Leaping for Liebster!

Good morning and Happy Friday!

I had the best of intentions to get my long run done yesterday but life happened.  Luckily I put my big girl running pants on and got it done this morning.  I set my alarm for 4:30 and gave myself plenty of time, I also brought goldfish for my fuel, just felt like you should know how elite I am.

In random news I was passed The Liebster Award yesterday from Elizabeth at My Neon Running Shoes.
Thank you!!!  Made my week :) 

  

What is a Liebster award you ask?  Basically The Liebster Awards if for any upcoming blogs that you enjoy reading and a great way to promote them!  

1. This award is given to new or up and coming blogs who have less than 200 followers  

2. The award is then passed along to other bloggers in the same category to help spread the word and       support one another 

3. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.

4. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you.

5. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.

11 Random Facts About Me 

1.  I've known Jess (my husband) since I was 13 years old and we got married in front of our high school

2.  I can't do math.  Even with a calculator I cannot do math and I get so much grief from my BFF!  

3.  One of my biggest phobia's is breaking my nose, it terrifies me!  I could never get a nose job because of this, it is at the top of my phobia list with heights a very close second. 

4.  I am an Instagram addict and I need an intervention.  

5.  I met my best friend Katie by taking a chance and ever since then I don't let fear of rejection stand in my way, she showed me how rewarding it can be to put yourself out there.

6.  I wear my heart on my sleeve and I am a really sensitive person. 

7.  I would rather scrub a toilet then mop the floor, which I imagine is pretty random 

8.  I've been known to wash the same load of laundry 4 times because I keep forgetting to put it in the dryer.  I'll also re-wash Jesse's shirts if they sit to long in the dryer and get wrinkled because I hate to iron

9.  I cry at weddings, Hallmark commercials, and almost every time I get a random "I love you" from my girls 

10.  I love to be on the ski mountain but I don't really like to ski or snowboard 

11.  I would eat ice cream at every meal if it didn't make me fat and breakout.  I can put away an entire pint of ice cream before Katie has even broke the seal on hers...then I help her with it! 

Elizabeth's Questions

1.  What's your favorite movie of all time? I love Terms of Endearment and The Evening Star

2.  What do you do as soon as you walk in the door after work?  I don't work outside the house, but as soon as we walk in after an outing usually let out Lucy our pug so she can do her thing.  

3.  Do you put your toothbrush in a drawer or holder?  They go in a holder, handle down.

  

4.  What vegetable do you love?  Hate?  Love Brussel Sprouts!  I haven't had a vegetable I don't like.  

5.  What is your favorite go to outfit for a Saturday?  If we are out and about I'll wear skinny jeans and my boots, at home I just kick it in my running gear.  

6.  What's your favorite workout?  Running!  A close second is Barre, love it. 

7.  What does your Tupperware cupboard look like?  Um...like Monica's secret closet on Friends.  

8.  If you had to choose one thing you could not live without what would it be?  Can't be technology related!  Jess, Sarah and Katherine.  Yes that is 3, but they are my heart so really just one.

9.  What is your favorite thing to order while eating out?  I love a good chopped salad, I order without meat and I inhale it! 

10.  What is the temperature outside when you are the happiest?  65 degrees and sunny!

11.  If you could pick anywhere in the world to be right now, where would that be and what would you be doing?  My backyard in Sherwood Oregon, girls playing in the bounce house, me sitting with an iced tea soaking up the Oregon summer!  

Now I pick! 

Stephanie @ NowIRun.com

Alicia @ Aliciaruns.com

Lora @ CrazyRunningGirl.com

Katie @ IceCreamtoMarathon.com

Kaolee @ Goingbacktokaolee.blogspot.com

Krys @ Fiercefabulousfit.com
Patty @ Runninginmuck.com

Answer the same questions I did!  

Random Friday

Good Morning! 

Happy Friday to you non-parents out there!  I hope it is a good one for you, for me it means I finally get to watch the season premier of the Walking Dead!!!  Finally!  Jess has been out of town all week and that means 2 things here: 1. I can't do my outdoor morning runs which make me a bitter shell of a person and 2. I can't watch any of my favorite shows.  I have to wait for Jess to be home from his work trip before I can't legally watch any of our shows and since I can't tell a lie to save my life its been a pretty awful week.  Tonight is the night!  

