We Did It! A 5k Foam Fest Recap

Remember a few weeks ago when I pondered how crazy I must have been to sign up for a muddy, wet, and messy 5k, for FUN?  Turns out, I was indeed pretty crazy.

When we signed up, none of us had any worries about the weather on May 4.  I mean, we live in the South, May is practically summertime, right?  My biggest concern was that it might be too hot for me at our 12:30 race time.

As the weekend approached, I kept hearing about a massive cold front that would be moving into our area.  By midweek I was obsessively checking the weather every day.  The prediction hovered between 55-60 degrees, with lots of rain.  Okay, not ideal for being soaking wet and muddy, but we remained pretty optimistic.

Until about Friday afternoon.

That's around the time it sank in that yes, it was probably going to be pretty cold, and raining on top of that.  Now we all know why the race organizers make it very clear that there will be no refunds.

When this was our view all the way to Nashville, I was pretty worried:

Still, we powered on.  What else could we do?  I think at this point we were all just thinking, "This will suck, but let's get through it and then we'll go out and have a good time tonight."  At least, I know that's what Jeremy and I were thinking!

When we arrived at the race site (where, I must mention, we had received an email reminding us that parking would be in a field...and they would have tractors on hand to pull out any vehicles that got stuck in the mud.  Comforting, right?), it had blessedly stopped raining for the most part, but it was a cool 49 degrees.  Yep, at this point, we were all pretty convinced it was going to suck.  A lot.

We look ready, though, don't we??

Once our heat began, I think we were all pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't quite as awful as we feared.  There was very little running to be done, at least for our group.  The mud was just SO ridiculous that we were sliding all over the place.  It was hard to walk and stay upright, much less do much running.  (Which was okay with me, I will admit!)  

There were a couple of obstacles in the beginning--a moon bounce filled with foam and water, for instance--then a looooong stretch with nothing but muddy trails.  And the hills...there were so many hills.  At one point I remember my friend Kelly saying something along the lines of, "This hill has to go down sometime, right?!"  

A little over halfway through, we began to encounter more obstacles--5 ft. walls, then a set of 8 ft. walls (which I turned out to be good at...who knew?), an inter tube crawl across part of lake, wading through a huge mud hole, a lily pad run (on top of the water--that was pretty neat!), a gigantic cargo net climb, two enormous blow-up slip-n-slides, and even an electric mud crawl.  Yes, with real electricity running through the ropes we were crawling under, as we found out the hard way!  Surprisingly enough, there was only one significant injury in our group...Jeremy twisted his ankle when he turned around to see our reaction to the electricity.  (He finished the race limping, but he's doing okay.  Just swollen now.)

Finally, just over an hour after we started, our group finished together.

No, we didn't lose one...Shane was so cold he went ahead to change and warm up the car.  (My legs are red because they were FROZEN, in case you're wondering.)

I checked the temperature when we left, and it was around 46 degrees.  We were soaking wet, muddy, tired, and freezing.  But still, I felt pretty triumphant.  I completed every obstacle on the course (except the electric mud crawl, which I skipped out of halfway through--I don't do electricity, thanks!).  We all stuck together, helping one another up when we fell and encouraging each other through the tough parts.  It was, dare I say, actually a lot of fun.  I never want to be that cold again in my life, but I am definitely glad I did it. 

I might even go so far as to say I'd like to do it again next year....as long as the temperature is above 60 degrees!

I may have lost my mind...

I just registered (and paid MONEY) to run in the 5k Foam Fest in May.   Seriously.  My first 5k (other than the one I walked in college) will be one full of mud, water, and foam. 

Here is the description from the event website:

We are the ONLY obstacle mud race that doubles as a human car wash! We don’t just bring mud and obstacles; we throw more foam at you than a pack of toddlers in a bubble bath! Imagine the coolest obstacle mud race ever, and then picture it staged inside a giant car wash! That’s the 5k Foam Fest in a nutshell!

Am I intimidated?  Yes, quite a bit.  I am also excited!  Jeremy is doing it, and we formed a team along with four other friends.  I don't anticipate a lot of pressure to run very hard...it's mostly about having fun.  

I think we will have a blast, and then to top it off, we get a night out in Nashville.  Sounds like a win-win situation to me!

I am planning to run a real, plain-old-boring 5k this spring as well.  I have been running again for about a month now, and while it's not pretty and it's certainly not fast, it does feel good.  I am ready to keep it up this time.  

WHO AM I??

Wednesday Quick Takes

1.  Since I already basically gave up soft drinks, I decided not to do another sacrifice challenge for Lent this year.  Instead, I am committing to read Scripture each of the forty days during the Lenten season.  I was planning to do this plan to read the Gospels in forty days.  Then, last night, I came across a book I ordered back around Christmas that I haven't started yet.  The book is called 40 Treasured Bible Verses and has a short devotional expounding on the meaning of each selected verse.  Now I think maybe that was meant for me to read during this time?  I will decide for sure when I sit down to start tonight!

2.  As I mentioned, I didn't really make any grandiose resolutions for 2013, and I also never decided on a word for the year.  I did, however, somewhat inadvertently choose a Bible verse for myself:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  (Ephesians 4:29)

This verse has been on my mind so much in the last few months, and I generally find I am a much kinder and more gentle person when I consciously remember it.  So here is my public declaration that my goal for the year is to live by Ephesians 4:29.  : )

3.  Related, I guess I can finally also say that my word for the year seems to be intentional.  As my verse indicates, I need to be more intentional in my words and actions toward others.  I also want to be more intentional with my food habits (am I eating healthful, nutritious food or wasting my calories on junk?) and also with my time in general (i.e. reading a book or spending a few minutes straightening the living room rather than wasting an hour and a half on mindless tv).

4.  Mid-February is not too late for what basically amounts to New Year resolutions, right?  Hey, at least we know I didn't break them by the second week of January like usual!

