Tuesday Things

For Today {September 12, 2017}

Looking out my window It is feeling so fall-ish. The mornings cool and foggy. The sun is shining now.

I am thinking about Friday! Friday is Mikayla's 18th birthday! I'm headed down to pick her up for the weekend after work. We'll be celebrating all our September birthdays on Saturday night.

I am thankful for an awesome, way over due date night with my mister.

I am wearing
I think this is my new favorite outfit...too bad its getting too cold for bare legs :P Maybe I will have to get tights or something. The skirt is Lularoe- cassie- It was gifted to me and I was nervous about the style BUT I LOVE IT! The shirt is from the thrift store! Also LOVE super soft tunic- originally from Old Navy.  Sweater from Target, Christmas gift from the Mister last year.  So comfy- almost like wearing PJs to work :P

I am creating picked up some quilting last night :) I told Ryan to yell at me anytime he sees me sitting on the couch watching TV but not quilting.  He took it very seriously!  Maybe I will finish this project yet.  Also need to get backing fabric to finish up Mikayla's graduation quilt!

I am reading A Wilder Rose by Susan Wittig Albert

I am watching Gilmore Girls - its helping my cope with missing my college girl.

I am listening to an audio book in the van- Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell

I am hoping for more date nights in the future ;-)

I am learning
This was my devo yesterday from Jesus Calling.  A reminder I very much need. To live in the moment. Be grateful and count my gifts.  Choose Joy.

 

In my kitchen

I have been awful with meal planning and grocery shopping. I need to get back on track there.

In my garden 
I bought a couple pots of mums. Maybe tonight I can finally get them into the garden.  Someday I will have a nice garden :-/

Board room 

Pinned: coffee
Source: etsy

Post Script Flash sale! 🎃👻🎃 offering FREE shipping (local orders) on Halloween cookie cutters *TODAY ONLY* comment below how many sets you would like! Total $10.80 with tax 🎃 my goal is to sell 10 sets today! 🎉
Have you liked my Pampered Chef page? www.facebook.com/amyspamperedkitchen
Keep up to date on specials, recipes, our super fun LIVE videos :P

 

Shared Quote

“In the United States, there was no simpler, more agreeable time.”           

    ― Sarah Vowell, Lafayette in the Somewhat United States

A moment from my day 

 

I love this guy! And he did so great today- we ran almost the whole time, minimal sniff breaks. It felt pretty good.  =)

Closing Notes: I woke up completely exhausted and pretty frustrated/discouraged.  But sometimes you just need to re-evaluate. Re-commit. Lace up and get out there.

My new (& reasonable) goal for the rest of this week is to run (at least) 2 miles every morning. Do Yoga or Pilates every night.  Long run on Saturday- hopefully with my sister. Get on track to successfully run this Syracuse Half and maybe train through the winter for Pittsburgh! I'm kinda interested to see if I feel as much affection for Syracuse as I do for Pittsburgh during the half.

Maybe because Pittsburgh was my first- it will always be special ;-)


Linked up with the Simple Woman's Daybook

Relay Recap *UPDATED*

We're on our way!

Friday we set off on our marathon adventure. I reluctantly took the afternoon off so we could get an earlier start.  My mom and dad arriving shortly after Hannah got home from school, we set off for Grammy's, 6 of us. Plus my brother's family of 7 in their vehicle.  My sister and her little guy a couple hours ahead of us.  We got into Grammy's around 9:30 pm and after a bit of visiting were ready to crash for the night.

I'm thankful for this time with family.  Today my aunt is supposed to start chemo for pancreatic cancer. It's scary to me how quickly life can turn.  All the purple in the subsequent pictures are in support of her as she begins this journey. I am thankful she was able to join us for lunch at Grammy's on Saturday before we headed down to Pittsburgh in the afternoon.

My clothes laid out the night before- ready to run!

Up early and ready to head to the race!

Traditional Shoe Shot

Our Relay Team!

