tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59049778457262105642024-03-13T05:38:04.310-06:00Me, My Blog, and IAmanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.comBlogger553125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-89194147460080507032015-02-27T08:41:00.000-07:002015-02-27T08:41:00.050-07:00May The Force Be With......ME! {Part 2}<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We ran out of Disneyland and headed toward California Adventure. There were a bunch of spectators there and lots of them had signs! One of my favorites said “This is the worst Disneyland parade ever. Your choreography is awful”. But the absolute best signs said “May the force be with you” or “The force is strong with you”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Now, I'm not the worlds biggest Star Wars expert, but I do know that when they refer to the force, they are basically referring to God. Every time I saw one of those signs, I read it as <span style="color: purple;">“May the Lord me with you</span>” or <span style="color: purple;">“The Lord is strong with you”</span>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />Talk about your tender mercies. I could definitely feel all of the prayers of my family and friends, but as if that wasn't strong enough, there were signs EVERYWHERE confirming to me that the Lord was watching out for me and helping me run the race!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As I ran into the park, I got a text from my dad that said “Welcome to California Adventure”! He had been tracking me with an app that we use and it made me feel so good to know that they were keeping track of me!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was also at that point that I started to feel pretty dang good about my pace! I had done very little walking and I felt like I was keeping up with the crowd!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">That gave me the confidence to stop and take a few pictures, and I'm so glad I did!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Not too long after these pictures, my costume started falling apart. Let me just first clarify that I was supposed to be Jedi Princess Aurora (can't you tell my the crown), but for some reason, people kept calling me Princess Peach. Who the heck shows up to a Disney race dressed as a Nintendo character?!?! Come of people!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Any way, I had used a lot of double sided tape to try and keep my costume together, but by mile five, it no longer wanted to stick. The fabric over my shoulders kept falling off and getting in my way! So I ended up trying to run, while unpinning my race bib, taking off the fabric, and then pinning my race bib back on! Talk about multi-tasking!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Just as I came up to the Paradise Pier hotel, the sun really started to come out! It was so pretty, but I was also grateful that it had stayed down for most of the race, keeping the air cool!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I also got a chance to take a picture with the six mile marker!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At that point, I could heard the finish line! I decided to FaceTime my family because I wanted them to cross the finish line with me! They had done so much to get me to that point and I never would have made it without their love, encouragement, support and prayers!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I talked to them for a few minutes and then it was time to get my medal!! SUCH a good feeling!!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Not long after that, Miranda crossed the finish line! I gave her a big hug and was so proud of her for finishing on her own!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We had made it! We had survived!! We crossed the finish line on our own two feet.... no pacing cart required!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Best of all.......the “force” was with me every single step of the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-4359154617878847782015-02-25T08:17:00.000-07:002015-02-25T08:17:00.089-07:00May The Force Be With....... ME! {Part 1}<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Race morning started bright and early. Well, I guess I shouldn't say
bright, because it was 3:40 a.m and the run was definitely not up! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As I started
getting </span>ready, I was trying to force myself to eat goldfish crackers, but my
nerves had started again, so I only had a handful! Before we walked out the
door, I told my friend Miranda that we needed to pray. One of the things my dad
told me in my blessing was to make sure I prayed before and after the race! We
stood there together in our hotel room, while I said a quick prayer that we
would both be safe and that we could make it through the race. Once we said
amen, it was time to head out and we left our room around 4:30 a.m.</span></div>
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Luckily, our hotel was really close to the starting line, so we were just able
to walk over. It was nice to kind of start warming up and the feel the energy
of the other runners walking with us! <br />
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My race bib said I was supposed to be in corral “D” and Miranda's said she was
in corral “E”. There weren't very many people standing in corral “E” and I felt
bad telling her to go stand back there by herself for more than an hour, so I
told her to just stay with me. Plus, I didn't necessarily want to be alone
either!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The race began at 5:30 a.m. but we had to wait awhile to start since we
were one of the last corrals. I did some stretching to keep my muscles warm and
we chatted with some of the runners around us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Finally it was our turn! As we got closer, we could hear the announcer,
who was with C3-PO and R2-D2, cheering everyone on! We could also hear the Star
Wars music playing! Our corral got up to the start line, they counted us down,
and we took off. The big screen overhead said “May the force be with you” and
then told us all to run!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Miranda and I walked the first three-quarters of a mile together. We were
right in the middle of the pack so it was kind of hard to run. Once I made it
to Harbor Boulevard, I decided I was ready to run! Miranda and I wished each
other good luck and I took off!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It felt so good to run! I felt happy to be running!! I felt much better
running than I'd felt in months!!! I knew my dad's blessing was helping me and
I knew the prayers of my family and friends were giving me strength! The
“force” was definitely with me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As I ran toward the gates of Disneyland, I thought back to my first
Disney race. During that race, my dad was waiting for me right before I went
into the park, cheering me on. I imagined him standing there, cheering me on, and that gave me a
boost of energy as I ran down Main Street!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The course took us into Frontierland and I saw a huge line of people just
standing around. At first, I didn't know if they were all runners and I
couldn't figure out why there were all just standing around. As I got close to
the Rivers of America, I could see Chewbacca standing there taking pictures
with runners. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Before the race had started, I had told myself the only character I
really wanted a picture with was Darth Vader. But, I knew I wouldn't be able to
stand in any really</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">long lines because I needed to be careful of my time! I was hoping that
since I was toward the end of the pack, that most of the runners would be
through by the time I made it to the characters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I was wrong! Really wrong! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As I ran into Tomorrowland, I could see a huge
line and there was no doubt in my mind what they were waiting for! As I ran
around the corner, there was Darth Vader standing in front of the Innovations
building! There were even Storm Troopers walking around! I debated for a few
minutes whether I should stand in line or not..... but the line was at least a
20 minutes long and I knew I couldn't afford to lose that much time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I wasn't able to get my picture during the race... but I did manager to get</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">one while we were in the park!!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">From Tomorrowland, we ran back toward It's A Small World. There were a
couple of Jedis standing there, cheering us on, and they didn't have any lines.
So, I stopped for a quick selfie!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We made our way through the backlot, which is one of my favorite parts! A
lot of the employees come out to cheer and give high fives! It's so cool to see
them all there, so early in the morning, giving up there time, to help make the
race fun! They were also working on Splash Mountain while we were there, so all
of the logs were sitting out and that was kind of cool to see!</span></div>
Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-25343730497128951722015-02-23T19:58:00.001-07:002015-02-23T20:02:54.526-07:00Run Disney- Round 2<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In the summer of 2014 I signed up to run the inaugural Disneyland Star
Wars 10k. They always make you sign up for those races months in advance, so I
had until January 17, 2015 to train.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
I told myself I had plenty of time and, since I had done a 10k before, I was
going to be just fine! Not long after I signed up, I ran my first Ragnar race.
I was wiped out by the time that weekend was over and I told myself I deserved
a break from running.... a week at least!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Well, a week turned into two.... and two weeks turned into a month! At
that point, it was the middle of summer and it was hot.... really hot!! I told
myself every night after work that it was way to hot and there was no way I
could run outside! I told myself that if I waited until September, I would
still have plenty of time to prepare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Procrastination and justification are a bad combo.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Before I knew it, it was October. It had been three and a half months
since my last run, or any other kind of workout for that matter! Not only that,
but winter was coming and my running outside days were going to be numbered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I, of course, started to get a little stressed about how the race was
going to go. I went for my first run annnnnd......... It didn't go well. I
don't remember how far I made it before I gave up, but I would say it was
probably less than a mile. My next few runs were not much better. One of my biggest
obstacles was my weight. I had gained quite a bit over the summer and I could
definitely feel it! My calves ached every single time I went out! And I felt
like I was losing circulation in my feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Self doubt kicked in big time and I wondered why in the world I was even
attempting to run! My self-conversations during a run went something like this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> “Why in the heck are you
doing this”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> “You hate running...
