The best part of my day...

Seeing my dog run into the living room, dive his nose into the carpet, have just his tush in the air for a few, then ptfo on the floor. Fredder...

I also ran 11 miles on the treadmill today, which in the process I watched the entirety of the third Narnia movie. I also made a cabbage and steak stir fry with homemade peanut sauce. Recipe soon to be posted.

I guess I actually have to stop doing everything but my Paris trip papers. One down, 2 to go by tomorrow. Oh yeah, and I'm working for 7 hours during the day. I wonder how this will play out. Procrastination at its finest.

New job and all gone!

The past few days have FLOWN by. I don't even know at this point what each day entailed. One of the most exciting parts though has been the new part time job I landed with Notable Weddings and Events. I work on Saturdays, running the store, sorting through vendors for our company to use, and selling gowns or tuxedos. I wish I were able to work there full time, but as of now it just isn't possible for them. So, I need to keep searching for that full time job and hopefully it turns into one that I will really enjoy. I think I have found the industry I want to develop into a career as well, which is so exciting!

I am also fully moved out of Athens. It was so sad to leave the apartment, but I have an understanding that it is time to move on, hopefully to the bigger and better paying! I also have to start looking for an apartment in the Atlanta area, but of course that won't come until I solidify a full time job. For now, I'll stick with the basement and my boxes still packed.

Do treadmills work?

As I headed to the gym today, glad it was a weight rather than running day (although tomorrow I'll be saying hi to the rolling belt as usual), I started to think: Is this treadmill really getting me in shape for one of the biggest physical challenges I have put myself against?

So being me, I started doing some research. I have been running treadmill rather than outdoors since the heat is completely unbearable for me. I already have people asking how my swim was when I leave the gym after running. I don't need to completely dehydrate my whole body. So, here was what I discovered when it comes to training on the treadmill:

- The best tip is to raise the incline, at least 1%. When you are running on a treadmill, you are actually in a slightly downward position if the incline is in neutral.

- If possible, get some runs outside. I think my goal is to do my short Sunday runs SUPER early in the morning before the sun starts pounding down

- Runs on the treadmill are actually longer than your outdoor run since it isn't very accurate, and will help you better prepare

- Treadmills are boring. You'll have much more fun when you get to the race, and be able to push and enjoy yourself more. Use it as a mental training tool.

- Use the pre-programmed runs often to shake up your routine and get your body out of a state of same-ole-same

So, those are the main points I found. They make sense. Enjoy the built in fan too!

Hello Again Atlanta

I cannot believe that all of this has snuck up so quickly. I am finally back in the Atlanta area, and ready to get on with finding a job, apartment, and still training for my marathon. This weekend was really difficult to stay on track with my training, especially my eating plan. I really didn't make the time between hanging out with friends, parties, and moving myself back and forth between cities to cook or eat every three-ish hours, what my eating plan calls for to keep steady blood sugar levels. But, I am making the grocery list for the week right now. Not only will it be yummy, but healthy.

I also have several job leads in Atlanta, and a few that will lead me to other areas. Of course, I am very interested in the Atlanta ones at the moment. I feel that I am not ready to leave here yet since I haven't experienced all that I can of this city. Athens, I know. Atlanta, not so much. I can't wait to go apartment searching as well once I secure a job. I hope that I'll be able to finally set up my own place without knowing I'll be gone in a year. I hate having time constraints.

This week brings interviews, adjustments to my new living situation, and some goodbyes to good friends and roommates. But, it'll bring new fresh fun. I'm ready to take it on, and my 11 mile run on Saturday.

Packing for good

3 more days in Athens. That's all.

Where has the past 4 years gone and why did it have to go so quickly. Moving out of the Classic City has crept up on me, slowly, and now I feel that I am completely unprepared to adjust. This past year has truly been one of the best. My roommates were both amazing, our apartment was in the perfect location, and I finally began to connect to my friends in a greater capacity. I enjoyed myself more, and am beginning to figure out what else there is for me. I had the chance to travel, to enjoy late Thursday, Fridays, Saturdays, and even Mondays out on the town, to meet new people, and really got to soak in the Bulldawg experience.

I'm going to miss entertaining on Saturday mornings at 8am, pouring mimosas and pancake batter while dressed in red and black sundresses. I'm going to miss stumbling up to my apartment after chowing down on the grill's chicken finger and feta fries platter. I'm really going to miss all of the amazing people I have met the past 4 years, the people that have become family to me.

