Spring Break Part II

Its been an interesting week, but now I am once again up in wine country.  I've had an awesome day, despite not being the healthiest.  I just found out that my hotel has a 24/7 gym, so I'm going to try and hit that up in the morning (I need a shower anyways).  Wish me luck!  See my wine notes at http://drinkmedivine.blogspot.com/.

Spring Break

The theme of my spring break is 'wine'... This first weekend I went to wine country in Temecula, and in a few days I'll be going to Santa Maria for even more wine.  It has been a lot of fun, albeit I have not been the healthiest.  I'm going back home for 2 days tomorrow and so I'm hoping that I can work out at least one of the days but, regardless, I am happy to be so lucky and to have had such great experiences.  I can't wait to start Spring Quarter off strong with healthy foods and exercise along with some more great times to end my college experience! :)

See my reviews of the wine and tasting rooms at here.

Resilience ~ Daily Log 3/21

So the last 24 hours hasn't gone exactly has expected, and it is kind of throwing me for a loop.  As I mentioned in my last post, everything kind of crashed and burned last night... My good friend and I were upset that we paid $30 and barely got any pitch ins for alcohol, so we left where we were to get good food.  We ended up at another friend's house and played games, which turned out to be the highlight of the night until everyone but my friend and I went to go participate in an on campus thing at midnight.  My good friend ended up getting drunk (not sure how, I was sober) and went to bed, and I met up with another friend from the original party who was also having a really bad night because of the same girl... We ended up talking  until 2am in the morning, both frustrated.

When she left, I was wide awake. So of course I whipped out the How I Met Your Mother and watched it until 4:30am.  God I love that show.  But now I'm at the office, its 9:30am, and I feel like a zombie.  I feel slightly numb and disappointed, and I just hope that I can bring myself up over the next 48 hours to make the most of my days and not let stupid things bring me down.  These are the first few days of spring break and even though most of my friends are leaving for home tonight, I still have some here that I can hang with... or I can even just have a constructive, fun/chill night at home.  We shall see... I just strive to keep a smile on my face.

I'm here until 12, and what happens from there is still a mystery to me. It'd be awesome if I could actually get myself to work out after this (since I've worked out 2 days in a row now), but at the same time I don't know if its the best idea considering how much sleep I'm running on.  Its also a beautiful day out, so I was contemplating going out by the pool and tanning / napping... We shall see.  I have the power to make things better.

Breakfast

• Apple
• Cutie
• Yoplait 100 Calorie Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt

Lunch
Dinner
Water Intake

Freedom! ~ Daily Log 3/20

I'm finally done with finals, and it feels SO GOOD! I had a really hard time focusing on studying last night and also falling asleep (I spent a lot of time on Pinterest), and I felt like I kept waking up through out the night.  It really worried me because my final was at 8am, and in order to get in a good breakfast and get ready I should wake up by 7am.  Luckily for me, I got my ass out of bed at 6:45am (a huge feat!).

This final was for positive psychology which, ironically, is with the teacher I hate most (or almost most) in this world.  It was hysterical because she pissed everyone off this morning by "requiring" us to stay 1.5 hours so that if people were late, they could still come in and take the test.  Mind you, this test only takes an average of 30-45 minutes to take.  There was an uproar of protest and as people tried to leave when they were finished, fights ensued.  This teacher really does not know what she's doing - you don't screw with college students on finals week! And c'mon, seriously... if I got my ass out of bed on time and made it by 8am, so can everyone else.

Anyways, I am finished with my test, got my brake light replaced, and got a great work out in! I also biked to and from class :) Today is going to be an awesome day! After everyone is finished with their final, we're all going to go try a new food place, then chill and probably drink... I'm so happy!!!

***Update from later in the day***

So things didn't go as well as I had hoped.  There's this one 'friend' of ours who always seems to screw us over when it comes to money... We'll go and buy drinks for everyone with the promise that everyone will pitch in, but it never seems to happen.  Today, a good friend of mine and I spent $30 on drinks/mixers.  There were supposed to be 4 or 5 of us, so we said it'd be about $6 each.  It started off fine until this 'friend' decides to invite her boytoy over along with 5 of his friends... and offers them all our alcohol. We quickly run out of booze, and everyone wants us to go get more.  This 'friend' & her other bitchy friend pitch in $5 each (not even their share) and expect us to come back with beer.  The second my friend and I leave, they start talking behind our backs.  When they realize we're not coming back (screw that), they freak out even more saying how bitchy we are and that they pitched in for that beer (yeah right).  I'm in a predicament now because I really want to confront this girl about it but at the same time I'm not sure if its worth it... She's obviously not a true friend.  Sigh. I don't know.  I'll figure it out, but its small things in life like this that make you realize how inconsiderate people can be...

