birthday week

Goals for May – and April updates

- Mel

I am busy. I know, that’s like a big no-no word these days. I am intentionally busy. And maybe because the weather is SUPER NICE (outside of that tornado passing through on Thursday canceling my plans for running-and-margaritas), but I feel energized by all the events taking place and not the least bit like a social anxiety hermit. One would say (read: my school work) that I am distracted by the outdoors right now but I won’t feel bad about that one bit. (Wo)man, if I’m being honest, motivation for grad school is so low right now… but history says that it will soon peak again.

Image source: Lifehack

Summary and review on my goals for April:

1. Adapt intentional practice to my daily meditation. Ehhhh, no. I’m still doing meditation every day but I am still using nearly session to help me fall asleep. So am I really doing relaxation and not meditation? Likely. I still hope to modify my practice and/or get back to morning meditations. I wasn’t very intentional about this in April but I am slowly making progress so far in May.

2. Visit a new art exhibit or revisit the Art Center. I went to Pappajohn Sculpture Park to view the new Kusama pumpkin, which KINDDDDAAAA fits the intention. But. BUT! Yesterday, I went to the First Fridays event at Mainframe Studios, and it was super fun to explore the space. And we came home with art!

3. Create and execute a (somewhat flawless) one-hour workshop! Executed and somewhat flawless! I’m really proud of myself for rolling with some of the challenges that were presented during the session and tweaked and changed course when necessary. It was excellent practice for me!

4. Visit a Des Moines coffee shop. I went to a Caribou. Seriously. Not even close to what I had in mind.

5. Get my bike tuned up and go to a Women on Adventures bike ride event. I ended up tuning my bike myself the day before the event (take that, procrastination!) and didn’t flake out on attending. It was one of my most favorite adventures in Des Moines so far. I got in 27 miles, got to see the High Trestle Trail Bridge (and a few local establishments along the trail), and I’m SO HAPPY about the new connections I made (I already have another bike date set for June)!

Also, while it wasn’t an intentional goal, in April I ran a .10 mile further (22.9 miles) than I did in March (22.8 miles)! I’m back to running three times per week and doing 20-30 minute workouts that are heart rate-focused. I am incorporating my PT exercises into either my run or strength days, and working with a personal trainer has been helpful to get familiar with the weight room again while also having a supervisor to ensure I am activating my glutes! It takes a lot of mental energy to be mindful about my workouts but it’s all for the greater good of my body working properly. This is my second go-around with a Lifetime Fitness membership, and in March I visited more days that I did for an entire six months when I previously was a member. (Does that sentence even make sense?)

So, what do I have on tap for May? It’s mostly school-centric because there is a LOT of shit to do still for this quarter, like, um… finishing my first draft of my lit review that’s due on Sunday:

  • Find a participant (local athlete or likewise individual interested in performance coaching) for a recorded session. Interested and live in Des Moines area? Get in touch!
  • Find a GROUP for a recorded team building session.
  • Decide on AirBnb for my my upcoming summer internship in California and get that booked (I already have a group of fellow cohorts that I’ll be rooming with).
  • STUDY FOR MY COMP EXAM. Eeeeeeeek. My exam date is May 31-June 1, and… well, I need to start focusing.
  • Turn 41 with grace and positivity (and hopefully with friends and some wine and/or cheese).

Unrelated to school, my additional intentions for physical activity:

  • Do yoga once per week.
  • Return to boxing (YAY!) at least 2x per week.
  • Start running on trails again (at least once every other week).
  • Bike once at least every other week.
  • Practice my golf swing at least once per week outside of my clinics.

Time to get to work.

Weekly Therapy: And then I was 40

- Mel

the week:
mel is 40

weekend:
OMG, HY-VEE IS HOSTING A ROOT BEER FLOAT DAY EVENT ON SATURDAY!

seven things, seven days:
1. My birthday week was lovely, and it was so nice to receive cards and flowers in the mail and SO many messages on social media. Lots of ❤️
2. Pure Barre is opening in West Des Moines (actually, in Clive, but who can keep track of these suburban boundaries!)
3. I bought a GORGEOUS midyear planner from Day Designer (the packaging alone made the price point worth it!), and I LOVE the reminder and tips emails they sent that coordinate with use of the product starting on June 1.
4. I haven’t shopped at Sephora in a couple YEARS… but their birthday gift was better, and I guess Ulta doesn’t have exclusivity on one of my brands anymore.
5. Why so many businesses mess up employee development — my company uses a strength-based development program and monthly assessments, but development is often not referred to until the annual review. {via Entrepreneur}
6. There’s so much of me in this article: The Rise of Run Rage {via Runner’s World}
7. So… this is 40!

