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!