Today's workout

Today I went for a run. The temperature was 50F but it was soo windy. There were wind gusts up to 30mph! But I went anyway. Lately with my running I've been going at a slow and steady pace. Today I pushed myself just a little bit--not full on exertion, but enough to knock 30 seconds off usual pace. I ended up running 3.5 in 30:30. After my run I went over to the park. I did a few hanging leg raises, and attempted a pull up. Ha! I'll have to work up to that one.

I then came in for 30 pushups, 60 calf raises with 15 lb weights, 90 seconds of plank, and 60 seconds of side plank (on each side).

Goals for the new year

It's time for my goals of 2012!

1. Spend less time on the internet/read more. Er, I have a bit of an internet addiction. I'm not going to lie. And I've realized recently how much I miss reading, and, you know...being productive. So I'm going to limit how much time I spend online each day. I'd like to just cut back on my own accord, but if necessary I will use the Self Control app for macs to block myself from the most addicting sites until I learn actual self control.

My brother bought me two books about running for Christmas. I'm going to start reading one of them tomorrow.

2. Take more pictures. I started a photo album in June, and bought a new camera in July, but have only added about 20 pictures to my album since then! Looking back over the year...I'm quite sad that I didn't take more pictures. I only have a dozen pictures from our Mexican vacation. Not a single one from the-vacation-that-wasn't to Chicago, nor from our trip to the pumpkin patch, nor ANY of the holidays. I want to get more comfortable taking pictures and being 'that person' who whips out the camera so I can have these memories stored away. I'm thinking of posting my favorite recent picture once per week. In any case, brace yourself, boyfriend, because the camera is getting used more often.

3. Workout on average 4-5 times per week. I worked out fairly consistently in 2011, so for 2012 I want to keep it up! I'm taking a personal fitness course for the spring semester and recently fell in love with my campus's new recreation and wellness center. These combined with my love for running should easily average out to four or five workouts per week. Of course I know breaks are necessary. If I'm sick or injured it's best to take a rest. That's why I'm saying 'average' instead of 'must.'

I have two further goals concerning fitness: run a marathon, and be able to do a handstand press. What is a handstand press?

Isn't she adorable?

And impressive?

Right now I can barely do a handstand.

I'm slowly building distance and endurance with my running. In April I'm going to begin serious training for the marathon. Everyone mark your calendars! On October 21st, 2012, I'll be running the Des Moines Marathon.

4. Continue sewing. Now since my mom corrected my dumb mistake, I feel more confident moving forward. I can finally finish that skirt project I started many months ago!

So. There are my four main goals for this year. The most important goals to me are the marathon and cutting back on time spent on the internet. In addition, I'm going to continue with the other goals from last year (learn to cook and save money).

Happy New Year!

A dumb revelation

Last week I made stockings for my pen pal and secret santa, as seen just a few posts below. Then on Christmas Eve I tried to make stockings for me and my boyfriend. But something was really messed up. The fabric bunched up and the thread fell right out! My mom came over and found the problem: I had forgotten to lower the presser foot. D'oh! Both my parents laughed at me and I felt like such a dummy. Perhaps that would explain my 'tension' problems. I plan to finish the stockings tomorrow. At least we'll have them ready for next year.

Now time for a little confession: I haven't worked out since Wednesday. I feel so guilty. I planned to workout this afternoon but napped and ate candy instead. Right now I'm making some mac and cheese instead of doing pushups. I think I'll do pushups while I wait for my food. I keep thinking of 'working out' as a long ordeal. Warmup, 40-60 minutes spent working, 15 minute cool down. I need to remember that every action counts, and that I don't need to spend so much time every day. So, let's see what I can do before the water boils!

Finally, a little bit of awe: this guy is a huge inspiration to me. I've been following him on Fitocracy. His story gives me the chills. Can't wait for my next run!

Update: I did 15 jumpsquats, 30 russian twists, 60 seconds of plank and sideplank, and 60 pushups in ten minutes.

Today's workout and new purchases!

My grandparents and my uncle gave me giftcards for Christmas so this afternoon I went to Target to buy some new workout gear! I got a pullover hoodie, running gloves, and a very nice jacket. The jacket was on clearance for only $25!

Just in from a run

Today I ran 5.2 miles in 47 minutes flat. I then did 3 sets of 20 calf raises with 15 lb weights, body weight lunges, dumbbell lunges with 15 lb weights, and jump squats. Finished it all off with some stretching.

I'm becoming rather upset with my abs and core. From the front I look good, but I really don't like how lumpy and weak my abs are. I've heard so much conflicting advice about what's good for building muscle. I've been told from once source or another that crunches, plank, and russian twists will all do jack squat for it. One person said the only way to build core muscle is through deadlifts, squats, and benching. I'm upset and confused. Hopefully I can get to the bottom of how to improve my abs.

Doesn't look too bad from the front. I refuse to post side pictures.

