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

Onward and Upward

Complements of lucysnowephotography via Etsy

Yoga, homemade dinner, QT with John and Scout. How are you spending your Wednesday evening?

xoxo

"Never mind searching for who you are. Search for the person you aspire to be." - Robert Brault

The Only Way

"The best way to live this Thursday is to approach it as if it were our last day on Earth. Confess your sins to God while there's time. Seek restoration of broken relationships while you can. Love and serve your King with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 22:37). Love us as yourself (v. 39)."

"If you see the end of this day, you'll be glad you lived it for Jesus. If you don't, you'll be grateful forever."

{Excerpt from Jim Dennison's daily devotional "God Issues"}

Sugar Fix

I got my first real sugar hankering last night since I gave up the poison on Thursday. I reached for the Blue Bell... put it back. Stared at the fridge wondering what might fix this...realized I was craving something creamy and warm...something with banana. So, instead of baking banana muffins or banana cream pie, I made the best banana oatmeal I've ever had, with lots of healthy kicks!

It went a little something like this:

1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup water
1 banana
1 tbsp. ground flax seed
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. almond butter
1 tbsp. unsweetened dried cherries
1 cup rice milk (or your milk of choice)

Make the oatmeal as directed on the package, slicing in the banana into the pot while the oatmeal cooks on the stove. The bananas will puff up, giving your oatmeal a creamier texture. Once the oatmeal is done, add in all other ingredients and stir. Top it with milk, and you have yourself a complete meal... and a sweet tooth fix!

Enjoy!

xoxo

What Will You Do?

Is your mind ever muddled with the "what ifs" in life? I have to be honest, things are going extremely well for John and me this fall. He was offered a job, my job is challenging me in new ways, and we added Scout to our family! And not to mention that we have incredible friends, a supportive family and our health.

In the midst of everything, I get caught up in the "what ifs" of transitioning away from where we are now to a new life in another city here in Texas (when we eventually make that move next summer). What if we don't find friends as good as the ones here? What if we aren't able to spend as much time together? What if we get in over our heads? Life is full of those silly questions, right?

I do truly believe that because of God's amazing love and protection, everything always works out just as it should. I also believe that setting and achieving goals help us renew our strength and focus on the here and now. With that said, it's time to set some goals, folks! Instead of focusing on results (lose weight - hello New Years Resolutions that NEVER come to fruition!), I want these goals to focus on the processes. At the end of the day, I might lose weight or be in better shape, but those things won't be the focus.

So, here we go!

1. Practice yoga 3 days/week now through the end of the year (Why? I feel my best when I devote time to my myself through yoga - it makes me stronger physically and emotionally. I can't explain it, you just have to try it out for yourself!)

2. Run a 10k (Why? I run 3-4 miles now, but for some reason, six miles seems SO much more difficult! I need to prove to myself that my body can go so much further than I think)

3. Learn to sew (Why? This is a talent I've been wanting to learn for a while! One of my best friends has agreed to teach me! Our first project is to make a quilt and donate it to the Children's Advocacy Center)

4. Read the Bible (Why? I'm embarrassed to say that I've never read the Bible front to back, and I know this is a spiritual journey I need to take)

5. No more cheese, no more desserts (Why? I know this resembles a new years resolution, but these are two of my biggest temptations when it comes to food, and this is more of a test of my willpower than anything. Besides, I hate a sugar crash, don't you?)

6. Juice everyday (Following Kris Carr's method of reducing one bad thing and increasing one good thing, I want to add a fresh glass of homemade juice to my diet everday. I don't use my juicer often enough, but I do know that I always feel so much better when I start my day with a green juice (if you're new to juicing and want to do this with me, start with a combination of apple and carrot - so yummy. If you want to try something bold, add kale, parsley and beets to that - seriously, so good!)

