Saturday, June 4, 2011

She's Back!

WORKOUT:
45 min spin bike
2.5 mile run
30 min legs

Where were we???
Sorry about the break! I needed one. 


I didn't die, have a midlife crisis (I am only 27 for crying out loud) or get deathly ill. Well.. I actually WAS sick along the way, but that is besides the point. ;)

I have a bad habit. Usually it's good but sometimes it can bite me in the behind. I am an ALL or nothing girl. I want to eat healthy healthy HEALTHY or I want to sit on the couch and eat candy all night. I want to run a marathon or not even call myself a runner. I want to be the best little blogger I can be or not even try. Ridiculous right? I know. 

Basically blogging is TIME consuming! Who knew right? Totally kidding. Posting twice a day and trying to keep up with life in general amidst things that have been going on was getting to me. I was stressing out about things that didn't matter and I finally stopped and asked myself why I was letting myself get so wound up about it. I quit my job for crying out loud, I should feel like I am on vacation and loving having a lazy summer! I shouldn't be spending way to many hours in front of the computer when it is beautiful outside and all I really want to do is things like taking walks to the local craft store and chatting with the neighbors I see on the way. Randomly stopping by my friends houses and try get them to let me hold their chubby babies. Important stuff!

 I realize it is all in my head. If there is something that I need to get done in a day, I have a hard time relaxing or being able to cut loose until I have done it. So with the in-law's moving in, lots of hair clients, me continuing to being exhausted all the time from the Candida Diet and getting sick... I had to let something slip. Sorry it had to be this!

Not to mention when you are tired like a grandma all the time, eating BORING food and having less than energetic workouts... you don't really feel like you have tons of exciting things to share.

I am glad to be posting again and going to make myself take a major CHILL PILL and not try to be such a perfectionist all the time. If I can't post one day because I get a last minute social invite to party it up, oh well! No worries! 

(You might be thinking right now how TRULY nutz I am. I realize this... but I am still trying to convince myself a little bit even as I am writing this.)

Enough about that though, what have I been up to you ask? Well...

-Eating LOTS of this...

(Eggs, Broccoli Slaw and Sweet Peas)
-Shopping
-Crafting
-Sleeping
-Eating more of THIS...

(Catfish with broiled jicama and green peppers with celery on the side.)
-Cleaning
-Sleeping... did I say that already?

-And more of THIS...
(Green GREEN salad. Lettuce, celery, cilantro, green onions and a little jicama. Sprinkled with lemon juice and coconut oil.)
 -And lastely drinking lots of this.
(Ginger Tea)
There were lots of other random things too like basically enjoying having no schedule whatsoever and finally starting to feel like I am on vacation like I SHOULD feel!

I will catch you up in the next while of all the randomness of the past week or so. I will warn you though, I have been getting questions about what I have been eating on this crazy diet and have about a bazillion pictures of plates full of greenery. I fully intend to post them all. Your welcome in advance. ;)

It's been 3 weeks on the Candida Diet. Can you believe that? Whew!
I will write an update on how it is going soon.

Missed you guys!
____________________________________

What have YOU been up too!!!
I am SO behind on reading anyone's blogs. Please forgive.

Do you ever feel like you need to check out of life for a little while?
Obviously yes, I think it is totally healthy though and you always come back feeling more refreshed!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

My Agent's Retreat ( 6 weeks after the fact...)


    Chris Barton and Erin Murphy (love the expressions!)
 
Hey all,

Finally getting around to posting pics of my agent's (Erin Murphy) annual retreat!  I went to the first one in Santa Fe a few years ago-- there were about twelve of us there. I think I missed the one after that (in Vermont) because that's the year Lil Dude came from Guatemala.  The next year was Portland, and the next Chicago, and this year, in Austin (which was our biggest yet-- over 40 amazing authors!)  I really  love these people-- it's a rare and wonderful bonding experience.  We spend time talking about writing and publishing, gleaning and sharing wisdom.  We also eat and laugh a lot (and even cry a little...)  I'm too pressed for time at the moment to link to everyone's individual websites, but if you go to Erin's  website, you'll find links to everyone else's.

 A glimpse of the goofiness that occurred (we went a bit wild that night... I think we scared the wait staff-- at times the shrieks of laughter were louder than those on Lil Dude's preschool playground)...

Ruth Barshaw, Audrey Vernick, and Penny Blubaugh at a signing event we did at Book People (fantastic indie bookstore in Austin!)


Me and Kathy Duval...


Lynda Mullaly Hunt and Penny...


 Liz Garton Scanlon and Deborah Underwood...


Ruth taking a photo of a white peacock in a tree outside a lovely restaurant where we dined.  (Usually she's sketching everything in her little sketchbook...)


Or playing harmonica... (something she and Lil Dude have in common)

 
Carrie Gordon Watson, Deborah, Conrad Wesselhoeft and Elizabeth Bluemle...


Anna Staniszewski and Lisa Schulman...


Ammi-Joan Paquette (author and agent), C.J. Omololu, Natalie Lorenzi


Lots of gushiness and giddiness...


And this is just a sampling!!  I'm so fortunate to be part of this group of supportive writers-- it's a giant and unexpected perk of being an author... getting to spend time with these brilliant, sensitive, kind souls.

Time for an evening walk around the neighborhood... have a great week!

xo,
Laura

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