First things first.  My grandmother is one of the most phenomenal people that I know.  She's competitive, opinionated, honest, hard working and tenacious.  She and I bumped heads when I was a kid.  I used to spend a large part of the summers with my grandparents when I was a kid and I put my poor grandma through the wringer at times.  It's because we are twins.  Except I'm six inches taller than her.  

Goodness- I love her to pieces.  

Today I drove up to get a few things out of our storage unit and I stopped by to see my grandparents.  They were sitting outside on their carport and when I pulled up I could tell that they were excited to see me.  My paw-paw asked all the important questions and checked in to make sure that everything was OK and there was nothing he could do to help in Nashville or around our house and then fell asleep in his lawn chair.  He can sleep anywhere. 

My grandma and I spent the next 45 minutes talking about all kinds of things from flowers in her garden and on our porch in Nashville (and the plant that we bought with money from them for our anniversary pictured below) to the weather and funny stories from the past.  We talked about good things and bad things and happy stuff and sad happenings.  We also made fun of paw-paw, because he was still sleeping. 

My grandma loves American Idol.  She asked if I'd seen the finally and was a little disappointed to hear that I hadn't. 

Gma: You know, his name is already easy to remember. 
Me: Oh yeah, Phillip Phillips...you're right.
Gma: [grinning]  I don't like him as much as Scotty.  But he's good.
Me:  Scotty is your boyfriend...you know not everyone can be Scotty. 
Gma:  Tell me about it...
Time passed quickly and I realized that I needed to get going.  I had been there for over 90 minutes. 

Gma: Don't rush off now. 
Me: I know, I'd love to stay longer but I need to get back.  I'll visit again soon.
Gma: I'll make you some lunch if you want.
Me: It's almost 3 and I already ate on the way up here.  You always wanna feed me...
Gma: I know honey.  I can make pimento cheese.
Me: It's OK.  I'll be back soon and I'll eat lunch or dinner with you.  Or Breakfast!
Gma: Well I don't get up early.  Lunch would be good.  
Me:  Good, then we'll have a lunch date!  
Gma:  I'll make pimento cheese. 

She walked me to my car and then stood in the grass as I drove away...I watched her in the side mirror.  All tiny and 5'1 of her.  I made a memory for myself....all the years that she's poured into me.  All the love and guidance that I been given overwhelmed me.  She stood in the same spot to watch me drive off until I'd rounded the corner at the end of their street.  

Part of me wanted to drive back around the block again.  But I didn't.  

As an adult I realize that so much of who I am as a person come from my mom and my grandparents. I'm so thankful that I had good examples to learn from.  I'm so glad I have memories of my sweet little feisty grandma standing at the end of the driveway as she watched me pull down the street.

I promised to call when I'd complete the drive to Nashville, but I forgot.  It's about a 2 hour drive door to door with no traffic or congestion.  About five hours after I'd left their house I called and said that I'd made it but had forgotten to call.  To which my grandma replied "Well you made good time."  

I love her.  

We eat very little processed foods...very little.  Cereal, pita chips, sliced cheese and some other quick fix boxed items like risotto or jarred/bottled sauces are really it.  

However - these items top my list of favorites! 

Is one only supposed to carbo load before a big race?  I know what the answer is.  Today I carbo loaded...because I was traveling back to see our house (that's on the market! someone please buy it!) and get some stuff to and from the storage building and also to visit my grandparents.  I failed a little at eating well...because this is all still a learning thing.  And I'm in kindergarten.  

Let's all just pretend that I'm running a marathon tomorrow.  Yes.  Let's.  

"Wait for it...this is gonna be SO Much better."  Aaron said as I handed him two silver dollars.  That's how it all started.  EPIC! 

