Vegmom Moments

Half Marathon Training - This Time

THE PAST:

First Half Marathon:

Reason - A bunch of Moms said they could do it, so I joined along to give it a try

Fact - The others dropped out before training began

My Goal - To keep going, then finish before they shut down the line and NOT die

Results - I finished before they shut down the line and am still alive

 

Second Half Marathon:

Reason - Train with a friend and walk the entire race, but do it together so she could get across that finish line

Fact - Friend developed stress fractures at the very end of training and couldn't do the race

My Goal - To finish anyway in her honor , beat my time and still feel great

Results - I finished 20 minutes faster AND felt great with my friend waiting for me at the finish line!

 

First and Last Full Marathon:

Reason - I wanted to finish a full Marathon before I turned 40 and show Vegkid that you can do anything you set your mind to if you work hard enough.

Fact - I trained while eating mostly Vegan and Raw foods, feeling better than I ever have

My Goal - Finish all 26.2 miles without dying and before they shut down the line and never put my body through this again

Results - I finished all 26.2 miles, I didn't Die, made it before they shut down the line (barely) but experienced adrenal fatigue and hormone imbalances, that took a long time to fix.

 

THE NOW:

 

Good Bye 2011 - Hello 2012

Hubs and I sat down last night to put all our memories from 2011 in to our little book.  We basically write down everything that comes to mind from the year prior.  For some reason it was hard to remember EVERYTHING.  Thanks to this blog and my Family picture blog, I was able to piece together all the interesting events.

A lot of business travel, personal travel, several family trips to Michigan, an Awesome Florida trip where Dolphins and space shuttles were involved, An Amazing South Carolina trip where Dolphins, forts and long sandy walks were involved.  Veg learned how to swim this year.  We had several visitors at the homestead. Saw a light house, a great lake, went to Airforce Museum, Mountains, Chess club and sporting events.  We grew lots in the garden, enjoyed the Farmers market, started Juicing, and So much more!

2011 was a Great Year!!!

We drank lots of these:

And these:

Lots of NeeNee Soup:

Lots of Raw Vegan Goodness:

This one is Bananas, Pomegranate and Pecans with Macadamia Cream sauce:

First Persimmon Try:

Raw Vegan Creamy Kale Salad:

Raw Vegan Baklava:

Developed a love for Cauliflower:

I completed my First and Last Full Marathon... 

I simplified more in 2011, Made a lot more home body care products, Started my 10 Minute rule (breaking tasks in to 10 minutes so they don't seem so daunting).  I also began being happy about what I have accomplished vs. what I still have left to do.

At the end of 2011, my Accomplishments were many!! Both in the house and out of the house.  Both mentally and physically.. I even enjoyed crafts again as I prepared my self for 2012.  

Prepared myself Mentally that is!!  2012 is going to be another Big year.  I can feel it.

To start with, my Nutrition Classes will officially begin, and I'm super excited about that.  I'm going to complete another 1/2 Marathon (if my hormones cooperate that is).  But this time, I'm going to drop at least 15 minutes off my time.  I'm going to focus on myself a little more, find MY HAPPY, while being the best parent and wife I can be.  Most importantly, I'm taking back control of my happy!  The moods of others should not dictate my own.

Yesterday I got out for the first 1/2 Marathon training day of 2012.   For not running much the past few months, I was impressed with my Body's ability to jump back in.  I went a total of 4.5 miles with the first 3 running non-stop with no pain.  Powered by Greens!!!

My rest days for this 1/2 marathon training will be different! I'll be including some strength training and muscle stretching to the mix.  If I want a different result, then I must do different actions.  2012 is the year for Different and for finding my Happy!

Bring it on 2012... This will be the best year ever and I'm ready!!!!

 

Good Thing #27

Well it is the end of November and I survived... That is a good thing, right?

Now lets see what December has in store.... Just wait till 12/1.. Do I HAVE A POST for you!!!  Ha! 

Remember, I've been trying to only post good things all month...

December, I can say what EVER I want!

But 11/30, I shall add how much I love my Job... While things can get hectic, and things can change often... I should definitely say as a good thing that I'm blessed with an Amazing Job, and am grateful every day to have it!

I can also say, looking deep to find good things this month, even when some times things weren't so good, has been a huge reminder of how I need to live each day...

Looking for the good in my life, in people, and in everything I do.... 

To that I say... Goodbye to November... And heres to a Month full of a Happy Thoughts in December!

Good Thing #25

That one friend who has been around through all of my adult and some teen years...

Not sure what I would do with out that Girl in my life!

Good Thing #24

A MORNING OF SLEEPING IN......

 

I have nothing else to add and if your a Mother, you will understand why this is SUCH A GOOD THING!!!

