TGIF to You!

Oh. Thank. Goodness.

Even Willow is happy its Friday

Its Friday.

Do I really need to explain what a relief this is? What a l-o-n-g week. I am beat. Plus, its Mother's Day weekend. This is only my second Mother's Day that I get to celebrate being a mom so its still new to me from this side. I'm not going to lie, any occasion that I get a big breakfast out is a good holiday. I'm looking forward to having a family day as well!

Tomorrow Willow gets to have a play date with her future boyfriend, I mean neighbor, so I'm pretty excited about that as well. It cracks me up to watch them interact. They bicker like an old married couple already, except we have no idea what they are saying to each other.

Yesterday I ran 2.75 miles, nice and slow, but It was good to just get out. It would have been quicker but a lady stopped to talk to me and tell me about a good jogging trail I should try. Another thing I like about running- Nice people!  I would like to run today too but I'm tired and fighting a migraine already. Maybe Willow and I will get up early before I get my oil changed tomorrow morning and go for a quick run. Its a good excuse to wear my new running skirt I haven't gotten to wear yet, right? ;)


I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day weekend!

I'm sure we can all agree with this statement.

Her'sday- What to Get Your Mom for Mother's Day

It has been a LONG week.

Don't be surprised when I sprint down the two flights of stairs out of my building Friday at 5 and leave a cloud of dust behind me. Kidding. We all know I can not go that fast!

I didn't forget about Her'sday this week! Joy! So, since Mother's day is Sunday lets talk about that. Josh has asked me what I want and I do not know. I was thinking about signing up for a once a week class at the community center doing yoga or zumba. I really don't like yoga though. I like the stretching, but I don't like all the visualizing discussions. I can't relax when someone is telling me to relax or telling me in a creepy calm voice to visualize energy coming out of my finger tips. What Marvel Comic did I end up in here??

I can't wait until Willow is old enough to make a Mother's day present, like a cute little macaroni card or something. Yes, I'm looking forward to that.

Also, I have thoughts on my own Mom's present, but I will not post them because I know she is like the only person that reads this.

What about you? Do you have an active Mom? Here's a list of some cool gear you could show her your appreciation with:

1. Click Protein Shake - What mom on the go wouldn't appreciate breakfast, chocolate, and coffee all in one? With only 120 Calories and 15 grams of protein, is a great way to get through that morning run in the park or the run to the bus stop!

2. Danskin Now Tank Top - These are only $5.96 and they are so comfortable! I have one in purple (and in more colors soon!) and its light and a great material to wear while working out!

3.Love With Food - For $120.00 this is the gift that keeps on giving! Every month for a year a box of gourmet treats will arrive at your mom's door for her to enjoy!

4. Tervis Tumbler - I will admit, I am a little obsessed with these. I don't have a water bottle one yet so I might have to check those out soon. They have cute "Mom" tumblers and a whole bunch of other cute styles and different sizes as well.

5. You could always go with the classic, and make her brunch. But the only way to make that extra awesome is if you clean up the mess in the kitchen afterward. Vacuuming the rest of the house for her wouldn't hurt either. Just Sayin'.


I used my Reward Points from my debit card to order Willow a play laptop. It came in yesterday:

pure love right there

After driving a total of 2.5 hours (estimating) after work yesterday to pick Willow up from a cattle show she was as with her babysitter, I'm pooped. (getting up at 4:30 yesterday morning didn't help) Even though I ran yesterday, I think I could use another run today, just to keep some energy going so I'm going to squeeze one in after work.

Hope you all have a wonderful Her'sday!

Early Morning + Being a Runaway Mommy So Far

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

I slacked yesterday, I didn't post and I didn't run. The babysitter could only watch Willow until 12 so I left work early and we had a mini girls day. Mostly we ran errands but it was still time spent together.

After all that getting in and out of the vehicle I was beat. So stoufers and a salad for dinner it was and then I gave the little one a bath and worked on getting her to go asleep. Which the thunderstorm made that a little difficult. We tried having her in our bed for a while but I like my kidneys kick free while I'm trying to sleep.

Anyway, We had to get up around 4:30 this morning. Willow's babysitter is going out of town for the day for something with her kids (I think its a fair type thing, her kids have to show their cows they raise) and she said she could still take Willow for the day. Hopefully they won't get back too late.

I got Willow ready and Josh left to take her to the sitter's (Which, btw, is the first time he's ever done that )  so I went for a quick run. I ran 2.58 miles in about 27 minutes. That included my warm up, I was short on time this morning.

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I was reading a few of my first posts from a couple months ago and I can see my improvement. The main reason why I started this blog was to be able to see how far I've come. When I first started my absolute long run was 2.5 miles. Now that's the shortest distance I will let myself go. I'm a little faster, and I wouldn't say running is easy. Breathing while running is getting better and I'm testing distances/speeds/new areas to run.

 Since I've started running I feel like I'm finding myself again. After having Willow I let my role become mainly "mom", which I'm not saying is a bad thing, but its healthiest to have something of your own too. Its healthiest for everyone. You realize that you can be a mom and be you at the same time, you don't have to give up one for the other.

Also, its great to see your little girl sit up in the jogging stroller and yell "Go, Go, Go!"
Best. Cheerleader. Ever.

Some Days are Good, Some are Not

Happy Monday! (If that is possible. I am wearing clothes that don't match, no time for make up, but plenty of time for Mommy Guilt)

Friday was a great run. I finished the first 3 miles in just a few seconds past 30 minutes. Which would be the fastest for that distance for me so far. I completed 3.52 miles in 36.31. Not bad for me.

