Hey! It’s Ok & Blogger Meetup

Good mornin to yeeee!

Alright so by now you should know I simply cannot open up a post with a thank you and my sincerest appreciations on my last post! As I wrote on Wednesday, that is a sensitive topic that is often shoved under the rug and kept hidden because no one really wants to admit to doing it… understandable of course. Knowing that though, I was slightly nervous about writing about the situation but as usual, I had nothing to fret over and you all provided me with personal stories and insight.

Thank you my friends. This week in particular has been causing me stress around the eating disorder stuff, as I have been going out to eat a lot lately… I actually ended up flipping out and breaking down to mom on the phone an the other day, something that really needed to occur. I want to explain more about this later though, Monday perhaps, as there is of course more to chat about.

Not today though, as I am working to keep things positive in these parts today, or at least away from rather emotional topics.

Plus this Friday is a special one as it’s the day I graduate from college! Later today is the school-wide graduation which takes place in the football stadium, as it’s the only place large enough to hold the 4,000 + students graduating. Then of course the families who are coming to watch are thrown into the mix, and this makes for a rather large crowd.

Later tonight I am going out for a special dinner with my dad and stepmom’s family! My stepbrother is in the same grade as me and is also graduating from UMASS (engineer major, smarty pants), so we are having a joint celebratory dinner. And then tomorrow morning are all of the smaller school’s ceremonies, Public Health in my case, which I am actually looking much more forward to because they are smaller, more personal and individual.

Moving out will occur at some point among all of this and then the final drive home! Phew…. busy, but exciting stuff. Although I really need to get my packing on, as my room currently looks like this:

Working on it.

For today’s post I am doing another edition of It’s Ok! I had a great time creating my first one a few weeks ago, and it’s time to bring it back… although this version has a mix of giving you some of my life updates as well!

Hey It’s Ok…

…….. to not be attending the school-wide graduation ceremony. I am sure many of you are disagreeing with me on this one, but ehh I just have zero desire to attend this event, along with thousands of other people. Both of my older brothers graduated from UMASS in 2007 and 2008 and I watched both of their graduations. BORING AS HECK, not personal in the slightest, chaotic, you can’t hear anyone’s speeches, poor organization, just not individual at all.

Both years there was also tons of drama among the family for various reasons, and you know what? I am just not in the mood for any of that, and therefore I am happily declining my invitation to attend this particular ceremony. However, I will be going to the Public Health one tomorrow morning and I am way more excited for that… so much smaller and personal!

I keep being told that I am going to regret skipping such an event but honestly, I really do not think I will feel anything from this decision, other than relief that I don’t have to be there haha. My mom is coming in tomorrow afternoon so I am going to try and recruit her for a date to get a manicure and pedicure together

……… to take a shower after a workout, fold your laundry that just finished, clean up your room, pack a bit, and eat breakfast, all in the NUDE, because your room is too hot and well, you can! Oh and hey, wearing socks to keep your feet warm is ok too It’s a rather freeing experience,

……….. on the naked note, it’s also OK to spend a lengthy amount of time in your birthday suit and be able to deal with how your body looks and feels, and perhaps even feel good about yourself. Heck that is better than okay!

…………. to receive a parking ticket on campus from a particularly mean and miserable parking attendant (who is out to get you, I swear!), and sincerely hope that you can use these words against him someday, “Karma is a b*tch.” Seriously though, I parked my car right near the campus center for about 5 minutes while I ran into get lunch before work, put my flashers on and everything… oh and did I mention about 50 other cars were there too!? And I still received a 40 dollar ticket….. #firstworldproblems

Yes I am going to appeal that and yes, I wanted to (and still have lingering rage that is making me want to stab this particular person. Violent, crazed and unnecessary? Sure thing, but oh well, I said it! First parking ticket of the semester on the last day… dang.

………… to use the few last meal swipes I have to buy way over-priced Chobani yogurt on campus. They have to be used in someway, gotta stock up!

………… to finish Insurgent in just about 3 days and feel genuine sadness and a sense of loss at having to wait at least another year for the next one in the trilogy to come out.

