My Blog - Page 29 of 31

That’s so… on brand?

Posted on May 10, 2019December 31, 2019 by maljoylove

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how to find my aesthetic. I partially (if not fully) blame Lauryn Evarts Bosstick, AKA the #Bossbabe behind “The Skinny Confidential.” It appears that she has been a hot-pink lover for years. Her blog is pink, her office is pink, it’s all cool, LA girl Barbie-Meets-Kardashian. It’s like Playboy, but instead of objectification and misogyny, it’s empowerment and being true to your you.

I don’t really think I have an identifying, signature thing about me. When I think about things I’ve always liked, New York stands out the most. I’ve always loved the streets of Manhattan, the glitz and the glamour and the possibilities. That said, I’m not really sure how I’d build an aesthetic off of that. I’ve always liked the different decades, but you see the plurality? I love the neon of the eighties, the faded but violent seventies, the classy yet youthful sixties. I’m not entirely sure I could build my entire personal aesthetic around that.

IF I were to just focus on New York, I think immediately of classy white with VOGUE font. Crisp, classic, Upper East Side in the nineties, I suppose. That doesn’t really fit me either, because I love pops of color.

Looking back, I think that I truly got sold on New York City when I was seven. I had already started falling in love with Broadway shows, but it was in music class when my teacher put on “Fantasia 2000” and I heard Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin for the first time. The vignette takes place in what looks like 1930s New York City, and depicts the lives of a little girl with workaholic parents (relatable. I just realized that. Wow. I need a minute), a construction worker with a passion for jazz percussion, a wealthy couple starving for more –in more ways than one– and an unemployed man down on his luck. It opens with the sunrise over the NYC skyline, which stood out to me as a kid, because it looks like they draw it all with an Etch-a-Sketch, all one line set to the opening clarinet solo. The short has a happy ending (spoiler alert), and it all culminates in an epic finale that fades out with a shot of Times Square, all lit up with majesty.

RhapsodyFinale

I get shivers thinking about it. Hearing the finale used for Jay Gatsby eleven years later made me almost burst into tears in the theatre. Who better to symbolize the hope and potential of New York than The Great Gatsby?

I think a lot of who I am as a person can also be attributed to my love of food. Lately, I feel like I should stop being mad at my sweet tooth and just start owning it. I want to find the balance between being a cute chocoholic without… getting type 2 diabetes.

Along with that, I think I’m well defined by my near-childlike sense of wonder. I don’t think of it as clinging to youth, but more like holding fast to the belief that all things in life are possible and beautiful.

Since doing my 30 Days of Poetry Challenge, I’ve been spending more time in Photoshop. I’m no graphic designer by any means, but I think I’m going to try to make a logo of an infinity symbol with my name on the top lip. Is that cliche? I find all things infinite. I bet that every brand specialist would tell me that the first rule is to define myself and to not care what anyone else thinks, but simultaneously, I feel like infinity symbols are very cliche, very basic.

I guess when you get to the root of it, things are basic because they’re relatable. My film professor always hated that word. I love that even autocorrect is giving me a red squiggle for it (it’s also giving me the red squiggle for the word autocorrect, for a little added irony). I don’t think there’s wrong with speaking to something everyone feels. Someone took a mathematical symbol and made it emblematic of the possibilities of life. Possibilities are limitless, the very universe we live in is infinite.

I think this is all part of the process. For now, I’m going to fold the laundry that has been piling up– the Photoshop can wait, that laundry can’t. I’m going to look up some books on how to “Build a Brand.” Maybe I’ll learn something about myself in the process.

Speaking of learning about myself in the process, I turned on “Rhapsody in Blue” while writing this post and wouldn’t you know it: I’m pretty sure the young girl subplot has me in a different dimension.

I will include some final thoughts because I’m Tomi Lahren, only an unsuccessful, irrelevant version:

I’ve been obsessing over Emily Ratajkowski lately, and she has the NERVE. The AUDACITY. To post this photo on Instagram:

WARNING: NSFW PICTURE UNDER THIS LINE. SHE IS TOPLESS IN THIS PHOTO.

