Going Vegetarian

January 10th, 2010 by laura

This is my first attempt at trying to have a regular blog, without a theme, in a couple years. At one point in college, many of you may remember, I was pretty good at keeping one up. I think social networking has changed a lot of the ways we blog and communicate online, which is why having a regular blog isn’t as easy for me. I also struggle to make sure I am relevant and interesting. I hope I can talk about things that interest my friends.

This week, as an experiment of sorts, I’m going to be a vegetarian. I thought about going completely vegan, but I think I’d have a hard time avoiding cheese and things that use eggs or butter. I am trying to avoid too much cheese because it’s really not the healthiest thing in the world. I don’t eat eggs that often, but I’m sure many of the things I eat are made with them.

Today, I made up a list of dinners I’m cooking for the week. It was exciting because I’m trying out new things I haven’t tried before. I’m particularly excited about the tofu stir fry and the falafel sandwiches I have planned this week.

Last year when I was doing Weight Watchers, I was doing very well at making sure I had pretty balanced meals. Although I’d always been good about eating fruits and vegetables before doing Weight Watchers, I probably wasn’t quite eating enough. Since I officially stopped doing Weight Watchers in October, I’ve fallen off the wagon a little bit. Amazingly, probably because I was keeping up with exercising and kick started my metabolism from eating better, I have managed to stay steady at the weight I ended at.

I hope this week I can start to get myself back on track being more balanced and healthy. Robert and I have been eating out a bit too much lately, mostly because I had a drastic change in schedule after I got my new job.

Robert and I decided today we’re going to start getting up in the morning and jogging. Yikes. Anyone who knows me knows I don’t exactly like running. Honestly, I don’t like how I feel afterward: like I’m going to collapse and die. I’m hoping that now that I’m more in shape, I’ll like it better.

This year, my goal is to make a lot of positive changes in my life. I’m trying to figure out the best ways to get happy and stay happy. I’m going to try to get out of this quarter-life crisis (QLC) and figure out what exactly I am doing with my life.

Although lately I’ve been having some kind of dark days, I think I’m ultimately going to come out of this QLC a better person. I’ve made quite a few goals for myself this year; first and foremost personality-wise, I’m going to be more assertive and confident. I’ll try to keep up-to-date with that on the blog.

Posted in Robert, Self-improvement, experiments, new things, random thoughts having 4 comments »

365-Day Project: Final photos and reflections

January 2nd, 2010 by laura

I’ve gotten to the end of my 365-Day project. Overall, I am very happy with what I accomplished this year, although I’m disappointed in December. The project almost completely fell apart for me the last month, mostly because I got my new job that occupied a lot of my time… Pretty much everything fell apart for me in December.

I learned a lot about my camera and a lot about taking photos. I also like that my entire year is documented. I have so many fond memories that I recall just from looking at the photos I’ve taken. That was a side effect I hadn’t anticipated.

I also have become the sort of memory keeper and default photographer for my friends. They know I’m the one with the camera who will be there documenting the visual events.

Of the group of people I started this project with, I’m the only one who got as far as I did. Most of the people gave up after just a few months. I managed to get a photo on Dec. 31.

This last year has been a very strange journey for me. I joke that I’m having a quarter-life crisis; in truth, it has been a time of great self-reflection for me. It started in January, when I made the resolution to give up drinking soda, a move that led me to start evaluating my eating habits. I glanced over photos from a get-together I was at over at my friend Andrew’s house, and I realized I was getting to a place weight-wise that I just didn’t want to be.

I had never really cared about my weight before, and I had certainly never paid attention to what I ate. In general, I ate home-cooked meals, but, truth be told, I didn’t really try to make sure all of the food groups were balanced. My mom had decided to start Weight Watchers, and, in February, I joined her. In June, I joined the gym through a deal I was offered at LVAC. The result was that by September, I had lost 30 pounds and have managed to hold steady at that weight.

