November!

What a great month. I did it. I DID IT!!!! I ran my half marathon and finished without dying. All of the training really paid off. I smiled pretty much the whole run and I took my sweet time. I loved it. Here is a picture of me at the finish line. I promise there were other people in the race and that I wasn't the very last person (even though it REALLY looks like it). I was so excited to cross it off my bucket list. I plan to do another half marathon in 2011. I've caught the bug!


And here we are (Dainon and me) post race, all sweaty and with our nifty medals. It was a good feeling.




Other fun things this year- FRIENDSGIVING! This picture is a Tracy Keck original. I thought it was funny because Nathaniel looks drunk (he wasn't of course) and I look a little tipsy myself. Friendsgiving was fun- there were so many potatoes and so many friends. When we walked in it had been snowing a little and by the time we left there was snow everywhere. It felt like the holiday season had started. It was great.




I have a silly tradition I started about 5 years ago. On Thanksgiving eve, I build a fort, sleep in it and watch movies. This was the 2010 fort. Nathaniel helped (he's in construction after all) and we watched Scrooged. So fun. I can't wait to see how great December is. I love the holidays!!!

You've gone mental . . .

I must have, if I am going to post these pictures of myself on this blog and facebook. SO UGLY, but so funny and fun. Nathaniel and I decided to be Wayne and Garth. It was determined that I am not a good blonde, but it was so much fun dressing up. (OH and Nathaniel never dresses up, so this is a first and I am pretty sure he loved it)

Enjoy my hideousness.



SCHWING!

Made a Cake

Happy Birthday Nathaniel!

Happy Belated Birthday to me!

This weekend was great. I got a belated birthday present, a grilled cheese sandwich made with bleu cheese (my favorite!), made homemade chocolate chip cookies (they were delicious if I do say so myself), ran 4 miles and went to IKEA.

My belated birthday present was . . . drumroll please - ROLLER SKATES!! I love to roller skate, I always have. SO, I skated around liberty park and was in heaven. Even though this guy in roller skates totally made me look bad as he skated and danced and sang to "No Diggity" and looked like he should have been in Roll Bounce. He is my idol. Here are my skates.

13.1 miles

Me sweaty and happy just after a run.

Well I have decided I am going to run a half marathon. THAT'S RIGHT. So now I am in training? I put a question mark, because I am not sure what that means exactly. But I am following THIS running schedule and I am doing THIS race . . . in Florida . . . in NOVEMBER! With THIS guy. I'm excited. It's going to be great. I hope I don't die. Anyone that has done a half marathon before please let me know what to expect and/or any advice to give. It is on my list of 50 things to do before I die- so as long as I finish I guess dying wouldn't be so bad.

More . . .

Cathedral Park

Pictures By Sarah Jones Mellor

So I did it

I drove to Portland and drove back all in one weekend. I didn't bring a camera so the only picture I have to show of it is this:


We went to the science museum for free. It was mildly educational and fun. Except for the part where they showed all the dead babies (gross) and the fun house that made you feel like you were in an earthquake (Sarah got sick) and helping the two little kids build an arch out of blocks (sooo many high fives), oh wait, that last part was awesome.

We also ate so much- food carts, grilled cheese, creme brulee oatmeal, iced chai tea (shh don't tell on me). Saw two movies. Cyrus (eh) and The secret in their eyes (soooooo goooooood).

There also was a night of camping in a super small tent and we were so exhausted. We were there at Cannon Beach to see the meteor shower, clearest night ever, until we got to the beach and it was all foggy (sad face). But the camping was worth it. Even if I did smell like a pet store.

All in all, awesome trip. I got to see my favorite pregnant girl (she is ADORABLE by the way) and my favorite town. September 2011 it WILL be my home.

P.S. Sarah took tons of pictures so I will be sure to post some when I get them. Also I love rest stops, especially the clean ones.

I wish . . .

I wish that 8 hours didn't feel like 80 hours and I was already on my fun trip to Portland.

I wish I wasn't still waiting for my library book requests to be filled. It's been a month and I really want to read them.

I wish the dress I just ordered from Mod Cloth would magically show up on my doorstep today even though I only bought it yesterday.

I wish I could eat pretzel M&M's all day long and not feel like I needed to run ten miles to make up for it.

I wish every weekend was a four day weekend.

I wish I was driving to Portland and not driving back, but staying there forever and had a cute little apartment right in the city and a great job and a cute boyfriend and was living happily ever after . . .in Portland . . . Oregon. THE END

Guess what?

