proverbs 3:5&6

"You don't know what the future holds for you. You can hope your dreams come true, but you have to be fearless." 

- Nastia Lukin U.S. Olympic Gymnast 

There are a lot of unknowns coming up in the next couple weeks (literally almost down to a week and a half). I'm trying to stay tough and not let the uncertainty break me down, but I have to admit it's hard. I can't share anything further about it since it does involve work plans that are not yet set in stone. All i can do is hope is that these next moves allow me to continue to pursue my dreams and bring goodness to life. I certainly am struggling though. 

This past Saturday I went camping with my friend Zach in Pennsylvania. I'm in the process of uploading and perfecting all my pictures but I will be posting those as soon as they are complete :) 

For now, enjoy your Tuesday (what a blah day of the week)
It's cloudy up here in CT, i'm just drinkin TD's latest new discovery vanilla chai coffee. yum. 


peace&somuchlove,
Kelly

HAPPY FRIDAY

For your enjoyment, a lil throwback for ya. hello summer weekend. 

"Summer Girls" LFO

i will be working till 9pm tonight :)
peace&love,
kell

everybody hurts some days - it's okay.

"If I were to be remembered for anything at all, I would want that to be that I was authentic" - Micah True

my quote for today in hope's that you live it out exactly this way.

I woke up this morning unable to bend my knee. how pathetic, really. seriously. it's sad how much i embarrass myself sometimes, and this week has been ooc with this.  Ultimately the gym was a no-go, and now I've been up since 6 am unable to fall back asleep. Once my mind starts going it just doesn't stop. I'm tired that's for sure and the next two days are open-closes at the store. Nonetheless it will be a coffee all day kinda day. i just wished i had not been stubborn last night and iced the wound.


keep on keepin on. my life is so thrilling. 


just wait about a month hopefully.




good lucky today doing all the things which you need to get done; i have my list waiting for me for 930am. Tomorrow's Friday though so that is something to look forward to of course :) the weekend's not too far away. 




And of course, remember to be authentic.
peace&love,
Kelly

one year of real life

Hi, 


It's amazing how I can still find myself almost busier than during my 70 hr work weeks. Finally back today though after a few days of catching up on rest while attempting to prolong the days as much as i can to fit in everything that i want and need to do. 


Anyway, today is the one year anniversary that I have been with Lacrosse Unlimited of Danbury. This also amazes me - both how fast that year has gone by and how it really turned out to roll along. Life outta Mess. Real life. I can say it has been quite the experience. I always love to think and look back at how it REALLY went. Yes there were many days of stress, both mental and physical, but there are joys in the things I have learned and the people I have met which far outweigh them all. I decided this next year since it will be the first with this blog I will record keep these things much better as they come along. As always, i'm excited. 


And the adventure definitely continues as I will be moving in a month in a half, yet still have no idea where to....part of the reason why my lack of keeping up on here, being preoccupied with trying to figure out the unknown. I know I just have to let it be, and what is, is. 


Today was of course a baking day though. Pumpkin bread, for Miss Tinds, my friend Lindsay who will be having surgery on her back this upcoming week. Lindsay's favorite - which will also always have a place in our hearts as it was the first thing we indulged in (sent homemade by her mother) after doing a three day fruit detox freshman year at Mess. (how dumb?) but pretty entertaining all at the same time - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. 


Pumpkin Bread 
(also a personal favorite of mine)


Ingredients:
1 & 3/4 cup flour
1/2 TBS cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt


3/4 cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup oil
1/3 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 TBS ground flax (optional)


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350* and spray a bread loaf pan
2. Mix the first set of ingredients in a large bowl
3. Mix the second in a separate larger bowl
4. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients to the wet 
5. Pour batter into the pan and bake for 50-60 minutes

enjoy. yesterday was also National Peanut Butter Cookie Day. Of course I celebrated the right way, I'll be posting the recipe on the page...


kk, got some bread to package up and some wine to drink - i walked into a fence earlier this afternoon...trying to step OVER it and was unsuccessful (obviously)....and i can't bend my knee so hoping the alch works enough for me to be good to go to gym it in the am of course :)






PEACEnLOVIN,
Kelly

"a girl who runs"

"Date a girl who runs. Date a girl who chooses to move than to let the world pass her by. She will cover the roads with you while talking about the mundane to the profound without gasping for air. She will notice and appreciate the little things: the extra cushioning of her shoes, the softness of the pavement vs concrete, or how much cooler it is to run 30 minutes earlier in summer.

