Quit your whinin' and move your...

Yesterday was the Back to School Run for the Global Backpack Project.  What a fun event.  Lots of families, lots of good energy, and everyone cheering each other on.  I ran the 5K, and then jogged the Kids 1 Mile Run with my two girls and nephew.

Now, that last sentence makes it sound like I'm some sort of crazy athletic mom.  Don't be fooled.  I'm am not.  I've been running, yes.  And for some twisted reason, I like it.  But I hardly ran these last two months. Summertime trips and visits and family gatherings got me off my workout schedule, and I had my healthy share of ice cream, wine, salty meats, and cheese.  So, this run was kinda brutal.  I was thinking that, that the run was feeling hard.  But then I realized I was being  all whiny about the run being 'hard' because I didn't have enough time to practice, because I was too busy taking trips to see people I love and stuffing my face with really yummy fun foods.  So then I was like, um...hello Maya, what a tough life you have, it must be so rough for you.  Think about the kiddos in Uganda (because the backpacks goes to at-risk kids in Uganda, Turkey, USA, etc.).  And then I thought about them, but I can't say that really helped.  It didn't stop my shortness of breath or achy legs, but it was the mental slappage I needed to stop being an idiot.   Um...hello, after this you get to hop into your dry cozy car, and drive home.  Quit your whinin' and move your ass!!  ...Ya, that's basically what went on in my head, while I was running.  Just a wild guess but, I think the kids in Uganda deal with much worse discomfort, worry, and uncertainty for like, an entire lifetime.

My brother and sister-in-law came out to hang out with the kids while I ran the 5K, so that was really awesome.  My brother who is a photographer, did not take any pictures (thanks dude), so you will not see any here. But here's the most neatest part.  When I was approaching the finish line I saw my kids waving at me. And then I saw my nephew.  He has autism and is NOT at all into physical activity, and prefers video games of course :)  But he ran into the lane, up to me, and joined me to run through the finish line.  It was the best moment ever!  People were cheering us on, on either side, and he and I held hands and ran through with big smiles.  There was a really nice lady who came up to me later with her camera, and showed me this great shot she got of me and my nephew running together.  She told me she would e-mail it to me, so I hope she really does :)  It was really nice.

And if I may, I just have to mention as a proud mama that; in the Kid's 1 Mile Run, my older daughter placed 1st in girls, and my younger daughter placed 2nd place in girls!  I didn't get to see them cross the finish line (I was running with my nephew - he and I were first...from the very back!), but I was on course with them, and I was so proud!!

I went into more detail than I had planned here, but there you go!  Thank you so much for reading, and YAY for the 2nd Annual Back to School Run...we'll definitely be back next year!!  

I was chopping pecans this morning, in preparation for another batch of SPM's, and I noticed I was getting low on brown sugar and pecans.  I thought to myself, 'oh, I better ask Boo or Memo (fake names - if you couldn't already tell) to pick me up some more brown sugar and pecans at Costco.'

See, I don't have a Costco card.  I'm starting to feel the peer pressure of needing to get one, especially being a small baking business owner and everything.   I know it would totally make sense to have one. But that place kinda scares me.  In many different levels.  But that's another post.

Anywho...  While I was thinking about sending in another request for a Costco run, it occurred to me, that I am extremely lucky to have Boo and Memo, my two moms.  No, I don't have gay moms.  Although, that would be super cool to have gay moms.  Mine are not.  But they are still really cool.  Boo (I'm keeping their identities secret for their own safety.  It's much cooler that way.  And when you're running a business and it gets big  - because I'm certain it's going to - and if someone gets mad at your pies they can't come after your moms) is the mom who grew me and pushed me out.  Every once in a while the subject comes up, and she makes a point to tell me how much she enjoyed being pregnant and how easy I was to push out.  On a pile of newspapers.  In a doctor's home/make-shift office with one naked light bulb dangling from the ceiling, way out in the boonies on the very Northern Island of Japan.   Memo is the free extra gift that came along with that thing I decided to invest in, called marriage.  She's come in quite handy, in that, she helps me with my kids, and is always around to do stuff with.  A really fabulous extra bonus I got out of the marriage.  So I have Boo and Memo, always in the wings, ready and willing to go to that place Costco for me.   I am so lucky :)

Oh, and Boo or Memo?  May I ask for some more brown sugar and pecans, next time you're at Costco?  Thank you~  oxoxox!

Hello out there!

Kind of a quick and dirty update here...

SPMs are still going strong over at World Cup Coffee, and I just gotta say I LOVE going in there weekly to deliver my goods.  Great location downtown :)  They have such a great vibe over there! Thanks you guys, for carrying my stuff!

And it looks like Driftwood Coffee will be carrying SPMs starting this fall.  Of course, whether they carry SPMs or not, you should visit this place.  A little off the main streets and busy shopping centers, this simple yet super cozy coffee place has beautiful light inside, and the owner makes you feel right at home.  And her coffee creations are delish.  There's local art inside too.

Once the school year starts, I'll do my other part-time job; the 10 week-long, math intervention program for 1st graders and Kindergartners.  After that, I'll pick up aid sub jobs when they need me!  And, SPMs will be sharing me with another part-time job, beginning this month, as a bookkeeper for an auto repair shop (thank you so much miss Jill, for the referral!).

My girls and I  - let's call it Team SPM - are signed up for the Back to School Fun Run, on Aug. 25th.  So this will get us back in the school spirit, and even better, this events' benefits provides new back-pack and school materials to at-risk boys and girls.  Talk about helping each other, and getting the kids involved :)  Please pass on the word if you know anyone in the Portland area who might be interested.

And as always, thanks for checking in and visiting, and I hope y'all are having a safe, healthy, good summer!

The strange but beautiful color Blue the sky turns, during July and August in Oregon :)  Captured by the Mr.