Marcus 5K & Smalltown Fair {Curing #NOtivation}

This past weekend I traveled 2 hours north to my hometown for the biggest event of the year...The Marcus Fair! I grew up on a farm outside of Marcus which has a population of around 1200 people, but if you added in livestock we would be about the size of Omaha ;) What Marcus doesn't have in population it makes up for in heart! Being home for the fair always feels like being part of a big family and it is always great to see old classmates or kids I used to teach swimming lessons to.

I'm Linking up again with Mal Smiles and Life Oceanside to stay fit and cure #NOtivation!

Friday

Sisters Finally Reunited after over 2 months apart!

Got into town around 7 pm and after hugging my wonderful family, my sister and I headed up to the Methodist Food Stand for some delicious food! I met up with Trisha, Anna and Kelli at the bar and headed to the street dance. But only one drink for me because the next morning was the day of the big race! Unfortunately my mom had made some amazing O'Henry Bars (I will have to post the recipe on here!) and I inhaled them when I got home late at night...Not a good idea for running bright and early in the morning!

Apple Pie, Taverns, Taco in a Bag Oh My...

Day old Piglets!

Anna and I (Soon to be roomies in the Spring!)

Marcus Fair Partner in Crime - Trish!

Yes, We got carded...

 Saturday

All those oats, sugar and peanut butter from the bars must have fueled me decently for the 5K because I got my second best time for a 5K. My goal was to be under 29 minutes but I got 29:52 which I was still happy with. This 5K is special to Marcus because it is in memory of Michael Letsche, Hunter Heidesch and Sawyer Leavitt who lost their lives at a very young age. Sawyer Leavitt was friends with my brother and we had a moment of silence before the race started to remember these wonderful guys. 

My sister, mom and aunt Nancy participated in the 5k and my Aunt Nancy, Grandma and cousins did the 1 mile walk. After the race I showered up fast and returned to the fair to set up a stand in the fair buildings to display my Etsy Shop Items . At 4:00 pm we watched the parade and then shortly after Trisha, Brendan and I went to Germantown for some broasted chicken! 

Ready to Run!

Aunt Nancy (2nd place in her age category!)

Something Beautiful Inventory on Display at the Fair

Look at this Cutie!! Little Brady Man!

Ready to Catch A LOT of candy at the Parade!

Sunday

Went up town to watch some of the mud volley ball tournament and also try to sell some more items for my shop. I received several custom orders and sold a few items so that was exciting! The fair always goes by too fast and when I was little it was especially sad because it meant school would be starting within the next weeks. 

Mud - Volleyball Tournament 

Taelyn with Uncle Kyle

So whether you are running in a small town 5K this summer or a big city Marathon, stay Motivated! No matter what the distance is it is worth the effort ... just try not to eat a whole bar of O'Henry bars before the race ;) 

Curing #NOtivation { Link Up } and Paleo Update

Hi Again everyone! There is just too many good link ups today! I'm linking up with Mal @ Mal Smiles to help cure NOtivation! Her blog is a fitness one I love to follow and she got this idea for a fitness survey from another one of my favorite blogs PB Fingers. I follow both of these ladies on Instagram and they help me stay motivated to be my best healthy self! Before I get to the survey, I wanted to update you guys on how the paleo/Whole30 trial is going. I actually really like it. I love that I can eat fruit and haven't really missed bread or pasta too much. However vacation with my family was hard. Thankfully we like our steak :) and when we went out to eat I was always able to stay on track by having a grilled chicken salad or hamburger with no bun. The hard part was desert! I don't know what it is but when I'm around my mom (that might be a lame excuse for indulging) I want chocolate, pie or anything sweet and yummy! Whether it was s'mores, apple pie on the 4th of July, or DQ ice cream...I was having desert every day! Whoops! But hey I was on vacation right?!?! But I am back to being strict about no processed foods and sticking with meat, veggies & fruit! 

#NOtivation Fabulous Fitness Survey

1. What did you eat for breakfast?
I had some lightly salted almonds and a banana
2. How much water do you drink a day? 
I try to drink 1.5 liters or so. I never really keep track but I try to have a glass of water every hour.
3. What is your current favorite workout?
Well right now I am training for a 5K and 10K coming up so running has been my go to. But I love Zumba and also enjoy Turbo Kick classes

Mud Run!

