Pinnable Me: I've Been There

This Friday I am linking up over at Paw Prints and Pastry Bags to share some of my favorite pictures on pinterest. This week I am loving places I've been.

Key West, Florida

Source: flickr via colour your life on pinterest

Vail, Colorado

Source: google images via heather on pinterest

Paris, France

Source: afn via april on pinterest

 

Martinique

Source: national geographic via sophia on pinterest

Baltimore, Maryland

Source: soul of america via sabine on pinterest

 

NYC

Source: fantasticfrank via muriel on pinterest

 

Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, California

Source: dezinerfolio via april on pinterest

Happy Pinning!!

My New Obsession

Okay, so I just have to say that I am currently loving Glee! I had seen a few episodes before the beach with my friends, where I watched the whole first season, but now I am on a mission to finish season 2 by the time the 3rd season starts.

There is just something about all the singing and dancing, and the way the group sticks together no matter what, that makes me love this story.

Can't wait for the new season to start!!

Girl's Beach Trip 2011

My absence in the blogsphere this past week was due to the fact that I was at the beach with some of my best friends.

We spent a lot of time at the beach, just relaxing. We also spent a lot of time eating. We went out for ice cream almost every night. My favorites were Booty Treats and Kill Devil Hill's Custard, so good!

We bought this huge thing of cheese balls, and it sort of became our mission to eat them all by the end of the week. (That and to finish season one of Glee, which I am happy to say we accomplished both!)

We grilled out, and enjoyed making dinner at the beach house together.

We ate dinner our last night at Sam and Omie's, one of my favorite restaurants in the Outer Banks. I was also lucky enough to get lunch one day at Captain Franks. Hey, I told you we ate a lot!

Besides just consuming lots of calories together, I was lucky to have my running buddies with me at the beach. One morning we ran 4 miles, and Saturday morning I did my long run and ran a little over 9 miles! A new record for myself! I was so proud for not only running a new distance, but also to sticking to my training during vacation.

I feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends and I am so thankful for such a great time!

A Day At The Vineyard

Since I'm leaving for the beach tomorrow I decided to take today off too. Clarke ended up taking today off as well, so we could spend some time together before I leave. We ended up going to a vineyard about an hour away from us.

We loved the Barboursville Vineyards. It was so beautiful and relaxing, just what we needed!

We walked around the property and it was just really nice. Since it was a Monday almost nobody was there.

We went to lunch at a really cute place called the Stonefire Kitchen. Coke in a real glass bottle, yes please!

We were both impressed with everything. A good friend of mine got engaged about a year ago out here, and we passed it when we were coming home from the mountains last fall, and ever since then I've wanted to go. So glad we took the day to go explore!

Sunday Night Recap

This past weekend has been great. There was a date night with my hubby, a great training run, a "preppy" brunch and putt putt, dancing, pool time with friends and lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant.

Friends out for our preppy brunch to celebrate Em's birthday.

I wanted to write some sort of update about my job search, but I'm at a lose for words. This past week has been a roller coaster of ups and downs, and despite my moods I am sure that God is at work in my life right now.

I had the best 5 mile run ever on Saturday morning. It was the easiest 5 miles I've ever ran, and it felt great. I am so happy to finally be seeing results from all my training. Maybe this job search is the same way? I am doing all this work now, and eventually will see the fruits from it all. I know I will.

Tuesday I am off to the beach with the girls!! I am so excited.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!! :)

New Design

So my blog is finally fixed, thanks to the ladies over at Smitten Blog Designs!

I am loving the new look, hope you do too!!

Under Construction

Please exuse the mess!!! I am currently redesigning my blog and have no more patience! Gotta get in the bed to get up early to run, so I'll be fixing this later! Come back soon to see the new design!!! Thanks!

Summer Lovin'

I am loving summer. Here's why:

Good training runs with friends.

Playing golf with Clarke.

Grilling out.

