DON'T YOU WANT TO BE KALE?

I'm going to try something.

I might fail.

But I'm going to try anyway.

I am very passionate about, well, a lot of things... but personal health & fitness is one of them.  And I haven't really shared any of that here because, let's be honest, usually I have something I'm frustrated with that I want to rant about.

Anyway... I'm going to try and share something healthy (be it exercise or food related, or just inspirational) on Fridays.

I've started making smoothies at home and, not gonna lie, they're pretty freakin delicious.  I even got a thumbs up from D, who pretty much only eats the foods I try to stay away from (aka processed foods, fast foods, etc.).

I don't really get the whole you are what you eat, phrase (I mean, in theory I do, but it just doesn't really inspire me)... but in case it really speaks to you... don't you want to be kale?

I thought so.

In that spirit of kale-ification, go make a smoothie like this:

BERRY KALE SMOOTHIE

7oz unsweetened coconut water

1oz lemon or lime juice

nice handful of raw kale

3/4 cup frozen berries (I totally eyeball this, so that sounds about right)

maybe 2-4 ice cubes if the texture isn't jamba-y enough for you

Dump it all in a blender and blend till it's smooth.

Enjoy.

That's it.  I can hardly call it a recipe.  I just threw some stuff in my blender and it happened to be delicious.  You can mix it up (omg blender pun) with other fruits... but I recommend freezing it so it stays cold and gets the right texture.

I buy the frozen berries, coconut water, and kale (pre-washed because I'm lazy) at Trader Joe's.

Let me know if you try it.  Fair warning - I like my smoothies on the tart side.

Oh, and one more thing...

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

p.s. I really like the sentiment of the image above, but it kills me that it doesn't read, "Skinny isn't sexy.  Healthy is."  Don't let its crappy syntax distract you from the message, okay?

DREAM SPECIFIC

I've spoken (written?) before about the concept of the universal law of attraction.  The secret.  Whatever you want to call it.

I recently experienced the power of this concept at work.

I have been overloaded lately at my day job.  Since I don't love it to begin with, you can imagine how I felt about it when drowning in to-do lists.  I decided I needed to ask for a raise.  A big one.

We just had our annual reviews in March and I had already received my annual bonus and raise.

But since then I felt that the increased workload and responsibility justified another step.

I planned it out, decided how much I would ask for (and subsequently how much I would settle for) and mentally prepared myself to fight for my worth.

And then on Monday my boss called me into his office and told me that he and our EVP had noticed how much I've had to step it up recently... and that because of my hard work and because they value me and see big things for my future... I would be getting a raise...

... to the amount I had predetermined I would settle for during my planned negotiation.

You can imagine my shock.  Nice work, universal law of attraction!!

Anyway, this drives home the point that when we are planning/scheming/dreaming of our next steps in work, in love, in life... we need to dream big specific.

My friend and I are going apartment hunting in a few weeks for our new home come October.  You can bet we have a specific list of wants, needs, and must-haves.  I'll definitely share how the universe responds to these perfect apartment vibes.

And, to tie it all in with the image above... I love birch trees.  D just so happens to love birch trees.  I recently read an article about how people who live in greener areas (think lots of trees) actually exhibit lower stress levels.  Who doesn't love that?

My future home dreams are now full of beautiful leafy birch trees to make sure the universe knows exactly what I want ;)

Have you ever experienced the law of attraction delivering exactly that for which you were searching?  I'd love to hear about it.

**side note: this raise does not affect my plans to pursue a happier, more fulfilling career in the future.  it just helps set me up for future financial security/success as I make those (specific) dreams a reality.**

THE JOURNEY IS GOOD

I frequently mention that I have a lot going on in my life right now.  I'm working a ton and trying to stay in close contact with my best friends (near and far!!) and trying to make time with my niece a priority and love having quality time with my wonderful boyfriend...

And I'm trying really hard to set myself up for future success outside of my current career and that means a lot of hustling to build a strong savings account... which makes for less time for all those important things.

I get a serious case of the Sunday blues every week because I'm exhausted.

And I'm pushing so so so hard to get to there.  To the end... or at least the end of this crazy phase.

