On the suggestion of my friend Doni, who I seem to always be learning from [whether she knows it or not], I’m starting a series on gratitude. Based also on the inspiration for some friends other weekly love-fest-type posts, I’m hoping to shake myself up once a week to bring some more consistency to my blogging. What better way to get out a  slumpy dump than through gratitude? [Thanks, Momma for that lesson] And so, I present you with Wednesdays are for Gratitude.

today, i am grateful for

• My little sister, who’s 21st birthday was yesterday. I’ve been a sap about it for at least 24 hours, but I am seriously the luckiest person on the planet to have been given a sister like her.
• Best friends who tell you the truth, no matter what.
• Getting small bursts of feeling inspired and happy, among persistent stress and gloom.
• The fact that I have the ability to take care of my self, my body – to feed it good, healthy food and give it fun activity, though sometimes I might not think I have time for those things.
• Hearing from locals that they’ve read my blog / like my tweets / think I’m funny [!!!]
• Being challenged at work [although stress can get pretty unfun sometimes, I'm so grateful to be learning more about what I love to do every single day]

guys, what are you grateful for?

the cutest

My niece, Emma, is not shy. She loves everyone, and everyone is her best friend. It’s so cute to watch her interact with other kids and see how they respond and interact back with her. But everyone really is her best friend. While we were playing on the slides, she gave a bear hug to another little girl she’d been playing with for about two minutes.

friends

When she got to run through the fountain, there was no hesitation – they’re all her friends.

kids are so smart

Emma doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. She just knows she wants to play with those kids and have a blast in the water. So she did. I don’t think it’s a secret that it can be really hard to make friends as a grown-up. But if Emma can just go up to whoever she wants and say “lets play,” why can’t I?

this was not a coincidence

Right before I’m throwing myself into a group of 70 other people, most of which I haven’t ever talked to, nervous about how it will go, if anyone will like me, BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS, my niece goes and shows me just how easy it is.

my niece, living in the moment, having the time of her life.

Bring it on, BiSC.

Well, I’ve been a blogcrastinator. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about writing and why I do it. But more on that later this week. On to the monthly check-in. In fact, I think it’s time for a 5-months-in check-in. But before that, can someone please, please, PLEASE tell me how we’re already nearly halfway through this year?

It’s funny how hard it is to get everything right. At the same time. While I have not adhered to 100 percent daily activity, I’ve definitely been rocking the bicycle. It’s been really nice out, but what’s really sealed the deal is having a friend to ride with! I helped Victor pick out a super-rad Gary Fisher from the Bike Project, and now we both ride to work and have fantabulous lunch rides. The only downside is this: riding is more fun when you have some place to end up. Like a restaurant. Or a cupcakery. So, needless to say, I’ve been eating out more than once a week.

But, we also now have the added perk of making every day casual Friday – every day we ride our bikes, that is. It’s an awesome deal! Olsen rewards us for taking care of the environment, which is totally a win-win. Plus it means more incentive to ride the bike, which means more exercise for me. Which is a win. So, my resolution is to ride my bike to work and/or go on just-because rides at least four days a week. And the rule is, if it doesn’t happen [because sometimes there are client meetings and bad weather, etc] I need to get on the elliptical or go for a walk. Because even if I’m not In It To Gym It, I’m still trying to be healthier [and putting it in boldface totally makes it more commitment-y].

I’ve also introduced meat back into my diet. I’m still trying to keep my breakfasts and lunches vegetarian [or at least pescatarian], but it’s nice to have some meat in moderation again. And it’s nice to be able to share the same dinner with my boyfriend again. I still really enjoy experimenting with my cooking, and meat or not, I’ll keep doing that.

My other resolution [in addition to all the continuing points-tracking, eating more vegetables business] is to pinch my pennies. Because internet, I’m house shopping.

pause for omg

And so I need to better prepare myself for all the exciting things [furniture! paint! gardening!] and not so exciting things [HOA fees? Taxes? Maintenance?!] that come along with it. So, while I’ve always been pretty good with money, I’m going to really start watching what I spend [except for the weekend of May 20].