5.  Following Marcia's lead, I am attempting to try at least 2-3 new recipes each month.  (I do plan to do a post and share my thoughts on these, maybe every other month or so).  It wasn't totally new (I've made it once before), but I made cajun-style red beans in the crockpot yesterday, in honor of Mardi Gras.  I basically used this recipe, and added a little more cajun seasoning this time, and they were delicious!  I am so glad to have leftovers for the next week or so.  

Five Minute Monday

(I've been having a bit of trouble getting back into the writing habit lately, so I decided to just go with it tonight--just write something and publish, as random as it may be.)

A few random things for this Monday night, free-association style:

It was cold and dreary here today, my favorite kind of early fall weather.  I like the chill right now while I'm still excited at every opportunity to pull out a sweater, jeans, or boots.  Plus, it was a holiday so the girls and I spent the entire day holed up at home, watching movies, reading books, painting with shaving cream, dancing, and napping.  It was glorious!

Related:  My favorite affordable item of clothing for fall/winter is a Target cardigan.  I wear a cardigan at least 3-4 times a week...I'm sure my coworkers are tired of seeing them, but I just can't help myself.  How else can I extend the wearing of my summer tank tops all the way into December?

What is your favorite cold-weather piece of clothing?  

I pulled out my favorite ratty, tattered Alabama sweatpants today, and I smiled about it all day long.

One fall trend I do NOT get into is the pumpkin craze.  I love the pumpkin patch (dying to take the girls, but I'm not sure it's going to happen this year!), pumpkins and mums on the front porch, and of course, Halloween jack o' lanterns.  But pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin spice lattes?  No, thanks.  Luckily, Jeremy's relatives step in and make sure he is covered with at least a couple of pumpkin pies every fall. 

Are you a fan of all things pumpkin?

 In very uncharacteristic style, I have already started making plans for Christmas and ordered one of Addison & Mackenzie's gifts.  What's happening to me??  I'm just so excited for all that the next couple of months bring; I just can't help myself.  I rarely pick up the computer on weekends, but yesterday I happened to check my email and realize that Rosalina was on Zulily.  Again, in a quite uncharacteristic move, I clicked over, saw a dress I loved and bought it within thirty seconds.  (When I clicked, there were only two left in the girls' size, so I pretty much HAD to buy immediately, you know?  And, the two of them together were the same as one regularly-priced dress, so Jeremy was totally on board.)  So, Christmas dresses...done.

It seems my five minutes are up (plus a few!) and I have an episode of Revenge waiting patiently on the DVR.  Happy Monday evening!

School Days

It seems I might have failed in getting a picture of the first day of MDO last year.  Oops!  For reference, here's a picture taken around this time a year ago:

Look at those cute little baby hands!  And the chubby cheeks!

And here are Addison & Mackenzie on the first day back to school last week--their first day in the three-year-old class:

It's hard to believe how much they've grown and changed.  Looking at these pictures, I realize how much of the baby-ness has disappeared over the last year.  But man, I love these grown-up girls.  They are such little hams lately; they make me laugh like no one else can.  True, they can also push my buttons like no one else can...but that's just part of the deal, right?

The first week back to school went very well in our house.  They went for the short summer program, so they've really only had about a month without the school routine.  Still, I was a little worried, since they've spent most of the last three or four weeks staying in their pajamas all day and not having to even leave the house most days.  It was a relief that all three days went as smoothly as we could have hoped, and it seems A & M are going to love their year in the three-year-old class.

I always ask my youth group at church if they are ready to go back to school...it's usually pretty evenly split, with about half dreading it and half ready to get back in the swing of things.  I was usually one of the ready-to-go kind of kids, though I probably wouldn't have admitted it.  I loved school, and I particularly loved the first-day, new-year excitement.  Ahh, the memory of all the fresh and clean notebooks and school supplies makes me smile.  (Actually, new supplies still make me ridiculously happy...you never outgrow some things, I guess!)

Which camp were you in--looking forward to school or dreading it?  And I KNOW I'm not the only one who still stocks up for myself when school supplies go on sale, RIGHT?

Six (and Ten)

Six years ago yesterday, we began our married life together.  It hasn't been flawless, but six years, a few homes & cars, two kids, a couple of jobs, and innumerable amazing moments later, I can say without a doubt that it's exactly where I want to be.

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I can't help but be reminded that it is also this month that marks ten years since Jeremy and I met and began dating.  TEN.  

One day, I'll have to write out the story of how we met.  I can imagine the girls would like to read that sometime in the future.

There is no big dramatic element to our story, but to us, it was perfect. 

The Art of Rational Debate

I have always enjoyed a good argument.  During my college years in particular, I learned to appreciate thoughtful, rational deliberation, usually with classmates (and yes, friends) of opposing beliefs or ideals.  Being a political science major, I had plenty of opportunities to refine the art of debate and to practice crafting substantial, meaningful arguments.

Though I could still get worked up in the heat of a good discussion, I learned the value of listening to the other side's point of view and taking their arguments under consideration.  And if I may be perfectly honest, attempting to understand the opposing mindset often gave me more solid ground to stand on in arguing against it.  I can't think of a particular instance when my convictions were completely changed by discussion or debate, but I can think of many, many ways in which listening to and attempting to understand the views of others allowed me to think of the issue in a new light and see things I hadn't considered before.  (And in turn, craft a more rational and persuasive argument about why their position totally wrong--ha!  I kid, it wasn't always like that.)

Perhaps most importantly, the sharing of ideas and opinions with others allowed me to solidify my own values, especially in my own heart and mind.  So many times, we believe in things, argue for or against policies or practices, and defend or attack the actions of others without really understanding the underlying issue at all.  My experiences in college and graduate school taught me to investigate and consider the opposing viewpoints, to decide where my convictions lie, and then to take a stand and embrace my beliefs.  (Do you want to hire me as the poster child for a liberal arts education yet?)

