One Foot In Front Of The Other...

WOW! I am blown away by all the, been there done that, know someone who succeeded, comments I got on my sister and E Harmony...Thank you, thank you for taking the time to comment!! This really gave me and my sister hope and took away a little of the weirdness I think...Y'all rock:) I will keep you all updated as she meets people and hopefully finds her man!

Now to talk about my favorite subject. Running! This week has been enjoyable and perfect for it. It is definitely Fall because the air is cool and crisp and gorgeous. Amazing for hitting the pavement hard. Last night I went to a new spot that has been hidden from me this entire time and that I will definitely be revisiting. Its so charming and fun! There's a beautiful lake with geese and ducks and cute southern gazebo's all along the paved trail...I'm a sucker for looking out over water while the sun sets, so running there last night made me smile the entire 5 miles:) Yup, I said it...5 MILES!!! I have never ran 5 miles in one swoop ladies and I am so proud of myself! I recently bought another pair of shoes though, so this could be the reason that I'm not stopping at 3!?!?! I am in love with these shoes and will, for now on, be a loyal user of Asics. This morning I felt no pain in my shins or in my usually achy knees; nothing but sore well used muscles:)

I love how Danica over at Chic Runner does a break down of each mile so I will attempt to do the same...However she just has a gift for making each mile sound so interesting:p

Mile 1, I'm finding, is always the hardest...My legs are cold and not wanting to turn over and it just plain sucks. Its doesn't help that, where I live, there is a rather large hill to crest before I can get out on the main road. Don't even get me started on my lungs at this point, pah! I have yet to run up that thing and still have my breath about me...My sister went along this time though, so we drove to the spot skipping that killer hill altogether:) Even still, on mostly flat ground, my legs were not wanting to cooperate. It really gets you nervous thinking, this is going to be long and painful! But I was wrong on this occasion!

I loved mile 2! My breathing was steady and I was feeling just as grounded with each step. There were a lot of other runners, walkers and baby strollers out enjoying the gorgeous day too. The problem was they were going every which direction so sometimes it really messed with my groove, having to stop or jog in place until they passed or I could get around a large group.

Mile 3 I started feeling the strain in my calves so, for no more then one minute, I stopped and stretched them out against a tree. I remember the stretch burning like crazy! It seriously felt like my legs was on fire but I took off running just the same.

I caught up with M, rounding into 4, telling her I was going to finish it and try for another. She looked shocked because 2 days prior I ran 4 miles and had a really rough time. But I was feeling good! My legs were warm and wanting more so I wanted to see how far I could push. Obviously I finished that mile and made my way into 5, but not before stopping again to stretch.

Mile 5 was the toughest. My hip flexors were really screaming at this point and my breathing was getting quick and unsteady. To say it was hard to finish, that would be an exaggeration, but it was harder then the rest. I really do not know where the energy and stamina came from to run 5 miles but it felt amazing! The entire time was so much fun. I love that I pushed myself that far simply for this feeling of accomplishment! Once I stopped I could really feel where I went my furthest. My hip flexors where rusted up, and my calves felt like I was sporting rocks in them, but I was one happy girl:)

It is exactly 11 days until race for a cure and I'm feeling better about it! I really do not care if I run the fastest, I just want to finish without having to stop:) We are flying out on the 8th, so 2 days before the race. I did have one question that I hope someone can answer. I have heard some of you girls mention "tapering" what is that exactly??? I think its where you basically do nothing a week before your run??? Please correct me if I'm wrong! Because that just doesn't sound right to me...Also, is it necessary for a 5k? Keep in mind that I'm not a distance runner, yet, so a 5k will definitely take it out of me. Especially in Arizona heat...Not sure what kind of route we're running yet either i.e hilly or flat. I'm hoping for flat!

Ciao for now:)

P.s. Only one more mile, to make six, which means I'm on my way to getting that Garmin 405! Yippee! Should be just in time for my birthday, *hint hint* hubby;)

E Harmony, Oh yes I did!

What do you ladies think about E Harmony? Have any of you found your partner or know someone who has, dating through E Harmony or some other site?

A few days ago I did the meddling sister thing and put my sister M, on E Harmony without her knowledge...Bad, I know! I have told her since then, due to my husbands logic and threats of telling her himself:p She is skeptical and bummed that its come to this but open to the possibility of finding a true match here...

