Opening the refrigerator...

Okay... that title can seem a little misleading.
I am not physically opening up a refrigerator door... I'm opening up the door into my life, into my soul, into the fiber of my every being and putting it out there for the world to see.

You see, I don't know anyone personally that has been diagnosed with peri-menopause and is still trying to have a child.
I do know of people that have been through the journey of trying to get pregnant because they are having issues but not because of their bodies starting to shut down before their time.

Don't get me wrong... I am blessed to have the child and family that I do have. I am not trying to be greedy by trying to have another child for me, because that isn't the frame of mind that I am working with here. 
I am not an only child... and even though I don't have the greatest of relationships with my brother, I don't want my little princess to grow up alone. She doesn't deserve that.
She deserves to have a little brother or sister... someone that she can play with, someone that she can grow with, someone that can be there for her when she can't come to her parents.
So, no... I am not being greedy for myself, I am being greedy for my child and fighting for my chance to give her this.

I am currently reading a book about a woman that is going through the same exact things that I am... the higher level of FSH in her blood and trying to get pregnant before the levels are just too high to do anything about it.

I have been battling these levels for a year and a half now... and now that I am reading this book, I am have the fighter in me growing even stronger.
You see, the author of the book figured out a way of getting pregnant and having her second child.. and I plan on finishing up this book in order to find out what exactly she did to get to this point.

Just like the author, I am also fighting for my child. 
She deserves to have that companionship that I had with my little brother... the playing, the fighting, the hugging, the teasing, and everything else that comes along with having a sibling.

It is so hurtful to me when people say that I shouldn't push trying have another child.
I wonder how they would feel if someone told them that they couldn't have another child... and that was it. Would they be so keen on just sitting there and taking that news? Would they just sit there and just be okay with that notion that their child would grow up an only child - especially when the parents have siblings of their own? 
I don't think that they would.. I truly believe that no matter what, they would also fight against the odds that they were given and see where this journey takes them.

Last night, I went to the gym and while listening to the radio, a song came on... while in the middle of my training session of the C25K app of warming up...  and I decided to run. According to the training app, it wasn't time for me to start running but between what I was feeling from reading and the power of the song that I was listening to (which it turns out to be my princesses' favorite song: Maroon 5's One More Night) gave me the strength to just start running... and ran I did for 5 minutes straight! I couldn't believe it!
I haven't ran that long yet in my training... but it sure felt FREAKING great! I sure did feel it afterwards. LOL! My legs felt like Jell-O afterwards. 
And to top it off, I had to walk up to the 3rd floor, where my car was parked, because the elevator was out of order. LOL! Okay laugh... I walk down the stairs and take the elevator back to my car. :-)

Okay... remember, I am still reeling from the feeling that I have been able to run for 5 minutes straight and the information that I have been reading - so I get into my car and the first song that I hear is Kelly Clarkson's Catch my Breath and OMG, I just lose it! I turn up the volume, start singing along with the song, all along with tears coming down my face. 
I couldn't believe that I was trying to drive like that but I did manage to do... blurry eyes and everything going down the ramps of the parking lot of the gym.

By the time I got home, I was feeling so much better... I cried it out and felt myself getting stronger. Something that I need for myself... to become stronger not just for my family but especially for myself.
I feel the strength growing inside of me with each passing moment... and I know that with time, I will be able to get through this journey with my goal.

And that right there is how I figure out what is important to me... whether I walk away or try harder. 
Right now, the only thing I want to do is continue to TRY HARDER each and every day! And that is how I will continue living my life.

I appreciate those that have continued to support me during this time.
I appreciate all the prayers that I have been said in my name during this difficult time in my life.

I cannot wait until I have my little princess in my arms this evening... and in the arms of my love.

Have a wonderful afternoon... and hasta la proxima!

Another breakdown...

So after having such a wonderful weekend with my loves...

Friday... picked up at the train station by both the hubby and princess.
We went shopping for a few things and came back home to have dinner.

Mahi-Mahi, roasted Brussels sprouts and quinoa, edadmame salad
Yummers!

Saturday... dropped off at my cousin's house with the princess for a birthday party. The princess had a wonderful time at the party!

