DETOX: Day 1

I am starting another path towards body detoxification, which means cleansing, re-organizing and getting back in shape (-30 pounds now). If you have read my blog before you know I'm a little obsessed with staying in shape. The problem is my follow through, with all the other little things, fitness is where I let myself slide the most, I think this is an area that is tough for a lot of people. It is easy to make excuses not to go the gym, but in reality it should be as important as grooming yourself.

Don't get me wrong, I love to workout and it frustrates me when I'm too tired or get out of my schedule. Today will be the start of a new schedule. I'm starting by heading over to one of my favorite places, Burke Williams, to get all the kinks out, relax and just breathe a little bit.

Detox includes so many things, in fact I just got this coupon from Living Social for boot camp, that I may just have to incorporate into this new regimen. Here's my list:

1) Getting the kinks out and sweating it out @BurkeWilliams

2) Workout schedule/regimen - the most important part for me is getting back into a schedule I can't live without, which means I'll be working out every morning.

3) Groceries - healthy eating plan - I love to cook, but have shirked because of this whole moving thing, expect a trip to Whole Foods today.

4) New Tennis schedule - Ideally, I want to play tennis about 3-4 times a week (including the weekend), I found several partners through Craigslist for early AM tennis.

5) Meditation - more commonly known as alone time.

6) Relationship Time - Last but not least, I'm getting married this year, so I look forward to getting the stress out of the relationship and getting back to our dates and weekend workouts.

With detox goes soda, milk, juices and probably cheese (but that's going to hurt). We'll see how it goes, Iwill report back.

Rolling with the punches.

I feel like there's this cloud over us where everything we are doing lately is rolling with the punches. The fiance and I, have not been able to spend much quality time together in result of our recent move and other madness happening in our lives. The latest update?

What is that you ask? It's towels soaking up our leaking bathroom. And no, its not what you think it is. I took a shower this morning and the toilet started leaking. I swear this is from a movie. This on top of the paint in the street, the washing machine not draining and the garbage disposal getting clogged...all in our first week of living here. Sounds promising.

Overall, the sad part is that it is so great to have a house and we are so excited, but there have been so many problems to deal with. I am so tired when I get home from work that I generally watch TV until I fall asleep on the couch. I wake up around 12 or 1 am and go to the bed and then wake up all over again at 6 am.

I have not been able to get into a good workout routine. Actually, I haven't been able to workout at all, which may be what's making me so grumpy and a little on the depressed side. sigh...I felt like that was a mouthful and I didn't even say anything. In the meantime, I think that Chaka is getting used to his new environment, although I'm sure that he can feel the tension at home from all of our tiredness.

I'm looking forward to this weekend, to spend some quality time with the beau, the pup and myself. Calgon, take me away.

Life is full of surprises.

I guess 'they' were right when they said to 'expect the unexpected'. Nothing in life really turns out how you think and I have come to believe that everything works out in mysterious ways. The first two months of 2011 has been more than an interesting journey. In just 39 days of the new year. My fiance and I are planning to move into a great new house (rented, not bought), I have an amazing job opportunity in front of me, we've chosen a wedding date and venue, and there is so much more to come.

I can't wait to see what other great things are in store for us this year. We are planning to run our 3rd Chinatown Firecracker together this Sunday to celebrate. The year is already off to very quick start and before you know it our sweet pup will have a little puppy brother. I guess it is time to make the last year of my 20's as great as possible. How quickly time escapes after you join the 'real world'.

I think about all that I have already experienced and realize that it is not even half of what I will experience in my lifetime (assuming that I live to a nice ripe old age). I'm going to go with the thought that 'life begins at 30', so I better get ready for it now.

I have never been so excited to see what's next. Stand by for housewarming details.

Amos Lee - The Music Box

I had only heard the song 'Sweet Pea' before I was invited to The Music Box in Hollywood on January 27th to see Amos Lee perform. Apparently, that's not even one of his most popular songs. Regardless, I didn't really know him that well and didn't know what genre to put him in (apparently he is in the Folk Jazz genre).

I arrived at The Music Box about 9:00 p.m., at which point his opening acts were still on the scene. While I got my beverage and found my friends, I was interested to see what was in store for me.

The result: What a treat! Amos Lee is pretty terrific and although, some of his songs are a bit more folksy (actually sounded more like country) than I would like, the majority of his set held a lot of mixed genre sounds with soul, jazz, blues and country altogether.