Today, Aaron and I completed 4 miles in the park.  We are beasts.  Thank You.  Afterwards we went by Starbucks (THANKS MOM!) to get him a sandwich for breakfast.  I have a bag of coins in my car from Easter.  Every year at Easter my grandparents go ALL out and hide about 150 eggs around their yard for us all to find.  Yes, we are all over the age of 21...and yes, we all get VEEEEERY excited.  This year they filled the eggs with coins and bills - I almost won the most money found (I lost to my little cousin!) but most of my money found was coins....and $6 of it were in the form of silver dollars.  

I put all of that money from Easter into a ziplock bag and put it in the center console of my car...left it untouched...until today.  Oh, today.  You are an epic day. 

I handed Aaron two of the silver dollars as we were heading towards Starbucks.  He had $5.00 left on his giftcard (THANKS MOM!) and would need the silver dollars to complete the transaction.  He laughed - because he gets me....we were about to really freak out the drive through girl. 

Pulling up to the drive-thru window Aaron handed the girl his gift card.  Here is the conversation. 

Aaron: [handing her the giftcard] Here you go.  
Starbucks Girl:  Thanks,  just a sec. 
Aaron:  OK. 
Starbucks Girl:  Here are your sandwiches.  And you only had five dollars left on your card, so I need another two dollars.
Aaron: [cuts his eyes to me and hands her the silver dollars and whispers] This is gonna be amazing! 
Starbucks Girl:  UMMM.  I don't think that we take them?!?  We don't take these....um. [looking back into the shop from the drive thru] Do we take silver dollars?!?!  [Aaron and I are completely freaking out but trying to keep from laughing]  OK.  We do take them. 
Aaron:  Oh, um, just a second I never got the straws for our waters?
Starbucks Girl:  GAH! I'm sorry...I'm flipped out.  I was distracted by your big silver coins! 

Then we drive off into the sunset laughing so hard.  Pretty sure that I told Aaron that I was "distracted by his big silver coins" about 12 times today!  We must have really laid it on thick for that girl, because we were worn out and came back to the apartment and took a nap.  HAHA!  




All that making fun of people is tiring!  

Now you can say that you've seen an 8-footed ottman!  SAY WHAT?!   

p.s. cash thanks you for thinking that her feet are so cute.  we think so too! 

This weekend we were among the many who pretended to be country royalty.   

After church Sunday morning and lunch with my cousin and his family we headed downtown.  Not ready to trade up Aaron's perfectly good day off - we decided to make the most of it!  We settled upon the Country Music Hall of Fame which if you don't know, is right in the heart of Nashville's downtown. Apparently, it used to be in the Music Row area of town (duh!) and would've been within walking distance of our apartment...but alas, a number of years ago, they moved it.  HOW DARE THEY!  HA!

Those thems that go around changin' everything! 


We did find a cool map...so we pointed out our hometowns!  Mine in Delaware and Aaron in Illinois.  

I, of course didn't have my camera charged.  SO....we only took those three pictures.  And I'm pretty sure that I jumped about 4 times trying to touch Delaware on the map and got NO WHERE close.  bahaha.  We are so crazy.  My apologies to those of you wanting a nice, quiet trip to the museum today.  Whoopsie.  

The Country Music Hall of Fame and museum was pretty neat!  Lots of history and cool exhibits.  We also went on the "Studio B Tour" because Aaron is fascinated by studios and I also really wanted to see the place where some of music's most famous acts have recorded their HITS!  Secretly we liked the Sun Records Tour (where the pictures below were taken) in Memphis better...but this was pretty neat also!  

Studio B is a famous RCA studio was was unlike any of the other studios in it's hay day because any artist from any record company was able to record there.  Because of that fact - many artists like Elvis, Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings, The Everly Brothers and Kris Kristofferson (just to name a few) have recorded there.  The studio is still used today for professional recording and also for local students lab work at Belmont University.   

It was pretty cool.  

While we were there our tour guide played lots of songs from many different artists that were recorded at the famous studio.  One that she played was a Dolly Parton song called "Coat of Many Colors".  I had to fight back tears as the song started.  

I looked at Aaron and whispered "This is my song..." as the first notes of the song filled the space.  

Before you giggle...let me explain. 

