Playing catch up....

Let's catch up shall we?

It has been a very busy couple of weeks with some wonderful happenings and some stressful, crying, not so wonderful happenings.

*One night a few weeks ago this incredibly gifted hostess welcomed 26 of us into her home just before she was preparing for a big move to a new home! We were so excited to get to meet Jessica and her family. A bunch of us have gotten to know her through blogging and we got to meet her for the first time when she was visiting family in our little old town!

*Two weeks ago I had a great training run with TNT but my ankle didn't think it was so great. Since that run I have been off of running in order to let my ankle heal. I've been to my doctor, had it x-rayed and am now going to PT twice a week. I'm still in a lot of pain and feeling really frustrated about this break in training. This is the part where the crying comes in.

*One week ago my sis arrived with her two little ones for a big work week. Remember this post? We were working toward a goal. Toward a really fun dream. As of yesterday my sis and I are officially vendors for The Farm Chicks Antique Show!This was our mock booth that we staged in my storage unit for our application.
These are my adorable little niece and nephew that visited this week.

*Five days ago my sweet little girl turned three. I laid in bed the night before her birthday remembering the night before I had her. The feelings I had anticipating her birth and remembering the actual delivery and how it felt to see her and hold her for the first time. Three years has gone by fast. She told me today that she was eight. It really is going by fast!

*And in just four days I get to drive away for a girls weekend to meet some really incredible blogging friends! I get to spend my weekend with Chelle, Andi, Aminta, Misha, Dawna, Leslie, Katie, Amanda, Fairlight and Nikki! Blog post to follow this weekend for sure!

Team In Training Weekly Update

I was able to attend my first but the team's second group training on Saturday morning. We met at 9:00 which is completely doable. However, every month they bump it a half an hour earlier so that we end up training at 7:00 in the morning. That will be hard.

We met downtown and ran along the river through the park. It was really my first time running or rather run/walking outside. I have been putting most of my time in on the treadmill. I really enjoyed it as the time went by so much faster and there was fresh air to breath and pretty scenery to look at!

I got some great tips from one of my coaches while I was running as well. As you know, I know nothing about running. At least the correct way to run. My coach, who is fantastically cheerful and wears two pigtails and kneehighs, told me I needed to be taking shorter strides and landing a little differently on my feet. What a difference that made! Instead of plodding along like an elephant with every smack of my feet sounding like thunder, I am now able to run a little lighter! I immediately felt the difference in my calves though and two days later I still feel the difference. I am so very sore!

I was also able to replace my old cross trainers for new running shoes this weekend. We went to a great running store where they fit you for just the right shoes. I tried on maybe four or five and with each one went running up and down their sidewalk to see what would work the best. The shoes I ended up with were not the prettiest I tried on but the salespeople kept reminding my friend Amy and I that it was not about the fashion...that was hard. We both got "ugly" shoes.
I am excited to train in my new shoes though - I know they will make a huge difference for me!

I also discovered this nail polish the other day...O.P.I. called Purple with a Purpose! How perfect is that! I am so not a purple person but I am wearing this polish on my toes for the next five months as a reminder of why I am training! I excitedly showed my coach my polish this weekend and she told me she was wearing the exact same color!

My friend Amy and I took our rest day yesterday instead of today and loaded up on Super Bowl grub! We will hit the gym later today and get back on track!

Thanks again for your ongoing support! If you want to visit my Team In Training website to learn more about this amazing organization and the important cause it supports or if you want to donate to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, click the button on the top right of my blog!

*sweet dreams*

I scored these sweet little frames off of craigslist a few weeks ago.

Actually, they aren't that little.

Don't you think they are just crying out to be chalkboards?

And the gal I bought them from?

She was a little crazy. But in a good way.

She was connected. She gave me her business card.

It was a fortuitous moment.

There I go - trying to use my big words.

She's done something I'm dreaming about.

I'll let you know about it really soon.

I promise.

*Love*

"It is not a slight thing when those so fresh from God love us."

- Dickens

Saturday Training Update & Other Things

(I am loving these sweet daffodils by my window....they are a cheery pick me up!)

So I had mentioned that I would be posting regular updates to keep you informed of my training progress for the Rock-n-Roll Seattle 1/2 Marathon...so here it goes!

Saturday was to be our first team training day. I was excited and a little nervous, but prepared to go. Unfortunately we had a visitor to our house over the weekend. A very unwelcome little bug that pestered first Quinn on Thursday before it moved on to myself and Addison on Friday. I spent the entire day in bed on Saturday but did receive reports about the training time from Amy and my sister (participating across the state).

Our training schedule consists of five days of training with two rest days a week. My rest days are Mondays and Fridays. I was able to get my workout in yesterday at my Mother-in-law's house so this week is off to a good start! I am especially motivated this week since being sick has bumped me down to a new weight category which I have to say is the one and only benefit of the sickies! (In addition to getting fit and helping a wonderful cause I am trying to lose the last of this baby weight!)

I am excited for next Saturday's training because we have a shoe clinic as well! I have been using old cross trainers and can't wait to see what a difference new running shoes will make!

Again, any donation would make a difference to so many people! If you would like to donate, please visit my Team In Training website by clicking on the top right button of my blog!
Thanks again for your support!

*House Updates*

Last week was our busiest week by far in terms of showing our house...the market seems to be picking up quite a bit around here. We showed our house Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday! We would have shown it Friday and Saturday as well but Friday a realtor showed up at my door while I was at Costco not realizing he needed to call my cell phone as well as my home phone before he showed it. Lets just say my house was not "show ready" at that exact moment....ahem...so they said they would try to return early this week. The showing on Saturday didn't go as planned because of the visiting bug. We have only gotten feedback on the showing yesterday but it was positive and open to a potential offer. So much of the feedback we have gotten in the past has been "it is really nice, but..." and we have a definite no go right away. At least this one still has potential!

I also toured a house last week that I really loved...it had way more pluses than minuses! Tons of charm and a good location. It has been awhile since I have been this excited about a house that was in our price range! And as of yesterday they already lowered their price!
So we are excited and nervous all at the same time and could use a lot of prayer for guidance, open doors and shut doors if necessary!