New day, it's a new thing!!!

      Today is Wednesday.... It doesn't really feel like this week is half over already. It seems to be dragging on... Like it's only Tuesday! Maybe because I have been nonstop on the go!
     I always think how much more happy I would be and how much more I could accomplish if I had a few more hours after work every night to do ME! I've really made an effort to make changes in my life lately and make working out a part of  my life, not just a temporary thing! I get off work at 6, get to the gym soon after, work out for an hour... by that time it's already a little after 7. Takes me 20mins to get home... shower... and wait, it's not healthy to eat after 7pm at night... so I'm screwed there! What can I do!?!? 
     Last night I totally skipped out on working out =( Sucks, I know. It was Fat Tuesday though! Come on, you have to be a part of that! I met with my friend Katie and we went to this little nook in the wall  named "Black Dog's!". It's delicious! I tried their "Mardi Gras" special! Jambalaya!! It was soo good! I tried a new beer. It was some type of Wit beer? It looked kind of like a pineapple juice in color. I'm not really a big beer drinker, but lately I have changed my taste buds apparently because the more I try, the more I like beer! My friend tried a DARK almost chocolate coffee beer! Sounds weird, I know, but it was actually pretty good! We enjoyed a girls night of chatting and catching up..... Happy Fat Tuesday to that! =)
     My heart is heavy today. I don't know why I feel the pressures of life.... of "getting older". I'm not bummed at all about turning 30 this year! When is "too early" to start the count down!? Ha! Really?! I'm actually really excited and ready to embrace my 30's and make my life all that I've dreamed of. I took my 20's as a time to find out who I was and live and learn. And hopefully I have learned enough to never be in a situation I have already been in and let the same results happen. 
      I really want to be happy and feel like I accomplished more than the "average joe" has with their life. I have higher expectations for myself. I understand that comes with a lot of hard work, but I'm up for it! I have so many dreams; I'm wild at heart! Every day I think of something new I want to try in my 30's! Maybe I should be writing them down as they come to me! Recreate my "Bucket List"! I know I have mentioned it before, but I can't say enough how much that movie inspired me! If you haven't seen it, it's a must see!

Uhhh..............and that's what I have to say about that!

     Today is going by kind of fast, thank goodness because I don't feel so good and I need to hit the gym and get to bed early tonight! If I wasn't to determined to get in better shape, I would ditch out on the gym... but I can't! I have to keep on keepin on, to get the results I want! I worked out every day last week for about an hour and almost 2 hours the night of the IL game. It helps when you have something to watch. Considering I don't like to watch tv, that's hard to do!
     So I'm sure everyone is curious how Mardi Gras was!? My first thought is, it's kind of like a mini Vegas. The city was a mess! Haha. There were beads EVERYWHERE! All over the place, covering the streets, in the bars, in the trees!! Haha, it was crazy! I wish I would have taken more pictures. I have such a love for taking pictures. It was so cold out, we were power walking anywhere we went. 
     We stayed at the Millennium hotel. It was craziness already when we pulled in. EVERYONE loved my dog (yes!!!! I took him to Mardi Gras!!! He had his own beads too LOL... pics to come...). They loved him so much we got "VIP" status because of him lol. Everyone had bracelets and "HAD to have them on"..... but we could walk on through! Ha. Love it! 
      Wynsten on the other hand, didn't love it so much. At first he was excited that everyone was around and talking to him ect, but by the time Sunday came he was just too over whelmed. You could tell he was stressed. I walked out of the hotel room to take him outside and he literally freaked out and DRUG me back to the room!!! Haha. Poor dog!!! He was so happy to get home, he ran straight to my bed! Haha. 
      One of my favorite parts about our trip was brunch the next day! It was amazing!!! All you can eat, city wide view, amazing food, all you can drink. I think I had 4 glasses in front of me!!! Just my style!! I felt so bad walking in there in my sweat pants and rain boots!! I missed the memo on dress code!! <thanks Mitch!!> But really, it was the perfect note to end our trip on before heading back to Champaign. I did get a lot of pictures from the top! (it's a rotating restaurant on the 30th floor of a hotel) I'll post pictures soon via FB. I will try and write more once I get all my pictures uploaded....

Feelin it today!!!

     What do you know!? Right after I have a "winter hang over" day, it's nice out! It's supposed to be in the 50's today! That got me a little excited for Spring! I've been wanting to wear my new Guess heels (even though I've only had them for 3 days now!!!), today is perfect! I almost didn't go to work today I was feeling so good! Then I gave myself a reality check, and decided I need to go!! I should be thankful I have a job!! The heels made it a little easier to get out! 
     Today I want to talk about "confidence". I think far too many people are unhappy and just settle for that, for an array of reasons.... from being comfortable to just not having the drive to change things in order to be happy. I'm here to tell you----LIFE IS TOO SHORT--- YOU deserve to be happy!
      I looked up the word "confidence" in the dictionary and here is what I found: freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities, a feeling of trust (in someone or something), a state of confident hopefulness that events will be favorable, a trustful relationship. There are many more. I looked up several different sites to make sure I quoted the full meaning. 
    I think many people often confuse the word "confident" with "arrogant". The word arrogant means having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride. Having confidence is believing in yourself and the things that you associate with. If you believe you are a good person, deserve to be treated well and you  have a lot to offer you should have confidence. Not in a prideful, but in a humble way. Not to flaunt what you have or make others look bad, but to be assured in who you are and what you have in store for you/your life. If you don't like who you are, or the results you get because of who you are, you should seek out making changes in your life. You should never stop perusing and engaging in ways to change who you are and better your life. You should never settle. Always chase after and expect the best! If you settle for lesser things, you will never get or be the best. 
     That's my soap box for today. It's so hard to see someone you care about (I've even felt this way about myself at times in my life) settling for something or someone when they deserve so much more. It's so easy to see from the outside, but when you are on the inside I guess you are blinded by the feeling you have involved in the situation. It's so hard, trust me, I know this!! Anyone that really knows me, knows of things I have been through!! Thank God that's over with! 
     On another note, I am pumped for this weekend! MARDI GRAS!!!! I have never been to the one in St. Louis!! I'm really excited! We went and got our nails done for Mardi Gras!! Check em out!! 

And for all of you wondering,  yes, Wynsten is coming with!!! I'll take pictures with his Mardi Gras beads!! haha. Glad he's such a good sport!!!