It’s been crazy!

I had sort of a bad week last night… not sure what it was but I was cranky, tired, and late for everything! Ugh. It was really frustrating but it ended on a great note- Friday we had our first intramural soccer game which was a BLAST! I got to play the whole game and I left a sweaty, happy mess even though we lost!

Saturday afternoon was really the turning point. I went to yoga with Carly! We walked there in the “nice” weather and then had a great $5 Vinyasa class! I loved the teacher (Caitlyn) and can’t wait to go back for more We took our time going home and stopped at City Sports, Borders, Anthropologie, and finally Trader Joe’s. I got my grocery shopping done and Carly finished her errands! I left yoga with such a weight lifted off my shoulders. I was feeling so bad about my week and guilty for being mean to Sean. It was such a relief to just let.it.go.

We went out on Saturday night! I know, it shouldn’t be such a big deal but it really was. It was like breaking the seal! When you’re at home in the warmth, it’s just so hard to leave and go out into the cold, to a place that seems so far. We went to The Greatest Bar near TD Bank North via cab. It was so quick and cheap (the cab)! The place was huge and Sean, Olga, Matt, and I had fun!

The rest of the weekend was spent catching up on work!

I went to an event featuring Alicia Silverstone. It was pretty much her pushing veganism, but nonetheless, it was fun to hear her voice! She sounded EXACTLY like her role in Clueless, it was pretty funny

Lastly, a topic I’ve been wanting to address for a while – friends and family finding this!

I started this blog not necesarily because I wanted people to read it. Obviously, I’m perfectly fine with this content being public because I created a blog- not a personal desktop based journal!

So, this is a message for my friends, especially Olga and Rachel who are most likely to find this first- I’m totally fine with you reading this blog so let me know if you find it! I might even tell people when I move to Dallas but until then, please don’t think I’m intentionally hiding this from you. I’m just still a little uncomfortable with the idea of an entire website dedicated to my thoughts and feelings

Ok- on that note, I must go!!

Be back soon if the craziness of school allows!

-Jul

Another week…

It was an oddly long, but short week? It feels like it was just the weekend, but at the same time, Monday seems like ages ago! Part of that strange phenomenon is that the weather here was completely awful! Let’s see…

Monday: Back and Biceps, Work… not much else! I honestly don’t remember what I did besides make this for dinner (which by the way, was 10x better the next day!!). Weather: SUN

Tuesday: 6 am client and then a GREAT treadmill run! It was so nice to have a good run for once! I feel like it’s been awhile since I felt good and actually zoned out but ran hard on the treadmill! I came home and napped and went to class for the rest of the afternoon. I was SO TIRED on Tuesday night that I was asleep before the 1 hr sleep timer on the TV went off- which I set at 8:40! Weather: AM Snow and PM RAIN

Wednesday: Awesome Chest, Shoulder’s and Triceps workout with 2 miles of TM intervals mixed in! I worked and then went to class for the rest of the afternoon. My Spanish Lit class still scares me but I’ve come to terms with the fact that it won’t kill me (or my GPA) to get a bad-ish grade, as long as I learn some Spanish! The night involved…

COMEDY WEDNESDAY!!

I <3 them!

Weather: RAIN

Thursday: 6 am client – set my alarm for 5 minutes later at 5:45 and woke up 2 minutes before it went off! That was mentally really encouraging for the day and I slept through the night without worrying about oversleeping in the AM After another quality, zoned-out 4 mile run I was home by 9:30! That’s definitely the best part of the early morning training session! I had a delicious breakfast:

Amazing smoothie - eaten with a spoon for satiety and carbs

Did some laundry, napped, and headed back to the gym for 3 more clients. After leaving the gym I just felt so claustrophobic! I had been cooped up the in either my apartment, an academic building, or the gym for 4 or 5 straight days! I took a cold, but refreshing walk “around the block” before heading to class.

After some dinner and lazy time in my apartment, I went to Punter’s with Sean and Jeremy. Punter’s is a funny place- a little dive bar practically on campus that is not exactly the hottest place around! It’s perfect for a night like that where you just want to go have a beer! (a Harpoon IPA in my case) I actually finished the whole thing too! No small feat for me Weather: SUN

Friday: I slept in! Actually, that’s an exaggeration… I slept until 7, woke up starving and had a bowl of cereal while reading for class, then went back to sleep at 8 for an hour and a half!! Yay me I had class all afternoon and then came home and did Legs & Back in my room/hallway. I love my Friday workout routine because it keeps me away from the gym!! Weather: SNOW!! can’t even believe we had class today!

Now Olga and I are going to get ready to go out and find something to do!

