Every time January comes around, I remember why it’s such a hell month for me. If you think it’s because of going back to work after the break… well, that’s not it. It’s because of trees. Cedar trees to be exact. January is when many Austinites (yes, we call ourselves that) like myself suffer from cedar allergies. One of these days I’ll get around to seeing an allergist, but I’ve been managing with nasal rinses and antihistamines. It gets me to somewhat normal during the day, but I wake up feeling miserable, and I can’t sleep through the night. Ugh, allergies, why.
Come on, Texas. WTF.
Speaking of work, I actually welcomed going back on Jan 4th. I worked from home the Mon-Wed before Christmas Eve, and then between Christmas and New Years, I didn’t really work. I kept an eye on my email and answered anything that came up, but otherwise, I stayed home. I slept in; I played a lot of video games. It was pretty nice. After a week, I felt kind of like a deadbeat and just… felt like I needed to do something with my life. It felt good to be productive again at work!
Plus, on Jan 7th, we celebrated our company’s 10th birthday by seeing Star Wars in theaters 🙂 Our work treated us all to the movie, and since it was a theater that served food and alcohol, we also got free lunch and drinks. Sure, most of us had seen Star Wars already (some multiple times), but it’s hard to complain about a free movie, food, and booze.
Now that I’m back on a normal schedule, I’m also getting back into the habit of bringing my lunch to work 3 times a week. (Work provides lunch on Thursday, and I leave Friday as a cheat day.) I’ve been revisiting Blue Apron recipes we’ve received in the past and making them again for lunch. Last week, I did the Seared Chicken & Caramelized Fennel. This week, I made the One-Pot Shrimp Perloo. That recipe makes so much! It’s enough for 3 meals!
Running is another thing I’m getting back into because we have a treadmill now. Last month, I made a deal with my parents. I said that if they didn’t feel like Christmas shopping for my husband and I, they could pitch in for a new treadmill. They agreed to that, so here we are!
I still prefer running outdoors, but with a treadmill, I can no longer use allergies or the weather as an excuse to skip running. I didn’t want to get it dirty, so I bought a new pair of running shoes for indoor use only. My first time buying ones from Under Armour, and they are so comfortable.
And well, that has been my life lately: suffering from allergies and getting back into the swing of things after the holidays. I am actually taking two trips at the end of this month, one for business and one for PAX South, so I do have a couple things to look forward to!
Happy belated new year!! It is truly now closer to Chinese new Year but either way! I hope your holiday was relaxing, it’s always hard to maintain a schedule on holidays! It took us about 4 days before we returned to “normal”. Yay for new treadmill, I think you going to enjoy running without all of the outdoor elements that could bother you like the cedar trees. I am looking to start making healthier lunches… that’s the goal for this year!
I hope you feel better soon! Allergies are the worst. 🙁 I caught a pretty bad bug after Christmas, so I wasn’t able to enjoy my work break as much. I also kept an eye on my emails over those weeks, but it was very quiet so I got to kick back and rest.
I miss having a treadmill! We had one in Vegas, but we left in behind. Now our apartment has no room for it, so I switched to weightlifting. It’s been working out really well for me.
I hope the allergies won’t be too bad on you this season! It must’ve been really nice to be off of work during the holidays XD. Congratulations on the 10 year of success at your work ;). Bringing food to work is probably one of the best things you can do. It’s cheaper and healthier than eating out!
Hope you’ll enjoy running!
I’ve been hearing of other companies treating their employees to Star Wars. So lucky.
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I’m getting the allergies attack and it’s driving me crazy~! I’m sneezing and stuffed up and that means spring is near. Blah! The new Star Wars was amazing and glad that your company treated you guys that way! That’s pretty awesome, to be honest.
Oh no! I hope you feel better and see an allergist! I used to get really bad allergies from white ash trees but for some reason I don’t recall having it last year at all.
WOW I think my workplace should offer to take us all to see Star Wars. Most of them are huge fans and then there’s one guy and me who haven’t seen it yet.
