Laughter is the best

This guy is hilarious.  Last night we had a huge giggle fest.  Let's just say I was taking myself WAY to seriously and he was being a gentleman by keeping his mouth shut.  Then, he bursts out laughing explaining to me that how silly I looked being so serious.  Instead of getting upset I burst out laughing too! Thinking, why be serious when you can be fun!

This story may be a "had to be there moment" but I'll share with you:

I HATE bugs.  This weekend we were at a party that used old potato bags as the table cloths.  Well there were flies ALL OVER the tables because they still smelled like dirt or potatoes, I have no clue.  It was so gross for someone who hates bugs like me.  Well last night there was a fly in the house.  I was trying to ignore it, but I couldn't take it anymore.  So while JM is sitting at the dining room table I yell "FLY! DON'T MOVE!" I grab a hand towel and slowly creep over to the fly.  I start slowly moving my arms, winding up for the big hit.  JM says I was licking my lips looking like a crazy lady.  I ended up killing the fly and being so proud of myself.  Then I look at him and he's cracking up!  He starting mimicking what I was doing and he looked hilarious!  I had to laugh.  I wish I could find a youtube video as an example.  Just visualize one of those old black and white movies with the batter winding up and taking himself way too seriously and when the ball comes he misses and everyone laughs.  That's what happened.  I looked ridiculous and he couldn't help but laugh....and I couldn't help but join in!

He saw the funny in the moment and I'm laughing just remembering that moment!

I'm so blessed to have this goof ball by my side for the rest of our lives. 

What have you laughed about recently?

Living life to the fullest and laughing along the way!

-Rachel

Be Happy

There is WAY too much going on in my life right now.  It's ALL great, but it's ALOT.

Wrapping up Easter and one of my best friend's birthdays I wanted to share something with you all that has worked WONDERS for me and my outlook on life lately.

I hope the following is helpful to you...if it's not, take a deep breath, open your mind and your heart (mainly your heart) and read it again.  It's a note from our creator:


I have made this day for you. Be careful not to complain about anything in it ~ not your English test, not your frizzy hair, not even the weather ~ because I am the Creator of this day. Instead, decide to be happy today. Open your eyes, and choose to look for all the blessings I have hidden in this day.
Then live today ~ just today. Don’t think about mistakes you’ve made in the past. Don’t worry about what will happen tomorrow. You will  only end up wasting today. I want you to enjoy abundant Life in My Presence ~ today!

This amazing note is from a children's book: Jesus Calling which I found on Traci's blog: http://www.beneathmyheart.net/

So please enjoy today!  Live today! & Be Happy Today!




Living Life to the Fullest and deciding to be happy today.
-Rachel

fat secret

Next Tuesday is the last day for our in-office Biggest Loser competition.  
With a $20 buy in and the last winner getting $300 at the end, 7 weeks ago I decided this was my opportunity to make some extra moola!  


However, this is the last week to lose weight and it's too little too late!  I can only hope while everyone is taking vacation days for Spring Break, they are stuffing their faces and not at the gym all day.  And while I'm sitting at work in front of a computer all day I am going to do a 5 day detox  - a.k.a. a Reset .  My doctor said I should eat 5 meals a day, so the Reset is a great option for that....sure beats starving myself like most of those diets.  And it's SUPER easy - the fruit juicing I was doing was great but these Usana shakes are fast and filling!!




I also ran across this website www.fatsecret.com .  Turns out I used it in 2010...stopped using it and then gained weight, so maybe I should have kept up with it.  

You create an account, enter your weight, height, what you ate that day and what exercise you did.  It has TONS of food items and registers the calories for you.  It even has Usana products!!  But it doesn't have hot yoga. 


Wish me luck!  I need to get in the habit of working out...there's alot to look forward to this year!


Living Life to the Fullest one RESET at a time


-Rachel

I've finally silenced my mind and listened to my heart....

wish me luck!!

Living Life to the Fullest by silencing my mind....try it!

-Rachel

Is a ring really necessary?!

So why an engagement ring?  

Ok, that doesn't answer the question but I thought it was funny.

According to Wikipedia an engagement ring is:

"...presented as a betrothal gift by a man to his prospective spouse while he proposes marriage or directly after she accepts his marriage proposal. It represents a formal agreement to future marriage."

