Lucky Anniversary

Back in March...

Andrew and I celebrated 17 months married on the 17th.  

How fun is it that this anniversary fell on St. Patrick's Day?

In true Stephanie fashion I couldn't let this day slip away without some fun treats and celebrations.

Sneaky leprechaun left some goodies

I live for this stuff

Lunchbox jokes

I am so glad Andrew just smiles, tells me I am cute, and plays along, because I am a sucker for a good theme, printables, and a celebration!  Who is really making out here, though?

I may or may not need to reel it in before we have little Welshicans {aka kids}. 

What will I think of next?

It isn't St. Patrick's day with out green beer and it isn't an anniversary without "cheers" to many more.

YES, I take my printables with me in public and have no shame.

Life is about celebrating your journey {no comparing} and enjoying every stage.  Don't wish the days away because someday you will be wanting this moment back.  Be present and make the most of where you are at right now.  Andrew and I aren't perfect but after living 3 years of our relationship with an ocean between us we try hard to balance difficult times with fun times. 

Challenging times come and go but without them we wouldn't know how to fully embrace the good.  When we make the most of even a silly anniversary it is something we can hold onto when we feel like our world is crumbling beneath us.  All these moments help us to keep a realistic outlook.  

What is your secret to staying balanced?

Blessed and in love

Don't you worry, I had my green and sparkles on as well...

If you are counting...today marks 19 months married! Time flies when you are having fun.

13.1 or Bust

13.1 - check!

I went 13.1 miles on foot!
3 hours, 14 minutes, 57 seconds later.

I trained for hours, weeks, and months for this one race.

I wanted to prove to myself I could do hard things.

Green check-marks were my motivation

Race weekend came and went and I am still reflecting on what happened.

It wasn't anything like I imagined.  It wasn't fun.  It was seriously the hardest thing I have ever done. A friend at the finish line made me feel a little better when she said, "childbirth was easier than this!" {if that is the case, bring on the babies}

In our corral waiting for our turn

The support and excitement I received from friends and family leading up the the race was amazing.  People were proud of me and I hadn't even made it to the finish line yet.  The emails, cards, Facebook posts, gifts, and cheerleaders on the sideline is what got me through every mile.  I hated every moment of the race, and I wanted to walk off more times than not. I just kept telling myself, "one more mile" and "you trained for this" 

Friends make torture running better, right?

All smiles at the start line 

I didn't give up.  The closer I got the finish line the more excited I got because I knew my loved ones would be there cheering me on those last few steps...  

I never heard them and they never saw me.

  My heart broke.  

I just completed my first {and only} mini-marathon and no one saw me cross that finish line.  I know they were as disappointed as me and their hearts broke too.  I know it didn't change the fact that they were proud of me, and understood the accomplishment but for me it almost feels as if I didn't complete the race.  

Days after the race and I am still waiting to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.  I am waiting for that high and excitement to do another race, but it isn't there.  

I am confused.  This isn't me.  I am hard on myself but not this hard.  I often choose not to show my excitement for my own achievements, but I would have that sense of pride deep down and all I can find is frustration.  I can't help but tear up when I think about the day.

I am a half-marathon finisher!

I knew enough people that have run this course before that I had a pretty good idea what I was getting myself into, but there were still things I couldn't prepare myself for.  These are the things I am trying to process and tell myself it is no reason to quit...

• The Indy 500 track is a long 2.5 miles, that was not good on my hips and knees
• My shoes! Although fit for me at a running store, they were the cause of many frustrations and pain.
• Walkers walking 4-people wide and inconsiderate of those trying to pass
• 13.6 miles is not 13.1 miles.  My tracker on my phone gave me almost exactly the same finishing time as my electronic chip but a difference of 0.5 miles! Half mile is a significant difference in my book and talk about discouraging. 

I said going into this race, I will never run another half-marathon and after my experience I definitely won't be back.  I will continue to run, but I think a 5K is more my style. 

