Mantelphobia

Really, People. 

I am going to have to get myself a mantel if I am ever going to fit into blogworld....

I miss out on every linky party because it's "Decorate your Mantel for X holiday!!!" and I don't have a mantel.

I have a armoire.

And a buffet.

Both from Craigslist.

But no mantel.

And no fireplace.

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Not even a fake one. 

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Sad, but true.

If you have a fireplace you should be thankful for it.

If you have a fireplace with a mantel, we may not be able to be friends anymore.

Because I have mantel envy.

Unless you let me decorate your mantel and post it on my blog taking full credit for it.

No?

Oh well...worth a shot....

I keep thinking that if I had a mantel, I might fit in with the rest of blogworld so much better.

Maybe something like this

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Or this

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But in reality, I know that that would never happen at my house.

Because in reality, I barely changed the decor on top of my armoire for Christmas.

There's no way I would ever change up my mantel for every stinking season.

So let's recap.

Mantel envy. Check.

Mantel stealing.  Possibly.

Mantel failure.  Definite.

What we've learned here today?

Other than the fact that I would have no problem claiming your mantel as my own??

A mantel would probably be just another way for me to fail blog world.

And goodness knows I don't need any thing else pushing me in THAT direction!

In the meantime, if you have a mantel that you like to change the look of every few weeks/days/seasons, etc.,
Beth over at A2Z is hosting a linky party. 

You should totally join in. 

So I can be jealous of you.

And your mantel.

Helpful How To: Becoming a Runner

Ya'll ain't gonna believe this....

Not even if I tell ya and swear on my great-great-grandma's corn cob pipe (trust me, it was sacred!)....

But someone asked me about running.

ME!?!?!

RUNNING!?!!?

As if I know anything about running.

But here's the thing...until this year, I never was a real runner.

I told people I was.

But I wasn't.

Not really.

I NEVER ran outdoors.

I only ran on a treadmill.

And I held on.

Now, I know this is gonna blow some of you out of the water, but that isn't really running.

That's holding yourself up as the treadmill flies under your feet.

That ain't running!!!!

To be honest, I always wanted to be a runner, but was just so sure that I couldn't that I didn't try to.

Also, I knew that to become a runner, I would have to nix what I was currently doing and start from scratch.

And I wasn't willing to lose that much ground. 

So I didn't.

And I was satisfied holding onto a treadmill.

So.lame.

But having Little Man threw me into a whole new arena. 

A start from scratch arena.

So liberating.

And I learned a couple things in the process.

And have almost become a real life runner.

Almost.

So here's what I have learned in the process.

1.  Take it slow. 
The number one thing I did wrong in the beginning was expect too much out of myself.  I wanted to be able to head out on day one and run 2 miles and feel great.  Guess what? That's not what happened.  On day one, I couldn'teven run a half a mile.  As a matter of fact, I could barely make it 19 mailboxes. And then on day 2, I tried again, only to push myself too hard and end up almost unable to walk for 2 weeks.  With running, as with any rigorous exercise, you have to give your body time to adjust to it. 
It took some work , but after training for another 6-8 weeks on my elliptical, my legs were strong enough for me to feel like giving running another go around.  When I tried it, I made it a full mile without even a twinge of discomfort.

2.  Make it fun. 
I think we all know that exercise is not everything that Jillian and Bob would have us believe right?
Pretty sure we are all aware that it takes alot to make my butt leave the couch at all much less look forward to leaving the couch!
But I have managed to find a few ways to make it fun. 
And we've had this discussion....  We all know about my Pandora addiction...and yes (hangs head) my Lady Gaga station....
Like it or not, my partiality to up-tempo music helps me look forward to running. 
And I am not alone....
My good friend, Carrie and I have a little joke about how we have to make sure to Bring Sexy Back during every run. 
But there are other ways...I have found that running with people inspires me much more than running alone.  I mean, seriously, if I have the opportunity to gossip chit-chat while running, I am much  more inclined to be there, right?

3.  Add in distance SLOWLY.
Ok, here's where I get really technical on you.... 
Hang on.
If you are just starting out at running or are just getting back into it, you should never add more than 1/2 a mile per week to your distance.
And your first run at the new distance should obviously be slower. 
Push too hard and you will end up with shin splints.
Push too far and you will end up with shin splints.
If you don't know what shin splints are, lucky you.
I know all too well.