In an effort to not overwhelm myself, I'm sticking to this short list! I'll keep you updated on my progress! :)

What are some of your goals? How will you stick to them?

xoxo

Puppy Kisses

Happy Tuesday!!

xoxo

The Whole Truth

I traveled to Virginia and back last week to give a client presentation....Getting to Virginia from West Texas is not easy folks, and on top of that, my nerves were high. Although I worked in the air, thanks to gogo in-flight on American, I disconnected for a few hours to read magazines, my favorite being Whole Living (previously Body + Soul). I adore this magazine because it inspires me to live a healthy life (more on that inspiration in another post).

Anyway, I came across an interview that posed some really great questions. I started pondering over the answers I would give, and am just coming back to the article on this Sunday night.

So, here's the Q&A from my point of view (to give Whole Living credit here, check out the September 2010 issue - love!!).

Q: If I could say one thing to myself 20 years go...
A: Without revealing my age, I was pretty little 20 years ago and may have looked something like this:

Only with longer hair and even more spunk! I would tell myself to take those naps!

Q: My favorite place in the world...
A: Everything feels right in the world when I'm at home with John, cuddling on the couch, sipping on red wine and watching a movie. Nothing beats that..

Q: The lesson I keep learning over and over...
A: Things always work out just as they should... don't fret!

Q: The movie I watch when I want to laugh...
A: Dumb and Dumber

Q: Unhealthiest thing I've ever passed off as dinner...
A: Cheese and wine

Q: Personal philosophy...
A: Give people the benefit of the doubt, have sympathy and remember that you are never alone.

Q: What keeps me up at night...
A: Life's endless possibilities. My dad told me once with utmost sincerity that I could do anything I wanted... no dream is out of reach. I believe him 100% - no matter what, you make the decisions that shape your life.

Q: Book that changed my life...
A: I think there are some books, including the Bible, that are in the process of changing my life. The philosophy in Eat, Pray, Love also helped me think outside the box a few years ago.

Q: I unwind by...
A: Practicing yoga. Although it has fallen off my schedule the past few months, there is no better way for me to really release the stress than by letting it go on the mat. Even when I can't make a class, I'll shift into downward dog for a few minutes and just shake it out!

Q: I feel healthy when I...
A: Make my own juice at home - carrot, apple and beet is my favorite combination.

Q: I define "downtime" as...
A: Having a glass of wine without my phone or laptop in sight.

Q: Coffee or tea?
A: Decaf coffee after a big dinner, hot tea in the morning and before bed.

Q: Guiltiest pleasure...
A: Cheese! I also happen to love reality tv, which I understand to be a complete waste of time!

Q: The last time I lost my temper was...
Yesterday :(. Scout had an accident on the couch and I lost it.

Q: I'm currently reading...
A: Eat, Pray, Love for the second time

Q: Whole living means...
A: Feeling complete in the moment. Going to bed at night feeling good about your day's efforts, feeling loved and letting others know how much you care.

Q: Home means...
A: Love. Where my favorite people, where I'm surrounded by my comforts, where we spend late nights talking over wine with our friends.

Q: Prized possession...
A: Love letters from John over the years. Although we faced many ups and downs over 10 years of dating, those letters remind me just how far we've come.

Q: Exercise routine...
A: A combination of running, yoga, walking/running Scout and the 30 Day Shred (Thanks Jillian Michaels!)

Q: Proudest moment in my career...
A: In retrospect, the entire year I spent working in Chicago. It was challenging in so many different ways, and I'm proud of myself for pulling through those days successfully.

Q: My mom was right about...
A: Cleaning the house before leaving for vacation. Who wants to be welcomed home by dirty clothes, dusty furniture and unmade beds? Not me!

Q: My mom was wrong about...
A: Not giving people a second chance. There are so many instances where I'm glad I gave people the opportunity to redeem themselves. 

Q: My dad always told me...
A: People brag because they're insecure.

What is your favorite place in the world? What keeps you up at night? I want to hear from you!

xoxo