Winnah!

Woo my second blog award...I feel so loved!

 

Thank you to Bebe at life's little epiphanies and Julia at Keeping Up with Goliath: The Bosky Blog for giving me this award!

 

According to the rules, I must:

1.  Thank the person who gave me the award.

2.  Share seven things about myself.

3.  Nominate 15 newly discovered blogs.

4.  Let my nominees know about their award. (ok so I'll try, but no promies.  ya'll should be regular readers anyway :op) 

7 things…  I love the plays of Shakespare, shoes, purses, bows, polka dots, ruffles and sparkly things.  

and now for the nominations...

Jessica - of Jessica's Jaunt

Jillian -of Jewelery by Jillian

Steph - of A Girls Guide to a Guys Game

The Guiltless Glass - yummy cocktails

Nikki -of Nikki Goes Bananas

The Shenanigans of Megan and the Liz's

Adie - of All of the Above

Meag - of Meagan Likes It!

Diana - of Diana's Daily Dish

The Hansen Family

Rachel - of Fit Fun and Fabulous

Meg - of Swim, Bike, Run & Then Some

Kelly - of Kohlrabi and Quince

Cake Wrecks

Mary - of Miss Mary Mc

Warrior - Domestic Goddess...

Yes, that would be me.  You've already seen evidence of my Warrior awesomeness, so prepare yourself to be WOWed by my domestic prowess.  (I kid I kid, but seriously...I do alright.)

The background:  The fams and I are going to a football game at mom and dad's Alma mater this weekend, and we plan on tailgating before the game.  Now the game starts at noon, which means we will be tailgating at 8am.  This of course was mom and dad's call.  Which of course is totally cool, brekkie cocktails and eggs on the gill, yes please.  I of course volunteer my stellar cooking skills to make bread and fruit salad.  

I decided to try a recipe that had been passed to me earlier this month.  Since it's now fall and pumpkin season... Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread.  *drumroll please*

doesn't it look yummo?!?!

I tried a piece and it was quite good.  Hopefully the family enjoys it!  Full tailgating/football escapades to follow!

Starting is an Option; Finishing is Mandatory

That's what one of the runners shouted to us as we were all battling our way through the Warrior Dash. I love it.  It is SO true. 

So if any of you have talked to me in the past few weeks you know I've been slightly stressed and in BIG TIME denial about the Warrior Dash.  Will I do it, can I do it, what on earth was I thinking, who do I think I am...guilt, insecurity, exhaustion, the works.  

Well...I did it!  Jessica and I met at nine this morning for our three hour drive to Windham, NY.  We drove and drove and drove and drove and then met up with Diana in Catskill.  We all piled in one car and The Warrior Dashkateers were on our way!  

We arrived around noon and our wave wasn't until 2:30 so we had plenty of time to collect our packets, wander around and check out the scene.  And quite a scene it was!!!  

starting line!

the Dashkateers pre race

the finish line (right before the mud pit)

The race started at the bottom of the ski mountain and then wound it's way up the slope for over 1.5 miles.  Brutal.  Let me say that again slower.  Brrrruuuuuttttaaaaallllllllllllllll.  There are 13 obstacles in this race...but really the 14th and hardest obstacle was the MOUNTAIN. 

1.  Knee High Hell = stepping through tires

2.  Warrior Wall = two 4 foot wooden walls to climb over

3.  Tunnels of Terror = crawling through pipes

4.  Steep Slope Ahead! (and quite slippery too, my knees didn't like the downhills)

5.  Black Forest = scrambling through a forest...literally

6.  Slithering Swamp = deep muddy pool (for sure at one point I could not touch bottom)

7.  Walk the Plank = wooden planks over a gully

8.  Rip Van Winkle Way = up an over a wooden bridge

9.  Rio Run = MUD MUD MUD and more scrambling through forests

10.  Cargo Climb = climbing up cargo nets then down more cargo nets

11.  Catskill Skid = SLIP N SLIDE!! 

12.  Warrior Roast = jumping over fire...twice

13.  Muddy Mahem = crawling through a mud pit under barbed wire

and we did them all.  I nearly lost a contact on the slip n slide, but by luck it managed to drop right on my (not so clean) shirt and I popped that sucker back in and hit the trail again...had to jump some fire!!  All in all a super hard, super fun, super badass 3.23 miles!  We are already talking next year (perhaps somewhere FLAT!)  Who wants to join us!?!?!?!?!?!

following Jess into the swamp!

the girls post race

I AM THE WARRIOR!

we were able to donate our old shoes after the race...super cool!!

we clean up goooooooooood!

PS - STAY TUNED FOR PART 2...when the professional pics come out!!! (hopefully there's one or 20 of the Dashkateers!)

Blog Award x2!

I got my first blog award today!!!!  

Many thanks to my friends and fellow bloggers Bebe and Adie for giving me a blog nod!   Hooray my wee baby blog is getting awards!  So this is how it works...you get tagged, you gush about it (hehe), then you list ten things you like and tag ten of your favorite blogs.  AAAAAAAAAND go!

1.  sparkly things - seriously...things that sparkle make me smile

2.  dancing - especially Irish :)

3.  cuppycakes - they have FROSTING

4.  music - tames or eggs on the inner beast ;)  and it's good for dancing 

5.  my house - I've taken a house and made it my home

6.  traveling - especially when it's to Europe to visit my friends!