I realize I am not expressing this very eloquently, but I truly believe that you can only argue validly and rationally when you understand exactly what it is you're arguing against.  Know and understand your opponent so you can better defeat your opponent...or something to that effect. It is in the defending and explaining of my position that I become most secure in my own beliefs. 

Thank you to all of those who argued rationally, analytically, and thoughtfully with me during those years (and in the years since, for that matter).  Whether you were on my side or a side I vehemently opposed, you played a part in helping me shape the convictions I place my faith in every single day.  Thank you for helping me see the other side and to appreciate the value and wisdom in loving and understanding others, even when we blatantly disagree.  Thank you to the professors who encouraged us to think deeply and embrace and expand on our positions.  Thank you especially to Dr. H., who played devil's advocate in every single instance and who taught me to investigate an issue from every angle imaginable.  I try my best to pass these same foundations on to my students.

In light of all I've seen and heard over the past few weeks, I am more grateful than ever for the ability to recognize a good, intellectual argument from one that is better left untouched.  After many years, I see the wisdom in knowing the difference between the two.  I understand the truth that there is no way to "win" (or compromise, or have a good conversation) with people who refuse to consider anything apart from their own ingrained beliefs and who will never even listen to, much less try to understand, the opposing point of view. This kind of person will not listen to reason, has very little empathy or compassion for the people with differing convictions, and in truth, probably has only the simplest understanding of the issue in question.  (Yes, I'm generalizing and over-simplifying, but I've seen it, and I've seen it on both sides of the fence--or the political spectrum, if you will.)

And just in case you're wondering...YES, in this particular instance, I am referring most specifically to 99% of the arguments I see in my Facebook news feed.  Though it takes all my strength and willpower, and though I often gripe and make my points (loudly) to those who have the misfortune to be around me at the time I read something incredibly inaccurate, insensitive, and/or thoughtless, I will NOT engage in that kind of discourse. With rare exception, there is no rational thought, consideration, or respect going on in those conversations, and any time I choose to devote to them is time wasted.

I WILL, however, use the "hide" button.  Liberally, at times.

Oh, to be a kid again...

My family didn't always do a big summer vacation when I was younger, but my mom was awesome at the weekend day trips.  She was always making note of nearby activities for us to check out or fun places to visit (and she still does the same for my girls!).

Nearly every summer of my childhood included at least one visit to Lake Winnepesaukah, a small amusement park affectionately known around here as "Lake Winnie".  So many Saturdays I remember piling in the car, barely containing my excitement during the hour and a half ride.  We would spend the day in the hot sun, riding our favorite rides over and over and feeding popcorn to the gigantic fish in the lake.  Sometime around dark our moms would herd us, sweaty and exhausted, to the car, usually promising a return trip soon.

Those summer days at our beloved Lake Winnie are some of my favorite memories.

On Friday, I returned to Lake Winnie for the first time in at least 15 years.  It was every bit as amazing to see it through my girls' eyes as it was to visit when I was a kid.

We set out for the zoo around lunch on Friday to take advantage of a beautiful day and extremely mild temperature.  Thanks to a minor mishap involving Jeremy and a cup of Coke, those plans were soon abandoned and we returned home so he could change out of his (very) wet and sticky clothes.  We dithered about what to do before deciding to venture in the opposite direction and make our first family visit to Lake Winnie.  I am trying to encourage Jeremy to be a little more spontaneous, so it was a good opportunity for a lesson!

When we pulled up to the gates of the park, it felt vaguely familiar, but the moment we stepped through the entrance, all the old memories came rushing back.  I quickly began pointing out favorite spots and landmarks to Jeremy and the girls...it was pretty fun to realize I still knew that place so well.

Addison & Mackenzie were so excited they could hardly stand it.  They immediately started asking to ride everything, even the decidedly non-kiddie rides.  To my great surprise, they happily rode every ride we suggested, including the full-size Scrambler (my longtime favorite-- which we rode with them, of course) and a child-sized roller coaster.  As a matter of fact, I think we rode that caterpillar roller coaster at least 20 times!

We sat by the lake and fed popcorn to the fish, rode the train around the property, played on the gigantic new playground area, and enjoyed some totally unhealthy amusement-park food.  It was a bit surreal to see my very own little girls doing the same things I enjoyed so much all those years ago.  Circle of life and all that jazz...

When we left the park, just before closing, we all agreed it had been a perfect day.  Jeremy and I had just as much fun as the girls did, if not more.  Actually, after asking them several times if they had a good day, Mackenzie finally responded, "I already TOLD you I did!"  Point taken, Mack, but you're going to have to humor your mama and her sappy nostalgia.  I'm sure it won't be the last time!

I know this...why can't I do it?

First of all, I hope all my mama friends had a Happy Mother's Day!  I certainly did--Jeremy and the girls were super nice and gave me a pretty low-key, relaxing day.  We went to church, had lunch with our usual Sunday crowd (including my mom, of course!), then took relatively good naps.  Last night we went to Olive Garden with Jeremy's family.  After that, I got a trip to Target with NO complaining or rushing from anyone.  Score!  : )

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So there has been an article going around this week, "Why the Campaign to Stop America's Obesity Crisis Keeps Failing".  The article is largely a rebuttal of sorts to some of the information presented in the upcoming HBO documentary The Weight of the Nation.  The author of the article, Gary Taubes, points out that the anti-obesity establishment largely touts the principle of energy imbalance as the reason we get fat.  At heart, the problem being that "we consume too many calories and expend too few".

Taubes's argument is that the establishment's theory "ignores" the implication of specific foods--namely refined sugars and grains--which have negative effects on the insulin hormone that regulates fat accumulation.  Simply put, not all calories are created equal, and those that come from refined sugars and grains are the most harmful.