I like the idea of an engagement ring.  There's an exchange.  She gives her word he gives a ring.  I'm a Carrie Bradshaw fan and who could forget the movie ending when Mr. Big asks the question, she says "yes" and then Big says "This is why there is a ring, you gotta have something to close the deal".  I agree.  Let's face it, women love the idea of marriage so much, they would probably go around saying they were engaged if they didn't need a ring to prove it! 


Which is why I'm very much on board with an engagement ring.  So much so that I pause when I think of making any drastic change WITHOUT a ring.  I know my family is expecting a ring.  I know my friends are too.  The Man in my life is such a romantic he could care less about the ring.  He just wants to the girl.  Which I understand and I love that!  But I want both.  The man and the ring.  Women are difficult, and I'm NO exception.


But it's the COST of the ring (as mentioned in my last post) that kills me.  Do you know who is to blame for this?!  De Beers.  Who's that?  That's the guy who said an engagement ring should be two month's income.  Source: Wikipedia- 

"The idea that a man should spend a significant fraction of his annual income for an engagement ring originated from De Beers marketing materials in the early 20th century, in an effort to increase the sale of diamonds.[1] In the 1930s, they suggested that a man should spend the equivalent of one month's income in the engagement ring; later they suggested that he should spend two months' income on it.[1] In 2007, the average cost of an engagement ring in USA as reported by the industry was US$2,100."

It's just marketing.  But it is ingrained in us!  Well, us women.  I'm not sure all men know that expectation.  And even if they do, I'm not sure who actually does it.  And as far as that last line in the quote "Average cost in 2007 was $2,100" - BALONEY or I just hang out with the wrong crowd.  There is no way the average cost of my friends' engagement rings is $2,100.  I don't see any of my friends getting away with NO engagement ring...not in the crowd I run with.  


I do have one friend who wanted to for go the ring all together.  She was engaged in September and married in December (of the same year).  She has a blog and wrote about why she didn't want a diamond ring.  In her conclusion: 

"Dan and I would rather our rings speak more about our hearts than our pocketbooks. Diamonds may be “indestructible,” but the might of our God is stronger."

Ay!  Talk about Catholic guilt.  But I've always felt there is a certain way to do things.  Ask my dad for permission, get down on one knee, have a ring, and then I say "yes".    He has already asked for permission, so I'll let you know when he's on one knee!!

Source

Pinterest!!

For the creative person in us all....who is overloaded by work and a million other things in life....I give you the BEST creative outlet I've found so far

Clicking that logo goes to my Pinterest Boards
Check it out!



Have you heard of Pinterest??????

If not, get on board!

Some define Pinterest as the following......

Source

Source

  But I have completely fallen in love with this virtural scrapbook.  Instead of tearing pages out of magazines and storing them away in my "future house" file or "outfits for fall" book (both of which I only run across when I'm cleaning out my desk); this online pin-board is a continuous reminder of EVERYTHING that's going on in this crazy head of mine!

  Something to keep in mind when pinning.  TRY your hardest to FIND THE ORIGINAL SOURCE of what you find.  I honestly have no clue how to go about finding the original sources for the above images.  But things like photography, interior design, menu ideas, etc. need to be credited to their original creator.  People make a living taking pictures, designing homes, creating menus, and it's only fair to acknowledge that and help them drive their business.  Having said that - if you are a business owner, you MUST have a Pinterest page for your product (or your services) so that you can easily be shared!  It's free marketing!

Best of luck and Happy Pinning!!!

Juicy Juice

My office is hosting a 'Biggest Loser' competition.  $20 to enter and $1 for every pound you gain.  Talk about motivation!  So far I've lost 4 pounds (or 2.3%) and haven't had to pay anything more than the $20.  Thankfully the winner is chosen based on percentages so it's pretty fair.  

I wanted to share with you my secret weapon: Whole Living

Starts with juices - this Grapefruit, Carrot, Ginger - DELISH!

And this Apple, Beet and Mint juice - Tastes like beet more than apple

Next on my list to try Green Juice - broccoli, celery, cucumber, parsley

Just TRY a juice - I don't think you'll be disappointed!!

The Honest Truth

I really do my best to not pre-judge but it happens.  And I am the first to admit to being a skeptic.  It happens in business and even my love life.  It's sad when you doubt someone's true intentions and when you finally do it's too late and the opportunity is gone.  So when USANA said they are the best of the best, I admit a part of me (0.001%) couldn't believe it.  I didn't want to be a part of some cult that preaches and it's members blindly follow...with a biochemistry background, I needed scientific proof these products were legit.  My prayers were answered this week and I was born a 100% believer!!!

