Wordless Wednesday

Work Matters // Thoughts After a Year

Well, it’s been just over a year since I made a career field switch. And if you were around back then, you know it was anything but smooth sailing. A brief little recap: In November 2022 I was hired as an “Office Manager” for a university non-profit, but after a month it became very apparent that the job I was pitched was done under some pretenses. It was so bad that I even reached out to my previous employer asking to let me know if they ever had a new position open up. After an employee dismissal, weeks of feeling like a failure, evenings of crying in my car, and then repeatedly requesting more help, I was finally heard. What this non-profit had needed all along was someone who understood non-profit accounting. And that was NOT me. Anyway, to read more about all of that you can go here, here, and here.

In April of this year, I applied, interviewed, and was eventually offered the position of Executive Assistant to a Vice President of our University. I made the jump because I felt my salary at the non-profit was wasting their limited resources. They didn’t need an office manager at all. And with the new person we had hired, everything was running so much more smoothly. Two to three days out of the week I had nothing to do, and that didn’t sit right with me. So, when this new position became available I decided to go for it. It would be in the same building, working with the same teams, and being able to utilize my skills/experience. And as the saying goes “When God closes one door, he opens another.” And that’s exactly how I saw this new opportunity.

Now, a year after being away from Buckhorn, there’s a lot that I’ve been reflecting on lately. There has definitely been a lot of good, but also some bad. There are a lot of things that I miss about working at a smaller company. There are a lot of things, looking back, that I took for granted. On the flip side, there are a lot of things that I enjoy about working at the University. There are a lot of things that I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish, learn, or experience if I hadn’t seized this opportunity. For example, I've been able to take on management/supervisor responsibilities and the university pays for LinkedIn Learning so we can gain certifications of our choosing. Obviously, no job is perfect, and the sooner I realized that the easier it was for me to change how I viewed a job and employment in general. So, here are a few of the things that I miss and some things that I don’t. Plus some things about the new job that I enjoy, and others that I don’t.

Things I Miss: 1) Being paid for overtime. Here at the university, the majority of the employees are on salary. So, if you spend extra time in the office, you’re not getting paid for it. 2) The job I did before. It was very routine, I understood the processes in place, and I enjoyed it. 3) Some of the people I worked with. 4) A bonus at the end of the year. 5) Being able to treat everyone EQUALLY. 6) A small office atmosphere without major formalities. 7) Getting to wear jeans whenever I want. 8) The down to earth customers.

Things I Don’t Miss: 1) A toxic work environment. 2) Not having boundaries - everyone wanted to know everything and it was constantly being used against the person. 3) Gossip and bad-mouthing. 4) Confidential information being disclosed - all of the time. I was constantly informed of how little my income was compared to everyone else’s or how much our boss was spending on other people. 5) Hitting a glass ceiling after 12 years of loyalty. 6) Lack of growth/salary increase opportunities. 7) Having to use up all of my PTO when those who were on salary didn't. 8) Some of the people I worked with. After I left, I was so excited about having a small pay bump (literally $4k extra a year) and I told one of my former co-workes about being grateful for it. Their response was, "That's nice. A few weeks after you left we all got significant raises. I'm making $10k more than I was before."  Talk about throwing salt in the wound.

Things I Like About My New Job: 1) Being able to set and enforce boundaries. 2) Growth and training opportunities for my role. 3) A supportive group of co-workers. This has been MAJOR. I’m lucky to work with some pretty amazing people who WANT to see each other succeed. 4) Having an HR department. 5) Privacy and confidentiality are taken very seriously. 6) Great benefits - though they can come with a hefty price tag. 7) Work-life balance is a big priority. 8) The ability to work remotely if necessary. 9) Wellness release time three days out of the week to prioritize mental health and exercise.

Things I Don’t Like About My New Job: 1) Getting paid once a month - this has been brutal. 2) Mandatory TRS contributions - this is a State Retirement account, but you can’t adjust your contributions. So, currently, every paycheck I get $330 automatically taken out. 3) Meetings, meetings, meetings. So many freakin’ meetings. And sometimes, meetings about meetings. 4) Way too many processes, software, and procedures and not enough training on them. 5) Having to pay for parking - which is why I don’t park on campus anymore. 6) Salary increases don’t happen very often, and there are too many third parties that get to decide how much when they do. 7) No bonuses. 8) Having to deal with a lot of “entitlement” and “superior” personalities. 9) AggieBuy…IYKYK

So, what have I learned from all of this? Well, eventually, I'd love to go back to working for a smaller company. If I could find something with great benefits and decent pay, that would be awesome. Otherwise, I'll have to wait until Emery is off to college before I can make a move. Until then, I'm just learning, growing, and gaining experience. Other than that, my takeaway is that no matter what there will always have to be compromises. You have to have your “non-negotiables,” revisit them often as life can change, and then look for roles that offer them. Or make sure your current role reflects what you want. However, let me reiterate, that no job is perfect. So, for us regular people, the high expectation of having “the dream job” might need to be taken down a peg or two. And while you may want to give 120% to your employer, know that it only leads to burnout. Once you’ve hit that wall, your performance starts to suffer, and then you’re easily replaceable - heck at any point, you’re easily replaceable. And it doesn’t matter if you’re told otherwise, the way I was. So, take care of your mental health, look out for yourself, treat others with respect, and prioritize your family - whatever that may look like. And don’t make your job your life.

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Motivaton

It’s a new week and a new month! This week will include a lot of planning and meetings for me. But then, next week, it will slow down a bit. Maybe not so much in the “meetings” department, but as we get closer to the end of the year our offices start to wind down. People start to take vacations, and some switch to working remotely when they can. But I’m getting ahead of myself. For now, I just want to say, HAPPY DECEMBER! I hope this month is a joyful one for you rather than a stressful one. I hope you’re getting to do something you enjoy or love. Tis the season after all, right? Now, here’s to a new week! Let's make it a good one.

Wordless Wednesday

Let's Run About It // Thoughts on New Goals

On NYE 2022, our running club had a resolution run. Afterward, we set goals for the year and wrote them on our shirts. My two goals were: 1) Run 350 miles total for the year and 2) Run a half marathon by the end of October. With my schedule, I wasn’t sure if either of these would be doable. However, by September I ran my first half marathon distance (non-race). And by the end of October, I had surpassed my 350-mile goal. While I know those aren’t the highest numbers or biggest challenge - they were each something that I worked hard for, and I’m really proud of.

