The Joys of Exploration

"Travel brings power and love back into your life."

I knew that Rumi was wise! And so it is true. Traveling is one of the more therapeutic experiences we can pursue in our life (others include running, gorging on chocolate and watching movies...) that strengthens your emotional health. I heard once that one's happiness is prolonged when they spend

money on experiences versus material items. I would have to agree! I just returned from a few day trip up to Boston and I feel rejuvenated and...well, joyful!

I went to Boston for a training on facilitative leadership, which lasted two full days. Free time was limited to the evening after training and after spending a whole day cramming, the only thing I wanted to do was relax. Plus, the week I was there Boston had been hit with a giant snowstorm so it was just a teeny bit cold...BUT I was strategic in planning my exit out of Boston. I chose a midday flight back home just so I could squeeze in some exploration time. And man, was it worth it!

Friday morning I got up really early. Equipped with my map of Boston and a long list of places to try, I was ready. Except for the single digit freezing temperature...but hey, at least it was sunny right? Bundling up in multiple layers was a given. We're talking leggings and jeans and three pieces of fabric covering my head. I wanted to try out the North End of Boston, which is their version of Little Italy. It was a little over a mile away from my hotel, which is a 33 minute walk according to Google Maps. I decided to take the walk versus spending 3 times the fare with Uber. I'm young, right? Cold is nothing but an uncomfortable temperature...*

Boston not the Arctic!

And so began my walk. It started out great! I stayed in the Seaport area of Boston so I liked seeing the water and the docks and the sun off the water was beautiful! I was probably the only person walking within a mile radius with a giant smile plastered on her face. About fifteen minutes in, the wind hit. This wasn't your typical wind you would experience on a strangely blustery day in DC. This was straight up Chicago style wind that made you want the ground to materialize a hole to jump into. Snow began drifting off the snow walls and hitting my face, my nose started running and it just wasn't a pretty sight. Regardless, I persevered. If the woman wearing panty hose and a peacoat to work could walk in this, so could I!* 

After forty minutes and a dead iPhone from frostbite, I made it to my destination: Mike's Pastry. All I asked for from the concierge was a place to get authentic Boston cream pie (haha...tourist) and man was I not disappointed! The slice was amazing and so was the coffee. As my toes thawed and sugar entered my system, I thought of another place to go. With forty minutes left before I had to leave to be at the airport, I decided on Paul Revere's home. I had heard that not only does the North End have bricked sidewalks (see: picturesque but buried beneath snow), it also has a lot of history! So I decided to educate myself in addition to having the most deserved slice of pie I can remember.

Mouth watering!

Selfie in front of the Paul Revere Bell.

Five minutes and $3.50 later, I was standing in the oldest house in Boston. I like history so this was a cool experience! The tour lasted probably 20 minutes or less but it was nice to be standing in all that history! I walked around a little more on the Freedom Trail, which is a path that goes throughout the area linking you to historic landmarks in Boston. After an endless wait for an Uber (which resulted in a little more sightseeing) I was heading back home.

This creeping feeling of accomplishment began washing over me. What had I just done?! Walked around in single digit temperatures by myself in a city I've never visited. All for what? A slice of pie, a unique historic experience and the knowledge of another city. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. And I have to say, traveling alone isn't half bad! You just need to worry about yourself and making decisions is so much easier. Although it was just a morning of exploration, it reminded me of my summer abroad and how traveling and exploration really does open your mind up. 

Although it can be costly, traveling should be something we prioritize and aim to do in our twenties because we have the free time and energy to explore! I love going on adventures and it isn't until we put ourselves in situations we are not used to or comfortable in that we grow and learn more about other cultures and cities but also about ourselves.

Next time you're about to drop cash on a new gadget or piece of clothing, I encourage you to consider saving it for your next adventure :)

*: probably one of the stupidest thoughts I could have. I blame it on being young.

It was beautiful! And so worth it! 

The Joys of Reaching Milestones

Often in life we reach milestones that we are proud of but don't have enough time to appreciate. I find this is especially true as we grow older and our workload increases. Since this blog is about the joys of being in your twenties, I want to truly appreciate a couple milestones I have accomplished in the past month...

A few weeks ago I moved out of my childhood home into a house closer to work and a younger crowd. It was my intention to move out eventually after graduation, but I wasn't sure when and if I was ready. Several months ago, I was told a room in this house would be freed up by the end of the summer, and the tenants would undoubtedly need a roommate. I figured that worked perfectly. Just enough time for me to ready myself with the idea of moving out and on my own. Granted, this was something I've always wanted to do: be completely independent but I just wasn't sure I was ready.

