Last night,while reading my homework for today (chapter 3), my husband said "You've been reading on that book a while." Of course my pride had to correct him. I'm reading a chapter a week, just as I'm "assigned".
(Yes, I was that annoying kid who got to grade papers while everyone else wrote their times tables a million times as punishment. I'm also a perfectionist and a pleaser while I'm getting my major faults out there.)
I love how God works. Without the Radical read along, I wouldn't have met Marla. Without Marla I wouldn't have been introduced to the @stickyJesus read along hosted by Michelle. I wouldn't have known about this book, which would be a tragedy.
This book isn't anything revolutionary. Its not full of deep spiritual thoughts or 12 perfect steps to Jesus. But in laying out the simple steps of living for God online, its teaching me what a poor job of living for Him in real life I'm doing.
And that has the potential to be life changing.
Yesterday, I got some great encouragement from my Sisterhood friends regarding my recent weight gain. God spoke to me through those wonderful ladies. Do the right things (little things) and the rest will come.
God has lectured me about this before. I shouldn't be superficial (which is what my weight loss quest is). I shouldn't be so caught up in me.
So yesterday, during my run, I made an effort to change my attitude. Starting with prayer. Can you believe it actually worked? Of course you can, I'm sure you've seen it in your own life.
I started out depressed because running tights just aren't flattering when you've put on 15 pounds in 6 months and haven't bothered to buy new clothes. Within a tenth of a mile I was praying.
One blogger I read regularly had emailed me asking for prayer for a specific issue in her life. Wow. For someone to contact me with that sort of request. I spent the next few moments bringing her request before God.
Then I moved to my friends (both IRL and online) who are currently pregnant.
Then on to my parents who are both dealing with medical issues right now.
I took the focus off me and put it on praying for the needs of others. And it was the best run I've had in a while.
Most of my online relationships are formed via blogs, then extend into twitter. I hope those of you that read/follow me know that if you need me I'm just an email away.
I'm not the best prayer in the world, but I'm praying to the One who created the universe. While I am nothing, He is everything.
Thank you for blessing me with your friendship.
December 30, 2010
December 29, 2010
The Power of One!
Its a new week (thankfully) and an (almost) new year so you know what that means...a new challenge over at the Sisterhood! Its called the Power of One and its all about setting individual goals for myself for the following year.
Let's just get the weight thing out of the way. I'm at my highest weight on record today. I don't like it one bit. All my hard work over this past year for nothing. I'm disgusted and need to do something about it, I just don't know what.
Should I go back to calorie counting? It worked well for me but, by its very nature, was restrictive. Should I just focus on eating good quality foods? I'm sure that would take some weight off, but it would be slow going.
Starting back at square one:
Today's weight: 137
Challenge goal: 132
Five pounds for this challenge seems reasonable right? Right?
Here are a few more goals for the challenge:
Let's just get the weight thing out of the way. I'm at my highest weight on record today. I don't like it one bit. All my hard work over this past year for nothing. I'm disgusted and need to do something about it, I just don't know what.
Should I go back to calorie counting? It worked well for me but, by its very nature, was restrictive. Should I just focus on eating good quality foods? I'm sure that would take some weight off, but it would be slow going.
Starting back at square one:
Today's weight: 137
Challenge goal: 132
Five pounds for this challenge seems reasonable right? Right?
Here are a few more goals for the challenge:
- Complete a marathon Disney is only 11 days away!!
- Cut out soda consumptionI purchased some of those water flavoring packets at the store yesterday, being careful to choose the ones with no artificial sweeteners. My main problem is that I drink so much water during the day I get sick of it and want something different for dinner. Hopefully this will help.
- Pack my lunch 3 days a week.I've already gotten pretty good at this one, so its just seeing it through. The other two days I'm allowing myself a girls lunch with my friends/coworkers and lunch with my mom.
- Change up my workouts post marathon.My gym is starting their version of Zumba in January - just in time for me to pick it up while giving myself a break from running.
- Love myself.This is one I keep challenging myself for and keep falling short on.
- Reach a new 5K PRThis isn't for the challenge. I'm going to try to give myself a month or two off from running after the marathon. But come May I hope to have a new PR when I run (for the 3rd time) the course that was my first ever 5K.
- Look hawt in Maui.I'll probably not be able to weigh in for the last of the challenge, as I'll be soaking in the sun in Hawaii. By then I wanna be rockin my Lands End bikini with confidence again. Where did this girl go??
December 28, 2010
Post Christmas Confessions
Its confession time at the Sisterhood. I'll try to keep this brief.
Jay and I left for West Virgina Friday morning and have hardly been home since. I'd packed sandwiches in the cooler, but since I don't keep snack food in the house I didn't have anything to accompany it. Wednesday and Thursday had been soda free days and I was proud. I put several waters and a powerade to make sure that stayed the case.
We got on the road at 7:15 in the morning and I drove the whole way. About 4 hours in, we stopped for gas and the series of unfortunate events began. I opened the back door to get my purse out in order to pay for gas, and due to shifting it fell out onto the ground before I was able to catch it.
The Bad: my coach purse was covered in icky snow slush.
The Good: I own a real coach purse which must have been scotch guarded at the factory, because one of those gas station blue towels cleaned it right up.
The Bad: A family of50 8 beat me into the gas station and got in the restroom line before me.
The Good: I new we were stopping for food just up the street so I decided to hold it. I suppose "good bladder control" also falls into the good news category.
The Bad: Although the sign on the Tamarack door said "service animals only" someone brought their toy poodle into the ladies room.
The Good: The poodle didn't real affect me, it was just annoying. So I suppose the good is that it didn't bark, bite, or pee on me.
The Bad: Food court prices at a the Tamarack
The Good: Being able to afford a $2.50 double cheeseburger.
This really shook me up and I'm not sure why. When I noticed the dollar items weren't on the menu, I decided to head to one o the other food options. Only they were expensive too $4 for one slice of pizza or $8 for a hot sub. I wavered back and forth. I was really hungry, so going cheap wouldn't do anything to help that. But I didn't want to spend $10 filling up on nutritionally void foods either.
My solution? Stand in the middle of the walk way crying.
Not a trickle of tears but real sobs. Jay's never encouraged me to spend money before in my life. Anything to get me to shut up I'm sure was his logic. Turns out, my mom said we'd stopped there as a family. Only they hadn't been able to afford the prices and we'd left without eating.
A part of me will always be that poor girl who doesn't have enough money to cover the items she wants off the menu.
The Bad: I suffered major foot-in-mouth disease over Christmas dinner
The Good: My cousin's wife is pregnant.
Because we're not close with Jay's cousins I forget things about them. Like how a cousin and his wife have had 2 miscarriages this year. So I wasn't thinking when I opened my big fat mouth and told Jay that my cousin announced over Christmas lunch that he and his wife were expecting.
More tears (from me) followed as the poor girl who'd had the miscarriages left the dinner table and went home due to my insensitive comments. I'm getting teary again thinking of the hurt I unintentionally cause her.
The Bad: Only 1200 calories burned
The Good: I'm in the middle of my Disney Marathon taper and completed a 12 miler on the treadmill Saturday (while watching The Princess Bride on Jay's laptop).
The Bad: The scale is probably not going to be nice to me after the feeding frenzy I had this past weekend.
The Good: A new challenge (The Power of One) starts tomorrow!
How about you? Were you able to take the good with the bad this Christmas? Hope you had a great one!
Jay and I left for West Virgina Friday morning and have hardly been home since. I'd packed sandwiches in the cooler, but since I don't keep snack food in the house I didn't have anything to accompany it. Wednesday and Thursday had been soda free days and I was proud. I put several waters and a powerade to make sure that stayed the case.
We got on the road at 7:15 in the morning and I drove the whole way. About 4 hours in, we stopped for gas and the series of unfortunate events began. I opened the back door to get my purse out in order to pay for gas, and due to shifting it fell out onto the ground before I was able to catch it.
The Bad: my coach purse was covered in icky snow slush.
The Good: I own a real coach purse which must have been scotch guarded at the factory, because one of those gas station blue towels cleaned it right up.
The Bad: A family of
The Good: I new we were stopping for food just up the street so I decided to hold it. I suppose "good bladder control" also falls into the good news category.
The Bad: Although the sign on the Tamarack door said "service animals only" someone brought their toy poodle into the ladies room.
The Good: The poodle didn't real affect me, it was just annoying. So I suppose the good is that it didn't bark, bite, or pee on me.
The Bad: Food court prices at a the Tamarack
The Good: Being able to afford a $2.50 double cheeseburger.
This really shook me up and I'm not sure why. When I noticed the dollar items weren't on the menu, I decided to head to one o the other food options. Only they were expensive too $4 for one slice of pizza or $8 for a hot sub. I wavered back and forth. I was really hungry, so going cheap wouldn't do anything to help that. But I didn't want to spend $10 filling up on nutritionally void foods either.
My solution? Stand in the middle of the walk way crying.
Not a trickle of tears but real sobs. Jay's never encouraged me to spend money before in my life. Anything to get me to shut up I'm sure was his logic. Turns out, my mom said we'd stopped there as a family. Only they hadn't been able to afford the prices and we'd left without eating.
A part of me will always be that poor girl who doesn't have enough money to cover the items she wants off the menu.
The Bad: I suffered major foot-in-mouth disease over Christmas dinner
The Good: My cousin's wife is pregnant.
Because we're not close with Jay's cousins I forget things about them. Like how a cousin and his wife have had 2 miscarriages this year. So I wasn't thinking when I opened my big fat mouth and told Jay that my cousin announced over Christmas lunch that he and his wife were expecting.
More tears (from me) followed as the poor girl who'd had the miscarriages left the dinner table and went home due to my insensitive comments. I'm getting teary again thinking of the hurt I unintentionally cause her.
The Bad: Only 1200 calories burned
The Good: I'm in the middle of my Disney Marathon taper and completed a 12 miler on the treadmill Saturday (while watching The Princess Bride on Jay's laptop).
The Bad: The scale is probably not going to be nice to me after the feeding frenzy I had this past weekend.
The Good: A new challenge (The Power of One) starts tomorrow!
How about you? Were you able to take the good with the bad this Christmas? Hope you had a great one!
December 23, 2010
Best. Christmas. Gift. Ever.
I'm reposting this from last year, with only a bit of modification. Last year I printed the blog and framed it. Wrapping it and giving it to my parents made them both cry almost as much as the Christmas it happened.
What's the best Christmas gift you've ever given? Received?
