Family Lunches

Yesterday:
   2 Mile Run - Slow as Molasses
   1/2 Mile Walk
   Lower Body



Bam! Post run crazy hair super pumped face.



Today:

  3 Miles - Walk/Run 1/2 Mile Increments

So, since we live in the Boonies and since 78% of our extended family lives in the same town, we have noon lunches at my Gma's house at least 4 days a week.

Gma is rockin awesome and always has a mountain of fresh fruit out on the table and her panini press chillin' on the cooktop.

ARE YOU SEEING THIS?!
Bring on the fruit belly, cause there is no chance I am stopping at "enough".




The Gma's lunch bunch (minus my parents :( ). They're funtastic.


Fun story....
A week or so ago, after one of my runs, I ran into Gma's for some water and a visit while I waited on VBS to start across the street.
She opened the fridge to get the Brita pitcher and then she looked at something else in the fridge. Then back at me. Then back at the mysterious something in the fridge. She had this odd contemplative look on her face.
Then, as if coming to come conclusion, she asked if I would like some cantaloupe.
That's when I realized she was thinking about whether or not she wanted to offer me the cantaloupe she had pre-cut for lunch the next day.
Since Gma knows of my affinity for the delicious golden fruit, she was worried I would devour the whole thing and she would have no table fruit for everyone else at lunch.
At realizing this I laughed and promised to leave some for everyone else.

I'm not gonna leave my Gma shamed by her inadequate fruit spread in front of the whole family! How embarrassing would that be?!

Long story short... I love cantaloupe and my Gma.... In that order. (J/K Gma. You's tha bomb.)

And moving on....to more food.

When I got home all the Mister could talk about was how "We HAVE to have Tasty Rice for supper." So I made us some Cilantro Lime Vinegarette (with salad to go under it) and some Tasty Rice. It was fantastic.

Here are the recipes for the vinegarette and Tasty Rice.

Cilantro Lime Vinegarette:

1 bunch of cilantro - Minced super fine (can use food processor)
1 cup Good Seasons Italian dressing
Juice of 2 limes


Tasty Rice

1 Can Beef Consumme (we use campbells)
1 Can French Onion soup (campbells again)
2 Cups Instant Rice
1/4 stick of Margarine (the original calls for a whole stick but we only had a 1/4 of one and it tasted just as good. So might as well shave those calories.)

Pour all ingredients directly into a baking dish and stir a couple times. Cover with foil. Bake at 400 for 30 to 45 minutes. Easy Peasy.

Enjoy the foodery. Its mouthgasmic.

P.S. Go enter the Giveaway by clicking here.
Cause I know you want that Gift Card and Bic Band!

What You're Worth

Today's Workout:

2 Mile Run - Moderate Pace
1 Mile Walk
Lower Body

Here is my lower body breakdown for today:

Now for a quick Soap Box Edition of FFFblog.

Yesterday at small group we ended up talking a lot about Worth.
Not like what you house, or car, or huge rock are worth, but what you as a person are worth.

EVERYONE has worth ... and lots of it!
What you have, how you look, and where you're from do not designate your worth.  Those things don't make you any more worthy of love, or respect, or consideration. It is just fluff.

You are worth something because you were created from love.
You are loveable. You have worth. Period.

Where we start to lose sight of our worth is when we look to others to find it.
No one else can make you see your own worth. You have to find and feel that on your own.

So, I asked the group to go home that night and write down all the things that make them feel worthy.
Starting with the most basic thing. I am here so I have worth. Then add to it through the week when more and more comes to mind (and it will). I told them that I would do it as well and we could share them at the next group meeting.

I've decided that, in honor of full disclosure, I should share some of my list with you all.

1. I am here. I was made from love and that makes me loveable. 
2. I am easy with a smile.
3. I am forgiving.
4. I love unconditionally and with gusto.
5. I laugh hard, and loud, and sometimes at wierd/inappropriate times.
6. I have faults and lots of them.
7. I can admit when I'm wrong and apologize for it.
8. I'd never leave someone hangin' on a high five.
9. I cry EVERY time I hear the national anthem. Just do.
10. I don't let the bad things that happen to me in life steal my tenderness.
11. Hugs are my second language.
12. I watch SpongeBob, Gravity Falls, Rugrats, and TONS of other cartoons by choice. Not just because my kid wants to watch them.
13. I am kind.
14. I am a sucker for puppies.
15. I always share my candy and snowcones.
16. I can murder a canatloupe.
17. I can't watch talent related reality shows. I get too nervous for the performers.
18. I love my C-Man unconditionally. It doesn't matter that I didn't make him.
19. I try to remember that I don't know what someone else's story is and owe them my love and kindness regardless of how they seem to be. That may not be how they are.
20. I always try to find a silver lining.
21. I know I have worth and I love myself. Flaws and all.

There you have it. My worth in a nutshell.
Know that you have just as much worth as everyone else and that you are the only one who can make yourself feel that worth.
I don't care who you are I love ya and you have worth. Anyone who doesn't think so will just have to go suck an egg.

