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?

How to Run Hills Faster and 2 Confessions.

Happy Friday my friends! I hope each of had an absolutely amazing week-- three cheers for a 3-day weekend starting NOW!
This week the weather has been absolutely ideal for running! I am loving the cool early mornings- and the longer hours at night if I need to squeeze in a run after work.
I'm pretty sure you are all hoping that I spend the next seven paragraphs rambling about my ordinary run today........wish granted.

Today's run didn't happen until fairly late in the day. It was windy, and I was hoping that by waiting until later in the day, the wind would die down and it would be a bit more pleasant (read- easier) to run. It didn't, so I chalked this run up as a great training run for Relay Iowa, which starts 2 weeks from today!  I don't suppose we can custom order 70 degree weather with 5mph winds..........if it's 100 and 20-30 mph winds, we will grin and bear it. 

I really do believe that Kansas is one of the most beautiful states in the USA- and really a hidden gem. Yes, it's a fly-over State, to be sure, but if you look closely, you can find some absolutely stunning places. All of the photos in today's post are edited, but I don't think they come close to the actual beauty of Kansas in real life.
Since I was already running in some pretty serious wind, I decided to make my run even more intense by adding some hills. Actually, it wasn't my decision- it was the fact that I live in Kansas and a flat route is unheard of. I'm pretty sure the 2 bugs I inhaled helped me climb those beastly hills without slowing down.   In order to conquer hills at the maximum speed possible, I'd recommend a consumption of a minimum of 1 bug per hill you intend to run. Let me know how it works for you.......  

I was only planning a 3 miler, but I was feeling good so I extended it to 4 miles. My legs were this weird combination of dead-tired-don't-want-to-turn-over and hey-lets-just-make-this-an-all-nighter-and-run-until-the-cops-stop-us.

I've been switching up my running shoes for every run lately in an attempt to make each pair last a little bit longer. There is absolutely no logical truth to this attempt, because I will retire each pair after 300 miles, regardless of how many weeks it took to put those miles on the pair. Confession 1: I really did think I was making my shoes last longer until my sister pointed out the fault in my logic. 300 miles = 300 miles whether it takes 4 months or 8 months to run them. Oh. OH.  Don't make anything too obvious or I just might miss it. 

Tonight I ran in my Nike Dual Fusion pair. Confession #2- I bought this pair solely (pun intended- please laugh here) for the purpose of matching with my workout tanks. Yes, I'm that girl. I did try them on, and I did think they were comfortable, but it was mostly the pink that got me. It has turned out to be one of my best decisions (choosing pink has yet to ever turn out to be a bad decision for me, FYI) because they are super comfortable and I have loved having them in my running shoe rotation. I wouldn't use them for any runs that are double digits or more, but for my lower mileage runs, they are fantastic.

Have you ever bought something just because you liked the color?

What shoes are you running in right now? Same pair or you switch 'em up?

What was the best thing you ate today? pb&j oatmeal for breakfast.

P.S. CURLY PINK RUNNER is now on FACEBOOK!!! 

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!

Dear High School Graduate.

Dear High School Graduate,

Congratulations. Graduating from high school is an amazing accomplishment. Don't underrate it. Celebrate it! Please go hug your Mom and Dad. It won't be until your own child graduates from high school that you can fully appreciate everything they have done to get you to this point- until then- be grateful and know you would not have made it without them.
There's a big, crazy, wonderful world waiting for you- go get it!
Just remember;

It's okay to not have everything figured out. 
There is nothing worse than that question, you know exactly which one I'm talking about!
 "What are you doing now that you are done with school?" 
Gulp. Sweat drips off your forehead. *let me die now*
It's okay to not know. It's okay to be unsure. You DON'T have to have it figured out. Take baby steps. Some plans unravel- that's okay. Mistakes WILL happen- that's okay. Dust yourself off and keep going. You have your entire life ahead of you to be a grown-up, take it one day at a time. If you ever feel like you do have it figured out, that's totally fine; Christmas lights, child car seat buckles and parallel parking are there to remind you that NO, you don't.



