February 22nd is #NationalMargaritaDay all around the country. Millions of people will rush to the nearest watering hole to order a signature margarita, guacamole and chips. Though I am recovering from a cold during the festivities this year, I thought I'd offer you an alternative to the good 'ol Margarita. These recipes are inspired by Perry's Steakhouse, a popular high-end restaurant here in Texas. Check out the post below for two cocktails guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds and your anxiety (lol). Cucumber Blueberry Martini: Smirnoff Blueberry vodka shaken with fresh lime juice, cranberry and muddled cucumber. Peachy Glen: Glenmorangie 10 year old scotch shaken with Belvedere Peach Nectar vodka, stonefruit puree and fresh pressed lemon juice. Truffle Steak Fries Complete with a side of garlic aioli (OMG!). A more than adequate substitution for chips and guacamole. If you give any of these a try (at home or in the restaurant), tag me on Instagram and tell me all about the experience!

For those of us preparing for a long weekend, as those without that luxury head in to work Monday (me!), here is a list of books that will be sure to get you into the presidential spirit during the holiday. I really enjoy historical books by the Library of America so you'll see quite a few of them listed below. These books tend to be a collection of private or lesser known writings by a historical figure which gives us a little more insight in to the subject. After they depart: Ever wonder what happens to these folks after serving in the highest office of the United States? Those listed below also held another U.S. federal office after serving as president (Reference) . 1. John Quincy Adams: This book is presented by Library of America. John Adams was the 6th President of the United States, serving between 1825-1829. Adams also served as a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts between 1831-1848. 2. Andrew Johnson: The authors of this book, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger, do a great job of writing history in an entertaining way. Andrew Jackson was the 17th President of the United States, serving between 1865-1869. Johnson also served as a U.S. Senator from Tennessee in 1975. 3. William Howard Taft: William Taft, the 27th President of the United States (1909-1913) also served as the 10th Chief Justice of the United States (1921-1930). The book focuses on the presidencies of Theodore Roosevelt and his successor, William Howard Taft--one-time colleagues and friends who later became sworn foes-- and how the birth of modern journalism can about. It may start off slow but eventually leads to a well written entertaining story sure to prove a satisfying read over a long weekend for history buffs. Presidential Firsts: This next group serving as Commander and Chief have a spot in history as a first (Reference). 4. George Washington: If we insist on making a list of firsts, in any category, we must include George Washington the first ever President of the United States (1789-1797). 5. John Tyler: Not the most popular President of the United States, John Tyler is known for being the first President to take office by way of death to the Elected President. He took office in 1841-1845 after the death of William Henry Harrison making him the 10th sitting President of the United States. He was also the first President of the U.S.A to be expelled from his Political Party while in office. Scandalous! Keep in mind that it's difficult to find a thorough book referencing this fella. This book primarily focuses on his presidency (not his life in general) and is pretty decent read. 6. Ulysses S. Grant: President (1869-1877), Grant was the first President to veto more than 50 bills and issue more than 100 executive orders. However for such an iron fist, it seems he also had a touching side. This book chronicles many letters to Julia Grant, his wife, during his time away at war. Grant wrote his own Personal Memoirs completing it shortly before his death in 1885 however these pieces will give you a rare window into the man that served two terms in a tremulous Presidency. 7. Barack Obama: Offered a book contract after being elected the first black president of the Harvard Law Review and before becoming the first black president of the United States (2008-2012), in this New York Times best seller Obama shares his journey of an unusual yet interesting and inspiring life. Fun Facts!: The next book selections are based on some fun facts we learned about these leaders (Reference). 8. James Madison: Over 200 years after his death Madison still reigns the smallest standing United States President (1809-1817) at 5’4”tall and weighing around 100 pounds. 9. James Buchanan served as President of the United States (1857-1861) and holds the record for being the only bachelor ever in that office. There is no actual book referenced here because it's Hella default finding a good one on this guy. If you know or find one, connect with me on instagram to send it my way! Please and Thank you! 10. George W. Bush, President (2001-2009), was his high school’s head cheerleader!

