Thursday's Thankful Three - Instagram Style

Instead of my standard Thursday list post, I wanted to mix things up a bit.  If you don't follow me on Instagram, shame on you!  Just kidding...but seriously...

In case you missed them, I wanted to share 3 of my favorite pictures from this past week. 

Friday night, I was exhausted and didn't feel like cooking.  I'd had a bad run after work - the plan called for a 45 minute tempo run.  I couldn't hit my target pace, so I bailed almost 15 minutes early.  Before I settled in to watch What Not To Wear, I made myself dinner.  And by dinner I mean comfort food.

The picture didn't turn out very well, but I ate one of my favorites - Salisbury steak and mac & cheese.  Growing up, my parents didn't have a lot of money.  If we got meat for dinner, it was typically in the form of SPAM or Freezer Queen Salisbury steak.  Since my cake-eater hubby doesn't like frozen dinners, I go with the individual serving rather than the family size package.  The brand I buy isn't as good as Freezer Queen though.  This meal  is definitely more about remembering happy childhood memories, and less about good quality nutrition.

Sunday morning I woke up early enough to enjoy a quiet morning by my creek.  Taking my Bible study outside, I got my morning started off well.  I played around on the Internet a bit, and Jay was still asleep.  I hated to go inside to wake him, so I just set up camp. 

Saturday morning was a 10 miler with the final 2 miles at goal race pace, so my body was still feeling it a bit by the time Sunday rolled around.  My training buddy found the website doyogawithme.com and recommended some of the videos.  I decided to make my own yoga studio.  I just have a tiny netbook computer, but my view (of the creek/pond) was much nicer than the one on the video any way! 

I've had a request to vlog me walking from my front porch to the creek so y'all can see how its laid out.  I'll try to get to that next week.

 

The last photo comes from my Bible study.  I try to get it done first thing in the morning, but sometimes it works out better than others.  Sometimes my brain is still foggy or asleep.  This particular morning, verse 17 jumped right out at me.

 

Love each other.

 

Don't all things for which we are thankful

come back to the big three:

 family, blessings, and The Lord?

Take Me Out...

Since we don't have kids (aka people to get away from) Jay and I don't have official date nights.  We probably should, given his hermit tendencies, but that's a blog for another day.

Last weekend when my sister's kiddos were hanging out with my parents, they came by for a visit to enjoy the pool.  While there, my father mentioned this week being the last home series for the Tennessee Smokies - our local AA baseball team.

Back in the day, my dad use to take my sister and I to games all summer.  (My mom isn't a fan, plus I think she liked having a night "off.")  We'd watch the game, eat ice cream out of mini plastic helmets, then get autographs after the game.

He still goes just as frequently (if not more so) then ever, especially since they moved the stadium closer to our house.  Somehow I've managed to go all season without seeing a game.  Or least I had until last night. 

Jay wasn't feeling well, but since last night's game against the Mobile Bay Bears was the last home game of the regular season, he was a trooper and went any way.  Daddy's baseball buddy has tickets right behind home plate, so we enjoyed some of the best seats in the house.

2 orders of nachos supreme, 1 chili dog, 3 cokes, and 3 ice cream helmets later, the Smokies pulled out a 4-2 victory.   I was in the bathroom for the home run (I miss all the good plays!), and the Bay Bears made a run for it, scoring their only 2 runs during the 9th inning.  End the end, we got to sing our victory song.

Misunderstandings

We all have those moments, where one thing is said but something completely different is heard/understood.  At least I think I'm not alone here - Amy, queen of the MisSeries will hopefully back me up on this one.

Like the time Jay fussed because I was playing too many Words with Friends rounds.  I defended myself "But I'm fighting off Alzheimers one game at a time."

Months later he returned to the same complaint staying "In reality, how much do they donate for each game? A penny?"

Confused, I asked him to explain.  After all, WWF is a free game, and it certainly doesn't pay anyone to play.  "You said they donated to Alzheimer's every time you played."

Um, no.

"I said I was fighting Alzheimers.  Meaning keeping my mind active."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today is one of those Murphy's Law Mondays where everything is seemingly going wrong.  If I couldn't laugh, I'd cry.  Hit me up in the comments with a similar story of how someone in your circle misunderstood what was said.

A Day Late, For Good (?) Reason

This is the part where we pretend I'm making a point posting my thankful list on a day other than Thursday is to prove a point.  Thankfulness isn't just a Thursday thing - its an all week thing.  (Especially when I get side tracked all day Thursday and don't manage to get my list posted on time.)

the view on the way home from my latest trophy wife dinner

I would say its been a weird week - I've been tired, busy, and feel a little run down today.  Looking back over my list, however, I can't help but think I earned it.  I certainly wouldn't have done it any differently!  Some of the things include my thankful list numbers 1664-1690.
 

