Inspiring Words of Encouragement

This is my Couch to 5K 3 week journal. The title has to do with the woman that I ran into at the park this morning as I was running. More on that later...

First of all, let me just share that for week 3, I did a repeat of week 2. Reason 1, I am intimidated by the 3 minute jog. Reason 2, my friend and I were not able to connect so we said we would continue with week 2 until we can run again. I know I will need her encouragement to make 3 minutes. The plan is to attack the 3 minute jog intervals on Monday so I ran today and will be resting up on Sunday.

So this morning I set off to do my week 2 run. I have to admit, I probably looked like a little like Norman Gentle up there. I had Bo pick me up a sweatband that goes around my head. For some reason only people like Roger Federer can make these look cool but, I was sweating so badly and the salt would start to burn my eyes. I am really over trying to look cool when I run so I decided to go with it and the great thing is it totally worked. Maybe I will start a new fashion trend!

Today I ran in the morning opposed to at night so I was expecting it to be easier. Boy was I wrong. The humidity was doing a toll on me. I think I was down to the next to last interval and probably looked like I was about to pass out after my jog. This sweet lady stops me and says "what size do you want to get down to...you are not fat!" I told her that I am trying to run a 5K (I am trying to lose weight too just in case you are wondering) and thanked her for the encouragement. It totally made my day! It's intimidating to start something like running when you know you are overweight and out of shape. Probably more than 10 years ago I was running and much thinner than I am now and was laughed at by some teenagers on the other side of the street. So, I always have this feeling that people are mocking the "fat girl trying to run". That lady probably has no idea but I bet in 10 years I will still remember her encouraging words!

And I officially signed up for the Firecracker 5K today. It's a run/walk so I am not worried about being the only one that will be walking. Hopefully by the race I will have accomplished the 3 minute jog but if not I know that I will still be doing more than if I were at home sitting on my couch!

PS...People turn your sprinklers on. It's hot out there! I would have loved to run through a nice cold sprinkler at some point! Not a one was going!!!

The fire station is right around the corner from the Raquet Club. It would be awesome to have this sort of setup! I would totally run through that!

I borowed these photos from another blogger. I thought they were cool so hopefully he won't mind.

Corinth Road Trip

We took a road trip today to Corinth, MS. It was the weekend for Green Market at the Corinth Depot. We have a 2-year old so it was a bit of an experience. Marley decided that she had no desire to be there as soon as we got out of the car. So, we did a quick lap around the market, bought a few things, and left. I wish that I could have looked around a bit more but it was blazing hot outside today.

There were lots of cute vendors there. You can look them up on facebook. They don't have all of their cute stuff on fb but check them out!

• JH Artwear & Designs (loved her stuff!)
• The Whimzy Barn
• Mama Bean's Crafts
• Just Dots (sadly, she was not there but there were a couple of booths with very similar stuff...she will be at the Tupelo Flea Market next weekend)

After the market, we went for a bite to eat. We didn't want to chance a cranky 2 year old so we chose to get something on the run and stopped at Slugburgers. I ordered myself a Slugburger. She said it was basically a fried pork sandwich and you top it with mustard, pickle, and onion. I am not hunting down any recipes for this one but it was fun to try something new.

If you want to read more about the Slugburger, there is a  Slugburger Festival, check out their website!

Marley opted for a Grilled Cheese. YUMMY...nothing better than a buttery grilled cheese!

We made a stop at my sister-in-laws on the way home. Thought we would hang out until my nephews baseball game but then he ended up not having a game so we decided to swim. Marley loved it. She was a little fish all over the pool. So glad that she loves the pool!

Bathing suit #2 of the blog. This one from Land's End clearance.

Look how far out she is...stairs no where in site!

Look at those feet! She turned into a prune. I think she was in the water for 3 hours straight!

Speaking of feet....an update on the running. I should have run today but did not. My shins are still hurting pretty bad. I have iced them and taken ibuprofen so if there is some other trick to heal them more quickly, someone please share! I do plan on running tomorrow. After all, I have my new awesome shoes from Fleet Feet and I am excited to give them a test run!

Shout out to Fleet Feet! They were awesome. Eric, the owner helped me out. I was so intimidated to walk in there. I am not a runner, nor am I in shape. Eric put me on the treadmill to video my form. He told me that I have great form...I am taking that encouragement to the bank! I know it means nothing in relation to being in shape but it still made me feel great.

Without further adieu, here are my new shoes...Brooks Defyance 4!

Memorial Day and a Little Swimming

We decided to hit the pool at Patty's late this afternoon. I have been wondering how Marley would do this Summer in the pool. Last year she was not all that interested. We tried her out in the water today and I think she is going to be a fish by the end of summer! I am loving it! After all, I have a little addiction with buying her swimsuits. Let's just say that she has one or two and then some.

She just wanted to hang out on the steps at first.

Today's suit is from ZULILY.

Then we pulled the floaties out and this is where I think she fell in love. Little miss independent swimming by herself!

That's one proud momma! Way to go Marley!


What's a Memorial Day without watermelon??? Summertime holidays and watermelon are just made for each other!

She ate just a little bit.

The Zoo at Two

We renewed our zoo membership today and this was Marley's first trip to the zoo as a 2-year old. It was great. She really seemed to "be in the moment" and enjoy the animals. It was the first time that she could really tell us what the animals were. 

We took a picture of her sitting on the turtle in the Panda exhibit; mainly because I knew that we took a picture here last year and thought it would be neat to compare. So, here you go....

Then (May 2010)...

and Now (May 2011)!

I am not sure when she hit the growth spurt but I have been noticing for sure that I can't pretend she's my baby anymore. Time goes way too quick! Here are a few more shots from our fun day at the zoo.

