Go Commando 5k

Checking out the Start line for B's first ever race!!!

I can't believe this was my first race of 2014 and here we are nearing the end of the year. I took a couple months off from running with the move from SC to TN but I definitely have found my groove back and am loving it. A Co-worker of mine (Barbie- pictured above) has recently taken up running and she's doing great. We signed up for the Go Commando 5K Race back in August I think it was and have been training ever since. I struggled through two injury but managed to heel and recover from both before race day. The Owner of the School were we work at was also running the 5K race that morning. We saw him before hand and chatted a bit and then that was that. B and I didn't stay together, we didn't plan to either. We both run and different paces and so we knew that wasn't going to happen and we were ok with that. About 3/4 of the way through I passed Mr. H when he was going the opposite direction towards the turn around. I had quickly glanced down at my watch when he yelled "I'm gonna catch up with you". I looked up to notice it was him and said Yea Yea keep going. Sure enough I was about 1/10th's away from the finish line and I hear someone come up from behind me saying "I caught up with you." I couldn't believe that he did, I was either running slower or he picked up his pace quick. (Let's go with he picked up his pace) When we crossed the finish line I was just a few steps ahead of him, so not to bad. There was also a Half Marathon and a 10K race going on at the same time, so there was runners coming in from all three races. 

I didn't come in were I was hoping to time wise and I am completely ok with that. (I was literally a minute and a half off) I did however place 14th in my age group, 86th out of 309 females and 183rd place over all out of 482 people. So something to be proud of for me for sure.

I love the rush you get from racing I just HATE having to get up so early to be at the start line. The city we live in there's not many races that take place so you have to go to Nashville, which isn't a long drive at all, its just the getting up early part. Oh the feeling you have after you finish though is all worth it. 

There's a 5K coming up in January at the Nashville Zoo that I'm thinking of doing, looks like it should be pretty fun and best part is, it doesn't start till later in the afternoon. 

Pre-Race Week Instagram Style

My Sweet Girl, enjoying the sun during my afternoon lunch break. She loves loves being outside and would stay out there all day if she could. 

We didn't have plans to run Monday because we just finished our long run the day before. However it was just to pretty outside not to go for a run around post. It was the first time I've ran on post in a good long while. It felt great to get out and go for a run around post but def. not as pretty as the area I've been running it. 

Tuesday the rain held out and we were able to get our run in, last run till Saturday. Its crazy that its right around the corner. What am I going to do when it's over?!?!? I'm already itching to sign up for my next race. 

I've been trying to drink lots and lots more H20 this week in preparation for Saturday. I finally reached 100% on my HydrationCoach water bottle. 70% in one day. 

Working on my fitness, squeezing in one last work out Wednesday night. Strength class at Jamie Scott Fitness, def. my favorite class by far!!!! 

You can never have to many workout / running pants, shorts or shirts. I scored these two pairs of pants at TJ Max Thursday afternoon during a quick shopping trip on my lunch. They are both super soft, comfy and best part I got both pairs for $14.99 each originally $109.99 each. I love TJ Max!!!!! 

Friday I took the afternoon off from work to relax and prep for Saturday morning. Kelly and I met up to head to the Health and Fitness expo that was being held down town. This was included during packet-pick-up. Followed by a Pre-Race lunch at Jason's Deli, I love me a big 'ol salad, yummy!!!!!!

I work with some of the sweetest ladies ever!!! My afternoon Co-worker Alicia gave me a Good Luck card along with this beautiful bracelet before I left work on Friday. How sweet is she, totally love working with her!!!!

I had a special delivery to work from on of my parents / kiddos. A wine themed running gift basket filled with lots of goodies. It was totally unexpected and I love it. I have some of the best parents in my class ever. I'm so blessed to work at such a wonderful school. I love this family so much and both of their little ones!!!! I will definitely miss working at EDS when we move next summer. 

Race bid and Shirt: CHECK!!!! Tomorrow's the big day. Hubbs and I are headed to bed early tonight because I've got a early morning. The shirts are actually really nice and not over sized which is always nice.

I promise after My Half Marathon post from tomorrow you wont have to hear (read) me talk about it again. Well that is until I sign up for another one, which I'm already itching to do. Although that may not be till the fall because the weather is fixing to get really hot here soon.

My Semi Week Review

This week has been a bit crazy, overwhelming and exhausting. I no longer have a 2nd staff in the afternoons at work. The teacher I was working with is now on bed rest until after she has her baby. She's due October 5th and was hoping to work up until her due date but her doctor had other plans. Although I completely understand because she has to do what is best for her and the baby. Still it makes me sad because I enjoyed working with her. Monday and Tuesday were just so stressful that be time I got home made dinner and cleaned up I'd passed out on the couch a couple hours later. I neglected to take any pictures either day. But really it didn't matter because my day was filled with work and not much more.

