Running in the Mud

Way, way back when I used to be a "runner"(like last November), our friends put together a Mud Run team. I kind of forgot about it. And I I kind of stopped running (except for that brief moment a month or so ago when I though we were going to do a 10k). And then all the sudden it was here. And we were on a team. And though I was about as prepared as FEMA for Hurricane Katrina, it all worked out. 

We gathered Friday Night for a pre-race shirt marking/ wholly unecessary, but delicious, Carbo loading team night. You need to eat a lot of brownies to fuel for 5 miles, trust me. 

I wasn't expecting much for our team shirts, being that we threw them together last minute and all, but turns out Rick is an artist. And he owns a airbrusher. All things previously unknown. 

"The Dragon Army" (note: the boys were in charge of names/designs) all ended up with lovely dragon encrusted shirts. It took till midnight. Poor Rick exacto knifed and sprayed them, while the rest of us "helped." The later it got, the funnier everyones jokes got... Let's just say good times were had by all of THE DRAGON ARMY.

Team Line Up: 
The Silver Bullet (Rick), Monster (Pete), Bjorn Jorn (Bonni), Jolly Green Giant (Dan), and Lo ( I lack creativity).

All of these pictures made possible by our lovely 6th teammate/photographer/support crew: 

Sue "BABY ON BOARD" Maloy!

Saturday morning we gathered to more of Monterey's KA weather: cloudy, cold, rain. Awesome. 

We were entertained, as we waited in the rain for the race to start, by the creativity of other teams and their costumes... I have great admiration for the Village people team that ran the entire thing in jean and leather cut offs. Sweet.

The Dragon Army then proceeded to run over 5 miles (I swear it was uphill the whole time) with mud pits, climbing walls, and pushups interspersed. Let's just say I was a bit of a Dragon liablity (being that I can't run, climb walls, or do push ups).... However we were able to make up time as all other teams stopped at the BEER STATION, and the sole Mormons pressed on...

We kept a good pace and I was pretty darn proud as we linked arms
and crossed the finish in true cheesy fashion. 

THE BIG SUR MUD RUN 2011 was actually a legit race (organized by the same people that do the half and full big sur marathon). There were t-shirts, space blankets, medals, and BABY BANANA refreshments.  Though we really could've used some sun/heat/non-monterey blows weather, it was really fun. Nothing brings friends together like running 5 miles. With obstacles. And Mud. Oh, and add rain for good measure.
I would totally do it again next year.*

*Note: If we are still living in Monterey this time next year to run this race again, I. will. kill. myself. 

Not Much Going On, But Let's Be Happy

Let me start out this post by saying that:
 1) I have Pink Eye for the 4.5 millionth time 
 2) We have not had running water in our apartment for 24 hours.

Since I had a recent maniefesto on focusing on the happy things in life rather than the negative, I will not dwell on the fact that I had to shower at the city gym today, without shower shoes, and am on my 4th day wearing glass to mask my infected eyes.. .. Rather I will point out that which is making life Good:

1) I got my first award from Army. Last week, while still sick, I went and gave blood. Probably shouldn't have, but there was no way I was passing on cookies and FINALLY finding out my blood type (I've been on a quest for years since my negligent parents can't supply this crucial info). As an added bonus, since it was my second time giving my life giving platelets to Servicemen in Iraq, I got my hand shook and was given an AWARD in the form of a metal coin. Also, I found out I am O negative. DOUBLE REWARD. Also, I got to eat a ton of Sandies, TRIPLE REWARD.

2) Dan constantly insists he is terrible at French and that his sunday school lessons don't go well. In actuality, he is actually doing well in class (even though stress levels have hit a new high) and rocks being a Gospel Doctrine teacher with what non-existent leftover time he has to prepare his lessons.  However, we're both ready for him to be done with both of these obligations...

3) Since were soon going to be moving soon, I decided the most logical thing to do was to start decorating my apartment. I discovered CB2, Crate and Barrel's Ikea-esque daughter company. My eternal companion gave me these wall scones as a belated Valentine's gift. 

