Friday, July 22, 2011

I've Moved!

Come see me at my new location!!!

http://fulllifewithanemptynest.blogspot.com

Thanks,

Mary C

Friday, June 3, 2011

Under Construction

Sorry about the mess but we are remodeling our blog.
Stay tuned for the new look and content.

Blessings,
Mary C

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

It's OFFICIAL!

Go ahead and laugh but I have been saying that I have an unusually small head for a full grown adult and no one took me seriously. But I now have PROOF!

I would have had proof sooner, but the photo my friend Cindy's mom took of the two of us has not surfaced on Facebook. Cindy thinks her head looks big in the photo. Not so. It only seems big because mine is so small. Maybe now she'll put the photo up so I can use it on a scrapbook layout. Hint, hint.

The proof is my attempt to get new eyeglasses. I went to 3 different places to find glasses and none of them fit. All too big. It was incredibly frustrating. The glasses I have now aren't any better. I have to constantly run them under hot water to bend the earpieces in so they stay on my head.

Well, on the third attempt, the kind technician showed me to the 'teen' section. Hey, these are the glasses they sell to 12 year old's! And they FIT. Dozens and dozens of choices. It was amazing! I had so much fun trying on glasses that fit my face and looked fun and cool! When my new ones arrive, I'll post a photo to show you the eye bling.

So all the naysayers can eat crow now. I DO have a small head. I think I have some spare brain cells stored in my thighs. They are certainly bigger than they need to be so that's what I am going with.

In other news, my workouts are going great. I am able to run 30 minutes without stopping if I don't go too fast. I can run 3.6 miles but I have to walk a minute or two from time to time. I can do ONE real push-up. Hey, I can do lots of 'girl' push-ups but I could not move from a standard push-up position when I began. So I am feeling pretty good about my vow to 'Move Every Day'.

There is some stress in our lives right now, but that isn't stopping me from my one little word of THRIVE. I am hanging with things and taking care of business without losing my cool.

PLUS, I made my own deodorant from the Jungleman Naturals recipe and it turned out great! The RGH laughs at me because I get so excited about my do-it-yourself endeavors. But hey, I make a lot fewer trips to Target now.

In a few days, I am having another birthday. I'll post how many years on Thursday.

Blessings,
MaryC

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Share the Wealth

Last weekend the Fit to Run class had our nutrition seminar at the RED ROCK RUNNING COMPANY headed by COACH ERIC. Thought I would share the tidbits I gleaned from it.

1.  I am pretty much doing everything wrong.
2.  Carbs and Fats are good when used properly.
3.  Each person has individual needs.
4.  I don't take great photos with my iPhone.

I also found out that my eat protein with every meal is a singular focus goal. With a running program, I have to worry about eating carbs, but at the right time and in the correct portions AND good fats in the correct portions.

As a person who suffers from Hypoglycemia, I have to do things a little differently than most people. I still need the protein to keep my insulin level on an even keel.
Whew! I didn't know it was going to be so complicated.

To prove that I don't take great photos with my iPhone, here is a photo of COACH ERIC telling it like it is:


Back to the nutrition stuff.
It isn't really that hard to do, but I have to completely change what I have considered the 'right' way to eat. Luckily, I have a coach...and the Internet to help me re-learn.

On another topic, I was going to share one of my newer discoveries in the world of living green and healthier. I found a natural deodorant that WORKS. I was hating the anti-perspirants that are full of aluminum. It was making my poor armpits break out. Plus, I read that aluminum might contribute to breast cancer. And seriously, should we be putting metals in our skin? (shiver)

Jungleman Naturals is the greatest deodorant ever. But, the dude that invented it is no longer making it to sell. I went to his site to re-order and the sad news was posted there. The good news is he shared his recipe on the site. So I can make my own. And I will!

