This is my own little take on Erin's post and Kayla's post. These two girls are two of my favorite bloggers (and they happen to be sister-in-laws - how freakin' cool is that?!) They keep it real. They tell it like it is. They're positive and upbeat. And I feel like I can actually relate to them. Both of these posts hit home with me. Seriously - take the 5 minutes to click the above links and read their posts. As I mentioned here, I'm a jealous person who constantly compares my life to everyone else's. I know it's a terrible habit to have but I'm workin' on it. With that being said, even though I've only been part of the blog world for a few months it can get overwhelming. Some days it's hard not to get jealous when I'm reading all these blogs. Everyone is so crafty. And their houses are huge and perfectly decorated. And they post about fabulous swimsuits that I totally want and when I click on the link it's almost $200 (yeah um no I'd never spend that sort of money on a swimsuit...or any article of clothing if we're being honest here!) But these two put things in perspective. I'm a perfectionist at heart - it's just who I am. I have big hopes. And big dreams. But no matter how hard I try, my life isn't perfect. It's never going to be perfect. And that's what makes it REAL. I have a REAL life. I have struggles. I get annoyed with my husband...with family...with friends even. I get frustrated at work. I don't always eat healthy nor do I always put 100% into a workout. We have to watch our (very tight at times) budget. I don't get to travel as much as others. My house isn't perfectly decorated. Nor does all my furniture match. But it's real life...MY real life. So today I thought I'd show you JUST A FEW (because there are plenty more!) of my every day imperfections. I know I can't post a picture of my annoyance at a co-worker, or my frustation level when the hubs irritates me, BUT I can post these.... Yes, I try to eat healthy. But when it comes down to it, I legit LOVE food. This was my lunch Sunday - a bowl of buttered noodles (and it wasn't even whole wheat pasta!!!) And Friday night I ate an entire greasy fish fry with french fries and 2 slices of buttered Italian bread. And on Saturday, I ate a meatball sub. So yeah, I don't always eat healthy - ya gotta live a little...
Yup, this is how our one spare bedroom looks (it's the room I get ready in) You see I've attempted to organize it with the basket system in the corner, the hooks on the wall, and the shoe shelf my dad so graciously built us. But I still manage to have piles, and clothes and shoes strewn all over the place.
Again, I've attempted to organize. And again, most of the time I'm just too dang lazy. The top of that dresser is a catch all for all my crap - receipts I feel the need to keep because 'you just never know.' Cards from the hubs I can't bear to throw away. Jewelry and other miscellaneous stuff that just gets thrown on top. Oh and check out the end table that I keep some makeup on/in. Yeah, the baskets work to an extent but it's still not a perfect organization system and it still looks messy.
So remember - life isn't perfect. Let's all try to embrace our imperfections and just do the best we can with what we have. And, of course, have some fun along the way :) I know this is something that I've really been trying to focus on since I'm one of those stressed out, constantly worrying, jealous type of people who just needs to lighten up a bit and enjoy this crazy thing we call life <3
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What is your ideal way to relax? Hanging out at the beach or by a pool...sippin' on a fun girly, summery drink, listenin' to my favorite jams...maybe even napping...Yup, that sounds damn perfect right about now!!! <3 Where is your favorite place to be?
Oh gosh, this is hard. It totally depends on my mood if we're gonna be honest here. There are just so many places I love to be....snugglin' on the couch with the hubs, surrounded by friends and family, hanging out by the ocean or by a pool, outside running my little heart out...sittin' on our back deck with a glass wine as the hubs plays the guitar...all of these are my favorite places and I love them all for a different reason. Who do you consider your biggest role model? I consider myself to be very lucky because I have so many role models. My parents, family and friends, my husband, co-workers, etc. I think everyone that comes into one's life can be a role model in some way....small or big... and I try to always remember that...even if it's not always easy to do so. What does your life look like in 3 years? Probably pretty damn similar to life now...except with a kid (hopefully!) Still workin' hard, still lovin' up on the hubs, still running, still enjoying family and friends, and always trying to find that perfect balance. If you could go back and change one decision what would it be? Oh gosh, there are a lot of decisions I wish I could go back and change. I think right now in my life my answer would be deciding not to go on and become a CPA. At the time, it was the last thing I wanted. But now as I've gotten older (and wiser) and been in the Accounting field for 10 years, it's something I really wish I had done. I'm actually looking into figuring out what I need to do at