Good Thing #23

A Friend saying "Want to have a drink?"  (meaning coffee)  And me saying "YES" even though it was too late and I shouldn't....

Then sitting at a table and enjoying some Adult Mommy Conversation....with a sip of brew!!

Now THAT is a good thing!

Good Thing #22

Imagination.... I love watching a child's imagination unfold.... But even as adults, the possibilities are endless.

Especially when your a Veggie Mom that doesn't offer Turkey on Thanksgiving... You Gotta do something Imaginative.

Today for Example!  Meet Mr. Mashed Potato Turkey!!!

And that is a Good Thing!

Good Thing #21

A Long Holiday Weekend is such a good thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALMOST!!!

 

Good Thing #20

Someone sent me this video when I was ready to give up training for my First 1/2 Marathon...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxqe77-Am3w

I still watch it often!

 

Good Thing #19

Today was filled with lots of good things..Along with some not so good things...but I can't talk about those till December... this is a Month of only good things!!!  

I'm trying to ignore the not so good ones.....Lalalalala, you can't find me......Step away from the annoyances... I think I can, I think I can....

OK Positive things from this day!!   Here we go!

• Beautiful Sunrise
• A GREAT Lunch with a friend
• Quick one mile outdoor Run before Dark - feeling the breeze and watching the critters..
• Hubby got home early
• Smoothie Goodness
• Time to make a Peanut Butter Uncooked Pie
• Veg's New Basketball Coaches called, and he got his pick for team... Too excited about that!
• Watching Hubby and Veg play board games before bed
• The sweetest desk-made snow flakes from a co-worker.... He saw that my tree was lonely and sad, so he made me snow flakes from post-its and hung them with paper clips....<must get pictures>
• I'm back to eating foods that make me feel good, and hope that trend continues....

Last but certainly NOT least... Solar Lights.... I'm sooo excited!!! 

We've never been able to put Christmas lights out side because we don't have outlets and don't want to run cords... So when I found solar lights... this made me quite happy...

Of course there is much more Goodness....  But I shall end here with a smile!!

Hope you had a wonderful day where ever you may be!!!

Good Thing #18

This Sunrise from a couple days ago, is such a wonderful way to start the day!!

Especially, when I can see it from my Kitchen!!! 

Such a Good thing!

Good Thing #17

DIGITAL CAMERAS are such a good thing...

I found this in an old camera... and now I have to wait for developing to find out whats on it???

How did we ever live that way??

 

Good Thing #16

Making my Own Green Juice when traveling..... I'll never be without green goodness again....

Oh Happy Happy Thoughts!!!

This was a Very Good Thing last week!!!

Good Thing #15

Not only was it raining Monday Night... But it was Cold, Dark AND Rainy...

We made it home safely...And its those little things we tend to take for granted...

So much to be thankful for.... This Month of Happy Thoughts, has really helped me through some things that would be otherwise NOT happy...

My friend said it best on Sunday "We are always going to have Stress, we just have to learn how to deal with it"

And so there ya go....

Good Thing #14

Coupons are such a GOOD Thing...
But when they are Organic Coupons, all the better...

Organic Deals & Coupons

Happy Happy Thoughts

Because it is November, and I'm only posting happy, GOOD things... I won't mention anything about my Mom's continued Sick Bugs that she got from OUR house where sick bugs are NOT allowed... Or my Spilled Smoothie Green-Tastrophe Today.... Or that my dog jumped up on the table and ate Veg's prepared lunch this morning. 

I certainly won't say anything about Hubby's month long cough, the $900 bill I just got from the Hospital, or the Dental visit coming up because of Veg's aching over crowding mouth.

I won't mention that Veg spilled his Silk Nog all over the carpet this morning, or that I never finished putting the laundry away Sunday, or that I made a semi-raw food dish last night soooooo Horrible it had to go in the trash...

No No NO... I won't say ANY OF THAT!!!!!  Those things will have to wait until December... Because this is November... and I'm only posting HAPPY GOOD THINGS!!!!

 

Do you have any happy good things??? A comment would be a Happy Good thing!!  *smile*

 

Good Thing #13

Glass Dharma Straws....

Such a GOOD THING!

 

Good Thing #12

5K and Family Fun Runs are such awesome events....  They are reasonably priced, but even if not, the cost usually goes to a great cause.

It gets kids outside and in the spirit of doing a good thing.... Keeps them active.. and provides a Morning or Afternoon for parents to do something fun WITH their kids!

Not watching from the side lines, or chearing them on, or leaving them with a baby sitter, but actually doing something WITH them, side by side!!

