2011 - Looking Back

January: First Half Marathon in Disney

February: Single for the first time in a long time

March: St. Patty's Day in Savannah

April: Delta Gamma Senior Formal with my blind date, Kevin

April: Senior Bar Crawl with Delta Gamma

May: Graduation from UGA's Terry College of Business

June: I moved to Paris, France for the summer

July: Visited London

August: I officially moved out of Athens, GA after 4 years, and left with a bang!

September: Moved to Atlanta

October: Dressed as an Etch-A-Sketch for Halloween

October: Visited Charleston and my best friend

November: Ran my first Full Marathon in Savannah

December: Visited Nashville for New Years 2012

Looking Ahead to 2012

I've at least started my new year planning right: I have my "words to live by"

Is this helping me reach my goals?

It can be applied to everything, and it isn't something difficult to carry out. Decisions I make throughout the day, when I feel that little guilt (such as eating a pint of ice cream or bailing on hanging out with friends) I can ask this. It's just a small reminder to help keep me moving in the right direction. You may see that this idea is repeated throughout some of my future posts.

But besides following a few simple words, what are my solid, measurable goals?

First - I want to run at least 3 half marathons. I ran a full and two half marathons this year, so I feel that this is very doable. With that, I want so badly to break 2 hours on my next one.  I have run a 2:05, and a 2:03 this past October. 2:00 is just laughing at me, taunting me and urging me to break it. I know I can. My next race is March 14, The Georgia Publix Marathon. If it's a fast course and I train properly, I'm solid. Here are some other options for this year:

March 14: Georgia Publix 1/2 Marathon (Atlanta, GA)
April 28: Rock 'N Roll (Nashville)
July 22: Rock 'N Roll (Chicago, IL)
September 22: Rock 'N Roll (Denver, CO)
October 13: Rock 'N Roll (New York, NY)
November 22: Atlanta Half Marathon (Atlanta, GA)
December 8: Kiawah Island Golf Resort Marathon (Kiawah Island, SC)

I'll also be running the Peachtree Road Race (only a 10k) July 4th in Atlanta. The start line is next to my apartment! Easy walking distance, and I haven't run it since 2010. 

Second, I am trying a sugar-free diet for January. Join me by signing up HERE

I may not follow this perfectly, but no artificial or sugar added to food is what I am going to be doing. That means no chewing gum, Diet soda and only black tea/coffee (but that is what I already do, luckily). I'm also still allowing beer and my signature vodka-waters with a real lime.

Third, I think it seems like a good detox year, not just with food, but also with my closet! It needs an overhaul because right now it is out of control! There are so many pieces I no longer wear. I just need to dump them.

 

Those are my first steps for 2012, but I am sure more ideas are to come!

Whew! Take a second to breathe

Life is a whirl wind: constantly. I think I need to accept this at some point and realize controlling my day every day is impossible. I'm not very good at that though. I love schedules, order, timing, management (wonder why I chose my major/current job position?)

Well, this year has flown by unlike any other. It has been a packed 365 days. Am I ready for a new 2012? Ehhh, yeah!

This past holiday weekend was no change from the others. My mom had a Christmas party two weeks before, then we attended 2 other "adult" parties on the 24th and yesterday, the 26th. Luckily wine was involved at both. Thanks to my new found love of cooking, I received some awesome gadgets from Santa - a wok, crock pot and a George Foreman grill! Score!

But this past week, of course, involved me baking for HOURS upon hours, making the holiday goodies that would soon be making my jeans a little more snug. But they turned out great!

My list included:

- Peppermint Christmas Tree Meringues
- Red Velvet Cupcakes with Hershey Kisses with melted White Chocolate and Peppermint on top
- White chocolate dipped pretzel rods, rolled in peppermint pieces
- Attempted cake ball bites. Not my favorite, too much cream cheese. I'll try again soon.

We also had the AMAZING cake that Trudy makes for every party I have ever seen her at. She hosted us on Christmas Eve, complete with Chocolate Vodka, Beans, Pork Loin, Briskette, Jell-O wreathes and insanely sweet potatoes. I didn't make it to the desserts thanks to all of the amazing main courses.

Finally, I also hand-made my dad's Christmas present. Marinades! I looked up a few different recipes online, 2 for steaks and one for chicken, mixed all the ingredients into the water containers from Crate & Barrel (these glass jars were ALL over Paris this summer instead of pitchers) and put the ingredient list on a tag for him. This may be one of my new go-to gifts for people, especially men who like grilling. 

I'm headed to Nashville for New Years, and can't wait to explore the city! Another weekend of excess eating - Heck YES!! Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and Holiday.

Happy Hump Day!

I'm so excited! The weekend is almost here (2 more days people!) and I've definitely got some plans in the works that I'd love to share and invite everyone to! Also, my Wednesday started off even better thanks to my boss playing the Beiber Holiday CD. It's officially Christmas time!! Now all I need is some tinsel and a tree.

Thursday: AMA- Atlanta Holiday Mixer at Twisted Taco Buckhead. If you haven't heard, I'm a member of the Young Professionals Committee that will be putting on this event. It is tomorrow and will be fantastic with prizes, raffles, and the typical fun, outgoing marketing crowd. You can still purchase tickets online, but if you don't tonight they are available at the door. Love to see you all and all of the money raised goes to The American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge.

On Friday some of my favorite people will be visiting me from Athens!! CANNOT WAIT! We'll be watching the game Saturday where (hopefully) UGA beats LSU to take the SEC Championship Title. 

Finally, it's National Cookie Day Sunday and the baking addict in me can't help but jump for joy! It's what I will be doing practically all day, and if you would like to request some deliciousness (because I'm not eating these, just baking them), text me! We can work something out. Here's a sample of what is on my grocery list:

Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

Stuffed Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

Turtle Cookies