this point to become a CPA. What is your biggest accomplishment in life thus far? Wow ~ these are all really tough questions this week!! Anyways, it's not an accomplishment, but I'm going with fate bringing the hubs and I together and actually gettin' him to wanna marry my crazy self :) I was going to say finish my first marathon, but then I realized I couldn't have done it without him. He's the one that pushed me to start running. He was there every step of our training, he pushed me, he inspired me. There are a lot of things we've accomplished...TOGETHER...the past 6 years and these are some of the biggest accomplishments of my life. ONE - I got home Monday night and the hubs had flowers for me AGAIN! That's 2 bouquets of 'just because' flowers within like 2 weeks. I don't know what he's buttering me up for but I don't care...I'm lovin' it! TWO - We had crockpot stuffed pepper soup Tuesday night for dinner. And let me tell ya - I could eat this every.single.day. I think I may have mentioned it before in one of my other posts but I had to again because it's just THAT good....I mean look at all that healthy goodness. It's definitely my favorite soup EVER!!! Look for the recipe next week!! THREE - First off, I'd like to point out that I'm pretty sure I'm one of the only people left on this planet that doesn't have a smart phone...and I'm A-OK with that. So please - don't make fun of my super, awesome, sweet phone :) I have much love for it. Anywho, it just cracks me right up when the hubs uses hashtags. He doesn't 'do' technology - he doesn't even have a Facebook account! - but when he uses hashtags it just makes me giggle. I think it's so adorbs and totally makes my day. FOUR - Yet, another food blurb (do you see a trend here?! Clearly I'm a wee bit obsessed with food!) Roasting veggies is my favorite way to cook 'em. Last night we had roasted broccoli AND roasted sweet potatoes and let me tell ya - A-MAZING! Roasting gives foods such a better flavor - all you need is a little EVOO, salt, and pepper...pop 'em in the oven at 425 for about 25 minutes and BOOM - deliciousness! You can roast pretty much anything - broccoli, cauliflower, spaghetti squash, and sweet potatoes are a few of my favorite things though to roast. If you've never roasted any of your veggies...you must do it! It's legit the best!!! FIVE - I CANNOT wait for my long run tomorrow. It's been 2 weeks since I've been able to do my long run outdoors and I can't freakin' wait! Also, this coming week I'm getting back into the routine of getting a 6 mile run in on Wednesdays right after work. Now that it stays light until almost 8 I can fit that in even with working late!! YAY!!
Happy Friday ya'll <3 I don't wash my fruit before eating it.
On that same note, I don't buy organic either. So sue me. I always go pee (TMI, I know, I know!) right before I go to bed. But sometimes I'm too tired/lazy to wash my hands afterwards. Gross - yup, that's me. I work out after work and sometimes (ok most of the time if we're being honest here...) I'm too lazy to shower once I get home. Yup, clearly I'm a pretty gross person. I like to eat cake mix (yes, as in dry...straight from the box...) Oh, and brownie mix too!! Oh that same note, frosting is legit one of my favorite foods. Give me a spoon and a container of frosting and I'm happier than a camel on a Wednesday. I love going to the dentist. I have the ugliest feet EVER. Running has completely ruined my feet and I wouldn't have it any other way. I've never had a pedicure and never plan on it (the thought of someone touching my feet freaks me right out!) Life isn't easy. And no one ever said it would be. Sure, you look around, and it seems like everyone else's life is easy. They don't have to stress about money. They have their dream job. The 'perfect' marriage. They have well behaved children. They're healthy. But that's just what they want you to see. You don't get to see every second of every minute of every hour of their life.
With that being said, I'm one of those people who compares everything about my life to everyone else's. They have more money. They travel more. Their house is bigger. They can afford to buy expensive clothes. Yada. Yada. Yada. It's not something I'm proud of at all but I am one heck of a jealous person. This past week or so the hubs and I have dealt with quite a few stresses (a leaky roof, finding out my company won't carry spouses on their health plan anymore, etc, etc) These sorts of things get me down and send me in a downward spiral. I feel sorry for myself. For us. And I throw myself a little pity party. And with all that I find myself comparing my life more and more to everyone...even complete strangers!! I'm not proud of this, but hey, I'm human. But ya know what?! Life isn't fair. It's not easy. And it's probably never going to be. My motto in life is 'It is what it is.' You can only take life one day at a time. And do the best you can with what you have. I constantly struggle with this. And I probably always will. But I can just hope that this gets easier as I get older...EEKS!! (and wiser of course!) Surrounding yourself with positive people (like the hubs who never lets me have a pity party for long) in life is key. And I realize that more and more. Just because someone has more money than