Atlanta Half Marathon...

Last year, I posted this huge announcement on our Four Fat Chicks website about my decision to run a half marathon. I set the date of December 12th to participate in the Kiawah Island Half Marathon. What I didn't know at the time was, that was my older brother's graduation date... I could not miss that for the world because... well... he started working towards his Bachelor's degree in 1997. This was a HUGE accomplishment to say the least....

I decided this year that I was going to do it, and since there is a great half marathon right here in Atlanta, I figured it was the perfect time. It was the morning of Thanksgiving, and I thought what better way to start off a day of glutinous eating.... I'll run 13.1 miles, and eat to my heart's content with not one ounce of guilt.

This experience was such a time of great self reflection for me. First of all, I am not a runner. In fact, I don't even like running. I can say this now because I spent the past 3 months telling myself that I did like to run because I needed to stay in a good head space until after the race.... now its over, now I can say it... I DO NOT LIKE RUNNING! Why then would I EVER decide to participate in a half marathon?

I guess I just decided that I wanted to challenge myself. I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone, set a goal that would be very hard for me to get through and accomplish it. When I found out that my brother's graduation date fell on the race day of the first half marathon that I planned on doing, my first reaction was relief. I was SO relieved that I didn't have to put myself through that... It was nice to say, " Well I started training and I was going to do it, but something beyond my control came up and I couldn't." After I thought about that, I was kind of disgusted. When did I become this person that runs from a challenge? I knew then that I had to prove to myself that I could do it.

I would love to say that I woke up with a fresh sense of strength and purpose, and was very disciplined and dedicated to this new task....... but I can't. I had meltdowns, breakdowns, my limbs went numb, pains in my back, my shins, my hair was a mess.... I was a mess. I know one thing for sure. It took the support of my very loving and patient friends to get me through this. I could never have done this without their great advice and words of encouragement through this entire process.

I still can't believe I finished. But I did...

I was pretty sore all weekend but I am feeling much better now...In fact... I think I wanna go for a run today.... It's so weird, now that I don't have the pressure of getting in a certain amount of mileage, I kind of just crave the moments I spent deep in my own thoughts while running. There might be hope for me yet....maybe I do like running....

Sweet Home Alabama....

Spent the weekend chasing after these little monsters..... loved every minute of it....

The charm of me....

I decided I needed to buy travel size toiletries so that I wouldn't have to pay to check my bag on my flight to Amelia Island next week....

However, if I'm going to spend $20 on travel size toiletries... I could have just checked my bag.... I crack myself up....

Hello Lover....

I found the cutest black dress last week, on clearance for $10!!!! (sorry I couldn't find a picture online) Immediately, I was on the market for leopard print pumps to wear with it. The dress was $10, the shoes are $100. I could justify this very easily had I not spent so much last weekend on a new bathing suit, jewelry and another dress.... that was NOT $10. Turth be told, I don't need to be shopping at all... but I think these are going to have to go on the birthday list... I lover lover lover them.....

And the truth shall set you free....

I was going through old blog entries, and ran across this one. I wrote this post a year and a half ago while I was still living in Chicago. I thought it was very ironic that I ran accross it, because my husband is turning 30 this week, and I can't believe how much we have gone through since we started dating almost 7 years ago.

I do remember why I never published this however. It's because I get a little embarrassed about writing about my husband sometimes. I am a bit.... well... I guess you could describe me as...ummm.... ok, I am super high maintenance. So when I start writing a post about something that I think is wonderful that he did, I am instantly embarrassed by the reason in which he did it...... The obvious and honest reason is because he loves me and wants me to be happy....but the underlying reason is typically because I act like a bit of a diva....

So this story, is a perfect example. What I wrote originally is not exactly how it all went down.... the "truth" is highlighted in parenthesis:

For about a month now, (embellishment...it might have been 2 weeks) our gate in the parking area of our building has been broken. It operates on a remote, kept in the car, so that we can get in and out of the parking lot safely. Since it has been broken everyone in the building has had to drive up to the gate, get out, open the gate, drive through it, get out, close the gate, then leave. This is annoying, but it goes from annoying to " the most wretched experience ever" when there is 12 inches of snow, and its 2 degrees with a -5 degree wind chill. (it was not the most wretched experience ever....it took like 30 seconds) We have been bugging the building developer to come out and fix it, we've called the gate company to come check it out, and nothing has been done about it yet.


Ken has been so accommodating to me, being a southerner and making it through these winters. He walks the dog, he shovels the snow, clears the snow from my car windshields and warms my car before i get in it, so i wont be cold on the way to work. (this is all true..diva...diva...diva..) But, on Saturday when i was again, struggling with the gate late at night, he saw the frown on my face and decided that enough was enough. (ok, the truth is....i came in the house, threw my stuff down, and glared at him...he probably could feel the evil radiating from my body)

I woke up Sunday morning and heard him digging in his tool box. I also heard him going in and out and in and out of the door. This went on for about an hour, and I finally asked what was going on. (ummm...no...i was very irritable when I asked what was going on, because he woke me up, and I was not at ALL happy about it!) He told me everything was fine, and to go back to sleep. So I did. Another hour passes, and I wake up again to find him standing in the entrance of our bedroom, covered in snow, with the biggest smile on my face. He then states, very proudly, "I fixed the gate so my wife doesn't have to get out of the car in the cold anymore....and i think i might have frostbite."

