Sunshine, please?!

I just have to say, I typed in three different titles to this post, only to find that one after the other I had already used on my blog. I decided on this because, well, I'm in desperate need of sun. The rain and snow (yes, snow at the end of April) are making me even more depressed since it should be closer to summer weather than winter!

Anyway, it's been a very interesting weekend. Friday night was, of course, cupcake night. I was super excited for this particular flavor... RED HOTS! The recipe looked easy enough, except for the fact that there is no way possible to crush Red Hots. The cupcakes themselves came out ok, a little dry (and a few a little burned), and the Red Hot syrup smelled absolutely amazing! My close friends and family know how much I love cinnamon flavored ANYTHING and smelling the syrup made me a little crazy. Anyway, the frosting called for some of the syrup and crushed Red Hots. I couldn't for the life of my figure out how to crush them, so ended up using extra syrup to try and make it more cinnamon-esque, leaving no syrup to spread on the top of the cupcakes before frosting. My niece helped me, and she said they were ok in the end, so I guess it was worth it. Other critics were pleased as well. I'll admit, I was so excited about this flavor that I sneaked one for myself and put it in the freezer amongst all the other treats I'm saving.

Saturday was pretty great. I finally got a pump class in after a week of launches and then Jammed out at a club in Bountiful to help with their launch. Later that afternoon I had a wicked awesome photo shoot (of me this time) with a really great friend who helped me with my diet during the competition at the gym. She's pretty much a photo rock star, and we both think we should go into business together :) After that, delicious Cadbury Mini Egg cookies at my parents' house (pictured here courtesy of OurBestBites.com) and bed...

Sunday we heard all from our bishopric because there will be major changes coming this week. I'll be going to the ward I'm actually assigned to, which is kinda of bitter sweet.

Last night, we had our final ward activity. It was really fun and I had a blast hanging out with the ward peeps. I hadn't been to an activity for a long time, I've been missing out! Last week a bunch of them helped me move apartments and I love them so much for that!

Anyway, that's pretty much it. Except for the rain... and snow... I'm just done! One more 20 mile run this weekend, which it had better be sunny for, and then the training starts winding down. Just over three weeks left! I can SO do this... maybe :) the cookies next to me smell pretty amazing!

Oh baby!!!

Just a quick post for this week only because I can't think of what else to write about right now... I'll put up more exciting news as soon as I receive some things :) not that it's more exciting than this, just an addition!

I received a text last night that my sister-in-law was dilated to a 6 and in the hospital. This morning, we got a message that the baby girl was born at 12:05 this morning and weighed 9 lbs 13 oz! I only got a quick picture, but she looks perfect! I'm so excited she's finally here, I just wish I were in Arizona to meet her!

Another exciting tid bit, I finally got to move to a new apartment. The people above me were so noisy every night and wouldn't respond to letters and calls from the front office. I was told the eviction process is just getting started, but it can take up to 12 weeks, so they offered to move me to a third floor apartment with no moving charges. AWESOME! It was kind of crappy timing with launch and everything and I didn't know how I was going to get everything moved. The complex called Monday and told me I needed to get everything finished or they would have to start charging me for two apartments. That night, so many people from my ward showed up and helped me move everything and even cleaned my old apartment! I almost started crying, I was so overwhelmed by their kindness. They are AMAZING!

So now, when I go to sleep at 9 or 9:30 I can actually GO to sleep and get some rest! Love it :)

Ummmm...

Bought a bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Mini Eggs last night... just sayin'!

They're in my freezer until... :) LOVE EASTER!

Losing it...

Ok, if anyone is actually reading this (I'm hoping!) I really, really could use some help...

I am now officially less than six weeks away from the Ogden Marathon (aka Sugar Day) and I'm very quickly losing motivation. I've come to really loathe training. I hate waking up early just to go run and I just feel tired all the time. I'm starting to think that it's totally not worth the stress. Do I really need to run a marathon? I'm completely questioning it now.

