You Like ME!!

I have had a couple people inbox me and ask me if I was alright because my blog has been lacking as of late - and all I can say is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl_NpdAy3WY

I just haven't had anything all to exciting happen to me. I believe it has been from my lack of being able to walk or move or breathe without having sharp pain in my back. I would like to state however, that this morning - I was not only able to put my socks on with decent ease - I was also able to go to my morning work out class and do a majority of the work out!! Whoop Whoop!!

OH! Last week I did try to get a guy I work with to believe I put my back out from lack of soda - being he has been telling me to stop drinking it. I don't really think I "had him going" but he was confused as to why no soda would make you throw your back out. Karma was instant that day - because when I was in his office I coughed! My legs went out and I fell into the door frame of his office. It was horribly painful - but also so funny at the same time.

Other than that - today has been a frustrating day - for me - actually it has overall been a great day - but I did come home and do this:

I don't even care - it taste amazing! I would like to state this is the first time I have cheated since my declaration to give up alcohol - but it's not ... I had a drink on Friday night as well. I did however go for 2 weeks. I find it ironic that the reason I was going to stop drinking wine was because I want to win the 6 week summer slim down - and the day the competition "Officially" starts is the day I crack open a bottle!

 It's odd to state that I really don't have much more to say - being typically you cannot get me to shut up. I DID officially pay to be in the Dragon Boat Races up here on August 3rd! So to my friends back home - you are more than welcome to visit that weekend!! :) (You are more than welcome to visit any weekend, or week or move in :)) Any who, I was trying to come up with fun names for our team. The team is through Elite Performance and Fitness - so I was trying to be clever with the EPF - Everyone Paddling Feverishly (or in Fury) - then I thought "Oar we there yet" - or "Don't let your Ass be a Dragon" or "No Dragon your Ass" - get it dragging/dragon!! hahaha - I probably laughed harder than I should have at those.

Now to complain about the lack of summer like everyone else:

That is all.....

It's only Wednesday!

This is going to be a short list of the wonderful pieces of information I have learned this week!

I LEARNED:

• You cannot finish your taxes without knowing your E-Filing Pin Number
• You cannot figure out your E-Filing Pin Number unless you have your AGI from your 2011 Taxes or know the address that you filed under.
• My Dad, Mom or Brother in Law for some reason don't remember that information for me!
• You cannot actually get in touch with a Customer Service Representative at the IRS on Tax Day.
• I learned how to file a tax extension.
• That I can make it to my semi private work-out from 8-9AM and still make it into work by 9:30 AM
• Even if you make it into work on time - if you leave your computer at home - you can't accomplish much!
• I tested above 97% of people in my age group in Nonverbal Reasoning Skills. So more of the creative, puzzle solving, drawing, visual intelligence test. Whoop Whoop! (The guy was really impressed it made me feel good - he kept saying I did the tasks so quick he could hardly keep up!)
• I am only average in Verbal Reasoning Skills. Wha-Wha-Whaaa
• I didn't learn but I revisited how painful it is to throw your back out - and how hard putting on clothes is when it hurts to walk or breathe!
• That you take a left when you leave the Chiropractors office - not a right - or your 5 minute drive back - turns into 25 minutes - because you get yourself lost and end up having to turn on your GPS
• That if you do squats and kettlebell swings correctly - you can really feel it in your abs! Yeah Buddy!

That's a list of a few of the things I learned so far this week! I also am pretty excited because they have these things up here - Dragon Boat Races? (Apparently they have them everywhere - but this is the first that I have heard of them) Anyhow - where I work out they are putting a team together and I am pretty exited for it! www.bemidjidragonboat.com It's August 3rd for anyone who would want to travel up and watch us Row into victory :)

How fun does that look?

 

Disclaimer: I am not an alcoholic!

I feel like this blog deserves a disclaimer: I am not an alcoholic!

"Wine is not that bad for you" - I have been hearing that a lot as of late. I do agree with them - a glass of wine has about the same amount of calories as a beer - and probably less carbs. Actually, I really don't pay attention to it all too much - but the point I am going to make is: Wine is not that bad - until you understand how I drink it :)

I was once told "Sarah, just because you can fit the whole bottle into two glasses, doesn't mean that you are taking it easy!" I laugh at that - because I remember telling a friend that I only had two glasses of wine the night before, so I was "taking it easy." It's true - I don't have the typical wine size glasses - I have these monster glasses that screams 'Sarah Needs a Drink'! Plus wine is sooooooo good - it's hard not to over indulge when you open a bottle ...... or two. Plus - for the record - I have a water bottle that holds a whole bottle of wine perfectly - but that's only when I want to keep it classy!

