{Friend Makin' Monday - How Do You Celebrate?}

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please add your links there too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

 How Do You Celebrate?

1. When is your birthday?  September 7
2. Do you like to celebrate it or do you prefer to keep it quiet?  I'm more the low-key type for birthdays. Dinner out with family and/or a few friends is all I need.
3. Have you ever had a surprise party?  Yep, I think it was my 20th birthday. My college roommate, Charity, arranged the whole thing. She got me!
4. What sign are you?  Does it represent you well?  I'm a Virgo and per Wikipedia "....people born under this sign are quick-thinking, observant, and analytical." Yep, that's me.
5. Do you tell the truth about your age?  Yep, no reason not to.
6. Share your best birthday memory.  21st birthday.... Went out with college girlfriends to the Longbranch. We had a great time and when it was time to leave, we'll just say I was a little "happy". I fell (hard) in the gravel parking lot and somehow came out without a single scratch. I swear, I had a liquor bubble guarding me.
7. Share a few item that could be on your birthday wishlist.  I'm never good at making lists for gifts...Some clothes, perfume, and a VitaMix :-)
8. What is your favorite kind of cake?  Good 'ole yellow cake with chocolate icing
9. If you could be anywhere on your next birthday, where would you be?  We'll be at Disney World! Perfect!
10. Do you make a wish when you blow out the candles?  Yep!

 Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions!  Don’t forget to  link up in the comments!  

{Friend Makin' Monday - Summer Fun}

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please add your links there too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Summer Fun

1. What is your favorite summer fruit? Hands down - watermelon!
2. Do you know how to swim? I do. Growing up at the beach made me quite the little fish.
3. Do you prefer sun or snow?  I am a sun girl! I wish that I actually liked snow :-/
4. What temperature do you like most inside your home?  This one is kinda tricky. We just got a new AC and are trying to get things figured out. Right now, our AC is at about 76.
5. Is it humid where you live?  Uh, without a doubt! I love summer, but I'm not looking forward to the humidity in July!
6. What is your favorite food to put on the grill? The hubs and I will grill just about anything. I do best with chicken and pork on the grill though. Still getting my technique right with steak and seafood.
7. Do you prefer to wear a one-piece  or two-piece swim suit?  I like tankinis - full coverage, but I don't have to take the entire swimsuit off to go to the bathroom.
8. What is your favorite summer drink?  Strawberry daiquiri!
9. Do you prefer the pool or the ocean?  Ocean
10. What are you looking forward to most over the summer?  Lots of things - trip to Blowing Rock/Boone with my in-laws, training for several fall half marathons, beach/pool time, vacation in September, etc.

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions.  Don’t forget to link up in the comments at www.alltheweigh.com!  Happy Monday, friends!

{Starting from scratch...}

Well, kinda....

It's no secret that my running has suffered terribly since my surgery in November. During the winter it was entirely to cold and the cold breeze bothered my incisions. In the spring, my heart and soul just wasn't in it. Now, here I sit, 6 months after surgery, starting fresh.

This past Saturday, I went for a "test" run with the Raleigh Galloway group. I have been running for just under 3 years using Galloway-esque training methods, but hadn't ever run with the group. I know his run/walk/run method is the ticket for me because I've run 6 half marathons by run/walk/run.

Anyway... I've always been a little "Judgy McJudgerson" about the group because they are so huge! I wasn't sure that it was a good fit for me. Due to not being able to always coordinate schedules with my running buddies, I realized that the accountability and structure may be worth a shot.

We met at Capital RunWalk in Cameron Village around 6:45 a.m. I quickly found some of my NCRC Women's Beginner Running Program buddies and chatted for a bit. Suzanne and I ended up connecting with the 11:30 pace group for 6-mile run. The run went from Cameron Village, down Clark Avenue through Meredith College (loved running through my alma mater), and back.

I'm not going to rehash the entire run, but here's some highlights:

• It's nice to have a large group, even though it seems a little impersonal at first.
• The run felt awesome! Normally after a long run, I'm exhausted. After the run on Saturday, I helped my mother-in-law with her yard sale and subsequent clean up. The hubs and I also went out wtih some frinds. Not once did I wish for a nap!
• I was able to stay toward the front of the 11:30 group the whole time. I may even try the 11:00 group next weekend.

So, here's to a great season with Galloway! (and maybe a full marathon in the future...)

