Day, ToDay: Saturday

I woke up with the worst allergies! I felt like I had strep throat. I was not looking forward to going into work. I thought to myself, "If I have to wake up early to go to work on a Saturday, then I am just not going to wear a bra!" One bra and three layers later, I was ready to head downstairs and fuel up on coffee.

After I had made my pot of coffee and packed my bag, I got a text from my boss...

Needless to say I was a little irked. There would be no possible way for me to go back to bed after already having woken up (I'm a very light sleeper and I am incapable of taking naps unless I'm 110% unfunctionally exhausted or sick).

So, in response, I went to a coffee shop to catch up on my magazine reading. I put on my "paparazzi glasses" and hit the road.

As the day drew on, I got sicker and sicker. I felt like I wanted to die. I came home and spent about 7 hours watching tv and breathing in steam from my water boiler. I really don't take medication unless I must so the steam usually does what I hope it will.

After much steam breathing and blog reading, I got a craving for dougnuts. I just went to the store in my pajamas... despite my prejudice outlook on people who publically wear pajamas. I felt like a total hypocrit. I couldn't resist capturing the moment though:

I came home and got in bed...

Day, ToDay: Friday

Fridays are always nice because they are the last real work days of the week. Friday nights are always easy at work too. Another good thing about Friday is that I can sleep in a little bit because I don't have to leave the house until roughly 8am.

Mmm, can you say delicious? Not me... I'm talking about the omlett behind me that I'm thumbs upping.

Yayaya! Veggie omlet, grapes, cinnoman toast, and coffee.

Fridays are my designated swim day with Jenna. This is what I would look like if the rapture had happened that day...according to some theorists :-P

After my work out and swim, I got dressed and headed over to my Psych of Women's class.

...I took a break at the SCC to eat my delicious bean and chicken burrito...

...Then I studied for my Congitive Psych test which I am still waiting to get my grades for...

After my test, I decided to walk over to work because it was nice outside. I was so relaxed and free that I took my shoes off and just enjoyed the day. Part of me felt immature and dirty. I remembered all those pictures of Britney spears walking around barefoot at random gas stations... and then I put my shoes back on. It was very nice for the moment that I had them off.

When I walk to work from main campus I get to pass this really cool construction site. This week they have been rerouting the train tracks so that they can start to tunnel.

My favorite water fountain...

Friday night it was storming! There was a huge flood (I'm talking like 2 ft of water). There was hail too. I took a break from work to watch the rain pour outside. It was coming down so hard that it almost looked sideways. What a beautiful treat!

The boys decided that in order to avoid getting wet, they would make a raincoat... fabulous, no?

I, on the other hand forgot to make a raincoat. Since I was enjoying the beautiful day, I forgot that I had left my bike on main campus (roughly a 20 minute walk). I have always wanted to take advantage of the Corps of Cadets Escort service. Every year, I have said, "I should call them!" Every year, I make excuses..."I don't need an escort, this is embarrassing, I don't have the time, It's not dangerous, etc." Tonight though, I thought, "Maybe the corps boy could help me carry my laundry or my giant heavy back pack!" I called and eneded up waiting an extra 15 mintues in the rain. He got there and we started walking. He didn't offer to carry anything and I decided that I would not ask.

We had a great conversation as we walked. 10 minutes in, a car pulled up and offered a ride. We accepted. The car smelled like coffee and our driver explained he was about to go on a date and decided to get his lucky lady some coffee. The train came as we pulled out onto the main road and then it stopped. We were obviously facing a potential delay... so our driver asked if he could drop us off at the rec (just feet from where he picked us up). We agreed and began our journey on foot again. About 45 minutes after getting off work, I arrived at my bike, thanked more corps boy and scadadled home in the rain.

As you can see, I got very wet and muddy on my way home. I didn't really mind though. I went straight to bed because I knew that I would have an early morning the next day. We had our semiannual West Campus meeting scheduled at 9am.

Day, ToDay: Thursday

Good Morning! Today, I woke up, made a delicious veggie omlet with friut and of course, coffee.

On Thursdays my classes are: Comparitive Psyc, Oceanography Lab, and finally Psychology 204...possibly one of the longest and most boring classes of my life.

After classes on Thursday, I head over to the gym. Thursdays are usually cardio days. This semester I have struggled some with creativity. I tend to default to doing a mix of cardio and weights...even though I lift weights on Wednessdays too. I really love doing the stairclimber on Thursdays, but it is usually being used.

I decided to wear my cute work out hoodie in protest for having to go to class on Thursday:

As always, my 40lb backpack journeyed through the day with me:

Finally, I made it home and spent the rest of the night studying for my test the following morning.



To my God

Your heart for me is unchangeable

Your love, irrevocable

Your compassion is overpowering

I am drenched from your mercy

Your faithfulness is steadfast

Your humility echos throughout my life

Your voice, crystal clear

Your gentleness is my refuge

Your strength is like thunder

Your justice is true

Your patience unending

Lord what can I do?

My heart like a tide

My love is so young

My compassion is fleeting

My mercy unknown

My faithfulness isn’t steady

My humility, mild

My voice shakes and cracks like a scared little child

My gentleness, weary

My strength ain’t enough

My justice, a joke

I’m already fed up!

You sought me

You caught me

Oh this much is true

You made me and changed me

To be more like you

Slowly but surely, I’m learning to grow

My sin now behind me

Like my shadow

Though I may fall down a time or two

I am now complete with a Lover like You

Book Review: Fresh Wind Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala

I highly recommend  this book for anyone! It is basically about the power of prayer. Jim talks about starting the Brooklyn Tabernacle and how he and his church have consistently relied upon one simple principle: Pray to God, and seek His Face.

