update

So I did zumba and it's a LOT of fun.  I did curb my eating and actually have been focusing on eating less, eating fresh and overall more fruits and veggies.  I have also taken out sodas/juices and replaced with only milk, water, green tea and 2 cups of morning java.  I have also been on my running/weight lifting kick.  Overall since January 1st I have lost roughly 12 lbs?  This is a gestimation since I didn't weigh in for my first two weeks of January.  But as of last night I weighed in at 127 lbs. This is major because I was a college student the last time I was in the 120's.  And I really REALLY want to stay in the 120's.  :)

The hardest thing is maintaining this as a "lifestyle" change.  I think I am "there" but I have to keep reminding myself that this isn't a "diet." 

I have now started to run at least 3 times a week.  I average a 2.5 mile run that takes me roughly 25 minutes.  Feels good.  And kinda addicting.  Next goal is to firm up my abs.

I need to get in shape for the California move baby.

March

So admittedly February was a blur... Jake and I went to California for his cousin Eric's wedding.  We ate a lot of great food (In & Out!  Johnny Shrimp Boat!  Black Angus!).  I also had TWO job interviews with LA County.  Then we came back and we celebrated two awesome years of marriage.

We spent our belated anniversary weekend in Newport OR....

Aldana Family

The Newlyweds (we are only in our 2nd year of marriage!)

Pirates Village

With Jake's adorable Grandma Maria

By the way... I GOT THE JOB.

*** disclaimer - sorry the photos are all out of order on this post.  I am too lazy to fix ;-)

And I want to shout out to my follower!

So apparently this is more like a diary for me.  I started this blog in September as a test more than anything.  Since I have one follower :)  Thanks Shanda! 
I don't write much (or often) but I am finding this to be therapuetic and I am enjoying it.  It is allowing me to be a bit of an exhibitionist and seems to hold me accountable.  Thanks for following my humble blog. 

new year and zumba

I've now joined the legions of zumba crazed folks dying to lose an extra 10 lbs.  It's not just because I was a fatty over the holidays... I've been a gradual fatty for the past 10 years and realized I have probably gained at least 1-1.5lbs per year as a fatty.  2011 goal - to stop being a fatty :)  And it's not just about doing cardio, I gotta work the whole package.  Here are my goals (or steps since I LOVE lists):

Step 1: Zumba
Step 2: Stop eating so much!!
Step 3: Continue to go running
Step 4: weights, crunches, push ups, squats, etc...

Step 1 is actually pretty easy because Zumba is fun and I am enjoying it.  I try not to look at myself in the mirror.  I have NO rhythm.. but otherwise I am loving Zumba.
Step 2 is HARD.  If you know me, you know how I love to eat.  I plan dinner while I eat my lunch.  I ponder the next day's meals at dinnertime.  I love to eat well and I love to cook.  But I need to really nail down "portion control" (as a sidenote.  my coworker just brought in donuts.  maple bars.  Must.Exert.Self.Control.)
Step 3 is OK.  When it's not raining, or cold. Did I mention I live in rainy cold Oregon?  And it's January??
Step 4 is *yawn* a necessity.

Will power.  Just say NO to the donuts.  ZUMBA.  Zumba. zumba.  I can do this :) 

sad, sick, upset, hopeful

Sad.  I have been very sad about the passing of Daisy Girl.  When I wake up in the morning I still look in her corner of the room and expect to see her curled into a ball and purposely ignoring me.  When I come home from work I expect her twirl around and greet me, but alas only hubby leans over to give me a kiss.  Don't get me wrong, I love my husband.  But I really miss my dog and Jake can't spin in circles like Daisy girl could.  It's been two weeks now since she passed away.

Sick.  So then I get a cold.  A bad cold.  A cold that was so bad it might have been the flu.  I was sick an entire week, missed 4 days of work.  I am finally getting better.  Better living with medication and cough drops :)

Upset.  Clearly the cold had me down and feeling upset.  Then to top it off, I find that at work my position should have been re-classified higher as my peers, but was somehow missed.  The positive outcome is that I get my classification increased and I get backpay from August 2010 when my position should have been changed.  This may be wishful thinking.

Hopeful.  Los Angeles County Human Resources comes knocking again.  Management Assistant.  Hhhhm.  More details to follow post interview on December 15th. 

It's inching towards Christmas which always makes me happy.  I'm a sucker for this time of year.  I know that Jake felt particularly bad for me, because he even put up Christmas lights in the apartment.  I love him.

Daisy Lou Medrano

My beautiful pit bull died this morning at 6:45am.  Daisy girl was a Valentines Day gift from Jacob on February 1, 2004.  She would have turned 6 tomorrow on Thanksgiving.  Now she is in doggy heaven. 

It's really too hard & too painful to write much right now.  I can only say that I will miss her and that I loved her.  I have cried a lot these past few weeks about her illness and now that she's gone I feel a sense of relief that her suffering is over.  But as we know it still makes things hard.

You know that you will outlive your pet... but you grow attached to them and they become friends and companions and when they go... it really hits you hard.

Daisy girl was the best dog I ever had.  She is the best pet I ever had.  She was also - I can brag - the most beautiful dog.  She was stubborn, standoffish and moody... but she was my girlie.  She was my precious hoo-belle and she will be missed in a million ways.  It's going to be hard to go home tonight and not have my girlie meet me at the door.  Great pets come along only once or twice in a lifetime.  I feel blessed to have had her.  She was precious, special and such a lady.

Rest in peace Daisy

My Fanbase Will Destroy You!

Jake and I had an awesome weekend in Portland!  I can't get enough of it :)
Saturday we chilled in the Pearl District, ate great food, people watched, strolled around Powell's bookstore, bought some gear at Urban Outfitters and the Levi's store...
Then at night we headed out to Slabtown and saw... Sleep, Free Moral Agents and 2Mex.  My Fanbase Will Destroy You!!!  This was one of the best shows I have seen in awhile - good underground hip hop and a nice vibe.  We weren't the only hardcore 2Mex fans in the room :)

I'm really digging Sleep and Free Moral Agents... I'll be checking out their CD's. 
We got back to the hotel at about 2:30am, but because of Daylights Savings it was only 1:30am!
Sunday we slept in, grabbed some Jack in the Box and headed to the Woodburn Mall.  Another Levi's trip, Vans store, Zumiez then home to Corvallis.

Free Moral Agents - lead singer... she's a cross between Portishead & Bjork, I think I love her

She's singing with 2Mex

Now it's back to Monday.  But I only have a three day week so I can't complain.  In two weeks in the Restoration Pow Wow adventure... stay tuned :)