Take her to a race and be there with her 30 minutes before gun start. You will watch her fret over her gels, and her hydration, and the portalets. You will laugh because she gives so much importance to running as if it was her entire life. But, you will learn later on that it only shows how passionate she can be about what is important for her.

Hold her jittery hands before you enter the assembly area. She will hope to break her PR at the half marathon, but do not wish her luck; she won’t need it after all the speed work and tempo runs. Instead, show her a reassuring smile that she’ll be fine and that you’ll be proud of her whether she finishes first or 50th. Let her know that you’ll be waiting at the finish line—or at least you’ll show up there in case she finishes several minutes before you do.

If you find a girl who runs, never let her go; register for a marathon and train together. Be her best friend on the road. When she talks, listen to the joys of her first 5k, the pains of her recurring Plantar Fasciitis, and the 1,001 reasons why she loves to run while pretending that you can keep up with her “easy” pace. In between stories, allow her to take a sip from your water bottle or remind her when it’s time to take a gel. Watch her glow when she talks about running; she is in her element. She is running by your side.

She is happiest on Sundays, the day when she can run long with you. She loves to sweat, and the sore legs, and, of course, the hefty breakfast along with the good conversations that follow each run. Always have a cold, wet towel in the cooler waiting for her. Surprise her with her favorite post-recovery drink, low fat chocolate milk, and if she runs an extra 5km, spike it with her favorite coffee from Starbucks. In her simple joys, you will find an abundance of happiness.

Propose after your first marathon abroad. Or drop the ring in her hydration bottle. Or run the trails together and end with a proposal at sunset.

When you marry a girl who runs, the only time you will see her slow down is when she walks down the aisle towards you. She’ll be a picture of beauty and strength in a gown with her running shoes upon her feet and all you will be able to think of is the thousands of kilometers you will run together. You will find the best running partner in her. You will talk about the household, career, and finances during your long runs. You will fight during your hill training and make up during easy runs.

She will never force your children to run, but they will learn to love it when they see her passion for running. She will make living a healthy, active life easy, natural, and best of all, fun. Expect a lot of laughter, sweat, and sports beans. Running will not be a sport, but it will be a way of life for you and your children.  You will never run alone.

Love a girl who runs and she will love you back the same way she loves running. You will ask her why she loves running and she’ll answer: Because I can. You will ask her why she loves you and she’ll reply: Because I do."

from the Bull Runner

Happy Saturday! Cloudy in CT, and I will be working for the next ten hours.
hope the sun's your way,

peace&love,

Kell

treasures in jars of clay

I want to share this story, 

"A man found the cocoon of a butterfly. As he looked at it he saw that the butterfly was struggling to get out through a small hole in the cocoon but it couldn’t do it. It looked totally exhausted. Feeling sorry for it, the man ripped open the cocoon. 

The butterfly could now easily get out, but it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man expected the fluid in the body to pass to the wings and then the butterfly would fly away. But that didn’t happen. Instead, the butterfly stayed malformed as it was and finally just crawled away, unable to fly. 

What the man didn’t understand is that God’s design for the butterfly is that through the struggle to get through a very small hole in its cocoon, the fluid in the butterfly’s body is forced into the wings. The struggle and pain of getting out of the cocoon are actually the very things that allow it to be able to fly."

-vcbc sermon transcript

Just some morning food for thought. 

John Piper explains life is; "not a straight line from one blessing to the next...life is a winding and troubled road". 

I'd say I agree with that. And although I can not say there are troubles along my path of life presently, there definitely have been this past year and without a doubt will be again in my future. My hope is that I remember there is a purpose for every single one of these though and for every troubled season. I'm sharing this today so you remember this as well,  as the unexpected comes along, and if right now is a time it may seem as though there is nothing good. There is, I just encourage and pray you find it. 

"He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching 

purposes for our good" -John Piper

peace&love :)

Kell

baking day's are back

Hello from Farmington :)
After leaving Boston early this morning, so my friend could make her 9-5, I'm spending the rest of my "weekend" at the rents house in the valley - with all three mcelroy daughters here and the littlest baby mac Braden. It's a wonderful thing. Grandma's birthday today too so she will be joining us for dinner. 


