Feb. Showers bring March Flowers?

Yay, it's Spring time and the weather is actually being cooperative lately.  I hear though that it's not the same in much of the midwest and further East.  I have been maximizing my vitamin D time and getting outside! I'm currently training for the American River Parkway Half Marathon that is in another month so I've been trying to get outside more and off my treadmill.  However, we just recently acquired a treadmill and I must say, it is a dream come true!! 

The one thing I loved so much about living in apartment complexes in Foster City and in Folsom was that they came with great onsite exercise facilities.  I actually trained for my first half marathon entirely on a treadmill.  So I've been utilizing the convenience of our new treadmill!! Mike and I are also running the Run Rocklin 5 and 12k in a couple weeks with a couple of our friends so he's been getting his run on too!  

I ran tons of errands today.  When I've got lots of random things to get and a whole bunch of places to go, it's best for me to go by myself.  I linger as long as I want, take my sweet time, and stock up on tons of things I don't need ;-)  My trip started out at Ulta.  I was in the market for some waterproof mascara.  I wanted to try out Tarte's "lights, camera, splashes" 4-in-1 mascara as I'll be needing some heavy duty flood proof stuff for our wedding.  

Source: tartecosmetics.com viaMeredith on Pinterest

And I also picked up Tarte's Maracuja Lip Gloss in "Blushing Bride" (I know, how ironic) to test out.  I'll report back on my findings!

With Spring in the air, I've started to make lists for wedding crafts.  I know, Spring has nothing to do with wedding crafts, but since it IS wedding season, I'm getting in the mood to start checking off some of my projects from my DIY list.  Project 1: Flower Pens! 

Michael's was my stop for my DIY project. I was looking for white and red anemone's.  I should backup and explain that our wedding color palette is pale mint, poppy (or red Anemone), with touches of gold and black/white.  

Kinda like this color board found here...

Source: snippetandink.com viaMeredith on Pinterest

When discussing the florals with our florist from Design with Florae, Anemone's were big on my list as well as Peonies, Ranunculus, Fringed Tulips, and those awesome pod like things that look minty green.  Poppy pods?  I wanted to copy these florals for an arrangement on the guest 

book table.  I made some floral pens for my maid of honor's bridal shower awhile ago and I loved the way they turned out.  I thought I'd recreate the idea for us.  

I sat outside in the backyard today and went to town making pens.  I used 5 Anemone stalks, 2 red Ranunculus, and 2 red Peonies for 9 pens in total.  I also bought green floral tape and used a cute vase I had from Valentine's Day that worked perfectly.  And of course, I completed the look with some gold and mint ribbon.  

Source: Meredith on Pinterest

I'm very happy with the result! Now I have to figure out, an actual guestbook, a matting to surround a photo of us, or something like this?

Source: ilovefarmweddings.com viaMeredith on Pinterest

What have you guys seen or done at your own weddings?

Friday's Five Things

So I got this idea from the blog "A long (enecker) short story" but she actually got the idea from Cupcakes and Cashmere, (not sure why I hadn't seen it there in the first place).  But anyhoo, the idea is basically to list five things that you are thankful/grateful for in the moment... or simply, five things that make you happy.  Anything from a simple picture that ellicits a smile, a yummy dessert, or a special person.  It's always a good idea to take some time to think about these things.  It's easy to get caught up in the daily routines and lose perspective of many of the positives in life.  And there are many!!

So with that said...here are this weeks five things!

1) I must always have my creative juices flowing. Not a week goes by where I'm not in the kitchen baking or off with my crafts.  This week I've been putting the two together... kitchen and crafts collide!! ;-) I've put together these "Cowgirl Cookie" mixes in mason jars.  I got the idea from the oh so talented Cake Pop Queen over at bakerella.com.  I made them as little gifts for my girls at work as a little "fare-thee-well" present.  

 First, I filled each mason jar with the cookie mixes and added the finishing touches below.  Some fabric I actually had lying around, a little ribbon and the printable label from Bakerella.  

2) My all-time favorite movie was recently re-released in 3D on the big screen.  I think you know which movie I'm talking about....The Lion King! And I was delighted that we got to take my boyfriend's nephew...he seemed to like it :-)  It was funny to watch him pawing at the air as if the movie was coming to life 2 inches in front of his face.  And I know he loved his Uncle Mikey time.   

