10 Reasons Why I'm PANICKING

In case you haven’t been paying attention, I’m running a marathon in 2 days.

I said, a MARATHON. 26.2 miles. That is a lot of miles. 

So, in no particular order... 

REASONS WHY I'M PANICKING 

(all caps is appropriate cause here, PANIC.)

1. That’s really far.

2. That’s a really long time.

3. It’s going to be hot(ter than what I’ve been training in).

4. That’s really far.

5. I have not given the oh-so-vital marathon playlist ANY thought until right now. 

So dear Lord, SUGGESTIONS PLEASE.

6. What the hell am I going to wear? 

I am under explicit and somewhat rude orders not to wear black this year. Something about it being hard to see last year? Whatever y'all. Also speaking of running in black, THIS from this RW article is the story of my life.

Too funny. Now back to my list.

8. That’s really far.

9. I'm scared.

10. That’s really far.

I'm going to continue panicking but at the same time move on to other important things like food. Today at work, we had cupcakes. VANILLA BEAN cupcakes. It was the best day.

Please notice how I am without sleeves, in FEBRUARY. I had lunch OUTSIDE without sleeves today.

I'm just gonna let that sink in.

Oh speaking of lunch.

OTB chicken taco salad. And yeah, I ate almost the entire bowl. Best part.

In case you haven’t heard, Victoria’s secret just introduced another piece of swimwear designed to make you hate yourself.

There are no words except for NO, NUH UH, and NEVER.

And lastly, today, something happened that made me stop and rethink who I am and where I'm at in life. Let me explain.Yesterday I got the most adorable baby shower invitation for a friend who is expecting a soon-to-be-perfect-like-her-mama little baby girl. I went online today to snag a few things off her registry. And when I typed in my note include with the gift, THIS is the message I got:

TRUE STORY.

Since when is telling someone they are going to be a kick-ass parent inappropriate? 

I do not understand. 

 

QUIT JUDGING ME BABIES R'US.

Being simultaneously hilarious and inappropriate makes me hungry. So after work I ran some errands, came home, did this quick workout (with a few tweaks), and then threw together some dinner.

Chicken, TJ's black bean dip, guac, lettuce, and salsa on a whole wheat tortilla with some veggies.

YUM. I still can't get enough of that black bean dip.

After work tomorrow I'm going to head over to the Cowtown Expo to pickup my race packet, and then it will all become even MORE real/SCARY. 

Two more days!

LOVE&HUGS,

Nat

5 Current Favorites

1. Humans of New York

If you’re not following Humans of New York on Instagram, or you haven’t liked their page on Facebook, you really should. Allison got me the HONY book for Christmas and following those accounts has increased my quality of life by at least 7%, I’m sure of it.

2. Herbal Essences Naked Clarifying Conditioner

THIS CONDITIONER! I read an article on Yahoo about how it is the poor man's Wen. I'm so poor that I can't even make that comparison, but I can tell you how incredible it is. I have really really terrible hair. It's dry, frizzy, unruly, thick, damaged and all the other negative words you can think of, but this conditioner is doing WONDERS. I love how it makes my hair smell good all day long and it makes it so soft and shiny, and I feel like I'm getting my hair "clean" without stripping it of all it's natural oily goodness.

3. This NEW Target Sports Bra

(Quit laughing at how high I wear my shorts. I have no excuses. That's just how I like them.)

It's not often that I am grateful for my flat chest, but the fact that I can wear any and every cheap sports bra without any issues is one of those times. And you just can't beat a Target sports bra. I'm obsessed with this green. It makes me look way tanner than I am, which I am all about. I snagged this bad boy on clearance for $8 last week and I wish I'd bought 100 of them, because it's the greatest.

4. TJ's Spicy Black Bean Dip

I hunger impulse bought this dip and some tortilla chips at Trader Joe's last night and may or may not have made a serious dint in the jar on the way back home. Trust me when I say, it is YUM.

5. Crickets - by Drop City Yacht Club

This song is my ABSOLUTE new favorite. I downloaded it the second I heard it and it has been on repeat ever since.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, to experience at least one of these five, before the week is over. So click on a link or make a quick trip to Target or TJ's and I promise you won't be sorry.

----------------------------------------------------

Anyways, in Wednesday news:

AM Workout - Bootcamp, UPPER BODY OW (not to be confused with the sexy "oww owww." No, I mean like actually OUCH. As in pain.)

PM Workout- 4 miles @ 9:20 pace with my favorite running coach 

And then dinner with Mr. Fiance.

Then we were supposed to work on wedding stuff, but since there wasn't an episode of New Girl to catch up on, Taylor made me watch the first ever episode of The Walking Dead on Netflix.

I've never really understood the whole zombie thing before, but I totally get it now. ZOMBIES ARE TERRIFYING and this shit is no joking matter. It makes complete and perfect sense to have a solid plan of action when this whole thing blows up in our faces.

Anyways, I am now leery to open any and all doors, but we have made an official, albeit, hasty zombie apocalypse safe escape plan. So, the night wasn't a total bust.

Happy Hump Day Y'all!