………… to be getting a strong/firm upper body (and to even see some abs!) from the amount of upperbody weight training I have been doing. Well wait a second, it’s not more ST than I was before, just more upper-body focus as I am resting my legs as much as possible these days. Here is a simple but tough and efficient workout I did the other day:

I warmed up on the bike for 20 minutes (meant to do just 10 but I was reading Insurgent, I am sure you understand) and then went to the weight area. (With supersets, perform each exercise in the set back to back, rest for 30 seconds, and then repeat the pair of exercises two more times for a total of 3 through each circuit)

Superset 1

• 15 reps Bench Press
• 25 push ups with hands on med ball. Each time you go down, roll med ball to other hand

Superset 2

• 15 Lat pull downs
• 15 Renegade row (15 each arm)

Superset 3

• 15 Chest fly on bench
• 15 Standing back chest fly

………… to go through the discarded/donated items from the residents who are moving out and find some serious gems! I found a whole box of unopened Kashi bars, instant Whole Foods oatmeal, never-used notebooks, pens, pencils, markers and so much  more great stuff. I know I should not be bringing in even more stuff to my room to take home but ehhh, I could not pass up some of the items.

…………. for one of the main reasons I am excited to be home this summer is because I can play the Sims once again on our superfast desktop computer, all day everrrrry day My laptop simply cannot handle that game… although this has been a good thing because if I could play it while at school, yeahhhh not much would ever have gotten done.

………….to be using this website for help several times over this summer!

It claims to give helpful tips and tricks on how to build the very best forts out there. I am babysitting a whole lot for the next few months, and you had better believe part of my nannying repertoire is professional fort builder

………….. to try a new fitness class at the gym called “Piloxing,” be completely terrible at it, but absolutely love it! It was a fabulous time- no shoes, lots of dancing, with some ballet, zumba-like moves, cardio kick thrown in there- great music, spunky instructor. I just wish I had discovered this class earlier this year

……………to cringe and then proceed to die a bit inside when someone asks you, “are you team Peeta or Gale?!” Please.just.no, not allowed to compare this to Twilight or have any similarities, the Hunger Games are much better, well in my opinion of course.

……………… to partake in an activity for an entire afternoon that gives yourself a mental break from the constant obsession about food, weight and so on. In this case, collage making, while watching Black Hawk Down… hey now, it’s a most wonderful chance to see an epic war movie, oh and Josh Hartnett in action

……………….(on the Josh Hartnett note) it’s ok to have a board on Pinterest dedicated to the male celebs out there that get my heart pumpin.

……………. to love eating alone for several reasons, and a main one being you can be as messy as you want (yep, it feels great)! Oh and lick the plate after of course, must get every.single.morsel.

…………….to count a 40 minute walk for my workout on Wednesday, take a rest day on Thursday, and then just walk/stretch on Friday. To add to this, it’s ok to feel incredibly guilty, lazy, etc, but to deal with the feelings and realize my body still.needs.rest. and to embrace such feelings and the situation.

………….. and finally, it’s certainly ok to have a BLOGGER MEET UP next week! Alright people in the Boston, Northshore/Southshore, in the vicinity of Boston listen up!

Lindsay from In Sweetness and In Health have known each other through blogging for almost a year now but have never met in person! This is just simply not alright as we both live close to each other, that is when I am home from school. Well now is the time to meet this wonderful woman because she is moving back home soon, so time is a-tickin.

Therefore we are planning a meet up on Wednesday, 5/16 at J.P. Licks in Davis Square in Somerville, MA, and anyone that wants to come and meet us is more than welcome to join!!

This place is just fantastic… they have a great selection of frozen yogurt (and ice cream too of course- never have tried the ice cream, fear food….grr), which I always order, and just so many topping choices, fresh cones, and yummm, I cannot wait! If you plan to come, leave a comment here or just show up! I am curious who else might be attending that is why I suggested that comment

It would be lovely to put some faces to the names of people I read about often, so come and join if you can!

Alright that is all from me today, lots to do today so I better get my butt to it!

-What’s your ‘it’s okay’ for today or in general?

-What are your plans for the weekend?

-Can you make it next Wednesday for some delicious frozen treats!?

Look for a guest post on Sunday and of course have a most lovely weekend everyone

Tagged as: Body Acceptance, Fitfluential workout, Insurgent, J.P.Licks Davis Square, Learning to love your body, Team Peeta or Gale, The Hunger Games