Happy Valentine's Day!

Hoping for warmer weather to come- have a few 5Ks in the lineup soon and am getting prepped...

Made some special treats for Valentine's Day so I could practice my photography skills...Not the best shots, but getting better, I guess.  

Sooo tasty...

Memorial Day Virtual Marathon.

It was a beautiful day to do my Honoring our Heroes Virtual 5K.  I decided to head out to Quantico National Cemetery in Virginia to do my "run".  As it was Veteran's Day, there were many people there honoring those who served us well. I wanted to thank them and honor them too.  I walked and walked and walked...even beyond my 5K- it turned into my first 10K.  I pushed through the heat and being tired, because that was the least I could do.  As I walked, I reflected on the lives of those who have and continue to fight for my freedoms and the rights of all Americans.

As some may already know, I have difficulty doing two things at once, so managing to take a photo with my phone while walking proved to be very challenging.  Most of my photos were blurry and I pretty much gave up taking photos until I was finished with my marathon.  Yes, I suppose someone else may have had a hand in that "difficulty".

I did happen to jog a bit through the wooded trail area on the hillside that is dedicated to honoring fallen soldiers.  It's a place scattered with various statues, plaques and monuments for our heroes. I took pictures of a few too.

While I was walking past all the gravestones lined so perfectly straight, I continued to have a wondering thought.  I wondered out of all the men and women buried there, would I be able to find a grave of someone who was born or died on my birthday.  I decided that after completing my marathon and stopping my tracking device, I would go out on a quest to to find someone who shares that date with me.  Something in common, something that connects use even more than the Americanisim that we had in common.

I found them...Wilbert Crumpler, Jr. Born on my birthday in 1933.  I placed a penny on his tombstone to "pay" my respects and to give my thanks.  Then traveled on to find another soul on the other end...

Robert Brown.  Died on my birthday in 1999.  Placed a penny on his gravestone to "pay" my respects and said a thankful grace.  These two men, I have never known and will never know. They share something in common with me, and I'm grateful I was able to find them and say thank you for your service.

When I completed my marathon, I immediately traveled to the flagpoles that were displaying our flags at half staff for just a few minutes longer.  I stopped at the base of the flags, said a few private prayers of thanks and blessings and took off my shoes.  There's no way I could every repay them or walk in their shoes...I carried my shoes to the car and traveled home...

This race was also run in honor of my father, and relatives who serve in the military and in honor of the late Evans Hanson, who was killed in an accident while serving in Korea recently.  I am grateful I had the opportunity to run in honor of them.

Manassas Runway 5K

My first race...I finished...I did it... Phew!

Now on to the next one!!!

Life Changes...

I've decided...

I'm making changes...

In order to make the change, I have a plan...and I started preparing last week.  I'm getting off my bum and walking...baby steps, I figure.  Eventually I hope to take bigger, faster steps and running, but for now..walk...  

So what's the problem you may say?  Well, I'm not fit.  I sit around too much...I don't move enough... I've got back/disk/neck problems...I need to get healthy.

So my first thought:  I don't even know how long it takes to walk 5K.  3.1 miles in one shot?  Can I really do that?  Will I be able to jog, run, sprint?  Let's give this a shot.

So here's my plan:  

Step 1:  Register for a 5K (Pay the registration and I'm "STUCK" is how I'm thinkin'.)

Step 2:  Get my shoes laced up. 

Step 3:  Calibrate my shoes.

Step 4:  Turn on my tunes.

Step 5:  Get walking...

GO GO GO...

Baby steps!

First 5K....TOMORROW!

I can do this!

Saturday Smoothie...YUM!

 Today's Saturday Smoothie was totally deelish!  It had such a pretty color too.  As you might notice in the picture above, I forgot to wear gloves when peeling one of the ingredients...Now my fingers are stained this lovely shade of fuchsia. :)

Anyway, I had to start using some of my fresh beets in the crisper because they were getting a bit old.  One had gotten moldy so I knew I needed to use the rest of them this weekend before they all do the same.

 My recipe included the following:

1/2 cup Silk Berry Fruit/Protein Juice

1 Golden Delicious Apple (core and all)

2 small Meyer Lemons (peeled)

1 Kiwi (skin on)

1 small raw beet

2 handfuls of ice

Mix it all up in the Vitamix, then drink away!

Now this was a bit "seedier" in texture than I usually have but the flavor was absolutely devine.  I just loved it.  I'm definitely going to have this again!!!

Rationalizing...

I've heard the raves about the Vitamix and was skeptical as many others are.  Is it worth the money?  Does it mix, blend, chop, grate, heat like it says it does??? I watched the videos on YouTube and thought long and hard before I decided to take the plunge...Well, when I saw it advertized on TV, it was calling my name.

Rationalizing...