Since then, I’ve been taking it pretty easy. Mostly due to a busy season. Then wedding stuff. And somewhere along the way, I lost the motivation to finish strong at the end of the year. I’ve been averaging about 5-7 miles a week. Those miles usually happen on Saturdays. I’ve also stopped going to the gym - which I really need to pick back up again. And while there are times that I’ve felt a little disappointed with myself, I’ve also tried to give myself some grace. Because sometimes, you NEED to scale back. Sometimes, you NEED a break. And sometimes you just NEED to run without any kind of goal or challenge so you can remember what it’s like to run for FUN. For your health - both mentally and physically. So, that’s what I’m currently doing. And honestly, it has been great. It’s been enjoyable. And also, freeing. This unexpected scaling back has reminded me of why I love to run. And I'm super grateful that this is even something my body can do. 

Now, with this year coming to a close, and our next resolution run happening in 5 weeks I’ve started to think about what I’d like to achieve next year. What kind of goal do I want to set and work toward? I’ve tossed a few ideas around, briefly considered an insane one, and then thought about timing-related achievements. I probably won’t decide anything until we’re closer to NYE, but the wheels have been turning. I’m also open to suggestions or recommendations. And while I have taken a bit of a step back from running, I’m actually pretty excited about what this next year will hold for me. So, here’s to new running goals!

Wordless Wednesday

11.9.23

On November 9, surrounded by our immediate family, Corey and I said “I do.” The ceremony lasted about 3 minutes - exactly how we wanted it. And then we all went to have dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. We had planned to have it outdoors, but of course, Texas weather did not permit it. There was rain off/on the entire day. So, we made do with what we had. And it was perfect for us!

A friend officiated the ceremony. One of my mother-in-laws decorated the room very last minute - with help from her husband and Corey’s brother. My parents and our kids were in attendance. And I was FINALLY able to wear a black wedding dress - something I have always wanted.

We are thinking of having a church ceremony and reception for our first anniversary. Pending - my annulment through the church. We don’t have everything planned out just yet, and it’s still not something we’re 100% set on - highly dependent on funds. Still, we would like to have something that we could include extended family and friends. A celebration of some sort. We’ll see. For now, this intimate ceremony was perfection. 🖤

p.s. We have a lot of photos with family - however, y'all know the privacy drill - so this is all I'm willing to share for now. 

p.s.s. Can you tell I'm a fan of Colleen?  

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Motivation

The time change sucks. There. I said it. As a teenager, I loved when DST ended and it got dark around 6:30 p.m. That meant I got to go out and party a little earlier. However, once I became an adult, and then a mom, it really put a funk in my routine. Pair it with seasonal depression* and you have a recipe for some pretty low times (read: months). Where before I’d throw a bandaid over it with a crap ton of caffeine - my current dietary restrictions do not allow me to have energy drinks yet. So, I’m trying to figure out how to push through/manage it without stimulants. And let me just say, that it has not been easy.

All of that said, it’s November, y’all. It’s a new month! We’re so close to the end of 2023, but it also feels like we just got started. The change in foliage has been beautiful, and the cooler weather has been nice too. Hallmark Christmas movies are in full swing. We’re ironing out plans for Thanksgiving, and I’m so ready to have time off for the holidays. Here’s hoping you have a great Monday and an even more wonderful November!

*Not officially diagnosed with seasonal depression, this is just based on my observation over the years of when my depression gets the worst for me. 

Gratitude Journal // Eleven - Three - Twenty Three

Gratitude Series: Sometimes, the bad days get the better of me. Other times, I get so caught up in my little world that I forget to give thanks for all of the blessings in my life. And sometimes you just need to write down the things you're grateful for to see all of your blessings. Though I admit that sometimes I find myself taking things for granted, I'm doing my best to be thankful for all of the good in my life. So, today, I’m choosing to give thanks for all of the things.

Freeze Warning: This week, we had a freeze warning. It lasted from Sunday to Wednesday morning. Temperatures dropped down to 30 degrees and we had rain all day Sunday. I never thought I would say that I enjoyed the freezing temps, but it was wonderful! We bundled up, made sure our heaters were in working order, moved plants, and got the animals prepped. I called it Texas’s “pre-game” before winter actually comes through. And now, I’m ready for it!

Chocolate Cake: On my birthday, I ate cake. It was amazing! It was everything that I had dreamed it would be and more. The aftermath wasn’t the greatest, but I will happily take that pain over and over again for some chocolate cake. It's safe to say that this is my weakness when it comes to junk food.

ASMR: I have been listening to ASMR for a long time now. I had experienced it since I was a child, but I learned of the actual term for it 10 years ago. That’s when I started to listen to/watch ASMR videos. It helped with my anxiety, served as a form of stress relief, and allowed me to fall asleep more quickly. I go through phases of which artists I watch, and I’ve currently been enjoying ASMR Twix and esteASMR - can you guess why?

Little Goats: I love my little goats. Donkey and Gus Gus are THE best! They are low maintenance and cause ZERO trouble. While I used to be a “dog person” many moons ago, after the last “puppy” I announced that we would not get another dog once ours all passed away. No worries, we still have a ways to go before that happens. Anyway, instead of a dog or cat I want one or two more goats. They’re just super easy to handle, very chill, and don’t require a lot of attention. And that’s all I want out of an animal these days.

Work Friends: At the beginning of October there was a “New Employee Reception” that I attended at our university. It was to welcome any new faculty/staff that had started within the past 9 months. While there were a few people I knew who attended, the majority were strangers to me. But I walked away from that event with two new acquaintances and future lunch plans. We’re hoping to set up regular lunches on campus to get to know each other better and to provide support for one another. They are both new to this area, new to Texas, and are in completely different career fields from me. However, just like me, they were seeking work friendships. So, I’m grateful for their willingness to get to know me. Here's hoping for the best! 

And that wraps up my gratitude post for this month. What are you grateful for today? This week? This month? What do you do to help bring some positivity back into your day if it's been a bad one? How do you make sure to stay grounded? Do you have any fun things planned for November? Thanksgiving? Do you live somewhere that sees the changing seasons or does it just go from one extreme to another? Let me know below. Until the next post, I hope everyone has a really lovely weekend! Adios!

“It’s okay if growth means slowing down this season.” // Dhiman 

❤

Wordless Wednesday

 

A New Language // Mandarin 你好

When I watch movies and shows or even read books that take place in other countries, I’m always left with this feeling of wanderlust. I want to go visit these places, eat the food, and experience the culture there. I want to meet people who call these countries their home and learn more about their history and traditions too. Sadly, I don’t even have a passport. Still, a girl can dream, right? Anyway, with this wanderlust comes a desire to understand a little bit about the language in each of these countries. And my recent obsession has landed with Asian countries.

During the week that I was taken out by a sinus infection, I fell down the Asian Entertainment rabbit hole. I have since watched a ton of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai shows. I watched "F4: Thailand," "Meteor Garden," "Nevertheless," "Love Between Fairy and Devil," and "Business Proposal" - just to name a handful. I recently finished “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes,” and I’m currently on “Lighter and Princess.” However, this entire time, I’ve kept questioning the accuracy of the translations that I see with subtitles. Knowing firsthand that they could be wrong, from watching Spanish shows/films, I told myself that I wanted to learn Mandarin. I sat in bed one night as I started yet another show and I told Corey, “I want to be able to watch these without needing the subtitles.” He gave me a look and said, “Whatever you want babe.”

