Friday, January 25, 2013

Resolution Week 3

Resolution Update:

1. Completing my weekly blog today.  Yay.

2. I failed on this one a bit this week.  On Tuesday, some people from my office went out to lunch to discuss a Manager Program that I just completed.  It really fun and productive, but unless you could the really brief walk to the new burger joint, I didn't do much exercising.  AND I had a cheesebuger.  Niiiice.  Thursday, my boss was in the office giving a presentation with some other people from Cision.  So, it was more of a working lunch that required sitting around. A lot.  But, I am happy to report that I finished the week off strong by going Rollerblading at lunch today.  It finally stopped being unbearably (for NorCal) cold, and/or rainy.  So, I decided to take advantage.  Glad I did!

3. With my Rollerblading today, and Bootcamp on Monday and Wednesday, I can totally check off my vigorous exercise for three days.  I might be whoopin' this one if I get in a hike and/or Frisbee golf this weekend, too.

4. I actually think I did pretty well with avoiding junk food this week.  As far as I can remember.  I did myself a favor and loaded up on a ton of blueberries, strawberries and those Yoplait light yogurts.  Which consequently was my lunch menu today as well, thankyouverymuch.  I didn't purchase any FroYo, candy bars at checkout (in fact, I grabbed FRUIT JERKY instead one day), and I avoided Wendy's so I wouldn't be tempted with a Frosty.

5.  I flossed every other night.  Nailed it.

6. I did NOT write a Yelp review last week.  My husband and I went to SunnyBowl, which is a Korean Place by the Google HQ, and I always feel odd writing reviews about Asian food, because my favorite is Panda Express.  I don't eat Korean that much, so I feel like I don't have much to compare it to.  So eh...But this is another week.

7. Suckin' up my Backblog resolution.  This weekend....this weekend!

As for this week, it was pretty standard.  Work, and gym and sleep.  I feel kind of antsy to do something.  I guess that's what having a crazy fall will do to you.  I'm hoping to get to a play soon, or a Sharks game.  We do have a housewarming party tomorrow for friends who just bought a house, which is so awesome.  So I'm looking forward to that.  Superbowl is coming up too and wouldn'tcha know that the 49ers are in it.  I don't scream allegiance to any Pro team, really.  But, since I'm a Bay Area gal now, I think I can feel good about adopting the Niners.  Maybe when they build their new stadium and I go to a few games, I can venture to call myself a "fan".  I'm mostly pleased that the two Harbaughs are squaring off.  How much fun would THAT be?

I'm off to meet the husband for dinner and willing myself RIGHT NOW to not order dessert.  :)

Friday, January 18, 2013

Monterey Get-a-way

Another work week of 2013 in the books.  It's been pretty slow at work, compared to the pandemonium of December.  It still feels odd to have nothing planned for the forseeable future, after being out of town for almost every weekend last month.  Husband and I do plan to head down to Monterey this Sunday to celebrate my uncles B-day and hang out with the family.  I feel so fortunate that Monterey is where my family is from.  People plan destination weddings and spend tons of money on trips just to see and be in Monterey.  The fact that we have a free place to stay and can buzz down there for a weekend trip is something I take for granted until I stop and think about it.  I'm SO bias, but I think it's easily one of the most beautiful and charming places in the world.  Added bonuses include my Grandfather working for Pebble Beach, which has gotten us in, for free, to some of the best golf tournaments and events around.


With no major events taking place this week, or reflections to continue, I'll move on to how my resolutions are going:

1. Completing weekly blog now!

2. Not counting today, because I used my lunch break to drive home from work to beat the traffic, I got up and did something (substantially) active every day this week at lunch.

3. Last week Steve and I walked around Coyote Hills park, so if I can do that again this week, I'll have met my goal since I went to bootcamp Monday and Wednesday.

4. I'm happy to announce that we finally finished off the last of the junk food that we got for Christmas.  In general this week, though, I think I did a lot better.  I went to Wendy's and ordered ONLY a salad and a lemonade, and I only had FroYo on Saturday.  I did eat my fair share of the chocolate box this week, though.

5. I did floss every other day again.

6. We didn't eat out last week, but I'm heading over to Palo Alto shortly to meet Husband, so I'm sure that I'll have a least one new place to Yelp about this weekend!

7. The 2012 Rose Bowl trip backblog is complete!  I plan to get started on the next one-- our first Napa trip shortly!

And so, with that, I'll leave you with a picture of what I plan to be looking at this weekend.  :)



Friday, January 11, 2013

BACKBLOG: Jan 2012 Trip to the Rose Bowl

Note: As part of my 2013 resolutions, I'll be compiling a BackBlog of all the trips my Husband and I took in 2012.

I know that I'll be shunned for this by some, but I'm not a fan of roadtrips.  Some people have this idea that they'll get in a car, tunes blaring and laugh and smile their way to their destination miles and miles away, while seeing amazing sights and having great adventures.  Here is what I have found is more the case:  You get in the car, excited for the place your going, listen to your music, chat with your companion(s) and then, as soon as the 3 hour mark hits, you're bored out of your mind, wishing that you were there, already.  Maybe it's just me.  :)  If the final destination is over three hours away one way, you'll see me on Kayak.com looking for flights.  For serious.