Just finished today's workout

I can't believe I went nearly a week without any exercise! The lack of activity was really starting to kill me. I've just been so busy with Christmas preparations that I didn't have time. But there was no excuse today.

I started off practicing some handstands. Then I tried some russian twists. I did 3 sets of 10 to begin with. I realized my form was off, and later did 2 sets of 15 with correct form.

And then I ran! I went for 3.7 miles in 32:50 with moderate hills along the way. It felt so good to be out there again, though I definitely could feel what the week-long break did to me. I finished with 60 seconds of plank and side plank (on both sides) and some nice stretching. I finish every workout session with some relaxing yoga-inspired stretching and mediation. It helps me unwind and get ready for the rest of my day.

A wonderful Christmas

Looking over my Christmas gifts this year...there's definitely a theme! I got a bottle from my secret santa that says on one side 'I like running' and on the other side 'because I really really really really really like desserts.'

I also got a gym bag, complete with a separate pocket for shoes! Last semester I was using my boyfriend's carry on luggage bag for the gym. My brother gave me two books: Once a Runner by John Parker Jr and First Marathons by Gail Kislevitz. And 'Santa' brought me a bike! After opening my other gifts my mom told me to go bring something out of her bedroom. At first I thought it was another gift for my dad. I was so happy to find out the bike was for me!

It's a hybrid bike with an aluminum frame and a rack on the back for hauling groceries. While I do want to ride for fitness, my main reason for wanting a bike is commuting to work and running errands. There's a really nice bike trail just a quarter mile from my house, and it runs right in front of my work place, too!

Today was wonderful. I love every gift I received (there were more than those I mentioned above, but this isn't a 'haul' post!). I loved seeing my family. My nieces and nephews are growing up so fast! I also had an actual conversation with my brother in law. I've never really talked to him before. Plus I hugged my uncle for the first time in, oh...at least a decade.

The food was good, too, though I ate way too much! I ate a few cookies after a big lunch, then the boyfriend and I had Hardee's when we got home. I had three more cookies plus half a slice of pizza after that! On top of all this, I haven't worked out since Tuesday. I'm definitely going to go for a run tomorrow. Here's some inspiration in the mean time.

P.S. New goals to be announced on December 31st!

A review of my goals: part 4

Finally, we come to the last goal: learn to sew.

There's a good reason why I wrote about this goal last. Erm, I just sewed this morning! 'Santa' brought me a sewing machine last year. I wasted no time in buying notions. I went to the fabric store with my mom in May or April to buy patterns and fabric. I laid out the fabric and cut out a skirt. And...that's where it stopped. I was too afraid of messing up. I didn't want to try, fail, and get discouraged. So I just never did anything.

Now, anyone who knows me will know that I love Christmas. It's almost an unhealthy obsession. And who can have Christmas without Christmas stockings? So I decided to make some for me and my boyfriend, as well as my penpal and secret santa. Again, I went with my mom to the fabric store for fabric. I made a pattern, laid out the fabric, and cut it. And...that's where it stopped.

Honestly? I didn't know how to thread my sewing machine. But last night I sat down, read the entire manual cover to cover, and didn't leave my office until I figured it out. Success! I threaded the sewing machine. Phew. But that's just one small step. I practiced some stitching. The top part looked good, but the thread on the backside was loopy. I was definitely having some tension problems. After two hours of google, reading the manual, videos on youtube, and a call to my mom, I got it all sorted it. I could finally begin!

The first one came out with a deformed foot. Ever heard of Chinese foot binding? This stocking would look good on them. The second came out much better, though I still had an issue with bunching near the toes. I'm not sure what the root of the problem is: pattern, not holding the fabric taut enough, my method of turning things inside out. Oh well. I'm proud of my accomplishment. It's not much, but gosh darn it, it's my first sewing project done all by myself!

The green one is strategically covering up the not-so-good-looking red one's toes.
Also, they are both stuffed with candy already!!

Tomorrow I'm going to finish the stockings for me and my boyfriend. As an aside, who knew that glitter glue takes so long to dry?? I hope it hurries up so I can send out these stockings!

Overall grade: I feel like this is like the slacker student who didn't go to class all semester, but pulls a paper out of their butt that's just the right length five minutes before it's due. Passable, but deplorable. C-

Baby it's cold outside

But I'll be running anyway.

A review of my goals: part 3

Goal number three was to cook better. Previously I could cook pizza, spaghetti, and chicken parmesan.

So what's changed?

Really not much.

I have learned a few new things such as rice, salmon, and lentils. I've added more vegetables to my cooking. For instance, tonight I made ground turkey with onion and oregano, rice, and steamed broccoli. It was delicious! My money situation recently has taught me to keep the basics around and mix and match what I have. Pasta, poultry, and rice can take me a long way! Different seasons and sauces keeps it interesting. I'm no master chef, but our recent meals definitely beat macaroni and pizza.

