Challenge II, D13: Weekend Wrap-up

Happy, happy Monday, friends :)

Before I go any further, I have to say this: Thank you God for Ad.v.il.

Oy.

Waking up with a headache did not give my Monday a very promising start, but I am happy to say that with a cup of coffee and some ibuprofen pulsing through my veins, I am beginning to feel like a human being again. Hallelujah! ♥ Onward & upward!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I was a lazy photographer this weekend, so I'll have to paint the pictures for you with words today :)

I did manage to get one photo though:



I did it! 20 whole miles :) Woohoo!

Heh. Actually, this was a rather dismal run for me. I made a bad decision, and tried a different kind of fuel than I am used to mid-run ... and had stomach cramps the rest of the way. Happily & surprisingly, overall my pace didn't take too big of a hit, and I am so proud that I got my mileage in. Also, I am so, so grateful for my friend Tracy, who walked with me and encouraged me the whole time. Tracy, if you are reading this, you are wonderful-- thank you again!

I spent my Saturday afternoon apple picking (MacIntosh! My favorites!) with my parents, which was awfully nice because I haven't seen them very much lately. It's incredible to me how quickly we can fill our 20 lb bags... I remember it felt like it took a long time when I was tiny ;) I feel like it's really fall now that I've been apple picking! (And you can bet you'll see some apples & "apple-y" desserts in the near future!.... I need to make a pie for my Spectacular September, remember?!)

Saturday night was date night :) Jon & I went out to dinner (always a treat!), and then(!) we finally made it over to the new frozen yogurt shop (Orange Leaf) near us! I have been wanting to go for quite a while, and it was a perfect post-20 mile treat. I wish I had pictures to show you, but (a) it was a self serve joint, and frankly, my cups are never particularly "photo worthy" ;) and (b) it was gone pretty quickly. I got a "strawberry cheesecake" creation with graham cracker crumbs, strawberries & chocolate chips, and Jon got a peanut butter/brownie batter mix with cookie dough, oreo and chocolate sauce on top. ... I'm pretty sure we'll be going back soon ... and often! We brought our ice cream home & snuggled on the couch to watch a movie -- a perfect end to a (practically) perfect day ♥

Sunday was spent worshiping, napping, watching some spectacular thunderstorms & walking (not in the rain, thank goodness!) And to cap off a good weekend, Jon & I had a "Special Sunday Dinner" of smothered pork chops (pork chops covered in a mix of brown sugar, apples & stuffing. ... One of my most favorite fall meals!) Also, yesterday held long moments of reflection & prayer; quiet thanksgiving for brave & faith-filled individuals who have done so much for our country and our freedom.



Today, I am thankful for new beginnings. I am thankful for sunshine & cooler temperatures. I am thankful for a patient & loving husband, and a big God who cares for me & seeks my heart. ...And I am most certainly thankful to be rid of that headache ;)

Your Turn: How was your weekend? What was a highlight for you? What are you thankful for on this Monday? ♥

Challenge II, D12: Good List Friday, volume vi

Ahh, Friday.... So good to see you again!

I love Fridays for so many reasons. First, it's got the obvious-- 'It's almost the weekend' thing going for it... but also, for me, it's S-bux pumpkin spice latte day, AND my day to sleep in!

And don't even get me started on the loveliness of Friday nights! Friday evening in our house means sweat pants, spaghetti & movies on the couch. ... Which I know may not sound like much (my 20 year old self would be sighing & shaking her head...) -- but it's perfect. A cozy & relaxing way to end a work week; a time of quiet renewal before another great weekend of memory making ♥

I hope your Friday is equally lovely! And I'll let you get back to it, after another installment of Good List Fridays:



Good List:

1. Jon. Sometimes I am completely awestruck that this man loves me, and has chosen me to spend the rest of his life with. I am so blessed.


2. Pumpkin Spice Lattes. "Come to Mama...."
3. Snuggling Gracie close, and feeling her little heart beating. Life is so precious ♥
4. Red Wine
5. Fall-scented candles in mason jars
6. Courage
7. Seriously, nothing beats a pair of worn-in, well loved jeans.
8. This morning when I awoke, our town was blanketed in thick white fog. This provided for a mystical (if slow) drive in to work ;)
9. Encouragement from friends. ...And the way it always comes at the perfect time ♥
10. "There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be." - George Sheehan

Happy weekending, friends!

Your Turn: What tops your "Good List" this week? What are your weekend plans? ...I'm running 20 miles & picking my favorite apples (McIntosh!)

Challenge II, D8: Good Friday & Inspiration

Happy September, friends! ...More importantly, Happy FRIDAY!
(Personally, I had several "false positives" this week-- you know, when you wake up thinking it's *Friday* and it's actually ... um, Wednesday? ...yup, this weekend has been a loong time coming...)

SO, when I last left you, I was really excited to write my Thursday challenge post about Inspiration...what inspires me, who inspires me, and what sets me on fire to write.


And then, last night when I sat down to actually expound on my ideas and 'abracadabra' them into words, I was feeling rather, erm, "uninspired". In fact, I had a major case of writer's block, which rather quickly turned into a very cranky Amy. Blah. Eventually, after 3 different blog posts starts, and 2 hours of staring at a blinking cursor on my computer screen; I decided I was just tired, and gave myself permission to go to bed and "try again tomorrow" :)

I have discovered that there is no way (for me at least) to force inspiration & creation. I'm sure that if I keep searching, I'll be able to find a couple magic ingredients that can jump-start my creative writing brain -- but for now, I am learning to be content with seizing the ideas as they come. It's rarely convenient, but it's a blessing all the same, and I'll work from where I am ♥


Anyhoo ... I hope you all had a wonderful yesterday! Did you do anything special to celebrate the 1st day of September? I must admit that while my heart celebrated the beginning of my favorite month with fervor, I didn't do anything out of the ordinary :) No PSL's for me, as I was typically running late on my way to work. ...I did manage to pin some "fall inspiration" on Pinterest, if that counts ;) However, I plan to welcome in the season full force this weekend, with a top-to-bottom house cleaning, and by bringing out the fall decorations on Monday (if I can wait that long!)

