10 Tips for New Runners

Happy Tuesday friends!

This post is long overdue, as I had meant to post it in January with New Year's resolutions. That said, today marks 1 year since my running journey began and I can't think of a better time to share than September when fall and cooler weather is right around the corner!

Prior to last September, I always called myself a seasonal runner. I'd find myself hitting the pavement each fall when cool weather would creep in and the leaves would start changing. As soon as winter came, the leaves fell from the trees, and temperatures dropped below about 50° my runs would come to a halt until the first warm weather of spring would creep in and the leaves would begin emerging once again. Last year, for reasons still unbeknownst to me, that changed, though. I found myself craving my runs and discovered that cold weather runs are by far my favorite. After running the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving, I made a goal to complete a 10 miler by the New Year. Since then, I've run the Shamrock Half Marathon and the Monument Avenue 10k. I've run each and every month - some months more than others - and have logged a total 327 miles.

I've shared snippets along the way on Instagram, as a way to keep myself accountable, and have gotten many requests from you to share my tips. Particularly tips to take those first steps, so am compiling my top 10 here today!

ONE

JUST GO!

My number one tip is to just go! My biggest running cheerleader is a best friend who's both a physical therapist and marathon runner. She always says "The first mile is a liar" insinuating that it's harder than the rest. Set your own pace and set small goals and milestones to celebrate along the way.

TWO

COMMIT TO A ROUTINE

I'll be the first to admit that the last couple of months I've failed at this one. Between sickness, work, and heat, making running a routine has been tough. That said, when you're just getting started a routine is key. Commit to running at least 2-3 times per week, with recovery days in between. You'll be amazed at how quickly you build endurance and stamina as you make running a habit. 

THREE

DON'T BE AFRAID TO WALK

As I mentioned above, set your own pace at the beginning. To expand on that, don't be afraid to stop and walk if you need. Your first goal may be to work up to a mile without stopping, but if the first few runs you have to stop at half a mile, do it! It's amazing what just a short 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 1 block walking break will do to reenergize you. If giving yourself a walking break or two means you can run 3 miles instead of 2, it's well worth it! 

FOUR

PINPOINT YOUR "EASY RUN"

Once you've been running a few weeks, pinpoint what feels like an easy distance to run (this can, should, and will change as you run more). Use this "easy run" to negotiate with yourself. For me that's 3 miles. On days that I'm really not feeling motivated, I use my easy run as a negotiation. I tell myself "I'll just run an easy 3 miles." More often than not once I get started, I get in a groove and run 4, 5, or even 6 miles...again, the first steps are the hardest, so bargain with yourself if you need.

FIVE

MEASURE YOUR RUNS IN HALF MILE INCREMENTS

This tip stems from my Type A tendencies, but I do think makes a difference when you're working to increase your distance. I have my running app (I use Map My Run) set to alert me at half mile intervals. I always stop on the mile or half mile for my cool-down. Once you've worked your way up to running 2 or 3 miles with ease, adding a half mile, which is about 5 minutes, doesn't seem so tough. Sometimes you'll even get to that half mile point and realize you've got an extra 5 minutes in you and can push another half mile. Once you get to running even longer distances, it can become a mind game and I even will equate half miles to songs. 10 minutes more is about 2 songs (give or take), so I'll tell myself "You can run for just 2 more songs!" if I've got a mile left.

SIX

REMEMBER EVERY RUN IS DIFFERENT

Keep in mind that every run is different. I've worked myself up to a "normal" run being around 5 miles, and that even feels easy sometimes. There are days, however (if it's really hot, or, I ate a big lunch, for example) when just 3 miles can be brutal. I never beat myself up for those runs, though, and always tell myself that running slow or a short distance is better than stopping or skipping the run altogether.

SEVEN

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

For me, scenery is huge! I beeline it out of my neighborhood as soon as I can making my way to Grove Avenue, where I can loop in and out of all of my favorite Richmond neighborhoods admiring the pretty houses. Being surrounded with beauty, as well as other people and activity, makes my runs so much more enjoyable. When I get in a rut, I'll also switch up my route slightly, or run down a street I've never run before to keep things fresh. Similarly, whenever I'm out of town and run in a new place, I'm amazed at how far I can go, because the excitement of exploring a new place is a distraction from fatigue.

EIGHT

SAFETY FIRST

I prefer to run outside, which does bring risks. Bryce says he literally worries about me the entire time I am gone on runs. First things first, put your phone away! I've fallen twice during runs: Once in March 2018 and once last September. During the first fall, I skinned my knee really badly and also scraped my hands. During the second, I crushed my phone and had Millie with me. Both times I was looking at my phone to adjust something on my running app. After the second tumble, I immediately ordered this running belt. It's essentially a fanny pack, and not chic, but it keeps me hands free and is also waterproof! Buying shoes at a running shop recommended for your feet and gait, giving yourself recovery days, stretching and strength training will all help avoid injury. Don't run at night, but do purchase clip on lights and reflective gear for dusk runs, or times you may get accidentally caught in the dark. Wear sunscreen, especially on your face and chest!

NINE

SIGN UP FOR A RACE

Never underestimate the power of a race to hold you accountable. As mentioned above, in my Turkey Trot 10k training last fall, I loved that I had caught what I called the running bug. I was so nervous I'd give up my runs over the cold winter, so signed up for the Shamrock Half Marathon on St. Patrick's Day, because I knew it would force me to stick with it through the winter. I'm so glad I did, because winter runs became my very favorite. Not to mention, there's no feeling quite like crossing the finish line...especially when it's for a distance you never thought possible!

TEN

NEVER GIVE UP

If you're interested in running, just keep at it - never give up! As I shared, I was a seasonal runner for years, and every time I would start it was with the intention of going beyond the season. Until last fall, though, it just never stuck. I still am not sure what it is that hooked me last year, but once I was hooked, I decided to embrace it! When life happens and you fall out of the habit, do give yourself grace. For example, I only ran one time in May, then the next month in June, I ran more times than any other month during this year of running. August was a really demanding month, and likewise, I only ran once. This September is a new start, though! Never give up!