Get a load of that caption. You see that hair? THAT’S MY NATURAL HAIR. EMILY RATAJKOWSKI CALLS MY HAIR HER DREAM HAIR. TAKE ALL OF IT IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR PERFECTLY FLAT STOMACH, MADAM.
I made shrimp scampi for dinner last night and had the leftovers for dinner– I heated them in a pan and not the microwave and honestly? Groundbreaking.
As far as my sweet tooth goes, my absolute favorite is Hershey Kisses. I think if I had an office, the foyer would feature three huge vertical tubes of Hershey Kisses. But then, who’s going to actually go diving in the tube besides me, for Hershey Kisses? Everyone else would just be so blase but I’d be walking people to the door and get caught with my entire arm down the tube of Hershey Kisses. Otherwise the chocolate goes to waste and I would never.
I love Ed Sheeran so much but kind of don’t like that he’s BFFs with Justin Bieber. Justin is fine and talented but he’s best buds with Chris Brown and like…
There is no gif for Tomi Lahren on Google saying “Those are my final thoughts, from LA, God bless and take care” with her spirit fingers esque wave and it’s disgusting. That needs to exist. Do I have to make that? How is this on me?

The Prince(ss) Skinny Legend That Was Promised

Posted on May 2, 2019 by maljoylove

I feel like I’m going through a strange transition in my journey of self-love. I find myself engaging in more toxic habits, as in, binge eating without abandon. I’ve gained weight, and I’m really disappointed in myself. But with that, I’ve had photos taken of me in the past tow months, and each time I’ve looked at them, I’ve thought I looked good.

I scrutinize instantly, without thought, and sure, after a while, you find something to hate. But more often than not, my thought has been “oh, I look cute!” rather than “Diet starts tomorrow.” Two nights ago, Aaron and I went to a late night Disney event. Not wanting to do anything when we got home at 2 AM, I made the pre-emptive choice to go makeup-less to the event. I look pretty, in my opinion, in the photos from that night. Granted, that could’ve just been Disney working its trademark magic, but who is to say the magic couldn’t have also been me?

Self love is a weird journey to travel. You have such a delicate boundary between loving your body by giving it clean water, maintaining your hygiene, and feeding it greens, while simultaneously living vicariously and ordering dessert because life is too short. I’m such a “Have some chocolate every night to stay sane” kind of girl, and I stilll don’t know if that’s toxic behavior.

My mom, out of the kindness of her heart, bought me some pretty dresses to update my summer wardrobe. I was freaking out to try them on, but they all fit and flattered! Meanwhile, six hours ago, I was freaking out at my reflection about having a thick upper body (too big a chest, larger shoulders).

Raw footage of me in the bathroom looking at my shoulders this afternoon. But actually, “Neil Patrick Harris/Taylor Swift.” SNL, NBC. 10 January 2009.

I felt most comfortable in my skin when I was thinner, and I acknowledge that I need to make healthier choices when I eat. I also want to work out harder, I’ve been so sleepy when I get to the gym in the morning that I don’t push myself to the hardest I can go. I want to change that.

More than that: I feel like I’m so close to being unstoppable, but not being conventionally beautiful (read: meet society’s standards of beauty) keeps me from truly excelling. I agree that standards are changing, but I still feel like more likely than not successful women are fit and healthy. Michelle Obama comes to mind, as do the most accomplished ladies in my workplace. Not a hair out of place, full face of makeup, body by spin class (I say, having loved Soul Cycle but it’s not in my city yet? I DEMAND IT), that describes a lot if not all of the women I aspire to be, aesthetically.

At my most confident, imagine: strong, smart, compassionate, loyal, friendly, ambitious, talented, AND beautiful? That girl conquers the world. I feel like that is my destiny. I want that as my future. I want it as my present, but I’m ready to work towards it. Whose to say that by the time I get to “Mission Accomplished,” I’ve moved up a step or two in my career?

But with that, I have to go to sleep at a decent hour. It’s 9:50 (didn’t I JUST say I was going to stop being on the computer at 8 PM?), and it’s time to get in bed.

“Here Comes the Sun.” Gilmore Girls, The WB. 13 May 2003.

