First Annual Wolfpack Christmas/Hanukkah/Festivus

Nothing beats celebrating the holidays over and over again. Especially after the fact! Unlike my teacher friends, I had to go back to work on Tuesday, so having a post-Christmas celebration to look forward to on Wednesday was a perfect way to break up the week!

The decorations at my place are still going strong - even if the stockings are a bit lighter. The tree has gained new decorations, in the form of these gorgeous dangly earrings from my roomie/bestie Nic:

I'm thankful that I have friends who know me so well! And with this being such a short week (I'm taking Friday off to start New Year's early in Atlantic City), a Wednesday night shindig was a perfect way to break things up.

But I'm still working on 100 things to do in 2012. Expect to see them after January 1.  Until then, I'm still brainstorming. I want 100 meaningful, yet totally doable goals. HELP!

Push It

The holidays are over, and so are the excuses. This might be a short week (I have off Monday and Friday), but that doesn't mean it's going to be short on exercising. I know this weekend is going to be full of debauchery (two concerts, Atlantic City and New Year's Eve), so that means this week is all about being well behaved.

not exactly a shot that screams "well behaved".

I do pretty well with eating at work. I try to eat what I pack for lunch, and I keep herbal tea and Cheerios in my desk to snack on. But the last two weeks were too easy to cheat after work, between parties and dinners. I like to follow the 80/20 rule -- I eat well 80% of the time, and splurge 20%. But if I'm not working out, I shouldn't even get that 20% wiggle room.

This week is going to be all about discipline. I love how Fit Chick in the City does "Say It, Do It", to be accountable for workouts, so here's mine:
Tuesday: Run/Arms
Wednesday: Run/Legs
Thursday: Run/Arms

Plus Thursday and Friday I will be at concerts - so spending a little time in the mosh pit has to count as an extra workout :)

Enter: my new plan. I need to sign up for a half marathon for 2012 so I have a solid deadline. I'm thinking maybe a 10K sometime in the spring, and a half in the summer.

we love an excuse to dress up. and match. fun race day outfits are a must!

Any ideas for some fun races? I'd love an excuse to travel, all ideas are welcome!

A Long December

Well, the month might've been long (I think any month with 31 days should by definition be deemed "long") but now it's almost over, and so is 2011. I'd like to add, that I definitely wrote "2001" on a Christmas card I was sending out. It was to a friend who appreciated a good throwback, but left me wondering - did I wrote 2001 on other cards as well?

circa 2001. freshmen year at uha. d complex.

Feel free to let me know if you received an outdated Christmas card. But just be happy I sent you one :)

Back to the New Year talk. Lots of bloggers (and I guess people in general) make those 100 things in 100 days lists (or maybe its 101 in 1001 days?). I don't know what the official name is, but in 2012, I'm into it. I'm making a list of 100 things I'd like to do in 2012. And you should do. And then post your list so I can see if there's anything on your list that I want to do. And then maybe we can do it together (or not, because maybe that's creepy).

Now that we're in the awkward week after Christmas, but before New Year's - it can be kind of depressing. Lucky for me, I've got a busy schedule with work and friends that the time should fly by! Making my list of 100 things should help time fly too.

What are you most excited about as we enter 2012?

Happy Festivus!

Well, since you last heard from me, my laptop died and a whole slew of winter holidays and events occurred. Here's the quick wrap up:

Decorated the mini tree

Celebrated Hanukkah

Drank gingerbread martinis

And received what is going to be the best book EVER

Yup, that's it. The last 22 days of my life can be summed up in those four photos. (Not really, but I'm hoping it will hold you over until there's a REAL post)

I hope you had a fabulous time celebrating whatever winter holiday it is that you celebrate! xoxo

last friday night

I've always thought Saturday was the night for fun. And sometimes it is. But I've realized (through the words of Katy Perry) that a lot of crazy stuff goes down on Fridays! This week, my weekend really started on Thursday. Like I told you, I went to see Chris Carraba from Dashboard Confessional on Thursday night. But as soon as we emerged from the subway station, tons of outdoor kiosks were set up in Union Square. This resulted in some shopping and sampling before meeting friends for a few drinks. We had some chocolate, some cider donuts, bought earrings and an evil eye! There may have been a little champagne involved as well!

We hit Haru for happy hour and indulged in some wine, edamame and sushi. Then we found our friends and hit the show.

just hanging out. waiting for chris.

chris' water bottle. winning!

Of course going to work Friday morning wasn't particularly fun, but I made it. We headed back into the city after work Friday for a going away shindig, where we proceeded to not check train times for our ride home. Without a train to catch, we drank too many shots, took too many pictures, and had too much fun. We took the train back in the morning and after a cup of coffee and a taylor ham, egg and cheese on a poppy seed bagel, I got a second wind. But by 11AM I was pooped and was ready for a nap. I didn't open my eyes again until 4PM! I had sleep to make up for from Thursday! That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

the guest of honor. clearly an end of the night shot.

Katy Perry knows: we took too many shots, think we kissed but I forgot. Thankfully the night was NOT an epic fail. But Saturday definitely was. It was spent in sweats on the couch. But that means Sunday is the kick-off to a GREAT week, including tough workouts, logging overtime at work, and getting some Christmas shopping done.

Does having a little too much make you want to work our harder? Or does it set you back? I need to be hardcore at the gym this week!

party like it's 1999

My ten year reunion was last weekend. I think my idea of what it would be like has dramatically changed (more than once) since graduating in 2001. I had a serious boyfriend all throughout college, and we moved into together a year after I graduated. We were on the marriage track. You know, until we weren't. I don't regret the relationship, but I definitely regret things I did (and didn't do). They say (and by they, I mean Sex and the City) that it takes half as long as the relationship to get over it. This means I've got another six months before I'm really OVER it. Let me tell you, seven years was a long time, but this three and half since seems even longer in some ways, and like no time at all in another way.

Needless to say, I might not be where I thought I'd be, but I'm happy nonetheless! I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. So back to the reunion. I totally forgot to take pictures, but I'm sure some will be posted on Facebook, and I can hijack them! I'm grateful that I still have some of my fabulous friends from high school, and even before!

nothing beats sleepover pictures. i still wear those glasses. to bed.

whatever! (it was 1996 afterall)

8th grade dance.

prom. 2011.

But the throwbacks don't end there. I also went to see Dashboard Confessional this week. Now that's a band who REALLY makes me feel young again. I remember blasting those cd's anytime a boy wronged me. Hell, I was belting it out even when I was happy. And I still am! That music also makes me think of college, and of some guy whipping out his acoustic guitar and singing for the ladies. My very own prom date (seen above) was known to do just that.

this short man makes beautiful music. definitely a panty dropper!

The show was fabulous as expected, even though our friend couldn't make it at the last minute. We met up with other friends and a fun night that started with shopping in Union Square and ended "stealing" a cab from another girl. I was disappointed that Chris didn't play an encore though.

Ah, got to love acoustic performances. Especially ones where you can hear me, Rob and a million other people singing louder than the performer. I'm seeing Taking Back Sunday and Bouncing Souls later on this month, and I can't wait!

The excitement of the holidays makes it easy to get distracted from the real world (you know work, the gym), but I've been making progress. I've even dragged Nicole to the gym when she didn't want to be dragged. I know she was happier for it in the end though. And I always am too, because I work out better when I'm with someone else, even if we're each doing our own thing.

I'm finally reading again too. I miss book club. Once the holidays are over, book club is back on! I got so many books at the library this week, and am currently reading "Desperation" by Stephen King. So far - so creepy! Between watching murder mysteries and reading creepy books, I'm setting myself up for nightmares.