And on that note, I need to figure out my next race! My birthday falls on the Turkey Trot (also Thanksgiving) this year, but I'm not sure yet if we'll be spending Thanksgiving in town or the country this year. I'm been considering signing up for the Richmond Half Marathon, also in November, but am still working through some issues where my left hamstring meets my IT band, so am not sure 13.1 miles is the smartest, or safest (see Tip #8 above) choice at this point. Regardless, though, I know I'm not giving up!

Are you a runner?

If so, what are your tips for new runners?

Have a great day!

Word of the Year: INTENTIONAL

Happy Hump Day, readers!

I hope your 2018 is off to a great start.

I had to pop in before the first of February to share my New Year's post.

At the end of the year, I went back and reread all my past New Years' posts and got super pumped up for 2018. (I really do love having this blog as a journal of my life.) Still feeling pumped, though my ambition didn't result in a timely blog post. Whoops!

You can read, in my New Year's post that never was, here from last year, that I really wanted to have a word to define 2017. I struggled to come up with a word last year, because I couldn't quite find the word to encompass my focus for the year. That being said, I had no problem picking a word this year and that word is INTENTIONAL.

This word came to me with quite a bit of clarity, I think because of the phase of life I'm in. It's a phase I'm really, really loving, but it's also a phase that feels a little like a crossroads. It's as if I'm up on the high dive, inching my toes to the edge, about to leap.

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Side Note- Anyone else ever love this movie as a kid?

It's a nice spot to be. On the precipice of the next phase, but still able to enjoy the comfort of the board, and the beautiful view of what lies ahead. I'm on the verge of next steps particularly in the areas of career and family. The two, somewhat intertwined.

Having been a fund development professional for nearly as long as I was a teacher now, I'm starting to feel settled in. I've identified my strengths, passions, and a clear focus of where I want to head in my career. I have a view of the future ahead, but am in a good place to grow and learn in the meantime.

In terms of family, now married, Bryce and I are talking more concretely about the particulars of starting a family. If you'd asked me a few years ago, I'd have told you I'd be leaping to have a baby right now, this very minute. If you asked me today, I'd say we're thinking of starting a family in not the immediate future, but also the not so distant future. Again, it's nice to be up on the diving board, feeling a rush of the dive ahead: Motherhood and all the ups, downs, and in-betweens that come with it. It's always been my greatest dream, but for now I'm really happy dreaming of it, and borrowing some of the joys of it from friends who are new mamas. It's nice to embrace being selfish a little while longer and to have Millie as our one and only baby for the time being.

So where does "INTENTIONAL" come in?

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These two areas discussed, career and family, are my biggest focus right now. They're intertwined. My career is of course a livelihood, but, it's also an independent side of me, and an area I seek to find fulfillment. Since leaving teaching, the passion I have for education has only continued to grow, and has been fueled with positivity as I've seen the really great work non-profits are doing to address educational issues here locally. I want to be a part of that. My ultimate career goal, at this point, is to use the fundraising skills I've developed in an organization focused on education. The two modalities I enjoy most in development are major gifts fundraising (ie: building relationships) and, what will probably come as no surprise to you, storytelling. Having found more of a laser focus and defined goal means that every decision I make in my career from this point on, needs to be driven by intention. The projects I tackle and create in my current position, the educational opportunities I take advantage of, and the missions I choose to support. It's an exciting place to be!

In terms of family, as I shared, we want to start a family in the not so distant future. That decision means the choices we are making now need to be guided by that. This covers all areas. When the time does come that I'm ready to become a mom, and Bryce a dad, I want for us to be at our very best. How do you define that, though? I think it encompasses all areas of life. I'll elaborate on a few. The first, and I think one of the most important, is finances. Kids are expensive. And yes, I realize there's never going to be a time where you feel 100% ready for anything in your life, but I want us to be in a place that we can feel confident and prepared for all the costs adding a bambino to the mix brings. Secondly, and I also think of high importance, is indulgence. You might be thinking, how exactly do financial readiness and indulgence work together? They work together if you have INTENTIONAL as your guiding word. When I say indulgence, I mean the selfish things we want to experience before kids. A trip to Italy is probably highest on my list at the moment! Once kids come, we know these indulgences like travel become a lot harder to justify, much less coordinate and execute. I want to be intentional that we use this time, just the 2 of us, to nurture our relationship and indulge some while we can. Finally, the third main area I want to be intentional when looking ahead to family, is health. Bryce and I have actually been talking a lot about this. Ideally, we both want to be in our best shape when the time comes that we want to start "trying." Let's face it, after pregnancy, it's only going to get harder to be fit, so you might as well try to start ahead versus behind. More importantly than the vanity side of being fit, I want to be healthy so I can best nourish a growing baby and later be in a position to model healthy habits to my little ones. I want to do everything I can to ensure my someday babes have a healthy mama! That being said, we're choosing to be much more intentional in our habits: cooking more, eating better, exercising daily, prioritizing sleep, and practicing self care.

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This first month of the year has been really wonderful so far. I do feel that I, along with Bryce, have been living with more purpose. Being intentional has really felt good so far!

If you made it to the end, bravo! Heck, if you even made it here despite my absence of late, bravo to you, too!

Do you have a guiding principal or word for 2018?

What are your most pressing life goals?

Have a great day!

Where the Heck I've Been...

Happy AUGUST 29th, my friends!

Can someone please explain to me where August went? I can't quite believe that September is just a mere 3 days away...and that my last post was exactly one month ago on July 29th.

My blogging always tends to slow down in the summertime, but I hadn't intended to take a month long hiatus.

What's been keeping me from this space, you  might ask?

Well I do have 3 pretty good excuses: I'll share a little bit of what I've been up to...

