Running is my therapy

We have been having a tough week or so due to Isaac having some behavior issues at school ending with an incident that he participated in resulting in really hurting the feelings of one of his best friends, whose family we are also very close with. It has been an emotionally draining time for all of us! Add to that me working Wednesday-Friday last week and so far Monday-Wednesday this week- all 12 hour shifts. That has made dealing with emails/texts/phone calls/voice mails, etc very challenging... very necessary but very challenging and now I am also physically drained! Last night after work, I was able to have a very nice chat with my friend, and the mom of the child Isaac upset. It was great to talk to her mother to mother and process through the situation together and I feel good about where we are headed and know that we can all help support the boys the best we can. Their friendship is important to all of us! They have been close for several years and it has been a good relationship for each of them. We were also finally able to coordinate a meeting with the principal, his teacher and the school counselor this morning and  I think we are on the right track there too.  Now it is just a matter of mending those broken fences!

After getting back home from the meeting at the school I just wanted to crawl back into bed but  I knew that it wouldn't make me feel better in the end. I knew what I needed... a good, hard RUN! Even though my mind was racing all over the place I also felt hyper-aware of everything on this run. I was fully present and in tune with myself and it was strange and amazing all at the same time!

As I started out I couldn't help but notice how much this run was representing my past several days. The weather was dreary and drab just like my mood. It tried to rain on me multiple times just like I had shed some tears over the past days due to feeling disappointed in both Isaac and myself as a parent. There were hills that were tough to charge up but I knew I had to push through to enjoy the view at the top. There were down-hills that felt like I was coasting though time.

the ups and downs of the past several days

At times, the wind picked up and made it tough to move forward... like when I was upset, angry, and felt frozen in fear of what was going to happen to Isaac and what was going to happen with his and our friendships that were involved. At first my breathing felt crazy and out of control much like my world over the past several days but as my feet continued to hit the ground I started to feel more and more grounded and was able to take control of my breathing very similar to how this whole process has felt. At that point, I was also able to take in and appreciate the beauty around me- the flowering trees and all of the beautiful spring flowers.

To me these beautiful things represented all of our wonderful relationships and amazing support system. I also noticed all of the new leaves and buds on the trees indicating to me that we are going to all be able to grow from this experience and flourish like we are meant to! I struggled to keep my pace consistent just like I wanted to rush through this process and make it better knowing full well that it was best to take it easy. I started out feeling very little confidence but as the miles went by I felt more and more confident in the fact that I knew what was the best next steps and as I was able to feel that way my pace was able to get faster and faster. It was a tough run (mostly emotionally) and I had to push myself through the process but in the end I felt much better!

The universe works in very strange ways and my music during my run was also interesting to me and something that I was in the moment enough to take note of. No matter what I was thinking it felt like just the right song would come on for that thought. Here are a few examples:

Feeling defeated and struggling up a tough hill

Feeling emotional over the whole situation and what the consequences could be

Feeling down about myself in general

(Tim says this song is how he thinks of me)

Inner critic creeping in

(another one that Tim says expresses how he feels about me)

all the feelings in one song and being grateful for walking through this with Tim by my side

(another song that Tim has played for me in the past)

as I was noticing all of the beautiful flowering trees

As I came around the block to home- feeling more confident.

 I am absolutely serious about when each of these songs came through my earbuds. It was crazy how spot on each was with how I was feeling at the time!

turquoise flower= believe & stay strong

#FFCREW Hat= fiercly united

It felt great to get out there and in the end I was so glad I did. It was a much healthier way to deal with all of my emotions than sitting around on social media comparing myself to everyone else's highlight reel while eating crap! That just drags me down. This run helped boost me back up and helped give me an entirely new perspective! It is amazing to me the power of running!

This was a "turquoise flower run" for me and for my middle man who I love with all of my heart! Now to build him back up so that he starts to believe in himself and see his potential like we do!! Maybe I need to get him out there running with me:)

Big sigh of relief

Based on past history I figured I would get a phone call if there was something to worry about and since I hadn't gotten that dreaded phone call yet a week after my biopsy,  I allowed myself to relax a little over Easter weekend. When my worry/anxiety would try to sneak in I stopped it by telling myself that there was a letter with good news somewhere in the US Postal System. But, as a worrier, I still needed that confirmation before I could completely relax and fully believe it. Late Sunday night, after a long day of traveling home from visiting my dad and stepmom in Missouri, I was grateful to find the letter waiting for me. This letter brought with it good news and a great big sigh of relief!