ConsumerLabs, as in the Consumer Reports, the most legitimate product review company in America, tested USANA products and found the following:

ConsumerLab.com has announced that they’ve tested and approved the flagship USANA product, the USANA® Essentials™. This independent testing verifies the supplements that make up the Essentials meet ConsumerLab.com’s strict requirements for ingredient quality and quantity.

In other words, the Essentials was just tested by one of the most stringent third-party groups out there, and passed with flying colors!

Why aren't you getting any healthier and making money with a team that is moving mountains with the creditials to prove it!!!
(oh ya, stocks are up too)

Call or e-mail me TODAY: http://www.livinglifethefullest.usana.com/ and join the momentum!!


Living Life to the Fullest with a Consumer Reports ConsumerLab.com validation!

-Rachel Kellar




I also wanted to share this article that goes into more specifics about the how and why USANA earned this recognition

20 answers to usana questions

This article from Petez Danis is the answer to ALL of your Network Marketing questions! 


I've listed the questions below.   I HIGHLY encourage you to read the article if you have considered Network Marketing at some point in your life but haven't jumped in yet! 

Here are my thoughts:

Let's start with: "if this business model is so great, why aren't more people doing it?" I love Petez's response: MISCONCEPTIONS.  We all have made assumptions about various industries.  For example "Lawyers are all rats" or "Those who can't - teach".  I know many very very nice lawyers who are not rats at all!  Heck if my lawyer was a rat, I wouldn't work with him. And this quote about teachers, ugh it's so sad!  Teachers are golden!!  Have you thought about what it's like to actually teach someone how to learn!?  Teaching a skill is one thing, but early education teachers teach children how to learn skills.  My friend (a kindergarten teacher) pointed that out to me and I gained a world of respect for her industry.  So please don't misconceive the network marketing industry.  We are not a bunch of creepy sales guys who are 'recruiting' you for a pyramid scheme.  We are people who want to make a difference in the lives of others.  We are very passionate about our companies.  Just like we'd refer a lawyer or a school to a friend, we're referring our company and our lifestyle.  Hoping that you'll be living the lifestyle we're providing for ourselves. 

Financially flexible, physically fit and mental healthy. 

Living life to the fullest every day! 

E-mail me here to jump on board!

Here are the questions from Petez's article:

Q: Can Network Marketing be done successfully part time?
Q: Do I have to sell products door-to-door or hold partied or meetings?
Q: Isn't Network Marketing one of those pyramid schemes?
Q: I'm not a salesperson, so this probably isn't for me.  Right?
Q: How much money can I make?
Q: Do I have to sponsor a lot of people to be successful?
Q: What's so important about sponsoring in this business anyway?
Q: Do I have to stock and deliver products?
Q: Isn't Network Marketing just another "get-rich-quick" scheme?
Q: I couldn't get involved in Network Marketing.  It's not a "real" business.
Q: If Network Marketing is so great, why aren't more people involved?
Q: What are the costs involved in starting and operating this kind of business?
Q: What if I can't afford to buy extra products?
Q: I've tried Network Marketing before and it didn't work for me.
Q: I don't have the cash right now to get involved in Network Marketing.
Q: I can see how others have become successful, but I don't think I could do it.
Q: If I would happen to be sponsored by someone half way across the country, how do I get questions answered?  And what about training?
Q: I just don't have the time to start a Network Marketing business.  I've got too many iron in the fire already. 
Q: Don't you have to get in at the beginning to make any real money?  Doesn't saturation eventually occur?


If you want the answers to the questions above visit Petez site here: http://www.petezdanis.com/doc/20_Questions.pdf


If you want to start your Netowkr Marketing career contact me today!!

www.livinglifetothefullest.usana.com

Happy Memorial Day!

What types of memories did you make today?  Did you remember who this day is for?  In case you didn't know this day is for the military men and women who have lost their lives in combat.  Could you imagine being in the military?  Is your body in the kind of shape that "when duty calls" you would be able to answer?  Not many of us can say "My body is ready for duty!"  Wouldn't it be great if we could?!?  There is no longer a military draft in the USA, so we wouldn't be called to duty - but that doesn't mean we can't call ourselves to our own private mission.  Our mission to get in shape - our mission to become healthy in mind body and spirit. 

So as we remember those who've given the ultimate sacrifice today, let's think of what we can sacrifice in our own lives.  A trip to McDonald's?  An extra cup of coffee?  Could you sacrifice 30 minutes a day to take a walk?  Try!  And if you're willing to start that journey, consider the USANA journey as well.  By joining USANA you help your friends and family get healthy.  So that days like today hanging by the pool, at the lake, in the backyard...these days are full of memories of healthy friends and family for many years to come!