Holding her balloon animal

After everyone left from the party, the hubby and my cousin decided to make the ladies dinner... and it was so yummy! Jibaritios and arroz con gandules... OMG! We had a wonderful dinner made by two wonderful men.

Then on Sunday... that was one of the best days that we have had with the princess in a long time.
We took the princess to the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates for the CIRCUS!!!

The Princess getting her face painted

The end result of her face painting

Our family picture at the circus

The view from our seats

OMG... we had a fabulous time while we were there and the princess had a great time watching the show. It was the first time that she has been to the circus and she's already asking me when she is going to go again! LOL!

We go to the arena early so that we can get to see the animals and all the other things that was going on before the show.
And the show was a long one... I couldn't believe how long that show was! We got there at 12:30 and didn't leave the area until almost 5:00! 
We went to get something to eat after we got out and then it was time to FINALLY head home. 

I couldn't believe how tired I was after the show... I couldn't wait to get home and relax.


So now we get to Monday...

I had my appointment with the fertility clinic at 6:45am... so the hubby and I headed up to the clinic.

After getting my blood drawn and having an ultrasound done, I was ushered into a room to talk to the nurse. The nurse told me that my uterus lining was thin again, which was a good sign. The nurse gives me the medication to start that evening, once they get back the results from my blood work.

The hubby and I leave the clinic and he takes me to the train station so I can get to work.

Then the phone call from the nurse came around noon and my plans for the medication to start that evening went right out the window.

My FSH levels are high again - 25, it should be until 20 - and because of the levels being high, I can't take the medication. 
So the nurse tells me to call her back next month when I get my period.

When I get my period next month...?? It's been 4 months since I had my period and this period was brought on by medication; so this nurse thinks I'm going to get another period on my own?!?

It feels like my plans have now vanished into thin air... for NOW.

I called up the hubby and told him the news... he went right into researching on how to lower my FSH levels and told me that he was going to call me right back.
When I researched on my end, the Internet mentioned that I can take Blue-Green Algae, Royal Jelly and Wheat Grass. Let's see if I can get those pills and start taking them.

The hubby calls me back a little while later and tells me that he has scheduled an appointment with an acupuncturist on Friday afternoon; thankfully I am off on Friday.
According to the website of the acupuncturist, she is a fertility acupuncture specialist and has helped other women get pregnant after they've been to see her.

So I am keeping my mind open to this treatment. 

But it was on my way home that I was starting to feel heartbroken... 

I get home, pick up the princess and go home...
I hang out with the princess and I start reading a book that the hubby purchased for me for my Kindle from a lady that was having problems getting pregnant because of high FSH levels.

OMG... the book really hit me hard!
I know that she mentions that she has two children - at the beginning of the story she only has one - but I am not sure how she gets it done.

I get the princess to sleep and I continue reading my book. I'm only on chapter 5 and I'm sure that I have a ton of reading to do in order to find out what worked for her.

The hubby comes home from work and we start talking... and that's when I lose it all again. I start to talk and cry at the same time, that I start to wonder if anything that I did say made any sense.

I start telling him that I don't want him or the princess to think that I don't appreciate them or love them with all that I am because I am so focused on getting pregnant or that my only concern is getting a sibling for our princess.
But of course, I have the most understanding husband ever, and he proceeds to tell me that he understands how important this is for me. How important it is to me to use all my resources until I have exhausted them all.
How he knows me so well!

I end up going to bed early because I am so drained... and that was the end of the night for me. I go to bed and decide that I need to continue reading the book to see where this other lady goes with her journey, so that I know where to go with my journey.

And here we are... Tuesday...
Just another day at work... and I'm looking forward to heading to the gym tonight.
It's been a long week away from the gym... and that's not comforting to me.
I have goals... and getting pregnant isn't just the only one... for this year and I need to keep myself on track.

So with that, I am going to leave this entry here.

Thanks for reading... and hasta la proxima!

And I will continue to try ending my day positively... so that I can continue with my life on the right foot.

Happy Friday!!!

Thank goodness we have made it to the end of the work week in one piece! LOL!

And it's been a great Friday so far...

I have to report that I got my period this morning... and I have an appointment with my fertility specialist on Monday morning at 6:45am.

