What I love about Sundays

Well here's a little recap of some of my past week...

I think I need to start acting 22 again, I've been itching for spontaneity and I've been routine to an extreme (for me) lately. I've also been severely missing the pool of friends I had access to when I was in the sorority. Just to go run errands with, take a random trip somewhere (be it Thomasville, or Alligator point), lounge around or especially right now- someone to go to the gym with (I never took advantage of that in college) 

Luckily, I got a good taste of that Thursday night when I cooked dinner for my little, grand little, GREAT grand little (waaaaait. whaaaaaat.) and Caitlin. Since I'm really trying to stick to eating right (maybe have one cheat day) I wanted to make something that everyone likes [PASTA] but put a healthy kick on it. 

Fettuccine Alfredo- but with cauliflower based sauce. 

*mind blown*

I'm such a carbaholic that whenever I "diet" it crashes and burns sooner rather than later because I just want to eat all the pasta and bread in sight. Granted, this recipe -found here- isn't the all-time healthiest since it does still require a little bit of heavy cream (1/4 cup) and butter (1 TBSP) but come on! 

photo cred

photo cred

Now, I will have to say it didn't EXACTLY taste like Fettuccine Alfredo, but that may have been user error. Instead of fettuccine pasta, I used whole grain rotini (that's what I had in my kitchen already- and the whole grain is much better for you than regular pasta. This recipe calls for sweet potato pasta but girrrrl I'm ballin on a budget here) and I did add a red bell pepper for a little extra color/flavor. Either way, I personally enjoyed it (but I also cooked it hah!) and had leftovers to take to lunch the next day. 

Friday night I went out with Caitlin and her boyfriend. She and I started our night having mexican for dinner (I even tried to control myself somewhat there, but it was definitely my cheat meal) and it was nice to just do something outside my house with my best friend. I feel like the weather the past two weeks has called for me to be indoors, so I've felt a little cooped up and antsy to get out of the house. Her boyfriend then joined us at midtown. 

I guess I'm old- can't drink like I used to and was home before 12:30. But I still had a good time!

Saturday, Caitlin and I had lunch then I spent most of the day being cooped up inside due to bad weather. I did see Anchorman 2 last night though and thought it was hysterical. I never usually think that sequels are as good as the originals, but this was pretty great. Who doesn't love Will Ferrell? 

Today is just beautiful outside. It's definitely a "what I love about Sunday" type day. I've been dying to have a nice day outside (that I can actually enjoy- it's always nice whenever I'm locked away in an office!). The windows are open, the sun is shining, the laundry is going and I'm determined to get caught up for work-maybe from the tables at the pool. I would have preferred to have gone to church this morning since that usually makes me happy, but my congestion was out of control (thanks medicine for making me feel better). I can't help but miss the days that I would head to Andrew's downtown for a sunny outdoor brunch (yummy mimosas and the best brunch buffet you'll ever have), but this is pretty awesome too. A sister, Caroline, is moving into the most adorable house I've ever seen (ironically, I stalked it online while it was for sale without even knowing that her family was intending to purchase it!) so I'm planning help her move- her mom and her have been putting the cutest touches on it during their remodel and I can't wait to see the finished product. Plus who couldn't use an extra hand moving on a beautiful day? ALSO, my man comes home tonight from his weekend deer hunting in Georgia, so I'm pretty excited to see that ginger beard of his and get a big hug. 

I've felt my life has gotten a little dulled from being cooped up, but blogging about all that I did makes me appreciate that I'm able to do these things and dims the "dull" feeling. Just reassurance that writing/recording my life makes me love it even when I've been kinda in a funk. Hope everyone has a wonderful sunday and starts their week of amazing.

Love,

K

Me, myself and I

This weekend has not felt like a weekend. I guess I'm still trying to get myself back into the daily routine, but it's proving to be really difficult for me. I've just lounged around my apartment essentially the entire weekend.

And I'm okay with that?

Since I was seeing people I don't normally see over Christmas time it made me re-evaluate "How I've been doing". During college I was extremely... needy for a lack of better words. I've always been a people person, but throw in living without your family for the first time and a run of bad relationships and breakups- I never wanted to be alone. Now? Ha! I'm ready for some me time always! I've just come leaps and bounds with being alone and comfortable with myself and I must say, it's a proud feeling. Good friends had similar proud reactions, especially after hearing I was living by myself for the first time this year. I don't view being an extrovert and enjoying good company often as a bad thing, but the degree of co-dependency I was needing was unhealthy and I was subconsciously running from myself. 

A weekend like this past one is something I would have been panicking over four years ago. Now, I welcome it with open arms. 

Friday night I enjoyed staying in, relaxing and drinking wine by myself for the most part (maybe that sounds a little overboard...). Just had some me time after being surrounded by family and friends for the past two weeks. 