Rachel
http://www.livinglifetothefullest.usana.com/


Living Life to the Fullest....while creating healthy memories this Memorial day!

On the first day....

This was the beginning of a recent blog draft:
"So I am going to write. Maybe here, maybe there, maybe everywhere. For now, all I know is that my brain needs space, and this is the only way I know how to give it what it needs..."

That was 2010 me, overwhelmed and stressed; looking for an outlet in friends, family, the blogesphere....thinking writing was the only way I could vent.

And then came January 1, 2011.  The first day of the new year.  The first day of my new outlook on life.  The first day of the new decisions I will make everyday.  My decisions to not eat processed food.  My decisions to take part in stretching and cardio everyday.  Whether it be hot yoga and a dog walk or yoga in my bedroom and a 3 mile run.  My decision to calculate my finances daily.  The decision to live a healthy lifestyle and prevent reasons to vent.

1/1/11 was my day one.  It was my decision starter.  When's yours?

Living life to the fullest by living a full life

Savoring Every Moment

For a Christmas present my mother subscribed me to a magazine about a meaningful and balanced life.  This magazine provides monthly yoga poses, vegetarian recipes, inspirational stories and an insight into the variety of spiritual lifestyles.  For example I took a quiz on Modern Ayurveda and my Dosha.  I was a little bit of everything.   I take on Vata's "Big-Thinker" traits and Pitta's "conquer the world" mentality.  So which am I?  A Big thinker who can't conquer the world or a little thinker who's only going to conquer a miniature version of the world??  And while I feel a connection to the earth mother Kapha with my love of hiking, walking, running, and climbing in the outdoors, Kapha is also a compassionate lovebug which has never been a term used to describe me.

Because I'm not ready for an Ayurveda definition on my life right now, I decided to try another method in this magazine.  I've heard this next "fulfilled life" method before but I never had the guts or patience to try it.  So I headed out to lunch today, chose a local deli, ordered the salad bar, filled my plate and sat down.  I picked up my fork, looked at a piece of broccoli and thought to myself

"broccoli.....green, ..... raw, ......fuzzy....... broccoli"

I put the broccoli in my mouth and continued to think about that piece broccoli as I chewed.  I was being fully present in this one piece of broccoli full of nutrients, vitamins, and God's good green earth in my mouth. 

Swallow. 
Repeat.

"Garbanzo bean .....round, .....creamy, .....nutty, ........ small ...garbanzo bean"
etc, etc, throughout my entire meal, repeating even when a repeat vegetable was found on my fork.
The concept is to treasure and savor every piece of food in your mouth.  Actually use your taste buds for what they are made for and not as a scorched landing strip for food with a final destination to your stomach.  This new concept allows all the senses in your body to be engaged and appreciate what you're putting in your body by seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting, and - wait for it......satisfying your body (and soul).

While I'm trying to find satisfaction in this moment at the restaurant, my evil twin is rolling her eyes and telling me that I am really very hungry and I should just chomp down on a fork full and get it over with.  She's telling me that I'll do this for the first plate, but I'm going back to the salad bar for seconds and I'm going to get that pasta salad with all the processed foods I shouldn't eat.  However, in the end, I finish my plate, I drink my tea and I walk away surprisingly satisfied. 

Satisfied with my meal, my self control and my commitment to an open lifestyle. 

-Rachel
Living Life to the Fullest and Savoring Every Moment!

Chatty Cathy

• Sometimes you hate being the single friend.  
• Sometimes you wish you hadn't stood by your friend on her wedding day and had actually objected and didn't "forever hold your peace".
• Sometimes you wish you didn't encourage your girl friend to get back with her boyfriend when they are having that big fight.
• Sometimes you want every night to be Girls Night

<-- Cathy the classic 'single girl'

  

But sometimes you love being the single friend.

• You love knowing people are thinking of you when they get an extra concert, movie or sporting ticket.
• You love that you're the one your friend can call on Valentines when their husband is out of town on business (hey- sometimes Valentines Day is a week day).
• and,        I personally love that I'm the friend my girls can text late at night when their guy is laying by their side fast asleep or in the room watching a ball game and not paying attention to them.  Cringe all you want you know it's true.

See?  Girl friends will talk about feelings when your guy doesn't... Photo Courtesy

This is a reminder to my future self ....don't forget your single friends! 

