That Time I Lived in TX.

One year. I lived in Texas for a year. It was brutal.

Wait.


I love Texas...I have no qualms with its 'colorful' language, numerous taco houses, huts, casas, bells...the quirky smiles on lower Greenville, the stereotypical and truly unreal big hair...I enjoyed it all. It was an adventure. 

I remember driving away, the day after Christmas, over 4 years ago. I was in my little coupe, next to my fiance with the trunk fuller than it should have been with my clothes, picture frames, and other things I did not really need.

What I forgot to take with me was the most important thing. Call it maturity, call it being myself, call it bravery.

I was excited, beyond excited to start a new chapter. Then the new chapter started and it sucked. I was scared, and upset and I crawled into a cave. Sadly, I crawled into that cave during what could have been a joyous time in my life. 
But, there is a happy ending to this tale.

***

I have wonderful friends and an amazing family, but I did not turn to them when things got harsh. I had a knack for wrapping myself in old band aids and calling it a day. Gross. 
I shut off from everyone back home and wallowed in high times and very low times, there was no grey area in Texas.

We went on fun excursions and silly trips. We saw movies and ate amazing food. I loved spending time with his family. I met some crazy awesome people at a great job. We were in love and completely immature. We fought in ways I never saw us fighting. We acted out in pain and chose hurtful words. In the midst of happy times there are painful memories that I am okay with fading away.

Let's not forget, this has a happy ending, remember?

I don't feel the need to go into more detail at this point, but Texas treated me well, and I did not return the favor.

***

I moved back home and resumed my classes and got a new job. I mended relationships and accepted my family's comforting words. My (now husband) and I were fine, we really were, but we needed this time to grow.

We matured incredibly. We still act like children at times, but shew whee did we need this. 

I appreciate my family, friendships, and home more than I ever could have before. 

I realize the importance of relationship variety and how not just maintaining, but treasuring these gifts is so necessary.

We learned how to better love one another, and also what needs to come first. We were not walking with the Lord in Texas. Sure, we went to church here and there but our attempts at living our faith were weak and pathetic. 

We can't imagine, now, being in a relationship together without keeping the Lord at our center. We have fostered new and "old" friendships that help keep us aware of this goal...we have family that cares about us and we are extremely thankful.

When I thought back to Texas I would feel overwhelmed with anxiety and grief. It was a dark and sad memory. Now, I understand why I had to have this experience. Why we needed to have this experience. We have so much more respect for each other today.

I remind myself daily, that hardships do not have to be in vain. Use them. We will have more, we will go through seasons, but look what we can accomplish with God's help and guidance. I hate fear with a passion and I...we will no longer let it rule our actions.

***

Woah, Allison, why such a serious post? Because. I am a talker, but this is one thing I have never been able to truly talk about. So, instead of renewing my lease in that cave, I brought it out in the open. A much more positive move, don't you think?


We absolutely love visiting Texas and my husband's family, we genuinely wish we could go more often. I love that Texas is "back" to being the place where we dated, where my shopping issue is at full throttle, and the place where my husband and I have truly happy memories.

xoxo

{Be on the lookout for one of my favorite looks inspired by my fond memories of Texas} 

Impatient Patience

Silly title? Maybe...but I am a self-declared and well accepted walking and talking oxymoron.

*I break my foot and then fall again on crutches.

*I tell everyone I am learning patience through all of this, and I am pretty much lying to (the inside of) my face.

*I tell myself I can still do upper body and core workouts, with a super positive and happy voice. Then I do them for the first week, and say, ehhh.

C'mon now. 

My situation is not bad. Not even all that stinky. 

*I have read 3 books. 

*I have watched some sweet movies (yes, I totally will take that as a positive right now).

*I am re-teaching myself the discipline of making my lunches and dinners over quick and easy meals.

*My husband and I are forced to communicate in different ways, as I am pretty much home most of the time (aside from work, and the occasional times I am "allowed" to venture out on my hobble foot).

*My dog is ECSTATIC about this new arrangement of me not leaving her.

As hard or difficult I may think a moment is, it is just that: a moment. 

I have decided to conquer a few health goals at the same time. Not the greatest idea, but like I told a friend the other day, "most of my goals were fitness related before, and now they simply cannot revolve around that."

So, I am trying to do as many (girl) push-ups as I possibly can. But, I am also taking the time to check off a few other things on my list. One of those is, again, making wholesome meals, which is not as hard as I had made it out to be in my head. Another is to decrease the amount of medicine in my body. This is a pretty personal one, so if you have any questions concerning this please do not hesitate to message or email me, I am happy to discuss.

