It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I feel like I haven't blogged in a minute!  I've been having so much fun though and have just been too busy to sit down and feel like blogging about it all.  So, here's your Reader's Digest version, and of course, some random thoughts!

- Sometimes I feel like Sharpie markers smell like Egg Nog to me.  No?  Maybe I just have the Holidays on the tip of my mind.

- Really feeling like it's Christmas this year and I love it!  I love Christmas and I've really just been so excited about it this year.  It could be because we had such a great Thanksgiving to kick it off.

- I already have a few new races already and travels booked for the New Year and I'm so excited!  It's off to Canada for the New Year, then a 10k up at Lake Mead in January.  Next I've got a little 5k for Make a Wish in Feb and up to Colorado to play in the snow with Robyn and her girlies.  And last but not least...a Half in Phoenix in March.  I think it's a pretty good start :)

- We had a super fun Book club last week with a really great discussion and I loved it!  There were a lot of differing views and opinions and it made the discussions a lot of fun.  Before we discussed the book, though, we were talking about love languages.  I was trying to figure out my love language and honestly, I have no idea!  Maybe I don't even have one!  haha!  Really though, if I can't figure it out...I really don't expect anyone else to figure it (or me) out either.

- I haven't even talked about how amazing my trip to LA with Janeen was a few weekends ago.  It was one of the best weekends I've had in a minute!  We were nice and lazy, we ate great food, walked on the beach a few times, got sketchy Asian massages, stayed in a lovely hotel in the perfect area, and of course...went to the best live show I've ever seen in my life.  AMAZING!!  We finally saw the Civil Wars and I seriously can't express how awesome it was.  It was just 2 people and a guitar and it was absolutely incredible!  We were sooooo sad when it was over.

- I decided to spoil myself and I'm redoing my room.  I bought a duvet cover from West Elm last year, felt guilty, and ended up taking it back.  So I've been thinking about it for a year and decided that I didn't just want it...I needed it!  I got it in a pretty gray print this time, and I'm pairing it with yellow and blue.  I'm even repainting my dresser yellow!  Don't worry...I'll post pics.

- I am absolutely in love with my nephews these days.  I seriously can't get enough of them and I love each of their unique and sweet little personalities.  They're all so different and I can't believe how much they're growing up and changing.  I got to spend the day with them yesterday while Matt helped Dad hang the lights on the house and it was so fun.  I just love them.

- We had so much fun for Thanksgiving this year!  I mean, we always have fun...obviously...but it was especially fun this year.  We had the big family dinner at our house, we shopped, I decorated Lois's house again, we stayed up late playing games and laughing, Michael and I did an art project, and Laci and I sewed.  We signed up to feed the homeless the Saturday following Thanksgiving, and when we got there there were too many volunteers, so they sent us away.  We figured we already had a babysitter for the boys, so we all went bowling.  It was a blast!!  Laci and I tied up that evening by an hour and half battle of Just Dance on the Kinect.  It was amazing and we picked up some pretty sweet new moves!

- My bf Joni is having a girl!  It's so exciting that my friends have all been having babies lately and building their little families!  Even though I only have nephews, I'm getting more and more baby girl pseudo neices and I absolutely love that!

- I got fired from my calling last weekend, but I got one that I love and that means so much to me.  I guess I just wasn't ready to be back in the Relief Society Presidency again, so they got rid of me and put me back in the role of Temple co-chair.  I absolutely love the temple and I'm so glad to be doing what I love again.

- I feel like there are a lot of big decisions to make lately, and even though it can be kind of nerve-wracking and hard, it's also very exciting!

- Many of you know I'm obsessed with nail polish and when I was in LA I got some new nail polishes that I'm absolutely in love with!  I found a matte top coat that is pretty much changing my world, and a really cool magnetic polish that is so fun to play with.

