Cascade Lakes Relay 2015

Ok, Ok..yes, I ran the Cascade Lakes Relay a month ago, and yes, I am just now getting around to blogging about it.  My new life motto is #betterlatethannever! For those of you who know me, you know I LOVE relays! As in I would run a relay every weekend if I could.   So here is my recap, in more pictures that words!

I was so thankful to be asked to run with the same team again this year...last year I was a last minute sub...AND to have the same legs! I was runner 1, which meant I was able to kick off the relay with a run around Diamond Lake! Last year I was really just starting to kick up my training, and perhaps not quite ready to tackle the 20+ mile. This year I was significantly more prepared, and excited to see what I could do.  

I finished my first leg of 7.36 miles at an 8:48/mile pace and felt great! I was ready to let the good times roll!!

As I handed off to John I was ready to be a cheer leader extraordinaire and to get my van dance party on! 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love how relays turn an individual sport into a team sport...where the success of a team really depends on supporting, encouraging, and cheering one another on.  

Relays also wouldn't be possible without the hundreds of volunteers who bring excitement, fun, and SAFETY to the event! 

Despite the heat and tough terrain relays are ALL SMILES!

TEAMWORK...it's what it's all about! 

This guy...an amazing runner! An amazing person!

Oops..relay foul! Time with the other van is limited, but it's always fun catching up with them at the major exchanges! 

Its a RELAY tradition! 

BROTHERS! A family that runs together...

I can't think of a better way to kick off the night runs than by a top-of-the-van-dance-party! I love the nighttime runs...it doesn't get better than a blinker lit, star filled sky run! 

Doesn't he look like he is having a blast!!!? I was excited to see him come in to the exchange so I could take off into the night! 

Another RELAY tradition; a relay isn't complete without a headlamp selfie. 

How can you NOT enjoy a nighttime run with these views?? I busted out 7.47 more miles, at an 8:53/mile pace.  

GUUUUUUUU!!!!! Relays are filled with many team and van inside jokes, and this is one of them! You had to be there...but long story short, he ran up to the van screaming GUUUUU, and he wanted a GUUUUU! 

With 90deg+ weather, water sprayers were a lifesaver! TEAMWORK! 

Meet our new vanmate...the bearded, braided lady with a doll! 

And yes, she rocked 3 miles WITH the wig on, CARRYING the baby! 

It's hard to beat a natural ice bath.  My third and final leg was 6.04 glorious miles at an 8:53/mi pace. 

Team selfie!!! Courtesy of Mark's Selfie-stick! 

This picture says it all and sums up what a relay is all about!

Dance parties AND wings...they're a MUST! 

She gets by with a little help from her team! 

SEE, even in extreme heat, with a lack of sleep and upset tummies, there is FUN to be had! 

Rocking our awesome new CLR hats! 

And we FINISHED!!!!

Another great CLR in the books! An adventure consisting of 2 vans, 12 stinky-runners-turned-friends, PB Pretzels, m&ms, licorice and more; headlight & glow stick lit runs, and accomplishing such a great feat! Until next year...

No More Hamster Wheel

I often hear from others how busy I am, how I am involved in so many various activities, that I am constantly doing fun and interesting things, and from the social media perspective, my life looks pretty great! And it IS!  I have been beyond blessed with the opportunities that I have been given in my life, and I wouldn't change it for anything! HOWEVER...recently, I have been comparing my life to that of a hamster wheel...it's moving. And it's moving fast.  But it isn't going anywhere.  

I am not usually one to make monthly goals, but in an effort to break the monotonous routine I am, consisting of early morning runs, work, evening meetings/commitments, repeat, I am going to write down a few things to focus on this month.

1. YOGA 2-3 times per week

I started doing yoga more consistently a couple of weeks ago and LOVE it; not only for the physical benefits, but for the ability to mentally disconnect from the craziness of life.  With my life spinning non-stop, so does my brain/mind.  AND...I'll be completely honest, I struggle to quiet my mind, which can be overwhelming at times, and make it hard to really focus when focusing and clearing my mind is necessary.  Think...running for hours...

