Thursday Things

I walked into the bathroom at work on Monday to find Paula Abdul’s face staring back at me from the cover of Ladies Home Journal. Someone had cleaned out their stockpile of magazines over the weekend and brought in some from 2008 and 2009 to give away. Coincidently, that is about the last time I even thought about Paula Abdul.
I am simultaneously struggling with wanting to write ALL THE POSTS to finding that I grapple with an intense dose of writer’s block that strikes the instant I sit down at the keyboard. Because, after all:

True story, Ernie! (Or computer, be that as it were.)

Fun fact: I want to be a published author one day. More than just news releases and stories I mean. I worry that I would go crazy being alone in my head all the time while my boo is at work, and I worry that I would have a hard time staying motivated.
I MIGHT get to go back to Washington, D.C. the week of Labor Day. One of our professors has a film documentary premiering there and it has the potential to be pretty big in the academic world (focusing on open access and the academic publishing industry). My boss told me today that I should go with him to facilitate interviews with big players in higher ed publishing. I’m crossing my fingers!
I am on the struggle bus with working out and getting into that routine. I ran a measly mile last night after work, which was something, but I am kicking myself for not being able to get up before work and getting my workout in. I just won’t do it after, but here I sit, at 3:15pm and my workout is NOT done yet. Le sigh.
I ran out of watermelon last night. I have been bringing it with my lunches for weeks now, and I miscalculated my grocery store trips and now I don’t have any and WAH!
Ok, I need to get back to work now. Enough time wasted!

Tuesday Things

Rio and I ran a very sweaty 3 miles this morning. Check out my dewy glow! At 6am it was already 70 degrees and super humid from the thunderstorm we had overnight. The heavens opened up again about an hour ago and we received more much-needed rain. But now the humidity level is WAY UP!
How great is that shirt? My friend gave it to me while I was back in Nebraska earlier this month. It is ironic because Lincoln didn’t drink, and I really don’t either. But I can appreciate the humor.
My poor momma had back surgery last week. She had a fusion to try to relieve the constant pain she has been in. I hate not being able to be there for her.
I ordered our save the date’s last night. The booking window is finally open for the flights, and we are excited to get things moving.
Aside from actually booking the trip, sending the save the date’s and eventually, the invites, and some other small things, we don’t have a LOT to do! GO TEAM!

Have a great rest of your week, friends!

Oh, hello!

It has been a hot minute since a real post. The last few weeks building up to commencement it was hectic around here. We’re talking it would be 2:30 p.m. and I legit wouldn’t know where the day went. I’d panic over the number of things I would have to do and I would bury my head in work. EVERYONE wanted a news release written and to go out THAT DAY. It was crazy, but in true former TV News Producer fashion, I’d panic, plow through it all, and finish it with an hour to spare. Typical! I don’t know what it is like to be able to sit on a project or hold it until another day, so I tend to get things done right away. Serves me well.

Now things have slowed down immensely. The University is on summer hours, 8-4pm, instead of 4:30 (that 30 minutes makes a difference!) the kids are gone, along with many of the faculty, so I have a moment to catch my breath.

A few things to catch up on:

