Sure

I'm not at my goal weight as previously hoped for by husband's graduation. In fact, I've gained 1.5 lbs since last week--even though I've been running my ass off (literally--8.3 on Saturday, 6.25 this AM).

Sure.

(I don't really want to talk about it. I actually burst into tears on the scale this morning. For real.)

My dogs are at the groomers today. It's raining.

Sure.

Our pool filter broke over the weekend. We were told it would be $100 to fix the broken piece.

$300 later and 2 hours of my husband fighting with it, we think our pool might be swimable by this weekend.

Sure.

My family arrives tomorrow for Graduation Birthday Weekend Extravaganza. My house is a mess.

Sure.

This week is honestly the busiest and most important week of my year. I'll be up at 5:30 AM literally every day until Sunday.

Sure.

Thank goodness Memorial Day is just around the corner.

"Keep calm, and carry on" (and, rely on lots of Diet Coke, obvi).

How do you cope with the stressies??

Golden Girl

Earlier this week, my husband reminded me that this year will be my Golden Birthday.

And I literally burst into tears.

Literally.

All soppy, wet, emotioanl tears.

Over a birthday. Gah, you'd think I was turning 50 or something.

Thing is, I remember--not that long ago--thinking of how awesome my Golden Birthday would be. I'd be a grown up, do grown up things, have grown up friends, a kick ass career, an amazing home, and I'd get to sit there all smug at my birthday and re-hash all the amazingness I had amounted in my years (I am not sublte, am I?).

(this of course was when I was dead set that a year after college, my mama and I would take off and travel the world. Did this happen? Not so much. Have I traveled the world? Not so much. Have I traveled I-10 half way across the country too many times to count? Yup.)

So, as it dawned on me that in a mere 6 months my Golden Birthday will be upon us, I have decided it is high time to start planning, seeing as my last birthday, in which I deemed "Birthday Month" kind of sucked in general, we will make Golden Birthday Month awesome (mark my words. Dallas girls, get ready).

And in the spirit of making things awesome, I have decided something (very insane, by the way).

I will run a full marathon before my birthday (and by "run", I mean pull and drag myself across the finish line).

Now I realize that all the runners out there just gasped and freaked out because there's just no way I can train myself in time, well guess what? I'm going to try.

I've got to have something to gloat about at my birthday, and this my friends, may just be the kick in the pants I need to remind myself to accomplish all those awesome things I thought I would by my birthday (even if it doesn't include children, boo!).

I also blame RunnersWorld for advertising a marathon in one of my favorite cities just days before my birthday. It was a sign I tell you.

So there. I've put it out there.

I've committed to it.

I've got to do it.

(well, it was either this or a local marathon in December, but, my birthday is in November, ya see).

Wish me luck.

4.82 miles down this AM. 500 billion to go.

ETA: Your Golden Birthday is when you turn the age of the date of your birthday. Ex: If you're born on the 21st, then turning 21 would be your Golden Birthday, etc.

Summer Diet(s)

While I'm sure that the best of us are out there doing our WW, South Beach and Mediterranean diets to look awesome in that expensive bikini we purchased in efforts to spur us into action (I would know nothing about this, of course), I have come to learn that this summer, there may be a new diet for SP.

And it does not include dairy.

Bite me.

I developed some lovely issues about 6 (um, I totally just typed 5 and then had to do a re-take--sad!) years ago when I moved out here. I blame the pasteurization process in different states, but, we'll never know.

I managed for years. I've managed and been able to re-introduce small portions of my favorite food group (ice cream has both dairy and sugar, the best of both worlds) and not really worry about it except on rare occasions where I knew there would be food I couldn't eat.

I never dreamed that fancy expensive cheese pita from a lovely restaurant would send all this to a grinding halt. But, it did.

So, in efforts to quell my growing waistline, and constant bout of nausea, I'll try ditching the dairy (again).

Mind you, I loathe soymilk. Loathe it. I did the whole "I'm soy!" thing for like 2 years and hated every damn day of it. I love yogurt. And pudding. And....

So, here goes.

Day 1. (not like I'm going to actually try to keep track or anything, it just seemed dramatic)

Let's see how long I last before going into a dairy free coma. (I'm guessing 3 days--any other guesses?)

