Chasing the sun.

Just a 20-something, southern girl in a northern wold, looking for her voice and trying to be her own hero.

[justrunningthemaze]

It's not you, it's me...

I've decided to take a hiatus from the world of fitblr. It's just gotten to stressful to feel like I have to post certain things and then feel like a failure when I dont. I've recently gotten into the habit of youtube beauty vlogs, so I've started a new beauty/lifestyle blog. I know it won't be for everyone, but follow along on this new part of my journey if you'd like: Littlebird-bigworld.tumblr.com I'm still keeping this one up so I can keep track of all of you. Don't let my radio silence fool you, I've been stalking you guys daily. <3

[iheartkatyperry]

Prismatic World Tour in Belfast - 05.07

[justrunningthemaze]

CANNOT. WAIT. FOR. AUGUST.

[justrunningthemaze]

Oh! Your blood tests yesterday showed you didn't have diabetes and had perfectly normal glucose levels?

It's your birthday today. So have some (HOMEMADE) rice krispy treats, donuts, and bagels.

And then froyo tonight.

Sugar coma...I'm a'coming for ya!

I mean I'm not complaining, because sugar.

[justrunningthemaze]

My birthday is Wednesday and at first I was excited like I am every year. Excited because the day after I'm flying home and will get to see my family for a couple days.

And then I remembered I'll be getting one less card. That half of the reason I'm even celebrating a birthday isn't going to be there to celebrate with me.

So, I got sad. And was dreading going back to New Orleans for Easter weekend. Dreading having cake and looking around the table and not seeing his face there.

Realizing that the pain is going to hurt 100 times worse on special occasions when his absence is screaming in my face.

And then I remembered how for my dad's birthday every couple of years we'd get him a watch for his present. He wore them religiously. I can remember him being in the ICU this past Christmas and being grumpy because the nurse wouldn't let him put his watch back on until he was released.

And I became obsessed with getting a watch to wear every day and carry him with me. A watch to look down and see his face in the glass every time I look down.

The more I looked at watches, the more comforted I felt. So I just needed one. Yes, I'm an impulse buyer, but I feel better having this on my wrist. So money well spent.

It was between this and a tattoo for him, and I know in my heart this pays better respects and would've made him happier than the tattoo.

I know he would've told me it was a nice watch. And I know he would've wanted the guy version of it after he saw mine.

Now to work on cheering up and realizing that I still have lots of people to celebrate with that deserve to see me happy on my birthday and not sad. 

[justrunningthemaze]

And we also take advantage of the next four days with 60 degree weather by going for walking breaks during work! I'm so happy I work at a company that allows jeans every single day. For a split second this morning I thought today was Thursday and was really sad when I realized it's only Wednesday. Dreaming about Friday..

[justrunningthemaze]

Thanks Monday. You can go away now.

[justrunningthemaze]

Girls night resulted in tattoo time. Mine is the deathly hallows symbol from harry potter.

I am SO in love with it. I keep staring at it.

EEEEEEE.

[justrunningthemaze]

Just your typical girls night with my coworker. Actual pictures to come later. Hint: yer a wizard.....

[justrunningthemaze]

I've picked up this really annoying habit of making my breakfast to take with me to work and then actually forgetting to bring it to work. So today's alternative is this. I'm thankful that my work has a market with healthy selections mixed in with the pop tarts and rice krispie treats. Fridays themselves are great. But seriously, payday Fridays are the effing BEST. Especially when the payday includes that one time I stayed at work until 10:30pm. Here's hoping 5 comes FAST. Happy Friday everyone!

[justrunningthemaze]

Yooouuuuuu areeeee sssssoooooo beeaaaatuifulllllll to meeeeeeeee. CANT YOU SEEE-EEEE-EE-EEEEEEE. The caffeine withdrawal headaches have set in, and I'm so glad I have spark again to curb that a little. This has been the WORST week at work which is expected working in payroll and it being quarter end and all. I am so ready for friday! I really think, weather willing, I'm going to attempt a turtle paced run this weekend. I'm Itching to do races. Weigh in in t minus 3 1/2 hours. Happy Thursday everyone!

