S'more Colorado.

Enjoying the day outside! No way to stay clean eating s'mores!

July begins with family!

Mom and Audrey made it to town two days ago, yesterday was pedicures, today began with the epic Lucile's! Chicory coffee and cinnamon/orange tea. Brian, mom and Audrey! Great morning

Sunday morning

Spending Sunday with Brian and enjoying time together working on the yard! I love summer days!

Sunday morning wake up.

Day 7

The snow storm arrived at 6a not 1a. Snow accumulation...none on the roads. The gym was a great workout. Followed by spending a little money at Hobby Lobby/ and Home Depot.
Today, lunches got packed and knitting achieved.
Tomorrow, I church/ then craft.

Day 6- I love Friday!

It's Friday! What a day. What a week. It was great to get a 5+ mi run in at lunch. Warmed up with "Relaxation" tea. A beautiful blend of peppermint, and flower petals. Some really great patient interactions, and memories of a dream stirred up.
I am so blessed with my co-workers. Their friendship makes the 40 hours seem less.
Prepping for the beginning of a forecast snowstorm. It is reported to snow 2-14 inches. We'll it is Colorado, whether it's 2 or 14 inches, I am not sure it will matter.
Great things this week:
98% nutrition compliance.
Threatened to be hit by a patient.
Running mileage met.
Connecting with some of my favorite people
Creating/Crafting/Knitting
Began refinancing my house
Became debt free (sans house)
Garden planning
Unexpected/undesired Niacin Flush
and the glorious finding of "Dream Weaver" tea.  (Valerian Root- an amazing sleep aid)

Super excited for the weekend and feeding my reawaken dream.

Happy Lucky's Tea House

This place is one of my favorites in town!
And with one of my favorite people! Sheena.

Day 5

I love the little joys in life. Ultimately I think they add up to the sum.
- a half day at work
-grocery shopping done for the week
-pay day
-purchased a book I've really been wanting to get my hands on: Who Do You Think You Are? by Mark Driscoll
- a 4mi run in with my dog
-the 2 mile return back a spectacular view of the snow capped mountains
- tonight, I am heading to the Happy Lucky Tea House in Old Town to meet up with a friend.

It absolutely insane how anxiety can consume us. There's a quote floating around on Pinterest right now and it says "Depression lives in the past, anxiety in the future and peace in the present." I use to be a depression girl. I find myself struggling more with anxiety lately. How often I have to remind myself to be here now. I continue to have to remind myself that my identity alone lies in Christ, those things around me can't define me nor my emotions. So much easier said than done.

Day 4 - Clarity

Some days I really wish I could remove myself from my life and watch it as though it were a movie. Sometimes I think we are so close to a situation we can't see the tree amongst the forest.
Clarity, discernment, understanding, perspective. Any of it would be nice.

But church tonight was good. The peace that my definition lies in Christ, and not in circumstances or those around me. So I guess if there are any convictions, the song in my head keeps coming back to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGKfrgqWcv0&sns=em

Ok, God. I'm waiting on you.

Day 2

I'm letting go of worry. I'm letting go of control. I'm falling into the comfort of God's hands to find my rest. I am trusting God with my future whatever it may be.

Day 1

So I began my "30 days of self" by watching Happy and Food Matters, a documentary on Netflix last night. Started my first dose of antibiotics for my sinus infection and began feeling awfully excited to become healthy again. This morning I was watching a food documentary. In one of those documentarties it talked about taking 3000mg of Niacin for mood improvements and cholesterol health. The Food Matters also talked about juicing a meal a day and eating raw to improve health.

So after getting coffee with my lovely friend and catching up on life, I headed to Sprouts to buy kale, pear, blackberries, parsley, carrots and celery to juice and added Spirulina. It's suppose to be a super food and high protein. I also bought Niacin. So after coming home and feeling remotely alive again from being sick for about a week, I juiced my vegetables, added the Spiulina and took my 3000mg of Niacin. As coincidence has it I was just educated on a "Niacin Flush" about a week ago. So after consuming half of my juice (with this new mystery super food) I begin to break out in hives all over my body, chills and itchy. I looked in the mirror and looked like I had been sunburnt. At first I thought it was this new superfood, but then realized it was this thing called the Niacin Flush.....
So my first day of health and focus on me.....

-note to self: too much Niacin,
-I love my time hanging out with Melissa.
-meals are prepared and packed for the week
- working on my second sweater
-Thank you to my friend/ physician-antibiotics are good
29 more days.

30 days of feeding me.

How is that title for grammar? Clearly I'm a science major and not English....or I'm too sick to really care.
I have eliminated Facebook from my life for the time being. I am currently single. I pretty much only have to show up for work 40 hours a week. So in my infinite wisdom, I am making a conscious effort to focus on me these next 30 days and live more intentional. I am not really sure what that looks like yet, but I figure once it's published on the Internet, it's fact.
So what I commit to: my nutrition plan. 95% compliance, continue training for my 11th half marathon. Other than that, it's open to what the day brings.
I am 34, the only thing dependent on me is my dog. She is pretty low maintenance, so I think we should be good there. I have tried the martial arts venue and pursued my aggressive side. I have taken up stain glass making in the past. These next 30 days, I will be open to whatever presents itself and pursue life fully. I am probably lying if I say I will update this daily for 30 days, but I will give it an honest effort.
Here. We. Go.

Friendships that stand the test of time

Rachel and I became best friends in 6th grade. We met when we started playing soccer together. I am pretty sure we lived at opposite ends of the school district. I stunk at math and she was became my tutor. We thought it was the coolest thing when we got to stay the night at each others house on a school night. Rachel was always the one to keep me out of trouble and I was always the one to push the limits. With that said, we were still considered "goody-goodies" in high school along with our eight other best friends. Our group of girls : Amy, Tana, Molly, Amanda, Maggie, Susan, Cindy, Danielle and sometimes Michelle. We always tried to figure out how we ended up being friends. There are a few theories. The first being we all met in 6th grade (when 4 elementary schools merged) and I was being bullied by Sara Hardman and the girls stuck by me. (Pretty sure I narrowly made it through 6th grade alive). The other~ more realistic theory is that we were all raised in strong Christian homes, and we really respected our parents and they trusted us.

I look back now and realize that group of 6th grade girls that found me shaped me into who I am today. I am so grateful for them. I am also awed that our friendships have stood the test of time. We are still all very close.

 This is my beautiful friend Rachel. Life has played it's part in not allowing us to see each other for about 10 years, but this past weekend we showed "Life" that it had nothing on our friendship. Rachel has been blessed with an amazing husband that adores her and two beautiful little ones. It was so great to see a husband and wife so in love after 10 years of marriage and struggles life has brought them.

This is Averie, she got to spend "Girl's Day" with us at the Pavilion in Kansas City. We went to the Melting Pot. She declared it to be the best day ever. I'd have to agree....the chocolate absolutely helped in declaring it.

This is Nathan. Always full of expressions and nosies. The joy and excitement with EVERYTHING.

Rachel, Kevin, thank you for allowing me to spend Valentine's weekend with you and showing me beautiful love, patience and adoration. Your love for each other gives me hope. Rachel, I needed this weekend more than you know, and we need to make sure life doesn't step in and rob us of time from each other. Averie....my nails are still lovely!