I joined a gym! I wanted a gym with classes and fun stuff to do but ended up choosing Snap Fitness. It doesn’t have anything fancy but has some definite additions to the pro column. They are open 24 hours, cheap and they have what I need.

My ultimate goal is to run the Philly Half Marathon in September, but I’m not starting to train yet. Right now, I’m focusing on getting back in shape and maybe shedding a few lbs. I don’t want any injuries. I made that mistake last time!

I’ve changed my focus on working out/healthy eating. Back in the day, I worked out hard everyday and ate super healthy but I was starving all the time and missed out on a lot of things (restaurants, family outings, BARS!). This time, I’m trying to balance moderate workouts and relatively healthy eating. On days I work out, I am hungrier. On days I don’t, I can manage my appetite much better. So I’m working on that happy medium.

I won’t give up dessert. I won’t give up boozing. It’s all about balance. And you know what? I’m awesome for it. #suckit 

In other news….I don’t have other news. Just work and life. I need to work on my social life. Well, that’s not totally true. Tonight I’m going out to dinner for my stepmom’s birthday with the whole fam! I’m pretty excited…Jackson is coming too!

I am a liar.  This month has been anything BUT ‘health month’.  I have completely lost my motivation.  Until today, that is!

I was sick for a solid week so I didn’t do anything remotely healthy during those days.  I am also exhausted from work but I just need to get used to that.  The past few days have been gorgeous here.  It was 65 and sunny!  In February!  Today, it’s only about 36 but it’s sunny and pretty so I’m going for a quick run outside.  I need to stop beating myself up about my mileage.  I can’t expect to take 2 months off from running and be able to crank out 7 miles.  That’s just silly.

Today my motivation is thinking about vacation (less than a month!) and Lady Gaga.  Now, I am not an uberfan of the Gaga but I think her message is really important.  She is a huge mega star right now and everything she does is trendy and if she is telling people it’s perfect to be who you are because you were born that way….well, people will follow suit.  Plus, I like the Madonna-esque feel to her new song, “Born This Way”.

Looking forward to cocktails here!

My brother and sister-in-law are creating blogs and they called me for help.  We’re currently on a conference call discussing what to do, how to get followers, and the correct vernacular for blogging.  I am enjoying this!

This is my sister-in-law, Chelsie.  She’s being a goof in this picture.  It’s because we were drunk.  She is beautiful, hilarious, caring and very sentimental.  She’s always looking out for me and I love her a lot.  My family is so much better because she’s in it!

Then, there’s this guy.  He is my brother.  He is all about Steelers, football and Pittsburgh.  On the other hand, he’s my go-to guy for anything Harry Potter, Twilight, or Mario brothers.  He knows how to cheer me up when I’m down and put stuff in perspective.  He gets me.

Why yes, this is my Friday night.

for chelsie! (she has a blog now!)

I’m thinking of declaring February “Health Month”.  I figure, it’s the shortest month, if I had to pick one, I’d pick the shortest one.  Plus, I’m going on a company retreat in March and I need to get into a little bit better shape.

Now, what does “Health Month” entail?  I have no idea.  I refuse to count calories and deprive myself.  But, I’ve been over-eating and under-exercizing in January.  Why is that?  Everyone else is kicking butt in the gym this month and I can’t seem to find the motivation.  So, in Feb, I’m going to start over.  I’m going to eat more vegetables and less candy.  (Note: less candy, not no candy.)  I also want to exercise at least every other day.  Ideally, I’d like to exercise 5 days a week.  Work has been soooo crazy and I’ve been exhausted and can’t get up earlier to work out in the mornings.  I also stay pretty late and then lose time to work out in the evening.  If I want to look not disgusting descent in March, I need to kick my butt into gear.  

On a side note, my knee is still bothering me when I run.  I haven’t been going far but it still feels tight.  It’s frustrating now because I want to run!  Who woulda thought?

