Renewed, Refreshed, & Ready

It has been an impossibly long time since I have written and I have no idea where to start!  It feels as though I am beginning again.  Life in Oklahoma has been very good; most people do not like getting stationed here, but honestly, it has been nothing but great to Phil and I!  The people we have met here have been such a blessing!

I had mentioned last time that I was training for a marathon, and I conquered the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon last April!

First Full is in the books!  No immediate plans for another one at this time....

However, Penny and I enjoy getting some miles in together:

Penny is always pretty smiley when we get our runs in!

Max, while he enjoys walks and wrestling with his sister, is currently very content in his favorite place:

It is so satisfying to tucker out my puppies...not sure why, but it always makes me feel so accomplished!

I had the privilege of watching my husband take battery command in February:

That man never ceases to make my heart explode with love and pride!

Those are some of the major highlights, due to my extra long hiatus, there are too many to really fit into one post.  I enjoyed taking a break from blogging, it became something "extra" I was trying to fit into my schedule and I needed to let it go for a bit.  The distance did make the heart grow fonder as I have found that I miss writing and do enjoy the creative outlet it provides.   

Anybody else feel as though they need to take breaks from things to gain fresh perspective again?

I hope everyone has a wonderful week! :)

Dogs, Running, & Food Trucks

I had an earth-shattering epiphany this week: maybe if I ran steadily, I wouldn't be in soooo much pain after I decide to run a race.  I was thinking this as EVERY muscle in my body from my ribs down were boycotting life on Monday and Tuesday.  So, in order to remedy some of that, I have ran every night this week!  I have ranged from 1-2 miles and they have been just slow and steady...definitely not breaking any speed records or coming close to my race times, but just an easy pace to get back in the swing of things.    It has actually felt really amazing (except on Monday and Tuesday, that completely sucked, not going to lie) and it makes me happy getting back into running.  I have been more focused on lifting and exploring exercises with weights that I have let running slip on by (that and it was 100+ degrees everyday in the summer).  I still lift after my runs, but it just makes my heart happy to be running steadily once more.

On Saturday, Phil and I, along with some friends, went to Wichita Falls, TX to just poke around.  And to participate in the Food Truck Fest! I have never really eaten from a food truck and I see them on cooking shows all the time, but haven't ever eaten at one.  But you bet I got a street taco from a legit food truck on Saturday!  It was so fun to mix and mingle and people watch! The hardest part was choosing which truck I wanted to eat from!

Once the school year starts, I have a hard time fitting in any reading time.  I read a lot and it is one of the ways I unwind and relax, and I (as well as Phil) can always tell when I haven't been reading enough.  This week I destroyed this book:

It was really good and the first of a series!  I have the next one arriving on Monday...happy day!

Max is also obviously, very excited...

Speaking of Max, we also have had the pleasure of having a guest dog in the house!  His name is Bear and he is amazing...literally! He and Max had their first playdate last week and Max has been a whole new dog having Bear here in the house.  He has been back to his happy self and this dog mama couldn't be happier!

It has been so fun having them both here, definitely contemplating that second dog now! Maybe over Thanksgiving or Christmas Break...

Max is now snoring on the couch as he has played more in the last few days then he has in months!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week! :)

Anyone have any cute fall decoration ideas for outside?  Phil and I are thinking of decorating the outside of our house and any ideas are appreciated!

Linking up with Bianca!

Early Mornings, Visits, & Running

So back in the winter I was trying that whole "workout before work" thing in order to fit extra training in for our half marathon on Super Bowl Sunday.  Once that was over, I dropped that like a hot potato and gained an extra hour or so of sleep in the morning.  That being said, for the past three weeks, I have been getting up at 4:30am to hit the gym before work.  It has just seemed a lot easier because after school I have cheer practice (I am the assistant cheer coach at my middle school) and by the time I get home from that, all I really want to do is eat and sit on the couch until I can go to bed.  Surprisingly, I really LOVE getting up and hitting the gym early!  It is not the struggle it was in the winter at all! I start the day feeling super productive and awake! And having my metabolism revved all day is a nice side benefit.

Max typically isn't a fan of that alarm, but he doesn't like any alarm, so there's that.

Speaking of Max, he got to have a great play date with his new doggy pal Bear!  This was so awesome because I think Max is going through withdrawal from seeing all of his friends (and girlfriends) at doggy daycare, so this was much needed!  Phil and I got to have a people date with our friends, and our dogs got to run around like crazy, sniffing and licking everything...it was pretty great for these dog parents!

Look at that doggy grin!

