tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63756544604887722342024-02-06T20:17:14.609-08:00Sugar (Cookie), Don't Waste My TimeAn Inspirational Sounding BoardLady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-13078975859906472582010-09-11T17:23:00.001-07:002010-09-11T17:25:35.991-07:00$11.88<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7sEf2GZczG2XH96hFyTn2OLumOMBS4DB1jStJ7FeOWb-Hvq-XzlGPiHfaeLvD3cYzUVrwVB0hzc_I-vj-tdLKNI5zpF_Cr84TOHaBxcmhg59bDBf-884nuJOB4pPuTh9UdOp9862jVbk/s1600/moped.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7sEf2GZczG2XH96hFyTn2OLumOMBS4DB1jStJ7FeOWb-Hvq-XzlGPiHfaeLvD3cYzUVrwVB0hzc_I-vj-tdLKNI5zpF_Cr84TOHaBxcmhg59bDBf-884nuJOB4pPuTh9UdOp9862jVbk/s400/moped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515816530149023666" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">There's my bank account total.</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Sure, maybe this crosses the line as far as personal info goes on the internet...but I'm over it. It's the internet! Freedom! :)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Here's the truth: That $11.88 is gonna last me a week till my paycheck hits the bank. And because of that $11.88 being so low, I was able to buy apples, oranges, cheese, and get my moped fixed. Thank you, Life, for that.</span><br /></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-47883459034750988262010-09-11T16:56:00.000-07:002010-09-11T17:16:05.752-07:00Well, Let's Talk about Things Past<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_3vw3pFI02HENToNo-MljRoozSLOSjwvlDMS88ZfB4oh7TjbH6mFNXoHZ3k3dAJKJiWHovicNT6F_KuFOFyxoV8yANODC3yqeEl0Ro7gnlpBUCWnXs8DOPcKjG4NRPXs2yfoM3G_kGJI/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_3vw3pFI02HENToNo-MljRoozSLOSjwvlDMS88ZfB4oh7TjbH6mFNXoHZ3k3dAJKJiWHovicNT6F_KuFOFyxoV8yANODC3yqeEl0Ro7gnlpBUCWnXs8DOPcKjG4NRPXs2yfoM3G_kGJI/s400/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515813347540188354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Remember months ago, when I mentioned "OH MY GOD! I WANT TO GO TO HAWAII!"<br /><br />Right?<br /><br />Remember that?<br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMyrmF-QgqN1GacCytdWaPF54AHENhnmYGLNrY7VT3bkp9Bjf9uvqd_zDbPPPywd5CvL-qKV_FjaXhGlk5QcLGI36KzgR2Hctnbjw5UxdNuHFzcQHQLswJrZAiq9JmlX-4lMg3tbu_rJb/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMyrmF-QgqN1GacCytdWaPF54AHENhnmYGLNrY7VT3bkp9Bjf9uvqd_zDbPPPywd5CvL-qKV_FjaXhGlk5QcLGI36KzgR2Hctnbjw5UxdNuHFzcQHQLswJrZAiq9JmlX-4lMg3tbu_rJb/s400/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515813343302132386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Well, it happened.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">That's right, ladies, I've been living in Honolulu, Hawaii for the past four months.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">First of all, I apologize to the few of you who actually follow this blog for not posting. The guilt kills me, as it does ANYONE with a blog that doesn't post. I'm over it, though. I was just thinking, "Man, oh man, I want to start a new blog." Then I realized that maybe I should take care of the ones closer to home, first. Granted, I thought that missing my payment to the blogger domain would have obliterated this beautiful piece of art, but nay, here it be, and here art I.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">So, let's discuss this, yeah?</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVynEdk0wUCUkW_56XrUoKsKM2SE1JIm6HNyzFvqPnjXcSxVRtdYWVhsp7kNTTZsbrx3BGJCpxkKr2G-KBsCvb-nlOTu5-NQj-3i_s3dyKzAhscVsYZ8Ru65xet4BlwulUkc0t8WkXxDK/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVynEdk0wUCUkW_56XrUoKsKM2SE1JIm6HNyzFvqPnjXcSxVRtdYWVhsp7kNTTZsbrx3BGJCpxkKr2G-KBsCvb-nlOTu5-NQj-3i_s3dyKzAhscVsYZ8Ru65xet4BlwulUkc0t8WkXxDK/s400/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515813352529548354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">I went to Hawaii. I started with the idea.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">1. "Going to Hawaii will make me happy."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">I moved into the plans of it.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">2. "Where am I going to get the cash for that? How the heck am I going to make this worth my time?"</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Apparently, if I was going to go to Hawaii, I wanted it to have some semblance to do with the rest of my life. So I started researching. What do I do? I act! I'm an actor! There's got to be theatres in Hawaii, right? RIGHT.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">So I found one. The BEST one, and I've been interning for them for four months now. What does this mean, exactly? Well, to make a short story shorter, I've absolutely thrown myself into whatever I possibly can with the theatre. I've stage managed, acted in NUMEROUS shows, helped move and build the new theatre, and even been harassed by the homeless, all for the sake of art.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCmdEfdpiCUn7ZElv5ogOONfKk6p5j8phtc0av6OS9irHlWN2sBHpiwgSY6gjcuETgoTpIdA2DQFNswBJOkzzwcaoKWPsRCWLebxhgOakbTpCxGW8cuZAiDNHY6cYWwb9HFfPL0swzX_b/s1600/4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCmdEfdpiCUn7ZElv5ogOONfKk6p5j8phtc0av6OS9irHlWN2sBHpiwgSY6gjcuETgoTpIdA2DQFNswBJOkzzwcaoKWPsRCWLebxhgOakbTpCxGW8cuZAiDNHY6cYWwb9HFfPL0swzX_b/s400/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515813357107224498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">I was supposed to be in Hawaii for 1.5 months. Alas! I did not. I could not leave. So I bopped my little happy rear home to Texas for my brother's wedding, which was GORGEOUS. I shall post on that soon, but then back I was. All this was made possible by incredibly good luck:<br /><br />A. I was, essentially, an "exchange student" with a family here in Hawaii for the first 1.5 months.<br />Then, I realized I needed to stay, and I started looking for new housing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN66UhYdYRHqzIDcKSR4BGQBeRN1ILGE787oTJsjCr4mmcw64XjUna2t9SpSSc5fh6Iqj5B_iiAh2denzgNxWaCxqezmn0a0W_zwabyuhjBgiDY6cUFJNp0UtGm2RtQtvqYz2-WRt3IfnU/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN66UhYdYRHqzIDcKSR4BGQBeRN1ILGE787oTJsjCr4mmcw64XjUna2t9SpSSc5fh6Iqj5B_iiAh2denzgNxWaCxqezmn0a0W_zwabyuhjBgiDY6cUFJNp0UtGm2RtQtvqYz2-WRt3IfnU/s400/6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515813428302369714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />B. I met and fell in love with a heartthrob named Jacin. He's in France, now, and we're not together, but wow oh wow, wasn't he incredible.<br /><br />C. Jacin lived in a flat in a place called Kaimuki, and his hanai mother invited and okayed me to move in with him. We had a great time! We played all kinds of silly games, decorated the walls and ceilings, slept out on the roof and on the lanai, planned oodles of surprises, and both prepared for the next phases of our lives.<br /><br />But, wait! What are these phases? (you may ask...) Well, Jacin moved to France. I'm finishing school. And my "new blog" I wanted to start, was going to document the next six months of me, in an art conservatory, finishing it all up, and getting the heck outta dodge. Who doesn't like to hear the trials and tribulations of an artist/a person moving/a funky girl? Right? Right.<br /><br />D. I've met and worked with incredible actors.<br /><br />And all kinds of other lucky stuff. I'm driving a moped around now. That I borrow. Jacin took care of the rent for the extra month I'm here. All kinds of things that make my life possible. Thank you, world, you are the bomb.com.<br /><br />So that's it! I've been in Honolulu for the past four months, without a computer, without a cell phone (I got poor real quick here), and having the time of my life.<br /><br />Health wise, I was 147 lbs when I got here, and 140 when I met Jacin. After Jacin left, I re-evaluated my life and realized I'd gone soft...literally. I was up to 154 lbs. You know what though, dear blogoworld? This does not phase me in the least. I learned that I was a pushover, previously. I'm gonna meet somebody fantastic in this world, and I'm going to say, "Hey you. Impress me. I'm incredible already--whaddaya got that's gonna change my world?" And I'm going to be strong and beautiful and take care of myself. The world's changing! I'm changing! And it's all quite wonderful.