On Running and Resolve...

I don't make resolutions, but I made a commitment about a year and a half ago to take better care of my body.
I was about to turn 47 and I was very disappointed in how I was living...eating junk, sitting on my bum too much, not exercising AT ALL.  It hit me one day that I wasn't getting any younger and that the old adage was true...if you don't use it, you lose it.  I've never really had anxiety about growing older, but at that moment, I wondered what the second half of my life might look like if I didn't take better care of the body that God had given me.
My daughter, a runner, offered to train me to run.  I protested.  I'm not a runner.  But over the course of the next few months, she coached me to my first 5K!  It was a journey that has changed my life...changed the direction of my life.
My coach is a busy girl and she no longer runs with me regularly.  Ultimately, I had to make a conscious decision to do this for myself.  To commit to caring about myself enough to keep on going.  So I have.
One of the most remarkable things I've gained in my journey is that my self-talk has improved.  I have proved to my inner critic that I CAN do things that at one time seemed impossible.  It's a powerful thing to prove yourself wrong.  It's difficult too.  I had to practice talking back to myself when I'd start thinking lies like "it's too far, you'll never make it" or "gosh, you're so tired, you should stop".  Every time I'd ignore my negativity, that voice was quieter the next time I ran.
I'm going through a phase of negativity at the moment (I blame all of the beautiful sugary treats that have taunted me for the last month) but I'll get through it, I've shut it down before.  The first step is making sure the words that flow from my mouth are positive...no negative talk!
If you made a decision to do better for yourself, to take better care of your body, start shutting down the negativity.  If you believe in yourself, you'll always have a built-in cheerleader!

New Year, New Look!

This is the year of new beginnings!
I've always loved to decorate and re-decorate...my home and studio...painting the walls in fresh new colors, changing the curtains or adding something to the wall.  Why not redecorate my blog?

I considered bagging the old blog and starting fresh but there's so much history here.  There are posts I love, memories I cherish, words I don't want to delete! I couldn't abandon it, leaving it to rot like a broken down car on the side of the information superhighway.  So here I am, not only a re-decorator of tangible spaces, but of virtual spaces as well!

There are many things I'd like to share with you in the coming days, weeks, months and years.  But for now, come in, take a look around.  Read some history...I've spiffed the place up for ya!

Lavender Shortbread....a little piece of heaven!

I added about a tablespoon of lavender to my favorite vanilla butter shortbread recipe...

 Pressed it into a fancy schmancy pan and pierced the back with a fork...don't forget to grease your pan!

 Bake at 325° for 30 minutes...

 Flip the pan over onto a plate...

 Let it cool...or not...we couldn't wait...

Just look at that perfect brown edge...it tasted like carmel...and lavender...

Here's the recipe!

Lavender Shortbread
1/2 cup butter (no substitutes.  use butter.  just do it!)
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp lavender buds (use culinary lavender, or lavender that has not been exposed to pesticides)

Cream butter, add sugar and vanilla.  Mix in flour and knead until thoroughly mixed.  Knead in lavender.  Press into a greased fancy shortbread pan or use a pie plate.  Prick the back with a fork all over.  Bake at 325° for 30 minutes.  Turn out onto a plate, let cool (or not) and slice and enjoy!

My daughter lost her friend to cancer recently.  In honor of her, a bunch of her friends formed a Relay for Life team:  Rachel's Warriors!  They're fundraising and hoping to bring in lots of money for the American Cancer Society!

I'm making some things for them to sell for donations...and they're available to anyone who would like to donate!  Just send me a message or comment on this post!  :o)

Teachers Rock...well...some of them do!
The prompt was:  Write a letter to a teacher who gave you a hard time.  I wrote a letter to Mr. Crumley...my 7th grade math teacher.
Enjoy!

Dear Mr. Crumley,

Of all my memories of 7^th Grade, the memory of that fateful day in 4^th period math takes the cake.

You were a very scary teacher.  You yelled a lot.  I remember one day when a kid spoke out of turn, you responded by kicking a book across the room.  Scary stuff.

I was a shy kid.  I didn’t get yelled AT, and I didn’t do anything that made you angry but one day, I was an accomplice to the scariest moment of all.  My friend Lisa sat in front of me in your class.  One day, my desk would periodically shake.  I didn’t realize what was happening until after about 10 minutes of this, Lisa turned around with a desperate look on her face.  She had a violent case of the hiccups.  She was in pain.  A contributing factor to her immense discomfort was the fact that she was desperately trying not to make a sound.  Not even a peep.  She was holding them in and making herself miserable.  She very carefully whispered “Heather, I have the hiccups really bad.  What should I do?”

