Anastasia, AKA Bar Exam Smasher. And A Running Breakthrough!

My beautiful friend Anastasia has been such a wonderful addition to my life for the years I've known her.

She's compassionate, fun, loving, smart, and such a loyal friend I can truly count on. And that's been the case since the day I've met her.

Don't call her Nas. And it's not Aaa-nuh-stay-juh, either. Her name is Greek, and it's pronounced "Uh-nass-sta-see-uh." If you're teaching a kid to say it, tell him to say "uh, nice to see ya" really fast.

pretty, pretty Greek friend

Today's a big one for Anastasia. As this is posted, she's taking the Maryland Bar Exam to be a licensed attorney in her home state. And although I'd love to selfishly hope she doesn't get barred anywhere but Virginia (so she can live here and we'll all live happily ever after), I can't wish anything but the best for my dear friend.

I always selfishly talk about how these bar exams have taken my loved ones away from me (copious amounts of studying are not conducive to fun with Alyssa), but it's more important to highlight just how many months of hard work are put into these tests. I know, just as it did for the Virginia Bar, Anastasia's hard work is gonna pay off for her.  :)

Anastasia and I have been through a lot together in the few years we've known each other.

many races

 and QUITE a few miles...

lots of bottles of wine...

a whole lotta dancin'...

a bunch'a holidays (and the best halloween ever)...

And lots and lots and lots of support and love. I know I'd be lost without Anastasia, and I wish you the very best as you dominate this bar exam today and tomorrow.  :)

and after you do, these people will be waiting for you in VB
to come celebrate. ;)

Lots of love and luck to you, Anastasia Theodora! Hip, hip, hooray, you're almost done!


And some Running News...

I was hitting the treadmill yesterday, I got a text from Jamie proposing an evening run. I hopped off that tread at mile 3, headed home, and ran outside for a run with her.

BIG NEWS. I'm over my wussy refusal to run in the cold! It was a chilly one, and it didn't bother me at all. And including my quick gym run, I finished yesterday up with 9.5 miles.

I think between running earlier in the morning, running in the cold, and running with no ipod, I'm getting used to swingin' it and being a laid-back runner.

You don't phase me, cold!

Jamie's such a good influence on me. :)

What was your biggest recent running breakthrough?


Aaaand... I think I fixed the "comment" bug... users without a blog should now be able to post again (if you can't, let me know).

Valentines & Virginia is for Lovers 14k Race Photos

It was a nice family Valentines Day this year in Virginia Beach. Momma and papa were in town to bring Chloe back from her vet appointment in N.C. and for my wood floors to be delivered. Hooo-rah!

happy valentines day!

As evidenced below, Chloe was a pretty big fan of her first Valentine's Day. Her Opa and Gigi got her an awesome chew toy thats called a "Dog Saver." It's a gummy ring (like a life saver) that has little treat compartments for a dog to try to remove with her teeth.

The best part? It keeps her occupied. for. so. long.

first valentine's day, ah yeah!

Can we take a moment and look at how fast she is growing?

she was only this big the day after I got her. waaah.

And you know you're getting older when you're psyched to receive some brand new black sheets.

not just a pretty bed; heaven.

And not just any black sheets. All-season, jersey, themostcomfortablesleepever black sheets. Can you say "I'm going to sleep through the rest of the week?" Jersey sheets can be a little too heavy for me, but these are light and fluffy and soft and cozy and.... I'll stop.

But they're awesome. Thanks, Mom.

I, on the other hand, was very excited about my gift as well. When we visited the Rosemont Winery over my birthday weekend, I snagged this beauty for my momma.

neat-o, gang!

It's a real flattened wine bottle... made into a cheese platter! It came with the cute little knife as well. I was so excited to give it, and mom really seemed to like it.

Cynthia, I may be a stowaway in your next lake trip. I need to grab 16 more of these babies. And not just for me. No, really.  ;)

Race Photos!

As promised... photos from the Virginia is for Lovers 14k this past Saturday. So fun.

If only I could see the logic in dropping $20 for this baby..

that's a screen shot from Triduo.com, the official sports photography page. unfort, it's way too pricey to actually buy.

there's my finish! next to the tutu! thank you, Triduo.

"weee are the champ-yons..."

and we got to see Kat!

aint got no shame. want that Moe's.

racing twins. hearts all around.

And, on the subject of love, I was pretty psyched to find these baby packets of the "special pb" from Peanut Butter & Co. I've been dying to try. I haven't wanted to get a tub of the stuff, so I bought these with the intention of trying 'em out. Reviews to come!

The Thin Mint Protein Green Monster Shake

Some of you also pointed out I so rudely forgot to mention what I put in my thin mint green monster protein shake. I adapted it from Julie's recipe, and into the blender went:

1.5 scoops Chocolate Truffle Whey Protein Isolate
1 cup skim milk
6 ice cubes
1 tsp. Bob’s Red Mill xanthan gum for thickness
peppermint extract, to taste (I've had a few mishaps with this one.. use a TEENSY bit. like 1/8 tsp)
2 large handfuls spinach
a big fat squirt of Smucker's Fat Free Sundae Syrup

P.S. Another giveaway from Ally is worth a peek. She's giving away Vitatops... my faaave!

