Ground Beef.

Run. Run. Run. Run.

My momma predicted it. "Running will get in your blood," she said. I kind of thought she was crazy when she said I needed to run the Cowtown with her in February, but then again, if she can run a marathon, why the heck cant I? So, I surprised myself by running a lot further than I ever expected to. And now I'm running every day. (well, almost everyday. I haven't run today, but i've been up since 5 and it's raining outside.) 

It seems like it took NO time to go from not running at all, to doing 2 miles/day. But where am I still?? 2 Miles/day. My times are getting faster, I'm doing a 9-10 minute/mile now, which is by no means speed racer, but I think going at a faster pace equals shorter distance before wearing out. So what's more important? Will it all come together here soon? Will I come to the point soon where I have a good pace and distance? I'm certain this will come, but now I'm just getting impatient. I dont have anyone coaching me, just the random encouragement from those who know I'm running and my end goal. Is 3 1/2 months enough time?! 

And yet, I'm still going. 

I am encouraged that this knee pain I've been having is transient, as I'm not hurting any more. Too bad the same cant be said for my sore, recently flu vaccinated bicep. Yowzers that thing hurts!

Current song stuck in my head: Anything by Mae

I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier

Buh.

I'm disappointed in this week's episode of What Not to Wear. It still makes me want to go shopping however. Have I ever mentioned how much I enjoy The Soup though?

I've really grown to love our small group. We met again this week (at our tiny apartment!) for dinner-well, breakfast for dinner, conversation, and prayer time. All the couples in our group are pregnant but us, so our conversations usually revolve around pregnancy, labor, and babies. Regardless, I look so forward to meeting again!! 

I ran another 2 miles today. I havent been able to break into 3 miles yet. Halfway through the week, my sinuses started acting up again and I havent been able to breathe through my nose since then, which has hampered my running. 

I am happy to announce that the Longhorns are VICTORIOUS this year against OU!!! Go Horns!!!! It was a great game and all, but the Longhorns won 45-35! I think our friendship with Greg & Kelli may be a little strained now, although I hope they dont hold this against us. I wish we'd taken a picture; Jordan and I were all decked out in our burnt orange gear cheering on the team to victory! Due to this awesome win-- Texas is now #1 in the country!!!! Way to go Longhorns- keep it up! The next couple of weeks are going to be difficult games, but I think we've got it in the bag :)

Current song stuck in my head: All These Things that I've Done by The Killers

Border Bash aint got nothin on this...

It's that time again... for the Red River Rivalry!

Jordan and I have finally broken the very very loose ties with any college team we've favored and pledged our allegiance to the 'Horns! And none sooner- this weekend is the awesome, highly anticipated, super Texas-sized, ultimate rivalry. Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners. A game this big makes the dawgs/gamecocks match up look like pee-wee football. Held right here in Dallas @ the Cotton bowl, it's the biggest game of the year. This year should be no different; #1 ranked OU vs #5 ranked UT- both undefeated so far this year. Should be a real nail-biter. :)

Even my mom couldnt escape 'Horn fever- she has her own UT paraphernalia, which she got while out here a few weeks ago. I'll have to make sure she wears her Longhorn gear this saturday - we'll have to be on our "A" game to bring down the Sooners. Hook em Horns!!!

Last week I ran a total of 7 miles (over the whole week- not in one day!!!). I'm hoping today to run 3 miles. I'm ready again for Junk Food & Jesus (our high school girl's Bible study). I've got a pot roast cooking. I need to do laundry. I'm busy busy making a card for Mr. Mims (whose birthday is tomorrow.... whoops.). I must take a shower. I have a lot to do!!! I need to stop talking so much about football (which is so out-of-character for me anyway!). 

Current song stuck in my head: Texas Fight! haha

Finally, some pictures!

How can anyone not love San Antonio?? It's just so darn pretty.

The recent depressing activity of the economy has got me a little concerned. One of our 2 banks in which we... bank at, have folded. We are now Citibank-ers I guess. I assume that knowing little to nothing about finances makes me more nervous about when all this is going to end and how much worse things will get before they begin the turn upward.  We will soon be in the market for a house (soon as in, within the next year or so.). I cant help but worry about what the economy will mean for us when it comes time to purchase a house. I am thankful that we recently re-vamped our budget and are actively trying to save more & more each month. I appreciate my newly acquired affinity for penny-pinching- it makes me feel accomplished to know that for the past week, we've eaten off of $25 :) (the rest of our budget was spent in San Antonio!) We're hoping that we can save every available penny towards a fat down payment on a house (and a new bedroom! ... and a new tv... and you get the point.). 

I've got to stop talking about money. 

Can you believe Christmas is right around the corner!?!??? Yikes!!!

One thing I'm quite proud of is my new almost-habit of running. My mama is an avid runner and has even completed a 1/2 marathon already. I guess she kind of rubbed off on me a little bit while here- the stinker got up at like 6 in the morning while we were in San Antonio and ran around the city before getting ready for the day. Sure, I'd been running/walking on and off prior to the visit, but it was more leisurely than anything. I am proud to say I've run 2 miles today and I did 2 miles yesterday too! Like, as in I ran the entire 2 miles. I dont know that I've ever run this far before (outside of high school gym class, that is, where we were required to run 2 miles to pass. yuck. highschool.). It's not really a pretty run; by about the last little stretch, I am either ready to pass out or puke (neither of which happen), but shortly after finishing, I assure myself that one of these days I'll look fab enough to fit into those cute jeans again. I look forward to being able to finish both miles without feeling like ground beef. Of course, then it'll be time to tack on a third. 

