{The Ride}

Good evening all~
WooHoo....
I did the Apple Cider this morning and it was FABULOUS:)

I started the morning looking like this...

Dare I say excited to ride~

all full of excitement and anticipation~

Little did I know what the winds would have in store for me:)

There were so many riders everywhere that it was hard not to be inspired and happy!

Except you had to wait a long time to use tinkle town~My friend and I rode together for the first 50 miles...You remember her from last year:) The sag stops were wonderful and just full of happy riders ready for a little fueling. I ate more bananas than I knew what to do with....but they kept me going~
The ride was just wonderful! There were so many vineyards that I passed. The air just smelled of sweet grapes! Perfect since I was definitely looking forward to some vino after the ride!Me at the end. I don't think I could have been anymore proud of myself~All in all I did just over 76 miles....
in 5 hours and 20 minutes......burning a smooth 2500 calories!And that was with thigh burning hills the whole way after mile 26 and gail force winds. OK...they weren't gail force winds but they felt like it:)

I have to be honest that it's not the 100 miles that I really wanted but after last weeks 50 mile ride I knew I hadn't put in enough long rides to really be ready for 100. And that's ok!

People had asked me what I was doing this for...was I raising money for something....

NO....this was ALL for me. It was a very personal goal. Other goals are great too....but this was MY goal.

Six years ago this September my grandfather (who was the only father I had ever known) died suddenly and since then I really lost myself. I just didn't realize it until about 2 years ago. I realized that I was no longer doing all of the things that I really loved. Crafting, running, reading, just being happy. I really gained weight during this time and just didn't feel right with me. Two years ago I started on my journey to being happy again. I started crafting and began exercising again. BUT I still wasn't really happy with me. This year I decided to really get things in order ..... get healthy, become super active and be the person I know I always was and am. So I really started to focus on this ride and put all of my energy into it. This lead me into really thinking about what I was putting into my body and how that helped or hurt my riding. The more I learned and did, the better I felt and so the more I learned and did. It was really like a snowball effect for me:) I still have a ways to go.....but I know I am now on the right path again!! And that feels so good~ It has taken a long time and hope that anyone who has lost a loved one might give themselves a break for a little while.....but then realize that they can pick themselves up again....

Life does go on and it should:) Life is a journey and you never know where it's going to take you so as my friend says "buy the ticket and enjoy the ride."

Thanks for letting me share:)

So after all this riding, I cleaned up as best I could without a shower..... And ended up at The Stray Dog, where they still had the upstairs patio open!! YIPPEE~

I was tired and a little stinky but I didn't care.
I got my vino and pizza! Vegan, of course~

I also got to see how proud my honey was of me! Who knows maybe i'll inspire another rider. {hint hint, honey}

Just remember...no matter where life takes you, through all of the ups and downs, just remember it truly is a journey! There would be no ups if there weren't downs! So enjoy all that life has to offer and go out there and go after something that you really want! You won't be dissappointed...even if you don't meet your exact goal! Ok .... I am off to bed now! Have a super happy week:)

{Night before my Ride}

It's the night before my long anticipated ride!! I can't wait:)

The weather looks like it will hold out until i'm done!!
I hope to be on the rode a little before 8 am and done by 1pm.....we'll see~

I ate lots of super healthy food today so that I might not get so hungry tomorrow. I have found when riding that if I eat a lot the day before a long ride I do much better. So I made this tasty vegan wrap for lunch~

sprouted grain wrap
vegan tofu chicken steak
avacado
sprouts
heirloom tomatoes
mini-peppers
mustard
It was so delicious and filling:)
Then for dinner I made roasted root vegetables~I used vegetables that I have never tried before
turnips
beets
purple potatoes

