the bobby bones workout challenge!

hi friends! well, since my last post i have felt much better, and am so thankful for that. maybe the teenager is gone (well, the bad parts of being a teenager i guess)! anyway, let me share with you a new challenge i am going to take on, starting today, that will help me meet a lot of my goals i have shared with you in the past.

its bobby bones' 45 workouts in 45 days challenge. any other fellow listeners out there? i listen to the bobby bones show every morning as i get ready for work, and love it (you should all listen, too)! bobby, amy, lunch, and carlos all let me start my day with laughter, and the thing i love about them most is that they are real people who make you feel like a friend, even though you are just listening. i have to admit, i follow them all on twitter, and saw one of bobby's tweets today: that he is setting a goal for himself, to work out 45 times in 45 days, no days off, unless he is sick. quite a lofty goal, but he has invited others to join him in this challenge.

i read his tweet just after i got home from a refreshing, long bike ride to the lake. so, today's workout is done! i am going to jump in the boat and accept this challenge. i think it will be great for me, for so many reasons, but i think it may actually happen because there will be many others out there doing the same thing, and blogging about it. strange, but i think this real but not so real support system may help me stick to it, for reals. :)

want to join? visit bobby's blog at http://bobbybonesworkout.blogspot.com.

for me, just in case you are curious, i plan to work out in a few different ways: some days a long bike ride or run on the trail, others working out at home before work, and then sometimes i'll go to the rec for a yoga class or for a swim. does yoga count bobby? :)

excited about changes to come!

-r

p.s. bobby, if you read this, the challenge ends on my birthday, february 11. want to take me out to celebrate? :)

The teenager is not all gone, i guess...

I have just had one of the most humiliating experiences (deep down to my soul humiliating), and the only person I could be embarrassed in front of was myself-my silly kitty wasn't even around for this one. I am not sure why I am blogging about this for all to read, but I just feel like I need to-like it will be theraputic to my hurting heart, that it will help me and other women to resist feeling this way ever about themselves.

I had the day off today-first weekday off of my holiday break. Pure delightfulness was this morning for me-even though I was cleaning and organizing-it was just so nice to be HOME on a Monday morning instead of dealing with all of the normal Manic Monday tasks. Then I ran some errands, did some Christmas shopping, and then it was home to get ready to head out to a Mary Kay Christmas Party. Yes, I became a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant a few months ago, and am LOVING blessing ladies by helping them feel pretty, which makes this story EVEN more ridiculous. So, I'm home with just enough time to get all snazzy for the party-my thought is I have to be looking pretty good, seeing as how most other people there will be dressed to the 9's, probably. (Note: Number 1 bad thought in my mind) I curl my hair, put on eye make up (which I hardly ever even wear), put on real lip gloss (colored I mean), and feel almost "pretty". I then put on my new headband that I picked up for myself today in the midst of shopping for others, and then I feel pretty. No lie, NLR, whatever Bobby and Lunchbox mean by that, I felt pretty. It is rare for me to feel that way (sorry, I have always struggled with this one-ask my mother if you want some funny stories!). Then, its is time to change out of my sweats I had been running around town in all day and put on the snazzy, MK worthy outfit. The moment I had it all on (it inclued tights and boots...took a couple of minutes) I felt more ugly than I had felt in a long time. I don't know why this just sprung up and happened to me, but the outfit just didn't work. Maybe its the extra candy and sweets I had been eating since Thanksgiving and the minimal working out I had been doing, maybe it was the outfit. I tried on a different shirt with the skirt and boots I had on-hopeless. Then the teenager in me came out-the feeling like I was so ugly that I just could NOT go to this party, could not show my face among all of the other beautiful people that would be there. So here I sit, at home with my kitty, not at a party. I am so ashamed of myself.