Anticipating a beach trip with the girls.
The sun. The pool. Soaking it all up before school starts!

going too far

I am loving this quote..........

http://amytangerine.blogspot.com via rachel on pinterest

A year ago if you had told me I would be training for a marathon I wouldn't have believed it. I can't believe how far I have come in less than a year. :)

Fourth of July Food

So I mentioned in my last post that I attended a bunch of parties/cookouts this past holiday weekend. I made two different dishes to bring to two different cookouts. Thought I would share because both of them turned out great, and one is a favorite classic of mine!

Sunday I made deviled eggs for our neighborhood cookout. This is a recipe of my mom's that I have always loved. I've made it so many times that I don't even measure the ingredients anymore.

But here is the recipe:

6 hard boiled eggs

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp pepper

3 tbs mayo (but sometimes I add more)

To boil the eggs place in cold water with 1 inch above, bring to boil, let sit 10 minutes covered on low, then place directly into cold water. They say the cold water helps them to peel easier. After cutting in half and adding ingredients to egg yolks, fill whites with mixture. I lastly sprinkle paprika on top, and they are so good!

Monday I made this really fun cake to bring to another cookout. It was suppose to be red, but I couldn't get the red food coloring to work, so it was pink. It still tasted good though.

Click here for the recipe, it was actually pretty easy to make.

Color Me Red, White and Blue!

This long holiday weekend was filled with lots of food, fireworks, friends and family.

Saturday we spent the day at a family friend's house on the river. They had a big party with lots of great food.

Their house is out in the country and it's so peaceful. It was really nice.

Sunday we had a neighborhood cookout. Once again we ate a lot, and enjoyed friends. I was really impressed with the fireworks too.

Monday we went to a cookout at a friend's house, and then to the flying squirrel's game.

At the bottom of the secong inning it starting storming, so we went inside and waited.....

and waited........ But it didn't stop. They ended up canceling the game, but we still had a great time enjoying everyone's company and just hanging out.

As we were leaving the rain let up and they did the fireworks. I was so happy we got to see them!

Overall, it was such a great holiday weekend. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family!!

why i run

My marathon training team head coach sent us out an email this week, asking us to really think about why we run, and hold onto it, because that is what's going to get you to the marathon.

So why do I run? And why did I decide to run a marathon?

I started running about 8 months ago, as a way to stay healthy. I needed some way of staying active, and I had friends who ran, so I thought why not? Then it became a social thing, I knew every Monday I could hear about my friend's dating lives, we could catch up and just have fun together. Then my friend talked me into training for a 10k race, then a different friend talked me into the marathon.

But somewhere along the way I realized that running has given me back a part of my life that had been missing for some time. I loved doing sports in high school. Swim team, gymnastics, cheering and running. I ran cross country and track and field. In all of these sports, you are competing against yourself, and by doing this you improve yourself. If you fall off the beam or swim a little slower you have no one to blame but yourself. But if you nail your landing and perform your routine perfectly you know it was all the hard work you put in, not just an inferior opponent. Running is the same way. A coach said your biggest obstacle in getting to the marathon is yourself, and it's so true.

I also love setting goals for myself. When I started training for a 10k, I honestly doubted myself. I remember thinking, I'm not going to make it to 6 miles by April. Then in early February I ran my first 10k. I was so proud of myself, the feeling of accomplishment on that day made me realize that I could do this and I was hooked.

Running is not always fun, it's not always pleasurable. But the finish always is. Whether it's just after a training run on a hot day, or like today, when I reached a new distance, 7 miles, that feeling of getting closer to your goal, or having just reached your goal, words can't describe it.

So, I run for the challenge. I run to reach a new goal. I run because I want to do something extraordinary. I run because something inside me loves it.

July 4th Favorites

I'm sure most of you have heard of Pinterest, I'm in love with this site! (Go check it out if you haven't yet.)
I was scrolling through some 4th of July pictures, and there are so many cute ones. Here are my favorites, to get you ready for this fun holiday weekend!

all photos from pinterest

Happy 4th of July!!!