I feel very lucky and incredibly grateful for such great news and also for all of the wonderful people in my life who sent messages of thoughts/concern/support over the past couple of weeks. I am blessed to have so many wonderful people by my side helping me through tough times like this!

So, now that I am able to put that scare behind me, it is time to move on to "fun" stuff.

We had a great time in Missouri and I will have more to share on that once I have an opportunity to get my pictures off my camera. That hasn't happened yet because we have been busy enjoying the beautiful spring days that we have been blessed with the past few days (and the fact that I was only working 6 hour shifts- a coworker and I split our Monday and Tuesday shifts up to help each of us out).

Monday the kids were off of school so I hustled home from work (grateful to be off after 6 hours) so that we could go hiking with some friends. We had a lot of fun exploring some new trails in the area. It was a beautiful day and was nice to catch up with a friend while being active with our boys.

According to Aidan we hiked to the top of the world.

Tuesday the kids were back in school so I was able to get back to my normal Tuesday morning routine of heading to the Y after dropping them off. I was able to get in a 5k run on the dreadmill before heading to my favorite yoga class. I have worked the past several Tuesdays so it felt so good to get back to that class. The stretching was just what I needed and helped me find some balance again.

When I walked out of The Y I couldn't believe how nice it was outside and I started to regret running earlier. On my drive home I decided that I had just enough time (and energy) left to head out for a couple more miles before having to get ready for work. It turned out that was also just what I needed. It felt so good to run outside after a week off (due to work and traveling). It was nice enough that I was comfortable in a tank top and my leggings and I was able to "take in" and appreciate the wonderful morning while my favorite songs played in my ear. It was glorious and really helped me embrace my inner blue flower.

This is a flower that I have not always felt I connected with but am really working on this year and  I think I was successful in doing just that on Tuesday!

Pesky little rogue cells

Just because this picture makes me smile:)

Dang! Where did the past month + go? The only explanation is work, work, and more work with a little fun thrown in on the side. We had someone leave at work so I have been working lots of extra hours since my last post. It is amazing how fast time goes when you are working extra and have a lot going on outside of work! I will get to all of that in my next post. First I have another post that I need to get off my mind before I gain a bunch of weight by eating my fear/emotions. Typing my feelings seems to be a good way for me to understand what is going on in my head and in my heart so here goes...

Last Friday (3/18), I had my 6 month dermatology follow-up. For a week or more I had been feeling pretty emotional but couldn't put my finger on it. It dawned on me on my way to the clinic that this tends to be a pattern for me leading up to these appointments. Once I started to acknowledge this pattern and really think about why they would make me emotional I realized that deep down they scare the crap out of me! I have always acknowledged the fact that they make me uncomfortable (who would like to have their skin examined from head to toe every) but they also scare the crap out of me!

Usually they are very easy appointments and I am in and out in minutes- it usually takes me longer to check in than it does to actually be seen. But they still make be emotional and full of fear. These are all things that I am thinking through as I walk into the clinic and check in because I am finally processing this after all of these visits. Why does this appointment bring me so much fear/emotion?

Well, my appointment on Friday helped me understand exactly why! How ironic that I was thinking about all of this on my way in! USUALLY, I am in and out within minutes but not Friday. It took longer because I had a mole on my shoulder that was a concern and he wanted it gone... then and there! Before I knew it a consent was pushed in front of me to sign and a photographer swooped in to take pictures of this pesky little spot. The room was full of people as a couple of other staff (MAs and/or RNs) came in and began to lay me back and helped get everything ready. My doctor injected lidocaine, to numb the area, and before I knew it those pesky, little rogue cells were gone. I got a small bandage and received instructions on how to care for my new "wound" over the next week. At that point I was also told that I would get a letter or call within 10 days regarding the results. It was such a whirlwind! It wasn't until I got back out to my car that it all started to sink in and I was able to process what had just happened. Then it was full freak out mode... HOLY CRAP... this is why these appointments make me so emotional! It was deja vue... in that moment I was taken back to December 2012... and all I could think was that I could be headed down the crazy path of melanoma again!

