My "Challenge"

So...usually I don't write about food, working out, or attempting to stay in shape, simply because I just know one rule that works for me > Less sugar, more gym.

I'm not a fan. I have a sweet tooth. This is not good.

A week ago, I attempted to start a challenge with my mom where more protein was the key and veggies were your best friend. How long did this challenge last? One day. Yup, I caved in to four peanut butter cookies within two days.

You know when you hear words that you simply can't stand, ex. "It will only make you stronger in the long run" or "Time will heal all pain" and "Just say no!" Just saying no just isn't that easy for me. But, if I'm going to blog about me and my life and the adventures in between, I'm going to hope this challenge in the end will be an adventure for me. Starting tomorrow, April 1st, I will say "no" to sugar and "hello" to more veggies and protein. I will work for 30 days knowing that the end is almost near. If I can't make it through these next 30 days, then .... then .... then this will have been a waste of your reading and my writing time.

Bring it on Challenge, Bring it on Brittanie!

P.S. This ain't no April Fools Joke.

Courtesy of Craigslist

Goodness, gracious I hit the snooze button. Technically I didn't hit snooze (I'm more of a "dismiss" girl than a "snooze" one), but I did go missing.

Where was I? All I can think of is:

- Catching up on the final rose episode of The Bachelor

- Tuning into Glee (my fav)

- Creating new programs at work that are pretty exciting

- Touring the streets and sidewalks of D.C. by bike = amazing!

- Playing Gaga's latest and this song (I go from one extreme to the next) on repeat

- And hitting refresh on Craigslist

I have to admit, I wish there were gift cards to Craigslist. I spend majority of my online browsing time on Craigslist. I have a folder specifically for my latest favorites. I know which posts are scams, which ones are mass filtered by some intern every morning, I know areas I trust (that's a lie ... I've ventured into some sketchy 'hoods), I take a photo of a dream room and try to replicate it through Craigslist ... I am in love and slightly addicted to C's list. But let me warn you - majority of the compliments I've received on household goods have either been gifted to me by my mum or were found off of Craigslist.

Pictures are sometimes better than words (Warning - I name everything and this includes my furniture): 

This is Fiona. She is beautiful, vintage, yellow, and was posted by a rocker-type girl who was moving back to Portland.

This is Daria (like the MTV show). I met her my second weekend in Denver and she has a shorter sister who lives in my bathroom. I will forever have her next to my bed, my entry way, my wherever. I love her. 

This is Peony. She was once found in an older woman's kitchen. She is now in my room, in all her red glory, holding some of my most valuable collections.

This is Prairie. She once stored garden tools in a garage. She now makes room for my and my roommates' wellies, our mail, and really just adds a splash of color the minute you walk into our pad. She is pretty fun and cute.

So cute, she gets a second caption. :)

This is Thin Mint. Brown, beautiful, compact and was o-so cheap. A couple was packing up their life and heading West. They needed to say goodbye. My welcoming arms were wide-open.

This is Esther. She is old(er), but still in her prime. She will soon be undergoing a major surgery. She once put in a good day's work letting any and every sewing project make its magic. Sometimes she likes to open up and allow room for entertainment. Most of the time, she sits back and watches everything from the corner.

This is my roommate's table. I don't know her name or her story. I'd like to call her Maple. 

This one's for the girls. (re-post)

Last year on this day, March 8th, I wrote a little something, something I'm proud of, for International Women's Day. While I spent 8 1/2 hours working today on behalf of a disease that touches 1 in 8 women within their lifetime, breast cancer, I thought of you, you and you. Here is my post from last year's International Women's Day, enjoy:

Today is a day I wish was celebrated in the same fashion as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, Easter, and going out on a limb and including the 4th of July. March 8th is also known as International Women's Day, which oddly enough is celebrated around the world, minus us over here in the U.S.A. Today is a day representing birth, appreciation, respect and beauty, new beginnings, and a celebration of freedom. Today marks the day women around the world stamped their footprints within history books and established a different tomorrow for those who would follow.

International Women's Day should not be skipped over as it continues to be in the U.S., but instead celebrated in honor of every woman who has raised her voice, stood in line, removed herself from a line, proved herself in the working world, lived up to what it means to be a mother, provided for her community, destroyed stereotypes (formed new ones), made it known she was not nor ever will be a "minority," and last but not least found confidence within herself to be the best she could be and in return instilled self-worth in everyone around her.

Today is a day for women around the globe to come together and share a smile. Today is a day we must remember where we came from and where we want to go. Today is the day for every women before my life and within my life to be honored. Today is my day!

Happy International Women's Day!

Meet Up

Remember how I went off about being the new girl in town in Denver? Remember how I continue to be that same girl, but this time in Baltimore? If not, let me remind you - that girl was me! I had to kick that attitude to the curb, join the online world, and face my fears.

Taking one step back ... I moved to Baltimore because of a boy (one that I love and so glad I took the chance), but trekking out east, I didn't have a friend or family member who also randomly found themselves on this side of the map. Nope. I found this adventure alone and never wanted to become a slug-type-girl, attached to this boy wondering how to do things without him.

When I first arrived in "Charm City" work was crazy busy, I was settling into my apartment, the city was bustling with good times, friends and family members from across the seas and country were knocking (or surprising) at my front door, and I was in shock that Mike and I were actually living in the same city. We never knew life this way. This shock factor lasted longer than I expected, but then came winter ... and the snow ... and then the blues.

I wasn't going to let my sour mood get the best of me and my lack of friends, so I only knew one way (besides posting an ad on craigslist) on how to meet people. Meetup dot com! I've only actively participated in one meetup group, but how else do you get started on this train, right? A few weeks ago, I met 4 fabulous new friends off this site and over this past weekend I had brunch with about 20 other girls who pretty much came to the table with a similar story. 1) I just moved here, 2) I moved because of my fiance or boyfriend, or 3) I'm tired of being a townie and need to branch out.

This post isn't necessarily for those who are a new face in a new city, but rather for everyone! We all need friends and we all deserve a good time. If nothing else, give it shot, treat yourself to a night out, and if you're lucky you might just find yourself with a new circle of friends.

Spring is (not quite) in my step.

Can you believe it's already March? About time, right?

I'm not sad to see February go, but feel sad it only had 28 days to share its "uary" ness. Actually, I really just feel bad for myself because starting today, March 1st, I wanted to treat myself as if it was spring and summer was only a few hours away. Somehow Spring draws pictures of swimsuits, Victoria's Secret models, and firm booties in your face. I wasn't ready for this. I didn't need my inbox to be flooded with white-sand getaways. . .

It's my fault for kicking off Day One of Spring (in my mind) with two handfuls of white chocolate chips and pasta for dinner. It's my fault for leaving the gym without a drip of sweat. But then again, it's not my fault February got cheated on # of days compared to December, January, March and April.

Hopefully by putting sugar aside and the elliptical on high, I'll be sporting this Anthro Cross Currents Bikini in no time.