Miscellany Monday

one.

This past week has been the toughest week of my life.  I'm not sure I'll talk about what's going on, on here, but if you could, please keep my family in your prayers.  God will know what to do...

two.

I'm making some yummy cookies for a cookie party that I do with some girlfriends this time of year.  This year, I'm thinking of making an Oatmeal Cranberry & White Chocolate Chunk cookie.  It sounds so good and Christmasy.  I'll share the recipe later this week!

three.

I'm doing pretty good on our running challenge.  

Day 5 will be completed today at lunch hopefully!  That's the goal anyway!

four.

I'm checking out Spring races.  What are you gals training for?  I'd like to do the NYC Half Marathon (registration opens in 30 minutes!), but I'm not sure I'll be able to pull that off this year.  I've looked a few others, but I figured I would see what my bloggy friends are planning on running, so let me know!

five.

I put a simple wreath together for Christmas on Saturday that I will be showing later this week.  I just want to get it actually hung up before I show it.  I love the little LED Christmas lights.  No tree yet, but I did get our Charlie Brown tree and a couple others out on Saturday.  Our house is starting to look like Christmas little by little.

Back to work on this Monday  morning.  Woo.

Let's play catch up!

Sorry about the silence since last week.  Work has been crazy busy as have my evenings!  I'm hoping to settle down into a better routine eventually but between working late, going out of town a lot and other things, life has been crazy!  How about a cute picture of Lily to get us started??

Friends?

Today is my grandparents 59th wedding anniversary!  We'll be celebrating later tonight!  

How cool is 59 years?  

I say it's pretty awesome!

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Catching up:

Last Tuesday, Robin and I took our mother-in-law to a cooking class for her birthday.  We did this last year and had such a good time, we did it again this year!  I thought the class would have posted pictures by now, but I just checked and they haven't.  The theme was Julia Chiles, so you know the food was good!  Our little group of 3 was responsible for cooking rolls, a carrot souffle and a love salad.  A lot of her famous recipes were cooked by each group in the class and we feasted at the end!  Bonus, they give you the recipes so you can take it home and make everything you like yourself!

Wednesday was my last training run before the race.  I got out of work pretty late and wanted to try to beat the darkness so I got in 5 miles...last mile was an 8:40.  Yay! I also found my love for compression sleeves, which I also enjoyed at the race last weekend.  I feel like they helped my calf muscles not to be so sore later and I had no problem with my shins!

Thursday, I went to a huge Tupperware tent sale they have to benefit the United Way each year.  I got a ton of stuff for only $61!  Check out my loot!

I met my friend there and we shopped away.  My second mom works there and it was her birthday so I got to spend some time with her too!  

Friday we were off to the races!  You can read about that here.

Is anyone else loving this time change as much as I am?!  I popped out of bed the last two days!  Last night, I wanted to go to bed before 8 haha.  The time change is helping me get back on my desired schedule!  Up early and to bed early!  I'm even thinking of trying to get up and run in the mornings now that it'll be light out!  Score!

My Top 10 Things On Friday

1.  I'm totally making this amazing Key Lime Pie recipe this weekend (hopefully tonight!)  You can find it here and I only know about it thanks to Amanda!  Key Lime is one of my favorite pies, but I haven't had it in so long. That's mostly because John worked on a project in The Keys for a year and he had his fill for a lifetime, so I get boycotted, but not tonight my friend.  We'll see if I can't change his mind!  Just look at it!

yum!

2.  I've been highlighting my hair for about the last 6+ years and I've decided to quit.  Only because I don't want to spend the money.  We'll see how long this lasts...my roots appear to have darkened over time, so I wonder what color hair I'll actually have now?

*no, I do not think brown hair is 'icky', just the color mine is looking...ha.

3.  I'm so incredibly excited it's the weekend!  Words cannot express.  

source

That is me, on the inside right now.

4.  This week has been less than stellar on the workout front.  I've made it to the gym once.  Count it. 1.  WTF Christina?!  Part of it was exhaustion, part of it was other plans were made, part if it was I forgot my shoes...so today, I'm off to run 10 miles and with 800's mixed in as speed intervals, and maybe a little bicep work.  My goal: finish the 10 in 90:00-91:59.  Can we do it?!  Well, lets just say, if I do, there will be a picture to prove it.

5.  I bought a dress for our friend's wedding we're going to this weekend.  It is hard for me to find dresses right now, but John is a fan...

with white sling backs (if I can find them) and a white cardigan to go over it for the indoor reception.