I'm not ready to enter limbo, with truly no apartment, hanging out in mom's basement till I secure a job. Not my ideal into entering big girl land. It will solve itself though, and soon I'll be on my path, which I am sure will have numerous twists and turns. For now, my goal is to finish 3 final papers for my study abroad classes while taking breaks to pack my life. What a weird feeling!

Thai Steak Salad

I need to share this recipe! I was looking feeling something "cooling" after the hot day we had in Georgia. I laid out for about ten minutes and decided it wasn't worth it. So, I went for this salad with some steak, my favorite. This recipe comes out spicy, so beware to those who can't handle the heat!

What you need:

Dressing

- 2 tbsp lime juice

- 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

- 2 tsp sugar

- 1 tsp serrano chili pepper (I used a full one), minced

Salad

- 10 ounces boneless beef strip steak

- salt and pepper

- 1 cup sliced radishes

- 1 small red onion, sliced thin

- 1 medium cucumber, sliced and unpeeled

- 10 fresh basil leaves, sliced

- 2 hearts of romaine lettuce chopped

This recipe makes two servings, one is sure to fill you up

For the dressing, mix everything together in a large bowl. Set aside a tablespoon of the dressing

Season the steak with lots of salt and pepper on either side. Cook on a stovetop grill pan over medium-high for 4 or 5 minutes per side, depending on how you like your steak cooked. I usually go with medium.

Add the rest of the salad ingredients to the big bowl with the dressing, toss, then plate.

Take the steak and slice thin across the grain, then toss the steak slices in the extra salad dressing you set aside.

Bon Appetit!

Reunited and It Feels So Good!

Danielle and I finally had our mini-reunion date! We had signed up for this new-ish trending class called Sips n Strokes, where you BYOB to a paint class led by an instructor for different pictures you decide on. We had the gerber daisies day, and it was the perfect combination of paint, wine, and catching up.

It was also Wednesday night in Atlanta, meaning Welfare at Peachtree Tavern. Apparently it is one of the well known "Freshman" bars, but last time I went I had such a great time, and the Velcro Pygmies were playing again, same as last time. So, after a failed attempt to get my Atlanta friends to go out with me, Danielle brought up during our painting session that she was already planning on going. Perfect!

After getting there, I ran into a large amount of people from high school that I hadn't seen in a while, probably since graduation. Seeing people like that definitely gives you a certain level of comfort since you go back so far, even if you weren't the best of friends.

Running Mania

So the past two days I have been thinking non-stop about my action plan for my running and marathon training. I can't get enough of online articles, Runner's world magazine, and searching through every gadget and supplement I can find. But, I am no expert. I have never run a full marathon, have not been faced with a mental breakdown miles from the end, and haven't put my body through more than a half marathon run. But for me, I am all about the details. I want to be prepared, with the right nutrition and the right "swag". So, asking those out there who may have done distance races or events, what are your top things to have, and what have you found to work or not? I would love some responses or books/articles that would point me in the right direction. I am a little less than 16 weeks out, and so excited! I also have about another 20 pounds to lose for my ideal race weight, and the goal of the day was to avoid any and all cookies/cakes/sweets. So far so good. The oatmeal chocolate chip cookies sitting on my counter haven't been touched. I raced my half in January at the weight I am currently, but my knees were in so much pain the days following, that getting a lighter load on my body seems like the best idea I have.

Bravos and Birthdays

So, I decided to head home to Atlanta for the weekend. I also brought home 4 suitcases full of clothes, which didn't even put a dent into the amount that is still sitting in my apartment. I have no clue where to put everything! As I was leaving Friday night, I had several people text me while I was in the car telling me that they were in Athens for the night, of course the one time I wasn't. I missed everyone! Hopefully next weekend will prove to be more of a reunion, but also one for goodbyes. Only 2 weeks left till I no longer live in Athens. That is all very strange to me after spending 4 years in the town that has meant so much to me. It will be visited often though. There is always football!

The Braves game was Saturday and also was a planned event for Amrit's 24th birthday. I arrived a little late to the tailgate since I needed to get my long run of the week in, which turned out to be 9 miles. I'm pleasantly surprised to have discovered that I could actually do it. When I got to the game, it was great to see Amrit since we hadn't hung out in over 2 years! have no idea where that time has gone. I also was in a mosh of about 50 Georgia Tech students or alums, so no calling of the Dawgs occurred. After some Budweiser in cans with the American flag wrapped around it, heavy koozie use, a DJ, cornhole, and one awesome hamburger, it was off to the game! I haven't been to one since April, and I was really missing just being in the atmosphere and seeing the stadium.

