Updates

It has been far too long since I've posted so I've decided to give a few updates:

- Jenny found a job and then an apartment so she has moved out of my apartment. All is back to normal with the boyfriend's and I living situation, but we are still planning on moving this summer 

- I found out that I am allergic to penicillin which was an awful experience

- The weather this winter has been epically terrible. Leaving for vacation in 2 weeks and it can't come soon enough. Sooo ready for warm weather!

- I'm still playing soccer and doing crossfit, although I had to take an extended break to get over my penicillin reaction

- Nothing new going on with work, just the same old, same old

- It's cherry blossom time in DC and I'm so happy spring has finally started to appear  I couldn't take the cold weather anymore 

That's all for now, updates soon!

Is it spring yet?

Lots of new things to update on:

- I have been working out more consistently. I've been going to the gym 2-3 days per week. However, the weather has been terrible so soccer keeps getting cancelled. This weekend doesn't look much better, but hopefully it will get better soon so I can start playing again. 

- 3 weeks ago my cousin Jenny moved here from Cleveland. She has been staying in my apartment while job searching. She has been trying really hard to find a job here and I hope she finds something!

- Jenny has been staying at my apartment while job searching, so I've been staying at the boyfriend's. He's been super nice to me, by letting me stay there and by making me feel at home. He cleared out lots of space for me in the closet and bathroom, doesn't complain about my messiness (for the record I'm not messy, he is just super clean), and didn't get mad when I wanted to buy a few things to make me feel more at home there (a tray for the bathroom, a hook for the bathroom to hang stuff on, and a humidifier for my sinus congestion). 

- Next week we leave for Austin! We have been planning this trip for months and months and I can't believe it's almost time. 

- I got my haircut over the weekend. I wanted to try out bangs. They didn't turn as bad as I thought they were going I look, but I don't think they look like bangs, just layers in the front. I need to figure out how to style them I guess. The left is the inspiration photo (it's Keira Knightley) and the right is my attempt at a selfie:

- 2 weekends ago we had a reunion brunch with the roommates which was so much fun! I miss coming home and hanging out with them! I'm so glad we got to all catch up. Oh, and in the middle of brunch, the fire alarm went off and they made us wait outside (in the freeeezig cold and snow) until the firefighters said it was all clear. 

- As part of my New Years resolutions, I have been doing really well in the cooking more department. Living under the same roof as the boyfriend has really helped, mostly so leftovers aren't going to waste and cooking for 2 is so much easier than cooking for 1. Here are some recent meals I've made:

- Another resolution has been to take better care of my skin. For January my skin looked pretty awful, mostly due to the cold windy weather outside and the dry heated air inside. However, last week I bought some new Renee Rouleau skin care items (cleanser, moisturizer, spot treatment, and a serum) which has already made a difference in the Healy of my skin. I love her stuff!

- This weekend's agenda include my friend Michelle coming over, watching the Opening  Ceremonies for the Olympics, brunch with my friend Jessica, and soccer on Sat and Sun (game and pick-up). Then, I only have to work 3 days and have 5 days off!!!! Can't wait!

Another Milestone

2 years ago today I started at my current job! My boss brought in cookies today to celebrate which was so sweet. 

What a whirlwind the past 2 years have been. I've never worked as hard in my entire life at a job before, which is both good and bad. I feel incredibly accomplished professionally, and like I am on a true career path with great growth opportunities ahead. The downside is just that I wish I had a little better work-life balance. 

Speaking of work, not sure if I mentioned this before or not but effective Jan 1 I got promoted! I'm very excited - it feels great that my hard work, late nights, and weekends were all worth it!

Back To It

In the past 2 months I have only worked out 7 times. That is so unbelievably crazy. My schedule used to be: Crossfit 2 days per week during the week, pickup soccer on Tuesday and Saturday, and soccer game on Sunday. That's 5 times per week, on a good week. 

Between year-end craziness at work, vacations, and bad weather (which means no soccer), I have barely been working out. I don't feel fat, just less toned than I would like. 

But....starting today I'm back. I have Crossfit tonight and tomorrow, and a soccer game on Sunday morning! Next week I've already signed up for my Crossfit classes so I have no excuse not to go. My goal for January is to work out at least 3x per week, which is very achievable.

Speaking of goals, my New Year's Resolutions are to:

1 - Work out 5x per week - if I can't make it to the gym or there's no soccer then I'm going to start doing the Workout of the Days at home - no excuses!