So this has only happened once - or - ah - maybe twice. I open a bottle of wine with dinner and "I take it easy" I only have 2 glasses. I decide at that time - that I want another glass of wine - but don't want to open another bottle. Will Power! Until I realize that I have Whiskey in the apartment and Whiskey sounds good. I like a good Whiskey drink - I prefer it with Coke or 7up - but at this time - water was going to have to suffice. To my surprise it really wasn't that bad - because I also had some lemon that I added to it.

Long story short - you wake up with a pounding headache when you wash down a bottle of wine with Whiskey. Some would say I have a problem - but I like to think you have a problem when you don't admit it. I fully admit that it is a rare occurrence that don't finish off a bottle of wine when I open it. Hell, if you get my friend Katie and I together - we will just finish off an entire box! (We will sleep in until noon the next day - and despise the thought of moving - but we will do it!)

Honestly - will I stop drinking wine? HECK NO! Will I make it the full 8 weeks - I am guessing not - buttttt now that I got back in the habit of working out in the mornings - it helps in not having a drink during the week - so I guess that is a plus :)

Going Through Withdraws!!!

Nothing Brightens up a crap-tastic day like a good workout, time in a tanning bed, and a nice venison burger! Thanks Dad! I don't know what others get from their Dad's when they go home - but mine gives me Venison Meat - and sometimes a handle of Captain. !!WINNING!! Men take note - I don't want Flowers & Chocolate - just some Captain Morgan and a Burger! Haha =]

So – as I mentioned in a previous blog – I joined a gym here that offer different classes and training. I haven’t even been going for a full week – and I already feel better about myself. I just wish the weight came off faster - like I've been really good this week - why am I not a size 2 yet? :)

Any who - The gym is holding a 6 week Summer Slim Down! (Or –if you look outside today – I think it should be called “Springs on Crack –Slim Down”) I joined the “competition” but in the end – I feel we will all be winners! (Cheesy I know – but true) The competition officially starts on the 22^ndand goes until the end of May. It is based fully on before and after pictures –so it gives me motivation to have my after picture look better than my before picture. I like the concept of not going off amount of weight lost – or even inches lost – because everyone has a different goal! I would like to assume that everyone shares in the same general idea/goal to look good with their shirts off – and be healthy.

I signed up early – so I have 2 about weeks on the competition - (BooYa!) – When you sign up - is when you get your "Before" picture taken. It was taken right after my morning workout– so the “not looking good in the before picture” is something I can definitely check off! I don’t like taking my shirt off in front of people – so the fact that I had a picture taken in my sports bra and shorts – to be judged is a pretty big deal for me. I need to look better for the after picture so I am debating on tanning – or going in and asking to get spray tanned to make it look like I am sporting a 6 pack! (That is – if I don’t chisel one out on my own in the next 8 weeks!) I know I went tanning today - but the weather is soooooooooo gloomy - and will be for awhile - but I hadn't gone for almost 4 months! Whoop Whoop!

This is where having withdraws come in! I really do want to see a difference – and hey – I wouldn’t mind walking away with the winner’s prize. Sooooo I decided yesterday I need to be serious! I don’t have much for candy/sweets in the house – but I did take my wine and hide it in my garage –along with my Barcardi Limon & Captain. I decided yesterday that I am going to give up alcohol for the next 8 weeks :S It has been hard - but, so far so good! I am guessing if you ask me in a month a week well a few days - that answer will be different!

Also trying to eliminate carbs from my diet. I know that it’s impossible – but just get back to the low carb mind set – and overall – healthy eating mind set! Like today - no bun with my burger - or croutons on my salad! I really love croutons on my salad - so I don't know how long I can keep that up! You know the old saying you are what you eat - well I must have ate a fat kid and need to find some sexy beast here soon :P

I was thinking about taking my own before and after pictures and if the transformation was great - posting them for all to see - but - I decided against that. Your Welcome :) - however I would pose in my after picture like this!

That's all - I would say I am going to get started on my taxes - but that is a straight up lie - I might get the paper work out but I still have what - 4 days before they are due? I will do them tomorrow! Friday night doing taxes - and sewing a scarf - and probably the golden girls - it's OK if you are jealous :)

Ahhh Thank You?!?!

This story actually happened awhile back - but I started laughing when I thought about it again today.