After reading these below, let me know on twitter what blogging and/or YouTubing has taught you. 1. Everyone is a novice at some point. No one expects you to, nor needs you to, know everything. Blogging is hard...write, read, edit, repeat...as may times as you need. 2. Slow Down. In haste to complete the task, minor mistakes can require more time correcting than if done correctly the first time. For example, writing blog posts without proof reading often presents easy avoidable spelling/grammatical mistakes than need editing days later. 3. Increased Consistency. 4. It's okay to make mistakes. 5. Everyone wants to try something new. The ultimate question is are you brave enough to do it? 6. Judgement can be beneficial: Constructive criticism makes you better so receive it with grace and respond accordingly. However note: you are not responsible for the moral compass of others. 7. A productivity journal is a must! Click here for an a full explanation. 8. Blogging is a fun writing outlet, but also requires wicked creativity. 9. Just have fun! You don't always have to visualize the end game. 10. Every new venture brings success in its own way... sometimes in unexpected ways.

Some characteristics of the Law & Order franchise that has made it so popular among viewers since it's first air date in 1990 is great story telling and its ability to raise moral and intellectual questions to the viewers about how we choose to keep order in our society. Tonight's episode of Law & Order SVU was a special treat. We had the opportunity to see and hear the characters express their beliefs and thoughts about the criminal justice system they have sworn to uphold. Olivia Benson is the Captain of a detective unit who focuses on crimes of special victims (#SVU: Special Victims Unit). She leads Detective Amanda Rollins, Dominick Carisi and Fin Tutuola as they solve crimes across New York City. In this episode they all prepare to testify during a murder trial in which all of the physical evidence points to a young woman murdering her husband in cold blood. The intangible evidence seems to point to suspicion that the woman was physiologically abused by her husband for six years prior to the incident. While Carisi pleads for the woman's soul from the perspective of a strict abiding catholic lawyer convinced that the evidence "got it wrong this time", Rollins challenges his views with a self-righteous attitude steaming from her abusive childhood that causes her to see the world as binary (right vs. wrong). Rollins accuses Benson of seeing everyone as a "victim" such as the alleged murderer in this case. Benson subsequently accuses Rollins of having too little empathy. Fin, remains the neutral firm voice throughout the episode. This episode teaches us that our experiences throughout life, in fact, shape how we view the world. Therefore, we shouldn't just be tolerant of the opinions of others but we should listen to them and embrace them before we respond, before we act. If you are interested in what my actual opinions are about the moral questions of this episode, connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook! Meanwhile, here are 5 reasons to absolutely love Detective Benson during this episode: 1. She has absolutely no tolerance for bullies. If you are a true fan of the series you already know that whenever a bully or criminal challenges Olivia she makes it a point to look them directly in the eyes, never backing down. In this episode, she does the same when Rollins takes on her and Carisi in demanding they do things by the book irregardless of what they feel. Rollins insists, "It's way above our pay grade to care about these things." Olivia replies, "...but we must!" 2. She takes the time to (truly) get to know her team! When Fin insists that the case is just another day in the office for him. Olivia responds -"Fin, your BS doesn't fly with me." 3. She is the the perfect balance of compassion, toughness and vulnerability. The fact that Olivia struggles with the choice of lying on the stand shows us her compassion and her ability to see things from all perspectives despite her duty and oath of representing the criminal justice system. She has no reservations as a leader when she all but begs Fin to tell her what to do at the last minute disclosing her vulnerability in not always having the answer. 4. Mariska Hargirtay! Nuff said. 5. Her final decision. Go watch to find out what Olivia decided!

It seems like reading more is a common New Year resolution with each passing Dec. 31st. Last year I committed to reading one book per month: just me, a hot cup of tea and the beautiful words of a stranger sprawled across unfamiliar pages ready for my eyes to devour. If you are interested in my 2018 reading list check out my previous post. I hope you also plan to join me this year in devouring the list below! Girl Wash your face by Rachel Hollis Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be! Daughter of Gloriavale by Lilia Tarawa A personal account from a young girl who escaped the mental confines of a Religious Cult. Educated by Tara Westover A memoir from a woman who didn't see the inside of a classroom until she was seventeen.