you, or a bigger house, or nicer clothes, or whatever, doesn't mean you are worth any less. Work hard to reach your goals and have the life you want. But remember to be grateful for all you do have already in this moment. So remember, one day at a time. One moment at a time. One breath at a time. And when all else fails... As I mentioned in Friday's post, I had Friday off making for a nice long weekend for me. It was really nice to get the house cleaned on Friday so I didn't have to worry about doing it either Saturday or Sunday. I don't know about ya'll but I really HATE cleaning. I'd love another day off to do some serious spring cleaning - it's on my to-do list to really deep clean/organize the house. But since I did have a little bit of extra time on Friday, I was able to go through our pantry and clean stuff out/organize it. I was also able to empty out the fridge and give it a good wipe down. So that's a decent start I suppose. As I also mentioned in Friday's post, our roof was supposed to get fixed Saturday. Unfortunately, they had to reschedule due to high winds and rain. Not what I wanted to hear at all and I was pretty frustrated and annoyed. To make matters worse, it was so windy out I had to bang out 9 miles on the 'dread'mill. But, of course, after the run I felt so much better and my frustrations were gone. That's one of the many reasons why I love running <3 Saturday afternoon/evening the hubs and I ran a bunch of errands and had a fantastic dinner at Red Robin. Let me tell ya - a burger and fries never tasted so good!! I usually order a chicken sandwich or a turkey burger with a side of veggies when we go there, but Saturday I went all out and ordered an actual burger and fries. And let me tell ya - it was worth every.single.calorie! Delish!! Oh, and before I forget, while we were out 'n' about, we finally found a new mirror for above our fireplace. I have been searching high and low for the perfect mirror and was having a hard time. Everything I liked was WAY out of our price range :/ But we came across this mirror at Hobby Lobby - and luckily for us it was 50% off!! I love me a good deal!! So now I just need to get a few accent pieces to complete the mantle update...I'm thinking a couple pillar candle holders on one side and maybe a great floral arrangement on the other. We'll see what I can come up with - stay tuned for an update :) Oh, and then to round out the long weekend, we had one of my favorite meals for dinner Sunday. It doesn't get any easier or simpler than this. This is one of my favorite meals we discovered when we were on our clean eating challenge. Just peel a sweet potato, grate it, and cook in a sauce pan hash style. Once that's done fry up an egg (or two or three!) however you like it (runny eggs sorta freak me out so I like mine cooked all the way through) - top the potatoes with the eggs and BOOM!! One helluva simple, delish meal! Seriously, so simple, so easy, yet tastes soooo amazing!! Yum! Yum!
Happy Friday ya'll!! Doing my thing and linkin' up for 5 on Friday. I had the day off today and when I finally got my bum outta bed (I slept 'til 8 - I don't even remember the last time that has happened...it was AWESOME!!!) I found this little note from the hubs on my iPad. Isn't he just the sweetest? Seriously, what a great way to start a day off... Is anyone else into all the March Madness going on? I'm not a huge basketball fan, but I do enjoy this time of year and actually don't mind when the hubs wants to watch. I'm super bummed I forgot to fill out a bracket though - second year in a row that has happened - ugh!! My fondest memory of March Madness goes back to my college days. I had an internship at a company and within the first few weeks there, one of the accountants asked me if I wanted to participate with the office and fill out a bracket. Of course I said yes so I didn't feel left out even though I had no idea what the heck I was doing. Long story short - I won (Go Syracuse!!) I decorated a little bit for Spring/Easter today. Of course, my favorite way to decorate are with free printables (I find all mine on Pinterest - check out my Free Printables board) I also put out my Easter plaque on the front door. I'm hoping if I decorate for Spring Mother Nature will get the hint and we'll actually have Spring-like weather!! Looks like my run tomorrow will be in the snow (oh joy!) Fresh flowers just make a house a home. I love having fresh flowers around and I don't know why I don't buy them to have around more often. The hubs surprised me with a bouquet a couple weeks ago and a few of 'em are still going strong. I can't believe how long they've lasted but I'm sure lovin' it!! Our roof is finally getting fixed tomorrow!!! It's been a stressful week dealing with this but I sure am excited it'll finally be fixed and we can move on from this. The contractor we decided to go with gave us a few different options that would fix the problem (you know a good, better, best solution sort of deal.) We decided to go with the best solution (albeit most expensive) since we don't want to have to worry about this problem happening again. We wanted a permanent fix not just a bandaid. So I am hoping we made the right decision and we don't ever have to worry about a leaky roof again!! Fingers crossed for us!!