Well, well, well…

Posted on April 28, 2019 by maljoylove

As I mentioned at some point earlier, I’ve been doing a “poetry a day” challenge. I’ve been incorporating photo editing to each poem, so it’s a two hour process, and as a result, I haven’t been able to blog as much. I have to be honest, I love writing poetry… but I’ve missed this!

I have a lot of laundry to iron and put away, but I did half of it and now my “ironing” hand hurts. Now is as good as time as ever to come back!

This week I would like to start fresh: drinking water, healthy sleep schedule…I even purchased a WOMEN’S MULTIVITAMIN (this post is sponsored by SugarBear Hair [no it is not I just bought them]). I look at some of the women in my “#goals” list and I notice some similarities. I think it’s time I take stock in it!

Solid morning routine. Warm water with lemon seems to be the go-to for every influencer and Angel. What I want to do is start my mornings with this lemon water, yoga, and meditation.
Varied workout routines. Yoga seems to be a consistent go-to, along with dance or self-defense inspired workouts. Boxing and Barre seem to guarantee limbs that are both long and strong. I’m down, honestly!Side Note: I will note that these are a bunch of skinny women, and I don’t know if workouts for girls with a much lower body fat percentage will work for me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to try them. I’ve always wanted to be super-hero strong, with cutie lil’ arm muscles but thin legs.
Diet preferences. Get shocked — lots of veggies, little dairy, lean proteins. Have a dessert once in a while to avoid feeling crazy. Emily Ratajkowski says that she eats lots of carbs and plenty of dessert. She eats a pastry for breakfast and goes out for dinner regularly.

I DON’T BELIEVE YOU EMILY. I. DON’T. BELIEVE. YOU.
Sweet Dreams — These girls get seven to eight hours of sleep a night. This seems not impossible, and probably a strong habit to develop before I have kids (eventually). I think I want to start striving for seven hours of sleep, and then if I can add the extra hour, I will make it happen. If I wake up at five, I have to go to bed at ten. I think getting in bed by nine is doable.
I’m headed to Disney for a late night event tonight, so I won’t be able to enact this one until tomorrow night. In general, I want to turn my computer off at eight. If two hours isn’t enough time on the computer for me, I have a much bigger problem.
Hydration — OKAY, I GET IT. You all drink water and use coconut oil. that appears to be the magic elements: coconut and water. I’ll start incorporating it more.
Tuning in — There seems to be a pattern of connection. The girls I look up to all seem to do yoga, meditate, or some combination of practices that enable them to listen to their bodies more.

So in summary — clean eating, workouts that combine strength training and cardio, and connection with the body, mind, and soul.

With that, I’m going to do my poem for the day. The theme is “reflection.” How’s that for connection to the soul?

On Your Mark, Jet Set, Go!

Posted on April 18, 2019 by maljoylove

I’ve had another busy week, but I feel like I’m getting a lot done tonight. I decided to “sleep in” today until 6:45, rather than go to the gym. I got to enjoy my morning wake-up with Aaron as a result, and even had time to do a face mask before work. It was a work-from-home Wednesday, which is always a lovely reprieve. I tend to take Wednesday mornings for myself to have a nice leisurely morning. It’s a great way to celebrate “hump day”. Tuesdays tend to wear me out more than other days.

During my lunch “break,” I did all the dishes in my sink and took care of a few other chores. I got to end my work day with a clean kitchen that immediately got messy again when I hurricane’d my way through to make dinner.

In between the end of my work day and making dinner, I decided to make up for the lack of a morning gym trip by going for a run. It was a sunny afternoon but there was good wind blowing. It’s nice to see my neighborhood awake with dogs on their post-workday walk, families bringing home the kids from their schoolday, lawn and cable workers smiling wearily as they return to their cars to go home for the night… we’re all on our routines.

I alternated between walking and running, and it reminded me of when I used to walk to and from class. Those daily walks kept me sane, and I don’t think I ever appreciated them.