- My dad is the best example of service.  He's always stopping to help people, or give people a dollar or two, or buy a meal, or whatever it is they need.  Sometimes I wish I was a dude, so I could stop and help people and not be afraid of all the horror stories that you hear about happening.  I always feel so bad when I see people walking with grocery bags, because I had to do that a few times in college and it's awful!  I always want to give those people rides, but I never do because I'm a single gal and apparently it's not safe.

- On that note, I'm a pretty lucky gal, because my dad is a great example of a solid priesthood holder and a lot of things I'm looking for in a guy.

Wonderful Wednesday!

Ok, I meant to do this last night, but I got distracted and forgot.  Typical.  So...Wednesday it is!  I love Wednesdays anyway, because that means we're already halfway through the week!

1.  I love the Fall.  We don't get it for very long here, but I've always loved this season and I think I say it every year.  I love the changing colors, the crisp air, and the fact that we get to start busting out the sweaters and scarves and cooler weather wear.  I live for Fall fashion!  It's my fave.

2.  Lately I've been feeling like I have a little too much animosity in my heart for certain people/things and I feel like maybe I need to reign it in before I head to the temple, rather than trying to fix it in the temple.  Is that backwards or is that right?  Let's get this straight...it's not that I'm unhappy...I'm very happy.  I just have certain things that I'm struggling with and would prefer they not be such a hard thing for me to deal with.  The worst of it is...I know it's me!  I know I need to get over these couple of things and be a more tolerant, soft-hearted, loving person, but I'm just struggling with it right now!

3.  On to brighter, happier things!  I'm sooooo excited to go to LA this weekend and see one of my fave bands perform - The Civil Wars - and hang out on the beach with a good book and a good hoodie (and good friends, of course).

4.  I'm thinking about taking a couple of classes next semester, just in case I ever decide to embark upon the world of Interior Design.  I'm thinking a CADD class and a drawing class might be useful and fun.

5.  I think I've forgotten how to flirt!  I mean...we all know I'm a little awkward, but I think I've straight forgotten how to show guys I'm interested and be a flirt lately.  Maybe I never even knew how and I'm just realizing it!

6.  I've realized I cry or get teared up when I can see someone's passion in something.  Mostly just tear up.  There's no actual sobbing happening.  It mostly pertains to the arts, but a song, a dance, a painting, a conversation, somebody's love for another...I find myself tearing up often when I can see that someone else is really passionate about something.

7.  I am LOVING Institute right now.  I can't believe I turned my nose up at it for so many years.  My teacher is uber knowledgeable and sometimes makes me feel like I know nothing, but in a good way.  It's inspiring me to actually study my scriptures rather than just reading them.  My question though is how?  What's an effective way?  A topic?  A theme?  Reading straight through, but actually absorbing it somehow?  That's the part I'm trying to figure out.

8.  My favorite part of the day is the nightly routine.  A good face washing, hair brushing, teeth cleaning, ear q-tipping.  Ahhhhhh!

9.  I'd love to be a stay at home wife.  I have so many projects I want to complete, 2 stacks of books next to my bed to read, art ideas that need to be done...wouldn't it be so nice?!  I mean, clearly I know there would be cleaning involved too, but wouldn't it be nice to have a break from the 8-5 routine every day and get to do what you want?  Sigh.  I know it's a bit of a fallacy/dream world...but let a girl dream for a minute!

10.  I wish my insides matched my outsides.  Sometimes doesn't it seem like we spend more time getting the outside right and kind of forget about the inside a little?  I do!  Sometimes I think that's part of what's holding me back from settling down.  I haven't quite matched up the two yet, but I'm working on it!

Hoarders

I've caught myself doing it again...

 The innards of my purse...

 My desk at work...

This is all I could find in my nightstand, but I swear there's more in there...

