Weekly presence v.4

In an effort to be more present in my life and utilize this space for documentation and sharing, this is a weekly series to display happenings and special moments in my life.

On the tail end of a couple snow weeks, I finally turned off Parenthood and read almost all day.  I plowed through Girl on the Train and definitely enjoyed it as a quick read that kept me wanting to figure out what was going to happen next.  I literally read the entire book within 48 hours.  It was the perfect end to my nice, hefty break.

D and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary (which puts us at almost a decade of walking through life together!), and we always rent a little cabin in the mountain.  I love escaping reality and celebrating such a special time in our lives.  Another thing that feels extra special to me is the opportunity to spend alone time with the pups and give them more attention.  They love the time to run freely and wildly, and it's just the best feeling.

I love this guy so much though.  When we go away, I literally get phantom images of him curled up in a random chair.  Whenever we return, I savor every moment and every cuddle with him.

My dream come true would be to live within walking distance to Yellow Dog Bread Co. in Raleigh.  After a wonderful professional development day, I took time to stop by for a treat.  They make the most amazing sweets (sticky buns the size of your face) and tasty savory treats.  March has been really good to me so far.

Weekly presence v.3

In an effort to be more present in my life and utilize this space for documentation and sharing, this is a weekly series to display happenings and special moments in my life.

After my fourth half marathon, I got amazingly lucky with three back-to-back snow days after my day off.  It's been splendid.  I've enjoyed a lot of coffee+Baileys, Parenthood episodes, and completely resting my body post-race.  I've indulged in zero guilt for not working out and taking every moment I can to relish these mindless days.

Bloody Marys are my snow day jam.  I recently switched up my signature recipe by adding pickled okra.  You guys.  This is a game changer.  This is one of my favorite ways to start a snow day.

Cuddles with the kitties have probably been my favorite part of snow days (aside from the obvious fact of not having to put on real clothes or be around children for the day).  They both love curling up next to me and/or in front of the space heater.  Pair those cuddles with a mimosa and a heart-warming episode of Parenthood, I'm in heaven.  

While I've been home this week, I've had plenty of time to catch up on my internet reading.  Here are some links I've been loving:

+I've been trying to be more mindful and rid myself of a lot of the anxiety of my daily life.  I love this five minute meditation that I can do any time of day to refocus and de-stress.

+I love these tips from Christine for staying healthy at home and on the road.  I try to live most days like this when I am home, and then allow myself a bit more freedom and "fun" when on the road for a shorter period of time.

+If this doesn't put healthy eating into perspective, I don't know what will.  I've taken on the motto of everything in moderation but make healthy choices the majority of the time.  It's all about finding what works for you.

Weekly presence v.2

In an effort to be more present in my life and utilize this space for documentation and sharing, this is a weekly series to display happenings and special moments in my life.

While I don't enjoy the early mornings, I really love the break I have in my day to indulge in the simple things.  I absolutely loved Yes Please!  The color pages and additional pictures made it fun to read.  I thought it was relatable, funny, and real.  It was a quick read for me, and I would definitely recommend it.  And these Caveman Cookies?  They are amazing!  Simple, natural ingredients and individually packaged.  I like to keep them at work for a little sweet treat after lunch or for a snack, so I don't resort to candy.

One of my favorite things to do lately is text D adorable pictures of kittens.  But the cutest kitten will always be my first love.  This is Bailey as a kitten.  At almost nine years old now, he can be ornery and annoying.  But damn if that face still doesn't make me smile from ear to ear.  Pets truly bring so much joy to your life.

This is a scene from my last long run, 12 miles, before my half marathon this weekend!  I ran all my long runs this training session on the greenway near my house and it's been splendid.  I have loved exploring new areas and running past the Raleigh skyline.  My runs have been fast and strong.  I've worked extra hard to stay balanced.  I'm hoping that my snow/ice day snacking didn't get my body too out of whack.  I'm ready to rock this race!  Ps. Peanut Butter GU is the best flavor!

We had some snow/ice here in Raleigh, and it practically shuts everything down.  My county public schools have been completely closed for four days now!  I was lucky enough to have two days off and extend my long weekend!  I'm trying to forget the fact that two-hour delays feel torturous and much harder than my normal schedule (I basically lose my mid-day break, have a ton of kids, and still have to come in earlier than all the other teachers) and enjoy the beauty that was Wednesday's snow.  There are no pictures or videos that could describe the huge flakes consistently falling to the ground.  The moment felt so special, even when there was no one to share it with, that I never wanted it to end.  That and the fact that we won't have to make up snow days with Saturday school :)

Weekly presence v.1

In an effort to be more present in my life and utilize this space for documentation and sharing, this is a weekly series to display happenings and special moments in my life.

I have been having the best long runs recently.  I'm currently training for the Mercedes Half Marathon in Birmingham.  It will be my friend Kate's first half, and I'm running it with her.  I have a greenway a mile from my house, and it is my favorite place to run.  The greenway has actually been an anchor for me in the internal battle of whether or not to sell our house.  I suspect I won't be so lucky to have amazing access to a secluded and peaceful greenway in our next home.  As for the runs, I've been fast and feeling strong.  I've been especially grateful for this body of mine that carries me miles and allows me to participate in this activity that fulfills me in so many ways.

The battle for minimalism continues.  This weekend I'm taking on the guest bedroom, and I'm scared to think of how many hours I may spend distributing items into trash and donate bags.  I have a million mixed feelings on selling our home and buying another; my anxiety flares even as I simply type this.  Nonetheless, I am interested to discover whice path 2015 will take us.

I'm becoming more content with my odd work schedule.  I love spending post-gym mornings at Sola Coffee Cafe.  If I ever started my own coffee shop, Sola would be my muse.  They have amazing drinks (yay for almond milk!), yummy treats, and delectable breakfast and lunch options.  Sola supports local businesses and has the best decorations.  If they weren't located in North Raleigh, I would love to live within walking distance so I could visit on the weekends.  

Since my life isn't always interesting, here's a few links that inspired me this week:

I adore this post from Megan about being healthy and strong in 2015.  I'll likely revisit this topic, but her goals mirror mine almost to a tee.

I took the strengths test that Erika talked about, and I discovered so much about myself!  I still need to brainstorm some ideas for how to utilize my strengths.

Thank goodness I'm not the only one who would prefer to have cleaning on the very bottom of my to-do list.  Mary Catherine summed up my clean home conundrum perfectly!