First day of Spring! Though it's snowing here in Chicago - because why wouldn't it be - I'm so excited for the Spring. There are so many amazing things that will be going on from now through the rest of the year, and this is pretty much the starting line of it all!
Last week we went to Nashville and the warm sun on my face felt like heaven. It reminded me of all the wonderful things that are coming up and how wonderful they'll be - like the wedding of one of my best friends, my own wedding activities, Yankee games, BBQ's and so much more.
Though I don't know that I'll feel warm sun on my face anytime soon, I know my heart will be warmed with love from family and friends and all the wonderful things in my life. And that's good enough for me.
Some photos from my Nashville trip:
198 days until we are married! (I wanted to do a 200 days post, but the week got away from me).
I did some quick calculation (so leave room for error) and realized we have been together for 1,670 days. And that has flown by. So 198 days is going to feel like a blink. And that's ok, because I'm so ready. I can't wait (even though I have to).
It's hard to believe that the two crazy kids in this picture are going to be MARRIED soon.
My issues with winter are well chronicled. Even March in Chicago isn't great - we started it with back to back snowstorms. But March holds the promise that really motivates me and takes me out of my winter slump. The promise that the weather will improve. The promise of travel. The promise that I can work hard AND play hard (not just hibernate). They say March comes in like a lion, but it goes out making me feel like a lioness, who is ready to take on anything!
So I'm ready. Bring it on, March. Bring me warmer weather, travel, great times with even better friends, lots of loves and laughs. And really, please bring me that warm weather.
When I first started this blog, it was to hold myself accountable to my 2013 resolutions/lifestyle changes. It's grown and changed since then, but I'm bringing it back today to reflect.
When I first started, I ate a ton of junk and never worked out. Now, I eat fruits and veggies every day, no processed food and have tried probably 20 new foods, including fish and sushi! I also work out a couple times a week which is a big change.
However, I'm developing a bit of a bad habit (in my opinion) of deciding my work out wasn't good enough. It used to be amazing just because I did it. Now I sometimes notice myself thinking I should have pushed harder, worked an extra 10 minutes, etc. I try to remind myself every work out is good, because it's better than the nothing I was doing. But my old competitive self is starting to creep back in, which is great, but also I should be proud of how far I've come.
Today when I stepped on the scale, I really realized how far that is. I reached a big milestone - losing 25 pounds!! Though my true goal was to build a healthier lifestyle, this feels like a really big deal.
And I'm so happy to say I did it the healthy way over a year, learning about proper nutrition, building healthy habits, and still enjoying life, dinners, celebration and treats. No crash diets, no crazy hangry mood swings. I've never felt better!
Taking my health into my own hands was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I know it's something that will last throughout my whole life - a long, long, healthy one!
(If you're interested in learning more, two of the best blogs I've read and followed are 100 Days of Real Food - www.100daysofrealfood.com - and the Food Babe - www.foodbabe.com.)
I've recently learned about the term FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out - from Sean's cousin, Shannon. Then I came down with a bad case of it.
Though we've been in Chicago for 2.5 years, and it has become increasingly easier to view Chicago as home, once in a while I get a bad, bad homesickness (or FOMO).
It more often occurs in the winter, because I go home far less often than the warmer months. I was home for Thanksgiving, and two days the first weekend of January, and I won't be going home until the end of May. That's a REALLY long stretch. And I miss my people.
I know the time will fly by. Work is very busy and we have some fun activities planned, and before I know it I'll be saying how exhausted I am traveling back and forth every couple of weeks.
But it's my favorite exhaustion in the world - getting on a Monday 6 a.m. flight and rushing to my office after an amazing weekend. Staying up way later than I should (ok, that's like midnight at this point in my life) to get in EVERY last minute of quality time. Rushing around all weekend to see everyone I can. It's the best, most loving, most fulfilling exhaustion ever. And I can't wait for it.