My mom had (and still has) a record player.  She's a great mom and even let me play her many records on it.  One of those records was a Dolly Parton record and I became attached to it.  In fact, I played that record EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. when I got home from school during 7th, 8th and 9th grade.  I especially liked "Coat of Many Colors."   

We weren't that poor.  In fact, I never wanted for anything.  I always had everything that I needed...not always everything that I wanted, but everything that I needed and most of what I wanted.  But the relationship between Dolly and her mom in that story - reminded me of my relationship with my mom.  Especially her talking to Dolly about faith and just generally providing and reassuring her.   I felt that again today when I heard the song.  I still have that relationship with my mom today.  

Yesterday I was telling her all about my upcoming races and everything that I was working on and she was so supportive.  I explained about the races and she's already cheering for me.  I have the best mom. 


This song brings back to many memories for me of being in junior high and figuring out who I am and what I wanted to do in my life.  It's a part of the soundtrack of my life and I have so many emotions attached to it.  I was thankful for a moment to reflect.  Isn't it neat when you have a moment and no one knows it.  I LOVE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!!  


Goals for This Upcoming Week
*Job searching, resuming sending, cover letter writing.  
*Lots of running this coming week of 3 or 4 days alternating 2-ish miles.  
*Adding yoga in June (which is just a few days away).  
*Still searching for a group fitness class.  
*Block walking with my two beasts.  
*Healthy meals with my honey. 
*Trying not to snack like a fiend at night when Aaron's at work. 



What are your goals?  Got any tips for me?!  Sister needs some suggestions! 


P.S. on a side note (though completely related!) i have found that it's VERY true that if you don't buy junk food - you can't eat it.  i know that sounds completely obvious and it makes me seem not as smart as i really am - but....if you do NOT buy cheetos it's impossible to eat them...just physically impossible.  like my former WW leader used to say "one good choice in the grocery store makes it so you don't have to make ten choices not to eat something later."  DUH!   what good advice.  

I have a tendency to jump in with both feet.  It's a pattern that has been present in my life since I can remember.  Sometimes it's good - sometimes it's...interesting.  For example, when I decided to lose weight, I jumped in with both feet.  Another example was when I decided that we weren't going to eat processed food or foods with HFCS and we gave it all away....just like that....

Well I've done it again.  Recently I signed up for 4 races.  I've never run an official race.  I did however get up to running about 5 miles a day, three days a week last fall/winter and I loved it.  I felt so good and I really enjoyed running (SAY WHAT?!?).  

I never got around to officially running a race.  Now I realize that I should have.  I should've taken my show on the road.  

Fast forward to today.  I'm making it through some really trying times.  I've survived.  And now it's time to pick myself up and get back on the road.  Literally.  I told Aaron that I was going to start running again - and lo and behold he's joining me.  There is a slight difference in how we run, simply because he is 6'4 and has a 9 foot stride (bahahah!) and I'm 5'7 and have a 3 inch stride.  So.  We run slightly differently but that's OK.  We've been staying mostly together, sometimes one of us will speed up or slow down or pass out...haha. kidding. 

Last night while Aaron was at work, I signed up for 2 races.  One in October (The Color Run Nashville) and one in June.  Then I started looking...I wanted to do a 10K.  So...I signed up for a 10K in September...a few minutes later I was still looking for races and wanted one that Aaron and I could do together.  Since he's just getting back into running after a few year break I signed us up for another 5K in July for Autism Awareness in Brentwood.  EXCITING! 

About an hour later I realized that I'd signed myself up for 4 races.  FOUR!  See?  Both feet.  

Today we ran at the park.  It's beautiful.  The weather was perfect - about 75* with a slight breeze.  I was determined to hit a 2-mile uninterrupted run today.  I DID!  

I did a two mile run and one mile walk in 30 minutes!  I am excited, because I know that I can hit and keep my goals.  I feel back on track more than ever and I am determined to get back to my old self...well the new old me.  You know - after I lost weight, zumba instructor, yogi, runner version of me.  I can do it.  I can do anything that I put my mind to.  

