tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30455433692174610872024-02-20T23:18:46.168-06:00Just Tri and FinishIf at first you don't succeed....TRI and TRI Again....Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-79361280975635907352011-09-06T15:33:00.000-05:002011-09-06T15:33:33.638-05:00Aloha........Labor Day weekend for us was pretty laid back. No major parties or get together's. We played golf Friday, baseball tournament Saturday/Sunday, watched a ton of football and enjoyed the VERY WELCOME nice temperatures.<br />
<br />
Yesterday I taught my THIRD spin class --- all 80's sound track..... it was fun music for a fun day. I have had my classes grow each week by one person - started with 12 and yesterday had 14. very.freakin.excited.<br />
<br />
I hope they continue to grow, I think my class if fun, a great workout, and educational - but hey that's me :)<br />
<br />
Other than that, we are prepping for Maui on Friday! I can't believe it's here..... really HERE! I've been waiting for what seems like forever to be going on vacation and I just can't stand it any longer.... ready to board that plane and head west.<br />
<br />
So far our itinerary looks like this:<br />
<br />
Thursday - full day of work; take off from DFW to SEA at 9:45pm<br />
<br />
Friday - Leave SEA at 9:30 (Seattle time) and land in Maui 1:30 (Maui time ~ 6hrs of flight time)<br />
- Drive around the island and explore - grab some fruity drinks, get an ocean swim, explore, explore.<br />
explore!!!!!<br />
<br />
Saturday - Pick up the jeep rental at the airport and drive the Road to Hana - with MULTIPLE stops during the 60 mile one way trip including, water falls, natural swimming pools, red sand beaches, black sand beaches, a nude beach and plenty of hiking! (talk about a great workout!)<br />
<br />
Sunday - (through Wednesday) Check in at the Ritz Carlton and my 5 days of relaxation begins.... Bill is playing golf two days and I'm planning on spa-ing it up - massage and facial and all the amenities of the spa - i.e. plunge pools, steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs, fresh fluffy towels, robes and slippers........ cucumbers on the eyes.... you name it I'm doing it. Relax by the pool with fruity drinks, take a dip in the ocean, eat my face off, and probably get a few runs in........ done and done.....<br />
<br />
Thursday - Check into a beach side cottage and settle in for the remainder of our trip through Saturday. We are planning on snorkeling, taking a morning volcano tour with breakfast and a bike ride down. And other hiking/swimming/island adventures on our own.<br />
<br />
Aloha!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-3579592632217081952011-09-01T16:27:00.002-05:002011-09-01T16:27:41.115-05:00I just peed my pants.....Today we acquired 5 NEW SPONSORS for the Ride 4 Jess!<br />
<br />
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to Shannon and Michelynne for their support in this race and cause!<br />
<br />
Michelynne, owner and friend extraordinaire.... <a href="http://www.rm2productions.com/p/home.html"><span style="color: #7db5d3;">RM2 Productions</span></a> - Michelynne will be helping me with design for promotional material and such.... Thank you Miche for dedicating your time and efforts - you are such an amazing friend!<br />
<br />
Shannon - of the fantastically inspiring <a href="http://irontexasmommy.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #7db5d3;">IRONTEXAS MOMMY</span></a> - and all of her ambassador-ship signed up the following sponsors:<br />
- Aquaphor -<br />
- Fit-n-Wise - a FREE entry into their 2012 triathlon race series will be given away along with a tshirt and water bottle so you are fully equipped to KICK BUTT at their tri series in the spring.<br />
- Wise Regional Health System - <br />
- Clinical Care Associates - <br />
<br />
Thank you so much to both of you for being just completely AWESOME and selfless. <br />
<br />
Ah-mazing!!!!! Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-29697009342192128482011-08-29T14:06:00.000-05:002011-08-29T14:06:38.723-05:00Par for the course......Pretty par for the course these days that I am overwhelmed and WAYYYY behind on blog reading.<br />
<br />
As in 1000+ unread blogs....so many that google has stopped counting.<br />
<br />
My sincere apolgoies for falling off the face of the earth.<br />
<br />
I haven't been doing much EXCEPT working the REAL job, working the LTF gig, and planning the RIDE 4 Jess on October 9.<br />
<br />
Very excited to annouce that we have a sponsor for the event:<br />
<br />
Nutrition Addiction: There mission is to bring good nutrition to community members and to provide the valuable service of informing people about the importance of good nutrition and regular exercise to achieve optimum health.<br />
There GOAL: To fill the gap between the desire and the action, giving members the tools to help those that want to make a change for a healthier lifestyle. Providing solutions, motivation, education and a friendly atmosphere where they feel valued and supported with like minded individuals.<br />
<br />
<br />
We will be starting and ending the ride from their location in Grapevine - all proceeds from smoothie sales that day will be directly donated to the National Brain Tumor Society. Along with that they will post up an aid station around mile 6.5 of the first loop, mile 19.5 of the second loop and mile 32.5 of the third loop which will serve the HerbaLife Prolong Product mixed with water.<br />
<br />
Prolong is a dual-source blend of maltodextrin and low glycemic fructose facilitates carbohydrate utilization with a 12:1 carbohydrate-to-protein ratio with ultrapure whey protein isolate that helps reduce muscle breakdown during exercise. Bioavailable electrolytes help maintain a cellular environment for proper muscle contraction and B Vitamins support carbohydrate metabolism. Provides 500% daily value of Vitamin C to scavenge cell-damaging free radicals.<br />
<br />
In layman's terms....the stuff is delicious.<br />
<br />
So that's where I am right now with THAT! I am very excited that this has taken on a life of it's own and we are a little over a month away from actually hosting the ride.<br />
<br />
Don't forget you can participate virtually - just make a donation to my fundraising page (ANY AMOUNT IS APPRECIATED) and let me know you are participating either by commenting or emailing me at <br />
allie0622{at}yahoo{dot}com.<br />
<br />
If you are going to actually be able to BE THERE on October 9 - let me know that too.... email or comment!<br />
<br />
We will have donation tables set up for credit card donations the day of the ride! Donations will be accepted through November 5!<br />
<br />
Happy Monday Y'all!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-51175700589105236932011-08-23T14:14:00.000-05:002011-08-23T14:14:59.648-05:00New Format for the Ride For JessDue to previous commitments with Life Time Fitness Cycle Club; I'm going to be unable to do the 12 hour bike ride on October 8.<br />
<br />
I didn't realize when I picked the date that I was going to 1) be hired at LTF as the coordinator (it was still up in the air) and 2) have a mandatory expo that day.<br />
<br />
<strong>So here are the new details</strong><br />
<br />
<strong><u>When:</u></strong> Sunday, October 9, 2011<br />
<strong><u>Where:</u></strong> White Rock Lake<br />
<strong><u>Why:</u></strong> To Raise Money for the <a href="http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/TR/Events/BTW-TX?px=1764849&pg=personal&fr_id=1670">Brain Tumor Foundation Dallas/Fort Worth Walk on November 5</a><br />
<br />
<strong><u>The Nitty Gritty:</u></strong><br />
<br />
Anyone is welcome to ride, run, walk, jog, skip, scooter, segway, skate around the lake.<br />
<br />
All I ask is that if you are going to come out and participate you make a DONATION to my <a href="http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/TR/Events/BTW-TX?px=1764849&pg=personal&fr_id=1670">FUNDRAISING PAGE</a> (any denomination is appreciated!) and either comment here that you are going to participate or email me and let me know.<br />
<br />
Take 1/2, 1, 2 or even loops around the lake whatever works for you! I will try and have ride leaders for 1 loop, 2 loops or 3 loops.<br />
<br />
Runners - feel free to come out for your long training day.<br />
<br />
Also - if you can participate virtually that would be awesome as well! Just a make a donation and let me know that you are going to participate!<br />
<br />
Hoping to have a few sponsors that will provide some giveaways on race day.<br />
<br />
I hope to have your support if you live here in the area and very much hope that you are able to participate!!!!!!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-75490882647926129592011-08-17T16:18:00.000-05:002011-08-17T16:18:34.289-05:00Every day is a new day to get re-motivated...My coach sent me that in an email on Sunday when she sent me my weekly workouts.<br />
<br />
It was just a what I needed.<br />
<br />
Monday I went to the spin class that will soon be "MY" spin class... as in I'm the coach/instructor/i'll.kick.your.butt.with.one.little.red.dial<br />
<br />
Very excited about that. Monday 8/22 I'm waiting for you (and all the spinsters at the gym) EEK!!!<br />
<br />
Tuesday I had to go to Little Rock for work so I woke up early (SHOCKER!) for the first time in about a billion years and headed to the track for a workout with the Life Time Fitness Run Club.<br />
<br />
Best 3 mile run ever.<br />
<br />
Not the fastest, not the easiest, but best ever. Knowing that I was "back out there" doing what I love...training.<br />
<br />
I think I like training more than racing? Is that normal?<br />
<br />
Any who - tonight is a 4 miler-ish with my girl Courtney! LOVE RUNNING WITH HER! We always have so much fun and the time passes so quickly!<br />
<br />
Off to run....... Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-35426836263178501782011-08-15T09:46:00.000-05:002011-08-15T09:46:41.654-05:00a post about rainSaturday morning I woke up to rain outside.<br />
<br />
Seriously - rain; I forgot what it looked like. I was kind of confused and thought that perhaps the sprinkler system had busted again and my excitement would be whisked away by a rogue sprinkler head, but alas I was wrong and the water was actually FALLING FROM THE SKY!<br />
<br />
I woke up early on Saturday, loaded all my gear and headed for our fitness expo at Life Time Fitness. We were launching our cycle club and from the looks outside I just knew it was going to be a slow day at the gym b/c of the rain. Since we haven't had RAIN in what seems like YEARS, I just knew everyone was going to take advantage and have a lazy rainy Saturday.<br />
<br />
I was in deed right....<br />
<br />
I stayed at the gym until around 12:30 and then headed home. My phone rang I was driving the 3 miles home and Bill lovingly said "the a/c is broke....again".<br />
<br />
*this is the third time it's broken this summer*<br />
<br />
We called out the A/C company, I stayed home while Bill went and picked up his Dad from the hospital. In short, we need a new outside unit.<br />
<br />
They are replacing it today at 12. Hallelujah! We've stayed at the house that was formerly on the market the last two nights.<br />
<br />
At least we have a place to go I guess.<br />
<br />
Happier news.... 23 days until Maui........ .<br />
<br />
Now...go get me a mai tai :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
PS - major changes coming in regards to the ride 4 jess.... hopefully this week so stay tunedAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-9627145895154081032011-08-08T20:53:00.000-05:002011-08-08T20:53:57.196-05:00I've been at a loss for words actually, shocker I know, but between full time work (real pay check), part time work (fun pay check), planning a 12 hour bike ride (that most likely will have the date changed), studying for a professional designation (for real paycheck work), AND keeping up with a house, a boy, and three dogs, blogging has been pushed down, down, down on the allison-do list.<br />
<br />
I'm sorry :(<br />
<br />
I promise I will come back with soooon --- until then I leave you with this challenge;<br />
<br />
