Training

Well...I'm at it again.  I have another goal.  Well more like two goals.  I know.  I know.  I seem to like my goals.  The last few I have actually been able to finish and I SO SO SO love the feeling of completing a goal.  So now I will get down to it. 

My two goals: 

1.  Run a 5k at the end of November.  (Hot Buttered Run) 

• Yes I am doing it for the Rum at the of the run.

2.  Run/Walk 150 miles by New Years Eve. 

• This one will be harder as I haven't done too many miles yet but I do great when it comes to pressure.   I definitely think that I do it too myself leaving things until the end and then work my butt off to complete the goal.  Maybe one day I might learn and spread my goal out over the actual length of time but until then I will just keep on moving forward.

 Well we will see how it goes.  I will let you know how the 5k goes. 

Working Out

Well I have been working out for the last month and 5 days.  Bill and I went on vacation last week and I worked out everyday that I needed too.  I either jogged/walked, hiked, or rode a bike (which hurt - the seat was not comfortable).  I'm so happy that I didn't let getting out of my routine stop what I'm trying to accomplish.  I'm feeling more healthy by the day.  I'm hoping in a few weeks I will be able to jog the 3 miles to do a 5k if I so choose.  Getting excited towards becoming a step healthier.

Can't wait for Hawaii!!!!!  Only 2 months away!!!!

Ramping Up

Well, we got back from vacation and our yard work has definitely begun.  I hurt in places that haven't hurt for such a long time but our yard is starting to look so good. 

Beginning

 

Week Two

 

Now

Bill had the brilliant idea that the dirt we dug up would be the base of the raised flower bed in the back yard.  That way we don't have to spend very much on top soil.  I'm happy that he even thought about it.  I definitely wasn't.  My mind didn't go to the "where do we put the dirt" part.  

More pictures will follow of course.  We have 7 weeks before Bill's fathers surprise party and that's the goal that we are hoping to reach for our yard to look presentable and nice.

The Healthier Life

So goals...yes the talk of goals.  Isn't it exciting.

My goal is to start loving myself and taking the time for me to work out.  

You would think that loving yourself is easy but I find that it is by far the hardest thing to do.  You would also think that taking the time to work out would be as easy as that sounds considering I just have a husband but it still takes a lot of time and effort to remind myself that I'm worth it, that it will be good for me, and that I will feel great afterwards.  

So Working out.  Yep.  On a regular basis.

  

I have a plan that I have been sticking with so far.  Now I'm still at the beginning stages - Two Weeks but I'm feeling good about this.   I am alternating a couch to 5k jog and a Jillian Michael's Strength workout (weights).  I also even worked out when I was down in LC staying in a hotel.  That is a big step for me to have actually done it.  I usually give up when my schedule changes but I'm so proud of myself.  It is now just the keeping up with it even when my schedule changes.

OK I CAN DO THIS!!!! 

Front Yard

I didn't do this.  I will say that.  Bill, my wonderfully awesome husband did.  He worked so hard today weeding the front flower bed by the street, mowing the lawn, fixing the bell tower at the church.  We had a talk and we have come to the conclusion that we need to get our priorities in row.  So we, both of us are going to start working more and more on the yard.  I'm glad that everything is slowly coming together and it's beginning to look like a real yard again.  One that people actually care about.  It's starting to make me happy to come home and have a nice yard to look at.  We still have a lot of work to do but one day at a time.

Lilac Tree

 This is my Lilac tree.  Before the maintenance. 

After the weeding.

Yes there are still piles.  I am a half at a time kind of weeder.  I weed and then eventually I get to actually cleaning up the weeds.  Yes there are still weeds sitting in the front flower bed to be scooped up.  I'm going to clean it all up tomorrow as long as it's not raining.  Anyway, the next step that we are going to do here is redo the rock work.  I'm going to straighten out the blocks and make it even.  I'm thinking about putting another row of blocks up but we will see what it looks like after I straighten them out.  I also want to plant some bulbs and get some color under it to spice things up.

More to come...

Yard Projects - Front Flower Bed

 BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Surprisingly the one part of gardening that I love is pruning the fern every year.  I absolutely love doing it every year.  It's the one thing that I never gripe about it.  So far I have done this in the last week.  I'm proud of myself.  I still have to put the weeds in a wheel barrow and dump them behind the shop but I'm proud that I have at least done this much.  It's better then nothing.  I'm happy that this are getting done in the yard.  Bill is going to get top soil for the front flower beds so soon it will look really nice.  I can't wait.  I have a goal to get the yard in great shape by August.  So you know what I will be doing for the next 3 months.  It will be totally worth it though!!

The Yard Before The Work

So these are the pictures of our yard as it is right now.  

"The Before"

 Yes it is quite sad but as the spring and summer progresses it will start to turn beautiful.  

Well with that said I'm going to go out and start the weeding pulling.

Gardening

This spring/summer I am finally doing it.  I'm starting a garden.  Now your views of gardens and mine are probably complete opposites.  Most gardeners actually have gardening beds in their backyards caked full of many vegetables and/or fruits (aka...my moms).  My idea of gardening is using pots and planting only a few things.  This year I'm trying butternut squash, zucchini, and green onions.  We will see exactly how this goes.  I also bought a couple of packages of sunflowers.  I'm super excited about all of this because I have been talking about it for the last few years.

I'm one of those girls who hates working outdoors.  I blame it on the fact that I'm lazy and I just don't like plants very much.  I love the beauty that you can achieve from gardening but I hate the act.  I just don't find much pleasure in it.  I also blame my younger years.  When I was 11 my family moved to an acre lot that was completely overgrown so started the 2 year demolition phase of my life.  It was torture and awful. 

I am definitely the variety of girls that loves to clean the house.  I love to do anything in the house.  I would rather clean the toilets and dust the window sills then work outdoors but this year I'm excited to finally start something easy maintenance hence the gardening in pots.

It will also be nice to actually have a yard that looks good with lots of flowers and the beautifulness (yes i know it's not an actual word) that comes with it .  We both have put other needs before the needs of our yard. 

But, this year 2014 with Bill's help we will be cleaning up our yard with the hopes of it looking great by the time August comes around.  So here it goes.  The first experiences by myself of gardening.  I will take pictures of the progress.