Workin' It

It's official. Monday night at 10, I have logged about a marathon worth of running!

::cheers::


No really, though - there are now 26.24 miles on my training log and I am SO stinking proud of myself. I am not a runner. I mean I've tried running before, but it's never really stuck. Having a race or something to work towards has been so fabulous, you don't even know.

Honestly, every time I'm out there, I'm a big cheeseball and feel like I'm running for my husband. And in a way I guess I am. I'm training for a race that will directly benefit his health and well-being, so maybe I really am running for him. And everytime I push myself harder, I feel like I'm loving him in that.


See?! Total cheeseball.


But anywho - I had the best run the other day. Saturday evening's run was so stinking phenomenal that I can only hope that my next run will be that good. It wasn't too hot out, so I'm sure that helped a bit. And it's very possible that the Vanilla Bean Frappacino I had about 2 hours before could've had a little to do with it, too, but I don't even care. I felt SO great about it!

McStudly was hanging out with a buddy of his and so I figured I'd knock out my run for the day (since I'm running every other day, now) while he was gone. So I threw on some of my running gear, laced up my new running shoes (I can't wait to tell you all about them), charged up the iPod shuffle and went for it.

At the previous run, I had finally reached the point where I could run a full mile without stopping to walk. That was HUGE for me. Seriously! So I figured I try to push it up to a mile and a 1/4 or maybe... maybe a mile and a 1/2 if I could. Why not aim "big", right? ha ha... that seems so silly, now.



Well, aim "big" I did. Once I got going, I felt great so I just kept running. I ended up running 2 1/2 miles straight!!


Sqqueeeeeeeee


I couldn't believe it, but I just kept pushing myself and pushing myself and it. was. awesome!!

at one point, Studly and his friend drove past me and waved. I felt so great because of where I was at the time and the fact that I was still running. Still running. Hadn't stopped, yet!


Oh man.


You have no idea how much of an accomplishment that was for me.



Well since then I've run once, but had to tone it down for two reasons: time and temperature.

It's been way hot out in these parts, lately, and I don't want to kill myself so I'm staying smart. Studly and I got home later in the evening on Monday, so we just decided to go around the "block" and take Austin with us, but we had to run the whole thing.


Done.

No sweat.


Well... there was plenty of sweat, but we did it, nonetheless (and Austin didn't almost keel over, this time. I guess we're all doing better, now) and felt great afterwards, so we through in some crunches after we stretched it out. 50 of them, to be exact. Awesome.


Anywho, it was over 100 degrees Tuesday (luckily it fell on a no-run day, for me), which wasn't pretty, but it looks like it'll be right at that, or close to it for a little while. So I may be sticking to a few shortened run sessions, for now. But the way I'm looking at it is that I'll be getting better at a straight run and will hopefully be able to push myself further and further when it starts to cool down.

That sounds reasonable, right?



Well, that's the status for now. I have a few more runs to log, but won't cheat and add them into the total that mapmyrun.com is giving me for now. I'll just give you what I haven't been too lazy to log and hopefully that will make me better at logging everything.





Anywho - that's the 411 on the 1/2 marathon training. Have you been pushing yourself to exercise, lately? What other kinds of goals have you set for yourself - crafting, blogging, cleaning... do tell!



Toodles.

2-3-4!

I know - I'm Slacker McSlackipantalones for sure. BUT I thought it was a nice chance to take a break (break from what, most of you are probably thinking... it's not like I've been exactly on the ball, lately) over the 4th Holiday and just relax with my McStudmuffin...

Check!


It was fabulous. We did a whole lot of nothing -

Wait. That's not true. We did a lot, BUT we have nothing PLANNED, so it was oh-so relaxing.



Friday night, we went up to Annapolis and mosied on around the new Town Centre. We bought new running shoes (more to come on that) for both of us, had dinner at one of the newer restaurants in the area (nothing to write home about, unfortunately), and I day-dreamed about shopping at Anthropologie (window shopping at it's finest) as we walked past.

Saturday, we slept in a little, I went up to Joanns and scored BIGtime (LOVE me some fabric sales), had lunch with some of mi familia (momma & pappa bear, and little sis), scored yet again when I stopped at a local consignment shop with Momma and little Sis on the way home from said lunch, went our separate ways for a big (Studly and I, that is), then met up again a little later. He spent some time with a good friend of his, and I met up with one of the awesome ladies' from our church (more to come on that, as well) before going for a run (and again... more to come on that). It was awesome.


