Moab

Over this last weekend we went to Moab with my family.  Everyone was able to come except my parents, and we missed them!  We hung out at the condo, the boys played golf, we ate lots of food, and some of us ran the half marathon.

Saturday morning was the race.  I was so excited to be running it with Marcus and my two sisters, Katie and Tierra.  We were all nervous--we always are before a race.  We drove the course the night before and it felt SO LONG as we were driving.  We had also been told that it is mostly a downhill course, but as we drove it we realized that it was more like rolling hills--there was down but there was definitely also up.

I really didn't know how this race was going to go for me or for Marcus.  We both have been training in new "barefoot" running shoes, Marcus has the five fingers and I have the Feelmax.  My knees have really been hurting me too so I haven't been able to train very much at all.  I wanted to have a really good goal--but I knew going into it my only goal was to actually finish. 

The race started at 10:00 and it was seriously freezing at the top of the canyon.  We had to wait over an hour up there, just shivering and freezing.  Finally the race started and we were off!  It was so fun to run with the four us together, running with 4,000 other runners down the beautiful canyon.  We ran together for a few miles and then the four us slowly spread out to run at our own pace.  I ran with Katie for somewhere between 8 and 9 miles and it was so nice to have her help push me along.

My knees were killing me and I don't think I have ever been in so much pain before but I was somehow able to keep running the whole time. I was so happy when I crossed that finish line!  I finished in 2 hours 2 minutes and Marcus finished a few minutes after me.  Obviously I wish I could have ran it under 2 hours but there is always next year! Thanks Marcus, T, and Katie for running the race with me!  I'm glad we all did it!

Cruisin'

Marcus and I just got back from a seven night cruise to the Mexican Riviera!  We had such a great time and loved getting a break from this miserable cold weather.  We had so much fun soaking up the sun, relaxing, reading, swimming, being entertained and eating.  We couldn't believe how much food there was!  We enjoyed dressing up each night for a four course fancy meal and Marcus loved ordering room service cheeseburgers late at night as a "second dinner" (and I must admit I enjoyed my fudge cake along with him...)  The boat was huge.   

PUERTO VALLARTA

Our first stop was Puerto Vallarta and it was a beautiful city.  It was a lot bigger than I expected.  We took a bus ride at least an hour away from the city and zip lined through the jungle.  It was incredible!  There were 14 zip lines and it took a couple of hours to do them all.  We would hike a little in between each canopy, then get hooked up and swing through the trees and over a big river.  A couple times Marcus and I got to go together, and then we could swing and twist from the cable and go upside down.  The highest line was 700 feet above the ground and went for a quarter of a mile.  It was beautiful!

MAZATLAN

  

Mazatlan was different and probably my least favorite of the stops.  At first, you are let off into an old looking ship yard and have to be taxied through it.  The town was a lot smaller and it was definitely poorer.  There were so many people, men and women, some with little kids or babies, all around you, trying to sell you anything and everything. We jumped in this open little taxi and road around town, with our driver (he seemed 16 or so) swerving in and out of other cars, playing with the stereo and blasting the music.  Once we got to the beach and got used to all of the people selling things we started liking it more.  It kind of had to grow on you, but it was still a beautiful coastal city.  We sat on the beach, ate coconut and drank lemonades, and got plenty of sun.  We also rented wave runners and had tons of fun with that.

CABO SAN LUCAS

Cabo was also beautiful but quite different.  It was less green, and looked a little bit  more desert-ish.  We took a water taxi (a glass bottom boat) to see the famous arch.  Our guide told us people think it looks like a dinosaur taking a drink of water, but someone on the boat laughed and said it looked "more like Utah to him..."  We were dropped off at Lover's Beach and were able to explore the beach and rocks and see lots of sea lions and pelicans.  We also wandered around the marina and enjoyed the feel of a cute fishing town while eating some delicious frozen yogurt.

Overall we had such an amazing trip.  My first experience with Mexico was a good one.  The weather was perfect, really warm and sunny but not too hot, the cities and ocean were beautiful, and I loved spending all day with Marcus for the entire week. 

Can't Wait

Marcus and I are looking forward to this...

 

 from here

Plenty of pictures to come.

{Having or Inspiring Hope}

With the start of each new year comes New Year's resolutions, goals, and the determination to do better.  This year I resisted making a list, but as I read other's resolutions I was reminded that I needed to do something.  Finally, near the end of January, I laid awake in bed writing my list.  I broke it down into categories, and wrote what I felt like were realistic, reachable goals.

Almost a month later, I realize that I haven't really thought much about those goals since that night.  They've crossed my mind here and there, but I haven't done much to work towards them.

So when I came across this post, that encouraged people to pick one word for your goal, as a theme for your year, I liked the sound of that.   That is something I could do.  I sat and wondered, what word will be my theme for this year?  I decided that the year 2010 will be Hopeful.  I want to be more optimistic, faithful, happy and remember that everything always works out.  I want to be someone who expects the best.  Instead of worrying about all of the things that could go wrong, or stressing and feeling discouraged, I will remember to "believe positively."  2010 will be Hopeful.

1 year later

One year ago today I started this blog.  I definitely had my doubts because I thought in order to have a blog you had to either be a mom and have your kids to blog about, be super creative and post daily about your creations, or be a clever and witty writer.  I am none of those.  But something about blogging still seem appealing to me and I was intrigued to give it a try.  So I started my blog.  And for those first few months, I really had no idea what to post about.  Everywhere I went I would think, "Oh...Could I blog about this?" But then I wouldn't.  Somehow it didn't seem "worthy" to be posted out in cyberspace for anyone in the world to read.


I have learned that different people post about different things.  Some of my friends post about what they have been up to, as a type of journal.  Some people post about their favorite things or just about their thoughts.  Some of my favorite bloggers post about remodeling, updating, and decorating their homes.  There are recipe blogs and do-it-yourself project blogs. You can find any kind of blog out there and I love reading them all. 



Reading through my previous posts of the year, I see that I still don't really know what kind of a blogger I am.  Maybe a mix of a lot of these things?  All I know is that it is my way of writing down a few of the things I am feeling and sharing what is on my mind.  I might not be a mother, a creator, designer, or a wonderful writer, but this is me, and this is my blog.  

Here's to another year.

Valentine's!

I typically try to stay away from the cheesy lovey stuff on here, but once a year I think it's ok.  I love Marcus and know that I am so lucky to have him.  (Plus, look how cute he is.)  I'd say we're pretty perfect for each other.  Hope all you lovers out there have a happy day!

Something to smile about

I must admit today is one of those days where I would love to just sit here 

and eat chocolate all day long.

I have moved the candy jar on my desk multiple times so it is hidden behind my tissue box, 

but somehow it keeps sneaking back out into my eyesight.

It is like one big giant joke.

So I needed a little cheering up and these adorable knobs from anthropologie did just the trick.

Plus, only a few more hours until the weekend!