run, baby, run.

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I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I've always had a love/hate relationship with running. When I was younger, it was mostly the hate part. I didn't have the right mental attitude and running has so much to do with your mindset. I also wasn't running the right way. It sounds weird, but once I did figure out how to run "the right way" at least for me, it has definitely worked wonders. I also felt like I wasn't flailing around and out of breath after 10 minutes.

Last year, I ran my first 5K for a great cause, Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. At my old job, we shared office space was them, so my job had a team, and it was great motivation for me to get into shape. So I did, and I ran the whole 5K (which isn't a lot to some, I know this), but I felt really proud of myself. But as usual, once the race was over, I fell off the bandwagon and stopped running again altogether, save for some sporadic spurts of motivation.

This time around, the 5K was much more unexpected. I signed up for the Hoboken Resilience Run about 2 weeks before, and had been running sporadically up until that point. However, my boyfriend and main motivator, pushed me to the point where the week leading up to the race, we ran 5 days in a row, and 4 of those days were before work. Now, anyone who knows me, knows that I am lazy, and I like my sleep, so this alone, was a huge accomplishment for me. It's even gotten me to the point where I want to run. I've learned to sink into my core, and not put all the stress of running on my shins, I've learned it's okay to go my own pace, know when to slow down and when to speed up. Needless to say, my second 5K was another success and since I ran again the day after, I think running is definitely something I love now and I'll definitely be doing it more often.

busy bees.

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I'm busy, you're busy, we're all busy. But are we really? I read an interesting article in the summer of last year, called "The Busy Trap," which you can find here. It basically says that we have an affinity for the word "busy."

Want to grab dinner tonight? "I don't know, I'm pretty busy."

What does that even really mean? Don't get me wrong, I have said this myself countless times, or have been told that as an excuse numerous times. It's something we all seem to be obsessed with these days. It's a buzzword, that easily fills that gap for other things we don't want to say, like "I actually have other plans," or even the more harsh reality of "I don't feel like hanging out with you tonight."

 It relates to even more than just trying to make plans with people. I find that the word busy gets in my own way. For example, I'm at work most days from 8:45 AM - 6-6:30 PM, or sometimes later, depending on the day. You add in my commute and I get home somewhere between 7-8. Then, I just want to relax, "I was so busy at work today." And I know, we all have those crazy days where we just want to come home and unwind.

However, what about feeding our creativity? Or the things we are passionate about on our own time? I have this blog, for example, and have struggled for so long to really keep up with it. But why? It's not that hard to choose to go in my room to blog, or read, or do some other activity that is a fun release for me rather than mindlessly watching TV for 2 hours before bed, and/or staring at my phone.

I think we could all use a little help of pushing the buzzword "busy" to the side. Whether it's to make time to talk to a friend or family member, feed our creative juices, or finally nail down a time to grab dinner with your girlfriends. I myself need this desperately. So who wants to stop the glorification of busy with me? Next time you're prepared to say or type, "I'm busy," really pause and think if you are, I feel like we'll all be surprised as to how many times we aren't, and we can make time for the things that are more important. I know I will be trying to implement this!

it's going to be fine.

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I love this quote so very much and I think it's important to remember throughout life, and especially in my 20's. I find these days, more than ever, there is always so much going on. So many plans, so many options, so many things to do and see, we feel so much pressure to do every little thing all of the time. It's an everyday occurrence that in my head, I remind myself of this quote. It's perfectly fine, if on a cold Saturday, I don't want to go out and drink, that I'd much rather stay on my couch and continue this Disney movie-marathon (not to mention being able to wake up the next day and be a functioning human being). Sure, my friends will have fun at that bar, or party, or trip. But there will also be other bars, parties, and trips. Not everything is the end all be all. I don't have to do what everyone else is doing.

I know it can also come across on a much more personal level. Why does everyone have a boyfriend. She's 24, married and pregnant with her first child. Why is everyone engaged? I can promise you, not everyone is engaged (or pregnant or with a significant other for that matter.) I get that at times, you can log into Facebook and see 3 different statuses or a slew of in your face photos of someone else's shiny new ring or bundle of joy, but that doesn't mean it's everyone. Slow it down, things will happen when they are supposed to. You don't have to do what everyone else is doing.