He and Emery both think I’m crazy, and maybe I am, but I wanted to give it a shot. Little did I know that I was picking one of the hardest languages on earth. I tried Coursera, but I wasn’t able to hear the pronunciations clearly in the recordings so it was super frustrating for me. And well, it’s been difficult finding a class - the closest one is about 2 hours away. There’s not a very large Asian community in our town either, so finding someone local that I could practice with has proven to be very difficult. In the end, I decided to give Duolingo a shot. I had previously used it for Spanish, as I was trying to build on what I already knew at the time. So, I decided to go ahead with starting the Mandarin Chinese lessons through the app.

It’s been a bit of a slow start for me, but I’ve learned some phrases and numbers. I’ve just been repeating UNIT 1 LESSONS 1 & 2, until things stick in my brain. But y’all, this language is a whole other ballgame. They use tones, and their language is technically just sounds. They do not use an alphabet but rather characters that represent meaning. Then Pinyin is used to translate those characters for people who are learning to speak it. But the little I have learned, I’ve been able to pick out if I hear it in a C-drama. I’m hoping to dedicate some more time to it and put things down on paper once Emery switches over to off-season. If that goes well, I’ll consider the in-person class 2 hours away.

For now, I’ll keep trucking along with my app. Maybe next year I’ll invest in Rosetta Stone or something similar. And while it’s been difficult/challenging, it’s also been really fun! We’ve started branching out on some of our food choices - hoping to incorporate and modify Asian dishes to fit my current dietary restrictions. I’ve followed a few Mandarin-teaching Instagram accounts to help with pronunciation. And taking this on has allowed me to keep learning without the huge price tag or stressors that come with college courses.

When a friend asked me why I wanted to learn Mandarin my answer was, “So I can understand my shows without needing subtitles. Or at least not needing to rely on them so much.” She said, “Maybe you’re just not done learning. Once you get Mandarin down, you’ll want to learn others.” And she’s not wrong. I’d love to learn a little bit of a handful of others - French, Finnish, Korean, and Portuguese. For now, I plan to stick with Mandarin for at least a year - see where it takes me. Worst case, I learned a few things. Best case, I can actually communicate with someone who speaks it fluently. Either way, it's a win! Until the next post, zàijiàn. ✌

Wordless Wednesday

 

Here's to 36

This past Saturday was my birthday. Your girl turned 36! It started out with an early morning run - joining some pretty funny women. It included being able to attend a parade, a new ink addition, a 2-hour long nap, and A LOT of "bad food." But most importantly - I had chocolate cake. The aftermath of this included a severe stomachache, a blemish breakout on my face, constipation, and bloating that still hasn't gone away. But it was SO WORTH IT!🎂

I spent the day with some of my favorite people. I did something I really enjoyed. I took some time for myself. And I counted my blessings. As I've gotten older, I feel like that's what I want to focus on each year - giving thanks. Telling God, "Thank you" for letting me be here. Being present with those I care about. And fitting in some much-needed rest. Obviously, eating some junk food, carbs, and chocolate doesn't hurt - or it kind of does but I'll take one for the team. So, here's to another year! Here's to new goals and achievements. To failures and lessons. To new opportunities and growth. Here's to 36!

Wordless Wednesday

Motherhood // Thirteen

This age has come with frustration, rewards, pride, confusion, annoyance, and joy. All mixed into one. This has been the year that I’ve really noticed my and Emery’s relationship shifting. Navigating these changes has come with many challenges - some denial on my part too. I mean, yes, she’s getting older. Yes, she’s starting to have her own opinions. Yes, we disagree a lot more. And yes, there’s that pushing of boundaries. She's also having to figure out who she is, as her own person - apart from her family unit. So, I’ve come to find that when people say the teenage years are rough, they are not kidding. Even for the most well-behaved kids out there, these years seem to be harder for parents. And for me, sometimes it feels like the changes happened overnight - I blinked.

Emery is now two inches taller than me. She’s a social butterfly and 85% of the time she’s really extroverted. She’s learning how to drive. She constantly talks about “hating” her nose - which looks like mine. She doesn’t like to “hang out” with me very often - opting to stay home rather than go anywhere with me. Her taste in music is constantly evolving, and so is her taste in movies/shows. She’s starting to have crushes on boys and has questions/concerns about dating (in the future). She’s figuring out who her friends are, and who are only around so they can talk badly about what they’ve learned. She says “no” more and talks back. Sometimes there’s more sass coming from her than I know what to do with, and it’s during those instances that the reality of how different we are is on full display. Sometimes it's frustrating. I hear some of the same phrases I used to dish out to my parents at that age. Then the feelings/memories of how I felt come rushing back and I know exactly how she feels. However, now I'm seeing things from the eyes of a parent. And that's when I call my mom and apologize for the hell I put her through - for the millionth time.

All of that said, there are still moments when my little baby comes out. When she’s sick and wants me to lay in bed with her until she falls asleep. When she performs these karaoke song/dance routines for Corey and me. When she kisses my cheek before exiting the car at school drop-off. Followed by, “Bye Mom. Love you.” When she’s had a rough week, she’ll jump on me and wrap herself around me, while saying, “Just love on me, mom.” Or when she asks if we can talk. Usually about her feelings, things that are bothering her, or just opinions about something going on. It’s a more grown-up version of our old, “Mommy-Daughter talks.” Then, sometimes during car rides, she’ll randomly play a song she used to listen to when she was little - singing along to every word. And I get tears in my eyes because I can picture her in her green car seat, bopping her little head to the beat and singing at the top of her lungs. 

Thirteen, so far, has been a bittersweet age. Sometimes, I look at her, and I can’t see that chubby little toddler who dressed in bright-colored outfits and clung to my neck. Then there are some nights, while putting some of her stuff away, that she’ll be asleep and I get a brief glimpse of that little girl again. But it’s back to the young lady she’s growing into, every morning when she walks out of her room. It’s bell-bottom jeans and makeup. Her white backpack hanging across her shoulders, and cell phone in hand - she'll reach for the car keys and ask if she can drive to the end of the road. Somedays, I don’t miss a beat. We’re usually rushing out the door. Others, I stop in my tracks, and I can’t believe how fast the years went by - I blinked. 

Wordless Wednesday

Gratitude Journal // Ten - Nine - Twenty Three

Gratitude Series: Sometimes, the bad days get the better of me. Other times, I get so caught up in my little world that I forget to give thanks for all of the blessings in my life. And sometimes you just need to write down the things you're grateful for to see all of your blessings. Though I admit that sometimes I find myself taking things for granted, I'm doing my best to be thankful for all of the good in my life. So, today, I’m choosing to give thanks for all of the things.

