Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Turkey Trot Update
I finally got my pictures from the race today! But because I'm too cheap to purchase the high resolution files ($24.99 - YIKES!) you'll have to see the low res version of me.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 10k
Because I knew I was going to stuff my face on Thanksgiving, I decided to sign up for the Turkey Trot 10k in Dana Point. The course offers up awesome ocean views throughout the Dana Point Marina and Doheny State Park, which I knew would give me the inspiration to complete the race.
On race day, I was up at 5:30a.m. (it was still dark) and was ready to go! Before leaving the house, I snacked on piece of wheat toast with peanut butter, half a banana, and half a protein shake. I also had an apple in the car on the way to Dana Point for some extra pre-race fuel! It was a pretty cold morning and there was a slight chance of rain so I wore my Lululemon running pants, a dry-fit long sleeve top, and a pink swishy down-filled vest with hoodie in case the weather turned ugly.
I hadn’t run a 10k in almost 10 years, and hadn’t run more than 4 miles at one time since then, so I was a little bit nervous about whether or not I’d complete it. It also didn’t help that the front runners looked like this:
Because I was tardy, I was towards the back half of the third wave of runners so I didn’t get to start the race until probably 15 minutes after the first wave. But before I knew it, my legs were movin’ and I was racin’ away!
Throughout the duration of the race, I had a few thoughts along the way:
Mile 0.20: Is that the first wave of runners already on their way back? Ummm....they’ve completed half the course and I just started. And yes, these guys were averaging under 5 minutes a mile! WTF?!
Mile 1: Wasn’t too bad. I had to remember not to get too excited and sprint the entire way. My arches were a little crampy but that eventually went a way.
Mile 2: Mmmmm...water station...the ocean looks so pretty...ew those are a lot of birds...I better run faster than that pregnant lady...
Mile 4: This 3rd mile has got to be the longest mile ever. When will it ever end? Oh wait. I’m already at Mile 4? Where was the sign? I guess I was too busy looking at everything else that I missed the Mile 3 sign! Wheeee! Two more to go!
Mile 4.5: Hey is that Lynne Curtin from RHOOC? Yes it is! Gotta catch up....
Mile 5: By this point, I took my first break and walked a bit. I was a little bit over my playlist, but so I kept pace with my new pseudo-celebrity friend Lynne.
Mile 6: “Is that the finish line?! See ya later Lynne!” I could see the end, and was feeling proud of how far I’d made it. I picked up the pace, and then, just like that…I finished! Final time: 1 hour and 22 minutes.
It felt amazing to finish and I can't wait to sign up for another race!
On race day, I was up at 5:30a.m. (it was still dark) and was ready to go! Before leaving the house, I snacked on piece of wheat toast with peanut butter, half a banana, and half a protein shake. I also had an apple in the car on the way to Dana Point for some extra pre-race fuel! It was a pretty cold morning and there was a slight chance of rain so I wore my Lululemon running pants, a dry-fit long sleeve top, and a pink swishy down-filled vest with hoodie in case the weather turned ugly.
I hadn’t run a 10k in almost 10 years, and hadn’t run more than 4 miles at one time since then, so I was a little bit nervous about whether or not I’d complete it. It also didn’t help that the front runners looked like this:
Intensity.
I’m somewhere way towards the back.
Because I was tardy, I was towards the back half of the third wave of runners so I didn’t get to start the race until probably 15 minutes after the first wave. But before I knew it, my legs were movin’ and I was racin’ away!
Throughout the duration of the race, I had a few thoughts along the way:
Mile 0.20: Is that the first wave of runners already on their way back? Ummm....they’ve completed half the course and I just started. And yes, these guys were averaging under 5 minutes a mile! WTF?!
Mile 1: Wasn’t too bad. I had to remember not to get too excited and sprint the entire way. My arches were a little crampy but that eventually went a way.
Mile 2: Mmmmm...water station...the ocean looks so pretty...ew those are a lot of birds...I better run faster than that pregnant lady...
Mile 4: This 3rd mile has got to be the longest mile ever. When will it ever end? Oh wait. I’m already at Mile 4? Where was the sign? I guess I was too busy looking at everything else that I missed the Mile 3 sign! Wheeee! Two more to go!
Mile 4.5: Hey is that Lynne Curtin from RHOOC? Yes it is! Gotta catch up....
Mile 5: By this point, I took my first break and walked a bit. I was a little bit over my playlist, but so I kept pace with my new pseudo-celebrity friend Lynne.
Mile 6: “Is that the finish line?! See ya later Lynne!” I could see the end, and was feeling proud of how far I’d made it. I picked up the pace, and then, just like that…I finished! Final time: 1 hour and 22 minutes.
It felt amazing to finish and I can't wait to sign up for another race!
Bridal Bonanza!
Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of attending my first ever bridal show! I’ve always steered clear of Bridal Expo type events because they always seemed a little ghetto to me, but when I was invited to attend “I Do! An Event for the Stylish Bride,” at the Langham Huntington, I knew it was going to be nothing but chic, high-end vendors with some really fabulous ideas.