Then comes the 4th. We slept in again (oh so lovely...) and then we'd planned to meet up with a buddy of his and his wife and little girls on base for the festivities, but then changed plans. We Goodwill hopped for a bit, then mosied on around in Annapolis again before checking out another new restaurant and chowing down on some yummy frozen yogurt at one of our new favorite places, Menchies (yumm-o!), where we happened upon some old pals of ours (Hi Livi, Leah, and Natalie!! oh... and you too, Lane). And out of pure laziness, we decided to stay in the Annapolis area for some fireworks. We wandered up to the top of one of the many parking garages and watched a few of the different shows (since you could see about 3 or 4 of them from there) before heading home for a movie and some puppy time with our favorite dog, Austin.



Wow.. there's STILL another day to talk about?! Gesh. I looove long weekends. :-)



So Monday morning came around and we slept in again (not too long, this time... we wanted to take full advantage of our day off). I called one of my bestest buddies in the whole world, Ash-a-Bash, and we decided to drive out to Virginia, meet up with her, and then go check out a fun new golf place in the area. It ended up being a TOTAL blast. Seeing her is always a super fun time. I love my Ash. *sigh And then getting to hang out with her family again (it's been for-eh-ver!) was also a blast. I miss them all. *tear



Aaannnnd that was pretty much my awesome long weekend. Woot!

It was fabulous, for sure.




So what about you all - what'd you do with your long weekend?

My Hips Don't Lie

I started training for the 1/2 on Wednesday. Wow. Not a good move.


It wasn't horrible... okay. That's not true. In fact - it's a big fat lie. It was HORRIBLE!!


I decided I'd do 4 miles and take little ol' Austin with me. He could use some exercise too, ya know?!

Well, let's just put it all out there. Judge me if you want to. Or don't... but laughter is totally acceptable in this instance.

*sigh


It took me an hour. I did 4.13 miles and it took me an HOUR!! A freaking hour.


Ugh. That's like walking... which is pretty much what I did the majority of the time.


BUT - in the interest of full disclosure, I didn't know until I finally made it home and the dog nearly died on the kitchen floor that it was over 100 degrees outside AND the air quality was Code Red.


...oops?


FAIL!


Anywho, Austin and I both survived (although I'm pretty sure Austin will run and hide the next time I take his leash out of the drawer), but I was highly disappointed in my lack of athleticism. Especially since just a few short weeks ago I did 5.5 in much less time with a girlfriend of mine.

Oh well. I guess having a horrible time like this will at least make me look way more improved at the end, eh?


The kicker is how rough recovery has been. It actually hasn't been as bad as I initially thought it would be (I blame it on the lack of oxygen during the run... stupid air quality!), but my hips started fighting me like 20 minutes in. I was hurrrrting, people. I'm serious. It was like my hips woke up and were like "Hoold up - what is this, mess? What are you doing?!" They were none-too-pleased with me, for sure. I guess that's what Shakira means when she says her hips don't lie. Because my hips tell the truth, no matter how harsh it may be, nah mean?! Yeah. There ain't no fooling those babies. Sheesh!

But McStudly and I are giving it another shot tonight. We're going to try the same 4-mile route and seeing as it's like 15 degrees cooler today and the air quality is listed as yellow (moderate, for those unfamiliar), I'm thinking it'll be MUCH more manageable. Well, at least we're hoping so, anyways.





So now I've gotta ask: how many of you are into running? Or interested in getting into running? Or enjoy watching others run away after they make them cry?


Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?!

It's Official

Last week I was honored to be a part of some very special celebration. My friends Mike and Aiyana tied the knot (FINALLY!) after much anticipation and we couldn’t be happier for them!!

**Congrats you guys – we love you!

Well along with the wedding came rehearsals, a bachelorette party, a lingerie shower, and a bachelor party for the men-folk. Good times were had by all (well… mostly. Poor Mike was 7 shades of red when the guys surprised him with this embarrassing accessories for the evening) and though it all went by quickly, I’m just glad that Studly and I were able to be a part of it and celebrate with them.


But I tell that story to tell you another story… one that comes with a need for your assistance in the coming months and a willingness for you to bear with me as I prepare. *teeth chattering

And for those of you not paying attention and trying to figure out what it is. Just be patient… you’ll learn soon enough.


Thursday night was Aiyana’s bachelorette party. The ladies all met at Fuji for dinner (and entertainment. Have you seen those hibachi grill chefs? AHHmazing!) and then went back to the maid of honor’s house for a little lingerie action (oww owwww!).