Weekly Therapy: Cinco de Runno

- Mel

the week:
Two years ago, I ran my first half marathon in Pittsburgh. Here I am now training for my second marathon. I’m so excited for my friends back in the ‘Burgh who are running this year again — or for the first time. Makes me a little “homesick” for running those bridges. Here’s a little #tbt to the 2015 Pittsburgh Half:

Recycled derby sign!
Recycled derby sign!

weekend:
A friend is coming over with wine Saturday night to help me celebrate my upcoming birthday… which means I should feel extra-awesome by the Des Moines Women’s Half Marathon (followed by wine at Jasper Winery) on Sunday.

Bonus: The Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market opens this weekend! I love their website!

seven things, seven days:
1. Oh, NEAT — I found a running group/club at work!
2. I’m also sincerely inspired by some of my coworkers, after attending a volunteerism event this week.
3. This Relationship Saving Station at IKEA made me laugh.
4. Found my birthday shirt.
5. 40 is the perfect age to prove our physical mettle
6. Fast after 40 {via Competitor.com}
7. And like that, I’m celebrating the last few remaining days in my 30s.

5 Reasons Why I Signed up for the Vermont City Marathon

- Mel

Disclaimer: I received a free entry to Vermont City Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!

pub_vtcitymarathon_logo_highres

1. Because my first experience running a full marathon was so great last year that I knew I wanted to run another one!

2. The city of Burlington is AMAZING. I loved it so much when I traveled there for a derby tournament, that I already declared the area as where I plan to retire. OMG THIS COURSE is already tugging at my heart to see everything again that I fell in love with — Lake Champlain! The Adirondacks!

3. BibRave! I’m super pumped to be representing as a BibRave Pro and VCM ambassador for race weekend.

4. The race is on Memorial Day weekend; and with Monday off, I didn’t have to use up another day of PTO for travel. WOO!

5. Finally: I’m using this race as a reason to celebrate my Big 4-0. Yep, I turn 40 in May. Hey! Today’s my Half-Birthday!

Join me in the 802 in 2017! Here’s a $5 discount code off your registration — use code BibRaveDsct17.

Check out the VCM website for more info about the race. And follow Vermont City Marathon on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | And check our their video channel!

Weekly Therapy: A fine wine, I’m 39.

- Mel

the week:
YOU GUYS. MY PINK CHAIRS WERE DELIVERED. The ones that I just ordered on Monday from Wayfair. On top of all my birthday surprises from the boyfriend (and my furbabies), this was seriously the BEST WEEK.

grumpy cat bday older

But if we’re being super serious, despite some of the shitty and sad stuff, this has really been a good year. And I’m happy that you are here to celebrate all these memories of my 30s with me.

weekend:
Hey, I’m volunteering at the 80/35 Invitational this weekend — a tournament hosted by Team United in Des Moines. You should come out and watch some roller derby!

Birthday week is coming to a close, but here’s the run-down of my week of surprises, aka:
seven things, seven days:
1. My boyfriend special-ordered a gluten-free carrot cake from Sweet Rewards (and even got some candles, so that I could make a wish).
2. An emerald necklace (from the cats, ahem)
3. A gift card to LifeSpa (boy, do I need a massage!)
4. WINE CLUB MEMBERSHIP to Plonk (ALL THE CABS!)
5. This hilarious t-shirt from Raygun
6. This hilarious t-shirt from Raygun (from the cats)
7. And this hilarious t-shirt from Raygun (he’s so silly that he individually gave me one each day, for the last 3 days. I love punny localized t-shirts!)

Bonus: My mom sent me flowers that arrived on my birthday.

