Twas the week before Half Marathon...

... So excited to DO THIS! I completed my last "long" run on Sunday and it felt great...now I just have to allow myself to rest this week so that I will have no muscle soreness come Sunday morning!
To celebrate, I got a new running jacket and I am in love! I am not in obsessed with it on the model because it looks a little loose fitting, but I love it on me- it has an empire waist, 4 pockets (2 on the outside with zippers, 2 on the inside), and thumb holes!
Kinda funny story. I never spend a ton of money on workout gear. Even though I use it on a daily basis, I don't feel the need to spend $100 on pants I am just going to sweat in. Well, I was wearing my favorite Target dryfit leggings while doing down dog at home...Daniel started cracking up and said he could see my undies STRAIGHT through my pants...could name the color and everything. Of course, I had just worn the pants to yoga class (and I pretty much wear them once a week)....really hope the lighting was dark enough that no one could tell I like leopard print. Needless to say, I went out and bought some nicer yoga pants!


I am SO taking of the Monday after the marathon...planning on sleeping in, getting a pedicure, and doing nothing more strenuous than a light walk. I love having small things to look forward to!

In honor of being the day after my last long run, I spent the day shopping (see above), and will now eat a Crave cupcake while watching The Bachelor (seriously I hate this show with a passion but I love reading the FUNNIEST blog the next day!

Some random thoughts

1. I've read that one of the top indicators of a happy marriage is the split-up of household chores...the closer the couple is to splitting the chores 50/50, the happier they seem to be. I love our new "chores routine"...I go around the house and clean all of the counters, plus our 2 bathrooms, then I go grocery shopping. While I'm shopping, Daniel goes and cleans ALL of our floors (our whole house is hardwood, so it isn't an easy feat!) I do not mind cleaning counters, but I HATE cleaning our floors because I feel like I can never get them clean enough. Daniel has been sweeping and mopping since he was practically in diapers, so it works out well!

2. Made the YUMMIEST dinner tonight! I have never cooked fish before tonight because I worried that it wouldn't turn out well. Made this recipe and it was amazing and healthy! Daniel loved it, too!

3. I am obsessed with forearm stands...I have been doing it in our house on every empty wall I can find. It was a pose that I figured I would never be able to do (it is pretty tough on the core, upper back, and triceps/ shoulders) but I randomly kicked into it in class last week...and then did it 4 more times in a row! It is crazy how much stronger our bodies are than we realize. It's similar to a head stand, but your head is lifted up off the ground.

4. I kinda like these boots. I got some Toms for Christmas and I wear them all of the time. I definitely want to try them on before buying them....I am hoping Whole Earth provides them to save me a trip to Nordstroms. Do you or someone you know have these boots and like them?

5. An instructor I go to is opening a new yoga/ piltes gym on Studemont called Happy Belly Yoga and is charging only $20 bucks for UNLIMITED yoga for a month. Cannot wait!

OK, I think that about covers it! Have a great 3 day weekend, everyone!

It's OK that I...

... have a sparse Christmas tree, with ornaments that say " Christina's first Xmas". I refuse to buy ornaments that mean nothing.

... have no time line for life.

... buy something for myself every time I make an online purchase for a Christmas gift.

...fear becoming a 100% vegetarian because I.Love.Steak.

...think a hot bubble bath solves all of life's problems.

...cannot wait until The Bachelor, even though I am not a fan of Brad.

...consider bed at 10:30 to be late.

...Feel a little pain when I come home from work and my husband's car isn't in the driveway.

...Only dust my blinds when I am expecting company.





...think Houston ain't that bad.

...

list of wants

Yesterday, a student told me her birthday was coming up. When I asked her when it was, she replied "November 28"....which is my birthday, too! After she guessed how old I will be (seven years old), she told me everything that she wants for her birthday...which got me thinking about what I would like.
I really do not care about birthdays or gifts. Of course I appreciate them, but I am fine if I receive nothing. I am usually a frugal person and I just do not like having a bunch of things that clutter up my house. Unfortunately, my list this year is rather extensive ...much thanks to my knack of losing and breaking expensive things. So, without further ado, I present you with my birthday/ Christmas wish list for 2010!

I really love this gym bag! It is cute how it has a holder for a yoga mat. I usually go to the gym right after work and just stuff my clothes in my purse....I think this is much more practical!



Best Christmas movie ever!

Cute, matches my dishes. Something I would never buy myself but would like receiving. Would be useful to use during a party!
I dropped my macbook and now the screen is all messed up...I can still use it, but there are areas on my screen that are cracked, making it hard to see the images. No wonder Daniel's computer is password protected and he won't let me in on what it is!

