Two Things

I could live on kettle corn and Diet Coke alone.

Who's with me?

My World Is Upside Down

Confession time, peeps. Are you ready for this?

I actually enjoy running.

I am screaming inside my head right now. It is like the universe is out of control and up is down and north is south and chocolate is actually bad for you. I feel like I don't even know myself anymore. Who am I? Who are you?

I think I need a padded room.

But before you all call me a traitor and never invite me over for dessert again, I want to be clear on the specific aspects on running that I like and don't like. First, I actually don't enjoy running WHILE I am running. Truth be told, I kind of wish I could collapse and die by minute 20. But, afterward. Oh, afterward, there is this heightened feeling of elation and lightness that can be attributed to either dehydration or some sort of runner's high...whatever that is.

Second, the feeling of accomplishment is monumental. And I carry this with me each day like I am some sort of professional athlete.

And third, someday my tuckus will thank me. And so will the new pair of jeans I want to buy.

So there you have it, folks. The FC has lost her mind and has once again bonded with her stupid treadmill. And if you ever get a phone call from me and all you hear is heavy breathing and gasping, don't hang up! Just send an ambulance and pray that I wasn't catapulted over the balcony of the loft in my apartment.

Oh, and bring cookies.

Weekend List O'Fun: Recap

Here is a review of my weekend because I am sure you are just dying to know. Try not to doze off.

1. Sleep in as late as humanly possible. And then take a nap.
I slept until 10:00 on Saturday morning. It was pure bliss, people, PURE BLISS.

2. Bake a new recipe that calls for equal amounts butter, sugar and chocolate.
I did try a new recipe and it will be posted this week. And let me tell you something, it is divine.

3. Go out on a hot date.
"Romeo, oh Romeo..." In other words...no.

4. Shop for new shoes.
Oh yes I did. And I found new black slingback heels. LOVE. THEM. With every fiber of my being.

5. Go salsa dancing.
Unfortunately no. However, I do have definitive plans to go in October. Que bueno!

6. Ride a horse.
Oh man, I wish! Does anyone have a horse I can ride? I would even clean out the stall. And I can bring my own saddle. Is that weird?

7. Get a new stamp in my passport.
Unless Highlands Ranch is giving out stamps these days, this did not quite happen this weekend.

8. Paint my bathroom.
Who wants to be inside painting on a weekend? Sheesh. What was I thinking putting this on the list?

9. Hit a bucket of balls.
I almost went but I decided to bake instead. Oh, the choices we must make.

10. Watch OU football.
You bet your booty. And can we say "BRING ON TEXAS?!?"

11. Eat kettle corn.
My fabulous friend Lizz buys me kettle corn almost every weekend at a local farmers market. It is why we are friends. Everyone should have a friend that buys them kettle corn. I highly recommend it.

12. Swim in the ocean.
Stinkin' land-locked state.

13. Hike a 14er.
Just kidding.
Wouldn't that have been HILARIOUS if I actually did this? Well, maybe not hilarious. Maybe more like demon-possession.

14. Go see a new movie.
I saw the new Wallstreet movie, where I subsequently ate my kettle corn. They were both sublime. And I think I may be crushin' on Shia. Just a little bit. But don't tell Chuck.

15. See as many friends as possible.
I saw quite a few! And I missed all the ones I didn't see. You know who you are.

16. Take another nap.
I snoozed for approximately 2.4 minutes today. It was heaven.

17. Run. Yeah, you heard me. Apparently working out has its benefits. Go figure.
Yep, I did it. Cue "Chariots of Fire." I am like the wind, like a sure-footed deer. Well, maybe more like a slow moving, uncoordinated antelope, but you get the picture.

18. Arrive to church on time.
I sure did! It was a minor miracle. And I was greeter.

19. Watch the the first episode of Chuck. Again.
Nope, didn't have time. But it is on my to-do list because Chuck appears in a tuxedo which means I am a white dress short of marrying him.

20. Hang with my mama.
Yep, we totally hung out. For shizzle. She and the seester and I went shoe shopping. Fabulous!

21. Suck the cheeks off of some cute baby, preferably one I know. Or not. Whatever.
To all of my friends with adorable babies (Tirzah, Rach, Kellie, Mandy, Laura, Melissa, Sherrie, Mika etc.): Where were your kids when I needed them the most this weekend? I may have to come and personally visit each one of you just so I can smooch on your kiddos. I hope you don't mind.

22. Avoid all toe-related accidents or trauma.
SUCCESS!

23. Sing in the rain.
No rain was to be found this weekend but I did sing in the shower. Does that count?

24. Wash all the bug guts off my car (another reason why I detest Kansas).
I almost pulled in to have my car washed but I was on my way to go shoe shopping and suddenly the bug guts didn't seem nearly that important. The magnetic force of Off Broadway Shoes was too strong and I was just too weak. I am a big, weak weeny. But that's okay, I can live with that.

25. Eat some peanut butter.
Absolutely I did. Didn't you?

So how was your weekend? I don't know about you, but I could use another one!

Weekend List O'Fun

Well hello there my friends! Thanks for the fabulous suggestions on what I should bake. Or if I should bake. Or if I should crawl under my desk for a nap. Sara's terrific idea of baking brownies pulled ahead at the last minute because I realized that I was out of every kind of baking ingredient other than a box mix of dark chocolate brownies. And who wants to run to the grocery store on a Thursday afternoon when you could be napping?

Exactly.

God bless Betty Crocker.

So, it's Friday, peeps! Can I hear a "hot diggity?"

Here is my list of things I would love to do this weekend. And I may or may not accomplish all or none of them. I'll just keep you in suspense until Monday.

1. Sleep in as late as humanly possible. And then take a nap.

2. Bake a new recipe that calls for equal amounts butter, sugar and chocolate.

3. Go out on a hot date.

4. Shop for new shoes.

5. Go salsa dancing.

6. Ride a horse.

7. Get a new stamp in my passport.

8. Paint my bathroom.

9. Hit a bucket of balls.

10. Watch OU football.

11. Eat kettle corn.

12. Swim in the ocean.

13. Hike a 14er.

Just kidding.

14. Go see a new movie.

15. See as many friends as possible.

16. Take another nap.

17. Run. Yeah, you heard me. Apparently working out has its benefits. Go figure.

18. Arrive to church on time.

19. Watch the the first episode of Chuck. Again.

20. Hang with my mama.

21. Suck the cheeks off of some cute baby, preferably one I know. Or not. Whatever.

22. Avoid all toe-related accidents or trauma.

23. Sing in the rain.

24. Wash all the bug guts off my car (another reason why I detest Kansas).

25. Eat some peanut butter.

That's a lot to do in 48 hours but I am feeling fairly optimistic! So what are your plans this weekend?

To Bake or Not To Bake

Hey peeps! Happy First day of Fall!

I need your help: my girlies are coming over tonight for Women's Group and I don't know what to bake. Or if I should bake. Or if I should just crawl back into bed for a long nap and then take them to McDonald's for an ice cream cone.

I am so confused.

So please send your ideas, suggestions, recommendations, or words of edification my way.

Thank you. You are the absolute best.

Ever.

Third Cup of Joe

I need an IV of caffeine.

Stat.

Three cups of coffee just aren't cutting it.

I blame TV premier week and my treadmill.

A Weekend With My Family

My family gets pretty excited when we have visitors. I mean REALLY excited. It's like we are anticipating the Queen...since I know what it means to anticipate the Queen coming to your house and staying in your old bedroom. And assuming the Queen wants pot roast, outlet malls and trips to the mountains, then it is bound to be a good time, my friends. I dig a Queen who can hang with the common folk.

So, when my cousin Katie and her husband Vadim came to visit last week, we were almost beside ourselves with joy. Even though we had work, Bible study, work and more work, we helped them cram in a lot of stuff, like outlet mall shopping, a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, Red Rocks, Hacienda Colorado, Yogurtland and two batches of dark chocolate chip pumpkin cookies.

I would call that success with a side of weight gain, wouldn't you?

Here are Katie and Vadim. She is 22 weeks preggo with twins. I am so glad I have her genes.

On Saturday, Claire and I took Katie to Olde Town Littleton.

I would highly recommend this little street because they have a shop called the "Chocolate Therapist." It is a couch shy of being the most heavenly place on earth.

That drink is called "sipping chocolate." I am pretty sure I need that in a Big Gulp.

We also went to my favorite store: Willow. It is full of fun, funky things that I can't possibly live without.

 

Like these...

And this...

And this fun photograph of a sign. So I took a photograph of the photograph but was then asked to not take any more pictures in the store. Apparently that is illegal or something like that.

So then we strolled down to Sugar Rush:

And this is what we found inside: rows and rows of bright, colorful candy.

Sugar Rush hosts birthday parties for kids. If you do this for your own child, I would highly recommend a little protein and a pillow for the sugar-induced coma that will surely follow on your ride home.

Later that night, after the Sooners survived a horrific 4th quarter and managed a win against the Falcons, we gathered in the kitchen for a cousin picture or two.

This is how they typically play out:

First, there is one of Sam excluding me from the family.

Then there is one of me laughing like a weirdo.

Next is a really blurry one of my dad trying to figure out how to work a camera.



Then we have a semi-blurry one that has Sam looking like he is pregnant, Vadim with his eyes closed and the rest of us wondering how long we have to hold these smiles.

It is a minor miracle we have any family photos at all.

So in summary, it was a fabulous weekend and I can't wait for the next batch of cousins to come and visit (hint, hint). Just be ready for mild hysteria, mass confusion and more food than you know what to do with. In other words, like any other day with my family.