Wait.

Let me rephrase.

We went back to have a lingerie shower for Aiyana. *whew That sounds MUCH better.


Back to the story… while I was there catching up with some girlfriends I hadn’t seen in a while (which is ALWAYS a ton of fun, right?!), my friend Amber gave me this amazing tidbit of information. Here’s what happened.

She had been at Atlanta Bread Company earlier in the day and came across this pamphlet. Upon further review, she discovers that the event focuses on Crohns’ and Colitis.

As most of you know, McStudly was diagnosed with Crohns’ disease last year. It was actually this time last year, actually, when he was finally diagnosed, so it’s been about a year now that we’ve been learning and trying out different medications and treatment options. Growing through the process.


So basically – to state that this hits close to home would be a total understatement. It’s not close to home, people… it IS home! I mean, you can’t get a whole whole lot closer than that, right?!


Anywho, she gave me the pamphlet (thanks, Amber. You’re such a sweetheart!) and I took it him to look it over and do a bit more research on the subject. And after talking it over with the Stud himself, we decided we were game.


It’s official. This December, the 5th to be exact, McStudly and I will be running the Rock & Roll ½ Marathon in Vegas. The proceeds go towards helping the CCFA (Crohns’ & Colitis Foundation of America) find a cure.


Fact: Did you know that chronic, and often debilitating digestive diseases impact more than 1.4 million Americans? True Story.


But I’m tired of just talking the talk. Crohn’s hit home for us. And see how it affects people in all different ways makes me wanna get off my butt and do something about it. But since I don’t have my doctorate and am certainly not a scientist, this is where I can help. So I’m going to do it, dang it!


So how can you help? I’m glad you asked.


Don’t worry, you don’t have to sign up to run it with us. In fact, you can do everything from the comfort of your couch with a big ol’ bowl of popcorn and a nice Big Gulp on the table next to you… or whatever it is you eat while you think about other people exercising. For me, it’s Chocolate Chip cookies and/or brownies with a nice big glass of milk. Yumm… I can feel myself getting fatter already. Woohoo!!


No – in fact, all we need from you is a lot of encouragement and a little bit of moolah.

Okay – I’ve already lost some of you. *sigh


Really though – let me explain. This money isn’t going to us. It’s not going to some VP’s pocket. It’s not going into the big hole that is the US Government’s “treasury” (which reminds me - doesn’t something need to be in it for us to actually consider it a “treasury”? I’m just sayin…). It’s going directly into the funding of finding a cure for Crohn’s and Colitis.

By giving us just a few bucks here and there, as you’re able, you would not only be changing my husband and I’s life by helping us run this race, but you’ll be absolutely changing the lives of over 1.4 million Americans that are impacted by these diseases. And for that, my friends, I will be in huge debt to you.


For those who don’t know the whole story, my husband wasn’t sick hardly a day in his life until all of a sudden WHAM! He’s got an auto-immune disease that he’ll have for life. Umm.. whaaa?! That’s a lot for someone in their 20s to all of a sudden have to deal with. Not to mention how he went from not even knowing what a headache really was to having them on a consistent basis thanks to the steroids they put him on. He’s since switched treatments and now goes in for infusions every 8 weeks. If he misses one, he feels it.

That’s quite an adjustment.


Basically – we need your help. We need to raise $3,500 a piece to be able to compete in the ½ marathon and support such an amazing cause. But for those of you that are as skeptical as I am about these things, here’s where the money goes:

$2,500:
- 16 weeks of training with a professional trainer and the team of other runners in your area, to make it easier for you to be able to complete the race
- Race entry fees, which aren’t all that cheap for this one
- Hotel accommodations for race weekend
- Entry to the Pasta Party on the eve of the race, to make sure you load up on carbs before the big day
- Moolah moolah moolah going towards the whole reason for the race

$3,500:
- Airfare to and from Vegas (and I live almost as far as one can live and still be in the same continent) for the race along with your team
- Ground transportation to and from the airport, as well as throughout the weekend for the various organized activities


I know it seems like a lot of money – TRUST me… I’m worried that we won’t be able to raise enough to be able to participate. But I do know that even if something happens and we can’t raise enough to race, the money that we have raised will still go straight to the cause. And that, my friends, is music to my ears… er – McStudly’s intestines. ??