7.  romance - I'm a sucker for it...I might not have much in my life at the moment, but it still makes me gushy

8.  bad jokes - cause they're so bad they're good

9.  hanging out with my peeps - friends, family, both...I love being with people I love

10.  sports - specifically the Red Sox and whatever team Mike Ross happens to be playing for...cause rugby is cool, and he married one of my best friends. 

and nowwwwwwwwwwwwwww...top ten bloggies!

1.  Jessica - well nuff said she rawks. 

2.  Julia - she runs with Goliath and is an awesome inspiration.  

3.  Jillian - a beautiful girl who makes beautiful jewelery.

4.  Steph - it's another wee baby blog - sports for girls! 

5.  The Guiltless Glass - calorie friendly cocktails...need I say more!?!

6.  Nikki - recipes, adventures, fun...what more could you ask for?!

7.  SHENANIGANS! 

8.  Adie - she lives in London and makes me miss that crazy city with her adventures!

9.  Meag - a sassy MRS with an awesome sense of fashion!

10.  Bethany - cause she has a spirit that just won't quit

Happy Tuesday!!!! 

Wedded Bliss!

No not mine, silly!  I'm single and ready to mingle.  My friend Meag married her love Brian this weekend.  They met on a plane...yep on a plane.  *cue ♫ on the wings of love ♫    Here are some highlights for your viewing pleasure...

the beautiful couple exchanging rings

pre-drinks at Chilis

the girls at the reception

pass the beef!

cheesin'

mmmmm CAKE!

the final dance

best mailbox EVER!  and yes we pulled over to take a picture. 

all in all it was a beautiful day and a beautiful wedding.  CONGRATS MEAG AND BRIAN!!!!

It's HERE! It's HERE!!!

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!  I have this fantastic friend Jessica and she has this fantastic blog, I luff it (and yes it deserves to be linked twice, it's that awesome).  Well last week she did a BLOG-og-og-og GIVEAWAY-way-way-way (<--echos).  And guess what...I WON!!!  So exciting.  I was jumping around the house...knowing a box of super girly fun randomness was coming in the mail kinda made my month.  

I got home from work today and was greeted with a surprise... 

it's here! it's here!

I love getting packages...that might be why I love online shopping...PACKAGES!!!

Course I ran inside and did not waste ANY time ripping that bad larry open.

Drool!

 

 

PACKAGE!!!

oh mah gah I'm in love with this!

GIANT FLOWER...sidenote this can also be worn as a hairthing.  I just died and went to giant flower heaven!

mah loot!!

Check out that clutch...it's so hardcore that I immediately needed to see if my phone, lip gloss and camera fit!  I totally know what I'm carrying to a wedding next weekend!  

So not only did I rip into that package like a puppy with a brand new toy....I felt the need to spread the love all over the house!

wine stopper...candle accessory...either way, AWESOME!

The magnet is gracing my super old big black fridge, place o honor right in de middle!

All in all an EXCELLENT package!  Thanks Jessticle you RAWK!!

Two Step

OK so my first two posts have begun with my toes being cold, I don't think this is going to be a trend, but with me you never know.  Although today my toes are cold on purpose ☺.  I woke up this morning and did a short session with my Wii fit (see mom I am using it!) and then after work I went to zumba.  Needless to say my left arch is a little sore.  Enter the ice pack.  Ahhh relief.  

My feet are important to me.  And I've just started realizing what I can accomplish when I'm standing on my own two feet.  

I can dance.  Irish step dance, something I wanted to learn since I was a little girl.  Something that has brought some of the most amazing people I have ever met into my life. An art form, a sport, a lot of fun. 

I can run.   And no not just because someone is chasing me, because I have a goal.  That goal is the finish line, and every time I cross over those silly timing bumpers at the end of a race I win. I win because I did it, I finished.  I did something I never thought I would ever do...and so far this year, I've crossed the finish line in four races. 

first time mowing...ever

I can mow my own lawn.  Ya you heard me, I own a lawn, it surrounds the house that I also own.  As a single 20-something I NEVER thought I would own my own house.  Amazing what you can do with savings, great credit, business savvy and an amazing family willing to help you out.  And here is the shocking part, until I was 28 I NEVER EVER EVER mowed a lawn in my life. 

I can lead.  Leading is something that always came easily to me, but leading while teaching others to be leaders in their own right is something that takes practice. 

I can walk.  There are many sad and tragic things that happen, to me, to the people I love, to people I don't know.  These things are not anything that I cannot handle with the love and support of my friends and family, and nothing that they will ever need to go though without my love and support.  Cancer, death, chronic disease, loss, heartache... Every year we walk.  We walk to Make Strides Against Breast Cancer.  We walk to create a world free of MS.  And we walk to support each other, no matter the cause.  

I can be strong.  I am strong.  I stand on my own two feet.  I stand for the things I believe in.  I stand behind those who needs my support.  And sometimes, I stand alone...which is the scariest thing in the world, until I realize that I am never *truly* standing alone. 

I can climb stairs.  Up those stairs is my bed...and since today is not the last early morning I will have.  And so for now, I will stand on my two feet, climb/hobble up the stairs of my home and crawl into bed.