I suck at running.

So I just completed a 4-week Boot Camp with the fabulous ladies at Alavie Fitness. Let me just say they kicked my booty! They don't call it "Boot Camp" for nothing.

Four weeks ago, I signed myself up for a 6:30am class. When I arrived for my first day of class, it was dark. And cold. And dark. I thought to myself, "What the heck have I gotten myself into?" My butt got kicked. Seriously. Totally. Ubiquitously. I sweat, a lot. At the end of the workout my head was steaming, literally. But it was worth it. I felt energized. It's counter-intuitive...but go with it.

Basically, I'm just glad I survived all four weeks. We did a ton of drills, little hurdles, circuits, weights, and...RUNNING. I suck at running. I have and I'm pretty sure I always will. Ok, so I think I suck a little less now, but still. Running will never be something I do for fun. I'm so glad I didn't pass out while running! Because I totally felt like I was going to. Serious props to all you runners out there. I bow down to your talent in running. I blame it on my short legs. Long torso + short legs = not built for running. Alright, enough excuses. We did a fit test at the beginning and I had to run the mile, like in high school. After four weeks, I improved my time by 1:10! I was just wishing for like 10 seconds, so I was stoked with 1 minute and 10 seconds!

What's kind of sad is that today was my last day and the workout felt harder than all the other days! But I'm thinking that it was probably due to the fact that I've been having a gnarly allergy flair up due to the change in weather and early blooming season. Seriously, these sinus headaches and post-nasal drip action are super annoying.

However, I do feel like my endurance has improved. I can do REAL push ups now! I thought that I couldn't (well I think that's because I was just lazy), but when you are surrounded by other women - some at the same level as me, some older in age, some at an amazing fitness level - I feel like I'm pushed by the little voice in my head that keeps saying, "Don't let that old lady show you up!" Oh, did I mention that the little voice is super competitive? Again, I bow down to all the ladies in my class who kicked my butt consistently over the last four weeks, running in much better form than I. But I can do real push ups, improved the plank, and I realized that I can run.

Probably the most humbling experience during the past four weeks has been the realization that I CAN run. I don't love it. I'm not good at it. But I have the ability to do so. I'm thankful that I can run, I'm in good health, surrounded by family and friends, blessed to have a wonderful fiance, and the perspective to acknowledge those gifts. I'm forever grateful.

So to anyone who's wondering...YES, I definitely recommend doing a boot camp. YES, it's hard, but you'd be amazed at how much you can accomplish. YES, I am sore (still currently am). YES, I really woke up at 5am 3 days a week for a 6:30am workout. YES, I would do it again.

I probably will as the wedding approaches t-minus 3 months. That means April.

Vote for me!

So I enter contests with the thought that I probably won't win. But I guess I have some luck. I once won the pumpkin carving contest at work, $50! I won the drawing at the company Christmas party, $100! I won the drawing from F-Stop Beyond TV, $60 value! And I won a $10 iTunes card from Southern Weddings Magazine! I'm not trying to brag, I'm just amazed that I have won stuff.

I'm up for something again.

Southern Weddings Magazine has been running a contest since they launched their print magazine in January. It's a chance to win The Flip. All you had to do was take a picture of yourself with the magazine or a picture of the magazine on the stands. Well, I happened to be in Dallas when the magazine launched and since as the title suggests, it features Southern Weddings, it was way more readily available in Texas than California. So I asked Cent for a special trip to Tom Thumb (Texas equivalent of Safeway) and snatched one up off the shelves! I was all excited about taking a unique picture. I didn't really know what to do...So I lagged. I waited and the deadline past twice, but they extended it twice. So I finally got my act together and submitted a photo!



Here's my entry! #11 on the page: Flipping out for Southern Weddings!

Anyway, I'd appreciate it if you'd rock the vote for me, dear reader. All you have to do is comment with #11 at the bottom of the page!

Thanks and happy Saturday!

I bring a hair dryer to the gym.

I've become one of those people. Yes, those. The kind that bring all kinds of junk to the gym to get ready for the day. I'll admit it. I'm one of those gym snobs who thought that getting ready at the gym was silly. Why not go home? Why show the world how you roll? Sometimes, it's not that simple. Well, I'm officially one of those people. With good reason, I might add. I had to. Either that or look like a drowned rat all day.

Personally, I'll take the hair dryer.

I started Boot Camp today. I thought I was going to DIE. And I'm not even talking about the working out part yet. Waking up at 5:15am isn't glamourous. I don't know how Oprah or anyone else in their right mind does it on a daily basis. I love sleep. In fact, I might even dare to say, I cherish it. Let me have my sleep.

Well, it turns out that my will power won out. I decided to sign up for Boot Camp with AlaVie Fitness as a way to jumpstart my fitness program in these last handful of months leading up to the wedding. I've been pretty good about working out, I just needed to kick it up a notch. Shock my system, if you will.