you've always hated running”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> “You're not a runner,
you are not cut out for this”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> “You are way to fat to
be trying to run this kind of race”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> “There is absolutely no
way you are going to be ready for the race. Why are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> you trying anyway”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It was rough. I told myself over and over I hated running. I had to force
myself to go out each night and I was miserable the whole entire time. I would
get discouraged after every short run and would be overwhelmed with frustration
when I got home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I had lost all motivation to be a runner! It got so bad, that I
considered just not showing up for the race at all..... I knew I'd be throwing
over $100 down the drain, but I told myself it would be better to not show up
at all than to be humiliated by not finishing the race!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Daylight savings came, so my evening runs were now in the dark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">And cold. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">There were nights when it was freezing....when I couldn't feel my nose, fingers
or ears! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">But, I told myself that was the price I had to pay for slacking off in
the summer!<br />
<br />
Believe it or not, running actually got <i>slightly</i> easier on those cold
dark nights! It was sort of peaceful to be out alone in the chilly air. I still
couldn't run a mile without stopping, but I would usually run miles two and
three without a break, so that was progress!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I was also extremely blessed because we had an insanely mild winter. My
plan had been to run outside as long as possible, and once the snow started
flying, I was going to hit the treadmill. I wasn't excited about treadmill
running, only because, for me, I don't feel like I get the same kind of
workout. I feel like I can go faster and further on the treadmill, which
definitely doesn't help when it comes time to run on the pavement! My last
resort was going to the the rec center track. Track running is super hard for
me..... I get bored looking at the same walls for 30+ laps!! But like I said, I
was blessed with dry roads and was able to run outside until the week of
Christmas. <br />
<br />
We got our first snow storm on Christmas day, so for the next few weeks, I went
to the gym. Sometimes I'd use the treadmill, but I mostly worked out on the
elliptical machine. I felt pretty bad about it.... because I was worried that I
wasn't getting the kind of workout I needed. But, I figured it was better than
nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">January came and my nerves set it. I knew I wasn't where I
needed to be, especially since my longest outdoor run had been 3.60 miles! And
as if that wasn't bad enough, my pace was very very slow! All of my self-doubt
came back and I again considered just skipping the race!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The night before I left for California, I was a mess. All I could think
about was being picked up by the pacing cart. I did <u>not</u> want to be the
fat girl who couldn't make it through the race and had to be driven to the
finish line.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I needed all of the help I could get at that point and asked my dad if he
would give me a blessing. In my head, I was thinking “I need him to bless me
that I'll be able to run faster and farther that I've been able to in the past
few weeks”. My dad is amazing and he knew exactly what to say! He didn't say
the exact phrase I was hoping for, but what he said helped me feel peace, and
really, what's better than that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Once my friend Miranda and I made it to California, we went to the Health and
Fitness Expo at the Disneyland hotel to pick up our race packet! That was the
moment I finally started to get excited about the race! There is just something
that pumps you up about holding your race bib and tech shirt!<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We walked around the expo for awhile, checking out the vendors and buying
some cool stuff. We didn't stay too long though because we wanted to go over to
Disneyland! We rode a couple of rides and did some shopping. But we also made
sure we had time to carbo-load and we ended up at Pizza Port for some delicious
pasta and bread sticks. We didn't stay very late, because we knew we had to get
up really early for race day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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(We went into the Star Trader store in tomorrow land because I REALLY wanted</div>
to get a lightsaber to go along with my costume! They had basic ones.... that cost $12!<br />
Or you could build your own sweet lightsaber.... that started at $20.<br />
I seriously debated what to do...<br />
I wanted a blue lightsaber SO bad!<br />
In the end, I couldn't justify spending that kind of money on something that I would<br />
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only use to take a few pictures.)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Back at the hotel, we set out our running gear and laid out our costumes.
We set the alarm for 3:40 a.m. and we were in bed by 9:30 p.m!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-62469558746828954092015-01-10T08:30:00.000-07:002015-01-10T08:30:01.431-07:00Haulin' BootyIn April 2014, one of my co-workers, Ali, asked if I'd be interested in joining her Ragnar team! I was pretty surprised that she asked me, because I'm not a fast runner at all!! But I was psyched for the opportunity!<br />
<br />
At that point, there was only about two and half months until the race. Luckily, I was runner seven, which meant I had the easiest legs! My longest leg was less than five miles, so I figured I'd be okay! I kept to my normal running schedule, with a goal to be up to five miles at least two weeks before the race.<br />
<br />
The thing is though, it's hard to <i>really</i> train for a Ragnar race until you've actually done it! I had no way of knowing what it would be like to run my legs, since I had never done it before. About six weeks before the race, I decided to get some new running shoes. I went with Altras because I have heard good things about "barefoot" and "zero drop" running. But after about two weeks of bad runs, I decided they weren't for me and switched them out for a pair of Brooks.<br />
<br />
I was nervous at that point because I had lost two weeks of training. And I didn't dare try to break in a new pair of shoes, so I stuck with my old ones. Finally, only a few days before the race, I ran five miles non-stop! I was so excited that I kneeled right down on the grass and thanked the Lord for helping me reach my goal!<br />
<br />
Race day came and I was super nervous! I was worried about letting my team down and being too slow! I was worried about the exchange points and recognizing the guys I was supposed to take the baton from! And I was worried about running at night!<br />
<br />
I met up with my half of the team, van two, and we drove to Eden, Utah for the first exchange. I had never been to Eden before, but it is a beautiful place! The drive up was super rainy and I was worried about running in a downpour, but when we got to the exchange point, the rain stopped and the sun started to come out.<br />
<br />
We checked in, went through the "safety class" and then had time to walk around to some of the vendors. We also had plenty of time to enjoy gawking at some of the other teams that showed up. Some teams had crazy costumes (ex- Lego people, unicorns, troll dolls) and others went all out on their vehicles... Imagine a giant (and I mean giant) inflatable monster on top of a Suburban......<br />
<br />
Finally, it was time for us to make our way of to the exchange point! I stood in the corral and watched as my teammate ran toward me with the baton (a sweet orange slap bracelet).<br />
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<br />
We made the exchange and I took off! I had my phone with me and had planned to use Pandora for my music. Well, I wasn't really thinking about the fact that I was going to be in the middle of nowhere, going through mountain ranges, so I didn't have an internet connection.<br />
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I started to panic! How in the world was I going to run four miles with absolutely no music! I started out trying to sing songs in my head... but that didn't last very long! I had the thought to check my iTunes app, and thankfully, somehow, about five songs had made it on to my phone! I listened to the same five songs, over and over, for pretty much all three legs! What a huge blessing it was to have them on my phone though!! Let just say, every time I hear the Neon Tree sing "Everybody Talks" I will always think of Ragnar!!<br />
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I was about halfway through my run, going through "downtown" Eden, when I spotted my mom and my grandparents standing on the side of the road cheering me on!! How awesome that they made the drive all the way up there to support me!!<br />
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As I came up to to exchange point, I was greeted by my team. They had met up with the other van and picked up our huge pirate flag! Our team name was "Haulin' Booty", so it was very fitting! My mom and grandparents had also made their way to the exchange point, so I got to give them all a hug before connecting with my team!<br />
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Once my first leg was over, I got a twelve hour break! I drank a ridiculous amount of water in a really short time and then cheered the rest of my teammates on! Our first major exchange was at the Snowbasin resort (which is beautiful, by the way).<br />
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Runner eleven was out, so we parked and decided to grab a couple things to snack on. Unfortunately, I started to feel sick. I think I had drank too much water, way to fast! I made my first (yes first) stop at the first-aid tent! Thank goodness for those people!!<br />
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After our last two runners were done, we drove to the next major exchange point, a high school in Morgan, to clean up and take a break!! It was about 7:00 p.m. so we had to break out our reflective gear and wear it anytime we were outside! The school had a nice big field so we were able to take our pillows and blankets and spread out. I had brought a sleeping bag with me, but I didn't want to worry about rolling it back up later, so I just took a blanket with me. Mistake! It got pretty chilly and I wished, more than once, that I would have just brought the sleeping bag with me! I was, however, smart enough to grab my sleep mask and ear plugs!!<br />
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After a few hours of laying around (no real sleep on my part), we loaded back in the car and headed to the exchange point. As we got closer, traffic got really really bad! We kept watching the time and trying to contact van one to find out what time runner six had started his leg! I was getting really worried that I was going to have to get out a run with runner six to the exchange point and then keep going on my leg!! Thankfully, we beat him there!!<br />
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I grabbed the slap bracelet from him and took off on my night run, reflective vest, head lamp, tail light and all!! My leg started off with a pretty big hill.... I was going up and over part of a mountain. Sadly, I had to do a lot of walking up that dang hill!! When I finally made it to the top, I was rewarded with a nice long downhill!!<br />
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I had been so worried about my night run, but I actually really loved it! It was pretty peaceful running in the dark! I was in the middle of the mountains, so I got to see all of the millions of stars that you don't normally see in the valley! Plus, the air was nice and cool, which always helps!<br />
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Unfortunately, after my downhill, it was nothing but up..... and more up! Steep up!! There were more than a few times I wanted to sit down on the side of the road and take a break!! Thank goodness for kind fellow runners who would jog by, saying nice and encouraging things!! I was SO happy by the time I saw the exchange point! I was definitely ready to be done with the hills!!<br />
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I was actually pretty lucky because my night run started at about 11:30 p.m.! I would much rather start then than at 4:00 a.m.!! My plan was to finish my night run and then sleep for a few hours in the car. No such luck! It was hard to get comfortable, and it got really cold... plus, we were constantly letting runners in and out of the car. Finally, I ended up the back of the Suburban and was able to sleep for about an hour!<br />
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After all of our night runs, we went to the rest point at a high school in Summit county. This school was awesome because you could use their bathrooms and showers for free!! It was SO fantastic to use a flushing toilet after 24 hours of using a Honey Bucket!! We tried to sleep a little more, but I still wasn't feeling that great, so I mostly just sat around and relaxed. It was also the second time I visited the first-aid tent. This time it was for my feet because I was starting to get some blisters. Again, I was grateful, this time for the mole skin!!<br />
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My last run started in the late afternoon on Saturday. It was going to be a pretty flat run and was less than five miles, so I was pretty sure I had it in the bag. Boy was I wrong! This is the part that's hard to explain if you haven't run Ragnar! You think you're feeling great..... but you realize that the last day and a half have caught up with you! The fact that you haven't slept much kicks in and energy is running low!<br />
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I started off okay.... but pretty quickly had to start walking. This was a big disappointment to me!! But my spirits were quickly lifted when all the sudden two cars drove by, honking and cheering for me! My parents and my grandparents drove up to help me along the course!! I was SO happy to see them! They brought me water, my mom walked some of the course with me and they cheered me on! I LOVED having them there!!<br />
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At one point, I was running through a neighborhood and a little girl was standing on the side of the road with a hose. As I got closer she asked "Would you like me to spray you"? It was SO hot at that point so I gladly welcomed it!! Not far down the road was another group standing on the road doing the same thing!! I thought it was so cool that bystanders along the course got involved!<br />
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After what felt like and eternity, I finally saw this sign!!<br />
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And I was even more grateful to cross my final finish line! My team was there cheering me on, but so was my family!!! It was THE best moment!!!<br />
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After that I got to enjoy the rest of my time in the Suburban, cheering on my teammates! They were all rock stars, especially Aliza and Ali, who conquered Ragnar hill!! Along the way, I visited the first aid tent for the third and final time!! I had some pretty ridiculous blisters on both feet. At that point, they were pretty bad and there wasn't much they could do! They wrapped them a little, but I had to hobble around for the rest of the day!!<br />
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The finish line was in Park City. We got there pretty early so we had time to meet up with the other half of our team! We waited at the finish line together as runner twelve finished his leg. As he came to the end of the course, we joined him and crossed the finish line together! It was so amazing!!<br />