Here is a list of great eats that we discovered during our running tour in 2018. Let me know, on social media, if you try any of these locations. We loved them!..and if you are a frequent visitor here then you know the drill: Click on the links in this post for more information on anything that you like... New Orleans, Louisiana Located about a little over an hour outside of New Orleans in Lafayette, Louisiana, Prejeans Resturant has some of the best damn gumbo you will ever eat. 'Nuf said, enjoy! Baltimore, Maryland If you are ever in the Baltimore area PLEASE stop by the Blue Moon Cafe. You will not regret it! Their Breakfast Crab Tower and Captain' Crunch French Toast were amazing! Denver, Colorado Guard and Grace Restaurant is a fine dining steakhouse with great service, business casual comfortable atmosphere and a cocktail menu to drool over. We recommend the Garden Grace cocktail. Mexico City, Mexico All of the food in Mexico City is amazing including RosaNegra Restaurant. It has fresh seafood, savory wine and an open atmosphere to enjoy the refreshing sunny weather in the area. New York, New York Located in the Chelsea Market, the tacos at Los Tacos No. 1 are the absolute best tacos I have ever had. Santa Barbara, California California has plenty of fine dining in which we enjoyed. Toma Resturant had rustic wine and a romantic atmosphere. The scallops were cooked to absolute perfection. Sunny California is also a great place for tacos outside! East Beach Tacos had tasty tacos at a great price. If you find yourself wanting to work off those tacos right away, this location is attached to an outdoor batting cage, bonus! Atlanta, Georgia Poor Calvin's Restaurant had a great seafood curry and a cozy, quaint, intimate atmosphere. It was especially fun to hear that Calvin is, in fact, no longer poor!

Evicted by Mathew Desmond Take a journey through the life of families relying on unstable housing in the United States of America. Milk & Honey by Rupi Kaur Beautiful, raw, simplistic poetry about the human experience. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow A very entertaining rendition of the life of Alexander Hamilton, a man who has a large stake in what is the United States of American a we know it today. Reading for Diversity and Social Justice by Adams et al. Select writings from everyday people living and experiencing marginalized communities. One of the best books I've ever read. Baldwin :Collection by the Library of America Some of James Baldwin's less publicize work. I really enjoy his humor, wit, sporadic darkness and verbal eloquence. My Husband's Wife by Jane Corry An entertaining story of the intertwined life journey of a woman and a young girl living in England. Success to Die For Lynette Davis Breaking Down Assumptions About Anxiety, Depression, & Suicide and Their Impact on Business Women. Becoming by Michelle Obama Life and journey of the former First Lady of the United States, her unique outlook on the role and what she wishes for all young girls aspiring for more. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult This a beautiful story of the human experience that will certainly make you twinge. It's a tough subject matter to tackle and Jodi Picoult puts her signature moral questioning into the story line. Good to Great by Jim Collins Whats does it take to be a great company? Why do some companies survive and others go bankrupt? Join Jim Collins to find out. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell Exactly want does it take to be a high achiever? The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley and William Danko What do think a Millionaire looks like? Hint: It's probably not what you think!

Happy New Year! As we are planning our goals for 2019, I challenge you this year to be true to the energy that you receive and organically give. Don’t rely on labels to drive or sustain your interactions with others. Hold true to your obligations but question why they are such and let your actions come from a place of authenticity. As a result, watch your life change before your eyes. I’ve never been one for labeling myself or others , however I do believe that the modern world needs labels -both for structuring society for the better and unfortunately to exclude others from it. Labels are constantly invented and recreated therefore we chase them in order to prove our meaning and purpose to others. The world doesn’t know how to relate to us without labels, without putting us in a box. Labels are how we are reassured of ones positioning in relation to another. They inherently question our existence and value to society. Like many, I could make a long never ending list of labels that maybe would apply to some point in my existence (in no particular order): Woman, Christian, Daughter, Sister, Girlfriend, Aunt, Mentor, Wife, Lover, Friend, Confidant, Mentee, Scientist, Teacher, Administrator, Manager, Business Owner, Student, Runner, Reader, Writer, Poet, Activist... The Universe however, that space where our soul lives - it doesn’t need labels. We are to it and one another the energy that resides between us. Often, the energy you feel from and give to another is organic -built in the fabric of the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen that makes us tangible. It’s unchangeable but can evolve over time. This explains why throughout life, those that may have once been a stranger can become like family, or why some friends become instant “besties” while other friends never seem to earn that label no matter how much time we spend with them... or why some people feel like we’ve known them in another lifetime. Inherently our logic, emotions or circumstance may cause us to make decisions while ignoring, dismissing or suppressing energy flow. Leading us to a path not destined for our unique journey. Evaluate your current relationships to see if the label matches the energy. Document your feelings to see if you are aligned with your goals. Doing so will bring peace via less conflict in your relationships because your expectations will no longer be misaligned. The energy will set your expectations and therefore bring to you what the universe has ordained. Everything meant for you will vibrate on your same energy flow. You will feel it. When/if the vibrations end, let the universe take it away as it’s making room for something new. Trust the energy in the room. Confront the energy in the room, respond to it accordingly or leave it behind completely. Conflicted energy and expectations create stress and harm to the psyche therefore negativity effecting our experience here in this life. Happy Reading, Running, Traveling and Loving in 2019 my friends. XOXOXO

