Weekend Update: Miami Adventures

The long awaited trip to Miami finally arrived! The boyfriend and I left Thursday for our flight, and met up with our friend Jeet at the airport in Miami. My cousin Jenny's flight was supposed to arrive then as well but she encountered some delays and arrived later that night.

We cabbed from the airport to our AMAZING apartment we had booked on airbnb. The place was huge, super modern, and had spectacular views.

Friday morning we walked around a bit, ate brunch outside, and then headed to Miami Beach for the expo. The expo was so much fun - free stuff everywhere! After that, we headed to Ocean Drive and then the beach. I could not believe that it was January and I was in the ocean! We met up with 2 of Jeet's friends who were in town for the race as well for dinner.

Saturday we got a ZipCar and drove our to Key Biscayne to go to the beach there. The weather was great (again) and it was a blast just being so carefree. That night we stayed in and I cooked a spaghetti dinner for the runners. It was so nice having a full kitchen while on vacation!

Sunday morning we got up SUPER early for the race. Jeet ran the half while Jenny and the boyfriend ran the full (the 1st for both of them). I saw them off at the start, and then walked to mile 14 to see them there. It was fun cheering everyone on, but I couldn't believe how few spectators were out! After I saw them both at mile 14, I headed to mile 25 to see them again. My parents - who were in Florida for a conference and drove up to see the race, - arrived just in time to see the boyfriend finish. Then Jenny came by and they ran with her for a bit.

After the race, we all got lunch and sat outside and talked and relaxed. Then my parents had to drive back, and the runners were all sore and tired so we watched tv and they recuperated.

Monday morning we left for the airport to fly back home. When we left DC, it had been snowing. Today the high is 70! The weather has been crazy warm, but I'm certainly not complaining!

Inauguration

Yesterday was Inauguration Day in DC and the boyfriend and I decided to join in on the historic day. We rode our bikes down to the mall which worked our great. Most of the roads were closed downtown so there were hardly any cars and no traffic. All in all it took us about 30 mins to arrive on the mall. We found a nice spot near the Monument where there was a jumbo screen set up. Since we were on the grass, we didn't even have to find a spot to lock up the bikes, we just kept them with us the whole time.

It was fun to be out there in the middle of all the action. We watched the swearing in and Obama's speech, and then we were cold so we headed home to warm up. We rode home and had no problems getting home either. My only complaint was the fact that the jumbo screen kept cutting in and out which was kind of annoying. Transportation-wise it couldn't have gone smoother though. And the crowds were MUCH more manageable than the last time.

Later that afternoon we saw the movie Zero Dark Thirty which I thought was good. I didn't realize it would be so focused on the process it took to find Bin Laden - I thought it was more about the actual raid on the compound - but it was very well done and very entertaining.

All in all it was a fun day and it was nice being able to be a part of history!

One Year

Today is my one year anniversary of my job. It's crazy to think that it has already been a year because it feels like it was 5 months ago that I started, but at the same time I feel like I've been here for at least 3 years. I know that probably doesn't make any sense but just go with it.

My team also got me a cupcake to celebrate which I was super touched by. All in all it was a pretty good anniversary :)

Ready for a Vacation!

I was doing really well with my work/life balance until Friday afternoon when I was "asked" to come in on Saturday to work along with my team. I say "asked" because it is always posed as a question, as if I have an actual choice in the matter, when I most definitely do not.

Work ended up not being too bad but it put a damper on having a nice relaxing weekend, and also meant missing soccer on Saturday on one of the rare warm January days. I did have a soccer game on Sunday though so I was able to get some playing in.

All I have to do now is make it through this week and I will have a long weekend (Monday is MLK day/Inauguration day). Then I work Tuesday and Wednesday, and then leave Thursday for Miami! We will be there until Monday, meaning another short week of work after I return, and then just 2 more weeks until the next long weekend. I can't wait!

A New Year!

I am so excited to be starting with a fresh new year. My New Years resolutions are to:
1. Blog more
2. Have better work-life balance
3. Be healthier

So far I am of to a pretty good start on #2. I've started coming in at 9 am (when work actually starts) as opposed to early like I used to do and that has been going great!

I played soccer on Saturday and Sunday and then went to the gym on Mon, Tues, and Wed. I have a session schedule for Fri which means Thurs is my only day off. Although I am super sore, I feel great and super healthy and hope to keep this up.

I am also trying to eat healthier and for starters I am trying to consistently go to the grocery store so I have food to make for dinner and lunches. I always feel so much healthier when I make food versus eating out (not to mention saving money as well).

Hope everyone had a great New Years! My BFF Jenna came to visit me in DC :)