The Braves 10,000th win also occurred the day before, so cut into the grass of the outfield was 10,000. Unfortunately, the Braves couldn't pull out the 10,001 win while I was there, losing to the Nats. Our tickets were in the 755 Club, which I had never been in and was neat since you could walk around, go to the bar, and order more restaurant style food.After the game, the post-game show was the B52s, who are from Athens and also play one of my favorite songs, "Love Shack".

They were terrible live! Most people left after the first song. Somehow our group made it through most of the set before finally deciding it was time to head out and get to Cosmolava, the club/bar Amrit had organized for his birthday.

One of the other guys in the group and I drove there together and could not find Amrit. We grabbed a beer at another bar, then headed back to Cosmo for round 2 of finding him. I was in a sundress walking around a club, so I felt somewhat out of place, but Cosmo was huge and had some really great dancing. I'll take a second go-round there. After a long drive back, I finally got back home to Norcross around 3 to find my neighbors still enjoying their night by the pool. That was not what I had expected to come home to. I live in a quiet suburb neighborhood with lots of families and kids, including my neighbors. I guess old people need to have fun every once in a while too.

Today is my brother's 20th birthday! I was going to get him concert tickets to Kid Cudi this week, but he is working unfortunately, so back to the drawing board. I really wanted to bake something in my mom's kitchen, with her KitchenAid mixer, Electrolux oven, garbage disposal, and newly installed granite countertops. It is so nice actually having space to make a mess! The recipe for the icing comes from here, but I decided to make flowers to celebrate the awesome summer Georgia weather, which I am sure will be short lived when it hits 100 degrees again next week. Enjoying it while I can.

Now playing: Keke Palmer "Bottoms Up" . So olldddd. It reminds me of the summer back in Norcross after my first year in college with Darwin, Minal, Duane, and Heather ("I'm Bossy"), and driving my Tahoe.

Carload of shoes

Last night ended up being a great show! Major Love Event started the show. It was one woman playing the keyboard with a drummer, and the vocals were amazing! It was the first time I had ben to Farm 255, and the venue was beautiful, filled with long heavy wooden tables, antique doors as decoration, bricks walls, and wooden vaulted ceilings. The walls also had pictures of their farm lining around the inside. Brothers was the next band to perform, and really entertained. The 4 guys demanded a crowd and gained lots of attention judging from the larger amounts of people that came to their show.

I ended up doing more scrapbooking today. I am putting off writing my papers for my classes until next week when I am home with nothing much to do except job applications and no friends around to offer me fun things to do. I also started to pack up my shoes. After climbing the ladder to the loft area and slowly sorting through the mess of what I just throw up there, I realized I may have a few too many pairs and that the loft is half empty without them occupying the space.This packing is unreal. I didn't think I had too much to do, but it is turning into a longer and more drawn out process than I expected. I think my shopping habits have

contributed to the problem greatly.

Jen left Athens today to leave for home then off to start her big girl job. I got to see her and have lunch at the Grit with her, probably one of our favorite places in Athens. I had the Golden Bowl with veggies and a little hot sauce and soy sauce while she went with the Smelt and sweet potato fries. Yum!! Click here for the Golden Bowl recipe and here for a link to the Grit, an Athens only restaurant definitely worth a try! On my wishlist is their cookbook, and I really want their recipe for the Brown Sugar Caramel Cake. It's not in the cookbook, but it is one of the best cakes I have ever tasted.

Pick me!

I am approaching this job search with a completely hopeful mindset. I guess that is really the only way to go, but today I KNOW that I will get an email or a phone call back from one of the 30+ jobs I have applied for over the past few days. I already had one phone interview that would relocate me to Brooklyn for a month, then off to wherever I would be needed. The thought of moving sounds so exciting! At this point, I am willing to move across the world. I just want to hear back and get a company to pick me for one of their positions. The countdown is at 16 days till move-out from my apartment. Scary!

Those cupcakes are still lounging around in my fridge, so if you would like one please come get one! I have been brainstorming this morning what to do for my brother's 20th birthday that is coming up this Sunday. It's a big one I guess, leaving the teen years. Wow, when did my little brother blonde bowlcut "Danuw" turn into a grown person? If anyone has suggestions (including you Daniel), throw them at me! I'm pretty sure some sort of baking him something will occur.

I tried to sit at Walker's yesterday and write one of the three papers I still have to tackle for my study abroad classes. The one that I cannot come up with any ideas for is unfortunately 60% of my grade. I also lost all of the notes for the class when my older computer decided to crash while I was in Europe. This is a more serious problem than a writers block I think. But I also have more interesting things to do than write papers, so the distraction that comes along with having the internet prevented me from getting any sort of work done.

