Apparently, I'm living on an alternate planet....

I found this girl's blog: Baggage Reclaim. She started writing in like 2004 and was single then, but it's now 9 years later and so she's married with 2 kids.

Anyways, I was reading old posts about the "No Contact" rule that I've imposed on my ex. While I have been pretty good with it (read: there's a few slip-ups) I've been definitely doing this:

"Many women cut contact physically, as in they don’t see or speak with their ex, but they stay mentally connected by moving into obsessing about him. This is effectively like conducting your relationship in spirit on an alternative planet."


I had to laugh when I read that part about conducting your relationship on an alternate planet. Not just a little lol, but a serious laughing my @$$ off. Especially when I skyped with my friend and read it to her. We were both cracking up, me, tears of laughter streaming down my face. I'm so doing that. Like, I'm in my own little world, totally obsessing about him and what he may or may not be doing - if he will call me, and when that will happen. Plus 100 other things that I'm reliving from when we were together. No bueno.

Have you done the same thing with any of your exes?

Fast forward: Tonight I was at the Sox game with friends, having a great time. Drinking, of course, and so I was feeling like it would be okay to call him and go stop by. One super-smart friend asked, "Well, are you okay to see him superficially with no emotions attached?" Ummm....have you met me? Yeah, can't exactly do that.

So then we got to talking about an app you can download for you phone that lets you block outgoing calls for 24 hours. I'm not sure what it's called, and after further research online (for 2 minutes) I found a thread that included this:

Willpower, huh? Well, since we broke up about three months ago, I've slipped maybe three times. I'm happy to report that I did not tonight. So, I'm going to bed at home with a clean conscience and hoping to go forward with this thing we call will power.

Some people need it for sugar or carbs. Apparently I need it for the No Contact rule. Perhaps living by the following would be better for me:

But then I might need to work on the willpower for a food issue.

I can't win.....

Goodnight friends.

I got my flippie-floppies!

I've been away with one of my bffs for the past two days - so fun to see her and she let me tag along to her family's places in St. Joe, Michigan and then Plymouth, Indiana for another party. We rarely take pictures anymore, so I was happy to snap a few!

In St. Joe:

Perfect beach day!

Love you bff!

Goddaughter Brooklyn

Aubrey

And then we were on to Lake Latonka in Plymouth...

Straight floatin on a boat in the deep blue sea lake...

Going 35 feels like 80!

Fishin' for the perfect catch!

So super fun time, good to catch up, and see both of my nieces. Kinda feeling like I wish I lived closer so they were around me more and they knew me better, but I think we will definitely try to do more facetime until I can see them more often!

And a side note...being on that boat reminded me of this song. Not exactly appropriate background music for two cute little kiddos, but it's so hilar, I had to post.

That's all for today - hope you're all having a great weekend!

xo,

It's just....a little crush

So I thought I was just watching Dexter because it was basically all I had left of my old relationship, but I think I actually have a crush on him. I'm not sure why. He's a serial killer. But look how hot he is in the opening credits:

Even though I watch all of the shows from Showtime On Demand, I always stop forwarding at this part of the credits, just to see his face. Soooo hot.

In case I haven't seen you to tell you, (for those I have seen, sorry about this obsession - I know you've heard about it over, and Over, and OVER again) the premise of the show is that Dexter has this need to kill. Things happened to him in his childhood which caused this, and so he deals with his urges by "cleaning up Miami" and killing killers. Only people who fit his "code." (way to go nuts with the quotes, Michelle....)

Lucky for him, he works for Miami Metro Police in blood spatter, so he has access to all kinds of information. He can run DNA and find out where people live and look at their rap sheets.

So then, once he has proof that they have killed, he kills them.

adorbs!

I've watched all the shows to date (not a huge fan of this 8th season - it's so sad with Deb being so messed up!) but I just go back and keep watching over again.

One of the many hilarious moments of Dexter:

And the best thing: I've got another friend addicted, too. I sent Katie season one and she's hooked. She forwarded it on to my sister, so I'm sure she's going to like it as well. So far those discs have been to Phoenix and Charlotte....anyone else want to see? I think they should travel all over this country! Plus, then I'd have more people to discuss it with, ad nauseam...

So until I find Mr. Right, I have Dexter Morgan. Seems fair : )

So hot!

And one more thing: Is this for real? So funny....

Who else out there loves Dex as much as I do? I've seriously thought about naming my kid that if I ever had a boy. Would it be bad to name your baby after a serial killer? I wouldn't have to tell him, would I? Seriously. Obsessed.

and that is all.

Your new favorite breakfast!

You know you're better off without bread, right? If you think, "Oh, but this is 100% whole-grain bread! It's fine!" you're wrong.

