Half Marathon Update: Week 5

Week 5 is O-V-E-R...and I have never been so happy!!!  Denver got buried in snow this last weekend, so I had to spend my long run on the awful fabulous treadmill!  There was a time that I hated running outside...my fingers would swell into vienna sausages, my lungs would burn, people would see me "jiggle", and I would just plain stink when I was done, but now I can't stand that dreadmill treadmill and I love the great outdoors!!!  I like to think of it as my huge gym that doesn't have walls and endless possibilities!!!!

Week 5:
Monday: Strength & Stretching...good ol' Jillian never fails me!
Tuesday: 4 miles
Wednesday: 2 miles:  I ran this 2 miles in pretty chilly weather and the moment I was done it started snowing!
Thursday: I was supposed to run 4 miles, but I had friends in town and we were headed up to Steamboat, so I took the day off.
Friday: REST...and I skied for about 6 hours instead!  My legs were killin' me!
Saturday: 40 min. cross training:  I skied for another 6 hours...and well my legs were JELL-O!!!!
Sunday: 6 miles...well I drove 6 hours back from Steamboat on treacherous roads...so I didn't do a damn thing when I got home.  I did my 6 miles on Monday...on the treadmill....ugggg!!!  It sucked, but I accomplished it!!!  The trails and roads were snow-packed so I didn't have a choice!!! :)

Not so excited about the 6 miles on the treadmill...but I DID IT!!!

5 plus

1=SIX!!!! 

Week 5...D-O-N-E

Skiing in the 'Boat

This weekend one of my best friends from college and her boyfriend came to CO to go skiing!  We ended up in Steamboat and had a great time!!  The snow was amazing!!!

Our condo was amazing and the lift tickets super cheap...it helps to know people!!  A big thanks to Beau's cousin!!!  She saved us some mega bucks!!!  I had never been to Steamboat, and I loved it!  The ski resort was big, the town was cute, and the snow was beautiful!! We even ate some amazing food!!!

I always dread going skiing until I get there...I hate the ski boots, they are the most uncomfortable boots I have ever put on my feet and then to put them on the second day when you are sore is just torture.  I get major anxiety about getting off the lift, getting on the lift and riding it is nothing, but getting off that thing is just horrible...I don't like being close to anyone as they get off and well, that's just not possible, I am scared I'm gonna fall and be that person that stops the lift, I'm nervous that I won't get out of the way in time and the people behind me will run into me...and the list can go on and on!!!  I am deathly afraid that I am going to fall and break something while skiing...the first day I am so tense because I don't wanna fall and the second day I get a little more comfortable and pick up the speed!!!  After I get the hang of it again, I enjoy it {except those damn boots}!

Getting ready to hit the slopes!!!  The first day was a great powder day!!!

Of course each day ended with a beer!!! Yes, my hand was FREEZING in this pic!

At the top of the gondola!!!  Pictures don't do the views justice!  It was beautiful!

Beer Break!!!!

With the valley in the background!

Karisa and I!

Brunch in the 'Boat!!! One of the best Chai tea's I have ever had!

So, while we were sleeping the last night in Steamboat, Denver was getting buried in snow! It took us 6 hours to get from Steamboat to the Denver airport...a trip that should have only taken 3 hours!  It was horrible!  Karisa and Beau's flight for this morning was already cancelled yesterday afternoon so they got on the 9pm flight last night!  Thank goodness they could get out of CO and not miss anymore work even if it was to cut their vacation a few hours short!

I missed Miss Mia something fierce!  She stayed with my neighbor who I think loves her more than I do!  I know that all her needs were met beyond expectations, but it doesn't take away the fact that I miss my little four legged princess!!  I was happy to see her last night and she showed me she was happy too by peeing as I picked her up!  She slept on my lap all night long!  It was a great trip, but I'm always glad to be home no matter where I go!

Can't wait until ski trip 2014!!!!

Half Marathon Update: week 4

Week 4 has come and gone...thank goodness!!!  I have been training for my half marathon for a month now, and I feel great!!!  There have been runs that have been difficult, runs that have been easy, strength days that I have despised, rest days that I look forward to, but all in all this training has taken me to places that I never knew I could go!  I told me sister this weekend that I kind of wish I would have found the love of running long before now!  With all the difficult days I have endured, I have found an inner strength that I never knew I had!