And you know?  I KNOW THIS.  I've seen it in practice, when I was following the glycemic index meal plan while I was pregnant.  I started out with a few pounds to lose and only ended up gaining 26 pounds, most of which was comprised of babies and fluid.  I fully believe that it was because of the way I was eating that kept my weight in check, and the babies were able to use a lot of what I already had for their nutrition.

Now, I could be wrong on that whole theory about the babies using my "extra" weight, but I am certain I am not wrong about my diet keeping my weight under control.  After I had the girls, I continued to follow the glycemic index for the first several weeks.  Even when I slacked off a bit, I kept a lot of what I'd learned in mind and was able to keep my weight well below my pre-pregnancy number for quite some time.  

I can't pinpoint exactly when that all went out the window, but the scales and my body clearly reflect that it did.  Experience tells me that instead of drastically reducing my daily calorie intake and struggling to exercise more and more (which I could stand more of, sure, but that's not really the point here), the single best thing I could do for myself is to return to eating by the plan that I know works.  WHY AM I NOT DOING THIS?

I really have no answer to this question, except that it's hard sometimes.  Which kind of sums the whole thing up in one statement, because again, I know from experience that after awhile it's not nearly as hard to turn down those tempting desserts, the potatoes, or that basket of bread.  Well, okay, the bread is always a hard one for me, but it's a lot easier to do when I am seeing the results of those sacrifices.  But I have to start--really and truly start, not half-assing it the way I have been--to see a difference and therefore, keep my motivation going. 

So I guess this is my commitment anew to getting myself in gear and doing what I know needs to be done for myself and my health and my body.   I really am at pretty much an all-time low regarding my satisfaction with my body right now...no better time to start again, right?  

Here we go....

A few things making me happy right now...

• The fact that I posted final grades for spring semester today.  I taught a new course this semester, so it was a busy one for me.  The next few should be much better, but I am most certainly looking forward to the break in the next couple of weeks.

• A big stack of new books to read.  Since I've been reviewing for TLC Book Tours, I receive a book every week or so.  I love opening the mailbox to find a package waiting for me.
• Spring clothes:  dresses, skirts, sandals...bring it on!
• Veronica Mars on SoapNet.  I watched the first few episodes on Netflix several months ago, right up until they took it off the instant list.  I was HOOKED, and to say I was excited to see it again is an understatement.  Even Jeremy is hooked on it, and we are having a blast catching up on all the week's episodes every weekend.
• My hilarious, goofy, noisy, and energetic girls.  They are SO funny lately; I feel like I should carry a notebook around 24/7 to record all the things they say.  Hanging out with them is the absolute highlight of my day.

And yes, today, this makes me very happy:



I know there are many who disagree, and I do understand some reservations, but at heart, this quote from President Obama sums up a lot of my feelings on the issue:

“The thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it’s also the golden rule — you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated,” he said. “And I think that’s what we try to impart to our kids, and that’s what motivates me as president.”  (Source)

For me, that's what it's all about.

What is making you happy this week?

State of Affairs, March Edition

Trips taken:  None, again
I did get out for fun shopping trips all by myself on a couple of occasions, both in the name of gathering supplies for the girls' birthday.  Naturally, I managed to squeeze in a bit of shopping for me too while I was out and about.  It's only fair, right?  I got to go to a movie this month as well, when I took some teenagers to see The Hunger Games.

I also took a Saturday trip to Fayetteville, TN with my mom and aunt to a fabric store.  We enjoyed a leisurely day, stopping at a local craft fair, eating lunch on the downtown square, and checking out the gigantic Goodwill store.

(There are already two day trips on the books for April.  Woo hoo!)

Books read:  5.5
Anything--Meh.  Strange and vague on the details.  More like an outline of what could have been a better story.

The Lifeguard--There was a somewhat-unexplained supernatural theme to this one too, but I didn't mind nearly as much.  Not bad.

Shooting Stars--Far-fetched, but pretty entertaining.  I liked the way it worked out in the end, and didn't really see it coming.

The Last Plea Bargain--My favorite of the month.  A legal thriller in the vein of John Grisham, but with a main female character.  A little on the long side, but I liked it quite a bit.

Speak--I have heard a lot about this YA book over the years and finally picked it up at the library this month.  I read it in just a couple of days, but I didn't just love it or find it that outstanding.  I did like the ending of this one as well.

I'm halfway through both Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (continuing my Harry Potter re-read) and Survival Mom.

(By the way, for anyone who may be interested in any of the books I mention in these recaps, they are listed on my Goodreads profile.)

Music
Eh, nothing exciting here this month.  A & M have now discovered The Fresh Beat Band on Netflix, so I get to hear a lot of that before bed at night.  Thankfully, it's not too annoying.  We have also listened to the Disney/Broadway station on Pandora and I have been reminded of just how much I love that one song from The Little Mermaid.  Cheesy much?

Crafts and Projects
The project I am most proud of this month (maybe for the entire year?) is outfit I made for the girls' birthday party.  I have a ton of party pictures and details to share soon, but I loved the way their outfits turned out...even if they included skirts and not a full dress like Dorothy wears!

I made cupcake toppers and party favors for the party, as well as designing their invitation.  I have never really fooled around with digital design before, except for the blog, so I was excited that I managed to accomplish that as well.  I bought fabric for simple kitchen curtains, but that project was sidelined for the birthday craftiness.

