Going to the Chapel: Wedding Season Tips (Originally for Greenville Pulse)

Everyone gets married in the summer, and I love it. The enthusiasm, the first dances, the dresses, the hashtags, the favors, the themes, the travel, the sparkler-lit farewells: it’s wonderful, but it certainly can be overwhelming for attendees and couples alike.

Last year, I attended six weddings and two bachelorette events: from rural Vermont to California Wine Country to Florence, Alabama to Simpsonville First Baptist Church. Recently, I realized that the last six movies that I had watched either centered around or included a wedding (from 27 Dresses to Wedding Crashers to Mamma Mia). On the first weekend of May, I was in a wedding party for the first time. My sorority big sister married the perfect guy for her. We wore purple and carried peonies down the aisle of a D.C. Catholic church. The reception (complete with Beef Wellington and an open bar) served the dual purpose of college reunion.

As I wrote this blog, the things at the top of my to-do list were "decide on shoes," “iron bridesmaid’s dress” and "pack Lily’s shower present.”

Make your life a little easier during the upcoming nuptial-filled months by embracing a few of these ideas:

1. Organize your theme and ideas with a Pinterest board. You can easily share with your bridal party, family, or vendors.
2. If, like me, you can easily get distracted by wedding photos or fun ideas on Pinterest, find a method to limit wasted time. For example, choose to only log-on once a month, limit the time per session, or download an app like StayFocused.
3. Save money on flights, dresses, and gifts: Set up Kayak flight alerts, and book flights, car rentals and hotels through sites with a lowest price guarantee and a loyalty program. Sign up for a free Ebates account, google “coupons for Macy’s” (insert generic registry store of your choice), and buy gifts and dresses during sale weekends (hello there, holiday weekend sales): I've bought some really nice gifts using all three methods together!
4. Borrow or rent your outfits (for example, from Renttherunway, or Men’s Wearhouse).
5. If you’re in the wedding party for a faraway event, make sure you carry-on anything that you couldn’t live without if your checked bag doesn’t make it as planned.
6. Uber and carpooling: just do it. Your budget will thank you, plus you might get a free designated driver out of the deal.
7. If you’ll be standing for more than a few minutes, don’t lock your knees. It’s simple yet essential to remember.
8. Use the occasion to try that new fashion trend you’ve been eyeing: an elegant undo, a funky bow tie or those bright blue heels. Check out The Knot’s guide to wedding attire to keep things appropriate.
9. If you’re having a hard time getting excited about going to another wedding, try to embrace the family/college reunion or networking aspect. If all else fails, people-watch.
10. Befriend a few of the couple's childhood friends or extended family members: you're bound to hear some great stories and you'll help make the wedding festivities more enjoyable.

Now, eat, drink and be married!

Veggie Tales: The Beauty of Produce (Originally for Outdoorosity.org)

Want to stay healthy to be able to enjoy life to the fullest? By prioritizing produce in your diet, you will be on your way. Produce is full of vitamins and antioxidants, it helps ward off a variety of undesirable ailments (read more from Harvard School of Public Health), plus it is visually appealing and delicious.

Here are some tips to get you on your way:

1. Go to the farmers’ market. There’s nothing like wandering through a beautiful market filled with local, seasonal fruits, veggies and plants to get you ready to eat well. Support your local economy, find fresher produce and try new things based on recommendations from real-life experts. For inspiration, ask the people selling what their favorite recipe is at the moment. Bonus: the people-watching is excellent!
2. Make your plate rainbow. A visually intriguing plate is more exciting to eat, and colors often indicate different vitamins in your food. For example, pumpkin, carrots and sweet potatoes are all rich in vitamin A and get their orange color from the beta-carotene. Learn more about beta-carotene from the University of Maryland Medical Center.
3. Try out some new salad ideas to avoid boredom. Dr. Ann has salad recipe suggestions.
4. Read up on the seasons and try eating accordingly. I’ve made a big effort the last two years to eat fruits and veggies when they are in season, and not only have I come to love some new things like butternut squash, kale and cucumbers, but I also love tasting things things when they are naturally most delicious. I usually save money by eating this way, as well! Start by choosing just a few seasonal items and add more as you are ready.
5. Choose portable fruits and veggies as on-the-go snacks. Fruit is the original convenience food, with many types coming in their own biodegradable “wrapper.” Whenever I have produce on my desk or in the fridge at work, I am better able to avoid the ever-prevalent pastries at the office and choose to indulge in sweets only when I really want to.
6. Use Pinterest (Outdoorosity does!). There are great charts of seasonal produce, infographics to remind you of the dirty dozen and clean fifteen, and recipes for any produce item that you might have on-hand, not to mention beautiful photos. I have found some of my favorite recipes on Pinterest and I always know where to go to find them again.
7. Buy a Community-Supported Agriculture share to get a steady supply of delicious produce while supporting local agriculture. Or, plant some of your own seeds and enjoy the fruits of your labor in a few months.
8. Ice cream is certainly a delicious way to end your meal, but so is berry crisp, citrus salad, a smoothie or rhubarb pie (Check out Outdoorosity's pinned recipes). Get creative and include produce in your dessert for a healthier sweet grand finale.

