Howdy y'all!

 Greetings from Austin :D

photo cred: Angela Doran Photography

If you're reading this blog, chances are rather high that you fall into one of the following categories (or a few) family, friend, or follow me on some social media platform, so I'm going to just go ahead and assume that you know that I've moved from NYC to Austin, Texas!

If you didn't know, surpriseee!

A lot of people's first question as to why I moved to Austin is "why?" Well really, why not?! I never had it set in my mind that NYC was where I would stay for the rest of my life. I'd always told myself that if that's the way it ended up, that it would be great, but never an expectation. Over time, it became very apparent to me that NYC was not where I was meant to live the rest of my life, so at that point, it was only a matter of when and where would be next.

I've had thoughts of living in Southern California on my mind for many many years, so it was something I seriously considered, and even went out for a visit in February. But nothing was really calling or pulling me there. I felt really indifferent about the idea of moving to California and I figured, one should probably feel pretty strongly about making such a huge move. So I stayed in NYC.

After I'd dismissed the idea of living in Cali, my mind still wasn't fully settled at the idea of living in NYC any longer. Life wasn't really moving anywhere for me, and I felt like the longer I stayed there, the more time I was wasting. I'd been looking for work since January when I was laid off, without any luck. I sent out countless resumes and went on many interviews and never heard back from any of them. If you've never been unemployed before, let me just tell you, this does not do good things for ones self esteem. I've never in my life struggled to find work the way I did these past few months.

It was around April when life had gotten a little rocky, as it does from time to time, that I decided I'd had enough of the bull shit NYC throws at its residents. I had very briefly looked at jobs in Austin and applied for maybe one before I decided to actually reach out to my Austin peeps and find out if moving there with their support would even be a reality. I have one cousin in Austin who outside of Facebook, I hardly knew. I decided to take a leap and reach out to her to ask if I could stay with her while I get adjusted, acclimated, and found a job and a place to live. Because my family is AWESOME, she quickly got back to me with a "yes!" It was only a couple of days later, that I heard back from one of the resumes I'd submitted to a job in Austin and was immediately offered the job over the phone and was asked "how soon can you be here?"
In retrospect, I probably could have been here in a week (thank you unemployment) but I told her I'd need about three weeks to wrap up my life in NYC.

One of my favorite spots to catch the sun setting over NYC

Before I knew it, my life was packed into 3 suitcases, and 20 boxes. What wasn't packed was sold or left on the curb. I had the chance to say my goodbyes to some of my favorite NYC people as well as pack in all the good food I could. After an extremely emotional goodbye to all the ones I loved in NYC, I landed in Austin without any issues.

Some of the greatest people NYC has to offer!

I hit the ground running... I started working for Vega only a few days after landing, I got a car within the first week, I found my apartment in the first 4 days (though I didn't get to move in until mid-June), and I got a full time job at a chiropractors office within two weeks. It was amazing for me to see how quickly everything was falling into place for me in Austin vs. how hard I had to work for everything in NYC.

We work really hard at Vega!

I've got some pretty good helpers at the chiro's office!

I ended up getting a lemon of a car and have since had to buy a new one, but this time, I think I got a great one! Isn't she pretty!?

Now, unfortunately, this means car payments. So my hopes of cutting my 7-day work weeks back is probably far off from ever happening. That being said, I am hoping to grow both my health coaching and my photography business here in Austin. So whether you know me personally and happen to know someone in Austin who could benefit from my services, or you have randomly stumbled upon me and are looking for some senior portraits, maternity photography or need a health coach - please get in touch with me soon!

I'm taking a brief break detox from Facebook at the moment, so I'm kind of hoping I won't be neglecting this blog as much as I have been. I know blogs are a fading art, but I love reading about other people's life happenings and I hope you enjoy reading about mine. I feel writers block often when I sit down to talk about what's happening because I feel like surely, I'm boring you all. So please! If there's anything specific you want to know about me or my life in Austin, please leave me a comment and I'll try to write about it! 

I hope you are having a fabulous summer!

Reunions!

I don't know if this is a secret that no one ever told me about.... but apparently spring time means visitors!

Back in 2009 when I had made the decision to move here, I contacted an old Cheer Ltd. friend, Aisha to let her know that I was moving to NYC as she had been living in the area her entire life. She would more or less be the only person I knew in the area when I moved here. Well as time went on and life happened, we never were able to coordinate getting together when I got here. It wasn't until a year and a half after having lived here that we finally got together! Aisha recently became engaged to a really great guy, Matt, and I could not have been more flattered or honored when they asked me to shoot their engagement photos!

