Disneyland 1/2 Marathon 2012

Once again Dearest and I will be running the 1/2 marathon at Disneyland! Training has gone a lot better this time around. Last year, the training was long and slow, especially since we had no experience running long distances. I can still remember our interval training of running 2 minutes and walking 1. About a month before the run, we ran our longest distance of 8 miles at the gym on a treadmill. I'm still amazed that we finished the 13.1 miles. 
This time, we picked up running again earlier. Every few days we do a 2 mile run around our neighborhood for maintenance. Then once a week we go for a long run for distance training. Over the past month we've gradually increased our distance from 4 to 6 to 7 to 8 and now 9 miles. We found a great path- starting at the Boardwalk and running north to a state park just outside of town. Our plan is to do one more week at 9 miles, the next two weeks at 10 miles and then another two weeks at 11 miles. We'll stop the long runs and just do short runs for the week and a half before the run. 
With our first run, we had a final time of 2hrs 48mins. We're hoping to shave off 20 minutes and finish under 2:30. At the pace we're running (and miraculously maintaining even with adding distance to our runs), we'll be able to almost meet that goal. We would be literally just 30 seconds away. I'm crossing my fingers that the adrenaline will give us a much needed boost! 

I never thought I'd call myself a running junkie, but now I honestly can't see my life without it! Racing is quite addicting, especially Disney races. Most of all, it's really kept me in shape. Over the past 5 years, I've lost 20 lbs and I'm the most fit I've ever been. I definitely attribute it all to my amazing hubby who's been my motivation and support, I couldn't have done it without him. :) 

Strange Times Ahead

This summer marks the first time since Dearest and I have been together that we will both be working, and I'm not talking about part-time minimum wage jobs that either of us have held while also being in school. Dearest has an internship! The specifics of which I'm still a little fuzzy on, but he'll essentially be a test engineer. It'll definitely be interesting to say the least and will give us a taste of what life will be like when Dearest graduates. 

To kick the summer off, we both have a week of vacation. This is also the first vacation that we're staying locally. The seahorses at the aquarium are calling and we're planning to take a day trip to Sausalito (mostly in search of home-made waffle cones and ice cream that Dearest remembers from his childhood). I have a feeling that we'll start to drive each other nuts being at home for a week straight. As I type this, Dearest is poking my laptop while "studying" for his finals... 

As an ending to the odd summer, we have the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon. Training was rocky at the beginning, but we've definitely picked up the pace. This time around I'm actually motived to run and we're seeing good progress in our pace. My goal for the race: finish in less than 2hrs 30 mins, beating our time of 2hrs 48 mins. 

25

I've lived for a quarter of a century. Kind of crazy when you think about it, huh? This time of the year is always fun; I get to see family more and I always get a good giggle out of seeing Dearest sweat about planning something for my birthday. But turning 25 comes with a serious note to it. I can't say that I'm in my early 20s anymore, I'll be on "the wrong side of 25" as an (older) friend puts it. Most of all, I can't help but thinking "Oh my gosh, next stop is 30. I better get my life in order!"

Not to say life is a mess, but I'm definitely starting to worry about the bigger things in life. I like to think that Dearest and I aren't too frivolous with money, we have to pay for his school, after all. This summer we'll get a glimpse into what life will be like when we're both working because Dearest got a job! It's a full-time summer internship and he'll get paid for it. In fact, he'll get paid more than I do! Completely awesome, but it makes me rethink why I work so hard. ;)

On Leap Day, Disneyland hosted a 24hr "party" where the park was open from 6am-6am. I was all for going, but alas, I couldn't get the time off work. I was talking to Dearest about it after...
Me: "Well, there's always next yeap year..."
Dearest: "That's in 4 years. You might not be able to go, especially if we're going to have kids by then."
Me: "Oh... Man... That's seems so soon..."

It's not a shock that we could have kids by then. I'd like at least one before we're 30, but it's a shock to realize how soon that really might be. I spend a lot of time wishing that life would fast forward to when Dearest will be done with school. He's been telling me to watch Click and to savor the time that we have now.

So that's my plan, to embrace the little moments we have now, such as the recent weekend trip Dearest surprised me with to the happiest place on earth. What a sweetie. :)

Moving into the Mid-20s

I will no longer be in my early 20s as of April. And as Dearest has so kindly pointed out, I'll have to update my blog info. After 21, birthdays weren't a big deal anymore. There was nothing to look forward to, like being able to vote or (legally) drinking. But with 25 rounding the next corner, it's made me think about how much life has changed.

-My "just out of college" job has become my career. Truthfully, I didn't expect to stay with the bank this long, though I can't really say I had a different plan. I'm enjoying where the job has taken me and I can see myself staying with them, at least for the next 2 years.

-My taxes have become more complicated, yet I have less W-2s. I've had years where I've had 2 or even 3 different jobs, yet with Turbo Tax, this year's taxes are more confusing and complicated. I'm sure it only gets worse with kids and a mortgage.