Tonight seems like it is going to turn into another music night. So while all of you people are waiting to see Harry Potter at midnight, I'll be jammin' at Farm 255 to Brothers and Major Love Event. Now here is where the confession comes- I haven't seen all of the Harry Potter movies, let alone read the books. I think I got up to #5 and that is only because ABC Family had a marathon weekend where my roommates and I used our DVR to record and then proceeded to watch all of them. So, one day I'll catch up, but today just isn't that day.

Nowhere showing JJ&Co

Where were we last night? Nowhere. It was a completely different scene than I was used to. Everyone seemed a little rough around the edges, with messy braids, leather jackets, and much older than I was used to seeing out in Athens. I had stepped into a well known townie bar, Nowhere Bar. Caroline and I were there with a group of people, including the lead singer of James Justin and Co, his wife, and their band manager. We had grabbed a drink with them at Allgood beforehand, and walked to Nowhere so they could get prepped for their show that night.

Caroline had worked for a group called Follywood this year, and the band was one of theirs. We met one of the other members of the 4-some, David, who was a Citadel graduate and told us about his initiation to the Holy City Beard and Mustache Society. JJ&Co had been touring for the past 2 months all over the country, and they were wrapping up with the southeast and full grown beards thanks to their refusal to shave for the tour.They sounded great in the tiny bar, and lots of people ended up dancing and twirling to their folk/country with a rock influence. As a finale to the show, they jumped into the crowd, off the stage, and sang the Beatles "With a Little Help From My Friends" which only added to their already electric stage presence and crowd pleasing attitude.

Strawberry Lemondrops

This was the first time I actually have been able to REALLY bake in the past 2 months. I failed miserably in London trying to make buckeye cookies by using pre-packaged cookie dry mix. But this time around, the batter was all hand-made. I decided that I needed fruit and vodka in the mix, so I went ahead and decided on Strawberry Lemondrop cupcakes that I found on Baking Bites.

The vodka in it gives it that nice little kick while the strawberries and lemon zest make it so delicious. I had to cook these for about 20 minutes each, which seemed a pretty long time for cupcakes, but they turned out well and so delicious! Now I just need to get them out of the house before I eat the whole batch. Not the prettiest frosting job I have done, but it makes them no less yummy.

Back to it!

My heart was racing, my body was telling me to quit, and my breathe has become close to hyperventilation. It was the first time in a long time getting my butt on a bike. I wanted to make sure it was worth it. After a full body weight workout, I finally jumped on since yesterday was my cross training day, and the bike it the best thing for your knees and taking off pressure from your body. I really enjoyed it. I could feel my thighs burning the whole time and knew I was working muscles that had been overlooked, or maybe it was the results of lunges and squats I had just done. Yesterday was the first day I had really hit the gym, and man did it feel good! I'm supposed to run about an hour today, and the heat index in GA is supposed to reach 107 degrees. Even the weather man on Good Morning America said don't do it, since your body can literally shut down just from the heat and humidity. I'm not going to argue, so I think many of my workouts are going to turn indoors for a while. Good thing I have the time to get used to hills and the outdoors for a few months before my marathon in November.

I also have started scrapbooking again. I though that I really needed to since my Paris pictures need to have a story and some creativity added to them. They deserve that considering they show one of the best times of my life. I've also been really keeping with my "diet", which is really just an awesome eating plan which allows me to cook all the time. I missed cooking so much while in Paris, and eggs. I really really missed eggs. Caroline and I are supposed to head out for a concert tonight in Athens for a band called James Justin & Co. Review soon to come! They sounds awesome, so should be a fun show at Nowhere Bar. Check them out on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/jamesjustinandco

Baseball Caps seem foreign

It was my first night back out on the Athens bar scene. We finally made it out around 12:30. I ended up going out with some guy friends, starting out at 9des bar. Last time I was there it involved a MC HAmmer dressed black man slamming a huge white wall onto the bar's ground, straddling her, and grinding. Athens always amazes me. But, it was much less eventful last night, so we just left. After AllGood and Boar's Head, it was already closing time since we had gotten out so late. I loved running into everyone that night, including seeing some girls from the sorority. It was so weird being out, somewhat of that "reverse culture shock" our teachers talked about. Tshirts, ball caps, and some tackily dressed girls (no Athens normally) were everywhere. One girl at Boar's Head was wearing a silk corset, black spandex shorts, and gold glitter heels. Sorry, that is not appropriate, ever, and definitely not in Southern fashion.

