Our Valentines Weekend

 Well, we did it! Our first official 5K race is complete! It was so much fun (despite the 29 degree weather!) to run with a huge group of other people with a common goal in mind. There were married couples, parents and kids, friends, and some solo people just there to run. I've mentioned before we don't really get super into Valentines day so this year we wanted to do something a little different. We have been putting a lot of emphasis on health in the Boydstun home and we thought what better way to celebrate our love and our health then to train and race in a Cupid Couples 5K together? We got pancakes and coffee afterward, a much appreciated reward.

I hope your Valentines is full of love and happiness! (And full of sweets, too!)

Lately...

Oh, gloriously delicious and beautiful coffee, what would I do with you? The semester has only just started and I have already consumed way beyond the suggested amount of caffeine intake per day. It just hit me how great it is that I work at a coffee shop while I'm in college. I knew filling out that Starbucks application would prove worthy! My days lately, besides constantly consuming coffee (hmm, blog name change?), are filled with either working or going to class, doing homework, reading, or at this awesome yoga studio near my apartment. Remember when I took yoga as a college class just to see what it was all about? Yeah, that. I'm hooked. Ever since leaving that class I have wanted to join a yoga studio but never could, because we only had one car and it wasn't feasible for me to invest the time and money into it if I knew I would hardly be able to attend the sessions. But did you notice that I used the past tense there? That's right! WE GOT A SECOND CAR!! After a year and half of marriage with one car, I am one happy happy girl!! We have been looking to buy through a dealer, going back and forth on what we should do and when we should just crack down and do it, but nothing ever seemed to work out. I kept my patience (mostly) and prayed, asking God for an opportunity for money to come in somehow...and guess what? A car appeared! Actually, it was there the whole time, sitting in my in-laws driveway. Since my Father-in-law retired, him and my Mother-in-law hardly ever leave separately and turns out they've been thinking about getting a new set of wheels. What was once John's Mom's sweet little 2 door Pontiac Grand-Am is now OURS! It has already proved to be a huge blessing to have a second car. Three semesters we have had to coordinate our school schedules, which the further you get into school is harder and harder to do, but coordinate no longer! It's been great being able to go to the grocery store if I need to, or go do homework at location besides my living room couch. I had forgotten the sweet sweet freedom four wheels can bring to a person, and it feels good!

Small change of subject, the 5K we signed up for is less than two weeks away! I feel slightly better about it since actually running a whole 3.1 miles the other day. I can humbly say that I am really proud of myself for that one seeing as a month ago I could hardly run a mile! I really and truly felt a conviction to become more active and healthy and I want to stay true to that. Our bodies are a temple, right? So my temple is getting a head to toe, inside and out makeover! You know what I've found to be a really great motivator? Food! Ha! I feel less guilty having that cheeseburger if a couple hours ago I was in the gym. I am weighing myself to track progress, but my true purpose here is to be healthy and focus mainly on that then the numbers. (Although watching that scale move down a few pounds IS exciting!)

Well, now it's time to get back to some homework and have a study session before class tomorrow. (Complete with the sounds of Sigur Ros and a cup of coffee.)

I Can Only Go Up From Here!

This has been my mantra through my running training. Today I was laying in bed after a nap and was literally arguing with myself on whether or not I should go running. I find if I list all the reasons I shouldn't run (usually I can't think of any) then I get up and do it. Today was a bit harder. I was giving myself a pretty great argument against myself. (Hmm..maybe I shouldn't admit to that) John and I both have been trying to incorporate healthier habits into our life and today we registered for our first 5K!

For Valentine's we are doing a couple's run! Now John is way way wayyy better at this whole running gig then I am, (He ran 9 miles today...for fun.) but he is super supportive of his slow, can hardly run a mile without sounding like a wheezing pug wife. Since we signed up for the 5K I decided to push my usual 1.5 mile run to a 3.1 mile run. Well, it's more of a walk/run, but now I have set my original 5K pace and time...

Now I have burning shins and super sore hamstrings, BUT I did it! This isn't the greatest time, but I pushed through and did the longest treadmill workout I've ever done. I can only go up from here! This is a huge accomplishment for me, and I am really excited about adding healthy living into our daily routine so we can live a long healthy life.



What are ways you have initiated healthy living into your life?

Hey! Long time no see!

Hey guys! Long time no talk. I've had a seven month hiatus from the ol' bloggy here and I've started to miss it. I hope during 2012 I post more updates on the happenings of my little ol' life, even if it's just a picture. (Like the one above!) One of my resolutions this year was to make more handmade goods. My Great Grandma passed away a few weeks ago and a part of her legacy is held in every stitch of every item she has made for everyone in our family. I know how special each of my "Goggy items" are and I hope to be able to create things that make others as happy as she has made our family. That neck warmer is one thing I've made and love and hope to make more to give to friends/family/strangers..ha!

I hope everyone's holiday was filled with love, laughter, and sweet memories. Happy New Year!

Inspiration Workshop: Kitchens!

Here we go again with week two of Gussy's Inspiration Workshop! I'll tell you what, going through everyone's post last week really inspired me to do more handmade projects. This week she asked us to write about our dream kitchens! I decided to first post what we've done with our little apartment kitchen, then show some of my dream kitchen!

 This is the view of the kitchen from the living room.

Not much space!

This mat was inspiration for the color scheme. Red, turquoise, yellow, green!

Stove! That tea kettle gets a lot of use around here.

The beverage station.

The cute canisters John got me for Christmas '09.

Our fruit basket that is currently used as a hot chocolate station.

My cookbooks that don't hardly get used enough.

Now, if I wasn't restricted by a small apartment kitchen:

So much color! I love all the natural light.

photo credit

I'm in love with the colored open cabinets.

photo credit

Dream 50's style stove! I drool over this.

photo credit

This mixer. In this color.

photo credit

 I really dig this fridge!

photo credit 

  Love the pots and pans and cottage chic look.

photo credit

I dream of yellow in my future kitchen. My mom always had a yellow kitchen, and I hope I can pass that tradition off in my own home.

photo credit

Head on over to GussySews for some more kitchen inspiration! 

Date Night x 2!

A typical day these days consist of me waking up before the rest of the world (anywhere between 3:30AM and 5:30AM depending on my shift that day) coming home after work, kissing John goodbye as he goes to work, then I don't see him until after 10PM. So when I say we hardly ever see each other? I mean it. Miraculously, though, we had two nights in one weekend free! We took full advantage of it, got all dolled up and went OUT! We never go out.

I even wore lip gloss!

My handsome huz.

The venue.

 We went and saw Peter Bjorn and John Thursday night, then Saturday night went and saw Eisley perform. Both bands get lots of playtime on my ipod so it was so fun to see them live! I think my husband is one of the most fun people in the planet so when we actually get to hang out it is always full of laughs and memories.

What's one of your favorite date memories? I'd love to hear about it!

Inspiration Workshop Week one: Handmade

This is the first week of Gussy's inspiration workshop where every week her reader's link up and post about whatever that week's topic is. This week's is handmade. Whatever your favorite handmade memory or item, she asked us to write about! So here's my most treasured handmade item to date: My double ring wedding quilt made by my Aunt Toni, Great Grandma Goggy, Grandma, and Grandpa. (All people who inspire me artistically and through life)

Tearfully holding it up at our wedding shower.

They stitched their signatures.

<3

It's bigger than our futon!

 Whenever I see this quilt I'm reminded how loved I am and how awesome it is to be apart of a big ol' crafty loving Texas family!

Now get on over and see what all the other lovely people are posting about at GussySews!