Get Your Red Sox On...

I am so thrilled that I will be seeing the Red Sox play live at least three time this year!! Which of course...has me thinking about shopping. Red Sox shopping!!! I made the mistake of looking at the website. Big Mistake. I could get a purse. There is no hope...

And here I thought I was going to get a new tee or sweatshirt. Must resist urge to buy. Must resist urge to buy.

A Diavista Must Have...

Many years ago I decided to go on an insulin pump and had to go to training. It was a fun experience because I was in my mid-20's and my classmates were 12 and 6. The 12 year old was a little girl and she had the most fantastic medical id bracelet. She was so excited to tell me about Lauren's Hope and how they had all of these cool bracelets with little clips on the end that can attach to your Medic Alert medallions. Having worn a regular old braclet for many, many years...I was ecstatic to know that I could be fashionable with my life saving identification.

Since then I have had all kinds of fun things, including watches. Let me tell you...I would have totally flipped out if they had this type of thing when I was younger. They even have a G&S type sport band too. And...well...I'm not going to lie...I may have one of those in purple too. ;)

This past week, as I was going through emails (I am very bad about checking personal email) I had one from Lauren's Hope. And there it was. This amazing bracelet. I have to have it. I am in love. I must order it. RIGHT NOW!!! My health totally depends upon it.



Is she not the prettiest thing ever???

Meeting Prep...

I have a few quirks and I am okay with admiting it. A few times a year, I am tasked with pulling together a really big meeting. A few days before the meeting there are a few things that I do, without fail. Actually, I don't even think about it really. It just sort of happens. Ready for a list? I thought so...

1) Buy a new Vera Bradley Purse or Bag

2) Buy a new outfit for each day of the meeting

3) Pick out which Vera Bradley Hipster Bag I will use (Perfect for all the essentials - pens, pencils, blackberry, and cellphone)

So today, in preparation for next Tuesday and Wednesday...I took care of things.

1) Purchased Vera Bradley Messenger Bag in Yellow Bird (It was on sale by the way)

2) Purchased a fun long wrap-around sweather and a cute jacket (Both on sale!!)

3) Black Microfiber Hipster will be my command center that will not leave my side during the duration of the meeting.

And you know...when I pack my bags...Vera Bradley Duffle and Satchel will be stuffed to the gills. Night Owl Pattern...in case you curious. ;)

Snow versus Fitness...

In case I haven't mentioned it, I love snow. It makes me giddy...like a five year old. Despite the beating the East Coast has been taking, I still love snow. The worst thing about snow is that it does have the power to ruin plans. It makes going to shows, parties, movies and anyting else fun much more difficult (or with some level of risk). This for me now includes the gym. I really, really miss my gym. I am in Week #6 of my new routine and haven't been to the gym since last Monday. Somehow, using the treadmill and staionary bike in the basement while watching How I Met Your Mother or Powerpuff Girls (don't judge) is not quite the same. Shoveling the snow is great exercise...don't get me wrong...it feels great to accomplish moving a bunch of stuff from here to there. It is just not the same...

Here is a list of things that I love about my gym:

1) The way it looks just like a spa when you walk in.

2) The feeling of accomplishment you have when your membership card is swipped. Getting there is more than half the battle.

3) The lockers...which have key locks on them...so you don't have to bring your own lock.

4) Locker #103

5) Free Towels...more room in the gym bag and less hassle in terms of figuring out what to do with wet towels (i.e. slung over the backseat in the car).

6) The endless sea of treadmills and elliptical trainers. One could really not want for more.

7) Getting my workout sheet from the "W" section and a tiny pencil to write in my sets and reps. It makes me feel so strong!! Especially now that I am increasing the weights. ;)

8) The squat leg press...it is my most favorite.

9) The fact that I no longer fear the balance ball or feel like a total dork when using one.

10) The sauna

11) The feeling of a warm shower after a great workout.

12) The worn out fanasticness of walking to the car and recognizing that all the stress of the day has left me.

13) My adorable Vera Bradley "Carried Away Tote" in Sittin' in a Tree...it is the best gym bag EVER. (I know this really has nothing to do with what I love about the gym.) But wait...it fits perfectly in the lockers...so there you go!!

I feel better now...just thinking about all the things that will be waiting for me when I return makes me feel all happy inside.

Challenges...

As you may have gathered, I am not afraid of hard work. Especially the kind of work that seems impossible. My favorite kind of challenges are those that are more physical in nature...where my patience and ability to keep calm are tested. Such was the case over the past weekend. I love snow. I still love snow...even though we just got a whole bunch and may get a bunch more. I love how perfectly quiet it is. I think it is magical. It takes an every day scene...and changes it into something new. Call me crazy, I can take it. I love snow. The End.

