30 before 30

Over the weekend, I received a care package of novels from my super sweet sister-in-law to hold me over while I continue to wear my aircast. Sunday, I started and finished one of the books, The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski. It was such a charming book about a woman who survived a car accident and sets out to accomplish a list she found in the wallet of her dead friend's 20 things to do before she turns 25.

I was so inspired I decided to make a list of my own things to accomplish - 30 before 30. Nothing new or groundbreaking, these are a combination of things I've never done, started and never completed, or maybe have done but would like to take it to the next level (for example: I've made a very basic quilt/lap blanket, but here I'd like to make a fancy, detailed, huge quilt). I have until November of 2014, so I'll have plenty of time to reach for the more life-changing goals (like, ahem, have a baby). I'll periodically do updates and have the list posted on the sidebar. These are in no particular order.

30 before 3o

1. Read the Bible

2. Purchase & learn how to use a a Canon Rebel or similar camera

3. Watch my sister play piano live in a concert at the college level

4. Run a half marathon

5. Make a fancy quilt

6. Ride a motorcycle

7. Visit Victoria B.C.

8. Play a round of golf with my husband

9. Start & finish our downstairs decorating

10. Put together our wedding photo album

11. Successfully make something with rhubarb

12. Stop drinking pop

13. Get a massage

14. Go camping

15. Do 20 real push ups

16. Attend a cooking class

17. Ride a bicycle

18. Have a baby

19. Teach my husband to speak Spanish

20. Learn to make my Grandma's Queso Fresco

21. Go to a hockey game

22. Pay off my credit card

23. Watch all the Harry Potter films

24. Eat fried green tomatoes

25. Learn to knit

26. Not eat out for an entire month

27. Throw a baby shower for one of my girlfriends

28. Have a tea party

29. Get promoted to Construction Manager

30. Buy a lotto ticket

Do you have any long term goals?

Bridesmaids' Dresses Round 1

One of my best friends is recently engaged and wowie, the wedding is in early spring! She had us order this dress from JCrew. I'm not sure if they are going to work out because they didn't have a lot of sizes left, but oh I hope hope hope it works out! I may be keeping this dress even if she doesn't choose it :)

Me + You

So cute, I found this adorable Etsy shop, la happy, which belongs to the sister of a fellow construction management friend of mine. Love her stuff, it's free shipping in the US and oh, she has a wedding collection coming soon too!

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Awesome.

I visited a podiatrist this morning about some severe pain I was having in what I thought was my achilles. Turns out my posterior tibial tendon is inflammed and I get to wear this boot for the next month. Yeehaw.

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After some huffing and puffing this morning (and I'm not sure I got all of the pouting out quite yet), I've realized a few things.

1)I caught it early enough my excercising career is not over forever. One month of downtown is not the end of the world.

2) I have the best husband ever as he already has plans to set me up with some books to read for all my downtime and

3) After the tendon is healed (fingers crossed) I will get orthotics for my high arches which will hopefully prevent this from happening again. I teased my husband that we can be "Orthotics Twins" now (he has a pair for his flat feet).

Any good book recommendations?

A Garden Affair

This past weekend, my old college roommate and I had a bridal shower for one of our other college roommates. It was a surprise for the bride - all she knew (or thought she knew) was that the three of us were getting together to do something girlie. I made up these invitations and mailed them out to a few of her closest family and friends.
She showed up a little early to the party, but was stunned none-the-less. Her mom, sister, and best friend drove down from Seattle to celebrate the occassion. I forgot to take pictures of the food spread, but we had cucumber tea sandwiches, ciabattas with either ham or turkey, greek salad, pasta salad, florentine salad, veggies, baguettes with hummus and cupcakes! Everyone got souvenirs of canned jam I had previously made- cherry jam, strawberry jam, or tayberry jam. The start of a quilt her future mother-in-law is making for the couple. There were a few other pieces put together and it was one of the most detailed designs I'd ever seen!
After opening gifts, we went to a local spa to pamper ourselves with manicures and pedicures.

The atmosphere at this spa was so relaxing - the owner has it decorated much like something straight from Italy. Only a few more weeks until the bride & groom head off to Maui for their wedding!! I hope this little get together made the bride feel so very loved!

working out and stickin' with it!

Earlier this spring, I started working out quite frequently. Many times in the past, I'd exercise a few weeks or so, get burnt out and fall off the band wagon. This time was different - I was working out consistently for at least 2-3 months (a record for me) and even signed up for my first 12k. It was the healthiest I'd felt in my life!

I'd mentioned before that I took a pretty good spill during that 12k and my knee was on the mend for at least a month, putting a damper on my workout routine. Well after a month, then we were super busy being out of town for graduations and such and trying to catch up on housework and laundry during the week. Then I just got downright LAZY.

A few weeks ago, I finally had enough of my couch potato-ways and started walking again and dreadfully showed my face at the gym after 3 long months. Things were finally starting to look up - my coworker and I were walking up to 4.5 miles at lunch everyday and I start feeling the difference in my jeans and extra energy throughout the day.

One very hot day when we were getting ready for our walk, I changed into into a pair of old, worn socks and my beloved New Balance tennis shoes when I developed some pretty knarly blisters on the balls of my feet. I thought, "no big deal, I'll just take the weekend off to let them heal and get back to it on Monday." Monday came around and it got worse. Of course, I didn't want this to be another excuse for me to once again fall off the band wagon, so I pushed myself again on Tuesday - to the point of barely being able to walk. My feet felt like they were on fire!! I'll spare you the details of what I did to those blisters, but now I have to sit around waiting for them to heal completely.

Needless to say, I've had a lot of time to think. My New Balance's have always been a little stiff and I generally always wear my tennis shoes until they are worn out (gasp, 3-4 years), not the average 500 miles that are recommended. It's very likely my shoes played a big part in the blisters considering I've had them over a year (but they still look brand new!). In the back of my mind, I knew I had put a lot of miles on them, so I went out this weekend and bought these new babies! I've never worn anything outside of New Balance. A coworker also gave me some Spyroflex for my blisters (I need to get my hands on some more!). I'm so excited to finally get back on my feet again. There is a 12k this October I'm considering signing up for to help motivate me to get back to it!

Have injuries kept you from your workout routine and if so, what do you do while you're on the mend?