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Waiting for us were our medals! How cool are they!!<br />
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We took some team pictures and congratulated each other on a great race!!<br />
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My parents were also waiting for me at the finish line, and my mom had made a really cool Haulin' Booty pirate flag for me! Their support meant so much to me!!<br />
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On the way home, we stopped so I could get my first real meal in 24 hours..... a Wendy's hamburger and a Dr. Pepper! Delicious!! We got home around 10:00 p.m. and I ended up sleeping until 1:00 p.m. the next bed!! I was super excited to wake up to a Village Baker lemon bar from Kaylee!!<br />
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The next Monday, Ali asked me if I was ready to sign up for Ragnar 2015! At first, I wasn't sure if I wanted to do it again!! It was a pretty crazy experience!! But after a few days, I finally committed!! I'm determined to fully run all three of my legs this year! And not to get sick!!<br />
<br />Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-3964686064321327882015-01-05T10:08:00.000-07:002015-01-05T10:08:00.467-07:00Brooms Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In October 2013 I convinced my mom and sister to run a Harry Potter themed 5k with me. It was for a great cause since some of the funds went to the Utah Autism Council! <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DVi9i1-mXlo/Uwwrc4rh1AI/AAAAAAAAD5Y/ULh-tWb3mkg/s1600/IMG_3352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DVi9i1-mXlo/Uwwrc4rh1AI/AAAAAAAAD5Y/ULh-tWb3mkg/s1600/IMG_3352.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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This was the first year this group has hosted a 5k..... so there were somethings that could have been better. Like the fact that race packets weren't ready the day before the race so everyone was trying to get their bib before the race started. There were still people getting their packet when the race officially started.<br />
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The only other thing I didn't love about the race was the actual course. It was at West Jordan park and we basically ran in a circle three times. I'm not sure it was technically even a 5k distance....</div>
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BUT... besides all of that, I thought it was fun race! When you signed up you had to pick a house {we of course picked Gryffindor} and you got a shirt based on the house you chose. They also encouraged everyone to come dressed up as a Harry Potter character and some of the costumes were really cool!! <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0GOZ7V3qe8g/Uwwrbmt69QI/AAAAAAAAD5A/TdgSmp_h3vg/s1600/IMG_3349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0GOZ7V3qe8g/Uwwrbmt69QI/AAAAAAAAD5A/TdgSmp_h3vg/s1600/IMG_3349.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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At the end of the race, they totaled up the times by house, and the house with the best time won. The winner was Gryffindor!! Some of that might have been due to the fact that most people picked that house! </div>
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<br />Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-47438249320467748852015-01-03T22:04:00.004-07:002015-01-03T22:04:29.884-07:002014 Book List<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My reading list for 2014 is pretty pathetic! A friend got me hooked on the t.v. series Sherlock and I spent <i>way </i>too much time watching it!! I plan to be much better this year! </span><br />
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<ul style="color: #140201; line-height: 19.5px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1- The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2- Jack and the Beanstalk by Jenni James</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3- The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4- Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5- The Chaos of Stars by Keirsten White</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6- Divergent by Veronica Roth</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7- Cinderella by Jenni James</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8- A Weekend With Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9- Insurgent by Veronica Roth</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10- Allegiant by Veronica Roth</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">11- Sleeping Beauty by Jenni James</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">12- Death Cloud by Andrew Lane</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">13- The Sherlockian by Graham Moore</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">14- No Place Like Oz by Danielle Paige</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">15- The Madera Murder by Deanne Blackhurst</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">16- Conversion by Katherine Howe</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">17- Valkyrie Symptoms by Ingrid Paulson</span></li>
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Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-64041350819783401802015-01-03T21:49:00.002-07:002015-01-03T21:49:18.133-07:00Goodbye 2014<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Goodbye 2014!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you want to read about 2013, go<a href="http://amandamandm.blogspot.com/2014/01/goodbye-2013.html"> HERE! </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before? </span><span style="color: purple;">Went paddle boarding!! Loved it! I also went to my first Utah Symphony performance! I also got a calling as a Sunday School teacher! I was terrified.... but it's starting to grow on me! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #009900;">I have given up on making actual resolutions!! I do need to be better about making short and long term goals though! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #33cc00;"><br /></span><span style="color: #33cc00;"> </span><span style="color: #140201;">3. Did anyone close to you give birth? </span><span style="color: #ff6600;">My best friend Lacey had a super cute little girl a few months ago! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">4. Did anyone close to you die? </span><span style="color: blue;">My great-aunt passed away this year. Even though she was a great-aunt, our two families did a lot together, so it was really sad to see her go! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">5. What countries did you visit? </span><span style="color: yellow;">Unfortunately, none! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014? </span><span style="color: red;">More self-confidence! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">7. What date from 2014 will remain etched in your memory, and why? </span><span style="color: #ff6600;">February 28th! The day I paid off my car! Such a good feeling!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? </span><span style="color: #009900;">Running my first Ragnar relay! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;"><br />9. What was your biggest failure? </span><span style="color: purple;">Journaling! My blog went down the tubes! And I even slacked off on my "every day- five year" journal! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">10. Did you suffer illness or injury? </span><span style="color: blue;">I'm pretty sure I had two sinus infections at the beginning of the year... but there were some changes to my insurance and I was too chicken to go to the doctor to actually find out. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">11. What was the best thing you bought? </span><span style="color: yellow;">My new Brooks running shoes! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">12. Whose behavior merited celebration? </span><span style="color: red;">My grandparent! Just because they are seriously amazing! I loved soft spoken, kind hearted grandpa! And this year, my grandma gave me my great grandmothers jewelry box! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? </span><span style="color: purple;">I have stopped watching the news because I cant stand to hear about all of the horrible people and things going on in the world! Sometimes I feel lame because I am not up-to-date on current events! But all the news focuses on is negativity, and it's just not something I want to listen to! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">14. Where did most of your money go?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #009900;">Student Loan payments.... one day I'll be rid of them! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;"> 15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?</span><span style="color: orange;"> </span><span style="color: #ff6600;">Going to see Mockingjay two days before it was officially released!! Thanks Christine!!! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">16. What song will always remind you of 2014? </span><span style="color: #3333ff;">All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor. I wasn't sure if I liked it at first.... then it grew on me..... then it was on the radio ALL.THE.TIME and I got sick of it!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">17.Compared to this time last year, are you:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;"> i.happier or sadder?</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #140201;"> </span><span style="color: purple;">Probably the same</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;"> ii.thinner or fatter? </span><span style="color: yellow;">Fatter... lots fatter! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;"> iii.richer or poorer?</span><span style="color: #663366;"> </span><span style="color: red;">I think I might actually be <i>slightly</i> richer! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">18.What do you wish you'd done more of? </span><span style="color: purple;">Running! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">19.What do you wish you'd done less of? </span><span style="color: #009900;">Watch t.v. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;"> 20.How will you be spending The New Year? </span><span style="color: #ff6600;">I spent it with my friends Miranda, Stacy and Magen! We watched movies, at junk food, took silly pictures and watched the ball drop! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">22. Did you fall in love in 2014? </span><span style="color: yellow;">Same as usual.... Nope!! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;"><br /> 23. Were there any books/songs/movies you didn't like? </span><span style="color: #3333ff;">Really dislike the Iggy Azelea song... and I got so tired of hearing John's Legend's "All of Me". I finished the Divergent series, and while I liked the first one, I absolutely HATED the last book, Allegiant. As for movies.... I wasn't the biggest fan of Maleficent. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">24. What was your favorite TV program? </span><span style="color: red;">Sherlock is my new favorite! But I still love Once Upon A Time! I also really like The Librarians! Drop Dead Diva is officially over, which is kind of sad! And I'm kind of bummed out by the new Doctor Who! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? </span><span style="color: #009900;">Not that I can think of! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">26. What was the best book you read?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: purple;">I was horrible about reading this year! I got super distracted by t.v. series! Looking back at my list, I don't know if I can say there were any books that I absolutely loved!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;"> 27. What was your greatest musical discovery?</span><span style="color: blue;"> I like Pompeii by Bastille.... but I can't speak for the rest of the songs! Same thing with Me and My Broken Heart by Rixton! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">28. What did you want and get? </span><span style="color: #ff6600;">Lots of things.... I'm pretty spoiled. The game Linkee, a huge bottle of Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue perfume, a S'Well water bottle (<i>THE</i> best water bottle out there) and the newest One Republic CD, just to name a few! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">29. What did you want and not get?</span><span style="color: yellow;"> A home of my own! I'm still trying to save enough for a down payment!! I'm SO grateful to my parents for giving me a place to stay while I try to save! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">30. What was your favorite film of this year? </span><span style="color: blue;"> Mockingjay-Part 1 was my favorite!! I also liked If I Stay, The Maze Runner, Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day and Divergent. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?</span><span style="color: purple;"> My last year in my 20s... SO crazy! Slept in, lunch with my friend Christine, drinks and a sugar cookie from Swig, pedicures with my mom and sister and Menchies with my dad and sister!! It was a really good birthday! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;"> 32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? </span><span style="color: red;">Paying off my student loans! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?</span><span style="color: #3333ff;"> </span><span style="color: #009900;">Still love cardigans! Big fan of lace!! And I'll never get tired of pearls! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">34. Favorite vacation? </span><span style="color: yellow;">I decided to change this question... it used to be "what kept you sane", which always seemed pretty dumb to me!<br />So, my favorite vacation this year...... probably my trip to Denver with my parents and sister! I wasn't sure what we were going to do when we got there, but it turned out really great! Denver is actually a pretty cool place! We ate at some good restaurants, saw some cool architecture and played piano on the street! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?</span><span style="color: #993399;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">Benedict Cumberbatch! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;">36. What political issue stirred you the most? </span><span style="color: red;">Since I have stopped watching the news I honestly have no idea what is going on in the political world and, honestly, I like it better that way! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #140201;"> 37. Who did you miss? </span><span style="color: purple;">I missed some ladies that I used to have friendships with a few years ago... sometimes moving is the worst! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><span style="color: #140201;">38. Who are your favorite people that you met this year?</span><span style="color: yellow;"> I need to put myself out there more because I can't think of any one new that I've met! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br /></span><span style="color: #140201;">39. Quote a song lyric that accurately summarizes this year</span>?<span style="color: orange;"> "</span><span style="color: #ff6600;">No one said this would ever be easy...[I] will travel this life well worn, no matter the cost, no matter how long. [I] will leave [my] footprints and carry on"<br /><br />"If life were a movie then it wouldn't end like this, left without a kiss, still she smiles...... she's talking to angels, she's counting the stars, making a wish on a passing car. She's dancing with strangers, she's falling apart, waiting for Superman to pick her up, in his arms"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's crazy that yet another year has gone by!! Here's to hoping that some great things are accomplished this year! </span></div>
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Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-48973962941959857212014-12-20T11:33:00.000-07:002014-12-20T11:33:00.187-07:00Starting Over <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I fell off the blogging band wagon....