2 - Eat out Less - this should save me money, plus help me be healthier. I'm not off to the best start so far, but not a terrible start either. I hope to only eat out for lunch 1 day a week and dinner 1 day a week.

3 - Buy less clothes. I'm running out of room in my closet, plus I have lots of clothes as it is. I've been trying to put together some cute outfits with the clothes that I already have and just wear the stuff that I already have more often.

4 - Take better care of my skin. I have always had bad skin (aka breakouts) and given that I will be 30 at of this year I think it's time to start investing in my skin so I don't feel like a teenager anymore. 

Now that I've posted these on the internet I really have to follow them.

End of 2013

There is so much to catch up on! Since I last updated, I left for Christmas Vacation. I took the bus to Pittsburgh and my Dad picked me up. We spent the night in Pittsburgh, I had brunch with my BFF Jenna the next morning, and then my Dad and I drove to Cleveland to meet up with my Mom who was already there. 

Jenna and I

My sisters and my brother in-law arrived the next day and we had a nice relaxing low-key Christmas. After spending the week in Cleveland, I flew to St. Louis to see my boyfriend and his family, which was also nice and relaxing and low-key. I was supposed to fly back to DC on Sunday the 29th, but my grandfather passed away December 29th (more to come on this).

I changed my flight the day of to fly to Cleveland instead of back to DC, and took the entire next week off to stay in Cleveland with my Mom, along with her brother who lives out of town, and her sister who lives in town. Together, the 4 of us helped do all of the funeral arrangements. 

My sister and my brother in-law drove the boyfriend and I back to DC on the 5th. I can't remember the last time I had taken 2 weeks straight off from work, and luckily it was pretty slow when I was out so there wasn't too too much to catch up on. 

Last week was pretty uneventful - just work, cleaning up my apartment, and relaxing. The weekend was also pretty uneventful - the weather was cold and rain, I worked most of the day Saturday, the boyfriend and I saw American Hustle which was good (not great, just good in my opinion) at this super cute old theater (as in it used to be an actual theater) called The Avalon, and my friend Michelle came over to hang out on Sunday. 

This week I have been busy trying to clean, organize and make some space in my apartment for my cousin Jenny who is....moving to DC this weekend!!!! - more to come on this. 

That's all for now!

Weekend Update

This past weekend was really fun and really busy. I got home Sunday evening at 8pm and fell asleep at about 8:30 because I was so tired. 

Bowling was a really fun time, even if I'm not very good at it. 

Here is the boyfriend in action

Saturday the weather kinda sucked (super cold and rainy) but the cookie exchange party was a really fun time! I couldn't believe how many people came (at least 20!)

Weren't these the cutest invitations!

Sunday I saw my friend's 2 month old baby who was so tiny and adorable. 

Yesterday we had a happy hour after work to celebrate the end of our project we had been working on since August. After happy hour, I headed to Georgetown for a massage which was wonderful and much needed. 

The rest of the week isn't too busy, just crossfit, my department's holiday party, dinner at a friend's house, and happy hour on Friday. I just need to put the finishing touches on my Christmas gifts (assuming they all arrive in time as I've ordered all my gifts online and none have arrived yet), and do laundry. 

I also went to eye doctor today and my eye is almost 100% healed. I can see nearly perfect again (with my glasses on) and will be able to wear my contacts again around Feb or Mar of next year. Hallelujah! I can't wait! In the meantime I still have to do my drops hourly, the ointment at night, keep the plug in my eye, and start on Restasis. Not too bad if it means I can see!

Winding Down

Work has been steadily going from non-stop craziness to normalcy. The past 2 months I've only worked out a handful of times due to the perfect storm of working long hours, eye problems, and scheduling issues. However, last night I was able to leave work at 6:00 AND make it to crossfit! I feel like I'm finally back: I'm able to leave work on time, I'm finally able to make plans with friends, and I'm able to have time to work out. Hallelujah!

This weekend is jam-packed: birthday bowling celebration in Arlington, Cookie Exchange party in Alexandria, soccer in DC, and seeing my friend's baby in Maryland. So much traveling in just one weekend. 

Besides just working all the time, nothing else is new. I've been trying to order all my Christmas gifts as it is less than 2 weeks away and I've only bought 1 present. The weather has also been crazy around here. We had a snow day (aka work from home day) on Tuesday: 

I've also been cooking a lot lately. Here are some recent concoctions: 

Hangar Steak with salsa verde, plantains and guacamole

Shrimp Couscous: 

I've also made Skyline Chili, Penne w Ricotta and Spinach, and cookie dough for the cookie exchange:

That's all the updates for now. More to come soon.