Minted Monday: Snail Mail Blessings

Have you ever been twitterpated with a website? After hours of {cyber} window shopping, you are left swooning over practically everything on the site and your cart has hundreds of dollars worth of items in it? Well that is exactly what happened to me when I stumbled across minted. Within minutes I was dreaming that I was a seamstress so that I could make something with this fabulous fabric, planning my next business adventure so I could create adorable business cards,  and envisioning where I might be able to place this amazing print in my house.  If you are like me, and you like the attention to detail when planning a party, enjoy stationary for every season & occasion,  and want to find the perfect gift for that special person on your list, well minted is the site for you.  

How did I originally get minted!? 

For those of you who know me, you know I LOVE sending snail mail, whether for a special occasion, to encourage someone, let someone know I appreciate them OR just because! 

So I am always in search of new and fun stationary...aka SNAIL MAIL.  While I love blessing someone with an unexpected piece of snail mail and have been sending Thank You Notes since I could scribble my name, I feel like letter writing is a lost art that needs to be revived.   And OH MY, minted's stationary selection takes letter writing to a whole new level.  

How great are these!?

So why do I think handwritten notes are so important? 

They're genuine and thought-out. Don't get me wrong, I am not against tagging a friend in a Facebook post to thank them for an amazing birthday gift or tweeting a friend letting them know you're thinking about them, but taking the time to find the perfect card, use your best penmanship to write out your thoughts, and place a stamp on it on your way to the mailbox really show your genuine thoughtfulness. 

Love the simplicity.

They create lasting memories.  I don't know about you, but I save a lot of the cards I receive. Whether its a baby announcement, a motivational card from a friend, or just words of encouragement I love to keep them and go through them occasionally, allowing me to both reflect back and appreciate them again in the future.  

I love the instant gratification of social media, allowing new parents to share the joy of their new blessing with the world immediately, but those posts are soon lost as they are buried under newer posts.  What I love more is the joy of seeing a baby announcement everyday on my fridge when I have my morning coffee. 

BIRDS OF A FEATHER...LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

They're personal.  The perfect card is a representation of the sender and holds something special for the recipient.  The words of the card speak directly to the one who will be reading it.  When writing a card, thought goes into each and every word, with the message being spelled out in penmanship that is unique to the writer.  Email by nature is momentary and lacks the character of someone's perfected handwriting.  Long after the delete button is hit on an email, a letter remains to be read, appreciated and preserved. 

Oh my...too cute!

They're Fun! How great are all of these cards!? 

HELLO!

They teach a lifelong, invaluable lesson.  It's never too early to teach children the importance of writing a letter, sending a thank you, and practicing perfecting their unique handwriting...dotting their "i's" with an open circle and going for the more curvy/"bubbly" writing.  Make letter writing fun with creative personalized cards.

They're Tangible.  Personal. Real.

Whether you want to cultivate romance, acknowledge the blessings of a friendship, send a word of encouragement, or express gratitude, Minted has the perfect card for you for the perfect occasion. 

Now I need to decide which cards to purchase! Oh yah, and come up with a reason to throw a party so I have an excuse to purchase menu cards {remember, its about all of the small details}, fun decor, and of course a photo backdrop, because no party is complete without a photobooth! 

HAPPY WRITING! 

Spring Break....OREGON Style

A few months back my friend from Missouri told me that she and her family wanted to come to Oregon for their Spring Break, so I quickly went to work on putting together the perfect itinerary.  I didn't want to leave out any detail, as I wanted this to be a Spring Break to remember...and that is was!

After flying in late Saturday evening, we heading to Crater Lake Sunday morning for their guided snowshoe walk; the rangers always make it a fun, educational experience.

While there wasn't a lot of {and no fresh} snow, it was the perfect day.

Beyond blessed by this friendship!

A Crater Lake snowshoe walk isn't complete without a penguin slide.

Shhh...don't tell anymore, but this picture was made possible thanks to a selfie stick.

Picture perfect!

Later that evening we headed to the Craterian Theater to see Ladysmith Black Mambazo, for a little cultural experience. 

Monday, while I was at work, the crew headed to Wildlife Images, where they met Nubs the badger. Evidently Nubs loves the smell of feet...which the boys thought was hilarious! 

For dinner and some evening fun we headed to Ashland.  Oregon is home to several breweries, so we hit up one of my favorites, Standing Stone Brewery, for dinner and their infamous sweet potato fries! Not only are the food & beer great, but I also love their mission to be a sustainable dining venue. 