His voice sounds delicious live and he is a very dynamic vocal performer. He also had a trumpet come up there, some snazzy electric table guitar and talented backup singers. This song was on my favorites list from last night.



Of course the show was great, thanks to @James'jimmylin'Lin, since it was free ninety nine; however, if I was asked again, I would not mind paying for the tickets. I'm not sure what kind of perspective that puts that into.

I just wish that they had seats at The Music Box, it actually reminded me very much of The Fillmore in SF. Michael Kors makes very cute boots, but that doesn't mean that I want to stand in them for 14 hours of the day. Seats please!

Like Nina Simone sang...

"Its a new dawn, its a new day, its a new life...And I'm feelin' good!"

Riddle me this: Why, all of a sudden, is everyone else singing this song (by everyone I mean Michael Buble and Jennifer Hudson). It turns me off a bit that Jennifer Hudson is singing it on a Weight Watchers commercial but I guess that's a different topic, so I digress.

What I always loved about the new year is that it feels like a new opportunity, but the truth is that new opportunities are always around the corner anytime of the year. What makes the Julian Calendar so special that I follow it so precisely in everything I do or plan? I think planning this way is limited and has limited my thinking for a good 20 years of my life.

Moreover henceforth therewithto (that's some of that fancy old English for you), I will no longer be a slave to standard calendar practices. I will make resolutions all year round and celebrate the only REAL holiday...my birthday, with gusto and a jovial attitude every year no matter how old my government ID tells me I am. I will play tennis in the Winter and drink hot cocoa in the Summer. I will wear hot pink in the Fall and eat pumpkin pie in the Spring. I will punctuate my slang properly and I will write in complete sentences (I don't know that this last one has anything to do with the calendar).

All I'm saying is every day is a playground. Enjoy what you do, how you live and who you are around as much as possible; and if you don't like it, don't wait until January 1 or the next Monday or the first of the month to change what you don't like. Maybe one day you can be as happy as this guy:

And we are back! Hello 2011

WOW, it's already the end of the first week of the year. I can't believe it. NYE 2011 will come before I even know it. So as tradition follows I thought I would post my New Year's resolutions to once again cement them in the everlasting Internets....

Here we go...

1. Lose Weight (specifically the 20 lbs I gained last year) and play tennis

2. Stay motivated and accountable

3. Take the GMAT by the end of March

4. Make more $$$ than 2010 and advance professional development

5. Take care of and overdue bidnass (tickets, bills, etc.)

6. Save more moola this year

7. Eliminate waste (extra items at home like clothes, furniture, magazines, etc.)

8. Plan and take our International trip (Pueblo Ingles)

9. Plan the honeymoon for early 2012

10. Keep my resolutions

okay, so I will admit, these aren't as detailed as my actual resolutions and I have left some of them out as well, but you get the gist of it. I love resolutions and hopefully this year #10 on my list will take priority.

How sweet it was...

I am amazed at how quickly 2010 came and went. I'm generally a big promoter of moving up and on and getting my resolutions ready for the next year, but 2010 was so full of things I thought I would reflect on all that went down.

Let Downs :/

• Didn't go to Macchu Picchu
• Had to get rid of Saabi
• Gained 20 lbs. (yea! I know, scary) - I already have the resolution for this one
• Lazied on tennis after August
• Didn't take the GMAT....again
• Didn't run more races

Achievements :)

• Saw my first live Celtics game at TD Garden in Boston
• Participated in my first season of mixed doubles
• Won a tennis tournament (Calabassas Country Club)
• Pueblo Ingles teens 2010
• Traveled through Spain, France, Turkey and Germany with my love
• Got a new car
• Attended my first PRSA International Conference
• Filed my taxes on time
• Ran in 2 10K's
• Adopted my adorable Chaka
• Celebrated the last birthday of my 20's
• Kicked Coffee (I like to celebrate the small victories too)
• Got engaged to be married
• Began planning my wedding
• Became a chocolatier

Overall it has been a pretty stellar year. I can't wait to see what happens in 2011, I already know of a couple pretty important milestones that will take place. It should be interesting. I will get on the 'list' of resolutions that I have...However, today (while in the gym), I realized that sometimes my over planning is self defeating and I should continue to follow the one motto that I have always loved "Just do it!"

Good luck on your resolutions and Happy Holidays!