Smiles Guaranteed

If you are upset about the fact that Louisville beat Michigan, or continually disappointed in Kim K’s pregnancy fashion, or if you’re just plain pissed off that we still have another 24 hours to go until the weekend, I have just the thing for you:

SO MUCH BETTER THAN PUPPIES!

I mean if that doesn’t fill you with the warm fuzzy feelings, I’m going to make arrangements to haul you off to a laboratory and have you tested IMMEDIATELY, because there is no way your heart is still beating. I really believe that stumbling upon that picture on google has changed my life so I had to share it with everyone I know.

  

In other news:

Today I had a healthy day. Every now and then that happens. I did a pretty normal breakfast of English muffin and a green machine Naked juice, then about 12 I had a banana, and then about 1:30 I had the BEST SALAD EVER for lunch. Lately I’m a huge huge fan of the lean cuisine salad toppers. I’ve tried all but the Asian one, which I guarantee I will be trying next. Today I had the cranberry chicken which has definitely been my favorite so far. It had chicken, dried cranberries, broccoli, red onions, yellow carrots, whole grains, and crunchy sesame sticks with raspberry cabernet vinaigrette, for 280 CALORIES! I piled it on top of a massive plate of romaine lettuce and proceeded to eat lunch at my desk and make really inappropriate moaning noises, because it was just that good.

Salad posing next to the massive stack of work I am choosing to ignore. 

So delicious and satisfying that I didn't even have to dig into my m&m stash afterwards, and that’s a big deal. 

After work I headed to the gym, got in a good 5 mile tempo run (9:05, 8:41, 8:06, 8:41, 8:41) and then topped off my workout with this quick Booty Circuit from Brooke’s Beach Body Challenge going on over at Running in Heels. I also did a few push-ups but they are so pathetic that I don’t really even count them.

True dat.

For dinner I really wanted some eggs so I scrambled a couple up, with two slices of bacon and a zuchini/carrot/green bean medley.

One of these things is not like the other...

If you are thinking that those vegetables seem out of place, you would be right. But I don't have any pancake mix and vegetables sounded good. Gourmet FAIL. Oh well. The biggest news of the day is that it is now 9pm and I haven't consumed one single ounce of chocolate. That's a big deal for the girl who firmly believes that every meal should be accompanied by two desserts. VICTORY Y'ALL! But tomorrow is the weekend which means donuts for breakfast and fried everything for lunch and dinner.

And in running news:

Last night I went to pick up my race packet for the VOVFW 5k this Saturday. Packet pickup was at Luke's Locker which provided me with an excuse to gawk at/drool over the massive and beautiful selection of running shoes. But I'll actually be replacing my shoes in a couple of weeks, so it wasn't a total waste of time. I figured now is a good time for a new pair, since I'm going to start training for the next half marathon the first week of May. It's hard to believe that I've put over 300 miles on mine since I got them for Christmas. Oh how time flies. I remember when they were just a little baby pair that were so bright and clean, and smelled like fresh rubbere. Now the white has turned to a really questionable gray and they smell like death. Yikes.

As far as the 5k goes, I really don't have any goals. I honestly sort of forgot that I'd signed up for this one, and am running it alone (Taylor will be my only lone spectator) so I haven't given this race a whole lot of thought. Since it's so short, I guess I'll just go out there and run it as fast as I can, but I'm really thinking this one will just be for fun.

And the best news:

TOMORROW IS FRIDAY! Which means only eight more work hours until I get to spend the weekend with my favorite person!

And now some wisdom from Kid President:

Anyone else racing this weekend?

How often do you change out your running shoes?

LOVE&HUGS,

Nat

 

We're probably going to need couples therapy

I have relationship woes.

Except he lied. He didn't eat all the guacamole. 

Let the record show, I don't appreciate that type of humor.

Hey. Do you want to see my super professional “I went to the rangers game last night and had so much fun and got home so late that showering became less of a priority and more of an optional occurrence and PS I still smell like a ballpark” Monday hairdo? I thought you might.