Fall: Temperatures have lowered. Mornings are crisp and cool. We’ve had some rain in our area, which was much needed. The leaves are turning orange, yellow, and brown. And the insects are slowly but surely, going away! Y’all, when I say the bugs were a nightmare this year…that’s an understatement. Anyway, where once I was all about summer, in my old age, Fall has quickly become my favorite season.

Better health: I have been asked to stick with my recent dietary changes for another 8 weeks - 16 weeks total. If you know how much I love chocolate, you know that was a brutal blow. But here we are, week 9. That said, I have lost weight, my brain fog is pretty much gone, and I’ve been waking up around 5 a.m. every morning like clockwork. I was able to reintroduce some dairy, though I’m sure that will be removed again as I’m almost positive that I am lactose intolerant. Still, I’m grateful for better health, and getting answers.

Sugar-Free Alternatives: If you are ever in need of some tasty sugar-free alternatives, check out Primal Kitchen. Their dressing/condiments/sauces have been life savers as I make better eating choices and work on my relationship with food. I love BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, and ketchup. I’ve tried a lot of different alternatives out there but they never really tasted quite right. Then I found PK, and so far, everything I have purchased from them is super close to the original stuff. They are a tad pricey, but it’s made me not miss the “real” stuff so much. A big THANK YOU goes out to the creators of their products because they do a good job.

Slow Days: I thought once I graduated I would have more of these. But when your daughter gets older and starts participating in more school functions - it’s not always the case. So, when we do get slow days, I try to revel in them. They’re probably the days I look forward to the most. They’re slow, late starts. Drinking my coffee smoothie on the back porch. Lounging in PJs all day. Being able to take naps if I want. And just taking the time to enjoy my home space.

My Family: I am blessed to have the family that I do. Sometimes they’re annoying. A little old-fashioned. We don’t always see eye-to-eye. BUT y’all, we love each other. We support each other. I know that I’m fortunate enough to have grown up with two parents who really cared about me and did the best that they could. It’s because of them that family has always been super important to me. And while I may have been difficult, hard to get along with, and damn set on carving my own path - not once did I ever feel like I wasn’t loved by my family. Like I wasn’t supported. I’m truly grateful to have the family that I do. And even more fortunate that Emery gets to experience it as well.

And that wraps up my gratitude post for this month. What are you grateful for today? This week? This month? What do you do to help bring some positivity back into your day if it's been a bad one? How do you make sure to stay grounded? What are your plans for October? Are you in a place that has already gotten snow this year? Let me know below. Until the next post, I hope everyone has a really lovely week! Adios!

“You are ultimately responsible for who you become and how happy you are.” // Rachel Hollis 

❤

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Motivation

It’s a new week and a new month! My favorite month. My birthday month. And my favorite season of the year truly begins. September came with a lot more activity than I expected. From work to Emery’s after-school activities. There were even two weeks that I was only able to run on Saturdays - which really threw me off. It was also the toughest month of my healthy eating plan. It was when the cravings really kicked in. When the headaches and exhaustion really hit me. When the depression and bitterness really took hold. But now, we are starting fresh! And I’m feeling much better. So, today, I’m wishing you all a very Happy Monday! And HAPPY OCTOBER, y’all!! Let the Spooky Season begin.

Listen

Wordless Wednesday

 

Let's Run About It // Half Marathon

I had originally set out to start a running “series” back at the beginning of June. I wanted to track my progress leading up to our local Spooktacular Half Marathon in October. However, I won’t be running the half marathon at this local race anymore. I’ve opted to downgrade to the 10k instead. And it’s not because I fell behind on my training or got injured. In fact, it’s the opposite. I had already started increasing my mileage by the end of June and was ahead of my training schedule. In August I had already done a handful of double-digit mileage runs. And then, this past Saturday, I actually completed the half-marathon distance goal I had for myself! So, I think this “series” will be more about running in general. New gear, speed work progress, new shoes, fuel options, and an overall update on my running journey.

My “training” wasn’t an actual training plan I got from somewhere or someone. Though, if you have a Garmin watch they have some great adaptable plans. My training consisted of building up mileage and cross-training. At the beginning of each month, I would increase my Saturday long run and then try to hit that mileage every Saturday for that month. For example, in June, my long-run goal was 6 miles. So, every Saturday I would try to run a minimum of 6 miles. In July, my goal was 8 miles. So, every Saturday I would try to run a minimum of 8 miles. And so on, and so forth. This helped me get comfortable with running those longer distances consistently. I would also run shorter distances twice a week. And in August, I also started to incorporate cross-training twice a week. This was just the standard weight lifting machines at Planet Fitness for 30-45 minutes each day. This helps to prevent injury, and I'm desperately in need of core strength. Anyway, I stuck to this routine pretty consistently and I noticed a big difference in my endurance. 

Still, there were some days when I didn’t reach those distances or didn't feel like going to the gym. There were two weeks when I wasn’t able to run due to illness or previous obligations with Emery’s after-school activities too. I did do my best to stay on top of the long-run goals though. The plan was to hit 10 miles consistently by September, and then in October, I would hit 12. Finishing it off with 13.1 by the end of October - in time for the Spooktacular Half Marathon. This past Saturday, as my running friend and I  started out the morning we discussed how much we didn’t like the idea of half-marathon and full marathon races. We each had started our running journey for fun, a want for a hobby, and for mental health benefits. There was this enjoyment and carefree attitude attached to it when we had started. And once we started training for these longer races we realized that it was taking up much more of our time than we had originally anticipated. Also, when we didn’t reach weekly goals it would affect how we felt about ourselves. It also caused us anxiety because we felt we weren’t going to be ready in time. Then there was the fear of getting injured or sick. Having to train had sucked the joy right out of running and we were both feeling mentally tired of all the stress that it was causing. 

This past Saturday our goal was to just do 10 miles. But as the run progressed I was feeling really good! When we hit 10 miles I knew I could go further. So, my friend and I hit up one of our local running club aid stations and then pushed through the last 3.1 miles. I did one final little loop and heard the "DING" on my phone signaling my latest achievement of 13.1 miles. And I felt this huge wave of relief when we stopped. I was done! I had just hit one of my 2023 Distance Challenge Goals: Run a half-marathon by the end of October. There were no cheering spectators or a medal at the finish line, but I had done it! I had had a good run day, and still felt strong as I walked a bit to cool down. If you're a runner then you know that this isn’t always the case for some of us. This achievement came at the hands of super early mornings, a lot of run club encouragement, many failures, and several “dumpster fire” runs. It felt great, but also like I had been beyond ready to be over it. 

