It's been a year...a lot has happened.

Brian and I live in Minneapolis now.

I have a "new-old" job.  No more advertising agency.  I'm back to my 'roots' in consulting working for a former company that now has a Minneapolis location.  I have an office to go to again, no more working primarily from home.  


I'm still getting used to "getting ready" for work every day.  I do miss the yoga-pants work wardrobe.

I have a driving commute for the first time in 6 years.  It's not too bad - 25 min each way approx, and I don't mind the drive.  I prefer it to being sardined on the El.

I've taken up swimming (well...attempting to)...I'm currently taking lessons and am getting better at Freestyle.  It's all in prep for a longer term goal of doing a triathlon some day (next year, it's on).  


I own my own set of golf clubs now.  


I got Brian a remote control inflatable shark for his birthday this year.  I also got him a new pair of golf shoes that he picked out.  I also made him delicious Guinness chocolate cupcakes with Bailey's butter cream via a recipe I found on Pinterest.


I  am a Pinterest fan, and have gotten more ambitious in the kitchen, as a result.  


I made macarons from scratch.  Not a Pinterest find, but made during a French macaron class I took with my friend Jen while still living in Austin. 


I painted a room, for the first time ever in my life.  It was a lot harder than I expected.  It turned out well though. Our bedroom is now 'dolphin fin grey' to match our fancy duvee cover, which is grey, cream and chartreuse.

I introduced Brian to Ikea.

I lost my uncle to Cancer.

I went to the dentist for the first time in 4 years (gross I know.  But I really hate going to the dentist).  I have one small cavity.  I am now recommitted to flossing (as in, I've now flossed for 2 days in a row -- my appt was just a few days ago).  And I have my next six month cleaning scheduled.  I'm setting several goals based on this date, both related to my teeth and not at all related to my teeth.


I was in a wedding (the wedding of Barrie, one of my oldest and closest friends) in the Bahamas.  I consumed several island cocktails during this wedding weekend.


I did not go home for Christmas.

I witnessed a fire in the building next to ours. It was, quite literally, too close to home for comfort.  No one was injured.

I flew back and forth to Chicago at least 10 times, not to mention NYC, Boston, Detroit and Minne-pre-move (the other  more oft' visited cities).

I turned 32.

And that's not nearly the half of it.

Broken Record

I'm not doing a very good job at keeping up with this blog...but I want to do a better job, so does that mean I get an A for ambition? In any case, I'm droppin' my knowledge now, so that's got to count for something, right?

So anyway...as I mentioned last month, I am currently trying to lose weight (yeah yeah, it's the same old story, still trying to lose weight just like I was a year ago). But THIS time, I have a whole staff (ok fine. only 2 people.) of expensive health professionals to help keep me accountable.

Today, I met with the newest member of my health and wellness squad. I now have a dietician that I am seeing every other week to go with my personal trainer, who I am now seeing twice a week. I feel like quite the rich bitch with my fancy-schmancy gym, personal trainer, and dietician. If they can't help keep me accountable, then maybe my diminishing checking account that's funding my fitness entourage will do the trick.

Even though both of my trainer (Greg) and my dietician (Laura) have succeeded in making me cry (the scale's a bitch after all, and oh! the aches and pains of squats!), I absolutely adore them both. When I met with Laura this evening, I took a body composition test that confirmed I have some lbs to shed (uh....duh), but I have a lot more muscle mass than I realized (I'm above average! I'm strong!) It was actually kind of empowering to confirm what I really am a relatively healthy person hiding underneath a layer of pudge. And it gave me hope that maybe, despite the extra weight I’ve been carrying around for the past 7 years, I really can get back to my former pre-2005 average-weighted self. Today at Laura's urging, I am completely abandoning the scale, and until I meet my weight goal, she will be the only one who knows my weight. I am also focusing on the ‘small wins’ and realistic, attainable goals. My first tasks? Cut out 1 diet-soda a day (since artificial sweeteners can apparently induce cravings), double my current level of water intake, and keep a food diary of what I eat (but no calorie counting – just the food tracking). Sounds easy enough – I can do this!

Tomorrow morning bright and early I have a training session. Right now, these workouts scare the shit out of me. Because I’ve been a runner (albeit slow) on and off for years, I am in really great cardio condition. But, I suck when it comes to muscle conditioning. In my last session, the weight lifting shot my heart rate up so fast, that I got dizzy and my trainer had to get me apple juice while I sat with my head between my knees. How. Utterly. Embarrassing. My trainer was very reassuring, and promised me that if I keep up with my workouts, I will overcome. So, I’m choosing to rise above my embarrassment and persevere. Hopefully by the end of the year, I’ll be 80% of the woman I used to be! As they say, Time (...and my check book) Will Tell.

TMI

Did you know Cafe Press has an entire page devoted to corn poop T-shirts?

The one below is my fave. I often threaten to buy one of these tees for Brian. Actually, what I tell him is that I plan to order his-and-hers versions of the shirt so we can be twins and wear them together. Sometimes he's amused by this...other times, not so much.

His birthday IS coming up soon...maybe it's time to make good on my threat.



Also FYI -- Apparently you can buy corn poop underwear too. That's crossing the line, I think...especially the thongs.