You mean Mountains!

Ran hills with music 8.20 miles / 9:29 pace

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I have been dying to run all weekend and today I felt great!  I went and picked Crystal up and she said she had found us some 'hills'!  So we get out to where the 'hills' are and they look like MOUNTAINS!  Remember that where I am from it is dry, FLAT, and windy!  We usually have man made hills around here... so these hills that were out by the canyon literally were mountains! :o)  Each hill was right at a mile long so we got to run 2 miles of continuous incline and then one hill that is about half a mile!  So we did really good considering we have never ran out there and did not know what to expect!  

This is us before we started our grueling hills!!

Don't mind the great photography skills!

Crystal will have all the hill pictures because she has a nifty Spi Belt that she carried her camera in... go check out her blog to see our mountains we ran!

After running we went and picked up her cute little girl and went to Old Navy... she had b-day money to spend!  She put on her new swim suit over her clothes and was modeling it for us!

How cute is this!  This little girl is filled with personality and cuteness that will keep you rolling!! 

Well I have to return to school tomorrow after having 3 1/2 days off!  EEEK! 

Hope everyone has/had a great Monday and don't forget to vote for my poll!!

AHHH!! Cabin Fever!

I am feeling sooooo much better today!  My body isn't as tired, but my throat is still sore just not as bad!  I didn't know getting strep would take this much out of you!  I have laid around for the last 2 days being a bum... and this morning I started getting cabin fever!!!!! 

 Yes, this is what I have been doing... eating ice cream ALOT and looking like this!!

So, John and I had to do a little errand running before I went insane!  We had to go to Lowe's to get some MANLY things for the roof (BORING) then off we went to Sam's... I am starting to love this store!

We had to go restock the freezer!!

You can call me old, but for some odd reason I love this yogurt!

I did manage buying these Oh So Delish things at Lowe's

So I had to tell Crystal that running was a no-go this morning!  I wanted to go run so bad, but I knew I needed to wait at least one more day... it was absolutely gorgeous outside today too, but I didn't know if I needed to be sucking in all that air still having a sore throat!! So I have been downing this like crazy!!

 Hoping I get to go run tomorrow!

And I decided to do a little online shopping and got a discount code from Crystal's blog and ordered me some 

I ordered the thin ones and I got glittery pink and black!  I can't wait to wear them!!!

So go check out Crystal's blog to get the discount code!!!

Do you wear Sweaty Bands, if so do you like them?

-No, but I will be!!!! :o)

Hope everyone has a great and restful Saturday!

Under the Weather.... :o(

My Thursday hasn't turned out exactly as planned! 

  I didn't feel to good this morning, but I made myself get up and go to school!  I made it until about 10:30 this morning and I was done!!!  Strep Test = Positive!  Great... Oh Well, I am spending the day tomorrow at home and I am going to veg out, eat ice cream and Roman Noodles all day and build my strength back up so just MAYBE I can run 10 miles on Saturday or Sunday!

What do you do when you are sick?

- I am a whiner!  Its a good thing that I have a loving fiance that takes care of me and buys me this!!

How long do you wait to go run after you have been sick?

 - Ummmm, probably too long, but I don't know!

 

 Well, Grey's Anatomy and my bed are calling my name again!

  Hope no one else gets sick and everyone

has a FABULOUS Friday!

What a Surprise!!

Today was a much better day than yesterday!!! YEA!! It even got better after I ran my hills with Crystal because I got in my car and had a voice mail from Gourmet Pantry!  The voice mail said "Tayler, we drew your name for our ice cream maker from the Bridal Extravaganza, please come by and pick up your new ice cream maker!"  WHAT?  ICE CREAM MAKER!  HECK YEA!!! I drove straight there and picked that baby up! 

(Never thought in a million years that I would have won anything because there were only a gazillion brides there that day!)

Here it is!!

I already love it and I haven't even taken it out of the box... and I have never made homemade ice cream before!  So this will be an experience?!!

So to make my night even better I decided to make these for dinner

Love waffles!! 

Do you like waffles?

-Love them!! Especially with strawberry's!!

Do you make homemade ice cream if so, what are some good recipes?

Ok, so Crystal and I are running the Austin Live Strong 1/2 in February and where we live we really have NO HILLS!  

Do you think if I did Spin Class a couple times a week it would help with my hill work?

-I need HELP!!

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Hope everyone has a great Wednesday! 

Addictions... :o)

Workout:  Body Pump and my triceps are STILL burning!!!

