Afternoon Blogs with Beth (vol. 2)

Hey, guys!

Izzy is sick and we've adopted two adorable kitten brothers. She loves them!! But I think she got something yesterday at school...because she came home kind of feverish.

Yesterday, we went on a hike and when we got Izzy we spent a little time with the cats before EC had to remove all of their fleas and Iz and I went on a walk. We got rained on and came home early...and I fell asleep with her. I took a 2.5 hour nap and woke up around 10. Needless to say, our sleep schedule is pretty messed up. Izzy woke up at 12 and didn't go back to bed till 1:30 and EC and I didn't get to bed until 4. I woke up at exactly 8:30 and we ended up not going to Pilates (this is the 2nd time we've missed so we cannot miss anymore) and just hanging out with the cats. At 9:30, Izzy's daycare calls to tell us she has a 101.2 fever. So, we've got Izzy all day today and possibly tomorrow. EC will have her until 3, when I will grab her and bring her to my painting class. This is hard but we have to do it for the little Iz.

I tried to convince him to let me have her the whole day...but he refused. So, I'm here at work and then I'll go to the gym before picking up Iz for my class while EC goes to work.

I'm glad we can make this work even though our lives are a little off track.

I think it's good for some change every now and again. I feel stagnant and too relaxed when I've been doing the same routine for so long. Some bumps along the way test my problem-solving skills!

xxx

Beth

Afternoon Blogs with Beth (vol. 1)

Let's just make this a stream of consciousness.

I'm sitting on the couch. I'm taking a moment to myself. I'm listening to the "Stress Relief" playlist on Spotify...my favorite ever for helping me think. It's so relieving and peaceful. I'm making another cup of tea (I'm reusing the tea bag I just used for my first cup). I'm sitting in my comfy clothes (leggings, t-shirt, hoodie). I feel at ease and comfortable. I'm learning that the word "very" isn't a descriptive word and adds little to what I'm saying. I had to stop myself from typing it just now. My stomach is full. I had a salad from Panera + a veggie burger I just heated up. I also made a smoothie replacing my frozen bananas with frozen melon. Later at the grocery store, I need to pick up bananas and orange juice. I need to clean the fridge tonight because there are probably a lot of things in there that have gone bad and need to get thrown out to free up space and to get more containers back.

I'm thinking about meditating to this playlist but I also want a guided meditation. I remember when I first started meditating when I got pregnant with Izzy and I didn't know yet. But I think I'll do a guided meditation to clear my head.

I love being able to take time for myself.

It can be hard with all the things we have to do but I appreciate every chance I get whether it's at the gym, in my art class making art, at work doing research, or at home meditating. (:

xxx

Beth

Morning Blogs with Beth (vol. 2)

Hello, all!

9 in the morning. I've got a almond coffee drink on my right. This is the recipe:

• 1.5 frozen bananas
• 1 c of Califa Farms Iced Coffee with Almond Milk

Sooooo yum. I made it yesterday because I needed coffee before my run and it was magical. Running has been going well. I wish it was nicer out...but I'm getting used to the slight drizzle. Yesterday, Izzy and I went on a walk for like an hour, of which she napped for half an hour, and it was a pretty doable drizzle. I think it might be better for her because she gets so darn sweaty when she sleeps.

Also, last night was the first night she's slept in her new toddler bed!! We have this new set up where she is between the wall and the dresser but still connected to our bed so she can just crawl over when she wakes up (like this morning). The only thing that went wrong was my suggestion of using the rest of the swim diapers before opening the new ones.... Swim diapers are for swimming and we learned that the hard way. EC was able to fix the whole situation before I put her back to sleep... Besides that incident, she slept like a rock.

EC just brought me an iced americano and my green smoothie. This is the recipe:

• 2 frozen bananas
• 2 cups of spinach
• 1 cup of orange juice
• 1/4 T of so fresh so green powder
• 1 cup of water

I also added 1/4 of my avocado this morning to it because I had it leftover. (:

I love breakfast.

I'm hitting the gym when I get off at 12 till around 1 so we can leave for Charlotte around 1:30 and hopefully get there around 3.

