Going to sleep last night was something like going to sleep before the first day of school. The routines that I know will become annoying and dull after a little while seem fresh and exciting. Here are some of [...]]]> Today is the day. My first day at the Illinois chapter Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.

This is my excited face! New job, yay!

Going to sleep last night was something like going to sleep before the first day of school. The routines that I know will become annoying and dull after a little while seem fresh and exciting. Here are some of the little things that I love now (and always loved at the beginning of the school year) but know you’ll roll your eyes at.

I loved packing my lunch. Shiny new lunchbox? Check. And I got to decide what to put in it! Leftovers from dinner, a PBJ, fruit, chips… the possibilities are endless. Naturally, a mid-day Diet Coke will always be necessary, too. I was thrilled to lovingly put together a little lunch for myself, just like my mom used to before school. (Mom, is it weird if I write myself a note on my napkin?)

I was excited to pick out my outfit. Doing this the night before can save me precious time (and excuses) in the morning. I don’t want to admit how many times I’ve fallen back asleep after thinking to myself, I’ll just lie here while I decide what to wear, and then I’ll get up for work. (Yes, even when I was a nanny and wore sweats to work on a daily basis.) Oh, but now! I have new work clothes — never worn before, purchased at post-holiday sales, and tucked away, waiting for my new job. Dressing in business casual is oh-so-exciting right now.

Yes, I do have a Pinterest board full of things like this.

I was excited to go to bed early. And then, of course, lie awake because I was too excited to sleep. But I climbed in bed at a reasonable hour, ready to get those 8+ hours of sleep I need.

Of course, I also added some of my own little quirky touches into my routine. I packed my Sharpie pens and Dixon-Ticonderoga number 2 pencils into my work bag, because I can be a little bit of a writing utensil snob. I continued to drool over organization systems, trying to decide what will best work to keep my desk drawers tidy. I thought for far too long about what pictures I’ll want on my desk and what calendar I want on my wall. Because those are fun details — like shopping for new notebooks and pencils before the first day of school.

Here’s to the start of a new adventure!

What little habits do you have before your work day? What quirky things do you do when you’re starting something new?

Glad you agree. Let’s get to it.

I’m thankful for the incredible job I had for the last year and a half. For each [...]]]> Woohoo! It’s Thursday. And after yesterday’s kind of cranky post, I think it’s time to perk things up around here. Perfect timing for a day of thankfulness, don’t you think?

Glad you agree. Let’s get to it.

I’m thankful for the incredible job I had for the last year and a half. For each and every day I spent as a nanny, I woke up excited to see “my” boys and spend the day with them. I feel so fortunate to have two incredible little boys in my life, and their parents were nothing short of wonderful to work for. I’m looking forward to my new job, and the challenges and excitement it will bring me professionally, but I’m also oh-so-grateful for the job I’m leaving behind. It is scary to leave something that makes me so happy, and I’m taking a big leap! I know it’s a leap in the right direction. Still, I’ll miss my little ones and I’m grateful for the time I got to spend with them.

I’m thankful for friends. Oh, I know. I say this one pretty often. But really, I’m a ridiculously lucky girl. I’m so grateful to have friends I can lean on, who always have my back. They add an abundance of love, laughter, and happiness into my life.

I’m thankful for running in the snow. Sure, it’s nice to run in warm weather, but there’s something wonderful about the crunch of snow under your feet on a run. I was a little bit of a lazy slug for a while after Las Vegas, but I’m back in gear this week, getting ready for my 2012 race season. I’ve got a 10k coming up soon, and I’m thinking it’d be nice if the first race of 2012 was  PR.  My current best? 1:12:37, an 11:41 pace. I think I can smash it. I intend to. Here’s hoping there’s some freshly fallen snow for race day!

I’m thankful for 30 Rock. It’s back — finally! I am so happy to have Liz Lemon back in my life. I’d like to be her when I grow up, please.

I’m thankful for new adventures in food. Teriyaki chicken? Why yes, I did try that this week. And I liked it! I’m excited to add new things to the list of things I’ll eat, even though I don’t plan on giving up my peanut butter sandwiches, chicken breasts, and pasta any time soon.

I’m thankful for Pinterest, Goodreads, and Facebook. My favorite ways to waste time on the internet. Oh yes.

Is this true for internet time-sucks?

I’m thankful for mushrooms. They might be the most delicious food ever. Sauteed, on pizza, breaded. Yum.