4. How many calories do you eat a day?
Every since I started the Paleo thing I haven't really kept track. But I would say usually it is around 1500 calories.
5. What are your favorite healthy snacks?
I like apples with peanut butter or baby carrots
6. What do you usually eat for lunch?
Usually a salad or chicken breast
7. What is your favorite body part to strength train?
Probably my legs with squats or lunges
8. What is your least favorite body part to strength train?
Probably my abs because it is so hard to see results
9. What are your “bad” food cravings?
Ice cream, brownies, cookies...you name it
10. Do you take vitamins or supplements?
Yes, I take a prenatal vitamin every day
11. How often do you eat out?
Probably once a week. On vacation it was every day but we can't keep up that lifestyle. I love eating out because preparing meals takes so much time and it is hard with just 2 people in the house.
12. Do you eat fast food?
When I'm at work I eat Subway a lot and occasionally I will go through McDonalds or Starbucks. Usually I go to McDonalds for breakfast after work but that is probably a couple times a month.
13. Who is your biggest supporter?
I would say Alex and my sister are my biggest supporters. Alex is a great motivator and I love talking with my sister about our workout goals.
14. Do you have a gym membership?
Yes ;) here you will see why my gym membership is so important! I am a member at 24 hour fitness. I bought 2 years in advance so it was cheaper and even though in the summer I don't go as often I try to get there for the zumba and turbo kick classes. I have a community of ladies there that take classes every week and I like going to see familiar people :)

Outside of the Gym where we met!

15. How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
Haha! This is such an odd question for me because I work the night shift! When I sleep when it is actually night time out I usually get 8 hours. But sometimes during the day I will be lucky if I get 6 hours. However when I am trying to switch back and forth between nights or days, I end up sleeping sometimes for 10-12 hours at a time. I know it is shocking and seems lazy of me but I am what I like to tell Alex, a Professional Sleeper!! I know the importance of getting some extra hours of sleep rather than working out and my body can tell me when I need to choose the pillow over the sneakers!
16. Do you have a “cheat” day?
Yeah sometimes. Or I will have "cheat" items like another slice of pizza or a few cookies. Usually my "cheat" days are centered around big events like weddings or graduation parties.

17. Do you drink alcohol?
Yes

Kendra's Bachelorette party!

.... but vary rarely. It has become less and less each year. I have a great husband that doesn't drink hardly at all either so we don't have to have adult beverages to have a good time.
18. Do you have a workout buddy?
I try to have Alex as a workout buddy but he doesn't like to run because it makes him "too skinny" (must be rough!) My favorite workout buddy is in Rochester, MN right now..My SEESTER!
19. What is the best thing that has changed about your life since committing to a healthy
lifestyle? 
I would have to say that I feel better, I don't eat a lot of crap so my body doesn't feel the effects of that food. And the weightloss or at least maintaining my weight is a plus too! And I have energy to do the things I enjoy like hiking or running.
20. What was the last healthy thing you did?
I ran 5 miles around Lake Zorinsky in Omaha. It was a great change of scenery from my usual run around my neighborhood and it was exciting not knowing what was around the next turn!

Tuesday Topics - Favorite Quotes { Link Up }

Hello everyone and Happy Tuesday! I love Tuesdays because it is of course Tuesday Topics with Lauren @ LiveLoveLauren. This week's topic is 3 favorite quotes which is such a small number because there is so many amazing quotes that really tug at my heart. So I have narrowed it down and if you ask me tomorrow, I would probably have 3 different favorite quotes..But here ya go!

(Oh and Thanks to Pinterest for displaying my fav quotes on beautiful backgrounds)

1 // You find out what is really important in this world when you see others that have less than you! My integrity to help others has sky-rocketed in the last few years because of the work I do at the hospital, pregnancy center, Moore OK and my time in Tanzania, Africa. You find out your true morals and values when lending a hand to others. You make the choice when you want to help and how far you will go to help! 

2// This verse explains the promise Our Lord has for us no matter what our circumstances on this earth are! He will care for you, He will fight for you and He will provide. The struggles of this world are just of this world and our True Treasure is in Heaven!!!

3 // This verse has so much in just 14 words! It embraces Feminism, Optimism, Strength, Faith, and Perseverance. When I see this verse I am reminded to hold my head tall because I am a Daughter of a King and my worries of the future can be lost in the Grace of God he has provided me with!

Forgive but not Forget { Link Up }

This Week's Question: 

"What does forgiveness look like? At what point do you realize it's time to forgive and move on if someone takes advantage of you?"

