On a lighter note

SO I was really nervous about posting yesterday... I imagine some of you just skipped it and that's totally fine. 

I just felt like I needed to get my thoughts out somewhere and Facebook was absolutely not an option. 

A day later it's a sigh of relief that so many people have seemed to change their tone (obviously not all but some). The world does keep moving no matter what and I think it forced many to really reflect on who they are and the example they set. Sometimes good comes out of the worst situations and people and that's my biggest hope. 

On that note, I'm done giving anymore attention to it. Especially on this blog.

So back to regular programming :) 

This past weekend I had a 10K race with my dad and Jacob in Wisconsin.

Appleton, Wisconsin is the home (and birth place, I think?) of Houdini. Who knew? So the race is called the Houdini 10k and I imagine we will be signed up for many years to come. My parents call Appleton home now so it was also fun exploring their small downtown. 

Jacob and I found a bar with a shuffle board and stayed there for over three hours. Shuffle boards in bars keep us very entertained.

(On a side note: I was undefeated. Thankyaverymuch!)

But back to the race... 

It went fantastic. The weather was incredible and the route was perfect (Perfect equals a down hill every time you want one).

I have to tell you that Jacob had not trained at all for our 10k (I guess law school is time consuming or something).

He actually has never ran farther than a 5k. He ran a 5k in September and one mile a weekend or so ago. That was his training. 

So anyways I finish the race and I'm waiting with my camera for my dad to come in next. Jacob told me that he would probably walk some and run as much as he could but he wasn't going to kill himself so I wasn't even looking for him yet. I see my dad a ways out and get my camera ready. I'm just focusing on him and trying to see if I can tell how he's doing. All of a sudden I look about three feet in front of me and there is Jacob! Running and SMILING! 

What came out of my mouth next was the least supportive thing I could have yelled..."WHAT ARE YOU DOING??"

It was all I kept saying lol 

I ran with him a few feet and I was just so confused. I suppose I meant more like "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" But I am sure I was beaming. I was so freaking proud of him. He said he didn't walk once and after he got through the first 3.1 miles he just was in a groove. I'm so proud of him! It was the farthest he has ever ran and he was happy! 

My dad did great too and really enjoyed the route. 

We had beers at the end together and sat in the sun. 

Who would have thought in November! in northern Wisconsin! we would be in shorts... Drinking cold beer?? Winter you can stay away as long as you want!

XO 

Jess

Something I had to say before I could move on.

Here's the thing...

I cried this morning. 
I cried this morning. alone. in my kitchen.

I am being completely honest when I tell you that I am not political. I tried to avoid this election for a full year before I paid any close attention. (I for one, think there should be laws in place to set limits on the length of the presidential campaigns but that's a different post for a different day.)

Before yesterday I have had the privilege to vote two previous times in my life. I was pretty much a child both of those times. I just assumed that the "grown ups" would pick two honorable candidates that I could choose between and vote for... and for the most part I wasn't let down. However, making that same assumption this year was a very huge mistake and one that I won't ever make again. 

As I drove to the polls yesterday afternoon, I realized honestly for the first time, how truly affected I will be by my choice this year. I realized the weight of being an adult right now in history and how scary that responsibility is. 

You can tell me how naive and ridiculous that is all you want. I am the first to admit I am ashamed that it took me this long to feel that heaviness. 

I looked over at my husband in the car on our drive and the very real possibility that our babies will be born during this coming presidency washed over me. 

I felt panicked. True panic. 

Somehow though I pulled out of it. I prayed a silent prayer for my candidate as I cast my ballot and believed fully that evil would never prevail. 

Later on in the evening, as the polls were coming in, that panic came back and then some. I couldn't go to sleep. I kept my eyes on the screen until the very last word that Trump spoke. Once it was clear that he had won, I needed, absolutely needed!! to hear what he had to say for himself. I needed to pretend just for an instant that he could be a man deserving of this incredible title. 

