First Work-Out Post.....

I've been so nervous to add anything 'fitness' related to my blog. As you can tell, my blog doesn't have a common theme. Ooppss! 

Fitness and being active became a big part of my life my sophomore year of college after my roommate gained the common 'freshman 15.' It scared the pants off me! At CMU, I was able to use any of the on-campus gyms, therefore my workouts varied. After CMU, I began to only run and I noticed weight loss, but not as much muscle gain.

Since I moved to McLean, Virginia, I knew I wanted to have other options rather than just running so I joined an Anytime Fitness. 

Not only are the workers wonderful and kind, I'm beginning to get to know and recognize the regulars that exercise there as well. Ages range from high school to 60! I hope to be lifting at the age of 60 :)

The gym is 24 hours (hint 'Anytime Fitness') and there are free personal trainers AND about 20 free fitness classes throughout the week. I've only taken the Spin classes and the Cardio Dance/Mix classes, but I hope to try Kickboxing and Pilates soon. 

Not only have I began to work out 4-5x a week; I've also changed my diet. I moved in with a family who eats fresh fruit, lean meat, lots of vegetables, and basically everything is organic. I've always eaten fairly healthy, but now I don't have the option of splurging on tortilla chips or trail mix or raisin bran or Reese's Pieces! Well, when I go home I do, but that doesn't happen very often. 

The adjustment physically has been tough. My body is sore, I'm tired, and I'm always hungry, but the adjustment can't last forever so I'm being patient :)

Within the next week, I will post my workout routine and share a few of my favorite pre and post workout snacks/meals!

5 Day Weekend

What a busy five days it has been! The kids didn't have school, so we were able to go on many adventures!

Since I've been nannying in McLean, Virginia, I've been able to do a few things that I've never done before:

1) Drive to Maryland.

2) Drive to D.C. and get lost. (Typical)

3) Spend a whole day in downtown Washington seeing all of the monuments and museums.

4) See Disney on Ice in an Executive Suite.

5) Spend a day at the Washington DC National Zoo.

6) Spend an afternoon at the Strathmore Music Center and Mansion in Maryland.

7) Go Ice Skating outdoors.

8) Make friends with an au pair from Austria.

9) See a late movie in theaters by myself.

10) Cook many creative, crafty meals.

11) Wake up to beautiful sunrises outside my bedroom balcony. 

I've only been here a month and although it has been a tough adjustment, I've been able to do some pretty spectacular things! Can't wait to share more!

Where have I been?!?

Whoa. It has been too long Blogger!

I was debating deleting my blogs, but I decided to keep this once since my life is full of adventures that I would like to record!

I'm currently sitting in a downtown Starbucks in Vienna, VA drinking a Chai Tea Latte and a White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cliff Bar (my best friend Brittany introduced me to yummy Cliff Bars!)

I just left the gym that I joined a few weeks ago and I'm secluding myself to a corner so others do not have to smell me ;)

Blogging about my calm, yet crazy past three weeks doesn't sound like too much fun, but I will say that I picked up my NC/MI life and moved to the ritzy area of McLean, VA to work for a successful family.  Washington DC is 15 miles from my house and Maryland is 5 miles! This has been one of the scariest adventures, but day by day the adjustment is getting better. 

My talkative, social self is in need of friends. This morning I basically walked up to someone, introduced myself, and made a friend. I just need to keep taking a breath and putting myself out there!

So, where did this change come from? Well, one day it hit me. I was sitting in the DTW airport waiting for my flight back to North Carolina and I thought to myself, "Okay Jodi, so you're flying back to NC and doing what? You have no plan, you don't have a teaching job lined up, you don't have any job lined up. You are going to just take up space, be with family, and that's it. You can do better than that. You need to do something for yourself before time doesn't allow you to." So I boarded my flight and there was a woman in my seat. A girl my age, who was sitting the row behind, said "You can sit next to me, I don't think anyone is going to sit here." I sat down and to make a long story short, this girl was on her way to Boston to work for a family as a live-in nanny. Oddly enough, it felt like a sign; a sign that maybe I should check out the opportunity to be a live-in nanny. I looked into websites and found this family in Virginia. After a few weeks of many interviews and background checks, I was offered the position and quickly moved to VA.
The position has had some tough moments of adjustment, but overall, I'm happy and working on making my mark here. I'm still looking into teaching jobs and I'm going to contact a few schools about volunteering in classrooms during the week.
I guess, for now, this blog will contain my nanny adventures. I also plan to share books I've been reading and new music I've been discovering!
Have a beautiful weekend :)