Let me tell you, Internet, I was shocked. And then I about died again. No joke. As obscene as it was waking up when it was dark, having to work out when it's dark and cold is just as obscene. I didn't know how the ladies who started at 5:30am did it. They were finishing up and it was still dark. But I decided that I had plunked down the money, so I am going to do this.

The workout itself wasn't so bad, and it was nice to be in a small group. I sort of felt like the fat kid on the playground because I was last finishing up some sprints and drills. I didn't care. That's usually how I felt in high school when we had to run laps for the annual fitness test. That's usually how I feel anyway, nothing new. I must say, however, this was my first boot camp and all the other ladies had been before.

"It'll get better" they reassured me. "Good job for just making it out here!"

As dawn broke through the night sky to wake up those who were lucky enough to be sleeping, we continued our work out. I'm happy to report that I can jog without completely passing out, as I have been doing intervals outside and on the treadmill prior to this camp experience. Let's face the truth though, I was tired at the end. I was glad it was over. My head was steaming, literally. I guess I was really hot and the air was really cold. Oh Physics!

Then, in pure ghetto-fabulous style, I went across the street to 24Hour Fitness (I do have membership and frequent it) to freshen up. And I busted out my hairdryer. That's how I roll now.


Am I looking forward to tomorrow?

No.

And.

Yes.

I'm not digging the idea of another early morning, but I'm stoked that I'm doing this. I'm facing whatever hangups and fears and saying "Take that! I can do this!"

Tomorrow is the Fitness Test, a la high school fitness test...

Wish me luck!

New Year, New Look!

Happy New Year! So I'm about 11 days late, but whatever. I just wanted to say that the blog has had a little revamp to go with the new year! Voila!

I will be posting my goals for the year soon! :)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you have a fantastic holiday! It's my last one apart from Cent, woo hoo!

Tag, I'm It!

So, because B-Rod tagged the world, here I go.
Rules

• Link to the person who tagged me 
• Mention the rules
• Reveal six quirky yet boring, mundane, banal and pedestrian facts about yourself
• Tag six other bloggers by linking to them
• Go to each of their blogs and leave a message letting them know they’ve been tagged!

Catie like you’ve never seen before:

• The wrong year is printed on my birth certificate. Therefore, I have an amendment.
  
• I hate it when people pronounce the word NUCLEAR as "new-queue-ler" (ie the outgoing moron lame duck)
  
• I learned to read and write in French before English.
  
• I enjoy sarcasm and petty gossip. (Awful, I know)
  
• I have two dachshunds, Frieda and Walter the Farting Dog.
  
• Pinocchio freaks me out because it reminds me of Chucky (also freaks me out)
  

Now, I tag:
Mercy, Jessica,  Michele, Jen, Lydia, and Camille Elise.

Happy Birthday Mom + Goals Revisited

Happy Birthday Mom! I love you! :)

Thanks to two blogging buddies, I've decided to revisit my list to see my progress.

Here it goes:

1. blog everyday for a month (COMPLETE)
   
2. learn how to cook and ease kitchen anxiety
3. learn how to use Digital SLR to its full potential (getting there)
   
4. take better photos (work in progress)
   
5. post photos consistently on Flickr (work in progress)
   
6. go to the gym at least four days a week for a month (trying to keep up with this)
   
7. try a new class at 24Hour Fitness (have tried out 4!)
   
8. search for other job possibilities
9. meet my fiance’s friends
10. learn full potential of Photoshop (as of May 2008)
    
11. move out of parents’ house (July 2009... 9 months to go!)
    
12. organize my bedroom
13. clean out my closet and donate unwanted clothes to Goodwill (Completed, but need to do again)
    
14. purchase new or “previously owned” car (woo hoo completed January 2008!)
    
15. have my friends meet his friends
16. explore major cities – Atlanta, Chicago, Washington DC, Seattle, Denver (found out Denver = not so exciting)
    
17. spend time in New York City
18. practice taking more portrait photos (work in progress, check my flickr)
    
19. crochet a beanie for the fiance
20. learn how to surf, even for a split second
21. go to Vegas as an adult (March 2008, and got engaged!)
    
22. go wine tasting, I do live close enough to Napa & Sonoma!
23. take a cake decorating class
24. design logo for future business (currently being designed, working with graphic designer!)
    
25. take a ballroom dancing class
26. move out to Texas to be with boyfriend (to be with future husband! July 2009)
    
27. schedule annual physicals (going today...)
    
28. remember to have car oil changed (car reminds me now, how fancy!)
    
29. have extended family meet fiance
30. set aside money to donate to charity of choice
31. participate in Habitat for Humanity Project
32. look into the possibilities to PMP my job (Project Management Professional)
33. get engaged, and have legitimate reason to read wedding magazines like Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, etc. (COMPLETE: March 1, 2008!)
    