The end of the summer came, and I was able to visit the house. It is quite the beautiful house in a cozy neighborhood and a room with lots of windows and airy space. I thought to myself, "sure, this is great, but do I need to move out now?" I kept toying with the idea until it came time to make the final decision. I was leaning toward a firm no until something (I'm not entirely sure what) made me flip my decision, and I'm so happy I have.

After several days of transporting my belongings back and forth, I am settled into my new home. It's a bit of an adjustment, but I pride myself in being adaptable. I went for a run the other day and really enjoyed exploring my new neighborhood. I take a daily metro ride that is half the length of my previous ride and take a 12 minute walk back home. I get home and don't have to worry about making anyone's dinner or cleaning up anybody else's mess but my own. I can stay up until whenever and not worry about disturbing my roommates. All in all, I'm happy with the decision I made and it was a big one! Milestone #1: moving into my new home; complete!

In front of the new place!

As I mentioned before, I ran around my  neighborhood a couple weeks ago. I ended up running for 3.58 miles according to Nike+, and that was the longest I had ever ran in my life! Things were about to change, though. One week later I was supposed to run a 10k with the Marine Corps Marathon. I had began thinking about running a 10k back in May, when I got more into running and races. I felt I would have enough time to train and prepare myself for the race come October. It was going to be a big test to prove to myself that i'm resilient and strong!

However, as of a week before the race, I had only ran a little over half of what the race entailed. But that didn't stop me. The days leading up to the race, I was so excited and ready! Not an ounce of nervousness remained in my body, as I knew that I was going to finish the race, whether or not I had to walk a few miles. The morning of, I stood by my best friend AE who was going to run it with me with a blood pumping heart, a face full of smiles, and legs that wouldn't stop bouncing around. I was ready. My body may not be ready, but my head and heart were surely in this. The sun looked stunning, rising over the Washington Monument, which got me even more ecstatic about the race. Have I mentioned how much I love sunrises and sunsets? As much as puppies. 

Anyway...AE and I are lined up in the 1:30:00-1:39:59 corral, thinking there is no way we can run these 6.2 miles in less than an hour and a half. I am jumping around grinning from ear to ear, ready to put myself to the test. Once the folks in the front of the corrals begin, "Happy" begins playing. I am not the biggest fan of that song, but in that moment, it totally explained how I was feeling: "can't nothing, bring me down..." and then and there as I focused on the music and dancing around (I was the only person dancing...is nobody else as excited to run 6 miles?!) all my remaining nervousness and stress melted away.

Big smiles over the bridge!

Mile 1 was great, I was feeling healthy and egged on by spectators. Mile 2, not so much. My feet and ankles began burning up, which is an alarming feeling when you've had a foot injury. Regardless, I pushed myself to continue. I knew the bridge over the Potomac was coming up, and I was so genuinely excited to run across it smiling, full well knowing how beautiful it will be. Soon enough, we did see the bridge and I was grinning like a fat kid on Halloween. "Can't nothing...bring me down.." well, we finished mile 2 and mile 3 became even harder at that point. Man, did that bridge taper on. I knew AE and I had to keep running until we hit the 5k mark. Unfortunately at one point, I found myself walking-something must have been miscommunicated between my legs and brain! But those 30 seconds were all I needed....

We were back to running, and we sure enough passed the bridge and hit the 5k mark. After pretending like I was a super runner, drinking my Gatorade in the sexiest way and thus spilling it on myself, we were back to running. To say I was excited to hit the 4th mile marker is an understatement. I thought I may cry at how proud I was to finally have ran 4 miles! And so we did pass it. And I was grinning again. Then we ran to 5, huzzah! "Even longer I have ran:)" I thought to myself. However, since the designers of the race decided to have us runners constantly running at an incline (didn't realize that bridge was constantly inclining...) my feet, ankles, and knees BURNED! It was an awful feeling but I had to continue and I really couldn't let myself down.

AE and I post race!

But then came the most grueling moment: between 5 and 6, my lower body just wanted to quit. Instead of having a grin plastered to my face, I looked like I was in anguish. I quickly tried to change my appearance but to no avail. We had to slow down and my legs were about to give out. We walked for about 2 minutes and then forced ourself to begin running again. We could tell we were nearing the end of the race. We saw Marines on the side of the road and I began high-fiving for strength (which ended up with me having a high five slapped in my face!) But finally we hit the 6 mile marker! Even though you couldn't see it in my face, I know my brain was registering faint feelings of ecstasy "can't nothing..bring me down......" I felt a surge of power when I heard the Marine yell it was our final stretch. I could do this. It was an amazing feeling, until I saw the incredibly steep incline. But above that? The beautiful FINISH line! 