While I'm super grateful to be able to run, and really proud to have finished 13.1 miles, I’ve come to the decision that races longer than 10k are not for me - right now. I think 6.2 miles is the sweet spot. Maybe if I get some more 13.1 distances under my belt I’ll feel comfortable enough to pursue those races. But for now, I’m going back to running for fun. I’m doing away with 4 a.m. wake-up calls, and going to focus more on shortening my interval times. I want to finish the year on a good, carefree note. I’m going to relax, and hopefully start out the new year with an overall yearly distance goal that’s challenging for me. Then I'll re-evaluate this decision sometime next year to see if I still feel the same. For now, here's to finishing out the year with easy runs and hitting my overall yearly distance goal of 350 miles!

Listen

Wordless Wednesday

Listen

Wordless Wednesday

I Neglected My Health & Now I Have to Fix It

If you’ve been around here you know that I have “yo-yo’d” in weight. I’ve been told by doctors that I have a thyroid problem, that my cortisol levels are always really high, and that I need to cut out gluten. I was told that I needed to eat less than 1,200 calories a day and work out for an hour, 4-5x a week just to stop the weight gain. But none of that worked. And no one ever really explained what any of my numbers meant or how it was affecting my body. Sometimes, others would look over what the doctors had interpreted and question why I was being “treated” a certain way if it wasn’t going to help or address my issues. The frustration of not knowing, continuing to gain weight, and struggling with conceiving finally came to a breaking point this past summer. 

One of my sisters, Dr. Hogan*, is a Functional Medicine practitioner and part of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. At the end of July, I asked her for some help and she put in an order to have some blood work done. A week after having labs done, my results came in and there was a lot to discuss. I had a few red flags, but also some improvements - both my cortisol levels and thyroid looked fine. We went over every single result, and what it meant. She explained how it was affecting my body, and answered any questions that I had. Nothing was too dumb or off the table. Unfortunately, those red flags were pretty concerning so we went over a treatment plan. It consisted of a specific meal plan for the next 8 weeks (currently on week 5), exercise, supplements tailored to my needs, and learning the proper way to fuel my body. Goodbye, 1,200 calorie restriction. But y’all…it’s been an adjustment.

We’ve had to undergo a lot of changes. Getting rid of plastic food containers, and anything with perfume. I have to be very selective about the food I consume. There’s a lot that’s been taken out, and honestly, if it weren’t for Corey’s cooking skills I might not have made it this far. Also, the amount of supplements I have to take each day is just…UGH. But, if I want to reverse the damage, and prevent any major future health problems it has to be done. So, Corey and I dove right into it. We did a pantry/fridge cleanse. I got rid of all the beauty/hygiene products that I could without being wasteful. And while this was initially a bit pricey, we’ve been able to make slight adjustments to our grocery budget which helps. Sidenote: We CHOSE to make the majority of the changes from the get-go, Dr. Hogan said we could take baby steps.

Right now, the hardest part has been cutting out sugar. Chocolate, cookies, ice cream, coffee creamer, cake, and my beloved sweet tea. And because I can’t have creamer I’ve had to get creative on how I get my daily dose of caffeine. One word: smoothies. Even with a workaround, I’ve cut back dramatically on the amount of caffeine I consume each day and my body is feeling it. By 7 p.m. I’m ready for bed, and it takes a lot of mental strength to keep me going. Other “side effects” have been low energy, mood swings, irritability, and a small bout of depression. I’m hoping after week 5, these will start to subside. And fingers crossed that by week 7 I’ll feel much better. But isn’t that crazy? How my body is reacting to removing all of the crap I was putting into it. It’s been interesting, and somewhat surprising. I knew I would go through “withdrawals,” but I didn’t realize how extreme some of them would be.

All of this to say, prioritize your health. Ask the questions. Get second or third opinions. Listen to your body. Invest in a nutritionist if you can. Consider taking toxic products out of your home. Though trust me when I say that I totally understand sometimes you can’t afford to do that. Do some movement for 30 minutes a day. Get some rest. And know that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. My treatment is probably completely different from what yours could be and it may require more/less baby steps. But it’s worth it! From August 15 to today, I have lost just over seven pounds. Will that continue? I don’t know, but I’m hopeful. While I’m not feeling the absolute best during this stage, I can feel my body getting stronger. The brain fog I was in before is slowly lifting too. Now, I’m just praying that it’s helping internally as well. Though you better believe I’m having some dang chocolate cake at the end of these 8 weeks. Talk about a delicious incentive.

*I’m not being compensated for this, I’m just truly proud of Olivia and how much good she’s doing for women’s health. She’s helped me understand a lot about what’s going on with my body. If you’re in Texas & interested in learning more about her services you can do so here on her website.

Listen

Wordless Wednesday

Gratitude Journal // Nine - Four - Twenty Three

Gratitude Series: Sometimes, the bad days get the better of me. Other times, I get so caught up in my little world that I forget to give thanks for all of the blessings in my life. And sometimes you just need to write down the things you're grateful for in order to see all of your blessings. Though, I admit that sometimes I find myself taking things for granted, I'm doing my best to be thankful for all of the good in my life. So, today, I’m choosing to give thanks for all of the things.

My fiance: We bicker a lot. It often feels like we’re the old married couple that just has to find something to argue about. I complain about everything under the sun too. He gets annoyed with me for not keeping some of those complaints to myself. But then we laugh, or hug, and say, “I love you.” We move on. And that is truly a gift. I’m blessed to have a partner that stays. One that sees ALL of my faults and chooses to love me anyway.

Homemade Dressing: I’ve had to make some health changes - a post on that is coming soon. But one of the most “magical” things that has come out of it is a homemade dressing that I pour on everything. It consists of red wine vinegar, avocado & olive oil, salt, and lime juice (fresh is best, but do what you gotta). This goes on my salads, my veggie snacks, and my rice bowls. I’ve had to play around with the ratios - Corey prefers more oil while I prefer more vinegar. But the result is just *chef’s kiss*.

Seeeesters: If you’ve been here for a while you’ve probably heard me mention Kim and Olivia. Or as we call ourselves, Seeeesters. While they may not be my biological sisters they have been in my life for over 20 years. Kim is also my sister-in-law. Anyway, they have been with me through ALL of the ups and downs. Since we are all scattered, we keep in touch as best as we can. We’ve been learning more about our faith together, and do our best to visit as often as possible. However, life happens. Still, I’m so thankful to be able to walk through this life with them by my side.

My Job: Y’all, there was a moment when I wanted to return to my previous place of employment. I even reached out to my old boss, asking to be notified if any openings came up. At the time, I had been misled and I wasn’t comfortable with handling what was being asked - long term. The job was the issue, not the people. However, as I now know, God was just needing me to be patient. I was put in that original position to get the right person back in the office to help. And once I accomplished that, in April of this year, God opened a door for me. It was my dream job! And it’s come with so much grace, training, and healthy work friendships—the complete opposite of what I had before.