I'm linking up with Kalyn and Lauren for a Coffee & Conversation topic question. I like opening up by posting my thoughts on various topics that stray away from the typical weekend happenings or recipes. Forgiveness is something that I think we learn more and more about with each year of our life. I recently celebrated a birthday and aside from the parties and gifts, the most important aspect of a birthday remembering how much you have grown and thanking the Lord for giving you another year of life! I believe my knowledge on forgiveness will change with each decade of my life. When I was in my teens I was hurt by lack of forgiveness from my friends and I'm sure I hurt them by not asking for their forgiveness. And by my twenties I have really looked back on those instances and realized how much I have grown from them. No one wants to dwell on their past wrong doings or focus on the times when their heart was broken but remembering how they changed you into the person you are today is very crucial. 

So we have to choose. Decide the times when we face the person with new confidence and strength or turn away from that person knowing that they can have a place in your past but not in your future. And I think that by 25 I have learned the difference between those two times. I have learned enough to know what my next decade of forgiveness will look like in my thirties and beyond. But there is one important thing to take away with this new realization! Forgiving does not mean forgetting. Or should I say remembering. There are plenty of times where I have questioned if I have really forgiven that person or event because I keep remembering it or them. The answer to that question is they are two very different things! How can we expect something that impacted our lives and our heart so much to just be lost. The depth of our heart should not be limited to remembering only the times where we were correct or where others have treated us fairly. 

So remember but do not dwell. 

Forgive but don't feel that there is a need to forget. 

Your soul can hold the good and the bad but your future will embrace the AMAZING!

And how have I come to understand forgiveness better? My the one Man who has Forgiven it ALL! That Man who died on the cross for My Sins and Yours. His blood set me free and by knowing He has forgiven All of my sins I don't have to be weighed down by how I have treated others or how they have treated me. And that example of unconditional love and beautiful Grace has allowed me to work harder to become a better person! 

June Cara Box Exchange & Day 3 Paleo Up-Date!

I had my first experience with the Cara Box exchange this past month and it was great! The exchange is sponsored by Kaitlyn @ Wifessionals and is a wonderful month long event where bloggers and non bloggers can be joined up with a couple ladies to get to know and exchange $15 packages with. I had the pleasure of being matched up with Brooks @ Cotton & Boots and Desiree @ Macke Monologues.

These two ladies are energetic, busy women that found time to really get to know me through emails and my blog! The whole Cara Box experience was awesome and I'm just sad I missed the deadline to sign up for the July one!

Desiree is a wife and mom to a little boy named Marcus (also the name of my hometown..weird huh?!) and she was actually in Omaha and the surrounding area while we were communicating! You can check out her blog to see what I gave her :)

Brooks is a southern sweetie that is engaged and pup mom to two adorable dogs! She was spot on with her carnival package and we even sent a lot of similar items! I would laugh every time I would read her new blog posts and was blessed to be matched up with her for my first Cara Box experience.

 

 

Off to the Carnival we go....

 

 

 Kobe was excited to see what we got too and he even helped me open it!

 

 

 

Sweet card from Brooks that had a little story explaining each item in the package!

 

1 // Glow Sticks & Sparklers - Just in time for the 4th of July

2 // Pinwheels - I will use them for some crafty projects :)

3 // Sunblock (non-oily stuff that I can't bring myself to spending money on, so I was really excited about this item!)

4 // Animal Crackers - Classic and were devoured within 5 minutes of opening my Cara Box

5 // Firecracker Red nail polish - Love the color and will be painting my nails TODAY!

6 // Glade Lemonade Scented Candle - This sweet fragrance filled up the whole box and the candle is already in my kitchen to bring the smells of summer indoors! Brooks said she bought one to so we will have matching smelling houses ;)

 

What a great idea and wonderful experience. Connecting women through blogland and gifts!

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Paleo Update!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am trying the Whole30/Paleo eating lifestyle. I have worked 12 hour shifts for the first days of going Paleo and I have learned that preparation is key so that I don't succumb to carbs and junkfood on those long nights at the hospital. Sunday I prepared hard boiled eggs and frozen fruit salads.

 

Strawberries, Bananas, Pineapple and a bit of OJ

 

Now if you are critiquing my Paleo ways you may notice OJ is not allowed. Well to really give these fruit salads a kick I had to add a little ;) The hard boiled eggs were a great end of the shift snack and the fruit helped quiet my sweet tooth! My main meals have consisted of salads with chicken sausage or chicken breast and cashews are yummy when you are still a little hungry. Plus I'm half tempted to just snag a foley catheter from the stock room because I have been gulping down water which leaves me heading to the bathroom about 4 or 5 times a shift.

So after 3 days I feel pretty good and have a decent amount of energy, but I will always miss chocolate!

Paleo Here we Go! & Tuesday Topics {Link Up}

 

Here I am at 3 am finally getting my second wind at work! The lovely Theresa made some fresh Folgers coffee so I'm ready for the remaining 4 hours of work!

