Sweat It Out

Three weeks ago I started hitting the gym. At work. Crazy right? Wrong. I love it! Not only does my gym "membership" cost me $8 a month, which by the way is literally unbeatable; I have a workout buddy. We help each other push through the not so fun parts of the workouts. Like jumping jacks, while holding 5lb weights. You are sitting there thinking, well that doesn't sound so bad. Go try it, I dare you.

Here are the workouts that my gym buddy and I are currently doing:
Monday: Butt, Legs & Abs
Tuesday: Arms & Chest
Wednesday: Back & Shoulders
Thursday: Butt, Legs & Abs
Friday: You Choose!


So I figured I'd give you some workout inspiration because there are days when I need it, so I'm sure there are days when all of you need that extra little push to get yourself to the gym, to lace up the sneakers, or to max out your workout! For hose of you that want MORE, here's the link to my Pinterest Sweat It Out board, where I get ALL of my inspiration, motivation, and workout plans! But for now...here are a few of my all time favorites...

I'd rather have a good looking butt than one that sags!

It's certainly a great way to take out any anger or built up frustration. Have you ever noticed that you run harder and faster when you're angry?

You will go to bed with satisfaction, and sleep much better! One of the GREATEST perks of working out and running, especially because this girl LOVES her sleep!

The right frame of mind is half of the battle.

Nothing worth working for was ever easy. Challenge yourself.

Always helpful to remember this, or just imagine Jillian Michaels screaming in your face. Pretty sure that would keep me going!

Like the "Little Engine That Could" always remember "I think I can..."

 

This is why my mascara is smeared down my face....SWEAT it out!

I'd rather be healthy and strong!

As I once read somewhere, "skinny girls look good with clothes on, fit girls look good naked."

Bahahahahaha....I find this absolutely hysterical. But it's so true. If you don't sweat you are NOT working hard enough.

This doesn't mean what it used to mean! And if you can have your legs look like this...

 

 

...SIGN ME UP!

Four Months!

So it's been FOUR months since I've written my last blog. I can't believe it's been that long, time apparently does fly. In these past four months though there have been lots of changes. I am not joking when I say that, I'm not sure that many other people have all of this going on in such a short period of time. So here are four exciting tidbits about what's been happening in this ClaSea Lady's life!

1. I have a new job! Disclaimer: I don't really like referring to it as a job, as I am planning on making this into a career, and the opportunities I could have at this company are endless. I started back in June and have loved every single minute and all of the things that have come along with it. Before this, I was at my previous job for 5 years and had been toying with the idea of leaving for quite some time, but I never really felt ready; more importantly, never felt confident enough to actually leave. Then with the suggestions of some friends, and the support of the hubbster, I bit the bullet. All it took was some patience, an application, a phone interview, a killer suit, two half hour long "team interviews," and high scores on assessment tests...and I WAS IN! Although I made this sound like a quick process...believe me, it wasn't! I applied in the beginning of March and started in the beginning of June. I remained patient and optimistic, two things which are not easy for me! This time it paid off.

2. I have a NEW (well new to me,) car! I am 28 years old and now have my first car payment. I've been fortunate enough that all cars that I had were given to me from my parents when they bought new ones, or that it was a company vehicle. My new "whip" is a black Milan; it's shiny, super comfy, and the things can MOVE! Not that I drive fast or anything...all that'd left to do is name it. Yes, you read that correctly. I think that is something that I've gotten from my father. Is it wrong that I LOVE making this payment every month? Hopefully that spirit will keep up over the next few years, especially as I am aiming to have the car paid off a few months in advance!

3. New friends and stronger friendships. Since I've started my job, I've been very fortunate. You see, there were 3 women that helped me get there. One I knew for over seven years, the other a few months, and one I had spent maybe 5 hours with; and they all played a huge role in me getting this new gig. These three are some of my favorite ladies to be around and the added bonus is that our husbands are all friends and Levi has made some new doggie friends. We have huge dinners together, we send silly snapchats, we vent about everything, we all work together, and we hang out OUTSIDE of work!

4. A "normal" schedule. Working in retail afforded me a few luxuries: I was able to create my own schedule and I could sleep in late Monday-Friday. The downsides to being a retail worker: late nights, working on holidays & weekends, never actually being "off" from work. I am now working with the rest of the "normal" world, as I like to say. I'm at work for 7:30am, and I'm home before 5:30pm. I've become that person who has traded an actual lunch break for a hard workout in the company gym. I thoroughly enjoy my commute, it's no longer a ride of dread in the mornings, or a ride of sheer frustration on the way home. I get home and I'm able to do some laundry, clean, and cook dinner. These might sound silly to you, but before I wasn't getting home until 7pm or 8pm depending on the night of the week. Whatever needed to be done was always crammed into one day of the week, which was usually the day I was off. I'm now able to do a little bit here and a little bit there and am not nearly as overwhelmed by everything as I once was. It's definitely the little things that I am more appreciative of.


