I'm Back

We are back from our fun times in North Carolina with family! Oh, it is so hard to travel with a 2 year old! I love my son, I do. I am so thankful for him, I am. But man! The screaming in the car for 2 hours on the drive down. The, I'm scared cause I don't know where I am, and wake mommy and daddy up at 4am every morning. Oh and the, lets puke on mommy at 5am because I ate too many crackers the night before when Mommy and Daddy with on a double date with my aunt and uncle, was the topper! At least he was super good on the drive up!

I am done ranting. He did have tons of fun playing with his 5 cousins. 4 of them are boys who love to get dirty and play hard. Mason had a ton of fun playing outside in their big, FLAT backyard. (Ours is not flat. It is a steep down hill backyard without a fence so we don't spend time back there right now.) We went to a park on Saturday afternoon, where Mason climbed up the rock wall that was taller than Daddy with a little help from us. (note to self, more park time, especially when new baby comes.) He loved the bon fire and watching TV OUTSIDE at night and cuddling with mommy under 4 blankets to stay warm, and the yummy marshmallows we ate!

He loves his Aunt to death and when he was having a tantrum she stepped in and helped us out. Since she has 5 kids she is super mom and I learned a lot from her. Over the weekend alone, Mason's talking has exploded! We are understanding him better (I think Matt the most because he was finally able to spend days with him at a time and just hear him speak). He learned to communicate better with us. He still gets frustrated when we don't understand what he is trying to say but we did so much better. He can now say pink, bread,  fire. He was putting 2 word sentences together. he said Bye mommy, for the first time, and bye car. It is pretty amazing to watch him grow. He also saw plenty of cows on the drive down and was pointing them out to us.

Thanksgiving the rolls were the hit for him. That was pretty much all he ate. He didn't want any of the ham, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes or spinach salad. Just bread (bead) as he called it.

All in all it was a very fun and happy thanksgiving for all! Next time we see the cousins the new baby will be here, and we will have to juggle 2 kids! EEK! But oh how fun to have 2 kids to play with their 5 cousins!

Black Friday and Race Recovery

Today is recovery day from black Friday and all the racing you did around the stores and oh if you did run a race than today is a nice little day to just sit back and relax and rest. See you on Monday with a race recap! I love the holiday weekends to spend with my family!

Black Friday

How many hours have you been awake shopping on Black Friday??? I am like my mother and really don't like this day! I hate how crowded stores are but yes, I agree that there are some amazing sales. We might just go out for a couple of hours to get some kid stuff for Mace and baby #2.

Happy Thanksgiving 2013

Hope you guys are having a great Turkey Day today. Good luck if you are running in a turkey trot this morning! We have our 8k that we are running in. SUPER COLD Conditions for me to be running in but I think that will be motivation to hurry up and get back to nice toasty warm house smelling like super yummy holiday feast!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday today!

How Wonderful Life Is- vol. 4

Last installment of my Thankful Wednesday for the month of November. I hope you guys have been able to reflect on what you are thankful for too this past month.

My home: I am so thankful that I have a roof over my head to keep the cold out and shelter me from the storms of nature and of life. I consider my house a shelter from the outside world. The world is a crazy place and whenever I return home I know that I am safe and can guard those inside by the things I watch and listen to. I try to keep our home filled with love and yummy smells from the kitchen.

Over the next few months with the cold weather I love the warmth our home feels from all of us cuddling under a blanket together, watching a movie and just enjoying these winter months spending good quality time together. Or sitting by the fireplace and feeling the warmth spread through the room. Something about winter just makes me think of more family time. (yes it is because of the holidays mostly but in general we just hang out more) It is too cold to go outside so we just spend all our time inside, together.

My trials: Yes I am crazy but I often find myself thinking about the hard things in life that I have faced. Going through them has sucked, sucked, sucked but on the flip side of the trial I know I have learned something. Throughout our marriage our trial has mostly been about having children. Since it took us 8 years, 3 fertility doctors, 54 shots in my belly and 2 IUI's to get Mason I would say that is a trial. We went through a lot as a couple through those 8 years. A lot of heartache, yelling, and just wanting to give up, but I knew we had to keep trying. Since having Mason, our trial, regarding this topic of having children, has been sustaining the pregnancies. We had 2 confirmed miscarriages, (I think 3 just never confirmed I was pregnant July of 2012. Didn't think it could happen.) Then with this one, I didn't want to believe it was true. The last miscarriage really put me through the ringer! It was hard. I lost my faith in God for a few hours. I was lost and angry. But I now believe that it was my 2x4 to the head to get me moving and stop moping. Cause after that miscarriage, I tried to stop feeling sorry for myself and started to exercise again. And look at me now, running, while 16 weeks pregnant, with our little miracle. (and yesterdays run was overall a faster pace in general than I have done in awhile. So getting better WHILE pregnant! WAHOO!!!) I feel very blessed for our little miracle and the trial I had to go through to get it.