I have lots lined up for the blog this weekend/week

-Jul

Back to my roots

I haven’t discussed New Year’s Resolutions on here yet because I wanted to address them as they come up over the course of the coming months. Now is a good time to talk about my #1:

Grow stronger in my faith and closer to God

There have been times in my life when I’ve felt extremely close to God and extremely spiritual. Not coincidentally, the most memorable times were almost always those of great struggle. I can remember being very faithful around the time of my Confirmation, during both of my moves to and from Colorado, and after my sister’s accident. I prayed all day long and constantly talked to God. Despite the personal strife, it was really fulfilling to have someone to talk to and really brought me great comfort. Eventually, as things got easier I stopped being so diligent in my practice. When I went away to Northeastern I started going to church on my own and that was the time that I really understood the Mass and appreciated it not only for the chance to grow close to Jesus, but also to feel a part of a community. Although I wasn’t particularly constant in my prayer, I remember that time in my life for helping me love the Sunday ritual.

Over the course of the coming year many new changes and challenges will present themselves. I will graduate college, travel to Spain for 5-6 weeks, and then move to Dallas in August. I do NOT want to wait until I need God for me to rebuild our relationship. Since the beginning of Advent I’ve been going to church regularly. This week and last week are the first weeks that I can honestly say I’ve been thinking about my faith during the week.

On two occasions I felt myself rise above and call on my Christianity to be a bigger person. I will not discuss the incidents because that defeats my purpose, but I will say it has to do with the interactions and feelings I’ve felt toward two people I don’t particularly care for. Our university Priest said this week that we don’t have to like everyone, but we must love them. I do not love these two people in the common use of the word, but I feel compassion and acceptance. A big step for me.

I believe that I can continue to grow and become a better and more loving person everyday. It’s a simple quest, but one that I know will not end this year.

I’ll be back soon will an easy recipe and more!

-Jul

Golden Globe Favorites!

I LOVE AWARDS SEASON!!



Who did you like?!

Not much else going on today! I made my own BEEF BURGERS from SCRATCH tonight! It was really good topped with ketchup and guacamole, and side of sweet potato fries

It’s back to school tomorrow after a weird week of a snow day and MLK Day today. I’m looking forward to getting in the swing of things! Laying around is getting a little old – at least I worked for a while today. I need/want to start getting out more but it’s just SO. COLD. aka 9-17 degrees today :-/

Okay, I’m off! Sean’s coming over later so I want to get ready for the day tomorrow.

-Jul

Back in the Swing

First day of Senior Year outfit!!

It’s only the second day of class and already I’m right back where I left off! I trained 3 clients yesterday, 1 today at 6:15 am, did my Back and Biceps workout yesterday, ran 5 miles (outside) this morning, and attended all of my classes!

My first early training session went well! I was pretty caffeinated by the time my client arrived so I’m sure that helped the situation

I absolutely LOVED my classes this afternoon. They were so business-y and interesting. It completed confirmed (once again) that I love my major. It also made me really excited for my “real person” job starting in August. Supply chain really encompasses so much of what I’m learning in my MIS classes and I truly believe that my background will help me tremendously.

We’re crossing our fingers around here (like 10 year olds!) for a snow day tomorrow! I’m fairly sure it’s going to happen too because every other university in Boston is already closed!

And last but not least, look what I found!

-Jul

Banana Republic loves me

Wool Winter Coat:

• Orginally: $198
• Sale: $74.99
• Additional 50% off Clearance: $37.50
• Gift Card: -$25
• TOTAL PAID: $12.50

i love my life<3

…perfect for March in Boston or the dead of Winter in Dallas

Good to be back!

It’s the first time since freshman year that I’m in classes from January to April!

Today was the best/fastest drive to Boston ever (3hr 45min!) – I was back on campus by 10:15! My Mom and Dad promptly took off and made it home in similar fashion. I spent the morning and early afternoon unpacking, organizing, and napping

IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BE BACK!

I didn’t expect the rush of happiness that overcame me as I walked around campus in the late afternoon. I was simply running errands in the cold, windy weather and took in all of the wonderful things about being a college student at Northeastern. I’m going to miss it here!

I just can’t believe I have to train 3 clients tomorrow and take classes! Ah! I am SO unprepared to take my Spanish Literature class… I just bought the book and it’s COMPLETELY in Spanish :-/ uh oh.

Here’s a  busy, but fulfilling and exciting final full semester of college!!

Source

… here we goooooo!

-Jul

Guilt

For 3+ years now I’ve been harboring this guilt. I moderate my time at home with Sean so that I spend as much time at home and with my family was possible. Countless (probably thousands) of times I’ve told him that I shouldn’t hang out, or come over, or go to some party because I felt I should be at home when I’m home from college. I rationed that I spent time with him at school so I shouldn’t in NJ. Last night, my Mom questioned why I was home when I was supposed to be over at Sean’s watching a movie. I finally revealed my guilt. Now, I find it overwhelmingly awful that I’ve been doing that to myself for year! I told Sean this morning and he was not surprised. It’s what he’s been telling my for years now. UGH! He also mentioned another truth which is that I also used that guilt to get me out of some social situations that I was uncomfortable attending. Uncomfortable because I’m not an overall social person, not because they were bad situations. Wow.

