A 1/2 Marathon is in my Future!

It's official - I signed up for my first 1/2 Marathon! It's the 26.2 with Donna (I'm only doing the 1/2 NOT the full marathon) on Sunday, February 17, 2013. It's the National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer. I thought it was appropriate for my 1st 1/2 marathon since I bought my dress from Brides Against Breast Cancer and my mother's best friend died of breast cancer at age 34. I'm excited but nervous all at the same time.

I filled out the paperwork this morning and put it in an envelope, sealed it and put a stamp on it. It's sitting in our mailbox as I type this right now. There is no going back now. Check it out:

I was reluctant at first. I have been thinking about it and thinking about it and thinking about it. Should I do it, should I not do it? People have made the comment - "Do you really want to be training like that when you are planning a wedding for just 2 months later?  My comment back each time is this year when I was training for my first 15K - The Gate River Run-  in March I was the happiest I have been in a while. It took my mind off things and I was very productive in all aspects of my life. I think it would be a great way to get my mind off the wedding and something to be proud about. Plus what a great way to motivate myself to get in shape and look awesome in my dress! :)

I found a training program with Hal Higdon, same guy that I used for my 15K training that I really liked, for my 1/2 marathon. He has 4 levels for the 1/2 marathon - Novice 1, Novice 2, Intermediate and Advance. I decided to go with the Novice 2 - check out what I will be doing.  I think it will be good and challenging all at the same time but keep me motivated which is the most important aspect to me. I chose Novice 2 over Novice 1 because Novice 1 only gets you to 10 miles, while Novice 2 gets you to 12 miles. I have had a few friends run a 1/2 before and only go to 10 miles in training and they have said go further if you can. I know I can do 10 miles because I have done a 15K which is 9.36 miles so 10 is definitely doable - I need something to prove to me I can do this 13.1 miles race because I did 12 miles!

Well I have already put my training schedule into my calendar. It's going to be hard because it starts on November 26 (really Nov. 27th because the 26th is a rest day) and I am in Seattle that week for work. Looks like I am going to have to be diligent and get to the gym at my hotel. The 2nd week I am in New Orleans, so again definitely going to have to be motivated and dedicated. It climbs up fast with the 1st week's Saturday run (that's the long runs) at 4 miles and the 2nd week is at 5 miles. The weekday runs are 3 miles during those 2 weeks. That means I have to be comfortable running 3 miles. It will definitely make it easier for me if I have gotten to the point where 3 miles is no biggie by the time this program starts. Looks like I need to start seeing the road pretty soon and get going!

As promised...

Okay so last night because I said I would post pictures that are overdue, not only did I hang all my laundry but I also went through the 2 bags still sitting on my floor of random stuff that I needed to put away from the move. Thank you motivation from my blog! :) Now if I could just get that to transfer over to my workout habits and eating too that would be fantastic. haha

I woke up this morning and loved that my room was basically perfect. I love it! Well here is the pictures I promised. I am really happy with the way it turned out. It's my little oasis :)

Looking into my room - front door to my little area on right

Walking into my room further

My bed & chair with my "bed decor" - Maddie my cat :)

Nice open area by my chair

My dresser & TV

Bedroom door on right

Closet next to bed, bedroom door on left

Looking from my room to my bathroom, door on left to my little area.

Well that's my little home for the next few months until we can figure out a way for my fiance and I to live in the same city. I really like it and it feels like me so that's awesome. I'm so thankful to my fiance and parents for helping me move my furniture over and hanging stuff. Couldn't have done it with your guys! 

Happy Hump Day! :) 

Slowly calling it home

It's Tuesday, which means we are 1 day closer to the weekend! I could have used 1 more day last weekend so I am definitely looking forward to this coming weekend.

I am all moved in (with the except of 3 tiny little bags I need to go through of random crap) and starting to feel a little bit comfortable in my new place. When I am in my room I am fine but I do feel a tad bit like a stranger in the rest of the house. I don't want to get in the way or bother you know. I am sure that will subside with a bit more time. Also it's weird not knowing the house yet. You know how when you've been somewhere for a while how you know exactly how far to go and turn when it's pitch black?! You don't need to turn on a light to find your way around - ya I need a light and that is weird too. I'll get there though I am sure.

