Why Extroverts are Misunderstood and Introverts Talk too Much

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*I normally don't use disclaimers, but here's a disclaimer that I'm going to add a disclaimer to this post.

**DISCLAIMER: I don't hate introverts. I love them. I happen to be married to one of the most introverted people I've ever met. However, more than I love my introvert husband, I love being dramatic about unimportant topics. Also, I love Someecards. Ergo....

I've seen a lot of articles floating around lately about introverts. (Like these: 23 reasons you're secretly an introvert | 31 unmistakable signs you're an introvert | I even found this: 22 signs your dog is an introvert). Your dog. 
You clicked on that link, didn't you?

(Tangent alert -->) Did you know that 60% of women would rather save an animal from a speeding bus than a foreign tourist? I learned that from random radio trivia last week. Thank you, KMGL.

Anyway.
It seems to me like, for being introverted and apparently violently opposed to talking to other people, introverts are very vocal about how misunderstood they are. You'd think they would just be quiet about it. Not so.

If you Google "Signs You're an Extrovert," you will find this article: Top 8 Signs You're an Extroverted Exerciser and this one: 25 Frustrating Things about Being an Extrovert. That's it. After that you will find a list of articles about introverts.

If, however, you Google, "Signs You're an Introvert," there's like a billion articles.

NO LOVE, people. No love.

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So yeah. Introverts. They're kind of annoying, right? I mean come on already! Either decide you want to talk to people or be quiet, but don't TALK about how you don't like to talk to people. Good grief.

Extroverts don't get no love. Hello! WE'RE THE FUN ONES! We are the spice of life that artistic introverts write about and draw pictures of. If there were no extroverts in the world, there would be no awkwardness or People of Walmart. (Because I am convinced that only an extrovert could rock back fat and a leopard-print thong.) You're picturing it, aren't you? You're welcome.

Let me just tell you that being an extrovert is no joke. You introverts think you're misunderstood? No, sir. When you're a self-proclaimed extrovert, people expect you to appear at social functions and make everyone laugh. 

Introverts can use the whole "I just don't feel like seeing anyone today" line, and everyone nods sympathetically in agreement. Extroverts can't say that, or people will think we've been body snatched. 

"What's this you say about wanting to be alone? Me no understand. See you at 7." 
Well crap.

Jordan's so used to me talking his ear off that on the occasional day when I just don't feel like talking, he's all, "What wrong?" every five minutes. 

So I say, "Nothing was wrong until you started asking me all these questions. But now I'm annoyed." Then we have a marital dispute, and one of us (him) threatens to "never ask me another question again ever." Dramatic much?

Introverts are also called "wise" and "smart" because they think before they speak. You know what happens to me? I blurt out every single thought that flits through my brain, and then I sound like an idiot half the time, and everyone laughs at me. 

MISUNDERSTOOD.

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Also, apparently introverts don't like small talk. I want to know who does like small talk? Seriously. You think I like talking about how windy Oklahoma is to everyone I meet? No I do not. I personally think we should all band together and boycott talking about the weather ever again. Like, ever.

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I could go on, but I think you see my point. 
Extroverts aren't the only misunderstood ones. And introverts need to stop talking so much.

Now leave me alone. I'm tired.

*No introverts were harmed during the writing of this post.
**If you are offended by anything in this post, blame Jordan, because he read this before it was published and said it was funny.

The Color Run: A Discount Code For You!

One of the ways to make running fun and easy is to sign up for a 5k run/walk. I'm excited to be able to partner with the Color Run  to offer you guys a promo code for $5 off a race in any city that is not already sold out using the code: COLOR5OFF

Most races do sell out fast, so check out this link for locations and see if there's an open race in your area! You can get $5 off an individual entry OR register a team of 4+ and get $10 off each entry! When you sign up with a team, it doesn't mean you are part of a relay. You can still finish individually or as a group. It's just a great way to save some money and run with friends.

The Color Run is called "The Happiest 5k on the Planet," and I'm excited to see if that's true. This is an untimed 5k run/walk; the idea is to have FUN, not to be the first to cross the finish line. It's perfect for anyone who wants to start running, for new runners, and for seasoned runners!

