5 New Years Resolutions

It's that time again... the new year. 2012. Wow. Too bad the world is ending December 21st, according to the Mayan calendar.

Even though I am only going to get to see 11 months and 21 days of this year, I figure I should make some resolutions... you know, just in case the world doesn't end.

Resolution #1: Improve my attitude
I am not always the most optimistic person, especially when it comes to major life changes. This year, I will be graduating and trying to find a job, and I have to admit, all of the media coverage of the unemployment and lack of jobs around the country is not making me feel better about the idea of job hunting. But instead of getting myself into a funk over it, I am going to keep my chin up. I have a very marketable degree, I am a hard worker, and I am more than qualified for a good position.

Resolution #2: Maintain a healthy weight
I like where I am right now, both weight-wise and fitness-wise, and I really want to stay here. In the past, my weight and fitness has bounced all over the place, and I'd like to keep it stable for once. I think I have a good routine down, and I should stick with it.

Resolution #3: Run 6 races
I would like to do at least 6 races this year. They could all be 5k's, but I would like to branch out a bit. I have been considering training for an 8k, or even a sprint triathlon! I think this goal will help in maintaining my fitness level (resolution #2).

Resolution #4: Find a job
I have realized that there is no easy way to go about searching for a job. Resumes must be tweaked, cover letters must be written, and job listings are all over the place. I think I need to set aside time dedicated to the job hunt in order to find a job before I graduate. That is my number one goal for this semester.

Resolution #5: Eat less sugar
This might seem trivial, and it goes along with Resolution #2, but I have a serious sweet tooth, and it sabotages me on a daily basis. I have found that a lot of my calories and carbs are consumed in the form of sugary treats. Pretty sure my sugar addiction is inherited (my grandmother has to hide all sugary treats from my grandfather because he loves sugar), but I'd like to nip it in the bud this year. That way, 60 years from now, Zach won't have to hide sweets from me. Because I'm pretty sure that would mean the end of our relationship.

Flynn has a New Years resolution too. He is going to quit peeing in the house. He has good motivation for this one too... if he doesn't quit, he probably won't make it to see if the world does end in December 2012.

Thistle's New Years resolution is to quit being so grouchy. Somehow, I don't think she'll stick to it.

"Either give me food or EFF off."

Zach says his New Years resolution is to supervise all of the above New Years resolutions and make sure they get done. Especially Flynn's.


Does anyone else do New Years resolutions? If so, what are they? 

Thistle the Hedgehog

I can't believe tomorrow is New Years Eve... guess I'd better get working on those resolutions! To be honest,  I haven't really even thought about it yet.

Today was alright. I have been sick with a sinus infection for about a week now, but I have still been getting in  workouts (after my fever went down). Today, I managed a 3.15 mile run over some really steep hills. Running that far when sick is no easy job.

Flynn has also done a lot of running. In the snow. It all finally melted today, but we got about an inch of snow a few days ago, and he has really been having fun rolling around in it... and then tracking it all over the house.

The Great Banana Challenge has been pretty successful thus far. This morning, I ate two slices of gluten-free toast with chocolate pb and bananas on them. I have to say, while I still hate how bananas taste, they make the best fuel for running. I kept up some good energy, especially considering how sick I have been and the hills I was running. 

I realize this post doesn't really have much rhyme or reason to it. Truthfully, I have just been taking random pictures to try out the settings on it. I don't think I have introduced Thistle yet, so here she is: 

Thistle is our resident grouch. She is a hedgehog, but she won't let you touch her or pet her or really get near her. What a sweetie. Tonight, Zach was feeding her a hot dog (Do hedgehogs like to eat hot dogs? yes. Should they? Probably not.) and she decided his finger would taste better so she tried to bite it off. Like I said, a real sweetie pie. 

My other random picture of the day involves my new boots, which I am a little obsessed with. My mom got me a pair for Christmas, and then I got this taller pair from Kohls. I can't ever seem to get a good picture of myself, but at least the boots look good. 

Tomorrow, I have work, and I'll be brain storming all day about New Years resolutions. I'll let you know what I come up with!

The Great Banana Challenge

For as long as I can remember, I have hated bananas. Not disliked, hated. Every time I ate anything banana as a child (baby food, flavored medicine, actual bananas), I would promptly throw it back up. I don't know what the deal was with that.

