A Tale of Two Hikers

It seems appropriate that in my goal to kick up my personal health and fitness, my husband would recommend that we get into hiking. Also seems appropriate that we begin this quest to become hikers in the springtime, because I feel like all the most beautiful hikes are in their best bloom during springtime. Plus it's not that hot yet.

So Tim has been actively searching out hikes for us to go on around here in San Diego, and we are booking some trips in the upcoming future. It's Tim's goal to become backpackers that live for the trail. I'm excited too because, well, I love being outdoors so it should be a fun journey. There are a few things I am a little nervous about. I'll be honest I do love to camp probably most then most, I love sitting around the campfire, sleeping in tents, waking up with the sun its all great fun, but I am in no way a hard core camper. It's going to be interesting to just have a backpack in the wilderness and have to go without little luxuries like showers, and bathrooms eek. Also I'm a little concerned about food and water what happens when we run out I'm not a happy camper if  I don't have sustenance to keep this engine running.

Have any of you done the backpacking thing do you have any tips for how to survive the trail for this beginning female. Do you have any great backpacking trips or hikes to recommend.

Springing into Gear

Wow time flies I really can't believe we are changing the time again seems like winter just flew by, which is great because I hate winters blah so cold and dreary to depressing for this sunshine loving girl. What happened this winter well I'm ashamed to say that I let myself go and let the graduate school blues (that's the depression you experience when you finish graduate school) get the best of me. I lost motivation for things I love to do run, surf, dance etc. So what happens when you get older and stop being as active as you used to, you get fat, well you gain weight. But I'm saying good bye to those stinking lb's and taking my life back, Im springing into gear this month I started by finding myself an accountability partner my good friend Bea and I are checking in together to make sure we stay on track with our fitness goals. I had a physical today at the doctor so I know I'm in good health and I know my exact wt. So here are a few of the things I have learned about staying in good shape.

1. Don't ever starve yourself, that really just slows your metabolism down which is completely counterproductive. 
2. Make realistic goals for yourself.
3. Guilt is counterproductive don't beat yourself up over little mistakes if you didn't make it to the gym one day but made it the other 4 don't spiral into a woah is me I can't do this. 
4. Don't put your focus on calorie counting there is so much bad information out there that companies market their snacks as low calorie or 100 calorie type snacks but those snacks have zero nutritious value. If you are going to eat calories make sure they are nutrient dense meaning that even if there is a high calorie count there are tons of vitamins and minerals in that food that is going to keep your body and metabolism functioning. 
5. Carbs aren't the enemy, but if you are going to eat carbs they need to be very high in fiber, and pair it with a protein because the combination of carbs and proteins together is actually a really great combination to keep your body energized. 
6. And finally most importantly don't do workouts you hate that is the fastest way to failure, if you love to dance do an hour of dancing, (sign up for that club dance class at your gym) if you love to hike, hike, if you hate running don't do it, if you love to do yoga do yoga find something you love and look forward to, so that working out is not as much of a chore. 

Here are my fitness inspirations!!! 

You gotta be in good shape to catch all those waves out in the water!!!

Money Saving Housewife 101

So being married it seems like there is a natural give and take that just happens to take place over time, overtime you just find your self falling into your naturally assumed roles. Maybe you observed these roles based on what you have learned from society or within your own family. I'm a bit of a feminist myself so gender roles are a bit taboo for me but then again here I am enjoying taking up some of those stereotypical housewife roles. For example I love to cook so I generally do the cooking and grocery shopping for Tim and I which I don't mind because it's what I love, (can cooking be a sixth love language I think I'm adding it to the list). Anyways since I do the grocery shopping I am always searching and scanning for ways to save and get the best deal, I do the regular compare ads, clip coupons, shop clearance etc. but my favorite way to save money is by shopping at Sprouts on Wednesdays double ad wednesdays are my favorite day of the week! You get the deals from the week before plus the new deals for the next week. I was so excited when I walked away from the grocery store with three full bags of groceries (mostly produce I might add) for just $13, whoever said eating healthy has to cost more was so mistaken! What is your favorite way to save money at the grocery store, this new wife loves any advice she can get!

My Wife Diaries

It's funny how you hear things as a single girl from your married friends about being married and being a wife and you develop your own idea or fantasy about what YOUR marriage will be like, then once you get to experience marriage for yourself, you realize "OH that's what they were talking about!".

Here are some revelations I have learned from being married!

