friggatriskaidekaphobia

Seriously, it's a word.  I googled it...it means a fear of Friday the 13th.  Don't ask me how to say it...my response will be to sound it out.
So yeah, it's Friday the 13th.  I guess according to superstition bad things are supposed to happen today.  It flurried this morning on my way in to work...but it's January and if the first snow of 2012 is 15 minutes of flurries well then I take that as a good thing.
I'm also a bit partial to today because, well it happens to be my birthday.  Yep...today I turn

(√576 +15)3 - (√196 +75) + 4  

what you thought I would just tell you?

So far, despite the bad luck that supposed to accompany this day, for me it's been pretty good.  I was woken up by the bleeping and blurping of my phone from text messages and a ton of FB love on my wall.  Perhaps even better, tho, is that when I stepped on the scale this morning {something I try not to do too often} it said that I lost 6lbs since last week!  That's like I was carrying a Rockhopper penguin {I googled that too} a week ago and now I'm not.

angry little rockhopper

Now I know enough that it's just water weight, but I'm still happy.  It reinforces my belief that the only thing I can do that helps me to lose weight is running combined with a sensible diet.  It's definitely helped to push my relationship with running up a few notches from flirting to seeing each other.  At this rate, we might be dating by next week!  Makes me even more excited to see what kind of results I get in February when I change my diet even more and combine it with running.  So I'm happy to report that halfway into January and I'm making good progress on my goal for the month.  Hooray!!!  

I'd say that all in all, my Friday the 13th is going pretty darned well

What's your take on Friday the 13th?  Do you suffer from frigga-whatsa-howeveryousayit-phobia?  Were you able to figure out my age?

{cindie}

 

if at first you don't succeed...

...learn from your mistakes and aim lower?

Did you know that 10 days into the new year is about the time that a majority of people typically have already given up on their resolutions.  Sure there will be the few who hang on for another week or so, and then there's the really strong handful who actually stick to it {props to them!}.  Me? Well aside from my decision to start letting the little things slide and reading at least one book a month {currently reading World War Z}, I didn't really make any resolutions this year.  Instead, I set monthly goals for myself because to me, it's easier to tackle a year full of goals when I break it down into 12 parts.  Plus I figure if I give myself up to 29 days to achieve something then I can certainly do at least that.  

I haven't planned the whole year out because I kind of want to leave it open and let life take me on it's journey.  Some months might have one goal, some may have more {ooo daring!}.  My aim is to take each month's goal and carry it forward into the next months.  If I fail in carrying it through the months, but succeed in the month I planned for it, well then at least I succeeded in one aspect.  For me, it's about setting small goals that are easy to achieve and developing the healthy behaviors to make the success last.  And putting it out here on the interweb universe holds me accountable to keeping on track {and having to check in keeps me motivated}. 

Here's what I've got so far:

January

Fall in love with running again.  I'm happy to say this is going well so far.  I'm not quite in love with running just yet, but we're getting there.  I'd say we're in that flirting stage and maybe next week we'll be 'seeing each other' or maybe even be exclusive.  I've got 21 more days to develop that love so we're going to take it slow.

February

Change my diet.  Last year I did my 30-day no meat diet, but for the past month or so, I've been reading a lot about the paleo diet.  While I know anything low-carb, low sugar is going to be extremely difficult, I can and certainly will get behind a diet that includes bacon...umm...I did post on FB that when I have a child it's first words just might be 'bacon wrapped'.  I won't be going full on paleo because I don't think completely depriving myself of something I enjoy {hello potatoes and cheese...mmm cheese ON potatoes...with bacon!} will only result in my failure, but I'll ease myself, and Hubster, into it so that perhaps by month's end we'll be eating an 80-90% paleo diet.  I think it's important to add, if only to remind myself, that just because this is a February goal doesn't mean to go carb and sugar loading until February!

March

Pay down debt.  My bonus check {c'mon baby!} is supposed to come in March so this was a no brainer.  While I'd love to treat myself to something nice with my bonus, what I really should do is pay down the debt I've accrued by treating myself nice all the other months of the year.  Since this goal won't be as much about what I do to reach it as opposed to what I receive to make it possible, I'm also going to try to make it a goal to practice photography more.  One of the nice things I bought for myself includes my dslr and I'm ashamed to say I haven't used it nearly enough to justify the cost.  So March will be the month I learn how to take better photos, and the only way I can do that is by taking more.  Expect for March to be a month of posts heavily laden with photos.

