Trick or Treat! A.K.A., I’ll Just Buy Myself Some Skittles

 Who else is excited for Halloween!!?? 🎃 Because THIS girl is! 😎 I don't have plans for this day, really I'm just super excited to pull on my favorite (uh..and only!) llama onesie (complete with llama face on the hood) and hang around the house (and maybe the car wash) in it all day! Aside from being a LITTLE stir-crazy with this cold spell we're having (a.k.a. winter), getting to wear a llama onesie and possibly eat some skittles seems like an OK day, that and I stopped dressing up as "sexy" everything after college. Let's see, in college I was a sexy maid, sexy sailor, sexy Belle (from Beauty and the Beast), and sexy Dutch girl, to name a few. I also had frat parties, house parties, and clubs to go to all the time. Those were fun, but for one, it's way too cold for that here, and two, onesies are WAY more comfortable. Plus, if you're not going to a party, what's the point of hanging around in a sexy anything costume? No, thank you. The llama costume is definitely pretty awesome though, and I like it a lot. Here's the llama onesie in all its glory from last Halloween. Yes, I am a costume repeat offender, lol. 

The second-annual no drama llama Halloween.

Sailor costume at a sorority/fraternity Halloween party.

If you ain’t first...

I don't think I'll ever get used to the Midwest winters, especially since I love going outside year round, but I AM learning how to effectively layer, and that has been a life saver many times over here. Growing up in Houston meant that layering consisted of a hoodie over a long sleeved t shirt, so there was a lot to learn. 

Being stuck in the house means that it is always super clean, the dishes are always washed and the laundry is always done, so huge benefit there. I also really love our house, so keeping it clean rarely feels like a chore. Recently, my mom got in a cleaning mood as well, and she told me to expect a pod delivered to our driveway with some of my stuff I didn't have room for in my move. I'm a bit nervous since we have to find room in the house to put said stuff, and we just got everything how we like it, including the gym. Unnecessary clutter is something I despise more than sour cream, so putting everything away might take a while. I am excited to pull out my custom made birthday dress though, a silver sequined tube top dress with a pink tutu bottom to it. It’s buried in a box of old clothes somewhere. What can I say? I know how to ring in a birthday with style. 💅🎈🎉

January’s in Houston were (and still are) unpredictable. Sometimes you can go out to celebrate and it’s 80 degrees.

Today's my day off- training, not work- and while I should probably learn to embrace a day off here or there, it drives me crazy. When I get to program in a virtual run on the treadmill or do a class on the bike or with weights upstairs, it wears me out and gets me out of my head. 2020, combined with this newly colder weather, has made me feel more stir crazy than ever before, and I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark when I say that many of you probably feel the same way. 

Today's outfit...well, not the whole outfit, just the best part of it (jeans are boring).

Working out aside, I've been reading a lot more, and have discovered some really good books. My taste in literature is all over the place, so poetry by Pablo Neruda might come right before Glamorama, or vice versa. It's been fun. Currently I'm reading How to Murder Your Life, an autobiography by ex-Conde Nast beauty editor Cat Marnell. Cat isn't the most likeable woman in this book, and while the thought of being friends with her (non sober) in real life would have me running for the hills, I love how candid and unapologetic she is regarding her addiction to drugs and alcohol, starting in high school and remaining like that for years to come. If you're looking for an interesting read, this is definitely one. A Man Called Ove surprised me as well, but that was a hard one to read since it deals with thoughts of suicide, and my year has been affected by that pretty strongly already. The book was so good though, that I read it all the way to the end and would give this one two big thumbs up! 

Source

Source

It's Fall, Ya'll!

It's officially fall. Time for pumpkin carving, pumpkin seed roasting, sunflower-field visiting, spraying the house with whatever pumpkin-something scented room spray I have left, throwing up the three pieces of orange-ish decor I own, justifying eating pie and digging out all those cute jackets and long sleeves that have been patiently waiting in their cubby holes since last year. Fall also means it's only 2 months until Grands, the biggest BMX national of the year, and continuing to train hard. I'm super excited for this season, because that means that 2020 is coming to a close, and it also means that I get to see how all my hard work will end up coming together. I'm also excited to continue my 2021 race year with the SSquared National team!

