freedom

Financial freedom, that is. The other day, I followed this advice:

Instead of spending the money on something frivolous, I happily and proudly made a large payment on a credit card to officially pay it off in full. By doing so, it meant Cory and I are debt free!! Well, technically, we still have some debt... our car payments and our mortgage. But that. is. it. It is such an incredible feeling! To have no debt from our wedding and honeymoon less than a year ago (that ended up costing much more than anticipated), no debt after having to pay a large amount back for taxes this year (oh the joys of being a business owner!), no student loans, and no credit cards with a balance, makes me one proud young lady. This is something I've/we've been striving for for the last few years so to finally be at this point in our lives is a huge relief, especially since we are new homeowners.

Being new homeowners also means there are a lot of expenses involved. And they aren't necessarily "fun" things that are needed. Boo. And, they aren't cheap. Double-boo. We are prepared and hoping to do most of the projects with the money we have available, without going into debt...

1. Gutters. Seriously, these should come with the house when you buy it!


2. Underground fence for Lucy. 
Although this doesn't keep out the scary coyotes from the back yard at night, which means I'll continue to worry for my dog's life. I have so much as googled how to keep coyotes from eating dogs and one thing is wolf urine. Sign me up! I'm totally going to do it. Cory things I'm nuts, but I don't care. :) Did you know that coyotes will/can jump an eight foot fence or dig under it if it wants what's on the other side bad enough? They are not nice.

3. Landscaping.
Plants, trees, edging, mulch, rock, retaining wall.... yikes. We want to do it right the first time so aren't going to skimp on this project. Cory plans to do it all himself. I know he'll do a great job (as the perfectionist that he is) but I hope he knows what he's getting himself into!

4. Spinklers. 
We've been told this is a must and we'll be glad we did it.

5. Deck. 
Sadly, we probably won't be able to build one this year. It's going to kill me to look out to our backyard and not be able to go out onto a deck all summer!

6. Central vacuum.
We had this in our old place and I'm struggling to get used to a regular vacuum at the new place. (call me spoiled) Having to unplug it 45 times while vacuuming is not my idea of tolerable. Central vac will make life easy and vacuuming fun again!

7. Crown molding. 
Something I definitely want to do asap and it actually will be fairly inexpensive. We'll start by doing our main level and then eventually do upstairs etc.

Other projects (some considered fun!) for the future:
1. Change almost all light fixtures (one is done so far—more on this later).
2. Ceiling fan in living room instead of ceiling light.
3. Paint. Paint. Paint.
4. New mirror in 1/2 bath. (and in other bathrooms, actually)
5. Window treatments (have living room and guest bedroom done).
6. Shutters for windows by front door. Need asap!
7. New hardware on cupboards.
8. Firepit/patio.
9. Paint front door. (some type of reddish-magenta)
10. Hang pictures and all that good stuff. (it's so hard to decide where to hang things.)

There is always something to pay for, it seems, and it's really hard to get ahead. But I know that being debt free is a step in the right direction and I will thank myself for making that payment.

What am I going to do today that my future self will thank me for?

Bring Lucy for a walk.

What are you going to do?

weekly workout report.

I'm following suit with my fabulously inspiring sister, erin, and doing a weekly workout blog post too. :) Although it may not be much, it's something, and something is better than nothing! And, if I do a weekly workout report, chances are, I'll feel more obligated to get a workout in. So, without further ado, my weekly workout report—

Monday | April 30, 2012
Tonight I worked at a Ducks Unlimited banquet at my uncle-in-law's restaurant so was on my feet selling tickets to a bunch of men, who will drop hundreds of dollars on stuff I wouldn't spend $5 on, from 4:00-9:30p. That was considered my workout of the day. :)

Tuesday | May 1, 2012
Run/walk
60 minutes | treadmill
4.5 miles
While watching part of one of my favorite movies, P.S. I Love You.

Wednesday | May 2, 2012
Run/walk
60 minutes | treadmill
4.17 miles (less running than Tuesday!)
While watching the rest of the movie.
+
casual 8.85 mile bike ride with Cory around the neighborhoods, paths, and lakes in Woodbury. I love these rides! And I love living here.
+
Quick 15 minute walk around the neighborhood with Lucy.

Being able to see things like this while biking makes it all worthwhile!

Thursday | May 3, 2012
Friday | May 4, 2012
Not sure what happened, but I did not get a proper workout in either of these days.. Boo.

