Run Kilarney 10k Recap

I'm finally getting around to writing my Run Kilarney 10k recap on this run.

It was so hot.

Like 31 degrees.

The day before we had to go collect our race packs.

I was so excited to get my pack and see all the goodies and my t shirt.

We got to the race about a hour before the race to get parking and warm up.

There were over 1250 people taking part in the 10k.

I really didn't know how I was going to handle the heat.

Walked to the start line and the atmosphere was amazing. 

My brother did it with me.

It was his first 10k ever.

Everyone was ready to go.

I managed to jog the first 3.5k.

I took my time and I went as slow as I needed.

I wasn't going to break and records or anything.

Getting back the the hotel without fainting or needing a ride in the medic van was my goal.

My brother is alot taller than me.

His legs are at least a foot longer than mine.

Once we started running he left me for dust.

Damn those long legs. Ha!

There was supposed to be a water station at 3.5k.

There wasn't!

I needed water.

Bad!!

I think the fact that I thought it was going to be there and it wasn't mad it worse.

I got so thirsty.

It was a mental thing more than a physical thing.

I decided to walk so I wouldn't get too hot and dehydrate.

I didn't get water until 4.5k.

I took 2 bottles so I would have enough to keep me going until 8.5k.

The views while I was jogging/walking were amazing.

It really took my mind off the fact that I wasn't doing my greatest.

I ended up walking until the next water station.

My legs were tightening up and I was afraid they would cramp

It was tough.

I hate running in the heat.

And this heat was just awful.

I continued to walk until I came back onto the road and saw the hotel in the distance.

Seeing the hotel and the finish line gave the kick in the butt I needed to run home.

I managed to jog most of the last kilometer home and finished 1h 33min with a smile on my face.
It wasn't an amazing time but I didn't think I was going to break any records.

I wasn't my best run but I did it and I finished it.

If I could change anything I would ask Mother Nature to turn down the heat and have more water stations.

We're not used to the heat in Ireland and the organizers should have put in more water through put the race.

I'm going to do it next year again and this time I'm going to be running and not walking.

Thanks for stopping by.

Health and fitness Friday : Bye Bye Night Owl

It's time for Health and Fitness talk today.

Fitness

Last Saturday I had my 10k run.

It was 31* when we were running walking.

It was so hard.

Hot and hard!!

I'm still waiting for some photos to put the post together but I hoping to do it this week.

I did much better this week with Fitness.

I did ab work 3 days and did lots of stretching.

I needed to stretch after the 10k.

I was very stiff and sore.

No runs but I'm starting back tonight hopefully.

Jen and I were going to try to be early birds this week.

The plan was to see if getting up early made it easier for us to do all the things us women have to.

I got up early 2 mornings and I got quite alot done.

But the night owl in me is not giving up without a fight.

I forgot that to get up early you need to go to bed early. Doh!

I'm setting my phone to remind me to go to bed early.

Sounds crazy, Right?

I'm hoping to be in bed for 11pm and up at 6.30am.

In bed for 11pm!

Not get up off the couch and start turning off the lights, locking the doors and putting in the dog and end up going to bed closer to midnight.

I'm going to tweet Jen when I get up and hope we can keep each other motivated.

My favourite hashtag I'm using at the moment is #SlackerNoMore .

If you want to join in on our quest to not be slackers use to hashtag so I see what your all up to.

Health

I made dinner every night this week.

Healthy options. 

And I have made much better choices when it came to snacking.

I picked at fruit and fresh peas.

I love fresh peas.

The other thing I was meant to do this week was try yoga.

I have been meaning to try this all week. 

Jen posted a great video in her post last week.

I need to this for a de-stressing workout.

I suffer from tension headaches and this will help for sure.

So this coming week these are my goals.
Go to bed early.
Get up early.
Eat healthier.
Run.
Yoga.
Be happy.

That it for this week.
Thanks for stopping by.

If you want to stay up to date with all the happenings here on My Country Girl Ramblings, click the links below and follow along in the fun.

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Health and Fitness Friday : Giving myself a kick in the Butt

It Friday! Woohoo!