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtDc2e79y0wU-6OR1K9gIzrBW373rrczcdOKK7qSkF-cwKCbYuLkApLpVG35E6PIFA250V9sK0-VTivBpjy8f8osCp8SGz-pWl9_vLkOvERb6tX8O4-WzEycxSO5hsGXO_s41rlLzuMPW/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtDc2e79y0wU-6OR1K9gIzrBW373rrczcdOKK7qSkF-cwKCbYuLkApLpVG35E6PIFA250V9sK0-VTivBpjy8f8osCp8SGz-pWl9_vLkOvERb6tX8O4-WzEycxSO5hsGXO_s41rlLzuMPW/s400/5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515813365143350386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">So, here's to the taking up and documenting of a life. Health is inevitable. Inspiration is inevitable. You ladies are getting an upgraded version of a pretty cool blog (when it's in session.) :)<br /><br />All my love,<br />Allyson West<br /></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-57911436890567677112010-04-09T00:00:00.000-07:002010-04-09T00:00:06.218-07:00The Friday Find: Milk Ads<div align="center">I love this campaign! Sometimes the ads are so compelling.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdktKHxU4_ha6fkGPcoSCdbsCTBr_RTfqHfQgIlza1OQUUISK2b2EoeM6xMER7nYDQkCes5en4oXJraw6pf_F491FB-_AQd0hwgb_K2ydonK5wQ7slorYnkGKKWdo4my_Y-AGjgsLxh1K/s1600/a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456763949248137426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdktKHxU4_ha6fkGPcoSCdbsCTBr_RTfqHfQgIlza1OQUUISK2b2EoeM6xMER7nYDQkCes5en4oXJraw6pf_F491FB-_AQd0hwgb_K2ydonK5wQ7slorYnkGKKWdo4my_Y-AGjgsLxh1K/s400/a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU24uxRyAeTMGUCRsN2aYKkVmn2ncVg-CvLhmhyRKI9jtRnDCtE52ePvKsCCVQhjPlcMXm9old922dscJ_Gk9_ooRzpYsgp1IarFvwZYbpyr4xe77lLGN8kb-M4ZQv5yYG8fseBmd4cqjN/s1600/6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456763809347647282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU24uxRyAeTMGUCRsN2aYKkVmn2ncVg-CvLhmhyRKI9jtRnDCtE52ePvKsCCVQhjPlcMXm9old922dscJ_Gk9_ooRzpYsgp1IarFvwZYbpyr4xe77lLGN8kb-M4ZQv5yYG8fseBmd4cqjN/s400/6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0pwbPRxxa6lk0Pp4zJnNJwKpdA4VtfrCd2jw2L2WJqHyUBlKSSrqip45KzB5r-DAFj63uSB4Hfn9xgugWlOL_-rLZtOzu1k6iyjuySNYuWC1sIXjZvkaJFfeR13fnVfdYtOAA1U-DNfP/s1600/5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456763803959005746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0pwbPRxxa6lk0Pp4zJnNJwKpdA4VtfrCd2jw2L2WJqHyUBlKSSrqip45KzB5r-DAFj63uSB4Hfn9xgugWlOL_-rLZtOzu1k6iyjuySNYuWC1sIXjZvkaJFfeR13fnVfdYtOAA1U-DNfP/s400/5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckGxZn-K71Abr1Xs-8WDnUdVTXcdhN8kifUe1C4g97Cv-JzHYyNu5e5m17W_irlkPDoxhbTyDsLcaJ70cTccjS8iZepxRgLErj_pyqXPuC6cp4Cbrkn2lP9bqWWzEl2LO6CEHXrseQN6-/s1600/4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456763792653504098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckGxZn-K71Abr1Xs-8WDnUdVTXcdhN8kifUe1C4g97Cv-JzHYyNu5e5m17W_irlkPDoxhbTyDsLcaJ70cTccjS8iZepxRgLErj_pyqXPuC6cp4Cbrkn2lP9bqWWzEl2LO6CEHXrseQN6-/s400/4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSCtXxQpqJMWLLZqsvje-V0Mfalj5QeeCOWDexAnOhh9C6OV3_NlRC6YOpmHmDwJ8Tjply3DzjYyIfVjiihOiLclOoCtYunHU20oUn7v5XS3aWBD_VXRgCnKQLcjffVmYxvlI7K6tmfg_/s1600/3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456763791200748290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 295px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSCtXxQpqJMWLLZqsvje-V0Mfalj5QeeCOWDexAnOhh9C6OV3_NlRC6YOpmHmDwJ8Tjply3DzjYyIfVjiihOiLclOoCtYunHU20oUn7v5XS3aWBD_VXRgCnKQLcjffVmYxvlI7K6tmfg_/s400/3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObcyrhn4r2CRiOomQIIVyd8RRuB1c-P9lFI8BuQfJutIvJMQbma_aRqXeD6dRl191MI7NuVS5lbnKdPQsV2sTX8F-IYOLlZQh8T-GAvgKIR98gHPdpobxhzbMl4PjpkjLnzWRsoenTj4x/s1600/7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456763782914946546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 289px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObcyrhn4r2CRiOomQIIVyd8RRuB1c-P9lFI8BuQfJutIvJMQbma_aRqXeD6dRl191MI7NuVS5lbnKdPQsV2sTX8F-IYOLlZQh8T-GAvgKIR98gHPdpobxhzbMl4PjpkjLnzWRsoenTj4x/s400/7.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-32982892809650665722010-04-08T00:00:00.000-07:002010-04-08T00:00:06.594-07:00Thursday Things Thin Girls Know, Archive Edition: Leah Watson<div align="center">Today's Thin Girl is a Miss Leah Watson from Denver, Colorado. Leah maintains a strong, healthy body through constant exercise, a healthy diet, and guilt about drinking malts. She shares her thoughts on being thin with us:</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGpG8H_5WjptWyP2p1lRsastRqKtFYKgw6dAHbTUu0ZbAwQmKqUhBvlv6RkQnGll6c7MJg-O8oYiwCmxbdUnRkAd1HwVz41bX1yjTuOCjgWeWayLSnhh3FEWX2Ioi7EzLnfzvj9z_ZB0z/s1600-h/leah.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364316063881609138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGpG8H_5WjptWyP2p1lRsastRqKtFYKgw6dAHbTUu0ZbAwQmKqUhBvlv6RkQnGll6c7MJg-O8oYiwCmxbdUnRkAd1HwVz41bX1yjTuOCjgWeWayLSnhh3FEWX2Ioi7EzLnfzvj9z_ZB0z/s320/leah.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;">Well, first of all, I know for a fact that I wouldn't have transitioned from childhood through adolescence as successfully as I did without soccer. That definitely kept me from gaining weight through middle school and high school while setting me up for the exercise habits that I have now.</span></div><span style="color:#993399;"><div align="justify"><br />I also know that fitness and a sweet toned body are not things that happen overnight, or because of dieting by itself. It takes time every day (or every other day) and energy--because that's the point, you expend energy and your body responds by toning the fuck up. It's a habit and it won't ever produce results unless you make it one.</span><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthjeByw_XAiOi8eE1o12po2qB1uBwvpEF2QjbG39oDdFEVVPjjtfnnM0UEMd_IKbWRLzJ618oCemruBKGz1DLPBQbi7olYzaIe3iDAnHarLLPlV7kY_Yquyby17fIYhg_c98be6X7Gj3c/s1600-h/leah5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364316056110228114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthjeByw_XAiOi8eE1o12po2qB1uBwvpEF2QjbG39oDdFEVVPjjtfnnM0UEMd_IKbWRLzJ618oCemruBKGz1DLPBQbi7olYzaIe3iDAnHarLLPlV7kY_Yquyby17fIYhg_c98be6X7Gj3c/s320/leah5.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#993399;">The most important thing though is that you figure out a way to enjoy the process of working out, because if your only aim is to be hot (or toned or whatever) then you're probably going to fail-- you have to love the way that it makes you feel after [working out], and then the physical part will follow. But it's not the immediate result. If that's all you're in it for, you won't see the physical results fast enough to stick with the working out.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="color:#993399;">So-- figure out a way to love how it makes you feel and one day you'll look in the mirror and see the results.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="color:#993399;">So suck it up and go to the gym or get a friend to drag your ass out of bed.<br /></span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWRW7dG75oiJQ4Hk0FMxdCaHUuXKeZtu5wyeWapkJufW-zdQqylpW34hdxUhiAdNh5UZ7IdyH4TolnJXNsd_yo7c4DNIJfdvpFG60PkvRtShmFPx6xjkWOG98MCpiByUVoWIg0rcNNGY1/s1600-h/leah4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364316054992934930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWRW7dG75oiJQ4Hk0FMxdCaHUuXKeZtu5wyeWapkJufW-zdQqylpW34hdxUhiAdNh5UZ7IdyH4TolnJXNsd_yo7c4DNIJfdvpFG60PkvRtShmFPx6xjkWOG98MCpiByUVoWIg0rcNNGY1/s320/leah4.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#993399;"><br /><div align="justify"></span></div><span style="color:#000000;">Miss Watson herself has been that friend to drag my ass out of bed. Our conversations often went something like this:</span><br /><br /><div align="justify">(There is a knock on Allyson's dorm room door. Allyson is laying in her bed, pretending to not exist. The knock happens again.)</div><br /><div align="justify">Leah: (in a sugary sweet voice) Come on, little girl. It's time to get up and go to the gym.</div><br /><div align="justify">(Allyson, of course, still does not answer.)</div><br /><div align="justify">Leah: Little girl, little girl, come on, it's going to be fun.</div><br /><div align="justify">(The door opens and Leah enters the room. She climbs on Allyson's desk and begins to poke Allyson, who still has not moved.)</div><br /><div align="justify">Leah: Little girl, come on. (Poke) You know you want to come with me to the gym. (Poke)</div><br /><div align="justify">Allyson: Leah! I hate you! Get out of my room!