I’m thankful for ballet. Because you’re never too old to try something new, even if it is just for fun. I can’t wait for ballet class this weekend! My little feet are itching to get back in my ballet slippers. (And yes, I’ve been dancing around the house all week, practicing my skills. Is it weird that I already want to install a ballet bar in my house?)

Tiny ballerina Lauren hangs out with her awesome brother Batman. Heck yes. Think I could wear this tutu to class on Saturday? Would that be too much?

I’m thankful for sweatpants. Today is my last day of sweatpants at work, but I’m certain I’ll change into them immediately after work from now on. There’s nothing better than comfy clothes. Nothing.

I’m thankful for The Container Store.

I’m thankful for broccoli.

I’m thankful for peanut butter.

I’m thankful for my warm winter coat. Because it’s finally winter!

Lay it on me. What things are you thankful for this week?

I do not manage stress well. I tend to, well… freak out. But here’s the thing about freaking out. It doesn’t help make the stress go away, and it can actually make dealing with any stress more difficult. I waste time freaking out that I could spend actually [...]]]> Ahhhh freak out! Le freak, c’est chic.

I do not manage stress well. I tend to, well… freak out. But here’s the thing about freaking out. It doesn’t help make the stress go away, and it can actually make dealing with any stress more difficult. I waste time freaking out that I could spend actually dealing with the problem at hand. Freaking out also makes tiny problems into much, much bigger beasts.

I’m not alone in this whole I’m-a-grown-up-but-still-learning-not-to-freak-out-over-everything bit. Like Ali, when I was in high school and college, I remember cramming everything I possibly could onto my plate, and then some. My dad often accused me of “burning the candle at both ends and in the middle.” To which I obviously responded with something mature like rolling my eyes and saying, “Daaa-ad! I’m fine. I like being really busy.”

Dad and me. We are silly sometimes.

I still do like being really busy. There are just so many things that I find fascinating and so many people that I want to spend time with that I find it nearly impossible not to be busy and have a lot on my plate. I’m constantly making lists to remind myself of all the things I need to get done, and then re-making lists to prioritize those things.

Oh I think I need this. (Click for source)

While my lists aren’t going to go away anytime soon, the accompanying stress needs to hit the road. Busy is good, and my plate is full of good things, I just need to learn to relax. To say no. To go to bed early and leave time to breathe in my schedule. To realize that the world won’t fall apart if everything on my to-do list doesn’t get accomplished before I go to bed tonight.

That’s why, as I look ahead to the start of my new job (next week!), I am resolving to work hard, but stress less.

Now I just need to figure out how.

What do you do to keep stress at bay? And don’t tell me the “take a bubble bath to relax.” I know those ones. How do you convince yourself to just not stress at all?

While I have taken dance class before, it’s been about 15 years, and I wasn’t exactly the most coordinated young dancer.

Still, I loved dancing, and spend plenty of time doing [...]]]> On Saturday, I grabbed my brand new ballet slippers and headed to class at Northside Dance Theater. Super Beginner Ballet, to be exact.

Yes, I'm in the level below beginner.

While I have taken dance class before, it’s been about 15 years, and I wasn’t exactly the most coordinated young dancer.

But clearly I seriously rocked the costumes.

Still, I loved dancing, and spend plenty of time doing it in my own living room. So when my friend Charlotte mentioned that she was taking this class, I instantly invited myself along. I spent the week in anticipation — buying ballet shoes, thinking about all the sweet dance moves I’d learn, and secretly lusting after the high-heeled tap shoes I always wanted.

High-heeled tap shoes (do they have a fancier name?) make me think of old musicals, and I’m pretty sure if I get some and learn to dance in them, Gene Kelly will be knocking on my door. Of course, I’ll wear my tap shoes constantly and be prepared to bust out a spontaneous song and dance number. It’ll be perfect.

Anyway, back to the ballet class.

Kim, the instructor, was very nice and told me lots of encouraging things. I don’t think I’m a terribly good dancer, and when I thought too hard about things I’d get incredibly confused. But if I just listened and followed along and danced, I had a wonderful time. It was like being five years old again. I didn’t care what anybody else thought. I wasn’t trying to be the best, and I have no delusion that I’ll become a star in the Nutcracker, even if I work really hard. I just did it because it was fun.

My new happy place.

Somewhere along the line, most of my hobbies have become fun things that are more than just fun. I run because it’s fun, but also because I want to push myself to get a new PR, to be the very best version of my running self that I can be. Writing has become that, too. A place where I want to get better.

I love the idea that, for now, at least, ballet is a place I can go just for fun. Because you’re never too old to learn something new… and you’re absolutely never too old to let loose and have fun doing it.