LOVE&HUGS,

Nat

Fake Holidays & Rebel Wilson

Do you ever find yourself in a terrible mood but you have no idea why? That was me today. 

I realized exactly how grumpy I was when I got home from work this evening and caught myself calling my mailbox an asshole. Yes, my MAILBOX. I know, I know. A record low in ridiculousness. Um, here is a grumpy mirror selfie to prove it.

So to boost my mood, I dragged my crabby ass over to Central, AKA the happiest place on earth (for those of us that can't afford Disney Land). 

Oh, how I love this place.

And then over to TJ's, which is the second happiest place on earth. 

(Third place goes to my bed, if you were wondering.)

Then while I was sitting in traffic making the Instagram rounds, I saw this:

I'M SORRY SAY WHAT!

And PS if you aren't following @efitmama on Instagram, you really should. She is super badass and makes me want to lift all the heavy things.

So seeing as how it's a REAL (fake) holiday, I popped the cork on a bottle of TJ's pinot grigio and treated myself to my favorite pesto tortellini. Just as delicious today as it was last year. 

Today (pre-bad mood) I googled "Rebel Wilson funny" and oh, the treasures I found. Because I love you all so desperately I'm willing to share my findings/this public information with you. 

I just have so much appreciation for all the words that come out of her mouth.

In workout news, I got absolutely no physical activity today, unless you count the hour I spent hacking away at foam board with a box cutter at work for reasons I cannot disclose, or the 45 minutes I spent meandering around Central Market at a more than leisurely pace. So I am more than ready for bootcamp tomorrow morning and a good run tomorrow night. 

FOUR DAYS until Cowtown Marathon! #yikes

LOVE&HUGS,

Nat

Cheers to 5 years!

Kids, when you are old, you start to do things like plan your anniversary dinner around happy hour. 

Cheap AND early = easier on the wallet and the bedtime. 

Hey stud!

Blue's spicy edamame is the number two reason I keep coming back. 

What's number one? 

THESE LETTUCE WRAPS.

So much peanutty deliciousness I can hardly stand it. 

And you can't really beat a $3 margarita. 

This is the second margarita I've had in three days. I could get used to this. 

And the piece de resistance...

Spicy tuna, crunchy blue, and hot popper. Too yummy. 

Top it all off with a McAlisters chocolate chip cookie and Friends reruns and you have found me in my happiest of places. 

Happy 5 years Taylor! I am blessed to call you mine. 

LOVE&HUGS,

Nat

Saturdays are rough.

After my run yesterday I was forced to enjoy a patio margarita

and two hours of good conversation with my friend Morgan.

 

My life is pretty rough.

 

 

Talking makes me hungry.

 

Mango chicken salad, problem solved. SO MUCH DELICIOUSNESS.

 

My friend Madysen and her boyfriend have six week old puppies. So I spent the evening cuddling puppies while simultaneously holding my ground with a firm "No" to this face.

 

 

And I managed to snag this video of him trying to manage all three puppies.

 

 

I mean, honestly.

 

Heart breaking. Pieces everywhere.

Tomorrow I celebrate 5 YEARS (also known as half a decade or one kindergartener) with this guy!

 

 

And, just SEVEN DAYS until Cowtown Marathon!

I think it's gonna be a good week!

 

LOVE&HUGS,

 

Nat

 

Curing a Valentine's Day Hangover*

*Sugar hangover, that is.

Happy Saturday! Sundays are actually my favorite day of the week, but Saturday is pretty fab too. 

You know what I love about valentines day? Chocolate EVERYWHERE. For lunch Friday, fave coworker and I headed to the mall in search of chocolate covered strawberries. Once we learned that they were charging EIGHT DOLLARS FOR ONE STRAWBERRY, we were all "PSSHHH" so we took our eight buck business next door for lunch. 

 

BJ's Mahi-mahi tacos = AMAZING.

Afterwards, we made a pit stop at Great American Cookie where sugar addiction is actually affordable for the average middle class. I love you, GAC. 

 

(Stop whatever you are doing right now and head to your local GAC and try a domino cookie.

They are the bomb diggity.)

Last night was spent with Taylor, his roommate Jordan, and his fiancé Morgan (AKA three of my favorites) wandering around the entire metroplex searching for literally anywhere to eat. Turns out if you were hungry at all on Valentine's Day you are SOL. You should have made your reservation back when the first Twilight movie came out. Result? 

 

BURGERS AND BEER 

#winning

Understandably, we celebrated by eating 683 peanut butter patties. Kidding. Maybe.

I promise I have bottoms on. They are just really really short.
NOT naked. Just to clarify.

This morning we slept in a little, and headed to Taylor's tux fitting, but made a pit stop at my favorite place.

 

 

Mr. Fancy Pants Groom.

Then Taylor headed off to golf, and then I headed off to my favorite sure fire way to get rid of that V-Day sugar induced hangover...

RUN!

 

Y'ALL. Today was my LAST weekend taper run before Cowtown Marathon!

HOLYFREAKINGCOW.

 

Now I'm off to enjoy this crazy 65 degree weather with a little patio day drinking.

Don't be jealous.

 

LOVE&HUGS,

 

Nat