Race Recap and WHY I do this

I cannot believe I ran a half marathon. Seriously. And I am pretty sure no one else can believe it. When I started this blog a few months ago I was worried that I wouldn't be able to do the 8k I planned on running March 20th. Running 5 miles sounded almost impossible to me. Instead of struggling through an 8k, I pushed myself through 13.1 miles and loved (almost) every second of it!

Going into the race I said several time that I could take most any weather condition as long as it wasn't windy. Windy it was, my friends. It was cold and windy and early and I was nervous! Luckily, I had met up with a friend at her house before the race and she had a drunken neighbor still up from the previous night sporting board shorts and a denim jacket show up at the house for some pre-race entertainment. Most random thing ever, but it lightened the mood and took our mind off the jitters for sure. And there was an up side to the cold too. I wore one of the hubsters ugliest sweatshirts for the first half mile and then chucked it on the side of the road and said goodbye forever to that hideous thing! If only I would have layered up and really got some closet cleaning done :)

The cold definitely made the first few miles hard, but I got into a groove around mile 3 and really felt good the rest of the race. Seeing all of the people around me pushing through mile after mile was so motivating. There was a blind athlete, a women with only one arm and so many older runners...the list goes on. Mile 11 and 12 were my fastest miles by far because I am not very smart and thought I only had a mile left when I saw the 11 mile marker and pushed hard...when I saw the 12 mile marker and realized what I had done I refused to slow down because I am just plain stubborn. Seeing the finish line was the most awesome feeling ever! Well, the most awesome until I realized that our medal doubles as a bottle opener. Nice.
When I got home, I was craving the most random food combo...

Running this half made me realize WHY I write on this blog, why I share my experiences on facebook and why fitness is such a passion of mine. This is a way that I can reach people. A way that I can help by simply doing something I love. If I can motivate ONE person to make positive changes in their life...to get in the gym when they would rather sit on the couch, to reach for something healthy when the ice cream is calling their name , to stay positive when all the odds are against them...then this is worth it. Having a friend tell me that she logged onto facebook, saw my race picture and was motivated to go to the gym after a rough week is literally the best feeling in the entire world. I know what it is like to feel overwhelmed and frustrated with your weight and I know that the key to turning that frustration into results is support. If this blog allows me to be that support to someone, I will write forever! 

In the meantime, I am looking for my next half...one that I can drag the hubs into! Sorry, babe, but you owe me <3

Wardrobe Practicality....huh?

A few years ago I would have said "huh?" too. I mean, a few years ago I had no reason for my wardrobe to be practical. Anything in the name if fashion! Sky high heels, dangerously low rise jeans, and dry clean only were not hazards pre kiddos. I did not have to worry about running (in stilettos) after a to year old when he takes off into the road in front of Panera (Not that my angel would ever do that. Hypothetical, obviously.). I did not have to worry about my bum making an unwanted appearance as I sit down in the middle of a park to change an untimely, explosive diaper. I probably also did not call it a "bum," but that's beside the point. I did not have to worry about puke, food, boogers, etc on my beloved silk blouses. All of these, however, are not reasons throw style by the wayside and wear hoodies everyday. I think hanging on to your personal style while doing the mommy thing is not only doable, but really important. I feel a million times better when I am put together and I do not think I am alone here.

So, how do you do it? I think you have to reevaluate what is practical in your everyday wardrobe. I don't mean that these lovers to the right no longer have a place in my life. They have just been reallocated from everyday to date night :) The idea is not to replace your wardrobe with a mom uniform. While being a mom gives me the greatest joy, I am more than just mom. The past few years my wardrobe (and shoe collection) has definitely changed, but I still dress very much me. I don't think this:

is a bad trade off  for getting to do this... 

all day long! 

Today was the perfect example of how my style has changed to the practical. I bought and wore a pair of heels that my three years ago self would have barely glanced at...because there weren't four inches high. And you now what, I loved them! 

I feel totally put together, but ready to play (or chase a toddler across a parking lot). The shoes are from Target, one of my all time favorite stores, which means it is one of the hubsters all time least favorite :)

It took me a little while to find the place where my pre baby fashion could meet the new needs of my crazy two baby life, but I feel like I am getting there. When I am shopping I definitely think a whole lot more about the practicality of each item. Did having kids change your style? How do you keep your sense of"self" when your days are consumed by the needs of your kids?

Back in Biz

What's up, friends? Sorry I fell off the face of the blogiverse for a (really long) while. After spending a glorious two and a half months in CA with the fam I made the trek back to good ole VA Beach and real life. It was amazing to have the love and support of everyone at home to get us through the holidays, but it was time to face the music and settle back into our normal (as normal as our life can be without our favorite man).  Along with settling back into home came all of the crazy, unexpected stuff that inevitably happens when the hubs is not around to fix/help/support/calm....

BUT, I'mmmmmm baaaaaack! The good news is that I did not stop blogging because I was failing with my fitness quest. The opposite really! My madre, bless her heart, has been with us for the past few weeks and I have been taking full advantage of my live in nanny grandma. I have been living part time at my gym...I missed it so!

Anyway, I do have a point for this post. And it's a good one :) It's not original by any means, but I had a break though today and wanted to share it with all of you! I have said this before and I will say it again, I love excuses and will use them if I can. So, because I know that about myself, it is so important to set myself up for success. When it comes to food, I have to make eating healthy easy and quick or I will use that as an excuse and choose a less than healthy option. I have a ton of little tricks to make this happen, but the one I finally tried and cannot fathom not doing now is cutting my veggis when I get home from grocery shopping rather than when I need them. Ummmm, what, you're bored and totally not impressed with my less than ground breaking advice? Well, have you tried it? Seriously, cutting all my veggis has changed my daily eating habits. It makes it so, so easy to add them to eggs in the morning, stir fry at dinner, a salad is basically already made for you at lunch....fabulous! I never did this before because it seemed like a waste of time, but really it was a waste of food and money because I would have veggis go bad before I even used them. I have upped my veg intake so much and grab them for a snack because they are all ready to go. Give it a try, you will thank me :)

This drawer makes me a little too happy!

(p.s. does anyone have a recommendation for reusable little bags? I have using all the ziplocks, but they fit so much better than tupperware...)