Our First WIAW

This past weekend, Ashley, Matt, and I decided to do a New Recipe Night.  So...we figured why not go for it and jump in to Jen's awesome What I Ate Wednesday Party over at Peas and Crayons!

Amy's Breakfast

7:45 am

On weekends (we logged our meals from Sunday), I like to take my time with breakfast.  So, I made some Brown Rice Porridge from a recipe I found on Newest Obsession.  The recipe is actually for Cherry Vanilla Brown Rice Porridge, but I replaced the cherries with mixed berries, since it's what I had, and I replaced the protein powder with PB (yum!).  It was a fun switch from oatmeal!  Of course, iced coffee followed.

Ashley's Breakfast

8:00 am

The breakfast I'd vote the "BESTfast" lately is Multi-Grain Cheerios!! Just plain, no milk, Yes I know thats weird and even my husband says i'm weird.

Ashley's Lunch

11:30 am

I totally forgot to take a picture of the finished product but I had some rice for lunch.



Amy's Lunch

12:15 pm

 

 I am all about egg sandwiches lately, so this one is made up of egg, ham, and spinach (there's my green, if you can see it!) on whole wheat bread.  On the side I had some butternut squash (bought a huge package of it at Costco) with cinnamon and a little maple syrup.  When I was finished, I was still a little hungry, so I dipped into the quinoa bread (found on Clean Eating Chelsey's awesome blog) I made for later with a little pumpkin butter.

 Amy's Snack

2:30 pm

I didn't want to be too hungry before heading over to Ashley and Matt's for Selection Sunday, so I went for my gigantic bag of pears (I rocked my Costco trip) and a rice cake.  Before the show, we had some edamame, but forgot to take a picture (we WOULD miss the picture of the green!).  Had to toss my cutting board in there, because it's just too cute!

Ashley's Snack

2:30 pm

 My first time trying this snack mix, and I give it two thumbs up!

Dinner

5:30 pm

 It was Matt's turn to pick for New Recipe Night, and he went with White Chicken Chili.  Ashley and I decided on this recipe that we found on Sweet Treats & More.  It was delish!  I have been loving the leftovers!

Amy's Dessert

8:00 pm

I have a slight addiction to sweets before bed, so I went the healthy route and made a green smoothie with spinach, mango, coconut milk, and banana topped with some Multi-Grain Cheerios...good stuff!

House Progress!

Hello Readers,
  Ashley here, If you have been keeping up with our posts about goals and resolutions for 2012 you already know that one of my goals was to get the house painted.  This week is the week that is happening in our house!   So for this post I'm going to focus more on updating you all on the progress of this huge step for making our house a home, my photography posts will resume next week! 

Master bedroom

Staircase/Hallway

There is still a bit more work to do before I have a set of "complete" pictures but by the end of the week it will be done!!  I can't wait for that.

I Once...Now I..

Weekends are pretty fun for us here on the blog, as we write this post together.  It's always fun (and a little challenging) to come up with something to write about.  This week, we thought we'd take a little peek into how we've changed over the years.  I (Amy) am up first:

I once...danced ballet.  Very briefly.

Pretty enthusiastic ballerina pose.

Now I...spend a couple of Friday nights every school year teaching my students some pretty sweet moves (i.e. the shopping cart and sprinkler) at dances.

I once...was told by my dad to pick Florida to win the NCAA tournament.  I didn't.  They won.  Amy's bracket was ruined.


Now I...will certainly be calling my dad for his pick before I finalize my bracket!  :)

I once...dreamed of having a big brother.


Now I...have a pretty fantastic brother in law to watch sports and kibitz (haha) with!

Ashley's turn!

I used to …. Hate all sports

Now I…. look forward to Hockey games and baseball season

I used to…. Dread gym class and stressed out about it immensely

Now I… am trying to come up with a fun exercise routine and am totally stress free about it!

I used to… complain about a lot of things which caused a lot of drama in my life

Now I… don’t sweat the small stuff (at least not AS much) and I pick my battles.

All about the light...or is it?

Now that I have a reason to really get into photography, I find myself really wanting to take a course to learn to make my photos worthy of being hung up on the wall.  A few times a week, I login to Pinterest and look at the photography boards of a bunch of people.  Some days I find a ton of inspirational photos, and other days not so much, but, lately, I've been really into nature photos.  If only nature was a little more predictable and didn't move so fast. 