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I am ADDICTED to a lot of things!  John thinks that I have a few problems, but what does a man know!  Lately, I have caught myself drooling over the thought of these things!  

1. COFFEE!

Which I have every morning, but this creamer was a "seasonal" and I am not very happy this was my last morning to have it!

2.  EDAMAME

I eat for sure a bag a week if not more!!

3. HONEY ALMOND SHMEAR

This is my new dessert!  I have made myself stop eating so much dessert so in replacement I eat a spoon a night!

 and I eat it like this!!! YUM-O

4. ORGANIC MILK

I drink a glass every morning, but we buy 4 half gallons a week and by Saturday they are GONE! John eats cereal like its going out of style... probably because I don't like to cook at night!! WOOPS... does that make me a bad fiance?

What are some things you are addicted too?

- Food in general, but I crave coffee every morning I wake up!  I love it!  

Well, I am off the shower and go to bed hoping that I have a better day tomorrow than today!  I get to run hills with my BHC girls!! 5 miles + 6 minutes of total uphill time!! :o)

Eight and Great!

Woke up this morning at 7:15, got all my gear together, checked the weather, made my coffee, and ate my nutri-grain bar! I then set out for my 8 mile journey!  I felt GREAT!  Never once stopped and the most I slowed down to was a 9:10 minute pace and that was at mile 7.  I picked my speed back up to 8:45 the last mile to end my great eight miles!

I left this morning with it being around 40 degrees, but felt like 32 with the wind chill!  The wind was blowing at 13 MPH when I left and when I finished it was blowing at 20 with gust up to 30.  Needless to say, I should have waited to go running after church because the wind died down this afternoon... OH WELL! I will just say it was resistance!  :o) 

I was just thrilled I got to run outside and the wind was not blowing like this

 because on any given windy day in West Texas it could look like this!  :o)

Go give Alyssa a CoNgRaTs for running 17 miles in the FREEZING cold!  Great Job Alyssa!  She now gives me inspiration and motivation when I don't want to roll out of bed and run in 30 degree weather!!!

Now, I am off to cut out all of this jazz for this weeks math lessons!!

What do you have to do to get ready for this week?

- I have to cut out lamination!! This is the story of my life!!

Hope everyone has a great Monday!!!

Inspiration!

Every Tuesday I sit down and watch The Biggest Loser!  I think to myself "how do they do it."  Well, last night John Man and I went to Barnes and Noble to look at magazines!  I bought the new Runners World magazine... (Love this magazine).  Well, it had an article about The Biggest Loser contestants and their marathons!  WOW!  

"It provides a dramatic showcase for the show's underlying dream-big message: that anyone - even overweight Cheetos-snarfing couch potatoes - can join the elite ranks of endurance athletes, so long as they're willing to push themselves. Push hard."

This article was just very inspiring to me.  I am in training right now for my first marathon and sometimes I have to ask myself "Am I pushing myself."  I go run and come home and sometimes it was challenging and then sometimes it was really easy!  I know that it is normal in the 'running world', but is it because I don't push myself hard all the time!  Well, today I didn't run my 5K race according to my Runner's World Marathon training plan because it was 25 MPH wind and I WANTED to go to Body Pump.  I could have done both, but I chose not too.  WHY?  Now, its 8:00 p.m. and I feel guilty because I didn't go run my 5K.  I have followed the plan ALL week.  

So here is for tomorrow during my long run:

1.  I am going to PUSH myself HARDER (which was also my News Year Resolution)

2.  If they can lose all that weight, workout as hard as they do, then why can't I 

(Ada Wong you have inspired me)

3.  I have an 8 mile run tomorrow according to plan, but it might just be longer! :o)

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Here is to my FaBuLoUs Saturday Night!

 I get to hang out with my FABULOUS and oh so HOT MAN!

 Snuggle with this spoiled cutie

 Got to eat wonderful Chicken Parmesan with lots of vegetables!

And eat this delish frozen (slightly thawed) fruit with chopped bananas that I added!  (I think I ate this all by myself) :o)

Hope you have had a great Saturday!

Hopefully I will still be hugely inspired in the morning as I was when I read that article!

What is your favorite running magazine or just magazine?

- I love all gossip magazines but my favorite running magazine is

Runners World

Who has inspired you to push yourself harder?

- John and my family by far.  But when I read magazine articles about people and what they have accomplished also inspires, but in a different way! Does that make sense?

All About YOU Thursday!