Greasy is the new sexy.

It’s also really cool to take selfies at your desk. Says me.

I'm really bad at chronological blogging so I decided to show you pictures of my today and now I'm ready to show you pictures of my yesterday. It's really confusing, I know, but just try to keep up. 

Since I already gave you at look at my Saturday, all that's left is Sunday, which was the Rangers game!

It's always really fun when you spent 40 bucks on a VS Rangers racer back tank to wear on a predicted sunny and eighty degree opening weekend game day and then have to wear your ugly black jacket the entire day because it's cloudy and the wind is blowing approximately 857309847238 miles an hour which means you are COLD and throwing a fit. Luckily we already have plans for another game in a few weeks, so I may have overreacted. Just a teeny tiny bit.

The game was an absolute blast. We got to the ballpark around 4 and spent the next few hours tailgating until the game at 7. There is nothing more 'Merican than burgers and beer at the ballpark. 

Anyways we had a ton of fun and got home really really late which resulted in the aforementioned really sexy Monday hair. You're welcome, office. Today was actually an extension of my weekend because I took a half day to spend some time with my BFF/Bride-to-be who is getting ready to spend the next three weeks in Fiji. So we met up for a long lunch full of wedding planning talk and fro-yo.

I'm really proud of today's fro-yo concoction. I cannot get over the delicious sea-salted caramel pretzel. Add  strawberries, Reeses pieces, cookie dough, peanuts, chocolate chips and sprinkles. BOOM. Deliciousness. I'm offering lessons in creating the perfect fro-yo/topping combinations. They are free except you have to pay for all of my fro-yo. So, budget accordingly. 

After awesome best friend time I headed over to Target to grab a few groceries and on my way to the checkout line my eagle eyes spotted THIS:

WHAT!???!!!?! Easter was SEVEN DAYS AGO! What kind of world do we live in where there is still clearance Easter candy a WEEK LATER?! I am ashamed. Obviously there was a crisis and my help was needed, so I may have made it home with some Reese's eggs. Which I am convinced taste way more delicious than regular Reese's cups. But I'm not going to try to convince you because that would require me sharing my stash and I am not down with that.

Today was exciting for another reason, it was Taylor's mom's birthday! Everybody say "Happy Birthday April!" Thanks, y'all are sweet and I am sure she heard you. So this evening, we headed over to his parent's for a delicious birthday dinner and celebration. 

April is a really really good gift giver and every time she gives me a present so this year I followed her lead and went with a Texas theme for her birthday treats. 

Tater's family is all about the birthday plate.

I love desserts with fruit toppings because they equate to "healthy snack" in my head. 

I've been so busy that I almost forgot I have a 5k this weekend. Duh. So this week will consist of two running days, pathetic attempts at cross-training, and some new Yoga for runners moves I've been needing to try out. 

LOVE&HUGS,

Nat

Saturday Snapshots and an Ice Massage

I successfully slept in until 9:33 today. VICTORY!

What you don't wake up and immediately take a picture of your lock screen? Well that's weird.

I feel like I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in the past two weeks. So that was awesome.

Then I got really really pissed off because I looked in the mirror and I had pretty much PERFECT hair and of course that would happen on a Saturday morning when all I'm going to do is go run. Please tell me how come Monday-Friday I wake up with Chewbaca/AnneHathawayPrincessDiaries hair and have to spend an hour making myself presentable. PLEASE TELL ME.

I really wish I was kidding.

So like I said earlier, random and semi-miraculous good hair day really pissed me off because all I did this morning was go out for my run. Which was PERF.

A really nice ten miles complete with perfect 70 degree weather. I was really afraid going into it because I'm still dealing with shin splints and calf pain. I know it's really my fault that they haven't improved because I'm not being good about icing and stretching and I'm really only remembering to do it on those days that they really bother me. And I'm sucking at cross training. All this to say that Thursday's short four mile run was spent feeling like someone was stabbing me in my shins the entire time. Anyways, getting ready for today's run I spent a half an hour stretching and foam rolling trying to avoid any pain. And what do you know it freakin' worked. Shocking right? I know. And then I figured since that worked out so well I should probably be good and do all the responsible post running stuff:

That's me being afraid of the ice. Ice is scary people.