{Friend Makin' Monday - Questions and Answers}

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please add your links there too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

 Questions and Answers

1. Do you use coupons?  Not really. I always intend to, but always seem to forget
2. How often do you weigh yourself?  I try not to weigh more than once a week, but often it is more than that.
3. What was your favorite TV show as a kid?  The Cosby Show
4. How often do you drink alcohol?  Once a week, maybe
5. Have you ever met a celebrity or public figure that you really admire? Nope
6. If you had to choose between only your cell phone or only your laptop all week which would you choose?  I'd pick my cell phone
7. What is your favorite brand of detergent?  We use Arm&Hammer or Gain
8. If there was a movie about your life, who would play the role? I have not a clue in the world!
9. What book are you currently reading?  I just finished Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom. I'm probably going to go for something in the chick lit genre next.
10. If you could spend one day on vacation anywhere in the world, which place would you choose?  A beach, with beautiful turquoise water!

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions.  Don’t forget to link up in the comments, and say hi to someone new!  Happy Monday!

{Pictures!}

Jason and I haven't had professional pictures done since our wedding day, just over 7 years ago. The pictures we've had taken of us since then are few and far between, and usually are selfies.

Last spring, we had made arrangements to have pictures taken, based on a recommendation from a friend. About 2 weeks before the appointment, the photographer and I were emailing back and forth about locations, etc. In that email, she finally confided in me that they were nervous about whether they'd be able to get good pictures of Jason (he's got a startle reflex that doesn't love camera flashes), etc. So, that revelation scrapped pictures...

Jason and I talked a little more about it and decided to postpone pictures until after my surgery. We thought it would be nice to celebrate the "new me" and celebrate us. I've been following Laura Case on Twitter for a while. She's friend with several people I knew. At some point in the fall, I finally asked if she'd be willing to take pictures for us.

Three weeks ago, Jason and I met up with Laura at Sears Farm Park in Cary. We met around 6 p.m. because Laura thought the lighting would be best at that time. Usually, J is a little hard to photograph. I think Laura knew that she just had to keep interacting with him and keep him on his toes!

Laura said they were going to be fabulous before we left that evening... Boy was she right, look at these!

Laura mentioned this one in her comment, so I had to add it.
He does do this a lot! That boy!

Laura also took some pictures of us by ourselves. I love these! Look at my cute husband!

Had to have a hat on for one!

It might sound a little silly, but I really think that Laura caught the "new me" perfectly. I think she actually got genuine smiles out of me.

Thank you Laura! 

{Friend Makin' Monday - A Little About Me}

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please add your links there too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

A Little About Me

1. Have you ever experienced love at first sight?  I would say yes...The very first time I saw my husband, I just knew it was going to be different...
2. What channel is your TV on most? Our TVs float pretty evenly between ESPN for the hubs and HGTV for me.
3. Share one quality that you’re proud to have.  How can I say this without seeming pompous? I think that my ability to show care through service is a great quality.
4. Describe your idea of a great evening.  So many choices... I think take-out and a movie is probably at the top of my list.
5. If your friends were asked to describe you in three words, which words would they choose?  Bossy? Tough? I don't know. Just might have to ask though.
6. What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas
7. If you could change one thing that would make your life easier instantly, what would it be?  I'd wish for more outward self-confidence!
8. What is one healthy food that you crave?  Cucumbers
9. Do you wear socks when you sleep?  If it's really cold, I'll climb in bed with them on but they are usually off my feet within 30 minutes or so.
10. Share at least three things for which you are thankful.  I am thankful for my hubs (7th anniversary today!); my best friend (Margaret) that's stuck by me though everything; and all my other friends (running, CrossFit, work, etc.) that bring so much to my life every day!

{Our 7th Anniversary}

Today, Jason and I celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary. Time sure does fly....

Seven years ago we were joined in marriage in front of our friends and family at Forest Hills Baptist Church in Raleigh, followed by a beautiful reception at the Albert Coates Local Government Center. Every day that I go to work, I get to walk through parts of the building where our reception took place and it still makes me smile.

In our seven years of marriage, we've been through our fair share of ups and downs, all the while working things out together.  While we may not always agree, but we are partners through it all and do our best to compromise on all things - big or small.

I am so thankful that the powers that be saw fit to have Jason and I meet. I am even more thankful that our relationship grew and we were later married.

(Truth be told, I am kind of a brat so he's had his work cut out for him. Glad he wanted to take on that challenge!)

(Classic Olan Mills pose - thanks Laura Case!)

Here's to many more years together!

