a walk with my lady.

After Tatum's morning nap yesterday we went for a walk around our neighborhood. Initially, I had planned on it being a 3 mile walk, which would take about an hour. When that time came, I decided to do it for another hour. I walked about 5-6 miles. And seriously, it was so easy. I've gone on really small walks in the area before, but never covered as much territory, so it was pretty boring. I've also never brought Tatum along before, but from now on I definitely will. It honestly made the walk so much easier, fun, and the time went by SO fast.

If you're wanting to start exercising, but don't know where to start/feel overwhelmed, I would strongly recommend just going on walks. Obviously, I eventually would love to progress to running (no jogging stroller yet!), but for now this is totally good with me. Easy, effective workout!

I plan on doing this, along with doing Ripped In 30 at least one time, 5 days a week.

Interesting things we saw on our walk:

+ Two cats with litters of kittens. GIVE ME.
+ Some scary dogs that popped up out of nowhere! (From behind a fence, thankfully.)
+ Josh! This was so funny...He knew we were going out for a walk, but didn't know how long. He just assumed an hour. He accidentally fell asleep, and when he woke up and we weren't home he went driving around searching for us. Dork. Love him.

{No, she is not properly strapped in in this photo. I know this! If we were in the car, it would be much different.}

As you can see, Tatum was really exhausted at the end of our workout. Sister worked hard!

yay!

i'm just feeling really great right now.

:)

this morning i had to get up a little early--okay, so 9 am is probably not really "early" but it is since i've been on vacation being a lazy daisy for the past two and a half weeks.

i had a doctors appt, just a little checkup this time.

all was well!

afterwards, i went to work and got my check.

i'm really happy with it, because i only have to take $10 out of the bank to meet my car payment.

and then, i just have plenty of dees leftover, since i've already paid my other bills this month.

that's such a good feeling--being on top of things!

i went to the gym and walked a mile and did five miles on the bike.

i'm not really hardcore with it or anything, ha.

i'm just trying to ease myself into things, because i don't want to get burnt out on it.

so far, i just love it and how it makes me feel.

last night, josh and i made dinner again.

we were doing two different things at once, and at first it was really stressing me out.

i accidentally let a pot boil over and i melted part of the cutting board.

but, everything was fine in the end. thank goodness.

he made himself taco burgers, which is a sloppy joe with taco seasoning.

and fritos with cheese on top.

i decided to take on danielle's (from Sometimes Sweet) recipe she shared the other day, but with my own twist on it.

i did everything the same as she did, but instead of eggplant used squash and zucchini.

and i also had a spinach, tomato, and avocado side salad with balsamic vinegariette.

it looked really pretty.

i wanted to take a picture, but i didn't have my camera on me.

i definitely want to start cooking like this more often.

what's your favorite recipe?

a little bit of an update.

so far, my plan to workout regularly and take better care of myself is going pretty well.

i haven't actually done anything to my diet much yet, but it's definitely improved.

and the working out is going to go well. i can just tell; i have really good feelings about it.

leah joined me and got a membership to the gym on monday.

so i'll have someone to push me and encourage me, whenever she's around.

on monday night, i stayed over with my friends leah and carrie.

carrie is from here, but moved to sweden about a year ago to live with her boyfriend, jacob.

it was so great to see her and spend time with her.

she's been one of my best friends since we were 7 years old. :)

we made brownies and watched the movie "adam."

and we also had lots of girl talk.

i love her and missed her.

so fun!

yesterday i had to go have a nuclear ultrasound.

it was really weird and was the longest thing ever.

but today they called and everything came back negative.

so, i guess that's good....

but now i have to go back to the doctor for a new test:

they have to stick a camera/light down my throat into my stomach.

can't wait!

last night, josh and i made dinner together.

sort of...ha.

we usually make tacos, but last time we did, i was sick of them.

so this time, we made velveeta cheese and shells.

and i made steamed vegetables as my side.

and he had pizza as his.

i swear it is all he eats.

i start back to school and work next week.

not really sure how i'm feeling about this yet.

but, i've decided that i'm just going to take classes that i want to take and that i'll enjoy.

not what i feel like i have to take.

i'm taking an art class, and tomorrow i'm going to sign up for a couple of business classes.

and i don't know what else yet.

i just think this is the best way to figure out what i really want to do, career-wise.

how did you ladies figure out what you wanted to do?

what made you decide!

:)

---------

also! chloe is doing a really neat giveaway of some of her awesome work.

check it out!

and if you don't already, definitely start following her.

she's totally sweet and completely cute and funny!

:)

S U N D A Y !

yesterday was a really nice day.

and i'm very happy about it. :)

i went back to my church.

and i actually liked it and felt happy being there.

i was pleasantly surprised, and i intend to continue going there up until josh and i leave.

josh is even going to start going with me next week, which i'm very happy about. :)

also, i went to the gym with my mom, tori, and paul.

it was way fun, and i loved working out!

my little brother was so funny and cute on all the machines, because he is so small.

he was making me laugh the whole time. :)

i had a pretty good workout: 3 miles on the bike and 2 miles speed walking on the treadmill.

it felt really nice and i'm so excited to continue on this journey.

after i worked out, i went to jcpenneys to try and find some new jeans.

i'm usually not a fan of their selection, but i was given a gift card to the store and i'm in desperate need.

there's not really anywhere else in the town to shop for them either, if you're on a pretty tight budget.

i was so happy when i got there and before my eyes were levis!

(they had stopped carrying them here for a long time, for whatever reason.)

so i found this totally perfect pair and was in and out of there in a flash. :)

when josh got to my house we went to town and rented some tv shows.

then, we went to kroger to pick up a few things.

and after decided to go to applebees, where josh's iphone fell out of his pocket and is now totally shattered.

poor whale.

he thinks he is going to tell the apple store that he fell asleep with it in his pocket.

and when he woke up that was just how it was.

now, i don't really condone him lying or anything...

but, basically i want him to tell them this because it is a completely ridiculous thing.

and i think it's really amusing that he thinks this will even remotely work.

god love him.

(i don't know why i'm sad. but he's cute!)