And it was SOOOOO good!! Sometimes that's why you just have to go out on a limb and try something new:)
It also had....
yellow onion
mini portobello mushrooms
brussel sprouts
one whole garlic clove {split apart}
fennel
carrots
I just put a little of the organic apple juice in a pan and roasted them on 400 for an hour!
I cannot believe how good and filling these were!! I also put a little sea salt and white pepper on when they were done!Not a great picture but you get the idea:) Plus I had another wrap!! I think I should be nice a fueled for tomorrow~
In case I am not....
I have plenty of these~
WOOHOO....wish me luck:)

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination." Tommy Lasorda

{Fresh Friday}

T.G.I.F.

flickr
Autumn has officially arrived and so it's time to turn my taste buds on to pumpkin, apples, figs and all foods cozy! Usually my friend and I hang out on what we call Tropical Tuesday's but since the class for the Master Gardener Program is on Tuesday's we've had to switch to Wishful Wednesday's~
This time she brought some fabulous Vegetarian Three Bean Soup and I made the rest!
We had this super yummy Autumn inspired salad with Apple Vinaigrette

Organic Greens
Sliced Apples {you choose the type}
Dried Figs sliced up
Honey Crusted Pumpkin Seeds
Apple Vinaigrette
Apple Vinaigrette
100% Organic Apple Juice
Olive Oil
Dijon Mustard
Balsamic Vinegar
Honey
Add however much you want depending on your tastes and whisk together!! YUM:)
I also made a delicious vegan spread for our bread with tofu and pumpkin. I topped it with more honey crusted pumpkin seeds and fresh sage~
Sounds a little scary but it's not:)
Recently I decided to cut out all meat items....I guess you could say I am a vegan now. But I haven't fully made my mind up about fish!

I have TERRIBLE IBS and have been to the doctor a million times for this and finally ended up at the gastro-enterologist where he wanted to prescribe me some medicine to relax my stomach and also an anti-depressant! Well I declined!!

And GOOD THING!! I haven't had one stomach issue {aside from the normal girl issues) since giving up dairy!!!!!! So I could probably safely say my body cannot process dairy!

So now I am finding a million new things to try and love!
Tofu is my new best friend:)

While I am not a doctor or anything of the sort.....I urge you to think about the things you put into your body and how those foods or food products make you feel before resorting to medications! Just My Opinion:~)~Pumpkin Tofu Spread~
1/2 cup 100% organic canned pumpkin
1/2 cup firm tofu
honey
Fresh Sage
Cinnamon
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Sea salt & Pepper
Of course no meal of mine would be complete without a little vino and dark chocolate!
Of course now I have to search out dark chocolate without dairy!

"Don't be distracted by criticism. Remember-the only taste of success some people have when they take a bite out of you." ~ Zig Ziglar

{happy little kitchen things}

Lately I have really been into cooking....so I thought I would take a little peek around to see what cute things I could find:)
A super cute apron! I know I am always spilling things on myself as I cook away.

anthropologie
How about some salt and pepper shakers?!?
I am a salt freak and would love to have these even though I usually only use sea salt now~
anthropologie
Maybe you could make a very delicious beach themed cake and serve it atop a cute little platter~

1. potluck studios
2. flickr
Ok...well just a couple cute little kitchen things to get you inspired:)

What is your favorite kitchen item?!?!
"Eat food. Though in our current state of confusion, this is much easier said than done. So try this: Don't eat anything your great-great grandmother wouldn't recognize as food. ...There are a great many foodlike items in the supermarket your ancestors wouldn't recognize as food (Go-Gurt? Breakfast-cereal bars? Nondairy creamer?); stay away from these." Michael Pollan

{autumn decor}

I love autumn! I just don't love what follows autumn:(
This weekend I was inspired to do a little autumn inspired decorating.
I made this little wreath today out of all the wine corks I had on hand.....hmmm what does that say about my wine consumption:)

I think the yellow sunflowers look really cute against the blue door~
Do you think it's wrong to use faux flowers with real ones?