Breakfast

• Hashbrowns w/ 1 Fried Egg, Sour Cream, 1/2 Avocado

Workout

• 1 min run (6 mph), 2 min walk (4 mph) 7x
• 90 Jumping Jacks
• 20 Tricep Dips
• 10 Sit-ups
• 30 Second Plank
• 40 Crunches
• 10 Oblique Crunches (each side)
• 20 Standing Calf Raises

Lunch

• Korean BBQ Spicy Chicken Burrito

Dinner

• Steak Burrito

HIMYM ~ Daily Log 3/19

I think I have Netflix-somnia.  I literally can not fall asleep unless a) its 3 am and b) I've watched an unreasonable amount of How I Met Your Mother.  I think I may have a problem.

In other news, I woke up at a decent hour today (10:30am) and got a good work out in.  I plan to study a bit then I have work for 4 hours later.  So all in all, its been a boring yet productive day :)

Last night I also had the chance to watch my first TED Talk by Brene Brown on vulnerability.  I was actually really interested in the subject, and I think a lot of people can relate to what she has to say. In a nutshell, she discovered in her research that the most "whole hearted" people were those who allowed themselves to be vulnerable and accept themselves as imperfect.  That latter portion really hit me, and I think that this well be a lecture I will want to watch again in the near future.  All of us have those moments of self-loathing where we replay an embarrassment or hard time in our heads over and over and over again and wonder why we acted so foolishly.  But there is strength in accepting yourself as you are, being open to new experiences, and working to improve yourself each and every day.  To watch this TED Talk, click here.

I've also been studying for my final in Positive Psychology.  One of the main things that comes up over and over is finding and cultivating your "Strengths."  I was intrigued by this, especially since the research has shown that people who do this tend to be happier and more successful overall in their work, their personal lives, and just life in general.  I decided to look up the official test which is at www.strengthsquest.com, but I didn't realize that you have to have a code.  Instead, I looked up a free version which might not be as accurate or comprehensive, but I still found it interesting and I think its an accurate match.

My top 5 strengths were:

1. Maximizer - focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.
2. Significance - want to be very important in the eyes of others.  They are independent and want to be recognized.
3. Relater - enjoy close relationships with others.  They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.
4. Activator - can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient.
5. Developer - recognize and cultivate the potential in others   They spot the signs of each small improvement and derive satisfaction from these improvements.

My top 5 weaknesses were:

1. Adaptability - prefer to 'go with the flow.' They tend to be 'now' people who take things as they come and discover the future one day at a time.
2. Connectedness - have faith n the links between all things.  They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason.
3. Strategic - create alternative ways to proceed.  Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.
4. Communication - generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words.  They are good conversationalists and presenters.
5. Achiever - have a great deal of stamina and work hard.  They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.

So now the next step for me is to focus on and integrate my strengths into my everyday life.  For instance, as a Maximizer I can focus on my employee's strengths and work to make goals for everyone to help the workplace flourish.  As someone who values significance, I can work on my self-image and confidence so that my need in this area is met. As a relater, I can work to spend more time with friends and find mutually enjoyable activities and goals that we can meet as a team.  As an activator, I can take better use of my time and get everything I've wanted to do, done.  And as a Developer, I can spend even more energy on my friends and employees making sure to check up on them, keep them motivated, and praise them for their successes.

Also, I will try to recognize my weaknesses and work with them so that I can slowly improve.  I look forward to using this new knowledge to improve my life.  To take the free strengths test, click here. 

And now a short and awesome How I Met Your Mother quote by Marshall: "Ted, this is pathetic.  Its Saturday night and we should be out at a bar drinking alcohol. Now I know that that sounds depressing, bordering on tragic, but it's just a fact!"

Marshall Erikson, I get you.

