We Didn’t Forget About The Tree

I’m going to admit — when Zach and I didn’t decorate yesterday, the thought occurred to me that we may not actually get to it.  Keep postponing it, excuses, etc.

 

But nope –we got to decorating right as I got home from work (Zach skied today, so we both got home around the same time).

 

Zach started with the lights while I got all of our ornaments out of their boxes and added their hanging pin.

 

Beautiful! Within an hour, we had a beautiful tree that makes us feel like home :).  Unfortunately we never got to putting up a tree last year, so this means that much more to us this year.

My New Favorite Ornament

 

Honestly, how beautiful is this ornament?  Well just wait until I tell you what it actually is.

My friend Jessica who was in town this weekend brought this little beauty as a gift.  It’s actually a clear ornament with the lyrics to our wedding song inside.  How amazing is that?  Jason Mraz, I Won’t Give Up.

So thoughtful, and pretty.  It makes me smile every time I look at it :).

Now it’s time to sit down to dinner and enjoy or beautiful tree!  Have a great night everyone — Merry Christmas ❤

(Promise I won’t be saying that every single day until the holiday…)

Question of the evening:  What’s your favorite/most meaningful ornament?  From childhood or now…

 

Don’t forget to enter my first giveaway open until Thursday!

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Shocker — My Body Likes Real Food!

I had a revelation yesterday.

I think we all know each other pretty well by this point.  And we all know that healthy eating is important to me.  In my life, that isn’t necessarily low fat or low calorie.  Instead, I tend to put more importance on foods my body needs.  Whole foods, nutritious foods.

Lately, during the week, I’ve been feeling rundown.  I’ve mentioned this a few times lately.  Even when my legs feel fine after 20+ days of running, my body was exhausted.

Welp, looking back…guess what I’ve fallen back to eating through out my work day.

 

We all know I LOVE me some protein bars. LOVE THEM.  My body needs protein, and as somebody who doesn’t eat a ton of meat — bars are a good supplement.

IN MODERATION.

The past few weeks, without even really recognizing it, I’ve grown to literally just snacking on bars through out my work day.   So come 5 o’clock, there were literally days where I’ve only had water, coffee, a thinkThin bar before work and a Clifbar during my short lunch break.

Ummm — these bars are my favorites.  I LOVE them.  My favorite way to use them is AFTER eating normally my entire work day, an hour before I leave, when I know I have a POST work run/workout scheduled.  Then I’m properly fueled for the workout without being overly full.

I’ve even paired thinkThin bars with apples OFTEN for breakfast, and that’s better than nothing.  But my crazy busy schedule is NOT an excuse for the way I have been eating these bars lately.

EAT REAL FOOD

not my picture . . . but you get the idea

This morning, I made a quick pit stop at Whole Foods on my way into work and built my own little breakfast at the oatmeal bar.  I added hot oats, berries, and some of their granola-like topping.

Delicious, so nutritious, warming.  Seriously, it’s amazing how much MORE energy I have had through out the morning just giving my body food that it needs.

I have some other ideas for easy “real” at food meals/eats

• Fresh fruit of any kind
• Veggies and dip
• Smoothies (when it isn’t freezing)
• Tortillas and eggs
• Tortillas and PB/Banana
• Homemade granola/mix with yogurt
• Chicken salad

Just a few easy options that I can eat on the go — similar to how I was doing with my bars.  I just need to make the real food EASY, and I will be THAT much more likely to go for good grub versus a bar.

Just my two cents 🙂

Question of the Afternoon:  Do you eat protein/granola/cereal bars?  What are some of your favorite work-friendly meals?

 

Don’t forget to enter my first giveaway open until Thursday!

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Well That Wasn’t Expected, I lied.

I am just going to come out and say it.

I ran this morning.

Yesterday I needed a break.  Mentally, physically.  I think most importantly I needed to break my “streak.”   Thanks to my type-A brain, I couldn’t just let it be.  Instead of just recognizing I needed a mini break and taking it, I had to make a plan.  So I did…

By the afternoon yesterday, I already felt better.  I knew that my streak was over, I felt the pressure lifted.  Whatever has been hanging out in my chest was beginning to break up and I was started to feel better overall as well.

So when I woke up this morning, felt good and WANTED to start my day off with a run, I did.

Workout of the Day:  4 miles with random speed intervals of 800 meters to 400 meters.  34+ minute total

I felt a little guilt, because I told you all that I would be taking a couple days off.  But honestly, I felt like the most important thing for me was getting my sweat on this morning.

Maybe as I head into the New Year . . . one of my GOALS should be to be more relaxed, more free, and more sporadic.  Because without the pressure, I felt pretty good today :).

Question of the Day:  Have you ever taken a break from taking a break?

Don’t forget to enter my first giveaway open until Thursday!

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