So, it's official. I'm in. November 1 I'll be running the NYC Marathon! Marathon training starts tomorrow, which means I have to get my running butt back in gear (I've been slacking the last couple of months). However, having a goal, especially one that you've paid for, can work wonders for the accountability side of training. Thankfully my training buddy (and fun friend) for this exciting experience will be Monica! Running the New York City Marathon has always been a dream since I started running. I've actually been trying to get in the pool to run this race for the last 2 years (this was my third try!). At any rate, as I usually am at the beginning of marathon training, I'm a bit nervous, nevertheless looking forward to November!

experiential learning

Learning experientially is generally a good thing. This is never more true than when you are experientially learning scripture and a particular verse or passage is becoming more and more a reality in your heart and life. However, while there are a great many passages in scripture I pray the Father would be pleased to teach me experientially in increasing measure, I will have to admit there are some passages in scripture that I NEVER want to experientially learn. Take this one for example: Exodus 8:24. This week I am experientially learning about the 4th plague. Yep, flies. Swarms of them in my house. Flies everywhere you look and everywhere you step…. Disgusting you say? Believe me, I know. I’m working on figuring out where they are all coming from. We’ve pretty much ruled out the source being in my house but I’m not so sure about the neighbor… At any rate, I now see certain passages in Exodus 8 have a totally different light and I’m praying Exodus 8:31 comes to pass… the Lord "removed the swarms of flies" and “not one remained.” Hopefully this will be the case very soon. Until then, I better go stock up on more antibacterial cleaning supplies because I have a LOT of disinfecting to do…

blogging break

I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks and I've decided I'm offically taking a blogging break. Never fear faithful readers, I'll be back to blogging the first week in June!

super steals and one GREAT mom!

I'm not one that usually feels the need to blog about simple things such as my grocery shopping experiences. However, I do feel as if this is one time to step out of that mold for just a brief moment...

I have a great mom (and seeing as this weekend is Mother's Day, it is important to note this) who has taught me all sorts of necessary traits over the course of my years and one thing she so readily imparted to me is the techniques of a thrifty shopper. Clipping coupons and buying items on sale are just a few of the ways to become a thrifty shopper. Well, my mom would be proud because on Tuesday night, I combined all thrifty shopping techniques in one Target trip and ended up with the following loot for a mere $14.00. Yes, my friend, everything pictured below for a total of $14.00!!

Note: As you can see, I do love the FiberOne products at my house (they are yummy and a great way to get your daily fiber in!) and they just to happened to all be on sale this past week at Target.

Another product of my mom thriftiness is the impatients that are now planted in my flowerbeds (pics of that to come just as soon as I get finished mulching...). My mom found these super healthy, beautiful impatients on sale (a weekend special) at Home Depot for $.33 apiece about a month ago! I was so excited I quickly purchased 3 flats for around $10! Can you believe it?

Isn't my mom the best shopper?!?! But beyond shopping, I am very thankful the Lord has blessed me with a great mother. I'm thankful for her friendship and for all that she has taught me over the years. So on this Mother's Day weekend, I'm making sure she knows just that! Love you Mom!

lemon soup and gospel conversations

Shocking I know, but Cafe Eclectic's lemon soup is actually fabulous! In case you haven't been (and I encourage you to go), this is a fabulous little place in Midtown at the corner of McLean and Faxon near Rhodes College. Earlier this evening I was getting dinner at Cafe Eclectic with Emily and Cassie and admittedly we were a bit sceptical of the soup but when our precious server, Ashley bought us each a small sample we were sold. This is a delightfully unique, lemony rice soup that totally hits the spot!

For me, one of the draws to this truly eclectic eatery is their roasted potatoes. Mmm... I've never had better potatoes than these rosemary and thyme roasted white and sweet potatoes (see picture at above right). Yet another one of the draws over the past couple of visits has been our sweet server, Ashley. This fun loving girl has been so curious of our (recently) habitual Wednesday night dinners at Cafe Eclectic where we've been discussing a book we've been reading together for some time (Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss). Ashley's consistent curiosity has led us to become very intentional about having gospel oriented conversations with her during the course of these evenings. Two weeks ago we passed along a copy of Because We Love Him by Clyde Cranford and this week were pleased to find that she is working her way through the copy we gave her and loving it! She's even had some of her friends at her school question her about her reading selection as she reads during the course of her day between classes!