Cool Weather: I don’t know if you have heard but Texas has been hot this summer. Electricity bill being over $350 a month, type of hot. The trees lost their leaves back in June. Our yard is a field of yellow, crunchy, grass. The insects have been terrible. TERRIBLE. And there were times when we couldn’t take enough clothes off - out of respect for others obviously. So, last week, when we woke up TWICE to temps being in the 60’s we all rejoiced. There was a breeze and the air had a tinge of crispness. A brief reminder that fall was coming. Before too long Halloween will be here and then Christmas! While I’m not one to rush, I am excited about cooler weather.

And that wraps up my gratitude post. What are you grateful for today? This week? This month? What do you do to help bring some positivity back into your day if it's been a bad one? What are you excited for this month? How do you make sure to stay grounded? And how’s the beginning of fall going? Has the weather changed much where you are? Have the leaves started to fall from the trees? Let me know below. Until the next post, I hope everyone has had a happy and safe Labor Day weekend! Adios!

“He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot” // Micah 7:19 

 ❤

Wordless Wednesday

Sinus Infections and Forced Rest

First, I want to start this post off by stating that my brother did not enjoy the last blog title. Last Wednesday, he gave me a call to express his opinion, “No one said you couldn’t.” I was slightly confused so he further explained he had read my post, and wasn’t a fan of the title - it was misleading. So, I’m here to say, that he’s right. No one told me that I couldn’t do it. It was more like, “She decided to go back and finish her degree and she did it!” I digress, apologies to my brother. 

Anyway, I’m popping in for a quick little update. Last week was rough. I spent most of my days hacking up mucus, not being able to breathe, coughing so hard I would occasionally pee a little, and getting very little sleep. The doctor said it was a pretty bad sinus infection. And well, now as an adult, these take me about 10 days to get over. Thankfully, I’m on the mend this week. Still coughing, and I feel like my ears and nose are stuffed with cotton. BUT, I can confidently say we are out of the woods.

Looking at the positive, this sinus infection forced me to take a long pause. I didn’t go to the gym or run. I stayed at home, watched a significant amount of Thai & Chinese drama in bed, and drank a lot of water. It was super unproductive, but you know, every once in a while you just need that. Even if it's forced. I'm really glad that I’m feeling better though. And I’m actually looking forward to getting back to my normal day-to-day.

Now, with Fall right around the corner, there’s a lot that has to be done around the house. Mainly, I need to go through with another round of decluttering. I’m hoping that I can take this weekend to just get it all done. Moving boxes upstairs, and getting rid of clothes, shoes, and pantry items. I feel so much better once I’ve gotten rid of all the unnecessary items and packed away seasonal stuff. I'm hoping to give our house one really good deep clean before the school year really ramps up too. So, you know what my weekend plans are going to be. Anyway, that's about all for now. I hope y'all are having a great week! Until the next one...✌

Wordless Wednesday

 

And She Did It

In July, I finished the last two classes that I needed in order to graduate. The relief I felt when I got my final grades, would equate to that feeling you get after a long trip and you finally make it home. Back to your bed. You know, that blissful moment you have as you faceplant into your sheets? You let out that long sigh, and you’re just HOME. You’re in a place that brings you peace, and comfort. And you’re ready to jump into your stretchy pants so you can slide under your comforter and relax. THAT’S what it felt like when I got the final email stating I had passed my finals and would be graduating in August. I was officially done with the summer semester! And boy was I tired.

Those first few days I slept so well. However, the next two weeks felt odd. I had a lot more extra time, and I had no idea how I was going to fill it. My brain was just itching for a schedule. Would I catch up on reading? Go on more runs? Would I sign up for a kickboxing class? Write more? Would I work out? Would I sign up for a class - not career related? And if you’ve been around here for a while you know I enjoy consistency & routine so I started trying to fill the gaps and create a schedule. Then one afternoon someone said, “Hey, take a breath. You’ve got time.” That’s when I had to force myself to take a pause. I had been trying to do ALL of the things ALL at once. I wasn’t giving my mind or body any kind of break. And let me say, they deserved to slow down. I deserved to relax and feel calm. To destress. So, I scaled back.

“No” became a word in my vocabulary. I left work at 5 pm. I did set aside time to work out, but it’s limited to 40 minutes of movement. And then my regular runs. But that was about it. I went to work and then came home. I spent a lot of time in my PJs. I ate delicious food and spent time with my family. I made time to see my bestie while she was in Texas. And I just enjoyed not having a research paper, reading assignments, or tests. No, final looming on the horizon. It hasn’t been the easiest thing, getting out of that “go, go, go” mindset. Some days I still catch myself being in a rush. However, those days are becoming less frequent.

Then on August 11, 2023, I walked out onto the field at Memorial Stadium with the rest of my Summer 2023 class. I walked across the stage, shook our University president’s hand, and received my “diploma”. It was my first-ever graduation. I was homeschooled in high school so I didn’t have a commencement. And then I didn’t walk for my Associate’s degree, because honestly, I didn’t apply and I forgot about it. So, this was pretty important to me. And I couldn’t stop smiling on graduation day. I was just so happy, and grateful. This week I received the official email stating that my grades have been verified, I had no holds, and everything cleared. My diploma will arrive in 8 weeks. And that marked the end of my college run! At least for now. I keep getting asked if I’m going to get my Master’s, and my response is usually, “Nope.” But as the old saying goes, “Never say never.”

For now, I am just so damn proud of getting my Bachelor. I crossed the finish line with an Institutional GPA of 3.57 and an overall GPA of 3.45. All of that hard work paid off! I didn’t do it alone though. I had help, and there were sacrifices made. I wouldn’t have made it through without the love, support, help, and encouragement of my loved ones. This achievement was just as much theirs as it was mine. So, I think we’re all going to relish this moment for a bit. I mean, y’all, I freakin’ did it! I graduated!

Wordless Wednesday

 

Monday Motivation

It’s a new week! We had a whirlwind of a start to August that had me a lot more busy than I had originally planned. And while I have always intended to pick things back up on my blog: life happens. Anyway, I will slowly work my way up to blogging more consistently. I do have a lot more time on my hands these days. I just have to make sure I make time for it and actually plan it out. I'm currently working on a "blog calendar", and uploading all of my pictures from my phone. There's a lot I want to share. But for now, I just want to wish everyone a very happy Monday. Here’s to the new week!

Wordless Wednesday

*Taken in March 2023 at the Gala Event

My Little // An Interview

7.14.23

Well, I sent these questions to Emery in June, but somehow she didn't see them. So, she completed them last week. We’ll do another round right before school starts so you'll get two of these pretty close to each other. 

*

Well, it’s officially summer, how are you feeling about not having to go to school?
Pretty good, I know I'll end up getting bored and want to go back but it's nice not having a teacher pull assignments out of their **butttcracks for me to do.

