C25K: Week 4 Update

"Stadiums are for spectators. We runners have nature and that is much better."

--Juha Vaatainen

I have been horrible about writing updates for the "Couch to 5K Running" plan that I'm doing. Really though, there hasn't been that much to say up until Week 4. That's because Week 4 basically kicked my butt. haha On Friday 10th I started Week 5, which is challenging too. Think the last few weeks of the program will be increasingly harder but that's okay. :)

Week 4 consisted of this plan for all three days (I run on Monday, Wednesday & Friday):

Brisk 5 minute warm-up walk

Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)

Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)

Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-2.5 minutes)

Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)

Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)

Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

I think what was the most challenging about the above plan was the increase of alternating walking and running. Also, the length of running time is significantly increased from Week 3. In Week 3 you only alternate four times.

Anyway, I am thoroughly enjoying this entire running plan so far. I love how it has gradually built up my stamina-- focusing on the time versus the mileage has been a better perspective for me. Plus, I feel like I run farther when I just focus on the time. Speaking of which, with this plan I have been running ALL over the neighborhood. Since I know I have to run for either 3 minutes or 5 minutes (etc...) I have to be creative with the routes I take. I have to take routes that will allow me to run safely and also finish the running plan for the day (usually I try to end at home but a lot of times the end of my run occurs a couple of blocks before my house. Thus, I just end up walking rest of the way and /or running real slow).

I find it so refreshing to see new places once and awhile. I am feeling a little limited though because there are quite a few busy roads where I live and some streets don't have sidewalks. I tried a new route yesterday and didn't feel too great about the location... Need to figure out somewhere new! When I'm finally running for 30 minutes I know of some good places to go-- they're old cross country practice runs.

Running is sooooo good! I just love how it makes me feel all over. During the day after my run, I always feel like I can breathe easier and fuller. I love how my muscles feel when they've been stretched and well-used. I also love how running clears my head. Sometimes I don't even think when I run-- I love that mental quietness. Just me, the pavement, the sun beating down (if I'm lucky- certainly was yesterday), sweat beading up on my skin, my leg muscles powering me through and the entertainment of fellow humans and nature. :) Love, love, love!

Pictures for Previous Post

I'm sorry that I did not get these pictures posted any sooner. Every day I have been wanting to write but just have not had the time. I've been working every day since Wednesday (tomorrow ends my 6 day streak) so I have not had much free time! I'm hoping that after tomorrow there will be some normalcy. haha We shall see!

I'm pretty tired this evening so I am just going to post these pictures to go along with my previous post, "Keep the Change, Throw Out the Junk."

(Here's all of the items we gave away on Friday! And yes, I did end up needing my flash anyway, thanks to the clouds. haha And the tree and plants you see are fake ones. We are tired of dusting them and we don't like them anymore. We still have some in our house, my guess is will get rid of them all within the next year or so.)

(Here are the Frappucino bottles I was talking about. I hope it is okay to post this picture too. But I wanted ya'll to see what I mean. One bottle for all the regular coins and then the other for the new quarters with the state picture/designs on 'em.)

Oh, and before I end this blog tonight I want to note that Granny had dinner at our house this evening. She had been hanging out here today while my aunt and uncle took care of some errands. I wasn't sure if she would be here when I got home from work. She was though! She stayed with us for dinner; it was great to spend time with her. She has really improved since she got back to Oregon. She's able to move fairly smoothly with the walker and she doesn't look as tired. I'm so blessed that she has recovered and is staying positive no matter what. :) Praise God!

Hope you all have had a good weekend! I'll try to write more again-- crossing my fingers for tomorrow.

Keep the Change, Throw Out the Junk

"Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things." ~Elise Boulding

I'm always interested and amused by the type of customers that come into Hallmark. The population varies depending on the time and day of the week. Often during the weekday afternoon time there usually is a trend of elderly people, mothers with their children and some single individuals (those that come in by themselves- not sure how to classify that group). Among these shoppers today, there was a pattern that made me a little concerned.