The "kids" - Maddie and Wrigley - are starting to settle in. They don't seem as weirded out and nervous. Maddie is back to hopping up on her own and sleeping on my bed. I had to pick her up and take her to my bed when we first moved. She wasn't sure on it being our room. Wrigley's bed doesn't really fit in my new room, so it's out in the den; therefore he is sleeping on the floor. He is getting use to it but I can hear him go from one side of my bed to the other. He will find the place he likes soon enough I am sure. He also has it figured out that one of the 2 ways out of the kitchen to our room is quicker than the other. It's funny because I might go the longer way but he still goes the shorter and just waits for me. I like that though because he is learning the house.

Hopefully things will slow down here soon and I can just come home after work. I have had soo much going on last week and so far this week, that by the time I get home it's already really dark and on top of that it's raining so Wrigley and I haven't been able to go for a walk. Hopefully soon. I am looking forward to walking on the beach after work with Wrigley.

Also there is a new LA Fitness being built right by my new place. It suppose to have a pool I hear. There is a little place next to it open that is just for signing up. My goal is this week to stop by after work and check it out. Find out what the fees are and what it is going to offer. It will be good for me to have a place again. The pool though is the key for me. I'll let you know more later.

I know I promised pictures of my room - I have laundry draped over my chair though right now that I keep telling myself I will hang. So tonight I promise I will hang it and take pictures. Stay tuned!

Got on the Scale...

Happy Happy Friday Everyone! I don't know about you but I am so thankful it's Friday and the weekend is just hours away. I'm looking forward to sleeping in and relaxing and spending time with my sister. It's weird not living with her! Last night I was at her place helping her with some things and then I had to leave to go home - WEIRDNESS! I have lived with her for the last 2 years so it will definitely be something we will both have to get use to. Her nursing program starts back up next week so she will get really busy again, so we decided to spend some time together this weekend. She's coming over on Saturday and the plan is to go to the beach but with all the rain we have been getting, I'm not sure that Mother Nature will allow us to do that. Either way we'll spending the day together. Then she'll sleep over and hang out a bit on Sunday. I am really looking forward to this weekend!

So I did something I said I wouldn't do this morning - I got onto the scale. I know I know but I was curious. I got onto it a few weeks back and it was quite high. Granted it was the end of the day and I also weigh in the morning, but still it upset me. I got on this morning and it said 164.8lbs. Not that far off! I was actually really happy with that. I haven't worked out in soooo long with the exception of painting, packing, moving and unpacking. Anyone that says that isn't a workout is welcome to move me next time! haha! But honestly that makes starting back not so daunting. I said I would start slow back and I am. I'm back to my usual breakfasts of boiled eggs (1 with yoke and 1 without), cottage cheese and fruit. I am trying better to chose the better options and I've been working out in unique ways. I brought my workout bag to work but it's been nuts this week so hopefully next week I can maybe do 2 or 3 days and get back into it.

By the way - I got everything hung on the walls so pictures will be taken this weekend! Look for them next week.

Also BIG shout out to one of my besties for becoming a mom on Tuesday to a beautiful baby boy! Congratulations to her and her husband, I know they are going to make AMAZING parents. That is definitely one lucky little boy :) Love you!

Moved

I am all moved into my new place! There are still a few things I need to put away and then I need to put some of my fiance's stuff upstairs in a storage area, but we are getting there. (As I was typing that I realized that what I just said is a bit mean so I must state that this is some is some of his childhood stuff and things he left behind in his old room that I just moved into. To make room since there isn't too much room we moved it out and put it elsewhere in the house.)