I am often asked how I manage being so busy. I am a firm believer in the phrase "Busy is good!". However in order to remain in harmony with ourselves and the people, places and things we love, we should be mindful to remain busy with tasks that help us achieve our absolute best self. I use the Self Journal by Best Self Co. to help me plan for success. It's a journal and planner in one! Click any of the links or photos on this page to trial free page downloads from the Self Journal by Best Self Co. Confession: By nature I am a planner. For example, this blog is inspired by a decision I made in 2018 to challenge myself to step outside of the box in committing to my passions, all of them. Once I committed to executing the idea, I immediately started to plan. Listed below are the steps that I took in order to achieve my goal. I hope you can use these on your 2019 journey for whatever goals you are set to achieve. Happy planning! Write it down: When creating any goal you should make sure that this goal aligns with the Vision and Mission you have set for your life thus far (more on this below). Also, once you have decided on your goal, you'll need a place to write it down and document your progress. The Self Journal by Best Self Co. has been perfect for me. One journal is broken down for 13 weeks of daily, weekly and monthly planning. Scientific studies show that goals planned out over 13 weeks are more likely to be achieved. Since the time period allows for the achievement point to be close enough to see yet far off enough to make us work for it. I go through about 5 of these journals a year. I love that there is is allotted space for daily reflections, such as the three biggest wins of the week or that happiest event of the week. This strategically helps you document what you enjoy most so you can build more of it in your day. Also, there is space allotted for habit tracking and weekly milestones. This journal has a quality cover that will last decades after you've crushed your goals and will look great on your bookshelf! Aligning your goals: Once I received my journal I started by writing down my Vision and Mission to remind myself on a daily basis of what achieving my goals would mean in the grand scheme of things. You should create an overall vision statement every 5 years. Essentially it states what you would like to do in the future. A mission statement should be created every year and align with your vision. Finally, your goals, while aligning with your vision and mission, should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. So my vision, mission and goal statements for this project was something like this: Vision: Achieve desired professional goals while still enjoying favorite activities, spending time with those I love and meeting new people who share my hobbies. Mission: To stay in shape while doing something I love and connecting with new people and places. Goal: Run one 5k/10k, in a different city while meeting one new friend while also reading one book per month (Yes, using the app Audible counts!). Planning: My next step was to plan each run location and book title per month. First, I made a budget so I would know my total allotted resources. Then, I spent some time researching the cities that my loved ones and I were interested in visiting during the year. I made sure to take advantage of locations where I could also spend time with distant relatives and friends during special holidays and/events. Next I researched what runs were available in those cities during the time I planned to travel there. Once plans were solidified, I made every effort to register for each run and book each flight/accommodation at that point in time. Yes, that means it all was planned and booked before the end of January 2018! Execution: Since the entire schedule was finished in January, execution was the easiest part. We just had to show up! That's it! The planning phase gives you the opportunity to create deadlines for yourself. Then, all you have to do is meet those daily/weekly/monthly deadlines. In my Self Journal by Best Self Co. I planned weekly practices runs to help me perform my best on "game day". and scheduled my reading time. Accountability: When setting goals it's also important to build-in accountability partners. For example, I shared my schedule with my close family and friends to invite them along while also making them aware of my goals. That way, they were bound to ask me about my progress throughout the year making it less likely for me to abandon the idea. Also, I have you all! I created this blog to keep my friends and family up to date on my progress, meet new friends with similar interests and share recommendations inherently keeping me accountable for following through! What are you planning for 2019? Tell me about it anywhere on social media, I'd love to hear it! Remember, you can click any of the links or photos on this post for a free trial page downloaded from Self Journal by Best Self Co. I wish you the best of luck in 2019 on your journey of becoming your Best Self! XOXOXOXX

