#34. Ask Someone Out on a Date, #196. Mini-Golfing, & #189. Eat Somewhere New

#34. Ask Someone out on a Date
#196. Mini Golfing
#189. Eat Somewhere New


So since I wrote this list before I had a boyfriend, I had planned on getting up enough nerve to ask someone out. But since I started dating the one I would have probably asked out, it worked out perfectly. I planned the date and I asked him to go on a date with me. I followed all the "rules" of asking before hand and planned it out.

We went to Branson for the evening. Because well... it's fancy. ;) It is also out of Springfield. I felt like we had both needed a break from the normal date night in Springfield.

First stop: The Branson Landing. We left after we both got off work, so by the time we made it to the landing we were both hungry. We walked around for a bit before deciding to try a new restaurant. The Black Oak Grill. It looked good and the prices seemed okay. Except when we got our food there wasn't much and his was really salty. Overall it was okay. Not sure I would go back. But I also have learned to give restaurants second chances, so maybe.

After dinner, we watched the water show and then walked around. I needed shoes, so we went to a few stores, but I am super picky and cheap. We ended up at Payless, where John found 3 pairs for me. He has good taste and 2 of the 3 were on sale and the third on clearance. Cha-Ching. Savings!!

From there we headed to the outlet mall to walk around. Then on to mini golf. It was still a little cold outside, so we opted for the indoor course. It was a lot of fun. I grew up going to Branson on vacation and my family loves to play mini golf. I remember as a kid going to the indoor course, or any course really, and see people on dates and hoped to one day be on a date there. Sound cheesy but its the truth. There were days I dreamt of having dates to normal things, like mini golf, bowling, etc. I loved being on a date there. It was a lot of fun. I didn't win. But I was okay with it.

After mini golf, we drove a few of the back roads around Branson before getting back on the highway to come back to Springfield. It was still early, so we ended up at the Mudlounge for fondue. 

#118. Half Way to Goal Weight

#118. Be half way to goal weight

There are days when I want to give up.

Then I remember where I started. All the times I started and gave up. Knowing I don't want to start over again.

I'm officially at the half way point. This past Sunday, as I was talking to John I realized how far I had come. The picture below was taken a few weeks ago. I was down 50 pounds. Since then I've lost more.  I could see the difference but I didn't put the numbers together.

I couldn't stop thinking about it after Sunday. I've never gone this far before without giving up. The most I had ever lost was about 30 before I made an excuse and gave up.

I am now more determined than ever to keep going. My future depends on it.

The number break down:

The goal: 115 lbs lost
Currently lost: 62 lbs. (as of 4/1/15)

Percentage lost: 54%!!!!

YAY!!!

#188. Walk this Way

#188. Walk this Way

As I am preparing for the half marathon in May, I have been a walking machine. I'm trying to venture more into running/jogging, but majority of what I am able to do right now is walk. 

I beat a personal best the other day with an under 15 minute mile. I was so happy with myself. It is amazing what you can do when you put your mind to something. I was remembering when I started working out and I could barely do a mile in 30 minutes. But now I'm averaging about a 15 minute mile and training for a half marathon. 

So happy with where I am going. No chance to look back. 

Here are pictures from a walk a few weeks ago. We walked 6.2 miles (10k). 

#27. Make a New Recipe

#27. Make a New Recipe.

A few weeks ago my boyfriend came across a recipe for Loaded Potato and Buffalo Chicken Bake. It sounded delicious.

So one day I decided to make us dinner. I was feeling rather domestic. :)

Here it is:

Loaded Potato and Buffalo Chicken  

Neither of us like spicy things, so I left off the hot sauce.

Here are things I would change for next time:

-Less oil. There was a lot of excess oil in the bottom. 

-I would flavor with ranch dressing or something other than the buffalo sauce. We were brainstorming of what to use. 

-MORE CHEESE!!! 

That's all! 

#87. Have a Date on Valentines Day

#87. Have a Date on Valentines Day

This list of 200 things is a mix of things I have done, but want to do again, and things I have always wanted to do, but never have for one reason or another. Having a date on Valentines Day doesn't seem like a lot to some people, but it is to me. I've never gone out on valentines day. I have either stayed home or worked. I have always wanted to go out, even if it was with a group of friends. But things never worked out. Well it was worth the wait to have a date on valentines day. My valentine was amazing and made me feel so special.

It started the day before with a special delivery at work. The flowers and note on the top left are the ones I got on Friday. He wasn't happy with them, so he had them send another the next week. So the top right and the bottom left are what I received on Tuesday at work. And the bottom right are both bouquets combined. They were beautiful. And everyone at work kept asking who I got the flowers from. I loved it.

This is the card John got for me. It is perfect and describes us to a tee. 

Our night was great. We were going to go to Longhorn Steakhouse, but at 4pm the wait was over 3 hours. So we went across the street to FD Grillhouse. It was great. Neither of us had been there, so it was fun to experience something new together. The food and the service were awesome, so was the company. After dinner, we went to see a movie. We went to see Kingsmen: The Secret Service. It was our first movie as a couple at the theater. It was nice. 

