The New Chapter

Just a quickie little note here -

So, I am only 4 days into the new chapter of my life, and it just happens to be amazing! This is the first time in 14 years that I have time to myself that I don't have to ask or compromise for. (YEAH!) I am no longer full time employed. Rather, I am a substitute, which means if I want to work, I can. My new headband business has been keeping me busy! Actually, very busy! There may be even more new things on the horizon, but I'll post about that if it happens.

The most prominent change in my life, though, is I am no longer in a rush. There is a calm in my heart that can't be expressed. My heart (like always) is full of gratitude. I know it'll be a challenge to make up for the money that I was making working full time, but somehow, I feel peace about it.

So...have a magnificent day, everyone! I will!

A bit of Shameless Self-Promotion

Well hello, there! Since my last entry, I have taken a different turn, one that I wasn't expecting! I love when new things fall into my field of vision that I can put my effort into.

The most recent recipient of my time and talent is non-slip headbands.

Here is how it began.

I have been running for a couple of years now, and it has been such an integral part of my life. I've recently reunited with a long time friend who is also into running. We didn't drift apart for any other reason than our lives going in different directions. Our friendship never skipped a beat and since we have been seeing each other more regularly, it's like we never were apart. So we were running on Sunday and talking about anything, nothing, and everything (y'all know just what I mean!). The topic came onto these non-slip headbands that she had come across and purchased from a local lady that makes them. I immediately contacted that girl, ordering a couple. But then I thought...why pay for this (sorry that I withdrew my business from her) when I can learn how to make them myself? I went into Pinterest and searched non-slip headbands.I soon found a pattern that I used as a loose guide and adapted to my own likes. The supplies were readily available and the pattern is simple, making it easy to provide many different designs.

This led me to make about 10 in the first 24 hours. They don't take terribly long to make, and if I set up an assembly line type work area, I can get a lot done. I gave a couple away as gifts to my running buddies, and my daughter gave a couple to her closest friends. Then I brought a handful to sell at my Couch to 5K running group. Out of the 5 girls there, three bought one (it was raining, so few people showed up).

I got the wild idea that if I start a page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/MEHeadbands and advertise to my friends there, I'd get some people interested in the headbands. It worked!  I got a few more orders, and so far have sold about a dozen of them! This is since Tuesday.! So, I set up and Etsy account at http://www.etsy.com/shop/MelEsqDesigns. This is pretty exciting! It's something I love to do and it'll hopefully provide me with a part-time income while I do other things like farmer's markets, subbing, and studying real estate.

Here are a couple of pictures of me sporting these fantastically non-slip headbands (which stay on until YOU decide it's time to take them off):

This one is after a fast 5K run...see, not a hair in my eyes!

This one is after an entire day running around - housework, sewing, waterpark, hanging out at home, etc.

This was right before we left the waterpark. Hair up, it never fell out.

 

 

I have several colors and will be adding more every week. I am pretty sure that there is at least one or two that match each one of your running/workout outfits! Please stop by my FB page or Etsy Page and give me a try! Thank you!!!!

 

(PS - if you are out of country, please contact me outside of Etsy. Thank you!)

Winding Down

I simply cannot believe that the end of summer vacation is right around the corner. I remember the countdown to the end of the school year, how the time flies so fast the closer we get to the end. Now here we are, the summer almost to a close, and it feels like I just blinked.

We didn't get a whole lot done this summer. Not a lot of travel, no deep cleaning the cabinets, you know, the usual stuff you do when there is suddenly a bunch of time on your hands.

That being said, I can only count on one hand the days where I felt like we truly did nothing. That's OK, though, because the kids and I were together. Unfortunately, all those weekly get togethers my friends and I loosely planned at the beginning of the summer fell through, and at best I saw each of my friends only a handful of times. Sigh. Lucky for me, I am blessed with the best friends in the entire universe and we never skip a beat even after long absences.

There are exactly 9 days left of vacation and I am determined to make the very best of it. It will mean putting down my iPhone, changing computer passwords, confiscating electronics, and dragging everyone out of the house. To get out of our cool a/c and brave the Texas heat will be a challenge, but we'll do it. And with a smile on our faces. :)

Have a great weekend!

The Ultimate Inspiration

Oscar Pistorius

Yes.

Who's got balls?

I do, I do!

**OK, so I believe that I need to practice my food photography skills. This might be a new thing to challenge myself with (I'm always looking for new stuff to get awesome at).

Along with the rest of the woman I know (and millions more), I have found Pinterest to be a fantastic source of inspiration in all things. My favorite categories are food, fitness, and gardening. My daughter has taken over the roll of Pinterest Zombie in my house, so when I get my hands on the computer, I usually try to find one or two Pinteresting things I am actually going to try.

I love to eat, I love food, I love making it, I love serving it. However, I am so daggum close to 40 (I am a year away from tasting it), that the food I love so much loves me back enough to take up permanent residence. That being said, I have really stepped up my fitness and work hard to send my food packing.