[justrunningthemaze]

The kitties kept me company while I did my walk dvd to hit my 10,000 steps today. I had a successful water only day. And praise baby jesus my spark has arrived! I've felt like a zombie all week and I'm hoping this stuff will help perm me up a bit! My mom told me to check out a youtuber who does weight watchers and I've been binge watching her videos. I can't decide my feelings on it yet, her name is 'weight watcher girl' if you're interested. It's almost friday eve and I'm so relieved it's almost the weekend that I could cry. Weigh in tomorrow, hoping for some kind of loss. (I had an incident with pizza and fries on Tuesday but I tracked it and moved on. And it was delicious, so.) Side note: I've had my flex for a week now and have only missed my 10000 step goal 2 days. BOOM BABY.

[justrunningthemaze]

I’ve been consciously trying to slowly eliminate soda from my life. Ive been relying heavily on the whole “diet soda is zero points” rule, but the fact of the matter is that it doesn’t benefit my body.

So, I started off with a “one a day” rule. Last week while I was experimenting with spark, I didn’t gave a single soda. Then the weekend came and I was back to one a day.

But I feel better without it, so I ordered 2 packages of spark (fruit punch and citrus) and bought some unsweetened ice tea mix for a different work week option besides plain water.

I’m also thinking of going to wal mart to get some of their flavored sparkling water bc that stuff used to be my favorite.

Who said a soda free life had to be a boring one?!

So today is day 1 no soda. Let’s see how long I can go.

[justrunningthemaze]

Saw this while grocery shopping and remembering that it was my dad's favorite flavored water, I had to get it. The old apartment keys have been turned over and I'm so happy to be done with that place. In a few days it's our chicago year-iversary so expect a post of some sort about that soon-ish. I've hit my step goal every day since I've had my flex and today I'm sitting at 8,000 steps and am on the fence about whether I should walk around the apartment or not. It's been a hectic weekend and I would LOVE another day just to relax, but I'm determined to greet Monday with a smile.

[justrunningthemaze]

Boom--the "I was at work from 8am-10:30pm yesterday but still got my 10,000 steps in" edition. I'd like to thank my walking breaks at work and walking in circles in my apartment for helping me achieve this. Now onto spending my Saturday finally finishing up packing/cleaning the old apartment. Happy Saturday!

[justrunningthemaze]

I told myself I could only have a froyo treat if when I got home I did my Leslie DVD, so I did. I'd like to thank the 3 miles I did plus the 2 hours of moving things up and down stairs for exceeding my daily step count. Successful first day with my flex! Weight watchers went down 1.2 so I'm super happy to see the fruits of my labor as well as feeling them. I tried the Citrus Spark and it's a contender with watermelon for my favorite! All that's left is fruit punch and Amy has given me high hopes for it...so we'll see! Also gratuitous photo of my Chipotle because YUM. I debated getting the burrito but resisted this time. BOOM. Good riddance Thursday. Tomorrow is Friday and I'm so happy I could cry.

[justrunningthemaze]

Sitting on the couch eating some 35 calorie a cup popcorn and watching Glee. Tomorrow is my weigh in at Weight Watchers. Leanne of 3 years ago would have eaten the 'lightest' food for dinner tonight. Spent hours working out. Have hopped on and off the scale 50 times. All to get the best number on that scale tomorrow. But today? Today its just a number. A silly number I usually associate with success or failure. I'm trying instead to focus on how I feel right now. Happy. Content. In control. Here's to throwing away that pre weigh in ritual I use to have. Because honestly it's all just silly.

[justrunningthemaze]

4 miles on the walk dvd done! Turkey meat sauce consumed. So there's that. This week can be over now...thanks!