When you make changes for/to your body, it is not going to be easy. 9 times out of 10 it is going to feel like a struggle. But, those 9 times out of 10 are also totally worth it. I am proving to my body that it can heal itself. That I can overcome fears and anxieties that once plagued my everyday.

Broken foot? Yeah, it does suck. I really want to go for a run. Do some squats. Rollerblade. Anything at this point. But, is God telling me to "wait, a minute" and pay attention to some other aspects of my life? You bet.

Now, go on a walk/run for me..mail me the burned calories and I'll see you out there in 6 weeks ;)

Be Mine, Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day darlings! 

No matter how you are spending your day I hope it is sweet in many different ways!

PS: eat some chocolate, it'll taste even more delicious than usual.

Stuck On You

© Kenneth J. Miller

You're sucrose, you're glucose,
You're fructose and more,
From your head to your feet...
Which are stuck to the floor.

You're Hershey's, you're Snickers,
You're sweet English Toffee.
If you spit in my cup,
You'll just sweeten my coffee.

I love you so much
That I'm getting frenetic,
But I can't even kiss you,
'cause I'm diabetic.

XoXoXo 

Breakfast Cupcakes: Part 1

Muffins. Cute word. But, does it get your family and friends willing to do your dishes for one? Maybe. BUT, say the word "cupcake" and you are bound to have an infestation of hungry bellies.

Today I am going to share my latest "breakfast cupcake" venture: Banana Fudge.

I had sweet little bananas that had seen better days, so I scoured for recipes to turn them into something amazing. I found a few I liked, then changed some details to turn them into what I devoured after dinner last night...and breakfast, this morning.

They are roughly 100 calories, no added sugar (option), fibertastic, and most importantly, delicious!


Banana Bread Double Fudge Muffins: 

1 egg
1/3 cup Fage Total 0% or 2% Greek yogurt
1/4 cup Truvia Brown Sugar Blend or regular brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 medium or large mashed bananas
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or regular WW flour, oat flour, or spelt flour)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cocoa powder (I used regular the first time, but Hershey's Special Dark make them extra yummy)

Optional:

Chocolate chips
Peanut butter

{Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix wet ingredients, then gradually add dry ingredients. Grease muffin pan and bake for 20-25 minutes. Will make 6-8 large to medium sized muffins or double mini-muffins.}


I admit, I topped mine with some peanut butter; Nutella would be awesome too. 

Enjoy!

Eating the Holidays

How will I eat throughout Christmas and the surrounding days that I consider party of the holiday?

I am going to eat what I want.

I am going to try what I want.

I am going to indulge.

I am going to try my best to NOT reach the point of feeling ill.

If I do not really enjoy something I will NOT continue to eat it.

I will continue to work out.

And, that's it!

Voi-la!

ENJOY yourself; just don't pop and turn into a big Christmas cookie ;)

Merry Christmas and enjoy this blessed time with the people God has placed in your life.

Perfect.

I love to encourage and help my loved ones out whenever possible/necessary. But when it comes time to sit down and eat my own words, I lose my appetite.

I am not perfect, sure I know this. But it still absolutely sucks when I make a mistake and cannot pick up my own pieces. 


For example, when I go off my attempt to eat healthy and inhale too much of something deemed 'junk food' I do not forgive myself. I replay it over and over in my head and beat myself up about it till I am black and blue with guilt and regret. How is this helping? Oh, it's not. But I seem to make sure it is my only option.

I am a continuing work in progress, as we all are. I need to love myself the way I love others, and the way God loves each of us. I need to have that same mercy on myself. I still need to kick my behind in gear when I know better, but who do I think I am? 

I am not perfect.

A Rainy Fitness Friday

A plus of running in the rain? You usually can't tell what's sweat and what's rain ;)

This week I felt like a failure. My eating wasn't the best and I didn't work out that much.

Even though it felt like a disaster in the moment, when I look back I realize some positives.

The eating has no excuses. But, why beat yourself up over it? It's already in my body, I need to move on.

The lack of exercise was because of a stomach bug I was dealing with. I had a couple of good days, but I rested because I should not have been jumping around, running, etc. When your body tells you it needs rest, listen.

Fitness Friday!

What have you done this week that you want to share? Or better yet, give the rest of us some ideas! :)

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

This week I have stuck to my running schedule and even completed an 8k at 9:10 p.m. on 11-12-13...cold, but super fun and everyone was full of energy! It was also my friend's first race, so that is DEFINITELY something big to celebrate : )

Share your tips, tricks, guilty pleasures, goals, or accomplishments...

