Friday, April 22, 2011

Good Friday

Happy Good Friday!

I've noticed over the past month how much happier and easy going my life has been with my new job.  I'm less stressed out and really getting into the rhythm of a routine!  Once you are into the working world, people tend to get into some sort of daily routine with their job and home life (your routine may be different on a Monday, than it is on a Wednesday, but none the less you have a daily routine).  I feel as though daily routines can be very healthy, especially for me. But for some people, they are unhealthy due to following the same unhealthy habits that they first laid when starting their routine.  Habits include anything from the thoughts you possess to the actions your exert.  Unhealthy habits can actually harm your over all happiness which will bleed out into your routine everyday.
 
There are electrical impulses in your brain that turn into chemicals in your body, negativity can actually turn into negative chemicals in your body, which can harvest around your organs and actually harm you.  Destructive, negative thinking won't allow you to be constructive with yourself and your life.  So how do we become positive?  We have to break that unhealthy habits. 

First of all Motion can create Emotion.  Releasing your endorphins can create positive electrical impulses, which in turn create positive chemicals in your body.  Not only will you sleep better, you'll have the desire to eat healthy!  Make little changes to your routine at a time, don't over load yourself and get frustrated, keep a positive outlook on a small task and over come one bad habit at a time.
Caitlin is such an amazing fitness expert, check out her website for some great tips on getting active, staying active, and eating healthy!

A hard concept to grasp out of college is keeping up with your friendships!  It's not as easy as walking downstairs or across the hall, it takes effort and understanding.  I try to make a point to let my friends know that I do miss them and schedule those important one on one times with them to actually listen to what is happening in their hectic and exciting life.  Even a 5 minute phone call or a quick text to let them know you were thinking about them is all someone needs sometimes.  You never know, you may have created the moment that turned their whole day around.  I know I don't always say the right thing, but I'm working on it, if they are really your friends and loved ones they know you are going to have good moments, bad moments, even moments where you want to put your foot in your mouth and chew on your leg for a little while, but they won't hold you hostage to these moments because they think of you as highly as you do of them. 

I'm working on the core of my belief system now, I know that the things I did in the first quarter of my life are not what I'll be doing here in the second quarter, so I have to continue to work on myself because overall happiness can show in your emotions and actions everyday.   Make an effort today, you can't move back in time, you can only move forward.  I challenge you to look at your routine and focus on creating three positive habits for every negative habit you have. This balance will create your healthy routine!

On a VERY Exciting Note, we are having our engagement pictures taken tomorrow by a friend I met through a referral of my sister's wedding photographer.  Lauren Gay is so talented and such an absolute positive JOY to be around!  Check out her work and check back for the preview after she does our shoot tomorrow!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

MelanieJeanne

Welcome to my blog!  I've been wanting to start a blog for awhile.  I wasn't too sure what to call it or what to talk about.  I originally thought I'd write about my new engagement and the joys/stresses of planning a wedding, but didn't want to keep it strictly to that (more to come on the engagement later).  The past two years out of college have been so eventful that I figured I should share my adventures of joining and contributing to society… So here goes nothing :)

I'm Melanie, a 25 year old who thought she had it all "figured out"… and to some degree I think I do, but I really am clueless about a lot of things and believe that’s O.K. for a 25 year old :) I was one of the few in college that "knew" exactly what I wanted to do when I graduated.  I went to school for Health Sciences, hoping to get into Medical Sales and make a killing selling what I actually believed in, the well being of every human individual.  Well let me tell you, sales is sales, no matter what field your in, and at the end of the day/month there is a number to be met.  The number, I'm fine with, the way you try to get to that number and the sleepless, anxiety filled nights at the end of the month are what I started to disagree with.  It took me two years and two different companies to understand that sales was just not for me. 

So, here I am with a college degree, clueless about what I actually want to be "when I grow up."  I recently resigned from company number two and took an Admin Assistant Specialist job with MITRE in hopes of going back to school and eventually move to their Health and Human Services Sector (doing what? I'm not sure).  In the mean time I'm completely enjoying the semi-stress-free environment and feel a sense of accomplishment everyday leaving this campus knowing that I have kept all the balls in the air for my department.  There really is so much that goes on behind the scenes of  corporate departments and if managed successfully no one should even notice how half the things I do get done because it should all run so smoothly.  I leave work at work and that feels amazing.

So what DO I have figured out?  His name is Adam and he is my Best Friend and the Love of my Life.  Adam and I met through mutual friends and have been dating for 4 years.  Christmas Morning 2010 he got down on his knee and asked to spend the rest of his life with me.  Of course I said Yes <3 We set the date 11.12.11.  Most of the planning is done and I promise to have a blog on this once we get the save-the-dates out in the mail (Early May)!
We have a Chocolate Lab, Moose, who is 1 year old and quite the attention seeker!  Though most people don't see this side of him, he is such a lover and the best running partner!  Plan on hearing about him at least once a blog :)

Adam and I are house hunting this summer and I plan on sharing the joy/stresses of this adventure as well!
My friends and siblings are the best and I think we are all starting to establish ourselves as individuals.  When any of us are able to get together it is sure to be a good time!

So join me on my adventure of "figuring it all out!"  I hope you enjoy the ride and I leave you today with my inspirations for starting this:

Lisa started a blog first, originally called Treadmill Runner it documented her experiences training for her first marathon! Now called the Healthy Hokie, Lisa talks all about living healthy while juggling life.  I plan to share my own tips here and there, but Lisa will give you constant updates on how to be healthy everyday and how to attempt to look as amazing as she does :)


Meagan is the "Ultimate Martha Stewart, meets Betty Croker, meets Super Nanny."  She inspires me in so many ways, successful career, loving marriage, gorgeous baby boy (Jack), and a beautiful home.  On top of it all, she is one of my bridesmaids and has time for her friends whenever they call on her.  Read how she fits it all in, and makes it look so easy :)