Saturday | May 5, 2012
CrossFit Woodbury. My first time. My neighbor, Michelle, has been trying to convince me to go now for about a month and this Saturday I had no excuses. As nervous as I was that I was going to fail miserably, she assured me not to worry and that people don't judge. CrossFit is all about doing what you can do and not worrying about what others are doing, and everyone is super encouraging and welcoming. We started with a quick warm-up.. arm circles, stretches, high knees, butt kicks, bear crawl across the gym and back (this is when I started to get warm!), and six sprints across the gym and back.

Then the WOD (workout of the day):
10 pull-ups (modified version if need be. and yes, it was needed.)
20 push-ups (on my knees, yes.)
10 jumping squats (no modifications here!)
20 sit-ups (here either)

12 minutes | as many rounds as you can do

I did, as it's described in CrossFit, 3 rounds + 2 sit-ups. Which means, I did 4 rounds of everything except only 2 push-ups in that 4th round. (make sense?) I surprisingly was not left in everyone's dust and kept up pretty well!

After the WOD, I definitely was feeling a little light-headed and just off. Having conversation was somewhat difficult. And on the drive home, I embarrassingly had to ask Michelle to pull over because I was pretty sure I might puke. Although, I didn't until I got home. Yes, I puked. I like to think it wasn't only because of the workout, but because the water in my water bottle had a funky taste that messed with my mind+stomach and I had a couple drinks the night before(?).

Needless to say, I was one sore woman yesterday!! It hurts so good. :) Still a little sore today but at least I can walk like a normal human being again.

I really do want to go back to CrossFit and become a member, however I'm weighing my options. I also really want a CorePower Yoga membership and unfortunately, I don't have hundreds of dollars to throw at gyms just to workout ever month. Neither membership is cheap so I need to decide which is a better fit for my life right now...

Sunday | May 6, 2012
Does doing figure eights around the kitchen island and living room coffee table 50 times count as a workout? I was so full from spaghetti dinner, I had to move. I knew I should have just gone on a quick walk around the neighborhood but we didn't get home until nearly 10p so I just didn't feel like it. I had no idea how full I was until I finished eating. Big mistake. I hate when that happens!!

Today's the start of a new week! And you know it's going to be a good week when you wake up to this next to your pillow... :)

I wouldn't trade this dog for the world!

gone fishing.

If you are my friend on facebook, chances are you've seen a couple other photos like this. Today Lucy is gone fishing. With a little motivation, it's my plan to have a weekly post for this Lucy "series". I need to come up with a name for it.. Any suggestions?

choose wisely.

In the midst of everything going on with my career lately, I was pleasantly surprised (and convinced these things must be real) with what the little piece of paper read after pulling it from my fortune cookie. "Opportunities abound to enhance your career. Choose wisely!" Could it be? Days before this happened, I saw a job listing for Target Corp. that I thought (and think) could be a pretty amazing fit for me. Well, my stupid little piece of paper, written by God knows who and shoved inside a gross fortune cookie, reminded me not to give up. And gave me hope that things just may work out.

Then, a day later I was contacted by a previous employer who went on to rave about my work and who I am as an individual before offering me a job. Holy crap. I have options! There is somebody out there who wants me. Who wants my talent.

It's easy to lose sight of your own talent and worth, especially when someone (I won't name names!) rips your work apart and tells you it's worthless. But all it takes is one take-out order of sushi, a lucky fortune cookie, and one person who tells you you're great to lift you back up and give you hope. :)

what just happened?

Have you ever cried until your mascera was gone — your waterproof mascera? I'm such a crybaby, I know. Words that ran marathons in my mind today: blindsided, lost, bad-timing, omg, upside down, change-of-plans, is this real life?, oh shit.

Today the rug got pulled out from under me. The last month proved life to be nothing like I had adapted to over the last two years. However, I have become a pretty firm believer that everything works out how it's intended to work out. I've been struggling to stay positive (this too shall change) when I feel like the only way to go is backwards. Reality hasn't set in yet, but it will, and with time and more thought, I know this negativity will turn positive. My career is about the change in a big way (no, I didn't get fired although I would imagine it feels similar) and I'm not only crossing every possible body part I can, I'm wishing, hoping and praying that I figure out a way to succeed and do what I love. I have so many amazing ideas in my head, but it's executing them into becoming something substantial that is the obstacle. Good thing I have an incredibly wise husband with a good head on his shoulders to help and support me through it all.

