Friday Favorites

Favorite Food

CHEESY CAULIFLOWER NACHOS

This sounds amazing to me.
LINK

Favorite Food - Part 2



I promised I'd put this up after talking about it yesterday.
This is AMAZZZINNNGGGGGG!!!!
LINK


Favorite Beauty & The Beast

Favorite Idea



The Teal Pumpkin Project
I love this idea... you take a pumpkin & paint it a pretty teal color
& that signals that you are passing out items for Halloween that aren't going to cause any food allergies for kids that have issues.
I love the idea just because there's so much JUNK & SUGAR on Halloween - its great for all the kids.
But especially for kids that have to stay away from things for their health - even potentially dangerous things, like peanuts & products with eggs.
Plus, the teal pumpkins are just pretty




Favorite Tee

OK... I'll be fair...I'll take 10 million... 

Favorite App



I'm so excited that the 21 Day Fix finally brought out an app for Androids.
it's awesome. Really keeps me in check with my containers.
If you've never bought the containers, you can find the size of each container online - & this app shows what each container can hold (though as a vegetarian, its a little different) but it would work for those who wanted to try this plan without investing in it completely.
& the app is free!

Favorite Peencha

Favorite Funnies

This person must live with my husband too

.... when I started playing with calligraphy pens & now want to learn more about it




... when I watch another round of political debates




... how I feel around carbs




... when I would hug random Ironman finishers




... me at 4:00pm today

Totally Starbucks though

Happy Friday Y'all!!!!

Video phones, crockpots & I'm one step closer to being on Dancing with the Stars.... {Thankful Thursday #93}

This week I am Thankful For:

{The numbers go with my One Thousand Gifts Journal / just ignore them}

890 / Amazon Prime Reader.  Anyone else see they have a new thing if you are a Prime member where you get more free books & what I'm loving - MAGAZINES!!! I downloaded People magazine, Runner's World & Shape Magazine - all for free. NICE!

891 / Celebrity Shout Outs. I know its corny but it made me smile when Sharna, the dancer from Dancing with the Stars retweeted me on Twitter last week during the show!!!  Just my master plans first step to getting on the show!!!! #onecandream

... & then, I also got a like from Kirk Cameron. Yes.  The 80's Growing Pains Kirk Cameron.  He's just started on Instagram & I love his passion for all his Jesus freak love he shines.   I love his sister too, Candace.  Since he liked my photo, I'm just assuming I'm part of the family now too.

894 / YouTube videos.  Man, they really can teach you a lot of things. I've used them recently for some calligraphy tips & tricks. & even used them to get some ideas on bullet journaling & planner tips.  Ricky used one to change the belt on his lawnmower earlier this year.  Need to learn something? Forget college - YouTube is the way to go.

897 / Crockpot Chili. I knew it was going to be chilly on Saturday so thought to look up a quick easy crock pot vegetarian recipe on Pinterest before I left work on Friday. I found one & its now our all time favorite. It has quinoa, sweet potatoes in it ... even cocoa powder, which confused me.  But it was AMAZINGGGGGGGGG.  Ricky even said, "I could actually cry I love this chili that much"... that's how you make a husband happy.  (I'm going to add the link on my Friday Favorites for the recipe)

898 / Home movie date.  I cant believe it - but we missed seeing X-Men Apocalypse at the movies when it was out. We are X-men fans. X-Men is my favorite of all superhero things... hello Wolverine!  But it was fun having a little date in the afternoon at home when we popped it in & just vegged out.  Relaxing afternoon - great movie - hello again Wolverine!

900 / Eating outside.  I will ALWAYS choose to sit outside & eat when the weather is decent. Ricky hates it. But yipee for me when we went to McAlisters after church on Sunday & there were legit no seats left in there. Our only option - OUTSIDE!!! I was giving a high five to the lunch crowd in my mind.

901 / Perfect weather for Ironman. Sunny, cool, in the low 70's - couldnt have made for a better race day.

