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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

13.1 Things About Me!

Welcome! Today it's my spotlight day as part of the Blog Hop I'm participating in thanks to Runaway Bridal Planner . The other bloggers have had some really cute ideas about how to introduce themselves, so I'll try my hand at adorable...13.1 things about me.

Even though I haven't run a half in over a year (thanks mostly to having baby #2 in May), it's still my "flagship race," the distance that got me motivated about health and fitness.  It's that distance that inspired me to be a Sweat Pink Ambassador in the first place!

With those old "25 Things About Me" posts from my early blogging days, waaaaay back in the early 2000's, here are 13.1 things about me.

1. It took me well over a year of running before I called myself a runner. I was just "a girl who runs," as a good friend worded it (about herself).  Then, I realized that I go out the door, I put feet on the pavement, and I run. Therefore, I am a runner, regardless of my speed.

2. My Daddy is a top-notch runner. In fact, he LOVES running. He earned medals and scholarships and cool pictures in his high school yearbook.  And I'm built like a smaller, female version of him. I'm BUILT TO RUN. But I avoided it for years. I was a swimmer, not a runner. I actually dreaded running. And then, one day, I got over myself, went running without anyone telling me to and loved it.

3.  I read Swimming to Antarctica by Lynne Cox in 2006, took a look at my own fitness-lacking (hey, I work out in my apartment gym, that's enough, right?), Starbucks pounding life, and knew that I needed a goal.  In 2007, I ran my first 5K and started to make some major changes in my life.

4. Major fitness changes turned into major career changes.  I became a librarian in 2006, thinking I had found my dream career (picking books! writing reviews! researching all the things!) and promptly realized that my job had big flaws.  I also fell in love that year with a man from Oklahoma.  We knew we would build our forever family together, and that would mean frequent travel to Oklahoma.  My job didn't allow for easy travel time.  Between my floundering health - FRAPPUCINOS WILL GET ME THROUGH THE DAY! - and my need for a job where no one threw chairs at me, I made a switch.  In three fast weeks in 2009, I left my job, got married, and started a credential program.

5. Being a mom pushes me to greater heights. I want to be strong for my kids.  I ran my first race as a mom when my son was six weeks old (and he wasn't the youngest baby at the race).  He's been with me for three half marathons and a big ole handful of 10ks.  He's too big for the stroller now, but he was my running buddy through a lot.  He was there when I ran my first sub 9 mile (so was the tiny dog, but let's forget that the teensy little dog can run an 8:35 mile...).

6. Photography is my first passion, as hobbies go. My mom handed me an old Kodak 110 camera when I was 12 (my first and last Kodak, thanks), and I've been a photographer ever since. I love my Nikon cameras (including the classic FM-10 I learned to shoot on, thanks to my Army Veteran daddy who bought it when he was stationed in Okinawa years before I was born).

7. Having two kids is my dream come true, and it's also the reason I don't dream as much as I used to...sigh. I'm tired.

8. Those kiddos I love came about thanks to my amazing husband, a sweet, kind, wonderfully sarcastic man (I couldn't have it any other way) from Oklahoma.  He hates running but is faster than me without even trying. We hike together instead of running...

9. 'Tis the season for hiking. I'm really excited about starting the hunt for porcini mushrooms soon!

10. It's also almost time to head to Oklahoma for Christmas, and I'm overjoyed. I love my Napa Valley life, but Oklahoma has a big piece of my heart. I'm looking forward to family, to fantastic coffee at Elemental and to visiting Red Coyote, my favorite running store in the whole US.

11. Napa Life sounds great right now - I'm about to go enjoy a day off by getting coffee and a pastry at Bouchon with friends visiting from, you guessed it, Oklahoma.

12.  My life is chaotic, and I love it.  Two kids, full time (plus) jobs, writing, running, photography. There's a reason I can handle middle school students. A little crazy keeps me sane...

