Running to Aisle

Where has the time gone?!

2012-02-16T22:44:00.004-06:00

Oh lord. It's been quite crazy lately. How on earth is February almost over?! And where did January go? Yikes! I realize I spent two full weeks at home with family during January and that seemed to take up most of the first month of 2012, but oh my, things have happened.

I've been hitting up the gym a LOT recently. :) I've decided I really love the gym and will be heading there continually. Added bonus that I'm getting in shape. The local YMCA here is really awesome and offers a lot of classes (though I've tried none), has a heated pool (which I have also not been privy to jumping into), but does offer a 7 week program to work with a trainer who customizes a plan for you and checks in with you weekly to see how your progress is going and set new goals. My trainer's pretty lax, so I don't have that much contact with him, but the plan he's devised is awesome and kicking my tushie. In fact, my tushie looks quite nice as of lately to be more precise.
I shall take the derriere of one Blake Lively, please. thankyouverymuch.

The name change on the blog is more about reminding myself of my good intentions. You see, my plan is literally to begin running, and continue to run until the day we get married (hence the "Aisle"). So far, between my workouts I've been doing really well. I'm hoping after my first 7 weeks are through on the program, then I can start switching up some of my other workouts with some of the classes offered (Spin, Bootcamp, yoga, etc.) as well as start training for a half-marathon for the fall. All things aside, I'm looking into CHaD Marathon in Lebanon, NH in October (anyone interested in a road trip, perhaps???) I miss running outside, but I've found that the elliptical and Arc trainers are quite a lot nicer than the dreadmill. Except 20 minutes on the Arc trainer are really hard after you've already done a circuit of leg workouts and lunges. Just sayin'

I finally finished The Help. Hello, best book of the last decade! Ok, perhaps an exaggeration, but I seriously fell in love with the book. It was, hands down, amazing. The movie was also quite good and I find that I really want to watch it again, though I don't want to burn myself out with how much I loved it. (Above is a shot of one of the cutest parts of the movie. Oh, Miss Celia...) I've picked up Jane Eyre again, which I left off about 100 pages in or so, and am continuing that. Seriously, I love me some Victorian Lit, but it takes about 100 pages to actually feel like you've gotten somewhere. I know, doesn't exactly sound like a barrel of monkeys, but I've finally gotten to the good and juicy parts. For those of you willing to subject yourself to the newest version of the movie instead of the almost 600 pages, I'd highly suggest it. Doesn't this make you want to fall in love all over again? ::sigh::

Rochester, how your tortured soul makes my heart skip a beat.

Yes, dear readers, I am a complete wacko.

Many wedding things have happened, but I'll keep that for another post (very soon, loves, very soon).

xoxo
-c

Re: Bible Study

2012-01-16T20:19:00.000-06:00

Well, hello Ladies!!!

Ya'll had some amazing advice. Thank you very much for your comments. Both churches that I've visited have bible study classes, but I felt sort of out of place at those churches and will need to go back a second time just to see how I feel about them before I branch out again and try something completely different. I should preface this by saying that in visiting both of those churches, we visited on weeks when the normal pastors were out of town, and so an intirim pastor performed the services. This is quite possibly not the best of time for me to make judgements about their services or about their normal congregation. I think going on another Sunday is a good way to start more research, just to check out if the atmosphere is different when their regular pastor is preaching.

With that said, I do believe I'm going to have to find the will to check out other options. I definitely want to explore more and see where things will lead us. More importantly, I need to learn to be ok with going outside of my comfort zone to check out other options. (Anyone else have this problem!?)