That's all - Happy Friday & Happy Weekend ya'll!!! I'm taking a cue from Erin and jumpin' on the Spring bandwagon...it is the first day of Spring afterall! I don't know about ya'll but I LOVE Spring. The temps get warmer (supposedly...we have yet to see that here in upstate NY), the days get longer and longer, and people get outside to enjoy all Spring has to offer. Here are a few things I'm looking forward to this Spring: It's the start of race season and I can't wait. Though I don't participate in a ton of races (that can get expensive!) I do have a few races this Spring that I'm definitely looking foward to. I've got a 1/2 marathon on April 27 that I'm planning on running (I always wait until the last second to officially sign up so I know what the weather is going to be like!) I've also got plans to run a 5k at the end of May in support of a local hospital that was so wonderful and helped out a dear friend's baby when she was born 3 months early. And I'd also love to get a race in this season with one of my favorite peeps...yeah that's you, C! The birth of my nephew. As I mentioned in this post, my sister is due on May 2nd. The hubs and I are so looking forward to meeting the little man and getting in as many snuggles as possible. Making a routine out of going to the public market every Saturday. I say this every year, but I mean it this year (I say that every year too ha-ha) But this year I've got it all planned out. The hubs and I work out early on Saturdays so we'll get our work out in then head straight to the public market to load up on fresh fruits, veggies, and everything else we happen to find!!! I love going to the public market - so many fantastic deals, so much great people watching - it's just so much fun and am really looking forward to making it part of our Saturday routine this year (for REAL!!) Attending as many great events as we possibly can. I love going to festivals, and events, and free concerts, and all that good stuff. We tend to get really busy with life this time of year (doesn't everyone though?!) but I'm making it a priority this year to really get out there and enjoy all the things our area offers us. Being able to grill and eat outside again. I LOVE being able to sit outside and eat dinner then listen to the hubs play guitar. It's seriously one of my most favorite things to do EVER. To take that time to just enjoy the weather, catch up from the day, and actually RELAX...add a glass of wine and you've got perfection in my eyes <3 There's so much more I'm looking forward to but this post is getting quite long so I'll spare you the rest of my ramblings :) What things are you looking forward to this Spring?
Having a blog is not easy for me. It's not something I'm comfortable with. It's not something that just comes to me. Yes, I know - it's still so new to me but STILL. I'm not a writer (I spend my days crunching numbers, creating Excel spreadsheets, and looking at financial statements for goodness sake!) I'm a total numbers girl - writing just ain't my thing. Not to mention, I don't feel like my life is very exciting and therefore, coming up with content for my blog is hard. Or maybe I just haven't gotten into the blogger mindset and realized that things do happen in my life that people want to hear and read about. Maybe I do actually have content - maybe I just don't see it yet.
Furthermore, I read all these other blogs - you know, the ones that are real - actually legit - people actually make money from 'em. And they're so well written. And the peeps behind the blogs are real - you feel like you know them just by reading one post. And they're funny. And smart. And witty. And sometimes sarcastic (which I LOVE!) And I wanna be like that. They just have a way with words...a way I'll probably never have. But all that's OK. And it's OK because even though this blog isn't the best it's just for fun for me. And even though it's not easy for me and I'm not comfortable in this whole 'blog world' yet, I'm sticking with it (I have to just to prove to myself that I can do it...because normally if I'm not good at something and it doesn't come easy to me I quit!!) Maybe someday it'll be easy. Maybe someday I'll be like 'Wow - Renee - that was a damn good post.' And maybe one day I won't. But in either case, I'm here. And I'm staying. This, along with everything else in life, is a work in progress. And hopefully, I'll keep progressing. So stick around and continue on this journey with me... <3 I hope everyone had a fantastic St. Patrick's Day. Not much went down for us yesterday - ya know because we're boring like that (hey gettin' old sucks!) But I did wear a green cardigan to work yesterday (unintentionally but worked out well) and we did have peas for dinner - so ya know, there was a lil bit o' green in our lives yesterday. Even though I was a slacker yesterday and didn't post I do have a quick weekend recap....and it's not all pretty. Friday I got home before the hubs and started making dinner, going through the mail, ya know all sorts of fun stuff. I walked into the powder room and noticed a rather large puddle of water. Hmm weird I thought to myself. So I'm investigating - trying to figure out where the hell the water was coming from. The hubs gets home - I call him in - and we continue trying to figure out where this water came from. Then we notice it...drip - drip...from the ceiling. Welp - so THAT'S where it's coming from. Yup we've got a leaky roof on our hands (that'll happen when you have a blizzard on Wednesday and temps of 55 on Friday!). Awesome (and it's leaking in our mudroom as well - double awesomeness!) So we spent Friday night on Angie's List trying to find roofers and calling around. Just the way I wanted to start my weekend. Unfortunately, due to this we had to cancel some plans with friends Saturday so we could be around for contractors to stop by and give us some quotes. So yeah that was a real blast...joys of being a homeowner unfortunately. But nonetheless, the day was not ruined. The hubs and I headed out to dinner that night with my parents and Auntie and cousin and his wife and their 3 boys. We had such a good time hanging out with all these peeps and CLEARLY the chocolate fountain was a hit<3 Sunday I got up at the crack of dawn so I could get a work out in before our busy day. After the gym, I met up with my Auntie and mom to do some baby shower shopping for my sister (not sure I've mentioned this yet on here but she's preggers (duh) - baby Connor should hopefully be arriving around May 2nd!) After that the hubs and I headed down to his parents' house to celebrate his dad's birthday. So even though the weekend started out pretty stressful (and expensive!), it was still a pretty good weekend...but then again all weekends are...in fact, I'm already counting down the days to this coming weekend because that's just how I roll <3 Weekends are my fave <3