Along the same lines, was it really smart to voluntarily give up sugar until the marathon is over? Every week gets harder and harder... sometimes I just want a cookie! It's weird, but baking cupcakes every week (which is actually really fun usually) doesn't make me want sugar so much, but seeing cookies and other treats everywhere really makes me want to break. Sunday, I brought home some cookies from my mom to give to a girl in my ward, and I seriously thought about eating one.

I know that I've been working hard and I've come so far (101 days and 20 miles to be exact) that if I quit now I would just be angry with myself for not seeing it through.

If anyone out there can lend some support, I would really appreciate it! There could even be some cupcakes in it for you ;)

Side note (as there usually is with every post): The Gold's Gym Employee Challenge ended last week. I weighed in on Friday to find out that I'm neck and neck with the girl who was in the lead. Haven't found out who won yet, but the anticipation is KILLING me! After I weighed in, I lost all motivation for sticking to a diet, so I need to get back on track to not gain it all back. That's part of the help I need, I guess.

Comments are welcome and appreciated!

10 years ago...

Ten years ago today, my granpa Arrington died. He was such an amazing grandpa and one of the best examples of a man I have ever known. He always treated my grandma with the most respect and taught his son and grandsons how to treat women as well.

I learned so much from him. I remember how patriotic he was. He was in the Army for I don't know how long. He was stationed in California when he married my grandma and I'm pretty sure he was away when my dad was born. I can remember him teaching my older brothers and cousins how to properly retire an American flag.

Growing up, he and my grandma would take us out for our birthdays to go shopping and go to lunch. I looked forward to this every year! I loved spending time with them, even when he would get caught up talking to someone he knew (which happened everywhere we went) for 20 minutes or so.

Most of all, I loved how he loved his family and especially my grandma. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. It seems there are NO decent guys left in this world that are up to his standard. I've met a few guys recently that don't have the greatest intentions when it comes to girls and, remembering my grandpa, I know I (and all the cute girls I know) deserve so much better than that.

I've been lucky enough in my life to be blessed with amazing examples of wonderful relationships. Both sets of grandparents were (or are) incredible, and they taught my parents well, too. I have the most exemplary family in the whole world and I can only hope that I end up as happy as they are...

Miss you, grandpa...

Finally... a GREAT March Moab Trip!

After last year's March Moab trip disaster (and yes, it was probably the worst Moab trip EVER), I was determined to make this year's trip a good one. The hard part was I waited so long to book my hotel that we ended up having to stay in Price and drive to Moab the day of the race. Usually, we just camp in town, but I originally thought I was going alone and didn't think it'd be safe to camp by myself. So I chose Price and booked it.

Anyway, those of you who know me well know I LOVE going to Moab! Especially for the Half Marathon every March. I was super excited this year because I've been training for the race for so long. I invited my old roommate and good friend Amber (funny, huh) to come along because she'd never seen me race and she's training for the Legacy Midnight Half Marathon in July. She was excited to get away for the weekend and I was DEFINITELY ready to go after my trip to Indiana.

We left as soon as Amber was off work on Friday and headed to Price. We had our awesome Moab jams playing the whole way down. We got to Price, checked into the hotel and went to Subway for dinner. Not exactly my first choice for a pre-race dinner, but nothing else sounded good to either of us. We hit up the Price Walmart for a few things we had forgotten and a couple movies and went back to go to bed.

We both woke up about 4:45 Saturday morning so we could leave by 5 and get to Moab by 7 for my packet pickup. Despite the fact that no human being should be up that early, it was a pretty good drive. We got to Moab, picked up my packet, and went to the finish line area. Amber waited in the bus line with me and got pictures like a proud mom. We met a cute girl named Jennie who I sat by on the bus and ran the first few miles with. She was really talkative and friendly and made the first bit of the race fun. After a while, though, I lost her and didn't even see her at the end.

The race itself was kinda tough. There was a strong head wind the entire time that made me have tears streaming down my face the first 5 miles. It was still a great race though! I had a goal to get in under 1:50 and my official chip time was 1:47:01. YAYAH! I was mucho excited!