Now that I'm done with all my training I'm ready to eat sugary goodness again, but I haven't even wanted it!  It's so sad.  I'll eat something sweet and it'll either hurt my stomach or it just doesn't taste as good as I want it to.  Wah wah...oh well.  In the meantime I'll just keep "collecting" it :)

I'm a Runner

That's right.  I've finally accepted the title.  I feel like I can finally call myself a runner, not because of the number of races I've done or the distances I've gone, but because I love running.  I'll never quit.  My mom asked me after my last race if I'm ever out there saying to myself, "Why did I sign up to do this??  What am I doing?" but I told her I actually feel the exact opposite.  I think to myself whilst I'm running my races, "This is why I do this!"  When I compete in races I'm competing against myself and trying to be better than the last time.  I may not like the training sometimes, and I may not always want to go out on every run, BUT I quickly change my mind once I'm out there.  I love how I feel while I'm running and that everything goes away.  I love how I feel after I run...that I've pushed my body and I get stronger every time.  I only do races that benefit a cause and I love being there with all those people who are running for the same thing, for a million different reasons.

The Start Line

This last Half that I did in Arizona was for breast cancer and I actually haven't done one of those yet.  It was absolutely AMAZING how many people were there and it was so inspiring seeing all of the t-shirts for their loved ones, those who have fought, those who have survived, and those who haven't.  While I was running I was thinking of everyone I know who has been affected by cancer in general, and especially those who have been affected by breast cancer.  Anyway...it was an incredible run!

I was supposed to run it with a few friends, but circumstances didn't permit everyone to run, so my parents decided to drive out with me.  My dad hasn't seen me run one of these yet, and my mom loves watching and hasn't ever been to Arizona.  SO...they booked a hotel, we got up early Saturday morning, and drove down.  We checked in at the Expo and got all of my goodies and tags and what not, and then attempted to drive the course.  It goes from Scottsdale to Tempe, and it looked like a pretty fun course.  When we got to the park at the finish line, near ASU, we realized that our hotel was 3 blocks from the finish line.  Coincidental perfection!  We carbed up, got some recovery treats, and headed to bed early.  We were tired from getting up early to drive anyway, and we ended up getting a good 8 hrs of sleep.  Lovely!

 Passing the Finish Line at mile 8

Turning on the juice at the Finish line.  Wow...I'm a sexy runner, aren't I??  Love those fuel belts and how they ride up and take your shirt with it.

The morning of the race we got up at 5:00am, got all ready, and headed to Scottsdale.  It was chilly to say the least, but actually kind of perfect to run in...not so much to stand in at the Start line though!  At mile 6 there was a little boy holding a sign that said "Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever" and it stuck with me the rest of the race, bc I've been having upper thigh/butt cheek tightness on the left side once I hit about 9 or 10 miles lately.  Anyway, between miles 7 & 8 the course actually passes the finish line, does a 5 mile loop, and comes back.  So...I passed my parents there and shed my long sleeved shirt.  At mile 11, I realized that I had forgotten to take my IBuprofen before the race...too late now!  Regardless, I kept pushing myself, especially when I saw the clock at the 12 mile marker.  I really wanted to beat my last time of 2:30, and got that adrenaline rush on that last mile to make sure I did so.  I ended up with a 2:26:07, which was 4 mins faster than my last Half, and 19 mins faster than my first Half, which I ran almost exactly one year ago.  I'm really happy with my time improvements, and know that if I would have trained a little harder I could have made it a bit faster, but I'm soooo happy with it!  And I have to say that I have the greatest parents for supporting me and making the trip when they didn't have to.  It was really nice having fans at the Finish line!  Anyway, so it was a fantastic run, and though I may be sitting out on races for a minute, I will never stop running!

 In case you can't tell...the middle of the medal actually comes out and you can put it on a necklace.

A Whole Lotta

I had started a random list of 10 things...but perhaps instead I'll do a little list of the actual haps in my life lately too...

- I finally finished my second full quilt (baby quilt) for my friend Becky and her little meatball, Julia.  I actually started it the same weekend that I started Robyn's and wanted to have them both done at the same time...but they both had their babies a little early and I just couldn't keep up!  And let's be honest, my mom sewed the top of this quilt.  Let's not talk about how old the babies were when we actually finished the quilts...they're finished!

