Day 123: July 30, 2013- Rain, rain, go away!

Day 123: 6 miles logged, 195.25 miles to go… 4 mile after work run in the rain followed by a 2 mile walk after dinner with Bobby.

Am enjoying our week without the kiddos (although it looks like they are doing just fine without me),

  

but do miss them tremendously. Glad they are having a fun time up at my mom and Steve’s, but can’t wait to see them on FRI! Hard at work on Buddy Walk stuff. Can’t wait to share more details on our SAT, OCT 5th Walk and newly added 5K event!!!

On a different note, this was our little visitor at the State Farm office from this morning. He stunned himself a bit running into our front window, but thankfully he flew off a few minutes later.

Day 121: July 28, 2013- I love to write!!!

Day 121: 10 miles logged, 211.25 miles to go… 2 mile morning run, 6 mile morning walk with Cate, and then an additional 2 miles logged in the late afternoon//early evening before Bob got home from his trip. Treated myself to a Wendy’s frosty for the hard work, and was happy at how many words I got typed on my manuscript. Pleasant end to an all too short weekend! 12,000+ words over the course of SAT and SUN. Slowly but surely inching towards my 85,000 word goal- Woot! Woot! ‪ WC to date = 72,023

Day 120: July 27, 2013- What I wouldn’t do for frozen yogurt… YUM!

Day 120: 14 miles logged, 221.25 miles to go… 10 mile morning run in the pouring rain

and a more pleasant evening 4 mile run to top off my miles for the day. I have to share, though, my thoughts on the carrot. I live and die by the carrot when it comes to my running and other goals. What is the carrot? It is the thing that motivates you when you are pushing through tough goals. Carrots can be large gifts to yourself for hitting something major, or you can grant yourself smaller carrots as you inch towards a larger overall goal. For me, I pushed through all agonizingly wet 10 miles this morning visualizing a large bowl of fat free frozen yogurt (flavor didn’t matter just as long as it was fat free) topped with black berries, that and some warm scrambled eggs and an apple for breakfast if I could finish all 10 miles of the run. Did I want to quit because I was soaked as well as bored because I couldn’t get into a zone? Hell yes, but every mile that I pushed myself was one mile closer to being done and one mile closer to that treat. So the next time you need to push yourself to do something challenging, think about how you can reward yourself when you accomplish your goal. Hard work is its own reward, but sometimes treating yourself to something a little extra special along the way helps you to hit your goal faster, and it makes the effort that much more worth it!

So… end result?!?! This lovely peach frozen yogurt topped with the blackberries I wanted. Super yummy and worth every mile!

Also, just wanted to share what great encouragement I got from everyone today! Thank you all for your kind words and support!!!

Day 119: July 26, 2013- Getting closer to 800!!!

Day 119: 11 miles logged, 235.25 miles to go… Amazing 5 mile morning run, and wonderful 6 mile evening run in the rain. Some of the most moderate weather all summer is yielding great motivation to get out after it. Excited to be inching closer to 200!!! Quiet day at the office, but was able to get a lot of stuff done. Lotta house cleaning tonight, but when it’s all said and done, I can’t wait to start writing this evening!!! Hope everyone has had a lovely week!

Day 111: July 18, 2013- Loving the upcycling!

Day 111: 4.02 miles logged, 278.25 miles to go… Four mile morning run. That seems to be the norm this week. Am hoping after I wrap up all of this week’s art projects that I can carve some time out in the evenings starting next week to up the milage with both a.m. and p.m. runs! Great day, though, pre-emptively addressed a potential migraine that started to come on from the storm that passed through and successsfully kept that at bay. Spent the day a the office, and then worked on upcycle projects by myself and eventually with Mia to end my night- pics to follow! Super happy with the results!

 

Day 110: July 16, 2013- Keepin’ on, keepin’ on

Day 110: 4.06 miles logged, 286.27 miles to go… Four mile morning run. Hot week, but glad to be sticking with the early runs. Going to try and build up to 6 mile runs, but will be contingent on how my schedule plays out the next few weeks. More to come!!!

