Wednesday, August 17, 2011
I am a runner!
Saw this on my blogger friend Amanda's blog today, and I just had to re-post. As she says, sometimes that mantra alone is enough to get you through a tough run. SO true! Check out her blog at Run to the Finish.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The grass is always greener, or so they say...
I've been struggling a bit this week, feeling exhausted and just down about everything. This is not like me at all, so I decided to write a post on how I'm feeling and why.
I went to the grocery store on my lunch break today to pick up some delicious sushi. As I looked around, I saw so many women my age doing their weekly grocery shopping in tennis or regular workout clothes. I immediately became jealous and got somewhat depressed about having to rush out of there and head back to work. Then I stopped myself and thought, "what is wrong with you?! Don't you love to travel? Don't you enjoy shopping when you feel like it (or when the hubby allows)? Don't you like being able to go out to lunch or dinner or spend money on other useless things when you want?" Of course I do! I love my job, I love my life, and I'm so thankful for it all...it's just hard dealing with the everyday stresses at times. The grass is always greener, so they say.
Though we might be over a decade into the 21st century, there are times when I feel like I'm trapped in 1950 (of course this is without regard to my post being written entirely on my smartphone and immediately posted to Facebook). Not going to get into too much detail here, but it's sad that this gender gap still exists. That said, I could still be in the same position I was back in 2007. I'm pretty sure the grass is greener right here. :)
Everyone around me is getting pregnant. While I've tried to convince myself I'm not sad about the fact that I am not getting pregnant, I guess that's just it...I've been talking myself out of it. Let me assure you that I am BEYOND thrilled for my friends and family who are expecting, and I'm going to be the greatest aunt, friend, etc. in the world! I guess today was the first day I realized that this might not be in the cards for us, after taking yet another test this morning and getting a negative result. I have to point out that while we aren't "officially" trying, let's just say that if it could've happened, it sure would have this month. Did you know there are only 2 (sometimes 3) days a month you can actually get pregnant? For all those who say "we weren't really trying" or "it was an accident," I'm not your biggest fan...just kidding. :) But I am a little J. After feeling sorry for myself for most of the morning (especially after receiving a sweet email from my aunt about carrying a child being the one miracle women get to share with God), I had to stop and remind myself of these wonderful things: I can spoil my niece Bailey, future nephew Cash, and all my wonderful friends' babies as much and any time I want...I can drink a glass or two (or bottle) of wine this evening if I want...I can get as drunk and have as much fun as I want at Kelly's bachelorette party next weekend (yessssss!)...I can keep my running regimen above 25-30 miles per week if I want...I can be as selfish with my time as I want. Regardless of how things turn out, I know it will all be according to God's plan. As my amazing momma said this morning, "we don't know what God's plan is or when it will happen. But He does, and it will be worth the wait." I love you, Mom! :)
"The grass is always greener on the other side," so they say. But that's actually not true. The grass is greenest where it's watered. It's time I start watering this "grass" I've been given. We are truly blessed and have so much to look forward to these next few months. I guess I just needed a reminder to stop dwelling on what's not and be so thankful for what is: a loving husband, amazing family, great friends, my health, a great job, a nice home, Buster the Boston Terrier, and so much more.
With it being tail-wagging Tuesday and all, I had to post a pic of our son, Buster. He always makes me smile. :)
I went to the grocery store on my lunch break today to pick up some delicious sushi. As I looked around, I saw so many women my age doing their weekly grocery shopping in tennis or regular workout clothes. I immediately became jealous and got somewhat depressed about having to rush out of there and head back to work. Then I stopped myself and thought, "what is wrong with you?! Don't you love to travel? Don't you enjoy shopping when you feel like it (or when the hubby allows)? Don't you like being able to go out to lunch or dinner or spend money on other useless things when you want?" Of course I do! I love my job, I love my life, and I'm so thankful for it all...it's just hard dealing with the everyday stresses at times. The grass is always greener, so they say.