Breakfast

• Yellow Apple

Workout

• 1 min run (6 mph), 2 min power-walk (4 mph) 7x
• 80 Jumping Jacks
• 50 Vertical Leg Crunches
• 20 Sit-ups
• 15 Tricep Dips
• 20 Squats
• 10 Side Lunges (each leg)
• 15 Leg Lifts (each leg)
• 50 Bicycles
• 15 Wall Push-ups
• 80 Russian Twists

Post-Workout

• Hashbrowns w/ 1 Egg, Salsa, Sour Cream, & 1/2 Avocado

Lunch

• Corned Beef and Cabbage (woo St. Patty's!)

Dinner

• 1/2 Avocado
• Corned Beef and Cabbage (hey now, I have a full roast of this... I have to eat it!)

Water Intake

• 6 cups of water (& counting)
• 2 cups of coffee

Finals Week ~ Daily Log 3/18

It is finals week, but I am one of the lucky few.  Of my 3 classes, 1 doesn't have a final, 1 had the final essay due last week, and the last one has a final on Wednesday but it is an incredibly easy class (I got 105% on the midterm and have completed 2 extra credit assignments).  Because of this, I have not been worried at all and enjoyed my weekend.  Saturday I went to Solvang, CA and tasted at 3 different tasting rooms (see my reviews here: Sort This Out, SevTap, & Kalyra Winery).  This was my first time actually taking notes on the different wines, and it turned out to be a lot of fun!

On Sunday (Happy St. Patrick's Day!), I went downtown and tasted wine at Santa Barbara Winery and Oreana (we became members)! Oreana had some absolutely delicious wines along with a live band, and we had a great time! After that we went to go eat at one of my favorite restaurants, then I went to a friend's party and had way too much beer haha. St. Patty's only comes once a year!

Today I decided to crack down on my studying, so that's what I've been doing all day. Good news is that I pretty much have all of my flashcards done, which leaves me the rest of tonight and all of tomorrow (except for a 4 hour shift at work) to study.  I'm excited for this quarter to be over and Spring Break to begin!

Say My Name ~ Daily Log 3/15

Stayed up late again last night, and had a lot of fun :) Woke up at around 11am today, and I don't have work til later, so I put some laundry in and I'm going to go work out.  I may not be at my ideal weight yet, but I can definitely appreciate what and who I am at this point.  I am curvy and beautiful, incredibly womanly, and I am proud of who I am today.  I can look in the mirror and see a seductive woman staring back at me.  This just motivates me even more - each and every day I am getting better.

And this journey is solely for me.  I'm not doing this for anyone else past, present, or future.  I am already a catch as it is, but this journey towards improvement just makes me more and more confident every day.  There are great people in my life, and I find myself to be increasingly happy each day.  I can laugh at the small things, put a smile on even if I'm not having the best day, and focus my energies on the positive.

I'm so happy to be alive.

Breakfast

• Apple & Cinnamon Oatmeal
• Yellow Apple

Workout

• 1 min run (6mph), 2 min powerwalk (4mph) 7x
• 60 Jumping Jacks
• 40 Crunches
• 10 Sit-ups
• 10 Tricep Dips
• 20 Side Lunges (each side)
• 15 Push-ups
• 10 Oblique Crunches (each side)
• 60 Butt Kickers
• 5 Jump Squats
• 15 Vertical Leg Crunches

Lunch

• One of the BEST meals I have ever made: Shrimp Tacos. I literally licked my plate.
• Shrimp Sauteed with Old Bay, Lime, & Chili Powder
• Red Cabbage
• Avocado
• Black Bean Salsa
• Cream Sauce with Lime, Chili, & Cilantro

Dinner

• Fiesta Salad in a Jar (Black Bean Salsa, Cucumber, Avocado, Chicken, Lettuce)

Water Intake

• 1 cup of coffee 
• 6 cups of water (& counting)

Strength ~ Daily Log 3/14

It's such a relieving feeling being practically done with finals.  After turning in my final essay yesterday, I got to take a quick power nap and then do a really good work out.  Went to the grocery store with my good friend, which turned into also getting some beers and watching How I Met Your Mother (oh my goodness I love this show, especially with a couple beers in me hah).  Go check out my reviews of Blue Moon Sunshine Citrus Blonde and Blue Moon Valencia Grove Amber by clicking the links.

