Turtle or Hare?

Sometimes when things are as busy as they have been lately, I often wonder if I’m speeding too quickly through life.  I tend to like the days that fly by, especially when time goes quickly at work, but I despair a little when it’s November and yet it seems like January was only a month ago.

I miss being a kid during the summertime.  The long days and no school made every day seem like a year.   I often wonder if all that we do with our time, such as work, hobbies, or volunteering, is just distractions to the real life.  I mean what is life anyways?  What does it mean to truly live?  If I were Matthew McConaughey, living would mean having websites titled J.K. Living, living in an airstream, and running next to Lance while listening to my ipod.  As cool as that sounds, I’m not Matt but I still wonder if life is just our physical and spiritual being inhabiting this time and place or is it what you do with this time and place?  Is it the amount of emotional experiences you have or the amount of places you’ve seen?

My thoughts?  To me, it would seem a shame to neglect to see all the things that God has provided this earth.  To never wander past a 100 mile radius from your home.  I think God gave us life and the world around for a divine purpose.  To commune with him and live in an environment that is the product of his design.  I think that to live is to worship.  Not to worship the newest HDTV or latest fashions.  Not to worship your friends or the good times.  We were created to worship the creator, to appreciate and love what he provides.   Not because he forces us, but because our souls yearn for it.

It’s amazing how quickly life turns a simple purpose into a complex and difficult task.  I find I have no time for God anymore.  My mornings are rushed and my evenings are short.  I always start to realize when I’m going to fast when my heart starts to wonder where God is (as if he ever left).  There has to be a balance somewhere, though I’m starting to realize that I’ll have to start trimming my tasks if I can prioritize accurately.

So any suggestions?  Anyone find the balance that I so desperately need?

Long Hiatus

So it’s been awhile but I’m back.  I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the most consistent blogger but then again you’re not the most consistent reader (I check my stats)  .   A lot has occurred since my last post; I didn’t get the job I wanted, I did get a couple of leads for a new job, Micah and I went on vacation to the mountains, we also agreed to work for HOT – Hands on Tallahassee coming up in March, and FAHBG is doing ”No Beer January”.  All in all this has been a busy holiday season and I’ve discovered that it’s hard to find time to read (or blog), even when you’re on vacation.

Here’s the updates:

FAHBG: So we’ve taken some time off from working out seeing how the holidays have screwed everything up.  I’m looking forward to getting back into the groove again though for my body is needing some tough love.   In other news, my sister called wanting us to make a Crossfit style workout video for her since she’s too far away to join us.  I’m super stoked about the idea and keep imagining us doing a Hans and Frans themed video.  I’m aiming to deadlift over 200# by mid-February.  My PR is 190# and before you say 10# is nothing to add, I set mid-February as the time-frame since we’re traveling a lot in January and I’m sure I’ve lost some strength from this couple of weeks of pure laziness.

Paleo:  The holidays have been an evil temptress but I think I did about as well as anyone could do under such temptations.  FAHBG is doing its own Paleo challenge during Lent since we can kill two birds with one stone .  Ehhh….it’ll be tough but since I have the world’s most stubborn body fat, I’m hoping the no cheat days will decrease some of the fluff.  Also, my awesome brother-in-law, Jeff, killed us a deer!  How Paleo is that!  Will post some yum venison recipes soon.

Something I tried last night that was AWESOME:

Roasted Chicken Bacon

1 4lb chicken

4 strips of thick cut bacon

1 tbsp garlic

1/2 onion – diced kinda big

1 lemon – quartered

2 carrots – thick cut

1/4 olive oil

Seasoning:

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp thyme

1/4 tsp sage

1/4 tsp rosemary

1/2 tsp black pepper

Few dashes of Chili powder

Rinse chicken inside and out, pat dry (make sure the giblets are out).  Sprinkle the seasoning mix inside and out of the chicken.  Stuff the garlic, some onion, carrots, and 1/2 the lemon inside.  Put the rest of the veggies and the olive oil around the bird. Put bacon on top.

Cook at 375 degrees for around 1 hour or 1.5 hours if your oven sucks like mine.

Discrimination Inked

I love tattoos.  I have tattoos.  I want more tattoos.  I love the process, the pain and the recovery.  It’s a love affair that many of my peers, mainly my parents, don’t understand.  Maybe this love stems from my quiet form of self expression, love of art, or my ever present need to be BA.  Who knows, but I do know that often things make a dramatic change during the summer time, or anytime really, that my colorfully decorated skin shows.