After thoroughly appreciating perfectly grilled quesadillas (filled with veggies and meatless crumbles for me… with a side of homemade guac, thank you!) and welcoming Aaron home from work (I may have made him a bowl of edible cookie dough — the trick is to not use eggs!), I cleaned up from dinner and wrote a quick poem about body image for today’s “escapril” (that 30 day poetry challenge for National Poetry Month).

So we have:
Productive work day
Quality Workout
Cleaned living space
Nutrient dense dinner
Poetry of the day completed

Not bad, right? Now all that’s left is to wash my hair and pack for my trip.

Oh yes, I’m going back to New York. It’s a quieter trip this time, as I’m visiting to spend the Jewish holidays with my family (happy almost Passover!).

Here are a few fun travel tips I’ve picked up over the years (from experience and from family members instilling it from day one):

DON’T PACK THE MORNING OF YOUR TRIP. Guess what? You need a new charger. You can’t find that shirt you were going to wear. You forgot to pack socks. Don’t wait until the morning of, especially if/when there’s a risk you’re going to run out of time.
GET TO THE AIRPORT TWO HOURS BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT DEPARTURE TIME. I adjust this as needed, since holiday flights tend to make me a bit more cautious and I’ll add time. As well, certain airports I’ve visited are frequently D-E-A-D, and I can push it to an hour and fifteen minutes before the flight leaves. I’d rather sit in the airport with a book (or treat myself to a magazine) for an extra thirty minutes than risk huffing and puffing from a line to my gate (or worse… missing my flight).
Fun travel anecdote: Once, an entire flight I was on checked in early. The pilot showed up and said “Hey, you guys are all here, you wanna just take off early?” and we left ahead of schedule! It’s only happened once, but when everyone plans ahead, we all win.
TREAT YOUR SKIN RIGHT IN-FLIGHT. I’ve stopped wearing makeup and contact lenses on red-eye flights. Sometimes I wear makeup if I know I’m landing during the day, but if anything, I’ll do my skin routine before I head out and then apply makeup when I know we’ve hit that “last ten minutes before the descent” sweet spot. MOISTURIZE. I personally have started doing sheet masks on airplanes. It is just… blissful. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS.
Your “personal item” should have a zipper. Pick something sturdy that won’t accidentally fall open and spill everything during turbulent bumps mid-flight.
Start the security “strip” process two people before you get to the conveyor belt. Lose the shoes, take off your sweatshirt, grab your laptop/kindle and your “clear bag of liquids and aerosols.” Once your time has come, BOOM, slap your carry-on bag/personal item on the belt, placing your shoes next to them then grab a tray for your needed products and immediately place it on the belt. Your speed will benefit you, both in terms of convenience for the people around you, and also startling them into paying attention because wow, you’re moving really fast, you’ve DONE THIS BEFORE, HAVEN’T YOU? Yes, I have. Thank you for noticing.
Pack warm pajamas. Nine times out of ten, your hotel room will be cold, not hot. I perpetually have cold feet, so I bring fuzzy warm socks no matter where I’m going.
Download Spotify playlists. In this post-iTunes library world, I recommend saving your favorite Spotify playlists to your phone so you don’t have a soundtrack-less flight. I sleep on flights regularly, and I have a few relaxing musical playlists saved to my phone to get me in that nice zen state of mind. If you want to use your three hour jaunt to catch up on podcasts, don’t forget to download those, too! I’m still of the opinion that paying for in-flight wifi is a waste unless you need to complete business work. If I can go seven hours without Instagram, so can you. I PROMISE.
Pack for every quick-fix necessity. Advil. Pepto tablets. PADS. You will hate yourself for not planning ahead if you get nausea or are surrounded by a chorus of screaming children on your flight.
FREQUENT FLYERS – Create a separate makeup kit for your travels. They don’t have to be perfect, expensive palettes like your normal everyday wear. Wet n’ Wild products are bomb and tend to be cheaper, which make them ideal for when you want to have a full face without risking leaving your Fenty in a hotel room. Those samples you get after spending too much at Sephora? BRING THEM. THIS IS THEIR TIME. Don’t forget makeup remover wipes!
BRING CASH. ALWAYS. Tips. Credit card mishaps. Things, life, just happens. Be prepared. That’s what this whole list is about, honestly. Be prepared beforehand so you can enjoy everything else when you land.

