A week of 4 S's....

This past week was a week of S's......

My first S is SCHOOL...UGH. I started my long 8 week stretch back to school. The postive thing is there are only 8 (now 7) weeks left until summer begins! Unfortunately, I am not sure how I am going to get everything I need to get done in that SHORT amount of time!!

Second S is for STRESS!!! I am ofically truly stressed out. I am trying not to let it affect me, yet it has. In my last term at school I have chosen to 1. take 9 units and 2. save 2 of the worst classes for last. Way to go! The two classes are both online and require a TON of work to be done. I feel so overwhelmed with my homework on top of making sure things are good at work that I have reached my limit!!!! Luckily I have my running as a release, but finiding time for that is getting to become stressful too! When does it stop? :-(

Third S is for SLEEP. Due to my massive amount of stress I have been getting to bed WAYYYY past my bedtime. I am now officially sleep deprived. When I haven't gotten enough sleep and I am physically tired, my right eye twitches non-stop. It has not stopped twitching um...since MONDAY! It is making putting mascara on very difficult. I would like the twitching to stop, please! :-)

The last and final S which is my favorite S of all is for....SADIE KAY STAHLER!!! My new niece Sadie was born on 4-24-09 at 12:47 pm (Texas time). She was 20.5 inches and 7 pounds 4 ounces! She is absolutely perfect. I am already so in love with my little Sadie lady :-) I can't wait to see her in June when I go visit Kay and Rob! Kay and Rob are both doing great and so excited to be new parents! This new little girl is such a blessing to their lives.

This week I am going to focus on the letter R :-) My first R is for rest...I need it somehow :-) The next is relaxation, I am going to take one day to just relax. My last R is for Running! On May 3rd, I will be running in the OC 1/2 Marathon. It will be my 6th 1/2 marathon!!! I will be hoping to run it in under 2 hours. Keep your fingers crossed :-)

So Proud!!!

A couple months ago at school one of the teachers had an idea to start the "Biggest Loser" contest at school. It was going to be based on percent of weight lost in 15 weeks. That only seemed fair! :-) The rules were to pay $20 to play then $5 every week when you gained. A weigh in would happen every Friday and a running log was going to be kept to check for accuracy. Unfortunatley at the time, I did want to play but I had already lost "too" much weight from my own workout and eating routine. I decided not play but remain working out and eating as I had done.

One of my greatest friends at school, Janice, came to me for help and advice! Since this is a new passion of mine I couldn't wait to help her. She is a beautiful single mom with so much to give. She just could never get her weight under control because she simply did not know how to. She thought grabbing a bite to eat was easier than making a healthy meal at home. Let me put it this way, she used her oven as STORAGE!! :-) She decided that she was going to play Biggest Loser. Let me preface this by saying Janice does NOT like to lose!! So 10 weeks ago, I took her grocery shopping and showed her how to make delicious and healthy meals. I wrote out a meal and snack plan for her that she has followed.

I told her it couldn't just be eating right she had to work out too. I let her borrow my old I Pod so she could get out and at least walk. I encouraged her to walk a mile, then maybe two.
I am so proud to say she is now running!!! She is up to running 4 miles!!!! She is even going to my strength class with me. I couldn't be more proud of her. We are 5 weeks away until the end of the Biggest Loser. The winner will be receiving I believe $500!!! As of now, she is beating EVERYONE who is participating. In a matter of 10 weeks, she has lost 20 POUNDS!!!!!!! Everytime I think about it, it brings a tear to my eye. I am so proud of her for making a commitment and sticking to it. She looks great and feels terrific.

GO JANICE!!!!!!! I can't wait to post "after" pictures of the little hot momma!

Janice (bottom right) before...

Janice (right) before....

Great friends...great wine!

Last night, I was able to get together with two great friends, Sam and Erin for some delicious wine and cheese! It was so great to be able to get together and chit chat about what is going on in our little worlds. So often we get caught up in work or school that it's hard to just relax and talk about things that just make us laugh!