Day 109: July 15, 2013- Playing catch-up for y’all…

Day 109: 37.11 miles logged (MON, JULY 1 through yesterday…yeah, I’m a little behind posting- sorry!), 290.33 miles to go… OK, now that Trucks & Heroes is done, I am back in the saddle with my running- have gotten up at 5:45am yesterday and today to put myself back in the habit of early morning runs. Looking forward to keeping it up to wrap up these last couple of hundred miles!

Here are some of the highlights since I last posted… Trucks & Heroes was super successful, I am trying to better balance my home life, work, and personal endeavors (a.k.a. had to put the blog posting and writing to the back burner for a little bit to make a gesture), I have had some of the most hellacious migraines ever over the past two weeks, and it is now time to put both my Buddy Walk and fall bridal show caps on to move forward with both of those projects… oh, and I got the green light to teach my art class at Hobby Lobby! Super excited!

     Some recent art projects in progress

 Finally dry enough for Debbie’s kitchen wall : )

   A lot of drift wood collection lately for all of my fun projects (thanks Cate and Kat!)

    Razorback fun

 Road tripping with the kids to the old house (Pi Beta Phi at DePauw University)

 Shot my first Indian American event- had so much fun, but was up till 2am : )

    Did the press rounds for Trucks & Heroes including tv interviews, radio interviews, and donut stops, and we even got the Shining Light article in the Courier. I was so excited SAT morning, I cried!

   SMILE Family Fun week antics

 Rocking out Trucks & Heroes on SAT

 Can’t wait for my classes to start!

 And just had to share the pic of this “little” guy who took out Mia’s tomato plant. Love this pic!

Day 92: June 28, 2013- Dinner for 20+ and dad’s arrival

Day 92: 3.02 miles logged, 332.51 miles to go… 3 mile morning run was all I was able to squeeze in running-wise. Hurried morning at the office trying to get everything work (and SMILE) related done before my dad arrived (2 hours early I might add). He ended up taking sis to Gander Mountain and to the library while I stayed home and prepared dinner and dessert for 20+ people most of the afternoon. Went to go see a movie with him while the kids swam at Coach Z’s folks’ house, and then sat down for a half hour of writing before bed. With dad in town and a SAT morning wedding, will need to up my miles early SUN morning before the canoe trip since I know SAT’s miles will also be low. Looking forward to breaking 300! Hope to do so soon!

P.S. Check out my boys trying to be on their best behavior while I made supper…

Day 91: June 27, 2013- final preparations for the baseball players’ arrival…

Day 91: 8.02 miles logged, 335.51 miles to go… 3 mile morning run, 5 mile evening run. Had to cut my morning run short to pickup the house for the baseball players’ arrival and to leave the house for BNI. Last day of art for the week for the kiddos,

   

put the down payment on SUN’s canoe trip, and then had a productive afternoon meeting with my 2013-2014 Corresponding Secretary for Junior League. Finished cleaning the house for my dad’s arrival and was unfortunately a paranoid mess over a low tire gauge (thanks Tony for filling me on what to do while Bob was at baseball). Ended my evening with my 5 mile run and a bit of writing and typing!

 

P.S. Check out the hydrangeas that I was finally able to cut off of my bush this year!

 So excited!!!

Day 89: June 25, 2013- Hot day to run so far!

Day 89: 10.25 miles logged, 351.55 miles to go… 4 mile morning run, 6 mile evening run/walk on the East side of Evansville. Morning spent at the kids’ sculpture class,

       

afternoon at the office working and preparing for a JLE meeting with one of my committee chairs to go over our plan for the upcoming year. Had the opportunity to go run/walk after work while Mia was at cheer. So spent the time enjoying the east side and working on the plot line development for my manuscript. Lots of miles = great opportunity for creative brainstorming!