I ended up going to bed at like 3am because I couldn't stop watching my show, and hopefully I won't regret that decision today... I have 2.5 hours in the office, then have to run to lab for 3 hours, then class for an hour, then run home and get ready for work. So much funnnnn. Its okay though, I'll just be way too caffeinated the entire time ;) haha

I won't be able to get a work out in today because of my schedule, but I'm deciding that my beginning "getting back to it" goal should be to go every other day.  I went Monday, Wednesday, and I'm going to try to go Friday, maybe Saturday, and Sunday.  I'm feeling good, and I'm proud of myself :) I can't wait to keep this up.  Spring Break is coming up and I'm already trying to figure out how I'm going to keep the exercise up... *fingers crossed*

~Update from later in the day~
So since my bike is broken, I had to powerwalk to school today because the bus wouldn't get me there on time.  I calculated it, and its about 1.7 miles, so powerwalking felt like somewhat of a work out.  My thighs are also STILL sore from Monday... crazy, huh?! What sucks is that when I got to the lab, I found out there was a problem with the schedule... so all of my labs were cancelled, and I was supposed to have been there for 3 hours. Awesome. So I went back home and took a long nap... so much fun aha.

Breakfast

• Yoplait 100 Calorie Strawberry Greek Yogurt

Snack

• 1 Cutie
• Apple

Lunch

• Pesto Chicken Sandwich with Mushrooms and 1 slice of swiss cheese

Small Meal #1

• 2 Tacos w/ Carne Asada, 1/2 Avocado, & Black Bean Salsa

Small Meal #2

• Salad in a Jar - Black Bean Salsa, 1/2 Avocado, Cucumber, Sprouts, Lettuce

Water Intake

• 2 cup of coffee (& counting)
• 6 cups of water (& counting)

"What Went Well" Exercise

Ripple Effects ~ Daily Log 3/13

I woke up early today (a rather large feat for me) and finished some extra credit for one of my classes.  I also actually attended my 9:30am class this morning, and I am feeling really confident about my finals.  I turn in my final essay today, and then all I'll have left is a final next Wednesday (I got a 105% on the midterm + 2 extra credit assignments, I have a feeling I'll be just fine :P).  I also don't have my usual meeting tonight, so I'll have plenty of time to get a good work out in and also hang with my friends.  I am still incredibly sore from my work out on Monday, and its such an awesome feeling. I can just feel my body toning up!  Life is good, and it will only be getting better.  The entire campus even smells like plumerias. 

I am so very lucky to have an amazing support system, and I just know that my newfound freedom and excitement will lead me towards even more beautiful and inspiring people.  My life is just beginning :)

*Update from later on in the day*

I got to class a bit early today since I had to take the bus (my bike broke), so I decided to venture out to the lagoon and relax.  I listened to the Pandora Station for Iz - Over the Rainbow, and I can't tell you how much it uplifted my soul.  Just watching the water ripple, the birds fly and chirp, and admiring the bright blue open sky made my heart fill up with joy.  It was also interesting to look around at all the different people, either jogging by the shore, relaxing with friends, sun-bathing, or lying side by side with their partner.  There was just so much good stuff happening at once :) I'm going to try to make it a plan to use my time more wisely and explore all the beauty around me.

"Someday, I wish upon a star

Wake up where the clouds are far behind me

Where trouble melts like lemon drops

High above the chimney top

That's where you'll find me...

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky

And also on the faces of people passing by

I see friends shaking hands saying

How do you do?

they're really saying I, I love you."

Breakfast

• Yopa! Black Cherry Greek Yogurt w/ Granola
• 2 Cuties

Lunch

• Jalapeno Lean Pocket

Snack

• String Cheese
• Orange

Workout

• 2 min powerwalking (4 mph), 1 min running (6mph), 7x
• 90 Jumping Jacks
• 20 Tricep Dips
• 20 Sit-ups
• 30 Sec Plank (5x)
• 40 Crunches
• 10 Oblique Crunches (each side)
• 20 Standing Calf Raises
• 50 Bicycles
• 50 Vertical Leg Crunches

Dinner

• Tacos with Guacamole, Sprouts, and Carne Asada

Water Intake

• 2 cups of coffee (& counting)
• 4 cups of water (& counting)

"What Went Well" Exercise
1.  I am officially finished with 2 of my finals.

• Why did this happen? I've kept up with the work load all quarter, and it allowed me to relatively painlessly get through my finals :)

2.  I got to relax by the water and contemplate how beautiful life is.

• Why did this happen? Instead of sitting and waiting in a windowless lab, I decided my time would be better spent out in nature, even if it meant having to rush to lab.
• How can I make this happen more often? Perhaps wake up a bit earlier each day so that I can arrive places early and soak in the beauty all around me.