Needless to say, this is usually my daily mantra, something that I will always need to remind myself of, and try to point out to others (not in a preachy way of course.) It's just important to know that majority of the time, everything is happening just as it should. So, in other words, stop having FOMO so damn much. ;)

twenty four.

a week ago today, on 3.21, I turned 24. 24. It sounds so much more adult. As my friends and I eloquently put it, by 24, you should really start to have your shit together, or at least be planning to have your shit together.

This birthday felt different to me in so many ways. For one, I did feel older, but in a good way, a great way, actually. And the biggest thing was, I realized that I felt so content. I'm working in the city I have always dreamed of being in and succeeding in; how many 24 year-olds can say that? I have the best friends and co-workers a gal could ask for. So many people I love came to the happy hour I had planned for after work. I had a great time and they all seemed to as well, and that's all I can really ask for. My boyfriend was amazing, got me the prettiest necklace, took me to the cutest little restaurant ever for lunch. To top it off, my parents came up to visit for the weekend and brought my beloved pug, Rupert, so that we could be reunited for some time. I also got to celebrate with more of my family in Newburgh, NY.

I mean, what more could I possibly ask for? It was nice to be reminded just how big of a year 23 was for me, how lucky I am now, and how great I think 24 will be.

I know, this is super cheesy and mushy, but I know I can get so bogged down with everything that stresses me out day in and day out, so it's nice to sit back every now and then and reflect on all the things that I'm truly lucky to have right now.

I'm excited to see what this year has in store!

figuring it out

the other night, I went out to celebrate my cousin Alison's 24th birthday, just a small dinner with her & some of her friends in the area. we were having some good conversation when one of her friends said "isn't it funny how when you were younger, you thought that people in their 20's had it all together?" a light bulb went off in my head "yes!" I sputtered at her. I mean, I'm sure I'm not the only one who at 8 years old thought that when you were 25 meant you were old, married  had probably 3 kids. obviously that is not that case. we then kept going with the conversation and ultimately decided that to make ourselves feel better, your 30's is when you figure it all out. but then I wondered to myself, what if that's all that life is? everyone just collectively trying to figure it all out? sorry to get all philosophical on you here, but we all know how easy it is  to get bogged down with the every day things; envying all the people your age who are able to move out (maybe that's just me, but student loans are killing me), having trouble jump starting your career, worrying about that first date, daydreaming of doing something you really love for a paycheck; & simply wondering when it will all come together. So it's kinda comforting to think that we are all in the same boat in some way, shape or form.

this is my pondering thought for the week, in the mean time, let's all try not to get bogged down with the everyday things, shall we? happy monday!

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a bucket list for your 20's

most people have a bucket list, maybe not a formal one, but most of us have an idea of some things they would like to accomplish by the end of their life. but what if you gave yourself more of a deadline, say, by the time you turn 30? well then you have come to the right place! my friend lisa came up with this great idea, and we  ran with it, to have a bucket list for your 20's - some of these things the two of us have already done, (I mean we are 3 years into this decade already) but there are still many that we need to accomplish by our last day of being 29! i'm sure as the years go on we will find things to add, so by no means is this a finished project, it will change and grow as we do. without further ado, here is our list:

1. move out of your parents house

2. learn how to play golf (or at least go to a driving range)

3. fall in love

4. land a job that you truly love & love going to every day

5. attend at least 1 professional sports game of each of these: baseball, hockey, football & basketball

6. take a road trip with friends

7. purchase a designer bag (marc jacobs, louis vuitton, chanel - whatever your heart desires!)

8. take a trip to Vegas with friends

9. get engaged (hinges on #3)

10. host a real dinner party

11. attend the Kentucky Derby

12. make $100,000 a year (who says we can't dream big?!)

13. live in another country (even if it's just for a month)

14. visit a psychic

15. go to a hockey game in another state

16. go skydiving

17. travel as much as you possibly can, whether it's going to the state next to you, or traveling to Italy, take advantage of any opportunity!

18. find and keep a hobby that you're passionate about, maybe it's painting, writing or playing a sport; whatever it is that's important to you!