I NEED MUSIC FOR MY SPIN CLASS - READY, SET, GIVE ME YOUR FAV WORKOUT SONGS!!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-18761769589856683672011-08-03T13:02:00.001-05:002011-08-03T13:03:00.040-05:00A Must Read<a href="http://cooktraineatrace.com/marathon-makeover-north-dallas/">http://cooktraineatrace.com/marathon-makeover-north-dallas/</a>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-5278103551898069362011-08-01T11:22:00.000-05:002011-08-01T11:22:16.092-05:00108 is too friggin' hot.....<shape style="height: 1108px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 568px;"><stroke></stroke></shape><shape style="height: 1108px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 568px;"><stroke></stroke></shape> <div class="post-outer" closure_uid_rvc3y8="10" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; left: 1px; margin: 0px; position: relative; top: 1px;">Seriously - this is ridiculous... <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPcVRhV8UdK5101oYlKb55Z9GOter-K7aGm9ybXArY_i6ZX9SyPWdx-qKTy183zYI5swoBesg5eJTpRWIqbEbMwSyGuyFVxYXWdHKiZG_0NQT5QRHv9JyqJIr39aPdPWarURNIwpvqUJC/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPcVRhV8UdK5101oYlKb55Z9GOter-K7aGm9ybXArY_i6ZX9SyPWdx-qKTy183zYI5swoBesg5eJTpRWIqbEbMwSyGuyFVxYXWdHKiZG_0NQT5QRHv9JyqJIr39aPdPWarURNIwpvqUJC/s400/Picture1.png" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div>What a nightmare - how do the "workout gods" expect you to actually GET OUT and run/bike/whatever in this miserable heat????<br />
<br />
I love summer, I love the heat and I certainly love lounging in the pool but this heat is ri-donkulous..... <br />
<br />
Instead of riding outside today (or taking spin class) I'll be on my trainer for 1.5hrs. getting back in the saddle and gearing up for the ride on October 8. <br />
<br />
Lots of trainer time over the next few months (and spin class too!)<br />
<br />
How do you beat the heat and stay motivated? For me it's really difficult but I know I HAVE TO DO IT! </div><br />
<br />
Please please please visit - RIDE 4 JESS (on<a href="http://www.ride4jess.blogspot.com/"> BLOGGER HERE</a> and on <a href="http://www.ride4jess.blogspot.com/">FB HERE</a>!) Follow us, like us, donate to us :)<br />
<br />
Join in on the F-U-N and stay tuned for details!!!!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-51378940231850562602011-07-29T09:16:00.000-05:002011-07-29T09:16:52.944-05:00AhhhhhhFriday is here! YAY!!!<br />
<br />
It's been a crazy summer and I've barely had time to blog; BUT I'm so glad I did get the announcement out about the Ride 4 Jess..... I am so excited to share this with everyone and I thank you for your support!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ride-4-Jess/187396851323237#!/pages/Ride-4-Jess/187396851323237">Have you "liked" us on FB yet</a>??? You should! Please go NOW and like us - follow the new blog <a href="http://www.ride4jess.blogspot.com/">Ride 4 Jess </a>and keep up to date with all the information surrounding the ride.<br />
<br />
This weekend is jammed packed (as summer weekends usually are) but I'm thrilled to hop on my bike and start riding away.<br />
<br />
The bike ride will definitely be a challenge; but it will all be worth it in the end.<br />
<br />
If you have any ideas on how we can better promote this ride and cause please email me and let me know!<br />
<br />
If you are in the DFW area and have connections at news stations, radio stations, newspapers, etc I would love to utilize your resources.<br />
<br />
The more I can spread the word about this cause, the more money we can raise, research can improve, patient advocacy can improve and WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!<br />
<br />
HAPPY FRIDAY Y'ALL!!!!!!!!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-54908240883457964902011-07-28T15:11:00.002-05:002011-07-28T15:11:41.714-05:00Ride 4 Jess Blog<a href="http://ride4jess.blogspot.com/">http://ride4jess.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
Visit, browse, follow, donate.......Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-68428126041713969472011-07-26T10:54:00.000-05:002011-07-26T10:54:10.842-05:00What can you do???????<em><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><strong>THANK YOU</strong></span></em> for all the wonderful and supportive comments about my ambitious 12hr bike ride! I really appreciate them and am so excited to embark on this journey!<br />
<br />
So many of you have asked "what can I do to help"????<br />
<br />
My initial list of TO-DO's is growing..... but that's for me to worry about and not you...<br />
<br />
The<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong> #1</strong></span> thing YOU CAN DO is to <strong><em><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">SPREAD THE WORD!!!</span></em></strong> Please share my <a href="http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/TR/Events/BTW-TX?px=1764849&pg=personal&fr_id=1670"><strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;">fundraising page</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: magenta;"> </span></strong>with ANYONE and EVERYONE you can! Post it on your blog, FB, Twitter, WHATEVER - send a carrier pigeon; JUST GET THE WORD OUT!!!! Even .50 would help....this goes directly to the National Brain Tumor Society - it does not go to me, my bank account or anyone else.<br />
<br />
Step <span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>#2</strong></span> - if you donate (which I sure hope you do) - Engage your corporation for a <span style="color: #e69138;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">matching donation</span></strong>.</span> It may take a few extra minutes but I know my company will match up to $5,000 of contributions is a calendar year!! That means if I donated $100 - they will match that and make it $200 total!!! Think about how that could change a life!!!!<br />
<br />
Step <strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">#3</span></strong> - <strong><em><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">RIDE WITH ME!!!!!!</span></em></strong> The place is To Be Determined - I'm hoping it will end up somewhere public but it may just happen in my living room (let's be honest) - You can hop on your bike Saturday October 8 and RIDE TO FIGHT BRAIN TUMORS!!!!!!! Let me know that you are going to participate; details regarding the ride and riding in your hometown will be delivered shortly.<br />
<br />
Step <strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">#3.5</span></strong> - <span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong><em>WALK WITH US!!! </em></strong><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">If you live in the DFW area and want to participate in the walk in Fort Worth on November 5 - <strong><em><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">JOIN OUR TEAM, </span></em></strong><a href="http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/TR/Events/BTW-TX?team_id=47462&pg=team&fr_id=1670"><strong><em><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">FACING GIANTS, HERE</span></em></strong></a> If you don't live here but still want to get involved you join as a virtual participant! ($10)</span></span><br />
<br />
Step <strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">#4</span></strong> - I'm working on a giveaway to host for all of you that donate............ so stay tuned for that!!!!!!<br />
<br />
A new blog/website dedicated solely to this effort will debut sometime in the near future....working on that too.....<br />
<br />
Now off to spread the word (you should do the same!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><u>LET'S UNITE TO FIGHT CANCER!!!!!!! </u></em></span></strong></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-51939893734326998862011-07-25T09:18:00.000-05:002011-07-25T09:18:15.868-05:00The BIG announcementIt's a BIG announcement; but without many details - it's still in the infancy stages...<br />
<br />
<br />
So many are familiar with the great <a href="http://royalpitatoias.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">EMZ</span></strong></a>, you read her, you love her (instantly) and you want her to be your running buddy, best friend, champion, and second mom (what a lucky little girl peanut is).<br />
<br />
She is awe-inspiring, has the best abs known to man, the greatest belt buckle ever created, and a compassionate heart.<br />
<br />
She has inspired me through her blog posts for quite sometime now, her shoe collection is unreal.... and she got me thinking. <br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><em><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Like.freaking.thinking</span></b></em></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I was standing over a pot of spaghetti one night thinking about Jess, EMZ, Sojourner and the Brain Tumor Walk - how can I MAKE a difference THIS YEAR <strong><span style="color: magenta;">(</span></strong><a href="http://triandfinish.blogspot.com/2011/04/c-word.html"><strong><span style="color: magenta;">remember here?)</span></strong></a><br />
<br />
and then it hit me......<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><em><b><span style="font-size: large;">By.riding.my.freaking.bike.</span></b></em></div><br />
A 12 hour bike ride for Jess.<br />
<br />
EMZ ran for Sojourner - I will ride for Jess (and all other BT patients, families, survivors, friends, caregivers, researchers, etc)<br />
<br />
So ... here it is...<br />
<br />
When: October 8, 2011<br />
<br />
Where: To be determined...<br />
<br />
Why: Ride to fight Brain Tumors 2011<br />
<br />
How can you help: <a href="http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/TR/Events/BTW-TX?px=1764849&pg=personal&fr_id=1670"><strong><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">GO HERE</span></strong></a> and donate to my fundraising page<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">More details to come…. Trust me lots more details….</i></b></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Oh yes, I’ll be back with an update about where I’ve been lately; after I read my 847 unread blog posts in my google reader…… YIKES!!!! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">47 days until <place w:st="on">Maui</place>……. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh</span></u></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">75 days until the 12 hour ride for Jess</span></u></i></b></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-1090357226405099052011-07-13T15:29:00.000-05:002011-07-13T15:29:16.178-05:005 states, 5 daysI started in Texas on Friday - delayed three hours, Landed in Louisiana, drove to Mississippi arrived at almost midnight Friday --- back to NOLA on Saturday to pick up Bill, back to MS to the anniversary party for my aunt and uncles 50th wedding anniversary and then back to Louisiana on Sunday where I sat in an airport for close to 10 hours (does not include the two hours we spent in the french quarter) to catch a flight that would take me to TX and land me in my door at 1:00am only to leave at 7:30am to head out to Philadelphia on Monday and then drive to Delaware on Monday afternoon to be in a three day training session...I leave DE to drive to PA to fly to TX ..... to be HOME on Thursday night.<br />
<br />
*BIG FAT YAWN*<br />
<br />
It's been crazy crazy around here - which would be the reason I haven't posted in 14 days. Workouts have been limited at best...and I have a sprint tri on Sunday which is going to KILL me... seriously I may die... which would suck b/c then I would be able to make my BIG ANNOUNCEMENT HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK....keep hagin' in there...<br />
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Up on the docket this weekend... Wedding Friday night, baseball playoffs Saturday, Tri Sunday.... I'm tired thinking about it... Monday I hope to get a massage... I need one to RELAX!<br />
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Anyway - just thought I'd check in from DE and let you know that I was in fact alive and racking up the airline miles (hello Hawaii........maybe one free ticket at least)<br />
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We will return to your regularly scheduled programming soon......Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-55047487903581584732011-06-30T14:31:00.000-05:002011-06-30T14:31:44.661-05:00Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'..........Things have been rollin' along around here at Tri and Finish.... We started our week(s) of travel.... Want to see what it looks like??<br />
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I was gone Tuesday/Wednesday in OK for work, came home last night (Wed) we leave tomorrow (Fri) for Houston for a baseball tournament...return home Sunday.<br />
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Following Wed (July 6) Bill leaves for a work trip to TN - the Jack Daniel's Distillery...rough work trip I know... and I leave Friday (July 8) for MS for my Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary party. Bill will meet me there on Saturday (July 9) and we return home Sunday (July 10).<br />
