Pretty Muddy

As you all know, I'm a pretty active person. I run, workout, try to eat healthy... But most of all, I live to have fun. Last year one of my best friends talked me into doing one of those fun runs with obstacles and such and was just for women. I.Had.A.Blast! So... when I was asked to become a Pretty Muddy Blog Ambassador this year I was stoked!

What is Pretty Muddy you ask?

Pretty Muddy was started by a couple of businessmen who were inspired by their wives – their pretty cool wives. Watching their partners juggle kids, households, carpools and careers – while still having time for the occasional ladies’ night – got the men thinking:

These awesome women deserve more time for themselves. Time for balance and time to be themselves without their families. Because even the greatest mom, businesswoman or grandma sometimes needs time that is just her own.

With the help of their wives and an incredible team of creative and motivated people, the two businessmen created an inaugural series of events called Pretty Muddy.

More than a mud run, it’s an exciting women-only event where you can let your hair down and have fun! And that’s pretty awesome.

How awesome is that? A mud-run for women! Yeah, we have all heard of those mud-runs, like Warrior Dash or the numerous other events out there, but where else can you find a place to feel inspired, feel fit, and feel comfortable?

I do not endorse a lot of things in this blog, as in once in a blue moon, but this is different. After watching the thrill of my friends finishing  last year, I was hooked. And what's better? Pretty Muddy has 4 events across the nation! Dallas * Sacramento * Chicago * Richmond... so you can find one near you. Grab your sisters, mothers, friends and make it a weekend.

So go it alone or go it with friends. Right now Pretty Muddy is offering teams of 3 or more 10% off their registration!! How awesome is that!

And... if you want to join me for the Dallas run on April 26th  let me know, the more the merrier!

Case Settled

So, what do you do when you're 31 and your case settles and you are not going to trial? Well.... you sleep in, skip church, go for a run (in 72 degree weather in January) go to the zoo, hit up the patio at Woodshed for drinks and apps and then go home to the crockpot meal you cooked and get in bed by 8:30pm!

Yes, that was my Sunday. Throw in a little laundry and a major allergy attack, but all-in-all a great way to relax after a super stressful week. I had been dying to head to the Fort Worth Zoo and see the baby elephants since they were born this summer, but I had been so stressed, so when le guy mentioned it I totally took him up on it. It hit the spot, he got snakes and lizards, I got baby elephants and lions and monkeys! And then I took two Bendryl and was out for the count by 8:30. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Here is a lil of what we saw at the zoo. (its totally not just for kids.)

Sunday Social

Its Sunday and I am on my to trial!/:( as in excited yay trial, but boo being away from my babies! But let's get social for a bit and forgive me for being a tad MIA this week! But catch up on what Neely is up to this week!

 

1. Top 3 favorite kinds of food
-FRUIT!!! I could live off of it!
-Cookies. Pretty much just a perfect piece of heaven.
-and Thai. Love me some pad thai, curry,  noodles, you name it

2. First 3 things you do in the morning
- let dogs out
-pee (yeah totally let them go first!)

3. Last 3 things you do at night
-let dogs out (see a pattern here)
- give both pups good night kisses/nuzzles
-turn off the light!

4. 3 TV shows you NEVER miss
-Grey's
-Suits (when its on)
and yeah that's it

5. 3 places you want to visit
-Paris
-Germany
-Cali (this is happening October 2014

6. 3 people you can always count on
-V
-KW
-God

Have a super week everyone!

5 on Friday

Happy Friday all!  Here are 5 random things about my life lately!

1. Diet - I say that meaning I am getting back on my healthy eating kick. I prepped my lunches Sunday (grilled chicken, veggies, and spinach salad); have been drinking my protein shake post workout with a banana, off days are egg whites and turkey bacon, snacks include greek yogurt & hummus & carrots, and a sensible dinner (i.e. protein + greens). I admit its been hard at times because I want bread or a cookie,  but I am trying. My goal is not so much weight loss and feeling better.

2. Work - I have trial next week. Well , I did have trial next week. We have been prepping and preparing and making plans and then BAM, settled last night. Hear the angels singing. But I admit its also a let down as I really wanted to get my first big trial under my belt. Oh well, there is always the one set for the end of this month.

3. My House - its trying to bleed me dry. Plumbing, roof, windows, now my dishwasher decides it wants to poop out. WTF

4. Babies - no, no no, not me... Everyone else. I mean there is not a facet of my life not touched by pregnant ladies. My friends are sprouting like watermelons! I am excited yes, but I would be lying if I didn't tell you all I am a tad jealous. I mean, girl is dying to be a mommy here, but I know God has a plan and I will just have to wait and see what he reveals to me.