4.  Distance first, speed later.
Here's a strange phenomenon that makes total sense, unless you are typical over-achiever who likes to cook dinner while doing laundry, feeding your pet, cleaning your kitchen, and doing your makeup at the same time...not that I know anyone like that....
As a runner, you will never run faster until you can run farther. 
If your body is already conditioned to running 6 miles at a steady pace, your body will be much better conditioned to run 3 miles at a quicker pace.
Makes sense, right? 
Yeah, it was a total "DUH" moment for me.

5.  Take it in stride.
See what I did there???  I made a joke....hehe...take it in STRIDE....
No?
Ok.  Fine.
What I am trying to say is, when you first start running, don't expect to run every day of the week.
I am currently running 2-3 days per week with my max being 4 days a week. 
This kind of schedule makes allowances for muscle soreness that is sure to follow your runs. 
You allow your body vital recovery time in between runs. 
Trust me on this one.
Otherwise, you are going to end up like a sourdough pretzel - tied up in a knot and super salty about it.
(Yes, I am aware that that makes 2 corny jokes in like 1 paragraph...sorry)

6. Finally, Race, race, race.
I know that you probably know this about me already, but I am extremely competitive and even more goal driven. 
I RELISH the opportunity to be better than anyone, even if it's myself.
Yes, it is easy to say no to the races because you don't want to pay the money, but it's so worth it.
Because it pushes you to constantly better yourself.
And I think we all deserve to be better than ourselves, don't you?

POST SCRIPT: I certainly don't have all the answers when it comes to running, but these observations are things that I have learned the hard way on my little journey this year, and there is always the potential that it could save you from having to learn them.  In the meantime, feel free to read about real runners like The Happy Runner or Sarah, who have both been super inspirational to me this year.  And by all means, GYRO!!!!

A Nudge

Just when you thought I had lost my mind

I am going to prove it...

I think it's time to admit I have a problem.

Maybe even what some would call an addiction....

A HEALTH addiction.

There!  I said it! 

Ahhh.

I feel like I have been chasing the ever elusive tale of my own personal health for a long, long time now.

And I am still not there.

I am a little stuck.  If you don't beleive me, just refer to last weeks' weigh-in post.

But then I read this, and feel better...or worse...

So now, I am pushing myself. 

New goals.

Along with the 5 mile race that I have signed up to do with the girls in March, I have also enlisted myself to do a half marathon.

Only, I am stretching it out over 3 days.

In order to keep the babymaker from being too shaken up since we are supposed to be working on Baby Numero Dos at that point in time.

And I am joining a handful of others who have declared, nay PROCLAIMED it on The Happy Runner.

The best/worst part. 

That's my birthday weekend.

My 30th birthday weekend.

Best because I will be running enough to compensate for eating my body weight in ice cream cake.

Worst because who has time to party hardy when they have to run 13.1 miles?

Guess there's no turning back, now!

Strangely, I am a little excited about it!

So, now, who's joining me!?

Virtually or otherwise?! 

I mean, afterall, it's my 30th birthday????

Don't leave me hanging!

An Open Window

Today it's raining.

I never thought I liked rain.

Until it showed up and wasn't snow.

And until it showed up to wash all the dirty snow and ice away.

Today, I am thankful for the rain.

And as much as I don't want to talk about it, I have to thank all of you who have listened to me whine about my silly little problem.

First, and most importantly, Little Man is not even aware of the problem, so really there is no problem.  Yet.

Secondly, I am no longer the emotional cloud of massive destruction that I was on Sunday.  Techy and I banded together, made a ton of phone calls and some quick decisions.

Thirdly, I have peace.  We haven't fully come to a decision, but I am starting to see what I always look for - God's hand.  I can see what He is doing and I can see that it is good. 

Painful in the short term, but wonderful in the long term. 

And I can be thankful for it, even if I still ask why.

Today, even with the cold wind and rain outside, I am thankful for an open window that lets in fresh air.

(Don't worry if you don't get the metaphor, I am not sure I get it either, but doesn't it sound philosophical???)

In the meantime, I was reading through my daily blog list, and it just so happens that Centsational Girl's post is about books she is reading. 

One of the books she mentions is entitled "Bittersweet" by Shauna Niequist.  Interesting.

The tag line under the title is "thoughts on change, grace, and learning the hard way".  Hmmm.  Familiar.

And then CG goes and gives a quote from the book -

“Change is good in a way that childbirth is good, heartbreak is good and failure is good . . . it can push us, pull us, rebuke us and remake us. . . it is a function of God’s graciousness not life’s cruelty.”