Haha treadmills solve all our problems don’t they? I don’t use one because I walk 3-5 miles a day but it’s great for exercise when you don’t get to walk so much! I should get myself some running shoes too because my feet hurt from walking in my shoes, though I’ve been trying to wear more sneakers. They are more for fashion then for running though!
I hope you feel better Cat! Love the treadmill, been wanting to buy one since I bought the stationary bike. Been into exercising lately as well.
That sucks about the allergies. Do you also get hayfever in the spring? It sounds like depending on the type of allergies you have they could potentially follow you all year round. I feel sorry for people that have to deal with that. I’m lucky that I only get mild hayfever.
I also pack lunch 3 days a week (one day I buy a healthy lunch and the other is a cheat day) but I don’t put as much effort into them as you 😛 It’s usually just sandwiches and snacks.
In terms of seasonal allergies, it’s mainly the winter for me because of cedar. I’m a little allergic to oak, but don’t react that badly when it comes around in the spring. Fortunately, I don’t have allergies year round!
Ahh, that would be so difficult to manage the allergies. Hopefully it will pass quickly and not be such a problem. Eeek.
That is so cool that you were treated to see Star Wars. 😀 That is a nice birthday present to the company haha. 😀
That is really great that you made the recipes and took your own lunch. They look so delicious and it must be a nice feeling to know ‘I made this’. 😀
It’s great your running and even though you prefer running outdoors it would be hard right now. You can always do that a bit later, and you might be more prepared from the ‘indoor practice’. xD
I hope you enjoy the upcoming trips this month. 😀
Allergies are a major pain in the behind. It sounds like it might actually be beneficial to see an allergy specialist if you’re waking up constantly miserable 🙁 Either or, I hope it tones down!
That shrimp dish looks so good! I remember seeing that photo on . . . Instagram? Well, wherever I saw it, I practically drooled because it looks super yummy.
And yay for treadmill XD Though I personally would prefer an elliptical. To me that’s safer. I have this fear that if I’m ever on a treadmill, and I push a wrong button that speeds up the machine, I’ll do the famous slip and fall over the treadmill thing. Not what I want!!! But good on you for having one. Good luck with the running 😀
And woot for your upcoming trips! Have a blast with that ^^
Oh my goodness! I couldn’t help but laugh because of course the worse allergies in the whole COUNTRY would be right around you, Cat! I’m sorry they’re making you feel so miserable though. Allergies always hit me about the second week of spring, so I know the feeling. :/
That’s so awesome your company treated you to a movie (and a good one at that!) with food. That sounds so amazing! 😛 Even if most of you guys had seen it, how relaxing it would be just to take a bit of time away from work. 🙂
I’m looking forward to reading about your trips! Have fun!
Allergies are horrible. I have to take pills every day for mine and some days it’s still bad. So annoying! Hope you’re coping okay with them.
I’ve taken my lunch to work every day this year, so far. It’s way cheaper and saves me from going for the unhealth options they always have on. Your lunch looks so good! Wish I could cook.
I’d love a treadmill. I’m too self conscious to run outside so it’d definitely be better for me!
Xxx
It’s a shame about the allergies but good luck with it this time around 🙂 I am lucky to not be allergic to anything – I’m just mildly lactose intolerant, but anything that makes you feel uncomfortable is not cool.
I used to have a treadmill at home but it was pretty crap, haha. I enjoyed using it at the gym, but I mixed it up with actual running outdoors. I haven’t exercised or been to the gym in a while and I feel like I need to at least go for a walk or a run!
Work makes healthy meals for us every day but my problem is that sometimes I don’t like the taste – they have a bit of a cooking style that sometimes tastes a bit boring after a while. :/ I need to eat better as well, mainly stop eating candy because my colleague at work keeps a stash that I cannot resist. ?
Love the new shoes! They look great, the colour is really nice. I have a pair of bright light blue ones, funny how a pair of good shoes can be a good motivator!