Rudolph Run 5K recap

Last Friday night, I participated in my first 5K. I know, I'm crazy because some of you are thinking I did this backwards. Running 4 half marathons before even doing a 5K. But I'm glad I've ran 4 half marathons before because 3.1 is nothing compared to 13.1! Well, my only goal was to try to run as much as I could (seeing that I haven't been running enough, this was going to be tough) and finish under 40 minutes. Well, I did it and I used my new Christmas present as well :)

December 1st

Happy December, Y'all!

I'm sitting here on my couch in my sweats watching the CMA Country Christmas special on TV while my Christmas tree is lit and having some hot chocolate. This is much more relaxed than how I started the day. Apparently the power went off for a bit last night and my alarm clock didn't have a battery back up. I woke to the buzzing sound of my mom calling me, saw my alarm that read 6:55, my icon for my alarm was off and then I looked at my phone and it said 7:15. YIKES! I usually get up around 6, and get to school between 7:30-7:45. I was suppose to take a shower this morning but that went out the window. I pulled my hair in a low pony tail and added a cute bow headband to try to hide the yucky hair. Good thing I live 5 minutes from my school because I made it there with 5 minutes to spare at 8:10 this morning. Whew...


I got home this afternoon and took a quick run. I only went a little over a mile. Tomorrow I run my first 5k!

I'm running with my friend Emily and her co-worker Tonya. I am very excited and am just going to have fun! I will post pictures and race results sometime this weekend! We have lots of things coming up but I want to still regularly post, so I'm going to try to come up with a fun link up starting December 14th. I want to do a fun 12 days of Christmas post with a different theme each day. Some of the days will include Holiday Home tour (inside one day, outside another day), best Christmas gifts as kids, Favorite Christmas movies, Favorite Christmas songs, Christmas traditions, favorite Christmas recipes, Christmas cookies, Ornaments, Christmas Crafts, Your Christmas list this year. Let me know if you would be interested in joining in on the fun!

"It's the Holiday season..."

November 30, 2011: I am thankful that December is here come a few hours. Even though this might be the busiest time of year, I like to try to take it all in. I like to enjoy the time with my family and friends. I love the advent season. Two of my favorite books are "The handmaid and the Carpenter" and Two from Galilee." After reading these two books, I really felt like I knew Mary and Joseph. That I was placed in that time. When the movie "The Nativity Story" came out, I was captured by it. I get that overwhelming feeling of joy, happiness, gratitude when I think that God sent his son to this world to save us from our sins. That this plain, simple girl was chosen to bring Jesus to millions of people. Yes, I love the decorations, lights, trees, family time, giving of gifts, but I am most thankful for the nativity.

Electronic love

November 29, 2011: I'm so thankful for technology and electronics. It is so nice and a luxury that I try not to take for granted to have an iphone that is so useful at times :)
I can remember when my mom only had one of these in our car for emergencies:

Now I have one of the "smartest" phones there is:

I remember when we had one of these:

Now we have one of these and these:

I am very thankful for the electronics in the running world as well!

I remember having one of these:

And now I have one of these and I LOVE IT:

What are some of your favorite electronics?

Because it is still November...

November 28th, 2011: I'm thankful for the sweet little children that I teach and the fun thanksgiving activities we got to do the week before Thanksgiving break. Here are some of them!

The thankful turkey craft that we did for centerpieces for our school's Thanksgiving feast.

 The pilgrims invaded our cabin!

He forgot to put the hair up closer to the hat..oh well, he looks cute with those thick sideburns :)

Happy Monday, Y'all!

Happy Thanksgiving (a few days late)

November 24, 2011: I'm thankful for so many things today. I'm thankful for all the things I've posted. I'm thankful that I get to spend this Thanksgiving with my parents, brothers, and hubby's parents, sister in law and brother in law.

I also am thankful for these yummy recipes that I put together Wednesday night to have on Thanksgiving!

Crock pot scalloped potatoes

2lb. frozen southern style hash browns. (cube ones)
1 stick butter melted and mix in hash browns
1/2 c. chopped onions
2 c. cheddar cheese
1 pint sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 tsp salt and pepper
mix well
2 c. crushed cornflake crumbs and 1/2 c. melted butter. Mix
Pour over potatoes.
Cook 350 degrees for 55 min or Crock pot High for 4

Sweet Potato Casserole

Oven temperature: 350  Time: 1 hour
1- 40 oz sweet potatoes (drained)
1 stick of butter
1 tablespoon of vanilla
2 tablespoons of sugar

Mix all ingredients above with mixer on low until textured like mashed potatoes. Put in 9x13 greased dish. 
Topping:
1 cup of brown sugar
1/3 cup of flour
1 cup of chopped pecans
1/3 cup for melted butter

(Mix well with spoon until all moist then put on top of potatoes)

Double Layer Pumpkin Pie

1-prepared graham cracker pie crust
1-8 oz. pkg. Philadelphia cream cheese
1-8 oz. container Cool Whip
1-15 oz. can Pumpkin
1 cup and 1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon sugar
2-4 serving size boxes of instant vanilla pudding
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger if desired.

Mix with electric mixer until creamy:
Softened cream cheese
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon sugar
Fold in 1 1/2 cups of cool whip
Spread on bottom of pie crust

Mix with wire whisk (will be thick):
Pudding mix
spices
1 cup milk
pumpkin

Spread over cream cheese mixture
Chill for at least 2 hours
 Top with remaining cool whip if desired.

Some pictures from our Thanksgiving day:

November 25, 2011: I'm thankful to get to spend some time with my momma shopping today. We got a lot of great deals and didn't leave our house until 10 am :) I'm not big on lines and crazy people. We also got to go to Arrington Vineyards to see the beautiful views!

November 26, 2011: I'm thankful for unseasonably warm November days! It was 73 in Nashvegas today!

November 27, 2011: I'm thankful for one more day of break until I have to go back to school.

Taking care of my sick hubby today. Pray he feels better soon!