Saturday, January 28, 2012

Battle of the Yogis

Yesterday a friend and I went to a huge warehouse sale for our favorite workout clothes, Lululemon. Now, to those of you who know the clothes, you know how awesome they are, but also how the price tag hurts the eyes (and your wallet). So when we heard of this sale, with amazing discounts we were there in a heartbeat, ready to get our workout clothes shopping on!
We arrived and waited in a few long lines, with our credit cards and i.d's in hand, no coats or purses allowed. We entered to the jams of a d.j. and Lulu Lemon employees clad in running tutu's greeting us with a lot more energy then I could feign on a Friday afternoon, I was tempted, but resisted the urge to buy a running tutu myself, as Rhett would probably never run with me again. We started walking up and down the aisles and snatching up some great finds. As I was looking at a pair of yoga pants, some workers wheeled out another rack of clothes, before a thought could even form in my mind, crazed girls on the pursuit of new merchandise swarmed around me, reaching over my head and shoving me aside grabbing at whatever they could get their hands on, I ducked and made my way out, making sure I still had all my hair, okay maybe it wasn't that bad but it still was quite unexpected, and very un-zen-like. Needless to say the next time, that cart came out I stayed clear. Don't mess with a yogi on a mission, apparently.

When I found my friend she said she had to duke it out with a girl that had grabbed a shirt at the same time she had, luckily my friend's teacher eye was all it took, and the other girl decided it wasn't worth the battle. Shopping can be dangerous, and you must be in top shape to compete :) I overall loved the sale, and would recommend it, but you might wanna wear a helmet.

Namaste,

Bailey

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Parking is A Girl's Best Friend

Growing up in suburban Cincinnati, a good parking spot was when I won the battle with my brother to park in the extra spot in the garage if my mom or dad weren't using it. There were parking lots everywhere, and the only time I ever parallel parked was in my driver's test which incidentally, I had to do twice.
Now that I live in a big city, and have for about 6 and half years now, a good parking spot is a gem, and quite hard to find. When we first moved to Chicago we had a garage spot that was awesome (and quite narrow, my car has the scuff marks to prove it). When we bought our condo 5 years ago, we no longer had parking and the chore of finding a good spot became a constant part of my life. Parking three streets away with groceries, or my laptop bag and teacher tote were to say the least, not my favorite thing in the world.
So you can imagine my delight when I arrived home one day a few days before Christmas to have my husband hand me a small wrapped gift which held inside what has become one of my most prized possessions, a garage opener to my new gated parking spot across the street. I jumped for joy and moved my car in there right away, deeming this one of the best presents I've ever received. Not to say, Rhett didn't give me many wonderful gifts this year, as I sit here and enjoy a hot cup of coffee from my new Keurig Coffee Maker, thanks babe!
To any big city girl, I know you can relate. Shoes are amazing, and diamonds are fabulous, but parking... is a girl's best friend!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Tackling 2012

Well it's now three days into 2012 and my resolutions are coming along quite nicely. Rhett and I went out and got a food processor yesterday, that I am very pumped about and I have already looked up tons of recipes, on my newest obsession, www.pinterest.com. I can just see my 23 year old self looking at this sentence and saying, "Seriously, Bailey? A food processor? What did you crazy kids do next, go vacuum cleaner shopping?" It is funny how things change, right? So to go along with my cooking more resolution I'll be making homemade veggie burgers for myself and some meat for my darling, carnivorous, hubby.
On the running more front, I signed Rhett and I up for the Shamrock Shuffle 8k race that takes place at the end of March. I have been getting back into the routine a bit, but having a race to train for has always helped rev up my motivation!
As far as my blogging, second time this week! I also started writing my novel, and have the prologue done. It's amazing what you can accomplish with time off work! Our school didn't let out for Christmas Vacation until the 22nd, which at the time was kind of a bummer, but now as I sit at the table drinking my coffee and watching kids board the bus to resume school, it's nice to know I won't be falling back into that routine until January 9th! I hope everyone's 2012 is off to a wonderful start!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year

As I reflect back on 2011 I think about all the events that happened, good and bad. I became an aunt again to my beautiful niece Lucy. Rhett landed an amazing new job that he's excelling at and quite happy with. We witnessed some good friends getting married, we did a bit of traveling, and celebrated our five year wedding anniversary.
There were the not so fond memories too, losing both my grandfathers and some unsuccessful IVF's, but I choose to focus on the great memories of 2011. The lessons that were learned, and the gratitude for the newfound strength to conquer life's little obstacles.
I remember getting ready to go out for dinner on our anniversary a few nights ago and turning to Rhett and saying, "You know, this is the first anniversary that I didn't spend wishing, praying, and wistful for a child, I feel very much at peace." Of course Rhett and want children but there is a reason it hasn't happened for us and we both seem to have become at peace with this. I adore Rhett and the life we've built together. I think for a long time, I felt that being a mother would define me, that I wouldn't be complete without it. I've realized lately that there is a lot more to me, to life, then following the path that the majority of the world takes. I know that being a mom would be amazing and fulfilling, but if God has another plan for us, to adopt one day, to be world travelers, to help those in need, then I need to open my eyes, ears, and heart and be willing. I've started to realize that God is talking all the time, but perhaps I haven't stopped to listen because it wasn't what I wanted to hear.
With New Year's always brings resolutions, mine are:
1.To count my blessings every day
2.blog at least 3 times a week
3.start writing my book ( my lifetime dream has been to be a writer)
4. cook more
5. run more
6. go to church more

"My life may not be going the way I planned it, but it is going exactly the way God planned it."

Cheers to handing over the wheel and enjoying this wonderful ride, we call life. Buckle up and Happy New Year. May 2012 bring joy, peace, happiness, and contentment.

Love you all.