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I leave Monday (July 11) for Wilmington, DE for work and will not be home until Thursday (July 14) - then I have a tri on July 17 ... I'm tired just typing that.....<br />
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Have you missed me?? I've been kind of MIA on here (not just posting, but commenting too - but trust me I've been reading...can we say lurker??) and on Twitter.... but you know what, LIFE is CYCLICAL and you have to ROLL with the punches...<br />
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I have a HUGE idea in my head right now - that's really really really really really really really really hard to keep secret - but I can't let it out JUST yet... in case you know it doesn't come to fruition... but think of an epic idea and times it by 100.......not that I can take credit for the WHOLE idea b/c I can't .. .but darn skippy it's a good one....<br />
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Trying to get back on track to regularly blogging (and blogging about good stuff)..... training is semi-halted right now just b/c of the schedule. Oh - yes - I didn't tell you....<br />
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I'm in the process right now of getting on board with Lifetime Fitness as a cycle instructor AND the Cycle Club coordinator. Which would mean 1 indoor class per week (maybe 2) and then 1 outdoor ride per week. I'm super excited about it and I hope it all works out - I think I will love putting my passion into a paid (albeit small) position....what a way to earn some extra cash though :)<br />
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So as you can see - things are movin' and groovin' over here... house is still on the market... grrrrrrrr... <br />
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and I'm counting down the days until we go here:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Szika3-o83TZNi7SQVtbfnyib-OYVHeKI5LLN_jRH23GGh9aTNsyLpHD4q2Fw2lQaf2mc9D-nzeVE0m29ylYx8kwQkMrDxZgTSOtm6BrFU2YulHiLPxvF4uUttqgbIjotA3iXV0c4K4/s1600/maui_012p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Szika3-o83TZNi7SQVtbfnyib-OYVHeKI5LLN_jRH23GGh9aTNsyLpHD4q2Fw2lQaf2mc9D-nzeVE0m29ylYx8kwQkMrDxZgTSOtm6BrFU2YulHiLPxvF4uUttqgbIjotA3iXV0c4K4/s320/maui_012p.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>approx. 75ish days......<br />
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ALOHA!!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-81106172590988053012011-06-20T16:09:00.000-05:002011-06-20T16:09:12.752-05:00If I could make the sound of a bugle call into words that would be the title of this post......<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will have to finish up on my post(s) about my week of vegetarianism later…. Because this is just too freaking fantastic to wait….</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was scheduled to be a “normal” weekend for us, dinner on Friday with an out of town friend, training, baseball, a little lounging, a birthday for Bill’s niece, and celebrating Father’s Day with Bill’s dad. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Busy but typical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a scheduled hair appointment for 9am Saturday morning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love going to get my hair did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is probably one of my most favorite things to do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I woke up early on Saturday; refreshed and ready to start the day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hopped in the shower, piddled around, got dressed and picked up my friend Laura (who’s in from out of town) and we went to Starbuck’s. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went with me to get my hair done. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our plan for after my appointment was to head back to my house, meet up with Karen and her boyfriend, Randy, grab Bill (after his baseball game) and head to lunch before we spent the day getting’ mani/pedi’s and just having a fun girls day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Laura had never been to the house since I relocated to Bill’s abode so we were going to meet there.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We pulled down my street and up to the house…. I saw my mom’s car in my driveway. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was very confused; but thought maybe she stopped by b/c she was in the neighborhood or something. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Laura walked in before me as I stepped through my front door I heard “SURPRISE!!!” and about 25 people were standing in my living room!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had zero idea of what was happening. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then I started looking around and saw the 30<sup>th</sup> bday decorations, the premade drinks that Bill made; the Happy Birthday plates, cake, and napkins. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sunk in…. **Yes it took me a while to figure out that this was for me! **</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bill had Cayla hand me a gift wrapped box…. I opened it and inside was a new dress and a HUGE FLOPPY HAT!!! It was so cute…. Then he told me that in about an hour a party bus was picking all of us up and taking us to the horse races. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FREAKING KIDDING ME!!!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was stoked!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran upstairs and changed into my new outfit as fast as humanly possible. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I came down; people kept showing up – and I was definitely brought to tears at one point for how thankful I was and how loved I felt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never been short on words; but all I could say over and over was THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The party bus arrived and we were off to the races…..</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We arrived at the track and I saw this……</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3caZBwh2bsiYC8_kXofesbz7MSlKZK_RiVzRoBi9q4G0IRPf3GKWQ-z4SamugOqvfILMbu2-1Rbb5koISGvbblB5N8VIPfosfFV5inm63_N41QR2Q1U0Q0hXNH7MurK_ecIsFKafnnzQ/s1600/IMG_0998.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3caZBwh2bsiYC8_kXofesbz7MSlKZK_RiVzRoBi9q4G0IRPf3GKWQ-z4SamugOqvfILMbu2-1Rbb5koISGvbblB5N8VIPfosfFV5inm63_N41QR2Q1U0Q0hXNH7MurK_ecIsFKafnnzQ/s320/IMG_0998.png" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And this…..</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjfAI294x5VeFjC3EkTC6E5v6D_OPwwD_STQXhErtFwAbsSWMsV-h9yrXx01KaweaTnqmvg6igmqFcBoII9V1_K0g9TskgXkzp2u-f1Agg0Sk389xe_dMuleAGB-BC82EjbR0n5HRfZE/s1600/Picture.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjfAI294x5VeFjC3EkTC6E5v6D_OPwwD_STQXhErtFwAbsSWMsV-h9yrXx01KaweaTnqmvg6igmqFcBoII9V1_K0g9TskgXkzp2u-f1Agg0Sk389xe_dMuleAGB-BC82EjbR0n5HRfZE/s320/Picture.png" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then this when we walked into our air conditioned semi-private room (complete with all you can eat buffet….boo ya! And private bar!)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywmIgFvv3q_cWuYYZ1ualCGHX3a-d6YrFFuAflQar_dccCVN1-PZ-dAanXuU3oKBxSTCaTbJhPYja9wLUd97B6CQQnOzzK38laYmc6JpCxwdkO4qZ3x-joereRg9oNxmgublleLdkklI/s1600/SDC10565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywmIgFvv3q_cWuYYZ1ualCGHX3a-d6YrFFuAflQar_dccCVN1-PZ-dAanXuU3oKBxSTCaTbJhPYja9wLUd97B6CQQnOzzK38laYmc6JpCxwdkO4qZ3x-joereRg9oNxmgublleLdkklI/s320/SDC10565.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The ponies raced, we laughed, drank, won some, lost some –but it was an epic way to spend celebrating my impending birthday! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot believe Bill went through all this trouble for my birthday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it must have taken him weeks of planning, secret keeping, and all around sneaky-ness and I was nothing but SURPRISED!!!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought I would share some pics with you…. HOW FUN IS THIS!!!!!?????!!!!!!!!!!</span></span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgPI7daBLEnZu9vmXXYISX11ORnj7l9Cg__xmpLPvTik4lnsRy7W_yNlZ2mog8AGJVtr6IzGskYmFpHySABoMMxrgCtNCPZceKZdcSX7toPbHF_2P8LcNrzQV8v42qnfuro43J9bnXJ8/s1600/SDC10546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgPI7daBLEnZu9vmXXYISX11ORnj7l9Cg__xmpLPvTik4lnsRy7W_yNlZ2mog8AGJVtr6IzGskYmFpHySABoMMxrgCtNCPZceKZdcSX7toPbHF_2P8LcNrzQV8v42qnfuro43J9bnXJ8/s320/SDC10546.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the party bus!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3_kRXLQsoQHYzd6c5fzxYJfZCgG2wbPH7_EDZiwZI-p0ATTmXH4qNVvqdT9TJ5JUe0AN9J5q05nRe-vgb3XdxFrf8p0MHxsHgd5n0sAXOEIlUJ_PgZsmgcoOUE1oAaRMDuJCadiadTM/s1600/SDC10580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3_kRXLQsoQHYzd6c5fzxYJfZCgG2wbPH7_EDZiwZI-p0ATTmXH4qNVvqdT9TJ5JUe0AN9J5q05nRe-vgb3XdxFrf8p0MHxsHgd5n0sAXOEIlUJ_PgZsmgcoOUE1oAaRMDuJCadiadTM/s320/SDC10580.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Stinker Laura told me she was in town for her own going away party!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFMZ4dUCN2MRl9GRu55gjrIuv8jbECNzv6dtmcY249rcQa_iBIuUa-4pz5Witze-2Q9czEz_Nl__tiAu0efFXwmxTWKtPEmU9XaqMDf_N0ucCmJyXWm4C6HI34J3wtbkiVp29efvMPXo/s1600/SDC10574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFMZ4dUCN2MRl9GRu55gjrIuv8jbECNzv6dtmcY249rcQa_iBIuUa-4pz5Witze-2Q9czEz_Nl__tiAu0efFXwmxTWKtPEmU9XaqMDf_N0ucCmJyXWm4C6HI34J3wtbkiVp29efvMPXo/s320/SDC10574.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cayla and Amber - best secret keepers ever!<br />
Amber hadn't spoken to me all week b/c she was afraid she would give it away!<br />
Cayla - talked to me everyday and didn't once give me a CLUE that this was happening!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-DOqUHBAHgLZC7Wiw4ADbFJqHIjR3v_bylwLPRFO7mEQUCSlTaVlTM2Wa0uFShHo_XaaO2qa7BHSX-k5LgWYe7QzQf3R_nbRojLlIwZeeO7RZh6IEvTVA2t1xNL_G2AG0gpgxgddHjM/s1600/SDC10589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-DOqUHBAHgLZC7Wiw4ADbFJqHIjR3v_bylwLPRFO7mEQUCSlTaVlTM2Wa0uFShHo_XaaO2qa7BHSX-k5LgWYe7QzQf3R_nbRojLlIwZeeO7RZh6IEvTVA2t1xNL_G2AG0gpgxgddHjM/s320/SDC10589.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GIRLS!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZobTOhrYu65QNeDOzCxWRYNQv0jJy9MJI5EhD47zued1rsjokpkhfuk1dFHWE-M5kz_q0GRAnvqgxvhbqA1-2iTs7VXkhluwKidUbtKdNXFmSiAnR5aW9orMOTkpiyrk4LyRzYDbKPU/s1600/SDC10591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZobTOhrYu65QNeDOzCxWRYNQv0jJy9MJI5EhD47zued1rsjokpkhfuk1dFHWE-M5kz_q0GRAnvqgxvhbqA1-2iTs7VXkhluwKidUbtKdNXFmSiAnR5aW9orMOTkpiyrk4LyRzYDbKPU/s320/SDC10591.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cayla and me in our Derby hats!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHCP5u7F_uSpoTxf7-CiPxHfmXp5KtRb5VRTumnXLOHk4yN0CX2UgT4Xo-GrC88vIgPKBhw4DOd5kpHj_moIfu3m7H-XZ362U8bQcMKRKnMzfntGwdNt4mAwHr1r9IVBSCO9OvJzH9mk/s1600/SDC10581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHCP5u7F_uSpoTxf7-CiPxHfmXp5KtRb5VRTumnXLOHk4yN0CX2UgT4Xo-GrC88vIgPKBhw4DOd5kpHj_moIfu3m7H-XZ362U8bQcMKRKnMzfntGwdNt4mAwHr1r9IVBSCO9OvJzH9mk/s320/SDC10581.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousin Sheri, Me and my mom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawYCeNWkfGBH2vmuwAC9Wbx6u5eNt-HM9UDa5GWlmJpt4xNFNKl4-cfabDU1nYSbuWnVxvkV_qkuk1PN4FPTR3C5sU4jU-WY_lDN0M5QFztxEVwiUQ1CEiDl-4Z18i8czrBO8HMchvto/s1600/SDC10579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawYCeNWkfGBH2vmuwAC9Wbx6u5eNt-HM9UDa5GWlmJpt4xNFNKl4-cfabDU1nYSbuWnVxvkV_qkuk1PN4FPTR3C5sU4jU-WY_lDN0M5QFztxEVwiUQ1CEiDl-4Z18i8czrBO8HMchvto/s320/SDC10579.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guy's Wife Stephanie couldn't be there so he pretended to pose with her!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbur4InkaLnKpfikKRjgweY5lGHLlLrzrLLA2S5TZURgJkJxz1DQ3uCYx8Y_toY9lD4ne_K1eysGNX7xC6CMmR6MVpp7LbLx8mHyczT10y10AbGw87zCWx6aqHEgmhIEGCW0LvOifNbs/s1600/SDC10552+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbur4InkaLnKpfikKRjgweY5lGHLlLrzrLLA2S5TZURgJkJxz1DQ3uCYx8Y_toY9lD4ne_K1eysGNX7xC6CMmR6MVpp7LbLx8mHyczT10y10AbGw87zCWx6aqHEgmhIEGCW0LvOifNbs/s320/SDC10552+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best boyfriend ever.......