I have to say over the years I've given a lot of boring practical gifts. As a list making family, we typically all shop from the list, making few exceptions.
I remember as a kid getting gifts from Santa - and knowing that there was no way our parents could have afforded anything that super cool (a Barbie dream house, a boom box).
I've received several really awesome practical gifts - like the TV I got my freshman year of college for my dorm room. Or the freezer that Jay's parents got us last year (along with a vacuum sealer) so I can stock pile meats when they are on sale.
I have to say, however, that the best gift ever given/received around me wasn't given by me. It wasn't even given to me.
Picture it - East Tennessee. 1950s (I think).A young peasant girl My great grandmother decides to divorce my alcoholic great grandfather. Being a woman who loves jewelry, she doesn't her diamond engagement ring go to waste.
She takes it to a jeweler and has it reset into a beautiful diamond necklace, then throws the now empty gold ring setting into a jewelry box at home.
Now I really have no clue if she ever took it out. Cried for her failed marriage. Cried when her daughter would take the grandchildren to visit him, only to have to turn around and come home because of his drunken state. Cried later, when he died of liver failure.
Or if it just sat in that box.
Until a week or so after she died - 60 years later.
Its hard to put in words how beloved my Great grandmother was. She wasn't your typical woman of her era. She was sassy. She loved the color red - wearing it and decorating an entire room in her home in that bold color. Yet she was sweet and kind. At her funeral, people recalled how she would send thinking of you cards, that always seemed to reach the recipient at the just the right time.
I was blessed to know her better than all the other great grandchildren because I was a sick kid. Sick so much I almost failed 1st grade due to missed classes. Because my mom and grandmother both worked, watching me was left to my great grandmother.
She'd put an old lady rain bonnet on me and let me walk to the mail box.
She'd fix me orange jello and cottage cheese as an afternoon snack.
As much as I loved her, my mom loved her more.
When we were cleaning out her house after her passing, my mom came across the empty shell of a ring and asked to keep it.
Mamaw passed away in April, and that ring sat in my mom's jewelry box until about November of that year. When my dad snuck into my mom's things.
Fast forward to Christmas morning, my mom has opened all of her gifts save one in a shirt box. My dad is in his chair with the video camera. As per her normal routine, my mom shakes, pinches, shakes again and tries to guess what it is.
Tearing off the paper reveals your standard Christmas present box. In the box is an only uniform shirt of my dads. My mom lifts it up, then looks around in the box for something else. This can't be her gift.
When she finds nothing else in the box she checks the pockets of the shirt, she finds a ring box.
As she opens it, she looks up at my dad with tears in her eyes.
"Is this..."
He nods.
"Turn that thing off."
As soon as my dad puts down the video camera, my mom bursts into tears. My dad had taken the empty shell and made it whole again.
Isn't that what Christmas is about? God sending His Son so that he can take that empty shell (me) - a shell full of past heartache, disappointment, and hurt - and make it whole again.
After all Jesus really is the best. Christmas. gift. ever.
What's the best Christmas gift you've ever given? Received?
I have to say over the years I've given a lot of boring practical gifts. As a list making family, we typically all shop from the list, making few exceptions.
I remember as a kid getting gifts from Santa - and knowing that there was no way our parents could have afforded anything that super cool (a Barbie dream house, a boom box).
I've received several really awesome practical gifts - like the TV I got my freshman year of college for my dorm room. Or the freezer that Jay's parents got us last year (along with a vacuum sealer) so I can stock pile meats when they are on sale.
I have to say, however, that the best gift ever given/received around me wasn't given by me. It wasn't even given to me.
Picture it - East Tennessee. 1950s (I think).
She takes it to a jeweler and has it reset into a beautiful diamond necklace, then throws the now empty gold ring setting into a jewelry box at home.
Now I really have no clue if she ever took it out. Cried for her failed marriage. Cried when her daughter would take the grandchildren to visit him, only to have to turn around and come home because of his drunken state. Cried later, when he died of liver failure.
Or if it just sat in that box.
Until a week or so after she died - 60 years later.
Its hard to put in words how beloved my Great grandmother was. She wasn't your typical woman of her era. She was sassy. She loved the color red - wearing it and decorating an entire room in her home in that bold color. Yet she was sweet and kind. At her funeral, people recalled how she would send thinking of you cards, that always seemed to reach the recipient at the just the right time.
I was blessed to know her better than all the other great grandchildren because I was a sick kid. Sick so much I almost failed 1st grade due to missed classes. Because my mom and grandmother both worked, watching me was left to my great grandmother.
She'd put an old lady rain bonnet on me and let me walk to the mail box.
She'd fix me orange jello and cottage cheese as an afternoon snack.
As much as I loved her, my mom loved her more.
When we were cleaning out her house after her passing, my mom came across the empty shell of a ring and asked to keep it.
Mamaw passed away in April, and that ring sat in my mom's jewelry box until about November of that year. When my dad snuck into my mom's things.
Fast forward to Christmas morning, my mom has opened all of her gifts save one in a shirt box. My dad is in his chair with the video camera. As per her normal routine, my mom shakes, pinches, shakes again and tries to guess what it is.
Tearing off the paper reveals your standard Christmas present box. In the box is an only uniform shirt of my dads. My mom lifts it up, then looks around in the box for something else. This can't be her gift.
When she finds nothing else in the box she checks the pockets of the shirt, she finds a ring box.
As she opens it, she looks up at my dad with tears in her eyes.
"Is this..."
He nods.
"Turn that thing off."
As soon as my dad puts down the video camera, my mom bursts into tears. My dad had taken the empty shell and made it whole again.
Isn't that what Christmas is about? God sending His Son so that he can take that empty shell (me) - a shell full of past heartache, disappointment, and hurt - and make it whole again.
After all Jesus really is the best. Christmas. gift. ever.
December 22, 2010
Tinsel Vixen Wrapping Up
No, I'm not putting a bow on my head as a gift...its the final check in for the Holiday Hoedown!
I didn't finish the challenge on the note that I'd wished, but over all I'd say its a success. I've kept from gaining (too much) weight and had the opportunity to hang out with some great gals via daily check in emails.
Here are my stats:
Exercise Minutes Logged: 414
I was hoping to get in 8+ hours of exercise, but it just didn't happen. It is what it is and I'm excited to be starting my taper. I'll only have to do 12 miles this weekend on the treadmill at Pawpaw's!
Starting weight: 135.6
Last week: 134.6
This week: 136.0
I'm happy with that. I get that the number went up, really. But I've gained some good healthy eating habits along the way. I even learned what pigging out at the office potluck does for me emotionally. Also, I'm betting that a few of those ounces up there are because Aunt Flow is beating on my uterus to let her in. Cramping isn't fun.
Neither is water retention.
Speaking of water that's a goal I did okay on...
64 or more ounces of water daily: 4/7
I only found this a challenge when I drank too much soda.
Abstain from soda: 1/7
The only day I managed not to drink at least a little soda was the day of my long run. I suppose I was so thirsty I didn't want anything but water or Gatorade.
One problem I'm having is that water gets so boring. I need to keep those water flavoring packets on hand for giving my taste buds a little change up, although I do want to get away from fake sweeteners. Do they make them with sugar or am I just going to have to start keeping Kool-aid in the fridge? (I make it with half the sugar it calls for.)
Eat 4 fruits/veggies daily: 3/7
I did manage to get in 3 fruits/veggies those other 4 days, which is a big improvement for me. I found myself reaching for a piece of fruit for snack instead of crackers or a granola bar.
Avoid fast food: This is one of the more complicated ones. I fulfilled the intent, if not the letter of this one. I did eat out 4/7 days. One of which was a dinner out after church with my family (I filled up mostly on salad bar). Another evening I was headed to a friend's right after work and had to provide my own dinner.
The spirit of this part of the challenge was directed more toward my eating fast food for lunch instead of packing. At the start of the Hoedown, I decided I was allowed to eat 2 lunches out: one with my mother on Friday, as is our weekly tradition and another with my work friends, just to catch up.
I ate Mexican out with the girls one day and Cracker Barrel with my mom on Friday. Every other day I packed my lunch. I didn't enter a fast food restaurant to get lunch for myself out of laziness, habit, or craving.
Finally, the Shrinking Jeans ladies asked us to note something positive about ourselves daily I managed to do this every day but one. Here is a sampling of my thoughts:
I hosted a fun party!
At least I try.
I have boobs! (The one benefit of weight gain)
Nice abs/legs (a serious achievement - I saw my quad muscles!)
I can do anything!
And finally - I completed my longest pre-marathon run on Sunday. 20 miles. All by myself. No music, no chatting on the phone, no one running beside me. My IMG tried to speak up a few times, but I think I managed to shut her up.
Disney here I come!!!
I didn't finish the challenge on the note that I'd wished, but over all I'd say its a success. I've kept from gaining (too much) weight and had the opportunity to hang out with some great gals via daily check in emails.
Here are my stats:
Exercise Minutes Logged: 414
I was hoping to get in 8+ hours of exercise, but it just didn't happen. It is what it is and I'm excited to be starting my taper. I'll only have to do 12 miles this weekend on the treadmill at Pawpaw's!
Starting weight: 135.6
Last week: 134.6
This week: 136.0
I'm happy with that. I get that the number went up, really. But I've gained some good healthy eating habits along the way. I even learned what pigging out at the office potluck does for me emotionally. Also, I'm betting that a few of those ounces up there are because Aunt Flow is beating on my uterus to let her in. Cramping isn't fun.
Neither is water retention.
Speaking of water that's a goal I did okay on...
64 or more ounces of water daily: 4/7
I only found this a challenge when I drank too much soda.
Abstain from soda: 1/7
The only day I managed not to drink at least a little soda was the day of my long run. I suppose I was so thirsty I didn't want anything but water or Gatorade.
One problem I'm having is that water gets so boring. I need to keep those water flavoring packets on hand for giving my taste buds a little change up, although I do want to get away from fake sweeteners. Do they make them with sugar or am I just going to have to start keeping Kool-aid in the fridge? (I make it with half the sugar it calls for.)
Eat 4 fruits/veggies daily: 3/7
I did manage to get in 3 fruits/veggies those other 4 days, which is a big improvement for me. I found myself reaching for a piece of fruit for snack instead of crackers or a granola bar.
Avoid fast food: This is one of the more complicated ones. I fulfilled the intent, if not the letter of this one. I did eat out 4/7 days. One of which was a dinner out after church with my family (I filled up mostly on salad bar). Another evening I was headed to a friend's right after work and had to provide my own dinner.
