I interrupt this regularly scheduled Marathon Monday for a bit of a panic attack. I started writing this blog post in my head last week as I started to look ahead at my running schedule. The miles are building and so is the unknown. To train to run a marathon, most programs have you running at least four times a week with one of those runs being a long run, as I am doing. Each week you increase both the distance of your long run as well as your total weekly miles. Soon my long runs will be passing the half marathon distance (13.1 miles) which is uncharted territory for me. The unknown has me a bit nervous, so much so that I'm feeling nervous even when I go out for a "short" run. Regardless, I still get out there. Marathon training has definitely been valuable practice in routinely facing fears. So last week, my long run was twelve miles. I faced my fear and I did it! And it felt good. I thought I had maybe turned a corner. But then I came home with an achy ankle that did...

Last night, while my hubby enjoyed a night playing cards, my girls and I enjoyed a night of cookie baking and movie watching. We began our evening making homemade Oreos recently shared by Bakerella . We had a lot of fun measuring, tasting, mess-making, etc.. The cookie batter turned out awesome, even with different chocolate chips and cocoa powder. Unfortunately, since I'm not the best at reading ahead before starting, I soon discovered that due to a few hours of chilling, we weren't going to be eating homemade Oreos before bedtime (even a fairly late bedtime). Boo hoo! The girls were actually very understanding, so we chilled the dough, watched our movie ( Princess Diaries ), and went to bed. And then the cookie making continued in the morning, because there's no better way to start the day than with fresh baked Oreos! Yum!

I realize that the other day , I was a bit vague. I wrote about the "stories" we often tell ourselves, but I didn't really share my specific "stories." I shared examples of my rewritten stories such as my running and weight-loss, but I didn't share any of my current "stories." Stories of things I've always thought were impossible to change. Things I thought were "just me." "That's just the way I am." And you know why I didn't share? I was scared. I was scared to admit them and face the possibility that things could be different. But I am going to share. So many little things lined up that I need to share. The other day, I came to realize that I've spent a lifetime telling myself one story that I've never, ever considered questioning-- I am shy and quiet . But do I have to be shy and quiet? Do I need to be fearful of speaking in front of people? I can change that if I want to? My head is spinning. Ima...

Here we go again, it's Marathon Monday #2 (continued from here ): Week 1, Day 1 of Couch to 5K ( my first run ): May 1st, 2011 "It felt good to get outside. Running was hard, but short enough to do." ~from my C25K app journal entry When I took my first run last year, it was not love at "first step." Running for even one minute at a time was rough. It was hard on my heart, my lungs, my legs, etc.. But I was determined. I needed to get healthy. Earlier in the year, I had started my fitness journey (another year, another try) by using our elliptical machine while watching TV. As warmer weather and longer days approached, the ellipse became more and more of a chore. TV shows I had been watching while on the ellipse were ending. And it was getting harder to be indoors, with the nicer weather. Not to mention how difficult it was becoming to stay inside among the household clutter that comes with a busy family. I needed a change. So as challenging as it was, the C...

Fall wreath made with wire hanger, burlap strips, and fabric scraps Do you ever find yourself so inspired that you just can't sleep? So inspired that your heart races with excitement? So inspired that your mind races with ideas? I certainly do and that's what I am experiencing right now. I am inspired in so many ways it's crazy. This always seems to happen as we approach this time of year . Fall is coming! I really treasure everything about fall, whether it's the cooler weather, football Sundays, hot tea, and the smell of cinnamon. Family time visiting Apple Hill and local pumpkin patches. Time spent baking yummy treats and making seasonal crafts and decor. Celebrating Halloween and my daughter's birthday and Thanksgiving. What is not to love about fall? And to top it off, the arrival of fall brings us closer and closer to the most wonderful time of the year--Christmas (today marks just 100 days until the big day--Yay!)

Red Typewriter by Mandy Lynne Are you a storyteller? I am discovering that I am. Now, I don't mean the kind of storytelling I started on Monday on with the Marathon Mondays . Not the kind where you are retelling a great adventure or sharing an interesting experience with a friend. Or the kind of stories that you might tell your children about knights and princesses and dragons, etc. I mean the made-up "stories," or lies, you tell yourself, like "I can't do ____, because I'm not _____." Earlier this week, thanks to Tiffany and an eye-opening conversation, I began to realize that I am quite the storyteller. I often tell myself "stories" about things that aren't necessarily true. For instance, I used to tell myself I couldn't lose weight because it's too hard or I couldn't be an athlete because I'm not coordinated. But I finally recognized these things as untrue "stories" so now I've lost 40lbs and I...

I've probably hinted at it, but have I mentioned that I am training for the California International Marathon (CIM) on December 2? My very first marathon. I've been meaning to explore the road that brought me to this decision because prior to last year, my only running experience was playing in elementary school. I never ran cross country or participated in any sports (I was a band nerd). So how did I choose to train for a marathon? Great question. A question that I even wonder about...... a lot. It was an interesting process coming to this decision. Some of which I can't truly explain, but I am going to try. It's kind of a long story and I'm not usually much of a storyteller (that would be my husband). But my running story has become such a huge part of me that I think it's worth telling, even if it's just for me and my family. Life is full of choices and it's fascinating to look back at how some of them are made. Especially the more signific...

This summer, a little over a month ago, I ran my first half marathon. 13.1 miles! For me, it was 2-1/2 hours of running with a brief walk through the various water stations. An amazing accomplishment for someone that struggled with just one minute of running a little over a year ago. So I was proud! I knew it would be a big deal, so I often talked about getting a 13.1 decal for my car window to mark the occasion. And I did! In fact, my family presented me with my new decal just moments after I crossed the finish line and I couldn't have been more excited, or exhausted. I proudly placed that decal on my car window and my heart sings every time I see it. It holds such incredible meaning and memories. I love seeing it every time I open the garage in the morning or walk to my car in a parking lot. As I once again noticed my decal this morning, I had a thought. Wouldn't it be great if we could all have decals celebrating our proudest moments? Something the whole world could see, bu...