Quasi-Homeowner

It's hard, very hard, to believe we have already been in our house 9 months! Seriously, where does the time go? Anyway, as with most home purchases, there isn't always a lot of discretionary income to do things around the house at first. To-date the only home improvements we've done include installing a shelf and fan in the bathroom and a ceiling fan in our bedroom. Yep, we're breaking into the role of homeowners pretty easily. Everything was painted and touched up beautifully in the house, so I didn't really need to paint, but as it turns out the kitchen and dining area were pastel yellow. I'm not a pastel person. Personally, I think pastels are weak (yes, I personify colors). So this past holiday season, my office was closed for week between Christmas and New Years, and I was determined to paint. I have since learned painting is not fun, nor easy, nor something that can be done by yourself in one weekend! Although it will be a very long time before I pick up another roller, I am pleased with the outcome. Here are the before and afters!

Before:











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After:

Catching Up, Once and For All

Three words...
Way. Over. Due.
The last time I sat down here, it was November and I was actually blogging about events from August. I guess I have a lot of 'splaining to do. So, here's what I've been up to for the last 4 months... in about 4 minutes. Ready... GO! The remainder of the summer, post-Lake Powell, was filled with lots of adventure. Hiking, off roading, flying, etc. One hike in particular, a failed attempt to summit Mt. Timpanogos on the path less traveled (let's be honest, the path never traveled), happened to be one of my favorite.

Continuing along to one of my favorite months here in Utah, September. The temperatures are ideal, the mountains turn into the worlds largest natural paint canvas, boasting some of the most beautiful colors I have ever seen, and of course, the Walk, Wag and Swim! This was our first time attending the annual event, where dogs are king and the Draper pool becomes their playground. The dog was so tired, yep... he was dog-tired, that he could barely keep his little head afloat anymore, but we still had to pull him out of the pool to take him home.

September also included some very special guests. For the very first time since I moved to Utah, both my parents came together to visit! They also happened to help us wedding venue shop! Who would have ever thought that I would actually be troubled by how many absolutely stunning places there are to say "I do" in this state. Although I honestly don't believe we could have gone wrong with any of the contenders, there was something about Sundance that just won me over from day one and we are so excited to tie the knot there!

In addition to beautiful colors, fall also means Football. Ryan and I are true Utahns now as we attended our first Utah University Football game. To be honest, we were more hardcore then some of the longstanding Utah fans that bailed during the 2nd period when the lighting, thunder and rain started coming down sideways. We stuck it out though, and boy was it worth it. Went into OT and the Utes pulled through. U-T-E-S!

October and November grew cold pretty quickly. So naturally, once the weather gets cold, we get ready for snow. Or at least, we pray for snow. We decided that this year, we're pulling for another winter like our first here in Utah. 700+ inches of the gushy, nasty stuff... and I mean that is the most gnarly way ever. So, we did the only thing we knew how to do. We danced around a campfire with hot cider and made smores singing "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow".


I rounded up November with an extended trip back to the east coast. I spent a good week and half back in New Jersey/New York visiting with family, friends, and of course the obligatory wedding dress shopping! I got a few days with Miss G, the cutest and smartest 3-year-old I have ever met, who had some of the best phrases and jokes out there. I had the pleasure of giving her a belated birthday gift in person, the quintessential shopping cart of course, and can still hear her as she tore the paper back and said "Oh boyyyy! It's a grocery thing". Love her, to pieces.




When we returned to Utah in December I found myself celebrating a birthday, I'm now officially in my late 20's, and celebrating the first holiday season in our own home. For some reason, celebrating a holiday in your "home" is very different than your 3rd, 4th, or 5th apartment in 16 months. I felt this urge to decorate in a big way, and the urges started as early as... yes, I'm going to say it... Thanksgiving! We had our very first Christmas party in our home, we got our very first 'big tree' and hung three stockings by the chimney with care. Santa even brought us lots of great presents from around the country. But this year the very best present I got didn't come in a box, or via a red sleigh with 8 reindeer... It came from the heart. This year it's full of love and happiness, and that's a gift I want to keep for many, many Christmas's to come.

Long Lost Lake Powell

Way back in the day, six people, three cars, and two dogs headed south. For a few of us, it was our first time, but for some, it was just another trip to the land with more waterfront than the entire west coast of the continental US. As one of the destinations on my Top 10 Places to Hit This Year list (mind you, I've now hit a whopping 1), I was more excited than one could imagine. We headed out on Friday morning, arriving at Lake Powell a little after lunch. We set up camp, and went straight to the beach for some swimming–dogs and all. Before we knew it we were cooking dinner, watching the warm sun cast its surreal shadows on the lake as it slowly went out of sight.

Randy and Josh toast to a great first day

Day 2 was just a little more jam packed, complete with a speed boat rental and a set of water skis. We spent the morning making our way the 50+ miles out to Rainbow Bridge, the worlds largest natural bridge; almost as tall as our capital building and spanning nearly a football field in length.
We then spent the remainder of the day, or at least the remainder of our rental, working our way back to the marina, exploring as many small canyons as we could squeeze in, bother literally and metaphorically. We even found a sandy spot to beach the boat, have a picnic lunch, and spend some time exploring on land.
Of course, what would a trip to the great Lake Powell be with out some water activities? Most of us gave water skiing a try, although for some of us it came much more naturally than others, (note the author was one of those not so natural people), but some fun was had and even more laughs.

Ryan, obviously one of the naturals...

Me...ummmm....not so much.