However, this morning in my kitchen I felt nothing but sadness. I never ever want my child to look up to this man. I am ashamed that our country could look past his disgusting behavior and turn a blind eye. Never as a country or even as consumers of media and tabloids have we ever given someone so much grace and forgiveness for such disgusting behavior. I never ever want my son or daughter to believe that power allows you to disrespect anyone. I never want them to know someone of such stature could spread so much hate and prejudice and still be honored. 

My stance has nothing to do with whether he will fix our economy or help create more jobs.. I hope he does. I hope he succeeds at all the logistics of the job he just signed up for. My stance and my sadness stems solely from the example we just set for our babies and the trouble we will have explaining it to them when we don't even understand it ourselves. 

Fraidycat 10K

Happy Halloween Witches!

 

 

Thanks for your comments on my last post! We survived the night in Chicago and our costumes turned out preeetty great, if I do say so myself!!

 

Jake’s commitment to growing his own beard for Lincoln really made me extra happy. He knows the way to my heart. 

 

 

We had the best night. We were up way too late and drank way too much pumpkin beer on Friday so Saturday was a very slow start home. Thankfully, we didn’t have much to do so it was a full Saturday to recooperate because Sunday I had a very unplanned race to wake up for! 

 

 

My mother-in-law emailed me a link to a Halloween 10k nearby last Thursday morning. She said she would treat me to it if I wanted to sign up and that they would come out and cheer!! I was immediately SO excited...which is shocking because I have been really struggling with my relationship with running lately (you can read my recent post about it here). This past week I have still been kind of pissed about dropping out of my Half Marathon last weekend... but of course I had a few great runs over the week (go figure) so I knew I would be super comfortable with the distance.

 

She signed me up Thursday and I picked my packet up Friday! I don’t know if I have ever registered so late. It was great not having very much time to overthink it.

 

 

This race had a 5K (3.1 miles) and a 10K (6.2 miles). Both races started together and if you ran the 10K you just ran the course twice. This was the first time I have ever been in a race mapped out like that. It was pretty great though because Jacob didn’t have to do much running around to find me on the course. I saw him at the start, when I finished the first half (mile 3.1) and at the end. I also kind of liked figuring out the course on my first loop. I was able to plan for the hills my second time around... but honestly I was so dead after mile 4.5 that it probably didn’t help all that much. 

 

 

Basically I hit a wall. The last 1.5 miles felt impossible. My watch was messed up the first two miles and I wonder if I just went out too fast. I even walked near the end for a few seconds and I know for certain that has never happened in any previous race.

 

Probably one of the hardest parts was that the 5K race was over 400 people and the 10K had just under 50 people. SO when the 5K runners around me finished and I kept going, I was all alone. Like ALONE ALONE. It was so hard to keep a race menatlity when you have no other runners around you. 

 

I ended 01:01:26 

 

Not my best by any means but I know I did everything I could. Speed just wasn’t in me today and thats okay. I got to RACE and every single time I am at a race I remember why I love it so much. 

 

 

 

Even my Father-in-law said he might run it next year! He used to run a little bit but its been a long time. To hear him say that just proves how electrifying being at a race is!!

 

This was such a nice gift from them. I have two more 10Ks planned this year and now I have a little bit of my spark back!

 

 

 

the cubbies have killed my halloween spirit

I freaking love halloween. 

 

LOVE it. 

 

Since becoming a couple I love it even more. 

 

On the contrary, Jacob contemplates divorce on the 31st of October.

 

Here is the thing…our favorite Halloween tradition…OK, OK one of MY favorite Halloween traditions (although there have been some years skipped) is spending a night in Chicago with one of my bestfriends dressed up. As you can imagine... like pretty much any other holiday...Halloween is taken pretty seriously and is super fun in the city.

 

However, this year I can’t even believe we had even a second to plan/think about our costumes because THE CUBBIES are in the WORLD SERIES!!! DID you hear??? (well of course you have) 

 

 

SO! tomorrow night we are heading into Chicago dressed up as Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln (ya you read that right) for our originally planned festivities...but who woulda thought months ago that tomorrow night would also be the third game in the series but the FIRST game in Chicago!