{Essure procedure}

First things first, what is Essure? Essure is a non-surgical permanent birth control. It is hormone free and works with your body to create a barrier to prevent pregnancy.

I was diagnosed with PCOS in August 2001 (Read more here, if you want). Since that time, I have been to multiple doctors to try to understand my "place" in the world as far as having kids goes, etc. Since getting engaged (in 2005), Jason and I have hemmed and hawed about having children. While we would love to see little Regan and Jason running around, we know that it would be more challenging for us in many ways.

In 2005, I was pretty much given the "no go" on kids. Because of my medical issues, Jason and I were told we'd have no choice than to go through fertility treatments. That began an internal tug-o-war... We could go through fertility treatments and have multiple scenarios - 1) get pregnant with 1-2 babies; 2) get pregnant with 2+ babies and possibly of subjected to "selection" (and I refused to even consider "selection"); 3) not get pregnant at all. Jason and I discussed our options, the financial aspects of it, and decided that biological kids just weren't in the cards for us. We agreed that I would continue to take birth control "just in case" until another non-hormonal option became more available to us.

In 2006, I made an appointment to speak with my WHNP about non-hormonal birth control options. I had grown increasingly tired of the shift in my mood, etc. because of birth control. We discussed the Essure procedure during the appointment. At the time, I still wasn't 100% comfortable with ending the possibility of having children.

Fast forward to 2012... The issues with PCOS, including cramping, mood swings, etc. had become increasingly hard to manage. I also was diagnosed with Celiacs disease, adding even more complications to our life together. Also, in November 2012, I had my tummy tuck. Since that time, my body has been adjusting to it's new "shell" and doing odd things. These odd things were causing more issues than they were worth...

In March 2013, I made an appointment with my WHNP to discuss my options again. I made it clear that I preferred a non-hormonal option, but wanted to understand all my options. During my appointment, we reviewed several options: 1) IUD (scared of that because of Brandy's situation); 2) Essure; 3) Tubal ligation; 4) go off birth control and just "see"

On Tuesday, April 16, I went to my ObGyn's office for the Essure procedure. It went something like this:

• Night before - Take several medications to soften/open my cervix. Enter pretty severe cramping overnight.
• Arrived at doctor's office at 10 a.m. 
• Around 10:30 a.m. - Taken back for nurse to insert IV for anesthesia (I chose to "go under" anesthesia, much like the anesthesia for a colonoscopy.)
• Drug-induced nap began around 11:15 a.m.
• Essure procedure completed
• 12 noon - Taken into room for monitoring, etc.
• Back home by 12:30 p.m.

It's been about 3 weeks since my procedure and I am glad that I did it. I still have to take my birth control for ~2 more months. Three months from the date of the procedure, I will have a HSG at Carolina Conceptions. That test will (hopefully) show that my fallopian tubes are blocked and that Essure was a success.

While our decision to permanently end my fertility may not be right for everyone, its the right thing for us. I'd recommend this procedure to anyone that's done having children as it is probably the least-envasive option possible.

{What a month!}

Oh my! My blog has been totally neglected for the last month. Rest assured that even though our life has been pretty hellacious, we've done our best to maintain some semblance of normalcy. This is what has been going on...

April 15 - Twice yearly HVAC system service

April 16 - I had the Essure permanent birth control implanted. (More on that later, hopefully)

April 17 - AC stopped working. Noticed (at 9 p.m.) that the secondary drain pan was full of water. (At least the sensor stopped it from overflowing and causing damage.)

April 18 - I had a work conference at UNC-Chapel Hill that I was helping "sponsor"/run. Due to the AC, I had to miss the afternoon sessions.

Newcomb & Company checked the AC in the afternoon. The repairs to the AC were going to be significant because of the parts involved. Jason and I decided it was best to replace the system vs. band-aiding a 15-year-old system. This was the beginning of ~18 days without AC (Thankfully, the weather cooperated!)

April 19 - A staff member from Newcomb & Company comes to give us a quote on new AC. During his visit, he inspected our hot water heater (we have HydroHeat) and sees that it was improperly installed. We were informed was a carbon monoxide poisoning and combustion hazard! Eeek!

Drama for the remainder of the day, including but not limited to: City of Raleigh called to report improper installation; City of Raleigh called PSNC to turn off the gas to condo; Multiple phone conversations with neighbor serving on HOA about the safety of neighbors that had same guy install their hot water heater; Newcomb & Company installed new hot water heater (to replace relatively new hot water heater); City of Raleigh inspector visits condo; etc.