Birthday Flashback: Ages 30-39

- Mel 1 Comment

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

MAN. This post was harder than I thought to write! And not because of any weird emotions or awful memories, but because my brain legit sucks. I cannot remember my own birthdays. That’s some bullshit. And this is exactly why I asked for a 5-year diary for Christmas, which I have YET to use!

So it took some detective work (like, glossing over social media accounts and waybacking old blog posts and texting my sister).

And finding hilarious pictures like this:

Birthday-sunglasses_34 throwback

I guess it’s better than passing out in a handicapped bathroom stall on your 29th birthday, eh?

But here’s the lot of what I got from ages 30-39:

30 I remember being SO excited about turning 30 and getting the hell out of my 20s (#bye). I honestly had to message my sister to help me remember how we celebrated because it was completely lost in my memory (I even second-guessed her because that’s how terrible my memory of the event is. Isn’t that awful?!) I can’t even find any pictures from my bash. I do, however, have a 30th birthday CD that was made for me.

Very limited story, because forgetfulness, but we went to Velvet Tango Room and had a HUGE party (apparently the guy I was dating at the time helped me plan the thing — though neither my sister or I even remember who that was). All of my friends were there though. And two of my sisters came in for it. And I remember having either dinner or brunch (widely different memories, no?) with my mom and got a new luggage set — which I still have and LOVE because Nine West is amazing. And maybe the color purple is strongly tied to memory?

31 I had a Cinco de Mel get-together with friends at our favorite Mexican restaurant. I was probably heavily intoxicated on Cadillac margaritas and Malley’s chocolates. I’m hoping that Facebook memories or Timehop will help me recover some of those lost events from a weekend or some-such — or maybe I just kept it really low key that year? I have a picture of me in the salon in Ohio with a fresh cut, so I must have spent the afternoon with my sister (which probably, definitely included some shopping at Gabriel Brothers).

32 The birthday that I went to Vegas… but basically spent it alone. I really wanted to celebrate with friends and after that kind of went bust up (I ended up having an entire hotel room all to myself, unable to get any friends to come out with me; the other friends who I knew were going, stayed at another hotel), I wished that I’d invited my boyfriend to join me. Though I had some fun, it was enough to make me not want to go to Vegas ever again.

Afterward, the boyfriend gifted me a WONDERFUL weekend of camping and biking near Fallingwater (we did a tour of the house and grounds, too). And we kayaked down river and made friends who rafted with Yuengling.

33 With my current boyfriend, again, we got a limo and took some friends over to watch some roller derby; then we invited everyone back to our downtown apartment in Cleveland to drink some Ice Tea Vodka (OMGoodness, I haven’t had that in so long!).

34 Shortly after my 34th birthday, I started this blog! I found myself in a weird space at the end of an odd age bracket and growing out of my “other” blog. Here’s a snippet of my weekend from a post on my other site though:

Friday, I rushed through my morning work schedule, so that I could walk around downtown — it was a gorgeous sunny day. I hit Franktuary for lunch, then wandered over to the Pittsburgh Public Market (for marshmallows and beer). After the boyfriend left work, I met him for a Happy Hour drink at NOLA in Market Square — totally hoping for some outdoor seating (sadly, no room on the patio) — while we discussed our night plans. Which was our first trip out to the Waterfront in Homestead, for comedy at the IMPROV (Jim Jefferies, FTW!). Then, we had WAY too much fun (think: Extreme “More Than Words”) at Sing Sing, Pittsburgh’s dueling piano bar.

Saturday: early rising to join 1,000+ “friends” for the Pedal Pale Ale Keg Ride. Of course, RAIN for the 6+ mile ride from downtown to the starting line at East End Brewing Company (and oh, holy hell, Penn Avenue I hate your elevation). The ride finished off at Penn Brew on the North Side (mmmm, love that warm German Potato Salad!), with thankfully no significant rain during that trip. Afterward, I definitely needed a Disco Nap, if I was going to survive the Dirty Ball. Which was SO MUCH FUN, Pittsburgh. And not an ankle was broken in my 6-inch heels! But there was dancing… LOTS of dancing. The sequins definitely made for an impression.