 

(P.S. Can you even believe that to just get into a bar in Wrigleyville will cost you a 100$ cover. For realz. 1000$ if you want a table. JUST TO WATCH THE GAME ON TV.) 

 

Thankfully we have a party to go to…not far from Wrigley and we aren’t missing it. BUT I can’t help but wonder how stupid we will feel tomorrow on public transportation in a costume. I feel like we will be asaulted by so many crazy fans asking why the hell we are celebrating Halloween when the biggest event in our city is happening...

 

I guess I am writing so you can pray for our safety??... and maybeee to remind you to follow me on insta so you can see our sweet costumes ;)

 

I can’t wait to see what y’all are dressing up as!!! 

 

XO 

 

Jess

 

 

my toughest relationship

So when I started this blog I really intended to keep a focus on running and healthy living. Running has been a consistent part of my life for about four years and just like with any other relationship it has changed over time. Currently we are having major issues.

Its not really that my brain doesn’t want to run, its that my body has been telling me it needs a break. I have been fighting with myself mentally over this for at least a year. I just don’t want to give it up or maybe I am just scared too.

Honestly alot more of my body hurts than I am willing to admit. I am constantly sore in certain areas and I am just not healing as fast as I used to. Getting old is GREAT.

In my head I think this is absolutely crazy. How could I be so worn down. I am not training at some crazy level. I barely even go out for speed. I am happy with a long slow run. Even just 30 minutes a day, but every muscle in me is telling me otherwise.

It is so hard to learn to listen to your body and yet if we all did, we would be so much healthier and happier.

Your body knows what it wants and what it needs. Just look at any six year old. They know when they want to eat and when to stop. They know when to run around like a maniac and when to pass out. They aren’t stuck inside their heads contemplating their next move. They just tell you what they are going to do. 

Somehow we grow out of this and we start fighting with ourselves. We forget how to listen.

Currently I am writing this from my kitchen table on Sunday morning. I should be just about crossing the finish line in my 14th half marathon and honestly I still thought maybe I would run it 12 hours ago... but finally last night I was able to stop the fight. I haven’t put any training in. I haven’t been able to. I am not making excuses, even though my crazy head feels like I am. Nothing good was going to come from me lacing up my shoes this morning.

Look, even if I would have made it through 13.1 miles, it would have just proved to my crazy self that it is okay to run half marathons with little to no training and I can always get by without putting the work in. I don’t think that is a very wise thing to prove to myself. Putting the miles in and really trying is what used to be so addicting. Being better than I was yesterday is what running has always been about for me and I am not really sure where that mentality of mine escaped to... 

I need to find my mojo again. I need to heal and I need to be proud of my body again. I have been cursing it for too many years and I am tired of the same old mind games. I need to take time to appreciate every ounce of what my body CAN do for me and forgive it for what it CAN’T. 

So let me leave you with this gem …and oh you can bet I will be rereading this quote a few million times today…

“This isn’t about working less or more, necessarily. This isn’t about homemade or takeout, or full time or part time, or the specific ways we choose to live out our days. It’s about rejecting the myth that every day is a new opportunity to prove our worth, and about the truth that our worth is inherent, given by God, not earned by our hustling. It’s about learning to show up and let ourselves be seen just as we are, massively imperfect and weak and wild and flawed in a thousand ways, but still worth loving. It’s about realizing that what makes our lives meaningful is not about what we accomplish, but how deeply and honestly we connect with the people in our lives, how whole we give ourselves to the making of a better world, through kindness and courage.” 

I stole this quote from my favorite running blogger. It is from the book Present Over Perfect. Which I just ordered a few minutes ago :) You should too.

XO

Jess

The update of all updates

Three years and seven days ago, Jacob and I were 25 years old. We put our very first house on the market and Jake sat down for a few hours and took one of the most important tests of his life, the LSAT.

