HaPpY, HaPpY

Yesterday I was tired and grumpy.  Today my heart is light. Crazy how the mind is.  Nothing today is  different from yesterday.  My head's just in a better place I guess.

Here are a few things that make me happy.

Monday morning as I was tying my shoes to head out for a run my sister texted and said she was headed to the canal to run and did I want to meet up! You betcha! Turns out we both randomly picked the same shirt. :D

This morning's run made me super happy.  I did some hills and it made me feel proud and strong.  So far this month I have run 43 miles almost as much has I ran in the previous 4 months combined!

It also made me happy last night when Hannah said- "I saw you running this morning by the high school and  I was like Hey! That's my MOM!" 💖 (She was on the bus).

My current library pile next to my bed... its getting a little out of control (this does not include 4 cookbooks that are downstairs! One on my nightstand and one in my purse.) I may have just put in 3 more hold requests. 😏 I can't help myself.

I have been looking for my flipbelt for weeks. Since the Shamrock Half back in March. This morning I happen to look at the end of my bed from a different angle I guess- and there it was hanging from the bedpost.  It had been there all along.

So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.

Colossians 2:6-7 CSB

Friday Faves

These beauties started blooming this week and I absolutely love them!

Yesterday's run- I was ecstatic when I glanced at my watch after mile 1 and my time was 11:14- coupled with the fact the hills actually felt easier!  Amazing what a little consistency will do! 

The sun was shining. It was warm but not hot. Even my outfit made me happy.

Chance just LOVES laying out in the sunshine.

I seriously wanted to go lounge on the hammock in the backyard but alas I had to go to work :P

The summer products I ordered came arrived, I let Hannah open the box.  She had no idea that these products even existed so her face was priceless! I wish I had filmed it!  All these products are available June 1

I think we are going to have breakfast for dinner and try out the new pancake molds tonight! Also going to try hash browns in the waffle puff pan! 

New ice cream products- ice cream spade and freezer storage containers. The pans are metal and can also be used as baking pans. Next week I think we will be making some frozen treats both in the ice cream maker and quicksicle maker. I'm sure summer weather must be coming...

Our pampered chef team is running this mega fundraiser right now on facebook.

Here is the link to the facebook group-> https://www.facebook.com/groups/HopeAcrossAmerica2019/

Or the link to order from Me -> pamperedchef.com/party/amylafortehwc

And lastly I want to share this book with you- My mom gave all us girls a copy a couple Mother's Days ago and it is wonderful! I have been reading it on my daily devotion time and I highly recommend. Only Love Today  It is so uplifting and encouraging.

Ah Monday- we meet again...

Despite waking with a major case of the Mondays- its turning out all right...

A run always helps =)

I love this guy! His face is just so smoochable. It's amazing how no matter where he is in the house- he seems to magically turn up when I get ready to go running.  It makes me sad to not be able to run with him anymore. He was actually limping pretty bad just on our walk today and I felt awful.  He was reluctant to go inside when I brought him home and was not a happy pup when I headed back out the door for my run.

 When your daughter sends you her morning snap- 😆

This- (from Prayer Warrior by Stormie Omartian).  I am reading through it (again) in my devo time.

 I have been having some rough battles lately- the devil has been whispering some fierce lies in my ear.  Its so hard to not believe the lies.  I literally have to write out the truth so I can read it.  My thankful 💖 list helps with this too.

From my Jesus Calling this morning- I wrote it at the top of my daily page.

"Come close to me and let My Light envelope you, driving out darkness and permeating you with Peace." (from John 8:12)

Challenge for today- From Only Love Today (p. 238)

"It doesn't take much to make someone's day.  It doesn't take much to create a sense of hope in the world.  It doesn't take much to turn an average day into a memorable one." 

Siblings & Sons

Yesterday was the 4th time I have done this race -spoiler alert- today was the best experience I have ever had at this event and I am pretty sure a PR (for this event).  Hours later I still can't stop smiling and my heart is overflowing. I am thankful to have been part of this run again this year.  Inspite of or maybe because of how hard it is it always fills me with gratitude. I am thankful for strong legs and healthy lungs to run.  I am thankful this country we live in and for all those who sacrificed to give us the freedoms we have.

