It's official

So I've been dying to share this but I had been waiting for background check, references and drug test to clear... Not that I had any doubts that it wouldn't but I just wanted the green light to be official. I have an awesome new job! I start May 29th and it's a great career move.

I am so excited about this, I will be working for a great Fortune 500 company doing what I've been doing at Triumph x 10 only that with a whole team in place, processes, a lot more organized and most importantly growth opportunities. Can't wait to take my career to a whole new level and become better and better at this.

This is the reason that I am finally moving to the city! My commute won't be too bad, about 30 min and the timing for this couldn't be better as my munchkin will be going to her dad's and I can take care of the move while she's away.

She will come back to our new place, a pretty pink room, a huge backyard in the coolest neighborhood in Atlanta and an awesome new school. There are kids everywhere and it's just such an amazing area! I can't be happier.

This weekend I am meeting with my future Landlord and talking about the final details of our lease! My neighbors are into gardening and we have a raised bed with tomatoes, basil, parsley and lettuce and who knows what else. There is also a compost box, and I am planning on adding some berries, cucumbers, kale and whatever else I can get to grow... Oh I can already see me going to my garden and picking up veggies to make juicy, healthy salads!!!

Well, I guess that's it for now... I won't be moving until July 1st so don't expect any pictures sooner than that. I am though looking at color palettes for my new place, trying to figure out bedroom decor and more! I will be posting pics of that for sure. Oh and my BF is only 2.5 miles away from my new place! Woot Woot! Can't wait to get to hang during the week, watch movies and cook dinner for him :D

That's it for now!
XOXO
CM

The move!

I am writing this on the iPad so excuse the post if it looks weird (I will fix it tomorrow from my computer). I am extremely excited and had to share! I am finally moving to the city, something I have been wanting to do for quite some time now. As I've always said I'd rather commute to work and love where I live than live in the burbs! My commute will be about 45 min to 1 hour but let me tell you... It will be well worth it! 

I am planning to move to one of my favorite Atlanta neighborhoods, I can walk to restaurants, little shops, park, there is a running/cycling trail, the place where I do silks... I mean what else can I ask for? I am so super excited! Sophia is going to love it! Family neighborhood, a great school, farmers market, tons of like minded people! I just can't wait :) I will go check more about the area this weekend and will take some pics to post. I want to check the school too at some point and check out drop off and pick up times. I just can't help to be excited about how life is just falling into place in every aspect. I am so blessed! 

It took a while to get here but through hard work, discipline and braking patterns and bad habits I am becoming a better me and life just gets brighter and brighter. I have made major accomplishments financially, personally and professionally. Who would have thought a year and a half ago that life would be so great now! Out of financial trouble, out of rushing into relationships, out of crappy jobs with horrible pay, out of toxicity and deep into happiness! Today I truly thank god for unanswered prayers, packing and going that December was honestly the best thing that could have ever happened to me. 

I am happier, healthier physically and emotionally, more independent and responsible! With a great new career and an ocean of opportunities. I am so proud of what I've accomplished! I should stop bragging now but I can't help it, I am happy and life is great! 

 XOXO

CM

Woot Woot!

It's been a while since I blogged and lord has life been exciting! I guess when everything is going great I rather not blog too much about it, I don't want to jinx it! I've had 2 awesome trips, I'm running quite faster, awesome workouts, clean diet, work is just taking off at another level (in a very positive way), I have been seeing a wonderful guy for quite a while now and for the first time in a LONG time I am doing things right and not rushing into situations that will just set the relationship for failure since the very beginning! No living together, no marriage, just plain fun dating and getting to know each other!

I've been working real hard on breaking those patterns that have caused nothing but trouble and I am excited about this new life that is getting every day. I am so blessed with a little girl that makes my day EVERY day, even when she drives me crazy. She has grown to be such a perfect little lady, smarter and stronger every day.

That time of the year is coming where Sophia goes away for two long months, and even though I miss her dearly every second she's gone I get to do all the things I can't due to logistics when she's here. I am planning on a couple of Triathlons and of course a few weekend getaways. In the list is North Carolina Mountains, Whitewater rafting AGAIN in Tennessee and a tropical vacation somewhere out of the country, haven't decided where yet.

I am also excited about a trip planned for the end of the year, my beau wants to go to Venezuela so that's in the plans. It's a big deal! I haven't been to Venezuela in quite some time so the plan is to hit Caracas, Margarita and Los Roques. I know he is going to LOVE IT and he will get to practice his Spanish, the rule of the trip is NO ENGLISH ALLOWED.

I need to blog more about past events like my trip to California and Chicago, an intro to my nutrition school program and much more! I will get to that soon :)

That's it for now.

