Dear sweet sweet friends.

I swore it wouldn’t happen this year. I swore that I would stay focused on my weight loss journey over the holidays. I swore that I would lose weight – not gain – over the holidays. Because I’m strong. Because I’m solid. Because I’m awesome.

And then I saw a gain on the scale on Monday. And then I ate a lot of broccoli casserole and gluten-free shortbread at our work potluck yesterday. As I sat at my desk after lunch, feeling all disappointed in myself, I realized a few things.

• Christmas is special. I love Christmas. And it wouldn’t be the same without sausage balls or saltine candy or candy canes. I am focused 51 weeks of the year. As much as I should shudder at the idea of putting crap in my body, sometimes I still really want the sweet. And, other than Christmas, it isn’t around my house at all. I will not feel guilt for the sweets that people send me. I will not feel guilt for the sweets I keep when I give the majority away. It is Christmas.
• 2 pounds isn’t the end of the world, and a few more days of unfocused eating won’t ruin everything. My dark-wash 12s from Gap are still a little too roomy. I will not wake up back at 237 if I take a week off. My clothes will still fit. Even though my food choices haven’t been stellar, I haven’t binged. I’m not eating huge amounts of food, not at all. It is the quality of my food that isn’t that great this week. But I’m not going to do that much damage. And I already notice how I feel differently so I think I’ll be ready to get back on the wagon. Even though I’m just dangling my legs off a little.
• I can still run. I mean, we just pick up and run 6 miles two nights a week. And then our long run on the weekend. I will run off a lot of this food damage. It really isn’t a big deal.

So I’m signing off until Monday. I’m not going to blog. I’m not going to count calories. I’m not going to stress out about my food intake. I’m going to follow my training schedule. I’m going to get the LexRunLadies C25K group ready to start the New Year. I’m going to give myself a break. I’m going to enjoy my time with my family and all the food that is included.

No guilt. No remorse. No need to justify. Because we are on a break.

I’ll see you Monday!

Geez louise! The holidays are seriously cramping my blog time! So here’s a quick (photo-laced) catch-up!

Home is…

When did you feel most at home this year: in your life, in your space, in your career, in your skin? What factors make that situation feel like home? Do certain comforts make your space feel like home? Does being with certain people make you feel complete? Is there an activity in which you excel that makes you feel like you’re doing what you were meant to do?

This is your life. Where do you live? Where is home?

How will you resound?

I know this is hokey, but the truth sometimes is. My home is wherever this guy is.

Ordinary Extraordinary

Have you ever heard the expression “God is in the details?” Or, perhaps, “the devil is in the details?”

In college, I had an instructor who would circle the most minuscule omissions in red pen and write that phrase: God is in the details. Accidentally double space after a period when the rest have single spaces? Red pen. God is in the details. Barely noticeable typography goof-up? Red pen. God is in the details.

Annoying, right? Right, but insightful. At the time I was annoyed because I had five classes of nothing but writing and creating and the last thing on my mind was a tiny, forgotten detail. When you think about it though, it is the details that make up our lives: little, seemingly insignificant details, choices, and moments that make up our life, make up our story.

Sometimes the most ordinary, mundane things can turn into extraordinary moments. What was one of your most extraordinary ordinary moments this year?

Our story is in the details … How will you resound?

I realized this year that I am finally the person I’ve always wanted to be. We ate well. We ran a lot. We hiked on vacation. We even took a spur-of-the-moment hike at a craft fair. We are the kind of people that hike straight up for a mile to see this.

Appreciate

I’ve been a runner for a few years, but until this summer, I ran alone. I trained alone. I raced alone. I thought that was the way I wanted things. But I’ve realized that friends make the process so much more fun. That I’ve gotten more support than I ever imagined. That we can inspire and push each other. I try to show appreciation by being the catalyst (the “Jerry” if you will) to create running friendships between others. I work very hard to make LexRunLadies fun, to try to get people out. I am so so thankful for not being alone out there. (And that Nathan will often back his pace way off to run with me. He’s an awesome First Dude.)

Traditions

This is the time of year when families are upholding decades old traditions and working to create new ones. It doesn’t matter what you celebrate (or don’t) … please share with us your December traditions: how they got started, why you continue them, and why they are special to you.

How will you resound?