I try to spend time finding like minded individuals on Pinterest who either create or re-pin recipes that are not only delicious but fit into the active lifestyle. It also helps when the person is also a mom and has tested the recipes out on her kids with great success. I discovered this one blog called Marathon Mom where I found this recipe. If you are intrigued and click on the link, you'll find a whole list of awesome snack foods. I also make her chocolate granola bars, but they are such an indulgence that I don't make them as often (not that they are exceedingly rich or anything, just that they are addictive! I lose all self control around them). The granola energy balls, which is the recipe that I linked you to, are quite delicious! One ball is filling and actually provides me with the same amount of pick me up as any other mid morning or mid afternoon snack. They especially go great with a cup of coffee (I take mine with a splash of raw milk, no sweetener).

Of course, in all things I make, I modify a bit here and there to make it mine. I was gifted with an enormous bag of milled golden flax meal, so I used that instead of the standard dark brown flaxmeal. I also add 3T chia (which adds a little crunch to the texture). I have made them with and without vanilla, never with cinnamon, sometimes add a 1-2T coconut oil for the health benefit, organic or not PB, dessicated coconut or regular. The recipe is a super guideline for you to adapt to your likes. I'd stick with the same proportions of wet vs dry ingredients, though. Today as I made mine, I was thinking some nice finely chopped dates would be awesome!





A Good Place to Start

I have, like I said, been out of blogland for a while. I was going back to college but decided to take a year off, which is now turning into a year and a half off. It's OK. I'm cool with that. Not beating myself up over this decision. It was time to spend more time with the kids, giving them a chance to attend their classes, sports practices, etc. I wasn't able to participate in their lives when I was immersed in school work and classes. The children won't be young forever, so I went with them.

Running has become an integral part of my life. Although my farthest distance, to date, is 10 miles (training for a half marathon now). I've gotten to the point that if I don't get out for a run, my day is not quite complete. I was challenged by this post by NoMeatAthlete a few weeks ago....50 lessons from running 50 days in a row....and I thought, I could do that! So, with the exceptions of Saturdays (I'll explain that one in a bit) I have run for the last 21 days, and my goal is to get to 50 days, hopefully beyond that. I've yet to compile a list of lessons, not sure if I'll even make it to 10, but it has gotten me in a great frame of mind and I love that my body/mind is addicted to running every day.

Last year, I started listening to Caity's podcasts and reading her blog, Run Barefoot Girl. I went to minimalist shoes and even ran barefoot. My feet never got used to barefoot running, especially not here in S TX. Although, I do live barefoot when I'm home. HA! The minimal shoes were great for shorter runs, but when I upped the mileage, I developed a stress fracture in one ankle. I am NOT discounting the awesomeness of barefoot running by any means, it just didn't work for me. But, warning, I am naked (and barefoot) under these clothes and shoes, and I'm OK with that! My heart is barefoot and free! I've transitioned to lightweight running shoes (never going back to traditional ones, no way!) and am very pleased with how they feel on my feet. My current shoes are Brooks PureConnect. Love them! The greatest lesson I got from barefoot running, though, is how to land on forefoot/midfoot and stay the hell away from heel striking. My form definitely benefited from the experience.

Another influential blog I love is Vanessa's - www.vanessaruns.com - her life story and journey has been awe inspiring to me! While I am at the polar opposite stage in life, her stories and blog posts never cease to fill me with big dreams and desires to be more adventurous in my life. Not to do what she does, but to never be afraid to step out of my comfort zone and explore everything life has to offer. By the way, I first heard about Vanessa when I was listening to Caity's podcast interview with her.

In January, I started working for my farmer friends - they needed someone to run their booth at the wonderful Barton Creek Farmer's Market in Austin TX. This has been the best part time job ever! I am a total foodie, and being at the market completely welcomes me into my element. I love hand made wares, being a creative girl and all, and there are so many incredibly talented artisans there. It's challenging on a Saturday morning, getting up at 5:30 AM and not making it home till mid afternoon, outside all day, rain or shine (S TX = SHINE, and lots of it). Working such a physical, outdoorsy job that has been so fulfilling, I am able to guiltlessly excuse myself from Saturday runs.

Well, I am off, time to get on with my day. Have a great one! :)

Here we go...with the flow

Here we go. Over the past several years, I kept a blog, but in the last year or two, my posting dwindled away to nothing. It seems that I exhausted every topic (at least to me) that I had any kind of interest in. It started with knitting. Then it went to food. Religion. Kids. Family. School. Fitness. It was a constantly changing blog, which is a reflection of my life. The only constant is change. I always feel like my life is headed in one direction, but it ends up chasing bunny rabbits down winding paths. That's OK, I'm cool with that. I've learned a few things along the way, including when to let go, what to hold onto, and that it's much easier to go with the flow.

So.....thanks for stopping by, my (blog) doors are always open. I hope you feel welcome here!

Peace!