Sam has a lot of excitement in her life right now. She is about 3 weeks away from ending her Spring term of her MBA program at Pepperdine. Before beginning her Summer term in May, she will be a little jet setter! She is off to China and Tibet for 2 weeks! I am so excited for her. She is going to have the best time getting away for a vaction while learning about some of the most amazing history and culture. Erin is quite busy too! I love living vicariously through her. She lives and works in LA as an event planner. Her big upcoming event is the US Weekly Hot Hollywood party! I have marked my calendar with the date. I am hoping I will get to be there to help in some way, even if it is just checking bags! :-)

Finally...me! I have, as usual, a rather FULL plate! I have finals of my spring I term starting TOMORROW!! Then, in two weeks I will have a well deserved Spring Break!! On April 14th, I will begin my last term as a student. I found out that I am officially graduating on JULY 31st!!! I can hardly believe all of my hard work is about to pay off. It feels like yesterday that I started this whole program and now I am so close to finishing. I cannot even begin to express the gratitude I have towards so many people who have supported me through this. I love you all so very much for being my strength when I had nothing left in me to put forward. My last big adventure is my running! I am running in my 6th 1/2 marathon on May 3rd. Later this summer, on July 26th, I will be competing in my first mini Triathalon!!! A triathalon, am I crazy~perhaps! It is a "mini" very mini...1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3 mile run. I had started making so many excuses for why I shouldn't or couldn't do it. Finally I decided to cut the crap~for lack of better words :-) and just do it! The best part is, Erin will be doing it with me!! I am most excited about reaching another goal and accomplishing something I never thought I would try.

Needless to say, lots of wine was had, we had a lot to talk about! We are all geared up for a spring and the excitment it will bring to all of us!

HAPPY SPRING!!!

February 14th

In lieu of having a Valentine's Day, my friends and I decided to have a February 14th. The entire weekend was incredible! I was able to celebrate with my cousin and some great friends. We went to a dinner party to celebrate one of my cousin's friends birthdays then we made our way to the V Lounge in Santa Monica. We all ended up not getting to bed until Sunday at about 5 am! A few hours later we were up early to go to church. After church we went to lunch at The Farm in Beverly Hills where we had the best sweet potato fries...delicious! :-) I hear it is one of Steve Martin's favorite places to eat lunch.

I hope everyone enjoyed Valentine's Day with those they love the most! xoxoxoxo

Super Bowl Sunday

February started off on the right foot! I ran my 5th half marathon and finished in my 2:00:02! It was my best time so far. With only being 5"2 my little legs need to move awfully fast to finish that fast. Of course with my excitement in finishing in 2 hours, I couldn't help but be a little bummed for being only 3 SECONDS away from finishing in 1:59! 3 seconds is nothing!! It only gives me something to look forward to and something to challenge myself with for next time. The entire event was so much fun. I ran with my friends Megan, Stephanie and Katie and my mom of course too! The day was beautiful. We all were anxious to cross the finish line to enjoy a couple of cold beverages in the beer garden. Surprisingly, it was the most refreshing drink!
The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing with family and friends while enjoying a great football game!

Beer Garden~cheers!!

Crossing the finish line!

Today I competed in my 4th 1/2 marathon! I ran the Southern California Half Marathon in Irvine. It was a beautiful day for a run; minus the wind factor. At times I felt like I was running in slow motion because of the wind! I had a great race! I finished in my best time yet; 2 hours 6 minutes. I had great supporters along the route; my mom, my friends Janice and Lisa and Lisa's daughter Madison. They definitely kept me motivated throughout the race. My next race is in Huntington Beach on February 1st, Super Bowl Sunday. I will be anxiously running towards the infamous beer garden on that day. It's the perfect way to start of the super bowl celebration! Only 3 weeks to go~back to training tomorrow!

Happy New Year!

As 2009 is upon us and resolutions begin to be made for the new upcoming year I can't help but give thanks and resolve to do more of the same. 2008 was a wonderful year. I made a commitment to earn my masters and have enjoyed every minute of it. My relationship with God is stronger than it has ever been. Bible versus, prayers and journaling are what got me through the most difficult of times. I am in the best health I have ever been in due to my passion for running and working out. Finally, my relationships with my family and friends have never been stronger. As I get older I feel like life is about coming into your own skin and being accepting of ones self. My goals for 2008 were all of the things I was able to accomplish. Each one making this one of my happiest years. As much as it saddens me to have lost my aunt in the last couple days of the year, I am inspired to do great things in honor and memory of her.

2009 Resolutions:
I am not going to make any resolutions instead I pray for more of the same!! I have decided to make two bible versus my resoltions for 2009. I will look to these for guidance and motivation during the next year.

Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Ecclesiastes 3:11-14 : He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

2009 is sure to bring many new joys and happy memories. I am excited to see the new year unfold and all of the beautiful blessings it has in store for all. Happy New Year!