Whew. Can I tell you how grateful I am that this is a holiday weekend coming up?! I know that I don't have too much longer now before the 'Big Vacation'... but my soul is craving a day off to just be still and "catch up with life".

It's funny because as excited as I am about having a day off, I can all ready tell that I am going to have to actively remind myself to slow down. There's a lot I want to do this weekend, but more than the doing, I really want to be present & enjoy every moment. My plan is to have 1 working day (I'm thinking Saturday, after a good night's sleep & leisurely breakfast with Jon -- pumpkin pancakes, perhaps?), and then have 2 days to just 'go with the flow'.

I'm looking forward to telling you all about it, as it unfolds :)

For now, I am thrilled to present you with another installment of 'Good List Fridays'



Good List:

1. Jon ♥ Gosh, I love that man.
2. Coffeeeeeeeee. It has very much been a 2 cup-a-day week :)
3. Having the luxury of being about to take a step back and look at the big picture: how far I've come :)
4. New magazines
5. Holiday Weekends
6. Cleaning the clutter from my house & my mind
7. "California Dreaming..."
8. Morning runs with the ladies!
9. I know in a couple months I will be lamenting the short length of the days and the scarcity of daylight ... but right now I am enjoying the gentle forward creep of the sunsets. I love the sweet warmth & scent of early September nights, and I love the way the lengthening shadows beckon us to come in, come together, and relax at the end of a long day.
10."Your body will argue that there is no justifiable reason to continue. Your only recourse is to call on your spirit, which fortunately functions independently of logic."
- Tim Noakes


And now, just for fun, another list for you! Fitness blogger Gina (over at fitnessista.com) has put together a to-do list at the beginning of each month of tasks that will make the following 30-days especially great. I love this idea, and am creating my own list for September:

"Make September Spectacular":

- Go apple picking
- Bake an apple pie from scratch ♥
- Plant vibrant-colored mums
- Burn "Fall-Scented" candles
- Sleep with the windows open (once it get a bit more temperate... we're getting in to the mid-90's today, yikes.)
- Clean out my closet - put away summer clothes to make room for cozy sweaters & scarves & boots
- Begin strength training (for real this time.) Do push-ups/ sit-ups etc. 2 days a week.
- Start walking with Jon on week days after work.
- Make Pumpkin Chili
- Host a dinner party!

Your Turn: What are your weekend plans? What is one thing you plan to do to make this September the best one yet?

Wrangling: {Welcoming the Dawn}

photo credit

(A weekly round up. Each week I am going to “wrangle” my life's happenings into a post filled with pictures, lists & general tidbits about the past 7 days.)

Hi friends, happy Friday!

(Oy. How on earth did it get to be Friday all ready?)

I feel like lately the weeks have been spinning by faster and faster, but this week has been in a league all its own. I've been busy at work, trying to get about a bazillion projects wrapped up in anticipation of my trip to Denver next week.

With the exception of yesterday, it's been a rainy week, perfect for nesting & getting the 'homey affairs' in order. We've spent our evenings in the kitchen, and snuggled under blankets on the couch. It's been chaotic, it's been frustrating and it's been emotional, with a bit of heady euphoria, joy and laughter. In short, it's been a beautiful, life filled, normal week.

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(First off, a Love Letter.)

(photo from April & TJ, the proud parents)

Baby Aurora,

On Sunday April 17 our worlds, hearts and lives were changed for good.

Welcome to the world, sweet girl.

Love,
Aunt Amy

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Have I ever told you about Thursday nights? For pretty much as long as I can remember, when I was growing up, Thursday night were the busiest nights of the week for us. When we were little, we had children's choir practice on Thursday nights; by the time I reached high school it had shifted to cross country practice followed by guitar lessons. For at least 2 semesters when I was in college, Thursdays consisted of a day in the lab, followed by tedious organizational meetings.

And at some point, I promised myself that someday I would LOVE Thursdays.

Last night, as I sat wrapped in a blanket, drinking a well deserved glass of wine and blasting AC/DC through my headphones while Jon watches Fam.ily Guy... I realized, I'm here. I love Thursday nights and their promise of relaxation before the final push. Just knowing that Friday-- and perhaps more importantly, the weekend is on the horizon -- sustains and comforts me. I look forward to Thursdays now.

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(shower photos courtesy of Kaitie)

(Coffee bar: take a mug, fill it with whatever suits your fancy. It was a hit!)

Sunday was a rush. The whole weekend was, really. I've discovered that I absolutely live for entertaining. I love the planning and cleaning & anticipation of welcoming others into my home. I think that hosting a dinner party a month for the rest of my life would be heaven to me.... (Anyone in the Columbus area want to take me up on that?)

Sunday morning I woke early and lay in bed excitedly rolling through the details in my mind. At 10:30 am, my friend and co-host Kaitie arrived, and we spent the next several hours prepping decorations and favors.

(My other favorite "finishing touch" was the pillar candles in hurricane vases, surrounded by coffee beans. Looked cute, smelled amazing.)

We wrapped silvery wrapping paper around water bottles and tied ribbon around the handles of coffee mugs, we brewed countless cups of coffee and twirled crepe paper.

