work

Some nights you just need a glass (bottle) of wine

As the snow has weighed down most of the nation, I feel like the stress of work has weighed me down. Our generous vacation of nearly 3 weeks was wonderful to recharge and reset for the New Year, but 3 days in and I am starting to feel it already!

I love my job. I love that I am working on 100 different projects at one time, 4 or 5 “departments” that need me at once, new ideas coming to the surface, not to mention day-to-day tasks and the unknown always popping up in my inbox and flying across my desk. But sometimes at the end of the day, you just need a glass of wine to recharge for the next day.

It has been a fabulous 2014 thus far, and I am excited to say that it will be an amazing year. I was accepted to grad school and will be moving to Chicago to pursue my Masters this summer!

2014 is going to be the year to cross things off of my bucket list. I already have 3 ready to go. 1. Move out of Michigan 2. Move to a large city (my favorite none the less) 3. Pursue my Masters.

I love the New Year. I love the thought of a fresh start and a clean slate. Any day can be a clean slate, but for me, nothing gives hope like starting off the year on the right foot.

What are you all hoping to do or accomplish in the New Year?

Here are a few pics from my holiday and 2014 adventures thus far!

A shot after the ice storm in downtown East Lansing

Our New Year was spent celebrating the birthday of the 2 goldens in the back. It was such a great time with some of my dearest friends. (Look at the handsome ones in the middle)

We headed to Chicago for a work event and walked past our future apartment (we hope), and this could be my front door!!

My future Starbucks. How cute is that?

We headed up to Winnetka/Glencoe to visit a great friend of ours. CUTEST villages I have ever seen.

Winnetka

My handsome snow bear right after our massive snow storm.

Happy New Year to all!

Please, excuse my absence…

It has been a while! I guess that is what happens when you are busy having fun 🙂

I will do a quick recap of what life has been handing me, using mostly photos:

Classically AWESOME!

I can’t even remember where I left off, so we will just start with this awesome car that we stumbled upon outside of Home Depot one Saturday when my bestie, Julie, was in town. That whole weekend was fun, complete with shopping, drinks in the sun, waffles at the City Market, just good times had by all.

Julie, being cute and stylish 🙂

Paul and I have been cooking up a storm:

Vegan Pot Stickers and Orange Chicken (Gardein brand… not a fan of imitation meat, but we went for it)

Kale-Quinoa Salad, compliments of Runners World magazine

Tempeh Sloppy Joes… I had forgotten all about this childhood favorite

Baked apple chips: because only a fool doesn’t like snacks

There was a cool benefit in a barn with beer and music!

It was a double date with my Uncle Tom and Aunt Janice

I took a tour of the magnificent Michigan Capitol, and it was AWESOME!

The dome

Took a day trip to the Upper Peninsula for work allowing me to cross something off of my bucket list: hiring my brother to fly me somewhere 🙂

Big bro doing is thing 🙂 So proud of him!

Leaving Escanaba, flying over Lake Michigan, heading back to the lower peninsula

I took a moment after a meeting to stop and appreciate the world:

Red Cedar River on Michigan State’s campus

Received over 90 pokes for my allergy test… and am allergic to everything! (and should also never get an upper arm tattoo:

I guess this is the mark of my tribe…?

Loved on my kids:

Went to a Detroit Tiger’s game with our best friends, and my true boyfriend:

This was his first pop ever! We had to keep reminding him to call it “root beer” and not just beer

We stopped in Greek Town for some pre-game food:

From some angles, Detroit doesn’t seem so bad

Then headed to the game where we witnessed a Tiger’s loss, but still had a great time:

Life has been busy, but things are good! I am excited that summer is finally here!

This weekend, we are going camping, so cross your fingers that it goes well.

What have you all been up to?

Tuesday meeting at the Capitol

Let’s talk lame duck and workouts, shall we?

So here we are, staying late at the office, all thanks to lame duck.

I don’t mind, I really don’t, because it is exciting, and stressful, and frustrating, and unpredictable. I just really enjoy it. I am sure I would feel very differently if I was one of my legislative coordinators down there at the Capitol, but it can be pretty cool from where I sit.

To deal with all of this stress, I have been very good about my workouts. I had a great strength/lifting session yesterday, a killer metabolic conditioning session today, and am about to initiate my training plan for my first half-marathon next year (Martian Half-Marathon in Dearborn, MI).

So, on we move, with workouts and the unpredictability of lame duck… right now, craziness and soreness is being soothed by a nice beer.

Gotta love it 🙂

Do you have any idea how hard it is to sit at a desk and look at this when there is so much lifting going on right outside my office?!?!

Can’t I just go workout already?

This is how it makes me feel.

Adventures of S

Maybe life can be a collection of experiences that make you smile

work

Some nights you just need a glass (bottle) of wine

Please, excuse my absence…

Let’s talk lame duck and workouts, shall we?