In other news, I've been in Wisconsin for the last 2 weeks and have had an amazing time visiting family and friends. I hate to leave all of my old friends here, but I do need to get back to my "normal" life....or what's normal for me these days. Even though I'm so far away now (again), I have some of the best friends a girl could ask for. They constantly have my back, they support me and my decisions, and they always know just what to say. They understand my history and background because they've lived through it. There's nothing like those friendships you made in elementary and middle school. I've been very blessed and lucky that in moving all over the country, I've had the opportunity to make close friendships wherever I've been....something I never thought possible. Thanks to all those people who have stuck by me as I've made these crazy transitions! I know it's not easy, but you all mean a great deal to me! :)

I have many more things to share and certainly some photos need to be posted soon, but for now, I'll sign off with that quick note about my spiritual journey. As always, I'll try and keep you posted about the rest of the journey! :)

xoxoxo
-c

Question to ma ladies!

2012-01-15T12:43:00.001-06:00

So, as a part of the new year, new me, I'd like to start reading more spiritually focused books. Now, I want to supplement the Bible with some eastern philosophy, but I'm sorta between a rock and a hard place. See, I'd really like to start going to a bible study, but I can't find a church I like. The ELCA Lutheran church in town doesn't really fit my style and the Unitarian church doesn't seem like "church" to me. I really should check out some other churches, but like most Lutherans, I find it hard to step outside of my comfort zone and into another church denomination.

I really want the fellowship of others and to have a down and dirty, gritty conversation about faith with others, but I can't seem to find the right venue to do this. Meanwhile, it seems hard to rekindle faith and to have a great discussion with myself.

Does anyone have suggestions for this? What would you do?

New year, new lifestyle

2012-01-06T21:51:00.001-06:00

Well, this is probably the happiest I've been with the blog page in awhile. I like the font, the layout, the banner's ok (could maybe use a tweak or two), and it looks cleaner. Less cluttered. Definitely less color and pizazz, but it's simple. Simple is what I'm going for.....

In other news, I'm updating via phone, so hopefully no mistakes but if there are some, that's the reason. Don't blame the English teacher for a small iPhone screen, k? K.

I'm also updating from Wisconsin!! Woohoo!!!!! I'm here for 2 weeks to visit family and friends and have been blessed to see a friend of mine who is visiting from South Africa! Love her!! Photos will come soon!

I'm so excited to start this! Owen bought it for me for christmas. I love me a shiny new, glossy book!!!
New reading material? This baby:

Well, "Running..." Still has Some Work to do...

2011-12-30T21:02:00.000-06:00

I'm not thoroughly enjoying the layout, the style, or the font that's going down on the blog right now, but I'm still playing around with it. I'm no pro, and since blogger has decided to change around a lot of things in the past, well, like 8 years I've been blogging with them (another story in a second), I haven't exactly kept up with the change in times. I'm now officially one of those "old" people who says that they can't keep up with the technology. (At least in the blogger world...ha!~)

So, perhaps it is still a work in progress, but I've nonetheless decided that I needed to write tonight. Not for anyone but myself, but rather that I just needed to get a few things out in the open to clear away some bad things I've been carrying around with me.

That other story I said I'd get to? Oh yeah, my history with Blogger....well, some of you know I wrote another blog. A blog that I still feel is very near and dear to my heart. One that I typically use to just write openly. Things about fascinations with the world, cute and intimate stories about interactions, philosophical thoughts and ideas, musings about life's existence and how my own body plays into the world. It's something I find very organic. It's raw. I don't use it to discuss everyday crap that bogs us all down. It's my creative outlet. With that said, sometimes I say too much in that format, and other times it can become something that I do not want it to be. With that, I'm telling you this. It's something that, no matter what the world says about it, is something I find beautiful and uplifting. I found intense joy in it while an undergrad, and my lack of writing as of recently has torn apart my head. It's something that needs to continue in my life and something I've fought with keeping. Writing is a therapy; it's a way to reconcile with the world. It's a necessary part of who I am.

Secondly, this blog is mostly an open forum for friends and family to see what's going on, what I'm thinking, questions I need to ask a large group of friends who are far away from me....and so the list goes. It may not always be filled of pictures, it may not be the top "hit" of the month on google, and it certainly isn't always an accurate portrayal of what I think is the most important. Yeah, I talk a lot about stupid little outfits and what I think is a fun new gadget, but I by no means think that's the most important part of life.

