Vacation, Oregon and Running!

Hello from Oregon!! 

My two goals for this vacation are to sleep and to run! My schedule this fall has been ridiculous and I am so grateful for a chance to sloooow down and take it easy this week. 

I rolled out of bed after 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep feeling like a completely new person. Absolutely amazing how refreshed I felt! Perfect start to my vacation!

I was so excited to go for my run this morning! I love exploring new places while running! I had forgotten how much I love running in the cold! So invigorating and refreshing! 

I am extremely proud of myself because I took the above picture with my nose! My gloves make using my phone while running impossible, but apparently my nose was still warm enough to do the trick and is a darn good photographer of I do say so myself. Curlypinkrunner's nose is available for hire at all your special events to capture your precious memories. 

Three miles never felt so good. I took it easy and ran music free. Oregon is really beautiful running country!! 

My trip will be spread out in several states this week, beginning in Oregon. My friend has been working at youth ranch in western Oregon all summer and is going home to Nebraska for the winter. We will be diving home, so I will be running, eating and sleeping through Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. 

If you're not following me on Instagram-- doooo it! You can find me on Instagram @ curlypinkrunner because I am soooo original like that.

What's your favorite thing to do on vacation?? 

How many miles did you run today? 

Arizona 2013 - Day 4.

(Day 1, Day 2, & Day 3!)

Our last day in Arizona was so bittersweet! I kept thinking 'tomorrow I have to go home' and I would get so sad, but also excited, because I do love my home routine, but I HATE saying goodbye to my best friends. All three of the guys had to work during the day, so Tabitha and I enjoyed a day to ourselves and the guys enjoyed some peace and quiet from our babbling.

First thing in the morning Noah & I hit the gym for a quick sweat session. For the first time in my life I wore shoes that did not match my workout top- and I chose to do it on the day when the most people ever (my normal gym traffic- 0-6 people. that day - 20-100 people.) saw me and my un-matchingness. No, that's not a word, and no, not a single person cared, but I sure did.


The gym was HUGE and I'll admit- I was intimidated because there were SO many other people. I tried to just act like I knew exactly what I was doing, but it was a major fail. For my workout I started with 10 minutes on the elliptical followed by a back/bicep circuit with free weights. I then alternated 10 minutes rowing and 10 minutes StairMaster for a total of 40 minutes.
Noah was working out in the machines area, and at one point he was using the pullup machine at the edge of the free weights area. Like the nice sister I am, I went over and put my arm around his waist to say hey.......oh hello- YOU ARE NOT MY BROTHER. I swear this guy and Noah could have been twins, and they were also both wearing grey Under-Armour shorts. I literally died of embarrassment. Try choking out an explanation  to that one......I'm not sure the guy believed me, I'm pretty sure he thought I was trying to pick him up. Uh-uh Mr., I've got much classier moves than that.
(Most embarrassing gym-moment of my life.)


Post workout mocha/coconut smoothie from the cafe in the gym. Ridiculously expensive and way too sweet for my tastes. I'm glad to say that my homemade mocha/coconut smoothie is so much tastier and significantly cheaper!!

After the gym I went back to the house to pick up Tabitha. Time for some serious retail therapy! Tabitha and I love shopping together and we hadn't been able to go shopping since she moved to Pennsylvania in January. For us, shopping is usually talking/people watching/not spending any money. Best combination ever.  :)
I have always had a major dislike for escalators and refuse to use them unless coerced. I have zero coordination and all I can think of is "I'm going to fall/My shoelace is going to get sucked into the steps/Oh gosh I hate heights."

For lunch we tried a little sushi joint in northern Phoenix. I love, love shrimp tempura, and Tabitha's favorite is the California Roll. We also both got spicy tuna.

We spent the evening climbing Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale. Our trip to Arizona last summer included climbing Camelback Mountain, so we knew that was something we definitely wanted to do again this trip!



There are two ways to climb Camelback- Cholla Trail and Echo Canyon Trail. Echo Canyon is steeper & and a kick-butt climb while Cholla Trail is less challenging.

Last year we climbed by way of Echo Canyon trail. We were disappointed to find out that Echo Canyon Trail is closed until October for renovations. Cholla Trail was fun, but I missed the challenge of Echo Canyon.

 

 

 

 

 
If you visit the Phoenix area, I would definitely recommend you climb Camelback! It's a quick climb- most people summit in under an hour- and the view is amazing!! 

 

Our day ended with some Yogurtland action. Tabitha and I made an exceptional team when we get froyo. I always get chocolate/peanut butter/coconut/coffee/hazelnut flavors with brownie and cheesecake pieces. Tabitha always gets plain or fruit flavors with fruit on top and then we share our bowls bite for bits. This enables us to get the best of both flavor worlds without having to contaminate the flavors in our bowls.  I'm pretty sure I read in a magazine that Yogurtland was voted the best refueling option post mountain climbing, but don't quote me on it.

