Tag: MLchanges

New Logo!

Welcome to my new full logo!

This logo was created with love by my dear friend and talented graphic designer A.

Quick backstory. Orange is my favorite color, but the hot pink has been part of the Measuring Life journey since the beginning (including my Measuring Life tattoo I got in Nov 2010). The Measuring pink color and font reflects my tattoo. Life is orange because the color orange is loud, bright, and unapologetic – which is how I try to lead my life. The hourglass in addition to a nod to an hourglass figure is a reminder that “life’s like an hourglass glued to the table” – a favorite lyric from the Anna Nalick song Breathe 2AM.

The Rent soundtrack inspired my moniker. 525,600 minutes – how do you measure a year while also remembering there’s no day but today!

New Profile Pic

Tomorrow I’ll share the full logo and rebrand, but this is the heart of it and will be my profile picture across all social media.

I first came across my previous silhouette picture in 2007 during an early iPod marketing campaign and I liked that it was Jessica Rabbit-esque. Jessica Rabbit has that “perfect” hourglass body. When I launched my Measuring Life Tumblr anonymously in 2010 I thought back to that picture as #goals plus music is something I always pair with fitness. So when it came to a custom logo I had a few inspiration pieces. Needless to say the hourglass is central to my Measuring Life identity.

Working for the Weekend

This Friday I am headed down to where I used to live in Alabama for my first visit in almost 2 years! 

This place is very special to me for many reasons, but especially so since it’s where I started running. It’s where I lost 45 lbs. It’s where I was finally able to take control of my life in more ways than just fitness. 

I moved away in 2012, in fact, I pushed my started date at my new job in DC back a few weeks because I had the LA Marathon on the books. When I left my full-time Alabama residency I was arguably in the best shape of my life since my last day of work was the week following the marathon. 

I’ve been back to visit 4 times since I’ve left. All of which in pretty good shape albeit not marathon shape. Getting back on the Weight Watchers train at the end of August and having a kick-ass September of working out has very much been extra motivated by the fact that I have my visit coming up and I’d like to be in the best shape I can be. I know that quite a few people got inspired to start running/working out/losing weight watching my journey while I was there. So I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little “pressure” to not let anyone down and to continue my success story. However, I’m also well aware that this is a lifelong journey. I’m just glad to report that 5.5 years later (or really 7.5 years since I started) I’m still fighting my daily fight to make good choices.

Girly Overload

Between wedding planning and now home remodeling I’m getting sucked into a vortex of things I’ve actively tried to not care about ever.

Today we met with a design/renovation husband and wife team that came recommended by neighbors. I was basically like I have no vision, I just want it function, to flow, and to not be an eyesore like our current outdated kitchen and bath. When asked about our style I was like ummmm we’re going for a beachy vibe, despite not being near a beach or major body of water…

I’ve never been a “girly-girl” and I never spent time dreaming about weddings or homes. So of this upcoming planning is going to test my will for sure!

But at the end of the day I’ll be married to my guy and have a beautiful new kitchen and master bath so it’s worth. Oh and I’ll be broke haha.

Woooosaaaaa

Seriously who wants to be my wedding planner and project manage my remodel…

Then and Now

1 year ago today I ran the Dublin Marathon

Today, I’ve been sidelined by injury since this summer. Also since the summer have gained more weight then I care to know and have just fallen off the fitness wagon. 

Feeling a little lost and I’m trying to find who I am in the new life I have which is different from the life I was leading a year ago…

Household Squatting

Yesterday was chock full of adulting:

  • painting another wall in the master bedroom (2 down, 2 to go)
  • buying vertical blinds at home depot (among other things) and then installing them
  • ripping out weeds and other plant monsters from the front of the house
  • sweeping, lots and lots of outdoor sweeping 

Between squatting and crouching to tape baseboards/paint/weed/clean up swept up debris my legs are sore today, but sore in a good way

I also learned the ideal time to go to Home Depot or do other grown up errands – when you city’s football team is playing. Literally employees at Home Depot were desperate to help us since it was so quiet and one remarked that when the Redskins (withholding comment about how racist and disgusting our team name is) are playing it’s always quiet! 

My pants are tight

August has been a doozy with my birthday, moving into the house, vacation, house projects galore (and for the foreseeable future), and finally an 85 hour 6 day work week in prep for the start of the school year.  

The first day of the semester is here and I have not been to the gym in a month. I feel very out of shape and know I could at least be eating better. I’m out of town this weekend for a wedding (hi E!) in Chicago and then plan on getting into the groove of a new gym, a new schedule, and back to meal prep. 

My life has had a lot of changes lately, but I need to ground myself and find balance. There will always been work and there will always be house projects. I cannot ignore myself! 

PS. Full disclosure I looked into deferring my Army 10 miler registration, but they don’t offer deferments and its too late to transfer. So I think I am going to devise a walk/run plan because there is no way I’ll be trained up for it properly on 10/9. 

I’m 33!

It’s my PATRICK EWING year!

I have loved the number 3 since junior high when the NY Knicks were THE sports team. Patrick Ewing wore 33 and my beloved John Starks wore 3. I had been looking forward to my 30s because of my affinity for 3. 

It wasn’t until the last year or so did I know that a “Jesus year” was a thing for 33 (Jesus was 33 when he was crucified).  

Regardless 33 for me is my Patrick Ewing year and also I’m loving the fact that my birthday this year is a Thursday because I was born on a Thursday! 

I am working today until 5 and then I get to put up an out of office reply until next Thursday. After work today I am having a celebratory Happy Hour with some friends.  Then tomorrow is the last move of big items into the new house and then I fly up to Maine for a long beach weekend with girlfriends in York Beach which has been planned for moooonths. I was able to negotiate the time off in my job offer.

It’s crazy that when I come back from the beach I will going to my new house that I live in with T!!! 

33 is going to be epic.