happy halloween

A couple of pumpkins I painted last night (way to wait until the last minute, eh?)

Myself on Saturday night. Costume started as a Grandma, but once a girl at the Magic Castle mistook me for an 80s romance novelist, that’s what I started telling people I was.

 One with Grandpa Julian, after his mustache fell off. You can’t really tell here, but we both had white/gray hair.

Happy Halloween to all!  We’ll be spending the rest of the day/evening watching scary movies and handing out candy to trick or treaters (so excited about that last part). See you in November!

things i love thursday

A quick one for you today….

evening bike rides with my husband • planning vacations for next summer • our new acacia wood salad bowls • Breaking Bad, our new TV obsession • wearing my husband’s sweatshirts when they smell like him • Frank’s new hobby of eating avocados off our tree out back – he plays with it for a while like its a ball, then sits down, peels it with his teeth, and eats the flesh. So adorable! (and safe, I checked) • living in a neighborhood where people actually decorate for seasonal holidays – even if it is tacky spider”webs” strung across the bushes • foggy weather in the morning • running my first 5k and training for my 10k (going well but definitely so much work! I’ve never exercised this much!) • taking Julian on a dinner date and surprising him with a super secret guest – his bff Marc & his gf Mindy! • buying birthday presents for friends & family • getting As because I’m genuinely interested in the material I’m being taught! • being officially halfway through the semester – aka halfway to our trip to NYC and Virginia! •

Photo: Found on Pinterest, TinEye’d it and came up with this blanket/mattress store, which looks like they have amazing blankets! 

happy birthday, ana

Just have to stop in to give a super happy birthday shout-out to my beautiful sister Ana, who turns 24 today. Ana, I know you’re reading this, and I want you to know how much I love you, cherish you, and wish I could be there to celebrate with you!!! You are the best sister a girl could ever ask for & I am grateful everyday to have you in my life!

BTW, your gift will be late.

Ana and I this time last year

By the way – I’m alone again! Julian has once again been shipped off – to NYC this time to film his best friend Marc as he wraps up his new record in the studio over the next few days. I’m sad he’s gone so unexpectedly, but I think it’s a gift in a way because I really need to play catch up on a lot of school work and it’s hard to make myself focus when I have such a dashing, entertaining man hanging around the house all day.

See what I mean about the dashing part:

At least I have three furry kids to keep me company around here til he returns. Things are going well in my world – just had a lovely visit with Julian’s parents, started my 10k training program (so far so good, but it’s early – I’m enjoying the strength training & looking forward to getting some cycling in), been getting good grades at school & learning so much, and the weather is finally starting to feel more Fall-like regularly. I can’t believe it’ll be Halloween in 20 days! We don’t have costumes yet, so I guess I should get on that soon.

Hope you’re all having a beautiful October… xo

Photo: first by Julian / second by Julian’s Mom, Laura 

5k

I did it! And I loved it! Perhaps best of all was that I beat my own personal best time – finishing at 28:17:03, averaging 9:08/mile and placing 11th in my division (25-29F). I think I placed 135th out of all females & 429th overall, which isn’t quite as impressive, but I was running alongside some elite athletes, and this was my FIRST race! I didn’t know my time until many hours later today, and to say I was shocked would be an understatement. When I saw a dad with a baby stroller pass me, I thought for sure I was going to have a super low ranking.

It was a truly awesome experience, and as soon as I caught my breath, I wanted to go again. I think I am addicted! I am so looking forward to the next, and training for a 10k!

Huge thanks to my husband for waking up at 5am with me on the day after he got home from his work trip in Chicago, just so he could watch me cross that finish line. I love him!

(that’s me in the blue shorts, looking sweaty but triumphant)