SO, I made the best investment ever!!! For $5/month, I have unlimited access to Jasyoga's videos, that I can enjoy anytime of the day, in the luxury of my own home.  *now I don't want to sounds anti-social, but finding a class that works with my schedule isn't always easy. However, Saturday morning yoga at the winery seems to always work with my schedule ;) What I love about the videos is that they're specific to athletes, and an athlete's needs {time constraints, specific area of the body that needs special attention, etc}:

Jasyoga is a revolutionary approach to yoga for athletes. Our practical solutions are designed to help you recover, prevent injuries, and perform so that you can achieve your goals, no matter where your active lifestyle takes you.

2. PLAN A DISCONNECT TRIP

I am fortunate enough to travel and be on-the-go quite a bit, which I love, but I want to plan a trip where I can just disconnect.  No phone. No Schedule. No obligations.  Even for just 24 hours.  How great does that sound? And how amazing does THIS place look!? 

3.  MORE STRUMMING TIME {2-3 times per week}

Every time I pick up my guitar, I am reminded how much I enjoy playing.  As my friend said the other night, playing is a form of therapy.  For me, it's also my favorite way to worship.  

4.  FINISH WHAT I STARTED

Quitter is a word rarely used to describe me, except when it comes to projects around the house.  I always have good intentions, but that's about as far as it goes.  I buy things that I think will look good and they end up with the tag still on them, leaning against the wall or in my office/junk room, for months {sometimes longer}.  Speaking of office, I have had grand plans for it, for, well...4 years.  Well, recently I hired some ladies to help me with redecorating part of my house, and it was wonderful.  It helped jump start what I have wanted to get accomplished for quite a while.  Well my time was running short, I was getting overwhelmed with them constantly calling and nagging me {just doing their job}, so as we approached {key work there} the completion of the two rooms that were my priority, I told them I would complete the last few things, and wanted to take a break until I had more time to commit to the next stage {that office I was talking about...}

Well, several weeks later I still haven't hung the rod with the two curtain panels I had made, and the huge clock I purchased is still leaning against the wall.  This month is the month I finish what I started.

I am excited about my goals and having things to focus on to break the monotonous routine of my life these days.  Do you make monthly goals? If so, what are some of YOUR goals for the month of June.

Joy Bombs - Discovering an Attitude of Gratitude In Everyday Living

J-O-Y, a three letter word that has been on my mind a lot recently.  A three letter word that keeps reappearing in my life in a variety of ways.  What is JOY!? I really like Rick Warrens definition of joy:

Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation. 

Did you notice what one word was missing from this definition...HAPPY! Happiness is about feelings, which are fleeting and temporary. 

I listened to this sermon from Cherry Hills Community Church a while back, and it really resonated with me.  Life is full of ups & downs, peaks & valleys, pain & pleasure, and the list goes on.  Recently I have noticed that people {probably me included at times} are focusing on the lows of life...

- Cancer Sucks {oh my, my heart aches for the number of people who have been diagnosed with Cancer recently}

- I'm so busy

- I have an addiction

- I haven't been this stressed in a long time

- I am beyond frustrated 

- I am anxious

And rarely are people saying, "I am JOYFUL!" Very often the situations of our life do not result in happiness, but there is always JOY. We have joy because of our circumstances. 

Throughout our day we are tossed joy bombs...like that amazing, refreshing feeling of being hit by a water balloon on a hot summer afternoon.  It's like a 4th of July fireworks show going off within our lives.  Joy emanates out of a true sense and understanding of God's fierce love for us. 

My life is busy, my calendar is full, and at times I feel like I can't do it all. I have been blessed by much, but recently I have had a yearning for more, resulting in a dissatisfaction of where I am currently at.  I struggle with insecurity and self-doubt.  

As a constant reminder that God is here, God is for me, and that God loves me I started a JOY BOMB journal.  Here are some joy bombs that I have been tossed recently:

-A text from a friend offering to bring me vegan ice cream when she knew I was a little discouraged

-Someone reaching out to me to fill a co-director position that I was stressing about filling 

-Meeting and talking with a random guy at Starbucks one afternoon

-A friend, recently diagnosed with cancer, receiving the results of the brain CT...the cancer had not spread. Praise the Lord.

