Sporadically Sandra

So, after the very emotional week I had, I was ready for some fun.

My department and the admin department at work went bowling together. Last year, accounting had kept it to just us, but hey, we're a friendly bunch. So, my boss and I, all week, debated on who was the worst bowler. I typically average in the mid 60's with a few gutter balls thrown in. It's okay, I've learned to embrace my SUCKTASTIC bowling skills.

I mean, playing Golf Bowling, lowest score wins, is what I'm great at.

So I get there a little early with my boss and my coworker and we get some drinks (Skinny Raspberry Lemonade (or maybe it was blackberry)) while we wait for everyone to show up. I'm stuck on a team with one of the better bowlers in our department, but what do I care, I'm going for lowest score.

The bowling begins. I hit a spare, then a strike and I continue to actually MISS the gutters.

Then, the most magical, amazing and miraculous moment of all... in the tenth frame I hit 3 strikes in a row. Otherwise known as a TURKEY.

I scored 118 in all.

I beat the good bowler on our team by six (and don't think I'm going to let him forget that!)

I scored over 100 the first time ever.

AND because of it, Joseph now has to buy me bowling shoes.

That's all I need to be a happier girl.

1. My 3.5 cup water bottle - if I don't drink 2 of those before I leave work, I'm not drinking enough water. Plus, who doesn't love taking a break from work to PEE?

2. My new work BFF KayShay - She is my fashion guru (partly because my girl Karley is in FL, miss you) and my work out partner. I've gotten many compliments since putting more work into my clothes.

3. Pinterest - holy CRAP, why did it take me so long to get into it? So many things to do, make, eat, see, think and all of it in a pretty virtual vision board. All the fun and none of the work of a real vision board.

4. Pumpkin - is there anything pumpkin ISN'T good in? Pancakes, muffins, butter.... casserole, soup, stew. <3 it and soon I'll be carving one!

5. Fall weather - cooler days, cooler nights, scarves, jackets, leaves turning orange and yellow and red.

6. Yoforia - 25 calories an ounce? Um, I believe that is what love is.

What are currently your favorite things?

So, I've blogged my way to 100 posts. What have I learned?

1. I am so much more than a number
2. I love running although I never imagined I could excel at it
3. It's okay to not be passionate about your job, as long as you make time for what you are passionate about
4. Eating correctly fixes more than just your waistline
5. I am beautiful, inside and out

One of the biggest things I've overcome though, is being shy about my writing. I post each link to a new blog post on my facebook, forcing me outside of my own comfort shell. The compliments and kind words I've received from this have been amazing. Some people I hadn't spoken to in years have contacted me because something I've said mattered to them. I was so self conscious about my own writing, that I could have never imagined that someone could read what I wrote and take something away from it.

I've learned so much since I started to really blog. I've learned about myself, my feelings and how other people see me. I've learned that I do have something to say and people do care. I've learned that as hard as it can be, I really enjoy working to better myself and I hope that doesn't change any time soon.

So, here's to another 100 posts where I will wrap up my stalking series, cover a couple of fall crafts I've completed, and get to wax on about my love of the holidays.

1. Joseph - my husband, my best friend, my favorite person. He truly takes care of me and treats me like his love. I could go on and on, but I'm going to keep it short.

2. My family - This consists of my mom, dad, sister, nephew, aunt, uncle, cousin and grandma. I adore my family. I love seeing them and spending time with them. They are all awesome and amazing people.

3. My In Laws - I have to say, I am a lucky, lucky girl. I love Joseph's family. I always know that when I see them, I'm going to have a great time. I was very blessed with the in-laws I got, especially since I've read a lot of bad in law stories!

4. My friends - I don't have a lot of close friends, but the ones I have, I know I could trust without a doubt. I'm very friendly, but not every one gets to know the real me. For those that do, they are stuck with me for quite a while.

5. Music - I love music. I think my love of it first started when I took guitar. My guitar teacher was like seven years older then me (?) and had great taste in non "old people" music. He introduced me into some of my favorite bands, which only led me to discovering more bands. Music is so inspiring to me in so many ways.

6. Writing - I love creative writing, I love blogging, I love just documenting my life. My dream job would be to get paid to write stories that other people read. Stories that move people, make them feel or inspire them.

