The KILLERS and I'm back on the RUNNING track!

I think many of you know how much I enjoy music and live shows.  I've not talked about many of the concerts I've been to lately, but I've GOTTA tell you about the THE KILLERS at the National last night in Richmond.  The National is a beautiful old theatre complete with old wood floors, marble, columns and its just a small venue but has so much charm!  The Killers - for some unknown reason - decided they were going to play there on their way to their normal huge venues (they're playing some Sat and Mon).  They've not toured in a while and decided to get back together and I guess this was just a practice run at a tiny venue for them.  They were AMAZING!!!!!!!  My sisters and I had so much fun - we ate and had drinks at a wonderful underground bar beforehand talking in amazement about the fact that we were in store for what we knew was a once in a lifetime show.  I'm sure they'll never play at this tiny of a venue again - which made it even more incredible!  I took these pics with my cell phone:

We stood for 4 hours prior to the show and during the show.  But it was worth it!  We were right there at the edge of the small stage.  I definitely got a good workout doing all that standing and dancing alone!   But yesterday morning I also got 3 miles knocked out on the treadmill!!  That, combined with 4 hours of standing yesterday, means I'm very fatigued and sore today.  My back is especially sore.  But I really feel back in the groove of running and I'm so proud of myself!  Its nice to feel positive vs. beating myself up with negative thoughts about how lazy I am or how I don't have it together like all those super successful career moms out there who have big jobs and are athletic and make real time to connect with their kids.  You know and their houses are clean too and all the clothes are washed and pressed.  As silly as I know that is, why do I hold myself to those standards?  The great thing about being 43, I think is that I know and actually give myself a break while connecting with my kids in less 'perfect' ways.  I wasn't like that in my 30's.  I wasted a lot of time resenting my inability to be perfect and have it all the way I thought it was supposed to be.  And I have learned in the last few years to appreciate what I have and more importantly appreciate living in the current moment.  Moments like these below where my sweet girl made friends with the dog outside of the breakfast place we love.  *Note she's wearing her doggie ears and pretended she was Wes' (the dog) doggie buddy.

Got up and RAN today!

I kept feeling unmotivated and kept finding excuses not to run for weeks now.  This morning I was feeling all sorry for myself after glancing at my agenda for today.  I have meetings literally every single hour today back to back with no breaks.  STRESSFUL!  I know that I NEED to run to relieve the stress and make myself feel strong and get those endorphins in my system.  So I cancelled my 930 call while laying on bed (I used my iPhone) after getting fully undressed for work, pearls and all.  I put my running shoes on and got on the treadmill.
It felt GREAT!!  No pain in the ankles, or knees as I would have expected.  I also was able to run for a full 30 mins without walking.  How can that be?  My pace was normal for me at 13 min miles.  But what matters is I'VE STARTED OVER!  The new running program has officially STARTED!  Woo hoo!  Now I can't wait to take credit for my running on my calorie tracker and synch with Nikeplus and daily mile!  Yay - the hardest part - the beginning is now over!!!!!!

7 more weeks til the half

Only 7 weeks left until the half marathon that takes place in September.  Funny how the panic I feel in the pit of my stomach isn't about how difficult its going to be b/c I'm not ready......its because September is really only 7 weeks away?  What?  Where did my summer go?

This was a free concert I attended last night at the oceanfront.  It was hot out - but it was nice!  We went out on the boat early, docked and ate breakfast.  Then we spent a few hours out on the water and got to see quite a few pods of dolphins playing around.  I love that!

I ate well today, I'm focusing on making sure I'm eating breakfast and tracking everything as I should.  I've still not gotten my behind up to go hop on the treadmill and start a run.

I hope all of you have a wonderful week!

What really makes you happy?

Do you already know what really makes you happy?  And how do you work towards putting those things into your life?   This is and has been a struggle for me all my life.

If I listed the things that really make me happy - none of them can be turned into jobs and generate money to make a solid living.  I would love to do for a living what makes me truly happy - but how?

Today, I stayed home from work, and enjoyed a morning thunderstorm.  It was gorgeous and fresh and cleansing.  I love to light candles in my house and look out the window to watch the rain fall on all the plants and flowers on the deck.  So I did just that!  That makes me happy.

and

MAC lipstick makes me happy

Making pottery, painting, decorating my house, making 

natural soap and body creams makes me happy.

Cooking dinner for my family makes me happy.

Running on the boardwalk at sunrise makes me happy.

Smelling the water on the ocean makes me happy.

Stand up paddle boarding makes me happy.

If work consumes 75% of our day - how do you fit in the things you love? 

It comes down to planning for it right?

When I'm at work, I have no time to think about anything personal.  Its so consuming mentally and the pace and workload make it impossible to think about anything else.  So when I get home, the day to day work of keeping kids clean, house clean, meals, clothes clean consumes the 3-4 hours I get when I'm home.  By the weekend, I just want to sit, but I have family obligations, grocery shopping, etc.

