My Running Progress

Saturday, I ran in the Women Can Run 5K for the second time. You may remember me talking about last year's experience here. The past few months have been a little chaotic with getting married and moving and adjusting to the commute....I wasn't able to attend the training clinic regularly (only made it 3/10 times. I get the worst-attendance award!).  I did most of the training on my own. I wasn't very consistent with my running until the end of April, but I was worried it was too late to really make much progress and that I couldn't improve on last year's time. (But I did!) I'm going to try to keep training this time, even though the WCR clinic is done until next Spring 2013. If I'm not mistaken, the whole point of the training clinic is to help women achieve a healthier lifestyle by getting them STARTED....and I should continue running on my own. That's what I neglected to do last year. Here's hoping I do better this year!

So how did I do? I completed the race in 36:36, beating last year's time, which was my ultimate goal. I started the race in the 13:00/mile group, but I actually had a pace of 11:49/mile. What surprised me the most is that I didn't take a single walk break! Even last year, I had to walk every 8 minutes or so. Here are some pics of the big day:

Just before the race.  I'm one of the red dots in the back :  )

Crossing the finish line.

The Russellville team one best T-shirt design.  Our "Runnersville" shirts were a hit! 

Yesterday I registered for the Rock-n-Stroll 5K at Riverfest in Little Rock. Participants are encouraged to dress up in costumes as their favorite rock and roll stars. Or just dress up as anything! I'm not sure yet what costume I could come up with. Any ideas?

DYI Christmas Cards

This year, I had the brilliant (yeah right!) idea of making my own Christmas cards.  I don't know why I got it into my head that I would have time to be crafty, but once I started, I was committed until the bitter end.  Since Adam and I could not send our Save the Dates this Fall, we agreed that a Christmas card that doubled as a Save the Date was the perfect solution.

For my Christmas cards, I used card stock, envelopes included, that I had purchased at Hobby Lobby for practically nothing.  I had a couple different patterns of Christmas scrapbook paper that I cut into small rectangles.  Add a little ribbon and a little sparkle, and you've got a Christmas card!  

For the inside of the card, I had a stamped message and a candy cane.  Super easy.

Adam and I found the perfect template this summer to make our own Save the Dates.  We held off printing them until we were sure we had the perfect picture.  Once our engagement photos were in, we added our favorite to the template, printed them on photo paper, and added adhesive magnetic sheets to the back.  

$9.99 at Hobby Lobby.  I was able to fit about 22 per sheet.

Now our family and friends will have a cute little magnet to put on their fridge : )

Thanksgiving Recap

Thanksgiving this year was such a wonderful experience,and I was so disappointed that I never made a post about it! So here it is, less than a week away from Christmas, and I'm still stuck on Thanksgiving.

This was mine and Adam's first Thanksgiving together. We flew out of Little Rock on Wednesday to spend the holiday with my great Aunt Kay and Uncle Greg.  Their holiday dinner is always so special. Kay has had me make a different cranberry sauce each year. Y'all, this year's cranberry sauce was unlike any other. I think she heard about this recipe on NPR and found an article in the local paper as well. The recipe called for grated cranberries and onion, sour cream, horseradish, and a bit of sugar.  No, you read that correctly.  Horseradish and cranberries.  Sounds strange, doesn't it? It was actually really good! And its color had a striking resemblance to Pepto Bismol.

On thanksgiving day, I had the honor of preparing the turkey. This was my first time, and I think it turned out rather well!  Instead of getting up super early, we cranked the oven up to a high temperature and roasted the turkey a little over an hour-and-a-half.  Yes, it was done all the way through, and it was soooo moist!

Adam was in charge of the greenbeans. Don't they look yummy?

The day after thanksgiving, while the rest of the world is doing their Black Friday shopping, we were packing the car with boxes of china and heading to the historic town of Rugby. Kay puts on this amazing tea every year as a fundraiser for the Rugby Historic Society. Adam and I got to help put on this grand event. We decorated a whole army of gingerbread men for the holiday tea!

I failed to take pictures of the actual tea event.....I guess I assumed I had enough pictures from previous years.  

This year, we had 40 people show up for High Tea.

I have just now discovered the Blogger App for iPhone, so maybe I will be posting less sporadically now : )

Happy Holidays!

When in Doubt, Pinkies Out!