</div><br /><div align="justify">Leah: (jumping off the desk and pulling Allyson's running shoes out of her shoe rack) Little girl, come on, you know you're going to love it.</div><br /><div align="justify">Allyson: (throwing a text book at Leah from her lofted bed) NO! I DON'T WANT TO GO! LEAVE MY ROOM!</div><br /><div align="justify">Leah: Come on, you're going.</div><br /><div align="justify">Allyson: NO! I WANT TO SLEEP.</div><br /><div align="justify">Leah: (still in the absolute most annoying sweet girl voice) No, you're not. You're coming with me. (Hops back up on the desk and proceeds to poke Allyson)</div><br /><div align="justify">(Allyson groans, and rolls her lard butt out of bed.)</div><br /><div align="justify">^This is an actual event, everyone. I really did yell to Leah that I hated her, and she really did not even care. Guess what? She got my butt to the gym, and I am more than thankful to her for it. She is the person that has set my exercise habits. Thank you, Thin Girl Leah Watson!</div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-11828735445737669592010-04-07T00:00:00.000-07:002010-04-07T00:00:00.218-07:00Watson Wednesday: Where to go?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAsm5BXVYAJ_U_4P0_pkoI_7FEUGyldFAqVG3EgiCnX9V2SeSf_PI1MxEmnkEeB4eldnki1cDTIP8gwPtUFZXRxqsSpSyJOyKlCYZ6VxNga0Hox_kc2Cjyyng3vlTIuiRSBdKy1sR1ItU/s1600/25166_373696646861_599506861_4293973_3749262_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456766337102090354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAsm5BXVYAJ_U_4P0_pkoI_7FEUGyldFAqVG3EgiCnX9V2SeSf_PI1MxEmnkEeB4eldnki1cDTIP8gwPtUFZXRxqsSpSyJOyKlCYZ6VxNga0Hox_kc2Cjyyng3vlTIuiRSBdKy1sR1ItU/s400/25166_373696646861_599506861_4293973_3749262_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><strong>"If you aren't living on the edge you're taking up too much space."</strong></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">I've thrown the usual order to the wind. I'm writing about what inspires me. Last week it was a spirit of perseverance; this week a spirit of adventure and experience.<br /></div><div align="justify">Last summer I developed nodes in my legs, which, without a proper medical diagnosis, were anything from inflamed lymph glands to Hodgkins Lymphoma. Needless to say, in the several days between the surgical biopsy and results phone call, I hoped for the best-- but prepared for a long bought of chemo and treatment, which, most certainly, would have changed who I was at that moment.<br /></div><div align="justify">The diagnosis for me was a good one, but for a lot of others it isn't. </div><div align="justify"><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456766332602258178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNeNivRNZR3hFxb-mMF3C_srTk-SWRud7i4DxQq9ssbTYME_Bp1pzXebHro-J5zaf3Td5WrVKnbn9Qt5_m8oUNNED4akpGPt8_Y8RIYnUzTaiyeFBS63mMoG_FmWahbn7jcar9EquIqMg/s400/25166_373696641861_599506861_4293972_4657371_n.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Have you ever wondered what you would do, think, or feel if someone told you that you were going to fight for your life or die? I forget sometimes that I very nearly experienced that. Do you want to know what I fear the most? That fear will stop me from doing or being something remarkable. <strong>Regret</strong>. I fear regret. Looking back I rarely regret the things that I have done, I regret the things that I didn't. I have no need for regret, only for living. </div><div><br />Face the fear, see the view, take the step. You may be surprised how easy it is to fly.</div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-76662864902386526572010-04-06T00:00:00.000-07:002010-04-06T00:00:02.115-07:00Truth Tuesday: Nutritional Information on the Cheesecake Factory<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwMIIFjE3qmLzUtznvh_Nzl82YQhkzAQUh8pgBDDBYX829hzfJchpjRVuKZkJAWx4zjpW_3XnE2EGG-IY7g3BPe99zMDfaRkA60crN4BgjMoWYpxQQFNDCTk12JZw9HFy5YhmacsnxqVb/s1600/4.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456760337954767810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwMIIFjE3qmLzUtznvh_Nzl82YQhkzAQUh8pgBDDBYX829hzfJchpjRVuKZkJAWx4zjpW_3XnE2EGG-IY7g3BPe99zMDfaRkA60crN4BgjMoWYpxQQFNDCTk12JZw9HFy5YhmacsnxqVb/s400/4.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwki57HL0hjcDmB2nPijiwwglBpo8o3uV8WH8IOHTO2ppw9G7S-TIY-k-4g4_UwU8AST0678Hr9nRt5pS76Sh0dLMtZn-6LHP32uEntLFlVyHluAt-AMadqpWStmOsnD2BRhwrPpOIsSb5/s1600/3.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456760333770430258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwki57HL0hjcDmB2nPijiwwglBpo8o3uV8WH8IOHTO2ppw9G7S-TIY-k-4g4_UwU8AST0678Hr9nRt5pS76Sh0dLMtZn-6LHP32uEntLFlVyHluAt-AMadqpWStmOsnD2BRhwrPpOIsSb5/s400/3.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIZJ28DYcEHBfEycLd3LozLhi7yaJJm-kXdoaDgzoxQU8hg_GjGvd5wvASrgVDZe_-oxcjRDFnMOkC5vzfaeHMNUOX9YnMld-zrbFcKmTFidlMsKhb-F5HYLtA1QnS4yD35tLOgiOMHnu/s1600/2.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456760329023657714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIZJ28DYcEHBfEycLd3LozLhi7yaJJm-kXdoaDgzoxQU8hg_GjGvd5wvASrgVDZe_-oxcjRDFnMOkC5vzfaeHMNUOX9YnMld-zrbFcKmTFidlMsKhb-F5HYLtA1QnS4yD35tLOgiOMHnu/s400/2.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#000099;">I went out to eat Saturday with Abby, Jordan, and Mikayla so that we could all have a good cry fest about our lives and catch up. We planned on making dinner and slowly ingesting copious amounts of wine throughout the evening, but we ended up at the Apple store, and then at the Cheesecake Factory, which was just around the corner. Here's what I have to say about the Cheesecake Factory: I'm over it. Sure, the desserts ARE good. But what isn't going to be good when it's full of sugar, butter, cream, chocolate, etc? That makes sense. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#000099;">What does not make sense is the four pound difference I read on my scale after eating 1/3 of the Fish Taco appetizer, a single avocado roll, and about 1/4 of my Flying Gorilla (which I only got because the name sounded awesome) sans Whipped Cream. Four pounds?! Are you kidding me? I'm over that. Anyway, it was all retention--I'm back down to 143 today, and feeling better about it, but seriously...I am not into doing that with my body. Cheesecake Factory, you are my choice when and only when I need someplace open late to celebrate with dessert. Hell, I could get a just-as-satisfying cheesecake at Meijer (open 24/7) at that point.</span><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-47405146775383461062010-04-05T13:46:00.000-07:002010-04-05T13:53:26.909-07:00Momentary Mondays: Opening<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJp5V_mqrX4upAi6VvKkcUBQQzGf1cUTwKqUjHhe-oeh0Q9ZSA6hEaUwUXw5YT9r-0bNl0MHONq5FwDz0hisJvuS5YuwhySszU-rwvUSpyNZfKiAqcxd4HXt3EDuae1qOTgnpnQSwSGOFz/s1600/1.jpg"><span style="color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456757803434965810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJp5V_mqrX4upAi6VvKkcUBQQzGf1cUTwKqUjHhe-oeh0Q9ZSA6hEaUwUXw5YT9r-0bNl0MHONq5FwDz0hisJvuS5YuwhySszU-rwvUSpyNZfKiAqcxd4HXt3EDuae1qOTgnpnQSwSGOFz/s400/1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#006600;"> I was reading through my Anne Bogart notes last night, accidentally. The "accident" part of finding the notes ended up being compelling enough that I really hit on some good stuff. For example, Anne says that the best actor training is to pick six really difficult things to do a day. When those six things get too easy, pick six more. Be brave enough to find the challenge.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#006600;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#006600;">Later on in the notes, I came across another quote: "When we become satisfied, we begin to die very quickly." Hmm. That may not be the exact quote, but it's along the same lines of find new ways to challenge yourself.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#006600;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#006600;">I've been dealing with my fear a lot lately. Not in ways that show my Warrior self bucking up against my Cowering self, but more in ways that show my Serene self looking at the large and vast contradictions I as Myself cannot help but have and create. Those contradictions, and the space between them, is terrifying. But I face it in order to grow.