Don't know what the color run is all about? Check out this 2-minute video!

You can also go to their about page and read more!

There are only two rules: 
1) Wear white to the starting line.
2) Finish plastered in color.

The 2013 Oklahoma City Color Run will be held at Remington Park on October 5, and I'm going to run it! Any other OKC peeps want to join? Go here to sign up for the Oklahoma City race. Sign up with a team before Sept 1, and it's only $35 with your promo code!

Don't forget to search for other locations around the country here. The promo code works in any race that is not sold out. Create a team and save $10 on registration! There are still a lot of locations left this year.

*I received a free entry to the Color Run for this sponsored post. All opinions and comments in this post are my own. Use of a promo code does not guarantee entry into the run unless you are officially registered.

**If you use the promo code and it says "not recognized," email me. It's a quick fix!

Have you done a color run before?
Any tips for me before I run it?

A Family that Takes Funny Pictures Together, Stays Together

I love my family for many reasons, but my absolute most favorite thing about them is that they are game for picture taking. There's none of this "I don't want to be in front of the camera" business. It's "let's be crazy and ridiculous." Every. Single. Time.

And it's awesome.

A few weekends ago, Jordan and I drove down to Texas for an end-of-summer spectacular. Picture taking ensued, and although the mosquitoes covered us in bites and the fire ants stung our toes (freaking Texas fire ants ain't no joke, people!) and the sun got in our eyes, we rocked it.

Tripod for the win.

*from left to right*

--jordan, me, my sister, my dad, my mom, my brother, my brother, my brother's gf--
[my brother Daniel (the one in the yellow shirt) is single, ladies. hollerrrr.....]

love.

It also happens to be my dad's birthday today! Happy birthday, Dad. 
Love you!

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What's your favorite thing about your family? 
I wanna know!

Six Things You Should Know: An Amazing Vlog Starring Yours Truly

Over the course of the last couple of weeks, I was tagged in a blogging game by Casey, Rachel, Emily, and Michelle. Thanks, ladies! Instead of writing out answers to all their questions, I decided to face my vlogging fear and pick six questions to answer in a vlog! 

I think this one's better than the last one I attempted and then didn't post. This is thanks to all of your helpful advice. I let Jordan watch this one, and he said it was "not the worst vlog he'd ever seen." I'm just going to chalk that up as a Win and move along.

Here are the questions I answered:

1. What recently made you laugh out loud? (:34)
2. What is your favorite thing about yourself? (1:20)
3. What did you do last Friday night? (1:46)
4. What is your biggest pet peeve? (2:15)
5. What is your favorite book? (3:05)
6. Something you don't know about me.* (3:32)

Things to note: 

-When I made this, I was going through some kind of allergy attack. I don't think my voice normally sounds so scratchy.
-I put absolutely no effort into doing my hair. I know that's obvious, but I just wanted you to know that I know.
-I am talking fast because I'm nervous. Hopefully it isn't too hard to understand me.

-*I realize that 5 ounces does not equal half a pound. I was rounding. Go with it.

I'm tagging the following ladies in this game! I'm too lazy to think of new questions, so feel free to make some up or just answer the six above. Or don't answer any if you don't want to. It's whatever. 

You get extra points in my Book of Awesome if you answer the questions in a vlog. Seriously, I would love you forever. Let's all make awkward blog videos together! Everyone's doing it.

Melinda | Hey Lou Writes

Lauren | Somewhere In Between

The Lane | Life of the Lane

Theresa | From Foothills to Fog

Allison | The Bauble Dept.
Katie | Crusading with Katie <-- A new favorite blog find via this post.

10 Things I Learned My First 3 Years of Running

1. It gets easier

I don't mean the runs themselves are always easy, but running gets easier. It's so much easier to lace up my shoes and head out now than it used to be when I first started. It still hurts when I do those tempo runs or long weekend runs, but in general, running really does get easier once you build up your initial mileage base. You don't feel like you're going to die after every run, just some of them.

