the Y and the how

Levy and I are joining the YMCA today when I get off of work. He's a basketball fanatic and I'm a person in dire need of a workout that is not the Bar Method (sorry Burr Reynolds, but the same workout vid all the time does not a happy girl make).

I need to envision myself working out at a particular gym before I join. This was why I was the world's happiest bike commuter--I was exercising without having to think about it, go into a locker room, or set aside this or that block of time. Unfortunately, biking to work isn't an option any more, but I'm really trying to just see myself as a gym person and base my exercise regimen off of that.

So this is me, seeing myself working out at the Y...taking yoga...participating in a dance class...waiting to shower until I get home because I hate showering at the gym... All while Lev ecstatically plays basketball. Is it just me, or is life harder for girls?

sweetness and light

As of today I'm back on the workout wagon. While Bar Method founder Burr Reynolds is entirely too thrilled to do excruciating, thigh-burningly painful exercises in repetition, her workout is pretty rad and I can definitely tell you that my butt is kicked. Now all I need to do is stick with it! It's like I get this pre-workout anxiety where I can think of a hundred (or just two) things that I would rather be doing other than pull my tank top on, put on my leggings and do it. I know this about myself! I am actively trying to change it.

Lev is playing basketball today after work. I'm stoked that he's playing--he LOVES basketball and it makes him very happy. If he's happy, I'm happy. 

This morning was beautiful. We opened all the windows, the sun was shining into the apartment, and I took some photos. I actually like the photos that I took at the other apartment more than any of the ones I've taken of this apartment, and I'm trying to figure out why. I think photographing small spaces is easier for me. I'm better at focusing on a small detail versus photographically commenting on the openness of space. I guess this means that I'm not a big-picture person, ha ha. I love this apartment so much, and I want to convey how great and light and open it is, but I don't feel like my photos thus far have done the job. Oh well.

Hope everybody is having a peaceful, centered and beautiful Sunday.

sweetness

light

ten

Ten things that make me happy:

1. Lev's curly hair
2. The green leaf-buds on the tree outside my window at work--spring is here!
3. Spending 8.5 hours a day doing something I really enjoy. Job satisfaction, oh yeah!
4. Our new, so-incredibly-beautiful apartment that is around the corner from one of my close friends in Chicago
5. 116 days until Lev and I get married
6. The love and fierce devotion of my family--I know it's cliché, but seriously
7. My brother and I are getting married in the same summer
8. Muscle soreness--I'm getting into shape, good, tra-la
9. Lev's love of me lightly scratching his back when he's lying in bed
10. LEVY! duh! He makes me deliriously happy and I'd be lost without him!

some moving thoughts

Here we are, moving again. I have a history of moving. A lot. Which is funny, considering how much I absolutely despise moving. Like, you know how Native Americans represent time by saying, "many moons ago"? (Or at least how they do that in the movies?) For me it's "many moves ago." That is how I know what year we are talking about. "Remember? You were living in that place on Oakley," or, "It was when you were living on Western." Say 2007 and I don't recall. Say Maplewood, however, and I am with you all the way. I seriously hope that we will be in this next apartment for a long, long time.

My life used to be more portable. I had less stuff and I cared about basically nothing; I'd wait until the very last minute to "pack"--which usually consisted of me throwing stuff into boxes willy-nilly and even more frequently leaving a lot behind. Today I bought boxes and packing materials, and I've spent most of my day carefully packing and labeling boxes--I even discovered that saran wrap works wonders when you want to keep something closed without putting packing tape on it! Who knew I could be this organized? What is crazy is how much longer this process takes versus the old one, which is the point I suppose. Apparently I used to avoid things that took time and work!

Speaking of doing something that took time and was work, today I did the bar method DVD that I bought online. Holy cr@p it kicked my butt! My legs were like jello when it was over. I'm trying to get into good (better?) shape for the wedding, on a diet/eating better, et cetera, et cetera. I'm starting to wish that I'd taken a tip from my mother and chosen black lace for my wedding dress (oh yes she did and she looked amazing). This whole white-from-head-to-toe thing just isn't flattering!

Ok, back to packing. Happy Sunday!