spring

 tulips from my parent's garden

 scenic hikes in central Illinois DO exist!

 a monarch caterpillar at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI

 my cousin's multi-generational and awesomely fun bachelorette party

This has been a good spring. The weather warmed up in late February and the last snowstorm we were all expecting to drop here in Illinois never really happened (knock on wood). The flowers and trees are blooming a month ahead of schedule. I took an unplanned blogging break because I've been struggling to find my place in my own life lately. This APW post on "failing up" pretty much sums up where I'm at right now:

"Sure, I have a rough idea of where we might be in a few years, but I've stopped beating myself up about having a detailed image of what that looks like.

Don't get me wrong though. I'm still a Success Kid at heart. I don't think that will ever go away. But as I put forth even more effort into my job and personal life now than I did before, I'm less worried about the outcome and more concerned with whether or not the effort itself feels authentic to me. Instead of "I must do this or else I will never end up where I want to be!" I'm approaching success with an attitude that's closer to "Hey, that might work. Let's try it!"

Yup, trying hard to recover from 24 years of "Success Kid" behavior.

It's hard for me to be ok with the fact that I'm not falling into another perfect job that will build on my previous experience and "open the door" for the next one. I have this stupid sense of panic and anxiety that if I waste this year on something unrelated to my "field" I won't be able to get into a career-track and will be screwed for the rest of my life. Well, maybe I'm not wasting time. I'm just living and taking the months as they come.

This spring I...

-served on a jury for the first time
-received my first speeding ticket and went to "driver's improvement class" for the first time
-spent a weekend dogsitting (Ben and I are cat people so this was kind of a big deal)
-FOUND MY WEDDING DRESS !!!!
-started pre-marital counseling
-reconnected with best friends and family
-spent Easter and several weekends in Michigan, practicing to be a member of the Locke family
-started running on a regular basis again
-got my substitute teaching certificate (so many hoops to jump through...)
-faced rejection from many job applications and interviews

Ben and I have temporarily moved back to our college town so that we can be together for the time being. I never even imagined we'd be back here when he graduated in 2008, so it's kind of fun. I'm substitute teaching for the rest of the school year, and looking for temporary summer employment locally so I can keep on scraping by. I crave to be able to settle down into a place of our own for more than six months years. My belongings are piled into my parents' basement and I get overwhelmed and anxious whenever I have to dig through to find something important.

With the whole world open before us, it's hard to visualize where we should be job hunting, or where the best place to live will be. However, I'm learning that sticking close to home and family is not "giving up" or "settling," no matter how un-glamorous the Midwest seems. Last weekend my mom and I went to my cousin's bridal shower and bachelorette party and I realized once again that family and friends are more important than where you live. Yes, I had to move back home and yes, I'm unemployed and feel like a failure lots of times whenever someone asks me what I "do." But I'm so lucky to have a solid relationship with someone who supports me, and a family who literally opens their homes to us when we have nowhere to go. I trust that someday I will be hired for that dream job, and I also trust that my dreams can continue to grow and change in new directions that I can't predict.

I've put over 50,000 miles on my little Ford Focus since I left for grad school three years ago, and those miles represent some of the best times (and hardest times) of my life. This year I am not earning a degree or traveling to far away mountains, but I am getting married in October so ultimately, 2012 is the year I'll remember forever.

everyday minerals

[photo]

Ok people, I have made a discovery.

I've been wearing "mineral powder" makeup by the drugstore brands (Maybelline/Cover Girl) for a few years now, but recently discovered Everyday Minerals online. EM markets sustainable ingredients and uses only pure mineral pigments, no fillers like talc, plus it's relatively affordable ($12 for a tub of base powder that will probably last a year). The best part though, in my opinion, is that you can order a free set of seven customized sample products including blush, foundation, or concealer, for only the cost of shipping, which to me is a little over $2.00. So you can try out tons of shades if you aren't sure which one to order, or get some free makeup just for fun. They are also constantly running promotions and free-with-purchase bonuses, found under the "color" tab.

I think I'm sold on the matte base. It has amazing coverage and is very smooth. See before and after:

 [Internet, meet absolutely no makeup Anna!]

[Aaaand 5 mins later wearing Fairly Light base]

Obviously I swiped some mascara onto my translucent eyelashes as well. But I love anything that can smooth out my blotchy redhead complexion.

This post was not sponsored or contracted by Everyday Minerals in any way. Just thought I'd share my latest beauty obsession!

running in winter

I'm currently up in Michigan for the weekend to visit Ben. His mom lives in an adorable neighborhood built around a bunch of little ponds and wetlands. {Let me just say that while this morning was all blue skies and 40* sunshine, the afternoon brought a random snowstorm and drop in temperature and Winter Wonderland is back. Grrr.}

I'm known among the neighbors as the "girl who runs" because if there is not a foot of snow and ice on the sidewalks, I will probably be spotted outside jogging around the neighborhood whenever I'm visiting. I love running in big loops!

I have a love/hate relationship with winter running. Love because the cold makes me run faster and is invigorating (I DIE when it's hot/sunny out), Hate because cold wind blowing into your face sucks, and so does exercise-induced phlegm and crap that builds up and chokes you. Gross! My perfect running weather is in the 40's and faintly misty or drizzly. However, as long as you are wearing enough clothes it's possible to survive and even sweat when it's as low as 10*F outside (that is the coldest I've run and I probably wouldn't do it again! Ice crystals on eyelashes are fun though).

Cold Weather Running Tips

-Dress in thin layers. If it's around freezing I wear fleece lined tights, a long sleeved tech shirt (love the Mizuno breath thermal line), lightweight hoodie or fleece, and thin windbreaker. Plus gloves and fuzzy earband.

-Experiment with your amount of clothing until you figure out what you need to wear for certain temperatures. You should be chilly for the first 5-10 minutes or so. If you're too warm from the beginning, you are wearing too much!

-Warm up inside. Put on all your layers and do jumping jacks, mountain climbers, lunges, anything to get your heartrate up so you start to get uncomfortably warm and really want to get outside to cool off.

-If it's well below freezing, wrap a thin scarf around your nose to warm the air you're breathing.

-Take it slow and careful around ice or potentially slippery patches.

-Get out in the afternoon or over lunch, when the daylight is brightest and warmest.

-If it's dark out, wear bright reflective gear or a light up vest, and always let someone know where you're going and when you'll be back.

-If there is just NO WAY you are going outside, look up some indoor cardio circuits you can do in your basement or bedroom! Check my Pinterest board for ideas.

Anyone else have tips or motivation for getting outside to exercise in the winter?