Giving myself a break

So...finally taking the advice of one of my friends, I have decided to give myself a break. I have decided to allow myself to relax a little bit more and to not convince myself I "have to" do certain things, especially things I enjoy. I ran a trail run yesterday with a friend and didn't push myself; enjoying the scenery and the process was more important (besides, I have the memory of my shoe coming completely off in the mud). I decided I needed to relax today instead of going to an open house out of town and decided that I wouldn't push myself getting ready for a Brad Paisley concert yesterday, even allowing myself to leave early if I wanted to do so. Although I don't want to become lazy, I realize I need to enjoy what I am doing more than just checking it off a "to-do" list. I am exhausted and need to probably go to bed early tonight.

Spring is coming!

I have convinced myself for some time now that spring will begin mid-March. March 13 is the day I have decided that it will begin. Yes, I have decided for Mother Nature when spring will begin. A canceled appointment allowed for me to come home to my little angels for a little bit. Snick and I took a very short walk in the amazing cool spring weather and I discovered that my seedlings had already been removed from the windowsill and the bag chewed by one of the cats. So...cat willing...I will have seedlings in a few weeks. Maybe I can end my black thumb curse after all. Otherwise, Zoe will be to blame.

Running, Eggs, Organization, and Disney=my weekends

So...a quick update on my life. Last weekend consisted of a trip to Chicago to see my friend Graciela for her 30th birthday party. She also showed me her major rock...she's engaged! Besides that, I was able to see my prego roomie from college on bed rest and run with my sis. I was smart enough to take my sister through the rough areas of town (I was a social work major in college...I know where they are) and on a snow and ice laden path next to the river...yeah, I have had brighter ideas. There is a guy who told us to run faster because we were running in the wrong neighborhoods. Oops...

My latest culinary obsession is eggs. I managed to make toast with a cool little heart cut out in the middle of it. The problem...one side became French toast, the other, eggs and toast. That cool trick has a little work to be done. I also managed to poach my first eggs yesterday. Yes, I am proud enough of myself to take a picture.:)

I also managed to clean out the shoes in my closet. I am surprised how many shoes I have and still am totally clueless as to what to do with my Doc Martens from high school that have barely been worn in eight years.

Last, but nowhere near least, T-4 days until Disney. I am stoked!

Winter Weather and Other stuff

Today it was -1 degree when I woke up at 5:20am. That's right...there were no degrees in the air. So what did I do? Decide that between the storms, running would be a good idea. I wore: a pair of compression shorts, two pairs of running tights (my now usual winter running garb), a pair of sweatpants, a moisture-wicking long-sleeved shirt, a Zyflex shirt, a fleece shirt, a lightweight jacket, a pair of running gloves (courtesy of Megan and Bradley), a hat, and of course, shoes and socks. Yes, it was a lot of layers. However, we decided that all of our layers equaled a lightweight running vest. Plus, it was icy, snowy, and freezing outside. We already felt hardcore. Then I was told upon returning to the Y that my eyelashed were frozen. Now THAT is cold. Chris and I deserve medals...we decided this. Even Ironman Buck couldn't handle this morning. Yeah, we are just that awesome.:)

Baking was put on hold due to having to work almost all day Sat. Oh, and I have been organizing. I found at minimum of a dozen pairs of socks without mates. Plus, I found malaria and Traveler's Diarrhea medicine that had expired two and a half years ago. I guess I held onto it anticipating leaving the country again. So sad...a dream put on hold. It is amazing the junk I have and have not even bothered to search through.

Today is Snickers' birthday. He is 14. It is odd after all the things I have had to remember in 14 years, I still know his birthday. Yes, my dog is old.

As we gear up for another snowstorm, bundle up or enjoy warm weather if you live there. Cuddl Duds are my new best friends.

Day 1

Today's first day of the cleaning regime=finding checks from an account closed two years ago, discovering an unopened disposable camera, and a snow globe that is supposed to have a picture in it (it doesn't)...plus tithe envelopes from when I was in college. Boy this cleaning stuff was badly needed....

Cooking, cleaning, and other home-based adventures

Recently, I have spent much time in the kitchen. Last weekend, I made Caribbean stew, scones (from a mix...I cheated), and dinner with my dad (coconut shrimp with an apricot sauce, steamed asparagus with Hollandace sauce, and a delicious grains mix from Trader Joe's). This weekend, I made a 10-bean soup for dinner tomorrow, a crock pot recipe for today, couscous and with sauteed kale and other veggies, plus carrot raisin bran muffins. The bold new experiment last week: kale. I have decided I like it sauteed with olive oil and pine nuts. This week: Edam cheese. I may make crepes and foccacia bread too. Now, if only I had friends who would be willing for me to subject them to my cooking, I could have a dinner party.

As for cleaning, I am not on the ball nearly as much. I had to convince myself to clean for 20 minutes today to receive the good-feeling endorphins from it. So, I have decided to make a declaration on here...for accountability. For the next month (through Feb. 28), I will clean/organize a minimum of one thing per day, no matter how exhausted I am. I will return with the results...

Snowflakes

This morning, there was just enough of a coating on my car from the snowflakes for me to notice each individual one. I was amazed at how each one was different. Then I noticed how the snow had piled up all around. The individual snowflakes were EVERYWHERE. It's amazing that God takes time to painstakingly make each one, yet there are billions of them. I started thinking about how many humans had ever walked the Earth and how God knows each one so intimately. There are billions upon billions of people who have ever lived on this Earth over thousands of years, yet God knows each one intimately and creates each one uniquely. I then began to think about people's legacies and most never leave a unique mark, yet a few, those snowflakes on my car, stand out. Their uniqueness may have required for them to stand up to others when it was tough or go against the grain. Yet, most people fade into the masses because it is easier than being unique. Ephesians 2:!0 says, "For we are God's workmanship (or work of art), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Yeah, I am called to be unique by my Creator...I just need to figure out how to do that. Oh the things I learn from snowflakes...