New year, new home

Howdy friends! Please visit me at my new blog home

http://randierin.wordpress.com/

This was my very first blog, and after giving her a facelift, I have decided to go back to a wordpress platform to continue blogging.

Thanks and hope to see you there!

Anniversary Gift Ideas

I have been married just over 6 months, so I know this is a bit premature, but with thinking about Christmas shopping and wish lists, I couldn't help but share with you (and my sweet husband) two ideas that I recently came across that would make perfect anniversary gifts for our first anniversary this coming March.

1. Enlarged and Framed Sheet Music (as artwork)


via Pinterest

 This is just awesome. and it covers the traditional symbol for a first anniversary gift, "paper". Song selections could be our first dance song, or the song I walked down the aisle to (Moon River, just in case someone forgot) or just another song that sounds like "us". I think this is just fabulous and would look good in many rooms.



2. Anniversary Band


 I would love to have a plain wedding/anniversary band to wear solo for running and working out, and also to be able to pair a plain band with my solitaire engagement ring. Since my original wedding ring is an enhancer that my engagement ring sits inside of, I have to wear it as a complete set and I don't really like wearing such a large ring when I run or go to the gym. I would love a plain Jane white gold band, about the same width as my engagement ring.



My Princess Solitaire engagement ring



Together with enhancer

 So those are my two anniversary gift ideas! What do you think? Do you have an anniversary band, and if so, do you mix and match your wedding/anniversary bands, or alternate wearing them?

Do you drop hints to your husband or boyfriend about possible anniversary gifts?

Cheers!

How I Started Running

I was on the track team in middle school and for one year in high school. I ran short sprints and relays, and my favorite races were the 4x100, and the 100 meter hurdles. I was good at those, because they were short distance and only a quarter of the track. Not to toot my own horn, but I was pretty fast.

I also ran the 4x400 relay, however it was my least favorite because back then I thought an entire lap around the track was pure madness. There are a few reasons why I quit track after one year in high school, mainly because it interfered with our competition calendar for cheerleading.  If I ever had a regret, quitting track would probably be it.

After that, I wasn't a big runner at all. I remember taking a class in college, Boot Camp Fitness, and we had to run a mile and a half, and I thought it would be the death of me. I got bored while running and counting laps around a track was not interesting to me at all.

So in 2009 when my brother mentioned he was going to run a 5k with some friends and asked me to join, I immediatley laughed and said no. I didn't even know how many miles that was, but it sounded far and I was not interested. Then he told me I could walk it and that there would be beer at the end. So I asked how far was 5k exactly. 3.1 miles. After some convincing I finally agreed and the only thing I was looking forward to on the day of the race was the free beer at the finish line.

But then something happened on that race day when all those people showed up in their running shoes with numbers pinned on the front of their shirts and sports watches to time their progress, it was like something lit a desire in me that I never even knew I had. When the shotgun went off and the race started, and I turned on the ipod I borrowed from my brother and started jogging with a thousand other people, there was so much positive energy and excitement inside me. I had shown up fully prepared to walk most of the way. However, I surprised myself and ran most of (as well as really enjoyed) those three miles.



My First Race, Palace 5k April 2009 (I'm the one in pink)

  I was so excited about my accomplishment, that I convinced my friend Karah to run another race with me the next month. In May we ran the Tails and Trails 5k and after that she and I both were officially hooked on running races.

We started running together twice a week with the hopes of  improving our time for future 5ks. We ran a handfull of those for about a year, then Karah suggested we up the anty and attempt to run a 10k.

Our first 10k was this past April, the Springtime Tallahassee 10k. We trained for months in advance having two motivators, both of us wanted to lose a few pounts for my (then) upcoming wedding, and we wanted to cross the finish line having run most of the 6 mile race. We crossed the finish line, had a celebratory adult beverage, realized 6.2 miles wasn't so bad, and in the following few weeks, we set our next goal. We would run a half Marathon in October.



Springtime Tallahassee 10K, April 2011

  There were many times while Karah and I trained for the half marathon that we both thought we had lost our minds. There was one time I remember in particular, it was an early Saturday morning and I drove out to Havana where Karah lives and we ran an 8 mile track that took us around the Havana Golf Club. It was a  warm Hot summer day and we had her two kids in the double stroller, and at about mile 4 I remember feeling like it would be impossible to complete all 13 miles of the half marathon. 

We pushed through our training plan and on the day of the run it paid off. But what really is rewarding about this whole experience, has been spending time with a wonderful friend who I admire very much. We set goals and hold each other accountable all while enjoying the company of a good friend.



Apalachicola Run for the Bay Half Marathon, October 2011



So... what's our next goal you ask? With the time change and now that it gets darker outside earlier, we are going to try to improve our time on short runs, with the intent of improving our 10k time from last year by 10 minutes this coming March! Stay tuned for updates!

Motivation

I am ashamed to say my Nikes have only hit the pavement once since the big half marathon, and my appearances on the blog have been few and far between as well... so here are some words of motivation, I need some in all aspects of my life lately!

all photos from Pinterest

After a hectic day at the office, I am headed to a busy evening of Junior League meetings. Hope Monday was good to you!