My feet turned vertical. I was running with every part of my body, trying to block out the Marines yelling for us to stay to one side. Trying to will my body NOT to stop. This was no time to pansy out! We plateaud, and we were even closer to the finish line. All of a sudden there were so many spectators and the end was in sight that I genuinely thought I may relieve myself from both ends. Oh dear! Nerves! Excitement! What if I can't make it?! I began high-fiving the Marines on the side to get myself ready to cross the line and all of a sudden? That was it. We finished. I looked over to the clock and saw 1:19. WOW! We did it in less than our corral time! And to top it off? Our net time was 1:12:09.

He gave me my medal!

To say I am happy, overjoyed, and pleased by this race would be an understatement. I never thought I would be able to run 6 miles in my LIFE. Without having trained, we were able to run it in a decent time and stop only for 2 and a half minutes to walk. Milestone #2: complete a 10k, COMPLETE! I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I'm ready to "train" for a 10-miler. Tip to anybody who wants to run a race: don't forget to smile! That's what got me through it!

Just when you think you can't achieve something big, take a leap, and you'll be surprised by the view :)

The view from the Memorial was worth it :)

Can't nothing...bring me down...

The Joys of Finding Happiness in Your Life

Ever since I can remember, I was called the “happy child” in my family. I guess I would always be smiling or be in an upbeat mood but I couldn’t help it; I hated when there was strife in my family. I realized a smile could go a long way when my parents were fighting or my sisters were in bad moods. However, as I grew older, life’s challenges became more difficult to conquer with just a smile.

During the first four months of this year, my life felt turned upside down. My happiness was gone, and I couldn’t find a solution for it. Long story short, the fact that I didn’t have a job, was dealing with a minor foot injury, and a few other factors left my outlook on life a bit bleak. I got a job (yay!!!!) but still didn’t feel satisfied. A bit later, a person who was very close and important to me ceased to be close. I was at a standstill and everything came to a head. This person who was supposed to be there for me no longer was, and I was left wondering what to do.

*Note: this blog entry isn’t a sob story, but a story of my journey to find happiness...

One of my favorite quotes is by Eleanor Roosevelt, who coincidentally is one of my favorite First Ladies: “Happiness is not a goal, it’s a by-product.” This quote is pretty insightful, and I find that it’s 100% true. Happiness is a feeling, and it’s produced in reaction to an event, a situation, and an action. When I was left wondering what to do, I went through feelings of disbelief, anger, sadness, and then acceptance of my situation. I eventually decided to be proactive in my life instead of reactive. I knew that I wouldn’t be immediately happy, but I would have to work to find that happiness. After all, it’s a by-product of my choices, right?

With Kirsten after our 5k!

I can’t say that I had a grand plan for my journey to happiness. But I can say that I had a fighting spirit. I knew that I value health and fitness, volunteering, and friendships so I began working on those aspects in my life. I signed up for a 5k as a volunteer runner for a girl with a nonprofit that promotes fitness among adolescent girls to boost their confidence. On race day, I had a grand time running alongside Kirsten, knowing that my presence was [hopefully] helping her feel motivated to finish the longest run she’s done in her life. I began eating healthier; taking salads for lunch and running 5ks on my own after work. Knowing that I was in control of my body helped me feel more in control of my life. I also began spending more time with friends and family. The simple realization that there are people in this life that care for you in your times of need is pretty powerful. I love my friends and family for that.

As time passed, I focused on myself and harnessing that happiness that I absentmindedly lost. I appreciated the sunshine on a beautiful day, the small interactions with strangers, and the milestones I was reaching with my running. In the past two months, I've ran two 5k races, tried three different kinds of exercise classes, made new friends, and sang songs at the top of my lungs with the windows rolled down in the car. I've never let a sunny day pass without noting how happy I am to be alive and seeing the sun shining down on me. Although this sounds perfectly packaged and wrapped up with a bow, there were hard days for me, too. But I have found that every bad day you have is a reminder of how good things can be. And how good they will be, the next day.

Feeling confident after my 5k!

Tonight I was sitting out on the lawn at a town center, enjoying the USA World Cup game against Portugal. For a brief moment I looked down at my dress and thought that I was happy with my body. It was the briefest, most inconsequential moment. But upon realization, that small thought that passed was one of the most defining moments of this journey. For the first time that I can remember, I’m happy with my body and it came from within. I dislike arrogance and self-promotion, so I keep these thoughts to myself. But tonight as I walked away from the game, I ran into a friend’s mom, who hasn’t seen me since graduation over a year ago. The first thing she said to me was “you look great! Have you been working out?” which has become what people tend to say when they see me for the first time in a while. It’s rather humbling to hear that, as I shy away from compliments, but it’s equally as wonderful!

