Rants and Raves

Rants and raves – isn’t that what life is all about? You rant and rave about what you love, hate, are interested in, and what you know nothing about yet you still run your mouth about. Ranting and raving can be positive – but it can also be EXTREMELY negative. I feel like that’s my mood today. I’m in a “ranting and raving” mood. First – the raves.

I am walking like a FOOL today. Why? Because I spent over an hour and a half on a spin bike on Saturday, and I spent over an hour running a 10k on Sunday. I’m REAL smart to get these done in consecutive days. Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY. Saturday I spent all day in a cycling studio with 8 of my newest and closest friends. I finally got my indoor cycling and spin certification!! It was grueling work, but I learned a lot, was reminded why I love it so much, and how bad I need to invest in some padded spandex shorts. My cupcake is busted. (That’s the new word I found out is used when talking about the ass. It’s my new word and I’m using it ALL THE TIME.) I went through two wardrobe changes that day and was reminded how much I sweat. I don’t glisten – I sweat like a man. I’m not even mad about it. The training and certification was done at Cycle Down Dawg in West Des Moines off 60^th and Ashworth. If you haven’t checked out their website, DO IT. http://www.cycledowndawg.com/ That place has such a great concept – a combination of yoga, cycling and TRX. Pretty much 3 of my favorite workouts. I sat outside on the lawn during our lunch break and soaked up the sun of that gorgeous day. After our 2^nd ride I needed to take a break and sit on a pillow or something – but it was totes worth it. Busted cupcake and all – now I can TEACH. Whenever that happens, I’ll for sure fill you in. I got to eat some delicious German goulash and Bavarian nachos as my pre-race meal (dinner of champions) along with a couple dunkels (probably not the best choice – but yum.) Saturday night was a fairly early night – because Sunday was RACE DAY! 

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, with clouds in the sky and storms on the way. My running buddy and I were NOT impressed with the weather. I mean – we’ve run each run in some sort of wind or crappy weather, but this rain was just NOT cool. Especially since it felt like 39 degrees when I woke up. Gross. We made it to Drake in time to hear that they were postponing the races by 30 minutes until the thunderstorm passed. We met up with running buddy #3 on campus after it got delayed ANOTHER 30 minutes due to the thunder and lightning. By this point I just wanted to crawl back in bed and listen to it rain. But we were already there. FINALLY it was our turn to run. It was chilly, but once we got moving it wasn’t terrible. However the three of us together was a treat. One with a busted cupcake, one who’d played two soccer games the day before, and one with an ankle/heel issue. But we made it through. Hearing the Isiserettes as we ran up the hella hilly Bulldog Mile made it a little easier too. At that point, our pace quickened, and then we saw Drake’s campus. We were SO CLOSE to being done. I hadn’t run on the blue track since my senior year of high school and it was nice to be back. Once we were done running, we grabbed some food and left – since everything had been postponed an hour, we were all of a sudden in a hurry to get the rest of our day going. Rough. I ran a 1:11 10k and am okay with that. I knew we would run around an hour… but I didn’t know exactly how it would be considering we were all broken in some way. But we finished and it was a pretty nice time. Now I’ve got a little less than 2 months before the Run to Exile… another 10k with beer at the end of the tunnel. GET IT!