6.  In a little over a month, I'll be trekking my way up to the mountains again.  I'm so very excited!!!  Hopefully it won't rain the whole time we're up there this time!

7.  Speaking of travelling, I have spoken with an awesome lady-friend and we're going to try to swing a trip to NYC next fall!!!

We have lots of planning to do!  Girls trip!  Woo hoo!  More on this later!

8.  Right now, I'm reading

I was sucked in almost immediately.  It is well written and even though it jumps around from person to person, it is still easy to follow the story.  I'm about 1/3 of the way through it, but I would recommend it already.  I'll follow it up by going to see the movie I'm sure.  I really like Miss Emma Stone.

9.  Only 5 more weekends until:

That's right folks, 5 short weeks until the best season of the year rolls around.  Anyone that knows me, knows I live for Florida football!!  Woohoo!  AND they got smart this year and put the first few games at night instead of in the blazing heat of noon!  Novel idea...only took 106 years to figure that out...

10.  This one is on a serious note, so feel free to skip if you're only up for peppy today.  

Will the US elected officials EVER figure out their shit?!  

This:

solves NOTHING!  How about we realize that while we do need money to run our government, we can't live outside of our means.  Let's also realize, that while we can't live outside of our means, cutting everything in one shot is not going to work.  It is going to have to be a process.  Stop being selfish.  Figure this crap out.  K thanks bye.

Happy Friday!  Have a good weekend friends!

I have not had enough quality sleep this week, and it shows...

1. I confess I have a short fuse this week.  People are annoying me.  

I'm so sick of the people that make America a crap-hole because they suck off the government (not the people that have real needs, but the ones that are lazy or cheap), or people that take advantage of the system in general, and to those that sue, just because they can...you suck!  I'd like to thank that bitch that sued McDonalds and won because SHE SPILLED HOT COFFEE ON HERSELF, well, I can pin point you for frivolous law suits becoming a common thing in America.

It's just so frustrating to watch everyone be out for themselves instead of just doing the right thing.  Yes, I like to look out for myself, but if I slipped in a restaurant tomorrow because I walked on a wet floor and fell...well, too bad for me and my busted ass.  Stop trying to strike big and get something for nothing!  Just do the right thing and ask yourself if the roles were reversed, would you be happy with that reaction?

Rant over.

2. I confess that I've slightly slacked this week gym-wise.

But I did get in an 8 mile run with speed intervals in last night...and I liked it.

3. I confess that I'm a grudge holder.

It's not that I want to be. I just am.  I fight against it when it involves someone I like, but sometimes, that just doesn't happen.  It usually goes away, but until then, I'm left seething.  And if the person does something really offensive and intentional...good luck.  I doubt I'll be coming back around.

4.  I confess some days, I would like to go back to school.  

For a long time, I wanted to be a lawyer.  I got my political science degree and took the LSATs and did pretty well, but I don't feel so inclined towards that anymore.  Mainly because I don't want to be fighting against dumb-asses like those mentioned in #1.

I'm toying with maybe pharmacy school or something?  Not quite sure but it's a thought this week.  Anyone have any experience in this? 

I started looking into it.  With pre-req's and the program, it would take me 5 years.  Assuming I started this in the spring, I'd be almost 33 by then.  Ugh.

But I do like school.  I could have probably been a student forever.  If only students made money...

I just like that it challenges me and I'm still learning new things.

5.  I confess I'm delighted it's the weekend

Yea, so that's probably not really a confession, I'm sure most of you feel the same way!

I'm off to hunt down baby turtles to watch their cute little selves scoot into the ocean.

If that's not super cute, I don't know what is.

And yes, I know most of them get eaten...don't try and burst my bubble.

Last Friday Night...

Yea, I'm rocking out to Katy Perry.  Last Friday Night is my happy song right...
College again? Yes please...

Check out the video for this, it's pretty funny...


Workout:
Last night I ran 10 miles in 1:35:33/9:33 mile pace.  I felt good after the first two miles.  I really was dying the first two; my legs were super tight at first but I got in my groove!

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I'm so, so ready for the weekend.

Tomorrow will be my first ever NASCAR experience.  It was on my bucket list to make it to a NASCAR race once in my life and tomorrow, we're hitting up the Pepsi 400!  I'm excited!  Be ready for some fun pictures next week if I can get them...I hear there are lots of interesting things to see haha.

source

Monday=one of my favorite holidays!  The 4th of July should mean so much to every citizen of this country, outside of the fireworks, cookouts and beer.  We're so fortunate to have so many freedoms that other nations still do not have.  I know we're far from perfect, but I'm PROUD to be an American!

