Family, Adventures, and Gadgets Collide

Please join me as I celebrate the completion of my FIRST half-marathon ! Today was my big race: the Cowtown Half-Marathon! {Read more about my running journeys along the way here .} I achieved my goals that I set out to accomplish: 1) finish the race and 2) run the entire 13.1 miles . And ... I did it! I ran jogged the entire 13.1 miles and finished the race! Woohoo!!! My unofficial time as I crossed the finish line was 2 hours and 37 minutes. I'm told that I can probably knock off at least 10-15 minutes to allow for delay in actual start time. I'll hopefully find out soon what my actual time was; although, I really am just proud to say I finished! {That's me in the light blue jacket. I was SO relieved when I saw my hubby & daughter! My daughter jumped on the course and finished the last quarter mile with me!} {After the race with one of my strongest supporters! She's an amazing friend and an incredible woman!}

I admit ... I'm a blog stalker! I enjoy peeking in on others blogs to laugh, cry, and be inspired. Wouldn't you agree that it's fun to live vicariously through others blogs?!!? ... Admit it, you're a blog stalker too! And just in case you need some direction in good blogs to stalk, allow me to lead the way. Need a little something to make you laugh ? Check out this post by One Crafty Mama ! Don't you just LoVe the new definitions! Or how about this Tornado of a story from Controlling My Chaos for a good chuckle! How about a chance to be a winner ? Check out this Fantastic Give Away  at the Thrifty Decor Chick . But you better stay away from Coastal Charm's Cash Giveaway ! ~ Okay, go check it out, but if you win, you have to share! Are you in need of some inspiration ? How about this awesome Zipper Daisy from Crafaholics Anonymous? Um, yeah. I could make that. Well, if I could sew I could make that, um maybe. Still need more inspiration ? Go on over to ...

I received this comic in an email from my aunt. LoVe it! Which fairy tale princess do you relate to the most? =)

... How about cookin' somethin' up for me?... These are the words that my husband and daughter are uttering in my house! I've mentioned before that I rarely cook . It's not that I despise cooking. It's just that I prefer cooking to entertain guests, rather than cooking to survive. Thus, tonight my family had sandwiches for dinner. But after dinner, what did I do? Why I prepared a full meal for eight (8) people! That's right, I whipped up an appetizer, an entree, a side dish, AND a dessert for eight people. (I'm fortunate enough to eat with 7 wonderful teachers every work day!) Would you like to know what's on the menu for lunch tomorrow? "Tomorrow for lunch we are having ..." (This is my announcement voice that I use each school day to do the morning announcements!) Texas Caviar Mexican Fiesta Bake Rice & Monterey Jack Casserole Magic Cookie Bars Mexican Fiesta Bake Magic Cookie Bars All of the recipes ...

Around 5:45 this morning, we received the call, "No school today due to inclement weather." Woot, Woot! So after my husband went off to work (Yes, the poor guy has to go in no matter what.), I went back to sleep. Aww! Sleeeping late on a "work" day ~ bliss! The rest of my day was spent enjoying time with my daughter. We bundled up and braved the cold. Oh what fun, it is to ride a one horse open sleigh giant exercise ball! Most people go down a snowy hill on a sleigh, sled, or even trash-can lid. Not this family! We rolled down the hill on a giant exercise ball. Oh what fun! I also found out the hard way that punting a giant ball while standing in the snowy driveway = UpSiDe DoWn!!! That's right my feet went over my head! After dinner tonight, we made some DeLiCiOuS cookies! I had a roll of sugar cookie dough; I split it in half so that we could each make our own cookie creation. Kailey added peanut butter and sprinkles to her dough. I added chocolate chips, c...

Do you watch NBC's Biggest Loser ? It's a family favorite at my house! On Tuesday evenings, I cook dinner (Yes, I said cook! Remember, I'm working on eating at home at least 3 times a week .) and then we set up TV trays in the living room. My husband, daughter, and I all eat dinner off of our TV trays and watch the Biggest Loser together. LoVe this family time! Tonight after we ate dinner, we also completed some chores during the commercial brakes. We My husband rinsed the dishes and my daughter and I loaded the dishwasher. We also folded a load of laundry. Not bad for a family night, eh?!? Oh, and in case you've read my posts about my running adventures, the big date is getting closer! Yikes! Not too sure I'm ready, but we'll find out soon enough.