They even had specialized Lion King themed 3D glasses for the kiddos....I secretly wanted the kid ones (which probably would've fit my face better anyways, next time I'll know to ask ;-) 

3) I'm training for yet another half marathon and my fantastic Brooks are keeping my feet going strong. I feel the need to purchase some new ones, as I've trained and conquered 2 half marathons with these shoes already.  It's time...but I think my existing pair will bring me through a third one.  Third times a charm right? 

4) My sister is pregnant with her first little one (I can't believe it, I'm going to be auntie!!) and I'm happily in charge of the baby shower.  The paperlesspost.com has become quite helpful in sending out the "save the dates".  An easy ad quick way to send what looks like an actual letter via e-mail.  Simple yet elegant.  I can't wait to start on the "She's Ready to Pop" themed shower! 

5) My boyfriend's crazy busy schedule with work and school week in and week out is something I'm so   proud of and yet it boggles my mind.  I rarely hear a peep out of him in terms of complaints, and I know I complain my fair share for the both of us.  Of course everyone has their own stressors and gauge as to what they can and can't handle.  But it's always a good reminder to know that someone always has it rougher than you.  I don't know how you do it babe...and with a smile on your face! 

And with that said, I leave you with a few good sayings (even I need some reminders)!

Sure will! 

So...

And :-) 

Happy Friday

13.1

If you don't think you have it in you to run, I would think again. Now granted, I really enjoy running (crazy, I know) and my mom frequently likes to tell me that "humans were only made to run if they are being chased," but nonetheless, I still run. Why, you may ask? It's more so about the feeling after the run because quite frankly, running hurts. Of course, there is the all important "runner's high" and it is most definitely real. I usually get my first kick of runner's high at around mile 4. You have this feeling that you're invincible and could totally kick out 20 more....until you hit about the 9th mile and are wondering where the second runner's high is hanging out. And it doesn't come...at least that second kick never came for me this past weekend.

Here's where I'm going with this. I've now run two half marathons that have been pretty much the same course called the River City Half Marathon that runs along the American River in the Sacramento Area. Now I should preface, I run half marathons, I doubt I'll ever run a full marathon. My body just wasn't meant for 26.2 miles. Last year, my first and only concern was just finishing the race as it was my first half marathon, and the longest I would have ever run consecutively. Well, I finished under 2 hours!! I was ecstatic! It was a great run. I felt amazing the entire time, and that never happens during any run. There's always some part along the way where I'm pep talking myself, but strangely, I enjoyed the entire run. The course was flat, the weather was perfect, and the scenery was serene.

Crossing the finish line last year...whoop whoop!

Soo, I decided I'd run the same race this year. I signed up and started training at the end of December. I knew I had extremely busy months ahead with family events, friends' birthdays, weddings, baptisms, etc. so I knew training was going to be tough to squeeze in. It all went down hill not a month from the day of the half. I had some sort of pelvic injury, not too terrible but enough that I decided to stay off it and then ultimately decided that running was not worth injuring myself further.

Well, that thought flew out the window the Friday before the race. I decided there was no way I wasn't going to at least start the race. I trained a heck of a lot, registered, and had a set goal in mind. But I told myself the race would have to be for fun. No going out there to kill myself or beat my time from last year (which was my original goal).

Waddya know, here I am below finishing the last leg of the race. Wasn't gonna let that orange dude back there beat me....kicked it into gear to finish strong...cause I was hurtin and wanted it to be over! I know, my hat looks ridiculous. As you can see, the weather wasn't as bright and sunny as last year.

I ended running all 13.1 with a couple stops to stretch the hips. Again, I was ecstatic to have finished. I happened to look back at my training calendar after the race...didn't realize that I had "stayed off my feet" for 20 days prior to the race. Still not sure how I completed that one...but I know for one thing, a lot of running is completely mental and all in the head.

Ultimately the real reason I run, just like one of the greatest runners, Steve Prefontaine said, "You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement." A great sense of achievement always comes after doing something that is physically and mentally challenging, and to me, running 13.1 miles and all the added miles to train for it, was totally worth it.

Sport drink of choice...Pedialyte!!

And of course, I had one of my best friends with me through the whole thing. And she kicked major a$$!

Both Stef and I had our biggest fans there cheering us on the entire way (through text messages ;-) They are the best cheerleaders!

Until next year...I'm gonna keep on running :-)