big time......</div>
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I always told myself, “Next week...
next week I'll get caught up”</div>
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But the problem is, I let myself get so
far behind that I didn't really know where to start!
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<br />
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I thought about not trying to catch up
at all, because really, who reads my boring little blog anyway! But
then I reminded myself, this blog is more for me than anything else.
I am not the worlds best journal keeper.... hand writing things takes
forever and my hand usually starts to cramp up before I finish an
entry! So this is it.... my electronic journal..... and I have lots
of catching up to do!
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It still feels so overwhelming.... I
never wrote about the time I went to Washington with my good friends
Charmaine and Chantry..... or the time I invited myself on vacation
with my cousin Kandi.... or the time I went to the zoo with my mom
and sister and almost got eaten by a tiger! All of that was more than
two years ago! And then there are the things that happened this
year..... big things! Like running my first Ragnar and paying off my
car!! Not to mention a seriously awesome summer!
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I don't usually make New Year
Resolutions.... mostly because I never follow through with any of
them.... but my goal for 2015 is to be a better blogger/journal
writer! Some of my posts will probably be really boring.... some
might be really long... and others may be a million pictures! But one
way or another, I will finally get caught up!
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New posts coming January 2015! </div>
Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-13011403242264028312014-06-25T08:00:00.000-06:002014-06-25T09:08:19.544-06:00....You Can Do ItLong before I got to California, I had started practicing smiling while I was running! I knew there would be photographers all along the course and I didn't want to get caught looking like I was ready to pass out!! But once the race started, there was no practice necessary... I couldn't help but smile because I was so excited to be running a Disneyland race!<br />
<br />
My dad and Kaylee had the perfect beginning spot! They were the first thing I saw after I crossed the starting line and it was a huge boost to see them cheering us on! It was also really great to see them because I figured the only time I'd see them would be at the finish line!<br />
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My mom, Kari and I stayed together in the beginning. There were so many people that it was kind of hard to run. But once we really got going, and people thinned out, we wished each other luck and went at our own paces.<br />
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My music was working great and I was having a blast! I was so excited when I finally came up on the first mile post!! One mile down and I felt great!<br />
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We ran past the convention center and then onto Harbor Boulevard. There were some spectators standing along the street holding some really awesome signs! At that moment, I thought I would totally remember what they said..... but now.... I have no idea.... I think there was one about Ariel and "up where they RUN"...<br />
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And then it was into the back lot of California Adventure! I love seeing the behind the scenes stuff!! There were lots of Disney cast members along the course cheering us on and giving high-fives!! How cool that they would show up at 6:00 a.m. to do that!<br />
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We ran past Radiator Springs, ran over the Paradise Pier Bridge and past California Screamin'. Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Jessie were there and you could stop to take pictures with them if you wanted. I was still kind of worried about how I was doing time wise, so I just kept on going!<br />
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We ran through the rest of the park and then ended up back on the road, running toward Disneyland! At one point a really awesome lady started talking to me about my crazy tutu and we ran together for a little while.<br />
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At that point, I knew I was halfway through the race and I was still feeling great! As I got closer to the entrance of Disneyland, I got another surprise. My dad and Kaylee were there waiting for me!! I was SO happy to see them there and it gave me an added boost to keep running!!<br />
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I ran into the park and down headed down Main Street. It probably sounds totally cheesy.... but it felt like a dream! I had trained for that moment and it was finally happening. After Main Street we headed toward Tomorrowland. Just past Space Mountain I stopped to take my first picture at the four mile marker.<br />
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I was kind of nervous at that point.... I had only ever run a little over four miles and I still had two more. But I knew that five miles was by the castle and beyond that I'd only have a little over a mile to go.<br />
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I got to see some more backlot as we ran behind It's A Small World and I was SO grateful for a drinking fountain in Toon Town.<br />
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I finally made it Fantasyland! The first character I saw was the White Rabbit. I was dressed as Alice in Wonderland so there was no way I was going to miss taking some pictures.... plus it gave me short breather! I also took a picture in the teacup, with the Queen of Hearts, and of course with Alice and the Mad Hatter.<br />
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I was standing in line, waiting to get my picture taken with Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum, when someone came running by yelling "SWEEPERS". Everyone scattered! I looked behind me and there were race officials on bikes and behind them a golf cart. The bikers came by and told everyone to pick up the pace or they'd have to get in the cart.<br />
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I panicked a little (actually, I panicked a lot) and took off!!<br />
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I ran through Sleeping Beauty's castle and over the drawbridge and headed toward Frontierland.<br />
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At that point, I was starting to feel all of those miles and was getting kind of tired. At one point, while running up the hill near Splash Mountain, I started talking to a couple of the racers around me. We were talking about how crappy it would be if we got picked up at the end of the race. Another racer ran by and said " They can't make you get in that cart! Just run away from them"!!<br />
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We ran through the back lot again, behind Splash Mountain, and started running through Downtown Disney. The park was going to open soon so there were TONS of people on the sidelines.<br />
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By this point I was tried.... really tired..... and trying to run further that I had ever run before!! Despite my greatest efforts, I had to do a walk/run combo. At one point, when I was particularly tired, a guy on the sidelines shouted "Keep going! You can do it! Your medal is right around the corner"!! I looked over, and it was Sean Astin {Samwise from LOTR}.<br />
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It gave me just the boost I needed and I ran toward the finish line. Even as I think back to it now I get a little teary eyed!! It's not like he was directly speaking to me.... it was just the fact that someone was standing there, reminding me the end was close and the prize was waiting for me!!<br />
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As I got closer I saw my dad and sister on the sideline going crazy... I was already pretty emotional, but as I got closer, I realized my dad was crying! As I passed he was shouting "You did it! You did it" and it took everything I had not to burst into tears!<br />
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There is NOTHING like the feeling of crossing the finish line!<br />
I had worked so hard to get to that moment.... so many things had happened that made me doubt whether or not I could actually do it!<br />
But in the end, I made it!! And I ran almost every step of the way!<br />
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Just on the other side of the line, my aunt Linda, Katie and Kari were waiting for me! It was SO great having them there and was SO grateful for Linda's big hug!!<br />
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I had a lady at the finish line take a picture more me. Looking at it now, I realize how lame I look! I was trying so hard not to cry!!<br />
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After a quick picture at the finish line, I walked over and got my medal!!<br />
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I didn't know it, but my mom was there waiting for me! As soon as I saw her we hugged and cried!<br />
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I had taken SO much to get to that point and I had overcome so much..... self-doubt, broken bones and a cold!! But, as the great Walt Disney said <span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"If you can dream it, you can do it"! </span><br />
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I couldn't have done it without my mom's encouragement or my dad's support!! I am grateful for Katie and Kari for getting me into running in the first place! I was so thankful my mom agreed to run the race with me and for my dad and Kaylee for going with us and being our cheer squad!! I'm grateful for my aunt Linda, who told me I'd be able to do it, even when I didn't think I could. It was definitely a team effort!!<br />
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Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-53618282083540583392014-06-23T08:00:00.000-06:002014-06-23T08:00:00.295-06:00If You Can Dream It......Race Day!<br />
August 31, 2013<br />
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The day I had been counting down to since January!<br />
The day I was SO nervous for!<br />
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It started early..... 4:00 a.m. to be exact! We didn't get in bed until about 11:00 p.m. the night before so I was nervous about running on only five hours of sleep!<br />
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Shower-Check<br />
Hair-Check<br />
Makeup-Check<br />
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The time went by way to quick and before I knew it, it was time to walk out the door! My fantastic dad had made me oatmeal and I took it with me to eat in the car. But I started to feel sick.....I was so nervous that I couldn't eat the oatmeal. I forced myself to eat a few bites because I knew I needed the carbs!<br />
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My dad dropped my mom and I off on the corner near the Paradise Pier hotel and left to find a place to park, while we walked toward the starting area. It was 5:30 a.m. but it was already 80 degrees and uncharacteristically humid for southern California!<br />
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We met up with Macks and took some fun pre-race pictures, since it was the first time we were all together in our finished costumes! After pictures I was nervous..... jittery nervous.... impatient nervous..... not very pleasant to be around nervous. I was also extremely excited! The 5k runners were going by, fun music was playing and I could see Mickey Mouse in his track suit!<br />
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We started heading for the corrals and things kind of fell apart. There were SO many people.... thousands.... like 12,000!! The crowd was making me anxious! Then I looked down at my race bib and read the name "Marilyn"..... I was wearing my mom's race bib! The race was going to start soon and we had to switch out our dang bibs, keeping track of eight tiny safety pins! For some reason, this stressed me out big time and I started to panic!<br />
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We finally got our bibs changed and then tried to find corral G. No luck.... so we hung out with the corral F group! Which worked out great because we later hooked up with Kari!<br />
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It felt like we stood there forever before the race got going. They started with corral A and started working their way back. I was nervous... and felt sick.... and I kept telling my mom I was positive they were going to end up picking me up along the course!<br />
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Our turn was almost up so I started to get my phone ready.... I had bought this really awesome case to hold my phone while I ran, but I couldn't get it to stay on my tutu.... there was way to much tulle!! So I was panicking about how I was going to get it to stay. I finally got that to stay..... went to turn on my music and....<br />