Overall grade: B-

A review of my goals: part 2

At the beginning of the year it was very important to me to work out more. All my life I had been thin but never fit or athletic. So I took ballet and modern dance classes during the spring semester. But the class was not organized well. The teacher's heart was in the right place but she did things that just weren't good for the body. For example, each class we had to hold the splits for at least one minute, and by the end of the semester we had to hold them for three minutes. If anyone came out, the time would be restarted. I wasn't able to do the splits. Perhaps I could if I pushed myself, but then I would be forced to hold it which could cause injury. Even though I had class for six hours per week, I felt less physically fit at the end of the semester, and had actually gained about six pounds. 

But one fateful day I picked up running. On a whim one afternoon I bought some shoes and went out. And I've stuck with it! I ran my first mile within the first few weeks. Then I ran a 5k in the beginning of August.  A 10k in October. And just two days ago I ran my furthest distance ever of 7.25 miles. I prefer to do most of my running outside, but I know that sometimes the conditions just aren't right. I'd like to stay outside all winter, but some temperatures are too much to handle. So Xavier and I bought a treadmill. I've only used it a handful of times, but it's nice having it around just in case I can't take the conditions outside.

I'm also experimenting with other forms of exercise. I like to use the stationary bikes at the gym. I can't wait to get an actual bike! I'm planning on getting one in the spring so I can bike to work and to the grocery store. I've gone to a few yoga classes, plus I like to do yoga videos at home. I do body weight exercises and have dappled in weight lifting. Next semester I'm registered for a personal fitness class that offers and introduction to weight lifting. I'll be honest...the weight room scares me a little bit! 

Those six pounds I gained last spring are long gone. And I've gone from barely running a quarter mile to running seven-and-a-quarter miles. I used to work out once in a blue moon. Now the longest I've gone all year without working out was three weeks, and that was owing to an injury. My body is more muscular and I feel the need to push myself more physically. This is one goal I can proudly say I've accomplished.

Overall grade: A

A review of my goals: part 1

Ok, so when I started writing this blog at the beginning of the year I had four goals in mind: spend less money, work out more, learn to sew, and cook more. I'm going to make a post reviewing my progress in each of these goals. First up is 'spend less money.'

Back in July I got a promotion. I went from delivering pizzas to being a manager. This promotion, however, pays less money. So why did I take it? It's less stressful. If you read back to prior post, you'd see that my car was totaled while delivering pizzas. Every night I worked I had a constant fear of someone hitting me, or of me hitting a deer. Just last week one of our drivers got in a fairly serious accident and totaled his car.

Delivering destroys vehicles, not just through accidents, but also through regular wear and tear. I had three different vehicles in my three and a half years of delivering pizzas. In total, I estimate that I drove 50,000-60,000 miles at that job. It takes so much in gas, oil changes, tires, etc. Knowing that my new $10,000 car was getting destroyed every night I worked was enough to make me want the promotion.

I love my current job. I love overseeing what goes on around me, and I love making sure the customers are happy. I think it's really a control issue. I control my environment. I'm not just subject to what's going on around me. Of coure I'm only in control to an extent. I have other bosses to answer to, and I can't just make a bad night or bad situation disappear. But I have more say in what I do now. And I love it.

To cope with the lower income, I've learned to only buy what's necessary. This means less nail polish and fast food. I buy what's on sale at the grocery store. I love sales. I stock up when something is exceptionally cheap. And I'm proud to say that ALL of my Christmas presents were purchased on sale this year! I'm quite proud of my savings there.

I made a few big purchases over the summer, namely this MacBook and a vacation that never was (long story. Essentially, I booked a rather expensive hotel. But within hours of checking in my boyfriend got sick and I of course couldn't get a refund). Those are still biting me in the ass. But I'm making progress in catching up and rebuilding my savings.

Overall grade: C+

Check In

I made this blog to track my New Year's Resolutions and I've quite frankly done a piss poor job of that. I've made maybe twenty posts all year! Pathetic. I think part of the problem was that I was writing for other people, and not for myself. Each word was written as I'd want someone to view me as, and not as I was truly experiencing it. I'm sure that makes no sense to an outsider, but it makes sense to me. I'm going to continue writing this blog not for any passers-by that may come upon it, but for me.

You know what's adorable? The post just two below this one. 'I ran my longest distance ever! 1.62 miles!'

I just got in from a 5.3 mile run.

I have realized, though, that I haven't significantly increased my distance in a few months. Back in October I broke the 10k barrier. Since then I have yet to run anything above 10k. If I want to meet my new New Year's Resolution I'm going to have to get on that. I probably won't have time for a good distance run tomorrow, but I'm planning on doing 7 miles on Sunday. I'm looking forward to it!

An Attempt To Not Be Lazy

It was called to my attention today that I haven't written in my blog in a while. It's been well over two months!

Tonight I tried HIIT (high intensity interval training) for the first time. There are two main methods of HIIT training: little method and tabata method. Each method starts, of course, with a thorough warm up and then a length of high intensity exercise followed by a length of low intensity exercise or rest. 

