A Walk Around the Block.

This is where I live.

We are in the middle of the apt complex on the corner of 2 busy roads, Northgate Way and 1st Ave NE. But it is surprisingly quiet.

Some days I enjoy taking a walk up 1st Ave NE and around the block. There is a very cute, quiet neighborhood north of our apt complex. They have the cutest houses and the tallest trees I've ever seen, right in their front yard! While you go up 1st Ave NE, before you turn into the neighborhood, they have flowers and trees all along the side (top middle picture). Very pretty.

Across the 1st Ave NE street (west) is the I-5 freeway. Super Convenient. 

Let's talk about 5th Ave NE.
5th Ave NE has almost everything you would need.

I took this from a small park behind this is the 7 story shopping center right across the street (east) from our complex. It has Target, Best Buy, Petco, and Ross. Also some small restaurants and things like that. 5th Ave NE also has a Jimmy John's, 24 Hour Fitness, the Library, a liquor store, and much more. 

Across the Northgate Way street (south) is the Northgate Mall, which has a 8 story movie theater behind it and all the proper stores and food opportunities malls usually have. 

Hope you enjoyed this small tour of my neighborhood! I find new great things around all the time. :)

Week One: Survived.

I survived the 1st week 900 miles away from Salt Lake.
It has been a good week.
No jobs yet, but high hopes for one soon.

Some things I have experienced:

While Lyndsey's parents were here we went to Beth's Cafe, of course. If anyone ever visits me we are definitely going here. No battle.

If you don't know anything about Beth's Cafe, google it, it was on an episode of Man Vs. Food. Very delicious.

Jennifer then took us to Carkeek Park. The last few times we have visited I've been to Alki Beach and Golden Gardens, but Carkeek Park was a small and intimate beach. I liked it. Another stop I will take those who visit. 

I believe we are now all settled into the apt. It took us a while to find/ decide on a microwave ... those things are expensive. But we now have one and a ton of groceries from our closest grocery store, QFC. Kroger brand, so I'm pretty happy. 

My kitty has found her favorite spot to nap and hang out, the window behind my bed. 

Lyndsey and I make popcorn often with my super duper awesome popcorn maker I got for Christmas from my Sister-in-law Kelli. 

I have been cooking and cleaning an abnormal amount but I guess that is what happens when you don't have money or a dish washer. 

"Your Ex-Lover Is Dead"

Off the album Set Yourself on Fire. by Stars

God that was strange to see you again
Introduced by a friend of a friend
Smiled and said 'yes I think we've met before'
In that instant it started to pour,
Captured a taxi despite all the rain
We drove in silence across Pont Champlain
And all of the time you thought I was sad
I was trying to remember your name...

This scar is a fleck on my porcelain skin
Tried to reach deep but you couldn't get in
Now you're outside me
You see all the beauty
Repent all your sin

It's nothing but time and a face that you lose
I chose to feel it and you couldn't choose
I'll write you a postcard
I'll send you the news
From a house down the road from real love...

Live through this, and you won't look back...
Live through this, and you won't look back...
Live through this, and you won't look back...

There's one thing I want to say, so I'll be brave
You were what I wanted
I gave what I gave
I'm not sorry I met you
I'm not sorry it's over
I'm not sorry there's nothing to save

I'm not sorry there's nothing to save...

Reading

I have not always been a reader but I now love it. One of my favorite pass times.
Please feel free to check out what I have read, am looking forward to reading, and think of books at Goodreads.com.
Currently reading another book by John Green.
John and Hank Green are amazing men. I love them very much!
If you want to check them out yourself view some of the video blogs at http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers

I am only on Chapter 2 of Paper Towns but I have high hopes for it. :)

Healthy Living

As some of you may recall I participated in a Healthy Living Challenge at my old job, Rescue Alert.
This challenge helped me change my lifestyle completely.
I quit smoking, started to exercise, found out my love for yoga, and eating right.

This is me last summer, 2011. I'm not sure how much I weighed at this point but I know it was one of my heaviest.

In January 2012 I weighed 178 lbs.
After 8 weeks of being strict and working very hard
in March of 2012 I weighed 154 lbs
And guess what? ... I won the challenge. I had lost more weight (by percentage) than anyone else in the challenge.
My best friend Lyndsey was also partaking in the challenge, she helped motivate me and keep me on track, as I hope I did for her. She came in 2nd place.
Of course, being best friends, we split the money I had won and went shopping together. It was fun and great to celebrate our success.

The next few months after that didn't go as well as I would have hoped. I still did some yoga and started training for a 5K, but did not keep up very strong with my the lifestyle changes I had made during the challenge.
There was Vegas for spring break, stress from finishing the semester and graduating Salt Lake Community College, and then moving with Lyndsey to Seattle.

However, now that I am settled in Seattle I am going to work extremely hard to reach
my goal weight of 130 lbs.

This is me, 

June 28th, 2012

Weight: 152 lbs. 

I am hoping to work hard enough to complete my C25K app training and reach my goal weight by October 2012.

Wish me luck!

Me

Getting healthy. Being a good friend. Being a good daughter, sister, and aunt. Working hard.

These are a few of my goals and priorities in my life.

The Adventure Begins

These last few months have consisted of a lot of changes in my life.
I have graduated Salt Lake Community College and have moved to Seattle.
This new beginning is very exciting.
Cheers to hoping it goes well. :)