It’s amazing really, the difference between completely ‘covered up Abby’ and ‘tattooed Abby’.  I get mixed reactions, I get the stink eye from disapproving Grandmas or I get the over-zealous aging mothers that love to brag to me about their faded tramp stamp.  Point is, I’m treated differently by my skin.  I know kinda sounds like I’m dabbling on a race issue – mind you my issue is nowhere near that magnitude since I have the option of covering up.  Speaking of, what a crappy feeling that is.  To feel as though I should have to cover up because of other peoples’ perception of what is or is not acceptable.  Its not like I’m dressing provocatively or outlandish.  I’m a pretty modest person, if anything my husband tries to get me to show more skin.  I think the issue is the underlying message that I should be something I’m not so that others are more comfortable.  Examples?  Work, the classic ‘professional’ attire that restricts the exposure of tattoos.  I know the reaction I would get if I came in with a halter top, I understand and accept this wardrobe limitation since this is a culture I choose to be apart of.  It bothers me though that I feel as though my tattoos are so taboo that I must cover in order to be taken seriously.

I think the most disappointing is when your mentality and morals are judged over something like tattoos.  At what point does my IQ drop because I have ink on my skin?  When do I become less of a person and become more depraved because I choose art of a more intimate kind?  I often wonder why most people stop at the exterior, when the really good and honest qualities lie within a person’s heart.  Maybe it’s just the snap decision our brains make when we see someone different than our ‘norm’. I guess most people just can’t seem to push past it or maybe they don’t really want to.

I’m proud though that I am a Christian who rocks some killer tattoos.  My life as a Christian has been a rough and winding road that has eventually lead me to a rock solid foundation in what I believe. Although I have this innate human trait that wants to criticize and judge those around me, I find myself being brought closer to my faith when the tables have turned and I become the object of judgment.

A common misunderstanding is that people who get tattoos do so out of rebellion or after a wild night of truth or dare.  In some instances that’s the case but most times people get tattoos because they genuinely love tattoos and they like the idea of living their art.  That’s me; I love being art.  I have drawn or have helped draw a lot of my tattoos.  Everything about my art says something about me, I’m a walking storybook.

My overall point is, take a second to think about why you feel the need to judge someone.  Whether its someone who has a full sleeve or a prep kid with a pink polo on, there’s always more beyond what we see.  Who knows, if we fail to move past our own limited ideals we might miss out on someone truly worth knowing.

Things I’m Thankful For

1. Micah – He’s my solid ground, the water to my fire, he’s patient, kind, and honest.  He’s the lest selfish person I know and radiates the glory of God without much effort.  He actively falls in love with me everyday and I’m pretty sure life would not be bearable without him.

2. My family – I have the best family in the world.

My Mom and Dad are my ministers and source of comfort.

My sister, Krisit, is one of the best people of all time and my bestest friend

My brother Eric, is generous, incredibly smart, and completely amazing.

I’m thankful for all of my nieces and nephews (Gracie, Hunter, and Jack) and in-laws (Carmen, Jeff, and all of Micah’s family).

3. My Friends – So I’ve never been one to have tons of friends.  I like most everyone I meet but only select a very few to call friends.

Thera: My oldest and dearest friend.  She’s been a source of inspiration and strength for me many many times.

Mandy:  My second oldest and amazing friend.  We’ve been through so much together, we’ve battled our demons and come out for the better.

Sophia: She’s spunky, makes me laugh, and she’s a great person to have long conversations with.

Monica and Marc: She keeps my creative juices flowing and both of them are amazingly talented and special.

Josh and Mara: They are amazing people with great minds and big hearts.

Andrew: He’s a ray of light and an awesome friend.  His openness and selflessness is inspiring.

I could go on and on but I’m also thankful for two other wonderful couples Kathy and Jason Stock and Tom and Robyn Gast, love you guys!  For everyone else Kathy P., Tim & Diana, Sam (in Philippines), and the other Sam and all others whom I’m friends with but didn’t mention, I’m grateful we’re friends.

4. FAHBG – I love this gym, most importantly I love the people in it and the hot bodies that are emerging

5. Health and all the pleasures in life:  I’m thankful for my job, my health, my home, and my dogs, Conan and Clover.

6. God – Last but never least I’m thankful for his love, grace, and hope he makes abound in my life.  He’s my ultimate source of strength and I love him for that.

T-Day

Things can get a little hairy around the holidays for those of us on a paleo/primal diet.  Stuffing and casseroles as far as the eyes can see, its no wonder I’m already getting mentally prepped to try and maintain my Paleo innocence.   I’m trying to get ahead of the curve this year by thinking of ways to make it through T-Day without totally falling off the Paleo wagon.

Here’s what I’ve come up with so far.