The Little method, developed by Dr Jonathan Little and Dr Martin Gibala, calls for twelve cycles of alternating intensity. The high intensity segment lasts for 60 seconds and the low intensity, an easy jog, lasts for 75 seconds.

The Tabata method, developed by Dr Izumi Tabata, is just eight cycles long. That's just four minutes! The high intensity segment lasts for 20 seconds but requires absolutely everything you have. The low intensity segment lasts just 10 seconds. 

I did the Tabata method.

My legs felt fine, but oh my goodness, was my heart racing! I tried to jog during the low intensity segments but after a few cycles I ended up walking during them. 

Fitness Check-In

Today I went for my longest run ever. I ran 1.62 miles in 14:45 minutes (according to my Endomondo app). I then followed it up with the 8 minute ab video on YouTube. I know it's not an impressive time or distance, but I'm making definite progress! I'm now over halfway to running a 5k.

First Day Of The Month

It's been over a week since my last post. Oops!

I have been quite busy since then. My summer class started on Monday. I'm taking Intermediate Spanish II at my community college to finish the foreign language requirement to graduate from the University of Iowa. This class is essentially a review of everything learned thus far. While the material itself is not challenging, the volume of coursework is a bit overwhelming. The class meets for four hours five day per week for three weeks. It's cramming an entire 16-week semester in to three weeks! On Wednesday I spent four hours outside of class doing homework. Over the weekend I have a presentation, a paper, several pages of workbook material, and two exam review sheets to do. I'll be working hard!

Last week my new camera came in the mail. I ordered the Canon Power Shot A3000 from Amazon. It's nothing new or flashy, but it's everything I need.

Maya hiding under the coffee table. It's her favorite spot.
Also, my boyfriend hiding in the background

This afternoon I made some almond flour chocolate chip cookies. They're delicious! I found the recipe here. I used dairy-free chocolate chips instead of regular ones to better suit my boyfriend's diet. I didn't use a butter substitute, though. He only seems to mind milk, cheese, and chocolate, but not other dairy products like butter and yogurt.

They're so yummy. I think I'll go have another!

Some Motivation For Today

Challenge Accepted

Someone I know online posted a workout video, challenging others to complete as many sets of these burpees as possible in ten minutes. After some very brief consideration I decided....challenge accepted! (the screen grab for this video may look inappropriate, but trust me, it's not)

I lasted a whole one and a half minutes before my legs gave out. I am ashamed. But now I have a new goal to work towards!

I've decided to take it easy today. I went running for the past four days in a row, plus I've been doing the 8 minute ab video on YouTube. Yesterday I took Jack on a run and then did an intense weight lifting workout. I think I deserve this day of rest! But tomorrow I will work hard on the burpee challenge.

On an unrelated note, I did some light shopping yesterday! I picked up a very cute denim shirt dress for $17. I've never worn a shirt dress, and I've never worn denim aside from jeans. I'm completely in love with it!

Happy Father's Day

I love this picture of my dad. My niece snapped it last Thanksgiving. He looks like a giant perched on top of the tiny fireplace.

I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day!

A Long And Arduous Task

I have fond memories from my childhood of flipping through old photo albums. When my parents got married. My first day of school. Family vacations. All sorts of embarrassing baby pictures. My siblings and I would look at the pictures and reminisce on good times, or fill in the blank for things we didn't quite remember. I especially loved the old pictures. My favorite albums were from before my brother was born and before I was born. Life before me was so intriguing.

This is most of my family, plus my sister's husband. My oldest sister is
missing from this photo. I wish I had my childhood pictures to show
here instead.

Last night I spent an hour sorting through hundreds upon hundreds of pictures on my computer. I've been so haphazard with uploading and organizing in the past several months. Nothing after October of last year was sorted in any sensible fashion. This afternoon I spent a good three hours uploading the pictures to the Walgreen's website and selecting pictures for printing. Tomorrow I can pick up my prints, and put together my album. 

Many people I've talked to think making a photo album is such an old thing to do, or else they think photo albums are good for when children are around. I'd like to start making photo albums now so my children can see what life was like before them, just as I always wanted to see.

On Tonight's Menu

Taco salad!

Is it true Mexican food? Not even close

It was a very bare-bones taco salad. My boyfriend is on a rather restrictive diet so meals I cook for him are free of starch, gluten, wheat, dairy, and a few other items. That list automatically excludes tortillas. I had actually just learned to make homemade tortillas about a month ago. They were delicious! But I won't be making them at home for a while.

For a base we used diced roma tomatoes and shredded lettuce. I then shredded some imitation cheddar cheese. It's almond-based and really delicious. I couldn't tell the difference! The meat is just regular grass-fed ground beef. I used my own blend of seasonings: 2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp cumin, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Goal update: so far this week I've done nothing to work towards my goals. I intended to go for a run today,  but after a trip to the dentist I was absolutely not in the mood. I need to work harder for the rest of the week!

Living Room Makeover

I finally have pictures of the living room!

