A New Legacy- How it Began

Last picture of the night :)

SO, since the last time I wrote a post, the following has occurred:
- My best friend asked me to marry him, I said yes
- I started a new job as a Financial Analyst
- Planned a wedding & pre-wedding fun
- Fiance graduated with his bachelors
- Got Married (Best weekend ever!)
- Beautiful honeymoon!!
- Bought a house
- Spent lots of time in new beautiful house making and eating lots of glorious food and drink.

I have been incredibly blessed and had some wonderful events over the last couple of years. My last note/event has been especially amazing, yummy and a really fun way to spend time with my new partner for life.  HOWEVER, along with this gorgeous food that we were enjoying ALL of the time, I have also acquired some unwanted LBs and some other things that were making me really unhappy with myself.  Now, that being said, I have never been terribly concerned about being the skinniest girl on the block.  More importantly, I was noticing some things in myself that I really did not like.  I was lacking the energy and motivation to do, well, to do anything really. Work, school, house stuff, see my friends. You name it, I likely did not want to do it.  Unless it involved sitting with my husband and/or cooking comfort food.  I was lazy. Plain and simple. Lazy.

Something my Grandmother once asked me kind of appeared in my head out of the blue, as most of my grandmother's sage advice usually does when I need it, "What do you want your legacy to be?" Her question was huge and included everything.  Financial health, educational progress, professional career, physical health, community involvement, parental/familial relationship, friendships etc. What an amazing question from one of the most amazing people that will ever walk this earth.

What DO I want my legacy to be? 

I quickly realized that I would strongly prefer that my legacy not be one of isolation, eating, spending money on frivolous things, mediocrity at work and not being that great of a wife, friend or family member.

I knew that I needed to start making small changes to get back to feeling like I truly am doing my best in all of these areas.  Want to know the weird place I started? Flossing. Yup. Like the waxy minty stuff that you jam in between your teeth and no matter how much or how often you do it, the dentist yells at you. Yup, that stuff.  I started by going upstairs to bed a little bit earlier than my husband, washing my face, plucking eyebrows and other uninvited face hairs* and the dreaded chore of flossing.

Starting this habit really made me focus on myself and doing something that benefits only me has made me begin to focus on other parts of my life that I was neglecting.  All the things that are sometimes hard but need to do to feel sane; Laundry, regular showers (I told you I was being lazy), making sure that I am seeing my friends, caring what I look like when going out in public, getting work work and school work done BEFORE the day it is due, and finally getting back into shape and eating healthy foods and normal portions again.

I will go more into detail on my new undertaking once I get through the first week but long story short after much consideration and debate, I've decided to give one of the Beachbody programs a try. 21 Day Fix Extreme to be exact.  My girlfriend has been a coach for a while and has been trying to get me involved but I just wasn't ready.  So we will see how this goes and I'll report progress and how I like it after the first week.  I'd love to get back to my personal training shape and energy level and maybe get back into that again but we shall see!

Feels good to get some of this off of my chest now that I am moving in a better direction.  I don't think many people really knew what a yucky hole I was in for a bit.  Perhaps it was coming down from the wedding as some have suggested.  Or perhaps it was a needed break from reality so that I could get a kick in the pants like this from myself.  In any case, now its out so I have way more than just me holding me accountable.

Onward and Upward!

LeeLee

*Are there any face hairs we purposefully invite? Some eyebrow is good but the rest? ugh.  

Mondays are a Pair of Crocs

     It has been forever since I have written anything and since it is a slow dreary Monday, I thought I might post again.  I woke up EXHAUSTED today and just as it usually happens, Mondays are not cool.  Inspired by a funny e-card thingy today, "If Monday were shoes, they'd be Crocs."  So true!  What describes Mondays better than the most-wretched of ridiculous footwear, Crocs?   Let's do an in-depth analyses together comparing Crocs to Mondays.  C'mon, It'll be fun!  I promise I will throw in some sarcastic Croc pictures & jokes....they were SUPER easy to find.  

Let's start with this one!  If that doesn't look like a Monday, I don't know what does.  Hooray for the internet!

Let us begin...

***WARNING: If you own Crocs and/or are easily offended, just stop reading now.***

Necessary-   Lets face it, Mondays are going to happen whether we like it or not.  If Monday never comes, the week never begins and we will never see the weekend.   We also wouldn't get to say things like, "Having a case of the Mondays," or look at all of those hilarious and original "Grumpy Cat" pictures complete with Office Space type cliches.  

As for Crocs, some may argue that they are necessary as well (chefs, gardners, people who claim they are just so easy to clean--which by the way, is a lie. There is no way those things don't stink.)  Some people might also argue that physically disciplining your children is necessary which I do not believe it is.  Curious on the percentage of those parents that also own a pair of Crocs...just a thought.  

Too much??  Please see **WARNING** above.

Lazy-  I just got used to the weekend and would like some time to relax and then Monday comes along and says, "Wake up you!," "Get some work done would ya'?", "I'm probably going to suck today but deal with it crazy lady who imagines the days of the week talking to her!"  