I would really love to share a few with you, but I'm in the process of editing them right now and A&M haven't even had a chance to see them yet... so I need to reserve the first view for their eyes :)

Since A&M's engagement session would be not only the first one that I've shot in a while, but the first one I've shot in NYC... so I needed some reenforcement, I needed to find an assistant!
Unfortunately, all of my photo buddies in NYC were busy that weekend. But very luckily another friend from way back when lives only a couple of states away and is just starting to get into photography.

Mallory and I met in Jr. high and have stayed in touch ever since. She just recently started taking a photography class and I've seen her grow a lot as a budding photographer. I was so happy when I contacted her asking if she would come up from D.C. to assist me on this shoot and she said "yes"!
Just days before Mallory came into down, I had breakfast with another high school friend who lives here, Anna. If you are a loyal follower, you might remember me talking about Anna and Marcos from when I first got to NYC. They were nice enough to let Emily and I stay with them for the first week while we found jobs, our apartment, and our way around the city. Anna, Mallory, and I all went to high school together so Anna and I agreed that when Mallory got into town we'd all have to get together again.
It was so fun catching up with them and listening to all the things we have done and gone through the last 10+ years when we were all together last.... marriages, moves, buying homes, and babies on the way!

Isn't Anna the most adorable preggers you've ever seen!? I cannot wait until May when Anna, Marcos and I will be doing a maternity shoot!

In about 2.5 weeks, my good friend Amber will be coming to visit for a few days. Amber and I met while coaching CHS cheerleading in Portland.

We're going to have a blast shooting her trash the dress and hopefully get in some stunting as well :)

In the middle of April, my mom will be coming to visit me in NYC for the very first time ever!

I'll be running my first 1/2 marathon and I'm so excited that she's going to be there cheering me on at the finish line!

At the end of April, my Major BFF, Amber (different Amber) will be coming to stay with me for a whole week!!!! I haven't seen her since 2008!!!!

I can't wait to have her here and do all the silly, girly touristy stuff with her!

As staying in NYC forever was never really my plan, I encourage all of you to come visit me soon... Spring, winter, fall or summer! I don't know exactly how long I'll be here, or have a plan of leaving, I just know it will happen someday. I'd love to see you before that day comes!

20 pounds... gone!

Since I've started running, there have been times where I think to myself, "why am I doing this??".
My roommates tell me all the time that they think I'm crazy for running.
Shortly after I started really making a commitment to running (back in April '11) I discovered an app for my phone (RunKeeper, for those that are interested to know) that would track my runs. It would give me my stats for time, distance, pace, and loads of other interesting information.
I started posting my stats on my Facebook because, I felt like maybe if I put it out there in public, it would help keep me accountable to stick with it.


I really never thought that the feedback I would get from friends would be what kept me going.
I can't even begin to tell you the overwhelming response I've gotten from people who email me or tell me I'm inspiring them. Even my friends who are already runners, or into working out are telling me that my posts, and pictures make them want to get out and get moving.
It just goes to show you, that you just never know how what you do, or what you say will effect others.
A huge thank you to anyone and everyone who has ever emailed me, commented on a photo of mine, or told me in person that I've inspired you in some way. Please keep them coming... they inspire ME and keep me motivated to keep doing what I'm doing.


That also brings me to the other thing that has been keeping me motivated lately....

These are screen shots from a video I had taken just after moving to NYC. I was going through my phone the other day to delete old photos when I came across this. I was appalled. How did I ever let myself get this out of hand?! I look swollen! If you remember the BLOG POST I did in August about my weight loss, you may remember this shot: 

This is from just a couple of days before I moved to NYC. Oye.


Please don't ask me how it's possible that I didn't get motivated until the following spring before I decided to take action...

Slowly... getting.. there...

Finally starting to see progress...

And here I am today!! Finally, my hard work is proving to pay off!


I've lost almost 20 pounds since August 2010! Can you believe it?! These pictures are such a great reminder for me of where I was, to where I am now. I feel really lucky that I actually enjoy running- I know it's not enjoyable for a lot of people; but I firmly believe if you can force yourself to do it, and constantly remind yourself why you're doing it, it becomes addicting. 


You may start to see some changes in my blog in the future... I'm still on the fence about where I want this "publication" to go. I already have another blog dedicated to my photography, so if that's what you're after, I suggest you check that one out HERE. I'm considering making this blog more health/fitness/food related; but I would really love to hear from YOU about what you'd like to hear about. Would you enjoy reading a more healthful related blog? More NYC experiences? 
Tell me in comments below!


