Little things can mean the most...

This week has been more than exhausting... I am glad tomorrow is Friday.

100 Day Challenge Day 11:
A Beautiful run through Ogden Dunes with great running people.

I always say the support of others can mean the world of difference today I got this text from my best friend Amanda. I really don't think she can know in words how awesome this made me feel. I truly feel so blessed to have her as a friend. We have been through so much as friends even this little text can make a very long day better. Many times we forget how something this simple can make someone feel good..

What's even better... the other day another really good friend of mine Sherry sent me this message. Sherry has been such a great friend to me since I moved to Northwest Indiana.













I feel so blessed to have two amazingly good friends. I am so lucky they support me and are always there when I need them.

What is something that seemed so small but mattered to you lately?

Nike said it best... Every Damn Day...

Long Days...


3:40AM

Get up for work... yes this is when some people go to bed... 

4:00

May Photo Challenge day 9: Something you do every day

Pack lunch... something I never leave home with out doing... I work long hours and I need to feel prepared so that I am not tempted during the day to make poor choices... most days I stay fully on track with with I pack... I often say this is a key essential to my weight loss and maintenance. Planning the day makes it much easier to stick with once you have made a decision.


 I then made coffee and ate my traditional egg beaters with salsa and spinach before running out the door

5:00 Arrive at work and eat Oatmeal since I don't get up early enough to eat both my protein and carb to keep me going through the day


At some point in between I had a few orange slices... 

10:00 Eat some Yogurt with blackberries and banana

1:00 Finally LUNCH. Starved... which is never a good thing... oh and my boss bought Mexican... my favorite... OK!!! I don't normally go away from my packed lunch but today that Mexican sounded really good... I ordered something Vegetarian and it was a very small portion and I didn't go over board on anything else. I also made myself eat my yogurt and strawberries...

4:00ish... crap I should eat something before I run... and now I over eat on wheat thins... Which is so frustrating... I hardly ever do this... this box might end up in the garbage tomorrow... oh and these two pieces of candy look good.

5:00 Out of work... head to meet running group

6:00... 5 awesome miles with awesome running people (100 Day Challenge Day 10: Completed) My commitment to the 100 Day challenge and staying well prepared for my next half marathon has made running during a really busy time at work much easier. 

7:00... Crap you forgot laundry needs changed over.... 

7:15... Only 3 points left.... Oh Salad you look amazing

Yawn... Yawn... Yawn.... 

"You have brains in your head. Your feet in our shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction." Dr. Seuss 




What is something you do everyday?

Smells good..

How I spent the few hours I was free from work today...

Started the afternoon off by completing day #8 of my 100 day challenge 5 mile run after work... I met a good running buddy Bryan. Bryan is a really awesome running buddy and we always seem to chat away any run....He has done some really awesome events that I hope to someday be able to do. Today even though I was practically falling asleep driving the run felt great. It was a beautiful day to be outside.

May Photo Challenge Day 7: Someone who inspires you

Between a tiring day at work and then my run I decided dinner needed to be easy to make. What's better than using your grill to do most of the work.

May Photo Challenge day 8: A smell you adore

Foil
Cooking Spray
Piece of Tilapia
Cajun Seasonings
Steamed some Brussels Sprouts to go with...






Easy and taste good.

I love how fish is low in points
Easy to change how you make it.










How did you spend this beautiful Tuesday?

Life

Sometime life is
Crazy
Fun
Busy
Hard
Easy

However... "The meaning to life... to life meaning." Unknown

This weekend was almost all of those words in one for me. Work is crazy busy with Mother's Day only one week away now. It was busy because I spent most of it working and running errands.

April Photo Challenge Day 5: Fish

Fun because I got to see this girl... Her name is Miranda. She is practically a "niece" to me. I have known her since she was a very small baby. Its hard to believe she is growing up so fast. Her family came to Chicago yesterday and I met them for dinner. They spent the day at the aquarium... Check out the head of her awesome pink octopus... I met them for dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. They have a pretty "Natural" Burger made from garbanzo beans that I enjoyed. A great place for kids...

Another good part about meeting them Downtown Chicago was I went up a little bit early and was able to complete Day # 6 of my 100 day challenge by walking around the city for a little bit.

April Photo Challenge Day 6: YOU

However this wasn't the easiest weekend to get my long run. Some great running friends however made it much easier by agreeing to meet me this afternoon out at a shaded trail in Chesterton. It was really peaceful out there. At first I kept thinking this is going to be really hard. Then I set out and I felt amazing during this run. Although I had a horrible headache the run felt really good. 10.26 miles in 1:44.. Done and Done.

What are you going to do with your life to make it meaningful today?

My Kind of FUN

I think we all have different ideas of fun... I am not sure how many people spend their Friday night doing this... Enjoying a nice cold beverage and following a baseball game on their computer...

April Photo Challenge Day 4: FUN!

This might not be everyone's favorite way to spend Friday night but for me this is reality. I have a very busy weekend and week coming up. So a relaxing Friday night with a cold drink and a baseball game is my kind of fun.

What was your idea of fun on this Friday?

Train Hard Win Easy...

This is one of my favorite running shirts because in believe in this mantra in my ways...

April Photo Challenge Day 3: Something you wore today

 Today I read a quote that said "Keep your dream in front of you. Never let go no matter how far fetched it might seem." Hal Higdon 

The thing is it doesn't matter if you are training for a 5K, half marathon or even a marathon... or maybe you are just training for 1 mile or something totally unrelated... Train hard and you will win. You just have to have faith in yourself. The reason I love the mantra on this shirt is for many reasons... Winning can mean so many things. Winning can mean crossing the finish line, completing a difficult task or accomplishing a major goal. It can also be really small. 

I had a member send me a note last week that she went to one of my favorite pizza establishments and ordered salad and water. This ia a WIN!!!!! Winning doesn't mean you were the first person to cross the finish line. Winning is finding pride in yourself. 

Set a goal, train hard, win easy. Training is not always easy but it is the key to being a winner. 

100 Day Challenge Day 4: 3 mile run! What did you do today?

What goal will you accomplish even today?

Oh Its May already...

Welcome to May!!!


I can't say we are going to get in all 31 this month but this helps me find some ideas to post on my blog...

May photo challenge day 2: Skyline

Well this is my favorite skyline anyway... Click here for recipe!











How did we do in April ?
Goals for April
~Finish yet another daily blogging challenge.... Well I think I did pretty good. 
~Complete my first half marathon on April 15th. Last year I finished the Crossroads of Indiana in just over two hours. This year I feel better prepared to finish in under two hours. Done and Done well 
~15 minutes of minimum exercise every day Only missed two days!
~I gave up pop/soda in March. I am going to continue to challenge myself with ore water in April. Well I have had a few however still doing really well..


May Goals
~Survive another Mother's Day in the floral industry.
~Continue my 15 minutes of exercise my 100 day challenge has begun.
~Prepare for my next half marathon June 2nd.

Oh and May=Weddings for this girl...


I am really excited to see these two get married.

What are your goals for May? How will you complete the 100 day challenge?