Of course I asked him how in the world he got a remote controlled, electric gate fixed. He told me the night before he got online, printed off diagrams, bought the tools he needed from Lowe's and went out there and fixed it. " I just didn't want you to have to deal with that anymore" he said.

Totally sweet right? So of course at the end of this, I feel like crap because there he is standing there with blue, numb, almost frostbitten fingertips, from spending two hours in the snow fixing a gate for me. All while the princess under the warm down comforter was snapping at him for waking her up because he is "making too much noise" and "letting cold air in!"

Seriously...where do I get off?

I guess I can say that I am just so thankful that I have such a warm, loving, and patient man in my very flawed life..... Don't get me wrong, he has his flaws too, and I am sure all of you married ladies know the challenges that marriage brings. But I am not so much of a diva that I won't acknowledge that dealing with me is no easy task....and I figure since its his birthday, I can remind him of that.

That's what you get for wakin' up in Vegas.....

Gosh I'm terrible! And the verdict is! (in case anyone still cares)....Went to Vegas and had a blast. My lucky dollar did not hit (tear), but I had a ton of fun gambling. I ended up coming home $80 richer, which to me is a HUGE accomplishment. Here are some pictures from the trip.

Hands down, it was the best trip to Vegas so far. We tried to not go to the same places as last year so instead of Tryst and Body English, we went to Studio 54, Pure, Ghost Bar and Rain. Can I just say the rooftop at the Palms is AMAZING!!! It's almost worth the $20 cocktails they serve...

I mostly ate room service, but we did make it to Mesa Grill for dinner and cocktails, and it was DELISH! My blackjack skills have improved tremendously, so I really enjoyed playing this time around. It's funny how much fun gambling is when you are winning!

I am sad even to write this post because I am not sure if I'll be back for this particular Vegas trip again. My dear friend has a boyfriend now, and has already (9 months ahead of time) announced that he would be joining her next year. Of course I was invited to tag along, but it's not the same.... It was bound to happen though...the trip is always over Valentine's Day, and it was only a matter of time before the double bedded room shared with the old married lady became a romatic suite for her and the man in her life. Nevertheless, I am sure this won't be my last trip! Maybe they will break up ??:-) (just kidding!) (am I?) Ha!

Viva Las Vegas!!!!!

Shut up and put your money where your mouth is....

This was me, one year ago, on my very first trip to Vegas..... needless to say, I had a good time!

Every year, my friend Callie goes to an annual Veterinarian conference in Vegas, and last year she invited me to crash in her room to enjoy the city. She had spent a summer there interning while she was in vet school, and her stories, and documented pictures led me to believe that I had been missing out on an incredible experience...... and she was right.

So here I am again, so anxious I can't even sleep, 10 hours away from heading to the airport Vegas bound, for a fun filled weekend in a city that I am completely in love with...

Last year's visit did not disappoint. It was 4 days filled with bright lights, tall drinks, delicious food, and unbelievable shows. But as much fun as I had, there was one missing element....ummm...aren't you supposed to win big in Vegas?

Sadly, that was not the case last year. I returned home far poorer than I came. I could blame this on a lot of things, first of which, my frugal-ness. I mean, you kinda have to spend money to win money right? My designated $50 of gambling money quickly left me one evening at the $5 blackjack table. Okay, let's be real....it was $150 dollars, wasted away at the slot machines, roulette tables, and my very silly roll at the craps table.....

But not this year my friends....this year will be different...I present to you... MY SECRET WEAPON!!!

Today at work, I stepped in and did a tour for a client from Denmark. Let's be honest, it was not my overwhelming attitude of helpfulness that compelled me to take on this venture as a favor. I was the only person in the office to fill in today, while everyone else was out. The clients were very gracious and kind, and even though I put my best foot forward to sell my hotel, (IN THE SNOW!!) a big part of me really wanted me to be able to rush home, anticipating the very long commute that this unexpected inclement weather had presented me with. ( I mean seriously Atlanta.... snow???) At the end of the tour, our client whips out his wallet and presents me with a very clean $1 bill.

He says to me, "Christina, I know you are going to Vegas (pronounced Wegas in his Danish accent) tomorrow, and I want to give you zis very special dollar. I have been to Wegas many times, and I always come back a "vinner". Zee first time I went, I put all my money on one number on the roulette table. That number hit on zee first roll. One my second visit, I put one dollar in the slot machine and I won $750. I want to give you zis dollar, with my signature. Put zis in the 25 cent machine in zee casino at New York New York, and YOU TOO will be a vinner this year."

I can feel it my friends. I have been feeling it all week......THIS is my year. I will come back richer than I came!

Speaking of money, I want to take this opportunity to thank my wonderful "sponsor." He is my ever loving, hard working, husband, who for the second year in a row, ships me off to Vegas, cash in hand, to enjoy Valentine's day with my friend. Ken and I have never been the couple that is completely stuck on holidays. This is mainly because he finds so many regular old days in the year to do extraordinary things for me. It doesn't have to be my birthday for him to surprise me with a gift, or a holiday for a special night out. When he knows there is something he can do to put a smile on my face, he just does it...no matter what day it is.

I snapped this picture tonight, and this perfectly describes how I find him every night.....sound asleep, laptop open, because he was up late still working to be the best provider he can be for his wife.

Win or lose....I have already hit the jackpot.....

I can't wait to update next week and let you know how it all unfolds!!