Thursday, April 29, 2010

Meatlesss May

I am thinking about going vegetarian for the month of May.  I've thought about becoming a vegetarian on and off for four or five years, but have never thought that it was actually the right choice for me.  However, in my efforts to be healthy, fit, and happy, I figured that I would try it for a month and see what happens.  I already buy meat substitutes from Target (like MorningStar chicken nuggets or black bean burgers) and have cooked a few times with tofu from WalMart.  I don't think I'll miss meat so much as I'll miss the convenience of going through a drive-through on my way to class.  I also don't want to have to explain to people all the time why I'm not eating meat.  Especially since I'm not necessarily doing it for any ethical or moral reasons.

What do you think?  Am I crazy?  Do you have any tips or critisisms?

Saturday, April 24, 2010

First Half-Marathon, Here I Come!!

We're about to leave for Oklahoma City for the race.  My husband, his brother, and brother's girlfriend are going up now, and then my sister-in law, her boyfriend, cousin, and his girlfriend are going to meet us up there in a few hours.

I'm already nervous.  And excited.  And scared.  And I really want a 13.1 sticker for my car, or even one of those 13.1 necklaces.

See you all in a few days!!!  I'll take lots of pictures.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Is It Summer Yet?

My last day of the semester is the 12th....which at this moment may as well me August 12th.  I am so over this semester with it's boring classes that I don't care about.  I'm tired of working all day and going to school all night and never having a clue what's going on.  I would like to sleep for more than five hours.  I would like to see my husband.  I would like to watch tv.  I would like to not go to statistics anymore.

And what's so crazy is to think that I still have four semesters left (barring any unplanned events like pregnancy or job loss or the Rapture).  As much as I feel the horror of two more years at NSU (where I can't get advised correctly to save my life), I also feel a little surprised that in two years I'll be done with my bachelor's degree.  Since I've gone part-time or not at all for the last six years, two years seems kind of short to me.

But only two years (and the economy and any of those above unplanned events) stands between me and working in the field of adoption.  I am so excited about the day I get to start helping children find their forever families.  I almost want to cry thinking about it.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Proverbs 31 Woman

I have been thinking a lot lately about how to be a better wife.  Not just a good wife, but a Godly, wise, respected woman that my husband is proud of. 

One of the ways that I feel God is leading me is to start my own garden.  Consider verse 16 of Proverbs 31- "She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard."  This shows us that she is enterprising and prudent with money (something I'm not).  By planting my own vegetable garden, I ensure that Lee and I are eating healthy.  I save us money, which means we have more money to give back to God.  I learn how to work hard over the long term as I labor over my vegetables.  And I get to get my hands dirty and have fun!


Here are my seeds, soil, and manure.



Lee and I picked out the cucumbers together, I chose the okra, and he wanted the squash.



The garden box my wonderful husband built for me.  Look at my tomato plant!!



The first bunch of seeds.


Did you plant anything this year?  Do you have any suggestions for this novice?

Friday, April 16, 2010

Gift from the Co-Workers

I came down with a yucky virus yesterday, complements of my lovely co-workers.  Of course it's not their fault, as sickness always lurks where there are lots of children hanging out.  I just wish I had avoided this dreaded virus.

All I've done today is lie on the couch and watch tv and sleep.  Which means running didn't and won't happen.  I'm trying not to dwell on the fact that my race is a week away and I won't be doing a long run this week.....which means the most I've run before my first half-marathon is nine miles.  I'm scared and worried and feeling sort of like a failure.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Sunday, April 4, 2010

My First 10-K!

I ran my first official 10k yesterday!!!  I also learned that my Nike Sportband is waaay off.  I had suspected this for awhile, but it was proven to me that at the end of my 10k (six miles), my sportband read 7.04.  Ouch.  Which freaked me out, because I often trust the distance on it.  So here I've been thinking I've been running certain distances as I train, when in fact I'm running less.  Oh well, now I know.  I attempted to calibrate it, but we'll see how effective it is.


I got everything ready the night before.  I actually ended up wearing different shorts (because "they" say not to do anything different on race day, and I hadn't worn those undies in awhile, and I for sure did not want to be pulling wedgies for six miles).


