Starting up again.

While this will remain my primary posting place, I'm going to begin using my tumblr again - this time, with a different purpose. Recently, I've become entirely unhappy with my health - or lack thereof - and its effect on my appearance. Read: yes, I'm complaining about my weight again. But bear with me.

While my body mass index now falls within the normal range, I was once on the brink, teetering between being overweight and being obese. After four years attending a somewhat prestigious all-girls middle and high school, I chose to leave and enroll in the school that would become my saving grace - mentally, emotionally, and physically. The change in me began even before my first day of classes. As soon as summer began, I decided a complete lifestyle overhaul was in order. I went on my own sort of diet - a healthy eating plan that limited carbohydrates and focused on fats and protein. With barely any strenuous exercise, the extra weight began to melt away. I don't imply that weight loss is this easy for everyone - it's not. The fact that I was able to lose so much weight with limited physical effort is a simply a testament to my problem, which was not so much under-exercising as it was overeating.

By the end of the summer I had lost thirty-five pounds. I was wearing new clothes and bearing a new outlook and confidence. Over the next three years I would continue to lose weight - after ups and downs, I had lost nearly fifty pounds from the time I left my old school to the time I graduated from my "new" school.

It's funny because at my lowest weight last May, I was still unhappy - I still longed to lose that "last five pounds." And after a while, I stopped trying. Summer came and went, and then my freshman year of college came and went, and somewhere in between each of them I gained five pounds. Ten pounds. Thirteen.

And that's where I am now. I still consider myself to be a stress-eater. I snack when I procrastinate. I bake when I'm worried. I can't shake my appetite when I'm upset. Just my luck that I'm somewhat of a "stresser" by nature.

So, you guessed it. My tumblr will become my weight loss diary - feel free not to follow if that's not your cup of tea. I'm about to make the age-old vow to get healthy again. To eat better, to exercise, to lose weight. Whatever you want to call it, I just want to be happy with myself. I can't express how proud I was - am - to have lost those first thirty pounds four summers ago. Although I didn't see it then, I can say it now: I saved my own life.

And while now the situation is not so dire (nor dramatic), the desire remains. I need to do this before it's too difficult. Before the stress of college or a new job or a family rests on my shoulders, I need to get to a point at which I am willing to call "good enough."

And so it begins.

Thursday Word: 2 Corinthians 4:17.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 Corinthians 4:17.via my flickr.

Don't you love pre-scheduled posts?

The lovely Audrey snapped this photo at Cascal on Thursday.

Ethan and I are currently on a flight to Long Beach. :] Ready for some fun in the sun!

A rugged outdoorsman.

While I was catching up with Kirsten last Sunday, Ethan was hiking and exploring with some friends. Poking around Facebook, I spotted some photos of the adventure.

That figure on the far right is Ethan. Please check out his divalicious stance and how well it shows off his infamous booty. It just might rival J.Lo's.

Peach muffins, tapas, and gelato.

Ethan's family has a lovely little garden that produces a lot of fruits and vegetables in the summer. His father spends a lot of time cultivating things like zucchini, squash, grapefuits, and peaches - and then shares them with us when they're ready to be picked. Most recently Ethan showed up with a big, fat bag of ripe peaches. Since we're going out of town next week, they had to be put to use. Thus, my amazing friend Audrey came over today and we set out to make peach muffins.

We had to stew the peaches before we puréed them. Here they are, pre-stew'age.

The finished product. Perfect in shape. Deficient in peachy taste.

The end product was much more "muffin" than "peach" - the fruity flavor was sadly indetectable. But they were still delicious, oddly enough. :]

Ethan arrived and the three of us piled into the Chevy, and we headed downtown. Every other Thursday during the summer, the main street of the downtown area is closed. In addition to the regular outside dining, visitors can also enjoy a small farmers' market, old fashioned car club displays, and live music. So off we went!

Not my favorite photo of myself (Audrey's too cute!) but the best we got tonight! :P

After walking the main street stretch a couple times in search of a place to eat, we settled on Cascal - a fun Spanish-Latin fusion tapas place.

The bread service was awesome.

Audrey was all smiles.

Ethan was all ... smiles...

We ordered four tapas to share: beef taquitos; potatoes gratin; a hearts of palm salad; and shrimp and rice croquettas. Mmm.

Topped it off with a trip to Gelato Classico. Audrey enjoyed some caffè mocha and tiramisu gelato, while Ethan and I shared a cup of dark chocolate and crème brûlée.

Fun day; fun night. :] Audrey leaves for school on the 30th - I hope I see her again before she heads for the East Coast again!

Thursday Word: Psalm 37:20.

"But the wicked will perish: The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish - vanish like smoke." Psalm 37:20.

via my flickr.

Catching up with old friends.

Until tonight, I had probably seen my old middle school friends Bonnie and Jenny a total of two or three times each in the last four years. Unacceptable.

So I finally, at long last, had the pleasure of chatting with Bonnie as we perused the downtown area and dined outside at Pasta? this evening.

The ever-lovely Bonnie!