Phil had signed us up for a 10k race up in the city this morning about three weeks ago.  Now in the time he told me about it, signed us up,  to this morning when the race actually occurred, I ran a total of ZERO times.  I had every intention of running a bit to keep in shape and all that jazz, but it really just didn't happen.  But, this morning I actually had a great race!  I hit a PR and placed third!  I am super happy about that, because somewhere around mile 4, I was really thinking of how I wanted a drink and to stop.  I shut down that negativity in my head, and just kept plugging away and it actually worked...who knew?

I think the best part of the race is Phil's outfit...

Phil and I are doing the dance where we think about getting a second dog again.  Normally, we dance, I overthink, and we move on.  However,  lately, it does feel like Max is just sad or lonely and it is really starting to get to me!  Does anyone have any advice on getting a second dog?  Max will be 4 years old in December and it probably won't occur until after school is out for the summer, but did anyone overthink as much as I do?  Did your dogs get along?  Is it better to get a girl since we already have a boy?  So many questions!

Any advice is appreciated!! :)

I hope everyone has a wonderful week! :)

Linking up with Bianca!

New Pants, 5k's, & Gym Etiquette

There are very few things the make me irritated, but every once in a while I get a little cranky about certain things.  One of these things is Gym Etiquette.  When you lift and grab your plates, load up your machine, and get your reps in, you are supposed to re-rack your weights.  NOT JUST LEAVE THEM THERE FOR ME TO RE-RACK YOUR 215 lbs!  If you can get them on there, you can take them off and put them back.  I realize that after your reps, the muscle group you were working is reasonably tired, however, I do not want to heft all of that off, to put on my own, to lift, and then put them away...no thank you!  I don't understand how you could watch me re-rack your 215lbs and trot your happy butt off to the next machine...next time there will be words friend.

Ok, rant over!

In other news, Phil came home from work on Thursday and said he signed us up for the Devil Dog 5k here at Fort Sill.  Exciting!  Except that I haven't ran in a solid 8 weeks (I ran once, maybe twice, and I am really not sure it counts).  Saturday morning, we were up and at it!  Race started at 8am and we were ready to rock and roll!  At least as much as someone is at 8am on a Saturday running a race they hadn't prepped for....

It was awesome!  I actually ran my fastest 5k time ever!  I credit that to the Stair Stepper, my competitive nature, and the fact that Phil stuck with me during the race (races are always better with a buddy!)

Post run happy!

We also finally got a couch this weekend!

It is a sectional that fits perfectly into our living room space without crowding it too much!  Phil and I finally were tired of waiting for the claim to go through, so we picked it out after the race on Saturday and it was delivered that afternoon!  I forgot how wonderful it is to have a couch to sit on :)

I have also been shopping...I decided to splurge and try Lululemon athletic wear.  It was recommended by a friend and I had never tried it, so it was destiny.  I am now the proud owner of a pair of Lululemon cropped spandex pants and I am in love!

I wore them to the gym on Sunday and loved the way they stayed in place the whole time and really how cute the pattern is! They have all kinds of colors and I am in serious love!  I may have two more pairs in my shopping cart as we speak...

I also made Phil take a selfie with me at the gym...I needed the photo of my pants!  And he is too cute, that is also a huge factor :)

You can check out the leggings on Lululemon's website here.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!  :)

Does anyone have any other favorite athletic clothes that they love and recommend?

Linking up with Bianca!

Teaching, Running, & Colds

We made it through another week and that is always a plus in my book!  The kiddos are starting to settle in and we are bumping right along!  With the help of some awesome people, my classroom is also not looking quite so bare-bone-ish:

I have some very cool painted signs that really spruce it up!

You can't see it, but my sweet tea cup is totally on my desk...addicted!

I am not sure if it is allergies or a cold, but my head is so congested and my nose is running like crazy!  Oh and I basically sneeze every three minutes...anyone have any cold/allergy medicine recommendations?

Saturday I went to a professional development class up at Oklahoma University called Ipadpalooza and it was out of this world! I learned sooooo much about what to do with the iPads in class that my mind was literally blown! I think I am actually still processing all of that information.  I am going to try one new thing that I learned yesterday to implement in my classroom this year, and then add another next year, and so on.  Now I just have to figure out which one I am going to implement...

I bought these adorable new Nike sneakers around the Fourth of July, but haven't worn them because of being home, then moving, then unpacking the house, and I literally just found them again!  I really need to finish unpacking my clothes from the RV...