Tell me 3 or 3 gazillion CRAZIEST, RANDOMIST (if thats a word), FUNNIEST things about 

YOU!

3 things about ME 

(because I know you are dying to read more)

1.  I HAVE to chew gum when I run... ITS A HAVE TOO!  One time I didn't have any, so I unwrapped an already chewed piece and chewed it again... and Yes, it was my old chewed gum!!

2.  I once read a story to my then student teaching 3rd graders about Presidents.  Well President Buchanan was one and I didn't know how to say that so I read it like this BUTCH-A-NAN!!! and I still got a J-O-B! Lets just say, I wasn't be observed when this happened :o)

3.  I can't wash my new clothes before I wear them!  I love that NEW feeling, and NEW smell of clothes!

Its your turn!

John sent me a joke today and I thought it was pretty cute!

"What do you call a monkey in a mine field?"

*

*

*

a Ba-Boom

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4 Miles treadmill / intervals / 35 minutes

10 minutes stair climber

Out came the trainer!

Monday was supposed to be an off day, but instead I pulled out the ol' trainer and went to spinning!  OH MY GOODNESS.... I forgot how HARD that thing was!  I went to Spin class last week and my Cyclops Trainer called for me to sweat more like a man to work harder!!  

 I think this was like 5 minute into my 45 minute Desperate Housewives Workout!

 CHEESE!  (I look like a goober)

 

I love cycling, but where I live there is really no good or SAFE place to go!  I got a Specialized bike last year for Christmas and LOVE IT... now if I got to use it more! Its really cute.  It has purple pedals! Very girly! 

Do you Cycle?

-Yes, I would to do it more often!

Do you go in a group?

-I usually go with John and one of our friends!  Never go by myself... I am not a perfect cyclist so I tend to swerve a lot and I am pretty clumsy, and NEVER watch out for pot holes... John is constantly screaming at me "POT HOLE POT HOLE... TAYLER POT HOLE" and I still hit the darn thing! Thats why he loves me! :o)

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Today, according my Runners World Marathon Training Plan I was supposed to 4 miles with like 5 minutes of a faster speed  or in other words 5 minutes of PUSHING MYSELF!!

I did 2 miles at a level 7.5 on the treadmill and  2 miles between 6.5 - 7.2!

It felt really good!  Then I did the elliptical for 2 miles!

What level do you do on the treadmill on?

-I absolutely despise the treadmill but the fastest I have ran on it was today at 7.5!  I always feel like I make a lot of noise when running on them!

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Well, its 8:15 and this chick is headed to bed!  I know, I know... you can call me "Granny"

Running, being creative and wedding stuff...

This post is going to be like a book!  I will try and keep it simple! First, the good news is I ran my 9 miles!  I went out Sunday morning for a 5 mile run because I needed to be at the Bridal Extravaganza at 1:00!  Well, I headed out feeling really well!  I hit mile 5 and still wanted to run so I ran back by the house (mile 6) to drop off a light jacket, use the bathroom, and get a quick drink!  Then headed out for the last 3 miles!  I hit a mental block at mile 7!  It was rough, but I did it! My goal (after I decided to keep running) was to have 9 miles under 9 minutes each.  I kept that goal until 7.6 and I dropped back to 9:11 pace!  I am OK with that!!! I think...

9 Miles / 1:20:37 / 8:57 Pace

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Bridal Extravaganza!

I will just say overwhelming!  They hold this event every year and it is where a lot of vendors come and set up booths and give you ideas, help you, and all that fun stuff!  There a lot of cake people there and were handing out cake samples... Way cute cakes, but the cake itself was not too bueno!  There was this cake and it was a box with cigars in it...I thought it was REAL and was going to grab one!  WOOPS! It was a cake!! Thats how REAL looking it was!!!  Since I already have my cake lady It didn't really matter!  They also had a lot of floral booths there.  Awesome flowers and great ideas, but this one booth quoted me $3000!  UMMM, I don't think so!  I think that is just outrageous, but then again I am not a millionaire!  So, I am sticking to my flower people I already planned to use!  They were giving away a free honeymoon!!!!! Yea, well I was like 1 bride out of 10 zillion there, so of course I didn't win!  I'm not that lukcy!! I did get a lot of ideas of how I can arrange things on tables and I got to meet with an invitation lady, hopefully, those will be in place as of Feb. 2nd!  

Ok, blah blah blah!  enough about wedding!