Although the invitations said 2pm -4pm, once Saundra, her mother and sister arrived, the party started. I think we laughed for 3.5 straight hours. It was wonderful. Being surrounded by a group of warm, witty women who were gathered to celebrate my best friend was truly uplifting.

And after everyone left & it was just the three of us: Kaitie, Saundra & me? That was awesome. The only thing better than sharing 1 super fun sophomore year of college living together has been gathering together 5 (wow) years later and catching up; reconnecting.

Being Saundra's bridesmaid (and more importantly, her friend) has blessed me in so many ways, and I am honored to be a part of her special day. ... Looking forward to June 25!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A couple weeks ago, when Jon & I were attending a family birthday party, I got a chance to sit and talk with my brother-in-law. (Read: I had relegated myself to the basement with the boys because the windows were open upstairs and I was hot; and I think Dan took pity on me because I was pretty much oblivious when it came to the gaming conversations. Truthfully, I wasn't phased. I'm used to being clueless about that stuff, haha. I was just enjoying my cake & ice cream and spacing out, content & comfortable with the company :) And while we were talking, he said something to me that totally caught me off guard. "I almost envy you, Amy," he said (I paraphrase.) "I mean, you run all the time ... and you like it."

I am absolutely floored that this is one of the ways others might see me & define me. Because in real life? This is something I struggle with on an everyday basis. I want to be a runner with every fiber of my being. But I struggle with the idea of calling myself a runner-- I feel that I'm falling short in so many ways. For example, I don't run every day. I never have... But some weeks? Some weeks I run once. I've pledged to myself that I am going to run a marathon in October, but I have a lot of anxiety about that. Quite frankly, I'm worried that I am going to slack too much on training and sabotage myself.

I know that I need to love myself in my imperfections, and to believe in my own abilities. I know that I need to push forward and not let the fears and the what-ifs hold me back.

...But sometimes that's easier said than done. I'm a work in progress, and this is definitely at the top of my "work on it" list. Between the rain & the fatigue, this has not been a "follow the plan running week" at all. But I am looking forward to a fresh start.

It's never too late for redemption.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As you might have picked up on, this week has been kind of a dark & contemplative one for me. I think it's the natural "ebb" (ya know, versus "flow") that comes at the tail end of a bunch of good stuff.... where all of a sudden you realize that your world has stopped turning upside down and you are left seated in the quiet emptiness thinking, "hey. what on earth do I do now?"

...Add that to a whalloping dose of hormones, and I had Jon throwing his hands up in the air saying, "I just. don't. understand. women." (Yes, my love, I know. That won't keep me from trying to explain to you to get you to empathize :)

So, there were some tears, there was dark chocolate consumption and there commenced some 10+ spiral notebook pages worth of soul-pouring. But even in the midst of the dark days, even as I ached & yearned for more, I could not be oblivious to the good. I've found that life is never exclusively black or white. The good has a way of creeping in and coloring the bad; blurring and softening the edges-- painting lifetimes out of days and moments; the shadows beautifully contrasting the vibrant colors and light.

Even in the darkest night, I believe light will return. And when the sun begins to rise, I welcome it with open arms.

Today, I celebrate & welcome the dawn.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Good List

1. Jon. He is my anchor.
2. 100 watt light bulbs
3. Head phones, and dancing around the kitchen during dinner prep.
4. Digging through the archives for a sure-fire pick me up: Wedding Memories

5. Spending some quality time gardening this past weekend.
6. this post
7. Spiral notebooks. I appreciate technology, but sometimes there's nothing like putting a pen to paper. Spiral notebooks & legal pads are my favorite :)
8. Double sided tape
9. Lighting candles to chase away the gloom of a rainy evening.
10. "Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again." --Sarah Ban Breathnach

Your Turn: Any good weekend plans -- or special Easter traditions? How are you welcoming the good in your week?

Wrangling: {Exploring Life's Ruts}

"It feels like chaos, but somehow there's peace..."

(A weekly round up. Each Wednesday (hehe, almost made it this week:) I am going to “wrangle” the past weeks’ happenings into a post filled with pictures, lists & general tidbits about the past 7 days.)

Happy Thursday, friends! It's been a busy little week over here at casa-del-Amy... let's dive right in, shall we?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As the weather begins to take a turn for the warmer (if, in fact wetter...but I am not complaining, oh weather gods!) my mind inevitably turns to the outside and *gulp* landscaping. Jon & I recently got our tax return back (which was the one positive thing about swearing sweating over it in early March to get it turned in a.s.a.p.), and over pancakes last Saturday, we sat down to discuss how to (presumably) responsibly spend the money. Jon mentioned that he would like to use some of the money to landscape our yard: i.e. put up stone walls around the flower beds, mulch, and plant to fill the beds in more. My stipulation is that we must find some plants that will look good for extended periods of time... because we've got several plants that look gorgeous for about 1 week out of the whole year, and then spend the rest of the time looking scruffy. Bah.

Much research will ensue....

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

via

I'd also really like to get (tax return?) a wicker loveseat for our front porch.... I've got this super romantic vision of returning from my run in the wee hours of the morning, pouring myself a cup of coffee and taking a blanket out to the front porch to do devotions.

Sounds heavenly to me :)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This dress was not a winner. It was loose (& tight, yikes) in the wrong places. But the fabric felt awesome, and I loved the color. I did a little dance around the dressing room before I relegated it to the 'NO pile'.