The completed hallway

Full shot of the room

So many changes from the awful yellow before! I'm not particularly fond of the couches, and neither is the boyfriend. The dogs have done some damage to them, and we're looking to replace the couches soon.  Now to look closer at some details.

I received these elephants from my Secret Santa in a gift exchange. I absolutely love them!

Elephants on the front door

Close-up of an elephant

I picked up the coffee table for $50 off of craigslist. There are a few scratches and dings but I absolutely love the antique detailing. I want to refinish it this summer, but first need to determine how to maintain the marbled finish. 

The chess set comes from my grandparents. I don't think I've ever played a game on it, but I like to leave it out on the table.

When we were in Mexico, we picked up a few items for decoration. There are two fish bone Buddha statues on the window sill. We also have a checkered blue blanket for snuggling.

We got these at market in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Price
negotiations were interesting to watch! Of course I don't
speak enough Spanish to participate

Last summer I found an antique mirror on craigslist. It has never been hung and is currently lurking somewhere in the basement. I think it would look perfect at the end of the hallway. The walls are very bare so I've been keeping my eye out for some decoration. My sister is painting me something for my birthday. I can't wait to see the finished product!

You can see the old yellow reflected here

Goal Evaluation

I want to do a quick check-in for my 5 mini-goals of the week.

First up was 'recycle old electronics.' Done! My boyfriend told me of this website Gazelle. All I had to do was list what electronics I had and what condition they are in. If the items are in good enough condition, Gazelle will pay for them. If not, Gazelle will still recycle the items for free. Since I had a water-destroyed cell phone, non-working ipod, and an outdated LG Rumor I didn't get any money back. It is still nice to know that they were recycled, though.

Up next: 'finish skirt project.' Um, about that...I think I made this goal too broad. Since I wrote 'finish skirt project' I felt intimidated and as if I had to do the entire thing in one sitting. This will continue on to next week's list, though in less broad terms.

'Register for classes.' Done! After meeting with my academic adviser on Tuesday I spent some time picking out classes. Then on Wednesday morning I registered. I'm taking Intro to Statistical Math, Sociological Theory, Latin America and US History, and Anthropology and Contemporary World Problems. I'm excited for all of them!

Number four was 'go for a run three times.' I am proud to say I achieved this one. If you had asked me one month ago to run three times per week I would have laughed. But today I ran for one mile with no breaks or walking. I'm definitely keeping this goal on my list for the next several months.

Finally, I had 'paint the hallway.' I posted about this one earlier this week. Unfortunately, I don't have good pictures of the room yet. However, I do have a picture of my dogs on a couch.

Fresh Coat Of Paint

As soon as I moved in to my boyfriend's house I got an itch to paint the living room. For some reason the previous homeowners thought that a 1970s style yellow would be a lovely choice. It made me want to vomit. After months of pestering I got Xavier to agree to a color, but it wasn't until January that I had a chance to actually paint. I painted the bulk of the room back then, but had to leave the hallway yellow. I ran out of painting time before work, and Xavier complained about the paint smell. He requested that I wait until I would be able to open some windows for ventilation.

Before. I hate the yellow

So today I painted the hallway.

It took me at least an hour to clean the walls and tape off trim and fixtures. The hallway is only 17 feet long, but there are six doors, two outlets, a thermostat, and some odd electric fixture that I can't identify. Then the painting process took me two and a half hours. Phew. I'm too tired to take pictures now, and the living room is a mess anyway. I will try to post some pictures soon. 

Here's a taste of the new living room

My five mini goals of the week are almost complete! I'm going on my third run of the week tomorrow (though I did jog as part of my workout tonight) and then I just need to finish my skirt. I'm not sure if that will be done by the end of the week. 

My First Mile

Last night I downloaded the Endomondo sports tracking app for Android. It allows you to track time spent and calories burned on dozens of different activities like running, hiking, kayaking, aerobics, walking, weight lifting, etc. I plan on using it primarily to track my progress in running. The app uses GPS to track the route and determine distance.

Sample of what the app looks like

And guess what? Today I ran my first mile since middle school. 

For some people that is just a warm up. But for me that is a huge accomplishment.

I focused on my breathing and was very careful with my posture. Unlike the past two times out, I didn't feel a tightness in my breathing at the end. My legs were more sore than anything else! I did some stretching to cool down afterward. Just three days in and I'm seeing significant improvement. I know that it is not much, but it's enough to keep me motivated.

Today's Adventures

This afternoon I had a meeting with my academic advisor to figure out my plan through graduation. I picked out all my courses, decided on a minor, and learned that I do not, in fact, have to take pre-calc as a prerequisite for other sociology courses. Instead I can take an easier math class like statistics or algebra. Woohoo! However, I'm still waiting to be authorized to register. I'm not sure if I'm waiting on my advisor or on the registrar. I need to make some phone calls tomorrow.

While I was on campus I had lunch with my good friend Joe. I haven't seen him in a while, so it was good to catch up.