Please don't think we don't have any other trials in our life right now, OH BOY DO WE EVER! But I know we have them for a reason. They will make us stronger, even when we feel like a weakling while going through them. But look back when you have crest over the hill of your trial and see what you learned, and went through and you will know, this is why I had it. You will learn a lot about yourself and what you need to do. It is pretty amazing actually. If you haven't read this poem Footprints in the Sand by Mary Stevenson, check it out! One of my favs to read about going through trials. Again, sucks while going through a trial, believe me, but when you can see the flip side it is pretty amazing knowing that we are not the one in control. Big guy up top is!

QOTD: What are you thankful for the most this month?

Travel and Weather

Hmmmm. It is looking like it is going to be some bad weather today and Wednesday on the busiest travel days no less. We are supposed to be getting some snow by now, hasn't happened yet. But good news for the kids in my city, school has been canceled for today and if it is like this again tomorrow it could very well be canceled tomorrow too, meaning an extra long Thanksgiving break. Here is hoping that we can travel safely when we are leaving! I have some friends leaving town today during the main part of the show/ice storm. So to all who are traveling over the next few days stay safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Just an FYI, I have some scheduled posts during the break, but they are small and short messages as I won't have my computer with me when we travel. But follow me on my Facebook, Instagram, or twitter for my latest updates. I will have the race recap and holiday recap when I get back! HAPPY THANKSGIVING! See you on the flip side of turkey day!

Good Eats- Spinach Salad

(source)

I know, I know what you are thinking. Spinach salad, blah or I already have a ton of those how is yours any different or special. Here is this AMAZING recipe! It is also REALLY GOOD! The kicker for this salad is the HOMEMADE DRESSING that is TO DIE FOR! Seriously! In my house, it is not a holiday without this salad. So I thought I would bring this out to you before the big day so just in case you want to try out this AMAZINGLY Yummy salad you can!

It is easy. Yummy and everyone will like it, unless they really don't like to eat salads in the first place. Like my husband. It's a lost cause.

Spinach Leaf Salad with Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing

Salad:

~2 bunches fresh spinach leaves, stemmed and washed (pat dry with paper towels.) OR 2 bags of baby spinach leaves

~1/4 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced

~1/2 lb bacon (8 slices), cooked and crumbled

~1/4 lb swiss cheese, grated

~1/4 red onion, thin half moons

~6 boiled eggs, sliced

~croutons

Dressing: Combine in a Blender

~1 cup salad oil

~1/3 cup cider vinegar

~3/4 cup brown sugar

~1 tablespoon dry mustard

~1/2 teaspoon salt

~1 tablespoon red onion (from the salad)

~1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Assemble salad in a large bowel. Combine dressing ingredients in the blender and blend together. (If you pre make the dressing store it in the fridge and blend it together just before serving because the oil will separate.) Just before serving, pour dressing over salad and stir well. Top with croutons. 

There you have it. Super simple and super yummy! Here are some changes that I have made over the years. I buy the bags of spinach, the pre-sliced mushrooms, pre-grated cheese, use the egg slicer thing to slice the eggs and I don't use bacon or croutons in it. Super no-fuss. I also tend to use a smidge more apple cider vinegar and a little extra brown sugar. I like it sweet but tangy! Play around with it and make it your own. Enjoy these good eats. This salad is great anytime but it has become a holiday tradition in my family! Maybe it will be for yours too!

QOTD: Do you think you will try this for one of your Thanksgiving sides? LET ME KNOW IF YOU DO AND WHAT YOU THINK!

Can't Do Them All

(source)

Today I couldn't run with my training program. I actually had rehearsal for a gig at a church with a performance tomorrow! So how did I get my long run in this week??? Yesterday! I did my 4 miles yesterday. I have my 8k next week with the hubs and know that I can do 5 miles. And next week would have been 5 miles anyhow so I am feeling great for the race. I did do more walking than running yesterday as I realized how much I love to run outside. I find it easier to run outside. Our bodies were meant to be outside. We love the fresh air, we need the vitamin D. Also, I guess focusing on getting to the top of the hill then when at the top I get to just go and let the hill take me down seems to make it more fun and interesting.

