Evolving

It's funny how perspective changes as time moves on.  I was thinking about how quickly and simply I have changed in the last year as our lives turn down the road for Change City.  We are evolving, growing and becoming different, maybe even - dare I say - better, people.  I love it.

It's like when you get married and people buy you loads and loads of towels.  Most of them are beautiful, but a couple are kind of crazy looking and  they don't match.  The crazy looking towels go to the back of the linen closet to be used, well, someday.  Two years later you need a towel and you find a beautiful brand new towel in the back of your closet.  Crazy looking, yes.  Clean, yes - therefore it's perfect.  It still doesn't match, but functional and clean is all you really care about. Evolving.  

It's like not showing your pregnancy until 24 or 26 weeks.  Then the belly pops! At 30 weeks people strangers suddenly decide you are showing enough to say something.  That has been my experience the last 2 weeks and it takes me off guard every time. To me I feel normal, unless I am bending down or staring at my belly I almost forget it's there.  The most laughable comments so far have been:
- "How far along are you?  Oh, so you have a few more weeks until you get puffy and funny looking."  Fantastic.
- Check out lady: "I think you're having a girl."  Me: "Nope, it's a boy"  Lady: "I am never wrong"  Me: "Hmm, well you were wrong this time...."
- Man behind me in line: "I think you're having twins"  Me: " Haha! It wouldn't be pregnancy if someone didn't say it at least once."
- Lady in store while I was grabbing a mirror off a shelf: "You shouldn't be twisting!" Me: Ignoring her... I didn't realize that comment was intended for me.  Lady: "YOU SHOULDN'T BE TWISTING"  Me: Looking up, realizing she is now screaming at me.  "Just reaching, no twisting here."
The belly is grabbing attention friends, it's evolving.

We are getting rid of cable at our house.  The idea that Food Network and HGTV will be long gone makes my heart a little sad. Ben will miss his History channels and all those animal, crazy swamp people and duck shows - oh and SportsCenter. But, we have decided we have better things to do. That. IS. Evolving.

It's like this certain dog who doesn't stay in his own bed all night.  I imagine he is similar to the 3 year old that comes into his parents room when he has a bad dream. Except this dog pulls the bad dream card every night.  This is also a super cuddly dog who likes to be touching someone AT ALL TIMES.  He has taken over our bed and I can't bring myself to kick the cuddly guy out.  Even if that means I am sleeping in a squatting position on 1/4th of the bed.  Because that happens almost every night. There was a time I couldn't stand dogs.  Now one sleeps with on me.  Evolving.

I am learning to be patient when things don't happen with a snap of the fingers.  You see, I like to move fast.  Drive fast, clean fast, I get an idea and I like it to be executed very quickly.  I think the only thing that I don't do quickly is get ready - that needs time.  Ben, on the other hand, likes to take his time.  He drives slower, walks slower and when he is executing an idea he takes time to implement.  We have different styles.  We are evolving and working together.  His awesome attention to detail and my pushy ideas are really putting together some fantastic projects that you shall one day see.  Evolving.

Evolving, learning and growing.  And oh boy, we have so much evolving left to do.

Have I told you...

My chi is back

Sometimes I forget how amazing a good workout is for your soul.

 I have taken a couple weeks off from working out.  Since we got back from California my back has been in terrible pain so I decided to take some time off of running, working out all together actually, as to stop it from worsening.  I think has helped my back, but I was felling super lazy since all I was doing was foam rolling and stretching and my mind was going CRAZY!

Yesterday the bore of windy Iowa got to me and all I could think about was going for a good run.  I couldn't have stopped myself even if I tried.  I walked into my hotel room, changed into workout clothes and the world was suddenly right again.  I just did a nice and easy couple of miles in the tiny hotel gym followed by almost one million push-ups... I was counting. :)

You haven't seen pictures like this for a while, so I thought I would share my sweaty face.

I was all alone in the tiny hotel gym singing at the top of my lungs and dancing around like a crazy person.  My chi is back, my soul is happy.  Those endorphins, they are powerful I tell you!!