7. Reading - You can't really love writing if you don't love reading and I've loved reading since I learned how. I won two different reading contests when I was younger (and made some money!) because I couldn't keep my nose out of a book. Even now, that can be quite a difficult feat!

8. Cooking - I love cooking. I love creating a new recipe or dish. I love feeding people. I love to eat, which probably is a big reason why I love to cook. If I were more creative, I would probably want to go to culinary school, but most of my creativity is funneled into writing not cooking. And, alas, I can't conquer making Lasagna

9. God - I love God although there are (a lot of) times that I do a horrible time of showing it. I have lots of questions and things I don't understand but I've never questioned my belief in or love of God.

I'm stealing this idea off of Megan's blog, who stole it from someone else. But, it is such a great idea and I'm excited about it. She plans to do it as a weekly challenge, I plan to update it as I feel like it.

I'm going to go ahead and start today with Ten Secrets

1. I learned I was a good writer because of fan fiction. Some how I started reading Degrassi: The Next Generation fan fiction and thought, "This sucks, I can do way better." But, I didn't actually start writing it until I got into Harry Potter fan fiction (Draco/Ginny all the way).

2. Although, I'm not always the best at losing weight and living healthy, I want to one day figure out how to help other people become healthier. I love how I feel when I'm eating right and exercising consistently and I know others could benefit from my first hand knowledge.

3. Even though I used to live alone in an apartment, I am terrified of spending the night alone. On the rare times when Joe is out of town, I will go to my mommy and daddy's house and slumber there. (Except when they all abandon me on the same weekend!)

4. I could watch Psych over and over again. I've seen all the episodes on Netflix, numerous times and watching another one right now. I think partially, it's because Spencer reminds me of my husband and also because the show is funny, no matter how many times you watch it.

5. I'm ridiculously bad at making friends. I'm scared of putting myself out there to people and being let down, but once I make really good friends with someone, they typically stay that way.

6. I always have a story plot in the back of my mind, whether it is something I'm working on or something I have yet to work on. Because so many different plots circle around, I often have a hard time finishing a story because I get excited about the next.

7. I have two birthmarks, neither of which people typically see. One is on my butt, which leads people to think I've sat in something when in a bathing suit (which is why know I only wear skirt or short bottoms) and other is in my eye. It makes me wonder if people are bad at making eye contact or just oblivious.

8. One of my favorite compliments of all time was that I was so good at dancing I could be a black girl. I thought the delivery was funny because it was a black guy who told me and he started it with "Don't be offended." It would be pretty rude of me to be offended by that. I took it as the awesome compliment that it was.

9. If I were at a healthy weight, I would be trying to have a baby right now. But, I want to truly live a healthier life before bringing a child into this world because I want my future kids to grow up with a healthy view of food.

10. I have a twitter. I finally caved. My nearest and dearest know my feelings on twitter which makes that even harder to admit. You can follow me @sbragg87. Although, I have 0 tweets, nor do I know how to use it. Twitter 101, anyone?

Motivation, what motivation? This girl has no motivation. It's much easier to believe that working out really hard will take care of all my bad eating habits. I'm 80% good, but when trying to lose weight, that isn't good enough. I've lost my motivation. Flat out have none.


How do people get their motivation back? I really want to run the Disney Princess Half, but not by myself. I'm trying to talk my boss into doing it because her sister wants her to do it too. Then, I would have to train for something AND I would have to work at losing weight because who wants to carry all that weight around.


I just wish I could get some freaking motivation back. I did so flipping great when I started it and now, slacking hard. I just need to focus on all the reasons I want and need to lose weight and the fact that I don't want to look back in regret because I've been slacking.

211, 64, 33, 24, 26, 1987, 7, 145, 5, 105, 135, 16

All numbers that relate to me, all numbers that I let define me, define who I am. I refuse to be defined by a number. I am so much more then my weight, my age, how much I make, how tall I am. I am so much more than just a series of numbers that list random figures about me, but don’t speak to who I am.

I get so caught up in what I lose, what I gain, what I weight, how many points I ate, how I can’t run for five minutes. I let all these numbers just control me and it’s ridiculous. I’m a brilliant, kind, loving, caring, beautiful, talented individual and numbers don’t speak to any of that.