902 / Met such amazing people at the Ironman.  I've talked about the athletes I met during the race, but even meeting the people I got to work with - some of them were just the nicest people - so friendly. It was just the best crowd. ... & one of the favorite things for me was seeing one of the people I met & his family on Instagram. I commented on their picture & here was the response.  The actual guy that I helped, Jeff - he sent me a DM thanking me again for all my help! How awesome was that!  Social media can be a really cool tool to make the world a smaller place.

That was the lady Jeff was kissing - & if you read Monday's post - the one the guy said he just met that day ;) haha

903 / Video Camera Phone calls. I dont know what its called, but its like Facetime or Skype built in our new LG G5 phones - Ricky & I can call each other using video on our phones.  I love that feature & especially loved it when I was leaving Ironman late on Sunday evening & having to walk the dark streets of downtown by myself. He stayed on the phone with me till I made it in my car & got out of downtown & on my way. It really did feel like a little bit of help in feeling secure.

904 / Change in my car!!!! I had taken all my credit cards, my license, my cash out of my wallet & put in my Flip-Belt to wear to the Ironman Sunday night... & then drove off to work with nothing on me.  It hit me when I got to work & I was like, What am I going to do for lunch?... I couldnt even go to the bank if I wanted to because it was Monday - Columbus Day - the banks were closed.  LUCKILY - I found $2 in bills in my console & I had a few dollars in change in there as well.  BAM!  I was able to get me lunch!  That was so scary to have nothing. I kept thinking, what if my car ran out of gas... what if I got pulled over (no license) ... what if I needed money for an emergency?  Horrible feeling.  I need to throw more money in my car just for this reason.

905 / FIRST ETSY SALE!!!!! I couldnt believe it when I got an email Sunday night that I sold a piece. I was so excited. I sold my cream headband. YAHOOO!!!!!  I actually am getting ready to promote a sale soon for some holiday shopping.  I'm PUMPED!

907 / Hair Day.  Nothing is better than hair day - except making it TO hair day.  There was a wreck on the bridge & traffic was backed up for almost 2 hours. I luckily heard about it right as I left work & made an out of the way move that saved me from sitting for all that time & making to my hair appointment only 15 minutes late.  Whewwww!!!





 

So tell me something good about your week!!!!

Confessions....

... I really like Blue Apron, but man, it takes me 15-20 minutes to just prep the food. Not even counting cooking it. I guess if you enjoyed cooking, this would be a wonderful 15-20 minutes, but the whole time, I'm thinking of pictures I need to be editing or knit things I could be doing.... & dont get me started on all the dishes, plates, silverware & cutting board it takes to prep food.... Admittedly, I do feel accomplished at the finished feast.

... I have yet to see one person talk about a candidate that they LOVE for this election. No one. All I see & hear is hate.  How did these two people make it to the main candidates & yet, everyone talks about how much they hate them & they are ranked as the worst liked candidates EVER. Doesn't that seem so messed up on every level?  They were voted into theses positions... buy the same people that no one speaks up in favor for now... I dont get it. I dont get how this has happened.

...I get there is a freedom & a personal opinion to a vote - I'm all for that - but it drives me INSANE when people say they're going to vote for Bernie Sanders or write in a candidates name, or even one of the smaller known people on the ballot. To me, you're throwing your vote away.  It's what's going to give the election to either Trump or Hilary.  Not because people are voting for them, but because people are throwing votes other directions.  This whole thing makes no sense to me.
... But before someone goes all crazy on me & comments a mile long, VOTE FOR WHO YOU WANT.  I'm all for that. I totally support the freedom that every one of us has.
& honestly, I think we're all screwed no matter what.  #alwayslookatthebrightsideoflife

... I think we missed the calling for the best President America could have had. Where was Kenneth Bone for the ticket when we needed him?

... my mop has fallen to shreds, so I haven't been able to mop my kitchen floor in about 2 weeks. It is horrible. I keep wiping it up with paper towels & All purpose spray.  I'm in desperation mode now. I'm heading to get a mop this weekend & putting some arm power to work.