(and yes, I take Lactaid, and yes, I've had the Lactose free milk--gah)

Hey, at least maybe I'll lose those last few pounds!

Here's hoping.

Musings & Monday

1. Remind me that I have digestive issues and cannot, repeat cannot eat all willy nilly when I'm having a rough day. That was Friday. Am still recovering.
2. On that note, really want to work from home today.
3. Ran on Saturday--yay!
4. We bought new bookcases for the house, some fun throw pillows, art for the walls (yay!), fun candleholders for the upstairs bathroom (aka, the bathroom I pretend we don't have because I hate it), and I treated myself to an awesome new sports bra....When the girls are happy... (um, yeah, bank account balance? notsomuch)
5. We finally ventured out and saw a movie--it has been months I tell you, months, but, we removed our hermit shells and went out to see Wolverine. Can I just tell you how much fun we had? It was a rather intense movie, but, hottie mchotterson Hugh Jackman--whew. Would see it again in heartbeat.
6. I also ran 6 miles this AM before work--whoot! My feet are friggin' killing me, but, my hips and thighs say "thank you" (mainly because of said willy nilly eating habits).
7. Can Hugh Jackman please make more movies? Like, right now? Great, thanks.
8. One of the women I work with is going on a mini vacation for Memorial Day to my great homestate--as I was telling her all the places to go, it suddenly hit me: I'm homesick. Something I haven't been (or even thought of) in over 5 years. But, last Friday, it was all I had not to call American and buy a ticket. Sheesh. Although, I think it might just be the food I miss (and my BFFFFFFFFFF who's still there. Loser).
9. I really need new shoes--new work shoes to be exact. The pavers at my work tear up the heels on my shoes like nothing I've ever had before. So annoying!
10. Oh, I also broke down and bought leggings for the graduation ensemble. I still don't think I'm a leggings person, but, now I can at least wear the dress! Ha.

Well my darlings, I better skedaddle--I've got to try a peg someone down for an AM meeting if I want any hope of working from home later today.

Have great Monday!

Because I live such an exciting life

Here's what today looks like:

• Wake up at 5:30 to get to the gym by 6 AM and get one of the good treadmills (I have issues)
• Run 4.25 painfully terrible miles (I think it's safe to say I've learned my lesson and will not be going back to the body sculpt class led by the 80 lb Salma Hayek twin)
• Work, work, work
• Lunch with work BFF and Queen Bee of the office for Queen Bee's birthday (um, lunches out excite me more than they should)
• Panic because Accounts Payable and I are having issues re: my company credit card (prayers, please! This could go on my credit report!)
• Hopefully resolve said AP issues
• Boss and manager in meeting from 2-5PM
• Leave at 4:40? Me? Never
• Dinner with the husband (that I cook)
• Possible movie night--um, hi, Wolverine? Yeah, I'll see it. You know my love of the Hugh Jackman

See, I told you my life is totally exciting and awesome. Sheesh.

(what I didn't tell you is that after my run tomorrow, I'll be schlepping the husband to HomeGoods and Target to purchase final touches for the house before the entire freaking family shows up in three weeks. I'm not panicked or anything... No... Not me....Gah, I cannot wait to have the damn house finished. We've lived there for a year, but, whatevs.....)

Anyone else have an amazingly awesome Friday/weekend planned?

XOXO

Loves!

365 Days

Well hello there, darlings. I have some news.

Are you ready? (brace yourselves)

It's my 1-year "blog-o-versary".

Yep, I've been yapping away about Target, chocolate, books, men with accents, good TV, dieting and well, many other things for 365 days. Thank you all for joining me on this journey.

Let's do a brief re-cap, shall we?

In the past 365 days, I have....

-Gone to Galveston with our best friends--and scored an awful sunburn

-Hosted a 4th of July cookout

-took over editing at my job

-moved offices 3 times (and got booted to a desk for the ongoing forever future)

-saw Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn in concerts

-went to London

-had a birthday

-lost two teeth

-hosted Thanksgiving

-hosted Christmas

-rekindled my love of running

-joined WW

-lost 10 lbs

-lost a Hanna

-gained an Ella Mae

-dined with Cinderella

-went red (no regrets!)