They were there for you when you needed them, they wanted to be in your life then and they probably want to continue to be a part of your life. 

Life Life to the Fullest with your True Friends!

Memory Lane

I'm at that age....
you know- that age where you realize you thought you knew everything and it turns out you know nothing.
you look at your friends and you question how you're so different yet still the same
you look at your past and you realize you can't get it back
you look at your future and you step softly and slowly in the hopes of not screwing up the next 25 years

It's not a Need it's a Network

I'd like to point out that I am still very good friends with many of my ex-boyfriends.  I choose to do this for the following reasons:
     a) they are someone you let into a private part of your life....You wouldn't want someone to share that private side of you out of spite
     b) they are very talented and good men who I am honored to know personally
and
     c) you never know when you might need something. 
One is a chef, one is a clothing designer, another is in politics, one in real estate, another does alot with the church and yea, there are some who are just there - but I'm sure they'll do something GREAT in the future.  You never know....

For example, the other day I went out to dinner to my ex's restaurant.  He said business was slow, so I invited a girlfriend and we went out to eat there.  It was nice to see him, he gave us an appetizer sample along with a dessert sampler, and the food was delicious! 

A few weeks later I bought a chicken for $4.00.  I could have bought 2 chicken breasts for $7.00 but an entire chicken (which comes with 2 breasts, right?) for $4.00?!  My mother didn't raise an idiot.  I understand you are paying for the convenience of the 2 breast being cut, skinned and packaged but I don't have a deadline for dinner time.  I can sacrifice a few more minutes in the kitchen for the $3.00 I saved. 

Photo courtesy of: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1024418

So I bring home my whole chicken and I realize - I have an entire chicken in my refrigerator!! And I have no idea how to go about cooking it.  I should obviously use some type of fat (oil, butter) and some seasoning, probably some herbs because I like herbs.  But at what oven temperature?  For how long?  Do I cover it or leave it open for the heat to seep in?  Come in ex-boyfriend who is a chef!  "Hey, how's is going.  Thanks for everything you did at dinner the other day.  It was a great seeing you.  I'd like to repay the favor by inviting you over for dinner on one condition 1) you teach me how to cook a whole chicken and what to do with all the extra pieces to make it last."

You may be happy to hear I successfully cooked a chicken and enjoyed a thigh and a leg with a healthy sweet potato.  I will be having chicken stir-fry tonight with the breast meat and some rice and veggies.  I also created a broth from the roasting product including the bones, so I'll enjoy chicken soup sometime this week and probably save some for a later date when comfort food is needed.  My friend also wins on this because now I can/will rave about his restaurant and the fact that he can do private cooking lessons.

Moral of the story: you never know when you might need to reference your past.  And when you do, don't think of it as a need, think of it as a networking opportunity. 

Living Life to the Fullest - with my network of friends!!

-Rachel

Where did the time go?

I can't believe it's already June!  This year has FLOWN by!  I didn't blog much in May because I could barely sit still!  I was up in Dallas for family graduations, my sister's dance recital and a wedding. 

My friend Ally, Bride, Groom and Me!

.

         When I was finally back in San Antonio I was focused on work.  June 4th and 5th I worked the 7 am breakfast until the 7 pm reception. To recover from my 24 hour working weekend I took a trip to Corpus Christi and went fishing in Port Aransas on the 10th and 11th. I didn't think I was a fan of fishing. Why sit around all day for the possibility of catching something (you don't know what, but something). As you can tell, I only participate when I know the end result is a sure thing. This is why I'm hesitant to gamble or play the stock market. This may also be why I am single and not on the career path I prepared for in college.

          The fishing trip was nice if you disregard the sea-sickness and the friendship that tragically ended. The 2 story fishing boat was air-borne at least 3 times and the rocky waters went on for an hour and a half! I didn't eat breakfast, so the only thing that came up was the champagne from the night before. Yea- eww!!
          And as for the friendship: I’ve come to realize as flattering as it is for someone to want to spend all their time with you, it can be draining and unhealthy. My mental, physical and emotional health were being sacrificed for the satisfaction of having someone who will "always be there".
         Always be there for what?
         Always be there for who?
The only person who needs to "always be there" for me is me. I don't say that in a selfish way, I say that because I'm not always there for me. I depend and let other people be there for me so that I don't hold all the responsibility. The person on this trip was always there for me but they would take a part of me with them, leaving me empty, drained, and lacking in self satisfaction and even self love (why love yourself when someone else can?)
          After the trip and after I guess "finding myself" in the Gulf of Mexico, I came back to San Antonio and finally felt at peace in my house. I had never really considered it "home" but after being on an island of awkwardness for three days, by Sunday I was able to relax in the comfort of the home I've created for myself. Which if I might add is FABULOUS!
         As I'm re-connecting with friends in town I'm choosing to only let in positive and healthy people. To only share my time (note: not give my time, but share it) with people who will make me a better person and friend. People who love me and I freely love in return.