If you're still reading at this point, it's probably because you can actually stand to listen to me write about how life is, well, something I can't always understand and something that just happens. If you are still reading, thank you for sticking with me through some hard times when I haven't written, when I haven't kept in contact, and when I quite frankly haven't been a great friend. There are many things to reconcile in 2012 and I'm hoping to lead a more fulfilling (for me) life in the new year.

So, goals for the new year everybody....? What's on your list?

Here's a preview of mine (thus far, and which may need amending/revising...)

Do a 10 day cleanse diet to rid the body of toxins
Begin a running training plan to build up to a 5k, 10k, and half marathon for 2012.
Battle my bad eating habits (enough for another entire post which will follow...)
Follow the 10 day cleanse diet with a vegetarian/vegan diet
Go gluten free entirely and not look back!
Check out other classes at the gym (spin, pilates, bootcamp, etc.)
Start a compost bin
Write regularly (including hand written notes to friends, more email contact, and definitely more phone calls to catch up with my friends all over the country!)
Skype with friends over a glass of Wine (Who's in?!?!?!?!??!!?)
Focus more on continually growing the mind by reading things that stretch my mental capacity.

I know there's no pictures, no fancy bells and whistles, and nothing to keep you visually interested on the page thus far. But, as my last part of 2011, I want to say a big and hearty Thank You to all who continually stand by me and read this. You are the ones who keep me going, and who motivate me daily to push myself into seeing things from a new angle, and who challenge me to be better than the day before. Thank you.

Overhaul.

2011-12-08T22:31:00.001-06:00

Ok, so it's no secret that this blog has been doing some transitioning with new layouts as of lately....like within the last 6 months. We've gone from a few different backgrounds to something newer, but I'm still not happy with the layout, colors, format, etc.

On top of that, I'm thinking the blog needs a complete overhaul. New background, new banner, new theme, and a new attitude. Yes, I use my blog to post questions to my friends from far away, I use it to update family (sometimes), I upload pictures from our life, try to include what's going on around here, and attempt to make it interesting. I sometimes post things about food, about attempts at healthy living, thoughts on fashion, crafting photos, and pet photos. In short, my thoughts are diverse, change from moment to moment, and occasionally include verbal diarrhea. (Oh yeah, and I have no filter. Whatevs.) So what is this blog really about? A whole bunch of random stuff rolled into one, or does it really have a cohesive theme about my (read: our) life?

My answer to the latter question is no. I'm thinking that before the new year comes, I need to get with it and get this blog back together (if it ever really was together, actually) and make things less scattered. So, with that said, I'm thinking the blog may take a completely new form. I'm not quite sure what it will be just yet, but I'm pondering what's going on in this world of mine and how I want to show my life on the interwebs. (HA! I seriously love to call it that. I'm ridiculous.)

There has to be a way to organize this blog into something I'm proud of rather than something that I'm just not all that excited about. While I'm spending the next few days thinking and trying new ideas, don't be alarmed that the blog looks different. And, to be honest, it may look different many times over while I'm trying to figure it all out. Because, let's be honest. I'm still trying to transition my own life and figure that all out.

I leave you with this. This much, I know to be true.

I am a work in progress. I am an ever evolving person. I believe in the evolution of the soul and healing that comes from within.

DIY shoes!

2011-12-07T12:25:00.001-06:00

So I had a pair of pretty Boooooooring black wedge heels that I really loved from years ago, but haven't worn at all lately....yet, I still dragged them across the country in our move to New England. So.....what's a girl to do? Make them a Re-do!

Before, the wedges were plain black (and very drab), but now, they're a very shiny shade of fab!

Christmas at our house!

