And I'm back on here as well!

So... it's been awhile and I don't even know where to start.  I have had several MAJOR life changes.  I need to stop doing this to myself!

We'll start with the bad, I suppose.  P and I broke up 3 months ago.  Hard to believe it has been that long already.  It was a bit out of nowhere... but at the same time, completely expected.  I took it pretty hard, but I am better now.  Anyhow, what a way to start the year.  Looking back on it, I think the reason I was the most upset was one of two things - bc my whole future that we had planned together was now gone - meaning I have no clue what will happen with my life at all now... or bc of the financial situation.  We have a condo together, though it's only in my name, and it is going to be a financial hardship on me...but it is what it is, right?

On a more positive note, I did close on my condo in November.  It is so pretty and I love it.  I'm currently in an awkward living situation, so I don't spend a whole lot of time there, but it is still pretty! Jaja.  It's a 2 bed, 2 bath with loft.  We had a bit of work done to it before we broke up, so it is rather nice.  However, more work needs to be done - I just can't afford to do it on my own.  Once P moves out, a friend of mine will be moving in - so that should be fun!

Another positive note, I got hired to do 2 birthday cakes a few weeks ago... and I think they turned out great!  I had so much fun making them, and I really wish I could do that more often.  I have no clue how to market myself, though.  Hmm...

One of my besties here, Cobie, had her baby about a month ago... 5 weeks early.  Eek!  But she is healthy and so cute (both the baby and the mama ;)  jaja)

And another happy note... I dated a bunch of guys...most of them were weirdos, but I am currently dating a really sweet guy named Carlos.  We have lots of fun together - and he's a great dancer!  Last weekend we went ballroom dancing, jaja.

Some more great news - David and Natasha are pregs again.. I'll be an aunt for the 2nd time in August, and hopefully I will be able to be there for the birth this time around! :)

And my last little side note here is that my promise to myself to get myself healthy has been a failure, sigh... and so now I am re-committing.  Sherrie and I are making a pact together to work out during the week, either together or holding each other accountable via texting.  The big thing with me though is keeping food out of my mouth.  It seems that whenever I am near food, it just hops into my mouth, and I can't keep doing that.  I am going to gain a ton more weight, and I certainly don't want to do that!   I need some sort of external motivation... a wedding, a trip, a formal ball (lol)... idk.. SOMETHING... to make me get back on track.  You would think at 31 my health would be good enough, but well, it doesn't seem to be.  Someone slap my hand every time I try to grab food and I'm not hungry, please!

Well, that's my life in a nutshell.  As it's been like 6 or 7 months since I last wrote, I'm sure I'm missing stuff here, but this is enough telenovela for the time being!

On my own againnnnnn

So my other half is now underway for about 7 weeks.  I decided that while he is gone I need to get myself into some good habits.

Starting yesterday (Sunday) I am back on Weight Watchers.  I weighed myself this morning, and the damage is about 11 lbs which is not nearly as bad as I had thought. I am making it my goal to lose all 11 of those little pesky pounds by Halloween!

I also started running again yesterday.  I am no longer going to do a full marathon, but rather a half marathon in December.  It is still too hot and humid to do anything more than 3 or 4 miles outside, so it is just not realistic for me to train for a marathon right now.  I think I might try to do the 26.2 with Donna in February instead!

Other little healthy habits I want to get back into over the next few weeks:
1. flossing EVERY day
2. moisturizing my skin twice a day
3. breaking my diet soda habit.

I also need to continue getting my thesis done.  I have started on my IRB approval stuff.  I can do it, I can do it, I can do it!

Summer 2012

Hello!  I know it's been quite awhile since I last posted on here, and part of the reason I haven't been posting on this blog is because I have been actively posting on my other blog - http://cakedecoratess.blogspot.com/ 

I am so excited, still, about cake decorating.  I just love it.  I am hoping I can start a tiny business decorating cakes.  I made a website this morning, but it's not up and running yet. 

P and I went on vacation last week to Puerto Rico. Here we are:

It was a great trip, and we both wanted to stay longer, of course! :) 

Since being home, I have decided to attempt to domesticate myself a bit... meaning that I learn how to cook more than just pasta and George Foreman grilled chicken jaja.  So far, so good.  On Tuesday, I made stuffed chicken breasts.  They were DELICIOUS.  My friend Cobie gave me the recipe - and I love her even more for it!  Last night I made Mexican Casserole, and tonight I am making Diet Coke Chicken!  I have also made P some meat stuff for lunch but that was nothing unusual... just meat instead of the normal chicken.  My goal is to cook something different for dinner every day til I go to Wisconsin in about a week.

My BFF since middle school, Andrea, is coming down to visit on Monday.  I can't wait.  A week of girl fun will be greatly appreciated!  We will then drive up to WI together on Friday / Saturday.  I will then stay in WI for about a week before driving back down to FL with my mom, who will stay until Aug. 9... and school starts on the 15th. 