Thank a solider for fighting for our freedom!

Confessions, Plans, Future Happiness...or The One Where I Seem to be Slightly Off...

I confess that I haven't posted any workouts since my speed work Monday because I have not worked out since then...

I confess this week has been hard.  I'm over it.  I want to move on.  And that is my excuse as to why I haven't made my workouts.

I confess I am stressed.  It takes me a long time to really feel stressed, but once I do, it's hard for me to handle.

I confess that I appreciate John more this week than I have before.  He is a wonderful man and I need to tell him that more.  And it's not to say that I didn't appreciate him before, my appreciation has just grown.

I confess that I haven't finished reading my book for book club quite yet.  I'm less than 30 pages shy, but hope to have it finished at lunch today.  (I loved the book and can't wait to write about it)

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I still can make the rest of my workouts this week still, it's just going to involve a little readjusting...which I'm ok with.  I just want to stay on my running plan so I do not disappoint myself in my marathon performance.  So, either tonight, hopefully, or tomorrow night, I'll complete my 10 miles and we'll hit up a tempo run on Saturday or Sunday morning=all runs completed.  I'm going to count my removing and replacing sod and carrying heavy-ass-pavers as my cross-training.  I'll take it where I can get it!  Don't judge!

The side yard is done!  We just have some clean up left to do.  I'll share this sorry excuse for a picture to give you an idea...

This quick shot was taken before our 9:30pm dinner last night...

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My weekend happiness in pictures:

I'm out!

Running, Movies and Life as I knew it this weekend...

Workouts:
Thursday: 5K in 25:41.  It was a tempo run day, but I didn't feel like running, so I figured I'd pump out a 5K.  Worked out rather well...8:17/mile pace.

Friday: Ran 12 miles in 1:59:28, 9:57 pace, instead of doing it Saturday.  I probably could have used a rest day because my legs were a bit tight from weights, but it wasn't a bad run. The kicker...this was on the treadmill.  Thankfully my gym has a cardio cinema, so it wasn't bad.  We saw Mao's Last Dancer

...pretty good and based on a true story.  It's actually a lot easier to run in on the mill...you just put your nutrition and water in the cup holders instead of trying to carry them...WIN!  We ran Friday because the waves were supposed to be good at the beach Saturday morning so we readjusted our schedule a bit...priorities you know...


Saturday: Walked on the beach leisurely 2.5 miles. 


Sunday: Does cleaning count?!  No?  It should....

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This was my view on the way to the gym Friday!  We FINALLY got rain!!!

Saturday proved to be a delightful, relaxing day.  I loved it.  We walked on the beach, swam in the ocean, ate Taco City, watched:

Yay Jason Statham!  The movie was pretty good if you like movies similar to the Transporter movies.  I do, so win for me.

Sunday was spent cleaning, getting the house in order and starting putting pavers down in the side yard.  Remember that rain picture from above?  That was our whole weekend.  Afternoon thunderstorms were back...score!  The bad part was, where John dug up the sod, where there was only dirt, turned into a swamp.  So...I'm hoping the sun dries the dirt so we can lay some pavers this week.

I also made some food in the slower cooker.  Yesterday, I made wings for dinner.  Then we put in a pork tenderloin to cook while at work today!  Yum!  I also prepared meals for the week, so hopefully I can stick to them and have good tasting and good for me lunches this week.

We ended our evening by watching:

I really liked the movie.  It's on more of the serious side...I can definitely see why it won awards.

PS: For all you iced coffee lovers out there...you have to visit the Pioneer Woman and check out her recipe for iced coffee.  I used Dunkin Donut's vanilla coffee to make it and I have been enjoying myself some superb iced coffee...plus, I've already drank my money's worth!

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Any good movie recommendations?

Are you more for running outside or on the treadmill in the summer?

Thoughts on Thursday

I'm linking up with Carolyn for Thoughts on Thursday!  

-I hate that I get sucked into The Bachelorette, but alas it is my guilty pleasure.  I can't stand the "star" of this season...Ashley.  She was cute before, but now she's definitely gotten into really good shape and is looking hot, but she's so. stupid.  A friend of yours warned you about this guy.  He does exactly what she says he'll do.  You whine and cry over him constantly.  Cray Cray...

There's a ton of seemingly nice, hot guys on the show that show you a lot of interest.  *cough* JP *cough*.  Move on already from the guys you met, like, twice.  He left you.  He is not worth your time or energy.

