My little bits just finished up her first year of preschool (PS1) last week, and just started her second year (PS2) this week.  Her first year at her school was nothing short of amazing, and I'm so happy with our decision to start her in the program last August.  Her teachers for PS1 were the best, so I wanted to give them a little something to show our appreciation and gratitude for all of the love, time, and patience they poured into our girl over the past 12 months.  I wanted to keep it simple, and give them something that they could appreciate and actually use, and eventually decided on a small succulent arrangement and a Starbucks gift card.  Because who isn't obsessed with succulents and coffee  right now always?!? I put the succulent arrangements together myself, and I love the way they turned out!  I picked up the white planters at Hobby Lobby for around $5 each.  The succulents came from Home Depot (their selection was HUGE) and ranged in...

Hey there!  It's been a while since my last post--two and a half years, but who's counting?  As it often does, life got a little crazy, and blogging got pushed to the back burner.  But I've recently had an itch to start writing again. So here I am. I've missed it. And a lot has changed in our lives since I last wrote.  So let me bring you up to speed... I got a promotion at work, and am now the pharmacy manager of a local retail pharmacy. My husband is working to make his dream of being a full-time photographer a reality.  He's insanely talented, and the fact that he's completely self-taught amazes me! You can check out some of his work HERE . I've taken up photography as well, under my hunky husband's guidance, and I now photograph weddings alongside him.   Our beautiful mess of a daughter is THREE years old (where did that time go???).  She is incredible, and smart, and funny, and her zest for life is inspiring. We added a fur-bab...

I’m finished! I did it!  I completed my 30-Day Beginner’s Running Challenge, and am only about 2 weeks late in reporting it to you (we've had a crazy couple of weeks in the Newman household, so please don't hold it against me)!  It took me a little more than 30 days to complete… More like 44, but who’s counting, right?  I’m a little disappointed that it took me longer than the intended 30 days, but I’m still so proud of myself for making the decision to change my lifestyle and to make myself a runner.  I feel better about myself, I have more confidence in my abilities, and I truly enjoy running now. In the end, it took me 6 weeks (and 2 days) to complete my challenge.  Going into Week 6, I had 5 runs to finish.  I only ran 3 days that week, which is why it took me 2 days into Week 7 to complete the remaining 2 runs. Here’s what I did for Weeks 6 and 7 (January 25 – February 2): Day 36 (1.25.15): Rest Day 37 (1.26.15): Rest Day 38 (1.27....

Week 5 was another set-back slow week for my running—I only ran 3 days last week.  I started the week off strong, but between the bitter cold weather that moved back in, the freezing rain and snow that decided to show up on Friday evening, and a too-long workday on Saturday (12 hours on your feet takes a lot out of you), I simply couldn’t find my get-up-and-go by the week’s end. Here’s what I did for Week 5 (January 18 – January 24): Day 29 (1.18.15): 1 mile jog, ¼ mile walk, 2 mile jog <<Make up from Original Day 21, Supposed to do a 3 mile jog>> Day 30 (1.19.15): 2 mile jog <<Make up from Day 22, Supposed to do a 3 mile jog>> Day 31 (1.20.15): Rest <<Supposed to be completed>> Day 32 (1.21.15): 1 mile jog, ¼ mile walk, 1 mile jog, ¼ mile walk, 1 mile jog <<Make up from Original Day 23, Supposed to be completed>> Day 33 (1.22.15): Rest <<Supposed to be completed>> Day 34 (1.23.15): Rest <...

I now have 4 weeks of running under my belt, and I have to say that it feels amazing!   I made an improvement from my previous two weeks, and ran 4 days last week.   My goal was to run 5 days, and while I fell short of meeting that, I’m still so happy with my progress.   We were blessed with some AMAZING weather in Louisville last week, which definitely improved my mood and my motivation.   It was sunny and so much warmer, and running in 50 degrees is, without a doubt, easier than running in those freezing temperatures I ‘d been facing! Here’s what I did for Week 4 (January 11 – January 17): Day 22 (1.11.15): 2 mile jog <<Make up from Original Day 16, Supposed to do a 2 mile jog>> Day 23 (1.12.15): 1 mile jog, ¼ mile walk, 1 mile jog <<Make up from Day 17, Supposed to do a 1 mile jog, ¼ mile walk, 1 mile jog, ¼ mile walk, 1 mile jog>> Day 24 (1.13.15): Rest <<Supposed to do a 1 ½ mile jog, ¼ mile walk, 2 mile jog>> ...

Week 3 of my 30-Day Running Challenge was similar to Week 2 in that it was not very exciting.   It’s been very cold here in Louisville—like, walk outside and you immediately freeze where you stand cold.   And because getting out of bed on time in the morning is a daily struggle for me, and I work 10+ hour shifts a day, my runs are limited to nighttime, when it’s blistering cold and all I want to do is crawl under a cozy blanket and cuddle with Tilton while watching our shows.   Needless to say, finding the motivation to run when I get home from work has been tough.   I’m doing my best to stick with it though.   During Week 3 (January 4 – January 10), I only ran 3 days again.   Bummer. Here’s what I did for Week 3: Day 15 (1.4.15): Rest (SICK) <<Supposed to be a rest day>> Day 16 (1.5.15): 2 ½ mile jog <<Make up from Original Day 12, Supposed to do 2 mile jog>> Day 17 (1.6.15): Rest <<Supposed to do a 1 mile jo...