Hearing that I look healthier doesn’t make me wonder what I used to look like before (like every other girl…), it makes me realize that my hard work has paid off. I’ve tried my best to be proactive to life’s challenges, and there are some days I am just as happy as that happy child once was. For me, happiness is a goal, but I must remember it is actually a by-product of my choices and decisions in this life. As I go forward in life, I will try and stay “on top of the world”* instead of lying conquered by it. There will be unbearable days, but those will be the days that remind you of how much better life really can be. It’s all about perspective, and I challenge you to change yours to find the happiness in your life :).

P.S.: the best part is, I’m in charge of my own happiness :)

*Quite possibly the best “happy” songs, and one that’s been on repeat for the past couple months :)

The Joys of Compromise and Resilience

If you've read my blog, you know that I took up running over the summer and started working toward meeting running and fitness goals. I began meeting these goals, losing body fat % and increasing my pace. It was a great hobby that was both healthy and fulfilling and I was seeing great success. However, once I started my internship, I began running less often; running only a few times a month. It became difficult to manage a full time work schedule and exercise (no excuses...) but inevitably my running hobby got pushed to the side. But this blog post isn't about how I started running less, it's about something that came from it.

Lots of walking NYC!

On the last day of my internship in late December, I walked from downtown DC to Georgetown, where Jeremy works to meet up with him. Halfway through the 25 minute walk, I began feeling pain in my right heel. Granted, I was wearing unsupportive flats, but it was an unfamiliar and strange bruise-like pain. I ignored it, but it persisted. A week later, my family went to Manhattan and as tourists we walked. A lot. Half the time we were there, we were walking. My foot pain continued but I ignored it. 

After the race all smiles :)

Less than a week later I ran a New Year's 5k with Jeremy. He was so wonderfully understanding, maintaining my slow pace and never once running ahead of me. We ended up running through the finish line together (Which was very exciting! I completed a 5k!) However, about halfway through the race my foot pain flared up. My ankle felt so weak and I was getting stabbing pains in my right foot. This was bad, and I knew it. I ended up resting my foot for a few days and when the heel pain persisted, I visited a podiatrist.

After an x-ray that proved no serious issues and a close inspection of my foot, my doctor announced that I have plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the band under my foot. I got prescribed anti-inflammatories and given some foot exercises to alleviate the pain. After ten days of medication and exercises, I was left with persistent pain. A couple painful weeks, disappointed days, and a follow up later, I didn't know what to do next. Anti-inflammatories didn't help, I couldn't go back to running even though my internship was finished, and it was painful to walk long distances. I decided to do some research on my own and learned plantar fasciitis can persist for years. But I also learned that exercising my foot helps alleviate the pain and biking is a "safe" cardio exercise for a person with plantar fasciitis. So last week I entered the gym determined to successfully bike. And I am happy to say that I have taken up bike riding at my gym! Although I still love taking spin classes, at times the pressure I place on my foot when spinning uphill can be painful, so having the stationary bike option is great.

15 miles in 45 minutes!

Most recently, Jeremy and I have decided to have a "bike challenge." He's training for a triathlon and I am trying to get better at bike riding, so this works great for us both. In one week, we have a goal of biking 60 miles. Whoever gets to 60 first wins, and chooses the penalty for the loser. I'm excited to kick his butt and win!

Although plantar fasciitis is a common injury, having a physical weakness runs the risk of breaking down your emotional strength. There were times I was down that I couldn't go to the gym and go for a run, or stand for hours in the kitchen cooking without experiencing foot pain. But I learned that when faced with a difficult and unsolvable condition, it's important to find a positive in your situation. For me, it was compromising and learning that I can still exercise. Although I can't run anymore, I can bike and my resilience has given me my emotional strength back. I'm going to be just as successful at biking as I was at running! I'm excited for our bike challenge and I'm grateful Jeremy is just as supportive of my biking as he was of my running. Stay tuned to see who wins... :)

The Joys of Following Your Passion

Not very many people can say that they have gotten the opportunity to follow their passion in the real world of jobs and working. I can personally say right now, *knock on wood* that I have been given that opportunity. You are reading the words of a finally employed working girl! It took me five months from graduation day, but I finally am working-as an intern!

After countless applications, a few interviews, and a LOT of waiting, I was asked to work as an intern at the headquarters office of a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C. Needless to say, I was ecstatic. You see, I graduated with a Business major but was able to explore my passion for community service and non-profit work while I was in college. It wasn't the typical service trip or volunteering at random events. My freshman year I began volunteering as a tutor at a family life center, helping underprivileged school-aged children with their homework after school. This led to a promotion as head volunteer, then being on staff for the community service club organizing the tutoring and various other community service programs and events, then eventually leading the organization my senior year. By the end of my college career, I knew non-profit work was for me.

You may be thinking, an internship? That's what she's going on about? I can attest firsthand to the difficulty of obtaining an entry-level full-time salaried job right out of college in this day and age. Many of my friends are interning, and I firmly believe you can't get anywhere unless you start from the bottom. But anyway...

