Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Sponsor Q&A with Danielle-Marie
As (I hope) you've seen, this month's Sunshine Sponsor is Danielle from Danielle-Marie! Danielle is a Christian wife and mother, living abroad in...get this...Thailand! She's adopted two gorgeous children, and supports her missionary husband amazingly. Be sure to click on over to her blog to get to know her even better (and to see some fun facts about Danielle - including the fact that she lived in Columbia for 12 years - !!!! - visit her About page).
Friday, July 24, 2015
Get Organized in Less Than One Month (+ a Printable!)
Happy Friday!
I hope you had a great week, and that you have something fun planned for the weekend. Spencer and I will be in New Jersey celebrating the wedding of two great friends. Yay!
This week, I ran across an article from PopSugar that lists 116 items to throw away (or donate) in your home. If you're anything like me, a list of 116 items seems pretty daunting! Have no fear. I am sharing the list with you (original article here) and also suggesting a way to tackle it.
I hope you had a great week, and that you have something fun planned for the weekend. Spencer and I will be in New Jersey celebrating the wedding of two great friends. Yay!
This week, I ran across an article from PopSugar that lists 116 items to throw away (or donate) in your home. If you're anything like me, a list of 116 items seems pretty daunting! Have no fear. I am sharing the list with you (original article here) and also suggesting a way to tackle it.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Three Things I've Learned (so far) During My Half-Marathon Training
Hey there!
Long time no see. My fault. Sorry about that.
I thought I'd stop in and give you an update on my half-marathon training. The race is November 14th, so we still have some time (thank goodness).
My training buddy, Stephanie, has been absolutely awesome through the process so far. We are half way through our 5th week of training, and if it weren't for her holding me accountable, I probably would have quit after about 3 days. Seriously.
For those of you in the same boat (don't love running, but are trying to make a habit of it), allow me to share three lessons I have learned so far.
1. Find someone who will hold you accountable.
No, this cannot be yourself or your conscience. For me, it also could not be my husband. I am too good at talking my way out of things with him! And he keeps quiet so that I don't feel badly (smart man). Stephanie was the perfect partner for me for a few reasons: we are on similar fitness levels, we both really want to see it through, and we live in the same neighborhood which makes running together convenient.
2. Invest in key items.
These items may be different for each person. For me, the key items have been a Garmin watch (old model, but can track distance), some running capris (running + shorts = too much rubbing), and a good pair of shoes. I had an employee at Fleet Feet watch my run and measure my feet, which was critical in finding a good pair of shoes. I learned that I overpronate (which basically means my feet turn inward when I run), so I knew to look for a pair of shoes that corrects that issue. In the long run, this should save my feet and my joints!
3. Running is 90% mental.
Spencer used to tell me this all the time, but I just would not believe him. Turns out, he was right (shhh, don't tell him I said that). If I keep a steady pace, it really is a matter of pushing myself to keep going. Of course, if I go too fast, I will certainly tire out. The key is to set a pace (for me it is somewhat slow right now), keep your breathing steady, and tell yourself that longing to quit is all in your head. Because, guess what? It really is!
Are you a runner? What tips can you share with me as I continue my training?
Don't forget to check out this month's Sunshine Sponsor, Danielle! View her blog here.
Until next time - -
Long time no see. My fault. Sorry about that.
I thought I'd stop in and give you an update on my half-marathon training. The race is November 14th, so we still have some time (thank goodness).
My training buddy, Stephanie, has been absolutely awesome through the process so far. We are half way through our 5th week of training, and if it weren't for her holding me accountable, I probably would have quit after about 3 days. Seriously.
For those of you in the same boat (don't love running, but are trying to make a habit of it), allow me to share three lessons I have learned so far.
1. Find someone who will hold you accountable.
No, this cannot be yourself or your conscience. For me, it also could not be my husband. I am too good at talking my way out of things with him! And he keeps quiet so that I don't feel badly (smart man). Stephanie was the perfect partner for me for a few reasons: we are on similar fitness levels, we both really want to see it through, and we live in the same neighborhood which makes running together convenient.
2. Invest in key items.
These items may be different for each person. For me, the key items have been a Garmin watch (old model, but can track distance), some running capris (running + shorts = too much rubbing), and a good pair of shoes. I had an employee at Fleet Feet watch my run and measure my feet, which was critical in finding a good pair of shoes. I learned that I overpronate (which basically means my feet turn inward when I run), so I knew to look for a pair of shoes that corrects that issue. In the long run, this should save my feet and my joints!
