Sunday 7 1-26-14

I haven't done a Sunday 7 since October. Eeek.

January is almost over and we are in a new year. So much is changing and so much is the same. Either way, I have things to share. 

1. I feel it's important to mention this first because it's a big deal. I've made a pretty big decision about my future working self and it involves a lot less corporate and a lot more of being my own boss. I don't have all the details figured out yet, but I have made a goal to get out of the corporate rat race by the end of the year. It's going to be a lot of work and a lot of dedication, but I'm ready. It's time. (This article is cheering me on)

2. I've been working out a lot. Trying to get back up to 30 mile weeks and lifting 2-3 times a week. This means I'm spending a lot of time at the Y and getting up early. It's hard getting up in the dark to workout, but every. single. time. I'm glad I did.

3. It's January. For most of us, that means resolutions of some sort. I've been sticking to my 100 day challenge. I've missed 1 day so far and I don't plan on missing any more. It's been a dark winter and I'm still pulling myself out of the muck on a daily basis, but having intention and purpose helps.

4. I've been reading a lot. I have read 3 books so far this month and I'm currently in the process of reading 3 more. I don't know how to read one book at once, I like a variety. I highly recommend 'We Are Water' by Wally Lamb. Next up for me is Elizabeth Gilbert's latest. 

5. Movies. T and I have seen some good movies so far this year. American Hustle on our annual New Year's Day movie date and just this last week we saw Her. It is bizarre and beautiful. I love the cinematography and the story. Before you think it is a weird movie about a guy in love with his phone, go see it. The message is so much deeper. 

Post movie discussions at the brew pub

6. I'm leaving the country. In about 3 weeks I'll be spending a week in El Salvador with a group of people from my church. I'm nervous and excited and nervous and REALLY EXCITED. This is my first trip out of the country and my first mission trip. I also just got my first passport. So. many. firsts. If you think of it, pray for safe travels and open minds. I've had a little bit of weird anxiety dreams about this trip. Thanks friends.

7. Roxy is a senior citizen. My pup turned 8 this week. Which is really 56 in dog years which means she gets early bird specials and discounted movie tickets. Really, she just remains being the best heater/snuggler ever as evidenced by this sleepy Saturday afternoon nap picture. 

What have you been up to lately? Did you make any goals for 2014? How is your progress?

January Recap & Fashion Fast Update

Hi Friends.
How's February treating you so far?
I'm loving the longer days, milder temperatures and all things LOVE. <3
I'm also loving the opportunity to check in on where I'm at with sticking with my new mantra:

#restisbest

As I mentioned in my New Year's post, I had some more general guidelines for 2013 versus hard resolutions:

- Spend time in the word and prayer more
- Stop over committing (rule of 2)
- Get simple (fashion & spending fast)
- Eat (mostly) vegan
- Give priorities priority (more family, regular volunteering, scheduled write sessions)
- Rest in the big picture

I also had some specific goals in mind that I jotted down related to these guidelines:

- Finish 2 knitting projects
- Read a couple of books on my '30 before 30' list
- Find a volunteer gig

How did I do?
Let's recap:

I have really loved the #shereadstruth plans for January.

We started with the 'Fresh Start' plan and are now onto 'Soul Detox.' Both have encouraged me so much and as always- were right on time.
I'm trying to spend more time focusing on what I'm actually reading- taking notes and praying for clarity and guidance in understanding. It's been a good month for my soul!

I didn't finish my knitting projects.
Or my books.

BUt you know what? I didn't let those goals consume me...make me feel like I wasn't succeeding. I just read when I had time and it's been a lot more enjoyable. I finished a book I started in December and got a couple hundred pages into War and Peace.

Who cares if I don't finish that list before 30? I got plenty of life left to live and books to read!



And the fashion fast?

Success.

I tried to snap my outfit everyday so if I started feeling uninspired I could look back on how I mixed it up.
Honestly- not buying any clothes was surprisingly easy. I just avoided the fitness gear sale rack at Target- that's my weakness!

I did buy one book:

It's for a good cause though- started the study this week!
I'm excited about how this ties into what my goals are this year and I'm really looking forward to the challenge with my Influence ladies. (Get the details at Adrienne's blog).

I'm not all the way to a 'cash' only budget yet- but getting closer every week!

My eating habits have been pretty good this month. I've had to plan ahead a lot because of my work schedule- so that is making it pretty easy.
Also- I took on this challenge:

                           

It was a free e-book through Instagram and it's been really good for my waist and wallet. I've felt energized and healthy and have managed to avoid most of the stuff going around!
The more I figure out what my body likes best, the more I realize that a plant-based diet is really the best for me. I'll eat eggs and dairy occasionally but if I do- I try to get local and organic.
There is a LOT of information out there, but in my opinion it comes down to this: Know where your food comes from and know your farmer.

Even though my work schedule has been pretty crazy with tax season gearing up and it feels like my life is a repeat of wake/run/work/eat/sleep/repeat, I've made it a priority to use my free time more effectively and for those things I care about.