Now just a few weeks ago he started his very last year of law school and tears just fell from my cheeks on the Monday morning he left to catch the train for the very last FIRST time.

Time is just going too fast. We never imagined it would and yet of course it did.

We moved back home to Illinois from Wisconsin for him to attend the school he REALLY wanted and I changed my whole career path from over eager college grad in a corporate environment to a nanny.

I started this blog mostly because I was inspired by so many others who shared every detail of their life (the good, the bad and the ugly)…AND my passion for running…

 

 

but I think the biggest reason was to capture and remember every ounce of this huge leap of faith we took and our new adventure.

I failed.

I don’t really think it is because I lost inspiration but I just think I kind of lost myself. Not really in a bad way, just in a way I can’t really put into words. Transition is hard and wonderful all at the same time and I guess I wasn’t as great at putting it into words as I thought I would be.

To be honest this last year has been rough.

I think the beginning of this journey looked and actually felt glamorous. While my friends were starting to feel the weight of being adults, Jacob and I figured out a way to go back to being kids. We traveled and felt free of adult responsibility…pretty much that whole first year of law school.

 

 

Loan money is a dangerous fortune to have and so is the cushion of my in laws' house. We moved in with them the first semester and for the very first time in a LONG time my only real bill was our cell phones. I don’t even feel ashamed. That was pretty freaking fantastic!

The second year of law school we moved out of the ‘rents and had an adorable studio apartment closer to the city (Chicago for those of you who don’t pay attention) and then later that year we knew we needed more room and decided to rent a house farther from the city. A house really helped us feel like grown ups again and I think we probably will stay here until the landlord pulls me out kicking and screaming. Jacob was hired as a clerk at a great law firm close by and is still there today whenever he isn’t at school. Pretty much he is happy as a clam doing exactly what he wants to be doing.

 

As for me I am a nanny for a new family and although I may one day explain how that came about, today I am just not ready. However I will say I never ever thought that after my last experience I would sign up for the position again, but I can’t even explain how much joy my job brings me now. I really felt a pull to go back and use my college degree after things ended with the previous family, but just when you think you know where you belong God shows you. I had one interview with this family and I knew it was where I belonged.

SO I guess thats where I will end today… If you didn’t already figure it out I am back. Like really back. No maybes this time. I miss this space. I miss connecting with new friends all over this crazy planet and I always knew when the time was right I would be ready to really dedicate myself to this blog and I know that time is now.

I hope for some of you I am an ancient person still left on your blog lovin’ feed and this pops up!! if so!! shoot me a comment! I would love to know you are here reading. I may have disappeared, but if you have a blog I can almost guarantee that I am still reading yours. I promise to get better at comments too... now that I am back in the swing of things :)  

tons of love.
jess

such a tease

I needed a little extra motivation for my run this morning. I was still laying in bed & I realized I have not written down a single race this year and/or compared my times. How many races have I even done in the last few months???

Oh GAWD...What kind of "runner" am I???

my happiest place

I remember celebrating my tenth half marathon but other than that I have just been running when I can and racing hard when it feels right. 

St. Patty's Day

After thinking about it awhile I opened up 5 million windows to try and find my race results and after all that work the little post-it full of my accomplishments just wasn't going to cut it...

I subconsciously knew that I was going to have to add my runs to this special place. This place I abandoned almost a full year ago! So I recovered my password because god help me if I can ever remember a password to save my life and I tried to figure out how to even edit the race tab.
RUSTY is an understatement.
BUT long story short, my recent races are added.
Now I can resume to being a real "runner" again or whatever that means :)

Last year I kept coming and leaving...blaming everything on changes and not really making writing a priority. I didn't ever want to be that blogger and I felt dumb. Its annoying to read. I may not be a great blogger but I am a pretty great blog reader and I know what I like to read and it sure isn't apology posts about disappearing and deciding to enjoy your life instead of typing about it.