Weight. That’s stupid and I’m annoyed. My body DOES NOT WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT. I count calories, macros, I write it all down, and I basically kill myself trying to figure the science of this out. And NOTHING. I’m trying this new thing where I am going back to what worked the first time: I eat well most of the time and move my body. It seems the stress MIGHT be involved in my gain/plateau? I don’t know. I’m willing to do whatever at this point. (BTW, my need to lose weight is doctor-ordered. Not just because I’m vain.)
We’re getting our engagement pictures done the first weekend in June and I’m pretty excited. We plan on doing casual ones, ones with our dogs, photos with my boo in his Army uniform, and others with him in his Firefighter uniform with one of the trucks. (Did I tell you guys that he’s a volunteer firefighter? I can’t say that I love the idea of him rushing into a burning house, but I love that he has that ability to serve others like that). I’ve pinned a bunch of cute ideas for our shots, and I’m excited to do the shoot.
When we go to Washington, D.C. next month for my conference, we are going on a White House tour! My fiance set it up, along with a few other tours that he will do while I am in the conference. I’m pumped.
Since we get July 2-4 off for the holiday, I am taking the 5 & 6 off as well, and I will fly home for a nice break after the conference. We are staying in DC until Saturday, June 30, then I go to Nebraska until July 10. By the time I get back, I won’t have been to the office since June 22nd! YASSSS!
Wedding planning is happening. We have put the down payment down on our wedding at the resort, and just have to wait for the airfare window to open so we can book the rest. I am doing the Save $5K in a year plan, and have been faithful so far. I even opened a second savings account just for that! I LOVE watching the money add up.
My boo teases me about how tight-fisted I am with money at times. He was not amused when I told him that rich people get richer by not spending money frivolously. That, and great ideas and good investments!!

I think that about catches us up. Have a great week, friends!

Monday

So it’s January 107th today and I am 100% done. We had snow, ice, and rain this weekend and it is 39 degrees here. Honestly, I’m ready for warmer weather and to not wear my winter coat anymore for awhile.
I have been diligently working on increasing my water intake, especially at work. I have been buying the drink mixes that are 10 calories (no sugar, etc) and I mix those with my 30 oz Yeti-esque cup. I have been drinking three of those cups full Monday-Friday. I also drink my 11 oz protein shake in the morning AND 6 oz of hot cocoa that I mix my collagen with.
So you can only imagine how often I have to use the restroom! I counted today, and as of 3:50 pm, I have gone a dozen times here at work. OY.
Since I’ve been laser-focused tracking calories, macros, and weighing my food consistently, the scale is GOING DOWN! Of course, I go up and down like a pound some days, but overall, I am consistently down. So yassss!
Meeting with the travel agents did NOT go well. Not even joking, they looked like Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman in “Matilda.” (See photo below)
They asked why we are getting married in Mexico at the end of May and said that was a “strange time to go there”. My fiance was QUITE irritated with that. That’s when we’re going, don’t judge us!
The wife couldn’t remember that we weren’t going a cruise, and the husband didn’t know if he was listed with the BBB. Plus, he has a case of false reporting brought up against him. So there’s THAT.
So we are back to finding a new travel agent. The only reason we are using one is that we do not want people to bug us about booking the trip, we want someone else to handle that for us.
Because I already have enough people bugging me and telling me ways they think we should do it, and that tourists are getting killed in Mexico, etc. At this point, I am ready to just go with my boo and get married by ourselves there. That’s not what we will do, but GEEZ LOUISE! Why does everyone have an opinion about MY wedding???

Ok, rant over. Have a great day, friends!

MAKE IT STOP!!

Winter still has its icy grip on upstate New York. At least 8-9 inches of snow fell from yesterday to today, and it is still snowing. SEND HELP!
My birthday is Friday. I distinctly remember at least two or three birthdays since 2012 that it was very warm in Nebraska. I’m talking 80-90 degrees!! But this is fine. (Did I convince you? I have not convinced myself!)
After re-evaluating the wedding and time of year, I think I might change which dress I wear to the wedding next month. I don’t think I want that much skin exposed just yet! I will post photos when I decide. Thanks for the help friends!
I am struggling mightily with motivation to get up and run before work. I know I need to because I won’t do it otherwise. Also, due to taking an iron supplement and eating brussels sprouts I am experiencing a lot of stomach discomfort!!
The scale went up 2.5 pounds from Saturday to today. I know I didn’t gain that weight, but my goodness, that is demoralizing. I am seriously bummed that I can’t lose weight. I still am trying though!
Wedding planning is coming along. We are looking for a travel agent to bounce some ideas off of and then should be able to book soon! I am pumped!

Well, I am going to go dream about warm sunshine and sandy beaches friends! Have a great day!