Ugh. Blah. Boo. Fine.  

I really just wanted to keep my yoga pants on, leave my contacts out, drink some coffee from the drive-thru Starbucks and lay in bed reading books and until I fall back asleep and then have food delivered at lunch time but Nooooo :/  I am totally lazy on Mondays.  

You know what else is lazy and tells the world you just don't give a hoot? Crocs.

They are U-G-L-Y and they ain't got no alibi-  

Seriously. Mondays are UGLY unless you have the day off.  But then Tuesdays become your Mondays so it's really just a wash. :( 

Why do Crocs fall into this category?  Are we really asking this question?  Mario Batalli, if you are reading this please don't take this personally.  You and your obnoxious amount of knowledge of everything Italian is fascinating and impressive and I LOVE pasta and wine but we have got to discuss the shoes. Whoa.  And what the hell are THESE things???!!!  

 Uggs + Crocs = Satan of the Shoe World

No one wants to date you, Monday-  

If I were to go out on a date with a day of the week, which one would it be? 

Mondays are a buzz-kill.  They totally put a stop to the weekend fun so that's a big fat no.  Tuesday, you are slightly more attractive and responsible but a little too boring for my taste. Wednesday, you my friend, are a pervert. Thursday, you've got a real chance since because of you many restaurants & bars have "Ladies Nights" and I am trying to keep an eye on my budget.  Friday, you are just a little too out of control for me.  Everyone gets all excited that you arrive and then things get cray-cray.  Saturday and Sunday might be tied except that on Sundays we have FOOTBALL so it totally depends on the season.

No one wants to date you either, Crocs----if you wear Crocs and you have a significant other, you better treat them like gold covered golden gold.  Well done on whatever other extremely redeeming qualities got them the ignore your choice in footwear!  However, if you are one that needs a little help in the dating department....Skip the Crocs.  Just trust me.

Shoes Don't Have "Fat Days"

With March starting today,  I cannot use the holidays as an excuse anymore for eating crappy (yet delicious) foods and not really doing anything in the way of exercise.  Just prior to the holidays I got down to a size that I was extremely happy with and then came the comfort food and cold weather.  At this point, although still the same size, I am noticing some spillage...spillage of anything is never good (muffin tops... bra rolls... wine....)-->All bad!

Doesn't this picture make you hold your breath  with anxiety because you know what is about to happen???--SPILLAGE 

      I felt so good about my new size before the holidays that I was partaking more than I should have because I felt like I had some room to spare.  Even as I started to notice that I was gaining a little bit of weight, I would just choose different shirts to wear to hide my spillage and Ah-ha! put on a kick-a$$ pair of heels.  People will look at my shoes and not my mid-section!  Perfect!!!  Hot shoes totally helped me to ignore the 3-4 week long "Fat-Day" that I have been having.

HOWEVER, it is now time to cut the BS! Thank you Shoes for letting me procrastinate a little longer on this :)   There are so many reasons why I need to get back into shape...

• I want my clothes to fit better
• I want my boyfriend to not be able to keep his hands off me
• I want my stress level reduced
• I want to not be scared when bathing suit season comes around
• I want to complete a Warrior Dash type event in the next year
• I want to challenge myself
• I want to create a new habit.

All of these things being said, I am recalling an article I read about various women who wanted to make a change in their lives.  Nothing to major, just really itching for something different.  I'm sure you have heard before that it takes about 30 days to form a habit.  These women picked one thing that they wanted to change or do differently and they did it every day for 30 days.  One of them decided to wear red lipstick everyday, on of them decided to wear a dress or skirt every day even though she always thought of herself as someone who couldn't wear dresses.  Another woman decided to talk to someone new everyday although she was really shy.  It was really interesting to see how much confidence these 30 days gave the women.  Initially these women were taking on true challenges that were totally out of their comfort zones.  By the end of the 30 days they felt empowered and could say that they had accomplished something.  After the first 30 days are completed, most of them wanted to see what they could change next.

My 31 days will start today and I am going to wake up earlier than usual and be productive.  Eventually the goal is to wake up early and work out but we are going to start small and begin by just getting my a$$ out of bed.  If I can get up in the mornings, it will eliminate many of the excuses I normally have at the end of the day when I have a ton of things to do.  Check out the change blog for my progress! 31 Days to Change

Let the Rythym Mooove You :)

Do you ever hear a song that immediately puts you in a particular mood or a particular place no matter what your actual reality is?  With the death of Whitney Houston yesterday and the Grammys on later tonight, I began to think about how music has absolutely affected my life in small ways and large.  As some of you know, my Dad has MS and is in a nursing home.  In a way, listening to certain music has become somewhat of a daily tribute to him.  In trying to remember my earliest memories of music-- before my embarrassing middle school year of air-guitaring and jumping around in the basement to Bush and Pearl Jam*--my thoughts go to before my parents got divorced with my Dad.  My brother, sister and I were all the unfortunate recipients of the adorable speech impediment of not being able to pronounce our R's and sometimes our L's.  We would turn on the radio to the local Oldie's station and Dad would have us call in to request songs.  Went a little something like this....