Friday's Run

Saturday was busy, we went to a birthday party, visited my dad at an event he was helping at, and had a fish fry Saturday night with friends and family. Yesterday we went to "Arts in the Park" which was fun. Its a big outdoor art show. It was really neat seeing all the different stuff but man it was expensive!




I ran 3 miles yesterday but it didn't seem as great as Friday's run. Its funny how some days you feel like you are awesome and can do anything and then two days later you are surprised you even made it to the end of the street without keeling over. I also learned not to push buttons on my Garmin watch yesterday, It stopped tracking my run after about a mile and I couldn't figure out how to resume so I had to start a new "run" on it.

Also, I cannot find a good water bottle to run with. I love my "color me rad" bottle but its 32 oz, and I need something small and hand held I can carry when I'm running (like an 8 oz bottle). The two I've tried leak all over me and it is really frustrating! Any suggestions??


Hope everyone has a great day! Since I also did way too many side crunches my sides are sore along with my calves, so tonight is my rest night!

Willow and her cousin Carter

Her'sday Recap and a Lunch Break Run

Oh My Goodness!

I forgot about Her'sday! I was so busy yesterday that it totally went over my head. So just to do a quick re-cap for Her'sday:

Missed her!

After work I met up with the bestie at our favorite watering hole, Major Willy's,  for a a drink (or two) and some crab and shrimp dip. That place is awesome, we always have a great time there! It wasn't busy either, not counting Jess and I there were two other ladies at the other end of the bar, and that was it. The people there are so polite and funny! Our favorite bartender was not there this time, which I was definitely looking forward to saying hi to her!

I hadn't seen Jess in a few weeks, so we had catching up to do and she also had a bag of goodies for me for my birthday. She always knows just what to get me, in drinks and in gifts haha. Its like she can read my mind!

Anyway, after girl time I headed home and played with miss Willow for a bit before bath and bedtime. She stayed up later than normal and didn't want to wake up this morning, its really hard to come to work when you have a snugly toddler at home.
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I'm taking a late lunch break this afternoon so I can get a run in with out getting home too late. I really enjoy running in the neighborhoods around my job, I love looking at the cute houses. It keeps my mind off how far I've ran and it also gives me good ideas for our yard. Or....what I wish I could do to our yard. 

I need to make sure I get in a good stretch, the back of my thighs are really sore and tight (I've been doing squats all week!). I've been wanting to do some yoga to loosen up but haven't gotten a chance to this week. Maybe tomorrow morning!


I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Its supposed to cool down some next week...get your jackets ready!


Source: Theberry.com

Truth.

Truth Time:

1.) I'm wearing a dress for the 3rd day in a row. Why? Because I don't feel like wearing pants. A dress is really just a long shirt  (or public night gown) and who wants to wear pants anyway?

Its funny because a lot of times wearing a dress makes you look "nicer" but guess what? Wearing pants takes a lot more effort...for me anyway.


2.) Willow can do magic tricks. She gave me a hug yesterday while she was eating a lollipop and when she was done hugging me I noticed the lollipop was gone. POOF.

It was stuck to the back of my head.

3.) Lastly. I think people just figured out that when I say "I started that yesterday" (like a task) what I really meant to say was "I saw it. I may have picked it up. But only to put it out of view."

I'd get around to it the next day. Just not "yesterday" when I "started" it.

Truth time is over.



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Since I ran yesterday morning, I didn't do much of anything last night. Some sit ups, but other than that I finished off the brownies (Josh never even had a chance at them) and made dinner. I did clean the kitchen and hallway floor, which can be pretty laborious. Then I had some cheddar biscuits my favorite neighbor made. I still have some, they'll be devoured when I get home tonight....after I do a very intensive work out video via Youtube.

What is your favorite baked food? If it has chocolate or cheese, count me in please!


I'm swamped at work, but I just wanted to share my hump day thoughts.

Enjoy your day!

Early AM Run and Foooood

Source

Good Morning!

I woke up at 4:30 this morning (as we say in the south, "at the a$$ crack of dawn") to run on the treadmill. I ran 3.02 in 35 minutes so not bad.

I tried doing 8 minute abs last night but someone thinks that I am extra fun to sit on while I do this so I didn't get to finish. I did do about 40 squats and then I got about half way through a strength training video (after Willow was asleep) before I received a text from my favorite neighbor saying these were ready:


Stolen from her facebook :) 

So, obviously I immediately had to run over there in the dark and eat one, bring back 3 and eat one of those once I got home. I tried to convince Josh I only had one the whole night, but he knew better.

You see why I got up at 4:30? I had to work off a fraction of those calories...so worth it though, those things are delicious!

You know what else is tasty? Overnight Oats with Nutella- Recipe (try it, I swear you'll like it):

• 2/3 cup old fashioned oats
• 1 banana cut up
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 2 spoonfuls nutella
• 1/2 (or 2/3, depending on thickness you want) 1% milk
• some crushed walnuts
• dash of cinnamon

Mix all of the above together in a mason jar, close it and let it set in the fridge over night. Stir in the morning and eat it right out of the jar (I eat mine cold)...the nutella makes it soooooo good. The flavor reminds me of those no bake cookies that food lion or martins makes.

Well, I better get back to work, I have a whole list of things to get done today! [

Happy Hump Day!