Sunday was fit for a grump, as I had to wake up early AGAIN (early, at least for how much vodka I had the night before) for a sunny afternoon game with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Oh, lookie there: The Buccos won for my birthday.

AND THEN I DID (something like) 18 LOADS OF LAUNDRY.

#todaywasagoodday

35 I had an MRI because of, what would be, ligament damage in my wrist. (Thanks, derby.) I remember (however, vaguely) having drinks and snacks at the bar at ELEVEN in Pittsburgh with my boyfriend. We did that, like, three years in a row. It was an awesome tradition and their desserts are BOMB.

36 I was dealing with the reality of a skin cancer diagnosis and having something of an identity crisis. 2013 was a really rough year overall for me.

37 I started off my day with a Bird of Prey experience at the National Aviary, and then enjoyed a wonderful hot stone massage. Based on my blog post about that day, it seemed that I was finally feeling less anxiety over my birthdays and my 30s in general.

38 Well, the week of my 38th birthday, I ran my first half marathon! For my weekend of celebration, we partied at Howl at the Moon and WOO-BOY, did we party! And then my dad came out to visit. It was such a fun weekend, even if I was a little stressed out pulling it all together.

39 Here we are, the LAST time that I will celebrate a year in my 30s. Look at how far we’ve come in ten years! This year’s a little different, of course, given that we’re in a new state. And we’ve explored a little more of our new home: On Saturday, we went to the Food Truck Throw Down in the city, hosted by Des Moines Social Club. And on Sunday, we went to Pella to look at the tulips — followed by lunch at Exile Brewing Company.

More on this year’s fun in a later post. But seriously: Would you be able to remember a decade’s worth of birthdays?

Sunday Lately for this (still) 30-Something:: Week 71 (and birthday week!)

- Mel 1 Comment

Blogger Tribe_Sunday Lately It’s Sunday morning and the Blogger Tribe is collectively sharing their Sunday Lately posts. Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy). The prompts for May 08 (Week 71) :: Planning, Loving, Reading, Wishing, Feeling.

Catch up and read all of my past Sunday Lately posts and join camp with the Tribe on Facebook!

39th birthday cake 30something therapy

Planning:: BIRTHDAY WEEK! And then, I guess, planning the 52 weeks remaining in my 30s. But today, planning a drive up to Pella to check out all of these tulips! I know that we missed the Tulip Time festival, but maybe we can catch that celebration next year.

Loving:: I am way over-in-love with a pair of blush pink accent chairs that I found online, which have been delayed since MARCH. When I logged on this morning to see if they were, in fact, shipping this week (finally) as their customer service agent told me in April, imagine my anger when I see that they were delayed once again — and back-ordered to June. This particular site was even charging us for shipping, which was around $160. SO MAD.

Imagine my delight, however, when I get an email that the EXACT same chairs were in stock on Wayfair and shipping around May 19 with FREE SHIPPING (the actual product was a few bucks cheaper, too, which is saving us almost $180 overall). Man, I LOVE these chairs, and while I understand that I’m in no rush to get them… well, I kind of am because I can’t find any other blush chair and I want to finish my living room dot tumblr dot com.

Reading:: “On the Verge” by Cara Bradley (my bedside book) and “Troublemaker” by Leah Remini (my treadmill book)

Wishing:: The boyfriend surprised me yesterday with a HUGE gluten-free carrot cake from Sweet Rewards in Waukee (above picture), which he also put candles on, so that I could make my birthday wish. It’s SO GOOD.

Feeling:: Really loved. And content — not the least bit mad or sad or old about adding on another year.

SUNDAY LATELY: Updating, Reminding, Needing, Wearing, Being

- Mel

Today’s Blogger, May I? prompt follows the weekly Sunday Lately theme. This week is Updating, Reminding, Needing, Wearing, Being.

Happy Mother's Day! (1)

Updating:
Updating my workout schedule for the week, with a return to some light running (yay!) and CrossFit.

Reminding:
I don’t know that I particularly wanted the reminder, but after being thoughtfully forgotten this week, I have decided to stop fighting for people who so obviously do not want to be friends. I have too many GREAT friends in my life to expend my love and energy and loyalty to settle for anything less. Maybe we all need that reminder.

