Done and Done

10 miles



Off to drink some chocolate milk now!

Football, Muffins and Upcoming 3 day weekends=Happiness!

Runner's World quote of the day:

"Your body will argue that there is no justifiable reason to continue. Your only recourse is to call on your spirit, which fortunately functions independently of logic." 

-Tim Noakes, author of Lore of Running

I will be running 10 miles today.  I haven't decided if I want to take a long lunch to knock it out or if I'm going to run it after work, but I will run it today.  I was going to run it yesterday, but forgot my shoes, so...today it is.  Then my long run will be done for the week.  Yay.  I will run 10.  I will run 10.  I will run 10...

I will be fueling before my run with one of these delightful little things:

Here's the recipe:

1 cup Aunt Jemima^® Complete or Buttermilk
   Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
1/3 cup Brown Sugar; packed
2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 Medium Apple; peeled & chopped
1 cup milk
1/3 cup Vegetable Oil
1 Egg
1-1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Topping:
1 tablespoon Cinnamon + 1 teaspoon Granulated Sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Spray 12 medium muffin cups with Family Pantry cooking spray or line with paper baking cups.

3. For muffins, combine pancake mix, flour, brown sugar, baking powder and cinnamon in a medium bowl.

Mix in apples until well combined.

4. In small bowl, combine milk, oil, egg and vanilla; add to flour mixture. Mix just until dry ingredients are moistened.

5. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full.

6. For topping, combine sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle a heaping 1/4 teaspoon over each muffin.

7. Bake 16-18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

8. Cool 2 minutes in pan. Remove to cooling rack.

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I was feeling all domestic and wifely last night and made those for breakfast this morning (and for fuel before the run) and Chicken Pot Pie for dinner.  I had cleaned most of the house by the time John got home.  He was a happy man!

In 4 short days, I will see my Florida Gators back on the field!  I'm so excited I cannot stand waiting any longer!

You can read more about my love for the Gators here.  And football season means fall is right around the corner!!!  Oh happy days!  I'm not expecting much from my Gators this year, but I'll be cheering them on regardless.  Good luck to all the SEC teams out there...I'll be cheering for you too, as long as you're not playing the Gators.  I doubt we'll be in New Orleans at the Championship game, but one of you SEC teams better be there!

Go Gators!!!

Oh, and how could I forget it's a 3 day weekend?!  Is it Christmas in September??!!

I ♥ water, and other random exerts from my life

This was the view to the left of my key board today.  Our water cooler people left us stranded until August 30.  I'm convinced I, by myself, have been going through a 5 gallon water jug alone each week lately, so when we ran dry last week, it was no bueno.  Thankfully the coffee guy gave us a case of water bottles to tide us over until next week...but...I've gone through half the case already...

My excuse today?  I'm running 9 miles and need to be properly hydrated in this wretched Florida heat!

See my cute little iPod shuffle buried under the earphones cord?  It's new.  My hubby found one for a steal online, so now I don't have to worry about being a spazz and knocking my phone off the on shelf on the treadmill.  I can just clip that little guy to my tank and go!  His name is Albert.  After Albert the Gator.

I completed my 9 miles at lunch.  I was waiting on pricing to come in from a few companies for a proposal I had due this afternoon, so I just took a long lunch since I worked a long day yesterday...7am-6pm. Woo.  We had someone in our office quit a week or so ago, so I'm doing my job and hers now.  Mine was getting kind of slow, but there's quite a learning curve to the other job and...

Hopefully I get a better handle of all this juggling soon!

Speaking of clowns...we watched a pretty funny movie Sunday night....which kept us up way later than we should have been...

That makes me think of one of my favorite friends haha.  Too funny!

We've been quite the avid movie watchers lately.  We started out last Friday night with 

I thought it was a good movie.  It moved a little slow in the beginning, or maybe I just thought it did because I was tired when we started watching it, but I ended up staying awake through it all.  I liked Matthew McConaughey in a more serious role, except he never took his shirt off...I kid, I kid...but really, he didn't take his shirt off...wtf?! Go see it!