To my surprise everything fit furniture wise in my room better than we had anticipated. YAY! That was a sigh of relief and to even top it off I like the set-up of my room better now than my previous room! It's smaller yes but it just looks great. Part of it also might be the paint color on the wall which I really love! It's Valspar Ultra paint from Lowes in Hailstorm Gray - not sure if the computer monitor does it justice as it's just okay in the color swatch - but on my walls with the white white doors, frames and baseboards it really pops and is very calming! I wasn't sure about it when I got it on the walls, but once I got the white all done I knew I had picked the right one! It's amazing how fresh paint and some elbow grease will really make a room just look amazing! Definitely the cheapest way to give a room a make-over in my book. I promise I will post pictures once I finish hanging the last few things on the walls later this week. :) 

As for other things in my life right now - work is busy, I haven't done squat in exercise except moving (which I must say is hard and I am sore from), and eating - well I could definitely be better but I am doing better than I have been lately that is for sure. Tonight I am going to transfer a lot of my food from my old place to my new place. I have decided that if it is not good for you than it's not going with me. No reason to car that crap around right?! 

By the way I am EXHAUSTED! 2 1/2 weeks of going non-stop! Between cleaning, painting, cleaning some more, packing, moving, unpacking, continuing to clean and unpack i'm soo tired! I was out by 9:45 last night but didn't sleep to great. I let Wrigley sleep with me since he is still not 100% sure what is going on. Well he tossed and turned all night last night so therefore so did I. Tonight he might just have to learn what the floor feels like in my room. I need a good night's sleep! Definitely going to be another night with a glass of red wine and early to bed! 

August is a new start

It's moving week! Definitely exciting, scary, dreading, stressful yet liberating all at the same time wrapped up into one little package. Wow that was a mouthful. 

Painting is almost done on my new room. My room itself is basically all done. The baseboards took FOREVER! But they made the biggest difference in that room so it was soo worth it! I have a few doors left with their frames that I have to put the 2nd coat on and a few touch ups in my room to complete it. I'll finish that up tomorrow after work. 

My sister and I split up the kitchen last night. It's always weird splitting things up. The good news is we won't be too far from each other - maybe 20,25 minutes so if we realize we didn't need something but needed something the other one has we are close enough that that is an easy fix. :) I also started on my room a little bit yesterday. I'll do more tonight, but I have some things I have to take care of after work so I probably won't be home till after 7:30, closer to 8. Oh well. Depending on how tonight and Tuesday goes, possibly even Wednesday I might take off some time on Thursday and Friday to get this all taken care of before the big move on Saturday. 

Well I have been quite sore from all this painting so I know I have been getting a good work out. Plus I have been turning down the fan so it actually is a bit warmer in my room so I sweat more. Hey every little bit helps! :) I also started back on my healthy, protein packed breakfasts again - 2 hard boiled eggs (1 with yoke, 1 without), no salt cottage cheese and fruit. Lunch is good too with salad and veggies and a chicken breast. I also made homemade chicken enchiladas for this week - a big tray - which are much much better than anything you can buy Mexican. I told you I was going to go back at it, and damn it I am going to try hard at it. :) 

Here's to August and getting back onto the horse! A new start in so many ways. 

Changes

Hello Shoulder blades! This morning I woke up omg sore! Looks like it took 2 days to feel that painting from Wednesday. Oh well it's a good feeling though. :) I took last night off I was so tired, plus I ended up having a migraine that wasn't fun. I was passed out asleep by 9pm. Overslept a little this morning waking up around 7:20 - oh well I apparently needed the sleep. I am back at it tonight painting the baseboards and doors. I can't wait to see it all done and fresh looking! Oh and my new curtains came in the mail yesterday too that are going to be a great addition to my new room! Check them out I LOVE them!

Well this weekend is going to a blitz packing exercise! I HATE moving but it has to be done. Putting your life into boxes and bags is an interesting life exercise. Going through everything you have and have collected through the years. I've been in my current place for 2 years so I know that I have accumulated a lot of stuff. I am a bit scared to go through my closet. That is always the worst. I started with the random storage box and my random drawer in my room last night. Found some interesting things, reorganized and threw a lot away. The throwing away though is liberating and that I am looking forward to.

This move as I know I have said isn't exactly what I wanted to do - however what I keep telling myself is that it is setting up a life for me and my fiance that will just be amazing. The little sacrifices you make for the big picture and the one you love. It's worth every bit!

