Back in Action

Sorry I've been a little MIA lately. The past week was a tough one. We had to have our family dog, Molly, put down on my birthday. That was not fun. She was 16, and truly a part of our family. I grew up with her and enjoyed spending time with her, so I'm really missing her. In fact, she and I were roommates for about a year and a half, up until I moved last summer. She kept me company and made me feel protected.

In order to distract myself, I've been spending a lot of time at the gym. It's definitely been much needed anyway. I had gotten out of the habit of exercising regularly, and I just feel so much better when I'm working out! Part of the motivation of going to the gym is in the clothes and shoes you wear, or at least it is for me! I scored these kicks during Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale, and I'm loving them for the gym! I don't think they have enough support for running, especially for people like me who seem to overpronote, but for just wearing on the elliptical and for using the weight machines, they're perfect and lightweight. 

Via

Another thing I recently discovered, which can also give you energy and motivation for the gym is a great snack/breakfast bar: Whenever Bars by Pamela's. These things are so addicting! My grocery store keeps them in the organic section because they're all natural. They are $4.99 for 5 bars, but they're so worth it. I promise. They're soft, yummy, and nutritious! I actually just found them on Amazon, so I'll definitely have to order them in bulk to save some money. I've only tried the oat chocolate chip coconut, but all the flavors sounds great!

Buy them here:
Pamela's Products Wheat Free & Gluten Free Whenever Bars Oat Choc Chip Coconut, 5 Count Box, 7.05-Ounce (Pack of 6)

One more thing that's making me feel great right now is the fact that the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is back! It just doesn't get any better than that. To my disappointment, I tried my very first pumpkin spice frappuccino the other day, but it just didn't live up to its latte cousin. Or perhaps I'm just more partial to the hot drinks. I have yet to find an iced drink there that I truly love as much as the PSL.

29 on the 29th

Today, I'm 29! I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be excited about that or not. When I was younger, I thought I'd be married with kids by now, but that hasn't been the case. Apparently that's just not God's plan for me quite yet. It's a little weird approaching my 30s, but I do think it'll be a great decade!

As I look forward to what the next year will bring, I thought it would be fun to reflect on some of the things I remember most about the past year.

August 29: Last year on my 28th birthday, I was off work because I was supposed to be on vacation in Austin, TX. But due to a tropical storm that was churning in the Gulf, I wasn't able to go, so I had a staycation instead. I spent the morning of my birthday at the pool, and since it was a Wednesday, I had the entire pool area to myself! It was so nice and relaxing! My mom and I had lunch at my favorite Chinese restaurant, and then she cooked some of my favorite foods for dinner. It was a great day!

December 3: I left for my very first trip to NYC! I was there for 4 days and had a blast! I'd go back in a heart beat! 

The weeks of Christmas and New Year's: My former job was working for a college, and I would get the week of Christmas and the week of New Year's off because we were closed. I absolutely loved having this time off! Christmas is my favorite time of year, and being able to fully enjoy the holiday season was amazing! I could go do last-minute shopping and the stores wouldn't be packed, I'd bake or cook, wrap presents... it was pure bliss! I will really miss that this year.

May 29: I flew to Dallas to meet my brother and head out for our trip to Hawaii! I was gone for a full week (even though I just spent 4 days in Hawaii) and enjoyed every minute of it! 

July 2: This was my last day at my former job. I had been there 3 and a half years, so it became very comfortable to me, and it was bittersweet leaving some of the friends I had made. And then I started my new job on July 8. 

I know there have been many more highlights, both ups and down, that have happened over the past year. Those are just the things that stand out in my mind the most right now. I am very thankful for my loving family, friends, and health. It's hard to complain when you have all of that! :)

Hello, Delaware!

Well, it's finally official. My brother is moving again. Two and a half years ago, he moved from our hometown in Florida to Dallas, Texas. I thought it was going to be awful not having our family all living in the same town anymore, but luckily with his job, he was able to come home quite often. It didn't take me long to get used to the new arrangement, and I actually enjoyed the two trips I made out to Dallas to visit. In fact, I'm pretty sad that he's leaving the area. It was always a fun place to check out, and there was still so much more I wanted to do there!

