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Sometimes you can just tell a day is going to be good the second you wake up…and that’s exactly how I felt this morning. Vero and I skipped our run because we were both so tired from yesterday’s 5 mile route, but I may still do a short distance this evening after work. That extra hour of sleep felt glorious and refreshing. I probably could have stayed in bed for a few more, though. 
This morning I did a quick shoot with my dear friend Stephen Vinson (of Who Ate My Blog) at Railroad Park for an article that Jennifer Dome (of Stellar Fashion and Fitness ) wrote for Birmingham Magazine next month. Look out for it! Before today I hadn’t seen Stephen for several months, and since then he has reached the 300 pounds lost mark. It’s almost half the size he started out as. He is a great example of what can happen when you take long-term action to change your life or conquer a dream. Stephen is such an inspiration to so many people.
I spent a little bit of time today with my mom and grandmother for an early Mother’s Day celebration at Chez Lulu. I haven’t seen my grandmother (Gigi) for a few months, so it was great to catch up on her life. She always knows what to say to make me feel good too. We are all roughly 19 years apart…. my grandmother had my mom at 19, and my mom had me at 19. I luckily passed that age without carrying on the tradition. 
My mother also has an older sister, who my grandmother had at the age of 16. Can you imagine having a child that young during the 50′s? There’s actually a really interesting story behind all of that , which is too private to share here without her permission. What I can say is that my grandmother is one of the most progressive thinkers in my entire family, and I’m lucky to have her as a role model.
My sweet friend Stephen at the B’ham Magazine shoot at Railroad Park.
Early Mother’s Day with my mom & grandma!
Friends
Vero drawing me at trivia…
This morning I ran in the rain with Vero. Normally we would call off a wet run, but it still felt pretty great outside and it wasn’t coming down too hard. It is a neat feeling to have water hitting your face as you glide forward, a sensation that we normally run for cover from. The only downfall was when a truck passed by towards the end and splashed a huge puddle on us. 
At least it made us laugh. It confirms that Vero isn’t only a fair weather friend.
I probably talk about relationships a lot, but they are so important. I remember looking at Vero during our run this morning and thinking – who else would I want to be doing this with? The answer was no one. We were semi-soggy, it was early, and it was dead smack in the middle of the work week. But we had a great time talking and just being present in the moment. Miles fly by when I am with my sweet friend.
It’s so interesting to think how small we are in the bigger picture of the universe… how we make our own little lives that are uniquely our own with the things and people who are around us. Am I really just a walking piece of flesh with a limited life span, or is there more to us than meets the eye? I like to think so. I believe I have a spirit and energy that exists beyond my body…but I don’t pretend to know anything more than that. I think we have connections and bonds with other souls for a purpose greater than we could ever comprehend with our human minds. And even though these are my own personal beliefs, I always love to hear what others think. Sometimes it expands on my own theories and gives me new ideas.
This Friday night I will be guest bartending at Naked Art’s Love Your Mama Fest opening from 5-9 in Forest Park! I will be serving complimentary strawberry basil white sangria and beer (while supplies last). There will also be a wacky inventions show and music jam in the neighborhood. Come by and see me and buy your mama a present made by local artists!!!
I am obsessed with anything made from almonds. Almond milk, almond butter, almond soup… just give it allllll to me. I think my love affair started back when I hurt my knee in early 2011, and I read somewhere online that almonds have anti-inflammatory properties. It’s always interesting to try natural substitutes, especially for milk and butter. Almond milk works really well if you are already used to 1% or skim dairy. I rarely buy the kind with the vanilla flavoring, I prefer it straight up. It has fewer calories and more calcium than regular milk too. I especially like the mini dark chocolate almond drinks as afternoon snacks or as pre/post run fuel.
This morning I woke up feeling super energized and ready for my early morning run with Vero. I think I am officially over my jet-lag from last week. I took it easy over the weekend and skipped running for a few days, which helped a lot. I am going to continue laying off the races until the fall, then maybe I will start back up with some 5 & 10ks and slowly work my way back up to the longer distances & triathlon for 2013. If I am smart, I will spend the summer working on my overall strength & stability…so I’ll keep that in the back of my mind to see if I get inspired enough to do so. My knee has been doing wonderful which is extremely exciting!
After my run this morning I went on a little mini photo excursion in Avondale Park. My brain seems to work better during the first half of the day, even without the aid of coffee. I actually wish I could be a night owl, as it coming alive at night is much more romantic than being an early bird. My mind is tired by the time evening comes around, so the less thinking the better. I guess I am fortunate in the sense that I usually have no problem sleeping through the night, even if I go to bed at a ridiculously early hour sometimes.
