baby commercials rock

Happy Saturday!

five things friday

1. The best thing about my weekend is going to be a haircut. I get a cut ever four months much to the dismay of anyone who is unlucky enough to have me as a customer. But the whole pregnancy thing has made my hair even thicker and exceptionally dry. It's stunning, really.

2. We played the game Wits and Wagers with some friends a couple of weeks ago. Highly recommended.

3. I'm waiting for these shoes to come in the mail. The hubs says he'll love me more not less if I wear them, which is good considering most of my shoes resemble a four-year-old's. This is why we work.

{via Real Mom Kitchen}

4. I'm going to try these parmesan knots this weekend. I haven't made bread in a long time, not that these really count.

5. Guess how many people read this blog on average daily? 150. Less if I write something really boring, a lot more if I post a picture of my belly. Weird right? Anyway, you should follow me if you aren't already. Because it makes me feel nice inside plus it's less creepy than being an underground reader who can't admit it. The button is up there, on the right side under "Follow Me." Do it!

sarah the grouch

I'm grumpy.

I hate being a landlord.

I am frustrated that there are selfish and rude people in this world. Specifically my world which seems to have a disproportionate amount of them.

I hate my knee and its cheap effort.

I'm mad that my wedding ring makes my finger itch. Shea promises it's not from a vending machine.

I'm annoyed that I lost in Fantasy Football by three points. Even more annoyed that I actually care.

On the up side, I finally found canned pumpkin!

$1.29/can well worth it.

I'll be back to normal blogging when I get over myself.

random friday: tears and drooling

I'm having a very happy Friday mostly fueled by the knowledge three days of fun are ahead.

I started my day watching this video via A Cup of Jo. And then cried at my desk.

Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

But then it got better because I read this article about how Manhattan, Kan. is a tough atmosphere for opposing football teams. And it made me excited especially considering the weather is supposed to be picture perfect for both my 10-miler and then the game.

And I read this blog post from Paris Pastry with fantastic pictures of yummy treats, which is quite unfortunate for me considering I've sworn off desserts until after the half-marathon leaving me to drool at my desk. (Small caveat:  I am allowed to eat my wedding cake topper with Shea and parents this weekend.)

You should try this super delicious barley salad.

It's been a good week in my world, I hope the same is true of you! We're super busy and getting busier everyday, but I routinely reminded I'm happy to be exactly where I am. It's a good feeling.

random friday: life changes and joe mauer's thighs

I got a haircut yesterday with my new favorite stylist Amy. We talked about what our husbands did for jobs. How we met them. When we got married. What it's like for her to have her son attending preschool for the first time and if it's wise to buy him a backpack. (I voted yes and choose this one.)

Then we talked about who my ob/gyn was, mostly the "gyn" part for me. She told me to switch clinics to the one a floor down from my current doctor. We talked about The Business of Being Born documentary and how she was in labor naturally for 50 hours. FIFTY with no drugs!

We talked about the cost of daycare. Budgeting and living with no cable. Plus what good kid shows are on PBS and instant Netflix.

As I left to pay, I thought "wow, really?" Five years ago my conversations with my hairdresser were about things like what I wanted to be when I grew up and how I thought I could live in a crappy apartment in NYC as long as on weekends I could visit Central Park.

I wouldn't change my current life for anything. But wow.

In other news:
- Running has been hard. For the first mile, my legs always feel stiff and heavy. And it's really really hot. I've run a few times on the treadmill and realized how much easier that is and how unprepared I'd feel if I didn't train outside - an activity I used to thoroughly hate.

- The six-day heat advisory ends tonight! Hallelujah!  Correction: The heat advisory was extended ANOTHER day through late Saturday. We're supposed to expect "even more oppressively humid day." I'm mad but I am not sure at who. We'll be in Minnesota next week where the high is only supposed to be 72. Possibly even chilly!

- This weekend we have a friend visiting from Minnesota. I love having an excuse to explore and try new restaurants.

- Turns out, the Yankees baseball team works out at our gym when they are in town. So do the Twins. What?! I'm totally skipping work one day to lift weights with Joe Mauer and his massive thighs.

- Links for you to check out because that's what my Friday blog posts are for:

• Life lessons on a chalkboard
• Luckily I have changed my running route otherwise I would have most definitely ran past this.
• Insanely beautiful new high school. This is what happens when your taxpayers are rich.
• If you haven't seen it already, watch this kitten video.
• And of course, a yummy recipe.