I read a blog post recently from a blogger named Theodora.  She has a great blog called Losing Weight in the City.  Theodora presented a great perspective on how to look at your weight loss progress and holding on to it.  She shared that she thinks it's a whole lot easier to keep the progress going rather than starting over.  I AGREE!   

It's a WHOLE lot easier for me to CONTINUE to make good choices than it is to RE-LOSE about 80 pounds.  Sometimes it doesn't really feel that way.  Sometimes it feel SO impossible to deny myself things that I want to eat everyday (chips, ice cream, cookies, cupcakes, soda, cheese) and make good choices to maintain my current loss.  ....it's so much easier. 

Do you agree?  

Then why don't you join me?!  

Don't. Ever. Give. Up. 

Tonight, two years ago we were preparing for our wedding.  We had chosen one of our favorite places for our rehearsal dinner.  An awesome little Mexican place called Tribeca which was perfectly situated on a quiet, brick paved street.  Still, one of my most favorite places to get a bite to eat.  

This morning before Aaron left for work, I asked him what he wanted me to make for dinner tonight.  He looked at me like he thought it went without saying that we would be having Mexican tonight.  Mexican it is!  I thought and thought for the better part of the morning about what I could make us for dinner...I'm kinda bored with what I've been making and I wanted something new.  

I pulled out my cookbooks and nothing really jumped off the page for me, so I started looking online for recipes.  "Enchiladas" I thought..."I wonder if I could make enchiladas?"  

I found a recipe for veggie enchiladas over at Epicurious.  Please check it out.  It's a simple recipe and you will love it.  The recipe called for canned enchilada sauce...I don't know about you, but to me, that sounds kinda ICK!  So then I began a search for homemade enchilada sauce.  I found it online too.  

Since I stuffed our enchiladas full of veggies (zucchini, onions, spinach, carrots and broccoli) I didn't feel bad not serving a side veg with dinner.  I did make my "famous" cauliflower rice though.  I got this idea from one of my favorite bloggers Sarah over at Peas and Thank You.  Basically, you rough chop some cauliflower and then throw it into your food processor until it's the consistency of rice.  

I mixed in the leftover veggie mix that wouldn't fit into the tortillas and also some of the enchilada sauce and a bit of water.  Then you just put that into the microwave or on the stove top and heat it up.  It's really good.  Aaron is a self proclaimed cauliflower hater and he likes it!  


Enchilada Sauce 
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (I used chipotle chili)
(I also added 1/4 tsp of paprika)
2 cups water
1 -8 ounce can tomato paste
1 tsp garlic powder (I didn't use this)
1/2 tsp onion powder (I didn't use this)
1/2 tsp salt

-Heat the oil, flour and chili powder together in a large pot. 
-Allow to cook for a minute or two.
-Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a slow simmer. 
-Stir well to combine and dissolve tomato paste in water. 
-Allow to cook for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
-Set aside until needed for enchiladas


Veggie & Tofu Enchiladas
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 red onion, diced
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1/2 large zucchini, diced
1 green pepper, diced
2 large carrots, diced
2 tablespoons minced garlic (or two cloves)
1 14 oz package of firm tofu (optional)
1/4 cup (or less) Shredded cheese of your choice (I used cheddar and mozzarella because that's what we had)
8 corn tortillas

-Saute tofu in EVOO and remove from skillet.
-Saute chopped onion, green pepper, zucchini, carrots and garlic
-Spray baking dish with cooking spray
-Pour 1/2 of the enchilada sauce into your baking dish
-Spoon tofu/veg mixture into 6-8 tortillas, then place into baking dish
-Pour remaining sauce over tortillasBake for 30 minutes covered with foil
-Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese over the enchiladas then bake uncovered for 10 minutes.  



Nutrition: (6 servings) 243 calories, 11 grams of fat, 20 carbohydrates, 7 grams fiber, 10 grams protein.  5 points plus per serving. 



Let me know if you try them!