Celebrations

I have to take a moment to thank everyone that was involved in my birthday celebrations yesterday. For those of you who didn't know, yesterday was my birthday and I showed up to work in a most celebratory outfit. At my job, you can wear jeans on your birthday, so there I was, in jeans and this fun t-shirt that I bought near Valentine's Day at Target. It's a cute white shirt with a cupcake that says "sweet cake." Sounds fun, right? Well, to top it off, I added this ridiculously large, gold, sparkly tiara to the mix. What's a birthday without a birthday crown, right? I was in full party mode all day, brownies and cookies for me and the kids in my class for snack and at lunch time, a wonderful surprise. My mom came to my work with a tray of cupcakes! I loved the cupcakes because she is an amazing baker but I loved the fact that she came to my job even better. My mom is totally awesome and I couldn't have asked for a better surprise. Then, that night we had our Young Adult picnic at Nana's house and when I got there, they had set up balloons and a Happy Birthday sign. I was showered with love and very thoughtful gifts that mean so much to me. You can tell that my friends really know me and that touches my heart than any present ever could. Of course, a whole day celebrating me meant that today there was a little bit of birthday withdraw, but I quickly bounced back and am now ready to enjoy this next phase of my life. God has something amazing for me and I am ready to embrace it!

Where to Go

So, some of you may be wondering why this blog's url is where2go... some of you may not notice but I digress. Here is a little insight into why I picked this particular one. I thrive on trying new things, going new places and exploring new sensations. When I created this blog back in college, I was searching for what to do after graduation... which never turned out to be what I expected. After a few years of mindless drudgery at my current place of employment (which I'm not allowed to use the name by request of the main corporate office) I found myself wanting to change the website and name it something else. I had become complacent and stuck in my situation. But now, I find myself in that same situation, all over again. I have fianlly realized that staying in a mind-numbing job with no variable of change is slowly (or quickly?) sucking the life out of me. God did not create me to be stuck in the day in and day out. I was created to constantly change and grow and experience. By staying in one unchanging environment for so long, I have been going against who God created me to be, hence, the misery of my life. So, you may be asking, "What does this all mean?" What it means, my friends, is that I am on the cusp of change, a new beginning of sorts. Where am I going? I have no idea, but I have faith in the One who created me to move me beyond my situation and into the next chapter of my life. Scary? Very. But I am ready. God has been preparing me my entire life for this particular time and I am ready. Now, do I know where this search is going to take me? Absolutely not. It could be an adminstrative assistant in an office, front desk worker for a photography studio or something that I hadn't even considered. And I am embracing the uncertainty with open arms and a faith in a certain and unchanging God.

Motivation

The job that I have been waiting to open since February has just opened. So, one would think that I would rush right to getting my resume in, but have I? No, all becauseof 2 things. One, I need to have 3 professional references and I only have 2 and two, because I'm nervous. I'm scared to step out and try something different. As much as I complain about my current job, it' one that I know. I know the people, I know how everything works, I know how to work around things. I mean, I have been there for almost three years, and when you are somewhere for that long, you get comfortable. So, people, I am asking for some motivation. I want someone to encourage me on this and not stop asking me if I have sent in my resume. Can you do that for me?

And, of course, it wouldn't be a post if I didn't put in some of my new favorite photos.

We had a "Bubble Pop Dance Party" at school!

First off, I just want to say that I am completely obsessed with taking pictures. My camera goes absolutely everywhere with me, even outside in my complex, where I just took over 125 pictures. I think I take decent pictures and I really enjoy going through them on my computer and picking out which ones I like the best. Or how about the 10 I just took of candy, yes you read that right... candy. It is just so colorful and it's fun to play with the different angles and what not.

Okay, secondly, I would like people to pray for me because I am applying for a job that would be a great opportunity. I am applying at Eastern to be an Admissions Counselor. Now, who here doesn't think that's perfect for me? I mean, talking to people all day, calling them, giving little presentations at high school college fairs, connecting with students and making connection in different areas. Plus, I would get to travel a little too. So, if you guys could just remember me in your prayers that this goes the way it's supposed to go... I know it may not be meant for me, but it sure seems it. Thanks.

And I will leave you with a couple of my favorite, recent photos.

I was just reminded today that I haven't updated in eons... so I thought that I would post some fun pics that I took with my new camera. I am absolutely in love with my Nikon D40!

To all of my die-hard fans... I apologize for my lapse in postings. What has been going on you ask? Absolutely nothing. Well, life does move on and things are constanly moving and changing but for all intents and purposes, nada.

