Our Belated Christmas

Our Christmas may have occurred late and a bit out of order, but we are doing all we can to keep it as we know it.  This morning we decided it was Christmas.  Generally this is where I’d wake up to my parents busy cooking morning brunch but instead we all packing into the car and headed off to breakfast at Benedict’s La Strata.  It’s a cute little restaurant open for breakfast and lunch in downtown with an overwhelmingly delicious sounding menu.

After we all debated our choices for longer than someone probably should, we all ended up with an extremely delicious looking (and tasting breakfast).  I ended up with a soy latte (made with Intelligentsia coffee!) and pumpkin pancakes.  It was a fail that I didn’t take a picture of my breakfast or this cute little restaurant.  I’m pretty sure this will become a new breakfast spot when I come to town.

Shortly after we came home, we dug into our stockings and Christmas presents to each other.  We are all extremely happy with our gifts and my dad was downstairs immediately setting up his new computer.  Sadly, I have not yet been able to talk him into getting an Apple computer.  (Oh but I will!) ;)

After a quick lunch, my sister and I ran off for a little shopping.  We had a few things we needed to get, some gift cards to use, and with a certain birthday on the horizon, some additional shopping that needed to get done.

A delicious dinner, trip to the gym and post-workout snack under my belt, my sister and I are gearing up to watch A White Christmas.  We will have family over tomorrow morning and afternoon for more Christmas celebrations.  It is my hope to fit in a workout before it all starts and end the evening by catching up with a friend I haven’t seen in a few years.

So far, so good. 

The Long Awaited Video...

It was quite the nice surprised when I realized (remembered) that I had the day off and while part of me would have enjoyed a fun day with friends, today was exactly the day that I needed!

I allowed myself to sleep through both of my morning alarms and rolled out of bed when my internal alarm went off (my growling stomach).  As I drank my coffee, ate my breakfast and was doing a little work, my sister texted me asking how my “chicago” video was going. 

...crap!

It’s not that I forgot but rather that life was taking it’s toll on me and that video was not a priority but her text was also a good reminder that I did tell people I was making it (and made people be in it) and therefore should see it through sooner rather than later.

And that’s when I decided my day was going to be spent at home getting things done, relaxing and doing what I wanted to do.

I spent a couple hours working on the video, cleaned the kitchen and then set out on an outdoor run.  This was the most successful outdoor run this year, covering 2.3 miles.  Yes I doubled that distance at the gym a few days ago, but I’m trying to prepare my body to start running outside.  It’s also possible I could have gone further had I not decided to embark on my run at 2:30 in the afternoon.  (#fail)

When I got home all sweaty, I was still in the moving mood and started sweeping the dead, crunchy leaves from my patio (the closest to fall I think I’ll get), vacuumed the whole apartment and then sat back down to finish the video.

And finish it I did!  I’m sure there are many others out there who could make a better video but this was my first real experience playing with iMovie and I’m happy with the outcome.

A special thanks to everyone who appeared in my video and put up with my filming every.single.moment of my trip home! (You can tell by some of their faces, they thought I was crazy!)

Ring Around the Rosey

I feel like I'm playing a busy run around game but not actually getting anything done!  It's probably due to the To-Do list that's constantly growing but hardly dwindling.  Not to mention all of the entreprenuer-y conversations Tracey and I had while I was home and the big potential for some amazing things to happen in my life and how I can possibly achieve my goals and dreams for my life.


Anyway, I'm working on something as a fun way to share my trip home with all of you but this sudden busy-ness has made it difficult to work on (and start).  So with that, here is an adorable picture of my sister and I in Chicago in front of "The Bean." 

Fitness Friday...a day late!

Yesterday ended up being super crazy busy!  I helped my sister get a new cell phone/put her on my account (and dealt with all of the blood pressure raising situations that followed), followed by a little shopping trip.  After a quick lunch, I went to say goodbye to Tracey as she leaves for Spain at the end of the month and this is the last time I’ll see her.  Then we went to visit my Grandpa at his new apartment and a couple other quick stops.  Upon returning home, we were ready to tackle packing the car as my parents were moving my sister to Baltimore today (after dropping me off at the airport) for grad school.  We quickly learned the car would not hold all of her stuff and asked to borrow my great uncle’s Suburban.  This is usually a good solution though the battery was dead.  Several attempts at jumping the battery and a call to AAA later, we had the suburban packed and ready to go.  I should inform you the battery was dead again by the time we were done packing but thanks to some “trickle charger” (?) working while we slept, we were on the road bright and early at 6am!

I have arrived back in LA, taken my Anatomy midterm, took an amazing yoga class, went grocery shopping and made a delicious pizza that I happened to eat more than I should have.  Now I sit here, finally filling you in on a week of fitness and keeping it short so I can take a Benadryl and head to bed.  I’m aware it’s early but I work in the morning, am totally exhausted and my mosquito bites have started to itch like crazy again!  And please think about my family as they’ve run into more car trouble today, I would like them to have a safe trip and return home!

Saturday 7/30

25 mins run/incline walk 

30 mins legs, abs, stretch

(I was feeling bored and had trouble concentrating today)

Sunday 7/31

90 mins yoga

Monday 8/1

Rest / Travel

Tuesday 8/2

25 mins stationary bike

Wednesday 8/3

45 minutes stat bike

Thursday 8/4

Walking around Chicago

Friday 8/5/11

10-15 mins stationary bike

My parents moved their super old stationary bike from the basement into the den and when I saw it I decided it was the perfect way for me to get some exercise this week, without killing my lungs in the midwest heat + humidity.  So I grabbed the first Harry Potter book (I’m starting from the beginning because I never made it past the first book and second movie) and spent my week biking + reading.  I loved it!  It was such a fun way to spend my time and made reading without getting bored/tired easier too! Win, win!

Oldest working stationary bike ever - and it's LOUD!

Home - Music Monday

And after a long week of work which ended at 1 o’clock this morning, I’m preparing myself to hop on a plane this afternoon to head home and visit my family.  I’m tired and not exactly looking forward to hours of traveling but a week off work and getting to see my family (who I haven’t seen since Christmas - and my sister even longer!), will be well worth it.  We have a fun week of activities ahead, plus hopefully some relaxing time as well.

While this song is actually a love song, it came on in my yoga class yesterday morning, reminding me how much I love it!  Plus, it’s called “Home” which seems suitable since today I’m going home.

So, enjoy “Home” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.