13.1 Anyone?

I forgot to mention last time that in addition to all this healthy cooking, Music Man and I have started going to the gym again so I can build up my guns for the list of races I'm hoping do this summer.

Tuesday I officially signed up for the Christie Clinic Half Marathon again. I did the race last April, PR'd, and loved the course. Since I'm starting to feel much better stress, health, and injury wise, I thought I would try it again and go for a new PR: 1:45. It was my ultimate goal at first last year, and then when my training went a little wayside because of my hip, I decided I just wanted to try and break two hours, which I did. I really want to shoot for 1:45this year. I'm approaching my training differently, and who knows, maybe I'll even find a buddy to help push me.

I also signed up my my first annual USAT membership because my hope is to do more than one triathlon this year. A Olympic distance in July, as well as a Half-Ironman, 70.3, in September.

Official training for this half starts at the beginning of February, though I've already been prepping. I won't lie, I hate training in winter: both outside and in, so it's a good thing I've got some strong encouragement in life.

Here's to running again.

___
Learn contentment. Seek peace. Find joy. Live Faith. Breathe hope.

Doing: How I bake sweets and still stay healthy

Here's the thing. I'm a talker. A huge talker and not always a do-er.

So here's the other thing. My whole quest for the year involves me becoming much more of a do-er (with less anxiety) than just a talker. I said I wanted to embrace life right? Be inspired? Be healthy? Taste goodness? So I've started cooking more new things for dinner (thanks to an awesome new cookbook which I think I'll be reviewing soon), and I've tried (and failed) a few things on my list already.
But nevertheless, I am doing.

Classic Reads...

I fell in love with Goodreads this year. I have always been an avid reader, another good thing I blame on my mother.

Since I'm also a reader by nature and heart, I intitially though about setting up a list of 25 reads the next year. But then I thought about trying to accomplish 25 things, as well as baking/cooking 25 things, working full time, spending time with Music Man, possibly going back to school, etc. And since I'm on a quest to release anxiety from my life, I though I had better not add any more craziness to my life.

Homemade from my heart

You would think that with only eleven days until Christmas, I would have all of my gift shopping, wrapping, and holiday baking done. But, alas, that is not the case. In fact, I have not even started yet.

Last weekend was chalk full with a book club meeting and ladies day out, grocery shopping, laundryy-ing, and youth group with the high school kids. I guess I did bake a small batch of shortbread cookies Friday night because I was in the mood to bake, and I felt very Christmas-y with Michael Buble's Christmas Special on in the background. However, I've devoured those cookies long before they can even find a place under the Christmas tree.

This year, I'm doing something different with gifts. It's our first Christmas juggling where and when we'll be spending Christmas festivities with the families as we were in Texas last holiday season  for our first Christmas together. Music Man suggested moving back to Texas for a bit so we wouldn't have to stress out about the abundance of traveling and Christmases. But in reality, we're looking forward to families, and I'm hoping for a stress-free gift giving as I venture into the world of homemade gifts.

Life celebrated, once over. What will I choose?

There are many days where I strongly believe that if I didn't have a steaming mug of tea, coffee, or a few pieces of chocolate, I would not function. This past week has been full of those days.

December has not started off in the way that I would've hoped for, but isn't that life? Always throwing us some sort of obstacle.

The 25th year, part 2

In exactly forty-five minutes, I'll officially have been in this world for 25 years.

My younger brother, Farm Boy, teased me today and asked me if I'd be going to bed any earlier. I failed to tell him I usally turn in before ten anyway.

As promised faithful friends, here's the big reveal for the 25th year. 

Over the last year, I've struggled with too much anxiety and stress. I blame part of that on getting married, moving three times, starting a new job, hating said job, struggling with discovering my career, financial issues, a sports injury, burnout from training/racing, health issues, and moving far, far away from my best friends(yes, that all did indeed happen within the last twelve months). And so, as I venture into a new year of life, I have decided I need to let go of my silly worries, because if I don't, I'm afraid of what might happen down the road.

I am choosing to stop the snowballing of anxiety, stress inducing insomnia, and stress in general. 

I am choosing to embrace life in all of the simple things.

And it boils down to these five, simple mantras:
Seek peace. Choose joy. Find strong. Live Faith. Breathe hope. 

The 25th Year

It’s here folks. The week.

I know, you’re asking which week. Thanksgiving has already passed, and Christmas is yet to come so what’s left?

Why, my birthday of course!  This is the week I turn 25. For some reason in my book, 25 is registering as a big milestone, and not just for the fact that my car insurance will go down.
See, this past year has been full of many, many ups and just as many downs. Too much stress  and not enough sugar.

But I’m still here. 

Here’s the thing.  Those of you who know me, know I am not some famous writer, nor am I rich; (famous writer… sure, I could be that someday…) therefore, I am not about to up and leave my life of luxury and travel all over the world to find peace during my 25^th year, nor am I going to buy it.

But I am going to attempt a challenge. An experiment.

A year-long something.