support the cause

My muscles are a little sore today, but it was worth it. My husband and I ran the Mini Heart Marathon 5k yesterday in the rain. Although the weather was less than ideal, thousands of people still showed up in support of a good cause. There were several options for runners: a half marathon, a 15k or a 5k and there was also a 5k walk for those who didn’t want to run. The event was sponsored by Dean Foods who owns Trauth Dairy and happens to be where my husband works. The companies that sponsor these events are very generous; giving away a lot of free products and donating money to the organization. This specific event was in support of the American Heart Association and focused on heart health.

On Saturday, the day before the run, there was a health and wellness expo at the convention center. I worked the event for Trauth and all of the sponsors, and other local businesses, set up booths to give out information and freebies. There was even a giant inflatable heart that you could walk through and learn about; pretty cool. The event ran from 11-3:30 and the place was packed. We were giving away ice cream, sweet tea and chocolate milk and we ran out very quickly. A lot of the same vendors then set up on race day and gave away more items. The Trauth trucks were there as well and I learned that chocolate milk is beneficial to drink after a run or tough workout in order to replenish your body and muscles. Trauth’s chocolate milk is delicious so I was glad for a good excuse to drink it.

Overall, it was a very successful weekend and event. Cincinnati offers a lot of race events like the Mini Heart Marathon. One of my favorites is the 10k Thanksgiving Day Race. I like it because then I don’t feel so guilty about all of the food I eat that day J Here is a link with information about all of the runs in the city throughout the year www.runningtime.net.

The Greatest Show on Earth

This past weekend my husband & I reverted back to our childhood and went to the circus. It was awesome :) I'm surprised to say that it was my first time going to the circus, but adult Morgan loved it. It was everything I had imagined it would be. There were elephants & tigers, clowns & tight-rope walkers, acrobats & fire jugglers...there was even a bearded lady. The singing, dancing, bright lights & fireworks made it very visually stimulating & easy to stay captured.
My husband & I were making fun of ourselves when we noticed how we were the only adults in attendance without kids with us. That night, we were the kids. We had really good seats & we loaded up on circus food - popcorn, nachos & candy - all over-priced and delicious.
I was amazed with the talent & nerve of the performers. I didn't think it was possible to bend your body completely backward & in half & fit in a small glass box with two other people. And how about the lady who was swung around by her hair while juggling fire?! Ouch. I also loved watching the elephants. They are very smart and gentle creatures.
Seeing the show as adults you notice a lot more, and we were impressed with all of the stage hands and how quickly they set up for the next act. There were a lot of employees on the sidelines that worked together seamlessly to keep things moving. Overall, we had a wonderful time & our inner kids were thrilled to finally get to see the greatest show on earth.

In my opinion there is not a much better way to spend a free afternoon than by going shopping. There is truly something magical about walking into the mall or a store and inhaling the scent of everything wonderful and new. I find that I can really relate to Rebecca Bloomwood, the main character in Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series. She tends to get a bit carried away with her spending, and while I am in no way as extreme as she is, I completely understand her love of shoes, clothes and accessories.

Since I tend to be an avid shopper, nothing makes me happier than when a company gives back. One of my favorites is the shoe company, TOMS. (http://www.toms.com/)
They have a movement called 'one for one' and for every pair of shoes sold, TOMS donates a pair to a child in need. So neat! Not to mention the fact that the TOMS shoes are cute and comfortable. It's a simple shoe, usually made of a canvas material, and it comes in many colors and patterns. I wear them and love them and what I love most is that by buying a pair, I am giving a less fortunate child a pair as well.

Another generous company that I am going to give a shout out to is one that my cousin and I discovered while we were shopping at a local boutique. It's a company called Willow Organic Jewelry and they make earrings out of recycled wood. Not only do they use recycled materials but they also plant a tree for every pair of earrings bought. I am proud of the fact that because of the two pairs of earrings my cousin and I bought, two trees were planted. Not only did I get a unique pair of earrings, but I helped make the world a little greener.
I am now very interested in finding out about other companies that give back. Any of you know of any? I am always looking for a good excuse to shop!

life

When you take a step back and look at your life it is usually those defining moments that stand out. Those moments that really show what you've done. Things like the first day of school, getting your drivers license, your first kiss, going to college, graduating, your first job, marriage and so on, you get the picture. There are also those defining moments that might not be so monumental but really do affect you. Things that for whatever reason you remember; certain conversations or people you meet. There are people in your life that define you and the decisions you make. Some decisions that can be so trivial and others life changing - all define what you do and who you are. So what happens when you are faced with a decision that you know is a pretty big deal and for the life of you you can't decide? How do you know what the right choice is to shape your life just the right way? You don't. It's all instinct and gut feelings. What feels right and sounds right for right now.
Looking back at my past almost 25 years I know exactly which decisions caused which outcomes and how specific people shaped who I am today. I like where I am in life and how I got here. What keeps me up at night is where I'm going. The unknown is the unsettling part. But, you know what, I've done pretty well up to this point, who is to say I won't continue on this way? My life will continue happening and I will continue having those moments, big and small, that define everything that I am. All I can really do is try my best to enjoy it, try my best to not have any regrets, and try not to think too much about which moments are defining me and just focus on living. One thing I know for sure is that I have some amazing people in my life making all of those moments worthwile :)