MILLIE

Those of you that follow along on Instagram, know that we got this little black beauty in mid-July and she has completely captured our hearts! Yes, I have become that crazy puppy mom, and I wouldn't have it any other way. She is spunky, smart, and a huge snuggle bunny! That being said, her presence also resulted in a month long running hiatus. I mean, how could you possibly expect me to run, when that time could be spent with this sweet thing? I did get back on track with my running last week. Now to get back on the barre and blogging wagon! Be on the look-out for a big Millie post coming soon....I've got a lot of photos to dump, y'all!

TRAVELS

In addition to a long weekend in Charleston for a bachelorette party, we also spent a week in Orlando with my family. Throw in some weekend trips, and we've been on the go non-stop! Can't wait to share our Florida adventures with you! Maybe I'll make a goal to have them posted by the end of September!? 

A NEW JOB...again!

As if getting a new puppy wasn't enough excitement for one summer, I also decided to get a new job! I start today! Before jumping into talking about my new role, I must acknowledge that this move is bittersweet, as I am leaving behind an important mission, and some pretty amazing people! I was overwhelmed last week, when my coworkers presented me with the incredibly thoughtful gift pictured above. A 1940s Austrian oyster plate to add to our collection (signed on the back by all my coworkers). To top it off, I received four vintage-Richmond cards full of well-wishes, with a special board that I can use to display them as art, as well. The gift brought tears to my eyes and I will treasure it always. It's amazing the mark people can make on you in just one year! 

Now onto the new adventure: As y'all know from a slew of posts last summer, I left my teaching career about a year ago and joined the non-profit development (aka FUNdraising) space. Though I do miss working with kiddies every day, the decision to leave teaching was one of the best of my life. I have been so much happier this last year, and love that I'm still in a career where I truly know I am making a difference. At the very beginning of the summer, a friend reached out sharing a job description with a message saying "I know you aren't looking, but this position sounds perfect for you!" I hemmed and hawwed for about a week before deciding to apply. Though happy in my last position, I always knew that I would need a broader position next to make my experience more well-rounded. I hadn't intended to seek that new position quite so soon, but decided that I had nothing to lose by trying. I am excited to be starting this new adventure, working for an organization that directly serves kids. It's also the next best step in terms of experience. Whereas in my former position, I was working with mostly a portfolio of corporate partners, I will now work with a portfolio of individual donors, gain event experience, create a junior board, and more. It is the perfect next step towards achieving my ultimate career goals! Wish me luck!

Do these excuses make up for the serious lack of blogging?

I am certainly hoping that my next post won't be on September 29th! I'll aim for at least one post next week!

What have y'all been up to?

Good summer?

Have a great day!

Book Review: My Year with Eleanor

Happy Tuesday, my Easter chickies!

I hope you had a great holiday with the ones you love.

Today I am happy to share our most recent book club selection, My Year with Eleanor.

After two heavy books (here and here), we all agreed that a light and shorter book was in order.

When this month's host sent out a poll with a few book suggestions, I actually didn't vote for My Year with Eleanor. I'm not a big nonfiction person, but I'm so glad that it won out. It read more like a novel and was a really enjoyable read.

Noelle Hancock, tells the story of her 29th year. Shortly before her 29th birthday, while on vacation, Noelle's life is turned upside down when she gets laid off from her New York City job. While searching for other options, she finds herself inspired by the Eleanor Roosevelt quote "Do one thing every day that scares you." That quote is the birth of her "year of fear." She sets out to face a fear every day in her 29th year. Some are big fears and others are small. Noelle's story is delightful to read because she is so open, funny, and real. There were several points where I thought "That's exactly how I feel." Throughout the memoir, she also interweaves Eleanor Roosevelt quotes and bits of her biography, which I really enjoyed. 

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Since finishing last week, I've really been thinking about what my fears are, and how I can face them in the coming months. While I can't take a year off from work to face a fear every day, I can focus on a few things in the near future to foster personal growth. I have three in mind:

Small Talk & Networking

Whenever I take Myers & Briggs or similar personality tests, I always am categorized as an extrovert. I personally, however, disagree with that label a bit. I would call myself more of a social introvert. I love connecting with others and have a busy, social calendar. Public speaking in front of a large crowd doesn't scare me in the least. I'm great in an interview. That being said, however, being around and interacting with lots of people, particularly in a less structured environment, exhausts me. I enjoy it, but in moderation. Often after a busy weekend, I feel the need to recharge my batteries alone or with just Bryce. With the introvert classification, also comes my tendency to have a small group of very close friends and to enjoy deep conversation over small talk. Over the last year, however, I've been to many different networking and work events that require just that: small talk! I often feel intimidated to go up to an unfamiliar person or group and introduce myself or start a conversation. Each time it gets a little easier, and I think that my next opportunity to strengthen this social muscle will be at the Southern C Summit in April. I am going to make it a point to take risks and put myself out there during the conference. After all, the whole motto and purpose of the conference is to "CONNECT, COLLABORATE, and CREATE" so I plan to embrace it!

Failure & Not Being Perfect

I'm pretty sure this isn't the first time I've said this on the blog, and it probably won't be the last: I'm a perfectionist. I'm fortunate to be not only smart, but to have grown up in an environment that allowed my abilities and talents to flourish. "Success" tends to come easily for me. When I set my mind to something, more often than not, it comes to fruition. The flip side of that, however, is that failure or imperfection can be really scary. I sometimes won't engage in the activity, simply because it is something I know isn't a strength. This is something that Noelle wrote a lot about in the book. A great, albeit silly, example is dancing. I love to dance, but let's just say that rhythm and moves are not my strong suit. Typically at weddings or social gatherings, I wait until later in the night to hit the dance floor. Once people have loosened up with a few drinks and the floor is crowded. I love to sneak somewhere in the middle where I can dance my heart out, without being easily seen. My cousin's wedding is coming up in just over a month, though, and as a member of the bridal party, I'll be among the first on the very uncrowded dance floor. It's not going to be easy, and usually my nerves in situations like these lead me to dance even more awkwardly, but I'm going to do my best to grin and bear it...and not care about what others think of me!