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

This week has been up and down with my healthy eating habits...but I am on week 2 of my new workout routine (lifting 4X per week with 5 days of running and other cross training). 

Today, when I couldn't run as scheduled I still walked [briskly] for 30 minutes and then walked to work. 

What are some things are are doing/have done this past week to improve your healthy lifestyle?! :)

More Importantly

Sometimes there are more important things than eating your vegetables.
...than getting your workout in
...than lifting weights 3 times per week
...than PR'ing

Also, there are more important things than eating the biggest slice of pizza.
...than making an easy dinner over a fulfilling one
...than being comfortable
...than feeling average


Last night, after a volleyball game, I asked a good friend if she wanted to go get ice cream. Normally I save "super fun candy filled" ice cream for the weekend, but I wanted to go and I knew we would have fun.

Guess what?

I didn't feel guilty. I enjoyed my ice cream and even more I enjoyed the time I spent with my friend. We talked about life, we laughed like old hens, and we shared where we wanted to be in 6 months.

Other times, when I eat foods that are not in the 'healthy' category I feel guilt, which takes away from enjoying them. This can be a common battle, but not an easy one to win. Food should never be an enemy. It fuels our bodies and it can bring excitement to meals. 

So, there are times that ice cream with a friend will trump counting calories or a lower body fat percentage...but remember there are times that ice cream is not worth it and a walk instead will more than suffice. YOU are the best judge of you.

Have a spOOky sweet day! :)

Fitness Friday: Horror Edition

If you have discipline
If you can say no
If you choose fruits and veggies over chocolate and sugar
If you abstain from cookies and brownies at parties
If you can stop at one mini-size candy bar

Well, then, I admire you. I know it should be as easy as "Allison, no"...but most of the time I make it much more difficult and painful than that.

This time of year there is more chocolate in mini form than ever, making us feel like we are only being 1/2 as bad as eating a normal size candy bar; never mind that it usually doesn't stop at 2 or 3 or 8.

So, this Fitness Friday post is a special one. 

What are you going to do to help with temptation. 
Make your own sweets? Just say no? Say yes and work out later? Shout YES and say screw it? Steal little kids' candy? Whoa  no. 

But, please! Share your tips and tricks or guilty pleasures during this beautiful and delicious time of year :)

Cookie Monster

Pumpkin is in EVERYTHING right now...so here is something else to add to your list!

Iced Pumpkin Cookies
adapted via AllRecipes.com

 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour or spelt flour
 1 teaspoon baking powder
 1 teaspoon baking soda
 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
 1/4 teaspoon salt
 1/2 cup butter, softened
 1 to 1 1/2 cups white sugar
 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
 1 egg
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

*Wait for it...1 can cream cheese frosting. I know, I know. But, I tried making my own cream cheese frosting and I have to say, I really like how the canned stuff tastes with these. 


Preheat oven to 350. Mix dry and wet ingredients separately. Combine both mixtures, stir vigorously. Bake for 10-14 minutes (I under-bake them a little so that they are more of a soft and gooey cookie). 


Let the cookies cool completely and top generously with cream cheese frosting. Feed your hungry family and friends...they will bug you for more, I guarantee it ;)

allrecipes.com


Enjoy!

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

What am I proud of this week? Getting back into my running after a break the week following my half marathon in Cleveland. Yesterday I got out in the fall air and had an amazing 6 mile run that was very uplifting :)

What's going on in your corner? Please share! Even if it is a delicious story...like how I ate too much raw pumpkin cookie dough last night ;)

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

Where free encouragement, bragging, advice, recipes, complaining, and shiny pictures come to meet.

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

Please share any fitness news, goal, training, advice, recipes, or any other exciting lifestyle changes you have made :)

Read With Caution

You know when you get into those "thinking funks"...well I have been in one for 3 days now. These can yield some positive results from brainstorming, but they most often, for me, cause more worry than ever needed in  the first place.

....................................................................................................................................

When is it okay to step in? When is it appropriate and respectful to share with a friend your concerns for them?

This is more than difficult.

1. Because I am not perfect and I do not want to come off sounding like I am God's messenger to all.

2. I don't know what's best.

3. Sometimes friends need a listening ear over a concerned word.

4. Saying these things in the most delicate way is hard.

5. How do you know it is the right thing to do?


That last one is a real doozy. But, when a friend is experiencing pain and you know they don't have to, is that when it crosses the line?