And now – for the rants. First of all, I understand that rules are a pain in the ass. And sometimes I break rules. But I try and NOT do it (even though I threaten to do it all the time) because let’s be real – I’m a baby and just don’t want to get in trouble. I don’t feel like being Billy Badass and doing dumb shit to push authority and go “against the man” – especially if it’s going to affect someone else. Where am I going with this? If you guessed “hot tub occupiers at 3 am” then you are CORRECT. Friday night/Saturday morning, some idiots came out to the hot tub at 2:45 am. Maybe I’m just getting old, but WHY wouldn’t you just want to go to bed after you’ve left the bars? I mean in college – sure. A couple years AFTER college – maybe. Now? Hell no. I’m usually so tired I just can’t even. And maybe it’s currently my fault for having these issues because we are staying directly by the pool/hot tub. But if you and 5 of your closest, LOUDEST friends decide to hit up the hot tub at 3 am, at least shut up while you’re there. If people got in the hot tub and talked at a normal volume, I probably wouldn’t even notice. But when you’re yelling and swearing and being all sorts of a pain in my ass, then I’m mad. So around 3:15 I called our landlord, who was out of town. She suggested I call the cops on them. Well – the cops were busy with some sort of shooting (a little more important than people in a hot tub after hours.) But after another 20 minutes and of these people getting into the pool (pretty sure that’s not even CLOSE to being ready for people – chemical shitstorm if you will) my roomie decided to give them a call again – this time it was for trespassing and possible vandalism. Maybe they’d get here a little quicker. Still nothing. They finally went inside – which I found out which apartment so I made sure to pass this along to our landlord – at 4:15 am. WHAT. My alarm was set for 6:15 so I could get up and get ready for cycling. I was not a happy camper. Next rant: adults. There are so many articles written in respects to certain generations of people (my generation) are the WORST people to work with – the Millennials. The ones who are entitled, lazy, addicted to technology, have no respect for their elders. As I witnessed today, I think the age of those writing these articles, need to take a look at their own generation. I have never been so angered by a group of adults. Such a glaringly obvious lack of respect – it just drove me crazy. I was in a meeting with managers who were on a conference call presentation with our corporate office. The presentation may have been a little long and didn’t necessarily affect us – but the way they acted during this time just amazed me. To me, it was like sitting in with a bunch of 7^th graders who were trying to be the cool kids. As the youngest one in the room, with the least amount of corporate world time, I was the most mature and professional. Some of the stories I hear from friends whos coworkers are just awful – starting drama, sticking their noses in other peoples’ business where they don’t belong, trash talking upper management – it just seems CRAZY to me. These people could be the Millennials’ parents, yet they’re acting less mature than we are. They seem to hate change and will do literally EVERYTHING they can to not change. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” used to work – but why not do it in an easier, better way. It may be different than what you’ve been doing for 20 years, but if it works and it works well, change it. It just surprises me that I was embarrassed by someone I should be looking up to as a mentor/leader. That tiny amount of respect I had for you, that’s gone.

I’m done ranting and raving now. I apologize if I offended anyone who may be in the group of 7^th grade adults… wait – no I don’t. Get it together and act like the adult you are. If you’ve been working in this world 20 years longer than me, SHOW ME that you’re better than me. Don’t be petty and act like that mean girl from 7^th grade who talks behind my back about her “best friend.” Don’t be a dick. Just work. This is real life.

Let’s close today out with a little Betty White. If I pissed you off from what I write, then don’t read it anymore. But if I made you think about the way you act or someone else acts, and it made you reevaluate something – I’m glad. I’m here to help. Or to hate – whichever you choose.

“I don’t know how people get so anti-something. Mind your own business, take care of your own affairs, and don’t worry about other people so much.”

Boom, Betty White. She knows what’s up. Just mind your own damn business, don’t cause drama, and do what you like doing. Don’t complain about what you do – you’re the only one keeping you there. Have fun doing what you love – and just be freakin happy. Don’t suck all the fun out of everything and ruin other peoples’ days. 

End rant.

Love you awesome nerds.

S

PS - Tomorrow is the day we go without shoes... One Day Without Shoes to raise awareness for children's education and health. If you can, go barefoot. Send me a picture, tag me in a post on Facebook or Instagram. Shoot me an email. I want to see your bare tootsies. #WithoutShoes #OneForOne

Be Better Campaign: Superheroes 101

All week long I’ve been trying to think of a “theme” for my post. I couldn’t come up with anything witty and I wasn’t feeling clever. I’d used up all my cleverness in an office email dealing with overflowing the coffee pots – “do not waste the nectar of the gods on the counter tops.” That’s all I got. But my wheels have been turning and I’ve been doing some reading. I’ve got the craft-itch (which RARELY happens) and I’m also working on my self-proclaimed “Be Better” campaign… and I’ve somehow come up with an accidental reoccurring theme: Superheroes.