DJ: What song can I play for you tonight?
One of us kids: "I'd wike to heaw Teaws of a Cwown by Smokey Wobinson and the Miwacles pwease"
Dad: (hysterical laughter)


The DJ would always play whatever we requested because we were SO adorable and then we would proceed to dance around in our terrible neon/denim stylings (Me) or shirtless in diapers occasionally paired with shoes (Sis and Bro).  This early memory makes me laugh and smile even now.  Music made this memory easier to recall.  Music really brought us together.

Once we moved to Massachusetts and lived with our grandparents and uncles, my music choices took another turn.  One of my uncles at the time was in high school and me thinking that he was the coolest kid in the world, used to "borrow" his cds and cassettes.  What 4th grade girl listened to Tesla, Aerosmith AND Dr. Dre??  I didn't think I could be any cooler. For any of my girlfriends that wonder where the little gansta side of me comes from, here it is!--Oh and here is a shout-out to Wheaton as well-- :)  I popped one of the curse word-riddled hip-hop tapes I borrowed from my uncle into the tape deck of my grandmother's LeBaron while driving to the grocery store. This resulted in said tape being thrown out the window and me not being able to "borrow" his tapes anymore :(  That was a sad day...the added difficulty of being around people who were professionals of not pronouncing their R's (or "Ah's") was enough, let alone not having the ability to be "cool" anymore like my uncle.

Then onto middle school where I really was too cool for anything....Bush**, Nirvana, Pearl Jam were all favorites and all I wanted to listen too--aside from my first cassette ever purchased, Mariah Carey's Music Box featuring 'Dreamlover'.  I loved that song! Anyways, during this time my Dad also would get us to listen to HIS music..60s, 70s and bagpipe.  Yup...bagpipe.  Imagine making an hour or so long trip across the state in a tiny Geo Metro with no air conditioning, leather (plastic) seats, squeezed next to 2 other people, listening to a 'Best of Bagpipe' cassette all the while being a middle school girl who was too cool for school....At the time, it was a terrible terrible experience.  Now when I hear bagpipes I cry and think of my Dad.  It really is because of him that my music tastes are so varied.  Also, because of him I can enjoy my boyfriend's passion of classic rock although when I was a kid, it was not appreciated at all.

I also went through a stage of only wanting to listen to "rave" music and various types of electronic stuff, D&B was my fav.  Along with this phase came bright orange UFO pants and lots and lots of bracelets.  My bracelets even made an appearance in one of my high school yearbooks in the Fashion section... : /  I probably should have tried a little harder to be forever remembered in print for something else other than my terrible fashion sense.  Also, my affinity for early 90s hip hop, pop and r&b was at an all-time high..oh C&C Music Factory & LaBouche, how I loved thee...

Now for the tie-in to my High-Heeled blog title...My music taste is about as varied as you can get.  Although nowadays I claim to really enjoy anything I can shake my a$$ to, I find myself listening to music that either complements or changes my mood depending on the day.  Regardless of whatever music you are listening to, it can ALWAYS be rocked in high heels and be fabulous as long as it moves you.  It doesn't need to make you dig deep into your soul like some songs will.  It can also just make you on-the-surface-happy with an unfortunately catchy verse that is sung over and over again for the entirety of the song.  It is all awesome "so sit back, relax, and strap on your seatbelt," "won't you come with me to a place in a little town,"and "Let the rhythm move you."***

And although this has been said over Facebook all day today....Whitney, IIIIIIIeeeeeIIIIIII will always love you and every other musician that has allowed me to connect with my friends, my family, my feelings and my high heels. :)

Peace.

*Not embarrassing music choices-->still awesome.  Just an awkward wanna-be skater girl who couldn't skate personality :)
** 'Glycerine' was totally a practice kissing with your pillow type of song...yeah I said it, don't act like you never did it.
***Do you know the songs?

Here goes nothin' !

          Welcome to my first ever...queue dramatic 'duh duh duh' intro music...BLOG!!!  I thought this might be a good way to clear my head a bit so that I don't end up tripping on my own feet!  Thats right...not only am I obsessed with over the top, only match one outfit high-heeled shoes but I am also kind of a clutz.  NOT a good combo and the source of much laughter for my boyfriend. Add to that a brain that consists of a highway with so much traffic going in so many different directions, I'm not sure any of Newton's Laws would apply.
          In light of various life-changing events over the last year or so, the options were therapy or a blog....and so here we are :)  I am hoping that in maintaining my own sanity through this outlet, you also are able to find some humor, entertainment, different ways of looking at things and perhaps even some enlightenment and motivation.  Also, as I stumble through my thoughts on a day to day basis I am hoping that I will be able to be clear and if ever offensive, only just a little ;-)
                                                          Here goes nothin' !