We've got ourselves another Social Sunday!! I hope ya'll aren't minding all the linking up I've been doing lately. I really do love link ups and think they're just oh so much fun!! So hopefully ya'll are enjoying them too. And if not - oh well - this is my blog...I do what I wanna do on here :) 1. How much time do you spend on Social Media a day?…be honest Oh goodness...I really don't know. Between everything I'd say about an hour and a half...maybe 2 depending on what time I get home from working out and such. Instagram is my newest obsession I gotta say though. I'm still pretty new to it so maybe that's why. I'm also super new to Twitter and let me tell ya - that one I haven't really gotten into yet. But hopefully one day I will as I know it's a fave of many. 2. How long were you reading blogs before you started a blog? Not long at all. In fact, I didn't know much about the blogging world at all when I started this. Looking back, I definitely should have read more blogs, researched it all a bit more, etc, etc, etc before jumping in with both feet. But here I am now...doing my best and trying to figure this all out along the way. 3. What is your favorite kind of cupcake? There's this local cupcakery - they make the most amazing cupcakes EVER. Flavors like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, PB&J, Sinfully Chocolate...you get the idea. A-MAZ-ING! 4. Do you eat fast food? If so what's your favorite? No, no fast food for me. That's not saying I don't like it. I just don't eat it often at all. I probably eat fast food a handful times a year. And when I do I prefer places like Chipotle (but offer me McDonald's french fries and I will NOT say no! ha-ha) 5. What is the most random thing someone would find in your purse? A pair of kids chopstick helpers. No joke - no matter how hard I try and no many how many years I keep trying I cannot use chopsticks. So I keep a pair in my purse so when we go out for sushi I don't have to use my fingers. Yes, the hubs laughs at me every time. It's quite a sight to see but I love 'em - one of the greatest inventions E-VER! 6. What is the weirdest TV show you watch? Hmm...I really don't think I watch any weird shows. Back in the day, when we had cable (and more free time!) I totally watched shows like Teen Mom (and those were weird and crazy and drama filled!) But now we watch shows like Grey's, CSI, Hawaii 5-O, Blue Bloods, etc. Happy Sunday ya'll <3
1) My Thursday nights now consist of this...and I actually like it!! Have you ever watched people do CrossFit? These peeps are LEGIT. It's amazing to watch them and really inspirational. The hubs isn't too excited about 14.3 - box jumps and deadlifts...but I know he'll ROCK IT <3 2) Getting mail...like REAL mail as in delivered by the mailman...is one of my favorite things. And when you get a note from one of your best friends - on a bright cheery yellow card - it just makes it that much sweeter. On top of that?! Having that card be decorated by her almost 3 year old son!? MADE.MY.DAY 3) and 4) I mentioned last Friday I had plans to do this little crafty project with a copy of our marriage license. I tried my hand at it Friday night...and failed. But the hubs came to the rescue and completed the project successfully (he's WAY more patient than I am!) I think it turned out super, duper cute - dontcha think?! Now I just need to find a home for it so it can be displayed properly. I'm thinkin' when we re-do our bedroom this summer this would be a perfect piece as part of a gallery wall. Also, we finally got an end table for our living room. We bought this one from Amazon and it's perfect. It's small enough so it fits in with our living room (our living room isn't exactly the biggest room!) but still provides good storage options. Now I still need to work on getting the mantle decorated and do some sort of gallery wall/shelving project on the wall behind the couch. It never ends... 5) As if I haven't mentioned it enough lately on here...I'm gonna say it again. I'm SO ready for spring and summer. Like seriously. And since that's been on my mind a lot lately, I've been thinking about all the cute spring and summer clothes I need...want...gotta have. And this dress (hello?!...look at that color - perfect for warmer weather!!) from Old Navy...yup it needs to be in my life. So here's hoping I get there soon and fingers crossed it actually fits/I like it! I think it'd be perfect for the summer time - I could totally dress it up for work but it could still be casual enough for a summer picnic with flip flops. CANNOT wait to do some spring/summer clothes shopping!! xoxo Happy Friday ya'll - have a fantastic weekend <3 xoxo
I've mentioned time and time again that I'm one of those crazy, on-the-go, fast-paced, always worrying and stressing kinda people. One of my goals (or resolutions - whatever you wanna call 'em!) for 2014 (which you can read all of 'em here) was to learn to slow down a bit and enjoy life a little bit more. Along with this comes being more thankful - more aware of the good going on in ife. It's something I need to constantly remind myself because though my life is far from perfect I know I've got a lot of good going on. So today, I'm linking up with Katie for Thankful Thursday...so very fitting if I do say so myself :) (I'm giving myself just a minutes to make this list...so it's definitely not all inclusive...so here goes...) ~ Cashew Cookie Larabars - seriously, I could eat 5 of them a day. I'm obsessed. ~ A blanket straight from the dryer. Ahhh-mazing. ~ A (half) finished basement which allows us to have a little bit of space for a small home gym (so I can still get a run in even when there's a blizzard going on outside!) ~ Flannel PJ pants and hoodies ~ Grippy things on the bottoms of my slippers (our hardwood floors are sooo slippery!) ~ Paleo fudge - I've mentioned them a few times here. If you haven't made them yet do yourself a favor and do it...like right now...Go...Go!! They're THAT good...trust me on this one. ~ The sun shining - it might still be cold out but if the sun is shining I'm a happy gal (especially since this was yesterday's weather!) ~ Silence - I loooooove silence ~ My iPad ~ Lined sticky Post-It notes - I can never write straight so I love these! ~ My husband - he's truly amazing and I KNOW I'm the luckiest girl in the world to be married to him. What are YOU thankful for?