It’s all true, of course. I spend most of my time doing what I think will make others happy and not looking out for my own best interests. I think in 2011 that needs to be a priority. I need to stop being a martyr and start communicating to other what I need and want. No one is going to thank me for the things I do and I don’t expect them too. Making myself happy first is the most important thing. It’s hard to even believe that after a lifetime of looking out for everyone else. I better start believing though or else the rest of my life will be filled with anger and resentment.

Heavy stuff for a Saturday morning, huh?

On the workout front, I attempted the ambitious feat of mixing in 5 miles of intervals (incl. warm-up and cool-down) into my P90x Chest & Back workout (with ab ripper). I definitely didn’t succeed but I did my best. I completed 3 miles in 28:37 and 1 complete round of Chest/Back, plus about 1/2 of the ab ripper workout… about 50% overall. I would be disappointed but I was just feeling hungry, a little shaky, and tired this morning.

To be SUPER cheesy and Tony Horton-like, “I did my best, now forget the rest.” *groan*

I’m off to get some more coffee and window shop a little… doing 2 things that make me happy this morning.

thanks for listening,

Jul

2010 Running Reflection

Miles by Month

In 2010 I ran 8 races!

1. March: Ocean Drive 10 mile race – with: Dad – 1:37:17 (9:44)
2. April: Jersey Shore Marathon Relay – with: Dad, Kait, Chris – ran approx 6 mile and 1.5 mile legs
3. May: Rumson Mother’s Day 5 Mile – with: Dad, Mike (Kiera Mom Tom and Billy did the walk) – PR! 42:21 (8:29)
4. June: Avon 5K – with Sean – very hot and slow! 27:50 (8:59)
5. August: Sea Girt 5k – with Dad – 26:36 (8:35)
6. October: Boston Half Marathon – alone – PR! 2:00:51 (9:14)
7. November: Born to Run 5 mile – with Dad, Jill – 43:12 (8:39)
8. December: Jingle Bell 5k – with Olga – PR! – 26:00 (8:23)

What a FUN racing year! I ran the fastest races to date and with a lot of different people! I really do love running and racing and I hope to get faster in 2011! My final milage was 675 miles. I’d really like to hit 700 this year but with all of the travelling and moving I have NO clue what May through December will look like! Another fall 1/2 marathon would be fun though Dad and I are running the Ocean Drive again- which I’m really excited about! I definitely want to run that one faster than last year!

Looking forward to another healthy and happy running year!

-Jul

 

Long Day

Yesterday was such a LONG day… but good! It’s funny how a “long” day is almost always associated with a “bad” day!

I was super productive in the morning and went to the bank, got drug tested (for new job), changed coins into paper cash at another bank, visited Auntie Mary, and went to A&P to do my first round of back-to-school grocery shopping all before lunch!

The visit with Auntie was short and really weird… She kept thinking I was Kiera because she couldn’t “see” me in my expressions and appearance? Odd. Oh well, at least the visit was pretty short because she wanted to me leave! I’m not sure why, but the flu is going around the assisted living home so I was happy to get out of there ASAP!

I had lunch with Mrs. Barber, Sean and Kait at Pazzo in Red Bank. It was very nice inside! I had the “make your own salad”. Which was really good but pretty over-priced. ($14 plus an extra $6 for grilled shrimp!). It was nice but I’m not sure why we didn’t just have lunch together at home and save the money!

After that, my Mom and I went on a monster grocery shopping trip! At Target we got all kinds of dry goods for the house and me (like cereal, nuts, almond milk, granola bars, and paper goods). Then it was off to Costco, where I got lots of other fun goodies I even got a really awesome set of 3 Contigo water bottles for $16! What a deal.

After all of that, I really didn’t feel like working out…. so I didn’t! I was sore and just wanted to lounge and have dinner. I’m glad I made that choice. I’m sure I would have been fine, but listening to my body was just more important. After a dinner of baked brie, roasted brussel sprouts, and grapes (plus a mini-weinie or two…) I was determined to make some cookies for my little sister!

Kiera has been wanted Carr’s Ginger Lemon Cremes to have with tea for a week or two. My Mom looked everywhere but couldn’t find them! So, I decided to make them myself!

I used this recipe, and although they were not as ginger-y because of the missing crystallized ginger, they got rave reviews from the peanut gallery family

And as if that was not a full enough day, I watched Modern Family with Kiera and Mom, and then “Easy A” with Sean and Jill! Phew. The movie was really cute

Overall a great, packed day!

Be back later with more action!

-Jul