April

Run a half marathon.  There's one on April 22nd that I'm currently training for.  Two years ago, the first thing that got me to start running was signing up for a 5K.  I was so proud of myself when I finished that I signed up for another.  And then I said to myself I would love to be able to run a half marathon one day.  Then I stopped running.  And I thought eh, I wouldn't be able to run 13.1 miles anyway.  Well guess what...this will be the year I do {I really hope at least}.  I haven't signed up for it yet, but as long as I succeed in my January goal then I will.  I'm terrified at the thought of it right now, but that's because again, running and I are flirting.  I'm not going to be over ambitious and say I will run it in under a certain amount of time, I just want to say I did it.

That's all I have for now, perhaps it's best just to plan for a quarter at a time.  Again, keep it small and simple.

Did you make resolutions this year?  How are you doing?  And what tactics do you employ to help yourself stick to them?

{cindie}         

revelations and resolutions

Happy New Year!

I don't know about you, but I'm so glad that a new year has started.  The last quarter or so of 2011 and I were not friends.  We fought a lot, and it usually won, leaving me a sad, broken weeping mess.  It made me think sad scary thoughts about the future, brought reunions that weren't necessarily joyful and stress...oh boy the stress.  It violently attempted to leave me on NYE, many hours before 2012 was ready to arrive.  As happy as we both seemed to be to end the relationship, 2011 wasn't going to go out without letting me know how happy it was to be rid of me (or, as it seemed, to rid itself from me {mind you, it's exit was not aided by alcohol - to my blog buddy who we rang the new year in with...that's why I kept disappearing!}).  Needless to say, the end of 2011 and I are like bitter exes, looking forward with hope that something better is just on the horizon.

I'm not so naive to believe that the mere change in the calendar date will mean new and better things.  2012 can be better, but at the same time, it can also be worse...a lot worse even.  While I can't change the things that might happen, what I can do, at the very least, is change my outlook on things.  That's where the revelations come, and the resolutions are made.  So, in an attempt to keep myself accountable, I wanted to share some of my revelations and resolutions for 2012 and beyond as a short series of posts.  So without further adieu:

I am not, will never be, won't ever in a million years come close to being perfect. 

I can't and won't be a perfect wife to my husband just as he will never be that to me.  Our marriage is not perfect.  My life has never been nor will it ever be perfect no matter how much I wish for it.  My resolution: let go.  I wanted so much to try to do everything and have everything turn out right that I would beat myself up for the smallest things.  Like if I didn't cook dinner every night.  Or if I didn't get the right type of screw when I went to the hardware store.  I literally would let small things like that make me feel bad about myself.  I mean, who does that?!  So, this year, after realizing this about myself and all my flaws and imperfections, I am resolving to let go.  I don't need to be a perfect person or wife, my marriage doesn't have to be perfect, nor does my life.  Because as imperfect as it all is, it's still good.  And I'd much rather hold on to good, than try to strive (and fail) for perfect.

What are your thoughts on the never-ending strive for perfection? Does perfect exist? Or is it just a word created to make us want for more than what we have?  What are some of your resolutions?  I'd love to hear your thoughts....oh...and it's good to be back

{cindie}

the 'funk'

Well hell...it's been awhile.

When I first started this blog, my mind was filled with potential posts to write.  I told myself I needed to slow down because I was going to run out of things to say.  Months later and that's become quite apparent.  The truth is, though, that I've not run out of things to say, but more that the things I want to write about I am not ready to do so.  So many of the blogs that I read seem to be so happy and filled with wonderful uplifting things, but my world of late is anything but sunshine, rainbows and unicorns.  Everyone goes through the ever dreaded funk.  Perhaps it's the changing seasons, lack of daylight, stress of work...I can only hope my funk period ends soon.  And the last thing I want to do is write about pretending that everything is ok, and as I said, I'm not ready to write about the things that aren't.  Saying those things out loud is hard enough, writing them where they will forever be out there on the internet is another thing.  I even created a new blog where I thought I could actually write honest posts, but that hasn't gotten very far (and I'm having serious issues with the layout).  Maybe one day, when things are better I can share them and look back at how I got through them and how much they've changed.

I know that there are a number of fellow bloggers out there who experienced or are experiencing a similar period and came through, so I truly hope I will too.  I draw strength from them and reading about their journeys, and hope to one day be able to provide that same strength to others.  I've said that you can't change the things that happen to you, but you can change the way you let them effect you.  I need to start taking my own advice.

To those of you who have hung around, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I'll be here now and again and hope real soon to have some happy thoughts (or at the very least maybe some yummy recipes to share).