The hubby signed us up for another race in November - the Hot Chocolate 5k.

The hubby and I will be taking the princess to the circus on Sunday afternoon.

Next week, I kick it up a notch with my workouts and see where I go with it for the next 4 months.

Things are starting to look up for me... and for my family. 

I researched a couple of places to maybe send my manuscript to... or at least my started manuscript.


With each day that passes, I am noticing that things are finally coming together. And I am loving it!

I might not have a lot to write today... or is it that I am so excited about everything that is going on that I feel like that I just can't put it down on paper.

I am so looking forward to spending time with my two loves tonight... even though I am not sure what exactly we will be doing tonight but it doesn't matter what we do tonight because as long as I am with them, I don't care what we do.

I am feeling so blessed today.... and I hope that the feeling continues through the rest of the year.

So... I will leave this entry here, since there isn't a lot to report on; I'm sure that there will be more to report on Monday, especially after the appointment.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend... and hasta la proxima!

To be or not to be... literary, that is.

So okay... things have been a little slow for me lately.
I haven't been feeling all that great,  physically, this week. I feel like I should be sick in bed, but I haven't caught a cold or anything.  My body just asks me to go to bed early every night.

Like last night, for instance, the princess was asleep before 8:30pm and I was asleep by 9:30.
I don't know why I needed to be in bed so early but I was. And even though I felt great this morning when I woke up, but I felt terrible about not spending time with either of my two loves.

But alas, there is nothing I can do about it now.

There is one thing that I have been thinking about lately, my book.  Or better yet, the book that I am in desperate need of writing. Its either I write something new for my manuscript or turn in my blog postings as my manuscript... that's where I am confused about.

I have been writing my blog for about a year now and I have enough for a manuscript but I'm afraid of what someone might say about my innermost feelings and thoughts.
I know that my blog is available for anyone to read right now but unless you know its out there, no one else is really reading it.
And I don't get a lot of feedback from my postings enough to know if it would be good enough to send out as a manuscript.
Should I put it all out there and see what happens? Should I just swallow my fears and see what editors have to say about my feelings? I really have nothing to lose if they don't like it because I don't know these people that are reading my deep, dark secrets. These are regular people just like me... but they are the people that will make the decision on whether or not what I write is good enough for the general public to read. YIKES!

Publishing a book is something that I have dreamed about since I was a little girl. I love to read and write, so publishing a book would be the icing on my literary cake.
If I get published, so many wonderful things could possibly happen to me. I can tell my story... share my battles... share my thoughts that someone else might be thinking. I might even be able to help someone out with my words... you never know the impact of your words.

And maybe I'd be able to finally write full-time... like that would be my job. 

OMG... the possibilities.
Just need to make that leap into the literary world and maybe this entry is the kick in the butt that I need.
Now I need to research  where I can send my blog entries to... I might start doing that tomorrow. MAYBE!

Well... going to spend some time with my princess now...

Thanks for reading.... hasta la proxima!

A little reminiscing...

I did it again... another 5 days without posting! UGH!
I need to be on my "A" game! I need to get going on this blog and stay on top of it.
And I shouldn't have any excuses on not writing... I have the BLOG app on my phone. But I feel that I shouldn't be blogging from my phone when I need to spend time with my loves. So I resort to doing it here. LOL!

But I do have a lot to report on...

On Saturday morning, the hubby, Liz and I headed over to Soldier Field and ran the Lucky 7k!
Even though the weather was super cold - the first time that we actually had a day like this since we started running - we started the race off strong!

Unfortunately, the hubby hurt his shin and ankle during the race and we both walked the rest of the race together. We start together and we finish together... that's our motto!

Here is a picture of Liz and I before we left the parking lot:

We were feeling pretty fierce that morning... even though the weather wasn't cooperating like it had on other days. LOL!!

Here is the hubby and I before we got to the starting point:

You can tell that even the hubby was cold that morning... I couldn't believe how COLD it was and I wasn't prepared for it at all! :-( But thankfully the hubby purchase me a new Lucky shirt, while we were there, and I put that sucker on as soon as he gave it to me. 

And once we started running, the temperature internally starting going up! THANKFULLY because I thought that I was going to become an icicle while running. LOL! But like I mentioned earlier, we couldn't run across the finish line but we walked across the finish line together, holding hands!