I'll use it to make healthy "GREEN DRINKS".

I'll use it to make healthy hot soups.

I'll use it to with healthy fresh fruits.

I'll use it with healthy fresh vegetables.

I'll use it to make healthier ice cream

I'll use it to make healthier breads.

ummm...I'll use it to make ummm...5 o'clock somewhere drinks...

So...I took the plunge and bought one.  It's my best friend now.  Keep an eye peeled for pictures of my latest creations.  For today, I'll share something I made this Saturday morning (oh, I'm making a healthy drink every Saturday).

So what's in this drink?  

1/2 blender full of Frozen strawberries

1 Golden Delish apple

1 kiwi

1 Meyer lemon

1 Banana

1/2 c skim milk

squirt of agave syrup 

This makes a whole blender full- enough for a few of these "hot chocolate glasses" and a couple bowls to put into the freezer for a late night snack!  MMMMMMM Creamy and delish!

Good to the last drop!  See you soon.

Peanut snoozing...

Here's a little shot of Peanut snoozing on Christmas Day at my parent's house.  She was just too tired after the crazy paper tearing party!

You know, this little lady can't stay away from the action for one minute!

Plum tuckered out, I say...

Thanksgiving Break...Heading to ISU for some...

I had a great time this Thanksgiving hanging out with my old college roommate Diana and her family.  It was nice catching up and being able to see her family.  It was disappointing that Di's mother was really sick and cooped up in the house the whole time.  

After arriving in Des Moines, I got the rental car and headed to Di's.  I had this little matchbox car that blew all over the road.  I thought it sounded like it was going to blow up the whole way there, but I realized when I got to her house that I had the car in the wrong gear the whole way.  That strange shifter.  I survived, and after a bunch of laughs, we settled down for the night.  The next day would be the FOOTBALL GAME!!!

Woke up bright and early to head to HyVee to pick up a few souvenirs (I got a ISU jacket, some ISU gloves, A Coffee Mug for the car and a TShirt) statium.  I've been waiting for this game since the WVA Mountaineers joined the conference.  I'm so excited because now I'll be able to go to the games in West Virginia!  

Before heading into the stands, I took a few pictures of the Jack Trice Memorial...

We honor him every time we enter the gates...

 Such an amazing athelete.  He gave his all...

 Fight, Fight, Fight for Iowa State...

Now let's head into the stadium!  

Heading into the stadium.  Everyone is bundled up because the wind is a whippin' and the air is FREEZING!

And now for the starting line-up...

Missed a few, but you get the gist...

  The team is praying for a win and healthy men!  GO STATE!  Beat them Mountaineers!!!

It's pretty exciting!  The team is playing well, Those hillbillies are fightin!

Cy's just struttin around.  He's enjoying the play with the mountain man.  

This dude was FREEZING, as were these players huddling around the heater.  

The crowd was Freezing but festive...GO CRIMSON AND GOLD!!!

Go get 'em boys!  

Halftime...Marching band comes out to play.  BRRR It's cold out here!  

 The band sounded great!  

I've never seen such a special tribute before.  It's tradition for the seniors to march off the field leaving their 

shoes behind...How touching.  

Boy, FREEZING!  

Here they are, lined up and ready to be picked up by the remaining students.  BRRR..I'm sure it was really cold having to leave the field without shoes!  It was about 20 degrees in the stadium.  

Now, back to the game...It's the second half and it's getting dark...

Cyclones having a bit of trouble keeping the ball... I'm having a bit of trouble keeping my lens focused in this freezing cold stadium.  At this time my toes are NUMB!

Cy's struttin' his stuff.  I'm not sure why he was smiling, we lost a close game and it was darned cold!  We'll get 'em next year in West Virginia!  

After the game, Diana and I headed over to Hickory Park.  I had some of their YUMMY coffee to thaw out before digging in to some tasty chicken.  We headed back to her house after that.  

Over the weekend, we went back to campus 

Now on to the Wrestling meet against ODU.  We should win that meet, right???

 I think he scored a point right after flippin' him over.  

 A few of our guys were lookin' good...but...

We've got a "BUILDING YEAR" they say...We lost that too.

Maybe I brought my Cyclone's bad luck!  Hmmm....

So after the match, we drove over to Lake Laverne...Maybe we'll have better luck there...

Alrighty, there they are...Lancelot and Elaine.  Enjoying another day on the lake.  They're looking good 'eh?   Now on to the Campanile.  

The sky's getting gray and the light is dark.  I need to edit this picture.

Nah, the Campanile is not falling over, I took a crooked shot with my new lens.  ZOOM, baby ZOOM!  I hope to head there some spring or summer to get some really amazing shots.  

Hopefully, the next time I travel all the way to Iowa State to see the Cyclones play, we'll actually win something!