Sleep does a body good

Friday night, Chris and I went out to dinner with our friend Kyle.  On Saturday, our original plan was to get up, go for a run together (I needed a third run for the week), clean, then hang out with his family.  Instead we slept in (it was wonderful!) then did a lot of cleaning.  Then his family came into town to celebrate his birthday early.  We went shopping, out to dinner, celebrated with cake, and just had a great time.  Unfortunately, I still needed a third run for the week.  Putting it off wasn't the best idea, but we still fit it in!  We ran 3 miles (in 28:06) last night around 9:30 pm.  My stomach was full from dinner and cake, so it wasn't the most amazing run, but I was glad we did it.

Mile 1:  9:54 (I was lagging behind)
Mile 2:  9:23
Mile 3:  8:47  (Why?  I have no idea!  But we both felt like throwing up at the end.)

That officially marks 40 weeks in a row that I have run at least 3 days a week.  I am determined to make it through the end of the year!

This also concluded week 12 of marathon training with a total of 21.26 miles (yay for over 20!!).

Chris's dad is a doctor, so yesterday also included flu shots.  I hate shots.  I am the biggest wuss in the world when it comes to shots.  As a result of the shot, both Chris and I are feeling rather "blah" today.  I don't have a lot of energy... well really all I want to do is sleep.  So I slept in.  And... I took a nap.  It was fabulous.  Sleeping seems to help me fight off sickness.  Last year when we got our flu shots, I felt like this for a day, but then I was fine.  I'm sure I will feel back to normal tomorrow. 

It was awesome having Chris's mom here to discuss all my current wedding ideas.  I know, I know... we are planning for a long engagement, but I cannot help looking!  Besides, that is the beauty of a long engagement... planning with the stress of saying I'm planning.  It was so cool showing her everything that I have come up with.  Last weekend I got to tell my  mom, so now I got to share it with my future mother-in-law.  (o:

I had a realization the other day.  Today is 10-10-10.  Next year we will hit 11-11-11, then the following year 12-12-12.... but there isn't a 13-13-13.  Which means that unless I live until we hit 01-01-01 again, then 12-12-12 will be it.  How sad.  I guess I will at least get to see 12-13-14.  I don't know what made me think of this, but I thought it was interesting.

I hope you all are having a great 10-10-10!  I hope the Chicago marathoners had a wonderful race!  I'm off to do more relaxing!

10-10-10

Good luck to all of those running the Chicago Marathon today, especially my friend Rebecca!  You all rock!  I soooo cannot wait until my first marathon in February!

Follow your heart...

This post was inspired by Caitlin @ The Healthy Tipping Point.  She asked in her post this morning "What dreams do you want to achieve?  What things have you ticked off your bucket list?"

In regards to "what dreams do you want to achieve?"... I am currently working on the dream of getting my PhD, so that is nothing new.  One day I want to will write and illustrate a children's book.  That has been one of my dreams for as long as I can remember, and I look forward to making it happen. 

The very first thoughts that came to mind for the bucket list question were skydiving, grape stomping like in I Love Lucy, and following my heart. 

I'd like to elaborate on the last.  I always told myself that I wanted to follow my heart for the important decisions; however, I am one of those people who is very much always "in my head".  When I was nearing the end of my Master's degree, I was trying to find a job.  That same year I started dating Chris.  We had only officially been dating for about 3 months when I went on a job interview in Georgia; however, my heart wanted to see where things would go with Chris.  I had never felt so happy with someone.  While it was an awkward conversation for me to bring up, I told him that I loved him and wanted to continue to see how things progressed with us.  It was awkward to start that conversation, but the actual conversation was not awkward.  He agreed.  After that conversation, everything seemed to fall into place.  My adviser suggested I go for my doctorate, and that he would have funding for me.  That was another life-long dream, so I was very excited!  A few weeks later I got a call telling me I was one of the top finalist for the job, and they were going to begin the background check.  I told them not to bother, because I had decided to pursue my doctorate degree (and what I didn't tell them but was thinking... I decided to pursue my heart.) By deciding to follow my heart I not only ended up pursuing my dream to get a PhD, but I am now engaged to the most amazing man in the world.  I think that life has a funny way of working out, don't you?
 

I have what seems to be endless dreams and bucket-list items, which I will continue to share.  What about you?

