30 Day Challenge Reboot

So if you actually read this on a regular basis, you may remember last September my friend Amanda and I decided to start a 30 day challenge together. Since we're separated by half a country, it was to be a way to keep in touch and to form a buddy system so we could both achieve goals that would lend to overall healthier living. But what started out as just the two of us kind of... grew. We created a facebook group and by the time the beginning of the month rolled around we had about 10 or so participants from among our friends and family!

Unfortunately last time around, two days before the end of the month some friends and I were involved in a car accident and I was unable to finish the challenge. I was super bummed about that for quite a while. And then due to one thing or another and other injuries, I haven't really been able to maintain a regular workout schedule since. At this point though I've recovered fairly well and am anxious to get going again!

For September, Amanda and I attempted 30 days of yoga. It was an amazing, strengthening and eye opening experience. I learned a lot about my limits, how to push them, AND how to do a headstand! This time my overall goal was just to be healthier and in better physical shape. I don't give a crap about the number on the scale. I'm not setting out to loose weight. It may happen, it may not. What I REALLY want is to get rid of this belly! Lol ;) Basically, the goal is to burn fat. And what's one of the fastest ways to burn fat??? RUNNING! I used to do cross country in high school but haven't really run seriously since. It would be a lie if I told you I liked running. I like what you get FROM running. And after you get over that initial OMG I'M GONNA DIE phase its not too bad overall. I plan on mixing it up with cross training so it won't be all running all the time. But so as to have something to actually shoot for...

I'M GONNA DO THIS!!!

Going "Couch to 5K" in one month might seem a bit drastic. And maybe it is but... I think I can do it! Correction: I'm going to do it! I've found a training schedule that happened to fit exactly what I wanted here. Basically it consists of running 3 days a week, cross training 2 days, and resting 2 days. You build up gradually instead of just jumping right in. I plan to combine this routine with biking and yoga for my cross training days. I might not finish the race with any great deal of speed... But by the end of May I will be in the shape to finish it!

My deployment countdown calendar will be doing double duty this month with the addition of the challenge. I've placed a sticky over each date with the day's activity written on it. So, in order to mark off the day for my countdown I will have to perform the listed task to remove the sticky! I've also got the training schedule posted below the month so I can cross off the workouts as I accomplish them. Now, the world isn't going to end if I don't follow this system... but its a visible method of self accountability. I'm a very visual person; I need calendars and countdowns and lists... Otherwise I go insane.

 

AND, I'm also going to ATTEMPT to turn this crazy beast into my running buddy.

This may be the most challenging part of the whole thing.

She's definitely a runner. She just tends to think I'm too slow and that it would just work better in general if she just pulled me along. Lol. Gotta love sled dogs...

Anyway, that's all I've got for now. I shall leave you with this thought:

 (and only 21 days to create a habit!)

Tomorrow is Day 1.

LET THE CHALLENGE BEGIN!

-Lindsey

Deployment Bucket List: Decorating the Master Bathroom

So we've lived in our house now about a year and a half... And I have yet to finish decorating all the rooms. So I've decided that while I've got so much extra free time over the next few months, that one of my goals will be to get it all done up and pretty before Charles gets home. So far so good. Week 1 I attacked the master bath!

BEFORE:

Ew. I call this 'Builder Beige' since the whole house was done in this color when it was built. Walls AND ceiling. And it was flat paint. Who the heck uses flat paint in a bathroom?!? The walls practically drank up the water. Also, I really hate beige.

STEP 1: Differentiate between walls and ceiling

Even just painting the ceiling white made a huge difference in the way the room felt. It felt much taller and less I'm-trapped-in-a-cardboard-box-esque.

STEP 2: The Color Reveal!!!

I feel like I'm on 'Trading Spaces'. Anyone remember that show? Frank was my fav.

(Also, just a suggestion: Use AT LEAST a semigloss paint in kitchens and bathrooms. I've used a gloss here. Gloss paint is so much easier to clean up when things splatter on the walls, it repels water and stains, and it reflects LOTS of light which is super useful in such high traffic rooms!)

Aaaaaand here it goes on the wall!

STEP 3: Paint ENIRE ROOM!!!

Gorgeous, yes!? It only took two coats! AND I got in all of the movie "Easy A" while I waited for the paint to dry :D

STEP 4: DECORATE!!!

VOILA! Finished product!

I wanted to get a very calming, spa kind of feeling. So I went with this very light and clean springy green and a light steely gray to compliment all of the fixtures in the room. Really loved how it turned out! I also took down the hand towel ring that was on the wall to the left of the vanity and replaced it with a couple of green glass shelves for extra storage. It seemed kind of stupid to have one towel ring for two sinks anyway, so instead I installed a couple command hooks at counter height on either side of the vanity so we can actually both have a towel now!