Non-profit work is for me. I have enjoyed helping people ever since I can remember and with every NPO I applied to, I made sure their cause was one with which I aligned myself. Funny enough, when I applied to this internship, I wrote a passionate and heartfelt cover letter about the cause. Never before in my job search had I been so genuine in my cover letter. (Guess that paid off :) ) The NPO I work for strives to end childhood hunger in America. Hunger has been my "cause" since I became passionate about humanitarianism back in my younger years. I personally have never struggled with hunger, but the plight has been one with which I am able to sympathize. Many people take food and the nutrients that come with it for granted. For most, hunger is the absence of food for a few hours. For some, hunger is the inability to get proper nutrients, a hot dinner, a proper meal, etc. This inability for latter folk is often covert and many are not aware of how a large group of people go hungry in our country (and world, of course.)

Food is a very basic right we take for granted. It is so essential to our existence yet many are hungry in this country. How is that possible, when there is so much food consumption and waste! My interest in this cause is what has made me excited for my internship. No matter what I do during my work days, I know the effort I put in will be helping the organization get one step closer to ending childhood hunger in America. But fast forward to today, as I reflect back on my first week at SNPO (let's call my work place that-Shay's Non Profit Organization.)

I love it! From the commute to the people to the location, I am enjoying it. Everybody is so wonderfully pleasant and friendly and working in D.C. has quite an advantage, especially since I am at the Headquarters office. My favorite part though, is something minor. I attend a lot of meetings (apparently that's what it's all about-meetings, conference calls, and more meetings!) and in them we discuss various things. But I leave realizing, "wow, we meet to discuss the progress the organization is making towards ending childhood hunger in America." It's a stark contrast to what I've learned as a Business student. In for-profit organizations, the goal is to make a bottom line and maximize profits for clients. To be reminded that this wonderful group of people come to work every day to help end childhood hunger in the country they live in makes me feel like I chose the right passion and sector to explore. :)

So, there's the first week in a nutshell. Lots of smiles and getting accustomed to a new schedule. I'm signing off now to enjoy the rest of my weekend, but check back later on an update! Until next time :)

The Joys of New Beginnings

Happy Autumnal Equinox! 

Or rather, first day of Autumn. Today marks the first day of the fall season, and people are already prepared. When September 1^st rolled around, not only did Starbucks begin selling their infamous Pumpkin Spice Lattes again, but there was an overwhelming supply for it. This confused me. It’s 80 degrees out but everybody is tweeting about and posting photos of their pumpkin spice lattes-or PSLs! I’ve been racking my brain for the past three weeks to figure out why there is a sudden obsession with this drink and premature love for the new season. I think I figured it out…

Source: psl.starbucks.com

Although three out of four weeks of September are still sitting in summer, people equate September with the start of school and back-to-school shopping (filled with cardigans, new jeans, boots) staples of the fall season. Although Halloween is almost two months away, it still feels right around the corner. After Labor Day, pools close, wearing white is taboo, and fall begins. However, as I am sitting here writing this, I glance out to my backyard, still green with the leaves of summer. Has everyone forgot that it is still summer? After giving it some thought, I have come to three conclusions as to why people have jumped into fall.

1. Fall-themed products, flavors, and ideas are already out on the market.

I am not immune to this. Although I complain about people loving their first cup of PSL of the season, I picked up a bag of Godiva pumpkin spice flavored ground coffee the first week of September. I don’t regret it: with every sip I feel warmth and familiarity and am reminded of crispy, colorful leaves and pumpkin patches. My new issue of Cooking Light came, and my head is full of exciting fall desserts I MUST try. When I go to the grocery store, there are already aisles of candy for Halloween. Why do businesses do this? Well, extra revenue, of course, among other things…

2. Social media’s rising role in our everyday lives has increased the irritating effect of excess sharing.

Last year, I don’t remember an obsession with Pumpkin Spice Lattes. This year, it’s all I see on Twitter and Instagram. You got your first cup of the season? Go ahead and take a photo of it and share it with your friends so they can see what you’re doing and how awesome it is. I even shared a photo of my coffee (see above) a week ago. Unnecessary sharing can be irritating, but in our modern world it has become a norm.

3. A new season means a new beginning and a fresh start.

Do you ever feel excited when the first of the month rolls around? As if the bad memories and hard times of the previous month can be wiped out because you’re beginning a fresh month. Kind of like the New Year. Well a new season seems similar. Fall seems like an apt time to start anew, and it is likely that people feel excitement upon this new start. It’s like a new beginning. And surely, that is something for which to be joyful. :)

Another Type of Beginning

And speaking of new beginnings and joy, I’m so pleased to say I’ve made progress with my exercise regimen! In the beginning of September, I got my body fat percentage checked and it has gone down 1.1%. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting a decline. Although I worked hard for those five weeks, I still didn’t believe I could bring it down. But it was an amazing feeling because my hard work paid off and it was evident. I learned a few things through this process that I will share with you:

1. You have to get out of your comfort zone for results.

I am not a runner, but I got out of my comfort zone and would run my farthest and further if I was physically capable. Work harder than you think you can.

