While out grocery shopping this morning, a few people apparently tried to reach me but to no avail. I still have some things I need to figure out on how to use my new iphone. Besides apps. I get those. Love those. But all the pesky little details like the phone’s settings, ringer (bec I never heard any calls), data plan defaults, and blah-di-blah-blah I haven’t familiarized myself with yet. Technologically savvy? Not I! I even had to get Peter to help me set up my voice mailbox this afternoon. Which took way longer than it should have. All because I couldn’t decide which name to use.

I know what you’re thinking. Which name, Tina? Ummm…shouldn’t you know your own name??? Not that hard!

Well, I actually go by two names regularly. Do I say "Hi, you have reached Tina Reale…” OR “Hi, you have reached Christina Reale…”??? You see – my full name is Christina, but I much much much much much PREFER Tina. Like, by a landslide.

Growing up, I always wanted to go by Tina, but my dad didn’t “allow” for it because, in his opinion, my parents gave me the name Christina and that’s who I was. At a young age, I thought that ended any chance of my favorite nickname and always introduced myself as Christina. Only a few loved ones knew my preference and used that name with me. Peter calls me Tina. My mom calls me Tina. Some of my closest friends call me Tina. But a large portion of other friends and family call me Christina because that is how I introduced myself for years.

Then, when getting involved with healthy living sites, I always referred to myself as Tina because I could use whatever name I darn well pleased. The more involved I became, the more and more I associated with Tina and defined myself by that name. It’s hard to explain, but I almost feel Christina and Tina define two very different sides of myself. I almost view Christina as the old, frightened, depressed, unhealthy, self-deprecating me. Then, on the flip side, view Tina as the true me. The loving, passionate, strong me who lives life to the fullest, loves herself, and sees her worth in God.

People referring to me as Christina doesn’t bother me in the least, especially since they have known me that way for years. But, in my mind, I’m Tina! So, that’s what you will hear on my voicemail. 🙂

Wow. That was a total tangent of a topic for a Saturday. Shall we move on to the features, then? Happy Saturday!!!

Featured Post: Embarrassing Food

I wrote this post to hopefully open discussion on if others feel any unspoken blog standards in the foods we eat and share. Even though I sometimes feel those pressures, I recognize it is all in my head and I refuse to feel embarrassed by what I eat.

Featured Workout: Discussion on Pacing With Runs

Featured Meal: Banana Mango Smoothie Snack

Featured News: Working With Love Grown for the Healthy Living Summit!

Featured Reading: “Running Is A Big Dumb Jerk”

This post by Righteous Runner had me cracking up!!!

• Do you have any nicknames that you love?
• Are you technologically savvy?

People sometimes say something to me that makes me want to laugh. “How do you always have it so together?” I want to laugh because, quite simply, I don’t. Much of the time, I do feel balanced and like I have life relatively in order. I do my best by focusing on the following actions:

I turn to prayer to keep perspective and peace. I schedule and set up routines to keep things moving as seamlessly as possible in day-to-day life with small children. Timers are my new best friend to help me stay focused on tasks at hand and remain productive so I don’t waste my all too precious time. I make regular time for my own personal interests and activities as often as possible.

Despite all those things, I certainly still have my moments where “having it all together” could not even remotely describe how I feel. The past few days included. Over the past 72 hours I cried countless times. Before finally getting a solid eight hours last night (thank God!), I slept maybe 5 or 6 hours total. I teetered on the verge of three panic attacks. I screamed into one pillow, dealt with a three-day non-stop headache, and wished I could throw a hissy fit like Makenzie.

Check out the old school Makenzie shot!

The most trivial of scenarios and “issues” sent tears streaming down my face – my phone screen going completely dead (hence the iPhone), grocery shopping, not being able to wear a dress to church because I was scheduled to work the nursery, random songs on the radio, and other things so unimportant I can’t even remember right now. This would promptly cause me to freak out and start crying all over again because I felt so ridiculous, then guilty for getting upset over nonsensical things when others clearly handle way more than myself. Lastly, while my mom has improved since her last relapse, something about her MS diagnosis digs at my heart harder these days on top of all the other mental I felt.

Oddly, I didn’t feel bogged down with any one thing. I still felt like I had my schedule well balanced and got things taken care of adequately. Yet, I ended up in that overwhelmed and frenzied state. The epitome of not “having it all together”. Why? The best I can come up with is that I needed to feel connected, appreciated, and like there was something more. After a week of taking care of the day in and day out details, I always look forward to having the weekend to recharge by getting more quality time with my husband, fitting in some form of activity for purely pleasure, and enjoying a little more freedom from the standard fare of everyday life.

I mentioned this weekend feeling rather dull. I don’t mind dull. I own up to the fact I don’t live some extravagant lifestyle and honestly wouldn’t want one anyways. I love my life. However, when the days go on and on like a never-ending highway without any change in scenery, life permeates my attitude with this want-to-rip-my-hair-out sensation. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. Sometimes life has “to-dos” that need to get done, budgets that don’t allow weekly date nights out or fun adventures, children that scrap the chance of a leisurely do-nothing day or napping when the mood strikes. It’s not bad at all. It can, though, sometimes wear on the mind, body, and soul.

I’m human and life wore on my mind, body, and soul recently. I feel immensely better today after a full night’s sleep, making a point to relax instead of study personal training material last night, and planning for a date night this weekend. I wrote about all of this because I want to show I certainly don’t have it all together.

We all have our spaz moments. We all have things we would like to work on. We all want to punch a pillow sometimes, even over the silliest “problems”. Don’t ever think anyone has it all together. And especially don’t ever allow it to cause doubt on the management of your own life. Otherwise you may find yourself crying over something even crazier than not wearing a dress to church. 😉

• What is the silliest thing you can remember getting upset about?
• How do you recharge so life doesn’t get you down?