What is the one thing you can’t live without right now?
My Phone and iPad, they keep me sane.

What do you think is the most important lesson you learned this past year?
That I need to keep to myself. Will it happen? Probably not.

The last time we did this interview, you didn’t have a favorite band. Has that changed?
I like someone in a band, but his 16-year-old self, not him now. He’s 33 and married to Heidi Klum. You know it, it’s Tom Kaulitz but him in 2007. He’s in a band called Tokio Hotel but I don't know what they're saying in their songs since it's in German. But to answer the question, no. They’re just the only band I've willingly listened too.

If you could pick one thing to do this summer, what would it be?
Shop, but that won't happen because I'm broke.

  *This picture is from February - she's gotten taller. 

**I edited this to a more suitable word.

Life Lately // Hi, hola, hello

Well, summer has flown by, hasn’t it? A lot has happened since the last time I posted too. And in just a few short weeks my little will be off to school again! I can't believe it's gone by so quickly. That said, I find myself having some extra time on my hands so I’m really wanting to give this blog some attention. I know it’s not the cool thing anymore - with everyone turning to social media & microblogging. But this is my creative outlet so I’m hanging on. Anyway, until I get everything sorted out, here’s what we’ve been up to, the cliffs notes version.

April & May: At the end of April, one of my “sisters” gave birth to her first little one. We made a trip to visit my brother and his family. I had read that Colleen Hoover was closing "The Bookworm Box" store so we made the trip to stop by one last time. Then in May, we celebrated two birthdays. Emery completed her last school year with all A’s. I finished up my Spring semester. All A’s too! Then I had a four-day break before summer classes began. The carnival came to town too. Oh! And I got a new job! My dream job actually. It’s still technically at the same place but under the university umbrella. This was also the month that I found out about some things from my previous place of employment that had me questioning a lot. And I got angry.

June: I started slacking on my runs a bit. We’ve had nothing but high heat index days and it has been rough. Thankfully, I have some friends who were just as crazy as me, and we made the best of doing SOME form of running to get in our miles each week. Even in 108 temps. Corey won “Big Bass” at a Bass Master event and it was broadcasted on their channel - we watched from home. The boys made their way down for their summer visit. And some of Emery’s cousins from Georgia and other parts of Texas also came down for a visit. Oh, and that thing I was angry about? I got over it. I recognized WHY I had been so angry, and then I let it go. Credit goes to Jesus, maturity, and my former therapist on that one. Anyway, I cut people out of my life from that place and focused on the one great friendship I got out of it instead.

July to date: We had a family-filled 4th of July weekend. We visited a local winery that’s pretty close to my parent's house. I walked with SRC in the 4th of July parade. We adopted another baby goat! Unfortunately, he’s not as trusting as our first one, so a lot of work will have to be done. Corey shaved his beard completely off, and everyone says he looks like a different person. I started the annulment process with my ex-husband and hope to have it all submitted by the end of the month. Corey and I decided on a marriage date AND a wedding date. This year we will get married by an officiate through the state with only our immediate family (parents and siblings) present. Then next year on our one-year anniversary we will have a wedding through the church. Yay! And I finally wrapped up my summer semester. Currently waiting on one last instructor to post grades.

And that about wraps it up for now. There are a few things I’ll go into more detail on at a later date. New job, new friendships, running plans, inadvertently growing a farm, etc. But for now, you’re all caught up on the happenings in my little corner of the interwebs. I hope y’all are all having a wonderful summer so far! Until the next post, ✌.

Working Towards that Ag Exemption

I have a coworker that raises goats. Nigerian dwarf and pygmy, to be exact. She would share pictures of her daughter with these two little bottle babies every week; they were the cutest thing! A bit pricey, as they usually are, but I told her I would be reaching out at some point in the future for one - maybe two. You see, I love goats. I have always wanted a miniature goat I could have as a pet. Low maintenance, easy to handle, and the cutest little weedeater you'll probably ever see. But whenever I asked, Corey would say, “No.” Weird, right? Anyway, I had made up my mind that, at some point, I was going to get a goat. More than likely after I graduated, but it WAS going to happen. 

Well, the week before Easter, my coworker offered me a goat at a deeply discounted price. And who was I to say no to that? So, I told Corey about the discount and asked if we could get some supplies that Friday. Once we assessed the property and planned where I would put the goat, we quickly realized that round 4 of simplifying would need to be moved up to round 2. And so, on Good Friday, we made a trip to our local Tractor Supply to purchase some fencing material. We walked in with the sole purpose of getting JUST what we needed. However, an hour later, we walked out with fencing material, a chicken coop, four baby chicks, and two baby ducks - a few extra ducks for my mother-in-law too.

The next day we woke up, started hauling off the junk, and cleaned up the property. The chicken coop was put together, we set up the goat hutch and then moved the dog kennel. That afternoon we headed to my friend's house to pick out our goat. We decided it had to be a goat we all liked, and there were three to choose from. I already knew which one had my vote, but I wanted Corey and Emery to have a say as well. Thankfully, we all settled on the same one. And well, now we have a baby goat. And while I wanted a cute name like "George" or "Charlie," I was outvoted. So, “Donkey” - think Shrek, was the winner. He's a cute little thing, though. Super affectionate, which was surprising. And follows us around the yard and is already attached to Emery. She’s now asking that we go back and adopt his brother. Which may or may not be an option, I haven’t made up my mind just yet.

We spent a lot of time outdoors that weekend. And it felt so good! Between taking care of the animals, getting chores done, and hauling stuff around, we hardly had time for anything else. We all spent less time on our phones, too - Emery included. And as Easter Sunday came to a close, we sat around the patio table, making plans for more animals in the future and even a garden. Might as well work towards a future Texas Ag Exemption, right? Overall, it was a pretty great weekend, providing a small glimpse of the simpler life we’re hoping to have. And let me just say that I am so ready for it! I’ve officially entered the “farm life” phase of adulthood.

Simplifying

Lately, my home has been an enormous cause of stress. There were things everywhere. Storage containers were stacked and shoved in every little nook. Cabinets were overflowing with plastic food containers. My tiny closet was bursting at the seams. My hanging shoe rack was so heavy the door sagged. The bathroom was a mess, and everything was overflowing. On most days, I wished I could just stay in my car rather than face the anxiety-inducing chaos that my home perpetually stays in. Then there were the days when I just wanted to stay in bed and not even bother because getting everything in order was daunting.

