This is the second time I’m starting this email. I started it over a week ago, wrote about 1,000 words over the course of the last week, and then when I came back to work on it just now, it was all gone. 🥲 It wasn’t meant to be, I guess. I’ll try to remember the gist of what I said! (NOTE: As I was working on it, it kept saying it was saved as a draft, so I’m not sure where it went this time! I’m pretty good about making sure to save as I go - this time, something else must have gone wrong.)

Before that, though, I hope you’re doing alright this week. I’m a little under the weather at the moment, which is just awful timing because my big race is nearly here. This is my last week of full-on training because next week is very light, to give my body time to recharge before the actual race.

Triathlon update

If you don’t follow me on Instagram or aren’t my Facebook friend, you would have missed the roller coaster that happened last week.

Friday, I got a message from a church friend, asking if my race had gotten canceled. Surely, she must have been mistaken… I had not heard anything. I went to their Facebook page, and sure enough… “It is with very disappointed hearts that we are forced to cancel this years Iron Fish and River Cities Triathlon.”

Gut punch.

I’d been working SO HARD for nearly 2 months and then… nothing. It was done. I couldn’t believe it. As it sunk in, I got really emotional. That might seem silly to some people, but I really wanted to prove to myself that I could do it, that I would finish. And now I wouldn’t get the chance. Yes there are other races out there, yes I could just do those distances on my own at the gym and have my own little triathlon. But I was finally looking forward to this thing!

Later that night and the next morning, I came to terms with the situation. My coach Amy told me about a great race 1.5 hours away, in mid September. I planned to sign up for that one once I got my refund for the River Cities one.

Then I get an email from the race people…

“We know this is chaotic and back n forth, but here’s the deal- we’re going to race!”

Are you kidding me? 😅 I was torn. I was a little peeved about the emotional roller coaster, but I was also glad it was back on.

So now I’m about 1.5 weeks away from this thing. The only update worth sharing (IMHO) is that the swimming finally clicked. Amy told me that it would be a big difference once everything clicks. I’d been practicing the breathing, the kicking, the arm strokes, all that… but putting it all together still had not quite happened. Until it did.

We were at the lake (Amy and I), and I was doing almost the full distance (800 yards). On the way back, I suddenly felt my feet kicking at the surface of the water. Right away, I knew that meant my head was in the right position, and I ended up going further without stopping than I ever had. Woohoo!

Skincare

This section was really long the last time, but I’m going to get right to the point this time! I also included makeup, so maybe I’ll do the makeup section in the next email. 🙂 

For skincare there’s not much that’s needed, honestly. There are many people with 10-step routines - more power to ya! And there are some who probably don’t really do anything. I’m in the middle.

Most days I’ll use moisturizer and SPF (in the morning). And some days, I’ll do a toner, rosewater mist, eye cream, hyaluronic acid serum, SPF, and finally moisturizer.

What is most important for good skin though is hydration. Drinking lots of water! I’m awful at this, always have been. But I do know that it’s critical for good skin (and everything else).

That being said, here are some of my FAVORITE skincare items:

• Rosewater mist - This stuff just feels really lovely. It smells nice. I don’t know if it does anything because I don’t use it consistently. Apparently it hydrates, rejuvenates, and clarifies.🤩

• The Ordinary serum - This is a good, inexpensive brand, especially compared to other brands. I love the way this feels, right after I apply it and even much later!

• Face SPF - I’ve tried a few brands of SPF, and they have all felt really sticky. This one doesn’t. It feels light and once it sets, I can’t tell it’s there.

I do NOT have a moisturizer, eye cream, or face wash that I love. I just pick up a random one each time. If you’ve got one you love, let me know!

Things I loved lately

1. My friend Susan was a coworker of mine when we lived in DC. She’s older than I am, closer to my mom’s age, and she’s got 5 grown children. She posted a photo recently of her 5 grown children together. They’d gotten matching tattoos of the house where they grew up (where Susan and her husband still live)! I just think that is so lovely!❤️

2. The other day, when I was sad about my race being canceled, Annabelle came over and asked what was wrong. I told her. And right away, she started rubbing my back and said “Oh that is not good. You worked so hard.” 🥹 She is so sweet and empathetic.

3. Warmed up naan with peanut butter (it melts because of the warm bread!), sprinkle of cinnamon, and drizzle of honey

4. My new Five Star glow in the dark notebook - what is it about a new notebook that’s just so lovely?

5. Charlie has started flapping his little arms like a duck or chicken and saying “quack quack” or “bock bock” and it’s so really cute.

A few recipes!

Sweet potato “pudding” - I’ve shared this before, I think, but if you’ve never tried it you should!

• Cook up some sweet potatoes in the oven.*

• Remove the skin.

• Add the insides to a blender or food processor along with a spoonful of almond butter, splash of almond milk, and sprinkle of cinnamon.

• Blend until super smooth.

• Pop in the fridge and just eat with a spoon!

*You can cook them other ways too, but I like the taste I get from the oven better than other methods.

Sweetened condensed milk - Okay this is honestly more like a soft caramel recipe. I messed up a sweetened condensed milk recipe, and it turned out so nice.

• 1.5 cups milk (I used almond)

• ½ cup sugar

• Mix those together and bring to a boil. Then lower to simmer, stirring regularly for about an hour!! Once it reduces and thickens a little bit, turn off the heat and add the following two ingredients:

• 2 tbsp butter

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• Pop it into the fridge to firm up a bit. If you cook it less time, you’ve got sweetened condensed milk. If you cook it a little longer, you get a soft caramel, like a candy. If you keep cooking it, I imagine you’d end up with a harder caramel candy, but I’m not sure!

A quick snack - I have had this every night lately. It’s so good!

• Put a few big spoonfuls of plain yogurt or Greek yogurt into a bowl.

• Add 1-2 teaspoons of jam (I like raspberry). Mix that in.

• Top with something crunchy! You could use granola or slivered almonds, but what I’ve been using is just a sprinkling of this high protein Keto cereal Cameron bought to try. It’s awesome with this yogurt jam combo!!

Random memes

Shoutouts for the week

Thank you Jessica and Melissa for buying me coffees this week! And thank you to “someone” who contributed to my sports watch fund!

All the support you guys give me, in all the ways, is appreciated so much.

You wouldn’t believe the outpouring of love and kindness and encouragement I have gotten with regard to this race and, particularly, the race being canceled (for 24 hours😏).

Thank you to all of you who read these and respond to these. And those who just quietly read and don’t respond! I appreciate allll of it.

That's it for this week. Have a good one!❤️ Bethany

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