With this being the best selling memoir of 2018, it probably would be safe to assume that this book and/or author needs no introduction, however I will do it anyway. Becoming by Michelle Obama chronicles the life of a woman who would serve as the First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS) between 2009-2017. Full of intimate color photos of the "girl from the South Side of Chicago", this book has inspired millions to dream big. Including myself. I subtly asked my husband to pre-order this book for me as a birthday gift last year so I had it "in hand" quite early, admittedly though, only recently finishing it. I also had the opportunity to attend the Houston, Texas leg of her book tour. Check out a video of her jazzy stage entrance below! "You can only live your story when you believe in your story...When you are not embarrassed by your story...then you are empowered by your story." ~Michelle Obama No matter your political affiliation everyone can find something inspiring about Michelle Obama. What is most enjoyable about this body of work is that it focuses on the girl that became the women who eventually became FLOTUS. Essentially, she subtly stresses to the reader that she was a whole person before the White House, before Barack. She outlines the pivotal lessons learned from the environments, her parents, family, friends, mentors leading her in the direction of becoming... Obama's writing style is full of humility and honesty. The reader gets drawn in with the warmth of a family dinner. She pulls you in, fills you with encouragement then sends you out in to the world to become your own best version of you... because you too, are becoming... The reader quickly learns that the White House, like many other milestone experiences in her life, is just a pit stop for Mrs. Obama. She is forever Becoming, and we just can't wait to see what's next! Happy reading my friends! xoxoxoxox, ROTR

Deep in the heart of Texas! Running in Austin, Tx for clean water in Burundi Africa! Hosting Philanthropic organization: The Gazelle Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for the people in Burundi Africa by providing access to clean water. Location: Austin, Texas (Downtown) Options: Kids 1k 5k 10k Organizational Effectiveness: This is a large event with hundreds of runners. It's very easy to register and the same-day packet pickup is steps away from the starting line. Afterwards feel free to be pampered by top sponsor booths with free samples of health bars, breakfast tacos, vegan juices and even free running gear. Trail/Course info: There are two hills to tread up during the 5k while enjoying the modern downtown view. WOW factor: The traditional drummers at the finish line was definitely the wow factor of this run. Click on the video below to see for yourself! Would I run it again? Sure thing! How to register: Runforthewater.com

The 2018 Dyslexia Dash was complete with a record 1710 participants. If you have a copy of my 2018 run tour schedule by now then you already know that this run was not originally on my journey. However the Cupcake Run in Atlanta was canceled at the last minute so me and the amigos had to quickly find a replacement. Though it rained, I am so glad we did! The funds raised from the Dyslexia Dash are set aside to provide low-cost teacher trainings, seminars, support groups, and referral & advocacy services for those affected by Dyslexia. Wow Factor: This 5k run sparked one of the most inspiring moments on the tour: seeing a young girl complete the run on crutches...literally TWO crutches for over 3 miles! Intuitively we are always aware that everyone is dealing with something, albeit physically, mentally and/or emotionally. To see so many people show up for something they believe in, no matter how gray the sky in their world or magnitude of their personal "stuff", is a blueprint for changing the world for the better. It's a reminder to ignore any judgement of your progressional pace. All progress won't be visible to others. Only you know how far you have come. #nevergiveup Race location: 4400 Ashford Dunwoody Road Atlanta, GA US 30346 Options: 5K, Unlimited Fun Runner, Kids Dash Same Day Registration is available. Cash, Check, and Credit Cards are accepted.  $40 per registration.  No discounts are given on Dash Day. Location and route: