hip happens

That it does.  If you saw my hips, you would know that hip definitely does happen.  Please be jealous of my shirt.

The pink tie-dye makes it more fabulous.

My sweet Kinsi just got her an iPod touch.  She's seven so I guess to her it is like me getting a new Garmin watch.  She walks around the house tuning everyone else out with her loud music and when we actually get her to respond to us, then she's yelling since she can't hear herself.  It's so cute and really makes me want to be seven again.

So proud of her newest accessory.

I donned my cowboy boots tonight, and Kinsi has been obsessed with her hand-me-down snakeskin boots as of late, so we of course were twins.

Boot scootin' boogey.

Are you hip?  It happens.  Do you own any cowboy boots?  They are the most comfortable shoes I own!



wedding weekend!

Last night, my good friend from work got married!  It was such an exciting time.  Her venue was to die for and she could not have looked more beautiful.  Since I have sinced moved on to my "grown up" job, I miss seeing my work friends everyday.  It was nice to see everyone and catch up all while dancing the night away under the stars. 

I love a good outdoor wedding.

The food was to die for.  Whit served up authentic jambalya straight from the kitchen of a New Orleans native.  Also on the menu was some fabulous pork roast, bbq chicken, and a candy bar.  Mmm, she knows me too well.  Congrats to the bride and hooray for wedding season.

I got a little teary eyed seeing her dad walking her down the aisle.

Do you love weddings as much as me?  What is the best food you have ever eaten at a wedding?



morning mojo and a bagel slicer!

I'm still using a guest pass to my friend's gym and since they offer a lot of great options for group fitness classes on Saturday mornings, I decided to take advantage of them yesterday.  First up was spin class.  It was an advanced spin class so our instructor sort of let us take it to our own level and just gave suggestions.  Normally in a fitness class, I like guidance and direction, but with spinning it was nice for me to do my own thing and get in my groove.

Next on my agenda was Pump.  I felt the burn, and that's all I have to say about that.  I attempted to go to "Turbokick", but it was NOTHING like my usual boxing class and it was even worse than Zumba, so I peaced out about 10 minutes in.  Sorry, charlie.  After a sweaty morning of well, sweating, I decided to refuel and reward myself with a chocolate chip bagel from Panera Bread.

Mmm, carbs.  And chocolate.

I asked for the kind people to slice my bagel in half because for some odd reason I feel that if my food is in more pieces, then there's more of it. Kinda like cheese cubes.  Anywho, the lady told me that she could "super slice" it and it would cut it up even more.  Umm, hello, yes please!  My bagel ended up being shredded into 12 different pieces which really helped me not eat it so fast!  Yay for super slicing!

Post workout/carb consumption, I met Ashley at our favorite store (Target, duh) and looked for dresses.  No such luck, so we settled for a morning brunch at Tomato Head and manicures.  Freshly painted fingernails does the soul good.

My best friend is so pretty.  And so are her veggies.

Did you have a sweat-tastic Saturday?  What's your favorite way to spend a Saturday morning?



Fitness Friday!

It is that time again!  Fitness Friday is back!!

Head on over to Jill's blog at Life As I See It and check it out!  Hopefully you meet new people!

xoxo

stepping, stomping, and stuffing!

I braved up today and went to a BodyStep class.  I'm not a fan of things that actually involve coordination.  That list includes dancing, stepping, running on a treadmill, or trying to walk on a balance beam.  It was a super great class and the instructor was good although her microphone was broken, so it was a bit of a challenge to hear her.

After Stepping it up, I headed downstairs to meet Kim on a treadmill while she did a 6mile tempo and I pretended to run.  The longest I've ever "rode" a treadmill is about 10 minutes max.  I get bored, distracted, and like I said, I have a hard time being coordinated.  I toughed it out and to ease my boredom, I did short spurts of fast running, then I'd run easy, and speed back up.  My mileage ended up being 4.3 miles, so at least I did something.  I also did some incline walking on it just to make sure all of the features were working.  Hopefully no one else heard my stomping!!

Kim, being the sweet gal she is, offered to buy me dinner at Chick-fil-a.  Her kids were SOOO excited to see me.  She wonders why they like me so much, but she doesn't ever see me slip them the chocolate and ring pops.  Bribery is the key to maintaining any friendship with kiddos.  I had a delicious (and somewhat healthy) dinner and was stuffed!!

Chicken filet with no bread or pickle with a plain baked potato.

The kiddos ended up getting ice cream with their kid's meals, and it looked super yummy, but I just couldn't bring myself to get one.  Willpower, baby!  Kim got some though, so I suppose I can just live vicariously through her and be just fine.