They have this cool lace-type pattern on them with slight pops of a neon yellow!  And they make me look so much more tan than I actually am :)

I have been having a really hard time getting motivated to run lately, Phil and I have been lifting at the gym for the past 5 weeks and I really love it!  I never thought I would actually like lifting weights ( I was under the misconception that it would bulk me up...false!), but I really love getting stronger.  We do a cardio warm-up, but instead of jumping on the treadmill and getting a few miles in, I have been hitting the Stair Stepper and getting my butt kicked.  Maybe once it cools off I will pick my running back up, but right now, I am really into getting stronger and more toned with the weights.

Phil surprised me with flowers on Thursday:

I was having a bit of a frustrating day and he walked in the house with these and two sweet teas...he really is amazing <3

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!! :)

Is anyone else trying new exercise moves and want to share?

Linking up with Bianca! 

Rain, Running, & Two Weeks

WE OFFICIALLY HAVE TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL LEFT!!  I'm not sure if you can tell, but I am a tad excited...just a smidgen really.  With the last two weeks of school, chaos starts to ensue in the form of just utter craziness.  The students, the teachers, the admin, etc, are all stir crazy; we are all ready to have a break and recoup.  And what better way to recoup then with summer vacation!

Speaking/thinking of summer, it continues to rain here, EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.  At one point we were in a drought, and had a heat wave...I've officially forgotten what that feels like.  While Max and I have gotten pretty good at our fetch routine, it would be a nice change of pace to go outside again on an actual walk.

Max doesn't seem to mind apparently, why walk outside when you can half sit/stand on the couch?

I've started running again after taking some time off and let me tell you, it hurts so good!  But wow, it hurts! Take a little time off and BAM! Sore legs!  But the satisfaction I get during and after reminds me of why I love it, and it gives me some time to think.

With my brothers' college graduation/commission coming up this weekend (the alma mater of both Phil and I), it takes me back to our college graduation and Phil's commissioning:

I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the week! Max is displaying what a Wednesday night truly feels like:

Linking up with Kristin! 

Sunday Thoughts

Huge shoutout to the Colorado Running Company (see link below)  for fitting me with an amazing pair of running shoes!  They not only take the time to make sure you have the perfect fit; but they analyze your foot (I have a very high arch...who knew) and they analyze the way you run to find the perfect shoes for you!  I bought the Ghost by Brooks, they have great support for my high arch and a wide toe base so my toes have plenty of wiggle room (which is a nice change of pace).

http://www.uvcshopping.com/shops/retail/colorado-running-company

As I logged my first two miles on them this afternoon, I feel very happy with this decision!

But for now, it is time for dinner, couch cuddles, and relaxation before a very busy week.  Have a great week everyone! 

Linking up with Bianca

Bets & New Shoes

My husband and I made a bet: if I medal at our half marathon, I get new shoes; if I don't medal....well really nothing happened.  It wasn't a really intense bet as you can see.  HOWEVER, I did in fact medal, so Saturday is going to be a happy day: Saturday is the Day of New Shoes!  I think I have earned new Nikes: they are comfortable, I love the way they fit my feet, and those colors!  How can you beat that neon awesomeness that they bring?  I feel faster as soon as I put them on (if only, if only).  Does anyone have any sneakers that they just love?  I love to try new things (especially shoes!) so please drop a comment below with your favorite running shoes!  Happy Thursday everyone!

Said medal that earned me new shoes :)

First Marathon Complete!

I did it!! I officially finished my first half marathon! It was amazing and extremely tiring...but I achieved my goal!  Today at school was quite an adventure, woah sore!  I mean, wow!  Everything hurts from my ribcage down!  My students were really wonderful however, they were so proud.  They wanted to know every detail, see my medal and informed me that I was to stretch and soak in a tub when I got home (thanks guys).

I learned a few things during my first half marathon:

1. Always race on a Saturday because Monday is brutal
2. Eating carbs before racing is a real thing, do it
3. Prepare to be a blob for the rest of the day, and the day after

With that being said, I am now going to nap until it is time to get up and go to bed.  Happy Monday everyone! 

That Early Morning Alarm

So this week I decided to see if the effects of working out in the morning outweigh the effects of working out in the afternoon.  The biggest change in exercise for me is that over the past year, I have gotten very into running.  My husband is a runner and I thought it would be nice if we could do that together.  Fast forward a year and my first half marathon is Super Bowl Sunday (YIKES!) So, the alarm goes off at 4:30 this morning and up I go, determined to go into BeastMode and hit the treadmill with gusto.  Well, I am proud to say I did and it really did wonders for my mood!  However, I didn't realize A) how hungry I would be throughout the day and B) how intense that 9am slump would hit.  And it hit, whew!  As I am never one to back away from a challenge (ugh that alarm though...) I think I will go to bed now to make up the difference!  Happy Monday everyone!