5K Comeback + Fiesta Night

June 23, 2014 By Laura

I used to be fast.

I also used to run a lot.

It’s funny how must faster you get when you get when you run a race. I’ve been running a little bit. Slowly. On a whim I decided to run a 5K Saturday morning. It turns out I hadn’t been pushing myself as hard as I thought I had been on my jogs.

I lined up for the 5K not expecting much out of myself. It was already pretty hot and incredibly humid at 8am when the race started, but once I took off I felt like running a little faster. Half way through I realized I was pacing pretty well… so I went for it. 25:52 went it, to be exact. I finished 3rd in my age group (which is now 30+ – when did that happen?!) and 14th out of the women! Kind of a nice surprise… and now I feel like running more 5Ks.

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A New York State of Mind

June 16, 2014 By Laura

I made it almost 31 years never having been to New York.

The city. I’ve been to Syracuse and Schenectady. Doesn’t count.

Last week I finally got there! I had a work conference at Columbia University. It didn’t leave a ton of time to explore, but I was thrilled. Especially when the hotel looked eerily like a scene from one of my favorite movies, The Shining.

REDRUM

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Growing Blend-ships

June 9, 2014 By Laura

What happens at Blend doesn’t stay at Blend.

Well, maybe SOME things do… shhhh…

What I love the most about Blend is the staying-power of the relationships we form and/or solidify in just 3 short days. I’ve read many of the attendees’ blogs before, but meeting these women in person makes the connection that much stronger. Life long Blend-ships! Maybe Corny Cotter is rubbing off on me?!

Same goes for the brands we’re introduced to. For example. I love Silk Pure Almond, but meeting the reps and learning more about the company and type of people they employ make me want to support them that much more. It’s just one more reason I was so excited to get to represent Growing Naturals again this year. I’m so passionate about this company, their products, and the people that work there… it makes me want to share it with everyone!

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A Little Scary, A Lot Marvelous in Mürren

May 26, 2014 By Laura

“Do something every day that scares you.”

I’m pretty sure Eleanor Roosevelt would approve of this jaunt…

The morning after my decedent meal in Interlaken, I woke up early and ready for a physical adventure. The plan was to go canyoning, but water levels were too high. I decided to go paragliding while I figured out what else to do with my day (this isn’t the scary part).

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Travel Hangover + a Swiss Birthday

May 19, 2014 By Laura

The hangover is one downside to travel.

Besides the bathrooms on trains.

Coming home is my least favorite part about any vacation. The harsh reality of a travel hangover: waking up without a mountain view, fighting jet lag, and realizing you can no longer subside on bread, cheese, chocolate, and wine. ~~Or can I…?~~

With a sad heart I left Lucie in Zurich on Saturday morning. I had one last espresso (with the little chocolates they always serve them with) and bought a pretzel for the plane ride. I became addicted to “bretzels” on this trip.

Even the creamer is prettier in Switzerland

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A Day in Basel, Switzerland + WIAW

May 14, 2014 By Laura

When in Rome…

Or Basel. Whatever.

On my first full day in Basel, Lucie took me on adventures fit for a blogger! But first we began in a predictable way… taking pictures of yogurt bowls before breakfast!

My bowl was goat’s milk yogurt (which Lucie bought special for me!) with cinnamon, Growing Naturals Vanilla Rice Protein, oats, strawberries, cacao nibs, and more of Lucie’s bread. We took our beautiful bowls outside of a photo shoot in natural light. Priorities!

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I Love Lucie, Basel Episode

May 12, 2014 By Laura

It may seem strange to travel to another country and stay with someone you don’t know.

I didn’t hesitate.

Lucie was so kind to open up her home to me for the first leg of my travels. It was funny – I didn’t really occur to me that I didn’t know her in real life until someone commented that it was brave on both our parts to plan to spend this time together. Thankfully it went off without a problem! (I think… Lucie will have to tell her side of the story. ;))

Fresh off the boat… I mean train…

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Marvelous New Beginnings

May 5, 2014 By Laura

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.

Anyone remember that song?

This weekend my family celebrated endings and beginnings. My baby sister, Madison, graduated from college! She’s the youngest, and the last to finish school. Mom is celebrate not having that tuition bill – hahaha!

My cousin came along, and my other sister flew in from Portland to surprise Madi. We loaded up the family and drove to Auburn, AL to celebrate the end of Madi’s college career. Naturally, this started with a toast. ~~Or 20~~.

We dined in style at Auburn’s nicest restaurant, Acre. I have been wanting to try it ever since sampling a collard wrapped sweet potato tamale the chef made at Atlanta’s Food & Wine Festival 2 years ago! Seriously – here’s the post.

We ordered all the foods. This is just a fraction of it! The butter bean gnocchi was the coolest thing… but the dessert won the night. We ordered the dessert board (bottom right below) with a sampling of everything… followed by seconds of the sweet potato bread pudding and the goat’s cheese-filled doughnut holes. I get my love of food and wine honestly!

Let’s not talk about how we *almost* missed the graduation ceremony the next morning…

Once we safely made it to the ceremony, we toured the arena ~~patiently~~ waiting for Madi get her diploma. Turns out the Tigers like to hate on my Yellow Jackets!

Hooray!

Back in Atlanta Saturday afternoon, I squeezed in a beautiful 5K run by the Chattahoochee River before heading to my mom’s for a grill out. Those delicious eats must have done some good because it was my fastest in recent memory. It could have also been the fear of what mom was going to say when she found out I went running instead of coming straight home for dinner as instructed.. 😉

The warm sunshine and home cooked food were the perfect way to celebrate a new chapter for everyone. Change is in the air! It’s an exciting time… the unknown can be a bit nerve-wracking, but life goes on and the future will be marvelous!

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I’m spending the day wrapping up things here so I can board the place to go visit Lucie in Switzerland tomorrow!!!

Do endings/new beginnings ever rattle you a little?

What did you do to celebrate your graduation? I ate really good food. Obv.