Comic: The right and wrong way to teachhttp://xkcd.com/803/

[Source]

Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a Catch-Up

This post is going to be a catch-up post of sorts.  Simple and sweet.

First of all, I want to remind everyone that it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  So for all the ladies (and even gentlemen) out there, please remember to do self exams and remind your friends.

 

  

Back on September 26, Chris and I celebrated our three year anniversary of dating (the Bob Marley quote makes me think of him... awww!).  We had a wonderful day checking out an amazing place... where I decided I very much want to get married!  For this reason, I am not going to share the place or most pictures yet, but I am SUPER EXCITED!

 

In running-related news, my compression socks that I won from Tricia's give-away arrived and so did my  Nathan's Women's 2.0L Hydration Pack.  I love them both!!!  I have to say that the socks are not easy to put on, but they really seem to help my recovery.  The hydration pack I used for the first time on Monday for a 12.26 mile run with Caitlin (in 2:28).  The first mile I had to get used to the pack and make a few adjustments, but after that it was wonderful.  I used it again today for a solo 6 mile run (in 56:44... a 9:27 pace! Sweet!).  Both times I used it, I forgot to take a picture.

 

 

Last weekend was my 10 year high school reunion.  I had a good time seeing old friends.  I also got to see my family, which was great.  I wish I could see them all more often.  My niece, Joy, is getting so big!  She speaks in full sentences now and is so bright.  In other family news, my little brother turned 16 yesterday.  SIXTEEN?!  My little brother is growing up.... and I feel ancient!

 

 

 

 

 Last but not least, I was drooling over the Pumpkin Pie Brownie 'Cupcakes' at OhSheGlows, and I asked my friend Caitlin if she would make them (she is awesome at baking!).  She did, and they were Oh My Goodness Good!  I definitely recommend the recipe!

My kitties are demanding attention, so I'm off.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

7 Universal Truths...

I saw these on Angela's blog OhSheGlows where she received these from a friend going through Zuda yoga teacher training, and I immediately loved these Universal Truths.  I decided to "steal" them and post them on my blog to share as well.  I highly recommend checking out Angela's blog post where she elaborates on her thoughts/feelings about the 7 Universal Truths.

Zuda Yoga Teacher Training – 7 axioms/Universal Truths

1. You are exactly where you are supposed to be
2. Fear and pain are life’s greatest teachers
3. Laughter and play are the keys to the fountain of youth
4. Exercise and rest are the keys to vibrant health
5. Touch and intimacy are basic human needs
6. Everything is impermanent
7. Everything is connected

Puff the magic dragon

Warning:  This is not a happy post, but as I said, my blog is also like a journal so I am going to share.

This evening I was catching up on the latest episode of Glee.  I knew it was the "Cheesus" epsidoe (Jesus featured on a grilled cheese sandwich), and to be honest I expected to roll my eyes, but instead I cried my eyes out.  The dad of one of the characters ends up in the hospital due to a heart attack.  The episode also includes reminiscing a funeral.  That had me in tears thinking about my dad. 

That was when it hit me.  I can not remember the last time I saw my dad.  I honestly cannot remember.  I remember my graduation on August 6, 2005.  He passed away on September 2, 2005.  I think I went home between those days, but today I couldn't remember.  At the time of the accident, I remember not being able to recall what our last phone conversation was about.  We used to talk multiple times a day, about everything and nothing at the same time.  I figured we must have just been talking about the basic day-to-day activities, and at the time it wasn't a significant conversation, so I didn't remember the details.  But the fact that today I could not remember our last visit... that nearly killed me. 

After my balling, I took a shower to help me calm down and decided to focus on good memories.  That is when I remembered earlier in the day when a friend showed me a box of vinyl records that her dad had sent her.  The one record she pulled out of the box was Peter, Paul, and Mary.  You know, with "Leaving on a Jet Plane", "If I Had a Hammer", and "Puff the Magic Dragon".  My dad, siblings, and myself used to sing Peter, Paul, and Mary as loud as we could in the car on road trips to visit my grandparents.  I even had a video of Puff the Magic Dragon... you know, back when my only thought about that song actually involved a magical dragon.  Focusing on good memories really helped.  I hope to keep writing those memories down.

Thanks for "listening" to me vent.