Christmassy Weekend Recap

Well Christmas is almost here and I'm so not ready. I still have cookies to bake, presents to buy and cards to address. I have a feeling some people will be getting "New Years Cards" Hey, they say "Happy Holidays" so that counts right?

This past weekend was jam packed full of Christmas fun. Friday I went and visited with some cousins in from out of town. We all grew up together and I still absolutely love getting back together with them whenever they are in town. While we don't all have the most in common anymore, I still enjoy it. This time we played Cranium and drank wine. Fun times!

Saturday was my cousins baby shower and then my mom took me and my brother's girlfriends to The Nutcracker. Very neat! I haven't been before and quite enjoyed myself. I love me some dancin! Afterwards we drove Ward Parkway and looked at lights. Very festive!

Sunday was "Girls Christmas". Presents at my house and then lunch at Peachtree. YUM!


Yesterday Zach and I got free tickets to go see Neil Diamond. I know he's a legend and all, but to me it was just kind of "eh". So far every time I tell someone that, they look like they want to punch me in the face, so next time someone asks I'll pretend it was awesome.

It's been a snowy week here too. It iced/snowed last Tuesday and that was a nightmare. I got to experience a totally fun 3 hour bus ride home. Then today it snowed again. The bus ride to work was a swift 2 hours (45 minutes of which was spent sitting in the bus lot because our bus broke down, it was awesome). Tonight it took just over an hour to get home. Pretty good! I'm a bit worried about Thursday though. I seriously might stay home if it ices like it's supposed to.

Missy is loving it though!

Merry Holidays!

So we are in the middle of the holiday season here. I gotta say, this is one of the least holiday-esque years I've experienced in some time. I'm just not that "into it" this year for some reason. Oh well, I suppose I'll get there.

We stayed here in KC for Thanksgiving. Just went and had dinner at my aunts house (where everyone either had a baby or was pregnant...seriously, like EVERYONE I know is having a baby right now). Dinner was actually pretty tasty! I made a pumpkin roll and some apple spice bars. The pumpkin roll turned out great (on the second try anyway. I kinda forgot the SUGAR in the first batch. Whoopsie). The apple spice bars didn't seem to cook all the way though. So I just cut out the edges and took those. People still seemed impressed, so I guess that's good.

Now I'm in the middle of my Christmas cookie baking. So far I've done my famous M&M Bars, Double Chocolate Chews and Pinwheels. I feel like I need to make a couple other varieties, but I'm not sure what yet. I'm thinking maybe plain ol' sugar cookies. Or those ones with the Hershey's Kiss. We shall see how much time I have. Next weekend is pretty packed....

Friday night I'm headed over to my Aunt Kathies house to visit with my cousins who'll be in from all over the country. I'm pretty excited. I always seem to have a good time visiting with them. Then Saturday I'm co-hosting a baby shower for one of the said cousins. She's due in February. She's the first cousin on that side of the family to have a kid, so it's a pretty big deal. Then that night I'm going to see yet another cousin (I feel like I need a flow chart or something) perform in the KC Nutcracker. I'm pretty excited. My mom is taking me and my brother's girlfriend's. Should be interesting.... Then on Sunday it's "Girls Christmas" here at the house. My college friends and I always get together one day in December, exchange gifts and go out to lunch. It's a little more tame than the days where we used to exchange gifts, go to dinner then get wasted. Ahhh memories.

So yeah, it's been pretty busy. My workouts have taken a serious backseat, but I'm trying to bring them back bigger and better than ever. It's just finding the time... Stress!

And now, some cute animal pictures.....

What? Like you didn't think I would... Right.

Try to ignore my awsome college pajamas. I know you are jealous of how hot I look.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Can I make a Thanksgiving resolution? Yes? Ok, I resolve to blog more.

I'm Thankful for:

My husband, Zach. He puts up with a lot of my crap and still loves me. Plus I think he's pretty cute too :)



My Missy Dog
Aka: "The Crazy Banana" and "Miss Moo"



My George Cat
Aka: "Mr. Furry Bottoms"



Plus I'm thankful for my family, friends, health, new home, good job, happy life and everything else that I've been given.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Louisburg Cider Mill

A few weeks ago, Zach and I went and did something I've always been pestering him about doing - a small little outting. It was a beautiful day and due to a complete entryway painting failure we had a free Sunday! So we hopped in the car and headed to Louisburg to go to the famous Cider Mill.
The drive was nice, the trees had all turned and we enjoyed the ride out there. The Cider Mill, and the whole area was a lot smaller than I had thought it would be. But, it was packed! We weren't really sure what we were supposed to "do" since they don't have tours on Sunday (figures), so we went and peeked in the glass window and watched a few apples be pressed. Kinda boring, and really, not sanitary.

So then we went in the store and Zach was feeling extra nice and everything I said I'd "always wanted to try" he bought for me! It is very rare that his reply when I say something seems mildly expensive is "so what, we came all the way here, buy it!" OK! So we got some cider (duh), apple bread mix and apple butter! We also had to get some hot cider and apple cider doughnuts! De-lish!

We sat outside and sipped our cider and swatted the bees away (Ok, we never swatted the bees, just got up and moved every 10 seconds. Bee's 1, Zach & Stephanie 0). The whole time I sat there there was one pumpkin that kept calling my name. I told Zach and he bought it for me! Yay! It had character.