Sunday, I went and saw 

with my SIL & MIL while the boys went to a truck show.  I'm still not sure how I feel about it.  I mean, it was a good movie.  I thought they did a wonderful job with the casting of the movie, I just wasn't in awe when I left.  I'm sure my tiredness had something to do with it, but the story is a good one.  Even though I didn't leave feeling the way I thought I would, I'd recommend it.  I'm sure my mood that day just wasn't right for it.  I'll be renting it when it comes out to watch it again.

Next up was 

The movie was better than I expected.  John is a big Russell Brand fan.  I like him alright, but I don't have to see every movie he is in.  The movie was actually a bit more in depth than any of his other movies I have seen. If you are even a bit of a fan of his, I think you'd like it.

The last of our movie watching this past week was

I had no desire to see this movie at all.  I thought it was going to be a car movie, but it's really about this guy whose brother was killed and he seeks revenge for his murder.  It was a bit violent, but not bad.  Very much a guy movie.  I wouldn't watch it again, but if you want to butter up to your guy, I'm sure you could sit through it with him!

I'm off to go enjoy some Friends, or maybe a little of Lorelai and Rory!

Good luck to all those in the Carolinas over the next couple days, it looks like Irene took her sights off of us and is heading your way!  Keep safe!

Is it just me...

...that wakes up in the morning and is still mad at someone because of a dream?

...that gets annoyed at inconsiderate drivers?

...that can't sleep in on the weekends, but feels like my wonderful slumber could last forever on a work day?

...that thinks being a responsible adult is over-rated?

...or is learning a new program at work exhausting?

...that has days when emotions seem to take over, even though being emotional is not a part of my regular personality?

...that really, really wants to win the lottery?

Hurricanes, Running and Friends!

I hope you had a fabulous weekend!  I know I did!

Remember how I posted a week or two ago about the hurricane that might be coming and how excited I was?? Well, we have another storm slated to hit little ole Florida, but this time, I'm not so excited...

Please be kind to us Irene.  She's supposed to be a major storm by the time she comes along to Florida.  I just wanted a category 1, not 3-5, so please downgrade soon.  K thanks!  We're in full prep mode here at work just in case.  We're banding material together, stacking metal studs on the ground so the wind can't get under as easily...this could be ugly...hopefully not.  I'll be ok with only getting Friday off if you are a little hurricane!

On a hotter note, I did speed work at lunch today.  The office is set back .13 miles off the road, so one lap is about .26 miles. I decided to do 400's today for speed work outside instead of on a treadmill.  Stupid choice.  My goal was to do 12, but it was 90*F++++ and so very humid and sunny, so I only made 8 of them.  

My goal pace was 1:51.  I did pretty well hitting it, but around the 7th one I finished the lap in 1:57 and was dying.  It was SO hot.  I told myself that if I beat my fastest lap of 1:49, I could quit.  I finished that puppy at 1:43...and then wanted to puke.  But, fortunately I did not...

That was probably my shortest run in a long time, but it was so incredibly hot.  I'll make up for it later this week!

I have a long run planned for tomorrow morning if my legs are feeling ok, if not, it's onto Wednesday for the long run and some nice muscle building tomorrow instead.  But let's keep our fingers crossed for that long run.

Thanks for the support!  Even Joey knows Reason #462 why it's best for me to go to the gym in the morning...

I'd much rather be on the couch in the afternoons watching re-runs of Friends than trying to convince myself to hit the gym after a long day of work.

Does anyone else miss Friends as much as I do?!

PS: Go check out the awesome giveaway by ATTrio!

Ahh...



Happy Thursday!

Sunny Days

I'm happy to say, I'm feeling a little less like:

And a little more like:

Stress is an ugly thing.  It doesn't normally affect me too much, but every now and then, it gets me.  Nothing has changed in the situations that have been going on lately...I've just willed myself out of the funk...thankfully!