Can you believe that we were taken a picture of while walking?!? While looking through the pictures that the event coordinators put up on the website, I found a picture of the hubby and I behind some other people!

Can you see the HUGE grin that I have on my face?!?! LOL! Even though we were getting pelleted with ice that was coming down, I still was glad that we had this opportunity to participate in this race.

And here we are, after the race with our medals - and the bagels, bananas and water that they gave us at the end.

After getting out of the cold, the three of us picked up the princess and headed out to get something to eat. We were starving after waking up early, participating in the race and especially being in the cold! LOL!

After we finished eating, we headed to the store to pick up some groceries and get a corned beef with all the fixings so that Joel can make it on Sunday.

So we drop off Liz at her house and then head home, which I was fortunate enough to be able to take a nap for a little while. The hubby and princess were awake watching television when I went into the bedroom.

Later that night, we headed to the hubby's uncles house for a family gathering.
The princess had a BALL with all the kids that were there...
We left there pretty late and of course the princess fell asleep in the car... and didn't wake up until Sunday morning! Thankfully! LOL!

Sunday was spent all day at home... and I loved every minute of it!

The hubby cooked... I cleaned up.... 
But in between all this... we relaxed together as a family.

That night, the hubby and princess baked cookies together... it was such a beautiful sight!

Our little princess just loves doing things with her daddy... she loves being around the stove, with supervision of course, and the sink getting her hands wet! LOL! Teaching her to be confident in herself from a young age! :-)

But onto another subject...

This is day 5 of finishing off my birth control pills... and no period as of yet.
I am trying really hard not to concentrate on the fact that without getting a period, the fertility specialist won't put me on the medication.
And I'm trying really hard to even think about it... but how can you not think about it?

I try my hardest to make myself think about other things... other things that are just as important to me, but I still find myself - in the dead of night - waking up thinking about it.

I am going to be waiting until Friday morning to contact the fertility specialist. I'm sure that if I call before then, they are going to ask me to wait at least until Friday to call back so why not just wait until then to call, right? And I'll probably have an appointment set up for Monday morning (there goes my plan for heading to the gym in the morning, probably) to have some blood work and an ultrasound.
But that is just me thinking ahead to Friday morning when I call...

Just taking it one day at a time... but I don't know what I should be feeling right now.

I guess this could be the reason that I am really unhappy...
Don't get me wrong, there are things that I am happy with but there are certain aspects that are really bugging me.

Here's a question... have you ever had a job somewhere that you ACTUALLY enjoyed waking up in the morning to go? I know, completely unheard of, right? But I know that it was true for me.

Back in October of 2003 (OMG, almost 10 years ago!), I started working at a magazine... and I can tell you that every single day of that job, I woke up feeling great and enjoyed the work that I did! I got there early, I stayed late... I learned so much while working there. But within 6 months before I was let go (December 2005), a lot of the management changed... my boss left and took one of the reps with him. Another rep left and someone else came on board to take her place. We got a new manager, based out of Michigan, and then the biggest change came... another rep from another magazine came on board and my whole world was changed.

From the beginning, I tried my hardest to help him out... but he wanted to change EVERYTHING. 
The way that we handled subscription holders, who was getting complimentary subscriptions, how we gathered information, to even how we would put the media kits together - this one he couldn't win because it was done a certain way all the way from corporate in New York City.
So when he came aboard, I had been working on our client list and updating it with all sorts of information from back when my old boss was around - this was a pretty HUGE list - and I wanted to make sure that I had all the correct information. So that meant going online researching and making phone calls, in between all the other things that I would do on a daily basis.

Well, it turned out that he thought that I was gunning for his job but that wasn't the deal at all. I found out from one of the original reps that was still around, that he wanted someone else for the position. He thought that I was too organized (HUH?) and too friendly with the sponsors of the show (I was friendly with them because the reps that signed them onto the sponsorship weren't around and I was the only person that they were still familiar with).
This guy was just out to get me... and get me he did.
He tried to make work miserable, but remember, I loved my job.
He tried to make work twice and three times as hard, making me do things over and over, but since I loved being there, I didn't care.