There is still a lot to do until then, like at least 8 loads of laundry.  My brother was here for the last couple nights so I could do his laundry to visit us.  Since my laundry room was occupied for those 48 hours my laundry has piled up, then Jess got home at midnight last night with his suitcase filled with dirty clothes.  Sweet.  

Sarah isn't feeling to good today, low grade fever and basically just feeling blah.  She gets props for being super cute though, I mean c'mon.  

In actually running news I was able to do 7 miles yesterday while the girls were in preschool which was heaven.  The sun was out and it was a perfect fall day.  I was able to get some hills in too which made the run feel even more productive.  By the way the day was going I didn't think I'd be able to do my Chalean but luckily was able to sneak that in before Jess got home.  The weeks that Jess is gone it takes some extra finesse to get everything in, but luckily preschool saved the day this week!  

When we travel or I should say when Jess goes on work trips he tries to get magnets from the cities that are new to him.  This time both cities were places we've never been so we got two new magnets to add to our collection.  

Philadelphia, PA 

Yes that is a real cactus.  It requires 1 tbls. of water once a month.  This one technically doesn't count since he was just in the airport of Phoenix for a layover, but he gets points for creativity.  Plus I was born in Phoenix so I am kind of the best souvenir from there don't you think?!      

OK this post could contain 100 more random things I'll but let you go on with your day...plus the clothes aren't going to wash, dry, iron, fold and put themselves away.  Seriously thank goodness for modern appliances.  

Also don't forget about the 1st Halloween Hill Climb tomorrow morning in Sherwood!  

It is going to be a lot of fun!  And I'll be there on the course directing all you spooky runners! 

Do you have any races planned for the weekend?  

Are they Halloween themed? 

Tell me about a fun tradition you have at your house!  Do you have anything you collect?  

Random Friday

I feel like I was just here, Friday that is.  We had tumbling and groceries and shot bloks to pick up today.  Plus all sorts of other randomness.  I wake up Fridays thinking we have one thing to do and turns out 3 more things pop up and we end up gone all day and before I know it its already time for baths and bed, whew!  Did I mention tomorrow is my last 20 mile run?  Ya I think I did!  I am a little nervous, I didn't run nearly as much as I wanted to this week which will either work in my favor tomorrow or be really really really bad.  I did get some stuff done this week I've been wanting to do, like bust out some of my fall decorations!

I just did everything that wasn't Halloween themed, I'll save those for October 1st.  I love this time of the year all the way through January.  Its fun to bring out the different "happy crap" for each holiday/season.  

More randomness, we had pancakes for dinner last night...and for breakfast this morning.  Yes, I am that lazy cool as a mom.

If you can't tell from my lack of enthusiasm this week and the number of times my children have been served pancakes I am tired.  Maybe I'll get a nap this weekend?  Bahahaha, ya I thought it sounded funny too.  

I would love to hear what runs/races you have planned for this weekend or coming up!  

Share something random with me.  Anything at all! 

Random Friday

Somehow it is 5 already, Friday has flown by!  Yesterday ended up being a non-scheduled rest day which is fine because I felt really strong this morning during my run and Push 3.  I really do like to start the weekend off on the best foot.  Luckily I write my weekly set up in pencil so I just moved my rest day around and instead of Sunday it became yesterday.  Having to scratch it out in pen might have broke me.  One thing I did do yesterday was keep track of my protein intake and while it is in the healthy range, it is not anywhere near where I need it to be to help build muscle, not even close!  So I picked up a couple things today to help and paid more attention to easy ways I can add in protein on my heavy weight days.  Luckily I like eggs!  I picked up a new protein powder, some Kashi cereal and Luna Protein bars.  

The Luna bars have 12g of protein in each bar and while there are bars out there with more I really like Luna bars.  The Muscle Milk protein powder has 32g of protein (boo ya!) and the Kashi cereal is 13g of protein in each cup of cereal, which is good cause I'll have at least 3, lets just be honest.  Who eats 1 cup of cereal?!  