Have a wonderful and fabulous weekend!

dear body double, please do the following:

1. Go to the dentist.
I hate the dentist. When I was little, my childhood dentist had to carry me from the waiting room to the chair because I would. not. go. If it were still socially acceptable, I would do this today. When I got my wisdom teeth out after college, the two dry sockets I had weaned me of some of my fears. Really, could I experience anything worse at the dentist than cleaning my raw, exposed nerve with cold water? Shea still had to come and hold my hand when I had a crown last year. I don't like the taste. I don't like the awkward conversation. And I do not like people touching my face.

2. Mat my pictures. For free, please.

My mom and I tried to mat the pictures I bought on Etsy for the bedroom decorating adventure. The edges frayed. A lot. So the outside edges will be fine but now I need someone to cut the square hole for my pictures. So complicated for a simple project.

3. Speedwork training.
I am feeling very studly after my 7.5 mile run on Sunday morning. And accomplished with barely any walk breaks. However, in order to increase my pace I need to do speedwork, and I don't wanna. So please body double, run really fast in short bursts. Over and over. And try some hills while you're at it. Then put your aching shins in ice cold water when you're done. Thanks.


4. Research primary voting options.
I've been bad. I try to vote on all voting days. But every time I move, it means figuring out the politics. Researching the candidates. Researching what the heck that extra sales tax is for. Figuring out my new polling place. I feel like an irresponsible voter if I go and check random boxes. It was much easier in my hometown when I went to high school with a candidate's kid or remembered when they were on the school board. All I know is that the primary election is tomorrow, and I live in a state where races are actually competitive. 


5. Take my first grad class for me.
It's statistical analysis and quantitative research design, and it starts in three weeks. The grad classes I enjoy are the ones where we discuss white privilege, leadership in challenging situations or the meaning of life. Not numbers.

What do you wish a body double would do for you this month?

random friday: alpha, bravo and ugly art

I've decided Fridays are my lazy blogging, sharing links with you, saying whatever I want days. Hopefully you don't get lost in my ramblings.

Can you recite the ICAO alphabet? Try it out here.  I got four. I take issue with Sierra for S. There are multiple ways that could be spelled and not all would involve S.

I want to see Ramona and Beezus. But I have no little girls to steal and I love Shea enough to not put him through that torture. Though I am not sure how anyone could not LOVE Ramona. So I will wait. The next movies I want to see is Eat, Pray, Love and The Social Network. Yes, a Facebook movie. But it's co-written by Aaron Sorkin (hello, West Wing) meaning failure is unlikely.

I'm really excited to go to this store next week. It's only open once a month, which probably means good things. And we really need something to store our overflow of kitchen items. Oh and overflow of books, clothes, linens, camping equipment. Who knew a girl could lust after storage space?

This is one of my new favorite sites: Awkward Stock Photos. It will brighten your day. Especially if you are feeling suffocated by your lack of storage.

Last night I made Chilaquiles Casserole for my 70-year-old neighbor. It's super delicious and really low calorie. Tonight I'm making barbecued pulled chicken for friends and then banana muffins to take home this weekend. I cannot let black bananas go to waste.

This weekend I am attempting to mat pictures so we can continue on with the bedroom decorating adventure. So far it's involved me holding up old framed paintings and saying "Pleeeeeease can we give this to the poor people?" Followed by me lamenting about how expensive it is to have someone else frame and mat pictures how I want them. I shall take matters into my own (and mother's) hands.

Shea asked me to start a project list otherwise known as honey-do list.

Shea: I want you to make me a project list!

Me: Um. I've got nothing.

Mark this day down in history. You will probably never again hear those words out of either of our mouths. After much thought, I've got this.

Shea's Project List

1. Remove ugly art from apartment and move to storage space.

2. Realize we have no storage and give art to the poor people.

hello weekend!

{Ahh, to be young and in the Smurf pool again...}

Weekend goals

Recover from the effects of a hot, 6.5 mile run (read: cramping and nausea)

Get Chris some Danny Edwards BBQ before he moves to Baltimore. We'll see if it compares to OK Joes.

Improve on my peach-selecting skills at the City Market.

Survive the 105+ heat index.

Organize our important and not so important papers.

Laundry. Blech.