- My friend, Janeen, was here for Halloween weekend and we had a blast!  I was house-sitting for the week,  so we had the whole house to ourselves, had fantastic seats to PBR, ate a bunch of great stuff, laughed, hung out with friends, and went to a little Halloween shindig.  It was sooo fun!

- Halloween night I had some really cute trick or treaters come over before I went out and headed to a couple of casual little parties.

 A World War II couple, a doggie, a vampire, and a little crow

I'm a cat.  I know...super creative

Revisit from Michaelangelo, a black cat, and none other than Dolly Parton.  

I can't believe I didn't get a picture of Dolly with Kenny Rodgers!

- Somehow every time I house-sit...I end up coming home at the end of the week with all this

- I ran my last Half marathon of the year today...but I'll dedicate a full post to that one later.  It was the Women's Half Marathon for Susan G. Komen that goes from Scottsdale to Tempe and it was great!  I beat my last time and in the last year, from Nov 13th - Nov 6th, I've managed to pack in 3 Halfs, and 3 relays.

Welp...here's for the random thoughts I started posting earlier...

- I am a chapstick junkie.  I have it in my nightstand, by my sewing machine, in my car, in my purse, in my drawer at work...

- Sometimes I feel like break ups are dumb because you're "not allowed" to still be friends with the person and their families.  Just because you stop dating, doesn't mean you stop caring, does it?

- I gave in and spoiled myself a couple weeks ago and bought the beautiful, plum colored wool coat I've had my eye on.  Sooo pretty!

- I almost laughed the other day listening to someone talk about the law of chastity...trust me...not an issue for me right now!  haha!

- I've been going through rants of cleaning out my closet lately and I'm down to 45 pairs of shoes now...I'm pretty sure I need to pay a little visit to DSW and Endless :)

- I seriously hate Bruno Mars, and somehow his songs are so damn catchy that if I don't think about it, I find myself singing along.  Curse him!

- I got yet another contact lost in my eye today.  This is the third time this has happened!  They usually end up tearing and coming out in a piece or 2 the next morning.  Does this happen to anyone else, or am I just a freak?

Speaking of Food...

Yes I DID go to the Grilled Cheese Grill in Portland and it was amazing!  I swear you could eat somewhere new and cool for every meal in Portland and never run out of new places.  They have the best food there (next to New York, of course).  I realized I haven't posted pictures for a min, so here are some pics of the latest in my life...

 Schweddy Balls in my mouth

 The magic that is the Grilled Cheese Grill

 Seriously so good!

 The bottom level of the Grilled Cheese Grill

 We went to the second location, which is the beloved Double Decker Bus

 The creepiest "stache" we've gotten from the Beaver vending machines yet!  It matched perfectly!

The temple the other night, when the grounds were more peaceful than the Celestial Room.

 This is old...but what's sweeter than a sleeping bebes?

 Gibson in Police Training.  That's his cool face.

Gibson's latest obsession is this helmet and he never takes it off.

 This is how we do Canadian Thanksgiving now...a Bobbie from Capriotti's

Oh Yes it's Friday Night!

It's not Tuesday...sorry.  You get what you get.

1.  I love food.  It makes me sooooo happy!  I'm one of those people who makes yummy noises and does little chair dances when I eat something really tasty.  I can't help myself!

2.  My next Half is in 3 weeks and I started to panic this week.  I was sick last weekend and nailed to my couch, so again I missed my long run.  Boo.  So, I ran 10 miles Tuesday night and listened to a session of Conference while I ran.  It was absolutely perfect.  I had a nice rhythm and was nice and relaxed.  The only thing is that I don't think I was fully recovered, nutrition-wise, so by the time I finished my little body was not happy.  I was exhausted!  And dehydrated...but the run was good and faster than I had anticipated after not running for a week and being sick all weekend.  Clearly I was fine the next day and felt like I hadn't run at all, but I haven't run 10 miles in a minute!

