Five Things Friday.

1. I was lulled to sleep several mornings this week by birds chirping outside my window. Does this mean spring is just around the corner?? Winter, I'm ready to say goodbye and see you next year!

2. The bottom of the barrel is fast approaching on my whey so I'm waffling on what flavor to get now. I tried Peanut Butter Marshmallow this past time and want to try a new flavor. toooo many decisions. Do you vote for Cookies and Cream or Chocolate Mint? 

3. I cannot remember how long I've been reading her blog, but if there is one blog I check every single day, it's the vibrant piece of the web written by the amazing Janae at Hungry Runner Girl. This week she wrote a fantastic post with a list of ways that she is not just enduring, but flourishing despite being in the midst of really difficult time in her life. Sometimes we over think the healing/grieving/being mad at the world process and I love her perspective. Check it out! 

4. You only have one life to live. Don't waste it doing something you're not crazy about. Love it or leave it. 

5. The only thing worse than realizing you're wildly overdue for a haircut is realizing it on the day AFTER your hair stylist leaves on vacation for 2 weeks. If I'm wearing hats every time you see me for the next two weeks- now you know. 

Casein or Whey Protein? 

What is one thing you do everyday that you LOVE to do?

Chocolate-Chip-Cookies.

how many times do we look at the same things in life- over and over and over and over - again,

and never really SEE them. 

hey humble piece of chocolatey goodness.

I like to bake you.

I love to eat you.

now I'm gonna talk about you. 

you're just a cookie.

but you're so much more. 

when your Grandma makes it, it's not just a cookie; it's a labor of love, a token that connects you to her.

when it's a cookie on the plate of someone who struggles with and eating disorder, who ate it without guilt or anxiety, perhaps for the first time- it's a non-scale victory, a smack in the face of the terror an ED can create in our lives. 

when you've goofed and make a batch for an estranged friend, it becomes a peace offering to begin your attempt to bridge the gap.

when the cookie is made from a recipe that was the first recipe created and published by a budding chef.....it's a piece of triumph, a trophy- something to celebrate and remember. 

when they're hot and fresh from the oven and filling your house with the most delicious aroma, it's a reminder that the 'aroma' of my life and actions reach further than I imagine.....good or bad.

if you've spaced and made the entire batch with cake flour, it becomes a hockey puck that is suitable for an Olympic gold medal match. 

if you've settled for the store-bought pre-packaged type, it's a reminder that the best things in life can't be bought.

when it's crumbly and a bit dry- just absolutely perfect topping for your ice cream, it's a reminder that imperfections are to be embraced, not fought.

open your eyes.

 what will you see differently today?

Five Things Friday.

1. Today I had a 25 minute conversation with a car salesman............about the superbowl and the best teams in the NFL. Football talk makes me happy, and he stopped pressuring me to buy the car. Touchdown. 

2. If you follow me on INSTAGRAM, you see a revolting number of selfies quite a few photos of my protein pancakes. What goes un-pictured are the 4 baby pancakes I make at the very beginning. I'd like to pretend that this is to prime the pan, but no........it's because I cannot wait until ALL the pancakes are cooked, topped and photographed to start eating them. Girl has zero patience when food is in the picture. So my baby pancakes hold me over. And now you know, the REST of the story.

3. I had originally planned to run a 1/2 marathon in Arizona last weekend. There were a couple different  factors involved that resulted in post-poning the trip and consequently not racing. While I was disappointed, I'm already planning on some races later this spring, and consider myself to have simply gotten a great head start training for them.

4.  I got serious about facing my fears this week when I said yes to two situations that make my comfort zone a mere memory. I have yet to see the results of my second yes, but the positive results from the first yes have thrilled me and made me braver.

5. love, love, love my pink hat to keep my ears toasty while I run. not so much love for my hat hair.

What do you do to overcome your fears in life?

What was the most exciting thing you ate today?

What's your Wonderful (Wednesday)?

happy Wednesday. 

this life is wonderful. celebrate it. savor it. share it. 

wonderful is; 

~snuggles with my nieces who don't care if I am a sweaty post-gym mess. 