Uncertainty & The Unknown

Finally, with my perfectionism, also comes my Type A tendencies. I'm highly organized and a planner. Spontaneity is fun for me, in small doses. When it comes to the big stuff, though, I like to know what to expect. I sometimes even feel anxious when things don't feel planned out to my standards. I boldly faced this fear this past summer when I resigned from teaching without a new job. Lots of tears were shed during that month while I job searched and worried that I might not have made the right choice. One of my very best girlfriends, Angela put it best, however, when she said "Allie, you can continue teaching and guarantee you'll be unhappy for another year OR you can leave teaching and take a chance at being happy." While the unknown is scary, it's what makes life interesting. Facing those fears and taking a leap of faith this past summer was among the best choices of my life. Right now, I'm facing some future uncertainty, as well. We have a new CEO that started just a week before me. He's in the process of making changes and restructuring things a bit. I'll be reporting a new supervisor starting Monday and am not sure what my role and day to day work is going to look like moving ahead. I'm determined to take this time of uncertainty, though, and grow from it. I plan to learn as much as I can from this new person and adapt to the changes. I've also shared that sometimes I have a hard time accepting that my life isn't progressing according to the rate or timeline that I have hoped or expected. I am working to be grateful for the here and now and to embrace that life doesn't follow a strict path, which is what makes it so beautiful.

Have you had to face fears during your life?

What fears seem to hold you back?

I also could have added a fear of snakes to that list, but, don't really think facing that fear is necessary!

Have a great day!

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Alexandra Bee Approved Low Carb Recipes

Happy Hump Day, readers!

I hope you're having a great week!

I mentioned in my New Year's resolutions post, that Bryce and I have been doing the low-carb, low-sugar diet. We've basically cut out all carbs, sugars, and alcohol. That being said, we haven't stuck to it 100%. We've spent two weekends away with friends and the last two weeks have been full of social obligations. Overall, I've been really proud of our efforts though, and we are both already noticing results. Our end goal is to eat this way most of the time.

I will say, aside from social situations (I don't want to be that girl who barely eats at a dinner with friends, because the meal the hostess prepared isn't to my diet standards), the diet has been much easier than expected. Because we've been cooking really delicious meals I haven't really missed carbs that much. What I have missed, however, is the convenience of carbs. Quick and easy meals often involve carbs, and there have been a few nights where I just don't feel like taking the time to cook an elaborate meal. Another key piece of our success has been meal planning. We have always really struggled with this in the past, but the diet has forced us to stick to it. It's not easy to dine out on our diet, so we are forced to cook most meals and stick to our planning.

That being said, I have been taking note the recipes we have loved, so that I can compile them in one post to share with you.

First things first, I want to share that cauliflower is my new best friend. If you had told me I'd be typing this prior to starting the diet, I would have laughed at you. I've never been crazy about cauliflower and find it to be kind of bland. Because of its texture and the fact that it's bland, however, cauliflower really has turned out to be an amazing and versatile carb substitute.

And now for the recipes!

MASHED CAULIFLOWER

Mashed cauliflower has become a staple in our diet. Bryce actually prefers it to actual mashed potatoes. I will say, however, that it reminds me more of a risotto than a potato. I have used the process described in this recipe, but have doctored things up on my own adding butter, cream cheese, parmesan, salt, and pepper.

CREAMY SHRIMP WITH SAUTÉ

This meal was not only delicious, but ready in a snap. I don't have an actual "recipe" but will share how I fixed it. I started by roasting grape tomatoes in the oven that had been tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Meanwhile, I sautéed minced garlic in a very small amount of cream with a little bit of butter and salt, pepper, and herb seasoning. Next I added a bag of organic, frozen shrimp and a small container of mushrooms to the skillet. Once the shrimp was nearly finished, I added a bag of spinach and cooked just a few minutes until wilted. Next I mixed in the roasted tomatoes, seasoned the heck out if, and finally served with fresh grated parmesan. Moving forward, I will always serve this with mashed cauliflower! The next day I mixed leftover mashed cauliflower with the leftovers from this sauté and it literally tasted like a shrimp risotto. AH-mazing! 

AVOCADO CHICKEN SALAD

I had been dying to try this recipe long before starting our diet, so was glad to finally get around to it. I really love chicken salad so was intrigued by this lighter version using a rotisserie chicken. Served wrap style using bibb lettuce, this was a great simple meal. As a note, I think it was better after chilling overnight in the fridge.

PEPPERONI PIZZA WITH CAULIFLOWER CRUST

Again, if you told me I would become a cauliflower convert, I would not have believed you. But, I was amazed by how good this pizza turned out. We've now made pizza a few times on our diet using this recipe for the crust. And I'll daresay, it is just as good as the standard at-home pizzas we cook with a pre-made crust.

MINI TURKEY MEATBALL VEGETABLE SOUP

We have been making soups a lot this fall and winter which I love. It's an easy way to pack a lot of veggies into your meal and also makes enough for 2 meals. This recipe did not disappoint. I left the breadcrumbs out when preparing the meatballs and they were still delicious. I am looking forward to pulling the leftovers out of the freezer for an easy dinner one night this week!

ONE SKILLET CHICKEN WITH LEMON GARLIC CREAM SAUCE

This meal was really delicious and definitely one of our favorites from the low carb journey so far. I followed this recipe, but also sautéed some spinach with the chicken and served it with mashed cauliflower and grilled asparagus. 

CROCKPOT CARNITAS WITH CHIMICHURRI SAUCE IN A CAULIFLOWER TORTILLA

And folks, I saved the best for last! This recipe which I shared last week has been our absolute favorite low carb meal so far. I am thinking we'll be making our second batch very soon!

