Fresh Friday {Link-Up}

It's Fresh Friday! Here are mine for the wk. =)

#1 - Whole Foods (the closest one is an hr from my house so it's always a treat when I make it!)
#2 - art (don't judge, don't judge . . . :p i'm just learning!)
#3 - eggplant pizza on a pita w/ hummus at a lunch date this week. :-)

Thought I'd throw in this music vid from Jason Castro on climbing those mountains in life. Great song! Speak truth into your life. :)

Hope you have a GREAT weekend!!!

~

Ranch Dressing Gone Healthy = Didn't Turn Out

Looking for a salad dressing without all the gunk? Don't try this. I'll spare you the details. :p Heading to my inventor's laboratory (i.e.: kitchen) after a hard day probably wasn't the best choice. My brain just wasn't quite there, or something . . . hehe!

Aahh, at least I tried . . . next time! :)

Does anyone has a good homemade ranch dressing recipe (or ANY healthy salad dressing) that you love ? ? ?

I promise- more interesting photos to come than my failed recipe attempts. :p

Stay posted for reports on --- Old fashioned ice cream stand raids, what I ate at Whole Foods last night for dinner (so yum!), plus how I almost started the house on fire . . . certainly nothing out of the ordinary with me around. lol!!!!

Ooh, and Fresh Friday is tomorrow so be sure and link-up to join the fun!

"Clarity, Confidence, Concentration"

Clarity, confidence and concentration. I've been doing a lot thinking on these 3 of late. =) 

How do you get things done in life? Where are you going? What totally fires you up? Do you ever have those days in life were you literally don't want to go to bed and can't wait to get up in the morning? Is it from stress or passion?!

Possibility excites me . . .  

Here are three simple steps that I both use and love: 

#1 - You need to get super clear!

• ask yourself, "what do I want and why?" 

#2 - Believe that you have it in you to excel

• it all comes down to what you think. :) Prov 23:7

#3 - Do it NOW

• now that you know what to do JUST DO IT!
• if you don't act nothing will happen BUT if you do - you have the possibility to win! and, if you win on the inside . . . well that's what really counts!

I didn't tell you anything you didn't know. :) Obviously I 'stole' this straight from Brian Tracy :p but hey- let's learn from the best! 

When you face a goal (big or small) what thought processes / checking list / systems do you use from conception to execution? 

Is it easy or hard for you or do you own your life purpose with total passion that it just comes naturally? :) 

Tell me!

All American

I'm an all American girl and proud of it. :) 

I am grateful for the sacrifices of our veterans and those that gave everything to keep our country free. 

If you are a man or woman in service- thank you from the bottom of my heart and know that you all are in our thoughts and prayers this Memorial Day. 

Celebrating our brave men and women of the Armed Forces starting last night with the Fayetteville Symphony. One of my friends is a violinist in this orchestra so it was especially exciting to see him perform. Amazing job, Cole!

A bit of the experience for your enjoyment. :) 

Concert with friends Sydney and Morgan. :)

Food with family! What's better?!

With 2 of my 5 bros- the best ever!

Ending the day with silky butter pecan ice cream with a freshly picked strawberry on top. 

Allie (my baby sister) and I took time out of our day off for a little fun with a photo shoot. I kid you not, guys- there weather of late has been practically ordered to perfect. It's so lovely!

I look so lazy. :p

Aaah, the life . . . 

How was your 3-day wk/end? 

What special food and family activities did you enjoy? 

Are any of my readers military? :) 

Lying to Be Perfect {The Movie}

Have you seen the movie "Lying to Be Perfect"? Friday night was a girl hang out / movie / pile on the coach "let's talk" kind of night and we watched this movie. :)

It's about a normal girl who knows all the right things to do in life but has a hard time applying this to her own life. Deep down she longs to be all she can be but- she's scared . . . of something.

This intense struggle along with feelings of inferiority from the climate at work lead her to create an online figure (the person she dreams of being!) who becomes extremely popular due to plain/practical advice that works; and she helps a lot of women straighten their lives out all under a pen name with no one ever suspecting it was her!

In the end . . . well I can't tell you that part! But, I can say after some heart ache - it is a sweet ending. It's a modern Cinderella story that has to do with love, facing lies, embracing truth and becoming all you can be. :) Who doesn't love that?!

And, just fyi there are a couple scenes in there that I did skip. I do have standards when it comes to what I watch so I just thought I'd point that out so you don't think I endorse everything presented in this film. :p For the most part, though- it's awesome and I'd recommend it for your next get together with the girlies! Guys - you might like it too but probably not as much as us girls. lol!

So, tell me!

Do you feel like you have to "be perfect" to be accepted?

How do deal with this? What's your outlet? 

Do you ever feel like a fraud or are you just happy being you? :) 

As a reminder - you are valuable and it's not based on what other people think or say about you. Don't miss out on being you (!) because you are so wrapped up into fitting your life into a someone else's box.

Let's live our lives and love it! =) 

Fresh Friday :)

The wk/end is almost here, folks! And, it's Fresh Friday! What top 3 made your wk FRESH and FANTASTIC?

Here are mine. :)

# 1 - excitement from training in a new job (yes! i do believe concrete dispatching is going do be both challenging and fun! fyi- it's a lot more than "just concrete" :p)

# 2 - mock Turkish meal at the best lunch place in town (best food ever! the chef is AMAZING!). I went for the veggie wrap- no regrets!

#3 - bubble jewelry (aren't these new "in" necklaces so versatile? they go with practically anything and i love 'em!)

What are your plans for Memorial Day? Anything special other than sleeping in? :p  

For me - I'm super looking for to this upcoming 3 day siesta. :-)

Getting together with friends and fam for a pool party is pretty much all I have going on! We cookout, layout, grill out, and just have a plain ole good time. :)

When You Just Don't Feel Like a Run

This has been me the last 2 wks. *arghh!* What happened to the girl that was running nearly every day this time last year? Plus, having an absolute blast at it?! Well, she's still here but maybe a little preoccupied with other things. :)

You'll be proud to hear that despite wet and rainy conditions, and an almost overpowering "I don't feel like it" kind of emotion -  I laced up and headed out the door this evening for what I knew in my head would make me feel better. :p

That was about 30 minutes ago . . .  and guess what? I did feel awesome afterwards and that "I don't want to" feeling transformed into a "I'm so glad I did"! :p I admit that it was a slower, more painful run since I've been out of my groove but none the less it was a run!!!

Now, I want to hear your advice. :)

Do you still head out for your run -- rain or shine?

What about when it's really one of those "I just don't feel like it" kind of days?