this week...

... was a bit of overwhelming. I decided to quit facebook - it is a process, which I hopefully can finish soon. I had two big presentations at work, where I prooved myself as a 3d designer. Sh. surprised me with a Valentine's day date. (we talked about birth and other topics) I took a week of rest from running (it was hard - more on that later). I finished the Happiness project book. (It won't change my life, but I can learn some things from it). I got a haircut (it feels so good!). I finished a few projects for friends. I had a blood check. I went to Sh's swimming group two times. (I am constantly practising the flip turn) I so much wanted to buy some new Toms on sale, but could say no. I found the best and cheapest way to wash my hair (it is sooo shiny! would you guess that I only use apple cider vinegar and water?). I didn't sleep enough. I looked for costume ideas.

So you can think, how happy I am, that it is weekend already! I am going to meet a my cute hungarian-israeli friend tonight at my favorite vegan restaurant in Tel Aviv and also have some great plans for the weekend: tomorrow morning I am going to the garden center to get some seeds and seedlings, cleaning the house, gardening, going to swim, bake some bread, cookies, have a big saturday brunch, go to run with Sh., read and rest.

Have a relaxing weekend!!!

My favorites from this week:
- favorite song
- favorite food
- favorite blogpost (i think i read it last week)
- something to laugh at

more favorites here

Why am I quitting facebook...

... it was a sudden realization last week, that hit me: why do I behave like a different person glued to the screen when my husband talks to me and why am I ignoring him? Is it because of the status update of that high-school classmate, I didn´t see for 10 years or the comment I just received a few minutes ago from a friend, which I mus read immediately?

Yes, I do have a lot of real friends on facebook and a lot of people who I met at one point in my life, but still... do I really want to be part of their daily life and share mine with them? Is it really the only way to communicate? The status updates of a moment and pictures of our life which we can chose, manipulate and share with everyone? really? I hate it, that I just want to check the messages and I didn´t even realize that I was glued to the computer scrolling down and watching on the wall for half an hour... it steals my time permanently... how did that happen?! Facebook is addictive, it is a time thief and source of a lot of jealousy and insecurities... so I made my decision: I quit. I am closing my account permanently.

To all of my real friends all over the world: you can follow me here , on the juli&johi blog, write me emails (and I will answer - promise!), talk to me on skype or come and visit (let us know before) and stay in touch!

news...

from here

... it has been a lil quiet over here, but I promise you won't be bored in the next months... I am going to share with you the process of starting my own business as a graphic designer. I hope you will motivate me to work toward this big goal of mine and I can update you with my progress. The blog will get a facelift for spring and I am going to have some giveaways too, so stay tuned... I hope that the freshness wind of spring will give me tons of great ideas and endurance to stick to fullfilling them. You will be a part of this!

RainBoots

I wish I would have on a pair of these today...

Folding Rain Boot (Folding Welly) - Granite Grey

the happiness project

This week I just started the first book of 2012 (19Q4 by Murakami still waiting on my shelf for me...): Gretchen Rubin> The Happiness Project from the local library. (Yes, I love to go to the library every now and then)
I am generally a very optimistic and happy person (see blog name) and love setting goals for myself. I think you already know it from training for races, starting swimming etc. but for this year I have a new concept! For every month I will set 3 goals and each month I will try to pay attention to these (and keep the ones from before)

January is almost over and I had a few goals til now:
- do the 21 days mind and body challange - I did it with some slight modifications (in order to have more energy for my marathon traning)
- train for the marathon - ongoing
- swim 3 times a week - at least 2 or 3 times
- plant kale -yes i did!
- start a compost - I finally did it!!! :)

February goals:
- go to sleep earlier - at 22h - usually we are in bed between 23 and 24h but I try to sqeeze it more in order to be fit at 5.45 when we wake up
-(stick to the running plan - listen to my body)
- toss, restore, organize - in general keep it tidy at home - I started to do this already last year: before leaving the house and going to be, put things in place, anything which taked less then a minute to do (like put back the hairdryer on its place etc.) I must be better in this and walk around with an open eye!

everything is possible...

Last week I run the highest milage ever in my life. (62,7 km) ... and this number will grow now with every week... on one hand I feel so empowered and super fit, on the other I am scared so much of the 42kms (in 2 months)... I know that I should run for the fun and not think about times - but it is hard... I know, that this is going to be my first marathon and I should just concentrate on enjoying and finishing it... so I try to incorporate that mindset in my training, not to overthink things. Just go out (even if it is hard to wake up now in the winter) and see the beauty around me...

Two weeks ago I started to run to work (15.5 km) and it became a habit now :) today I came again with a huge bag of clothes, towels and food to leave it here, since tomorrow is wednesday - and I am running to work! It is so exciting! :) The route goes thru 3 cities and last week I found a few less busy streets and little parks with palmtrees, which were amazing. Can't wait for tomorrow!

What is with the detox? I am still prepairing daily raw salads with nuts and cooking soups, wildrice, quinoa with a lots of veggies. No alcohol, no coffe, no sugar (only agave nectar), I eat gluten, even white flour from time to time (but very little bread)-... I baked these amazing chickpea brownies and we devoured them in 2 days. You mus try them too!

new music discovery

I just heard from Selah Sue today from a friend at work. She is amazing!!! Check out her music!