~finding a forgotten quest bar in my glove box.......AND my favorite flavor! 

~a letter from a precious friend.

~texts from my sister.....with typos. 

~a good hair day. 

~coworkers who go out of their way to make your shift better.

~breakfast, on a real plate.

~hugs from my brothers.

~food for thought. 

~coffee - "on the house" from my favorite barista. 

~God's Word

"Thy mercy, oh Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reaches unto the clouds." Psalms 36:5

~smiling, for absolutely no reason at all. 

what's your wonderful today?

Once upon a time..............

...........YOU were added to this world. 

not just another random beating heart.

a delicate, precious, valuable soul. 

a soul created to tell a story.

a story only you can tell. 

a story only you may understand. 

a story that can change the world. 

because YOU are here to tell the world YOUR story. 

fresh. original. unique to you.

the world will try to reign you in. 

life will knock you down. 

it will not be easy. 

OWN YOUR STORY. 

Five Things Friday.

1. It's that time of year again..............taxes, setting financial goals and rehashing my budget. I'm slightly OCD about my finances and save every receipt. At the end of the year I go through each receipt, itemize and tally each area of my spending. This may be redundant since all the money I spend comes out of a meticulous budget to begin with.  I had an overwhelming number of receipts from last year.......not a small task. 

2. I'm down to my last 3 quest bars, which means I'm on ration until I can place another order. I'm having a terrible time deciding what flavor to get this time..........I may have to break down and get two boxes. I'd really like to try the new flavor (cookies and cream) but I'm scared to buy an entire box in the event that I'm not crazy about them. Right now I'm battling between PB&J and White Chocolate Raspberry. Help a girl out and tell me which to get!! 

3. I was the creeper at the gym the other day taking photos of other people..........but it was so adorable I couldn't help it. I was warming up on the stairmaster and got a bird's eye view of this sweet wife lending a hand to her husband after his suspenders came loose. Couples who workout together, stay together. And they are wearing purple. winning. 

4. My sister spoiled me and got me some starbucks coffee for Christmas. Each cup is turning me into the ultimate coffee snob. Thanks, Rebecca for ruining my ability to settle for folgers. 

5. OLYMPICS. Need I say more?? When I was a child, I had ambitions of being a figure skater. These ambitions grew from nights getting to stay up and watch Olympic figure skating sprawled out on my stomach on the old brown carpet on our living room floor. I have a best friend and a cousin who were both ice skaters and incredible at it, bno. My first opportunity to actually get skates on the ice came when I was 12, and I immediately changed my mind. I'll just make it my ambition to skate without every breaking a bone.

Do you keep or throw your receipts?

Which sport would you compete in if you were an Olympic athlete?? 

Five Things Friday.

1. Pompeii. on repeat. while running. while driving. while showering. while working. while lifting. while thinking. song of the week by far. 

2. I've been having a miserable time sleeping through the night lately because my stomach wakes me up at 0130 fully expecting a 5 or 6 course meal. Growls can be heard across the county, I am sure. So far the only night I slept without waking to eat was the night I got cozy with some peanut butter directly before going to bed. Eating more peanut butter in order to sleep better............geeesh the sacrifices I must make in life. 

3. Confession; I seldom allow others to do nice things for me because I'm too proud and prefer to be ridiculously independent. This is not the best quality to have, and I have to remind myself to be humble (or actually, just NORMAL) and accept help from other people. This week the cold sucked the life out of my car battery and I was 'forced' into taking help from a friend to bring it back to life. My coworker who came to my rescue was tickled beyond tickled to help. "girl, helping others makes my day 100x better". I am surrounded by the best and most thoughtful people on the planet, how often do I stunt my personal growth and their joy by running my own show? I myself love to give to others and truly there is just as much beauty in receiving.

4. Being an aunt never gets old. Nothing better than my weekly cuddle fest with these darlings. gah. 

5. If you haven't already read it, there is an exceptional article on Huff post about questions we ask that kill our relationships. A quick, thought-provoking read that is 100% spot on. Poignant, insightful and totally worth your time. GO READ IT! 

What's your song of the week??

When was the last time someone did something thoughtful for you?