5. My brain - I think its dying. Lately, I am a jumbled, hot-mess of words. I mix up words, transpose words, try to put two words together to form new ones... I just cannot form coherent sentences. I blame the lack of sleep, overstressed me. I think this weekend there shall be a nap... and Le guy and I decided we need some fun so I asked him what he wanted to do... He said (with a comical "if this goes wrong I will pull it off as a joke" voice) the zoo?! I was like OMG, yes! Fort Worth has a great zoo and its supposed to be 72 here Saturday, so I was like baby elephants, what? So we planned a lovely stress free afternoon (after he gets off work) to meander among the animals and then head to a local place to get some grub, a drink and enjoy the day.

That is my life in a nutshell ya'll! Have a super duper weekend and get out and do something!

Thing I love

• My office. Purple walls, windows, downtown view, fancy executive chair... yeah I could live here
• morning workouts. over.done. can get so much done after work
• my girls

• Burt's Bees (seriously best stuff ever)
• my Ugg slippers (from le guy for Christmas) I live in these things!
• my City Group family (could not be more blessed to have this group of people to share life with)
• MakeUp Forever HD setting powder, yup its the bomb.com
• planning trips!
• that so many of my friends are having/had/got babies this year!! (both human and fur babies)
• My brother. Who turned the ripe old age of 33 yesterday.... Happy Bday Bubby!!!!

Bubby and I circa 1983

Bubby and I 2013

Onward Ever Upward

Never failed that at the end of every email from the dean of my law school ended with that salutation. Every time I hear a variation of it, I think of Dean Huffman and smile. Its comes from a Hymn (which is so telling of both the Dean and this phrase). But I realized that this phrase, or whatever you want to call it has so much meaning.

Onward. Meaning, don't get stuck in place. This is hard for me. I like routine, I like monotony and knowing what will come each day. I also dwell. I look fondly at the past and think what if, or back when... I often found myself saying this year " I want my life back." What life? What is this grand, imaginary life that I dreamt up in my head? Were things awful, well sometimes, but were they wonderful? was I head over heels cannot live any other way? No. So WTF am I wanting back?

I mean even The Bible tells us to look forward, eyes above.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Isaiah 43:18

Onward. Its my mantra this year. Look forward, not backwards. Focus on what is to be and not could have been.

Ever Upward. Strive. Set goals. Persevere. Don's stop believing. Yes I get that sometimes our society focuses too much on achievement and success, but its not a bad thing to always keep looking to better ourselves. This does not have to mean a big promotion, more money, or setting our eyes on the prize so to speak, but setting our eyes on doing better and being better at being "us."  This comes in the form or self-improvement, whether its weight or health goals, improving our spiritual well-being, deepening our relationships with others and the Lord, and truly living life to the fullest.

Ever Upward. Its where my heart, ears, eyes and soul are reaching this year.

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
⁸ The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

 

ONWARD. EVER UPWARD!

The DTR

So two weekends ago I was at my should-be sis's parent's house celebrating her 30th bday. *Sidenote: I love her family and they have the best tradition of a family birthday lunch and cake and merriment. They pretty much adopted all of their kids friends and well, its just wonderful to be a party of a huge family* Anywhoodle.... they ladies were sitting in the dining room for a little girltalk, and we were discussing AM's DTR with her boyfriend. Well, should-be and AM's mom was confused. DTR? What is that? So after a little explaining, and making sure she could use "DTR" properly in context, we proceeded with story of AM's DTR and then it bled over into their mom telling is about how her husband and she met, fell in love and got engaged. (seriously cutest story ever, and they will be celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary soon).

So, I thought about the "DTR." When do you have it? When is it appropriate? Is it a must? And what do you include in such a talk?  And, do you still DTR in your 30's?

Well, yes, you still DTR in your 30's.... I think you do at any age or stage and often you probably have more than one DTR. You have the first, are we more than just casual, followed by the where are we going with this, and then after some time, the should we move-in, get married? And then once you are married, you will continue to have a number of these DTR moments. You have the do we buy or rent; when do we have kids; do I continue to work or should I become a SAHM.

Its cyclical people. As humans (and women) we ride a constant wave of defining moments, we yearn to know where we stand and what happens next. I mean look at the way we define our friends from friend to best friend to BFFL.... even Facebook has us categorize our relationships with people.

I look back at my relationship with M and see now that we missed so many of these key moments. We never really talked about anything. We never went from the friends to boyfriend step, it was a constant battle for me. I was constantly wondering where we were going and where we stood (and though it shouldn't matter, it does). Its these types of talks and categorization that keeps a woman sane! It helps us have peace of mind.

This is one thing I have thought about more in this go 'round than the last. I try to talk about these things so that no one is in the dark or feels lost (aka I don't feel lost or in the dark), so that we communicate about our thoughts and feelings. I have also tried not to think about when the time was right or what is accepted in society. WE have done things when they feel right for us, and not by anyone else's standards.

So, do you think the DTR is still relevant? Do we as a society of women put too much pressure on it? Is it good or healthy to define the relationships we have people?