{fit friday} the most delicious snack and a workout

Happy Friday

First, can we hit the brakes for a sec?!?

Are we really already in June?????  I still can't believe where this year has gone.  As a teacher, this is my busiest time and I have definitely felt the stress take over this past week.  I do have to say that when I am stressed out, working out always puts me in a better mood.  Whether I'm running and thinking of the positive things throughout the day or going over my to-do list or running sprint intervals on the treadmill, any frustration is taken out on my body.

I've been going to the gym more since my half-marathon is over, and it has been a new experience for me.  I always go back and forth between the gym and running/working out at my house.  Right now I'm on the gym side.  However, I feel like we need to go over some basics at the gym as well as etiquette (such as please refrain from texting while sitting on a machine)-but that can be a different post.  I love the equipment the gym has but the classes are not that great, so motivating myself to think of what to work out and how can sometimes be a challenge.  Cue ZWOW...

I came across the ZWOW workouts on You Tube, and tried the ZWOW #15 last week.  Holy.  Smokes.  I was kind of embarrassed by how much I was sweating but I felt so strong afterwards.

I have a new love....

A fellow teacher showed me these 100 calorie packs of guacamole.  100 calories???  Guacamole???  Sign me UP!  I love guacamole, and I might sound like a 5 year old by saying I wish I could marry it.  As soon as I found out it was at Target I made a pit stop on my way home.  For snack I pack a big bag of fresh veggies and dip them in my guac.  It is SO good!  I love guacamole, and it is definitely easy to over eat with it, so these are my new loves!

If you're like me you can find any easy excuse to go to Target, so find one and get some of this amazingness! 

the day i got bangs

Well, it's official.

I have real bangs.

And I'm really bad at posing for fashion pics.

And this is probably the trendiest outfit I own right now.  

And the Mr.'s patience with taking the pictures is a bit shorter than expected.

And someone should really write a post on how to pose for cute pictures for outfits. 

Back to the real purpose of the post: the bangs.  I've never been too adventurous with my hair.  I'm also someone that likes things to stay the same for a while.  My hair color was one of those things.  My natural hair color is medium brown but I color it dark brown because it makes my eyes pop and I love the extra shine and richness of the color.  We've been doing the same color since my wedding, so three and a half years.  My hairdresser is someone I trust whole heartedly so when I told her back in October I wanted to spice it up a bit and do the ombre, she was completely on board and excited.  I liked the ombre but was ready to back to the basics and have things a little easier. 

Last morning having the ombre.

Right when I thought I was ready to go back to the same ol' me, bangs popped into my head and we went for it.  I had been contemplating them for a bit, and I have a slight girl crush on the lovely Zooey Deschanel's hair.  I've always had side bangs, they're just my thing.  But I was ready for something a little different, so we went for it!

I'm not going to lie, but after looking at my last picture of the ombre I miss it a bit.  And the bangs are still growing on me.  But what I realized is hair grows and can be changed back to how you like it, it just might take some time.  If I decide I'm not loving the bangs so much, we cut them in a way that I can begin to swoop them to the side.  I feel as though when you are ready for a change, whether it be a style or color, try to not make it so drastic that you can't change it back.  My color will lighten up in a little bit, and the bangs will grow back to how they were.  These are easy changes.  But chopping off your hair (which I did after we got married) is one of those things where you need to be completely on-board several weeks before hand and realize that it will go back, you just need to pack some good patience and be ready for some styles to get you through the awkward in between stages.  

So I got bangs.  And I like them.  I may even love them :)  

a house in 8

We all have dreams.

Some big, some small.

Lately, the Mr. and I have been talking about our new dream: a home.  We like to share about what we want our home to become, and more importantly, how to make our dream a reality.

Thanks to Pinterest I can dream away all day long about what I want our future house to be like.

In 8....

I'm a sucker for farm houses and victorian style homes.  Those porches just do me in.

Source: theinspiredroom.net via Jamie on Pinterest

Family and relationships are both things we value deeply, so a cozy and fun back porch where we can entertain is key.  We want a nice sized backyard for not only entertaining but also just lounging around in the grass and hopefully plant a garden.

Source: bhg.com via Jamie on Pinterest

I'm madly in love with farm tables right now.  The rustic look and expansive space to be filled with family dinners, art projects, and little one's homework.

Source: blog.forrent.com via Jamie on Pinterest

An entryway that screams "you are more than welcome to come by anytime" is always key.

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Jamie on Pinterest

Having a giant tub is essential (along with a very expansive bathroom and vanity).  I mean, a girl's gotta dream a little bit...

Source: houzz.com via Jamie on Pinterest

At least three to four rooms to fill with precious little ones.