So....through a series of conversations about a work charitable event, I have found a 2x monthly volunteer gig! I'll be helping serving meals at the homeless youth shelter downtown every other week and I'm really excited about the opportunity. Also, I organized a big volunteer event at my work to help feed the homeless that was so much fun and very rewarding!

This month T and I were also able to have a few date nights:

Man.... I love that guy

I also spent an afternoon at my sister's house hanging with the kids and chatting about whatever- it was really nice! I'm looking forward to doing that again this month when my weekend work schedule slows. 

I even got in a girls dinner night full of rich Russian food and shots to our health!

Nostrovia!

As far as scheduled write sessions...I've had maybe one 'official' session. The funny thing is- I wrote a LOT in January on and off the blog. I guess I've been finding time after work/before bed or in between loads of laundry to jot things down. I'm finding that if I just START, I can always finish later. 

Writers- If you haven't checked out The Write Practice yet, you should

I didn't have a specific fitness goal documented for the year or the month...

...But I have been doing some new things this year:

- Yoga once a week at Iowa Powered Yoga. I'm seriously in love. The class I go to is on Monday nights and it is the BEST end to the beginning of the week.

- Pushup Challenge!

- I actually quit my gym...but I have been being active everyday and working up to running 25 miles/week and lifting weights 2-3 times. My one goal for 2013 is to add in some kind of speed drills and hill work into my runs. So far, so good!

I have a race coming up in 2 weeks and then races in March, April, May, June. Really, really, really considering another marathon this fall...best pre-wedding prep or worst idea ever? You tell me. 

Looking back on January- it was a really full month. Being active in body and mind really soothes my soul and I'm glad I can find balance among the tight schedule I had. 

However, there were some days where I wasn't feeling my best, and I recognized those times and did what I prescribed myself when this year started:

I took a break.

Listened to my body, mind and soul.

Maybe spent a whole afternoon on my couch. 

Because sometimes....

#restisbest

Your turn...How was your January? Did you meet any goals? Please feel free to share in the comments below. 

Sunday Seven 2-3-13

I can hardly believe it's already February.

January came and went faster than you can say 'Happy New Year!' and here we are just 11 days shy of Valentine's Day.

Yowzers.

With all the exciting things happening this year, I have a feeling the remaining months of the year are going to go just as quickly. 

All evidenced by the fact that Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow.

Spring is coming EARLY!

Which means....

I love bright colors when running outside,
safety first!

Purple windbreaker + SF hat=
Favorite Run outfit. 

1. More running outside! I got in 2 runs outside this week, one on Tuesday and one Saturday with my buddy Jamilee. It felt good to breathe fresh air and run naturally. The treadmill always makes me slack on form. 

I got in 18 miles this week. A few short of my goal, but I felt pretty good about the quality of runs I got in- speed work and conversational pace. Our Saturday route ended up pretty hilly so I covered that too!

 (PS- I have a new running widget on my side bar- check it out! Find me on DailyMile)

2. I worked from home a lot this week.

 One day because I had some business downtown, another day because of this:

And then ANOTHER day because of this:

Roxy really loved having her mom at home:

She loves sleeping in this basket

On Thursday, I didn't feel so hot. Just started feeling really yucky and took the afternoon off to rest (#restisbest!) I ended up sleeping all afternoon- waking to eat some really delicious avocado toast, dozing back off for a couple hours- up to eat again and do a little work stuff, then back asleep until almost 7:30 the next morning. 

I guess I was a little tired? Just glad I avoided getting whatever was creeping on.

I'm also very glad I have an employer that enables me to work from home and take time off when I need it!

3. Speaking of rest...Wednesday night I got to hang out with this guy a little. I cooked us dinner, then we chatted over a beer about wedding plans, our recent church sermon series on 'Living Generously', and the new The Lone Bellow album.

I really like him. <3

4. In my Pocket this week:

• If you read my blog or tweets or instagrams and think why does anyone run that much?!?? - you should read this. Lisa explains the love I have for running in the best way.
• Don't believe it, overcome the lie.
• As a soon-to-be married person, I found this article from Relevant Magazine really interesting.
• So glad someone said this. I can't do Paleo either.
• Wanna be exceptionally healthy? Try these 9 things.

5. I love getting mail.

This week, this came:

Check out A Suburban Menagerie to get in on the study!

And these!

And these!!

Mail and impending marriage are the best.

6. Remember when I mentioned not feeling well Thursday? Well, on Friday, I made sure to eat super healthy and stick with my Simple Green Smoothies and I'm sure that's what made me well.

 I drank a green smoothie every single day of January and I'm keeping it up. Between that and the Kombucha I drank...I felt like a ROCKSTAR.

7. Saturday night date night!

Music from one of our favorite local bands (their new album was recorded in the old building right next to my condo!)

It's back baby.

How was your week? 

