we pause for station updates

Hello Blogland friends. My sincere apologies for my horribly long break, if you missed me, I appreciate it – if you didn’t well that’s okay too.

What’s new?

I’ve successfully moved to a new state, but don’t move into my own place for another 75 days.  Where am I living? Well my friends, I am back in my high school bedroom, complete with my twin bed (which makes everyone send me this hilarious video from SNL), prom photos, and my first communion crown.  It’s cooler than being cool, it’s ice cold.

I bought a car. For those of you who have lived in the New York metropolitan area, you probably know that I had absolutely no need to own a car in the seven years I lived in the area. Those of you who live in the Boston metropolitan area probably know that not having a car pretty much means you live near Boston Common, or have no desire to ever do anything on a weekend. I went car shopping the first weekend I lived here and though it’s weird, I am happy to have a new to me ride. I also think my parents like to take my car joy riding – oh how times change.

Officially on the countdown to my two week vacation, which will be half in Cape Cod, and half in Belgium. Vacation, it’s all I ever wanted…

I’ve started binge watching Royal Pains. Maybe I am nostalgic for New York again – I mean it’s the Hamptons and always summer.  It also makes me want someone to let me stay in their guest house.

And, hopefully I am back to some semi-regular blog updates.  That’s all for now.

welcome to sweaty June

virtual high five for working out

Happy Friday (yes, I am not going to have regular blogging this month, let’s just apologize now and move on?) I hope you are ready for a June fitness challenge, because I agreed to attempt 30 fitness classes in 30 days – which will involve some double sessions – old school style.  A few of my friends and I are very into what I’ll call social working out, where instead of hanging out and getting drinks and dinners after work, we hit up a gym class together and sweat it out.  Sometimes we go to brunch after a weekend workout – those Bloody Mary’s taste that much better after sweating it out. 

The rules are pretty simple, 30 classes in 30 days, mediation classes count, yoga is welcome, and some insanity is always a good idea. So far I've been having fun, and find myself figuring out how to get to more classes (I'll sleep more in July).

Our challenge includes Instagram photos after all our sweats – so if you would like to follow along or play along look for #sweatyjune #30in30, or please follow me @jilli1982. As of last night I was 5 out of 5, and getting ready for a weekend of gym attendance and packing up my apartment. 

Have you ever attempted a workout challenge?

can I frame this?

How adorable is this dish towel from Emily McDowell? I picture putting it in a frame and hanging it on a wall in my kitchen or dining area in my new apartment in a few months. I know it's a bit premature to start looking at decorations for an apartment I have not signed a lease on, or even seen, but I stumbled across this and love it. I promise that on May 30th I will participate in Mint Julep Day, maybe wear a Kentucky Derby inspired hat.

shipping up...

Well this is one of those big announcements… like really big. After seven years of living in Hoboken, playing and working in New York City – I’ve decided it’s time to return back to Boston.  I’ve heard New York has a few milestones before you become a lifer and I am coming up on the last one before it’s children that drive you to move out of the area. The first stretch is two years, then seven years. So in true form, at year seven mark I am giving the area one big hug and heading back to my roots.

It is a bittersweet time for me as I really do love the life I have down in what my New England heart considers south (at least NYC is south of Massachusetts). I’ve had good times, bad times, done a lot of growing personally and professionally, made friends, lost friends. Why I am living the city that never sleeps? Main reason: Family. Mom and Dad are both now retired, and well not getting any younger. I don’t want to miss getting to hang out for an hour or two here and there with them every other week or so – and the commute to them from New York is just too far to do on a regular basis.  Norbs and my sister and her hubs are also in the area in Boston.  Every time see Norbs he’s changed an incredible amount – he’s becoming such an interesting little human and I want to be there for as much as possible.

The good news, I am getting to stay with my current job, in the same role. I work primarily with people in Boston and London, so Boston is a good spot to head to. The other good news is I still will work with people in New York, which means the occasional business trip to the city which will mean time to visit all my favorite people here.

I’ve got about two months to go until I start the next phase of this journey we call life. I am doing my best to do as much as possible and see as many people I can before I go, and have as many New York moments as I can.