It's almost quarter after 3...on a Wednesday afternoon....and I'm sittin' on my couch...while I right this blog. What's going on here?! No, I didn't get fired. No, I didn't stay home sick. Ya know - we've just got a blizzard going on here (this picture doesn't do the weather justice...to say it ain't pretty outside is the understatement of the year!) So I left work early and here I am...hunkering down for the rest of the day with the hubs. Normally, I'd be all over having a few extra unexpected hours at home. But today...today I'm just not feeling it. I feel like we have a ton to do...just not the supplies to actually do some of these things (and if you think I'm going back out in this weather you got another thing comin'!) So I'm going to try to enjoy these unexpected hours - filling up the time with fun adult things like working out, laundry, organizing our filing cabinet, working on a craft project, wasting time on Pinterest, and praying to God that after this blizzard spring is on its way. I am soooo, soooo very ready for warmer temps, being outside, festivals, and everything else spring and summer bring!! :-)
Yup. That's right - I have no motivation today. Zip. Zero. Zilch. That's pretty much how I felt all weekend to be honest (we did, however, manage to file our taxes...oh, and take a nap Saturday AND Sunday!) The weekend wasn't a total waste - I managed to get over a 10 mile run in on Saturday, and we cleaned, and ran errands, and a bunch of other stuff. So not totally unproductive - just not as productive as I would have liked! But enough of that....I've got some fantastic news... So you know that clean eating/Paleo challenge the hubs and I did through his CrossFit gym? Well guess what?! HE WON IT!! That's right - my husband kicks ass!!!! So proud of him!! So you're probably wondering what he gets for winning, huh?! Welp he gets a brand spankin' new pair of CrossFit sneakers. He's pretty excited and I'm dang excited for him too!! Oh, and on Saturday the hubs needed to go to the library to get some books on birds for his classroom. So while there, I was helping him find some books...aaaaaaaaand I came across this: Who knew that a bird called boobies existed?! I mean really?! Did anybody else know that these lived in the world?! I saw this and laughed...out loud...in the library. I couldn't help myself (I know I know you'd think I was 13 instead of a 30-somethin' girl!!) And do teachers actually teach kids about these?! I know, I know, Ok I'm over it...but REALLY?! ha-ha (oh and no...the hubs didn't take this book out!! ha-ha) On a more serious note, I was able to take out March's book for Bon's Book Club. It doesn't seem like the type of book I'd normally read, but that's what I like about this online book club. I get to read books I wouldn't normally. This is book 1 of a trilogy so I'm really hoping I like this so I want to read the rest of the books. So fingers crossed for me!! That's all for now...Happy Monday friends!!!