But alas, he's moving on, and this time he won't be able to come home very often. When I found out a couple weeks ago that his new job was in Delaware, I thought that sounded so depressing! Isn't that like the least popular state in the country?! I mean, who goes to Delaware, much less moves there? 

But I think maybe I could've made a quick judgment. Every state has something cool to offer, right? I'm definitely planning to make a trip up to visit in the next few months once he gets settled in. And let's face it, if there's not much to do in Delaware, New York City is only a short train ride away! 

Which Flavor Are You?

I recently saw that a study was done by Baskin-Robbins that relates the ice cream flavor you like the best to what type of personality you have. I thought this sounded like the most absurd thing ever until I looked at the options myself and saw other people try it on TV! 

I was watching 20/20 or one of those shows, and an ice cream truck in NYC was giving out free ice cream. People were asked to choose which description fit their personality best, and then they would be given the corresponding ice cream flavor. Then, they were asked if that was the flavor they would most likely choose. Most people said yes! Only a couple people said they didn't like that particular flavor and would not have picked it.

Here's what each ice cream flavor says about your personality:

If your favorite flavor is vanilla, you're more likely to be impulsive, easily suggestible and an idealist.

If your favorite flavor is chocolate, you're more likely to be dramatic, lively, charming, flirtatious, seductive and gullible.

If your favorite flavor is very berry strawberry, you're more likely to be tolerant, devoted and an introvert.

If your favorite flavor is mint chocolate chip, you're more likely to be argumentative, frugal and cautious.

If your favorite flavor is chocolate chip cookie dough, you're more likely to be ambitious, competitive and a visionary.

If your favorite flavor is pralines 'n' cream, you're more likely to be loving, supportive and prefer to avoid the spotlight.

If your favorite flavor is coffee, you're more likely to be scrupulous, conscientious and a moral perfectionist.

If your favorite flavor is chocolate chip, you're more likely to be generous, competent and a go-getter.

If your favorite flavor is rainbow sherbet, you're more likely to be analytic, decisive and a pessimist.

If your favorite flavor is rocky road, you're more likely to be aggressive, engaging and a good listener.

So, now that I've outlined everything, I'll tell you what my pick is. I would typically want mint chocolate chip, or maybe the very berry strawberry, depending on my mood. I usually like fruity desserts, but I do love me some mint chocolate chip! In fact, when I was on a cruise with my family as a teenager, my dad and I had an ice-cream eating competition  and I must've had about 4 cones of mint chocolate chip!

Which flavor are you? Do you think it's accurate in describing your personality?

Christmas in July

Since I've been searching for churches, I've also watched a few services online just to get a feel for what the church might be like. Yesterday morning I watched a service I really enjoyed, and the name of the sermon was "Christmas in July." The pastor was talking about how we're given gifts every day that we should be using. Maybe we have a passion for something that others don't, and that could very well be what our "gift" is. It was really encouraging and made me think that I should try to be more thankful for what I have, and not focus on the things that go wrong in my life.

Via

One thing I'm especially thankful for is my family. Over the weekend, I was especially blessed to be able to see my family, including a cousin and aunt who live in Georgia. I can honestly say that this was one of the best visits we've ever had together. We all had such a great time talking, laughing, eating, and "touristing" around. By the way, it's kind of fun to tour the town where you live. I saw things I didn't even know about, and maybe some things I never needed to know about! I truly love my family and know that we'll always be there for each other. To me, that is the ultimate gift!

While I'm on the subject of gifts, why not grab a gift or two for yourself?! Through Tuesday night, everything is 30% off at Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic. I already have a shopping cart full of stuff that I want to order! And don't forget to check out the Nordstrom anniversary sale! There are lots of great deals to be had. If you don't want to deal with the work of sifting through everything, Sheaffer at Pinterest Told Me To has already done it for you! Be sure to check out all of her fabulous picks! Happy Monday!