I also headed over to the mall. I found a cute pair of shorts, some sunglasses, a blue tank top with silk flowers, and an orange cardigan. I also picked up a belt for a dress I bought a few weeks ago (on consignment for $10.  It's a Banana Republic dress). Upon trying the dress with the belt I decided it looks awful. I'll be returning the belt.

I adore those shoes!

Don't I look so cute with my face cut off?

I then went to the local co-op. My boyfriend has gone on a gluten and wheat free diet, so I decided to find some specialty flour and cookies for him. Originally I was looking for almond flour but the manager told me they no longer carry it. It's expensive, perishable, and not that popular. Instead I found a Breads From Anna bread mix that is gluten, wheat, soy, nut, and rice free. It tastes delicious!

Shop for the bread mix and many more here.

A Second Run

I went out for my second run today. Once again I started off with a brisk walk to get my body moving. The initial walk was a little bit shorter this time since I was walking faster. As I started to run I focused on my breathing. It stopped me from thinking things like 'I'm hot! I'm tired! I'm sore!'

I set smal goals for myself. Make it to the next mailbox, no, the next one. How about that driveway? I've found that while the idea behind the Couch to 5k program is good, it is rather pesky to keep track of seconds while running. I ran as I could, and took breaks as I need them. I was only outside for a little more than 15 minutes, but of that I ran for about 10 minutes. That's a significant improvement from Friday!

I really was craving McDonald's earlier. However, I stayed strong and resisted the urge. Instead I ate a tuna sandwich and grapes.

Finally, I've started a list of 5 mini goals of the week in the sidebar. I can already cross off one!

Out For A Run

For the first time in an unknown amount of years I went for a run. Me. Running.

I abhor running. Anytime I've ran in the past--even in the basement playing with the dogs--I'd become short of breath within seconds. However, I know how good it is for the body. It's great cardio, burns a lot of calories, boosts metabolism, and so much more. 

A few weeks ago I ran across this program called Couch to 5k. Its goal is to get even the laziest of couch potatoes running a 5k in just 9 weeks. The first week of the program starts with a brisk 5-minute walk followed by alternating 60 seconds of running with 90 seconds of walking. Well, that certainly sounded easy to me! 

So today I laced up my running shoes (I found them on sale for $60 off the retail price) and went out.

It was not easy. I ended up being outside for 25 minutes, with sunscreen of course, but only actually ran for 5 minutes. The good news is that I didn't feel too winded. I wasn't gasping for air or breathing too hard. However, I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my stomach. I'm wondering if perhaps I drank too much water before going out. 

I didn't accomplish the goal set out by the program, but I did accomplish my goal of actually running for a change. On Sunday I'll go back out and try the program again.

In case you're interested, here is the link to the program.

Starting My First* Sewing Project

*First not including the pillow I made when I was 12


A few weeks ago I went to the fabric store with my mom. Oh, boy, how time flew in there! According to my dad's watch (he sat in the car, of course) we spent right around two hours. My mom picked up some notions to replace her aging things as well as some fabric and thread for a tote bag.

I hit up the patterns and found three that I loved. Two were from Vogue, one for a skirt and one for a dress, both on sale for $3.99 I also found a beginner's pattern from Simplicity for a simple elastic-waist skirt. I decided to make that my first project, so moved on to get fabric. My mom spotted a gorgeous black and white fabric that I immediately fell in love with. Alas, she claimed it for herself. I ended up finding a cute grey-patterned fabric instead.

A snippet of my fabric

Admittedly, I've been procrastinating. I'm scared to mess up. I'm scared that it will be hard and that my dreams of making dresses will be crushed. I'll never know if I don't try, right?

So I'm trying.

Today I laid out my fabric and cut out the pattern pieces. I had a little panic moment where I thought that the pieces wouldn't all fit on the fabric I bought (even though I bought the amount that the pattern suggested!). One piece strays into the white area at the top of the fabric. My mom assured me that because of seam allowances it won't actually show in the skirt. Whew.

I didn't get far today. But at least I did get started!

My progress thus far

Something I Haven't Done In A While

In the past few days I've had someone ask me (several times) 'why aren't you blogging?!' It has been a very busy semester for me. Between work and class I didn't have much free time. Now its summer, so I have no excuse! I'm going to try for daily posts again.

As of yesterday afternoon I am officially a University of Iowa student (again). Last May I was dismissed from the college due to a very poor GPA. I definitely deserved it. My time management was awful. I worked far too many hours and never used a planner so I would often forget about assignments or tests until the morning of. Since then I attended a community college where my GPA was significantly better. Now in the fall I'll be returning to the university to finish my BA in Sociology.

Planning has helped me tremendously this past year

I've learned a lot in the past year. First, I learned to say 'no' to my boss. In years past I would never turn down shifts or opportunities to make more money. I was living in an apartment by myself and therefore needed the cash. Now I have a financial safety net set up, so I'm not afraid to say 'no' to work for a few days or a week. School is far more important than pizza delivery! Second, I've learned how to use a planner. My Moleskine notebook goes everywhere with me. Every single assignment, work shift, and appointment gets written down. The opposite page is blank to allow for notes. I can write down assignment descriptions, to-do lists, and little reminders. It's great!