3. Running is 90% mental.
Spencer used to tell me this all the time, but I just would not believe him. Turns out, he was right (shhh, don't tell him I said that). If I keep a steady pace, it really is a matter of pushing myself to keep going. Of course, if I go too fast, I will certainly tire out. The key is to set a pace (for me it is somewhat slow right now), keep your breathing steady, and tell yourself that longing to quit is all in your head. Because, guess what? It really is!
Are you a runner? What tips can you share with me as I continue my training?
Don't forget to check out this month's Sunshine Sponsor, Danielle! View her blog here.
Until next time - -
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Ad Space Giveaway!
Guess what - It's time for the best giveaway ever again...that's right, The So-Called Homemaker's famous/infamous ad space giveaway! I have teamed up with her and 16 other bloggers to giveaway a total of twenty-three (that's right, TWENTY-THREE) ad spaces! That means that 23 lucky readers will walk away with FREE ad space, no strings attached! The spaces being given away range from 200x200 spots to in-post ads, and are from bloggers you've all heard of and love!
Classy, Sassy, & a Bit Smartassy // Wife Mommy Me // Southern Hope // Sage // The Jessa Olson Blog // All the Joys
Whimsical September // Sea Salt Secrets // Love the Here and Now // Alanna & Company // Yellow Door Diaries
Everyday Thoughts // T.O. & fro // That Southern Mama // Keeping Up with Ashley and Cody
Bourbon, Lipstick, & Stilletos // Southern Beauty Guide // The So-Called Homemaker
Whimsical September // Sea Salt Secrets // Love the Here and Now // Alanna & Company // Yellow Door Diaries
Everyday Thoughts // T.O. & fro // That Southern Mama // Keeping Up with Ashley and Cody
Bourbon, Lipstick, & Stilletos // Southern Beauty Guide // The So-Called Homemaker
Friday, July 10, 2015
Exciting Week
TGIF!
Hope you all had a great week. The past week has been full of some exciting things. My cousin, Casey, had a baby (a girl! Lilly) last week, and I get to meet her tomorrow! Our friends Joey and Natalie also had a baby girl, Simonne, this week and she's a doll.
Aside from baby news, I have completed my third week of half-marathon training with my friend Stephanie, and we're still goingstrong - well, we're still going. Yay!
Today is an important day here in SC. If you've been under a rock the past couple of weeks, there was a tragic shooting in Charleston last month, and since then a lot of people have been pushing to remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds.
Hope you all had a great week. The past week has been full of some exciting things. My cousin, Casey, had a baby (a girl! Lilly) last week, and I get to meet her tomorrow! Our friends Joey and Natalie also had a baby girl, Simonne, this week and she's a doll.
Aside from baby news, I have completed my third week of half-marathon training with my friend Stephanie, and we're still going
Today is an important day here in SC. If you've been under a rock the past couple of weeks, there was a tragic shooting in Charleston last month, and since then a lot of people have been pushing to remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds.
Monday, July 6, 2015
A Simple & Silly Survey
Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July weekend! Do you follow me on social media? If so, you may have seen some pictures. If you don't, let's connect!
I found this A-Z survey on Peanut Butter Fingers (she's adorable, and pregnant with her first child!), and I really enjoyed reading her responses. I thought it was so fun, I decided to share my answers as well!
Friday, July 3, 2015
Celebrating the 4th in Style
Isn't this a fun holiday? I love the colors, the food, the activities, and the drinks. It's all fun, and it's all patriotic. I also have to mention how important it is, while grilling, eating, and having a great time, that we remember the reason for this fun holiday. It is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain. And as much as I love the royal family, I sure am grateful for that!
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Plants That Can Grow in Hot Sun
One of my favorite parts of summer is seeing beautiful yards. I love walking through the neighborhood (and running during my half-marathon training) and seeing green grass that is well trimmed and edged, nicely shaped bushes, and other treats like flowers and hanging plants. These houses inspire me to work on our yard. In hopes of making it look a bit more "summery," I purchased two hanging ferns about a month and a half ago. I hung them from our front porch, and smiled at them every morning as I drove off to work (call me crazy).
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