Source: thebooandtheboy.com via Jamie on Pinterest

I dream of the day where we have a big ol' room that is nicely decorated, but still a "family" room.  Where our kids climb up on bed with us and also a sanctuary for some refreshing time.

Source: flickr.com via Jamie on Pinterest

But the most important piece about our future home is that it will be filled with God's love and grace.  I want it to be a place to brings peace to our lives and reminds us what JOY we have found in God's love.

Source: susieharrisblog.com via Jamie on Pinterest

family is a blessing

Something happened recently that really made me see how valuable and important family is.  It also reminded me that family is more than blood.  If I were to explain my family to you, we'd need to get some paper and pens out so that I could map it all out.  You could say that we definitely put the "FUN" in dysfunctional.  

When I was younger I thought I was one of a kind because my parents were divorced and having step-siblings was a novelty because all of my friends' parents were still happily married.  I grew up with my mom, step-dad, and step brother and sister for the largest majority of my life, but my parents divorced when I was 20.  Now that my step-brother and sister and me were no longer legally related, I knew that didn't matter.  They were my brother and sister, through and through.

My sister lives in Arkansas now but my brother is still here in San Diego.  We both have crazy schedules and are unable to see each other often, but the times we do have together are perfect.  Last weekend a very good friend of my brother took his life, and my brother was shaken.  We sat at my mom's house for mother's day (his step-mom) and were a family, supporting him, loving him.  We spent the night showing his girlfriend embarrassing photos of him when he was little, reminiscing about our matching vests for Christmas pictures, and looking back at when we became a family.  

Family is more than a legal document. 

Family is love.

Family is there for you when you need them most. 

Families will go through trials and tribulations, but relationships will be restored.  

It is crazy at times to think that we are not legally or blood related, but our relationship surpasses all of those things.  And I love my family more than anything in the world!

crossing my fingers I don't get sick

Well...the Mr. caught a bug, and a nasty one at that.  He's been sick since last Wednesday!  Needless to say, we've been laying low all weekend and I've been doing everything possible to not get sick.  I feel so bad for him and have been running to the store to restock up on Gatorade, cough drops, and ingredients for soup.  I can't imagine what it'll be like one day when our kids are sick.  

Even though our weekend was pretty low-key and boring, there was a glimpse of excitement!

I started with some juice, and it was one of the best juices ever!  We just got a juicer about a month ago, and I'm so excited for the summer where I have time to experiment and juice lots.  This juice was so delish, so I tried a different variation on my own: carrot, orange, cantaloupe.  Oh.  My.  Word.  We split the juice in half, I've got to get those vitamins pumped in him!

This sounds a bit crazy, but Saturday night I made my first ever batch of homemade chicken noodle soup.  The magic cure!  It was so easy, filling, and delicious.  I used this cooking light recipe!

Sunday morning I realized that my hair is getting so long!  So I tried out my first ever fish braid.  I have crazy thick hair, and it actually held up for almost the whole day.  This is my new favorite go-to hair style (especially because my hair is in desperate need of a cut/color...but more coming on that later).

My brother had amazing tickets to the Padres game Sunday and invited us to go along.  Holy ta-lee-do!  These were probably the best seats I've ever sat in, and I've been going to Padres games since I was itty bitty.  We pumped the Mr. with antibiotics, gatorade, more medicine, cough drops and crossed our fingers he'd make it through the game.

He had just enough energy for the game and was passed out within the first ten minutes we were home.  My poor guy!  I'm just ready for him to feel better and be himself again.  

My summer countdown is on!  We only have a little over 4 weeks left of school, and it just seems so crazy.  I'm truly looking forward to summer but at the same time I'm not ready for the school year to end.  Things are about to get super busy at work, but I thrive on the high energy and can't wait to share some fun things with you!!!

coffee and endorphins to the rescue

You might say that I woke up on the wrong side of the bed yesterday.

It felt like it was a terrible, no good, very bad bad.

But nothing had happened or caused me to be in a funk.  I just was.  The hardest part all day long was knowing I was just grumpy and having no desire to cheer up.  So I tried to slap a smile on my face and cross my fingers that tomorrow would be better.  Choosing joy has become a motto for me this year, but there are days when it is hard.  For some reason I just couldn't find my joy or allow my joy to fulfill me and turn my mood around.  I think that we all have been there.  We all have bad days.  We all struggle to find motivation at one point or another.

So I told a dear friend about my funk.  And I'm so glad I did.  She told me to go for a walk to a nearby delish tea and coffee shop, breathe some fresh air, and get something scrumptious.  Cafe Au Lait to the rescue!