Linking up with Jen over at A Daily Dose of Davis of Health and Fitness Friday.

I said last week that I was being a total slacker.

Not doing any running.

No workouts.

Nothing.

Guess what?

This week wasn't any different.

It's not good enough!!

I'm letting myself down.

I did so much good work up to last month and now I feel like I'm going to have to start over again.

I feel like I'm letting all you ladies here at the link-up down.

I read your posts for inspiration.

For new recipes, workouts and motivation to keep going.

I'm not pulling my weight at all here.

But tomorrow is a new day. 

Tomorrow is race day for me.

I was collecting my race pack today.

It's going to be tough.

The heat, lack of training and too make cupcakes are all things that won't help.

( I'm eating a cupcake while I write this. Oops!)

Starting Monday everything changes.

I'm going to be joining Jen on her quest to become a morning person.

I'm going to be doing some sort of workout EVERY day.

Start doing yoga.

No more snacking on crap.

Drink more water.

I what you girls to keep me in check.

I'm sharing this smoothie recipe that I pinned ages ago.

Have any of you tried it?

I'm hoping that it will give me the energy I need and help with the poundage issue. Ha!

 The recipe 

Two handfuls of baby spinach

1 apple

1 banana

1 cup of yogurt

5 strawberries

1/2 orange

Blend well and enjoy!

I hope you've had a better week than me fitness wise.

Have a great weekend.

1 Year Blogiversary : Why I blog?

Something big happened this week on My Country Girl Ramblings.

Something big to me.

I've been blogging for a whole 12 months.

I still can't believe that I started blogging.

It was a huge step for me.

I was putting everything out there for the world to see.

Kind of scary when you think of it like that.

I wasn't sure what I would write about.

I needed to find my blogging voice.

I never thought I would get so much out of blogging.

I thought it was a group of women who needed something to fill there day with.

I was wrong!!

It's so much more that something to do.

You make friends.

I've made connections with people who, without blogging, I would have never knew existed.

You share you thoughts, problems and advice with people that truly care about what you have to say.

Blogging is not for everyone though.

I get that.

People may think I'm weird for starting a blog.

Some people might think I do it to get attention.

They might think I do it to get free stuff.

source

Why do I blog??

I blog for ME!

No body else.

I blog because I have something to say.

I blog to complain about my kids. Ha!

I blog to share my creativity and DIY fails.

I blog to make connections with people.

I don't do it for the attention or free stuff.

( free stuff is nice but there isn't a whole lot of it)

Maybe that makes me weird or strange but I don't care.

I have learned so much about myself because I blog.

I've learned things that are making me a better person.

A better Wife.

A better Mom.

I've learned that I love to write even though I hated English in school.

( Poor Miss McGarry)

I have even written a piece for a website and had it published.

I think my English teacher would be proud of that.

To read that piece Click here.

Over all I have loved the past year of blogging and I don't think I'm going to be stopping anytime soon.

If you want to stay up to date with all the happenings here on My Country Girl Ramblings, click the links below and follow along in the fun.

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Thank you to each and every one of you, who have read my blog, posted a comment or emailed me about my blog.

You are amazing and I am forever grateful.

Thanks for stopping by.

If I were to win the lottery : 52 weeks of Blogging with a Purpose

If I were to win the lottery!

OH MY GOD!!!

First off, I would do a happy dance.

An embarrassing, don't care who's watching, happy dance.

It would mean so much for my family.

Open so many doors.

I would pay off all our debt. 

To be debt free and not have to worry about bills. That would be the best feeling in the world. Not to have to do without just so we can make payments.

I would build our forever home.

My dream home. 

Open plan kitchen with a pantry, dining room, big family room with a big open fire, 4 bedrooms, en-suite, playroom, office, walk-in closets,  porch, basement, big back yard and a long driveway.

 I don't want it to be huge.

Just enough space for my family to have space to grow. 

To be happy.

I would set up collage funds for my kids.  

I want my kids to be able to go to collage.

I want them to have to tools to have a good career.

I don't want the cost of collage to worry them.