Wednesday the hubby didn't get home till super late. I was just going to take the pups on a short run which ended up being twice as long as I'd planned. A extra bonus was the pups got to play with a fellow four legged friend and Bailey did great!!! I ran up to a friends house, who's husband works with mine. While we chatted it up outside for about a hour all three pups played well together out front. I was so relieved to see how well Bailey did, even more so because the other dog was a puppy. The hubbs thinks its just dogs bigger than her that she doesn't like. Either way we are making some progress. 

~DAY 321~

Thursday was a bit better at work, although the afternoon creeped by slower than ever I managed to make it through with out pulling my hair out. Partly because I had a lovely bottle of yummy wine waiting for me when I got home. I wasted no time at all popping it open either. On top of that one of our parents gave us a sweet little gift, congratulating us on making it through week two.  

While I was at home sipping on my glass of Moscato the hubby was doing Army stuff. His Company had Flag duty today. This is the 2nd maybe 3rd time they've had it since we've been here. He always seems to be the one who fires the canon. Gosh I love my man in Uniform!!!!

~DAY 322~

Friday was just another day, work, home for a quick walk with the pups then off for the night to babysit. It worked out perfect because the hubby had CQ (yes again) and I got to spend my evening with one of my favorite kiddos from my last class. 

Saturday after the hubbs woke up from his beauty sleep / CQ recovery we headed out to do a bit of window shopping / test driving. If you've been following for a while you know that we've gone through our fair share of cars. We aren't in the market to buy right now but that doesn't mean the hubby doesn't like looking. I have to admit the Toyota Tundra's are pretty nice trucks and I think it would fit right in for us. After a little back and forth talking we headed out to dinner. Across town we ended up at our newly found favorite Mexican joint. Its so good, I could almost eat here every night. I absolutely love what I got the first time so I went with that again. Of course we had to try out the Churros since we went with Fried Ice Cream last time. I think between the Chips / Salsa our main mean and dessert we ate our weight in Mexican food. It was so worth every single bite though and I can't wait to go back again. 

~DAY 324~

Its been a WEEK...

It's been a crazy busy week at work and we are barley half way through it. I was at a meeting all night last night, Monday night was ruff with the hubbs not feeling well. Then Wednesday we had a little bit of down time at home but still busy. Everything and just about everyone at work is starting to push my buttons. I bust my butt to get paper work done and only to find out its not needed when I'm told it is. I've had no energy at all and simply want to throw in the towel although I know I can't. I don't understand how I continue getting stuck working with people that have no clue what's going on. I've only been there for 10 months now but you'd think I've been there much longer. Yet people that have act they they just started. The lack of structure going on is uncalled for and not needed. I was stressed out about the hubbs passing Combative's (thank goodness he did) and his arm. The power or lack there of at our house has been rather annoying here lately. We never had issues this bad in Hawaii. I think everything was / is just happening at once this week. Which makes things seem as if my world is crashing down. I got stuck at work about 15 minutes late today when I was just ready to get home. Yet I still had to stop by the commissary to pick up cupcakes for class tomorrow. The Class Six is right around the corner from the commissary so I figured since I was up there why not. I needed a good drink to go along with dinner. Heck I may even finish off the bottle tonight who knows. After pouring myself a glass I noticed a lovely pick envelope on the counter. It was from the Mistress (aka Nancy) all the way in Hawaii. She knows just how to make my day turn around. It came at the perfect time and I could've just hugged her so so tight. But that will have to wait till October. It was definitely a much needed pick me up!!! I've got two more days and then its the weekend. I can do this, I can do this, is what I keep telling myself. 

Isn't that card the cutest ever!!!! So typical of her!!!

~DAY 300~

Another day Another $$$

Goodness was I not looking forward to this morning. 
Its so hard to go back to work after being off for vacation. I caught myself thinking this weekend about how nice it would be to be a stay at home wife. It was only briefly though because I can't really justify staying at home for me. If we had kids sure that would be one thing but we don't. Or if I was going to school full time but I'm not. We like to go and do things as you can see and me not working and bringing in that 2nd income would keep us from doing some of the things we enjoy. I mean lets face it guys & gals the Army's going broke right and even before we weren't making millions and never will.

I was happy to see my kiddos that I'd missed over the past week. I wasn't looking forward to staying till 5:30pm though. Sure its only a 30 minute difference from when I was getting off but 30 minutes is a lot. I was a little nervous because it was the 2nd week of summer and first week for me that I would be working with new staff. I don't do well with changes and I like consistency. The ladies I worked with in the mornings were great we had a good system down, plus I just really enjoyed working with them. It was so much fun just to sit and talk to them and hear their stories. (remember they are in their 60's)
Today wasn't to bad at all, you could definitely tell the kiddo's missed me. I only have 5 this summer and they were all stuck to me every were I went. I had 5 extra shadows walking around behind me in the room and on the playground. Oh and goodness if I left the classroom talk about melt down central. The teacher I'm working with in the mornings is super sweet, she to is older and has been at the school for 15 years. My fear was that we would have nothing to talk about and it would be really awkward because we are so different but it didn't go to bad.
I have high hopes for the summer and look forward to whats to come. 

