Thankful Thursday

Things I'm Thankful For Today:

-A speedy group run Tuesday night.  Great way to kick off the training cycle!

-That I got to walk with the stroller group rather than run Wednesday.  After Tuesday night the break was nice.

-A running date with the hubby tomorrow...got make up for not running Wednesday.  :)

 

-Unexpected lunch with Daddy today.  Sky was so excited to see him!

-The trampoline!  It's proving to be Sky's new fave thing to do, and keeps her busy for hours.  Plus it's helping with coordination like jumping and clapping at the same time, switching feet etc.  Thank you Grandpa!

-For a few hours of kiddo free time to read and enjoy some froyo...salted caramel corn with peanut butter cup...yummy!

-Sky and Reagan finally got to exchange b-day gifts with each other.  They both loved what they received.  Princess shoes for the win...finally a shoe Sky doesn't take off in the car!

-That the first camping trip is within site and I can finally start getting excited about it...it's also my first trail race in a very long time!

-That Sky is giving me plenty of opportunities to practice patience.  3 going on 13!

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What is 1 thing you are thankful for today?

 

So It Begins

Today is the first day of PR training!  I'm excited, and a little scared to be honest.  I've never had such a big goal riding on one race.  Mostly my past goals have all been accomplish-able as long as I finished, but now that's not good enough.  Now, I have a huge goal, so big that I don't even like saying what it is.

I'm ready though.  I'm pushing myself, but I know it's a goal I can reach, so let the training and the fun begin!

The biggest change with this training cycle and race is I feel very alone.  For the first time I'm intentionally doing all (or most...I have a few long runs with stronger/faster runners lined up) long runs and the race alone.  It's time to rely on myself and see what I can do on my own!  That's pretty exciting!

In the meantime I'm totally going crazy over the Bridge Of The Gods Run photos on their FB page!  It's a week after my PR attempt so it's a no go this year, but I'm keeping my eye on it for next year!  It's the inaugural year this year, so I hope it sticks around, and that by next year any kinks (if there are any) will be worked out! 

I mean really check out the views! 

Growing up we drove past this bridge on the way to E WA countless times a year.  The idea of running across it and actually stopping to enjoy the area sounds pretty amazing to me!  Adding it to the race bucket list for sure! 

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Who's training right now...What race are you gearing up for?

Tell me the #1 race on your bucket list!

Enjoying the Long Weekend

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend, and taking a moment to be thankful to those that gave their life, so that we can live ours in peace and happiness. 

It feels like it's been forever since I did a post, but that's mostly because it's been a really busy weekend!  It all kinda started on Thursday (hence the lack of a thankful Thursday post last week) with Sky's birthday.  Even though Thursday was her big day, we spent it running errands to get ready for the big party on Saturday.  I did make it a point though to stop and cuddly/give hugs every time she asked for one!

I seriously have no idea how we have a 3 year old already.  It happened so fast!  I'm not going to lie...sometimes I really miss that cuddly little baby she used to be.   

 

Most of the time though (like 99.99999% of the time) I love each and every new age and stage.  It is so much fun watching her grow into her own little person.  Some things are totally our influence, but others are 100% her, and it's fun seeing what her interests and likes are.    

She loves jumping, on anything and everything so we planned her birthday party at the local bounce house place.  We like to forgo fancy for active, fun play time type of parties.  Really, I just want her worn out so she'll take a nap!

  Had the whole place to ourselves, with lunch and cupcakes for all.

There was also lot's of play time and hang out time with Grandpa (my Dad).  Sky had so much fun having Grandpa around!  

Watching a movie with Grandpa.

Thankfully Dad was able to work on my shoulder and knee issues as well.  Oddly enough the week I took off didn't leave me feeling very rested, I actually felt like I came out of the week off with some injury type pain.  But, thanks to Dad I'm feeling better and ready to start the next training cycle!

The rest of the weekend has been spent hanging out just the three of us at the farmers market, the park, and getting projects done around the house. 

 We walked to the school park just down the road from us and she had to bring her field bag to add sticks and leaves and stuff too.  

 She watches and talks to Daddy through the slats when he's working on projects in the driveway.  

 She wanted to help carry the goods back to the car.

 I love that she gets dressed up to go outside and help Daddy.  That dress is from when I was a kiddo!  It's still in really great shape!

 Watching the boats.

Going to spend the rest of the day enjoying my last day of not running before training starts tomorrow!  I'm actually looking forward to pounding pavement again...it's funny to me how cruddy I've felt not running!

Thank you to everyone who took time to celebrate Sky's birthday, and a big thank you to my Dad for well...everything!  

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the long weekend!  