Who wants to join me for 3.1 miles? 

Our first race together!

Thank you to everyone that supported me through my training and then sent their love and good luck vibes my way for race weekend.  You kept me going.  I now have a new respect for runners and they will forever hold a special place in my heart.  

On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!

I have a bucket list that I am writing everyday.  

Every new day brings new opportunities and challenges.  I am always up for a new adventure because I want to be the best-version-of-myself and I do this by succeeding and failing.

With that being said, the current bucket list item I am working on checking off...

Run a mini-marathon!

miles?

This might not seem like a big deal but, let me just say I HATE RUNNING.  Running is dumb.  I want to love it. I imagine myself gracefully flying through the miles without a worry in the world, but it is NEVER that easy.  Never.

I ask myself the following questions every time I run: 

Why are you doing this again? 

Why do you like feeling like you can't breathe?

Have I completed a mile yet?

How am I EVER going to get to mile 13?

Needless to say, I signed myself up for a min-marathon and I WILL cross that finish line!

Once I make it to about mile 2 I remember I can do hard things and I can push past my limits and become stronger (or my body is just numb and I don't know the difference). Training for the mini has allowed some time for self-refection (what else am I suppose to do for hours?) 

Here are some things I have learned in my few short weeks of training:

• I get to see my best friend at the end of all the training
• Andrew and I are doing something new together
• It is expensive if you want to do it right (shoes, socks, clothes, running fanny-pack, goos, etc.)
•  It is easy to feel defeated 
• The treadmill is the worst even with Netflix
• I push myself more than I give myself credit for
• Setting small goals and rewarding myself help 
• A slow jog gets me to the next mile faster than walking
• I am determined 
• I can do this!

This past weekend on my long run, I tripped and fell right to my knees.  People saw me.  I wanted to give-up.  I wanted to hide.  But I didn't, I got up and I continued running until I finished the distance I needed, 1.5 more miles to be exact.  

Sometimes we have to be our biggest cheerleaders.  We have to believe in ourselves first because otherwise we won't understand why we have cheerleaders on the sidelines.  We have to start somewhere and sometimes that means stepping out of our comfort zones.  We might not be the first across the finish line but winning looks different for everyone and we will celebrate all victories. 

Adventuring together is my favorite

 

A New Beginning

A new day,week, month or year... 

all bring a new beginning and a good reason to start again.

That is what I am doing here.  

I have had a new inspiration for this blog and I am more excited than ever to write.  I am going to continue to tell our story and share our adventures.  It is what I know best and one my favorite topics to discuss.  We aren't perfect and don't have all the answers to life, but we have each other, the best of friends, and are and having fun and making the most of our journey.  

My goal is to be open, honest and {hopefully} an inspiration you.  I don't want anyone to feel like they are alone on their journey, because chances are someone else is feeling the same way.  Life is hard sometimes, and we can do hard things, but together is better!

I want a place to document where we have been and where we are going.  Here is to a new beginning and more updates to my favorite story...us! 

Let's start with some fun and random facts about Andrew and I.  

Andrew:
1. Musician with three albums
2. Only drinks sparkling water
3. Chicago Bears newest fan
4. The ruler of the remote
5. In training for a half-marathon

Stephanie:
1. {Secretly} joined Netflix so I could watch Fuller House
2. New found love for crockpot cooking
3. I lift heavy things
4. Wanna be photographer
5. In training for a half-marathon

G is for Goodwill

It is what I do.