Husband is of the ilk mentioned previously.  Something about the open road calls to him-- and that's fine for me, as long as it's not TOO long of a drive.  Which brings me to our longest roadtrip of 2012 (well, it actually started Dec 31st, 2011).  He had just, that year, sold his 1998 Mustang GT (the car that pretty much sealed the deal for him being a candidate for my serious boyfriend :)), and bought a 2004 BMW M3, which is as fancy as it sounds.  Naturally, he was still looking for every excuse to drive it, and we hadn't really had a chance to take it on any long trips yet.  So, and ONLY because plane flights were too pricey by then for even me to consider it, we took to HWY 101 to have a "roadtrip" down to crazy town Los Angeles, to watch our beloved Oregon Ducks play Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.

Those of you who have been on Interstate 5 know that it is not the made for a scenic roadtrip.  But, HWY 101 is.  So, that morning, we followed it down, wandering our way from Fremont to the first of our destinations, San Luis Obispo.  By then it was lunchtime, and not wanting to weigh ourselves down with heavy food, we Yelped a sandwich shop called High Street Deli that was kind of out of the way.  It was actually in the middle of a very residential neighborhood.  But, the sandwiches were huge, and delicious, and we left feeling like we had conquered a SLO landmark.

We then strolled downtown to Bubblegum Alley, which has been featured in many travel channels if you're into such things.  It's literally a narrow, outdoor passageway with millions of wads of chewed gum lining the walls.  It'd be gross if it wasn't so intriguing.  On the other side of the alley, you'll find downtown SLO, which is as cute and tourist-trappy as you can get.  We wandered in and out of the shops, took in the local sights, and then hit the road again for Solvang, our next stop.

I had been to Solvang many a time, as it was a nice stopping point for my family on the way to or from Disneyland.  But since this was Husband's first time down 101, I really wanted to share the odd little town with him.  For those who don't know, Solvang is a little Danish (as in Danes from Denmark) town randomly placed close to halfway in between LA and San Fran.  They have old style architecture, bakeries and a antique store on every corner.  It's really like stepping into another land.  I love every minute of it.  Husband, was perhaps not so enamored, and although he enjoyed another chance to stretch his legs, take in Danish culture and visit the shops, it was getting dark and he was anxious to hit the road.  

My cousin, very conveniently, lives in Torrance, California, which was only a quick jaunt away from where we needed to go to get to Pasadena and the Rose Bowl (aka, UCLA's football stadium).  We made our way down to her house, and promptly got our "New Years Eve" on, by heading to the Bowling Alley and bar where her and her husband worked.  We had a blast-- it was one of the most fun New Years Eve's I've ever had.  We bowled, danced to loud music, sipped amazing drinks and even did a round of Shania Twain Karaoke.  Husband and I both slept until about 1 pm the next day, and that night we went to dinner with my cousin and had some amazing fish in Redondo Beach.

January 2nd, we were on our way to Pasadena.  We missed the Rose Parade, but were happy to arrive at the stadium early and take in all the splendor of a big Bowl Game.  The Ducks ended up winning in an exciting shootout that had me watching through my hands several times, but I couldn't think of a better way to end our last day down south.

It was then that the trip dragged to a close, as we both had to be back that night because of work the next morning.  I think we got back to Fremont near 1:00 am that night, and were so completely exhausted that I wished we had spent the ungodly amount of money to have flown out after the game.  But, Husband had his roadtrip, and I secretly hoped it was enough to satisfy him for a long, long while.  :)  Cheers to 2012, indeed.




Steve at BubbleGum Alley in San Luis Obispo.
Walking around Downtown SLO.
Me, enjoying the sights and sounds of Solvang.
Driving through the cute, Danish town.
We arrived at the Rose Bowl!
Let's Go Ducks!
VERY Happy Duck Fans!

 









Let Go of the Worry

"When you are in tune with the unknown, the known is peaceful."

That little gem appeared on my Yogi teabag just now as I was getting ready to write this Blog.

Now, I know in my heart that quotes and fortunes and horoscopes such as the Yogi Tea ones are supposed to be vague and all-compassing so that those of us trying to find meaning in something can do so easily, but this really applies to my identity as a worrier.  I don't sweat the small stuff too much, usually, but the BIG stuff, I worry about constantly.  Jobs, family life, income, debt, age-- I'm constantly comparing and worrying and researching and worrying again.  I know it's has and will affect me in ways that I'm not conscious of.  I wish I could let more of it go.

We've been in Fremont two years now, and I just found a church that I really like-- Fremont Community Church.  I was pretty involved in church in my child and teen years-- my mom is a church secretary.  Since I moved from home though, I'd go every now and then, but I'm not "involved" per se.  I've never really had the "aha" moment that others have had where their life was changed forever by knowing God.  But, I've known God since I was 5; my heart knows he's with me.  I feel him in nature, in the love I have for my family and sometimes, even in the saddest of moments.  After a few months of searching, I finally found a church that I feel is close to what I knew as a kid, and feel good about going to.  I feel that I can find some answers to calm my mind, reassurance for some of my Christian doubts, and gain some inner peace of knowing that I don't have to hold it all on my own shoulders.  Learn to let some of the worry go.  It's a work in progress.  :)

Anyway, he's a look back on how I did on my resolutions this week:

I am completing my weekly blog, so YAY!