Running the treadmill, or the hamster track at the gym can get boring. Even if I am watching the food channel salivating over all the yummy looking foods, especially all the Thanksgiving specials they have on there right now. So how can we make treadmill work more fun? Make it a game!

1. Intervals of running and running faster. Push yourself. If you are comfortable running at a 5.0 on the treadmill for 1-2 minutes try running at a 5.3 or 5.5. Then go back to the 5.0. I have been doing this, for me though I jog at a 4. When running faster speeds I go up to a 4.5. I have noticed that my new comfortable speed outside is now 13:30ish which is about 4.5 on the treadmill. Pretty neat.

2. Add hills. Add the incline on the treadmill. Be careful though that you don't add too much so you don't injure your self. Make them short splits too. Just do a few to work your quads a bit. That's all you really need.

3. Good music, or a movie if you have an iPad in front of you. If you have a movie or show to watch you are more than likely not watching the time on the treadmill. You loose track of time and realize that your interval run of 2 minutes was over with 2 minutes ago and you are still going strong! (That has happened to me a few times, pretty neat.) We become dependent on the clock and distance. Try covering it up or put on a good show.

4. Always do try to fit in an outside run at least 1 time a week. Outside running is different than treadmill running. Treadmill, you are being pushed by the treads. Outside you have to do the pushing. A few years ago I was purely a treadmill runner. Could not run outside for the life of me. I just did treadmill and was ok with that. Now I am the other way around. I love running outside!

Just have fun is really what it is all about. Running in a gym is convenient because, it is climate controlled. No bad weather. Great for super hot or super cold times of the year. No dogs. No ice. No bugs in the teeth. But make it fun. Enjoy it and do what you have to to stay in shape!

QOTD: What do you do to pass the time on the treadmill?

Disclaimer: I am not a professional trainer. The opinions listed here are of my own through my own personal training exercises. Find what works for you. If you have any questions on exact training or running programs consult a personal trainer at your local gym or a running trainer through a local track club. 

So Needed This

Oh my goodness! This has been my calming grace lately. Eden's Garden Relaxation. It has lavender, marjoram, patchouli, mandarin, geranium and chamomile. It has helped me sleep better. Feel more rested in the day and just plain feel good. I love the power of essential oils sometimes. They are just what the body needs. I went searching for this in the house because I felt stressed yesterday and man it just helped me, ahhhhh, take a nice deep breath. I put it on, just the tip of the bottle to the hollow part of my collar bone that way I can smell it easily, just before yoga today to help me forget about the life issues we are dealing with right now, and I just let the stress melt off of me.

I might smell like an old woman but on the inside I feel amazing!

QOTD: Have you tried essential oils? What are your favorite combos?

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. The use of these items are from my own research and are of my own opinion. If you have any questions about the use of essential oils contact your medical professional or an essential oils expert. 

Thursday Turkey Day - 1 Week Away!

~Mason and his cousins will be making these Turkey Cupcakes next week when we go to visit. Fun activity for children to do while waiting for food to cook!~

Next week is Thanksgiving day! YEA! I love this holiday because it is a day for me and my family. I remember going to Grandmas house for Thanksgiving when I was a little girl. All my cousins would be there. We would all sit at the table in the kitchen, wishing for the day that we could sit at the grown-up table in the dining room. (I actually inherited said grown up table and it is in my dining room.)

Grandma made her famous rolls that would be so yummy and Uncle John brought his homemade jelly. Mom made her yams and later added the spinach leaf salad to the mix. (MY FAV! And sharing the recipe next week!) I remembered watching Grandma getting the turkey and taking the innards out (EWWW!) and do all the fixing to that bird.

Sadly it seems that Thanksgiving is just another day sometimes. Or Black Friday is "the real holiday." This year so many stores are opening or staying open on Thanksgiving day. Where back in the old days, my days, everyone got the day off or most of the day off. The occasional grocery store was open for those who forgot something for their meal. Now stores are opening at 6pm and staying open over night and through the next day. If you want that deal be in the store at 6pm on THANKSGIVING!

Next week don't forget to just take a moment and really say thanks to all you have! Enjoy your family, whether you are with your entire extended family, traveling from one family to the next and having multiple Thanksgiving dinners in 1 day, we have done that, it is a very filling day. Or if it is just you and your sweet. Enjoy the day. Make a new tradition. Do something new this year and try to stick to it next year! Mine is running in my first turkey trot. With my hubby. I am super excited to do this and cross the finish line holding hands! It is a healthy activity and burns some calories that I am sure I will be eating later!

1 more week. Make it a special day.

QOTD: What do you plan on doing with your family on Thanksgiving?