...until next time readers...

~Keep It ClaSea

Friends. Friends? Friends!

**This blog was supposed to post on 4/25/2013 but I goofed.**

I don't know what's prompting this post. Although that's not entirely true. Let me get right to it...I'm meeting up with a friend from college this coming Saturday. Yippe! There's nothing more than a good chunk of time with one of my girlfriends to catch up on everything. And believe me, these days, there's always of things going on. ...and she's a "lifer!"


Virginia Woolf

In life you meet lots of people, or at least I have. The majority of them I met at college, but more of them have been recent. As I've gotten older relationships with some of these people have changed immensely, which is fine. Or is it? {hmm...still trying to pinpoint exactly how I feel.} Whether it be because of location, interests, or maturity there are so friendships that just aren't the same. ...and then there are some that are no longer there...at all. I might be generalizing here but I think most of you will understand.

...the "Lifer." This is the person that no matter how long it's been since you've spoken to each other, or how many days have past since you last saw each other, you pick up right where you left off. You do a speed catch up, rehash the "good old days" (I think I'm too young to say that, but too late now!) and talk about things that are currently going on in your lives. More importantly, you trust them, their opinions, and their guidance; hands down with no questions asked. I LOVE THESE FRIENDS. They are the ones that will always be there for you no matter what, as they've consistently proven this throughout the years.

...the "One That Got Away." (All of Taylor Swift's boyfriends...HA! Sorry. No...I'm actually not!) People that you were once super close with. Think "BFF" type friend. Then someone moves, or you have a fight. Something has been done that shifted the dynamic of the relationship. You desperately want things to be fixed, or for them to go back to the way they were, but they don't, and they won't. No matter how hard you try, it's just not the same. ...and you drift apart. Wouldn't it be much easier if the drifting was a fast process, rather than something that goes on for months at a time? Although there were time where I would have liked that, it's almost as though you are preparing yourself to see/hear less and less from this person, until you barely speak to them. I tend to look back and ask "what would have happened if we were still that close? How would things be different?" You wish nothing but the best for these individuals, but too much has happened to get back to where you once were. Which is fine! Sometimes there are people in your life for a certain period of time for a reason, and for that piece of time only. A concept which is much easier to grasp well after the "separation."

...the "Blindsided." The person you couldn't stand, but never really took the chance to get to know. Everything about him/her is the polar opposite of you. Then, whether it be because of mutual friends, you have that "ah-ha!" moment, and it all clicks. You understand one another; and while you don't always agree on things, you respect everything about them. This can also happen another way...we all have groups of friends. Usually you're really close with one or two, friendly with a handful of them, and there's always the one person you are indifferent about. Something, unfortunately it's usually bad happens, and rather than the "close" and "friendly" friends stepping up to help you out, it's the one that you were indifferent about. Because of this one lone incident, you forget about your differences, and a connection is built.

...the "Left Speechless" This is awful to say, but after reading this, I can guarantee you will be able to identify at least one of these people! You have you're best friend and you're inseparable. You could black mail one another because you know ALL of the details (good-bad-awful) about each other. This person is your lifeline. Then out of nowhere, one of you gets thrown under the bus by the other. Perhaps he/she missed something monumental in the life of the other. Could it have been a HUGE fight, or did something tragic happen? That lifeline has now flat lined. It's instantaneous- as it's happening you immediately know that this person is now out of your life forever. You start to think back looking for "signs," but this time you aren't looking through the rose colored glasses. Examples and different instance start piling up, and you're recalling situations that now just seem (in hindsight,) off. All the while you are left thinking, "Huh. How was I friends with this person? How could someone I know so well do that?" And you don't have an answer. This person has left you speechless.

There's lots of other types of friends out there, but in one way or another they should fall into one of my "groups." Remember, friends are the brothers and sisters you weren't given; you were able to choose them. Choose wisely my blog readers :)

~Keep it ClaSea

Confession

So...two weeks ago I had typed a bunch of posts, and scheduled them to post on certain dates. What I didn’t realize (more accurately, wasn’t paying attention to,) was that I scheduled them to post at the end of THIS month even though we were still in April. I don’t know what I was thinking. Better yet, I wasn’t thinking. So I apologize in advance for the extreme number of posts this coming week…as they’re all scheduled to go up.