-found time to cook

-discovered that I love being at home with friends and family more than anything

-hosted an Easter Egg Hunt

-enrolled and finished one Italian class

-enrolled and dropped out of another Italian class (yeah, I did not do so well this semester--work has taken over my life)

-enrolled in my first graduate certificate class (starts in September!--which means, no Italian until next March--BOO!)

-worked on my book (not enough!)

-made some incredible blog friends

-made some incredible real life friends (hi guys!)

-cleaned out my closet (um, several times)

-signed up for a race

-designed jewelry (but no so much with the selling of it... boo!)

...And many other lovely things that run the gamat from awesome, to mundane (we all have those).

Let's hope the next 365 days are even better.

I've loved getting to know so many of you and hope to enjoy the next year of blogging with you all as well!

Happy Thursday!

(or, in my world, Happy Night The Office is On--duh)

Running on empty

Literally and figuratively, I suppose.

With the extra miles I've been logging, I'm constantly hungry and having a bear of a time sticking to my WW points. Anyone have any advice for me? Help! I gotta reach that goal weight by the husband's graduation (May 16th, kids).

Last Friday marked the beginning of what can only be described as Hell Month (Hell 3 Weeks?) for me.

So busy and working so hard that by 3 PM I am done. Getting here at 7:50 doesn't really help matters. But! It's job security people, I do the crap that no one else wants to do, so, there.

I'm counting down the days (milliseconds?) until it ends--until then, I suspect lots of Diet Coke, many mini Twix bars stolen from downstairs office (this could explain the weight gain) and lots of passing out at 8 PM. I'm so freaking cool. Gosh, being a grown up is awesome.

Friday was particularly hellacious. So much so that I seriously thought I was not going to make it through the evening (yay work events!). Another co worker and I both had other things going on Friday night which made both of us just pleased as punch.

Conversation with her Monday morning.

SP: "So, how was volunteering Friday night after work?"

Fabulous Co-Worker: "Oh, just grrrreat."

SP: "My night too."

F C-W: "Oh no, it's OK, for dinner when I got home I had half a bottle of champagne, and a pint of ice cream."

SP: "Good girl."

She totally made my Monday.

It would have been even better if it was fancy shamancy champagne from work event, but, I'm sure she's too honest for that. However, in my mind, it totally was the fancy shamancy stuff.

Happy Wednesday y'all--it's almost the weekend!

Musings & Monday

1. I totally kicked my 8 mile run's ass. As in, I ran 8.51 miles. (and kinda felt like superwoman for the rest of the day) I am convinced that I can not only run my half marathon later this summer, but, totally kick it's ass too. Sweet.
2. Spent an insane amount of time hopping between World Market, Pier 1 and Target on Saturday trying to find good deals on things to spruce up mi casa for graduation weekend funtivities.
3. Managed to bring front porch flower pot back to life--but, managed to kill window sill African Violet. Sure.
4. Ran before work today. I don't really like eating breakfast at my desk....
5. Bought a small bunch of bananas on Friday that were totally 100% not anywhere near ripe. Today? Super ripe. How? And why are there never super ripe bananas at the grocery store? Do we as shoppers really just buy all the bananas that quickly therefor they cannot ripen on store shelves? Or is there some kind of banana recyling program going on at grocery stores that we consumers are unaware of? (these are the things I think about)
6. Holy yum: Yoplait 100 Calorie Thick and Creamy Cinnamon Roll Yogurt. Seriously, holy yum.
7. It's rainy and stormy out: the perfect day to stay in bed. Or just at home. Boo. Good thing we're having pot roast for dinner--the perfect rainy day meal.
8. I really need a day off. Memorial Day cannot come fast enough--but, I'm running a race that day, so, it's really not a day off anyway. Bleh.
9. BFF A had her baby on Friday night. I can't wait to meet little baby K!

Well lovelies, I better head off--need to re-fill my pretty pink water bottle. Thanks so much for your kind comments on Friday--I really appreciate it!

Have a fabulous Monday!

xoxo,

SP

Honesty in 3....2....1...

So, here at SP's Royal Blog, we try not to get too sappy and emotional (lest of course we are talking about our mother, earthquakes and or the ever missing blessing onesies). So, please pass by if you were hoping for commentary on The Office (freaking hilarious), notes on Simon Baker (re-runs--again!) or stories about my shopping habits (um... yeah... I'm in trouble).

