When I Grow Up

When I grow up I want to own a cheese a wine shop decorated in lavender. I want to have family movie nights in a billowy king size bed and wake up to pancake breakfasts with rowdy kids. When I grow up I want to sip tea at the Drake and cook gourmet dinners.

What do you want to do when you grow up?

Sweetest of dreams! xoxo

(p.s. did anyone notice that all of my dreams end with food? ;))

Take a Moment

"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."

Food On The Go

I'm packing up for Boston today (YAY!) and whether it's normal or not, I'm already wondering what (healthy) food options will be near my connecting gates.

On my way home from Austin this week, I was pleasantly surprised to find a small container of hummus and pretzel bites at the Schlotzkys. That, along with a banana, certainly saved me a lot of unnecessary fat from the deli's sandwich options and held me over until I got home.

Here are some of my favorite travel snacks to avoid the unhealthy (and rather expensive) airport food:

1. Starbucks has a great instant oatmeal option, but you can save yourself some cash by taking your own packet of instant oatmeal, raw walnuts, dried cherries and chia seeds. Simply ask for a cup of hot water from Starbucks to "cook" it, and you're all set! My favorite instant oatmeal at the moment is Kashi GOLEAN hot cereal in Creamy Truly Vanilla. Yum!

2. Justin's Natural Maple Almond Butter mini packets. These are a perfect protein punch to have with a banana or to add to your cup of instant oats. Justin's has saved me on many a work trip when the healthy options just weren't available.

3. Amazing Grass - Amazing Meal Pom-Mango Infusion - this is packed with nutrients and is the perfect meal on the go. I take a shaker cup with me on longer work trips and add either almond milk or water to this and am good to go.

4. Raw walnuts and almonds mixed with raw seeds and dried cherries is always a favorite afternoon pick-me-up.

5. Fruit - Bananas and oranges are some great go-to options when you need a fix for the sweet tooth. Also, they're readily available in almost every airport stand.

And, finally, I always grab a huge bottle of water to take on the flight to ensure that I don't get dehydrated.

Happy travels! I'll be in touch once I return from Boston!

xoxo

Thank you sun for shining through my window this morning.

Thank you crockpot for cooking dinner.

Thank you treadmill for putting me in my place.

Thank you red wine for easing the pain from said treadmill.

Well, guys, I'm back! I'm not sure about you, but my new year took off with full force and I've been hustling around since I ate my last Christmas cookie. I've traveled to Austin (x5), Dallas (x2), Georgia and Boston since January 1 and am on my way to Boston again this weekend to watch my incredibly fit mom run the Boston Marathon!

On that note, I ran my first half marathon in Dallas a few weeks ago and finished it in 2:04! Seriously, I never would have run it that fast if my mom (read: coach, jacket holder, Gu opener) hadn't run every step of the way with me! Anyway, I'll write a separate post on that and maybe, MAYBE post some pictures from the race!

In the midst of it all, I've still been trying to crank some yummy things out in the kitchen. I'm having a hard time finding a good balance between delicious meals that John will like and healthy meals that my hips will appreciate. I'm toying with vegan cooking (hello nutrional yeast!) and trying to drink as many green monsters as I can. What's a green monster you ask? I'll write a separate post on at as well, but I'll tell you now that it's not for the faint of heart! ;)

I'll be back soon - this is my promise to you! :)

xoxo

All I Need

Let's catch up! How is your sweet November going??
On some days here in Texas we cuddle up in big sweaters, and on others we sit out on our balconies and work on our tan. The weather throws us for loops, but we've had so many of those perfectly sunny and brisk days that I can't begin to complain!

There have been so many moments of pure joy this fall that I've wanted to just bottle up: I held our friends' newborn baby, had cozy nights on the couch with John, talked for hours with my parents, and spent an entire weekend with my closest girlfriends. Life is so sweet.

But then there are those days where we have to dig a little deeper to realize God's blessings. They test our faith and force us to rely on the notion that we are strong because God is strong. Our Texas weather is a great example of life's unpredictability. No matter what happens, we know that God is there, and there's nothing more comforting than that.

A really great friend of ours unexpectedly lost his dad today and my heart aches for him. We've all been busy writing out our Christmas lists and making sure our family members have our wish lists recorded down to specific colors and sizes. We spend Thanksgiving stuffing ourselves silly and giving little thought, if any, to those who go to bed hungry. John and I served Thanksgiving dinner to community members in need at our church last night, and my heart ached as I watched one elderly man grab leftovers from the nearby tables and carefully wrap them up in a large plastic bag to take home with him.

It's only Monday and already the events of this week have reinforced just how blessed I am at this very moment. God is so good, and I am constantly reminded of His amazing grace.

How have you been blessed today?

xoxo 

March 27

Well, I have been anxiously awaiting this day, and now that it's finally here, I can't wait to share the big news with you!!

I signed up this morning to run my first half marathon on March 27! I have about five months now to get over the nervousness of it all and whip my body into shape so that I can make it through this race with flying colors... or just cross the finish line ;). John is running it with me (this will be his second half), so I'm thrilled that we'll get to accomplish this together!

I've never committed to such a physical challenge before and am ready to take it on! I'm going to start running with the West Texas Running Club next week in preparation and am going to keep attending as many yoga classes as possible to strengthen and stretch.

My mom is a marathoner and has undoubtedly been the inspiration behind all of this. She's going to give me lots of tips on training and refueling my body! I'll be so grateful for her guidance along the way!

Have you ever run a half marathon? What advice can you give me?

In other big news, Scout graduated puppy school a few weeks ago and we couldn't be prouder of our little guy! He has conquered "sit", "shake", "high five" and "stay" - a true gentleman!

xoxo

Monday Highs

Life has gotten a bit hectic again lately and I find myself craving that downtime on the couch...not just on Sunday, but on a Monday night when my energy should be at its peak. You know when you need a vacation from your vacation? That's how I felt today. After a lazy weekend at the lake, life was back in full swing this morning with work projects, laundry, dusting, grocery shopping... and the list goes on. I love that satisfaction of crossing off completed to-do's, but curling up on the couch with a blanket is tops!

Regardless of how exhausted I might feel, it's the busiest of weeks that give me the little nudge I need to stop and smell the roses. The fact that I'm able to stay as busy as I do is a blessing in and of itself, but here are a few other things I'm particular thankful for tonight...

Fall has arrived! By "fall" in Texas, I mean 65 degree mornings with promises of cooler afternoons and changing leaves on the horizon! Those first few mornings of crisp fall air on sunny days are so reinvigorating. I adore them.

My puppy, Scout. My poor pup was neutered today and I realized just how much I miss his company when he isn't around. He's teaching me how to be more selfless, and I appreciate that. Thanks, Scout! ;)

A cozy bed to climb into tonight. Hopping into bed with a candle lit, a cup of hot tea and Beth Moore playing on my iPod is the best way to end the day!

Tomorrow is a travel day - in and out of the big city for a four hour meeting and then home for a few hours of volunteer work.

What are you grateful for on this Monday night?

xoxo