Project-wise, Jeremy gets the gold star this month.  With a lot of help from my dad and his stepdad, he spent an entire weekend putting together our birthday present for Addison & Mackenzie:

They love it, and I love that we have something to keep us busy outside in this beautiful spring weather.  I have already claimed a prime spot for my lounge chair and plan to spend a lot of time there, reading and watching the girls play.  : )

Notables

Here, at the end of March, I am not nearly as stressed as I was at the beginning of the month.   Though some things didn't turn out as well as I had hoped this month, I have pretty much let it go and given myself permission to start over with a clean slate in that area.  And I have vowed again to say no to things that will just add to my stress.  Every couple of years I have to be reminded that I can't do it all and refocus myself on what I can do.

Jeremy and I did a lot of thinking and talking about food this month, and while we aren't yet committed to huge changes, I do see good things beginning to happen in our attitudes about the way we want to feed our family.  I am very much looking forward to the upcoming fresh foods and vegetables of the summer.  Also food-related, I made a first attempt at any kind of homemade bread and made this Cinnamon Strawberry Bread.  It is amazing, and has become a regular rotation in our house...proof that I can actually follow a recipe sometimes!

We also finalized some plans for fixing up some things around the house and began to loosely, but seriously, discuss adding on to our house.  We love this neighborhood, our yard, and most things about this house, but we want just a little more space.  We hope to possibly meet with a contractor this month to find out the possibilities to add a new master bedroom and bathroom.  I don't know if it will work out or not, but it's fun to dream.

How was your March? 

Bring it on, spring!

We have had a very mild winter this year, and now, all of a sudden we seem to be jumping headfirst into spring.  Flowers and trees are beginning to bloom, which is good for my soul, but not my allergies. 

With the approach of warm weather, I have been reminded yet again that my summer wardrobe is in desperate need of an overhaul.  I did a lot of cleaning out before my big yard sale last September, and the summer side of my closet is looking pretty pitiful.  I am also changing in my tastes as I get older (ugh!) and my body changes a bit.  I am learning to accept the fact that some things just won't work on me--ever--and I am moving on to things that make me feel comfortable and confident.

Here are a few things I am loving right now:

TOMS $58...I WILL own these

Old Navy $19.94

This shirt would be good for work.  Old Navy $26.00

Love this GAP dress for spring or fall $59.95

Target $22.00

Obviously I have a thing for dresses and skirts.  I wear them about 4 days a week during the summer.  That is one of the things I have come to accept:  I should not waste a lot of money on shorts or capris when I can just buy more skirts.  (Speaking of dresses, thanks for the comments on the dress in my previous post!  It came from Ross about two years ago; I'm not sure of the brand.)

I am stuck in a bit of a rut, so tell me, what is your favorite clothing store?  Seen any cute shoes lately?  What are you wearing this spring?

Overwhelmed

Back in college, I used to get in these moods where I felt totally and completely overwhelmed by all my schoolwork, commitments, jobs, and other obligations.  It happened most often around the time of finals or when I had a big project due, or when I was working on a major event for sorority.  I would long to curl up with a book I wanted to read, as opposed to whichever one I was supposed to reading, and to just do nothing for awhile.

In graduate school in particular, I distinctly remember thinking I could not wait until I finished my degree so I could just work.  I anticipated the days when I would do my job, then go home and do whatever I wanted to do, without worrying about research, classes, or exams.

For the most part, I really did enjoy all the free time I had after finishing school.  Jeremy and I were already married when I completed my master's degree, and I had recently moved into my current job, which was a lot slower-paced and with much more normal hours than my previous one had been.  It felt so good to just be able to relax and enjoy the evenings and weekends, without anything hanging over my head.  (And I remember SO many weekends early on in our marriage when we both slept until nearly lunchtime, then might take a long afternoon nap, accomplishing absolutely nothing for the day.  The beauty of being a young adult with few responsibilities, right?)

I have done well keeping my promise to myself to remember how stressed I get when I am over-committed, and I have kept a pretty low-key schedule for the most part.  Sure, there have been times when I got a little too busy with one thing or another, or we had weeks when it felt like every moment was packed full.  Once, just a few weeks after the girls were born, I was convinced I was going to have to give up teaching because I just couldn't handle it on top of managing newborns.  (See--that "do nothing but work" phase did not entirely last...within a year or so of beginning my current job, I also started teaching part time at a local community college.)  Naturally, I settled into the routine better after a few weeks, managed to finish the semester, and am still teaching today. 

In the last month or so, I have realized that I have been letting my commitments and obligations stack up again.  Addison & Mackenzie (and Jeremy!) are the first priority, as always, but I am also juggling my regular job, two online college courses (which I do still enjoy and plan to keep), serving on a local board, teaching Sunday School and working with youth at church, among other projects and everyday things.  I let a project fall through the cracks this month, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I really failed at something I said I would do.  It's not a good feeling at all.

Still, at least I am aware enough to realize why it happened and to put a stop to the underlying issue right now.  I am still the same type of person I have always been:  when my day is done, I want to retreat with a book or tv (or a sewing or craft project), and let everything else go.  I don't want to spend the hours between the girls' bedtime and my own working on something I don't even really want to be doing.  Some commitments bring me joy, for the most part--teaching my online classes, working with youth, blogging and reviewing books--but my plate is full with all those things.  For now, I need to face the fact that I can't add anything else, and focus on those activities I truly enjoy.

After all, I am an adult now; I get to pick and choose what I want to do with my time.  I have learned that I function best somewhere between a jam-packed schedule and a wide-open life of leisure, and I just have to move it back into balance at times.  I am getting back to being a little more picky about what I choose to do, and learning to say no a little more often. 

Do you ever feel over-obligated?  Have you learned your limits and when to say 'no'?  Do you like to be busy or have lots of free time, or somewhere in between like me?

I made a skirt (yes, really!)

The major item on my Christmas wishlist last year was a new sewing machine.  Jeremy took heed of my not-so-subtle hints and procured a sewing machine for me.  (Actually, I just realized that I got everything on that wishlist, except for the Veronica Mars DVDs...awesome!)

