Must Reads

“She reads books as one would breathe air.”-Source Unknown

 Recently I have devoured books with an intensity that would rival that of a starving man who finds himself at an all you can eat buffet. I thoroughly enjoyed (as well as highly recommend) the following books:

Proof of Heaven (a Neuroscientist memoir detailing his near death experience)

Gone Girl (an absolutely brilliant psychological thriller) I am Number Four (Trilogy set which includes The

Power of Six and The Rise of Nine) Beautiful Creatures (Set which includes three additional novels)

Sh*tty Mom (a hilarious must read penned by four real life moms)

Delirium (Trilogy set which includes Pandemonium and Requiem- to be released in March 2013)—note: if you enjoyed Twilight or The Hunger Games you will find this set even more satisfying…

Let’s get physical….

Dear Gym- Although I have failed to write (or rather blog) about our recent work together, I have managed to squeeze in at least 4 workouts per week for the last three weeks. While I am fully aware of our ongoing love/hate relationship (consequently it’s currently “love” though this is subject to change at any given moment), I must give credit where credit is due. Not only do I feel better and sleep better, I now have a healthy outlet for releasing stress, etc…….and it doesn't hurt that (thanks to you) I was able to wear my size 4 dress pants to work this week. Kisses, S

Age is just a number

Age is but a number, right? Rarely have I given much thought to dating with regards to significant age differences between an existing couple...after all my paternal grandfather was twenty years older than my grandmother (which in hindsight is a much larger gap than i ever managed to grasp as a child). Take for example my own boyfriend (who is eleven years my senior). This much difference feels insignificant(though i feel this is primarily due to the fact we are both over the age of thirty). From personal experience I believe that a person doesn't even begin to discover who they truly are until they have left their tumultuous twenties safely behind. More pointedly, what I wanted at twenty-two was radically different from what I wanted at thirty-two (after all, our twenties only begin to lay the ground work for who and what we will become). I'm grateful for my twenties (though there is nothing one could bribe me with to persuade me to return to them). I enjoyed that particular time period-they were my post college years and a decade dedicated to discovering my inner self. And yet...they were painful (as growing pains tend to be)...For me, turning thirty meant finally being able to shed insecurities that only time can bestow upon us. I am so grateful to be moving forward and no longer feel compelled to keep glancing back.

The Torture Chamber Day 1

I did it...I finally succeeded in gathering up enough motivation to finally return to the gym.  Truth: it was actually my scale (as opposed to any willpower--which apparently I possess none of) which prompted my return.  It is only by sheer luck that I managed to gain just a few pounds during the holidays (I ate enough to earn 60 yet lucked out with a mere 6).  I am not a gambler and ultimately realize the odds are not in my favor should I fail to take definitive (as well as immediate) action.  I worked hard last summer and fall to shed 23 pounds (and finally return to my coveted size 4 pants) and am determined not to blow it.

Truth: I have had a membership for the last 12 months (all paid in advance of course because who in their right mind would continue to pay (for 9 consecutive months) and never make an appearance?)  Yep-I lost those aforementioned 23 pounds by sheer food portion/quality control (hence perpetuating the myth I could simply forgo extended periods of aerobic activity).  I have a long list of reasons why I didn't want to go to the gym ranging from not wanting to "sweat off" my spray tan (pathetic) to complaining it would be dark by the time I arrived home (note: this excuse only worked once we turned our clocks back thus was only a plausible excuse for roughly 5 months out of the year).

So.....the charade is up and I somehow managed to log nearly three miles on the elliptical machine this afternoon (trust me when I say that no one is more surprised than me that I managed this feat after a nine month sabbatical).  In the name of accountability (ahem vanity) I will be writing about my gym antics (teaser--being the only female in a gym crawling with men has its perks).....

Until then...knock 'em dead.