• Tell each other how you feel!! When you do life together it's easy to wake up to the same person who sleeps next to you and just assume they know how much they mean to you (NOT TRUE) I have learned that it is so important to uplift each other by telling that person how much they mean to you whenever you think it. (if you are married tell your spouse you appreciate them today) 
• It's easy to get frustrated over things when you never communicate your needs. It's so important to communicate your needs even if you are just tired and really need a break or are worried and need prayer for something, that's on your heart. It surprises me sometimes how much Tim steps up and helps out once he knows what I'm going through. 
• Take time to think about what your spouse does right. Honesty time, now I know I am not the only one who struggles with this! I have found in my marriage I forget this one most often. It's easy to feel like you wish that your husband does this or that more, but it's sooo soo important to make an effort to think about the billions of qualities that your spouse does possess.  There are so many things I cherish about my husband, I really need to think on those more. It will make your life so much better and more positive. 
• Finally It is all in the way you present it! It's ok to let your spouse know when you are annoyed or frustrated with things however it is so important how you present it. Obviously they are not trying to annoy or frustrate you on purpose, sometimes when you live together it just happens!! Whenever you do feel that way stop yourself in the moment maybe think through what you are planning to say ask yourself will this come across as criticism? My advice is try the sandwich method, example: I love it that you have been helping out so much more with the chores it really makes me feel loved, it would really mean a lot to me if you could continue helping out with things around the house like ---------- it would be such a relief/help to me even more, since I know you have been doing so much more to help me with things! praise and compliment - need - praise and compliment! See how that doesn't sound like a criticism but it gets the message across that you have an expectation you need met. 

I'm not writing this because I want to brag about how I get these things right in my marriage this is really a confession about things I am trying really hard at doing more! One of the biggest things I have learned about marriage is that it is REAL WORK it's never easy but it is so rewarding when you learn about how to be the wife your husband needs and love him the way he needs!

Date Nights and the Marrieds

So once you get married things tend to slow down a ton. Here's how:
*You tend to go to bed way earlier than you ever have since you were maybe 10.
*You tend to prefer to stay in and just watch a movie on Friday Nights rather than going out on the town.
*If you have cable TV you tend to become obsessed with certain shows (mine are downton abbey, new girl, and modern family).
* Going out with friends becomes a real chore because now you got rid of all your hot going out clothes and have filled your closet with nice mature looking dresses that if you wear out you instantly feel like a granny.
*And date nights become less and less spectacular, sometimes date night for Tim and I consists of going to our favorite fish taco joint and splurging on a drink or even worse you squeeze in a date after shopping at costco and split a soda and cheap meal at costco (dun da da YOUR MARRIED).

 So it takes a bit of work to shake things up and that is why I am actually kind of thrilled about this upcoming holiday, because it requires people like us young marrieds (those without kids because I hear having kids takes it to a whole new level), to work on shaking up the romance maybe wear heels, a pretty dress, glam up the hair and make up and go out in public! I can't wait!!! I have no idea what we are doing but I'm sure Tim has something up his sleeve. What will be your plans this Valentines?

Drinking from MY mug!

Inanimate objects and our attachment to them, are we all just a little crazy! So I was thinking about this attachment to inanimate objects one morning as I was sipping tea through this adorable blue mug that Tim's Aunt made us! And I begin to think about our attachment to things and where does that even come from are we really all that crazy. I mean do you have anything like that?

For me it's this perfect mug I drink out of in the morning it's the right size shape and holds the right amount of liquid and it doesn't feel hot on the handle, and every morning I reach for that same mug even though I have a variety of mugs to choose from. My tea just isn't the same in the morning unless I'm drinking it from my favorite mug.

I feel the same way about certain clothing items I mean there are certain dresses that I have carried around with me in all my moves because I have this strange emotional attachment to them. One of those is the dress I wore to my highschool graduation, I mean it definitely does not fit nor probably ever will again it is way out of style, but for some reason I just can't part with it.

Do you have any attachments like that to items in your house or am I alone in this craziness?

Oh February

This is really a great month I mean come on we get a few monday's off this month we get to celebrate Superbowl Sunday while pigging out on terrible snacks and beer and watching a long long sporting event. We get to celebrate love with Valentines day and every four years we get an extra day to this already shorter month! Plus this February we get to enjoy the Chinese New Year as well as Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras or Carnival whichever you want to call it! And then of course there is the Oscars/Academy Awards and the Grammy's! I mean February itself is pretty great so to all of you out there Happy February!