♥ Good run days!

So yesterday, I trekked off to the gym with the feeling that I might have the energy for a 4 miles speed workout with some bicep work added in.  Maybe even 6 miles if I got lucky, but in my head, that was pushing it.  The work out was a descending ladder, 1200 (optional 1200) 1000 800 (optional 800) 600 400 (optional 400).  The 1200 and 800 were to be at a 10k pace and the rest at a 5k pace.  Here's what I did:

1.25 mile warm up
1200 in 6:00
3 min RI

1200 in 6:00

3 min RI

1000 in 4:49

2 min RI

800 in 3:58

2 min RI

800 in 4:00

2 min RI

600 in 2:56

2 min RI

400 in 1:56

2 min RI

400 in 1:53

2 min RI

400 in 1:51

2 min RI

400 in 1:43

2 min RI

.75 mile cool down

Total: 8 miles

And it felt so good...

So good, I added those extra 400's.  So good, I got in 8 miles on a speed work day!

Then I did some abs and left.

I'm going to start keeping a work out journal of sorts.  I bought a composition notebook and I am going to try to write down all of my work outs.  Like, everything I do.  I feel that if I have to write it all down, I can at least guilt myself into pushing harder.  Meaning, if I get mad because I'm not seeing results, then all I have to do is look back on my work outs.  If I've put the time in, maybe I need to figure something else out.  If I haven't put the time in, I can only blame myself.  Hopefully it's a good motivator...

Oh, and it's pretty.  So that's fun...

Like how I added in a Gators sticker in there?  It is football season peeps!

In other news...

I dyed my hair brown the other day.  I was working on growing out my highlights, but I felt like my hair kind of looked like a mess, so a couple of friends went with me to pick out a color that matched my roots best.  (Apparently my hair is still considered blonde, just dark blonde? Whatever, it looks brown to me.)  I think they did a pretty good job picking the color.  I don't know how long it's been since I've seen my natural hair color, but it's been years.  Maybe almost a decade now.  Agh!  So, one day soon I'll show you a picture.  I feel like my hair is looking like a hot mess today and being totally uncooperative.  So it's pinned and tied back.  Maybe tomorrow!

I love long weekends and the weeks that follow them.  It's Wednesday already!  Woo hoo!  

Did you have a good run yesterday?

What do you do to hold yourself accountable with your workouts?

I'll leave you with some Lily enjoying her new dog bed that's about as big as her ego:

Tail Wagging Tuesday!

Link up with CMae!

Today is all about the looks:

 "This is the life..."

 "Back off B!"

 The crazed, "I want people food" look.

Happy Lily

 Sad Lily

So tired...why am I awake?

Thoughts on Thursday!

one.

Today, I'm participating in this 10K.  You run it from where ever you are if you don't live close to LA and they mail you your cute top:

(obviously not me, borrowed from facebook's She Runs LA page)

You have until 4pm Pacific time to upload your mileage!!!  You can still sign up here.

two.

This morning, John left really early (5:15) this morning for work.  He was so sweet about being super quiet as he was getting ready and as he left.  Around 6, I hear a banging on our bedroom door which startles me awake (although I should have already been awake).  It was Lily.  I thought that John had taken her to go potty before he left because her little paws were wet and now she wanted to come play with me.  But...when I talked to him this morning, he said he didn't let her out, but she was banging really hard on her kennel door.  The little booger must have broken free of her kennel.  I fear trouble is upon us.

three.

I'm so happy it is Friday-Eve, I can't stand it!

four.

I'm really excited for the fun and relaxing weekend that lies ahead.  I'll be hitting up dinner with my running ladies, ice cream and puppy play date with my 'medium-friend', softball practice, hanging out with friends, and a lot of relaxing...oh, and writing thank you's from our wedding.  Not so excited about writing the thank you's part just because I never have enough to say to fill up the card, but hopefully I'll work through some writers block and get creative!

five.

I'm so, SO excited about the Savannah Marathon!  

There are so many people from our local running organization that are participating!  We have an awesome dinner planned the evening after the race, so if you're running and are interested in meeting up with a bunch of fellow runners, just shoot me an email and I'll get you in on the reservation and all the info!

six.

I need to win the Power Ball stat!

It's one of those weeks where I feel that working is for the birds.

I could become a Boston Qualifier in no time if I didn't have this thing called work that takes up 40+ hours of my week.

seven.