I don’t know about your family but mine focuses on two things - meat and dessert.  Meat I can handle, no veggies and tons of sugary delectables are almost too much for me.  In such a case, I offer to bring sides, and of course I pick sides that I know will probably not be the hottest item on the menu but at least it’s healthy.  In fact, this tactic of bringing a side can work with any dinner invite.  If you’re like me and you grew up with southern hospitality, or were raised with servitude-type manners, I always feel the need to bring something to contribute to a dinner.  If you ask the host/hostess ahead of time what will be on the menu you can then offer to bring a Paleo friendly dish.  This year for Thanksgiving I’m bringing some paleo veggies, sweet potato casserole, and a paleo sweet potato/pumpkin pie.

Here are my recipes:

• 1. Roasted veggies:

This I can’t take any credit for, Father Andrew from our gym has become a master at roasting veggies so I steal this from him.  The veggies will consist of : baby bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, onion, and cherry tomatoes.  Coat in olive oil, sprinkle with seasoning of choice, and roast at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.

• 2. Paleo Sweet Potato Casserole:

3 cups sweet potatoes, mashed

2 tbsp Agave, or sweeten to taste

4 eggs, beaten

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp lemon juice

½ tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

Pinch of salt

1.5 cups coconut milk

1 cup chopped pecans

1 stick butter

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

Peel SP and boil, then mash the SP while they are still hot.  Add agave, vanilla, lemon, and seasonings.  Beat eggs and add to coconut milk then slowly add to the SP mixture.  For topping, mix pecans and shredded coconut with a little honey or agave.

Bake at 400 degrees until firm.

• 3. Pumpkin and/or Sweet Potato Pie:

I’m using a pie recipe from MDA for the pumpkin and a sweet potato recipe from Catalyst.  For the sweet potato I’ll use the crust recipe from MDA.

Hopes this helps. Remember tons of meat, non-casseroled veggies, and light on the dessert and you should be fine.  Happy Holidays!

Failures

I have a confession to make, one that is never easy for me to divulge but I have to admit that I am in some respect a failure.  Not in overall life mind you, it is more of an everyday type of falling short.  You see, I am failing miserably at following through on my faith.  One of my greatest desires is to be ‘Christ like’ and I find the more I try the more I fail.  What does it mean to be ‘Christ like’?  To me it means to be able to love those around you, to have empathy, to care no matter who someone is, to be compassionate, to be able to put your pride aside for the benefit of yourself and others,  to be slow to anger and quick to forgive.  There’s plenty more but these are my main targets right now. 

I think it’s important to impact those around you in a positive way, which I feel I do for the most part.  I really care about my friends and family but I find it hard to be compassionate and caring towards those outside my inner circle.  I know a lot of the issue is trust.  I just don’t trust and really when you think about it why should I?  This world is so screwed up in so many ways but I know that that isn’t a valid excuse for God. He didn’t say love those who you trust.  He’s quite aware of the state of the world which considering his word, leads to something that has me longing even more to be “Christ like’.  I’m beginning to see that Christianity is the epitome of strength.  Sure turning the other cheek is seen as a form of weakness to most, but when you consider the amount of internal strength, resilience, and self/God-confidence it takes to absorb an abuse and then have the ability to let it go just to allow another blow – completely astounds me.   I want that.  I want to be that resilient.  I want to be happy and content no matter what someone says or does to me.  I want to display the love of God in someone life, I want to love them how he loves me. 

It’s a tall order I know.  I’m far from being able to care and give myself to others like that but I guess the best thing that Christianity has ever provided me has been hope and to have hope is to have life.  I see where I was 5 years ago to where I am now and it’s astonishing and believe me I do not credit the change to myself, if left to my own devises I would have completely torn myself apart (yes, I was that self-destructive). The change in me came from a greater hope and stronger love that only God could provide.  So I know that I can resemble Christ, heck God created us in his image I better resemble his likeness.  I just have to conquer this selfish that is so rampant in my life.  Nothing truly wonderful came out of pure selfishness, it’s destructive and deteriorating.  

So my main goal is to remain hopeful.  It is what I hang on to each time I fail at living my faith.  I know I can get there, it’ll take time and patience (another thing I have to learn!) but I’m committed to God and I know he’s committed to me.  So watch out world, I’m going to love you no matter how sucky you can be!

Broomstick Mile FAHBG Style

Saturday was jammed pack with a Crossfit Open Workout in the morning then a post workout at FAHBG afterward, man was my body wrecked.  We had a great crew show up for the open workout and it was awesome seeing the newbies push through  the different exercises and finish with great times.  The Broomstick Mile FAHBG Style consisted of:

25 or 40 Overhead Squats (weighted or not, your choice)

Run 400 meters

25 or 40 push-ups

Run 400 meters

25 or 40 Thrusters (weighted or not, your choice)

Run 400 meters

Sideways Planks: two 30 sec holds or six 10 sec holds (weighted or not, your choice)

Run 400 meters

I did 16:28 but didn’t do weighted overhead squats which I totally regret. I did the max rep of 40 for everything.