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2. I prefer morning runs to any other time of day

I've learned that it's just better for me and my schedule if I get up early and run. Yes, that 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. alarm sucks at first, but I never regret getting up for a morning run. For me it's actually easier to talk myself out of a 6:00 evening run than a 6:00 morning run. 

If I go in the morning, it's done and out of the way. I feel so great the rest of the day from getting my heart pumping and legs moving, and I didn't take away from any normal "day" time. When I worked in an office full time, I noticed a huge difference in the amount of back and butt soreness when I ran before work and when I didn't.

3. My stomach can't handle much (or any) food before a run

I've read all these articles about what you are and aren't supposed to eat before a run, and they're all a load of crap. If I eat more than half a bowl of cereal, I have the runs five minutes into my run! (PUN INTENDED.) Sorry, Runner's World, but I'm not eating 1,000 calories before I get out there. No, sir. I can handle maybe a single glass of water and a half bagel with nothing on it (not even butter). And that's it.

All that to say, over the past 3 years I've figured out how my body works and what it likes. Articles and advice are great, but at the end of the day you just have to do what works best for you. There isn't necessarily a right or wrong.

4. Runners are nice

Yes, there's always the occasional jerk, but for the most part runners are the nicest group of people you will ever meet. Everyone is so encouraging, no matter your pace or distance. You don't have to be scared of running or jogging or run/walking or whatever you have to do! At the end of the race, you'll cross the finish line just like everyone else, and you will feel amazing and encouraged and loved by the running community.

5. You cannot underestimate the power of a good pair of shoes

Running shoes are freaking expensive, hence the reason I don't go shopping anymore. But a good pair of running shoes is so important to the health of your entire body. I can tell when I need new shoes because I get blisters on my toes, and my knees start hurting. A new pair of shoes makes that all go away! It's fantastic. If you're going to skimp on something, don't skimp on shoes.

*Don't skimp on socks either. Socks are important so you don't get horrible blisters. In this post I talk about my favorite pair of running socks, which have never given me a blister, even during my marathon. (I'm not promising that they won't give you a blister; I'm just saying they've never given me one.)

6. It's not as scary as it sounds.

When I first signed up for my first half marathon, I was Freaking Out. I'd never run farther than 5 miles, and 13.1 sounded like pure insanity! I don't mean to take anything away from racing when I say this, but it really isn't as scary as it sounds. 

Now that I've run my marathon, 10 miles doesn't even seem that long! Crazy, right? I don't say that to brag but to tell you that when you have a base of 2-3 miles, all you do is add 1 more. Just 1 more mile than you did last week. Then 1 more. All of the sudden, you're running 16 miles without even giving it another thought. I'm serious! 

That's why I truly believe that anyone can run. Because it's not as scary as it sounds.

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7. Sometimes it's more fun to run with someone

I do a lot of running by myself, and that's great. I love my alone runs (most of the time). I get really introspective about life, and then I come back here and write a blog post about it, which I know you guys love. But if you can find a running partner, it makes everything so much better. The miles seem to fly by because you're talking or pacing each other or whatever else. It's hard to find someone you like who also runs at your pace, but if you can, it can make your runs lots of fun.

8. Buy a subscription to Runner's World Magazine

They didn't pay me to say this or anything; I just love Runner's World! It's such a fun magazine to read, and it's full of race ideas and running tips and letters from readers. I always love getting my new Runner's World in the mail. I only recently signed up in March of this year, and I so wish I would have been getting the magazine all along.

9. You don't have to be fast or skinny to be a runner

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There are so many amazing runners out there who run crazy times. Their "slow runs" are at 6:00 pace or something equally as insane. These girls have long, skinny legs and fly down the road so fast they look like a blur. And I'm totally okay with that. Yes, it would be fun to be really fast, but I am completely proud of my running pace and abilities. 

Over the past year and a half I've brought down my average pace by a full minute/mile! It took me 4 tries, but I finally ran a sub 2-hour half marathon, and when I crossed the finish line, I burst into tears. You would have thought I'd won the whole thing from the way I was acting. 