A guilty pleasure of mine:
Sometimes when I need to get out of the office at lunchtime I take myself out window shopping. I hardly ever buy, unless I find something that is absolutely too fabulous to pass up. When I shop, I prefer to take my time and enjoy myself, and generally when I go out a lunchtime I am kind of rushed. Yesterday I took myself "clothing shopping" and spent the better part of an hour indulging in bright spring colors, silky knits, fabulous heels, crisp summery cottons and chunky jewelry. Hypothetically, of course :) And while I did wind up walking out with a couple items, most of the fun was in the chase.

The winners: a pair of capris to run in (so I have the chance to wash the 1 pair I own currently... I kid. ...kind of.) and the softest zip-up hoodie ever... a clearance rack find.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Exploring & Embracing "Ruts":

As soon as I walked into the store yesterday I was drawn to a flowy, coral colored blouse. I think an errant, "Oooh." may have escaped my lips :) I wandered over and touched it, delighting in the bright buttons, soft fabric and feminine ruffles.

And then, with a sigh, I stepped back. 'I wear this color all the time.' I said to myself. 'I should really branch out.' So I went on with my shopping, with that blouse still in the back of my mind. And then, as I passed it on my way to the register, I picked it up and took it with me. 'I am ridiculous.' I thought, shaking my head with a smile.

...But am I really? (Impulse buys aside, of course.)

I love that blouse... and I am so glad I picked it up. It makes me feel good: sweet and sexy ... and you know, that color never fails to lift my mood.

...And then on my drive back to work I got to thinking: At what point do you draw the line between "falling into a (fashion/life/fill-in the blank) rut" and "developing a signature style"?
Does the fact that my closet consists primarily of shades of deep blues, bright corals & classic blacks mean that I've boxed myself in-- or rather, does it mean that I've found my niche, and I'm utilizing what I know is best for me to help me shine? Perhaps the difference between "ruts" and "signatures" starts far below the surface -- bubbling from the very depths of your soul where creativity & self confidence are conceived and nourished.

A rut is something one falls into because it is easy, but a signature style is something one comes into because it is absolutely right.

Signature style is the "I've found what I love, and I am sticking with it" mentality. I know that for me, there are thngs that I love to do (& wear) ... and so I do it again and again... and again. Because it feeds my soul. From good lists to letter writing and early morning devotions; from coral colored tops to blazers+ jeans and a pair of classic pumps with a splash of color: these are things that define me -- and more importantly, things I like to define me.

This revelation came as a little beacon of hope for me, that I am starting on a downslope (down hill? .... those sound negative, when what I really mean is, 'oh-my-sweet-goodness, it's getting easier to pedal...') in my personal journey. I say a downslope rather than the downslope on purpose-- I know it's a journey and I'll have lots more hills to scale in my life. ... But right now I'm coasting, and it feels good. I'm going to celebrate this 'downhill season' for everything it's worth.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ahh. And with that, I'm about written out, so I'll let a Good List round out the rest of my week:

1. Jon. I love the way he makes me laugh :)...Honestly, about 99% of the words that come out of Jon's mouth are said jokingly... the man definitely sees the light side of every situation. (Which is really good for me, but can also make me roll my eyes. A lot.) But every once in a while he catches me off guard, and I laugh until I cry. Love that.

2. Writing on Monday evening. I sat myself down with a glass (which turned into 2) of wine and just poured myself out on paper. Losing my"filter" & just writing what's on my mind, instead of first coming up with and idea & spring-boarding from there (if that makes sense..) What a rush. I wrote for 3 hours, and then was so pumped up that I couldn't sleep. ... Tell me that happens to other people :)

3. I don't think I've talked about this yet (I will in the weeks to come!), but I'm helping to host my best friend Saundra's Bridal Shower in a couple weeks. Planning has consumed a lot of my spare moments lately, and I'm loving it. ...I'm excited about decorating, hostessing, watching her soak up every moment of her special day. ... I'm pretty much excited about everything.

4. Coffee!

5. Lovely new bloggy friends :)

6. This morning I awoke feeling refreshed... for the first time in a long time. What a blessing! And on a weekday to boot!

7. Exciting work opportunities (I'm headed to Denver at the end of the month!! Woohoo!)

8. It has been far too long since I've made a batch of cookies. I'm excited to make some tonight, and that's getting me through the day :) Going to give these a try...

9.

"Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer." ~Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

10. The (final, blessed) coming of spring brings with it the return of rabbits (or, "bunny raggets", as Jon sometimes refers to them... I don't know why) to our back yard. I love bunnies, despite the fact that they munch our hostas down to nubbins. (Yup, I totally just said hostas... Perhaps my gardening knowledge is improving?!)I'm not the only one who enjoys our furry backyard friends: Baron & Gracie's noses have been perpetually glued to the back windows during daylight hours. Gracie chirps to the bunnies when she sees them, and her little tail wiggles about a mile a minute. It's pretty much the cutest thing ever.

picture recycled from here

Your Turn:
Have you ever undertaken any landscaping projects of your own? Do you have any tips/hints for us?
What would you say is your signature style (fashion/behavior/habit)?

Catch Up

Goood Friday morning, bloggies! (*yawns*)

I hope your week has been treating you well, and that you have a beautiful Friday with exciting weekend plans to look forward to.

... A great tragedy befell us Westervillians this morning, as the local Starbucks (which just so happens to be the one on my way to work) is closed for remodeling-- which means that all the good folks (including me, of course) who look forward to their "Fall Friday Pumpkin Spice Latte fix" either had to (a) get up a little earlier and track down the next closest S-bux, or (b) go without. Seeing as I am a chronically late riser (but only on work week days! As you know, I get up early on weekends to seize the day and experience every blissful moment of my days off ;)... I fell into category (b), and am now slurping a warm-ish cup of office coffee and thinking 'nutmeg-gy thoughts'. Sigh. Note to self, find a fantastic local coffee shop to frequent (like this lovely lady).