Hip! Hip! Hooray for another Social Sunday (I know I said it before, but I really am lovin' these!) AND, bonus, this week's Social Sunday is all about Pinterest - whoop whoop!!! So excited so let's jump right in... 1. What is your favorite outfit pin? As I was going through my 'this is how I want to dress' board I saw I had pinned this twice (I must REALLY like it!) Not to mention I've got spring on my mind and I think this is the perfect spring time outfit <3 2. What is your favorite food pin? Oooh this is sooo hard for me to pick. I've found (and made) so, so many yummy recipes from Pinterest. And we all know what a foodie I am so this is really tough for me. Buuuuut I gotta go with the Turkey Pumpkin Chili. It's so amazingly delish and it's a 100% clean meal - so it's a win, win all around in my book! 3. What is your favorite wedding pin? Even though I had a wedding board when I was planning our wedding, I deleted it afterwards (why?! who knows!) But no fear, I did start a 'If I could do it all over again' wedding board (because who wouldn't want to change some things about their wedding even if the day was pretty darn good?!?!) In any case, this is definitely my favorite wedding pin. This is THE dress...that I DIDN'T wear on my wedding day. Long story short, I didn't love my wedding dress. At one point I downright hated it. But I came to terms with it by the time our wedding day rolled around. And my husband loved it so in the end, it was all good <3 4. What is your favorite DIY/craft pin? Oh goodness...another tough one...Oh which to choose?! Which to choose? I'm going with this headboard (ask me tomorrow and you definitely wouldn't get the same answer because I have so many faves!) The hubs did this for us in our bedroom and it turned out great!!! Actually, one of this summer's goals is to re-do our bedroom but the headboard is most definitely staying!! 5. What is your favorite quote/verse/lyric pin? 6. Share one more random pin you love. YUP!! Now go check out ALL my pins on Pinterest...I love each and every single one (yes, I'm a wee bit obsessed...they all make me oh so happy...)
5 on Friday is a pretty popular link up/thing to do in the blog world. And since I have yet to do one I figured today was a good day to try my hand on it. The best part about 5 on Friday?! The fact that ANYTHING goes...that's my kind of thing. So here goes nothin'... ~ The hubs got asked by two of his supervisors to go to a conference for work and I'm SUPER proud of him!! After this conference he'll be the point person for any questions and information about the related subjects from the conference and I think that's pretty damn cool! He worked his butt off to get a teaching job and hasn't let up since. Even though he's only in his second year of teaching he's really proven himself - he works hard, he's an absolutely fantastic teacher, he isn't afraid to learn new things, takes on additional responsibilities, and always goes above and beyond! Such a proud wifey I am <3 ~ It's supposed to be in the 40's today - holy heat wave!! And I'm lovin' it!! The sun is shining and with these temps I hope that means all the snow will be melted from the sidewalks, making for a fantastic run tomorrow morning!! I always look forward to my Saturday long run outside but I am especially excited for tomorrow's if that means milder temps and clear sidewalks. The last two weekends I've gotten 9 miles in, so tomorrow I'm hoping to get 10 in (gotta be ready for April's 1/2!) ~ We are thisclose to paying off the hubs' undergrad student loan. I mentioned that one of my goals for 2014 (which you can read here) was to have it paid off by June. With that being said I'm pretty dang excited that we should be able to have it paid off no later than the middle of April (and hopefully even sooner - fingers crossed for us!!) Having this paid off will allow us to spend that money elsewhere - like working on paying off my last student loan and increasing our retirement contributions. ~ I've been wanting to do a craft project for a while and this weekend I think I'll finally have the time. I'm going to attempt this marriage license letter (you can find the instructions on how to do it here) So simple and yet so cute!! I hope mine turns out as good as hers!! ~ Tonight for dinner I am trying out this recipe for Pizza Quinoa Casserole that I pinned from Katie over at Keep Calm & Carry On. It looks absolutely DELISH and I can't wait to devour it while snugglin' on the couch with the hubs and watching Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods!! The perfect Friday night in my eyes <3 That's all for me on this Friday - happy weekend ya'll!!
I have a bunch of drafts just waiting for me to publish. And I had every intention of publishing one of those today. But then today came and quite honestly I just wasn't feeling it (blame it on the lack of coffee this morning...or the long hours at work...or the bitter cold....it don't matter) So, anywho, today's post is just going to be a bunch of randomness Why is it still snowing out? And why is it still cold? On my run this past Saturday the sun was out, it was mild, AND I heard birds chirping...I thought for sure Spring was on it's way. Clearly I was wrong (as usual - ugh!!) Please Spring - please come!! This winter has been looong enough and I am so very ready for warmer temps. This girl needs to be outside!!! I'm in need of a new pair of running sneakers. However, I HATE getting new sneakers. Say what?! What girl doesn't like getting a new pair of shoes?! Well hear me out. a) I hate breaking them in. The first few weeks I wear a new pair they're stiff, and I usually get blisters, and they just aren't comfy. b) New sneakers smell funny. Seriously - next time you buy a new pair of sneaks smell 'em. You won't like it. c) They're expensive. But I think I need to bite the bullet this weekend and get me a new pair...I'm thinking these (I am a Saucony girl after all and they are pretty cute!) Last night I came home from the gym to this wonderful goodness - ice cream and peeps...this is how we do Fat Tuesday in our house...and totally worth having to run an extra mile (or two or three this week...) I'm giving up sweets again for Lent so this was a perfect last treat - thanks babe <3 Aaaaaaaand on top of ice cream and peeps....who doesn't love flowers 'just because'? These totally made my week. I mean can I get a great big 'Awwww' for the hubs?! He totally deserves it (and some days I totally don't deserve him - he's a keeper and I'm so lucky he's mine <3) Our clean eating/Paleo challenge ended Saturday after the hubs' WOD (for those of you not up on the CrossFit lingo that's workout of the day...yeah no worries, it's taken me a while to get caught up on all the lingo too...like DUs {double unders}...and thrusters...and muscle ups...and snatches...and clean & jerks...yeah, the list goes on and on...) As I was saying before I got side tracked, we have certainly indulged the last few days. And I regret it. BIG time. But today I am back to the clean eating (with the exception of the oh you know...6 small slices of Italian bread I ate today...but those don't count, right?!?!) I just feel better when I'm eating clean. I have more energy. And I know it's healthier for me. So I'm excited to get back on track and get back at it....BUT take a weekly cheat day of course :) So that's all I've got for ya'll for today. Happy Hump Day!!
