Goals

I think I'm ready to dive fully into this whole marathon thing! 

I don't want to just finish anymore- I want to rock it! I want to have a finish that I'm proud of! I'm not sure what my goal pace will be yet. I'd like to be in that small group of women who can finish with a sub 4 hour time. But until I get more long runs under my belt I'm not sure how possible that goal is for me yet. I'd have to average a 9 minute/mile pace for 26.2 miles. My half marathon was at 10 min/mile but that was after swimming 1.4 miles and biking 56 in my 2014 Bear Lake half Ironman. I wonder if I'm capable of pushing a little faster than that for this race...

The biggest thing I'm afraid of is a finish that I'm not totally proud of!

I've watched my husband finish too many races that he has regrets over. He always ends up registering for a "redemption race" a short time later. I don't want to have regrets or shy away from everyone's "how did you do on your big race" questions.

I could just set a super easy and attainable goal, but there'd be no growth there. I know failing can often be the biggest propellant for future success.

I've read that you shouldn't set a time goal for your first marathon. Finishing alone is something to be proud of! I've also read that I should set 3 goals; an ideal A goal, a "I'd still be happy with.." B goal and "at least..." C goal.

By the end of this month I will try to have my goals recorded.

Injured

After I got suckered into running a marathon I spent the first 2-3 weeks in denial. I agreed to do it, but that didn't mean I wasn't going to complain about it every step of the way! 

I started to do the training runs. Then I started to do them a little longer and a little faster. I didn't realize it then but I was getting hooked! I was impressed with how fast my body was adapting and shocked with how fast I was clocking some of my sprint training runs! But I still called them stupid runs, dreaded getting out the door, and came home with a grouchy "I hope you're happy face" after each run.

Then the best thing happened to me- I got injured!

I strained my Achilles tendons on both heels. That was immediately followed by planters fasciitis. I was in so much pain. I couldn't step my feet on the ground first thing in the mornings so I'd crawl to my kid's rooms to wake them up. It wasn't pretty.

The worst part was I had to try to keep it a secret from my husband,

He had warned me not to start off my training too fast. He had injured his ankles a couple months earlier the week before his 50 mile trail run. Of course I didn't listen to him- I was invincible!
I tried to play off the pain and why I was not walking normal as menstrual cramps to keep him from asking questions. But of course that didn't last long. He gave me the lecture, which I expected. But then gave me a foot massage and a hug, which I had not expected. He helped me ice. He taped up my feet with KT tape (AMAZING stuff!) and encouraged me to stay completely off my feet for 10 days and then keep my training minimal until they had a chance to heal more.

I mostly listened to his advice.

Getting injured was the BEST thing that could have happened to me!

It made me realize that I wanted to do this race. Sitting on the couch thinking of all the training I threw down the toilet made me so anxious to get back out there!
I started back slowly(ish) and now my attitude on my runs has taken a full turn! I enjoy each step, because I'm just so grateful that I'm well enough to take it!

I lost a bet!

My husband and I are constantly coming up with challenges for each other. 

A couple months ago we were trying to figure out ways to make us more motivated to wake up early and study our scriptures for 30 minutes everyday. We knew we really wanted to get back in the consistent habit, but never lasted for more than a few days in a row. We came up with a lot of ideas but none really held up.

Then Matt decided that making me sign up for a marathon would be enough motivation for him. 

He's been on a running kick since his first full ironman in 2011 and has always wanted me to do one with him. He thinks getting me to do a marathon is a good step in that direction. I've done plenty of 5K, 10Ks, half marathons, a sprint triatholon, an olympic distance triathlon, and a half Ironman. But the idea of 26.2 miles seemed WAY beyond my reach! And honestly doing one has never even been on my bucket list.

 I had ZERO desire to run that long! 

But I figured it was a safe bet for me. Work was pretty crazy for Matt at the time and I set pretty strict rules about how his reading would have to be (ie listening to scriptures on cd in the car wouldn't cut it, it had to be a sit down, highlighter in hand, study guide on the table, full out study EVERY SINGLE morning. Miss one day and I'm off the hook!)

Well, that stinker did it!

 I was shocked!! (And impressed. And super in love!) Some mornings I'd watch him and think a marathon will take me a lot less time than what he's putting in- even at my slowest a mile would never last a full 30 minutes. So in the end I thought it was a fair deal.

The day he finished his allotted time length he signed me up for the Nashville Rock 'N Roll Marathon. He didn't even bother asking me first- I lost the bet and it was time to pay up! It will be on April 29, 2017.