There you have it. McStudly and I will be training to run a ½ Marathon in December to benefit Crohns’ and Colitis research, and we’re stoked! Our only concern has nothing to do with training or getting there… it’s whether or not we can raise the money in time to be able to participate and support a cause that has such an effect on our lives already.


So that’s where you come in. Can you help? Any little bit will help us go a long way when combined with the other little bits we’re hoping to receive. AND come August, we’ll have a link on the side of the blog that’ll take you directly to our Team Challenge fundraising sites so you can contribute. So start setting aside money, if you can. We’d be greatly honored, probably more than you’ll ever know.




Thanks guys!!

Summer Stretch

Here we are at the beginning of summer. While most people use this time to plan vacations and trips and any chance to squeeze in a beach weekend (all of which I do...), I start getting bummed at the lack of TV shows since everything's ended!

It's not the most important thing to think about, but it's on my mind. I'd be lying if I said anything different.

But this year, my saving grace is Season 5 of Design Star. Woot!!

I heart David Bromstad. LOVE any and all HGTV shows that he's in and think he's a decorating genius. Seriously - I would LOVE love LOVE for him to decorate any room in my house. And his paintings?! Oh-Emm-GEESH! He's just sooo good at what he does. For reals.

Anywho - he's like the original Design Star. So I decided I'd actually watch this year and see who I'd like. And if nothing else, to get some inspiration for our home.

I LOVE design shtuff. You may not know it by looking at my house (take a quick look at my bank account and you'll probably see why that is), but I seriously have SOO many ideas. I love things that are different, but not strange. I love having things in my house that no one else has.

Like my orange wall. When I said I wanted an orange wall, I didn't know a SINGLE person that had one. Never saw it on HGTV or anything, I just knew I wanted it. Oddly enough, I'm starting to see it in a couple different shows, nowadays, and have heard of other people doing it, BUT as far as I'm concerned... I pioneered that puppy!

Anywho - I somehow get sewing inspiration from design shows as well. Don't ask me how, but it's kind've cool. Too bad I don't have the ability to stay home and play with stuff because I LOVE love LOVE making my own patterns and such. I've not really had the chance to completely create something from scratch.

Due to time constraints and such, I'll typically take a picture of something and do it myself, with my own little twist to it. Or I'll mimic the top portion of a little girl's dress (like I did for Lil' Abby a few posts back) and then totally switch it up with an original dress portion.

I love it!

And I've got SO many ideas swimming around in my head that I haven't had the chance to try, yet. I can't wait to be able to, someday. I have this dream of doing it for a living... but then again I have that dream for several different things. ha ha... oh well!

Basically, I say all that to say this: I kind've feel like I "get" them. The contestants on Design Star, that is. Like... with every challenge, they want to learn something themselves, but also please the judges and show how good they are at what they already. Does that make sense?

So I'm super stoked to see how they do. And who I like and kind've feel like I connect to.

Who's gonna be on the couch every Sunday night watching with me?! (...or using the DVR and catching up later in the week?!) Can't wait to hear what you think and who you like!!

Busy Busy Bee

I am 24 years old, now, and have never been stung by a bee... well... up until one night about 2 weeks ago, anyways. :-(

I got home from work a bit later than planned, and we rushed around to get everything together and get Austin ready so that we could head up to the Fort for the game. The plan was to get there early so that he could warm up with everyone and be ready for the start of the game.

Yeah.

That didn't exactly happen.

We got on the road (finally!), and got stuck in traffic. In order to avoid even just a little bit of stress, we turned down a back road to skip some of the traffic. We were almost at the end of the road when we realized that Studly didn't have his ID with him... didn't have any ID with him. So we turned around and headed back towards the house to get his ID.

When we'd finally got the ID, we turned back towards the Fort and took the back road again to avoid some of the traffic, and save a bit of sanity. Time was ticking and we were getting closer and closer to game time, yet we hadn't even made it on base!

We finally see the gate, turn in, and are quickly turned away. In our haste to make it to the field in time, we had turned in to the closest entrance... but didn't consider the fact that my car didn't have base stickers. Boo!

So around we went to get through inspection and hustle it on over to the field...

But wait...

What field are we on?

We drove in circles, already having missed the start of the game... the dog was whining, the husband was stressed, and this wife was going crazy!

We finally spotted the field and McStudly hopped out to get over there ASAP. I went on and parked, got the dog out, and got all of the "shtuff" together before beginning the long awkward hike to the bleachers.