Well maybe its time to come back...A whole year changes you and I would be a different person now but that is usually a good thing. 

SO I will leave you in suspense. Maybe...I am back :)

I am a big fat liar

I just don't know what is going on with me. I really do want to come here and let you all know every boring detail of my life ... Talk through my goofy problems ... Share too many pictures and find my rythym again but something is just not clicking. 

It is obvious I lied a few weeks ago when I said I was back in action but it's no secret that I haven't even tried to sit down and write a sentence since than which is silly because we definetly have been busy doing some of my favorite things so I'll give you a quick life update. 

Two weeks ago we spent time up in Door County Wisconsin. It was the best weekend we have had in awhile. The weather was perfect ... The colors were just starting to pop and I had a great ten mile run. I completely undid the hard work by gorging myself with all things pumpkin and yummy but it was worth it. 

Speaking of... I have felt some guilt over a few extra LBS lately and I'm just so sick of feeling that way. I take good care of myself 99 percent of the time but then I really wreck myself on the weekend. It's a really bad cycle that I think most people can relate to. I just want to enjoy myself and find balance so I have been trying to celebrate where I win and notice when I have taken it too far... 

I have also really been trying to let myself have what I want without eating every last morcel and that seems to have kept the binging "I love life" monster at bay for a few weeks now. I really love bethenny frankel's book "naturally thin" and when I need a reality check that's where I go to reread some great advice. I don't really know if I would proclaim to the world that's she is the perfect role model but that book is gold in my opinion. 

This seems like an unnecessary tangent but I guess since we have been so busy filling up our beautiful fall weekends with fun, it's hard to keep my skinny jeans from getting too tight. 

Thank god I run.

&&& thank god the two boys I love most like to now too! Last weekend for my dad's birthday we (the husband and I) bought him a race entry to a fall 5k in a beautiful arboretum by our house in Illinois. My parents came down from Wisconsin and it was great. It was the first 5k I think I actually liked and the thought of doing more has crossed my mind. 

I can't even believe I just typed that. 

For you non runners... I am a distance loving runner... At least for the last few years I have been. 5ks are usually too fast and painful for those of us who need 5 miles before we feel like we love running. But somehow I kinda liked the pain this time around and trying to accomplish some speed goals seemed like a welcomed challenge. I ended 6th in my age group out of a little over 100 which made me pretty happy. Jake and my dad did great too! 

This weekend Jacob and I are camping for the first time ever. For me it's the first time ever in my life! 

We came to an agreement that with all the little trips we like to take on weekends we have still been living on a budget of two adults who work full time... Not two kids who live with their parents and are taking out expensive law school loans...so !!! since most of our getaways are outdoorsy anyways we decided it might be a great hobby if we don't kill each other or even more likely I die from irrational fears and flash backs to the Blair witch project. 

Well I am not sure how much of an update this was but I typed something so I'm pressing publish :) 

Have a great weekend pretty people!! 

Xoxo

Jess

boo! I am back just in time for pumpkins, boots, & spiked cider.

I can't even believe it has been almost two months since I sat down to write a blog post.

Honestly once Jacob joined me here in Illinois (about the last time I wrote) I just wanted to experience the next month or so without any social media. It wasn't a choice I made on purpose but it happened and I would be lying if I said it wasn't actually a really nice break. I have posted a few things on instagram if you follow (if you don't, you should :) so click here!!) and on my personal facebook.

I really thought with how much transition we were going through it would be great to write it all down and share the good, bad, and the ugly but in reality I just wanted to ride it out quietly.

I have felt like a bit of a hermit. I am sure many of even my close friends are wondering what is going on but about an hour ago I made some pumpkin spice oatmeal, sat down with a perfect cup of coffee, felt the cool breeze blow through our windows and listened to my very-sexy-law-student-husband type away in the next room and realized I think we came through on the other side. So I deemed today the day that our "transition period" has commenced and now it is time for my freaking favorite time of year (all things fall) & I offically think it is okay if I start coming back down from wherever I was & start finding my place back in this little world.