2. Do something you enjoy.

I recently discovered spinning, and I LOVE IT! It is so much fun and a great way for me to enjoy my work out.

3.  Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.

This has helped me so much. I appreciate all the support Jeremy has given me and it has motivated me to work harder. (Shout out! :) )

So here is to new beginnings, whether it be 1.1% worth of body fat less or to a new season. I have a feeling this new season will be a good one. :)

After my longest run to date. Very happy!

The Joys of Getting Healthy

Since graduating from college, I’ve noticed a trend among my friends: a focus on health and fitness. Everyone around me has begun trying to losing weight, getting in shape, and being healthy. Why has this trend come about so suddenly? And I realize: it’s that post-college mind set.

What I think of when I imagine college kids.
(Source: theoatmeal.com)

Personally, I have always worked towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle while aiming to work out as often as I am motivated to. But once I got to college, my lifestyle drastically changed. There was food at arm’s length that I only ate once a month with my family; there was soda-a forbidden liquid in my household; not to mention the alcohol-carbohydrates in liquid form. All my discipline went out the window as I began to enjoy my new lifestyle because with all that schoolwork, you’ve got more important things to stress over, right? (Definitely not…)

I think everybody changed a little in college, whether they tried to or not. Summers in between college were a chance to try and reverse that physical change and get back on to the healthy wagon: eat healthier at home, drink less, work out more. But what makes this summer different? Everybody is fervently working towards that healthy lifestyle they had pre-college. I think it’s because we are out of that black hole of junk food and stress. And there is no more college to go back to and gain back all the weight you’ve just tried to lose.

I have friends who eat only fruits and vegetables as meals. I have friends who work out multiple times a day and are doing exercise regimens. I have friends constantly obsessing over their weight. And me? Well I was happy to lose five pounds after graduation just from adjusting to a new lifestyle. But then, slowly by slowly I began making little changes, and I am excited to share them with you!

A screenshot of my "best" run with Nike +.

In July, I began running (with the encouragement of Jeremy!) I downloaded the app he uses: Nike +. It tracks my distance, pace, and I am able to share my runs with various social media outlets. This gave me great motivation to go for runs outside. Gradually I got better at running. Recently, I joined a gym! I have been trying my best to go as often as I can. I had a consultation with the Director of Personal Training, who measured my body fat percentage, BMI, and weight. This was a helpful meeting because he told me what I need to focus on: lowering my body fat percentage. Apparently, my weight is not as important as reducing the percentage. This gave me a new perspective on “losing weight,” as it has always been a number I have focused on reducing.

With the Director’s help, I was given stretches to strengthen my legs to help with my running, we created a strength-training regimen to work on losing fat, and we talked about various cardio workouts. One cardio workout I tried at the gym is the spinning class they offer. What a great experience! I love biking so the class wasn’t too challenging and was a fun and energetic time. I definitely suggest it to people looking for fun cardio workouts.

Becoming healthier is definitely beneficial for everyone and I commend all my friends for working toward it. As for me, I will continue to do my simple exercises and try group fitness classes and see where it takes me. But who knew that college would be such a strong motivation to get healthy?! What I have learned this summer is not to push yourself completely out of your comfort zone (turkey sandwiches are healthy enough lunches compared to fruits and vegetables) but rather to get accustomed to something out of your comfort zone gently. The results will be gradual but ultimately rewarding. Another joy of being in your twenties: your metabolism is working well enough for you to see results! Good luck to everyone and I will update my blog on my successes in losing body fat percentage, weight, and becoming healthier!

The Joys of a Book Club

One of the joys of being in your twenties is the ability to experiment with all sorts of ideas and passions. My most recent experiment is a book club. You may be thinking, “book club? I thought those were for older women who drink tea and little sandwiches,” Well actually, I have no idea what you are thinking. But what I was thinking is detailed below—and this is most certainly not your grandmother’s book club!

I was fortunate enough to form a bond with a few girls in college, and we are a close-knit group. Post college we live near each other so it is fairly easy to meet up with a friend one-on-one. However—aside from birthdays—it is hard to meet up as a group. That is where my book club idea came to mind. Meeting up as a group to discuss something as enjoyable as a book would surely give us a chance to also catch up on each other’s lives. In order to make the idea a reality, I thought up a few guidelines:

·      Invite any and all friends who are interested in discussing books
·      One rule: choose a book that will facilitate discussion
·      The person that chooses the book should host the discussion

The book we discussed.