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Pandora wouldn't start....<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">SERIOUSLY!!!!</span><br />
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That just about did me in....<br />
I was already so nervous and so anxious and the stupid music thing made me so angry! How was I going to run without Donny Osmond singing "I'll make a man out of you....."<br />
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Trying not to cry, I closed all my apps multiple times and still couldn't get it to work.....<br />
So I turned my phone off a couple times. No luck....<br />
I was so frustrated, I was sweating like crazy from the dang humidity and all the stress, and I kept telling my mom it was NOT fun and I had NO idea why the heck we were doing the dumb race!<br />
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Luckily, I have a fabulous mom.... who was silently praying my music would start! Literally minutes before it was our turn, Pandora came on!! Prayers answered!!<br />
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With my music working, case on, wearing the right bib number, I was able to calm down a little and start to really enjoy the atmosphere! Finally, about 30 minutes after the initial race started, it was our corrals turn to go!! As I walked toward the starting line, all the fears and anxiety seemed to melt away and I knew that this was going to be my favorite run ever!!<br />
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To Be Continued......Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-35849564086052399432014-06-22T16:10:00.001-06:002014-06-22T16:10:17.688-06:00Amanda In Wonderland It took me forever to decide what I wanted to dress up as for the Disneyland 10k and when I finally did decide, I waited <span style="color: blue;">WAY </span>to long to get started on it! I figured making a tutu would be no big deal and I'd have plenty of time! Then August <span style="color: blue;">FLEW</span> by and before I knew it, I only had three days until I left for California and still no tutu!<br />
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I did get extremely lucky though, because Hobby Lobby had their spools of tulle on sale that week and Joann's had a coupon for 60% off one cut of fabric! That 60% off coupon saved my life!! I about died when the lady told me my total!! Sparkly tulle is crazy expensive!!! </div>
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Just in case you've never made a tutu, let me break it down for you! </div>
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First, you have to spend a <span style="color: blue;">ridiculous</span> amount of time cutting the tulle into strips! </div>
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I started out thinking these strips needed to be all the same width and length.</div>
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But after five or six strips, I realized <span style="color: blue;">who the heck cares</span> if they are even or not!! </div>
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Second, you have to tie the tulle to the waistband.</div>
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This part really isn't that big of a deal.... just time consuming!! </div>
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Especially when you have a large area to cover! </div>
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The first night I worked on it, I was at my cousins' house....Their kitchen was covered in glitter by the time I left! THANK ladies for letting my make a mess of your house AND for getting me started! </div>
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The second night I sat on the tile, on the cold bathroom floor, because I figured that would be way easier than trying to vacuum it out of my carpet! My thumb hurt from cutting all those dang strips of fabric one by one and my back was aching from sitting on the hard floor for four hours...... and <span style="color: blue;">BONUS</span>...</div>
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I ran out of blue tulle!! Awesome.....</div>
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Day three.....(which also just happens to be the day beforeour plane left).</div>
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I worked on the tutu during my lunch break.....and ran out of white tulle.....</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">{obviously I am <span style="color: blue;">NOT</span> good at sewing and have <span style="color: blue;">VERY</span> poor judgment on just how much tulle it takes to make a tutu}</span></div>
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So I had to stop at Joann's on my way home from work to get blue tulle and my sister went to Hobby Lobby to get white. <span style="color: blue;">THANKS</span> Kaylee for making an HL run for me! </div>
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There was no way I was going to hang out on the tile again, so I sat outside tying my skirt.</div>
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This is the part of the story where life got a <span style="color: blue;">WHOLE</span> lot easier! </div>
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I have this awesome neighbor..... Kristen is her name! She saw me sitting outside, surrounded by a ridiculous amount of tulle, and came over to find out what was going on. Kristen is a sewing master...... seriously, she sews some pretty awesome stuff. And because of her awesome skills, she came up with a <span style="color: blue;">MUCH</span> better and <span style="color: blue;"><b>MUCH</b></span> faster way to cut the tulle!! It saved me <span style="color: blue;">SO</span> much time.... and saved my thumb too!</div>
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Not only that, but she sat on the grass with me and helped me tie the tulle to the skirt! Yes, she is one awesome friend! <span style="color: blue;">THANKS</span> Kristen!! </div>
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I sat outside until it was completely dark. My mom had to come and help me trim my skirt.... all while my other great neighbor, Kristine, came over and trimmed my bangs. And yes... they did this at the same time! </div>
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Fifteen yards of tulle, ten hours, one sore thumb and one humongous mosquito bite later, I was finally ready to be Amanda in Wonderland! </div>
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Oh.... </div>
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And how did this massive skirt <span style="color: blue;">GET</span> to California you ask?</div>
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I had to shove it in a garbage bag, suck out as much air as possible, and then put in my a carry on bag.... Yes..... it took up almost the <span style="color: blue;">ENTIRE</span> bag by itself.....But it made it!! </div>
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By the way....<br />
You'd think that with such a crazy ordeal that there would be lots of pictures of this process....<br />
Nope! </div>
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This is all there is.................<br />
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Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-74449284931065553472014-02-26T07:00:00.000-07:002014-02-26T07:00:00.120-07:00A Beautifully Deceiving Food <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had my first sushi experience back in November.</div>
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It's probably important to note that I DO NOT like fish.....</div>
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When my cousin Kandi suggested we go, I honestly</div>
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wasn't too thrilled (sorry Kandi), but I thought it would</div>
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probably be a good experience to try something new, so </div>
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I went with it.</div>
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Looking at the menu, I had no idea where to start!</div>
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Once, on a vacation with my friend Christine in</div>
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Seattle, I tried smoked salmon. It really wasn't as</div>
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bad as I thought, so I was looking at rolls that</div>
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had salmon in them. </div>
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Kandi suggested I try the Philadelphia roll since it</div>
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had both salmon and cream cheese. I also got a</div>
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Hawaii roll because it said it was deep fried and I</div>
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figured I could eat deep fried salmon, cream cheese</div>
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and crab. </div>
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Before I tell you the rest of the story, </div>
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I do have to say that sushi is very pretty food!!</div>
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The presentation of the rolls is really awesome</div>
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and makes them look absolutely delicious! </div>
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{Philadelphia roll}</div>
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{Hawaii roll} </div>
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So these pretty sushi rolls come out and I start</div>
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to think they really might not be so bad!</div>
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I had Kandi take a picture of me with the roll</div>
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so I could show my dad I was actually eating</div>
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sushi! </div>
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And then things went downhill... </div>
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I dropped the Philadelphia roll in the soy sauces...</div>
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And started to get really nervous about eating raw fish......</div>
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I shoved the whole roll in my mouth and bit down....</div>
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And it was bad....</div>
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REALLY bad....</div>
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My brain was saying "Just chew and swallow, chew and swallow"... </div>
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While my mouth was saying "Get it out! Get it out NOW"! </div>
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I was caught between the two and didn't know what to do...</div>
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I tried to drink some water.....</div>
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Thinking that would drown the fishy flavor.</div>
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But that made it worse.</div>
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I had a mouth full of water and sushi...</div>
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And I couldn't take it any more!</div>
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And.......</div>
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The sushi came back out.....</div>
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All over my face, my shirt and the bench next</div>
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to me. </div>
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All while the poor Japanese waiter started at me with</div>
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huge eyes and my cousin laughed hysterically! </div>
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Unfortunately, there are no pictures of that part.</div>
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Although, they probably would have been pretty funny!! </div>
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But.... there was still the Hawaii roll......</div>
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I REALLY did not want to eat it.</div>
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But part of my brain was saying "It's deep fried. It will be better"</div>
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Nope! </div>
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I could only take one small bite before I was done!</div>
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I did, however, swallow that piece! </div>
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Mostly because I didn't ever try to really chew it at all! </div>
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So.... needless to say,</div>
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I will NOT be eating sushi any time soon...</div>
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Or EVER again if I can help it!!! </div>
<br />Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-771993195840344902014-02-25T09:10:00.000-07:002014-02-25T09:10:21.360-07:00The Cold Never Bothered Me AnywayA month ago I went with my parents and sister to the ice castle in Midway. Everyone was posting all kinds of cool pictures on Facebook and Instagram, so I was really excited to go up and take a few of my own!<br />
