I Inherited a Child! Sort of. 

brother bearI did something pretty crazy. My little brother just graduated high school, and I decided to let him come and live with me while he looks for a job and saves up enough money to move into a place with some roommates. 

My apartment is a one bedroom. I do have a small dining room off of the kitchen, with no privacy whatsoever. That’s his new bedroom. It’s been quite the challenge getting used to living with someone again- especially a teenage boy! But it is so cool to get to hang out with my baby brother bear all the time. 

Does anyone have any tips for living with a teenager? I know nothing. I’m trying to teach him about budgeting and how to be a good roommate. He still doesn’t have a job, but we are working on that. He is a little too enthralled with my Netflix. 

In other news, here are some sweet pictures from my trip to the zoo yesterday! I love the black bears, they are so precious. 

Jillian

black bearcheetahgiraffes

Sunday Cuteness

Another day of awesome shots from my iPhone 🙂 riley and kuma  
riley  emily  
uncle jerry  portland zoo  

   Jillian

‘Five Photos, Five Stories’ Challenge Day 4: Yoga Bear

Alex nominated me to participate in the ‘Five Photos, Five Stories’ Challenge. I like Alex’s blog, Only Bad Chi, because it’s awesomely funny. I probably also like it because I relate to almost everything she says, which I guess is a lot of what drives us to read blogs, right?! I’m hoping this shameless flattery will help her not be mad that I’m just cutting and pasting the next part from her blog 🙂

For the challenge, I have to post a different photo for five consecutive days, and include an accompanying story (fiction or non-fiction) along with each. I also have to nominate a new blogger each day to keep the challenge going! If I nominate you, it’s completely up to you whether you participate. The only other rules are to mention the person who nominated you in your first post, and keep nominating others.

yoga bear

I think it’s just obvious that this picture is EVERYTHING. I was reading a running magazine one day on the treadmill (probably Women’s Running, it’s my favorite, but I don’t remember), and I found this ad. I seriously starting giggling at the sheer cuteness. Then I just could.not.stop.laughing.

I don’t know if you’ve been to a large gym, but there generally aren’t a lot of runners on treadmill laughing hysterically to themselves and holding pictures of bears, while trying to not fall off the treadmill (unless I belong to your gym, then that kind of thing happens a lot).

It was kind of embarrassing. I pulled myself together.

Then I took a picture of the ad with my phone.

And lost it again.

Every time I need a smile, I look at this bear in cobra pose. What makes you lose it?

My friend M just cannot keep any kind of chill when anyone mentions goats. It’s a long story… but she has this idea that the funniest thing in the world would be to put a goat on someone’s porch. Like… where did it come from? What is it doing there? I kind of get it. But not like she does!!

I want to nominate All Around Better Me to do the challenge next (no pressure if you don’t want to!)!

Jillian

Weigh In Wednesday- Sun Bear Edition

sun bearMy weight is still stable this week.

I went to the zoo over the weekend, and I saw this Sun Bear. Poor Sun Bear! He had too many cocktails last night, or maybe just didn’t stick to his diet very well. 🙂 He is obviously my spirit animal, so I had to take a ton of pictures. I know exactly how he feels.

Sometimes I just want to give up on myself. EVERY DAY I continue to indulge in something that I meant not to.

However, unlike the bear, I have freedom. I can make my own choices, go where I want, do what I want. I want to start viewing my health like I view my budget. I love having a budget for my money, because it allows me to see exactly where I have room to splurge. I have $50 extra dollars, I can choose where to put it and that gives me freedom.

So… I’m proposing that I (we? who’s on board) use that freedom with my lifestyle change. If I mess up in one way, I give up and do everything wrong. THAT’S TERRIBLE! If I did that with my budget, I would probably be homeless or in jail. If I want to not work out, I can’t have a drink. If I want a drink, I can’t chase it with chocolate. See what I mean? I know what this is- it is moderation. The very thing that people have been preaching at me my whole life, and I haven’t found. Now is the time.

Does anyone have any help for me? I think Nike’s slogan is all I really need here 🙂

Jillian