March month end Check In-

March goals... 

- focus on health/fitness and my personal appearance 

- stop wearing things I don't feel good in- purge my wardrobe and get rid of things I don't like/wear- get a haircut and new makeup... maybe even contacts Fail. But I am having a Mary Kay party next month to help a friend... so ... 

- buy those new work shirts sitting in my Kohl's shopping cart.... I even have a gift card from Christmas! Come on! YES! And I love them. I have gotten so many compliments 

- start walking/running with Chance again regularly- the weather should be easing up, the days are getting longer... we can do this! -Still a struggle. We went for a walk Monday and both our "injuries" seemed to flair up again after. But the  SHAMROCK HALF was awesome! 

-wear my watch and hit 10,000 steps everyday- <SIGH>  

-eat sensible breakfast and lunch- just be more mindful of what I am putting in my body - I have had a couple good days... lets not talk about the jelly beans

-drink WATER- this is probably the one I am doing the best on. 

-feel more confident and comfortable in my skin by the end of the month- not so much

Miles: 25 

Books: 7

1. The Selection (The Selection, #1) by Kiera Cass- Kindle/Libray - March 1 - 4/5stars
2. If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin - print/Library March 1- 
3. The Elite (The Selection, #2) by Kiera Cass- Kindle/Library- March 5 - 4/5stars
4. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng- Print/Library- March 14 - 4/5 stars
5. Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1) by Louise Penny - Kindle/Library- March 15
6. Gaudy Night by Dorothy L Sayers - print/library- March 29
7. Underground Airlines by Ben H Winters - Kindle/library- March 30

I can not believe April is upon us. 2019 is one quarter over already.

Overall 2019 Goals...

• Choose JOY- 
• Exercise at least 4 days a week. :-(
• Hit 10000 steps each day :-(
• Bullet Journal each day/night to help me keep on track hit or miss
• Make manageable monthly goals/bucket list
• Half Marathon PR not yet... november... Syracuse Half I'm coming for you!
• Drink more water not doing too too bad on this one
• Menu plan- including breakfast and snacks- getting better... I think...
• Read 100 books- 25 and counting
• Run 500 miles- last year I ran roughly 348 miles.  500 miles is  an average 10.5 miles a week which is totally doable. UGH. Total 2019 miles- 43.5 :-(
• I have a whole other list for Pampered Chef- I think I'm ready to revisit this now- We had an awesome party on the 4th.  I more than hit my goal and earned the NEW apron! I currently have 4 parties on my calendar and am working to get myself back on track.  April I am really going to focus on Pampered Chef.
  

This is 39...

I added this little guy to my daily page to help me keep away the grumbles. Its so hard to not be discouraged today. But this guy and KLOVE are helping. ;-)

Verse for Today~

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

but of power, of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

This weekend I turned 39. I think it might be a good year :-)

 Birthday greeting from my college girl. <3

I spent Saturday afternoon at a paint event at our church- a fundraiser for the youth group to go on a mission trip this summer. It was such fun!

 I just love how my tree came out.

 The mister happily hung it up for me on Sunday afternoon~


He also hung up some of our other pictures. This view made my heart so happy.

I was pretty shocked to receive a laptop for my birthday... and I am loving it.  Our computer is pretty old and we definitely needed an upgrade. It also has not been online since the move- which has been frustrating. It's the first laptop I have ever had. I feel so fancy.

He also bought a new frame for our wedding picture he saw sitting in the basement <3

We went out to Red Robin for my free birthday burger.  The mister alerted the staff as we were lead away from the door to our table that it was my birthday - so I had to endure the singing but got a free ice cream sundae so... ;-)

This year I am striving to keep working on the confidence thing. Be proud and happy with who I am.  Work at building up my pampered chef business again and who knows maybe even build a team and earn that trip...  Successfully train for that Half, once my ankle shores up from the last one.

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you 

will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

Fri-yay!

Working on having a positive attitude today. It comes and goes.

Ah, the beach! This was Monday morning before we headed for home.

Attempting to get through this book for book club next friday- I'm doing a combo paperback and audio- depending on mood. The audio is helping.  Sometimes following along in the paperback as I listen.  It's helping me to focus better.

 

Happily the rain stopped long enough for me to walk across the street to the post office. =) 

Sitting here, watching the rain, sometimes sleet makes me think chili would be good for dinner... Did I think of it soon enough to put in the crock pot? Which everyone knows is the best way to make chili. No, I did not. So I am going to try and make it in the Quick Cooker! Time to see what you're made of Bruce! Update: it came out tasty and delicious! Bruce has yet to let me down ;-)

Quick. Easy. Delicious.

Who says dinner has to be complicated?  Last night's dinner was so easy and so yummy! 

I simply brushed pork chops with olive oil and generous sprinkled with the below rub.  Placed them around the perimeter of my large while round stone (could also be done on a sheet pan).  Cubed up two potatoes and one sweet potato- tossed them with olive oil and the rub.  I added them to the middle of the stone. Baked in a 400^ oven for 20-25 minutes. Steamed green beans in the microwave to serve on the side.  Delicious!

I'm not affiliated with this spice company in anyway- I just saw it in the spice aisle last night and it called to me. Pampered Chef also has many equally delicious spice rubs.