Church Searching

I keep saying that I want to find a new church, but I have yet to go visit a new one. I think I'm a little nervous about not knowing what to expect. I've gone to the same church pretty much all my life. But lately, I just haven't felt like I'm growing there. Any time I feel like something is holding me back in life, I like to make a change. It also got to the point where I didn't really enjoy it because there was no one my age to be around at church. My church has a lot of elderly people.

Finding a new church is easier said than done, especially when you're a single person. I feel a little uncomfortable going by myself and not knowing anyone. I know I could sit in the back and slip out if I didn't like it, but how am I going to meet anyone if I stay hidden?! At the same time, I don't want people pouncing on me like fresh meat. If I attend a service and it isn't my cup of tea, I don't want phone calls, visits, etc. asking me when I'm coming back.

I've heard of a couple popular churches where more younger people tend to go, but I just haven't been sure if they would be right for me because they're non-denominational. I've always gone to a Baptist church, and unfortunately most of the other Baptist churches around here aren't much different than the one I've been going to... lots of elderly people and the same type of format. But I feel like some non-denominational churches could feel more like going to a rock concert than a worship service. 

Via

I really want to find that middle ground, and I want to be part of a church that I really enjoy, where I can meet people and make friends. Several churches now have "small groups," which I haven't been familiar with before. They seem to be divided by age groups or interests. I'm not sure I fit in the "young adult" category anymore, but I'm sure there's got to me a nice group that I'd enjoy. I often wonder if I'd be better trying to find a small group first, and then attend the regular church services, or vice versa.

Via

I'd love to hear thoughts or advice on this subject. Finding a new church seems just as difficult as finding a new job or a new place to live! Stressful!! But I know it needs to be done. I've felt so guilty for not attending lately.

Is it time for an upgrade?

I have a confession. As much as I love technology and all things social media, I have not joined the smartphone bandwagon. I am still using a flip phone. Yes, you read that correctly. In fact, I don't even have texting capabilities, and I've never taken a picture with my phone! It's crazy. 

This is my phone!

I think the main reason for my lack of advancement in the world of cell phones is that I just don't want to pay the extra money each month. I always say it's not something I need, but just something that would be nice to have. And my excuse was always that I'd get a new phone whenever I got a new and better job. Well, friends... that has happened!

Yesterday was my last day at my old job. I worked for a college for 3.5 years doing communications and event planning. My new position will be a lot closer to home, so my commute will be cut in half. I'll be working as a corporate writer for an insurance company. I'm really excited about this new opportunity! But, I still haven't gone out to buy a new phone! I keep thinking maybe I should wait until the new model comes out in the fall, but that's probably just an excuse to postpone it even longer! Eventually, one of these days you'll know I got a new phone when I start sharing more pictures, and who knows... I might even have an Instagram account!!

Summer Concert

Saturday night I had the opportunity to see Brad Paisley in concert. I don't go to concerts very often anymore. I'm lucky if I make it to one per year, but I used to go ALL the time. Probably too much. I think I got spoiled from seeing a lot of artists in smaller venues, and now it's just not as much fun when you're in a huge amphitheater and can't get as close. But I couldn't pass up a $20 ticket through Groupon!

Via

So I headed up to Tampa Saturday afternoon to meet my friend and have dinner first. As we were leaving the restaurant, it started to downpour! We waited for a while, but then it got to the point that we were going to miss the concert if we waited around much longer. Plus, it didn't look like the rain was going anywhere. So we made a mad dash for the car and got completely drenched! The rain was coming down sideways and got in my contacts to the point that it felt like I was blinking back chlorine! 

On the way to the outdoor (yes, outdoor) venue, the rain slowed down some, but by the time we parked and started walking in, it was picking up again! It takes 10-15 minutes to walk to your seats from the parking lot, so needless to say, we looked like wet rats by the time we got there. I figured once we got to our seats, we'd be fine because they were under the cover. But no, the rain was blowing in and coming down right on top of us for about the first half hour. Once it stopped, the show was really great, though!

I especially enjoyed seeing Brad's opening act, Chris Young, because my mom and I had the opportunity to have dinner with him after winning a Mother's Day contest a few years ago. 

Via

All in all, it was a fun night, but maybe summer in Florida isn't the best time to do an outdoor concert!