Two of my nephews ran their first race in the kid run.  My brother and my sister and my son also ran the 5K. The little guys were super excited to run.

They both did awesome! Jacob came in 4th of all the kids.  Isaac crossed the finish all smiles! So proud of them both.

5K Start!

I don't know if you recall but the first year I literally thought I would die running this course.  The next year I think was marginally better.  Last year it was raining.  This year the weather was gorgeous all though the course was super muddy.  But I think I actually had a good time! No - I DID have a good time.  Yes it was hard.  I hate running in grass and hills are far from my favorite. Yet, I finished with a smile. I feel proud of my effort and accomplishment.  I love that my siblings run and that our children are starting to join in now as well.

 I've been getting back to running more lately and thanks to our new house I am running more hills although nothing like that crazy hill in this race.  I most definitely did not run that sucker but I made it to the top and I didn't want to die. Side note my son RAN the up that whole giant insane hill.  I think he may have caught the running bug yesterday too.  😊 He keeps bringing up running and it makes me so happy.

Here is Ry headed up the Hill

Check out the elevation chart from my Garmin.

Coming into the Finish

 Man- I love my sister <3

 Yup we got a little muddy.


 I live for chocolate milk at the finish! 😂

I also love the shirt this year.  I love that they had a women's shirt.  The fabric was so much nicer and super soft.  I loved wearing it post race.

Between the run and the book below I just finished I am all hyped up to do a full marathon- I may have lost my mind.  It maybe a one time bucket list thing.  So we'll see... Laura and I have started a list of potentials for next year... My goal is to actually train for the Syracuse Half and PR. Then I may have the confidence to sign up for one...I don't know- I guess we'll see how the rest of the summer goes :P

I finished the book Let Your Mind Run on Friday.  I'm sure I heard about it before this but earlier this year I saw in on Hungry Runner Girl's blog.  She had nothing but good things to say about it.  So I put in a hold request at my local library.  It maybe one I had to my personal library because I found myself wanting to underline and write in it over and over.  It's also one I feel like I  would refer back to when I find myself getting discouraged in running.  Which let's face it to me- happens a lot.

Not that I am completely crediting this book to my good feelings at yesterday's run.  But because I had just finished this book I was more conscious of my self talk yesterday as I was running.  I just love that line I circled above.  "Find a thought that serves you better."

I just kept telling myself I was strong and to keep moving forward instead of my usual spiral of despair.

I have worn ASICS running shoes since Fleetfeet recommended them for me 4 years ago or so.  So coming across this in the book made me smile and love my shoes even more.

I also have this book out right now- Run Fast. Eat Slow.: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes- I have flipped through it a few times and there are some recipes that I really want to try but I am finding myself a little intimidated by it.  I guess I should just jump in.  I think I am either going to try Superhero Muffins or Sweet Potato Breakfast cookies first off.  I mean in Julie Powell (Julie & Julia) can cook every recipe in Julia Childs cookbook surly I can conquer a few in this book- right? 

Being healthy shouldn't be so hard.  I want to be healthier, I want to not cringe every time I watch myself walk down the hallway in my mirror. I want to feel good.  Lately I do not. I feel very blech and tired.

And just because- I am ending with this- because he's adorable and I love him-

It's a Monday...

But I am working hard on this ^^^^ 

Here's some good from yesterday-

• "I just love seeing you two together!" Exclamation from a lady at church yesterday re me and the mr- I agree- wholeheartedly.
• Grammy is here (my mom's mom- mom went and picked her up for the weekend- it's the first time Grammy has been here in years! And the first time we have seen her since we were there in October).
• Mother's Day dinner
• he chose to sit by me (its the simple things)
• safe drive to Buffalo and back
• call to check <3
• GPS =)
• Mik's IG post
• Helping Mom sunday morning

Saturday morning Rhett and the kids were off doing Mother's Day shopping- I took myself to Green Lakes for a little run.  It felt wonderful!

 I was pretty elated at the end and proud to have my last mile be my fastest of the run.

