I'm rich!

Today while I was spending wonderful time on Pinterest, I came across a wonderful quote that is kind of comforting in a way.

After I read it initially I wasn't really thinking about it and then after a little bit I scrolled back up to read it again...and then one more time so it would sink in. I don't need a number followed by a bunch of zeroes in my bank account to make me happy, let alone a job - although it would be nice. 

I have a family that loves me and always wants to see me - no matter what. They've been there for me since I was born and that is just about all I need. Lucky for me, I have more than that even! I have wonderful friends who have been there for me through thick and thin, good times and bad times, boring times and eventful times, etc. You sift through a lot of friends until you find the ones who really are there for you and I am lucky enough to have found them this young. I'm 22-years-old now, just imagine how many years of memories we are going to be able to make together. I have a fiance who loves me, does everything he can for me, and right now is providing everything for me until I can find a job or do something else. I'm rich. Really rich. If my family, friends, and fiance were worth real money I could take care of all of the debt in the world without flinching, and there would still be plenty to go around - for everyone! 

It makes me sick how much people obsess over money. There are, indeed, more things that make up the world. Although, for some people, money is all they've ever known and couldn't fathom having less money because it's been their way of life for so long. I can't say that people should be required to rough it for a while or that they should go visit underprivileged people in other countries, or even our own, but people should stop at least once in their life to think about the priceless things (people) they do have.  

Results?

When I start dieting and training I hope for immediate results - like overnight results - but that never seems to happen, ever! Why should it? You need to work for a while to get a reward, right? I usually give up if I don't see results soon enough but since I am training for something, I can't really give up. It's kind of nice actually, you know, to have something to test all of your hard work and training!

After a little over a week of training for my 5k's in August, I feel a little bit more energetic and I kind of feel lighter and tighter. I have a good ache in my muscles and my feet don't hurt today. I did two-and-a-half kilometers today, which is half of a whole 5k, in 25 minutes. So there is hope that I can actually finish my first 5k in under 50 minutes.

I repeated that little exercise I did yesterday and it wasn't any easier but I know it will pay off since it hurts so much right now. When I push myself to do something that is hard and finish it, I feel so awesome about it - even if it is only four minutes!

Getting from the couch to a 5k!

A few months ago I signed up for two 5k's in August - at the time I thought 3.1 miles would be a breeze but I am learning that one mile for the average couch potato could barely be called a draft (sorry for the terrible wind pun). I've been downloading training apps, just going for runs, eating healthier, etc. and it doesn't seem to get easier. It could be that I am in the middle of training week two, but I wish I didn't feel so out of shape.

Today was a cross-training day and I decided to do Jillian Michaels: 30 Day Shred and then add onto it a little with the following workout that boasts to have similar outcomes as running 40-60 minutes. I will say that it was difficult, but I think 40-60 minutes of running would be harder and more beneficial. 

I've been looking for jobs for the past few weeks, admittedly not very hard, but I still have been looking and I'm coming up short. I can't seem to find anything I would like to do that has a benefits package. I'm not too worried about how much I would be making as long as I have benefits. 

I'm kind of considering going back to school for an education certificate or maybe a communications certificate. I think I need a little something extra to add to my resume. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my English degree from UMD for the world, but I don't think employers are that impressed with it since I don't really have any additional, related experience. 

If I don't have a "decent" job after July 4th, then I think I might turn in some barista applications!

Le Monday.

Sometimes when I have a great weekend, I really hate when Mondays roll around again. Fiance and I went back to Buffalo for the weekend and had a great time! I have a weekend hangover from all the fun I had. I just want to nap all day and watch movies (I would if the couch was here). 

I got a dresser over the weekend and now I have to fill it up - and do all my other things for the week like find a job, clean the house for the first time, and start REALLY training for my 5k's in August! 

Today is Monday and I already want it to be Friday. 

Home-town sick.

Over the weekend I made a trip back to my hometown to see my baby sister graduate from high school - I refuse to call her anything but my baby sister, no matter how old she is! No matter how often she ticks me off, takes my things, or acts like she doesn't care what I think, I'll still love her to pieces. I can't believe she's already graduated from high school and going to college this fall. It seriously feels like just yesterday she started first grade. I have nothing but the highest hopes for her, I'm so proud.

I also took in a full weekend of softball games at my younger cousin's tourney - she is like my best friend, too! I sat and cheered her on in the windy, dusty, hot sun and enjoyed every minute of it. Needless to say, I am a little sunburned now and paying for it. My little munchkin is going to be turning 16-years-old next week and getting her license. I can't believe how fast they grow up - but people said that about me as well!