Anyhoo... the important thing is that this coffee does contain caffeine-- and I have lots to tell you. It's been a really inspired week for me, which means I'm practically bursting at the seams with ideas, and I'm composing and compiling blog entries in my head more often than not ... but it's also been a really busy week for me (How does that happen?! It seems to me that 4 day weeks are paradoxically short & long .... each day feels like it lasts forever because of all that needs to be packed in...)-- case in point-- I was up at 11 pm last evening mopping my kitchen floor. Seriously.

And now (predictably) I'm having a little bit of deciding where to start... But really, isn't it only fair that I start where I left off? ... And how better to catch you up than with a good list & some pictures?!

Good List:

1. J. He will always be first in my heart and on my "good list".
2. WE OWN A GRILL! (Sorry for the all caps, but this is exciting, friends! I mean... I've only been dreaming about having a grill since... oh, April, when we moved into our house... Heh.) For J & I, our Saturday excitement centered around buying this grill (and for J-- the set up, as well. With furry supervision, naturally....) We may not have gotten around to dinner until after 8pm, but the waiting was sweet: It was a perfect fall evening for us to sit together outside and bask in the scent of our new charcoal grill warming up. Heaven. ... And those burgers? I think they were some of the best I've ever had ;)
3. Beautiful, race courses, friendly volunteers and small races. My parents and I did the inaugural (btw: I definitely had to look up how to spell that word...) Emerald City Quarter Marathon on Sunday, and I think it may have been one of my favorite races. {Side note: at some point, I'd like to really think back each and every one of the races I've done in the past couple years... I'm not sure I really have any that I flat out didn't like... but there are definitely some races that stand out as The Best.) The course wound through Glacier Ridge Metro Park, and, the weather was perfect (and I know I've been saying that a lot lately... but it's true. Clear blue skies, sunshine, and just the slightest bit chilly.) Here we all are after the race:

Photo courtesy of my father

4. ...And after the race, I went apple picking. Mmmm. Macintosh. I love eating apples "straight up", but I also have all sorts of other delightful recipes in mind for these beauties. Good thing I bought the half bushel bag!

Hello, Lovely

5. And then after lunch (which was, for me, a tomato sandwich on an asiago cheese bagel... bagel courtesy of the race. ... I think that sandwich may have been the definition of perfection... Yum;), Gracie & I snuggled in bed with a book.
6. ... And after that, we headed over to J's parent's for the Labor Day celebration. I always feel so blessed at these events because (honest to goodness) everyone just really enjoys each others' company. Summertime gatherings are always the most fun, because the kids ("kids" being a relative term ... Aiden is 14 mos old, but the rest of us are in our 20s and 30s.... pending the newest addition, coming in December :) are able to eat outside, and sometimes (Sunday included) we walk to the neighborhood playground between dinner & dessert. This year was especially fun, because Aiden was big enough to sit in the baby swings. He squealed with delight every time he swung past his father, and the rest of us had a wonderful time watching his serious "assessment of swing safety": he couldn't quite decide if he had enough courage to let go of the front of the swing to wave & blow kisses to his mother.
(With that, I'm done with beginning my good things "...And then..."-- I promise! But really? Sunday was pretty much a perfect day :)
7. Cinnamon & Spice. I made Savvy Julie's Peach Butter on Monday, and the house smelled heavenly all day.
8. A perfect run (or, several of them). Wednesday and Thursday evening of this week I went for a run (now go ahead and pick yourselves up off the floor. ... or maybe some of you predicted that my break from running would be short-lived?) Ahh, and it was, dare I say?, nice. I didn't take any music with me,but rather I just focused on breathing in the perfect fall air. The weekdays have (as a whole) been pretty stressful-- and this was exactly what I needed. 15 lovely minutes of solitude, gratitude, and peace.
9. Now to the other end of the spectrum from peace (but in the best way possible) -- I love the joyful anticipation of having company -- even the 11 pm mopping was cheery. J & I are having our 'Friday night Friends' over this evening... and I have been "bouncing off the walls excited" about it all week. The fact that I didn't start cleaning until... um... last night... is completely irrelevant :) Even better?-- tonight I'll have my camera!-- that way the memories can live on.
10. "Courage is fear that has said its prayers." - Dorothy Bernard
(This quote actually popped up on my facebook feed as a friend's status. I thought it was a wonderful thought for the day-- fear is real; God is bigger.)


Okay... That's all for now... must go be productive :)

Your Turn: What are your weekend plans? Do you have any good apple recipes to share with me? Do tell :)

Beautiful Morning (Saturday a.m.)

source

Why, hello, Saturday morning... I didn't think I'd get to see you this weekend :-/

Gah. The small fuzzy masterminds behind my early morning wake-up call are currently snuggled up in the recliner, bellies full & eyelids drooping -- but I'm awake for the long haul*, and snuggling in on the couch to enjoy some precious Saturday morning solitude.

* I cannot guarantee exactly how long "the long haul" is. Taking an afternoon nap is an imminent probability possibility.

...But even in my rather sleep deprived state, I am blanketed by an overwhelming sense of happiness. It's been a good little week, after all :)

Actually, Tuesday through Thursday were pretty down days for me (which I will attribute to extreme fatigue and the post race 'let down" -- you know, the " well what do I do NOW?!" feeling....), but Friday was oh, so sweet.

