A to Z Challenge: William's Wedding!

This post is part of the April A-Z Blogging Challenge. This year my theme is simply, "things I know." Some posts will be informational, some about life lessons, some about things I've learned as an author/blogger.

I was so excited when I saw that W fell on today! Today my big brother's best friend, William, is getting married! Billy is one of those awesome guys to have as a big bro's best friend. He always actually treated me like a real person/sister and even (very kindly, and almost certainly at the behest of our parents) took me to Homecoming my sophomore year of high school.

Me: geekily excited. Billy: very proper.
Tim and Tracy just look nice hah

I am a firm believer in that there should be a little bit of embarrassment on your wedding day, so here is a picture of us (the couple on the left) and my big bro and his date on that Homecoming so many years ago.

Congratulations, Billy! And all our love and best wishes on your special day!

A to Z Challenge: Visitors

This post is part of the April A-Z Blogging Challenge. This year my theme is simply, "things I know." Some posts will be informational, some about life lessons, some about things I've learned as an author/blogger.

The purpose of having visitors is to get the house clean.

This is what mom used to tell us about having friends come to stay. We'd whine about the cleaning necessary to prepare the house for their arrival, and she'd say, "My mom always told us that the purpose of having visitors is to get the house clean!" And we'd whine and whine, but we'd do it. I think we were afraid that if we didn't get it clean enough we wouldn't get to have the visitors. 

Now, as a home owner (and an adult?) I have come to pretty thoroughly appreciate this sentiment. Having the house clean is soothing to me, and when we make sure to clean top to bottom before having people over the cleanliness of the house is one less thing to worry about. It lets me enjoy our visitors without fretting about the house. 

My whole family is coming to visit next week, so guess what we're doing this weekend? Yuuup... Cleaning ALL the things!

What are y'all doing this weekend?

A to Z Challenge: Underwear

This post is part of the April A-Z Blogging Challenge. This year my theme is simply, "things I know." Some posts will be informational, some about life lessons, some about things I've learned as an author/blogger.

Underwear should be sturdy.

I am an active lady. Even when I'm not actually working out or playing outside, I'm moving around. Heck, even when I'm sitting in a meeting, I'm usually squirming a bit! So. Underwear should be something that I can put on in the morning and not think about for the rest of the day. Underwear should not go into cracks (either intentionally or not), slip down, shift, bunch, pinch, pull or sag. It should go on and stay where I put it. And to do that it needs to be a bit sturdy. If I should, for example, decide to go for a walk over lunch, I shouldn't have to think, "oh but I don't want my cheeks to rub on my pants in an uncomfortable manner." No. I want to think, "it's a beautiful day. Let's go!" It doesn't need to be granny undies, or boy shorts (though those tend to bunch, anyway. I've got curves, yo). Just something that is going to do its job. This is not to say that frilly, lacy things don't have their place. They do. I just don't need them in my everyday life.

And, please don't call them panties. :)

There you go, a bit of TMI for your Thursday.

A to Z Challenge: TED Talks

This post is part of the April A-Z Blogging Challenge. This year my theme is simply, "things I know." Some posts will be informational, some about life lessons, some about things I've learned as an author/blogger.

TED Talks are a great place to encounter new ideas, but shouldn't always be taken completely as fact. I love me a good TED Talk! Often these talks are sent around as, 'look at this awesome thing that must be totally true because it was spoken about by a really smart person!' but the thing is that one of the goals of TED Talks is also to be persuasive. And so, even though there might be some amazing information contained in the Talk, you still need to use your critical thinking skills to push away some of the persuasion.

That said, here are a couple of my favorite Talks:


BUGS! And Ann-Marie Slaughter, who wrote a great article about whether it is possible to "Have it all" as a woman. (hint: we can't)


Who are your favorite speakers?

A to Z Challenge: Sugar

This post is part of the April A-Z Blogging Challenge. This year my theme is simply, "things I know." Some posts will be informational, some about life lessons, some about things I've learned as an author/blogger.

Sugar is not my friend (neither is caffeine).

I'm not going to get on some high horse and tell everyone they should give up sugar, I'm just going to tell you my experience. Sugar makes me feel bad. About five years ago I had a series of infections for almost four months. The doctor would treat me for one, and I'd get another. Another treatment, back to the first infection, first treatment, back to the second infection. Round and round.. After three months of that I got frustrated and started to look for other treatments - there HAD to be something out there that would help me feel better without just giving me yet another infection. The answer - quitting sugar. I went cold turkey and after about 10 days, no more infections! Hooray! I remained sugar free for about 5 months, and then started allowing it back in (it was the chocolate chips. I MISSED them). 

Now I still don't eat very much sugar, and have been able to remain free of infections for the last five years. I can feel it when I eat too much. My body doesn't like it, and it's pretty clear when I've crossed a line. As for caffeine? Well, that just makes me jittery and it's not fun, so why drink it?

What about you? Are you a sugar-fiend? Or a paleo-person? Or halfway in between?

A to Z Challenge: Running

This post is part of the April A-Z Blogging Challenge. This year my theme is simply, "things I know." Some posts will be informational, some about life lessons, some about things I've learned as an author/blogger.

Running (or any exercise, really) can be wonderfully meditative.

I started running the summer I lived in South Korea. I'd had a pretty rough year my first year of grad school (due to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, a friend going missing, and other calamities) and by the time I finished the year was determined to spend some time getting more fit and allowing my mind and emotions to recuperate.  My older brother has always been a runner, so he spent some time coaching me and by the end of the summer I was able to run a couple of miles in good time. That summer was the first time that I was intentional about minding my mental and physical health, and I learned so much about the movements that serve me the best. 

Before last year's
Downhill Mile race on the 4th
of July

Now I try to get out to run at least once a week, and exercise in some way at least three times per week. It's important to my mental and physical health, especially during stressful times.

What movements do you find soothing? Any fellow runners out there?