The spirit of this part of the challenge was directed more toward my eating fast food for lunch instead of packing. At the start of the Hoedown, I decided I was allowed to eat 2 lunches out: one with my mother on Friday, as is our weekly tradition and another with my work friends, just to catch up.
I ate Mexican out with the girls one day and Cracker Barrel with my mom on Friday. Every other day I packed my lunch. I didn't enter a fast food restaurant to get lunch for myself out of laziness, habit, or craving.
Finally, the Shrinking Jeans ladies asked us to note something positive about ourselves daily I managed to do this every day but one. Here is a sampling of my thoughts:
I hosted a fun party!
At least I try.
I have boobs! (The one benefit of weight gain)
Nice abs/legs (a serious achievement - I saw my quad muscles!)
I can do anything!
And finally - I completed my longest pre-marathon run on Sunday. 20 miles. All by myself. No music, no chatting on the phone, no one running beside me. My IMG tried to speak up a few times, but I think I managed to shut her up.
Disney here I come!!!
December 20, 2010
Weekend Wackiness
My family is crazy.
Its actually part of what I love about them. We're very low maintenance when we get together. Originally my aunt started hosting everyone the Saturday before Christmas. We'd have typically potluck style foods then do a small white elephant gift exchange.
As her children got older, it became too difficult for my aunt to have everyone over, so I took the reins. This weekend was Jay and my 3rd year hosting the event, and the first time at the farmhouse. Our previous home was an open floor plan and was easy fitting everyone in between the formal dining room and the eating nook so close together (and open).
This year we had a decision to make - to eat in the formal dining room or scrunch up in the hearth room. Thankfully we decided upon the hearth room, as the dining room is still a dumping ground of remodeling supplies.
Even though we keep the menu simple and have everyone bring something, I did have moments of panic about the party. What if I couldn't get my house clean in time? What if everyone thought my house was dirty? What if my house was dirty? Notice a theme? We are, after all, a family of neat-freak perfectionists.
My mom assured me that no one cared how clean my house was and just wanted to spend time together. I seriously thought about cancelling, but since this is our Christmas to spend with Jay's family this would be my only time with the extended family.
I decided to keep the meal plan simple - I would make Santa Fe Soup (which mostly just involves ground beef and opening lots of cans of beans), my mom would bring hot beverages to enjoy, my aunt a red velvet cake (since its my favorite and wouldn't be around to enjoy it at Christmas) and my grandmother was in charge of all beef hot dogs and buns. (My cousins is allergic to almost everything - chicken, turkey, beans. Beef is about the only thing he can eat.)
Yep, we had hot dogs and soup. Cause we're classy like that.
Another classy party favorite? "Guess how much _____ weighs." Jay had been chopping wood with my dad earlier in the day, so I told him to weigh at my parents house and tell no one. Turns out he'd already compared numbers with my dad.
Most people were off by Jay's weight by at least 10 pounds, my grandmother as much as 35. He carries it well, especially when he can hide it with clothes. Then my dad got up and had to show off how skinny he is and have people guess him. I'd wrapped items from my CVS stash as door prizes.
My Papaw couldn't be left out of the fun, so of course he had to have everyone guess his weight. Of course he's the skinniest (and tallest) of the group and wanted everyone to know it. Then my Mamaw too her turn and Papaw pointed out who the heaviest in their relationship is (and its not him - after 50+ years of marriage you can get away with more).
My aunt brought her Scrabble Apple game and her Scrabble dictionary. We almost had WW3 break out a couple of weekends ago in Fall Creek Falls when she didn't bring her dictionary and we had to rely on Jay's magic box (laptop) to make rulings on questionable words.
Jay hooked up his magic box to the television and we looked at pictures from Fall Creek Falls, then Jay pulled up a rat fishing video created by a guy my dad works with. It wasn't as funny though, without the commentary. Dude's name is Paul but he goes by "Gomer" so I'm sure you can imagine that the commentary was colorful.
Then the moment everyone had been waiting for - our white elephant exchange. The only rule is that the gift must be something you already own. No money can be spend purchasing something. This year ranged from the quirky (a state quarter map my dad was super pumped about) to the random (our old fireplace grate) to the lame (the VHS video of a fireplace & Christmas music).
I ended up with an old dish towel, $1 bill,and a ceramic bird. I was excited about the money and the towel (it'll make a great workout sweat rag).
We had a great time, my mom actually had to say "well we'd better get going" to spur everyone to start trickling out. I felt like it was a great success.
My family is weird.
But we're hilarious.
And that's why I love them so much!
Its actually part of what I love about them. We're very low maintenance when we get together. Originally my aunt started hosting everyone the Saturday before Christmas. We'd have typically potluck style foods then do a small white elephant gift exchange.
As her children got older, it became too difficult for my aunt to have everyone over, so I took the reins. This weekend was Jay and my 3rd year hosting the event, and the first time at the farmhouse. Our previous home was an open floor plan and was easy fitting everyone in between the formal dining room and the eating nook so close together (and open).
This year we had a decision to make - to eat in the formal dining room or scrunch up in the hearth room. Thankfully we decided upon the hearth room, as the dining room is still a dumping ground of remodeling supplies.
Even though we keep the menu simple and have everyone bring something, I did have moments of panic about the party. What if I couldn't get my house clean in time? What if everyone thought my house was dirty? What if my house was dirty? Notice a theme? We are, after all, a family of neat-freak perfectionists.
My mom assured me that no one cared how clean my house was and just wanted to spend time together. I seriously thought about cancelling, but since this is our Christmas to spend with Jay's family this would be my only time with the extended family.
I decided to keep the meal plan simple - I would make Santa Fe Soup (which mostly just involves ground beef and opening lots of cans of beans), my mom would bring hot beverages to enjoy, my aunt a red velvet cake (since its my favorite and wouldn't be around to enjoy it at Christmas) and my grandmother was in charge of all beef hot dogs and buns. (My cousins is allergic to almost everything - chicken, turkey, beans. Beef is about the only thing he can eat.)
Yep, we had hot dogs and soup. Cause we're classy like that.
Another classy party favorite? "Guess how much _____ weighs." Jay had been chopping wood with my dad earlier in the day, so I told him to weigh at my parents house and tell no one. Turns out he'd already compared numbers with my dad.
Most people were off by Jay's weight by at least 10 pounds, my grandmother as much as 35. He carries it well, especially when he can hide it with clothes. Then my dad got up and had to show off how skinny he is and have people guess him. I'd wrapped items from my CVS stash as door prizes.
My Papaw couldn't be left out of the fun, so of course he had to have everyone guess his weight. Of course he's the skinniest (and tallest) of the group and wanted everyone to know it. Then my Mamaw too her turn and Papaw pointed out who the heaviest in their relationship is (and its not him - after 50+ years of marriage you can get away with more).
My aunt brought her Scrabble Apple game and her Scrabble dictionary. We almost had WW3 break out a couple of weekends ago in Fall Creek Falls when she didn't bring her dictionary and we had to rely on Jay's magic box (laptop) to make rulings on questionable words.
Jay hooked up his magic box to the television and we looked at pictures from Fall Creek Falls, then Jay pulled up a rat fishing video created by a guy my dad works with. It wasn't as funny though, without the commentary. Dude's name is Paul but he goes by "Gomer" so I'm sure you can imagine that the commentary was colorful.
Then the moment everyone had been waiting for - our white elephant exchange. The only rule is that the gift must be something you already own. No money can be spend purchasing something. This year ranged from the quirky (a state quarter map my dad was super pumped about) to the random (our old fireplace grate) to the lame (the VHS video of a fireplace & Christmas music).
I ended up with an old dish towel, $1 bill,and a ceramic bird. I was excited about the money and the towel (it'll make a great workout sweat rag).
We had a great time, my mom actually had to say "well we'd better get going" to spur everyone to start trickling out. I felt like it was a great success.
My family is weird.
But we're hilarious.
And that's why I love them so much!
December 17, 2010
Festive Friday
Hopefully today I can keep the chatter at a minimum and get to my Christmas pictures! Last year after Christmas, Jay and I knew that we'd be purchasing our current home. We hadn't closed on the house or moved in yet, but we knew it was going to be ours.
With that in mind, we shopped the day after Christmas to get some good deals on decorations. The first thing I decided was that I was going to have 2 trees. My regular one in the hearth room by the fireplace, then another in the landing at the top of the stairs. I'd keep my antique ornaments up there just in case friends/guests with kids came to visit. My worst nightmare is one of my antique ornaments (that use to belong to my great grandmother) would get broken by a grabby kid who thought they were toys.
Instead of a tree upstairs this year, I'm getting new bookshelves built in the landing and a claw foot tub in the bathroom. Said claw foot tub is currently residing in my landing awaiting installation. They will both be gorgeous and wonderful. I'm trying to focus on that as I spend my first Christmas in the house much differently than expected.
Oh and that lighted garland I bought to string along the hand rail on the stairs?
Totally not there. I figured it'd just get knocked down with all the up and down and carrying heavy things (like a massive wooden sink vanity) on the stairs.
Once again it will be worth it. I just have to keep repeating that to myself. My only disappointment is that the tub was supposed to be ready this weekend for a post 20 mile run soak and its not going to be. Oh well, Jay will just have to give me a good rub down instead.
There are some things we purchased that we are getting to use. Like the stocking holders - since we finally have a mantle to put them on!
Jay gets to be the engine.
And I think it goes without saying that I get to be the caboose.
The set also came with 2 middle cars for the train. Just in case that biological clock of mine ever decides to wake up. For now they're stored safely under the stairs.
Where they belong.
I've had this card holder for a while I love being able to display my cards without having them clutter up the counter. I hate counter clutter. With the intensity of a thousand suns.
Seriously.
So it makes it hard when most Christmas decorations are supposed go on a counter type surface. It makes it more difficult finding a surface where some one's not going to lose a limb.
At the other house the nativity was stupidly placed on the bar near the sink. A wise man may or may not have lost a nose because of the mistake. Super Glue is a wonderful invention isn't it?
Our tree is kinda sad. Over the years some of the lights have went out so its only lit in splotches. Instead of using the pre-lit lights, we bought a strand of lights to cover it. Only we didn't realize the lights were connected with a white rope instead of green. Giant bargain hunting fail. So we opted for some blue lights left over from a political/Christmas float Jay was on in the town parade a couple years back.
My husband is a good photographer. He always impresses me with his shots, which is why I only take pictures for blogging purpose and he takes the pictures for everything else.
