Fabulous Run

I'm not usually real big on resolutions. But...I know there's a lot of things I want to work on in the new year. So here's a list of things, not resolutions, that I want to do/get better at in 2014. Run 1000 miles in 2014. A girlfriend of mine, one of my college teammates, had this goal for 2013 and she made it! Neither one of us were distance runners, but now both run half marathon and she ran the Marine Corps Marathon this year! I really want to try and make this happen. Finally learn how to use my expensive camera. I love my Canon Rebel T3i. But at the moment it's basically a really expensive point and shoot. I must learn to use the settings. Leave the country. I haven't been on a great trip since London 2012 and now that I have my passport back I want to go somewhere! Keep a journal. I realize I have a blog, but this would be somewhere where I am free to write without fear of judgement. Turn off my phone at dinner. I rarely unplug. This w

We're getting closer. It's almost time for me to pack up and get the heck out of dodge for the holidays. Now, usually I leave packing til the last minute. And I mean the very last minute, right before it's time to run out the door for my flight. But not this time. This time I want to be prepared. I have presents to worry about packing. They should all be in my carry on. I won't be home long, but I still don't want to forget anything. Ok. I started this post on Monday. It's now Friday and guess what? I haven't started packing yet. I mentally have a list going - gifts, black skinnies, sweater, holiday dress, skirt, matching top, gap sweater, boots, wedges, buttercup hair dryer (the twin is dying to try it), running clothes (ha, like I'll wear those), my laptop, toiletries...that's about all I've got at the moment. Hopefully I don't forget anything.  OMG...there's only five days til Christmas. Are you ready?

Here's what I'm obsessing over this week... Christmas is in less than ONE week and I could quite possibly be done with my shopping. I have bought gifts for everyone on my list, but I still might pick up a few more things.And I leave for home Saturday morning. yay. After Kym's post last week of things she was afraid to share, she challenged her followers to do the same . I agreed with so many of her things and decided to share a few of mine... Things That I've Been Too Afraid To Publish... I might be one of the most self conscious people you will ever meet. I've been this way as long as I can remember. I have never thought I was beautiful or even slightly pretty. It's been over two years since my last relationship ended and it's been a struggle to move on. I haven't been really happy in a long time. I'm close to the highest weight I have ever been and it makes me seriously uncomfortable in my own body.  I'm afraid I will never f

Ok, I'm finally getting my stuff together and getting my post done for the day even though it's almost 8pm! There is only ONE more week til Christmas and 31 days until race day and I could not be more busy. Anywho, on to the blog.   Kym over at Travel-Babbles hosted a Secret Santa this year, and I was super excited about the chance to participate. My Secret Santa was from Kate over at Thoroughly Modern . Check her out. Thank you so much Kate!!  The Essie holiday set and some chocolate...just what I needed. I could def use a mani/pedi right now. And who doesn't love sweets? I accidentally ate the truffles before I took the picture I was so excited. Oops. I'm so thankful for her thoughtful gift. 

No, not for me. I would love to plan a party for me, but I just don't think it's going to happen. But my parents are hosting a party and inviting three other couples. Talking to my mom Friday night, she wants it to be special and my dad wants a fancy dinner. And I asked/begged if I could plan it for her. She said sure, although I'm not sure she knows what she's in for. But I think she's cheating on me! Later that night Twin text me to show me a few of the things she bought from Anthropologie for their party! But I'm going to do it anyway. Mom wants to go all out and that means some decorations are needed. Their china is white with silver accents, so I think a white, silver, gold with some green in with the flowers is a good idea. Twin already picked up a few things (shown in here). And I think the balloons are an easy, cute and cheap idea. Surf and turf is my parents favorite dinner combo, so that is definitely part of the menu. They want to start

I had a relatively stress-free weekend, which is nice considering we're just over a month out from race day. Friday night I made a Target run and, among other things, picked up Fast 6. I love those movies. And, though I feel weird saying it out loud bc it's not like I knew him, I was so sad to hear of Paul Walker's death. Saturday i had some work errands and some holiday shopping to do. Everything was going easy until I wanted to go to Macy's to look for mom's gift. Parking was a nightmare and the mall was packed. What did I expect at 1pm in the afternoon? But I got in, found what I was looking for and got out. Only to find out after leaving the parking lot that the twin had already picked up that particular gift for our mom. Ugh. What else did I do on Saturday? Umm...nothing? If I can't remember it, then it didn't happen. Early Sunday afternoon I went back to Target for some baking supplies and then, because they didn't have cake flour, I also went

