New Year's Resolution

Ok, so not one to fall victim (again) to the “I’m going to lose 1 million pounds in 2012” (ok, not really) resolution trap I’m trying a different tactic. Generally resolutions aren’t met because they are too vague or too impossible to meet. That being said, I’ve decided to come up with a list of mini things I can do in 2012 that will help me accomplish certain goals. They are:

1. Paleo every meal in Jan (and work to make paleo a part of my lifestyle from then on)
2. Run 3 X a week (following the couch to 5K program)
3. Cross Fit 3 X a week (simply b/c I love it and I do still have those damn last 10 pounds I want to lose)
4. Every day remind yourself of something you are grateful for (because although I don’t always recognize it, I have much in my life to be grateful for)
5. Every day keep your end goal in mind; and remind yourself that every day you are one step closer to that end goal (well, just because)

So that, in a nutshell, is my New Year’s resolution. I’ve read it takes 21 days to make something a habit. So, I’m hoping by Jan. 24 each of these items will be a habit in the way that you don’t even think about doing it, you just do it. These are all mini goals that will help me to achieve some larger goals that I set forth for myself in Aug. 2011. I just have to believe in myself and motivate myself because the responsibility is solely on me to do this.

Here and now

I read an interesting article today. The article started off, before you rush into resolutions and creating high expectations for 2012, celebrate what you accomplished in 2011. However big or small, celebrate what you accomplished and your past year. The article continued to explain about practicing contentment with who and where you are right here, right now. This is something I could relate to because I am someone who struggles with being content both with who I am and the here and now.

I feel as if sometimes I live my life as a drug addict. No I am not addicted to any drugs, nor do I even recreationally participate. But in the way a drug addict is always seeking that next high, I am always seeking that next great thing in my life. That “thing” could be, literally a new “thing”, or it could be marriage, children, a new/better job, more money, to lose more weight. Whatever it is at the moment, I’ve realized something about myself over the past few months; I struggle with contentment in the here and now.

Looking back over my 2011, I’ve had quite a few ups and downs. I’ve had some really high highs and really low lows. I’ve spent a lot of this year locked in my own head. It’s been a year for me of discovering a lot about myself that I never knew before. I’ve owned up to myself about fears I have, things I’ve done, and what I truly want for myself, my future, and my life. But in doing so, I still find myself saying; once this happens then life will be perfect. If I can just get this done, then life will be perfect. Instead of sitting back and saying, life is perfect, right here, right now, just as it is. I find myself so often saying, I want, I want, I want. I don’t know how often I find myself saying, I give, I give, I give. Whether that giving be of my time, my money to a charitable contribution, or just giving of myself to those I love. I have been quite selfish in 2011 and it wasn’t until recently that it hit me just how selfish I have been this year. I locked myself away into myself, purposely pushing people away and only seeing the world from my eyes…all of which were selfish acts. I do believe that we as humans sometimes should be selfish. If we don’t take time for ourselves and always give of ourselves what do we have left? However, we cannot be selfish all the time either. There has to be a balance. A yin and yang in life.

So, learning from my mistakes I plan to correct that. Looking back on 2011 I have more good in my life than I could ever imagine. 99.9% of the good in my life is each and every person I am lucky enough to call friend and family. Am I still on a quest for the life I hope to achieve? Yes! As a classic Type-A personality, of course I am. BUT, learning from those around me, learning from myself, I not only vow to be better about being content in the here and now, I vow to be a better human being. One of the items on my 101 list is to lose nothing from this past year and always carry it with me. This year has been one of learning about me, the good, the bad, and the ugly and one of learning more about life than I ever knew before. I just hope by carrying this last year with me I put more positive effects out into the world than negative.