... After volunteering at the Ironman, it's got my race vibe in gear. Add in the Chicago Marathon this past weekend & the New York Marathon getting ready to happen & I'm wanting to register for a marathon.  The full 26.2.  ... & then felt my knee pain running to my car after leaving the Ironman finish line.... yeahhhhh....  #realitycheck

... I watched the little release of The Walking Dead - about 3 minutes of the first episode that comes out in less than 2 weeks. OH MY GOSH. I'm a nervous wreck about it. I know I'm going to need a bucket near by to watch the first few minutes of it because I'm going to be ready to puke.

... I'm already in nose bleed season. It usually starts when the heat is kicked on in the house & everything dries up. But nope. Already have had 3 shirts covered in blood & choked until I couldnt breath on these nose bleeds. Mine get SEVERE. Not looking forward to an early season of this.

... Every nose bleed I have now, I call myself Eleven.  #StrangerThingsReference

My same face when I get blood on my good shirts

... I think its going to be an ugly fall this year. Nothing is changing colors. We've had no rain lately & everything is just crumbling up & dying. No pretty leaves. BOO!!

... I do feel the irony of complaining about no rain when half of the west coast just got slammed under horrible rain from the hurricane.

... we've had 3 people in our office already sick with flu like symptoms. Oh Jesus... help me.

... I had to turn to Pinterest for a recipe for tea. Seriously. I couldn't ever get the right combo to make tea the way Ricky & I like it. I finally got it down though. Even though Pinterest told me to add in 2 cups of sugar to 8 cups of water. 2 CUPS OF SUGAR??? What the heck... we like it at about 1/2 cup per 8 cups of water.  It was a trial & error but now, I'm a tea making machine.

What's on your mind today?

A lot of gloom & despair this month... {Show Us Your Books}

Excited to join in with Steph & Jana for their 2nd anniversary of Show Us Your Books!

If you are a reader & a blogger, you know the 2nd Tuesday of every month is all about books. 

I love this day in the month. I seriously keep my Goodreads account open on a tab so I can go & add books that some of my favorite bloggers recommend.  THE BEST BOOK DAY!

Thanks ladies for starting this link up 2 years ago... HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU!!

So how did my past month go?  Not as good as my previous month - but still got in 3 books - I won't complain.  I had a wedding in there after all - always keeps me busy.  

Here's my reads for the past few weeks.

99 Days by Katie Cotungo
3 out of 5 starts

The book legit counts down the amount of time that Molly leaves to go to college after returning to her home town where she's sort of an outcast after having a 'fling' with one brother while dating the other.  Town drama.

I'm always up for a good playful love story - especially a love triangle.  & this was the cheesiest of love triangles.  It was an easy, light read but Molly just started to get on my nerves on her indecision between the brothers that she started to dive into new relationships with on her return back to town.  It wasn't enough for me to hate the book, but it did aggravate me. But then the ending?  It was so unresolved.  It didn't make me feel like anything had been answered or completed especially after the back & forth of these brothers & all these relationships. I closed the book totally aggravated at that point & just let down.  I did give it 3 out of 5 though just because it did keep me engaged the whole book.  If books with no 'real ending' doesn't bother you, go for it.




The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
3 out of 5


FINALLY! This book was all over blog world & everywhere else for awhile & I never got around to it. I just need a movie to come out to inspire me to read it. Always love to read before I see.  Which I didn't make the movie this weekend... gotta try& get it in next weekend!!!

A missing girl - a drunk woman who thinks she saw something - ex husbands married to his mistress - husband accused of missing wife's disppearance. All so DRAMATIC.  I couldnt wait to see how it all it was going to come together.

Except I kind of figured it out pretty early on. Dont ask me how I knew. Maybe because the movie trailer stuck out in my mind & I think that helped a lot.

I did enjoy the book.  But I have to say, the main character, Rachel, with her drunken ways - I just wanted to punch her. She got on my nerves with her antics & her drinking & her scheming & making up lies to get into situations that didn't involve her.  Honestly, if she were my friend, we'd have to have a Come to Jesus moment or we couldnt be friends anymore. Mercy... that woman.