So how do you find the time?  Most jobs are high stress in their own way, I believe, no matter how much you make or what your position is.  I've learned that over time.  I've made a very high salary and a low one - my stress level was similar in each.  So what's the right answer?  

Do what you love?

Can I watch the rain for a living?

Can I run for a living? 

Can I smell the water for a living?

haha!

What do you do to fulfill your happiness?

What makes you happy?

 I took this pic with instagram - while Mr. Coconuts and I were having dinner on the water.  One of my very favorite restaurants ever.  Completely casual, great food, great atmosphere.

 Mr Coconuts enjoying the view.

Back to work tomorrow

I'm not looking forward to going to back to work and not having any time to do all the things that I want to do.  Having this week off and spending it at home, with my kids, has been amazing.  I finally feel unwound - and now I've gotta get back into the crazy game of no time again.

I am going to try to find more time in my day by getting up earlier.  I had gotten into a bad habit of sleeping in late and going to bed later than I'd like.  I need time for myself to run and blog and drink a cup of coffee once in a while - so I've got a plan to begin getting up at 5am.  As long as I'm out the door by 730, it will be good.

I also need to take the time in the a.m. to plan my meals and pack them for the week.  I know I am the most successful when I'm planning out what I'm eating so that I'm eating in a healthy way.  I've got a lot of things planned and purchased for this week so it should be all good!

Next step is to get my treadmill to work.  It would fit in my office, but would be too obvious, so I'm going to put it in an empty office next door and run in the middle of the day.  I'm sure once I get it there, I'm going to wish I had it at home so I could run in the mornings!  We'll see.

I've also started drinking a new breakfast blended smoothie that tastes really refreshing.  The ingredients are:
1/2 cup Vanilla Almond Milk (I prefer trader joe's b/c other brands are way too sweet)
1/2 cup plain greek yogurt (fat free)
1 banana
Handful of fresh spinach (about a cup if you used one)
1/2 T almond butter
1 cup ice

Blend it all together and its FANTASTIC!  I worked the recipe into my Livestrong Daily Plate and it returned the following nutrition facts:

Nutrition Facts 

Serving Size: 10 oz

Calories 281

Calories from Fat 47.3

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 5.25g  8%

Saturated Fat 0.25g  1%

Cholesterol 0mg  0%

Sodium 254.79mg  10%

Total Carbohydrate 42.57g   14%

Dietary Fiber 10.38g  41%

Sugars 24.75g

 

Protein 19.63g  39%

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/recipes/trader-joe-almond-milk-greek-yogurt-banana-spinach-breakfast-smoothie/#ixzz205X3xiGv

Hope everyone is doing well

I've taken my first vacation week, at home, with the kids.  We've had a great but very hot week.

I've been working a lot and coming up on on one year at my new job.  I'm definitely not going to stay, but am going to continue for another year to save up enough so that I can quit and take some solid time off from work to just take care of myself and my family.

I've not been working out at all, no running, and I really miss it.  I also gained 10-15lbs so I'm in the mid 190's.  Not sure exactly because I've not weighed myself - I just know my 14's are button-able, just not comfort-able! :)  I'm not going to weigh myself either - its too depressing and I know will derail my motivation.

I have signed up for a half marathon in September, so I've only got 8 weeks to train for it, and in this heat, that's going to be really difficult.  But its the motivation I need to get going again.  I've been eating fairly healthy overall, with weekly splurging, and drinking more alcohol than I should.

These 10-15lbs have really made a difference in my clothes and my stomach/waist.  I'm very surprised at just how much which is the motivation I need to lose them!  I'll feel so much better!

I hope everyone is doing great out there - I look forward to reading blogs again and getting motivation from everyone!

Fell off the running wagon - but climbing back on!

Following my week out of town, last week, I've fallen off the running wagon.  I also stopped tracking my food.  I ate 5 peanut butter oreos tonight.  Dang it.  It happens so easily.  I didn't want to lose weight and get stronger bad enough to outweigh all the things that get in the way and always will.

But, as I think about how I feel, not sleeping as well as I was when I was running, missing the feeling of balance and perspective over the stress in life, and missing out on the other positive effects of losing weight, I'm hopping back on.  Doesn't matter that I fell off, what matters is doing good most of the time and not beating myself up for slacking off there for a bit.  I still have 3 months until the next race - so I've got plenty of time to train and prepare.  I also know I need to enjoy running at work during lunch while its still cold out.  Goodness knows the spring and summer around here is so hot - its going to be gross to come back to work and feel 'fresh!' because I'll be all stinky and sweaty!  Got to get it in now!

Hope you all are doing wonderfully!  Have an awesome weekend!