-Having a solid tempo run...both physically and mentally.

No matter what life has thrown you recently, I guarantee that you have been tossed some JOY BOMBS too! Take time to marinate in the truth of God's fierce love for each one of us and really search, find and focus on God's presence in all things...and say, "I AM JOYFUL!"

Here is a great read too: 40 Ways to Practice Joy Every Single Day

5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 23, 32, 35, 36, 38 and last, BUT NOT LEAST, 40 are my favorite! 

Minted Monday: Snail Mail Blessings

Have you ever been twitterpated with a website? After hours of {cyber} window shopping, you are left swooning over practically everything on the site and your cart has hundreds of dollars worth of items in it? Well that is exactly what happened to me when I stumbled across minted. Within minutes I was dreaming that I was a seamstress so that I could make something with this fabulous fabric, planning my next business adventure so I could create adorable business cards,  and envisioning where I might be able to place this amazing print in my house.  If you are like me, and you like the attention to detail when planning a party, enjoy stationary for every season & occasion,  and want to find the perfect gift for that special person on your list, well minted is the site for you.  

How did I originally get minted!? 

For those of you who know me, you know I LOVE sending snail mail, whether for a special occasion, to encourage someone, let someone know I appreciate them OR just because! 

So I am always in search of new and fun stationary...aka SNAIL MAIL.  While I love blessing someone with an unexpected piece of snail mail and have been sending Thank You Notes since I could scribble my name, I feel like letter writing is a lost art that needs to be revived.   And OH MY, minted's stationary selection takes letter writing to a whole new level.  

How great are these!?

So why do I think handwritten notes are so important? 

They're genuine and thought-out. Don't get me wrong, I am not against tagging a friend in a Facebook post to thank them for an amazing birthday gift or tweeting a friend letting them know you're thinking about them, but taking the time to find the perfect card, use your best penmanship to write out your thoughts, and place a stamp on it on your way to the mailbox really show your genuine thoughtfulness. 

Love the simplicity.

They create lasting memories.  I don't know about you, but I save a lot of the cards I receive. Whether its a baby announcement, a motivational card from a friend, or just words of encouragement I love to keep them and go through them occasionally, allowing me to both reflect back and appreciate them again in the future.  

I love the instant gratification of social media, allowing new parents to share the joy of their new blessing with the world immediately, but those posts are soon lost as they are buried under newer posts.  What I love more is the joy of seeing a baby announcement everyday on my fridge when I have my morning coffee. 

BIRDS OF A FEATHER...LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

They're personal.  The perfect card is a representation of the sender and holds something special for the recipient.  The words of the card speak directly to the one who will be reading it.  When writing a card, thought goes into each and every word, with the message being spelled out in penmanship that is unique to the writer.  Email by nature is momentary and lacks the character of someone's perfected handwriting.  Long after the delete button is hit on an email, a letter remains to be read, appreciated and preserved. 

Oh my...too cute!

They're Fun! How great are all of these cards!? 

HELLO!

They teach a lifelong, invaluable lesson.  It's never too early to teach children the importance of writing a letter, sending a thank you, and practicing perfecting their unique handwriting...dotting their "i's" with an open circle and going for the more curvy/"bubbly" writing.  Make letter writing fun with creative personalized cards.

They're Tangible.  Personal. Real.

Whether you want to cultivate romance, acknowledge the blessings of a friendship, send a word of encouragement, or express gratitude, Minted has the perfect card for you for the perfect occasion. 

Now I need to decide which cards to purchase! Oh yah, and come up with a reason to throw a party so I have an excuse to purchase menu cards {remember, its about all of the small details}, fun decor, and of course a photo backdrop, because no party is complete without a photobooth! 

HAPPY WRITING! 

Spring Break....OREGON Style

A few months back my friend from Missouri told me that she and her family wanted to come to Oregon for their Spring Break, so I quickly went to work on putting together the perfect itinerary.  I didn't want to leave out any detail, as I wanted this to be a Spring Break to remember...and that is was!