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#006600;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#006600;">Today I left the house with a few goals in mind. For today, attend all of my classes, go to yoga, run 4 miles, prepare properly for rehearsal, and have at least four lines of dialogue with another person I will never see again. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#006600;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#006600;">The last was the hardest, because I have never really actively attempted it. I opened up to the possibilities, and met Leroy, a construction worker for 17 years in Cincinnati. We talked about yoga. :) So today, do the same. Face a small fear, and conquer it. It's really not so bad. :)</span><br /></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-64620786923559937372010-04-03T20:48:00.000-07:002010-04-05T14:03:50.758-07:00Soapbox Sunday: A String of Somewhat Related Questions, Answered<div align="justify">Hey, Blogoworld! Wow, I've been offline for a couple of days now. I'm telling you what, the first week of classes can certainly do that. Well, here I am, and I'm very happy to be here. Here's a few of your questions, answered. And by "your questions," I really mean, "putting the things I want to say in a fun format for me."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>Allyson! Where have you been for the past few days?</strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Well, Blogoworld, I've been settling into my new life. New classes, new home, new schedule, new relationship status, new braces configuration, new(ish) rehearsals...It's all very time-consuming, and painful (especially in the case of the braces.) I am so sorry for leaving you 26 loyal followers in the dust. :( My computer is also as old as time itself, so blogging is somewhat of a time-consuming task. I am sorry!</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>That's okay, Allyson. We know things happen. So let's go back to the basics of this blog...why are you the Smelly Girl?</strong> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Oh, Blogoworld, how that title haunts me. It harkens back to my freshman year, the year I became aware of nutrition, exercise, and the precarious balance of all of them. I hath not know that girl scout trefoil cookies were so addicting, and I hath not been tested on the perils of thus. I began working out to combat the food. And I was always smelly because I was always coming from the gym</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>What has your weight loss been like?</strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Well, it wasn't so great for awhile. It's taken me months to really begin understanding what works for me, but currently, I've been nailing it down solid! I've lost a total of eleven pounds since the beginning of my weight loss journey, and I'm still going strong. I'm thirteen pounds away from my goal weight of 130, and I've got 13 post-it notes just chillin' out on my wall, waiting to be pulled down.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>What do you think about the Chees</strong><strong>ecake Factory, Allyson?</strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Gosh, it's a good thing you asked, Blogoworld, because I was just thinking about this. Man...the Cheesecake Factory kind of sucks. I mean, even if you buy the Fresh Fish Tacos (without the creamy avocado sauce), and only eat kind of one of them, and then the guacamole and tomato things, and a little bit of an incredibly over-priced drink, you still feel like you've ingested a month's worth of crap calories. (Crap calorie = anything that does not truly contribute to overall health and fitness). I mean, sure, the Cheesecake Factory is open late, is commercial (so it's easy to sit in), has lots of variety, and seems like a good idea....but it's not. Friends, let's not go there again soon.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>Well, Gosh, Allyson! You sound like you're doing pretty well right now!</strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I sure am, Blogoworld, I sure am. I'm excited for weight loss (even as I treat myself to Easter candy), excited for my life, excited to be living. Cool.</div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-23789498306395703652010-03-31T00:00:00.000-07:002010-03-31T00:00:06.463-07:00Watson Wednesday: Because I Forgot<div align="center"><a href="http://amazing-sky-screensaver.smartcode.com/images/sshots/amazing_sky_screensaver_27043.jpeg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 640px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 480px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://amazing-sky-screensaver.smartcode.com/images/sshots/amazing_sky_screensaver_27043.jpeg" /></a><br />I'm keeping it short and sweet this week, dear readers. When things get fast and furious, sometimes it is best to just keep it simple. Take time to look. To explore. To discover.<br /><br />“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.”<br /><br />Look up and dream big. The stars are the limit.</div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-59461363202795505122010-03-30T00:00:00.000-07:002010-03-30T00:00:00.506-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Y58sfQVikTD5Ed58cNvnIHaI-4-O36NIELgmK_tVsQKnP8tCQ6qw4sCMweqZFVYRHguX2i2ca5k6o0rXeHIRGXJc-80Nt2WCeDyIKtwezmlH2IBpIXPXRum6u3XimYaoUNImOoHXNIGa/s1600/BBQ_sauce.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Y58sfQVikTD5Ed58cNvnIHaI-4-O36NIELgmK_tVsQKnP8tCQ6qw4sCMweqZFVYRHguX2i2ca5k6o0rXeHIRGXJc-80Nt2WCeDyIKtwezmlH2IBpIXPXRum6u3XimYaoUNImOoHXNIGa/s400/BBQ_sauce.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454082272129492786" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Going to a BBQ? I wish!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Know what's in your sauces as you reach for them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; "><li style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Kansas City: Thick, tomato-based sauce with lots of brown sugar. Use sparingly.</span></span></li><li style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Memphis: A well-balanced sauce made with both tomato and vinegar.</span></span></li><li style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">North Carolina: Vinegar-based sauce with a kick of spice from cayenne pepper. Go nuts.</span></span></li><li style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">South Carolina: Also tangy, but made from mustard; a little sweeter than its northern cousin.</span></span></li><li style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: none; list-style-image: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Texas: Spicy tomato-based sauce blended with peppers and cumin.</span></span></li></ul></span></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-58686228437297402222010-03-28T21:21:00.000-07:002010-03-28T21:30:35.662-07:00Momentary Monday: Love Thineself<a href="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.133701978.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 406px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 657px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.133701978.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Today, like every day here at <a href="http://www.asmellygirl.com/">http://www.asmellygirl.com/</a>, is an especial day for self-love and appreciation. If you felt like serenading, serendade yourself. Poetry is especially welcome, and all forms of flattery appreciated.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Here's your task for today. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Make a list of all the reasons why you are especially scintillating. Do not stop until you run out of things. Once you do run out of things you are good at/like about yourself/just kinda think are interesting, pause....get some lemonade, then come back and write down all the things you thought of while you were having some lemonade.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>If you'd like to be entered to win this cute pair of earrings, publicly follow my site using the "Follow" tool on the right side of the page, and list your top five reasons for being as fantastic as you are. The most interesting, determined by my roommate, will win the ear gear!