Getting ready to leave for the race.  It was still pretty chilly out.  I had a blueberry crisp Clif bar, which was entirely too sweet for early in the morning.


My faithful chauffeur and photographer.  I love him.


At the starting line.  Very, very nervous.



Rounding the final corner...a really nice man had just run by and said "Ok girls, this is go time.  Sprint for it."  So I did.  His motivation was exactly what I needed at that time.



I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!  One hour, six minutes, and thirty-one seconds.  Then I collapsed and hyperventilated.  And cried a little. 


5th in my age group!  I think there were only five of us, but still!  The official results aren't posted to the website yet, but I took this picture as they displayed them at the race.


Rocking the compression socks. 


Catching some sunshine....this warmer weather is amazing.


So tired now...wishing I could go take a nap.  Instead it was on to a baby shower.  Which is a happy thing, I was just spent after my emotional rollercoaster and run.



The race as a whole was nice.  It was the first time I've ran an open course during a race.  I didn't think it was good or bad, just different.  I was a little worried that I was going to get run over by a cyclist and not finish the race.  But other than that, it was nice to run along the river and see everyone out on a Saturday morning. 

I registered online and picked my packet up at Fleet Feet on Friday.  That process was easy, and cheaper than registering in person.  It was confusing trying to find parking the morning of the race (mostly because I didn't even know OSU had a separate Tulsa campus for their medical college), but other than that, everything else was clearly marked.

I spent most of the race mostly by myself.  For the first four miles or so I kept up with a girl with a long ponytail, but after that fourth mile she took off.  She only finished a few minutes in front of me, but I want to know how she had the endurance to pick it up so much in the end.  I didn't see her consume any nutrition either, so I'm really curious.  I brought a gel with me...which I seriously regretted.  I had grabbed a Clif Mocha gel, which I'd never tasted.  I honestly wanted to throw up when I ate it.  It is not a flavor that I like....I guess I need to stick to the berry flavors.

I am so excited and happy and proud and scared now.  Scared because six miles made me tired and in three weeks I have to do thirteen point one.....oh boy.

Friday, April 2, 2010

My Running Playlist

Harder Better Faster Stronger (Radio Edit) [Live] Daft Punk Harder Better Faster Stronger (Radio Edit) [Live] - Single

Glamorous Fergie The Dutchess

Chocolate Snow Patrol Final Straw [Bonus Tracks]

Bust Your Windows Glee Cast Glee: The Music, Volume 1

Take A Bow Glee Cast Glee: The Music, Volume 1

You and I Both Jason Mraz Waiting for My Rocket to Come

Get Low Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz & Ying Yang Twins Kings Of Crunk

Apologize OneRepublic Dreaming Out Loud

Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) Beyoncé I Am... Sasha Fierce (Deluxe Version)

Drowning (Face Down) Saving Abel Saving Abel

Low (feat. T-Pain) Flo Rida Mail On Sunday (Deluxe Version)

I'm a Slave 4 U Britney Spears Britney

Man In the Mirror Michael Jackson The Essential Michael Jackson

Low (feat. T-Pain) Flo Rida Mail On Sunday

Send the Pain Below Chevelle Wonder What's Next (Deluxe Version)

Love Story Taylor Swift Fearless

Numb / Encore Jay-Z & Linkin Park Collision Course

Ruin Me Jeff Johnson Glorious Day

Defying Gravity Glee Cast Glee: The Music, Volume 1

God of My Days Gateway Worship Wake Up the World (Bonus Track Version)

Eye of the Tiger Survivor Now That's What I Call the 80s

Psycho Puddle of Mudd Famous

Buttons The Pussycat Dolls featuring Big Snoop Dogg Buttons - Single

Closer Ne-Yo Year of the Gentleman (Bonus Track Version)

No You Girls Franz Ferdinand Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

Don't Stop Believin' Glee Cast Glee: The Music, Volume 1

You Found Me The Fray The Fray

Seven Nation Army The White Stripes Elephant

Sandstorm Darude Before the Storm

Jai Ho! (as made famous by A. R. Rahman & Pussycat Dolls) Cardio Motivator Workout Now!