Anyway, tonight the moon is HUGE up in the sky.  I saw it while I was driving home today and wanted to stop and take a picture but didn't think that the car behind me would like that very much, so I kept going and tried to snap a picture when I got home.  My little point and shoot camera just wasn't having the distance and wasn't letting me snap a clear picture without the flash on, so no pictures of that.  I stood out on my patio, frustrated, wishing I had the big camera to lug around that could zoom in on the moon and make people oohh and ahh when they saw the picture... NO LUCK.  So I found myself thinking that if the light was a little better, I could get a good picture... (now thinking) Well duh if it was light out there would be no moon ya dork! 

So anyway.. I've been going round and round in my own head asking --- is it REALLY all about the light? 

I've gone through my collections of photos (and yes I have many!) and found some photos that really are all about the light!

My own challenge to myself for next week is to figure out how to make my point and shoot camera take pictures like a big SLR camera!  I still have some more saving to do before I'm able to lug around the camera and take the classes that will teach me how to use it but...for now I'll keep trying to take a good picture of the moon!    dreaming....   = )

Photo Challenge Results:  

Challenge:  A photo of a day I thought was going to go very badly but actually turned out OK.

May 9, 2009-  My Graduation day.  I was set to graduate at 5:00 PM which left me all day to DREAD it, and I sure did.  A huge arena packed to the brim with people who don't even know me but will be hearing my name being called... watching me and 1 other person cross the stage to be handed an empty diploma cover.  That minute or two of my life was extremely important but just didn't seem to be worth my time, hours sitting waiting for ONE minute.  I remember begging my mom to allow me to NOT walk at Graduation and her saying "you have to you worked so hard for this."  I remember asking Amy how many stairs there were to get to the stage (wondering how many chances I had to trip and humiliate myself).  I remember spelling out our last name letter by letter and writing 2 different ways to pronounce it CORRECTLY... and it turns out that lining up with the 40 girls that I spent 2 years of my life with was one of the best moments of my life (yes that's correct...when your major is Early Childhood you do spend two years of your life in classes of only females).  We had so much in common that we never really let sink in until we we faced with that big stage, crossing over to our future.  By 7pm that night, it was all done--no tripping, no falling, no humiliation, no mispronouncing my name... just me... the college graduate-  with my empty diploma cover and a whole lotta memories!

Alrighty time for next week's challenge...let's reverse this week.

How about something that reminds you of a day that kind of sucked...but now you can laugh about it.

How I Became a Runner

In the past few weeks, it seems like I've been talking running with people a lot...which is awesome.  In many of my conversations, people have brought up how I started running, which really wasn't very long ago.  So, I thought it would be fun to look at what turned me into a runner.

Hands down, I have to attribute my becoming a runner to my lovely freshman roommate, Amanda.  She is an avid runner, and I have known it from the start.  She even founded a running club at our school and asked me to be the PR chair (since I was an English major).  I never...and I do mean never, not a single one...joined the group for runs, but I did save all the newsletters I put together!  :)  (Funny how, now, I would LOVE to have that running club so close at hand when I never took advantage of it back then!

Luck sure was on our side when the computer randomly matched us as roomies!

Although I was always reluctant to participate, I constantly admired runners from a distance.  Then, I graduated and started working.  My best work friend is a runner too...what a coincidence!... and we decided to start walking/jogging together.  As I saw a little success with that, I decided--I can do this!

That is when I looked up the Couch to 5K plan.  It worked wonders for me.  I followed it religiously, and the success I felt from it truly started the addiction.  It wasn't until a several weeks in that I finally told my old roomie about it.  :)

At this point, a lot of things changed for me.  I went through a nasty break-up, had to move back in with my parents, and was really struggling emotionally.  I felt like my whole world had been turned upside-down, and I jumped into running head-first.

Enter the college roomie yet again.  She really came through for me when I needed her the most, and we started running together on a weekly basis.  I looked forward to these runs so, so much, and, when she sent me the link to a 5K, I joined, and the work began!

Finally, it was time for the big race.  With the support of Amanda, Ashley, and Matt, I met my time goal and had an AMAZING experience.  I was officially hooked!

Definitely a great time...although I may not look like it, haha

Soon enough, I did a few more races, set my eyes on a 10k...and then decided...hey, why not try a half marathon?  I did some research, found a plan, and went for it.  That brings us to the blog era, so you can read about my half marathon adventures:  pre-race jitters, my first half recap, deciding to go for it again, and trying my own training plan.