Nik Wallenda: King of the High Wire

On Tuesday and Wednesday after work, I had the opportunity to go watch Nik Wallenda practice before his walk across the Grand Canyon on Sunday. For those who aren't familiar with Nik, he is the King of the High Wire. Last June, he walked across Niagara Falls. ABC made him wear a harness, although he didn't want to. But this time, his Grand Canyon walk will be broadcast live by the Discovery Channel, and even though I'm not totally ok with it, they are fine with him not wearing a harness! So, it will just be Nik, the wire and the Canyon.

Here are a couple neat things about Nik. He is a hometown guy. He's from Sarasota, Florida! I love that we have such a great down-to-earth and talented guy right in this area! He's also a family man. Nik has been married to his beautiful wife Erendira, for 14 years and they have 3 kids. He has a great testimony, too. At his practices, there was merchandise for sale, and since his book was just released on June 4, I bought it and had him sign it. I wanted to read it anyway because it's such an inspirational and encouraging book. Nik is a Christian and his life motto is "Never Give Up." I love that!

At the practices, which were held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Nik walked back and forth on the high wire once, and then sat on the wire to answer questions from the audience.

Then, he moved to a tent where he signed autographs and took pictures. I have to say that this was one of the best events I've ever been to. Nik's crew is awesome! They're all so nice and really knew what they were doing. The reason I went two nights in a row was because I decided that I should've gotten a book for my brother for his birthday, but I might have also had a little crush on Joe, one of Nik's crew members! ;) Joe was pretty busy tonight, so I didn't get to chat with him for very long, but if anyone knows how to help me get in touch with him, please let me know!! I actually have a funny story, too... on Wednesday night I told Nik that I was back again because I wanted to get a book for my brother for his birthday, and one of Nik's people overhead me and yelled out, "Yeah, sure! I bet that's not the only reason you're back again!" He winked and laughed, so maybe he got the feeling that I kinda liked Joe, too!!!

Anyway, Nik and his family are all very sincere and genuinely good people. I wish him the very best on his next adventure, and will most certainly be praying for his safety. Be sure to watch him this Sunday at 8 p.m. EST on the Discovery Channel. You will not want to miss this amazing guy!!

Father's Day 2013

I had a really fun weekend, so I thought it would be fun to give you a sneak peek of what I did. On Sunday, I spent the day with my dad for Father's Day. We took him to see a local band play at a restaurant on the water, and it was so much fun! The band playing was actually one we knew quite well, but we'd never seen them play before. My mom's friend's husband is the band leader, and since it was Father's Day, his daughter came to sing with him, too. The Jimmy Keith Band really kept up entertained for 3 whole hours while we relaxed on the water and had lunch. My parents brought along some friends, too. This isn't our best picture, but we're having fun!

We got to sit right up front, and they played lots and lots of familiar cover songs. They mainly play country music, but also did some 80's rock and other popular tunes.

Jimmy's daughter, Ellie, is in another band, but it was so neat to see her sing with her dad's band on Father's Day. Ellie is a sweetheart and she and her husband own one of my favorite restaurants, Station 400. She's also super talented! For the first time, Ellie sang Miranda Lambert's "Mama's Broken Heart." She really had some energy, too! Here is a short video of her performance. 

After the band finished, we went back to my parents' house to get ready to cook dinner for my dad. I baked a yummy Hawaiian cake, thanks to Mix and Match Mama's post yesterday morning with the delicious recipe!

This cake took me right back to my Hawaiian vacation! All in all, it was a great day, and I think my dad really enjoyed doing something different. Even though it was hot, we had a breeze from the water, and the entertainment was so good that we didn't really notice! I enjoyed spending the day with my family, and am especially thankful for such a loving and wonderful dad!

Singles Day

It's Singles Day again over at Kelly's Korner! I created a blog post about this a few months ago, but I felt like it needed to be updated and revamped, so I decided to make a new post instead. Singles Day is an opportunity to meet other single people through blog posts. I think it's a genius idea! So... here's a little bit about me.