For so long, I was stuck on week 4 of C25K because there was no way that I could possibly jog for more than five minutes. There was no way I could possibly jog for eight, there’s just no way. So, I got rid of the numbers, I got rid of the structure, I removed the “I Can’t” and just focused on the “I Can”

Please, please, please, push me faster


I want to Fly


Please, please, please, push me higher


I’ve got to Fly

I can jog for a song and walk for a song. I can do just one more extra jog. I can jog two long songs in a row and hit ten minutes by barely trying and I can do it because I didn’t let numbers define me. It’s amazing what I could do when I forgot about the seconds counting down until I was done and instead focused on the music, my breathing and my posture.

C25K taught me some very important lessons. It initially taught me that I can jog for a minute at a time, 8 times a work out. It taught me how to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. But, it also held me back because I focused too much on “I can’t make it through five minutes”

What other areas of my life have I held back because of the numbers I feel define me, because my number is too high or low but never just right? I refuse to accept that. I refuse to limit my potential or who I am because my number might not be ideal for society, or someone else or even me. I want to be an extraordinary person, and I won’t be if I let numbers define me, if I let fear of not being the right person effect me. I’m so much more than just a number.

So, this Monday was a far cry from last Monday. Last Monday I was so depressed/sad/anxious/a mess. I was in a funk and I had no reason to be in the funk, but that didn't help me get out of it.

Today was just a great day. I got a lot of sleep. Felt cute going into work. My hair looked great. I had an awesome breakfast and focused on work easily. My boss was back and we got to catch up, her on her great vacation and me on how she is never allowed to go on vacation again.

And then I took my lunch break. I went downstairs to the gym and I had the best treadmill workout I've had since I've started exercising. I burned over 320 calories, jogged for 17 minutes (a new record!) and felt great. I kept it up by avoiding the pizza my company ordered in and instead my amazing husband went and got me subway.

To top off the day, we had delicious taco salad for dinner and I had a bag of Pretzel M&M's, managing to both track and stay in the positive, points wise, for the day.

Have I mentioned my great mood? It's amazing what an energizing weekend can do for your week. Because, as much as I missed my husband while he was visiting my grandmother, I got to recharge. I spent a good deal of it with my bestie at a Juice Plus convetion, meeting some awesome people and learning some great information. And then Sunday, I wrote and HP marathoned.

I just hope this great mood/week continues on to tomorrow. Taco salad for lunch, YUM!

Is everyone else having a great week or day?

I know you see somehow the world will change for me


And be so wonderful
Live life, breathe air I know somehow we're gonna get there
And feel so wonderful


I will make you change your mind
These things happen all the time
And It's all real
I'm telling you just how I feel


So, wake-up the members of my nation
It's your time to be
There's no chance unless you take one
Take the time to see the brighter side of every situation


Some things are meant to be
So give your best and leave the rest to me
(Lyrics from iCarly theme show. I don't care who you are, that show is funny)

I remember graduating high school and knowing that I wanted to go to school for psychology. Then I changed it to marketing. Then to Business Administration. Then I decided I couldn't stand going into student loan debt when I couldn't even figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up.

It has taken me a long time to realize that I don't have to be passionate about my career. I don't want to be defined by my job. I don't want to be a high powered exec, I don't want to be a Dr or an academic. I just want to be able to follow my passions.

I work so that I can afford to have an enjoyable life. I enjoy it well enough, some days I love it, some days I hate it, but it always ends after I put in my eight hours. I have a great boss and great co-workers and get to deal with some amazing people, but at the end of the day it is only a job. It is not what I'm passionate about.

It's only been in the past few months-year that I've really come to understand that I don't have to adore my job, I don't have to be passionate about it, because what I am passionate about, I can explore on my own time.

I love writing.

I love writing this blog. When I'm stressed about losing weight, I bring it here. When I'm so excited that I can barely contain myself, I get to share it. When I am inspired, I can try to inspire others. It helps me hold myself accountable in the things I want to achieve whether it has to do with eating right, exercising or being a better person.

I love writing original stories. I don't share a lot of how much or what I write because I am so self conscious of it, but I love it. I can sit for hours, putting to paper (or Microsoft Word) the story playing in my head. I'm almost never bored because I am always thinking of what is going to happen next. It's hard work to put what's in my head in words but when it is *just right* it can be so rewarding.