I mean who can pass up an extra serving of fiber twigs?!  I find it hard to believe they couldn't find a better adjective to use to describe their cereal other than twigs.  Don't think I'll have to hide this from Jess, something tells me he won't be fighting me for my bowl of fiber twigs!  I'll give it a chance, we all deserve a chance.  Could be good, could be really baaad, I'll find out tomorrow!  Speaking of tomorrow I can't believe it is already time for another 16 mile run, its getting to be go time!  

OK I hope you have a great weekend!  I'll leave with you some photographic evidence that your least favorite blogger is cool in all areas of life.  

What are you running this weekend?  

Any races you want to share? 

Are you really photogenic or do you photograph like the blonde above?

-My Godmother Jenny would always tell me how un-photogenic I was, nice right?!  LOL!  She would always follow it up with how much more beautiful I am in real life...right Jenny, nice save.  I miss her a lot today.  She would have had a hay day with this collage!  

Random Friday

Hi!  Happy Friday!  My workout this morning was a short run to Old Town and back and CLX Push Circuit 3.  It was cold this morning, cold enough that my ears were froze by the time I got home and I could have easily wore my ear muffs.  Its still August right?  Just got me more convinced I am going to want my treadmill by winter time, which luckily gives me plenty of time to look!  Because from my search today I can tell I am going to need lots and lots of time to look.  After I finished Push and got the girls and myself fed we got dressed really quick so I could hit up some garage sales.  I don't do a lot of garage sale shopping mainly because I don't need anything, but today I was really hoping to find a treadmill.  To bad I am not in the market for an elliptical, about every other garage sale had an elliptical machine!  

I was successful though because I found some really cute Disney dress up dresses for the girls.  

They were $1 each and I looked online and they sell for at least $40 a piece brand new, score for this mom! I bought 3 different dresses and some play dress up shoes also, grand total $4.  My mom would like the white one because it has long sleeves.  I got married in the month of August and my mom wanted me to have a dress with long sleeves, no mom just no.    

Between garage sales we stopped at Trader Joe's and picked up some of my favorite things.  Trader Joe's is in Lake Oswego and I live in Sherwood, its a jaunt to get there, but sometimes so worth it.  Especially when I have my personal shoppers to run into my ankles push my cart.

I promise my children are really happy kids...except when a camera gets pulled out.  

Some of my favorites from my trip: 

Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels?!  Um...where have these been all my life?  

Trader Joe's is the only place I can find both sprouted bread and Laughing Cow Blue Cheese wedges for under $5, what is with that?  Cornichons are kind of a religion in my family, Jess said he didn't like them ONCE, he learned to never speak that blasphemy in this house again.  

After our TJ adventure we had a snack in the car to hold us over till we got home, I got an iced coffee to fill the void in my heart where a treadmill should have been today.  If you were wondering about the new flavor of Luna bars I can tell you its awesome, I'm a Nutz Over Chocolate girl and these blow them out of the water!

That's my random Friday!  Tomorrow I am running 16 miles with Katie and I am hoping I survive.  I've ran 14 before, but that was quite some time ago so we'll see how tomorrow ends up.  We are inching closer and closer to our Marathon so its time to get REALLY serious about the long training runs.  Hopefully she'll take me out to breakfast afterwards, oh I mean...no really, she better feed me.  Also I am not going to lie to all of you, I am so ready for the Marathon to come and then go, more go than anything.  I know physically I am more than capable of running this darn thing, but right now it is all mental for me.  I am ready to get back to running my way and not having such a large looming race hanging over my head.  Gosh I am such a motivator today right?!  Just want to be honest, don't want anyone out there thinking that marathon training is some quick and easy task and your such a loser for not completing one and therefore you are not a true runner.  I haven't even ran it yet and I already feel defeated a lot of the time, so YOU ARE A RUNNER even if you haven't ran a marathon nor do you have any intention of running one.  That is my PSA for the day!  I am sure tomorrow I'll be feeling much more marathon motivated, I think FINALLY getting this next hurdle/benchmark under my belt will boost my confidence.       

Who out there has ran a marathon? Please share any tips or advice you give a rookie!  

Do you have a Trader Joe's near you? 

-There is an apartment complex across the street from this Trader Joe's, those lucky ducks!  

What are some food staples you always have in your house?