Because really, at the end of the day, all you need is love.

-Rachel

I survived

This was my first Fiesta in San Antonio.  Scratch that, I've lived in San Antonio for 6 years and this is the first time I attended Fiesta for the fun (not for the volunteer work or as a St. Mary's student who must eat at Oyster Bake because the Cafeteria on campus is closed). 


So my first Fiesta and I survived!  Fiesta is on the weekends and the weekdays...I was a trooper and attended weekday events - AND showed up to work on time the next day.

The first weekend of Fiesta it rained, and I was conveniently in Dallas for a bachelorette party.  The neighbors at my house hosted a party, but I missed out. 

My House all Fiesta-ed

 However on Monday I did see the river parade beginning at my HBGCC office and then ended on my end of the river:

 

Tuesday I went to NIOSA with the boys....

 Only to be pinned with my FIRST Fiesta metal EVER by my good friend and fellow #snail...

NIOSA was exhausting...the crowds are ridiculous!  You go for food, drinks and music - but why? when it's you and 30,000 strangers.  I guess I'm a big loner, I'd rather eat, drink and listen to music with a few close friends in the privacy of my own home.  My fellow #snail had a private party in the 2nd story of an art gallery in the middle of NIOSA.  That made the evening 10x better.

I guess I took a break Wednesday, or at least I don't have the pictures to prove I did anything fun.... 

Thursday I attended the SA Current, Best of SA party, thanks to my good friend Choco.


I ran into a few friends and another #snail! 


Pretty fun night.  Lots of characters at the event

Friday I picked up my bff from St. Mary's who moved to Miami...it was Bachelorette party #2 this weekend.  Tons of fun with Maddie...with a little hiccup due to the King Williams fair in my front yard and me eventually losing the keys to my house.

So I guess this was more of a picture blog than a story, but for Fiesta #1, it was safe, satisfying and fun!!

Until next year...

Best Morning I've had in a long time!

I was visiting this health website and there was a poll:

"Why do you work out?"

Options included:

a) I have a big event coming up and I need to look good
b) My body is in pain because of the extra weight, so I'm doing it to help myself
c) I don't like the way my body looks
d) Just to stay healthy
e) Oh Hell, all of the above!


Umm yea - I totally chose (e) and 60% of the poll did also. 

"SLAP"

That's the sound of me slapping myself across the face and telling myself to stop putting off running and just go out there and do it!
Holy - shamoly! 
I went running yesterday on my beautiful San Antonio River and it sucked!  I was in so much pain!  I ran with a friend, who helped push me but the actually running process has never been easy for me. 
However, waking up with my alarm this morning - was very easy, walking that same 2 miles with my dog this morning - peice of cake, and coming into work not needing coffee just to be pleasant....well that's just the way it is supposed to be right?

This is a good thing.  I'm not going to let this feeling go

I'll be exploring different running paths throughout the river and this great city of San Antonio.  I'm really looking forward to running Eisenhower Park.

 

Kinda what my running path looks like:

By @ColleenPence

http://colleenpence.wordpress.com/

This is how it should be

Last week I was up at 5 a.m. and in the office by 6:30 a.m. dealing with staff and clients.  As my groups slowly packed up to leave, Thursday afternoon never looked so beautiful. Then my boss walked into my office: "I'm surprised you haven't asked me for the day off yet." What? I started 3 weeks ago, it wouldn't be appropriate.  She completely read my face and responded, "Usually after such a busy and hectic week I give you the day off to recover" at that moment the heavens parted and the tension in my back disappeared.... perfecto!

What a great boss! What a great workplace - this is how it should be. You put in everything you have and it's respected and compensated. If I had to work Friday I probably would have fallen asleep at my desk or at least had a nervous breakdown in the copy room (ok-that's an exaggeration). But less than a month ago I was a workaholic who could barely stay above water only working 8-5. Now, I am at a peaceful and happy place in my comfortable working environment!

Lesson #1 on how to have great employees who respect you and their job.