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Who ran a race this weekend?

What is your Memorial Day tradition? 

Introducing the echo, echo, echoes!

I am so excited to share today's post!  

If you're not local to the Tacoma/Seattle area then you may not have heard of the echo, echo, echoes...yet.  Get ready though, because their first album is about to hit the airwaves and I'm loving what I'm hearing!

Photo Credit - John Moore

Collin - drummer/vocalist, Devin - guitar/vocalist, Paul - bass have been playing and performing for about 2 years, and have been working on their first album since January.

 

The first single Surfer Girl  (Click to go listen!)  makes me so happy!  Like cold beer, hot day, fun in the sand, waves crashing, hanging out with friends at the beach all day kind of happy!  

 

I have a feeling most of this summer's memories are going to be made with this album playing in the background!  (BTW - totally mean it will be blasting from the sound system in camp or on a sunny Sunday drive with the wind in my hair...just to be clear.)  ;-) 

 

They shared a sneak peak of the cover art and I think it's pretty cool!  

 

Album art by Ward Larson

From what I have heard the art on the CD itself will be pretty cool as well, but I'm not sharing that...you need to buy the CD to see it for yourself! 

Want to hear them play live (so do I actually!) well they have a pretty active live show schedule with their next show being at Bob's Java Jive in Tacoma, June 28th at 8:00 pm!   

the echo echo echoes doing what they do best!

Please go give Surfer Girl a listen and then email the band at: theechoechoechoes@gmail.com

and ask to be added to the list of fans that would like to purchase the CD when it's released (I don't have the exact date, but it's SOON!).  

 

Want to follow them on social media?  Check out their FB page the echo echo echoes and their band camp page at http://theechoechoechoes.bandcamp.com/

I plan on listening to Surfer Girl on repeat all weekend long!  Seriously I can't wait for this album...I'm emailing them right now so I can be at the top of the CD list!   

Post Vaca Running Fail

I'm not sure my legs appreciated my first run after vaca being a fast one.  Or maybe it had more to do with the fact I still feel motion sick from flying.  I don't know, and I don't know when the world will stop spinning, and I won't have waves of dizziness and nausea wash over me, but I'm ready for that to be done!  It's getting better day by day, but still having not fun moments of dizziness and sickness. 

Anyway, last nights group run was speedy as usual, and Michelle and I pushed the pace, and pushed up the hills, and I couldn't finish.  I had to walk the last .3 because I was so dizzy and felt like I was going to vomit.  I probably could have finished, but I was over done, thirsty, tired, hungry and sick all at the same time.  Since I'm not trying to prove anything to anyone, and was already close to finishing last there wasn't much point in pushing when I felt so cruddy.

 Pilates legs.

I had done my pilates leg workout that morning too, so maybe they were a bit tired.  It doesn't really matter I guess...I just need to work at getting back to it.  Thankfully today's stroller run felt a lot better than lasts nights group run. 

Is it possible to still be recovering from the heat/humidity as well?  I don't know how long it takes to get back to normal, but I felt really overheated and dehydrated last night as well, which is pretty much how I felt the whole time in Houston. 
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In random news and pics...

After today's Pilates workout...our check-in was to post a selfie after we finished.

My current manicure!  I'm loving mixing up the Jamberry wraps and having fun, festive nails.  Gotta do it while I can because who knows what future job I may have that has a dress code against this kinda thing.  

Yesterday was so nice that Sky ran around without a shirt all day long.  I love being able to hang out and eat outside in the sun, and that Bishop is ever vigilant in his lookout duties.  

Lastly I have a very exciting post planned for Friday!!!  It's not very often I get to post about breaking news on the local music scene, but Friday I have exciting news to share about a pretty awesome local band!  Get ready to hear your summer soundtrack for the first time Friday!

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What is your #1 favorite music group/performer?  

Aerosmith forever and always!

Do you listen to music while running?

Yes, but I'm cutting back so it feels like more of a boost on race day.

 

Anyone else have soundtracks for summer?   

I have specific CD's that I only enjoy listening to during the summer. 

Every Runner Want's a Gift Bag Like This!

I got the most awesome message from the Fleet Feet store manager while I was in Houston.  She sent me this picture....

....and told me I'd scream when I saw what was inside.  Well that made me want to fly home instantly and see what was inside!!! 

Naturally I planned my Sunday errands around the store opening so I could go get my bag of goodies and she was right, although I didn't scream, I cried.   

Yes, coffee mugs make me teary eyed.  ;-)  Seriously though, I LOVE my coffee mug!  In the last big clean out of the house I actually got rid of the two travel mugs I had and later found that I really missed them.  So, suffice it to say this mug has gotten a ton of use the last 3 days!  It's my go-to mug. 