XOXO

CM 

Chicago Next Week

I am so excited to be in Chicago next week, I have been waiting for about 4 months to do this SFDC training and they have cancelled it 3 times in Atlanta. Lucky me they had it scheduled and confirmed in Chicago for next week and my boss thought it would be a great idea for me to attend! So travel arrangements are made and I am registered for this developer training which will weigh so much on my resume!

On top of that I get to be at my BFF's first Crit race which for me is a pretty big deal, I haven't seen her since Thanksgiving and even though I speak/text with her daily I miss her so very much. We will get a ride or two in and I will get to run in my favorite city :)

The food? I might have to behave as I have been doing Paleo and the results are unbelievable, the goal? my abs by June... I definitely see the difference and how I am getting leaner. This promises a long weekend trip with my Boo who is in the same path both displaying our new accomplishment. Hot pictures you ask? Most definitely, he's such a HOTTIE!

I am definitely going to enjoy my Chicago visit, besides Kosti is pregos and I will get to see her, her princey poo and her bump! I'll catch up with my friend Chris and I get to stay at Hotel 71 with amazing view of the city!

I can't wait to get there and run by the lake front, have a glass of wine with Shannon and just enjoy the city that I love with the company of my friends.

That's it for now!

CM

Challenge of the month!

So people on Twitter/Facebook have been doing monthly fitness challenges which is a great idea not only to motivate others but to keep yourself accountable. So I am stealing the idea and using it to keep me on my toes! I've been running but the last couple of weeks I have only done long runs and skipped most of my shorter weekly runs, so my March Running Challenge will be to run EVERY DAY at least a mile.

This is great to get you out there even if you are on a tight schedule and most likely once you are out there you will end up running more than just a mile. My friends who have done it got a lot faster with this challenge, I guess it works a bit like speed work (shorter/faster runs) so i am looking forward to this. 

My other March challenge is 100 Squats a day. I need to target specific areas of my body that will make me a stronger runner and this is definitely a good one... On top of making my behind nice and perky for bikini season.

On top of that I am focusing on a LEANER diet to get those abs out, AB RipperX 3 times a week, a few pole dancing classes and silks which should take care of the upper body strenght since I'm already in Level 2 (Climbing and out of the Hammock!).

Add to this a swim a week and maybe next month I will start cycling again... Oh lord, talk about packed schedule! The first few days of the month will be challenging, heading to California today for the IIN Mega Conference... This will definitely get me motivated but since its a Girls Trip, it will be hard to not fall of the wagon when it comes to going out for drinks and prioritizing my workouts. The up side to it? 100 squats and a mile run take very little time so at least with those two things I can keep me on track!

That's it for now, I will be posting some silks and pole pics when I come back from Cali!

XOXO
CM

This week...

This week Sophia is in FL, I drove half way (Daytona) to meet Michael as Sophia is on winter break. I use these breaks to kick my training up a notch and also for a very much needed "me" time. I officially start swimming again this week which means that I will be back in triathlon shape very soon!

I had frozen my gym membership because all I was doing is running but now that swimming is in the picture again I am joining the Y! On top of that lets add dating to the picture and talk about booked schedule. 

All I can say is that 2012 is looking EXTREMELY promising, so many things falling into place. I miss my monkey but I have to admit that this "me" break feels good. Now it's time to take advantage of the free time and go for a run!

See ya!
CM

It's been a while...

So I was sick with a cold for a couple of weeks which meant not running much and missing the Tybee Half Marathon. After a massive cold and a stomach bug I was just not in the best shape for a half so I decided to stay home and go for shorter runs to get back to it.

I had stopped running for 2 weeks to recover and boy did I feel it. The weekend of the half was my first attempt to run after a 2 week break and I was so glad I stayed. I went out to PTC to hit 8 miles and guess what, 4 was the most I was able to get in! The next day went back and did 6 but felt crappy and my runner's ego was shattered in tiny little pieces.

I easily freak out when things  like this happen, it's been such a struggle to bee consistently out there and it freaks me out whenever I stop because I fear so much to lose endurance or break my routine/motivation and not get it back.

Last weekend I did 12 miles, and even though I felt like I was dying I did it and accomplished the distance I was planning on logging in. The pace? not so great... but I'll take it! I still have a left over annoying cough and I am definitely not 100%

This upcoming weekend I am planning on running the February Half that I missed... hopefully it will go well and if not, even with a slow pace I will get some BLING!

Many other things are happening... Not running related and all great so I've been busy and excited :) Hopefully I will be writing about it soon but for now I won't blog about it, they deserve a whole post alone!

XOXO
CM