Was told that person that installed hot water heater was not a licensed plumber and did not have hot water heater inspected after installation. Began "campaign" to make sure all my neighbors were safe. Most of our neighbors are older and probably don't know how the water heater should be installed (I sure didn't!).

Week of April 22 - The week was full of multiple conversations with our HOA, State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors, etc. Spent many hours working on 48page document to submit to the State Board of Examiners regarding the gentleman that installed our initial hot water heater. On Thursday evening, I had a long conversation with an older neighbor that had the same person install her hot water heater. It broke my heart when she started crying because of how scared she was :-(

Week of April 29 - Neighbor that serves on HOA Board "took over" hot water heater issue for condo complex. He was able to get some of our money back from gentleman that installed hot water heater in 2010, so long as I promised to notify the State Board (guessing he thinks that if he compensates us he won't be in as much trouble).

On Thursday and Friday, the 2-day installation of the new HVAC happened. Habitat ReStore removed old hot water heater from our deck. My mother-in-law and father-in-law spent all day Thursday at condo and MIL scrubbed the entire deck for me. Hubs stayed home on Friday while AC was being installed. One advantage of 2 days at home - was able to get lots of home projects done (resealed J's roll-in shower; re-caulked shower; re-caulked kitchen sink; etc.)

So, the saga with the hot water heater will continue, but I am hoping it will be relatively painless. I am sure that I will have to be interviewed at some point by the State Board, but they should have plenty of helpful information from my 48page complaint.

Jason and I are really hoping that things are finally getting back to normal! April has been quite drama-filled and I would love a couple of drama free months.

{Let's Go Rays!}

The hubs is a huge Tampa Bay Rays (previously the TB Devil Rays) fan. He's been a fan of the team since they were terrible and his love of the team has never waned. The Rays AAA team is the Durham Bulls and it's neat to get out to games there knowing that those guys will (hopefully) make it to the "big time" soon after leaving the Triangle.

Anyone that knows the hubs, knows he's hard to buy for - especially at holidays. So, when I was trying to come up with something fun for Christmas, I decided to look at the Rays schedule. It worked out that they would be in St. Petersburg for a home stand at the beginning of the season. I started working on the trip in September/October and was actually able to keep it a secret until Christmas morning (yes, this was beyond difficult for me!). With the help of some connections, it worked out such that we were able to go to 1 spring training game, opening day, and an additional game.

Here's a summary of our week with some pictures:

We drove to Florida on Friday. Our plan was to leave by 7 a.m. and stay in Altamonte Springs on Friday evening. We got on the road late and finally made it to Altamonte around 6 p.m. We were able to visit with Margaret and Branden that evening, complete with dinner at Harry Buffalo.

Got a bit of a late start on Friday, but once we were properly

loaded in my car and caffeinated - off we go!

 

I think I now officially hate South Carolina. Traffic started at South of the Border and

didn't clear up until Georgia. (We all know how great that was for my patience.)

Lunch at Ferg's and Rays spring training

Dinner with friends...

A new mead and my favorite cider

And some baseball....

It's safe to say that this kid (well, and me too!) had a good time. He's already plotting when we can hop in the car and head to another game.

{A little rough patch}

As I said in my post yesterday, I've been going through a bit of a rough patch recently. Between the less than stellar weather and dealing with a few minor healing issues associated with my surgery, my motivation has been lacking. Yes, I have been exercising and being careful about what I eat - but, I haven't really been feeling it. 

Over the weekend, I realized just how much I have missed running with my girlfriends. Since my surgery, I have tried to get out and run with them a few times, but the weather hasn't been helping. The (relatively) intense cold early in the morning "hurts" my incisions and waiting to run until mid-afternoon on the weekend just wasn't an option. I updated my half marathon plan and will be running the Midtown Race Series Half Marathon on June 1. I have exactly 8 weeks to get my sh*t in gear to do this race and I am gonna do it. Now, to convince my girlfriends to run with me....

Anyway...today ended up being just what I needed...  I got lots of motivation from different sources and that seems to be just the ticket to helping my mojo come back.

See what I mean?

1. A municipal official that I haven't seen since October came to the office today. When I went to the waiting area to get him, he didn't recognize me! Then he whispered in my ear how nice and happy I was looking.
2. I walked into CrossFit at lunch and a fellow athlete asked how much weight I had lost and said I was looking great. As always, I said "...Not really...I've actually gained weight..." Another athlete piped in and reminded me that I'm developing stronger muscles and "... (I) sure as hell look skinner!..."
3. We were working on our 3 RM on the back squat at Raleigh CrossFit today. I think Coach Bobby sensed my frustration with the weight on my bar. He asked my 1RM and and quickly discussed the current weight, etc. After our quick exchange, I was able to do a 110# 3RM. When I told him he said that I needed to remember the leaps and bounds I had come since starting in July and starting back after surgery.