There were also a few of these beauties....

Since I gave all but one hair band away when I cut it all off I actually needed some of these!  Now that it's longer again I'm having to braid/pin/pull it back out of my face for running.  Super excited about the bright colors too! 

The thing that really got to me though and brought tears to my eyes were these beautiful new kicks!!!

My one true running shoe love adidas Energy Boost and in a color that I LOVE to pieces!  I'm not going to lie this did me in. 

My other ones still feel great, but they are getting closer and closer to 500 miles and even though they feel like they will last much longer than a traditional running shoe, I don't know how much longer.  I was starting to get a little stressed about replacing them/adding a 2nd pair to rotate with.  (When my job status changed and I became a SAHM one of the things that had to change was making sure my running didn't hit the family budget, the "extra" $$ for running gear/races just wasn't there any longer).   Now I feel like my running shoe need is covered for a very long time, and I can run, run, run to my hearts content!

I really don't even know how to say thank you for such a wonderful gift!  I really hope that Kelli (adidas rep and friend!) and adidas know that those shoes mean I can not only continue training and focusing on my upcoming PR goal race, but it means I get to continue running with Sky as well!  I don't know if she will love running like I do, or continue to be interested in it like she is now.  But, even if she decides she hates it, she is being raised in and around the running community, and I tell you it's a pretty great community for a kiddo to be part of!   

So thank you Kelli and adidas for the shoes!  They will keep me and Sky going for a very long time! 


As always this is not a sponsored post.  No one asked me to post about anything I was given.  I do so because I love the product, and really want to say Thank You, and let everyone know how amazing and supportive adidas is! 

P.S. - I also have to say thank you to my Dad and Fleet Feet Sports Tacoma...the support I receive is truly amazing!

Back To Real Life

How is this Monday treating everyone?  Sky and I are getting back into our regular schedule.  Still pretty tired from the time change, mostly because Sky is waking up crazy early, I will be thankful when she's back on Pacific Time sleeping schedule.  :)

I am so very ready to get back to my running schedule!!!  It's strange that I didn't run a bit last week, yet had running related pain in my knee and foot.  Sort of funny that the fear of injury popped up during a non-running week.

I have a few easy runs this week, and then thanks to great timing Dad will be here this weekend and can work on my knee and foot!  Just in time for Tacoma Narrows Half training to start!!!

Before getting back to regular blogging a few more pics from our time in Houston.

Upper Left - Biggest horns I've ever seen on a cow/bull ever!

We spent an afternoon at the Houston Zoo and had a blast looking at all the animals, playing in water, and discovering which displays Sky loved the most!

 It was pretty hot and Sky was loving the mister!

 Her favorites were the Komodo Dragon and Elephants!

 My two monkey's!

And, then we went to the Microsoft closing party at Minute Maid Park, and that may have been where things went wrong.

Sky had been playing at the park all morning, at the zoo all afternoon, had not been eating much, no nap, and probably hadn't had enough water to drink either.  So, not only was she way over tired, she had been out in the heat all day.  What I thought was her just being tired, was actually her having a fever and being sick/getting sick all over Mark.

Being stuck in a hotel with a sick kiddo that needs to take it easy, but want's to get out and move is not easy!  We really wanted to go to NASA, I mean how do you go to Houston and not go to NASA right?  But, since Sky was not feeling well we opted for the Houston Aquarium instead.  We figured it would be pretty calm to walk through and look at the tanks, and we know Sky loves fish and can spend a lot of time just sitting and watching them.
        

Top left - after dinner, the sun was in her eyes so Mark gave her his hat.  Top right - aquarium.  Bottom two from the Microsoft Party.  She was so miserable on the way home, and I feel bad that I thought she was just being cranky.

 So thankful that she is a great flyer!  Both ways she was really great.  Especially flying down there, we had to switch flights do to a malfunction and it added hours to the trip.  But, Sky was a champ the entire time! 

 Mt. Rainier from the air, what a nice welcome home! 

 Wine, makes good flights even better!

Houston was lovely and all, but I can't tell you how nice it was to come home! As nice as it was to not have to cook or clean for a week, and just flit about a new city having fun, I love coming home and being in my routine and being responsible!  Plus, the heat here is so much nicer than the heat down there! 

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#1 City you've ever spent time in?

I have to say NY...that was a dream trip for sure!

 

Thankful Thursday - Houston Edition

Today I'm thankful for:

-That Houston was kind to us with the weather today.  Sunny and warm/verging on hot, but with a cool breeze and very low humidity!