Of all of the crazy Christmas traditions we have, my favorite is the Gag Gift party. We play Dirty Santa. All 30-ish of us. With crazy rules. And alliances. From my grandmother to my high school cousin. Everyone plays. And we bring things like big jars of pickled bologna (yes, that really exists) and toilet target practice and sometimes good things like Visa cards with unknown balances. It is my favorite thing we do. I’m always sad when the last person takes their turn.

Then and Now

What was your life like a decade ago? How has your life changed since then? If you’re not feeling wordy today, why not show us some then and now portraits of yourself?

How will you resound?

Wow. A decade ago. December 2001. I had just finished grad school. I was working in an emergency drop-in shelter for teenagers. I was doing school follow-up visits. I was barely scraping by. Nate and I were dating, but no where near engaged. I was living in the not-so-great part of town with my brother and his best friend. Nate and his friend lived the next building over. I got a Snoopy Christmas card from Nathan that had the word “love” in it. It was a big step.

Strangely enough, though, I don’t have any pictures scanned in from that timeframe. So you get really lucky. This is coming from waaay back in the vault. Think high school graduation. 1996. When Kent had hair and when mine was big and kinda red. You’re welcome.

Now I just need to stay on top of these…

Today’s prompt is brought to you by Krissie from Questions for Dessert and @krissieb. (Hey! that’s ME!)

How will you resound?

For a long time, I thought this was just lazy. I thought that I should fight what I naturally have. I thought that I needed to present myself in a way that is different than I naturally am.

But in 2011, I embraced my curls.

I am wearing my hair curly on a daily basis. I think I’ve straightened my hair three times in 2011. (and two of those times was so it would be long enough to wear in a ponytail at a race.) I even rocked the curls at my brothers wedding.

For years, decades, I’ve thought that I had to spend time on my hair for it to be pretty. In high school, I would dry it at night and wrap the length up in several ace bandages (I so wish I was kidding). In college, I would blow dry it straight and then use a monster curling iron to try to smooth it out. I paid a ton for a straightening iron several years ago that does amazing things, but it takes forever to straighten this beast. And it has to be 0% humidity for it to stay straight.

I thought that what it naturally was just wasn’t enough. And that’s not the truth. Embracing my curls has been a huge gift to myself. I spend much less time getting ready in the mornings. I am damaging my hair much less. And I feel like it was the gateway choice to accepting a lot of other things about my body, both in appearance and performance. I don’t have to look like the societial standard to be “pretty.” My hair doesn’t have to do the perfect straight-halfway-down-then-curl thing to be awesome. My hair is awesome just the way it is.

Just like me.

Take today to talk about 12 things you would like to accomplish in 2012. These 12 things can be 12 resolutions, 12 changes in your life, 12 wines you’d like to drink, 12 cities you’d like to visit, or 12 monthly goals. The decision is yours. Good luck and have fun!

How will you resound?

I really like this prompt! I like thinking of 12 things I want to do. Some big, some small. Some just for me, some kinda altruistic. Just love it.

1. I will run a marathon. Hopefully 2. This one and this one, to be exact.

2. I will run a thousand miles. I’m going to end 2011 somewhere around 700. And I really half-assed a good chunk of the year. A thousand miles is huge. It is exciting. It is completely doable. I’m excited about that. Very.

3. I want to volunteer at more races than I run. I want to be more involved in the running community. But I can’t justify spending the outrageous money on race fees again this year. We need to pick races to run and hand out water and cheer at the others. And those marathons mentioned above aren’t cheap. We’ve registered for one half and one full already, and I really want to scale back without disconnecting.

4. I want to have a meatless month. We went meatless for Lent a few years ago and I got tired of beans. I’ve broadened my cooking scope a lot since then and I’m excited to make another go at it. We usually have meat once a week or so, but I’d like to cut it out completely for a while. And limit it even more once it comes back.

5. I want to conquer homemade yogurt. I had 3 failed attempts in 2011. Things will change!

6. I want to develop a signature dessert. I’d love to just have one dessert that I’m really good at and have it as my default item to take to get-togethers. I don’t always want to find something new. I want to do one dessert really well. And have people request it. I need to find what that is.

7. I want to teach Nathan how to cook. One meal a month. So when I need help, he can provide it. 99% of the time I love being a domestic queen. But sometimes planning, shopping, and cooking can get overwhelming. I’d love to be able to pass the baton when things get a little crazy. Or when it is my birthday week. Or when he feels like he wants to spoil me a little.