You don't have to be fast or skinny or whatever else to call yourself a runner. Do you run? Then you ARE a runner. (For more on that, read: Running Advice for Non Runners and Doing the Impossible: My Favorite Posts on Running)

10. You don't have to run if you don't want to

Once you start running, you'll start to find people who run. Makes sense, right? These people will be what I like to call "hard core" runners. These people run fast, and they run all the time. And when they don't run, they make excuses and rationalize why they didn't go running. 

I think that is total crap.

Sometimes, I just don't want to go running. It's hot or rainy or cold. Or maybe it's a perfect day outside, but I just want to sit on the couch and catch up on my blog or read a book. Doing this all the time just means you're lazy; but once in a while, it can be good to take a mental health rest day from running. Don't feel bad about it or compare yourself to that girl you know who ran 15 miles that morning. Make a running schedule that works for YOU, and don't get all worked up about skipping a run every now and again. It happens. This is real life, and you're not superwoman.

So that's it! I obviously have more than ten things I learned, but those are the first ones I thought of. 

*Follow my Fitness board on Pinterest for more articles, tips, and tricks*

Do you have anything to add? 
What is one thing you've learned since you started running?

Everything I Needed to Know about Life, I Learned From Joey, Chandler, Ross, Rachel, Monica, and Phoebe

I read this post last week and was inspired to write a similar post of my own because 1) I love stealing other people's blog post ideas and 2) I love Friends. (See also: My Top 5 Favorite Ross Moments.) It is the greatest show ever and makes me laugh every time. 

Sometimes I like to think about who I would recast in the 6 Friends roles, but I cannot think of anyone better. Did you know that Jennifer Aniston originally read for Monica? I can't even picture that.

Here are a few life lessons learned from my favorite show:


1. When you ask someone how they're doing, and they say, "Fine," that means they are not, in fact, fine. Especially if their voice is loud and squeaky. 

2. Don't tell a kid he's adopted if you aren't already sure he knows.
(sorry about the Spanish? subtitles on this video)

3. Don't wear a see-through blouse to sing karaoke.
And also, maybe don't go to a karaoke bar that involves a spotlight in the first place.

4. When getting a spray tan, make sure to count "Mississippilessly." I might also suggest not attempting a spray tan if you're a dude. Come on now.

5. When you walk around naked in your apartment, make sure you close the blinds first. 

(And if you tell me you don't walk around naked in your house/apartment, I am going to assume you're lying. Everyone does this. You cannot convince me otherwise.)

I really don't know what I'd do if I didn't have Friends to teach me these important life lessons.

Recipe: Homemade Breakfast Burritos

These burritos come with a warning: Once you make these, whether it's for your husband, dad, boyfriend, or your creepy neighbor who watches you from the tree in his backyard with binoculars (is that just me?), you can't go back.

They will beg you to make more, and forever and always you will have a dozen tinfoil burrito packets stacked in your freezer. 

Also, while these breakfast burritos are not hard to make, they're a time commitment, if that makes sense. Start to finish, I made 11 breakfast burritos last night in an hour and a half. (Now, I'm also slow in the kitchen and was trying to only use one pan, so there's that.) So yeah, they're annoying to make. But just like cooking all the ground beef, it's so worth it later on! 

Just don't say I didn't warn you.
Now, then. All that to say, these are good. Like, really good. 

I owe the brilliance of this idea to my friend (in blogging and real life) Leanna. I was complaining about how Jordan eats Poptarts every morning for breakfast and how terribly unhealthy that is, and she suggested breakfast burritos. BOOM. Amazing.

The best part about breakfast burritos is that you can completely customize these depending on what you have on hand and what you like to eat! I love having a stack of tinfoil packets in the freezer just waiting to be popped into the microwave for the quickest and most delicious breakfast I've ever eaten in under 2 minutes. Just for fun, I made one of these step photos that are all the rage on Pinterest. Make sure you fully appreciate this picture for what it is, because it took me forever. 