But this is part of it.  This is the journey.  The journey is absolutely necessary.  It prepares us for the destination.

In the same way that dating the one is the journey towards marriage.

The journey is SO important.  It is vital.

And yet sometimes we get so driven towards the destination we lose sight that where we are is part of our story, too.

The photo above is from the anniversary (one year!!? time flies...) trip D and I took up to the Mendocino County coast.  We had so much fun.  It was perfect.  The perfect addition to our story and a perfect break to the very hectic phase I'm currently suffering through working toward enjoying in my journey towards a fulfilling, joyful life.

The next time I'm feeling overwhelmed... I'm going to revisit the photos from our trip to remind myself how beautiful the journey can be.

THAT POWER

Definitely no # here.  I am either not cool enough or not obnoxious enough... I guess it depends on who you ask :)

Anyway, do you ever have one of those days/weeks/months where you feel completely out of control?

I have been stuck in that helpless rut and am starting to feel like I'm regaining traction.

You hear me, universe?  I've got that POWER!!  For right now, at least...

My schedule may be totally insane, but I'm doing a good job of plotting it all out and I'm putting some tools in place to help me stay sane.

It looks a bit like this:

1) Google calendar, a paper desk calendar, and Outlook calendar.  Compulsive?  Yes.  Comprehensive?  Hell yes.  I don't care if it's overkill, I am loving it.

2) Meal planning.  There is no way I can stay in a healthy eating mindset while juggling one full-time job and three side jobs (throw a grad program in the mix this fall and I may spontaneously combust).  I signed up for a meal plan with one of my favorite primal (read: paleo) blogs and will do a review once I get a couple more weeks under my belt.  It does make grocery shopping easier and on nights when I don't have multiple after-work commitments I can cook up a storm.

3) Lots of spreadsheets.  Budgets, future plans, separate schedules for the side jobs, etc.  Good thing I love me some excel.

4) Hopefully this one will come into play soon: a REAL smartphone (not the free Blackberry my work gives me).  I need a device that can keep up with my lifestyle and I have my eye on a couple options.  This weekend D is going to help me pick the best phone for my needs and then I will share as I make my way into the 21st century.  Totally excited/terrified.

If you have any tips for keeping up with a busy busy schedule (or apps or whatever), I'd love to hear 'em!!  The one thing I know I need to work on is scheduling time for myself.  I tend to see white space on a calendar and fill it right up.

Maybe a bubble bath and a glass of wine should be penciled in this weekend...

p.s. I loved Judith Hill's version of #thatPOWER on this season of The Voice.  She didn't make it to the finals, but her talent is undeniable!!

THIS IS YOUR LIFE

This is your life.

Maybe you don't need a reminder.

Some days I don't.

Some days I do.

This is it.  Right now.

I am passing moments typing these words, hoping they'll be read by my friends, let alone any strangers... hoping they'll resonate with anyone.

They're resonating with me right now, and that's probably definitely enough.

This past weekend my boyfriend and I spent some quality time in a tiny coastal town in Mendocino County.  We were at a quaint, perfect bed and breakfast (North Coast Country Inn) and had time.

We had time to wander, to talk, to laugh, to sleep, to be in love, and to hope.

We laughed (though it is more sad than funny) about the ridiculousness that is the rat race we are convinced to buy into by those making a huge profit off our toils.  We dreamed about a life in which Friday can be the worst day of the week because you just can't bear to take a break from your job (your passion).

Where the Sunday blues don't exist.  Where $70k, $80k, $150k per year doesn't mean anything because it doesn't really need to..

There is a story about a fisherman.  The fisherman went to sea, caught as many fish as he needed to feed his family for 2 weeks (a month, whatever) and then came home and spent time with his family... for another 2 weeks until he needed to go out and catch more fish.

An American businessman met said fisherman and offered his sage, corporate advice.

If the fisherman would only expand his enterprise and mass distribute the fish he could eventually become an international mogul, retire "early", and relax for the rest of his life...

...fishing and spending time with his family.

I am only 27.  I am still part of the rat race and I definitely don't have all of the answers.

But I am going after a life more like the fisherman and less like the businessman.

I'll see you there :)