This morning, I made it to the gym.  I ran 7 miles.  My goal was 8, but I struggled to get moving this morning and pushed time as far as I could make it go before it was time to hit the showers.  I still have a little more than 11 weeks until the Savannah 1/2 Marathon.  I think I'll be ready.  My goal was to increase from 8 miles at a 9:00 mile pace to 13 each week.  That would give me a little time to have screw ups...like today!  So, I'm still ok and on track.  Hopefully I'll get into a rhythm again.  Getting up in the mornings is tough for a non-morning person like myself.  But, it's good to be done.  At the end of the day excuses seem to push their way in more often than not.  Although I made it yesterday afternoon too for some shoulders, triceps and abs...it's a rare occurrence.  Here's to improvement once again!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I turned on my favorite radio station for a little bit of rock and Bubba the Love Sponge yesterday and quite upset yesterday morning when I heard they're switching it over to a talk radio with news, weather and traffic on Friday.  What?! It's all rock from when I was in high school and a little before...none of the new pop-ish music.  It is an awesome station.  Why cancel it?!  Rude.

I called John when I realized this was going down on the way to work yesterday.  I was a bit bummed because it brought me some giggles on my morning ride and we both really liked the music on the station.  A few hours later he calls telling me to check my email and look for something from amazon.  He found and bought a chord to finally make my iPhone work in my car so soon, I'll be able to listen to my favorite station again on my ride to work over the internet!  It should be here Thursday!  What a guy!!

That was my happy moment yesterday! 

If you can't tell, I not only want to see The Help...I also want to see the new Winnie the Pooh movie!  Who didn't love Pooh when they were young??

What were your favorite movies or characters as a child?

I loved the Winnie the Pooh books!  I also loved The Little Mermaid and a few other Disney favorites.

How was your last workout??

Do you have any happy moments to share?

Friday, You're My Favorite...

This weekend, they will be a little of this...

and little of that...

(hopefully)

some Nertz will be played for my dad's birthday...

and maybe even a little of...

there will definitely be some hanging out with this little devil...

and this one :)

And hopefully some hanging out with some of my favorites.  There's a few I miss...like, a lot.

What are you up to this weekend?

Do a little dance...

It's Thursday!  

I'm so happy.  Because...that means tomorrow is Friday.  The weekend is right around the corner.  I hate to say I've been living for the weekends lately, but I've definitely looked forward to them much more than usual!

*This weekend looks like it will be fun and relaxing.  Two of my favorite things.  More on that tomorrow...

*This song makes me happy.  It reminds me of road trips with one of my favorite college friends.  It also has good lyrics.  And when I'm alone in the car, I can belt-out some Deana Carter!

*I skipped the gym entirely yesterday.  It wasn't planned or on purpose, I actually meant to bring clothes to go on my lunch, but lunch with the hubs was a better idea.  Oh, and I'm using wakeboarding as one of my cross-training days this week.  Think it counts?  I do...

*I just finished reading

I thought the book was wonderful.  The story sucked me in from the first chapter and I enjoyed the entire book.  It was probably one of the best books I've read in a long time.  I'm so excited to see the movie.  I would recommend this book to anyone.  Pretty cool story.

*Back to work.  I have an entirely new scope of work that has been thrust upon me.  Woo...

Happy Almost Friday friends!

And the giveaway winner is...

Michelle at Living a Life of Love!

I've never seen #1 picked before!

Congratulations Michelle!  Email me your address or let me know if you want to meet up and I can give you your goodies!!

It's cold outside--Thank you Florida!!

Well, ok, it's not exactly cold...but in the high 70's and 80's the past couple of days here in not-so-sunny Florida.  Thank God!  We needed this break from the heat and we really have needed all this rain we've been getting!  I wouldn't mind it keeping up until Saturday at 6am! I was almost in shock when driving home from the gym at 6:30 last night, I saw 77*F.  What?!  I did a dance!