I love them and regularly bask in their glow. 

{ i made these blondies for my sunbeams. they refused them. i was left with no choice but to eat. the. entire. pan.}

4) Yeah, we totally gave up on Atkins. We completed the two week induction phase where you eat nothing but meat and vegetables (and not even all vegetables.) It was pretty rough, the lack of carbs had Dan and I about to claw each other's eyes out at any second - but hey, we lost weight! And then we fell off the wagon, hard. Like eating out everyday (gotta celebrate Chuck Norris' B-day and St. Patricks day and Fat Tuesday...) and baking really ridiculous amounts of treats nightly. Needless to say, I gained back all that was lost. But I figure I'd rather take those 5 lbs back and enjoy life. Though I learned to love brussels sprouts, Atkin's really only taught me one valuable thing: 

 A life without croissants is not a life worth living.

Me and Money

I'm an accidental money saver.
 It's not that I have great moral restraint and like my money safely tucked away in a bond - rather its simply that I want to spend my money on too many things.
I am paralyzed by indecision on which of my many wanted items to buy and thus my money remains in my wallet. For the past year, I've kept an ongoing list of things that I want to save and spend my allowance on.

I have yet to pull the trigger and buy any of these things:

1) Rayban New Wayfarer. In Brown/Brown. Polarized.

2) Lululemon Gym Bag. To carry my beloved spin shoes. 

3) Michael Kors Gold Watch

4) The Cadillac of Fleeces: North Face Denali, in black, of course

5) A Large Cuisinart Food Processor

Until last week! I did it. After going to Costco  THREE TIMES in two days, I finally got the courage to keep my food processor in the cart. Why did I decide to splurge all my long hoarded savings on what basically amounts to a giant blender? One word: NUT-BUTTER.

I read an unhealthy amount of "Healthy Living Blogs". It has become very vogue on said blogs to concoct recipes for gourmet homemade nut butters. As a die hard lover of Almond Butter that is more expensive than liquid gold, I could not let this trend past me by. I NEED to make my own almond butter.  I have made two batches already. I plan to make my own homemade Lara bars with it later today. I also have plans for pesto, hummus, grinding scottish oats.... The possibilities are LIMITLESS!!!!!!

Verdict on my 11 Cup Cuisinart: It is obscenely huge. It is hard to clean. It pretty much takes up my entire counter. It is ridiculous.

And I couldn't love it more.

{see how healthy & happy I am w/ coke? pic from honeymoon in cabo}

In non-food processor related news: Dan and I have both been sick, which basically amounts to both of us laying on the couch, coughing up our lungs, eating naughty non-atkins foods, and watching disturbing Swedish movies (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series). As a holistic person, I shun medicine. I'm fairly certain that reintroducing diet coke and crazy amounts of my new nut butters back into my diet will heal me. Forget Nyquil, a Donut will put into a cough-less sleep. I just know it. 

Partial Redemption

At long last, we set out to rectify last month's bad experience. On Stake Temple Day we ventured to Oakland with the Maloys and Monsons. It turned out to be the first time I've ever gone to the Temple and actually ENJOYED (not merely survived) it. What made the difference? One word: Sealings. We arrived just as an Endowment session was starting, so we weighed our other options and decided on Sealings. It was my first time (well since I got married) to participate in a one. Our Sealer was awesome. He shared several inspirations and thoughts throughout our time with him plus he spoke French. Dan is constantly on the prowl for French speakers to chat with, so you can imagine his elation when we found out our sealer went on his mission to France, and had been the Mission President in Paris. The end of it all was great too. I felt like I had cheated death when after we were done & they ushered us into the Celestial Room. Awesome, all the gain with none of the pain. Good/Spiritual times were had by all.  

Now I just need to learn to replicate this positivity with the Endowment Session next month... 