1666) Overcoming fear & trying a new recipe

1667) Recipe success!

1669) Going to the movies with the girls

1672) Bears in the cove

 

Can you see this little guy peeking over the leaves?

 

1675) Sleepover with the Princess

1676) Nails, makeup, and Teen Beach Movie

 

 

1678) Cookout with the fam

1679) Yankees/Red Sox game on the big screen

1682) Jesus Loves Me --> song

1683) Jesus Loves Me --> fact

1689) HelpingBen.com - Coworkers who care

1691) Swimming with the kiddos

1693) Big project planning @ work

 

 

Okay so this pic isn't directly related with my thankful list, although a good night's sleep is always something for which to be thankful.  The night before this picture was taken, I went to bed with my bangs hanging down as normal.  When I woke up, they were pushed back to this position.  Must have done a lot of tummy sleeping/wallering that night!!

 

What's made your thankful list this past week?

Anything fun you're looking forward to this weekend?



Funk-Be-Gone

I forgot last week was so awful until I retrieved my thankful post to see what numbers I was on this week.  (For the record, the answer is 1636-1663.)  As soon as I realized how much better this week has been in comparison, it made the list and is definitely worth the highlight.

 

My thankful quantity isn't huge, but I have had several good things to be thankful for - including but not limited to:
 

1637) Finishing a fictional fluffy book

1638) Starting a new book

1643) Racing with friends

1652) Cooling off post-run in the pool

1657) Elite chocolate samples

1663) New friends

For what have you been thankful this past week?

Old School - August edition

Once again Jaime has twisted my arm (okay, so she just posted hers, making me want to join) into participating in Old School blogging over at The Miss Elaine-ous Life.

This month's Elaine is encouraging us to show off our refrigerators.  Mine is a bit embarrassing, but I have a few things I love about it, so I really wanted to participate.

 

First up, the cool stuff. 

 

 

The interior side is home to my magnet collection and my first-aid flip chart.  The magnets are all gifts from imaginary (aka Internet) friends.  They either represent the state in which the friend lives, or else has a funny saying.  A friend of mine from South Carolina works for USC, and sent me a Gamecocks magnet from the college bookstore.  Another friend sent the "Marriage is finding that special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life" magnet. 

 

My father-in-law is in real estate.  One of his marketing tools is a first-aid flip charge with a magnet on the back.  Of course he doesn't need to market to me, but its an quick reference in case of emergency. 

 

The other side has our calendar (also a marketing tool of the FIL that is handy for us).  Just above the calendar is a love note Jay left me several years ago, held up by a magnet I won in Ann's giveaway.

 

 

 

My Love,

One more day till we own our first house!!

I love you!

Jay

 

Who knew when he said "first" he neglected to add "of many?!

 

I try to keep the front of the fridge clutter free, taking things down frequently.  Currently we have scrabble magnets spelling out our last name.  We also have up a recent picture of my cousin's kid.  (No, I don't normally have his face covered with a magnet :P)  Just below the picture is a thank you note.  To the right is a magnetic note pad my niece got me for Christmas.  Its got 7 lines, so typically I use it to write the meal plan for the week.  When I have a meal plan for the week.  You'll note this week its empty.  Oops!

 

 

Now you've seen pictures, you probably know what the embarrassing part is.  Allow me to explain.  When Jay and I were in the process of moving, we lived in both houses for a while.  Depending on what we were doing in town, we stayed at the place most convenient.  We were at the new place a while before the door handles got installed on our fridge.

 

We had to open the fridge holding it by the top.  Stainless smudges so easily (I hate it, but Jay insists upon it), so we left the protective plastic coating on to protect it from palm prints.  We kinda got use to looking at it, and even after the handles were installed, we never bothered to remove the plastic. 

 

 I only ever think about it when someone new comes over and I have to explain it away.  I vow to myself I'll remove it when they leave, only to forget until the next time.  What are the chances I'll actually remember to do it this evening?

 

What's on your fridge? 

Let me know if you blog it with pictures, I'd love to check them out!

Racing to Remember 5k - Race Report

This 5K wasn't initially on my race calendar.  I'm not a huge fan of racing in the summer, especially since I haven't been training in it (until my half training started a few weeks ago.)  A friend of mine decided to run it in honor of her dad, so I joined her.  We did this race last year, and it wasn't one of my favorites but you can't beat a race for a good cause.