If it wasn't wanting to know how it all came together, I would have given up on the book - she bothered me that much.  But luckily there was a mystery to solve.  & while I figured it out, it was still holding me in to see exactly how it would play out.
& in the end, I didn't mind the book.  It wasn't horrible. It wasn't amazing. But glad I read it.
Anxious to see how much of the movie is like the book now.



The A to Z of You  & Me by James Hannah
2 out of 5 stars

I should have known this was just going to be a heart wrench from the beginning when we see the main character in a Hospice unit.
His nurse gives him something to occupy his time by thinking of a body part that starts with every letter of the alphabet & then think of a memory with that body part.
& every memory is just torture.  Either the way he's treated his body with drugs & alcohol even though he's a diabetic, or a memory of a girlfriend that we know early on that isn't around anymore herself.  How she passes away is a big part of the book that you have to read to find out.
So this was just a bunch of death.  Uplifting, huh?

The one thing that really got me in this book was all the jumping time.  You would be in present time in Hospice in one paragraph & then it was like it would jump & you weren't sure how far back you were.

There weren't very many characters I liked in this book.  Except for the Hospice Nurse & the young daughter of a patient across the hall from Ivo, the main character.  I did like Mia (the girlfriend) - but you already knew her fate.  Ivo's friends?  If we all had friends like that - we'd be in trouble.  Just a hot mess of characters really.

& the ending? I had more questions than ever before. I didn't understand how you keep a person out of Hospice the whole book can slide in with no explanation. & how a book is centered around a hatred for someone the entire time & then forgiveness happens without any big explanation. I get forgiveness... I love forgiveness ... but not when in a book, its not explained. It was like, "I'm dying right now so I'll forgive"... dumb. Just dumb finish to me.

I shut this book just depressed. I saw it in Target with my niece who was picking out a book for her birthday. I told her if I ever caught her reading that book, I'd slap her.  Aunt love right there.

If you ever want to read something to just sink into a little despair - this is the book for you.

______________________

Needless to say, this wasn't the best month in books for me.

A bunch of aggravation, frustrating & despair.... sometimes, that's how it all works.

Right now, I'm reading a love story centered around a girl who finds out she's royalty - a MUCH lighter read. My brain, heart & soul needs some cheesy princess romance.

What are you reading right now?

The weekend I got to hug & pray for some Ironman athletes!

Oh mercy y'all...

My ears are ringing, my throat is scratchy from screaming & my feet hurt from standing for almost 8 hours.
I didn't go to a rock concert... I got to stand at the finish line of the Ironman competition yesterday 'catching' the athletes!!!
Mercy - what an experience.

I've worked so many jobs in this race - from giving out water, & working in tents helping women in transition areas, to chip retrieval - & I've always wanted to be at that finish line & catch the finishers.

I always wondered what it meant to be a 'catcher' - what a strange name. But sometimes, you legit CATCH the Ironmen.  Some of them are so pumped up, they keep running & you have to stop them... have a huge man running full speed at you. That's a life experience.
& some of them, you have to legit catch because their legs are mush & they are shaky & wobbly & you have to help them get through the crowd.

What the athletes see running to the finish
... with a few HUNDRED PEOPLE surrounding both sides of the line

But the job of a catcher... you greet them at the finish line with their medal.  You are supposed to be full of energy & excitement for them. CHECK - totally can do that.  My goal was to always say to them in their face, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!  I know some people just want to hear those words.

Then you check that they are OK.  See if they need medical assistance, which the medical team was wonderful.  Half the time, they could see the runners coming down the chute & know if they were going to need help by the way they were wobbling on those last bits of the run.

Then you take the IRONMAN to get their chip off. That's the job I did last year. That's not an easy job. I feel for those people... & was excited to see some of the people I worked with last year still there doing it once again.