There is still one thing I might struggle with this semester: math.

Twice now I've taken--and failed--the same Elementary Functions class, which is just a fancy name for Pre-Calc. My advisor at the community college told me it wasn't necessary for a BA in Sociology, so I chose not to retake it there. However, I learned that it is required at the university as a prerequisite for the Sociological research courses. Great!

Courtesy of www.amazon.com, of course

See, I failed Elementary Functions not just because I skipped class. I'm just really, really bad at math. It's never been my forte. I can trace that back to fourth grade when I struggled with fractions. But I must take this class! So what am I going to do? Study, of course!

I ordered a book this morning to review algebra. I'll work through it over the next month or so, and then move on to a trigonometry review book. Also, the University of Iowa has a math lab and tutors. I definitely plan on utilizing those this upcoming semester!

Back In The Game

I'm really quite proud of myself.

For the past week I've been keeping very close track of every dollar earned and every dollar spent. I tried my hardest to avoid my usual traps such as fast food and beauty products. I also used coupons and bought most of my items on sale at the grocery store. By doing such I managed to save quite a load of cash! Hopefully I can keep this trend up. After all the financial pitfalls I've faced so far this year my bank account is really hurting.

Also, for delectable fudge brownies try this recipe. I've fallen in love!

Apple Pie

Yesterday was my boyfriend's birthday. I know he isn't a fan of cake so I asked him what he would like to eat. Why, pie, of course!

The finished pie!

I haven't made pie of any sort since high school. Last time I tried I used pre-made filling with homemade crust. The crust was really bland. This time I went for homemade filling with pre-made crust. It turned out pretty darn good!

For the filling I peeled six granny smith apples and cut them into small slivers. The dogs were begging at my feet so I fed them some spare slices and parts of the peel. We have some apple trees in the backyard so in the warmer months the dogs are always eating fallen apples. They can't resist! Once the apples were all peeled and sliced I added about 3/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg to the apples.

I used a deep-dish frozen pie crust to save on time. To top the pie I cut the edges off of a second pie crust and brushed it with a mix of rice milk and sugar. I tend to use rice milk when I bake because we always have so much on hand. I baked the pie at 350 F for an hour and a half.

A closer look at the pie. Sorry it's so dark.

It turned out pretty yummy! I don't like how the collapsed the top of the pie was, but the filling was delicious and we both really like the flavor of the crust.

Losing Progress

I feel like over the past few weeks I have become significantly less flexible. Now, this is completely understandable if I were a couch potato. However, I have been working out quite often. I have three-hour long dance classes twice per week, and also try to go to the rec center on campus or work out at home two or three other times per week.

From stock.xchng

Despite all this I have actually gained a few pounds (I don't think it's muscle mass, either. My tum tum sticks out quite a bit) and can no longer do movements that once came so easy to me. I feel a definite tightness in all of my movements, ranging from the mermaid pose to a simple standing pike pose. The thought of attempting the splits in this condition makes me cringe!

I wonder if this is the result of one of two things: a) not doing enough post-workout stretching. I made an effort to stretch more afterwards tonight. b) not working on my flexibility often enough. Surprisingly my dance classes don't have much focus on flexibility so I'm really left on my own to work on stretching. This means I only do intense flexibility work two or three times per week (when I'm on top of my game, that is).

On the other hand I am seeing significant progress in my ab strength. At the beginning of the semester I struggled with the series of 110 crunches. Now I can breeze through the 220 series of crunches and still be ready for more.

Guess What I Finally Did??

After putting it off for weeks due to a lack of free time I finally got around to setting up my sewing machine this afternoon! I guess if I had opened the box before going to the fabric store I would have known that the machine comes with bobbins. I read through the entire manual very carefully and played with all the buttons to know how things work. I started winding a bobbin only to realize that the very cheap thread I had bought for sewing my ballet shoes ages back kept fraying, tangling, and breaking. I guess I'll have to go to the fabric store tomorrow for thread.

So much clutter!

Now since I have so many little accessories I need a way to store and organize everything. I think once I get new thread tomorrow I'll try to make a simple bag to throw everything in. I found a site that has hundreds of bag tutorials ranging from complex clutches to simple beginner bags for people like me. Take a look at it here.

A Healthy Trip To The Grocery Store

It seems as if two of my goals are incongruent: saving money and cooking healthy meals.

I went to the grocery store tonight and picked up a few items. The total came to $24.05. How? I'll break it down here.

Kashi toasted bery cereal: $4.49
Sun Chips: $3.79
Bananas: $1.55
Asparagus: $2.75
Raspberries: $4.89
Red grapes: $6.58

We clearly love our fruits and veggies. But they're so expensive! In years past I always said 'well, fruits aren't THAT expensive. You can get bananas for just 60 cents per pound!' However, when buying so much produce in such quantities it does add up quick. I've heard that Aldi sells produce for cheap (at a loss to the store, actually) but that the quality can be really awful depending on the day of the week.

