Winner Of Pretty Ink Designs!

Good Morning!  I woke up extra early this morning with every intention of having alone time to read, check e-mail, drink my coffee, reflect and set some goals for the week.  So far, it is working out for me but I hear children stirring so I'm hearing my time running out! 

Congratulations to Stacie from Impossible Is Nothing for winning 50 free holiday cards from Pretty Ink Designs!!!  Contact Kelly at prettyinkdesigns@gmail.com and let her know you are the winner of Amanda's giveaway!  I will contact her too.  I would love to see your cards when they are done.  Thanks for participating and for spreading the word about Pretty Ink Design. 

Running
My goal of building a base back is going well.  I've been able to run almost every day for awhile now.  I don't always get around to logging my runs but I'm definitely feeling stronger again.  It feels so good to be regaining my running legs again.  I'm trying to be a little careful because I slipped on a blanket on our hardwood floors the other day and felt the really tender part of my lower hamstring give a hard pull.  I think it just tore a little bit and I can feel slight pain.  Hoping it isn't anything that won't heal very quickly. 
Goals:
*  Start adding some speed work into my weekly workouts
*  Definitely do strength training (i.e.  get buff workouts like Jillian) at least once a week.
*  Seriously start considering and weighing the pros and cons of joining a Running Club called Team Athena

Connecting Spiritually
I find myself feeling a disconnect with my spiritual side recently.  Keeping my relationship and connection with God strong is important to me.  I'd really like to carve out a time during my every day to meditate on gratitude, love, and ways I can improve my character and give to others.  I want to use this time praying and having a conversation with God and I believe there are many ways to do this!  I've been a horrible slacker with my spiritual life lately! 
Goals:
*  Take 10-20 minutes a day of just silent time where I pray, meditate with yoga, or journal a prayer and list of gratitude. 
*  Find myself saying thank you often...to God and the ones I love!

Health
It is so easy around this time of year to fall into a pattern of just eating and eating and eating.  And eating whatever is in the fridge...stuffing, ham, turkey, pie, pasta....  This holiday eating is catching up to me and not just with the way my body looks but with the way my body FEELS!  The way we eat directly affects so many other aspects of our life.  We truly ARE what we eat.  When I eat junk, my brain, body and energy feels like Junk! 
Goals:
*  Make healthy food choices that will be good for me mentally, physically...my whole self!
*  Bring back Udo's Oil into my diet.  Such a great source of essential fatty acids!  I was taking this stuff regularly for a long time and just recently have fallen off the wagon.  It is pricey but some great stuff!



Motherhood
When I am teaching in the classroom, I am fully passionate and alive!  I get so involved and excited about my job.  Building relationships with my students and teaching them in ways that they learn and find success is something I do with my whole heart.  It is a job I am in love with.  I love reading about it, writing about it, and teaching about it!  It is a passion!  Now that I have made my decision to be a stay at home mom for awhile, I need to find my balance so that I stay focused and bring intention and passion to my every day!
Goals:
*  To be just as passionate and ambitious in my daily life as a mother as I am when I am in the classroom.
*  Be intentional with the time I spend with my kids, what I do with my day and the choices I make as a mother, wife, self. 

Wife/Marriage
Okay, I know this is total CHEESE and might actually be rather gag-like annoying to read. Definitely worth a few eye rolls from some of you but my husband is pretty deserving of the occasional blog shout out since he is my biggest support!  I rarely write about my husband on here but after a girl weekend of watching romantic sappy movies, I came home so excited to see him and hold him tight.  He is truly the most important person in my entire world.  He is everything I've ever dreamed up and more.  He's my best friend, my love, my life.  He is the whole ball of wax...intellectually, emotionally, professionally, socially, spiritually, creatively and more.  He challenges me to reach my goals and dream big and he supports me every step of the way. There is never a dream I share with him that he doesn't believe in...as a runner, a professional, a wife, mother, etc.  I've never met a more patient and giving person and I think many would agree. I am eternally grateful for him and never want to imagine life without him in it.  It is easy to get busy with life...parenting, work, house repairs, etc. and forget to take quality time for each other.  We usually spend a fair amount of time together or near each other but I'd like to start being more focused  with him and shutting out other distractions (computer, t.v, kids, house work) so that we can give our 100% to each other more often.   
Goals:
*  Be conscious about telling my husband Thank You and letting him know just how much I appreciate all he does! 
*  Finding time each week to shut all distractions out and just enjoy each other, talk, share goals, laugh, etc. 