  

I ended up being the first leg, I headed to the start around 6:30ish.  I made the terrible decision- thinking it's not that cold- to leave my jacket with my sister. I spent the next hour plus shivering in the freezing cold, anxious to run just to get warm. I was lonely in my corral. Conversations of excited runners buzzing around me. I briefly made a relay buddy but she decided to hit the port-a-potty one more time and I never saw her after that.  I chatted a little with the woman next to me- but she was running the FULL and I was slightly embarrassed of my Relay Bib. :P

Here I am before the cold seeped in- just after arriving in the corral.

This was just after we started moving up- still can't see the start line- just runners as far as you can see...

 

Finally there it is! I started to feel the excitement. About this time my sister called me- both of us shouting into our phones- barely able to hear each other over the crowd and music.  They were at near the start line (spectating) To your LEFT, she shouted.  

As we edged closer to the start I made my way to the left side scanning the crowd for them as we finally began our race (at aprox. 7:50 am).  I soon somehow heard my name shouted above the noise of the crowd and caught a glimpse of my team waving.

I felt good, and the course felt familiar. I remembered spots I had spotted my family in the past two races.  I was surprised how fast we came upon mile one.  Mile two also quickly slipped by. I was finally starting to get warm and regain feeling in my extremities.  I prayed for my aunt. I thought about our wonderful family and lost myself in the run.

Here is the one bridge I got to cross. One of my favorite things is running the bridges.

I'm pretty proud of my portion of the run. I felt pretty good, and I know I gave it my best.  It feels so good to finish with nothing but pride, not berating myself wondering if I could possibly have done something different or better.

I was so pleased to see my family at the Relay Exchange.  I wasn't sure what the plan was when I left them and was ecstatic to spot Ryan first in his superman hoodie and then the rest of the family. I high fived Hannah and Maddie as I ran by, feeling on top of the world.

Becca was the runner after me.  She gave me my medal and then took off for her leg.  After grabbing water and finish line snacks and a potty break we set off to try and make it to the next relay exchange.  We didn't make it, we made a wrong turn- at the spot we stopped to regroup I recognized several runners that had been near me- particularly a lady dressed as Heinz ketchup.  Becca could be coming anytime! I stated.  Sure enough a few moments later there she was! I excitedly shouted her name and waved.  The kids cheered! Maddie, Hannah and Ava giving out high 5's to random runners going by.

We headed back to meet up with Becca. It was a pretty far walk.  The kids were champs!

 

Some pretty views of Pittsburgh from our trek to relay exchange #2

 

Best Buds- Mikayla and Jacob              
 

Taking a much need snack break! While we waited for Nate and Becca.

We then headed back to the Finish Line festival to find a spot to hang out and wait for the rest of our runners.

Eric and Stephanie hung out while waiting on Laura, I heard they actually sat in Panerea for and hour and half at some point during the morning.  Being the two farthest out exchanges they took the shuttle together.



After Laura finished she waited with Steph while Eric was running. Then Laura rode the shuttle back with Eric while Stephanie was completing the final leg.

We found a grassy spot to chill.  Took turns walking across the park to the port-a-potties.  Mom and I stopped and got some chicken tenders and fries for everyone to share.

Everyone was pretty beat- all in all at the end of the day its figured the spectators walked over 7 miles.  According to my watch I had over 30,000 steps by the end of the day (including the run) which equated to over 13 miles... I should have just done to HALF! :-P

 

 

waiting... waiting... waiting...

We're FINISHED!!! :-D

4 Girls and Eric

Our accumulative exchange/marathon times... not too shabby.
 

We stopped at Eat'n Park for lunch.  Mom bought me a smiley face cookies since the relay exchanges didn't rate having cookies at their finish. :P I always joke the smiley cookie is the best part of the half- so I was complaining about not getting one this year :P

Overall I'd say our weekend was a success! But it was general consensus that we would not do the relay again.  Just too much walking and waiting and walking and more waiting. I'd much rather do the Half.  I hope to be there next year to do it- who knows what a year holds though.  For the moment I'm enjoying each mile and moment - grateful for each one.