“Did you try holding your breath?” I offered

“Yes.  It doesn’t work.  I think I need some water!”

She said the words and knew immediately she wouldn’t be asking to get a drink.  You simply didn’t approach you during class, Mr. Crumley   We never knew how you’d react.  Asking questions was out of the question.

The hiccups continued.

Finally, Lisa turned around to face me – at great risk, I might add.  Turning around and facing the person behind you was hazardous in your class.  “I’m going to ask for a drink” she said bravely.

I saw the desperation in her face.  I saw the fear.  I said “Do it.  It will be okay.  He’ll let you go.”  And the deed was done.  I knew I had influence with my friend and that I would bear some responsibility for the outcome.

She got up out of her chair.  I breathed deeply…said a little prayer for her and watched.  Slowly, she made her way to your desk.  You had your head down, reading a book.

Her voice shook as she asked you “Mr. Crumley, may I get a drink, I have the hiccups really bad.” 

You didn’t look up.  You didn’t move.  You didn’t answer.  She waited.

Nothing.

She looked at me with a puzzled look on her face.  She looked back at you.  Nothing.

She opened her mouth to ask again, thinking that her voice had not been loud enough and it was right then that you jumped up out of your seat and yelled:

“YOU WANT TO GET A DRINK OF WATER!!??”

My friend jumped and screamed!  The entire class gasped.  My heart stopped beating for a brief moment, I’m sure of it.  Lisa looked horrified.  Then there was silence. 

You sat down, looked over at her and said very calmly, “Do you still have the hiccups?”

Lisa blinked her eyes, swallowed hard and paused for a moment before saying “Um…I don’t think so.”

“Good.  Then you won’t need a drink of water then.  Sit down.”

The whole class burst into nervous laughter…everyone except Lisa and I…we waited until after math, when we were safely outside the classroom.  We’ve been laughing about it ever since!

I suppose that day I learned that even though you were scary, deep inside, buried amidst all the mean, covered by a layer of stern, you had some fun in there.  I’ve made a point of looking for the better part of people ever since.  

     I used to belong to a collage group online.  Every week we'd get collage elements and we'd create something funky out of them!  It was so fun!  I let busyness get the best of me and let my participation lag.  The group eventually fizzled out and ended.  I miss it. 

     I recently joined a writing group.  It's fabulous.  I've always enjoyed writing.  I remember writing a novel in 6th grade...I'd write chapter after chapter and read them to my mom.  She'd listen.  Bless her!  I must have thrown the novel away...I don't have it.  I remember it was about babysitting and it was funny...well, I thought it was funny!  

     I'll share what I write for the group here...since I've been neglecting my blogging duties, this will be a good way to get back into the groove.  

The first prompt I used was:  What is your favorite time of day?

      My favorite time of day is whenever the creative juices start to flow.  I love that light bulb moment when an idea is born and my mind starts to race! 

       Creativity usually strikes in the morning, after a few sips of coffee and before the list of daily chores takes over my thoughts.  As I’ve gotten older, however, the wee hours of the morning, while the rest of humanity slumbers, has turned into my most creative time.  My mind will jolt me awake, reveal its treasure and then remind me that it’s three a.m. and I should be sleeping.  I agree with myself and go back to brainstorming the seemingly magnificent thought that trumped sleep just moments before.  I’ll get excited, toss and turn a bit and try not to disturb my husband who is, by now, used to my middle-of-the-night creative monsoons.

       Every time this happens, I tell myself that I really should take a moment to write down all of the thoughts that seem so brilliant in the middle of the night.  I then say to me the 7 words that are a lie through and through:  “No, I’ll remember it in the morning” and eventually slip back into fitful sleep.

       In the morning, after the coffee has worked it’s magic, I think back to my early morning awakening and usually find only this convicting phrase:  “You should have written it down.”

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I know, I know, we haven't even stuffed ourselves with turkey yet, but I thought you oughtta know...there will be a FABULOUS free shipping sale in my etsy shop!  I don't care if you're from Australia, Japan, New York or Timbuktu!  Your package of goodies will ship for FREE on Black Friday...all the way through Cyber Monday!  Write this down!  Here's your coupon code!  Ready?
merrytoyou
That's it.  That's all you need to know to get free shipping.  At checkout, apply coupon code: merrytoyou and you will save some moolah!  In addition, all Christmas ornaments are on sale!  There will be other items on sale as well...some surprises!
All of my items are ready to ship so you won't even have to wait!  Isn't that fabulous!?
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very merry Black Friday and Cyber Monday!!