Week 4:
Monday: Strength & Stretching...I spent an hour with Jillian Michaels.  I have increased the time I spend with the good ol' JM!!!!
Tuesday: 3.5 miles
Wednesday: 2 miles
Thursday:  I was supposed to do 3.5 miles, but with traveling to KS for the weekend, I didn't get it in and I felt guilty about it.
Friday: REST...I was going to run the 3.5 miles that I was supposed to run on Thursday, but I didn't :( womp, womp....
Saturday: 40 minutes cross training...my little sister picked me up at 8am from my mom & dad's and we hit the gym.  I did 10 minutes of sprints on the treadmill and 30 minutes on the elliptical.
Sunday: 5 miles....I did this even though the run was not fun AT ALL!!!!!!!

It was 62 degrees out, and my face is red...you would have thought that it was 100 degrees!

5 miles...D-O-N-E!!!!!

I was definitely faking this smile and thumbs-up....those 5 miles were hard!!!

Week 4....D-O-N-E!!!!

This saying is one that keeps me going!!! 

8 more weeks until ROCK THE PARKWAY!!!! :)

A Very Hungry Caterpillar Baby Shower

On Thursday, I headed to the airport to pick up my older sister who was flying in from Sioux Falls, SD...after I was 2 hours and 15 minutes late from over sleeping, I finally made it to DIA!!!  We headed east to western KS for my little sister's baby shower!

My older sister, Jera and I along with 4 other ladies hosted a Very Hungry Caterpillar baby shower for my little sister!!!  It was so fun getting together with life long friends, aunts, cousins, sister-in-laws, mom's, and grandma's!!! My little sister's husband's family is great and are so fun fun to be with!

The food lay out...super cute!!!

Caterpillar cupcakes!!!!

The shower was at 1 pm so we had an ice cream sundae buffet with cupcakes and punch!  The shower was at one of my mom's friends gorgeous house!  I love shower's that are held at homes because they are so much more personal.

Going through the food line!!

Grandma's and mommy of baby boy Goetz!!!

Opening the never ending pile of presents!

Mommy Tori and the 6 hostess'!

Mommy Tori and her sister-in-laws!

Sisterly love!!! 

I can't wait until the beginning of April when I become and auntie again!!!  Looking forward to holding yet another nephew in my arms!!!  

Liebster Award

I was nominated for the Liebster Award by Kay at Best Intentions.  The Liebster Award is for bloggers with under 200 followers to, I guess get to know the blogger! 

There are rules for this apparently..

1. The nominee must list 11 facts about themselves
2. The nominee must answer the 11 questions asked by the nominator
3. The nominee must nominate 11 other bloggers with less than 200 followers

So here we go..

Facts about Allison:

1. I had a huge gap between my two front teeth when I was a child and spent about 4 years wearing braces.

2. I love owls.

3.  I went to Rome this summer and was about 20 ft. from Pope Benedict

4.  I have only lived in Denver for a year and a half and I don't ever plan to leave!  I love this place!

5.  My grandma taught me to crochet 6 months before she died and I still crochet.  I never want to lose the skill because I have fond memories of my grandma sitting in her chair with her poodle beside her whipping out afghans.

6. I am addicted to Bold and the Beautiful! Currently I am really disliking Hope!!!

7.  When I use a pen for the first time, I have to use the same pen until the ink is out.  I will dig through my work bag until I find the pen that I used the last time I was at work, before I use the one that it sitting on top.

8.  I loved going deer and coyote hunting with my grandpa and dad when I was a little girl!

9.  I only sleep on one side of the bed and I don't roll around.  I don't even take the decorative pillows off the other side.

10.  I am the New Member Education advisor for the Rho chapter of Delta Zeta.

11.  I am particular with my shampoo and conditioner...2 pumps out of each every time I wash my hair because they have to have the same about in the bottles at all times! I pick the bottles up every day to make sure they feel the same weight!

