Wordless Wednesday - Meg's Miles #megsmiles

I've had my struggles, issues, and mountains to climb as I'm sure we all have but a tragic event took place maybe 10 miles from my work that has made me think and realize that my struggles are nothing but petty.

Meg Cross Menzies was tragically killed Monday morning during her morning run with her husband.  When she sent her three precious kids off to school that morning no one knew it would be her final goodbye, her final kiss, her final hug.

Her husband who works for our local police force attempted to save her until medics arrived but God had other plans.  I'm not sure why he works the way he does, but he felt that it was her time.

She was hit by a doctor at 8:15 AM Monday morning, who had a blood alcohol level of .11.

This Saturday what started as local event has now gone worldwide and all runners and non runners are dedicating their run to Meg's Miles.  I haven't run in a month, but I will be out there Saturday running for Meg and running for all other runner's who's lives were tragically ended too soon.

Please join the Facebook Event Meg's Miles if you would like to donate your Saturday run.  There is more information on this site should you like to also make donations or find out more about the tragedy and the families needs.  Please use the hashtag "megsmiles if you post on social media.

Please please please use caution when running, biking, walking on roads and please as a driver keep your head up and DO NOT get behind the wheel if you have had anything that would impair your judgement.

Always tell your loved ones you love them, and kiss and hug them as much as possible, you never know when it's your last!

The Struggle

Have you missed me?  I have been gone for awhile....and I've hated it.  I just had to step away though.  EVERYTHING had gotten crazy and I felt like I was being pulled in 100 different directions.  I would go one way in hopes it would help get me back on point only to find out that that way ended with 100 more directions.  I had to let go of something, and at that point it was the blog (and a lot more that you guys didn't see).

I fully expected to go all gung ho after Christmas which got pushed to after New Years which got pushed to now.

I put all these crazy expectations on myself that I eventually just gave up because I felt like I had failed when in reality I was expecting the impossible.

I want to be the best, the biggest, the top of everything and well that's not always possible, nor is it important.  I take the simplest thing and analyze it back to it's beginning features or further if possible.  For example...I don't run to the store to by my kids a pair of jeans....I look online at EVERY store I have access to so I can find out who has what styles at what price.  Then I go to the store, to buy, AFTER, I have researched the best coupons for that store.  So instead of running into Old Navy to buy the $10 jeans, I go to Crazy 8's to buy the $7.99 jeans with a 20% off coupon.  So in just 2 hours (minimum, cuz then I get sidetracked looking at the dresses or coats) I've saved us $3.61.  Yep, my time is worth a heck of a lot more than $3.61.

I just felt stuck, not sure what to do which way to turn.  I felt like I could not get anything accomplished, my mind was racing 100 times a second and in 500 different directions.  I couldn't focus.  I had a running list in my head, at work I need to do this, at home I need to do this, O needs this, B was missing this, I need to post this on the blog, oh crap I forgot to do this.  NONSTOP.  Sleep...what is sleep?  I would stay up staring at the computer or TV in a trance just so I didn't relax to fall asleep to remember ALL the things that I had not completed or pushed to the side.  Then of course the next day I was tired and not to my full potential.  It was a vicious vicious cycle to say the least.

With all of that going on I had myself surrounded by people who were negative.  They were mad at the world, nothing was good enough or right....and it gets contagious.  I caught myself complaining about how much people were complaining.  They didn't care about things so why should I.  Well that's all great until you go to lay down at night and realize that you really do care and realized that you shouldn't have put something off because it didn't fit in what YOU wanted to do at that time.

So even though some of the things I want may be unattainable or impossible.  I'm not giving up, I'm not walking away.  I will still try to be the best at what I do, but with a bit more flexibility and reason.  I am trying to stay organized, and writing to do lists at home, work, everywhere so I can make sure I prioritize and accomplish.  I am setting attainable goals (and a few dream goals just in case) and I'm getting my fight back!  I'm doing my best to ignore the unpleasables and trying to turn their negativity to positives.

So, the struggle, it's never ending and constantly changing, but I am not letting it suffocate me any longer...I'm fighting back and eventually I will win.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday with Lovable Labels!

I LOVE Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales...even if I don't need anything, I always go out, just for fun!!  But being able to get Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales from the comfort of my family room and pj's (while watching Pitch Perfect of course!) is the best!!

So, throw on your pj's and make sure to check out Lovable Labels Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials!  You don't want to miss this!

 

This would be a great time to pick up a Christmas gift for your favorite teacher, or more slimline labels for the second semester of school (or next August).  You can even get holiday labels, address labels, and gift tags.  Also think stocking stuffers, kids will need new labels for all their new toys or ZIPIT tags for their new winter jackets, lunch box, and book bag!

 

Lovable Labels is your #1 source for durable personalized labels, tags, safety products and much more. By recognizing the unique personality in every child, Lovable Labels inspires children to take better care of their belongings. Our durable products withstand the dishwasher, microwave, washer, dryer, and the greatest test - your child!

 

Disclaimer - This is a sponsored post, however all opinions are my own.  I was supplied a set of labels for compensation of this post.