Have you kept up with your New Year's resolutions?

Any low carb recipes I must try?

Have a great day!

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2015, a year that ANSWERED

Happy New Year readers!

Those of you that have read for a while, know that every January I like to do a post that reflects on the past year and also looks ahead to the new year.

And that's why you haven't heard from me yet this year.

I didn't want to come into January without first posting my annual New Year's post. One of my all time favorite quotes is "I cannot advise that we remain as we are" by Plato. I like to enter the new year with that in mind--embracing change, betterment. This blog has become the place for me to express that, and it just didn't feel right starting a new year of blogging, without first, reflecting on myself in the new year and sharing that with y'all.

If you remember from last year's post, 2014 was literally the worst. After a year that was so tough, I found writing a New Year's post to be cathartic. It was easy to make goals, because it felt like the only way to go was up. That being said, I've felt a lot of pressure to write this post. Can I give it the same earnest emotion as I did last year? Do I have many goals or resolutions for 2016? Is it bad, if the answer to that last question is no?

Then, yesterday morning, The SouthernC tweeted (yes, I have Twitter now! Follow here!) this:

It's one of my favorite quotes and I pinned it myself, ages ago. As soon as I saw it on Twitter, though, I knew the direction that I wanted this post to go. 

Last January, I proclaimed that 2015 was "the year of doing my thing," a time to un-apologetically be myself, and also to be selfish.

So...how'd it go?

I have to say, great! 2015 was most definitely a year that answered.

Being so tough, 2014 asked a lot of questions. My relationship with Bryce was put through huge external challenges; I learned that teaching today isn't quite what I had hoped; and I really had to dig deep to determine what controlled my happiness.

By proclaiming 2015 the year of doing my thing, I found answers to those questions. It was a whirlwind year.

The biggest "answer" of the year probably comes to no surprise to you. It was the choice to leave my teaching job and seek a new career. You can read all about that choice in much more detail here and here, but all I can say was that it was the best choice. I am a new person and didn't realize just how much teaching was affecting all other parts of my life. And now, when I look back, quitting my job this summer is one of my proudest accomplishments. Having the courage to take a stand for myself, and make the unpractical decision was huge for me.

In terms of Bryce and I, our relationship is stronger than ever before. I can honestly say that he is the best partner or teammate in life--someone I can count on for literally anything and everything. My career change has also led to big improvements in our day to day relationship. I come home in a good mood and still have energy, rather than coming home frustrated and grumpy.

And finally...the happiness piece. That's a tough one. I would like to think we are all in charge of our own happiness, but I will say that a lot of my unhappiness was wrapped up in my teaching job. The reality is that we spend a majority of our time at work; so when work isn't satisfying, it does affect happiness. I struggled to "leave work at work," because teaching is so all-consuming and emotional. While I don't like that it was such a controller of my happiness, it was the reality. My control or take charge piece, however, came in when I chose that it was no longer worth it and to leave. I think taking control of one's own happiness, shouldn't be assuming that you'll always be happy, every second of every day. It is accepting that there will be bad times and good.Taking control lies in reacting to those ups and downs in the best way you can, and hopefully, ultimately, coming out of those tough times a better or happier person.

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If I haven't bored you yet, I'll do a quick check of last year's official goals or resolutions and dive into how I hope to grow and improve in 2016.

Last year, I planned to:

• Focus on Positive Relationships: Check, check check! 2015 was a great year in this department. I will say, that the not so pretty side of this, was having to walk away from or let go of some toxic relationships. But 2015 also brought lots of new and amazing people into my life. I reconnected with some old friends as well. I really feel as if my cup runneth over.
• Spend More Time Interacting with Other Blogs: I have to admit, this was a fail. SO much happened for me in 2015, but being a star blogger was not one of those things. Does anyone else feel as if Instagram has taken over your blog? 
• Get Back to Healthy Eating: This was also a bit of a fail. While I can say, I am not very picky anymore, 2015 was a year of good eating. The Richmond restaurant scene continues to boom and Bryce and I are foodies. That, combined with a new job that includes regular lunches out, caused 2015 to be a year of weight gain for me. So...to new beginnings in 2016!
• Build Up My Savings: I'd say this was a success. I've cut way back on my spending, particularly on clothes, and at the end of 2015, I bought my first car! Prior to that, my biggest grown-up purchase had been a mattress, so financing a car was a big step. Because I had worked on my savings, making a down payment on my car wasn't as hard as I thought. Having a monthly car payment, I think is also going to make me be more mindful of my purchases moving forward. I am going to have to stick to a tighter budget and am actually excited to be at this phase in my life.

Ahhh...and now for 2016. In all honesty, I have to say that this year is light on the resolutions. I'm so proud of how far I've come, but alas feel like I need to make a few goals. So here they are:

CONTINUE TO FIGURE OUT THIS WHOLE "GROWN-UP" THING

As mentioned above, my life is feeling more and more grown-up. I've now entered the world of car payments, started a new career, and have multiple friends with babies. Though all the responsibility can feel overwhelming from time to time, I am so happy to be at this phase of my life. You couldn't pay me to be in college again or a different phase of my life. All that, being said, I still have a lot to learn and figure out. For example, I have been putting money away for retirement for several years now. Do I fully understand the whole investment thing? No. I hope that in 2016, I can learn more about my investments, and perhaps tweak the way I am investing some of my money. On a smaller scale, I also want to get better at day to day "grown-up" things like staying on top of the laundry and meal planning.

GET BACK TO HEALTHY EATING...and lose a little weight

I can say with a lot of confidence that I will be successful in this goal. I just know I am in the right mindset. Bryce and I have started the year doing the no carb/sugar/alcohol thing, and for the most part, it's been much easier than I expected. I am already noticing differences when I put on my clothes in the morning and just feel better nourishing myself with healthy foods. After this initial phase of strictly adhering to the diet, our ultimate goal is to eat in this way most of the time. Meal planning and getting creative with our meals has been key to our success so far. (Post with a round-up of Alexandra Bee Approved Low Carb Recipes coming soon...) I also am working on my exercise routine. I am currently doing a New Year Barre Challenge of 20 classes in 30 days, which has been a great way to hold myself accountable. After that concludes, I want to start taking cycle classes 1-2 times a week in addition to barre.