With that, it’s 9:23. In bed by 10:30? Let’s give it a try.

The Many Moods of a Workout

Posted on April 14, 2019 by maljoylove

This week has been one of mediocre workouts. To be honest, I haven’t had a GREAT workout in a while. I haven’t left the gym feeling sweaty and accomplished in a few weeks, and I’m disappointed about it. I agree that working out regularly is more than can be said for a lot of people, but if I’m waking up at the crack of dawn, missing out on an extra hour or two of sleep, to do something good for my body, shouldn’t it be time well spent?

To me, the only two things you need to have a good workout are motivation and the right soundtrack. I have three playlists that I work with regularly. If you’re reading this and wanting some new “tunage” for your workout, maybe some of these will help!

The “Superhero Playlist”

This is my playlist for when I want to feel super strong. When I want to watch my form in the mirror and see my muscles “jump” with each movement, this is my go-to. I tend to stick to this playlist when I’m strength-training, and it makes me feel like Wonder Woman. Or Thor.

spotify:user:1271959391:playlist:7nfgDk94crwsVacZfurTxp

The “Happy Playlist”

I save this one for when I’m just… D E A D. Some days I feel foggy but still alert, it’s the same sensation that, if I decide to let it put me back to bed after turning off my alarm, I end up playing on my phone until 6:30 instead of sleeping. When I recognize that mental/physical state, this playlist gets me up and at ’em at the gym. It’s all feel-good, can’t help but smile songs.

spotify:user:1271959391:playlist:3xAYxdp7A7SmZ54o0sJUMT

This music always gets me ready to bounce my way through a workout. I regularly dance from one set of weights to the next using this playlist! I kNoW, I’m such a DORK.

“Chapter Ten: The Lost Weekend”. Riverdale, The CW. 17 April 2017.

The “CW Theory” Playlist

I’ll talk about this with anyone who will listen: EVERYONE ON THE CW IS ATTRACTIVE. Think about it: Stephen Amell, Nina Dobrev, Jared Padalecki, Madelaine Petsch, all GORGEOUS people. “Gossip Girl” aired on the CW and EVERYONE on that show was beautiful.

Katie Cassidy has been on four shows on The CW so like case in point.

Moral of the story is, find a fanvid on Instagram of someone on a CW show, and chances are that song will motivate you through your workout: be hot enough to be on the CW. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

spotify:user:1271959391:playlist:12zKqGIrRSpSey4klHq4PL

I’ve barely listened to these playlists for the past month. I bet that has SOMETHING to do with it. I will return to this roundup with this week’s workouts.

Have you ever had a Marionberry Pancake?

Posted on April 6, 2019December 31, 2019 by maljoylove

I’m obsessed with Portlandia, because it reminds me of Burlington. In their “Brunch Village” episode the daily special of the popular brunch spot is marionberry pancakes. I think they were going for the most obscure berry they could think of to obtain that “why is it” niche. Literally, take half of these sketches and put them on Church Street, and you wouldn’t notice.

“Brunch Village.” *Portlandia*, IFC. 9 March 2012

This week has been exhausting, especially compared to how blissful the weekend had been. Thankfully, nothing too maddening happened this week, but as we get further into our site migration, there’s more for us to learn-by-doing.

That said, there are a few things that I feel myself losing patience on frequently this week. People are trying to adjust their website without knowing how to do it. Imagine being a mechanic and standing next to someone with a flat tire, and the person wants to repair the flat tire on their own, but wants you to explain it to them, and when you tell them “You need a spare tire” they ask what a spare tire is. At that point, just let the mechanic repair the tire. This is not your time, my love.

With that, there is a sense of camaraderie with my coworkers. We know what it means when “Beverly” needs help, or when “Fred from Chicago” is on the phone. Then comes the pregnant pause after the phone call ends, and the coworker is like “OH. MY. GOD.” and we can all reply back with “Dude, I know.” It also helps me with appreciating the GOOD customers more. I’d give my life for “Carly.” Call me with help with the website whenever you need it, okay?