So at the beginning of December of 2005, there was a rumor that there was going to be downsizing... and I thought for sure that I was in a good position. I was surely wrong.

Two weeks before Christmas, he pulled me into his office and told me that my position was being eliminated at the end of the year.
He continues to tell me that I could either leave right there and then or continue to come in to use the resources there (like the printer, computer and fax machine) to look for work.

I sat in his office in SHOCK! I had tears coming down my face... I didn't know what to say.
He ushered me out of his office and back to my desk... still not knowing what to say.

I guess this was the last job that I completely, truly enjoyed... and I can't believe that it was almost 10 years ago that I had that opportunity to work there.

Apparently, in life, there are jobs that you can actually enjoy... and I am still trying to get there again. And hopefully someday I will get there!

Maybe this is something else that is bogging me down... making me regret some of the decisions that I have made in my professional life, like staying in my last job for almost 5 years, completely unhappy. 
I can't do that to myself... not anymore.

I am in a better position, mentality, maybe not financially... but I will get back to that financial stability that I once had, for my family. And I will have both... a job that I completely enjoy and the money that goes along with it.

And moving onto bigger and better things is what I am destined to do in my life.
I might be laughed at... talked about... but I do this for me, not for the praise or acceptance of anyone else.
I will jump back... I will be that person that was happy in her professional life.

Hopefully getting this out now will help me move on and start healing from other things... I pray that it does.

Thanks for reading... and hasta la proxima!

What a week!

I can't believe that it's been over 5 days since I have posted anything... totally not how I wanted this month to go. The days have been getting away from me but I don't have time for that to happen, I have to make time for everything that is important in my life. Especially my blog... no one else will write it for me.

I just need to catch my breath... and I can move forward to what I need to do.
No one is holding me back from doing what I need to do except for myself... and I am seeing that so much clearer now.

I have recently sat in the darkness of my room to ponder about things... and I am now so certain of the changes that I have to make in my life in order to see MAJOR changes to my health.

Taking the herbal supplements has really started to change my mood and hopefully my hormone imbalance that I have right now.
Taking control of my health also includes exercise... and even though it's been a rough start to the working out, I have tried to keep consistent in going every week. I know that there have been times that I could have gone more times during the week, but I know in my heart that I am trying my best.
And trying my best is better than not doing anything at all. :-)

I guess I can back-track the last 5 days... right? LOL!

Friday... after work I walked over to the hubby's job - since he and the princess were there - and hung out with him and his gamer's club members. They were having a tournament to see which member was going to be headed to Washington state to compete in a Microsoft gamer's competition. It was so nice to meet them, finally since the hubby has talked about them so much, and to see how competitive some people can get. LOL! It was a great time had by all...
Then we had a late dinner with my running partner by the house... we had sushi again! It was so yummy!!!

Saturday... I took my two favorite ladies to Navy Pier.
The Flower and Garden Show had started and since I know the both of them LOVE flowers, and of course since the princess saw a picture of flowers, I decided that taking them there would be the perfect afternoon of fun.
The both of them had a wonderful time... the princess had her run of the place since the area that they had it in was HUGE and they even had an area for the kiddies to play in.

She saw a waterfall...

She saw koi fish

She painted!

The fortune was that the hubby picked us up... we took the bus all the way to Navy Pier... and we continued our evening with him.
After dropping off the princess with my mother-in-law for some time with her and dropping off my mom at home, the hubby and I headed out to see a movie. It was so nice to spend some quality time with him alone.
We saw the movie, Oz The Great and Powerful... and even though the critics hated it, we really enjoyed it.

Sunday... with the time change that happened, I really couldn't get the hubby out of bed! LOL!
But when I finally did get him out of bed, it was time to get something to eat and then to pick up the princess at my mother-in-law's house.
After being there a little while, we headed out to see where to go... and of course the princess made it very clear that she wanted to go shopping, so shopping we went. It wasn't to anyplace special, but we made to the grocery store and she had a good time just sitting in the shopping cart and looking at people. LOL!
After getting home, I took the princess up to my parents.
The hubby and I had tickets to a comedy show... and my friend Lisa was coming along with her date.
We had a fabulous time at the Improv and we sure did laugh a lot!