·      Rotate book chooser/discussion hosts every month
·      Be open to inviting whomever would like to join

They are pretty simple guidelines, right? I have learned a few things from forming this book club that I will share with you because after all your twenties are about trying out new ideas! A person needs patience for new ideas to work. Some people will be too busy to read the book; some may not meet on the discussion date. But if there is one thing I have learned in working towards making this club work, is that you shouldn’t give up. If you have a passion or a great idea, work toward its fruition tirelessly because the outcome will be worth all the trouble!

Goodies!

Today I had my first book club discussion meeting! Only four out of the usual six of us were able to meet today, but we still made it work. We discussed "Love the One You're With" by Emily Giffin. I set up the patio deck outside to look nice and inviting for the guests. I baked pink lemonade cookies, made homemade guacamole, and made homemade iced tea (for the first time.) Thankfully, a friend of mine brought food as well (what a hospitable gesture!)

Patio deck ready to go.

About five minutes into our discussion amid dark clouds, it began raining. And not just sprinkles, this was full on heavy rain! I was thinking, “of course this would happen!” But I thought of what I said before. If you want something to work, don’t let anything get in your way. So we came inside and discussion began for about an hour.

Pleasantly surprised, I began taking notes. Here are some of my thoughts:
 ·      You don’t necessarily need to have discussion questions, you can just ask what people thought of the book, the ending, etc.
·      It is helpful to focus on the characters of the book
·      Keep asking questions and for people's opinions

Throughout the discussion I began getting a clearer meaning of the book. It helped to talk through issues like character development, themes, character motives, and more. Towards the end of the discussion I was reminded why I started this book club. Not only was it a way to get back together again as college friends but it was a chance to talk intellectually and share our thoughts about a book. In this day and age it is easy to focus on shallow things like celebrities and gossip what with the many facets at our fingertips feeding us all this information. But if you can set aside an hour a month to discuss something as simple as a book, you won’t regret it.

I am pleased to say that my first major experiment as a post college-grad twenty something year old was successful! At the end, somebody volunteered to choose the next book. I am glad I was able to share this idea with you and I hope it inspires you to do something as against the grain as this!

Got my iced tea and cookies!

The Joys of Looking Back

So, it's June 24th. Which I just realized means that it has been one year since I departed for Bilbao, Spain to study abroad with UMW! Wow, does time fly! If you're interested in reading about what I encountered while studying abroad, I blogged about it here. I had such an amazing experience and met some great friends--those five weeks are always going to be with me! While I was there, I did a variety of things. I studied abroad in Bilbao, Spain, which is a beautiful valley of a city with a river running through and enclosed by mountains. Its geography is fantastic!

I went with a group of 32 other students from my university and met many other students from universities in other states like Michigan, Nebraska, and Illinois. In addition to living in the residence hall and going to the Universidad de Deusto, the large group of students studying abroad visited Madrid, Toledo, and San Sebastian, among other places. I found these visits very educational and documented most of them in my blog.

Over all, I learned a lot about studying abroad in a foreign country. How different cultures work, how to live on my own (including taking care of myself when I got sick!), and various other skills I picked up. It has been a great year and I know one day I will go back to Bilbao to visit!

As for now, I have begun a scrapbook to document my trip. If you're ever in the craft mood, I suggest attempting to make a scrapbook. I believe it is the most quintessential craft! But, it takes a long time. It has taken me ten months to get up and moving on this scrapbook business. I'm still not done with my Spain scrapbook but it's my first scrapbook and I have learned more about doing crafts through this experience.

Here are some tips I have picked up from scrapbooking so far:

1) Buy a scrapbook and filler sheets (I have a red book and two shades of gold filler paper to represent Spain)

2) Decide upon the photos you want to share. Sometimes it is easier to share with others the photos you want to share in case your audience may not find them interesting. For instance, I ran a list of 65 photos with my sister, who was able to easily decide some photos were not as interesting as others. (A photo of my dormitory room was not intriguing!) After all, a scrapbook is a chance for you to share an experience through photos, text, and stickers with others who may not have experienced the situation with you.

3) Begin organizing the photos by which page you want them on. I was able to do this by deciding on what each page was about--I've got the visit to Madrid on two pages, a page on my University, etc.

4) Order the photos. I used Snapfish because I heard the quality is good and it is less expensive than going to a store with a USB to print out photos. I ended up purchasing about 42 or so photos.

5) Once you have the photos, begin cutting them so they fit the page and there is enough space for text. I average about two photos a page.

6) I chose to write titles on each page and did so using alphabet stickers. I did this because I am very particular about my handwriting and did not want to ruin the pages.

7) Once you have the titles down, begin sticking on the photos and stickers!