Then off to the fast part - you get them water, you get their shirt & hat - which I found out the athletes were very adamant about getting these shirts & hats.  This must be better than the medals.  So many people said, "Where's the shirt?" because it was wrapped up in the hats.  They didn't want to miss out on these babies. I wish I saw what they looked like.
Then its off to escort them to get their pictures taken & then you send them off to the medical tents / food / morning bag pick ups & hopefully to friends & family who are waiting for them... which I found out isn't 100% the case.

It's an experience - let me tell you.

I gotta take this Monday to just go over a few of the things I saw & got to experience myself.

My first athlete in... his name was Rodney. He came in fairly early - & man, he was PUMPED!!! Like screaming & pumping his fists & so ON FIRE!!!! I had to basically run to keep up with him.  This was his 2nd Ironman & he said he PR'ed the **** out of this one.  He was an older gentleman so I was super impressed he was an early finisher.  When I helped him get all his stuff, I had asked him if anyone was there for him & his face lit up & he began to tell me that his wife was with him.  & then I pointed him to the tents & told him that everything he would need would be there... he saw his wife & then said, "No, everything I need is right there" & then he ran to her & she was just bawling & he grabbed & picked her up.  Oh my... I'm already teary eyed on my first person? ... It was like something out of the The Notebook.  I congratulated them both & sent them on their way.

Funny thing - about 2 hours later, he was cleaned up, in jeans & a nice shirt & he & his wife were at the finish line cheering on the other athletes coming through. How nice was that?
His excitement will stick with me.
________________

My 2nd person?  May be one of my favorites.  He was from Boston.  He was a younger guy & just so excited about crossing that finish line. He told me it was his first Ironman & I high fived him & told him he was amazing.  He looked me in the face & said, "DO IT - DO AN IRONMAN" - I laughed & told him there was no way I could do it & he literally stopped & gave me a pep talk. He grabbed my shoulders & said, "You can totally do it! Believe in yourself"  He was just precious.  His family came running on the sidelines - his parents & his girlfriend & they were all just as precious as he was.  This is what got to me - he stopped & asked me what my name was.  I told him & then he just kept using my name in every sentence.  So special.

The best part about this guy... when he went to do his picture - he got down & started doing CLAPPING PUSHUPS... after finishing an Ironman!!! I was screaming & getting the crowd screaming for him & when he stood up, I said, "What the heck are you made of man?".. he looked at me & said, "IRON!!!".. YEAHHH!!! Perfect answer!!!!  His energy was so contagious.

When I send him on his way with his family - he & his family both thanked me for taking care of him & again, said my name, "Rebecca, I appreciate it so much you took the time to come out & volunteer"... I told him  it so I could meet amazing people like him  & he hugged me & headed out to the hugs of his family.
His joy will stick with me.

___________________

My 3rd guy came in & he was running carrying an Columbia Flag.  He was so emotional.  So proud of running for his country.  We had just gotten across the finish line & while they were taking his time chip off I asked him if this was his first & he just BEAMED & said it was his first Ironman ever.  We had just gotten a few steps away & I could see he was emotional & when I handed him his shirt, I said to him, "I am so proud of you"... those words are always powerful to me. It must have been the same to him because when I said them, he just stopped in his tracks & grabbed his face & started bawling. He turned & grabbed me & just sobbed.  Oh gosh. I have a policy that people don't cry alone so I just started crying with him. A total stranger.  We got up a little further & we saw his GORGEOUS wife & beautiful children.  They all started hugging over the fence & he & his wife just started sobbing together.  I was thinking, would it be strange if I just go up & group hug that family? ;) haha... I didn't.  Relax.

The photographer was also from a Spanish decent & came over & took pictures of the family & they were all speaking Spanish.  What a cool event where this family from another part of the world came & could have someone relate to them in their language.  When I took him down the final part of the chute, he again hugged me & thanked me for taking care of him.
His emotion will stick with me.

______________________

THE WINNER!!!!

I love doing this job just to be so close to the athletes.

