Netherlands

Well, I made it to the Netherlands.....Sunday was a beautiful day and I managed to stay awake all day. Yesterday and today have been typical Dutch days....overcast and rainy. Work is very busy so posting will be at a minimum. I have had several requests for birthday gift ideas, so will try to post several in the next couple days. Hope eveyone is having a good week.

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday everyone! James and I have a tennis match this evening. Hopefully we can pull another W. I leave tomorrow for Holland. The next few weeks are going to be crazy as I will be gone for 3 of 5 of the next weeks and we will have company for one of the weeks I am home. Posting may be pretty sporadic...

Have a wonderful weekend!!

JCrew Dream

I have been wanting to get a sweater to wear to GA Tech football games. I found this one in the Jcrew catalog. I tried it on at the store last night and fell in love. I have had trouble lately with sweaters, they itch....but not this sweater. It felt, well, like a dream. The sweater was so soft! And I got it for a great price.

Now I want all the styles and a variety of colors!!

JCREW

I had to return a couple things last night to Banana Republic (I ordered 4 pairs of pants....same size, same style...2 fit, 2 did not...weird). So, I decided to stop in JCrew to see what they had in the store. I have been looking at a couple things online for awhile. I was very happy to see they had a sweater I wanted on Sale and an additional 40% off...so I got the sweater for less than half the original price! Yeah...now I have something appropriate for fall Ga Tech football games!! Now I just have to figure out how to put it together in an outfit. I am thinking Dark jeans, boots and a simple tank under it. (Picture of the sweater to come in the next post....)

4

Number of miles I ran this morning without stopping!! YEA!!

I'm trying to get some distance in this week (or at least work on increasing distance) since I will be away next week. If I do get to work out/go to the gym, it will be over lunch break and only be 30 minutes, so I'll be doing intervals and sprints.

This working out thing is great.....makes me feel great (and helps work off the potato chips I have been eating!!)

Tar Heels

We met a group of James' friends from UNC for tailgating and game day fun. Even though the Tar Heels lost to Virginia Tech, we had a great time. The pictures below show just how much fun was had.....

A friendly game of flip cup.....
This one is too close to call
What's a tailgate without cornhole?!
You can barely see the score, but it was 17-10 UNC....didn't end that way though

Group shot

Weekend Recap

James and I went to NC for the weekend. Friday evening we had dinner with James' brother for his birthday. Saturday we went to Chapel Hill for the football game. (Post to come) And then headed back early on Sunday. It was a quick trip but lots of fun!! Barley and I just got back from a run - to help work off all the "fun" that was had this weekend!!

FALL

Reasons I am loving (or do love) Fall:

Cool weather
Sweaters and Jeans
Football Games
My Birthday (October)
Getting Ready for the Holidays
Good Red Wine on the Porch on a Cool Evening (hmm, doesn't have to be fall to enjoy good red wine, but this scenario sounds pretty good to me)
Hugo & Daphne - our friends are coming to visit this year

JCrew Love

Over on JCrew Aficionada there is a link to FFM's Polyvore sets with JCrew's fall line....oh my gosh....I want so many of the outfits she put together!!! Loving FALL!!!

You win some, You lose some

James and I played 2 matches this weekend. Friday evening we lost - 4-6, 6-3, 5-7. We played for 2.5 hours and were both exhausted when we were done. So we didn't make it to the birthday dinner. James played men's on Saturday morning and the team won all 5 lines!! Then we played another match Saturday evening and WON!!! 6-3, 6-1. That was my first win in tennis, and it felt good!!

We also had a garage sale on Saturday. We only made about $170, but did get rid of a few things. I think I am done with Garage Sales and will donate the left overs!

Our football teams won some, lost some as well. UNC won on Thursday night. UK won on Saturday. But GaTech and OSU both lost on Saturday.

So, as the saying goes.....
You win some, you lose some!

That did it

A 2 hour nap/rest and I was ready for the gym...lifted legs and then took Barley for a walk. We watched the last bit of James' tennis practice...The coach had them moving!!

Nap

Off to nap..maybe motivation will come to me in my dreams....James has tennis tonight so I can always go to the gym while he is there...

Exhausted...Motivation??

So this week I decided I would up my workouts a bit...doing some cardio every day....the weather seems to keep me from it....

Monday I went to the YMCA to lift and do some cardio. We had a terrible storm that started once I got inside. The power went out and after about 25 minutes, they decided to close the Y...45 minutes of lifting complete...cardio - NONE

Tuesday I went to the Y to run....4.95 miles and 55 minutes later I felt great. Its the furthest I have gone in awhile (55 minutes includes 2 min warmup, 3 min break, 5 min cooldown) and figured I would be sore today. I had also planned to go to Tennis class last night. Unfortunately mother nature again decided to pour down on us.

TODAY - well today I woke up nauseous and am exhausted...maybe that run was a bit too much. So, I am trying to gather some motivation to go to the Y and lift lower body and maybe do a bit of cardio. Hmm...wonder if I'll make it or if yesterday's run was just too much....

Tennis

So to keep up the tennis skills (or lack thereof) I have convinced my husband to play T2 mixed doubles with me. This could either be a really good thing or a terribly bad thing. Our first match is this Friday, so I'll keep you posted. We only have to play 5 matches and we went in at the lowest level possible, so hopefully we'll get at least one WIN!

SKI TRIP

Last week James booked tickets for our ski trip. Its actually a business trip as some clients are going with us. It should be a fun trip. We are going to the Park Hyatt in Beavercreek, CO. They do what they call "technique week". The package includes room, 4 days of skiing (lift passes, boot and ski rentals), breakfasts, some apres ski and dinners, gifts in the room, and INSTRUCTION! Instruction is the best part. James has been to Technique Weeks a couple times. He took me with him in 2005 (seems forever ago). I had never skied before and after our first day on the slopes, didn't think I would again (we went out 2 days early with James's mom and boyfriend - husband now). James was very patient with me and helped me down many slopes. (I guess it was true love! ;) ) Luckily I was the only "beginner" (well there was another one, but she took private lessons) in the group and ended up with my own instructor. It was wonderful. I can't believe how much I improved in 4 days and how much I enjoyed skiing. I was going down blues before we were done and the instructor said if he had a couple more days with me, he would have me down blacks....I was impressed with myself......so fast forward 3 years and we're going again...I have not skied since that trip, so will probably end up in the beginner group again, but hopefully it will come back to me quickly!

We're going in mid December and I am hoping to save enough vacation days to take off the rest of the month!

I'll be sure to post pictures after the trip.

Wow

I found this blog when I was reading through some others this evening. As I wiped the tears from my eyes, I knew I had to share it. I am amazed by the strength and courage with which this couple has endured what could possibly be one of the toughest tests. Please read their story and the Miracle of their little girl Catherine. But have tissues handy and don't say I didn't warn you.

Holiday weekend

We started off the holiday weekend on Thursday night at the GA Tech season opener. Friday was pretty laid back. We ran a few errands (and worked), then hung out at the house. Neither of us were hungry for dinner so we had cheese and crackers and wine. It was great. Saturday we spent about 3 hours in yard, mowing, watering, picking weeds, etc. It looks better, but still not great. (I'll try to post some pics of our yard) I have someone coming tomorrow to give us a quote to re-lay some sod. Saturday evening we had tuna, yum!! Yesterday we had 3 other couples over for dinner and game night - it was a blast!! Top that off with a UK win over UL...what a day!!

Today has been pretty lazy, though we did play about 2 hours of tennis.

Hope everyone else had a great weekend. I am loving that it is football season, now only if the weather would get cooler......