***UPDATED** OFFICIAL RESULTS have been posted! My goal was to come in under one hour for my leg (based on my time in the Yellow Brick Road Run a couple years ago and the more recent Springtime 10K). My official time was 59:24!!! I am over the moon happy!

T.o.L. 5/4

Linked up with Amanda today at Running with Spoons

I bought a large carton of strawberries at the store last night so---
Strawberries in everything!

We got Ryan's track pictures this week. I am so happy he seems to be loving it.  And he placed first in the shotput again last night! 

Pittsburgh Marathon weekend is HERE! Tomorrow as soon as the kiddies are out of school we will be heading to Grammy's.  We are trying to get these shirts in time for Sunday's race to support our aunt who is just starting chemo. Sunday I am sure we will all be dedicating our run to her. <3  

I can't help but think how crazy it is how fast your life can turn upside down. You just never know.  I know I said this the other day but treasure those moments and those close to you like there's no tomorrow because there just might not be.

Moms Connect is doing this run!  I'm so excited! I have wanted to do a color run for a while! One more thing I can cross off the bucket list. =) We have 6-7 moms so far. #TeamAwesomeMoms

The bed is not a safe place to leave freshly folded laundry when there is a pitbull about. :P

As of yesterday this girl is officially enrolled at Houghton College for the Fall Semester.

Last night was her last Select Choir/Wind Ensemble concert.  I can not believe her senior year is already winding down! 

I mean seriously--











Cue tears and sad mommy. :-'(

5.2

For Today {May 2} I can't believe we are already into May...

Looking out my window another grey gloomy day. =(

I am thinking about Pittsburgh! I can not believe the marathon relay is this weekend already! I'm looking forward to this weekend in Pittsburgh with the Snyder Clan. Although the vibe this year maybe different due to circumstances. I'm already lonesome for those I know can't be there this year...
I'm hopeful we will be back next year for the Half and some of us have our sights set on the FULL in 2020.

I am thankful For life. For family. Both are so precious and oh so fragile.

One of my favorite things a freshly vacuumed living room... it makes me ridiculously happy.

I am creating UGH- I have got to get moving on Mik's graduation quilt! Where has the time gone. =(

I am hoping to complete Mikayla's enrollment to Houghton tomorrow.  We have dragged our feet long enough.  Just one more step to my girl leaving me in August.  I could cry right now just thinking about it.  We will be facetimeing A LOT.

I am learning I started the study on Ruth yesterday with Loving God Greatly.  Today it reminded me to be thankful for the legacy and heritage of loving God given to me by my parents and grandparents, also a reminder to keep passing that on to my children and someday grandchildren.  This prompted me to prayer fervently this morning for my children's future and future spouses. <3

In my kitchen 
These new goodies are on their way to me! I can't wait! Happy Spoon silicone mold and the ice cream sandwich maker! It includes two silicone trays to bake cookies, then and insert to make them into ice cream sandwiches! I can hardly wait to try it!  They will be available June 1...along with... an ICE CREAM MAKER! I am so excited about this! I have been wanting an ice cream maker forever! Sadly I missed out on earning that free by roughly another party or so... But I am excited to have earned these two free! This month we can earn the last two summer products free, an ice cream cake mold and a cold brew coffee carafe. *fingers crossed*

 

Board room 

Pinned: For today...

Post Script Pittsburgh Preview -->> http://anothermotherrunner.com/2017/05/01/every-uphill-downhill-coach-mks-pittsburgh-preview/  I will be running roughly miles 15-22 on Sunday, baring any changes from the current plan... The 2nd to last leg.

 Shared Quote

 

A moment from my day
Ah- summer- its just around the corner. Friday night we had our first campfire of the season. <3


Complete with outdoor movies...


Saturday Morning started with a run with my sister in law


Then a quest to find these goofy things- fidget spinners- all the rage with the kids.  Hannah and I hit 3 stores before we found them.
  

Closing Notes: Hope you are having a happy Tuesday! Cherish your littles today and let those you love how much they mean too you. <3 Treasure every moment. Its gone in a flash.