So, if you are in the area soon stop by Cafe Eclectic and say hi to Ashley (I'm sure she'd love to see you) but regardless of where you dine in the near future please pray that the Lord would open her eyes to clearly see the beauty of Christ!

p.s. The house coffee here is fabulous!

ONE of my favorite Lewis quotes

The quote below has long been one of my favorite CS Lewis quotes. I re-read it this weekend in a book I was reading by another author (seeing as I couldn't work in my garden because of the monsoon we are currently in the midst of here in Memphis). I believe Lewis was spot on... we are indeed far to easily pleased with the finite pleasures of the world.

"Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." -C.S. Lewis from 'The Weight of Glory'

Top 10 things I love about Memphis

About a year ago Laurin posted her list of top things she loved about Memphis and Lee decided to weigh in with her’s earlier this week. In light of the fact that Memphis has been confirmed, by a very narrow margin, as the 2nd most dangerous city in America (see article here) and the 2nd most miserable (see article here), I decided it was a great time to put my two-cents in on this topic. In no particular order, here are the top 10 things I love about this city:

1. Shelby Farms: As Laurin and Lee both noted, this really is a Memphis jewel. One of my favorite parts about Shelby Farms is the Wolf River Trails. As expressed here, I love trail running and the Wolf River Trails on the south side of Walnut Grove are an excellent place to get a great trail run in.
2. The Pancake Shop: This little place on Summer Avenue serves hands down the best pancakes in Memphis. If you don’t believe me give them a try for yourself! You'll see exactly what I mean.
3. Fall drives down Central Avenue
4. Tiger basketball! No, I couldn’t leave this one out. In all honesty, I simply love all things University of Memphis. I enjoyed the time I spent there, I cherish the friendships that began there, I think highly of the business school, I like Tiger football, and more than all of those… I love Tiger basketball.
5. My job: Yep, obviously my job is in Memphis and I love it. I like both what I do and where I do it.
6. Grace Church: I could probably go on for days about the things I love about Grace Church. The truth is this is the only thing on this list that really has eternal significance. I’m so very thankful for my church.
7. Gibson’s Donuts on Mendenhall: The best donuts you will find ever. Gibson’s holds a special place in my heart because it used to be owned by the same man (Mr. Howard) who started the much beloved Howard’s Donuts in West Memphis. Gibson’s must still have the very same recipe. Because I grew up on Howard’s and it is near and dear to my heart and because this post is about Memphis, Gibson’s officially makes it on my list.
8. The Memphis Marathon and Half Marathon: This is a great race and it keeps getting better and better as each year passes. The Memphis Marathon was my very first marathon and because of that alone it has significance. The Half Marathon is just plain fun and you have to love the fact that this race supports another one of Memphis’ jewels, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
9. BBQ: If you like bbq (of the pork variety of course) and you live in Memphis this has to be on your list. You won't find better bbq anywhere else in the world. A few of my favs include: Neely’s Interstate BBQ, Germantown Commissary, and Central BBQ. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
10. The Orpheum: I love going to The Orpheum. It is simply one of my favorite places in Memphis! To name a few wonderful events I’ve seen there (and some multiple times): Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, The Lion King, Death Cab for Cutie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (as part of the summer movie series), and in June… Wicked!

So, what are some of your favorite things about where you live?

just another saturday

A little recap from the weekend: This past Saturday contained one fun adventure, one new place, and one new creation! What a GREAT day! Let me explain…

Fun Adventure: Despite the early morning rain, I headed out to Shelby Forrest for a nice trail run Saturday morning. Due to the rain, the trail was nice and soft and felt great on the joints and knees which have gotten used to running on the asphalt and concrete as of late. This run reminded me just how much I love trail running; it is far better than road running. Anyway, being that I don’t have any upcoming races to prepare for, it was quite nice just to run… and yes, run in the rain. Once you got going and engrossed in the natural spring beauty that surrounded you, you didn’t mind all the sloshing around. The sound of the rain hitting the tree canopy above, the choir of chirping birds overhead and wet shoes trudging through the water saturated terrain. Sorry for the bad picture quality, it appears I had a little rain on the camera lens. At any rate, here are a few fun pics! (Note: Yes, several months back I surrendered and purchased a running skirt. You know what?!?! I love it!)