One really monumental part of this trip was also our beloved J-dog. Jackson, always the boat chaser, never the boat rider, really made the best of the situation. Turns out, he actually came to relax a bit on the boat... Ok maybe a lot.

This trip was so much more than just a trip with great friends and filled with great memories... It was the first of many, many, MANY more Adventures in Utah. A few blogs ago, I exposed a new motto in life... To make each day count, with the one you love. I truly hope to always do that, especially when it comes to making the most of the undeniably gorgeous place in which we have come to call home.

These shoes were made for...walking?

It is with great sadness that I have to announce my dream of running the St. George Marathon will have to wait another year. A few weeks back, on one of my training runs, I made the mistake of aggressively increasing my mileage and decline in the same run. I ran 8 of the 13 miles at a 4-5% decline down American Fork Canyon, and as it turns out, injured my left foot. I then spent the next 3-4 weeks icing, and resting, throwing a few short sporadic runs in the mix when I thought I could. But regardless of how long I would rest between runs (sometimes even a full week), that next time out, I couldn't even go .25 miles without the horrible pain returning. I'd like to think I have a pretty high threshold for pain, especially when it comes to something I had such a new found passion for, but I reached a breaking point where I couldn't take it anymore.

What's next? For some reason I was emotionally attached to the idea of running the St. George marathon for my first 26.2. I haven't decided if I can wait the 14 months for it to come around again, or if I'll find something in the meantime to quench my thirst. For now, these shoes will keep on walking... that's just what they'll do...

Half a Decade—Whole lotta love

Five years ago today, Ryan and I started our journey together that continues to get better year after year. In my opinion, a relationship that cannot be broken and continues to grow stronger and more amazing after each hurdle, with every passing year.... is truly something worth 'blogging' about.

We met on Father's Day, 2004, when I went up to Ellenville, NY to watch my Dad do this crazy thing called hang gliding. Our first run in was short, but to this day, and my mom will attest, I really did know that something was different about him.... and no, not in the "short bus" different kind of way, but in a really amazing way. Our journey has many different phases, in many different states, with many amazing times, and some of those icky, trying times as well. But 5 years later, I know how lucky I am, and have made it a personal goal to not take it for granted, even for one day.

To making each day count, with the one you love.
Happy Anniversary :)

Ryan and I on our first anniversary, taking our first tandem flight together
July 2005

No News really IS good News!

Two months since my last update, and with lots to report, it's hard to know where to start, but the beginning sounds good. Last blog, I was waiting for news on the St. George marathon lottery. I got picked! I will run my first, full marathon on October 3rd, in beautiful St. George Utah. http://www.stgeorgemarathon.com/. To make the deal even sweeter, Leah, one of my very best friends, is traveling the 2,127 miles from New Jersey to Utah, so that we can run it side-by-side! We will share the experience of crossing that finish line some 26.2 miles later, together. Go team Dizzy and Slugger!

Running the Salt Lake 1/2 marathon in April

Shortly after finding out about the marathon, we also got word that an offer Ryan and I had made on a house, had been accepted. Before we knew it, we were elbow deep in all the worries and woes of buying a house. On May 30th, some 10-15 inspections, notaries, letters, and delays later, we closed on our very first, and may I say, ridiculously adorable house. It's a perfect first home, complete with 1/3 acre of plush, landscaped yard for Jackson, three bedrooms, two family rooms and charm that makes you feel at home almost instantaneously.

Pictures of our house, moving in, and getting settled.

Once we were moved in, the mad dash to unpack and get settled was on. Both sets of parents were planning to come out shortly after getting moved in and so we decided it would be a great time to have a housewarming party. But when our closing got pushed back 2 weeks, it only left us with about 10 days to get the house in 'housewarming' status. With some seriously long days, lots of running around and lots of help, we were able to pull it off. I'd even go as far as to say we had a lot of fun while we were at it. :)

Pictures from our Housewarming BBQ

Finally, as it turns out, the mad dash to keep our original date for the housewarming party was part of a larger scheme Ryan had in the works. On Saturday morning, before our guests arrived, Ryan asked me to marry him. He had remembered a long time ago, when I once very casually mentioned that I would love to have friends and family around at the time of the engagement, to share in the celebration. Go figure, guys do remember things :) After almost 5 years, I am still gitty at the thought of spending the rest of my life, with my best friend.

So in our case, it is true.... no news REALLY is good news!

Ryan and I, shortly after saying "yes" at our BBQ.

The New Love of My Life

For as long as I can remember, through all of the sports I've participated in, both high-school and college, there's always been a conditioning aspect that involved running.... and in three words–I hated it. Who would have thought that almost 10 years later (YIKES!), I have a new found love for it? It's my thing, it's time to clear my mind, it's the one place where I am actually able to turn off my brain but yet in that state of freedom, I can answer anything... go figure. A few months back I had decided I was going to try a half-marathon, not ever having run more than 2 miles in one stint. 12 weeks of training later, I not only ran the 1/2, but ended up finishing well under my "I'm hoping for, but probably won't get" goal of 2 hours. As I rounded the corner for the last mile, the cheers, the smiles, the feeling of accomplishment... priceless. It's safe to say–I'm officially hooked. I signed up for my first full marathon for October 09. It's a lottery, so everyone.... FINGERS CROSSED!

Kasey, a fellow BrainStormer, and I at the start line.

Getting pumped-up... I was bouncing around like a Mexican jumping bean.

I actually undershoot my goal time by so much, I beat Ryan and Jeff (another fellow BrainStormer) to the finish-line, so they caught my excitement after I actually had a chance to catch my breath :)