So, now, here I am, officially a runner.  I love that my love for running has developed because of people I love and is starting to spread to people I love.  Looking ahead, I can't wait to...

• Feel the excitement of hitting my sub 2:00 half marathon goal.
• Run the Chicago Marathon (2013!!!)
• Run a 5k with some loved ones who are going for it for the first time

How did YOU get into running?

Goal Update!

Since we're now starting the third month of the year 2012, it's time for us to update all of you on how we are doing with our 2012 goals and resolutions!

We originally posted our resolutions here and we posted a short update about them here.

So I (Ashley) will start with updating you with my goals and resolutions.

Goals:

1.  Finish painting my house:  We are well on our way to doing this... We start next Monday but have been working hard on picking our colors... our walls currently look like this.. OY!

We're thinking about using color number 2 or 3 for our accent color.  Sample #1 is completely out of the running.

Goal #2- Establish a work out routine that I look forward to following. 

March 1st was my start date for figuring out something that will work for me.  At this point I still haven't discovered anything I look forward to doing but have convinced myself I HAVE to do this.  Even if it works for me, I know it's OK to change it up, and I plan to if I get bored!

Goal #3 Organize my life:  Progress has been made with this mostly organizing storage and closets.  Once the house painting project is complete, the organization will be complete, and I will post before and after pictures.  I can't wait!!

Resolution:  Get back in touch with old friends.

Still working on this resolution.  I have made great strides with a few people and still hope to plan a mini reunion in the summer!

Amy's turn!

1. Actually complete either my workout room or my office.  March is the big month for this one!  I have a big list of things to get at Ikea, a budget set, and a color scheme all ready to rock.  I'm thinking next weekend would be an excellent time for a shopping spree (hint, hint, Ashley!).

2. Start a retirement savings account.  Still on hold.  Waiting until the office is finished to focus my money this way.

3. Run a sub-2:00 half marathon.  On my way!  Registered for the race- check!  Training plan created- check!  Started training this week and have definitely been committed, seeing as I ran in this:

Didn't fall!  Gotta celebate the little victories. :)

4. Run a race in every season.  Ran my winter race earlier in the month.  Now, I've got my sights set on my spring race on May 20th.  Also considering the Shamrock Shuffle...hmm...

5. Go meatless one day per week.  So far, so good!  Actually, I'm doing two meatless days a week now because of Lent, and I felt like counting Friday as my meatless day too would be cheating.  I'm a little crazy.  :)

Resolution: Spend more time appreciating what I have than worrying about what I don't.  Again, there are good days and bad.  No arguing, though, my life rocks.

See ya later, February!  You sure were fun!

How was YOUR February?  Did anything exciting happen?

Make em' Care

In the world of photography, the options are endless: you can photograph anything, you can glorify something that is typically not fun to look at, and you can also use a photo to add effect to a given situation.  When something happens around the world, people are drawn to the event through the photos taken of the people and the events, whether good or bad.  There is no right or wrong when it comes to a picture because images look different to everyone-- what one person may want hung on the wall may be only good enough to throw in the trash to others--, but one thing never fails, a photo is the ONE thing that can really make people care.  I think of all the ways I'd want my photos to be displayed some day, and I also think that the "bigger," the better when it comes to a photo I love.  So out of the photos I've taken or have had taken of me, I'll share some of the ones that have made me care.

This photo taken from above the trees, and it seems there is no end.  It makes me care, care in the respect of this photo- rise above- and set your sights on the horizon...don't settle for what is in front of you, because there's so much in the distance, and sort through the layers.  Just as this photo has layers and each does something else for the world, each goal can have a layer that will do something positive for yourself or those around you.

                                      Family- Because they give you so much to care about!

 Care for those who care for us.  It's so easy to forget unless you are reminded, so remind yourself to care for those who care. 

Photo Challenge:

A photo of my goal

My result:

My goal was to begin on a track to train myself to become a runner and accomplish a 5K with Amy at some point in the future.  I know it is going to take me awhile to get to the point where she is, and I have done most of my planning on my own... but hopefully in the future this picture can be retaken, and I can be holding a medal of my own!

Amy here...before I add my challenge I must say YAYYYYYY!  It's on the blog, so it's official!  5K, Summer 2012?

OK, on to the challenge:

How about a photo of a day you thought would be bad, but turned out great?