Thank you, as always for taking the time to read about me, my life, and my struggles and successes. I appreciate each and every one of you!

2011 in Review

I wanted to do something a little different than last year. I feel like the majority of you are all friends with me on facebook, so I didn't want to bore you with loads of pictures you've already seen (though, please forgive if there is a repeat or two). Instead, I want to give out one last thank you from 2011 for all the great things I've been blessed to have added to my life this past year....

New Roommates

The most amazing cheerleading team, ever.

1 year anniversary of living in NYC

Fabulous new friends for life

Even more fabulous new life long friends.

The strength and will power to maintain a healthier body

A new found love for running

I'm not sure I'm all that fond of the term "resolutions"; because I feel like, if you don't accomplish them, it sounds like a much bigger disappointment or let down.

So instead Im going to share my goals with you for the future that I will start in 2012:

- eat pasta once a week

- eat fish once a week

- exercise (weights) at least 3 times/week and no more than 5 times/week 

- run at least 3 times/week

- stretch 4 times/week 

- eat 3 banana's/week
- write 1 hand written letter/week

I realize that they are all health/food related, but I'm at a point in my life right now where that is my main focus. I have even decided to put my photography on the back burner a little bit. I'm feeling very burnt out with it, and just don't have the same passion I had for it at one time. I'm hoping a break, and some time to gather some funds to buy updated equipment will help give me back that fire I once had for it.

I hope your 2012 is off to a great start so far! Have you made any goals or resolutions?

Cheer New York

Well, I suppose it’s no secret at this point that I don’t blog as often as I wish I did.

I don’t know what I was thinking, but I thought it had only been about a month since my last post...

Sorry peps.

As promised, what follows is some wonderful news I’ve been dying to share with you all since August! But, as you will understand very shortly, I’ve been a busy girl!

November of last year, I had gotten together with an old Cheer Ltd. friend, Kelly, who had told me about this adult cheerleading team, Cheer New York. She didn’t know a lot about it, but she planted a seed in my brain. That night I went home and did as much online research about the team as I could. As soon as I landed on the home page of their website, I knew I wanted a piece of the action.

I contacted the coach that night about when the next tryouts were, because Kelly had mentioned that she thought they might be in January. A short time later, the coach got back to me saying that there were in fact mid-season tryouts in January, but that they were primarily to fill spots for fliers or power tumblers. If you know me at all, you know I’m neither. He suggested I come to their full tryout that would be held late summer. It wasn’t long before I was regularly creeping on their Facebook page and website to get any updates about the upcoming tryouts. I was not about to miss this opportunity.

As the end of summer approached, I was working hard on getting into shape (I had done enough investigating to know that their girls wore half tops...) and worked on my flexibility. Especially because the coach had mentioned that they’re fliers are traditionally under 5’5”.... I had a lot of work in front of me. Before I knew it, the tryouts were here. Thankfully, there was enough girls shorter than me that I was able to tryout as a base which relieved my biggest anxiety: trying out as a flier! The coaches, captains, and alumni continued to hound into us that we were really just here to have fun, and not take the tryout so seriously and just have fun. After dusting off a dance I hadn’t performed since 2005, I decided to do just that- go out there and have a good time. What was the worst that could happen? I’d tried out for tons of teams in the past, and I’m too old to be getting upset and nervous over a team that just wants to have fun.

My name was called first because they decided to run the tryouts alphabetically... ok, now I was nervous. My music came on “It’s showtime folks!” and off I went... having the most amazing audition I’ve ever experience in my entire life. I did exactly what I set out to do, kick some ass, and have fun while doing it. The applause and reaction I got when I finished left me feeling fantastic. Even though I messed up a little bit, I knew I gave it my best effort.

After watching 20+ other talented cheerleaders tryout after me, I started to become less confident. There was some really unique competition.

We left that night being told we would know the verdict by 11:00am the following morning.

me, Norman, Tony, Kaia, and Latoya after auditioning

I resisted the urge as long as I could, but by 10:00am I was signed into my Gmail and hitting the refresh button at least every 5 minutes. Finally, at 10:55am (yes, I looked it up so I could be sure ;) I got the news- I was part of the Newbie class of 2011-2012, I MADE THE TEAM!!

Newbie Night at Boxers Bar

August 11, 2011 will go down in history of one of the happiest days of my life!!

Since August, this team has been nothing but a great time. It is hands down the greatest, most fun team I’ve ever been on in my 13+ years of cheerleading.