Reason 1: At work, we are launching a new product (and by WE I mean our kick-ass IT team) to help with flexibility of workflow. I mostly know nothing about it – however, I’m in charge of planning the launch party. A few weeks ago, a group of us got together to brainstorm some ideas for this party. Different ideas were thrown around – 80s music, karaoke, dance party, etc. but the one idea that stuck was the idea of comic books. You know – like the POW and BOOM and BIFF in superhero comic books. We could hang those around the office – it would totally work out with our “initiator” new product. And so it began. We are creating a superhero (The Initiator) and our entire theme includes the BOOM and POP with our snacks, décor, and drinks. Our power point presentation will have a superhero/comic book look about it. It’s going to be awesome.

Reason 2: After reading Start Something That Matters, I spent some time looking around the TOMS website – while paying specific attention to the One Day Without Shoes movement (http://www.toms.com/onedaywithoutshoes/l). I wanted to implement this within my office. Some people were skeptical – “gross people not wearing shoes?!” – but others were ALL for it. So after extracting my SRS (Simple Random Sample – I had to look back at exactly what percentage that should be…) from the employees here, I sent out the email. There was a surprising outpouring of support – which is awesome. I also gave people a cop out – if you don’t want to go barefoot, wear socks. If that still freaks your freak, wear shoes and donate to the Food Bank of Iowa (food or cash.) I wanted people to join this movement with me – to do something bigger than themselves. Superheroes in our own right.

Reason 3: My running buddy/fellow blogger/book club cohort is also a superhero. And spreading the word that we are ALL superheroes. Check out her blog and join in the movement. http://mollyandclementine.wordpress.com/  After reading her post, I decided I wanted in. I wanted to be a superhero. So today, I’m heading to my parents’ to dig through old pictures from my most awkward years and scan them to her and get involved. It would be awesome if you could do the same. Doesn’t every kid (big or small) want to be some sort of superhero? Why WOULDN’T you want to be one?

I think I’ll feel a little like a superhero over the next few days – so much going on, and so little time to do it all. I’ve got a single-mom shift today – 13 hour work day and double jobs, then tomorrow is my day long training for indoor cycling – I’m slightly terrified about this. Sunday – which should be a day of rest – will be anything BUT resting. IT’S RACE DAY!! So I’ll be up bright and early on Sunday morning so I can head over to Drake and find a parking spot (who knows where) so I can run my 10k, head home and shower, then do my 3 hour stint at the yoga studio. After that I’ve got some time to relax, and then I NEED some yoga in my life. After cycling for more than an hour on Saturday and running for over an hour on Sunday… this girl’s legs will NEED some down dog. And next week – will be a SLOW week. And I’m ecstatic. OITNB date night on Monday, work on Tuesday – and NOTHING the rest of the week. Saturday marks Opening Day for the Farmer’s Market and I’m STOKED to get myself a breakfast burrito. And probably a chocolate beer. It just makes me smile to think about it.

My newest read is called Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh – and it’s about Zappos, the online shoe distributer. (Is this another reoccurring theme? Shoes? First about TOMS, and now about Zappos. Interesting…) I wasn’t sure about it at first, but this book is so much MORE than a business model. This is a LIFE model. One part in there really stuck with me – and I think once you have this imbedded into your brain, it will change your LIFE.

“I thought about how easily we are all brainwashed by our society and culture to stop thinking and just assume by default that more money equals more success and more happiness, when ultimately happiness is really just about enjoying life.”

After a conversation during a 5-mile run yesterday, we came to the conclusion that we HATE money. I’d rather do something I love and get paid shitty than do something I hate and make a ton of money. Sure I’d love to be comfortable and never have to worry about money – wouldn’t we all? – but if I hate what I’m doing day in and day out, the money doesn’t even MATTER. I just want to be happy.

“Life has no remote, get up and change it yourself.”

So if you feel like being a superhero, join us in the Evolution of Superheroes and send your pictures and emails to molly.hanson4@gmail.com and use “The Evolution of Superheroes” as the subject. If you want to go shoeless on Tuesday the 29^th for One Day Without Shoes, send me a picture via text, Facebook, Instagram or email at slembrey05@gmail.com and use #withoutshoes if you have a Twitter account. You guys are awesome, and you’re ALL superheroes.