We went later in the evening when the lights were on and it was awesome! The only thing that could have made it "cooler" (pun totally intended) was if they had blasted the Frozen soundtrack the whole time!!<br />Olaf was there though.... and I swear one of us got a picture.... but now I can't find it!<br /><br />
Instead, here is an overload of pictures from that night!<br />
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After the ice castle, we did what any self-respecting Utahan does in the winter...... we drove into Heber to get delicious shakes from Dairy Keen!! It was an awesome way to spend MLK day!!<br />
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<br />Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-25410153549795096762014-02-21T07:00:00.000-07:002014-02-24T10:44:23.535-07:00Fast Fact FridayIn middle school we had the option to take Spanish or French. Even back then I had all of these big dreams about visiting Europe, particularly Paris, and so naturally I signed up for French.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Fact:</b> I was NOT good at French....</span><br />
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But, I did enjoy watching the talking pineapple videos....<br />
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In fact... I loved saying the French word <i>for</i> pineapple........... "ananas" (aw-naw-naw)! I got pretty good at counting to 100.... and I definitely knew all of my colors..... </div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">But sadly, the fact is.....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Je ne parle Francais :0( </b></span></div>
Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-1146250556412239502014-02-14T07:30:00.000-07:002014-02-14T07:30:02.529-07:00Fun Foto Friday<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Happy Valentines Day</b></span></div>
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Or, in my case, Single Awareness Day.</div>
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I made this super cute (an easy) craft with my friend Tiffany a few weeks ago</div>
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and I LOVE it!! Thanks Tiff for letting me steal all of your supplies! </div>
Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-23899881396833039332014-02-07T08:00:00.000-07:002014-02-07T08:00:09.260-07:00Fun Foto Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week we got to babysit my niece.... who is seriously the cutest little thing <i>ever!</i>! She is also one of the best natured babies you will ever meet!! But toward the end of the evening she got kind of upset...... poor girl!! So we turned on Tinker Bell and she calmed right down.<br />
She's a Disney girl at heart...... just one of the many reason why I love her!!Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-71944900367177462822014-02-05T12:40:00.002-07:002014-02-05T12:40:34.841-07:00Good Eats UtahA couple months ago, my friend Miranda and I started talking about all of the cool restaurants downtown that we've always wanted to try but never have. We sort of made this goal to try one new place a month and we picked a date for our first adventure.<br />
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The restaurant: <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Settebello </b></span><br />
Where: <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>260 S 200 W, Salt Lake</b></span><br />
What:<span style="color: #38761d;"><b> Authentic Italian style pizza AND gelato </b></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5wbPPFWEDs/UvKRgCyT_yI/AAAAAAAADyE/NqL6dJL76HI/s1600/Settebello.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5wbPPFWEDs/UvKRgCyT_yI/AAAAAAAADyE/NqL6dJL76HI/s1600/Settebello.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had actually already been here once, but I loved it so much that I convicted Miranda we needed to go so she could try it! I LOVE their <a href="http://settebello.net/Menu.php"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>yummy pizzas</b></span></a>!! If you go, I can personally vouch that the Bianca pizza is delicious! After lunch we walked next door to get gelato and it was pretty good too. They had a rose flavored gelato, which Miranda decided to get, and it was pretty interesting. I had never heard of flower flavored ice cream before!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7kai3U2TZ8/UvKRgO2oqqI/AAAAAAAADyA/kqRu-Hrs8mQ/s1600/Settebello+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7kai3U2TZ8/UvKRgO2oqqI/AAAAAAAADyA/kqRu-Hrs8mQ/s1600/Settebello+2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
After lunch we headed over to City Creek to check out the mall, since neither of us had been before. It was there that I got a pretty cool bar or rosemary shampoo and a bottle of interest dry shampoo!<br />
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Before we headed home we decided to stop one more place.... just to make the drive downtown worth it!<br />
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The restaurant: <span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Bruges</b></span><br />
Where: <span style="color: #351c75;"><b>336 W 300 W, Salt Lake </b></span><br />
What: <span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Waffles and Frites </b></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7nW0D6EfXu4/UvKRgMiFCdI/AAAAAAAADyI/iSehC2V-CmE/s1600/Bruges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7nW0D6EfXu4/UvKRgMiFCdI/AAAAAAAADyI/iSehC2V-CmE/s1600/Bruges.jpg" /></a></div>
My cousin Michelle actually told me about this place. This was right around the time that I discovered the waffle truck and it was almost never in Salt Lake county. Miranda and I decided to go and compare the two. Bruges was pretty good.....<b> <a href="http://www.brugeswaffles.com/menu/"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">their waffle</span></a></b> wasn't as sweet as Waffle Luvs..... but it was still a nice treat! It looks like they have a few new options since we went though, so it would be kind of fun to go back and try some other things!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tgCiKOizOo/UvKRgmtq_SI/AAAAAAAADyY/aW-04YA-1Es/s1600/bruges-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tgCiKOizOo/UvKRgmtq_SI/AAAAAAAADyY/aW-04YA-1Es/s1600/bruges-2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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After that first adventure, we kind of lost sight of our goal. The summer got busy... the holidays came so quick..... and all of the sudden it was a new year!! I think we both made an unspoken resolution to be better about our new restaurant goal, because in January we made another trip downtown.<br />
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The restaurant: <span style="color: orange;"><b>Vosens Bread Paradise</b></span><br />
Where: <span style="color: orange;"><b>328 W 200 S, Salt Lake </b></span><br />
What: <span style="color: orange;"><b>German Bakery </b></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VO5MQ_pehHk/UvKTO23mwnI/AAAAAAAADyo/9aQ3ibfC7nQ/s1600/Vosens+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VO5MQ_pehHk/UvKTO23mwnI/AAAAAAAADyo/9aQ3ibfC7nQ/s1600/Vosens+2.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
I actually heard about this one from my friend Allison's Instagram page. And who the heck <i>wouldn't</i> want to visit a place with <a href="http://www.vosen.com/"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>"bread paradise"</b></span></a> in its name!! We started by getting delicious sandwiches on some of the softest sourdough bread I have ever had!! We also took some time to look at all of the cool German foods they sell.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Fcx9qmdrlc/UvKTO8IK-II/AAAAAAAADys/rncWU9ZDU_k/s1600/Vosens+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Fcx9qmdrlc/UvKTO8IK-II/AAAAAAAADys/rncWU9ZDU_k/s1600/Vosens+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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We couldn't leave this paradise without some dessert so we got a couple of pastries to share. The first was a chocolate filled dessert that was pretty yummy. But the best was some kind of caramel pastry.... seriously to die for! I wish I would have taken a picture of the sign so I could remember what they were called!! This is what is looked like......<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J-f7fak5Z9Y/UvKTO7RcBBI/AAAAAAAADyk/8p9_EWSyI3A/s1600/Vosens+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J-f7fak5Z9Y/UvKTO7RcBBI/AAAAAAAADyk/8p9_EWSyI3A/s1600/Vosens+1.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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Any one have any idea what that is called? I know it was two words.... and it might have started with an "A"....<br />
We also got some pretzel rolls and cheese rolls to take home. Loved this place!! I would definitely go again..... even if it was just for dessert!<br />
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So now we have this running list of places we want to go and I can't wait to try them. If you have any cool/yummy/small/family owned restaurants that you like, let me know! I would love to add them to our list!!<br />
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<br />Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-91839485976285234502014-01-03T09:17:00.000-07:002014-01-03T09:17:00.127-07:00Fast Fact FridayFor my 5th or 6th birthday I got the coolest gift ever.... and pink Barbie watch! <div>
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I can't tell you exactly what it looked like, but I know I loved it! I, of course, wore it to school the very next day, because that's what you do when you get the coolest present ever! </div>
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Recess came and my class and I ran outside to play. I remember that I wanted to play on the bars.... the ones where you would wrap one leg around and then you'd flip yourself over. </div>
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But..... What about my new watch?? It could get lost of ruined!</div>
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So, I did what any brilliant, 5 or 6 year old would do to protect their new watch...... I buried it in the rocks! </div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>FACT:</b></span> Burying your treasured possessions in the rocks is</div>
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not a good idea. When you go back after school with your dad</div>
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to get it, it will be gone! </div>
Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-55787247381543284482014-01-02T21:11:00.002-07:002014-01-02T21:11:57.373-07:002013 Book List<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What I read in 2013:</span></div>
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<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">1- Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">2- Showtime by Chloe Kayne</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">3- Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">4- The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">5- The Host by Stephenie Meyer</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">6- The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">7- The Acquisition by Emily Mitchell</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">8- The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">9- The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">10- The Goddess Hunt by Aimee Carter</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">11- Unenchanted by Chanda Hahn</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">12- Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">13- The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">14- The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">15- The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">16- Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">17-Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">18- Cloaked by Alex Flinn</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">19- Towering by Alex Flinn</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">20- Confessions of a Teenage Fairy Godmother by Kathleen Baldwin & Andrea Sisco</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">21- Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">22- Pemberley Ranch by Jack Caldwell</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">23- Austenland by Shannon Hale</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">24- Pride and Popularity by Jenni James</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">25- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">26- Midnight In Austenland by Shannon Hale</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">27- The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">28- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em 15px; text-indent: -15px;">29- Hansel and Gretel by Jenni James</li>
</ul>
Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-9084956899896169182014-01-02T21:01:00.001-07:002014-01-02T21:01:36.564-07:00Goodbye 2013Another year over! Looking back, they always go by so quick!<br />
