The Saga of the Half

Well, I did it.

I ran a half marathon!

Despite nerves, 

the paranoia of sleeping through three alarms, 

coming down with the stomach flu mere days before, 

and forgetting my shoes back in Logan (I know!),

I totally did it and I had the time of my life!

It was an absolutely incredible experience,

and I'm already getting pumped for the next one.

Here I am, a bundle of nerves with a smile on my face getting ready to board the bus at 5am

Wish I could have brought my camera along, cause when we got to the drop-off point it looked like an outerspace refugee camp- people everywhere, huddled in metallic mylar blankets on the side of the road.

Finally the time came to throw off my own blanket and get ready to run.

The gun went off, and I hit it.  It was all pretty thrilling.

We ran through the dark for the first few miles, 

but it was great to get moving and warm up.

My nerves held out for a while, but by about mile 5 or so I got over it and had a BLAST!  

The scenery continued to get more and more gorgeous and I loved it all until about mile 12-

that last mile was rough and I was feeling pretty spent.

The crazy part was that I happened to glance up and see the time on 

a gas station billboard-

I was out of the canyon SOOOO much earlier than I'd planned,

and the thought occurred that my cheerleaders might not make it to the finish line in time to see me cross.

My phone was dead, so texting was out.  

Fortunately I was so psyched about beating my time I didn't worry at all, 

and sent a prayer heavenward that they'd somehow make it early.

Luckily, they did. 

I was so tired, but when I rounded that last corner and could actually see the finish line I couldn't help but sprint 

(had no idea I had that left in me!)

It.  Was.  Awesome.

So here's how it all ended-

Time: 2:12:15

10:02 min/mile

444th overall (half & full)

283rd among the ladies

79th in my age division

Then it was time for some celebration with my fan club.  There was TONS of food, but I don't think anything in my life will ever taste as good as that orange I peeled and devoured with 

shaking hands right after getting my finishers medal.

Ooh- crazy hair!

Reese came over chanting, "You won- you WON, Mommy!"

That was as good as the orange. 

Yay for Jimmy Johns...

...and awesome family who woke up early to come out and cheer me on! 

Thanks SOOO much you guys- you're seriously amazing!

 And Ry, I never could have done it all without your unbelievable support.

I love you more than I can say, Babe!

And Sam, thanks for sharing your birthday glory with me-

Oh how I love my sweet munchkins! 

 Feelin' pretty tough in my oh-so-white skin!

Lol- who cares if I'm blindingly pale-

I DID IT!

huzzah. huzzah.

Just Peachy

Last Saturday we had a party.

It involved pounds of sugar

more bottles than could fit on my table and counters

and several awesome ladies who showed 150 pounds of peaches exactly who was boss.

Behold the Canning party!

Aren't these Brigham City Beauties just gorgeous?

Sigh.

We had a nice spread of sweet and savory treats to munch on while we worked, and among them were these delightful Peach Scones based off of this recipe by Alpineberry.

Yum!

It took a few days of mooning over these lovely ladies like a love-sick teenager before I could bring myself to tuck them away in the cupboard.

Confession time.  

More than a few times since then I've opened that same cupboard 

only to stare and smile before getting back to whatever it was I was doing.

Don't look at me like that-

it's a canning thing.

First Time Ever

I mentioned a while ago that I signed up for my first half marathon, and the time is fast approaching to get my game face on (less than two weeks now- eek!).  Until now I've been a steady mix of freaked out and excited, sometimes more one than the other, usually with a fifty-fifty mix.  But tonight the balance seriously shifted after I finished my 9 mile run and then trotted up the stairs 

to our apartment feeling a-MAZE-ing!  

It's the longest I've ever run in my life & I'm feeling pretty proud of myself.

So basically what I'm just here wanting to say yay me 

and bring on the Half!

Pretty Pretty Pretty!

Reese has been singing Cinderella songs for weeks now, so I just couldn't help 

channelling a little inner Gus-gus there.  

Anyhoo. . .

Are you ready for something gorgeous?

I mean really lovely?

Well, behold the pics from the 

(now mandatory annual) 'Sister Photo Shoot' from our family reunion!  

Since the lightbulb idea only came after several families had already headed home, there are just a few of us pictured, but thanks to my amazing sister's stellar talent as well as the break-neck driving skills she used getting us to that perfect spot before all the 'golden light' disappeared, 

they came out BEAUTIFULLY!

Not to mention, we had so much fun and laughed so hard through the entire thing 

that it is now one of my favorite memories ever!

 I'm thoroughly looking forward to next year's shoot with my fabulous sisters / fellow fashionistas!

Here's to Us!

Ry and I celebrated 6 years together, ringing in our anniversary with fireworks as always-

One of the best things ever about getting married this time of year!

I decided that I wanted to throw together a little gift basket to surprise Ryan with at work since we wouldn't be able to hang out until later. 

I filled it with chocolate hugs, kisses, and all sorts of reasons why I love him-

 I have to admit I was pretty proud of what I came up with.

So I totally forgot to take a pic of the finished product, but luckily just before we headed inside to drop it off I remembered to snap some of the contents.  :)

New cologne & body wash

This is me being saucy, while remembering that the majority of Ryan's co-workers are well past retirement age.  :)

Marshmallows are one of Ry's favorite, so I had to figure out a way to work them in! 

