Thinking....

I do A LOT of thinking, I over think ALL the time... I grapple and I do the whole pro/con list(s) and in the end I usually have picked apart whatever decision topic I am trying to figure out. Sometimes you just have to listen to your gut... and realize that not every question has an easy solution. I am *trying* to do what is best for me .... I guess only time will tell.

From the Foundation Web site today:
“I believe life is a series of near misses. A lot of what we ascribe to luck is not luck at all. It's seizing the day and accepting responsibility for your future. It's seeing what other people don't see. And pursuing that vision.”
—Howard Schultz

YaY!

Why my dad is the BEST:

1- he only wants the best for his family, and you always know it

2- he is smart as a "whip" ;)

3- he LOVES Mr. Big & me, too

4- he woke me up everyday every year for who knows how long with a song...and on my bday a bagel ;)

5- he is the best man I know

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!
May 2006

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!

Christmas 2007

Some of my favorite Dad pictures!

Lake 2007

Christmas 2006- making a pecan pie! Grandpa and Nick, June 2008

grandpa and Nick, one of my FAVORITE pictures!

Boatin'! June 2008

Lubbock, May 2008 My dad is a wonderful man.... his guidance and wisdom helped create the woman I am today. Daddy I love you.

Hope you had a wonderful birthday!!!

**4**

4 things I did 10 years ago (1998):

1. This time ten years ago I was about to start high school --eek!

2. Started driver's ed

3. Made a bunch of new friends

4. Ran track

4 things I did 5 years ago (2003):

1. Had my 20th birthday party with a great group of friends!

2. Met some of my best friends

3. Lived in an awesome house :)

4. Played a lot of frisbee after classes

4 things I did 2 years ago (2006):

1. Fell in love

2. Graduated from TTU with my BBA, Marketing

3. Finally got a new job

4. Stood by one of my best friends at her wedding

4 things I did yesterday:

1. Interview

2. Decision making/ discussing

3. missed one of my best friends

4. ran

4 TV shows I love to watch:

1. army wives (blush)

2. 24

3. What Not To Wear

4. Burn Notice

4 things I love to do:

1. Be with Jon

2. Run

3. Travel

4. Play with Mr. Big

4 things I did today:

1. Lunch with a good friend

2. More decision grappling

3. Watched Las Vegas

4. Read

25 Things!!

25 Things
1. My parents are some of my best friends

2. Mr. Big is one of the best parts of my day, every day

3. I love fudgesicles
4. I do not own a little black dress…. But I want one!
5. Jon is the most fantastic man

6. My nephew is the CUTEST little boy EVER (I may be slightly biased) ;)

7. I am slightly OCD
8. I love TV shows Sex and the City and 24!!!
9. I love to read; seriously I could sit for hours and read
10. Pictures are fabulous and so important

(Photo below: my uncles Jesse, Jimmie and mom)
11. I wear the same rings almost everyday
12. I worry, a lot
13. I can be spontaneous
14. I love the water
15. Running is the best stress relief
16. I can’t “name that tune” or artist, but I love music
17. I have few best friends and many acquaintances
18. I don’t cuddle well.. I get too hot!
19. What Not To Wear is THE BEST
20. My dog loves original toys, ie: water bottles and xmas paper rolls
21. I love to organize things
22. I don’t notice my freckles when I look in the mirror
23. My brothers are my heroes

24. I CAN’T believe that I am not starting school in a few weeks
25. I love to cook, bring on the recipes!

And so it begins....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Debbie!

(Jon's Mom)

Today is the first of the WHIRL-WIND of August birthdays!!

And...

I cut ALL of my hair off last week- about 7 or 8 inches.... I have attempted to find a picture of my hair long... but I have been wearing it UP for about a month... it was super long... Here is a photo from the day of my appointment

now it is .....

I LOVE IT!!! :)

***3***

HAPPY Anniversary to us! Jon and I just celebrated three years, on 8-8/8-9! Yes, we have two days to celebrate. :)

Here is a picture from our first year together..

Last year we were in LAS VEGAS for Many and Cody's nuptials- SOOO much fun, so happy to be a part of their special day. The night before the wedding, a day early, we went to the Top of the World restaurant at the Stratosphere and had a special dinner. :)

This year was not as exciting.... no special wedding trip, but we still had a great day(s). We went to 50 Yard Line..... SOOO GOOD! And finished up the evening watching the movie 21!

It really doesn't matter what we do to celebrate, I love being with Jon. We have a GREAT time doing nothing... I love that. :) He is my best friend and my better half. :)

Three years and he still amazes me pretty much every day. I love him and can't wait to see what our future holds!

Look what we did!!

So, Jon's parents have been in Alaska all week, meaning we have had two extra pups to take care of, Eddie and Little Bit. I have nicknamed them the Three Stooges, Big = Moe, Eddie= Curly, and LB = Larry. They are sweet dogs, but they are not trained... which is irritating to say the least. 1 example is that Eddie will SPRINT out of ANY open door and if it happens to lead to "freedom" he will not be coming back, he has been hit TWICE by cars.... some dogs NEVER learn. (He survived obviously and we had NO jail breaks) Little Bit is a little weiner dog.. he is cute but has a spastic bladder.