I can't get enough of this song right now:

Tail Wagging Tuesday!

Today, is your fur-ball's favorite toy!

Meet Lily's favorite toy...John.  

Really, he probably is her favorite way to play.

She's not much of a toy lover, but she does like her lion...

...and she has a duck that she likes to play with sometimes, that is not pictured, but for the most part, she'd rather play with your hand or have you chase her down the hallway. :)  I'll get a share-worthy video sometime of her fun-bark (the bark she makes when she wants you to play with her) and playing with John.

Tail Wagging Tuesday

I'm linking up with C Mae for Tail Wagging Tuesday!  What could be better than a post just about our furry friends?!

So, today I'm posting my favorite picture(s) of Lily!  I can't pick just one...so I picked two, and there's many more where these came from...you should see my photo album on my phone!

This is the day that I brought Lily home.  It was also the day we were moving, so it was quite a busy and exciting day.  That is where I learned that Lily's tongue is huge for her size.

This is Lily after playing in the pond at my parents' house.  She loves getting down and dirty!

Thanks C Mae for the fun link up!

The Faces of Lily

Today, little Lily had to get her teeth cleaned because she apparently had some tarter build up that could cause problems.  I asked the vet a few months back about her breath and tried to check on her teeth but I was told they were fine.  But when I went a couple weeks ago for Lily's annual shots, I looked like a bad dog mom because apparently her teeth were horrible and needed to be dealt with ASAP.  I took her in at 7:30 and she was their first patient this morning.  They had to put her under anesthesia and the vet called me when Lily woke up.  She said that all her little teethers up front were causing her problems and were ruined by the tarter (you know, the stuff I had tried to get checked before by the other vet) and so she lost most of her little front teeth because of that, which apparently she doesn't need to eat, but I liked her just the way she was.  I picture her looking a bit hillbilly now because she has 2 on the bottom and 3 on the top now.  I loved when she showed her grill and now she won't have one to show.  Check out her awesome grill:

Oh, how I will miss it...

This week has been tough between more issues with my dress (uh...really? we're 2.5 weeks away right now), really sad news about a family friend, John working nights AND days so his schedule is crazy hectic and we haven't had much time together, no sleep and the list could keep going on and on (and no, I'm not usually Debbie Downer, I just feel done this week), so in honor of Lily and her lost teeth (which I feel sad about) I'm going to describe my week by the faces of Lily:  

The End.

I get to pick Lily up at 3 and it can't come soon enough.  I'll try and share with you her hillbilliness soon.

Day 07: 30 Day Photo Challenge

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item

Lily.

She brings me (& John) so much joy.  She's such a good little puppy and I couldn't imagine my life without her!

My engagement ring is my other treasured item!  But that is for another day :)  After the wedding!

Happy New Year!!!

I'll start with the fact that I've finished two items off my 101 in 1001 list.  First, I've put my clean clothes away for a month.  Yay!  Secondly, I took a bubble bath for the first time in...well...I don't know when.  It was relaxing and I read a book.  I thought about taking a picture of the bath prior to me getting in, but I thought it'd be weird, so you'll just have to take my word for it! Ha!  


Now, onto the New Years Eve party!

Lily thought that if she went to sleep in my arms, we wouldn't leave her to go celebrate New Years.  But, we did have plans, so we went and got ready...and made a cake.

 John was gettin' fresh - ha!

 It was Funfetti!  It doesn't get much better than that!

We went over to our friend's house to celebrate the new year!

Here are some pictures from our night...

 Ashley...eating something green...which is a rarity!

 Tribute to my soon-to-be new last name...er-sort of :)

 The Ladies

 Blogger is being stupid and won't let my pictures come in right, but there were a couple I really liked and needed to include, so excuse the sideways ones!

 My future BIL & SIL!  I love them!

 Fire Pit!

 A couple of my favorites :)

The face!

Lily today-when the world was right and revolved around her once again!

I have to agree with Lily today, because 2011 started off fantastically!  For starters, I slept in.  I got up and realized today, I could wear shorts!  So, I did!  Then the Gators won!  What a great send off for Urban (I'll miss you!)...sorry Paterno.  (Is it just me, or does anyone else feel a little guilty when their team beats Penn State??)  John and I spent the rest of the evening snuggled on the couch with the Lil watching 30 Rock on Netflix!  I'm already lovin' 2011!  Happy New Year!!!