A season of first’s

So, as the end of 2011 closes in, and my 35th birthday closes in on me even faster, I finally did a few things I had never done before in my life. First, I bought a new car. I have never bought a new car before. I have always owned used cars. I have always wondered what that new car smell was like. I’ve also always wondered what it was like to pick out the exact car you wanted. The one you just had to have. I did pick it out…a Ford Edge. And then I found out it was so ridiculously out of my price range that I literally laughed at the sales guy. Not willing to sacrifice everything I wanted on the car (the bells and whistles) simply to meet my budget, I said no. The sales and finance guys were floored that I walked out on what they said was a ridiculous deal. Maybe it was a ridiculous deal they were offering me. But I just wasn’t willing to compromise that much to hit the number in my budget. I learned something about myself that day. I learned just because someone tells me something is great and I should do it, doesn’t mean I have to. Instead, I went to Jeep and got myself a Jeep Liberty. That sales guy was great. No pressure. Let me take my time. Answered every question I had and never got frustrated or lost his patience with me. And, he hit my budget number WITH all the bells and whistles still on the car. I have to say, every morning now when I get in my car, I’m happy. I just am happy with my decision and love my car AND that to me is an amazing feeling. I think I love it the most because aside from getting advice from those I love and trust, and Road and Track magazine as my father taught me, I did this on my own. I looked around, I researched, I went to the different dealerships, and I chose the option that was best for me.

Another first for me was my first professional football game. On Dec. 4 I went to the Green Bay vs Giants game. I have always gone to college football games and LOVED those. I always wanted to go to a professional football game, but just never had the opportunity. Growing up in southern California we lost both our football teams when I was in junior high school to other cities. Los Angeles has yet to get a football team back. But, I digress. I had a blast at the game. The Giants lost but it STILL was super fun. We tailgated and had great seats and awesome fans around us which helped to make the game even that much more fun. It reminded me of being in college. Everyone having fun, enjoying the game, the excitement in the air, I definitely want to go to more and more games now...although I believe I'm still a ways away from being a season ticket holder.

The other first for me this season was decorating my house for Christmas alone and NOT being depressed about it. I pulled out my tree (I should mention it’s totally a fake), grabbed all my decorations, wreath, candles and had at it. I turned on the holiday music channel on my tv. I fought with my cat to get out of the tree box. I then spent (literally) days trying to find the metal hooks to hang my Christmas ornaments on the tree. At least I didn’t have to fight with the lights. That’s the beauty of fake trees…they already have lights on them! I have to admit, almost the entire time over the weekend that I was decorating I kept thinking, you’re supposed to be doing this with someone, but I would push that thinking out of my head and just went for it and tried to have fun with it. In the end I love the decorations I put up and am super happy to come home at night and turn on my Christmas lights. I’m glad I put up the decorations. It has helped make me excited for the coming holiday. I’m not sure what it is about the holiday’s that makes people so depressed. It seems like such a happy time of year. But, inevitably, people always get depressed. I get it, but I don’t. Maybe it’s the hype? Maybe it’s the retailers pushing the “merry happiment” bull down our throats. Maybe it’s that we as human’s have a tendency to focus on what we don’t have or haven’t accomplished instead of focusing on what we do have and what we have accomplished. I’m not really sure what it is, but I’m proud to say I didn’t let the holiday’s depress me. Not this year. You didn’t win.

Thankful

I have a REALLY bad habit of paying attention only to what I don’t have and not giving credit for what I do have. I know as human beings we ALL have this affliction. I try to be better, but I’m human, what can I say? One thing I can say is, for one reason or another, I’m more thankful than usual this Thanksgiving.

My parents are visiting this year and it’s been great having them here. I’ve been keeping my father occupied with little chores around my condo and my mother occupied doing what mother’s and daughter’s do best…shopping. I cooked my first Thanksgiving dinner ever yesterday and I must admit it came out better than I anticipated (minus the gravy that was like cement – no literally when the gravy boat was tipped upside down the gravy didn’t pour out. It didn’t even move!). I never realized how much work it was cooking an entire Thanksgiving dinner. I’m unsure I’ll ever do THAT again! I will say I am extremely grateful to have had my parents here visiting me and to spend the holiday with them. I am a lucky girl to have them as my parents. They can get on my nerves – hey what parents don’t – but I am who I am today because of their love, guidance, and everything they’ve taught me over the years. I realized yesterday I may only have 10 years left with my parents. It came as a shock when I thought that, but, sadly it’s the truth. I need to cherish this time I have with them now because when they are gone I will miss them.