So excited for this trip!

xxx

Beth

Fitness Goals (Short/Long Term)

Hello friends!

I just went under 150 lbs! A weight I haven't seen for three years...before I met EC.

I just bought a fitness log and put some goals into it:

Short Term:

1. Run Outside
2. Play Sports
3. Pushups/Tricep Dips Daily
4. Stretch Daily
5. Yoga Twice a Week
6. Plan Meals
7. Drink Water when "HUNGRY"

Long Term:

1. Run a 10K
2. Walk Everyday
3. Get a Full Split

Hope you all are doing well!

Re-motivating myself isn't quite as easy as I want it to be.

xxx

Beth

A current list of things I want but don't have money for.

• a medicine ball (set?)
• a spiralizer
• a toddler bed for Iz
• a resistance band
• curry paste
• an umbrella
• a treadmill desk!!!! (these are actually one of the greatest inventions I have ever encountered)
• a new yoga mat??
• roller skates (inline)
• a bicycle!! (and a helmet)
• professional ear cleaner thing

*This is an ongoing list. Maybe I'll strikethrough items as they are purchased??*

In other news, I'm hoping with this intersession there will be a way for me to organize everything... I really want to get into the habit of eating dinner together with the family. Right now the table we have AND Izzy's high chair are occupied by a bunch of stuff that needs to get organized. Unfortunately a lot of that stuff is my art that I have nowhere to store... 

xxx

Beth

Morning Blogs with Beth (vol. 1)

Hello, hello!!!
Here at work just putting some thoughts into the internet.

I've got my liter of apple cider vinegar/lemon water, a banana that was in my bag all of yesterday, a cookie EC baked last night, and a green smoothie he made for me this morning! I'm all set and ready to go!

I've become a pretty early riser because of Izzy. She's pacifier-less but in the morning when she is half awake but still half wanting to pass out again, she crawls onto my chest to snuggle and fall back asleep... Just like when I used to put her to sleep when she was a baby... I don't know if that's why she's started doing it but it definitely tugs at my heartstrings.

For next year, I'm hoping we can join Entropy and choreograph for the Momentum Showcase. Mostly  because I'll be student teaching in the spring semester and don't really think there will be time for much else. EC is still thinking about whether or not he should choreograph for MainStage in the fall but I'm leaving that up to him.

What I think we have decided clearly upon is staying in Boone another year after we graduate and just working to save money before moving to a new area. Whether it's Toronto, Arizona, or DC, we really want to save up our money and get a little more on our feet before we move.

So, I will be taking a year (or two) "off" after graduation and during our move. Maybe working part-time somewhere...maybe working on my art solely...maybe having private art lessons or tutoring?? I don't know. I just know I'm going to have Izzy with me most of the time and hopefully she doesn't get too stir-crazy with me and I can bring her to enough social spaces to fill her need for that because she's been in daycare since 6 months.

I'm so ready for the end of this semester!! Just one more paper to write and I'm done. (:

...and then we fly off to Phoenix for Diggs Deeper...and then summer school starts right when we get back. We can do this! (:

xxx

Beth

I am strong!

I am strong.

This has been my mantra for the past few weeks during my dance classes, yoga practice, and different workouts. Being able to say I'm strong and feel that I'm strong feels amazing. I'm so happy to feel my body working and really listen to it.

I'm not only losing any excess fat I've gained, I'm seeing my muscles grow bigger and feeling my endurance get better.

I start to feel really antsy when I've been sitting in one place for long...and I find myself having more energy in a day.

I love this mantra because it doesn't just mean physically, it means emotionally and spiritually. My body feels stronger and so does my mind. I feel at peace and more in control of myself. Being able to communicate with others is important but not as important as communicating with yourself.

EC and I have been talking a little about what we are going to do after we graduate next year...and nothing, so far, is set in stone. We're considering a lot of different things, as well as, staying here for another year to save up money for future travels. Not sure yet...but I'm sure wherever we go, whatever we decide to do, it'll be great. (:

Cheers to the future and the NOW!

xxx

Beth