That's not their job.

Their job is to enjoy it and do something that makes them happy.

I would start my own business. 

I love parties.

I love to plan parties.

I love making birthdays, christenings, baby showers, whatever occasion extra special with the little details.

I'm just starting out on this venture now.

I've done it for myself and family for a while but I'm going to take the step and start doing it for others.

It's going to be another way for me to be creative.

To help with our families income.

If i won the lottery, I would be able to make this little venture the best it could be.

Now for the fun/other stuff!

Save.

Buy a new car.

Go the Disneyland.

Visit Jen over at A Daily Dose of Davis and run a few 5k's with her and the other Health and Fitness Friday girls.

Shop!

Help my family.

Donate to Bee for Battens/ Cancer charities.

Go on more family trips.

Hire a cleaner. Ha!

Mostly. I would make our life comfortable.

Make it so we could worry less and have more fun together.

Guess I better go do the lottery now and try make all this happen.

I'm linking up with Becky over at From Mrs to Mama for her weekly link-up 52 week of Blogging with a Purpose. Come join in and see what everyone is talking about.

Thanks for stopping by.

If you want to stay up to date with all the happenings here on My Country Girl Ramblings, click the links below and follow along in the fun.

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Instagram

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Pinterest

Health and Fitness Friday : Not so much

I'm back linking up with Miss Jen for Health and fitness Friday this week.

We missed last week and it was a good thing.

I had nothing to report.

Well I had but it wasn't anything good.

Fitness

July has not been good for me. 

I've been so bad.

One run.

ONE! 

And it wasn't even a good one. My legs gave up and started cramping.

I'm blaming the heat. 

We are having a heat wave here in Ireland.

Temps are up in the 30's.

My little Irish body is NOT used it this heat.

The only exercise that I'm getting is running around having water fights and bouncing on the trampoline.

I should be a little more worried considering I have a 10k on the 20th.

I'm so not ready!!

But It ok.

I'm enjoying the Sun.

I'm enjoying time outside with my kiddos.

It won't last. It never does.

And when it's gone, I'll get back into training.

For now, Water fights and getting some well needed vitamin D is all I'm worried about.

I can even walk some of my 10k if I need to.

Health

I'm not even going to pretend that I've been eating healthy.

I have not.

Ice-cream, cakes and everything I'm not meant to be eating.

But like I said above. I'm blaming the heat.

When it's gone, so is the bad diet.

So when the sun is gone or even if it cools down just a little you'll find me workout out or running or just not being a lazy bones.

Here's to getting it right... Tomorrow! Ha!

If you don't want to miss anything on My Country Girl Ramblings head on over to Bloglovin, Facebook or Twitter and follow along in the fun.

Happy Friday Friends.
Thanks for stopping by.

DIY Water Bombs : A Cheap & Fun DIY

I'm loving the Summer right now. 

The Sun in actually shining here.

It doesn't happen too often here.

We normally have coats on in Summer because of the rain.

But this summer has broken records.

We've been having temperatures up in the 30's.

They kids have been outside as much as they can but the heat has been getting to them.

What's a sure fired way to cool down in the heat?

Water Fights!!

I love a good water fight but I don't like the clean up.

I also don't think Mr P would appreciate being whacked with a water balloon.

After a quick search on pinterest I found these.

 

I bought a pack of sponges in Tesco for €1.55. 

Cut each sponge in half and then cut each half into about 9 strips.

Tie 6 strips together with string or a small cable tie. 

You done.

Go outside and have some fun with the kids.

I got 9 bombs out of 1 pack of sponges.

We had great fun with these.

We ended up not throwing them because our aim sucked.

So instead we just splashed each other by shaking the bombs at each other.

I hope you have as much fun with these as we did.

Defiantly the best money I've spent in a long time.

Thanks for stopping by.

My Biggest Weakness : 52 Weeks of Blogging with a Purpose

I have lots of weaknesses. Everyone does.

Chocolate is probably my worst one but seriously, who wants to here me talk about chocolate.

( now I want a piece of chocolate, Ha!)

