itching to run...

It's really sad, but I have only run a handful of times since the half marathon in February...and with summer right around the corner, I've decided it's time to start running again. So this morning I decided to get and go for a run! Well that lasted about 3 minutes!! All of sudden my legs started burning and itching - like I had a million little fire ants covering my legs and biting! It was awful! I had to stop and ended up walking. When I got home, I had to find out what happened! Turns out it's a common problem...for inactive people! AH!!! How did I get in that category of people! So not cool! I may not be the most active person anymore, but I'm certainly not inactive - I just haven't been running and walking for exercise like I used to. Medically speaking, basically the capillaries in your legs contract and expand rather easily, but if you're inactive they lose elasticity, so they don't expand as readily as they used to. Because they lost their elasticity, nerve endings around the capillaries will transmit the sudden expansion of these capillaries to your brain and your brain perceives this as an itch. Supposedly the "itchy" feeling will go away as activity levels increase. Another reason for me to get back on the sidewalks and running!

busy bees...

With school wrapping up, moving to another city, and trying to enjoy the first days of summer, Paul and I actually have a lot coming up the next three weeks.

May 30 - Celebrating Memorial Day with our families
May 31 - I'm getting my hair cut (still debating over the new length!)
June 1 - 4 year old Class party at school
June 2 - 4 year old Graduation Celebration
June 3 - last day of school!! (also moving out of classroom completely)
June 4 - traveling to Denver and back for a family meeting
June 6-8 - Celebrating our 3rd anniversary on Amelia Island
June 10 - getting the carpets cleaned (gotta be out of the condo, plus have stuff moved out of bedroom so it can be cleaned)
June 13 - packing up the moving truck and driving to Greenville, and then packing up storage unit things
June 14 - driving to Birmingham
June 15 - unpacking in the apartment!

Wow - I didn't actually realize how much we had to do in such a short time till I just created this!
I've still got mixed emotions about moving. While I'm looking forward to spending a year in Birmingham and basically starting over and fresh, I have really loved living in Charleston, and this will always be one of my most favorite cities. I've made some wonderful friendships over the past three years, and I don't want to leave those. Plus, I'm a little bit of a homebody, and it's been great having my parents down the road. For six years I lived over 600 miles from them, and it was tough. For the past three, they've been so close, and it's been wonderful. Now, we'll be back to almost 500 miles (not going to cry, not going to cry...).
I guess it's time to grow up and really be on our own.....

God Bless.

Simple Pleasures...

Everything nowadays seems to all about being bigger and better. However, I'm a firm believe in "the simple pleasures in life" - and that was revealed to me again today while watching my four year old's play and laugh. The innocence in a four year old is refreshing...they can be so sweet and loving, and it doesn't take a huge gift to make them happy.
What are some of your simple pleasures in life?
Here are some of mine:

1. children's laughter
2. a true, real hug
3. a kiss good night from someone I love
   
4. holding hands with my husband
   
5. a refreshing, ice cold glass of water
6. a long walk around the block
   
7. an unexpected card or note just saying hello
8. fine point ball point pens
9. a pack of gum or mints
10. fresh, clean sheets
11. a candle light dinner
12. stevia
13. a tub of fresh groung peanut butter
14. a warm fire
    
15. sleeping in late
16. a snuggle blanket
17. a good book
18. hand picked berries straight from the farm
19. listening to the praise band at church
    
20. long chats with old friends
    

These are just some of mine. There are many others. God fills are life with simple pleasures and hidden treasures. Often times we over look them for the bigger and better. But these are the things that really matter in life.

God Bless,

Graduation!

After 4 long years, I am pleased to announce that my wonderful husband is now Dr. Reid! He graduated from MUSC's College of Dental Medicine today, May 20, 2011. I cannot express how proud I am of Paul and all of his hard work and dedication to his studies over the past four years. He will be an amazing dentist - actually he is! I know...he's worked on my teeth already. :)

Yesterday was the Honor's Ceremony where he got his hood. This is Elizabeth and Joe, a sweet couple we have grown close with over the past few years. Congrats, Joe!

Today was the actual graduation ceremony where he received his diploma. Isn't he handsome!

We're SO proud of you, Dr. Reid!

tangled...

While I didn't see the movie, I can sympathize with the long tangled hair (is that even part of the movie's plot?). I have been growing my hair out for the past three years, which is a long time, and it's finally getting to the "too long" length. my hair is thin and soft, and according to my husband, comes out too much. My typical sequence is grow it out long, cut it off short, wash, rinse, and repeat. So I think I've come to the cut it off short again time. However, I can distinctly remember making the mental note not to cut my hair real short again. After my wedding, I cut it short...real short, and while it looked cute, I don't think I particularly liked it. But I can't remember why. And since I usually only get a hair cut twice a year, I feel like having it cut short would require more up keep. So I don't know what to do? Do I cut it off short again and just succumb to more visits to the salon each year? Do I cut it a little bit, somewhere in between? I need some votes...if you wouldn't mind.