And the other resolution is to not lose sight of my health and fitness among all of the crazy that my life might soon be.

Somehow, at some point during the writing process, this quickly went from a happy-go-lucky “it’s spring!” post to an extremely vulnerable post. So I’m going where the words take me, and I’m putting it all out there.

That whole shpiel about my blood pressure, and how I need to make sure I’m getting physical activity every day, even if only 10 minutes?

i suck.

I was really great about walking outside or getting on the elliptical every day. For about a week. I just .. have no idea what my problem is! I feel in such a rut. I know two things: that I want to be outside, and that my body wants to move. I also know that my mind gets in the way. My mind wants to be lazy and catch up on shows and skip the exercise. So I’ll say it again.

i’m in a rut

It’s not that I don’t have the desire to be in better shape. To feel better about my body. To be healthier. To have endorphins that put me in a better mood. I want all of these things.

But I just don’t know how to want them enough. I need to want them more than I already want them. Because the amount of wanting I have going on right now just isn’t enough. I can make excuses all day long for why I don’t get more activity. But the real reason is clear: I don’t want it enough. I have to want it hard enough, long enough to make it a routine.

I know that it’s part winter blues and part lack of a “buddy,” but this is a recurring struggle in my life.

“When the weather is nicer, I’ll ride my bike to work more …”

“When Brad gets weekends off again, we’ll [insert fun outdoors-y activity here] together …”

It shouldn’t have anything to do with the weather, Brad’s schedule or the fact that I have no one in my life that lives close enough, enjoys the same activities and share’s a similar schedule [which is kind of depressing to me in itself].

So, I need to figure out how to be better at wanting what’s good for me.

so in april, i have just one resolution

To get physical activity, even if it’s only a 15-minute walk, every day. But this time, the difference is I’m going to focus on WHY I want the physical activity.

I’ve recently added the “In It To Gym It” blog to my reader for hopes of getting inspiration from others like me, and others who are so completely different from me. For now, I’m just lurking [and feeling inspired], but maybe one day soon, I’ll actually join in.

I had really better write this one before it’s not March 1 anymore!

So, as an update … I have been trying SO hard on my last resolutions. I’ve been consistently blogging at least once per week since I launched, so that’s great! I really have brought my focus to eating out less. But the whole once-per-week situation is a lot harder than I thought it would be! I was pretty successful however, at only one lunch and one dinner per week. My bank account has definitely thanked me for it.

I’ve been very good about tracking what I eat, but what I feel has made an even bigger difference, is the fact that I cut meat out of my diet [for the time-being]. I actually feel lighter, without all that heavy food weighing me down after every meal.

so, in march

I’m trying to focus also on being relevant. I definitely want to keep this blog updated, but I don’t want to write just for the sake of having something to post. Must go through half-written drafts because there’s good stuff in there. [was that a resolution? I'm not sure.]

I want to try to stop substituting cheese for meat in my diet. Part of what I love about not eating meat is I feel like I can enjoy real cheese without the consequence of a zillion extra calories. Which isn’t really true. I mean, I like that I have extra room in my diet for a slice of real white cheddar [instead of Kraft 2% American singles], since fewer calories are taken up by meat. But I need to not make it a habit to use cheese as the focus of meals. I really enjoy hummus/beans/nuts/legumes/tofu/seafood and need to make the most of those items.

I found out that my blood pressure is way too high. As much as I love my job, it keeps me glued to my desk, which is so not good. I need to introduce physical activity back into my life. I HATE gyms. With a passion. I want to get my activity outside. But I also HATE being cold. Un problemo in a northern Nevada winter. I am resolving to get SOME TYPE of physical activity every day, even if I only have time for 10 minutes [which, let's face it, can't we always make time for a 20 minute walk?] This post by Erica Prather talks about how incredibly amazing our bodies are and what we can do with them and why we shouldn’t treat them like crapola. So I’m not going to anymore.

so … how are your goals coming?