I write this not because I want pity or oohs and aws from anyone. I write this so I will not let this happen to myself ever again. I feel so, so silly and so much like an awful friend for not going to this party. Why on earth would I worry about my looks in front of getting to have fun with some friends, or to get to visit with some friends? I write this because I am sure other women out there have felt like this at one time or another, and I think it helps us women to realize there are others out there that have moments like these. I think it helps me to move on from a bad moment in my life when I admit my mistakes to someone, so I can hear it out loud-helps me to realize my own stupidity on some issues that I have with myself. But most of all, sharing this with you right now helps me realize and know that I don't want to feel like this again ever, that I am almost 28 years old and I don't want to be having these teenage like feelings ever again. It helps me realize that something needs to change in my life to prevent me from feeling this way. I have 2 things I pray for strength in doing to change right now:

1. Let HIM become greater, and let me become so much less.

2. Stop eating the sweets, return to phase 1, return to my bike rides and runs, where Christ does seem to become so much more in me and I so much less.

That's all for now, from this adult woman, who is hoping the teenager will be all gone by morning...

I wish it were Sunday...

I'm back! I have been the worst blogger ever. I miss the days (the few of them) when I would be so excited to sit and write here. I remember literally finding moments all throughout my days where I would think, "I have to write about that later!" Today was a delightful Sunday, even though it was the first rainy Sunday we've had here in a while. I feel so rested and motivated for the week ahead, and yet, just because today was so great, I am sitting here at 7:40pm on a Sunday evening wishing that tomorrow wasn't just another Manic Monday, as I am sure a lot of you are feeling right now, too...

This Sunday morning, I woke up at 6:30! Even though that is later than my usual week day rising, I still woke up wishing it were a little later. I decided to not let my energy go to waste, so I got some house work tasks checked off of my list before I went on a bike ride...in the misty rain! I had SO much fun on this bike ride-I have fun on all of my rides, but this one was just adventurous! I ride my bike on the hike and bike trail here in Georgetown that goes from my house all the way across town to the lake. It is a beautiful trail-I hope you can all join me on it some day! Anyhow, I think what made this bike ride so enjoyable was the fact that I had a determination to make it to the lake before it really started to rain-and there was no turning back for me today-I really wanted to make it so I could see the pretty fall leaves changing, and burn some calories at the same time (damn halloween candy...). And, of course, when I am so motivated and determined to accomplish a goal, there is always a road block for me to conquer...And my road block this time was that the city is letting water out of the lake through the dam (the trail follows the San Gabriel River to Lake Georgetown), so there are about 3 places on the trail that are no longer trail, but river. I am so proud of myself for riding my bike right through the rushing water and mud to make it to the lake! My shoes were certainly waterlogged and covered in mud after the first 10 minutes of my ride, but it was all worth it. The beautiful fall colors I saw on my ride made it worth it; the refreshing graces the Lord gave to my heart though them made it worth it. I love a bike ride that 'leaves' my heart feeling full and my body a little smaller!

After my bike ride I went and visited with a dear friend who I haven't gotten to see in a while, and her stories filled my heart with more graces. I love you sweet friend! Thank you for sharing your friendship with me!

Now I rest and reflect on my day, with my kitty, my Sweet Baby James, my Kiki Bo Bo (yes, I am a horrible mother for calling my boy kitty Kiki, but somehow it just came out and he responds to it...) laying across my chest, and wait on a delightful soup to be ready for me to eat. Why can't every rainy day be so great? I hope that I remember this rainy Sunday, the determination and graces that it brought to me-and I hope that when I feel like its a gloomy, rainy day in my heart, I will receive motivation and joy from the love that this day gave me. Lord Jesus, help me remember this, this freedom and grace I feel through you.

Until next time...whenever that may be...my prayers are for you to be filled with joy and blessings in your heart as well!

Fair Weather Friend

I have been such a fair weather friend to my blog! When I first started blogging, I couldn't stop thinking about all of the little stories I wanted to tell to the world. I still find myself always thinking about stories I have to tell (and there are some great ones!), but this little thing called school took away any extra time and energy I had to sit down and share those stories with you. Now its October, and amazingly, there is a cool crispness to the Texas air tonight, school has finally started to slow down, AND its a 3 day weekend! So, I promise to sit down sometime tomorrow or Sunday with a cup of coffee and blog! Just a few topics I plan to write about:

-My summer with Dylan and Bo (if I can remember some details I knew I wanted to share...)

-My new class (sorry I cannot share as many details as I would like)

-My adventure to Colorful Colorado

-My parent's visit to Georgetown and a very Gilmore night out on the square

-My first garden!! (and its not a kinder one!)