After a fun-filled Friday evening of shoveling and a Saturday afternoon adventure too...I knew that there would be more. There is a little unknown fact when you live atop a cul de sac...you generally get screwed by the snowplow. It annoys me sometimes...but mostly I love the challenge it presents. Come on snowplow...bring it. No mound is too high. No stretch of snow too wide. I can so handle it. And I did...once again...on Sunday morning.

The Challenge - Clearing the snow between the end of the driveway and the street



The Challenge - Complete



Take that Snowplow!!!!!!

OGYST - Week 5 in Review

The fifth week of 2010 was very tough for some reason. I am not at all happy with my progress...especially in focus area 4. I am very disappointed, but as my good friend Nicol reminds me...sometimes there are blips...and this is just a blip. Good news is that I feel like Week 6 will get me back on track. I'm also wondering if the fact that I did not do my Week 4 summary last Sunday had anything to do with my blip. I think it did. Accountability is good!!! Lesson Learned.

Here is a quick list of progress...in each of my four focus areas.

Operation Getting Your Shit Together - Week #5

1. Controling When I Look at Blackberry - Feel as if I am still doing well in this area. I am not answering emails at all hours of the night. It does feel better...I still check it often...but I do not feel like I have to respond right away.

2. Take Time to Breathe - Bad. Bad. Bad. I was very stressed and worried about many things. But when I needed most to be calm...I think I was. I also decided to work from home on Friday...which helped. I put in a long day...but got so much done. It was a blip. One week out of five is not that bad.

3. Go to the Movies - Nope. Snow kind of messed this up...but...I did start watching one while on the treadmill. That was kind of fun.

4. Gym = Transition - Bad. Bad. Bad. Only got to the gym once...on Monday. Did cardio at home on Sunday...had to cancel with my trainer because of the snow mess. Felt very guilty. But...with the snow shoveling on Friday Night and on Saturday...hopefully it made up for my lazy week. I have to say...I did feel pretty damn good shoveling...so that was great!!!

5. Other - Did work at home on Sunday afternoon/evening. Car battery dead on Monday AM...so had to get a jump. Birthdays - Grandma turned 85 and Mommy turned 58!!! Retinologist appointment went well and was not that traumatizing. But having your eye pressure checked with a pen thingy was strange...I had to get into my "zone". Car battery dead on Friday AM...so had to get it replaced. Couldn't get to work on time for 8am staff meeting...so I just called in. Slight teasing on that call. Loving the snow!!!

Upcoming Week Expected Highlights: Shovelling. Busy Busy Week. Preparing for big meeting. Getting to the gym. Celebrating less than a month until Henry Rollins comes to town.

OGYST - Week 4 in Review (Belated Post)

The fourth week of 2010 was awesome...even if I am now posting about it after week 5. This will be a brief post...but in terms of getting to the gym...I totally rocked it!!!

Here is a quick list of progress...in each of my four focus areas.

Operation Getting Your Shit Together - Week #4

1. Controling When I Look at Blackberry - Doing really well...very busy with a huge meeting coming up...but I am just waiting until the next morning to get things done. It gets easier to do it seems...and news flash...the world doesn't end.

2. Take Time to Breathe - Overall doing well in the area of keeping some sense of calm. Focusing on doing one thing at a time. I still feel a difference in my stress level (not as bad as 2009...which is my gauge).

3. Go to the Movies - Nope. But check out #4 below!!!

4. Gym = Transition - I got to the gym four times this week...three strength training sessions and one kick ass Cardio. I ripped it up on the elliptical on Tuesday night. Felt so frigging good. Clocked some nice sauna time on Friday after my workout. That is like my new favorite thing. Did Cardio at home on Sunday and Saturday...Thursday was my off day. Very proud of my work this week.

5. Other - Quick happy hour with some of my IT friends...wished I could have stayed longer...but Thursday is "Grandma and Me" evening. We had a blast!!! Fun driving in the terrible conditions with my sister on Saturday. Roads were really bad...but I am totally loving all of the snow this year. Makes this January Baby a happy, happy girl!!

Upcoming Week Expected Highlights: Another session with my personal trainer. Seeing a new retinologist...always a bit stressful. Haven't been in over a year...so I am worried about my eyeballs. It is the only (thank goodness) diabetes related issue that I have to deal with. More snow??? Lots of work to do. Getting back to my good eating habits?