This is where our company retreat is….St. John! 

life:

January 20, 1961, was a bitterly cold day in Washington. And yet, as John and Jackie Kennedy set out on foot from the White House to the Capitol — where, a half-century ago, JFK was sworn in as America’s 35th president — the sense of cheer and confidence was palpable. This, after all, was the dawn of “Camelot” — the evocative label forever associated with Kennedy’s administration, born of the young president’s fondness for the musical of the same name. LIFE sent several of its best photographers to D.C. to chronicle the inauguration (and its slew of star-studded parties). A week later, the magazine ran nearly 20 pictures from the event; many, many more photos, meanwhile, were stored away in LIFE’s archives, unseen — until now. Here, on the 50th anniversary of that blustery, exuberant day, LIFE.com presents a gallery of photographs — the vast majority of them never published before — from JFK’s inauguration.

nutritionista:

Okay, so thanks to my roommate, I’ve gotten a little bit addicted to the show How I Met Your Mother. She has all five seasons on DVD, and slowly but surely, I’ve been working my way through all of them. It’s the perfect thing to do when I have 20 minutes to kill (I may or may not be watching…

2010 was a good year.  It started off a little rocky, but rounded out very well in the last few months.  I started 2010 with a lot of rules so that is my non-goal for 2011.  No crazy rules.

Most of my rules were about dieting.  Calorie restricting.  Can’t eat fried food.  No soda.  No eating past 8 pm.  Come on!  What was I thinking??  I made it through 2010 with not a single french fry (my fav food).  I realized in about November that these rules were stupid and only made me miserable but I figured I’d finish what I started.  I do feel kind of accomplished for not eating a single french fry in 2010.  And I do believe that the “no soda” rule is probably one I should try to stick to.  That is, unless a killer hangover comes along!

So my non-goal for 2011 is to never count calories.  I’ll still be mindful of them but my intention is to eat healthy, balanced meals.  Sure, counting calories and killing yourself at the gym will produce results but, for me, personally, I was miserable and couldn’t stick to that crazy plan for very long.  It usually resulted in 5 “good days” followed by 1 “bad day” that would totally unglue me and make me so upset.  I wouldn’t go out with friends.  I couldn’t eat out.  I wouldn’t go to happy hour.  I would go to bed super early just so I couldn’t eat anymore.  I was unhappy.  What kind of a life is that?

I am aiming for a healthy, happy, well rounded person in 2011.  I want to work on my friendships and make new ones.  I want to spend as much time with my nephew as humanly possible.  

Other, more tangible goals?  Work harder.  Move out.  Get a new car (maybe).  Visit my mom in FL.  Visit my ClareBear in TX.  Maybe run a half marathon (if I don’t, I won’t beat myself up about it).  

Looking forward to 2011!

A new tradition in our household is to do alllll of our Christmas presents early.  We did them last night.  We have a busy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so it doesn’t bother me.  We just get too excited!  One of my fav new gifts that I’m about to use on my run is…..the new iPod Nano! 

My Dad & Lori got me the pink one, of course.  Obvi the best choice.  Anyway, it does all this cool crazy stuff.  Of course it has a killer display and does everything imaginable to your tunes but it also has a built in radio and photo app.  Not to mention an entire fitness app that can help out your workout!  It has a pedometer, timer and a lot of other stuff I haven’t explored yet.  I’m so excited to use it today!

Yes, I am still here.  I have been so busy the past few months with work.  Stressful, crazy but good busy.  It’s been a lot of fun.  I never ever thought I’d have a job like the one I have but I’m grateful that I have it.  I enjoy all of the cool responsibilities that I have now.

So anywayyyy, we had Christmas last night with my brother’s family at my dad’s place.  My grandma and aunt (she’s actually my grandfather’s cousin, but “aunt” is an easier title) also came.  My nephew was here…dressed as Santa!!  He is the cutest little bugger in the whole wide world and I love getting to spend time with him.  All he does is smile and giggle.  He loves standing up (with some help) and he is 20 pounds now!  He’s almost 7 months old, I can’t believe it.  He got me my new favorite ornament that says “Best Aunt” and he got me a necklace with a clauddah and a pendant that says “Aunt Jay”.  Yes, of course I cried a little.  

All in all, Christmas round 1 was awesome.  Tonight is the office Christmas party.  Dinner at Nakama and drinks in the south side.  Hope it’s not too cold.

Hope you’re enjoying the holidays!!