How does it taste, Kim??

The kids also thought I was so cool because I climbed in the play place thingy with them.  Please don't mind my post workout self.  I wouldn't want you to be jealous or anything, especially over the fact that I have a 7 year old self living inside of me.

Dinner and a play date.

Mmmhmm.  Good looking ladies, for sure!

Do you have a workout buddy?  What do you eat for supper following an afternoon gym sesh?  Did you love playing at restaurant's play places when you were a kid?



Three Things Thursday (oink oink)

What up, what up, whattt uppp!  Top o' the morning to you, guvnah.  Hope you all are having a great Thursday and enjoying this gorgeous weather!  I'm going to stop being lame and give you three things about today!

1.  Nothing is better than magazine subscriptions.

I use a post office box, and the feeling of opening up my tiny little bin and finding new magazines (prefferably running/fitness related) is quite possibly cocaine in the form of snail mail.  Love it!  It is almost like the endorphins from the pages get released into you! Know what I'm saying?

2.  No Textbooks!

God must have heard my POOR, pitiful cries when I griped all summer about having to fork over hundreds of dollars for textbooks this semester.  I'm taking 18 hours this semester, so I was fully prepared to hand over around 600 dollars of my hard earned money to the bookstore.  Can you imagine my elation when I recently found out that I only have to have ONE textbook?!?!  Yes, just one!  And the best part is that my girl Kelly found it for me at the local used bookstore for less than one dollar.  Man, who wouldn't wanna be me?

3.  I'm on the fence about signing up for my very first FULL marathon!!

I originally had the idea to make Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon my first full since I have so many ties to the race, and it was the reason I began to lose weight and start running in the first place.  However, today it hit me that I should sign up to don my favorite color at the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon.  The course is great, the swag is awesome, and I get to wear pink! What more could I ask for?  Oh yeah, me and my momma's pig collection could grow!!

My baseball piggy bank.  Better start saving now for the race.

We love pig related things in our household.

After doing some research on it, I found out that early registration closes two days following my big fall half marathon.  My plan is to run my fall half, and see how I'm feeling and where I'm at in my training process, and if I'm feeling confident, then go ahead and register for my first full.  Sound like a plan, man?

What's your three things Thursday?  Were you just as nervous as I am about registering for your first full?  What convinced you to take the plunge?

waking up and a Walking!

Anytime the alarm goes off while it is still dark outside, it is TOO EARLY.  Just so you're aware.  Needless to say that when my alarm rang off the hook today at 4:45, I was not a happy camper.  But I drug myself out of bed because I knew I had Kim waiting on me at the gym.  After a quick shower, packing my lunch, and trying to do the wake up dance, I was finally out the door.

I met Kim this morning for a 6am bodyPump class.  Are we crazy?  No.  Just committed.  As usual, I watched the clock on the wall like a hawk.  Oddly enough I was sad when it was over, but I worked up a little sweat and got a head start on my daily calorie deficit.  Holla!!

I'm WAYYY too happy at 6am.

Following my long day of substitute teaching, I had a meeting to help plan my childhood best friend's baby shower!  Too exciting!  I'm so happy for her and her husband but a little sad that we are nearing the age to start having our own youngins.  Then it was off to THE WALK!!!!!

Yeahhhh for The Walk.  Tonight was the kick off for the semester, so they held it at World's Fair Park by the UT campus.  It was catered and they served fried chicken with all the fixin's  including mac n cheese!  Yum yum yum.  We had a great time sitting with hundreds of other college students worshipping and studying the Word together!  Love The Walk and I'm so glad that it has started back!

Pre worship.

The amphitheatre and only about half of the people there.

Ashley, Callie, Caitlin, and myself showing what being awesome looks like.

How was your Wednesday?  Do you ever get up SUPER early to sneak in a workout?  

get it, girl

After getting a full 10 hours of sleep last night, I was up and at 'em this morning.  I had a great day subbing today at school.  I put my cute clipboard to good use and attempted to look fashionable while donning the school colors.

Monogram and a bow?  What more could a girl ask for?

This is fashion, right??

Oh, and about 10 minutes into class, the kids informed me of the "good drawer".  Basically, it is a drawer of random candy that they get if they are good.  Or in my case, that their teacher eats when she wants to be put in a sugar coma.  I only ate 3 jolly ranchers, so feel free to clap for me!

Why so tempting????