Other things we have done this summer... let's see.  We ran 2 5k races.  I got the exact same time for both 30m 33s... which is indeed my personal record (PR!) and when we were in Puerto Rico, I ran a 5k on the treadmill in 29 minutes and some seconds!  It is much easier to run on a treadmill than outside, though it is uber boring.

Rescheduled Memorial Day 5k - with our medals!

Our little group at the 4th of July 5k :)

A Peruvian naval ship was also here for a bit, so we got to go to a VIP reception onboard! 



Summer vacation!

It's been a long time coming, since I haven't had one since January 2011, but ... SUMMER VACATION is finally here!  The kids were done May 25; teachers May 29.  However this past week I did summer program, so my summer break was a bit delayed!

I am going to try to get back into blogging.  I am also starting a new blog about my new hobby! :-D

Summary of my life since January:
1. The school year ended - and I still LOVE my school :)
2. P was gone for about a month on navy business, so I was on my own. I joined meetup.com and have met a few new friends that way!
3. P and I had our 3 year anniversary. THREE YEARS! Woo!
4. Our TV (new in September) decided it no longer wanted to work. We need to take it back to the store where it will be sent back to the factory and we will be TV-less for 3 weeks. Luckily it is still under warranty til August!
5. I've lost 30 lbs! Woo!

Surprise visit from Sam (left) who had some exciting news!

My cousin Lauren and her hubby ... we went out to see them in Fort Myers.

For Spring break, my parents and I went to Charleston and Savannah!

In early April, we got to hang out with Victoria in Naples!

C came down to Orlando for a half marathon.  I went to Orlando to see her!

I got a PR on a 5k race - 30:56 :)

Disney and Ugh...

So for the first time since I was 16 I got to go to Disney World!  This past weekend, Paolo and I headed off to Kissimmee, FL.  We went to Magic Kingdom on Saturday from about 8am til 11pm.  It was a long, super fun day.  However, my eye decided it would be fun to get pink eye and so we ended up coming home on Sunday morning instead of going to Epcot Center.  Grr...

So, Sunday and Monday were full of pink eye swollen itchy specialness, and Tuesday I went to the doctor.  I got eye drops and headed back to school on Wednesday even though I am still contagious.  So now I have one dry itchy slightly pink eye, and one normal eye that is starting to get itchy.  Grr.  I'm supposed to be going to Naples this weekend for Megan's baby shower, but I'm worried about spreading this loveliness to others, so I don't know if I'm going or not yet. 

So an up and a down...

New Year's Resolutions

Well, I suppose I should get these out there so I can be held accountable! ;)  This year my goal is to make 2012 my healthy year!  That means I am upping my water intake, getting my fruits and veggies in, and getting my lean protein in.  It also means to do more exercise than running twice a week.  Paolo and I are tentatively planning on running the Jacksonville Bank Marathon next year (we ran the half this year!)  We are going to be running a 15K in March, and then a half sometime in summer, and the full in December!  Being healthier will help make that a bit easier too ;)

My other goal is to get my masters thesis done, once and for all!  This weekend P and I are going to go and get a desktop computer so that I can work on my thesis.  My tiny laptop just doesn't do it for me for all the research and typing I'm going to have to do.

So by Dec. 31, 2012, my plan is to be in tip-top shape, be a marathoner, and have my masters degree! 

I have 50 weeks!  Woo!  Let's go!!!!!! :)

Happy New Year 2012!

Wow!  It's hard to believe another year is gone.  I am starting to agree that time goes faster as you get older... and that time flies when having fun! 

Paolo and I got to spend Christmas Eve - New Year´s Eve in Wisconsin this year!  Unfortunately, there was no snow, but we did get to spend lots of quality time with the fam, including with my adorable niece Sophia.  It´s amazing how quickly that little munchkin is growing.  She is standing, dancing, and starting to talk a little bit.  We were also excited to get to spend New Year's Eve Eve in Chicago with Colleen! 

New Year's Eve was spent traveling back to Jacksonville and then dinner with some local friends.  We went out to the beaches for the countdown, but were home relatively early.  New Year's day... we went to the beach!  It was in the lower 70s and sunny :)  Unfortunately, it is supposed to be a low of 27 tonight.  Eeeeeeek!!! 

For 2012, Paolo and I have made our goals.  Both of us would like to improve our 5K and half marathon times, and also run a full marathon at the end of the year.  We have just started training for our first 15K race - The Gate River Run - which takes place in March.  Other goals include the typical eat healthier and lose some weight.  I'm looking forward to my Bikram yoga classes that I have signed up for later this month! :)  I would also like to start volunteering a bit again! 

I´m really looking forward to another adventurous year, and wish everyone a Happy 2012! :)

Christmas Hats!  Tía and Sobrina :)



P's first WI Christmas :)



Christmas day with my brothers!



Jelly Belly Factory :)

Chicago with my C

Night at the bean!

Happy 2012!!! :)