After all, yesterday morning had a pretty perfect start-- I made it out the door 10 minutes early, and was able to stop at S-bux for my 1st pumpkin spice latte of the season. Oh delight! Sweet warmth & spice! Be still my heart! (I told J later that, thanks to the latte, I was riding an autumnal high for the rest of my day :)

Of course, work was work, but then last night J & I went out!! A good friend is back in Ohio (from Japan!) for the next week or so, and she gathered up "the whole group"-- friends who used to religiously meet every Friday evening after work, and who would often talk and laugh until almost midnight. (The split began when S. had to move back to Japan ... and then J & I moved across town...)

And friends? ...Last night did not disappoint :) I laughed so much that my voice got croaky, we caught up after months apart, and we took pictures (uh. clarification: pictures were taken, but not by me... I left my camera at home, and didn't realize it until we were all ready on the freeway.... sigh).

Generally, we just Really Lived last night-- taking the night and it's possibility and really gleaning everything we could from those few precious hours.

It was a fantastically fun get together, that may or may not have included a late night stop for burgers & fries on the way home ;) (Hehe.. consequently, today I am in detox mode....)

...And now here I am, Saturday morning, perhaps robbed of a few hours of sleep, but oh so abundantly full of happiness :) Furthermore, every single thing I have to do this weekend, I am looking forward to. ..Which is a good thing, as the Amy-Do list is about a mile long :) Hehe. See for yourself:

Amy-Do List (Labor Day Weekend Edition):

• Grocery shopping
• Buy immersion blender
• Make some peach butter, a la Savvy Julie! (oh my... I've been looking forward to this all week! )
• "Deep Clean" the house. (this includes a thorough mopping & vaccuuming... Yes, I am even looking forward to this :)
• Maybe another pumpkin spice latte?!
• Date with J (this week it will include catching a movie together -- Inception?!-- and then hitting up a new (to C-bus) fro-yo place, Menchies! ...Yes, I've been looking forward to this pretty much all week, too :)
• My "favoritest" apples are available for U-Pick this week! Mmmm... MacIntosh...
• Emerald City 1/4 marathon (6.55 mi) on Sunday!! Woohoo! I'm thinking that the impending race day, coupled with the delicious weather, necessitates a nice long walk with J this afternoon .... as soon as I get this canning stuff under control.
• ....And also, with this lovely fall-like weather, I am totally craving a pot of chili.... I'm not sure if they sell canned pumpkin yet, as it can be a seasonal item (my favorite chili is pumpkin chili, thanks to Bobbi :) ... but I'll make it work!
• J & I are thinking about buying a grill this weekend! (hm... which reminds me.... I need to take a couple steaks out of the freezer, in anticipation of "breaking it in"...)
• Family Labor Day Celebration on Sunday
• Laurie will be home tonight -- and I know she's got a couple things in mind to do together!
• And I've got a really fun (fluff) book to read.

Good stuff, I tell you :) ... And now I guess I'd better get to it (perhaps after a cup of coffee :)

Question of the day: Are you a morning person, or a night owl? Do you have any fun (holiday) weekend plans?

Challenge Day #19 (continued)

Gah. All right... apologies for the broken up posting ... I'm having some blog issues today ... my "save now" button is doing all sorts of wacky things... {Hehe... J would probably ask me (lovingly, of course) if I was experiencing an "ID-10-T" error...} Anyhoo..

So since I've all ready given you the scoop on Sunday's 1/2 (the final thing I will say about it is this: I ate a banana yesterday, in preparation for the race. You may remember when I told you I don't like bananas. Well... I can report to you that nothing has changed on that front. That's dedication, friends... :)-- now I am free to tell you about the rest of my week (because it really wasn't all together consumed with nerves about this weekend's race!) ... And the week has been (as a whole) a good one.

Of course, we had a few "eyebrow-raising" moments (as you might ascertain, "eyebrow raising moments" are significantly better than "hair-raising moments" ...eeep!), which included a limping Gracie (she was probably more embarrassed than anything-- she's fine now!), a leak under the kitchen sink (gahhh), and racing outside in the wee hours of the morning to drag our trash to the curb (... as the trash truck pulled up next door. ...Our trash is usually picked up well after we leave in the morning, so this was quite the surprise :-/...) Actually, overall, this picture pretty much sums up my week (I shall count this as the photo for challenge Day#19):

Yup, it's been a 'fuzzy until I get my 2 cups of coffee kind of week. Whew, I'm tired ;)

But, as usual, the good came right along with it. My good surprise of the week came on Tuesday evening, when J and I were discussing our upcoming 1st Anniversary (I still can't believe it's almost been a year all ready...) This year for our anniversary, we're going to do a little "weekend getaway" at a State Park, and we're really excited about it :) I asked (jokingly, as I was relatively certain we had discussed it before, and decided "no"...) whether we were getting each other presents for our anniversary-- and imagine my surprise when J told me he had all ready gotten me something! After I picked myself up off the floor (don't get me wrong, I know, without a doubt, that my husband loves me ... but this gesture & planning ahead really surprised me!), it hit me: Hm... now I've got to think up something to get him (I had planned a couple cute little things... but that was before we mentioned the p-word presents...)

If anyone has cool 1st Anniversary gift ideas, I'm all ears! Do tell :)


Aaaand, that pretty much sums up the week. There's some good stuff (in addition to Sunday's race excitement) coming up this weekend, but I'll tell you more about that when we get there!

And now, a LIST for you!


Good List:

1. J. I love that even after 8+ years of knowing each other, the man can still surprise me :)

2. Chunky turquoise jewelry, that effortlessly moves from summer staple to fall staple.

3. New OPI nail polish. Ah, LoVe!

4. Swag Bags.

5. Silly Kitties. (You MUST watch this! I laughed until I cried ... and then? I watched it again :)
6. Crisp mornings. It was in the 60's this a.m. Positively delicious!