Tonight I made a wonderful dinner of ham steak and asparagus. It was really fast to prepare and super delicious!

Valentine's Day Part 2

Often the meaning of Valentine's Day gets diluted. It's usually passed off as a commercial holiday, something that's created by Hallmark and candy companies to make money. Those in relationships become tense wondering what gift to buy that is special enough—diamonds, candy, flowers, stuffed teddy bears—what is grand enough to show one's love? The single group dismisses it entirely, or proclaims that it's really Single's Awareness Day. Valentine's Day is a true holiday, but all too often everyone forgets the simplicity behind it: love. It's not just love for a boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse. It's love for every relationship in our lives. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brother, grandparents, and best friends.

I just want to take a few minutes to recognize how much I love everyone in my family.

To my dad. I appreciate all the help you've given me in coping with the aftermath of my accident. A few days after we were on the phone and I was very upset. You said, 'cheer up, sweetie.' That simple phrase made me cry, and thinking about it now I could swear someone is chopping onions next to me. I know we rarely hug, and I don't know the last time we said 'I love you'...but I do love you. You're a wonderful dad. You're my dad.

To my mom. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of us sitting together in your office, eating popcorn, and watching Roseanne. Story time meant so much to me. Hopefully we can do it again soon.

To my sister. I tell you everything. You tell me everything. We can be on the phone for an hour doing nothing but washing dishes and folding laundry. I may complain about it eating up my minutes but you know I love talking to you.

To my oldest sister. I feel like I haven't been a good sister to you in the past few years. I only see you on special occasions. I never talk to you on the phone. I want to change that. You're a wonderful woman. You're amazing for raising four beautiful children. I love you, and I want to be close like we were as kids.

To my brother. You were the best little brother a girl could ask for. Just a few days ago I was thinking about all the crazy games we played as kids. I love you. Though I'll still kick your butt at Crash Team Racing. 

Valentine's Day Part 1

The bouquet I got yesterday! Please pardon the messy kitchen. 

My boyfriend gave me a bouquet of roses yesterday afternoon. Mixed in with the bouquet is one white calla lily which is my favorite flower. Tonight when I get home from dance class we're going to have a spaghetti dinner.

It doesn't sound like much, but it is quite special for us. Why? Last year he gave me the exact same bouquet and made me spaghetti dinner. I still have the bouquet sitting on the mantle downstairs! 

The bouquet I got last year. Some of the flowers were too wilted when I got around
to drying, but I managed to save about half of them! 

I Guess It's An 'Easy' Way To Make Cash

Today I got my first bit of income since my accident. Since I have a new car I was able to get back to work delivering pizzas. I'm hoping to find a new job soon because I really don't want to put my new car through the stresses of delivery. Also, I made some cash by selling my old car to a salvage yard.

My old 97 Civic. Poor thing!

Here's the view from the back. The clothes I had in the trunk ended up scattered on the highway. 

For the past several months I had toyed around with the idea of buying a new car. When I set my new year's resolution to save money I had 'save for a car' in mind. However, I wasn't planning on making the leap for another six months to a year. See, I have a nasty confession: I was pretty reckless with my spending in the past several months. I spent a lot of money on nonessentials such as nail polish and takeout food. As a result I had no money saved up for this. The down payment plus cost of insurance hit me pretty hard.

Now I'm left saving in reverse. Instead of cutting back on spending, saving up a couple grand, and then buying a car, I am now forced to cut corners on spending wherever possible to keep my bank account in tact while building up savings for potential disasters in the future.

This entire ordeal reiterates the importance of having emergency funds stowed away.

Teaching My Own Workout Class

The dance classes I'm taking this semester are one-level-suits-classes. There's an even mix of true beginners, people who have some cheer or minimal dance experience, and a few of us who have danced for years before. I wouldn't call myself skilled or experienced in any sense. While I have had a few years of experience I still focus on basic technique rather than complex choreography.

My boyfriend makes fun of me for 'only' using 5 lb weights.

On the first day of class a fellow classmate noticed I had prior experience...and asked me to help him!

So yesterday we met at the recreation center for a workout. I led him through a series of crunches, push ups, yoga poses, ab exercises, and dance technique. I was sweating by the end of it, and am still feeling the burn today. A few times other students came into the area and asked if we were holding a class. This led me to think of how much fun it would be to teach my own class. I'm not certified in anything but I definitely think I have the experience to lead other students. Maybe I could recruit some more workout buddies to join us?

One Less Thing To Stress About

My new car!! I did not take this picture. I got it from the dealer's website.

After an intense four days of car shopping I made my purchase today. I got a 2007 Honda Civic LX. My old car was 1997 Honda Civic and I have been driving a 2011 Honda Civic as a rental. You could say I'm a bit loyal to the brand!

I get to take home my new car tomorrow. I can't wait!