When magic happens...

Something truly mazing happened last night that I can only describe as magic.  I mean, I am definitely not technically saavy enough to have done with without a good stroke of luck.  Nonetheless...

I finally, successfully, moved my blog to wordpress!

You can now find me at: 

lifeisbetterthanfiction.wordpress.com

Make sure you update your readers!  :)

See you there!

It's my birthday!

Some exciting news, I passed my skills and written test for my CNA!  I should be getting my official card in the mail this week.  Horray!   I've been looking for and applying to jobs at the hospitals.  I hope I find something that is both challenging and a great fit for me.


So today is my 26th birthday.  No big plans really.  Possibly a movie (any good ones out right now?) and maybe a slice of cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory.  I'll be spending it with my honey and that's the best present a girl could ask for.



Oh, and I'm headed to the gym early in the morning for an extra special treat:

After being inspired and totally blown away by Janetha's post, I've decided to take on the Jaime Eason 12 week challenge!!

I won't be posting before and after pictures because I, personally, don't feel comfortable posting those kind of pictures on the internet for all to see. (Not that I think there is anything wrong with people who do!)

I want to stay away from numbers, I might weigh myself once a week.  But I haven't decided on that.

I will likely do measurements of arms, waist, legs, etc to chart my progress but I don't know that I will share them here.  People's bodies are all different and I don't want to cause competition.

I will most likely post my before and after BMI.

I've never tried a program like this before but I've decided to give it a try for the following reasons:

-I've got an awesome friend who's game to do it together
-I'm not afraid of working hard at the gym
-My eating habits could be a little cleaner
-I want to have a stronger mind and more endurance
-I'm committed to sticking with it

Do I think I'll come out looking like a fitness model when I'm finished?  Of course not.

Do I hope to lose some lingering weight?  Yes.



Wish me luck and hold me accountable!


Since it's my birthday, and I love lists I've decided to make the following:

26 Things I've Learned in 26 years

1. Socks first, then shoes.
2. If it's breakable, I will break it.  It it's unbreakable, I will find a way.
3. Be nice.  It goes a long way.  That being said...
4. Stand up for yourself because no one else will.
5. When all else fails, hug the dog.

6. No news is good news.

7. Stop worrying about other people and start competing with yourself.
8. Sometimes people are mean, but that doesn't mean it's your fault.
9. Food poisoning is a terrible thing.  Terrible thing, indeed.
10. You can feel sore tomorrow, or you can feel sorry tomorrow.

11. Give compliments.  Everyone likes them.

12. Life never goes as expected.  But it usually turns out so much better.

13. Say "I'm sorry" when you should. 

14. Forgive, even when it's hard. 

15. When something bad happens, you have three choices: you can either let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you. 

16. You are the biggest obstacle in your way.

17. Cooking isn't hard.  Following recipes can be.

18. The best things in life are worth practice and patience. 

19. Try not to worry about things you can't control or change.

20. Do something that relaxes/ recharges you at least weekly.
21. Happiness is being married to your best friend.

22. People will let you down.  Do your best not to let down other people.

23. Take time for the things you love.

24. You get out of something what you put into it.

25. You're either early, or you're late. (The most recent thing I've learned.)

26. Today you are you, that is truer than true.  There is no one alive who is youer than you! -Dr. Seuss

You've probably seen some of these on pinterest.  Because that's where I got them.  Hey, I didn't say these were all original!

11 Random Things

Hey, hey!

My awesome friend Linzi tagged me in this fun little quiz so I can talk more about myself.  Whee!

Here are the rules (shhmules)

-post the rules. check.
-post 11 random things about yourself.
-answer the questions set for you in their post.
-tag 11 new people (or you will have bad luck for 7 years)
-create 11 new questions for the people you tag.

Random:

1.  While I like to cook plenty of healthy main dishes, I don't particularly care to make "healthy" baked goods.  Gimme the flour, sugar and butter!

2.  I like awkward animals.  Like pigs and frogs and monkeys and giraffes and elephants.  Thankfully, my friends and husband will not allow me to decorate the house with these animals.

Except this one I guess.

3.  There isn't really anything I dislike so much that I refuse to eat it.  Unless I'm allergic to it (mangoes).  I think that makes me an excellent dinner guest.

4.  If you ever saw me at the grocery store with my reusable bags, you might think I'm environmentally conscious.  Not really.  I actually just hate plastic grocery bags (though I do recycle them!). 

5. When someone asks me a question, I have this compulsion to come up with an answer.  Even if I don't really know what I'm talking about!  I feel like if they think I know the answer, I can't let them down!

6.  I have two hang bars in my closet.  One for my short sleeve shirts and one for my long sleeve shirts/sweaters.  The short sleeve shirts must be in color order but for some reason I don't organize the long sleeve ones at all!

7. I didn't get my ears pierced until I was 19.  I was never against it, I just never got around to it. 

8. It's almost my birthday.  This birthday kind of feels like a kick in the stomach.  26?  Already?

9. I was named after my grandma Margaret.  My husband also has a grandma Margaret. What?!

10. Whenever I am speeding up on the ramp getting onto the highway, I like to pretend I am a plane getting ready to take off. #nerdalert

11. This time, last year, I was getting ready to head to Hawaii.  Sigh.

Questions:

1. What is your favorite dish to make?  I make a mean parmesan chicken.  It's my go-to recipe. 

2. Would you rather sing in a karaoke contest or be in a dance competition?  Dance competition hands down.  I think I can (still) dance.  As long as it's choreographed. 

3. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?  Tough.  If I decided on a place I'd never been, I would choose Germany.  Otherwise, I am DYING to go and visit Victoria, BC where I lived briefly.

4. Pepsi or Coke?  Coke. 

5. What is your favorite movie? Beauty and the Beast.  Hands down, no questions.

6.  Heels or flats?  Heels!!  Love them.

7. Where were you born?  Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, Wyoming.  I was the only baby, so there isn't much of a chance I was switched at birth.

8. Do you watch reality tv?  We got rid of our cable.  But when we did, I loved the Real Housewives.

9. Have you ever met anyone famous?  It's kind of a stretch, but once when I was working at the Gap in Victoria, David Suzuki (a well known Canadian environmentalist) came in.  That's all I've got. 

10.  What's one thing you'd like to accomplish in 2012?  Get into nursing school.  Seriously.  It's stiff competition.

11. Dark, milk, or white chocolate?  Hmm... dark, but not too dark.  Or milk.  How's that for definitive?

Whew!  

I think this post has been long enough, so I'll just pass on the tagging and ask you just two questions:

What is your favorite Disney movie?

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?