I’ve come up with a tactic when I feel like I’m about to snap. I just close my eyes and pretend I’m floating in the ocean, and I’m surrounded by tiny seahorses (solid “Napoleon Dynamite” reference). Then there’s jellyfish in my head, and I move my hand like it’s a jellyfish. The movement REALLY calms me down and diffuses my tension.

Light. Happy. Free. It’s me.
This image is from Tumblr.
I’m not certain if this is a real jellyfish it looks animated.

The theme song for Portlandia is really chill, too. It’s called “Feel it All Around” by Washed Out, and it does remind me of walking Church Street like I did in college.

It’s flashback Friday, and I’m feeling the nostalgia tonight for UVM hard. I’ve been doing a poem a day, and today’s theme was “Back to Nature.” I kept thinking about the times I’d just walk through the colors of UVM, whether it was the trees on campus or lying in the snow on a dead silent night. I have a lot of good memories. I can’t wait to move to New York, but I want to retire in Vermont. I want to have a nice home where I can hike and go to a farmer’s market for fresh vegetables.

I will make it happen one day. For now, I’m going to get ready for bed.

After one more episode.

Thoughts on Gratitude

Posted on April 1, 2019 by maljoylove

I feel like lately, I’ve been struggling with me. Work has been stressful with golf season in full “swing” (come back I’m not done), and I have a lot of self-imposed pressure to look perfect for my wedding in 200 days (give or take). I’ve had mini breakthroughs along the way, but I’ve noticed my low moments more and more and felt powerless against them.

This weekend has left me with a lot of gratitude. I’m lucky that I have family who made me feel safe and loved. Out of frame of this shot sat a kind of person I didn’t think existed until we met. I’m grateful for him.

Not long after taking this photo we wandered over to Strawberry Fields, where dozens gather to commemorate John Lennon (who, yes, is not my favorite Beatle, but his music matters). A guitarist sat nearby and someone walked past and requested “Imagine”. The crowd of strangers sat on the benches and listened as this girl strummed and sang the words we all knew. Everyone quietly joined in for the chorus and applauded at the end (I know “and everyone applauded” is very r/thathappened, but it did, I swear. No whoops or cheers, it was very polite applause). A girl sat with her mother crying and thanked the guitarist for playing that song, because it was her father’s favorite.

I’m grateful for that moment of community and love.

Before heading to the airport we found ourselves at One World Trade Center. It reminded me to be thankful because, as Lin-Manuel Miranda once so eloquently put it, “senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised, not one day.”

There were many beautiful things about this weekend, from our hotel to the food to the weather to the multitude of dogs. An absolute peak came from visiting 30 Rock. Twelve years ago, I was an awkward middle schooler who was obsessed with “Mean Girls,” and excitedly watched Saturday Night Live for the first time as Tina Fey hosted the show for its return after the end of the WGA Writers Strike. I am grateful to have had her voice guiding me through high school and college and helping me fall in love with comedy, writing, and strong female friendships (I hold Leslie and Ann strong in my heart, but the first big one was always Amy and Tina).

I wanted to work for NBC after that first SNL episode, and I’m so happy to say that now I do. It reminds me of how far I’ve come, and how much farther I have to go. A lot can happen in twelve years, so who knows where I’ll be at 36?

So today, I am thankful. I’m full to the brim with love and appreciation for the time spent this weekend, and I’m equally grateful for all the steps and missteps that got me there. I think twelve-year-old me would be proud of our journey. I resolve (and dare I say manifest?) to keep her with me as i move forward with this week, with this season, with the next 200 days, and the next twelve years.

If you read this, thank you. I love you. You can do this. Flurm.

Let’s Bang Out This Morning Routine

Posted on March 14, 2019December 31, 2019 by maljoylove

Day 3 of OMAD, and the hunger pangs keep coming during the day but they are so liveable, and I have been relatively zen for the past three days. It makes me happy to think I might have found something that works!