After flying in late Saturday evening, we heading to Crater Lake Sunday morning for their guided snowshoe walk; the rangers always make it a fun, educational experience.

While there wasn't a lot of {and no fresh} snow, it was the perfect day.

Beyond blessed by this friendship!

A Crater Lake snowshoe walk isn't complete without a penguin slide.

Shhh...don't tell anymore, but this picture was made possible thanks to a selfie stick.

Picture perfect!

Later that evening we headed to the Craterian Theater to see Ladysmith Black Mambazo, for a little cultural experience. 

Monday, while I was at work, the crew headed to Wildlife Images, where they met Nubs the badger. Evidently Nubs loves the smell of feet...which the boys thought was hilarious! 

For dinner and some evening fun we headed to Ashland.  Oregon is home to several breweries, so we hit up one of my favorites, Standing Stone Brewery, for dinner and their infamous sweet potato fries! Not only are the food & beer great, but I also love their mission to be a sustainable dining venue. 

A total tourist thing to do, we drank some lithia water.

Tuesday, while I once again went to the office, the crew headed up the road to Wildlife Safari! Its pretty amazing that right here in Oregon you can have encounters with bears, lions, giraffes, cheetahs,  and more, all for less than $20/person.

I mean, where else can you make friends with an ostrich!?

That night it was time for some adult fun, as we headed to the Rocky Tonk for a James Otto concert.

Bonus for the night, the opening act was from Missouri, and Heather was able to snag a picture with one of them.  

Girl I just got started love you...

While we were out on the town, the kiddos were having a blast with Grandma Shawn & Grandpa Vern {my parents}.  This grandma relationship started a couple years back when we all did the Seattle Rock N Roll marathon and my mom watched the boys while we ran.  I love that Ashton and Parker are not only comfortable to hang with them, but have a blast doing so.  All night long Heather and I were receiving texts with pictures of their hole in one at miniature golf, dances moves on Dance Dance Revolutions, and results from the slick car race track.

Oh my, whip cream on the straw was the highlight of our daily trips to Dutch Bros! 

Wednesday was perhaps one of the highlights of the trip...a behind-the-scenes, VIP tour of the Landfill and Transfer Station.  Garbage, its a fun and fascinating business.

After the tour and a 3 hour drive to central Oregon, an ice cold beer, fireside at 10 Barrel was heavenly.  

What day are we on now!? Oh right, now its Thursday, and the fun continues.  After a {much needed} relaxing morning at the pool {which we ran and rode bikes to} we headed to Smith Rock Oregon State Park , for a hike up Misery Ridge Trail...

...for the perfect Christmas Card photo opportunity!

Truly breathtaking!

As Friday rolled around we decided that a horseback ride was a MUST while staying at Black Butte Ranch in Central Oregon. Let me be really upfront and honest, I am not a huge fan of horses..BUT...I rallied for the team and had so much fun {and now want to go to a Dude Ranch!} ! Meet Billy, Bon Jovi, Strawberry, Indiana, and XXL! 

Billy and I got along quite well...

On the road again...headed for Portland! The boys waited ALL week to eat at a food truck, so our first stop was at Cartlandia, for chicken & waffles at The Coop and Voodoo Doughnuts! 

We officially wore the boys out, but the itinerary had one more thing on it for the day...a Blazer Game!!! Phil stayed back at the hotel, poolside with the boys, while Heather and I had a Girls Night Out at the game. 

Saturday had arrived, the day we would say, "until next time!" But that didn't mean the fun had to end! We checked out some beach cruisers from the hotel and rode to Starbucks and then around the parking lot! Perhaps one of the highlights of the trip! Seriously! 

FREE Beach Cruisers to ride...Aloft is for sure my new go-to-hotel! 

Spring Break 2015, Oregon Style...That's a wrap! We squeezed every ounce of fun out of the week.  What's up next!? The next trip to Oregon will include a trip to the coast to ride quads on the dunes, a day at the lake, and perhaps a float down the river! Many more fun & exciting adventures to come!