Anywho, the point is D & G left us a cake to bake. Tonight we decided to make said cake -- hence the running I have to do -- we baked our first cake, together. It was cute, dorky and fun. I took pictures.. yay!

The first picture, I don't follow directions very well and began spreading the icing before the cake had its 15 minutes of cooling time. ;)

Jon spreading some icing.... we all know how much he *LOVES* pictures....

and the finished product.... it was sooo yummy....

And he does dishes!! :)

We had such a fun Sunday! :)

Running

I have been running for probably 6 months now. I have run most of my adult life--- ha ha, the exercise of running, not "running." I tend to step it up during the spring and summer but the fall/winter months take their toll with the weather changes and what not. I run outside.

When I get into the swing of things, I am O.C.D. about running I do it EVERY morning, even when I rather lay in bed. But when I get out of the swing, fall off the wagon, get lazy- whatever I want to refer to it as, I am BAD and will go weeks without a run. I HATE it, I talk about it, I disect it, and I notice the change in my body but also in my attitude.
Working out makes me happy- gives me energy- makes me sore (and I love it).
So, I am "in the swing" currently, and in an attempt to make sure I continue on this journey I thought I would 'tell' everyone I was doing it. :)

I run in the mornings, currently I run two miles, yesterday I ran 1 mile in 8:06m. I am pretty proud of that time, considering I just jog and as of three weeks ago I wasn't running- I hit a tough spot. Yesterday was the first time, I timed myself- I don't wear a watch anymore while I run, so I added up the two songs I listened to during the mile and it was 8:06, haha which I just realized is the area code... haha --


I have a handful of songs I listen to while I work out, they change periodically as my music mood changes. Right now I have one, from the SATC soundtrack, it is the most "keep going" song I have found. It is great for the end of both mile 1 and mile 2, the jist of the song is that you have to keep going, you have to continue to try, and in the end you will get what you deserve, but you can't give up. It is the BEST push for the end of those miles when my legs hurt, my lungs are screaming, and I am HOTTER than doo. It reminds me that I didn't have to run that day at all so why toss out the effort in the last 3/4 of a mile by stopping now.

On a side note, as another incentive to keep up with my runnning I have a list of "goal presents" if I continue every two weeks I will "get" myself something, most of them are silly- like new socks, or shorts, or a sports bra, but the one BIG one after 10 weeks of running consistently is.... headphones!

I REALLY want some wireless headphones for my iPod, with the bday looming in my future, I have hinted to Jon that, that would be a more than ACCEPTABLE gift .. the wires are SO ANNOYING WHEN YOU RUN! (maybe if I get them as a bday present I won't USE them until I hit the 10 week mark) They bounce off your arm and if you put them through your shirt they stick to your back and pull the bulbs out of your ear. IRRITATING!

My goal gift next week, it is the end of the first two weeks this Sunday, August 3, I am getting a haircut on Wed. :) it is free-- I am using a gift certificate that also expires on Wed.

I haven't run yet today, I got a LATE start this morning and it was already in the 90's-- I decided heat stroke wasn't worth it, so I am going tonight- in about 2 hrs to do my 2 miles, come home, shower and go to bed so that I can do my two miles in the AM tomorrow. I like to get it out of the way- ha! That way I don't spend all day figuring out reasons not to go- like I have done today. I AM going. End of story.

AUGUST

WHOA, I can't believe it is already August; is this year just flying by to everyone else, too? Because I feel like I just did August ... what a fun August Jon and I had last year- we went to Vegas for Mandy and Cody's wedding-- FANTASTIC TIME, we did the family august birthday celebration, always so fun to get together with the whole fam, LEAH and JEREMY's wedding-- again super fun, and then I started my final year of grad school.

HOLY COW IT HAS BEEN A FULL YEAR!

B*O*B

Jon gave me BOB last night, yep, he is the BRAVEST man ever... he gave me a book about changing your life and getting in shape. Now, before you judge-- I mentioned the last time we were perusing Hastings that I would LOVE to have that book. It was an off the cuff remark and apparenlty he filed it away and surprised me with it last night. :) I was so excited I took a picture of it!

I LOVE BOB on BL, I am BLUE team fan all the way! I am excited to start reading this and, hey maybe I will learn a thing or two about being in shape and staying in shape. I remember when I was in high school and junior high and it was so easy. JEEZ!!

Jon gave me another present the other day, for my new phone, to keep it looking brand new!

Isn't it pretty?! YES! It is shockingly pink, I wasn't sure I liked it at first, but it is growing on me as the days pass. :)

He has definitely done more than his part to cheer me up on the rough days .... he is so great!

After our date the other night, we felt bad because Big couldn't come so, we gave him some extra attention- he hopped in laundry basket and so I packed him in.... it was hilarious!