Now that we have all pretended that I'm a reasonably fashionable and awesome person, lets get down to business.  I left school and met my awesome friend Kim at the gym (that rhymes!!)  for an awesome work out.  She was kind enough to let me use her guest pass!  We took a spin class, which wasn't so great.  The music was lacking and the instructor was mediocre, but I sweated my booty off and it was good.

Kim forced me to stay for the 15 minute "Ab Blast" afterwards.  I counted about 8 curse words that slipped out while doing it.  Hurting tummy right now.  Feel the burn, baby.  It felt sooooo good to be back in the gym.  I love taking classes and getting my sweat on!  It is way more fun with a friend too!  I'm meeting Kim at 6am tomorrow morning for Pump. Lord help us all. 

Looking good, sweaty girls!!

How was your Tuesday?  What's on the workout agenda for tomorrow?  What's your favorite candy??  Mine isn't jolly ranchers, its blue pixie stix!!

frizzzz!

I spent last night at my good friend's bachelorette party!  She'll be getting married this weekend as I'm part of the wedding, so it was only appropriate that I showed her a good time.  Unfortunately, no pictures were taken, so you'll just have to mentally visualize all the fun us girls had.  You can see what my hair looks like when I take it out of my daily french braid though:

What up Curly Q?

Fierce.  I know.  This week is going to be really hectic for me.  I'm gearing up to start training for (gasp) a full marathon in the spring.  I'm not sure if I will ACTUALLY take the plunge and sign up for the full, but at least my body will be prepared if I get brave.  Yay!  I  am taking advantage of my friend Kim's guest pass at her gym to take a few classes.  So pumped because its been tooooo long since I've taken classes at a gym. 

The Walk also starts on Wednesday night.  That's the college ministry at a local church.  Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of kids fill their massive church each week to worship and fellowship together.  They sure know how to treat us poor college kids.  Sooo looking foward to it.  Oh, and I substitute each day this week!!  Yay for being a pretend teacher!

Click HERE for The Walk promo video!

 

Okay, that's all I have to say today.  Boring, I know.  Tomorrow I'll be reporting back about how the first day of training went.  I have a LONG WALK scheduled.  Walking is exercise too so don't judge!!

making up for lost time.

Don't hate me over the fact that I'm blowing up your Google Reader right now with my posts.  I'm just making up for lost time since I haven't blogged since Monday.  Speaking of Google Reader, how does that even work?  The blogs I follow show up on my Blogger, and then I have a mental list of self-hosted websites that I always stalk daily.  Is there a way to compile them all?  Lemme know!!

So today I had to substitute teach for 7th grade social studies.  We had a fire drill.  It was hotter outside than it was inside the buring building, even though nothing was actually burning.  Okay, that wasn't funny.  Anywho, I spent the day writing, rewriting, and editing training plans.  I searched and searched and threw away enough paper to save about 14 trees with me scribbling and messing up and changing my mind.  I eventually picked one "real" plan, then just tweaked it to work for me.

Hal Higdon's Half Marathon for both Novice and Intermediate.

I purchased some calendar paper yesterday at Hobby Lobby, so I used it to write in all my projected workouts.  Obviously, I won't be following what I wrote down to the exact T because I'll be listening to my body and I'm sure there will be days when other plans arise and I simply won't be able to devote that day to the anticipated work out. 

Nonetheless, I'm happy with what I finally have written down.  I'm not sure it is right or it is what a professional would suggest, but every week is different on my plan, and I included a lot of walking in my plan because we all know that I will be doing a run/walk for my fall half.  Don't judge.  I'll go over more in detail what the plan actually involves later this week, so stay tuned.

FINALLY complete!!

Do you follow a training plan?  Do you get yours from a book/online or do you make your own? Or both?  Do you find that you actually stick to it, or go by feel throughout the whole process?  What works best for you?  I'm dying to know!!

window shopping!

Before I celebrated my best friend's birthday last night, I met up with Chandler and Kelly at the mall to do a little window shopping so we could plan our "first day of class" outfits.  Yes, we are classy adults, and no, we are not mature. So  there we are just walking along when Chandler grabs my arm and says, "oh. my gosh.  It's you". 

Sure enough, I look up and there is my photo plastered to a kiosk.  Guilty as charged.  At least it is a skinny picture.  What up Covenant Health. So glad I could be your poster child.

Still single.  Holla at your girl.

Tell me you see me.  Would it be intimidating or motivating knowing that an entire city knew all of your personal information like weight, body fat, and other embarrassing body measurement? 

best friends and a birthday!

Yesterday was my best friend's birthday.  To celebrate, her parents took us both to Sullivan's Downtown to eat.  I had never been here prior, so was excited to have a new dining experience.  Most would consider it rather an upscale place, so I was curious to see how it really was.