Did you make resolutions at the beginning of the year? Have you stuck with them? Or do you prefer more manageable mini-goals? How are they going? Are you checking in and holding yourself accountable? I’m certainly trying to!!

so. welcome!

I am not sad to say that “Beccawik Bikes” is no more. You’re now looking at That Loud Girl. I am so crazy proud of myself for committing to my new month resolutions! Granted, this is the second time I resolved to redesign the blog, but still, yay me!

I’m really thrilled with how this site came out. I may still have some tweaking to do, but really, I just had to put. It. Down. With these things, I can tend to edit and revise to death. But the point is, it looks rad and that is all thanks to my friend, Mike Higdon, who is responsible for the awesome header up there and all of the portraits you’ll see on this site.

So, have a look around. See what it’s all about. I imagine this site, like myself will always be changing and growing. So hang out and chat with me! I’m super excited to see where this takes me!

oh right, there was a second resolution

Track what I eat all month. That doesn’t mean that I necessarily ate well, but I think it really helped. I resolve to continue that through the month of February.

and in february

• I resolve to eat only one meal out a week. This means only one meal. Not one dinner, and one lunch and once on the weekend. Only one.
• I resolve to post to this blog once per week. There are lots of changes happened right now in my work life that could complicate this goal, but with some planning, I think I can definitely do this. And why wouldn’t I? What, with this awesome new blog and all.
• I also continue to resolve to track what I eat every day. [I think that adding manageable resolutions to my existing and established resolutions is going to work out quite nicely. High five for unplanned progress!]

So, I was all “yay! I’m gonna make my blog all awesome and stuff” and then I basically disappeared off the face of the earth, and it’s now well past January 1 and I don’t have a new blog.  (Liz, you and me can go be a suckfest together.  Srsly.)

Originally, I was really, truly committed to announcing my brand new blog on January 1  and I didn’t write during that time because I figured I would make a nice big splash.  So … that didn’t happen.  I’m still working on it and really do plan to have it done soon.

Which bring me to the point of this post.

I want to talk about New Year’s resolutions.  I hate them.  I never do them.  I am pretty sure I became disillusioned and basically over them when I was about 12 years old.  They set us up to disappoint ourselves.  The worst kind of disappointment.  I’m all “if you want to change you life, change your life!  Don’t wait until January 1 to do so!”  Words to live by, right?  So … why am I not like that?

So, I’m committing to New Month resolutions.  Smaller, more manageable, pocket-sized resolutions.  Yeah, yeah, I want to eat better, work out more and lose weight in 2010.  I want to become a more awesome professional in 2010.  I want to read more in 2010.  I want to be a better girlfriend in 2010.

But those are big scary tasks that make me want to crawl into a hole.

So, Happy New Month!

… even though I’m a week late.  From now on, on the first of the month, I’m going to post two to three smallish and manageable New Month resolutions (because we all know if I put it in the blog, I’m really committed to it).

In January I will:

• Launch my new blog
• Track my weight watchers points every single day this month (This one will be interesting, as I am going home to Vegas to visit the fam and celebrate my birthday and my niece’s birthday.  But.  I’m.  Doing.  It.)

So, have a happy January!

December 9 Challenge. Something that really made you grow this year. That made you go to your edge and then some. What made it the best challenge of the year for you?

This is a tough one.  2009 has been a pretty calm year for me.  My second year out of college, I enjoyed stability, lack of homework, weekends off and a regular income.  I have certainly enjoyed it been living it up taken it easy.

So, although I think it’s pretty safe to say that the biggest challenges still lie ahead of me, the challenge has been taking the leap to really be here, in this space, putting myself out there.  I bought my URL yesterday, which signifies my commitment to this blog.  I’M.  REALLY.  DOING.  THIS.  (I’d be stupid not to cause that would be about $130 down the drain …)  In the last nine months, I’ve managed to make some pretty incredible connections.  It almost scares me to think how I will be catapulted into a world of awesome connections when I really focus in on what I’m doing here and lead by example.