Now why couldn't that have been our Christmas card picture?? Oh yeah that's right. Cause I hadn't decorated yet. And even doing the picture when we did we still haven't received them yet. I suppose I can always just write "Happy New Year" on the back.
Oh and one other decoration that I didn't buy on sale after Christmas. Probably the most gorgeous one. One that you can't buy anywhere.
Merry Christmas everyone!!
December 16, 2010
@stickyJesus Read Along!
I wasn't the most faithful with my blogging during Marla's Radical read along, so I'm excited to have a shot at redemption with Michelle's weekly homework of @stickyJesus.
There were plenty of statistics in "File 01: You were born for a such a time as this" aka chapter one. But one of them caught my eye more than the rest, and that's because it hit close to home. More accurately, its the reason for my home as I know it.
2008
Wanna know where we met?
Myspace (back when it was still cool)
I honestly thought we were a rarity. Sure you see the eHarmony commercials where their couples met online, but you don't actually believe it happens to real people. Especially in a land full of "hey u r hot wanna chat?" Marriages don't come from that.
Ah...but they do.
While on our first anniversary vacation, Jay and I stayed at a bed and breakfast in Napa. We all had individual tables, but each of the 5 couples chatted to everyone else while enjoying our first meal of the day. A few of the other couples there also met online.
Not sure why I just assumed it was a fluke.
Facebook. Twitter. Blogger. Message boards.
There all filled with real people. Those real people have real feelings. Real needs.
Why are we tempted to be someone other than who we truly are when interacting with others? In the bloggy land there seems to be a lot of putting your best face forward going on. Maybe not yours or mine, but I wonder just how real some of the more popular bloggers can be.
Then again maybe I should remove the log out of my eye before challenging the speck in someone else's. After all my blog title? Just who I want to be. While I'm transparent in my posts that I'm certainly not the most confident person in the world, I didn't want to name it Awkward + Uncertain = ME.
In order to reach out to those people with real needs, we must be transparent.
While a perfectionist, I am not perfect.
I'm a sinner.
I need the grace of Jesus on a daily, hourly basis.
We're promised that in our weakness, He is made strong.
If that's the case then He's gonna really be able to work through me. And I honestly pray that's the case.
There were plenty of statistics in "File 01: You were born for a such a time as this" aka chapter one. But one of them caught my eye more than the rest, and that's because it hit close to home. More accurately, its the reason for my home as I know it.
One out of every eight couples married in 2008 in the U.S. met via social networking.Wanna take a guess as to when Jay and I got married?
2008
Wanna know where we met?
Myspace (back when it was still cool)
I honestly thought we were a rarity. Sure you see the eHarmony commercials where their couples met online, but you don't actually believe it happens to real people. Especially in a land full of "hey u r hot wanna chat?" Marriages don't come from that.
Ah...but they do.
While on our first anniversary vacation, Jay and I stayed at a bed and breakfast in Napa. We all had individual tables, but each of the 5 couples chatted to everyone else while enjoying our first meal of the day. A few of the other couples there also met online.
Not sure why I just assumed it was a fluke.
Facebook. Twitter. Blogger. Message boards.
There all filled with real people. Those real people have real feelings. Real needs.
Why are we tempted to be someone other than who we truly are when interacting with others? In the bloggy land there seems to be a lot of putting your best face forward going on. Maybe not yours or mine, but I wonder just how real some of the more popular bloggers can be.
Then again maybe I should remove the log out of my eye before challenging the speck in someone else's. After all my blog title? Just who I want to be. While I'm transparent in my posts that I'm certainly not the most confident person in the world, I didn't want to name it Awkward + Uncertain = ME.
In order to reach out to those people with real needs, we must be transparent.
While a perfectionist, I am not perfect.
I'm a sinner.
I need the grace of Jesus on a daily, hourly basis.
We're promised that in our weakness, He is made strong.
If that's the case then He's gonna really be able to work through me. And I honestly pray that's the case.
December 15, 2010
Holiday Hoedown Week #4
Good morning Tinsel Vixens! Morning everyone! Let's get the stats out of the way. I've decided to start including my weight again. I'm always a little torn when I do that, but the accountability is a good thing.
Challenge Start: 135.6
Last week: 136.6
Today: 134.6
What is it with the 0.6 thing I've got going on?? Can I just tell you how encouraged I am? I several things right
Now on to the challenge goals:
4 Fruits/Veggies (Tinsel Vixen Goal)
I made an effort to be conscious of what I was eating, but I didn't honestly track it all that well. That's one thing I changed starting yesterday. Working on the assumption that salsa counts, I totally made this goal.
64 oz water (Tinsel Vixen Goal)
I've always been pretty good with this one. Only when I get too heavy into soda (say at a fast food restaurant) does the ball get dropped on this one. As stated above I can't really work backwards, but I know that I got in my allowance yesterday and a couple other days, and will keep a tally for the week to report back in next week.
No soda (Personal Goal)
I didn't do so hot on this one. I might have gone a couple days without it, but more days than not I had some. I can say that I never had more than one round. I won't say serving because I know that's 8 oz. I had a 20oz bottle one day and a fast food cup one day, but I didn't get a refill and I didn't go over one can/bottle a day. That's something right?
No fast food (Personal Goal)
This is a lunch time goal for me. Counting Wed/Tues as my week I went 3/5 on this one. One day I got a burger and fries because I was craving it. The other I got it because my potato soup didn't freeze well and looked like vomit. Since I didn't have a backup plan (a can of soup - which has since been added to my food drawer at work) and I had to eat something for lunch, a burger and fries was my lunch of choice.
Otherwise I've done well at packing. I had beef stew one day, spaghetti leftovers another, and yesterday was tacos. This week I'm building up my freezer collection to assist in this: taco meat mixture, chili, white chicken chili are all being made and frozen for future use. If you have any yummy freezer safe lunch ideas I'd love for you to share them!
4 X 30 minutes exercise (Tinsel Vixen Goal)
I did well on this one, but since my training plan calls for 4 runs a week, it wasn't difficult to reach. I did actually get in 2 weights workouts on top of my runs. I've neglected weights for far too long. I love lifting and it makes me feel great. I definitely need to make this a priority.
6 hours exercise for the week (Personal Goal)
I logged 441 minutes of exercise this week which translates into over 7 hours worth for the week. Goal definitely met!
Try something new (Sisterhood Goal)
I sorta halfway did this one. I ran 18 miles, which is something I've never done before. Also on the Tinsel Vixen circuit we did straight leg crunches, which is also a new one on me. Not the adventurous activity they were looking for, but its the best I could do given my training plan/time/energy.
All in all I think this week gets a big thumbs up. I made a concentrated effort to get back into my good habits and I noticed a chance on the scale as a result.
Looking forward to next week they've laid out the following challenges:
Amp up your exercise minutes.
Dare I try to reach 8 hours this week? I've got my 20 miler so that'll add about 24 more minutes. That's a lofty goal but we'll see.
Pat myself on the back at least once daily.
Okay so not literally, but commend myself for a positive action. Or compliment myself on a positive trait. I'll be logging these with my other tracking items.
How'd you do this week?
December 14, 2010
Christmas is here!
Or at least it will be in 11 days (hopefully I didn't give Jody heart palpitations again.) I'll be following Melissa and ask you to press play then read the blog. I'm not sure what's up with the cheesy video but I love Kenny & Dolly Christmas music!
I've actually already gotten 2 early Christmas gifts this year. The first Jay was so excited about he gave me the day he purchased them.We're currently building We've commissioned some built in bookshelves in the upstairs landing of our house. The work isn't progressing like I had hoped, but life gets in the way sometimes.
On my Christmas list, I'd requested old books. Didn't have to be antique - just something that would look appropriate on the shelves of our make-shift library. I was hopeful that he could get some by the box on EBay for a good price.
Instead he decided to shop local and go to an antique store. Some he bought for the titles - Christian books that he thought I'd find interesting. Some he bought for decoration at a great price - $1 each.
He didn't wrap the box, but told me I couldn't shake it. I ran my hands along the sides (much like Shawn on Psych) pretending my powers are different than they actually are. "Antique books!" I said before opening the lid. Of course the clue was in a big box that I couldn't shake. Nothing else fragile was on my list.
I have to admit though I'm a little disappointed. No doubt this will be one of my best gifts and I've already opened it!
My mother gave me another really awesome gift early as well. She did it though so I could enjoy it. Once again I guess what it was before unwrapping it.
Kenny & Dolly's A Christmas to Remember CD. I was looking for it because its one of my constant Christmas memories growing up. My mom had the record (still might actually) and I remember her putting the record on and us enjoying the tunes.
Of course living in this area, any Dolly CD isn't hard to come by. She and my dad picked it up on Sunday after church and wanted me to have it so that I could enjoy it leading up to the holiday.
None of that was actually supposed to be the point of this post though. I was going to show you my Christmas decorations that I finally got up this weekend. I'm already a little long winded though, so I suppose that'll save for another day.
I know I've said it before - but I'm incredible blessed. With a wonderful family that wants to make me happy, with simple wishes easy to fulfill. With the means to purchase gifts for our family.
I want to leave you with my favorite non-traditional Christmas song. You'll forgive the interpretive dance at the end of the video.
What's the best gift you've ever received? Not talking monetarily, but something that thrilled your soul when you received it.
I've actually already gotten 2 early Christmas gifts this year. The first Jay was so excited about he gave me the day he purchased them.
On my Christmas list, I'd requested old books. Didn't have to be antique - just something that would look appropriate on the shelves of our make-shift library. I was hopeful that he could get some by the box on EBay for a good price.
Instead he decided to shop local and go to an antique store. Some he bought for the titles - Christian books that he thought I'd find interesting. Some he bought for decoration at a great price - $1 each.
He didn't wrap the box, but told me I couldn't shake it. I ran my hands along the sides (much like Shawn on Psych) pretending my powers are different than they actually are. "Antique books!" I said before opening the lid. Of course the clue was in a big box that I couldn't shake. Nothing else fragile was on my list.
I have to admit though I'm a little disappointed. No doubt this will be one of my best gifts and I've already opened it!
My mother gave me another really awesome gift early as well. She did it though so I could enjoy it. Once again I guess what it was before unwrapping it.
Kenny & Dolly's A Christmas to Remember CD. I was looking for it because its one of my constant Christmas memories growing up. My mom had the record (still might actually) and I remember her putting the record on and us enjoying the tunes.
Of course living in this area, any Dolly CD isn't hard to come by. She and my dad picked it up on Sunday after church and wanted me to have it so that I could enjoy it leading up to the holiday.
