Sunday, October 31, 2010

10k & 10 hours

This weekend was quite eventful...well, at least Saturday was! My friend Beth drove down Friday night so that we could get up SUPER early on Saturday morning to run the Wicked 10k in Virginia Beach. It was SO much fun! I absolutely love running with Beth so I was really glad I got to complete my first 10k with her. And I am now a full believer in the "runner's high" b/c that run was such a thrill! It was especially entertaining b/c everyone was dressed up in Halloween costumes. Beth went as Pippi Longstockings and I went as cotton candy - which made for a very warm and toasty 6 miles. Here we are after the race:
And check out my "lucky laces." I got these at the Susan G. Komen 5k I ran at the beginning of the month and even though I don't really believe in "luck" I thought it would be fun to have some sort of "lucky" item to wear at my races...I mean all the pros do it, ya know?
After the race we had to speed back home so I could get ready for my cousin Amanda's wedding reception! My fam and I made the 10ish hour roundtrip to celebrate with Amanda and John. They got married in St.Thomas (I think) but had their reception back in the states and it was BEAUTIFUL! Amanda had everything 40s themed - from the feathery centerpieces down to her curly hair, red lips, and cute gloves. It was awesome. I love any excuse to get together with my entire extended family, they are a blast to be around. I am so blessed.
Oh yeah, Happy Halloween!

Friday, October 29, 2010

fairy bread

It's almost the end of 2010 and I am plugging away at my 10 list. Next up? Fairy bread from Australia. This is like some sort of birthday tradition over there, but all it is is crustless white bread sliced in half, butter, and sprinkles (which they call "hundreds of thousands"). I don't really see the appeal other than the high they must get from the crazy amount of sugar. So I made my own version using Ezekiel bread (it's all we had), butter, and rainbow nonpareil sprinkles. I also cut mine into the shape of the heart, b/c I'm American, and it looked cute. I can't imagine passing up a slice of cake or ice cream for this, but birthdays are an excuse for a sugar overload, right?

Monday, October 25, 2010

pumpkin pickin'

Last Wednesday I had a really bad day so on Thursday after work my mom cheerfully took me to the pumpkin patch to make up for it. Up until my freshman year of college I had never been to a real pumpkin patch. My mom says she took me when I was younger but unless I was a baby and we drove pretty far, it's questionable. There just aren't any where we live. So maybe I've been to a real pumpkin patch twice in my life, but since I don't remember the "first" time I don't count it. The pumpkin patch I grew up going to looked a lot like this...
You know...the one where the pumpkins are already picked and carefully placed into rows...the one beside a major highway. (sidenote: this picture didn't turn out as cool as I thought it would)
...the one with a giant jack-o-lantern out front...
...the one that also sells oysters???
...the one with price tags on the pumpkins...
...& the one with the PERFECT pumpkin - which now sits pretty outside of our front door :)

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

popsters strawberry blast

Ok, so these little "popsters" weren't necessarily part of the pop tarts project, but at 100 calories a pack I figured, "why the heck not?!" Not being the keyword. They were just mini crusts. Pass. Consider yourself warned.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

i will not take my love away.

This is one of my favorite songs and probably the most beautiful, reassuring, comforting message of God's love I've ever heard. I've had it on repeat on my bedtime playlist for weeks. Download it STAT.

"I Will Not Take My Love Away" - Matt Wertz

I will not take my love away
When praises cease and seasons change
The whole world turns the other way
I will not take my love away

I will not leave you all alone
When striving leads you far from home
And there's no yield for what you've sown
I will not leave you all alone

I will give you what you need
In plenty or in poverty
Forever, always, look to me
And I will give you what you need

I will not take my love away.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

googling "puppies"

Somedays when I need a little pick-me-up I google "puppies." Don't laugh - it's a guaranteed mood lifter. Just try it...ok, fine, I'll do it for you.

My favorite puppies are the french bulldog puppies. Sidenote: I have GOT to get one of these!


And then of course there are the Bernese Mountain Dogs...
And who could forget the golden retriever?!?
101 Dalmations!!!!!!
And the best puppy (who isn't so much a puppy anymore)...our sweet, goofy, and "destructive" - my Mom's words, not mine - samoyed Lily!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

state of grace

Today I really miss my BFF Loisann. I take that back. I always miss her (she is currently at JMU for grad school), but I especially miss her on days like today - 10/10/10. And, no, other than the fact that that is ridiculously cool that today's date is all 10's, there is nothing else significant about it. But that's just the thing. I'm sure if Lo were here we would have made today monumental. And that's what I love about her - she is fun, goofy, and always up for a good time! So in honor of her I would like to share our all-time favorite TV show - State of Grace. It only lasted 2 seasons (I think) but it is still my favorite TV show to this day. Loisann and I used to spend manyyyyy nights watching State of Grace marathons. I think it's because we could easily relate to the characters. Growing up, and until we really started hanging out together, our lives very closely mirrored the personalities of the main characters of Hannah (Lo) and Grace (me). Check out the first episode on YouTube here...

**be sure to watch parts 2 & 3!

Friday, October 8, 2010

what to wear?

This is pretty uncharacteristic of me BUT...this year I need a little help picking out my Halloween costume. Shocking? I know. I was pretty dead set on this little get up about 3 days after Halloween '09...
Pufferfish! Cute, right?

But here's the thing...this year I'm running a 10k the day before Halloween. And while I am super stoked to a) run a 10k & b) run it with my favorite running buddy Beth Jackson, a 10k is a little over 6 miles which makes planning a costume a little more tricky.

It doesn't help that I've stumbled across the web and fallen in love with these costumes as well...
Thoughts? Votes? Suggestions? Leave me a comment and let me know!

And while we are on the subject of Halloween costumes, why not revisit this little link - blast from the past?