That Redheaded Sister

This week has been brought to you by laziness.  You guys, I am having a tough time getting motivated to do all of the things.

This week will mark week #3 on my little weight loss journey.  I do not have as high of hopes for my weigh in tomorrow as I did at the beginning of the week.  Mainly the reason is because I have not been to the gym in TWO weeks.  A lot of it has to do with the amount of stress I am under, but a lot of it is laziness.  I think my focus needs to change and I need to create a training plan and see how much the feet with work with me if I start running again.  I did see the doctor a few weeks ago to get more injections in my feet, but it looks like I am going to need orthotics.  Hello $$$$$.  I have to wait until after the wedding to consider this.

This week I signed up for Ali’s 2nd Annual virtual race.  I guess that means I REALLY need to start training my feet to run again if I want to have any sort of power to run this.

This week I met Monte Durham from “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta.”  We hugged.  He signed a magazine.  We were at Crate and Barrel registering for the wedding at a private event they were hosting and he was there talking to brides.  We chatted about my crazy dress shopping experience and his trip to London.  We are besties Im sure LOL  But, seriously, he is really nice.

via Google Image Search

This week marks three months until we are married.  It also means in three months we are going to be sitting on the beaches of Cancun relaxing.

This week we were approved for a home loan!  We have to wait until we are married to actually close on a house (that is how our loan works), but we can start looking and go under contract before being married.  This is a bit of an overwhelming process because we have no idea how to start.  I guess being preapproved was the best thing to start with first (thank you HGTV, I learned so much from you).  Now we need to find an agent.  How on earth do you go about doing that?  We have a few close friends/family that are agents, but we are opting not to use them because it is no different than doing business with them.  If something were to go wrong, we dont want it to ruin a relationship.

This week I finished working on the boutinneres for the guys.  I love them but I am worried about them looking too cheesy.  What do you think?  The best part: these cost a whopping $8 to make 7.  I researched and researched and I was going to spend $50 to 7 if I had a florist or grocery store do them.

I think I need to get a picture of it attached to a jacket, but I kind of like how they are wild looking but still incorporate my yellow.

How has your week been so far?

**I dont have a plan made up yet telling me how to tackle such a task, so because you all love me so much, I know you want to share your tips with me.  Or at least where to begin my research.**

My other goal is so new years typical, lose weight.  As of this morning, I am at my heaviest.  My goal for the wedding is 30 pounds, 6 pounds a month.  Here is how I plan to tackle 6 pounds:

My meal plan:

Breakfast – 6:30am – A protein shake.  I take a scoop of chocolate Muscle Milk and add 2/3 cup of skim milk and a tablespoon of peanut butter, mix it together and it keeps me full until lunchish
Lunchish – 11am- A bowl of Grape Nuts Cereal, cinnamon, sugar, and a banana.  Because this is so full of fiber, it keeps me full until I am ready to leave work.
Dinner-6/7pm- depends on my mood.  Maybe this should be a resolution too…I am so boring in the kitchen.

I have always followed a “eat more meals a day” type plan, but I am never really satisfied.  I figured I would try this way for a month and see where that gets me.  I am also going to plan my nights (or mornings) around the gym.

Other goals for the year:

Buy a House
Create a financial road map for post wedding
Not go crazy over this insane wedding planning (I am really starting to see why people run off and elope)
At least sign up for a half marathon (even if it is for 2014.  I miss half training) (maybe even plan a runner meetup?!?!)

That is really all I can think of for this pictureless post.

How was your New Years?

What are your goals/resolutions?

LETS NOT FORGET!!!  My year without french fries is officially OVER.  You may remember my pact to give them up because I was a bit dependent on fries and hated to share.  Matt challenged me to give them up and he would give up drinking pop.  He lasted until April.  I must say this challenge did not really bother me until about October.  Around the end I was CRAVING that sweet sweet stick of happiness.  I wanted to hit up a McDonalds right after midnight on the 1st, but I was just too tired to venture into the cold.  Instead I waited until lunch yesterday to have my first bite

It was pretty anticlimatic if you ask me.  The fries were just ok and you could tell bottom of the pile.  I may just have to break my meal plan today and order some Chic-fil-a fries.  Holy moly those are good!!!

Happy Thanksgiving week to my American friends!

Did you all have a fabulous weekend?  It was pretty low key and stressful at the same time for me. Wedding planning….its so much harder when it is your own money!!  Not to mention we may have to change the date AGAIN, which is much harder because of the fact we already booked our DJ and Caterer.

