should play around to make it more natural.
  3. The white liner on the waterline is to make your eyes look bigger. Aaron said my eyes didn’t look bigger, but they did look brighter!
    Once I had practiced more…
  4. The “After” photo had Aaron saying I looked pretty all day. That’s all I need to hear.

Conclusion:

Tana Mongeau has her flaws and problematic past (some would also say problematic present), but her makeup almost always looks good. The purpose of this experiment is to elevate my every day look with something that looks more eye-catching, that falls neatly between “she is awake” and “she straight up drew a new person on her face.” I would use the lip tips in the future, as well as the concealer tip. Also… fake lashes are an absolute game changer.

Coming Up Next: 

How to look SNATCHED like Bella Hadid! I have tried working on the contouring skills mentioned in this video, and I like the results so far. I’m excited to see where this one goes!

I need a reboot!

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We are one week out from the month of August! I have to be honest, I feel like dog trash. Aaron’s parents have been in town for his birthday, which has meant lots of yummy… fattening food. I am bloated and my skin is terrible. My hair feels dull. My workout schedule’s been thrown off by a mile. I need a detox from the inside out or something!

I’m not talking a lemon, cayenne pepper, maple syrup and water mixture only for four days. I’m in need of a massage, a facial, and like… okay maybe that mixture just to get rid of the salt from the three days straight of meats and cheeses. And a Wonder Woman-themed Blizzard from Dairy Queen.

I’ve been looking at my self care/spa Pinterest boards for ideas on how to bring some glow back into my soul. Of course, “drink water” is everywhere.

Here are a few other commonalities for feeling (and looking) your best when in need of a “glow-up”:
-Exfoliate, shave, then lotion with coconut oil and vanilla extract or cocoa/shea butter
-Ice water first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening
-Put vaseline on where your perfume will go
-Brush your teeth twice daily and keep gum/mints nearby
-Cut the junk food!

Aaron’s parents are slated to leave either tomorrow night or Saturday morning! I’ll miss them plenty, they bring such love into the house and it’s nice for Aaron to get some family attention (I feel so lucky to have my parents a three hour drive away from me)! That said, I’m looking forward to getting back to the status quo. I’ve really been in the groove of a morning workout, work, a snack and a nap, and then dinner and a walk with Aaron before bed.

With that, I’m off to snoozeville… but I think I’ll have some ice water first!

A Check-In, Before the Check In

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Today, I’d like to take a look at my current ideas, plans, and growth potential, in a way that doesn’t reflect on my New Year’s Resolutions and my typical end-of-month check in. It’s not so much a life-update, but a statement of intention.

With that, let us salute… to General Breakdown.

generalknowledge
Slapsgiving “How I Met Your Mother.” Written by Matt Kuhn. 22 Nov. 2007. CBS.