What is the last thing you did just because it was fun?

I still am — I just can’t believe how [...]]]> It’s hard to believe that one week from today is my last day at my nanny job. When I accepted my new position, four weeks of notice seemed like a long, long time. I was itching to get in the office and get started.

I still am — I just can’t believe how fast that day is arriving! And, of course, with change comes a little bit of anxiety and uncertainty. (Be amped for a post on my crazy stressed self in the near future.) When I’m stressing, I have found that one of the best things I can do is sit back and be grateful for all the good. How convenient that I, um, borrowed, Ali‘s idea and do that once a week here now.

I’m thankful for lots of extra sleep. Thanks to a nasty visit from Frank (my ulcerative colitis) and my back arthritis (who needs a name — any suggestions?) I had to take a sick day from work on Tuesday. My days with the boys are winding down, so I was really sad to miss work, but it had to be done. I spent the entire day sleeping. This is not an exaggeration. I slept until around 4:30 in the afternoon, waking only for frequent visits to the bathroom. Dinner, a little blog and book reading, and then back to bed for the night around 9:30. I’m still a little shocked I was able to sleep that much, but I guess my body needed it. And I certainly woke up on Wednesday feeling a little better because of it.

Yes. Yes I will.

I’m thankful for my very own ballet slippers! This Saturday is my first ballet class since I was about eight. I’m taking a beginner’s class for adults and I could not be more excited. I walked into a dance store this week to buy my ballet slippers, and walked out with my new shoes, beaming like an eight year old. It’s highly likely that I’ll be demanding a ballet bar in my home and practicing around the house for months to come.

I’m thankful for the reading bug, and making the time to do it. One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to carve out time for reading and writing. So far, I’m totally nailing the reading part. (I’m working on the writing part.) Just a few weeks into the new year, and I already finished Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande. The book completely captivated me. I’ve been allowing books to do that more and more recently, and it’s wonderful. I picked up The Tiger’s Wife for book club next, and I’m quickly getting sucked into that too. (Feel free to follow my reading journey on Goodreads this year!)

I’m thankful that my primary care doctor moved to a new office. I know, this seems silly. But I have always loved my primary care doctor and loathed what a painstaking process it was to get anyone on the phone at her office. Something as simple as making an appointment involved leaving messages and phone tag — not exactly what I want to deal with when I need to make an appointment for a physical. She moved to a new office, and when I called this week to make my regular bloodwork appointment, an actual human being picked up on the second ring! I was thrilled, and may have clapped in my head. I think this will be a good change.

I’m thankful for Netflix Instant Queue. How I Met Your Mother in large quantities? Yes, please. I’m going to be so, so sad when I get caught up and have to wait patiently for new episodes like everyone else.

I’m thankful for tiny notebooks that fit in my purse. Because I’m constantly writing lists and they are very convenient. Bonus points if they have pretty designs on the cover that make me happy.

I’m thankful for raspberries.

I’m thankful for my mom.

I’m thankful for my ridiculous dog, even though he’s a pain sometimes.

I’m thankful for a little over 18 months of wearing sweatpants to work. Business casual sounds really fun and exciting right now, but I’m fairly certain it’ll wear off pretty quickly.

Ready, set, go: it’s your turn. Tell me what you’re thankful for today!

And then DVR was invented.

Now, I have no idea on what days or times the shows I watch actually air, but I spend [...]]]> I’ve never really been a TV person. I could get sucked into a marathon of pretty much anything on a lazy Saturday afternoon, but there was nothing I had to watch.

And then DVR was invented.

Now, I have no idea on what days or times the shows I watch actually air, but I spend those lazy Saturdays getting caught up. Still, because I don’t watch live TV and skip commercials, I often find myself late to the game. It often takes me a few days, weeks, or even years of everyone under the sun talking about a certain show before I will finally sit down and watch it. When I finally do, I spend countless hours watching episode after episode until I’m all caught up. (Then, of course, I’m sad, because I can’t have that same instant gratification and have to wait an entire week for a new episode.)

Right now, I have two television shows that I’m just falling in love with, when everyone else has been watching them forever.

How I Met Your Mother.

Modern Family.

If you just let out a groan because you’ve been watching these shows for ages, here are some others I was way late to the game in watching: Friends, The Office, 30 Rock, and Glee. All of which became favorites.

So help me out. Maybe I can catch on faster this time. What new show should I be watching now? Did you arrive late to the game on a series that’s now a favorite?