When customers were paying for their purchases today, many of them wanted to give me exact change. It was very nice of them to do so because it made the transaction easy for me. However, I was bothered when people kept saying they wanted to use their coins because their "purse was getting heavy," or "they were taking up so much room." Basically, the coins were an imposition to the customer. Yes, coins are the heavier part of our currency but they also have a lot of value.

Whenever people used phrases like that today all I could think about was: "Why not save them then? Take them out of your purse or pocket and store them up." Those little coins can add up quickly!

Think about this (yes, this is common knowledge for those of us in the U.S. but I think it is good to look at this again):

1 dollar =
100 pennies
20 nickles
10 dimes
4 quarters

I know there are many other combinations to make a dollar, but I don't want to get into those minute details. My main point is that every coin matters when it comes to saving money. And it all adds up into something much greater! You can't see the savings grow overnight but yet in time it can be quite spectacular.

One of my favorite ways save my coins is to put them into separate glass bottles (I have been putting coins into old Starbucks Frappicino bottles). I have a special bottle that I use for the quarters that have a state design on them, I call them my "special coins." When I checked awhile back, I had about 40 dollars in that bottle. Though I have quite a bit of money in that bottle I am not going to take it to the bank until it is all full.

For the other bottle, I just save all the regular coins-- that is what I do when my wallet gets too stuffed. Now that bottle is completely full. I also put regular coins into my other piggy banks.

I credit my mother on my habit of saving coins. She has been very deligent over the years in saving her coins. Usually every week or every other week, she will take the coins from her wallet and save them in different places. She always puts some coins in my sister's and my piggy banks (she divides the amount she has). Since she's been so good about this; she is actually more of the reason why my one bottle is so full! :) Thanks Mom!

I also want to add that my mom also tries to save certain paper bills. If she gets a new ten and five dollar bills she puts them into separate envelopes. I think this is a neat idea.

Though there are many other ways I would like my family to save, I am thankful that my mom has set a good example of these savings techniques. These little coin savings have added up and been worth it. So, I am encouraging you to do the same-- every penny does matter.

On another note, I want to also mention that I have motivated my mom to massively de-clutter the house! A couple of weeks ago I started going through everything in my room and was able to create four giveaway bags. I am still convinced I could clear out more-- need to check once again. I absolutely LOVE getting rid of stuff I don't need. I feel like stuff just weighs me down and gets in the way. What is the use of having things that I don't need, want or use anymore? Plus, things like that could be used for a better purpose. Perhaps someone who is less fortunate than I am could get more use of out of my unwanted items. I would rather have my unwanted old shirts and sweaters clothe the body of someone who needs them.

Anyway, back to the "Great Giveaway" (that's what I call it in my head). My mom has been motivated to go through numerous items in the attic and on the side of the house. We have piles of items to give away sitting by the doorway. Union Gospel is coming tomorrow to pick the items up! We love giving our items away to that organization-- our next door neighbors, who told us about them, are always giving away items to UG. Funny enough, our next door neighbor has items set out to give to UG tomorrow too.

We're also going through boxes and boxes of cards that we have recieved throughout the years. We're recycling all of the cards that we don't want to keep. I am being selective in the ones I keep though it is a challenge sometimes. There are some that aren't worth keeping: like the ones that were given to people that I don't know. And some cards I am keeping to upcycle them; not keeping many for that though. Feels good to downsize my boxes. Less is more.

I hope that I can encourage you to store up those little coins when you can and to give away what you don't need. :)

*might add some pictures to illustate this tomorrow... I don't like using the flash on my camera when I don't have to... love the natural light. lol

Stuck Like Glue

"There you go making my heart beat again,

Heart beat again, heart beat again,

There you go making me feel like a kid,

Won't you do it and do it one time?

There you go pulling me right back in,

Right back in, right back in,

And I know I'm never letting this go...