Friday morning, my alarm didn't go off (or I managed to turn if off in my sleep).  That meant paranoia Saturday morning.  I woke up at 4:30, and never let myself go back to sleep fully - more like dozing every 10-15 minutes to make sure I got to the race on time.

On time is an understatement.  I ended up getting there so early, the registration table wasn't even ready for me.  I hadn't preregistered, so I got a chance to scope out the t-shirt before committing $5 to it.  I hit the porta-potty, then played on my phone until Christal and Kristi arrived.

Having ran the race last year, I felt pretty familiar with the course.  Flattish, with a bit of a downhill finish.  I didn't have a real pace plan, but figured anything close to 8:30 range would be good.  I was hoping to pick it up towards the end, but I'm notoriously bad at negative splits in short races.

Mile 1 - 8:24

I tried to pick up my pace a bit, but the humidity was horrid (90%+).  I quickly knew I'd be doing well to maintain my pace.  Swinging wide at the turn (last year the course was short) I tried to pick it up with no luck.

Mile 2 - 8:25

In the last mile, there is a bit of an incline before the downhill finish, cause that's how uphills work. I tried to push without puking.  I suspected I was 1st in my age group, I only had to maintain to reach this racing milestone.  My pick up on the downhill wasn't enough to make up for the sluggish uphill.

Mile 3 - 8:41

About a quarter mile to go, I started to push so hard I suspect I might vomit.  Between that and the horses chasing me on the side of the road, I'm quite pleased with my final kick.

0.1 - {7:42}

Yes,  there were horses.  Yes, this run was held on a major 4 line highway.  No, the horses weren't behind a fence. 

Final time - 26:32 

Christal finished shortly behind me and we grabbed someone to get our picture.  She ended up earning a 2nd place A/G award (turns out the woman ahead of me who I was unsure about is Christal's age.)

The night before, Kristi had asked me to help her finish like last year.  I grabbed my water and trotted back to her - encouraging her to walk/run the last half mile or so for a strong finish.  I'm very proud of her!  She ended up with a 3rd place A/G award.

 


I was about 45 seconds from a PR (I'm getting so spoiled to expect them these days), but I didn't get too upset about it.  After looking at the results, my first official 1st place A/G win more than made up for it!

Sharing Our Spoons - Monthly Goals

I shared yesterday about my attempt to come off my anxiety/depression medication.  My doctor advised me to give it a try earlier in the spring (but conceded I needed to wait until after the move), just to see how it went.  My issues are mild enough, she hopes daily medication isn't needed in the long term.  

One thing I have come to realize over the past year or so, is that I have not one but two "chronic illnesses" - anxiety/depression and asthma.  I put the phrase in quotes because I don't feel I earn the label.  My friend Jamee, who I've known around the blog-o-sphere for a few years now, first introduced me to idea.  She's a wife and a mom who battles chronic illness daily.  

Having recently lost her job due to her conditions, she decided to bring back regular feature on her blog.  I've never felt the urge to participate, because I didn't feel my issues were bad enough.  Isn't that like women today - we're never pretty/skinny/funny enough.  And here I was discounting my CI experiences as not "bad" enough.

One thing I've come to realize - if they are bad enough to warrant medicine, they are bad enough.  This summer, while I've not been taking my daily oral asthma medicine, I've found myself needing my inhaler for runs that I wouldn't have before.  

I want to be the kind of person who does everything I can to make my life better.  I want to be a good/godly wife, living each moment to its fullest.  Medication (while sometimes necessary) can only take me so far.  There are choices I have to make for myself.  Jamee recommends setting several goals to review each month.

 

1.   Physical: could be weight loss or exercise related or it could be goals like eating more veggies or cutting soda

Guilt free healthy eating - no calorie counting or food restriction.  Just good, nutritious foods in moderation. Splurges allowed.

2.   Mental/Emotional: take a day to be alone, write a letter, paint, etc

meeting up with friends (or having people over) once a week

3.   Spiritual: start a new devotional book, commit a certain amount of time a day for prayer/meditation

quiet walk/run alone with God (1 per week)

4.   Something fun: Take time to treat yourself – maybe a pedicure or Starbucks (if you don’t typically splurge for specialty coffee)

think i would scare the nail tech if i went in for a pedi with my half-a-toenail?

 

5.   BONUS: One thing to get you out of your comfort zone a week – try something new, sign up for a class you maybe have been putting off.

I'm very lazy when it comes to doing my hair.  I'm donating it in honor of my cousin who was diagnosed with cancer last summer, and with this length/thickness its a cumbersome process.  HOWEVER i always feel good about myself when i take the time to fix it (instead of just scrunching it with gel).  for my bonus I'm going to push myself out of my comfort zone and actually fix my hair once a week.