Almond Joy
Miss Fancy playing in the rain water from yesterday’s storms at Avondale Park.
Babies!!! Avondale Park
I love this car.
Vulnerability – letting someone in 100% without fear of rejection. Giving an all access pass to who you are at every moment, your every thought and idea. It’s a beautiful thing really. Even at 33 I still have little walls and insecurities that pop up from time to time, hiding a fear of not being completely liked or understood by another person. Everyone has their own defense mechanisms, and some can let those down more easily than others. Some people get angry, some people divert attention elsewhere, some act indifferent. My buttons are always a little unexpected, surprising me when they happen. But isn’t it a wonderful feeling when you decide to let it go? To expose those feelings deep down inside? I think that is the only way you can truly love another person, is when you let each other see all those little parts. That’s also when real healing can begin for past hurts that you may have forgotten were even there. Worthwhile relationships are exploratory lessons of the deepest kind. When I see someone else’s flaws or less-than-perfect attributes, I see it as wonderfully human. It teaches me that the people worth keeping in my life look at the me same way too.
Friday night at the fair
The fair with Micah!
Cinco de Mayo margaritas!
PJ made it to ATL to meet the real James.
In Atlanta with James, Will & brother Dave!
I slept well last night!! Wooohoo!!! I think I am almost back to a regular schedule, thank goodness. I didn’t wake up at 3 a.m. twiddling my thumbs and was out until at least 6:30 a.m. Happy dance!
Even though it is only spring, summer is very much in the air. There are so many things to do outside and festivals are popping up everywhere you turn. I’ve also noticed some traveling fairs taking up station around town and I’ve been dying to attend one. Ferris wheels have especially become an obsession of mine. When I was a child, even as a teenager and young adult, I was absolutely terrified of them. Just looking at one made me break out in a cold sweat. I have a memory of when I was about 9 or 10 and I was talked into riding a kiddie version at the state fair…I screamed so loud that they had to stop it to let me off. And it was only like 20 feet high. There was something about dangling in the air by a wire that really freaked me out. I have another terrible/funny memory of riding the sky buckets at Six Flags over Georgia as a teenager with a boy who thought it’d be funny to rock it back and forth. I am pretty sure I broke out into hysterics and had a major panic attack. But something has happened over the last year or two – I’m not afraid of ferris wheels anymore. Well, at least not too afraid to ride one. In fact I did my first ever solo ferris wheel ride last year at Bonnaroo and it has turned into one of my favorite life moments. I remember standing in line waiting for my turn thinking – I can do this, I can do this. I hopped on and rode it all the way up… and didn’t breathe for one second. When I reached the top I could see the extent of Bonnaroo in almost every direction, tents as far as the eye could see. The sun was setting as Mumford and Sons played in the distance. I did capture one of my rotations on video, which you can watch here. Such a perfect moment. I can’t wait to be at Bonnaroo again this year!
There aren’t too many things that scare me like that anymore, which made me want to write a list of the things that I’m still petrified of doing. Sky diving makes that list, as well as deep sea diving. I was careful to not include things that would also make me sad…just things that would scare the living daylights out of me. Adrenaline is an awesome thing. There is nothing like catching a natural high from taking a risk. Races give me that feeling as well, especially concurring a distance that I’ve never done before, or beating an old best time. Doing a full Ironman actually scares the living daylights out of me, which is why I’m hell-bent on doing one one day. It is hard to wrap your brain around doing such crazy distances for long periods of time. It is a test of physical and mental strength on every level. Just thinking about it makes me excited. This is not the year for that though, but I have a feeling in the next two to three years I will be giving it a shot. 2012 feels more like a year for relaxation for me….which I have no complaints about.
Last night I had dinner with an awesome group of ladies who I mostly interact with online – Sherri Davidson Ross, Christy Turnipseep and Jennifer Howell. When we do see each other in person, some sort of food or beverage is always involved. We went to a new restaurant in town called Little Donkey in Homewood (Central Avenue) which I’ve been hearing about for a few weeks now. Going OTM (over the mountain) is a special occasion, and this was well worth leaving the downtown area for. I know this is a big statement, but they could have the best margarita I’ve EVER tasted…no lie. It’s going to be hard to top for Cinco de Mayo, the bar has been set very high.
Some of my favorite conversations with friends revolve around the topic of happiness and authenticity. We shared ideas and thoughts, asked each other for advice and gave encouraging words. I especially enjoyed hearing about each person’s driving passion and what they were doing specifically to do more of what they love. It seems that no matter what age you are, we are constantly on a journey to find ourselves and to discover new things. Sometimes I look at others and see a piece of myself in them, and instantly have more clarity. It is easier for me to give advice or to offer solutions to someone else, so if I can identify with what they are saying on some level, then I get to apply that knowledge to my own life as well. Hanging out with like-minded people can be like holding up a mirror. By seeing them, you see a little more of your own world.