Our flights left Arizona the following morning, and it was back to home sweet home. I am so glad we were able to make the trip and spend so much time together. Growing up in a large family was fun, but being in adult in a large family is so amazing- so many best friends!!

If you could have been with us on one day of our trip, which day would you choose?? 

Froyo toppings- fruit or candy?

Arizona 2013- Day 3!

(Read about Day 1 and Day 2.)


Day three started out bright and early with a quick 2 mile run. I ran a very slow recovery pace after running the 8k the night before. It was nice to have a nice shake out run for my legs. I got back just in time to take part in a massive tickle/pillow fight. I'm not sure if there is any better way to start a day!

We had brunch, then hit the road headed up to Sedona/Flagstaff. It was a beautiful day for a quick road trip! 

Notice the Starbucks-- venti iced coffees with double shots all around!!
My brother and I were arguing about sweetening iced coffee. I maintain that iced coffee is not to be contaminated by any sort of sweetener, but simply enjoyed in the fullest, richest state possible. He insists that you need to add at least 4 pumps of sweetener. Help a sister out- sweetened or non-sweetened??  

 

My sister & I frequently get guessed as twins- do you see the resemblance?

We took a hike through a canyon and found a spot for a picnic. The weather was just perfect for an hike- cool and sunny and breezy. Arizona heat is so dry compared to Kansas- no humidity! 

 

The canyon was really lovely, except for the abundance of bees. None of us got stung, but there were plenty of bees- too many for my taste!

 

 

(Yes, I was the genius who chose sandals for a hiking trip. Take a walk on the wild side.)

Wonderful people, beautiful scenery, perfect weather = fantastic day!

Arizona 2013- Day 2!

(Read about Day 1 here.)

Saturday morning I was up early and Tabitha & I went for a long walk through the neighborhood. It was a beautiful morning! We also explored the desert outside of the housing development, but we didn't get too adventurous  let's not get lost and die on our first full day.

 

 

It was so good to have special time with my sister-- I am always so grateful that no matter how long it has been since we saw each other last, we always pick up exactly where we left off. We know each other better then we know ourselves. I am immeasurably grateful for her friendship! 

The rest of the morning was spent in preparation for a baby shower that they held for Adam's sister. She's expecting a girl in July. Lots of cooking (tasting) and decorating and laughing together. Many hands make light work and everything came together really well. 

Noah is an amazing chef and he prepared the food for the shower. The dark chocolate truffles were unbelievable  So, so good! 

Diaper the baby race! (I may or may not have been very handily beaten by my younger sister!) 

Noah & I! When we were little kids we used to pretend that we were twins. It's funny to remember the days when we would fight over who was taller (because I had him by 1/4 or 1/2 an inch for several years) and now he's exactly a foot taller than I am! 

Tabitha, Noah, Patrick, Adam & I.

After the baby shower we headed out to run the Night Run 8k, held in Old town Scottsdale.
Recap of that race coming up!! 

Arizona 2013 - Day 1.

I'm splitting up my vacation photos into a couple of different posts to share with you.

My flight left Kansas City at 2:40 on Friday afternoon. When I approached the counter to pring my boarding pass, I discovered that I had forgotten both my drivers license AND my debit card at home. This is extremely abnormal for me because I am so organized and OCD about everything in my life! I could not believe I had forgotten something as important as my DL! Getting on the plane is impossible without photo ID, so for a few moments of heart-wrenching panic, I thought I was going to completely miss my trip. As a last resort I gave them my department issued photo-ID and prayed they would accept it. Thankfully they did and I was able to board the plane!

I brought a red pepper and jerky from home to eat on the flight. I had a non-stop flight so I got in some quality studying time during the flight. Normally I like to talk to the people sitting with me, but both of them were sleeping. 

I'm a total sucker for the Skymall magazine! I would never purchase anything out of it but I love looking through it. I laughed at this particular item- discreet phone device?? That red and black bracelet doesn't strike me as particularly discreet!!  

 When we landed in Phoenix my brother arrived to pick me up. Noah is 17 months older than me and we have always been super close growing up! It was so good to see him. We drove home and got some Starbucks-- I was in need of some serious caffeine! Tabitha's flight didn't get in until 9:30 so we had a couple of hours to kill until we had to go back to the airport. 

For supper we went to Z Tegas Grill. I had the chorizo stuffed pork tenderloin and it was superb!! It came with sweet potatoes and sauteed vegetables and it was perfect! 

And then the best part of the day--- the three of us together!! Loved our big crazy hug in the middle of the airport terminal!!

When we got back from the airport it was time to wind down and relax out on the patio. Great company + perfect weather = wonderful way to end our day! It was nice to chill and tell as many embarrassing stories about Noah as we could come up with. :)

Next up- Day 2!