I don't have a recipe for you, because you can pretty much make up whatever you want. I will tell you, however, that in my experience, 6 eggs makes enough for 8-10 burritos. And I used about 4 oz of cheddar cheese. The hash browns were frozen, and I just heated them up in a skillet with a bit of butter before adding them to the burrito. You can also use sausage in place of bacon or even no meat at all if you're not a meat eating kind of person.

Wrap first in a paper towel and then in a piece of tinfoil and freeze. (I recommend using the paper towel so the foil doesn't stick to the burrito.) When you're ready to eat, unwrap from the tinfoil and paper towel and heat for 90-120 seconds (1.5-2 minutes) in the microwave. If you're traveling, rewrap the burrito in the tinfoil, and it will stay warm for a bit. 

It's scrambled eggs on the go!

*Check out my recipe page for more of my favorite foods!*

________________

Linking up with Jessica and Ashley for Taste of Tuesday!

Letting Go of My Lot in Life

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A week or so ago, I read this line in one of my daily readings from the devotional My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.

"God puts his saints where they will glorify him, 

and we are no judges at all of where that is."

It's crazy how I can read Utmost four or five or six times, and during each read something new is revealed to me. This line has stuck with me, and over the past few days I've thought about it often.

We all seem to like to talk about our "lot in life" a lot. (I would say maybe this is just me, but I'm pretty sure everyone does this.) "Some people have all the luck," we say. "It's so nice that he had parents who could afford to pay for his college. I had to get loans." "It's good for her that her husband makes enough so she doesn't have to work." *grumble grumble grumble*

We (myself included) say these things with such bitter, self-pitying undertones. It's great for them, but what about me? My lot in life, we think, is to be poor, ugly, fat, lonely. The list goes on.

I'll never be able to travel. I'll never get married. I'll never own a new car. I'll never have a house. I'll never be able to retire. (<-- this last one stresses me the crap out)

I think my problem is that I'm viewing life from the wrong direction. And because of that, I'm completely missing the point.

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I posted that line from Utmost on Facebook, and someone commented with another quote that fit perfectly:

"If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from God, one to go down and rule earth's grandest empire, the other to go and sweep the streets of its meanest village, it would be a matter of entire indifference to each which service fell to his lot, the post of ruler or the post of scavenger; for the joy of the angels lies only in obedience to God's will."  -John Newton

Isn't that beautiful?

To think that God assigns us a place, a time, a moment in history. And it should be of no consequence to us what place or time or moment that is. The only thing we should focus on is how to best glorify him with where we're placed.

It was no random chance that caused me to be born on a specific day and time to my specific parents. It is no accident that I live in Midwest USA. 
This is my place. 
My moment.
My time.

God has placed me here. He gave me the desires and goals and skills that I have, and he wants me to use them to glorify him. My lot in life is the same as everyone else: to glorify God. And more than that: it's not a "lot" at all! 
It's a gift. 

When I covet my neighbor's house (which I do) or their bank account (which I do) or their job awesome job with the matching retirement fund and the $1,000 bonuses (hypothetically speaking, of course), then I'm basically telling God that I think I know where I should be better than he does. That's a laugh. What do I know about anything?

Maybe God allowed me to lose my job so that I could serve as an example of his provision and grace. Maybe he is trying to show me that he is enough. He saw that I was starting to care too much about material things, and he wants me to focus on him and not place my joy in a job or a paycheck or a retirement fund.

Who am I to argue and complain about the creator of all asking me to trust him? He never promised that I would have a "perfect" life full of riches and glory. He never said I'd be popular. 

But he did promise that I would get to spend eternity with him. And he told me he's preparing a place in his house just for me. And he told me that he wouldn't allow me to go through anything he wasn't sure I could handle.

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I could go on, but I'll stop for now because I'm starting to get all worked up. The bottom line is that I'm really mad at myself for being so jealous of other people. Has God not shown me that he will provide? Has he not proven that he cares about me? Do I believe that not one hair falls out of my head and he doesn't notice?

Then I need to get over myself and stop whining. 
Let go of my lot in life and start thinking about it as my joy.

God put me here.

Now.

This is where I will most glorify him.

This is not my lot.