This is M and I on the day I got married...Such a beautiful person inside and out and I love her to death...A little background about my sister. She just turned 30 and is such a sweetheart, but most of her life she has devoted it to taking care of others including our parents, up until recently, while sacrificing a personal life of her own. She has always worked in the medical field and just graduated with her EMT IV license back in May, another example of her selflessness. I love my sister for who she is, but I'm so tired of watching her go through life a lone and lonely...I just want to see her taking more of an active interest in finding her man! She has this crippling romantic idea in her head that he is just going to sweep into her life someday and take her with him...While this does and can happen, my only argument is that M does not put herself in the path of available men for that to happen...She spends ALL of her time with either family or her job...Occasionally she goes out but its never to a public place. More along the lines of a river and good hiking path. Her jobs do not help either. They are mostly female dominated. Well, I'm sure once she gets a job with her EMT license that will change. She was engaged once, 9 years ago, but even she will admit that wasn't too well thought out. It ended shortly after it began. She hasn't been in a relationship since, nor has she been on ONE date...She's had men approach her but she's either not been interested or those men turned out not to be available. She deserves so much more then this and a real romance! M is SO ready to be a wife and a mother. I know I'm bias, but I couldn't think of anyone who would be more worthy of both... M was made for this and it just breaks my heart to see her year after year, a lone:( I really want to see her happy and living all of these things and soon...

What are your thoughts ladies? Do you agree that she needs to start putting herself out there, or do you think her dream will come true; that this man is going to just come waltzing into her life? I would love this for her more then anything, but I still think she needs to start making an effort...

5k Update

Wow, this 5k has really snuck up on a girl! I cannot believe I have just 19 more days, then its off to Arizona...Ekk! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. This is my very first race and I am stressing out. The sad truth is that I love to run but I'm still out of shape. Because of that, I am painfully slow runner:( With the weather cooling off though, I am feeling my motivation coming back! It has certinally helped that R is running consistently again too. Last night he got out and ran with me where I completed 3 miles! I think I've said this before but R promised me, a long time ago, that if I make 6 miles and run that consistently, he would buy me a 405 Garmin...AWWWWESOME! I have wanted one of those ever since I got into running in '09 so I am determined to meet this challenge and get that watch! Maybe for christmas!?!?! Hubby, if you're reading this...lol... I know that a lot of you have them and I am so jealous. No really! I love knowing stats while I'm running. It really keeps me going if I can see how close I am to making my milage for the day. The pace keeper bit just depresses me, but I know I will get faster and being a calorie burning junkie on top of a visual person I know I will love the "how many calories burned" feature. Imagining those calories and fat cells burning alive in there does a lot for me! I replay those Mucinex commercials in my head but imagine those disgusting blobs of mucus as fat! Have any of you seen those commercials and know what I am talknig about??? A weird moment brought to you by me:)

I am off to start my day! It is a little past 11:00 a.m and I still have not showered or eaten breakfast. R is out getting his hair cut and renting a carpet cleaner. Yes, we are both off for the day and doing stuff like cleaning the house and shampooing our carpets. Pathetic, I know! But it is necessary:) I hope all of you are enjoying this cooler weather and the outdoors. I will do a few more blog posts before Arizona to keep y'all updated on my progress, so wish me luck!

5k In Four Weeks And Vegas!

Hey ya'll!!

I think I'm correct in saying that a lot of you haven't been seeing my blog posts right? I just realized that when I switched my IP name, that you guys would have to as well, in your google reader, in order to still follow me. So I decided to switch back because I miss you all!!! Even my own sister was asking me where my blog went...I guess thats when I figured it out! So I was always, and still, here but I am back offically:)

You really haven't missed much though...I had the makeover done and wrote just a few posts then dropped off the blog'o'sphere. I took a job as a store manager and that has been keeping me SOO busy. But, I have been running!!!

In just four weeks I am scheduled to run my first 5k with my sister in-law and hubby in Phoenix, AZ!!! It has been so hard training for it with this new job though. But finally today, I was driving the 40 minutes home from work, and told myself that I just needed to buckle down and do it no matter how tired I was. So I did! I got home, threw on my runners, some shorts and a T and took off...I was shooting for 4 miles but only made it three before my hip flexors started acting up. They have always been my down fall in running. It honestly starts to feel like I'm all rusted up like the tin man:) Any advise on helping this out would be great!?!? I will be running every day that I possibily can before the run. With the heat and terrain, I'm a little frightened that I might fallout if I don't! But wish me luck if you think about it:)

In more exciting news, right after the 5k in Phoenix, R and I are headed to Vegas for three wonderful nights! We are meeting up with his best friend, who lives there, and my sister who is flying in for that part of the vacation. I am BEYOND excited. We have booked our room at the HardRock Hotel, just shy of the main strip and the room is GORGEOUS! I have never been to Vegas as an adult, but only as a kid passing through with my family so this is going to be an experience!