Tonight...Monday...Tuesday...Wednesday...Thursday...and Friday. Hope you're ready to read :)

~Keep it ClaSea

Take a Chance Day- 4/23/2013

Take a Chance Day

So here goes nothing! For those of you that didn't know me back in high school, I ran cross country and track in the spring. I remember coming home after one of the first few days of school my freshman year and telling my parents I signed up to run cross country. My mom smiled and I don't recall her saying anything, just kind of staring at me with a very surprised expression. My dad on the other hand responded very seriously with, "you know that is distance running, right?" Me, "...yes." All the while thinking oh no, what have I gotten myself into. I figured it'd be good conditioning for basketball, but never really though about the "cross country" part of it. Turned out, and I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but back then (10+ years ago,) I was good. Not good, but quite good; much to the shock of my parents. (Horn tooted! If you need proof, I can find my medals!) Then in college I played basketball and ended up having some problems (more along the lines of LOTS of problems,) with my ankles, which essentially ended my collegiate basketball career; if you could have called it that. Ever since then running has been something I occasionally do, but never really dove right back into and I should have. Yesterday, April 23, 2013, was “Take a Chance Day.” So thank you Liz for being the inspiration behind all of this! Liz (a friend from Regiville,) was the one that told me it was “Take a Chance Day,” which led to this decision, and subsequently this post.

     I am going to run at least four 5k’s (in the running world that’s 3.2miles,) by the end of this year. (Sidenote: Did I mention there are some GREAT quotes about running?? Two of my favorite are in this post.) Currently, I am thinking “just shoot me, you're insane, when was the last time you actually RAN?" Yes, I'm insane! The only running I've done recently is chasing after Levi, or to the fridge to get some ice cream during TV commercials. This will be fun. (Insert sarcasm.) However, here’s how I look at it. I’m trying to be more attentive to my overall health, and running certainly isn’t going to slow that process down…and I’ve never complained about shedding a few pounds! I used to be able to run 10 miles because “I felt like it,” or because that was the practice course of the day; and I miss being able to do that! The last reason is because there’s a 5k in September that I know my dad will run, and I want to be able to do it with him. (More about that in a separate post.) ...maybe, my sister and I will be able to run one together with our husbands? I know how I need to train, but I also downloaded the “Couch to 5K” application on my phone, as an additional way to monitor and keep track of how I’m doing. 

     I am aiming to have the first race completed by the end of July…and then will register for other runs! I know that one of the four will ABSOLUTELY be the color run. I’ve had tons of friends run it, and it looks like a blast! It’s exciting and scary, but something I am definitely looking forward to doing. What are your suggestions for running shoes? I used to be a HUGE fan of Reebok’s (whether they were sneakers, flats, or my spikes,) but in recent years I’ve found that the shoes are not what the used to be. …and I’m flat footed, so I need something with crazy arch support. I will definitely need to create a play list for running, have you been listening to anything that’s helped you keep going? Your suggestions on ALL of this are greatly appreciated, as I'll surely need the motivation the next few weeks :)

**This is all starting on Monday, so please excuse any posts early next week that are full of complaints about sore muscles and not being able to move!**

-Keep It ClaSea

           

Boundaries

I've been doing lots of thinking the past few days, which is always a bad sign, as those thoughts lead to rambling tangents. I will try to keep it condensed, but bare with me as these pertain to numerous aspects of life. Boundaries. We all have them, and we've all broken them. Below I've listed some examples, and posted my thoughts on them; and why I think they have broken personal boundaries, or come pretty darn close!

#1. "The Announcement."
     It used to happen in this order: engagement, marriage, babies. Now throw all of that out the window. At any point in time if you (typically a 22+ y/o female,) announce you have "news," to share, people immediately shout "You're pregnant!!" From there here's how it plays out...I know because I've been there. Your response: "Uhhh no." Everyone else, "What's that?" "You're not?! Are you sure?" (Seriously, who asks that?!) "Oh. Ok." "So (long awkward pause,) what's the news?" Don't you just LOVE that? You say you aren't pregnant and just like that you've killed the interest they had in your news. Good luck getting them that excited about the purchase of your new puppy. Why don't people ask, "is it a promotion? a new job? did you buy a house? are you moving? you're getting married?" Aren't those questions far more plausible?
     In this situation I'm a firm believer in waiting for the news to be shared, rather than starting with rapid fire guesses/questions. But what really gets my wheels spinning is why do people feel that it's ok to constantly question women about whether or not they are pregnant? Or when they are having children? Or why haven't you had a child yet? This is a SUPER personal question! How would you feel if the assumed pregnant woman responded with, "when was the last time you had sex with your spouse?" Are you now uncomfortable? If your answer is yes, then the mission is accomplished. Not only is this very personal but it's highly invasive. There's a multitude of reasons why this question shouldn't be asked- and lots of those reasons are crossing many personal boundaries.
     Just for your giggles...Here are two "humorous" situations I've been in. I can assure you that during both of these situations I was not giggling. Nor was I giggling 24 hours after.
     Situation One: Person, "You seem to be glowing today, are you expecting?" My response, "Thanks, but no, I am not." All the while I can't help but think "WTF, do you mean I look dull every other day?"
     Situation Two: Person, "You look 'fuller' than the last time I saw you." Me, "Excuse me?" Person: "It's ok, you must be 3-4 months along, right?" Me: "Nope, not pregnant, just gained some weight."