If you're super bored, you can read last years post <a href="http://amandamandm.blogspot.com/2012/12/goodbye-2012.html">HERE</a>!<br />
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before? </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I went running with my friend Lacey! Never in a thousand years did I ever think I would go on a run with her! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #009900; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I didn't make any resolutions, but I did make a few goals for myself throughout the year..... I did a few of them. I'm not so good at goal making and completing! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #33cc00; font-family: Neucha; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #33cc00; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">3. Did anyone close to you give birth? </span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I became aunt Amanda this year!! WAHOO! Eric and Hayley had a baby girl in November!! My friend Amber had a baby boy is May and my cousin Sarah had a boy in September! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">4. Did anyone close to you die? </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">A really close family friend. Cindy, passed away in January. I've know her my entire life and it was really unexpected! </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">5. What countries did you visit? </span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">None... sad year! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013? </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">A home of my own. I'm saving my pennies to buy my first home! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">7. What date from 2013 will remain etched in your memory, and why? </span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">The day my niece was born!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? </span><span style="color: #009900; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Running and finishing my first 10k after falling and being in an ankle boot and knee brace for 4 weeks! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><br />9. What was your biggest failure? </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Don't really want to go into to much detail.... but May was a rough month for me....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">10. Did you suffer illness or injury? </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I'm a big klutz, what can I say.... Back in June I fell and fractured my left ankle and chipped a piece off of my right knee cap! I also dealt with lower back pain for weeks in July and August because of the dumb boot! And then I fell again in September and hurt my ankle and knee again! Oh... and did I mention the cold I had in August.... Jeez.... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">11. What was the best thing you bought? </span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I got rid of my 19" TV and bought a HUGE 40" TV!! Pretty exciting!! I feel like a real life adult </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">12. Whose behavior merited celebration? </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I think Jennifer Lawrence is fantastic! A little crazy... but I love the way she stands up for what she believes in and how she speaks her mind! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Congress..... President Obama.... Pretty much anyone in politics.....That Edward Snoden guy....Miley Cyrus....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">14. Where did most of your money go?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #009900; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">My car! I've been working really hard to get it paid off so I'm been making almost triple payments!! Only about 3 more to go!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> 15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?</span><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Running my Disneyland race!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">16. What song will always remind you of 2013? </span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Can't Hold Us by Macklemore </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">17.Compared to this time last year, are you:</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #140201;">i.happier or sadder?</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #140201;"> </span><span style="color: purple;">About the same </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">ii.thinner or fatter? </span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Unfortunately, I'm fatter</span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">iii.richer or poorer?</span><span style="color: #663366; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Probably slightly richer! </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">18.What do you wish you'd done more of? </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Traveling! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">19.What do you wish you'd done less of? </span><span style="color: #009900; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Worrying! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> 20.How will you be spending The New Year? </span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I will spend part of the night with family, and part of the night with friends! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">22. Did you fall in love in 2013? </span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Getting kind of tied of writing NO.....</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><br /> 23. Were there any books/songs/movies you didn't like? </span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">This question was originally about one night stands...For me, it was a lame question because that would NEVER happen! And then last year I changed it to vacations.... but that was kind of boring too. So... I changed it again! Who knows what next year will bring! <br />So to answer the question, YES! There were some songs I didn't like this year, including Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke, all of Miley Cyrus's new songs and Clarity by Zed. I was also pretty disappoint by the movie The Host! And I gave up reading the book Tiger Lily. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">24. What was your favorite TV program? </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I just started watching Doctor Who this year. At first I wasn't really into it.... but it picked up and I now have to watch every episode! I also still love Drop Dead Diva and Once Upon A Time!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? </span><span style="color: #009900; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Yes... very strongly! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">26. What was the best book you read?<span class="apple-converted-space"> The Peacegiver, </span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Goddess Test series and Austenland!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> 27. What was your greatest musical discovery?</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> Imagine Dragons </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">28. What did you want and get? </span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">A Fit Bit!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">29. What did you want and not get?</span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> I feel like I always make up silly answers for this one... and really, it's because I am pretty lucky.... I don't have to want for anything! I'm pretty dang blessed!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">30. What was your favorite film of this year? </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> Catching Fire was definitely my favorite!! I also really love Saving Mr Banks and Frozen! Austenland is also at the top of my list! 42 was amazing!! I also really liked Safe Haven, Star Trek, Now You See Me and RED 2! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> My birthday was on a Sunday this year, and it just happened to be the Sunday of my cousin's home coming. We spent most of the day at his house, but my aunt and uncle were awesome had a birthday cake! I got the game Ticket to Ride: Europe as a gift so that night my parents, my sister and I played a round!! And..... that was pretty much it..... downhill side to 30! Scary!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> 32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Being out of debt! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?</span><span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: #009900; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Still pretty much the same.... although, I do have a new found love for bubble necklaces!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">34. What kept you sane? </span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Long talks with some great people who are willing to listen! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?</span><span style="color: #993399; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">My new crush is Matt Smith! </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">36. What political issue stirred you the most?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Politics make me crazy! I honestly try to avoid anything to do with politics because I think they are ridiculous!!<br />I just picture people like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe looking down on us and shaking their heads in shame because we've corrupted the system they worked so hard to build!! </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">The government shutdown thing was a big joke! It's so pathetic to me that they can't work together for the good of the country.... Lame! </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">But... with all that being said..... I am SO grateful to live in this country.... where even with all of our ridiculous political leaders, we are free.... we are outrageously blessed to have the type of government we do.... flaws and all. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> 37. Who did you miss? </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I miss Charmaine and Chantry... I don't see them much anymore! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">38. Who are your favorite people that you met this year?</span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> There are some nice people in my singles ward... I'm pretty lame though and didn't really go anywhere to meet new people! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #140201; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">39. Quote a song lyric that accurately summarizes this year</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">?<span style="color: orange;"> "</span><span style="color: #ff6600;">I wanna see you be brave" Actually that's probably a better mantra for the coming year! I need to be more courageous!! </span></span></div>
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I hope you have an awesome 2014!<br />
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Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-25642930117099282062013-10-23T13:20:00.001-06:002013-10-23T13:20:37.674-06:00Lucky Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Do you have those days, or even weeks, when you feel completely frustrated with life?</div>
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I sure hope other people do, and that I'm not the only one.</div>
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Maybe it's the planner in me...</div>
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The planner that gets kind of disappointed that life</div>
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is not necessarily going to the places I had mapped out! </div>
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I've been thinking a lot lately about my life plan</div>
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and feeling a little low. </div>
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I decided I needed to do something to pull me</div>
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out of that frame of mind!</div>
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And what better way to do that than to focus</div>
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on what I DO have and the things I am</div>
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grateful for! </div>
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Not to long ago I posted about my newly created</div>
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Pinterest bucket list. The other day I was looking </div>
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for things to add to that list and I realized just what </div>
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a lucky girl I am. </div>
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There were all kinds of things on other pinner's bucket lists</div>
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that I had done! It made me stop to think about how </div>
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blessed I am!</div>
