Heading into 2012 I made a list of things I hoped to accomplish throughout the year. Let's just say 2012 wasn't THE year. However, I managed to do some things but not others and instead of feeling like a failure I am just going to take that list and expand upon it. Things don't always go according to plan or how you envisioned it but it's good to set hopes/goals and give yourself a direction to head, even if the direction takes you off the beaten path. With that said I hope for the same things I did last year but with a few new additions and subtractions.

I recently read Eat and Run by Scott Jurek. Need I say more? Fine. My curiosity with ultramarathons started when I read Born to Run for book club but I think what put it over the top was Eat and Run. As an athlete, running was always used as a form of punishment, which I guess in a twisted round about way it is. However, until reading these two books running was something I was never anxious or excited to do (excluding my childhood). Now all I want to do is to run and test my own limits, thanks Scott.

Besides the point, it put a series of questions in my head. What do you want to do? What are your limits? What would you like to achieve? Why should I eat healthy? Why should I run? Simply put, Why?

I might not have the answers now and I may never but these books taught me a few things:
1.  Test your limits.
2. Live a heathy lifestyle.
3. Suck it up.
4. Sometimes you just do things.

While I don't personally think I will run an ultramarathon these books made me realize you need to dream BIG. With dedication, commitment, practice, tough mentality, and a lot little-bit of crazy you can pretty much do anything you want to do and even end up surprising yourself.

I am in love with Fall! The weather, cute clothes, the holidays and the general ambiance that surrounds this time of year. Unfortunately, with Texas you never know when fall really has arrived. One minute it is a cool 79 degrees the next day a high of 90+ degrees. You would think after living here majority of my life I would have adjusted.

Instead of taking advantage of the somewhat non existent beautiful weather I have been spending my time on puppy duty and playing catch up. I got one boxer potentially adopt and off to his new home only to have my parents go out of town and my brother work the whole weekend. This leaves me inheriting my brothers two little dogs. Safe to say a house is not a home with anything less than four dogs. I think the minute I decided to foster I became "that crazy dog lady". Oh well.

Here is to the coming of fall. May you be long, perfect and have healing powers. I would love to start taking advantage of perfect running weather, walking the dog weather, carving pumpkins, hot tea by a fake fire, and being happy to have a seriously warm bed.

My birthday is right around the corner and I will be turning the wonderful age of 26. I know most people probably feel a bit of anxiety when it comes to milestone birthdays like 25, 30, and 50 but for some reason I am pretty pumped and ready to be getting older. I have learned and experienced a lot in my 25 years of life and it has molded me into the person I am today - a badass.

With that said, I will be spending my birthday weekend in Savannah only to come back home and have a change in routine. Next week I will be responsible for fostering a girl boxer (BIN12588), who I have not yet named.  This all stemmed from a trip I took with a friend to the Humane Society, where I proceeded to cry the whole time I was in there (which was a total of ten minutes) thinking how all these animals were unloved and going to die. Just a bit dramatic but there is a lot of truth there. This led me to want to help out and give Bijoux good social skills and a temporary fur sibling to love on. Badda-boom badda-bing I now have a temporary new addition.

Cant think of a better way to start off turning 26!

If you want more information on boxers or are looking to adopt or volunteer I cant recommend enough Legacy Boxer Rescue.

My body has simply started falling apart, again. At first, it was just minor annoyances in my calves that has since turned into a painful struggle to play sports, run, and walk. This isn't something entirely new. When I played college soccer I was diagnosed, my freshman year, with something called exercise induced compartment syndrome. I had surgery and did my rehab and boom was able to get back to playing.

Now almost seven years later I am struggling with the same kind of problems. I am not as young as I once was but I am not exactly old either. My calves have forced me to realize I really do need to start taking better care of my body because this is the only one I have. So calves, I hear you. I am not playing soccer for a while, I am cutting back on running, I am trying new sports, I am going to physical therapy to help you get better, I am trying so please take it a little easier on me.

Thanks,
The other parts of my body.

I find that I am almost constantly at a loss for what to write about on my blog. When reading other blogs I find that my life might be a bit boring. However, I shouldn't be comparing. To be honest, I have an amazingly awesome little life. It's the people in my life who make it so interesting and unique. Plus no one else has my family! As you can see in the picture below they are pretty kickass!



This past weekend was spent with some of my family in Savannah, GA. We watched and celebrated my little brothers graduation. Crazy to think that the Gallagher clan is done with school. My family has a little love affair with Savannah. My older brother bought a house there, my little brother went to school there and the rest of us sure do enjoy visiting.

I am so very proud of you Milos!

 

You would think I would get my act together already. The fact that  I don't have internet at my house means trying to post a blog can be a little difficult at times. That and I think I took my New Year's resolution to read more books a bit too seriously (almost 3 books a week). YIKES. Everything in moderation, right?