BLOG

Plain and simple, I want to blog again...with consistency and routine. The last several months I've had a laundry list of posts, but have lacked the initiative to sit down and write them. As mentioned before, sometimes I feel like Instagram has overtaken the blogworld; but point blank, at the end of the day, I really love writing here. Bryce has a lot of studying to do in the coming months as he prepares for the Professional Engineering Exam in April, so I am hoping that we can carve out study/blog time that will be helpful.

CALL & VISIT MY GRANDMAS MORE

No explanation necessary.

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2016...I'm ready for ya!

How was your 2015?

Do you make goals or resolutions for the new year?

How's your 2016 going so far?

Update: I LOVE My New Job!

Happy Monday friends!

I hope you have been doing well. I can't believe that we're already nearing the end of October. This is my favorite month and time of year.

I have really wanted to post at least once a week, but it just hasn't happened. I make no promises for the next few months, BUT, have high hopes of getting back on track in 2016.

I have been meaning for so long to do a big update post on my job.

First and foremost, I must share that I am absolutely loving it. While I felt very excited this summer when I made the leap to resign from teaching, I was also very scared about what the next months would bring. I wasn't sure how long it would take to get hired...or to find the right career fit. I fully expected that this first job would likely be a stepping stone job and a way to gain some experience while searching for my exact niche. I was very lucky, however, to find a job not only quickly, but to find my niche quickly too. I can honestly say that the position I am in is such a perfect fit, and is no stepping stone, but the real deal!

I am working in development for the local chapter of a national charity organization.  We raise funds to better our local community in the areas of education, income, and health. All of the funds we raise get funneled into local organizations through a strategic and intense grant process. Every day as I learn more about the programs we fund and the agencies we partner with, I feel more and more inspired. I come home so excited to tell Bryce about the work we do and feel so proud to get to be part of such an impactful organization. As you can imagine, the work we do in education is most near and dear to my heart, and believe it or not, I feel like I am doing more now to positively impact education than I was when I was in the classroom. While teaching I saw the problems in the public education system day in and day out, and now I am seeing solutions every day. It is a great change in perspective.

My job can be best compared to a sales job. I have a growing portfolio of accounts that I work with to run workplace campaigns in which companies ask their employees to give. A lot of the job entails public speaking to groups of employees about the work we do, but it also involves coordinating volunteer opportunities for their employees, managing distribution of marketing materials, helping to facilitate and attending events the companies put on as a part of their campaigns, linking employees to resources in the community that can be helpful to them, and much, much more. Every day looks a little different and I love that. I am also really enjoying the flexibility. Teaching was so regimented and every day followed a strict schedule. Now my hours vary some day to day according to the meetings and events that are going on. I'm in and out of the office frequently and enjoy how quickly that makes the days go by.

And last, but certainly not least, my coworkers are amazing. We are a tight-knit team and my transition onto the team has felt very seamless. Everyone in the office has been so welcoming and always willing to help or answer questions as I learn about this new field. We have so much fun at work every day and I find myself constantly smiling and laughing. My boss (as well as  her boss) makes sure to always acknowledge the work we are doing and until now, I didn't realize just how under-appreciated teachers are. Being in an environment where you are praised and appreciated really makes a huge difference.

I've received a lot of emails since taking my leap of faith and all I can say (especially to those of you who are struggling in the teaching world), is that it's not worth it to be in a job that doesn't please and fulfill you. I knew I was unhappy, but now being in a career that makes me happy, I realize just how miserable I actually was. All aspects of my life are better now, and it is so nice not dreading work every night or on Sundays. I also come home and have energy. Teaching was so draining that oftentimes, I felt I couldn't even piece together a coherent sentence, and now, I come home energized for whatever the night may hold.

I am so excited to see where this adventure takes me next.

Thanks for all your words of support, as well as those of you that reached out to specifically help me with my search. I most certainly would not have had the courage to take the step I did, were it not for the support from my loved ones and friends.

Have you ever gone through a similar period in your life?

Have a great day!

Leap of Faith

Happy Tuesday readers!

I hope you are doing well...I feel really detached from the blog world lately. At the beginning of the summer I needed so badly to decompress from what was my toughest year of teaching, that I became a bit withdrawn. Now that I've had that time to decompress, my life seems to have kicked into overdrive and I rarely have time to sit at the computer for pleasure. I did want to acknowledge, however, that I have read each and every one of your comments, despite not responding to them all. Your support as I have opened up about this new phase of my life have meant more than you know!

All that being said, it's time for a big update on this next life adventure. I titled this post "Leap of Faith" because I have just taken what might be the biggest leap of faith in my life so far. I'll explain...

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As you all know, I've questioned my teaching path a lot over the past two years. I first opened up in this post. Rather than repeat all the reasons I've been unhappy with teaching, I'll direct you to some great articles I've read over the last year that acknowledge many of my struggles:

"What It Really Means to Be a Public School Educator Today"

"‘You have made us the enemy. This is personal.’ — 7 N.Y. Teachers of the Year blast Cuomo"

"Schools face new challenges as poverty grows in inner suburbs"

"Report: Requiring kindergartners to read — as Common Core does — may harm some"

In grad school, you hear about all of these issues, and teacher turnover rates, but you often think "That won't be me" or "That's only in the really bad schools." For a long time, the perfectionist in me, didn't want to leave the profession, because I saw it as quitting or a failure. I didn't want to add to the statistic. What I have realized over the last several months, however, is that leaving teaching isn't quitting: It's taking a stand for me. 