Unless you are like me... haha... My friend walked with Veg this time, while I ran and tried to beat my record...

I can say that I did NOT beat my record, but since I haven't done more then a mile in 4 weeks, I was glad just to finish while running the entire 3+ miles...

As for my friend and the Vegman, they did great... I finished, and then walked back to catch up with them, and walked forward to get their picture at the finish line... So I actually did walk side by side for a little bit.

Then Veg got to play at the park, The three of us had an awesome Dinner, a little window shopping, and a nice extended walk...

Taking a break from Sunday Cleaning, to have such a wonderful Day is a GREAT Thing!!

Good Thing #11

Continuing On with Happy Thoughts November....And in NO particular Order.....

NeeNee Visits are always a GOOD THING!!!

I had to go out of town for a couple days, so my Mom agreed to come visit and help out with the Vegman.

This didn't turn in to a "SPA" visit like the others.. I didn't make a whole lot of foods, and she didn't get to sleep in until 11 every day like those of trips past.. Although she did get naps, if that counts.

But she did get to eat out almost every day which is a treat for her, we went to a dinner/music show, and I made a smidgin of Green Goodness, and left her an all natural "survival kit" in the bathroom.....

She also got some long steamy showers with all natural/vegan soaps/shampoos.... And, Didn't have to cook except, a couple salads and some potatoes...  Outside of playing board games until her brain was fried, I think it was a tad relaxing... haha....  But certainly not as much as I would like.

We got her some certificates so she could go shopping once back home (since we ran out of time while here)...And...

We finished this puzzle...

She wasn't allowed to leave until we did...  Ya see every trip requires closure... We start a list when she arrives and she can't leave until we finish the list... Closure!!

The only thing on the list this time, was finishing this stinkin' puzzle.....  AHhhhhhhhhhhh... 2000 pieces of pure insanity....

In Summary...Hubby and I got out for a couple dinners, NeeNee and I had some alone time to visit, Veg had some special NeeNee time, a short business trip was completed, and I took a couple days off work to do absolutly NOTHING!!!!

All in All it was a great visit... and that is a VERY GOOD THING!

Good Thing #10

I just LOVE this face.... especially when he buries himself in the sheets....

Moooomm.... can I have some privacy please, I'm trying to sleep....

Good Night....

Good Thing #9

A Sweet little scene made by my Vegman to welcome his NeeNee...

And even better that it is Vegan and all natural ingredients...

Wish I had this stuff when he was younger....

Good Thing #8

I Eat Trees... Is the coolest Vegan Site.. With Shirts and Pictures to match!

And Check Out Veganed for even more of a Good thing...

 

Good Thing #7

My Awesome friend called the other day and told me what someone told her:

"You are just going to have to find your own way to deal" 

While  that may sound harsh to some... I took it to mean this:

"Hey Veg-Lady... Get your Hiney up and make time for yourself"

If I can't find 10 minutes in a day, for myself, then I have a whole other problem... I know this.. and I live by this.. but sometimes I guess I forget...

After hanging up with my friend, I realized that I had someone here to watch the Kiddo, so why don't I take that 10 minutes... I went out for a Quick Mile run in the refreshing cold air.... Then out for a dinner date with the Hubs.

It was a Good Day!

Good Thing #6

Just to note... these posts are only Numbered so I don't forget any days.. they are in no particular order otherwise....

Continue on....*smile*

Laptop Lunches has a New Website, and New Products...

It is such a good thing... Not to mention 365 Lunch Ideas... Who could NOT use that when kids are around?

 

Good Thing #5

Vita-Mix:

Enough Said!

Good Thing #4

Places like Animal Haven.. are SUCH a Good thing!!

 

Good Thing #3

Paying my very own house taxes... I don't know why this is a good thing... but I'm so excited.

This is the first year, I actually get to pay taxes outside of Escrow..... Meaning I have NO MORE Escrow....

Ah, just the little things... *smile*

Good Thing #2

This is SUCH A good thing....

 

Enough Said!

Good Thing #1

I have an amazing Friend that is fostering a child... She doesn't have to, her hands are full, and a special needs little one is the FURTHEST thing from her plans in life... but she is doing so.. Because no one else would..  and has done such an amazing thing for this little kid....

She is surely an inspiration and is the first person I thought of when posting my first Good Thing!!

*SMILE*

Happy November Thoughts - SMILE!!

To get me out of my slump, I've decided to post daily good things... Happy thoughts, Good Deeds, Good People, Good things.....

Leave comments if you'd like of your good things... Little tidbits, a link to your blog, a happy thought....For the rest of November, that will be my theme...

And most Importantly... SMILE!!! 

(PS, sorry for the pic... I can't help but smile to see that face....)