So, here I sit... marinating in that fear! Waiting for those darn pathology results to come back! Scared out of my mind but hopeful at the same time. I have been going to dermatology every 6 months for 3 years now. Plus, my family medicine doctor is amazing and keeps a close eye on me and my skin (I should add that he actually commented last fall about keeping a close eye on the spot of concern). I am hopeful that, even though this is concerning, I believe that we served it's eviction notice early enough to not cause bigger issues! I believe the fear comes from the fact that you just never know. I thought the best back in 2012 and was blindsided. Reality is that I could be dealing with this all over again many times in my life. I will probably be dealing with these same feelings again in 6 months when the pesky mole in the middle of my back (that the doctor looked at three times this visit) decides to go rogue and my doctor decides that one needs the boot. I am learning to recognize and acknowledge these feelings instead of stuffing them with a chocolate malt like I have done in the past. Last Friday I pounded it out on a run THEN finished it off with a chocolate malt.. progress not perfection...baby steps!

I guess what I am trying to say here is...
Life can be scary at times. We need to acknowledge the fear but we can't let it consume/control us. We just need to keep on living life the best we can because you just never know! Oh... and sometimes a chocolate malt does make it feel better... for a moment!

Sweaty Bands

I have tried just about every headband out there and they always slip off my head, even when they claim that they "won't slip". I was to the point where I had given up thinking that I just wasn't meant to wear headbands. Over the last few years I heard a lot about Sweaty Bands through blogs that I follow and on social media and they all claim that they won't slip and that they love them but I was hesitant to spend more money on a headband that wouldn't work. I was super excited to find a Sweaty Band included in my FFCrew kit when it arrived so I could finally see if it lived up to all of the hype I was seeing/reading on social media. I think this is just about the only brand that I hadn't tried! I went into wearing it for the first time with very low expectations...  I have been through this several times before and was always let down. Until now!! It didn't budge through a run and a tough strength training workout and I was immediately in love. Finally a headband that works to keep all of those little stray hairs out of my face AND stays put on my head! I have worn it during all of my indoor workouts since then and have to say that it is wonderful.

After falling in love with my new Sweaty Band I had to head over to their website to see what other options they had for colors and prints. I was impressed by what I found and my wish list is now pretty long! But honestly, it was more than just the colors and designs that impressed me, the mission and values also impressed me even more!

Mission:

To Create quality products that empower women, one drop of sweat at a time.

Values:

Focused- We believe that dedication and confidence lead to personal bests.

Fierce- We believe that strong, passionate women are unstoppable.

Fresh- We believe that adventure inspires innovation.

Fun- We believe in celebrating the journey.

After reading this I was even more in love with the products and the company behind them. With everything that I was reading, I was very excited to see that they have an ambassador program. This is definitely a company that I could get behind and promote to my friends (both real and virtual) and family. I love their products and even more I love what they stand for. I decided to take the chance and fill out the application with my "story". I am very excited to tell you that I am now a Sweaty Bands Ambassador/#SweatyCrew member AND there is something in this for you as well... a 15% discount when you use my link to purchase your own Sweaty Bands! http://sweatybands.refr.cc/FV5BT8Z

New experiences

Like usual, this past weekend was a busy one for my family. It started with me picking up an extra shift (we had someone leave which left several holes) to work on Friday. I only agreed to work as long as I could be off a bit early to make it to the high school basketball game where Riley was playing in the pep band (middle and high school playing together). I got home and didn't even turn off the car. As the rest of the family was coming out to get in, I was taking all of my stuff inside. We hustled off to the game only to wait about a half hour longer than expected to hear them play. We watched part of the game before we headed out to grab some dinner.

~This is where I would normally insert a great photo of Ry playing in the pep band. But there was a mom fail moment and I didn't get a picture~

Saturday started with watching Aidan play basketball. I have to admit that it is really tough to watch 1st/2nd graders. There are so many different skill levels and they are all over the place during the game. I definitely respect those coaches and wouldn't want that job! They have their work cut out for them! Aidan seems to be having fun and that is what matters at this point!

After the game we headed to my best friends house near the Dells. Her daughter turned 14 on Friday and we were going to help celebrate! We hung out, had a wonderful meal, enjoyed some cake and then headed out to the main event of the celebration... roller skating!

 It has been a loooong time since I have roller skated... like since high school. Back in the day we use to go all the time but I haven't really done it since. Yes, I have roller bladed and really enjoy that but it is different.

 It took a little bit to get use to it again but before I knew it I was back in the groove and it felt like old times! Just like riding a bike! (it appeared that Tim was in the same boat- although he did fall several times and I only took one big digger!)