Current song stuck in my head: Over the Sun by Shane & Shane

Eh, well.

Strange.

It took (again) FOREVER to attempt to load pictures from our trip to San Antonio. So, (again) in the next few entries, hopefully I'll have some fun pictures up from our great trip! I dont know what the deal is with those pictures specifically, but it's darn frustrating. Urgh.

I'm in one of those moods. In preparing the apartment for my mom's visit, I came across dozens of things that have just turned into JUNK. Things we havent touched since moving in. Things collecting dust in corners. Things I have long since forgotten. Things I am NOT going to miss. Therefore, I am in a purging mood. It's so cathartic, getting rid of junk, isnt it? It doesnt help that my husband is a #1 pack rat. Also, I just happen to have a hobby that includes millions of little doo-dads that somehow end up strewn from one end of our apartment to the other. Alas, everyonceinawhile, I enjoy going through all (well maybe not all) our stuff and getting rid of things. Maybe I'll find some ebay worthy items while I'm looking/trashing.

If you're reading this, check out my dearest's jewelry. And my other dearest's jewelry!! I've got dibbs on the turquoise/brown cross necklace. 

I'd better get back to trashing. :) 

Current song stuck in my head: Hold On by Nichole Nordeman

Catch up already!!!

SO much is happening here and I'm falling so far behind on updating my blog! I sat for 45 minutes last night trying to load pictures from our San Antonio trip with NO success. Stupid blog. Still planning on having some cute pics of myself and J and my mommy from this past weekend! (If I can gain the patience to upload pics again!!!)

Work has been wild & crazy and super tiring. We're pushing 500 deliveries for the month of September which is unbelievable.

My family is being shaken up and I dont know whether or not I'm ready to say anything about what's going on. I dont quite know what to think or feel or make of what's happening, so I think I'll wait until my feelings get sorted out before blabbing. That and I want to make sure word doesnt get out before it can come straight from "the horse's mouth." Probably more so the latter than the former. Regardless, I'm confused and disappointed and guilty for feeling disappointed. It's just a jumble of emotions. 

I'm going to bed. 

Current song stuck in my head: Bad Days Better by Shane & Shane

Ode to Sprinkles Cupcakes

Oh Sprinkles Cupcakes. 

While my mom was here in town (see next post for pics of our fab time!) we spent a day in Dallas. We hit Sam Moon, of course. And we also spent some considerable time @ the Galleria. It was my first trip to the Galleria, and I have to say that NorthPark is a much better mall. I digress. The highlight of the day was making a trip to Sprinkles. All the hype is true. I had never had a Sprinkles until that day and it was well worth the hour drive there and home. It was perfection. And so, in honor of the Sprinkles cupcakes that we devoured, here's a poem. (dont make fun of my poetry skills!)

Oh Sprinkles cupcakes, you are so fair.

I gobble you down without a care

Flavors so delicious, you are easy to eat

Such rich cake and icing, you're hard to beat.

Strawberry, coconut, chocolate marshmallow

Cinnamon sugar is easy to swallow

Lemon, vanilla and red velvet cake,

two, no three, no FOUR I'll take!

Oh, why, dear Dallas are you so far?

It takes an hour at least if not more

I guess it's best for me to be so far away

Otherwise, 25 more pounds I'd weigh!!!

tadaaaaaaa  :)

I would totally suggest making a trip to Sprinkles if there is one nearby. What a well spent $13. 

Now, onto books. Doing so much driving back & forth to San Antonio has given me ample time to read and enjoy some new books; check them out!!!

Just Finished:

Turned out to be pretty good; I am enjoying this author more and more. It's a lighthearted read with some funny moments, some serious moments, and a few unexpected twists! A little crude in places, similar to Swapping Lives. The story is much deeper than simply what you can read on the cover, which was unexpected, but happily received. There are some other books by this author that catch my interest and may make the list in the near future!

Now reading:

I started this book at the recommendation of my mom. She'd brought it with her to read on the plane and enjoyed it. I loaned her My Sister's Keeper, and she loaned me 5 people. So far, it's been enjoyable. The author is very descriptive, painting mental pictures of what's going on in the story. I wouldnt classify it as a Christian Fiction novel, regardless of what the subject matter is. 

Up Next: ???????

It's time to throw in a non-fiction, build me up, make me smarter, harder-to-get-through book! I dont know what it'll be yet, but we've got every book John Piper has written (or so it seems.), several John MacArthur, some Stanley, a little of this and a little of that. Any suggestions for a good, Christian non-fiction read? I have some ideas for the next few fiction books- those are always so much easier to make time for, it seems. I told Jordan when we started here @ SWBTS, that I'd be reading lots right along with him. With a huge library right at my fingertips, i've been very bad at reading the things I should be reading, and very good at reading the things I shouldn't.  Alas, I am a sucker for chick-lit. I can hardly turn down a good page-turner. 

Current song stuck in my head: Way back into Love (from the Music & Lyrics soundtrack!)