13. I thought I'd broken my addiction to bags. I cleared out a bunch of stuff over the years, trying to simplify...and then my friend introduced me to 31...AND I WILL ORGANIZE ALL THE THINGS. My kids have bags. I have bags. My friends have bags. My family has bags. This, too, may pass, but for now...ohhh, that charcoal links pattern? I want it.

13.1  I'm writing this with a tiny human in my lap, kissing her on top of the head to keep her calm, while the 3.5 year old runs around showing me pictures he drew of himself as a "Policeman Baby," and my daughter's godbrother is crawling around...and...it's one of the best days ever.

Thanks for stopping by!

My reasons...My chaos...My life.



55 comments:

  1. It's nice to meet you from the blog hop!! I can totally relate about blogging with a little one on your lap!!! In fact I'm writing this comment while my one year old is on my lap trying to bang the keyboard :D Gotta love it! I am totally loving the fact that I am finding a lot of runners through this hop! I don't like to call myself a runner neither, but I do. I am so excited to start following your blog :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! I love the name of your blog - I think it's so accurate for a lot of us. Most of the runners I know didn't start as runners.

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  2. I love photography too, but I don't have one of those fancy camera's with cool expensive lenses...yet. But I hope to be able to splurge one day:)
    That is awesome about your dad, I am also the daughter of a really great runner and the reason I got into it.
    I love hiking too, but have never thought about mushroom finding. I saw that once on a show, looks kinda fun good luck!
    You have adorable kiddo's there. Oh, and nothing better than writing a post with a sweet baby on your lap!

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    1. Thank you! My babies are ridiculous. I gave my son one of my older running belts, and he likes to put it on and tell me he's going out for a run. I hope that he grows to love being healthy as much as I do. You know, getting one of the big, fancy cameras isn't as expensive as you'd think. It's definitely a birthday/Christmas/big event kind of splurge or gift, but it's not out of reach - especially if you start used. I sold my D40X for $250 when I got my D3200...

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  3. Wow! You definitely have your hands full! My son has been my running buddy since he was born in Sept 2013 and I'm already saddened that the day will soon come when he is much to big (ahem heavy) to push for more than 5k distances. It's definitely a much harder run when you've got someone with you! I usually am writing/blogging with my son sitting either on my lap or physically on the desk so I can totally relate, but I wouldn't have it any other way! They are life's little miracles! I'm not a huge hiker myself, although if I lived closer to some mountains I like to think I would be! My husband is also not a runner but when he does he runs faster than me too. I liken it to the fact that he's 6'2 so has a longer stride than me!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! My husband isn't that big of a dude (5'9"), but he's ong and lean, and quick, quick, quick. Hiking is so great for the whole family - I'm stoked that my daughter will get to join in (as a passenger) this year.

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  4. Yipee for Nikon cameras - I love them too... with a passion for photography since I was little. I believe its in the blood :)
    I always wanted to be a librarian... to be surrounded by books all day? Sounds wonderful - not so great, huh?

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    1. I think that the quality of a librarian job varies greatly by location and supervisors. I had some less than supportive bosses in a less than stellar location...but there was a lot I loved about the job (and I transferred those skills to my teaching career).

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  5. What a sweet picture of your little buddies! I would love to get into photography someday, I love taking pictures and using them to tell stories, but I know I still have a lot to learn. Great post! Looking forward to reading about your journey!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! I have been a photographer for a long time, but I've actually learned a lot by buying those groupons for online classes - it makes a big difference when I can sit down and focus on some discrete skills!

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  6. Oh my goodness your kids are adorable and this post makes me feel like we just caught up over coffee! I get it... the family being further away {mine are in North Texas}, the athletic daddy, and the toddler life! So thrilled to get to know you through the hop and so excited to continue to follow your journey!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by - what a sweet way to put it..catching up over coffee - love that! I'm so glad I'm getting to "meet" so many great people through this experience.