Riley has gone to our local rink a few times over the past years for parties and for field trips etc. but I guess he usually gets roller blades and that wasn't an option at this rink. Like usual he caught on pretty quickly. He took some falls but did great and had fun with Tresajo and her friends.

Now, Isaac and Aidan have not really experience roller skating before and it was very clear. I like to say that they looked a bit like newborn baby giraffes learning how to walk for the first time. I am serious! Can you picture it... legs going every which way? That is exactly what they looked like! Isaac was brave and took on the challenge head on. He took lots of spills but got right back up and pushed through. By the end he was doing pretty good. Aidan wasn't so sure. It took lots more coaxing to get him out there. Little by little (holding my hand and the wall) he got more steady on his feet. But it took "Aunt" Julie to really get him going. There were skating buddies! She finally got him out there going around and around without holding the wall. She was still holding his hand basically pulling him around but, after his initial reaction to the idea of skating, I will count that as a win!

Skating buddies

In the end, I think everyone had a great time! It was so much fun to experience this as a family and with our best friends.

The birthday girl and all of the kids

Once the skating rink closed we headed for home because I had and event to attend the next day and Tim and the boys were going out ice fishing with a friend of his from work. It was a late night but we were happy to do it to make it work to celebrate with TJ.

Sunday I attended a local Declare It Day (a Fellow Flowers event) event, "a day for women to speak from their souls, listen to the whispers of possibility, crush excuses and boldly and proudly declare a goal for the year ahead"- Fellow Flowers. You can read the history of Declare It Day here.

In past years there was a featured color or meaning. This year they decided to change it up. The following is from the National Declare It Day Event page and summarizes 2016 Declare It Day.

FEEL the power, excitement and connection of declaring your goal and saying your dream out loud with thousands of other strong brave women from around the world. Step in to instant accountability, fun and celebration and reminders that we are not alone in the journey of becoming the best version of ourselves. 

But unlike years past, this year, Declare It Day has no featured colors or meanings… it’s just about you.

Yes. You heard us right. Who are we to determine and drive your journey? If there is one thing we’ve learned this past year it’s that only YOU know what’s best for YOU… period.

Does your goal make you a better you?

2016 is about your story. Your journey. Your reasons.
No distractions, no glitz, no glamour.

Goals aren’t wishy-washy maybe someday ideas. Goals are action, and when done intentionally, they challenge your greatest fears and ignite your dreams.

This goal, dream or new of living will not be handed to you simply because you want it… your willingness do the work must come from within.

You’ve gotta earn it.

Goals are initiative, grit and will. Goals are getting up early and staying up late to get it done. Goals are fueling your body, soul and spirit properly so you can push through the moments when you will want to quit. Goals are walking away from people who make you feel small and insignificant, and deciding to surround yourself with people who believe in you. Goals are doing the work when no one is watching.

Goals are about giving a shit. Being your own kind of badass. Fighting for what you love. Taking a stand for the life you want and the person you know you are meant to be.

Just you and a goal.

Just you and a desire to be better and stronger. Just you and a long overdue fight with your perceived limits.

Decide what you want to be… and go be it. Put in the work and be stronger than your excuses. Quit hiding. Embrace discomfort. Turn your dial to action and get started.

You can, and you WILL.

Declare It Day 2016 is not about colors, Mel + Tori or anything else. It is about YOU.

Your goal doesn’t need to be grand, big or bold. It needs to tell your story – where you are RIGHT NOW. Maybe it’s declaring something to the world or simply making a promise to yourself.

Make it yours. Make it what you need. Make it about finding the answer, or simply asking the question. Make it about getting lost… make it about finally feeling found. 

Make 2016 about stepping into the best version of you. This year, it’s personal. xo

With gratitude,
Mel + Tori

Photo by Dallas Fitch

Declare It Day was actually Saturday with events being held all over the country but the one nearest to me that was hosted by a couple of local FFCrew ladies was held on Sunday. The thought of driving alone to Winona, MN (only 30 minutes) to attend an event where I didn't really know anyone (other than the two crew ladies that I only met once) made me super nervous (um, can you say introvert?!?). I am not the type to approach people and just introduce myself or strike up a conversation. I am more of a keep to myself person in situations like this but I decided that I needed to step out of my comfort zone and go to this event. After reading the above message I knew that I NEEDED to go! I knew it would be hard and a bit uncomfortable (and it definitely was) but it was also sooooo worth it! What a great event!! A room filled with wonderful ladies that all felt empowered - not intimidated- to set goals with meaning and substance. For several the why behind the goal was just as important as the goal itself. This was a space for all of these amazing ladies to be heard, validated, and celebrated and it was such an inspiring and empowering thing to witness and be a part of.