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Last night (Saturday) John and I went to Hobby Lobby (love that store) and bought my stuff for me to be creative!  We bought a table last weekend at Lowes (I have been eying for a while) and it came with 2 lamps!  WHAT A GREAT DEAL!  John put it together and it looked kinda blah... or the lamps did so I foo foo'd them up!

Lamp Shade before... blah!

Lamp Shade After!!! FOO FOO!

My cute Lowes Special table and cute Boss!

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Questions!!

When you run long miles, do you ever hit a mental wall or a running wall?

-I do, but not all the time!  Here lately, I have been! How do I fix it?

Do you do recovery runs?

-Sometimes.  I thought about doing 4 miles tomorrow at a slower pace.  Are you supposed to?

How often to you ice?

-My knees never hurt while running today, but after walking around for 4 hours afterwards I noticed my knees were achy?

Hope everyone has a great Monday!

Tomorrow is an off day so Body Pump and maybe some cardio!  :o)

Weekends!!!

I think I have decided that I "Live for Weekends!"

  I love coming home on Friday from school and vegging out or going to dinner with John (of course after I ran 5 miles with the girls after school) and eating

having a whole basket of these (yes, pretty much all by myself)

3 bowls of this amazing stuff

and my fantastic bowl of ...

TORTILLA SOUP!!!

Oh yea, we can't forget the most important ingredient

I usually feel guilty when I stuff my face with all my favorite things... but NOT last night!  I loved every second of it!

Where is your favorite place to indulge or just eat at?

I love On The Border!  My weakness is chips and salsa, and I absolutely love theirs!!

What do you do on the weekends?

I relax, workout, and watch t.v. or movies!  Kind of boring, but I like it! 

Wish me luck!  Tomorrow I have a 9 mile run!  :o) To be honest... I am really looking forward to it!

Splenda, Coffee, Milk....

"See a packet pick it up and all day long you'll have good luck!" - My Splenda Packet from this morning

This morning I was already in a gripy mood because at 3:30 this morning Boss decided to kick me off the bed!  Yes, I know its my fault for letting a 106 pound dog sleep with us in a queen size bed!  But he snuggles and is soo warm and just so cute!  So I have been up since 3:30 this morning dealing with him because he cries at the thought of you putting him in his crate! UGH!

So... I laid in bed as long as I could pushing snooze and finally at 6:20 I roll out of bed and get in the shower... Well, John used ALL the hot water! I finish my semi-warm shower  and get ready and then I (thought) I had a cute outfit picked out and John informed me that my shoes did not match very well... so that just annoyed me!  He leaves and I am now running late to school.  I have to have coffee in the morning so I make it (I have a Keurig Coffee maker its the BEST) and while its making I pour my glass of milk.  I am getting ready to prep my coffee and I pour my splenda packet in my MILK!  UGH!!! I had to start ALL over!! It's 7:15 now and keep in mind that it takes 20-25 minutes to get to school and I need to be there BEFORE 7:45!  I get everything done, shut Boss's crate and walk out of the door! Forgetting to unplug the straightner (that John called to remind me), and turn the alarm on! 7:18 now!  Minutes are just flying by!  I get out go in unplug the straightner and turn the alarm on and walk into school at 4:42! YEA!!

I don't think my Splenda packet was very lucky this morning, but I did have coffee this morning! :o)

Do you ever have mornings like this?

More often than not! I am very clumsy and forgetful in the mornings! Don't know what I am going to do when I have kids!

Do you let your pets sleep with you?

Yes, and I know we shouldn't!  I hate when he cries for hours and I hate it when he is on the bed, but I don't know what to do!! HELP! 

I know my day will be splendid this afternoon because I get to run with girls after school!  YEA!  Its not too cold and the SUN is OUT!

6 miles here I come!

Wrap it up Wednesday!!

I just made it Wednesday a Wrap it up! 

I want to know in one word or one sentence how your day is or how your day was! YEA!  This will be something new!

Well, since I get to do Body Pump tonight (I love that class) and it was a half day at school and I NEED to be doing paper work instead of blogging (WOOPS) my day is

ROCKIN!

I love half days and I love Wednesdays because

1.  Its an off day from the Marathon Training Plan which allows me to go to Body Pump

2.  I get to catch up on my very important trashy t.v. shows

3.  and usually on Wednesdays I don't have to cook it is John's and mine night to VEG OUT!

So, tell me how your day has gone or is going!!!

Burn Baby Burn!