My biggest weakness or personal flaw would have to be forgetfulness. 

I forget everything.

I am that person who will be told "Don't forget the (fill in the blank)" and sure enough I will forget it. 

I will walk into a room and forget what I came in for. 

I have forgotten doctor appointments.

I even forgot to meet a friend one day.

I can't help it.

I'm not sure why this happens to me.

It drives the Hubs crazy.

Many time he will have asked me to bring something from town and I will totally forget it.

It has caused arguments and I fell really bad for doing it.

Maybe it's me Mom brain. 

Maybe I have short term memory loss.

I don't know.

But I am working on this.

I'm making lists. Lots of lists.

Putting reminder in my phone. This one cracks people up.

But it's helping.

Hopefully, by making all these lists and setting reminders, I won't forget to pick up my kid from school again.

Ya, I forgot. 

(But in my defence, they did change the time and give them a half day at the last minute. I was only 5 minutes last)

Here's hoping!!

But that is my biggest weakness/flaw.

Do you have any tips to help me remember things?

Leave a comment and help me out.

Linking up with Becky over at From Mrs to Mama for her weekly link-up 

52 weeks of Blogging with a Purpose.

DIY Home air Freshener

I stumbled across this little beauty on my Pinterest board the other day.

 I had forgot that I even pinned it.

It's a recipe for a DIY Home Air Freshener.

I am always searching for a lovely home scent. One that makes my house smell amazing.

Now, you might be wondering why I don't just use the ones in the shop or just burn a candle or something.

One reason...

Mr E, The Hubs.

He can't stand any of those smelly things. They make him cough and cranky and I really don't need that.

So, this scent ticked all my boxes and it's cheap as chips to make.

You will need:

A fresh Lemon

A few sprigs of Rosemary

Vanilla essence

A pot

I put half a lemon, sliced, with 3 sprigs of Rosemary and 3 teaspoons of Vanilla in a pot.

Fill the pot up 2/3 of water and that's it.

Let it simmer on the stove or range and enjoy a house that smells of cupcakes.

(My daughter said it smelled of cupcakes.)

Make sure to top it up with water throughout the day or you'll get a burned cupcake smell. Not good!

You should get two or three days out of one pot. After that it gets kinda messy.

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!

5 Years From Now : Blogging with a Purpose

5 years from now?? Oh god, Where will I be?

5 years from now...

My kids will be 10.5 years old and 6.5 years old. Just saying that makes me feel old. I will have both kids in school. I hope that they will be happy, healthy and having fun in their little lives. I hope that they have a great brother/sister bond. I hope that they are best friends.

I will be 33. OH MY GOD!!! That is old. Well not that old. I hope that I have learned to be more patient. There is always room for improvement. You can always be a better person. I hope that I can still be a total goof and have silly fun with my husband and kids. I hope that I can still laugh and make people laugh. I hope that I have my health.I want to grow old. I want to be grey and wrinkly and watch my grand-kids and maybe great-grand-kids running around. I what to be old with my husband.

I hope to be in our forever home. I hope that we find our forever home. Somewhere that we can grow as a family and make memories. Nothing too big but somewhere that we have room to grow as a family. A backyard where I am happy to let my kids go play outside. Somewhere we feel safe. Somewhere we can call Our home.

I hope that we will be closer to being financially secure. We all have bills. They all have to get paid. Boo! I hope that we have a collage fund for our kids that actually has money in it. One day!

I hope to still be blogging. I love blogging. It has allowed me to connect with women all across the world. It has allowed me to share my story. To express myself. To be creative. I will forever be grateful for what blogging has given me.

I hope that I still have time for my passions. Photography, Horses, running, crafting to name a few. These are the things that help me escape. The things that make me, Me. Without these things I would be lost and frustrated. I wouldn't be able to create and express who I am. That is so important to put me first sometimes.

5 years from now...

I hope that i'm alive and happy and having a hell of a lot of fun.

Otherwise, whats the point??

I'm linking up with Becky over at From Mrs to Mama for her weekly link-up 52 weeks of blogging with a Purpose.

Thanks for stopping by!!