Thanks for reading. Which of these suggestions will you try?

Keeping Things in Focus (Originally for Greenville Pulse)

At the beginning of February, I went to the optometrist for a general, recommended check-up. They did some testing and asked some questions, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. My optometrist is a great communicator and I generally also consider communication to be one of my strengths; however, it took me until I was sitting in a chair being asked which type of frames I wanted to realize that my era of having perfect, unaided 20/15 vision was over.

I had begun noticing subtle changes in my vision after a few months of working around 40 hours a week primarily on the computer so I had done some research and made some changes to my work habits. I still didn’t think I would need glasses. There’s nothing wrong with glasses, but I just thought that I had a little while longer before I’d need to worry about (and pay for) another thing. Since apparently I had become nearsighted while continuing my ongoing struggle with putting in eye drops, now I have “hipster” glasses. Despite my reluctance, putting on the new glasses for the first time to watch “Wicked” from the Peace Center balcony was amazing: the difference in clarity was like the contrast between late afternoon and sunset lighting. How much had I been missing because my eyes weren’t focusing properly? Despite my naïve understanding of how vision works, I couldn’t help but wonder if the many times I had spent scrolling on my phone had contributed to my new relative inability to see things much further away than my hand.

The first week of having glasses for driving and long-distance viewing really made me think about clarity, priorities, perspective and the importance of focus throughout life. My thoughts returned to the recent front page story of the Greenville News about people suffering from painful “text neck”. I appreciate texting and my iPhone as much as anyone else, but is the convenience worth suffering prolonged physical pain? In which other areas of my life do I need to regain a healthier perspective and potentially change my priorities and actions accordingly? I am still working to figure that out, and perhaps my quest can inspire your own.

Some Food for Thought:

• Do you pay attention to the people right next to you in a way that reassures them that they are more important than whatever is on your phone?
• When you get frustrated about another person’s actions, do you step back to consider their point of view and use this insight to steer respectfully towards the best possible outcome?
• Choose one thing that you’ve wanted to do for a while. Could you rearrange your schedule to make it happen in 2015?
• Do you have a clear understanding of exactly how your role at work supports the company mission? If not, could you start a conversation to gain clarity (and the motivation that often accompanies this type of clarity)?

A great perspective re-setter paraphrased from Cameron Diaz: “It’s tough getting older, but it sure beats the alternative.”

Maximizing Each Day: Health in the Workplace (Originally for Greenville Pulse)

As much as we might wish that it were otherwise, there are a fixed number of hours in a day. Over the past five years, I have increasingly prioritized my health and it has made each hour better. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy that slice of Brick Street’s sweet potato cake just as much as (and maybe more than) the next person. However, I am a strong advocate for the value of making simple changes to help you feel and work better.


Whether you have a “desk job” like me or a more active working routine, there are some quick and easy actions that you can take to improve each workday.

Here are my favorites:

1. Keep a glass or bottle of water on your desk. The benefits are many, with my motivations being more energy and fewer headaches. Bonus: Refills are the perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and do a quick mental reset.
2. If you’re not an early-morning exerciser, look for fitness classes or gyms that you can visit during your lunch break. It is truly great to leave the office at the end of the day knowing that you have already worked out.
3. Audit your workspace set-up. Does your chair encourage correct posture? Is your computer screen at the correct height and angle to avoid neck strain and are you sitting the recommended 20 to 40 inches away? OSHA has tips. 
4. Allow yourself 30 more minutes of sleep. Sleep deprivation is significant: Don’t live at 80%. 
5. Keep fresh fruit, serving-size portions of nuts, or your favorite guilt-free snack in your desk drawer. When the chocolate chip cookies show up, you’ll be able to combat the temptation and instead choose to indulge a few times a week when you aren’t just eating for distraction.
6. Seek out a little daylight. If you often don’t leave the office before the sun goes down (I’m guilty here), make an effort to take a quick break for a walk or spend a few minutes working by a window to refresh yourself. Sunlight boosts vitamin D and serotonin levels. 
7. Take time to sit up straight and breathe well. Sad but true, too many people spend their time slouched over their desk or steering wheel barely remembering to breathe. Oxygen is vital. 
8. Keep your sunglasses and a travel-sized sunscreen with you so that you can be prepared to enjoy the outdoors anytime without worrying about UV rays.