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I hope I have some fun new stories for you on Monday after what I am sure ill be an interesting weekend full of changes!

Painting

OMG I am soo tired this morning! I was up painting until midnight last night and I have a 25 minute drive home afterwards! I think I have mentioned this is the 1st time I have ever painted a room before so I am learning as I go. I mean it's simple enough - you know you have to trim and paint the color on. I have watched my parents paint countless walls, but I have never actually tried it myself.

I have learned a few tricks as I go on how I should do this instead of that not only because it's faster but also because it's more efficient. I also learned 1/2 way through the room that I should saturate the walls with paint and not be as stingy. I had to cover 2 of the 4 walls a 2nd time. I didn't go on heavy enough and those walls just sucked in that paint like it was water!

I finished last night at midnight with clean up and some prep for the next round. The ceiling is white, the walls are a very light gray called hailstorm gray and next is painting the baseboards and doors white too.I'm excited for it all to be done but oh wow am I tired! Not only have a been up way later than I am use to the last 2 nights but I have worked my little tail off too. Painting isn't easy. I have an uncle that owns a painting company and I know has gotten right in there and painted countless houses; I don't know how he does that! It's hard hard work!

I am thinking that tonight I might take a break. Go home, heat up some leftovers and pass out at like 8pm! LOL! I'm serious I am dead. Plus I am thinking the baseboards are going to take me a while bc I am going to have to be super careful with the type of carpet that is in there, so if I am up late on Friday night then I can just sleep in on Saturday and it will all be okay! I'll still finish in my goal to get it done this week so I can pack this weekend and next week I can start bringing things over slowly.

Moving is difficult and I have definitely made it interesting adding in painting but I think it's worth it - I am really liking the changes!

It's August?!

If you want a quick way to feel old - and not so much age but the way your body feels, paint a ceiling! OMG this morning I woke up and I felt like an old woman. The middle of my back is so tight, oh wow it's going to be interesting. I am hoping I can stretch it out today just  through normal movement. I'm even thinking that at lunch I might go down to the work out room and stretch it out over one of those work out balls. We'll see how it goes.

I know I have been MIA for the past 2 weeks. It's been so crazy busy lately with work and everything that goes with moving that I have just been swamped. That's at least what I tell myself since I am crazy busy. Have I mentioned I am moving yet in any of my blogs? Well I am as our lease is up on August 19th - which by the way it's August already?! Well my fiance is still in Charlotte and we aren't sure when he will be able to make it back to Jacksonville so I am moving into his old room at the 2nd house his parents own in Atlantic Beach just outside Jacksonville at the beaches. It's the best situation for us right now so I don't get locked into a lease and when he finally can find a job here and comes we can look for our place and move in together.

The busy part is that I am a clean freak and like things neat so there is a lot of work to do on this room to get it where I like it. That includes painting the room. I know right a lot of effort for 6-9 months of living but it's just something I want and need to do for different reasons. Part of it is that I keep calling it my fiance's old room - giving it a new look and face I think might help me settle in and be comfortable with this move. I also have been cleaning little things here and there and by the time I move in August 11th officially I am sure it will be my room. :)

I just can't believe it's August already! This year has flown by without even blinking an eye. I got engaged 5 months ago and we now have 8 1/2 months till our wedding. Next month will be 1 year that my fiance moved to Charlotte which is just mind boggling. This month also marks me being in Jacksonville 2 years! WOW! Next month will be 2 years at my job which is also a huge shock. I haven't ever been at a job that long so that is exciting.

This month will also mark me getting back onto the horse. I said it would and I meant it. I will start slow as I don't want to scare myself too much by overwhelming myself. I have to leave at 4:30 today so I won't get a work out in at lunch but I will be painting the walls today and if my body feels like it does now after yesterday than I know I have another intense workout later today. I don't suggest this workout plan but hey it will work for now.

A quick update - a few weeks ago I said I wouldn't weight myself for a while. I have been true to that except once and I didn't like the number very much. It said 167.... oh well. I am going to stick with the no scale through August and see how my month back at it goes and start back with that number for the fall. :)

Here's to August!