Make some progress on decorating the bedroom. Hobby Lobby, here I come!

Watch some disgusting, mind-numbing episodes of Bones.

Read one of the four books I have started.

Fall asleep on hubby's chest. It's my ambien.

hot, chubby and tired

Here's a little preview of my weekend. Real update coming soon when I locate my camera charger.

In other news:

•  I haven't run since Friday. Instead I ate a lot of ice cream, burgers, bacon, and did I mention ice cream? Today I feel weighed down and bloated. Luckily I wore a big skirt.

• I want to run after work. But the heat index is close to 150,000 degrees (or 110). And it was 93 percent humidity when I left for work. I don't even know why I bother brushing my hair. It just becomes a ridiculously frizzy event.

• Also, I am tired. We drove 6.5 hours last night, returning at midnight, so today I am drinking coffee like it's my job. I'll use the exhaustion and coffee-induced dehydration as more excuses as to why I didn't run.

I'll stop whining. Stay tuned for fun posts!

another happy friday

{I made it. Pretty right?}

Fridays always call for lazy blogging because when I am wearing jeans at work nothing good ever gets done. Instead, here are some random thoughts.

This link made me physically shake at my desk because I was trying to not laugh out loud/pee my pants. If your Friday isn't already perfect, this will help.

Obama got my very favorite barbecue catered on his trip to KC yesterday. Good taste, man. I was hoping he would invite me to eat it with him. He did not.

The reply all feature on Facebook messages is EVIL. I did not loose my phone and do not need your phone number. I should sell your number to insurance companies.

I want the following running gear: FuelBelt, Garmin Forerunner and Body Glide with the latter being the most important. Seriously. It's humid.

I have made spinach salad with mandarin oranges, strawberries, feta cheese and pecans several times this week. I like it with this dressing. I also made the fruit pizza pictured above and learned that trying to do healthy fruit pizza crust is futile. Suck it up and use the cookie dough.

Have a super fun summer weekend!

fridays are always happy

To make you question your decision to have kids, click here.

To help you understand how the new financial bill affects you.

To track your running/walking/biking work outs.

To check out some other gals' stories about life and running, check out this blog and this blog.

To read about a newspaper that still holds on to good journalism ethics, check this out.

To take you back to your childhood, remember this?

Finally, this dog video will make you laugh out loud. Guaranteed.

five of five

Five things I am reading:
1. My Real Simple magazine.
2. This super fun comic that accurately explains my current work life.
3. Wonkette, my favorite political blog which makes me laugh out loud. Which leads to embarrassment.
4. The Reason for God, as part of our church small group.
5. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King.

Five things I am eating:
1. Peaches. Grapes. Watermelon. Anything that tastes amazing in the summer.
2. Couscous. I love it. Usually with lemon juice, basil and sliced cucumbers.
3. Homemade guacamole. Our first attempt and definitely a win. We used an Oprah recipe.
4. Chicken breasts with feta and grape tomatoes. Amaaaaazing. Make it.
5. Coffee from beans we bought at Mud Street Cafe in Arkansas. Yum!

Five things I am obsessing about: 
1. Etsy. I love it especially since I have become a strong advocate against white walls in our bedroom. You can see my favorites here.
2. Farmer's Markets. We have a great one here in Kansas City called City Market. This week we're trying a more neighborhood version in the Westport Plaza area.
3. Running outside. I've been a treadmill girl. This morning I ran five miles outside and fell in love. Plus I met some crazy characters not to include the 50 men outside the plasma donation center vying for spots in line.
4. Trader Joe's women's formula vitamins. They make my nails thick and grow like weeds.
5. Our new church. Love it. Love the people. Love the message. Love the service.

Five things I am thankful for:
1. Hot weather. I like 90s. It's like the earth is grabbing me in a big, comfy blanket.
2. My neighbors who remind me that stopping a second to talk means something.
3. No cable, more talking.
4. My space heater at work to offset the 65-degree work environment I am subjected to.
5. Dental insurance as we are now on root canal number two.

Five movies I watched recently:
1. Young Victoria. Liked it.
2. Havoc. Good acting by Anne Hathaway. But I care about your peace of mind, so I cannot recommend it.
3. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. I imagine this is only good if you're on drugs.
4. Invictus. Love, love, loved it.
5. Away We Go. Weird but good. But weird.