I picked up a call ahead Dunkin’ Donuts order for students near campus on my way in and meant to order myself an iced coffee while I was in there. I completely forgot until I got to campus and dropped things off, which was super upsetting because I haven’t had DD in weeks. Well I couldn’t find a parking spot so I thought that was a sign to go back and get the coffee I was dreaming about especially since I only have gotten six hours of sleep over the last two days!

Le Tote

Since I’m swimming in most of my clothes and I’m 0.5 away from a new “decade” on the scale, I treated myself to try a Le Tote box – it’s a subscription clothing rental company (and you can purchase the items to keep). I want to see this new body I have, but I’m not ready to commit to buying too many new items yet.

If you are interested I have a promo code for a FREE tote for you (and I get $25 in credit when you finish your first month):

https://letote.com/freetote/JENNIFER17046

THIS IS NOT AN AD, it’s just me sharing – I get my first box this weekend and will let folks know what I think. 

A-Ha Moment via text

Friend: How is life? Haven’t talked in awhile

Me: I’m pretty great. Work is really busy, but going very well. T and I are better than we’ve been in a while. Social life, fitness, and finances are all on point. I will gladly relish in this high for the moment.

Friend: That’s so good!!!! You def deserve some good/chill times. I feel like the last half of last year and early this year weren’t your most fun.

Me: My life is always feast or famine. Mar-Sept ‘17 were really rough, I’m glad it’s behind me.

Me: This week in April was also particularly traumatizing in 2013. I feel like at least lows of last year I addressed/dealt with so I don’t have the same level of PTSD as I do with my 2013 rough patch.

Friend: Which was 2013? Ya learning to deal is one of my top life lessons in the past couple years.

Me: When my supervisee had her baby 2 weeks early and a week later my boss announced she was leaving just as I reached the one year mark on the job, all while facing turning 30 that Aug.

Friend: Ooh yes and then you [REDACTED]. Healthy times

Me: Most of my stress and trauma as adult is from work, but that’s because I use work as a poor coping mechanism for my mom’s alcoholism :::A-HA:::

I’m feeling very self aware at the moment and being able to verbalize it to others helps. Although this friend knows all too well about my lows, but still being able to say most of the “bad stuff” in my life is work related and I’m learning how trival work is at the end of the day. It’s a job, as an educator and administrator its an important job, but it’s still just a job. I can’t let a job own me.

Choices

I’ve been getting into a really good workout routine the since the start of the year and I’ve really held it sacred because summer is my peak work season and I know I won’t be able to get to nearly as many classes.

Yesterday a last minute meeting got put together that I got invited to through another colleague with the University President and some other university leadership to talk about student veterans (which supporting their success and advising their student group is part of my role).

Is it good/bad that my first thought was 5p-6p on Thursday, umm no I have Body Pump and Combat express. My second thought was after business hours, come on.

However I realize what an important opportunity this is to help further advocate for student veteran success in front of university leadership. So I’m staying late and missing class this week, but it’s for a good reason.

I will be working a half day Friday because I have an event that requires me to be here at 7:30am in Friday so between an early day following a late night, I’ll starting my weekend early!

I had to wear khaki pants for a work event today. Khakis are something I’ve ALWAYS felt self conscious about wearing. Like no thanks I don’t want to wear flesh colored pants that emphasize my butt, thighs, and hips.

I currently only have one pair – that I’ve worn once maybe, but I pulled them out to wear today – without trying them on. This morning I thought “OMG I haven’t worn these in forever what if they don’t fit or are too tight” (tight khaki pants make me feel THE MOST uncomfortable). Thankfully not only did they fit, but they were a bit baggy.

Not feeling self conscious today was a major NSV for me!

48 “Kinky” Hours in NYC

On Saturday immediately after my urban hiking class, I took a 6PM bus to NYC that got in at 10:30PM. I headed straight to my sister’s in Long Island City and went to bed. 

Saturday morning my sister and I caught up some before I left for brunch with three friends in midtown. My sister met up with me and my friends who came down from Boston to see KINKY BOOTS with us. My beloved David Cook (you may know him as American Idol Season 7 winner in 2008) debuted last week in Kinky Boots as Charlie Price. 

I mean David was amazing, even better than I dreamed (he was funny, a great actor, had some physical “stunts,” and sang his face off), however, I was taken aback by how unbelievable the entire show was. The music and the message of the show are joyous. Wayne Brady is back as Lola and Kirsten from Pentatonix was Lauren in the show. What a trio of amazing. David is currently only in the show through May 5, but I suspect his contract might be extended. I’ve seen over 25 shows on Broadway and I highly recommend seeing Kinky Boots (with or without David, but I mean if you can see David…GO).

Spent Saturday night hanging out with my sister, doing sister things like ordered delicious NY pizza and watched Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction on Amazon Prime followed by the new season premiere of Trading Spaces.

We were up at 5:15AM yesterday so I could go with her to the Body Pump class she teaches uptown on Mondays at 6:30AM. In NY they already launched the 105 release (my gym is launching next week I think). It was a solid workout and I, clearly, pushed extra hard because I wanted to show off for my sister haha.

Before I knew it, it was 10:30AM Monday and I was back on a bus home.

AMAZING WEEKEND ALL AROUND!

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*of course I got him to sign my Playbill at the stage door after