3.  I had my friends by my side to reassure and motivate me.

• Why did this happen? I have cultivated lasting friendships and also learned to ask for help when I need it. 

Beautiful Day ~ Daily Log 3/12

I woke up to birds chirping outside my window, the sun bright in the sky. It is such a lovely day to be alive.  I am so thankful to be where I am today... in a great apartment that I decorated myself, with a lovely garden, in a beautiful city.  There may be bad days here and there, but all in all I realize how truly lucky I am.  In a few months, my life will be changing completely, and I can't wait to go forth on that journey. Until then, I know some amazing and caring people that I can't wait to live it up with for the next few months until graduation.

Today will be a very productive day.  I have my essay to finish, extra credit to complete, and an event to throw. I'm also incredibly sore from my workout yesterday, which is a good thing! Each day I'm just a little bit closer to Spring Break :) I can't wait to show this world what I've got.

Breakfast

• Chicken Tacos w/ Guacamole, Tomato, & Sprouts

Lunch

• Chobani Passion Fruit Greek Yogurt
• Cinnamon Raisin Bagel w/ Jam
• 4 Cuties

Dinner

• Salad with Chicken, 1/2 Avocado, Sprouts, Basil Mozzarella, and Tomato

Water Intake

• 4 cups of coffee
• 6 cups of water

"What Went Well" Exercise
1.  I've realized I can control my mood and feelings, and not let them control me.

• Why did this happen? There are shitty things that happen in this life, but why should you focus any of your precious energy on them? Through simple reevaluation, you can try to see situations clearly and oftentimes realize that whatever happened might just be a blessing in disguise.
• How can I make this happen more?  Be aware of your feelings, and what causes them.  Realize it is your thoughts about the situation, not the situation itself, that causes your reaction.  Work to change your thought process. 

2.  We got our tallies for office coverage this quarter, and out of all 29 of my colleagues, I had the highest tally :) Which means I don't have to work move out / in, and I look incredibly awesome to my bosses.

• Why did this happen? I volunteered to work 30 min extra each week (which adds up) which not only makes their life easier, but it works to my advantage as well.  I often get homework done during this period, so its worked out well!

3.  I finished my last event of the quarter, and it went really well!

• Why did this happen? With hard work, creativity, and determination, we got it done :) Never doubt yourself, and never be afraid to ask for help or ideas!

Moving On ~ Daily Log 3/11

I had a difficult time sleeping last night, but I'm feeling better today.  It is an absolutely wonderful day, and I have the world at my fingertips.  I woke up and looked in the mirror this morning and thought "Hot damn, girl, you're lookin' fine." What makes it even better is that I will be improving myself every day, so I'll look even better. I don't know why I let myself stay with such an egotistical asshole to begin with, I could get any guy I want.  What's funny is pretty much within 24 hours of finding out how truly terrible of a person my ex was, 3 different guys popped up out of nowhere.  I'm not interested in anything right now, but oh does it feel good :) Its funny because the girl my ex had been cheating with sounds like a complete idiot haha. She reminds me of one of my exes mother, the gypsy type who thinks she's all that but you knock and no one seems to be home hahaha. They deserve each other ~

I also have some great friends, and was able to go to Happy Hour last night and see Oz with them. They can always put a smile on my face, and I'm so happy that I can just focus on myself and my friends from here on out.  I don't need someone manipulative and evil in my life.  The fact that he felt like he had the right to control every little faction of my life like a puppet master is absolutely sickening.

Today I will be working on my essay, going to class, then working out with a friend of mine who offered to train me.  Life is looking up, and there's absolutely no reason why I should waste any more time on the past. :)  I love the quote in the picture above, because it is so true... I've gone through a lot of shit in my time, and even at my darkest moments when I think my life is over, I keep living.  And within weeks or sometimes months, I'm smiling and enjoying life again.  Within years, I have nearly forgotten all of the horrible shit I've went through.  This is a phase in my life that I have to, and will, get over, and I will be a better person because of it.

Breakfast

• Hashbrowns w/ 1 Fried Egg, 1/2 Avocado, & Sour Cream

Lunch

• 2 Pink Oranges
• Pear Chobani Greek Yogurt

Workout

• "Maximize Your Assets" Fitness Class

Dinner

• Broiled Swai w/ Brown Rice and Steam Zucchini, Asparagus, Spinach, & Onion

Drinks

• 1 cup of coffee 
• 6 cups of water (& counting)
• 1 glass of [yellow tail] Shiraz - Cabernet (see my review here)

"What Went Well" Exercise
1.  Despite not sleeping well, I feel very refreshed and invigorated.

