Happy Wednesday. I have not stopped listened to Opening Night by the Arctic Monkeys. As a faithful Suck It and See listener, this song bodes in the same orbit as STAS, TBHaC, and The Car. It inspired me to begin a "song of the day" playlist specifically for this blog which you'll find linked below.

Work

My second full week of my new job is in the books. While it's a change migrating from remote work to a hybrid position, I think I enjoy being in the office and socializing with people. A lot of people I work with have kids, so there isn't a ton of common ground, but it's still refreshing to chat with people by stopping at their desk as opposed to Teams. I learned a new report at my job this week that I will be doing on my own for the first time next week and I am nervous, but excited to have a task. I have also started exploring what my position it going to revolve around and it's daunting now, but I suppose everything is when it's new.

Health

I signed up for a new gym that is way closer to my house and it made me miss my old gym more than I can find the words for. New Gym always has the heat blasting so it's humid, especially because it's after NYE so it's packed. My old gym was never over-crowded, there was always space to stretch and I felt like everyone was minding their own business. Here I feel constantly judged, which I'm sure is just a me thing and I'll adapt. But, so far, I am feeling 50/50 about my gym choice.

On the days I don't go to the gym, I have been doing a Grow With Jo workout, specifically her pilates walk. I'm coming from a massive period of inactive time so I am easing back into physical activity. However, I used to be a gym girl and that is my motivation each time I struggle to get up and workout. My goal is to move my body every day this month, giving myself Sundays off. <3

While physical activity goals have been beneficial, I have also been meal prepping and tracking my food officially for two weeks and decided to make my lunch and snack boxes staples within this weekly newsletter in case any other vegetarians are looking for ideas of quick, easy meals for the week.

Meal Prep of the Week:

• Impossible Nuggets

• Uncle Ben's Broccoli and Cheese Rice

• Broccoli

Snack Box of the Week:

• Two hard-boiled eggs

• Trail mix

• Cucumbers

• Roasted red pepper hummus

New Habit: Starting my day with a protein shake. I really enjoyed Premier Protein's Indulgence in the Salted Caramel Truffle flavor, but I ran out last week. I pursed the ISO100 Fruity Pebbles powder and I love it. 

Life

Two small life glimmers to share. The first is my childhood bedroom is officially packed up sans the twinkle fairy lights tacked into the wall and it's killing me softly to leave that sanctuary behind. Emotionally I'm fine once I am back at my mom's in my bedroom. but when I go back for something I get very emotional and cry about leaving my space behind. I've been using that as extra motive to plan my paychecks, pay things off, and bank so I can live in my own space again.

I've drafted a poem for the first time in years. One of my goals for the year is to write something that could be published at least once a month. I started a poem about commuting in January and I'd like to submit it to somewhere in February and really cement becoming a writer this year. Once I structure, edit, re-write, submit, and if it gets picked up I will share it with you all. <3

Everything feels semi-scary, but it also feels exciting, like there is a light at the end of this all. I can see it from here.