Afterward, we went to Krispy Kreme for donuts. He knows me well. Donuts are the way to my heart, well that and mashed potatoes, or any carb really. ;)

The next day, we decided to dress up for church. Valentines day we dressed casual, so I got a picture of us dressed up. Aren't we adorable? lol. 

#131. Buy New Running Shoes

#131. Buy New Running Shoes


It may not seem like a big deal to get new running shoes, but to me it is. If you know me, you know I use things until they are worn so much they can't be used, especially shoes and clothing.

My last pair of running shoes I bought, I fell in love with. I researched for months on the best shoes for running. I bought them about 4 years ago when I first started my journey to health. I have so many miles on those shoes. Turkey Trot 5k, Color Run 5k, Glow Run 5k, Diva Dash 5k, Girls Just Wanna Run 10k, along with countless workouts and training miles. Those shoe represent something to me: hope. Hope of being better. Hope of finishing a 5k only to do a 10k a year later.

I'm sentimental. But those shoes were a constant. I knew I needed to get new shoes, but I couldn't bring myself to turn them in just yet.

Until this last weekend. I recently signed up for a half marathon. As I began to train it hit me: I'm starting a new chapter. A chapter that will involve new distances and new workouts. I need new shoes. I'm not the same girl who bought the colorful shoes four years ago. I need to change shoes to reflect the changes I am making.

So I did it. On a whim, when I wasn't looking for them, I found a pair of shoes and bought them. They are comfortable, and fit me where I am now. I know what you're thinking I'm reading a lot into a shoe purchase, but it's the little things that mean so much to me. Changing shoes is a big deal. Change is a big deal to me.

So here's to new seasons. New distances. New shoes.

#90. Celebrate a Year at Houlihans

#90. Celebrate a Year at Houlihans!


Wow. What a year it has been?!

A year ago yesterday (March 5, 2014), I started my job at Houlihans. I was scared out of my mind. After my previous job ended badly, and not being able to find a job in almost 3 months, I didn't know if I could do it. The job came completely out of the blue. It is amazing how God can orchestra things into motion before I could even realize it. About 11 months before, John and I started going to Houlihans on  Wednesday nights. It quickly became a hang out spot for a group of us, or even just the two of us. For almost a year, we were there every Wednesday except five nights. That's a lot of long island iced teas and nachos. Because we were there so much, we got to know the staff and the front of house manager, Craig.

Fast forward to mid-February 2014: I drove to and from Tulsa in one day to get a friend from the airport and I was exhausted. I got back around 8pm. I told myself I wasn't going to go that night. I was tired, kinda cranky, and there were other reasons. But I did. Partially because I wanted to hang out with people, partially because I wanted food. Looking back I am glad I did. Our server, Amy, knew I had been looking for a job for a while. After we ordered, she brought over an application and asked if I wanted to apply for a daytime host position. I reluctantly agreed. I didn't want to be bubbly and around people. I was at one of the lowest points in my life and all I wanted to do was sulk and stay miserable. But wit the push of one of my best friends, John, sitting next to me, I filled it out. After our food arrived, the manager, Craig, came over and asked if I wanted to interview. Again, I didn't feel like it. I wasn't dressed appropriately, but agreed. And I got the job.

The first few weeks I had my doubts. I didn't necessarily like the job. I liked the strategy part of seating people, because it became a game of fitting the most people in at once. But I didn't feel like I fit. Then March 17th came. My half birthday. As I was walking up to the restaurant (because I didn't have a working car), I noticed the building was surrounded by fire trucks and everyone was standing outside. Turns out the wood stove caught the wall on fire and one thing led to another and there was a fire in the kitchen. We ended up being closed for about 7 weeks. Seven of the longest weeks of my life.

I remember questioning everything. Why would God let me finally find a job, only to have the place close after 2 weeks of working there. I couldn't find another job because I didn't have a car. I thought Houlihans was the answer because it was within walking distance. But God is faithful, even when we don't know what the next step is. Thankfully, we were given jobs at other properties and still got paid while the repairs were being done.

Two weeks before we reopened, I received the news about my fathers quickly declining health. I was able to take the last two weeks off from the hotel, and visit him one last time. Because of the way it was set up, I was still getting paid during that time. I am thankful for God's timing. While I would love to not have gone through that time, I am thankful He had everything figured out when I didn't have any clue. A few days after my visit with my dad, he passed. I was able to take time to go to the visitation, the funeral, and have time to grieve, before we reopened and I had to go back to work.

I love my job. Within the past year, I have not only become a host, and rocked at it, but I've also taken over reservations, the host schedules, and am now a dinning room supervisor. It is crazy to think back over this year and how much this one job has challenged me in every aspect. I have coworkers that challenge my thinking, encourage me, and respect me.

I love my job and look forward to celebrating many more years.