Life Update: I Went to NEW YORK!

Happy 4th of July Butterflies! Guess what? I finally went to The Big Apple aka NY aka New York City lol. Since I can remember I've always wanted to visit/live in New York, I even told my mom that as soon as I was of age I was leaving for New York. I would write almost everyday about how my life was going to be living in NY and it was actually in my plan to attend FIT-Fashion Institute of Technology but life had a different plan for me (life can really be a bitch sometimes). Anyway, I made a promise to myself that I would at least visit New York before I turned 30 and I did it!

Last weekend I hopped on a Southwest flight and made my journey to the Big Apple. I flew Southwest from Houston Hobby to Newark Liberty which was about a four hour non-stop flight each way and I stayed at the Extended Stay in Whippany, NJ which were both ok. Extended stay doesn't have a rewards program but you can use discount codes that are reimbursed to you a few days after check out which I thought was really cool. Also if you plan on flying Southwest anytime soon be sure to sign up for their Rapid Rewards program and link it up with your rental car rewards to earn more points. I didn't get to do or see much because technically I was only in New York for a few hours due to me staying in Jersey (which is where I spent most of my three day trip) and depending on a friend to take me around. I'd planned to stop by the Frida Kahlo exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden, catch a Yankees game (or at least visit the stadium), get new ink, check out some museums, ride the subway, check out lady liberty and the Ride-NYC tour bus thing but I did none of that. Instead, I basically set in traffic, walked around Time Square, went to the Hershey store and then set in more traffic while I was there.

Anyway, the "not being able to do any of the things I planned to do" kind of bummed me out and had me feeling like I wasted my $800 bucks (flight + hotel) but, I know more than anything it was about accomplishing a goal that I had set for myself and just being in the moment (I was totally living in the moment) so, I think it was a pretty cool experience overall. I do want to go back (maybe this winter) so I can REALLY experience the city and take some better pictures (lol) but I don't know...a part of me feels like maybe it's just not meant to be. What do you guys think...should I go back?

I Got New Ink & Daithe Piercings | Enduring Tattoo & BodyPiercing

Hey my body art loving Butterflies! I've been wanting new ink and daithe piercings for a while now and since I was in such a great mood yesterday, as I drove by the place I'd been researching for awhile I thought to myself; "why not today?" and before I had time to think myself out of it I was already signing the receipt. I got my daithe pierced in both ears and three new tattoos. Knowledge Is Power because...well it is, Just Breathe inspired by the Anna Nalick song for the days my anxiety gets the best of me and a tiny anchor to match my tiny sail boat which was inspired by the Awolnation song Sail.

As far as the studio goods, it was clean the staff were professional and I didn't have to wait around all day. This was my first visit to Enduring Tattoo & BodyPiercing.

Life Update: My Ultimate Life Goals...Live, Learn & Be Happy!

Hi Butterflies. I'll be getting new ink with some of my favorite words soon; Strength, Courage, Wisdom and Serenity. Like the rest of my tattoos, these words mean so much to me and thinking about my new tattoo started me to thinking about life and my purpose. We all have our own basic and for the most part necessary life goals such as "finish school, find a dream job, get married, lose weight, save money, be debt free, buy a house, buy a dream car, etc." but, as I approach the age of thirty (I'll be 30 in less than a month), what I want out of life is becoming pellucid to me. I simply want to live, learn and be happy!

When I say live I don't mean just be alive, I mean I want to actually LIVE and experience all that life has to offer! I want the ultimate experience of life and what it's like to truly live. I want to travel to foreign lands and experience foreign cultures. I've always had a thirst for knowledge and probably always will. I want to learn as much as my brain can absorb; and not just in the classroom but everywhere, after all "knowledge is power" right? Lastly, when I say be happy, I mean REALLY BE HAPPY. I seek the kind of happiness and inner-peace that nothing of this world can disrupt.

Trust me, I know that unless you're born into money getting to this level of living seems unreal but as the old saying goes "where there's a will, there's a way" so, all of my free time and free focus will be aimed at accomplishing my ultimate life goals.  What are some of your everyday life goals and your ultimate life goals?

Wellness: How Do You Train for Races?

Butterflies! 

Today's topic is brought to you curtsy of my friends over at Fit Approach. So this year (in less than a month) I'll be turning thirty which for some reason is a big deal for me (I'm freaking out! lol) and I'm in "bucket list" over drive. I see all the cool looking themed races and think to myself; that has got to be some serious fun. Needless to say, being apart of a 5k is on my bucket list and I'M DOING IT THIS YEAR (<<<<< this is me speaking it into existence lol).

Anyway, for those of you who have participated in a 5k I'm in need of your advice...how do you train, mentally and physically, for races -- 5ks, 10ks, half & full marathons and what has been your past experience with races? What did you learn to do (and not to do) from your first time and how has your latest race experience evolved since then? I look for to your feedback!

Visiting Texas: 11Below Brewing Company + I Ate From a Food Truck for the First Time

Hey Butterflies! I spontaneously decided to go on an adventure after work today and ended up in northwest Houston, Texas at 11 Below Brewing Company. I was invited by a meetup group that I'm apart of which is a cool/casual way for me to experience so many different places that I probably wouldn't on my own and I had a great time. This brewery uses the chip/token system in which you pre-pay for your drinks.