Start something that matters,

S

Open Your Eyes, Your Ears, Your Heart.

I’ve been feeling a little over-sappy these last few days – and I blame it on my reading material. Not that it’s BAD reading material – it’s actually really AMAZING reading material. I just finished up Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie, the founder and Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS. In the first chapter of this book, I was in tears. I was sitting at Panera on my lunch and was damn near crying into my broccoli cheddar soup. But I pulled it together and continued reading one of the BEST books I’ve read to date. Even if you aren’t thinking about starting a business, read this book. It speaks to the heart, from the heart – and will ABSOLUTELY make you a better person in all aspects of life. While finishing this book up on a rainy Sunday afternoon, I began a list. New goals and different thoughts to make myself better. (List to come later.) I’m also trying to figure out how I can go with the TOMS crew to a shoe drop. The emotion from those doing the shoe drop to those receiving the shoes, has got to be the strongest, most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard of. Can you imagine receiving your first pair of shoes? The feeling of gratitude, happiness, excitement – all built into one overwhelming sense of, I don’t even know – being? And can you imagine how you would feel when you gave someone their first pair of shoes? I would immediately burst into tears. As emotional as I can get, I know I’d be a sobbing mess. But I would be so unbelievably HAPPY while doing it. Makes sense right? Bawling my eyes out with a HUGE smile on my face. I’m researching to figure out how I can make this happen.

I’m also in the process of finishing up our book club read for this month – The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. This book has been on my reading list for literally YEARS and I just haven’t picked it up to read. So after hosting last month’s meeting, I figured – why not? I haven’t read it yet and really – who DOESN’T want to be happier? I wasn’t sure it would lead to a personal increased happiness level, but I could try. Reading makes me happy, so why not read a book about being happy to make me HAPPIER. So much happy in one place! Like I’d said before, it makes me want to begin my own happiness project. When I get some free time (whatever that means) I’m going to sit down and really think about what I want to improve. What can make ME happier. Don’t get me wrong – I’m VERY happy. But I want to be MORE happy. Reading this book made me open my eyes to things that I’m currently doing which bring down my happiness level. I snap too quickly, get angry at things beyond my control, gossip, skip workouts, eat crappy, don’t sleep enough, have clutter – all things that I can change MYSELF. So I will set out to fix those. Get happier.

With Earth Day coming up next week, I did a lot of thinking about “being green.” My company is a “green company” so 95% of everything we do in the office is done electronically. We hardly go through printer paper, we use plastic plates and cups and wash them in the dishwasher, and we recycle. So then I started thinking about my own life. I’m pretty terrible at being green. I grew up recycling and riding my bike and roller blading everywhere. As I got older, it was just EASIER to throw stuff away so I wouldn’t have to deal with it – and then I could drive, so I did. And really – it makes me feel like an ass hole. I realize I’m not single-handedly RUINING this Earth, but I’m sure not helping it any by throwing away everything. And really – I have no excuse. We have recycling bins at our building. The places I workout are within WALKING distance of where I live. If I need to pick up something quick from the store, I can WALK there. I could probably walk/run to Gray’s Lake and hang out for the day. And that sounds like an awesome idea once it gets warmer (consistently.) But a lot of times, I just don’t do any of those. So while I was having my mini-epiphany on a dreary day, I came up with a few things I wanted to improve on in the upcoming couple months. Not everything has to do with my “being green” but it does have ideas for ways to improve ME.

• Recycle
• Donate
• Volunteer
• Be outdoorsy (more than just drinking on patios)
• 5 minute clean up (before work and before bed)
• Walk more
• Be informed (less Facebook, more Des Moines Register)
• Shop local
• Be better
• Be a “yes man” (lady)

Some of these are minor and some are major. I don’t want to be an uninformed person who throws away bottles instead of recycling them, who drives to workout. I want to be BETTER. I want to donate things, time, services. I want to spend time outside – camping, hiking, relaxing. And I have faith, dear readers, that you’ll be able to help me in my future endeavors. And this is where you come in. Suggestions. I want your opinions. What do you do in your free time to better yourself? Where do you volunteer? What articles should I read so I know more about what is going on in this place? Where do you buy your groceries/gifts/clothing that’s a local shop, not a chain? Need a partner in crime for something? YES I’ll do it with you. Des Moines is a wonderful, amazing place. There’s so much to do and so much to see. I love it here, more than I ever thought I would. The music, the food, and the sights. The PEOPLE, the activities, and the atmosphere. Help me enjoy it MORE.

