Reflections On Grace

Glass City Marathon 2015

Late April means one thing around here...The Glass City Marathon! Of course, I only participate in the 5k, but it is still fun!

Of course, one reason to participate is the free T-shirt and all the other freebies. This year's design was really nice. Some of the past years have not been that great.

Moment of honesty - exercise is not my thing. I was in no way even going to attempt to run one step, but I am all for walking. It was a nice way to start the morning. And I got a medal! I think I should get a medal every morning when I actually function during the day. 

I may not enjoy myself during the 5k, but it is always fun to hang out with dear friends who are much more fit than me. My friends, Chris and Drew, ran the half marathon that morning. Maybe someday I will run...wishful thinking.

Bathroom Vanity Makeover

Ugh....this bathroom vanity was gross! Peeling paint, yucky hardware, blah color. Nothing was good about it. But it was also the easiest thing to remedy. This green-tiled bathroom doesn't have a lot going for it, but the tile color is manageable and it is all in really good shape. Any updates or major overhauls to this bathroom will be in the distant future.

Enter my cousin and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. She has lots of experience working with the paint. On a trip up north, she offered to pretty up my vanity. I was thrilled to pieces. I have a vision for this bathroom even in its interim state. Because the green is an okay color, it can still look nice and not dated.

I knew I wanted gray. It would work well with the green tile. This bathroom is also pretty dark. There is only one small window and the lighting isn't that great, so going dark was not an option.

To glam up the vanity, I used acrylic and brushed silver hardware. I really like it and it doesn't weigh the vanity down. It looks so much better than the chipping hardware that previously lived on the drawers.

This room still needs some attention - see the lovely floral wall paper. But this one fix made a huge difference in making the vanity a little prettier.

Learning to Breathe, Pt. 5

Temperatures are finally getting warmer. Flowers are beginning to bloom. Trees are starting to bud. Summer is on its way.

One of the reasons I wanted to focus on learning to breathe this year is because I often feel distracted. I want to be doing something else besides what I am doing. I think it comes from the monotony that is life - working, cleaning, being a responsible adult. Sometimes there isn't a lot of extra room to just be.

In the recent weeks of nice weather, Luna and I have gone to the park to walk the trails. It is a time to get away from life's noise and enjoy the early signs of Spring. Although going for walks isn't always exciting, it is a short time break - a time out. I can breathe in the fresh air and be without expectation. Not only are these walks good for my health, but they are good for my soul.

And Luna can release some excess energy. As your can tell from the video below, she gets a little excited when she goes to the park.

Reflections on Grace

Snapshots Into My Life

What I am seeing through my lens this week.

Last week was the Glass City Marathon. It is such a fun environment. My mom and I picked up our packets last Saturday. My brother and sister-in-law weren't able to come this year. which was a little bit of a downer.

This year, the 5k participants received medals for completing the race. It was a nice little bonus this year even though I only walked. :)

It is not uncommon for me to wake up and see Luna with her head on a pillow and body all covered up. She is like a little person. It cracks me up!

My precious Brynley! Before my mom and I went up for Easter, my sis-in-law was teaching her how to say my name to see if she would come up with a nickname. Of course, my niece is the smartest kid out there and can say my name with no nickname!

Do You Oil?

Essential oils are quickly becoming a part of my everyday life. I am in no way an expert, but I have had some success with them. While I can't say I have had life altering experiences with the oils, they have been a good addition.

Here are a few of the ways I use essential oils. (I personally use DoTerra essential oils. There are other good brands available so do your research to make sure you are getting legitimate therapeutic grade oils.)

Diffusing

This is my favorite way to use oils. There are tons of ideas on Pinterest for diffuser blends for relaxation, allergies, focus, bedtime, etc.

I have started using Norwex products (which is an entire post in itself) so I don't get the "clean" smell from cleaning products. While I am cleaning I will diffuse Purify and Wild Orange. It gives the room a clean smell and purifies the air at the same time.

I have also started diffusing lemon, lavender and peppermint for seasonal allergies. I was a little worried about the combination, but it isn't bad. Every once in a while I will catch one that seems stronger than the others, but it is a nice smell.

Not only do the oils make the room smell good, I am also breathing them in as they waft in the room. I have used them to calm the dog, too!

Headaches

Like many people, I suffer from headaches and the occasional migraine. Sometimes I try and push through them, but there are times that they get really intense and I can't focus on much. Peppermint is great for headaches. I will put it on my temples, across my forehead and the back of my neck. However, sometimes the peppermint doesn't cut it. My cousin clued me into frankincense. I will put a drop on my thumb and hold it to the roof of my mouth for 2 or 3 minutes. Be prepared to drool! A few weeks ago I had a headache that wasn't going away. I used frankincense on the roof of my mouth and then used it on my temples along with peppermint and lavender. My headache was almost completely gone in less than 30 minutes. I was impressed!!

Wellness

DoTerra has vitamins that have a blend of oils in them called the Lifelong Vitality Pack. I have been taken them for a few months, but haven't been too consistent until about the last 6 weeks or so. I do feel better when I take them. If I remember to take them after lunch, I don't get that mid-afternoon slump that I am prone to. It isn't only that I don't fall into the slump, but I have energy. One Saturday, I was wide awake at 5:30 and was busy until I sat down again at 10 that night. I don't think I have ever had a more productive day. I do credit the vitamins.

Sickness

Of course, I also take them when I am sick. I have had a few colds this winter and the oils have helped me battle through them. Breathe smells like Vicks Vapor Rub. I put that on one night when I was having trouble sleeping because my nose was all stuffy. After rubbing it on my chest and neck, I was able to sleep through the night! That always makes a sickie feel better.