Learning doesn't end at graduation. 
Learning is a lifelong treasure. Your schoolbooks are now closed, but the most important things in life; many of them you have yet to learn. Keep your heart and mind open. Expand your horizons. Don't stagnate. Life is  only as small as our minds are. Keep learning; and learning how to advance to Level 12 of Angry Birds does NOT count.

Be smart with your money.

No one likes to mess with the hassle of finances, but save yourself from a messy snowball of debt later in life. Seek out people in your life who operate with wise financial principles and ask them to mentor you and show you how they made wise choices. (and always keep a slot in your budget for running shoes & coffee.)

Make your family a priority.

You won't regret it- I promise. Relationships are not easy, and sometimes the people that are the closest to us hurt us the most. Your family was custom made for you by God. Please, please don't waste it. Cultivate relationships with them. Go to that softball practice. Send that 'I'm proud of you' text. Buy an extra ice-cream cone. Sit through that 8th grade graduation (bring water, it will be stifling hot). Be a friend to your siblings, just DON'T let your brother give you a haircut.

Everything you do today, counts for tomorrow.

I know, that sounds scary. It is. Your life will build on the day-to-day choices you make. Sometimes you will need to sacrifice what you want today for what you want in the future. Don't be afraid to tell yourself no. 

Keep a journal.

 You don't have to be Anne Frank, but keep a record of your life. Write about what you think. Write about what you see in the world. Write about what God is doing in your heart. Write about what you are learning. Write out your questions. Write about your adventures. Write about your heartbreaks. Write about your mistakes. Write about the people you love. Someday you might read back through and learn something, or someone else might read it; so make it funny. 

Set goals. 

You don't have to have a 10 year plan. You can fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants. Set goals so you don't fly into your 10 year reunion with nothing by regret. Personally, financially, physically- set goals for growth. Set goals and work hard to meet them. There will be seasons in your life when your only goal will be to get out of bed in the morning- that's perfectly normal.

It's never to late to start over. 

Be humble enough to say "I was wrong". Be brave enough to say "I need to change". Be wise enough to learn from your mistakes. Be bold enough to go against the grain. Be kind enough to say "I am sorry." 

Tell the people you care about "I love you".

Laugh - a LOT.

Seek God with your whole heart.

Travel.

Work your tail off.

Dream.

Love your Life. 

xoxo,

~Curly Pink Runner

P.S. Don't forget to make your bed!

What was the best piece of advice you received when you graduated? 

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! 

Real Life > Vacation.

I'm home! My flight got back into Kansas last night at a ridiculously late hour, and today was a little bit of a crazy mess trying to get caught up on everything.
I had a wonderful vacation! I did not realize how in need I was of some good time away. Having time to relax, pray, run, take a breath from some of the stress and uncertainties in my day to day life was such a huge blessing. There is constant craziness in my life, and I was so grateful for some down time.
And today- I could not stop smiling. Working out with my friend Natalie. Doing speedwork at the track. Chatting with my Dad's high school classmate in the produce section of the grocery store. Getting stuck for 10 minutes behind a tractor pulling a trailer full of hay on the highway. Unpacking & doing laundry. Making a smoothie in my kitchen. Getting hugs from my little siblings after baseball practice.

I love my life.
Life is composed of so many choices- where to live, where to work, how to spend your money, who to love, where to go to school, who to trust, when to make a new change, but the most important choice is the choice to love your life.
No one has the 'perfect' life. The biggest curse of social media is that it can paint the illusion that others have a life that is better, prettier, happier than ours. She has a better job. Her kids are cuter. She never has to worry about money. Her house is perfect. She has a nicer boss/coworkers. Her boyfriend is way more involved/supportive.
Don't sell yourself short by wishing your life a way. A moment spent wishing is a moment wasted. Your life is the product of your choices. Want a better life? Make better choices.
Choose to be happy. Choose to be content. Choose to flourish.

I love going on vacation, but to me; the best thing about vacation is coming home to a life I love. Each day is a wonderful gift. Yes, my life is crazy, and no two days look the same. I have ups and downs and sometimes even running doesn't help my problems. It's not perfect, it's messy, confusing and sometimes downright heartbreaking. But it's my life- and it's fan-freaking-tastic.  

What one thing do you LOVE about your life?