I'm Dreaming Of A White Easter?!

It's true!  At the rate we're going, we're still going to have snow on the ground Easter Sunday since we're getting more snow today.  At least it's nothing major, but it's still snow.  YUCK!  Like I've said before I'm over winter.  It needs to be spring like weather out and soon! 

I managed to get a run/walk in yesterday and even though it was chilly out, I still got it done.  I ordered a new pair of running shoes (okay, my dad did thru his store) and they came in Friday afternoon.  I decided on another pair of New Balances, the 890v3's.  I couldn't believe how comfy they were on the first time out.  Very light weight, nice arch support and the heel had lots of cushioning.  So far I'm pretty happy with them, but I'll really know after a few more runs/walks in them.  But as of now, they were a great choice!

Mmm...Yummy Crockpot Chicken Taco Chili

I made a batch of Crockpot Chicken Taco Chili for dinner.  I can't believe my stash in the freezer is almost gone!  I also managed to wash 3 bunches of Romain lettuce, cut up some carrots, red and green pepper and some celery for salads for the week.  I also have some corn, black beans, cheese and chicken to add to the salads.  I'm a pretty plain salad eater, I don't like onions or tomatoes (unless they are cooked), I only like cucumbers in the summer and only on the side, I like egg but I'll eat it off the top first.  I like peas but not in my salads, I don't like olives.  I don't like certain foods to touch, like baked beans and cream corn shouldn't touch in my world. EVER.  Or corn and mashed potatoes and gravy need to be on my plate separately.  If I could eat off of a divided plate for every meal, I would be in heaven!  

And last but not least tonight, I would like everyone to welcome my Mom to my blog!  I have had this blog since 2010 and yesterday I was at my parent's house and we were talking about it.  I had never shown her my blog.  I don't know why, but I hadn't.  So now she's following it (aren't you Mom?!) or at the very least reading along here and there.  So everyone say hi!!!!  I ♥ you Mom! 


Until next time!

Did You Find Your Pot Of Gold?

 

How did you all spend the St. Patty's weekend?  Do anything fun?  A 5k?  A pub crawl perhaps?  Did your inner Irishman come out?


It was a very laid back and relaxing weekend for me, which is always nice.  I wasn't very good in the exercise department, but dang it, it's cold out again!  I'm turning into a wimp!  And you all know how much I hate the treadmill, so I just passed completely on the exercise gig.  Don't judge me...

Friday night with my BFF Gina! 

Friday was our usual Friday night fun at our local establishment (I used that fancy word so we sound extra classy...and also so we don't sound like drunks since we go every Friday night) with my BFF Gina and her husband Kevin (I may or may not call him Beav) who always takes our picture so we can post it to Facebook.  And yes, all of our friends love seeing our pictures and where we are.

Mmm...a little food from our other favorite place!

Saturday night we joined up at our other favorite place, The Colorado Grill, for a relaxing night.  I only ate about 1/2 of that burger, but it was WONDERFUL!  Once again, Beav was there to take our pic.  He's getting pretty good...not that it's hard to snap a photo of us, we're pretty photogenic.  At least now he's moving his thumb out of the picture.  He's come so far!  Way to go Beav!!!

He's making me blush!

Found that little guy at another local "pub" in town.  He was pretty frisky...and he really got around.  Hanging on all of the women.  But he got a little frisky after awhile and didn't even buy me a drink!

Look at this guy getting all fresh!

I'm not sure what he was looking for, but after that it was time to put that little guy to bed!  I have a feeling he didn't say put too long though.  I'm pretty positive he had a good night.  I'm not scared of clowns, but after this I'm going to have issues with leprechauns.  

There was no green beer for this MFFG (but there was a vodka/lemonade) and no pot of gold.  But I got to spend the weekend with my best friend, so I was pretty lucky after all!  As I was roaming around the Internet I came across this saying, which is perfect since we're all eagerly awaiting the warmer weather. 

"St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time-a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic" - Adrienne Cook

Until next time!

Mother Nature Needs Prozac!

Once again last night we got hit with yet ANOTHER snow storm.  We had about 5 inches of wet, sloppy snow that started about 4 yesterday afternoon.  Before that we had rain, lots and lots of rain and then some sleet.  Mother Nature was a mixed bag of blah!  I think she needs to go on some meds...Prozac would help.  Just saying.

This is the view from my couch.  Look at that huge pile of snow!

 Last night was a good night to stay inside and just relax and enjoy the storm.  I did lots of laundry, some dishes and then roamed around YouTube looking for some new songs.  I have a new favorite that I added to my running list. 