I think that is a hard thing to accomplish. I am always wanting more, especially of the good things! So, I am going to try to find my balance.

On a side note, I got on the scale today and almost cried. Seriously. When did this number happen...

Nothing like a little rest and relaxation to help get you back in the swing of things. With spring right around the corner I can't help but be excited by what is to come. I am looking forward to blossoming flowers, bright colors and beautiful weather.

Here are just a few things that have been making my days even better:

Taking a look back at the past month or so my life has been one big roller coaster ride. It has left me feeling overwhelmed and emotionally drained (in case you couldn't tell from my last post). But as I wrap up this Friday I cant help but feel a little relieved. Not because everything worked itself out but because everything will be...just the way it is.

With the weather being extremely cold and rainy this weekend, snuggling up with Bijoux and reading a book (a supposedly scary book) will be the perfect way to relax and get ready for everything else that lays ahead.

Utter chaos is how I would describe my life these days. It seems like my vacation in Thailand was several months ago but in all actuality was only 3 weeks ago. I have yet to get back into my routine and I  feel very worn down and tired at the end of each day. I don't see my load lightening up anytime soon so I better adjust and find my new comfort zone. In short here is what is happening and not happening since my return to the States:

1. Work has been super busy lately. My days seem to start at 6 and I don't get home till 8. I have 7 videos to produce (so far completed 1 almost 2). 
2. Woke up with blood all over my sheets and me. My poor puppy had both of her eardrums bust :( She goes back to the vet Friday. Trying to make sure she doesn't lose her hearing.
3. Frisbee every Saturday since I returned doesn't give me any free days off plus we have our big tournament this weekend.
4. My brother made it into the Fire Department Academy and we are attending his breakfast initiation.
5. I need to file my income tax.
6. Get my car fixed since I got hit by a motorcycle before I left.
7. No longer working out. Major downer. I need my endorphin's.
8. Not sleeping. Although I think this is just how it is going to be going forward.
9. Needing to sort through my closet and prepare for spring.

In a little over a week I will be on a plane for 23 hours. What might possess me to do this? Good question. Simple answer: My best friend, Meredith. For eight days I will be vacationing on the beautiful beaches in Phuket, Thailand and the other three days will be spent in Bangkok. I CANNOT WAIT! It's funny that I will be half way around the world yet I know the minute I see her I will feel right at home. Home being the crazy havoc that always seems to ensue when we get together. Oh the fun memories I will have after this trip.

I have been feeling a bit under the weather lately which is never fun.On top of that I haven't been sleeping well for the last month or so. I thought I had figured out the culprit, Green Tea, which I drink massive amounts of daily. Not realizing green tea has caffeine in it I was drinking uppers right before I was trying to go to sleep.Yep, I can be a massive blonde sometimes. Alas, I quit the habit of drinking green tea after 3:00 p.m. and I am still not sleeping. I just started experimenting with Sleepytime Tea right before bed (hoping that will do the trick).


A little off point but being sick gave me a little time to mull over more things I want to do this year. One being taking advantage of nice weather. I need to plan a camping trip of some sorts. I miss being outdoorsy.

Every year when I was younger my family would attend The Boar's Head & Yule Log Festival. It is an ancient celebration of the meaning of Christmas in music, drama and dance. Once we got older and my brothers left for college the tradition fell by the wayside. But, this year my brother Ryan asked if I would like to go. After I wondered why I had not come back on my own or with friends. I forgot how much I really loved this tradition and how it made me feel like it was always going to be a good year.



On a side note: I now live in the same city as two of my brothers (Ryan and Carey) and yet it is impossible for us to get together because of our busy schedules. When an opportunity presents itself I always make an effort to go and spend some time with them. After all nothing beats spending time with family especially one like mine where we all think alike and sarcasm and humor are required. When my brother Carey sent me a text to meet up at a bar I went. We had a few beers while listening to some live music and caught up on each others lives. I love how I got to see two of my brothers in one weekend just not together. That's just how it works sometimes.

I am not the type of person who makes New Year’s Resolutions but I decided to try one for this coming year. Maybe this will make me more accountable for how my 2012 goes. Instead of writing down things I am going to give up I decided to write a cumulative list of things to improve my life, making it more well rounded. While some of these items will be harder and more unpleasant than others I think in the long run I will be happier for it.While I am positive this list will grow with time it's a good little start for now. With that said I would like to propose a toast:

• Let my nails grow
• Work out 5 days a week
• Travel to Portland, OR
• Blog more
• Take more pictures
• Send handwritten letters
• Have a monthly family get together
• Go to church
• Actually cook meals
• Expand my vocabulary
• Go camping
• Make an effort in my daily appearance 
• Explore to find a niche or hobby