To top it all of, my little brother made me pancakes before I left on Monday morning! He can be a little rowdy sometimes and misbehave, but he's still my sweet little brother. His pancakes may not be homemade or anything but they were warm and he's got a secret to making them fluffy!

I don't know if I want to get a job - I won't be able to just take off for the weekend if I get one! I kind of like being able to just get up and go when I want to. I need money to do those sorts of things though. Growing up is no fun! Well, except living on your own like an adult and making dinner and stuff - just like grown ups do!

Training.

I slept in today, until about 9:30 when Fiance came home from work without warning to get a piece of mail so he could vote today - it freaked me out. See, I was lying in bed somewhere between sleepy and ready to get out of bed when I heard keys and doors opening and thought our landlord was coming in under the impression that no one was home. I should have known better, people aren't that rude. 

Anyway, I got up and had a few cups of delicious and much needed coffee - waking up was a struggle today since Jillian kicked my @$$ yesterday. I started the 30 Day Shred yesterday and this morning I realize that I have muscles that I don't use on a regular basis, or I haven't used on a regular basis and from now on will be using. Today is day two and I was not enthusiastic to push play but I did anyways because I know that no one gets sexier by sitting on the couch and thinking about working out. After Jillian finished kicking my @$$ for the day I went for a short jog, probably about a mile. Once I figure out how to use my jogging app I will be able to post my run routes. 

On August 11th I am running the Emotions in Motion 5k Run/Walk put on by SAVE in memory of my uncle who was a war veteran who proudly served his country. I am also running the Milk Run 5k Race on August 26th with my soon-to-be-sister-in-law! Honestly, I can't say that I have ever ran more than one mile consecutively, unless I was on some machine like an elliptical.

I signed up for said 5k's because I want to get in shape and haven't really had the motivation to do so and I figured putting some money down and registering for some 5k's would help get my @$$ into gear and so far it's working, but I'm only on day two of training. Hoping this goes well! 

Job hunting.

Job hunting is a tough business. It takes a long time and you can't be too picky the first time around. I've always romanticized my first real job and of course it's a six figure salary and I work the hours I want to work. Of course, we all know that that rarely happens to anyone - unless you are really lucky! 

I've been looking for jobs in the central-ish Wisconsin area and am coming up empty. It's been about a month since I've started my hunt for a job, any job really, and there isn't anything that really suits my fancy. I've looked through newspapers, internet databases, Twitter, and other postings - still can't seem to find anything I like. I got all these good tips for job hunting and resume building from one of my favorite college professors but I can't seem to execute her advice in the manner that I'd been hoping. 

Maybe if I am persistent enough my blog can generate some money or something but I don't think recent-college-graduate-living-at-home-telling-stories-about-what-she-does-with-all-her-free-time-and-sometimes-a-fitness-post is a very original genre for a blog. 

If I don't find a job related to my degree in the next six months I plan on getting into the floral business just because it isn't the coffee business - can't be too stereotypical now. 

I'm an adult now.

I graduated from the wonderful institution known as the University of Minnesota - Duluth with a degree in English which means I am going to live a glamorous life reading literature, writing a blog, and drinking coffee from wonderful parts of the world every single day for the rest of my life. Alas, the real world isn't like that for all English graduates - let a lone any percent of them really.

I can dream, right?

Everyone is telling me, or asking me, to get into teaching because I'm such a nice, caring person who could shape and mold young minds and prepare them for greatness. I believe that could be me one day, but not right now. I could see that happening in the future though when I have given up on my dreams of hitting in big as an independent publisher in some awesome city like Denver or Seattle. Don't get me wrong, teaching would be great as long as by the time I start doing that I have done something that I loved doing and have at least one cool by-line.

I just got engaged to one of the most incredible people that I know and couldn't be happier about it. We moved into a cute, spacious two-bedroom apartment(duplex) and I get to decorate, yay! Finally, all of my boards on Pinterest are becoming more useful and I don't feel like a crazy person for "decorating" my future home and "planning" my wedding!

Mr. Fiance works at a clinic doing software development things, programming, and other nerdy things that I only sometimes understand. I should have gotten into that field - they are always needed and make good money. He has a good job here but the job market on my end isn't really looking that awesome so I am going to either take some more classes or work a retail job - or as a barista - full-time, or at least part-time, until I can find something more related to the last four years of hard work I've done.

Hopefully I can continue blogging since I have all this free time!