Or should I say HURT, BUTT, HURT!!!

Today was supposed to be a 4 mile run with 5 minutes of total uphill time!  Well, since I live in the capitol of CRAZY WEATHER... (running in shorts and a t-shirt Sunday afternoon to waking up Monday morning to a high of 30 with windchill in the teens and same for today) I decided to go to a Spin Class!! WHAT??? I thought what the heck, I will get the mileage and I will get the uphill workout!  HAHAHA! I didn't know my legs had muscles that I didn't workout during runs! My legs feel like noodles, my butt hurts like crazy, but it felt GREAT and I had Crystal there with me so it was that much better!!

Do you do Spin Class? 

I think I really did!  I haven't done it in a long time and it felt great!  It was different than running and a great workout!

How much do you think (calories wise) you burn during a spin class?

I have no idea... but want to know!

After Spin I came home to just Boss!  John boy went to the Tech basketball game so I took advantage of my non-cooking night and I get to watch whatever I want night!

 He's just too cute!

I ate a heat em' up meal! (YEA... I DIDN'T have to cook!!!! :o)

Lean Cuisine... cheesy potatoes and broccoli!

And of course Boss got the left over cheese (which wasn't much after I devoured  it in 19.3 seconds)

Well I am off the soak my noodle legs and probably go buy a donut for my butt tomorrow... I don't know what hurts worse my legs or my butt from that seat!

AND

Tomorrows a half day at school!!!

Have a fantastic Wednesday!

I'm THRILLED!!!

I got nominated for....

Two great girlies nominated me Crystal and Danielle!!
YEAH!  I was so excited when I saw that I was nominated!  (Hopefully  I will get a few more followers since I am a beginner blogger) :o)

Here is how it works!

Here’s how it works…
There are 4 duties to perform to accept this award:
1. Make a post + Link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 7 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them they’ve won!

7 things about ME!!

• I am getting Married June 3, 2011 (if you haven't already heard this plenty)
• I drink Powerade Zero like its going out of style!
• I love cottage cheese with lots of pineapple! ( I just made myself hungry again)
• I can't get dressed in the mornings until I put on like 50 million squirts of lotion (and I don't care for foo foo- frilly smelling lotions... St. Ives is the best :o)
• I grew up in a small town... so small that we thought bunny boppin' was fun (please don't ask... its too country :o)
• I love getting  up in the morning and getting fixed up, and I feel BLAH all day if I don't wear make-up and its probably scary for others also!
• I love COLD weather, but I prefer snow with mittens, gloves, scarfs, and hats!! :o)

*Seven People I Nominate*

Mom Swim Bike Run momswimbikerun.blogspot.com

A Runners Fuel runnersfuel.blogspot.com

Miss Red Runner missredrunner.blogspot.com

Bling on the Run blingontherun.blogspot.com

Busy Wife Mom Runner busywifemomrunner.blogspot.com

Diary of a Mid Life Cruiser midlifecruiser.blogspot.com

I know some of these have already been awarded!  I'm Sorry.  My blogging ventures are about to get bigger... promise!  :o)

Well its 30 degrees here in West Texas and I have froze like crazy today because my classroom windows are leaking air like no bodies business... so I am taking my training to the DREADMILL!  AHHHHH! Wish me luck!



First Race of the Year!!

Yesterday was my first race of the year!  I ran in our community running club race!  Loop the Lake... I did the 5 mile run and set a new PR for me!  YEA!

5 miles at a 8:46 pace!  I was pretty excited about it!  I am not used to running on concrete and more than half of the race was concrete!  I got shin-splints at mile 2 and then they were off and on the rest of the race!! 

Here is a recap of the race! 

 My GREAT supporters!! Love Them!

Danielle www.missredrunner.blogspot.com and me... I don't know what my hair is doing!

This is how we warm up!!! :o)

Take off!

 John thought this was cute... a little boy finishing the race with his daddy!

 I think this was starting lap two!  You can't really tell, but this was a steady hill! :o(

 Saying HI to my supporters!

 Danielle coming in for the finish!! 

 YEA!!! Nearly done!

YEA!!! I was on the last stretch!!

We dressed a little TOO warm, but you never know in West Texas!  It turned out to be an awesome day to run!

Danielle and I rocked it!  So proud of both of us!  :o)

Do you typically dress in layers???

Yes, but then I usually dress in too many causing me to get WAY to HOT!!

Hope everyone has a fantastic MoNdAy! I'm off to go cycling!!