34. shadow a professional photographer (COMPLETE: October 18, 2008)
    
35. buy a house
36. design personal stationery
37. decorate said house and give it sense of style
38. finish painting room
39. take a cooking class
40. read at least one book a month (been pretty good, have read a good stack!)
    
41. go to the library more often (facilitates my new audio-book obsession)
    
42. go to Hawaii and reclaim summer color (going to honeymoon!)
    
43. document my 101 goals as completed (been bad at this)
    
44. plan fantastic wedding on my terms (IN PROGRESS)
    
45. complete my first quilt project – already bought the fabric!
46. go to the Philippines during Christmastime to visit family
47. cook semi-fancy romantic dinner for self and boyfriend. from scratch, without killing or making us sick
48. build photo portfolio (IN PROGRESS)
    
49. visit the New England during the fall (mostly complete, went to Boston in October)
    
50. buy a new computer and Adobe Design bundle (COMPLETE: October 2008)
    
51. as a complement to completion of #33 and #44, apply to be a Bee
52. go on a cross-country road trip
53. learn more on the fundamentals of photography (Always learning)
    
54. ride my bike around the park
55. go on daily walks when the weather is nice (woo hoo! thanks Nike + iPod kit!)
    
56. lose 20lbs... if they can do it on Biggest Loser, I can too! (work in progress, lost 10 since January, gained back 7 lbs, sad, but working on it!)
    
57. start cooking own meals to make good on goal #56
58. visit best friend in Italy while still stationed there (don't know if this will happen, sad)
    
59. return to Lyon for Fete des Lumieres
60. write a journal entry everyday for a month
61. keep a food journal consistently also in efforts to make good on #56 (did this in January-March, then totally slacked off)
    
62. make a pair of earrings (or more)
63. clean out wallet and purse... rogue receipts be gone! (Constant work in progress)
    
64. spend the holidays with fiance’s family (next year!)
    
65. send out Christmas cards with photos of us

22 out of the listed 65?! Not too freakin bad! To me, this is truly testament to having your goals written out. I didn't think I accomplished this much, but wow! I'm super happy with 22 complete.

Nike + iPod!

I decided that to make better on my goals to get my butt moving in the next 8 1/2 months before the wedding, I would invest in this cool little gadget. I bought the Nike shoes a while ago with the intentions of getting the little device. Well, months later I finally got around to it and it's awesome! So far, I've only completed two workouts, with a time goal, but I'm looking forward to knocking out goals down the road. Check out my little widget. When you plug the iPod into the computer, it uploads all the stored workout data to Nike.com. Easy peasey. I'm kicking it up a notch as we get closer to the wedding!

9 months to go...

...til the wedding!

So it frustrates me to think that almost a whole year has passed and I have slipped back into my slacker tendencies. I started the year out great, working out and eating right. Then sometime around May-June, it all started to slip. I had made some great progress, and then I guess I took it for granted because here I am, ten months since the start, back to where I was in January.

And I know there's no one to blame but myself and lack of self control. It's laziness, I'll admit it. I was on a freakin roll in January, eating salads and lean meats and GOOD for you food. Potatoes are evil. Deliciously evil. And also are my downfall. It's all about self-control and free will, and while I'm big on snarky remarks...I need to get big on not putting food in my face.

With nine months to go till the wedding, I need to pick up the slack. The dress I ordered will forgive me only so much and I have about 3 inchese leeway. With that said, I have to pick up my lardbutt and stop being lazy. Step one: going to the gym on Saturdays. Fridays and Sundays are my days off right now, but I'm thinking that I need to do something everyday, even if it's just walking in the neighborhood. And I need to eat better. Period. I had this free test thing (who knows how legit), but basically it could tell that I don't get enough veggies, which I'm totally guilty of. Potatoes are not vegetables. Damn.

On a separate note, as part of my 101 in 1001 list I've been making some great strides. I have, however, been a slacker about posting my accomplishments. I'll be working on that too. In the last month, I've completed #34 and #50. Woo hoo! As a part of my portfolio building process for my future freedom from the evil clutches of corporate America gig, I have a blog dedicated to JUST my photography stuff. If you know anyone looking to have some photos taken for the holidays, engagement, portraits, wedding, anything really, let me know!

Vote

Come on people. It's that time of year again. REGISTER to vote. Regardless of who you are or what you believe, if you want to make a difference, you'll need to get off your butt and vote. So register. I found this video from a photographer who posted it to her blog.

Thank you Tina Fey!

Quality Comedy. Sadly so close to real.

10 months to go!

So it's the 18th. That means ten more months til the big day. And yet, how is it that we are already half way through September? I though Labor Day was last week...

Mission Meet the Parents: Success!