I wanted to think these goals through before committing, but August is already 1/4 over so I'd better get on it!!  Suggestions for different things I could try for future months?

 

This Week's Blog

I've been in a funk all week.  I'm not sure if its PMS, trying to come off my anxiety/depression medication (currently on half doses), or if I'm fighting off a virus.  As a result, I haven't felt like blogging all week.  That might make me a bad blogger, if so, I don't really care.  So let's get that sorry, I'm not sorry out of the way straight off the bat.

Today I started my morning off like any other - laying in bed for a few minutes catching up on Words With Friends games.  I got up, made my coffee, took my medicine, and got back in bed.  Still all part of my routine.  First thing to start the day - Bible study.

I first read the chapter my parents' pastor blogs about, then move on to the study-of-the-moment.  Today I read 2nd Chronicles instead of 1st and it didn't make sense.  Then I found myself skimming the chapter.  I never made it to my Beth Moore study Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit.

I called my boss, leaving a voicemail saying I didn't feel well and wouldn't be coming into work.   I've spent all morning in bed (save for making myself toast for breakfast) and even went back to sleep for a few hours.  I'm still not sure what's up with my body, but fighting it all week hasn't worked.  Hopefully giving in will.

Focusing on the good in my life, rather than the bad, is constant work for me.  I definitely didn't want to miss doing this week's thankful post - numbers 1584-1635.

1587) Jay's attitude positively affecting mine.

1591) Nail polish stickers

1601) Wii Just Dancing

1607) Relaxing in the creek post run

1612) Trying a new church - casual atmosphere

1619) Means/energy to put up corn

1627) Dinner done before power went out

1628) City Water - dishes done w/o power

1629) City Water - toilet flushes

1630) Battery powered lanterns

1631) POWER!!!

1634) Sick time to use 

What have you been thankful for this past week?

Is That All He Thinks About???

Yes ladies (and gents?) we're going to talk about it today.  

You know.  It.

IT.

Please let me start this book review by saying I'm a prude through and through.  As in wear-my-suit-in-the-hot-tub at my house. In my side yard.  With my husband.  Where no neighbors can see us.

So when my Once Upon the Internet friend Marla Taviano offered a free copy of her book in exchange for a review, I hesitated.  What if someone sees me reading it?  I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea or anything.

I mean for goodness sake - the book came wrapped in brown paper packaging! ;) 

I found parts of this book embarrassing but that's probably more a commentary of myself, rather than the sections in question.

Taviano doesn't take herself too seriously, which is something I love about her writing style (this book included). She never comes across as holier (or sexier in this case) than thou, but rather a work-in-progress muddling through like the rest of us.

The book's primary theme (sex aside) is selflessness - something I'm prone to buck against. She hits the reader with some challenging material, while maintaining an easy-to-read format.  Some of her points didn't sit well with me.  Not sure if its because I disagree, or because she's right and I just don't want to admit it.

Her best piece of advice (in my opinion) - PRAY.  Seriously.  About IT, about marriage, about your relationship, about everything.  I took this piece of advice early in the week - big surprise - it actually worked. 

The prayer went something like this "God - I don't like my husband very much right now.  Could you do something about that?"  I came home to a hubby who (despite having a full/stressful day) greeted me with his good mood.  The mood became infectious.  I ended the day adding a couple of different things he did to my thankful list.

And no "IT" didn't have anything to do with the mood. 

Bottom line: I consider Taviano a marriage mentor, despite the face she and I have never met in real life.

Coke, Allergy Shots, and My Front Porch

Seems to be I've been slacking off with my thankful list (and posts) these days.  Maybe I find myself thankful for the same mundane things.  Then again, maybe the monotony of my life should inspire thanks itself.  I have an incredible life - and monotony means its staying that way.

 

Maybe I should purpose to consider 1 unique thing for which I am thankful each day, as well as including the daily stuff? Those of you with thankful lists - how do you stay motivated?

Here's what I've got for the past 2 weeks (numbers 1510-1583):

1515) success with new recipes

1518) Ragnar team meeting

1522) learning an excel short cut

1526) fitting my 8 miler around volunteering at a 10K

1530) confidence to try new things

1541) beauty hunters boot camp

 

1544) new sitcom to watch with jay

1545) dinner on the patio

1556) good run 2 days prior to race

1561) zucchini & squash from a friend's garden

1565) pre-race first aid

1566) 8K PR!

1569) cook out with in-laws & my family

1574) toenail - > new growth

 

 

1579) contact lenses

1581) paddle boarding with the run group

 

 

For what have you been thankful these past few weeks?