Photo by Dallas Fitch

Photo by Dallas Fitch

Photo by Dallas Fitch

Photo by Dallas Fitch

Photo by Dallas Fitch

We talked about our obstacles and excuses but we also talked about ways to overcome them. We talked about having celebration circles and girl squads. We talked about our whys and then we spent time writing our declarations.

I have known this was coming for several weeks and have been thinking long and hard about what to declare but I was still struggling.

I have done the goal of running a 5k. I have done the goal of running a half marathon. I have even done the goal of running a full marathon. I mixed it up one year with the goal of doing a triathlon. I didn't know what I wanted to set as a goal for this year. I know this isn't the year to train for a marathon. We are already planning to do a half marathon... that is happening so I don't need to set that as a goal. After the past couple of years of rocky training schedules, I don't feel like I am in a place to get the goal of a PR at any distance. I think you get my point... I was stuck!

Prior to leaving for the event I texted my best friend asking for her help and she said I should do consistency and staying positive. My response to that was "how do I measure that". SMART goals have been drilled into me and looking back at it that was what was hanging me up. Then I remembered the last part of that above message from Mel and Tori-

Your goal doesn’t need to be grand, big or bold. It needs to tell your story – where you are RIGHT NOW. Maybe it’s declaring something to the world or simply making a promise to yourself.

Make it yours. Make it what you need. Make it about finding the answer, or simply asking the question. Make it about getting lost… make it about finally feeling found. 

Make 2016 about stepping into the best version of you. This year, it’s personal. xo

Here is what I ended up declaring:

I CAN & I Will: Step out of my comfort zone! I can and I will change my habits to be more consistent in my running/strength training/cross training/eating habits so that I can be the athlete that I want to be and lose 20 pounds in the process.

I AM... ready and able. I am stronger than my excuses and believe that I CAN do it!

I KNOW... it will take hard work and dedication but I also know that I can do it!

I am happy with this declaration but I think it still needs work to really get the feelings that I want into it. The consistency doesn't only get me back to being the athlete I want to be, it also gets me back to being ME! Finding myself again. Over the past few years when I have lacked the consistency I haven't felt like myself. I haven't had confidence or felt that I was worthy. Over the past couple of months I have started to get this all back and it is coming back because I am back to running more, strength training more and taking time to do the things I love and I am focusing on MY journey! Now I need to be consistent and continue to make positive changes by stepping out of my comfort zone and continuing to ask myself hard questions. It is time to figure out what is next for me. Is it time to go back to school? Maybe that is something to investigate/explore this year. Maybe that will lead me to my 2017 DID goal. I don't know... but this year I intend to figure out who I am and where I am going to be the best me.

 I took my first step in fulfilling my declaration of stepping out of my comfort zone right after writing it. They asked for volunteers to read theirs out loud and even though I wasn't completely confident in what I had written I found myself volunteering to read mine. You know what? Nobody laughed at me and I didn't die! I was validated and supported!

I was also rewarded with getting to pick a prize from the basket. I selected the Black Flower and the I promise magnet. The black flower is not a flower that I feel I AM but one that I ASPIRE to BE! I love the 'idea' of the black flower.

My prize

I will admit that it was uncomfortable going into an event where it felt like so many of the ladies knew each other and already had connections. There were moments where I felt like an outsider but there were so many moments that I also felt supported and empowered. Next year I will bring my 'tribe' with me or maybe I will host my own DID event for my 'tribe' because it was an amazing day and I can't wait to share that experience with others!

Winona, MN DID

 The information and declaration form are still available if you would like to join me in making a declaration for 2016.

My new wallpaper on my phone

Exciting news...

I am so excited to share that I am a member of the FFCrew for 2016! I have known this and have been participating in the group through social media for over a month already but I was waiting for my crew kit to come to share the news.

I  am definitely impressed by what I have experienced so far being a part of FFCrew... so much love, acceptance, empowerment and support in the Facebook group and amazing insight in the book club (we are reading Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes... more about this in another post). This group of ladies is AMAZING and has far exceeded my expectations! The words on the shirt above try to sum it up but they don't even do it justice. I am honored to be apart of such an amazing group and can't wait to see what comes out of this year!