None of that was actually supposed to be the point of this post though. I was going to show you my Christmas decorations that I finally got up this weekend. I'm already a little long winded though, so I suppose that'll save for another day.
I know I've said it before - but I'm incredible blessed. With a wonderful family that wants to make me happy, with simple wishes easy to fulfill. With the means to purchase gifts for our family.
I want to leave you with my favorite non-traditional Christmas song. You'll forgive the interpretive dance at the end of the video.
What's the best gift you've ever received? Not talking monetarily, but something that thrilled your soul when you received it.
December 13, 2010
Tis the Season of Giving
Normally, the Challenges issued to us by Christie O. and the rest of the Sisterhood team via the Monthly Project focus on improving ourselves somehow. Whether it be loving ourselves more, finding our inner motivation, or sharing great healthy recipes.
This month, however, our monthly challenge is taking the focus off us and on to someone else.
Let's face it, if you're concerned about your weight? That means you have plenty of food to eat.
Worried about being active enough? You must not have a strenuous manual labor job.
I don't know about you, but I'm thankful for both of those.
From the Sisterhood:
For this project, all we ask is that you spread the Holiday Spirit, by donating something or doing something, anything, for another person and blogging about it and letting your fellow bloggers know about which charities or projects need help or how they can help in their own communities.
Jay and I have been very blessed. Blessed with a good mind for money, blessed with hands that aren't afraid of hard work, blessed with good circumstances.
Oh and there is always that pooping gold thing...
My goal for this month, and the Monthly Project, is to donate to a different cause each week. I'll be honest, the first week in December was a short week and I'm not sure if I donated at all that week. I probably threw a buck in the can as I passed a Salvation Army bell ringer so we'll just count that.
(I always feel so sorry for the ringers out there in the cold and people just walking past them. Even though Jay likes me to write checks for most of my donations for tax purposes, I don't feel right walking by without dropping something in their bucket.)
Last week we donated to the local Teen Christmas. It breaks my heart knowing that there are high school aged kids out there without a warm coat. Teen years are hard enough without that extra burden. So many people focus on buying toys for smaller kids that I chose to make my donation here. Sure its not as much fun to buy the cute little kid clothes or toys, but this isn't about what's fun - its about meeting a need.
Another need, the most important actually, is the need to hear the Good News of Jesus. The Lottie Moon Christmas offering goes to support International Missionaries as they spread the joy of the Christmas season.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
I was honored yesterday morning at church to be able to contribute to this fund. If we all lived our lives the way Ms. Moon did, we could truly change the world.
I haven't decided where to give for the 4th and 5th weeks of the month, but I have no doubt something will come my direction. I hope to share it with you when it does.
How are you helping others this Christmas season?
This month, however, our monthly challenge is taking the focus off us and on to someone else.
Let's face it, if you're concerned about your weight? That means you have plenty of food to eat.
Worried about being active enough? You must not have a strenuous manual labor job.
I don't know about you, but I'm thankful for both of those.
From the Sisterhood:
For this project, all we ask is that you spread the Holiday Spirit, by donating something or doing something, anything, for another person and blogging about it and letting your fellow bloggers know about which charities or projects need help or how they can help in their own communities.
Jay and I have been very blessed. Blessed with a good mind for money, blessed with hands that aren't afraid of hard work, blessed with good circumstances.
Oh and there is always that pooping gold thing...
My goal for this month, and the Monthly Project, is to donate to a different cause each week. I'll be honest, the first week in December was a short week and I'm not sure if I donated at all that week. I probably threw a buck in the can as I passed a Salvation Army bell ringer so we'll just count that.
(I always feel so sorry for the ringers out there in the cold and people just walking past them. Even though Jay likes me to write checks for most of my donations for tax purposes, I don't feel right walking by without dropping something in their bucket.)
Last week we donated to the local Teen Christmas. It breaks my heart knowing that there are high school aged kids out there without a warm coat. Teen years are hard enough without that extra burden. So many people focus on buying toys for smaller kids that I chose to make my donation here. Sure its not as much fun to buy the cute little kid clothes or toys, but this isn't about what's fun - its about meeting a need.
Another need, the most important actually, is the need to hear the Good News of Jesus. The Lottie Moon Christmas offering goes to support International Missionaries as they spread the joy of the Christmas season.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
I was honored yesterday morning at church to be able to contribute to this fund. If we all lived our lives the way Ms. Moon did, we could truly change the world.
I haven't decided where to give for the 4th and 5th weeks of the month, but I have no doubt something will come my direction. I hope to share it with you when it does.
How are you helping others this Christmas season?
December 10, 2010
Festive Friday
Only 15 days until Christmas!!!! Are you ready? Haven't even started yet?
I'm starting to get stressed out. For some reason I thought it was a good idea to do the following:
We've got them out and partially put up now. The tree is up and half decorated. I'm out of ornament hangers, and somehow we lose them every year. That reminds me,I need to steal paper clips from work buy hooks before going home.
Not sure how I'm going to fit cleaning and decorating into my weekend, especially given that I have 2 Christmas parties and a baby shower to attend as well as an 18 mile run to complete. With the snow forecast for Sunday - it looks like I'm going to have to fit the run in with the shower and one of the parties in on Saturday.
I thought I'd share with you some pictures from last year since I don't have any this year yet!
This year we actually have a fire place to hang our stockings from - I'll have to wait until Jay builds a nice fire and get a picture of them for you!!
This is a source of stress for me. We've been using our formal dining room (which is much larger than this one was) as a storage space for our bathroom remodel. Its a big room and largely goes unused. I'm just concerned that they won't be done with the remodel in time for me to have my family over next Saturday!
Actually I told a lie - I do have a picture from this year to share with you - the picture taken for our Christmas cards.
I'm starting to get stressed out. For some reason I thought it was a good idea to do the following:
- Training for a marathon - including 18 & 20 mile runs.
- Remodel my bathroom - using my formal dining room for storage.
- Take a long weekend to visit a State Park with my family.
- Host a Christmas party.
We've got them out and partially put up now. The tree is up and half decorated. I'm out of ornament hangers, and somehow we lose them every year. That reminds me,
Not sure how I'm going to fit cleaning and decorating into my weekend, especially given that I have 2 Christmas parties and a baby shower to attend as well as an 18 mile run to complete. With the snow forecast for Sunday - it looks like I'm going to have to fit the run in with the shower and one of the parties in on Saturday.
I thought I'd share with you some pictures from last year since I don't have any this year yet!
This year we actually have a fire place to hang our stockings from - I'll have to wait until Jay builds a nice fire and get a picture of them for you!!
This is a source of stress for me. We've been using our formal dining room (which is much larger than this one was) as a storage space for our bathroom remodel. Its a big room and largely goes unused. I'm just concerned that they won't be done with the remodel in time for me to have my family over next Saturday!
Actually I told a lie - I do have a picture from this year to share with you - the picture taken for our Christmas cards.
We hope your Christmas is blessed (and stress free) this holiday season!
Merry Christmas!!
Love, Brooke & Jay
Now its your time to brag (or make me feel better about my own slowness):
Have you decorated yet?
Finished your shopping?
Wrapped your gifts?
December 08, 2010
Holiday Hoedown Check in Week 3
Good morning ladies and gents!! (Are there any gents that read my blog? Besides one handsome mutant of course.) Its check-in time over at the Sisterhood.
Check.
I'm done right?
Crap.
So I gained weight. Again. This is getting really old. Although I have no doubt what caused it. The biscuits and gravy 2 mornings in a row at Fall Creek Falls State Park. The absence of a long run do to my weekend with the family. The chimichanga, cheese sauce, refried beans, and coke Monday night went no where but my thighs and rear.
What is new? Yesterday I actively did something to change my behavior.
We'll skip over the brownie and the diet dr.k with dinner m'kay? I had a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, a granola bar for morning snack, a bowl of chili (w/cheese and sour cream) for lunch, and a plate of stir fry for dinner.
Notice what's absent there? Fast food. Crap that my body doesn't need. Okay technically it didn't need the brownie but it was a small portion and I was hungry and wanted something sweet.
Yesterday is how I imagined my eating moderately would be. Mostly nutritious food with a few yummies add in.
Let's go for day 2 of that behavior - what'd ya say?
December 07, 2010
A few things...
I've got some Shrinking Jeans housekeeping to do.
First off its True Confessions Tuesday:
My confession:
I'm totally off the weight loss wagon and don't see any sign of getting back up on. I'm not all that motivated. I eat like crap then run my butt off. Its amazing I haven't gained even more weight.
Vote, Vote, Vote
I'm one of 5 holiday vloggers up for an awesome prize pack. Check it out and be sure to vote. Its even okay if you don't vote for me. I'm in good company - I love those ladies!
Holiday Hoedown
The Shrinking Jeans Ladies have asked us to talk about 3 ways I'm going to do to stay on track this month. This is a little hard because eating poorly wouldn't exactly be "getting off track" for me.
That's a pretty simple look at things, but its where I am. Next up - finding my motivation to decorate for Christmas whilst workmen make my house filthy.
First off its True Confessions Tuesday:
My confession:
I'm totally off the weight loss wagon and don't see any sign of getting back up on. I'm not all that motivated. I eat like crap then run my butt off. Its amazing I haven't gained even more weight.
Vote, Vote, Vote
I'm one of 5 holiday vloggers up for an awesome prize pack. Check it out and be sure to vote. Its even okay if you don't vote for me. I'm in good company - I love those ladies!
Holiday Hoedown
The Shrinking Jeans Ladies have asked us to talk about 3 ways I'm going to do to stay on track this month. This is a little hard because eating poorly wouldn't exactly be "getting off track" for me.
- Keep up with marathon training.
This is my only salvation right now. - Focus on others.
I hope to outline it in another blog, but fast food has been a major weakness of mine lately. I'm going out practically every day for lunch. As a result, I'm literally eating up all of my personal spending money. I have $125 budgeted every month to spend on whatever I want. And apparently what I want are bigger thighs.
I want to start picking a charity of the month to donate part of that spending money to. Maybe with this face starring at me, I can keep myself under control.
- Really look within myself.
Superficial BS isn't going to cut it any more. Why is it that I want to be smaller? What am I hoping to accomplish? Until I figure those things out, I can't get jump started again. I've shared the quote before that discipline is remembering what you want and right now I haven't the foggiest.
That's a pretty simple look at things, but its where I am. Next up - finding my motivation to decorate for Christmas whilst workmen make my house filthy.
