One Day Without Shoes!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/36259451#36259451

I try not to get all wrapped up in what the kids are wearing these days but I have fallen in love with my Toms. I know I probably look silly at almost 30 sporting these trendy kicks but they really are quite comfortable! Plus, they are a great company with an inspiring mission! Today is their annual One Day Without Shoes. While I can't walk around barefoot all day, I will wear my Toms in support!!!

PS- Not to mention that the guy that started to company is totally H.O.T.!!! :)

Easter

Philip, Mary, Hiro and Tim after the Mud Run.

Me with mom and daddy-o!

We had a wonderful Easter weekend! I honestly can't remember the last time the weather was so nice as well:) Saturday morning, me and Lyndsay did 5 miles, then a 5k while Philip ran the Mud Run that the ROTC department put on. He loved it! They were apparently so muddy that a firetruck hosed them off after the race.

One he came home, we headed down to Eufaula to spend the night with my parents. They showed us the new house they will be renting and the new Super Wal-Mart (big news in little 'ol Eufaula!). After all that fun, we came back to their house to relax with a cocktail and cook some dinner.

Sunday morning, we went to church then came home and had a GREAT meal! We are still eating the leftovers since mom only knows how to cook for 30, not 4:) After a walk and a nap, we went to some of their friends house for an adult Easter egg hunt. It was actually pretty fun! Some of the eggs had little mini's hidden with them and there was also a "golden" egg that had some money in it! After about an hour of fun with mom and dad's crazy friends, we headed home, exhausted!

This weekend is going to be CRAZY BUSY!! I have decided not to talk about it until it's over because it's stressing me out!!!! But it's going to be fun so I won't complain:)

Where to begin...

Philip poolside in Vegas w/my white sunglasses on. Cool!

All the guys at the 80's party. Note- Philip did not have to borrow that jean jacket!

All the ladies rockin' it 80's style...

Britney, Stacey and me at Baytowne!

Since I last posted, I don't feel like I have slowed down one bit! We got back from Seaside on Monday and Philip left on Thursday to go to Vegas for Tony's bachelor party. From what I could tell, they had a good time. Everyone came home with all their teeth and no one ended up on the roof. Philip walked in the door that Sunday, dropped his bags in the kitchen, sat on the sofa and was dead asleep within about 2 minutes. A sign of a good trip, I suppose.

That Thursday, I left for Sandestin for Britney's bachelorette party (same wedding as Vegas trip). It was so much fun. We had great weather and got in some beach/pool time that all of us needed! I don't know all the bridesmaids as well as Philip knows the groomsmen so it was nice getting to know Britney's friends from Montgomery. It was a little slower pace than Philip's trip but I had a blast and I think Britney did too:) While I was gone to the beach, O-town had another theme party. This one was "Party like it's 1985"

Philip has had a nice break at work. They didn't do any surgery last week and don't have any this week nor have they had clinic so he is kind of "off" but still going into the office. It's a nice break for him from his usual 12 hour days.

This past weekend was so fun! Friday afternoon I left work a little bit early and we headed to Atlanta to see Wilco at the Fox. We met one of Philip's college roomies and his wife and had the best time. We ate dinner about a block down from the Fox then headed to the show. There was no opening band so they started right at 8 and played for almost 3 hours!! We stayed right across the street at the Georgian Terrace so not having to drive anywhere was great. Saturday morning we got up and ran around Midtown and down to Piedmont Park, then met up with Justin & Rebecca for breakfast/lunch at the Flying Buscuit. It turned into a beautiful day so we just piddled around Atlanta. Drove over to Decaturn, walked around Virginia Highlands, went to Ikea and Trader Joe's. We had a wedding party to be at Saturday night at 6 and didn't leave Atlanta until almost 4:30 our time. Oops! We were only about 45 minutes late the party:)

Last night we went to see Hot Tub Time Machine. I'll have to admit it was a lot funnier than I expected!

Well, now that I look back this is a long post about nothing really. Oh well! Happy Monday everyone!

Seaside Pics

The truck is ready to go!

Doing what we do best. Being silly!

Picking up our packets on Satruday. We had the best weather!!

Getting ready for our pre-race dinner at Red Bar. YUMMY!!!!!

Our personal race photographer:)

What better place for a post race picture???

After hanging out in Seaside after the race, we took our celebration to the beach! Cheers!!!

The boys relaxing

Heading to dinner Sunday night in Rosemary Beach!

Race #2- In the bag!

We had a GREAT time this weekend in Seaside/Seagrove!!!! The weather was amazing and that made it even better! This race was more about having fun a the beach than the run. We didn't really focus on our diet or how much wine we were drinking and it was a nice break:) It makes me feel kinda good about my running when I can do that (eat crappy & drink wine) and still run 13 miles. INSERT: pat on the back.