I don't know if it was the walk, the fresh air, hearing my kids playing outside at recess, the creamy coffee, or the fact that I had a friend that didn't judge me for being grumpy and encouraged me with something tangible and real.

Then I had to work out, and I was not in the mood, but knew that it would only make my day better.  Another amazing friend encouraged me to do some sprints on the treadmill, sweat it out, and let the endorphins fill me up.  Boy was she right.  When I run I find that listening to music is a distraction, especially when running outside.  I've learned to unplug and listen to my body instead.  I knew I needed some inspiration running on the treadmill, though, because it is not my favorite thing.  I would much rather run outside that in the gym.

***At this point you may think I'm crazy or love me even more***

I turned to my phone, opened up iTunes, and blared this song to pump me up and push me through my sprints:



At the gym have you ever noticed someone running pretty peppy and wonder what on earth they're listening to?  Well, I was that girl.  I'm pretty sure my pony tail was bopping up and down a little bit more, one hand may even been snapping, my lips were probably lip singing along, and my legs were running as fast as they could.

At that point I realized that we can't control every aspect of our lives.  I so badly want every day to be happy and joyful, but I'm only human and will have those up and downs.  I don't usually listen to music, but yesterday it was my saving grace.  There are things that we say and think we will never do, and then we just up and do them.  Words can't begin to describe how good I felt after my run.  I came home so peppy and cheerful, wishing I could bottle it up and keep it for another grumpy day.

If you're needing to find that motivation to work out and get moving, blast this song, it's almost impossible for me to sit still when it's on.  :)

back in action

"Where'd you go????"

Well friends, I'm so happy to say that I will finally be back in the blogger world again!  Taking a mini-break was harder than I thought but it definitely helped me stay focused and finish out the semester.  The last three weeks have just been splendid, so I thought I'd share what I've been up to:

running a half marathon

loving on my new nephew

visiting a good friend and her precious baby boy

family dinners

trying new recipes (thank you Giada!)

staying up way too late to finish homework

waking up way too early to attempt workouts

pedicure (first one since last July!)

wine tasting

trying a new sushi spot with the Mr. 

cleaning off the back porch and enjoying the warm sunshine during dinners

teaching middle school for a day

loving on my nephew even more

spinning around in circles with my niece

making a scrumptious mother's day dinner for my mom

laughing until my belly hurts at bible study

attending the most beautiful bridal shower

celebrating a big promotion for my brother

relaxing

tying way too many shoe laces

taking my students to see the cutest pirate play

There seems to be so much joy flowing in and out of our lives, and taking the time to focus and relax was beyond amazing.  Sadly, I'm still in online classes while I clear my teaching credential, but I'll take that any day over the full load just a couple weeks ago.  Can't wait to share some more things going on with me this week!  

With Love,

Jamie

la jolla half marathon recap

I did it!!  After so much training, mental preparation, and pushing my legs to the max I completed the La Jolla Half Marathon this past Sunday.  I finished in 2:00:55, which was right at the end of my goal time, so I was pretty excited.  More importantly, I finished feeling strong.  

 A couple weeks leading up to the race I did not feel this way.  My right hip had been hurting and then my left knee started acting up too.  After just a short run, I would feel like the above run.  Before the race I had the biggest stomach ache because of nerves.  I didn't want my knee to hurt to the point that I had to walk and feel like all of my training went down the drain.  

This half marathon is one of the most challenging runs in San Diego.  There are multiple hills, and that hill at mile 6 is up Torrey Pines, one of the hardest hills I've ever run in my life.  The first hill hurt my knee a bit, but I put mind over matter and the pain subsided.  The first five miles flew by so fast, I think I was so focused on the Torrey Pines Hill.  Once I got to the top of that crazy hill at mile 6 I felt amazing, crazy tired, but so elated that I did it and didn't walk.  Then I was met with more gradual incline.  It started to kill my motivation and miles 7-9 were hard for me to wrap my head around.  Once I got to mile 10 I knew that I had this in the bag and I great.  I kept checking my pace throughout on my watch and I was doing okay on time but knew I had to pick up my pace in order to finish by 2 hours.  The last mile was probably where I wanted to cry because the hill was challenging, but I got super motivated and ended up sprinting up the last part of the hill through the finish line.  

Here's some pictures documents the day:

Pre-race smiles :)

 The Mr. got a great shot at the end.

The best part of the race of finishing and feeling amazing afterwards.  The Mr. kept watching for me to make sure I wasn't limping when I finished, which I wasn't, so I was on cloud 9!  The next best thing was mimosas afterwards!  

This experience truly taught me that if you set a goal and pursue it with your whole heart, you will meet it.  Also, anything you put your mind to can be achieved!  

Love,

Jamie