December 02, 2010
Name them one by one...
I have these moments often. Times where I get so caught up in me that I don't see the world around me. Times where I look past all the sickness, pain, and heartache this world has to offer.
I whine about gaining a few pounds...forgetting about those in my own county who don't know where their next meal will come from. Children on free lunches that sneak their orange juice into their back pack so they'll have something for dinner.
I complain that my husband doesn't do X, Y, or Z to suit me...forgetting that I'm complaining to a friend who's just been through a long and painful divorce.
...or the bloggy friend who lives daily with the cancer that inhabits her husband's body.
I worry about finances...only to have the thank you letters to the charities I support reference my "sacrificial" gift. Both letters made me cry. Those gifts didn't cost me anything, yet meant so much to the organizations they were sent to.
I stress about house work...not considering those who would love any form of shelter, even if it meant a stray hash brown crumb or two on the floor.
I get irritated at the chill of a house with the heat set on 60 degrees...when I know there are so many ways it could be worse. As a matter of fact its not a financial necessity that its set that low, just a choice we make to save money.
I am blessed far beyond what I know.
And for that, I am thankful.
I whine about gaining a few pounds...forgetting about those in my own county who don't know where their next meal will come from. Children on free lunches that sneak their orange juice into their back pack so they'll have something for dinner.
I complain that my husband doesn't do X, Y, or Z to suit me...forgetting that I'm complaining to a friend who's just been through a long and painful divorce.
...or the bloggy friend who lives daily with the cancer that inhabits her husband's body.
I worry about finances...only to have the thank you letters to the charities I support reference my "sacrificial" gift. Both letters made me cry. Those gifts didn't cost me anything, yet meant so much to the organizations they were sent to.
I stress about house work...not considering those who would love any form of shelter, even if it meant a stray hash brown crumb or two on the floor.
I get irritated at the chill of a house with the heat set on 60 degrees...when I know there are so many ways it could be worse. As a matter of fact its not a financial necessity that its set that low, just a choice we make to save money.
I am blessed far beyond what I know.
And for that, I am thankful.
December 01, 2010
Wednesday Already??
I'm cranky.
Probably because of poor eating choices I've made the past fewdays months. Sorry Tinsel Vixens!
To keep the crankiness out of this post, I'll keep the words short and sweet. I was able to log almost 6 hours of exercise this past week - half of which was spent in Jay's Pawpaw's basement on a treadmill.
For my long run, Jay had initially said he was going to go with me. He hasn't ran in over a month and thought somehow he could tackle 17 miles. Oh to have that sort of self confidence!
As you can see, it took a little effort to get him up and going.
And after only 2 miles, he decided that he'd had enough. I told him to get rested up and then check on me in 30-45 minutes. By then I thought he would have recovered enough to save me from the dreadmill boredom and we could get a few more miles in outside.
Instead, when he came to check on me, he said he was just then recovered from those two miles. He offered to bring me water. I had already gotten the "low battery" warning on my IPod, and I feared what might happen if I did have music to entertain me.
I knew due to lack of Internet service, Jay wasn't using his computer. So I asked him to set it up for me and see if Pawpaw had any DVDs at his house - other than Silent Night (a war movie set near where he was captured as a POW during WW2).
The only other option was a movie belonging to Jay's mother "Thomas Kincade's A Christmas Cottage" based on Kincade's early years - a story about how he found his inspiration. Because of the noise of the HVAC unit as well as the treadmill, I couldn't hear the dialog. Jay put the captions on for me and I was on my way.
My non-scale victory of the week? A 17 mile run (15 of which was on the treadmill). Only 9.2 more to go!
Probably because of poor eating choices I've made the past few
To keep the crankiness out of this post, I'll keep the words short and sweet. I was able to log almost 6 hours of exercise this past week - half of which was spent in Jay's Pawpaw's basement on a treadmill.
For my long run, Jay had initially said he was going to go with me. He hasn't ran in over a month and thought somehow he could tackle 17 miles. Oh to have that sort of self confidence!
As you can see, it took a little effort to get him up and going.
And after only 2 miles, he decided that he'd had enough. I told him to get rested up and then check on me in 30-45 minutes. By then I thought he would have recovered enough to save me from the dreadmill boredom and we could get a few more miles in outside.
Instead, when he came to check on me, he said he was just then recovered from those two miles. He offered to bring me water. I had already gotten the "low battery" warning on my IPod, and I feared what might happen if I did have music to entertain me.
I knew due to lack of Internet service, Jay wasn't using his computer. So I asked him to set it up for me and see if Pawpaw had any DVDs at his house - other than Silent Night (a war movie set near where he was captured as a POW during WW2).
The only other option was a movie belonging to Jay's mother "Thomas Kincade's A Christmas Cottage" based on Kincade's early years - a story about how he found his inspiration. Because of the noise of the HVAC unit as well as the treadmill, I couldn't hear the dialog. Jay put the captions on for me and I was on my way.
My non-scale victory of the week? A 17 mile run (15 of which was on the treadmill). Only 9.2 more to go!
November 29, 2010
Shrinking Jeans Holiday Tradition & Recipe Vlog
I mispoke, but since I had taken several different takes I wasn't ready to have another redo. In the recipe its either balsamic vinegrete OR balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
Your ingredients:
fresh spinach leaves
strawberries, capped & diced
crumbled feta cheese
sliced almonds
balsamic vinegar
olive oil.
Nutrition information varies, based on how you make your salad. I go easy on the oil, relying on the vinegar to coat the salad. I love feta so I probably put a little more on my version than most people.
I had to work quickly to get all my chatter in 2 minutes, take one was almost 5 minutes long!!
PS - I forget that I have an accent. Seriously, compared to the rest of my family I speak "normal.
Thankful Monday's Ten
I've decided to combine Thankful Thursday and Thursday's 10. Sure, its Monday already, but its my blog and I can do what I please!!
- My familyThey are the greatest thing ever. Really.
- Black Friday shoppingI didn't need anything, just enjoyed the experience with my parents and Jay. This isn't something I get to do when we're spending Thanksgiving with Jay's family. The town's only store is Dollar General and I've never heard of them having door buster sales.
- My In-LawsWhile I don't think they understand my desire to run (neither does my family) they went out of their way to help me get my 17 miler in yesterday.
- Good healthIts trite, sure, but after the year my family has had its not something we take for granted. My anemia, my grandmother's foot surgery followed closely by congestive heart failure, now my mom's thyroid issues. Hopefully 2011 will be a more healthy year, but I'm thankful that we made it through and even got most everything either fixed or diagnosed.
- My runningThe ability, both physical and mental, to run 17 miles. 15 of which was on a treadmill. Yes, I know I'm incredible. But thank you for noticing. Also the incredible change in my running since getting rid of the anemia. 11:30 for a long run? Who'da thought it was possible??
- The BibleI'm exploring new parts, thanks to my read the Bible through in a year plan. Of course I was supposed to be done back in May. And I'm no where near close to being done, but I'm reading Isaiah for the first time. Can't say I'm enjoying it, but its important to wade into uncharted waters.
- ReadingBeyond the Bible, I just love reading. I lost it last year, just because I had trouble balancing training for races with other parts of life. This year I'm very close to my 52 books read for the year (with a little help from audio books.) I'm currently listening to a fiction book by one of my favorite authors (Anita Shrieve) and reading a non-fiction book by a financial guru (Larry Burkett).
- The InternetI've said it a million times, but its worth repeating. Yall are great :)
- My jobSometimes its hard to get up and get to work. Sometimes the job itself is stressful, but over all I can't complain. I have great benefits, great flexibility. Who else in the world (besides professional athletes) gets paid to work out??
- My bathroom remodel!!!!!Um...sorry...I meant my hardworking husband who has done well enough this year to allow for the master bath being gutted. Hopefully sometime next week I'll no longer have to hold my ankle in my hand in order to shave my legs!
November 24, 2010
Race Report - Secret City Half Marathon
Since last year, I've been excited to repeat my half marathon experience from last November. It was my first 13.1 miler, I had vacationed two weeks prior (and missed a whole week of training), and almost came in last. (But I didn't.)
I was disappointed when I went to register for the race - not only had they changed the name (it was the Oak Ridge Half Marathon last year), but also the course. This wouldn't be an apples to apples comparison.
My tune changed, however, when I learned that a friend of mine from college would be coming in for the race. Something new to get excited about! I hadn't seen her in over 6 years (I'd like to think I haven't been out of college that long, unfortunately, I'll be graduated a decade this time next year.) and was excited to be able to race with her.
I did my standard race routine - laid out my stuff the night before. Gave myself 30 minutes to get dressed, eat breakfast and get on the road. When I arrived at the race headquarters, my race tears arrived also. I always cry during race. I hate it, but that's just how I roll.
As I went to register I couldn't help but tear up. What a difference a year makes! At my first (and only other) half, my sister drove her family in from 2 hours away so that the Princess and the Little Man could be there at the finish line for me.
This year, Jay didn't even bother to get out of bed.
13.1 miles was no longer a milestone. It was just another stop on the way to 26.2.
After picking up my packet I headed back to my car. I wondered how I was going to meet up with Lisa and her mom before the race - I hadn't even gotten her phone number. As I sat in my car pinning on my race bib, something made me look up.
Who was parked right in front of me but Lisa and her mom. We smiled, laughed, and waved before getting out for hugs and pictures. (Most of which are on her camera. I plan on stealing them from Facebook as soon as she gets them posted.)
The race was fairly straight forward. It was billed as a flat course, which was mostly the case. There were a few tiny hills here and there, highlighted only by the flatness of the rest of the course. I noticed another lady running beside me around miles 3-4. At mile 5, a race volunteer said the official time was 54:58. "I'll take that!" I said to my new found running partner.
"Yeah, those people behind us said that you were an 11 minute-miler, and I'm wanting to finish in under 2:30 so I thought I'd pace off of you."
Big Gulp.
She was using me as a pacer? That wasn't the moment to tell her that my Half Marathon PR was 2:44. For the next few miles we were pretty consistent. After the first loop, around mile 8 or so, I felt the wheels starting to loosen. By that time, "those people behind us" joined our group.
I'll just be honest - if not for them I would have probably slowed considerably. I kept at it though, pushing myself to keep up with them. By my 11.5 I hit the "leaking oil stage". My dad, who watches far too much Nascar, called it that while we were watching the New York City marathon together. Its that part in the race where you know you've pushed yourself as much as possible and you're just hoping to coast across the finish? Yeah that was me.