It's my gift 

and his eternal glory.

Look! I Made a Vlog! Or Not.

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This picture has nothing to do with this post, but I just really wanted to show it to you. Because HELLO I NEED THIS IN MY ROOM. 

All caps necessary. I'm just shouted in my head.
My brother found this and sent me a picture, and now I want it! This baby costs over $100, though, so I'll be starting up a collection fund. There will be a minimum required donation of $100.

Anyway.

What I really came here to do is tell you that I wanted to make a vlog for you guys.

I thought it would be fun. You know, so you could hear my voice and watch my awkwardness. I was hoping it would make you all love me more than you already do. And I was going to be nice and pretend like there is room to love me more while knowing that really you already love me the full amount. (I'm right, right? No, don't answer that.)

So I sat down and gave it a solid attempt. Or, should I say: six solid attempts. And each was more horrible than the last.

If you thought taking style pictures was awkward, try making a video of yourself. You'll want to die. I know I'm dramatic about a lot of things, but vlogging really is quite terrifying.

During my one hundred minus ninety-four vlog attempts, I discovered that: 

1) The lighting in my apartment is terrible, and I look like a greasy, yellow hobbit person. I think maybe to fix that you're supposed to shine a light on yourself? I tried sitting by our one window, but then I just looked like a dark shape surrounded by bright light. Yes, like an angel. I think I might be missing something.

2) I know you're supposed to look into the camera, but it's really hard not to look directly at the screen. And by really hard, I mean impossible.

3) When creating a vlog, it's stupidly easy to appear as though you have a double chin when you, in fact, do not.

4) I ramble a lot.

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4a) I also mumble. Maybe this is what Jordan's always complaining about?

5) My sister watched the video I was going to post because it was the best out of the worst, and she told me I have no on-screen personality. Now I'm really depressed because not only do I not have a vlog, but there goes Life Plan M. A movie career was right before Life Plan N: "Live in a Box on the Street Corner" and right after Life Plan L:"Get a Job as a Waitress/Call Girl at the New Restaurant: Twin Peaks."

So now I'm just confused. Should I try again? Would anyone even care to watch a vlog? What does one even vlog about?

Also, what kind of stupid non word is vlog anyway? Darn you, 2013, and your made-up words!

Anyway, the point of all of this is to say that I may or may not eventually at some point produce a vlog. But don't hold your breath, and in fact, you should forget we ever had this conversation.

Good day.

I Totally Made This! DIY Crocheted Nursing Necklace

About a month ago, I received an email from a friend of mine who recently had a baby. She asked if I would be interested in seeing if I could make her a nursing necklace. In case you didn't know (because I had no idea before she emailed me), a nursing necklace is a long, chunky necklace made with wood beads and cotton yarn. (It can be made with plastic or other materials too, but the wooden ones are what my friend wanted.) 

The point is for the baby to have something to play with while he or she is nursing. The colors and shapes are good for stimulation, and it's sturdy enough for the baby to suck or pull on without breaking. Also, you can just hand-wash the necklace in warm water if it gets goopy from baby drool.

I did some research via the Googles and am super freaking proud of myself of figuring out how to make one of these necklaces! I used this website as the template to crochet around the wooden beads, and I found the wooden beads at Hobby Lobby for about $2.00 each. (I think for a packet of 5.)

I don't even have a baby, and I kind of want one.
A necklace, not a baby.
Just to clarify.

Although I do want a baby at some point, so forget everything I just said.

You can customize the necklace basically any way you want with different colors, sizes of beads, and even crocheted flowers or leaves, although that's a little too advanced for me right now. I'm not planning on opening up a shop any time soon, but I do think this would make a creative, homemade baby shower gift. 

Too bad I don't have any pregnant friends right now.
HA. That was obviously a joke. I'm pretty sure all my friends are pregnant right now.

So what do you think? Would anyone be interested in me doing a necklace giveaway? Whoever wins could pick the colors and bead arrangement. I just thought of that right now as I was typing, but it might be fun if enough people were interested.

Have you heard of or seen a necklace like this before?