So, I might not be passionate about my work, but I work hard so that I can be passionate about my writing. I refuse to *need* to find immense satisfaction in my job to find satisfaction in my life. I have yet to figure out what I really want to do that could earn me enough money so that I could pay my day to day bills but I've figured out what I really want to do to simply make me happy and that is enough.

Life isn't always about following your passions, most of the time it is about fulfilling the status quo, but it should always involve having enough time to follow your passions.

Oh my morning's coming back
The whole world’s waking up
All the city buses swimming past
I’m happy just because
I found out I am really no one
(Lyric from At The Bottom of Everything by Bright Eyes)


Sometimes losing weight is really easy, but most of the time it is just plain hard. To constantly have to worry about what I eat, whether I can "treat" myself today, anxiety on whether I'm going to lose even though I've been perfect. It's like constant stress about something that I'm supposed to be able to control but if it were that easy, I would be thin.

These past few weeks have been Baaaaad. I've been a total Weight Watcher failure. I've lost my motiviation and my will power. It is so much easier to just say "Okay, sure I'll have that milkshake!" "Peanut Butter Cups are my best friend" "Fried food is okay if you eat it on lettuce, right?"

Additionally, exercise has flown out the window. I need to run again. I need to have a date with Georges St. Pierre again.

I know, I need to stop being ridiculous.
I just need to remember that I need to stop wasting my life being uncomfortable in my own skin. Because as much as that milkshake *may* taste better then skinny feels, nothing feels better then truly being happy with who I am. I need to get my head back in the game.

Hopefully confessing my super sucktasticness will help hold me accountable to eat healthier starting my next meal. Because I know that when I eat right, a couple of things go right:
1, I feel better
2. My skin looks better
3. I have more confidence
4. I have better energy
5. I'm all around happier

So, help hold me accountable. Just give me *the look* if you see me eating something crazy. Especially if it looks like something that could be on thisiswhyyourefat.com.

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.
When someone is in your life for a REASON. It is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are!
They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.
Then people come into your life for a SEASON. Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons: things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
(Not sure who wrote the above, but it is great regardless)

It can really hurt, when you think you have made a friend for a lifetime but instead it turns out they were only a reason or season friend. Other times it is a blessing in disguise that they serve a purpose in your life and you can move on. I find it is really impossible to try and figure out how long someone is going to be in my life. When I make a new friend, I don't consider what they are going to mean in my life and treat them as such. Instead, for my friends, my true blues, I'm there, I'm as there as I can be.

In the past few years, I know I've grown a lot into being a better friend. I can look back and see times where I was, inadvertently, a horrible friend. Whether it be because I was short sighted or because I simply didn't know any better, I can see where I've failed as a friend. Because of that, I made myself a reason or season friend, but I can also see which friends are still with me, perhaps for a lifetime.

I have this friend, currently, a truly amazing person. She has affected my life, more than she probably realizes in a manner of positive ways. She is beautiful inside and out and she has this open heart where she wants the best for those she loves. She has definently fulfilled a reason for being my friend. She has been around for numerous seasons and I hope that, no matter what may come, she will be a lifetime friend. Not only has my wardrobe profitted greatly by having her in my life, so have I in every way.

I don't know why I necessarily felt the need to write this. I know my friend has been super stressed out (happens when you have kids and work and try to have a life), but I just want my friend, all my friends really, to know that I care for them. Regardless of why they are in my life, I love my friends and I'm happy and beyond blessed for the people in my life I call "friend". I just hope that more reasons or seasons turn into lifetimers but, if not, that's okay as well.

Joseph and I have been without cable for about a month. We decided to get rid of it because we had slowly nickel and dimed our bill up to $150 for cable and internet. Even once we got rid of all the extras it was still a ridiculous amount when the majority of our time we only watched Netflix on demand.


Joseph, ever the sweet talker, called Comcast and had them just cut off the cable. Not only that, but he talked them down so that we no longer had to pay for a cable router and our internet is at a lower price.

Take note: If you are in a relationship with a natural flirt, let that person use that talent to lower the price on everything and anything possible. Joseph is allowed to flirt as much as he wants as long as it gets us something.

So, what are we doing in the mean time to follow our favorite shows and wind down at the end of the night? Well, like I already said, we watch a TON of Netflix on demand. I've rewatched a ton of my favorite shows and discovered some awesome shows I hadn't seen before.