At this point, I felt like I could at least take a deep breath. We'd made it. Studly's head was in the game, the dog was out of the car and no longer whining, and we were finally good to go for another couple of hours. With Austin in hand, we crossed through the tall grass area and were finishing our little trek across the grassy knoll, dotted with spots of dandelion weeds. All the while we were walking, I was thinking about how I'd have to check the pup for ticks, later, because of those long weeds we'd walked through.

oww...

Ouch...

OOOOOOUUUUUCCCCHHHHHH!!!!!!

WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!?!

Oww OWW OOOOWWWWW!!!!!

In that split second between feeling a little prick on the arch of my foot, and getting my hand to that area to wipe away what I thought would be a stick or something that was poking me sharply, the pain intensified immensely!! It was only a split second! I mean... what the dilly?! What the HECK kind of devil stick is this?!

It wasn't a devil stick. Well, devil seems fitting, but definitely not a stick.

...stupid little bee...

In the time that it took to blink while turning my head down to my foot, and also while reaching my hand down to wipe away the devil stick (all in less than a second), my hand touched the spastic wings of the stupid little devil bee before my eyes did and I FLUNG it off my foot!

Totally freaked out, now!!

Well, I hobbled over to the bleachers, which were still a good 100ft away from where "it" happened, and stretched out the hand that was holding Austin's leash...

"Hi, umm... can you hold my dog?!" Poor stranger was nice enough, though. He took his leash and watched him while I examined my now gimpy foot.

Poor little lefty. *sniff sniff

Sure enough, I had been stung right on the arch of my foot. I'm still not really sure how it happened, but it did. And at that moment, all that mattered was knowing that the little devil bee that had stung innocent ol' me was now dead. (I promise I'm not a violent person... but I know bees don't have feelings, so I was perfectly fine with the fact that he died for what he did to my foot. And I did NOTHING to him! Grr... yes it was a boy. No sweet little girl bee would do such a thing for no reason!)

So I basically sat there staring at this odd looking target-esque devil marking on my foot trying desperately to breathe deeply and fight back the tears that were welling up behind my oversized brown sunglasses (so thankful I hadn't forgotten them!), all while McStudly had not-a-clue what had been going on.

I got out what I thought was the last bit of the stinger (found out later that I wasn't accurate in that assumption) and used the antibacterial hand sanitizer offered up by another sweet stranger to clean the war-wound and keep it from getting infected. I asked that poor girl so many questions... I had no idea what to do about a bee sting!!

Well, as you can tell I survived. I did make it and now my foot is on it's way to some semblance of "normal". I went to the doctor last week for a follow-up on some other things, and mentioned the bee sting to her. It was super itchy and driving me CRAZY, so she gave me some topical cream that would help drive out the rest of the stinger and relieve the itchy reminder of what that devil bee did to my poor little left foot.

I don't care how cute of a movie they made, those bees are evil little creatures!

But teacher... my dog ate it!

I was trying to do better, but the thing about blogging is you need to make time for it. There's ALWAYS something else you could be doing, and I never wanted blogging to be a chore, so therefore it never will be.

Don't get me wrong - I absolutely LOVE blogging. EVERY bit of it! Writing random stuff, the surprise of people actually reading it, comments on any given post, looking back at old posts and remembering where I was in life when I wrote it... it's just a great thing to have, really. But I guess priorities are shifting, right about now, so blogging just isn't the priority that it used to be.

That being said, I still always feel like I owe y'all (and my future self reading old posts and judging "old self" for being such a slacker) an explanation whenever I slack off... which has been more and more frequent, lately.

You see - McStudly is my priority. Over any and everything else in my life, he is top shelf. Our relationship, our communication, our interaction - it all takes precedence. Blogging... not so much.

Now don't get me wrong. If I was one of those super cool bloggers that made money off of my blog, there'd be a bit more of an understanding with a need to blog, but since I'm not that cool... there's never a reason that this blog should come before anything else in our lives.

With that being said, I'M SORRY!! I miss you guys... I really do. I feel so disconnected from the online pals and friendships I've made with you guys that it really bums me out. After missing several weeks, or sometimes even just days... I log in to find that some of you are pregnant, some have had your babies, some of you are adopting, or at least considering it, and some are making some being changes in your lives that I TOTally missed out on!! And it makes me sad. :-(

BUT I am doing my best to catch up on things, and when I can find time, I'll catch you up on what's going on in our lives, too. Nothing too too exciting, right now, but we'll let you know if that changes at all.

Well, thanks for staying interested in our little lives, and thanks for stopping by!

Toodles.