We got there right after lunch on Friday and immediately hopped on our bikes and rode down to Seaside (we were staying about 1/4 mile away at the Seagrove Villas). We ate lunch and the girls shopped around Seaside while the boys drove to Destin to get some "good" beers from Wine World. Friday night we ate dinner at Great Southern and went to bed early.

Saturday was GORGEOUS!!! We got up early and rode our bikes literally all day! From Water Color down to Rosemary Beach. That night we ate dinner at Red Bar. It was yummy!

Sunday was race day. The weather was perfect and we were excited about running in warmer temps:) Turns out riding my bike almost 15 miles on Saturday might not have been the best idea. My knee was killing me the entire 13.1 miles:( But I made it. I didn't do as well as I had in Birmingham (2 minutes slower to be exact) but Mary and Lyndsay ran 11 minutes faster than they did in Birmingham! I was so excited for them!

After the race, we laid around in the ampatheater and ate the free BBQ and had some adult beverages. We all ended up getting a little burnt but we didn't care. It was so nice just being in the sun! That afternoon we spent some time on the beach then ate dinner at a tapas place in Rosemary Beach.

Monday was another great day! None of us were ready to go home so we just rode around and did a little shopping in Seaside then headed over to the outlet mall in San Destin. We finally made it home about 8:30 Monday night.

It was a great trip and I was really a little depressed about being home:( Philip worked 2 days this week then headed to Vegas this morning (boo hoo for him!). I've got a baby shower Friday night and am having a little spa day with Lynday and Mary on Saturday and cannot wait! Honestly, I'm secretly excited about having a few days to myself ;)

Pictures coming soon!

Toodles!

Race #1 Complete!

Warming up in Boutwell after the race.

Cheers!!!

Thanks to the power of Rocky and some awesome headbands, we all had a great race!

We like to wear matching outfits. It's like being in the 2nd grade all over again.

All of us at the finish line. Philip had a great run too!

Keeping ourselves warm before the race started. It was a balmy 30 degrees.

At the race Expo on Saturday. Sporting our new headbands that say "I love running. I hate running" over and over.

Mercedes Half was AWESOME! All of us beat our times from the Asheville Half we ran in September. I even got a PR at 1:59:48!!! I was so pumped! The weather was perfect. Cold but sunny and no wind, which is key!! I actually got hot around mile 5 and had to shed my long sleeves.

We got up to Birmingham around lunch on Saturday, made some pit stops at the Summit, ate lunch at Newk's, went to the Expo to get our race packets, strolled around downtown Homewood then at dinner at Jacksons.

Sunday morning we got up bright and early, headed to the race, ran, enjoyed the post-race festivities (complete with free beer and BBQ sandwhiches), ate lunch at Jacksons, headed home, took showers, went to eat sushi for dinner then made our way to Eighth and Rail for their Valentine's Day celebration. By 9pm, I was pooped!! I told Philip before we left for dinner, "Man we sure do know how to cram a lot of crap into one weekend!!" But we had a blast and by Tuesday I had recovered:)

This past weekend we went back to Birmingham for a wedding shower for Tony & Britney. Philip got to ride out at Oak Mountain and I got to do some shopping and get a mani/pedi. The wedding shower was a blast and we had a great time with T & B. Sunday morning we got up and took Charlie for a little run around Edgewood and stopped at O'Henry's for some coffee. Britney cooked an amazing brunch and then we headed home. Phew! It was another busy but fun weekend!!! No pictures though:(

It begins...

3 Half Marathons in 3 months!! The first one is Mercedes Half this Sunday in Birmingham. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for good (decent) weather. Some days I feel ready and others I wonder what the hell I'm thinking. My last half marathon was a long time ago, September. We have kept up our mileage since, even through the holidays, and ran about 12.5 miles three Saturdays ago but I am still starting to feel nervous. I think this happens every time. Maybe what scares me the most is that I've got to turn around and do another one in 3 weeks (March 7th)!! Or that we (me, Lyndsay and Mary) said that after the last race in April, we will decide whether or not to go for a full marathon by the end of 2010. I can honestly say I am no where near ready to make that committment! Or that this time last year, I could barely even run one mile after months of physical therapy after my ACL repair. So far, the knee has held up pretty well. But every now and then it lets me know its not 100%, will this be the race where it gives me fits???

For this week, I'm going to try to keep my focus on Sunday. And try not to get too caught up in running a certain time (although I do have a goal in mind). I'll keep my focus on the thrill of the race. Lining up at the start line with 5,000 other people who all share the same goal as you, running 13.1 miles. I'll focus on the fact that I have two amazing friends that keep me accountable and make me get my butt out of bed on a cold, drizzly Saturday morning when all I want to do is stay snuggled up under the covers. A husband that is also a runner, and my running coach- of sorts. The feeling that you get when you cross that finish line. It's undescribable. No matter how many times you've done it. And the beer that will be waiting for me at the finish line:)