Since the Playstation network came back up, we also signed up for Hulu +. Not only do they have past episodes of tv shows currently on air, they have past tv shows as well.



Between Netflix & Hulu +, I don't understand why *anyone* would pay for cable.

Hulu + is $8 a month and Netflix on demand is $9 (I think) plus our internet and we are saving close to $100 bucks a month. And I have to say, I am never unable to find something to watch like when we had cable. Additionally, I've been reading a lot more in my free time.

I would like to also point out that Hulu has Daria. How freaking awesome is that?

So, while I don't find anything wrong with people paying for cable, I mean, if I'm at your house and my favorite show happens to be on, I'll watch it. I will say that Joseph and I have found that our wallets have benefitted greatly from getting rid of cable and we have yet to really miss having it.
Although, I will say that it is a good thing that Football season is spent at Joseph's brother's house, otherwise I think he would revolt.

"Being happy doesn't always mean that everything is perfect. It means you've decided to look beyond the imperfections."

A person's day to day happiness is 100% something that can be controlled. I've met homeless people with an awesome outlook on life because they don't let their situation get them down. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I've seen someone that has it "all" but be so consumed by what makes them less then perfect that they get no enjoyment out of life.

Every day, when I roll out of bed, I have a decision to make "Is this going to be a great day?" And, 9 days out of 10, it is a great day because my perspective makes it that way. Instead of seeing everything negative in my life, I choose to see all the ways I've been blessed.

Perhaps the best thing that ever happened to me was being told "You're really negative" Because at first, it really annoyed me and then I realized that if I didn't want to be that negative person, only I could change it. Denying my negativity wouldn't change anything, only accepting it and wanting to be a more positive person would help me change.

My perspective today was that I was going to have a great and healthy date. I made myself look forward to my work out. I couldn't wait to enjoy my food. I had the report from hell to do, but hey it made my day fly by. Why get bogged down by the fact that the report was never ending? Why let the thought of posting 69 payments in less than an hour stress me out? Why get so bent out of shape out of things that don't matter in the long run?

And tomorrow... I cannot wait to get some sort of run in. This girl is super excited to get super sweaty and gross, enjoy a new breakfast and drink lots of water. I can't wait to update the most tedious spreadsheet because it means I have a job. I can't wait to get some sleep tonight and curl up in my bed, next to my husband and snuggle him.

None of these are big amazing things, but I can't wait to enjoy them. So, what in your life have you overlooked as amazing?

The past few weeks of eating have been nothing short of scandalous and atrocious. Although my weight has continued on a downward spiral, it has been more to do with activity then it does my food choices. Freaking Easter candy got to me. (But I have a plan for that, which will be enacted tomorrow)

But, today I told Joseph "I'm ready to get back to counting points." I think this happens to most people who do Weight Watchers. For a few weeks/months/whatever, you have total and complete focus and then for a week or two (sometimes months, but hopefully not!) you just need to stop caring. That has been me to a "T"

I've written out my menu plan, including snacks and have the corresponding grocery list to go with it. Additionally, I cleaned out my fridge tonight. I mean, this has been a chore I have been avoiding for weeks. You know how it is, it slowly starts geting worse and worse until you realize you have reached one of two poitns: 1. Clean it out or 2. Quickly open door, grab or put away what you need and close the door without actually looking in it.

So, tonight, everything came out of the fridge. A good deal of it was thrown away, expired or gone bad, the shelves were sprayed and wiped down and I refilled the fridge with what was left. It is sad how bare our fridge is, but at the same time, it is going to be really nice to fill it up with delicious and healthy food tomorrow after we go grocery shopping.

We threw out the old, to make way for the healthy. There is something therapuetic and nice about having a clean fridge full of foods that you *know* will make your body better. I'm also ridiculously excited about the meal plan. Mom and I invested in e-mealz (Jasmine, I'm sending you a sample menu plan and more info because I think you might be interested) and it really does lower my grocery bill and make it very easy to menu plan. Additionally, although I enjoy their Publix for 2 people and they don't necessarily make it low fat, they do include a fruit or vegetable (most of the time both) with each meal and it isn't too hard to make it a healthier meal.

