Zumba & Running: 2011 with Intention

Back in January 2011, I published a post about my word of the year. (Click here to check it out if you missed it!) The word that I selected for this year was "intentional". It's a simple reminder to live each day with a purpose. For me, it has served as a reminder not to act for the sake of acting, but to think out each action, it's cause and effect. This was the first time that I selected a word to live by for the year, and I have to say that I was pretty pleased with the result.

I've never made a New Year's resolution that I've been able to stick to. In the past, I would half-heartedly make a commitment to myself and then let it fall by the wayside. This year, I wanted to do two things. I wanted to become a Zumba instructor, and I wanted to run a half marathon. I fulfilled one of two, and although I fell short, I feel like I accomplished so much.

Becoming a Zumba instructor has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. It has enabled me to stay fit, stay committed to my workouts, and meet a ton of great people. I've loved every single minute of it! Where I fell short was my half marathon. I was able to run a 10k this year, but some personal issues toward the end of the year stopped me short of my half marathon goal. I did, however, become a runner in 2011. I impressed myself with what I could do with a little commitment and a lot of heart. A girl who could barely run a mile at the beginning of the year ran a 10k at a respectable time. To me, that's amazing! My half marathon goal will continue into 2012, and I plan to stick with it!

It all comes back to living intentionally. I made a resolution, and I intentionally set out to make it happen. In addition to resolutions, I made some personal choices and decisions this year that were all done with intention. It's been one of the best years of my life in terms of fulfillment, and it's all because I set out to make it that way through commitment and prayer. In essence, I was living life on purpose.

I hope that your 2012 is blessed with all that you set out to do. May your resolutions be fruitful and your life be lived intentionally!

The Reading Room

Recently, I read Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? If you aren't familiar with Mindy Kaling, she plays Kelly Kapoor on The Office, and she is also one of the head writers for the show. I find her to be absolutely hysterical on The Office, and I was really looking forward to reading her book. Unfortunately, I think it fell a little flat. 

I really enjoyed listening to Tina Fey's book (my first venture into audiobooks; see below), and I hoped that Kaling's book would provide similar entertainment. While I found the book to be light hearted, and at times very funny, it just never amounted to much. Kaling has always been obsessed with comedy, even from the time she was little. So, you can imagine my disappointment when she reviews her top 11 comedy sketches/scenes and most of them fall within the last decade (think Talladega Nights, Anchorman, etc.). Also, she talks a lot about The Office, but she leaves much to be desired in the way of actual relationships she has with her cast mates (other than Ellie Kemper). Overall, I enjoyed the book, but if you're looking for hearty laughs and solid entertainment, skip it in favor of Tina Fey!

My Christmas Hobbies (Obsessions)

It's Christmas time once again! Can you believe it's already December? Where does the time go...

I look forward to Christmas for so many reasons. The most important reason, is the meaning behind the celebration. Without Christ, there would be no celebration. There would be no celebration, because we wouldn't have the hope of eternal life. As you're out and about doing your shopping and other things to prepare for the holiday, I hope Christ is the first thing you think of during Christmas.

After the meaning of Christmas, I look forward to spending time with my family around the holidays. Despite the craziness of gift buying and giving, it feels like everything slows down around Christmas. I love spending hours sitting around a table talking, or playing games, or just watching TV. There is no better time of year than when the tree is twinkling, the snow is falling, and the house is full of people you love!

If you know me, then you also know that I love Christmas cards. Not only do I love to receive Christmas cards, but I love to send them. I think about my Christmas cards all year long. My favorite kind of Christmas card is a photo card. Now, don't get me wrong. If you send a Christmas card that doesn't have a photo, I love it just the same. There is just something so exciting about opening a Christmas card that has the faces of friends and family engaging in some kind of memorable activity from the past year. I can't get enough!

Anyway, I start scouting out my Christmas card photo on January 1. I like our Christmas card to have a photo of a memorable event from sometime during the year, so I'm always taking photos and making mental notes of ones that would be good candidates. I would call it a hobby. I think my husband would call it an obsession.

There are two websites that I particularly love when it comes to my Christmas cards. First and foremost, I recommend TinyPrints. I can't say enough about this website! Their customer service and products are unmatchable, and they are FAST (very important around the holidays!). The site has hundreds of beautiful, quality cards to choose from, and they are all on quality stock (no flimsy paper or cheap envelopes). If you're looking for a site for great cards (no matter the occasion), visit TinyPrints!

The second website that I would recommend is Expressionery. They offer tons of great address labels and stamps that would be the perfect complement to your Christmas card. Additionally, they offer gift tags that I simply love! The website also has some beautiful personalized collectible items that would make great Christmas gifts.

Whatever your hobbies or obsessions might be around this time of year, I hope that you take time to remember why we celebrate. I also hope that you take time to relax, enjoy the company of your family, and maybe share a Christmas card or two. Merry Christmas!

Another year older...

Yesterday was my 26th birthday. I'm discovering that birthdays really do become less and less significant as time goes on. There was no cake. There were no balloons. There was one present (other presents came in the days prior). It really just felt like any other day. In a way, it was kind of nice.