Friday, I hung out with my friend and ate some amazing sushi and tapas (favorite!).  Saturday, I brought Barley to the vet because he is still not feeling well (sinus issues…just like Matt.  I think our apartment has done this).

Poor Baby

After I got home, I slept the ENTIRE day.  I think my body and mind was tired and obviously needed it.  I woke up from my nap and noticed how amazing the weather was and decided to go for my run.  More on that later.  We then met our friends for some dinner and tried to catch a movie (Flight) but it was sold out.  So we went back to our friend’s and watched Baylor and Stanford take down #1 and #2 in college football.  This means Georgia is moving up to #3.  We really control our own destiny and right now there are talks about Georgia playing in the National Championship.  We have to beat out Georgia Tech this week (at home) and Alabama in the SEC Championship (in Atlanta…so at home).  I am weary about that game because Bama is a powerhouse, but they were also beat out by Texas A&M.  IF we DO win the SEC, we are off to Miami!  I am not going to worry about this until it actually happens, but the words Georgia and National Championship in the same sentence are a once in a lifetime thing.  The NCG is Jan 7….smack dab in the middle of my busiest show.  If you had the opportunity to go, would you? Even though you have to be at work?

So really why we are here….running.

I have completed week one of C25K and I have to say it was pretty easy.  It is nice to have someone in my ear telling me what to do.  I think too often when I start a training cycle, I listen to my mind too much and I do not focus on my body. My “trainer” allows my mind to shut off and I can see where I am doing things wrong and where things are going right.

Week one I ran a total (sit down this will blow you away) of 6 miles.  In the beginning my attack to this is running every other day.  My feet are much happier and my legs get a day in between to re acclimate.  What I have noticed from week one is just how out of it I am.  I am much slower than before and I feel much heavier all around.  I am having a hard time finding my form and my lungs are having a harder time readjusting.  I have been very consistent with my pace which right now is ok.  I will work on getting faster, but the object is to work on my form right now, not speed.  (I am very aware I keep repeating this in each post, but as I write this I am catching myself playing the comparison game.  “well in July I was busting out 10ks at a faster pace…”)

I am happy to finally be out there and as this program continues on, I am going to add more challenges.  I am in the process of deciding if I want to be part of a gym again because I really miss taking classes multiple times a week.  They were so motivating and fun.

How was your weekend?

I am so excited my first post with The Budget Savvy Bride will appear this week (I believe).  Will you be following? 

Any suggestions for an experienced runner coming back from another injury? 

First let me say, hello again.  Its been a while and I am sure you are all torn up over it.  Second of all, is it SERIOUSLY November?  Whoa!  You know want that means, right?  In exactly TWO months this guy will be able to each french fries again!  I have stuck to that little resolution I made last New Years to not each french fries for a year.  I hadn’t started missing them until early last month and now I am dying to eat just one.  I must say through this fried potatoless journey I have learned how to branch out with my side dishes when we eat out and not stab fingers that sneak their way onto my plate.

Friends, last month was pure insanity.  Nothing like my January/Julys, but it was busy.  You remember I started the month off in New Mexico for work (which I have learned the hard way to not be as eager to help).  After being home for 43 seconds, I turned around and drove up to Louisville, KY.  Some of you remember we lived there this time last year (has it really been a year since we have been back in Atlanta?).

There was a lot of working going on, but a lot of laughter and beer.  I love when we have large shows that require offices from all over to get together.  I work with some fantastic people and they truly make the day fun.

One weekend while up there, I took a little drive to visit my family in Chicago.  My cousin was married and we had a blast!  She had a photobooth (I am a wedding photobooth virgin) and we spent more time in there than on the dance floor.  Here are some of the pictures:

My sister, me, and my crazy cousins

Me and my cousin

My cousin, the bride, in the front. Then the rest of us crazies

We had so much fun!  After the wedding, I packed up and headed back to Louisville for another week.  That week was pretty low key because everyone had gone home.  By the time I was ready to leave, I was so sick of eating out, especially eating sandwiches.  I have had my fill of Panera, McDonalds, and Subway for the rest of the year.  I must say, no matter how hard you try, if you work events like these that keep you on the show floor for 15+ hours a day, you will eat like a garbage can.  There is no getting around it.  I packed a lunch some days, but for dinner you eat what you get.