Yesterday seemed like such a drag. I applied to over 25 different positions listed on multiple job sites. I hope that I hear something soon from one of them. It included a good amount of paid internships as well, but of course they would be full time. I also think I know more of the direction I want to go, well, at least I know what I don't want to do - sales. So, cross your fingers for me! Well, I need to go pull myself together for the day after a late night. My dad is coming to Athens today, and I haven't seen him in 2 months. Poor guy has been having lots of fatigue recently, so I am hoping he feels a little better today. I know tomorrow he is getting a shot to give him back some energy. I am sure this heat and the dark skies aren't helping his tired feelings at all. Back to my new found green tea addiction (I drink like 3 cups a day), and my attempt to stick to my diet, which failed thanks to last night's drinking. I really need to get serious.

Hiiii Humidity

If ya'll don't know, I'm from Georgia. It is where I have lived practically all of my life, and I have loved it! But, I am so ready for a change of scene. I feel that I have exhausted so much of this city. Maybe that is completely false, but sometimes I question it. Today was a day of adding a "con" to Georgia. I was supposed to run 9 miles (about 14K) this morning, and it failed epically. I did everything right- woke up early, hydrated thoroughly, and made sure the appropriate clothing was put on. I turned on my iPod shuffle and headed out the door. As soon as I left the AC and continuous fanning of my apartment, the humidity hit my like a wave. My whole body felt moist and there was no relief in sight. After managing to run/walk about half of what was planned, I had to sit under the shade of one of UGA's north campus trees in order to let my body stop over-heating itself. Well, at least my marathon isn't until November. Being popped back into Georgia after the perfect weather in Paris and London, my training has taken a major step back.

It will be fine though. I am going to the athletic center tomorrow to see if my student card still works. If not, I will just need to suck it up and run outdoors and get used to it. I guess that would be the better thing to do since this marathon is in the muggy Savannah. At least November usually proves to have perfect weather. I wish I was able to focus more on my running and fun things, but job applications have seem to take over my life! I am applying to a lot of internships at the moment, being everywhere in the US to even the UK. I wonder where I will end up. So, it is a waiting game. One that I hope will end soon since I am down to three weeks.

I was looking through a lot of my photos from the last few months. It included formal, senior bar crawl, and other times with friends. Wow, it is hard to believe that many of those people will never be in the same place at once again. The dynamic of this city will completely change. But, I will always remember how happy I was, rather than the times I felt down. Being back in America has proved to be a little of a downer, especially when I can't stop thinking of someone. it is comforting though to know they think of me as well. But I know that it will all work out how it should. Someone once told me "things about bad times is you know they can only get better". I am trying hard to listen to this, by keeping busy and looking towards the future. It's a very difficult task.

Anxious back Home

I have been traveling Europe for the past two months. I lived in Paris, visited London, and a few other places in France. This was the most amazing experience I've had in my life. It went by too quickly, and coming back to America was a complete ambush on my thoughts about life. I could walk outside everyday and stroll through the streets of the City of Lights, without anything in particular to do. It would result still in me being perfectly happy and content by just soaking in the enormity of the place I was in and feeling the relaxed lifestyles of true Parisians. I could visit museums with paintings filled by Picasso, Van Gogh, and Monet. The bakeries were the best part though for me, being one who enjoys baking. With that, I brought a good amount of Paris back home on me. I unfortunately got on the scale when I returned to find I had gained almost 15 pounds. What an accomplishment! My rounded belly has been very content for the past 7 weeks though.

I also met amazing people. I made many friends that were also from my university, and even one who lives in London. He was one of the hardest to say goodbye to, knowing the only way to see him again was a long and tedious day of travel and a fair amount of cash to buy an international flight. The people I met, the experiences I took away, and the new perspective I have on life are something that I hope to carry with me forever. I have now realized that my time prior to my trip became routine living. I would go out to bars a lot, sit around and watch TV mindlessly, and really not go out during the day trying to enjoy what is around me. I have a goal to change that. I want the unusual experiences, or at ones that I will remember when I wake up in the morning. I have another 3 weeks to live in my current location. After that, I have no idea what I will be doing for a job or where I will be living. My main tasks are to figure this out, but I also want to do those things I have been putting off. With this new blog, I want to share these "living" experiences and use it as a way to hold myself accountable to living life to the fullest. I can't wait to start this new mindset and mentality towards the only life I have.