ToL 4.28

Linked up with Amanda at Running with Spoons

• My favorite spot...

Each morning finds me settled at the kitchen table. It grounds me, gives me strength for the day.  This morning I was using on of my favorite mugs.  A gift from my sister during on of the hardest times of my life.  A reminder of her fierce love and loyalty. A few years later, having coffee at my best friend's house, we realized she had the same one-- so now I think of her too, whenever I use it <3

From my kitchen table I see these faces. <3 Much loved family and friends who are like family. Reminders to pray...

• This weekend is the Pittsburgh Marathon. I am so sad to not be taking part this year.  It feels like so much longer than 2 years that Pittsburgh has been a part of my life. Next year I am planning to be back! #GameOnPgh  

Missing my #SnyderRunners this weekend!

• Yesterday I came in to find this on my desk. I guess it was administrative assistant's day ;-)

•  This bowl of deliciousness was last night's dessert! =)

• Finished Quilting! I will put the binding on tonight and then it can be washed and delivered to Greyson! On to the next project...

sneak peek

• Mikayla and I have been binge watching Season 2 of How to Get Away with Murder on Netflix the past couple nights.

• Party going in tonight! Here is the link if anyone needs any pampered chef! https://pamperedchef.com/go/vYgGRt

• Mikayla is doing an awesome job with dinners this week. Enjoying some of the leftovers for lunch! This is Honey Dijon Chicken from Tuesday night and Rice Pilaf (a pampered chef reipce, made in the PC rice cooker ;) from last night.  Last night she also made Lemon Basil Grilled Pork Chops that were so amazing.

Happy Thursday! The weekend is just around the corner!

April Showers...

For Today... {April 26} 

Outside my window... Rain

I am thinking... about food waaay too much

I am thankful... for my job.  That Ryan is feeling better. That Mikayla could go to her friend's house.  That Rhett could be home for a little bit last night.  For Hannah just being Hannah. <3 For this rain that is bringing the world back to life after the winter. For our goofy pup.

I am wearing... I wore my new Lularoe dress on Sunday. After trying it on Thursday night I wondered if I had made the right choice. Totally should have gone for a maxi skirt, I thought. Far less intimidating or maybe I should have gotten a size up 😁. But I gave myself a pep talk and decided to just go for it. I wore it with my jean jacket. It's so very comfy! I see more lularoe pieces in my future. 😉. Added bonus while at target on Friday night I came across the perfect earrings to go with it.

I am creating... fabric and pattern have been ordered for Isaac's quilt! I can hardly wait to start it! :D My mission to finish Grayson's before it arrives. Maybe even tonight. :D

I am going... to keep looking and recognizing the good.

I am reading... I think I am headed to the library tonight, want to learn more about dog training.  Plus in checking out dog training books online I saw a few dog stories they have that look enticing as well.

I am learning... To be content and grateful where God has placed me. It's easy to be frustrated and complain. Yesterday I was having a few moments. The kids are on spring break and I was lamenting not being able to be home with them too. Especially when constantly hearing about everyone else's vacations. But life is too short to grumble and complain. While you're doing that there are so many blessings you are missing. Just because your focus is on the wrong place. So today I am choosing to be thankful. To look for the best and make the most of the time I do have with my family. 

In my garden... Maybe soon...

In my kitchen... It's Mikayla's domain this week, since she's on break ;)

A favorite quote for today... 

A peek into one of my days... We took Chance on his first park excursion. He loved it! It was a glorious sun shiney day.

One of my favorite things... Park days! Hoping for many many more this spring and summer. 😍

A few plans for the rest of the week: it's spring break so our schedule is pretty relaxed. Date with the mister on Saturday.

From the board room {Pinterest}... *

Pinned: war room

Post Script *   Prayers for Girls, May downloadable calendar



Linked up today with The Simple Woman's Daybook

4.21

For Today... {April 21} 

Outside my window... The sun is shining! Hopeful for another beautiful day!

I am thankful... For God's word. For prayers answered. For hope for the future!

I am creating... It's almost there! Just have to finish quilting around the border and then do the binding!

I am going... To be more healthy! I downloaded my fitness pal on my phone. It has made me much more aware of what I eat and how much I move. I don't necessarily plan to get super skinny 😜 But I want/need to be healthier. Hopefully my clothes fitting better will be an added bonus. 😏  I'm thinking about getting a Fitbit-like fitness tracker that perhaps would track my steps better and more conveniently.  I don't really like carrying my phone around, I tend to leave it sitting places like on my desk at work or on the table at home.

I am wondering... how to get more steps in.  I didn't realize how little I move through out the day until I started tracking them on Monday.  Yesterday I actually got up to my 10,000 steps goal but that included two shopping trips, a walk with the dog and a two mile run... :-/  Currently I am only up to 892.  I'm going to have to start doing laps around the office or something...

I am reading... same ole stuff, having trouble reading more than a few sentences before I fall asleep. So its taken a long time to finish off a book. :(

I am hoping... Ryan an Hannah are feeling better.  They both came home from school sick yesterday.

I am learning... 

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young pp115

In my kitchen... Not a big deal-- but this makes me so happy! Kitchen cleaned after supper.