We just got back from a whirlwind weekend in Dallas. It went off without a hitch! (Is that the expression? hah). We ate A LOT, always a good sign of a great time. I'll be needing to workout in super SERIOUS mode, however, but it made for good laughs and a great weekend.

Big Weekend!

It's the big meeting weekend! Our parents will be meeting each other for the first time. I have no doubt that it will go just fine, but I can't help but thinking of Meet the Fockers. Let's just hope the weather behaves itself!

I <3 Splash Mountain

I found this photo and I just had to blog it. This was from our trip to Disneyland, our one mini-vacation this year. I love this picture because it shows the whole family having fun. We were too cheap to buy the $12.95 (seriously, what 5x7 Kodak photo-printer print is worth that?) but I did manage to catch it on the TV screens. My mom's expression is too funny.



Good times!

It's done. Well, almost.

It's official, I've made appointments at two bridal salons for this Thursday. I'm excited and yet a little...what's the word? Weirded out? I don't know exactly how to pinpoint it, but I think going bridal gown shopping just makes it that much more real. I mean, the wedding dress is pretty much the icon of a wedding. You think, "Oh she's getting hitched." Without it, (plus rings, husband, and license) it's just a big party.

I've kind of been putting it off. Every time I talk to a friend who hears of the engagement news immediately jumps on the "Have you gone dress shopping yet?" train. Which is fine, it's a normal question, but my response has been "no". It's not because I don't want to, it's because I haven't had the time. And from what I hear, and if it's at all similar to trying on regular clothes, it takes some motivation, time, and effort. I'm making time now.

Well, Thursday is the day. We'll see what it brings.

Free to Succeed Tour!

So I'm exhausted, but bursting at the seams with excitement and newly absorbed knowledge. I just got back from the Free to Succeed Tour in San Francisco hosted by the awesome David Jay and fantastic Jasmine Star. I totally feel like I got to rub elbows with celebrities. So starstruck!

Here's the bus:

What can I say?! Tonight was so awesome and enlightening and inspiring. Jasmine Star's story totally resonated down to my bones. She reminds me so much of friends from college and I loved her message of "Keepin' it Real". I'm all about that. She's just as real and genuine in person, as she is on her website and blog. I loved the insight into a manageable workflow, word of mouth marketing, and the super cool ShowItWeb and ShowItSites. It's also humbling to learn how DJ started - at $1,000 a wedding and is now at $15k. As an aspiring photographer and a bride-to-be I got to experience both perspectives, and I have so much more appreciation and realize the value of my photographer's work.
I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and approached them both after the seminar. Normally, I don't think I would have done that. I consider myself to be a shy person, but I was like, "When then heck will I be in the same room as DJ and Jasmine Star?!" So I did it. I stood in line, as if to get an autograph, and said my thank you's (THANKS to YOU BOTH!), and got a photo op.

Check it:

It's 1am, but I wanted to get this out while it was fresh!

Back in California

I'm back from my 12 days of travel, and I think I know what time zone I'm in. The statistics conference was about as exciting as it could be, although it was great to meet my East Coast editors. They were great! I couldn't ask for better, considering I had no choice in the matter. They are true professionals with a sense of humor.

Spending time with Cent was even better. With three months of not seeing each other, it was getting kind of old. But as always, when we reunite, it's as if we hadn't been apart at all. It's great. We watched movies, ate some authentic Texan BBQ, and just hung out. That's what we do. We did go to the mall and decided that we want to get a Lovesac when we get a house. :)

My pulled pork sandwich

Why does my head look so much bigger?

Free to Succeed Tour

I'm so excited to attend the Free to Succeed Tour! It's a photography seminar hosted by David Jay and Jasmine Star. David Jay was named one of the top 15 wedding photographers in the world and Jasmine Star is one of the rising stars in the industry, having only started shooting weddings in October 2006. From what I've heard from the other stops on the tour, it's going to be awesome! I'm so excited! Did I mention that? I even had a dream about it.

Mind you, I've only spoken to a handful of photographers, and all of that was only on a client-vendor basis. I'm looking forward to meet local photographers.

I'm determined.

Denver...

I'm in Denver working my real job schmoozing with Statistics profs, I know you're jealous. However, I did have some downtime and wandered around the downtown area and got some decent shots of the city. Denver is definitely a pedestrian-friendly city and there is even a free hybrid bus that runs up and down 16th Street the main promenade of downtown. Before I head back to Dallas tomorrow morning, I'm going to venture over to the capitol building and stand a mile high above sea level.

 

  

  

  

  

  

 

I also discovered that there at 17 Starbucks locations in Downtown Denver. I'm not even exaggerating. I counted them down in the visitor's guide. I wonder if they will be shutting down some of the locations around here. Seriously, you can walk about 100ft and run into another Starbucks location. There's one right at the entrance to my hotel. 2 blocks down there is another. Crazy.