Run Forest Run

So I have started running...

Yes. Me. Emily. Miss "my heart will surely stop if I perform physical activity".

For about 6 weeks now I'm been making a solid effort to be more active. I run on average 5 nights a week. My runs are poradic. I don't follow any set schedule. I'm not really training for anything (unless the fight against heart disease counts). Some nights I just jog at about a steady "8.5" with 1.5-2 incline for about a half an hour. Other nights I do 60 sec sprints with 90 sec recovery for about 20-30 minutes. Other times I just walk/sprint/jog at whatever incline I feel like at the moment or how the music "moves" me. :)

I also never thought I would run. I hate running, or used to. I hated how much my chest hurt, I hated how my legs screamed.. But I don't feel that way. At times I don't want to run, so I don't. But for the most part its therapeutic. I feel exhilarated and not gonna lie, kind of bad ass (especially when I have Bon Jovi - Because I Can blaring).

I haven't seen much of a difference on the scale, but I've noticed minor improvements with muscle tone physically. Not enough that I'm celebrating but I assume I'll get there eventually. I just feel better mentally though. It's amazing how much less of a pile I feel like. LOL and I mean that in the least self deprecating way possible. Not that I'm that unhappy with myself, but to be this active makes me feel soo good!

I haven't changed my eating habits significantly. I eat what I want, I've just tried to make better choices if it suits me and to cut back on portions. Thats probably why I haven't seen much of a difference in the scale but I'm okay with that.

REO Speedwagon

This past weekend the whole Chase clan (or a good portion of them) made the trip to Prairie Meadows in Des Moines to watch REO Speedwagon. It was a lot of fun for all of us to get together and rock out with the old farts. LOL, they are good and don't get me wrong they can still rock, but man are they old. Its a little unsettling I guess. I mean they weren't really my era of music but I do remember listening to them as a young child on a tape cassette in my dad's car. So Out of Season was one of my favorite songs and I would listen to it over and over.

But I saw them up there and they looked so old and tired (towards the end of the performance) and I couldn't help but think what they would have been like it their prime and how fast it all must have gone for them. I sure they stand up their on stage sometimes and think "How did we get so old!?" And thats happening to all us. One minute you're a vibrant healthy active youth and the next you're old. I suppose if you're able to keep doing what you love, with the people you love, then thats what matters, and this band I would assume, certainly is.

We certainly made some memories to last a lifetime anyway. :)

Not Too Shabby

I've been doing pretty well sticking to my "resolutions". We've attended mass fairly regularly and while Piper isn't the most attentive, I like to think we walk away with something.

I've also been trying to stick with blogging about Piper (and our family) on our other blog, "The Williams Beef". I've also been trying to take more pictures and video tape her more frequently. She does so many cute things and pretty soon she'll be all grown up and I'll be left wondering what the hell happened.

My health resolution on the other hand has not faired so well. I haven't lost or gained any weight. I'm not any more active and I (for the most part) don't eat any healthier. Oops.

Hopefully when the weather gets nice, but thats my excuse for everything. :)

All Good Things Must Come to an End

....or so they say. Must they, though? It seems that way sometimes. Take friendships for example. In grade and high school, friendships are you life blood.  It nearly kills you to go hours without certain friends. You share all your special moments, your deepest secrets, your darkest fears, and your greatest dreams.

After we graduated we swore we would stay friends. Maybe that's not realistic. She went to her school, I went to mine. We talked and visited and it seemed like nothing had changed when we got together. Maybe the key word there is 'when'. Our visits got less frequent but still things felt just the same when we did.  We graduated college and moved on to other ventures. We were bridesmaids in each other's weddings.

And if you asked me what happened, I wouldn't be able to pinpoint it. Last Christmas we were supposed to get together and at the last minute she cancelled on me with a pretty weak excuse. I of all people understand, so I let it go. I've been there. Then this week I heard she was coming back to Iowa. I texted and asked if she was coming and if she wanted to get together....nothing. No response. Maybe I did do something. It's possible. I think maybe its just one of those good things that came to an end.

I have a few friendships that match this scenario. Not word for word exactly, but same gist. It hurts and it makes me feel old, but then I suppose that's life. Through the wonders of social networking I share in their joys and triumphs, and maybe that's enough.

I worry that I don't have enough true friendships anymore. Family, lots. Casual friends, lots. But other than brad not many that I share everything with.  That's mostly my fault. When I met brad, he became my world. My friends still meant a lot to me...perhaps I just took them for granted.

No one will ever mimic the bond we shared, but I do have the memories...and one small heart tattoo...that will last forever.

You know you're old when you don't know how old you are...

Thank you Lindsey for pointing out that I"m 28 1/2, not 27 1/2. That was kind of you. :) I clearly am not getting any younger or sharper.

Still haven't decided on a resolution. I've added a couple more to the list of potentials.

I'm going to really try to committ to attending mass on a regular basis. I'm not going to say every week, because I think that makes me doomed to fail, but I'm going to make an honest attempt to attend on a regular basis, not only for my own sake, but for piper's as well.

My other potential resolution is to improve my documenting of pipers life. More pictures, more everything.. I'd like to start a notebook/diary of her life. Daily entries of things she's said and done that are noteworthy. Haven't decided exactly how though.  I thought maybe I'd start my own blog/webpage dedicated to her (and our family). Or maybe set up an email account for her and send her daily (er routine) emails and she can read them when she's older.