I started my day at 6:00 a.m. and was out the door shortly after 7:00 a.m. for school (in case you missed it, I'm a substitute teacher now!). I finished school at 3:00 p.m., and then I monitored aftercare until 6:00 p.m. Aftercare is glorified babysitting for students who don't get picked up right after school. I really enjoy aftercare because I can spend time with some great kids, help them with their homework, and get myself prepared for the next day at school! Anyway, once I finished with aftercare, I went straight to Zumba. After all was said and done, I got home at nearly 10:00 p.m., read a book, and went to bed.

Yep, it's official. I'm old.

The Reading Room

My friend, Shay, recently introduced me to the world of audiobooks. I had never listened to an audiobook before, and when I saw Tina Fey's Bossy Pants in Shay's car, I asked her if I could borrow it. I learned two things from my first audiobook experience: 1.) I love them! 2.) I spend way too much time in the car.

I listened to a five and a half hour audiobook in three days! That's insane. The worst part is that I wasn't on a trip or even driving a long distance. I listened to Bossy Pants to and from my house when going to work and the gym where I teach Zumba. If you have a long commute, I highly recommend audiobooks!

I have to admit, I've never been a huge fan of Tina Fey. I liked her on Weekend Update on SNL, and I really enjoyed Mean Girls, but I'm not crazy about 30 Rock. After reading this book though, I have a new appreciation for her talent. The fact that she is actually reading the story is the best part about this audiobook. Inflection and humor are in all the right places, and I found myself laughing out loud in my car (I'm sure other drivers thought I was crazy). The book flows so smoothly from her childhood to her early improv days to SNL to 30 Rock to family life, and before you know it, you've spent five and a half hours listening to Tina Fey while sitting in rush hour traffic.

Overall, the book has minimal foul language, and lots of laughs. I recommend it (particularly on audiobook) if you're looking for some mindless, entertaining material. If you have other audiobooks that you recommend, please pass them my way!

New Beginnings

This week was a big week for me. I left a job that I've called home for the last two years, and I entered into the unknown territory of teaching a 4th grade class. Yep, you read that right, 4th grade. Now, before you get concerned, remember that I've been working with high school seniors for the last two years. As crazy as it seems, there are very few differences between an 18-year-old and a 10-year-old!

In my last two years at the University of Charleston, I've made a ton of lifelong friends. For instance, one of my former coworkers will become my brother-in-law next July. It doesn't get much more lifelong than that! It's hard to walk away from something that you feel familiar or comfortable with. It's also hard to walk away from coworkers who often feel more like family than just people you work with (below you'll see pictures from my going away dinner). I've been blessed over the last two years to call UC my home.

But, when it's time to go, it's time to go.

As my new boss said to me when I took on the role of teaching 4th grade, "When you feel convicted about a change, it's best to pray about it and then take action." That's exactly what I did, and I feel convinced that God is leading me down the right path for me. There are a lot of unknown variables that lie ahead, but I know that He will provide for me when the time is right.

Although it was a sad week, it was also a happy week. A time for change and a time for new beginnings. I hope that your week was equally exhilarating. If not, maybe it's time to pray about a change!

My husband, Justin, and my future brother-in-law, Chris

 We're all former UC employees now! Top: Meghann, Lynsey & myself. Bottom: Chris & Beth

 Shay Slifko, International Admissions! Sweetest girl you'll ever meet!

 Beth, myself, and Lynsey. Jen was creeping in the background :)

Two of my favorites! Lynsey and Justin

Just. Keep. Running.

Many of you will recall that when I started this blog, I had high hopes of running a half marathon this year. I began running in January and worked my way up to the Cooper River Bridge Run 10K in Charleston, SC in April. It was such a huge accomplishment for me, and it really had me energized to run the half marathon this year. I had my sights set on the Huntington Half, and in early August I began my training for the race (which took place today). I've been teaching Zumba since January, and I had been running since the 10K in April, so it felt good to get some longer distances in. Then, in September, disaster struck.

I say disaster, but it really wasn't anything too horrific. In early September, some changes happened at my job, and I had to take on more responsibility and duties than I had previously. This required me to get to work very early, and often stay very late into the evening. If you're keeping score, that meant my job was taking all my running time. In October, I felt like I had come to a place where I could better manage my work, and I got back into training. Unfortunately, in early October, I encountered some health issues that definitely left me sidelined (I've bounced back, but I wasn't able to run for almost the entire month of October!).

All in all, I'm sad that I wasn't able to run the half that I had my sights set on, but I did become a runner (again) in 2011. I ran a 10K that I never thought would have been possible, with a good time I might add! I love that after a long day, I can go home and run 4-6 miles without thinking twice! I haven't given up on my hopes of a half marathon, and I've made a new plan to shoot for the UC Half Marathon in April 2012. Regardless of a half marathon though, I'm proud of the fitness accomplishments I've made so far this year. And who knows, the year isn't over yet!