~DAY 235~

Celebrating at Work + some!!!!

I have some fabulous parents and co-workers at the school I work at. They go all out on holidays and birthdays and it was no different today. Since my big day falls on a Saturday I was blessed with gifts today before leaving for the weekend. 

My sweet co worker Ms. E made me the most amazing Strawberry Cheese Cake. Seriously it was to die for, we had a slice at work and then I brought the rest home for the hubbs and I to indulge on over the weekend. I'm pretty sure I will gain a few pounds from it but hey its all good right!!!!!

I also received several cards with the most sweetest messages written inside from both parents and a few co-workers. It truly warms my heart to know how much the parents enjoy me being apart of their child's life. I have enjoyed getting to know each and everyone of them over the last 5 & 1/2 months. Included in those cards were gift cards to some of my favorite little joints around town. I see plenty of lunch dates in future with my love during this cycle break. Also a gift card to the local surf shop were I've gotten several pairs of my TOMS, I can't wait to go get another pair. My most favorite was a gift certificate from one of my parents to go get a mani & pedi. A bottle of sweet wine from a lovely coworker, some yummy freshly baked cookies and a candle. I can't say enough how blessed I am from the family I work for. They truly helped make my day even better, and seeing their precious babies every day just warms my heart. 

Yesterday when I was out doing a bit of shopping the hubbs called to tell me I had two packages come in the mail from The Mistress. (aka ~ Nancy bf in HI) I was so curious to see what she sent I new it was going to be good but boy was she creative. 

TWO BOXES REALLY FOR ME!!!

See we are going on this trip here in a few months, ok October but you get the point. I'm not to sure if I've mentioned it on here before or not but The Spouse aka Sarah, The Mistress & I are going on a cruise. Hawaii reunion with the three of us YES PLEASE. I'm so overly excited and can't wait to have both my girls back.
Included in the two boxes was the following~ with each item there was a note card with a description on it for what the item was for. This is were the creativity came in she totally out did herself. 

HAT~~ A new fabulous hat to wear. Isn't the little bow so cute! I hope you love it!

SUN GLASSES~~ A new pair of shades for the bright sun we will be enjoying on our cruise!

BRACELET~~ So yes this bracelet might not be for every day wear but it will look fabulous with our swimsuits. 

BAG~~ A girl can never have to many bags. Missing You!!

BOTTLE~~ That included sand, shells and the sweetest little message ever!

It was definitely one of the most creative gifts she has given by far. Total props to her, I can't wait to put everything to good use when we go on our cruise. 

Seriously its not even my day yet and its already off to a fabulous start. The best gift I've gotten this year is simply having my love home with me to celebrate I couldn't ask for anything more. 

~DAY 190~

trying to hold it together

Its been one of those weeks were I just wanna throw in the towel. I haven't, I've kept a smile on my face, held my head high all while still trucking along. Its been one thing after another, changes that have come from no were and people around me that just make me wanna scream. Maybe its the weather that we have been having that's string everything up, its in the 40's-50's on day and the next its in the 80's. I'm absolutely LOVING the warmer weather we have been having, its given us a chance to get out of the classroom which is much needed.
I think today though was just that push that I needed to make me cringe. So myself & the two other ladies (yes the two 60 year old ladies) that I work with decided we needed a adult beverage to motivate our selves to finish out the week. Only one more day but it was needed. After we each got off work we met back up at Applebees for a bit, had a fabulous drink and did a bit of chit chatting. I was nice NOT something I would do all the time by any means. I miss my girl time with my spouse & mistress but I would much rather enjoy a drink & dinner with my hubbs since they aren't here.

This place is so different then were I worked in Hawaii. In some ways I like it more and then in others I don't and I catch myself wishing I was back at Peterson CDC.
I did get a call from the CDC here on post about working there, I just haven't followed through with anything in regards to that yet. Like I said I do like the school I'm at now for many different reasons that the CDC simply does not offer. Although I didn't have the options in Hawaii that I do now, its hard to give that up now knowing what I have. We will see what happens long term. I have two years here which is a good long bit of time and I wont just settle or be stressed or miserable were I work. I do enjoy what I do, there's no question there but I have to be able to enjoy the people I work with and for as well.
It's hard because I'm trying to do what is best for kiddos but ultimately at the end of the day I NEED / HAVE to do what is best for ME and I that is were my heart is pulling in two different directions.

~DAY 140~