This weekend I am leaving this town:


To drive to this town:


To visit this girl:

And eat this doughnut:

Keep runnin' runnin' . . .

I’ve started running. Yep, that’s right, RUNNING. I have never liked running because the whole time I am doing it all I can think is “I’m running and I can’t breathe.” Supposedly that changes at some point. I am living near memory grove and I like it there, so I have made this little run for myself. Today was day #3 and it was much better than day #2. So we shall see.

The problem with running is that it gives me an excuse to do things like eat a cookie with 500 calories in it. “Hey, I went running today” is my justification. I have not hit that runner’s high thing yet either, most likely because it’s only day #3 and I am still in that walk/run phase. But I am feeling better. I really worked on my breathing today- but I still get a stitch in my right side after a while. Why does this happen? I just ran through it (well then walked when I couldn’t bear it any longer).

My running music mix sure helps motivate. I don’t have the internet so I have to use whatever music I have, but I like it. Sexyback really gets me going, as does a little LCD Soundsystem. Also, there is this Zebrahead song that takes me back to the days when I moved to Salt Lake and tried running for the first time. I actually found the Zebrahead CD on the side of the road, now it’s on my running mix. I need more suggestions- the goofier the better, I find.

So that is my life. I work 12pm-8pm (I know- don’t even get me started). I wake up in the morning and run, get ready for work, work until 8, go home and read. That is my life. I have read 8 books in the past month. Oh and I have started playing The Legend of Zelda again. I am such a colossal nerd. Hopefully I will start being more social and doing “summer” things, but working odd hours and being on call twice a week kinda hinders that a little. Tonight I am going to the movies (Exit through the gift shop NOT Eclipse) and tomorrow I am doing a night hike and a fire and Friday I think I am doing something fun too- so that’s something, right? Right.

But for now I am going to keep on running. Until I get high.

This week . . .

I’ve moved into my new place and it’s almost completely unpacked. I missed two days of work this week because my stomach has been AWFUL, went to the doctor twice- with no real solution, just more money out of my pocket- oh and I am getting my kidney stone broken up (sounds awesome). Taught relief society and felt like it went fairly well. Have had a lot of gospel discussions with new friends, old friends and family and feel like my faith has increased. Have had one of my favorites staying at my new place and will be staying for a few more days- I’m glad it’s not time to say goodbye yet. Hung out with someone I have missed. Made these s’mores brownies (they’re ok). Had my parents over for dinner where we ate my homemade chicken noodle soup, s’mores brownies and enjoyed my new digs. Broke my mixing bowls when I opened the hatch back of my dad’s jeep and they shattered all over the street. Received a gift of new mixing bowls from my mother in an attempt to cheer me up (it worked).So many ups and downs this week, I hope I can recuperate this weekend and have more ups next week than downs.

The World's Shortest Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, a girl asked a guy, "Will you marry me?"

The guy said "No" and the girl lived happily ever after and went shopping, drank martinis, always had a clean house, never had to cook, stayed skinny and was never farted on.

The End



Funny the things you find as you pack up your stuff. Thanks Aliah.

LOST

I know what you are thinking, that I am going to write a blog about the finale of Lost . . . but you're wrong. The title is totally deceiving (however I did watch all 6 seasons and watched the finale and kinda loved it). What is actually "lost" is far more disturbing.



I live in a big house (for 6 more days anyway), there is a basement apartment where two guys live and an upstairs house where we live and an up up stairs room in the attic where I live. I was informed today that our downstairs housemates LOST a boa constrictor. That's right, they "lost" it. Now I do believe you can lose things, like your keys or your wallet, but losing a snake in a house is a lot like losing a kid at the zoo- it instills fear as well as urgency to find said kid (or more importantly, SNAKE). But no. When the guys were asked about whether they were concerned about the whereabouts of Mr. Boa constrictor, their response was "it happens." Oh does it? Does it really? I share a basement laundry room with these bozos- many times since the snake has been "lost" I have gone downstairs in the dark, damp basement, in my bare feet and without my knowledge I could have been coiled to death (not sure if that is the proper phrasing but you get me) as I innocently washed my unmentionables!

Maybe I am being a little dramatic, but I can't stop thinking about it. The slimy thing creeping it's way up my stairs, into my room and under my covers. UGH. I almost can't stand it. Where is Samuel L. when you need him? Or Paula Abdul? Hopefully snakey and I won't cross paths in the next 6 days. But if we do I can't be held responsible for the action I take- chopping off it's head, spraying it with hairspray and setting it on fire (who has hairspray anymore?) or kindly donating it to the zoo (pretty sure I would do one of the other two first- in a fit of panic of course).