So pick up a pumpkin spice latte, with all its bad for you goodness. 

& let me tell you a few things you missed while I was away. 

{One}

Jacob and I celebrated two years of marriage!!! We ended up spending the night out celebrating in the little town I grew up in here in Illinois. They have a very cute downtown and the night really made it seem like life sure does come full circle. Of all the places I have been and lived I find it totally bizarre that Jacob and I spent time walking down my memory lane as a little girl for our anniversary (I hadn't visited the area in yearssss). We even chatted about how we could really picture ourselves there permanently in the future. I am not sure I would have ever thought I would raise my family exactly were I was raised but it sure makes my heart really happy to think about.

But truth be told wherever we call home after this law school experience will be just fine with me as long as I have this guy next to me. I couldn't imagine my life with anyone else.

{Two}

I ran one of my best half marathons to date. It was my SEVENTH &&& here is something absolutely shocking, it was one of my slowest. That nagging hamstring thing I was complaining about all summer just hasn't gone away. I trained enough for the half but I knew going into it there might be a chance I need to stop or walk a lot of the miles but I went into the morning of the race with the best attitude and SHOCKER it changed the whole day for me. I listened to how my body felt and I took some stretch breaks. I didn't miss one single water stop & I just jammed out andddd enjoyed the beautiful day. It was awesome.

The Madison Mini has been voted really high in the country as one of the best races and I am not surprised. Everything about the race was flawless. Except for the beer...the beer was weird...some bitter crap but it basically finishes in a beer garden so there is plenty to buy instead :)

{Three}

Speaking of running I guess I should let y'all know that on November 9th I will no longer be running the full marathon. I think my hamstring issue is really my sciatic nerve and it just absolutely cannot take the training. I went out for a 14 mile run by myself the other weekend and I rocked it, very slowly but I rocked it. However mentally I am just not there because I know I am not 100 percent. It was so hard to press the submit button and switch to the half but I know it is the right thing for my body. There is always next year :) Right??? Anyone else have to switch a race before??? were tears involved? or am I just crazy...

{Four}

I made a completely huge, almost unforgivable blogger mistake. I never celebrated my one year on this little space. It was July 6th & I guess by missing it I have confirmed that I just am not made from the perfect blogger mold. I want to grow this space and learn as much as I can to make it better but at the end of the day it really is just where I come to be honest. I hope that is enough for you to stick around awhile longer :)

source

I hope y'all had a beautiful end to your summer. I am sure I missed a few important updates but I promise I will be back on the regular so hang tight :)

XOXO

Jess

Where in the world am I now?

This week you will find us in Texas visiting familia. It was a super last minute decision but those are just the best trips in my opinion...plus staying with family is amazing. 

First, they break out the good stuff even if your arrival isn't until 11 pm on a Tuesday night. 

They are great people. 

My lips are still smiling from the happiness that came in this bottle. 

Then because normal people work all day, we get to lounge around their house being bums and feeling like real kids on summer vacation until they come home and ...

Take us out for some delicious seafood! 

My heart stopped, sang songs and then continued beating again. You are looking at shrimp wrapped in bacon filled with jalapeños cheese. 

Try your hardest not to be jealous. 

On a running note ...

When I get back home I need to get serious about mileage and this marathon in Novemeber. Finally being on a low key vacation I have had more time to read up on my different plans of attack via the interwebs and my dusty (breaks my heart) Runner World magazines that made it through our move. I feel a little panicky and behind :( 

Oand refocusing on a clean diet and hydration might be wise too. 

On a previous post I made some goals for 14 days and my two week mark was on Tuesday. I will talk results soon! 

In the meantime have a great Thursday!! I'm headed out the door to run until sweat burns my eyeballs, so probably only a mile or two... It is Texas after all.

Xo

Some thoughts with my coffee on a Sunday

This weekend we are back up north in Door County, WI !!!