Until then, goodnight blog world!

Sweet Baby James, AKA, Bubba Bean, AKA Dunder, dun, dun, dun...

As I enjoy my last summer evening of relaxation, I just find myself feeling like I need to tell someone just how much I adore my kitten. He is the sweetest little guy I know. I will write more and post some pics soon, but here's to you, my sweet Bubba Bean. Thank you for keeping me company tonight, and for loving me so much that you follow me around the house while I do all of the little "Sunday Things". You can't even lie down without being near my heart. Getting up and leaving you tomorrow for school (yes, school, not fun babysitting) will be oh-so-hard, but it will be so nice to be welcomed home by you...

Rachelie & Rachelia

If only my name was Julie and I had a love for Julia Child! I had the pleasure of going to see Julie & Julia last night (instead of working on the many things I have to work on...do you see a pattern here, maybe called procrastination?). I had been wanting to see this movie for quite a while, even before I had the inkling to start a blog. Those of you who know me know that I love to cook, and to cook for friends and family. Those of you who know me really well also know that I love to watch the food network, and have a few favorites- Rachael Ray (although I have to turn down the volume at times), Bobby Flay (wish he was not married and that I could be his wife!), and Giada DeLaurentiis (my favorite!). I just realized as I am writing this that I could be a little like Julie in the movie and cook through Rachael Ray's cookbook (well, one of them at least) in a year and have the same name similarity going on, but if I were to cook through anyone's cookbook in a year, it would be Giada's for sure.

Some people I know do not like Giada too much, and that is fine, but I quite adore her. I think it has to do more with her ties to Italy (a place I am itching to visit), the calmness of her kitchen, and the flavors she uses in her food (especially lemon). I do own a cookbook of Giada's. I bought it on a whim last Christmas break when I was just wasting time at Barnes & Noble. I purchased it because it had a recipe that I had seen her make on one of her shows and thought it looked AMAZING. So I bought the cookbook with aspirations of making this recipe. The recipe is called "Eggplant Timbale". It is almost like a pot pie, but the outside is grilled eggplant (yum!) and this inside filling is pasta, sausage, beef, italian cheeses, tomato sauce, marsala wine and peas. Needless to say, when I saw her cooking it on TV, it sparked my interest because I had never eaten, let alone cooked, something like this EVER. So when I saw the cookbook, I decided I should try it out.

Well, in order to embark on this cooking adventure, I had to buy a grill pan and a springform pan, plus all of the ingredients, which all added up to be quite a bit of money (oops!). After I got everything home, I was feeling very intimidated, very afraid to try to cook something so unfamiliar to me, maybe having a tad bit of the same feeling that Julie had as she cooked the lobsters or "boned" a duck in the movie. Anyway, the cooking process took me forever, I made a HUGE mess in my kitchen, and when it was all said and done, the timbale turned out very similar to Giada's, however, I didn't like it. I should have realized that I don't even like sausage that much, and therefore probably wouldn't like the timbale, since it has a sausage flavor...

The point of my ramblings this morning, as I again am procrastinating (my goal was to be at school an hour and a half ago, and here I am, still in my PJ's, watching a Gilmore re-run I have seen at least 4 times, and writing this entry...) is that I adored Julie & Julia last night, and identified with Julie very much, especially with her desire to write a blog in the beginning of the movie, her love of cooking, and her Anthro style (by the way-saw LOTS of Anthro items in the movie). Blogging and cooking were a stress relief for her, and she had the desire to accomplish something when she was feeling a little lost. I don't think I would say I feel lost right now, but I do have the desire to start something, and actually finish it (outside of work), and I do also think that blogging will help me do that-somehow, getting my own thoughts out there is helping to keep me accountable.

Here are a few things on my list of things to accomplish:

1. Finish painting and decorating my new home

2. Follow the Maker's Diet (I started it, loved it, but have been bad about staying on top of it)

3. Along with the diet, a more disciplined workout plan

4. Knitting and making baby gifts for some friends who are expecting

5. In all of these things, and before all of these things, my number one goal to accomplish is to have Jesus become more in me while I become less, as I abide in Him, let Him take over me, for His purpose and glory (which is funny, I don't think this task will ever be "done", for there is always room to for this to happen...)