Also, the finisher was four 100 meter sprints.

The post workout was light and breezy, we practiced throwing around some weight to work on our personal goals.  Squat cleans still give me butt pains but I’m starting to pull the usual recommended weight for workouts which means I’m getting closer to not having to modify my workouts.  Now if I can just get those dang dead hang pull-ups I’ll be golden.

Here’s some pics from Saturday, also a complete rundown can be peeped at http://fahbg.wordpress.com/

The Original 5

Dead Legs

Crossfit was hating on my legs this week.

Wednesday we did front squats and today we did squat cleans….ehhhh….I’m walking like an old lady.  It’s all good though, I love having strong legs.

I did: 21-15-9 Squat cleans (85lb)  and dips (with blue band).  Completed in 16 minutes.

So last night was a farwell party for my boss at work.  I was nervous at first, I’m not good at parties were I don’t know know people well but it was surprising pleasant to see my fellow coworkers outside of the office.  Sometimes it gets so stuffy and drab to constantly see people in a business atmosphere.   I’ve only been working there for 7 months but feel like I’m just now getting to know people and I think the party was a great chance to do so, also there was beer so there’s nothing like a little liquid courage to get you talking.   The hosting house was beautiful and made me dream of what I want in a house when I grow up, oh being 29 doesn’t make you a grown up if you don’t want to be.  I think I definately want a house that has lots space for people and it has to have huge wooden table for dinner parties.  Maybe I should just move into the house I was at last night, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.

Hump Day

So today is a true hump day, you know how I know?  I feel like I just went up the steepest freak’n hill to get to where I am right now.   Not only was yesterday a “I hate my life” day but today I totally feel like vomiting.  It’s not my usual reason for nausea, the amounts of deliciously disgusting food at work that I have tempting me at every corner or the creepy people that breath heavily,  so I’m perplexed on why I feel like hurling into my trash can.  No, I’m not pregnant.  Let’s just clear that up.  Ehhhh….maybe my subconscince is telling my body to take a sick day – oh wait, I’m still a temp worker who doesn’t get paid benefits.  This is going to be an awesome day.

Crossfit: 

Today’s Challenge: Front Squats and Pull-ups  10, 9, 8……. AMRAP in 10 minutes

Did: Round reps 10-8 at 95lb & reps 7-4 at 75lb

Pullups – Blue Band 

Did 94 total reps of pullups & front squats

 

Yesterday’s Challenge: Tabata 20 sec on, 10 secs off 8 rounds of each – Pullups, Pushups, Squats, Situps/Knees to Elbows

Did: 265 total reps

 

Recipe Today:

Can’t do this today – you know…..the vomit issue

Weekend

This weekend was spent in the beautiful St. Augustine and the trip couldn’t have been more perfect.  My husband, Micah, was a groomsmen in the wedding of Josh and Allison Mason, and there’s nothing like going to a wedding that was designed by two very creative people.  The wedding was inspired by the wedding scene in The Village, minus of course the creepy pig things in red hoods, and was absolutely brilliant.  Witnessing a wedding like this is always a good opportunity to reflect upon your own nuptials and I couldn’t resist dishing about what I would have done differently with newlywed Becka as we waited for the ceremony to begin.  Hindsight tells me I should have had a clearer picture in mind when I was designing what I wanted the theme to be, which through a random trail of thought got me thinking about my life and where I see myself in the years to come.

I think having clarity can be easier said than done, it’s easy enough to say what you want to do but laying out the steps to do so can be somewhat dizzying.  I  often wonder how successful people got where they are, did they plan everything or was fate a main contributor?  To hear stories told in interviews you’d think divine fate hand feed them what they needed to be successful, not to mention their immense passion and drive to get them there.  I do believe that most times you have to make things happen, though there are the handful of times that God will intervene to steer you in the right direction.   My problem is I don’t really feel passionate about one thing, I feel so scattered in my desires and dreams.   I often wonder if I have it in me, if I have the guts to really make it in life though more often then not I wonder if it even matters.  It might sound cheesy but I think we could all remind ourselves what’s really important in life is joy.  If I can spend 85% of my day being content and happy then I could be considered pretty successful, regardless what my resume or bank account says.   The real question is, is that just an excuse to remain where I am and be content with where my life ends up?

 

Recipe for the Day:

Salmon Spinach Salad

3oz Salmon

Spinach and mixed green lettuce

Green and red pepper

Onion

Tomato

Dressing: Olive oil, thyme, mint, parsley, a little balsamic vinegar

Dash of garlic salt