What People Think....

Ok, this Facebook trend needs to stop, as most Facebook trends, it's gotten way out of hand. But, this one is pretty close to accurate, so I had to share it.

(Except people from my hometown usually thought I went to San Marcos University which I know they were not picturing as a luxury hotel suite)

Let's Get Kooky

I ran my first 5k this weekend! The city of Cardiff decided to honor the infamous Cardiff Kook with an annual 5k and 10k race along the coast. It was the first annual race so I decided to make it my first 5k. I was definitely a little bit apprehensive, anyone who knows me knows I am NOT a runner. But, I definitely ran more than I walked and actually did a better time than I had originally anticipated.

It helped that I had a running buddy and I made a mix of pump up songs timed out to when I thought I might need some extra pep. (I crossed the finish line to Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'). 

Leah and I pre-race (with a roomie photo bomb)

Me at home, with my post-race medal

The Cardiff Kook

Single Bridezillas

Very interesting article. I think those of us in our 20s and 30s, married, engaged or single, can relate in some way to this post (whether you're thinking of someone else or yourself as you read this!)

"Sociologists say that for successful women, there's another factor pushing them to prematurely plan their weddings: Because women of the Echo Boomer and Y generation don't need to marry for financial security, they've hyper-romanticized the institution. It's essentially become a nonprofit venture, aimed at a greater, far more elusive good: happiness. In fact, 51 percent of college-educated women believe married people are happier than singles. Women without college degrees are less likely to buy into that sentiment."

Jet Set Dreams

If nothing else, this blog has documented my love of travel. My Pintrest boards do the same. In 2011, I boarded a plane at least once in 10 out of the 12 months of the year. 2012 is gearing up to be very similar: two trips in February, one in March, two in April, two in June and a few more are in the planning stages. While travel, for work or pleasure, can be stressful or tiring, I love it. Give me a flight delay over time at the office any day. I chalk this up to my chronic case of Wanderlust; if I don't have a trip booked, I honestly start to feel anxious, almost trapped. Thankfully, that hasn't been the case in quite awhile (I'd like to thank many of my friends who've gotten married in the last five years, heavily contributing to my active travel schedule).

So if you're thinking about a cool trip and want a travel buddy or you are going off to live in a new place and are open to visitors, holla atcha girl!

D-Town Props

My alma mater was ranked No. 8 by the Princeton Review as being one of the best college towns, and I wholeheartedly agree!! 

SMU was amazing place to go to school: you had the vibrancy of the city just a few freeway exits away, but spent most of your days nestled in a safe, clean, quiet suburban area. I always told friends and family that there was literally nothing better than walking along the Boulevard on a clear, sunny day....seriously, it almost rivals the beach. Almost.

This California girl will always feel at home walking in her cowboy boots!

Inspired

I've been a terrible blogger. I could chalk it up to my crazy work schedule or the fact that I've taken on some new projects that are keeping me busy in all my free time, but truly, I haven't felt inspired in awhile. Well, I realized that was my own darn fault, considering I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and have a plethora of amazing things and people at my fingertips.

So last night, I made sure I was watching as SoCal native, aka the Flying Tomato, took to the snow at the X Games.

Shaun White is a legend in our area; I remember hearing his name whispered during lunch hours as the kid that my friend's brother's friend knew who was being sponsored for snowboarding...at the unprecedented age of 11. It's pretty cool to see him dominating the sport so completely still. If the Double McTwist 1260 doesn't inspire you, I don't know what to tell you!

Resoluteness

I am not one for New Year's Resolutions. If there is something you want to change, do it and do it now, is my opinion. That being said, when I came across this list of 20 New Year's Resolutions for 20-Somethings by Jessie Rosen, I found myself nodding along in quite a few places!

So here is to 2012 being a happier, more informed, more enjoyable year than ever before!

20 New Year’s Resolutions For 20-Somethings

Jan. 2, 2012

By Jessie Rosen

1. Before you status update, Tweet, Tumble or Instagram, pause and say to yourself, “is it entirely necessary that I share this morsel of thought with my entire social network?”and if the answer is not, “yes, I absolutely must,” then step away from the Internet.
2. Know which candidate you’re going to vote for in the upcoming presidential election, and know why.
3. Enough with the 14-day juice cleanses. If you want to lose a little weight quickly, eat less and exercise like crazy. If you want to lose a lot of weight slowly, do whatever Jennifer Hudson did.
4. If you really like the person you’re hooking up with and would like them to be your boyfriend/ girlfriend, find a way to tell them, and hope for the best. If you don’t and wouldn’t, stop.
5. Find a way to save approximately 300 dollars and spend it on a flight to see a friend or family member who lives far away.
6. Please stop liking the Kardashians, all of them. It’s not helping anyone, least of all the Kardashians.
7. Spend less than or equal to the money you earn each month.
8. Wear clothes that fit you, especially to work.
9. Call someone on the phone at least once a week, and speak to him or her for at least ten minutes.
10. Start preparing now to get over the fact that Facebook is probably going to change again in six months. You’re not going to deactivate your account. You don’t know how.
11. Wait 30 seconds before you look up a fact you can’t remember on your phone, and try to remember it using your brain. This is what the olden days were like.
12. Replace one terrible reality show you’re currently watching with one wonderful scripted show currently available on television.  Swap suggestion: Real Housewives of Anywhere for HBO’s Enlightened.
13. Try that food you think you don’t like but have never actually tried, unless it’s brussels sprouts. They really don’t need any more attention.
14. Cut one person out of your life who you truly do not like and add one person who you truly do. Note: not on Facebook, on Earth.
15. If you’re still blacking out regularly, you should stop.
16. Volunteer once over the next 90 days.  You’ll feel really good about it, and probably end up volunteering again over the next 275.
17.  Tell someone who you love that you love them on a more regular basis. To their face, not in a text.
18. Back up your entire online life onto an external hard drive, especially your photos.
19. Crap or get off the pot. This applies to whatever thing you’re not doing that you should just sack up and do already.
20.  And in the eternal words of Tom Haverford, “TREAT YO SELF!”