Some of you may remember that I was doing a low carb diet. I heard about it from a co-worker and thought I would give it a shot. It did teach me some self control but I found myself tired a lot of the time and honestly really missed fruit! I have always been interested in "clean eating" and have heard a lot about the Paleo or Caveman diet. It honestly makes a lot of sense and I always wondered about the fat content when I was doing the low-carb diet and eating endless amounts of cheese.

2013 must be the year to try all different diet fads because I gave up chocolate during Lent, tried the low carb for about 6 weeks and no am on to the Paleo diet for 30 days (and if I like it and see some results then I will try to stick with it) But I guess this just means 2013 will be the year I find out what works for me :)

 

So here's the deal...I've done my research. And after stupidly questioning what "legumes" were (they are beans if you didn't know) I feel like I'm educated enough on this eating lifestyle and have prepped plenty of boiled eggs and frozen fruit but I think I will end up going back to the store in the morning for some almond flour, ground flax seed and almond butter. The biggest goal of this challenge is to do the Whole30 thing, which is 30 days with unprocessed foods. The first 5-7 days are the hardest but once you get over that hill and your body no longer "craves" junkfood then it gets much easier. Here is the website I am following. I love this paragraph on the site....

[[ It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Quitting heroin is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You won’t get any coddling, and you won’t get any sympathy for your “struggles”. YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime. ]]

And that is the mentality that I will have for these 30 days. I will think of my dear loves in Africa that do not have the luxury of "choosing" a diet plan that is right for them. I will think of the terminal cancer patients that I take care of that can't bear to keep down any type of food because the chemo is just so strong. If they can do it, I surely CAN!! So follow me as a drink my weight in water, eat more lettuce than Peter Cottontail and oh yeah..add yet another pinterest board entitled Paleo // Whole 30.

 

- Disclaimer - My Cheats -

1. Dash of milk in my coffee 2. Gum (the program states that gum confuses your brain and also has processed stuff) 3. Salad Dressing (I use the slightest bit on my salad and if I'm going to be consuming a ton of lettuce I'm going to need to spice it up a little) 4. Saltine crackers occasionally while I am at work...sometimes I feel like passing out if I can't sit down to eat and instead only have time for a 2 pack of crackers while I'm passing meds.

1 // I believe in a Thing called Love by The Darkness - One of my favorite songs to workout to and always reminds me of high school when I was obsessed with this song and would always request it at school dances. The middle of the song has a killer guitar solo which I would rock the air guitar during!

2 // Mambo #5 by Lou Bega - Senior dance finale song for my last recital! The costumes were great, I had a small solo part in it and the dance was tons of Latin fun! I still remember bits and pieces of the dance sequences

3 // Thriller by Michael Jackson - Halloween Halftime show in college where our dance team dressed up as zombies and perfected the exact choreography from the Thriller music video! The audience loved it and we always text each other whenever we hear the song because it brings backs so many great memories.

 

 

 

Zombies!!

 

4 // Streets Have No Name by U2 - Senior year of college Jazz routine where we got 2nd place at state and performed the routine at Nationals in Minneapolis. The choreography was amazing and intense. We cleaned this routine over and over and our hard work showed off!

 

5 // Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath - This song always reminds me of my trip to Tanzania. The lyrics describe my trip and how I was able to see through God's eyes and witness a group of people that were hurting. I often think of this song and remember how God uses us for specific works we are set out to do.

Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see

Curing NOtivation

Sometimes after working 3 twelve hour night shifts in a row by my fourth day I just want to veg out on the couch with a frozen pizza and watch some reality tv but I know my waist line wont thank me for that later! Everyday and every meal I'm thinking about my health and even though I sometimes don't always make the right choices I still consider myself a healthy person and strive for that silhouette I have in mind for my body!

 

 

I think that my goal towards a in shape body comes from my many years in dance. Every since I was 4 years old I have been in a studio lined with mirror walls, leotards and tights that leave little to the imagination. My dance teacher always motivated us to be confident and proud of our "ballerina posture" and explained that it is completely normal for a dancer to glass at her reflection in a shop window every time she passes one by because we are always aware of our bodies.  I am so grateful that I have this dancer mentality and dedication to hard work is something that will never go unnoticed.

I ran track for a couple years in high school but always cursed running when I was younger. It wasn't until I wasn't told how far I had to run or how long I had to run that I really started enjoying running. Now I strive for that runner's high and am always looking for the next 5k to sign up for. This summer I'm excited to even do my first 10k and have set up weekly mile goals so that I can finish the race strong. There are a few things that I attribute to "Curing NOtivation"...