  1. COVID-19: More and more people are rebelling against the face mask… and more and more people are begging them to not. Most restaurants are operating, as is my gym, and movie theatres are planning on reopening next month across the country. Social distancing is being practiced, and wearing face masks are required in most places. I am hoping that people will be strict on the face mask policy. Spikes in cases are being seen with the reopening of society, but that’s too be expected. We can only hope that it doesn’t expand too much.
  2. Makeup Experiment: I’ve been working on the makeup, sharpening each look to make it look better with practice. I’ve had very positive results with contouring, lip reshaping, and better foundation coverage. Along with that, I tried one of the tutorials for eye makeup earlier this week and it was IMPRESSIVE. I am excited to see the end result!
  3. Fitness Goals: I’ve completed Couch25K, and I’ve continued to do a 5K twice a week. I’d like to bump it up to three. I discovered at the gym that running on a treadmill is so much different than running on the road. I am not good at running on a treadmill! I’d like to change that. On a similar note, I’d like to start reincorporating strength-training into my routine. I’d like to go to the gym to muscle train three to four days a week, at least the three days where I do my 5K runs. On the non-5K days, I want to do bodyweight strength training at home, and then start Couch25K on the treadmill at the gym. I think that will put me in even better shape!
  4. Quarantine Productivity: It’s been mostly non-productive, and here’s a kicker: I’m okay with that. I want to focus all my energy into two or three things, not ten. I do want to learn new languages, and new skills. That said, I set out to hit fifteen thousand steps a day while I’m twenty six (excluding sick days). At my pace, that’s about two and a half hours of stepping! This past week I managed to hit fifteen thousand steps by taking a walk almost every day after work. It was lovely! If I take an hour to enjoy dinner, do some chores and relax with Aaron, along with taking an hour long walk, that gives me about an hour and a half of free time. If I use that half hour to wash my face, that gives me an hour to kick back and enjoy some “me time.” That will really help my mental sanity. Maybe I’ll take another look at those goals if we have to go back into a hardcore lockdown. Never say never!
  5. American History: I just want to take this down for prosperity’s sake. The Black Lives Matter movement has gone full force. There are riots and protests and marches demanding justice and police reform. The police officer who killed George Floyd was charged with murder, but Breyona Taylor’s killers remain at large (one has been fired. For killing a woman. He was fired. Not arrested. Fired). That said, yesterday was June 19th, or “Juneteenth,” a day commemorating the day that slaves in Texas were told of their freedom, by way of the Emancipation Proclamation… two years prior. It’s looking like it might become a federal holiday! I would like to see that happen, in exchange for Columbus Day. Most people on the “left” side of the things are in opposition to our president, Donald Trump, and his handling of the demand for police reform. Many are eager to vote him out in November. The current frontrunner is Joe Biden, who was Barack Obama (our previous president)’s vice president. Joe Biden has a past of both being too handsy with female associates (even one going so far as to accuse him of assault), but was also an instrumental part of sexual and domestic violence reform as a senator. I’m interested to see how the coronavirus impacts the election season this year. I keep seeing a Biden ad when I pull up Youtube videos, and in the ad the subtitles say (I’m paraphrasing), “I am asking you to vote” when Biden clearly says “I am asking you for vote.” A lot of people say Biden is too old to be president, and that ad makes me concerned, too. Like… you didn’t want to get another take of that? That says more about Biden’s team than Biden, though. I want to see Biden’s sexual assault allegations addressed, and I want to see how President Trump evaluates his time as president the past four years, and how he wants the next four to play out with him continuing with a second term as president. We will see.

And that’s what you missed on “Glee!” OH, SHOOT. “GLEE.” Lea Michele, best known for playing Rachel Berry on “Glee,” was outright declared a “diva” and borderline racist. After tweeting out support for the BLM movement, a woman of color who was part of the supporting cast called her out for micro-aggressive behavior and bullying her on set. Two other women of color who co-starred with Lea subtweeted confirmations of witnessing this behavior. Lea apologized for previous actions, but other stories trickled out of occasions where she was unkind, condescending, or rude to other people in her line of work. A few weeks ago I shared how much I loved Rachel Berry’s wardrobe on “Glee,” and I always had a soft spot for Lea Michele. After hearing these stories, I am bummed. I figured that she would have some sort of superiority complex, for being the little girl with the big voice. A rightfully earned ego, like Mariah Carey. Being aware of her talent and expecting excellence at all times was something that would make sense. THIS out-pour of unkindness was not what I had expected. I hope she turns the other cheek!

That’s it for a check-in/life update. I’ll see how things progress!

Cake It till You Make It – An Experiment in Makeup: Part 1

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Two months ago, I published a post on things I wanted to accomplish during this time of lockdown. I haven’t made that much of a dent. What is it about me that has grandiose ideas but never executes them? Do I need to lower my expectations? Redefine the word? Bueller?

No, the solution is to actually execute. Which brings us to today!

Our Woman Crush Wednesday for the week is an influencer named Eleanor Barnes, but her online alias is Snitchery. I don’t remember the first time I saw her was, but she is a makeup wizard, somehow changing her face each time I see her! She is all about the aesthetic, doing full blown cosplays in her bedroom once a week (for the ‘gram, of course) and posting makeup tutorials on Youtube semi-regularly. On top of all that, she has a sick body that grabbed the attention of Queen Rihanna herself and is now a rep for Fenty, Rihanna’s fashion line. Snitchery actually fully grabbed my attention when she posted a photo in a gorgeous corset from Fenty, even though I had seen her floating around my social media-sphere for a hot minute prior to that post.