2011-12-07T10:26:00.001-06:00

Well, I haven't blogged much lately, so I'll just do a picture post for today. More for updates later, I have lots to post about and a lot that I need your help with! For the meantime, here's a little about what's been happening here!

I'm publishing from the blogger ap for iPhone, so I hope this all works!

Xoxo
-c

Warning....there may be preaching involved.

2011-11-02T12:33:00.000-05:00

So, over the course of being back in civilization (and by that I mean as far away from Tennessee as possible right now), I've been toying with the idea of being vegetarian again. Thinking about how little I know about where my food comes from and how ethically it was brought to my local market and then to my dinner table actually makes me sick in the stomach. I'd love to say that I purchase all items from a co-op, or from my local farmer's market, from a local garden, or what have you....as long as I know where those products come from and how they made it to my place of purchase. All of these things would be wonderful to me, and to be honest, would be honorable. HOWEVER, and there's a big however here, funding keeps me (us) from doing this. Going to the local co-op, though close to our home and within walking distance, just isn't feasible for how expensive these things are. At the local market we actually do shop at, things are considerably better priced for our budget and we can then afford to have more flexibility with what we use to feed our little family. This makes it very difficult for me to want to change up my ways....

Now, here's my question for all of you on a budget....Do you plan out your meals ahead of time and only purchase what you need to make those meals, or keep staple items in your house in order to make whatever you'd like on the spot? Typically, we have a bunch of staple things in the house and I throw together dinner based on what we have and what we're in the mood for. This tends to work out pretty well for us, since we change our minds (and schedules) frequently. But, I always feel a bit unorganized doing this and it makes me a bit anxious. (Hello, Anxiety, you and I are best friends...)

That brings me do my next point.....
If you start buying local, organic, blah, blah, blah....where does the slippery slope stop? Does that mean that I should (ethically speaking), feed my dogs only organic, vegetarian food? Do I try to switch my cat to a different brand (different type of...?) cat litter? (Side note: cats are carnivores. I hardly think it's fair to my little, sweet Cedric to switch him to some vegetarian cat food-if that even exists..) What about my laundry detergent? My hair products? (Um, duh, that's important....) Do I start composting, and how do I do that in the winter? What if we move? Questions, Questions, Questions!!!! I just feel like if I do one, then I need to do the other, and then that's a complete lifestyle change that I feel will impact us a bit more than I was going for in the first place...

I know that in reading some of the things that I do, or by being interested in certain things, I bring these questions on myself, but I really feel like I'd be a hypocrite if I followed a practice in one part of my life, but not others. In fact, it doesn't seem fair to me to be "green" in one area of my life, but not in others. What if I decide to be vegetarian, but not switch my shampoo and later find out that my brand has been tested on animals? I mean, really, that doesn't seem fair to me and it isn't fair to those animals either. By spending my money on a product that I like, I may actually be doing more harm than good. (Yes, the philosopher in me comes out every now and again, even though that was my "fun" major. I am, in case you didn't already know this, a Utilitarian. Props to John Stuart Mill....I really think he was on to something.)

Then, I have yet another question..... Owen and I have a roommate, another Intern in the program who is totally awesome and a great roommate. We typically buy all of our groceries together and then split 3 ways. It's easier on the budget, I cook meals for everyone, and it cuts the costs down a little bit for everybody involved. BUT, roomie is very much a carnivore and red meat eater. (Owen and I are typically not red meat eaters and I almost never eat it, though do on RARE occasion.) So far, we've split what little red meat we've bought, but if I go vegetarian, I'm going to have a hard time making meals for 3 people that will satisfy everyone's hunger. Do I have to cook separate meals for myself (which is ok, but makes things tricky), or do we start to worry about meals separately? To me, that doesn't seem like a very nice thing to do.

So, I need some help my friends in making a decision. What are your thoughts?

P.S. I'm sorry for the looooooooooonnnnngggg post without pictures! I know those aren't much fun to read, but I needed to vent and get some feedback. LOVE you guys!!!!!!