After that realization, the next big question for me was: "If not teaching, then what?" I've always been someone that has been interested in so many different things; so narrowing down a path has been tough. I would call my dad in an emotional tizzy every semester when it came time to register for classes. My choice to pursue a Masters of Teaching was questioned by many, including myself, over the years. I could see myself being happy in several different careers. 

Almost two years ago, when I first became unhappy, I began looking at job postings to try and answer that question. I never had any intention of applying for jobs during the school year, rather, I hoped that after reading enough descriptions I could narrow down a field or some career areas that seemed like a fit. In college, I also had been interested in the "business" side of nonprofits: marketing, PR, fundraising, strategy, etc so I spent a lot of my time looking at job options on a website called ConnectVA. This website, run by the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence, is a place where local nonprofits can post job opportunities. I found that many of the job listings I was interested in fell under the "Development" realm. 

As luck would have it, this past fall I would connect with Ronald McDonald House of Richmond's Director of Development through my blog. You may remember I posted about their partnership with Dillard's to raise money through the sale of the Southern Living Cookbook here. When I first met Allison, the Director of Development, I immediately liked her. She is young and cute, and I left the house feeling so inspired. I also left thinking "I want her job." I reached out, asking to become more involved with the House, wanting to help an amazing cause, but also to gain some experience in the nonprofit field. Allison added me to their Red Shoe Crew which helps to plan and implement fundraising events for RMH. 

Now let's fast forward several months to this past April. I was having brunch with some book club friends and talking to them about my experience with Ronald McDonald. One of the girls shared that her husband was looking to hire a person in that exact field.  The position was "Program Manager" and would mostly entail event planning for a local non-profit. She put me in touch with her husband and the ball got rolling. From May to July, I was in the application process for this job. It ultimately didn't work out (I was the only candidate in the final 4 without experience), however, I am still so happy that I applied. Not only did it give me some valuable interview experience in the field, but it also gave me a tangible option outside of teaching. Getting so far in the interview process, gave me hope that I could (and will) find a fit.

After finding out I didn't get that job, I was at the point where I had to make a decision. It was mid-July and I knew that the likelihood I would find a job in the remaining weeks before school started was low. I also knew that if I did ultimately leave teaching, I wanted to do it the right way and not give my notice at the last minute. Finally, I realized, that if I went back to school, I was stuck for another 9 months and would be putting myself in the same position as this summer, only having 2 months to find a job, which isn't really a realistic time frame. My heart was telling me that I needed to resign, even without a new job lined up. Before making my decision final, though, I spent the next several days talking it over with Bryce and my parents. They could not have been more supportive and all agreed that I was 100% making the right decision. My mom said "Every time you talk about going back to school, there's a quiver in your voice and you can't live like that."

So here I am, unemployed. My emotions waiver from day to day, some days I feel excited and empowered and other days, I feel nervous and scared. I've applied for 10 jobs in the last few weeks, and have a few more on my list for this week. I have run into roadblocks a few places regarding my experience. It's that Catch 22 of "You can't get hired without experience, and you can't get experience without getting hired." I do feel confident that something will work out though. I am spending weekly time at Ronald McDonald House, volunteering my time to gain as much experience as I can at the volunteer level. They have been very supportive and have provided me with as many opportunities to learn about the field and network, as possible. I've also began to embrace telling people about my job search. I've found that when I share my experience, people want to help, and a few people have even approached me with jobs.

In the meantime, I will be coaching volleyball and subbing at a local private school, and will get an "in-between" job if need be. I also am fortunate to have one more paycheck coming in at the end of the month, from fulfilling my contract last year, which gives me some wiggle room.  And last, but certainly not least, I feel beyond fortunate to have such a supportive group of friends and family backing me up. Bryce, especially, has been my biggest cheerleader and without his support, I probably wouldn't have been brave enough to take this leap of faith.

And now (I hope I haven't bored you, yet), for those of you that commented or emailed asking for advice, I can share my tactics thus far. I don't have a job yet, but I do think my strategy will lead to success.  My first tactic, has been to reach out to anyone and everyone I know in the field. Being that I am trying to completely change careers without experience, I'll need all the help and connections I can get. The second, has been to work as hard as I can to gain valuable experience, through my time at Ronald McDonald. I also am planning to sign up for some workshops through the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence, and may see if I can get involved volunteering at a second nonprofit to give my experience more breadth. Lastly, I have been applying to each and every job that sounds the least bit interesting, both jobs that I may be over-qualified for, or, under-qualified for.  Allison, from Ronald McDonald, shared an awesome point, that you never know when someone may pass your resume along to somebody else, or to a different position within the organization. I realize that this first job, is likely to just be a stepping stone, so I'm willing to consider positions that may be outside of the development or nonprofit realm. Fingers crossed this strategy will pay off!

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Have any of you readers taken a similar leap of faith in your life?

Any advice for me as I navigate this new adventure?

Have a great day!

Five on Friday

TGIF readers!

I'm really trying for blogger of the year this summer, if you can't tell...HA!

I do have several posts lined up and am determined to make it happen...look forward to a giveaway, NYC recap, recipes, and more in the coming weeks!

Today I figured I'd just update you a bit on my life in a random fashion by linking up with the Five on Friday ladies!

So here goes:

ONE

Job Search

Just trucking along over here. I'm still in the running for a long application process that began back in May and should know more by the end of July/early August. I've put in for a few other applications and am now also trying to really brainstorm people I know and can reach out to that may be able to help me. (I may even be reaching out to a few of you that have offered advice!) 

Things have been weighing on my mind and emotions, A LOT. I'm realizing more and more that a job search may take longer than the summer and so I'm trying to decide what the next best step is if I don't have luck in the coming weeks. Bryce and I had a long chat last night and he gave me explicit directions to enjoy my summer and to head to the pool to take my mind off things today. I'm listening to him.