Oh, hey Mr. Sullivan.

We both had the Carribean  chicken after debating with our server how it was actually pronounced.  The overall swank of the place was pretty good, but we had mediocre service and there were a few people who were over the top obnoxious and loud sitting right behind us.  I probably wouldn't go back but am SO glad I got to celebrate my best friend's birthday with her.

Birthdays are the best day of the year at the Latham house.



After returning home, we induldged in cookie cake and made a trip to Target.  Umm, where else would you go to celebrate your 20th birthday?  I know, right.  Ashley's birthday didn't quite turn out the way she had anticipated, but I'm glad I got to share it with her and I can't wait until next year when she turns a real live adult.  Can we all say VEGAS???

Two girls who are up to no good.

How do you celebrate birthdays??

Monday Mojo??

After Saturday's big fat fail of a race, I was left feeling discouraged and let down.  I went home in a depressed state feeling defeated.  The rest of my Saturday was spent napping, eating, and napping some more.  I finally had the energy to ride to church to help my mom clean some, but still felt completely exhausted and ill.  I'm not completely sure if it was the aftermath of getting sick at the race, being tired from the previous night's activities, or feeling bad about not living up to my 5k PR, but whatever it was, I had no mojo. 

Most of you don't know me in real life, but I'm rarely one to NOT be happy.  I laugh about 97% of the time and am often known for being TOOOO happy.  This depressed feeling just wasn't working for me.  I spent all of Sunday and today gorging myself with as much artery clogging food I could get my hands on.  It was my way of punishing myself for not living up to my self made fitness standards. 

I know that punishing myself is not the answer and can be harmful both on a physical and mental standpoint, but I just lost my mojo and didn't know what to do.  I've decided to start fresh tomorrow with my clean eating and marathon training plan.  Just because I fell off my horse doesn't mean I can't hop back on.  I'm hoping to put the weekend behind me and not worry about my shortcomings.  I've came so far this year and need to really dig deep to find the same inspiration that allowed me to lose 57 pounds.  I know I can do this, I just gotta find my mojo.

Have you ever punished yourself for not accomplishing goals?  Have you ever lost your mojo?  What did you do to find it and bounce back from a slight slip up?

Race Report: Hotter n Hell 5k

Last year during HnH 5k, I did it in 37 minutes.  I'm totally aware that a lot of runners would not say that was a good time, but at the shape I was in then, it was.  This year, I was more prepared and about 40 pounds lighter.  So I signed up and was so stoked that this could potentially be the 5k that I finally break 30 minutes in.  I twisted my friend Kim's arm into doing it with me and boy I'm glad she did.  We met in the back parking lot of a Shoney's and rode together.  Such bad girls we are.

We even planned to match!

After taking a bathroom break, and doing a slight trot around the park to "warm up", we were all set to go!  From the very beginning I knew we were going fast. Every single time I looked down at Garmin, we were under a 10 minute pace.  To me, that's flying since most of my training runs are above an 11 minute pace.  But I kept up and hit mile 1 at 9:46.  Uh oh, I was going too fast.  So I slowed down and let Kim go on in the attempt to break 30 minutes.

Mile 2 came and at this point I had cold chills.  NOT GOOD.  I started playing mental games with myself in order to make it up hills and begged God to just get me to the finish.  My mile 2 split was 11:07, an obvious slow down.

I knew I wasn't going to break 30 and I knew I wasn't going to set a PR, I just wanted to be done.  The race ends on a slight uphill grade that seemed never ending once I had to run up it.  I gave it all I had to get up that hill and across that finish line.  Once there, I saw my friend Ed, who knew I was in distress, then let my friend Robyn cut off my chip since she was working the finish line. 

Too bad I didn't look this great at the finish!

I made my way out of the finish chute and just fell to the ground while poor Kim was trying to get me water.  A paramedic came to help me and all I could say was how cold I was.  Too bad its the "Hotter than Hell" 5k.  After being wrapped in a warm blanket and getting fluids in me, I finally felt better.  Whew!  Props to Kim for being a great friend and helping me out because I felt like death!  It had to be embarrassing and scary on her part. 

Actual results have yet to be posted, but I think I came in at 33:10ish.  Not my best, but not my worst, and a whole 4 minutes off last years time!  Go me!!  I'm doing a 5k in about three weeks that I hope to NOT get sick at and actually finish in under 30 minutes.  We'll see.  But all in all today's race was great and even though I became a little ill and didn't get my projected time, it was a learning experience.  Plus, Einstein Bros bagel company gave us free bagel cards for after the race!