{dan & pete = not happy, bleu ribbon burger issues}

After my redeeming experience, we ventured to Red Robin that Dan might have his. Sadly, it was not to be. The service was really bad - and the food wasn't great either. We even got off of the Atkin's Induction Wagon for this one meal, so wasn't worth it. Poor Dan, dashed dreams. (I wasn't too heartbroken, I kind of hate RR.) I think someone needs to pick a new favorite restaurant. Cafe Rio has NEVER left me high and dry. Just sayin'...

A Boardwalk, Valentines, and a Baby Blessing

Happiness has abounded the past week (or so):

I can now cross one more thing off of my Monterey Bucket List:
"Go to Santa Cruz Boardwalk."It ended up being exactly like Lagoon. Except for - and I didn't think this was possible - it's dirtier. The boys became obsessed with winning those silly prize booths. But alas, the milk carton knock down humbled the Mighty Artichoke Champion. Only Pete walked away with a beat up stuffed animal for his adoring wife.... Dan was left empty handed (And with $10 less allowance).

Valentine's Day consisted of our traditional Pizza Hut pizza and wings, ghetto deliciousness at its best. Served with a fine bottle Wild Cherry Diet Pepsi, it was a special occasion. Dan got his traditional gift: a violent video game. My gift however was completely original, I got a SNUGGIE!!! I can now not just drape myself in a blanket while going about household chores, but actually WEAR a blanket while going about household chores. It also has pockets large enough to carry a small monkey about. Awesome. Valentines success.

I've enjoyed a baking streak last week, thanks to such excuses as my bosses b-day, Dan's class v-day party, and a baby blessing. Let's just enjoy the beauty that is four batches of cookies, whoopie pies, chocolate peanut butter bars and a cheesecake and not count calories, shall we?

Lastly, but certainly not least, we got to spend a long weekend in Utah! It was a lot of fun to see family and be able to be part of Charlie's blessing day. Many friends and family came over post church for food & fun. I ate myself sick. 

This little monkey is still slow to warm up to Dan, but we have a blast with our favorite niece. 

Throwing her in the air (sometimes into light fixtures- sorry!), tickling her, bouncing her on the medicine ball, painting her tiny nails, "reading" books and sneaking her M&Ms... 

On Saturday we went down to our beloved SLC for a date night at our favorite (well it's tied with The Pie) place: Charlie Chow's Dragon Grill. I also got to go to my favorite mall in the world: Fashion Place.

Monday morning before we left, we met up in SLC at the Pancake House for breakfast out with the Streeters. Oh how we've missed them. We anxiously await Mark's forthcoming political blog,  as Dan and I both rely on him for all of our political opinions. 

{picture stolen from Tori's facebook. all the ones I took of him are totally blurry}

A very happy week. 
Thank you to Rick and Denise for flying us out, hosting us, and sewing my coat back together at 11 pm (Denise = great mother in law).  
Thank you to Maloys for so kindly  shuttling us to and from the airport - we owe you! 
And thank you most of all to Charlie,  for being the cutest nephew ever. 

xoxo Valentine's Shout Out xoxo

The fact that I never gush about Dan on this blog may lead you to believe he is in fact a wife beating ogre of a husband. He's not (that one time was accident, I shouldn't have made him so mad...) Really though, I'm just about as anti PDA as one can get. But being that its Valentines Day, and we are still living a extreme budget (by my standards) this is my gift to Dan: A bit of PDA - haha.

A few of the many things I love about Dan:

* He's so good with children. Seeing him swing them, play with them, tease them warms my heart.

 I know he'll be a super fun, interactive, and involved Dad someday.

* He has a kind heart. Though I sometimes get annoyed at the times we stop to help a broken down car, or  drive to McDonald's to buy a hamburger for a homeless man we pass, I am ultimately in love with Dan's constant need to help others.

*He works hard, and never leaves a job half done. Unlike my 5 minute attention span and complete lack of attention to detail, Dan fixates on the task at hand and works hard till its done, and done right.