Side note - I had a video of him coming by & stopping to get his chip off. I reached out & patted his shoulder... my video somehow didn't work. I got an error message on it. DANGIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

__________________________

Then, I got my first woman in the group.  & not just any woman!! She was the first place finisher for the oldest age group. She was in her upper 60's.  UPPER 60'S!! Doing an Ironman. & man, she looked AMAZING!!!! Her daughter & son in law were at the finish line & they started screaming, YOU DID IT - YOU BEAT HER!!! We went to the side so she could get some recovery drink started & as I was helping her with it, I could hear her daughter talking about "She was gaining on you mom, we were so scared" - so I had to ask who they were talking about - if it was a friend or rival - & that's when the daughter said, "You are here with the top age group women's winner!!!" ... Mary.  I'll not forget her name. She was amazing.  & to see her daughter so proud of what her mom just did.

Mary was another one that stopped to ask me my name & thanked me so much for helping her.  What an honor.
Her timelessness will stick with me.

_______________________

Another woman that came through, I knew I was going to immediately like her.  She came across the finish line & did a side yoga pose on the ground for the photographer to take her picture. YES!!!! She got up & I was jumping up & down to give her her medal.  She just immediately hugged me with all her excitement. She was so full of life & energy. I told her she looked like she could keep going &do another 26.2 mile run.  She told me, "Do you know, my doctor said I shouldnt do this... I just had a hysterectomy done 12 weeks ago"... WHAT???? she said she was sore but she felt great because "... they told me I couldn't do it & I wanted to show them I could"... YES YES YES! That's the attitude to have.  She was something else.  When we went to get her picture taken, she said she had to do the yoga pose again.  With a shirt that said, "You're Only Getting Stronger"... YES YES YES!!!

As I took her to the end of the chute, a young man, about 19 or 20 came running through & just grabbed her & picked her up.  It was her son.  Oh mercy - what a proud son. She looked at me & said, This is my baby.  I asked him if he was proud of his mother & he couldnt speak.  Enough said.
Her determination will stick with me.

_____________________________

The WOMEN'S WINNER!!!

She was still so full of energy & so kind to everyone!!!

_____________________________

I met so many other people.

One who was from Phoenix, Arizona who did his 6th race & was all by himself. He said he just enjoyed doing these races by himself. It was his hobby. But he said he was going to bring his wife back for the next one.

A young man, Ian, who came from Florida. He had to be 6'5. The tallest guy I had to "support" in my life.  I told him it was probably a good time for him to get out of Florida with the hurricane & he totally agreed. I had asked him if being used to Florida weather made the morning cold for him in Louisville (it was in the 50's) - he said he was so cold that everyone was making fun of him for shivering. Poor guy.

I met one guy who just pushed himself so hard at the end, he looked like he was going to faint. He was my only medical assist.  His face was as pale as the white screen I'm looking at.  His legs were giving.  I asked him if he just gave it all he had at that last part & he said he did. We got him some water & let him walk a bit & I could see blood going back to his face. By the end of the chute, he was great & talking about his military training.  The medic stuck with him though & told me he was going to make sure this guy got an IV.

I met a guy that when he saw his girlfriend on the side, he just ran & kissed her... & kissed her... & kissed her... & kissed her... I just stood to the side & said to the other catchers, "I am not going to interrupt for one moment" Some things, you just leave alone.  When he finally came with me, I said, "So I take that that's a special lady in your life"... & he told me, "I just met her today".. haha!!! I busted laughing so hard I nearly tripped over my feet.

I met people that came through disappointed about their time & that they didn't feel like they did good... but I had to remind them THEY FINISHED... & was STANDING UP!! To me, screw time - that was the best accomplishment of them all!!!

I probably brought through about 15 athletes & it was amazing... just so inspiring.  Something I'll never forget.

My favorite part of the night though...

every time you get in line to catch someone, you get a medal & wait in line for YOUR person to come through.  As I was standing in line, I would put my hands over every medal & I would pray for the person that I was going to meet. I'd pray that they were healthy & strong... that they would have had an amazing experience... that they were going to be OK after the race... & that I could bring some sort of joy to their day.

I didn't realize when I prayed over these medals & gave them to the people that God brought my way - I was going to be the one who was blessed the most....