Because of these annoying shin splints, I've been obsessively googling hoping to find anything for shin splints that I hadn't already tried, which is where I came across ice massage. It sounds fancy but really it's just clever. All you did is get a paper cup or two, fill them with water, and freeze them. Then once they are frozen you peel away all but the bottom part of the cup so you can massage yourself while simultaneously icing. It's kindove awesome and I definitely recommend trying it. It would be even more awesome if you had someone doing it for you while you were eating candy but I was flying solo today so I had to do all the work myself. BOOOO.

Then tonight was DATE NIGHT. 

I tried really hard to get Tater to take a picture with me but everytime I pointed the camera at him he covered his face with his hat. Super charming. So instead I took a picture of my dinner. Which was delicious.

Mango-chile chicken from Chilis. Thanks for the gift cards Easter bunny.

And the rest of the night will be spent pretending to care about Final Four. Spoiler alert: Whoever wins, I don't care. 

Rangers game tomorrow!

LOVE&HUGS,

Nat

All of these things are exciting.

Bet you can't guess what I had for lunch today. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Okay I can't take it anymore.

ONION RINGS!!!!!!!!!!

With a side of....nothing. Well ranch, but I wouldn't categorize it as a side item. 

Let's talk about some more AWESOME things. 

Today was opening day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We really really really love Texas Rangers baseball around here. 

Pretty much the greatest place on earth.

I will admit wholeheartedly that before Taylor, I didn't really care a whole lot about baseball. And by "a whole lot" I mean not at all/not even a little bit. I loved beer and ballpark hot dogs but that was pretty much it. But when you start dating a baseball player you sort of develop a love for the game whether you want to or not. 

COLLEGE DAYS I WANT YOU BACK! Also Taylor is cute.

So today I was stuck in the office whining and being stuck inside while apparently every single person I know was enjoying a perfect 70 degree opening day at the ballpark. (I know this because facebook is RUDE and was rubbing it in my face.) However, Taylor and I are going to Sunday night’s game and I’m EXCITED with a capital E. I mean SO excited that I somehow justified paying $40+ for another Victoria’s Secret Rangers tank top to add to my collection of about a trillion rangers tees. I’m excessive.

I would like to point out that HOLY CRAP 61 DAYS!

 

How I'm picturing this vacation: 

Totally kidding. Unless those grapes were french fries. 

It should really be implied that both of those champagne classes are mine.

And how Taylor is picturing this vacation:

But we really are going to ride the train through the mountains. Promise.

Lately plain Lays potato chips are my favey. 

Healthy is a lifestyle at which I am FAILING.

That is pretty much all I've got tonight folks.

Except for...

57 days until my birthday! 

I am thinking that this year all I want is an eighteen wheeler full of thin mints.

And now for some obligatory thin mint humor.

LOVE&HUGS,

Nat

Endorphins and Easter Candy

I should really be doing laundry and making my weekly run to Trader Joe's because I have no clothes and no food but it was such a great three day weekend and so many wonderful things happened that I just have to share. So when I show up hungry and naked to work tomorrow you will know why. 

Friday started off really well because I slept in until 8:45. For some reason I have completely lost my ability to sleep late when I'm sleeping by myself. It just isn't possible. Mostly because 97% of the time my bladder wakes me up at 6:30. That's embarrassing, but it's true. Hey hold on for a second, I have to pee again.

Okay I'm back. So Friday I slept in a little bit, then went for a run because I was stuck at work late on Thursday so instead of running I decided to eat a pizza and then go to sleep.

So after my run I did approximately 12 girl pushups and then called it a workout. I was jamming out to Bon Jovi while I was doing my pushups, and completely forgot I'd left my music blaring so when I hopped out of my shower I thought for a minute there was a really talented attacker in my apartment and panicked. Then I realized it was just "Livin' on a Prayer" and my heart rate returned to normal. So that was Friday day.