</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRnBWC4TrwS_UnczslMBBYXHHWUNXFR7c35qLkjL0v2xDe7_fPE45TP-wAIEOJvQERz6hq5evgqCwqywu-D3NPUD1GVWSFJJRacLhzwE8O5kHPX70UN1jxqUTZy-kHI6IQTkyGFe9ANg/s1600/SDC10553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRnBWC4TrwS_UnczslMBBYXHHWUNXFR7c35qLkjL0v2xDe7_fPE45TP-wAIEOJvQERz6hq5evgqCwqywu-D3NPUD1GVWSFJJRacLhzwE8O5kHPX70UN1jxqUTZy-kHI6IQTkyGFe9ANg/s320/SDC10553.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Loved his hat!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZswz8LTao0sr-khCFjEfgZs8QAtUFVFSAXNHU2g4k8WqHrdEeCd8lbMNivZVIpf6H5WJ4p2YC1ON1_aGFUOcKUzCrUJdaI7RyYdf_xzRuMIrPjYs8h46WSOqV9qnmPe3yFaPZ4Q8XKqM/s1600/SDC10582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZswz8LTao0sr-khCFjEfgZs8QAtUFVFSAXNHU2g4k8WqHrdEeCd8lbMNivZVIpf6H5WJ4p2YC1ON1_aGFUOcKUzCrUJdaI7RyYdf_xzRuMIrPjYs8h46WSOqV9qnmPe3yFaPZ4Q8XKqM/s320/SDC10582.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Dave-o loved my hat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwiDfNKr79ZUxCVALrRhVNUd2mL3ZYZ-emeZfGZf2_dKN-Y91NnNtckutHxz9vOpsCUPL7dPd9NtBIjfluLBS7-XwKV3-kX4u2Fx9ocJLWJNJcDJM4DFz1pUTtrAqnZIKPuyFdG0DCvI/s1600/SDC10551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwiDfNKr79ZUxCVALrRhVNUd2mL3ZYZ-emeZfGZf2_dKN-Y91NnNtckutHxz9vOpsCUPL7dPd9NtBIjfluLBS7-XwKV3-kX4u2Fx9ocJLWJNJcDJM4DFz1pUTtrAqnZIKPuyFdG0DCvI/s320/SDC10551.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul (bill's brother) and Alaina - Paul had lasik on Friday and STILL CAME! (hence the weird goggles)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDUNa9PQTQYz6xFkWaflHo32FQnTrn0-6pt7_Yc25pZ2PFeYbOa6fC-PBBAJJj0iAFtJZ7f4nZCzZ3AYTX6_zZ1nuulVuI45Gpt0t7myB1CPYZdTBJJ3AZcuOFl9-_0RzY-4HimllQ8w/s1600/SDC10550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDUNa9PQTQYz6xFkWaflHo32FQnTrn0-6pt7_Yc25pZ2PFeYbOa6fC-PBBAJJj0iAFtJZ7f4nZCzZ3AYTX6_zZ1nuulVuI45Gpt0t7myB1CPYZdTBJJ3AZcuOFl9-_0RzY-4HimllQ8w/s320/SDC10550.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonas and Cayla</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnfVd__08lsmuHHKXzgzm6Q9MWl6XylqQuh_eYE_v2zxgC0eqEmFd3H5J1GVaaYjwuXB1Lf4oOTD4VWdpSpJPBBfH_w4x7sesT18h_3feNsi72hS6aHfy21YamDL0H_7ez67ZWIW7HAM/s1600/SDC10578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnfVd__08lsmuHHKXzgzm6Q9MWl6XylqQuh_eYE_v2zxgC0eqEmFd3H5J1GVaaYjwuXB1Lf4oOTD4VWdpSpJPBBfH_w4x7sesT18h_3feNsi72hS6aHfy21YamDL0H_7ez67ZWIW7HAM/s320/SDC10578.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newly engaged TIm and Claudia!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA_GJ_FyhLYfA0hG2DUHJ56-VraFXpt7AcrlMeWE9klEqGkAQx19UwSGyx6FK2-kbjKNBmDfCYVaIivLZ-Lh15j0JmoWS0-Kw8efXebXGoWKl0aDLFqnQGyuXOKZzbveS0GdRXnB2dM0/s1600/SDC10576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA_GJ_FyhLYfA0hG2DUHJ56-VraFXpt7AcrlMeWE9klEqGkAQx19UwSGyx6FK2-kbjKNBmDfCYVaIivLZ-Lh15j0JmoWS0-Kw8efXebXGoWKl0aDLFqnQGyuXOKZzbveS0GdRXnB2dM0/s320/SDC10576.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to get one of our new outfits... Bill went all out - ordered his pants at vintagethreads.com, bought the horse shirt and the gambler Fedora hat... all for my Derby themed 30th bday party!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PASVNjP6zbToldz8NHhPAAFLwk7qLicsjR7WLwAKVP7yXGW2ueXamcPgxcpf5QQBQJaZ6i_Lt_kfiQmJ6tXe9SkKTc8xQMj-X63JZ5OTXximr4EzPEjPUhpOvv0_x4ZZ3qxbYgT5ITg/s1600/IMG_0996.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PASVNjP6zbToldz8NHhPAAFLwk7qLicsjR7WLwAKVP7yXGW2ueXamcPgxcpf5QQBQJaZ6i_Lt_kfiQmJ6tXe9SkKTc8xQMj-X63JZ5OTXximr4EzPEjPUhpOvv0_x4ZZ3qxbYgT5ITg/s320/IMG_0996.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tickets even had my freakin' name on them!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuatJh4O9nFEoRIxy0PvcjdyLnpdfL61VcGlzeO36xUIR6R8CLgWqLrPl6UniR0xhurcE5OClbeqKl0qTAMDKDgxTHlkaBFMkjB-dkTnZzhnNXGNxyOM-snIV7G5o32ITb_Kah2KikqA/s1600/SDC10566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuatJh4O9nFEoRIxy0PvcjdyLnpdfL61VcGlzeO36xUIR6R8CLgWqLrPl6UniR0xhurcE5OClbeqKl0qTAMDKDgxTHlkaBFMkjB-dkTnZzhnNXGNxyOM-snIV7G5o32ITb_Kah2KikqA/s320/SDC10566.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Precious Della - 22 weeks pregnant!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vJvAQUYnM-8hyphenhyphendT5mippuXsvjJuD0zvm6TczB7O9t5I-9L-qlm6FmBu9lMrA-O-AH59FYjV40-eekIMl3aoO-OzCrTlaX9IiyZ1NG6QrA0jf2oHz5rPBhOLKkqFA9WuOCpi8_Q4JVu8/s1600/SDC10563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vJvAQUYnM-8hyphenhyphendT5mippuXsvjJuD0zvm6TczB7O9t5I-9L-qlm6FmBu9lMrA-O-AH59FYjV40-eekIMl3aoO-OzCrTlaX9IiyZ1NG6QrA0jf2oHz5rPBhOLKkqFA9WuOCpi8_Q4JVu8/s320/SDC10563.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John, Amber, me and Bill! LOVE THEM!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88xNuhX-9SDMYkltHFdrN4bznzmNTkYBqVWCJs6iNZm_HkJjC891Tqoh3HleOQfjcvaIzywmkAPLtakbXRjPYQ74DW0mm8jfwem8rcThjlp2jFwEAr-QArHMBDXGDEo0OO66Td0TZeHw/s1600/IMG_0990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88xNuhX-9SDMYkltHFdrN4bznzmNTkYBqVWCJs6iNZm_HkJjC891Tqoh3HleOQfjcvaIzywmkAPLtakbXRjPYQ74DW0mm8jfwem8rcThjlp2jFwEAr-QArHMBDXGDEo0OO66Td0TZeHw/s320/IMG_0990.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill and Jonas sharing a <strike>moment</strike>; I mean margarita</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgPI7daBLEnZu9vmXXYISX11ORnj7l9Cg__xmpLPvTik4lnsRy7W_yNlZ2mog8AGJVtr6IzGskYmFpHySABoMMxrgCtNCPZceKZdcSX7toPbHF_2P8LcNrzQV8v42qnfuro43J9bnXJ8/s1600/SDC10546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIgwOdZQVnh545Ofwdv8Xf9eyaWeI_HGiKIIWKnKJECaUuUKJBIi3CnenV4IU2LODRpD4HmaapqMiqcDLkws_gAtUEnOYR98uz4Ayh3AEKzGg90RH9PtbXY-A9agN-UYRKkoILAWuyAM/s1600/IMG_0991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIgwOdZQVnh545Ofwdv8Xf9eyaWeI_HGiKIIWKnKJECaUuUKJBIi3CnenV4IU2LODRpD4HmaapqMiqcDLkws_gAtUEnOYR98uz4Ayh3AEKzGg90RH9PtbXY-A9agN-UYRKkoILAWuyAM/s320/IMG_0991.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Cay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I am so thankful to have so many wonderful friends and family to celebrate turning 30 with. Wednesday's the big day - for now I'm going to enjoy the last 48 hours of being in my 20's... **Tear**<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-68227523763853148452011-06-16T16:21:00.001-05:002011-06-16T16:23:22.369-05:00Metroplex Sprint Tri - Race ReportIt was an eventful morning on race morning.... my alarm was set for 4:15 am for an allotted 15 min of snooze time.....I was going to hop out of bed, eat some breakfast, braid my hair and grab my stuff to be out of the house by 5:15am at the latest........<br />
<br />
This is what happened instead...<br />
<br />
Something woke me up but not my alarm. Maybe it was the vibrating from my phone when Cayla texted me, maybe it was my perpetual fear that I'm going to oversleep but I woke up and my watch said this...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>5:28am</b></span></i><br />
<br />
<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">My iphone said this.....</span></em></strong><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyDoUI0SvTLbxGCONIwT44VMViItKgOpJsJYKGiAbVIWjV7DmzBnCVC7gEilRWVC9PLY129KHHQG5Cr3gnfXQQBQPKFRIhmroawMmEopai0uQwFUN88tBJQ4iTb7voh_5N78bPyBUiME/s1600/text.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyDoUI0SvTLbxGCONIwT44VMViItKgOpJsJYKGiAbVIWjV7DmzBnCVC7gEilRWVC9PLY129KHHQG5Cr3gnfXQQBQPKFRIhmroawMmEopai0uQwFUN88tBJQ4iTb7voh_5N78bPyBUiME/s400/text.png" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*never mind the flea comment*</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
Holy Crap! It was a 40 minute drive to the race site and the entry to the park where transition was closing at 6:30am. Needless to say - I had time to throw my hair in ponytail, brush my teeth, grab my bag and scoot. I had loaded my bike up on Saturday night so all I had to do was grab my water bottles, my transition bag and go go go!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I hauled ass for 36.1 miles to the park entry. I was relieved when I made it by 6:15a.m. and still had an hour before my wave went off. Cayla pulled in right behind me and we pumped up our tires and headed to transition.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This was day 2 of a 2 day race. So the field of athletes were smaller...transition was smaller, waves were smaller, the race was not stressful at all.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Swim:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbD5ddx6qOhY49j3n_pz6ThLFqAQciQTGF6zxc6o0VInxkk3rv2m12rUzsXSMWDzWCwUjOEY-0ZHHE3xTVUpBLzsXnp_VsWN0oPSN4zbfZv5L2AOscfhLXHYcEnSX2CESeOyIKj_HZMY/s1600/SDC10527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbD5ddx6qOhY49j3n_pz6ThLFqAQciQTGF6zxc6o0VInxkk3rv2m12rUzsXSMWDzWCwUjOEY-0ZHHE3xTVUpBLzsXnp_VsWN0oPSN4zbfZv5L2AOscfhLXHYcEnSX2CESeOyIKj_HZMY/s320/SDC10527.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transition area from bike in/out</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was surprisingly calm before the swim start. I normally have serious nerves and anxiety; but this time I was calm. I remember telling Cayla before the gun sounded that it was like swimming in bath water. The water temp was 84 degrees race morning. (we almost hit 100* a few times last week)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The sun was up and we were ready to start. I was in wave 1 - yellow caps - M/F 30 - 39. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The gun went off and I started in the back of the pack (just where I like it)... I took in water for the first 100m or so... I could not get my timing down from the waves coming in and my breathing; I just kept going and tried to sight like Jason taught me during one of our OWS practices.... from Cayla's recollection I didn't do so well at swimming in straight line </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I hit the first turn buoy and finally felt like I was in a groove - I kept the buoys on my right and passed a few people as I covered meter after meter. At the second turn buoy I kicked someone and realized it was Cayla! YAY! She was right there - later she told me she stayed behind me the entire time I probably swam double the distance because of my inability to sight correctly. In fact her exact words were, 'you swim like you walk' - that's was best friends are for!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">After another 10 or so strokes my arm hit the bottom and I was up and running out of the water towards transition.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Swim: 400m</div><div style="text-align: left;">Time: 11:24</div><div style="text-align: left;">Grade: A- <i><span style="color: red;">I'm happy that I beat my time but I need to work on sighting. Swimming in a straight line is apparently not my strong suit. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">T1</div><div style="text-align: left;">My heart rate had skyrocketed towards the end of the swim and into transition. It took my breath away almost and I thought I was in for it on the bike.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I took an extra 30-45 seconds in T1 trying to get my garmin on... I had technical difficulties all day with my Garmin and my Polar so I had to just go without the gadgets and enjoy the race. It was actually nice :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">T1 - 2:30</div><div style="text-align: left;">Grade - F <i style="color: red;"> I forgot to add in T1 and T2 times in my goal..</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Bike:</div><div style="text-align: left;">The bike as an out and back 11 mile course. It was flat and supposed to be fast, known to be a PR course for the sprint distance. On the way out I got up to 19 mph and my legs were feeling good. We had a bit of a tailwind on the way out but you know what that means....head wind on the way back in.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The course went out over the damn - u-turned at the end of the damn and back in. Once you got over the water it was kind of a mix between a head wind and a cross wind on the way back in so that was no fun.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Cayla and I stayed together on the bike course and switched off who led and who followed (don't worry no drafting!) It was fun to be out there racing again</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Bike - 11miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Time - 38:51 - 17mph avg</div><div style="text-align: left;">Grade - A <i><span style="color: red;">I'm happy with my performance on the bike. I hammered down and really wanted to average over 16mph. I probably could have pushed harder looking back; but I met my goals and was overall happy with my performance </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">T2:</div><div style="text-align: left;">Pretty uneventful - 1:14</div><div style="text-align: left;">Grade: B <i><span style="color: red;">Just need to work on getting this a little quicker</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Run:</div><div style="text-align: left;">First off, I am a terrible runner... why I thought I could pump out 9 min. miles is beyond me... wishful thinking I guess. I told Cayla not to wait for me on the run... I knew she was killing it and I didn't want to hold her back. You have to race YOUR race and I know that running is my weakness and it is her strongest. I didn't want her to miss out on a great first race of the season because of me. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I struggled on the run. I have had some ITB issues since the RNR Dallas 1/2 in March... I was OK in NOLA but it still acted up and today I had hammered on the bike and was afraid it may get a little angry on the run. I was right. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There was an aid station about a 1/2 mile into the run; I grabbed some water and walked the length of the table and that's when Cayla and I separated. I thought a little break on the pounding would help. I picked up my run and just wanted to be done.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I hate running.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I wish I like it but I don't. OK I said it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Run - 2m</div><div style="text-align: left;">Time - 21:36 - 10:48/mile</div><div style="text-align: left;">Grade: F - <i><span style="color: red;">for obvious reasons.... </span></i></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">I love racing with Cayla - I'm so glad we were able to race again. This was the first time since 2009 and it felt great!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cayla ended up placing third in our AG with a pretty sweet bronze medal:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fuFTXI7pLqqQxBccVmL4SmXHTwbWT5bSRSioq1eqY8kRCCu8u7nZCWC4wxORS6vjZHuUb9yUFGVM5ifmGb5J4buqwuKzPGWi0zA5IVIg0Ankm8U6WTrqgorWOta2QsqujuDElgzZpSE/s1600/IMG_0973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fuFTXI7pLqqQxBccVmL4SmXHTwbWT5bSRSioq1eqY8kRCCu8u7nZCWC4wxORS6vjZHuUb9yUFGVM5ifmGb5J4buqwuKzPGWi0zA5IVIg0Ankm8U6WTrqgorWOta2QsqujuDElgzZpSE/s320/IMG_0973.jpg" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eTTsDUdT3Gu8TpL6dKikm7cop4nKWTidzzno03p3EDGM2o32EUNCjzNAy7MJ7UOMY9Tee8Ts1TkzOx-WAjzpxzQw_E1vfxT1IZOOGw25SFnIafrRFviyxb8S0bPhYGve0LThdAYpQiA/s1600/SDC10529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eTTsDUdT3Gu8TpL6dKikm7cop4nKWTidzzno03p3EDGM2o32EUNCjzNAy7MJ7UOMY9Tee8Ts1TkzOx-WAjzpxzQw_E1vfxT1IZOOGw25SFnIafrRFviyxb8S0bPhYGve0LThdAYpQiA/s320/SDC10529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best Race Partner ever!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuRuw-gCyTyXYKV1h4o0q-4Rk2IpLOFFhc8Wdk7M5CcKtriQ9pcMLbYM-XrbQ_aqdWK1UdDIcST1jfMuS8PGmAnqEEYUkx0wRFnV3wqF1NcRS-7W_-vVp0t5x0psd2YpF6Iq3OACmUPI/s1600/SDC10530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuRuw-gCyTyXYKV1h4o0q-4Rk2IpLOFFhc8Wdk7M5CcKtriQ9pcMLbYM-XrbQ_aqdWK1UdDIcST1jfMuS8PGmAnqEEYUkx0wRFnV3wqF1NcRS-7W_-vVp0t5x0psd2YpF6Iq3OACmUPI/s320/SDC10530.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Wanna come to the gun show?</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And me in my bling! <a href="http://runfortheblingofit.blogspot.com/">Run for the bling of it challenge month 6 complete</a>! (I guess I should recap my May bling huh?!)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mZs_rXSf6rh4W0r9Az1mfY6MVoOGoLhBpOa5cEw-f_ljaJDNlLfu_TG2xjrgC_ttk5hbPaeudXk60KsQHltRrQ_4VSSfuTrmkHEPd3AbLSNE8qbmNN5Gt6zi8sQoJUuuHWmoweO7Q7E/s1600/IMG_0974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mZs_rXSf6rh4W0r9Az1mfY6MVoOGoLhBpOa5cEw-f_ljaJDNlLfu_TG2xjrgC_ttk5hbPaeudXk60KsQHltRrQ_4VSSfuTrmkHEPd3AbLSNE8qbmNN5Gt6zi8sQoJUuuHWmoweO7Q7E/s320/IMG_0974.jpg" t8="true" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just to let you know - that was the last diet coke I've drank...right there.... I want it...... really really really really want it......</td></tr>
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</div></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-54373189987116155792011-06-15T21:09:00.001-05:002011-06-16T09:11:09.010-05:00The One Week Vegetarian: Day Three: BRICK oven veggie pizzaJune 15, 2011 <br />
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Breakfast - nada... I was running super late....I know I know - you can scold me.<br />
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Lunch - Mixed Green Salad with water<br />
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No Afternoon Snack<br />
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Dinner - Brick Oven Veggie Pizza.<br />
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Dinner tonight is a recipe from<a href="http://cooktraineatrace.com/"><span style="color: magenta;"> Jason</span> </a>at <a href="http://cooktraineatrace.com/" style="color: magenta;">Cook Train Eat Race</a>. He is vegetarian and houses a ton of awesome recipes on his site CTER. Not only is there recipes there are a ton of posts on nutrition in general, race reports, exercise facts, Q&A, etc. It is a repository of useful information - stop by and check it out.<br />
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He features a weekly spot called The Athlete's Plate. Where he picks a different blogger each week to be featured. The recipe I swiped from him was the week he featured Summer Brooks of <a href="http://thebluelinememoir.blogspot.com/" style="color: magenta;">The Blue Line Runner</a> blog. I knew I wanted to make pizza one night and this one fit the bill.<br />
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Pics are limited...<br />
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Step One - Take the mashed sweet potatoes, flour, and other dry ingredients to make dough... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVRyXgqxHWz6P6dMHEN660M4m0Hy0b6MYl21NiMWuXH56Y42H6xYzYWbO2LARP0MSkniouz8Z4IglOHOXmolXICqedwjndHu9d7gQY05CTDWDbUQZLrVN3Bebk04VFhEQee-khfr-POY/s1600/IMG_0983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVRyXgqxHWz6P6dMHEN660M4m0Hy0b6MYl21NiMWuXH56Y42H6xYzYWbO2LARP0MSkniouz8Z4IglOHOXmolXICqedwjndHu9d7gQY05CTDWDbUQZLrVN3Bebk04VFhEQee-khfr-POY/s200/IMG_0983.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>Step 2 - roll out (or attempt to) and place in oven to bake for 10 min at 400*<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFHjBMPEXKnN3tuNaErMgfmOPfhYqL_K-atoFBObYWKu2GEOofqMF4g-4hYY3oTg6PQlpahkgzdHrFVWe5e7o8qeHU9BgXQwSzw3qPfrvteOdTizs7YFqRK5tqufZi-pdobwebvX6p7E/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFHjBMPEXKnN3tuNaErMgfmOPfhYqL_K-atoFBObYWKu2GEOofqMF4g-4hYY3oTg6PQlpahkgzdHrFVWe5e7o8qeHU9BgXQwSzw3qPfrvteOdTizs7YFqRK5tqufZi-pdobwebvX6p7E/s200/IMG_0984.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Step 3: Spread ricotta cheese thinly on the bottom and then place tomatoes, garlic and I added basil along with Asiago Cheese<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYyz8UEs4zDB48yod47Lz7Z9k0AF7O5a7CZc2gQI0hFdd6Vii1bE_lQAG2uzw9dxzJOH56Me1DFjB7TC7W0gC81eExScQBUYVUbkF-kZVXQYKWPYNhbXtHqKqmp5E6_5XKWf4FnoxTyk/s1600/IMG_0985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYyz8UEs4zDB48yod47Lz7Z9k0AF7O5a7CZc2gQI0hFdd6Vii1bE_lQAG2uzw9dxzJOH56Me1DFjB7TC7W0gC81eExScQBUYVUbkF-kZVXQYKWPYNhbXtHqKqmp5E6_5XKWf4FnoxTyk/s200/IMG_0985.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>Step 4: Bake in oven until cheese is melted... sorry no final pic.<br />
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True test: Again this recipe was a WINNER!! Bill loved it; I loved it and it was filling and delicious. We loved the sweet potato in the crust along with the thickness of the crust without being too filling. The light cheese and veggies was just enough to make our tummy's full without having that too greasy icky feeling from an order-in pizza (even the veggie ones)<br />
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We were both pleased with how this turned out. Want to make your own BRICK oven veggie pizza? Just <i style="color: magenta;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://cooktraineatrace.com/athletes-plate-may-19-2011/">CLICK HERE</a></span></b></i>!<br />
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I have now gone 3 days with no diet coke. I've had a bit of a headache today but nothing unbearable. I know I have not drank enough water today which frustrates me because it something I NEED to be doing. Other than the coffee yesterday I have had no caffeine. I've limited my sugar intake and am feeling great (minus the headache today) I was down two pounds when I weighed my self this morning. I will not weigh again until Friday.<br />
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Workouts - I was supposed to run but it didn't happen. I could give you a million excuses as to why I didn't but the plain and simple fact is I was tired and drained this morning and wanted to sleep in. I could have gone after work and ran on the treadmill but the though of running on a treadmill makes me want to puke and it's 100* outside until like midnight. So my run got skipped. I was scheduled for two off days this week any - so I plan on just shifting around and making it work.<br />
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So that's that :) Happy Hump Day!Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-10387127507205611362011-06-15T20:48:00.002-05:002011-06-16T09:11:50.716-05:00Day Two: The One Week Vegetarian: Ratatouillie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D81mQ0VZ1Y0D0nyDdSfkP66dxmzKrF7qLamt949YKRZzBC156r7x3ARQSIsJGgmHuNVwv1fzZyelJFT0aUdnQcH83oN7ZQi901xkxZjw2uoRhWmWpVhghREW87bjdqbHMey1vrJcGAI/s1600/ingredients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Day Two - June 14, 2011<br />
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<u><b>Breakfast -</b></u> Overnight Oats in A Jar: - If you aren't familiar with this delicious little delicatessen you should familiarize yourself with them QUICKLY! They are just about the most awesomest things ever. If you follow me on twitter you see me use #OOA (I've always referred to it as overnight oats addict but apparently it's really anonymous) and #OOIAJ (overnight oats in a jar) - If you follow the recipe below and you tweet - be sure to use the hashtags and @ mention me so I know you tried them! They will seriously change your breakfast life.<br />
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I did have a cup of coffee with breakfast.<br />
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I found out about this morning treat from <a href="http://cooktraineatrace.com/">Jason</a> and I'm so thankful - Here you go<br />
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<div style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>Ingredients:</b><span style="font-style: normal;"> 1/3c <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1308187223_0" style="border-bottom: rgb(54,99,136) 2px dotted; cursor: pointer;">rolled oats</span>, 5oz <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1308187223_1">greek yogurt</span>, 2/3c HoneyMilk (Vanilla or Honey Flavor), 1/2 banana sliced thin, 2 strawberries sliced thin, 1/4c dried pineapple, 2tbs chia seeds, 1/3c shredded <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1308187223_2" style="border-bottom: rgb(54,99,136) 2px dotted; cursor: pointer;">unsweetened coconut</span>, 1/4c almonds, 1tbs agave nectar, 1tbs <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1308187223_3" style="border-bottom: rgb(54,99,136) 2px dotted; cursor: pointer;">nut butter</span> (optional <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1308187223_4" style="border-bottom: rgb(54,99,136) 2px dotted; cursor: pointer;">chocolate chips</span>, M&Ms, dried fruit)</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
Directions: Do this the night before</div><ol style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In a bowl combine all the ingredients except for the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1308187223_5">agave nectar</span> and nut butter.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Once well combined pour into an empty jar (old nut butter jar….I use a plastic jar by Bell)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Place in refrigerator and let sit overnight (now you understand the overnight oats part?)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Next morning after your workout take out from fridge and add agave nectar and mix.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Take the tbs of nut butter on your spoon and begin to eat. With every bite you will get a taste of nut butter and the overnight oats.</li>