A total tourist thing to do, we drank some lithia water.

Tuesday, while I once again went to the office, the crew headed up the road to Wildlife Safari! Its pretty amazing that right here in Oregon you can have encounters with bears, lions, giraffes, cheetahs,  and more, all for less than $20/person.

I mean, where else can you make friends with an ostrich!?

That night it was time for some adult fun, as we headed to the Rocky Tonk for a James Otto concert.

Bonus for the night, the opening act was from Missouri, and Heather was able to snag a picture with one of them.  

Girl I just got started love you...

While we were out on the town, the kiddos were having a blast with Grandma Shawn & Grandpa Vern {my parents}.  This grandma relationship started a couple years back when we all did the Seattle Rock N Roll marathon and my mom watched the boys while we ran.  I love that Ashton and Parker are not only comfortable to hang with them, but have a blast doing so.  All night long Heather and I were receiving texts with pictures of their hole in one at miniature golf, dances moves on Dance Dance Revolutions, and results from the slick car race track.

Oh my, whip cream on the straw was the highlight of our daily trips to Dutch Bros! 

Wednesday was perhaps one of the highlights of the trip...a behind-the-scenes, VIP tour of the Landfill and Transfer Station.  Garbage, its a fun and fascinating business.

After the tour and a 3 hour drive to central Oregon, an ice cold beer, fireside at 10 Barrel was heavenly.  

What day are we on now!? Oh right, now its Thursday, and the fun continues.  After a {much needed} relaxing morning at the pool {which we ran and rode bikes to} we headed to Smith Rock Oregon State Park , for a hike up Misery Ridge Trail...

...for the perfect Christmas Card photo opportunity!

Truly breathtaking!

As Friday rolled around we decided that a horseback ride was a MUST while staying at Black Butte Ranch in Central Oregon. Let me be really upfront and honest, I am not a huge fan of horses..BUT...I rallied for the team and had so much fun {and now want to go to a Dude Ranch!} ! Meet Billy, Bon Jovi, Strawberry, Indiana, and XXL! 

Billy and I got along quite well...

On the road again...headed for Portland! The boys waited ALL week to eat at a food truck, so our first stop was at Cartlandia, for chicken & waffles at The Coop and Voodoo Doughnuts! 

We officially wore the boys out, but the itinerary had one more thing on it for the day...a Blazer Game!!! Phil stayed back at the hotel, poolside with the boys, while Heather and I had a Girls Night Out at the game. 

Saturday had arrived, the day we would say, "until next time!" But that didn't mean the fun had to end! We checked out some beach cruisers from the hotel and rode to Starbucks and then around the parking lot! Perhaps one of the highlights of the trip! Seriously! 

FREE Beach Cruisers to ride...Aloft is for sure my new go-to-hotel! 

Spring Break 2015, Oregon Style...That's a wrap! We squeezed every ounce of fun out of the week.  What's up next!? The next trip to Oregon will include a trip to the coast to ride quads on the dunes, a day at the lake, and perhaps a float down the river! Many more fun & exciting adventures to come! 

Training vs Racing...The Struggle is Real

My easy pace is my former tempo pace.  My tempo pace is something I never envisioned being able to maintain for over a mile, yet alone several miles.  I have found a love for running around the "oval office' and pushing my limits during speed workouts.  But there's a problem...

My race results do not reflect what I know I am truly capable of.  My race results do not reflect what is taking place during my training. 

I approach the start line excited, confident in my abilities, but then it all falls apart.  It wasn't until my last race that 2 words came to mind....RACE.  ANXIETY! This is a foreign concept to me, because as a competitive swimmer for over 10 years, I was a slacker at practice {the one whose goggles were always leaking, pulling on the lane lines while doing backstroke, turning around in the middle, etc...you get the picture} but did great come competition time.  Qualifying for state, regionals and more; I loved racing! And was successful at it.  This {RUNNING} RACING thing is a whole new ball game for me...

Why do I run faster on a saturday morning at 5 am, on 4 hours of sleep, following a crazy hectic week than I do when I am tapered, rested and have the excitement of a race to motivate me? 

When I first started running, it was strictly for fun.  An opportunity to run with my dad, to run with friends, and to travel occasionally.  Then it turned into more.  I had goals. I started following a training plan.  I hired a coach.  I wanted to compete.