Which happens to be my 33rd birthday! 

Baby Shower Decorations & Games

Christmas Baby Shower Paper Crafts

I wanted the baby shower I hosted for my friend to be fun and festive but didn't want to spend a lot doing it. I think I nailed a cute whimsical feel spending $2 for paper and $4 for favors. I posted about the easy delicious and inexpensive food I served here. 

To keep the decor easy, cheap and low-stress I put up all my Christmas decorations then just added a few cute shower-fun whimsical touches! 

I made quick cone trees out of printer paper.

Just roll it and glue or tape together.

Trim the bottom so it can stand up flat. 

Then paint with polka dots, stripes, chevron or glitter. My kids had fun helping!

I cut out dozens of different sized circles and painted those too. I taped them to cheap curling ribbon and hung them up above my sink. 

The paper spirals turned out really cute too. I posted a tutorial on how I made those here. 

For a final quick touch I spiral-cut some extra circles then painted polka dots on them. 

I spent $4 on the favors- 3 6 packs of pine scented candles and a spool of cute ribbon.

I moved my vase of painted pine cones and cute boxes over to the table to add some height variations.

Games

I don't have pictures but the games we played were so cute. First each person put an index card on their forehead and drew a picture of what they thought the new baby would look like. The mamma-to-be voted on which scribbled mess she like the best and that person won a prize.

Next we played "finish the story". We started the story with "Twas the night before the baby was born..." then we each took a turn writing the next line in the story only seeing what the person before us wrote. We had two stories going and the expectant mommy read each of them out loud to us. We all got a good laugh!

We finished off with presents and lots more chit-chatting.

It was such a nice, low-stress, inexpensive party! 

Loved it!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

 It's Christmas in Ohio! 

 And I thought the view out my kitchen window was gorgeous last month!

October

November

My 2 year old woke up sick super early one morning. I had stayed up late the night before and got only a few hours of sleep. But after looking outside at the peaceful sleeping world blanketed in soft white there was no way I could be grouchy! It was breath taking! For the first time it made sense why people would chose to still live in someplace so cold! I guess I won't mind the cold so much anymore, as long as there are gorgeous views like this it's totally worth it!

School got cancelled since we live in an area with lots of rural roads. We spent the whole day bundling then undbundling as they came in and out of the snow, snuggling, drinking hot cocoa, and then finished the night off decorating our Christmas tree!

Believe it or not these pictures weren't even posed! I was busy separating ornaments when I looked up and saw the cutest sight! I'm so happy with how these pictures turned out!

Nothing like a gorgeous snow day to put you in the Christmas Spirit! 

Merry Chirstmas!

Paper Decorating- spirals

Card Stock Paper Spirals

(Doesn't have to be card-stock, scrap book or even tissue paper would work too!)

I threw a Christmas themed baby shower for a friend last week and wanted to decorate without spending a lot of money. I happened to have lots of left over bold colored card stock so I went to work creating fun pin-wheel type spirals.

I've seen lots of versions floating around the internet, but this is the way I learned as a kid in school. We used tape and elmers glue back then, but if you've read much of my blog you'll know I don't do any craft without my handy-dandy hot glue gun!

Start off making a square out of your paper by folding it in half to form a triangle then cutting off the excess.

Save this extra piece to make tiny spirals out of or for a guideline ruler as shown next.

Using some of your excess paper make a strip that's aproximately 3/4 inch wide.

Hold the guideline strip in the center of the folded over triangle with one hand as you cut 1/2 inch slits up to the strip's edge. You're starting the slits on the folded side and cutting up towards the open side's tip.

Cut 6-7 slits on each side. Remember the guideline paper is there to stop you from cutting too far into the center.

Try to match the width of the slits equally on both sides.

Now open the triangle up and starting with the two outside slits, pull two sides together and attach with either white glue, tape, stapler or if you want something quick and easy, a dab of hot glue.

Now grab the next two slits and pull them to the opposite side and glue.

Continue gluing the two sides together, alternating the side you pull it to each time.

I left the center piece open for a cool diamond look, but gluing it to itself looks cool too.

After a few large spirals I started to get stingy about my paper so decided to make smaller spirals instead.

Depending on what size you want you could make several spirals out of one piece of paper.

 I wanted to create a whimsical feel so I hung them up with curling ribbon all over my house!

 Don't ask how I got them up here...

Next I'll post the rest of the baby shower decorations!