After finally getting home, it took a few days to bounce back.  Actually, lets get real, I am still in rest mode.  I managed to get 75% of a wedding project to complete (if we are friends on Facebook or Instagram (click to follow on the sidebar), then you saw the tulle madness I was in).

I hope to have a finished product checked off the list in the next few weekends!  I am actually semi moving along with this wedding planning gig.  I sent a list of things I have already done to a friend and thought “what else is there?”  Oh that WHOLE LIST!!

So while life starts to get crazy again, I am trying to find a way to release.  And you know that is done by running.  The dr gave me the go ahead, so after a terrible few days back in my office, I went to my running store for insoles.  I ended up buying a new pair of shoes and I feel like I am walking on clouds!  I went with the Asics (dont ask which model yet because I dont remember) for the first time.  To be honest, I was scared of the softer, heavier bottom Asics had, but my feet disagree.  I love the comfort factor these shoes have and the wider toe box.  I wore them to work yesterday and had ZERO pain.

Now I have to reteach myself to run again.  Not really RETEACH, but I have to start all over since it has been so long since I last ran.  I downloaded the couch to 5k program on my phone and will start there.  I hope by spring next year I will be back to half marathon training again, pain free.

How was your Halloween?  Did you get many trick or treaters?  We only had a few

What races are you running?

Any projects you are working on?

Dont do any of those?  What is new in your world?

SLOWEST.WEEK.EVER.  Right?

So basically the past month has been nothing but crazy insanity in my life.  I dont remember the month going by and I certainly wouldnt want a repeat of it.

So post Peachtree:

• My birthday I had to work.  It started as a pretty good day and I wasnt going to let anyone or anything bother me.  It ended pretty crappy.  A few of my out of town coworkers came into town for our show and we went to dinner and  I was in bed semi early because there was no turning back and no rest in the near future.
• Most of the month I spent moving in a haze.  If you didnt know, I work for a company that produces tradeshows.  My biggest show was this month and its also one of the hardest shows we have.  This show was the most difficult show I have ever done because things were made personal and not in a good way.  I make a rule for myself  of no crying because at the end of the day the show will go on.  Exhibitors, for the most part, will be happy.  It will be hard, but I know I do a good job.  Because it ended up getting personal, I boohooed in my office in front of coworkers.  I was at a breaking point.  In fact, I am still there.
• Want to know something?  It was the best show our company put on.  Not sure why there had to be so much stress then.

Enough work talk

• I miss running.  I was talking to a friend who also ran her first Peachtree this year and she is hooked onto running.  I am hoping we can come up with a fall running schedule.
• At the end of the month, Matt and I are cancelling our gym membership because its just too much money.  He also gets a discount at another gym through work.  Without my gym, I need to figure out another way to get into shape.

Onto bigger news….

• Like I said yesterday, if you are friends with me on Facebook you already know.

MATT AND I ARE ENGAGED!!  It is still very surreal for me.  I am so happy and so excited!

Obviously if you follow me on Pinterest, you know I have been planning something for sometime.  My friends joked that the day he asked, all I would have to do is hit a button and it would be planned.  While this is true for the most part, I am a little overwhelmed about the planning process. So far we have set a budget and picked a time frame to have the wedding.  Oh and this wedding will be 98% DIY.

I am so excited about this new chapter we are about to start.  But if you have ANY tips or advice to share, I am here!

Did you have a fantastic 4th yesterday?  July 4th is my absolute favorite holiday,  The summer, bbqs, the reason we celebrate!  When I say these past few weeks have been full, they have been packed.

As I told you before, I am currently living through work heck.  Its beyond busy.  Early mornings, very late nights.  It really started picking up last week when my dad announced he and my younger sister were going to drive down for the week to visit.  It was nice to see them, but tough because I couldnt take time off.  They had a lot of fun and were in the water most of the week as we hit 100 degrees + all week long.

My sister driving the Duck in the lake

After they left, Matt and I started planning the areas we want to start looking for a house (yes I have to put THESE thoughts in my head while I am busy).  We drove to one area to check it out and fell in love with a house.  I know this is the FIRST house we looked at, but it was so nice

This week was insanely busy. Insane

Yesterday my friend and I ran the Peachtree Road Race, a July 4th tradition here in Atlanta.  I was really impressed with the expo two days before (and all of the fall races!).  I went into this race with zero goals and expectations.  Over 57,000 people crossed the finish line, and with what happened at Cooper Bridge, I wasnt going to set myself up for disappointment.  We got to our corral about 10 mins before it started which was good because it was HUMID and I didnt want to stand around there.