#2. "That Friend."
     You know exactly who I'm talking about, it's the friend who is TOO interested, despite their adamant denials of any interest in your significant other. Whether it's a hug that lasts too long, a gaze that leaves their cheeks flushed, or just someone too physically clingy; to "that friend" I suggest you heed these words of advice: back off and check yourself. People pick up on your actions, and quite a bit can be determined from one's body language. Not only are you making yourself look like a fool, you are putting your "friend" and his/her significant other in an uncomfortable spot. The significant other wants to (at the very least,) rip your head off; your friend tries to play it down- what else are they really supposed to do; and everyone is watching you grovel for something that you can't have. Haven't you noticed that no one else has found excuse after excuse to hug or touch the person? Desperation isn't a good look on anyone.
     Being overly "touchy feely" with someone else's significant other is equivalent to playing with fire. I have no tolerance for this, nor should the person who feels as though they are being disrespected. If you are "that friend," you need to respect that YOU are not IN the relationship. I'm sure that at one point in time, you had a chance to develop your the friendship into more, but nothing happened. There's a reason for that. And a reason it's in the past. So leave it there. In the end you'll only end up ruining your friendship. You haven't just broken one boundary by being "that friend," you've broken a handful.

#3. "How Rude."
     Simply belittling or teasing someone for something they've done that doesn't pertain to any aspect of your life is wrong, and rude! Not only are you making yourself sound absurd, you are bordering on being offensive, and could be close to "crossing the line." (The line, for those of you that don't know, is an invisible boundary we've set!) Here's an example, I get a great new haircut that I am obsessed with. The next day I am told, "I don't like that hair cut, it makes you look like a child." I don't recall asking your opinion post-haircut, and I didn't ask for your opinion prior to getting my hair cut. I don't look like a child, but you are the one teasing me, because you don't like what I did to my hair? Interesting...this affects you how? Wait, it doesn't. Why be rude just because you can be? It's not going to win you a prize, it won't make you any new friends, and it certainly knocked you down a notch in my book. There's no need for it. You aren't necessarily in this case being a "boundary breaker," but in my personal opinion you are certainly pushing the limits. Be respectful of others, and as my mom told us growing up "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

     There's a lot more for me to touch upon with regards to this topic, but I'll save it for another day. Your feedback and comments are always welcomed, whether they're in agreement or complete disagreement. Have a great night everyone!

~Keep It ClaSea

Marathon Madness

Patriot’s Day.

Tax Day.

Boston Marathon.

Red Sox Day Game.

Explosions. 

Deaths.

Gruesome Injuries.
Panic. 

Heartbreak.

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Never in a million years would I have thought those last few words would become synonymous with the Boston Marathon. This was once a truly wonderful mark of springtime creeping into the city of Boston...and now, one can only imagine how it will be viewed in the years to follow.

I spent four years at Regis College, which is located in Weston, MA, just outside of Boston. It was inevitable that every year we were packing up and going to the race to cheer on friends and of course, when we were of age having “marathons” of our own. When you go to school near or in the city of Boston; better yet actually move to the city, the city becomes yours. You feel ownership, you pick up the Boston accent; which is like a language in itself; you live for the diversity of the city, and have an overwhelming sense of pride that is accompanied by a twinge of arrogance. The city becomes your home, regardless of who you are, or where you originally arrived from. You are now a Bostonian! ...and although it's not a saying, "Once a Bostonian, ALWAYS a Bostonian" it is the truth.

All these years later, I still feel that same sense of ownership. My sense of pride has not faltered, but my heart is saddened. You never think it will happen to you or in “your city.” Then it does. You think you are untouchable. Then the bubble is popped. Once the initial shock has hit you, you have tremendous amounts of pride and appreciation for the first responders. To the police officers, volunteers, and the medical staff that are on site and in the hospitals; a tremendous thank you to all of you for keeping your sanity and composure at a time when I'm sure you couldn't begin to fathom what was going to happen next. And to the runners that crossed the line and started attending to the wounded? There are not words sufficient enough to describe your efforts. 

Marathon Monday will never be the same to these people. Point blankly, Marathon Monday, in every single aspect will never be the same.

As of April 15, 2013, this Marathon has forever been changed. How horribly sad, that at one of the most recognized events across the world, went from being cheered and celebrated, to a horror site filled with panic and confusion. As I sit here typing this, I can’t help but be utterly thankful that everyone I know is safe after the horrible events that occurred yesterday. May the angels that were with you yesterday stay with you always.

~Keep It ClaSea