She wanted to pet them.

A picture worth a thousand words. I will use just one: INDEPENDENT!

She is big enough to stand up front all alone for the sea lion show now.



We nicknamed her bird girl. Feeding the birds was so fun.



A quick dip to cool off before we left. She is 2 so I bet you can guess how this ended. Lots of crying, but she had a blast today. It's always a fun day at the zoo and worth a little crying at the end! By the way, if you go to the zoo a couple of times a year, the membership is worth every penny. Check out the Memphis Zoo Membership page for more details. Members night was tonight and the kids get to ride all of the rides for free. Lots of fun. We skipped this time but have been several times in the past.

Oh, and if anyone missed my cookies from Saturday....you have heard of Chocolate Covered Oreos, but how about Chocolate Chip Cookie Covered Oreos? They are actually called Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies. Check out the recipe from Very Culinary.

I had been wanting to bake these ever since I saw them and luckily we were invited to a cookout. These do not need to be sitting around my house. They were delicious!

There was a moon bounce at the cookout. Marley was initially scared but finally decided to get in and she just loved it.

Great End to the Week

I got to end my week meeting some of Bo's family for the first time. Don't test me on any names just yet but we had a wonderful time at the McMinn's in Holly Springs, MS.

Not only did Marley get to meet lots of new family, she got to have her first ride on a 4-Wheeler. I was just a little nervous over the idea but I am happy to report that she made it without any broken limbs and I think she had a blast.



Earlier today, I also took my first step towards running a 5K and confirmed that I have a L--O--N--G way to go. I am doing the Couch-to-5K Running Plan. Someone reccomended the GYMBOSS to me and it is a must-have for interval training! There are 2 versions. I got the hot pink basic which allows you to program it for up to 2 intervals. It beeps following my sixty second run and then beeps again after my ninety second walk; letting me know that I am once again about to die as a try to run for an entire sixty seconds.

Someone mentioned to me that there is an iTune that goes along with the Couch-to-5K. We live in the dark ages at our house and only have the iPod shuffle so that didn't work for me.

For those that do not know, my niece encouraged me to do this 5K thing. She is leaving to work in North Carolina for the Summer and then goes back to Starkville in the Fall so we are on our own to train. We have a date in November to run the Turkey Trot. (Wait, I just realized it's actually 4 miles Ashlee! Surely, we can run 4 miles by then!)

In order to help keep me motivated, I plan to share my progress here. Not that my blog is high traffic, but it gives me some feeling of accountability. My other accountability will come from a friend here in town that I am planning to run with!

Finally...my book club started this week!  

We don't actually start reading Ministry of Motherhood until Monday. This week, the girls had outlined some amazing scripture that focused on the calling that we have as mom's to teach and guide our children. I was inspired by each of the daily readings but I loved this first verse that kicked things off on Monday!

Psalm 127:1

Unless the LORD builds the house,
   the builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
   the guards stand watch in vain.

My First Blog

Blogging is something that I have contemplated for a while. I have had this blog site for some time now...so far back that I don't even recall when I created it. I have so many things I want to share. I may try sharing a few of them before I figure out exactly how I want to use this site. I am about to start an online Summer Book Club so that is what I am going to begin with. I am really excited about the book club. I had been on the search for some faith based parenting as my 2-year old began to test my patience.

This is her "No, I am not doing anything you say" stance. Sweet, right?

I first started looking for a MOPS group and soon learned that this was something more geared towards stay at home moms and that meetings typically occur during the day. My response was, "What? So working mom's don't need support groups too?". I don't know about other working moms, but this working mom needs some support and to connect with other moms who are facing or have faced the same trials and tests that my child is introducing me to every single day.

After striking out with MOPS, I am not sure how, but I came across the first of my Christan parenting books, "Don't Make Me Come Up There" by Kristen Welch.

She has a blog called We are THAT Family. She is a sweet Christian mom that has compiled devotionals on the craziness of motherhood with a little Christian twist to them. One of the first stories that I read is titled, "Is That Bad?". She shares how the cashier greets her by name after she orders a large sweet tea from the drive-thru. Her friend in the passenger seat stares in disbelief that the cashier recognized her, by her voice alone. Kristen goes on to explain how this is sort of her "me time" where she takes time to do something for her. So many times we can feel guilty as moms, or just as women, for taking that me time. It's almost as if we feel inadequate because we need a little weekly pick-me-up like a sweet tea or maybe that $4 Starbucks drink. She reminds us to not feel guilty as that guilt can steal our joy. The book is filled with other cute, yet insightful, little stories like that; each with its own lesson, scripture reading, and prayer.

I was still on the hunt for something more....

Then I came across another blogger, Courtney, who writes, Women Living Well. She does video blogging. I had never heard of this but it totally makes sense and I loved it because I could multi-task as I listened to her. She recently announced a Summer Book Club and it could not get any closer to what I am looking for. It's a Christian book about parenting and there are online groups forming so that you can connect with other women. What a great way for me to get my feet wet in all of this. The book is "The Ministry of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson. Here is a quote from the book.

We are designed by God to whisper His words to the hearts of our children so they feel the call of God in their own lives to become "fishers of men." We must remember our children like Peter, will never be perfect. Each of them needs for us, like Jesus, to extend to them the gift of love, grace, & forgiveness. We can only do this by relying on the grace of our own relationship with Jesus.-Sally Clarkson

The Book Club begins May 16 and you can find all of the details, including the reading schedule on Good Morning Girls. I would love to have others join me over the next 12 weeks or for some, I understand you might want to make this something internal that you do for yourself. Either way, I think it will be a very inspiring 12 weeks and I am thoroughly looking forward to it.

Here is a peak at the schedule from GoodMorningGirls.org