I miss the Texas bluebonnet fields, but fields full of sunflowers work just fine. 😀🌻

My last BMX national before the Grands is coming up this weekend in Omaha, NE. I raced this Monday at Raytown, banging bars and falling in the rhythm section in the 1st round, but qualifying out in the second round and getting 3rd in the main. I also went to my usual practice at Blue Springs on Tuesday, but my normally chill practice was packed with riders, most likely also getting ready for Omaha. It was good, but I'll take my much less packed practice any day with the Tuesday regulars, and it should go back to that hopefully soon! 

Practice a few weeks ago at Blue Springs BMX.

Our annual meeting is coming up (virtually this year), so fall is also the busiest time of the year work-wise. Last year's meeting was in NYC, and even with all the long days, it was a blast! Meeting prep and execution is always hard work, but with this year being virtual, a lot of new challenges come to the fore. I enjoy challenges; they give me new experiences and new tools to work with next time, including new stress-management techniques! 

Last year in NYC for work. They were just starting to get the big Christmas tree ready to go up.

Times Square didn't disappoint. 

A little window shopping at Kate Spade. I love her quirky stuff!

Yuan and I checking out some of the city after work.

Speaking of stress, running almost daily has helped A LOT with that; it allows me to get out of my head for 30 mins. to an hour each day, and allows me to think through anything bothering me. More times than not, I can come up with a new idea, etc. by the end of the run. Running has been a passion of mine for over 5 years now, and despite having had a toxic, overly-competitive person in my life that almost took away my love for it, I'm glad to say that I was able to get that love back for this sport, and plan to continue enjoying it for the long-haul. Never let anyone take away the love you have for something. Especially if you were doing it first. Like Wayne and Garth would say, "Ssshhhaaa!".

I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to be spending some much needed time outside, enjoying that amazing 80's, sunny weather! Time to get outside after work and take my tired butt for a walk. Happy hump-day guys! 😀

Even the sunflowers at Grinter's Farm are cool. 😎🌻

Changing Teams...Sort Of, and Learning to Jump!

 Well, here it is, already October. I'm not sure quite how we got here, since 2020 has seemed long, daunting and very draining at times. I'm not saying that nothing good has happened, but after losing 3 friends and having members of my family catch the Coronavirus, all thanks to an (ex)employee who refused to stay home when he was sick with it...let's just say it's been a long year. Good things have happened though, and even with all the division going on, I have seen people coming together in the most remarkable ways, and it has made my heavy heart happy. 

Visiting Grinter Farms a few weekends back.
That was SO much fun! #localadventure

I've been running up a (lower mileage) storm on our treadmill very consistently, and the virtual routes and classes have made running on it so much fun! I actually WANT to run on a treadmill, and that would have NOT been me a few years ago. I'm also feeing more confident on hills and changing terrain, which is pretty cool. I also got moved up by my team, SSquared, from the Missouri team to the National team, and I'm so thankful and excited for the opportunity! SSquared has been really great to us, and has made me feel at home here. 

Ignore the under-eye bags, I woke up way too early, but I am SUPER excited about my new jersey!

Gotta keep at it. Practicing at Raytown BMX, photo by Camden's Photography

I have also set my sights on feeling more comfortable in the air when I'm on my bike, so have been working on jumping a few small tabletops lately. Some of the guys at the track have really helped me out with tips and tricks, and for that I can't thank them enough! 

Between running, riding and a work schedule that is filling as I write, Yuan and I have been making time to have a date night here and there, as well as some local social distancing adventures. Last Friday I was so tired, and I took the day off from racing. We ended up venturing downtown, through the Power and Light district and into the BRGR Bar for a date night. That area was where the action was that night; right when we were leaving and turning the corner a BLM protest turned left and headed down the street we came from. 

Yuan and our awesome date night. 💕

Hanging out at Power and Light before eating...

Gotta love a restaurant with a view! 

Some downtown sights

On the work front I'm happy to say that I've been LOVING my job lately, and I'm learning so much doing the work that I do (marketing & communications). Since my chosen career path can include a very broad scope of choices, deciding on a career trajectory has been a bit of a hit and miss sometimes, but all that hard work has ultimately has led me to something I truly love. Working from home has also become my preference, and having several large windows next to my work-space to open during the day doesn't hurt either, lol! I work more when I'm at home, but am totally fine with that when I can eat a home cooked meal for lunch everyday! Or a snowcone. Later gators! 

#treatyoself. I never get tired of Parks & Rec sayings....😋😀