Needing:
After my last few nights (and days) of celebration, I am in need of a sobriety break… and a lot of water. Also, need to get back on track with my healthier eating habits after enjoying a few necessary (and wonderful!) cheat days.

Wearing:
Where my jorts-loving 30-somethings at? I swear, I cannot get rid of old jeans without first DIY’ing into jorts.

Being:
Absolutely, completely content. My sense of “being” this past week has been full of happiness. More, please!

Weekly Therapy: Fröhlichen Geburtstag!

- Mel

the week:
It’s my birthday week! I ran a half marathon this week! This week is also payday! It’s also finals week, but… eh. I’m basically already done (and looking forward to a week off). It’s a good freaking week! Everything with exclamations!

IMG_0439
And dessert.

weekend:
Waking up early tomorrow for a BIRTHDAY MASSAGE. (And then, yes, I can stop milking this birthday week.) I have a party planned at Howl at the Moon, and I’m super-excited about one opening in downtown Pittsburgh. I am a sucker for dueling piano bars and celebrations! Then my Dad is coming into town; hopefully we can find better tickets to the baseball game on Sunday.

The irony is that it’s Mother’s Day, and I’m hanging out with my dad. Have I mentioned that I’m a Mother’s Day baby?

52 books in 52 weeks:
#14: Breaking the Fifth Wall — my boss handed me this soon after starting my new job, and since it’s related to what I do at work I could read it at my desk in between projects. Quick read, easy to understand concepts about knowing the appropriate marketing tools to reach your art audience. I enjoyed it.

seven things, seven days:
1. Uber came and picked up three huge bags of clothing donations that have been sitting in my basement for nearly three years — they partnered with Goodwill for this donation drive. OMG, this was quite possibly the best thing ever. Please deliver me burritos, kthxbai.
2. Bonus: we had a contractor haul away all the excess paint cans sitting in the basement from this house’s previous owner. You guys, I CAN WALK IN MY BASEMENT.
3. Upon forgetting to bring my charge cord to work AGAIN for my phone, purchased this cool gadget.
4. Went to a breakfast seminar, everything was gluten. #storyofmylife
5. Nerded out to Neil deGrasse Tyson last night (!!!). He talked for over three hours and is a fantastic lecturer. I can have him as my teacher?
6. Early birthday dinner at ELEVEN. Disappointed that I didn’t receive my birthday coupon this year (this has been an annual tradition since moving to Pittsburgh), but my meal and experience, as always, was wonderful.
7. Among the generational tags, I’ve never felt the categories “fit.” Oh, but this one does: The Oregon Trail Generation

Never Have I Ever…

- Mel

I always lost this game. And by lost, I mean, got drunk first. It seemed in the days where a drinking game like “Never Have I Ever” was played, I was a little more carefree and took great pride in my stories. This too proper, classy portrayal of an aging lady who writes this now has a past where she played games like “Never Have I Ever”… and sometimes drunk twister. And yes, there was also strip poker on a couple of occasions (err, once in high school). I also created a kissing game in elementary school with the die from a Scattegories game (yes, I was very unsupervised as a minor). But that’s what I used to consider “winning.”

And I try SO HARD to remember who that person was. It doesn’t feel like me.

I wonder, as I’m ticking off another year on the 30-something calendar this week, if I’ve become SO uptight that I’m unable to have real fun. In effort to shed some perceptions of me as a Party Girl, I’ve gone so far to the other side that even I think I’m boring. Is this part of aging, in general, where we wistfully remember “the good old days” of our youth and have fond stories to embarrass your future children? And what if you don’t have children — who do you tell, the neighbors?

I had a pretty bad quarter-year crisis; I’m wondering if I should expect another one before I turn 40. A few months ago, I attended a local event hosted by a life coach, and all my self-analysis during her session led me to write in my notebook the words: HAVE MORE FUN.

My mid-year assessment says “no, I’m not having more fun.” For purposes of perfect metaphors, I’m running away from all of my problems. And if there’s anything that I fear more than getting older, it’s getting complacent.

This post is part of Blogger, May I? — and its 30 days of prompts.