Mom, IRL

Maybe you've seen funny pictures on the internet of laundry fiascos, wardrobe malfunctions, or messy kids with the hashtag "moms IRL" or something similar. Those moms may be the real deal, but nothing is better than a visit from your mom in real life!

That's right! Mommy came to Dallas for a spontaneous mid-semester visit, and it couldn't have been better! Last time my family visited was Thanksgiving, which was wonderful in its own way. I gave everyone the official school tour then, but campus was a graveyard over the holiday weekend. Since Mom flew in on a Wednesday morning, she tagged along with me at school and took part in my everyday life! It was a blast introducing her to my professors and classmates, and she even got to see me perform in Caruth (our main concert hall) and rehearse with my trio!

Highlights of our time:

1. Performing/playing for Mom at school!
2. Eating out at our favorite restaurants!
3. Flash card mid-term review with Mom (she makes up the best goofy connections to remember mundane facts!)
4. Parish Feast! Our church's quarterly Friday night dinner just happened to be over Mom's visit, so she spent some extended time with our church family.
5. Meals with the profs! We had breakfast together with two of my main and most influential professors. (Of course we forgot to take a picture!) We also had breakfast with another one of my favorite professors, who heard Mom was in town and invited us out. SMU profs have class, and they genuinely care about their students. So blessed!
6. Watching all our favorite murder shows together on a lazy Saturday!
7. More trips to Sprouts than I'd care to admit!
8. Coming home to find my laundry done, my house cleaned, and ice cream in the freezer. Mom are just the best.

Performance class!

Rehearsing Café Music

Curry and Pad Thai from The Mint!

Taco night!

Pizza night at Fireside Pies -- our new favorite GF pizza place!

Selfies with the Weim

Flash cards

More flash cards 

"This my grandma. I keep her."

Mom sent me this picture while I was at school.
She stayed home to relax and read one day, and Brooklyn kept her company.

Breakfast with Professor M and MA!

Parish Feast! 

I love you, Mommy! Thank you setting aside your own daily activities to enter into mine for a few days! I love that you got to be part of our life here with church, school, the crazy Weimaraner, and many grocery store runs. Come back again soon! Xoxo!

Breezy

October is here! That's hard to believe! Weren't we just in Colorado soaking in the mountain breeze?!

Is it just me, or does this time of year seep with nostalgia with even a hint of sadness? My first major spell of homesickness hit this time last year, and I'm feeling those pangs again this season! Maybe it's the change in the air, the longing for Gator football with my dad (IT'S GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR!), the missed Disney outings, the pictures of the nieces and nephews growing way too fast, or the thought of warm chili made by Mama or Mommy.

I love everything about this time of year; but while I'm reminded of just how blessed we are, I'm also feeling the loss of having family nearby. It's a strange reality, but we're simultaneously rooted and uprooted. We are surrounded by a community of believers who care tremendously well for us. For example, while we were sick last weekend, six different friends/families checked in on us and asked how they could help. We are convinced of God's will for us here, at least for now. And yet, I feel separated from part of my own heart, and that hurts.

I decorated for Halloween on Friday, and it was good for my soul. That might sound odd, but I can't remember the last time I've had an hour to spare during the school/workweek. I took my time exploring World Market, enjoying the festive displays, dreaming up my home space, and feeling human again. Did I mention my mom is visiting this week? Wednesday can't come soon enough! And after that, we're looking forward to Giving Thanks with Ty's family on Turkey Day! The thought of these visits is more invigorating than the 60-degree Dallas air!

One of my childhood friends moved to Dallas recently. Our schedules and community circles are different, but the times I've spent with her here have been encouraging to my heart. Her visit today was well timed!

I don't have a conclusion. Just thankful for time to muse here, while my theory textbook remains opened and untouched.

The New Blog

Hi, family and friends!

I'm happy to announce that I've started a new blog! Brook Runs Happy is a blog dedicated solely to my running adventures with Brooklyn. I'll share our running stats, favorite gear, pointers for training a four-legged runner, and tips for Dallas runners.

Click here!

I'll continue this blog for sharing our family's journey, so don't forget to check back here, too!