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Have a happy Monday, blogoworld.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Allyson</div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-40014094161628475682010-03-27T00:00:00.000-07:002010-03-27T00:00:05.046-07:00Saturday Success Story: How to Not Spend a Night Frozen in a Car in a Blizzard Outside your Pal's House<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Hello Blogoworld! I promised this great story, and here it is.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">So, here we go. First and foremost, I've spent not as much time as I would've hoped with the dear Leah Watson from our very own Watson Wednesdays. We've done much great fitness work within that time! Apparently, CorePower Yoga offers a free week of classes to any and all, and we certainly have made great use of this within the past few days. God, yoga is something we've got to talk about soon. Discipline. Training. Focus. Intensity. Things I love. We took a hot yoga class last night, and just let me tell you that I sweated my balls off.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Secondly fantastic about being with the Miss Watson is the wonderful chemistry that allows us both to really get our goals set, regardless of the topic. We discussed our "five year goals" (with her mom, no less, another kick ass woman of exponential proportions), and I really am set to go for the next month, life-wise. Here's what I've got coming up: </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">1) since I'm on the go, anyway, all the time, packing my food conclusively in calorie-labeled containers. I want to know what I'm eating, and I really want to learn how to budget my eating based off of my body's needs. I like this idea, but am a wee bit hesitant to run with it. I'm sure it won't be a problem...but anyone got any advice to share? That might help me refine this idea, and it certainly can use some refining.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">2) Getting a yoga pass. When I was in high school, oh so many years ago, I was the captain and number one in command of the Farmersville Farmerettes Drill Team. Yes, it IS as intense as it sounds. :P Anyway, I loved the discipline and focus of practicing every day, the stretching and resistance that came with movement, and I am pumped to now find another option that allows me to fulfill what I liked most about dance. Yes, I have done yoga before. No, I have never regularly attended classes. Here we go!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">3) Hey! I'm signed up for cardio classes at school! Again! It's the greatest way to really work on what is important to me and my career--my body. I'm pumped.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">And now...on to the title of this blog post.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Two or three moons ago (and by "moons," I mean days), I made an asshole out of myself in Portales, New Mexico on the tail end of my break-up, and finally came to terms with the fact that the healthiest thing for me to do was leave. So I left. Watson herself wasn't due in to Denver until Wednesday afternoon, and it was, in fact, Monday morning. I trailblazed my way up to Denver, anyway, eating guacamole and chugging water. Eventually, that combo wasn't quite satisfying, as I am sure, you, dearest, fittest, reader understand. :) Anyway, I ended up staying with some incredibly distant relatives on the fly. For their hospitality and just gosh darn niceness, I am truly grateful. Eventually, it was time to leave their home. So I did. :D</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">I decided to leisurely spend the day in downtown Denver. I went to the amazing Body Worlds exhibit, looked at some muscles, some lungs, some fat, some hearts, some babies, some organs, and then spent awhile getting in some "exercise" at the Cherry Creek Mall. And then I left.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">This is when the blizzard began.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">The snow fell. The visibility increasingly got worse. Quickly. I ended up turned around, backwards, flip flopped around in my little suzuki reno (which, may I add--is NOT a great car for Denver Blizzards).</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Watson talked me through directions to her house. Her mom had just finished a half-marathon (I told you---KICK ASS) in Moah, Iowa, and was trapped on the highway. Watson's flights were canceled, and she was stuck in Las Vegas. But I was there, and I was given every welcome to park, find the spare key, get myself into the house, and make myself at home.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Here's the thing about Watson's home: It is impossible to get into. Ya see, Watson's dad is a smart man. He proofed that thing within an inch of its life. Furthermore, the snow was blanketing everything. I was given specific directions to the so-called key, and was absolutely LOST in the heavy blankets being thrown on my head and on everything around me. The phrase, "needle in a hay stack" kept popping into mind.......there's something to be said for searching for a key in a blizzard.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Anyway, this story gets more intense. Ya see, I had forgotten, but apparently my cell phone drops any, and ALL, functions within ten feet of Watson's property line. Watson certainly talked me through directions to her house, but as soon as I parked, we dropped the line. I got out, scrambled around, tried scaling the nine foot fence surrounding her house, could not, went back to my car, tried to get ahold of her, realized I had no reception, drove two blocks, parked, and called her back.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Of course, she is hunting down her own back, so I sit frigid and wet in my car for forty minutes till we can touch base again.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">She gives me directions to the back of her house, talks me through a three-step procedure while I take diligent notes for getting through the back, we hang up, and I attempt again. No luck. I back track, drive around the block, call her back.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">We try again. Now, Watson is in the middle of securing a cheap hotel for a spontaneous night in Vegas (...), playing middle man to her mom who is trapped on the highway up in the mountains because of the blizzard, and trying to get me into her house. She gives me directions again, and this time (upon driving back, of course) I was able to break past the garage, sneak past the falcon tethered there, and start a mad scramble around the back yard for the damn key. NOTHING. The snow has blanketed everything.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Believe me, I searched. There are a lot of details being left out here, simply for the fact that my mind has needed to block such adventure from my mind. But the yard was wrecked. I searched my little heart out.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">I trod off to hop in my car, drive away, and call Watson again.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">This happens three more times. The first (of many), she asks me to search the front yard. Search the old hiding spots. The second time, I'm given directions to a nearby neighbor's house....who is out of town. The third, we break back through and search every nook and cranny of their damn yard. :)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Each of these conversations is spaced out. We're both flying around, and we have at least thirty minutes between each attempt. The neighbors have called Watson's dad, alerting him to the terrifying shadow lurking on and around their property, and he is helpless. He's working a 24 down at his station, quite some distance off. Finally, I go to a bar. And sit.