Here are some photos of each of my looks:

Real Short

Above the shoulder

Just at the shoulder length

A little below the shoulder

Length, but still shorter than now

Part of me is leaning towards the real short again...but I'm scared! It's taken three years to get this length.
Oh, what is a girl to do??

Getting ready

Resignation from school? CHECK

New place to live? CHECK

New job? In progress

Packing? Half way done

With only a month left, we've already started packing. Actually we started packing about two months ago - just small things, cabinet drawers, winter clothes. This past weekend, however, we did a lot more. And today, some of our furniture was taken. Our church has a furniture ministry where they give donated pieces to families in need. Paul and I donated our dresser bureau and kitchen table. I got both of them right after college and had them in my first apartment. I was honestly sad to see the table and chairs go. It had a lot of character and was a very faithful table to all that it endured.

It once held books...all packed up now...

now it holds clothes from the bureau that is no longer

now you see it...

now you don't.

All the pretty boxes, packed up and ready to go.

Moving days...roughly June 13th-15th. T-Minus one month.

a new home...

We have a place to live in Birmingham! Paul and his parents drove to and from Birmingham on Friday to look for a place for us to live. We had been searching on craigslist, websites, and areas for other places to consider. He scheduled with realtors to look at a couple of houses and also some apartments. After leaving one of the houses that had fleas (cross that one of the list!) they went to look at Country Club Apartments in Mountain Brook - and LOVED it! We have a WINNER!! The buildings are right outside down town, in Mountain Brook, which is a great area. They were built in the 1930s and actually have some of the original charm. The kitchen is getting updated before we get there, and the whole place will be cleaned. We now have a two bedroom, 1 bathroom unit on the 2nd floor - so if anyone ever wants to come visit, PLEASE do! We would love to have you.

Don't these look awesome! I LOVE this historic charm and feeling.

Moving date - sometime the week of June 12. We've already started packing, and actually have a surprising amount boxed and ready to go. Now it will be a matter of consolidating all of our stuff from our condo now, my parents' house, Paul's parents' house, and the storage unit. We'll be getting a big truck! Kinda exciting! :)

Post Card pictures...

Paul and I got a new camera, and we're learning how to use it. As of yet, he knows much more about shutter speed, aperture, ISO, exposure, bracketing, and other photography things! However, I'm slowly learning, and somehow or another, we've both taken some pretty good pictures. These are what I call our "post card pictures" - the ones you might see on a post card.

a full weekend...

This past weekend Paul and I went to Greenville for a dear friend's wedding shower and also to celebrate Mother's Day with his mom. The whole weekend was wonderful. I hadn't spent time in Greenville since December, so it was great to be with Paul's family and friends.

I'll let some pictures do the story telling...

It was a beach themed shower since the couple met and will live in Charleston.

This was the first time we had all been together since Christmas.

Scott (Paul's younger brother), Holly (Scott's girlfriend), Kevin (Anna's husband), George, Anna (Paul's twin sister), Leah, Me, and Paul

Me and the hubby!

Leah with her grown up twins - Anna and Paul. Happy Mother's Day Leah!

I was unable to spend time with my mom today - but Mom, I do want to wish you a Happy Mother's Day! You are one of my best friends, and I am blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for your unconditional love, support and encouragement over the years. I love you.

A true tiger fan in the making!! :)

Henry Christopher Wells

We have a nephew!!!

My older sister, Meredith, and her husband, David, welcomed Henry Christopher Wells into the world this morning! Henry was born at 7:30am. He weighed 6lbs, 11oz, and was 22.5 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great. This is such a little bundle of joy and a huge blessing. God is so good!

Isn't he precious!

Congratulations Meredith and David!!
And little Henry - you're Aunt Whitney and Uncle Paul love you!

Strawberries!

One thing I LOVE about living in Mount Pleasant is Boone Hall Farms! All year long they have fresh fruits and vegetables, and during certain months, you can pick your own! This is why I LOVE spring and summer so much! So many wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables - and right now

STRAWBERRIES!!

Yesterday, after doing some errands, Paul and I went to Boone Hall and picked a lot of strawberries. Some day, I will have my own garden, and if I can, I will certainly have a strawberry patch.

I tried to make some strawberry jelly with some of them, but I don't know if it worked. And this morning, I had some cut up and in my Greek yogurt - SO GOOD!

That's the billboard for The Strawberry Festival - which I actually have yet to go to.

The strawberry rows.

Fresh strawberries just waiting to be picked.

So beautiful! And oh-so-YUMMY!

Just in case you didn't know, this is a strawberry row.