You have to be with yourself for the rest of your life.  So you might as well like yourself.

So I will leave you with these two things:



Sweet..and so very true.

 


True Story....


If you feel like it. Share some things that make you awesome below!

Also don't forget to enter the giveaway here!

Small Victories Giveaway!!

So, as I mentioned yesterday, I have decided to do a giveaway in honor of small victories! Woo Hoo free stuff!!


OOOhhhhh did she say Free Stuff?!?!

Yes free stuff.

Since I have celebrated two small victories in the past weeks (pageviews and a promotion) I have decided to do two giveaways rather than one. Because who would rather have one when you can have two (aside from colonoscopies, face plants, facial warts and STDs....) 

To one lucky winner I will be giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

And to the second lucky winner I will be giving away a Bic Band of their choice!

For those of you who don't know what a Bic Band is, its a fantastic running band that keep the flyaways out of your face and NEVER slips. It stays put, is super awesome, and makes your head look pretty while you run your butt off.

So how to enter:

 1.) Be a follower of this blog. (Click the "Join this Site" or "Follow with BlogLovin" buttons on the right Or you can follow by email)
 2.) Leave me a comment below telling me what you would get with the gift card.

 3.) For another entry leave a second comment telling me which Bic Band you would get by checking them out at the Bic Bands Website.

So two comments for two entries. No more than two. (And no less than one if you want free stuff.)

The Giveaway will end July 26th at midnight.

The two winners will be randomly selected via robot and announced the following Monday.

Good luck!

P.S. I am in love with this tank. I must aquire it or I will die of disappointment. You can get it here.

Smiles and Golf Carts

Yesterday - Rest Day

Today - 2 or 3 Miles Moderate Pace

Had a great run to round out last week on Friday. It was only in the 80s and there was a nice breeze happening. It was ideal. Here are some post run pics from the bathroom (of course).



My "way hotter than a duck face" face.



 

Speaking of weekends....

This weekend the Mister, C-Man and myself spent some quality time in Oklahoma with Mister's family. C-man was way pumped to see his cousins, Granna & Papa, and Aunts and Uncle (and all of their pets).

The first night we spent with the Mister's parents.

They were keeping two of C-Man's cousins over night so they had airmatresstastic slumber party.

(We could here them talking until almost midnight after we put them to bed.)

You can't beat some quality cousin time. Especially when it involves free reign over Granna and Papa's golf cart and an unsuspecting Aunt Tara.

The next day we went to the mountains with my SIL and her main squeeze for a little bit of fresh air and outdoor fun. It was such a beautiful day to spend outside!

Then we rounded out the evening with my BIL and his lovely wife and kids.

This was where C-Man got the chance to be a real manly man. He went coon hunting with his Dad, Uncle and Cousin. They didn't actually shoot anything but they wanted to give him a chance to see the dogs tree a coon or two.

Needless to say they had a blast and we got (an extremely illusive) picture of all the guys together.



Smiley bunch huh?!

Speaking of Smiles........

These little guys are the bizz. I can't get enough of them. They're jsut the perfect little sugar fix.....and they make me feel like I am injesting pure unadulterated happiness.

Something else that made me smile this week.....a tiny office assistant who stopped by to help me file a few things.



Look at that face!!!

Stop back by tomorrow for a giveaway!!

What is your favorite snack when you need a sugar fix??

Are you guilty of the occassional duck-faced selfie??

Whether You Like it or Not!

Yesterday's Workout

     2 Miles - Very Easy Pace

Today's Projected Workout

     2 Miles - Moderate Pace

     Armstastic Stength Training - Do Twice

1. Triceps Dips - 10
2. Lying Tricep Lifts - 10
3. Dumbbell Curl - 10
4. Dumbbell Pullovers - 10
5. Overhead Press - 10
6. Reverse Plank - 1:00

So I have been super sick over the last 4 days! Let's just say that me and the restroom were getting pretty tight there at the end. Ha! Punny.
Moving on.......
So yesterday I had time to get in two miles after work before small group. And thought that would be a perfect post stomache bug distance to get back into my groove. It was a great run! Low temps, smelled like rain, great tunes streamin in from Pandora's Pop Fitness station. Money.
After every run the frist thing I have to use is the restroom. So, that is where I took some fun sweaty selfies for your viewing pleasure!

So my first run after 4 days of Dehli Belly wasn't too bad. I was a little weak and slow goin' but I made it without incident! I also learned that God Loves You Whether You Like it or Not.
Thanks church restroom mirror for sharing your wisdom.

When I read this in my head Mr. T's voice was what I heard saying it. Whether you like it or not FOOL!

When I got home after group my fantabulous Mister made us a huge pot of spicy chili to round out the day.

So stinkin' good!

Anyway.......... today I am looking forward to another run in sub 90s temperatures! Also, so you know I actually dress like a respectable card carrying member of society sometimes, here's a work shot.