Once the race started, I was overwhelmed by all the people.  They werent in the way, there was just so many of us!  This race was so smooth.  No waiting at the water stations, cooling spots all around the course, and a smooth finish line.

Around mile 4, my body started shutting down.  I was a mile into that darn hill named Cardiac Hill, my legs were heavy, I couldnt force myself to drink anymore water, and it was hot.  I know I needed sugar.  My rookie mistake was not bringing powerade with me.  This is the first time I have ever run this distance in the summer and I had no idea.

At the end of the race, I started feeling really dizzy and had to sit down.  So I did a little stretching.  Once we started moving, I ate my way through the finish area

The second I started drinking powerade and eating some of the fruit, I felt like a million bucks.  Ill say it again, I am completely impressed with this race.  They handled all of us very well and they have a new repeat racer.  It went so well, I want to sign up for another race.

Oh I already did.  RnR Chicago.  Flights are too expensive for me to go abd Im really bummed out about it.  I was looking forward to running this race.

Of course we hit a HUGE fireworks show last  night and because traffic was so bad, we didnt get home until midnight so I am one tired girl.

I am hoping tomorrow goes swimmingly at work because its my birthday and that should be their gift to me, right?  Plus I have to work all weekend, so I dont feel like stressing tomorrow.

How has your week been so far?  Do anything fun for the 4th?  What about Canada Day for my friends on the northside?

Hi Everyone.  Super fast post here. 

I am in the throws of my huge show at work, so posting wont happen much until the end of July.  I have so much I want to share, but I just dont have the mental capacity right now to form words, edit pictures, etc.

Of course because I am SUPER busy at work, I want to tackle just about everything.  I have a few projects I want to work on, a few crafty items, I wanted to bake a thank you to everyone working on this show for me, start a savings plan/budget to buy a house, etc.  My head WILL.NOT.SHUT.OFF

Not to mention I am supposed to be running.  I had an awesome/difficult 7.5 mile run last weekend and hope to knock out 5 this weekend, but my evenings during the week are shot.  So much for any of my summer races (expect Peachtree).  I really miss having a running buddy and a workout buddy that is serious about getting into shape.  I am really considering running a marathon next year (since its on my 3o things list) and I need the help.

Ok back to marking floor plans for me! 

How is your week going so far?  I have been trying to keep up my commenting on blogs, but I havent really been able to read much

Tell me about what is going on in your world?

Want to be my workout buddy?  We can keep each other accountable virtually!

Hi everyone!  Happy Father’s Day first of all.  I hope you are all having a great day so far…I know most of you are probably still sleeping.

This week was a big week for me and I wish I could say it was for running.  Not even close.  It all started Monday morning……

I was sitting at my desk working away when Matt’s sister sent me a gchat asking for help.  She said their close friends just told her they had dropped two of their dogs off at a shelter.  The shelter happened to be a high kill shelter and one dog’s time was nearing the end.  I posted cry out for help on facebook and sent an email out to friends and family in the area.  His sister could not take her because they currently have two dogs (one being elderly and needing extra attention).  I called Matt to ask him to help and and after sitting in silence for a few minutes he told me to get her, but we could NOT keep her.  Instantly we became foster parents.  Oh boy.  His sister got the dog and filled me in on WHY all of this happened.  Apparently the friends decided they no longer wanted to deal with the dogs and the costs associated with them.  There was a second dog, but since he was a great dane and the dane rescue came in to help.  Could we handle a dog?  We had to, she needed help!  As the week went on, I realized her living in our apartment was too much.  She is scared of the cats, the cats hate her, there just isnt enough space, and with work falling into busy season, I dont have the time. Plus a dog needs a yard to run around in.

If you are friends with me on Facebook, you have seen all of my Peanut posts.  Hopefully it is working though.  I have two families that are interested in meeting her.  She is such a great dog and deserves such a happy life.  She has been through a lot and I just found out she was also abused in that household.  It just kills me to think someone could do such a nasty thing.

Hi, I am Peanut and I am the sweetest!

I hope these meetings go really well.  I know both families and I would give them to her in a heartbeat.

With all this being said, I think this event was the biggest sign I have ever been given.  I dont know if you believe in that sort of thing, but I do and this was the cherry on the cake.  A few months ago I was inspired by another blogger to start this.  I did a lot of thinking and a lot of planning to see if something like this would actually work.  Anytime I had down time to think, all I thought about was this.  When I told people about it, they were so positive and supportive I just knew I had to.  Then Peanut came into my life.