I've written this post a hundred times in my head (and I'm sure it sounds better in there!), but, anyways, here goes:

Today (well, actually 1.5 hours ago) a dear friend of mine was induced and sometime today or early tomorrow she will become a mother. I'm beyond thrilled for her, but, I won't lie and tell you that last night when I found out she was being induced today, that I didn't shed a little tear. Everyone I know (blog and real life) it seems is on the baby making bandwagon--which is awesome. I sometimes try to steal my friends kids, but, um, for some reason the kids always want to go with Mommy and Daddy. Hm, weird--I have cake.

You see, I want to be a mother. Desperately. Side note: young, cute, fun mother. My husband and I have been married for almost 4 years. Most people at this point in their marriage have a brood. Yes, we married young and kids were not feasible the first two years. We've tried and failed and then waited and waited. Waited until I got a steady job. Waited until after X, waited until after Y, waited until after Z.... the list goes on. It's frustrating because as much as I want children, we can't financially justify it right now (please let my husband find a job). So, each time I see someone else who is pregnant, or having a baby, a little bit of my heart cries (and please, mommies to be and mommies, please know that I love you all so much and am so happy and thrilled for you all--because honestly, how awesome is it be create a little human?).

But, last night, after I wiped away my tear, I had a thought. A notion perhaps.

While previously it was all about counting down the months until, I've found something new to look forward to: running.

Of course it's no replacement for motherhood, but, it's a darn good way to give me something to work towards, to look forward to and to distract me (honesty, I told you). I'm running my first race next month, am running another in July, and hopefully a half marathon in August (which my co-workers want to come cheer at--love it). But, this morning, as I said a prayer for BFF A and her baby on the way, I also gave thanks for my energy, for my body--for the fact that I was up at 5:30 driving to the gym to run 4.15 miles--something that just a few months ago seemed hilarious. But, I'm doing it. I'm doing something for me. Something that I can share with my children, and ultimately, something that I believe will make me a better mother.

I don't know what "The Plan" that the Big Man Upstairs has for my husband and I, and I don't try to know. I just know that I've been blessed. Blessed with amazing friends who are amazing mothers who are showing me the ropes; blessed with almost 4 years of challenging, wonderful, hilarious marriage; blessed with a job that allows me go to the gym at lunch; blessed with legs that can run; blessed with the energy and love of so many people.

It may still be a while before we're blessed to be parents, but, until then, you can find me running.

Oh, and drinking lots of water out of my fancy pink water bottle. Obviously.

Happy Friday y'all!

Yikes

This water bottle has taken up residence at my desk.

My goal is to fill this baby up at least 3 times during the day (um, this might be repentance from the enormous amount of food I ate last night--like, I could have fed a country. Apparently, running 5 miles before work and then not eating much during the day will backfire--in a BAD way).

Lots of water, cute bottle, eco friendlyness= awesome. Not so awesome? Our ladies room is down a very long hall.

It's a good thing I don't mind the walk, er run.

Awkward

I'm petite. 5 feet tall (er, short?).

Let's be honest, there's no real way I could defend myself (even though I am versed in the ways of the kickboxing).

So, when I end up with a burn on my hand (skillet potatoes) and gnarly scratch (trying to break up fight between Lizzie Kitty and Ella Mae--um, I lost that battle) and multiple Band Aids on my fingers (cheese grater--always the damn cheese grater!) it's all sorts of awkward explaining that "no, I'm just that much of a klutz".

To which anyone who knows me will agree (ask my intern--it's daily that I walk into her desk and or the wall).

But, today, thanks to the addition of the cheese grater, I look pathetic.

Awesome.

But, I did run 5 miles before work at the gym today (since I am banned from outdoor pre dawn workouts).

I'm no genius

But, I can tell you that:

Up until 1:30 AM with sick boxer boy (poor guy!) + Nitrous Oxide at the dentist first thing in the AM = one sleepy Shabby Princess.

(I've been cutting back on my Diet Coke consumption, but, notsomuch today)

And, I'm freakishly hungry.

Like a wolf. (I couldn't resist)

Yikes.