I have started another related blog that is going to be more centered around her specifically but our whole family too. I really want to stick with it. I also committed to joining an official Live Healthy Iowa team so hopefully that will motivate me to MOVE and not inhale every ounce of food I encounter. :)  I also bought 3 marriage self help open communication books. So far what I've read has really opened my eyes to potential hazards and pitfalls that are easy to fall into. It makes you feel better that other people have had similar thoughts to yours and that it doesn't mean your marriage is doomed. It means you' re normal and that marriage is hard and takes real work and effort. It lets you know that it's okay to be frustrated and angry, but if you handle it the right healthy way, you'll have a happier stronger marriage because of those challenges. So anywho ;)

Happy almost weekend to you :)

New Year..New Beginnings?

2013...are you sure!?

It can't be. Where have all 27 1/2 of my years gone? I recently read an inspirational quote on pinterest that asked "Is what you're living for worth Christ dying for?"

Well that makes me feel pretty guilty. I'm not altogether unhappy. I don't feel like I'm letting God down in any extraordinary way. I haven't committed any major crimes or grievous sins (to my knowledge--just your average,every day, run of the mill sins). I do however feel like I should be living life more. Like maybe there's some big secret out there, and I'm not in on it. I wake up, go to work, come home, spend time with my family, go to bed, repeat. There are a few minor variances, but not many. Am I missing out?

A new year is always a time to reflect and take stock of yourself and your life. As I said, I'm not altogether unhappy, but do feel like something is missing and like I should change something. Where to start though?

I've tried resolutions in the past and have always failed. I have a few in mind for this year but worry that they will fall to the same fate. Should I make several and therefore increase my chances of one of them succeeding, or should I just pick one and focus all of my energy and committment to that sole resolution?

Some of the front runners this year are to improve my domestic skills, ie: Laundry, cooking, and organization in general. I feel like I am staying afloat in this area but could make my life a lot easier and more efficient if I fine tuned it. I'd also like to become more fluent in spanish. I do speak some (and understand more) but still am not able to converse effectively. It would greatly help out at work. Along with millions of other people around the world, I'd also like to lose weight/tone up/increase my fitness level/get HEALTHY! :)  I've been doing the biggest loser at work and while I haven't gained any weight, I'm not losing any either. LOL, not sure if thats the point.

I've also considered having my resolution centered around my marriage. I was reading an article the other day that said all couples, new/not so new, old/young, married/just started dating, happy/unhappy...(you get the picture) should take a proactive approach to their marriage. It basically said that even the happiest of couples can let their relationship dissolve and a lot of marriages could be saved if people took a proactive approach to preventing their marriage from reaching that point. It made a lot of sense. I feel happy and content with my marriage. We fight like every couple. He has quirks that irriate me and vise versa but what if those things developed into something more and could have been prevented if we had learned to better communicate and prevent "toxic thinking"? We work hard at everything else in our lives, for instance our health. We participate in routine screening and health maintenance. Why wouldn't we do that in other aspects of our life that are important to us?

Regardless of what my resolution is this year, a few things will always be most important: My family, specifically Brad and Piper; and God.

It's easy to lose sight of that in the moment, especially when times are hard and stressful but in todays world, its even more important to hold close to that. Life can change in an instance so holding on tight to those that are dear is vital.

Take II

As I go through my life, driving, filing my nails, making supper, taking a shower.. I have a million thoughts I want to get down. When I sit down to write, nothing nada zip!

I guess I can write about my latest personal endeavor. We're doing "the biggest loser" at work and I've decided to join. They did round one a few months ago and I didn't participate, mostly because I HATE dieting and eating health in general. I do however WANT to have a healthier lifestyle and I think weekly weigh ins with everyone watching (plus the added incentive of a financial loss/gain) is the only thing thats going to motivate me to get my butt in gear.

I'm not altogether unhappy with my weight. Its within the recommended BMI. I'm also not all that unhappy with the way my body looks, but over the years (and after a baby) its not what it used to be or even could be. I have my insecurities and my "I wish my...'s " like everyone else does but apparently those have never been great enough to make me do something about it. So I suppose I'll blog about that and maybe it will help! :)

I've joined myfitnesspal.com to track my food and exercise. It's amazing how keeping track of your daily food intake makes you so aware of what you eat! I used to eat things all the time that would probably triple the recommended daily caloric intake! So far I"ve been able to keep within the recommended calories (or close). I'm not seeing much of a difference in weight or looks, but then its also only been 3 days, LOL. :)

The holidays are also rapidly approaching which should make it even more interesting. I'm not good about portion control or saying no to things I LOVE if they're right there for the taking.  I guess i'll find out how much self control and will power I have!

Piper is growing so fast. She's 16 months now and I'm amazed by her every day. She'll do something I didn't know she knew how to and i'm constantly wondering how or where she learned that! She continues to eat like its her job, but she's right on track for weight. She's only in the 6% percentile for height, lol but no one in either side of our families is very tall.

We frequently get asked when baby #2 is going to be on the way and that is the million dollar question (from myself included!) The first time you dont' know what you're getting into, so you decide to start trying, and you're none the wiser. The second time around you know whats coming and you already have one, so its a little bit scarier. I also want to find the right balance for timing. I want to be a part of and enjoy every milestone and moments of development with Piper and I think sometimes people rush into a second one and miss out on a lot with the first one. I also don't want to wait too long, as I want 4 (or so) kids. As I'm nearing 30, we're on a little bit of a time crunch.

I guess you just do your best to follow God's plan!

Thats it for now..I promise I'll TRY to write more next time!

Love Always,
Em