I also spent a lot of time contemplating my career. I wasn’t entirely satisfied with where I was earlier this year. I felt like I had been stagnant for a while, and there wasn’t much opportunity to move beyond where I was, although I had reached the position of copy editor. However, situations changed, and in November, I was offered a spot as editor of the new Boulder City paper. It was just the sort of thing I had been looking for.

I’m also in a constant state of evaluation about myself personally. There’s many things about my life I just wasn’t quite satisfied with, and I’m finally looking at everything honestly and brutally. Sometimes because of it, I have bad days. Other times, I have good days, where I feel like I’m accomplishing things I want to accomplish. I’m grateful for all of my friends who have been there for a shoulder to cry on or have offered an ear to listen.

Right now more than ever, I’m growing and changing. One of my friends said most of the women she knows have gone through something like this in their mid-twenties. I hope I come out of this a stronger and more well-rounded person.

I don’t know where I’m going to be at the end of 2010. One thing I have learned is that you just can’t predict the way things go.

At any rate, here is the final entry in the 365-Day Photo Project. It was fun. After this, I guess I’m going to use this as a regular blog for my thoughts.

Robert poses with his fruity drink at Elephant Bar at the District on Dec. 6.

Robert drinks a fruity drink at Elephant Bar in the District on Dec. 6.

The light shines in the Prius saying that the headlights are on Dec. 7.

Ginger's new baby Adam hangs out in Boulder City on Dec. 8.

Robert grins on the couch on Dec. 9.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic practices for the holiday concert on Dec. 10.

I interviewed this young woman who lives in Boulder City on Dec. 11. She had been in a car accident that left her paralyzed from the neck down, but she was so cheerful and happy.

Yummy drink at Bahama Breeze between concerts on Dec. 12.

This woman is one of our columnists. She poses for a photo on Dec. 14. I had to take a lot of photos of her because she wasn't satisfied with any of them. haha.

These crystals decorate the Love theater. We saw Love on Dec. 16. for a special fundraising performance.

Anne's cat hangs out in the salad bowl at her house on Dec. 17.

Amie toasts a marshmallow at Anne's house on Dec. 18.

Ron's birthday gift arrived on Dec. 21.

A room in Boulder City Hospital on Dec. 22.

The sun sets in Boulder City on Dec. 31.

Posted in 365-day project, Anne, Boulder City, Job, Robert, family, friends, iPhone, life, memories, photos having 2 comments »

365-Day Project: Nov. 15-Dec. 5

November 22nd, 2009 by laura

This is strange. I thought I had updated my blog, but I guess I didn’t. I had half of a post in my drafts…. Very weird. So I guess this is all the way back to the post that was in my drafts but didn’t get published.

White chocolate brownie from Black Pepper Grill on Nov. 15.

My new office on Nov. 16! It's on the main street in Boulder City

The sun sets behind Boulder City on Nov. 17.

OK, so, I forgot to take a photo on Nov. 18. So I took this photo right before I went to bed.

It's too early for Christmas. I think Christmas should not start until after Thanksgiving. Here's a display at Town Square on Nov. 19.

Here's our new reporter on Nov. 20.

My friend David performed in a flash mob at the Fashion Show mall on Nov. 21 to promote "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." It was very cool.

OK, here’s where I really left off… So strange.

I forgot Nov. 22 and 24. I got a little busy, and I forgot to take photos those days.

Robert puts together a desk for the printer in my office in Boulder City on Nov. 23.

Ace Hardware in Boulder City puts up Christmas decorations for the holidays on Nov. 25.

A flower in my mom's house on Nov. 26 for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday. I love that it's not commercialized and the the whole point is just to get together with friends and family and eat food.

This is an outtake from some photos I took at Eclectica, a craft and art store in Boulder City that just opened. I think it's cool that I got the open sign in the photo, but I don't really feel this photo captured the store, so I didn't use it.