3.  Jonas had his first Primary Program on Sunday and it was so cute!  Matt and Renee learned a few things after this first one...like don't give him stickers the morning of (they ended up all over the railing), tell him not to pick his nose, and send him to the bathroom before.

4.  And since we're talking about church...what is up with family wards??  I went to a family ward and the singles ward when I was in Portland and then we stayed for the whole thing at Matt and Renee's ward this past weekend and I cannot get over the comments that were made in both Relief Societies!  I mean, I would start by saying that they didn't pertain to me...but they didn't even pertain to the lesson!  It was...interesting.  I'll just stop complaining about my singles ward and treasure the last year and a half I have there before they boot me off to old lady weird comments land!

5.  I haven't been doing personal stuff at work for the past couple of weeks and it's starting to get to me!  I haven't been g-chatting and have NO idea what's going on in my friend's lives.  Do I even have friends anymore?!  I have to check my email/facebook late at night before I go to bed and then once I get through my routine, it's after midnight and then I'm a tired guy in the mornings.  It's terrible.  Well...I mean, I've gotten caught up at work, but that's because I've worked through my lunches for the past 2 weeks too.  Let's not get crazy and say it's just because I haven't been doing personal things.

6.  I've been trying to go back to the temple weekly again, because I started to slack a while ago and dropped back to like bi-weekly or something.  I was so frustrated the other night though, and I was trying not to be.  I was in a session where 2 guys were going through for the first time (probs for their missions), so it looked like the whole ward was there (which is great!).  And I get that it's an exciting time, but shouldn't it still be quiet in the Celestial room??  I was so bugged.  That's supposed to be a peaceful place of refuge and I had to plug my ears while I was praying so I could focus on what I was praying about!  Frustrating.  I ended up walking around the grounds outside for a bit because it was way quieter out there.

7.  I discovered the other day that by the end of the year, after doing 3 Half Marathons and 3 relay races, with all of the running I've done in those plus the training...I will have run between 650-700 miles in one year.  Isn't that bananas??  I didn't even think I'd gone 300 miles on my shoes yet, so I wasn't sure I needed new ones, but I for sure realize now that it's time...it's past time.

8.  I'm trying to justify ordering a really beautiful plum colored wool coat for winter...but it's still 90 freaking degrees here!  Please please please let it get cold this winter so I can order this coat!  It's really an investment, right?  A good coat?  And if/when I go to NYC it'll be totally necesssary, right?

9.  I work with the rudest woman in America.  She is so unprofessional and I just can't take it!  She's super bossy, never asks people to do anything but just tells them to, she never says please, she brings her mom in and just hangs out all day, she'll be on the phone with someone and another phone will ring, so she'll put the first person down and answer the second call and then chat away whilst the other person is sitting on hold listening to her entire conversation.  And she'll do it with like 3 different lines!  I either refer to her as a bull dozer or the tazmanian devil bc she is like unto both.  She doesn't even think she's rude though.  That's what kills me!  She legit thinks she's a nice person.  I've been trying so hard to get over this and to be nice to her but it is really hard!  I even had a bit of an epiphane during Conference, but this is definitely a major trial for me.  I have a really hard time with people who treat others like that.  I know I'm not perfect, but come on...

10.  Have you guys ever seen that little girl on MAD TV who is totally hyper and has adhd or something like that?  I forget her name...  Anyway, sometimes I think I'm her.  I am one of those people who wants to try everything and be instantly good at it.  I try for a bit and then move on to the next thing.  In my mind though, I'm really good at a lot of things!  I know there are more of you out there.  I have lists of things I want to try and do and lists of things I need to finish, because I started and then got distracted by the next sparkly thing.  Do you think this carries on into my dating life??  I just thought about that...