Just One Cup at a Time

Let's be honest here...

So let's be honest with each othere here.  Afterall what is this silly little blog about if we can't be honest with each other right?  I mean who am I....trying to pull the wool over your eyes?  No not me never.

Honesty is always the best policy.  So in the light of being honest let me say...

I am not an attractive runner!  ha!

Hence this fabulous shot.  Look at the thrill and excitement and joy in my face :)

This photo was actually a Christmas present and no I didn't put it on my santa list my BFF knew I would want to remember this day and she is so right.  As much as I hate this photo it's actually so sweet to me and tells a huge story.

This was my first ever 5K - well my first race ever and I did it.  I finished.  I cried.  I cheered with my arms up in the air as I crossed the finish line.  I cried.  I think I cried so hard at the accomplishment and because I remember how hard my very first minute I ever ran was - I thought it was never going to end and I hated it.  My cute Nikes that I bought to encourage were of absolutely no help :)

I started running last May trying the couch to 5k and then I had to leave for what was supposed to be 5-day trip to NY turned into 2 weeks for non-stop work.  Needless to say - no running.

Then I started again in August and made it to week 5, then I moved.  Needless to say - no running.

In October I came home from NY having closed the chapter on a relationship and signed up for a 5k with a co-worker exactly 9 weeks later.  The coincidental perfect amount of time to train for a couch to 5K and I wanted to do something for myself.  As soon as I signed up my other 3 amigos quickly said I wanna do it too.

And we did it - all of us!  Now....I'm hooked.  I never in a million cazillion years would have ever thought that I would be running.  But I am.  And I'm so diggin' it.  I don't always love putting on my running clothes at 6am but I do and after I cheer.

After I finished that race I thought oh I want to do one every 3-4 months and maybe by Dec '12 I'll do a 10k but noooo silly me signed up for a half marathon in August in Vancouver.  Now I'm on a 28-week training schedule.  Eeeeek what was I thinking??!!  I"m nervous but I am soooooo jazzed!  Once my friend Jenny put it out there a bunch of us hopped on.

I tell everyone if I can do this....anyone can (and if you know me well you know how very true this is). :) xoxo

GO!

Coffee date x 5

This has been such a busy crazy but amazing week.  I had 5 coffee dates this week Tuesday through Saturday which meant I didn't get home until after 11:00pm every night.  Coffee dates with old and new friends is the BEST.  Coffee dates with friends eating yummy desserts while I watch because I'm on my crazy strict eating plan is HARD.  But I did it and still managed to lose a good amount this week.

But this isn't about weight loss. 

These coffee dates were planned, not planned, unexpected, rescheduled but all meant to be.  In the same week.  It was awesome.  I was was encouraged and convicted and loved and challenged.  Made some hard decisions and questioned a few {grin} and laid my head down on my pillow each night knowing how blessed I am that God has surrounded me with some amazing woman!

Friends.  I need them.

Friends that spur me on.  I need them.

Friends that challenge me.  I need them.

Friends that pray and support me.  I need them.

Friends that laugh with me.  I need them.

Friends that are great examples to me.  I need them.

Friends that get me.  I need them.

Friends that don't get me.  I need them.

Friends I can be myself with.  I need them.

Friends that don't let me get away with myself.  I need them oh I need them.

Friends that point me to the cross and the truth.  I need them.

Friends that catch me when I fall.  I need them

Friends.  Love.  Cherish.  Joy.

A friend's birthday....

It was Kailey's birthday so we did what we should.....we made a day of it.

A whole day of it.

It was so fun that now I want it to be my birthday so we can do it all over again.

The Alcove is awesome if you've never been there.....the red velvet cake with our brunch kinda sorta made it that much more awesome.  No really it did :)

Kailey you are a LOVE and I'm so blessed to call you friend and walk this journey together....love you!!!

And after our fabulous brunch at Alcove and our red velvet cake.....we headed to Intelligentsia because you're never too full for a good cappucino.....

 

Friends and football

This same picture could be posted for just about any house when it comes to watching a sporting event on TV.

I love good times at friends homes...regardless of what team is playing and what ball is being tossed around :)

It's really all about the friends anway!!

But not every house has THIS face.......

The process full circle

When first thing in the morning you get a text with a picture that says:

"Our new wall art :) I love it!  I love it sooooooooo much!  Thanks for your great photography"

I smile that I'm seeing the process go full circle.  From a request via text "do you have some time to take some photos and help out with a Christmas card?" to a beautiful family hanging on a wall in someone's home.

I have some crazy friends out there who actually ask me and trust me to take their photos for their Christmas card.  I am not a photographer by any means, I like to tinker with it though, but for some friends who are like family and dare to ask I .....well....I oblige.  It's the nice thing to do.

And they're sure a cute family with one of the cutest kids evvv-uhhh!

 
They even let me design their Christmas card too :)

I like them alot!  Especially after the sushi gift certificate they gave me as a thank you....now  I really like them a whole whole lot!

 

 

A snow day.....no really that is snow!

Okay so it's not a TON of snow but it's white and fluffy and cold and it was magical....even if only for a day.

I think this is my favorite picture of the day.

I can smell fresh lemons on a cold day just looking at this picture.

Kate was the master snowman maker...hours later, 3 pairs of gloves, still in her pjs from the morning and she was never cold.

There's also no snow left on the grass because they rolled it all up making 8 snowman in total.

Me, I was sick and cold and kept going back inside to sit by the fire.

Kari takes any creative task she's on VERY serious.

....and to think I call myself a perfectionist! 

Who said perfectionist?  No not me!

Snow. Southern California.  It's a big deal.

Trust me on this one!

It will be another 21 years before we may see it again.