By praying to God, we are humbling ourselves to ask, "What is your will? How would you like for me to make my choices?" We are also opening our hearts to be available for relationship with our Lord. It's a two way street, the best way to know someone is to communicate and prayer is no different.

Just hearing Jim Cymbala's stories about his experience with prayer really inspired me to make my personal prayer life a bigger deal. I think sometimes, as a christian, it can be tempting to think, "I love talking to God, but does he really hear? Is anything happening? Does he care?" This book really reminded me of the truth and His promise that He does care, it is real, things are happening, and God remains faithful (even when we are faithless because He cannot and will not deny Himself).

I loved this book because hearing the stories strengthened my faith and lifted my spirit. I hope that if you read it, you will enjoy it as much as I did!

T-Courtney

Ok I'll be real with you. I haven't been as diligent over the last few weeks as I should have been about being responsible with my food intake. Let's just not talk about how "Not diligent" I've been. Moving on...

I'm back on the wagon. I have been meeting with a nutritionist and am being held accountable to stick on a calorie plan of 1500/day. If I fill up on veggies and protein, I am pretty satisfied. One issue that I do run into though, is my off day. Saturday is my day off from both school and work. I struggle with my diet on this day because stopping and resting is kind of unnerving for me (though desperately needed).

My nutritionist suggested that I plan my rest days out. I'm on the fence about that because I like having one day that isn't scheduled. We'll see. I do need to think a little bit about a plan regardless.

I am also working with a personal trainer. I meet with him once a week for the next 12 weeks. He has given me a lot of great tips to tweek my typical routine that I have platued on. He's so creative and the work outs are very interesting. It turns out that I have not been lifting heavy enough. I figured. I'm done with the laziness - now I'm really pumping iron...like a man. Well, pumping iron like a man who loves the color pink and also wants to build lean muscle and slim down... I'm hard core.

I have an ignited hope now that was previously beginning to wain. I have also decided to not do any more sugar or "over eating" until I start my period again... (I really don't think anyone reads this... so if my blog starts becoming popular will you tell me that you think it's getting popular so I won't say things like "my period" before everyone?! Thanks.)... anyone once my body decides that it's going to do it's thang, I'll pig out on pasta and chocolate for a day... but not until then.

Maybe around spring break I'll post some follow up pictures to the ones I have already posted. We'll see how hot I am by then and if it's remotely acceptable, I'll reveal my swim suite bod.

With God and a spirit of self control, all things related to my particular weight loss goals are possible!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Z3YrHJ1sU&ob=av3e

Day, ToDay: Wednesday

Here is a little synapses of what a typical Wednesday may look like in my world:

Good Morning! I wake up at 5:50am, snooze until 6:00am and then spend the next 30-45 minutes praying, reading the bible, listening to music, and reviewing the plethora of emails I received during the last 8 hours. I rarely respond to them... if you aren't my boss and if you've emailed me, you know that. 

I love listening to Mark Driscoll in the mornings as I get ready! Usually I will play that while I take on the feat of packing my backpack. This last Wednesday just happened to be Career Fair day. My mission: Roll pack my clean pressed business attire, water proof it, and ensure that it it's wearable by lunch. 

My backpack normally weighs 30-45 lbs with all my books, water, food, and change of clothes (or nasty sweaty work out clothes). 

Breakfast was a delicious assortment of veggies with egg whites, Raisin toast, grapes, and a Courtney made Cappuccino. Normally, breakfast is my one meal that I eat at home (it's also the only meal I eat that I know I'll be in a seated position and not commuting with), so I really like to sit for it.  

Yay! Me and my other half are finally ready to hit the campus! 

I had one of the best weight lifting work outs ever with my trainer at the gym followed by swim class. This day, we worked on our flip turns. It was hard. I think swimming is my very favorite class though. 

After swimming, I got ready and mentally prepared myself for the retailing career fair. The fair was a great experience because it really showed me how generalized a lot of my career related answers tend to be. I'd really like to mature from a professional standpoint and learn how to stand out in a way that is not obnoxious. I don't think I was obnoxious, but I don't feel as though I was as interesting as I could be. Maybe part of the reason is because I'm really not passionate about retailing. I felt a little awkward when I would meet the booth representatives because after introducing myself we would usually share a little uncomfortable pause before I would say something like, "Well, I really love Dillards!" or "Do you have any summer internship opportunities to tell me about?" Whatever. I rocked that suit. 

No, I didn't ride my steed of steel in my business suite, but I did walk along side of it. I sure do love my bike! And unlike some people, I cannot ride a bike with no handle bars, no handle bars, no handle bars STOP! 

Lunch... nuff said. It was filling, but that many carrots takes forever and a day to eat. 

After attending my classes, and hopefully acing a test, I jetted off to work. I remained there until 9pm. I saw that note laying in the bathroom floor and it really encouraged me. I left it there for the next person to enjoy. 

After a long day, I'm ready to bike home and hit the hay! I love my nightly rides because I really feel like they are relaxing and a great way to unwind. 

New hobby: Snapping photos of Pinterest Princesses. Here are my self imposed rules:

1. The pictures must be taken without the Princess catching on. 

2. Class pinteresting/work pinteresting only (not just some girl pinteresting on her own time... only inappropriate depictions of Pinterest activity will count)

3. I will be posting the pictures on Facebook, most likely while I'm class (maybe there is someone out there starting a collection of Phonography Photaholics?)... so check them out!