Don't Be Blue About 32!

That's right.  I like to rhyme stuff.

Today is my birthday!  Turning 32 really wasn't that bad.  I feel like 31 was really hard.  I was pretty sad about leaving my 20's and 31 was harder than 30.  Thirty-two has gone well.  I've gotten to spend the whole day with friends and family!

Laura came over at about 10am to exchange Christmas and birthday presents.  She got me an awesome Contigo cup like the one I had and loved!  She also got me a pair of ProCompression calf sleeves in hot pink!  They are just what I've been wanting!  I had bought the socks before and they were way too big, so I never wore them.  I knew that if I ever got another pair I would want to just get the sleeves, so I can't wait to try them!

I went to my parents at about 1pm for cake and presents.  My mom got me a faux fur throw that is so insanely soft.  I'm surprised my cat hasn't claimed it yet.  As soon as I wrote that he jumped on it and started purring.  My dad also got me a unique present.  It's called a Pot Maker.  Imagine my confusion when I opened the box and saw this.

I was like, my dad wants me to grow pot? Lol.  But then I understood it.  You make biodegradable seed starters.  It's a really cool idea.  He found it online somewhere.

I had a low key Saturday night.  Kev and I watched For the Greater Glory: The True Story of Christiada.  It was a slow beginning, but it got better.

I also made an iPhone cozy.  I found the pattern here after searching on Pinterest.  I was going to make the owl that was shown, but I may be too old for that now.  I just followed the pattern for the body and top flap, found an old button to sew on, and POW, I got me an iPhone cozy!

 I really like crocheting small things instead of giant afghans.  I feel more accomplished since I can finish them faster.

Have you started thinking about your New Year's Resolutions?

And on the Seventh Day...

This past week has been action packed!  After last Saturday's half marathon, I decided to take some time off of running, which was a great decision.  I was tired, I had a busy work schedule, and my mom ended up having to have surgery.

I ended up staying over at my mom's the day she got back from the hospital.  My dad works third shift and I thought someone should be there in case something happened.

Mom is doing a lot better now.  She was pretty mobile right after surgery, which surprised me after a back surgery.  A lot of her pain is alleviated.  The doctor said she was in so much pain, because part of her disk actually broke off and fused to the nerve!  Ouchie!!

I've been taking my mom's dog for a walk about every other day, so I haven't become a total couch potato without running.  She absolutely loves getting outside and hunting through all of the tall grass and under all of the bushes.

With the weather getting colder, I've been making Asia a sweater.  My mom made her a turtle neck sweater last year, but every girl needs more then just one sweater!

I had to custom make it since she is a plus size gal.  I had to redo the bottom, because I had actually made it way too big.  Asia volunteered to help.

 I finally finished the sweater.  I sewed her name on with yarn and added some flowers.  I got the original pattern for free here.

I have gone back to doing the daily crosswords in the newspaper.  I have been doing crosswords since I was in middle school.  There is something so satisfying about filling up all of those squares with the right (or close to right) answers.  I am a little rusty still, but those of you who do these know the clues tend to repeat each other once in a while, so that has helped.  

Today, I went on my first run since the half last Saturday.  I went with my friend Becky who is training for her first marathon!  She only had to do five miles, so nothing I couldn't handle.  We took it pretty slow, walking once every mile, and just enjoying the day and the scenery.  

I decided to have some fun with my outfit, so I wore bright colors.  I also wanted to see what it was like to run in my compression socks.  I felt like my calves were a little sore during the run from the socks, but that could have been from the hills and not running so much for a week.  I'm not sore now though, so maybe they did help.  Who knows.  I think I will have to try them on a really long run to see.

My outfit on my run.  I love my pink compression socks!

My splits.

Hope everyone has a happy Monday!

Cleaning with a Feeling

I was so tired this morning...maybe it had something to do with not going to bed until 1am.  I was running a bit behind this morning so took my oatmeal to go.  I eat it on the way to work a lot.  It's filling and easy to eat!

I made sure to bring my lunch and snacks though.  I had a hard time this weekend to eat healthy, but I blame it on working too many days in a row.  It gets hard to think of food to bring.  I did really well and didn't go buy any junk food or eat any of the junk food we have in the break room.  

When I got home, I was excited to see that my compression socks had come!  I have read a lot about them and with my marathon training starting soon and a sale going on where I bought them, I figured it was meant to be.  I have been wearing them all day.  I can't tell if they are doing anything since today is a rest day.  They are definitely the most expensive pair of socks I have ever bought!

For supper I had a salad and I made my own dressing.  It was super easy. I just mixed together some red wine vinegar, EVOO, and a half packet of Sweet n Low.  I also put my homemade refrigerator pickles on it.  Those pickles are super good!  I am definitely  making them next year again.  I also had the rest of my soup that I brought for lunch and a banana and pear cut up.

I spent the rest of the night cleaning, doing laundry, dusting and doing the floors.  Tomorrow is my day off and I do not want to spend the whole day cleaning like I usually do. I cleaned out a cabinet I have random things in and found FOUR Gu's!  The receipt was dated April of last year.  That was right around the time I hurt my knee.  I must have bought them for a race and then not needed them anymore.  That was a sweet find though since I have a lot of long runs coming up!

I am going to finish watching Revolution and then heading to bed!  

Have you ever found anything while cleaning?