Later on the girls and I went out to lunch and ran some errands.

At the grocery store we debated what to make for dinner. Mikayla suggested pulled pork, she could make the bbq jackfruit version for herself.  I was hesitant since it was already afternoon. But then I remembered Bruce...  I did a quick search on pinterest for a pressure cooker version.  It was so easy and delicious! Here is the basic idea-

I cut up a 4 (ish) pound pork loin into 4 pieces and dumped some of Pampered Chef's smoky bbq rub on it, gave it a good rub to coat, I then let it sit in the fridge until we were ready to cook. Somewhere around an hour probably.

Then I pulled out Bruce- set to the "sear" setting (saute on instant pot) and browned up all 4 hunks of meat.

 After that I added 1 1/2 cups chicken broth and a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce.  Set to manual/high pressure for one hour.  Let natural steam release for 20 minutes and then released the pressure.

Used the salad choppers to shred it up- but basically it was falling apart.

Served with a bagged Sunflower Crunch salad I picked up at Aldi and chips.

 Mikayla thought the jackfruit version was just OK- she said she'd just as soon eat a Veggie Burger.

This does not do justice but Mikayla made 7 different kinds of cookies for the Mother's Day spread at church yesterday.  She did an awesome job! I did not get to sample them all but the ones I did were fantastic.

 She also popped out to Dunkin' and brought me back a blueberry coffee.

I seriously thought about bailing on running today.  I was grumpy and cold.  But in the end went. :P Chance was totally digging his walk today.  Since his knee has been bothering him, I have't been running with him.  I take him for a little walk then bring him home and run on my own.  This morning though when I tried to cross the street to take him home he kept pulling in the opposite direction.  So we made another loop, which cut my run time shorter but it's OK.  I was still outside and moving and tried to really push myself while running- so I am counting it a win.  Rhett got Chance some chews which will hopefully help with his knee.  It makes us so sad to see him limping all the time.

hard 9 ;-)

For Today {May 7, 2019}

Looking out my window another gloomy day, but felt perfect for running this morning.

Last night was gorgeous. I cajoled the girls into going to the lake for a walk before dinner.  It was glorious aside from the fact our dog is a psycho.

I am thinking about my cousin 💕

I am thankful

• finished book club book- so good!
• blogging
• Psalm 92:15
• bookclub! 
• being brave enough to go even though it was just me! :P
• Ryan having friends over
• having RP over after church
• Mikayla making dinner
• shopping w girls
• baby clothes
• shower at MomsConnect
• new running shoes
• bathroom door
• 72 degrees! WOW!
• walk at Green Lakes
• negative split!

One of my favorite things new running shoes!

I am reading Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kaster (among other things😉).

I am listening to Another Mother Runner podcasts on my runs lately.  I had to laugh at myself on Saturday when I got choked up listening to a mother runner talk about her experience when she made the final turn and could see/hear the Boston Marathon finish line!

In my kitchen Yesterday was our first Meatless Monday May- I think it was a success. I didn't find out Hannah's opinion but Mikayla and I liked it. We made Buffalo Chickpea Taquitos.   They were pretty tasty even if they did look like a hot mess. Next time I'll do better.  I picked the wrong pan to bake them in and kinda ended up cramming them in.  The bar pan would have been much better...plus I was warming the tortillas on the griddle. And also trying to fill and roll them on the hot griddle.  Let's just say- not my best idea. 😂
  
In my garden its so fun seeing what's popping up in our flower beds! I love the tulips in the back yard!

Board room  Ok so I recently did the Enneagram thing- turns out I am a type 9 and if this grid isn't spot on 😂

pinned: Yup.

Post Script tonight we'll be doing a LIVE video and making Veggie LoMein in the Quick Cooker
be sure to check it out over at

Amy's Pampered Kitchen

Shared Quote 

 A moment from my day 

 Because we took a different trail to avoid more dogs we happened upon the little free library near the campsites. I think I may have to go back and add some books! It looked quite sparse.

Closing Notes: I can't believe its May...before I know summer will be in full swing.  Last night made me anxious for summer nights, picnics and campfires. Trips to the beach. Camping! (89 days...)