Forget You Grey Winter Days!

Here we are, trucking through these chilly days of winter, counting mintues until fun in the sun. For those of us lucky enough to live in milder weather, we get treats of accasional t-shirt and short going out for a walk/run days. Those of you in the harshest of winter locales- here is a little tool that can help you plan to get up and off the couch on those frigid days. No matter where you live you always feel better when you get your heart pumping. Grab a neighbor or pal who will hold you to showing up at the gym, or that walk.

For those of you who might still have trouble getting motivated? I like the word revenge. Not to be evil, or cynical, but the best "revenge" to all those daily stresses or hard times we might go through is looking (and feeling) good.

Extra bonus? You'll look great in that itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polk-a-dot bikini (or Speedo) by summer. Yeah baby!

Just Jump

Do you absolutely hate your job? I mean hate it? Do you feel sick to your stomach when you wake up in the morning or all day on Sunday because Monday morning is approaching? Do you feel like even a simple "Thank you" once in a while might actually keep you going back even though you hate it- but you still don't even get that?

If the answer is yes to all these. You should quit as soon as humanly possible.

Seriously. For your health.

No, you shouldn't quit so you can lay around all day and eat Bon Bons or hit the beach or hang with your buddies. No, every day at work cannot be perfect and some days and tasks totally suck. Sometimes you have to push through and there's a learning curve and it's frustrating. That's OK. You should however, never feel so bad that you want to scream, punch someone or cry your eyes out before your day hits 5:01pm.

I never wanted this Blog, or my writing to become all hippy dippy or some theme of "butterflies and rainbows" or nothing ranting about how to just do this and that and all in life will be perfect. I also didn't want this to become some sort of personal diary from me. (How annoying would that be?) But if I could go to that annoying place, just for this entry then go back to the good stuff, I'd like to share something to liberate myself:

I have been in the worst personal hell of my life the past couple months. (I won't go into detail, but yes- it includes tears by the millions, heartache, weight-loss, sleepless nights, you name it.) It has completely and totally ransacked and changed my life- and for the better. I honestly never knew the depths of despair I could feel as a human until recently. Thankfully, it is all so I will have a more balanced life moving forward. I could go on for hours (god help us all!:) but here's a huge lesson I have learned that I want to share in case you don't know this already; You will always be lead to what's right in your life if you listen to your heart and spend time doing what you love. You will always shine when you are happy and that's where opportunity comes. Believe that.

I thought I understood, believed and lived that before and unfortunately I didn't. Or maybe I was just scared. Either way, do yourself and all who love and cherish you a favor. Make your heart happy. Only then can you be the best mother, sister, brother, friend, neighbor...

I walked into one of my two jobs today and told them thank you, but this is just not the right fit for me. (Thankfully I have another job I love.) I then immediately felt like I had my health, my soul, my heart, my life all back in one minute. Some people feel stripped of all these things for years and years before speaking up. I have been guilty of this too at times. But what's it all for if it's making you unhealthy or miserable? Isn't there another way/option? I know this isn't easy. You might have to make a serious game-plan, downsize, move in with the in-laws, feel lonely, cry a lot, not go out for pizza for the next year-whatever. But if you are happy when you wake up in the morning where you are- you are living. That is worth any sacrifice. I had to learn the hard way and will continue to learn. Whatever timeline it takes you, if you can't quit or make a change in a day, gather everyone around you that loves you and figure out what works for you and then jump. Really jump. It might be something other than a job for you. Whatever it is- JUST JUMP. Jump into a life you deserve, whatever shape or form that is or means to you.

Thank you to any and everyone that has ever been in my life and helped me to get to this moment. I would never be here if it weren't for you. I am forever in your debt.

Now, back to the fun stuff...

185k To Cafayete

I snapped this photo on a bike ride I took to the middle of nowhere a few weeks ago.

I actually found the Blue Lollipop Road myself. And I wasn't even trying. So cool.

As our friend Buzz Lightyear says; "To infinity... and beyond!"

Valentine's Day Rock

Who better to quote on schmoopy day than Aerosmith?

"Falling in love is so hard on the knees."

Forget You Italy! (As promised) Continued...

Pizza in Argentina

Sorry Italy, I might have a new favorite.

Available at JFK Airport

These are potato chips.

Gross.

Quitcherbitchin' And Get Creative

Hard times, mortgage crisis, failing economy, blah blah blah.