Anyway, I fell down a rabbit hole of her videos and fell in awe of her talent. She provides thorough descriptions of how she achieves certain looks, and I figured the best way to optimize this rabbit hole would be to actually try the looks myself.

This post is a step one, the pre-op consult if you will. Similar to my Glam-Girl Manifesto from last September, I’ve compiled a list of videos and the procedures detailed in them to guide me along the way.

I’m going to move forward with this post the way I would have with a Science Fair project board. I miss those. No, I wasn’t a nerd in school.

Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to determine if I can establish a more polished and impressive makeup look. A routine that can be applied before work and trips to Disney is ideal, so that I still appear human but like a goddess trying to LOOK like a human.

Prediction: I will impress and horrify myself at how different I can look with different makeup looks. I will also figure out what lip style looks best for my face, as well as an eye look that does not wash me out or make my face look patchy or ashy.

Hypothesis: If you spend enough time on your face, then you will eventually find what looks best on you.

Background/Research: The majority of the looks I will be attempting on this adventure are from the aforementioned Snitchery’s Youtube tutorials. That said, I have thrown in another look to consider, courtesy of Tana Mongeau, who I would consider to be the ultimate foil to Snitchery.
Here are the videos being referenced in the execution of this experiment:
Tana Mongeau – trying EVERY SINGLE viral Tik Tok beauty hack blackout drunk. 
Snitchery – How YOU can look like Bella Hadid WITHOUT surgery
Snitchery – Why YOU should change your ENTIRE makeup routine | feat. Glamnetic
Snitchery – Why YOU should change your ENTIRE brow routine to fit YOUR face
Snitchery – The Secret To Perfect Skin… FAKE IT WITH MAKEUP
Snitchery – Why YOU should change your ENTIRE lip routine to fit YOUR face

Procedure: To accomplish this goal, I will go through each of the above videos one by one and following along. I will take before and after photos each time, as well as gain feedback from Aaron on what he thinks of each look.

In the next post, I will include my Materials (products used for each look), Data, Results, and Conclusion! In the meantime, let’s pray for my skin, who will be going from having makeup on it three times in the past three months to 6+ looks in four days.

UPDATE: This will take longer than I thought. Should’ve guessed.

 

 

May Wrap Up: 2020 Resolutions Update

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We’re almost at the halfway point in the year! I want to celebrate all my little victories but at the same time I can’t help but feel like this year, in terms of goal-setting, is no more special than last. That said, I set these goals for a December 2020 end date. Let’s reflect on how we’re doing 5 months into the game:

1. Read 52 books – I have finished two books this month and am listening to an audiobook. I genuinely think that I will get four books in by the end of the month. I said I was going to read Star Wars books for the month of May, and I have, but I think I’m also going to read other Star Wars books later in the year. I really liked them. I’m falling down a Star Wars rabbit hole and honestly, it’s about time.

2. Do pull-ups – Quarantine is making this tougher than it needs to be, but I’m trying harder to work my body out to get this done by the end of the year. I’m emotionally prepared to have to start from square 1 when my gym opens back up and I have access to a pull-up bar.

3. Spend LESS. TIME. SCROLLING. – I actually feel like I made a modicum of progress here! I told myself that I can only scroll when I’m doing my steps, and it’s worked! Along with that, I’ve been staying off the phone while re-watching “Community” with Aaron. I still have a long way to go but I feel like I’ve taken a step towards being better about this.

4. Write 104 blog posts – I think twice this month I’ve thought “… Oh, right! Gotta write!” I’ve maintained my consistency, though. At least I’m staying on top of this here!

5. Romantic trip with Aaron from Dec. 26 – Jan. 2 2021 – As restrictions are slowly lifted, I’m keeping things optimistic about this end of the year trip not falling through from spikes in cases. Fingers crossed!

6. Stop engaging in schadenfreude – I’m still on the right track here. I fell victim to rabbit hole twice this month, but I think it was just for ten minutes at the most both times. Twenty minutes on something that I used to spend hours on is pretty good!

