[Fitness, Health and Happiness]

13 Thoughts About Being 43

1. The saying "I wish I knew then what I know now" is so true.
2. I thought my late 30s were the best years of my life and the same has been true for my 40s.
3. I get more satisfaction from resisting cravings than I would get had I indulged.
4. High school was all about a boy. College was about being a student. Then I got married and became a wife. Followed by children and becoming a mom. Then in my early 30s, I wasn't sure who I was supposed to be. I'm happy to say at 43 I finally feel a sense of balance. 
5. I'm the healthiest I've ever been.
6. I wish I would have started running earlier in life.
7. Before long both of my kids are going to be taller than me.
8. At one time I worried about so many things that I now realize really didn't matter.
9. With age comes more self confidence. Less self doubt.
10. I don't feel 43. Or maybe this is what 43 is supposed to feel like and was wrong about what I expected.
11. I'm convinced more than ever that marrying Chad was fate.
12. I'm working on my unrealistic expectations of perfection.
13. Yesterday was my birthday :)

 More Thursday 13 

 

Right Now...

• Favorite fruit - fresh peaches (with cinnamon)
• Favorite drink - water or Sangria (Chad's recipe)
• Favorite dress up shoes - Ann Taylor black sandals
• Favorite everyday shoes - Saucony running shoes or brown leather FitFlop
• Favorite activity - running
• Favorite new purchase - Droid X
• Favorite song - Burn It to the Gound by Nickelback and New Divide by Linkin Park - great running songs!
• Favorite movie - Blind Side (one of many favorites)
• Favorite book so far this year - Learning to See Creatively: Design, Color and Composition in Photography by Bryan Peterson
• Favorite TV show - True Blood
• Favorite ice cream flavor - Cold Stone mint chocolate chip
• Favorite gadget -  Canon 400D XTi
• Favorite running site - Daily Mile

What are some of your favorites?

More Thursday Thirteen participants here  Thursday 13

 

 

13 Photos. July 24. A glimpse of 17 years. 

 

 

 

Totally obsessing about this right not...

13 Reasons to Discontinue My Gym Membership and Set Up a Home Gym

1. I need to be more consistent with my strength training and my current at-the-gym isn't working.
2. Convenience.
3. Economical in the long run.
4. I have collected training programs from magazines that I can use to set up a routine and make changes to avoid getting bored.
5. I skip going to the gym most often because of the distance to drive.
6. I'm the only one in the family that has a membership so some of the things I'm paying for don't get used, i.e. the pool, child care, etc.
7. Time is often limited and I spend about 45 minutes driving round trip if I go to the gym.
8. The gym's run club is pretty much non-existent.
9. We have the space.
10. I like the social aspect of running and working out. That was a big plus at the gym but now I get the same support from a running club that meets 2-3 times a week.
11. I get the impression home gyms rarely work out as planned but I was told by 3 people I'm the most disciplined person they know and if I decide to do this I will. 
12. I have 30-days from the time I cancel my membership to decided with minimal loss.
13. The flexibility of not having to skip a workout just because the day was busy. 

Yes, although not as long, there is a list of reasons to keep my gym membership too.

Photo Walk: Charleston, S.C.

 

Our vacation was perfect and beyond expectation, but my favorite part was the photo walk in downtown Charleston. Colors. Textures. The contrast of time gone by. Photo opportunities that are so vastly different from my everyday life. Thank you Jean!

13 Favorites: Photo Walk Charleston, SC

 












 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

 

Team-Up Thursday: Down Low

 

I first envisioned down-low as mostly things on the ground, but that quickly changed when I saw my daughter reading in bed. Instead of down-low subjects I focused on shooting from down-low. I sat on the floor next to her bed and shot from as many different angles as I could get. Tina 's down low is from the kitchen. Yummy treats that I'm sure she will get requests for the recipe. 

 

13 Blogs...running, photography, photoshop elements and inspiration

1. Amy McMaster Photography  - actions (PS and PSE),inspiration
2. MCP Actions - actions for PS and PSE
3. I run because... - inspirational running quotes
4. Isabelle LaFrance Photography - inspiration, actions (PS and PSE), textures
5. Daily Mile - community, fitness log, challenges
6. Creativity Bootcamp - inspiration, creative journey
7. Everyday Elements - PSE workshops
8. I Heart Faces Photography - amazing photos and my favorite "fix-it Friday"
9. Photography Haven - tutorials, actions (PSE and PS), textures
10. Run Like A Mother - humor, runners I can relate to, tips and information
11. My Four Hens Photography - actions (PS and PSE), amazing photos
12. Paint the Moon Photographer's Tools - actions (PS and PSE), classes, textures
13. Dean's (Karnazes) Blog - meeting this man and reading his book inspired me to run 

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Team-Up Thursday: Red

 

Another unplanned week of Tina and I having the same idea. Fresh fruit. A summer essential and favorite. Fresh strawberries don't last long in our house. Smoothies. Packed for lunch at school and work. Dessert just as they are. A snack. Chopped with banana. The strawberry season always seems way too short so we take full advantage of it. And seeing Tina's watermelon photo makes me want to plan a picnic and enjoy being outside.