This guy got creative and scored a job. 

Recently I marched into a bunch of places I thought I might like to work and just laid it out. "Are you hiring?- I am ready to bust butt." No perusing the want ads, Craigslist or posting a resume on Monster.com. Just walking in and going for it.

The sandwich board guy? He showed up. Me? I showed up. This guy and I? We probably aren't even that cool, we're not super-heros or even a big deal. We are just regular people. We are also on the complete opposite ends of age, gender, experience, education and even geography. We still both got jobs in no time. (I was offered six actually and in only six days. I even cried at one of my interviews and still was offered the job.)

Whatever works for you, figure out some creative way to market yourself. Get out of the house and do something. Put on a monkey suit, get a mega phone-whatev. Lay it all out there. It totally works. You just have to "show up."

I mean, you could just leave fate up to that crisp white resume you left somewhere and wait for a phone call, but don't be surprised if your phone never rings. 

I Am So Not Offended

I don't care what anyone says. When you are somewhere in the south and any man or woman says to you; "You have a great day Darlin'/Sweetie Pie/Sugar" or "Thank you Doll" -it's totally charming and you can't not smile. Particularly if there is a nice little twang accent that goes along with it. 

Oh those little things I never thought I'd love so much...

Sorry Mom, I'm Talking To Strangers

It's pretty easy to be nice, right? So strike up a conversation with someone who might look like they're feeling ignored. Say thank you and really mean it. Send a smile across the room. Don't have a motive other than to be decent.

We've got to believe that even our smallest interactions have potential to significantly impact each other. We never know what the other is going through or where each of us have come from. Someone could be having the worst day of their life and need your sprinkle of fairy dust, in whatever form that is.

It doesn't take much effort at all. Perhaps by simply being nice or giving that extra smidge of energy to a stranger,  we can start some kind of kindness revolution. 

After finishing rolling your eyes at me for being fluffy and cheesy, please join me in attempting to put a smile on someone's face for no reason. It is so fun.

Go Daddy! Don't Puke!

Raleigh, NC. 

Krispy Kreme Challenge 2009.

What's better than a 70-degree and sunny day in February? Running a couple miles, shoving in a dozen hot-glazed and running a couple more miles with 5,000 friends for a good cause of course!

And you thought your Saturday was fun...

Welcome To Farmers Markets In The South

Happy Public Toilet Paper

TTAA (Things that are awesome)

Hot showers. Being able to throw your toilet paper in the toilet. The beach. Potato chips. Strangers who smile and say "Hi!" Fresh fruit. Coffee. Warm cozy blankets. Random conversations with 22 year old boys who actually seem really grown up. Supportive and helpful friends. Giant burritos. Full out belly-laughing. Sunny days-even when it's cold. Free WIFI. Hippies. Journals. The first black President. Flip flops. Love. Driving with bare feet.

Go ahead. Make my day.

Hold the door open for someone the next time you walk in a door anywhere. Wait to hold it open for a few extra seconds if a stranger is several steps away, especially if it's really early in the morning, or cold, even when you're running really late going in to grab your coffee on the way to work. 

I find the look on peoples faces when you do this is as if you have given them a million dollars. 

One effortless and tiny thing you can do to make someone's day. The best part? It will make your day.

Yay.

Ahhh... Sundays

A Starbucks grande white mocha has 510 calories and 24 grams of fat. Too much you say? Eh- who cares. It's Sunday. You're relaxing. Drink up.

*The New York Times nickname; "The Gray Lady"

*Any month beginning on a Sunday will contain a Friday the 13th. 

Boo.

*6% of American workers call in sick the day after the Super Bowl. (Yes, keg-stand are fun, but maybe try one less this year? You probably don't need any more reason to give your boss to want to fire you in this struggling economy.)

*Super Bowl Sunday is #8 in alcohol sales for holidays/special days of the year behind Easter and Fathers Day. Apparently Dad's and Granny's all over the U.S. are throwing back some serious beers and mimosas. (And you football fans thought you were partiers.)

*The Arizona Cardinals originally played in Chicago, then St. Louis, then finally to Phoenix and were not named after the bird. The original team (pre-NFL) purchased used maroon jerseys from the University of Chicago to wear. When someone scoffed that the jerseys were "faded red", team owner Chris O'Brian countered that they were "cardinal red".