What was the highlight?

For me- it was date night with T- live music, cocktails and conversation- the best!

Sunday Sevenish... 1/21/13

What up friends?
I've been a bit of a busy gal- my second job is in full swing and I had some things planned this weekend (Thai & Movie date night with T, BFF coffee date and Annual church meeting) so today is the first day I've really been home and had some time to write!
It's my Sunday. :)

Here's what's going on around these parts this week:

1. I've been a working fool. Tax season has officially kicked off so I'm back to working about 60+ hours a week between the two jobs. Which requires a LOT of planning and preparation (come back tomorrow for a special post on Tips for a Busy Life).
2. Have you ever used Pocket? Somehow I just discovered this last week and it is my new favorite Iphone app. I can save links to cool articles or blogs from twitter without emailing myself 50 times a day. And visually- it's really quite beautiful.
3. Speaking of links, this is what I've been loving this week on the internets:

• This article on how to use your time wisely from Relevant Magazine.It was so timely for the new year and I related to the point about figuring out how to effectively use your free time for those things you love.
• For the ladies out there, do you feel like your job gives you enough work/life balance?
• If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw a picture of me and my friend Sarah who just sold up all her belongings and moved to Mexico. Crazy? Or Awesome? I think both. Either way, she's documenting it all for us here. Check out her blog and give her some comment love.
• This article on 13 banned foods still allowed in the US was blowing up twitter this week. Yet another reason to #eatcleanandgreen
• I've been looking for a good training plan to get up to 25ish miles a week and I saw this article on a simple running and cross-training plan on Twitter via Runners World.

4. I participated in my first ever twitter party this week- #writestuff with Anne Bogel and some other writers in the twitter world. It was so much fun and I learned so much about how important it is to practice your craft- no matter what it is...

5. Enter The Write Practice. It's an amazing organization created by Joe Bunting (ghostwriter and editor) that encourages writers to practice 15 minutes a day via emailed prompts. So far I love it! The other day I created a new word- wickpire. What does that mean, you ask? I'll let you try and figure that out and I'll share later this week on the blog. 

6. I've been reading War and Peace.It's on my 30 before 30 list and I'm hoping to finish it before the end of the month! 

I really am enjoying it so far. Despite the war sections, I'm really loving all the relationships and the gossip and chatter among high society taking place in the book. I guess it just goes to show how some things never change. 

7. T and I had a little date night Saturday night. We went to Zuzap- a local Thai restaurant near our office. It. was. amazing.

 

Vegan Spring Rolls (check out the amazing carrot rose!)

T ordered red curry and rice- 4 stars- great spice!

Pumpkin Curry with rice noodles. I could eat this every day. 

Thai Tea- LOVE

Fortunes. Turns out my fortune (not the shopping one of course) is from a poem called 'The Anniversary' by John Donne- read it here.

We also went to Zero Dark Thirty. 

I have a lot of mixed feelings about the movie. 

There were some parts that were hard to watch- like the torture of detainees. 

Especially knowing that what we saw in the movie is probably just a small piece of what actually happened. That it's been probably severely edited as to not scare people.

I wonder what happened to all those kids and women who were part of Osama Bin Laden's family. I wonder what happened to that CIA agent that came from high school and spent 12 years of her life trying to bring down the leader of Al Quieda. I also realized that no matter what they show us in movies- there are a lot of things at work in our government and other governments around the world that we have no idea about it. Nor do we probably want to.

Anyway- you should see it. I'm curious what you think. 

All in all, an amazing date night with my favorite guy. I seriously love him. And Thai food. :)

What's been going in your world? 

Anything you'd like to see me feature here?

Sunday Seven 9-10-2012

Hey there friends- how was your week?

Round here it was busy as always.

1. I started trying to get control of my schedule. Ever since I moved I feel like I haven't got my routine back on track, you know? So I made a pact with myself to get organized and get back to scheduling the things I like to do. This week I started getting up EARLY and running with friends one day a week.

Its fun to run around my city in the dark with just my reflective belt and my girls. :)

2. We also started a once-a-week devotional meet-up to read our bible and grow with God as friends. I know some people who have done this and I really like the idea of discussing what I'm reading with friends.

We started with the She Reads Truth follow along. A couple of friends started this blog to help keep each other accountable. They use You Version (and their own created) devotional plans and blog about it. We get a daily email blast with the reading and their thoughts/discussion questions on the scripture. It also has a hashtag, #shereadstruth, that can be found on Twitter and Instagram. It's connecting through technology at it's finest. :)

3. This whole schedule thing got started because I read this book. It literally has changed my life. I suggest you read it. And also, make sure you read this and this. I'm convinced that between controlling my habits, focusing on what is important and learning the best way to manage my time I can get through the 'work' of life and have more time for the fun stuff! Like blogging. :)

Americana Date with the G'Rents

Earlier this week, T and I met my grandparents for dinner at the newest downtown Des Moines restaurant, Americana.