“Do it with passion or not at all.”

“If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking.” – Steve Jobs

“Be bold enough to use your voice, brave enough to listen to your heart, and strong enough to live the life you’ve always imagined.” 

I’m ready. Are you?

Open your ears, your eyes, your heart.

S

Never Stop Smiling.

Today is a good day. Not one reason in particular… but just in general. Today is a great day. Maybe because it’s Friday, and because the sun is shining, and because I get to see friends tomorrow I haven’t seen in a while and because my friends are getting married tomorrow or maybe because I get to play old school arcade games tomorrow night. Maybe it’s all of the above. Maybe it’s because I’m listening to music that reminds me of college and that makes me happy. So many reasons today is a good day. 

I woke up in a good mood today – which is always a good thing. The sun was shining and a warm-ish breeze was coming through the open window. I was ready to tackle the day. I left for work earlier than I had all week and stopped for a Skinny Vanilla Latte (supposed to be a macchiato but who really knows the difference) and made it in with plenty of time to spare. After answering emails and checking in with people I took a good look outside. It’s gorgeous out. And then after lunch I had errands to run and headed out into the warm sunshine. Do you know how hard it was to come back to work after that? I was getting warm in my car from the sun shining in, and my hair was getting messed up from the wind since I had the windows down. It was blissful. If I didn’t have to work tonight, I may have played hooky the rest of the day. Maybe. I could just picture myself out on a patio somewhere, with a cold beer in my hand – soaking up the sun while I finish up The Happiness Project. (The more I think about this, the more I just want to peace out right now.)

While I was sitting here daydreaming about summer nights, I got more and more excited. I have so many things that I’m looking forward to in the upcoming months. I’m looking forward to simple things like breakfast burritos and chocolate beers at the Farmer’s Market. I can’t wait until yoga in the park begins and I can ohm it out in nature. I want a sunburn. I want to sit out on a patio and grill. I want to sit next to a fire pit next to a lake and just be. I am surprisingly excited for the two upcoming races I have. I’m overwhelmed with excitement for Wanderlust – where I will be in touch with my inner hippie. I want outdoor concerts and all the crazy that comes with them. I want to sleep with the windows open and wake up when the sun comes up and stay out late and enjoy EVERYTHING.

“Take a deep breath and enjoy your LIFE.”

I want to camp. I want to sleep on the ground and eat s’mores and cook hot dogs over the fire. I want to go wine tasting and try to golf. I want to earn my tan lines and read lots of books. I want to practice postures until they’re the best I can make them – and try new foods, because I am a grown up. I don’t ever want to stop smiling.

“Attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect, mirror what you admire.”

I’m just really looking forward to the upcoming positive, new experiences. Some won’t be new, but all will make me a better… me. And that’s all I want right now. Happiness. Pure and simple.

“If you want to be happy, be.”

The end. For today. Enjoy it.

S

Stop and Look -

**Disclaimer: The first portion of this post is going to be negative. If you don’t want to read about me being a crybaby, Negative Nancy… please skip ahead to paragraph 3** Not usually how I roll – but it’s happening. I’m a little mad at myself. First of all – I haven’t posted since March – and it’s now almost mid-April. That’s annoying. I’ve got time to do this – so why don’t I just freaking do it? Because I just don’t. Second of all – I’m mad at myself about the #whole30. I was SO HAPPY to be done with it, that instead of slowly easing my way back into eating normal foods, I just dove head first into EVERYTHING I used to eat. And I apparently forgot what portion control was. I’m eating like crap, I’m drinking pop, I’m eating candy and other sweets like I’m dying tomorrow, and I feel like GARBAGE. I’m eating too late (I’ve been busy also), and eating TOO MUCH too late. I’m waking up in the middle of the night, I’m having weird dreams. I’m barely going to yoga/working out, I’m not drinking NEARLY enough water. I’m making excuses for EVERYTHING. And I really don’t like it.