For those of you who don't know, it's the most beautiful place on the peninsula or the little finger of the state, situated in Lake Michigan. I grew up coming here and when Jacob decided to deal with me for the rest of his life, he proposed here too. Smart guy:) this place has slowly become a part of us as much as it was a part of my family before him and it makes me so happy. 

                            

 

                                     

We have a huge reason to celebrate this weekend because Friday was Jacob's very last day of work. We are officially a one income couple living with his parents... Oh boy! :) 

My heart swells though when I think of what the future holds for him and the smile he gets just talking about it. School (law school) starts up on august 21st so he has just about a month to relax...

But let's be honest ... I will be his obnoxious BFF dragging him to everything I can and soaking him all up. Jacob has never had a job where second or third shift wasn't part of the deal. I wasn't too clear on that before because I didn't want crazy stalker internet people to know that I was home alone a lot but I can count the number of Tuesday night dinners we have had on one hand in four years. 

Every couple has their struggle and I am sure tons of couples deal with this, but his schedule has put the worse strain on us and our relationships with friends. When Saturday night is the only real evening together it is so hard to give it up to others... Its been hard but now it's all over !!!! &&&& I think unlike other couples we are really super prepared for the demands of law school. Pretty much if I get to see him for thirty minutes on a week night that is more than I ever have :) so I'll take it.

Well anyways back to Door County... I am sitting here in our little cottage feeling the cool breeze of the lake and drinking my coffee and feeling completely overwhelmed by how much I actually love just being here. This place ...the roads and trails and even the buildings and structures have not changed in 26 years. Each milestone of my life has been really celebrated here. From my first step, to my first heart break. I drove for the first time on an abandoned road here and ran my first half marathon. I have memories with every single member of my family (the ones still here and the ones in heaven). I said the most important "yes" of my life on my favorite pier three years ago &&&& I can't help but add this milestone into the mix ... Jacob and I starting all over again and pursuing what some people would really categorize as a huge risk. Sharing that leap and celebrating that here has been exactly what we needed ....oh &&& lots of ice cream, cherry pie and wine :) 

I may still be rather young but it's starting to set in not only how fast everything goes but how often we forget to really taste and enjoy our memories. We forget to stop and celebrate our leaps and our failures. I love Door County for all it's beauty but the reason it is so meaningful to me is it holds all those chapters of my life. I am just really happy that even as an adult the new chapters are still being celebrated here too.

I kinda hope everyone has a place like this.

One last thought this morning!

A very wise friend posted this on the Facebook the other day & I couldn't help sharing. 

"Two words. Live boldly. Every single time life offers you a choice that involves greater risk, take it. You will lose on many of them, but when you add them up at the end of your life you will be glad you did." 

Go live boldly this week!!! Xoxo

oh! hey Friday!

I am sneaking in one last post this week...

Remember when I said my "new" life would give me more opportunities to blog???
Ya, remember that?
I wish...I just need one more hour in the day but I am probably preaching to the choir so moving on...

I am so excited to try a new link up today!

Karli blogs here & if you blog you still have time to link up so GO :) 

{ONE}

first let me keep my promise and share the sangria recipe I used this past weekend to help achieve my drunken, food coma state.

here is what you need:

one bottle of cheap Merlot 

(NOTE: I am a wine snob but sangria doesn't need good wine--You are mixing in other ingredients that will alter the taste.)

one 1 liter bottle of zero calorie sparkling water 

(I chose an orange flavor. You can get these everywhere now. Try Target or Walmart.)

peach schnapps (6 shots)

two fresh oranges

bag of frozen berries

directions: 

I used a pitcher

& poured the bottle of wine in.

Then I poured six shots of schnapps in.

I dumped a little over half of the liter of water in. 

Pealed, diced, and added the oranges.

Poured a little over half of the bag of frozen berries in. 

I let it sit for an hour in the fridge. 

It was yummmmy !!!

{two}

I have been toying with the idea of getting a fitbit or a jawbone for awhile now...