* He's so funny. He always makes me laugh with random quips, funny ideas, and just a general upbeat outlook on life.

* He's super outgoing and friendly. I love knowing that with any group of people he will be at ease and can make friends with anyone. 

* When Army doesn't get in the way, he has a soft red beard. He looks like Yukon Cornielus. 

 And I love it. And him.

Happy Valentines Day! 

Ramblings on Asian Things and More Happiness

 I want to like Yoga. I do. It's hip, healthy, and trendy. So I started off my saturday with a "Yoga Flow" class, and I hated every one of the sixty minutes of deep breathing. Instead of quieting my mind, I keep thinking to myself of millions of things that I could be doing instead of down dog. The rest of the weekend was much better. Dan was all jazzed about going to a sports bar to watch a Big MMA fight Saturday night. As much as I love watching actual proof that man descended from Apes, I was relieved when it evolved into a "Boys Night."

{only picture I have of Sue, Bonni, and I}
In response to boys night, the women (Bonni, Sue and I) struck out for Asian massages as "Girl's Night". I'm still unclear whether I enjoyed it or not. At certain points, I felt "Ahhh, this hurts so good." And other points, "Ahhhh! This just hurts! What kind of *&^% masochistic person do they think I am?" I am sore. Jury is still out on that one. Something that has a definite verdict: I'm not a sushi person. I want to like it, for the same reasons as Yoga: its hip, healthy, and trendy. But as Sue and Bonni and I chowed down on Philadelphia rolls, pepperoni pizza and other less glamorous food danced through my head... 

Conclusion: Yoga, painful massage, Sushi. Nothing good has ever come out of Asia. But girls night rocks.

In other news, I found writing last week's happy list seriously fun. The concept of happiness really intrigues me.  I listened to a TED talk (which I'm prone to do whilst doing laundry or dishes, I am a weirdy) by a Economics Nobel Laureate on the very subject. Contrary to my personal beliefs, money (well lots of it) doesn't apparently bring happiness. "Making below $60,000 a year, people get exponentially unhappier the poorer they are, but above $60,000 it flat lines into one of the flattest lines I've ever seen." 

So basically, I just need to start making $60,000 a year and I'm good to go. 

Things that made me Happy this Week: 

1) Sticking to my Grocery Budget

I've been pretty good w/ my resolutions thus far, except this one. I have the hardest time. But finally last week I did it. Instead of running to the store mid week if I ran out of something, I simply got creative and did without. (And I kept myself out of my grocery shopping place of Nirvana, Whole Foods, or "Whole Paycheck" as I've heard it called.) Pathetic perhaps, but it felt like such a victory to me.

2) Glitter Gel Toes

My kind, pregnant, friend Sue, sat on the ground for hours during the Super Bowl and did my gel glitter toes. They sparkle and fill me with ultimate delight. Thank you Sue!!!

3) Running

I seriously have not run since the 1/2 Marathon. Nada. But when Dan mentioned wanting to do an upcoming 10k, I decided to see if I still had it. Running 6.2 miles at a decent pace after 2.5 months of no running wasn't easy for me (granted I still Spin/fitness class it up daily) - but it felt so good. 

I always keep in mind this cheesy quote: "Running is a mental exercise with physical benefits." I really believe it, when my legs are dying, its a total mind game. (It was only after this run that Dan revealed a conflict and we are no longer running that race. ha.)

4) Broccoli

Okay, this is the weirdest one. I'm struggling w/ the goal to eat more veggies. I mean, if vegetables actually tasted good, there wouldn't be so many obese people in the world. But I discovered a roasted broccoli recipe in my ATK magazine, and am now obsessed. In fact, I'm roasting more broccoli for dinner tonight! Take that evil carbs. 

If you made it to this point, I thank you for reading my ramblings. The End. 

* Let us all pray that something exciting starts happening in my life, that there might be more pictures in future posts, and less words.