I'm stuck on you,

Stuck like glue,

You and me baby we're stuck like glue...."

~

I just love this new country song called "Stuck Like Glue" that's out by Sugarland! Sugarland sings this song with a lot of enthusiasm, as usual, and the beat is very catchy. It is one of the songs that I blast in my car when it plays on the radio!

"Stuck Like Glue" is really a love song but I think it can actually be about friendship too. I think that good friendships can be likened to glue. The effort, love, commitment, acceptance, respect, joy, sympathy, empathy, memories (and many other things) are the ingredients in that bond called friendship. For your visual purposes, when I say the word glue I'm actually thinking of that liquid Elmer's stuff. The kind that makes us shudder when we think little kids experimenting with it because... well, glue has the potential to be very messy, especially if there's glitter, feathers and pom-poms involved.

Tissue paper, beads, and cotton balls aside, friendship-- like glue, is that wonderful adhesive between two people. Of course, like hardened glue between two sides, there is the possibility of the bond weakening over time through aging and weathering. To prevent this from happening, sometimes the glue needs to be reapplied in different areas--- the weak spots need to be evaluated and filled in (if it is meant to be). Sometimes a little more glue is needed just to strengthen the bond even more. And in the case of new friendships, that glue is fresh and takes time to fasten together. If you've ever watched a kid with a whole wad of glue, attempting to stick two pieces of material together, it's quite hilarious. It is particularly interesting because the glue tends to get everywhere. The two pieces of material tend to slide against each other until firmly pressed in place.

With that said, I had a great Labor Day weekend. I spent most of my time with my friends, which was such a blessing. I enjoyed being out and about-- enjoying that thing called freedom. ;)

On Saturday evening, after work, I went over to Janelle and Drew's apartment. They were hosting an open-house party for Janelle's birthday. I enjoyed getting to see their friends again (met them at Drew's party in July). I also learned that when one turns 24 it must be the "Year of the Flower" or something gets tweaked in the minds of party-goers. Yes, everybody, including me, that came to Janelle's party brought her flowers-- bouquets or potted ones. It was pretty hilarious! Janelle's apartment looked like a very pretty spring garden. haha

Janelle's party was very fun. I'm so glad that I was able to celebrate with her and everyone else. I enjoyed getting to know her friends better. We also played a few rounds of a Bible Trivia game. We started out with the adult questions but they were a bit too challenging for us. So, we went on to the kids' version... much better!

On Sunday, I went down to Salem for the day to visit my good friend Andrea. We both try to see each other every month. When I visit her for lunch, I usually stay with Granny overnight. However, Granny is staying at my aunt's house now as she recovers. I didn't see Andrea last month because my schedule was hectic and I didn't know what all was going on with the family. Since we've made the commitment to see each other, I felt it was important to uphold that-- totally worth the gas and drive (love the drive actually- it's through the beautiful country). I'm so glad that distance cannot separate good friends.

When I got home in the late afternoon on Sunday, I had a little time to change out of my cute outfit to something more comfortable. Drew, Janelle and Jason picked me up to go to Drew's company picnic. Friends and family were included in the picnic announcement, which is why Jason and I were included. The four of us had a great time hanging out together-- it was fun to get to know Jason better too. While Drew participated in some of the funny company activities (like the water balloon toss and seed spitting contest), Janelle, Jason and I attempted to keep ourselves warm- we sat around most of the time and chatted. Yeah, it was a VERY chilly day for a picnic. There is no doubt the seasons are changing.

After the picnic was over, we still wanted to hang out. We attempted to go to the 24 hour Starbucks but it wasn't open, probably due to holiday hours. So, thankfully, Moonstruck was open! Even though we had been cold from the picnic we decided to sit outside in the courtyard, but it wasn't too bad. The courtyard was fairly protected from the wind and my hot chocolate kept me quite comfortable. Plus, we all were thoroughly enjoying each other's company. That was a great way to unwind (as Janelle perfectly stated)...