Last year, my friend Sarah and I started a new tradition:  a Holiday tea party with our Little Sisters.  Sarah and I are in the Big Brother Big Sister program.  The party was such a success last year that we decided to do it again, complete with our finest china, over-the-top-hats, British accents, and almost-burnt scones.  This year we expanded our guest list.  The more the merrier!
This year, we even had the added bonus of accordion accompaniment. Have you ever sung Christmas carols with an accordion? It's quite the experience--you should never pass on it if you get the opportunity : )

Peace and Quiet

We had a very laid back Halloween.  Sarah, Courtney, and I stayed in and passed out candy to the neighborhood kiddos.  We were not prepared for that many trick-or-treaters!  We finally had to give up and turn the porch light off--we were down to a pack of Ramen and some chili beans.  (This was after passing out packs of applesauce, hot chocolate, and popcorn!)

We had some fabulous costumes.  And since there was only the three of us, we had an almost-theme going.  Together, Sarah and I were Peace and Quiet.  Courtney added some R&R.

Peace and Quiet......Get it?

Peace and R&R

My costume was a little challenging.  I couldn't talk.

Quiet (yeah, right!)

And since I haven't posted in almost a month.....here are some pictures from our pumpkin-carving party : )

Okay....more like a pumpkin murder party.....

Mine and Adam's Jack o Lanterns.  We're slightly obsessed with Angry Birds at the moment.....

Mine's the spider. Sarah's is the cat.

I guess that about wraps it up for October.  Maybe I'll do a better job of posting regularly in November....Probably not, but I'll try : )

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Come Thou Fount

This recording is definitely not my best run-through.  I was missing my cameraman today : )  I just love this arrangement of "Come Thou Fount" by Joseph Martin.  I had planned on doing another piece for the prelude this morning, but I'm afraid that one is going to need another week of practice....so I went with an old favorite.  

Jesus Loves Me

I did this for the offertory last Sunday.  It's "Jesus Loves Me" in the style of Debussy's "Claire de Lune."  

A Little Church Music

For the prelude last Sunday, I played Joseph Martin's "Variation on 'Plainfield.'"  I absolutely LOVE this piece!  It's so exciting to play!  My Aunt Kay bought Joseph Martin's American Tapestry book for me when I was in high school, and I am just now discovering some of his arrangements.  They're so dramatic....and we all know that fits me perfectly ; )  He is supposed to be coming to my aunt's church in September for a choir clinic.  I need to mail her my book so I can have it signed!

Day 12: Delft

Day 12:  Delft

After breakfast, Desiree dropped us off at Den Haag Central Station.  Destination:  Delft.  It’s only about a 15-minute train ride from Den Haag.  Our first stop was Oude Kerk (the Old Church).  You can’t miss it.  The tower of the church has a significant tilt….not quite as severe as the Tower of Pisa, but it’s definitely noticeable.  

Vermeer was born, lived, and died in Delft, and is buried here at the Old Church.  This church has 3 organs and some stunningly beautiful stained glass windows.  It’s worth a visit.

On our agenda, we had planned to tour one of the pottery factories.  Delft is known for its Delft Blue Porcelin.  We were following the street signs to the large factory (who needs a map, right?), but let me tell ya, those signs took us for a scenic tour…..there had to be a more direct way to get there.  In our search for the factory, we came across a cinema (Pathe) and bought tickets for the 2:30 showing of Harry Potter.  We still had an hour to walk to the factory, take a peek, and get back.  By the time we found the place, we only had 15 minutes to do a 30-minute tour, so we shopped in the factory gift shop.  

Did you know that a standard-sized kitchen tile will cost you about 12 euros?  This stuff was way pricey.  I bought a pair of earrings.  I was reminded of that scene in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, when they decide to go in and buy the cheapest thing they can find.  A telephone dialer, wasn’t it?  Anyway…..

We made it to the cinema on time.  And got sweet popcorn to snack on.  I have to say, I much prefer the kettle corn over the salty, buttery kind.  Harry Potter was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.  You know that sad feeling you get when you finish a book/movie series?  I immediately wanted to watch it again.  I just don’t want it to be over! 

After the movie, we stopped and picked up a snack.  Their fries (frites) are so good here.  For about 2 euros, you can get an order of fries with your choice of dipping sauce.  I opted for mayo--that's the way they eat them over here--but they do have ketchup as well.  Their fries are so incredibly fresh.  I think they do a quick-fry at first and then fry them a second time when you place your order.  This makes them golden and crisp.  Oh, and they typically serve the fries in a paper cone, top it with your condiment of choice, and give you a little miniature fork.  This was one of my favorite snacks : )

Desiree picked us up at the train station and took us to the beach side to the Pofferjeshuis Kilkduin (Pancake house on the dunes).  We had traditional poffertjes (thick, mini-pancakes), served with butter and powdered sugar.  I’m spoiling myself on all this amazing Dutch food…..how will I ever return home?!