We didn't stay long, but enjoyed our time there. After that we went and had lunch at Red Robin with Kristy and James, then made the drive back home to watch the Chiefs blow yet another lead.
Oh , apple butter is yummy!

KC Marathon - The 5K Version

All week I've been fighting some sort of weird cold thing. I've been exhausted, stuffy and my head feels like it's about 3x bigger than normal. So I hadn't worked out in exactly one week when the time for my 5K came around yesterday.

I went back and forth and back and forth on if I should even go or not. The thought of waking up at 5am to drive 45 minutes to crown center then stand in the freezing cold for an hour then to try to huff and puff my way through 3.2 miles didn't sound all that exciting. But, once I hit packet pickup on Friday, I knew I had to go. There's something that gets me every time I go pick up my race day t-shirt and 'champion chip'. I knew I had to do it.

So I went to bed early and got up at the crack of dawn to make the trip to Crown Center. I love the atmosphere before a race. All the excitement and the fact that there are thousands of other 'crazies' like me who love the thrill of race day and will work so hard just to get there. It gets me really pumped up. The music, the crowds, the focus on everyone's faces. I LOVE IT. I think that's why I keep going back and keep training to get better and go further. I want to be one of those 'awesome' runners.

I felt pretty lame doing a measly 5K at the KC MARATHON, I won't lie. I wish I would have been more focused this summer and been able to attempt the half, but I wasn't. I was just worried about finishing my 3 miles.

The Marathon and Half Marathon kicked off at 7am. So after sending them off, I had a good half hour to try to stay warm and loose before my race started. I did some stretches, some fast walking and a lot of jumping. I was pretty pumped for the race.

It was a good course. Pretty flat, not a lot of uphills but a good amount of downhills. I've gotten much better at pacing myself. I've also learned how to 'coast' the downhills. I felt awesome the whole race, even with my tight chest due to my cold.

The downtown race went from crown center, down grand to 17th street. East on 17th to the Paseo. North on the Paseo to 18th Street and we headed west back to Grand. North on Grand to 13th street then south on Main and a few quick turns to end at the Freighthouse.

Here are my stats:
Time: 29:40
Pace: 9:33
Overall 422/1169
Division (Female 25-29) 60/173
Females: 169/731

So not super awesome, but definitely not bad at all considering how I felt. I was pretty happy with the results.

After the run, I got my 'champion chip' cut off, went through the food and drink line then hiked it from the Freighhouse back to my car at crown center. Nothing like a long hike after an exausting race!

Getting back home was a total nightmare. Every single road I tried was closed for the marathon. I think it took about an hour and a half to get home.

But it was worth it.

Next up: Jingle Bell Run 2008 - 10K baby!

Secrets DO make friends.

On the eve of my 1 year wedding anniversary I got some really sad news. I still haven't really been able to shake it. My friend Michelle said it best here.....

'OJ' and I had big plans to become running partners and train for the 10K together. I met her (in real life) for the first time on Friday and I was super stoked to have a new running partner. I'm pretty sure she won't be up to the training right now, but I'm still going to run it. If not for myself, but for her.

It's strange how my "secret society" friends (as Zach calls them), have really managed to become such a part of my life. I suppose in this age of online dating, why not do "online friending" as well!

So here it is. I'm a "realie".

Shhh. Don't tell.

I'm still alive!

Well it has clearly been a while since I last posted. I don't generally like to write at work because I get really distracted. Then by the time I get home I've lost all motivation to write or Zach is monopolizing the computer doing "homework". Stupid school. He does have straight A's so I guess I shouldn't complain.

So what's new....

The Crazy Banana (Missy dog) is 7 months old now! She's still sneaky and a bundle of energy, but we love her to bits. Who can't love a face like this...

We love her even when she gets into the mud and comes out looking like this.....

We have started leaving her in the kitchen all day like a big dog and she's doing well! They grow up so fast! *sniff sniff*

Our 1 year wedding anniversary is on Monday!! I can't believe it's been that long already. It's been a good ride and I'm looking forward to many fun years to come. Love you Zach!

My current obsession is getting back into shape. Before we moved to our new house I had quite the routine going on. I worked out pretty much 6 days a week for hours at a time. I was in fantastic shape (even though I thought I wasn't). Since we've moved I've gotten a little more lax on my schedule. It takes longer to get to the gym and after a long day of work and riding the bus home the last thing I want to do is drive to the gym. But that has to stop! I've started training for a 10K race that will happen in late November. I'm not a runner by any means. I actually pretty much hate running. I only started doing it because it's the only thing that gets me to shed pounds quickly, that's the main reason I run. The next reason I run is the way I feel afterwards. There is such thing as a 'runners high'. It's awesome! I feel so refreshed and calm. Plus it's when I get in my best 'thinking'.

So I found a 10K in Lee's Summit on 11/22. Yesterday I went to sign up and the damn thing was canceled!! I was super pissed. But I found a few others to choose from so it looks like I'll still hav my shot. The training isn't easy and it's definitely going to be a lot of work, but I need to focus on something. If I can do a 10K this year I might, just might think about a half marathon next year.

Yeah. I'm crazy.