Hope that you all had a great Labor Day weekend too!

Friday Wrap-Up

"A man who does not think for himself does not think at all." --Oscar Wilde

I really enjoyed writing my "What I'm For" poem-- it was liberating and fun. Often times I feel like I'm a "Plain Jane" but when I wrote that poem, it brought out all of those parts of me that make me who I am. Who I am is not a label of some kind. I've always felt frustrated that I could never be in one category or another, especially in terms of politics. Sometimes I agree with the Left side and sometimes I agree with the Right. Really though, I'm a combination of values. To some, I may seem apathetic but I'm not. Like everyone else, I have my own opinions too.

So with that being said... there are plenty of more things I could say in my poem. But when I wrote that poem last night, that's how it all came out. I did make a list throughout yesterday but when I sat down to write, it all came together in that way. I like it. I feel like I represented myself well. That was me writing in the moment.

Besides reflecting on the poem, I also wanted to share where I'm at with the things I'm working on...

Couch to 5K Running Plan: Just started the 4th week! Today was definitely the most challenging day. I'll write more about this week's plan tomorrow or in a few days.

Bible Reading Plan: August 31st marked the 50th day of reading! I'm now a few more days over that of course.

Budgeting: Just got paid today for the last two weeks... Need to re-evaluate some of my plans. So far, I feel pretty good about my spending.

Alrighty, sorry this was a little rushed at the end. I need to get ready to head downtown with my mom and sister to the first football game of the season (my alma mater is playing a Portland school tonight). We're mainly going to support my sister's boyfriend. Go #45! haha. And we're going to ride the MAX! Should be an adventure! (And in all honesty, I am dragging my feet a little bit... I'm not a huge fan of this sport)

Hope ya'll are having a good Friday night!

What I'm For-- the Angela Version

My cousin Elizabeth, on her blog, Simply Authentic inspired me to write this "What I'm For" poem. She was inspired by the song "What I'm For" by Pat Green. She wrote her own version on her blog post.

Here is what I'm about at this present time... Hope you enjoy...

What I'm For-- the Angela Version

I'm for following Jesus, making Him the center of my life,

For firmly believing that God will sustain our planet as long as He wants,

Yet, am for respecting His marvelous creation, as He gave humankind authority over it all.

That means being compassionate towards fellow humans and animals.

I'm for living a simple lifestyle, one little change at a time.

For using less resources and harmful chemicals,

Recycling, re-using and natural/organic products.

I'm for being frugal: spending less and saving more,

Paying off debts big and small,

For wanting what I have and only buying what I need.

For making mistakes and learning from them.

I'm for moving on from the stumble,

And going over the hurdle.

I'm for taking advantage of warm sunny days,

For washing my laundry in cold water (always) and then,

Line drying everything,

Nothing like crisp fresh bedding and sweet smelling clothes.

For solving mental and physical issues naturally before trying Western medicine,

Yes, there are exceptions to this at times.

I'm for furthering my education by learning from others and college courses,

For reading for enjoyment and learning:

The Bible, autobiographies, biographies and memoirs are some of my favorites,

And of course a variety of fiction and non-fiction books.

I'm for discovering meaningful quotes, song lyrics and Bible verses,

For exercising (running for me) to prevent future physical ailments,

For the wonderful moments with my cat.

I'm for taking pictures of special moments or things that catch my eye,

For scrapbooking and card-making; writing and receiving "snail mail,"

Saying and writing thank you.

For maintaining and strengthening relationships with friends and family,

For supporting those in the U.S. military and their families,

Soldiers are my heroes and celebrities-- they sacrifice their lives for us.

I'm for being kind to every person I meet,

For professionalism and sincerity.

For growing as an educator so that I can make an impact,

I'm also an advocate for children-- for their rights and welfare.

I am for being that person children know they can trust without a doubt.

I'm for parents taking their roles seriously and gracefully,

For parents being active in their child's education and life.