DMB was the best, there's really no much more to say, Allie and I walked to the most darling pub before the show to grab some blueberry beers :) the best as well. Not the same as it would have been if I had been able to make the Hartford shows here at home mem. weekend but still the best nonetheless. 


But, back to baking today! 
I made these cookies once last summer for a friend and am bringing them back once again :) 


Cinnamon Bun Cookies
  

Ingredients
Cookie dough:
1/2 c. powdered sugar
3/4 c. butter (softened)
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour


Filling:
1 large egg white
1 TBS water
1/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 




Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl combine the powdered sugar and butter, then add the salt and vanilla mixing until blended. Next gradually add the flour. 
2. Mix into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and then put in the fridge for 30 min. 
3. In a smaller bowl combine the egg white, water, 1/4 c. sugar and cinnamon
4. Take the dough out of the fridge, and roll into a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick on parchment paper.
5. Spread the filling over the dough

6. Roll it up
7. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for another 20 min. While preheating the oven to 350*

8. Take the dough out and cut into desired sized cookies
9. Place cookie disks on a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake for 12-15 minutes.
10. Let them cool
11. Eat up! or send along the lovin for someone else to enjoy :)

**You can also make icing for the cookies using a combination of powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and cinnamon (last two ingr. optional) if you'd like - i just didn't have time today. 




Add it to the recipage. Birthday Party time soon, and i want more coffee of course. eggplant parm on the menu, yum. thanks mama mac. 


hope you all have as much sun as new england today
peace&love,
Kelly

until tomorrow

I tried blogging while driving...didn't work out so much (of course). I'm currently pit stopping in Farmington though.
Boston for the day for DMB tonight, back tomorrow.

:)




peace&love,
Kelly

dropping my guard

"...That's what hope an faith are. I don't even second guess that I'll be okay and always where I'm supposed to be."

- me. 

peace&love,
goodnight,
Kelly 

ground shaking

It's ridiculous that the mornings I almost stay home from the gym turn out being the ones I work out the hardest. 


Sunday Super Workout:


2 miles treadmill run - 13:13 min


Bi's Tri's Superset workout (repeat each superset 3 times)


Superset 1
Bi Curls (15 lbs - 15 reps)
Tri Extension (Overhead) (25lbs - 12 reps)


Superset 2
Hammer Curls (10 lbs - 20 reps)
Kick Backs (10lbs - 15 reps each arm)


Superset 3 
77's with dumbells (10lbs)
Vbar pushdown (60lbs - 15 reps)


With Back Leg Press between each set
Followed by 30 min Hill interval on the Arc Trainer




Now followed by a spinach protein smoothie :) 


I usually do acoustic sunday mornings but im going to share this instead because the suns out and I'm a lil more upbeat this morning. This girl is fun, and only 12 or 13 - enjoy the pep. 

CAMRYN - Set the night on fire

Happy Sunday, 

Hope you get to relax in the sun, I will be workin of course :)

peace & love,

Kell

shame the strong

Often the thing that God lays out for us to do is bigger than we are.

"This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important."

1 Corinthians 1:25-29 (NLT)

Have a wonderful Saturday,

Peace and love,

Kelly

jasmine

I just bought this. 

Do I name it? At mess my friends and I normally would, but am I still allowed to do things like that now that I'm officially a year out of grad? It's a "Jasmine" Takamine so I'm thinking Jasmine would be perfect. Or Jazzy. I think I prefer the Aladdin reference though...ETA is any time before June 12th. That's good, because the official grand opening of the guitar shop next door at work is the 14th. Talk about perfect timing. I can't wait. I just hope I can get decently okay at this before I'm sent away from danbury.

Last rent payment for Brookview Commons was paid this morning. Bittersweet with sadness but also exciting at the same time. Life moving forward. Where to next? We shall see. 

Eventful day of firsts, first guitar purchase, first motorcycle ride, first scorpion bowl (with dad) at hibachi dinner tonight :) 

New years resolutions type living? I'm going to make a bucket list this weekend so look forward to that. 

The weekend has begun!

Let the good times roll, for all of you please.

peace&love,

Kellbell