My last race, and in all honestly several prior to that, opened my eyes to my personal struggles with racing.  While I knew I was capable of running the paces I discussed with my coach, they made me nervous.  Made me doubt myself.  They consumed my thoughts.  And as soon as I {thought I} couldn't maintain them, my race was mentally, and therefore, physically, over.  I couldn't get back in the game.  I wanted to be done. There was no plan B.  The last half was a walk/run combo, as I felt completely defeated.  I gave up.  It was a mental battle, that I lost. I crossed the finish line emotionally numb.  It wasn't that emotional, tear inducing feeling as if I left everything out on the course, but still fell short of my goal.  Rather, I was embarrassed.  Truly ready to completely throw in the towel on this whole running thing.  I felt defeated.  

BUT...I am not throwing in the towel.  I am not giving up.  I am determined to figure this out, and what a great day it is going to be when I am finally able to successfully put it all together. 

It has been several weeks since the race {yes...I am finally blogging about it, I know!} and I have had time to reflect etc.  and to come up with an answer to everyone's infamous question of "Why?" {when hearing I had a rather disappointing race}.  When is comes to racing, my mind is my greatest enemy; and I am a huge believer in the power, both good & bad, of the mind.  My training no longer focuses solely on my physical strength, but also my mental strength.  I am building the needed confidence to race MY race, that I know I am capable of.  I am channelling my inner competitiveness for good, focusing on competing only with myself, my goals, and my PRs.  

I love running and I look forward to loving racing.  It WILL happen!

A Game of Hide & Seek

Disclaimer: as I attempt to put my thoughts into words, this will probably turn into a rambling of words, that I hope at the end will make sense.  And at times it may be gutwrechingly honest. Enjoy the ride!

It's not atypical that my day starts at 4:45 am as I head out the door to run, and wraps up around 9pm, as I walk in the door from a meeting after work.  I have given myself the title of professional volunteer. Before I go any further, let me clarify...I am NOT saying, and I do not want this post to sound like I am saying,  that I don't enjoy serving on the boards, for the organizations that I do; but I am overwhelmed.  Not happy with how I am spending my time.  I have been talking A LOT about guarding my time, and really reflecting on how & where I spend it. I only have 24 hours in a day, 7 days a week, 4 weeks a month, 12 months a year...and let me tell you, those hours, days, weeks, and months are jammed pack.  

I NEED TO GUARD MY TIME AND SET BOUNDARIES

I think I have always determined how I serve my time based on the end result.  If an organization/non-profit serves a mission I believe in, then count me IN! But recently, I have become aware that the journey, to that end result, is not always fulfilling and a wise use of my limited & valuable time.  As a group of people come together to serve the same purpose, it doesn't guarantee that all of those individuals share the same goals, values, morals, work ethics etc.  I need to start guarding not only how I spend my time, but who I spend my time with. There are so many worthy causes to give to, and I need to choose wisely, so that both the day-to-day involvement and mission are a positive influence on & use of my time.  And what works for me, might not work for someone else, and vice versa. 

I believe the environments in which we immerse ourselves in have such an impact on us, whether we see it or not.  And unfortunately, some of those environments are toxic.  I DO NOT, in any form, want to come across as judgmental, but I need to avoid what I feel are toxic environments FOR ME! I have my own morals and values, and that is what I need to protect,  guard and respect

SO THE RAMBLING CONTINUES...

Earlier this month at FIGHT NIGHT Lindsey talked about how as Christians we often hide behind good things to avoid exposing our brokenness.  We hide behind the words "I'll pray for you" to avoid laking a leap of faith, into what could quite possibly be an uncomfortable, unknown & scary place. We hide behind good deeds to avoid exposing the pain, heartache, and imperfections of our lives. We hide from things that need to be exposed to God.  

We hide behind a busy schedule to avoid the fear of being lonely. To appear as if we have it all together.  To cover up our insecurities. To avoid the fear of letting others down or causing disappointment. THAT'S ME!

WHAT PARTS OF YOUR PAST OR BROKENNESS HAVE YOU BEEN EITHER IGNORING OR HIDING THAT NEED TO BE EXPOSED TO GOD?

As I listened to Lindsey speak, after reflecting on how & where I spend my time, I realized I am hiding behind a busy schedule.  I genuinely enjoy volunteering and serving, but its reached a point that it's now my hiding place.  I am hiding from the fear of being lonely, facing insecurities, rejection, disappointing/letting others down.  I need to regain a healthy balance.  I need to say NO.  