I have seriously been craving some steamed broccoli. Since I can't get that at Hardee's I made a stop at Walmart for dinner.  Luckily I could steam this right in my hotel room! {I know... I am such a party animal!}

I have been sleeping terribly in the hotel.  I don't know if it is the 2 hour time difference or the noise that inevitably comes with hotels, but never fear... on my last night in Iowa I figured out how to fall asleep in my hotel room.  Just turn on a little Jack Johnson and crank the heat up to 77 degrees!  I was nice and warm. I slept like a baby!

I fly into Portland tonight.  I am SO excited to come home I can hardly stand it.  I am counting down the seconds until I get to give this guy the biggest hug he has ever seen.

Happy Friday, have a wonderful weekend!

Iowonian adventures

I am in Iowa for a few days working with some clients.  In case you haven't yet been to this great state I would like to give you a taste of what you find when you make the trip.

Space

I drove for an hour and a half from the airport to the hotel.  This is pretty much all I saw.

HARDEES



Do you remember this place?? One mushroom swiss burger please... j/k I didn't stop.  My sis in law, Maureen, used to take Nate, Ashley and I to Hardees every Thursday night after Classic Skating.  Ah the sweet bliss of childhood.  Now it just looks like a knock off Carl's Jr.  Did they merge?

Tractors driving down the road

This must come with the territory when you have so much space.  I should add that this was a 50mph road.

3 ALARM Hot Tamales

Found at the 24 hour Walmart.  Included in the pack are hot, hotter and hottest hot tamales.  I ate about 5 and my stomach is in complete knots.  HOT HOT HOT - 3 alarm gets less than 3 stars.



Sending love from the midwest!

A letter to you

Dear Twizzlers,

Remember 100 years ago when you made those tiny little Nibs that everyone has forgotten about?  Well, the other night as I was following my husband around Home Depot, pretending to be impressed by lawn mowers, I had a distinct need for one of these tiny pieces of licorice.  One? Who am I kidding, I ate the whole bag.  So now, I thank you. Thank for inventing what I once thought was a worthless candy.  It made my night.

Many thanks,
Completely addicted to sugar


Dear Bread, 

I have figured out why people shy away from tuna fish sandwiches.  It is your fault.  No offense.  I typically don't eat bread so I guess that is why I am just figuring this out.  The other day after making some scrumptious tuna filled celery, onions, walnuts, relish and peppers I decided I would go out on a limb and put it on bread instead of eating it with a fork.  I took one bite and realized, YOU RUINED THE WHOLE THING!  I couldn't taste any of the tuna goodness, just you.  Gross.  I had to throw away my bitten through pieces and move on with the fork method.

Respectively,
Thanks, but no thanks


Dear J-Lo, 

I am loving you, very much, on American Idol.  I mean, who am I kidding, I have loved you since "The Wedding Planner" which used to be one of my favorite movies because of your uncanny ability to slick your hair back into a ponytail and look fabulous.  Besides bringing your awesome outfits and great hair to AI, I think you bring a presence to the show that it was seriously lacking before.  Also, Steven Tyler's shirts are amazing.

xoxo,
Back on the American Idol train


Dear Anthropologie, 

Would you mind putting this sweater or this sweather on SALE, please.  I have been checking your website faithfully EVERY DAY for weeks... just hoping... and waiting.  I mean come on.  It's almost spring and I need to get my cardigan wear on, right now!  Also, would you mind bringing in some cute dresses?  I am on the hunt and your spring dresses are really disappointing me.

Sincerely,
It really breaks my heart to be so stern with you


Dear Stripes,

Remember when no one would wear you because everyone said horizontal stripes are unflattering and awful?  Well you CERTAINLY made a comeback and I am on board!  The stripes I see everywhere are rocking my world and I feel I should say thank you for sticking out the hard times and making such a bold comeback.

Lovingly,
I don't care what you think about my stripes



(This idea came from Aimee who has an amazing blog! Check it out.)