</ol><br />
<i><b>Lunch: </b></i><br />
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I had lunch with my friend Karen and opted for tomato soup and a spinach salad. No recipes or pictures to report. Lunch was filling and I was satisfied.<br />
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<u><b>Afternoon snack (pre workout) - </b></u><a href="http://www.powercrunchbar.com/">Power Crunch Bar</a><u><b><br />
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<u><b>Dinner:</b></u><br />
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When I posted on here I was going veggie for a week <a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/" style="color: magenta;">Mrs. Adventure</a> (the super awesome host of all the giveaways that end FRIDAY JUNE 17) suggested Ratatouillie. I had never heard of it before but the name alone intrigued me.<br />
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Here's the breakdown<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D81mQ0VZ1Y0D0nyDdSfkP66dxmzKrF7qLamt949YKRZzBC156r7x3ARQSIsJGgmHuNVwv1fzZyelJFT0aUdnQcH83oN7ZQi901xkxZjw2uoRhWmWpVhghREW87bjdqbHMey1vrJcGAI/s1600/ingredients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D81mQ0VZ1Y0D0nyDdSfkP66dxmzKrF7qLamt949YKRZzBC156r7x3ARQSIsJGgmHuNVwv1fzZyelJFT0aUdnQcH83oN7ZQi901xkxZjw2uoRhWmWpVhghREW87bjdqbHMey1vrJcGAI/s200/ingredients.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloggers being a pain in the a** and won't post the picture correctly... GRR!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Step 1 - Saute eggplant with parsley...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIBxpnXti2_gs961ZcSDb7GLGiwNN7cLhEr2lhVh5eLSF6zRvGeWy-Wb2KnymB7WZNIpZIgXi2hdIFY2s_MgQwA4gz6auMWmqhfM14eGbo9fktODL2hUGAZeVKokdXZbNKC7oD9ghtM8/s1600/IMG_0979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIBxpnXti2_gs961ZcSDb7GLGiwNN7cLhEr2lhVh5eLSF6zRvGeWy-Wb2KnymB7WZNIpZIgXi2hdIFY2s_MgQwA4gz6auMWmqhfM14eGbo9fktODL2hUGAZeVKokdXZbNKC7oD9ghtM8/s200/IMG_0979.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Step 2 - Layer veggies (recipe link below) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMsNei3ckJs962gWhXe66wGh4Ec3-o0dMztkH0ITdjoO5cJzgAOMW92fCPfJHlTIwS7VmCFcBdGkmt3e4RCmz1hMm6GtmMidDACtOB7gr91GrUuWAf0Sv_geSoTY4CcfgJ1zTktJxEAI/s1600/IMG_0980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMsNei3ckJs962gWhXe66wGh4Ec3-o0dMztkH0ITdjoO5cJzgAOMW92fCPfJHlTIwS7VmCFcBdGkmt3e4RCmz1hMm6GtmMidDACtOB7gr91GrUuWAf0Sv_geSoTY4CcfgJ1zTktJxEAI/s200/IMG_0980.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
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Step 3 - Bake - I added mushrooms on Bill's half and sans mushrooms on mine.... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhis_CCMe7k11TWEm25rDrIJHVIxL7Xvd5SFeziwIsiIrOFHb4_qQbp-4n4fN1Fl7xZDPpTb1gx2pvEmOhSjIIJweRnisHs_ndrmQfLGqDH5luX76sUjujCb3DtRY6CoAtbccOQFMUXeN4/s1600/IMG_0982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhis_CCMe7k11TWEm25rDrIJHVIxL7Xvd5SFeziwIsiIrOFHb4_qQbp-4n4fN1Fl7xZDPpTb1gx2pvEmOhSjIIJweRnisHs_ndrmQfLGqDH5luX76sUjujCb3DtRY6CoAtbccOQFMUXeN4/s200/IMG_0982.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
Step 4 - enjoy!!<br />
<br />
Want to make your OWN at home Ratatouillie? <i><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/2010/08/bungalow-ratatouillie.html">CLICK HERE</a></span></b></i><br />
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Bill loved this recipe and loved dinner! It was another hit!<br />
<br />
Day two was another great day food wise... it was terrible in all other aspect. I am now 3 days (including today) without Diet Coke. More on that in the next post. <br />
<br />
We did break down and have a frozen yogurt cone. Shakes had a seizure - we were on our way to the emergency vet and he stopped. It was a stressful day for me with work and with Shakes. Bill (being the best ever) pulled through and got us yogurt as we were driving home from attempting to take Shakes. (I think Shakes just wanted a car ride). <br />
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All in all it was great day - I had an awesome spin class and when I weighed my self this morning (6/15) I was down 2 lbs.Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-77196260160322175652011-06-14T09:59:00.000-05:002011-06-14T09:59:54.681-05:00Day One: Black Bean BurgersI was nervous waking up Monday morning.... I stepped on the scale...weighed myself and was prepared for an increase in "that" department. I was right... but that was OK - I had a plan. A plan to see what one week of being a vegetarian would do to me....<br />
<br />
Would it kill me?<br />
<br />
Would it help me loose a few lb's?<br />
<br />
Would it increase my energy?<br />
<br />
And so many more questions.... I had so many because I have never been a vegetarian. I have lived on red meat my entire life and it has always been a part of my diet. I didn't understand why people wouldn't eat meat (unless for religious/cultural reasons) - why would you CHOOSE to not eat the bloody red goodness of a cow's rump? Anyway, I embarked on this journey for one week to see what would happen; will that one week turn into one month, one year, one lifetime? Who knows but here is my experience with Day One of the The One Week Vegetarian.<br />
<u><b><br />
</b></u><br />
<u><b>Breakfast </b></u>- typical breakfast - Quaker Oats in the a.m. and some water. I skipped the morning coffee and diet coke just to see if I would get a splitting headache. I supplemented with lots and lots of water. I peed a lot from 8am to 11am. No workout today so all was well with one breakfast.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Lunch </b></u>- no headache yet - SCORE! Getting nervous about what to eat considering I didn't pack a lunch. Decision time came and the team opted for Thai food. Veggie spring rolls and brown rice it was for my first meat-less lunch. It was delicious - topped off with an icy cold Pellegrino. Yummy....<br />
<br />
Afternoon is when I get my sweet craving. I continually drank water to keep my tummy full and curb that sweet tooth. It worked. I traded my afternoon sweet tooth for about 19 trips to the bathroom - but by this time **Too much info to follow** I was peeing clear and that means adequate hydration (or that I'm drunk but I definitely was NOT drunk)<br />
<u><b><br />
</b></u><br />
<u><b>Dinner</b></u>: Thanks to <a href="http://theathletesplate.com/" style="color: magenta;">Matt</a> over at <a href="http://theathletesplate.com/" style="color: magenta;">The Athlete's Plate</a> for posting his favorite recipes. I swiped his recipe for black bean burgers and headed to the kitchen.<br />
<br />
I tried to document in pics... except the finishing pic of me actually eating the creation...<br />
<br />
Step One - get ingredients - CHECK!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiHhST1KVxH-IYA0IMCbI_qMBWG8yjDWIwoGgRFpGWtgAtZ7dUmhCKlHseHcVZwoRFYESo4k9AHEQ1VhcbApU__FACwMSTlUXjKmGcWeO5Dh-l5wi_MXfRMwaGGSLU9hHAZVvCktbF9o/s1600/SDC10532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiHhST1KVxH-IYA0IMCbI_qMBWG8yjDWIwoGgRFpGWtgAtZ7dUmhCKlHseHcVZwoRFYESo4k9AHEQ1VhcbApU__FACwMSTlUXjKmGcWeO5Dh-l5wi_MXfRMwaGGSLU9hHAZVvCktbF9o/s320/SDC10532.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Step Two - Saute veggies in a skillet...Easy enough...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgik-B6fmq4kE0DxcYSFWDFPQsE99dWM840brkIT5PEE8sU5Dc7cdJngAdMxVLuhtjvVNr-DNV-zo6Bk81fdITO0kKv3Y2hjwvrbbdzvTS7VtNOzodAYQR2Hdm04QPMi5LqtLzOCBomHr4/s1600/SDC10533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgik-B6fmq4kE0DxcYSFWDFPQsE99dWM840brkIT5PEE8sU5Dc7cdJngAdMxVLuhtjvVNr-DNV-zo6Bk81fdITO0kKv3Y2hjwvrbbdzvTS7VtNOzodAYQR2Hdm04QPMi5LqtLzOCBomHr4/s320/SDC10533.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Step Three: Rinse and Drain black beans while veggies are cooking...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyuX9n2nGZ0tpnixsONj2CZ5fH3j1AnTnfyH9n49KYy_8xAdsojxH5pX8oFZKWKSiMu3oP0ICyKNRqHJiY4NeeDpgcozBw4vvRn5qfb_EbYcmlPPtiAXhHPs8exouhYUT0RhahAXutAE/s1600/SDC10535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyuX9n2nGZ0tpnixsONj2CZ5fH3j1AnTnfyH9n49KYy_8xAdsojxH5pX8oFZKWKSiMu3oP0ICyKNRqHJiY4NeeDpgcozBw4vvRn5qfb_EbYcmlPPtiAXhHPs8exouhYUT0RhahAXutAE/s320/SDC10535.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Step 4: Take sauteed veggies and pulse in food processor ( I forgot to take a pic)<br />
Step 5: Add in cilantro - no pic<br />
Step 6: Add in and pulse beans ... again no pic.<br />
<br />
Step 7 - take bean/veggie mix and combine in bowl with bread crumbs, egg and spices.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU7NbPm1V3RCyfejR7HWdvh2jNxLf4Nm6grSDtCzpY2JdmFzI0x_NhKRtmFtel_2vbmHAfjiDHJYZ4_XEwrQWmToZxxatNhoaxBRiruHxzGvgnArYlP4sIy3dG59NhRqn4m1WgRrsnC8/s1600/SDC10536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU7NbPm1V3RCyfejR7HWdvh2jNxLf4Nm6grSDtCzpY2JdmFzI0x_NhKRtmFtel_2vbmHAfjiDHJYZ4_XEwrQWmToZxxatNhoaxBRiruHxzGvgnArYlP4sIy3dG59NhRqn4m1WgRrsnC8/s320/SDC10536.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Step 8 - form three patties and put in cast iron skillet<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblk6oArd3yudnNQ0Xao2_KJg0so69Bx_r5Q_-GFodCS02qxHOCLk72hN5CMbpuKsXB_HXAZ94dXCewnodtZ7qQOKX7NjQ2PsnicHiuZM39Z7hWj5Uovs4WnmfYHh7MjIXohpKrYOkaxs/s1600/SDC10538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblk6oArd3yudnNQ0Xao2_KJg0so69Bx_r5Q_-GFodCS02qxHOCLk72hN5CMbpuKsXB_HXAZ94dXCewnodtZ7qQOKX7NjQ2PsnicHiuZM39Z7hWj5Uovs4WnmfYHh7MjIXohpKrYOkaxs/s320/SDC10538.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Step 9 - Cook 8 minutes..<br />
<br />
Steo 10 - place on your favorite whole wheat bun, top with your fav veggies and VOILA!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3T31hr1QjdoahPrJgLd9U0MLpoNfKyxm9Gj7O8SM7qjre-HeLQ9G7-w_VEcZz9J2MtDifloy__S4GEQP5WmVb68jJxo4IWYOJ_jJHIzTVTAe7wcdAm4wyfrfr0msohv7bDfIKrg939g/s1600/SDC10541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3T31hr1QjdoahPrJgLd9U0MLpoNfKyxm9Gj7O8SM7qjre-HeLQ9G7-w_VEcZz9J2MtDifloy__S4GEQP5WmVb68jJxo4IWYOJ_jJHIzTVTAe7wcdAm4wyfrfr0msohv7bDfIKrg939g/s320/SDC10541.JPG" width="240" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am clearly not a food photographer (or any real photographer for that matter) so sorry for the images.... I tried :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was one darn good black bean burger. The cilantro in the pattie along with the spices make it taste a little Mexican/Southwestern which is totally fine with me. I would put cilantro on anything. I topped mine with fresh spinach, tomato, avocado and a little feta cheese. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But the real test is ... what did Bill think?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He liked it so much he ate the third one! I sauteed mushrooms for his - he loves them; I hate them. He said he loved it and would like to add it into our dinner rotation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all it was a deliciously filling dinner that is a recipe for the keeping. Thanks Matt for recipe! If you are interested in creating this black bean burger for yourself... <span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: magenta;"><a href="http://theathletesplate.com/the-best-black-bean-burgers/">click here</a></b></span>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>What's your favorite burger and toppings?? </b></i></span></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-21951587266177268232011-06-13T10:56:00.000-05:002011-06-13T10:56:59.518-05:00The One Week VegetarianI'm going vegetarian this week. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVcc0VDSaulv9lyl14wknum9Gghr3f4y1WY8B3apgbCPKMl0sEy7ErQh4wqebpiaOwboIgw3ICfqGp56f4aXmzdbQJ8J20pkXqmH-bqQQpy-KLJoawx_bxkenlfyo7gl9NSnWGsmweDo/s1600/Dallas_Farmers_Market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVcc0VDSaulv9lyl14wknum9Gghr3f4y1WY8B3apgbCPKMl0sEy7ErQh4wqebpiaOwboIgw3ICfqGp56f4aXmzdbQJ8J20pkXqmH-bqQQpy-KLJoawx_bxkenlfyo7gl9NSnWGsmweDo/s320/Dallas_Farmers_Market.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a>I planned my menus last week and will be posting as I cook and eat them and will be sure to let you know any and all feedback from me and Bill. It should be interesting.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'm planning on total vegetarianism for 7 days starting today as well as a low sugar diet. I have a problem with cookies. I have a problem with brownies. I have a problem with cake. I have a problem. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I made my last batch of cookies last night. They were delicious... I savored every bite of them. And then said goodbye. It was traumatic but totally worth shoving my mouth full of them as I watched Dirk win his first championship. Go Mavs!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And then this morning.... we had a meeting with everyone in the office...the breakfast of choice...donut holes. Luckily I had eaten my Quaker Oats and was pretty full but the donut hole box and I had a discussion; it wasn't pretty but my angel side won out against that devilish box of sugary goodness. NO donut holes for me.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In preparation for my week of vegetarianism my friend Courtney and I went to the farmer's market in downtown Dallas on Saturday. If you are not familiar with Dallas - the farmer's market is a staple in south downtown.</div><br />