Best idea ever?

Well sure, I'd love free chocolate chip and cranberry/cream cheese bagels.

Did you run a race this weekend?  Have any good long runs?  Let me know all about them!!

Keith Urban!

Four months ago when I won the Biggest Winner, part of my prize package was tickets to see Keith Urban in concert.  After a long few months, last night was the big night!!  Ashley and I spent the early part of the afternoon getting ready, grabbing dinner, and registering for a 5k.  How cool are we?

Notice the cost of the ticket.

I'll be the first to admit that we aren't huge Keith Urban fans and were scared that we wouldn't know any of his songs.  But in turn, we actually knew almost all of them.  He put on a phenomenal show and had so much fun with the audience.  He had multiple people on stage and let them sing (awful) solos, then actually went wayyyyy up in the stands still playing his guitar and actually gave it to a random fan!  Too cool! 

We were sooo close!

Keith Urban on the big screen!

So pumped about our economical time out!

Are you a country music fan?  Seen any good concerts lately?  Tell me your favorite artists!

pool palooza!

After getting off work tonight, I took some of my leftover cookie cake to my nephew and nieces then took them swimming!!  The water felt perfect after how hot it was today and the kiddos convinced me to do a front flip off the diving board.  After lots and lots of practicing and chickening out, I finally did one, and gracefully busted my back on the water.  Painful! 

Then we had jumping competitions, hold your breath competitions, beat each other to the other end of the pool competitions, and all sorts of other fabulous things!  Pool palooza for sure!

My girls. 

Of course we had to document our diving board skills too. 

Nubbbbbby leg.

Halli is rocking the "air style"

Sophi is keeping it classy with the pencil.

Then Kinsi brings up the rear with a cannonball.



I can't believe the kids are already back in school.  Summer has flown by and I feel like I haven't seen them at all!  Boo.  Maybe I should pay more attention to them when we are in public places because check out the sign we have at my work:

Every business needs this.

Did you have a wonderful Wednesday?

last day!

Today was my last day at work before I officially become a subsitute teacher as my fall job, and start my junior year of college.  Exciting stuff!  In celebration of my final day at work, my wonderful coworkers felt the need to ask me a series of questions concerning my "marathon diet". 

After beating around the bush as to whether or not I was allowed to eat cookies while training for a marathon, they showed up with this.  Best coworkers ever award!!

Cookie cake!!

C'mon.  you know I ate some.



I still secretly think that the cake was a symbol of celebration/victory that they finally got rid of me.  Who knows!  I'm so blessed and will miss my KOA fam!

morning sweat

I'm such a boring person and have nothing to post about today other than the fact that I slept in, went on a 3 mile walk with my momma, and worked a closing shift.  Go me!  I still can't decide if I prefer to get my sweat on in the morning or the evening, but I better be picking because I have a 5 mile run slated for tomorrow.  And by 5 mile run, I of course mean that I walk a mile, then attempt to run at least 3 miles of it, then walk some more.  Yes, go me. 

I be looking good up in hurrrr.

How was your Tuesday?  Any big workouts or races on the schedule?

sleepovers, splashing, and sno cones.

I may not be an athlete, but I'm a mathlete and we exercise our minds.  Take that calories!  Thanks to my expert brain skills, I tried to beat best friend Ashley at Disney trivia the other night.  Big fail.  My mathlete skills were no match for her Micky Mouse brain power.

Disney trivia time!!

Ashley kicked my butt worse than any gym workout would.  So since I obviously have no brain cells with Disney trivia, we curled up to kill any brain cells we may have had and watched Toddlers and Tiaras.  Parenting 101 for sure.  Here, Ashley can show you how her Micky Mouse ears were wiped clear of knowledge thanks to glitzy glamourous diva dads! 

Bye bye brain power.

The next day we took a roadtrip to Kentucky Splash Waterpark.  Its this little whole in the wall water park that has free parking and its only 10 bucks to get in.  It didn't have a whole lot to do, so we mostly lounged in the lazy river and gorged ourselves with the dirt cheap concession stand.  Funnel cakes for $1.50?  Doesn't get much better than that.  They also had sno cones, and me and Ashley collectively ate EIGHT sno cones.  Don't hate!  Yummmy.  Sno cone eating is the next Olympic sport didn't you know?

Sno cones make you cold. 

Sorry for the randomnes and bad grammar and spacey sentences.  I still have not caught up on sleep from last night's midnight road race!

Are you a Disney fan?  Do you have a favorite Disney movie?  Have any thoughts on Toddlers and Tiaras?