Jack3d

In an attempt to create a healthier life for myself I've gotten back into a workout routine. Yes, I would like to lose weight, and yes I would like to be more fit, but most of all I don't want it to be another phase that I eventually drift out of.

I've always had a fairly healthy diet, but exercise often falls by the wayside when I get busy with work, school, and my long distance relationship. The other problem with working out is that I find it soooo boring! Playing soccer for almost 20 years really ruined me for anything non-competitive, and if you ask my lovely boyfriend, he'll tell you that I'm too competitive to play any sport I'm not good at. [Picture crocodile tears, pouting, frustration.... Really it's not pretty] 

That being said, I have definitely found love in an early morning cycling class, and pre-workout supplement that keeps me energized throughout my workout and the rest of the day:

Yes, that's Jacked, with a 3 instead of an "e"

The name is completely ridiculous, but this stuff seriously works. I remember texting Justin, pre-Jack3d, after a couple cycling classes: "Want to puke. Call later." Ha! Now, instead of feeling worthless the rest of the day after a workout, I feel completely energized. I'm also totally focused while I'm working out, so I concentrate on my form and can keep going longer. For instance this morning I went to a cycling class, then a yoga class, and 6 hours later I still feel really great! Not cracked out or hyper, but just energized. 

I've been pimping this stuff out like Jack3d is paying me, but I'm just so happy with the results. The best benefit is that it makes working out more fun. I'm energized, pushing myself during the workout, and afterwards I feel great. I think that's the key to sticking with it... enjoying what you're doing.

Oh, and props to Justin for introducing me to it, because I KNOW he wants credit ;)

My Favorite Fashionista

My good friend Adriana is amazingly fashionable, naturally gorgeous, impeccably artsy, and a genuinely sweet person. Going by looks and style, she would be the girl you're crazy jealous of - except she's your best friend and you can't get enough of her sweet heart.

I mean, really? Gorgeous.

True to form, Adriana is also a very clever writer, as seen in her new fashion blog: LeftOnBoise. Her post about Anthropologie's sister line BHLDN, still has me dreaming about a beautiful garden wedding and beaded bridal gloves.

I'll take all three.

I definitely read her blog every. single. day. because I love her sense of fashion, and her clever writing style. You should check it out!

Adri and her husband Mario, in China

Also, did I mention her and her hubby ALWAYS have the best Halloween costumes???? They are incredible!

Adri - 2011

Mario 2011

2010

YIKES! and AWESOME! At the same time!

Music Shuffle

Thanks to Justin and Micaela, I'm so excited to shuffle my itunes folder and and see what music pops up. Like I'm sure everyone who has done this before me, I hope nothing too embarrassing finds it's way on this list.

1. The Runner - Kings of Leon
2. Tattoo - Joseph Arthur (reminds me of my time in Brooklyn)
3. Pickup Truck - Kings of Leon
4. Overprotected - Britney Spears
5. Come on Over Baby - Christina Aguilera (hello embarrassment!)
6. Thinking About You - Norah Jones
7. Sunrise - Norah Jones
8. Black Balloon - Goo Goo Dolls
9. Photograph - Weezer
10. Edge of Town - Ghostland Observatory (AMAZING band! synth beats are the way to my heart)
11. Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show (one of my favorite songs ever, by one of my favorite bands.... and my good friend's wedding song)
12. Everywhere - Tim McGraw
13. More Than Human - White Zombie (awkward!)
14. 9 Crimes - Damien Rice
15. Human - The Killers
16. Because of You - Kelly Clarkson
17. Infra-Red - Placebo
18. My Hero - Foo Fighters
19. Zelda Theme - Deadmau5
20. Mi Amigo - Kings of Leon
21. The Reward is Cheese - Deadmau5
22. Perfume - Damien Rice
23. Minglewood Blues - Old Crow Medicine Show
24. Nothin' Better To Do - Leanne Rhimes
25. Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend (LOVED watching this band live at ACL!)


I have so many other bands I love, but for some reason the same ones kept popping up. Some of the more pop oriented songs I listen to while working out, and Deadmau5 is awesome for keeping a steady pace!

