Nike Women's Half Marathon 2012

     I have never been a runner. Ever. In gym class I was always one of the last people when we ran the mile. I never took joy in a daily jog. It's just never been my thing. I was always so envious of the people who loved running. They could just take off and do something that was just for them. No competition, no judgement. Just running. About two years ago, my friend Tanis told me about Team In Training. Team In Training is a charity that raises funds for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by training people to participate in races, triathlons, etc. They literally take people, like me, who are not runners, and make them athletes. Case in point:

    That's me at the Disneyland half marathon in September of 2010. I was super slow and limped the last .1 miles, but I finished and I raised $3000, thanks to my very generous friends and family. It was glorious.  This was one of the proudest moments of my life.

    Six months later, I was diagnosed with cancer.

    I have been in remission for a year now. It's been really taxing to build my endurance back up; even just in my everyday life. Stairs, be it just one flight, kicked my ass for about 8 months. I ran a 5k about three months after my surgery.  And by run, I mean waddled. It was humbling and I felt pathetic. My good friend Lorie was so sweet and basically speed walked next to me and never let me give up. She was  the best cheer squad.

Me, Lorie, Libby, and Danika after the Santa Monica Classic in our TB shirts.

    So I vowed that I was done running. I started hiking and hitting the treadmill and that seemed good enough. At the back of my mind, it was there. I guess it started as a curiosity. Would I ever be able to do that again?  Would my body ever be capable of doing a half marathon? Slowly, it turned from a curiosity to a fascination. I started hiking harder and faster, and really pushing myself. And then it happened.  Tanis posted on Facebook that she was going to do another half marathon...and I jumped at the idea. It's now a battle of the wills. I accomplished this before cancer, and I need to know that my body can do this again.     Enter the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Francisco.

NWM 26.2

     I have never been to San Francisco, so I am super excited. My first time will be running the city! Here's the course map:

Facebook Course Map

    I started my training runs in my neighborhood and I can say this much... I am super weak. This is going to be a long road but I feel good about it. The hills are gonna be brutal, but no worse than anything else that I have gone through this year.  I am up to a 3.5mile run with pretty decent hills. Aidan has been going with me, and runs MUCH faster than his mommy at the beginning, but by the end I am dragging him. I have been using the Nike+ chip for my runs, which is AWESOME. That's a complete other blog post in the works.  I read earlier today that at the finish line there are firemen in tuxedos with silver platters of Tiffany boxes with necklaces for all the finishers... hilarious. Ill leave you with some pics posted by The Spunky Runner.

Finishers Necklaces from years past

The San Francisco Fire Department!

xo

New Sofa!

    Heres the latest edition to the great living room re-deux! Loralie sent me up a full color mock up of my room! Isn't it great? She used the Pantone Template we made a few weeks ago, and look how beautiful it is!!! Thats my living room!!

    So Loralie and I went in search of the perfect sofa. After going a few places, I fell in love with the Ikea Karlstad. I know, I know. Its Ikea. Honestly, it was my favorite of all the sofas we saw. The legs were a strange blond wood color that we both felt made it look cheap... but was easily remedied with a little spray paint! Ikea had same day delivery for only $59!! Sadly, they charged and sent me for the love seat and not for the sofa I wanted....enter Ikea's AMAZING customer service. They were so great and the next saturday they showed up at my house with the sofa, picked up the love seat, and didn't charge me for the difference because it was their error. WHAT?!! So lovely.

    It did come in A LOT of pieces in true Ikea style, and I now have a new respect for velcro. Thank god my friend Rose came and helped me assemble that bad boy. I have to say... I love it. I really do. Its incredibly comfortable, and in my opinon a steal for the price and value. And look how great it looks!!

    I am super excited for the curtains, pillows, and new light fixture (!!!!) we ordered!!!!  More to come, promise!

xo

Patterns Patterns Patterns

    Loralie from Ellenore Postmarked came by today to look at the progress of the apartment and to discuss what was next on our list of projects.  Its actually been a few days since I have been in my apartment during the day, so it was a nice reminder how warm and lovely the space is. I was looking at pictures of the apartment from just a few months ago... the change is awesome! 

before

before

after

after

    Its a whole new space. I love the pale pink color. Its strangely neutral for being pink and the light reflects so warmly off it. The rug is awesome too. I don't know if you can see it in the photos but the chevrons are all different widths and spacing. It has a somewhat chaotic feel to it that I love. I think it throws off the girliness a bit. I also really enjoyed how Loralie seemed to really be in love with the room as well. I know I know, she designed it, but she seemed genuinely tickled as to how it was coming along.  