By mile 12 we started to break apart. Our group has served all of us well. It was weird to talk during a run. Weird, but nice. I had helped keep them steady during the first party, they helped me from backing off too much at the end.
It was now time to run our own race. They ended up finishing before me, but the 4 of us all smoked our "under 2:30 goal". My official race time was 2:26:45. I could have sprinted across the finish line (as is my signature in all my races) but there was a couple right before me and I would have had to pass them with 10 feet to go.
Instead I crossed with my head held high, knowing that I'd well surpassed my hopes for a great race. Afterward I refueled and waited on my friend Lisa to finish.
One of the ladies that I had ran with also had a friend behind her in the race, so around the 3 hour mark we decided to head back out onto the course and find our friends.
I came up on Lisa just a little before the 13 mile marker. I'll just tell ya know that last tenth of a mile wasn't any short the 2nd time around! She trotted for a little bit, but was having some foot pain, so we walked most of the last stretch. As she turned the corner she picked it up to a run to the finish. I dropped back to get some pictures.
I'm still sore. I guess that's what happens when I think of a half marathon as a race, rather than just another training run to get through.
Next stop - 26.2 through Disney!
I was disappointed when I went to register for the race - not only had they changed the name (it was the Oak Ridge Half Marathon last year), but also the course. This wouldn't be an apples to apples comparison.
My tune changed, however, when I learned that a friend of mine from college would be coming in for the race. Something new to get excited about! I hadn't seen her in over 6 years (I'd like to think I haven't been out of college that long, unfortunately, I'll be graduated a decade this time next year.) and was excited to be able to race with her.
I did my standard race routine - laid out my stuff the night before. Gave myself 30 minutes to get dressed, eat breakfast and get on the road. When I arrived at the race headquarters, my race tears arrived also. I always cry during race. I hate it, but that's just how I roll.
As I went to register I couldn't help but tear up. What a difference a year makes! At my first (and only other) half, my sister drove her family in from 2 hours away so that the Princess and the Little Man could be there at the finish line for me.
This year, Jay didn't even bother to get out of bed.
13.1 miles was no longer a milestone. It was just another stop on the way to 26.2.
After picking up my packet I headed back to my car. I wondered how I was going to meet up with Lisa and her mom before the race - I hadn't even gotten her phone number. As I sat in my car pinning on my race bib, something made me look up.
Who was parked right in front of me but Lisa and her mom. We smiled, laughed, and waved before getting out for hugs and pictures. (Most of which are on her camera. I plan on stealing them from Facebook as soon as she gets them posted.)
The race was fairly straight forward. It was billed as a flat course, which was mostly the case. There were a few tiny hills here and there, highlighted only by the flatness of the rest of the course. I noticed another lady running beside me around miles 3-4. At mile 5, a race volunteer said the official time was 54:58. "I'll take that!" I said to my new found running partner.
"Yeah, those people behind us said that you were an 11 minute-miler, and I'm wanting to finish in under 2:30 so I thought I'd pace off of you."
Big Gulp.
She was using me as a pacer? That wasn't the moment to tell her that my Half Marathon PR was 2:44. For the next few miles we were pretty consistent. After the first loop, around mile 8 or so, I felt the wheels starting to loosen. By that time, "those people behind us" joined our group.
I'll just be honest - if not for them I would have probably slowed considerably. I kept at it though, pushing myself to keep up with them. By my 11.5 I hit the "leaking oil stage". My dad, who watches far too much Nascar, called it that while we were watching the New York City marathon together. Its that part in the race where you know you've pushed yourself as much as possible and you're just hoping to coast across the finish? Yeah that was me.
By mile 12 we started to break apart. Our group has served all of us well. It was weird to talk during a run. Weird, but nice. I had helped keep them steady during the first party, they helped me from backing off too much at the end.
It was now time to run our own race. They ended up finishing before me, but the 4 of us all smoked our "under 2:30 goal". My official race time was 2:26:45. I could have sprinted across the finish line (as is my signature in all my races) but there was a couple right before me and I would have had to pass them with 10 feet to go.
Instead I crossed with my head held high, knowing that I'd well surpassed my hopes for a great race. Afterward I refueled and waited on my friend Lisa to finish.
One of the ladies that I had ran with also had a friend behind her in the race, so around the 3 hour mark we decided to head back out onto the course and find our friends.
(Lisa's mom on the right, my new found running buddy on the left)
I came up on Lisa just a little before the 13 mile marker. I'll just tell ya know that last tenth of a mile wasn't any short the 2nd time around! She trotted for a little bit, but was having some foot pain, so we walked most of the last stretch. As she turned the corner she picked it up to a run to the finish. I dropped back to get some pictures.
I'm still sore. I guess that's what happens when I think of a half marathon as a race, rather than just another training run to get through.
Next stop - 26.2 through Disney!
November 19, 2010
Its almost that time again...
...that "most wonderful" time. Of course I'm talking about the time to send out Christmas cards!!
I'm that annoying person that sits down the day after Thanksgiving, completes all of her cards, and gets them in your mailbox by December 1st. I love getting my cards out early every year.
One problem that I have with cards is that its hard to find a pretty, yet young looking religious card. They either look old and stuff, or cartoonish like for a child. Since I celebrate Christmas as the birth of my Savior, I want my cards to reflect that.
In the past I've done more of a letter type card. Not the kind with my past year's ventures, just one with a nice piece of clip art and my favorite Christmas Bible verses. The first year of marriage we did a picture card, since we were newlyweds and could be sappy like that.
But who's to say in for our 3rd married Christmas we can't be sappy too?
When I found out about Shutterfly's Holiday Promotional campaign, I started thinking about all the different pictures I could use.
With this design, we could include pictures of us in various facets of our lives - dressed up, casual, just chillin, with family. This one would mean getting dressed up for a nice family picture. Even though we're just two people - no kids, no pets - we're still a family. Last night would have been the perfect opportunity, if my husband would have cooperated.
Although I must say, I really do like the wall calendar idea. I somehow doubt, however, that my mother-in-law would enjoy a calendar full of my race photos. If children ever come in the picture though - perfect! On a more serious note, I'm going to ask the Mutant if they would enjoy a calendar full of some of his best photos in the National Park. Two of the things they love most in this life - their son, and a gorgeous piece of real estate!
Can I confess my main motivation for this post?? Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… sign up: http://bit.ly/sfly2010 Copied and pasted directly from their promotional material. Gotta love free!!
I'm that annoying person that sits down the day after Thanksgiving, completes all of her cards, and gets them in your mailbox by December 1st. I love getting my cards out early every year.
One problem that I have with cards is that its hard to find a pretty, yet young looking religious card. They either look old and stuff, or cartoonish like for a child. Since I celebrate Christmas as the birth of my Savior, I want my cards to reflect that.
In the past I've done more of a letter type card. Not the kind with my past year's ventures, just one with a nice piece of clip art and my favorite Christmas Bible verses. The first year of marriage we did a picture card, since we were newlyweds and could be sappy like that.
But who's to say in for our 3rd married Christmas we can't be sappy too?
When I found out about Shutterfly's Holiday Promotional campaign, I started thinking about all the different pictures I could use.
With this design, we could include pictures of us in various facets of our lives - dressed up, casual, just chillin, with family. This one would mean getting dressed up for a nice family picture. Even though we're just two people - no kids, no pets - we're still a family. Last night would have been the perfect opportunity, if my husband would have cooperated.
Although I must say, I really do like the wall calendar idea. I somehow doubt, however, that my mother-in-law would enjoy a calendar full of my race photos. If children ever come in the picture though - perfect! On a more serious note, I'm going to ask the Mutant if they would enjoy a calendar full of some of his best photos in the National Park. Two of the things they love most in this life - their son, and a gorgeous piece of real estate!
Can I confess my main motivation for this post?? Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… sign up: http://bit.ly/sfly2010 Copied and pasted directly from their promotional material. Gotta love free!!
November 18, 2010
Thankful Thursday - Choose Your Own Adventure
Good morning all! Its thankful Thursday. I've got so many blessings in my life - so why am I so grumpy?
The lie I'm believing: I'm stressed/nervous/anxious about going to a semi-formal charity event tonight.
I feel like a fake, a phoney. People are going to look through my fancy dress and see the blue collar blood running through my veins.
The Voice of Truth: My husband's business has been blessed to include a network of people hosting this event as well as money to donate to help this wonderful cause. The only people who will care that I purchased my designer silk dress for $13 at a consignment store would be impressed about the awesome bargain I got. And hello - I'm wearing a designer silk dress!
The lie I'm believing: I'm fat. I have nothing to wear. A glimpse into the mirror is disgusting.
The Voice of Truth: I'm healthy. Sure I'm not the 123 pounds I was at the first of the year. But that girl was also anemic and unable to churn out the kind of mileage/pace that I'm doing now. While I hope to find a middle ground between then and now, I'd much rather be this girl. A little pudgy, with a bottom her hubby can't help but smack - and able to race.
I have plenty to wear. Too much really. That's why I have a hard time finding clothing.
As far as looking into the mirror...apparently I need a new mirror. The mutant seems to be enjoying what he sees.
The lie I'm believing: Having to get up and go to work every morning (not to mention the difficult of finding time for my medium runs) sucks.
The Voice of Truth: I'm incredible bless. Not only do I have a job, I have a job with excellent benefits. Yes, its true I get a bonus of $50 every 3 months just for working out. I have incredible health insurance (necessary given the Mutant's hemophilia), vacation time and sick time. I couldn't ask for anything better! Well I could, but it wouldn't be realistic. :P
The lie I'm believing: I totally flaked on my run last night. As per my training schedule it was supposed to be an 8 miler. 4 miles were completed outside, then the dark forced me to retreat inside to the treadmill where I was only able to churn out another 6.2.
The Voice of Truth: I didn't want to run at all yesterday. I even had an out - I had forgotten to pack my sports bra. But instead of throwing up my hands and bagging the whole thing, I completed over 3/4s of the prescribed mileage (wearing a friend's too big bra).
The lie I'm believing: I'll never be able to complete a 26.2 mile race! What have I gotten myself into??
The Voice of Truth: To quote the bondiband I won from Christie O's giveaway - I can and I will!!
Do you know what the first song that came up on my IPod (yet another thing to be thankful for)?? "I will choose to listen and believe The Voice of Truth."
I'm very thankful to have a God who puts up with my fits of ungratefulness, yet still loves me.
What are you thankful for today?
The lie I'm believing: I'm stressed/nervous/anxious about going to a semi-formal charity event tonight.