Speaking of the gym, I went last night.  I ran.  8 miles actually.  In 72 minutes.  I was happy with that.  That's about the pace I want to run during my 1/2 marathon in November.  I told myself I was going to do between 8-10 miles.  If I ran it within a 72min:--second time, I could quit at 8, if not, I'd have to run to 10 and hope to get to a 9:00/mile pace by then.  Well, I was quite speedy after my first couple miles.  I ran the last 1/2 mile at a 6:58!  Hey, gotta do what you gotta do to finish.  I had to force myself into running last night (as I have had to do a lot lately) but I was happy to have finished it.

Stuff's been going down in my neck of the woods.  Not the best kinds of stuff either.  I'll be happy to be eating hibachi with some of my girls here in a bit.  Maybe take a bit of a mental break, although the hubs has been awesome at mental breaking with me lately too.  We enjoyed some of the finest foods today for lunch:

 We had "Messy Mexican Dogs"...it looked a little something like this...with jalapeños!

Delicious!  But so, SO unhealthy!

I'm not gonna lie.  It was worth it.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!  This is your last chance!  I'll be drawing the winner via random.org and announcing tomorrow!  Good luck!

Barefoot Blue Jean Night

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Tags: Barefoot Blue Jean Night, Jake Owen, Jake Owen Videos

Never gonna grow up

Never gonna slow down

We were shinin' like lighters in the dark

In the middle of a rock show

We were doin' it right

We were comin' alive

Yeah, caught up in a Southern summer, barefoot, blue jean night

Maybe I should become a travel agent...

This weekend went by too quickly as always.  I kept saying Saturday yesterday like it still was Saturday instead of Sunday.  John kept reminding me it was Sunday in the tone of voice that people tell children things right before they pat them on the head.  It kept bringing me disappointment.  Oh well.  It's real life.  And thankfully I have to a job to go to on Mondays, although, I'm really praying that the whole lottery thing works out for me...I could be so productive outside of working!  Like, travelling the world!

I've been dying for a vacation lately and I love planning trips.  Planning trips is almost as much fun as going on them for me.  So, I give you...

My Top 10 Vacation Plans

1. Costa Rica

It's beautiful

has great surfing

and an amazing rain forest!

I would like to get there in the not so distant future.  If I can get our miles for our credit card squared away by then, it's a done deal!

2. A trip up the Pacific Coast Highway with many stops!

The Redwood Forest 

The trees are huge

beautiful and magnificent.

California Wine Country

San Fransisco

Big Sur Coast

3.  Germany

There are many reasons I want to go to Germany.  The countryside is spectacular (so I've heard and seen in pictures) the architecture is a work of art and has a history that has effected the entire world.  It is somewhere I've wanted to go since a 4th grade history lesson on World War II.

Frankfurt

Rhine Valley

horrible concentration camps

and lots of pretty castles

4.  Fiji

Hello gorgeous!

amazing reefs and scuba diving

and when I go, I want to stay in one of these!

5.  New York, New York!

I've been to New York once and I thought the city was awesome!  It had so much going on and there was so much to see.  I have to go again and soak it all in once more!

6. United Kingdom

Dublin, Ireland

Edinburgh, Scotland

London

Wales

My heritage is English, Scottish and Irish, so hence this trip.  Beside the fact that it's a beautiful area of the world.

7.  The Swiss Alps

Hiking

Snowboarding?!  Yes, please!

8.  The Grand Canyon & Las Vegas

I've never been to Vegas, but John and I will make it there eventually.  We've talked about doing a white water rafting trip through the canyon where you stop and camp over night a few nights.

9.  Tour of Italy

I went on a whirlwind tour of Europe with my mom a few years ago, but now I want to go back and actually explore certain areas; Italy being one of them.

But I'd also like to see 

Vineyards 

Tuscany

10. A Tour of the Northeast United States

I'd start in DC and revisit the Capital

head through Pennsylvania for a stop in my favorite city of Philly

check out Boston

New Hampshire

A Vermont B&B

And the coast of Maine

If you could go anywhere in the world (forgetting about money) where would you go??