Day 4 - Something You're Looking Forward To

I know this is a day late, but I DO have an excuse. I was in Ely, NV for Thanksgiving (4 hours from anywhere) and didn't have cell phone service or internet, so you're getting 2 posts today. It still counts.

I don't know that I even need to mention the one thing I'm realllly looking forward to the most. It's the whole point of this countdown. My little brother Mitchel is coming home from his mission in less than 2 weeks and I can't wait!!

Other than that major event, I'm looking forward to a few other fun things as well. Namely, Christmas with my entire family , my next half marathon in February, a Ragnar Relay in April, the weddings I have coming up in January and February, a little trip to NYC (for my first time!!) with a few Brandley aunts and cousins that I'm STOKED for, and of course all of the trips to Denver to see my main squeeze! I have so many fun things to look forward to!!

Day 3 - Your Siblings and Parents

I love my family! I really do have the best family. These really don't need words but I think my family is hilarious and fantastic. Did I mention we're real funny? Come on by if you ever need a good laugh, or someone to tease and make fun of you. :)

October 13, 1979 - When it all began...

Not only are we funny, but we're also super attractive (as seen above)

Pretty much the luckiest gal with all these great brothers

The true Heggie side of Matt

Michael meeting Jonas for the first time

Dirt biking tan lines. So hot.

So dignified

Me and Pops

My new sisters

Nephews are seriously the best!

Day 2 - What Stresses you Out?

Stress? What's stress? I know no such things in my life. Psshhhhh. Yeah right. What doesn't stress me out would be a better question! I took a Stress Management class in college for my major and it was the best class ever! Do you think I've applied what I learned? Sometimes. Apparently in my other psych class that year - Motivation and Emotion - we evaluated our classmates and they all came to the conclusion that I'm "neurotic". Whatever. I'm soooooo not as high strung as I used to be. I've settled down a ton, especially when it comes to doing weddings, or planning parties, or projects, or whatever. I've discovered not to sweat the small stuff because it usually all works out anyway. A lady in an airport Burger King once told me that it's useless to worry about the things I can't change.

Ok, so what really stresses me out? Life. Too vague? Ok, the whole dating/marriage/future thing stresses me out. I'm so afraid of making the wrong decision. It's kind of a big deal, you guys! I'm so afraid I'm going to mess up and make the wrong decision about who to date/marry or what to do with my life - go back to school, change my job, move to a different city/country. Please tell me you all stressed about that too before you were blissfully wed and your life just unfolded merrily in front of you!? (clearly I'm being facetious)

Countdown - "Me" Style!

Ok, so I'm totally snatching up Lindsay's idea (or taking her advice) and doing this 15 day Blog Challenge thing. Here are my reasons: 1. perhaps it will give me something interesting to blog about since I kind of don't do many interesting things any more, 2. who doesn't want to talk about themselves??, 3. my little brother gets home from his mission in 15 days, so we can use it as a countdown too. I'm so innovative! Ta da!

Before my cousin's wedding - I was having a good hair day!

Day 1 - Self portrait and 15 interesting facts

1. I don't think I'm very photogenic - hence the multiple pics to prove it
2. I HATE stepping in water or melted snow in socks. Wet socks are the WORST! Hence why snowy winters and shoes in the house drive me bonkers!
3. I looooooove sweater season and being able to wear scarves with everything
4. I often think I was born in the wrong era and should have been born in the 40's or something so I could wear those fantastic dresses, hats, gloves, and pearls when I got old enough - like in the 50's and 60's (without the pointed bras, of course)
5. I think my brothers and I are quite possibly the funniest people you'll ever meet

Wearing Gma B's rhinestone cat eye glasses. I wonder if I could get a pair like this in my Rx?

6. I used to be able to put my feet behind my head, and I still try every year...but I think I can only get one partially over now.
7. When I was in the first grade and we talked about what we wanted to be when we grew up, I always said I wanted to be a model or an actress (not shallow at all). My best friend wanted to be a doctor...
8. I cry every time I watch A Baby Story on TLC right as they're giving birth (except today when the lady screamed - Get the baby out!! I laughed out loud - alone)
9. I love moderately trashy reality shows
10. When I was in high school/early years of college and I would go on dates, I would picture in my mind what our wedding announcement pictures would look like and if they were good, the date was a go! (I'm clearly not that crazy any more!)


10. I'm stealing Lindsay's and echoing that I hate when people leave time on the microwave. Is it really "Press Start" o'clock??
11. My dream job would be to replace Stacy London and co-host with Clinton Kelly telling people how to better dress themselves. OR to host that show with Rachel Zoe's head assistant Brad Goreski!
12. I lived in Paris when I was 19 and miss it sooo much! Every now and again I wish that I could whisk my life up and go over there again and paint or do floral or interior design and just be artsy fartsy. Or move to DC or NYC and be all smartsy, sophisticated, creative, fashiony, in the know. How wordly do I sound??
13. Every time I get in my car I think that this could be the day I get in an accident or something horrible could happen.
14. I've never been able to do a headstand, but my mom is the champ!
15. Sometimes when I'm singing along to Wicked in the car, I swear I sound just like Idina Menzel or Kristin Chenoweth.

Ok, so this one has a story. I work with a lady who critiques me and comments on what I'm wearing EVERY SINGLE DAY. There's apparently always something to say. This day she told me I looked like a painting, so I was trying to capture the moment. Girl with a pearl earring maybe??

Me, after 1.5 hrs of sleep, working a wedding on my feet all night. Pretty, right?? Please note the lazy eye...

And here's what's in store for the next 14 days...