I feel like a fake, a phoney. People are going to look through my fancy dress and see the blue collar blood running through my veins.
The Voice of Truth: My husband's business has been blessed to include a network of people hosting this event as well as money to donate to help this wonderful cause. The only people who will care that I purchased my designer silk dress for $13 at a consignment store would be impressed about the awesome bargain I got. And hello - I'm wearing a designer silk dress!
The lie I'm believing: I'm fat. I have nothing to wear. A glimpse into the mirror is disgusting.
The Voice of Truth: I'm healthy. Sure I'm not the 123 pounds I was at the first of the year. But that girl was also anemic and unable to churn out the kind of mileage/pace that I'm doing now. While I hope to find a middle ground between then and now, I'd much rather be this girl. A little pudgy, with a bottom her hubby can't help but smack - and able to race.
I have plenty to wear. Too much really. That's why I have a hard time finding clothing.
As far as looking into the mirror...apparently I need a new mirror. The mutant seems to be enjoying what he sees.
The lie I'm believing: Having to get up and go to work every morning (not to mention the difficult of finding time for my medium runs) sucks.
The Voice of Truth: I'm incredible bless. Not only do I have a job, I have a job with excellent benefits. Yes, its true I get a bonus of $50 every 3 months just for working out. I have incredible health insurance (necessary given the Mutant's hemophilia), vacation time and sick time. I couldn't ask for anything better! Well I could, but it wouldn't be realistic. :P
The lie I'm believing: I totally flaked on my run last night. As per my training schedule it was supposed to be an 8 miler. 4 miles were completed outside, then the dark forced me to retreat inside to the treadmill where I was only able to churn out another 6.2.
The Voice of Truth: I didn't want to run at all yesterday. I even had an out - I had forgotten to pack my sports bra. But instead of throwing up my hands and bagging the whole thing, I completed over 3/4s of the prescribed mileage (wearing a friend's too big bra).
The lie I'm believing: I'll never be able to complete a 26.2 mile race! What have I gotten myself into??
The Voice of Truth: To quote the bondiband I won from Christie O's giveaway - I can and I will!!
Do you know what the first song that came up on my IPod (yet another thing to be thankful for)?? "I will choose to listen and believe The Voice of Truth."
I'm very thankful to have a God who puts up with my fits of ungratefulness, yet still loves me.
What are you thankful for today?
November 17, 2010
Tinsel Vixen Checkin' in!
Good morning! Today is the first day of the rest of my life!! Or something corny like that.
Actually its the first day of the Holiday Hoedown Challenge. I'm feeling hopeful! I'm proud to say that I'm a member of a team that's focused on adopting healthy habits. Sure most of us want to see the scale move downward, but we're not going to freak if it we don't see big losses every week.
We've agreed on the following habits:
~ 30 minutes of activity 3 times a week.
This one should be easy peasy for me. I'm supposed to be running 4 times a week, plus strength and cross training.
~ 3 fruits/veggies a day
A little more difficult for me. Sometimes I have to consider tomato based sauces as a veggie. Must be more diligent about this one.
~ No negative self talk
Our mental challenge for the week is to be nice to ourselves. Sadly this will probably be the most difficult of the 3 for me.
The Sisterhood has added a challenge of their own. They're asking us to log our exercise minutes starting today through Tuesday. I should do well in this aspect, given my long runs. Since a couple of my teammates are training for events too, I suspect the Tinsel Vixens will represent in this challenge.
I hope to gain several things from this challenge - a good, sound nutrition plan for my marathon training. I'm up to 16 miles already and I'm still eating crap and not hydrating like I should. This will be my downfall if I'm not careful. I can't ask my body to do something its not fueled for.
The challenge hasn't even started and the Vixens are at it in full force. I'm loving the team support we already have going.
I hope to lose several pounds during this challenge. I'm really trying not to care. To accept the "just be healthy" label. But it really does suck that I have several cute outfits purchased last year that I can't wear any more. And the constant tugging at my shirt to make sure my belly isn't hanging out is getting really old.
Even if you aren't signed up for a team I encourage you to join us in our goals!
Actually its the first day of the Holiday Hoedown Challenge. I'm feeling hopeful! I'm proud to say that I'm a member of a team that's focused on adopting healthy habits. Sure most of us want to see the scale move downward, but we're not going to freak if it we don't see big losses every week.
We've agreed on the following habits:
~ 30 minutes of activity 3 times a week.
This one should be easy peasy for me. I'm supposed to be running 4 times a week, plus strength and cross training.
~ 3 fruits/veggies a day
A little more difficult for me. Sometimes I have to consider tomato based sauces as a veggie. Must be more diligent about this one.
~ No negative self talk
Our mental challenge for the week is to be nice to ourselves. Sadly this will probably be the most difficult of the 3 for me.
The Sisterhood has added a challenge of their own. They're asking us to log our exercise minutes starting today through Tuesday. I should do well in this aspect, given my long runs. Since a couple of my teammates are training for events too, I suspect the Tinsel Vixens will represent in this challenge.
I hope to gain several things from this challenge - a good, sound nutrition plan for my marathon training. I'm up to 16 miles already and I'm still eating crap and not hydrating like I should. This will be my downfall if I'm not careful. I can't ask my body to do something its not fueled for.
The challenge hasn't even started and the Vixens are at it in full force. I'm loving the team support we already have going.
I hope to lose several pounds during this challenge. I'm really trying not to care. To accept the "just be healthy" label. But it really does suck that I have several cute outfits purchased last year that I can't wear any more. And the constant tugging at my shirt to make sure my belly isn't hanging out is getting really old.
Even if you aren't signed up for a team I encourage you to join us in our goals!
November 16, 2010
Looooooong Weekend Update
Long referring to the fact that I had 4 days off. Not at all related to the length of the post. Although with 4 days to recap no promises!!
Thursday - Finally got my kitchen cleaned up and a little laundry one. Then it was off to Sam's Club to stockpile and pick up the world's largest jug of laundry detergent.
Friday - A run, some house cleaning, and then Jay & I headed to the University town to pick out tile and fixtures for our bathroom remodel. We came home empty handed, but I think we got a great idea what we were looking for.
After our shopping was complete, we headed to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse to enjoy our belated anniversary dinner.
We took our signature arms-length photo and headed in for one of the most expensive meals of my life. Wanna see what $151 worth of food looks like? (Tip not included)
We had the waiter snap a picture of us with the river front in the background then we headed home. I had to get up early the next morning for a long run (don't tell on me for the glass of wine 'kay?) and Jay put on a documentary that had him snoozing before 9 o'clock!
Saturday - Woke up at 4:30 for my long run. Jay told me that it would take 2 hours to get to Cades Cove from my house. When I arrived in the park - this is what greeted me:
Due to the lack of traffic on the Parkway, I had arrived an hour early, before the picnic area or loop road was even open yet. Thankfully the campground bathrooms were open, so I got to take care of business before heading out to my run.
I brought my new camera along (an anniversary gift) to see how annoying it would be in the pocket of my jacket. I want to get pictures of Disney, but didn't want to bring it along without knowing how it would feel.
Most of the pictures were taken early on in the run, before the hills had sapped my energy. Before I questioned if I had enough to finish 26.2 miles at Disney. (The rest are on Facebook if you want to check them out.)
After my run I caught a quick nap then met my parents along with the Princess and Little Man to head to Dollywood. They have their Christmas lights up now and this past week was only a $5 entrance fee for residents.
Sunday - All of my dad's brothers and sisters met up for lunch - there are 8 of them (including my dad) still living. As per my standard, I took a to-go plate so that I could cart off some of the best mac & cheese ever. My cousin makes a big pot and uses a box and a half of Velveeta! Since the Princess and LM were with us, I had a run for my money on the mac & cheese, but there was still plenty left over for me to have for leftovers this week.
Then it was time to take the kids back to my sister and BIL. We met at a restaurant, but since we were still so full from lunch we just got salad (I boxed half up and will be eating it for lunch today) and soup.
Is it any wonder I'm still exhausted 2 days later??
Thursday - Finally got my kitchen cleaned up and a little laundry one. Then it was off to Sam's Club to stockpile and pick up the world's largest jug of laundry detergent.
Friday - A run, some house cleaning, and then Jay & I headed to the University town to pick out tile and fixtures for our bathroom remodel. We came home empty handed, but I think we got a great idea what we were looking for.
After our shopping was complete, we headed to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse to enjoy our belated anniversary dinner.
We took our signature arms-length photo and headed in for one of the most expensive meals of my life. Wanna see what $151 worth of food looks like? (Tip not included)
Caesar salad and a glass of Guinness
T-Bone steak, shoestring fries, 2 more Guinness, a filet, mashed potatoes, and a glass of red wine.
The world's tiniest cheesecake with raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry garnish
with chocolate pecan bark on the side.
We had the waiter snap a picture of us with the river front in the background then we headed home. I had to get up early the next morning for a long run (don't tell on me for the glass of wine 'kay?) and Jay put on a documentary that had him snoozing before 9 o'clock!
Saturday - Woke up at 4:30 for my long run. Jay told me that it would take 2 hours to get to Cades Cove from my house. When I arrived in the park - this is what greeted me:
Due to the lack of traffic on the Parkway, I had arrived an hour early, before the picnic area or loop road was even open yet. Thankfully the campground bathrooms were open, so I got to take care of business before heading out to my run.
I brought my new camera along (an anniversary gift) to see how annoying it would be in the pocket of my jacket. I want to get pictures of Disney, but didn't want to bring it along without knowing how it would feel.
Most of the pictures were taken early on in the run, before the hills had sapped my energy. Before I questioned if I had enough to finish 26.2 miles at Disney. (The rest are on Facebook if you want to check them out.)
After my run I caught a quick nap then met my parents along with the Princess and Little Man to head to Dollywood. They have their Christmas lights up now and this past week was only a $5 entrance fee for residents.
Sunday - All of my dad's brothers and sisters met up for lunch - there are 8 of them (including my dad) still living. As per my standard, I took a to-go plate so that I could cart off some of the best mac & cheese ever. My cousin makes a big pot and uses a box and a half of Velveeta! Since the Princess and LM were with us, I had a run for my money on the mac & cheese, but there was still plenty left over for me to have for leftovers this week.
Then it was time to take the kids back to my sister and BIL. We met at a restaurant, but since we were still so full from lunch we just got salad (I boxed half up and will be eating it for lunch today) and soup.
THE END
Is it any wonder I'm still exhausted 2 days later??
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