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As tomorrow is Christmas, I thought I’d post my “thankful thursday” today instead. I know some of you who celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve are in the middle of celebrating, so I hope you’re enjoying it! Christmas eve for us is usually spent doing last minute wrapping, going to a Christmas Eve service at church, and watching a Christmas movie before bed! Here’s what I’m thankful for right now:
I’m thankful for a job with “holiday pay” hours. I get paid for today and tomorrow even though I have those days off work, and I’m so thankful for that. It’s nice to have a few days every year where I get paid to be on vacation!
I’m thankful for time with my brothers. I’m so thankful to get to spend time with both of my brothers over break! Soccer brother I’ve only seen twice since he graduated (before that I was used to seeing him every day), and Air Force brother I’ve unfortunately only gotten to see 36 hours in all of 2014. Spending days together is so great!
I’m thankful for happy memories of Christmas holidays in the past. It’s so wonderful to go back and remember the happy things from previous Christmases– I love good memories!
I’m thankful for my ambassadorships for 2015! Nuun, BibRave, and Rock ‘n’ Roll are all fantastic companies, and I look forward to representing each of them over the coming year!
I’m thankful for lessons learned in 2014. Man- 2014 has been HARD and PAINFUL. There’s been a lot of loss this year, and I’m thankful for those reasons to close out the year. However, I’m thankful for the lessons learned and strength gained as a result.
I’m thankful for the love I have in my life.
Now it’s your turn to share! What are you feeling thankful for today?
When I applied, I really thought it was a long shot, so to say I was shocked when I got the email is an understatement. I started drinking nuun in 2013, and it’s something that I really enjoy. With POTS, I need extra salt throughout the day, but I don’t necessarily want the sugar that comes with gatorade, so nuun has become my go-to drink, not just with exercising (I carried it in my handheld during the Indy Women’s Half this past June), but also during the work day (I consistently keep a tube of it in my drawer at work). As a sidenote- I had a Cola nuun tab in water at lunch yesterday at Noodles, and I loved it. If you haven’t tried that flavor yet, do so asap!
I’m excited to join a great team of ambassadors for 2015 as we rep one of our favorite running products 🙂 So what does me being a nuun ambassador mean for the blog? You may see some giveaways here and there, perhaps some fun activities as a result of the ambassadorship, and some extra talk about nuun (although I include it in so many exercise posts already, so that might not seem much like a change)!
So those will be my 3 ambassadorships for the year- nuun, BibRave Pro, and Rock ‘n’ Blog! It sounds like 2015 is going to be a great year for running!
Now it’s your turn to share! Do you drink nuun? If so, tell me your favorite flavor!
I haven’t been able to shake this podcast for the past 6 months, and it has spurred me onward in trying to eliminate more of the things around me. This is SO hard for me to do. I am not a hoarder by any means, and have lots of open space in each of my rooms, but I definitely feel that I have too much stuff, and it’s finally started to get to me. I need more breathing space (maybe it’s that I’m busier than I’ve been since grad school…), and part of that is coming into my living space.
I posted this in my previous post: “So far this year I’ve gotten rid of about 110 articles of clothing, a few books and movies, 4 pairs of shoes, 4 old belts, and a bunch of other random things. On top of that, I’ve tossed about 70 old magazines (YIKES- why was I saving all of them!?!), and tossed about 5 or 6 other bags of old papers from school, notes, articles, etc… that I was saving. I think about some of the stuff from time to time, but overall I’m enjoying the extra breathing room more than being able to visually look at the stuff.”
Last week, as I had a good chunk of time off work, I decided to once again attack the various rooms of my house and clean things out. It all started with one of my favorite new games “Let’s find a bag’s worth of stuff to throw away” (I like to challenge myself to this at least once a month). This led to finding stuff I wanted to donate instead of just toss, and I started a pile for those things. In turn, that led to me decided to get stuff together to drop off at Goodwill on my way to work (since I had extra time). I managed to find another 40 articles of clothing, 16 kids books (my parents had brought them down recently, and I finally had time to go through them), and 2 other bags of random things (headbands, purses, etc…) to donate. I also decided to part with the 40 Runner’s World Magazines that I had stored up, and tossed them too. Between these two purges I got rid of another 20+ clothing items too.