I have been thinking a lot about age lately, and how our bodies change. I’ve also thought about how that correlates with body size and physical appearance at any age. We’ve all be given a body that we didn’t necessarily ask for, and let’s be honest…some of us got luckier than others. But what does that even mean? Is any body better than another? Is someone who is overweight any less attractive than someone who isn’t? I don’t think so. I think it’s all about what’s on the inside – our souls and energy that we carry around from day to day. Our spirits are what make us attractive. It makes me happy to remember that.
Little Donkey
Do you ever dread going back to work after a long trip, expecting the overwhelming heaps of paper and messages that await you on your desk? I kind of felt this way yesterday, but surprisingly enough the second I stepped foot in my workplace I was overcome with warmth. I missed the faces that I am used to seeing everyday. I missed my morning routine of seeing certain people on my walk upstairs to the office. I was greeted by lots of hugs and questions about Greece, and many of them followed my photos on Instagram as they were happening. It reemphasized how fortunate I was that I got the opportunity to go in the first place. However, it is nice to be back. :)
I have been anticipating a swing in my mood since that’s what usually happens after a long trip. I can get a little down for a short period after the surges of adrenaline from being somewhere new have passed. It also happens because of exhaustion, since that’s my number one trigger for getting overly emotional about anything. However, it has been pretty clear sailing since being back. I am fairly tired, but everything else seems to be in check. I think it’s because I still have many things to look forward to and I am very happy with where I am in the process of several important things. Let’s just say it plainly – I am happy. Right now, this very second. That’s a very nice thing to be able to say.
Did any of you read the Hunger Games trilogy? I read all three while on my trip, and it is still going through my mind. I loved the first and second book, but the third really pissed me off. I am not going to give any spoilers away, but damn, that was a downer. I’ve heard mixed things about the movie, but I would love to see it anyway just to compare it to my own vision from the books. I think that is always an interesting thing to see, how another person interprets a book visually. I have assigned all my own characters, scenes, and expressions already. No wonder it is hard for a movie to live up to the experience of reading a story, because it is so highly personal. Sometimes you can be surprised though, so I am hoping that it lives up to my expectations.
Today I am going to share a few photos from Greece that weren’t on Instragram. (You can view those here.) These are not in any sort of order!
In Oia.
In Oia
Rachel and I on the beach in Oia!
Friends of the bride and groom.
Mom boarding the plane back to Athens from Santorini.
Paper James going for a dip.
Paper James like Mythos beer.
Gelato!
Hot tub Paper James
Ballin' Paper James
Watching the wedding.
Mom & Dad
I am back from GREECE!! Thank you all for understanding my lack of writing while I was gone. I am back on a regular schedule now – Monday through Friday as of this very moment.
If I’d known that I could tag my photos on Instagram and they would appear all on one pretty page online… then I would have done it before I left!! But alas, I just figured it out yesterday thanks to a certain James Martin. You can view all of my Greece photos by clicking here! There was also a whole set of photos that I took with the paper James (PJ)…so I will post a few of those in tomorrow’s entry.
Travel changes you. I feel like I’m an upgraded version of the person that I was before I left. We live in bubbles from day-to-day in our normal lives: our work bubble, our social bubble, our food bubble, our experience bubble. When we go somewhere new, we pop them. You learn that life can have so many different variations and paths. It is interesting to see what someone chooses to do who lives halfway across the world. A lot of the hotel workers where we stayed in Santorini only live there 6 months out of the year, and for the other 6 months some of them travel or go back to there respective homes in other countries or parts of Greece. And it’s not like they were super young, either…it is just a lifestyle they choose to have. I admire that. There is something to say about permanence though, and growing a life from the ground up. I enjoy having some sort of normalcy and routine, but maybe that’s because it’s all I’ve ever known.
One person in particular stands out from my trip more than anyone else – and that was meeting my new brother-in-law’s sister Jennifer from Wisconsin. We had never even met before our rendezvous in Greece, and we hit it off instantly. We ran across the Santorini vineyards, drank wine, ate wonderful food, and overall acted like we didn’t have a care in the world. We also experienced a similar bonding moment together when our two siblings married each other. There was an unspoken sense of happiness, nostalgia and overwhelming emotion when we got back to our hotel room that night. Neither of us said much, just understood exactly what the other was feeling. Big life moments like that make you realize that time is indeed always passing by. You live for the moment when a loved one gets everything they deserve, but you also know that once you’ve experienced those big chapters they aren’t likely to happen again. I miss seeing my baby sister Rachel as a child, what a sweet little angel she always was. Now she is a grown woman with a life of her own. We are only left with memories of what used to be. There are so many wonderful moments ahead too, I know this. More memories to make with my sister and her new husband as a family. But I will never forget getting to fix her hair and doing her make-up for one of the most important days of her life. :) I will remember that forever.