Today is my half birthday so I decided it was appropriate to snag one 

(FYI it is completely okay that I am a twenty something and celebrate half birthdays. 

I don't care what you think. Actually I do, so don't make fun of me.)

I went with the jawbone and it is currently charging next to me. 

I was basically bouncing as I checked out at best buy. I need to stop being such a nerd. 

I will definitely review it once I spend some time figuring it out.

{three}

This weekend I am determined to achieve one goal. EAT every summer thing I love. 

I  have yet to devour fresh corn on the cob off the grill while sitting outside. I plan to only hydrate with watermelon for the next two days & I fully intend on getting a stomach ache from an obscene amount of s'mores. 

We have just been so busy the last few weeks & I haven't had much control over our whereabouts and  meals so I am really excited to make sure this weekend is the definition of summer cuisine.   

{four}

I am truly sad that Rachel McAdams is not having Ryan's baby. 

that is all.

{five}

I can smell dinner. 

It is stir fry that my brother-in-law is making. 

He just came to tell me it is my half birthday so therefore my celebration dinner. 

Boom!!!

I totally married into the right family. 

Have the best weekend, pretty people :)

the WIIB aftermath

If you read my previous post you know this past weekend was our family's annual WIIB fest. It was every bit as crazy as planned. The only downfall is that we found it appropriate to party the hardest on Sunday...you know the day before Monday??? BAD idea. However, if I had to do it all over again I would still make the same BAD choice & I don't think I would be alone.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the weekend.

a taste of the chaos

WIIB love

 

I was super proud of my WIIB shirt.

 

the grill master himself- Jake's dad

beersbie is the offical game of the WIIB. playing brings pure joy to the boys



Sistas

Emma's happiest

the chair I lugged all the way home from Mexico was put to good use

***************************************************************************

I guess I should mention, since this is a "healthy-ish, lifestyle-ish" blog, weekends like this last one and if I am being completely honest, the last few weekends, have left me feeling less than great (health wise).

Thank goodness my job keeps me so much more active than my previous job and I have been really nailing some great workouts each morning but NEWS FLASH!!! "abs are made in the kitchen", or so they say, & my bloated self has made some really poor desicions on pretty much everyday that ends in day lately.

My struggle, my constant struggle, is that I love my life and I want to enjoy it but I also want to feel and look my very best.

I wonder when I let myself relax if I am just making excuses...

andddddddd then on the flip side, when I buckle down I constantly ask myself is it really that worth it to say no to social situations or family time because I want to eat clean and get some extra miles in???

Some days the answer is clear and other days it isn't.

I know many of you struggle in the same way. It's just recently with being back in Illinois we have so much more going on. More opportunities to do fun things but they usually include all the booze and all the yumminess of summer and I just don't want to completely derail. I also don't want to be consumed with caring so much either. It's just alot of noise for me.

Sooooooo I think I need to proclaim some goals on here, just to get my head back on straight.

Starting today and for the next two weeks...

1. I will not drink a sip of soda (I only drink diet but it is usually so much easier for me to stay on track without it. I don't like to admit it but it is true. I feel better without the crap.)

2. I will not step on the scale (I hope to write a longer post on this soon. I know my body & it is really hard for me to not focus on a number, SO I am being strong and removing it as a habit for at least two weeks.)

3. I will not eat after 9 pm (This could be the hardest. I know when Jacob reads this he will laugh out loud, really hard. I don't really snack but I am known to make a midnight MEAL. Even though I usually take note of it, stopping at 9 will help me wake up feeling better & if nothing else, hungrier for my all time favorite meal. BREAKFAST!!)

 

 

Okay so I will check back in with y'all on these three goals July 22nd!

If you want to join me, shoot me an email! I would love to support eachother if these are habits you are looking to break :)

One habit I will not break is wine so stay tuned for the Sangria recipe I used this weekend!!! It was actually relatively healthy and a huge hit.

XOXO