The farmer's market was established in the 1800s as farmers came to town to sell from their wagons. In 1939 the market was officially established and formalized with the first shed being built to house the farmers. Today there are 4 sheds as well as various street vendors, and an entire street dedicated to floral. It is an amazing place on Saturday morning. The sights, sounds, colors and samples of the locally grown produce are overwhelming and delicious.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2hcg0lHz0LGjNNRZgnsiDoL_rMOvxKbpQXh1bQtMAI63P3mr_bA9PZcqRg5lPIIBzjVNQoNDu4jIfj939VhL3QGNKfvhjNxwx6o5CQccldpavUZ9TGVg2kEd35y7hmID2WJzIRIWqYY/s1600/citrusshed3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2hcg0lHz0LGjNNRZgnsiDoL_rMOvxKbpQXh1bQtMAI63P3mr_bA9PZcqRg5lPIIBzjVNQoNDu4jIfj939VhL3QGNKfvhjNxwx6o5CQccldpavUZ9TGVg2kEd35y7hmID2WJzIRIWqYY/s1600/citrusshed3.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><br />
I went to the farmers market as a little girl with my family but hadn't been back in years. It is totally worth the 25 minute drive and I plan on making it frequently.<br />
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So here was my produce shopping list for the week:<br />
<br />
2 avocados <span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>- They were a little pricey</em></span><br />
6 white onions <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">- They were also a little pricey - I can get a bag at the store for less than a basket</span></em><br />
1 red onion - <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wasn't able to purchase a single red onion</span></em><br />
<strike>4 tomatoes</strike> - <span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>came home with 6</em></span><br />
<strike>4 sweet potatoes</strike><br />
<strike>2 bell peppers</strike><br />
<strike>2 bunches of fresh spinach</strike><br />
2 Portabello Mushrooms<br />
10 White mushrooms<br />
2 chipolte peppers - <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">only available at the grocery</span></em><br />
<strike>2 egg plants</strike><br />
<strike>1 bunch cilantro</strike><br />
<strike>4 jalapenos</strike> - <span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>came home with 22!</em></span><br />
<strike>3 zucchinis</strike> - <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">came home with 4</span></em><br />
<strike>18 garlic cloves</strike><br />
<strike>3 shallots</strike> - <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">came home with 8</span></em><br />
pears - <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">FORGOT!</span></em><br />
dried cranberries - <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Didn't find any dried fruit</span></em><br />
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*Plus I came home with a pineapple (they were 2 for $5)<br />
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It was a great day with a great friend! Tonight after work it's off to the grocery to pick up the remaining needed items and then it's my first attempt at a vegetarian dinner. <br />
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Happy Monday!<br />
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P.S. Don't forget about the 10 giveaways going on at <a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/">Mrs. Adventure</a>... you can click the links right over there -------->Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-74211227001594130132011-06-10T08:51:00.055-05:002011-06-10T15:56:44.311-05:00Pre-Race Report - Metroplex Sprint TriI'm racing this weekend...first time since NOLA<strike>69.1</strike> 70.3. <br />
<br />
It's not put on by my favorite group; in fact the RD can be A HUGE P.I.T.A. (Pain.In.The.A**) But it's a great fast and flat course and it's local AND it's cheap...so Win, Win, Win! Cayla is racing with me and this will be her first race of the season in preparation for her first HIM in October; the Longhorn70.3. We haven't raced together since 2009 the 2010 season I only raced one tri b/c of my shoulder surgery so I'm VERY excited to race with her! <br />
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<strong><u>SWIM</u></strong><br />
The swim is 400m and a triangular course. I'm assuming the buoys will be on our left and if I can estimate correctly it will go something like this...actual map I just added the distances.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBqMsmAAdSmu8nhL_XVq48cWm9Q-Apyc13Tv-jZdRghRmM0j8vSein6rB5R5cSy1gWTZitUhwEDcaiWho7MQeg-4ar0R0Suq7EOCmfkQMn9iV-P5UaqNAIUhyphenhyphen0vmYmyHO1QK8g3vMtyo/s1600/swim.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBqMsmAAdSmu8nhL_XVq48cWm9Q-Apyc13Tv-jZdRghRmM0j8vSein6rB5R5cSy1gWTZitUhwEDcaiWho7MQeg-4ar0R0Suq7EOCmfkQMn9iV-P5UaqNAIUhyphenhyphen0vmYmyHO1QK8g3vMtyo/s320/swim.png" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>My goal for the swim is 2fold.... #1 Control the Freak Out. Although I've swam a few times in open water this season with <a href="http://cooktraineatrace.com/">Jason</a> and <a href="http://thelifeitri.com/">Greg</a> - I have yet to RACE in open water. Two totally different things. The distance is short but I still have to control the mental aspect of this discipline. For me - it's all about focus and not fighting...just go with it; swim and before I know it - it will be over and my feet will be on dry land.<br />
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Secondly, it's about time...I would like to push myself through this race. It's a shorter course and I think I really "leave it all out there" this weekend. <br />
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Distance: 400m<br />
Goal Time: 12 min (3:00/100)<br />
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<u><strong>BIKE</strong></u><br />
<br />
The bike course is an out and back, fast and flat course. (just the way I like it) I want to hammer down on this race and push myself. The run is only 2 miles so I think I can push hard on the bike and still have enough in the tank for a successful two mile run. Plus Cayla is running with me and she is a strong runner so I know she will push me through the run. <br />
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Distance: 11m<br />
Goal Time: 40 min (16.5 mph)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<strong><u>RUN</u></strong><br />
<br />
As I said before, it's a 2 mile run so I'm hoping I can bang out an average of 9 min. miles on the run. It's inside the park and flat as well<br />
<br />
Distance: 2miles<br />
Goal Time: 18 min. (9:00min/mile)<br />
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<strong><u>COURSE:</u></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oZ3FQTGHSuV_wlhPYnn3-gPYRmhzKCI41-xyFewBWs_KwwmDqdtxydQ5063rWWurTPAjN1NfBd9dQVe2GM_S1BMdwhz3NO72ErCabRxhQvukU4PDAdo5tyni-p0QYzJjMQTGG1J-g_U/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oZ3FQTGHSuV_wlhPYnn3-gPYRmhzKCI41-xyFewBWs_KwwmDqdtxydQ5063rWWurTPAjN1NfBd9dQVe2GM_S1BMdwhz3NO72ErCabRxhQvukU4PDAdo5tyni-p0QYzJjMQTGG1J-g_U/s400/Picture1.png" t8="true" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><strong>Total Goal Time: 1:10:00</strong></u> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">**of course I will have my <a href="http://cooktraineatrace.com/team-angels-and-ninjas-taan-debuts/">T.A.A.N</a><span id="goog_1297316417"></span><span id="goog_1297316418"></span> with me all day!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGmtF4QNGmlYmK4DmrkVoMbeo0DN7iMCe39lr5_UF15vTh5ulf9vn_VzzJCEWzgoeOv07ao9I9ov-zPg6z0teSG8WiAlry6TJfp_MCbfqMopWqE0C4qdGeQtYico2J3cohpjd2YJfQXk/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGmtF4QNGmlYmK4DmrkVoMbeo0DN7iMCe39lr5_UF15vTh5ulf9vn_VzzJCEWzgoeOv07ao9I9ov-zPg6z0teSG8WiAlry6TJfp_MCbfqMopWqE0C4qdGeQtYico2J3cohpjd2YJfQXk/s1600/untitled.bmp" t8="true" /></a></div><br />
We shall see - stay tuned for a race report next week! AND head over to <a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">Mrs. Adventure</span></a> for her day of giveaways...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/2011/06/wholly-guacamole.html"><span style="color: magenta;">Giveaway #1</span></a> - Wholly Guacamole! (delish!)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/2011/06/lets-talk-shapewear-and-giveaway.html"><span style="color: magenta;">Giveaway #2</span></a><span style="color: magenta;"> -</span> Vedette Shapewear <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/2011/06/big-kitchens-ceramic-knives.html"><span style="color: magenta;">Giveaway #3</span></a> - Big Kitchen's Ceramic Knives<br />
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<a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/2011/06/wholly-guacamole.html"><span style="color: magenta;">Giveaway #4</span></a> - Healthy Steps (kitchen fun!)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/2011/06/blue-platypus.html"><span style="color: magenta;">Giveaway #5</span></a> - Blue Platypus (tshirt)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/2011/06/stonehouse-27.html"><span style="color: magenta;">Giveaway #6</span></a> - Stonehouse 27 (sauces)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/2011/06/eo-products-rock.html"><span style="color: magenta;">Giveway #7</span></a> - EO Products (bath products)<br />
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<a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/2011/06/john-boos-famous-cutting-board-review.html"><span style="color: magenta;">Giveaway #8</span></a> - John Boos Cutting BoardAllisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-40958729693088617322011-06-09T10:45:00.001-05:002011-06-09T10:47:13.520-05:00Pappy!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBN0dYWXpwqd8WGSStonjluQez6Sz42K2VFwOjY9siGj_VXUXzrgX3ilK82itGPPOWMjDLmrTxWTYI8sCLIdwrC73dYAGsgsS5xmfEF52VGlKagXJi7wJ97OIy2kCK0QXD85Ym7r2JCQ/s1600/IMG_0962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBN0dYWXpwqd8WGSStonjluQez6Sz42K2VFwOjY9siGj_VXUXzrgX3ilK82itGPPOWMjDLmrTxWTYI8sCLIdwrC73dYAGsgsS5xmfEF52VGlKagXJi7wJ97OIy2kCK0QXD85Ym7r2JCQ/s200/IMG_0962.jpg" t8="true" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The birthday boy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span id="goog_1541001353"></span><span id="goog_1541001354"></span>Monday was my grandfather's 89th birthday! What an amazing age - to live 89 years and have the stories to tell! Can you imagine??</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Anyway - we went over for an impromptu dinner to celebrate with my sister, Anna, her two kids my grandfather and our family friend Marion.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9jl94Rd2r2-BgBOCJ8-07UouttYN_kXBeeD6y9fU1U2aZ7Hi_XFui8wJT3hXEhbw1OXtY0bKAFsUBXh5TiYkeBEmpCO4bbnS27RDL33L5VL7LnkdTk6ne1kQUQh8JWOGaApAIPzpB8U/s1600/IMG_0966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9jl94Rd2r2-BgBOCJ8-07UouttYN_kXBeeD6y9fU1U2aZ7Hi_XFui8wJT3hXEhbw1OXtY0bKAFsUBXh5TiYkeBEmpCO4bbnS27RDL33L5VL7LnkdTk6ne1kQUQh8JWOGaApAIPzpB8U/s200/IMG_0966.jpg" t8="true" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my <br />
Pappy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
In other news... I've been pretty busy this week. I've missed a few workouts but I'm ok with that.... I need to jump back on the bandwagon but right now I feel good about where I'm at and what I'm doing. I need to get through a test next week and then I will feel much better. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2wO0PAcbfCsZu9Wdn_W_f_L1nkexi9HNnXk1RRWDLnptcE2xHgjlX85zcciRcAcIR-Jclye1d2U5BvHQs8zadEHirSTcLpRaHK9TYFV6HKpFHscIHJO5vvWJNNUHcdurO4xj4wrsAQw/s1600/IMG_0969.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2wO0PAcbfCsZu9Wdn_W_f_L1nkexi9HNnXk1RRWDLnptcE2xHgjlX85zcciRcAcIR-Jclye1d2U5BvHQs8zadEHirSTcLpRaHK9TYFV6HKpFHscIHJO5vvWJNNUHcdurO4xj4wrsAQw/s200/IMG_0969.png" t8="true" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pappy and 2 of his 6 great grand kids</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I mentioned on twitter that I'm going vegetarian starting Monday June 13, for one week - I've tried this is something that I've wanted to do and it's on my <a href="http://triandfinish.blogspot.com/p/30-b4-30.html"><span style="color: magenta;">30 before 30 list</span></a><span style="color: magenta;">.</span> I need to put together recipes for 7 days of a meat free diet... I plan on blogging along the way as well. Any ideas or recipes you want to share you can email me at allie0662 {at} yahoo {dot} com.<br />