Rachel and I on her wedding day.
Today is the day! In just a few hours we depart for Greece, and I couldn’t be more excited. :) Last night I got my last good run in with Vero, as I’m not certain I will do any running while on my trip. We joined a group that meets every Monday evening at 6 for five miles….and they kicked my butt. It’s not that I can’t do the distance, it was the speed at which they did it. Vero can join almost anyone’s pace and be ok, but I have to work up to it. I am glad to report though that I finished without losing our small group and at a speed that I haven’t attempted in probably over a year. Yay me!!
I don’t know about the rest of the world, but it feels like fall here in our little corner of the south. There is something romantic about cool air, especially in the evenings. It feels like festival season. Everyone has a little extra bounce to their step and a smile on their face. I can tell that my cat likes it as well, she’s been getting up extra early to attack my bedroom rug every morning. She’ll start at one end of the room, get a running start, pounce on the rug, then slide on it until it’s all bundled up in a corner. :) She also loves my transparent curtain where my clothes are. She’ll hide behind it like I can’t see her, then attack my feet as I walk by. Sometimes I actually don’t see her and she scares the living crap out of me. Ha! She is my little friend.
Next time you hear from me, I will be in a far away land. Hold the fort down until I return!
Post run wine with Vero!
It’s Greece week!!! In no time at all I will be on a plane heading towards an unknown place of the world, full of new discoveries and experiences. It’s hard to believe, actually, as I’ve tried not too think about it too much…and it has literally snuck up on me. I find that I enjoy trips more if I don’t plan or overly anticipate them. Our flight has two layovers on the way there in Atlanta and then Paris before arriving in Athens. Once there we will spend the night, then fly out to Santorini the next morning for two and a half days. Then we make the same route back on the way home. It is going to be a quick trip, but also an amazing one. I plan to blog everyday while I am gone though it may be at unpredictable times!
2012 has already been full of fantastic weekends, and they seem to just be getting better and better. The amazing James from Atlanta came in town on Saturday to spend a little over 24 hours with me in Birmingham. I got to show him some fun stuff around town, and we went non-stop until the moment he left. It’s fun to rediscover some of my favorite things with someone experiencing them for the first time. For his first visit (outside of the documentary) I took him to The Garage Cafe, What’s on 2nd?, Sloss Furnaces, Avondale Park, Avondale Brewery, Avo & Dram, Ollie Irene, The J Clyde, Chez Lulu, and Railroad Park for the big community picnic. All great choices! There were many other places worth seeing that were left off of the list that will be saved for the next trip. We have a great little magic city that is a lot of fun to show off.
My friend Micah sent me a link to an article last week that said 70% of people over the age of 40 voted 33 as the best year of their life so far. Isn’t that interesting? I just turned 33 about 2 months ago, and so far so great. I’ve always been a big fan of being the age that I am at any point, as you learn so many important things with the passage of time. Going backwards would mean undoing too many things and lessons that are crucial to making us who we are. So, yes, 33 is currently my favorite age. But next year, 34 will take the top spot. During my trip to Greece I plan to make some long-term goals for the next 20 years or so and start visualize myself at different ages in the future. It’s weird, and amazing, to be in my 30′s…as a woman there are many mixed feelings associated with it. I’ve always wanted to be this age from the time I was a teenager, as I knew that I would be in a great place in my career, emotionally, and physically. But now that I’m here, I think time is going by much too fast. I wonder why that is? Maybe it is because I think about it too much. The most inspiring people to me are the ones in their 60′s, 70′s & 80′s who don’t let the outside of their bodies dictate how they feel on the inside. I love seeing an older person participate in a longer distance triathlon, or out laughing and being active in any sort of setting. I also enjoy seeing people past the “age of retirement” still doing the things they love most. I don’t think life should turn off at any point, until you are forced to do so. It sucks that our bodies have to age, but it is just a part of the journey. A lifetime can go by at the blink of an eye, so it is important to live as much as we can every single day.
Henna at Naked Art
The beer sampler at Avondale Brewery
Ollie Irene! One of my favorite restaurants in town.
James
Late night drawings.
Brunch at Chez Lulu - oatmeal with olive oil and boiled egg. Yum!!!
Sangria made by Vero - white wine with LaCriox and fresh fruit.
Earth Day community picnic at Railroad Park!
Will and I need shade.
Ended the weekend with some of my favorite people.