 

 13 Awesome Things
 Inspired by one of my favorite blogs.

1. Making it half way (#500 of 1000 Awesome Things).
2. Picking the fastest moving line at the grocery store checkout (#501 of 1000 Awesome Things).
3. Running friends.
4. Finishing your last final exam.
5. New car smell.
6. Blue skies.
7. Seeing a dad walking and holding hands with his kids.
8. The anticipation of a movie or book release.
9. The last day of school before summer break.
10. Funny texts from your husband that wouldn't be funny to anyone else.
11. Learning something new.
12. The courteous driver that lets you change lanes when you need to.
13. A good hair day.

Team-Up Thursday: Out of Focus

This week Tina and I focused on not focusing. Or as with Tina's photo using out of focus by design with depth of field.

My photo is once again a running image. I love how the out of focus emphasizes the movement and speed of Alec crossing the finish line. I immediately noticed the effect of the gradual out of focus for Tina's family photo.   

 

 

About this time every year I begin to feel overwhelmed and not very productive. Feeling like everything I want to do is falling short. It lasts about a week or so and then summer break starts and I'm able to regroup and move forward feeling happy and less stressed. 

 

Thursday 13 :  How I Spend My Time

1. A regular training schedule for a marathon in 18 weeks.
2. Support (support as in running with him) Alec in starting his pre-training for cross country.
3. Scrapbook more often.
4. Mom time.
5. Wife time.
6. Read.
7. Strength train at least once a week.
8. Work.
9. Time with friends.
10. Take Alyssa to cheer practice and everything that goes with having a daughter in competitive cheer.
11. Blog throughout the week.
12. Build a web site for my Alyssa's cheer squad.
13. And then there is sleep. I'd rather not but it seems as if I have to sleep.

How do you spend your time? What do you do when you begin to feel overwhelmed and not very productive.

 

Team-Up Thursday: White Space

Another Team Up Thursday that Tina and I had the same idea for our TUT theme this week...running. A shot of my medal from my most recent half marathon was taken for my running album. Not quite as white space-ish as some of the other shots but it was my favorite. I love Tina's track image. Nicely shot and a great example of white space with leading lines.

 

And now 

13 Reasons to Wake Up Early

Image: Freefotodotcom
 

1. My favorite time of day is 5:00 a.m.
2. Uninterrupted time to myself.
3. Savoring the promise of a new day. Possibilities are endless.
4. The silence of my home.
5. Time to plan and prepare for the day ahead of me.
6. Seeing the sun rise.
7. No rushing. No mornings of "I'm running late."
8. I have time to enjoy breakfast with Alec before he goes to school and I go to work.
9. I am more productive in the morning.
10. Free time to do whatever I need and/or want to do.
11. The first sound of birds chirping.
12. The weather is cool and crisp.
13. Starting my day early makes me feel energized. Ready for the day.

 

Team-Up Thursday: Color

You can't go wrong with beautiful flowers and chocolate.

 

  

Thursday 13: What I Really Wanted to Say About the Flying Pig Half Marathon

After I ran the Flying Pig Half Marathon I was asked by supportive friends and family, "How did it go?" or "How was the race?"  I smiled and said, "great!" or "I loved it." That was not the truth. I was trying to stay positive despite the dismal race. I'm not a negative person but, this is what I really wanted to say when I was asked, "How was the race?"

1. It sucked!
2. It was pouring down rain.
3. I hate running in wet shoes.
4. My husband's knee was hurting.
5. I had to make an unexpected stop.
6. My finishing time sucked.
7. One of the ear buds on my iPod came apart.
8. Runners and walkers did not have a separate start time.
9. No, I'm not glad I ran it.
10. No, it's not enough to say I ran 13 miles.
11. I'm a morning person but a 6:30 start time is way too early.
12. I hate running when in shorts that are clinging to my legs.
13. My Garmin stopped working.

Nonetheless, I still love running and I will run another half marathon this weekend!