My time is valuable. I am worthy of guarding and spending it wisely. 

It's OK for me to do things for ME. 

Lindsey then asked us, "How does it make you feel to know that God is right behind you, not only giving you permission to move forward but also cheering you on?"

OK WAIT, SOAK THAT IN...

I'm talking to YOU lady...he spoke you into being, he formed you with his hands, he created you specifically for something ONLY YOU can do...and he believes in you more than anyone!! Soak that in for a second. 

SO, IF I COULD DO ANYTHING WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Starting small...

I would join the worship team at church. I can't sing, but I would love to strum my guitar up there.

I would be a "pro" at Dancing With The Rogue Valley Stars next year.

A little bigger...

I would return to Africa and spend time in the bush.  My time there blessed my socks off and left such a lasting mark on my heart.  I have a passion and deep desire to go back. And Lord willing, maybe someday bring home a child. 

And even bigger..

I am not sure.  Or I am not sure exactly what it would look like. Or perhaps I'm just not ready to share. 

But what I do know, is that I am ready to come out from HIDING behind good deeds, serving, giving, etc to SEEK exactly what it is that God created specifically for me to do.  

Capturing Memories with a Qtip Jar

As the Roberts Family prepares to welcome a lil Roberts into the family, my mom has been taking a walk down memory lane, in search of baby photos of my brothers.  Along the way she has come across birthday cards addressed to Vern Roberts, 1212 Best Father's Ave, Daddysville, OR; a portfolio of my school work including a descriptive piece of writing where I go into great detail describing the sights, sounds & smells of a pool during a relay race; and family pictures from several generations back.  

This past Sunday I was up at my parents house for dinner and football {its a weekly tradition}, and we started going through all of the old pictures, memorabilia, etc.  We were roaring laughing, commenting on everyone's unique sense of fashion, remembering certain past times, and reflecting on the blessings of our lives.   

The evening captured the simple but profound love of our family. 

The pictures captured the true essence of each of our personalities. 

The pictures brought true meaning to #roadtobuns! I was blessed with thighs.

We spend our lives creating memories.  Experiences that we will remember for a lifetime.  But unfortunately, those memories quickly fade with time, as new memories and experiences begin to replace them.  We often use certain attributes to spark our memories...the smell of grandma's cinnamon rolls Christmas morning, our favorite childhood doll, a souvenir from a trip.  But nothing captures a memory better than a picture.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Baptism. So joyful for the Lord.  

As I was laughing, crying, reflecting, and just enjoying time with my parents, I started to think that future generations might not have this opportunity.  In an "e" world, most people have more Facebook albums than actual photo albums in their house. 

Create future experiences by capturing the moments of today's experiences. 

Print pictures.

Save artwork.

Keep those special cards.

Take embarrassing pictures that will eventually make people laugh so hard they cry.  Yes, my nickname was Tank. 

As we searched for and found a copy of what is perhaps my favorite Roberts Family picture, I noticed something special.  The candle holder on the coffee table is now the Qtip jar in my mom's bathroom.  

Capture life's everyday moments, save them, then spend time enjoying reliving them.

Capture memories with a Qtip jar.  

Chicago Marathon #Roadtobuns: The Finish

Aye aye aye....I can't believe how long it has been since I have blogged! I have been living life to the fullest, which when added to a broken computer, makes it quite difficult to blog.  But, alas, I am back, to share my #roadtobuns Chicago marathon experience! 

Chicago was my 4th marathon and I went into it stronger, both physically & mentally, and more determined than any other marathon.  I was excited!!! I was excited to conquer the 26.2 miles.  For my training, I had the privilege of working with COACH, of Granato Racing.  He pushed me to new limits.  Helped me realize and tap into my true potential. Aided me in building self-confidence as a runner.

I landed in Chicago with 3 friends, confidence, increased speed, the greatest support team near & far, a training cycle characterized by dedication, commitment and growth, determination to overcome my personal struggle of running a marathon, a love for running I have never experienced before, and a pair of buns.