-I like having my TV shows to watch.  I never get to watch them live, or usually even close.  We play catch up with the DVR constantly, but it's about empty now.  Sad face.  I do enjoy Covert Affairs...

...and Burn Notice

We did watch WipeOut the other night.  I think I'm going to apply to go on the show.  I have to do better than some of the other people on there...right?!  This is the picture I'd send with my entry form...

I think with that picture, I'd fit right in!

-Tonight, is girl time.  Yay!!!  More on that tomorrow...or, next week...

-Did you hear that these two are spending time together again?

What is she thinking??  It was horrible what happened, why risk something like that happening again, seriously?

-In other "celebrity" gossip, and I use the term celebrity lightly...the Octomom is still relavent?  She's a crazy woman, who was famous for breeding.  Literally.  Who wants 8 kids coming out at once...much less when there are already 6 at home?  

She's apparently going on a dating show.  Who would try to get with her...

*crickets*

*crickets*

Anyone?!

Ok, that's what I thought...

-In other news:

-Last night, I got hit in the nose by a bad bounce of the softball.  It's pretty sore, but no bruising yet.  Let's hope it stays that way.  My sunglasses gave me a little cut, but if that's the extent of the shown damage, I'd be ok with that.

-I'm ready for the weekend.  There's a 12 mile run in the plans, maybe some work being done on the house, and trying another new church.  From that, do you know what I hear?  A relaxing weekend.

Post run of course...

Happy Thursday!

Back to the regularly scheduled blogging?

Not today!

Still feeling a bit random here.  I guess I've been so busy with work, I'm all over the place lately with everything.  I need to start going to bed earlier.  If I can make it by 9:30 tonight, I will be a happy kid!

First, last night's run.  It was not a success in all reality, but the fact that I ran is a success in itself.  I did not feel like it one bit.  But I have a busy rest of the week and knew I would be angry at myself for not running.  So I ran 5.5 miles instead of the planned 6.  Here's the break out:

1 mile warm up: 6.1mph
1200 #1: 7.5 down to 7.1 for the last bit.  Too fast for not feelin' peppy.
1200 #2&3: 7.0
200 recovery between each interval.  #1&2 were at 6.0, #3 was 4.0.
400 #1&2: 7.5
400 #3: 8.0
3 minute rest between sets at 4.0.
1/2 mile cool down.
So there you have it.  I still did it, not quite according to plan, but I still got in my speed training.

A few things I've noticed lately:

I haven't blow dried my hair except maybe once a month for the past few months.  It's grown.  Apparently, my fine little pieces don't like the heat.  We'll keep this experiment up, but I think it works.  And really, by 10am, my hair looks the same as it did when I put effort in...

Not sure how many of you know about the Casey Anthony trial going on down here, but seriously...if your jail house friends have recommended an attorney, why would you use him?!  They're in JAIL.  He did not get them out.  I would say he wouldn't be my first choice.  We have the unfortunate fate of having the entire trial available on not one, but two channels.  Lucky us.

There are some really great people to be friends with out there, but they're hard to find.  It's way easier to find a crappy friend, so when you find the good ones, hold on tight.  Not in a suffocating way, but ya know...close.

It's freakin' hot right now.  Consistently all week my car has been at 100* after driving around for a while.  In. the. shade.  What the eff Florida?!  Where are my afternoon showers?

Please come back!

I'm off for the day.  Last softball game...again.  Woo.

Tuesday's Tangent

Today, I feel all tangenty so...here goes:

Yesterday, I went back to my regularly scheduled life, and the gym.  I did legs, back, biceps, abs and the stair machine.  That thing is a beast.  Does anyone else sweat like a man on that?  I definitely sweat more on that than running any day...it's crazy.  It felt good to get in a good, jello-legged workout!  Today is speed work...1200's and 400's.  I'll let you know how that goes tomorrow.  I'm hoping to get in 6 miles today total, but I feel like I'm dragging today.

My out of town trip was a slight bust.  The only successful day was Dollywood and biking through Cades Cove.  The rest of the time, it rained monsooned/hurricaned.  That means no whitewater rafting, tubing, hiking or any of the other fun things we had planned to do.  In the mountains.  Outside.  Boo.  So we were cooped up with 18 other people, that included two tired elementary schoolers and other family.  Fun.  


Here's the only picture I have since I was a loser and left my camera at home:

I took it so John wouldn't feel left out while he was still home working.  And no, I'm not hurting the little pot man, I just was giving him a thumbs down, even if it looks like I'm punching him in the face.  Oh yea, and Go Gators.