Hump Day Things

You guys, I got up and RAN before work this morning!! Sure, I woke up late, so I only got 1.5 miles in, but the struggle to drag my butt out of bed has been plaguing me for days. But I finally managed to peel myself out from under the covers! Go team!
My fiance and I spent last evening snuggled on the couch, watching “Can’t Buy Me Love” on Netflix. I love that movie. It was a good night.
It is supposed to snow here today and tomorrow. We could get anywhere from 3-6 inches and I’m so over it. Let’s just have spring now, ok? Ok.
My weight is still a stagnant thing. I count calories, track macros, and I just can’t lose. Talk about depressing. I have to believe that it has something to do with my hormones and I just want the weight to come off again. I’m so freaking frustrated.
I am in serious need of a vacation. The way my job works: is that you can’t have any of your vacation time until you’ve earned all of it. July 1 I will have 4 weeks of vacation, 6 personal days, and 12 sick days to use until next June 30. I’ve had the personal days and sick days for this year, but no vacation time. I need the beach and some sun, stat.
Did I tell you we’re having a destination wedding? Jamacia next May! I am beyond excited. I have always wanted a destination wedding and since we aren’t from the same place, this works out perfectly!

Ok, I should get back to work. Have a great day friends!

What a week!

The photos aren’t chronological but bear with me:

My new treadmill came last night! She is gorgeous and runs like a dream! I love her. So much.
On Wednesday it snowed 9 inches here during the day. Like from around 9am to 5:30pm. They closed the University (where I work) early and I went home and hunkered down. It is currently snowing right now, and we are supposed to get about 6 more inches this weekend. Le SIGH.
Last Saturday, our friends went with us the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival where they build an ice castle each year. Then we went up to Lake Placid to stroll around and grab a bite. We have to go back in the summer when it is actually pleasant to be outside so that I can hit all of the cool shops.
Charlie is better! His lump just went away! I had been praying for that sweet boy pretty hard. So glad he’s ok.
My sweet girl, Rio. She loves her bed. (I just had to throw that picture in for balance. And because puppies.)
I’m on week two of my kettlebells class and I am SORE. Especially my hamstrings and booty. But it is a good sore.
My new goals are to run 3-4 times a week 3-4 miles each time, plus do my classes twice a week. I’m hoping to jump-start that fat burning process again. Something’s gotta give.

Have a great weekend, friends!

Monday Update

Life is kinda crazy lately. I’ve been traveling for work and all of the sudden things are moving ahead with wedding planning and I just want to crawl under a blanket and hide until someone tells me it’s time to walk down the aisle. Because THAT would just be easier.

But I digress.

I prefer bullet points, so that’s how we’re doing this.

I LOVE the dress I’m wearing. I got it at the Kate Spade Outlet while I was home for Christmas, for only $60. It was regularly $270 so I think I got a decent deal.
I signed up for a bridal show and ended up winning a FREE Engagement Photo Session! YASSS!! All the praise hands emojis! My fiance and I were literally looking for photographers and pricing them, so this is a HUGE weight off.
I’ve been faithfully tracking my food and eating well for 3 months now. My weight has gone down 6 pounds, only to go back up 3. My coach tells me that since I lost weight before, science says it’s going to be SUPER hard for me to do it again. Well super. No wonder I feel like an abject failure this time around.
However, I have not been good about consistently working out. So that ended today. I got up and tried to run (more on that later) and ended up doing a spin class instead.
Wedding planning is stressful. We may actually do my dream and get married on the beach with a party after. Because we are looking at 300+ guests easy that would attend and the logistics of renting a tent, food, etc are starting to get CRAZY. I wish I had millions of dollars.
My treadmill died this morning. I actually wore out the motor. I have run hundreds, and for sure into the thousands of miles, since 2005. It survived three moves, including a cross-country one, AND falling out of the back of a pickup when I told my friend he needed to strap it down! I think I can actually replace the motor, so we shall see if I can resurrect it.
I went to Binghamton last week for work. I had to go to an Emergency Management Conference. Binghamton, NY is basically down by Pennsylvania, where I live is about 45 minutes from Canada. It was a long trip.
My sweet Charlie boy (ignore the toilet) has a large lump in his neck that we just felt last night. My boo took him to the vet and they think it could be his lymph nodes so they are treating that first, then we’ll do more tests. I love that goober so much so any thoughts and prayers you’d spare for us would be very much appreciated.