Then, I got this from my friend, Mary:

Top 5 Ways to a Better Life according to Dave Grohl (An interpretation of his Keynote speech at SXSW in Austin,TX)

1. No one is you and that is your biggest power. “It’s YOUR VOICE. Cherish it. Respect it. Nurture it. Challenge it. Stretch it and scream until it’s f**king gone because everyone is blessed with at least that, and who knows how long it will last . . .”  

“Who’s to say what’s a good voice, and what’s not a good voice? The Voice? Imagine Bob Dylan sitting there singing ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ in front of Christina Aguilera.”

2. Don’t be afraid of not fitting in. “I can truly say out loud that ‘Gangnam Style’ is one of my favorite f**king songs of the past decade. Is it any better or worse than the latest Atoms for Peace album? Hmmm… paging Pitchfork! Come in, come in, Pitchfork! We need you to help us determine the value of a song! Who f**king cares.” Don't be someone who designs their lives to impress others.

3. Give a damn about yourself.  It’s about taking care of yourself so you can be a better human being. A 2.0 version of you is way more equipped to help others in need. Take up yoga if you’re stressed. Ask for a big raise. Walk away from a relationship that is abusive or draining. Or just take a nap, for Christ’s sake.

4. Be humble.  No one wants to go to lunch with a supermodel who says things like, “My cheekbones, if you’ve noticed, have a similar incline to an escalator.” One thing I’ve noticed is that if you are good at something, people will acknowledge it. Appreciate the hell out of those people. Should you be blessed enough to have the fortitude to work so hard at something that people celebrate you, your first reaction should be gratitude. And know that there’s a ton of people out there from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds who can still teach you something. I don’t care if you’re Bill Clinton or Jay-Z – always be learning; always be improving.

5. Spark a revolution.  

Always have the highest bar for yourself. Wake up everyday and no matter how crappy you feel, want to change something for the better. Do something that makes someone happy. Create something that inspires someone. Be someone’s light when they are hopeless.

 

{Friend Makin' Monday - Ten Questions}

I've been remiss in posting. Not sure why, other than just not being in the mood. I enjoy maintaining my blog and sharing my thoughts/experiences with others so hopefully I'll be back on the blog-train soon!

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Add your links there too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

 Ten Questions

1. Describe the kind of home you would live in if money were no object. I don't think I would change the fact that we live in a condo. I think I would change the size and configuration of our home and update our kitchen. That's about it. I love our condo!
2. Are you more conservative in your actions or more rebellious? I am definitely a rule-follower and more on the conservative side.
3. Would you go to Mars even if it meant you could never return to Earth?  While I think it would be interesting, no. I would miss my family and friends too much!
4. Name one song that makes you want to dance every time you hear it. No clue - not much of a dancer here 
5. Share one thing that you wish you could go back and do differently in your life.  I have a few people that I would apologize to... There have been times in my past that I have been very mean to people and/or said some very unkind things because of issues involving others. That wasn't fair or appropriate.
6. Share at least one accomplishment that people wouldn’t expect you to be proud of.  Does being able to put contacts in on the first try count? I am abnormally afraid of things being in/near my eyes.  I talked to my eye doctor because I wanted to try contacts again, after having not used them for 5+ years, last week. She gave me several sample sets. I was freaked out the first time I tried to put them in, but they went right in! YAY!
7. Describe one delicious thing that you’ve eaten lately.  Might seem a little silly, but a See's milk chocolate bar...  I only get them at Christmas and I try to savor them. I had a milk chocolate bar for dessert last night and it was so good!
8. If you had a theme song that would play every time you entered a room, which song would you choose?  The music questions are so hard for me! I can hear a song and know that I like it, but if you ask me the name of the song or the artist, I'm clueless - Hence, not being able to name songs :-)
9. Has technology enhanced your life, or has it over complicated your life?  I think that technology has enhanced my live in a kinda over-complicating way. What I mean is this - it's made it easier to have resources, contact with others, etc., but it has also made things that much more difficult. We can't go to a restaurant for a nice meal with family/friends without checking FourSquare/Twitter/Yelp/Facebook; we don't visit people in person the same way we used to, etc. Technology has it's plusses but we have to know where to draw the line.
10. If you could get paid to do any job, which job would you choose?  It might sound a little silly, but I would be a professional meal planner, organizer, etc. There's something about getting organized (and helping others do the same) that feels awesome.