A favorite quote for today... 

A peek into one of my days... 

Saturday was the Springtime 10K, I was so apprehensive about this race.  But it actually went really well and I'm very proud. If you missed it and care to read about it -- check it out HERE.

One of my favorite things... time with Mikayla. She and I got to have a little quality time last night.  Trying not to think about her leaving me in a year :'(

A few plans for the rest of the week: Girl Scouts, bloodhound demonstration tonight.  Pampered Chef party tomorrow. Girl Scouts Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday morning =)

From the board room {Pinterest}... * My cousin (semi) recently starting selling LulaRoe.  Last week she has a sale in her VIP Facebook group.  I broke down and purchased my first piece.  The Julia dress. Below is a pin showing different ways it can be styled.  I had trouble envisioning the pieces in real life just seeing them hanging.  I perused pinterest a bit during the sale to help me decided which style to try first.

Pinned: My Style Pinboard

Post Script * Here is the dress I purchased, rumor has its been delivered! I can't wait to check it out.  I hope to add to my collection soon. ;) I definitely want a maxi skirt at the very least. You can check out Erin's page HERE if you are interested. Once I get the chance to try it on maybe I'll do a little review here. #Rerin2Roe

Linked up today with Peggy at

The Simple Woman's Daybook.

and Amanda at Running with Spoons

Kill the Hill

Saturday was the Springtime 10K which you know if you have frequented the blog this past week or so.... you also know I was so nervous about this race!  I felt severely under prepared for it.  If it had't been the race that it was I may have bailed.  But I was feeling a little better by Saturday morning.  I got in a couple good runs this over the week, plus some yoga on non running days.  I was feeling stronger.  More confident.

Mom picked me up bright and early, 6 am.  She was volunteering at the registration tables and had to be there early.  My sister and nephew met us there a bit later.  She chatted me up at the start line, lamenting she couldn't run that day but next year she'd be back!  She asked me my goal.  Being highly optimistic I said an hour and 15 minutes.  (Realistically I thought I could quite possibly be dragging my sorry, tired butt across the finish line dead last). The last two years my time was around 1:14,  I knew there was no hope of a PR.

Chilly start line pic...I opted to keep my hoodie...I very soon wished I had left it with Laura.

Here we go!

photo credit: Ellen Brunet

photo credit: Ellen Brunet

After the first water stop, I walked a bit trying to move my bib to my shirt so I could take off the hoodie. Also sucked down a GU, first time I had tried one of those... not bad.

Approaching halfway I was a little concerned about my time as I was approaching 40 minutes, definitely not my fastest 5K.  But quickly consoled myself that there was a couple big downhills in the very near future!

This is just after the halfway mark...after climbing that hill, the downhill felt like flying :P

photo credit: Ellen Brunet

Overall it was pretty good, after the initial mile I felt decent.  I was not in any shape to run those hills but still.  Maybe next year ;-)  I managed to get to the top.  I didn't feel nearly as isolated as I did that first year!  I didn't bring music and earbuds, per the race rules...although plenty of people did.  I mostly enjoyed the beauty of the day, eves dropped on conversations around me and occasional heard snippets of other peoples music playing.  A few people were just playing music through the phone speakers as opposed to earbuds.

My sister got some great photos of me coming into the finish! I felt like a "real" runner.  I was elated to see 1:14 something on the clock!  My official time ended up being 1:14:20 Pace: 11:58 and I could not be happier.

Race swag!  The medal is the race elevation map.  That hill in the middle is no joke!

My bib and medal up on the wall =)

I am very much looking forward to our next race the Orchard Run in May.  On my brother's birthday with a big chunk of the Nemitz Fam.

just breathe

For Today... {April 13}

Outside my window... the sky was pretty crazy on my run last night

I am thankful... for the sunshine shining through my window right now.

I am wearing... Pajamas... Wishing I didn't have to get ready for work

I am wondering... how Saturday's 10K is going to go. I really wish I had a running buddy for it :-/

I am going... to give it my best shot and see what happens...

I am hoping... it will be nice enough to hang around and enjoy some of the after party ;-)

I am reading... the dog ate my book 😐

I'm having an Usbourne book party! Check it out :-) and mark your calendar-- Saturday May 7, 10:30 am

I am learning... the power of prayer, praying the scriptures.

In my Kitchen... Hopefully I will have some new pampered chef goodies waiting when I get home.  I earned 30 pampered chef dollars plus an extra $27something for having a recruit last month! I used it to get a few more of the new products (At half price! Consultant perks! ;).  The spiralizer, meatball/slider grill basket and the scoop & spread.




A favorite quote for today... from the song Just Breathe by Jonny Diaz

Breathe, just breathe

Come and rest at my feet

And be, just be

Chaos calls but all you really need

Is to just breathe

A peek into one of my days...

One of my favorite things... musicals ;)

A few plans for the rest of the week: piano lessons, grocery shopping, Mikayla is going to see Phantom of the Opera, girl scouts, piano recital on Friday, Springtime 10K on Saturday 

From the board room {Pinterest}... * This is the lock screen on my phone currently. :)

pinned: amen

source: SheReadsTruth

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