There are more goals, I am sure, and as I think of them, I will share them with you. And, as I accomplish some of my goals, step by step, I will share those things with you too. Can I do it? I hope so! For now, back to real life, off to school...where I know little things are accomplished every minute of every day, but I may not see the final product from my new kindergartners until June 1, 2010, when this year's class will graduate...

Oh, Anthropologie...

I am getting ready to head to Anthropologie today, not to shop, but to work. It is my last day to work there for the summer, and I find myself feeling a little sad, despite the fact that every other Sunday that I had to work there this summer I found myself wishing I didn't have to...Anyway, last week as I was working, I was reminded of the reasons why I chose to take on the task of having a "fun" part-time job there.

I had a short 4 hour shift last weekend, the shortest I have ever had since working there, 11-3. This meant that I didn't have to clean and do other "checklist" chores that are usually done there earlier on Sunday mornings. So I was happy when I walked in, knowing I was getting to do more of the creative things I love to do when I am there. After I got to help rearrange some things in the home department (my favorite by the way) we (the staff that were working that morning) got to take on a project. We were given a partner, and were told to put together an outfit, with all of the side props we would like to use, that describes one of the anthro themes for the fall. You see, each Anthropologie store is given a vision by the higher ups, the vision is usually a girl, a fictional character. Each store (well more specifically, each visual design team at each store) is given a description of the fictional character, and then the individual design teams create, decorate and design the store (each individual store-this is why they are all different) to express the character.

The character I (along with a fun partner) got to outfit is Abigail Truman. Oh, how I wish I was Abigail Truman!! Let me tell you about her story- Abigail Truman is on an adventure. She is traveling with her male companion for the first time-she has never just traveled with a male companion before. (I assume she is traveling all year, meaning, no job for this girl, and I also pretend she and her companion are married in my little mind...) She and her buddy are traveling all across the USA first (Felicity fans-remind you of a certain Ben and Felicity road trip?), then they are traveling across Europe, and finally, they will head to Asia to complete their adventure (let's just pretend this adventure will last a year). Abigail has brought with her a few staple girly, yet easy traveling tops, a chunky, yet stylish travel purse, boyfriend jeans, some boots, a hat, a sweater for colder evenings, and don't forget the basic accessories (this is anthropolgie afterall...). When she comes across something she needs to wear, but does not have with her, she just borrows something that her husband has with him. (But somehow in those anthro catalogs, they still look a little girly...hmmm....) This is the style that Abigail Truman shows us in the Anthropologie stores this fall-and you will be able to notice these things when you shop in a store, usually these styles will be near the front of the store.

Back to my desire to be Abigail Truman-This lucky gal not only does not have to worry about work, a house, bills, and other day to day drama that so often makes my heart hurt. She gets to TRAVEL ALL YEAR-something I sadly did not get to do this summer at all (buying a house really leaves a single teacher with NO money-boo). Despite all of these bonuses, my favorite part of Abigail of all is that she is getting to share all of her delightful travels with her male companion for the first time, something I didn't really realize I was so longing to do until I was putting her outfit together. I will not say anything else about that desire other than this-I hope and pray to spend my next summer just like Abigail is spending her year. Maybe you can pray for that, too.

Here I go, off to work, but today, it does not feel like work. On my last day of working at Anthropologie (at least for the season) I am excited, because I get to go live in a whimsical dream world, which was the reason I ever wanted to work at that beautiful, creative, delightfully smelling (but way too expensive) store in the first place. Maybe, just today, I will get to feel a little like Abigail...

Hello Blog World!

I was up way too early for a Saturday morning, and instead of getting to work on the many, many home chores I have on my "to-do" list, I started reading some of the blogs my talented, dear friends have been writing. After reading, I started to wonder where they were getting all of these darling backgrounds and ideas from, so my fingers just began clicking here and there...and then I had to do it-I HAD to have one of these darling spaces for all of my ideas and adventures as well. So here it goes, my first blog entry-I hope to be able to entertain you with some witty, Gilmore- like stories, if you are ever up too early on a lazy, Saturday morning...