March for Babies

This year has been a year full of giving back to the community. Thanks to a couple ladies at work each month we donate/give back to local charities, shelters, etc. In January we filled up the pantry for the local Lighthouse Shelter. February we are collecting clothing and March we are making 50 Easter Baskets for a local Children's home. It has been really fun and it feels good knowing that you are helping others out.

Anyway, so my friend and I are walking the "March for Babies" on April 28th and our goal is to raise $250.00 for premature babies.  Please help us out by either joining us or by donating - even a $1 will help us hit our goal. Thanks Everyone!!

Made it to Church

The family made it to Church this morning. David and I went every Sunday when he was under 6 months but as soon as he became mobile it wasn't feasible anymore. So last year when he was about one and a half we tried again. It was a major fail, making it approximately 10 minutes before having to hit the cry room.
Long story short I decided it was time to try again. David did great! He sat silent watching the mass until after the Gospel where he wanted to read some books we had brought with us. As a reward he got to buy a donut in the church hall after mass was over. He was so excited and I'm looking forward to being able to go each week.

St. Patty's Day 5k

I decided to drop the Pumped for Pets race on KI for the St. Patty's day 5k out in Denton. It's only 26 days out and I would love to PR at that race. Problem is, I haven't been working on increasing speed, only increasing distance. I'm going to try and incorporate some speed work into my training for the next few weeks. My goal is to break under 27 minutes. To be honest I'm shooting in the dark here but going into an event without a goal seems pointless.

I need to come up with some sort of outfit though. Thinking I'll just rock some knee high clover socks. What is everyone else wearing for their St. Patty's Day Races?

Painting a Coffee Mug

It is such a quick and easy craft you can do with the kiddo's PLUS it makes a perfect gift. What's not to love?

 What you Need:

1. Coffee Mug (I used a plain white one but any color will work)
2. Glass Paint or All-Purpose Paint. I found Martha Stewart All Purpose paint at Michael's.
3. Oven

How to:

1. Wash and dry the coffee mug. Make sure it is completely dry - if it isn't the paint won't stick to the mug or it may run.
2. Paint the mug. (talk about stating the obvious) 
3. Let air dry for 24 hours
4. Bake in the Oven. Place in cold oven. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Continue baking for 90 minutes. Let cool in Oven.

Marine Corps Marathon: Pros and Cons

I had swore to myself and everyone around me that I had no desire to run a marathon...So I'm looking at the Marine Corps Marathon at the end of October. Time to break out the good 'ole Pro and Con List of Running the MCM.

Pros:

1. Accomplishment - Only 2% of the population will ever run a marathon.  
2. Marines - Self explanatory
3. Great Fitness Goal 
4. Awesome MCM Medal 
5. Prestige - The MCM is one of the most desirable marathons to run selling out in only 30 hrs last year
6. Did I mention the Marines?
7. 8 Months Away - Plenty of time to train and develop a strategy. 
8. Already Training - Training for a half in the fall, what's an extra 13 miles anyway?
9. Local - My family would be able to come out to cheer me on

Cons:

1. Pain
2. Pain for 26.2 Miles
3. Pain for the week following the 26.2 Miles
4. Time Commitment - It is 8 months of training
5. Baltimore Half Marathon 2 weeks before

Looks like I'll be crawling across the finish line in October, Who's Coming With Me!?!?!

Lost, What did I do before?

A couple weekends ago my Mom in Law had mentioned that we should start sending David over there one weekend a month to stay. Supposedly he's an angel over there (I'm sure he is he is MY kid after all!) and they would love to see him more often and it gives Danny and I a chance to have us time. I agreed that it would be good for everyone. I love the fact that David has such a great relationship with his grandparents, I think it is important and not something I had growing up. Plus it gives Dan and I alone time which can never be a bad thing.

Anyway, we met Danny's parents around 7 last night to drop David off. We had a relaxing evening, dinner just the two of us, grabbed a drink at the old peoples bar here on Kent Island and were in bed before midnight. Danny ran off to work before I got out of bed and I ended up having the entire day to myself. I was excited until around 4 o'clock. What did I do before I had David? What filled up my Saturday's when Danny was working? Why am I wandering around my house trying to find something to occupy me? I am so happy to have my boys back in the house. It is such a wonderful feeling!

