Summer take aways

I can't believe how this summer has flown by! August is already almost half over. Before we know it Christmas will be here! (133 days from now, to be exact.) This has been a different kind of summer for us this year with my husband being out of work and me teaching summer school.  Despite the fact that it has been different I've learned so much. 
Here are the top 5 things I've learned this summer:

1. Take time for yourself. If you don't take care of you who will? 

2. Do things to make your soul happy. I've discovered this summer I love being on or near the water.  I've also discovered I enjoy life so much more when I do things that make me happy. 

3. Communication is important.

4. Fear is a liar. Satan will do everything in his power to steal your joy and happiness. 90% of the things you fear and worry about never happen.

5.Sometimes you just have to take some time off to gain a new perspective. When overwhelm kicks in and you don’t enjoy what you are doing – its time to step away for a bit to gain a different point of view.

 What have you learned learned about life this summer?

Summer take aways

I can't believe how this summer has flown by! August is already almost half over. Before we know it Christmas will be here! (133 days from now. To be exact. ) This has been a different kind of summer for us this year with my husband being out of work and me teaching summer school.  Despite the fact that it has been different I've learned so much. 
Here are the top 5 things I've learned this summer:

1. Take time for yourself. If you don't take care of you who will? 

2. Do things to make your soul happy. I've discovered this summer I love being on or near the water.  I've also discovered I enjoy life so much more when I do things that make me happy. 

3. Communication is important.

4. Fear is a liar. Satan will do everything in his power to steal you joy and happiness. 90% of the things you fear and worry about never happen.

5.Sometimes you just have to take some time off to gain a new perspective. When overwhelm kicks in and you don’t enjoy what you are doing – its time to step away for a bit to gain a different point of view.

 What have you learned learned about life this summer?

Me Time

I believe in this ever changing fast paced world that me time has become increasingly important. WebMd says: "Recent research has shown that women today are less happy than they have been over the past 40 years." There are many theories about why, but  I  believe that the lack of free time can be a major reason.
I am guilty of taking care of everything and everyone else and putting myself last all too often. I am really trying hard to work on that this year. Here are my favorite things to do for "me time".

1. Bubble Baths-I love bubble baths. I don't know what it is about it. Maybe it's the bubbles or my lavender scented bubbles but I always come out refreshed and restored. Plus I don't think it hurts that I lock the door sometimes . :)









2. Drawing- I have always loved to draw.  It's just therapeutic for me. Even though people some people say my art work looks it was done by a third grader I still like them! I will be adding more pieces to my page soon. I'd love to have you check out my artwork and tell me what you think. You can view my work here.

3. Baking- My mom and my grandmother were always in the kitchen baking something when I was growing up. Naturally I have followed in their footsteps.  When life gets crazy you'll find me in the kitchen baking away. I don't know what about baking relieves stress but it's certainly not cleaning up the mess afterwards. Maybe it's working with my hands or just simply trying to feed my incurable sweet tooth. Notice I say baking. I love to bake but I don't like to cook. Baking has definitely become more challenging since going gluten free but more about that in another post coming soon!

Well there you have it. The things I like to do for me time. What do you like to do when you take time for yourself?

10 things I've learned about or from running so far....

1. You are no in competition with anyone else. Only yourself. 
2. I really don't like being out in the Texas summer heat. It's to darn hot! Even early in the morning or nightfall! 
3. Days that contain running are infinitely better than the ones that do not. 
4. Slow and steady is best. 
5. Good running shoes are a necessity! 
6. You have to find your own motivation/reason to run. Mine is to be healthier and happier. 
7.  There were times when there was more than thighs clapping and even now my lil tummy can do the same thing- Yikes! At least I have a Cheer Squad? LOL- No serioulsy sometimes you just gotta laught it off and Keep On Running!
8. You got to have music that moves you. 
9. Don't give up if you don't see results right away. Every smart change you make is affecting you in ways you've never imagined.
10. Some days you just have to focus on putting one foot in front of the other

Running Frustrations

Running Frustrations



Disclaimer- there will be some whining and complaining in this post. If you do not want to hear it I suggest you check out my other posts. Thanks :)


As you know for a couple of months I have been on this running kick. Now that schools out I want to get serious about. However, I think I have been lviing in a delusion that was abrouptly shattered yesterday. I decided to go run outside last Monday  morning. BIG mistsake! First of all, I was severaly dehydrated. I don't like plain water especiall. I've been drinking Gatoraide too but it's got a lot of sugar. Secondly, there's the Texas heat. Even though it is only mid June-it's hotter than grandma's bicuits! I didn't even run that late Monday morning but the run still got me. All of a sudden I got really really hot and the next thing you know I was puking! Not pretty. Thankfully I stopped and once I slowed down and cooled off I felt much better. All because I was comparing myself to others.


Now to complain. I wanna be like all my running friends who run at least 3 miles or more. A lot of the are triathletes and do 2 to 3 times that amount. I  wanna be able to run as fast at they do for a long as they do. I know, I know Rome wasn't built in a day but I want my body to be! Enough whining. Now on to good realistic news! Last week I ran/walked a total of six miles! Yes Six! I have NEVER walked or jogged that much in my life! Here's to real life! So much better than unrealistic expectations! 
 Do you ever have unrealistic expectations ? How do you deal with them?

ABCs of me

I saw this on Life, Love and Librarianship and just had to copy it!


Age:32 on the 27


Bed Size: Queen


Chore I hate: dish washing. We don't have a dishwasher


Dog: I have a daschund name Sophie. I also have a cat named Rosie


Essential start of your day: Time by myself to focus my thoughts


Favorite color: Depends but usually blue, green, or purple.


Gold or Silver: Usually Silver but sometimes Gold.


Height: 5 feet, 11 inches


Instruments: I played clarinet. Right now I don't play anything.


Job title: Unemployed


Kids: Hopefully someday


Live: Deep in the heart of Texas


Mom's Name: Glenda


Nickname: Zena, CC, Amazon woman


Overnight hospital stays: surprisingly none


Pet Peeves: Ill behaved children in public


Quote from a movie: "Fiddle Dee-Dee! I'll worry about that tomorrow. " from Gone With the Wind one of my favorite movies of all time.


Right or left handeed: right


Siblings: I am the youngest out of five kids. I have 3 sisters and a brother.


Time you wake up: 5:00 am but in the summer I take naps. :)


Underware: Yes. At all times


Vegetables you dislike: beets, turnips, greens, Lima beans, radishes, and cabbage


What makes you run late: Usually I am not late. I set all my clocks ahread so I'll be on time to early but when I do run late it's usually because of my husband.


X-rays: my foot


Yummy food you make: sour cream and chicken enchiladas, humming bird cake, brownies and all kids of yummy desserts


Zoo animal: Lions because I'm a Leo and giraffes because they are tall and long legged like me! :)


What are the ABC's of you? 

Things I Love about Summer

1. Sleeping later
2. walking around barefooted, in a tank top and shorts
3. Raspas (Spanish for snow cones)
4. Everything is more laid back and relaxed
5. Vacation Bible School
6. Air Conditioning for our hot Texas summer
7 More time to spend with my favorite girl Kaylin
8. A new season of Drop Dead Diva
9  homemade ice coffee
10. Walking along the beach
11. Wonderful breezes coming in off of the bay while I'm hanging out at the Yepez Vineyard