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  7. Nice to be able to connect with you via the blog hop. First of all, your kids are absolutely adorable! I love that it looks like your littlest one is giving the older one a kiss. Second, I too am an avid fan of photography. Prior to the days of smart phones I was always that person who had a camera in their purse. And my friends came to rely on me having one on me at all times.

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    1. Thanks for visiting! I know...I'm ALWAYS the one with a camera, for better or for worse.

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  8. That picture of your kids is too sweet! I'm also a swimmer turned runner. One of my favorite thing to eat is mushrooms and I'm so jealous you get to pick them! One day I'll give mushroom picking a try. Nice to meet you!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. Mushroom foraging is a relatively new hobby for us (just since my son was born), and it's super fun - one of the few things we can truly agree on as being an awesome use of our time ;).

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  9. OH man! Why didn't I think of this idea?! lol I am still trying to figure out how to write mine for Blog Hop. So, you're in Napa Valley?! Wine country CA?! How wonderful is that (especially if you love wine as I do). Have your run the Santa Rosa Half Marathon? It's one of my faves!! OK, now what have you done to me? I don't need anymore bags but I took a tiny peek at that website - I'm doomed! Great to meet you and Happy Blog Hopping!

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    1. I was all set to run the Santa Rosa Half last year, and that's the morning we had our massive earthquake. I couldn't leave my husband with a nervous toddler and a house full of glass. I was deferred for the next year, but then I was just a few weeks post-partum and NOT ready to run...someday! Ooh...keep watching, I'll have news about 31 on my blog soon (my addiction is going to become a side job...).

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  10. Nice to virtually meet you thanks to the blog hop! It sounds like your littles and life keep you busy. I am thankful I came into blogging well after my daughter was born... I'm not sure how you do it! Oh, and totally jealous that you live in Napa!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by - love your blog name! Cupcakes are also a motivator for me (and salted caramel lattes - a must after any race!).

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    2. Oh yes, salty sweet is a divine combination!

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  11. Sounds like you definitely have your hands full, but in a great way. :)
    I too LOVE photography, so we have that in common! My first camera was a 110 as well. A little pink one. From there it only grew my love of the craft. Reminds me how bad I've been about taking my Nikon out for adventures lately.

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    1. I feel you - there have been months, or years, when I've forgotten about my awesome camera, and then I get it in my hands again and can't put it down!

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  12. I loved reading the 13.1 things about you! What a neat idea! Swimming was my first love too. I only swam summer league, but I was invited more than once to swim with the year round team. I had a choice swimming or band, so I did band during the school year and swam during the summers. I look forward to getting to know you better through the Grow Your Blog Hop!

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    1. Thanks for visiting! I never could commit to year-round sports, either (neither could my parents), but running lets me be fit without any commitments :).

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  13. That's great that you got to run those races with your little guy ;-) I didn't get into running until my kids were too big for strollers, it would have been so much better than the millions of miles "walked" with them. Great to meet you through the Hop ;-)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! I'm hoping this develops a lifelong love of fitness, at the least, with my son. Right now, when they do races at school, he gets distracted by colorful rocks, or leaves, or anything really...

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  14. I applaud you younger moms! I starting running in my 40's and my kids were n their 20's!

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    1. Thank you for the comment! I hope that I'm still a runner (or at least fit!) in my 40's. My dad is a big inspiration, and so is my husband's grandfather who is in his 80's but still pretty spry!

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  15. "A little bit of crazy keeps me sane..." I so get you there!

    www.mom4ce.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks! I'm not sure what life would look like without that dose of crazy.

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  16. Hi from the blog hop!

    I love the title of your post...13.1 Things About Me!.....so creative!

    Isn't is amazing how we cant call ourselves runners...if you run, you are a runner...still working on that.

    The crazy and tiredness of 2 kiddies...so worth it though!!

    How awesome you got to run races with your son...I can only imagine how awesome!!