 Drinking so much water down here.  Feel dehydrated and thirsty all the time!

Pleasant day at the park today!

-That I finally found a Starbucks close to the hotel.  Let's just say coffee is not as important down here as it is in WA!  I have yet to see a single drive thru coffee place of any kind, and Starbucks are few and far between.  

-That WA is in the Pacific time zone.  I would be an unhappy camper if I had to regularly stay up until midnight or later to watch "prime-time" sporting events.  Blazer games don't even start until 10pm here!  Won't be an issue now since they are out of the playoffs, but I shudder to think how late I'd stay up during football season! 

-Sky finally ate a full meal at dinner last night.  Lets just say she's has been very picky and not had much of an appetite since we've been here.  I think the heat has gotten to her, and her entire schedule is off.  

 Grilled cheese and french fries for the win!  Most expensive grilled cheese sandwich ever, so I'm glad she ate the whole thing! 

Always with the pinky! 

-I'm always thankful when I get to order a meal that I know I'll love, but will never make at home.  Lobster is too $$ and too intimidating for me to do at home, and fresh, homemade pasta just isn't going to happen with Mark's allergies.  So, ordering coconut curried lobster with fresh noodles was a treat!  

I made sure to eat all the lobster, but only ate about half the noodles before I was comfortably full.

-That Sky and I even get to be on this trip in the first place.  Mark has gone out of his way to make it as easy and fun as possible for us!

 

 Loves her Daddy so much! 

-Very thankful to the Lutheran church/hospital/college down the street from us.  The campus is huge, and beautiful and perfect for a walk last night in the warm wind.  Also, thankful that they let us into the gym so Sky could run around and burn off the last bit of energy before bed time.  

P.S. - I love that the Lutheran hospital (it's a very small hospital...not an ER situation at all) down the street is called the Hope and Healing center...isn't that so much nicer than calling it a hospital?!  It automatically makes me feel optimistic about the potential outcomes.

 

   She thinks it's a soccer ball.

-Tomorrow is Mark's free day, and our family day!  We have our City Pass's in hand and are ready for lift off!  So excited to have fun in Houston with my two favorite people!

-Lastly, I'm so very thankful that Sky has been napping almost every day since we've been here.  The heat and the activity are just doing her in every day.  Selfishly it gives me time to blog, catch up on email, and get my pilates workout done, and I even manage to read my book too.  Loving having a few hours of down time that don't include laundry/dishes/cleaning the house etc.  :)

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What are you thankful for today/this week?

 

Cajun Crawfish

For those that don't know Mark's family if from Mississippi and he spent many a summer living in Mississippi with his Grandparents, and went to school at Mississippi State.  Buckets of crawfish  from the corner gas station were a part of every day life for him. 

I don't normally trust gas station food, but apparently down South they know what they are doing when it comes to crawfish.  Mark's craving got to a point that we even overnight ordered crawfish once...let's just say that experience ruined any chance I ever had of enjoying them as much as Mark.  Some things just have to be enjoyed fresh at the source! 

As soon as the trip to Houston was booked he started talking about a crawfish dinner.  I did some homework and found Ragin Cajun which had awesome reviews online, for good reason too!

 That is a lot a crawfish, and Mark enjoyed every last one!

It's a lot of work to eat a crawfish...check out these instructions How To Eat Crawfish and it's only a little bit of meat per crawfish, so while that looks like a lot, it wasn't as much as you would think.  I tried one and it's a mix between lobster and prawns for flavor.  The season that it's boiled in is where all the flavor comes from.  

 Seriously messy eating! 

Just a tip, don't touch your eyes after eating crawfish...maybe take your contacts out before eating them!  

I opted for the crab and shrimp gumbo (something I can't make as it should be made at home with Mark's food allergies) and Sky went with mac and cheese and corn on the cob.  The food must have been good because we all cleaned our plates!  Easily the best meal we have had in Houston so far!  I kinda want to go back actually.  

If you're ever in Houston I highly recommend Ragin Cajun!  Not only was the food really good, but the atmosphere was so much fun.  You can tell it's the place to be on Game Day regardless of being a  college or NFL fan. 

They have a New Orleans Saints only bar next to the dinning room, and is the place to go to watch Saints games in Houston.  There is a second bar on the opposite end of the dinning room for everyone else, but with multiple TV's in the dinning room and football memorabilia all over the place I don't think there would be a bad seat in the place for football, beer, and crawfish any given Sat or Sunday!

The bottom line...Mark doesn't get crawfish often and he had been looking forward to this specific meal for months and months...he said it delivered 100% and met all his expectations!

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Anyone else a crawfish fan out there?