Though we might be over a decade into the 21st century, there are times when I feel like I'm trapped in 1950 (of course this is without regard to my post being written entirely on my smartphone and immediately posted to Facebook). Not going to get into too much detail here, but it's sad that this gender gap still exists. That said, I could still be in the same position I was back in 2007. I'm pretty sure the grass is greener right here. :)
Everyone around me is getting pregnant. While I've tried to convince myself I'm not sad about the fact that I am not getting pregnant, I guess that's just it...I've been talking myself out of it. Let me assure you that I am BEYOND thrilled for my friends and family who are expecting, and I'm going to be the greatest aunt, friend, etc. in the world! I guess today was the first day I realized that this might not be in the cards for us, after taking yet another test this morning and getting a negative result. I have to point out that while we aren't "officially" trying, let's just say that if it could've happened, it sure would have this month. Did you know there are only 2 (sometimes 3) days a month you can actually get pregnant? For all those who say "we weren't really trying" or "it was an accident," I'm not your biggest fan...just kidding. :) But I am a little J. After feeling sorry for myself for most of the morning (especially after receiving a sweet email from my aunt about carrying a child being the one miracle women get to share with God), I had to stop and remind myself of these wonderful things: I can spoil my niece Bailey, future nephew Cash, and all my wonderful friends' babies as much and any time I want...I can drink a glass or two (or bottle) of wine this evening if I want...I can get as drunk and have as much fun as I want at Kelly's bachelorette party next weekend (yessssss!)...I can keep my running regimen above 25-30 miles per week if I want...I can be as selfish with my time as I want. Regardless of how things turn out, I know it will all be according to God's plan. As my amazing momma said this morning, "we don't know what God's plan is or when it will happen. But He does, and it will be worth the wait." I love you, Mom! :)
"The grass is always greener on the other side," so they say. But that's actually not true. The grass is greenest where it's watered. It's time I start watering this "grass" I've been given. We are truly blessed and have so much to look forward to these next few months. I guess I just needed a reminder to stop dwelling on what's not and be so thankful for what is: a loving husband, amazing family, great friends, my health, a great job, a nice home, Buster the Boston Terrier, and so much more.
With it being tail-wagging Tuesday and all, I had to post a pic of our son, Buster. He always makes me smile. :)
Monday, August 15, 2011
Weekend Wrap-Up
Oh how I love weekends like this! Friday was my sweet sis-in-law's birthday, so of course we had to decorate her cubicle at work:
It makes me so happy to know that there are other people who enjoy making as big of a deal about birthdays as I do. :) That night, my friend Kelly and I went to Painting with a Twist in Germantown. It was a BLAST! They have a theme picked for each night, and you pay $35 or $45 (depending on how long the class is). You can bring in your own wine, and they have an instructor there guiding you throughout the session. Friday's theme was "Wine Lovers," which was perfect for us. I can't wait to go back!
Saturday, I ran four miles, then got ready to meet Kelly for her very last wedding dress fitting. It's been so much fun going with her to all these fittings...her dress is STUNNING, and Will is going to die when he sees her in it. That's my favorite part of a wedding, when the bride starts walking down the aisle and the groom sees her for the first time. Such a sweet moment! After that, we went to ol' faithful Las Delicias for lunch. My tab was $4.37, and the food was quite delicious. No joke. This place rules.
That night, it was my company's annual Redbirds outing, so Brent and I rushed to get ready and headed downtown. It was a nice, laid back evening with co-workers.
After that, we walked over to Local Gastropub, of course. As always, it did not disappoint.
Sunday started with a super early morning wake up call at 5:45. Autumn, Erin, and I met at 6:15 and headed to the third RRS race: 5-miler #1. It was the PERFECT morning for a race. Cool, breezy, and overcast. We ran into some other friends while there and finished with a decent time of 40 minutes.
Brent and I made it to the 11:15 service at Hope, then went to Half Shell for an incredible brunch. After that, I went to the mall to finish shopping for Kelly's bachelorette weekend (got a few things for myself, too :), then met my sister at her house to watch her and Cary's wedding videos. They were SO great! The dancing parts were the best. :) Such wonderful memories of a beautiful wedding! That night, Brent made my favorite grilled salmon, asparagus, and bread for dinner, and I got to relax and watch my favorite night of television.
Such a wonderful few days!! I also got in just over 25 miles for the week, which I'm happy with. This week, I get to run three times with my awesome running buddy, so I'm pretty pumped about that!
Happy Monday!
Saturday, I ran four miles, then got ready to meet Kelly for her very last wedding dress fitting. It's been so much fun going with her to all these fittings...her dress is STUNNING, and Will is going to die when he sees her in it. That's my favorite part of a wedding, when the bride starts walking down the aisle and the groom sees her for the first time. Such a sweet moment! After that, we went to ol' faithful Las Delicias for lunch. My tab was $4.37, and the food was quite delicious. No joke. This place rules.
That night, it was my company's annual Redbirds outing, so Brent and I rushed to get ready and headed downtown. It was a nice, laid back evening with co-workers.
After that, we walked over to Local Gastropub, of course. As always, it did not disappoint.
Sunday started with a super early morning wake up call at 5:45. Autumn, Erin, and I met at 6:15 and headed to the third RRS race: 5-miler #1. It was the PERFECT morning for a race. Cool, breezy, and overcast. We ran into some other friends while there and finished with a decent time of 40 minutes.