I smile every time I walk in here now and I'm so glad to finally have gotten rid of that nasty beige color! (Now to eradicate it from my bedroom...) Its so amazing what a difference a little paint can make :)

 Can't wait for my hubby to come home and see how handy I was!

 :D

-Lindsey

Confessions of a Socially Awkward Military Spouse

Hello, My name is Lindsey... and I have issues. lol...

Seriously though...

 
 
A huge part of military life is the social occasions. I love my life and I wouldn't trade it for a second... But in a world where friendships and alliances are formed and forged at lightning speed (Because, well, you have to. Who knows how long you'll be here?!) I feel I'm at a distinct disadvantage. Perhaps even more so now when my husband (read: security blanket) is so far away. When your one steadfast anchor to the real world is suddenly missing, whats a girl to do?

There's a lot of things people don't talk about. It just seems to be a general societal rule that when one is "different" one doesn't point out these differences to the masses. I have, however, reached the point where I don't feel like I really have a choice. I mean, I do. You always do. But choosing to isolate myself further doesn't seem like the smartest choice to me. And so, I've got a confession of sorts. For the people that don't really know me, or I have only met in passing- perhaps this will afford you some insight. And even people that do know me may not necessarily know all the details. 

Social anxiety. Its a real thing, guys. And I've got it. I feel ridiculously nervous in social situations. Meeting new people. Large crowds. Not my cup of tea. And in this life, this military life, this transient ever-changing life... you meet a lot of new people. A. Lot. And there are unavoidable social functions at which there will inevitably be lots of people. Lots of people that you will then have to meet. To be quite honest with you, this freaks me the crap out. And would you believe I'm about a million times better than I used to be? I've been working on it. Really and truly. And yet I know that the majority of that effort is not visible from the outside. My husband's support has been my lifeline. Making the jump into a military lifestyle would not have been possible for me without him by my side (Moving half way across the country away from everything I've ever known!? Are you freaking kidding me?!). But, as will happen with the military, he will leave. And he has. Now what do I do? 

This. This is what I've chosen to do. Putting this out there for you guys, even virtually, is an incredibly difficult step for me to take. I am afraid. But I am also tired. And I need help.

Social anxiety is not a readily visible condition. Often people who have it are perceived as stuck up instead of cripplingly shy. I can attest to it, I have experienced it. This is a horrible truth to face. Believe me. It is incredibly painful to know you are seen this way. And I know that I am. 

To anyone and everyone that has actually gotten this far down the page (I put in lots of pictures to break up the awkward... did it help?) and is still reading: I do not hate you. I don't think I've ever really hated anyone really. I probably don't even dislike you. Its actually quite probable that I think you're pretty nice and would like to talk to you. I just don't know how. Thus, it is pretty difficult for me to make close friends. Especially as quickly as the military world moves. If I ever seem normal... Thank you for noticing. I assure you I'm trying REALLY hard and I'm glad its working.

However, when I do not make eye contact or when I drop my side of a conversation... Its not because I do not want to talk to you. I seriously just don't know what to say. My brain is in over load and I cannot form and spit out one cohesive thought. I do not know why this happens... It just does.

When I sit by myself and do not seek out interaction or conversation with others, its not because I'm bored. Its not because I don't want to be there. Its because I truly feel I have nothing interesting to contribute. I wouldn't know where to begin. What to say. What not to say. Who in the world would want to talk to me anyway, I'm the most boring person on the planet?! Yes. I know its illogical. Yes. I know its an overreaction. Yet I still don't know what to do with myself.

To people with kids: I do not hate you. I do not hate your kids. I do not hate you because you have kids. If it seems like I'm avoiding you... its probably because I just wouldn't know what to do with the wiggly little thing. I really have nothing against kids in general. I just have no idea how to interact with them. And being thrust into the time of life when the majority of your peers are having kids left and right... Its awkward. I'm not ready for that part of my life and I feel like that has created an unbreachable gulf between me and... well... most of the people with whom I would ever conceivably have contact. Also, I'm convinced kids can smell fear. Ok, I'm kidding. But also not really...

So why am I telling you this? Why am I baring my soul to the entire internets? What do I expect? Well... nothing really. I don't expect everyone to understand. Or even to care for that matter. I don't expect anyone to make a special effort on my account. But, on the offside chance anyone is reading this... I just hope that after reading... that someone on the outside will at least consider the idea that I'm not the terrible awful mean person I believe people think that I am... that you will know that contrary to the observable evidence before you, that I do not hate you. Or anyone. 

And I'm going to go ahead and make the make the egotistical assumption that I cannot be the only one that feels this way. Military spouse or otherwise. I hope that should one of those people happen to read this, they will know they are not alone in their struggle. And I hope that that will give them hope. Perhaps we can band together and celebrate our mutual awkwardness. After all... If everyone is "different", then no one is really. Right?

Thanks for reading.

-Lindsey