7. Take better care of my skin – Skin is still improving, thankfully! I hope that my shoulders and back continue to heal with my face. I can put foundation on my face, but if I want to wear a bathing suit, it gets really awkward when I have acne on my back and chest. I feel like this has improved in the past few months too!

8. Go stargazing – There’s still a nighttime curfew in lockdown, but we’re heading into June! It’s warm and if we get anti-bug candles, it could be a dang nice night.

9. Get a new job – I have nothing new to report here, and I’m really hoping that changes soon.

10. Do a handstand – I didn’t work on this at all this month. It’s still on my list. I haven’t given up and I won’t.

11. Go see two of my favorite performers – So fun fact, an email was sent out two weeks ago saying that all dates before Labor Day Weekend have been refunded. I would say this is the only resolution that might not come true, based on my scheduling, that I can blame on quarantine and not my own failures. They say life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans, and whomever they are, they’re not wrong! I hope I can reschedule for November or December, but if not, I think next year is going to be a great year.

12. Lose weight – Physical progress? Not so much. Mental progress? Very much so. See you next month.

13. Give Aaron a great 26th birthday – Well well well! The Disney parks will be opened by his birthday. Wheels are back in motion! I’m thinking dinner at his favorite restaurant and a new lightsaber at Hollywood Studios. Yay!

14. Be a better friend, wife, sister, daughter, and granddaughter – I think May has been my best month for this. I had a great Skype call with my best friend where we talked about life and how much we mean to each other. I’ve been supportive for my friends going through big transitions and crazy circumstances in light of what’s happening in the world, and sending funny TikToks along the way! Aaron and I have really grown so much as a couple since quarantine started. I think we fall more in love and feel more happy every day. As far as family goes, I went home for Mother’s Day for an extended weekend and spent a whole night gabbing with my brother and sister, and even went jogging with my mom. My dad and I talked on the phone earlier last week, and I spoke to both of my grandparents on the phone this month. It was my grandmother’s birthday this month, so I sent flowers, helped my mom make her a birthday playlist, and sent a photo album (that I made myself!) of wedding photos and she loved it. I should keep this up next month! I love the people in my life!

15. Be happy –  I am so lucky. I feel so loved and so grateful for what I have. I am still doing my best, and working to accomplish my goals. I wish I could bring the peace I feel in my heart sometimes and give it to other people. The world is scary and I’m so thankful for the security blanket I have.

Okay, June. Birthday month? Bring it!!

5 Tips for Running

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As I approach the final week of my Couch 2 5K Program, I feel as though I’ve improved as a runner during this experience. Unlike previous experiences with this program, I’ve been running outside through the neighborhoods surrounding my development. Previously, I had been running the program on a treadmill. Treadmills were effective in keeping a consecutive speed, but it took away from the actual strength it takes to keep up a consistent rhythm in a realistic environment. It’s one thing to run on a treadmill, but in a 5K you hit pavement, and that kind of ground is different on your bones than a path being fed to you by a treadmill belt.

Here’s a few tips that I can share from running the road for the past eight weeks:

 