Hard Labors

Hi, friends!

Yes, I'm alive and surviving year two of graduate school thus far! Labor Day weekend was much needed and appreciated, and Ty and I had a blast watching football, riding bikes, eating pizza, and best of all...going to his triathlon!

Back in the spring, we visited a new local triathlon store. They were running bunch of promotions and gave us each two free raffle tickets when we entered. Well, a week or so later, I received a call informing me that I had won a free race entry! I opted out of a race this early in the semester and gave my entry to Ty! That's right, he got to race free! (Best kind of race, if you ask me!)

The race took place on Labor Day, and for once it didn't start at 6AM! There were to kids' races before the adult tri, and those ended up delayed due to the cone-roadblock-bearing semi truck breaking down. It was nice to somewhat sleep in and enjoy the holiday, but we definitely payed the price with the heat.

The race was hosted by "Tri Now Endurance" and was located at the Oak Point Recreational Center in Plano (about 30 minutes northeast of Dallas). Ty and I were both impressed by the facilities and the company. They did their best to get back on schedule after the early morning cone mishap.

Friends from church had a son participating in the youth event, so we watched his race first. Because of the delays, we were there in time to see all the youth events. I'm not sure of the distances of "junior class" race (ages 6-10), but we were seriously impressed by the speed and transition efficiency of these little guys! The first boy into the transition area had the most incredible transition -- no joke, about 10 seconds. His shoes were already clipped into his bike and rubber banded to be upright. He put on his helmet and left, still dripping wet from the pool. Ty and I looked at each other and agreed his dad must be an IronMan. And then there were the adorable little girls with bunny helmets and confetti on their handle bars. So stinkin' cute!

Transition area! Can you find Ty?

Finally it was time for Ty's race to start! The swim was 300 meters indoors. All the athletes lined up around the pool based on the order of their estimated swim times. So the people who came out first didn't necessarily have the best overall times, they we're just the fastest swimmers.

Our friends watched Ty's swim, but I stayed central in the transition area, so I could catch the bulk of the action. After the swim, the had to run up this walkway and to the transition.

And here he comes -- smiling after the swim!

Transitioning to the bike (2nd from the left)

Ready to ride and headed to the mount line!

See the "mount" sign? You are automatically disqualified if you mount before reaching this sign.

And he's off!

During Ty's 15-mile ride, I chatted with our friends and gawked at all the nice bikes. It was so nice to have some company!

Proper dismount. Good form, good form.

By the time Ty headed out for the run, it was after 11AM, and the sun was mercilessly beating down. I walked to the car once during the race, and I felt like I had jumped in a pool. I knew Ty had to be incredibly tired from the heat.

Run time!

The race finished in an outdoor amphitheater about a half mile from the transition area. We all walked over in time to see Ty finish strong!

Sprint triathlon number three complete! Way to go, Ty!

It was a tough race for him, but he still had some great times! The swim was a personal victory for him, as he greatly improved his previous time and hit his goal for this race. He said the bike course was very hilly (yes, we do have hills in Dallas) and the run was on the open pavement and ridiculously hot! I checked the temperature when he finished, and it was 97 degrees before the heat index. Those are some seriously tough conditions, but he rocked his race anyway!

We picked up some Chipotle and then enjoyed a good nap. I'm not sure why, but I was wiped out, too! Being a spectator is hard work! Maybe it's like how a husband gains sympathy weight when his wife is pregnant? I experienced some intense sympathy post-race exhaustion. :) Or maybe it had something to do with the whole graduate student thing.

Our day ended with a much-needed trip to Sprouts! Athletes gotta fuel!

I love you, Ty, and I'm so very proud of you!!

The Other Marathon

No, this is not another post about my race. I'm referring to Grad School, Year Two.

We really lived it up this final week of summer! I am feeling so much more energized and recovered from my marathon, which allowed us to have a fun and active week.

Now the real marathon begins.