8. I want to make an effort to look my best. I want to get my hair cut more than once a year. (I’m still going on a cut from February.) I want to wear more jewelry. As much as I don’t think I’ll ever forgo comfort, I want to think about fashion a little more. The first step in this process is cleaning out my closet and organizing my jewelry. I will really put effort into this.

9. Nathan and I will go on 2 dates a month. Sitting home on the couch eating microwave cake and watching Ghost Adventures soes not count as a date. The last few weekends, we’ve gone out to dinner and then to a show. I have had so much fun getting dressed up and going out. I think we need to do it more often. Much more often. He usually just sees me in sweats or running clothes. And that’s not fair to him. And he looks so cute dressed up too.

10. I want to go to church 3 weekends a month. We go in spurts. We go weekly for months and then we miss a lot in a row. I want to be more consistant. I really enjoy our church. I always feel called-out. I’m always pushed to be better. I can listen to the podcasts of the sermons (and I usually do), but it isn’t the same. I miss the music and the fellowship. I need to be more intentional about attending.

11. I want to write more consistantly. And maybe do something with it.

12. I want to continue to be more focused on the habits I started in 2011. I want to continue losing weight. I want to continue being hyper budget focused. And cleaning on a schedule. And organizing this running group. I have so much momentum right now and I want to keep it going.

I like this resolution-esque things. Nothing too scary. Lots of little things. I’m ready to rock 2012!

What is the best meal or best food that you have eaten all year? Did you make it? Did you get it at a restaurant? Do your best to describe the food and the experience with us.

How will you resound?

It took me a while to narrow down to one meal. I mean, Lexington has some amazing sushi and Kentucky Proud restaurants. We always eat well when we go visit Miranda. But there is no where I’ve found that competes with Asheville for food.

When I narrowed it down to Asheville, I knew immediately the meal I wanted to feature. Good gracious, people. If you ever find yourself in Asheville, go to Curate. If you live anywhere near Asheville, call and make reservations for this evening and get yourself there. It is tapas, so you can try a lot of different things. And we sure did.

To see more of our most recent Asheville visit in July (too long!), here are my posts from day 1, day 2, and day 3.

Today is a bit of a choose your own adventure: write (paint, draw, photograph, record, etc.) about your best experience this year. If that’s not your cup of joe, write about your worst experience. Feeling chatty? Share both your best and worst moments.

How will you resound?

You know, after the emotional rollercoaster that was 2010, I’m content with just throwing out the high. Is that okay?

My big New Year’s Resolution for 2010 was to run 12 races. I didn’t quite make that.

But in 2011, I ran 21. Twenty-one.

1 3K.

9 5Ks.

1 8K.

1 5-miler.

5 10Ks.

1 10-Miler.

3 Half-Marathons.

21 races. 3 were on trails.

I finished my first 5K in 2011 in 42:38. And my last one (yesterday) in 31:34.

My first half-marathon of 2011 took 3:25:20. And my second took 2:27:54.

I ran alone. I ran with Nathan. I ran with Erin. I ran with groups. I ran a lot. I ran through weather and I ran through (emotional and physical) pain. So there have been some lows in there too. Running, for me, is such a good reflection of all of my life. If I’m doing well in one, I’m doing well in the other. If I’m struggling in one, I’m struggling in the other.

And I’m sitting here at the end of 2011 with a lot less struggle.

I am so proud of what I have accomplished this year. And I am so proud of what running has done for me.

And this time next year? I’ll be telling you about 2 marathons.

For the past 8 days, we’ve talked about our year. For the next 7 days (with a break in between for a special prompt), we’re going to talk about the best things of 2011, then we’ll round out the month planning for 2012.

Today, please post your best photo of the year. It doesn’t have to be the best technically, it doesn’t have to be the best visually, but it should be a photo that you consider the best. Does it have special meaning? Is it of a significant event or moment? Share it with us!

How will you resound?

I just took this picture a few days ago. But I think it is my favorite of the year. Because all of my favorite moments – the cruise, the half-marathons, my brother’s wedding – have included this guy.

We take care of each other.

And when I say, “kiss my cheek!” he says “okay.”

What’s your trademark phrase? Not sure? How about a quote or saying that you repeat often? Bonus points if it’s new for 2011, but we won’t be upset if it’s been around longer than that. Try to put it in context for us if it’s a little abstract.

I’m guessing none of you saw this coming.