Just Ajax and I having a chat over some wine. 

Saturday morning I took Kyle to the airport... a couple of times!

Poor thing's flights were delayed causing him to miss his original connection in Dallas- oh you know because he's going to the National Championship game with his family tomorrow! He finally made it to California safe and sound, but I can't say I hated spending a couple extra hours with him. Perks of him traveling: I get Ajax while he's gone! He's so sweet and well-behaved, and Mayley loves the companionship. 

These two crack me up. They're inseparable. 

I ended the night with some champagne at a friends apartment. What girl doesn't love 4 bottles of champagne left over in their fridge from New Years Eve?

Today has been so lazy. My sleeping schedule has been all out of whack from being back in Tampa and having some fun nights to start the new year so I slept for a long time, and it was glorious. The rainy weather and two furry cuddle bugs made for a couple of perfect naps. 

I, yet again, did not bring my work home with me this weekend (even though I told myself I was going to) so I will have to get really motivated to knock out all my to-do list. I'm going to the gym and grocery shopping too, so hopefully that will make me feel even more ready to take on the week. I'm off to read more of the New Orleans Voodoo book my extremely thoughtful man got me for christmas. It's so interesting! 

Love, 

K

2014

2013 was such a spectacular year for me. I loved reminiscing the past couple of weeks on how blessed I have been to have so many great things happen to me in the past 365 days. Not everyday was rainbows and butterflies, but damn, those were few and far between when you look at the big picture. 

So far in 2014 I haven't felt an immediate surge of "freshness" or "starting over" like I did last year, but I'm hoping it might just take a few more days/weeks than usual. 

I've cleaned the apartment up from a very fun New Years Eve night, I've packed away all the christmas decorations [you get used to such little space- my apartment feels HUGE now that the tree and little decorations are gone!] and I've made a resolution. 

Time. To. Get. Moving.

So, before anyone laughs in my face about my resolution, let me be the first to say all of this...

I am skeptical.

I am going to be very raw, so bear with me...

To be brutally honest, 2013 was amazing for me- well except for everything I did to my body. I have utterly disrespected my body by the amount of alcohol consumed, excessive "bad food"eaten and lack of exercise that happened over the past year. 

It's definitely taken its toll on my 4'11" frame to say the veeeery least.

[Note: this is not compliment fishing- I dare you to research the "healthy" weight ranges for someone 4'11"; lets just say when I was fit I was still pushing the top limit due to muscle mass]

I get concerned about what carrying around extra weight might be doing to my muscles and my organs, so I've decided it's finally time to make a change.

Resolution 2014: To get fit.

I am leaving it at that. I tossed around the idea of putting a number weight loss, I tossed around an inches decrease, but realistically that isn't going to happen in whatever unrealistic time frame I place on my life (I know myself too well...). 

So, I know this is mine and everyone else's resolutions, but last year I did so well at sticking to my guns about surrounding myself with positive people, so if I make a resolution like getting fit, it may actually be attainable. 

I have a far way to go, it took a year to do this to myself. It will probably take a year to undo this.

But, at least I acknowledge it?

This to me seems beyond daunting, but I'm determined to stop breaking down in dressing rooms when I've realized I'm the heaviest I've ever been so my poor mother can stop that "I can only say so much to make you feel better, I'm out of ideas" look on her face. I feel so incredibly bad that I've learned to despise my body because it effects everyone that see's me saddened by it. 

Your body is supposed to be your temple and you're supposed to treat it as such. 

Welllll guess what. I love macaroni and cheese, and bread, and pasta, and cheese, and milk, and junk food and pizza and...

So since I know it's absolutely insane to think for the next year I am going to eat perfectly (aka no carbs and lots of lettuce- Jesus that just sounds miserable verbalizing that) so I've taken the steps to join a gym and further enticing myself to go by paying extra for tanning. 

Is it sad I'm essentially bribing myself? sigh

I'm taking it three months at a time I've decided. To keep myself accountable, I'll be privately documenting my progress, so maybe if I lose my mind completely I'll have the guts to share in my blog.

Speaking of my blog, I'm promising myself I am going to start writing more. I was the absolute happiest when I was documenting my own life (I mean who better to document this wonderful ride better than me?) even in the sad moments, so maybe that will be resolution 2.0? 

Anyway, I'm going to go back to sitting in the peaceful quiet of my apartment. Mayley snoozing next to me, curled up on the couch, a rather full glass of wine, some E! News on the TV and my wonderful man coming over later. Sometimes I ask myself on Friday nights like this: Are you 22 or 82? YOLO.

Hope you all had a wonderful start to the new year. It's your life, you have the power to make this a wonderful one, even if its just your mindset. 

Love, 

K