I'm a 28-year-old Christian girl from Florida. I've lived in Florida my whole life, but I'm not opposed to moving somewhere else whenever I find my true love! It's important to me to date a Christian guy because God is such an important part of my life. I was raised going to church every Sunday, and I attended a Christian school up until high school. Other qualities I'm looking for in a guy include someone who is ambitious and wants similar things out of life, someone who is caring, genuine, fun, and loving!

As for me, I enjoy cooking, going to concerts, traveling, being outdoors, and just hanging out with good company over some delicious food or a cup of coffee. I'm a sucker for reality tv, but I also enjoy a good baseball game (going to one is so much better than watching on tv)! I work in marketing/communications and earned my MBA in 2008. I love kids and definitely want some of my own one day. My dream is to be a great wife and mom. If you want to know anything else, please just ask! I love meeting new people! Scroll down for pictures, and check out my previous Singles Day blog post here. It includes info about my single brother, too!

In NYC at Battery Park

At Pearl Harbor on my recent trip to Hawaii

Jillian Michaels, I Don't Like You Very Much!

Despite the title of this post, I really do adore Jillian Michaels. I think she has a rockin' body and she's great at what she does! However, as I write this post,  she's definitely not my best friend.

I've been battling some strange sore throat/congestion/head cold thing for a week now, and I've felt so lazy because of it. Monday night I decided to get up and go for a nice, brisk walk. It was great to get out and do a little light cardio, and then Tuesday night I decided to step it up by trying out my Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 DVD. Bad idea.

I've had this DVD for a while, but for the longest time I didn't have a DVD player. I got one about a month ago, so I was long overdue to try out this workout regimen. I just should've picked a time when I was feeling better to try it out. And it might've been easier if I hadn't just eaten a huge feast of avocado salad and quesadillas (recipes to come). Needless to say, I don't see myself getting past week 1 anytime soon! Hopefully I can shake this sickness and get back to my normal self soon.

Here's my two cents about workout DVDs. I think they're great, but I couldn't do a lot of them on a regular basis. They're super tough! I'm not a big group exercise person, either. I do best when I go for runs (outside is my favorite) and use the weight machines at the gym. I will say that my favorite workout DVD is Pilates for Wimps. Yes, I'm willing to admit that I'm a wimp, and maybe I love the workout because it's not over-the-top difficult, but I still feel sore the next day after doing it.

I truly believe each and every person has their limits. I'm not a natural athlete by any means, but I'm also nowhere near a couch potato! I like to be active. I'm just not hardcore! And Jillian, when I'm feeling better, I promise to give you another shot!

My Non-Adventures in Online Dating

The single life is not all it's cracked up to be. Sure, you basically get to do whatever you want whenever you want, but there's more to life than that. Life is meant to share with someone you love, or at least that's what I believe.

I've been single and tired of it for quite some time. At 28 years old, I felt like I was starting to run out of options as far as finding ways to meet guys. High school and college are over, there aren't any single guys at my church, none at work... so what's a girl to do?! For years I thought there was no way I'd ever try online dating, but last year I finally broke down and gave it a shot.

Unfortunately, I didn't have any luck. I first tried Match.com for 3 months. Maybe that just wasn't long enough, or maybe it's just not for me. Basically, any guys who were interested in me were not remotely my type, and of course when I'd find the "perfect guy," he would never respond. So after my subscription ran out, I didn't want to shell out more money for a lost cause. I felt like a lot of the guys on the site were just "players" anyway, and that's not what I'm looking for.

So, I gave Christian Mingle a whirl last fall. This time my subscription was for 6 months. I thought the guys on Match were bad, but Christian Mingle was actually worse, sadly. First of all, I was hesitant because I thought some of the questionable guys might be on there posing as Christians. I'm not sure if that was the case, but there were only about 30 guys in my area, period. Not a lot to choose from, and none that seemed promising. Now, I'll admit that I've been known to me picky, but in recent years I've become more open to certain things. I do still have my standards, though. 

In all honesty, I didn't have a bit of success in the online dating world. But I really do want to find love. I toy with the idea of giving it another go, or maybe I should throw in the towel with that avenue for a while and try something else. But what?! I don't like the idea of hanging out at bars... 1) because I'm not a drinker and 2) because I don't think you always meet the right kind of people there. So what's a girl to do?! 

