New year!

So I realize it's February, which means I'm a little late for New Year Resolutions but here goes anyway. I usually don't jump on the resolution-bandwagon but sometimes the new year is just what I need to start something new.

In an effort to get back to my pre-preggo self (and ready for swimsuit season), I wanted to run in the Tuscaloosa 1/2 Marathon- Run for Recovery. This is the first year for the event and the path goes through much of the area that was devastated in the April 27 tornado. Oh, and it's also supporting Read Bama Read, double win. However, adjusting to a new baby, work, keeping the house decent looking, etc... I just couldn't find the time for that type of training... :(

But, then I found out there's a 2-person relay! It would be much easier to prepare to run 6.5 miles so I asked the hubby and he agreed! I didn't even have to beg. :) So our training began the first week of January and it's an 8-9 week program that I found here. Basically, we run on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday with the long runs on Saturday. This weekend was 4.5 miles and we only have 3 more weeks to go, yay! Race day is March 2!

I really needed to sign up for an actual race because it gives me something to work toward. It's much harder to make myself run during the week, and when it's cold, if there isn't really a reason to. Accountability helps me and it's not as intimidating to think about running a long distance. This was my thought process when I was training for the Mercedes Marathon too- each day is just a small part of the process. Wow, that sounds like Coach Saban, huh? Maybe I've listened to too many of his post-game interviews that I'm now brainwashed, haha. :)

Anywho, Matthew and I have really enjoyed the training and look forward to our Saturday runs together! This particular day was unseasonably warm so the whole family went!

I love that we live across the street the park with a good track for running. If I don't take the baby, I usually just take the dogs and we run at the Arboretum. I'm pretty sure they would rather live there than at home so I try to take them as often as possible. It's also easier for me because I don't have to put them on a leash - they can run free like dogs are meant to do. :)

Reynolds loves when I take her for a run so I'm really ready for springtime weather. We got a Bob jogging stroller at our baby shower at Matthew's work and I absolutely LOVE it - I definitely recommend this brand!

My weekday runs usually aren' as exciting because I go to the gym on my lunch break. But it's extra motivation to work my pace since I have limited time. I actually have improved my mile pace by about a minute since I started. :)

 

It's so nice getting home in the evening and not having to worry about working out/ running - all of my time can be spent with MR until Matthew gets home from work. :) I so wish I could motivate myself to workout in the mornings but I like to sleep as late as I possibly can... But running on my lunch break energizes me to get through the work day and I only do this 2 days/ week.

 

So that's my resolution #1.

 

Resolution #2 is that I'm trying to take better care of my skin. You see, although I haven't gotten in a tanning bed in 7ish years, I did tan a lot when I was in high school. So I want to use make sure that I'm using the right preventive skincare to minimize aging, sun damage, etc... So far I've tried Clinique's new Dark Spot Corrector; it worked ok but I'm thinking about going with Estee Lauder next time. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know!

 



 

I am trying a new moisturizer too - Philosophy's Take a Deep Breath. I like it but I don't love it so I'll take suggestions for a new moisturizer too! :)

 

Well I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! I'm spending it at my mom's house in Brilliant and it's been very relaxing. Is anyone else getting spring fever yet? I am beyond ready to see the sun regularly, have more daylight hours when I get home from work, see fresh flowers and smell freshly cut grass! :)

A little update...

Happy Friday Y'all! I'm finally trying out the mobile app for this, mainly so i can upload my mobile photos directly (it's much quicker than syncing my phone to the computer, uploading, wah wah wah...)

I want to update you on one of my favorite rooms (or space?) in our cozy little bungalow...the screened-in porch! To jog your memory, this is how it was looking after the makeover on the outdoor couch mentioned  here and here:

Not bad, but not great either. I needed some change! Of course, this feeling hit me about a week after having Reynolds. See, when I'm stressed, I stress-clean. I guess that's better than stress-eating?? When I came home from the hospital, I came home without my baby - enter "stress."

Somehow I found time to work on this project, even though I was visiting the NICU 3-4 times each day. But while I was home, by myself, I needed some distraction. The screened-in porch was the lucky recipient of my stress relief. :)

For starters, I painted the flooring of the porch. It had been dusty blue, the same color as our house, but the paint was so badly chipped in places, it was kind of sad-looking. I used the rug above to hide a lot of the chippiness, but this rug had gotten nasty from the weather, dogs, etc... So picture me, 1 week after having a c-section, on my hands and knees, painting this floor. I justified it to my worried husband that I would still be sitting down, just on the floor instead of the couch, and that my arms weren't needing to heal from anything. I doubt my doctor would've approved but oh well...

The next thing on the agenda was all of the wood work. We had all of the white wood exterior of our house (i.e. windows, trim, etc...) repainted this summer and it looks so much better. However, we forgot to have the painter include the porch. :( There is a lot of woodwork out here and I knew I couldn't handle it this particular week so Matthew's dad graciously volunteered to help us out. He and a friend came one morning  were finished shortly after lunch. Now that I think about it, they actually did this before I painted the floor; I didn't want them to have to be super careful about dripping paint.

So at this point, the 2 big projects out here had been taken care of... yay! Next on the list was the outdoor couch. I must've been feeling extra colorful the day I first painted this. Remember this is what it looked like when I inherited it from my mom:

Then I spray painted it teal:

Well I decided to jump on the ORB bandwagon and go for a nice neutral oil rubbed bronze. (note to self- I've kinda been on this bandwagon for a few years now). Anywho, after a few coats of spray paint and updating the throw pillows, here is how she's looking:

We also scored this outdoor rug on clearance at Target for $30 (marked down from $90) and I think it really defines the area better than the previous one. I also replaced the large coffee table with a smaller trunk so there would be more space and threw in some new accessories here and there. .

See how the fresh white paint pops off the black floor. Love.

 

Side note: it's been over a year since I made the seat and back cushions for the couch (see that project here and here) and I must say they are holding up quite nicely! :)

This space instantly became much more inviting and I love spending time out here. I'm trying to convince the Mr. that a small flat-screen tv would be perfect out here, don't you think? I'll let you know how that turns out, ha! :) I think these 2 really love the new space; can you say spoiled?

Well, that's all for today. Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!