Brent and I made it to the 11:15 service at Hope, then went to Half Shell for an incredible brunch. After that, I went to the mall to finish shopping for Kelly's bachelorette weekend (got a few things for myself, too :), then met my sister at her house to watch her and Cary's wedding videos. They were SO great! The dancing parts were the best. :) Such wonderful memories of a beautiful wedding! That night, Brent made my favorite grilled salmon, asparagus, and bread for dinner, and I got to relax and watch my favorite night of television.
Such a wonderful few days!! I also got in just over 25 miles for the week, which I'm happy with. This week, I get to run three times with my awesome running buddy, so I'm pretty pumped about that!
Happy Monday!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
I'm Back!
I'm so excited to report that I got in 31 miles last week!! After months of feeling sluggish and getting in maybe 18-20 miles (if I'm lucky) per week, I finally feel back to my old self..."old" is not a term I like using as I inch closer to the big 3-0, but I guess I just feel like myself again.
I have a few short-distance races to get through, plus two 10-milers and two half marathons left in the RRS, and the St. Jude half marathon before the end of 2011. Really looking forward to setting a new PR!
On a side note, I just have to say what an AMAZING weekend it was! It was a long work week, but with the hubby out of town, I didn't really feel like sitting at home all weekend. Friday night consisted of a fun dinner date with my beautiful momma. I woke up early on Saturday to run 6.5 miles with Autumn. After a good breakfast and a little rest, my bestie and her sweet boys came over to play with Buster the Boston Terrier for a bit. Then we all went to lunch and did a little shopping. It was tax-free weekend, so of course I had to take advantage! That night, I did one of my favorite things...ordered hibachi take-out, had a couple glasses of wine, rented a movie, and just chilled at home. Ahh, heaven!
Sunday morning, I went out for a quick run and then "ran" into my dad at almost 2 miles. I ended up running over five miles, three of which with him. Such a cool thing! I went to the late morning service at Hope Church and heard such a wonderful message, and then ran a couple errands. I picked up my precious niece after that, took her to the grocery store, and then we played in the sprinkler for a bit.
Sunday nights in the summer are the BEST for TV (True Blood, Entourage, Kardashians, and really anything on E!), so of course I indulged in that guilty pleasure. The hubby got home last night, and I was SO happy to have him back!
So very thankful for my amazing family, true friends, and days without drama. :) Here's to a fabulous week...almost 10 miles logged so far!
I have a few short-distance races to get through, plus two 10-milers and two half marathons left in the RRS, and the St. Jude half marathon before the end of 2011. Really looking forward to setting a new PR!
On a side note, I just have to say what an AMAZING weekend it was! It was a long work week, but with the hubby out of town, I didn't really feel like sitting at home all weekend. Friday night consisted of a fun dinner date with my beautiful momma. I woke up early on Saturday to run 6.5 miles with Autumn. After a good breakfast and a little rest, my bestie and her sweet boys came over to play with Buster the Boston Terrier for a bit. Then we all went to lunch and did a little shopping. It was tax-free weekend, so of course I had to take advantage! That night, I did one of my favorite things...ordered hibachi take-out, had a couple glasses of wine, rented a movie, and just chilled at home. Ahh, heaven!
Sunday morning, I went out for a quick run and then "ran" into my dad at almost 2 miles. I ended up running over five miles, three of which with him. Such a cool thing! I went to the late morning service at Hope Church and heard such a wonderful message, and then ran a couple errands. I picked up my precious niece after that, took her to the grocery store, and then we played in the sprinkler for a bit.
She's the best shopping partner!
And she loves the sprinkler!
Sunday nights in the summer are the BEST for TV (True Blood, Entourage, Kardashians, and really anything on E!), so of course I indulged in that guilty pleasure. The hubby got home last night, and I was SO happy to have him back!
So very thankful for my amazing family, true friends, and days without drama. :) Here's to a fabulous week...almost 10 miles logged so far!
Friday, August 5, 2011
I can, so I will!
I like to think of myself as a positive, happy person, so I try to surround myself with positive people as often as I can. Positivity is infectious, and you'd be surprised how quickly your day can turn around when you put a smile on your face. As one of my favorite sayings goes, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."
With that said, instead of focusing on the negatives, something I'm tired of, or isn't happening because of health reasons, I want to take a moment to express how thankful I am for all the things I CAN do right now. :)
I CAN travel when I want to (provided my boss approves my time off). We don't have children yet, and there's still so much we want to do. In just three weeks, I'll be in NOLA for one of my best friend's bachelorette party. After that, we'll head to Seaside, FL for a wedding, NOLA again the next weekend for another wedding, Vegas the next week for a conference/our 4th wedding anniversary, and then I go to Colorado the following weekend to visit with my mom's side of the family.