So I work at Bemidji State University - and when I started we were able to get some BSU apparel. One day after work I ran to the grocery store while wearing a BSU work button up. I walked by an older women who said:

"Go Beavers"

Out of everything I could have responded with: "Right on" - "You know it" - "For Sure" - "Bomb diggity" - "Indeed" - "Boom Shakalaka" - "Beaver Pride" - "Heck Ya" - "Absolutely" - etc... Or just a smile and a head nod while saying "mmmhmm"

That's how most would've responded ... but no - that's now how I respond

I awkwardly say:

"Ah Thank You"

However I don't feel that conversation was at awkward as these photos:

Pedal Tavern - Check

I had an AMAZING weekend - I was able to car pool to Milwaukee for Lily's Bachelorette Party and hang out with some Great Friends that I don't get to see all to often. We did the Pedal Tavern that Saturday night - that was a lot of fun ... minus the whole 'pedaling' part :P

 

SIDE NOTE - I signed up at "Elite Performance & Fitness" in Bemidji - I wanted a place that offered classes to help me get excited about working out again - and actually get me to work out. Well I signed up for a Kettlebell work out on Friday morning - and Holy Moly was I ever feeling it on Saturday - so the whole pedaling part was difficult.

 

Any who the pedal tavern is pretty awesome. We had 12 people on it - and took on the roads on Milwaukee!! I wish I would have taped us on the bike - because when you were pedaling you felt like you should be really moving........ until you look at the road and you notice that you walk faster than you are moving. In fact I believe I saw an old man walking with a cane pass us! ha-ha All in all it was a lot of fun - and we didn't get hit - even though I thought we might a couple times when we were making a left hand turn.

 

So here was our Pedal Tavern!

 

And you have your pedals - that in my case Shannon assisted me with...

If assisted pedaling becomes too much - you take the apple out of your purse and move to the back and put your feet up with your snack :)

Speaking of apples - I went into Lukens after work because I needed to get some food for my apartment. I go in and see they have dollar days - where they have really good deals on food. I went to get some apples and saw they had these bags of Honey Crisp Apples for 2 dollars! I was sooooo excited - I thought the WHOLE bag was 2 dollars - if I would have known it was $2 per pound - I wouldn't have tried to discretely steal apples from the other bags and put them in mine. haha - but was still happy with the deal - because I love apples - and Honey Crisp ones are the BEST!

 



Awkward Conversation

So just a quick little story about an awkward conversation I had with a Dad today.

Today - we had an Academic Advising and Registration Appointment on campus. About 150 High School Students and their Families were singed up to Register for classes. As an Admissions Representative - we cover different regions - and have letters and whatnot sent out to our students. My picture is attached to many of the mailers that are sent out to the students/parents and also attached in my emails.

Well today I was running the check in table and a Dad looks at me and goes:

"I recognize you from your pictures."
-I must have gave him an odd look cause he immediately says:
"I recognize you from the picture that was attached to the the letter that was sent to us introducing yourself as my son's Admissions Representative - not 'Pictures that you have posed in'"
-I started laughing
Dad "I'm sorry you probably don't pose in pictures"
-I laughed and said no - I don't
Dad "Not that you couldn't you are very pretty.
Son **Cuts Dad Off** "Dad just please stop talking...."

Ahhhhhhh it was amusing...

SKULL NECKLACE?!?!?

Have you ever owned an article of clothing – or piece of jewelry for a while and you never REALLY noticed something about it? Such as – the turquoise balls on your necklace are actually skull heads?

So I have owned this necklace for over a year ... I remember the day I bought it - cause I am quite the bargain shopper and I got it for .97 cents! I now realize WHY it was sooooo cheap...

The Turquoise chunks of the necklace are SKULL HEADS!!!! I really really really dislike Skulls - and don't know how I never noticed this before? I am also trying to think back on the times I have worn this necklace - and if others have noticed - what they thought?!?! I was sitting on the phone today with a mother and started playing with my necklace - I am surprised and happy that the initial "WHAT THE F---" reaction I had wasn't vocalized!

I do laugh at the whole ordeal - However, I am really trying to remember if I wore this necklace on a date? I wouldn't call me ever again if I wore this on a date. 

 

It did cause some laughs in the office today - so I thought I would share! It's a rather gross necklace now that I look at it - but maybe I will try and file off the skulls tonight - or I guess I could paint them to be a different color? I do know one this for sure - I will not wear it again in its current condition!