What’s shocking to me is that I have gotten rid of about 170 articles of clothing, and it doesn’t appear to have made any sort of dent at all. That actually sort of disgusts me, and leaves me feeling sort of selfish (I mean, I certainly don’t need all the clothes that I have, even though I like them!). Does anyone else feel frustrated when you get rid of so much, but don’t seem to be able to tell? I try to keep reminding myself that it does make a difference, even if it’s just small. I have more room in my closets, meaning I have less clothes to wade through when I pull out my work clothes. I do have less to look at on my book shelf- and I believe that every little bit counts, so I take that truth and plow forward.
Here are a few things I’ve been doing differently the 2nd half of 2014:
1. Keep a bag of things to donate, and contribute to it regularly. It seems like a far less overwhelming task when it’s just a thing I do when I notice something I don’t regularly wear vs. actually setting out to go through everything I own all at once.
2. Play the “find one bag of things” game. Again, this makes it far more manageable to go through things, and helps you to be honest fairly quickly about what you want to get rid of.
3. Remember that “every bit counts”, so even if it doesn’t feel like it makes a difference, it does.
Here’s to a cleaner, less cluttered 2015 (I can dream, right?)!
Now it’s your turn to share! How are you finding “freedom from stuff”? What’s one of your tips for decluttering and getting rid of items?
I have some exciting news for you today! Back in November I applied for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series’ Rock ‘n’ Blog Team, and then ended up forgetting about it (my question is HOW did I forget about it?). So, when I got an email on Friday saying that I am on the Rock ‘n’ Blog Team, I was surprised and SO excited!
Over the course of 2015, I will be talking frequently about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Series, and will even be running a few of the races myself! Rock ‘n’ Roll puts on amazing races, and I’m excited to travel the country and get to experience a few more of them myself! There’s a great group of people on the team as well, so be on the look out for their reviews too!
Now it’s your turn to share! Have you run a rock ‘n’ roll race before? Any suggestions on which ones I should run this year?
Today I have another awesome Christmas giveaway for you all! Before we get to the giveaway though, I couldn’t skip my nail polish of the week! This week was slow work wise, and without Christmas parties, so I went for sparkle nails again. This is a sinful colors collection gray (Nirvana), and it looks very similar to Essie’s Smokin Hot (although is a little lighter). I added OPIs “You Pink Too Much” (pink glitter) on top for some Christmas Sparkle!
So pretty, right? Sinful Collections is a 2 dollar nail polish that I get at the grocery store, and it seems to last just as long as Essie or OPI nail polish- win win, right? I keep getting distracted by my nails this week as I’m typing 🙂
OK- now onto the giveaway. A number of bloggers have joined together to host a giveaway which was orchestrated by Laura Jean’s Blog (According To Laura Jean).
THE DETAILS: We are partnering with the lovely Whitney Newby of Brighter Day to giveaway a sophisticated Sydney Clutch and pair of gorgeous Matte Gold Quatrefoil Earrings to one lucky follower. The giveaway will begin Friday December 19th (TODAY!) and runs through the following Friday the 26th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Now it’s your turn to share! Do you have a favorite holiday or Christmas nail polish? If you won the clutch, what events would you use it for?
*quick reminder here to let you know that my BioSkin giveaway is still going on! Check it out and enter! 🙂
Happy Thursday! I can’t believe that we’re already a week out from Christmas- the time flies, especially during this season! Here’s what I’m thankful for right now:
I’m thankful I got BibRave Pro! As I posted earlier this week, I’m just so happy to be part of such a great running community. It’s helping me get excited about 2015!
I’m thankful for Christmas movies! This weekend I finally watched Elf for the season, and it warmed my heart. Standard Christmas movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Elf” are something that I look forward to throughout the year, as well as the overly cheesy Hallmark movies. I’m thankful that I have all sorts of movies to watch throughout the Christmas season.
