Decision time

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I need to get a trip on the books. We've hit that dreary time of year where it's still dark and cold, and summer is still so, so far away. Especially up here in the PNW.

"Beach. Sun. Heat. Beach. Sun. Heat," says my brain. Over and over and over.

My short-list:

• Thailand - I'd have to wait until the end of the year until my vacation builds up and husband can join. Not sure I'll make it!
• Belize - beaches and jungles. 
• Costa Rica - surfing and yoga?
• Southwest US - possibly with a girlfriend, which could be fun. 

Husband just started a new job, so I may be looking at another solo trip. I've (sort-of) traveled solo before, and it's really nice to be able to have real "ME" time, whether it's sit on a beach for hours, explore a new town, or read by a pool. If I'm going to jet off by myself, I might spring for one of those rah rah girl-time yoga and surf camps in Central America. I've always wanted to be great at both, and what better way to learn than with (hopefully new!) friends some place new and beautiful. 

This weekend's goal is to have a place picked! Stay tuned!

Choose to be happy Monday

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I'm happy today because I'm one day closer to all of the great things I'm looking forward to and working towards. Today may not amount to much by itself, but what I accomplish day and tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that means that my progress bars are moving.

Have a good day, and think big picture, kids.

Listen to your eating disorder..

..and then do the opposite.

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It's National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. This blog plays a small part in my personal recovery, and as someone who been pulled in and out of the destructive mental mind game that is bulimia for the past five years, I can say with certainty that the general public's perception of eating disorders is.. disordered. 

For those of you who know someone close to you with an eating disorder- take some time to educate yourself about the best ways to help. 

I'm in a better place at the moment, but I wouldn't say that I'm recovered. I'm not the best person say that if you do X, Y, Z you'll get past it like I did. Because I haven't yet. 

But I'm getting there.

Why am I so awkward?

WARNING:

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Is a platonic girlfriend finder for girls a thing? If yes, then..

1. That is SUCH a sad thing

2. How do I sign up?

It's been just about three years since I walked away from a really fun group of girlfriends that was unfortunately split by some unfortunate drama. I was basically just a bystander during that tumultuous time, but the experience was exhausting and things were never the same. I made up a reason to take a break and haven't been back since. I still have a few girlfriends, but our lives all seem to be so very different now, we are physically far away from each other, and I see us growing farther apart as time goes on. 

I've finally learned to say no to the things that always felt like "no choice," because everything is a choice and few things are actually obligations. I'm a lifelong introvert and savor the abundance of me-time when I'm not at work. Lately though, I miss have more choices and things to say yes to, particularly when it comes to relationships with other people. 

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Maybe it's not just me. Seattle has a reputation apparently..

Adapting to change

It's crazy how just one day of clean eating can make a difference in how you feel the next morning.

steak+salad=steaksalad

So the good news this week is that my husband started his new job, which just so happens to be about 10 minutes away from office. This means that I have my carpool buddy back, and my time and rage on the road has been dramatically reduced.

The bad news is that I'm not sure how to stay motivated to get to the gym. I had signed up in January with the gym across the street from my office, and was driving down at 6am almost daily to beat traffic and work out. The mornings were tough, but once I was there, my only two choices were to work out or start working. Easy.

Fortunately the membership is valid at other location, and there happens to be another location about 10 minutes from. That means that I could get to the gym at 6am, work out until 7am, then be home in time to have breakfast and enjoy a bit of my morning. Or I could just stay home that entire time in my comfy house. See how that works? I know myself very well by now.. oh well. I'll keep thinking that through.

In the meantime, this morning I did get in a short run on the treadmill, and then tried out a short bodyweight workout via the PopSugar Fitness App on my iPad. I always feel like such a dork when I do videos, but this one was actually really good, and the app has a pretty decent sized library of workouts I'm looking forward to trying. It's definitely no Crossfit class (which I miss dearly), but I think this will be a great way to keep up a bit of strength training during this gym limbo.

Happy Wednesday friends!

I've fallen

Time to get up.

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First the good. Marathon training has been (pretty) good and consistent. Work has also been good. I'm finally feeling settled more often than not, which is huge for me.

Now the bad. Remember those resolutions came up with at the start of the new year? Yeah.. me neither apparently. I haven't cracked open a book in weeks, that whole "eating clean" thing isn't really a thing as of late, and I find myself falling into the internet hole at home as a way of postponing whatever more important task I should be doing.

Time for a little reset.

I've re-enabled my "bad" site blockers, and installed the application on my second "cheat" browser. I'm going to go back to blogging every day, like I was doing in January. I find I need that daily outlet, which also works to help keep me accountable with my other daily goals.

More water. More vegetables. Less bread and pasta and sweets. Much less.

Wish me luck.

Pining for summer

I don't do "throwback Thursdays" but I suppose this is sort of that. I'm missing summer in a serious way. That photo above was taken last June or so, when I was forced to learn how to mow a lawn for the first time after my husband broke his arm.

Turns out I love it. I'm not a big gardener, but pushing our little mower in the warm sun for an hour was became my favorite chore, and I got instant gratification in seeing the backyard become neat and tidy. 

The best part was lounging in the hammock to survey my work, warm and relaxed and happy.

I'm a hot weather beach girl by nature, and I start counting down to summer the second I'm forced into a sweater. It's a wonder I'm still here in the PNW.