Did you hear about the problems United Airlines were facing this week?  We experienced them.  John did make it into the airport eventually, but I had to wait until 2:14am- for him.  Yea...not fun.  Driving in the middle of the night to the airport through the mountains...um...this girl don't see well at night.

We did get to bike through a place called Cades Cove.  It's an 11 mile, hilly loop.  It doesn't seem so hilly in the car, but get on a bike...after getting there late...when they're all out of mountain bikes, means you're going on a cruiser.  Like whoa.  I proudly only walked up a small part of one hill...less than anyone else-oh yea!

Yea...those signs are actually in there, and no, I didn't listen...I rode like the wind!  Here's a description on the Smoky Mountain website:

"The 11 mile Cades Cove loop has rolling hills and steep grades and there are at least 2 places when you must walk your bike in order to avoid serious injury."

It was a lot of fun, and we got it in before the rain.  Woohoo!

Here's my last subject today...

As you've heard me talk about before, construction is S L O W.  We are seeing it more and more.  Don't listen to the news about it picking up.  They are lying.  Our company is fortunately doing ok, but if there ends up being no more buildings to build, or at least not enough for all the companies around to stay in business, I wonder what I would do.  It is a possibility, although I'm not sure how much as I don't know how the market will go, but it's still something that's been on my mind a lot lately.

I wonder what else I would do, or what I would be good at.  During my undergrad, I was pretty sure I was going to teach or go to law school.  Obviously, neither of those happened. I decided against law school just because of the cruddy hours a lot of my friends have had to put in being bottom of the totem pole in their law firms, and I don't want to work my life away.  Teaching is appealing because of the schedule, but the parents of the kids are my concern.  I think I'd want to shake some of them.  I could coach, teach, even do summer school or work another job so I wouldn't be bored during the summer.  I'm sure the first couple of years would be challenging when trying to get my stuff in order, but my aunt's been teaching for years and she's got it down to where it's like a breeze now...the planning anyway...

So, I'm not exactly sure, but it's definitely something for me to think about...just in case.  I'd stay at my job forever if I could.  There are some really crappy times, but I like it.  I loved it when it was crazy busy.  I just don't know that we'll see that again for another 20 years or so.

If you had the chance to choose a new job, what would you do?

The Long Weekend Awaits...Almost...

It's Thursday before a holiday weekend, which means I have no motivation.  Boo.  Only another day+ at work and I'm free for 3 glorious days!!!

I figured today I would join up with Caroline with Thoughts on Thursday!

1.  Megan@ Watch Mego Run is having a giveaway from something awesome...especially if you're a runner!  Go check it out!!

2.  I just wanted to state that I have the best husband I could ever ask for.  He's perfect for me.  On my birthday, he surprised me with a birthday dinner after leading me to believe we were going to his softball game instead.  He even dressed in his uniform, knowing that he'd be sitting in it all through dinner.  He had friends there to meet us.  It was super awesome and he's the best!

The two who orchestrated it.

3.  My friends also rock my socks!  We had many of our friends join us for a Tuesday night dinner at Kobe Steakhouse and for fro-yo afterwards!  We haven't had a big group dinner in a while, so it was amazing!  I've been missing my friends!

4.  I'm SOOOO excited about the long weekend!!!  There will be a little of:

and a little of:

What could be better??

5.  My 27 at 27 got knocked off a little because of our rush to get to the softball game dinner, so I missed running on Tuesday, but I ran Monday 6.2 miles and Wednesday 5 miles in 46:55 during lunch!  Plus, and extra 1/2 mile last night.  So, I'm up to 11.7 miles right now leaving 15.3 to go by Sunday.  I can do it!

6.  Marathon training officially starts June 4, so one week from Saturday I start killing my body ha.  No, no, I kid...kind of.  The first month isn't bad, we're up to 10 miles every weekend and then it jumps from there.  I'm ready.  Let's do the darn thing!

7.  Here's an awesome deal for you runners out there:

June 1st is National Running Day and the Rock N Roll Marathon series is giving great discounts on races!  I'm a little sad I registered early now, but's what a girl to do besides pick another race??  Anyway, on June 1st you can register for a race and the discounts are as follows:

Save: $26 on any marathon

Save: $13 on any half

Save: $10 on any 10K

Save: $5 on any 5K

Awesome!  Now go do it!  I hear there's some awesome people running Savannah too, so that's a race to look into!

Happy Almost Weekend!!!