Questions from Kay:

1.  What was the first blog you started reading?  Mama Laughlin, she is so inspiring!!!  Her blog is the first on that I have ever read from start to end!  It took me a while, but I was so inspired by her!!
2. If you were another person, why would you be friends with you? There are times that I would not be friends with myself...but I think that everyone has those moments!!!  Sometimes I have to sit down with myself and tell myself that I am not being the person I want to be.  But, I would be friends with me because I am easy going, dedicated, and I love life! 
3. What's the story behind your name?  I did a blog about this...check it out {HERE}
4. If you had an unlimited budget and could travel anywhere for 1 week, where would you go? Australia
5. Do you have a special talent? I mentioned this in the facts about me above...but I would have to say crocheting!
6. What is your favorite TV show? How I Meet your Mother!!!  Gotta love Barney!! I'm also addicted to reality TV!!!
7. Most embarrassing moment?  I would have to say the time when a little toot escaped my behind when I was in a patient's room at work...it was silent, but oh so smelly and the patient was mortified that it slipped out of her...and well, I let her believe it!  I was NOT owning up to that one!!!  {Insert red face here!!!!!}
8. What's hidden under you bed?  Probably a dog bone or 10...Mia hides under there when I am in the shower...but I don't store anything under my bed! 
9. Describe the last dream you remember having. Gosh, I really don't recall any dreams at the moment!
10. What is the next planned event you're looking forward to?  My baby sister's baby shower this weekend and a 5 day trip the mountains with an old college friend next week!
11. What is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?  I would have to say the things that I do at work on a daily basis...to me it's just my job, but if the roles were reversed and I was the patient or family member, I would say that the things a nurse does are very kind...even if it is wiping a poopy butt!!!!  {That should be the kindest thing I have ever done :)} 

My Nominations:

1. Our not-so-shabby Life

2. Macke Monologues

3. The Bosley's

4. The Vanhorn Family

5. The Widgeon Nest

6. KTJ Weighing In

7. Elisha Run Run Run

8. Late Blooming Girl

9. Erica's Running Journey

10. PG Sisters

11. Less of me More to life

Questions for the Nominees:

1.  What is your favorite childhood memory?

2.  What are you most proud of in your life?

3.  What is your favorite holiday?

4.  How are the clothes in your closest organized?

5.  Why did you start your blog?

6.  What was your favorite performance on the Grammy's? {Mine was Maroon 5 and Alicia Keyes, I watched it more than I want to admit!}

7.  What kind of laundry detergent do you use?

8.  What did you think about Beyonce's Super Bowl performance?

9.  What is your favorite meal to make?

10.  What is your biggest pet peeve?

11.  What is your favorite app on your phone?

READY...SET...GO.......

Half Marathon Update: Week 3

Today I finished week 3 of my half marathon training!!!  I had to run 5 miles today, and it felt sooooo good!!! {I will tell you that I never thought that I would say running any amount of time would feel so good!}

This week looked like this:
Monday: Strength & Stretching...I spent yet, another Monday with good ol' Jillian
Tuesday: 3.5 miles
Wednesday: 2 miles
Thursday: 3.5 miles
Friday: REST...I was never so glad to see this day come!!  I needed that rest day so bad this week!
Saturday: 40 min. of cross training:  it was snowing off and on so I went to the gym and did the elliptical....I can't wait to get back on my bike!
Sunday: 5 miles...it was a cold one!

This week was a good week overall...however, I never looked forward to the rest day more than I did this week!  My legs were just tired...but it was a great rest day!!!  I never used to have a favorite day of the week because my schedule is different every week, but now that Friday's are my rest day it is the most favorite and looked forward to day of the week!!!

Pounding out those 5 miles!!!

5 miles...D-O-N-E!!!!

It's important to read the "feels like 29 degrees F"!  It was a cold one!!!  There were even snow flurries while I was running today!

When I ran by these SOB's the first time & they hissed at me...I was ready for a throw down, but they decided that they better not mess with me!!! {Thank goodness!!!  I sound all tough, but they give me a little  A LOT of anxiety as I run by them!!!}

Week 3...D-O-N-E!!!!!

I felt this this fitted today since it was flurrying & cold while I was running!!! :)

What's in my name?

Today, I am linking up with Amanda at My Very Own Modern Family for What's in the name?.  A link-up to describe why you were named what you were, and how you chose the names of your children, pets, etc....