7. Coffee ...

8. September is coming-- and with it, so much promise! (i.e., 1st Anniversary Getaway, Races every weekend, Labor Day holiday...)

9. Apple Picking. One (unexpected) positive aspect of having such a hot summer is that the apples are ripening earlier this year. This weekend is the first U-Pick-'em weekend of the Fall, and I am so excited. (I am absolutely, unapologetically in LoVe with and ready for Fall.)

10. "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

And with that, I'm off to get a couple things done before I can really start my weekend :) Do you have any fun plans for your Saturday & Sunday? What tops your Good List for the week?

Challenge Day #14: Wednesday/Thursday Musings

Hello, hello friends :) I hope your week is treating you well --T.G.I.a.F.!

I must admit that I (*sigh, eye roll*) forgot to take my Day #14 picture(s) yesterday .

.. Okay, that's not really true at all. Truth is, I thought about taking pictures several times yesterday, but my camera wasn't handy, and it wasn't really possible to 'hit the pause button' on life while I obtained either my phone or my camera. It was a good day, though, and in an effort to preserve the spirit of the challenge (although, for the record, I'm just going to continue the challenge with today being day 14 ... It's my blog, after all :) I can paint you a little word picture: yesterday involved twilight walks, thin mints, coffee, family dinner & "catch up talks' between sisters who haven't seen each other for almost a week (it's incredible how busy life is on campus ... I get tired just thinking about it, haha).

And today has been pretty good, too :) I treated myself to a Trader Joe's trip during lunch time (oh, Joe, it's been too long -- how I've missed you!) with the purpose of picking up a couple items for dinner, but, s usual, I think I spent more time just looking at all the crazy-cool merchandise they have to offer. I swear, that place inspires me and feeds my soul, as well as my tummy :)

Tonight has been blessedly low-key. Oh I love these quiet nights in -- the ones that don't really have any plans or to-do's attached to them, so we mostly just end up on the couch-- me blogging, J. reading, and the "fuzzies" snuggled in between. I suppose there really is something to being "old (er), predictable, and boring" :) I languish in the beauty of the routine.

I'm actually going to keep this short tonight, as I'm feeling pretty tired, and my brain is wrapping itself around some deeper stuff, which I am looking forward to sharing with you in the next several days. But, not to forget the important stuff, I'll leave you with....

Good List

1. J. Something that I hadn't expected when I got married was the dependence I would develop for my husband. Now, don't read this wrong, it's not at all an unhealthy dependence -- I can do perfectly well without him, I still maintain my own social life and interests, and really, I'm a fairly independent little girl. But honestly? When I'm not with him I miss him-- even when it's just a matter of not seeing him all day because we each have our separate obligations. ...And sometimes this takes me by surprise, and the power of these emotions scare me. ... But I can't help but think that in some way, this is a good thing :) I know I'm still young, and that I have a limited grasp on the concept of love, but what I have found is that (like with all of life), sometimes you need to allow yourself to be a little scared and uncomfortable to grow.

2. COFFEE. Oh boy, was this ever a coffee week. Now, I believe that I have sung the praises of my baby french press before -- but I'm doing it again because I finally got my act together and ground my own coffee beans. And really, enjoying your cup of french press is much more (erm) enjoyable when you don't have to drink 1/4" of ground at the bottom of your cup ...

3. Fabric softener. Would you believe me if I told you that I have never in my life used fabric softener before this past weekend?! I have (honest to goodness) never bought the stuff before -- but one a whim (& a whiff in the Kroger aisles) I picked up a bottle. Oh.My. Lavender scented sheets = awesomeness.

4. 5 am snuggle time with Gracie. I LOVE it. I hope she intends to make it a habit :)

5. G(oogle)-Chat

6. Organizing the little things-- and how it always seems to make the "bigger stuff" so much more manageable.

7. Peanut butter Puffins :)

8. Candles, wine, cookies & heart-to-heart chats

9. Sunshine & cool evenings -- Fall is on its way-- Wahoo! :)

10. "A happy heart makes its own song."

What is on your Good List this week?

Cookie House

It has come to my attention that since I have moved into my new house (approximately 2.5 months ago) I have made no less than 8 batches of cookies.

... Which equates to almost 1 batch per week.... Which, really, while delicious, is also kind of ridiculous.

I equate this baking frenzy with (a) finally getting out our kitchen aid mixer (which was a wedding present; yes, the wedding was last September. ... and we didn't even manage to get the mixer out for Christmas cookies!) and (b) happiness. I have found unbridled joy in cooking for J in our new kitchen. As I intimated in this post, cooking has been almost spiritual for me recently, and it gives me so much peace and purpose-- so, why stop now?! ‘Cookie House’ it shall remain.

(Furthermore, it has come to my attention that somehow -and oh, my don't ask me how this happened; it's a complete mystery to me - I managed to go through the 2009 holiday season without making my favorite cookies. OH THE HORROR!! Consequently, my next batch of cookies shall be strawberry thumbprints. (Watch for a recipe soon :)

Anyhoo: Happy hump day, bloggies! I hope you have been having a wonderful week so far. As I may or may not have mentioned, J and I both took Monday off of work (to recover from relax after a weekend in PA - more on that in a minute) -- so my week is going fairly quickly. I'm so glad that I am halfway (as of now -- my lunch hour) to another weekend! Hallelujah!