Should you be interested in making your own Jungleman deodorant, you can read about it and get the recipe here    A few things you should know about this natural deodorant; it will not prevent sweating but you won't stink. When you first wean yourself off anti-perspirants, you will probably sweat a ton but it will taper off once your body is back to it's normal state. Heavy sweaters (LOL) and high temperature summers may mean two applications a day but it's cheap to make so no big deal. It can be crumbly but I keep a little waxed paper with mine so I can pack it down from time to time. If you get it on anything, it doesn't stain and cleans up easily.

I hope you try to make some. It's better than Tom's of Maine or any of the other naturals out there.

I am doing okay on my THRIVE 2011 adventure. Still moving every day, trying my best to eat right, and after conferring with my peeps in BOOK CLUB, I have decided that my runs and my morning coffee ritual can count as quiet time. Oh, and I haven't blown up at anyone a single time. Got to love the deep breathing.

February's resolution is to Mind My Words. Sometimes I say whatever I am thinking and the RGH, well, he doesn't speak the MaryC's brain language. So I am practicing the, do I really need to say that out loud? method of keeping my words in check. So far, so good. But as you know, I am keeping it real so if I blow it, I'll be here fessing up.

Happy late Valentine's Day. Only 8 more shopping days till my birthday, in case you were wondering.

Blessings,
MaryC
.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Keeping It Real

The THRIVE theme is going along well, so far. In our Happiness Project Book Club, my resolutions for January were to:

Move Every Day
Eat Protein with every meal
Use Deep Breathing when stressed
Take 10 Minutes of Quiet Time each day

As of right now, I have done great with the first three. With the Running 101 class, I am continuing to get some great exercise sessions into my schedule. I have been pretty diligent with the protein with my meals. I haven't really felt a lot of stress the last month but I used the deep breathing in traffic a few times.
That 10 minutes of quiet time is just no happening. But I am keeping it real here. I am just not doing it. I must not really want it that much.

The month of February, I am focusing on my relationship with my husband. He isn't home until Wednesday so there isn't much to tell yet. We have a pretty good relationship already but I think I need to be more aware of how I say things to him. It may sound fine to me but he may interpret things differently than I mean them. So my main goal for February is to:

Be Mindful Of My Words

As for the rest of my world, I have a lot going on. We have another grandson on the way and I am spending a lot of time in California helping my daughter get things ready. She's on bed rest and when her husband is working away from home, I come to help with the boys, do errands, laundry, cooking and cleaning. I enjoy helping and being with the boys. When I get home from a week of this, I am whipped. This is not a bad thing. Just a reality.

I have some great green product finds to share in the near future. I promised myself I would take it slow this year. I tend to over-commit myself and then get stressed about it. The funny thing about that is that I am committing to myself! No one but me is keeping track and yet, I stress about it. Stupid really. Do other people do this or am I a pariah?

Blessings,
MaryC

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Thrive 2011

My One Little Word for 2011 is THRIVE.

Merriam Webster defines THRIVE like this:

intransitive verb
1
: to grow vigorously : flourish
2
: to gain in wealth or possessions : prosper
3
: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances

I love how this word speaks to me. It covers so many aspects of my life. I want to grow vigorously, flourish, prosper in my mind, body and spirit. I want to progress in finding a place in my world where I am always comfortable and content.

I started my 2011 year off with two projects to help me along the way. The first is a book club for The Happiness Project. We are doing a chapter each month from the book over this year. I love the group of ladies that is in the club with me. I look forward to tackling some of the things that eat into my time and cause me stress. I also hope to overcome some not so great habits that make my life less than harmonious.

My second project for this year is joining the Running 101 program at Red Rock Running Company. There are ten of us in the group and for ten weeks, we are working with our Coach, Eric Herdman, to get our running groove on. He has assigned us each a training program that includes core exercises along with our running and cross training schedule. We are in week three and I am feeling the results in sore muscles, more energy and better sleep.

We are also expecting another grandson this spring. I am helping a lot on that front since my daughter is on bed rest again. More time with grandchildren? I am on it.

Welcome 2011. I know you are going to be a great year.

Blessings,

MaryC