Cute cookie cupcake tower!

My hubby would love this! He's addicted to chocolate chips.

Photo Journal

6 major newspapers; one headline: Pope Resigns.

Getting Re-motivated with Rapunzel

What happened? It was a miraculous 3 weeks. I ran 5 miles. What happened? Here I am blobbing around for a month. I'm trying to get re-motivated. The race is about a month away and I'm totally of Track. I guess I just needed some more princess. I spent the afternoon at work sketching out my "Brave"-themed running outfit. I want to be brave. I want to change my fate. All I see looming ahead of me is years of wondering why I'm not living the way I know I should. I'll be eating so much more than I burn, I'll be sleeping so much more than I need, I'll be asking my kids for frequent rest breaks when we take our 5-day Disney vacations. How sad!! I've always had this fantasy of having my husband scoop me up in his arms and twirl me around just like my dad did for my mom for all those years. I want it. I want it bad. And I know that being much taller than my mom will seriously slash my chances of my husband being able to do so if I don't grip. I want to be his princess as long as we're together, and I know he'll always see me that way, but I want to see me that way too.

When asking a coworker what keeps her motivated (she's one who runs despite cold, storm, and pollution-warning-level air), she said to just look at yourself in the mirror. That will keep you motivated enough. Excuse me? That came across a little self-degrading. Really? She insisted it wasn't. She said not to criticize yourself, but to evaluate yourself and to take action. I'm not sure I'm convinced. I already like myself and I don't want to compare myself to celebrities who look nice in papers but look sick in person. I don't think my self-esteem needs that kind of stress.Plus, wasn't it the evil one who spent her days religiously asking "Mirror, Mirror...?"

There's got to be another way. I'm not making any implications about my coworker, but I've always thought princess. Princesses beautiful and healthy because they work hard, they eat simply, and they keep clean. The don't care about they look like, but they look like they care about themselves. I want to exude that eternal refreshing glow that comes from a beautiful princess life. I'm open to suggestion. Anyone out there reading, please, please if you know how to help the motivation stick, let me know. Until then, I'll just set the goal to get re-motivated today and start again.

Here's one way to add a little sparkle to your day, Rapunzel hair! Look like you care, and wear your princess-ness with pride!

I saw Bobby Flay now has a fitness series out, Bobby Flay Fit. Check it out here. He's great about motivation and planning ahead, plus I think its inspirational that a chef can confess to the world his frustration. Everyone who loves to cook knows how complicated self-restraint can be at work.

Happily Ever After - song by Jenny Phillips

Sorry for the long absence, I've been reflecting on my goal to get running like a princess during the past two weeks because I've been sick and not too much has happened. I Now that I've gotten better, It was hard to get motivated again especially because now the contest is over, the thrill is ebbing, and "baby, it's cold outside". However, I've still got that urge in my heart to become more like a princess in every way possible and I found this cute video which captures that feeling a little. Through being sick, I guess I've remembered that physical fitness and toned shape isn't the quintessential characteristic of a princess, and finishing a race isn't the key to a happily ever after. Though I still love the goal and I hope to pick up my training again soon, I've come to feel that maybe that shouldn't be my only focus. I've decided to have a more holistic approach to Running like a princess. Here's my first step.   I hope you like it!

What does it mean to be a princess interviews:
http://youtu.be/g8hf_t6oKjI
Kids are so cute!!
After watching this, I thought, gee, I hope I can get better at dancing so I can pass the princess test!


Full song Happily Ever After by Jenny Phillips:

My Youtube theme song

So today I have a cold. I guess I'm going to have to put my seven mile run on hold. Hopefully I'll get it in by Monday. All the running I'm going to do today is to Bed Bath and Beyond to buy a humidifier. In the meantime, I got this idea from my brother's girlfriend. Look up your name's theme song. This is Heidi's theme song. And honestly, I get smiles and questions about this very TV show often when I meet people from Europe. They look at my name tag and say, "Heidi?! like that cute little girl on the TV show I used to watch when I was a kid?! How cute!!!" I've had grown men say that. Now, Instead of giving them blank stares, I'm going to wonder why we didn't have this show in the US when I was growing up. All I need now is someone who can translate it! (I think I heard "sunshine " in there somewhere:)

Back from "Black weekend"

Shopper off and running like purchase princesses (this was not me this year, I slept in!)

Today I went in to get my car an oil change. The gentleman at the desk asked me if I would be alright to wait for a half an hour and I consented of course. But a few minutes into my stay, I thought to myself, "Hmmm, a half-hour...I could probably squeeze that run in that I missed last week." I couldn't honestly counting running to and from stores during "black weekend" so I found myself down a run. Without telling anyone, I slipped out the back door and took off on a two-and-a-half-miler. I couldn't resist. The orange sunset was so rewarding; I almost didn't notice the extra effort it took me to climb the hills. This running like a princess goal is changing my life for the better, and I'm loving it.

A time for thanks

Today is the one day just devoted to thanks. It seems that after Hurricane Sandy, the fiscal cliff, and the trouble in the Gaza Strip, life in general seems pretty grim. But then I open my eyes and see that I have two strong legs, an apartment, a job, a loving family, and the prospect of a lovely turkey dinner this afternoon. So many people don't have so much. I'm healthy and I'm moving forward, and in the land of the free I have a bright future brimming with possibilities. I dream of a home, others dream of a meal, I dream of living to be 80, others dream of living through the night. I hope for a new pair of running shoes, while others still hope to own their first pair of shoes.
I was listening to the radio and as the Christmas tunes have begun to play, this one touched my heart for the first time this year. I think I felt the message so strongly because I've been so bogged down by worries from the past months that I've forgotten how much I have. I have freedom of religion, freedom of privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of choice. I'm blessed and so are you. Now it's time to be grateful and start turning our hearts toward those who aren't so lucky. I love you all and wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving and a prayer for joy and peace forever after.


*How can running help? Check out this story and see a list of Utah races and what you can do:
http://www.deseretnews.com/images/article/contentimage/655207/655207.jpg

*Warning: This video is pretty graphic. I had no idea.  If you want to just enjoy the song, you may need to close your eyes.