Anyway, over the years, I have also made myself like a lot of healthy foods that I did not like before (green peppers, onions, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, etc.), and so, because bananas are extremely healthy for you (and convenient), I have decided to attempt to work them into my diet.

About an hour ago, I ate this:

Oatmeal with chocolate nut butter and bananas (the only way I could really eat the bananas was to cover them in peanut butter). So far, no puking. I am declaring this first trial a success.

Any good ideas on how to work bananas into my diet slowly? Maybe in recipes where I can't actually taste them? One day, I'd like to work up to eating plain bananas... but, baby steps. 

Christmas 2011

So... unfortunately, I have spent all of Christmas being very sick. Good timing, body. However, my amaaaazing boyfriend got me a new camera, so as soon as I learn how to use it, I will have awesome pictures, instead of crappy cell phone ones.

These pictures are where I am attempting to figure out what the settings on the camera mean, so please excuse the quality...

Zach had some presents that were almost as big as he is. What could they be?

I think he likes his flat screen! 

Even Mom's boston terrier, Dudley, was being festive. 

Everybody opening their gifts. 

My little sister got an old-school Furby. I think they look alike? 

I got a collar for my cat. She was pretty mad about it. 

I ended up getting some work out clothes, boots, a bread maker, some jeans, and of course I got some amazing gifts from Zach: a camera, the new Taylor Swift perfume, a snuggie, and an awesome coffee mug. It was a good Christmas for sure. Hopefully I'll feel a little bit better and more up for blogging soon. 

Fog and Christmas Crap

So around here, we always get a sh*t ton of snow for Christmas. However, this year has been abnormal in the sense that instead of snow, we have just gotten fog and rain. This morning, Zach and I set off for work, and we encountered this: 

No big deal. Just a lake of clouds. Kind of cool looking. Oh, wait...

We have to drive through this crap? It looks like that lame movie "The Mist". 

I was kind of half-expecting to end up in some other dimension. It was so creepy.

So aside from the crazy weather, I tried for a run on Wednesday. Ended up getting a whopping 1.5 miles before my shin splints threw a fit (they have seriously had some issues lately). However, due to the massive amounts of candy, cookies, and general Christmas crap that I have eaten over the past few days, I am thinking another run is in order for tomorrow if my legs can handle it. I did use my compression sleeves, and they seemed to help with the shins.

Coffee makes a failed run better. 

Speaking of Christmas crap, I made "Christmas popcorn" tonight that I got from this blog. It is SO good.

All you do is make popcorn, cover it in melted white chocolate, and add sprinkles. Couldn't be easier. Or more delicious. Or more fattening. YUM.

What kinds of delicious goodies is everyone else making?

Busy Week

So... I have been the worst blogger ever recently, and I am aware of this. Forgive me?

I have worked every.single.day. since I got out of classes, and they have been long days too, so I have come home feeling wiped, then having to exercise (kind of) and make dinner... it makes for a tired girl. Otherwise, Zach and I have just been decorating for Christmas and attempting to eat somewhat healthy.

Put up our "tree".

Got the dog some toys. 

Parmesan tilapia, steamed veggies, and
sweet potato fries. 

Steak, baked potato, and salad. 

Oops... how did these get in here? 

I know you all are seriously jealous of my cookie decorating skills. I should never have made those, considering I've been eating them 5 at a time, but hey, it's Christmas, right? That combined with my lack of exercise is promising some really good "Get Fit Christmas Break" results.

Speaking of which, does anyone have some good cardio/strength circuits to recommend? I have found some, but I don't know how credible they are. I need something that I can do at home, without gym access.

Anyway, I am both going Christmas shopping and running tomorrow, so hopefully I will have a lot more to report after that. Hope everyone else is having a great week-before-Christmas! 

Finally Done

So exams were stressful, as expected, but now I am done. Only one semester left, now, and then I'll be out in the real world. 

Now, I am back with Zach, and I'll be working at the pet store again until Spring semester. Guess who missed me? 

He peed all over the place when he saw me. Now he's asleep on my leg and impeding my computer-using abilities. I love that dog.

Get Fit December begins tomorrow. I'll keep you guys updated on progress!