For parents not letting the consequences of their mistakes to burden their child,

Children should never have to suffer for their parent's poor choices,

Unfortunately, they always do.

I'm for adopting children and giving them a loving home.

For the Operation Christmas Child organization,

And for de-cluttering: giving away items to those less fortunate than me.

I'm for the freedom that allows me to choose my political views,

Currently, I have certain conservative and environmental values,

I refuse to vote on social issues ever again,

God is the Judge, not me.

As for the government and its spending, I just know it is all a mess.

I'm for being eclectic about Biblical theologies,

No theology is just right for me,

I'm for my relationship with Jesus and His Word being the ultimate in my life.

I'm for enjoying nature,

Looking at the stars, the breathtaking rainbow and the delights of each season,

I'm for the tranquility of the beach and the boldness of the desert,

For gardening-- growing vegetables, fruit and flowers.

I'm for eating locally and organically when possible,

For water, tea, hot chocolate, decaf coffee and the occasional alcoholic beverage.

I'm for learning how to be a self-sustaining individual,

For myself and before I am in a relationship with a man,

I'm for changing my mind, re-evaluating my values and goals,

I'm for just being me because I'm here for a purpose,

And nobody else can do my job better than me.

Thank You Notes

"You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late."

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

*This post may be a lil long, sorry!

What do the words thankful, grateful and appreciative mean to you? How do you express them in your life?

For me, being thankful comes with quite a bit of humility. It is wonderful when someone says or does something kind for me. When someone takes the time to think of me, I feel blessed. Thinking outside of oneself takes effort and it shows that is being an active participant in the relationship. When I say relationship I don't mean any official relationship-- that kind someone could be a perfect stranger. Regardless of who 'they' are... when someone steps out of their comfort zone or self it makes a difference.

And for those moments, we need to be thankful. In the act of being thankful, that's the part where we do the "return service" to that kind person. We can communicate our thankful heart orally or in written form. Depending on how you know the person or what they may have done, sometimes one or both forms of communication are appropriate.

I always try to send a thank you note when I can. I send thank you notes for gifts, after interviews, fun events with family or friends (ex. my neighbor took me to a Lavender Farm a few months ago- it was sweet of her to take me), when someone goes out of their way to help me, to teachers after I've observed them or substituted for them, and many other occasions.

People should never underestimate the power of a thank you note. They are worth every minute spent as well as every penny for the postage stamp. I'm so thankful that I grew up with this value instilled in me, which is the result of Granny teaching her children well... that led to me learning about thank you notes at a very early age.

Thank you notes are important particularly for gift-giving events (such as weddings, showers, birthday parties etc...). First of all, thank yous let the gift-giver know that their gift was received. Also, thank yous in this case should tell the giver that their time and effort was appreciated-- for the gift as well as their presence at the occasion. When I have received thank yous for these types of events I have felt like I truly mattered to the "event people."

A personal story on this topic... I went to a wedding in August of 2009 and never once received a thank you verbally or in written form. I've been very offended by this because I was good friends with the bride and groom (watched their relationship blossom from the very beginning). I wasn't just some random person at their wedding. My friend Jennifer and I also put together a special scrapbook for them as a wedding gift. Also, prior to the wedding I had been asked to do the slide show for the reception. I spent at least two full days working on it and got frustrated. So, I asked the bride to hand over the task to her father as he was capable of that. Never once did I receive a verbal thank you for my time. Soooo... I'll let you assume how my relationship is with those individuals at this present time. ;-)

And for perspective: In February of 2010, I went to a wedding of a friend from the education program at WOU. Within two months, I received a thank you note for the wedding gift I gave and was thanked for my presence. I had also been to her bridal shower in January and received a thank you note within a couple of weeks (it didn't take long!). I'll let you guess how my relationship is with her currently! :)

Thank you notes are important. They are never a waste and always welcome. Like Ralph Waldo Emerson says, you never know when it might be too late...