I was so excited to get down to 155 before the Holidays, so I celebrated. And I have kept on celebrating, and now I’m back up to 160. I am so mad at myself. It’s so much easier to put on the weight than take it off, so I know just what a big step backward I’ve taken. Twenty pounds to go, with Winter beating at my back deteriorating my motivation minute by minute – it’s not going to be easy.

It’s time to hop back on the wagon – well, maybe I should hope behind the wagon and push for a mile or two.

Small Goals:
- work out at least 30 minutes every day until 20 pounds are lost
- make entries in my food journal every day
- weigh myself every day to keep myself accountable
- don’t get mad and discouraged!

Now, off to my Pinterest to create a “Motivating Images” board…

Today is Thanksgiving Day – we’re thankful for family and friends who are heartbroken for us and are willing to help us; we’re thankful that we have what is left; and we’re thankful that we know “things are just things”.

My article for IndySpectator (Facebook) featuring Invoke Yoga & Pilates Studio, Mab Graves, Etsy, Windsor Jewelry, and kitties!

Ben & I used the last bit of sunlight to capture part of Indy history: the Kurt Vonnegut mural at 345 Massachusetts Avenue downtown. This is one of 46 mural installations popping up all over the city in time for the 2012 Super Bowl. You can find all the murals with this handy map on the Indianapolis Art Council’s Website.

Actually, I’m probably still really good at parties – just not my own! I am just no good at hosting a group of people. It’s just too awkward for me. All those different personality types circling each other, just waiting to clash; everyone arriving and leaving at different times; everyone talking to you at the same time; and add to that my Type A (‘A’ is for anal) personality that won’t let me relinquish control of anything within my own 4 walls. Yes, it’s much better to be at someone else’s party.

But despite all that, which seems like a mess, it really wasn’t that bad – I had an amazing time at my little 30th birthday party! The cake stole the show – created by Mica at Confectioneiress Cupcakes & Sweets (the very same baker for my wedding!). It’s a ginormous 3-layer yellow cake with butter cream icing, smothered in multi-color sprinkles. We’d all love to know how she pulled that off!

I got some really thoughtful gifts, and some much needed alcohol, and of course some great pictures to document the night! Enjoy!

But, I persevered and carried out my day of Random Acts of Kindness, also known as #RebasRAOK30th on Twitter.

Ben was quite the trooper all day, driving me around…and around and around. And he participated in almost all of the acts. We weren’t able to complete all 30, though. The rain made it tough, yes; but we also spent too much time returning grocery carts at Kroger. By the time we finished clearing out the last row in the parking lot, all the carts were back out. We had to call it quits at some point, so we moved on…

Ben & I worked really hard all day, giving and caring – we’re not used to all that unselfishness!  Here are a few more things we did:

• I found my first RAOK very quickly.  As soon as we were seated for breakfast a Harold’s Steer-In.  We were seated next to a cop, on break, having breakfast.  I told my waitress what I was doing, and she brought the bill to me (anonymously).  Easy peasy.  Except, the cop was really confused later when she tried to pay…
• The most awkward experience came after I purchased a gas card and attempted to give it to a guy at the gas pump.  He looked suspicious, followed by looking like it happened to him all the time.  He did gather himself enough to wish  me a Happy Christmas.
• The one I thought would be really cool, but ended up getting me the most stares was leaving some quarters at the laundromat.  I hated having to laundry at the laundromat, especially on dreary raining days like Sunday was.  I knew it would make someone’s day when they found a pile of quarters near the washing machines!  I wrote a note, “A random act of kindness…”, and placed the quarters on the note – so the finder would be sure that the owner of the quarters wasn’t coming back.  Now, I’m pretty sure no one noticed what I was doing, but every person in there stared at me like they expected me to break out with a flash mob at any moment.
• I made the obligatory donations to Goodwill, and several small donations to charities that I love.
• The most rewarding RAOK was delivering flowers to the nursing home.  I bought a bunch of flowers from the grocery store, separated them into a few bouquets & tied them with ribbon.  Everyone at the nursing home was happy to see someone with flowers.  It probably doesn’t happen as often as it should.  I explained to the ladies at the reception desk that I was doing acts of kindness for my birthday, and asked if anyone in particular could use some flowers.  There was a lady nearby who I gave flowers right away.  I entrusted the rest of the bunches to the staff, who assured me they’d get to some very deserving ladies who were in recovery.  It made me want to go back there more often.  Weird.
• I thought more people would cry but the only person I made cry was my mom – I had 30 flowers delivered to her – one for each year she’s made ‘being me’ possible.

RAOKs should happen more often.  They were definitely fun, and inspiring, and while it’s not supposed to be a selfish act, I have to admit I did feel really really good after doing them.  And tired.

I get 6-year-old level excited every year on my birthday. Whatever good things happen on that day, I celebrate it as though the tiny random good thing were a direct result of the day being my birthday:
Gas went down 10-cents a gallon? Yay! My birthday!
Awesome sun-shiny weather? Yay! Happy Bday!
That awesome new pair of shoes went on sale? Yay! It’s so nice of them to do that this one day only!

So, today, giddy with excited energy, I’m braving the drizzly rain and spending my day spreading love & kindness all over the fair city of Indianapolis.

Today I’m planning on performing 30 random acts of kindness (RAK or RAOK). I may update this with some pictures, etc, if I get a chance today; but I encourage you to join me, in honor of my 30th birthday, and perform just one random act of kindness yourself today! Here are some examples:
- buy someone a coffee
- write someone a long letter – with pen & paper
- push in some shopping carts on your way in to the grocery store.
- leave some change on a vending machine (use tape)
- give a gas card or calling card to someone at the gas station
- compliment everyone and everything!
- write a nice review
- reward good customer service – find their boss and praise them.

Well, that’s just a few, and you’ll find a few more with a quick Google search of ‘Random Acts of Kindness’.

Have fun today!
xoxo