I had orientation on Friday, and it was far less stressful this year. In fact, it was just plain fun! The faculty bought us lunch and asked about our summers. We met the two incoming graduate students and reviewed the essentials. I can't say just how thankful I am! This time last year I was studying for entrance exams like a mad woman. Being immersed into the MM performance/ped program last year incurred an incredible amount of change in a short period of time. How grateful I am for returning students and a year of experience under my belt. I have much to learn, but the transition should be much smoother this time around. I couldn't be happier with my program and the opportunity to return for year two!

Enjoy some photos from our final week of summer.

A Hard Night's Day at the Granada Theatre -- first live show we've seen in Dallas, and a fun one at that!

Tuesday swim

Wednesday 10K with our local running store

Friday run in my new kicks!

Saturday ride -- 22 miles and new trails!

High-risk selfie :)

A friend from church snapped photos of everyone at lunch today, just because. I love this candid shot!

Super food salads, week three!

School at 8:45 this morning. I guess no one else wanted to make copies on their last weekend morning?!

The Aftermath: Marathon Recovery

We're home! I'd like to say I had a super productive week after all that vacationing, but that would be just plain false. I've needed a week to recover from vacation. My mother-in-love always takes an additional vacation day after a trip or big event before jumping back into her work routine. She's a smart lady. Apparently when you run a marathon at the end of your vacation, you need a full week off before regaining your energy.

I taught a handful of lessons last week, but mostly I focused on recovering: resting, stretching (I also love this essential oil blend for relieving post-run soreness!), and fueling my body with the best nutrition. And watching tons of Murder, She Wrote!

Recovery is, in fact, one of the most overlooked parts of "training" for a marathon. By no means is it unimportant! I remember watching my friend, Erin, recover from her first marathon, and it seemed like a full-time job! Recovery begins as soon as you cross the finish line, but at that moment it's hard to think of what your body needs. Did you know it takes about three weeks for the body to recover from the stress of a marathon? Some say even longer. With the start of a new school year right around the corner, I knew I needed to be as intentional as possible this side of fall semester.

New medals are up! October 2014-August 2015

I'm totally playing favorites with this one.

Bib number on my board!

Recovery smoothie for the win!
Coconut water, kale, spinach, RAW Meal, chia seeds, homemade ginger honey,
matcha powder, banana, blueberries, strawberries, and mango.

My homemade kombucha during the second ferment! Update: it's delicious!

Going crazy with mason jars! My adaptation of this tasty zoodle recipe!

Eat all the colors!

The best kind of recovery!

Monday and Tuesday were total rest days. I walked and practiced a little, but that was the extent of my physical activity. Not going to lie: I was sore and tired.

Mid-week, I transitioned to active recovery - easy and low-impact workouts.

Wednesday: 11-mile bike ride

Getting my Tri-Hubby ready for his September race! Next summer goal: 70.3?

Thursday: Rest (again)

(We were going to ride, but instead we made an impromptu trip to Green Grocer. Because sometimes DFW beer, Austin homemade ice cream, the best multi-colored popcorn in the whole metroplex, and our favorite British TV show sound a lot better. You'd pick dark chocolate, olive oil, and sea salt ice cream any day over melting in the 105-degree weather, too.)

Friday: 2-mile run, 1 mile-walk, 22-mile bike ride

First post-marathon run. The Weimaraner thought "recovery" and "laziness" were synonymous.

Saturday: Ab circuit and 800 meter swim

Sunday: 10.75-mile bike ride

I also managed to do my grocery shopping and food prep for the week. (I really didn't want to, and everyone was really in my way at the store. Grr.) BUT! I'm also really excited about this week's superfood salad! (Adaptation from this recipe.) I started with an apple cider vinaigrette dressing (coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, Citrus essential oil blend, lime juice, dijon mustard, ginger, raw honey, salt, and pepper), and then I layered the jar with cashew pieces, chia seeds, blueberries, quinoa, strawberries, kale, and spinach. I plan to top with fresh avocado slices each day!

And finally, the best way to celebrate recovery week...

Meet my Glycerin 13s.

Ready to Run Happy! Can't wait to see where this pair takes me!

Happy Monday, friends. Time to put my nose to the grindstone, er, fingers to the keys. Grad school, year two is about to commence!