We still have a few more projects for the room. First is the panels on the murphy closet. Loralie and I really like the idea of filling them with a pattern so they aren't so stark white. That fabric will also be used to cover a backing for the Ikea shelves so they feel less dorm room. Earlier in the week she dropped off some fabric samples. This is the one I fell in love with:

    Its actually more of a mustard yellow in real life. I feel like it will play off the pink really well. I also like that it goes with all my already very geometric feeling patterns.

    We also chose some fabric to make a few throw pillows as well. I love how it ties all the colors in the room together.  

    Next weekend we are going to go look for economical pet friendly sofas, aka what does Ikea have that is comfy and looks well made. In order to prepare for this adventure, I downloaded the pantone app onto my phone and snapped a few pics for swatches and color matching. The app is pretty incredible. You take a pic with your iPhone (sorry bb and android...not yet suckas!) and it color matches it for you. If the color doesn't seem exact, they also have all of their fandecks in the app and you can access them as well! I made a quick color palette and emailed it to Loralie and myself so we will have it handy on the day.

    Pretty cool right? The top is the Moroccan rug,  next the chevron rug, followed by the nailhead chairs, the walls and finally the awesome ottoman. I freaking love this app. for reals.  I hope you all have a nice easter. I am about to hop a plain the Arizona... travel safe and enjoy the weekend!

xo

One year passing...and cake pops to prove it

    Last Sunday was the one year anniversary of my cancer surgery. Its so wild to think that a year ago I had a tumor and had no idea. So much has happened, so much has changed. I don't want to say that I am glad this has happened, but I have certainly bettered my life because of it. It sounds cliché, but your whole persecutive on life changes.

    I know this is not the most flattering picture, but thats me in the hospital after my surgery with some of my awesome friends, hopped up on a ton of drugs. I had so many visitors and such an amazing support system, and thankfully my mom and dad down from Montana to cuddle me.

    This is exactly one year later, at my "No Evidence of Disease" or "NED" dinner. So many of my lovely friends came out. I am really bummed that I didn't take any pictures, but I do have this one. Everyone looks so happy. I look at myself in the first photo and then in the second...its like a completely different person. I can't believe how much weight I have lost. How much happier I look, or feel for that matter. I don't know if it was the growing cancer inside me that was causing me to be so miserable... but I really was. I was just so lost. In all aspects of my life. And now... well I am just not that person anymore. Everything feels so full of hope and potential. Don't get my wrong,  I have my moments and days when things don't go right. Things are just better.

    Two days later, My friend Rose and I decided to make cake pops in the shape of kidneys....seemed like a good idea at the time...

The insides had to be red velvet of course.

                                   

    Once they were shaped into little kidneys, it was time to candy coat them...which was when things went a little down hill.

                                   

                              

    Needless to say, they weren't pretty but were delicious. In the end we decided they probably look just how my kidney actually looks. We laughed really hard and ate a lot of cake...so I wasn't disappointed with how they turned out in the least. I was going to post the recipe, but I think that if i link back to the person I got it from she may not want to be associated with my pics.

  Its been a really great year. Fuck You Cancer, but in some strange sick way, thank you.

xo

Look whats going on right now!!

Why being your single, 32 year old, animal-lover friend is actually awesome, and other things you think I am lying to you about.

    Before I start, this blog post is not meant to hurt the feelings or insult any of my friends. AT ALL. This is just a commentary on where I am in my life.

    A few nights ago, a friend of mine tried to set me up with this guy. He was great. Charming, handsome, outdoorsy, friendly... and totally not into me. After he left, I told my friend maybe she shouldn't try to set me up anymore. I am not very good at this stuff. She told me she would respect my wishes, but was really kind of worried about me. She didn't want to see me end up some crazy old dog lady. That I deserved better. What she said was really sweet, honest, and caring; but it cut me to the core. Why would she think I was becoming that person...


    I started looking through my photos.

 Heres a sexy picture of...Aidan in my bed

Oh look, heres Aidan and I at Christmas.

Just this morning, Aidan hiking Gryffith Park with me. 

Aidan and I cuddling at the park.

    Huston. We have a problem. Efffffffff.

    I mean, its not like I haven't been dating. I have. I just work a lot, right? Ugh, all these things sound like excuses. Sad thing is, they are not.

    Up until four years ago, I hadn't been single for longer than five months since I was 12 years old. TWELVE! All those years, relationship after relationship...it was just too much. And now, when I am supposed to be married, having kids, working on my future; honestly all I want to be is alone. Don't get me wrong. I miss having someone here all the time, and would like to have someone to come home to. The right person.  I want the right person.  Because, guess what. I am so happy right now. Less than a month from now, I will have been cancer free. FOR A YEAR.  I have lost almost 25 pounds.  I am working out, eating better, cleaning more, keeping in touch with my friends better. I would love to have someone enhance this situation, but until then. Im good. Really good.
   
xo

Night shoot

So much of my work life is spent outside at night. When we are rolling and it's quiet, things are so beautiful.



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Location:Ventura Farms