I understand that we grow from pain and thicker skin is not a bad thing, but that daunting line between maturing and suffering can be intimidating. 

I have so many blessings; God has granted me with very special and close friends, that I know what I feels like to become defensive in their "honor" and want to take action. There are times we (as friends) took action and it was good, there were times when it did nothing, and there were times we did not step up and it was regretful.

These people mean so much to me and of course it hurts to see them in pain, but is it my duty to fix that? No, of course not. But, there is a way to care for them and remind them of their worth without ruling over them. 


Please share your thoughts on this sensitive circumstance, a personal experience, or a related topic.

Thank you, very much.

Fit Friday

Fitness Friday!

As a reminder: share an accomplishment, goal, upcoming event, training, advice, Personal Record, recipe, or anything else you can think of!

Free encouragement, butt kicking, and praise are included.

Get Ready for Friday!

littleremindersoflove.blogspot.com

I think we need to start a {new} tradition around here. And, I think it should be called something cheesy like "Fitness Friday."

So, every Friday if you have a goal, accomplishment, or some other healthy/exercise/food related tid-bit to share, please do! 

I hope this catches on. I admit, it is sorta selfish. I will get to read about all these amazing steps others have taken/will take towards healthy lifestyles, inside and out; it is going to help with my determination like crazy. But, I think it will benefit all who share and read these posts.

I will also welcome any comments on Facebook as well! (The link to my page is above on the menu).

Get excited, get pumped!

See you tomorrow.

For You.

God didn't make you to quit.
Why would He, all powerful, make a mistake?
That's right, he doesn't.
You are magnificent.
You may feel half-full some days, but count those not.
Tally the times your heart beats strong, your head is high, and your love abundant.
God made you for purposes you cannot fathom, some you may never know.
But, someone else will.
Take another deep breath.
It will be alright, it always will be.
You have God in your corner, on your side, above, and all around you.
Fight harder, love even fiercer, and do not be afraid "...you are fearfully and wonderfully made."

What to do When You Don't Want to Run

I feel pudgy.
I ate ate/drank too much.
I didn't eat/drink enough.
My favorite running shorts aren't clean.
The dishes need washed.
I work today.
I don't work today and I want to "relax."
It's cold.
It's raining.
It's hot.
It's dry.
The trail/track is sooo busy this time of day.
My stomach hurts.
My head hurts.
Something on my body hurts, right?
It's too early.
It's too late.
I am tired.

I don't want to run.

blog.kidville.com

Oh, the list. It could go on, no?
Pretty pitiful when I type it out and am able to look at all the excuses I know I've used before to get out of a run or workout.

Now, listen, there are definitely times that running or working out should not happen. If you are sick, injured, etc. then resting is crucial. But, more often than not, many of us tend to turn itty bitty ant hills into gigantic volcanoes in order not to move.

Maybe you are reading this and think, "this girl is LAZY, she just needs to tell herself to get out there, it is for her health, no questions asked." I AGREE. But, I am not perfect. If you are one of these amazingly dedicated people, please come run with me? Kick my butt. 

And, if you are like me, well, this is too common sometimes. To be completely honest, when I graduated and my gym membership ended and it got "too warm" I suffered in my dedication to being physical...And, then I went on to wonder where 10 extra lbs. came from, huh.

So, These past 2 weeks have been my entrance back into a stronger Allison. My husband is running a half-marathon with me, encouragement enough, but on top of that I signed up for a second half in November and got a new and better gym membership along with a trusted gym buddy who is not there to talk (get it?)...

I have my work cut out for me, let me tell you. Those 10 lbs. may have gotten frisky and turned into a few more, so weird right, because I was working out and eating perfectly, ha. ;)

But, not to be a Debbie (downer)...this is a positive post. It is never too late to get back on the bandwagon. I find myself falling into the trap of, if I mess up really bad for a day or two I hate myself. This is not how it needs to go. Even yesterday I beat myself up for eating, officially, 3 desserts in one day. Sure, I ran 7 miles, but that does not mean you need to eat back all those calories...especially with sugar.

I vow I will never cut out treats and "fun food" nor Jake and I's tradition of pizza and movie Monday's. For me, that is not realistic. What is realistic is getting back into caring about my health, inside and out. I know for a fact, that personally, I feel better when I am active and my "relaxing times" feel so much more worth it when I know I am leading a healthier lifestyle.

Plus, it doesn't hurt that I burn more calories so that candy with a side of fro-yo sorta cancels out...right?

Go get em'