Also this weekend I was asked by a fellow co-worker (an very in-shape, young officer that can kick my butt) to do the Boone County Hospital Duathlon 2013.  I'm going to run...and thank God he's going to be doing the biking!  My 4 miles vs his 14 doesn't seem fair, but hey, he offered to do the biking!   Mother Nature better get her act together...I want to run outside and now I really have to get on top of it.  I can't let that youngin' show me up!  Has anyone done a Duathlon?  Am I in over my head?

I Don't Need Help Being Lazy!

Thanks to Mother Nature, the cold and the rain, I have zero ambition to do anything today.  Laundry?  Not happening.  Dishes?  I have other clean ones I can use.  The grocery store?  Only because it's my mom's birthday tomorrow and I'm making my parents dinner.  It's cold, it's rainy and I don't want to do a thing!

So, what's a lazy girl to do on a day like today?!  MOVIES IN BED!!!!!  Just me, the dogs, some good movies and hot guys!


I think I'll start with:

I feel the need, the need for speed!

Then watch me some:

I carried a watermelon...?

And end with:

You sound like an Irish R&B singer.

And this is just because he's hot:

John Cusack...enough said!

Seems like the perfect lineup for a cold, rainy Saturday...I wonder what Sunday will bring?  What are you all doing today?  Hopefully your weather is better where you are than it is here. 


Until next time!

Spring Fever Anyone?

March 20, 2103...the day we have all been waiting for.  THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!!

Even though we have plenty of snow on the ground and it's still chilly out, I can't wait for the warm sunshine, the sound of birds and the blooming flowers.  This Iowa girl needs some warmer weather...NOW!!!  And I know I'm not the only one.  I'm 100% tapped out on Old Man Winter and that's saying a lot because I love the snow and all the winter holidays.  But since I've been running and have been able to get outside a couple of times, I don't want to go back to the treadmill.  It seems like pure torture to have to be back inside staring at a wall.  Yeah, my parents STILL haven't gotten that new T.V. for the wall where the treadmill is.  Weird.

Last night I re-did my playlist in hopes of being able to hit the pavement this morning, which didn't happen because it was 21 outside.  And I'm willing to bet that when I get ready to head to work at 2pm, it will be the perfect temp outside.  That's just my luck, isn't it?  Anywho, back to the music.  I downloaded 6 new songs last night from Amazon and even got a song for $0.50!  You can't not download it for that price!  So, this weekend I need to update my playlist tab, once again.  I wonder if I'll do that before or after my spring cleaning.  Any bets on that one?!

So, here are the songs I downloaded:  Thrift Shop, Scream & Shout, Sail, Hell On Heels, C'mon Let Me Ride and Baggage Claim.  As usual, my tastes are all over the place, but that's what keeps me going and keeps my runs interesting.  What are some of your favorite songs to run/workout to?  Or even just listen to over and over again?  We all have that one song that we belt out when it comes on the radio, what's yours?  Mine is None Of Your Business by Salt n Pepa.  It's my inner diva song!

I think I could rock a crown!

Until next time!

Breakin' PR's X2!!!!

***Brag Alert***  ***Brag Alert***  ***Brag Alert***

There, consider yourself warned!  Today was a pretty big day for me, if I do say so myself.  First off, let me explain what PR means.  To me (and I think to some other runners?) it means personal record.  Just like NSV means non scale victory in the weight loss surgery world.  Now that we have those down, let's move on, shall we?

My first PR today was actually scale related.  Today, I'm the smallest I've been since I was a senior in high school.  I am down 118 pounds, coming in at 184!  I'm healthier, in the best shape I've been in since I was 18 and dang it, I'm super proud of myself! 

The second PR I broke today was my min/mile time.  I have shaved another 30 seconds off my mile which makes 1 min 30 seconds total since I started in January!  GO ME!  I know it doesn't seem like much, but for this MFFG it's huge!  It was a little chilly at 35 degrees (with lots of wind it seemed like) but I made it thru.  I think I owe it to my Bad Ass Socks.  My moo's (calves) really made those letters look huge! 

Yeah, these rock!

I also think I need these Pink Skull Socks and these Cupcake Socks!  I also still need to get myself something for my ears...they are going to fall off from the cold air, I swear!  And since we're in a Winter Weather Advisory starting tonight at midnight and looking at 3-6 inches of snow, I think I'm going to need to stay bundled up for awhile!  The fresh air was wonderful though and I think it actually helped clear out my lungs from that nasty cold crud I've had since the middle of February.  Spring can't get here fast enough to get rid of all of the sickness that keeps coming around...and around...and around...you get the point.  

It seems like Sundays have turned into my big crockpot cooking day.  So I decided to make Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole.  I haven't tried it yet, but it looks promising.  If it turns out, I'm thinking it might be good with one of those ranch packets.  

Not much else is going on in the wonderful work of Kates, but as the old saying goes...No news is good news!   Now, it's time to ice!

Until next time!