As soon as the dust settled from our Christmas morning celebrations, I pulled my new sewing machine out of the box and sat down with the manual to learn how to get started.  Much to my surprise, it went pretty smoothly.  By the end of the weekend, I was trying out different stitches on scrap pieces of fabric, practicing sewing straight lines and curves.

My sister and I worked on these headbands/bracelets, and I made a few other "scrap bracelets" for the girls.  Laura (who took a sewing class many years ago, at maybe 13 or so?  She has always been more 'domestic' than me) told me to sew something together, promising it would make me feel very accomplished, and she was right.  I had have a long way to go, but I was proud of myself for even learning how to thread the machine!

I haven't had a whole lot of time to devote to sewing in the weeks since Christmas, but I do pull it out occasionally when I have a free hour or two.  I have pinned lots of ideas to my Learn to Sew board, but so much of it is either way out of my league or would require time I just don't have right now.

When the girls decided they want a Wizard of Oz-themed birthday party, I began to consider the idea of making them blue gingham skirts and matching "3" t-shirts.  I set off looking for a simple skirt pattern.  I quickly found this one, via Pinterest of course, and marked it as something I might be able to accomplish.  Though the girls have now set me straight on the fact that Dorothy wears a DRESS, not a SKIRT, I kept the idea in mind.

Saturday night I pulled out some fabric and pulled up the tutorial on my computer.  I guessed at the measurements, and went a little shorter in length in order to use the fabric I had on hand, but within two hours, I had produced...

an honest-to-goodness, fairly decent-looking skirt!

I knew Mackenzie would love it--she loves purple--and I was right.  She couldn't wait to try it on.   To my (and Jeremy's) amazement, it fit!  Mackenzie was carried away with her new skirt, and wore it over her pajamas all afternoon.  (We all usually change back into pajamas after church on Sunday...it's my favorite afternoon of the week.)

Naturally, I couldn't wait to try again, so I let Addison pick out fabric for her skirt on Sunday night.  I made this one a little longer and a little fuller, and I am happy to report that it took much less time...maybe an hour total.  

My Mackenzie is a little obsessed with skirts and dresses, or "ballerinas", as she calls them.  When she saw that the second skirt was fuller and slightly more poufy (like a ballerina's should be, I guess), she quickly negotiated a trade with Addison to take over the second skirt.  Luckily, Addison is pretty easygoing sometimes, and agreed without argument.

I don't have a good picture of the second one, but Mackenzie is wearing it while trying out a couch at Costco on Monday:

And Addison was perfectly happy with the purple one (and my Diet Coke):

Naturally, my first attempts are far from perfect, but I'm still ridiculously proud.  I MADE something! Stay tuned--it could get all kinds of crafty up in here...

Diet & Exercise

As I mentioned last week, I have decided it is time to take a few serious steps toward improving my weight and health. I know myself well enough to know that I am not going to stick with any kind of drastic, all-or-nothing plan, but small steps toward the goal are better than no steps, right?

According to my profile on the My Fitness Pal app, my goal is 1200 calories per day. Honestly, I have never counted calories before in my life, but I knew for certain that I had been eating far more than 1200 calories every day.  I was not sure I could make it through a day eating so little!

To my surprise, I have survived at or around 1200 calories for about two weeks now...during the week, at least. Weekends, so far, have been a bit of a problem to get under control.  I don't go all-out and eat everything in sight on weekends, but I definitely relax the weekday standards. I know I have to change that, and I really am working on it. As part of our efforts to scale back the budget, we are trying to eat out less and plan good, healthy meals at home more often.

The frustrating part is that even after meeting my calorie goals each weekday, I think I might be down about one pound. Very, very discouraging.

I am working on incorporating more exercise this week, which is also an area where I have plenty of room for improvement. Again, I know myself well enough not to set my expectations too high, so I am starting with very minimum goals. I am still enjoying this power yoga/pilates workout on Netflix, and I like doing Just Dance on the Wii sometimes. I will never, ever, ever like running, but I do enjoy walking when I can work it in. That's really the key for me, I think...I have to find time to work something in. I am hopeful that at least a minimum level of regular exercise combined with my 1200-calorie diet (ugh!) will begin to make a difference.

Now tell me...
How do you control your diet on the weekends? Do you eat relatively the same every day, or do you have a designated splurge day? Breakfast is a hard meal for me to add variety--what is your standard weekday breakfast?

The State of Affairs, January Edition

Trips I took:  2
Jeremy and I spent New Year's Eve in Atlanta watching Auburn play in the Chick-Fil-A bowl.  We had a very low-key night away, complete with a leisurely breakfast before heading home the next day.  It was nice to have a full day and night for just the two of us.

I had my first solo weekend away when I went with our youth group on a retreat.  It turned out to be one of my favorite youth trips ever.  The adults were not called upon to do much other than make sure our kids were where they needed to be, so I had a good bit of free time to read and relax in the serenity of the wilderness around us.  I will definitely sign up to repeat this trip next year.

Books I read: 2.5
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone--This was the first time I have reread this book in many years, and I felt the magic of the Harry Potter world all over again.  Reading from this perspective, in which I know the scope and depth of the saga and how enormously it would impact our culture, I couldn't help but marvel at what Rowling created.  How does a mind even begin to craft something that amazing?

First You Try Everything--An honest, upfront, and heartbreaking look at the demise of a marriage and a woman who has moved far past the point of desperation. 

Laugh with the Moon--Reading this now, and the more I read, the more I enjoy it.

Music
The soundtrack of the month was mostly a combination of Mumford & Sons and Peter Eide (who performed at the youth conference).  I am no musical trendsetter, and I am usually far behind everyone else in musical discoveries, but I do love just about every song on the Mumford & Sons Pandora station.  I also began listening to NeedtoBreathe this month, and I will probably be exploring that one a little more soon.