Random Friday

Hi!  I was finally able to get a run in today and it felt so good.  I ran 8.5 miles, I was hoping for a solid 10 but with time constraints with the babysitter I shortened it so that I didn't make her late to her next commitment.  I still need to buckle down and get my Burn 2 workout completed for the day but I think I'll wait till both the girls are in bed.  The last few workouts with them running around have been a challenge to say the least.  Always a good reminder as to why I get up early to get things done.  I was listening to the audio CD portion of the Chalean program and she said that you have to schedule your workouts for a time that is best for your life, not for you physically.  Sounds kinda weird, but her point was that in order to get your workout done with the least distractions and interruptions your best option is going to be to do it before the sun is up.  In my life this is 100% true, if I am up at 5 and get my run and CLX completed before 7 I am in a much better mood and feel like I've already been really productive.  Its sets the tone for the rest of the day and I am freed up to take on whatever happens during the day because I don't have a workout hanging out over my head.  So for me the best time to complete my workout is before the sun is up, but for others the best time would be evenings or after their kids go to bed, have you found a particular time of the day that has been your best option?  

Another reason I prefer to run in the morning hours is because its so nice and cool outside during the summer months.  I experienced today how hot your body can get when you run closer to the afternoon, I was drenched in sweat when I got back to the house.  I could feel it dripping off of me from everywhere and I could wring out my clothes...so gross.  Also as I hit around mile 5 I could feel the dreaded chaffing on the parts where my sports bra was rubbing.  Before I left I lathered up in Body Glide AND Vaseline because I know how prone to chaffing I am...it didn't help at all!  As I was getting ready to take my shower I noticed that my sports bra on the inside had so much blood (sorry for the gory details).  OMG it hurt so bad, if you've ever experienced chaffing there as a woman you will understand the torture I was in taking my shower, OUCH!  Anyway...lesson learned I guess I need 10X more anti chaffing products applied to my body than previously thought, wowza.  

OK now onto the Random part of Random Friday.  

Took the girls to Red Robin this afternoon, Katherine is always game to color.

They both love the pizza, they don't get anything else, but this time they actually ordered it themselves by pointing to the picture on the menu.  I just can't believe how big they are getting and how fast!

I ordered their Avo-Cobb-o Salad without bacon or chicken, its funny that they keep that part of the salad blank.  It makes me laugh every time!

Then on the way home we stopped at the grocery store for the basics, milk for the girls, beer for mom and The Lorax for all 3 of us.  I also bought a package of ice cream bars and can't take those out for a picture because the girls will see them and then I'll have to share.  I don't want to share.  So there!  

Did you notice this bottle says Coronita?  Its a miniature little bottle of Corona and its so cute!  One of our old neighbors bought these by mistake once before many years ago and seeing them at the store today reminded me of how funny it was when she brought them out.  She thought maybe the "nita" part meant light, I guess she didn't notice they were tiny.  HA!  Still cracks me up!  Also they are the perfect size for when you want a beer but not a whole one, people do that right?  

Anything random about your Friday you wanna share?  

Do you have a training run or race scheduled for this weekend?  

What non-running stuff are you doing this weekend?  

-I am getting us ready for camping trip!  

Random Friday

Happy Friday!  For most of you its means the weekend, woop woop!  For me it means a long training run coming up plus the weekend and one of these! 

We went to the Wilsonville Water Fountain for I think a whole 30 minutes this afternoon...I can honestly say it took at least 3 times that to just get out the door and get there.  Next time I'll stay local, not as big of a deal if we don't stay very long.  Sarah thought she didn't feel good, so we went from this 

To this

In a matter of minutes.  Turns out by the time we got home and everything was put away...it was gas.  Which is good, nobody wants their kid sick for a multitude of reasons, so gas was a welcome problem. 

I should make some great dinner tonight, but honestly I just want to drive to Papa Murphy's and buy their $5 pepperoni...but I am even to lazy to do that right now.  So frozen Tombstone it is!  I still need to get my Burn 3 accomplished, which will happen, but I am going to wait till its not 90 degrees.  Oregonians are WIMPS in the heat, ask anybody!  Maybe they'll just say its me.  

Where and how long is your long training run this weekend?  

What are you doing this weekend that isn't running related?  

