Friendship, redefined

Several weeks ago, we went to a friend's birthday. I was really looking forward to it - Friday night, summer, drinks - why not?! Except I was ready to go home within 10 minutes. After exchanging the standard pleasantries of 'Hey, how are you? What's new?' I quickly discovered that absolutely nothing was new.

Clearly there's a reason I call this group of friends "Mike's friends". I met them around the same time I met Mike - in fact we both did - through our old work softball league. If I hadn't stayed with Mike, I wouldn't have stayed friends with these folks. Simply because we have nothing in common except for what bonded us at first - our jobs.

Mike still gets together with them but I generally skip out on anything that isn't a birthday or some kind of 'special occasion'. I think I talk enough about being time-starved - I really have zero time to waste on friendships that are not fulfilling. 

They're nice people, don't get me wrong. But I shouldn't be struggling to make conversation 10 minutes in, right? And then sometimes there are IRL friends are ultra annoying and you just want to kick them. See this post & this one.

I do have truly good friends - ones that are like family & I will know forever - but we're not all in one tight group so it's hard to see everyone often. But when we do spend time together, it's fabulous! The kinds of friends that you can be apart from for weeks, months or longer and yet you don't miss a beat when you reunite. Those friendships are magical.

And then there are blog friends. Bloggers will understand, the rest likely will not but I think that it makes perfect sense. These are the people who the only reason you even know of their existence, even if it's halfway across the country or world, is that because when you came across their blog, at least one of their blog posts truly spoke to you. 

Then make that every post. Which is followed by regular tweeting, then texting and then, if you're very lucky enough to live in even the same time zone as that person, you get to meet face to face. Yes, it is exactly like dating. And yes, first meetings are very much like first dates. LOL

I have been lucky enough to meet two of my favourite ladies!

Bree I've known the longest - just over 2 years now - because we live in the same city. We probably don't see each other as much as we'd I'd like to - you know, life gets in the way - but when we do, there's always more than enough to talk about & catch up on. She's usually the one I consult with when events are going on around town, the first person I advise of upcoming store closures with potential for massive sales & the usual it's-too-cold-no-it's-too-hot banter.

Jennie I just got to meet last month & she's even more wonderful than she let on! We unsuccessfully met up for coffee because I got lost in the rain torrential downpour, which naturally resulted in splitting a half-price bottle of wine & we had ourselves a ball! Believe me, this would probably be a regular thing if she lived closer... *hint hint* Plus, there's not a single nail challenge that Jennie hasn't accepted and outdone herself in - I'm running out of ways to stump her, seriously :P 

I'm super glad that I've been able to turn these bloggy friends into IRL friends b/c they totally fit what I expect from real friends - a connection. No pressure ladies! LOL

Rarely am I as happy about my blog as when I think about all of the amazing people it has given me the opportunity to collide with, IRL or not. Friendships & bonds that would not have been possible if it wasn't for this little cyber spot of mine. Yeah, I'm cheesin'.

Thanks to everyone I've met thus far and looking forward to those peeps I don't even know yet!

{via}

Re-Turning a New Leaf

I do this every spring. I start feeling the result of the winter over-snacking blues & I go crazy thinking about having to wear summer clothes. Summer clothes accentuated by a muffin top.

So then I decide I'm finally going to commit to [learning to love] exercising & finally starting to eat consistently healthy, instead of just one-off healthy weeks followed by face-stuffing.

That's why I hit up a fresh produce stand after work, worked out when I got home and made this delicious salad from SkinnyTaste. Followed by vowing that I need to keep this once and for all.

Honestly, I don't know how that's going to happen. I whimpered during the entire workout and called my mom afterwards to tell her how much I hated it. I hate it. There's no other way to describe it. But it needs to happen.

The tricky part is the balance, as I'm sure you all know. Too many restrictions leads to anxiety & cheating; too much leniency makes this undertaking rather pointless.

Here's a few ways I'm going to try to get & stay on track:

- Stop waiting for a morning that I can actually get out of bed & just try to find any time to workout

- Workout at least for the bare minimum amount of time and start to enjoy it

- Make lunches ahead of time - even if that means having a cooking day the previous weekend

- Commit to using my FitnessPal

- No eating out - dC & I have set the date of our next dinner out in 3 weeks

- Find motivation - internally & externally

How do you guys motivate yourselves to stick to these tough goals?

 I would love some moral support :)

So here's the deal...

I'm unhappy. Unhappy enough with one part of my life that it is seriously spilling over into the rest of it and warping my outlook on everything. It's funny that only 50 hours per week can taint the entire 168. I think you know what I'm talking about.

I knew that things would be crazy after the holidays because I would have twice as many responsibilities, but I didn't know just how crazy. And I didn't know just how unthankful the extra effort would be. I know it sounds like I'm whining and everyone goes through this once in a while, blah blah blah. It's not just me - I see it all around me. But since I don't want to go into too many details, we'll have to leave it at "you have to be there". However, consider yourself lucky not to be there.

So after a miserable 10-hour day, the last thing I want to do is sit in front of another computer screen, even though it's for the sake of this lovely lil blog of mine. Nor do I want to spew negative shit because I'm in such a wretched mood.

If you follow my twitter (as you should!) you'll know that I'm not down 100% of the time. dC does a great job of keeping my happiness in check (thanks boo!) and I do my best to make my weekends compensate for the week. But that leaves little time to update like I used to.

I could spend 2 hours writing a couple posts & leaving a few of comments (which I really enjoy doing, btw!) or I could be watching a movie. Tough call, I know.

I'm not saying I'm going to stop blogging. No. In fact, I'm going to do my best to post regularly. But I can't give up experiencing the joys in order to have time to write them down. Last week, Rach (one of my faves, you gotta check her out!) did a really good job of breaking the ice for me with this post. I guess I just felt guilty about saying what Rach actually had the guts to say. I love this place & I'm going to stick around - but I'm going to do it my way. [Thanks Rach :))]

I guess this is probably a bad time to talk about how I've kind of considered starting a (second) more serious, global issues blog. "Look, you can barely keep up with one where you don't even have to censor yourself edit, let alone a controversial one that will make you famous."  All in good time my pretties!

So...I guess that's my rant. There are some things I have to fix in my life, but I'm workin' on it so please be patient! Better yet, come along for the ride!

xo,