The Big Goal: My First Marathon (Originally for Outdoorosity.org)

On Sunday, November 30th at 10:07 am, I completed my first 26.2-miler. Crossing the finish line was a beautiful and surreal moment. There were people all around me and many things happening all-at-once, but I was most aware of my legs and the clock. I ran for three hours, 46 minutes and 19 seconds in a row, ten miles further than I had ever run in a day. I can now say that I am a marathoner.


It was a difficult and rewarding journey. I trained for months and went out in the cold and dark when I just wanted to stay inside. Navigating the various water fountains and public restrooms of downtown Greenville, South Carolina became second-nature. I made it through ten-mile tempo runs where I really didn’t know how I had maintained an 8:12 pace. During the warmer portion of training, I enjoyed a lot of post-run slushies. I laughed aloud the day I realized how excited I was about only having a seven-miler on the schedule. There were a lot of achy days, and there were many moments of post-workout elation.

During the months of training just as much as the last few hours before the race, I used bits and pieces of knowledge that I had gained through the benevolence of all of the coaches, teammates and races of the 12 years that I have been “a runner.” Throughout my training, I asked three accomplished athletes—my beloved high school coach and RunnerGirl founder, Rae Ann Darling Reed, an inspiring college acquaintance who had recently won a 50k, Chelsey Woods, and a dear Furman University cross country teammate and racewalker extraordinaire, Erika Shaver—hours’ worth of questions about fueling, pacing, running with music, and anything else that came to mind. I read some great articles in Pace Magazine and Runner’s World. 26.2 car magnets now held even more of my interest than they had before. Would I earn the privilege of displaying one of these symbolic decorations on my own car?

My roommate the night before the race, a former high school rival and church friend, encouraged me and sang along with me to some favorite country tunes and of course, songs from the new Taylor Swift CD. The veteran of now three marathons and a Boston 2016 qualifier, I laughed when Emily Egan mentioned that she stressed before her first race remembering that “the first person who ran a marathon died.” It was a beautiful and slightly terrifying thing for me to realize that I had no idea if I could do this or not.


Sure, I had trained a heck of a lot. In October, my best friend of almost five years had mentioned that I looked a lot more muscular than I used to. Tempo runs had never before felt like second-nature and I was feeling really good after completing each 13-miler (huge thank you to the wonderful and tireless Sarah Mae Lammert for her company!). But, you never know. The uncertainty that is inherently a part of the attempt of something daunting is exactly why it is so rewarding when the daunting goal is accomplished.


On November 30th, I woke up at 3:57 am, quickly dressed and grabbed my supplies (stored in the essential race-check bag) then waited in line for the shuttle. During the commute, I chatted with the woman next to me about previous races and about our hopes for the day. I ate fruit snacks and graham crackers, and drank water and Gatorade. I enjoyed the amusing camaraderie of the port-a-potty line and made my way to the start. Despite thousands of spectators and runners, I found Jean-Louis, the pacer, who had run more marathons than he could count, holding his trusty “3:45 pace” sign. I got my stopwatch ready to go, and before I knew it, we were moving. It was real now. The Space Coast Marathon had begun.