Random Friday

Happy Friday!  I finished up Burn 3 from ChaLean earlier this afternoon and I am already feeling it.  Something I am noticing from this workout is that I have a lot more energy afterwards.  Does working your muscles with weight lifting affect your energy levels more so than running or do you think it just affects people differently?

I also got an extra full body workout today using this bad boy!

\

Say hi to Lucy!

Why am I using a vacuum as old or possibly older than my husband?  Because this sucker (like the pun?) kicks butt!  I finally bought some new bags for it yesterday and was able to fire it up.  My MIL gave it to me probably a year ago at this point but I was hesitant to try it since I was sort of a Dyson snob.  Well Sandy is a Kirby snob and kept insisting I just try it and I am glad I did.  Its a little dusty I am noticing so I'll work on that for its next outing.  Anyway, it works great but its hard to push.  The newer models actually have a drive and neutral setting which make them easier to maneuver but in the mean time this old classic will do just fine.  

Last night my neighbor brought me over one of these beers

I want one now.  I would actually probably enjoy 2, but I'll control myself and have 1, that is if I can find where she bought them.  They are really light and refreshing and I think perfect to pair with the Opening Ceremonies tonight :) 

I usually don't do any alcohol on Friday nights because of my run the next morning, but I changed my runs to Sundays.  Why?  Don't worry I'll you!  When I was running Saturdays I had to go all the way into Downtown Portland, I know cry me a river but they also have a group on Sundays in the town just 5 miles from me so Sundays prevailed.  Plus with the Saturday runs I wouldn't be able to partake in weekend festivities on Friday night and come Saturday night I would be so exhausted I couldn't participate then either, so now I get the best of both worlds.  There is a way to work hard and play hard too :)  Well I could work a little harder...where's that Kirby...

What are you running this weekend?  Race or Group Run? 

Do you have a favorite beverage, alcoholic or non-alcoholic?  

Any non-running/workout related plans this weekend? 

-Sherwood has the Saturday market tomorrow morning, would love to check it out-

Random Friday

Good Afternoon!  I hope your Friday the 13th has been lucky!  I bought fudge pops and got my free Starbucks Refresher so all in all its been a pretty awesome Friday the 13th.  Plus it is absolutely beautiful outside, going to be blowing up our pool ASAP!

Last night I sauteed up some zucchini with onions and topped with a little parmigiana cheese, ya they were really good.  Jess even ate them, he doesn't eat anything green. 

Once I am off of my computer and being productive again I am going to make these bad boys. 

Source: Give Me Some Oven 

These my friends are No-Bake Energy Bites, but they could be called No-Bake Butt Bites and I would make them because they look amazing and No-Bake means almost No-Work.  

Tomorrow morning is the 10K with Katie out in Sandy, Mountain Madness baby!  I am going to wear my super awesome hydration belt because they only have two water stations planned and I know myself and I'll be dying without my aqua.  For a normal person 2 would be plenty, but if you haven't caught on just yet, I am not a normal person.  So yes Katie watch out for my irresistibleness (not actually a word) and if you make fun of me I won't share my aqua with you.  Yes you do care.

Who else is running this weekend?  

Do you need a lot of water when you are running or are you a running camel?

Five Facts Friday

Good morning!  Oh man am I clever or what?!  Actually I am sure somebody already came up with that, but I'll use it too.

1st Fact 
I need to learn how to make Creamy Tomato Soup the way they do at Panera, that stuff is the bomb diggity!

2nd Fact
I am running with my Portland Fit group tomorrow morning and 10 miles are scheduled!  I am excited!

3rd Fact
On Sunday I am running a 10K with my BFF Katie, its the Run Girlfriend Run race in Sandy Oregon.  Its a women's only run which I've never done before so I am really looking forward to it.

4th Fact
We are going to the Zoo today so I am counting that as my workout.  Why you ask?  I am going with my good friend Christie and her two boys, have you ever been to the Zoo with 4 kids all 3 and under?  Yep, that's my workout today!

5th Fact
I just finished the rest of my Tomato Soup for my breakfast, its a vegetable and you eat it from bowl so it counts as a breakfast meal.

I hope you all have a fantastic TGIF!  Please send prayers my way...me and the Zoo don't usually get along and I go once a year.  Looks like today is the day for 2012!  Let's do this!

Anyone else love/hate the Zoo?