OOOOoooooo Fancy!

How to Push Past Workout Frustration

Yesterday:

     Rest Day

Today's Projected Workout:

1. 2 Mile Run - Moderate Pace
2. Arms

Lordy I am getting frustrated with the slowness of my return to running. I expected to be able to immediately run 5 miles at my regular pace. Easy Peasy. It's not like a 3 month hiatus from running ever effected anyone's stamina right?!

I was apparently suffering from a hopeful delusion. I have been struggling to get through any more than 2 Miles at a time at my regular pace.

So frustrating!

I feel like I have had to start from scratch.
But I realized the other day, during my patheticly short run, that running a ton of miles isn't the most important thing in the world. (or so I am telling myself)
Here is what I have to remember:

I am still lapping everyone on the couch.

I am still being healthy.

I am still 20 lbs lighter than I was before.

I will get back up to high mileages.
I will keep getting faster.
I will keep getting stronger.
I will keep losing pounds and inches.

I just have to stick with it.

So I have resolved to keep fighting the good fight and work my way back up to 5 or 6 mile runs and quit feeling like a failure that I am unable to start where I stopped. If you are in the same boat with your running, DON'T GIVE UP! You'll get there when you get there!

Now for a photo dump of our 4th of July Festivities!! Lawnchairs, Horseshoes, Ladder Golf, Parade, a Cute Baby, and Effeminite Posing.

Turtle Racing, Parades, and Rodeos OH MY!

Yesterday's Workout:
   
1.5 Mile Run - (Yah I know, lamesauce, but I only had a little time between work and small group and that's what I was able to fit in. 1.5 Miles more than everyone on the couch!)

Today:

Rest Day - We leave at 1:30 to pick up C-Man so I am using today and Friday, when we take him back, as rest days this week.

              Post run crazy face!

Now for the important stuff...
Who else is ready for the 4th?!?!?
I can't wait! I freakin love the 4th of July. Its my jam.
In case you are lame and don't understand the fundamental awesomeness of the 4th of July I am going to literaly spell it out for you via the following list of grade A activities related to this most righteous of days, Independence Day.

Why the 4th of July Rocks my Face Off:

1. Putting on your best gaudy 4th of July duds.
2. Parade (Fun floats and people throwing t-shirts and candy at you....yes please.)
3. Turtle Races - This may just be here but all the kids enter a turtle in the the turtle race and win prizes for the three fastest amphibians.
4. Watermelon feasts
5. Car shows
6. Ranch Rodeos
7. Fireworks
8. Town Dances
9. Food, food, and more food
10. Family and Friends chillin in lawn chairs, enjoying a beer and some good conversation to clos out the night.

There you go. Now you know. Enjoy your 4th!!

These ladies are super pumped for the festivities!

What is your favorite thing about the 4th?

Lover of Running, Plays, Babies and Pets

Last weeks Recap:

Monday - Bleachers & Walk/Run
Tuesday - Bleachers & Walk/Run
Wednesday - 2 Miles Moderate Pace
Thursday - 2 Miles Fast Pace
Friday - Rest Day
Saturday - 2 Miles Moderate Pace
Sunday - Rest Day

So pretty light workouts last week due to the heat and the fact that I am trying to work back up to my longer runs. Even though it was killer hot out last week I still managed to really enjoy all of my workouts. That may have been the heat exhaustion talking but I'll take what I can get.

Today's Projected Workout:
   1. 2 Miles Moderate Pace
   2. 2 Sets - 10 Lunges & 10 Jump Squats & 10 Jumping Jacks

On to funner things. Yes funner.
It was such a great weekend! Calynn's play to wrap up theatre camp was on Friday evening his Aunt Tara and Uncle Brian came down for the weekend so they could see it.  He was a Forest Bunny and let me tell ya, he was a damn good one!!

He had 3 lines and did them perfectly! His last one made everyone laugh and made him feel great. Here are some pics of the cast!

Full Cast



Forest Animals




Pop (my Dad) and Gracie. My friends baby girl.

Who doesn't love a cuts baby?? Seriously I could eat her cheeks for breakfast she so freakin' cute!!
Please Lord bless us with a baby soon!!
But until then we've got pets. Lots. Of. Pets.

This weekend we found out that the guy who sold us Mona had a new litter of Basset puppies that were ready to sell. My sister-in-law couldn't resist the mind blowing cuteness and ended up bringing this little guy home.




Tara and Clark. A match made in heaven.





 How could you not love this sweet little comatose thing?!

Mona is from the first litter of puppies the breeder had for his bassets. She is so sweet but kind of an attention whore. She can't stand it if she doesn't get the first pet when you walk in the fence. Luckily the other two are very patient.

Belly rubs are the tits!



Tried to take a pic together. Fail. Note to self "Self, don't try to take pics with your dog when there are much more interesting things, like junebugs, buzzing around."

Is there anything cuter than a puppy?
What is your workout for the day?
Were you ever in a school play? Was it fun or traumatizing?