My thoughts on the Mayans

As much as I am not buying into the whole "Today is the end of the world" Mayan thing, I could not resist posting this video simply because it is a fun song!

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Something Unpredictable

Saturday is my ten year high school reunion.  Where has the time gone?  Lately, I have been thinking back to a project we did in our senior theology class at Trinity reflecting on our time in high school and where we hoped we would be in the future.  I really wish I knew where this journal was since it would be interesting to compare where I am now to where thought I would be at age seventeen.  I do remember writing about graduating college (did that), working in a research lab (did that and will be back in one hopefully soon), and living in Cleveland (still here) making the most of all the city has to offer (currently doing).  I cannot remember if I said I would be married or if I would have kids.  However, there is one thing I have realized when thinking back on what I wrote, life truly is something unpredictable.

The past ten years for me have been filled with many successes, some failure, and a great deal of self discovery.  While I am currently getting my career back on track, I cannot say I have completely failed at this aspect of my life.  Yes, graduate school was not my cup of tea and I am currently looking for the "perfect" job.  However, I do have successful years of experience and have a better understanding of where I want my career to go in the future.  I knew I would remain active and healthy throughout my twenties, but if someone told me I would be going to my 10 year reunion as a marathon runner, I probably would have laughed at them.  In high school, I was a cheerleader, long jumper, and pole vaulter who considered herself lucky to just barely pass the mile run in gym class.

Visiting Katie in NYC

Most importantly are my personal relationships.  I am still best friends with the same three girls I met freshman year.  We have been through everything from typical high school drama, to going to different colleges, to living in different cities and countries, a wedding, two adorable babies, and all of our successes and failures.  I already know I have a very tough choice picking my maid (or matron) of honor whenever I get engaged.  I have lost friends, had failed relationships, and made horrible decisions in the past ten years, but without those failures, I would not be who I am today.  I have the most loving and supportive boyfriend who truly compliments who I am.  I cannot put into words how excited I am to see where our future takes us.  I am still very close with my family and miss my grandparents more and more each day.

Nikki's wedding day (2008)

Visiting Amanda in Colorado

Where will the next ten years take me?  That question cannot be answered.  I know where I hope it takes me but if I have learned anything in the last ten years, do not expect life to go as planned.  As the words to our class song remind me

Brad and I in Detroit 

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.  I hope you had the time of your life."  

Getting rid of the blanket

We all have security blankets in life.  It could be family and friends who you know will be there for you no matter what.  Your daily routine could provide a sense of security.  Perhaps it is a certain outfit that makes you feel you can take on the world.  Most of the time, these security blankets make us feel safe and provide comfort.  However, there can be times when these blankets start to feel uncomfortable.  It's almost as if a porcupine curled up in it and ran through a field of thorns.  You try and try to make it feel good again, but it will not work.  

For me, one of my security blankets has been having a stable job.  I took a chance last summer accepting a position that was different from being in the lab.  I knew there was a chance it would not work.  By early fall I began to realize I was meant to be in the lab and planned on making my current position work.  However, as time went on, it became more difficult to get excited and want to go in.  I told myself I had to make it work until the end of the year.  Unfortunately, I could not take anymore.  When you are on the verge of tears ever morning on your drive in, it is time to throw out the blanket.  Yesterday, I did just that.  I submitted my resignation without a backup plan.  

 

So here's to whatever the future has in store for me career wise!  Also, if anyone is in need of a research scientist, let me know!

What is one security blanket you had to give up?

Getting Back on Track

 

I have a slight confession to make.  Since running the Detroit Marathon, I have gotten a little off track with running and working out in general.  After a marathon, I typically take a week off running and get in at least a yoga class, which I did this time.  However, the following week, Super Storm Sandy hit.  I know, I only should have lost two days or so because of the storm.  However I did squeeze in two or three yoga classes.  The next week, I did get some miles in and felt great!  Just my luck, it was that time of year when I get all congested, cannot stop coughing, and my sinuses have a mind of their own.  Stopping mid run and feeling like an elephant is sitting on your lungs is just not fun.  What happened to my “no excuses” mentality I have while training?