And now, before I move forward... a little recap of last week's happenings. The latter part of last week (Thursday, Friday + weekend) flew by in a delighful mix of old friends, laughter, hard work and, yes, a little play, too. On Thursday I took the day off, but woke at the same time and proceeded to work up a sweat (I wish I was kidding) cleaning the house (I forgot how heartily I dislike scrubbing bath tubs...), running to the store 2x (ugh. don't ask.) and tying up some loose ends before my best friend Saundra (remember, the girl who brought me to and through my 1st half-marathon?) arrived. Saundra and I quickly scooted outside for a run/walk (heavier on the walking part, which was a blessing, as my current fitness levels are somewhat *eh hem* less than stellar ... and Saun is pretty fast!) It was really wonderful being in the sunshine, walking and talking with my friend like we used to when we were roommates (Academic year 2005 – 2006 … aaand, now I feel old…) After a quick shower and some “cute-ing-up”, we headed to the mall for lunch with another friend (and roommate!) and bridesmaid dress shopping.

Shopping was a complete success, for these two reasons:

This: (picture source)

http://www.yagootyogurt.com/

and this:

Fabulous, no?!

Now, can we just pause a minute for me to tell you how excited I am that Yagoot opened at Easton?! I have been drooling over the beautiful yogurt creations that have been popping up all over blogland, and feeling very left out and miffed that C-bus doesn’t seem to have anything like this (hm.. I think we might have some TCBY somewhere … but I’ve never been). And then, on Thursday afternoon, following a minor wardrobe malfunction (mine. strapless bras are not my friend.) and preceeding a blister (inevitably, cute shoes ≠comfortable shoes) – I was introduced to yagoot. And life was good. Creamy, sweet and tangy good, in fact (perfect with the fresh strawberries I got on top!) If you’re in the area, I highly recommend you check this place out :) … Yummm … I digress …

Friday, Saturday and Sunday were PA days. J and I woke early on Friday (5-ish a.m. … the goal was to be out of the house at 6, but I kept hitting snooze button) and got into Carlisle around 1:15. We spent the weekend weeding, mulching, trimming, mowing, painting, re-applying sunscreen, catching up, and eating great food. On Saturday evening we found a hole-in-the-wall Italian place for dinner—which served huge portions of hearty comfort food – heavenly! And….AND… to celebrate my Aunt and Uncle’s 39th (!) wedding anniversary, we indulged in ice cream cake for dessert (which I typically don’t like, but this was good, folks. White cake and vanilla ice cream, all frosted with whipped cream. *Drool* …. It kind of reminded me of a certain birthday cake that someone awesome got for me and J this year ;) … Again, I digress.

Perhaps the best part of the weekend, though was just observing J as he interacted with my family. I loved showing him “my second home”. I loved sitting at the picnic table in the back yard, laughing with him and Laurie and the cousins. I loved the way he worked so hard and never admitted he was exhausted. I loved wandering with him through the neighborhood and around campus. I loved him for allowing me to have this weekend, because it was everything I was hoping it would be.

… And, all right… I’m not going to lie… I loved the fact that J almost had a heart attack when I gave him this on Sunday morning. (I think he thought I might 'have a surprise for him' when I handed him the card!)

Heh. I couldn’t resist. (But… why didn’t they have “cat mommy cards” for Mothers Day?!)

And so now we’re caught back up to this week, which so far has been … well, a little bit rough. (Re-immersion in ‘real life’ always is.) I may have a few more thoughts related to this to share with you later this week … but for now, I am still sorting things out in my own head and heart. Don’t worry though – just because I’m not quite feeling myself doesn’t mean I cannot give you the List Day you deserve!

Enjoy!

Good List

1. J.He is a constant good in my life, always supporting me, but always pushing me to be my best. His patience astounds me. (So thankful for this… especially this week!)

2. Re-Usable water bottles. I love their sturdiness!

3. Pencils. Because sometimes it is necessary to erase and start over.

4. Hard work. Sometimes, I think that the worth of a day can be measured in the soreness of muscles and the dirt under your fingernails.

5. Daydreams. I had forgotten that one of the things I love most about running is that it allows me ample time to dream. I love nothing more than to allow myself to be carried away by my imagination as my feet (and lungs!) endure the miles.

6. Gracie. Oh, how my little girl blesses me! She seems to have an innate sense for when I am feeling sad—and she always wanders over to be with me, sometimes head-butting me, sometimes squeaking for attention, sometimes giving my finger a good natured nibble. All as if to say, “Don’t be sad, Mama…Hey, life goes on.”

7. Tomato sandwiches. (Acid reflux be damned. I will enjoy this favorite summer treat!)

8. Coffee. A persistent if somewhat evil force in my life. I enjoyed several cups of coffee this weekend, including a couple fabulous cups from a pot brewed by my uncle (I believe it was a mix of DD vanilla and DD cinnamon?)

9. Reality checks.

10. “We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal and then leap into the dark to our success.” – Henry David Thoreau

Summer Lovin’

I admit that Fall will always hold first place in my heart as my favorite season of the year, but summer has a loveliness all it’s own. Here are just a few things that I delight in during the warmer months:

- tomato sandwiches

- longer daylight hours

- cool morning runs

- The smell of sunscreen and bug spray

- grilling out

- sitting in the twilight with best friends, both old and new –I’ve found that summer nights inspire some of the best & deepest conversations.

- ice cream (and sorbet, and frozen yogurt)

- fireflies

- sleeping with the windows open

- sangria

- sprinklers

- road trips

- thunderstorms

- bonfires

- family gatherings

- fireworks

- church day camp (perhaps more accurately for me this year – night camp. I’ve got the 3rd graders!)

- afternoon naps with a good book (… now, if you know me, you know that I enjoy this on a fairly regular basis anyway… but it seems especially decadent on a muggy summer afternoon

- Homemade pickles (Yes, please!)

- The way the world seems to run on a different schedule. Just a little slower; a little more laid back. Things really start to come alive at 8 pm.

What are your favorite things about summer?