Dannie, Wilson and Brian

Cheer New York is an all-volunteer non-profit adult cheerleading squad, made up of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Straight allies (LGBTS), has been serving the NY-NJ area since 2002 by inspiring hope and encouragement in audiences wherever we perform and raising money for people with challenging conditions and life-threatening illnesses through its “Cheer for Life” fund.

Being on this team is exactly what I needed. I have met so many amazing people who, I’m certain I’ll be friends forever with.

my cheer husbands, Dennnis and Dannie

This team builds me up when I’m feeling down.

my roommates Krishna, Jet and I at Sea Tea

This team gives me reason to stay motivated to stay in shape when all I want to do is eat ice cream and pizza.

This team is my family.

at the ING NYC Marathon

Thank you Cheer New York, for selecting me to be a member of this team. I am forever grateful.

I cannot wait for us to get back together in January for the second half of our season!

**If you would like to make a donation, you may do so by going to the Cheer New York website, cheerny.org and then clicking on the “donations” tab.

Up and down. And down again!

As I recently told you in my last BLOG, I’ve been working for a private training gym, Brownings Fitness since mid April. Just a couple of weeks before I started working there, I began to get back into running. Boy was it rough at first. I would usually run about 3 miles at a time, but it was taking me close to an hour to complete that, and I would be extremely sore the following day (if not by that night). I knew getting a gym job was exactly the extra boost I needed to get myself in gear. I didn’t waste a whole lot of time getting to know the trainers and getting a feel for who was more open to training front desk staff than others. I started training only about once every two weeks, and quickly bumped it up to once a week, if not twice or three times. 

It wasn’t long before I was already noticing a difference in my body, my energy, and my overall mentality. Before it got way too hot, I was still running at least 2-3 days a week outside. As it started to warm up, I was hitting the treadmill 2-3 times a week and doing my best to get in at least 1 outdoor run per week. I began to notice that my outdoor runs were getting easier and easier. I was running at faster minutes per mile, and even when I tried, I couldn’t get myself to slow down. This also became a really fun way to get to know my new neighborhood. 

I’m so glad (as I’ve already mentioned) I started working for Brownings. It honestly was exactly what I needed in life: a better paycheck; something that I’m actually passionate about; and more than anything, a constant reminder of how I should be living my life. Healthfully. 

I’m sure that some people still (and always will) look at me and think I’m over weight, or that I could loose a little here, or a little there. Now, I’m not saying that I don’t have those same thoughts from time-to-time. But what I do know, is that I feel like this is the first time in my life when I actually like my body. This is definitely not the thinest I’ve ever been- but I like what’s going on. I love watching the changes in my body. I am actually enjoying learning more and more about the training and nutritional side of everything. 

I feel fairly confident that this is probably where my body will be for the foreseeable future. I do not plan on having kids anytime soon (or ever at the rate I’m going), and feel pretty good that I can keep up with the workouts and “diet” I’m on right now. 

**To be clear, I’m not on any specific diet. I’m just trying a lot harder to be conscience about what I eat, how much I eat, and when I eat. I still eat pizza regularly and don’t plan on giving that up anytime soon.  

So take a look, and see for yourself. 

The photo on the left was taken of me just one day before I moved to NYC almost a year ago in August 2010. The photo on the right was just a couple of weeks ago in Southampton.

Looking back at pictures from a year ago, and even from 2 and 3 years ago; I realize now that I was hands down the heaviest I've ever been in Aug. 2010. It's shameful that I ever let it get that out of hand and have made a promise to myself to never let that happen again.

To be honest, even if you don’t see the difference, or think I could still stand to loose a bit more- I don’t really care. I’m happy, and that’s all that matters :) I know that I’m being healthy and doing something really great for myself. 

I hope that you can find inspiration somewhere, wherever it may be- to commit yourself to a healthier future! And even if you fall off the wagon, don’t let it knock you down! Pick yourself back up and get back on that healthy train! You owe it to yourself :)

SIDE NOTE: Tomorrow marks my 1 year anniversary in NYC! Time has absolutely flown by since I've moved here. The first few months sure did drag on, and were a bit rough at times, but the last 5 months have more than picked up and sometimes I want to barf I'm so happy. 
I want to thank each and everyone of you that have supported me and believed in me. 
An even bigger thank you to those of you who ever doubted me too- you have no idea how much pride it gives me that 365 days later, I'm proving you wrong. 
I can't wait to share my next post with you! I have the most fun news to share with you!!! 
To be continued....