After the race, we hung around the expo for, oh, 5 minutes because there wasn't much that was interesting there. We headed to main street for a little shopping where a guy complained about how close I parked to him, then up to Arches National Park for a little (and I mean very little) hiking. We spent most of the time in the car looking around which was fine. I don't know that my legs could have handled a hike to Delicate Arch this year. Then, we went back to the park and took a nap in the car because we were both so exhausted. After dinner at Zax (apparently my restaurant of choice for Moab, although next time I think I'll go elsewhere) we headed back to Price for the night. Being so tired, we went to bed pretty quickly.

We woke up a little later Sunday morning and started home. It was a really short, but really fun trip with a great run! I'm planning on going back sometime this year and hopefully staying a little longer. Thanks to Amber for being a good sport and coming along!

That said... bring on the Ogden Marathon!

Please help!

I've been wracking my brain to come up with cupcake flavors to bake for friends and family to find the best flavor to make for myself when I can have sugar again...

Side note: It's been 80 days without sugar. I go crazy sometimes, and other days I'm totally fine. Only a little over 60 days to go.

Anyway, I actually came up with SIXTEEN different cupcake flavors, but I only have NINE baking weeks left! I can't double up cupcake flavors, I really don't have time for that. So, if you would, PLEASE, vote for which cupcake flavors most intrigue you! The top five I'm making regardless, so there's really no need to vote for them. I just want to post them because they sound delicious and I smile every time I say (or write) them :)

Give me your top three, and (if I end up making those flavors) I will bring you one! But I really, really could use your help...

...if you're reading.

Cherry Turnover
Cheesecake
Raspberry Truffle
Cinnamon Fire
Hot Chocolate
Orange Creamsicle
Pumpkin Pie
Lemon Cream
Mint Chocolate Chip
Banana Chocolate
Peaches & Cream
Key Lime Pie
Golden Oreo
Strawberries & Cream
Coconut Cream
Chocolate Cover Cinnamon Bear (no idea how this would work, just curious)

Thanks!

GOOOOOOOAAAALLL!!!!!!!!

Last weekend was absolutely terrible... well, at least Sunday was. My sister and her husband went to Las Vegas to watch some college ball and had to miss their oldest daughter going to her first prom. I told my sister I would help out, fix Lex's hair, get her ready, be there when her date picked her up, etc. It was actually really fun! I made cupcakes with the other kids (chocolate peanut butter, YUM!) while she was on her day date and then went to work as soon as she got home. She looked beautiful! I'll post pictures as soon as I get them done.

That night, my parents decided to take the other kids out to dinner since Lex got to go out and have fun. We all went to Golden Corral... I think this is where the problem started. I had a huge salad, lots of chicken, a couple wheat rolls, and veggies. I was super full, not hungry at all for the rest of the night. I waited til Lex got home from her date and went to sleep. Sunday morning I woke up and had egg beaters for breakfast (another contributor), dropped the kids off at church, and went home. As soon as I got home, I started feeling a little... ok... a LOT yucky. I tried to take a nap before I had to get up for church, but I was very, VERY nauseated and spent a good portion of the morning in the bathroom. Needless to say, I wasn't going to church. I was sick all day Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday morning.

I was worried I had food poisoning, so I worked four hours Monday morning, taught an RPM class at noon (which was probably a really bad idea) and went to the doctor. They did blood tests, gave me a liter of fluid with an IV because I was dehydrated, and sent me home. I stayed at my parents house for a few hours then went back to my apartment. I was so sick that night that it took a couple hours to get to sleep. I went to work yesterday until we got our paychecks, then went home to get packed for my trip.

Last night, I was feeling a lot better and had no trouble getting to sleep. I was able to wake up this morning and get a nice six mile run in before I left for Indiana.

Anyway, all this sickness and loss of appetite got me down to my goal weight! It was a very unhealthy way to get there (not recommended at all), and I'll probably gain a few pounds back now that I'm eating fairly regularly, but it was exciting to get there at least! I still have 26 days before the challenge ends, so now my goal is to keep up with my weight and build more muscle. That'll start as soon as I get back from the race this weekend. I'm totally ready to KICK SOME TRASH!!!