    I didn't start running until after my kids were born-I try to have them with me at my races and sign them up if there are kid run options.

    Nice to meet you!

    -Tamieka@fitballingrunningmom

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    1. Thank you for visiting! My son now runs across the finish line with me, if it's a local race. Otherwise, I get a hug when I get home!

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  17. Love your 13.1 things idea :) I LOVE Napa Valley. We're in the Portland, Oregon area and vacation down there as often as possible. Good to connect with you through the Grow Your Blog Hop!

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    1. Nice meeting you here! We have good friends in Eugene and try to get up there as much as possible. I love Oregon!

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  18. Oh my goodness! This is adorable and so are your kiddos! I've been running for years but I run pretty frequently with Little One - and always feel a little more bad@a$$ when i do - because hi, resistance training! Can't wait to keep reading more xox from the blog hop :)

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    1. Oh, yeah, hill training with a stroller? Totally bada$$.

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  19. How sweet, your kids are adorable! I say if you put one foot in front of thebotjer, you're a runner!

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  20. I lost my comment so am trying again. I love the "13,1 things." Like you, I didn't run when I was pregnant - with either son. I just didn't like it. I was so glad to get back to it, though, once cleared. Funny how kids controlled that part of us before they were even born and they still somehow manage to.
    Glad the Blog Hop brought us together.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! It's amazing how much more comfortable I am in my own skin after having kids!

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  21. Haha #1 was so me too! It took me so long to call myself a runner that I don't even know when it happened. I think it was 2 years after I started running when I ran my first half marathon? Us runners are so silly. I loved your post and getting to learn more about you!

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    1. Thanks for visiting. Yeah, I don't know why it's so hard? Who's going to call us out on it? Like Shalene Flanagan is gonna see this post and say, "Oh, honey, you're not a runner!"

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  22. What a great introduction. I've only ran two half marathons but I love the distance as it challenges you but the training doesn't take over your life!

    Lovely photo of your children.

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    1. Exactly! Marathoners impress me to no end, but I can't fathom spending quite that much time out on the pavement.

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  23. Wow, it looks like you have your hands full! My girls are my running buddies too!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by - yeah, life is full, hands are full...it's all full, but it's so worth it!

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  24. So nice got get to know you a little better through the Blog Hop! I'm having a great time learning about so many of you through this hop! I have a different kind of respect for those of you who can run and push a stroller. Many of you have passed me like I was standing too in a race! Talk about Superwoman!!!

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    1. Oh, I so agree with you about being passed by someone with a stroller. I've run a lot of races with and a lot without a stroller, an watching someone pushing and running past me is always eye opening.

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  25. My mom is bag obsessed. She'd buy one style and get all the colors! �� at least you are getting organized bags and putting them to use lol And your 13.1 was indeed an adorable idea!

    Happy Blog Hopping!
    https://curlycaroline.wordpress.com/

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    1. Thanks for visiting! Yeah, organizing keeps me sane amidst the crazy!

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  26. Hey girl! You are so fun! I love that you love photography and running, me too! Though I am not built for running! I have long calves and short hammies, and a overly loose ITB. I am a injury machine. I love that you were a librarian, one of my favorite book series was Aurora Teagarten by Charlaine Harris. Did you ever solve mysteries when you were a librarian? lol I can totally picture you with your littles right there, I used to do that when I was in college with a new baby. I always had a baby on my lap and kids showing me pictures! So much fun, but I agree tiring! Well mama I hope you get good rest and I can't wait to see you on Insta and on my spotlight day xoxo Carleeh @mamarazza :)

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    1. Awww, thanks! Life is crazy but worth it...few mysteries to solve at the library, but life teaching middle school is always an adventure.

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  27. I love how being a mom pushes me to greater heights as well! Now that my kids are teens even more so. Have a great week!

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    1. I'm amazed at how much I learn from kids - from my own and from the ones I teach!

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