Day 2 - Something that stresses you out
Day 3 - Your siblings and parents
Day 4 - Something you're looking forward to
Day 5 - Pictures of things that make you happy
Day 6 - A song that makes you cry and why
Day 7 - Favorite movies
Day 8 - A place you've traveled to
Day 9 - Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 10 - Something you're afraid of
Day 11 - Favorite TV shows
Day 12 - What you believe
Day 13 - Goals
Day 14 - Some pictures you love
Day 15 - Pictures of your dream house

**Umm...I just realized that I have 2 #10's on my list, so please excuse and let's pretend I did graduate from college and can count to 15.

13.1? Check!

So, remember back in December when I posted this? Or in January when I posted this? I had to read back on those and laugh a little. Anyone who knows me knows I am not much of an athlete. I lack the coordination. However, I think I've found my "sport." I've decided I can still aspire to be a runner because it doesn't require catching, throwing, aiming, shooting,

passing...you get my drift...

This past weekend I completed my goal for the year and ran my first half marathon!! I did the Silver Strand Half Marathon in San Diego, which supports the Challenged Athletes Foundation. It was amazing and I loved it!! It was pretty much the best one to do as a first timer. It was relatively flat, we had absolutely b-e-autiful weather, and it was on the strand between Coronado Island and Imperial Beach, so the bay was on one side and the ocean was on the other side of us while we ran. Did I mention it was beautiful?! I really wish I would have lost focus for 2 seconds to take some pictures, but oh well. You can take my word for it.

Me and my beautiful mom before the race

Me and my friend, Trisha, before the race

I was so excited to do this, but I really didn't want to spread it all over my blog and facebook until I finally completed it, since it was a personal goal I had set for myself earlier this year. I don't know if I would call myself a runner yet, but I do really, really love running and I'm still an aspiring runner. Who knew I would ever say I loved running?? I took pretty much everybody's advice and ran to different things throughout the year until I figured out what I liked. I will happily report that I listened to Harry Potter books on my long runs and also during my actual Half. They were perfect! I for sure had some other song mixes that would pump me up on shorter runs, but something about audiobooks adds to the relaxion/zen I feel when I run.

The morning of the half I felt as prepared as I was going to be. I didn't miss a day/mile on my training schedule, I carb loaded in Little Italy the night before, got plenty of sleep (even though

I woke up a kajillion times to check the clock), and tried to force myself to eat something that early in the morning before the race. The weather was gorgeous and I told myself this was just like any other run, just a smidge longer...and with about 4,200 more people than I usually run with! I ran it with a girl I work with and we both did really well and had a great time. It actually got a teensy bit hot around mile 10 when we hooked into a radio tower area on the Naval base. There was also a little hill, which normally wouldn't have bothered me at all because I trained on

hills here in Vegas, but for some reason that tiny little hill seemed so daunting at 10 miles! By

mile 11 I was turning around the tower, I had dumped water on my head, which was alarmingly refreshing, and chanted to myself for the next mile that I only had 2 miles left while my pace

began to increase again. By mile 12 I was stoked again! I was chanting "1 mile" to myself and my pace was picking up until I turned the corner and saw the Finish line about 3/4 mile down the road. That made me really excited (plus Harry Potter was just about to fight a dragon in the Goblet of Fire challenge) and I turned on the juice! I think I sprinted the last 1/2 mile and totally felt the adrenaline rush! It was awesome! My mom was there taking pictures at the finish line and I was so happy to see her. I finished in 2:45:23, which I am very happy with as this was my first attempt at being a runner and running a half marathon!

Crossing the finish line - that was the gun time on the clock, not my actual chip time.

Still - it surprised me when I saw it!

Me and Trisha right after we finished our lovely 13.1 mile morning jaunt!

So, I accomplished all of my goals: I finished it, I wasn't last, I ran the whole thing (minus a few slow steps here and there at the aid stations where I drank something because who can drink out of those cups and run, I ask you??), and as an added bonus I did it in 2:45. All in all it was a fantastic experience and I'm excited to sign up for something else. Anybody up for another half or maybe a relay soon?? Huh? Huh??

My beautiful, smooth, straight ponytail turned into a sweaty, curly, tangled mess by the end and was dripping on me as I stretched. Yum.

Mon Coeur

Paris, tu me manques...

Summer in a Nutshell

Oh mercy - where to start?? I can't believe I've become such a slacker of a blogger. I've been using the excuse that I'm just too busy to blog between my calling and my business...but I got released from my calling a month ago, and I haven't had a wedding since June. So mostly I'll just say now that I've been too busy living life, going to and from Denver, and being happy to blog. Does that work for you guys? Too bad if it doesn't. So here's my summer in a nutshell...

• I watched my friend, David, compete in a triathlon and it was really cool to see the variety of people that competed.

• My friend, Sarah, got married and moved to Seattle. It was such a lovely day and I miss her a lot!
• I went to Canada with my family for a spectacular family reunion, and a 10 year high school reunion (which I didn't actually graduate from)Yes, that is all my family in the picture below...and actually, that's not even everyone!
  

(At the 10 year reunion with some of the girlies I grew up with)

• Took Carrian's little girl to the zoo. We're pals :) It was a fantastic day!
• Had a lovely weekend at the beach with Megan
• Visited Megan up at good ol girl's camp
• Went camping in Colorado with Daniel and his family and learned how to fish. Even hooked one in the eye!
• Did some painting with Michael (he did the drawing of the Arc de Triomphe...cool, eh?)
• Conquered Monstro! (long story...you don't want to see the pictures)
• Played with my nephews, and learned how to quilt from my talented sister in law, ReneeWent to Arizona with Daniel and his family to see his brother come home from Iraq

• Went to my own high school reunion briefly - didn't take any pictures
• And pretty much just spent as much time with Daniel as I could!