-Speaking of mortgages, Dearest and I have had serious discussions about buying vs. renting. When I say serious, I'm talking graphs and spreadsheets and calculations. (Yes, apparently that's what happens when you marry an engineer.) If you asked me what a mortgage was in high school, I probably wouldn't have had a clue what you were talking about.

Another big thing that's changed is... the end is in sight. The end of Dearest's time at University and the completion of his degree, that is. It is so much in sight that when I bought a planner for work, his final day was on it! (And yes, I squealed for joy, even if the planner is 2 years and his last day is on the last page. Technicalities.) Just being able to see that day reminds me of the awesome future that is soon to come.

Now, onto planning our trip to Italy after Dearest's graduation.... :)

Another Year

I love New Years. Not quite as much as Christmas, no holiday could ever top Christmas for me. But New Years is pretty phenomenal. The parties are top notch, dressing up is a must, and everyone is just happy and excited. The fun times aren't what really make me love New Years though.

To me, New Years is a time of reflection. It makes me look back on the year and think about what I've learned and how I've grown- as a person, not height wise obviously. :) Last year, I was reflecting on the major life changes- marriage and a big promotion at work. This year, it's been all about growing as a person. I pushed myself both mentally and physically and I've come pretty far. From being a stronger leader at work to upping my self confidence and to being more comfortable in my skin, it's been a big year for me.

I've discovered I'm capable of things I thought weren't possible, like running a half marathon. I'm excited to say that running has become a huge (and enjoyable) part of my life. Dearest and I are going to make it a new tradition to run at least one event a year. We're planning for the Disneyland 1/2 again in September, hopefully setting a new personal best.

This past year has also held a lot of change for me and Dearest. After he transferred to the 4-yr University, there was a shift in our life. The talks became more serious (though we still get in some good tickle sessions). There's less fantasizing about what we'll do when he's done with school and more serious planning about where we want to live and when and how many kids we want. It's crazy to think that we just spent our 5th Christmas together!

In true New Years fashion, I'll throw out some resolutions for 2012.
~I will be more healthy and exercise to make it to my ideal body. Setting a specific weight goal never works.
~I will dedicate more time to my hobbies, like photography.
~I will be a more adventurous cook.

So as sad it may be that another year comes to a close, I feel rejuvenated and excited to embark on another year!

Oh, Martha...

Is it me, or has someone hit the fast forward button on the life remote? September went by in the blink of an eye and October is quickly coming to a close. We're a little less than a month away from Turkey Day, which means for our house, the Christmas music has begun! I'm definitely lucky in the sense that Dearest doesn't freak out when I turn on the Christmas station on Pandora... in the beginning of October. :) Listening to Jingle Bells on a misty morning drive to work with my scarf and the heater blowing really gives me the warm holiday fuzzies.

I've been brainstorming more about holiday decorations around the house. Past years we never fully embraced our home; since we moved every year, I never put a lot of effort into making the house a home. But after we passed the 2 year mark, it was evident we aren't planning to move (at least that's the plan). I made curtains for all the windows- the wood blinds are so boring. This year for Christmas, I really want to go all out. I blame that on Martha Stewart...

I went online to look at Martha's website for some holiday dinner party ideas for our upcoming dinner. This year Dearest announced that he wants to cook and that I should host. Translation: Dearest wants to pick the recipes and I can actually prepare the food AND I can host. What love. ;) Anyway, what I thought would be a few minutes on her website ended up being hours and left me with a craving to be crafty, so I headed out to the craft store. You can guess what happened next... But now I've made cute invitations!

I have officially decided that Martha Stewart needs to come with a disclosure:
"Reading of any material by Martha Stewart with ignite the crafty person inside and cause you to rush out to the nearest craft store and spend more than you'd like to admit. Women: do not be alarmed. Husbands: Come on, we know you've spent more on sporting event tickets."

Woes of a Housewife?

Since Dearest went back to school and I've been working full-time, I have always been excited about the future when he'll be working and I'll be a housewife... until today. After transferring this Fall, Dearest just started his first semester at a 4yr university. His schedule has been so hectic with him leaving in the morning before I wake up and coming home after I do. I put in a solid 9-10 hours at work, so you can only imagine how long he's gone. While it's only 4 days a week, it's still hard.

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. For me, not so much. When Dearest and I first started dating and moved to a different town together, he began to work 2 full-time jobs. 8-5p at a bank and 6-the wee hours of the morning doing security. I would visit him on his 30 minute lunches just to be able see him. I really struggled with the separation, even to the point of wondering if we weren't going to work out. Before you start thinking "OMG! Are they going to get divorced?!" don't get your panties into a bunch. That was a long time ago when our relationship was just budding. We've since grown together and it's gonna take a heck of a lot more to break us up. :)

The time apart sucks at times, but it's good for us. It gives me time and space to grow and be me and spend time with my friends. (HINT HINT)

And it gives me time to blog and pick up after my messy husband that I love so dearly. ;)