Ya'll don't even need to read her post today.  K?  Cause it's just for me. 

No, really.  It's a God thing. 

He's talking to me through CG. 

I know, I know. 

We were all expecting a burning bush, right?

Instead it's a design blogger via Google Reader.

Who needs a burning bush, anyhow?! 

It's much too cold to be taking off my shoes today!

But I can think of no better way to term these feelings. 

Bittersweet. 

Perfection.

P.S. For the record, Pioneer Woman is also speaking to me today via her post on Sonic.  It should however be noted that she is speaking to my STOMACH and not my SOUL.

It Doesn't Get Better Than This

Why don't we take some time to talk about all the amazing things that happened at my house this weekend?

Because, despite the impression you may have right now, amazing things happened at my place this week!

Friday night, this lady took me up on my FB offer for free coffee

 In exchange for her sitting on my couch and gossiping talking to me while I de-Christmas-fied my house.

Thankfully, we got it all done just in time, too.

Because the next morning, this happened....

It was wonderful.

So many adorable crafts.

Unfortunately, mine was only half completed. 

And still is only half completed.

What can I say?  I'm totally lame!!!

But just to cheer myself up, I headed to the Goodwill, where I stumbled upon this treasure.

Can we say ginormous Bombay mirror for FIFTEEN dollars.  Does anyone else understand the extreme value of this find?! 

BOMBAY???

No? 

Just me??? 

Oh well.

Would it make you feel better if I told you I also got a walker for $5, the spray painted it red with racing strips then tied on big Happy Birthday balloons for my father-in-law's 60th birthday?

Still nothing???

Ok, guess it was just me....

Well, for those of you who are still completely underwhelmed at my Saturday accomplishments, or for those of you who are still looking down your noses at my failure to complete a craft when half a dozen other women had no problems finishing theirs, does it impress you that I also went running?

That's right.

I took advantage of our 38 degree heat wave.

And ran.

With the girls.

Have I mentioned how much I love running with the girls?

They inspire me to push myself when I would usually just quit.

My goal was 4 miles. 

It would have been the farthest distance yet.

But then, I changed my mind at the turn around point.

And this happened.

Not to brag or anything, but 5.2 is pretty much awesome.

And the pace was not too shabby.

For me, anyway.

And that pretty much ROCKED.

So, in the words of the most adorable Biggest Loser contestants ever,

I think this means that I'm no longer an underdog.

Pretty sure this makes me a TOP DOG!

Weight Update #13

It's finally that time again.

And I am ashamed to say, even given the extra day, it didn't get any prettier.

So without further ado, here's the ugly truth.

Despite all my hard work, only .6 lbs. since last week.

Still more than 3 lbs from the 130's.

Still 6.8 lbs away from my pre-preggo weight.

And still 13.8 lbs from my goal.

I am hoping to make up for some lost time this week, but we'll see. 

Apparently, progress is slow at this point in the game.

But, a quitter, I am not.

And there's always the chance that I will have a big week next week.

Wish me luck!

Making Lemonade

Yes, I know my last post was a little bleak.

But in the morning light, things are not as dark as they seem.

When asked, "How was your weekend" my response cannot be entirely based upon one solitary phone call that shook up my Sunday afternoon.

Because I had an amazing weekend.

And I have amazing things to be thankful for.

Like flannel sheets that I got to spend the afternoon hiding under.

And Diet Pepsi.

And chocolate.  Dark chocolate.

And the fact that I only had 2 pieces of dark chocolate in my house during my down time.

And The Biggest Loser.

And running.

And running buddies.

And crafting.

And crafting buddies.

And the Goodwill.

And dust bunnies that kept me occupied all Friday night.

And the fact that Dancing Santa has FINALLY retired for another year.

And good friends who come over and talk me through de-Christmas-ing my house, even at 10 o'clock at night.

And a hubby who mans up when I want to hide under the covers all afternoon.

And who watched 3 hours of the Biggest Loser with me while I cried my eyeballs out.

And who begged my in-laws to give me liquor last night, even if I did decline the offer.

And great friends who all understand the ridiculous attachment one has to her daycare lady, and offers a shoulder to cry on in return for nothing more than a shoulder to cry on.

As it turns out, I am not the only one swimming in woes.

As it turns out, this woe is not as bad as it feels.

As it turns out, I still have a lot to be thankful for.

And as it turns out, God is still in control.

And as it turns out, bigger things are in the works for this little-big girl.

And that being said, this lemonade is delish!