My parents chose Allison Jo for me 29 years ago and I have to say that I love my name.  I always remember my mom always saying that her dad told her to name your children a name they can live with when they are adults.  I was named Allison after my mom's mother Alice!  I have to say that I am proud to be named after my grandma who is the winner of the Best Grandma Around...Hands Down!  {we made sweatshirts for my grandma and grandpa one Christmas with our handprints on them and that saying} Jo came from my dad's father who's name was Joseph...he passed away in 1979, 4 years before I was born.  My mom swore that she knew I was going to be a boy, so my name was Joseph, but I came out a girl!  However, I still get to claim the Jo name of my grandpa that I never knew.

Since I don't have children, but I do have an adorable little dog I will tell you how I got her name!  I got Mia the same day that my little sister got her dog.  In fact, our dogs are sisters!  {And they love each other!}  Mia is a yorkie and was the runt of the 3 puppy litter weighing in at 1.1 pound when I picked her up.  For, a couple days prior to getting our dogs my sister and I were trying to come up with names and she wanted the names to go together!  I wanted Dolce, but she didn't like Gabana, I wanted Mille & Tillie, but she didn't want Millie, and then I came up with Mia & Gia.  As we were driving home the puppies were in my lap and she looked over at them and said, "Oh, the smaller one looks like a little Mia."  {I wanted to name her Gia!!!} I shot back with, "Why, because you want Gia?" And I got this sly little grin from my sister.  But, she was right!  Mia fits her to a tee and Gia fits her dog!

Miss Mia could be in a salmon commercial right?????

Mia & Gia

Superbowl 2013

Superbowl 2013....great friends, great bar, great beer, great prizes, great food!!!  What a day we had!!!

I have been so good the last month on what I consume and counting the calories...but yesterday I had a cheat day and I needed it!!!  That blue moon and fried pickles never tasted so good!!!

I met my friends at Stoney's to watch the Superbowl on their 51 flat screen TV's and we had a great time!!!  Our friend Chris won the grand prize that was given away at halftime...a 50' flat screen TV with a surround sound!  He was pretty pumped!

I have to say that Jennifer Hudson with the Sandy Hook elementary kids were a tear jerker...and Jennifer, she looks fabulous!!!  I love her!!  I wish I could look that good in the white pencil skirt she wore!!!

And then we have Sasha Fierce....damn that girl has some legs!!!  I want to cut them off of her and attach them to my body!!!  I loved the Destiny's Child reunion!!!

Looking a little pale next to Miss Sabra!

After the Super Bowl we decided we weren't ready to go home, so we went to a bar in downtown Denver called 1-UP...you got it, it was full of video games...PacMan, pinball, Mortal Combat...you name it and it was there!!!  It was like being a kid again!!!

Playing 4 man PacMan

Rosa beat me as we shot buffalo...but hey, she goes to the shooting range and shoots reals guns!

Sabra loved this Adams Family pinball machine!!!

This Sunday night lasts way longer than it should have, but what do you get when you put 4-5 night shift nurses together...well we have late nights on random days!  And we LOVE it!!!  

Half Marathon Update: Week 2

Well, week 2 of this crazy half marathon training is in the books, and I have never felt so good!!  I love crossing the days off my training program, there is something about grabbing that marker and getting those days out of the way!!

This week looked like this:
Monday: Strength & Stretching (I spent this day with Jillian Michaels again!  Love and hate her)
Tuesday: 3 mile run
Wednesday: 2 mile run
Thursday: 3 mile run + strength
Friday: REST...and boy did I rest...I needed it this week!
Saturday: 30 min. of cross training...it was nice to get on the elliptical for something different!
Sunday: 4 mile run
I had to run inside on the treadmill for the majority of this week expect Sunday due to the weather.  It snowed and was cold so I was accompanied by the dreadmill that I HATE!!!!

For my 4 miles yesterday I had a running partner!  My good friend Rosa is a new runner too and she joined me!  We start out together and then get our own pace going and meet at the end!!!

Coming up on Miss Rosa!!!

Look at that smiling face as she pounds out the miles too!!!

I run next to the Platte River and I am constantly jumping over and avoiding goose poop...and whenever I am running and the geese are on the grass on the side of the trail I get a moment of anxiety that one of them is going to attack me...and Lord, help the goose that decides I am his next victim!  

Pounding out those miles!!!

4 miles: D-O-N-E

Week 2...crossed off!!!  10 more weeks!!!! {Don't you love my rainbow themed cross off??}