If you're wondering what the heck this is a picture of - you're probably not alone. It's random. It's weird. And you're probably wondering why exactly I'm posting it. Let's just say...that small crack that is inevitable between your counter and stove/oven + a raw egg don't mix so well...Here's how my Sunday morning started out... Please note the time on the clock. That's right - it was 6:21 in the morning...on a Sunday...and I'd already been awake for almost an hour. But that's OK - I needed to be up early anyways to get a workout in before we started our crazy busy (but super fun!) day.
So onto the story... Maybe it was the lack of coffee. Maybe it was just the ungodly hour in general. All I know is I was going about my morning and making myself some eggs. Nothing unusual there. I do it every single day. So I'm going about my business - lalalala blah blah blah - I know what I'm doing. Except - oopps - one cracked a biiiit too much and before I know it a raw egg has vanished down that little, tiny crack. Yeah that's right. Whoosh - it was just gone. I stood there for a minute cursing to myself as I envisioned that raw egg just sliding down the outside of the cabinet and oven and making one helluva mess. Hmmm - my first thought was to flip out and get hysterical - that's just my natural instinct in stupid, annoying situations like this. But the hubs was still upstairs sleeping (like most normal people) and I did not want to have to wake him up over something silly like this. So I took a deep breath, finished cooking my eggs (ain't nothin' going to come between this girl and her food....priorities, people, priorities!), cleared everything away, and then like Superwoman was able to pull the oven out so I could clean up myself. I think I used an entire roll of paper towels....have you ever tried cleaning up raw eggs? Yeah it's not easy (side note - as I was telling this story to the hubs later...he goes 'Oh just pour some salt on it - it'll clean up much quicker.' Gee - thanks, babe. Where was this little tid bit of information when I actually needed it?!) But at least I know now as do ya'll - the hubs says You're Welcome! So even though my Sunday didn't start out the greatest the rest of the day went great and that is all that matters <3 Ooooh weekends, how I love thee... PS ~ this might just be the most random post ever. And I'm OK with that :) These take me back...like waaaay back (and makes me feel older than being wide awake at 5:30 on a Sunday mornin'!) 1. Biggest Middle school fashion mistake I wasn't popular. Nor did I have any fashion sense. But I definitely remember tight rolling my pants waaaay past, and I mean WAY past, the point to where it was cool. I definitely didn't want that trend to end let me tell ya. Oooh, and how could I forget my Converse One Star sneakers? I drew on them, painted the star with nail polish, the rubber soles were all markered up...yeah, what the hell was I thinking?! 2. Who were your best friends in HS? Pics? These girls were among a few of my fave. Some of the coolest chicks I know <3 3. What was a typical weekend like for you in HS?
I remember I usually worked at the library on Saturdays (I know, I was AWESOME!) Then Saturday nights were probably spent at a basketball game, or at Krista's house where every seemed to gather. We went bowling a lot and just hung out (yeah we were the lame good kids who stayed outta trouble!) :) Probably spent most of Sunday sleeping - isn't that what teens do?!?! 4. Did you have any boyfriends/girlfriends? Tell us about that. I did and there really isn't much to tell. My first love was in HS. I dated good guys (for the most part) and as I think back I don't regret a single one. And let's leave it at that :) 5.Did you have any secret codes with your friends? Spill your secrets! I don't recall any secret codes. I remember secrets but no codes. Did people really do that? Or was I really way more un-cool than I thought?! 6. If you could relive one day/moment/experience from middle school or high school, what would it be? Sooooo many to come to mind. We had a really good group of people that *usually* had a lot of fun. Sure there was drama and jealously and fights. But that's just how it rolls. So I have a lot of really great moments and memories that I hope I never forget. Happy Sunday <3 |
AuthorHey ~ I'm Renée...just your ordinary, 30-something Accountant, new mommy, wife, runner, foodie, & Pinterest addict! Welcome to my newest adventure...stay awhile...look around...and keep comin' back! Archives
January 2018
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