10,000 Steps

I am always reading about new ways to be active and healthy. I found an article earlier this week about the #1 fitness tip a trainer would give to someone wanting to be in great shape. His tip? Walks 10,000 steps a day (equivalent to about 5 miles). I had always heard about this number but never thought that it was that essential to a fit lifestyle as long as you are active on a regular basis. Well, one of my PE teachers had a stash of pedometers that I borrowed, and I have been tracking my steps since last Thursday. What I have found is that is is very easy to get to 10,000 steps IF you work out. However, most days at work, I only walk 3,000 steps, so if I didn't exercise in the evenings, I would get no where near the magic number. Also, having something track how much I am walking does make me consciously get up and walk around more, so I think it is good for people to wear. Sometimes you don't realize how little or how much you are doing, so it is nice to keep in check.

Now I want to get even fancier and get one of these: http://www.fitbit.com/

Cool, right? It's nice to try something new for the summer when your normal routines are harder because of the heat (at least in Virginia). So I am focusing more on overall movement than killing myself at the butt crack of dawn to get my cool-ish run in!

And with that, my summer officially begins at 4 pm today! Year  two- CHECK. Can't wait for 8 weeks "off" even though I sure am keeping busy with other jobs this year!

Ms. Walsh was a kid, too!

Working in a high school, I am often asked to submit random photographs of various periods in my life. This year I was asked for two specifics: a "toddler" picture (which I did need clarification from my dad for...I have no idea what years a child is considered a toddler...but apparently photos of me walking around playing with pampers boxes and falling over are not acceptable) and senior pictures. 

Toddler Pic # 1: 1ish (looks like I can walk) I am loving my halfway comb-over here. Thanks for the style, mom.

 Toddler Pic # 2: For some reason, people generally laugh when they see this pic. I have no idea why- I feel that I am rocking the leotard with my amazing legs and bowl haircut quite nicely.

Toddle Pic # 3: Maybe not so much of a toddler here (I am guessing I am 3), but it seems to foreshadow my years of loving to go to school.

These two beauties were put in the yearbook this year (ignore the fact that my name was spelled wrong...the photographer messed up and we ended up getting double sets!). Seriously, for the last 2 weeks students have been telling other teachers and myself, "Dude! Ms. Walsh had blond hair!" "She looks the exact same!" For the record, it wasn't blond, it was highlighted from lifeguarding all summer, and yes, I do realize I still look 17. My sundress fetish when I am at work probably doesn't help me looking older, either.

To Me on My 26th Birthday

Dear Robyn,

Happy 26th! Congrats! You are another year older, wiser and more beautiful (you can at least think so)!

Remember when you thought the world was going to end at the Millenium in 2000 (thanks for that, Brian) and you thought 14 was old? Guess what?! The world didn't end, 14 is actually very young and now you are really getting old.

 (Don't look up my dress, you perv)

What, you wanted more? Sorry, dude. This isn’t a milestone. You can already smoke (didn’t want to anyway), can already drink (and do it less because you would rather eat your calories than drink 'em), can already rent a car without paying a premium, and already had your insurance rates reduced (25 = lame). No new perks, plus now you’re closer to 30 than 20. Scary, huh?

Here’s the thing: You had a big year! You moved to the fan, traveled all over the east coast last summer, got more involved in your job and, oh, BOUGHT YOUR FIRST HOME! That's a great accomplishment for someone your age. Sure, you had many freak outs along the way and you still have slight OCD behaviors and are way too much of a planner, but you can only move forward! Life is about always trying to better yourself, right?

My wish to you is that you make your 26th year even better; let loose; stop worrying as much; take a risk; be impulsive; buy something ridiculous that you don't need; stop laying out as much (wrinkles are gonna pop up soon...I see those mouth lines); stop saying you never will have children and/or don't like them (you know you actually do); get lost; run a half marathon; fall in love; sing; laugh.

If there’s anything I want you to learn from this, your 26th year, it’s to throw your plans out the window. Don’t try to predict what will happen, or put your life on a schedule. Just work hard, have fun, and be kind. If you do that, everything will follow in its own way and its own time.

Love,
You

Peace out

Busy B

Whew, I feel like I have barely had a moment to sit in the last few weeks. Just when the school year is winding down, my after-school activities are gearing up. Between weekend Bachelorette trips and weddings, I have been neglecting my cat, my bank account and my refrigerator (it just seems so empty).

I impulsively decided to be an assistant swim team coach as my summer job. It has been fun getting back into swimming mode since I was a summer swimmer from the age 7 until 18, but it is hard with school still in session. I have practices in the evenings and they are on the side of town where I work, so I don't come home in between, so many days I am gone 7 am until 8 pm. It's fun, but tiring. I think I will really enjoy it once I am done with work for the summer (June 21st).  My poor cat is depressed because I am gone so much. I also have been babysitting a lot lately and am babysitting new families this summer, so I have been meeting the new kids as well. It also seems that my social calendar has been booked, too, with graduation parties, kickball, my singing group (we have a national anthem gig this Thursday at the Richmond Flying Squirrels Game- I will post a video of it) and wedding celebrations. It's been a lot of fun, but being this busy definitely takes its toll! I have begun running in the mornings to just squeeze exercise in and so I can do it when it is cooler, so many days I am up at 5:45 am. So sleep by 10 PM is crucial!

Anyways, no complaints, just my life for the last and next few weeks (I hate when people complain about being busy...everyone is)! But on another note- I am looking forward to (some) relaxation this weekend- enjoy:).

Bachelorette Weekend Dos

Driving in thunderstorms, talking on air mattresses until 2 AM, starbucks, wine (and tequila shots), ridiculous amounts of pink, great (and way too much) food & drinks, singing, gay men cat calls, dancing, sore feet, D.C., sketchy bars, and great friends. I couldn't imagine a better weekend (and it wasn't even my Bachelorette party)! I have amazing friends.