Next year, Brent and I will have been together for 10 years; not to mention we're both turning 30. We've always talked about going to Italy, and I think 2012 is the perfect time! Oh yeah, there's also a half marathon at Disney World, I'm speaking at a conference in Vegas, possible races in NYC and Boston, and a wedding in Tampa...we have to fit in all those trips as well.
I CAN treat Buster the Boston Terrier like my child and spoil him as often as I want. :)
I CAN go for a 10+ mile run (or sign up for another race) anytime I feel like it!
I CAN sleep in on a Saturday...and go for a run after that.
I CAN stop being friends with people who only breed negativity or don't reciprocate that friendship. I'm nice to a fault sometimes...and keep people in my life who should no longer have a place.
I CAN continue focusing on my career. I love what I do, and I'm having a blast traveling, learning more about this industry, and building my resume. As a marketing professional, I get to express myself creatively every day, whether by writing, designing a website, or being asked to speak at a conference, and I am BEYOND thankful for that!
I CAN have fun with my hubby...and we sure do!
I can do all these things...so I will. :)
With that said, instead of focusing on the negatives, something I'm tired of, or isn't happening because of health reasons, I want to take a moment to express how thankful I am for all the things I CAN do right now. :)
I CAN travel when I want to (provided my boss approves my time off). We don't have children yet, and there's still so much we want to do. In just three weeks, I'll be in NOLA for one of my best friend's bachelorette party. After that, we'll head to Seaside, FL for a wedding, NOLA again the next weekend for another wedding, Vegas the next week for a conference/our 4th wedding anniversary, and then I go to Colorado the following weekend to visit with my mom's side of the family.
Next year, Brent and I will have been together for 10 years; not to mention we're both turning 30. We've always talked about going to Italy, and I think 2012 is the perfect time! Oh yeah, there's also a half marathon at Disney World, I'm speaking at a conference in Vegas, possible races in NYC and Boston, and a wedding in Tampa...we have to fit in all those trips as well.
I LOVE Vegas!
Can't wait for her wedding next month!!
I CAN treat Buster the Boston Terrier like my child and spoil him as often as I want. :)
LOVE him!
I CAN go for a 10+ mile run (or sign up for another race) anytime I feel like it!
My first marathon! :)
I CAN sleep in on a Saturday...and go for a run after that.
I CAN stop being friends with people who only breed negativity or don't reciprocate that friendship. I'm nice to a fault sometimes...and keep people in my life who should no longer have a place.
I CAN continue focusing on my career. I love what I do, and I'm having a blast traveling, learning more about this industry, and building my resume. As a marketing professional, I get to express myself creatively every day, whether by writing, designing a website, or being asked to speak at a conference, and I am BEYOND thankful for that!
I CAN have fun with my hubby...and we sure do!
I can do all these things...so I will. :)
Monday, August 1, 2011
South Main Trolley Tour
If you live in Memphis and haven't done the South Main Trolley Tour yet, it's an absolute must! Another fabulous (and FREE) "to do" checked off my Memphis Must-Do list, and I'm so glad we did it.
My friend, Autumn, was showcasing some of her work at the Memphis College of Art Graduate Center, so we were excited to show our support. She is SO talented!! Not to mention all the galleries had free wine and hors d'oeuvres, and Ghost River had tents all along S. Main with their tasty treats. I so wish we had an endless supply of money so I could just buy art anytime I wanted...
This was the highlight of our weekend, and probably one of the most fun things I've ever experienced in Memphis (aside from my wedding night, of course). Can't wait to check off more on my Memphis to-do list!
FYI...Trolley Nights are the last Friday of every month in the South Main Historic District. All the art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants are open, and most with special "Trolley Night" discounts. The actual trolley is free as well, though to be honest, it seemed easier to walk on foot. It's a blast, and we can't wait to do it again!
Anyone else experienced Trolley Night?
My friend, Autumn, was showcasing some of her work at the Memphis College of Art Graduate Center, so we were excited to show our support. She is SO talented!! Not to mention all the galleries had free wine and hors d'oeuvres, and Ghost River had tents all along S. Main with their tasty treats. I so wish we had an endless supply of money so I could just buy art anytime I wanted...
This was the highlight of our weekend, and probably one of the most fun things I've ever experienced in Memphis (aside from my wedding night, of course). Can't wait to check off more on my Memphis to-do list!
FYI...Trolley Nights are the last Friday of every month in the South Main Historic District. All the art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants are open, and most with special "Trolley Night" discounts. The actual trolley is free as well, though to be honest, it seemed easier to walk on foot. It's a blast, and we can't wait to do it again!
Anyone else experienced Trolley Night?
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