• Why did this happen? I took a good hard look at my life and realized there's no reason to mourn over the past, but rather to focus on the bright future ahead.
• How can I make this happen more?  Focus on the good things in life and recognize when history begins repeating itself.

2.  I am free of manipulation.

• Why did this happen? Because I found out what was happening, and I refused to let it happen anymore.
• How can I make this happen more? Recognize when these things happen, and don't just let it go.  Don't make time in your life for people who just use and control you.  Realize that its better to be alone than to be in the company of sick people.

3. I finished a full rough draft of my paper.

• Why did this happen? I got myself some coffee and forced myself to write it out, knowing that the process of revision and finishing this paper will be a lot easier tonight and tomorrow because of it.
• How can I make this happen more? Suck it up, erase all distractions, and provide myself a gameplan and rewards for achieving different milestones in my work.

Horrible Day.

I have a crazy ex. How do I always attract these people? Everyone who I have ever cared about has ended up hurting me in the worst ways.  This guy has treated me horribly for over a year now... and yet I took him back.  Only to find out that he had been saving all of my passwords, snooping in my phone and Facebook, blocking or deleting guys. What's worse, I found out that he had been recently messaging girls dirty pictures, got one of their addresses, and was going to go have sex with her. Supposedly he didn't but it doesn't even matter. Its funny, around the same time he was doing this he was also messaging me calling me sweetie and babe.

I feel so abused. Why do I always let this happen? Why do I always let myself forget these things?

My heart hurts pretty badly right now. I want to focus on my school work or go work out... but I have the worst feeling in my stomach. I can't even cry.  I don't think I will. I'm 1000x more angry that I am sad.  I really hope I never have to see or hear from him again.  I hope my life starts taking a turn for the better. I only have 3 more months here... I need to make the most of it. I can't believe I wasted 1.5 years of my college experience on him.

One day, I will meet someone who truly loves me and would never do anything to hurt me. One day. Until that day comes, I just need to focus on my life, my true friends, and my happiness. I will get through this.  I will be a better person because of this hardship.  I will never let somebody treat me this way again.

Gym Time ~ Daily Log 3/8

So I did it. I finally did it. I made it to the gym before work. Even though I was lazy as hell and slept in until 11am (in my defense, I had to wake up at 3:30am for an On Call matter), I had some coffee and went to the gym for about 50 min, giving me enough time to shower, eat, and prep for work at 3:45pm. I'm kind of tired still, but I'm happy that I got off my ass and did it.  I'd love to keep this up!

Workout

• 2 min power walking (4mph), 1 min running (6mph) 7x
• 60 Jumping Jacks
• 40 Crunches
• 10 Sit-ups
• 10 Tricep Dips
• 20 Side Lunges (each side)
• 10 Oblique Crunches (each side)
• 60 Butt Kickers
• 5 Jump Squats
• 15 Jack Knife Sit-ups

Post-Workout Meal

• Hashbrowns w/ 1 egg, 1 piece of bacon (if that isn't self-control, idk what is!), 1/2 avocado, & 2tbsp of sour cream

Snack
Dinner
Water Intake

• 4 cups of Sassy Water (& counting)
• 2 cups of coffee (& counting)

"What Went Well" Exercise

Exhausted ~ Daily Log 3/7

It was so hard to get out of bed this morning; my room was warm and toasty and I was bundled up perfectly.  Plus I knew it was cold and rainy outside. But, life calls... I had to go to office hours, which wasn't too bad because I got some stuff done and for once this week, I didn't feel like I was about to pass out. 

Then when I got back home, I made some lunch and it all went down hill. I desperately wanted a nap.  Not only that, but I realized that I had to make it to lab today, which requires me to bike up hills in the rain.  I ended up taking about a half hour nap, got myself ready, and then made the trek.  My thighs were aching by the time I got here (to lab).  But hey, that's exercise of some sort, huh?

I really don't know what's happened to me. I can't just blame the weather forever.  I really wish I had someone in my life to keep me in check, and keep pushing me to go forward.  But I need to learn to do that for myself. 