Shamrock On

Sunday I ran my 5th Half Marathon! We happened to be in Virginia Beach for my cousin's baby shower.  When we realized the shower was to take place on St Patrick's weekend- my sister and I signed up for the Shamrock Half Marathon.  This was in November shortly after the Syracuse Half.  Fast forward through the whole moving fiasco and the rough winter and almost ZERO training.  I seriously thought about dropping out. 

I went into it feeling very uncertain. I can not believe how little I trained for this race. I was nervous about everything from my lack of training to the weather. Even though I had checked the weather multiple times- I was so worried I brought the wrong running attire.

We went Friday afternoon while we were out and about and picked up our race packets. While we were still at the expo we met up with my cousin Kelly and my aunt and my other cousin's girlfriend. Just being at the expo and chatting with Kelly and Aunt Sue kinda got me excited about the race.  Too bad it was still almost two days away at that point.

Race outfit ready to go. I was so worried I picked the wrong outfit and would be cold. I hate being cold.

Saturday night I was nervous about the cold and wind. It was predicted to be 47 degrees and with the ocean nearby I was afraid it would be windy and my ears would be cold. My sister whipped up a head band for me to wear and I am thankful she did. I also forgot my flip belt but was able to pick up a $5 sports belt from the Bargain Bins at Target. It served its purpose well.

I woke up feeling dread and had trouble pulling myself out of bed. But I did, downed a cup of coffee. Laura and I left around 6 am and picked up Kelly.  She was staying less than a mile from us and headed to the race together.  The rest of the fam came a little later to see us finish.

Start line selfie-

It was chilly at the start but not unbearably so.

Kelly took off right at the start.  Laura stayed with me a mile or so before taking off herself.  I was getting warm so I ditched my sweatshirt. Untangled my earbuds and turned on some music and tried to get my head in the game.  One of the first songs I heard was Surf's Up from the Teen Beach Movie soundtrack.  It totally boosted my mood and got me moving.

Around miles 3-5(ish) we were running through this wooded area. I think it was one of my favorite spots on the course.  My sister said so too.

Then we ran through Fort Story and past this light house.

The medley from the end of High School Musical 3 came on just after mile 10.  It was so awesome. I loved it! There was also some great crowd support after that which helped a ton.  It's so fun when complete strangers yell your name and tell you how awesome you are doing.  Even if they are flat out lying! 😂

Texting my cousin around mile 12- those texts helped a ton too! Another great song from VeggieTales! Disclaimer: turns out there was not a playlist on my phone- so I was listening to pandora- turns out my Pandora app totally get me! 💖 My guilty pleasure is Disney songs and occasionally VeggieTales too.  Larry's High Silk Hat is quite jaunty and was fun to run to!

Making that final turn- so exciting!  Half mile or so to the finish....

Running by my cousins at mile 13!

photo credit: Albert Cheung

photo credit: Albert Cheung

 I was feeling pretty proud and happy!

Mom took this one =D

Hannah took advantage of my finisher's blanket.

Cleaned up and time for a post race lunch!

My official results. This was a flat and fast course. Given the amount of training I put in I am beyond happy with my results.  Never before have I still felt like running at mile 12! Do I wish I could have done better- sure. My only real goal was to have it not be my worst time and it wasn't! It turns out it was actually my 2nd fastest! I was really surprised how well I pulled this off and it left me hungry for more. Our next half (right now) is November 10 in Syracuse.  I am determined to put in the training for this one. To find out what I am really capable of and get a PR (personal record). 

My goals I made after the Syracuse Half last year! Time to start working towards this year! 

• Successfully complete a half marathon training plan
• Get under 2:45 in a half and then work down to sub 2:30
• Get my pace back down in the 11's consistently on everyday runs
• Get to the point where 3 miles could be my easy every day run
• Be grateful for each day I am alive and able to be out there RUNNING

Hello March!

It's March! And it's Friday! AND I get to go pick up Mikayla tonight! I am beyond excited.  

BONUS- Chance and I eased back into running with a little walk/run- but two miles out side- the glorious sun rising...even at 17 degrees or something ridiculous like that- it felt awesome.

My heart is feeling much more optimistic than it did earlier in the week. The day is what you make it.  I almost decided to stay home where it was warm and do some other house-y type things that need done.  But I have been complaining and berating myself to no end about running lately.  I knew Chance would be over joyed to go.  The sun was up, it wasn't snowing, how could I squander the morning.  So off we went.

I wore my favorite shirt and took the time to put on a little makeup.  I'm over half way to hitting my steps for today.  I folded a load of laundry and put another one in.  Little things add up to big things. I ordered the 4 new shirts from Kohls and still have a little left on my gift card plus the Kohl's cash I earned... can you say Easter shopping ;-) #marchgoals

A coffee table and end table have been ordered- which may even make it in time for my party on Monday. Our dressers are ordered- so soon our room will be done! And we will finally be able to put all our clothes away. :P

March 1 feels like a fresh, new start.  =)  In our beautiful new home.  Leaving the past behind.  Letting go of all that hurt, anger and bitterness that keeps trying to creep on in.

You will keep the mind that is dependent on you 

in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.

Isaiah 26: 3 CSB