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">And Watson comes up with a master plan! She calls a friend, he agrees, and I drive 20 mph for the next hour and a half to meet and spend the night with a fantastic Brian Kief, my newest dearest friend. :)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Huh. Exercise wise, that WAS quite an adventure. I was frozen, wet, sweating. I was wearing summer jeans, and thank God I changed into my cowboy boots. The whole while, I kept thinking about how funny this entire situation was, and how I would love to share it (and play damsel-in-distress) for the Former Love of my Life. And then, that just seemed too silly to handle. My jack-assery in Portales came about only because I wasn't comfortable with how strong I felt throughout the whole situation. Believe me, I know I can stand on my own two feet...but knowing it while doing it was something I just wasn't used to. Wow. And sitting here in the middle of a Denver blizzard, telling Watson I was perfectly happy to sleep in my vehicle in front of her car, having her respond that I just didn't understand, and knowing that it didn't matter whether or not I really understood, was a great way to remember I was alive, living, and really happy with who I am. Strength is practiced, learned, trained for. I had been training my heart for awhile, and it was ready for me. Way to be a champion. :) </span><br /></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-22151109445390850512010-03-26T07:37:00.000-07:002010-03-26T07:39:41.583-07:00The Friday Find: Today is the Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJNzcnuHUkYNO8jdepF18HXKKQk-_DA4zfEbn_JY9MozG8rBCYKxbi56vUkWYmmU-iSMyKuI0PUVhknACV5-R2p8nkdrUTRdOolgl_JBChev4KV1rqvvIERDFlCMKnBUlHZYKqoqy3hTv/s1600/skydiving-photography.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJNzcnuHUkYNO8jdepF18HXKKQk-_DA4zfEbn_JY9MozG8rBCYKxbi56vUkWYmmU-iSMyKuI0PUVhknACV5-R2p8nkdrUTRdOolgl_JBChev4KV1rqvvIERDFlCMKnBUlHZYKqoqy3hTv/s400/skydiving-photography.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452952140090043922" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">FOR SKYDIVING.<br /><br />If I am still alive, I'll post you all up soon.<br /><br />I love you, Blogoworld.<br /></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-72262069724328878752010-03-24T13:24:00.000-07:002010-03-24T13:26:39.369-07:00The Watson Story<div align="justify">Hey all! Watson spent last night in a hotel in Vegas. Surprisingly, she got snowed in, as did most of the midwest and west, and won't be back till tonight. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Guess what though? I'm totally at her house. I even slept in her bed. Crrrreeeepy!</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Our West/Watson Reunion is about to be in full swing, so stay tuned. Tomorrow I have a great story for you about the Night I Almost Spent in my Car in a Colorado Blizzard.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">All my love!</div><div align="justify">Allyson</div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-90088403274566325842010-03-23T00:00:00.001-07:002010-03-23T00:00:08.741-07:00Truth Tuesday: Just a Little Quip about Soba vs. Udon Noodles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaCZUYhoYOhmYWCHvBlzCabwlbPe5BUTEEFAU4vKK6x5kXfUsl0-21QeRvSbvKX71u5XLR-DkYtSaV56va2Uq3BMqR1IfMQlhZh8bwV3oZL20AxN_Uy4HVP3shl1WPgrFM-21PbnxJspW/s1600-h/soba.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 347px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451466191773286690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaCZUYhoYOhmYWCHvBlzCabwlbPe5BUTEEFAU4vKK6x5kXfUsl0-21QeRvSbvKX71u5XLR-DkYtSaV56va2Uq3BMqR1IfMQlhZh8bwV3oZL20AxN_Uy4HVP3shl1WPgrFM-21PbnxJspW/s400/soba.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center">Soba noodles are thin buckwheat noodles, while udon are thick and wheat-based. Think of udon like normal spaghetti, while soba can save you calories and boost your fiber intake.</div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-12888959550589588172010-03-23T00:00:00.000-07:002010-03-23T00:00:08.904-07:00Truth Tuesday: Jimmy Johns for Non Meat-Eaters<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPDT_3incglQTuRKlEgS4TeeLWEvZNFN04K1RUDtFjXDYWvps4wDi6VALAbnO46RDngBAylDvDtGFER9uR5IESFTFpGNqaiZBvg19mZRH5MNxvX43X73YDXh83ZkvTlnjAtohvSs4k0uL/s1600-h/jimmyjohn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPDT_3incglQTuRKlEgS4TeeLWEvZNFN04K1RUDtFjXDYWvps4wDi6VALAbnO46RDngBAylDvDtGFER9uR5IESFTFpGNqaiZBvg19mZRH5MNxvX43X73YDXh83ZkvTlnjAtohvSs4k0uL/s400/jimmyjohn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450497512927237010" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;" class="article_collection_article">This is Jimmy John, himself. Terrifying.<br /></div><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gourmet Veggie Club</span><br />856 calories<br />46 g fat (15 g saturated fat)<br />1,500 mg sodium</p> <p>Jimmy John's is liberal with the mayo-Hellmann's alone adds 25 grams of fat to your lunch. Stick with mustard and win back all 25 grams.</p> <p><strong>Eat This Instead!</strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vegetarian sub</span><br />Avocado spread, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts<br />290 calories<br />1.5 g fat (1 g saturated fat)<br />628 mg sodium</p>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-31074108757381160962010-03-22T07:28:00.000-07:002010-03-22T07:31:05.660-07:00Momentary Mondays: Get Yourself Out of a Dangerous Situation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI9smLb09xfxnxi4133-_G21eSEYdyKCuBjHEYx_ITiWOUJ6nV5w4LD-rQHE5aV5nsYLY2KuE5SrB1VMtUyZB37fj6YoFod0EAQ4FMxIzzt5Lp-b4quMgrUZQznnAgTVW1SpqLxXV0uv3/s1600-h/dangerous+situation.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 335px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451465254495324594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI9smLb09xfxnxi4133-_G21eSEYdyKCuBjHEYx_ITiWOUJ6nV5w4LD-rQHE5aV5nsYLY2KuE5SrB1VMtUyZB37fj6YoFod0EAQ4FMxIzzt5Lp-b4quMgrUZQznnAgTVW1SpqLxXV0uv3/s400/dangerous+situation.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#663366;">Hey all! By a bizarre fluke, I spun out across the ice on my way to the Grand Canyon, thirty miles outside of Kaiao's house. Thank God he was gone. Anyway, I was hopeful, so I waited around for him to get home, and we talked. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#663366;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#663366;">....and now it is time for me to leave. So. When you're in a dangerous situation, and you know it, get yourself out of it. Don't be a dummy, like this one. :)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#663366;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#663366;">See you all! Wish me luck!</span></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-61078170791109475782010-03-22T00:00:00.000-07:002010-03-22T00:00:02.385-07:00Momentary Mondays: Six Hard Things<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7CxHpAdoR2WL0_PNb5el39hJzrIpL4wz0jZC7z_KVK7mMfgHDfTGxXjsPbaMiBTAvgtRX_qjuWA6DJprOgS8nHmiNoNJazD-XRTEw01tWbvrSdeKsyvha9u3hyphenhyphen7XDEFrgHmxSzkhE1Bj/s1600-h/anne.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7CxHpAdoR2WL0_PNb5el39hJzrIpL4wz0jZC7z_KVK7mMfgHDfTGxXjsPbaMiBTAvgtRX_qjuWA6DJprOgS8nHmiNoNJazD-XRTEw01tWbvrSdeKsyvha9u3hyphenhyphen7XDEFrgHmxSzkhE1Bj/s400/anne.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450495927094805218" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Today, you must make a list of six nearly-impossible things to do. This is the best actor training, says Anne Bogart. :)<br /><br />In fact...do this every day. When it becomes too easy, change it. Make it harder. Challenge yourself.<br /><br />What's on your list?<br /></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-63881262162285232892010-03-21T00:00:00.000-07:002010-03-21T00:00:05.714-07:00Soapbox Sunday: Hawaii is RIGHT<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVcGcfGyHYlDdqIPx-Ni0uRDBhIPrbHyV6WM3DPQwLePqglYAIU55utFejaJh-9OqN6z_W5Dcdh88qPGiiARo3gffHqoVnflLoQIHQCTtvZu7LLwVhzHthTpdMrkG86NdvSiBuKI6Bgsx/s1600-h/Puhaku+Beach+Sunset_Molokai,+Hawaii.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVcGcfGyHYlDdqIPx-Ni0uRDBhIPrbHyV6WM3DPQwLePqglYAIU55utFejaJh-9OqN6z_W5Dcdh88qPGiiARo3gffHqoVnflLoQIHQCTtvZu7LLwVhzHthTpdMrkG86NdvSiBuKI6Bgsx/s400/Puhaku+Beach+Sunset_Molokai,+Hawaii.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450494935322036754" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Ahhh...many, many months ago, I had a strong desire and passion to once again visit my dearest, most beloved Hawaii.<br /><br />And, damn it, Blogoworld, if I am not going to do just that. :D<br /><br />Two days ago, I was diligently checking the flight prices of a flight from DFW to HNL (that's Honolulu.....as in....Honolulu, HAWAII.) And the price was remarkably LOW! Can you believe it?! 680 dollars for a flight. to. Hawaii.?! I just about passed out. That flight is 200 dollars cheaper than I've seen it anywhere else!