Less than 40 days away from race day and work just keeps getting busier. Anywho...Here's what three things I'm obsessed with this crazy week... Did I tell y'all I got into the Nike Women's Half Marathon in DC this April? Well I did. And so did the twin, an Aunt and a friend from Olympic world. I'm very excited. It's been years since I ran a Nike Women's race and I'm really looking forward to it. Which will hopefully push me to train for it! This amazing blog post by Kym at Travel Babbles.  Maybe one day I will have the courage to post the things I filter out of my blog. There's less than two weeks left until Christmas. I am not done my shopping yet, in fact, I am maybe only half way done. I've bought more presents for myself than I should have this year. Including finally replacing my stolen iPhone. Did I really need the 5s? And I would love to host a brunch in my apartment before I leave to go home for the holidays, but I don'

The Holiday season is here. And there is so much to do. Below are some of things I've stolen off of Glitter Guide's and Kate Spade's lists and put on my to do list along with some of the things on my to do wish list. Trim the tree Host a holiday brunch (complete with donuts and mimosas) Book a holiday mani/pedi with family Send holiday cards Create a holiday playlist Christmas movie marathon  Make January 1st resolutions and break them while I still have the chance Fill my apartment with fresh flowers Bake Christmas cookies

I actually went out! Friday afternoon G text me did I want to go to dinner. Obviously the answer was yes. I have a great time with him and we can talk track for hours. I'm always early when I go to dinner with G bc I don't want to go home first, but we don't usually meet until 6:30pm. So I was early again Friday and sat in my car, with the heat on, reading. When he got there, I got out and we started to walk in only to see a sign that said closed for private party! You have got to be kidding me. I feel like their facebook should have mentioned that. So we walked across the street to some bbq place. BBQ in Texas is different. And, I think, not in a good way. I've been a few times and I don't think I need to go again. But it was a small place and we were taking up a needed table, so a while after we were done we headed down the road to Starbucks. And were there until they closed. Saturday morning I had an appointment at a local salon for a facial (sorry mom). For

So happy it's Friday. Even though my plan is to work all weekend, at least I will be able to do it in my pajamas with a glass of wine...

OMG. I can't believe it is December. Yikes. 16 days til I go home for the holiday, 20 days away from Christmas and 44 days until race day. Anyway...here's what three things I'm obsessed with this week... We all know I love Scandal. And this article - A 7-step guide to 'Scandal,' the most bananas show on TV - is pretty spot on. But I was so mad, so mad, to see yesterday that because I live in Texas and the Texans are playing tonight that the game will be on in prime time tonight and Scandal will air at 2:22am. Say what? I can't even. It's Christmas time and if you're a blog lover like I am, that means one thing. Gift guides. They're everywhere. The Glitter Guide just did Holiday Gift Ideas from Kate Spade .  There's the amazingly comprehensive Holiday 2013 Gift Guide by To & From . The Everygirl is posting at least one gift guide a day right now. The list goes on. AND it's almost Christmas. Love this picture.

"Feeling my way through the darkness, guided by a beating heart I can't tell where the journey will end, but I know where it starts They tell me I'm too young to understand, they say I'm caught up in a dream Well life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes, Well that's fine by me" I was reading A Day in the Life of a Hockey Wife the other day and found myself nodding in agreement when she spoke of why she hasn't been blogging lately. Now, clearly, I am not a hockey wife. But once upon a time I thought I might end up one (and it was during that time that I found this blog). But that's another story. And one that I've never shared with this blog. And it got me started thinking about what I don't share with this blog. I share a good deal, some of it extremely personal, but most of it not. To an extent, I know who reads my blog. Family, friends, people I work with. I've always been a very private person. But living so far aw

I've said it before, I'll say it every time. I love long weekends. Even if, or maybe especially if, I don't really do that much. Thursday morning was the TXU Turkey Trot. I had zero expectations for this race since I've barely been running 20 mins a few times a week. So I met up with E and we waited around for our boss to show up so we could give him his bib. As we were walking to the start line, the race had already started. With over 15,000 people in the race, I was hoping that meant the crowd would thin out some. No such luck. E set the pace and it was under 10min/miles for the first three and over 10min/miles for the last three. Overall, a pleasant race. Oh, except it was freezing! I couldn't feel my toes for the the first two miles. Yuck. I knew I should have taken a nap when I got home, but, well...I had to finish The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest. Really, once I get into a book it's hard for me to put it down. So I finished that and then went ove