Happy New Year's Eve (and some fun news)

Happy New Year's Eve!  Whew...where did the past couple of weeks of 2010 disappear to?  I feel like I have so much to share with you all!

First, our Christmas was lovely.  We spent Christmas Eve at home, just the three of us (counting Basil).  We drank wine, enjoyed a wonderful dinner (penne with a garlic and white wine sauce), and opened our gifts from one another.  Jason gave me a Nook Color, which I absolutely love...I've already devoured two books on it!  We spent Christmas Day with Jason's family, and enjoyed more amazing food, laughter, and generous gifting.  I was excited to receive a yoga bolster, an essential oils starter kit, a gift certificate for a deep tissue massage, and many more goodies.  We also delighted in opening a generous gift my parents had mailed to us: a gift certificate for the tasting menu at Volt (the restaurant of Michael Voltaggio, of Top Chef renown), which we've been dying to try!

My big news is something that I actually began a couple months ago, but that I haven't yet shared here.  I have a new job!  While I wanted to focus on school for the next year, I also wanted to find ways to network within the local community, hone my business skills, and bring in some additional income.  So, I accepted a position with a company that I've long loved and admired...(drumroll please)...lululemon!  I love it so much, I can't even tell you guys.  I've already met an amazing group of people (fellow co-workers and guests to the store), and I get to talk to people about yoga, running, health, etc. all day.   And because the company truly encourages its employees to live healthy, balanced lives, we have the benefit of attending any yoga or fitness class at any gym/studio in the area - for free!  With the extra space in my schedule (it's literally a 5-minute commute and I'm working about 25 hours per week), I've had time to focus on school and fit in 1-2 hours of yoga and/or running daily.  For the first time in a long time, I feel like I've located balance for myself as a whole person (emotional, physical, spiritual) and it's an amazing feeling.

This afternoon, I'm ringing in the new year by running a 5K with Jason and some lululemon co-workers (or lulus, as we call each other) this afternoon.  I'm a little nervous, but mostly excited to get some racing experience.  Afterward, we'll get showered and dressed up to go out to dinner at a fancy seafood restaurant and then meet up with some friends before midnight.  I can't wait!

Happy New Year guys!  Thanks for helping to make 2010 the incredible year it was.  Here's to new adventures in 2011!  xoxo

Image via Come to Believe.

A milestone reached and rewarded

Last Sunday, I reached a personal fitness milestone.  I ran 8+ miles without stopping.  As you may remember, one of the items on my Mondo Beyondo list was to train for, and run, a half-marathon.  A year ago, I was more out-of-shape than I'd like to admit, struggling to run even 2 miles at a time. Since setting my half-marathon goal, I've been slowly but surely building my weekly mileage.  I'm now running between 5 and 6 miles, 3-4 times each week, plus yoga, swimming, and/or weight training on days that I don't run.  My primary goal in improving my fitness level and changing my diet was to become my strongest, healthiest self, but one welcome side effect was saying goodbye to over 30 (and counting) pounds within the past year.  I have so much energy.  I'm sleeping better than ever.  I feel lighter on my feet, literally and figuratively speaking.  All of which just makes me even more motivated to continue on this healthy path.  

But for whatever reason, 8 miles has been this mental hurdle.  I'll hit 6 miles, and suddenly my brain wants to intervene.  What makes you think you can run 8 miles?  You're hardly built for distance running.  You should leave that sort of thing to the "real" athletes.   While I'm grateful for my strong yet curvy build, I'm 5'3'' and not exactly leggy.  I know it's ridiculous, but at times (and most often, while I'm running), I struggle with this notion that I'm somehow less "legitimate" than the other runners on the trail.  When this negative voice pipes up, it can feel nearly impossible to push through, especially when my legs are aching, my lungs are begging for rest, and it would be so easy to just call it a day.

So, running 8 miles non-stop was a big deal.  (And in fact, we ended up doing a little more than 8.)  I feel like I've broken through a mental plateau, and I'm now getting psyched for the next milestone, a 10-miler!

While I've been trying to practice mindful consumerism, I felt that a modest reward was in order, so I splurged a teeny bit at Whole Foods.  Here's what I picked up:          

1. Aura Cacia lavender aromatherapy mist

2. The latest issue of Yoga Journal (which actually features Sarah McLachlan, but I couldn't find an image)

3. Locally made bath salts by the Baltimore-based Biggs & Featherbelle (a neat company, by the way...all of their products are free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, and additives)

I'm a firm believer that a reward system can be a fabulous motivational tool when working toward a big goal, health-related or otherwise.  Here are some more ideas:

Treat yourself to a bouquet of fresh sunflowers

Score an eco-friendly Klean Kanteen and sip H20 throughout the day

Spring for a deep tissue massage

Try a new shade of Burt's Bees lip gloss

Assemble a huge salad of organic greens, cherry tomatoes, avocado, cucumber...whatever tickles your fancy and savor every bite, preferably somewhere outdoors

Take yourself on a solo date to see Eat, Pray, Love - and begin planning your next travel adventure

Indulge in a pedicure

Call your mom, sister, or BFF for a marathon phone chat

Curl up with a new book, especially one that speaks to motivation and goal-setting 

(Check out Tranquilista if you haven't yet!)

Pick up a fancy variety of tea...the kind that comes in a tin beautiful enough to re-purpose as a vase

What would you add to this list?  How do you motivate yourself to reach tough goals? 

Images via Aura Cacia, Yoga Journal, and Bigs & Featherbelle.