{Friend Makin' Monday - Pondering Personal Thoughts}

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Add your links there too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

 Pondering Personal Thoughts

1. How old would you feel if you didn’t know how old you are? I'd say late 20s. I don't feel like I am over thirty, but at the same time I am not quite as spunky as what I believe college kids may be.
2. Are you the kind of friend you’d want to have as a friend?  I'd like to think that I am. As an example - With my friends, I try to be understanding yet try to provide some kind of guidance in tough situations and that's what I'd like from them.
3. Look back at the last year.  When did you feel most excited about something in your life?  I was most excited about my surgery. I talked about it constantly from the time I made the decision (April) until the day of surgery, and still talk about its impact on my life a fair amount now.
4. Have you ever been with someone and not spoken a word, only to walk away thinking that was the best conversation ever?  Yep, awesome isn't it.
5. If you won 100 million dollars Monday, would you continue doing whatever you usually do on Tuesdays?  I would. I love what I do 95% of the time, even though I complain sometimes about the petty BS. I have to say that I would request some changes in the amount of time I work, but I would still work.
6. What would you do differently if you knew no one would judge you? That's a hard one... I don't know that there's anything I would do differently.
7. Share something you do differently than most people. I am a notorious counter and scenario-maker. When waiting for something, even something as simple as a response to a question I count how long it takes the other person. I also over analyze everything by creating possible scenarios/outcomes.
8. What’s one thing that you really want to do that you’ve never done? I'd love to parasail. I'd a big baby and probably never will, but I really want to!
9. If you had to move out of state right now, where would you move? I'd move to Florida - it would make the hubs extremely happy and my best friend lives there to boot!
10. What is the one thing that you’d like to change most about the world?  I would remove mean. I wish that everyone could just try to be nice to everyone else. Being mean does no good and ends up hurting more people than it is worth.

{CrossFit Open 13.1}

If you've ever been around someone that CrossFits, surely you have heard about the Games and/or the Open. Well, the Open is upon us. 

The 5 Open WODs determine if someone is able to go to Regionals, then on to the Games. Some people at my box are strong enough, mentally and physically, to get to the Regionals. I didn't sign up to participate in the Open, but I decided early on that I was going to do every WOD that I could.

Last Wednesday, 13.1 was announced. One of the athletes at Raleigh CrossFit commented on another's Facebook that the WOD seemed right up their alley. My comment wasn't nearly as encouraging - "Holy mother. Now I see why they make people sign up/pay before announcing..." So what did it look like?

Oh lookee there - snatches and burpees - lovely! Have you ever heard someone say they love burpees? If you answered yes, then that person was on drugs ;-)  

Just because I wasn't going to be submitting scores didn't mean I didn't want to do my best. I thought through my strategy for the WOD - quick on the burpees and do the best I could on the snatch. Thankfully, there was scaling on the snatches for those of us not going the open - 35#/45#/75#. 

As Chennelle reviewed the performance standards and gave us some encouragement, I got a terrible case of butterflies. Not sure where they came from but I knew I was gonna kick the WOD before it had an opportunity to knock me down.

I got through the first set part of burpees/snatches/burpees. Then I started on the set of 45# snatches, and I couldn't get the bar above my shoulders, no matter how much I propelled through my hips. I was on the verge of tears and quitting... I finally called out to Chennelle and said "I need help...I wanna do this, but I can't get the bar up..." She told me to just drop the weight and kick the WOD in high gear. So that's what I did. I finished the WOD with 165 reps.

I feel pretty dang proud of myself. I could have easily given in to my physical and mental limitations, but I didn't. I did the best I could do for this WOD and that's all that matters.

Bring on 13.2!