PETA, don't get mad at me "it happens."

Sweet 16 x 2

So Wednesday was my birthday and I had a fantastic day. I took the day off and just had a great time. First I went to the Salt Lake Temple and did a session. It is a birthday tradition (new one), a time to reflect and feel the spirit in the house of the Lord. I have been needing some comfort and guidance and I feel like I received both of those things while I was there. I just love being there.

Then I met my mom for lunch at the beehive tea room. We wanted to do high tea, but my mom had to work so we just went for lunch instead. I had my favorite very berry tea and a spinach artichoke sandwich with the potato leak soup and it was delicious. My mom bought me a cute little tea pot and I bought very berry to enjoy whenever I want.

Then I went and bought myself a dress and a skirt from Anthropologie. I love both of them. Here's a little look:

I then took myself to the movies. I saw a really dumb movie and not the movie I actually wanted to see. I won't tell you the dumb movie (it's too embarrassing), but I did want to see Babies, I just thought maybe it would make me sad- so I didn't. I still want to see it though.

Then my friends had an amazing BBQ for me where we just hung out and talked and laughed. It was great. I had so much fun and all in all a great birthday.

I love being in my 30s. I think it's fantastic.

Gone in 60 Hours

Last weekend I went to Florida. My best friend from high school (the beautiful Alissa) is now the mother of two and needed a break. Her wonderful husband and sister thought it would be nice to give her a weekend off and have me fly out to surprise her. So I did! I was literally there only 60 hours. I took a red eye Friday night, arrived Saturday morning and left Monday night. The thing that stinks is that I actually took a lot of pictures this time (normally I am a terrible picture taker), but I used my mom's camera and I can't get the pictures onto the computer. It won't read the memory card. There are pictures of us eating and swinging on swings and eating and then eating some more, hey we didn't have time to do much else. But also pictures of her lovely babies that I adore. Ava and Olivia are the best. So I stole these pictures from face book.






I love that I was able to see Alissa, I need a good Alissa fix every now and again and this one couldn't have come at a better time.

What is not given to man?

I have not been the best blogger as of late. I have been extremely busy with work and with spending time with a certain someone that my blogging has gone out the window. I may have a lot of time on my hands, since the certain someone and I will no longer be spending that much time together (if any at all).

It’s been an interesting couple of days for me. I have so much happening all at once. My schedule has changed to an hour later (11-7) which may be difficult, we’ll soon see. I am moving out of my house at the end of the month and trying to find a place and that really stresses me out. I find it incredibly nerve wracking. Financially it will be a strain due to the increase of rent (I am moving in alone- which I LOVE, but will make money tighter). Then packing up all my junk and moving it to a new locale will have it’s own stresses. I also might be taking on another job in the mornings; it’s in the works . . . maybe. And now a breakup. Not really the perfect timing to lose my most recent support system, but is it ever a good time?

I’m sad. Of course I’m sad. Things were great and then they weren’t. That’s how it goes; they “love” you until they don’t. Or I “love” them until I don’t. So this has caused me to think a lot about love. Last night, when I was crying and distressed and seeking comfort and relief, both of which were impossible to find- I went to my best friend Erin. She took me in, cooked me dinner (which I only ate two bites of), put me in a hot bath tub, read me a story and cried with me. I felt comforted and loved but the pain was still there- it will be a while before that pain dulls. But she was there right when I needed her.

She read me “What Men Live By” by Leo Tolstoy. She read, we cried and she read some more. It was a beautiful story of love and compassion. One of the things I struggle with is knowing what I am to learn from heart breaking situations, especially when there is a common theme, a common thread and ultimately a common denominator (me). One of the main points of this story was “it is not given to man to know his own needs.” Only God knows what we need and sometimes that is a hard thing to swallow.

The thing I do know is that I am a loving person. I cannot stop loving or serving others just because it could mean my heart could get broken. Falling in love is wonderful and the risk involved is worth it- although right now it doesn’t necessarily feel that way.

I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father knows and loves me and only he knows what I need. So I will rely on him to help me through this and guide me to those things I truly need.

Although, a crystal ball would be nice.

nostalgia

I used to think that I got my teeth from my dad, but after seeing these two pictures side by side I am pretty sure it was my mom.

















I have been going through old pictures a lot lately trying to make a present for my father for his 70th birthday. There have been so many pictures that have tugged at my heart strings and I am starting to get nostalgic. I also want to find out about my ancestors and what they did and who they were. I am starting to really feel it. Maybe I should do something about that.

Check out this picture of my grandpa and me. Man I miss him.