My favorite part of any holiday is after dinner, after desert, after everyone goes home I like to just sit and watch television…and listen. However, I’m not listening to the television…I’m listening to what’s going on outside. Nothing. I love the quiet of a holiday night. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a big city or a small town, at the end of the day once everyone is sufficiently stuffed and worn out, it’s true what the rhyme says, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. It gave me some time to think, to look beside me, to look around and realize all I have. Instead of saying, I should have this, I should have that, I realized how lucky I am to have exactly what I have in my life at this very moment. I wake up in the morning in a warm bed, I get in a car that starts without fail, I go to a job (while sometimes stressful and annoying) I enjoy it and it affords me the ability to pay my bills, to come home at night and have food to eat, and pay for the “things” I find so important to me. But what’s most important, what’s completely intangible but without which I’m positive I couldn’t call my life a life, are those I call family and friends. To have friends to talk to on the phone, to have family to turn to when I cry, and those extra special few in my life who I can yell at, cry to, laugh with, and have the time of my life with, that is what makes me a truly lucky and truly thankful girl.

12 Weeks

12 weeks into my 101 things list and I’ve actually accomplished or I am starting on the path to accomplishing a lot more than I ever thought I would have by now. Here’s a quick rundown of just the items where I’ve made attempts:

1. I have a plant, and I haven’t killed it…yet!
2. Run a 5K - I’ve started to do a couch to 5K program and am targeting the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure next May in New York City as the race I want to run start to finish.
3. Lose those last 10 pounds – see number 2 and number 10 & 13 for my progress toward this.
4. Go apple picking – I tried but it was a crappy apple season and when my friends and I arrived they told us they were out of apples. Maybe next year.
5. Find a career I love – I am making moves on this but I need to move a little faster, imho.
6. Learn to knit like my mother does – when she comes for Thanksgiving this year (bless her patient little heart) she’s going to try teaching me…again.
7. Blog at least once a week – I think I may have missed a week or two here or there, but I think I’m pretty much on target on that one.
8. Use my passport at least once a year - I went to Toronto earlier this year for work. I wasn’t a fan of the city. Next year the passport will be used for a fun girl’s trip to Berlin, Prague, Vienna and Budapest! I can’t wait!
9. Eat Paleo for one week – DONE! I did it and lost 2 pounds that week. I haven’t been as strictly following it as I did that first week but I will because I felt so good that week. I felt like I had more energy, I felt like I was doing something great for my body, and you know, bonus, I lost 2 pounds!
10. Put my blackberry away when out with family and friends – EPIC FAIL. I’m a crackberry addict, I can’t help it. But I will continue to try b/c I believe it is important for me to be present in the moment when I am with people.
11. Buy a brand new car – I am going test driving this weekend on the cars I like and by Thanksgiving I hope to own my very first brand new car!
12. Try a CrossFit gym – not only did I try it…I joined. And man I love it!
13. Cook one new recipe a month – I did this in Sept (a paleo recipe I loved) and in Oct (a chili recipe I did not love) and will continue trying because you never know what you may find.
14. Create a new playlist for my ipod – I’ve gotten suggestions for friends on this and now I just actually have to sit down and create it.
15. Have dinner with friends at least once a month – I have totally done this every month since starting my blog, if not multiple times a month. It’s great for the soul to sit around and b.s. with your girlfriends.

I think it’s a fairly solid start considering I’m kind of a procrastinator. I think I can do better and work harder on a lot of these. But I feel like this list, like life, is a journey not a destination. I’m on a journey to grow myself and expand my world and this list is part of that journey. And I’m excited to see exactly where it is this journey takes me.

