lent

Yesterday was Ash Wesdnesday and I gave up Facebook for 40 days (or until after Easter).

In the past 6 years I have experienced a personal transformation.  From a non-beleiver, to a pseudo spiritual person, to a spiritual person, to a Christian woman.

Christianity is an important part of my life and I strive to be the best Christian I can be.  But it's hard.  It's hard to be Christ like.  During Lent I can give a sacrifice, which is minor when you consider that Christ sacrificed himself so that we would all have eternal salvation. 

While I am on the topic of Christ... I am currently working on a devotional plan of Reading The Bible in one year.  I am on day 12.  It's going to be a great year :)

PS - Started Get Fit 2011 Blog challenge with friends for the next 2 months.  Let's see how FIT I can get.

Stay Fit 2011

So now I am doing a stay fit challenge on blogspot with my friends!  I am excited because right about now in my workout regiment I have plateaud and need that extra push to continue pushing my workout boundaries.

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.