On My Way To A Better Run

Why did I ever stop running! M and I took it nice and slow around a 2 mile loop last night, just enjoying the evening and simply running...It was humid out but I was super eager to try out my new shoes! However, during and after we finished, I was noticing some knee and shin pain *nothing major* but still more then I ever noticed before, with my first pair of Mizuno's. I brushed it off, thinking it was a new brand and that maybe they needed breaking in. So wanting to test it out some more we took off for a brisk mile walk right before bed. MORE knee pain...Something is definitely wrong! Even now, after a full nights sleep, I'm feeling tender down there...So I got up this morning, after a night of tossing from the ache, and looked at the soles of my new and old shoes and what did I find? Looks to be underpronation instead of what I have been being fitted for, which is overpronation! It really makes perfect sense, after getting on the Internet and doing some research. Come to find out, under pronators need cushion shoes instead of support shoes which is what I have been in for my last two pairs! Both pairs I have noticed aches and pains and that has been so irritatingly frusterating! I never had this problem before with my first pair...The biggest frusteration was that no one could explain this to me. I guess the lesson learned here is you just go with what works even if it doesn't make sense...However, I am glad I figured it out to avoid needless waste of money and time in the future. So I am headed back for a return today; this time going with what I know works and hopefully I'll be blogging about comfort, pain free runs soon!

Sister Dear

Loving all of the excitement over my recent post and new blog! Y'all never fail to make a girl feel good and encouraged:)

Today is going to be a great day. My sister M is finally moving to Georgia!!!

We've had this in the works for weeks where M has drove down several times looking for work, going to interviews and helping us move. The hold up has been finding a job really, however, last week she landed one! Yay, for a no stress move:) Basically M is a rambler and wanting some change. So whats better then new scenery, new town and job yet still keeping family close by! She truly is one of my best friends, so having her around for the next year is going to be awesome, especially with R working those 16 hour days:( I will definitely be asking her to guest blog a few times on here, because M is simply the funniest most silliest, uncoordinated, yet very endearing person I know!

Another great part of today will be when R gets home and we go shopping for my new running shoes! Who else here loves that first run in new shoes? I bought my first good pair last year when I started running, Mizuno's, and have since replaced them once. But I loved those shoes! They were so super light and comfortable. I seriously could have ran forever in them *if my legs would have held up* and felt no pain. However, this most recent pair hasn't really impressed me much, and in fact has left my knees and feet aching more then before...So my question is "What brands/styles of running shoes do you ladies use?" I am looking into Brooks, which I hear wonderful things about, and Asics...I am a moderate over pronator so I do require some support...I'll listen to any recommendations/suggestions you might have because fter all, I am and do feel like a newbie again:p

Still Not Telling, But Meet Piper

I'm just too excited about life these past few days, which is awesome! I think it has to do with a personal challenge/goal I've set for myself...I'll give you a hint. Its something that I used to do and really loved! In fact, I am so excited about it, that I have decided to change my blog design again and rename it entirely to fit the new me! So keep checking back for the unvailing:) In the mean time I'll leave you with this...

This is our newest addition, Piper...She is a little German Shepherd, Boxer mix and so full of life. Just like Bella, we also rescued Piper. She was dropped off in some generous families lawn; So small that she had to be bottled fed for the first two weeks. This family has three dogs of their own and could not keep Piper. But lucky for us, we wanted a sister for Bella:)

Exciting News To Come!

Something really new and exciting in the works for this blog! Stay tunned...

Five Great Days Of Vacation...

Where I did absolutely nothing but shop, unpack and bond with our new home! But first, y'all are so awesome for helping a girl out on my last topic. I really appreciate you taking the time and being honest because I was really lost, ha! I decided to go with what felt more comfortable and right. Keeping Bella off of peoples lawns altogether seemed the thing to do...It really hasn't been that bad. She goes potty before our walks and its been so hot down here that we don't walk far, so she doesn't really have to go again before we get back! Problem solved for now..