8) Write in the text for each page, if you need to explain anything.

9) Let everything dry and make sure everything is in order.

10) Share with family and friends!

I am so excited to finish my scrapbook and be able to share with all my friends and family my study abroad experience!

My scrapbook.

The beginning of my scrapbook.

Another page in the book.

On another note, I had some summer fun! Today, I cut up a baby melon for the first time, and I photo-documented it for fun. Here are a few of the photos! Happy Summer!

Struggling as I cut it!

Finished product!

The Joys of Being in the Kitchen

Since moving back home and having a limited number of things to do, I have found much joy in being in the kitchen. I have always loved cooking and baking--I can even remember my first experience with baking! I was following in the footsteps of my sister, something I found I did often as I have two older sisters.

The oldest was trying to bake bread with my mom and I joined them in the kitchen. All that fancy preparation with yeast and such rendered me confused as a young child but nevertheless I attempted to emulate my sister and make my own version of bread. I was given a little yeast and dough and rolled everything up to make a little piece of bread. I popped a few raisins in for fun, and voila--it was placed in the oven. I waited excitedly and anxiously for my "bread" to be ready. I had not been supervised much while baking so it was my own special project. When it was time, and my mom took the bread out of the oven, I held my fresh raisin bread roll in my hand, enthusiastic to share with everyone. I will always remember the next part of this story as a defining moment for my dad. I hurriedly ran up to my dad to let him try my raisin bread. He took a bite out and said "wow! This is amazing!" I was pleased and encouraged. Then I took a bite out myself. It tasted disgusting. There are no words to describe how bad that bread roll turned out to be. But, that was about fifteen years ago and I have learned a lot since then!

My passion for cooking and baking doesn't come from a certain experience or memory. I have always loved food. I love that it brings people together, how exciting it is to eat out in restaurants, but most of all, I love that it is like a science. Measuring ingredients and mixing or whisking a certain way really alters the outcome of the recipe. It is always exciting to be able to see the fruits of your labor on the dinner table enjoyed by all.

Throughout the years since that raisin bread accident, I have acquired an apron and some cooking finesse. Maybe it was being in college for four years or my love for culinary arts, but I have found that I have improved at cooking and baking, and have quite a few recipes to share with you on this blog!

Meatless Monday dinner--my accomplishment!

So far this summer, I've made a breakfast smoothie consisting of bananas, peanut butter, and raspberries courtesy of Cooking Light. I have made a summer salad, dabbled in Thai stir-fry, and baked a double layer German chocolate cake! My favorite conquest was the other night--I was pressed on time and had to make family dinner. I grabbed a few items from my refrigerator
and made a memorable and delicious dish that is sure to become a staple in the house.

As I continue to blog, I will be sure to highlight and explain the recipes I have tried out and created on my own complete with photos (I love to take pictures and to photo-document!) I love Cooking Light recipes, so that is where I get most of my dishes. I have a secret--I follow Cooking Light on Pinterest and pin great dinner recipes to my new Dinner Ideas board--it's a great way to hold on to a variety of recipes for a day when you don't have any ideas for what to make for dinner!

For now, I will leave you with a Cooking Light recipe I am SO excited to pursue! When I was in college, my love for chicken wings blossomed but I always felt guilty eating them. The fried crispiness and oil reminded me that even though they are tasty, wings aren't the healthiest. So I am very glad to see this recipe, and will blog again to let you know how my version of it turns out!

Until next time! :)

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!

I'm glad you have stumbled upon my outlet, something I hope to utilize as I explore the joys of being a twenty-something year old! The purpose of this blog is to share my experiences, discuss my hobbies and show them to you, and to document my exploration through young adulthood.

The original idea to create this blog came to me a few weeks before I graduated college. I began thinking about that one marvelous, perfect day when I would walk past my peers and grab my

diploma.  I was so ready--commencement day 

2013 undergraduate commencement. Courtesy of UMW.

for me was the first "big day" of my life. You know, big days? I would say weddings and the birth of your first child fall into the "big day" category. So I was pretty excited. But being a natural worrier, I started wondering how the day after graduation would be for me. Would I be sad, hopeless, unenthused, wondering where I would go from that point on? I had no job prospects for after graduation and was afraid for that postclimactic feeling on that Sunday. But somehow I knew that same day would be just as exciting. It would mark the beginning of the rest of my life. Even though I would return for higher education, for now the real world had begun! I was excited and decided perhaps I should document the beginning. And that's why we're here...A month later. I am slow on the uptake but I aim to please, so here it is--the conceived idea in formation!

So come with me as I explore the beginning of the rest of my life and find the joys of being a twenty something year old!

Note: exclamation points, emoticons, and capital letters will be highly utilized in this blog. I LOVE being able to share my excitement with people and am a fan of doing so virtually :-).