I don't like paying money for music (as cheap as that sounds), so I love listening to Pandora to discover new bands, and Grooveshark when I want to listen to one band's entire collection.

February Happiness

I am so happy today, I could just burst into a cloud of floating hearts. Yes I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's true. I had such a fantastic Valentine's Day, followed tonight by the BEST birthday surprise! First my lovely Valentine's Day...

I'm such an affectionate person, and have always loved Valentine's Day. Sure, I went through a trendy phase of telling people I hated it, but even then I would run home from school to find a Valentine from my daddy, along with a box of chocolates. Nothing has changed:

"To: Katie From: A Secret Admirer" in my dad's impeccable handwriting

This completely made my day, just as it always has. My dad is not one to make sweet gestures all the time, so these special presents mean the world to me. Added to that was the amazing mixed CD (my favorite present to receive!) from Justin, along with this beautiful card:

She said: "We'll never be more than friends" 

He said: "I'm going down there to win her heart"

I teared up when I read those quotes, because they are both things we said the day before we met for the first time. After years of talking on the phone, fighting, then not speaking for months, I told him I'd never want to to date him and we could only be friends. He told his sister he was coming to Austin to win my heart, and he absolutely did. That time seems like another life, somewhere in the distant past, and it always reminds me of how far we've come. 

So, what could top those sweet tokens of amour? Today, after a brutal spin class, I arrived home to a big envelope from Stub Hub. I had no clue what was in there, wasn't particularly interested in it. Then, to my total surprise, when I opened it I found two tickets to WICKED, my all-time FAVORITE Broadway Show!! Not only am I seeing Wicked next weekend, I'm seeing at it the historic Majestic Theater:

We'll be on the right, towards the front!

The Majestic Theater is seriously gorgeous inside. The ceiling is blue like the sky, with little lights that look like stars. What makes this even better?? Justin is just as excited as I am to see it! I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have someone that appreciates art as much as I do.

His idea for this weekend? Going to the market to find cheap art. LOVE. lovelovelove.

LOVE: Prints

I'm craving these prints:

via Debbiecarlos

via treefox

via UrbanDesign

via Jmbarclay

via Jmbarclay

via bomobob

A day in Austin

I'm so happy to live so close to my brother, his wife, and their kids. I LOVE them. Yesterday they needed a babysitter so I drove to Austin to hang out with my nephew Diego for the day. Here's some of my favorite pics:

Inside the Capital building. My brother was the project manager on all the renovations, and said he had to climb to the top every.single.day.

My big brother and Diego

Outside on the lawn.

With Austin in the background.

Hel-lo sweetface!

I told him to make a sad face... so cute! 

(Notice the Dumber and Dumber haircut... my sister in law tried to cut his hair haha)

Best smile in the world!

My niece Eva

Gorgeous girl!

What Happened to the Classics?

"Why are we watching a movie about talking animals?"
"I'd rather be home..."
"I'd rather be having lecture."
"I refuse to watch a movie that promotes animal abuse!"

This is all dialogue, from masters students, about Animal Farm by George Orwell (we watched the movie in class today). This book was a huge part of literary history, an allegory about the ill effects of communism in Russia. It came out right before World War II, and had a massive impact on the world.

It makes me so sad that not only had most of the people in my class not heard of this novel, they were completely uninterested in watching the movie. It baffles me that a group of educated adults could reduce such a powerful piece of history to a movie about "animal abuse." It makes me wonder what happened to the classics and to having an appreciation of what they represent. I'm not sure if it's because of my literature degree, or my general love of reading, but I honestly don't understand when people say, "I don't like to read." Drives me nuts.

What am I reading now? Besides the never ending readings for school, a book about JFK's assassination. Justin and I visited the 6th Floor Museum in Dallas, and became fascinated with the mystery! Before that I read The Hunger Games (and by read I mean DEVOURED). These books are good. Amazing. Made for young adults, but better than Twilight, better than the Sookie Stackhouse novels, and better than Harry Potter. I highly recommend them to anyone!

In other news, I got accepted to study abroad in INDIA next fall!!!! I'm ecstatic! And nervous! And anxious! I'm every emotion anyone could feel about moving to another country, punctuated with an exclamation point. That's for another post though...