The house is coming together, now that our plumbing is fixed and I've since gotten everything put away. Lucky me had five days of vacation to burn before June 19th or I lost it. Perfect time for a move if you ask me:) Two items that I'm excited found permanent residence in our home is, this beauty! Gotta love Fathers day sales...


And this!

I've been wanting a treadmill for sometime, but there was really no need while we were living at the apartment; They had a gym of their own...So this is a dream come true ladies! I love it already. We bought the LiveStrong treadmill which, with every purchase, a percentage goes to the Lance Armstrong Foundation for the fight against cancer...Always a good thing:)
But more selfish reasons for loving it, is because of the wireless heart rate monitor, built in fan and AWESOME speakers that has an Ipod hook up! No more sweaty ear buds falling out at that crucial I think I might die any second moment where if the music stops I WILL crumble and quite:) I'm really looking forward to pulling a (Cesar Millan) and getting Bella on it as well! Might just have to make a video of that, huh?!?

Today is my last day of vacation and already the phone calls are rolling in from work...I always hate when its time to be an adult again after several days of sleeping in, playing and not having a care in the world...However, not making that steady paycheck also sucks so we deal with it! I've slowly been making my way around to your blogs and commenting where I can, and I have to say its really good to be back!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

The Suburbs and Proper Etiquette

Hey everyone! I know I've been gone super long this time, but I do have an excuse...I've been moving into our new place! On top of that, I have been assigned the temporary store manager position, at work, which means crazy amount of hours...Between that, the move and spending time with R before he goes back on the drill trail , I have had no time to do anything extra! However, tonight is a quit(er), night and I happen to have a craving for some couch, computer and me time...

Well, we finally made it into a real house with a real fenced in backyard, two car garage, and our very own, roll out to the curb every Wednesday, trash can! Lol...Its the simple things that get me...Heck, I'm even excited that I have a lawn to mow! Crazy??? This is our third night here and I love it already...Even though it hasn't been all peaches and creams...The down side is, shortly after moving our stuff in, we started noticing issues with the house...The biggest ones being small bug like critters all over the house and the backyard infested with even more...This had to be addressed immediately y'all! I do not do spiders and cockroach's, ick...However, the most inconvenienced issue would be that of our plumbing...The second day here, I was doing some loads of laundry and started noticing our toilets bubbling....Hmmmm, okay...Then came this awful stink...W.E.I.R.D...Looked over into the tub and noticed sewage waste pouring into it through the drain...It was happening in all the bathrooms and showers! Needless to say, I called our landlord...There was a scare that fixed its self this morning. R and I were getting a nervous feeling that our landlords didn't want to fix the problem properly after the plumber gave them the estimate. Apparently we have a collapsed pipe underground that is going to cost a whooping $5,000 to replace! Obviously, we would not stay here without the use of water and our drains...So last night I got on the computer looking for a back up plan, just in case they asked us to leave because of lack of funds...It didn't come to that, however so, Phew! We are settled in now, and just waiting until Monday until we have the complete use of our house again....For now, it means trips back to our apartment for showers...Thank the Lord we have its use until the 19th when our lease runs out!

I've been making trips to Target, TJ Maxx and Ross's looking for house goodies and have found several! I cannot wait to start decorating and making it look more like a home...I promise to post pictures as I get the rooms done...You seriously do not want to see pictures right now...The place is full of boxes and white walls...Going from a one bedroom into a three bedroom, you tend to be lacking in "filler" items:)

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend full of sun and laughter! I will leave you with this, as I honestly do not know! I was walking my dog in the neighborhood on our first real day here and it struck me that I do not know proper etiquette for walking my dog in the suburbs!!! Is it okay to allow your dog to walk in other peoples lawn, just on the edge??? Bella loves to do this as the pavement is hot down here in Georgia! Also, is allowing your dog to pee and poop in someone elses lawn taboo even if you have a doggie bag handy to pick it up? Please be gentle if you're reading this and cannot believe that I even have to ask...Lol...I have always lived in apartments with my pets and never in the burbs...So, lets have it, but gently:p

Edit: I just realized that I spelled etiquette as (edicate) and am so embarrassed! I even put it in the title for ALL the world to see:p Lol...Thanks J.L.S for spelling it right, allowing me to take notice! I knew it didn't look right! Lol...