This week we are enjoying:
Tacos with caramalized/fried bananas
Chicken Enchilada Casserole w/ a side salad
Mozzarella Stuffed Flank Steak w/ Mashed potatoes and a side salad
Loaded Baked Potatoes w/ Roasted Asparagus & salad
*Side notes: they did not list side salad for all their meals, but I changed it to something easier for us They also include another meal but we normally only need 4 meals during the week since we eat at my mom's once a week. Also this is the Publix for 2, but it actually makes 4 servings which means we have leftovers for lunch the next day*

When you lose weight, it's hard to see yourself objectively. No matter how much the scale goes down, or clothes get too big, or how many activities get easier to do, sometimes all a person wants is to see results. And honestly, when you change little by little every day, it is hard to notice. I look in the mirror and I see the same thing every day, the same flaws, the same scars, the same shape. And as much as I'm doing this because I want to be a healthier person, and I want to be healthy when I have kids and I want to share with other people how being a healthier person cannot only be fun but tasty, sometimes I just want to *see* the change in myself.

Sometimes, I want to be able to look in the mirror and see that I'm slimmer or more toned but I can't. I mean, occasionally I feel slimmer but I don't see it, I literally can't see a change. I still just look like me. In a weird way, as I've lost weight, I've become more vain about how I look and I've put more effort into my look because the better I feel about how I look, the more I work at it.

In the past two days, I've gotten separate compliments from people who hadn't seen me for a good while. "Wow, you look great, like a whole other person." It makes me wish I could see some of my friends less, because it is such a motivator to know that the changes I continue to make in my life are resulting in a noticeable change, even if I don't see it and it is a great push to keep me going until I *can* see the change in myself.

As much as I've always loved going to sleep, I've always loved waking up in the morning of a good nights rest. I was never the kind of girl who could sleep in, which made slumber parties a special form of torture. Perhaps that is where my love of reading really came from. You can wake up and read quietly until others wake up, which is more fun then just laying their bored.

But, being awake in the morning, by myself, is now a special treat. It doesn't happen so much with Joe and more because we usually get up at the same time which I'm fine with. I think it makes my private vacation mornings all the more special. I've spent the last hour or so, on the balcony, wrapped in a blanket and sitting on a lounge chair, reading a book and enjoying the sound of the waves. The sun is slowly making its way around the building and a strip of me is bathed in light. Slowly more and more people are venturing to the beach.

At first it was only the hardcore runners, which slowly turned to couples walking and enjoying the morning breeze. Now, people are lugging their beach bags and umbrellas, setting up their chairs and applying their sunscreen. Preparing for a relaxed day where the water kisses their toes and the sun warms their face.

I get in my own head when I'm alone in the morning. There is nothing to interrupt my thoughts or pull me from myself. I sit in my thoughts and I bathe in them, roll them around in my brain and just enjoy them. With everything there is to interrupt a train of thought; tv, computers, radio, people; it is truly nice to be lost in my own head. Most of the time I'm thinking of the next thing I'm going to write, or that scene that just won't happen correctly, but sometimes I reflect on my life and what is happening in it. The things I never expected to happen, the words I never expected to hear or the ways in which changing myself effects other people, for the good or the bad.

Reading in the morning takes on a whole new speed. Instead of rushing to finish the next page/chapter/book before I run out of time; I savor the words and take a minute to think of the words so carefully typed on the page. I can take twenty minutes to finish two pages because I stop so much to just mull over the book, the people, the ideas.

And then, when I've done enough thinking... I've mulled over enough ideas.... I've lived in my head long enough. I have to write. I have to get something out. I have to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and I have to put all my thoughts into words because if it doesn't come out I might just burst.

It's still quiet in the condo. Kids/babies/adults are all still asleep and a part of me wonders how anyone could sleep away the morning. The concept had eluded me as a child and it still constantly eludes me as an adult. But, good for them sleeping, because otherwise, I couldn't quietly commune with the beach.

As I write this, I can hear waves as the roll onto shore, I can see pristine sand and blue ocean, and my skin is sticky from salty air and sand. Up until a few years ago, I didn't think I cared about the beach. Then, we got invited to a beach wedding and for the first time in a number of years, I visited the beach. This is my third time back since that wedding. I love the beach.