{Friend Makin' Monday - Food Questions}

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Add your links there too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Food Questions

1. What did you eat for dinner last night? Grilled chicken breast from the inside of a fast food sandwich 
2. If you could make one food calorie-free for the next year, What would you choose? My Granny's chocolate cake.
3. How often do you go to the grocery store? I do our "big" shop once a week. I will go 1-2 more times during the week if we need fruit/veggies or if something wasn't available when we did the weekly shopping
4. Do you make a list before buying groceries? Yes. I am one of those crazy planners. I am the type that if it's not on the list, it doesn't go in the cart.
5. List three things that can always be found in your kitchen. Apples, sweet potatoes, crushed red pepper flakes
6. How often do you clean out your fridge? When you say clean out, do you mean scrub or clean out old food? The food is checked constantly. The fridge is scrubbed once a month.
7. Do you ever use a slow cooker? If so, will you share a recipe? I love using the slow cooker. I still remember getting the one I have now and how excited I was that it went to "warm" when the time was up! Share a recipe? Hmmm... How about Filipino Pulled Pork. It's my friend Mary's recipe, but she recently shared it with Meghan and me.
8. How often do you try new recipes? We try to have at least one new recipe a week. It isn't always a main dish, but most of the time the newbie is.
9. What is the most delicious meal(s) you make? Without a doubt, I think that the Aimee's Quick Chicken from AllRecipes will always be at the top of my list. It's got a good combination of flavors and it brings back great memories because it was the first meal I cooked Jason when we were dating.
10. Share at least one thing that is currently in your kitchen even though you don’t like it.  Hmm...I can't think of anything. Maybe the RedBulls in the fridge that belong to the hubs?

{Friend Makin' Monday - Almost Spring}

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Add your links there too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

 Almost Spring

1. What do you love most about Spring? The lovely weather - not to hot and not too cold.
2. If you’re lucky enough to have a Spring Break, what will you do to enjoy it?  We don't have Spring Break, but we are taking a vacation at the end of March. It'll be a nice "spring break" trip. We're going to Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida to see the Tampa Bay Rays play one spring training game and 2 regular season games.
3. What is your favorite flower?  Gerber daisies! They are just happy flowers.
4. Do you have a garden?  If so, what do you grow? No, unfortunately. We live in a condo and it just isn't the best environment for gardening ;-)
5. Share one thing that you hope to accomplish during Spring.  I'd like to get back into running (for real) and improve my time. The spring weather is the perfect time.
6. Do you do Spring cleaning?  The hubs and I are generally pretty neat/clean people so a ton of spring cleaning isn't needed. I usually do take the time to declutter closets where stuff has been shoved in a hurry and been forgotten.
7. What is your weather *really* like right now? {Just b/c it’s almost Spring, doesn’t mean that it feels like it for some of you.}  It is cold today. I thought it was supposed to be nice this week and I was greeted with 32 degrees during my morning commute.
8. Share one photo that you’ve taken during the month of March.  Sadly, not a single picture yet!
9. What’s your favorite thing to do on a sunny afternoon?  I like to go sit outside at a bar/restaurant and relax with a nice beverage.
10. If you could spend the day doing anything in your city, what would you do?  I'd like to go have a nice picnic at the Art Museum and maybe see a special exhibit.

{Victory}

Chennelle, owner and coach at Raleigh CrossFit, has a knack for writing the best blog posts at just the right time for me. When I see them pop up on the Facebook page, I get a little bit weirded out because it's like she's been in my head ;-)

 

Today was no different:

“I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies, for the hardest victory is victory over self.” – Aristotle

"Competition. Is the competition against others or within yourself? Or is it both? The goal should be to be the best you can be. For each athlete, their best is up to them. The best could be entering a competition. The best could be getting the bar into a good overhead position. The best could be continuing to work on pull-ups, push-ups or muscle-ups. The best could be winning a local competition or completing a workout in the time you decided you would finish in."

 

It's no secret to most people that know me that I am not super competitive, well, at least not with anyone else. I grew up as an only child, so I didn't have siblings with which to compete. This was an advantage and disadvantage because all it did was fuel my competition with myself.

 

At times this innate desire to compete with myself causes issues, as it has the past few weeks (or months). I guess it started right after surgery - I wanted so badly to get back out there and go for a run or to CrossFit and I couldn't. I knew better than to try and F things up that I had worked so hard for. When it was finally time for me to get back to working out, my competitive streak was in overdrive. Needless to say, my body didn't cooperate with my brain and all I did was get more and more frustrated with myself. But...

That competition with myself has kept me moving in the right direction. I could have very easily just stopped going to CrossFit, or skipped out on every single run. I didn't though. Each time I did a workout, I set a goal - run 3 minutes without stopping, use XX pounds of weight, do XX pull-ups, etc. The runs were shitty not so great. The CrossFit WODs weren't at the heaviest weight. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter than I wasn't the quickest runner on the greenway or one of the first to finish the WOD. Each time I was out doing a run or going to CrossFit, I was beating a goal I had set in my head and that is pure victory.