“Sensory Overload” does not even begin to describe the event. There are literally dozens of enthusiastic, newly engaged ladies in the building—usually escorted by their mothers or a female friend. Or two. Or seven. And I was no exception. Blessed with a handful of free tickets, I brought my mom, future MIL, and two of my bridesmaids Candice and Lauren. I did see the occasional groom, and felt terrible for him when I did. Lucky for Marc, he got to enjoy a Bloody Mary in the hotel bar and watch the Packers game.
The great thing about these shows is that you get to chat with vendors without any pressure to book anything, taste cake samples, get ideas on flowers/lighting/linens/etc., see Amazonian women model bridal gowns (seriously, I thought they were on stilts), taste cake samples, pick up a whole a bunch of cool shwag/freebies, and did I mention taste wedding cake samples?!
I have to admit that I have always LOVED weddings and even before getting engaged, I always picked up the latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings and perused the pages for the latest and greatest in wedding design! A lot of what I saw was nothing new to me, but I still wanted to share a few of the things that I loved or thought were interesting, whether or not they make it to my own wedding.
1. Hats! I absolutely LOVED these tiny hats. If I only had the guts to incorporate them into my wedding, I’d do it in a heartbeat!
2. Gastronomic desserts! Looks like egg yolk, but these were actually lychee spheres (spherification: the culinary process of shaping a liquid into spheres which visually and texturally resemble caviar). Slide one into your mouth and the sphere pops releasing a lychee essence. It’s not for everyone, but the foodie in me certainly loved it!
3. Bringing the outdoors in! Although manzanita branches have been incorporated into weddings for several years now, what really inspired me about this set up was that it made me feel like I was in a Winter Wonderland. The Royal Wedding brought trees inside as decor, and it really brought a beautiful and grandiose natural element to the event!
4. Luxury invites! These invitations were used in RHOBH Lisa Vanderpump’s daughter’s wedding this past summer, and revealed on the show that they were $150/piece! Clearly, I will not have such fancy invitations, but I can still appreciate how beautiful and over the top they were! I can’t even begin to think what the postage must have been to send those invites!
5. Groom’s Valet. All I got from the vendor was that they “cater to the Groom’s needs.” I have no idea what that even means and am not even going to start.
6. Mmmmmmm....cake samples......
And just a few other fun pics from the day:
Overall, I would definitely say that we had a successful day. Despite the traffic and pouring rain, I came away from the bridal show with a couple good ideas, and had the chance to spend the day with some of my favorite women.
“Sensory Overload” does not even begin to describe the event. There are literally dozens of enthusiastic, newly engaged ladies in the building—usually escorted by their mothers or a female friend. Or two. Or seven. And I was no exception. Blessed with a handful of free tickets, I brought my mom, future MIL, and two of my bridesmaids Candice and Lauren. I did see the occasional groom, and felt terrible for him when I did. Lucky for Marc, he got to enjoy a Bloody Mary in the hotel bar and watch the Packers game.
The great thing about these shows is that you get to chat with vendors without any pressure to book anything, taste cake samples, get ideas on flowers/lighting/linens/etc., see Amazonian women model bridal gowns (seriously, I thought they were on stilts), taste cake samples, pick up a whole a bunch of cool shwag/freebies, and did I mention taste wedding cake samples?!
I have to admit that I have always LOVED weddings and even before getting engaged, I always picked up the latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings and perused the pages for the latest and greatest in wedding design! A lot of what I saw was nothing new to me, but I still wanted to share a few of the things that I loved or thought were interesting, whether or not they make it to my own wedding.
1. Hats! I absolutely LOVED these tiny hats. If I only had the guts to incorporate them into my wedding, I’d do it in a heartbeat!
2. Gastronomic desserts! Looks like egg yolk, but these were actually lychee spheres (spherification: the culinary process of shaping a liquid into spheres which visually and texturally resemble caviar). Slide one into your mouth and the sphere pops releasing a lychee essence. It’s not for everyone, but the foodie in me certainly loved it!
3. Bringing the outdoors in! Although manzanita branches have been incorporated into weddings for several years now, what really inspired me about this set up was that it made me feel like I was in a Winter Wonderland. The Royal Wedding brought trees inside as decor, and it really brought a beautiful and grandiose natural element to the event!
4. Luxury invites! These invitations were used in RHOBH Lisa Vanderpump’s daughter’s wedding this past summer, and revealed on the show that they were $150/piece! Clearly, I will not have such fancy invitations, but I can still appreciate how beautiful and over the top they were! I can’t even begin to think what the postage must have been to send those invites!
5. Groom’s Valet. All I got from the vendor was that they “cater to the Groom’s needs.” I have no idea what that even means and am not even going to start.
6. Mmmmmmm....cake samples......
And just a few other fun pics from the day:
Amazonian Brides
Gorgeous tablescape with petal pillows!
Another gorgeous tablescape! Love the texture!
Overall, I would definitely say that we had a successful day. Despite the traffic and pouring rain, I came away from the bridal show with a couple good ideas, and had the chance to spend the day with some of my favorite women.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
First!
Hi! So it looks like I'm jumping on the blog-bandwagon. If you're here, you must care a little something about my life and I hope I'll amuse and entertain you with my ramblings! But let me warn you, I'm a lady of half-measures so this might be my last post.
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