Cheers,

Fuzzy

Here are some fuzzy pictures taken with my camera phone from this past weekend. And yes, the top item on my Christmas wish list is a new camera!

 This was taken after the Seminoles shut out NC State this past Saturday! This was after the game while we were waiting for the crowd to thin out. I realized I hadn't taken a single picture the entire time we were there. It was a GORGEOUS day in Doak Campbell Stadium, and a shut-out game made it even sweeter!

My girl Tab who sat with me at the game. She is an FSU Alum, I am just a hometown girl cheering for my second favorite college team. 

This deliciousness is homemade PUMPKIN CREME BRULEE and was heaven on a plate! I was so proud of myself for making this from scratch. It was not as hard as it sounds like it would be. I realized too late that the torch I had intended to use for the final step of caramelizing the top didn't come with butane, so I went with plan B and turned on the oven broiler. Visually it didn't look as crisp, but I promise you it tasted just as delicious! Click here for the recipe I used.

And last but not least... my sweet little Darcy. I rarely get a shot of her with her eyes open, and this was just too sweet not to share! I think she had just been eyeballing my pumpkin creme brulee and plotting a way to sneak a taste after I set my dish down. Hehe!

Hope you're not in a Halloween candy sugar coma this morning! Despite the abundance of left over candy in the office, I only had two milky way's yesterday, and none yet today. The key word there is "yet"...

Cheers!

13.1

If you had told me three years ago that I would be able to run 13.1 miles, much less enjoy it, I would have said you have downright lost your mind.

But my running partner (and one of my best friends) Karah and I went down to the little fishing town of Apalachicola this past weekend, and early Sunday morning we ran our first half marathon, The Apalachicola Running for the Bay Marathon.


A good luck basket of goodies from my sweet husband!


Krysti, (who is Karah's sister) Karah and I rode down to the coast (which took not quite 2 hours) in  Krysti's jeep with the top down. It was such a nice drive! The weather was fantastic and we rocked out to great music the whole way down.

We stayed at the Apalachicola River Inn on the second floor overlooking the bay. It was really a fantastic view! That evening we had a few drinks and a delicious dinner at Tamara's, listened to some live music downtown at the blues festival, then Karah and I called it an early night and walked back to our room to get some good rest before the big race the next morning.



That bridge in the background is the one we ran across and back for the race, The Gorrie Bridge

  We got up at 6:00am Sunday morning and got on our warm running clothes since it was a chilly 56 degrees. Armed with our iPods, we tracked across the street to the starting line at about 6:45 and stretched really good while we waited for the 7:15 race to begin.

I hope I never forget the feeling I had watching the sun rise over the gulf while running across the Gorrie Bridge that connects Apalachicola to Eastpoint. It was so moving, and the whole way across and back I thanked God that I had legs to run, eyes to see the sunrise, and breath to breathe in the salty ocean air.



I also have to add that a lot of my motivation and adrenaline came from the OUT OF THIS WORLD play list I created on my iPod. Music really motivates me, and I get really bored with repetitive songs, so I took careful consideration when arranging this play list for the big run.

One of my friends, Kristin, suggested I check out GirlTalk, a mash up DJ who combines songs everyone loves. She sent me a link to download for free. I am skeptical of anything that you can download for free, but I have to tell you, it did not disappoint. The beat is incredible and it kept me pumped up all the way until the finish line, and I think I even could have kept on going! So shout out to Kristin for the phenomenal suggestion!

 



Coming to the end of the bridge, I spotted my mom down on the ground taking pictures. I waved so she would know it was me!



Almost done! This was the final down hill section of the bridge.





Coming in strong for the finish!

Done! Ah it felt so fantastic to cross that finish line!

Miss Morgan was there to cheer me on across the finish! So glad she told me about this run and glad we both finished it!

Karah coming down hill off the bridge



And Karah crossing the finish! Way to go girl!

Me with two of the girls who were bridesmaids in my wedding!



My running buddy Karah



We did it! 13.1!


I ran 13.1 miles in 2:30:03, which was a pace of 11:28 per mile. I finished 16th in my age division and 136 overall. I am so proud of Karah and myself for accomplishing this goal!

Now what's next??? We have decided to work on our time, and try to be at least 10 minutes faster by the next Springtime Tallahassee 10k, which is usually sometime in April. Personally, I would love be running a 9 minute mile by then!

Cheers!

Lovely Advice- Day 33

Health: Drink plenty of water. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. Live with the 3 E’s - Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy Play more games. Read more books than you did in 2010. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Sleep for 7 hours. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality: Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment. Don’t over do. Keep your limits. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip. Dream more while you are awake. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime. Smile and laugh more. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society: Call your family often. Each day give something good to others. Forgive everyone for everything. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6. Try to make at least three people smile each day. What other people think of you is none of your business. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch. Life: Do the right thing! Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. The best is yet to come. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.