The Hunger Games - Catching Fire Movie Preview & Giveaway

The Hunger Games, have you heard about it?  Yep, I didn't think so !

I'm pretty sure 97%  of the female American population (and a good percentage of males too) have at least read one book or seen the first movie!  I've read all three books, but have yet to see the first movie.  I was still reading the last book when the first movie came out, and I refuse to watch movies before I've read the entire book series.

But now, after seeing the trailer for Catching Fire, I'm going to have to watch the first movie, so I can stand in line at the theater on 11/22 to be one of the first to see Catching Fire!

I don't know if you stress about what to wear....but I can help...why not enter to win a Catching Fire Prize pack which includes:

- One (1) movie poster

 

- One (1) official movie T-shirt with Mockingjay logo

 

- Two (2) wristbands

 

- One (1) iPhone cleaner

 

- One (1) iPhone dot

 

 

This is a quick one, so make sure you enter now!

 

Disclosure - I received a prize pack in compensation for this post.

 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday - SHARKS!

Two weekends ago we were in the Outer Banks and took the kids over to the North Carolina Aquarium....

It got a little dicey and scary....they have some big sharks there...

 

 

 

Luckily we were able to all walk away safely!

 



 

 

Ozeri Precision Digital Bath Scale

The Ozeri Precision Digital Bath Scale (400 lb edition) with widescreen LCD and step on activation in white was a lot more than I was expecting!

It is thin and sleek and just nice to look at.  I almost didn't want to step on it (that and I didn't want to see how much I weighed!).  The battery comes with the scale so it took a total of 48 seconds to install the battery and have the scale ready to go.  Of course Owen had to try it out first!

It was so fast to read his weight, you don't even have to wait for it to "set" itself.  This will actually allow me to weigh B.  At 3, she does not want to have to "set" a scale, then step on it, then wait any more than 5 seconds to jump off and get into something else!  I also love that it measures to the nearest tenth of a pound.  It allows you to monitor your weight so much more accurately.  I have a love/hate relationship with scales, but giving me another number that I can change, and change quicker (lower of course) helps.

In case you were wondering, my right foot weighs 15.4 lbs!

Here is the manufacturer's product description for this wonderful scale:

The new Ozeri Precision Digital Bathroom Scale features auto calibration technology that makes tracking your weight easy, right out of the box. With the latest generation of Step-on Activation, your body weight is displayed immediately upon stepping onto the scale, with no tapping required to turn on or activate the scale. The Ozeri Precision Digital Bathroom Scale accurately displays results in increments of 0.2 pounds or 0.1 kilograms on its easy to read widescreen LCD, and uses 4 G sensors to capture weights up to 400 lbs or 180 kg with industry leading accuracy. The Ozeri Precision Digital Bathroom Scale also boasts a convenient unit button that instantly changes the unit of measurement from pounds to kilograms and optionally British stones. The Ozeri Precision Digital Bathroom Scale utilizes an oversized platform, impact resistant tempered glass, and durable construction. It is designed with accuracy, convenience and ease of use in mind. It also turns off automatically to conserve battery life, and runs on 1 Lithium 2032 battery (included) for the best in performance. Your Satisfaction is 100% Guaranteed.

You can purchase the Ozeri Precision Digital Bath Scale through Amazon.

To say I we love this scale is an understatement!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

UGLee, the Ergonomic Pen, Review and Giveaway

To say that I am a pen junkie is a bit of an understatement!  Pen freak may be more like it.  I have at least 10 different pens in my purse right now and we won't mention how many I have at home and work. So I was beyond excited to do a review of the UGLee pen.

The UGLee Pen is the wonderful scientifically-designed ergonomic pen. The Ultimate Grip Pen was designed by a real physician, Dr. James Lee. These pens are sold in packs of three and in your choice of seven different barrel colors (red, pink, white, yellow, green, blue, and gray). All come with black ink and you can purchase ink refills in black, blue, and red. 
 I received two red barrels and one blue barrel to test/review. I was hoping they wrote in different colors but all three were the standard black ink. The first two things I noticed were the grip and how light the pens were.


The grip was soft but a bit sticky, not to the point where your hand stuck or had a residue. I was worried just throwing it into my purse....I just knew it would pick up every crumb and piece of dirt I had. 

"Ultimate comfort!  The overall shape as well as the detailed contours are perfectly engineered to follow the anatomy of the hand. You don't have to grip this material, it grips you."
  "The UGLee pen only weighs 11 grams. That is less than 1/2 ounce!  Less mass, means less inertia, more comfort."

I love how these pens write - they flow and are super smooth.  And coming from a lefty, they don't smear/smudge!  You know how annoying it is to write something, then look back and realize that you have smeared everything because you are left handed?  Yep, that's me every day.  I typically have to stay away from gel pens, for this reason, plus being left handed, I don't always hold the pen to the right angle for roller ball pens and gel pens.  It is so annoying to have to re-write a word or letter multiple times because you do not have the right angle!  These pens are easy to hold and the ink flow is perfect.

You can order these pens HERE

Make sure to follow UGLee Pen on Facebook and Twitter!

Want to enter to win your own 3 pack(random barrel color) of UGLee pens?  Enter using the rafflecopter entry below (US only)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.