{Weekly Menu - last week and this week}

Not sure what has been going on in my head for the last 11 days, but I haven't really felt like writing. I blog simply to have a place to express my feelings and I guess I haven't really wanted to deal with the crap in my head. So, here's to trying to deal with some of the BS...

Thought I'd start with a relatively benign post - the weekly menus. We only plan meals for Sunday through Thursday on a regular basis. Most of the time we end up out to eat on the weekend and/or figuring out a meal with ingredients we have on hand.

Week of February 17 to 21:
Sunday: Garlic-y Chicken; Quinoa Pilaf; Brussels Sprouts with Bacon (We were out of town for the weekend. My in-laws invited us over to dinner as "payment" for teaching them how to use their new iPhones.)
Monday: Swordfish; Roasted Butternut Squash Slices; Sauteed Broccolini
Tuesday: Grilled Chicken; Quinoa Pilaf; Steamed Veggie
Wednesday: Pork Stir-Fry
Thursday: Easy Chicken and Spinach (adapted from PaleoOnABudget)

Week of February 24 to 28:
Sunday: Pepperoni Pizza Casserole (from Tessa - The Domestic Diva)
Monday: Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps (from PaleoTable, adapted from Skinny Taste); Roasted Sweet Potato; Steamed Sugar Snap Peas
Tuesday: Sauteed Shrimp; Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Wednesday: Grilled Pork; Roasted Sweet Potatoes; Sauteed Spinach
Thursday: The hubs is on his own! I'm going with some girlfriends to look at wedding dresses with Mary!! Yay!

{Review - Backyard Produce}

One of my goals this year is to reduce our grocery bill slightly, while also incorporating higher quality foods into our meals. At first, I thought I could depend solely on the Farmer's Market, but realized getting out there every week might be more "trouble" than it was worth. During the summer, I don't mind going out to the Farmer's Market during lunch, but going in the winter and perusing all the produce isn't my idea of a fun way to spend my lunch hour (it's too dang cold!).

I attended a Paleo Cooking Seminar at my box a few weeks ago. Raleigh CrossFit had arranged for Food Simply Fresh and Backyard Produce to provide information on recipes and their services in an effort to make our healthy eating choices easier and more accessible. As I listened to the presentation, I realized that Backyard Produce could help me achieve my goal.

(Source)

What's Backyard Produce? 
Backyard Produce is pretty much an online Farmer's Market. They offer (mostly) locally grown, farm fresh produce delivery to a large part of North Carolina, from Charlotte to the coast. The biggest difference between Backyard Produce and other vendors is that I have choices and it is year-round. Other vendors charge a fee and you get what you get, during summer months only.

So, how does it really work?
When signing up, you are asked to select the amount of produce you want delivered based on the needs of your family. Based on the type of basket you choose, you are allotted a certain number of points. Each week when the order page/"marketplace" opens online and you simply log-in and select the items you want. Your order must be placed by Saturday night and all then all you have to do is wait on your delivery.

Thoughts on my first order...
I placed our first order late last week, to be delivered yesterday. I selected the "Family of Four" basket because of the amount of produce we consume in a week. The staff at Backyard Produce assured me that if this was too much, I could email to downgrade.

Upon placing my order, I received a confirmation email, with an order number. My order was correct, but I assume that if there had been an error or if I needed to change it, I could have so long as I made the Saturday night deadline.

Our delivery arrived sometime yesterday while we were at work. Since we live in a condo, I asked that they leave the box in the foyer/mailroom area. I was pleasantly surprised to see it by our door when I got home - not sure if a neighbor let the delivery person in or if a neighbor brought it to our door... Either way, I was excited to open the box.

So, here's what we got for ~$45:

(1 bunch) NC Rainbow Chard; (2) Baby Broccoli/Broccolini; 

(1 lb.) Green Beans

(2 lbs.) NC Sweet Potatoes; (1-2 lb.) Butternut Squash; (1 lb.) Carrots; 

(6) Navel Oranges; (6) Apples (Fuji/Pink Lady/Granny Smith); (2) Limes

I was excited to get the box open last night. I was slightly disappointed with the broccoli. It was totally my fault - I thought I was ordering "regular" broccoli. But, as any foodie would do, I figured out a way to prepare the broccolini and we'll be having it for dinner tonight. 

All-in-all, this looks like it's going to be a good thing for us. We had the chard last night and I had an apple with my breakfast this morning. So far so good! Looking forward to seeing what's available next week!