I've thought about trying a new church where there might be more young people, but it does feel kind of awkward going somewhere new by myself. I have a couple friends who have suggested speed dating, but I don't know how successful that usually is. I'm open to ideas, though. And I'm open to set-ups, as long as they're not your balding, neighbor/plumber, your friend's unemployed son, or your grandson who currently has a girlfriend.

Suggestions welcome!!!

Confessions From a Runner-Turned-Walker

Today I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner Blog for some fitness talk. I'm definitely no expert when it comes to fitness. I hated P.E. when I was in school, so of course everyone was shocked when I joined the basketball team in the 8th grade. It turned out to be a disaster, and not because of my lack of athletic abilities. I finally convinced my parents to let me get my ears pierced for my 13th birthday. Of course those earrings had to stay in my ears for weeks so the piercings could heal. I had to be extra careful, too, because my mom developed keloids after getting her ears pierced, and I was trying my best not to have the same thing happen to me. Well, little did I know that no jewelry was allowed on the basketball court, not even my newly pierced ears with the small gold balls! Needless to say, I was a bench warmer the entire season.

Fast forward to high school. I decided that I wanted to join the cross country team during my sophomore year. Actually, I didn't really want to join. I only did so because a guy I had a major crush on was on the team! (By the way, that never worked out!) I found that I was a decent runner. It didn't require a lot of skill... you just run until you feel like you're doing to drop! 

After high school, I didn't run much anymore. In fact, I didn't really have any sort of exercise regimen. A couple years ago, I decided to get back into running. I whipped myself into shape and completed a 5K run, which made me feel like a million bucks! I kept doing 5Ks and running 3-4 times per week. But then I had an injury last summer. It wasn't caused from running, though. I fell on some wet tile at my parents' house, and although I didn't know it at the time, I later found out that I had a torn ligament in my foot and a bruised bone. The doctor told me I couldn't run or really be on my foot much at all for the next few months!

This was right after I completed my first 5K since high school  (November 2011). I was especially excited that I was randomly assigned the number 84, which is my birth year!

It was difficult to get used to not exercising or running anymore after I'd become so accustomed to it again. Just recently, I started walking. My foot still isn't completely healed, so I have to take it easy. I do go for long walks (several miles) and walk as quickly as possible to get my heart rate up. I have sneaked in a couple short jogs, but then I pay for it later and have to ice my foot! I hope to eventually be able to run again, but for now, walking is the next best thing.

I will say that it's super hard to get back into a routine after you've gotten out of it. I've found that the best solution is to just put on your workout clothes! If I come home from work and change into them, I'll always go work out. But if I'm not already in my clothes, it's so easy to relax and settle in for the night without exercising. 

For those days when I don't have time to dedicate to a long walk or other activity, I simply do some housework! You can get a pretty good workout mopping, vacuuming, scrubbing your shower, or whatever else you might need to do! And I look at it this way: any physical activity is better than none!

Already Looking Forward to Fall

Even though I was born and raised in Florida, I'm not really a "Florida girl." I LOVE the cold weather, and when it begins to creep up to the 80s, I get sad. When it gets into the 90s, my sadness turns to misery! I can't stand the super hot weather. When you step outside and feel like you're melting and need to go back inside to shower again, it's not pretty. Plus I feel like I don't get to enjoy the outdoors as much when it's so hot because who really wants to be out there drenched in sweat?! 

Via

Don't get me wrong. I know that most people who live in really cold climates think I'm nuts! They'd give anything to stop shoveling snow. While I do love to visit the snow, I'm sure it would get old having to scrape your windows before you start your car in the morning, and having to shovel snow from your driveway every time you go somewhere.

But I just had to write about the weather because I think today will probably be our last cool day until fall. Even though it's going to be rainy before the cool down, I'm excited to enjoy it one last time! It's supposed to be in the mid-70s once the rain clears. But then by early next week, we'll be up to the high-80s already, which equals borderline misery and lots of humidity! Dear fall, I already miss you. Please come back soon!!