P.P.S. For all you Bachelor fans out there... you MUST read this girl's hysterical Bachelor recap. She's a friend of my friend, and her laugh-out-loud comments always have me rolling!

Virginia is for Lovers 14k Race Recap

Virginia is for looovers... and I LOVED this race!

The 14k started at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning. It was SO nice to race on a Saturday (every other long race I've completed has been on a Sunday), and it was glorious starting at 9 a.m. instead of 7 a.m.

It's a good thing it started later, too, because although it was a really nice day, the beginning was cold. We even had to avoid an icy path for about a mile and a half!

Despite the serious mud and ice, Anastasia and I ran the majority of the race at a 7:40ish pace (I know this thanks to my Garmin Forerunner! it was SO nice being able to check our pace). Because we arrived very last-minute, we ended up at the back in corral 3, although we were slated to start in corral 1. We spent a lot of the race weaving in and around other runners... but all that passing probably made us feel good, huh? ;)

are you loving the gatorade splash stains all over my sleeve as much as I am?

I kept thinking in my head, "It's rude to count people as you pass them... out loud."

I found myself really entertained by my surroundings throughout this race, unlike the boring Rock 'N' Roll in August. I felt like that race was really built up with all the bands supposedly playing for the runners, but I was a little let down after that one.

THIS race included a whole lott'a goofy costumes (a black and white swan... feathered wings and all, a guy in a tuxedo carrying a dozen roses...) and fun matching team outfits.

Anastasia (always my running twin) and I opted for black leggings and pink long sleeved Ts from Target. Yeeah! 

after Rockin' and Rollin' for 13.1 miles

We must like pink. ;)

More pictures to come of us enjoying the after-race... Anastasia has all the photos on her camera.

For finishing, we got Valentine carnations, a Virginia is for Lovers glass, Yuengling, and Moe's burritos and chips. Don't mind if we dooo!

Jamie and the A Team after the finish

Jamie even found us at the finish! We were looking for each other throughout the race, but weren't united until the end. VA Beach neighbor-blogger love!

Speaking of blogger love, Robby, Kat, Ian met up with us after the race. It was SO good to see Kat... it's been way too long!

I ended up finishing in the top 7% of my age group, or 9th place. If Anastasia and I had officially signed up as a team, we would have taken 2nd place! Oh well, now we know for next time. ;)

After a fantastic 3 hour nap post-race, I picked myself up and made a yummy green monster thin mint protein shake. 

virginia, protein, and green minty chocolate is for lovers.

I know your typical person would turn up his or her nose at the idea of throwing spinach in a smoothie, but I swear you can't taste it at all. And for those who aren't spinach fans, what better a way to get your greens? ;)

Later, I geared myself up for a night on the town with my good friends Lisa-Marie and Aasia and Meghan. It was so nice to reunite for a fun night of margaritas and daaancin'! 

nothin' like a night of dancing to work some sore legs.

Q: What's your favorite aspect of a race? The post-race party? The fun distractions during the race? Or is it the post-runners rush and awesome feeling of accomplishment? I'll take all the above!

P.S. Ally is having a delicious giveaway on her blog! Check her out!

My iPad Works My Booty.

Nike is amazing. iPads are awesome.

No, I'm not a Nike shoe wearer. I'm an Asics girl for my narrow feet and high arches.

But I'm officially a big bad Nike fan because this FREE Nike Training Club App is the monneeeey.

work me out, Nike!

Anyone with an iPhone, iTouch, or iPad can download this baby, and unlike other decent training apps, you don't pay a cent for each workout or the app itself.

I was feelin' a home workout for my snow day and got pretty psyched when I remembered I still had this baby to try out.

So, after some of this...

bottoms up, bottoms up (up!), lemme see ya cup... got a couple bottles....

Chloe got corralled in the kitchen...

"really, mom?"

And I threw these babies on for a sweat session in front of my iPad.

I've missed you guys.

I bought my Reebok Easytones for work when I was in restaurant management for a summer before I got my "real" job. They were perfect for standing and walking around a restaurant all day, and I felt like I was tonin' while I worked (cue the 7 dwarf music).

Perhaps it had something to do with the extra nachos and restaurant food I was constantly chowing down on that added some extra curve-age to my frame, but trust me, these babies work.

Once I was all set up, I selected my workout. I chose "get toned" for a full body workout (next, I want to try "get focused" so I can just do arms and save the hard legwork for running days).

choose your workout

choose your level

choose your workout

I hit up "SUPER FUSION," a 45 minute strength workout.

each workout gives you a preview of the circuits you'll be completing

AND you can play your music while you work out!

My favorite part was the fact that I could select any album or playlist from my iTunes library. If anyone's looking for some new workout music, I highly recommend The Ready Set (their debut single, Love Like Woe, was the opening of my vlog).

I really liked the fast pace of this circuit workout. I used my dumb bells for almost every move, but you can adapt any move to use no weight. Also, you can view a quick 10 second video of each move if you're not sure what you're doing.

can we all have a laugh at my attempt at taking dead lift instructional shots?

I've gotta work on the whole documenting my workout thing...

but I have a feeling I'll be using the Nike Training Club a whole lot for weight days!

FORTUNATELY, Anastasia and I will be running the Virginia is for Lovers 14k tomorrow (because hello? I love her) along with Jamie, and we hope to snap some great pictures pre- and post-race. I'm excited!