I’m no entrepreneur and I’m not going anywhere.  But here in little Reno, NV … man, I’m going places.  I’m doing something different (for me, anyways).  Can’t wait to see where it takes me.

What’s this about?

Check Gwen Bell here.

December 7 Blog find of the year. That gem of a blog you can’t believe you didn’t know about until this year.

Where do I even begin?  Because I just started blogging in April of this year, basically every blog in my reader is a new find as of 2009.

But I know that’s sort of cheating.  So I’m attempting to narrow it down to only two:

Web sites & strategy for rockstars & gonnabes, authored by Sarah J. Bray.  I’m not a designer. In any sense of the word. But that’s the amazing part of Sarah’s blog.  What she writes can be translated to any and all facets of the industry in which I work (and many others, I am sure, but let’s face it–I’m 24 and I only care about what affects me right now, right?).  She’s an inspired and inspiring businesswoman.  And although I don’t have any grand plans of becoming an entrepreneur, the way she does and talks about her business really resonates me.

The second blog I can’t believe I’ve been living without would have to be that of Doniree.  It’s hard to put into words why, but I just freaking love that girl. I first found her when she wrote this post about the cocktail question, and I feel like I’ve been in a perpetual state of introspection ever since.

The last blog find of the year (I know, I said I’d narrow it down to only two, but it’s just TOO DAMN HARD) is Life Without Pants.  It is so inspiring to read Matt’s adventures in community-building.  As of this year, I am someone who is devoted my community.  I want to be a part of it, to connect with people and make it better.  Matt offers so much to me in this way.

It’s really quite incredible to have been touched by these three people I have never even met.  And it just shows me the power of what we’re doing here.  As twenty somethings, as individuals, as bloggers and as people who want to change the world.  You guys … just … THANK YOU!

Other blogs that have touched me this year:

• Rise of the Innerpreneur
• lizfranco.com
• Bike Carson
• OMG, give me MORE, please!

What’s this about?

Check Gwen Bell here.

2009 has definitely been a year of growth for me.  But it was growth without movement, if that makes any sense.  If not, too bad.  You’ll just have to wait until 2010 and the launch of my blog makeover to learn more about me there (muah-ha-ha).

Thanks to Gwen Bell and her Best of 2009, like 500 bloggers have been chronicling their last 11 months with 31 prompts, to be answered daily, or whatever.  I chose or whatever (what can I say? I’m a rule breaker–HAH), so I’m going to catch up on a few that I wanted to write on here:

December 1 Trip. What was your best trip in 2009?

That one’s easy.  My dad took all of us kids on a cruise to the Caribbean.  Lazy days, beaches, kayaking (for the first time) in Aruba and, above all, quality family time.  That last one is the thing we don’t get often, with my sister and I up here in Reno.  It was awesome and unforgettable.  Oh and did I mention my dad also took Brad?  I know right.  Proof that he’s already a member of my family (whether he likes it or not).

December 4 Book. What book – fiction or non – touched you? Where were you when you read it? Have you bought and given away multiple copies?

For me, this year, it a tie between A Little Princess and The Secret Garden.  I loved the movies as a kid and read both books this year.  I have never before been able to jump right back into my childhood like those books were able to take me.  The innocence in those books is comforting and missing from our world.

December 6 Workshop or conference. Was there a conference or workshop you attended that was especially beneficial? Where was it? What did you learn?

Well, the conference I attended in September was not only the only conference I attended this year, it was the only conference I have ever attended.  That said, it was incredible.  It was the American Advertising Federation’s Western Regional Conference.  The workshops themselves were nothing far above average (hey, if I’m being honest), but the inspiration I got there was just unmatched.  If you ever hear me speak passionately about the work I do through Ad2 Reno, this conference is why.  It was a breath of fresh air.  A reminder of why I do what I do for a living and of why Ad2 exists.