Totally spelled wrong and so embarrassing!

So addictive. And once it breaks down, you know it's like eating candy, right?

If you need more evidence, read this book:

So, if you'd like to make a breakfast swap - ditch the bagel, or toast, or english muffin, or any muffin - for something non wheat-related, I offer you my protein shake!

You're going to need: some kind of blender, fruit, yogurt, protein powder, some OJ (or milk/almond milk), and ice.

First - start with the fruit. I almost always use strawberries, but today I added half of a banana, too. You can do blueberries, pineapple  kiwi, oranges....whatever you like, really!

Next, add a yogurt. Greek yogurt would be better and I should probably make the switch, but I don't like it on it's own. So, I go with the YoPlait Originals - no artificial sweeteners or high fructose corn syrup.

Next, protein powder. If you're going to buy some: I recommend buying a sample size first. I bought two big containers of this brand and I'm not really a fan - it tastes too chalky. But, I'm going to use it because it's so expensive. Anyways, add this next.

I don't recommend putting the powder in the cup first, especially if you have a Magic Bullet. Sometimes when it's far from the blades it doesn't get mixed thoroughly...

Moving on - add just a splash of OJ or you could use milk or almond milk to smooth it out a little.

You're ready for the first blend. Get all these ingredients blended up first before you add the ice.

Then just a few ice cubes and blend again.

And there you have it - a perfect, protein-packed breakfast! Sorry, I got so excited, I drank it before I took the pic!

And....you're more likely to attract the men with big muscles this way!

ha!

Do you have a great smoothie recipe? I haven't tried spinach or any kinds of greens in mine, but I would love to make a version of that Green Machine by Naked Juices! Please share if you do!

Currently July

So I was browsing blogs and came across this little gem: Ladybug's Teacher Files. This teacher does a Currently blog each month, and it's something I think would be a great staple. Enjoy, and see her blog if you'd like to join!

Listening to Glowing by Nikki Williams
I love this song. While it's not the Blurred Lines summer 2013 anthem, I love it because I would love to find a great love....one that makes me feel like I'm glowing.

"A million hearts, you're the only one....who lights it up, like I'm glowing in the dark." Love.

Loving Chicago
My family was just in town for a long weekend and we got to do and see lots of the things we remember from our childhood. Stacey and I went to our childhood houses, to a Sox game, and ate Aurelio's. The pinwheels on the Jumbotron at Comiskey: if that's not nostalgia (for me anyways), I don't know what is. Love that I get to call this amazing city my home.

Thinking that I'd love to have a kid someday
I guess I used to always say to one of my friends, Heather, "If I have a kid someday...." and now, I have decided that I hope I do. Now, I'm not going to rush into a relationship that doesn't work for a baby, but hopefully the right guy - you know, the one that makes me feel like I'm glowing? - well, hopefully he's out there and wants a kid, too. After a weekend with my two nieces, I can imagine that it is probably the most rewarding thing you can do with your life - to see your kids experience all the things you did as a child and to live vicariously through them. I know it's a ton of work, which is why I will not do it alone, but one day....yeah. Cross your fingers.

Wanting a call from a friend
I have a great group of girlfriends, spread out all over this country. Each of them is important to me and I love them dearly. Some I talk to daily, and others rarely, but no matter what, we always pick up right where we left off. They are always there for me when I need them, but I'm trying to plan a trip to see a certain someone and I'd really like to hear from her. Are you reading my blog, bff? If you are please call so we can figure out air!

Needing to eat clean
As I sit eating ice cream, (I know, wtf?) I realize that this weekend, while great to see family, has also led to some pretty crazy and over-the-top eating. I wanted to show my sister's husband a great time in Chicago (first-timer!), and let's face it, there's lots you have to eat: a roast beef sandwich, deep dish pizza, a chicago-style hot dog, just to name a few.

Well, the jig's up and it's time to clean out the fridge (my sister already tossed the mayo from 2009) and get back to the kinds of food that make me feel good and energized.

Tips, Tricks, or Hints: Be Humble
This can be hard when you're passionate about a topic. Like me and teaching reading. I get all excited and know lots and want to share everything I know, but it's good to remember that no one likes someone who wants to sit on their soapbox and tell you everything about everything. So, let's remember to be modest and that everyone knows lots of stuff about lots of different topics. Listen and appreciate.

Did you like the Currently blog? If you did, you can find directions for it here. Also, stop by the gal's page who created the idea.

You know how they say if you put it out into the universe, it will be yours? Well, my friend whom I was waiting on called as I wrote this blog. Excited to see Seattle at the end of this month!

What else can I call on the universe for? : )