I place 100% blame the fact that I used to work with kids for this one. It has been in heavy rotation in my vocabulary for the last, I don’t know, 8 years? And I use it in a lot of different situations. To convey a lot of different meanings. And, although sometimes I fear it may be lost in my writing, the difference in uses is obvious when I’m speaking.

"Oh friend." = I’m getting ready to tell you something serious. Sit down and hold on.

"Oh friend." = I’m so sorry! I am conveying so much sympathy!

"Oh friend." = Can you believe she said that?

"Oh friend." = You really shouldn’t have done that.

"Friend." = I need you to stop whatever you are doing. Right now. You are being annoying/smelly/inappropriate.

"Friend." = I’m not kidding.

"Friend." = You are running too fast. I need you to slow down.

"Friend!" = You can do it! I believe in you!

"Friend." = I’m getting ready to tell you a secret.

"Friend." = Stop making me laugh. My abs hurt from butts and gutts class that was all gutts.

"Seriously, friend." = I am so overwhelmed.

"Friend, seriously?" = No. freaking. way.

"Friends." = Y’all (in general.)

"Friends." = Y’all in specific. YOU.

Thank you for being my friends.

(Cue Golden Girls exit music and fade to black…)

What goal did you set for yourself and achieve this year? Did you achieve something you didn’t think you could? Did you win an award? Did you set a record? Did you finally get your VCR from 1985 to stop blinking 12:00? C’mon, share it! Today is your chance to brag and get a resounding round of interweb applause.

Congratulations! You did it!

I kinda had a hard time with this one. Maybe because 2011 wasn’t anything like I expected it to be. I really went in without a lot of expectations. On the other hand, though, I also went in feeling very few limitations. I believed I would do big things this year, and I did. But I didn’t do one big thing, I did a lot of little things that all added up.

• I ran 3 half marathons and signed up for a full.
• I’ve gotten really good at keeping homemade frozen meals around for when we’re in a pinch for time but still want to eat healthy.
• I’ve became much more money-aware.
• I’ve finally gotten subscriptions to magazines I just buy every month.
• I finally moved out of 2008 and got a new iPhone.
• I’ve lost all of the weight I gained during 2010 and an additional 5 pounds.
• I made a lot of homemade bread.
• I’ve stopped eating ClifBars and baked goods for breakfast on a daily basis. Instead I’m making things like breakfast quinoa and overnight oats.
• I started a running group. I’m running with other people at least once a week.
• I started hosting groups of people in my house for holiday dinners. (I love cooking for lots of people.)
• I had 90% of my holiday gifts finished or ordered by December 1st.

Like I said, a lot of little things that add up to big change. I feel like I am able to enjoy this holiday season. Like I’m able to go out on dates and follow my run schedule. All I have to do is a project for a friend and baking. And I’m excited about both of those.

So, yes, congrations are in order. For a lot of tiny little things.

And I’m totally fine with that.

So far you’ve summed up the year in one word, admitted your vices, touted your virtues, revealed your superpower, and let us in on your theme song, but no superhero does it alone …

Who is the Thelma to your Louise? Who is your partner in crime? Did you reacquaint yourself with an old friend? Did you make a new friend? Or, perhaps, you are a lone ranger?

Take some time today to look back on how you spent your year and give a shout out to anyone that helped to make it special. If you don’t have any close friends that fit the bill, think about who you spend your time with on a regular basis, who is the bright spot in your day? Maybe you joke around with a coworker just to get through the day. Maybe the barista who serves your coffee knows your order by heart and/or knows when to suggest you mix it up. Who makes your life just a little bit better just by being themselves?

How will you resound?

This one was easy-peasy!

In 2011, my Thelma ran back into my life after a decade hiatus. We were good friends in high school. She visited me in college. But then life happens, you know? And then we don’t see each other for years.

Without question, my sidekick this year is Erin. (I feel like I should throw confetti in the air around her or something.)

We run 10Ks together. In July. When it is really humid.

We run 5Ks together.

We run 10-milers and I take a picture of her with a horse.

She cheers and hands me a cup of water.

And we finished a half-marathon together.

We zumba. We whine and moan at butts & gutts. She sends me hysterical texts. She’s jumped in with the running group. She’s full of ideas and support. She’s my girl.

And she’s gonna be my marathon partner.

I’m choosing not to think about when she moves to Miami next year. I am in total denial. Total denial.

Thanks for being my Thelma, Erin.

(and you should thank me for not throwing a high school picture in this spot because I came reeeeealy close.)