I did get up for every lunch break this week and do something active, save for today, when I finished the episode of Nashville I started last night.  But, I'm promising myself to do something active right after work.

I went to Bootcamp both Monday and Wednesday this week, so if I can finish the weekend off with a run, or hike, I'll be in businesss.

I had my fair share of junk food this week.  But, at least it was less than last month.  :)

I did, though, floss my teeth every other night.

Husband and I went to the restaurant "Town" this past weekend, and I still need to write my Yelp review about it. I WILL do it, I will.  :)

I didn't complete my first back blog of our 2012 trip to the Rose Bowl.  I need to get on that!

 All in all, not bad.  I'm so looking forward to this weekend after my first week in a month that I actually had to work 5 days in a row.  :)

-Lindz


Friday, January 4, 2013

Revival and Resolutions

Well, WELL...if it isn't my long lost BLOG.

I could sit here and type a thousand excuses or awkward reasons why I stopped blogging, but that's boring, so I won't. The fact is that I convince myself somehow that I don't have time or desire to Blog, which is totally nonsensical, because I like to write. I should MAKE time instead of planting myself in front of the TV every night when I get home. So, I'm hoping to change, starting now, in the Revival of my Blog. I'm pretty sure that the last time I actually wrote down any kind of News Year's Resolutions was in the second grade, because it was REQUIRED. Since then, I've seen them as something people think up, stick with for about a week and then forget, until the next year when the process starts all over again. I guess in a sense, that's what I'm telling myself (and you) that I'm not going to do.

But I'm serious this time. Doesn't writing a blog about it make it so? :) I just feel like this year, I have so many things that I want to do swirling around in my head that I better write them down, and hold myself accountable in a weekly blog.

2013 Resolutions:

1. Blog at least one a week. This should not be hard to do. I have plenty of time to watch TV shows at night, so a night of blogging instead should be easy. I just have to convince myself I really do want to do it.

 2. Get up during my work lunch break every day and do something active. Willpower is SO key here. Sure, there are days where a lunch break is a luxury I don't have, but there are others where I'm like...eh....what I if I just eat lunch at my desk and read or look up stuff on the internet? NO MORE! When the weather is nice, there is a great park to walk to, and when it's not, there is an office gym.

3. Do a vigorous, physical workout at least three days a week. I've already got this two times a week by going to my gym's Bootcamp on Mondays and Wednesdays after work. To get a third, I need to take up racquetball again, go to Zumba at the gym on Fridays, or be serious about hiking around Coyote Hills with Husband, and/or walking an entire Frisbee Golf course with the Fam on the weekends.

 4. Eat less Junk food.  This one is SO vague I know, but I can't really think of a way to make it more specific, because Junking Out for me is sometimes random. I HEART dessert. I would eat frozen yogurt all three meals if I could and I'm never one to pass on treats someone makes for a gathering, party, office function, etc. I don't by or make copious amounts of sweets for the house-- just a few things to satisfy, like fruit snacks or hot chocolate. But when it's available, I eat it. Like now, with gargantuan amounts of Christmas goodies in my house. Sometimes I even go out of my way to find dessert, or do something like order a salad at Wendys, but then also get Fries, or a Frosty.  If someone suggests an unhealthy food option, I dig right in, too. Since I know, I KNOW, I am never going to be one of those people who works out every single day to keep the calories of what I eat at bay, I have to cut out some of unhealthy food. I know the willpower needs to be mine alone.

5. Floss my teeth every other night. This one may seem silly, but I've had enough cavities for about three people's lifetimes (see Resolution 3). And I already use ACT wash and my Sonic Care toothbrush every day. My dentist says I need to floss, and I mean to.

6. Write a YELP review once a week (if applicable) about a new restaurant. When I was in Chicago, I LOVED doing this. I think it was because I was in a big city and felt so "in the know" and frankly, ate out a ton because of all the good places I read about. But, SO WHAT if I live in the "Suburban City to Rule Them All" now? There are still great places to eat here. I know-- I've eaten at them. And I will write about them to aid the 200,000 people of Fremont (and anyone who visits) in their dining choices.

7. Complete a Blog back-log of all the trips that Steve and I took together in 2012. I mean to get on this ASAP. I read back in my posts about New York and when people came to visit in Chicago and was just amazed at all the details that I had forgotten from my own recollection. You really do remember more when you write it down. And although I might not remember every detail from our Napa trip in Feb of 2012, but I'll remember WAY more now than 10 years from now, when I actually want to remember. The good thing is, I have pictures from most of our trips to help me along the way.

Seven resolutions. Totally doable, totally obtainable. I'm ready, 2013. Let's go...

~Lindz