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And that even though there are plenty of things </div>
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I want for my life, there are way more</div>
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things that I HAVE done!! </div>
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Here are just a few things that I can mark</div>
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as DONE on my bucket list!! </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dcMgUupdpfQ/UmXw_u_-BfI/AAAAAAAADrs/0Yezb_TtXbk/s1600/Butterbeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dcMgUupdpfQ/UmXw_u_-BfI/AAAAAAAADrs/0Yezb_TtXbk/s320/Butterbeer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Delicious!! I tried it when I visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter) </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMdQrcTxvxE/UmXw9C0ZTFI/AAAAAAAADq0/ifjhPdUNJc8/s1600/Catch+a+bouquet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMdQrcTxvxE/UmXw9C0ZTFI/AAAAAAAADq0/ifjhPdUNJc8/s320/Catch+a+bouquet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(I caught my friend Tiffany's beautiful bouquet)</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s3KrFyb7sgk/UmXxAM7dIfI/AAAAAAAADr0/NkJFx5yLLkc/s1600/color+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s3KrFyb7sgk/UmXxAM7dIfI/AAAAAAAADr0/NkJFx5yLLkc/s1600/color+run.jpg" /></a></div>
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(First color run: June 22, 2013)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EMetatkhQHo/UmXw9PGQBdI/AAAAAAAADq4/cWlCvn6QAVo/s1600/Drive+In.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EMetatkhQHo/UmXw9PGQBdI/AAAAAAAADq4/cWlCvn6QAVo/s320/Drive+In.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Who doesn't love "that-thing-we-call-movies")</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4x2gcOwJVw/UmXw9lNJulI/AAAAAAAADq8/1QJWVZAwS-o/s1600/Go+to+olympics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4x2gcOwJVw/UmXw9lNJulI/AAAAAAAADq8/1QJWVZAwS-o/s320/Go+to+olympics.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(I got to watch the woman's giant slalom at the 2002 winter Olympics) </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VhuTUps4Q8o/UmXxAalSR2I/AAAAAAAADr8/OIids493BJE/s1600/graduate+college.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VhuTUps4Q8o/UmXxAalSR2I/AAAAAAAADr8/OIids493BJE/s1600/graduate+college.jpg" /></a></div>
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(I graduated from the University of Utah in 2009 with</div>
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a degree in Early Childhood Education) </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yP4wNLH2qHw/UmXw9zM1EyI/AAAAAAAADrQ/hFS5GusgO00/s1600/Jump+in+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yP4wNLH2qHw/UmXw9zM1EyI/AAAAAAAADrQ/hFS5GusgO00/s320/Jump+in+pool.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Jumped in a pool, in my bridesmaid dress, at my brother</div>
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and sister-in-laws wedding reception) </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2fmFIrn2xbE/UmXw-MNzc4I/AAAAAAAADrI/RkRnuk5KGDQ/s1600/Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2fmFIrn2xbE/UmXw-MNzc4I/AAAAAAAADrI/RkRnuk5KGDQ/s320/Paris.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(The city of lights!!! I loved it and would definitely</div>
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go again!)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-irmCG8go1kk/UmXw-SF-9EI/AAAAAAAADrY/T3o1kg8tRRE/s1600/Pasta+in+Italy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-irmCG8go1kk/UmXw-SF-9EI/AAAAAAAADrY/T3o1kg8tRRE/s320/Pasta+in+Italy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Best.Pasta.EVER)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1v2hiIfJ0Xw/UmXw-ztOpDI/AAAAAAAADrg/c_P3aD1U1hU/s1600/Ride+in+an+airplane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1v2hiIfJ0Xw/UmXw-ztOpDI/AAAAAAAADrg/c_P3aD1U1hU/s320/Ride+in+an+airplane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(The first time I flew was to California when I was 8) </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5NX099mGmwI/UmXw_H3FrHI/AAAAAAAADsI/apjPnJNReLg/s1600/Throw+a+surprise+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5NX099mGmwI/UmXw_H3FrHI/AAAAAAAADsI/apjPnJNReLg/s320/Throw+a+surprise+party.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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(I recently threw both of my parents surprise 50th</div>
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birthday parties) </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BOydPLbj2iM/UmXw_x6bGRI/AAAAAAAADrw/Z5u2lQFnFFo/s1600/Utah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BOydPLbj2iM/UmXw_x6bGRI/AAAAAAAADrw/Z5u2lQFnFFo/s320/Utah.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
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(I saw this one and thought it was pretty cool!</div>
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It was honestly something I never thought about</div>
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before and I've always taken for granted)</div>
<br />Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-13745475161859313522013-10-20T21:28:00.003-06:002013-10-20T21:28:41.086-06:00FMS Photo-A-Day Challenge <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Day 11: M is for...</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Mountains! </b></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GMKSiCHjI24/UmSc9Emt4fI/AAAAAAAADpc/j29g15Przmk/s1600/Day+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GMKSiCHjI24/UmSc9Emt4fI/AAAAAAAADpc/j29g15Przmk/s320/Day+11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Day 12: Below</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fF69L7hLsYI/UmSc9SiJmWI/AAAAAAAADpg/GO5r6qL0SCA/s1600/Day+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fF69L7hLsYI/UmSc9SiJmWI/AAAAAAAADpg/GO5r6qL0SCA/s320/Day+12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Day 13: Watching</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Drop Dead Diva on Sundays! Love this show!</span></b> </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XxbPpO8jtlk/UmSc9HUryHI/AAAAAAAADpo/eZj7SqB_BFI/s1600/Day+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XxbPpO8jtlk/UmSc9HUryHI/AAAAAAAADpo/eZj7SqB_BFI/s320/Day+13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Day 14: Favorite Space </b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vBdRlgqmvlg/UmSc9j46L-I/AAAAAAAADpk/7idEjtYUS_E/s1600/Day+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vBdRlgqmvlg/UmSc9j46L-I/AAAAAAAADpk/7idEjtYUS_E/s1600/Day+14.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Day 15: Secret </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Confession time...... <b>I have secretly been watching Doctor Who!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">And I may or may not have a secret crush on Matt Smith!</span> </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acSlOTdPB_8/UmSdAtxYiLI/AAAAAAAADqk/lSg36noo5lE/s1600/Day+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acSlOTdPB_8/UmSdAtxYiLI/AAAAAAAADqk/lSg36noo5lE/s320/Day+15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Day 16: Leafy</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZzO1z0UEiY/UmSc-G8E2TI/AAAAAAAADqA/z14Jeg_TuRk/s1600/Day+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZzO1z0UEiY/UmSc-G8E2TI/AAAAAAAADqA/z14Jeg_TuRk/s320/Day+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Day 17: First World Problems</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">First, I have say I didn't really like this day's prompt.... It was honestly</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">hard to think of a "problem" when I was thinking of real world</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">problems! But this is what I came up with....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Pausing craft time to let the paint dry! </b></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AuHtA7AxnsQ/UmSc-Y7KB8I/AAAAAAAADp4/YIYQCbzR4Bs/s1600/Day+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AuHtA7AxnsQ/UmSc-Y7KB8I/AAAAAAAADp4/YIYQCbzR4Bs/s320/Day+17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Day 18: Still</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Still water</b>.... I was giving myself a pedicure and started</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">out by sitting on the bathroom sink, soaking my</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">feet in hot water! </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AOnkJ7SFClw/UmSc-wMXVEI/AAAAAAAADqE/1dHsX6sQlDc/s1600/Day+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AOnkJ7SFClw/UmSc-wMXVEI/AAAAAAAADqE/1dHsX6sQlDc/s320/Day+18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Day 19: A Good Day</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">It's always a good day for this dog when he gets to go</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">for a ride on the 4-wheeler! </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VIoCh-GA8PQ/UmSc_Rtc9pI/AAAAAAAADqM/HQwWW_TXIoY/s1600/Day+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VIoCh-GA8PQ/UmSc_Rtc9pI/AAAAAAAADqM/HQwWW_TXIoY/s320/Day+19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Day 20: Open</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLPxSK3KiGE/UmSc_UuwnEI/AAAAAAAADqY/6xiDlTrSznU/s1600/Day+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLPxSK3KiGE/UmSc_UuwnEI/AAAAAAAADqY/6xiDlTrSznU/s320/Day+20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-52926229895359077112013-10-12T07:30:00.000-06:002013-10-12T07:30:00.649-06:00FMS Photo-A-Day Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>Day 5: Afternoon</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UtfqDptw2kc/UlhxYQTybgI/AAAAAAAADoU/kR2wyJNvEOE/s1600/Day+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UtfqDptw2kc/UlhxYQTybgI/AAAAAAAADoU/kR2wyJNvEOE/s320/Day+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>Day 6: Eight O'Clock</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKyHVu3lt5k/UlhxYbsI9II/AAAAAAAADoc/hsP4gXwhR9s/s1600/Day+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKyHVu3lt5k/UlhxYbsI9II/AAAAAAAADoc/hsP4gXwhR9s/s320/Day+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Day 7: What You Saw Today</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oQQqRUvXJBc/UlhxY98MezI/AAAAAAAADog/VHieq3M_dC8/s1600/Day+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oQQqRUvXJBc/UlhxY98MezI/AAAAAAAADog/VHieq3M_dC8/s320/Day+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>Day 8: Corner</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MhTjePWsSXw/UlhxZBClefI/AAAAAAAADow/hYsjCS66sY4/s1600/Day+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MhTjePWsSXw/UlhxZBClefI/AAAAAAAADow/hYsjCS66sY4/s320/Day+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>Day 9: Pink</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ySGbXQ0HJEc/UlhxZIPsi8I/AAAAAAAADos/z1wRYw8j6GM/s1600/Day+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ySGbXQ0HJEc/UlhxZIPsi8I/AAAAAAAADos/z1wRYw8j6GM/s320/Day+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>Day 10: Hands</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UGoYLTM0hs4/UlhxYeZeYgI/AAAAAAAADoQ/7nTMvOpOQeU/s1600/Day+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UGoYLTM0hs4/UlhxYeZeYgI/AAAAAAAADoQ/7nTMvOpOQeU/s320/Day+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-2469182517093186942013-10-11T15:41:00.001-06:002013-10-11T15:41:42.640-06:00Fun Foto Friday <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kHX9SuXG500/UlhweT0axzI/AAAAAAAADoI/UiRuF2WVk_A/s1600/PB+15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kHX9SuXG500/UlhweT0axzI/AAAAAAAADoI/UiRuF2WVk_A/s320/PB+15.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pebble Beach posts coming next week! </div>
Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904977845726210564.post-40058527349630530792013-10-05T08:07:00.000-06:002013-10-05T08:07:00.590-06:00FMS Photo-A-Day ChallengeI'm doing the Fat Mum Slim Photo-A-Day Challenge this month! I did it a few years ago and posted a picture to my blog every day.<br />
That was pretty time consuming... so I thought, instead, that I would post pictures once a week! Here are the first few!<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>Day 1: Colorful </b></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8HDBf3O3jPI/Uk9z1rfMk8I/AAAAAAAADno/I6iP66Y2eLk/s1600/Day+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8HDBf3O3jPI/Uk9z1rfMk8I/AAAAAAAADno/I6iP66Y2eLk/s320/Day+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Day 2: Light</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cp5aUSeDDxY/Uk9z1vxL0wI/AAAAAAAADnk/jg5XM8cEiLk/s1600/Day+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cp5aUSeDDxY/Uk9z1vxL0wI/AAAAAAAADnk/jg5XM8cEiLk/s320/Day+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>Day 3: You Today</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8y8Tyb1ekic/Uk9z1ufxY7I/AAAAAAAADng/O-2aA_Hngrk/s1600/Day+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8y8Tyb1ekic/Uk9z1ufxY7I/AAAAAAAADng/O-2aA_Hngrk/s320/Day+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>Day 4: In Motion </b></span></div>
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<br />Amanda Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00607284836966729466noreply@blogger.com0