I'm on call again tonight, and I'm going to try and resolve to ride my bike to address any calls I receive.  We will see how that works out, especially if its raining.

In other news, I'm going to watch the last episode of Breaking Bad tonight :D We watched 3 episodes last night, and I can't believe its almost over! Its nice to relax a bit, but I know I should also probably get some reading done or work on my essay a bit.  Its so hard to actually focus for such a long period of time without just wanting to chill with some wine and veg out on the couch.

Breakfast

• Cappucino Greek Yogurt
• Orange 

Lunch

• Chicken Tacos with Salsa and 1/2 Avocado

Dinner
Water Intake

• 4 cups of Sassy Water (& counting)
• 2 cups of coffee (& counting)

"What Went Well" Exercise
1. I got some stuff together for one of my classes that I needed to, and I'm pretty sure after today I am finished with my responsibilities for the class for the rest of the quarter (yay! no final!)

• Why did this happen?  I have been doing a pretty good job of keeping afloat in this class.  I have a schedule down where every Thursday morning in my office hours I work on my articles, and I force myself to turn in a new article every week to make sure that I reach my 20 page minimum.

2. I've been organizing things for my other blog that I just started, http://drinkmedivine.blogspot.com/

• Why did this happen? In my positive psychology class, they teach us to focus on what makes us happy and then challenge ourselves to keep ourselves 'flourishing.' For the past year, I have really enjoyed tasting and trying new wine and beer.  By keeping track of what I taste, I not only keep an open diary to look back on what I liked and didn't like, but I'm also challenging myself into truly noticing and appreciating the unique differences between the different liquors. Its really fun! :)

Dreary Day ~ Daily Log 3/5

Today is very dreary, and its affecting my mood. As I began writing this, the song "Across the Universe" came on, which makes me just feel like laying out in tall grass and taking a nap. I woke up late, had work for 3 hours (it was so slow I was sent home early), and now I'm sitting at home knowing that I should start my essay since a draft is due tomorrow. Sigh. Hopefully this coffee will begin to kick in...

Breakfast

• Chicken Legs with Brown Rice, Spinach, & Mushroom

Snack

• Apple

Lunch

• Chicken Tacos (2) with Salsa, 1/2 Avocado, and just a smear of Sour Cream

Dinner

• Beef Pho & 2 Spring Rolls

Water Intake

• 7 cups of Sassy Water
• 5 cups of coffee

Struggle b/w Leisure & Finals ~ Daily Log 3/4

My university is a part of the quarter system, which has its ups and downs. The main con to it for me is that after midterms I get a false sense of security... I feel like chilling out and enjoying my time because it seems like there is plenty of time between midterms and finals... but there's not.  This entire last week, I've been focusing on leisure over my studies; in consequence, I'm going to have to kick ass this week.

One major thing I did not realize is that I also happen to be On Call this week, Monday through Thursday. This means that as I'm trying to get things done, I simultaneously have to have a phone on me 24/7 and respond to emergency calls (which happen more often than you'd think).  However, I know I can do it.  I have faith that coffee and good old fashioned determination will get me through.  If I can get some exercise in (along with my healthy eating), I'll be golden!

Some updates on the last few days that I have not written... I have actually not been doing too badly with my healthy eating. I've had a lot of delicious seafood, such as a Cajun seafood medley, seared ahi tacos, oysters, and steamed mussels.  At one point I had a piece of pizza, beer, and some chicken wings, but don't judge (shh!).

I'm going to try to keep healthy food readily available in these next couple of weeks as I crack down on my studies so that instead of grabbing those hot pockets I have in my fridge, perhaps I'll grab a salad instead. I'd also love to get a few work outs in (fingers crossed!).

Breakfast

• Pasta with Vodka Cream Sauce (Trader Joe's) and Zucchini, Mushrooms, & Onion

Lunch

• Peach Greek Yogurt

Snack

• Orange

Dinner

• Chicken with Couscous and Salad

Water Intake

• 3 cups of coffee
• 6 cups of water

"What Went Well" Exercise
1. I sat myself down and read, determined to get the bulk of my reading out of the way.

• Why did this happen? I took a look at everything that is due this week and my timeline, and decided that the time I had would be best spent downing some coffee and reading.

2. I started a new blog that I've been wanting to for awhile.  Visit it at drinkmedivine.blogspot.com

• Why did this happen? I love to wine and beer taste, and I wanted to keep track of my experiences. What better way than through the lovely internets?