I do it all the time when it's time to change seasons but I don't want to tear out my summer flowers! I think it looks ok...
I did leave my starfish out! You can take the girl away from the ocean but you can't take the ocean away from the girl~
And the flower box underneath my house numbers~

more faux flowers mixed in with the real ones~

I definitely love mums for autumn decorating!

I just think the color is so happy~I also made a little display on the front porch table~I think autumn decorating is so cozy and inviting~and if you noticed you can even see my fish food for the pond hidden among the items in the display.

So there you have it....simple ways to make your home feel a little more autumish! Is that even a word:)

and in case you were wondering about my riding....
I did 50 miles yesterday~ ok really 49.73 miles......in3 hours and 20 minutes! Not too bad but not exactly where I wanted to come in at! Next week is the ride I have been training for! I am definitely fine to ride 75 miles but don't feel like I am ready for 100 miles! Owell there is always next year! Now I will know more of what to do in my training! It is sort of hard when you don't have a coach telling how to train and what exactly to do! Either way I am still pretty darn proud that I can get out there all by myself and ride 50 miles! It gives you a lot of time to clear you mind!!!!

"The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy." The Dalai Lama

{what to do}

I have been going back and forth in my mind for some time now about simpledaisy and thought I would share to see what you think?!?!

I started making jewelry and found that I absolutely love it. However, I am NOT so good at selling it! Turns out I am super shy when it comes to self promotion. I couldn't tell you the number of positive comments I receive about my jewelry whenever I am wearing it...but I just can't ever bring myself to say....hey, I made it...would you like me to make something for you?!?!

I began to do really well selling at home parties, etc. but found it was just so challenging to balance working, working out, selling and making jewelry with everything else one has to do in life. But I also found that I just couldn't be assertive enough to really schedule parties with people and so I have just really let everything go to the wayside. I haven't updated my etsy shop and haven't even taken my basket anywhere for a long while.

And I realizeD it would be challenging to make a full time living at making jewelry....although I am sure it could be done!

It really started as a hobby and maybe in some respects a pipe dream. I long to live the creative life day in and day out! I love it....that's all I dream about and spend my time doing in one way or another. I love being creative with cooking, gardening, crafts, interior design, and so many other things!

I have found that actually blogging is yet another way to fulfill my creative urges! I am always trying to learn something new...I even created my own blog button and the html code to go along with it. But I still feel very unfulfilled in the creative department!

I enjoy my job as a Special Education teacher but sometimes I just feel so like I am meant to be doing something else and yet, I can't ever figure out what that something else is. Do you ever feel like that?

My brain is always buzzing with ideas for this and that. It's how I feel most alive, besides when I am riding or running. I am always thinking of a million ideas for everything and I think I have at least 5 business plans for ideas I have had. Oh and I own a domain name for yet another idea I had. but why can't I really act on one of these?

Thanks for letting me share....

I'd love to hear how you go about fulfilling your dreams:)

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves 'who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? .....

Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. .......

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
Marianne Williamson

{saying farewell}

As I say good bye to summer....I feel lucky to have enjoyed one last warm and beautiful weekend in one of my favorite places in our neck of the woods~
Saugatuck, MI

It's just such a happy place~

I always feel the most at ease anytime I am near water! And even though it's not the ocean, it's still a blissful place!

They even have Bliss Street~Which is near the cute cottage with watermelon shutters~We don't have pecans.....but we do have seagulls~

What child wouldn't want to enjoy a swing on this swing set~

That's how you can tell the season is winding down....A pretty empty beach! Although it was a little early in the morning.

Saugatuck is the kind of place that really makes me want to own a boat~

We were super happy~

Even if I am still not used to my hair!

I don't think I could have been any happier this past weekend~My heart was happy~

Where is your favorite place by the water?!?!?

"To find your own way is to follow your bliss. This involves analysis, watching yourself and seeing where real deep bliss is- - not the quick little excitement, but real deep, life-filling bliss." Joseph Campbell