In the meantime, instead of exercising and/or cleaning like a crazy-woman, I did what a any woman would do — enjoyed one glass of white wine and one glass of my favorite red wine (and so what, maybe I had a small ice cream cone too), with a good cousin-friend as moral support, while watching episodes of Saved by the Bell. After all, watching heartthrob, Zack Morris, can take a girl's mind off whatever is troubling her, even if it's for only 22 minutes at a time...

Oh, and having this furry little companion by my side helps too..

Another cousin-friend (my family is the best) posted this quote on facebook today which just so happened to fit perfectly into my day as well..

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

sweat.

It never fails that the small amount of work I have left to meet a deadline always takes ten times longer than anticipated. After working all day, quite literally, yesterday (8am-11pm... with a couple short facebook+pinterest breaks worked in there, naturally) I woke up again this morning to wrap up the rest. Um, "wrap up the rest" took all day. I had planned and hoped to go to a 4p yoga class which didn't happen, but was able to make it to the C1.5 class at 6:30. The extra five degrees hotter than the class I have been attending (making it 90ish degrees) successfully sweat the stress of the day right out of me! The salty-sweat-dripping-off-the-tip-of-my-nose-and-into-my-eyes-making-it-hard-to-see kind of sweat. And it. was. amazing. I did crow and wheel today, however, was unable to master the headstand. Obviously.

Tomorrow I'm attending a CPY Spin class, as a first-timer, with my sister. I have a feeling I'll get the chance to sweat the day right out of me again... yay!

Onto my better half.. The gloomy, misty, depressing morning didn't stop my husband from hopping on his bike to rock out a 22 miler! He asked me to go, which I didn't have any hesitation is answering with a: "no way, josé". I wasn't surprised when I saw him after his ride... My husband is so dirty.

Now it's 11:49p and I am still awake, but barely, and pretty soon will look like this if I don't go to bed:

This little furry-four-legged-half-human dog cracks me up on a daily basis! I laugh every time I look at these photos. If I laugh, they should at least make you smile. Enjoy. :)

 Showing her dentures!

Nighty night!

tastebuds.

I'm no Betty Crocker but must say, with the help of Pinterest, I may just have a shot at becoming her. Or at least find the motivation to whip up some delicious food. And whip of some delicious food is exactly what I've been doing the last few days, so I feel compelled to share with you in the form of pictures and words. 


Like a wise childhood friend once said, "Not everybody has the same tastebuds." (in response to mean little girls asking her how she could possibly like yogurt) You can take it or leave it, but I'm fairly certain that if you know good food at all, you'll like these recipes just as much as I do.


First up, Pesto+Gruyere Grilled Cheese on Sourdough. I saw a recipe similar that inspired me to get creative and this is what I got:

Ooooey gooooey goodness sitting on that plate. Trust me. You can make your own pesto (something I have never done) or just buy it pre-made. Little bit of that and some gruyere cheese between two pieces of sourdough, grilled to perfection. Make it as soon as you possible can. You won't be disappointed.


Next up, Quinoa Salad with Toasted Almonds.

The thyme and red pepper flakes were just the right spices to compliment the zucchini+quinoa+yellow pepper+toasted almond concoction. 


Now, if you're like me or 90% of the population, it's probably not unusual for you to have 3-5 overly ripe, gross looking bananas sitting on your counter. It drives me... bananas? In order to actually use (and not throw away) a couple of these bad boys, I made what could possibly be the most amazing thing you could make with a gross banana...


Banana Bars with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting


True, the whipped cream cheese frosting might be what makes it possible to eat half the pan in one sitting, but at least you got rid of some of those bananas while you were at it. Sorry I don't have a photo to show you. I was too busy cleaning out the bowl and licking the spatula in attempt to not waste any of the mouth-watering frosting.


Keeping things sweet, the next recipe is for Almond-Coconut Macaroons.


You can thank the great Martha Stewart for this one. I did modify the recipe to make it even better by dipping each macaroon in melted dark chocolate. How did Martha not think of doing that?

photo source: marthastewart.com

Last up, Baked Chicken Stuffed with Pesto and Cheese.


I don't think I flattened my chicken breasts enough so it was hard to actually roll them and the husband and I both felt it needed more of the pesto mixture inside. Other than that, my tastebuds were satisfied and I plan to make it again.


Here's a glimpse of what sometimes takes place while I'm busy cooking... She likes to observe and doesn't want to miss a beat. Can you blame the girl?