#Roadtobuns originally started as a joke over Google Chat, and quickly turned into something I was serious about. Committed to.  There was talk of lunges, squats and 80s style legs weights, but more importantly there was talk inside of me saying "I can do this!" #Roadtobuns was not about making a statement, proving something to others, or turning into someone worthy of buns, rather it was a journey to self-confidence in myself.  And for those of you who know me, the thought of running in my skivvies in front of hundreds of thousands of people was mortifying.  Seriously.  Slipping into the buns was symbolic of embracing ME.  I might not have the body of what I perceive to be a stereotypical runner, but I am a runner, and my legs carry me through hundreds and hundreds of miles, get me to the start of a marathon, and then to the finish. And that is something worth celebrating.

The #roadtobuns trio....I am beyond thankful for training partners near and far!

I can't begin to express my gratitude to everyone who supported and believed in me on my #roadtobuns! The encouraging text messages, calls, tweets, coffee dates, cards, etc meant more to me than you all will ever know! And where would I be without Jorge!? The official mascot of #roadtobuns, thanks to Meghan! 

Upon arrival in Chicago, following several delays, we headed straight to De Cero, where we were originally supposed to meet up with several other Oiselle Team runners.  

Holy guacamole, most amazing tacos ever! 

After dinner, we checked into our VRBO, got settled in and headed to bed for an early wake-up call! Mandy and I joined the folks of Bib Rave for a shake out run along lake front followed by donuts {of which I only had a bite}.  I love connecting with others from the running community! 

Reunited and it feels so good...just one of the many blessings of running, the people I have met who have become instant, genuine, life long friends.  

Nothing compares to the excitement and energy of the race expo.  It was great to reconnect with my friends from NUUN, get some course & "momma" advice from Kim, and sign the CHICAGO sign. 

Following the expo we headed back to our apartment for the rest of the afternoon/evening.  I reflected on my training and the journey to Chicago, visualized the course, and mediated on my marathon mantras.  I was confident. Excited.

Race morning had arrived! I was ready! We headed to the start, just blocks from our apartment, exchanged Goodbyes & Good lucks with Heather and Tess, and then headed towards our corral.  We entered our corral and I was excited! Ready to run MY race.  Ready to overcome the marathon hurdle.  As the countdown to the start began, I dropped my drawers,  wished Mandy good luck, and got into my zone.  I went into the marathon with an aggressive game plan, considering my marathon PR, but one that I knew I was capable of! The first couple miles flew by.  Around mile 10 I was anxiously anticipating the half way mark, where I was hoping to see Coach along the course.  Around mile 12 I plugged in and turned on my music {sooner than I had planned on, but I needed to switch things up}.  Up to this point I had nailed my hydration and fueling plan, and felt strong.  As I rolled through the half way mark, and approached mile 14, all of a sudden coach was running with me {did I mention I hadn't met him in person until this point!?}.  I was tired, mentally, as I focused on falling short on my splits AND the fact that I had 12 more miles to go.  Those few seconds of running with coach and some positive words gave me a much needed boost.  Things went well until mile 18...

I kept thinking of HOW MANY MORE MILES I had to run! It was mentally draining. But what I can say is, I persevered and fought harder than I have in any other marathon, and that is a victory.  I didn't completely give up.  While I had a mental game plan for the last 6 miles, it quickly turned into just keep going and FINISH! I kept my focus on the mile I was in, dedicating each mile to someone who has been a huge encouragement in my running, and used the energy of the crowd to stay focused on the finish. Mile 24-26 were characterized by the biggest smile as I was overcome once again with a phenomenal feeling of accomplishment, and the cheers from the crowd were beyond overwhelming. Not to mention, I saw a dear friend for the third time on the course and she jumped in with me for a few seconds! With tired, chaffing legs {note to self, accept the Vaseline at mile 20 when running in buns} I turned the corner to the finish overcome with joy and a 28 minute PR! 

4:38 

Did I reach my goal time? NO! Did I accomplish what I know I am truly capable of? NO! But did I overcome a major barrier and build self confidence along the way? YES! And for that I will be forever thankful and grateful for.  I don't know exactly what is next, but more than likely it will include a spring marathon, as I continue to dig deep and run the race I know I am capable of.  

Every marathon finish deserves a huge celebration.  And what better way to celebrate than a trip to the Drybar with some of your best friends!?

She's gone country...

Followed by some of the best deep dish pizza in town! PEQUODS!

Monday was spent being tourists...

Willis Tour Sky Deck

CHICAGO'S FINEST ART

Tess, professional tourist

The Bean

And my favorite part, navigating the city via public transit. 

CHICAGO,  an all around success, and a journey & trip I will not soon forget! It left a desire for more! More speed. More confidence. More marathons.  More traveling.