Milestones/Notable Memories
The weekend of my youth retreat was Jeremy's first weekend alone with the girls.  It went really well...as far as I am aware, anyway!  : )  I understand there was a little crying for me at bedtime, but not as much as I had feared.  Overall, I think it was a success and gave the girls a great chance to have quality time with their daddy.

Addison & Mackenzie had their first hibachi experience at our favorite Japanese restaurant.  The first visit went very well, and they have already told anyone who would listen that they would like to go back soon.

On the last weekend in January, A & M attended the birthday party of a friend from school.  This was the first time we have been to a birthday party for a classmate, where Jeremy and I didn't really know the parents and/or the family.  The girls had a great time and there were some amazing cupcakes, so I count it as a win.

We bought our first Mac, and we are loving it so far.  Need to learn how to use a lot of it, but loving it nonetheless.

Alabama beat LSU to become National Champions once again!  We also won in 2009, and Auburn won last year, so it has been a good three years for our state.  Roll Tide!!

Random Notes for the Month
While not exactly a New Year's Resolution, I decided to get serious about my weight and my health.  I downloaded the MyFitnessPal app to track my food and exercise, and it's really helping me to think about every bite of food I put in my mouth.  I'm still working on the exercise part of the equation, but I did this yoga/Pilates workout tonight (on Netflix instant!), and to my surprise, I really enjoyed it.  Maybe there's hope for me yet?

I also decided it is time for us to get serious about our money.  This is a decision I make every few months or so, but I hope to really get something on track this time.  Mostly, I want to figure out where our "lost" money is going and use it in a more positive and intentional way.  Jeremy is not as gung-ho as I am at this point, but I'll get him on board.  I am working on procuring a copy of Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover.  Anyone done the Dave Ramsey thing?  I'd love to hear your experiences.

It has been crazy warm here for January (in the 60s!), but very rainy.  We have done our best to take advantage of the mild weather and have spent a few afternoons outside.  While I wouldn't mind seeing a little snow this year, it is hard to complain about open-windows weather in the middle of winter.

I am feeling very busy with extra projects right now.  I am teaching a new course at the college, in addition to the old one.  I am also working on preparing a grant application for our court system, which I will be working pretty hard on next month.  Side jobs give me something productive to do and bring in some extra income, so I am NOT complaining.

How was your January??

Some Words for the New Year

I have been writing and rewriting a New Year post in my head for more than a week now, but it somehow still hasn't made it to my computer screen.  I don't do too well with specific resolutions, so as usual, there are a lot of "more ___" and "less ___". 

I love Marcia's word of the year idea, and I had been thinking I would go with simplify for the second year in a row (surely that's allowed?).  It was my word for last year, and although I did a lot more thinking about simplifying than putting it into action, it still helped as kind of an overarching theme for the year.  I tried to keep it in mind when making decisions--to evaluate which avenue would further the goal of simplifying our lives.

So, going into the year, my long-term goal is yet again, to simplify.  Jeremy and I want to reduce our stuff, reduce our spending, and do more enjoying of the simple pleasures in life.  That still holds true.

However, this weekend I unexpectedly found a new angle for thinking about my year, and although it falls in line with the theme of simplifying, it defines my focus a bit more...and puts it exactly where it should have been all along.

I had the blessing of attending a retreat with the youth from my church, and it was a great way to kick off the year with the right attitude.

Now I have more than a word for the year... I have a mantra:

Nothing more; nothing less; nothing else.

Sounds like the perfect mantra for simplifying life, right?  Actually, there is much more to it than first appears.  In the context of the song it comes from (by Peder Eide), it is followed by the words Do what you want with me. 

I don't know if the youth felt the real meaning of this song as strongly as I did or not, but for me, it was the perfect reminder that I don't need to spend time worrying about living up to the world's standards of success.  God will put me in the places I need to be to serve Him best, and really, isn't that exactly where I want to be? 

I am listening for the whispers this year, the quiet nudges directing my path--maybe not always my path, but His path, which promises to be infinitely better than anything I could do on my own.

Nothing more; nothing less; nothing else...just what He wants me to be.

Get ready, 2012, I am coming for you!

Confessions: Christmas Style

I tend to buy more things for myself at Christmas than at any other time of the year.  I think it's because I'm already in the "spending money" frame of mind...combine that with the holiday sales happening at every turn, and I am powerless to resist.  A few dollars here and there can add up after awhile.  Oops!

I have no idea what to get the girls for Christmas.  So far, I have bought them Candyland, a Play Doh tool set and gift pack, and nightgowns. What are your kids getting this year?

As hard as we are working to help the girls grasp the concept that Christmas is about more than Santa, Rudolph, and presents, I had a regrettable moment of my own when I realized Christmas is on Sunday this year.  I believe I actually said something along the lines of, "Oh great...we have to work a CHURCH SERVICE in the Christmas day schedule too?!"  Not my best moment, by far.  (As far as I know, we will be attending church on Christmas morning, and I will be happy about it.)

This time of year makes me want to take on ambitious cooking projects.  I want to make bread pudding for Christmas brunch with my family, but I fear I may be out of my league. 

One of my favorite holiday treats is homemade chex mix.  Simple, I know, but I just can't get enough.  Marcia talked about it recently, and I confessed that I have never made the homemade kind.  Maybe this is the year?  (Or maybe I'm feeling overly ambitious again...)

I am a sucker for Christmas movies, and I have already watched several of my favorites this year. The embarrassing part is, it's not the classics like It's a Wonderful Life that I love the most.  No...you're much more likely to find me watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas (either version!), The Santa Clause (any of the three, though the first and second are my favorite), and Home Alone. 

In related news:  I have the ABC Family 25 Days of Christmas schedule posted on my bulletin board at work.  (Home Alone 2 tonight!)