Monday... the first full day after Daylight Savings Time!
Thankfully I remembered on Sunday morning when I woke up so it wasn't a big deal for me on Monday morning getting to work on time.
It was just a L-O-N-G day!!! But I got through it... even though I wasn't feeling all that great.
So after work, I got the princess from my parents house and went downstairs to relax with her.
I can't believe that my little girl will be 3 years old, as of Monday, in 30 days! She is growing up so quickly!

Our big girl!

Tuesday... back to work I go...
Another long day and evening but I did get my workout in... and I am very proud of myself for doing that!

Getting stronger and running longer... two wonderful things for myself! I love it!
Onward and upward!

Wednesday... work. After work, I hopped on the train to head out to pick up the bib and sweater for the run on Saturday at Runner's Edge. The hubby and princess met me at the runner's packet pick up and then we headed home together. And then the gym I went, with so much going on the last couple of days, I needed to clear my head.
Again, another night that I accomplished so much ... so sleep was so welcomed!

Thursday... work... as I write this now, I know that I have plans to head to the gym tonight.
ZUMBA time!!! I cannot wait to get the stress out... I am feeling so weird lately and I don't know what it is. But whatever it is, it needs to go away and leave me alone! LOL! I have other more important things to concentrate on than a weird feeling building up in me.

So one thing that I am really looking forward to is the run on Saturday morning... it's going to be a long 4.35 miles, but I am looking forward to running and clearing my head of a lot of negative thoughts that I might be having.

I know that this entry was kind of long, but there was a lot going on that I needed to get out.

Have a great afternoon and thanks for reading!
Hasta la proxima!

And the snow came...

But it didn't stop me from heading to the gym Tuesday night! No sir! I wasn't going to let a little snow coming from the sky stop me from getting to where I needed to go!

The hubby was let go from work early on Tuesday night since they canceled classes at his school and so he picked me up at work - he works just a couple of blocks away - and we headed home together.

We shoveled the snow... which was part one of my workout for the night.

I finished up with him, went inside to change into my workout clothes and wait for Liz (my workout partner) to swing by my house to pick me up.
Then it was off to the gym we went...

Here is our before picture...

And after 45 minutes of working out on both the stationary bike and treadmill:

Here we are after.... EXHAUSTED!

Not only did we kick our own a$$es, I hurt my right ankle and left knee... to which today is still hurting me. But that's besides the point... I have goals set for this month and a little pain in my knee is going to keep me down.

On Wednesday, I stayed home to catch up to the laundry that was piling up at home. And it was nice to be at home with the princess.

Thursday... what a long day at work! It was a productive day but long! It's been a long week in general but that wasn't going to stop me from heading to the gym for a Zumba class!

After Zumba!

Gosh! That class seriously kicked my butt but I felt great while doing it... even though at times I thought that I was going to fall on the floor because my knee wanted to give up on me but I got through the hour class and got home to my princess and to take a nice shower after that kick-ass workout!

The hubby got home from work and we just relaxed all together on the couch.
I left the hubby and princess in the living room and went to bed... 

And now we are here on Friday! Thank goodness! Like I mentioned... it's been a long week and I'm sure that I am not even done with today.
I still have to head over to the gym tonight since I didn't go on Wednesday... I have to get in some running today since the run is 8 days away! YIKES!! But I am so excited!

Today is International Women's Day!

According to the International Women's Day website: 

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

1908
Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

1909
In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.

1910
n 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.

1911
Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign.
 

1913-1914
On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1913 following discussions, International Women's Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Wommen's Day ever since. In 1914 further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity.

1917
On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in war. Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was 8 March.

1918 - 1999
Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women's rights and participation in social, political and economic processes. 1975 was designated as 'International Women's Year' by the United Nations. Women's organisations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.

2000 and beyond
IWD is now an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.

However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.

Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.

Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'.

So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

What a wonderful time to be a women! But we still have a lot changing to do in the world!

Did you know that 4.2% of Fortune 500 CEO positions are held by women, the same goes for Fortune 1000 CEO Positions - 4.2%!

Shouldn't there be more women in these types of positions? I believe that there should be... we are some powerful women! We should be able to show the world that we are capable to run companies too! Don't you think?