Cory slices the turkey at Crystal's Thanksgiving on Nov. 28. Yum!

A plant at Town Square on Nov. 29.

A koosh ball on Nov. 30. I wish it weren't on an orange sheet. haha

Robert left this cute note for me on the bar that keeps the water heater from being hit on Dec. 1.

A snowman waves in our front yard on Dec. 2. Maybe we'll have real snowmen again this year.

Lauren checks her iPhone at Cafe Deia on Dec. 3. This is the first photo I got of her, finally.

Big horn sheep come down from the mountains in Boulder City and eat the grass in this park. Dec. 4.

One of the floats in the Boulder City Christmas parade on Dec. 5. I was almost in it, but I ended up just watching.

Posted in 365-day project, Boulder City, David, Job, Robert, friends, iPhone, nature, photos having no comments »

365-Day Project: Nov. 12-14

November 15th, 2009 by laura

I met some coworkers for a going-away get-together at Hennessey's on Fremont Street on Nov. 12. Here's Fremont East.

Alex, Jonathan and Julia show off their arms on Nov. 13 in support of To Write Love on Her Arms, this organization that Julia likes that helps people with depression.

Taken on my iPhone- Andrew's youngest son, Gavin, shows off his mad Guitar Hero skills on Nov. 14.

Posted in 365-day project, Julia, friends, photos having no comments »

365-Day Project: Oct. 16-Nov. 11

November 12th, 2009 by laura

This is the longest I’ve gone without updating. Part of it was self-fulfilling simply because after two weeks, I knew it would take me an insanely long time to download, edit and upload these photos. It’s almost a 1 and a half hour project now. I can’t let it get this out of hand again.

Jane smiles during Amie's rehearsal lunch the day before her wedding on Oct. 16.

It's probably weird I don't have a photo of Amie, but I was so busy doing stuff that I didn't actually get that many photos. My friend Abe hijacked my camera and took many photos, though, for which I am grateful. Jane gets her makeup done on Oct. 17.

Ardath cuts up carne asada for dinner at her house on Oct. 18. Ardath made mine and Robert's Halloween costumes.

My iPod on Oct. 19. Enough said.

"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" sits in the passenger seat of the Prius on Oct. 20. A very good book. I highly recommend it.

Robert grins during a surprise lunch with me at Cafe Ba-ba-reeba on Oct. 21. We don't get to go to lunch often, so this was nice.

Robert scans the field during his indoor soccer game on Oct. 22.

Andrew and Robert pose under a light pole after our Master Singers concert on Oct. 23.

I am so so so proud of this photo.... A boat glides on the water at Sunset Cliffs in San Diego on Oct. 24. Robert took me on a surprise trip to the beach because he knew I just needed to escape for a few days.

This is where Robert and I are going to retire: Coronado. On the beach, Oct. 25.

McMullan's on Oct. 26. That was an interesting night.

Andrew looks at his phone on Oct. 27. I'm not allowed to take any more photos of him on his phone.

Robert and Jonathan smile for my pitiful iPhone camera on Oct. 28 at BJs in Henderson after our Master Singers concert.

My celebratory martini with my parents on Oct. 29 after I was offered the position of editor at the Boulder City Review.

Robert models his Monarch costume on Oct. 30 before work. I had to stay home from the gym and help him put it on.

The main drag of Boulder City, where I start work on Monday. My office is on the right. I went there on Oct. 31 to check things out.

Robert shows off his facial hair he did for his Halloween costume on Nov. 1.

An unimpressive dish at Yardhouse on Nov. 2. Don't get the giant California roll thing. The ahi is good, though. Also, the martinis are good.

Robert sits at Mimi's Cafe on Nov. 3.

I have a pepper on my plant on Nov. 4! I don't know when I can pick it. It's little right now.

A fire burns at Brio on Nov. 5.

Pepper snuggles with a stuffed animal on Nov. 6. She just looked too cute.