{ cindie }

bittersweet anniversary

One year ago I woke up, got prettified, and put on the most expensive and beautiful article of clothing I've owned thus far in my life,

One year ago, I piled into a car with some of the most beautiful and best girls I know and drove up to where a church full of people were waiting,

One year ago, I walked the most exhilarating walk I had walked in my life,

One year ago, in front of friends and loved ones, I married the love of my life,

I walked in a Miss and out a Mrs,

Danced my first dance as a married woman,

 

and realized my new found 'baller' status.

...but today is not only the first anniversary of my marriage, but also the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the US and the day the towers fell.  As much as I remember this day last year, the memory of this day 10 years ago is still burned in my brain as well.  Seeing the fighter jets fly overhead campus on my way to my Cognitive Psych class.  Having my professor walk in to a crowded lecture hall and simply write on the board 'Class Cancelled' and then walk out.  Heading to the flooded computer labs at the campus center whilc CNN.com crashed with the incredible influx of traffic. Going to a nearby friend's dorm to try to get to a tv.  Watching the first tower fall and feeling numb. Watching the second tower fall along with my heart and the tears.  I thought about my father, who used to work there.  I thought about my many friends, who might have loved ones who were there that day.  I thought of my roommate, who would spend the next 7 hours trying to get in touch with her brother, who thankfully was ok.  I thought about how much the skyline I so often saw and took for granted, had forever changed that morning.  And I cried for a week and a half.

I often am asked why we chose this date last year to get married, especially considering how close we are to it all.  It was a difficult decision for me, because Hubster wasn't as close to it as I was (and still am), but it all boiled down to one simple fact: Life must go on.  The horrific events that occurred 10 years ago today will be forever imprinted in our hearts and minds, but now, for us, it will also be the day that we promised our lives to each other.  It's the day we said out loud (tho not really because of the type of ceremony we had) that our love for each other is stronger than the hate that was expressed to make this a historical date.  Admittedly, I'm torn because today is the 1st anniversary of the happiest day of my life so far, but it's also the 10th anniversary of the worst.  But if I am to move on with my life, I will spend the day embracing the 10 year memory, but celebrating the first of many years of marriage to come.  So...

Happy anniversary my love.  It's been an exciting first year and I look forward to the next 100+ and growing old together.

 

btw...I've been absent here lately with my posting...but that's cuz I've moved over to a new site.  Come check me out my new blog.




{ cindie }

thursday pick me up!

Sometimes you have one of those days that makes you want to put your head through a wall.  Today was one of those days...then I found this and while it didn't make the things I want to go away, well, go away, it did manage to make me laugh so hard I snorted.

You know that auto-correct feature on phones?  Well this site captures the best 15 auto-correct fails ever. Read. Laugh. Enjoy.    

#15: Worst Day Of The Week

#14: Special Delivery

#13: That Time Of The Month

#12: Stain Remover

#11: We Need To Talk

#10: iPhone and Relationship Advice Don’t Mix

See the rest of them here.  Numbers 12 and 6 I think are my favorite.

{ cindie }

Confession # 34

I am a water bottle junkie/snob.

Some people collect stamps, some people collect coins.  Apparently I collect water bottles.  The other night as I was putting our glassware away I struggled to find cupboard space because I have a whole shelf dedicated to re-usable water bottles....approximately 7 of them.  It's a problem...

pretty

I actually have this same bottle with a white sleeve...and yes, I want this one too.  

Probably the saddest part is, I typically will just re-use the same SmartWater bottle that I bought from some convenience store on my way to work instead of one of my 7 bottles.  I mean...isn't the point of the re-useable ones to save money and reduce waste?  Counter-intuitive me spends more money on re-useable bottles that don't get used and buys the disposable ones to re-use...I don't get me sometimes.

And then there's the other point...I am a bottled water snob.  I'll drink Poland Spring or Deer Park or some other spring water brand...but I prefer SmartWater...which is isn't even spring water, it's vapor distilled!  Add to the mix that I won't drink filtered water (which hello SmartWater is pretty much the same just fancier terminology), except for at work when I refill my disposable bottle. It's most definitely because of the labeling and the fact that I like the little characters that are on the inside of the bottle.  

via

You can't see but this is the one with the fish

You could probably fill that bottle with hose water and I'd drink it.

So there you have it, I am a water bottle hoarder and a bottled water snob.

Anyone else have quirky collections or bottled water preferences?  I can't be the only one!

{ cindie }