New Place: After the soggy run, I headed back to my house for a quick shower that was VERY much needed (I had mud everywhere!) and out to Panera Bread for lunch with a friend. I’ve been to Panera Bread in the Atlanta airport but never to the one in Cordova… until Saturday. I had a small salad and some yummy French Onion Soup (I love French Onion Soup!). Great food + great company and conversation definitely = fun times!

New Creation: I mentioned here about the Sprinkles cupcakes recipes that I got my hands on Easter weekend. Saturday I made them for Sunday's Grace Lunch. I decided to go with the Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing. I’ve never made cupcakes (or any cake at all for that matter) or icing from scratch before so, this was the second “first” of the day. Thankfully, I had my good friend Ashley there to help out with the cupcake construction. Despite being only slightly dry (does anyone know how to fix this so the cupcakes are a bit more moist????), these cute little cakes turned out to be quite tasty. Personally, I feel the cream cheese icing was my favorite part! Mmmm.....

It's official...

A new running route in Memphis is coming soon! I'm excited! Check this out...

It's been a while since I really blogged. So here's a random update of sorts... Enjoy!
-My aunt recently got her hands on the recipes for a couple of Sprinkles Cupcakes and made them for Easter lunch. They were fabulous and I think I’m going to make them for this Sunday’s Grace Lunch. Get excited!
-This coming Tuesday, April 21st is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s… again, get excited!! Who doesn’t love free Ben & Jerry’s?!?!
-About a month ago I woke up on a Sunday morning and the thought of coffee was enough to make me sick. Consequently, I didn't have any and I had a headache to pay for it later. Ever since then I've been doing something I never thought I'd do... drink decaf coffee in the morning! Weird I know! At the very minimum I've been having ½ decaf, ½ regular coffee in the morning hours.
-I went to the Death Cab for Cutie concert on Saturday night and had a BLAST! What a fun concert. I highly recommend catching their show if you have the opportunity in the future.
-I haven't blogged about Tiger basketball since that fatefull day that Calapari officially decided to leave but I am really excited about out new coach Josh Pastner. Additionally, I'm really saddened by this response that so many have had towards Calapari lately. He did a great job at Memphis and he's a likeable person. Hopefully as time passes and the sting of his departure lessens, Memphians will look back on his tenure here at the university with great fondness. It was a fun ride, which hopefully will continue...
-Completely unrelated to the Memphis basketball: I'm a BIG fan of little government. Enough said.
-I’ve still been plugging away at Isaac Ambrose’s Looking Unto Jesus and here is a quick quote/ sampling for you: “Only Christ is the whole of man’s happiness.” Great stuff.
-Since Ambrose’s book will likely take me 10 years to finish, due to it’s length, I’ve been reading a few other things simultaneously. Recently I finished a book that was lent to me by a precious little girl at my church who LOVES to read! It was a super book about a missionary who I was previously unfamiliar with, Mary Slessor. She spent her entire life serving numerous tribes in Calabar (in Southern Nigeria, Africa). This book has really piqued my interest and I’m dying to know more about Mary.
-In other book related news, I got my copy of Hungry Girl's latest cookbook in the mail yesterday and most all the recipes look yummy! I highly recommend these easy and healthy remakes of your favorite recipes.
-In other recipe related news, I got a great new recipe from last week’s Viking Cooking School class for a homemade vinaigrette. You should give it a try. It’s fabulous! The great thing I learned is that the mustard, in addition to adding extra flavor, holds the oil and vinegar together so they don’t separate quite as easily. Such a fabulous and easy recipe!

½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch granulated sugar
1 tablespoon champagne vinegar (or whatever vinegar you happen to have handy)
3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon thinly sliced chives
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

-For the first time since I started running in 2004, I am not signed up for a race furthermore, I do not even have one in mind. Any good suggestions?
-I bought some Roundup at Home Depot last weekend (yea! It was on sale!) and am ready to rid my flower beds of pesky weeds so I can plant my spring/summer flowers (impatients, which I also got on sale at Home Depot!). Unfortunately, it's supposed to rain this weekend so that might put a damper on my gardening plans... I'm sure you'll see pictures of my gardening right here, so stay tuned! :)