Friday evening I met up with Taylor and we headed over to his parents house to have a nice little dinner with them. I really love them and it had been way way too long since we'd seen them so that was wonderful and delicious and it's probably good we don't see them more often because they feed us too well and we would most likely be like 100 pounds heavier than we currently are. 

We spent the rest of the night relaxing and goofing off with his roommates playing made up card games and ridiculous trivia. I may have cheated. 

And then we thought it would be funny to put a tie on Jax. 

Actually I'm pretty sure that was my idea.

A tie. On a dog. Funny right? No? Ok. 

Saturday morning we had no trouble sleeping in until ELEVEN. Of course I woke up early to pee and then went back to bed, but that's really beside the point. And then of course, donuts happened. Weekend breakfast at Shipley's is almost like a reflex now.

It goes like this: Wake up, NEED SHIPLEY'S NOW. 

Cake donuts are my new fave.

I have to tell y'all a secret. 95% of the time Taylor pretends that he can't stand me. 

This  is what I get when I beg him to take a picture with me.
Friggin' Spock hand.

But then he buys me donuts, takes me shopping, spends the afternoon watching Forrest Gump with me while I cry (if FG doesn't make you cry there is seriously something wrong with you), and then feeds me Saltgrass for dinner. Tater, sweetheart, you aren't fooling anyone. 

I'm aware that you already saw the donuts, but I can't help what I instagram people. 

So that was Saturday. 

Sunday we woke up bright and early (eh, is 9am early?) and went to church for an awesome Easter Sunday service. Then we celebrated the resurrection with lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of food.

Seriously, it's what Jesus would have wanted. 

If you are thinking that you don't see any vegetables on that table then you are dead WRONG mister.

That is a whole dish full of green bean casserole. 

If that isn't the most Southern Easter dinner you've ever seen.
BBQ brisket and fried okra? OMG Texas you are the best. 

Then it was picture time. 

Remember when I gave you insight into a typical Mimi conversation? Well I am kindove obsessed with Mimi and she might be my most favorite person in the whole entire world. 

This is Mimi's permanent stance:

Hunched over with her wind up disposable camera glued to her face capturing some super unimportant moment. 

Like this one for instance.  

Crazy lady actually made us pose holding a plant.

You cannot make this stuff up folks.

I keep telling her that one day her face is going to get stuck like that but she doesn't listen to me. 

See? I wasn't kidding about the wind up disposable camera. 

Favorite people. 

Yeah that's me holding my belly because it was FULL. But look how cute my brother is. 

Oh there's that boy again.

Also apparently Mimi forgot my name, because my Easter egg looked like this:

WTF Mimi?!?!!! She says her hand slipped but I don't know if I buy it.

JK Mimi I love you and I love my semi-personalized boiled egg. 

If you are still reading this then you must really like me so give yourself a pat on the back because this is really long and you've obviously developed some super human blog reading endurance. I applaud you. Also I'm almost done.

After the food coma, we headed back home to Fort Worth. I'd really wanted to squeeze in an 8 mile run this weekend and had pretty much decided it wasn't going to happen but the weather was just way too nice and I so I went out for a run. 

Best decision EVER.

My calf pain/tightness/shin splints have been bothering me pretty much always lately. Which makes running less fun and more about distracting myself from the pain. It's been awhile since I've had a really enjoyable run. So I knew that if I was going to have fun with this run, I was going to have to slow the heck down. So I did. And the result was a perfect, pain-free run. 

I think I've been so caught up in wanting to get faster and faster all the time that I've forgotten the benefits of a comfortable run. 

I needed someone to remind me that every run is not a race. And I need to do a better job with incorporating a slower paced long run into every week. 

But now I won't be able to sleep because I'm hopped up on endorphins and Easter candy. Oops. 

LOVE&HUGS,

Nat