SexyBack (feat. Timbaland) Justin Timberlake FutureSex/LoveSounds

No Air Glee Cast Glee: The Music, Volume 1

Blurry Puddle of Mudd Come Clean

Gold Digger Glee Cast Glee: The Music, Volume 1

Insomnia Craig David Insomnia - Single

Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) Big & Rich Horse of a Different Color

So Cold (Remix) Breaking Benjamin We Are Not Alone

Wake Up Arcade Fire Funeral

Trust Thrice Punk Goes Acoustic


What do you have on your list?

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Sucky Supercuts and the amazing Liz Tinker

ORIGINAL:
(The color God gave me, which always looks darker when curly)



BEFORE:
(The glorious blonde highlights I loved so much, courtesy of Liz Tinker)

DURING:
(The hideous gothic darkenss cast upon me by Supercuts)

AFTER:
(The perfect, shiny color my husband claims is "exactly what he wanted")


About two months ago, my highlights were growing in and I was short on cash and time.  I loved my normal hair stylist, but due to my hectic work and school schedule, I didn't feel that I could get in to see her.  Supercuts seemed like the answer- get in, get out, get on with my life.  As I was only desiring to go back to my natural color (which all but the top layers of my hair already were, as well as my roots), I didn't figure that it would be too much trouble. 

As you can tell, I did not depart from Supercuts with my natural color.  In fact, I left Supercuts with a color that was completely unnatural and prompted lots of teasing and comments.  I even had one friend inquire as to where the dwarves were.  (That got me to the tanning bed.)  When I exclaimed "My hair is black!" to the hair dresser, she replied "Oh, it will fade."  (By the way, this comment makes me think of the scene in Bride Wars where Kate Hudson's character freaks out about her hair and shouts "It's blue!  My hair's blue!".)  It didn't fade...at all....my boss even asked me if it was getting darker.  Which just made me feel awesome.  Everytime I caught my reflection in the mirror, I had to double take- I literally did not recognize myself.  My hair was darker than Lee's!!

After two weeks, I went in to Supercuts to complain that my hair hadn't faded.  The staff on duty couldn't have been more unhelpful.  They said that if I had complained at the time of the service that they could have done something about it, but that I had waited too long.  That seriously ticked me off, because I had told the stylist at the time of the service that I was unhappy with the blackness that had overtaken my hair.  I left very frustrated at the lack of empathy from the employees.

About three weeks after that, I went back to Supercuts to vent my frustrations again.  Not only had my hair failed to fade, my golden roots were now growing in- stark evidence that my natural color was not achieved in the coloring process.  Two more unsympathetic employees told me that "it just takes awhile to fade".  One of them showed me her hair, stating that it was black like mine in December and had only now started to fade.  Which is great....except that I didn't want to wait until May to have normal hair.  I explained to them that I was very unsatisfied with their service, and that I planned on warning my friends and family to never patronize Supercuts again.  They replied to that with "Well, if that's how you feel, we can't do anything about it."  Wow.  They showed me a Paul Mitchell shampoo they claimed would help speed the fading process- for a mere $40.  I tried to convince them to give me the shampoo, but they balked, saying that they weren't authorized to do such a thing.  So I stupidly shelled out even more cash and bought the shampoo.  I went next door to Starbucks to pep my spirits with a skinny caramel latte.  While there, I briefly complained about Supercuts, and the nice barista said "Yeah, we get that all the time."  Wow again.

I got home and used this special shampoo for about a week.  I happened to read the back of the bottle one day, where it clearly read "Safe for Color Treated Hair."  At this point I wanted to cuss.  Maybe I even did.

Finally, I sucked it up and called my normal hair stylist.  I've been seeing Liz for a little over two years and think she's the best in town.  I discovered her at Ulta and followed her to Studio2 in Bixby.  Everytime I leave her swivel chair, my hair looks infinitely better.  If you need proof, see pictures 1 and 3 above.  In a little under three hours, she had my hair back to a color that is perfect.  I am so pleased with her artistry and also the fact that she didn't yell "I told you so" when I cofessed my hair sins to her.

Do you have any terrible hair stories?