I have already made connections with a few local crew ladies . We did a meet-up a couple of weeks ago which was totally out of this introvert's comfort zone but I am so glad I took the chance and went... they were wonderful and were so welcoming! They made me feel a part of the group right away (they were all a part of Crew last year) and before we knew it two hours had passed. I am excited to get to know them better!

I got so excited to share this news that I guess I should back up a bit and explain Fellow Flowers.

 I first came across Fellow Flowers back in 2013. I had just dealt with having melanoma where I had surgery to remove part of my ear and reconstruction of my ear. I was also training for my first (and so far, only) marathon. I came across these two pictures that had been shared on social media and they TOTALLY resonated with me.

I saw Fellow Flowers on each of them and got curious. I decided to check it out and was pretty excited about what I found.... their philosophy spoke to me in so many ways with everything that I had just gone through and I was instantly in love with the meaning behind the flowers.

"Twelve different colors all representing different reasons, stories and purposes behind why we run. They are the true words spoken and inspired by real women. The flower is a symbol of friendship, strength and beauty. It represents your journey – the miles and the moments. The training and the transformation. The realization that your body is strong, and that your mind is even stronger. And it unites – this flower is rooted in friendship. Reminding us that we are in this together – always."- Fellow Flowers

I started to "stalk" their Facebook page and website and learned everything that I could. I loved that it all started with friends and the Green Bay Marathon. That was going to be my first marathon and the whole reason that I was going to be doing it was because of my best friend.  I had gone in 2012 to support my her (as a spectator) in doing it as her first marathon- long story short, she didn't finish (extreme heat stopped the race- mile 18 for her) and she had a mission to go back to conquer what she had set out to finish. After spectating we made it our mission to be there to do it with her... um, Fiercely United!

After "stalking" Fellow Flowers for a few weeks I learned that they were going to be at the Green Bay Marathon expo and I was beyond thrilled to meet them and get my own flower. The only problem was that I couldn't figure out what color I was. In the end it only made sense that my first flower be the orange flower. See above story. Fiercely United.

Over the past few years I have continued to follow Fellow Flowers on all social media platforms and I have continued to feel like they put into perfect words just how I felt. I have done several runs and races with my orange flower and have tossed around which other flowers I "was". I always felt like parts of the other flowers "spoke" to me but there were also parts that I didn't feel I fully lived up to so I stuck with my trusty orange flower.

Because of my flower I met an amazing woman at the Rock Your Socks 5K Run when we were in St. Louis for Scentsy Family Reunion and we keep in touch through Facebook to this day.

While doing the VetFest Half I got a boost of confidence when a man commented on my flower just as I was loosing steam.

It is amazing to me the power that a simple flower has.

Simply clipping it into my hair helps me remember that I am not alone on this journey or in my struggles.

Over time I have come to learn that you don't have to completely BE the color of the flower in that moment to wear it... maybe you ASPIRE to Be that color and that is exactly why you should wear it. Does that make sense?

I have branched out from my orange flower and am now the proud owner of several colors that I am working to embrace...

PURPLE-  no excuses

BLUE- content

TURQUOISE- believe, stay brave

High Five Friday

Today I am doing my first High Five Friday post! I have been following Happy Fit Mama on Instagram for a while now and have always enjoyed sharing in her journey through her pictures and her posts on that social media platform. Recently, I clicked on her profile and checked out her blog and fell in love with her "High Five Friday" posts. There is so much negativity in our lives and I love the idea of taking the time to reflect back on the good that happened throughout the week. The whole idea is to write a post filled with GOOD things from the week... it could be five pictures that make you happy. Five articles or blog posts that made you happy. It could be five things you ate... whatever it was that made you happy during the week. What a fun way to spread some joy!

You can follow my daily journey by following me on Instagram as well... it is probably my favorite Social Media Platform :)

1) First run with my turquoise flower and it felt so right!

2) Trying something new... love the flavor and light carbonation.

3) Patiently waiting for Ms. Shelby to walk with us. Getting caught up with a friend while being active is the best. (Plus, the unconditional love of this sweet girl always brings me joy!)

4) Getting more miles in outside with my hubby and oldest son.

5) Fully present. Calm, balanced, at peace... I am content... after a great run followed by my favorite yoga class.