Joseph and I, along with his brother's family have ventured down to Daytona Beach for the week. (Saturday to next Sunday to be exact) My porcelain pale skin is already freckling up and trying to take on a pink hue, which is why I'm up in the condo, taking a break from the sun and the beach.

There is something instantly calming about coming to the beach. I'm not sure if it is just the vacation itself or if the endless blue ocean rolling in and out has something to do with it, but I do know, I could be perfectly happy "toes in the water, ass in the sand". Zac Brown may not be my favorite band, but they got that part right.

For the most part our vacation is totally unplanned, but there are a few things we must do while we are here. One day for lunch this week we will be eating at Aunt Catfish on the River with their great lemonade and awesome cinnamon rolls. A trip to Crabby Joes is necessary so we can eat a delicious meal on the pier while we watch the tide roll in. Then it is a short drive from the condo to the lighthouse to climb it. That will be fun. And, I know Joe really wants to visit the Daytona Beach pier, so if it is open (It was closed for rennovations last time), we will be going for a visit.

So, when it comes to food and drink, it should be no surprise to anyone that I have many loves. I love cheese, chocolate, ice cream, Frostys, Mexican food, pasta, cake, cookies, soda, chocolate milk; the list could go on and on.

One drink, in particular, that I love is Propel. A Propel a day keeps me from being mean, ensures I will get at least 3 servings of water a day and is just plain delicious. It seems everyone has their own preference for flavored water and mine is, most certainly, Propel, strawberry kiwi flavored.

I typically buy a case from Walmart and keep it at my desk at work so I can have a propel every day. And then, something bad happens: I run out and have no time to buy more.

That has happened to me this weekend. Goodness, what a horrible thing to happen. But, because I am shameless and I love Propel, I hunted down a dollar to get a Propel. But, in return, I owe someone something for that dollar.

Without further ado: Jason made me write this line

And I have to say, the Propel was totally worth it.

So at the beginning of March I made some goals. Let's review them, shall we?
Enjoy my Anniversary! - Easiest Goal ever. See previous Anniversary post to see how much fun we had on that!


Hike a Local Park - Never did this. Between injuring myself, rainy weekends and not having time, it never happened. *But* I did tour Turner Field, which I feel should almost count.

Continue with C25K - Back to the darn injury. That threw a 2 week wrench in my plan, on top of that the gym at work has been closed. I have been walking with coworkers and this past week was my first week back on running and considering th rain forcasted for this week, I probably won't get to run this week, much.

Move on to Level 2 of 30 Day Shred - Although I did this with semi regularity, let me remind you of the darn injury. Seriously, stupid hip! But I also bought Jillian's Yoga Dvd and switched the two out. Still on level 1 but not giving up.

Workout 16 out of 31 Days - Even with the hip injury I'm pretty freaking sure I completed this goal. I've learned to actually *enjoy* working out so I do make sure to do it at least 4 out of the 7 days of the week and most weeks at least 5 days.

Attend Church at Least 2 of the 4 Sundays in March - Done. We didn't go today and that makes me sad, but once we are back from the beach, Church is on the To Do List

Make the Bed Every Morning - This was such a failure, not even funny.

But, I have some goals for this week I want/need to accomplish:

30 Day Shred - I want to complete this on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for sure. Friday might be difficult since it will be super busy with depositing my dog at my mom's, packing up the car for the trip and getting my nails done, but if time permits, I'm pretty sure I can talk the sis in law into doing it with me.

Laundry - it certainly is one of those things that is never done. BUT, I need to get it under control. I need to make sure everything gets folded/hung in a timely manner and keep the dirty laundry to no more than 1 dirty load at a time.

Pack for my trip - The list of things I need to pack for this trip is ridiculously long. Since we are staying in a condo for the week, not only do I have clothes to pack, but both kitchen supplies and cooking ingredients. I'm also one of those people who simply cannot pack light. I have a packing list (considering how messy I can be, I'm very list oriented) and I just need to make sure to follow it and add stuff as it occurs to me.

Stay OP- Ever since my anniversary, I've had the hardest time not going over points. It doesn't help that I haven't done a lot of cooking, Joseph has. But, I've discovered that for me to be successful, I have to be involved in cooking. This week we are having Turkey Burgers, Scilian Rice Ball Casserole and Chicken Taco Chili. Super yummy foods that will make it easy to stay OP.