That said, today, my angel of a coworker was sick, and we’re heading into peak season. On top of that, we’re in the middle of a massive transition with our platform that is throwing off our ability to make some crucial changes. I was trying to keep a cool head, but it was very busy. I can really only summarize my thoughts with this vine:

That said, I love how I started this year with a specific intent with my New Year to not put a lot of focus on my reading nor my weight, and yet that’s almost entirely been my focus these days. Rather than avoid it, I’d like to manifest it. With that, I want to put together a focused morning routine:

Let’s say my mornings are 5 AM – 7:30 AM. I need to reserve 7:00 – 7:30 AM for getting ready for work. That gives me from 5 AM to 7 AM to have a good start to my morning.

At 5 AM, I should wake up, brush my teeth, and drink a glass of water. I think with that I should do a morning meditation, and morning affirmations.

I think my workouts can be shorter. That said, in relation to my New Year’s resolutions, I have been making slow but steady progress with my “pull-up” resolution! It takes about twenty minutes to do my warm up and my pull-up practice. Everything on Pinterest says that fat loss isn’t so much about lengthy cardio as it is about weight lifting. WITH that, I lose fat from my legs last, and seeing my, ahem, “juicy” thighs is what always reminds me that I could stand to skip dessert every so often; when I look up how to lose fat from thighs, each article says endurance running, long bouts of easy cardio (nothing like a stairmaster or a high incline treadmill).

So, what is it, guys? No squats or no cardio?

“Beach Games.” *The Office*, NBC. 10 May, 2007

I’m going to just suggest that I do combinations of both, but keep my “leg days” light. Power walking is a suggested cardio, which I love, because I enjoy blasting songs played during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion show and pretending I’m strutting the runway.

“2012 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.” CBS. Aired 7 November 2012. Walk by Rihanna during *Phresh Out the Runway*. Let it be known that Rihanna killed this walk and then created “SAVAGE X FENTY,” which has rivaled Victoria’s Secret lingerie with it’s competitive prices and inclusive sizing. I still want to be an Angel though, tbh.

Combine it with my arm workouts and ab workouts and I should be fine. Is it a problem, then, that my workouts are an hour? And then throw in the thirty minutes to get there and back? That leaves me only thirty minutes to hydrate in the morning, brush my teeth, and get myself dressed for the gym.

I could sleep in my gym clothes, but I’ve read that I’m not supposed to sleep in my sports bra either. I guess the act of taking off my workout shirt to put on a bra, and then putting my shirt back on, is less time-consuming than going all-out WITHOUT putting on anything.

So it’s settled then:
First five minutes of my morning: Brush my teeth, get water
Next twenty minutes of my morning: Meditation
Next five minutes of my morning: Getting changed and lacing up
Next fifteen minutes of my morning: Getting to the gym
Next sixty minutes of my morning: Workout, including:

Ten minute warm-up
Five minute pull-ups (three-four sets of ten)
Forty minutes of some combination of the following:
- All cardio
- Arm workout
- Abs workout
- Leg workout
- Brief cardio session
Five minute cool down session

Next fifteen minutes of my morning: Getting home from the gym and MAKING GREEN TEA.

I wanna do aromatherapy in the shower. Cleanse with intent, or something.

That there sentence summarizes my whole approach to life: a desire for purpose, but cloaked in layer of humor with a dash of self-deprecation.

Enjoy green tea while getting ready in the morning. I want my mornings to feel more free, less frantic.

Here are some of the “I am” statements I want to use to guide my meditations:

I am beautiful.
I am strong.
I am loved.
I am smart.
I am successful.
I am kind.
I am beautiful as I am.
I am wealthy in currency.
I am wealthy in life.
I am wealthy in love.
I am whole.
I am pure.
I am happy.
I am content.
I am free.

Close it out with that layer of humor: here’s Josh Groban singing a Kanye West tweet.

Springing Forward

Posted on March 11, 2019 by maljoylove

I don’t know what it is! Maybe because I’m already home from work, or maybe because I’m trying to manifest better energy, but I feel so light and happy right now!

I’m giving OMAD a shot this week, and I started to feel it a few times during the day, but I let mind over matter persevere. Now I’m home and Aaron’s making pasta for dinner. I’m in my pajamas already, too! It feels good to feel this good.