Boats are docked at Fisherman's Wharf on Nov. 7. I love San Francisco.

The Titans intercept a pass by the 49ers at the game on Nov. 8. It was quite an experience wearing a Titans' jersey in the opposing team's stadium... Robert owes me!

A corner near Union Square in San Francisco on Nov. 9.

Life isn't like a box of chocolates, because it doesn't come with a map like this! Nov. 10.

The source of my addiction on Nov. 11.

Posted in 365-day project, Andrew, Jane, Jonathan, Robert, choir, dog, family, friends, iPhone, life, memories, nature, photos, sports having 1 comment »

365-Day Project: Oct. 11-15

October 16th, 2009 by laura

This weekend is Amie’s wedding. I’m heading out to her rehearsal lunch in a couple hours. Here’s a quick update.

Kristy stands in her very own apartment on Oct. 11.

Robert check out his iPhone on Oct. 12.

Weekly Andrew photo. Andrew sits in the Prius on Oct. 13 after rehearsal.

Ra Sushi on Oct. 14. I haven't actually ever eaten there. My friend Lauren and I went to Cafe Ba-ba-reeba, but she wouldn't let me take a photo of her.

Grammar Girl signs a copy of "The Grammar Devotional" for me on Oct. 15. She runs a podcast show about grammar that I listen to.

Posted in 365-day project, Andrew, Robert, choir, friends, iPhone, photos having no comments »

365-Day Project: Oct. 9 and 10

October 11th, 2009 by laura

Anne enjoys a coffee during breakfast at Starbucks on Oct. 9.

Sir Jonathan chats on ye olde cell phone at the Renaissance Fair on Oct. 10.

Posted in 365-day project, Anne, Jonathan, friends, photos having no comments »

365-Day Project: Oct. 4-8

October 8th, 2009 by laura

A crab roll and a spicy tuna roll sit waiting to be eaten at Kobe Sushi on Oct. 4. Kobe Sushi as Rainbow and 215 is by far the best sushi I've ever had. Go at happy hour for half off!

I think Robert is cute in his glasses on Oct. 5.

Robert makes a face after getting a haircut on Oct. 6.

Samantha sits on the bed on Oct. 7. I left my camera at work, so I had to take it with my iPhone.

A close up of Mr. Miyagi the bamboo on Oct. 8.

Posted in 365-day project, Robert, cat, family, iPhone, photos having 1 comment »

365-Day Project: Oct. 1-3

October 4th, 2009 by laura

Here’s a quick update from the last few days.

Crystal practices "Seasons of Love" for Cabaret night on Oct. 1.

David hides from the camera at BJs on Oct. 2 before enjoying a pizookie. Those things are dangerous.

Jonathan, left, performs "I'm Not That Smart" while Father Bill helps out on Oct. 3 at Christ the King's annual cabaret night.

Also, I might as well just put this up for those of you who weren’t there. I performed a few songs at the cabaret night last night. I sang “Raunchy” from “110 in the Shade.” In the show, the main character, Lizzie, is trying to prove to her dad that she can flirt just like the other girls.

You can see it here.

Posted in 365-day project, choir, church, friends, photos having no comments »

365-Day Project: Sept. 21-30

October 1st, 2009 by laura

My yummy bowl o fruit on Sept. 21.

Andrew stands in the choir room before Master Singers rehearsal on Sept. 22.

Andy shows off the device he made for Robert's Halloween costume on Sept. 23.

David examines his chicken nugget from McDonald's, trying to determine if it is, in fact, real white meat, before seeing "Working" at Spring Mountain Ranch on Sept. 24.

A cat sits on a rug on Sept. 25.

Robert shows off my glass of sangria on Sept. 26.

Jane shows off the back of the bridesmaids dresses we are wearing for Amie's wedding on Sept. 27.

Kerri tries on a veil for her wedding that will be next year on Sept. 28. I chose this one because you don't actually see her dress, which has to remain a surprise!