<br /><br />Of course I bought it immediately.<br /><br />Are my plans for Hawaii finalized? Of course not. I'm interning with a potential of four theatre companies while I'm there. I have no idea where I'm staying (so if you know anyone who wouldn't mind hosting a lovely little lady for a few days, I'd be honored to hear from you, and ever so grateful), and I certainly don't know how comfortable I'm going to feel hanging out with the Forgotten Love of My Life and his misplaced interest in his fake family. But. All of that does not matter, of course! :D<br /><br />I am going!<br /></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-85476464543392709312010-03-20T00:00:00.000-07:002010-03-20T00:00:02.291-07:00Saturday Success Story: What a Great Feeling to Achieve a Life<div style="text-align: justify;">He<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">y Blogoworld!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I ended up in Lubbock, Texas today, just in time to have a Mom/Allyson day. Mom came to Lubbock to help my older and massive brother Tim get his life in order. The day consisted of a fantastic number of errands, including a visit to the marine and navy recruitment center. What a place. I love walking into those institutions. Military men just look so clean. Hmmm...turn on? Perhaps too much.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Anyway, the day concluded with us pouring ourselves into a booth at On the Border. Apparently, mothering her 23 year old son is proving just as challenging to my mom as keeping up a competent facade is to me. Needless to say, we both enjoyed our margaritas as they deserve to be enjoyed.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">So when I decided to leave Portales, New Mexico (which I did immediately following an expected heart-to-heart with the Forgotten Love of My Life), I had three options. I could</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">A) speak with my friend, Miss Leah Watson, and spend an extended time with her in Denver.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">B) Fly on back home and have some more family time with the twins and Chet. Oh such delightful creatures! I do miss them so.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">or C) Well....why the hell not? The Grand Canyon's only ten hours away. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The answer is.....C. Leah is cheering her mom on at a marathon in Utah, then spending some time in Cali. I do love my family so, but I'm looking for ways to not run home when something incredibly disappointing happens. So, C it is. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I just spent an hour mapping out my destination for the rest of my trip. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Lubbock to Flagstaff, Arizona</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I joined an amazing non-profit recently called CouchSurfing.org. Essentially, it's composed of many open-hearted people all over the world that open their living rooms and/or futons to those weary travelers in need of a place to stay. Am I nervous about staying by myself with a stranger (even if said stranger happens to have roommates, is female, and sometimes is really ye olde?) Of course I am. But, as usual, I refuse to let fear rule my life. How do you live an active life? By allowing yourself the capability to be an active participant in it. Open yourself up to the possibilities, not the probabilities!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I am concerned about the money portion of this trip. Not in its immediacy, but in its eventual course of events. I know I'm going to be logging some serious $$ on gas, alone. Bananas are cheap, so I bet I'll be eating a lot of those. :) Anyway, How does one pay for tuition AND travel? Oh dear reader, we shall see. I was having quite an anxiety attack over this particular conundrum, so, I showered, and then I put my head on straight. I'll worry about problems when they occur. Until then, I'll seize my opportunities and plan as well as possible for the future. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Flagstaff to Denver, Colorado</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">While GoogleMapping my destinational possibilities, I realized that by driving a mere twenty more minutes, I could spend (probably, at most 30 minutes at) the FOUR CORNERS NATIONAL MONUMENT! :D Dearest Blogoworld, I am pretty pumped about this. My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Stevens, first mentioned Four Corners back when I was a wee tike with foppish, red hair. Not much has changed except for the wee part, and here I am, happy and silly with the opportunity to do something illegal in four states at the same time.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">THEN, I drive another eight hours to reunite again with the incredible Leah Watson. I go through the Rio Grande National Park, and I'm pumped about that. Am I going to get out of my car? Not at that point. But I surely will wave to it as I drive by.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Watson and I spent four(ish) days together, sky dive that Friday morning, and Saturday morning, with the grace of my banking account, I strike out for Cincinnati, to once again begin a beautiful spring quarter in the company of those that I enjoy, inspire, am inspired by, and even occasionally love.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Denver to Cincinnati</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">...or, Denver to St. Louis. Where I'll soon find some place to stay for a night, and then...thank God....then, I'm back to Cincinnati right before school begins, and I have another many things to tackle.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Next Quarter is surely going to be an interesting and unpredictable one. For the first time, I have a sizable, juicy role in a show (that I'm handling quite capably, I might add.) The Forgotten Love of My Life is going to be in town for two months, and despite any challenges we face, we surely do have fun, and it's going to be nice having a substantial history with someone in that city for once. I'm working two additional days at Ten Thousand Villages, the non-profit closest to my heart, and even hanging out with a bunch of animals from Africa on one of those days. :) My weight loss is going to sky-rocket; I signed up for two exercise classes and am designing my new room with a silly ode to a scale and weight loss. And speaking of that, I've moved into a new house, away from the Millionaires, and finally...finally get a space to breathe in. Whew! So fantastic! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">OH MAN.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">And then I go to Hawaii.</span><br /></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-10965446762586360292010-03-19T03:14:00.000-07:002010-03-19T03:14:00.100-07:00The Friday Find: My Blog Lies!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DQ3tUPaL-gtCIZEwBl5BlpcmC__h8IdVtLv5_bBDs-djcu5E0HJD21RzEQRxToWcZI9xzMWpKutSELOxFKRLGl2v5H8ElZrMy48X0m0VEyWXVqov6A0PaZyhYh-WYFxChVy721nplspI/s1600-h/SunsetTandem.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449915357436380434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DQ3tUPaL-gtCIZEwBl5BlpcmC__h8IdVtLv5_bBDs-djcu5E0HJD21RzEQRxToWcZI9xzMWpKutSELOxFKRLGl2v5H8ElZrMy48X0m0VEyWXVqov6A0PaZyhYh-WYFxChVy721nplspI/s400/SunsetTandem.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">Hey Guys, so I"m not actually going to FitBloggin' anymore. Yes, this is tragic, indeed, especially since I paid the registration fee oh so long ago. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">I am, HOWEVER, going skydiving with none other than our so-called wicked workout partner, Leah Watson. Wish us luck!</span></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-57159145234415318892010-03-18T03:05:00.001-07:002010-03-18T03:13:44.897-07:00Change is Hard, I should Know<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsaoC6JA0SzXBsGkAGwFpNctMyPyCorRm2EIbzufLxXys0N9ih5FnkPhQTVJiOMFTIP8J5aJjQNNaLI8K7a3jv9g32crotctbmmqxIAg_aqgFO26beCUrZfY87BloXA27dpnrU3HzPHzq/s1600-h/rosie.