I want to fill this blog entry up with smiley faces. Hooray for being happy!

I was watching this vlog today about a new-age morning routine. This girl wakes up and meditates, expresses gratitude, does kundalini yoga, and reads tarot cards, along with doing the standard skin routine ALL while waking up after the sun. I’m so jealous! I want to wake up at sunrise to meditate, then go for a workout. You know, when I verbalize that out loud, it doesn’t sound so impossible. I’d have to track the sunrise but I think I can do it! Or at least, meditate at sunset? The Golden Hour, for sure!

I also like that she expressed gratitude and recited affirmations. It’s all part of the law of attraction, where you attract only what you put out, like happy loving thoughts. I want to do that, too. I’ve definitely felt very ho-hum the past few weeks. I feel like my brain is all over the place! It’d do me well to write down all the things that are scattered in my brain.

Well, I’ve got a canvas right here, don’t I?

Wanting to listen to more podcasts.
Wanting to be more proactive in the mornings.
Wanting to live kinder.
Wanting to be healthier.
Wanting a picture perfect wedding.
Wanting a higher-paying job.
Wanting to learn another language.
Wanting to read more books.
Wanting to be less tired.
Wanting to FEEL less stress (I live a pretty not-so-stressful life, but I think I manifest the stress I DO have and it fogs my brain. Let’s get that out of there!).
Wanting to have less debt.
Wanting to be more organized.
Wanting to have all of those things while still enjoying “Gossip Girl” and Pinterest scrolls.

The question is– Do I chip away at all of it at once, or do I chunk it down and tackle three of them at a time? I feel like taking care of all these things will make me the well-adjusted adult worthy of a memoir. Like “Somehow I Manage,” with me shrugging on the cover with my sleeves rolled up.

Okay, I’m watching “Gossip Girl” right now, but after this episode I will shift my attention to adding my bank accounts to my new phone and figuring out Acorn. Get my financial ducks in a row while listening to a podcast, then read before bed. Jackpot! Steps at a time.

Full Steam Ahead

Posted on March 4, 2019 by maljoylove

Okay, I should have been asleep forty minutes ago but I wanted to get my thoughts out instead of letting them float around in my brain.

No free associating or attempts at metaphors tonight. THIS HERE IS REAL.

I had a nice spa day with a good friend, and while sitting poolside we started reflecting on our ambitions and our life goals. We realized we had one thing in common that we didn’t love to admit: we tend to coast by giving 80 percent, knowing full well we would be unstoppable if we worked at 100 percent at all times.

Actual footage of me giving 100 percent. No, just kidding it’s *Wonder Woman*. Directed by Patty Jenkins. Warner Brothers Pictures, 2 June 2017.

Anyway, it occurred to me, for the fifth time in this context:

“What if… I gave 100 percent to my weight loss goals?”

So the question continues: “What does giving 100 percent to my weight loss goals look like?”

I’m going to jaunt down the inconvenient truths to that answer and commit to them:

Drinking water
Eating more greens
Putting all my energy into workouts
Eating a calorie deficit
Sleeping more than four hours a night (she said, at 11 PM on a Sunday knowing she should wake up at 4 AM tomorrow morning)
Listening when my body says it’s not hungry
Refusing the free food at work like Bagel Fridays and Coworker Birthday Cake
Cutting out most dairy (it makes you bloat and your skin break out)
Not ordering french fries with every meal
Understanding “Everything in moderation including moderation” is a thing, moderation was a word invented by junk food merchandisers to convince the health-conscious to indulge in Cheesy Blasters

“Season 4.” *30 Rock.* NBC. 15 Oct. 2009.

11. Live by these rules until weight loss goal is achieved.

12. Don’t starve yourself or limit yourself, just practice good habits and self-discipline.

13. Stay active or go to sleep. Lazing around on Netflix leads to eating for the sake of eating and not for any form of a need for nutrition.

Boom. Done. It’s 11:20 and I need to go to sleep. I love you, myself. “

WARNING: NSFW PICTURE UNDER THIS LINE. SHE IS TOPLESS IN THIS PHOTO.