I’m thankful for warmer winter weather! This past weekend I didn’t even really need to bring a coat with me as I ran errands- and I was able to run in pants and a tank top this past Saturday. I’m thankful for every week that passes where it’s still somewhat nice, as it means we’re one week closer to the weather warming up once again! 🙂
I’m thankful for a slower week at work. This is my first slow week of maybe 6 or 7 at work, and I’ve been enjoying it. It’s been nice to catch up on some work things that have been pushed aside for the daily tasks that needed to get done. It’s also been nice to have time to catch up on some other tasks at home. Having extra time now and then is really nice, and I’m thankful for it.
I’m thankful my cozy robe. Back in 2007 I bought this really cozy, plush robe, and I still use it almost every day in the winter! As soon as I wake up in the mornings I throw it on for an extra layer, and I appreciate the coziness as I wake up for the day.
Now it’s your turn to share! What are you feeling thankful for today?
Peace on Earth- a common phrase during the Christmas season. But what happens when holidays don’t feel joyful… when peace doesn’t seem to exist? I posted this originally in December of 2012, but I’ve decided to pull it out of the archives and re-share it, as it’s just as applicable now!
I love Christmas- the entire Christmas season! I spend each day (at least some point in the day) getting in the holiday spirit, and I love it. It’s one of my favorite times of the year. Sometimes, though, things happen in life that make it difficult to get in the holiday spirit. Maybe we’ve gone through a divorce, a friend or family member has died, we lost our job, or we’re struggling with an illness. We lose things, wars hit, and life seems void of joy. I found this message that really stuck out to me, about the song I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day. If you don’t want to read the story, make sure to scroll to the bottom of the post to listen to the song. Here’s part of the story behind the song. It’s a really moving story, so while I know it’s long, it’s well worth the time it takes to read it (and you know that I love a good story behind a song, as evidence by my tattoo)!
Longfellow had been married to his wife, Fanny, for 18 years. She had helped him piece his life back together after the sudden and tragic death of Longfellow’s first wife after only a year of marriage. Together, Henry and Fanny were blessed with five children, two boys and three girls.
Fanny had trimmed the beautiful curls of seven-year old Edith’s hair and decided to save the clippings as moms do. When lighting a match to melt some sealing wax for the envelope she was using to save the curls, a few embers fell unnoticed onto Fanny’s dress. It happened that a summer breeze was blowing through a window, which enflamed the embers and ignited her clothing. In a split second, she was entirely engulfed in flames. To protect the children, she ran out of their room to Henry’s study for help. All that was available to him was a smallish rug. When that failed to put out the flames, he wrapped Fanny in his arms in an attempt to extinguish the flames with his body. But it was not enough. Fanny died from her injuries the next day. Henry himself was so badly injured in the attempt to save her that he was unable to attend her funeral and his face was so disfigured and scarred that he was unable to even shave for the rest of his life.
Being plunged into the dark night of a war that he hated and a death that emptied his heart shook Longfellow’s faith to its foundations. Because he was a prolific writer, much of that struggle was recorded in his journals. The first Christmas after the start of the war and Fanny’s death, Longfellow wrote, “How inexpressibly sad are all holidays.” His entry for Christmas Day 1862 records, “A merry Christmas say the children, but that is no more for me.” Then to add to his anguish, in 1863, his oldest son with Fanny, Charles, was severally wounded in battle and sent home to recover forcing Henry to tend to his injuries. Watching his son suffer turned Longfellow’s prayerful questions into shouts of rage at God for failing to stop the war…save his wife…spare his son injury. His life and his faith had never been more in tatters.
When it came time to pen his journal entry for Christmas Day 1863 the ringing of church bells outside of his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts inspired him to give voice to his struggle with God. That journal entry became the lyrics for our Christmas carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” He began writing of his convictions. Of how God’s Son was sent and Christmas celebrates the advent of peace on earth; of how, like the ringing bells, the Church had heralded this truth throughout the millennia. He KNEW this to be true.
But he then began to write of how his life was disconnected from that truth. There was no peace; none for him and none for his country. As wars raged externally and internally in his life, all he could do was bow his head in despair because “hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth good will to men.” He hit bottom. He had no hope. The hurricane winds of conflict had blown out the flickering candle of his hope for peace.