Accompanied by our giant Canon Rebels (XT for Bonnie; XSi for me!), we enjoyed nice conversation and...

Fresh bruschetta...

Crisp Cesar salad...

and delicious ricotta and spinach-stuffed ravioli!

This woman was hilariously impressed by our camera-wielding. She decided to take a photo of us! Awesome.

As our meal was coming to a delicious end, Jenny arrived. Thanks to our food photography (or something), we were surprised by our waiter with a complimentary plate of tiramisu. Huh.

Sorry Bonnie! I know you didn't like this one, but it is all I got. :] You look beautiful!

Jenny: see above note. :P
I feel like I got the good deal - Bonnie took this decent photograph of me and posted it to her tumblr.

After dinner, Jenn and I went back to my house. My parents were so happy to see her! My mom and I had seen Jenny practically every day for about seven years - so it was great for everyone to chat after that aforementioned four-year hiatus. Across the street from my house is a park. So Jenn and I walked over there and circled it about five times before settling down on the bleachers. We talked about everything - friends, school, love, religion... It was good. We are similarly minded in belief and outlook. She gets it! I think Jenny will always be one of those people who I can go years with out seeing and still feel comfortable when I finally do.

Overall, I'm really thankful for this evening. So good to reconnect with old friends - thank you, Bonnie and Jenny! These past few weeks I feel as if I've been finding maybe I have had the friends I've needed all along.

Mine, all mine!

Women's ASICS Gel-Nimbus 11 in Purple via Zappos.com.

I haven't owned my own pair of running shoes - and I use "running" in the loosest of terms - in about seven years. I'm hoping that these babies that I received yesterday in the mail will inspire me to actually do something about my fitness.

I just might be on to something - today, Ethan and I went jogging. What I mean by that is, Ethan jogged and I sputtered and panted behind him, begging for a break. I am ridiculously out of shape and a trip to the food-decadent Los Angeles probably won't help me. But maybe... one day... :]

Cupcakes with Kirsten!

My vanilla on chocolate and red velvet cupcakes plus a banana chocolate I picked up for Mumsy. Not pictured: Kirsten's delish dark chocolate cupcake.

Kirsten plus catching up plus cupcakes equals a recipe for a fun Saturday afternoon - and, as far as I'm concerned, it should become a tradition! Although, Kirsten recently found out that she's actually gluten intolerant, so that might put a damper on things. But we'll find a way to work around that. :P

I'm in love with the pattern of my skirt. I don't know why I chose to share that other than the fact that that is what I wore to our cupcake excursion. And Kirsten, about ready to dig in!

I mentioned to Kirsten that one of the many reasons I liked chatting with her was because of her "Christian" insight into situations - something that's been missing or lacking in most of my friendships lately... Kirsten and I have similar ideas and similar experiences and that's very inspiring and encouraging to me because she seems to know what she's doing. :]

Take one: Kirsten has a big head.

Take two: I have a big head!

Michelle helped me out the other day by reminding me that God provides... He gives us what we need when we need it. Apparently God thinks I'm okay right now as far as friends go. If I just trust in Him, perhaps I'll find who - or maybe even just what - I'm looking for. Maybe I'll just stop worrying and live in the moment. Still I'm confused, as I also know God wouldn't put a desire for more friends on my heart for no reason. Oh well.

Currently counting down the days til E and I fly to Long Beach.

Celebrating Ethan's Nineteenth...

Does it seem like Ethan's birthday has been going on for a month now? In any case, he deserves the celebration! On Thursday, he and I ventured to San Francisco.

I wanted to surprise him with dinner at Blue Mermaid Chowder House, an awesome place at Fisherman's Wharf. Ethan likes their Manhattan-style sausage and mussel chowder (gross), but I'm a sucker for the tried and true New England clam chowder (scrumptious). We shared an order of fish and chips (also delish). My dad joined us for the latter half of the meal, which was nice.

Please enjoy the awesome quality of this photo from my phone.

We then headed over to AT&T park to watch the Giants take on the World Champion Phillies. Our guys won, though - they must've known it was Ethan's birthday. It was a great game!

Birthday boyyy!

He yawned.

Last night was Ethan's familial birthday celebration so we headed out to Santa Clara to meet up with the rest of his kin.

Ethan's good friend Billy dropped off a gift - a customized inside jokey shirt. I decided to bask in the sun like an idiot.

And I stalked Ethan, who was kind enough to brave the busy Friday night traffic and hustle and bustle of Santana Row.

When we arrived, we discovered that there was absolutely no parking. Ethan and I suavely parked at my dad's office nearby. I felt proud; he felt sexy. Who knows why.

My final pre-dinner photo. I would come out of the restaurant ten pounds heavier than when I went in!

Ethan wanted to have his birthday dinner at Maggiano's. Dining family style is dangerous, but so worth it. And although I, a Maggiano's virgin, had been forewarned by Ethan of the meal that awaited me, I still was undeterred from stopping by Kara's to share a Smores cupcake with Ethan. I am clearly a glutton.

Such a fun and foodtastic night. I feel very blessed to have spent some quality time with Ethan and his family in honor of his birthday. :]