We ran an out-and-back course along the water in Cocoa and Rockledge, Florida. I started dutifully eating Clif Shot Bloks at mile six. We passed many locals cheering from their front yards: people from many different demographics and a variety of outfits, including astronaut suits, Buzz Lightyear costumes, Princess Leia buns and even Jabba the Hutt. Some of the onlookers held hilarious signs, my personal favorite being “Remember, you paid to do this.” Several dolphins splashed in the water to our right and pelicans dive-bombed to catch fish. Halfway through the race, I was on-pace for about 3:40 marathon. A middle-aged man who had been with my pace group mentioned that he was hoping to break 3:40, and I told him that we should go for it. John and I got to know each other over the next 11 miles together, and I was extremely grateful for his company. My mom texted me encouragement as I ran. A guy in a lawn chair blasted a Pitbull song at exactly the right moment. John and I had sped up to roughly eight-minute-per-mile pace and I needed his help to stay there. I high-fived four people who I didn’t know and cheered for both acquaintances and close friends running in the opposite direction. I kept telling John, “Wahoo! We’re still crazy” and my legs kept moving. Aside from the blisters that accompanied me for the last eight miles and a few twinges of pain, I felt great. After I finished, I gave John a sweaty hug: we had both broken 3:40 by more than a margin. I congratulated Emily for qualifying for Boston with plenty of time to spare and I completely shocked myself by finishing only 79 seconds off of the Boston-qualifying standard. Happy exhaustion sunk in as I stretched, called my parents and devoured a lot of pancakes. Later, as I wandered on Cocoa Beach before my flight, I realized that I’d have to try for the Boston Marathon qualifying standard one of these days. What an adventure that will be.


I am immensely grateful for the ability to complete my big goal through God’s power alone. Thanks for all the support, friends and family. Don’t be afraid to try a marathon, a 5k, a triathlon, a new class at the gym, a steep hike, Jiu-Jitsu, or challenge yourself to form a healthy new habit. As Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
In case a long race is your big goal, here are my favorite distance race training tricks:








-Use a resealable plastic bag to protect your phone in the likely event of sweat and the unlikely event of inclement weather.
-Incorporate occasional yoga sessions when you can. For me, yoga classes were an essential time to reset while working on flexibility and other muscles.
-Keep a portable size sunscreen in your everyday bag. Refill from a larger bottle when needed.
-Leave for a run immediately after your workday is over. It’s a lot easier to procrastinate, get hungry, or waste valuable daylight hours if you go home or before you complete your run.
-Buy two pairs of your favorite running shoes at the beginning of your training: it’s a lot of mileage and you will need them.

A Relationship Wish List

So, I just went through a breakup and it sucked. However, I am hopeful for a happier future. God is good and He has a plan, I'm just not sure what it is yet.


As part of moving on, I've created a wish list for my future spouse...who is hopefully out there somewhere.

Need someone:

1. To pray with and to play with
2. Who thinks I'm beautiful without makeup
3. To occasionally bring me cheerful flowers
4. To be patient with me: I've finally come to terms with the fact that I'll never be perfect and that it is ok, but life is still hard for a perfectionist sometimes
5. To go on the Ferris wheel with
6. Who will admit when they can't or won't do something (I know, it's tough)
7. To hold me tight
8. Who will point me towards God, especially when I mistakenly try to lean on him to solve my problems
9. To sing along to the music with
10. To remind me to run and do yoga in order to preserve my sanity ;)
11. Who will tell me the truth even when it's not pretty
12. To share joy and heartache with
13. To bake cool desserts for
14. To serve God and my neighbors with
15. To make memories with

Lessons Learned Planning My First Work Event

Last Friday I coordinated a board meeting that happens twice a year. It was a great experience, although a somewhat crazy couple of days.


What I Learned:

1. In the planning stage, ask several different people for their advice and opinions about event details and needs. The more well-informed you are, the less often you'll have to guess when making decisions.
2. Type out detailed written requests to caterers, hotels, etc. Talk to them on the phone or in person, and then follow up with the details in an email. I am grateful to have exact records for clarity and future reference.
3. As a follow-up to number 2, caterers don't necessarily do the things that you expect them to do (even if you have confirmed and triple-checked).
4. Before the event, stock refills as close to the place where they will actually be used as possible. For me, keeping non-refrigerated snack refills under the serving table was extremely helpful, and the extra chairs in an adjacent closet was a great time/stress-saver as well.
5. People like helping, so give them specific tasks to be in charge of (details and a reminder right before the event are helpful)...but don't be a diva, and be sure to thank them afterwards.
6. Beware: it is indeed possible to accidentally stab yourself with a ballpoint pen.
7. Alarms, "calendarized" to-do lists and calendars are absolutely essential. There are entirely too many things for any person to keep track of in their brain alone.
8. It is completely likely that people will drink more coffee than your overestimation of how much they could possibly drink. (Hello, last-minute brewing!)
9. People may actually show up 45 minutes early. (This never happens in my world, so it was a shock.)
10. Plans, hotel reservations and catering orders can be canceled in 2 minutes...a little shocking compared to the hours it took to make the plans. Just let it go.
11. A good event-planning motto: Try your best, but if something goes wrong, life will go on. 

Does anyone else have good lessons or advice for new event-planners?