One evening as I dumped the contents of the laundry basket on our bed - knowing dang well that I would just be stuffing it all back after a few hours, I looked over at Corey and said, “I need a housewife.” No shade to housewives out there. I know you keep households running, and what you do matters. Corey laughed and replied, “I don’t think that will work.” I glared at the clothes, but he wasn’t wrong. However, I find it hard to set aside time to maintain our home between school, work, and the slumps of depression I occasionally fall into. And this is so frustrating to me. I wish I had an extra me that could dedicate hours to staying on top of daily chores, errands, and cleaning. Hence, my wish for someone that could stay home and maintain order in my home. After our little conversation, I placed some clothes in the dresser, and the rest went back into the basket just like I knew they would.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

As I lay in bed that night, I started thinking about our stuff. Why did we have so many things? Why was our house so cluttered? Why was I holding on to things I hadn’t touched in months - years? That’s when I hit up the good ole’ YouTube. And I came across these three creators - Madisun Gray, Malama Life, and Wild We Roam - each going through some version of minimalism. Now, let me pump the breaks - I was not about to go full-on minimalist. But they all brought up really great points. They each talk about making intentional purchases and putting money aside for experiences. They made videos about reducing excesses and donating what you don’t need. And they all tend to live very simply with the idea of having a slow and joyful life. And I desperately wanted a version of that for myself. Because when I take a step back and look at the bigger picture - I want to spend more time enjoying life than being stressed out by it.

So, around the 6th video, it clicked that things were just that - things. More stuff doesn’t actually bring joy or happiness into your life. Sure, there’s excitement for something “new,” but that quickly fades away. And I felt that this could apply to all areas of life. Why was I following creators on social media that I didn’t really care about? Why was I holding onto size L and M clothes? I will never be that size again, and I know it. Why do we have paper clutter in boxes - bills and receipts from years ago? Why did we have so many pots, pans, and food containers? Why was I keeping the extra, half-empty bottle of shampoo/conditioner/hair products? It was like I had opened up Pandora’s box. I kept asking “Why?” to everything, and the answers were no longer good enough.

The next day I sent some ideas to Corey, and we decided to start decluttering as soon as possible. We would break it down into rounds/phases. We picked a Saturday that we were both free and began Round 1. We purchased bedding, curtains, and cookware set. Corey decluttered the cabinets and placed our old stuff into throw-away piles and donation boxes. I went through our bathroom and walked out with a 13-gallon trash bag full of items we no longer needed. We reviewed our cleaning supplies and eliminated many toxic solutions we weren’t using. Some stayed, but only because I hate wasting money. We cleaned the living room and got rid of extra décor and tables. When we reached the bedroom, we cleared off our dressers, swept under the bed, and decided to go through our clothes. I even threw out old makeup and makeup brushes and organized the items I had left. By the time we were finished, we had a truck bed full of trash and several boxes and trash bags full of donation items.

And that was just Round 1! Round 2 will consist of me going through my closet again and hitting my shoe rack and storage containers pretty hard. Then I want to do a thorough paper decluttering. We will go through some of the same rooms we’ve already covered to see if we can eliminate anything else. After some thought, I’ve decided to eliminate a few more things. Round 3 will have us going through all the storage containers, shelves, and boxes in the laundry room. And then, we finally start on the outside of our home for Round 4. This is probably the most daunting part of it. A lot of stuff outside needs to be dumped or moved. We also have to start building our dog kennel area since the old one is falling apart and needs to come down. It’s a big undertaking, so we’re spreading it over the next few months.

All of this is to say that even just completing Round 1 has been an enormous help. Our home feels open and stays relatively clean. My closet has more space, and it’s become easier to pick out outfits. While the content creators I found were pretty hardcore, I definitely recommend giving them a watch. Even if it’s just to get some inspiration the way I did. You don’t have to go as extreme, but they have some pretty great ideas and suggestions. Ultimately, the goal for us is to maintain our home better. It’s to look at our purchases from a different perspective and put money towards things that actually matter to us, like building a house or taking a vacation. And if less truly is more - then here’s to simplifying away.

Some Life Updates

I’ve been talking a lot about job-related issues lately, and I know that gets super boring. However, I spend 40 hours of my week there, so it’s about all I’ve got these days. Still, I wanted to jump on here and give a few life updates.

In January, we celebrated Corey’s grandfathers’ 90th birthday. Several of his children pitched in to make shirts and have a photographer take family pictures. His health started declining around Christmas, so we prayed he’d make it. Then about a week before his birthday, we saw significant improvement. He was cracking jokes, remembering certain people, and walking on his own. He was looking fairly well for someone who was about to be 90. And by the time the 8th rolled around, we were able to celebrate with him and the entire family. Sadly, he passed away a few weeks later. But I’m grateful for that last big get-together. There were a lot of laughs, hugs, and love.

In February, we celebrated Emery’s birthday! I'm super grateful for another year. She’s lost the baby cheeks. Almost exclusively shops at Hollister and American Eagle. She’s gotten more into music, and her taste in genres has been interesting, to say the least. She was the junior high girl’s basketball manager during the off-season, and now that it’s spring, she’s running track. Recently we’ve discussed having her start learning to drive, and that’s such a scary thought. Can y’all believe that we’re almost there? It’s such a surreal thing for me. I’m so excited to see who she becomes, yet I still wish she could be that little two-year-old wanting to hug her mom and wear tutus. It’s been a bittersweet season for me.

At the end of February, I ran my first out-of-town 5k at the Fort Worth Cowtown. My brother and sister-in-law came down, and we made a weekend out of it. Over 150 runners from our run group were in attendance for the weekend. Some did single events while others took on the challenges. Since it was my first time there I decided to keep it easy. The first mile of the event was frustrating, but after that, we found our groove. The expo was a bit much for me as the lines for everything were long. However, as we made our way out, we saw that the kid's 5k was underway, so we stayed and cheered them on. The overall energy there was fun, and I’m hoping to sign up for the half next year. Eeks! Never thought that would be a goal, but here we are!

It’s March, and I just wrapped up my 8-week course. I still have two classes this semester that end in May. A lighter workload going forward will be awesome! I’ve been advised and officially registered for the last two courses of my college career. At least for now. The next step is to apply for graduation in April, pass the last two courses, and hopefully cross the big stage in August. I mistakenly read the reviews for the last two classes, and most have discussed the difficulty level. These courses are challenging, and other students recommended not taking them during the summer. So, I’m incredibly nervous. However, I’m going to give it my all. I’m beyond ready to be finished with college. I want to enjoy time with my family again. Plus, I have so many books I want to read and running goals I want to reach. While I get little moments and breaks here and there, I’m ready to be fully present without homework, projects, or paper due dates looming.

That about sums it up for now. This week, and I'll use it to catch up on my real estate class. I'll also be starting on my research paper which I'm dreading. I hope to get some running days in too. We also get a short work week so I'm excited about that. Shadow and Bone season 2 releases on Thursday, and I can't wait! This girl is going to binge-watch the heck out of it. Besides that, we have a pretty slow and quiet break planned. I hope this finds everyone safe and well. Until the next one...🖖🏽