What is something you want to be more intentional and focused about this week? 



Amanda

Last Two Days of Giveaway

Yeah, Yeah, yeah, I know that my custom holiday card/ birth announcement giveaway isn't the biggest hit with all my running community bloggers.  Note to self: Next time give away something like running tights, or some cool power food, or reflective gear for running at night.  However, if you are like me and still have not made a holiday card to send out to friends and family and would love FREE cards (really nice ones) , check out my Pretty Ink Designs Giveaway!  Even if it is just to check out Pretty Ink Designs and share it with friends and family who might be interested.  I like supporting small businesses and unique designers branching out in this world.

I'm really loving reading about your Thanksgiving and Black Friday stories!

Amanda

Winter Storm of 2010

SNOW in Portland!
Yes, that's right folks.  Schools are canceled, the meteorologists are getting more action than they've seen in a long time, and the entire city of Portland is moving slower than usual.  All this because of maybe an inch or two of snow!  I remember the first winter I spent in Oregon. I thought it was so funny (and ridiculous that school was canceled because of an inch of snow that melted before noon.  Being a Colorado girl, I was used to walking to school in 3 feet of snow and not being able to see the roads for weeks at a time.  (Disclaimer:  When it snows even a little bit in Portland, it can be dangerous because of all the rain turning to ice on the roads so the "winter freak out" really is warranted.  Just funny.) Here's a picture of our friend Cindy enjoying the early morning snow.

I'm not really quite sure how Cindy came to be part of our family.  I'm pretty sure she was one of the many creations that my husband made with the kids when I was off at the gym or on a run or something.  She's always around now though.  She even helped us pass out candy on Halloween while we went off to trick-or-treat.  She's so excited about the snow!

This weather even makes for some good early morning cross training.  Nothing like some good "sled pulling" intervals to get your heart rate up AND win you brownie points in the mom department!

Gratitude Cards
On another note.  It is great having a daughter that can write now!  My 5 year old was in charge of our gratitude cards this year.  These are the cards everyone will write on before our Thanksgiving feast.  And yes, I make everyone share around the table.  Even though I get some eye rolls and groans of complaint about this, I know that deep down, everyone appreciates this tradition.  This is what happens when you take a teacher out of the classroom.  My traditions only get worse the longer I'm not teaching.

Running to Relieve Stress
I know that lots of blogging runners have written about how running helps to make them feel better and have more to give as a mother, wife, and person, etc.  I think this topic will come up again and again in my life and as I continue to read other blogs about running.  There is really no replacement for what a Run can do for my mood.  Last night I was feeling stressed and overwhelmed with all the noise in the house, the list of things to get done before Thanksgiving, having so many people needing me at once, the puddle of wine all over my floor from the bottle that my 16 month old knocked over....it was all just a little too much at once!  Before going to my book club down the street, I went on a short but fast run around the neighborhood.  It was truly as if I could feel the stress of the day just melt off of me with each step.  Every stride, every breath was making me feel whole again.  I came home, grabbed my book and purse and headed off to book club feeling like a new ME!  I'm so thankful for Running.  There is no better medicine for renewing my spirits, clearing my mind, re-energizing  and refocusing on the important things in life.  Running is definitely at the top of my Gratitude List for Thanksgiving and every day!


Amanda


I know many of you are blogging about Shutterfly Holiday cards, you already have plans for your cards, or you just don't have any interest in holiday cards but if you are interested in getting your Holiday cards for free this year (or know of someone else in your life who would appreciate free custom designed cards or birth announcements), check out my Giveaway!