<br />
Thank you for the sweet notes on Monday's post... June 4 is never an easy day and I'm thankful I have a forum that I can openly express my feelings... you guys are truly TRULY the best.<br />
<br />
Don't forget tomorrow JUNE 10 is <a href="http://triandfinish.blogspot.com/2011/05/catching-up-and-totally-awesome.html"><strong><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">MRS. ADVENTURE'S DAY OF GIVEAWAYS</span></strong></a>.... Go visit her for a new giveaway at different intervals throughout the day. <br />
<br />
AND - I lost a follower....booooooo. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span id="goog_1342138305"></span><span id="goog_1342138306"> </span>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-17868897353615086292011-06-06T10:22:00.000-05:002011-06-06T10:22:41.836-05:002 yearsTwo years ago on Saturday (June 4) I lost Jess to Brain Cancer.... as I thought about her all day I wrote this that evening...<br />
<br />
Dear Jess -<br />
<br />
Two years - it's been two years since I was driving to work and received "the call" - "the call" that changed my life as I knew it. I will always remember where I was on Luna Road that morning.... it will be a place that when I drive there I can't help but remember the ring, Della's voice, and the calmness in my voice that said - "Della, I need to get to work and I will call you back." I knew I had to wait until I was stationary, off the road, and not be a hazard to other drivers. Crying while driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving...at least crying in the state that I was in.<br />
<br />
I made it to work - parked, got in the building went to my office, shut the door and called my mom. Came out of my office - went into Luann's and set there and bawled until I could piece myself together to call my boss and get home. I knew that with this news meant a lot of people would be coming over. I went home, changed all the sheets on the beds, cleaned the house, and prepared for a few days of chaos and many people. I knew the couple of hours I had to do that was the only hours I would have alone for up to a week. No one was going to let me be by myself. And that was ok.<br />
<br />
I wanted to call Bill - I texted him instead. All I wanted was for him to wrap his arms around me.... but that was going to have to wait. We were still apart at the time you passed .... <br />
<br />
June 4 will never be the same...it will be the day that I was robbed of years with my best friend, it will be the day that I will never forget where I was, what I was doing and the flood of sadness that engulfed me that day. It will be the day my heart broke into a million pieces for your family, your friends, all of those that loved you. It was the day I realized we will never go eat soup and salad at Olive Garden or nachos at Cristina's... we will never go spend way too much money at the mall or just randomly go see a movie again. It was the day I realized I would never be able to call you when Bill and I got back together (even though I believe you had a hand in it while sitting up in heaven smiling), it was a day I had a sobering reality that my partner in crime, my best friend, my sister, and I would never speak/text/email again. It is a day that breaks my heart each and every time I think about it.<br />
<br />
I know that you would want me to not be sad, to live a life to the fullest, that brings awareness to the awful disease that took you too soon so I do.... I wake up each day with a smile on my face, thankful that I woke up and have a day to enjoy. I'm thankful for my health and the steps I take to ensure I have a long, healthy life with my family, my friends, and my future children. I wake up each day and throughout some point think of you and how you changed my life even after you were physically gone from this earth. I wake up and thank God that he gives us angels like you.<br />
<br />
I wake up and think about this... <br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“God, whether I get anything else done today, I want to make sure that I spend time loving you and loving other people – because that’s what life is all about. I don’t want to waste this day.”</span></i></b></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span> </div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">xoxoxoxoxo</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><u><em>Don't forget about Mrs. Adventures </em></u><a href="http://triandfinish.blogspot.com/2011/05/catching-up-and-totally-awesome.html"><em>DAY OF GIVEAWAYS ON FRIDAY JUNE 10!</em></a></span></span></div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3045543369217461087.post-18350053201331818002011-05-30T21:35:00.002-05:002011-05-30T21:41:50.033-05:00Catching up {and a totally awesome giveaway preview}I think this is officially the longest I have gone without posting.... it's been a whirlwind of the last ten days.<br />
<br />
Holiday weekends are notoriously super fun; but also jammed packed with activities, family, baseball, pool parties and not enough lounging. But I did get to lounge a little today. So holla!<br />
<br />
Over the last ten days; my grandmother passed away. Thank you for all your supportive comments and concern. She passed on Saturday and her services will be Wednesday with a viewing tomorrow. Keep my family in your thoughts if you have a few extra moments over the next few days.<br />
<br />
I also traveled last week - so that totally knocks my schedule around and makes it all cattywhompassss... yes it's a word... at least for me it is... I went to Little Rock last week and had a great visit with some clients there.<br />
<br />
Friday was early release from work; but I worked a little later just to get somethings done and not have them hang over my head all weekend....Bill and I went to dinner at our fav Greek spot (as usual on Friday nights) and then saw the Hangover 2. Have you seen it? What did you think? I thought it was funny (but don't want to talk too much about it and ruin it for those who haven't seen it)... But I will tell you it's VERY similar to the first... ok enough with that....<br />
<br />
Saturday was jammed packed with Baseball - Bill had two games, Coop had 1 and Kaylee had 2 - I made it to one of Bill's game and one of Kaylee's game...go me..... after that we had a baseball team party at one of the players parents houses.... THAT was fun; they have a SUPER HUGE AWESOME house and pool.<br />
<br />
Sunday I got up and went to Yoga (first time in YEARS) and Bill had 2 more games (they lost in the championship) and I hung out at the pool all day at a friends house. Drinking my fair share of John Daley's (the alcohol version of an Arnold Palmer - sweet tea vodka and lemonade...YUMMY!)<br />
<br />
Today - I did and hour and a half cycling/lift class and then 45 minutes of Yoga followed by laying on the couch and watching the replay of the Biggest Loser (since we missed it due to weather) and Bill worked (no holiday for alcohol reps). I am sore for the first time in a long time. Just sayin'<br />
<br />
Tomorrow I have my spin audition - as well as my grandmothers viewing...and the first game of the Mavs vs. Heat series... big day.... wish me luck.<br />
<br />
I did put together my "routine" for my audition - I'm super pumped about it, but really nervous as well. I'm hoping it goes over well and that I can start teaching sooner rather than later.<br />
<br />
Now on to bigger and BETTER things (b/c I'm sure you read this to find out what I do every second of the day)<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">MARK YOUR CALENDERS: JUNE 10.....</span></b></i></div><br />
Why you ask?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQMioBqmL6QhFy6QdxSRwEXDL_RldlErzK7fEr4JbzN2sr3-jigT2IqMNjMlgspPNGqI8iCznxOGFVSU4KWgiy2GGfauwBuwLvFjo38XolKgqDFRvmoy_ZlGqDXLIY4pFk_xyeph8D0U/s1600/giveaway+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQMioBqmL6QhFy6QdxSRwEXDL_RldlErzK7fEr4JbzN2sr3-jigT2IqMNjMlgspPNGqI8iCznxOGFVSU4KWgiy2GGfauwBuwLvFjo38XolKgqDFRvmoy_ZlGqDXLIY4pFk_xyeph8D0U/s1600/giveaway+final.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
It's an ENTIRE DAY OF GIVEAWAYS over at <a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/" style="color: magenta;">Mrs. Adventure</a>.....<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/" style="color: magenta;">Mrs. Adventure</a><span style="color: magenta;"> </span>and I have been bloggy friends for quite sometime; I feel like we are real life friends but literally have only had one conversation over the phone....but she is super awesome chick who hosts THE BEST giveaways!!! On June 10 - she is hosting a full day of giveaways... I've won things from here like these....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYlGuQ8egoPKHM_Rt4nhiVQ_iFSxOqZO-eWBbMte62LzsXQ7AZUwfvdxVGrz3sMKeAL6Gf265ROFWydHkzcsgi6Zhw81PGBlFSWdtMKLQl8wVyLcvPfexA_MnPB1QOZOJK8IqDXi5iDc/s1600/p142556_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYlGuQ8egoPKHM_Rt4nhiVQ_iFSxOqZO-eWBbMte62LzsXQ7AZUwfvdxVGrz3sMKeAL6Gf265ROFWydHkzcsgi6Zhw81PGBlFSWdtMKLQl8wVyLcvPfexA_MnPB1QOZOJK8IqDXi5iDc/s320/p142556_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>and these...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhfD-ez65CZVDZ1z1NUxnCyi-HP0-755mO3Frau75VZxZN7bqXWYXcaaOjzDqw4r6W99CaS8P1k24uf4nc1KcVbaeNjX8rCtual2jfZgn9ucx-v7fwfH5ELTrRX4vfScMM2QAD7H1V-I/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhfD-ez65CZVDZ1z1NUxnCyi-HP0-755mO3Frau75VZxZN7bqXWYXcaaOjzDqw4r6W99CaS8P1k24uf4nc1KcVbaeNjX8rCtual2jfZgn9ucx-v7fwfH5ELTrRX4vfScMM2QAD7H1V-I/s320/photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pancakes, toast and milk not included...bummer.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Do you want in on the fun???</b></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Check back to <a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/" style="color: magenta;">Mrs. Adventure's</a> site on <span style="font-size: x-large;">June 10</span> to enter to win in <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>10 giveaways in ONE DAY</b><b>!!!!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Feel free to share the excitement and grab the button up there!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sneak Peek of a two of the giveaways (just b/c you are special readers and I love you)</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViCJaVqAn6LREngkf-8V6WarPvJ2qE-RjaFygMT6dwmRrz68RyDCNFTpIx-k6rktkagHLLUXQxMMKCHIwPDZQSKGLenEVP754xpx3LX1-PXOXP7bVw5Nw_wU6T5FbeMNW2VUUkgSz2OQ/s1600/sodastream-review-and-giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViCJaVqAn6LREngkf-8V6WarPvJ2qE-RjaFygMT6dwmRrz68RyDCNFTpIx-k6rktkagHLLUXQxMMKCHIwPDZQSKGLenEVP754xpx3LX1-PXOXP7bVw5Nw_wU6T5FbeMNW2VUUkgSz2OQ/s1600/sodastream-review-and-giveaway.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: magenta;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sodastreamusa.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: magenta;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;"><u><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1306808262_4">http://www.sodastreamusa.com/</span></u></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEira9-BDHuBQTuOPiBMfYg1_qLpuityLfsd5AeckOqd32P-iKkIkiYhDZrGSoRNLOFwj0Bdt_Lci5AkNnky2Zzl0PYlqsbUU-Qoa9DwslbInOs1U2khfmnVHqv_F6Z6WAZfc4OZpBQBt_s/s320/DSC01857.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.easycanvasprints.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;"><u><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1306808262_5">www.easycanvasprints.com</span></u></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_179685455"></span><span id="goog_179685456"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">More sneak peek's to come - so stay tuned!!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">oooo - and go leave<span style="color: magenta;"> </span><a href="http://www.mrs-adventure.com/" style="color: magenta;">Rach</a><span style="color: magenta;"> </span>some love :) tell her I sent you!</div>Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643498046122286728noreply@blogger.com4