  1. Run in quarter length socks. For a while, ankle socks that didn’t peek from beneath your sneaker were the stylish choice. It seems now like socks that go somewhere between past the ankle and below mid-shin are en vogue. Style choices aside, there is nothing more painful than a blister on the heel. A heel blister will ruin my run and keep me off my feet for two days. If you’re going for a run, make sure your sneakers fit and your socks go above the top of your shoe. Since I made the change, I haven’t had a heel blister! That said, these babies are GREAT for treating a heel blister.
  2. Calling all gals/nonbinary pals – STRAP DOWN THE CHEST. I’ve noticed a lean towards minimum impact in sports bras, which are very comfortable and perfect for workouts that don’t require CRAZY amounts of movement (think yoga or weight-lifting). As a girl who wears minimum impact sports bras almost daily (way less stressful than traditional bras for me, since I don’t like no coverage at all), I totally get this shift. That said, if you’re more Kim than Kendall on the Kardashian scale, you’re going to want to go for the MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE bra. If you’re in the market for a new sports bra for running purposes, I recommend two-tier-trying before buying. Don’t buy online, go to the store and put on something that advertises “Maximum Impact.” If it seems to be a good fit, attempt a few HIIT exercises, like burpees or jumping jacks. If, ahem, everyone stays in their assigned seat, you’re in a good spot! The Victoria’s Secret Knockout Bra has worked for me for years, but Old Navy makes a good maximum impact bra, too.
  3. Scent up before you lace up – This might be TMI, but sometimes my sweat distracts myself. The moisture and yes, occasionally, the smell. Yup. I said it. It’s never made me stop mid-run, but I’ve noticed it, and that’s enough for me. A good spray deodorant keeps me dry (I like Dove Coconut!) but NATIVE stick is a favorite too!
  4. Your music. Is. Everything – I have touched upon the importance of a good workout playlist in a previous entry, but it’s worth mentioning again. Intuitively, a good lifting playlist should make you feel strong, and a good running playlist should make you feel fast. My running playlist is full of music from the last ten years. Indie pop is a great feel- think MGMT, M83, Florence & The Machine. Of course, my previous entry on workout playlists featured a “superhero” theme. Superheroes are both fast AND strong, so you can mix and match here (just last week I beat my speed record while running to the Wonder Woman theme)!
  5. Run in the early morning – CHASE THE SUN. It is the best time to run. The temperature is cool, but the sky is light. You won’t be blinded by the sun, nor will you be sweating in scorching heat. As well, the world is typically quiet this time of the morning. You won’t really run the risk of traffic, and there’s nothing better than a cool-down walk under a pink-and-blue sky. Sweat the night off, and turn your mind on under the sunrise.

Be safe, and happy running!

There and Back Again: A reflection on a visit home

Posted on by admin

On Thursday afternoon, I packed up my things and drove the two and a half hours down to my mom’s house to surprise her as a belated Mother’s Day gift. To be honest, her reaction and hug to me walking in the kitchen alone was worth the trip! I’ve spent the past three days at home with my family. I had to work Friday, but I got to speak with my siblings during lulls and my mom came home not long after my work day finished. It was just nice to be with all of them knowing we couldn’t really go anywhere, as things in my hometown are still shut down almost entirely until tomorrow (just as I leave!).

While I was home, I realized a few things by being around my family.

  1. I’m funny. The power went out while I was home, and my sister demanded entertainment for the four hours (give or take) that we had no electricity. We played Cards Against Humanity, and I won! We played “Would You Rather” and “Who Would You Rather” (tee hee), and at a certain point I started blaring dance music and prancing around without a care in the world. My sister laughed so hard, to the point that she said my “moves” made the power outage worth it. My mom also said I made her laugh while we played “Clue”. I tend to get dramatic when I accuse people of being the murderer.
    ethelbeavers
    Image from Pinterest. The Trial of Leslie Knope.“Parks and Recreation.” 1 December 2011. NBC.
  2. I miss cooking. When I’m at home during the week, I love to bake, but Aaron is the one who cooks almost all of our meals! In my mom’s house, my siblings and mom take turns making dinner, but my sister is struggling to find things she likes to make. She’s very picky and not a great cook! She’s hoping to change that, and she and my mom were really excited that I had recipes and cooking ideas to offer. Talking about it made me wish I cooked more! I told Aaron that when I come home, I want to make more of our meals. He suggested cooking our meals together. I feel so happy he wants to share the “joy” of cooking with me!

    via GIPHY

  3. I want to work out more. I’ve been keeping an ambitious step goal and enjoying Couch25K, but I want to work on my strength more again. My mom kept talking about how impressive my brother’s body looks after spending time doing laps in the pool daily, and my sister is a petite double negative. I want to be fit, dangit! I’ve honestly started thinking that I might want to try getting fit enough to do a bikini competition. I’ve gone down a Youtube rabbit hole of a fitness influencer I like, and a few years ago she did a few of them (and won at least once!). It’s not a test of how hot you look in a bikini, it’s based on muscle. I don’t really like the idea of getting super spray tanned, and it’s definitely something I have to research more, but I think it’d be kind of cool to be in a fitness competition this time next year! Can you imagine?

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I had such a great time with my mom, brother and sister. I’m going to do a girls’ weekend in a month with my mom and sister, when things will have become a bit more sanitized! Family time is everything to me. I’m so lucky to have the family I have!