On that note, I think I’m out! Have a good one friends!

Tuesday Things

The struggle was REAL to go back to work this morning. I hadn’t been to work since December 21 and wished I was independently wealthy so I could continue that trend. As I am not, I drug my butt out of bed and managed to make my way in. But I will assure you that I don’t wanna.

I had a great week back in Nebraska. It was wonderful being with my family and friends and I needed that recharge.
My entire family (8 of us) went to see “The Greatest Showman” Friday night. And I am OBSESSED. I loved the music and even paid to download the soundtrack. I have probably listened to it about 25 times in the days since. #noshame It is THAT good.
I sat next to my oldest nephew, Jon, in the recliners at the theatre. He and I are very close and he’s the sweetest kid. He held my hand the entire movie and it made me feel so special and loved. I love all three of my nephews, but my sweet Jonathan is just the best.
I went to look at wedding dresses with my mom while I was home and was incredibly disappointed with how it went. We went to David’s Bridal. I had an hour and a half appointment and got to see 5 dresses. The lady wasn’t listening to what I wanted and how I felt in the dresses. She also told me that she worked on commission and kept pushing the $1800 dress. Not bloody likely lady! I can’t afford to spend that much on a dress that I will only wear once. My mom and I now have a better idea of what I am looking for and will go to the local shops when I go back for another, longer trip home in July so that we can hopefully get the dress and other details figured out then.
My “friend” from college texted me on Sunday, wishing me a happy new year and congrats on the engagement. Then asked if we had set the date (July 2019) and proceeded to tell me that despite the fact that she only got a promise ring for Christmas, she would probably be married before me since we have such a long engagement. RUDE. What do my engagement and wedding have to do with yours? The answer to that is nothing. Absolutely nothing.
My former Spin Studio back in Lincoln is having a 20 in 30 challenge. Just go and complete 20 workouts in 30 days there for a prize. I obviously can’t do the workouts there, but I can do my own on my spin bike with my Peloton App! So that’s my new goal. I am also going to start lifting again. I have 6-8 months before I will have to order my wedding dress and I don’t want to have to pay for a lot of alterations if I can help it, so let’s do this! #bridalbootcamp

I hope 2018 is a great year for all of us, friends! I know that I have a lot of goals and can’t wait to crush them all!

Wednesday Things

Hello friends! Things are so quiet at work right now, so you get a post and a selfie. Hooray! Let’s do this, bullet style:

I am going back to Nebraska for Christmas, and I am so excited! I will be home for a week and can’t wait to see my family and friends and spend some time with my people.
We leave Friday early morning to drive across the state to Buffalo (where my boo is from) and I will fly out of there while he spends Christmas with his family. I am having a hard time wanting to work this week as no one is here and I don’t have much to do. The struggle.
I lost my voice Friday night amid the engagement excitement and the head cold I had since Tuesday. FIVE DAYS LATER I am finally starting to have more than just a squeak mixed with a whisper. I sounded a lot like the Godfather for several days. So that was fun.
I actually did my hair for the first time in awhile and I got ALL the compliments. Which leads me to believe that I might look like garbage most of the time. Whatever, I just like sleep more.
One of my favorite parts of Christmas is giving gifts that I know people will love and that they are expecting. It makes it so much fun! I have several gifts for friends and family that I can’t wait to see them open! I just love Christmas.
As of this morning, I am at my lowest weight since starting with my trainer! I am down 5.6 pounds and have lost each day this week. I can’t explain it, as I have had several food days and holiday luncheons this week and eaten more sweets than usual, but I will take it!

Alright, that’s all I got. I hope you all have a fantastic day!