Ry's favorite Cajun spice we accidentally left back in Logan, and a perfect summer flick!

This was my hands-down favorite item!  

I seriously giggled all the way up to the checkout line like a twelve-year-old girl.

But once I thought of how supportive a husband he is, it was either a jock strap or really large, industrial-type brassiere.

What die-hard Avengers fan wouldn't love a few temporary tattoos?

This one is an inside joke that I'm pretty sure is way funnier to me than Ry, but since I was the Big Anniversary Basket Boss, I got to make the call.

I love you SO much, my Ryan.

Thanks for six perfectly 

amazing years!

Where will I be come September 22, 2012?

Running my FIRST EVER Half Marathon!

That's where.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't petrified. . .

but insanely excited, too.

:)

Violet Chrysanthemums

I always get that spelling bee scene from Anne of Green Gables running through my mind whenever I write out chrysanthemum, complete with the smug look she shoots Gil once she's done.  Love!

Anyway, I wanted to show you the goods from the catering job I had last night, 

and where better to be a total show-off than my own blog? ;)

A gorgeous wedding in violet and royal purple, 

a bride and groom that were pure joy to work with, 

and more fun than I've had in a while with a cake design.

For more pics and flavor details, check out my business blog,

Pomegranate & Ginger

Another Life Calling?

A week ago Ryan and I started down a road of protein, pain, sweat, 

and a whole slew of awesome one-liners from Tony Horton.

We started P90x.

It's insane, intense, and a serious amount of FUN!

I know, you're probably thinking we can't possibly be doing things right if we're enjoying this kind of craziness, but I assure you, it's AWESOME.

Here's one of them. . . 

The day after finishing week 1 (huge cheer from the crowd, thank you very much!), we buzzed out the door to take Ry up to class, and only on returning did I realize I had left my house key inside.  In a matter of minutes I had Ry back, and we turned into a couple of regular acrobats.  We pulled ourselves up to the balcony, squeezed my now narrower waist through a tiny window and landed me in the shower.

We were both seriously impressed at the ease with which we handled the whole situation and the already huge difference in upper body strength we were seeing.  Boo-yah for being fit!

And, I have to add, it's also a great comfort to know that if this whole Masters Degree thing doesn't work out, we really could become cat burlars and live in the lap of luxury like Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.

Which, I have to admit, has always been a secret dream

The dresses.

Sigh.

Everyone point at the thirty-year-old!

Happy Thirtieth Birthday to ME!

This was seriously the BEST birthday I can remember-
thanks SO much to everyone who remembered me with cards, calls, texts, facebook, and food!

It was a celebration that stretched over three days and ended with a giant checkmark
on my Bucket List!

We headed down to Provo the morning of to hang out with my sister and bro-in-law before eating Papa Johns, opening presents . . .

I loved this card-

"I'm so freaking glad you were born. . . " oh-so-Melese!

. . . and getting spruced up for Hale Center Theater's production of . . .

A total mockery of the 1980 film starring Olivia Newton-John, we laughed so hard tears were rolling down our cheeks.  The cast was hilarious, and being products of the 80's ourselves, it felt only appropriate that we attend.

But, uh, we haven't been able to get Evil Woman out of our heads ever since.  :)

The next night we had a fab family bash at my brother and sis-in-law's,

we ate SO much food (complete with a delicious tres leches cake- thank you Uchi!), watched aliens in the attic, and played what is fast becoming the family favorite
The Game of Things
(Thanks Badgers for tipping us off to that little gem of a game!)

There was more laughing and even more tears shed.
Then, because Shay and Uchi are amazing, we left our little munchkins to spend the night (and, er, paint their poor one-eyed cat with pink marker polka-dots- so sorry about that guys!)
and headed home for a good night's rest to prepare for the

UVU & Habitat for Humanity's
No-Snow 5 K

We stretched. . .

. . . we deliberated. . .

"Do you think we should take the stairs?  I'm pretty sure there's only about 18 FLIGHTS or so!"

Seriously.



Joining the 'stair group'.  See those fancy-looking runner girls in the front? 

Yeah, we finished before them in the end.  :)

. . . We RAN!

I had originally thought either Ry or I would strike out ahead of the other, but we decided to be buddies through the race, and run and talk side-by-side.  It was one of the funnest things we've done together!

But, when it came down to the final stretch, we both remembered the terms of the bet we'd made, and what would happen to the loser. . . 

 

So I,

 in a never-before-seen event,

outsprinted my husband with legs twice my length!!!

I should mention (before Ryan hacks in to point it out) that I beat him by only a second or two, however, I will ALSO point out that

I STILL BEAT HIM!!!

Huzzah, huzzah.

(Don't you just love the facial expressions going on here?  This may be my favorite pic of all!)

Our time was 32:42

(the stairs kinda threw me off my normal time- oh well!)

And we finished

9th &10th out of about 50 or so runners-

Hooray!

We're so tough!

Sweaty & red-faced, but we had a blast!



Fie-uh, Pow-uh!!!



Thanks so much for doing this with me, Babe! 

It was my favoritest gift EVER!

PS- Don't you worry, folks,

I will DEFINITELY be posting the terms of our bet very soon. 

I, for one, cannot WAIT!