Ok. I am not normally a leather jacket wearin' gal, but I would like one in lieu of a motorcycle jacket. I could spend a lot of $$$ on a motorcycle jacket that wouldn't be too cute and that I would only wear while I am riding with Daniel...or I could spend a smidgen more and get a jacket that I can wear everyday. Daniel had a little motorcycle crash yesterday (not a big deal, but he got skinned up on his way to work) and now I really do not want to ride with him unless I have proper protection. I might not be able to wait until November 28 for this purchase!
Remember my whole knack of breaking and losing all things expensive? Yes, I spilled a 32 oz water bottle in my purse, and in turn ruining my second iphone in 3 months. I feel really bad asking for a new one, but I promise to be more careful!
I have had my car since I turned 17. It has been fun, but now that I am older, I would like to have something larger. It sucks grocery shopping or traveling with the dogs in my little 2 door VW convertible. Not to mention it currently has a hole in the door from a bow and arrow and a hole in the bumper thanks to Daniel backing into a fire hydrant.


I am embarrassed by how much money this list totals to....I know I will not receive the majority of these, it's called a wish list for a reason!

Happy Monday!

Brie and apple quesadillas- made this for dinner tonight! Click the picture if you want the recipe (I didn't use arugula). Daniel said it was more of a snack, but we both really liked it.



Perfect for after dinner dessert- Blue Moon's pumpkin ale, Harvest Moon. I love everything pumpkin, including pumpkin beer!

Today has been pretty productive. My friend Kathryn and I started training for the Houston 1/2 marathon last week, and I have been finding myself running everyday. Before, I would run 2 or 3 miles about 4x a week, but now that I am making more of an effort, we are running 3-4 miles about everyday (either together or alone). It feels great, and there is something about running RIGHT after work that just makes the rest of your day productive. After our run I took the dogs to the park, helped Daniel with the lawn, and even cooked dinner. Feels good not being a lazy vegetable after work!

I love fall. Love it so much that I have a nasty sun burn to prove it. We spent all day outside yesterday, between Daniel's soccer game, running, and taking the dogs to the park. We have had our windows open 24/7 and it feels refreshing waking up at night a little chilly! I cannot wait to go to Cedar Creek and sit outside with some fried pickles and a Blue Moon- perfect weather for it!

Ok, that was a bit of a hodge podge, but at least I updated!

Emmy faves

I totally planned on just watching the red carpet before the Emmy's....award shows are boring and I would rather just read the results online the next morning. However, the opening skit got me HOOKED- it was hilarious! I was wishing that they would have had more TV stars be in that opening. I loved the Modern Family skit with George Clooney, too. I might have to watch more award shows- very entertaining! Anyways, here are the best dresses, in my opinion.



Um, she could have been in a paper sack and still looked beautiful. I still cannot believe the transformation she has gone through in the past few years. She looks incredible.


Love the pale pink and the little ruffle on the top of the dress.
Don't think this fits wonderfully, but I still like the dress.
I love Tina Fey. This is her best look ever. Although I do not care for Glee much or this actress (yes, she has a wonderful voice...just not my favorite actress), I love her dress and I think that she looks perfect in it!

Who do you think was best/ worst dressed?

Simple Pleasures

I love....
...coffee on a weekend morning. I always wake up first and it is just so relaxing sipping my coffee on my big comfy chair while cuddling with my kitty.

...when Daniel and I find a new TV show and become obsessed with it. This weekend has been a Modern Family Marathon. Sometimes I prefer this to going on a "real" date.

...having a clean home. Between episodes, Daniel and I made our home spotless. I am lucky that I have someone who shares the chores with me!

...being excited to go to work tomorrow. I have a great class, but a couple of challenging ones students. Is it weird that those challenging students are the ones that motivate me the most to wake up at 6:15 am and do my job?

...Groupon. Yesterday I got 1/2 off tickets to the Houston Wine Festival...CANNOT WAIT!

...Bubble Baths. I have taken one everyday since school started on Monday. I take my book and sometimes a glass of wine or my pomegranate/ peligrino concoction and stay in for hours. I am worried about our gas/ water bill for this month!

...Yoga, which I am going to now. Since work started, I have gone from practicing 4x a week to only 1-2 times. I went yesterday (first time this week) and my butt and arms are so sore! Whoever says Yoga is for wimps has never taken a power vinyasa class.

Namaste!