When I say Goodwill you probably think of the store you take your donations to after Spring cleaning, but stick around to see what kind of treasures and deals you can score. Goodwill is those things but it is also something much closer to my heart. Goodwill is education with a mission. The Excel Centers at Goodwill are giving second chances to adults who want to earn their high school diploma (note: this is not a GED program) and better their lives. All of our graduates leave school not only with a diploma but also a certification (in a program of their choice) and/or college credits. High school graduates that were once dropouts, have a diploma! High school graduates that were once told they couldn't do it, have a diploma! High school graduates that just needed a little love, encouragement and a different time in their lives, HAVE A DIPLOMA! Goodwill is proving term after term, year after year, and student after student that they are doing something right. {12 Excel Centers in Indiana, 1 traditional high school, and Excel Centers opening up around the country}

To some I may just sit behind a desk, but I would like to think I am making a difference, and with me things are able to run more efficiently. I love my job. I love my co-workers (from all over the state). I love the company. I feel good about what I do, and most of all LOVE hearing all the success stories. Even better than hearing and seeing things happen from "behind the scenes" is seeing everything happen first hand and in real time. Andrew, my husband, is a student at one of our Excel Centers and sometimes the school work can be hard and often times challenging but it is so fun and rewarding to see him NOT give-up but push through.  When there is a victory the joy and triumph on Andrew's face is priceless. Andrew's story is unique, (like everyone's) he was not a dropout just married an American and couldn't work for awhile and wanted to pass the time.  Now that he is legal to work, he has something to prove to himself and he isn't giving up or throwing the towel in on education (although, yes he has thought about it). He also recognizes the importance of education and how much further it will take him. I am proud of him and all our students.

There has never been a better time to donate or get your diploma!

This is why I do what I do!

Excel Center Locations:

Anderson, IN

Austin, TX

Indianapolis, IN (6 locations)

Kokomo, IN

Lafayette, IN

Memphis, TN (in the works)

Noblesville, IN

Richmond, IN

South Bend, IN (opening September 2015)

Washington D.C. (in the works)

Pirates vs Knights

Two nights.  Two dinner shows.  One winner.

Who would have the better show?

Andrew and I have both seen a Medieval Times show before and thought it would be a fun dinner/date night so we planned and bought tickets before leaving for our honeymoon.

We liked the idea of a dinner and show {more bang for our buck} that we decided to also see Pirates Voyage.

The pre-show was almost just as amazing as the actually show!

We were all learning to talk like pirates

Salty the Sea Lion

This was only the beginning...

The stack was taller than him!

We had great seats

Once our cups were filled, there was never less than the rim, it was like magic.  

Me Harties Feast!

Simply put, the show was amazing!

Red pirates vs blue pirates, we were the red.
Each team's captain was trying to find the treasure.

There was always something happening.  From pirates, mermaids, sea lions, acrobats and more no one ever lost interest.  Everything was done very {very} well. Kids were even picked to be in different races to help their teams. Everyone from guests to the stars of the show appeared to be having a great time. 

The food was great, service even better and the show was the topper!

The next night we went to Medieval Times...

We got there early, really early, and there was NOTHING nearby to explore so we walked around the castle and took silly pictures. 

 Once inside, it was unfortunate but we immediately were not as impressed as we were when we walked into Pirates Voyage. 

It was still pretty inside, but with no pre-show it just felt like a long wait. 

The bar that sold drinks that cost an arm and a leg and were gone in one sip

The green, red & yellow, and blue knights were all in alliance

Metal plate and bowl with no silverware, because in Medieval Times there was no such thing.
But Pepsi...I guess there was Pepsi.

They spent LOTS of money on those fancy hats.   

Seats for this show were pretty awesome as well

We should have seen Medieval Times before Pirates Voyage.  I think we would have enjoyed Medieval Times more.

The food was good, service was poor, and the show was sub-par .

There just wasn't as much going, the knights appeared to be exhausted and not having fun, and from one activity to the next time just seemed to drag.  I just don't know what to say, we were disappointed in the show and ourselves for having such high hopes.

I was disappointed because I remember having so much fun when I had gone before, but like I said had we done the shows in reverse order I think we would have had more fun with the knights.  The pirates would have still won our vote for best show but knights may have had more of a fighting chance.

All in all, both nights were fun.  We had dinner and a show for one price and we did it together.  Anything together is better.

What is your favorite dinner show?