All that being said, with a career change in my future, I need to stock up on some basic workwear. I have a lot of things already in my wardrobe that would be work appropriate, however, I need to add a few basic staples that will work with the pieces I already have. Today is the start of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (for those of us that aren't cardholders) and I've found several pieces at major bargains! I've got 2 blazers, a pencil skirt, pants, a dress, and 2 blouses all in my shopping cart right now coming in at around $400! Shop my picks below: 

I also couldn't resist checking out J. Crew! All of these picks are currently 30% off with code GOSHOPPING.

TWO

Parenthood

Ummm....why have I just gotten around to watching this show? A few weeks ago, Bryce was out of town for a concert and I decided to start watching Parenthood on Netflix. My mom always loved it, but I don't like watching shows unless I've watched them from the beginning so I never started watching with her. I was therefore thrilled to find it on Netflix. The first night I stayed up until 2 am watching and was immediately hooked. Since then, I've gotten Bryce on board and we watch at least three one episode a night! If you haven't watched it, start NOW!

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THREE

Ladies Hoo Lunch

I recently joined the UVA Club of Richmond and a few months ago learned about a ladies luncheon they put on every other month called "Ladies Hoo Lunch." The purpose is to connect with fellow alumni and network. There is a speaker at every lunch and Whitney, who heads up the lunch, asked me to speak at this week's lunch. Whitney is a follower of the blog and she wanted me to speak about social media. I was initially nervous to talk about my girlie blog to a group of successful alumni, but was received very well! I framed my talk around the idea that screen-to-screen interaction is becoming as common as face-to-face interaction and shared strategies to make digital interaction feel personal and relatable. It was such a great experience and I left feeling invigorated!

FOUR

Skinnytaste Baked Chicken Parmesan

I made this recipe for dinner last night and it was so good, not to mention super easy! The baked chicken tastes just as good, if not better, than fried and I have a feeling it will become a go-to recipe. 

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FIVE

THIS...

My mantra of late....

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What's been going on in your life lately?

Have you shopped the Nordstrom sale?

Have a great day!

Summer Bucket List

Happy Hump Day friends!

I hope you are having a great week! I am super excited because tomorrow is the day I head to NYC! Thanks for all the great recommendations! I don't get into the city until kind of late tomorrow night, so our plan is to just have an easy takeout dinner, catch up, and plan my solo day on Friday! I will definitely be using your comments when making the plan!

Now that I've had some time to decompress from the school year, I decided it would be good to make a summer bucket list. The Cuties are all grown up and don't need me this summer, so I am just a tad heartbroken and nervous that I may go a little stir crazy. I am hoping having a list of goals for the summer will help.

ONE

Buy & Wear Hot Pink Lipstick

This bucket list item has actually already been checked off the list. On a trip to Nordstrom last week, I couldn't resist stopping at the Chanel counter to look at lipsticks. I really like Chanel's Rouge Allure lipstick and it's a fun way to experience luxury at a small price point. I ended up with Shade 94 "Extatique" and am ecstatic (pun intended) about the purchase! I also have Shade 49: La Petillante, which is a fabulous red I bought at Christmastime. 

TWO

Makeover the Guest Room

I've mentioned a few times (see here) that our guest room has been more a storage space/black hole than a relaxing place to host guests. If a friend called me today and said she needed a place to stay tonight, I honestly don't know what I would do. That being said, I really want to get the room in working order this summer. Bryce spent A LOT of time working in there last week, and I've hinted that it would be a great surprise if he finished cleaning out this weekend while I'm in NYC. The plan for the room is to use much of the furniture and decor from my last bedroom. I may shake it up a little bit, though. I have absconded the down comforter and added it as an extra layer in our bedroom, and certain other pieces from the space have found new homes, so a slightly new look may be in the cards. We'll see...

And I can't wait to hang my gallery wall again...

THREE

Use Our Cookbooks

We have tons of amazing cookbooks that get used as decor more than for recipes. With Pinterest and blogs it is so easy to just go online when looking for mealtime inspiration. I want to take a day to go through all (...or most) of our cookbooks and sticky recipes I want to try, and then actually try them. Maybe make a goal to cook at least one cookbook recipe a week?

These are just a few of the many we have: I think I'll start with these!

FOUR

Practice Flower Arranging

Many of you probably saw the picture below on Instagram. Isn't that arrangement ah-mazing! Bryce's mom put it together with flowers and plants from her own yard. I love having fresh flowers in the house and want to read up on and practice my flower arranging some this summer.

FIVE

Go Canoeing

Those of you that have been reading for a really long time will remember this post and the checklist below that Bryce and I made on one of our very first dates. 4 years later we have checked everything off the list, except canoeing....and Bryce owns a canoe! That being said, we are going to have to make it happen this year! It is so fun to look back on this list and reminisce. For example, neither of us had been to Edo's Squid when we first met and so we added it to the list. It is now our very favorite Richmond restaurant and has kind of become "our" place for romantic date nights. Charlottesville was also on the list, and in our 4 years of dating we have visited C'ville at least 5 or 6 times together. Cook dinner together makes me laugh because what at the time seemed so exciting and new is now a normal occurrence and sometimes even chore!

SIX

Find a New Job

I debated whether or not to add this to the list I shared on the blog, because it makes me vulnerable. If I share that I'm job searching and then don't get a new job, I am admitting failure on my blog. But then, as I thought about it more, I realized that the blog community has always been a supportive one and I also believe that what's meant to be will happen. If a new job doesn't come along this summer, that might be a sign that I need to teach another year. I am in the application process for a few jobs right now and will keep you posted. In the meantime, the thought of a new work wardrobe makes me excited and I've decided if I do find a new job I am rewarding myself with a smart pair of work heels...preferably the pair below!

L.K. Bennett Clemmie Patent Slingback Pump in Tortoise

Being that they're Kate Middleton's signature shoes and that I share their name (Alexandra BENNETT) I think it's meant to be...

What's on your summer bucket list?

Have a great day!