 

 

My Husband //  I mean we met at a gym so you know the guy is fit ;) He usually works out about 4 -5 times a week and eats relatively healthy. He is a great motivator to keep the junk food out of the house and go for a run instead of sit on the couch. I also used to despise running in hot weather. If it was warmer than 80 degrees there was no way I was running until the sun went down. But now after he has pushed me to run laps in 90+ degree weather I have come to enjoy the nice sweat I get out of it! And I love doing fun things like Mud Runs or Warrior Dashes with him. He is my own personal trainer and will give me encouragement when I am feeling to tired to go on.

 

Pictures // yes this may seem a little superficial but all women do it, they like to look nice in photos. Us girls pose in certain ways, make sure there is the right lighting or angle just so we don't look half bad in a picture. In photos I take I want to look back on them and remember that moment rather than focusing on how chubby my stomach looked.

 

My Career // I am a nurse so promoting health and wellness is my business card! I see my patients struggle with Diabetes, COPD and congestive heart failure....all of which get worse with added weight gain. Nursing is a stressful occupation but I don't want to use the excuse that I don't have time to workout or eat right because I have a difficult job.

 

 

Healthy Competition // Keeping up with my friends and my sister when they are working out is a big motivator. One of my sister and I's favorite things to do together is run or any type of workout that we find on Pinterest. When she is home on holiday breaks we try and at least one workout together and we are always sharing our daily exercises together so that we can motivate the other to keep hittin up the gym!

 

Chocolate // pretty self explanitory... I workout so I can eat what I want and not feel AS guilty about it. Yes I would probably see more results if I didn't endulge in the occational brownie here and there but what fun would that be!

 

 



#1 Cause of Death in America & {Topic Tuesday Link Up}

I have to share something that has been on my heart a lot lately. Yesterday while at work at AAA Center for Pregnancy Counseling I picked up a book that I noticed on one of the desks there. It was called "Unplanned" and tells a story of a women who worked at Planned Parenthood for 8 years before realizing what was happening right before her eyes! Right away I started reading the book because I was curious as to what she had to say about this unique change of heart experience she had. I couldn't put it down and was almost brought to tears by just the first few pages.  I will continue to read it and do a book review in the months to come!
We had a difficult case while I was working yesterday too. A woman came in that was pretty determined that she knew the outcome of her pregnancy would be an abortion. But by the will of God her heart opened up and she was willing to consider being a parent! I see things like this all the time at the center and am so over-joyed to be part of this great organization.

Last night I went for a little jog and did a HIT workout that lasted about 20 minutes. After that Alex and I watched Identity Thief which we both found to be pretty hilarious! I loved all of Melissa McCarthy's little comments like "Stop being a Vagina!" 

Then right before heading to bed I stumbled upon this blog post and found that yet again God was placing these poor women and helpless babies on my heart. H.R.1797 is a House Bill that, if passed, would ban abortions after 20 weeks due to the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. At 20 weeks if a woman is going to have in-utero surgery, the doctor would administer pain medication to the baby, however if an abortion is performed at the same week gestation, the baby would receive NO pain medication! Astonishing isn't it? Thankfully, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry who is the representative of my district and Congressman Steve King who is the representative of my hometown district both co-sponsor this House Bill so I know their stance on the issue! I had to do some research and it was interesting to see that on this site  you can follow the bill as it goes through legislature. I pray that these lawmakers defend these women and babies!

On a MUCH lighter note.... I am linking up again for Topic Tuesday! This week is 6 Favorite Products.

1 // Caribou Coffee - Just the best! Unfortunately the closest Caribou coffee shop is in Sioux City but luckily I can still buy the grounds at Hy-Vee

2 // Advocare Nutrition Bar - best tasting energy bar I have tried and I really do think it fuels me for a workout! (sometimes you wonder if it is just all mental) This is the Double-Chocolate flavor I got from my Mom for my birthday. Each bar has 140 calories and 10 grams of Protein 

3 // Mod Podge - A must have for me with all my DIY projects!

4 // Kindle - Great summer accessory poolside or long roadtrips. Currently reading "Gone Girl" 

5 // Soysationals Inspirations Candle - This was a gift from Alex. One of his co-workers makes these and I have to remember to get more! These candles actually smell continuously whether they are lit or not! They have a strong warm fragrance that fills up my basement bathroom.

6 // Psalm 51:10 Mosaic Decor -  Shameless plug for my Etsy Shop :) This honestly is one of my favorite products in my shop and if you want your very own feel free to contact me or comment below!

Have a great & blessed Tuesday everyone!