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I am a runner.

Well... in the sense that when I'm in a workout phase, running is my go to exersize. 

I have been a runner since I ran cross country in high school. 

To me, its my therapy. 

It is my time to meditate and reflect on my life. 

It makes me feel good. 

I am in complete control of my effort, in complete control of the pain. 

I have always, and will always enjoy running. 

It makes me feel good about myself. 

Until I realized I was comparing myself too much. 

I was comparing times to the ones I ran in high school. 

I was comparing my distance to how far I USED to be able to run. 

And I can't do that.

I cannot completely enjoy a run, if i am just worried about how well I used to do. 

If  I focus on how well I am not doing now. 

I am not a teenager, running 6 miles after school everyday. At this point, I am lucky to run 6 miles in a week (working to that!).

My body is different, my life is different, I am different. 

So why am I comparing myself to what I used to be? To how I used to run? 

Why do we compare ourselves to anyone else, in any situation? 

I am the worst at comparing myself to others. 

Not a day goes by where I don't compare myself to someone else.

But like my running plan, I am going to start focusing more on me and who I am, what positives I have to give, versus what I am not, or what someone else is.

I need to stop comparing me as a runner now, to me as a runner then. 

I need to focus on the positives of now - like that I have ran 3 times this week, that I ran a whole two miles without stopping for the first time in YEARS the other night. 

I need to focus on the fact that I am getting out there and actually doing it. 

 I need to worry about me, now. 

Let's Get Personal

What are some things that most people don’t know about you?

I was in the 4-H fishing, sewing, and country ham clubs in middle/high school. 
I was the only girl in fishing club, and my favorite days were the ones when we got to tie lures. I always liked to mix colors and make mine super bright and colorful. 
In sewing, I wont Grand Champion at the State Fair one year on a quilted backpack I had made. 
And I didn't even like country ham, my parents just wanted the 8 hams - all my sisters were in it and we got 2 hams a piece. 

What are your favorite movies?

The Other Guys - hands down. Most underrated movie ever.  

What is your favorite childhood memory?

Going to my grandparent's house for the holidays, and getting to see all my cousins and bond with them. 

Do you have an embarrassing story?

Everything is embarrassing to me.... 

What has been your greatest success in life so far?

Being where I am today. I am so thankful and grateful for everything in my life today. 

What are your most epic failures (and how did you overcome them)?

What would you say to a younger version of yourself?

Don't worry....everything works itself out, and is worth it in the end. 

What does a typical day in your life look like?

Wake up, go to work, go home, make dinner, watch Netflix, go to bed. 
...Actually, I feel like I am always doing something. Just depends on the day. 

What is your idea of the “perfect” day?

Cool morning to go running, a high of 75 in the afternoon. A low-key activity for the day, and a rainy evening with homemade food and cuddling on the couch watching Netflix. And a nap in there sometime, of course. 

If you could have lunch with one person, who would it be?

Tom Hanks. 

What things make you happy?

Ace, my friends and family, Evan, football, being on a boat, food, everything that I have 

What things have you learned from your parents? 

Love is real. That I always have their support no matter what. How to be a decent human being. What is expected of me. Responsibility. Money management. 

What is an important lesson you learned recently?

To slow down. Some things are out of my control. The world won't end because one thing didn't go as planned. 

Ribs

I have recently gotten really into cooking. 

And if you know me, you are probably really confused. 

I have never been one to enjoy the act of cooking.

And I don't have many success stories in the past.... 

I have been trying out lots of new recipes and concoctions recently, and I am definitely becoming a fan of kitchen art. 

One of my more recent experiences were with ribs. 

Evan and I decided to get crafty and make different marinades...

We ended up making a traditional, a sweet, a spicy, and a curry marinade. 

 

We honestly could not tell you what ended up going into all of the marinades, which is seriously unfortunate because they were all SO delicious. 

My personal favorite was the curry, but I have been making lots of curry recipes recently so I might be biased. 

After letting them each sit for at least 24 hours in the fridge, we pulled them out for an hour before cooking them in foil at 250 degrees for three hours in the oven. (Once it warms up we will definitely be using the grill!) 

Once they are done cooking, we unwrap them, top with a little more BBQ sauce, and that was it!

They smelled SO good, and the meat fell right off the bone. 

(I REALLY wish I recorded his reaction and excitement....) 

(Left) Curry and Sweet- not topped with BBQ Sauce  (Right) Spicy and Traditional 

We already have more ribs that we are excited to make, and I promise I will try to get a recipe for each marinade we end up using. 

Kroger Click List

Y'all...

I am now obsessed with Kroger Click List.

Honestly, I love grocery shopping. I walk around, get my stuff, mind my own business, and head to the self check out line and go home. I have never had a problem with grocery shopping, so I never thought to use it.

But yesterday, I was looking up recipes and was really interested in this crockpot enchilada chili. I went to look at the ingredients and some of it, I had no idea where to find in the grocery store. I, also, was feeling lazy and antisocial (but whats new here?)


So I logged on to my Kroger account, mostly to find pictures (and hopefully aisle numbers?) for these items, when I saw the "Try Kroger Click List" options.

I was like well, why not??

So I typed in the first item, and it popped right up. That was easy enough, so I added my whole list.
I got to pick my pick-up time slot, I opted for the 5-6 PM, right when I pass by on my way home from work. I then got a confirmation email and didn't have to worry about anything else.

Leaving work, heading to Kroger, I was sitting in traffic thinking "why did I pick this time? Everyone is going to be getting off of work and going to Kroger Click List line..."

I was wrong. I got there and I was the only one at the Click List Station. Cool.

I pull up and there was a sign that said "call the following number to let us know you are here!"

Great. I hate talking on the phone.
But I do it.

All I had to do was give my name. She responded with "and you're in lane 1?" Why yes, I was. "We will be out shortly with your items!"
Shortly? Like, 2  minutes? 5? 10?

I sit there and I start watching the clock. Was this even worth it? Is this actually faster than me going in and doing this myself?

Next thing I know, there is a woman at the window.
She confirms my name, asks if my total sounds correct, and then tells me I got a complimentary "chicken upgrade" because the brand I had asked for was not in stock.
Awesome.
She asked if I wanted the groceries in my front seat or in the back. I told her in the seat was just fine, and her assistant walks around my car and loads them in for me.

They then hand me a complimentary "Thank You" packet with some minute rice and candy inside!

And that was it.

They were super nice and the process was beyond easy!

This is definitely something I will be (and have been) recommending to everyone, and I will for sure be doing this again!

My Awful Beautiful Life

 

 The leaves are changing, the temperature is (finally!) cooling down, the air is crisp, pumpkins are everywhere.... it's fall, y'all!! 

Fall is my absolute favorite. I know almost everyone says that but fall really, actually makes me happy. 

Especially when I get to go back to my family farm, where I basically grew up, and enjoy all the fall activities! 

                               

I got to take the hayride around the farm, to the pumpkin patch, pick out the perfect pumpkin, and of course take some silly pictures! 

So many memories of me growing up on that farm working during AutumnFest came rushing back. 

It is literally my happy place. 

Outfit Details: 

Plaid shirt: J.Crew (they are having a sale)

Sweater: Target (they are buy one get one 50% off right now!)

Vest: was a gift 

Jeans: Stitchfix (Try it out!! stitchfix.com/referral/8141152)

Boots: Sperry/Journey's

My next fun, fall activity is Halloween at Disney World!! This has been towards the top of my Bucket List for a while now, and I FINALLY am going to be at the Happiest Place on Earth during my favorite time of the year! 

So I will be spending this week packing and getting all the final details ready before I fly out THIS Friday!!!