Since there was nothing like this in my area, I started an animal rescue aid called Trails and Tails.  We are a group of people wanting to help shelter dogs exercise and be adopted.  We are going to take dogs out on runs, walks, and hikes.  Like I said, there was nothing like this in my area and knew I had to start it.  I am still in the itty bitty baby phase, but I have done a lot of ground work so far.

I am so excited about this and cant wait for our first run/walk/hike.  I hope we can help all of the animals!!  Please like us on Facebook!  I will post more on this as things progress.  My main focus is to find Peanut a home and get through busy season.

Ok, onto running.  There hasnt been much this week because of work and the dog (not leash trained).  Yesterday I did run the Braves Country Father’s Day 4-miler.  I went in with ZERO expectations because of my lack of training this week.  This was literally one of the toughest courses I have run so far.  We started uphill…just cruel.  We ran 4 miles of rolling hills where the uphills were steep and the downhills didnt give you much recovery.  Its Atlanta, you have to expect that.  I started really strong and I was really proud of how I kept it calm.  Of the many hills, there were only 3 that after running 3/4 of it, I just HAD to walk.

But the really cool part was we finished inside of Turner Field at home plate.

It was a well organized race and I was really happy with course, tough or not.  I would definitely do this race again.

I was totally motivated after this race to keep racing.  I WANT to run my half, I just feel under trained at the moment and I dont know if I will be able to get my long runs in during July.

Anyways. With this race, I bought tickets to last nights game.  What a disappointment.  The Bravos really stunk it up against Baltimore.

And last but not least

******

Dont forget to enter the Larabar giveaway!  Its ends tomorrow night!  Peanut says DO IT!

And go call your dad!

How was your weekend?

Have you ever taken in a foster animal? 

Seems like everyone ran a race or had a great run this weekend?  Tell me more

Are you working on any projects right now?

Hi everyone!  I hope you all had wonderful weekends and a great Mother’s Day.  This weekend was fun, busy, and lazy for me.  I was knocked out (not up) again this weekend and this morning by allergies.  I am really sick of them and they can leave anytime.

Last week was the first week of training for RnR Chicago.  While my numbers werent very high, I am really happy with how it turned out.  I am happy with my training plan and how my leg has been acting

Sunday – 2 Miles.  I wrote about my first unofficial training run last Sunday here.  I set out for a one mile test run to see how my leg would do after taking a month off and a lingering injury.  It did great for TWO miles.  Not only did my leg do really well, I found a new place to run.  It does stink I got into an accident on the way home from that run though. 

Monday -  1.5 miles.  My training plan has a lot of interval running which I like because it conserves my leg a little bit.  Monday I did 1 min run/2 min walk x 6.  Since it was still early into the getting back into my running groove, I felt ok about walking longer than running but had the itch to keep going.  Conserve Conserve

Tuesday – Rest day.  I was happy about a rest day.  I used it to roll my legs and put heat on my leg.  How funny that ice doesnt help any pain in my leg, but heat does.  Makes me think its not a bone injury. 

Wednesday – 2.2 miles.  Another day of intervals.  This time it was 3 min run/2 min walk x 5.  When I got on that treadmill, my leg gave me a heck of a time.  Once I actually started the pain melted away.  I think it was trying to psych me out.  I pushed my speed a little harder on this one. 

Thursday – 3 miles.  I ran this almost naked.  I had my Garmin, but forgot my music.  I am so glad I did.  I enjoyed every step of this run.  I was pain free.  I could hear my breathing (and yes I sound like I am about to keel over when I run) and I could focus on how great it felt.  I was a little irked when the map said my turn around point was 1.5 miles away and it was actually 1.1.  I have a feeling Garmin may have done a little lying. 

Friday – Rest.  I had a lot of cleaning to do around the house and finishing of my million projects

Saturday – 3.18 miles.  I signed up for a running group with a local running store, Phiddipidies to “Run the Course.”  It is a training program that incorporates parts of the Peachtree Road Race we are running in July.  I woke up at 6 am on Saturday and I was talking myself into skipping this.  It was 30 mins away, I knew I was going to be the slowest, my last running with a group from a store experience was bad, and I didnt know anyone.  I made myself go and boy I dont regret it. 

