Great run week!!!

This past week was my best week running since March. I got in 46 miles and have noticed improvement, which I am very grateful for.  Have you ever had a rough spell with running?  It feels like it took forever to get back where I was.

Went to my favorite restaurant today, Eat Well in Bartlett.  They have the best sushi and seafood trio. The seafood trio has real scallops, shrimp, and the oh to familiar fake crabmeat.  I manage to piss everyone off by leaving the "crabmeat."  To them I say only the strong survive, suck it up buttercup."

Getting ready this week to start Christmas shopping.  Unfortunately it seems that as your children age, the joy of Christmas diminishes. So I have decided to donate some toys, and share my "sparkle," with everyone I see.

Thank you to Academy Sports for a great grand opening. They really got the community involved by offering many "freebies". I managed to get a free pair of crocs, a free tackle bag, free t shirt and 45$ in gift cards.  So they have a customer for life.  They also sell Nuun for a lot less than their competitors. 

Have you started Christmas shopping?

Do you have a favorite place to eat? Where? 

What did you do thus weekend? 

Saturday suggestions

These are just some things that I like to suggest and share.

Growing your own wheatgrass.  This is so easy to do just soak, drain, and rinse the seeds.  Then plant on top of soil and watch them take off in four days I've got this:

The price for this was about 27 cents versus $7.00 for one quarter of what I grew. 

BOBOS oatmeal bars!  These are made on Boulder Colorado and they are delicious. I highly suggest them. I got some at Whole Foods and you can order them on their website (www.bobosaotbars.com)

GU ENERGY gel in salted caramel and caramel macchiato. Great favors for the fall.

My absolute favorite fall drink Cafe Escapes Chai latte, just put it in the Keurig for an awesome drink, I get mine at Krogers.

What you eat when you are preparing for a long run or race can make or break you.  Go with what your body is comfortable with.  My ritual meal before a race is Mac and cheese for dinner and a peanut butter bagel right before.  While running I use an energy gel every forty five minutes and hydrate when my body wants.  This works for me I suggest that you try things and see what works.

I don't wear makeup very much and when I do it is basic. I just updated my makeup to: Loreal voluminous butterfly waterproof in blackest black, per-fekt skin perfection gel, Laura Mercier high coverage concealer for under eye, Smashbox lip gloss in pout, and Smashbox full exposure eye shadow. I don't want to look like a clown. Have you ever saw someone whose makeup was so bad, you wanted to go tell them?

I hope everyone has a great Saturday.  I am going to start my cooking adventure today...after a short run.

Fantastic Friday

I have had two great days of running pain free, which has been few and far between lately. I have been plagued with injuries since March.  Broken tailbone, torn hamstring, blisters, lost toenails, runners knee, and lastly the ingrown toenail.  I am grateful for the last two days. 9 miles yesterday and 12 today, averaging an 8:13 mile.  

After about a year of contemplating whether or not I should attempt to cook my way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking I have decided to go for it. So I bought the paperback copy.  Does anyone know where I may be able to get a first edition autographed?

Academy sports is having their grand opening all weekend,ms cored a free pair of Crocs, which will be very useful for the pool.  Tomorrow is a free tackle bag. I will be there because I love to fish.  It is another favorite past time of mine.

So I am training for an Ironman, several marathons, and cooking my way through a cookbook. I will never say I am bored..

Why doesn't anyone comment? I would appreciate a comment good or bad 😜

Have a great weekend, keep sparkling🌌

GoFundMe correction

This is the correct email for my GoFundMe page!!!!                          

                www.gofundme.com/fumybc

           

Great run, no device thursday

I purposely slept in today I have been waking up at 0544 everyday for weeks.  Very annoying, so I took a sleeping medication and slept in until 0930.  Immediately went for a run upon waking up. That extra sleep really helped.  I ran 9 miles in just over an hour which I am satisfied with.  Found 46 cents along the way!!!!!! 

When I am running, or just walking through a store I always say hi to everyone that I can.  Some seem shocked, some seem to be happy that they were noticed.  I feel that if I can make one person smile everyday then I am spreading joy, love, and sparkle..  Don't ever change who you are to please someone, you are only hurting yourself.  

Last night I made potato soup. Two separate pots lol. One with sausage and one with kale.  It was delicious I couldn't stop eating it.

I am making Zachary chocolate chip cookies for when he gets home from school. I have implemented a no device Thursday.  This applies to me as well.  No phones, tablets, video games, or computer for the entire evening.  I love technology, but,,,, I feel like quality time has been taken away and replaced with electronics.  Zachary agreed, and we shall see how well it goes.

I have used these excuses, have you? 

Do you have a device free day at your house?

How do you spread sparkle?

New bird sighting, rainy Wednesday

Yesterday while watching the birds, I noticed a large dove.  This was not the usual mourning dove it was much larger so I googled "dove with black mark on neck."

This is a Eurasian collared dove. This species was introduced to the Bahamas in the 1970's, then migrated to Florida in the 1980's. The description said "the mourning dove's chunky relative."  They were huge. So I really enjoyed watching them!!!  They have not been seen north of North Carolina. 

Ugh, rain and cold. Not running today, working abs and arms.  Then going to start working on a new puzzle.  Ironically this puzzle reminds me of Cumberland Plateau.  Which wasn't relaxing, however puzzles are relaxing to me.  

I made homemade eggplant Parmesan last night, and it was the best I ever had!!!!  I love to cook, which leads to eating a lot, which leads to having to work out a lot. It's a vicious cycle but someone's got to do it. Recipe tomorrow.

Do you find puzzles relaxing?

Do you run in the rain and why?

What are some of the most amazing things you have seen?

IRONMAN fundraising, motivational people

The necessities for Ironman training are endless, so I created a GoFundMe page to see if any of my friends would be willing to help me accomplish my dream.  I am not asking for a huge amount, and even five dollars helps.
Please visit my GoFundMe page:   gofund.me/fumybc

I have had the opportunity to be surrounded by some very supportive and motivating people.  Jennifer  Chaffin is such a positive person nothing stops her.  I had the opportunity to meet several great Nashvillians while I participated in the Cumberland Plateau Stage race.  The people from Nashville were friendly, welcoming, and supportive.

My gratefulness has been that for the first time in a number of years I feel content and at peace.  I have been able to sleep, which for a number of years I could not because of the horrible dreams.  PTSD for me was horrible dreams of my time in law enforcement/crime scenes that played over and over at night.  While I was a police officer it never bothered me. The VA doctors finally found a combination of medications that were able to stop the dreams and I am thankful for that!!!

You can do anything!!!!