From Pinterest

 However, I am proud to say I am back at it and hoping to stay on track. I am finding a balance between running, yoga, and core workouts.  I do have the Run for Regis trail half marathon in January to start training for especially since the farthest I have run on trails is a 10K.  There are also some fun Christmas races over the next few weeks that would be fun to do too.  I just need to sign up with the mentality they are fun runs.  While a PR would be nice, it is also good to just run for fun like I did with the FANtastic 4-miler this past July.  I also should be expecting these in my mailbox sometime soon too!

Yes, I am insane!!

 How do you stay in shape during the “off season”?    

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

May your Thanksgiving be filled with family, friends, good food, good wine, good beer, and many blessings!

Charlene's Top 3 CLE Restaurants

As a part of today's Ohio Blogging Association's All State Blog Swap, I'm happy to introduce you to Charlene from Life in the CLE. Head on over to Charlene's blog to check out my tour of Great Lakes brewery!  On this day, bloggers from around the great state of Ohio are guest posting on one another blogs as a way to help to get one another in our blogging community. For a full listing of blog swap participants, please visit Poise in Parma today.

One of the things that Stephanie and I have in common (beside both playing on BvBCLE Football Teams), is our love of Cleveland food. My group of friends and I have all decided that we all have our go-to spots and our favorite chefs in town. One of the best things about living in Cleveland? The fact that we have so many great spots in town and so many wonderful chefs. This year, I had the wonderful opportunity of getting to know some of these chefs better and also seeing them show their Cleveland pride while celebrating the West Side Market 100th Birthday.

My top 3 favorites? I selected based on food, atmosphere and staff - all three make a huge difference in a dining experience. My top three are pretty obvious choices but here are my go-to’s in town:

1. The Greenhouse Tavern - Jonathon Saywer. Reasons I love this location: It’s on the gorgeous East 4th Street. GHT has a beautiful rooftop bar where you can enjoy a great view of the city, while enjoying a fabulous mixed cocktail (my favorite is the Smartie). The food is to die for. Seriously. I recently took a client to GHT for dinner and every course, from the special Fifth Quarter to our entrees was cooked perfectly. 
2. SOHO - A newer Ohio City spot, the southern feel touches this Northern girl’s heart (even though I’ve always wanted to move south...specifically Dallas or Austin). A great brunch menu is always important and this one is a favorite. The drinks are fun and when celebrating the WSM100 with friends on a cold, rainy day, the staff went above and beyond to make sure we had warm apple cider with rum. One of my favorite brunch drinks is bourbon & bubbles - two of my faves!
3. Hodge’s Cleveland - Chris Hodgson. This spot has quickly become my home away from home. A great, affordable menu with fun spins on classics, Hodge’s is a place where you are sure to find multiple entrees that you will enjoy. The new fall menu features plenty of seasonal food and I can’t get enough of the new gnocchi dish or the spaghetti squash. If you are looking for a great drink - you cannot go wrong with the Pete Rose. My favorite thing about this restaurant though - it just feels like home. I’ve become friends not just with Chris, but also with his staff. There’s something to be said for a staff that knows your favorite drinks and calls you by name. 

Those are my three go-to’s when I have friends, family or clients in town and want to show them a great evening. What’s yours? 

Let me (re)introduce myself

A little over two years ago I had an idea to start a food blog and wrote my very first post, while not really knowing what I was getting myself into.  I was going to write about a topic I love (food) in a city I love (Cleveland).  Sounds fairly simple, right?  At first, it was.  However, as time went on, I lost my passion for blogging.  I started to feel like it was more of an obligation to write about where I ate and what food event I attended, while the fun of blogging slowly faded and eventually went away.  Every time I started to write, my heart was just not in it.

Recently I started to miss writing and contemplated starting a new blog.  I soon remembered that the word hungry does not only relate to food. Hungry can also be defined as "strongly motivated" and hunger  means "a strong desire."  Both of these definitions fit how I live my life.  I have a hunger to be successful in every aspect of my life whether it is career related, a new running PR, or in my personal relationships.  I am also hungry to live life to the fullest while being the best person I can be.  

I've never been one to limit myself; why should I limit myself to only writing about one topic when I have so many topics I am passionate about?  There will still be food related posts.  They will just be mixed in with future posts about other aspects of my life I am truly passionate about, too.  Here's to wherever this new chapter of "Hungry in Cleveland" will take me!  

Source: Uploaded by user via Stephanie on Pinterest