19. get a dog

20. go scuba diving

have anything to add? let me know!

life according to my iPhone

1- Paul bakery that I fell in love with in London & stumbled upon a location in DC!//2- A pug loving some clean laundry// 3- Wine tasting at Early Mountain Vineyards in Madison, VA// 4- one of the lovely views at EMV// 5- bright stripes & new sandals// 6- My pops and I on father's day// 7- some pretty new orchids for my room

Although the brutal heat & humidity has already begun for the summer - I'm heading up to NYC this weekend to spend some quality time with my college friends and I could not be more excited about it!

have a great weekend!

where's my blueprint?

Your 20's are messy. I know I'm only 23, but I feel like I can safely say that this is going to be a bumpy decade in my life. And it's funny because everyone expects you to have it figured out. Most of us are done with school now, so  you're an adult, adults have it together. And I feel like all of us 20-somethings, pretend to each other like we know what we're doing, but here's the secret: none of us have a clue. We have to realize that we need to be okay with that. Don't judge your friend who's engaged already, maybe this is the right time for her. Or that other friend, who is already married and has a baby. So what? That's his/her life. Maybe you or a friend is single and loving it, maybe you hate your job, or have your dream job already. My point is, we don't have a blueprint, no one does, and there are so many different paths open to us right now, we have to blindly go down some, it might work out, or you might have to go back and pick another and start all over again. I know I'm using a lot of metaphors here, and I hope I don't sound too preachy, but I'm in the same boat. I think to myself, all of my friends who were in the same major as me, have jobs in communications, and I don't; am I doing something wrong? Or the fact that I'm still living at home. I have to constantly repeat the quote to myself that says: "just because everyone else is doing something, doesn't mean you have to." It's so simple, yet I forget it all the time. I feel pressure from so many different areas, and I am trying to make that quote my mantra, that everything is happening the way it's supposed to, it's all going to be okay. Hopefully if I stick by that, maybe I'll have figured everything out by the time I'm 30. ;)

simplicity is key

Taking another cue from one of my favorite blogs (which you can check out here) I am going to do a post every now and then of simple things that have been making me happy lately. Because, I think we could all use a reminder every now and then that it's the little things that count.

1) the youtube video and twitter feed called "shit girls say." Both so true and so funny.

2) Mindy Kaling's book - hilarious and refreshing. As my friend Alyssa put it, I want to be friends with her.

3) jewelry, knickknacks, bags and pretty much anything else that may have an elephant with its trunk up on it (I have a slight obsession, not quite sure why.)

4) instagram. As an iPhone newbie I am incessantly taking photos of anything and everything just so I can make it look a whole lot neater, which in turn made me love...

5) stickygram - turn your instagram's into magnets! Very cool, check it out here.

6) hot apple cider & having a warm pug on my lap

7) the twitter feed "90's girls problems" - again hilarious & true & also brings back a lot of childhood memories.

That's all I have for now, stay happy.

xx

have a love affair with your life.

Today, my little wise yoga guru friend Brittany, shared with me something her yoga instructor had said to her class: What if you could have a love affair with your life? As soon as Britt spoke these words my mind sparked and began to deconstruct that question. What did her teacher mean by this? Maybe she meant for me to not analyze and think about it too much but to just do it. Live it. Breathe it. Why can't life just be one big, great love affair? As Brittany said it is so much easier to surround ourselves with negativity. We can't seem to get away from it! It's so simple to complain, or beg the question, "Why me?" to drag others down and even drag ourselves down. I mean don't get me wrong, I know everyone has bad days and hard times and that's okay too, but don't let it take over. I can at times be a pessimist, but I think that I was a lot worse and vowed to myself to get better even by doing little things everyday and I think it has been working. But being more of an optimist isn't the only way, I think, to have a love affair with life. I think you need to take time to enjoy the little things, whether it's spending time with friends, family, by yourself, your dog, just sitting still for five minutes or in the wise words of Emma Stone "eating the damn red velvet cupcake." Enjoy things, since as I know, it is so easy to rush through a day, a week, a month even whole years can fly by (hello, college where did you go?) I may sound like some free-loving hippie right now but life is short! And these wise words from Brittany's yoga instructor really got me thinking today. Do what you love, make it something exciting, different, fun and challenging all at the same time. Go out and see where your love affair takes you.