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449913574333605570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsaoC6JA0SzXBsGkAGwFpNctMyPyCorRm2EIbzufLxXys0N9ih5FnkPhQTVJiOMFTIP8J5aJjQNNaLI8K7a3jv9g32crotctbmmqxIAg_aqgFO26beCUrZfY87BloXA27dpnrU3HzPHzq/s400/rosie.jpg" /></a><br />The Love of my Life has been going through a rough past three months. His work is taking its toll, and his focus has shifted to surviving a job that makes him quite unhappy. In this time, his relationship with me has waned. Substantially. I worked to make things happen, to work on our relationship, to give it the due it needed.<br /><br />But, in three months time, the Love of my Life has lost his connection with me, and isn't sure that what he needs is a relationship, right now.<br /><br />Cue my mind.<br /><br />I've been through one real break-up before, and it was the most horrendous thing I had ever yet had to deal with. This one is different. Kaiao was honest. And in that honesty, lies my solace.<br /><br />Yes, this changes plan I had for me for the rest of my life. Yes, this forces me to adjust to the shutters around his eyes, instead of opening them. Yes, this is making me sit up at four in the morning because I can't sleep. :) Ah well. Such is life. Such are my possibilities.<br /><br />I'm at his house right now. I'm leaving tomorrow, and I'll see him quite substantially in April. But a friendship it shall be, and a friendship is going to be, eventually, just fine.<br /><br />On another note--have any of you ever had your heart scream at you while your outward appearance remains almost perfectly calm? It's an odd sort of coma, isn't it? :)<br /></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-6342129440050341692010-03-17T09:40:00.000-07:002010-03-17T09:44:16.740-07:00Watson Wednesday!<div align="justify">Welcome to this week's Watson Wednesday!! Those two exclamation points should indicate how excited you and I both are to be here this week! Get pumped!<br /><br />This week I have two great songs to sync onto that iPod. It's all about what makes me feel sassy, sexy, and gets me up dancing around my room. After all, how good can a song be if you won't even dance to it in your own room. So, drum roll please! *Epic Drum Roll* This weeks winners are....<br />1) When I Grow Up by The Pussycat Dolls </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">2) You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift<br />These songs get me on my feet, swaying my hips, and singing out loud. Hopefully they will do the same for you.</div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBeJhzu_ZDkf9_uyEEIG5_aVYiLjC7tjeJDMihj5Tbn55gV1Wt4UKbEC-wa74XyVJmRmjYnxZN0Nd3OGazrlELEfIC2Q6LgDAL99xTfaBKkRpVlx1pDzcbGGRBrNBTJe3o9TgO_J5fS19/s1600-h/Photo+234.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449643646147278210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBeJhzu_ZDkf9_uyEEIG5_aVYiLjC7tjeJDMihj5Tbn55gV1Wt4UKbEC-wa74XyVJmRmjYnxZN0Nd3OGazrlELEfIC2Q6LgDAL99xTfaBKkRpVlx1pDzcbGGRBrNBTJe3o9TgO_J5fS19/s400/Photo+234.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHE1IKb3muVI7QiGBm3drgtyouJ4Clz3W884x-UzEh8F7Dn8mAWBc-NGA9UTJthUMkGB2TcC4fVry8DpsK4Mv-n3YHkjzaFkeSVpuRlEfRyh-G_Avaji3Cc3nuGoo5op7-rVcfkwcCzcD/s1600-h/Photo+226.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449643640382338290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHE1IKb3muVI7QiGBm3drgtyouJ4Clz3W884x-UzEh8F7Dn8mAWBc-NGA9UTJthUMkGB2TcC4fVry8DpsK4Mv-n3YHkjzaFkeSVpuRlEfRyh-G_Avaji3Cc3nuGoo5op7-rVcfkwcCzcD/s400/Photo+226.jpg" /></a><br />Arms, arms, arms. Push ups, push ups, push ups. That is how to get it done. They are painful, they hurt, they make grown men want to cry, but they do the job. Why? Because they hurt and because they are hard. Like Jesus said ladies, "No pain, no gain."<br /><br />So how do you do a push up? You suck back the tears and you start from the ground up.<br /><br />Some rather irritating individuals would call these women's push ups, but we're just going to stick with the name Bent Knee Push Ups.<br /><br />Place yourself with your knees on the ground under your hips and your hands on the ground underneath your shoulders. Shift your weight forward into your hands so that you arrive in a modified push up position.<br />1) Check that your back is straight<br />2) Make sure that your butt isn't sticking up into the air<br />3) Ensure that your fingers are pointing towards the wall in front of you and your elbows towards the back wall and<br />4) Decide whether or not you want to cross your feet and lift them off the ground. Once you are situated you will lower yourself by bending your elbows (keeping them in tight to the rib cage) until your upper arm is next to your torso and then push back up again.<br /><br />Start with 5 and try to work up to 3 sets of 15.<br /><br />This is a fantastic way to tone the tummy, biceps, and triceps. <br /><br />Summer's around the corner so toned arms couldn't be more important. Let's get ready shall we? Pull out the tube tops, plug into the tunes, and start toning those arms!<br /><br />Your Wicked Workout Partner,<br />L. Watson<br /></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-53360453886934879472010-03-14T00:00:00.000-08:002010-03-14T00:00:01.921-08:00Soapbox Sunday: Love Conquers AllKnow how I've been confessing my fear of a scale lately? Well, I brought this issue up with Watson the other day, and she simply said, "Well, if you are, in fact, running away from the scale--at least you're burning calories."<br /><br />Obviously, she was no help at all.<br /><br />But we talked about it, we joked about it, and it suddenly wasn't so terrifying anymore. And gosh darnit, if I didn't hop on up and see a total weight loss of five pounds! I was pretty excited. I realized that I was so terrified of the scale because any failure on its part was a direct expression of my own failure, my own apathy, my own not being all that I can be. It's a huge pat on the back, a strong reassurance, to know that my "not my best" is still going where I want it to go.<br /><br />Furthermore, it's a huge pat on the back to know I can go farther. I'm really happy in my life right now. I have fascinating people around me, healthy habits that fuel me, and lots of great things to look ahead to. Way to go, Life!Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375654460488772234.post-75467431074746473942010-03-13T00:01:00.000-08:002010-03-13T00:01:01.882-08:00Blips and Quips: Spring Break<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZ7q8QhipDkC2hmxqnTWtEdVO6H_Ru-EweGo1cGhaYW3sgUz2JPAma2WCtGdwwhjjvhR4S2_kO1TupAsNbOl_O5n5Tbqjdr1CH6hth3Pv-jBaGk11VwGE1_S3un0nhlGe8Xu8HwNd4m9d/s1600-h/10433_152695171861_599506861_3258082_4540943_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447138471020758802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 223px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZ7q8QhipDkC2hmxqnTWtEdVO6H_Ru-EweGo1cGhaYW3sgUz2JPAma2WCtGdwwhjjvhR4S2_kO1TupAsNbOl_O5n5Tbqjdr1CH6hth3Pv-jBaGk11VwGE1_S3un0nhlGe8Xu8HwNd4m9d/s400/10433_152695171861_599506861_3258082_4540943_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#ff9900;">Road Trip! Dearest Blogoworld, what could be the greatest thing in any college student's life right now? Could it be spring break? Oh, yes, it certainly could. :) Could I be having the greatest spring break ever?! Well, it's definitely competing with Freshman Year New York Train Trip, and Sophomore Year Florida/Heartbreak Combo, but...I do believe the Junior Year American Road Trip and Sky Diving Adventure may be the greatest yet! </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff9900;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff9900;">That's right, my loves. I'm going skydiving. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff9900;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff9900;">With Watson.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff9900;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff9900;">How could that get any better? We're doing it to teach ourselves how to be alive. In reality, I have no reason not to. I'm stoked! This is going to be amazing!</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff9900;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Wish me Life!</span><br /></div>Lady Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12167637138746970962noreply@blogger.com0