We started at the store and there were people from all different running backgrounds there.  Some were even walkers.  I talked to one of the guys from the store saying I was nervous because I am not fast and I dont want to be last (why do we ALWAYS think we will be last?  And even if we are, who really cares?  Its the act of DOING!)

We broke off into groups on the run (3 milers and 6 milers) and took off.  What I love the most about this group is the people from the store will always be with you.  My last experience you were on your own.  I chatted for a good 2 miles with a guy from the store about training and races.  Our course was HILLY!!  I was scared about my leg, but I walked some of the major hills just to slow everything down a bit.  They provided a water stop at mile 2 and it was awesome from there on out. 

When I got back to the store the first guy announced I was in fact NOT last and did a great job.  People started pouring in and while stretching a group of women were talking about their runs and said they were trying to keep MY pace but couldnt keep up.  WHAT?!  (I had no idea what my pace was because Garmin wouldnt locate a satellite).  I am usually the person holding people back on their runs, NEVER has anyone paced TO me.  I was so happy to hear that!

Plus we got some pretty awesome swag from Mizuno:

I also got to try Coconut water.  Not a fan.  Its too weird to me which is strange because I love coconut. 

Sunday – Rest.  I had a little too much fun the night before at a Zac Brown Band concert.  And it wasnt alcohol that knocked me out.  It was standing ALL night and jumping/dancing.  My legs were sore and screaming for me to roll them.  After a good roll, they felt amazing.  Plus my allergies kept me in bed most of the day.

Here are just a few images from this weekend.  If you follow me on Twitter (@Redheadedsis) you would have seen more.  LOL

No Matt was not at this event.  He has been in Florida all weekend visiting his parents and the kitties and I miss him.  I am ready to pick him up from the airport today.  It was so quiet around the house yesterday.  But we get to make it up next weekend because we are going whitewater rafting/camping in Tennessee with these people plus more.  I cant wait. 

How was your weekend?  Did you have a great Mother’s Day if you are a mother (and yes you are a mom to furbabies and fishy babies).

Good evening all!  I am currently suffering from a severe case of the sweet tooth.  We have nothing.  And when I say nothing, I mean NOTHING!  The only sweet thing in the this house is raspberry jam.  Le sigh.

How many of you have the I-am-not-creative-in-the-kitchen-so-everyone-suffers problem?  When I get home from work, I dont want to cook.  I dont want to stand in the kitchen and pay attention for any stretch of the night.  As you know, Matt works the opposite schedule as I do, so I really have no one else to cook for.  My fallback dinner: pasta.  BAD BAD BAD.  That is how I gained all of my weight my sophomore year in college. When I find a fantastic recipe, it requires the root of a tangerine bush from a small village in Peru.  I checked, Publix does not carry that.

I wanted to go on a meal plan to save money and watch my calories but its hard when I am busy late nights at work.

What do you do for dinner when time is limited or when you are feeling lazy?

Today I put my name in for the 2012 Peachtree Road Race.  I have never run this race, but this was the race I trained for and got me hooked into running so many years ago.  It is a lottery based race, so I threw my name in with a few friends that formed a team, the Liberty Belles.  This race takes place on the HOTTEST day of the year Im sure, July 4th.  I will find out Monday if we have been selected to run the race.  Fingers crossed!!

I thought this last story will help sympathize with my friends having bike issues for tri training.  Today my friend and I decided to run a greenway by our house.  Her five year old daughter was going to pace our run since it was mostly flat and she could go fast.  We had a ton of fun.  When there was a hill, I grabbed her handle bars and ran her up.  Not an easy feat.  We made it 1.1 miles when she decided she wanted us to race her.  She started flying down the boardwalk and just when we figured out what was about to happen, it happened.  She took a nose dive off the boardwalk into the swampy marsh.

She cried for a second not out of pain but from being wet.  It wasnt long after the flip off the bike that we were all laughing about it.  My friend carried her back to the car and I carried her bike back the 1.1 miles while telling her how she should tell her friends this story.  There were trolls, rainbows, fairy godmothers, and princesses involved in that story.

I know tomorrow that my shoulders will be sore from carrying the bike (it was too small to push without hurting my back).

What do you do about being stuck in the kitchen?

Any races you are excited about?

What is your worst bike story?  When I was little and had just learned how to ride my bike without holding the handle bars, I went down the street and lost control of the bike.  I slid across the ground and ended up having a messed up hand, arm, and shoulder.