Your turn!  What are your Christmas confessions?  Am I alone in my preference for 90s holiday movies?  What's your can't-miss Christmas movie?

Friday Night Five

1.   Well, I'm a NaBloPoMo flunkee.  I posted on each of the first nine days of November, which was a record for me, I'm sure.  But some days I just don't feel like blogging, or I am not inspired, and that doesn't make for good reading does it?

Many months ago, I basically stopped using the computer at home on the weekends, and quite honestly?  I like it that way.  The weekends are family time, and when the girls go to bed, Jeremy and I are left with some of the very few hours we get alone each week.  I don't need my "requirement" to post a blog to get in the way of that.  (If I were all organized and efficient like some other bloggers I know, I would have posts pre-written and set to post automatically.  Alas, that will never be me...I write about whatever is on my mind at the time.)

I do think maybe I can get in the habit of posting more often during the week, which was my original goal anyway.  So...win?

2.   I left work early yesterday and Jeremy and I were able to have lunch and do some shopping together.  I had my first peppermint mocha of the season, so it feels like the holidays are officially here!  I got the girls some black boots, which they are in LOVE with already, and a new outfit for our family pictures this weekend.  We picked up a present or two and just enjoyed wandering around for awhile, and it was very, very enjoyable.

3.   I had an unpleasant experience with a chain bookstore that still has me a little irritated.   I had a 25% off coupon, so I was going to break my own rule (don't buy anything for yourself that you have already put on your Christmas wishlist!) and buy the Harry Potter box set.  I knew the average online price was around $50, so when the clerk helping me pulled up the price of $86 and some change, I quickly declined.  While taking a coffee break, I searched for the online listing and quickly found the set on the store's OWN website for $52.15, with a little button that said "click here to pick-up in your local store".  Sounds like a workable deal, right?  I reserve it at the online price, then "pick it up" at the store.

I'm sure you can see this coming, but it didn't happen.  No, apparently when you reserve online, you have to pay the store's price at pickup if there's a difference.  Do you know how extremely upset I would have been if I had traveled to the store to pick those up?  It would not have been my best moment, I feel sure.

Though I didn't really want to give them my money after that, I saw a book I knew A & M would flip over, so I used my coupon to get it for them.  We have another Llama, llama book, and they request it multiple times a day sometimes.

4.   I think the girls are back on schedule from the time change last weekend.  It wasn't particularly hard on us, but for the past couple of weeks they had been waking up a little earlier than usual so I was worried about the possibilities for a wrecked sleep-schedule.  They stayed up super-late one day last weekend, so it might have even helped that they were a little off schedule to begin with.  A & M are pretty much back on track, though they are still waking up earlier than they were for awhile, but I'm thinking the months of sleeping until 8:30 or 9:00 must have just been a fluke.  Regardless, I can't complain about 7:15 when they are also taking marathon afternoon naps, like the three-hour one from this afternoon.  (It was glorious!)

5.   Not to be deliberately vague (because I haaaaate that, really), but I have a possible change coming up, and it would be freakin' fantastic.  So, just send good wishes and/or prayers my way, okay?  I will certainly share if it happens.  It's a big maybe right now, but still...

Wishlist Wednesday

With the Christmas season quickly approaching, my thoughts are turning to shopping a little more often than usual.  I love picking out gifts for friends and family, and browsing and list-making is a big part of the fun for me.  I already have a few gifts in mind this year, including a few homemade items (more on those soon!).

One thing I have trouble with at Christmas is answering the question, "What would you like this year?"  In my family, it's not a big deal...they have known me my entire life, after all, so they have a pretty good idea what I would like.  Plus, my sister and I each help our mom to shop for the other, and we have similar taste (sometimes we inadvertently pick out matching gifts for each other!).  In Jeremy's family, things are a little different.  When someone asks for a list of things you would like, they mean it. If you put an item on a wishlist for his mom, you're pretty much guaranteed to get it (nice, right??).

Since it is very hard for me to come up with ideas on the spot, I have tried to make a list of things to suggest this year.  You know, the extras that I would like to have, but haven't gotten around to buying for myself.

A few items I have come up with so far...

Source: walmart.com via Deanna on Pinterest

I have a yard-sale sewing machine in the closet, but it's several years old and does not have a manual with it.  I'm pretty sure a manual is a necessity for me, so if I have any hope of learning to sew, I think I'm going to have to start with something easy to use.  This machine has great reviews, and at $130.00, it's not a huge investment.  (Jeremy, this suggestion is for you!  Hint, hint...)

Source: toms.com via Deanna on Pinterest

I have wanted a pair of Toms for quite awhile, but just never got around to buying them.  Perfect gift idea, though!

I have come to the conclusion that I don't have enough hooded sweatshirts in my life.  This Atlanta Braves hoodie would make a great addition to my weekend wardrobe.

I haven't seen the last two (or three, maybe?) Harry Potter movies, but I did get swept up in the Potter-mania that surrounded the recent release of the final movie.  I have found myself with an overwhelming desire to start over and read the series again from the beginning.  I have owned a few of the books at some point, but who knows where they might have wandered off to in the years since I've read them.  Now that all the books are available in paperback, I would love to own the complete set.  I can't wait to watch my girls experience the Harry Potter story one day!

A few months ago, I got hooked on Veronica Mars on Netflix.  I knew it was supposed to be a great show (HOW did it only last three seasons??), but I just never got around to watching it before that time.  Sadly, when I was about six episodes into season one, Netflix took it off their streaming list.  There are often good deals for the DVDs on half.com, so I'm hoping someone might snag a copy for me.  I can't wait to watch the rest of the series, though I'm sure I will be sad all over again when it ends too quickly (only THREE seasons?!).

And that concludes my personal holiday gift guide so far this season...always subject to revision, of course. 

What's on your wishlist holiday season?  Do you have trouble giving others an idea of what you want?