Well, it's just about that time...

I have been taking my birth control pills for  2 full weeks now... I'll be starting on week 3 tomorrow and hopefully *crossing my fingers* I will get a period. 
I can honestly say that I forgot what it feels like to have one since I haven't had one since December.

At times I am elated that I don't have to deal with the monthly problems that comes along with a period.

• The thought in the back of your mind that something just might leak out
• The thought that people think that you are acting funny because you might/might not be on your monthly "friend"
• Here's a problem mostly faced in the summer... you want to wear those really nice WHITE pants/capri's and you fear that you can't because you just might RUIN them, maybe!
• That thought on whether or not you have enough pads/tampons at home (or work) to get you through the day
• Or thinking that you have back-up in your purse and you open it up and viola... NOTHING THERE! LOL!

But then... I think about all the benefits of having a period:

• Your period can slow the aging process. (women age more slowly than men because menstruation causes iron loss. Iron feeds free radicals, which increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer's. Losing iron via blood can lengthen lifespan - which may be one of the reasons women live longer than men.)
• Menstruation can offer hints that prevent disease.  (Menstrual blood can offer early signs of developing illness and allow for the prevention of disease.)
• Your period can lead to more satisfaction in the bedroom. (During menstruation, testosterone increases and enhances libido, which makes sex better for some women (and can be a benefit of getting your period!))
• Regular periods offer information about your hormones. (Regular periods are the best sign of hormone balance - as long as you're not pregnant, nursing or in menopause)

And I am sure that there are so many other benefits... like knowing that you still have a chance of getting pregnant, naturally. Which is my case!

That whole problem with me is far more than I can handle at times... and I know that there are things that I need to fix because of my lack of a period. 

My hormones are all out of whack! 

But hopefully things will start getting better for me... I believe that.

Deep down in my heart and soul, I know that things will get better for me... whether I have a child or not... I need to change things around for me.

Have a wonderful afternoon... and weekend!

Thanks for reading - I know that this one was a long one!

Hasta la proxima!

Winter wonderland...

Okay... I am NOT a huge fan of winter - I can admit to that - but I am also not a fan of snow either, unless I am at home watching it come down from my window and I don't have to go anywhere.

But of course I am not at home watching the "wonderful" winter wonderland of snow coming down this morning...

What can you do, right? I live in a city that we can seriously go through all four of the seasons in ONE day.
The pictures that I took don't really show how much the snow is coming down... but it's been coming down since I left for work this morning and I hear that it's supposed to keep coming down until midnight tonight.

Hopefully I will be able to make it to the gym tonight... but the way that they are talking about the snow tonight, they are urging people to stay at home. Mother Nature just doesn't want me to attain my goals bringing in all this nasty weather to ruin my plans for the evening.

Okay... so over the weekend, I decided to purchase a pitcher to get ice for my water. So not only am I getting my daily intake of water, I am getting the necessary amount for the day!

My pitcher at work

And I have to say, I did make it to the gym last night and I am very proud of myself!
My stamina for running is greatly increasing! I was able to run for 3 minutes straight... something that I haven't been able to do at all!

Catching my breath was the hardest thing to do before while running but I am finally learning how to breathe while running, which is a huge difference. When I first started running, my lungs would be BURNING when I was running but now, the burning sensation isn't all that bad! I am so happy that I am getting better as each day passes.

At the start of my run on the treadmill

And after my run... OMG!!!

I am learning so much about myself while training... I never thought that I would be able to run, let alone run a race... but I have been so dedicated in doing this for myself.
I made myself a promise at the beginning of this year that I am going to make BIG changes to my life and it is finally taking effect! I cannot let things stand in my way.

And even though outside looks like a snow globe right now, I am not going to let that stop me from heading to the gym tonight... I might not be there for a long time tonight, but I will be there.
I called the gym and the class that I wanted to take is canceled... but that's okay, as long as I make it to the gym (safely) I can figure out what I need to do for myself.

Tomorrow is another day and another day to crush those goals that I set forth for myself this month.

So I will leave this entry here... as I am going to start looking at ways to get out of here already.
Be safe and have a wonderful evening... thanks for reading!

Hasta la proxima!