Running

As you've probably noticed on Facebook this year has been a goals achieving year for me so far; namely the goal of running.

I've never, ever, ever been a runner. EVER. I remember when it came time each year in school to do the mile run I would dread it; planning out every possible way to get out of doing it. "uh, I can't run I have asthma", "I sprained my ankle", etc.

I hated it.

Well, as I've gotten older I've always wanted to run - not just run but set a goal of running and accomplishing it. I get those dreams all the time where I'm running, fast, and lovin it, and not feeling any ounce of pain doing it. So wish that could happen.

In January I started training for my first real 5k. In April I completed that 5k. It felt awesome!

I've wanted that high you get from finishing a race so I've since signed up for/completed, or will sign up for a few more races...

-Memorial Day Run of Remembrance 1 mile fun run, May 28th. DONE!
-Lehi Roundup 5k, June 30th (signed up)
-Freedom Run 5k, July 4th (signed up)
-Eagle Mtn. Glow in the dark 5k, July 13th (maybe)
-My 35th Birthday 5k, August 9th (not sure where yet)
-Half Marathon in Sept (maybe)
-Halloween fun run 5k (not sure which one yet)
-Santa Run 5k, Dec 1st.

Ryan said to me tonight, "you're becoming a little obsessive with this, aren't you?" To which I replied, "it's not a bad thing to be obsessive about". Not that I'm obsessed...I'm just excited to do all this as hard as it is.

Maybe that's the high. Doing and finishing something that is hard to do.

I CAN DO HARD THINGS, baby!

And just to remind myself to accomplish my goals my awesome SIL, Sharon, gave me a gift a week or so ago. It was this cute necklace with the word, RUNNER in the pendant, and with a cute sneaker charm. Is she the best or what?!

When she gave it to me she said, "this is to remind you of how far you've come, the goals you're accomplishing and what you have yet to accomplish." LOVE HER! I wanted to cry when I got it.

I've had a few "runners" tell me that I am a runner now. I guess if I'm thinking about and excited about when the next race will be...that qualifies me as a runner. I'll take it.  :)

A post about the Memorial Day run coming up next. Stay tuned. 

Random Memory - The polka dot outfit

Here I am at work, on a friday, with nothing to do. So, I turn to Pinterest to help me fill that boredom.

I come a cross this t-shirt that I see and a memory immediately pops into my head...

...In Jr. High I, like every other shy, insecure Jr. High age girl, wanted to be popular. I wanted people to like me. I didn't want to be so painfully shy...but I couldn't help it. I wanted to wear the best clothes and look cool like everyone else.

Back then, I thought polka dots were so cool. I remember people wearing them in school the year before and thinking, "so that's what I need to wear to be cool."  I'm talking 1989 people. Polka dots were 'totes IN.

I went school clothes shopping with my sister Megan, because she seemed to be the one with the best fashion sense in the family - which is the reason why I always got in trouble from taking her clothes out of her closet and wearing them without her permission, but I always managed tried to get them back in her closet after school so she wouldn't know. Sometimes it worked...sometimes it didn't.

Ahem - back to the story.

We walked into a store in the mall and there on the back rack was a beaming white t-shirt that had black polka dots on the front. I showed her the shirt, searching for her approval. I HAD to have this shirt. I mean...hello...polka dots!

We continued looking around, found some other things...and then came the moment...I found some shorts to match my polka dot shirt.

Black shorts with white polka dots! Like totally opposite of the white shirt with black polka dots!!!

What the...what?! Oh yes, it was as if a choir of angels had come down in that store and sang the Hallelujah chorus for me. These shorts were perfect! And oh how stylin' I would look wearing them with my matching polka dot shirt. Not only was I wearing polka dots...but they were opposites. That's like double the fashionista!

I couldn't go wrong wearing this outfit, and surely the boys would notice me and think I was like so totally awesome. The popular girls would praise me up and down for finding such a worthy first day of 8th grade outfit to wear. They would all want to be like me.

Megan then found a pink scarf like belt to die around my waist. That way it would break up the pattern and add a little fun to my already totally fun outfit.

I was set!

That first day of 8th grade I walked into school beaming wearing my awesome outfit. I knew people would be commenting me on how stylish I was. I waited for the comments...and waited...and waited.

I looked around school that first day checking out everyone's first day of school outfits. Everyone looked FAB...but...no one was wearing polka dots.

Just me.

How could this be? They were so totally IN STYLE!  I mean I got them at the MALL...duh?!

Did they all of the sudden go out of style?! What was going on!

Even though I felt awesome in this outfit, I slowly realized I was the only one thinking I looked awesome that day.

I don't remember wearing that outfit again...at least not together. I wore the shirt and the pink scarf belt with jeans...but no more opposite matching again for me. In fact, I think I tossed those shorts out after that first day.

Thank you pinterest and you awesome polka dot shirt for bringing back the memories. I wish I could go back and tell my past self that I didn't need to be so worried about wanting to be popular, or needing to have the best outfit - and that there are much more important things in life than that.

Thank goodness those days are over. :)

I'll never forget that outfit though. So funny!

Rockin' out in the car

Erin and I like to rock out sometimes in the car and record ourselves.


-How's about a little Debbie Gibson - getting lost in your eyes...?

-Or possibly some "crush on you" with The Jets? Brings me right back to 1986 when we moved to Utah.

(Sorry it's sideways...we can't figure it out.)


...same with this one.

Lucky 7

Yesterday was my and Ryan's 7th wedding anniversary. Lucky number 7. I feel this is a lucky year already.

I had gotten the day off so we could spend it together, but at last minute Ryan couldn't get the whole day off. But it actually worked out because I had a few things on my to do list that I needed to get done for him, as a little gift for our Anniversary.

I got 7 red heart balloons, and at the bottom tied a little love note of memories with him and put them in the bedroom for him to see when he got home.

Then I framed the number 7 that I had put together with pennies from 2005, the year we were married. It sure was fun rummaging through our coin jar trying desperately to find nice shiny pennies from that year. But I found them. :)

Ryan had sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Something that I have begged for, for 7 years. But I kind of ruined the surprise because little did I know he was having them sent to my work...on the day I wasn't even going to be there. I felt bad...but I picked them up from work and admired them on the kitchen counter all day. They're so lovely!

That evening our YW group was having a fundraiser dinner that I had to be at...so our Anniversary dinner consisted of yummy chicken, salad and rice. It was good. But I think we'll be doing more celebrating this weekend.

Happy Anniversary to my Ryan! I sure do love you!

I like to dance and cook dinner at the same time

Here's a video clip Ryan took of me one night while i was making dinner.  Let's see if this works.