I think part of the reason that it’s making me so upset, is because I’m currently reading The Happiness Project – our book club read for the month – and everything I read in there, I think that I NEED TO DO IT. I want to start my own happiness project, because at this very point in my life – I am making choices that are upsetting me. And no one wants that. Don’t get me wrong – I am VERY happy with the majority of my life. I love my job (albeit crazy sometimes), I love my friends and family, I love my new living situation and love my roommate so much. I love that I’m going to be trying new things this summer and expanding my horizons with music, yoga, adult beverages. But RIGHT NOW, I’m a crabby bitch. I looked at myself in the morning today and was totally appalled at the GIANT bags under my eyes. Plus – my skin is breaking out, I feel “dull” and not “bright” when looking at my complexion, my lovely muffin top has returned. And it really pisses me off because literally I am the ONLY one in charge of me. I am the one that is making me feel that way. and I am the one who needs to change it.

**Paragraph 3** Let’s get back to the happy and fun stuff. Like I said – book club! This book is amazing and I love reading it. I’m also in the process of reading Start Something That Matters with a girl who I work with (who works in our corporate office) and we have a deadline of Friday to finish it up so we can discuss. I like being able to discuss books with so many people. My book club is one of my FAVORITE things ever… and I’m so glad our small group is growing! Our first four person meeting was awesome… we ended up staying WAY later than planned but had such good chats – about the book, about each other, about wine – everything. Our group has FOR SURE changed in the last year and some months… and I couldn’t be happier about it.

Wedding season is upon us, and has been for about a month now! The first bachelorette party of the season was the weekend after I finished up my #whole30 and I was a super lightweight. And I stole Doritos from the hotel room (sorry about that girls) but it was definitely a lot of fun. Then I had bridal showers two weekends in a row. And this weekend is the first wedding of the season! I’m so excited to see all my friends getting married to the loves of their lives. It makes me very happy. I’ve got a break on wedding festivities until May when I’ve got an empty weekend, then a bachelorette party (baseball, beer and bachelorettes anyone?), then a weekend off, then a Memorial Day Weekend bachelorette party, and then wedding number 2 the following weekend. And then a few weeks, and then wedding number 3. And then I’m done with weddings! I don’t mind all those being shoved into a few months, they’re amazing and exhausting all at the same time. I’ll need some recovery time.

The possible highlight of my summer comes in July. Why you ask? Multiple reasons. First off: a road trip to Colorado. Second: a yoga retreat. Third: A ROAD TRIP TO COLORADO FOR A YOGA RETREAT! Driving 13 hours has never sounded so fun! I’ve never been to Colorado when there wasn’t snow on the ground, and I’m SO EXCITED to see how gorgeous it looks in the summer. A full day of driving to Aspen, followed by four days of yoga, concerts, hikes, meditation and I don’t even know what else, and then another 13 hour drive home. Totes worth it. I’m ready to let my inner-hippie out to play. My idea was to camp while we were there too, but my roomie would much rather sleep in a bed and shower after all that outdoor activity. Who knew I was such a bad ass? The planning stages begin this week – and then I still have to wait for 3 months to go! So unfair. This is something that I don’t think I would have ever done. Spend 4 days with people I’ve never met, doing something I like to do? Yeah – no. I’d rather not. I’m so excited to step outside my comfort zone.

“Great things never came from comfort zones.”

I’d like to apologize for being crabby earlier… but it’s just taken a few things to trigger that annoyance, unhappiness, grouchiness. And it’s only ME that can change the way I feel. I’m going for a run after work today with my running buddy. We’ll talk and laugh and try not to die – but I guarantee that when I’m done with my two laps at Gray’s Lake, I’ll feel better. I’ll be in a better mood. I’ll be smiling. It’s so simple the way a little bit of exercise can put you in a better mood. And that’s just the start.

“Always find time for the things that make you feel happy to be alive.”

Peace out everybody – remember, YOU are the only one to make YOU happy.

Stop and Look,

S