Pumpkin Turkey Chili

So number 65 on my list is to try one new recipe a month. I haven’t been so good about this, but I found this recipe for Pumpkin Turkey Chili and decided it sounded interesting, why not try it out. With the cooler weather hitting the east coast chili is always a favorite comfort food of mine in the fall.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound ground turkey
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 cups pumpkin puree
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 dash salt
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
Directions

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and sauté the onion, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and garlic until tender. Stir in the turkey, and cook until evenly brown. Drain, and mix in tomatoes and pumpkin. Season with chili powder, pepper, and salt. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. Serve topped with Cheddar cheese and sour cream.  Yields 6 servings.

Since I’ve been trying to eat paleo, I used olive oil instead of vegetable oil and did not use the cheddar cheese or sour cream. In my opinion this recipe was missing some flavor. I added extra salt, pepper and some garlic powder to the first bowl I ate. Since this recipe yields six servings, I definitely felt I needed to spice it up a bit. Tonight I plan on adding in some cayenne and red pepper flakes to hopefully give this chili the kick it needs.

Guerilla Fitness

On October 18, 2011 I did something I’ve been considering doing for, probably the better part of 2 years, but never had the courage to try. I finally tried a Crossfit gym. Guerilla Fitness in Montclair, NJ to be precise. I didn’t walk into this totally blind, however, I wasn’t 100% sure what exactly I was getting myself in to. My friend Bridget Murphy and her husband Ray own a Crossfit gym in Atlanta. I would always read about it on her facebook, blog, and read any and all articles she posted. I always felt crossfit was WAY out of my exercise league. I remember reading one article in particular about a guy who thought, what’s the big deal with Crossfit? It can’t be THAT hard. He went to his local Crossfit, did the workout…and promptly threw up at the end of it. I’m guessing he went in cold and did like a super intensive version of every workout and I’m also guessing the trainers were purposly trying to get him to that breaking point. However, as I walked into my first fundamentals class on October 18, looked around and realized I was the only chick with five pretty fit dudes, the only thing I could think was “DO NOT THROW UP CRYSTAL!”

The first thing I appreciated about Crossfit was, as opposed to a typical gym, they don’t just take your money and throw you out there to figure it out. They have you take a two week fundamentals class to teach you how to do everything they’re going to ask of you, and they teach you how to do it right. The second thing that struck me about Crossfit is the community. I have NEVER seen a group of strangers band together the way the Crossfit community does. For a while I thought, maybe Bridget & Ray just have a really awesome group of members at their location. But, the more I read about Crossfit, and after watching the class before my fundamentals class, the more I realize, this is who these guys are. They are a community that supports. They support one another, as well as support amazing causes such as cancer research and their popular Fight Gone Bad.

I’ll be honest, when I walked in to sign up last week, I didn’t go to the free trial class they offer. I didn’t ask, what do you do? I walked up and saw what looked like an open garage with gymnastics mats covering the floor, steel pipes running from one side of the gym to the other, gymnastics rings hanging down, and what I could only describe as odd torture chamber belts hanging off the steel pipes. I am guessing soon I’ll know what those are for. So, I walked in, and started talking to a coach, who as it turns out, was the owner. We discussed what I was looking for, the goals I wanted to accomplish and maybe I wouldn’t have been so quick to sign up had I never known about Bridget and Ray, but I said, let’s do it. I signed up right then and there. Should I have done more research? Maybe. But after two years of thinking about it, I was finally ready to just do it.

After my first class last night, let’s just say, score one for Crystal I didn’t throw up. Score another for Crystal: I figured I’d be last in the group and I was ok with that. I just kept telling myself do not let the guys blow you away too hard core. They didn’t. For that I was proud. I don’t expect to be able to keep up with dudes, however, I don’t want to get blown out of the water by them either. What can I say, I’m a competitive b*tch. So, that was fundamentals class one. Oct. 20, fundamentals class two. I have to say, it sure didn’t take me long to drink the Kool-Aid. I totally dig this place. It was hard, but I think what I liked about it was it reminded me of when I was playing softball. The workouts our coaches used to make us do didn’t always make sense to me but they always made us better softball players. And they made us closer because we were always pushing and supporting one another. For someone who’s so not a joiner, look at me, I joined.