I'm kind of getting tired of hearing people say that I'm going to waste away to nothing. I have plenty of it all left that I'm positive that won't happen. Plus, I love to eat way too much to ever let that happen. Anyway, Happy New Year! And don't try to make resolutions, just make lifestyle choices because they are what lasts in the long run.

145! I hit goal! YAYAYAYAYAY! So exciting!

YAY! I am 145.5, which is a half of a pound from my goal weight! Now, that is exciting! But of course, it means I am going to work even harder to reach my next goal. I think I might work in 5 pound increments and see how each one goes, so that would mean my next goal is 140. Or, I might just stay at this place for awhile and kick it up when it gets warmer. Honestly, there is no way I am walking or running out in that freezing cold and snow. That's right, it snowed this morning! And this behind does not workout in frigid weather!

So, the other day I was walking through one of the classes at school and one of the moms stopped me, grabbed my arm and said, "You've lost a TON of weight!" Now, I do know this woman, her son was in my class all of last year, so she knew me when I was bigger. I'm not really sure how I feel about that. I mean, sure, I like getting compliments but I guess it depends on the tone of voice and who is saying it. I had two people on the same day tell me I was wasting away but for some reason, that didn't seem to bother me at all. I am just trying to take them as they come and I guess that's all I can do. It's hard having all these people who knew me "then." Because sometimes, while it is nice to receive compliments, it would be even nicer if people didn't always bring up how I used to look. It's funny because I never really thought I was all that big to begin with but, as time goes on and I find pictures of myself...
Ok, so enough with the whining for whining's sake.

Umm, duh. How about a new, recent picture.

This is from last Halloween!

So, I realized that I haven't posted anything in a couple of weeks, so to satisfy my 2 readers (or is that me being generous?) here we go. Life in my world has been flipped completely upside down. I have no time to breathe let alone worry about my calorie count and exercise. I do think about it in the back of my mind but... I am still losing. This week has been a particularly tough one with a trip to Hersheypark and Halloween and a baby shower at work, so I kind of pigged out all week. But never fear, I am getting back on track! Right now, I am only 5-ish pounds from my goal of 145. Some days I am only 3 but today, it's 5. What are you gonna do? Worry about it? No, just get right back into the game. For a little motivation for myself, I thought I would post a picture of me from before, just so I can see how far I have come.

Holy cow! It's a little scary! This is from 2 years ago!

I am a pound and a half from being in the 140's!!! I can't honestly tell you the last time I weighed that little. Confession time... even though I lost over 50 pounds, there are days when all i can think is "Ugh, my butt is huge!" and "If I could only lose some in my stomach that would be great." Hopefully I will get to a point of reconcilliation with the way my body is and it's how God created me to be. I would really like to reach my goal that is only 7 pounds away and then I want to get my tattoo and after that whatever happens, I won't kill myself to be something that my body won't let me be. I will only go so far, now that I feel better about myself and feel "normal" I'm not going to beat myself up so much.

So, apparently, you can get to a phase where you aren't losing any more weight... the little thing I like to call a plateau. They truly are unfair, I haven't changed my eating and so I haven't been working out as much but still... I want results. According to other people and my clothing size, I still am shaping up because I am down to a 10 in some stores. It's just frustrating.

That fancy "oh-la-la" dress? Too big! I love this!!! Seriously people, let's be excited!

So, last night I went to try on clothes at Old Navy... and I was a size 10!!!!!! I have never, ever, to me recollection been a 10. That is just amazing. Now, sometimes I do worry that it is happening really fast but when you think about it, I started this all when I moved out of my parent's house with the healthy eating and trying to work out and I just kicked it up this year. So, really, it's been about a year and a half to lose 50.. that's right 50 pounds and almost 5 dress sizes! I have to remind myself of that since I am a worrier.

OH MY GOODNESS!! I am actually now a size 12!!! I haven't been a 12 since I was 12! And I am now officially lighter than I was in high school, at 158!! Holy moly, I am the incredible shrinking woman!!!! This whole eating right thing has become so ingrained in my everyday, that even when I slack off on exercise, I still lose! I just need to exercise more for fitness and to tone up!

This is my "oh-la-la" dress. Can you believe that I only spent 17 dollars on this?

Even though I have lost 40 pounds, that's right... 40, I still see myself as fat. I buy the skinnier clothes, but I just can't seem to see it in myself. The only time I do is when I look at pictures between then and now. I have to put a pic in my wallet to keep reminding myself. Right now, I am 162 and at a little plateau. This is where I have to either kick it up like crazy or stay comfy. My goal seems so close, but so far away...

I LOST 4 MORE POUNDS!!!!! I'm down to in between a 14 and a 16, mostly 14. And my hope is that the 14 will be too big!