Word of the Day: Isthmus

Isthmus...well going back to 6th grade social studies an Isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects two larger pieces of land with water on two sides.

Say this word out-loud, go ahead...I'll wait...it shouldn't sound like you have a speech impediment when you say it. I've yet to get that right. the "th" makes me think it should be pronounced differently. Which takes me to my point of the day. I cannot understand the English language. Why do we have letters if they are silent? What is the point! Isthmus is pronounced is-mes. Where did the "t" and "h" go! Why have them there if they do nothing for the word. It's crap like this that gets me completely confused and makes me sound like a moron in business meetings. I blame YOU isthmus for my massacre of the English Language and YOU are the reason that I sound like I'm from the backwoods every time I try to sound intelligent.

Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

Yay! I finally convinced the husband to put up Kitchen Cabinet Hardware. I mean it has only been 5 years since we moved in. I've spent a lot of time over the years trying to figure out what I like and what would look good. There isn't a ton of info online (that I could find at least) that gave me any inspiration. I liked the cup shaped pulls but knew it wouldn't fit with my home. I tried finding some sort of guide that would tell me to use pulls or knobs or both. When to use 2 knobs when to use 1, blah blah blah. At the end of the day I suggest going to the store grabbing a couple of pieces that catch your eye and bringing them home.

I found 2 pieces of hardware that I really liked. They are Antique Iron which is completely different than what I had originally been looking for. The first thing that caught my eye was the pull. It was simple, it wasn't overly expensive and I liked the dull (non-shiny) color. The matching knob was perfect. I don't like the perfectly round spheres so it was like a match made in heaven.

Now came the difficult part. Which piece do I use and where. I took 3 of each home to see what they looked like. I personally loved the pulls on the cabinets. The knobs looked good but the pulls were better. I tried the pulls on the drawers but as soon as I held them up I hated it. We put the pulls on the cabinets and the knobs on the drawers. For the smaller drawers (shown in picture below) we used 1 knob centered. For the longer drawers we used 2.  I think it turned out great. It is startling to me only because it has been years of just plain white cabinets.  Here is the finished project (the drawer under the sink isn't finished in the picture but it has 2 knobs on it):

All in all the project costed around $100 and totally transformed our kitchen. Money well spent!

Blah

My whole week could be summed up in that one word. I have felt off all week and until yesterday couldn't seem to get out of my own way.

People at work piss me off, my house is a mess, I haven't run, David has been in our bed every night and in general I just can't seem to get myself straight.

Today should be a good day to get myself back on track. We are doing a little home improvement and I have a 7 mile run that is calling my name. I'll head out to the trail so I don't bore myself to death on the dreadmill. Then of course the super bowl. I'm excited for the commercials as always. The game doesn't really interest me since I don't like either team but I'm hoping it is somewhat entertaining.

I hope everyone has a great time today, be safe on the roads, and here is to a great week!

Well Hello: Bud Light Platinum

Last night Dan brought home a 6 pack of the newest Bud Light Beer, the Bud Light Platinum. We had been waiting anxiously for the local liquor store to get it in stock so we could check it out. What's not to be excited about, almost 2% more Alcohol by Volume, where do I sign!

I've always enjoyed beer, probably started drinking beer when I was err of legal age and have been a loyal Anheuser-Busch customer since the beginning. I've tried just about all of their Budweiser products, Select, Select 55, Bud Light Lime, BudHeavy (Budweiser Red Can), Bud Ice, etc etc...and I haven't necessarily been a fan of some of them. My favorites by far are good ole Bud Light and the Select 55. Platinum though could supplant Select 55 and give Bud Light a run for its money.

Bud Light Platinum is a little sweeter but still has the easy drinkability that Bud Light offers. The calories are a little high, I think I read somewhere that its over 130 calories so if you are counting calories this probably isn't your first choice. Although will the higher alcohol content you might drink fewer (total sales pitch). I'm sold and think you should go check it out and let me know what you think!