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About Me
KARISSA
I am a twenty-something recent law school graduate. I grew up an Indiana girl (Boilermaker) and lived in Houston, TX for 3 years. I managed to survive law school, picked up and moved to Denver, CO a few days after graduation.
The Story of Me:
I will always be a Midwestern girl at heart. I believe in respecting your elders, being polite to others, working hard, and being frugal. I believe in simple things: tailgating, cookouts, campfires, morning air, and dog kisses.
I am a Boilermaker. I bleed black & gold and am guaranteed to talk smack during the season. I have been known to throw a remote or two at the television because I believe it will help my team.
I try to be a runner. I have always loved running but am finding I have less and less time for the things I love because of this whole “adult” gig I have got going on. 
I have no idea what I am going to do with myself. I have spent the last 20+ years in school. I lost the last 3 years of my life to law school. I do mean “lost”. I studied through holidays, birthdays, weekends, vacations, etc. Somehow I survived and my husband managed to put up with my shenanigans. I am now trying to find a job that will make me happy and yet still allow me to pay back the six figures I owe in student loans.
At the Houston Rodeo eating a fried twinkie
Indiana to Texas to Colorado:
I have now moved across the country twice. I graduated college from my hometown, got married, and moved 1,000 miles away to Houston, Texas.
After struggling to adjust to law school, being away from family & friends, married life, and Texas…we made Houston our home. We made a family out of friends and molded our lifestyle around Houston and Texas. That being said…Houston wasn’t great on our waistlines. For starters it is FREAKING HOT in Houston. There are many, many months where it is too hot to exercise outside and activities revolve around air conditioning. Oh did I mention that Texas has really good food! And margaritas.
Houston is a corporate, fast-paced city based on working hard and playing hard. Playing hard mainly involves feasting on Tex-Mex, happy hours, and Sunday Fundays. Although Houston had become our home and we had met some of the most wonderful friends we needed a change of environment.
Two days after graduation from law school we packed up and moved 1,000 miles away to Denver, Colorado. Colorado is a whole different world. It is honestly the most beautiful place I have ever seen. As we drive around the mountains sometimes I forget we are even in America. The Colorado lifestyle has been an adjustment as well. People here are FIT! Seriously. I get dominated by gray-haired people every single day on the trails at the park.
My husband and I have started our new life here in Colorado. We are on a journey to become happier, healthier, climb a lot of mountains, and build a life that makes each of happy with our own lives.
In Loving Memory
On July 16th, 2011 my dog, and best friend, passed away to cancer. It has been devastating and I am not sure when the day will come that I do not cry for him at least once.
He was my rock throughout law school. He was this force of nature that held our family together during enduring times. He was our only family. Trooper was more than we could have ever hoped for in our first dog and I will forever miss him and forever love him.
Wow – you make a stunning bride! I LOVE your dress.
One of my best friends just started law school this year and has gained his “lL 15.” I can’t imagine how stressful it is!
That is SO exciting that you’re doing a 1/2! I have to admit, I’m jealous of your warmer weather and being able to run outside in the winter in Texas. Good luck on your 1/2 and with your training!
Hey Karissa,
Love your story and your blog! We have a few striking similarities – LAW and the 1/2, as I’m just finishing up my last year of law school in Ontario, Canada and about to run my first 1/2 Marathon in March!
Hope your training’s going well – can’t wait to read more,
xo Jean
Hello! I am from the Houston area, too! Well, I currently live in College Station. There aren’t many bloggers from this area. I am orginally from Massachusetts, so I can relate to the really huge change. Texas is certainly another universe entirely!!
A fellow Yankee in Texas. That is what I get called all the time by my Texas friends. I haven’t found very many bloggers either! Everyone seems to be in Florida or Boston.
Hey there fellow Houstonite!! I just linked to your blog through Making Food and Other Stuff. I’m so excited to find another local blogger! I have a travel focused blog that I’m really bad at updating but my love of all things fitness and health creep in there.
I feel you on the bigger in Texas thing. I went to San Francisco on a business trip recently and someone told me I didn’t look like I was from Texas haha. Also being vegan in Texas (with an Argentinean family) isn’t the easiest thing so I love finding people with similar interests.
Feel free to check out my blog and maybe we can get together for a run or some good food sometime!
It is so great to find a fellow Houston blogger! I haven’t come across very many. I completely understand trying eat in Texas. I rarely eat meat myself, so eating out is always a challenge. Luckily I really like chips and salsa! I am checking out your blog right now too!
Hi there! So I found your blog through a comment you posted on another blog about being in law school and not being sure you wanted to be a lawyer…I had to come check out your blog when I read that, because, believe me, been there, done that.
I am a practicing lawyer who doesn’t really want to be a lawyer…and soon enough i will get out of law! 
Glad to know I am not the only one who feels that way.
Great story! I’m hooked on halfs too
hey, love the site! i’m a blogbaby just starting out – in england, but have just completed law school and am actually starting at my firm in 2 weeks (argh!).
how old were you when you got married? i was a babybride (just 20) and 4 years later i’m finally feeling like i’m growing into my life!
look forward to following…
I got married a month after I graduated college. I was about two weeks into 22 years old. Good luck at your job!
Just found you from Healthy Living Blogs. Nice to see another one in Houston! I’m here too.
Thanks for commenting! I haven’t come across very many Houston bloggers!
Found you through the HLB site. I totally agree about the Texas 10!
An alum from Indiana! I live in Indy now, went to the Houston rodeo last year to see Keith Urban and coming out again this March to see Brad Paisley!
Plus I’m coming to Houston to shop at Sam Moon in March. Have you been there?
No I haven’t. What is it and where? (Haha, shopping explorations are always needed). I always go to the rodeo, such cheap concerts!
I found your blog through HLB. I’m originally from Houston and had never heard of the Texas 10, but I totally believe it. When I first moved out of Texas to DC, I think I lost about 15 pounds from all the walking. I’m glad to see some bloggers from Houston!
At Sam Moon they have handbags and fashion jewelry:
http://sammoon.com/
20815 Burnt Amber Ln, Houston, TX 77073
Definitely worth a girls trip there, fun fashionable stuff for great prices!