But then God used the continued chiming of the church bells to perform a miracle in his heart. He noticed in the midst of despair, that the bells continued to ring. Pealing loud and deep, they speak to Longfellow reminding him that “God is not dead nor doth he sleep.” In the persistent ringing of the Christmas bells he finds the bottom of his restless ocean of pain, and springs out of the abyss of despair once more into the light of faith. In spite of the robbery of personal peace represented by the loss of his wife and the injury of his son, and the robbery of global peace manifested by the war that raged around him, the bells that continued to ring proclaimed to him that the Christ who brought peace on earth will one day finish the job; “Wrong will fail. Right will prevail.” Because of Christ, there will one day come a time where there is truly peace on earth, good will to men. (from Blue Valley Baptist Church sermon on Christmas Eve, 2009
by Derrick Lynch)*
Wow. That’s a pretty powerful story behind a song, isn’t it? Longfellow’s life was full of pain and despair, yet in those moments he was still able to find peace. I wanted to share this story because it touched my heart, and because I love the song! Enjoy-
For more information on grief during the holidays, check out the post linked here.
Now it’s your turn to share! What’s your favorite Christmas song? How do you try to find peace amidst pain?
*I am in no way affiliated with Blue Valley Baptist Church. I simply thought part of the message was interesting and chose to share it here.
When they opened up applications for 2015, I immediately applied and then hoped every day for about a month that I would actually be accepted, and a week ago, I found out I was accepted! The pro members who were chosen for the 2015 team have been so warm and inviting, and I’m already looking forward to spending the year with them.
I can’t wait to wear the BibRave singlet at races and support such a great site and group of running individuals! What does that mean for the blog? Well- you’ll definitely hear me talk about BibRave somewhat frequently, especially as it comes to races and product reviews. For now, head over to the BibRave site to check out reviews for the races on your 2015 schedule, and feel free to leave reviews of your own favorite races as well!
I love giveaways, especially when it’s a product that I absolutely love! If you’ve been reading here for, i don’t know… at least a month, you know how much I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE my Bioskin Calf Sleeves. I wear them for every race, when I travel, and to help my POTS symptoms. However, they are a company that has far more than Calf Sleeves; they have several products to help with joint/muscle support for the active person! They have all sorts of preventative and injury bracing and compression products, and honestly, I wish I could buy everything from the BioSkin Website.
As a BioSkin ambassador, I was given a little treat to give to one of my readers- $2o dollars towards whatever product that you want (psssst- get the calf sleeves if you win!! You won’t regret it!).
a Rafflecopter giveaway
giveaway rules:
- Contest runs from 12/15/2014-12/22/2014 at 12 am EST.
- No purchase necessary
- 1 winner will be randomly selected via Rafflecopter
- Winner will be notified by email if available (or other social media if email isn’t available)- winner will have 48 hours to respond.
- If the original winner doesn’t respond within 48 hours, another winner will be randomly selected
Nice and simple! This is OPI’s “Bogota Blackberry”, which is a nice and simple cranberry red with a bit of shimmer. It goes on SO smooth (even though it’s a few years old now), and it’s a classic color that works throughout the winter. I paired it with OPI’s “The World Is Not Enough”, which is a Bond Collection color. To me, this is the ideal Christmas color set!
And now on to a few random facts from the week:
1. On my way home from work yesterday, I took a few minutes to drive though the driving lights display in a near by town. I rolled down my windows, turned up the heat, ate a mini candy they gave out at the entrance, and enjoyed all the lights! It’s a yearly tradition that I really enjoy!
2. This past Saturday a large group of us got together to celebrate Melissa’s birthday! I had a blast spending the entire day with these ladies and line dancing for a few five hours. It took me the whole next day to recover- I’m not a teen anymore…
3. I’ve been sleeping on my couch so I can enjoy my Christmas lights while falling asleep. Yes- I understand that it’s very “small child” of me, but I don’t care. I love it. I’ve done this at least part of the Christmas season for quite a few years.
4. I’ve been drinking this candy cane flavored coffee all week, and I am so obsessed with it! Has anyone else tried it?
5. I have some REALLY REALLY REALLY exciting news to share on the blog next week, so make sure to check back in to see what it is 🙂 I’ll also have a giveaway going next week.
Now it’s your turn to share! Do you have a favorite “go to” Christmas or holiday nail polish? Share something random from your week?
